Happy Halloween week, Baltimore! This week is sure to be a wild, sugar-soaked one with the spooky holiday on Tuesday. But there are a handful of other events to keep you entertained, even if trick-or-treating isn’t on your list. Here’s a look at what’s happening this week:
Opening & Announcements
Guinness’ test taproom – a temporary tasting room – opens today at 3 p.m. in Halethorpe. The opening of this taproom, which will serve classic Guinness draughts, Blonde Lager and experimental beers, is just a teaser. The hotly anticipated Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House, which will include multiple taprooms and an operating brewery, is slated to open in Relay sometime next year.
After months of delays, The Point’s new Towson location opened this past Wednesday in the spot that formerly housed The Crease. The bar and restaurant will serve lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. It’s the second location for the restaurant’s owners. The first is on Thames Street in Fells Point.
No Way Jose has announced its new name and, as of last night, officially reopened. Now called One Star Country Club, the former Tex-Mex joint has been rebranded as a pub where jokes are welcome; the name is a play on one-star Yelp reviews.
There were rumors earlier this year that Food Network celeb Giada de Laurentiis had plans to open a restaurant in Baltimore. That news has been confirmed: next year, deLaurentiiss will open a spot in the Horseshoe Casino space recently vacated by the taqueria Johnny Sanchez.
New Fall Menus
As the weather has changed, finally getting colder, restaurants all over town have been updating their menus to reflect the new season.
At Wit & Wisdom, classic dishes like crab cakes remain on the menu, but new options have debuted, including a lovely chestnut-stuffed tortellini with wild mushrooms and hazelnuts and a subtly smoky duck breast with brussels sprouts and fig jus.
White Envelope, the excellent arepa bar in R. House, has a few new twists on its menu, including The Tuned Tuna, an arepa stuffed with seared tuna, fried cauliflower, nori, avocado and grilled hearts of palm.
Grotto Pizza won’t be abandoning its pizza options anytime soon, but for the chillier season, the menu has been beefed up with dishes like homemade meatballs and linguini alfredo.
Two Years of Dovecote Café
Dovecote Café, the Reservoir Hill coffee shop and community gathering space that’s been getting a lot of national love lately, celebrates its second anniversary tomorrow, Oct. 28. The Dovecote crew is inviting the public for “an afternoon of magic, futurism and community vibes” tomorrow, starting at 4 p.m. The first 100 attendees will receive a special gift.
Goodbye – for Now – to The Sandlot
The Sandlot is closing out its first season open this Sunday, Oct. 29. To celebrate, they’re hosting an all-you-can-eat crab feast in partnership with Conrad’s Crabs. The day will include live music and games and the regular Sandlot menu will also be available.
Big Week at Modern Cook Shop
Modern Cook Shop has a pair of events that sound like a good time.
On Halloween, they’re getting scary with Nightmare on Thai Street, a Thai pop-up menu including dishes like tom yum soup and a whole steamed fish.
And on Wednesday, Nov. 1, they’re hosting a Alipus Mezcal dinner and tasting in honor of Dia De Los Muertos. The event includes five small plate courses of Mexican food paired with five mezcals made by small distilleries in Oaxaca, as well as cocktails.
Plans for New Year’s Eve?
Yes, it’s still October, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start thinking about how to ring in 2018. One of Baltimore’s soon-to-open hotspots has already announced what it has to offer.
The Bygone, the new spot that will open on top of the Four Seasons Hotel, will host a black tie party starting at 6 p.m. and lasting until 4 a.m., with an open bar, extensive buffet and music all night – plus prime views of the city’s fireworks at midnight.
Planning Ahead
Here are a few events to look forward to over the next few weeks:
November 4: Vino in Vogue in Harbor East
November 6: Baltimore Food Truck Week
December 4: Feast of Seven Fishes at The Local Oyster
