The hot dog race is always a fan favorite at Orioles games, but when Casey Jarvis is at Camden Yards, his presence gives it a little added mustard.

The 33-year-old attends dozens of games each season wearing full hot dog regalia. When it’s race time, he shoots mustard from a yellow squeeze bottle into his mouth—and often into those of other fans as well.

And he passes out his own free hot dogs to the people in his section, who soon discover what local devotees have known for years: They are delicious.

The proprietor of Glizzy’s Wagyu Dogs, Jarvis began selling quarter-pound beef dogs out of a tow cart in 2022. Slowly, through word-of-mouth and his own brand of dogged personal marketing, Glizzy’s became a citywide favorite. Last year, he became the “chef” (“a term I use tongue-in-cheek,” he says) at No Land Beyond in Station North, where his popular dogs are on the menu.

“One of my slogans is, ‘It’s the meat that matters,’” says Jarvis, who sources his from a farm in Australia. And the origin of that motto is as eccentric as him. “I was selling hot dogs at a rave, and I had run out of buns. I told this [woman] and she goes, ‘Oh, that’s fine, it’s the meat that matters.’”

A Rhode Island native, Jarvis moved to Baltimore 11 years ago. He worked in the food industry before switching to construction. He was drinking at Frazier’s in Hampden, where he lives, when he was struck by an idea: “Instead of hanging out in a bar, why don’t I hang out outside with a hot dog cart?”

Now he takes the cart out four to five times a week, selling dogs at events, concerts, and outside of stores like the ReLeaf dispensary.

“That’s a pretty symbiotic business relationship, as you can imagine,” he says.

A baseball player as a kid, he started taking his dogs to Orioles games in clear gallon plastic bags (as the stadium permits) last year, in part to promote his business, but primarily to have a good time.

“It’s the cost of doing business,” he says. “At the end of the day, when I’ve got a couple dogs on the grill and I’m about to drive [home], I’ll give them to a hungry person on the street. I didn’t start this to become the wealthiest businessman. It’s just a good vehicle for me to involve myself with Baltimore and the community.”

On September 9, he’s taking the hot dog race concept to a whole new level. Jarvis bought 50 tickets to the O’s game against Cleveland, which he plans to resell at face value to friends and followers who want to attempt what he calls a “9/9/9”—eating a hot dog and drinking a 12-ounce beer each inning for nine innings. (Want in? Those interested can sign up, here.)

Jarvis and his pals did it last year. Most people, he says, knew when to tap out. He was not among them.

Hot dogs are loved around the world, says Jarvis, who has a hot dog tattoo on his middle finger. But he sees his unabashed approach as particularly fitting here.

“I’m a little edgy and creative, and Baltimore is a little edgy and creative, and we mesh well together.”

EAT

Aug. 19: La Cuchara Evenings at the Farm

The Zahradka Farm, 2300 Golupski Rd., Essex, 5-9 p.m. $73.80.

Spanish staple La Cuchara took “farm-to-table” to a whole new level in June when it brought its cuisine and its customers from table to farm at the debut of their outdoor dinner series. This Sunday, join chef Ben Lefenfeld for the second installment of this unique dining experience as he prepares a fresh-off-the-farm meal, including dishes such as whole roasted lamb with lemon and cherry tomatoes, grilled sweet potatoes with charred herb salsa, and carrot zucchini cake with coconut buttercream. Soak up the late-summer weather, witness Lefenfeld’s mastery as he cooks over an open flame, and enjoy fresh produce from the evening’s host, the Zahradka Farm in Baltimore County.

DRINK

Aug. 18: St. Patrick Swayze Day

Frazier’s on the Avenue, 917 W. 37th St. 6-11 p.m. Free.

On what would have been his 66th birthday, celebrate the life and legacy of iconic actor Patrick Swayze at Hampden’s beloved neighborhood dive. During this national holiday, toss back themed drinks like the Dirty Dancing watermelon bomb or the Red Dawn shot (a dangerously delicious concoction of Jägermeister, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice) but make sure to balance out the booze with Swayze-specific sustenance, like the towering Road House cheeseburger, topped with an onion ring and a fried egg. With screenings of three of his classic films and free gifts for the first 25 people who arrive in attire dedicated to the ’80s heartthrob, Frazier’s first annual tribute event is sure to be the time of your life.

SEE

Aug. 17: The Medicine Show

The Arena Players, 801 McCulloh St. 7-11 p.m. Free.

Last year, the Red Bull Amaphiko Festival came to Baltimore to give some of the city’s most promising artists and entrepreneurs the “wings” they needed to let their talents fly. This weekend, the festival is back with a series of creative lectures, innovation workshops, and collaborative classes, including this intimate evening of storytelling and art, hosted by local businesswoman and social innovator Michelle Antoinette Nelson, aka Love the Poet. At this historic theater, hear the stories of the local entrepreneurs behind media platform Roots & Raíces, urban florist Tha Flower Factory, and refugee-run co-op Mera Kitchen Collective as told through local artists such as soul singer Joy Postell, rapper Eze Jackson, and spoken word artist Kondwani Fidel at this historic theater.

HEAR

Aug. 18: Hot August Music Festival

Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Free-$199.

When the mercury climbs, that means it’s almost time to head to Cockeysville to celebrate the end of summer with the beloved Hot August outdoor music festival. This year, the event will be headlines by Americana rock septet The Revivalists and modern bluegrass folk-rock masters Trampled By Turtles, followed by other fiery acts including Baltimore artists such as roots king Cris Jacobs, fingerpicking pros The Dirty Grass Players, and Talking Heads tribute group Psycho Killers, plus national talents like rising blues star The Marcus King Band, cricket-player-turned-reggae-star Omari Banks, and bluesy rock powerhouse Nikki Hill. For one hot August night, dance the heat away to a full afternoon and evening genre-spanning tunes.

DO

Aug. 18-19: Feast of St. Gabriel Italian Festival

St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 227 S. Exeter St. Sat. 12-8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $1.

This weekend, bring la famiglia to this annual outdoor festival that celebrates Baltimore’s vibrant Italian community right on the streets of Little Italy. Outside of St. Leo’s Catholic church, taste classic Boot Country fare like meatballs, calzones, and cannolis, cool off with classic Italian vinos, and cheer on the participants at the highly anticipated Roma sausage-eating contest. Stroll alongside Sunday’s lively parade, peruse booths full of arts, crafts, and games, and even take selfies with costumed Roman gladiators. Italian or not, everyone is welcome at this traditional family-friendly street festival that dates back to 1928.

An Poitin Stil

Timonium
By 7:15 p.m., An
Poitin Stil’s parking lot is filled. Inside, happy hour is bleeding into
a bender. Four small groups of officemates are spread throughout The
Stil, that rarest of breed, a county establishment that feels more bar
than restaurant. Not that it lacks tasty fare. The Stil offers Irish
classics like fish and chips and stew. Behind the eight-sided main bar,
conversation varies from shop talk to gossip as the Harps flow. Outside
on the heated “paddy ’o,” more white collars lean on the semi-circular
bar, sipping suds while a duo plays familiar classic rock tunes. It’s 9
p.m. now, and comments like, “You want a Jäger bomb?” and “What’s your
favorite kind of underwear?” are overheard. Tomorrow should be an
interesting workday, assuming everyone makes it into the office. 2323
York Road, 410-560-7900, thestill.net

The Brewer’s Art

Mt. Vernon
Walk
up to The Brewer’s Art, and you’re faced with a decision. Head through
the double doors into the foyer of the grand row house-turned-restaurant
or descend the stairs to the dim and grimy wine cellar-turned-bar.
You’ll be happy either way—the upstairs exudes elegance, with dark wood
molding and marble fireplaces. When you feel like late-night drinks,
downstairs is the perfect hangout with its cozy corner tables carved
with initials. But what we have to mention is the beer. Six tap handles,
some handmade by brewers, signal what’s on draft for the night: a
roughly hewn cross for their famous abbey brown ale Resurrection, a hand
throwing up metal horns for their devilish, Belgian-style Ozzy (a
signed, black-and-white image of the star himself sits behind the bar),
and so on. All suds are brewed on-site, but if beer’s not your thing
(we’ll let it slide), extensive wine and whiskey lists are sure to
quench your thirst. 1106 N. Charles Street, 410-547-9310, thebrewersart.com

Cat’s Eye Pub

Fells Point
Venture
into Cat’s Eye Pub, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms—or at least a
handshake across the bar from co-owner Tony Cushing Jr. A family-owned
Baltimore staple for more than 35 years, the bar has a steady group of
regulars and tourists on pilgrimage. (It made All About Beer’s list of
125 places to have a beer before you die.) The dive’s eclectic décor has
influences Irish, maritime, and downright random. (An upside-down
Christmas tree hangs from the ceiling.) Talented bands and a
come-as-you-are vibe distinguish this pub from its neighbors. There’s
live music every night (one particularly awesome blues band improvised
lyrics about an O’s game) and the front bar is crowded with dancers.
Move to the back room or patio for laid-back conversation with a crowd
diverse in age and style. You’ll find no pretense here, just genuine
people looking to have a good time. 1730 Thames Street, 410-276-9866, catseyepub.com

The Club Charles

Station North
Whatever
you might have heard about The Club Charles, it’s probably true. Yes,
it can be cliquish and dripping with hipster attitude—what do you want?
Matt Porterfield hangs out here!—but it also has low drink prices and
very competent bartenders. The music alone could keep you there for
hours, crafting your own playlist that includes the Cocteau Twins, James
Brown, The Velvet Underground, and The Jesus Lizard. The place is
really, really red, but that only adds to the den-of-iniquity vibe. It’s
got two bars and several retro-looking booths and cubbies. The kitchen
next door pumps out tasty burgers and pizza, and if you’re drinking on a
budget, it’s hard to beat $2.75 for a PBR and $4.30 for a pint of
Guinness. Sure, The Club Charles is not the easiest place to make new
friends, but that shouldn’t matter since you’ll probably run into
someone you know. 1724 N. Charles Street, 410-727-8815, theclubcharles.com

Curb Shoppe Bar & Grill

Mt. Washington
Everything’s
in such tight proximity at the Curb Shoppe that the cops on one side of
the bar can almost certainly hear the conversation about drugs that two
men and a woman are having on the other. (It doesn’t help that these
three appear to have been on their stools for quite some time, and as
such, they’re pretty much shouting.) Neither group cares. It’s comfort
not conflict that has kept the Curb Shoppe around all these years. It
serves sandwiches on white, wheat, or rye—a practice, like the place
itself, that’s seems timeless. If you’re not craving a plate of the Curb
Shoppe’s classic burger bites or gravy fries—not likely—help yourself
to a basket of pretzels on the bar. The beer is cold, the drinks are
strong, and maybe the only proof that it’s 2012 and not 1982 is the
constant parade of people walking outside to smoke. 5736 Falls Road,
410-433-8299, curbshoppe.com

Duda’s Tavern

Fells Point
Duda’s
has come a long way from its mid-century origins as a shot-and-beer
bar, a gathering place—and occasional boarding house—for ship captains
and seafaring men. Now operated by the third generation of the Duda
family, the attractively renovated tavern, at the corner of Bond and
Thames, is a comfortable spot to enjoy a Resurrection draft, some
complimentary peanuts, and a really delicious crab cake on a soft
brioche roll. Weeknight and happy-hour specials provide more reasons to
visit Duda’s and enjoy the ’80s music, pleasing draft selection, and
sports shown on three TVs. In warm weather, the crowd spills onto the
sidewalk, where a handful of tables offer a cafe feel. 1600 Thames
Street, 410-276-9719, dudastavern.com

Frazier’s on the Avenue

Hampden
After
pouring a glass of red wine, filled to the brim, our bartender asks us
not for cash or a credit card, but for our names. We’re at the smaller
of Frazier’s two bars (the one in the room with a single pool table)
and, even though we’re the only people here he doesn’t know, he treats
us like we’re regulars. We will be soon. The sum of its nuances makes
Frazier’s special—the flavorful salsa served with the potato skins, the
wide wooden bar with a step on which to rest your feet and a ledge for
your elbows, and the welcoming people on both sides of it. After
splitting two salmon cakes and a delicious plate of fries, we order a
nightcap. Our driver asks if she can get a half glass of wine. “Sure,”
the bartender says. You get the feeling that he rarely says “no.” He
starts pouring, looks up smiling, and says, “Just say when.” 919 W. 36th
Street, 410-662-4914

Howard’s Subway

Linthicum
In
July of 1946, Oscar Howard Sensibaugh and his wife, Ruby, bought a
house on Hammonds Ferry Road and opened a bar in the basement. The
underground location begat its enigmatic name: Subway. Four generations
of Sensibaughs have worked the bar since, and honor Howard’s creation.
It is a monument to what a basement bar should look like—a precise
mixture of Formica, wood paneling, tile and terrazzo floors, red-leather
stools, and amber wall sconces. Judy the bartender scolds a customer
for using profanity, and he sheepishly apologizes. At a corner booth,
five young men share a pitcher of beer. The double doors to the kitchen
swing open and Karen Sensibaugh carries a tray of loudly sizzling New
York strip steaks. As she runs to the table, smoke trails behind her,
and when she sets the metal platters down, the men applaud and cheer. As
they eat, a mouthwatering aroma fills the room, and several patrons ask
to see menus. 711 N. Hammonds Ferry Road, 410-789-6609

Jennings Cafe

Catonsville
Jennings
Cafe feels a lot like your uncle’s knotty-pine clubroom, and even the
regulars will welcome you like a long-lost cousin.
Family-owned-and-operated since 1958, Jennings is a comfortable spot to
have a few beers and watch the game with the guys, but it’s wholesome
enough to bring the kids for dinner, even complete with a children’s
menu that includes spaghetti, hot dogs, and chicken tenders—plus, plenty
of choices for grownups. Try the popular crab cakes, soft crabs, and
shrimp salad with a side of cucumber and onions, lovingly prepared by
the matriarch herself, Mrs. Jennings. With a subtle horse-racing theme
referencing its roots, and waitresses who just might pull up a chair and
shoot the breeze while you eat, Jennings has a comfortably dated feel.
The only modern element might be the clever addition of Fat Tire ale to
the tap array. 808 Frederick Road, 410-744-3824, jenningscafe.com

Johnny Dee’s Lounge

Parkville
Tucked
in the lower level of the Loch Ridge Shopping Center, Johnny Dee’s
Lounge is literally a hideaway. Walk through the unassuming doors and be
transported to another time. This isn’t your grandfather’s lounge,
unless your grandfather was very hip. The main room is filled with
enough vintage mid-century modern furniture to make the set designers of
Mad Men weep. If you don’t want to sit in the lounge, try to get a seat
at the bar. Its “L” shape, with nine black leather stools crowded
around it, makes it ideal for chatting up strangers or drinking with a
friend. If you want a beer, go ahead and order one of the 20 bottled
brands in stock. But there’s something about the place that just makes
you want a cocktail—a classic martini, Manhattan, or Tom Collins.
Bartenders Joan, Tiffany, and Henry pour 30 years of combined experience
into every drink. Small plaques bearing the names of good customers
line the walls—they can’t be purchased, they must be earned. And there’s
no better time to start. 1705 Amuskai Road, 410-665-7000

The Judge’s Bench Pub

Ellicott City
In
a city where our favorite bars are around the corner, driving 20
minutes down the road seems unnecessary. That is, until we visit The
Judge’s Bench Pub in Ellicott City. Located right on quaint Main Street,
the stone building bedazzled with white Christmas lights gives off an
immediately warm feeling. We plop down on two open bar stools and notice
a diverse array of beer taps hanging from the ceiling and marvel at how
the bartender, Carrie, seems to know everyone’s back story. “How’s the
new job?” she’ll ask. “Did you get a haircut?” Though we’re not
regulars, she’s sweet as can be as we order a beer flight (four 4-ounce
pours) including Ommegang Abbey, Heavy Seas Great Pumpkin, Stoudts
Achluophobia, and a Weyerbacher Heresy stout. Without missing a beat,
she assures us that the Stoudts isn’t too strong, and only clocks in at
4.8 percent ABV. Rumors are this place is haunted (like most of Ellicott
City), but we can’t help but feel a sense of total comfort, and we’re
not the only ones. “That’s what happens,” says a middle-aged man next to
us. “You come in here for one drink and, before you know it, they’re
closing down.” 8385 Main Street, 410-465-3497, judgesbenchpub.com

Leon’s

Mt. Vernon
No
one seems to remember the name of the first bar at the corner of Tyson
Street and Park Avenue, or how long it had been there. But in 1957 it
was called Leon’s, and Leon’s was the first “gay-friendly” bar in
Baltimore. So, to Charm City’s gay community, it’s hallowed ground. On
Sunday nights, the place is packed and fun. Patrons, all male, are
spilling out the front door onto the sidewalk. Inside, Ben the bartender
works the oval bar, quickly serving two-for-one, happy-hour drinks.
It’s a dark, low-ceilinged place, and techno music blares from the
speakers without overwhelming the conversations. There is no uniform:
Denim is as prevalent as leather; Orioles and Ravens jerseys are both
represented; and men in Polo shirts sit next to men wearing no shirts at
all. Hugs and kisses get exchanged when walking in, even if you walked
out just a minute before. Some patrons are obviously alone, but no one
looks lonely. And maybe that’s all anyone should ask of any bar, gay or
straight. 870 Park Avenue, 410-539-4993, leonsbaltimore.tripod.com

Muir’s Tavern

South Baltimore
There
was a time when Fort Avenue was lined with family-owned bars—perhaps as
many as 30 between Race Street and Fort McHenry. South Baltimore’s
locals bought drinks from their neighbors in places called Cox’s,
Hartlove’s, and Henry’s. Today those names are nothing but memories,
only Muir’s remains. It’s a Formstone castle at the corner of Marshall
Street and Fort Avenue with a classic Baltimore pedigree. It was founded
in 1944 by Roland Muir, a tugboat captain, who ran the place and lived
upstairs. His son, Roland Jr. took over in 1968, but not before he
worked 23 years as a longshoreman and 18 years for the National Brewing
Company. Inside, it’s pure Baltimore: There’s a framed portrait of
Johnny Unitas on the wall, the Natty Boh signage dates back to when it
was actually made here, and red neon light bathes everything. The bar
fills up on a Friday afternoon and Roland Jr. sits at a back table with
his nephew, Tom, the third-generation Muir at the helm. They clink two
beer cans together and toast the approach of the seventh decade. 36 E.
Fort Avenue, 410-385-0344