EAT

To May 10: Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week at Charmed Kitchen

123 S. Chester St. 8 am. to 8 p.m.

This week, Charmed Kitchen is celebrating the heroes in our lives, who deserve endless thanks for the work they’re doing during the pandemic. Now through Sunday, teachers and nurses can bring their school ID or badge to the Butcher’s Hill restaurant to receive 20 percent off their entire carryout purchase. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., head to Charmed Kitchen for a sweet deal on tasty items like a spring-ready spinach and berry salad or a beef burger topped with sauteed onions and truffle aioli. And be sure to check out to-go cocktails like the “Strong One,” a mix of gin, bourbon, blood orange bitters, and lemon juice finished with ginger beer.

DRINK

May 8: Union’s Virtual Old Pro Open

Facebook and Instagram Live. 4-5 p.m. Free.

Though the festivities for Union Craft Brewing’s fifth-annual Old Pro Open won’t be happening in Ocean City this year, the team isn’t one to deprive fans of dino-themed fun. Grab some beer to-go (like Union Craft’s Old Pro six-pack with an Orange Crush flavor shot, available for pickup at Union Collective) then tune in to Facebook or Instagram Live to watch three past Old Pro Open winners battle it out on a virtual three-hole course. For information on how to enter contests like “Best Golf Outfit,” “Best Trick Shot,” and “Best Old Pro Photo,” check Union’s Facebook page.

SEE

May 8: Funny Factor Online Comedy Show w/ Checkerspot Brewing

1399 S. Sharp St. and Zoom. 8-9 p.m. Free.

A long week at home desperately calls for a Friday-night laugh, and luckily, Funny Factor Comedy has us covered. This Friday, the group is teaming up with South Baltimore’s own Checkerspot Brewing Company for a night filled with performances and video conversations, featuring comedians from near and far. Crack open one of Checkerspot’s cans, available for pickup at the brewery, and get ready to laugh as local favorites Darryl Charles, Erin Patrick, and Jeff Ryan take the virtual stage.

HEAR

May 9: Virtual Prom with DJ Kopec

Facebook Live. 7-9 p.m. Free

Nothing compares to the excitement of prom season. High on the list of activities that will be missed by this year’s class of 2020 is perhaps every high school student’s most anticipated rite of passage: senior prom. Whether you’re a senior ready to dance away the stress of your online studies, or a parent looking to relive the glory days, take a picture on the front lawn, dress to the nines, and tune in to Facebook Live where Ellicott City’s DJ Kopec will be cranking out a mix of throwback dance hits from the ’80s and ’90s.

DO

May 9: BMORE Around Town Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Zoom. 2-5 p.m. $20

This Saturday, the tailgating experts with BMORE Around Town are back with another virtual scavenger hunt. Before you’re ready to compete against family and friends in a series of 30 virtual challenges, you’ll need access to Zoom, a phone with a camera, at least one player over the age of 21, and a few boozy beverages for the adults. Prizes will be given to top the 10 teams, and proceeds from the event will go directly to Kelly’s Dream—a nonprofit fighting to raise melanoma awareness and ease the financial strain on those with cancer.

OPEN

Charmed Kitchen: Early risers in Butchers Hill are in for a treat this week as this new community cafe officially opened its doors for breakfast service starting at 6:30 a.m. The community spot from longtime neighborhood residents Lindsay and Andrew Crummey debuted with an opening menu of coffee, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches on fresh-baked breads. The plan is for executive chef Christa Bruno to roll out dinner service in the coming weeks, featuring dishes that reflect her Italian roots. (Think pasta, risotto, meats, and fish cooked with local produce.) Until then, the shop will offer a variety of coffee drinks, as well as breakfast and lunch fare, during the day. 123 S. Chester St. 443-627-8369

COMING SOON

Saffron Grill: The dining options in Fells Point are becoming increasingly diverse, with new restaurants opening along the waterfront, an array of vendors preparing to open inside Broadway Market, and now, this new Indian and Pakistani concept opening in the area. Slated to debut in February 2019, Saffron Grill will focus on Middle Eastern staples including authentic kebabs, lamb chops, and gyros. “We look forward to adding a different option to the standard American fare in Fells Point,” said owner Syed Zaidis in a statement. The spot will neighbor new women’s boutique Mint & Major in the mixed-use Marketplace at Fells Point on South Broadway. 616 S. Broadway.

NEWS

The Bluebird and Little Bird Welcome New Chefs: A new chef duo is at the helm of Hampden’s Bluebird Cocktail Room, as well as its subterranean sister-spot Little Bird Coffee Bar. Newly appointed executive chef Chance Jones and sous chef Bri White met Bluebird owners Paul and Caroline Benkert in their former roles at Woodberry Kitchen. At Bluebird, diners can expect to see more locally sourced ingredients incorporated into the dishes and drinks. Downstairs at Little Bird, Jones and White are hoping to introduce special pairing dinners that showcase seasonal ingredients from regional purveyors such as Caputo Bros. Creamery in Southern Pennsylvania. 3600 Hickory Ave. 667-303-3263

Baby’s on Fire Joins Retail Coffee Market: Be on the lookout for a new signature coffee blend at record store-cafe Baby’s on Fire in Mt. Vernon. Husband-and-wife owners David and Shirlé Koslowski recently partnered with Bryce Roszell of Open Seas Coffee Roasters on Kent Island to create their own blend, which incorporates grinds from Brazil, Sumatra, and Guatemala. Used in espresso and drip drinks, the coffee features notes of cinnamon, vanilla, almond, and earthy cedar with a hint of citrus. For every 12-oz. bag of Baby’s On Fire Blend purchased, 10 percent of the profits are invested back into sustainable coffee farming projects and communities. 1010 Morton St. 443-885-9892

The Red Star Bar & Grill Debuts New Winter Menu: If you haven’t had a chance to visit the new Red Star location in Charles Village since its grand opening last summer, stop in this season to sample eats off of a brand-new winter menu. Executive chef Francisco Lopez—formerly of Ryleigh’s Oyster in Federal Hill—debuted a selection of comforting dishes at the new location in Charles Village, as well as the Red Star flagship in Fells Point, earlier this week. Among them are a pot roast French dip with horseradish sauce and a $10 “Red Star” burger stacked with American cheese. Equipped with warm woods and dim lighting, the cozy Charles Village space also hosts beer-and-burger specials on Mondays, half-priced wine for neighborhood locals on Tuesdays, and other nightly specials. 3224 St. Paul St. 443-948-5539

EPICUREAN EVENTS

12/8: Diamondback and Order & Chaos Coffee Stout Launch Party
For the third year in a row, South Baltimore neighbors Diamondback Beer and Order & Chaos are teaming up to unveil a limited-edition coffee stout. Order & Chaos general manager Rachel Harris worked alongside Diamondback head brewer Tom Foster to dream up the beer, which is brewed with dark specialty malts and cold brew coffee. This Saturday, pair the specialty brew—which has notes of chocolate, dark fruit, and roasted almonds—with Order & Chaos’ signature Belgian waffles at an official launch party at Diamondback from 12-4 p.m. If you can’t make it to the event, the beer will be available in the taproom throughout the beginning of January. 1215 E Fort Ave. Ste. 008

SHUT (FOR NOW)

Stang of Siam: For the time being, Stang of Siam regulars are going to have to get their Thai fix elsewhere in Mt. Vernon. A sign posted to the front door of the restaurant on North Calvert Street indicates that the eatery closed, but will reopen under new management in the coming weeks. “We expect all of you will still be pleased with the quality of food and service,” the sign reads. The statement goes on to explain that the new owners operate multiple Thai restaurants in Washington, D.C., and plan to do some renovating before reopening with a new name. 1301 N. Calvert St.

Local lore has it that the nickname “Charm City” dates back to 1975, when then-mayor William Donald Schaefer asked four of the area’s top advertising professionals to dream up a slogan that promoted the city’s appeal. A charm bracelet was even featured on the bottom of the new ads to convey the message visually.

Though residents have been embracing it for decades, recently, an influx of local restaurants have been taking inspiration from the moniker when naming their businesses. Aside from favorites like ice cream shop The Charmery and cat cafe Charmed Kitty, a new eatery called Charmed is expected to debut on North Calvert Street in Mt. Vernon next month—but it’s not to be confused with Charmed Kitchen, which is opening its doors in Butchers Hill this May.

“We kept playing with the word ‘charmed’ being that we’re Charm City,” says Christa Bruno, Charmed Kitchen’s executive chef. “But we didn’t want to be so blatant about it, so we added the ‘kitchen’ because with a kitchen you think of an all-day, busy place where the door is constantly open and people are coming in and out.”

The open-all-day approach is, in fact, a key part of Charmed Kitchen’s objective. Husband-and-wife owners—and longtime Butchers Hill residents—Lindsay and Andrew Crummey will head up breakfast and lunch service during the day, and Bruno will step in to helm the kitchen for dinner service.

“I’m not a morning person,” Bruno quips. “So having a more chef-inspired dinner worked out nicely.”

The owners bought the building—which previously housed bodega Ronnie’s Food Market and has two apartment units upstairs—on the corner of Chester and Pratt streets about a year ago. Originally, they didn’t plan to change much. But when Ronnie’s closed last year due to lack of business, the duo had to come up with a plan to utilize the vacant space.

“We wanted to keep it a neighborhood amenity,” Lindsay says. “We didn’t want to do what a lot of other developers are doing, which is that they turn these mixed-use corners into one big residential house. It was important to keep it an amenity, not only for our family, but for everyone else around us.”

The building is currently under construction, but on track to debut in May featuring a 35-seat dining room, custom cafe tables built with reclaimed wood from the original floor, and a brand new commercial kitchen.

Daytime service will include an array of coffees and teas, breakfast plates, grab-and-go sandwiches for lunch, and free Wi-Fi for residents looking for a place to work. There will also be a small selection of grocery items (think milk, eggs, and bread) for locals to purchase.

Bruno—a Baltimore native who previously operated now-closed Pazza Luna in Locust Point and currently works at Sotto Sopra in Mt. Vernon—will present a dinner menu that reflects her Italian roots with pastas, risotto, meats, fish, and local produce.

“My grandmother is from Sicily,” says Bruno, who recently traveled to the region to do research for the new restaurant. “So I was raised in kitchens and taught to cook from scratch. I want to bring that back to the table—the really fine essence, flavors, love, and attention to cooking.”

While Bruno is looking forward to the restaurant becoming a destination for diners from different parts of the city and county, the owners hope that the daytime cafe will be a staple in the community.

“Bringing a new spot to the scene makes me excited because it gives me another reason to want to stay here,” says Lindsay, who has lived in Butchers Hill for nearly eight years. “I hope this gives other families and young professionals a reason to stay, too.”