OPEN

Tiki Lee’s: Fans of Lee’s Pint & Shell in Canton will be happy to hear that this new sister-spot has officially debuted on the water in Sparrows Point. The dockside oasis at North Point Cove serves as an ode to owner Dave Carey’s late father, Lee—an avid fisherman who loved spending time relaxing outdoors. During the official grand opening last weekend, revelers flocked to the long-awaited destination to cool off with frozen cocktails and vodka drinks while enjoying summer fare like crab cakes, shrimp salad wraps, and house salads topped with jerk chicken. Diners can experience the hyper-local feel inside (the dining room includes nods to Old Bay, the Orioles, and Bethlehem Steel) or the island vibe outside, which is equipped with palm trees, strung lights, ample boat slips, and plenty of sand to feel between your toes. 4309 Shore Drive, Sparrows Point. 443-242-6698

COMING SOON

Venice Tavern: In the realm of old-school Baltimore dive bars, Venice Tavern is one of the greats. The Highlandtown hangout has been around since 1933, when original owners Frank and Victoria DeSantis opened it in the basement of their home after the repeal of Prohibition. Soon, fourth-generation owner Damion DeSantis will expand the pub’s legacy by opening a second Venice Tavern on Eastern Avenue next to La Scala in Little Italy, according to liquor board documents. The new Venice Tavern marks Damion’s return to the building—which previously housed his former concept Dego Dames before it closed in 2010. This time around, the new space will take after the beloved cash-only flagship in Highlandtown, which has built a reputation for its $3 pints, well-worn pool table, and walls collaged with portraits of boxing champions. 1018 Eastern Ave.

(RE) OPEN

Bluebird Pub: Just a few days after its grand opening on May 10, this refreshed concept below The Bluebird Cocktail Room in Hampden was forced to close due to a flooding issue that caused significant damage to the subterranean space. But now, after a few weeks of cleanup and repairs, the pub is back at it for take two. Resuming normal hours—noon to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and noon to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays—the bar will highlight a menu of elevated pub fare and a strong lineup of whiskey drinks. Pair eats like a foie gras burger and vegetarian broccoli sandwich with cocktails including an Old Grand-Dad bonded bourbon Old Fashioned or a barrel-aged Cachaça Sour shaken with lemon juice and sugarcane. 3600 Hickory Ave. 667-303-3263

EPICUREAN EVENTS

5/31: Clavel Pop-Up at Union
Chef Carlos Raba is rounding up his team from Clavel and heading to Union Craft Brewing for this Friday-night pop-up in Hampden. Snag a spot on Union’s patio to kick off the weekend by sipping craft beers and filling up on tacos and ceviche by Clavel. The soundtrack for the free event will be provided by DJ Rezzy Ron. 1700 W. 41st St. 6-9 p.m. Free

5/31: Getcha Lechón Pig Roast at Broadway Market
El Tigre, the outdoor bar program at the newly renovated Broadway Market, is launching food service with a Latin-style pig roast on the market’s patio this Friday. Flock to Fells Point to enjoy a plate of slow-roasted Liberty Delight Farms pork with bottomless beans, rice, tostones, and all the fixins’. In keeping with El Tigre’s tiki theme, bartenders will also be pouring plenty of custom cocktails made with rum and Illegal mezcal. 1640 Aliceanna St. 6-10 p.m. $25

6/2: Coffees of Antioquia Tasting at Vent
If you’re in need of a hangover helper come Sunday, Vent Coffee Roasters is hosting this intimate tasting with its direct trade partner from Antioquia, Colombia. Stop by to sample three Colombian coffees while chatting with experts about coffee production and farming. The event is free, but registration is required in advance. 1700 W. 41st St. 1-2 p.m. Free

SHUT

Baltimore Built Bistro: We’re always sad to report the loss of a corner bar in the city, especially when it’s as short-lived as this Fells Point watering hole. B3 took over the former home of Bad Decisions just under a year ago, and shuttered its doors for good last week. “The team at Baltimore Built Bistro would like to thank everyone for their support,” reads an announcement posted to Facebook on May 24. “Unfortunately, we are closing our doors permanently.” Throughout its 10-month run, the neighborhood spot became known for its next-level bar snacks, loaded burgers, and signature cocktails like the Coldbrew Crush with espresso vodka and salted caramel Baileys. 1928 Fleet St.

Gourmet Again: Pikesville locals are mourning the loss of this decades-old fixture best known for its deli counter, salad bar, prepared foods, and kosher catering. Shoppers visiting the store earlier this week were surprised to see a sign posted to the front door announcing the closure. “The food business is very difficult, cutthroat, and competitive,” owner Andy Hoffman told Jmore earlier this week. “I couldn’t compete with the big guys. I just didn’t have that kind of purchasing power.” The closure is yet another hit to the community, which also said goodbye to mainstay Jewish deli Suburban House in 2017. All catering credits and gift certificates are being honored by former Gourmet Again general manager Jerry Schlichting, who now owns Clean Cuisine catering in Owings Mills. 3713 Old Court Rd., Pikesville.

Red Star Charles Village: This weekend will be the last for diners to chow down on burgers in the wood-stained dining room at Red Star in Charles Village. Marketing and operations manager Willy Dely recently confirmed to the Baltimore Business Journal that the extension of the original Red Star in Fells Point will officially close its doors on June 2. The restaurant opened in the Nine East 33rd development near the Johns Hopkins campus in the summer of 2017, offering a menu of burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and bar snacks helmed by chef Francisco Lopez. It later became known for hosting weekly pint nights, half-price wine specials, and weekend drag brunches. The original Red Star, as well as its Fells Point sister-spot Waterfront Hotel, are both still going strong. 3224 St. Paul St.

OPEN

Urban Plates: After a successful debut at Tysons Corner earlier this summer, California chain Urban Plates is opening its second East Coast location at the Mall in Columbia on Monday, August 27. The restaurant’s rustic-meets-modern vibe features interior greenery, hanging lights, and dark woods throughout. And although the eatery focuses on cafeteria-style service, don’t expect the same options that were served at your college dining hall. Chefs stand behind the counter to prepare scratch-made meals ranging from a Nicoise salad with grilled ahi to a plate of barbecue ribs in a habanero-mango sauce. Diners can mix-and-match entrees with sides (think roasted Old Bay potatoes and beet salad with walnuts) and desserts including chocolate pudding and a mango tart. 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, 443-741-8787.

Baltimore Built Bistro: For many local barflies, there’s still a wave of nostalgia that hits when walking past the old Bad Decisions space on Fleet Street in Fells Point. But now, a new dining concept is breathing life into the vacant space. Baltimore Built Bistro (B3) will officially cut the ribbon on Friday, August 24 at 3 p.m. Featuring a menu of specialty cocktails, soups, sandwiches, appetizers, and other lite fare, the bistro will be open for lunch and dinner on weekdays and serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Stop by during opening weekend to sample dishes such as a poached pear salad, grilled chicken sandwich with cranberry pesto, or house burger topped with raw onion on a toasted bun. 1928 Fleet St. 443-438-9564

Charles Village Pub: The wait is finally over, Charles Village. Since the community’s beloved watering hole suffered a grease fire and was forced to shut down back in May, locals have been waiting (some more patiently than others) to return for burgers, wings, discounted drinks, and some quality time with friends and neighbors. And now, the reopening has officially been set for Thursday, August 23. Belly up to the bar this weekend to toast CVP’s return and long future ahead. 3107 St. Paul St. 410-243-1611

COMING SOON

Atlas Restaurant Group Expands to Washington, D.C.: The homegrown restaurant group that birthed Harbor East hotspots Ouzo Bay, Azumi, Loch Bar, Tagliata, The Elk Room, and Italian Disco is expanding its footprint even further in 2019. Aside from opening additional spinoffs in Boca Raton, Florida and Houston, Texas later this year, Atlas recently announced plans to debut two new restaurants at the Moxy Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. Slated to open in spring 2019, the first of the to-be-determined concepts will take over two floors of the historic Victorian building adjacent to the hotel, which dates back to 1875. The second will be a rooftop restaurant on the top floor of the Moxy. 1011 K. St NW, Washington, D.C.

Avenue Kitchen Launching Late-Night Taco Spot: Riding on the success of Garden Party, the freestanding wine-and-charcuterie shop stationed at the center of the Rotunda shopping center in Hampden, the owners of Avenue Kitchen & Bar are opening yet another kiosk on the property—this time focusing on tacos. Partners Patrick Dahlgren and Bill Irvin have taken to Facebook to poll patrons on the name of the late-night taco spot, which will either be called The Red Eye (a nod to the late flight from the West to the East Coast) or LIT, which stands for “little interesting tacos.” Night owls will be happy to hear that the shop, expected to open in late September, plans to serve its tacos, burritos, and other Mexican staples from lunchtime until 3 a.m. 711 W. 40th St.

Himalayan Yak: The Canton dining scene will soon welcome this Nepalese spot from Mohan Thapa, the owner of Masala Kitchen in Charles Village and Kumari Restaurant and Bar in Mt. Vernon. Taking over the former home of Cask & Grain—which shuttered its doors back in June—on O’Donnell Square, the spot will highlight authentic Nepalese and Indian dishes such as paneer chili, chicken vindaloo, lamb kabobs, and vegetable samosas. Himalayan Yak will open with dine-in and carry-out service, and plans to start delivery in the area in the coming weeks. 2823 O’Donnell St. 410-522-7678

Streets Market & Cafe: Earlier this week, Streets Market & Cafe—the independent grocery chain that has a store downtown on North Charles Street—announced plans to open a second Baltimore location at Yard 56, the forthcoming office-and-retail development in Greektown. Expected to open next year, the 23,000-square-foot market will offer its fresh produce, meat, seafood, baked goods, and organic household products to the Southeast Baltimore community. “Streets Markets adds an important shopping element to this development,” said David Bramble of property manager MCB Real Estate, in a press release. “Our intent is to create a project that becomes a regular part of the lives and routines of the local community.” 5601 Eastern Avenue.

EPICUREAN EVENTS

8/23: Scalawags Pit Meat Pop-Up at Gnocco
Scalawags Pit Meat, the smokin’ side project spearheaded by Gnocco general manager Sam White, is hosting a pop-up at the Highlandtown hangout tonight from 6-9 p.m. White will be mixing up whiskey cocktails—made with spirits from Republic Restoratives Distillery in Washington, D.C.—with guest bartender Alex Higdon. Aside from taking advantage of the all-night happy hour deals, be sure to sample all of the mouthwatering beef, turkey, and ribs that Scalawags pit master Kevin James will be serving up from his beloved barrel smoker. 3734 Fleet St. 6 p.m. Free. 443-449-6540.

8/30: Summer in Provence Dinner
If you haven’t had the chance to check out Ludlow Market, the new concept in the former Wine Market Bistro space in Locust Point, Chef Christopher Audia is flexing his skills with a special wine pairings dinner highlighting the Provence region of France. The three-course menu features dishes such as roasted tomato soup, mussels, and rockfish in a saffron broth; braised short rib in a red wine jus; and cream-stuffed brioche in orange blossom water. 921 E. Fort Ave. 6:30 p.m. $69. 410-244-6166