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EAT

August 20-21: Feast of Saint Gabriele Italian Festival

St. Leo’s Catholic Church, 227 S. Exeter St. 12-7 p.m. Free.

Celebrate
Baltimore’s rich Boot Country roots in the heart of Little Italy. On the
narrow span of Exeter Street, amidst the Formstone row houses and old-school
charm, let the kids play games and browse red, white, and green souvenirs as
you indulge in traditional Italian eats (spicy meatballs, per favore), plenty of
vino, and both international and local beer. Hop in on a bocce tournament, try
your hand at the cannoli-filling contest, and catch the sausage-eating
competition on Sunday. That morning, mass begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by the
annual street procession.

DRINK

August 21: Cross Street Izakaya

Bookmakers Cocktail Club, 31 E. Cross St.
9 p.m.-2 a.m.

The Bookmakers bartenders are connoisseurs when it comes to all things booze. Be it specialty bitters, boutique bourbons, or exotic liqueurs, these elixir experts are the ones to call on when you’re craving an adventurous drink. This Sunday, the Federal Hill bar is teaming up with its late-night nosh neighbor, The Local Fry, to create a one-night-only Asian speakeasy that only these two could create. With beverage director Ryan Sparks, bartender Briana Savage, and Best of Baltimore-winning Amie Ward at the helm, try Far East tipples—we’ll have a Hokkaido Sour with Nikka Coffey Japanese whisky, cachaça, orgeat, yuzu, ginger, and pineapple—and inspired small plates like skewers, dumplings, and edamame.

SEE

August 19: Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally

Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. 8 p.m. $58-80. 410-837-7400.

Get ready Parks and Recreation fans—Ron and Tammy 2 are leaving Pawnee and making their way to Baltimore. As part of their raunchy new tour (“Summer of 69: No Apostrophe”), real-life comedic couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally takes over the hallowed Hippodrome stage to share stories, reveal details, and perform innuendo-filled songs, dances, and skits about their 16-year marriage. Prepare for some good laughs as the dynamic duo will likely reference some of their well-known characters, like the breakfast and Scotch-loving Ron Swanson of Parks and Rec and the tiny firecracker that is Karen Walker of Will & Grace.

HEAR

August 20: Hot August Music Festival

Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Free-$189. 877-321-3378.

Hot August is more than just a blues festival. In the grassy knolls of Oregon Ridge, this full-day fete brings together a medley of genres for one warm day of unforgettable music. Across two stages, this year’s stacked lineup features eight bands, including headliners Thievery Corporation, Grateful Dead cover band Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Americana string bands Railroad Earth and Leftover Salmon, and soul-rockers The Revivalists. With the August heat on your skin and music in the air, listen to the tunes, grab some food and beer, browse local goods at the artisan marketplace, and bring the kids for feel-good activities like family yoga, face-painting, and drum circles.

DO

August 19-21: Fields Festival

Camp Ramblewood, 2564 Silver Rd.,
Darlington. 12 p.m. $100.

Two years ago, a rustic summer camp in Darlington transformed into a millennial hippie’s daydream. For one weekend, Fields Festival parked its metaphorical RV and threw a celebration of local DIY—an umbrella term for Baltimore’s vibrant arts scene that dances across genre, medium, and style. Hundreds of art students, music lovers, and merry pranksters flocked to the rustic grounds of Camp Ramblewood to see scores of area artists, musicians, and performers. This weekend, the messy, magical, uniquely Baltimore event returns, bigger and better than ever before. Catch live music by local artists like Future Islands, TT The Artist, Abdu Ali, Dan Deacon, Lower Dens, and Wume (to name a few), and explore art, theater, comedy, film, and performance by members of Wham City Comedy, Le Mondo, EMP Collective, Annex Theater, and more. Whether you’re bunking it up in an old-school cabin or getting in touch with nature by glamping, take a dip in the fruit-bowl-themed pool, treat yourself in the wellness area (massage, yoga, acupuncture, etc.), and wander down Food Avenue for Clavel tacos, B-More Alive falafel, and Pizza Llama pies. Best of all, celebrate Baltimore, and all the talent and creativity of this city.

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Tiki drinks, which take inspiration from Polynesian culture, rose to prominence during the ’40s and ’50s and have seen a recent resurgence in cocktail-conscious cities around the country. Recently the rum-based drinks, usually made with exotic syrups and tropical juices, have begun to pop up on local menus and have inspired theme nights and parties at area bars.

“Cocktails can get stuffy sometimes and with tiki drinks, it’s impossible to be stuffy,” says Pen & Quill bar manager Naomi Kline. “You can sit out on Charles Street and pretend you’re in the islands. People enjoy being transported.”

Pen & Quill hosts Tiki Tuesdays every week with a speciality menu of tropical cocktails, like a Singapore Sling and the whiskey twist of a Rye Tai, and snacks like crab wontons and vegetable spring rolls. Le Garage in Hampden was doing tiki nights for a while. The theme has also crept into events, like a Forgotten Cocktail Club night and Bookmakers Cocktail Club‘s one-year anniversary party in the fall.

“We always have a rotating tiki cocktail on our menu,” says Bookmakers’ bar manger Ryan Sparks. “Now that the price of whiskey has gone up with demand, bartenders are looking to use rum in more fun ways.”

Bookmakers often uses ingredients like tiki bitters, Velvet Falernum from Barbados, and fresh guava juice for their rotating cocktail (which is dubbed “Tiki as Buck” on the current menu).

The tropical trend is also on display at The Food Market‘s Restaurant Week concept, La Food Marketa, which includes a menu of tiki drinks all served in traditional ceramic vessels and topped with paper umbrellas. In fact, the garnish on tiki drinks is really half the fun. Many of the drinks on Pen & Quill’s themed menu are embellished with grilled pineapples or limes in the shape of sharks.

“Whatever we can fit in there, we try,” laughs Kline. “We try to make it as ridiculous and whimsical as possible. You know you’ve done good when you sit it down in front of a person and they gasp.”

For more on over-the-top cocktail garnishes at bars and restaurants around town, pick up our upcoming April issue.

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“We thought, let’s take that shot-and-beer concept and run with it,” says bartender Cortland Leggio. “It’s been done in other cities. We want to take the Bookmakers quality and combine it with the feel of a laid-back, neighborhood bar.”

Thus, the idea for Boiler Room was born. The team behind Bookmakers, including bar manager Ryan Sparks and executive chef Nelson Morton, designed a menu based around pairing unique spirits with craft beer, as well as approachable pub grub. The space—currently open Tuesday-Thursday 3 p.m.-1 a.m. and Friday and Saturday noon-1 a.m. and celebrating a grand opening party in February—is just two doors down from Bookmakers at 27 E. Cross Street in Federal Hill.

“Basically, we want to bridge the gap between neighborhood sports bar and something a bit fancier, like a Bookmakers or Sobo Cafe,” says Leggio, Boiler Room’s bar manager. “On the one hand, we’ll have spirits that people may not have heard of, but they can still get a Fireball and Miller Lite if they want.”

The beer-and-shot menu certainly reflects that wide range, with everything from a shot of Old Grand-Dad whiskey and a Miller High Life ($5) to pairing Yellow Chartreuse with Allagash White ($12). In all, there will be more than 10 pairings, as well as custom-made house shots (think mini cocktails) available on the menu. The food program will reflect the casual atmosphere as well, with an emphasis on pub grub like pierogi and hot dog options.

Boiler Room’s atmosphere leans toward more sports bar with old-school arcade games (like original Space Invaders!), Skee-Ball, basketball hoop, and claw machine. Future plans include a dedicated industry night, burger night, and specials during Orioles games.

“Even though it was a bit different of a concept, Federal Hill has really embraced Bookmakers,” Leggio says. “Now Boiler Room really wants to embrace the neighborhood back by creating a fun bar where everyone will feel comfortable.”

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On November 4 from 5-9 p.m., the fourth installment will highlight the free event’s signature chef mash-ups, while also introducing a revamped live music lineup, two interactive art installations, and a special pop-up.

“We’ve learned a ton about what the restaurants’ needs are and how to really accommodate what the merchants and the audiences want,” says Priya Bhayana, director of the Bromo Arts District. “It’s pretty great that we’ve been able to make it grow.”

As in previous months, a handful of Lexington Market’s vendors will be teaming up with visiting chefs from area restaurants to serve a collaborative dish for less than $10.“Light Up Lexington veterans Dooby’s, Sobo Café, and The Local Fry will once again participate, while newbies such as La Cuchara, Bookmakers, and Woodberry Kitchen are joining in for the first time.

Can’t-miss menu items will include Korean fried chicken from Dooby’s and Dudley’s Fries, lemon thyme chevre cheesecake with grilled grapefruit from La Cuchara and the Fruit Basket, and specialty snacks from The Local Fry and Park’s Hamburgers. The team from Union Craft Brewing will also be on hand, selling $4 beers all night.

Additionally, the foodie get-together will boast a special happy hour with James Beard Award-winning chef Spike Gjerde, who is teaming up with Faidley’s Seafood to serve dishes inspired by the bay.

“To be able to partner one of Baltimore’s best chefs with Faidley’s, which has been an institution for so long, is really exciting,” says Lexington Market manager Stacey L. Pack. “Spike is a leader in the local scene, who is super supportive of local food sourcing, and with Faidley’s commitment to the Chesapeake Bay—it seemed like a natural fit.”

In addition to the new food offerings, organizers are also throwing two art installations into the mix this time around. Attendees are invited to experience The Contemporary’s interactive GhostFood truck performance, which makes a powerful statement on the effects of climate change, as well as browse the work of artist Rachael London in a multimedia exhibit that pays homage to the market and its vendors.

“We started talking [to London] about doing something very simple like using a former stall to incorporate neon and reference the neon that’s so prevalent in the market,” Bhayana says. “But she’s very community-based, so she’s been interviewing vendors and people that visit the market, archiving all of their stories, and creating a space for those conversations to be put on display.”

And, of course, in keeping with the event’s mission of creating a platform for local performers, a live music lineup featuring DJ Chuck the Mad Ox, blues performer Quinton Randall, and genre-defying band Black Root Underground will provide the soundtrack for the night’s festivities.

Pack says that Light Up Lexington has been a great way to foreshadow what’s to come, as Lexington Market continues to move forward with its remodeling and rebranding plans. (The market recently unveiled its revamped website in August, and is slated to include additions such as increased seating and an outdoor farmers’ market space in the coming months.)

“One of the great things we’ve done is helped portray Lexington Market in a way many folks never thought about it before, whether it’s keeping it open late or the art aspect or the collaborations with really amazing chefs,” she says. “The goal is to highlight its potential to the entire city, and the more positive events and positive exposure it gets, the better.”

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Our own Sarah Acconcia—executive chef at Bookmakers Cocktail Club—will be featured on tonight’s episode of Beat Bobby Flay, a weekly series that pits chefs from different cities against one another in hopes of going head-to-head with culinary all-star Bobby Flay.

Although the details of the chefs’ concoctions are under wraps until the episode airs, its synopsis reveals that Acconcia—whose resume includes stints at local hotspots like Woodberry Kitchen, Maggie’s Farm, and Le Garage—will compete against Dallas-based Top Chef alum Tre Wilcox in the first round.

Acconcia, who says that Food Network initially approached her about being on the show, first familiarized herself with Beat Bobby Flay prior to when filming began in March.

“I don’t really watch that much TV, but I liked [Beat Bobby Flay] more than other food shows because it was more of a professional competition than a reality TV show,” she says. “Even with the people who lose, they don’t make them look bad, it’s still more about being a good cook and not so much about the drama.”

The guest judges for tonight’s showdown include Food Network veterans Sunny Anderson and Giada De Laurentiis.

“It was really cool to have such well-respected chefs taste my food,” Acconcia says.

She also notes that an added perk of the “fun and challenging” experience included a meet-and-greet with Michelin star holder chef April Bloomfield.

Beat Bobby Flay airs tonight at 10 p.m. on Food Network.

If you find yourself strolling around Federal Hill, be sure to stop into Bookmakers and watch the competition unfold on two screens with sound in the downstairs bar. Acconcia will be whipping up some surprise dishes for tonight’s menu, as well.

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Nancy Longo, owner of Pierpoint in Fells Point is hoping for an early end to the curfew. “It’s having a huge impact,” Longo says. “At this point, I have no tables on the book for Friday and Saturday,” she says, “and my cooking class folks are cancelling daytime events.”

From last Thursday through this Tuesday, Long estimates she’s lost $15,000 in sales, with an additional $1,000 loss from cancelled cooking classes.

“Our restaurant members are telling us they are seeing a drastic reduction in the number of customers coming to their restaurants,” says Marshall Weston Jr., president and CEO of the Maryland Restaurant Association.

Hoping to bring back business, Longo is one of many restaurant owners hoping to put a positive spin on the week.

Long is running a “curfew special” on her signature dish. “Crab cakes are $10 tonight,” she says. “Come down at 5 p.m. and get them ’til they’re gone.”

Other specials include $1 drafts at Brewer’s Cask in Federal Hill, 50 percent off alfresco dining at Tark’s Grill in Lutherville, half-price wings at The Local Fry in Federal Hill, gratis meals for kids 10 and under at Café Gia in Little Italy, and half off every bottle of wine at Family Meal in the Inner Harbor.

Many area restaurants are getting an early jump on happy hour, with drinks flowing at 2 p.m. at The Brewer’s Art and 4 p.m. at Ouzo Bay.

Other places such as Bookmakers Cocktail Club in Federal Hill have added a lunch shift (including new menu items) to their service, with happy hour drink specials starting at noon.

Despite hurting for business, some area restaurants are donating profits to Baltimore City and local businesses affected by the protests, including Fleet Street Kitchen, Ten Ten Bistro, and Café Gia.

The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB) is doing its part in helping to spread the word, too.

Using the hashtag #BmoreThursday (and changing according to the day of the week), the DPOB is keeping a running list of information about area restaurants and businesses for updates, opening, closings, and adjusted hours, says spokeman Michael Evitts.

Evitts is hoping that the hashtag will serve as a helpful tool that will enable Baltimoreans to break bread together.

“Food is something that brings people together whether it’s a barstool or hearth or a kitchen table,” says Evitts. “People want community right now. The corner pub is the living room and restaurants have a role to play in the civic discussion.”

Evitts urges Baltimoreans to patronize their local businesses in any way they see fit.

“We’re doing everything we can to encourage people to go out for lunch or stop by their favorite restaurants on their way home,” he says.

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While the merits of a curfew for public safety are up for debate (former police commissioner Ed Norris said last night he would have advised against it), the affect it will have on the livelihood of those in the service industry is a bit more obvious. Losing four hours of business a night has some bartenders worried about retaining customers, paying bills, and even renewing their liquor licenses.

“The curfew is tough because, for a lot of us, it’s the difference in paying bills and making our mortgage,” says Amie Ward who bartends at Bad Decisions in Fells Point. “We have great regulars who are trying to patronize the bars as much as they can, but you can’t ask them too much because we want them to be safe.”

Ward also points out this is incredibly poor timing because the deadline for renewing—very expensive—liquor licenses is this Friday, May 1.

Some in the service industry even formed a Facebook group called Baltimore’s Counter-Curfew, which calls for lifting the curfew as soon as possible. The site states:

We cannot and must not allow ourselves to pay the price for failed leadership in the face of the Mayor’s incompetence in squelching the chaos on OUR streets yesterday. The Mayor’s curfew will do nothing but cripple business and negatively impact the city’s economy to the level of tens of millions of dollars in mere days. This is an utterly flawed strategy: criminals don’t obey curfews, why should we.

Certain bars, like Bookmakers Cocktail Club in Federal Hill, have made concessions like opening at up at noon instead of its normal 5 p.m. to try and boost business. Of course, the adverse effects from the curfew not only affect bars, but also the entire service industry.

“It will be slow all week for restaurant owners and employees,” says Eric Fooy of B&O American Brasserie. “If you live paycheck-to-paycheck—like most people who make tips do—you will feel the hit.”

Though only minimal damage occurred in Fells Point on Monday night (including a break-in at Capitol Mac), many bars and restaurants in the neighborhood have preemptively boarded up their windows, just to be on the safe side. But it gives the lively neighborhood a very eerie feel.

“It’s been a ghost town,” Ward says. “I think it sends the wrong message. You have better safety in numbers and we’d all feel safer having that foot traffic that’s normally down here. The curfew seems to invite more of a problem.”

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