OPEN

Vida Taco Bar: Ever since the Central Avenue Bridge opened earlier this month, diners have enjoyed easy access to eateries in Harbor Point—the 27-acre peninsula that sits in between Harbor East and Fells Point. The most recent addition to the mixed-use development is a new location of Annapolis favorite Vida Taco Bar, which officially opened earlier this week. The strictly tacos-and-tequila menu features creative tortillas stuffed with everything from fried avocado and Buffalo cauliflower to glazed pork belly and soft-shell crab. Wash down all of the eats with colorful cocktails including a classic Paloma, watermelon margarita, and a hibiscus sangria. 1401 Point St., 443-835-8474

Dear Globe Coffee: Since it was founded last year, this local roastery has been winning over coffee fiends with its worldly blends sold at Remington Wine Company, Taps Fill Station, and local pop-up markets around town. Last week, owner LieAnne Navarro opened a brick-and-mortar headquarters for the coffee operation on Antique Row in Mt. Vernon. Swing by to sample the strong java drinks alongside muffins and cookies by local bakeshop Taste This Cake. To celebrate the opening, Bottoms Up Bagels will be on site slinging their signature bagels and sandwiches at the shop July 24-27 from 7-10 a.m. 827 N. Howard St., 443-850-5051

LemonTopia: Pucker up for this sweet pop-up that opened inside Cross Street Market earlier this week. Perfect for summer scorchers, the stall offers refreshing lemonades (think flavors like mint, cherry, and peach citrus) and other lemon-flavored treats created by 11-year-old Jamaria Crump. The young entrepreneur will be behind the counter on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. until school starts back up in the fall. Stop by to indulge in the ultimate summer snack of lemonade paired with cookies, pie bites, cheesecake, and, of course, lemon bars. 1065 S. Charles St.

World of Beer: Adding to the thriving dining scene in Owings Mills—which recently welcomed Stanford Kitchen and will soon see a new Mexican hotspot—is the latest location of this Tampa-based craft beer franchise. World of Beer has officially debuted in the Metro Centre development offering a full food menu and more than 50 brews on tap. Drink your way through the local (think Union, Heavy Seas, Flying Dog, Jailbreak, etc.) and domestic selection while enjoying eats like mac and cheese bites, Margherita flatbreads, and DIY burgers. 10200 Grand Central Ave., Ste. 100, 410-363-1040

COMING SOON

AJ’s on Hanover: After a string of neighborhood closures—including Regi’s Bistro, Rachel New American Cuisine, and Metropolitan—South Baltimore locals will be happy to hear that the team behind Delia Foley’s on South Charles Street has taken over the former Bluegrass Tavern space one block over. Come September, owners Andrew Carter and Jesse Selke will transform the former Lowcountry spot into this community hangout featuring upscale pub grub, moderately priced entrees, oysters, wine, cocktails on tap, and a selection of craft beer. Stay tuned for more details. 1500 S. Hanover St.

NEWS

Chelsea Gregoire Named One of Eater’s Young Guns: It’s been an exciting week for Chelsea Gregoire. The local service industry veteran—who we name Best Bartender in our current “Best of Baltimore” issue on stands July 27—also received national acclaim from Eater this week. Gregoire earned a coveted spot on the publication’s annual “Young Guns” list, which praises food service up-and-comers from cities across the country. Aside from shouting out her work as bar manager at the new Hotel Revival, the piece mentions Gregoire’s consulting business, Drinkable Genius, as well as her work to advocate for women and LGBTQ+ professionals. “More than ever, I want to encourage people to take up their space,” she told Eater. “I’m excited to do what I do and bring people along with me as I go.”

EPICUREAN EVENTS

7/19: KoRYEan Pop-Up at Rye
Throughout the past year, Haenyo has invaded local kitchens including Dylan’s Oyster Cellar, Forno, R. House, Cafe Andamiro, and Village Square Cafe to serve its signature Korean-fusion dishes to the masses. Now, the pop-up is celebrating its first birthday in style with a special event at Rye in Fells Point. Head to the bar tonight to sample an a la carte menu of small plates such as yukhoe (beef tartare), shrimp and kimchi mandu, and spicy tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes) paired with Korean-inspired cocktails crafted by the Rye team. 1639 Thames St. 6-11 p.m. 443-438-3455

7/19: Gathering for the Gazette

Tonight, Mick O’Sheas in Mt. Vernon is hosting this trivia fundraiser to support victims of the tragic shooting in the Capital Gazette newsroom last month. All trivia proceeds and donations will benefit the Capital Gazette Families Fund—which aids survivors and families of the victims with funeral costs, grief and trauma counseling, and other expenses that might arise as a result of the tragedy. In true Charm City fashion, many local establishments including Mother’s Grille, DuClaw Brewing, Alexander’s Tavern are helping to support the cause by donating gift cards to be raffled off as prizes at the event. 328 N. Charles St. 6:30-9 p.m. 410-539-7504

NEWS

NuBohemia Cafe: The days are numbered for this celebrated coffee and arts venue, which has been a staple in the Mt. Vernon community for the past five years. Earlier this week, owner Jay Rags took to Facebook to announce that the cafe would be closing this summer. “The reason for us closing without a new home is a simple one,” the post reads. “We ‘settled’ for the location we are in now, and made the best of it. We do not want to continue with that philosophy moving forward. Until we find a location that makes sense to us, we will take a break.” Though this isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of NuBohemia, an official closing date for the shop in Mt. Vernon has been set for June 1. In the meantime, be sure to stop in to browse the cafe’s collection of local artwork while sipping fresh-brewed coffees and teas. 42 W. Biddle St., 919-408-7723

Camden Yards Announces New Vendor Lineup: Orioles fans should be on the lookout for some familiar food concepts while backing the birds at Camden Yards this season. Among the new local eateries setting up shop inside the stadium include Corned Beef Row mainstay Attman’s Deli, Ocean City-based Boardwalk Fries, Mount Vernon Marketplace favorite Pinch Dumplings, and longtime Baltimore County pizza purveyor Pizza John’s. Beer lovers will also be happy to hear that Free State Pub, known for its hyper-local craft beer lineup, has expanded its presence in the park. 333 W. Camden St.

COMING SOON

B.C. Brewery: A grand opening date has finally been set for this family-friendly taproom in Hunt Valley, which was formerly referred to as at Balt County Brewing. (Owner Rich Mak recently decided to shorten the name to avoid possible legal issues with other local breweries that use similar monikers.) The 12,000-square-foot facility and taproom will officially open its doors on Saturday, April 14, boasting warm woods, strung lights, group games like corn hole and bocce, a serve-yourself beer wall, and even its own food truck parked outside. Head brewer Jim Wagner will offer 25 taps filled with signature releases including the M2 Imperial New England Pale Ale, End of Summer Dark Mexican lager, Soul Reed Chocolate Double Rye porter, and the Paw Paw New England India pale ale. 10950 Gilroy Ave., Ste F., Hunt Valley, 443-391-3847

The Common Kitchen: Come summer, Howard County residents won’t have to make their way to Baltimore to experience the communal food market concept at hotspots like the Mount Vernon Marketplace or R. House in Remington. The county’s first-ever food hall is slated to debut inside Clarksville Commons—the new sustainable, mixed-use project from local developers George and Holly Stone—in the coming months. Though the vendor lineup has yet to be solidified, the 6,000-square-foot space will feature 10 stalls, as well as a bar selling coffee and cocktails. The market is expected to seat 50 guests inside, and feature garage-style doors for al fresco dining throughout the warmer months. Stay tuned for more details. 12240 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville.

POP-UP PRESS

TO 4/1: The Local Fry at R. House
There’s still time to catch this fan-favorite Federal Hill fry shop at R. House. Throughout the weekend, husband-and-wife duo Kevin and Elizabeth Irish will be serving up a special menu of their signature loaded fries, banh mi sandwiches, and rice bowls for foodies grazing at the market. You can’t go wrong with eats like honey Old Bay tofu bites, a bulgogi banh mi loaded with pickled daikon and carrots, or the classic Local Fry basket topped with taco beef, shredded cheddar, and a spicy sauce. 301 W. 29th St.

4/2: Haenyo at Forno
It’s only fitting that this Korean-fusion pop-up would partner with Everyman Theatre to celebrate the company’s current run of Aubergine—a play that chronicles the life of a Korean chef and his ailing father. To honor the story, Haenyo chefs Collin Morstein and Irvin Seo are transforming Italian restaurant Forno (Everyman’s neighbor) into a Korean kitchen for one night only. The evening’s menu will include authentic offerings commonly served in Korean-American homes, such as a traditional muguk dish with dumplings and roasted fish. 17 N Eutaw St., 5-10 p.m., $8-25, 443-873-9427

SHUT

8 Ball Bar & Grill: Fells Point locals are going to have a tough time saying goodbye to this neighborhood favorite, which opened in the former home of Tapas Adela on Broadway just two years ago. Earlier this week, management announced that the Italian eatery would be closing its doors for good on Monday, April 2. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce we have accepted another offer on our location and this week will be our last,” reads a statement posted to Facebook. “We love Baltimore and Fells Point, and we truly believe we are leaving you all in good hands with the next group.” There’s no word yet on who has taken over the space. Throughout its short-but-sweet run, 8 Ball became a destination for craft cocktails, Detroit-style square pizzas, and a variety of meatballs in savory sauces. 814 S. Broadway, 443-759-5315

OPEN

QQ Boba: Don’t be surprised if you happen to see an influx of bubble tea photos flooding your Instagram feeds. Earlier this week, QQ Boba joined the scene on The Avenue in Hampden, offering smoothies, juices, and a wide array of boba—the trendy Taiwanese milk teas often enhanced with flavored jellies and chewy tapioca balls. Taking over the former home of Polenta Cafe, the spot specializes in bubble tea favorites like passionfruit green tea and the lavender-hued taro milk tea. The shop is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and Sundays, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 900 W. 36th St., 443-682-3502

Gordon Ramsay Steak: Famously fiery celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay came to town earlier this week to unveil Gordon Ramsay Steak, his new restaurant inside Horseshoe Casino Baltimore. Ramsay’s first East Coast dining destination features various cuts of meat and seafood dishes, as well as fare like beef wellington and sticky toffee pudding that serves as a nod to the chef’s British roots. The interior also furthers the U.K. vibe, with plush furniture and a huge Union Jack flag on the ceiling above the dining room. (Read more about Ramsay’s restaurant and his thoughts on Baltimore.) 1525 Russell St., 443-931-4386

NEWS

Colossal Blue: If you’re on the hunt for ultra-local gifts to send to foodie friends this season, this new startup might be your best bet. Recently launched by lifelong Marylanders George and Catherine Nichols, Colossal Blue ships traditional crab cakes, crab balls, and crab soups nationwide. All of the cakes are hand-made using the family’s decades-old recipe, then packaged with black ice in a polystyrene box to maintain an ideal temperature for next-day shipping.

POP-UP PLANS:

TO 12/3: Big Bean Theory at R. House

Big Bean Theory, the celebrated soup stall at the Mount Vernon Marketplace, is setting up shop at a new communal food hall this week. Throughout the weekend, swing by R. House to sample chef Eula McDowell’s specialties including hot soups, fish sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, and black bean burgers. 301 W. 29th St., 443-347-3570

12/3: Haenyo at Village Square Cafe

The dudes behind this Korean-fusion pop-up are certainly keeping busy. On the heels of takeovers at spots like R. House in Remington and Cafe Andamiro in Mt. Vernon, Collin Morstein and Irvin Seo are heading to Cross Keys this weekend. The pop-up at Village Square Cafe will have a fall harvest theme, featuring dishes like japchae (sweet potato noodles and vegetables), songpyeon (sweet rice cake), doenjang-jiggae (bean curd soup), and Korean-style meatballs made with beef from Liberty Delight Farms in Reisterstown. 66 Village Square, 5-10 p.m., $8-18, 410-433-2233

EPICUREAN EVENTS

11/30: Pig Roast + Tiki Party at Alma Cocina Latina

If you’re already missing the summer heat, Canton’s Alma Cocina Latina has got you covered. At this all-out tiki bash, sip on refreshing punches from Denizen Rum, feast on a 17-hour smoked Rortega Farms pig, and tap your feet to live music by flamenco guitarist Michael Perez. All while snacking on traditional Venezuelan favorites like arepas, cachapas (corn cakes), pickled onions, and cilantro mojo. 2400 Boston St., 6:30 p.m., $40, 667-212-4273

12/6: Second Annual Truffle Feast at Gnocco
This Highlandtown dining destination is hosting a special dinner to celebrate the peak of truffle season. Chef Brian Lavin’s six-course menu featuring wine pairings from Northern Italy (think cortese and prosecco brut) will include dishes such as savory pumpkin sformato (similar to a soufflé) with caramelized onions and crispy leeks, fontina tortellini with brown butter and hazelnuts, and seared sea scallops with a sea urchin crema. 3734 Fleet St., $179, 7 p.m., 443-449-6540

SHUT

Tooloulou: Locals lost a go-to for pizza and po’boys earlier this week, after Cajun eatery Touloulou shuttered its doors in Belvedere Square. Owners Shawn and Megan Lagergren took to Facebook to announce the news, stating that the decision was a difficult one: “Blood, sweat, tears, and so much sacrifice have gone into our business,” the post reads. “Sometimes, it’s not enough. We are deeply, deeply hurting with this loss and the closing of Tooloulou. Thank you for coming in and making memories with us.” There’s no word yet on what will become of the spot, which was best known for its shrimp and grits, fried oysters, kale salads, and classic beignets. 529 E. Belvedere Ave.