Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Charm City weekend.

 EAT

March 3: Small Foods Party

American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 7-10:30 p.m. Free-$10 410-244-1900.

You might not know this, but tiny food videos became a viral phenomenon a few years back, with the American Visionary Art Museum launching its annual Small Foods Party here in Baltimore in 2006. On Saturday night, this beloved fête returns for the 12th year with even tinier versions of everything from thumbnail-sized tacos to scaled-down TV dinners. Enter your own minuscule meals to be judged by guests, or spend the evening tasting your way through the smorgasbord of petite picks. And, of course, stick around to see which amateur chef wins an ironically giant can of mini corn.

 DRINK

March 3: Old Line Spirits One Year Anniversary and Rum Release Party

Old Line Spirits, 200 S. Janney St. 12-6 p.m. Free. 443-961-3199.

Since Old Line Spirits opened its doors in Highlandtown last February, the distillery has gained a loyal local following for its flagship and experimental whiskeys. After all, they’re carrying on the Land of Pleasant Living tradition of making the bodacious brown spirit. This Saturday, celebrate the distillery’s first birthday with a boozy brunch party featuring their newest single malt cask-finished rum that’s been aged for months in former whiskey barrels in both the tropics and their own casks. In their open tasting room, enjoy it straight or mixed in cocktails by Sugarvale, and soak it all up with Dooby’s egg sandwiches and brioche doughnuts from Sundays.

 SEE

March 3: Viva Brasil Carnival Dance Party

Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 7:30-11:30 p.m. $15-18. 410-276-1651. 

For one night only, the Creative Alliance will transform its hallowed Highlandtown arts haven into a vibrant Brazilian Carnival. At this 12th annual hip-shaking party, watch in awe as dancers in glittering costumes and feathered headdresses put on a full performance in celebration of this annual South American tradition that’s been dubbed the Mardis Gras of the Southern Hemisphere, and then try out your own dance moves with lesson to live Samba and forro music. If the Brazilian food and Caipirinha cocktails (Brazil’s sweet and sour national drink) don’t convince you to book a trip to Rio, you can at least look forward to the CA’s party next year. 

 HEAR

March 2: Outcalls, HexGirlfriends, North by North, Eyas

The Bun Shop, 40 W. Chesapeake Ave. 9 p.m. Free. 410-989-2033. 

This Friday night, head to The Bun Shop not just for delicious Roti buns and Vietnamese coffee but also live music by local artists, including baroque-pop duo Outcalls and electrofemme punk duo HexGirlfriends. Chicago’s North by North will be there, too, as will Washington State’s Eyas, but you’ll be there to hear up-and-coming hometown talent. Using their classical opera backgrounds, powerful pipes, and shimmering synth melodies, Outcalls’ Britt Olsen-Ecker and Melissa Wimbish produce an unlikely harmonic sound that’s all their own, while HexGirlfriends’ Hannah Holt and Sondra Boyle swing between glitchy slow jams and rebellious rock songs. If you can’t make the show, be sure to keep both on your radar.

 DO

March 4: Baltimore Bartenders Guild’s “Ryes Up”

Kimpton Hotel Monaco, 2 N. Charles St. 5-8 p.m. $75-100. 443-692-6170.

As we mentioned above, rye whiskey has deep roots in Maryland, so it couldn’t be more fitting than to use the amber-colored spirit to bring all corners of the city together for a can’t-miss party in support of a great cause. This weekend, at the seventh annual cocktail competition, beat the Sunday blues with a sampling of 20 rye-inspired craft concoctions made by some of the city’s top bartenders to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. (If you’re not one to revel in dark liquor, don’t worry: There will be wine, non-whiskey spirits, and Diamondback beers in tow.) Vote for your favorite drink, dance to music by Save Your Soul’s DJ Rob Macy, and ward off the impending headache with tasty bites from 15 local restaurants like Pen & Quill and Cunningham’s.

OPEN

Lupa: Foreman Wolf’s new Roman trattoria on the Kittamaqundi lakefront is officially open for business. Formerly the home of Petit Louis’ Columbia location, the rebranded restaurant boasts a fresh interior by local designer—and Curiosity boutique owner—Katie DeStefano. The space now features long farm tables, pops of merlot red and terra cotta orange, and 60-inch iron light fixtures that further the rustic Italian vibe. Executed by chef James Lewandowski—who also heads up the kitchen at Lupa’s sister-spot Cinghiale in Harbor East—the menu will highlight Roman-style paninis, focaccia pizzas, and handmade pastas paired with a Central Italian wine list. Be sure to save room for dessert, as Lupa will also operate its own gelateria with 20 gelatos and sorbettos made in-house daily. 10215 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, 410-964-9999

COMING SOON

Cinnaholic: On the heels of the second-annual Baltimore Vegan Restaurant Week, the city’s dairy-free movement continues to expand with the addition of this new vegan cinnamon roll shop. Cinnaholic—a national chain that was featured on Shark Tank—will debut its first Maryland location at The Rotunda in Hampden this spring. The DIY menu features sustainably sourced cinnamon rolls drizzled with various frosting flavors (think cream cheese, banana, and amaretto) and topped with everything from almonds and apples to pecans and pretzels. The coffee and dessert destination will also be joined by new Rotunda retailers The Local Fry and MOD Pizza when it cuts the ribbon this spring. 711 W. 40th St.

Brookside Market: Equipped with a brand new deli counter, 50-seat dining room, and an Italian pizza oven custom-made by a family in Naples, this new Jarrettsville Pike eatery is readying for a grand opening in Jacksonville this week. Owner Casey Brooks—who previously owned Casey’s Bar and Restaurant on Joppa Road for 10 years—is putting the finishing touches on his new neighborhood eatery, which will offer a variety of deli sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas, fish stew, osso bucco, and the signature chicken pot pie that was a favorite of regulars at Casey’s. Brooks is excited to unveil the new space—formerly a Royal Farms—which he designed from scratch. “Everything I’ve been involved in previously was kind of like, ‘Here’s what you’ve got, make it work,’” he says. “This is from the ground up. It’s a whole different world.” 14232 Jarrettsville Pike, Jacksonville, 410-667-8000

Mobtown Brewing Company: At a time where the future of Maryland’s craft beer laws is very much up in the air, it’s reassuring to see when brewers choose Baltimore as their home. While still in its planning stages, Mobtown Brewing Company is expected to make its debut in Canton this fall. Head brewer Dave Carpenter recently told the Baltimore Business Journal that he plans to use a 10-barrel system, and offer four to six rotating taps including a selection of sours and New England IPAs. Like many other neighborhood breweries, he hopes for the taproom to be a home for fundraisers, live music, and other community events. Stay tuned for more updates.

NEWS

Joe Benny’s Named One of Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in 2018: We always love to see Baltimore get some national recognition. In addition to recent nods from Forbes and The New York Times, our local dining scene got some much-deserved praise last week when Yelp ranked Joe Benny’s No. 62 on its list of the nation’s top 100 places to eat in 2018. The Little Italy focacceria (a Best of Baltimore winner in 2016) was chosen by Yelp’s data science team, which considered quality, rankings, and number of reviews to narrow down the list. “While we can’t determine what people will ultimately write about us, we can try our hardest to put out the best experience for folks walking through our doors,” the eatery posted to Facebook, in response to the news. “We are so very happy, fortunate, proud, but mostly very grateful to be on this list. If not for anything else, it’s a blessing to know that the overwhelming majority of you love Joe Benny’s. And believe us—we love having you.” 313 High St., 443-835-4866.

EPICUREAN EVENTS


3/4: Rye’s Up Against Cystic Fibrosis
The Baltimore Bartenders Guild’s annual cocktail competition benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation returns to the Hotel Monaco this weekend for its seventh year. Mingle with other cocktail enthusiasts while sampling creative rye whiskey drinks crafted by 17 guild members from bars throughout the city. The evening will also feature music spun by DJ Rob Macy of the acclaimed Save Your Soul dance parties, as well as light bites from local restaurants including Cultured, The Outpost American Tavern, Loch Bar, Pen & Quill, and Square Meal—one of two dining concepts opening inside Mt. Vernon’s yet-to-open Hotel Revival. Hotel Monaco, 2 N. Charles St., 5-8 p.m., $75.

3/4: Ethiopian Dinner at Motor House’s World Sounds Series
Famed Ethio-American vocalist Meklit—whose latest album When the People Move, The Music Moves, Too reached No. 4 on the iTunes World Music charts—is heading to Motor House in Station North this weekend for a special performance of her Ethio-jazz hits. To enhance the experience, Motor House is offering guests a traditional Ethiopian dinner buffet. Feast on dishes like shiro (chickpea stew), misir wott (spicy red lentils), and gomen (spicy collards), while swaying to Meklit’s soul-satisfying songs including her viral hit “Kemekem—I Like Your Afro.” The Motor House, 120 W. North Ave., 410-637-8300, 7-9 p.m., $15-35.