From a restaurant-sponsored stream cleanup to “Game of Thrones”-themed sweets, this week in Baltimore offers plenty of diverse and seasonal activities for local food lovers.
Here’s a look at what’s coming up:
Openings and announcements
Papi’s Tacos’ new Hampden location is slated to open this month! The restaurant is set to begin serving customers on April 15. Fingers crossed that no last-minute hiccups get in the way of Papi’s opening its doors.
Pop-up The Urban Oyster opens its first brick-and-mortar location on Friday, April 12, in McHenry Row.
Amber turns one this week and is celebrating all day on Saturday with a new brunch menu, giveaways, live music and birthday cake.
The Baltimore Business Journal reported this week that Upper Fells Point staple Henninger’s Tavern is currently listed for sale. Hopefully the new owners will not change a single thing about the restaurant, from the menu to the service to the bathroom artwork. It offers one of the very best–and most “Baltimore”–dining experiences in town.
Locust Point is due to get a new wine bar next month, when Serenity Wine Bar opens in the South Baltimore neighborhood.
Saying goodbye to Michael Maraziti
Mike Maraziti, part owner of Lobo’s in Fells Point, former owner of One-Eyed Mike’s and one-time mayoral candidate, passed away unexpectedly earlier this week. Maraziti was a beloved member of the Fells Point community–and the city as a whole–and will be greatly missed.
Getting hitched–for free
Have you heard about Blackwall Barn & Lodge? It’s a very pretty restaurant and event space in Gambrills, and it’s giving away a free wedding on Nov. 23 of this year.
That’s a great deal! For information about how to enter to win, click here.
Spring things
With warm weather on the horizon and trees and flowers starting to bloom, it looks like spring really has come to stay in Baltimore. Local restaurants are celebrating the season with new menus, cocktails and patio openings.
Ampersea’s patio opens on Friday, April 12. The waterfront restaurant will host a Spring Fling party to celebrate the occasion, with drink and oyster specials and live entertainment.
Several other outdoor spots in Harbor East opened last week. The patios at Loch Bar, Ouzo Bay and Azumi, and the courtyard at Tagliata, are now officially open for the season.
Bar Vasquez has a new happy hour menu just in time for April, including a new fun, floral cocktail mixing Prosecco and hibiscus syrup.
Silver Queen Café is revamping its menu for the season. Friday will be an especially fun night to check out the new offerings, as it’s also First Friday in Hamilton.
Cleaning up with La Cuchara
On Saturday, La Cuchara teams up with Blue Water Baltimore for a stream cleanup in honor of Earth Month. They’re welcoming volunteers, so if you’d like to help with the restaurant’s efforts to clean up the Powder Mill Branch of the Gwynns Falls, register online and meet the crew at the cleanup spot in Gwynn Oak Saturday morning.
Sunday Suppers at Magdalena
Starting this Sunday, Magdalena will host a weekly Sunday Supper meal, featuring “classic British fare reimagined” by Chef Mark Levy. Suppers could include courses like prawn cocktail with Marie Rose sauce and roasted beef with Yorkshire pudding–with Chef Levy’s spin, of course.
Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry
On Tuesday, April 9, Gunther & Co. hosts one of the funnest food fundraisers of the year with Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry.
The party, which raises money for the nonprofit dedicated to ending childhood hunger, features food from a bunch of excellent local restaurants, including Cosima, Cunningham’s, Foraged, Hotel Revival, La Cuchara, Magdalena, The Corner Pantry, Vida Taco Bar and, of course, Gunther & Co.
Taste of Pikesville
Also on Tuesday, Taste of Pikesville takes over The Suburban Club. The event highlights restaurants from the Pikesville and Owings Mills area, including spots like Il Palio, Gourmet Again and Mezcal.
Thai at Rye
On Thursday, April 11, the crew from Mayuree Thai Tavern in Canton will venture over to Fells to take over the kitchen at Rye.
The menu, which is Thai, of course, will be complemented by special cocktails inspired by the dishes. Reservations aren’t necessary; seating will be first come, first served, and the menu will be available from 5 to 10 p.m.
Harbor Market returns
Waterfront Partnership’s Harbor Market returns this week. The market featuring food trucks, sweets vendors, live music and more takes over McKeldin Square every Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Harbor Market kicks off on Friday, April 12, and runs through mid-October.
Maryland Food Truck Week
Maryland Food Truck Week begins on Friday, April 12, with a party at South Point in Port Covington.
The event, which features a terrific lineup of food trucks including The Smoking Swine and Dizzy Cow Pizzeria, marks the beginning of nine days of food truck events benefiting Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland.
Winter is coming.
Not really. But the final season of “Game of Thrones” is about to start, and Baltimore businesses are getting in on the Westeros action.
Order & Chaos Coffee is hosting a GoT weekend, starting next Friday, featuring a new espresso drink, the Valar Morghulis Mocha, and GoT-themed cupcakes from Charm City Cakes. And the shop will transform, with house flags, GoT games, music from the show and even a Joffrey dart board.
The Charmery has whipped up a special pint package featuring three limited-edition “Game of Thrones”-inspired ice cream flavors: House Stark (wintergreen and spearmint base with Peppermint Patty bits), House Lannister (pinot noir caramel base with golden white chocolate bits) and House Targaryen (dragon fruit base with an atomic fireball swirl).
The pints will be available for pickup between April 13 and 21, but they are available by pre-order only, open from today through April 10.
Donut Stop Believin’ will reprise some of its classic GoT-themed donuts, selling them at the Waverly Farmers Market on April 20.
Summer dreams
Yes, spring just started. But it’s also not too early to think about the long, lazy days of summer, or to buy tickets for Burnt Hill Farm’s summer solstice festival. The event features local and international natural wines, plus food from Clavel, blacksauce, Ekiben and Primrose and music from DJ Mike Bernstien.
Planning Ahead
Here are a few events to look forward to over the next few weeks:
April 13: DuClaw Brewing Company Sour Me Ale Festival
April 14: Manor Tavern Oyster Festival
April 28: April in Paris at Petit Louis
