COMING SOON
Laverne’s: The former Trip’s Place on North Charles in Station North will soon reopen as Laverne’s, a lounge and entertainment venue that honors the storied building’s nightlife legacy. The project comes from a collective of artists and engineers—Catherine Borg, Megan Elcrat, Amrita “Ami” Kaur Dang, and Christopher Franz—who purchased the interconnected Trip’s Place and Gatsby’s buildings at auction last year for more than $600,000, according to Baltimore Fishbowl.
“What really drew us to the project was this rich cultural heritage,” Elcrat explained in a recent video interview with Baltimore Heritage.
Per the local history nonprofit’s findings, the southernmost building started as the Ardmore Apartments in 1907, while its neighboring structure once housed Noxzema’s headquarters before becoming Gatsby’s in the mid-1970s, which was co-founded by Laura Gardner (one of the first Black women hired as a systems engineer by IBM in Baltimore). It featured a disco lounge on the first floor and a jazz room upstairs designed by renowned Baltimore designer Rita St. Clair. By the 1990s, the buildings became Club Choices and Trip’s Place under Anthony Triplin’s ownership, operating as an all-night entertainment complex until going dark around the pandemic—staying open after Triplin’s death in 2014.
Now, the plan is for Laverne’s to occupy the first two floors of the former Trip’s building, preserving its dramatic mezzanine with Corinthian columns overlooking a soaring open space. The adjacent Gatsby’s building will house a casual daytime restaurant, gallery, and flexible creative studios for artists working in movement and music. The project comes amid a wave of Station North redevelopment and innovation, including the neighborhood’s Inviting Light initiative, which unveiled Tony Shore’s illuminated Aurora mural that now adorns the Gatsby building’s façade.
Grain and Berry: Harbor Point seems to be a nexus for new eateries lately. This week, developers announced health-focused addition Grain and Berry, a Florida-based superfood cafe set to open early 2026. The 1,675-square-foot space on the ground floor of the Allied Harbor Point building will mark the first of several Maryland outposts planned.
“Our mission has always been to make healthy eating both delicious and accessible, and we can’t wait for guests here to experience our [menu],” said brand manager Olivia Bordelon, in a statement.
The offerings cater to diverse dietary needs with made-to-order acai bowls, smoothies, juices, and specialty toasts, as well as plant-based flatbreads and quesadillas. Beyond the grab-and-go vibe, the cafe will feature a cozy second-floor dining room overlooking the development’s Central Plaza, perfect for meetings or getting a change of scenery on your lunch break.
NEWS
Ekiben Offering Free Food to Furloughed Workers: Just when you thought it wasn’t humanly possible to love Ekiben any more—owners Steve Chu and Ephrem Abebe dropped an Instagram video earlier this week sharing that they’re giving away free meals to furloughed workers in-store with proper government ID until the government shutdown ends. No questions asked. (We shouldn’t be surprised, these are the same guys who drove six hours to serve a woman with a terminal diagnosis their famous tempura broccoli—her favorite dish—after all.)
As the shutdown continues and thousands of Marylanders continue to go unpaid—causing local food banks to prepare for a surge in demand—this is a way that Ekiben is, once-again, showcasing its commitment to the community. See more resources, here.
EERIE EPICUREAN EVENTS
10/24: The Masquerade at the Mansion House
The organizers behind the city’s longtime-favorite Bourbon & Bowties fundraiser are debuting a brand-new black-tie Halloween gala at the Maryland Zoo’s Mansion House. Guests can expect an evening of fine food and spooky fun, with signature bites and drinks from spots like Benny’s in Little Italy, The Beaumont in Catonsville, Pink Flamingo in Remington, Faidley’s in Lexington Market, and pop-up shuckers The Local Oyster. Don your masks for a night of music, mingling, and fundraising to benefit four worthy Maryland charities: Oyster Recovery Partnership, Semper Fi & America’s Fund, Hope Ignites Baltimore, and Cool Kids Campaign.
10/25: Viking Fest at R. House
If you missed the Renaissance Festival this year—or simply want to keep the medieval vibes going, R. House is hosting a free viking-themed afternoon featuring live music, kid-friendly activities (like DIY shield-making), and specialty Reyka vodka cocktails. Don your best Norse attire for the occasion (think: furs, shields, and braids) to receive a special treat. The first 50 attendees will get a free turkey leg.
10/31: Clavel Goes Taco Bell
Halloween is not traditionally a holiday that Clavel celebrates. While the staff stays true to the establishment’s Mexican roots and puts up ofrendas (colorful altars to honor deceased loved ones) for Día de Los Muertos, in its 10 years, they have never done anything to ring in All Hallow’s Eve. Until now.
Inspired by chef/co-owner Carlos Raba’s eternal love of the holiday—and for Taco Bell—the spot will offer a one-time-only, late-night menu of Tex-Mex, fast-food chain classics. On Friday, Oct. 31, dig into Clavel’s versions of the Crunch Wrap Supreme and American tacos, which will incorporate shredduce, sour cream, flour tortillas, hard shells, and an abundance of cheese.
“I’m going to have ingredients that I don’t [typically] have,” Raba says, “I never have sour cream. [This] is the only time when people can be like, ‘Can I get some sour cream?’ I’m like, hell yeah, put all the sour cream.”
It might feel a little sacrilegious in a place as authentic as Clavel (if you’re a purist, never fear, you will still be able to order from the regular menu), but if you want to dress up, stay late, and enjoy a crunchy taco, Raba is all about it.
“What I’m doing is embracing Tex-Mex,” Raba explains. “That’s a genre of cooking. It’s not making fun of Mexican. Let’s have fun and have a night that we remember.”
10/31: Greedy Reads & Doppio Pasticceria Halloween Party
With Halloween falling on a Friday, the city will be aglow with activity. If you’re looking for a more chill place to show off your costume, head to Doppio Pasticceria’s courtyard in Remington for s’mores, cocktails, and spooky books curated by next-door neighbor Greedy Reads. Check out these fun flyers designed by Greedy Reads’ own Santiago Nocera—one names the event “S’morestrilio,” a nod to the the 2023 horror novel Monstrilio—for more details.
Afters Cafe: This Federal Hill sweet spot has closed after 14 years. The cozy cafe known for its self-serve frozen yogurt, Illy coffee, bubble tea, macarons, and kimchi buns was a neighborhood fixture for after-school treats and late-night dessert runs. Owner Andrew Hahn first opened Afters with his brother after trying Pinkberry froyo for the first time, and they slowly expanded into offering bubble tea in 2014. Hahn believed dessert was a key component to showcase his Korean background.
Hahn, who is currently seeking a new tenant for the building, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the neighbors who supported Afters throughout its run. For regulars who claimed their favorite corner tables, the closure marks the end of a sweet, community-centered era on South Charles Street.
Tersiguel’s: What can be said when a multi-generational staple closes its doors after half a century? Though saying goodbye to Tersiguel’s—which survived two floods and a fire since opening in 1975—is a huge loss for Ellicott City, husband-and-wife owners Michel and Angie Tersiguel feel content.
“We knew it was time to let go of this chapter of our lives,” they tell us. “To do so on our terms, going out on a high note, it’s rare in this industry. To say we are thrilled would be an understatement.”
Known for its ever-changing prix-fixe menus with optional wine pairings, the intimate, 20-seat restaurant became synonymous with fine French dining in Howard County. Chef Michel’s parents, Fernand and Odette Tersiguel, first debuted the spot as Chez Fernand after moving to Baltimore from Brittany, France. Throughout the years—and as Fernand and Odette passed the torch to chef Michel—regulars praised its farm-to-table favorites including the duck confit, filet mignon, and venison with charred cabbage. Regulars also took to the staff, including head waiter, Charlie, who some guests describe as “a gem of a human being”.
To that end, the Main Street space will remain in trusted hands. Nathan Sowers—who first entered the Tersiguel’s kitchen as a chef in 2004, with his toddler in tow—and his partner Kimberly Kepnes are taking over the historic building. Details are under wraps for now, but the next chapter will be a new concept. For those wanting to say goodbye, Tersiguel’s last service will be on Dec. 20. giving longtime patrons a chance to raise one last glass to five decades of French country hospitality.