Editor’s Note: After this piece was published, Hotel Revival’s Virtual Happy Hour scheduled for Friday, June 12 was unexpectedly cancelled.

---

EAT

June 14: Bake Sale for Black Lives Matter

Peabody Heights Brewery. 401 E 30th St. 1-4 p.m.

This weekend, you can quell sweet-tooth cravings while supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. The Charm City Night Market is partnering with Peabody Heights Brewery to raise money for two local organizations including Black Yield Institute, a Cherry Hill-based initiative that works to end food apartheid, as well as the Baltimore Action Legal Team, which provides legal support to those protesting against racial injustice. Chef Cai Lindeman from Noona’s will be running the sale at the brewery with options from local favorites including Codetta Bake Shop, Bramble Baking Co., Dutch Courage, Black Rock Orchard, Red Emma’s, and True Chesapeake Oyster Co. To limit contact at the bake sale, you can buy virtual vouchers in advance to redeem for your goodies of choice. If you can’t make it out, donations are also being accepted online.

DRINK

June 12: Hotel Revival Virtual Happy Hour

Instagram Live. 5-7 p.m. Free.

After a long week, there is no better way to unwind than with your favorite summer cocktail or an ice-cold beer. While we’d love to enjoy our drink of choice in-person at Hotel Revival’s upstairs garden bar, tuning in to this virtual happy hour from your cozy couch or breezy porch is still a worthy way to start your weekend. Head to the Mount Vernon hotel’s Facebook or Instagram account to bump along to beats spun by DJ Trillnatured and turn your living room into a dance party of your own.

SEE

June 12-21: Maryland Film Festival’s Virtual Fest

Times and prices vary.

For all of the film buffs and cinephiles out there—this Friday the Maryland Film Festival is bringing the big screen to you. Although the Parkway Theatre is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, the show must go on, and this year the annual movie event is going virtual. Unlock access to 17 feature films and 15 short films or browse the website and buy individual tickets to the movies you know you can’t miss. TT the artist’s Dark City Beneath the Beat will kick off the festival and explore Baltimore City through its club music and dance scene. Don’t forget the popcorn!

HEAR

June 12: Lafayette Gilchrist Trio Streaming Concert

7 p.m. $5.

There’s nothing like listening to live music, especially when it’s coming from acclaimed pianist and local legend Lafayette Gilchrist. This Friday, An Die Musik will stream a performance by Gilchrist alongside his jazzy trio as a part of the venue’s quarantine concert series. The group will be previewing their new album Now, ahead of its October release. Get your tickets and listen to Gilchrist and his fellow musicians use their instruments to confront social issues, such as police brutality and wealth gaps, affecting Baltimore.

DO

June 13-14: Virtual HonFest

11-4 p.m. Free.

Not everyone’s got what it takes to be one of Baltimore’s Best Hons, but if you’re fluent in Bawlmerese and no stranger to a wash-and-set hairdo, you may just get the gold. This annual festival honors the working women of America, but especially the working women of our cherished Charm City. No need to go downy Hampden, hon—this year the competition is virtual. Don your Bawlmer fashion and snap a picture to share on social media using the hashtags #HONfest2020 and #SaferatHomeHON to have your shot at local fame. Just remember, the higher the hair the closer to god.

EAT

May 22-24: Sporty Dog Creations Memorial Day Pop-Up at Hotel Revival

101 W. Monument St. 12-9 p.m. Prices vary.

Nothing says Memorial Day Weekend like hot dogs. We know, we know. The all-American barbecue food isn’t for everyone. But LaShauna Jones and Daejonne Bennett, the mother-daughter duo behind Sporty Dog Creations, craft franks to satisfy all palates. This weekend, they’re setting up a grill in the valet lane at Hotel Revival in Mt. Vernon to offer curbside pickup and delivery of their signature vegan, hot honey chicken, jerk chicken, and classic beef hot dogs. There will also be crudos, grilled oysters, burgers, and to-go cocktails from the hotel’s rooftop bar, Topside. Through Sunday, customers who spend $20 ordering online will receive a 20 percent-off coupon to spend on any of The Sporty Dog’s pre-packaged hot dogs to grill at home.

DRINK

May 23: Whiskey Among Friends: A Fundraiser and Tasting

Zoom. 8:30 p.m.

If you’re looking for a way to show some love to the city’s hard-hit hospitality industry, donating to the Baltimore Bartenders’ Guild is a great option. And this weekend, the guild is offering a special virtual whiskey tasting for the folks who generously donate $100 or more. Funders can pick up a tasting kit, which contains selections from Bardstown Bourbon Company’s latest lineup, from either Dutch Courage in Old Goucher or Mr. Nice Guy Cocktails in Canton. Then, log on to Zoom to taste the spirits, learn about the whiskey-making process with the team from the Kentucky distillery, and raise a glass to Baltimore’s beverage community.

SEE

May 22: Tea with Myrtis: Artistically Speaking

Instagram & YouTube. 2 p.m. Free.

Gallery owner Myrtis Bedolla has been hosting recurring one-on-one salon-style conversations with artists featured in the Women Heal Through Rite and Ritual exhibit at the Mount Vernon gallery. Up next this Saturday is a virtual chat with painter Shanequa Gay. Brew your favorite tea and listen in as the two discuss Gay’s work in the exhibition, which features imaginative narratives that explore women’s roles.

HEAR

May 22: A Tribute to Bill Withers With Cris Jacobs

Facebook Live. 8 p.m. Donations encouraged.

In celebration of Union Craft Brewing’s latest release, the “Somebody to Lean On” double IPA, its brewers have organized a virtual tribute to the late musical legend whose lyrics inspired the beer’s name. Charm City’s own Cris Jacobs will perform his renditions of Bill Withers’ greatest hits on Facebook Live beginning at 8 p.m. Along with 100 percent of the profits from the new beer, a portion of Jacobs’ virtual tip jar will be donated to the Baltimore Restaurant Relief Fund. Be sure to stock up on six packs before the show starts by placing orders for delivery or curbside pickup.

DO

May 22-24: Drive-Thru Strawberry Festival at Weber’s Cider Mill Farm

2526 Proctor Lane, Parkville. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The farmers at Weber’s in Parkville have come up with a way to enjoy the sweetness of their fourth-annual strawberry festival while maintaining social distancing measures. Kicking off this weekend from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., visitors will be able to drive through the property and safely order from a selection of the farm’s treats that make use of the current harvest, including strawberry donuts, sundaes, slushes, quarts of fresh berries, and even strawberry pancake breakfast boxes to assemble at home.

Additional reporting by Lydia Woolever.

EAT

March 8: Mera Kitchen x Wet City

Wet City, 223 W. Chase St. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $30.

This Sunday, Chef Iman of the Mera Kitchen Collective will prepare a traditional Syrian brunch feast for friends, old and new, at Wet City. Known for bringing all corners of the city together through her passion for food, Chef Iman will serve a family-style, prix-fixe menu of some of her favorite brunch dishes during this one-day pop-up event at the Mount Vernon bar. Wash it all down with specialty cocktails, mocktails, and beers provided by Wet City, as well as coffee from Dear Globe.

DRINK

March 8: Rye’s Up

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Baltimore, 2 N. Charles St. 5-10 p.m. $75.

It’s no secret that Baltimore’s craft bartending scene has risen to new heights over the past few years, and this boozy fundraiser showcases some of the best mixologists the city has to offer. Snag tickets to the Baltimore Bartenders’ Guild’s annual all-you-can-drink affair, featuring 20 handcrafted cocktails, small bites from 15 local restaurants, and a silent auction to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Maryland. Stick around to see who is crowned the winner of this year’s best Rye Whiskey cocktail competition.

SEE

March 7-April 11: Helen Zughaib: Unfinished Journeys

Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Imagine being evacuated from your childhood home during a civil war and not knowing if or when you would be able to return. And when you finally do, another war is about to begin. That’s the emotional journey artist Helen Zughaib weathered after being evacuated from Beirut. Now, she is telling the stories of injustice, violence, and hope experienced by the incident’s most vulnerable victims—women and children—through the strokes of her paint brush. Visit Creative Alliance beginning this weekend, and through April 11, to witness how this up-and-coming artist portrays everything from the initial uprising of the Syrian civil war to the current refugee crisis.

HEAR

March 6: Marketplace Mixtape

Mt. Vernon Marketplace, 520 Park Ave. 6-10 p.m. Free.

We’ll take any excuse to make a trip to Mt. Vernon Marketplace, but especially when it involves old-school tunes. For the first show in the food hall’s new First Friday series, up-and-coming DJ Cheaky Willie will be spinning hip-hop and dance beats all night long while patrons eat, drink, and dance the night away. If you need a little extra motivation to get down, we recommend stopping by the Taps Fill Station or The Local Oyster for beer or cocktails before hitting the dance floor.

DO

March 8: International Women’s Day

Hotel Revival, 101 W. Monument St. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Free.

There’s never been a better time to celebrate the women of Baltimore. In honor of International Women’s Day, grab a group of gals and spend Sunday at Hotel Revival, which will be hosting its annual fundraiser to support My Sister’s Place Women’s Center. Along with $5 wine specials for ladies, visitors can browse through jewelry from New Vintage by SAM, enter to win a candle-making workshop with KSM Candle Co., and sample cocktails made by women-owned distilleries.

COMING SOON

Tiki Bar at Hotel Revival: No matter the season, tiki cocktails are all the rage. And it only seems fitting that the greenery-filled Garden Room on the top floor of Mt. Vernon’s Hotel Revival would get in on the trend. Beginning November 8, the space that was formerly used solely for private parties will be open Thursday-Saturday as a destination to take in the panoramic views while sipping herbaceous drinks crafted by bartender Bryan Reinhold. Among the options include the “Mojo’s Jojo” (Monkey Shoulder scotch and apricot liqueur), the “Firebird” (Vida mezcal and Blackwell rum), and the “Suffering Willow,” which fuses apple brandy with Bluecoat gin. Overseeing the Garden Room program will be Revival’s new lead bartender Ian Clark—a local industry veteran who has nearly 20 years of experience managing spots such as Peter’s Inn, Penny Black, Nacho Mama’s, and Modern Cook Shop.

THB Bagels & Deli Expanding to Owings Mills: On the heels of announcing a forthcoming location in Columbia last month, the owners of THB Neighborhood Bagelry + Deli are expanding their footprint yet again. A sixth location of the beloved breakfast-and-lunch spot will open at Mill Station, the site of the former Owings Mills Mall, this summer. But the growth isn’t stopping there—the family-owned business plans to open two additional locations annually through 2025. For now, Owings Mills and Columbia locals can get excited to have the signature New York-style bagels and sandwiches right in their backyard.

OPEN

Uptown Abbey: This cleverly named Abbey Burger Bistro spinoff is now officially up and running in Mt. Washington. After years of operating locations in Federal Hill, Ocean City, and Fells Point, husband-and-wife owners Russ and Marigot Miller—along with business partner Jason Zink of Smaltimore—have expanded yet again, bringing their outside-of-the-box burgers, greasy tots, spiked milkshakes, and pages-long beer list to the former home of The Nickel Taphouse. Featuring fresh bar tops, new flooring, and roll-up style garage doors, the revived corner spot offers the classic Abbey sports-bar vibe along with a few new additions to the menu. Aside from the signature burgers (this month’s featured meats include wild boar, camel, and New Zealand red deer), be on the lookout for steamed seafood offerings like Gulf shrimp with Old Bay, PEI mussels in garlic sauce, and little neck clams with butter.

Bambao: Earlier this week, the former Manchurian Rice Co. space in Harbor East made its debut as this Asian-fusion destination for bao buns and bubble tea. Created with feedback from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School students, the mindful concept highlights dishes including Sambal honey fried chicken, bulgogi short rib buns with pickled Asian pear, pork and crab fried rice, and Buddha bowls topped with pearled barley and edamame. Bambao will also offer origami as an activity for diners to enjoy in the zen space—which features dark woods, neutral tones, interior greenery, and a mural by Kelly Walker of ArtStar Paintworks.

Old Line Cocktail and Wine Bar: As this Highlandtown distillery gets ready to release its eight-year-old American single malt whiskey this weekend, the team is also celebrating the launch of its new satellite bar inside Cross Street Market in Federal Hill. Co-founders Arch Watkins and Mark McLaughlin have collaborated with the team at the newly renovated market to dream up the concept for the bar—which will pour local beer and wine, and, of course, focus on cocktails made with Old Line’s award-winning whiskies and rums. Just in time for the chilly temperatures, the bar has introduced warming happy hour deals such as $5 rum apple ciders and $1-off wine and beer.

SHUT

The Laughing Pint: Sadly, this year’s annual “Misfit Thanksgiving” potluck at The Laughing Pint will be the last. After 13 years, owner Shannon Cassidy is passing the torch to new owners who will introduce another concept, but she says she’s leaving the beloved Highlandtown hangout in “wonderful hands.” A closing party will be held on Saturday, November 23, followed by the potluck and official last day on Thanksgiving. “I am so thankful for the love and support we have received over the past 13 years,” Cassidy announced via Facebook.

Sam’s Canterbury Cafe: Last weekend, this Tuscany-Canterbury community spot shuttered its doors for good. “With mixed emotions and heavy hearts, we have made the difficult decision to close the cafe,” husband-and-wife owners Michael and Jennifer Myers announced via Facebook. “We thank each and every one of you for supporting the mission as well as making a lifetime of memories at the cafe.” The two opened the spot nearly three years ago as a place to provide meaningful employment for their son, Sam, as well as other adults living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Not only was the inviting hangout known for its baked goods, coffee drinks, and breakfast sandwiches, but it was also praised for its thoughtful design (minimal patterns and earthy tones) and programming catered toward those living with ASD. Here’s hoping we’ll see Sam’s smiling face elsewhere sometime soon.

From New York magazine’s recent story on the most powerful drag queens in America to the cover of our June Pride Issue (featuring the one-and-only Betty O’Hellno), it seems like drag has finally gone mainstream.

It’s no secret that drag is a visually-stimulating spectacle, with its kicks, splits, and bodaciously-beat mugs. So why just look at it on magazine covers or on television? Baltimore has its own crop of crazy-talented kings and queens that are worth shelling out cash to see.

Bryan Tarka, who performs as Baby, thinks the popularization of drag from shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race has trickled down to the local level. “We’re on the best track possible to have drag be appreciated as an actual art form, just as any other art form,” says Tarka, who hosts the show Metro/Sexual X at Metro Gallery.

In Tarka’s three years of performing in drag, he’s noticed that the local field has expanded to include more diverse performers, such as drag kings, non-binary performers, and bio queens, which has helped evolve Charm City’s drag scene.

“I feel like the scene has taken a switch from being more traditional pageant style drag,” Tarka says, “We’re really embracing what I view as Baltimore’s roots with Divine, and having more of that trashy, gender-bending, out-there, outlandish, rock and roll type of style drag, which I’m really excited about.”

With Baltimore’s vibrant drag community on the rise, there’s tons of sickening shows to sissy over to for a guaranteed good time. Don’t be one of those people who only sees Ru-Girls when they come to town on tour—spread the love to some local performers at these must-see drag events. So, get to it henny!

Bodacious Brunches

Angie’s Seafood: Keep the second Saturday of each month clear because Angie’s Seafood is offering a bottomless brunch, mimosas, and a can’t-miss show for a great deal. The ever-busy Evon Michelle hosts this gig, along with her gaggle of glamazons. $40

Drag Me to the Beach: Enjoy the sweet serenity of sand between your toes and a twirling queen before your eyes at this new addition to the Charm City drag brunch scene. Held at Sandlot in Harbor Point, this weekly show includes two drink tickets and stars the winner of two seasons of DC Drag Wars, Bombalicious Eklaver. $20

Points South Latin Kitchen: This weekly Sunday brunch features a host of affordable drink specials, so fill up on mimosas, sangria, and Bloody Marys until you’re brave enough to attempt a death drop (aka a dramatic dance move where you descent backward with one leg folded). Prepare to dance the afternoon away with local queens such as Brooklyn Heights, Iyana Deschanel, and Jasmine Blue. $35

Zen West: Every first Sunday, Venus Fastrada hosts this fabulous fete with a rotating theme. (The most recent performance was dedicated to Disney numbers.) Head to the Towson cantina to order mimosa or margarita pitchers for the table before digging in to specialty brunch plates during the show. There’s no cover charge, but be sure to bring bills to tip generously.

Drag Dinners

Drag Revival: Hosted by Baltimore’s 2019 Performer of the Year Dee Dee Derèon, this monthly dinner-and-show affair at Hotel Revival features a rotating cast of popular area queens, including Baby, Venus Frastrada, and Hazel Derèon. Treat yourself to an all-you-can-eat buffet —and don’t miss out on the bottomless Italian Bellinis. $25-40

Illusions: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have Liza Minnelli and Cardi B in the same room? If so, this is the celebrity-tribute drag dinner for you. Come see comedy and burlesque performances by local queens in the shoes of icons such as Whitney Houston, and Britney Spears. $10-750

Sassy Shows:

Grindhouse 2.0: Throw it back to the times of bump and grind burlesque. Held on the first Friday of the month at the Baltimore Eagle, you’ll get a hell of a show for a measly $10 cover. $10-150

Golden West Bingo: Only a drag performer could make a chore as mundane as calling out bingo numbers so lively and exciting. Hit up this vegan paradise every second and fourth Tuesday of the month for rounds of bingo hosted by Evon Michelle and Pariah Sinclair, as well as taco and margarita specials. $5

Metro/Sexual X: Chock full of fashion, art, rock n’roll, tease, filth, and drag, attendees can expect to be entertained when this steamy show pops up at Metro Gallery every few months. Hosted by Baby, the show has featured everything from hard rock to sultry burlesque, and occasionally features other talents from across the DMV. Did we mention this won the 2019 Baltimore Drag Award for Best Drag Show? $15

Sidebar Scandalous Saturdays: This monthly downtown show boasts an all-star line-up, hosted by Pariah Sinclair and featuring queens like Shaunda Leer and Saaphyri Wildz. Pro tip: The first ten attendees receive a specialty cocktail, so be sure to get there early. $8-10

OPEN

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls: This Annapolis staple changed the game when it brought its signature lobster rolls to Belvedere Square in 2017. The Northern expansion was so well received, that Mason’s has now debuted a second Baltimore outpost in the Inner Harbor. Founder Dan Beck, a veteran seafood buyer who spent more than 20 years getting to know New England lobstermen, packs Mason’s buttery buns with hearty chunks of meat hauled from the waterways of Maine. The new Harborplace eatery features rolls served both classic (warm with melted butter) or salad (chilled meat with mayo, celery, and lemon) style, along with lobster mac and cheese and classic clam chowder. Mason’s adds a much-needed dining option to the Inner Harbor area, which lost Five Guys, M&S Grill, Noodles & Co., and Brio Tuscan Grill all within the past year. 201 E. Pratt St. 443-453-9664

NEWS

Bmore Licks: As temperatures creep up into the 60s this week, we couldn’t have asked for a better time for this Patterson Park sweets shop to reopen for the season. Bmore Licks took its annual winter hiatus after the holidays to test new recipes and spruce up the interior. Now, it’s back just in time for spring with plenty of soft-serve, snowballs, donuts, dessert nachos, and ice cream scoops to go around. Among the new featured flavors to look out for is the St. Patrick’s Day-inspired “Magically Delicious,” made with a sweet cream base and lots of colorful Lucky Charms marshmallows. 2437 Eastern Ave. 410-732-5425

NextAct Cinema at The Pikes: Pikesville locals were ecstatic when the landmark Pikes Theatre, one of the oldest in the area with roots dating back to 1938, reopened in full force earlier this month. Now operating as NextAct Cinema, the renovated facility boasts two intimate screening rooms, stadium seating, accompanying plush blankets, a full lobby bar, and updated concession areas with digital menu screens. Perhaps the greatest perk: guests who arrive 30 minutes prior to showtime can order wine, beer, popcorn, candy, or a full meal from the adjacent Pikes Cinema Bar and Grill to have delivered straight to their seats. The menu at includes quick-turnaround bites such as sliders, personal pizzas, quesadillas, soups, salads, and chicken tenders. The first wave of showings includes Captain Marvel, Us, and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. 921 Reisterstown Rd. 443-548-3783

COMING SOON

Char’d City: As its name implies, wood-fired fare will steal the spotlight at this new Hamilton restaurant. Expected to open in the former home of Clementine on Harford Road this spring, the neighborhood spot from owners Sindee Gibson and Yassine Rhamdhnia will offer house-made pizzas alongside other gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, and vegan selections. Specifically, the menu will fuse Southern Italian flavors with North African recipes inspired by Rhamdhinia’s roots in Tunisia. A grand opening could be on the horizon as soon as next month. 5402 Harford Rd. 443-760-1501

Pizza Palace: Speaking of pizza, this new spot is slated to open any day now in Federal Hill. The Light Street space will stay open until 2 a.m. on weekends, so we can only expect that it will soon become a favorite of Federal Hill revelers in need of fuel after last call. In addition to hot subs and regular red sauce pies, the menu also lists specialty options like a Philly cheesesteak pizza and a Greek version with tzatziki sauce. 1538 Light St. 410-244-0444

Das Bier Haus: Pizza Palace takes over the former home of Fornicolli’s, an Italian concept that was briefly run by the owners of Das Bier Haus next door. Soon after they closed the pizza shop, management also shuttered the German beer hall while working to resolve structural issues that have plagued the building throughout the years. “A lot of the problems that made the previous businesses in this location fail have come back to haunt the place,” reads a January post to Das Bier Haus’ Facebook page. “It has taken away from our core values as a business of customer service, inventory, and overall consistency.” Here’s hoping Das Bier Haus reopens soon after its new neighbor Pizza Palace joins the scene. 1542 Light St.

CHEF CH-CH CHANGES

Hotel Revival: As Mt. Vernon’s newest hotel approaches its first anniversary in April, the food and beverage team is welcoming some new faces. Chef Scott Hines, formerly of B&O American Brasserie inside the Hotel Monaco, has been brought on as the new executive chef. Simultaneously, Revival has appointed new food and beverage director Lindsay Chapon—a Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts grad who has racked up a decade’s worth of experience at hotels throughout the country. Together, the two will spearhead seasonal menus for the restaurant’s all-day cafe Square Meal, rooftop bar Topside, and private karaoke rooms. 101 W. Monument St. 410-727-7101

Noona’s: This Bolton Hill newbie recently debuted its spring menu highlighting house-made pizzas, abruzzo meatballs, pork belly rillette, and ricotta gnocchi. Not only does the new menu mark Noona’s first seasonal rotation since opening, but it’s also the first to premiere under the helm of new chef Cai Lindeman. The chef is an alum of Michelin-rated The Dabney in Washington, D.C., and also known as the brains behind the Burnt Coat pop-up—which served its locally sourced dishes at spots like R. House and the former New America Diner. The farm-to-table ethos will be translated into the menu at Noona’s, which makes use of baby radishes from Karma Farm in Monkton, local Keepwell vinegars, free-range pork belly from Liberty Delight Farms in Reisterstown, and Lindeman’s own foraged spicebush berries. 410-424-0857

Sagamore Pendry Baltimore: Chef Andrew Carmellini’s NoHo Hospitality Group has brought new blood into the kitchens of this luxe hotel in Fells Point. Now overseeing the property’s Italian-influenced Rec Pier Chop House and whiskey bar The Cannon Room is chef Robert McGrattan. His resume includes 14 years of experience behind the line at acclaimed properties such as Nashville’s Hutton Hotel and The Westin Charlotte in North Carolina. He brings culinary knowledge and skills that have also awarded him the opportunity to cook alongside all-stars Edward Lee, Josiah Citrin, and Ken Frank at multiple James Beard House dinners. 1715 Thames St. 443-552-1400

EPICUREAN EVENTS

3/21: Fogo and Friends
Everyman Theatre is teaming up with Fogo de Chão in the Inner Harbor to host this special dinner-and-a-show event inspired by its current production Dinner With Friends. In addition to parking and round-trip transportation to the restaurant, guests will enjoy one free drink, endless prime cuts of meat, Fogo’s bottomless salad bar, coffee, and dessert before heading back to the theater to see the play. A portion of all proceeds will benefit Everyman’s future productions. 315 W. Fayette St. $95.50. 410-752-2208

3/26: Cosima Turns Three
To celebrate its third anniversary, Cosima at Mill No. 1 in Hampden is hosting a special three-course dinner with three options for each section. Chef Donna Crivello will pay homage to the restaurant’s run with Sicilian specialties, as well as dishes that have been customer favorites since it opened. Offerings to look out for will include baked ricotta gnocchi, grilled swordfish, stuffed eggplant with red peppers and marinara, and the classic Sicilian doughnuts rolled in cinnamon sugar. 3000 Falls Rd. $66. 443-708-7352

It’s that time of year again: When airlines entice you to head west, toward snow-powdered mountains in Tahoe or Telluride. When temperatures lure you south, to snap bikini-clad Instagrams on some sandy beach near Tulum. We can’t deny the transformative power of a vacation, but here in Baltimore, thanks to a growing number of hip and haute hotels (many centered in Mt. Vernon), there are also now plenty of reasons to simply stay put. Staycations are an easy way to rediscover your city and revel in its own attractions, and the perks of doing so are piling up like room service trays in a hotel hallway. And the competition is getting fierce. Stunning views? Check. First-class spas? Check, check. Heavenly pillows, mattresses, and sheet sets? You can bet your lower back (and best of all, you don’t have to make the bed). So forget jet lag and the TSA this winter and treat yourself to a getaway without ever leaving home.

Four Seasons

200 International Dr., 410-576-5800, rooms start at $369.

Walk into this grand dame of local lodging in Harbor East and you’ll likely hear your inner voice vying for “Serenity now!” That voice, of course, has expensive taste, with every inch of this Baltimore branch of the Four Seasons empire exuding its trademark lavishness. From sweeping waterfront views, top-tier restaurants, and the hotel’s signature scent of teakwood and cardamom mingling with a weekly tower of fresh flowers in the front lobby, you’ll be swaddled in the lap of luxury before you even hit the five-star spa. But this plush pad, located in the city’s deluxe shopping district, isn’t just for socialites and celebrities ready to relish the private pool. It’s also surprisingly family friendly, with in-room babysitting services and glamping for kids—toy teepee and all.

Sweet Dreams: Each room is simple and sophisticated, featuring an earthy color palette, luxe linens, and a prime vantage point overlooking the city skyline. For that, splurge on a balcony, like those of the aptly named Serene Suites, which also include a built-in fireplace and a full kitchen with Wolf appliances. Room Service: The Atlas Restaurant Group is taking over the hotel’s (and neighborhood’s) dining scene, with three on-site restaurants—the splashy Azumi sushi bar, the buzzy Loch Bar seafood spot, and the sceney, rooftop Bygone—as well as another upcoming concept opening in the former Wit & Wisdom space later this year. (For what it’s worth, the shrimp and grits at chef Cindy Wolf’s nearby Charleston would be part of our last supper.) Concierge Cue: The hotel spa is reason enough to visit, be it for a stellar massage or a stint in the spacious sauna, and Baltimore residents make up the majority of appointments throughout the year. Just don’t miss the warm stone seats in the “heat experience.”

Hotel Indigo

24 W. Franklin St., 410-625-6200, rooms start at $89.

It’s easy to feel inspired after an overnight at this fresh-faced Mt. Vernon hotel, located in a 1908 landmark building that once housed the city’s first YMCA. Just around the corner from the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s central branch, the Baltimore location of this national boutique hotel chain is designed with the city’s literary legacy in mind. Murals depicting pencil-drawn book shelves float above the beds. Physical books for your perusal linger in the lobby library, where live jazz is performed on Thursday nights. Manhattan cocktails are made-to-order at the marble bar of Poets, the hotel’s aptly named restaurant with high ceilings and giant windows looking out onto the city streets. (And, of course, the gilded George Peabody Library is just a short scramble up Charles.) Soon enough, you, too, will be drinking the Kool-Aid (aka the spa water next to the concierge), as the entire space is sleek, modern, and fittingly funky without being overly cool. We especially love the rotating art exhibit, curated by local gallery Maryland Art Place and featuring works by Baltimore artists.

Sweet Dreams: Colorful furnishings and fixtures add a pop of energy to every room, while Aveda bath products and solid shower pressure inspire you to relax. We left wishing that more hotels had hardwood floors. And pups are also welcome for a one-time fee of $25, which is far less than the other guys. Room Service: Since you’re only one block away, be sure to scoot over to the venerable Tio Pepe for sangria pitchers and paella platters. For breakfast, make the four-minute walk to Jack and Zach’s for bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches on homemade English muffins. Concierge Cue: Sleep in without nightmares of Baltimore City meter maids thanks to the Penn Parking garage directly across Franklin Street, which costs only $5 a day.

The Ivy Hotel

205 E. Biddle St., 410-514-6500, rooms start at $595.

Prepare to be pampered like Baltimore royalty at this almost-all-inclusive former mansion in Mt. Vernon. Entering the stately home-turned-boutique hotel, you’re greeted with a glass of gratis champagne and then given free rein to the sprawling grounds, from the leafy conservatory, where you can try your hand at the grand piano, to the handsome library, where you can grab any book off the self, to even the Hemingway-worthy game room, where you can play a round of eight-ball on an antique pool table. That’s not to mention the afternoon tea time or access to the verdant courtyard, which quickly makes The Ivy feel like your new home away from home. Take our advice and stay awhile.

Sweet Dreams: With in-room fireplaces, heated bathroom floors, oodles of natural light, and a complimentary minibar—yes, you read that last part right—your bedchamber gives you little reason to leave it. The two-story Suite 18 is especially lovely, with vaulted ceilings, a spacious interior, and après-ski-chic design. Did we mention the heated bathroom floors? Room Service: A regular on our annual “Best Restaurants” list, Magdalena is an experience in and of itself, where chef Mark Levy turns out some of the most inspired fine dining in town. For morning meals, the restaurant also offers what Food & Wine has rightfully hailed “the best hotel breakfast you can’t have”—that is, unless you’re a lucky guest. Concierge Cue: There are a few fringe benefits for an additional fee, such as bringing Fido, with dog beds, crates, and walking services available upon request, or indulging in a tailored massage at the tranquil guests-only spa. We recommend the in-room treatments, which are followed by an aromatherapy soak in your very own bathtub.

Hotel Revival

101 W. Monument St., 410-727-7101, rooms start at $139.

From vintage furnishings and whimsical wallpaper to a whole rooftop room of succulents supplied by Remington plant shop B. Willow, this chic boutique hotel follows the nationwide trend of providing a respite for younger travelers who crave unique experiences over the big, beige, cookie-cutter options of yesteryear. But the hip new space, opened last April to much applause by the San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre hospitality group and situated on the western edge of Mount Vernon Place amidst the neighborhood’s historic brownstones, is more than just millennial fodder (though we won’t judge you for Instagramming your toes on the incredible tiled floors). As the name implies, the hotel draws on its local roots, past and present, with small odes to former resident Mary Garrett, whose father founded the B&O Railroad, and modern homages to the local arts, as the walls are decorated with works by contemporary creatives like collage artist Beth Hoeckel and Baltimore Print Studios. The lobby’s small gift shop also showcases regionally made goods, like candles by Knits Soy & Metal and bags by Treason Toting Company.

Sweet Dreams: Snag an east-facing room for a front-row seat to the Washington Monument. Swoon over the old-fashioned doorbell on your way inside, and spend some time finding redecorating inspiration in the eclectic aesthetic. Extra points for the in-room fabric steamer. Room Service: While the sub-level Square Meal is worth a cup of Ceremony Coffee, the main event is up the elevators on the 15th floor. At Topside, the rooftop bar and restaurant, the cocktails are current (think house-made shrubs and decorative garnishes), the tap list touts the hotel’s own beer (Thirstay, made by Peabody Heights Brewery), and the views (once again) are epic. Concierge Cue: Forget fitness centers and fresh-pressed laundry—our new favorite hotel amenities are the private B-Side Karaoke rooms. Book a solo session or bring a group of friends, with liquid courage available throughout the night.

Sagamore Pendry

1715 Thames St., 443-552-1400, rooms start at $350.

When it was announced that the iconic Recreation Pier in Fells Point, circa 1914, would be converted into a glitzy new hotel backed by Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, you could almost hear the community’s collective grumbling: “There goes the neighborhood.” But nearly two years after opening its doors, the Pendry has become a welcome addition—in part for having the hands-down coolest pool in town. Sure, it’s hard to connect such modern amenities (and a $60 million renovation) with the former 1990s TV set of Homicide: Life on the Street, but outside, the original façade remains intact against the sparkling waterfront, and inside, local interior design guru Patrick Sutton has created a tony tribute to Baltimore’s heritage. Both the industrial décor and the curated art collection tip their hats to the city’s maritime, manufacturing, and historical heydays (with plenty of nods to the county’s horse country and Plank’s own thoroughbred farm). Go just to marvel at the colorful, complex, Maryland-centric mural by local street artist Gaia in the lobby lounge.

Sweet Dreams: Fancy yourself a stylish sea captain in these natty, nautically inclined rooms, featuring rich leathers, warm fabrics, and dark wood throughout. Whatever the season, a west-facing Harbor Suite offers exceptional sunsets behind the Domino Sugars sign, especially during the city’s festive fireworks on New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July. Room Service: While the revered Rec Pier Chop House by celebrity chef Andrew Carmellini might be only a few feet from your bedroom door, we suggest the few extra steps across the street for the whole-belly clam rolls at Thames Street Oyster House, followed by a little late-night boogie next door at Cat’s Eye Pub. Also beware the time-sensitive “honor bar” (aka the trendy term for minibar) that charges you 60 seconds after you’ve lifted that Sagamore Spirit bottle from its perch. Concierge Cue: Leave your car at home—the hotel features a fleet of Cadillacs that you can personally cruise around town for up to four hours.

After a flurry of publicity upon opening, in particular for offering a $21 version of the Baltimore lunch mainstay “chicken box,” Square Meal, the ground-level casual eatery in the recently opened Revival hotel, appears to have tightly pulled back the reins. The menu has been condensed to a short list of fairly straightforward breakfast offerings and salads and sandwiches for lunch, and guests now order at the counter before taking a seat. What hasn’t changed is the fact that the food, although seemingly mundane, is coming from a legit, chef-driven kitchen.

A few clues can be found on the breakfast menu. Take, for instance, the biscuits and gravy—the biscuits are freshly made, tender, and fluffy, while the gravy has a beautiful rusty hue and surprising complexity, thanks to the addition of Merguez sausage and goat cheese. A seasonal frittata is loaded with roasted vegetables and dressed in creamy Chihuahua cheese, a bright tomatillo salsa, and cooling lime-scented crema. Even the trusty breakfast sandwich gets treated to house-made sausage, making its $6 price tag a decent deal. (This is a hotel, after all).

The lunch menu is about as terse as it gets, with several salads and a few matter-of-factly named sandwiches (“Ham and Swiss,” for example) all served on ciabatta, along with some sides such as chips and potato salad. The kale salad has anchovies and Parmesan listed in the description, which is the only indicator that it’s a Caesar. But then it arrives, and the kale is carefully cut with nary a stem in the pile, the high-quality anchovies are of the tart, marinated white variety, the croutons are at once crunchy and chewy, and the dressing is perfectly balanced.

The cryptic “Spicy Chicken” is actually a deep-fried breast served on that aforementioned ciabatta, complete with dill pickles. Despite its heft, the sandwich remains juicy while staying crisp and flavorful all the way through—no doubt owing to a thorough brining. The veggie burger here is also something special, as it is eggplant-based with peppers, carrots, onions, and oats added in. This makes for a nicely browned surface encasing a soft, moist interior with sweetness and smoke from the eggplant and satisfying textural variation and background savory notes from the other ingredients.

To complete the cafe experience, Square Meal delivers excellent coffee drinks, although, to be fair, using beans from local roaster Ceremony Coffee makes the job that much easier. Along with espresso, lattes, and permutations like the flat white and long black, nitro cold brew is on the menu, as is a small selection of seasonal drink specials with ingredients such as red wine or coconut simple syrup and toasted pumpkin seeds. Even the coffee has a chef’s touch. With its new pricing structure that’s easier on the wallet, Square Meal proves that you don’t have to pay a lot for good food—the infamous chicken box was a mere bump in the road.

Square Meal 612 Cathedral St., 410-727-7101. HOURS Daily: Breakfast 7-10:30 a.m.; lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. PRICES $4-14. AMBIANCE Clubby.

While there’s a lot to boast about within Baltimore’s nightlife scene, there is one thing lacking: a plethora of rooftop bars. After all, there’s nothing quite like enjoying an after-work cocktail while taking in panoramic skyline views.

So, when the San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre Hospitality Group took over the Peabody Court Hotel in Mt. Vernon, they were smart to take advantage of the panoramic windows on the 14th floor with views of the Washington Monument, Beaux Arts architecture, and downtown.

The resulting bar restaurant, Topside, feels airy and modern with its light woods and geometric accents. There’s a loose beer-garden theme, and bar manager Chelsea Gregoire—who earned her chops at Dooby’s, Pen & Quill, and Ida B’s Table—is the right person to oversee the program. The bar offers 13 beers on tap and a selection of more than 60 bottles and cans from local breweries such as Union Craft, Dogfish Head, and Monument City. Local brewery Peabody Heights even custom-brewed a pale ale called Thirstay (the second syllable is a punny nod to the hotel).

Gregoire also flexes her creative muscle when it comes to cocktails. There’s a twist on a traditional shandy (beer-soda cocktail) that combines bourbon, pine-flavored Génépy des Alpes, lemon, bitters, and the Thirstay pale ale garnished with macerated cherries. There’s also the acidic and gorgeous Shrubs n’ Rosés with gin, strawberry-dill shrub, rosé vermouth, lemon, egg white, and pink peppercorns served in a coupe glass.

Topside top brass was also smart to hire local chef Wilbur Cox (culinary creds include Charleston and B&O American Brasserie) to execute a seafood-focused menu with standouts including crispy fried oysters with spicy mayo and a refreshing local fluke ceviche.

There are plenty of ways to appreciate Topside. Maybe you’ll sip on a delicious old fashioned (made with Maryland rum), play a game of foosball in the corner, or simply delight in your front-row seat to a beautiful Baltimore sunset.

While some might raise an eyebrow at a cocktail arriving garnished with a straw made from raw pasta, The Laughing Pint owner Shannon Cassidy says that her patrons embrace the sipping substitute.

“Our customers are pretty forward thinking,” says Cassidy, who started using bucatini pasta straws at her Highlandtown bar about a month ago. “People have generally really liked how we’ve always used recyclable cups and napkins, so they were pretty excited about it.”

Cassidy’s approach is part of a larger environmental movement that a number of local business owners are implementing in order to eliminate the use of plastic straws entirely.

According to the global Plastic Pollution Coalition, on a daily basis Americans use more than 500 million plastic straws—which end up contaminating oceans and harming marine life. At this rate, the World Economic Forum estimates that our oceans will be filled with more plastic than fish by 2050.

“Bettering the environment and the community is something that is always on our minds,” says Sarah Bach, who heads up marketing efforts for local bakery and cafe chain Atwater’s. “With us being so close to the Bay, we wanted to do something that would have a lasting impact on our streams, beaches, oceans, and landfills.”

On Earth Day last month, Atwater’s officially nixed plastic at all six of its locations in favor of biodegradable straws going forward. Bach says that the team did a good amount of research ahead of the turnover, and ultimately decided on compostable tubes made from corn by Jessup-based Acme Paper & Supply Co.

“I don’t think that people can tell much of a difference,” Bach says. “We just wanted to make sure that it wasn’t falling apart, and pretty much felt the same.”

Durability is top of mind for bartenders, who are looking to make the switch to recyclable products. While most paper straws are known to get soggy quickly, the new Hotel Revival in Mt. Vernon has found that American-made Aardvark Straws are a long-lasting alternative.

Aside from being strong and flexible, the compostable cylinders are made from food-grade approved inks so that they don’t bleed into the cocktails.

“Our national director of bars did a lot of research on this,” says Chelsea Gregoire, bar manager at Topside inside the hotel. “She would try out a bunch of non-plastic straws in tons of beverages. This was the one that held up best.”

The Laughing Pint’s pasta straws—which were inspired by a viral video about a restaurant using them in England—are stronger than one might think. Cassidy also did a lot of experimenting to see how the pasta would react in different liquids.

“Regular straws are pretty thin-walled, but these are a little harder and thicker and usually last for a whole drink,” she adds. “People who drink faster can get a couple of drinks out of the same straw, but it does eventually give out.”

She assures customers that the bucatini doesn’t have much of an effect on flavor. In fact, she says that many of her regulars enjoy that the alternative is edible.

“People snack on them,” she says with a laugh. “They’ll just be sipping their drink and the next thing I know they’ll be like, ‘I just bit my straw.’”

Many anti-plastic organizations are focused on changing the consumer’s mindset about straws. A lot of these institutions say that straws aren’t essential, but bar owners keep some on hand for those who have dietary restrictions or require physical accommodations.

“For most people, it’s more of a luxury,” Bach says. “It’s all about taking the small steps. If other restaurants and people in the community start to do the same thing we’re doing, it can make a huge difference.” 

Outside the entrance of the new Hotel Revival at 101 West Monument Street, a black-and-gold plaque details the roots of the site, which dates back to 1929 and operated as a 12-story apartment complex until the early ’80s. It was later transformed into The Peabody Court Hotel, and the team behind San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre took over the property in 2016 to oversee Revival’s multi-million-dollar renovation.

Although the hospitality group operates other boutique hotels all over the country, Revival isn’t a carbon copy of another national chain. In fact, a laundry list of Baltimore artists and makers—including the likes of painter Greg Gannon, Younts Design in Clipper Mill, and Mt. Vernon-based SM+P Architects—helped to execute the final product.

“Every detail tells a story,” says general manager Beth Brainard. “We’re trying to create a very Baltimore-centric experience that you can’t find anywhere else.” Here are a few features that contribute to the uniqueness of the hotel, which is currently in soft-opening mode, and will officially cut the ribbon on Thursday, May 3.

Topside on the 14th floor boasts 360-degree views of Mt. Vernon
A top-level bar and restaurant, fittingly named Topside, features a laid-back gaming vibe with foosball tables, wood furniture sourced from old bowling lanes, an 18-seat bar, and panoramic views of the Washington Monument. “We wanted to create a space that is comfortable for everyone,” Brainard says. “Whether it be business travelers, locals coming from a meeting, or the gal that just walked her dog down the street with yoga pants on.” Bar manager Chelsea Gregoire oversees the beer-centric beverage program, highlighting 60 regional bottles and cans, 13 East Coast varieties on tap, and a beer-inspired cocktail list. Not to mention the “Thirstay” pale ale brewed exclusively for the hotel by Peabody Heights. In keeping with the local theme, Topside’s food menu focuses on seafood dishes (think bay scallops and a whole-fired blue catfish) from executive chef Wilbur Cox.

The hotel’s restaurant, Square Meal, is open for all-day service 
Cox’s street-level restaurant plays up its proximity to the Washington Monument with wooden bench seating that is meant to mimic the benches surrounding Mount Vernon Place. Other fun touches include a full-service coffee bar, market space with grab-and-go items, and a custom split-flap sign that rotates to display a different message to diners every 30 seconds. The all-day menu is sourced by local farms—including Liberty Delight in Reisterstown and Albright Farms in Phoenix—and includes signature dishes like a smoked white fish mousse bagel, citrus pound cake French toast, mustard green agnolotti, and Maryland rockfish with cauliflower puree. The downstairs restaurant also has its own fully-stocked bar, which includes a limited-edition bourbon bottled for the hotel by Old Line Spirits in Highlandtown.

Private karaoke rooms can be rented by the hour  
Three soundproofed karaoke rooms will allow guests to belt their favorite tunes while enjoying a custom menu of drinks and shareable bites with friends. The cozy nooks, which accommodate groups of 8-12, are powered by Voicebox, a program that allows guests to pre-schedule their playlists using a mobile app. The spaces can also be booked as private conference rooms, or for game-day watch parties.

B. Willow curated all of the interior greenery 
The team partnered with Liz Vayda of Remington plant shop B. Willow to enliven the space with interior greenery. A private garden room on the 14th floor boasts al fresco patio tiles, garden furniture, delicate drapery, succulent centerpieces, and its own bar. “There’s no outdoor element here, so we wanted to bring the outdoors in,” Brainard says. Vayda is also in the process of installing a living green wall in the space, which will produce herbs that Gregoire and Cox can use as ingredients at the restaurants.

All of the rooms have doorbells  
To harken back its days as an apartment complex, all of the hotel’s guest rooms have a residential feel. “A lot of hotels are very matchy-matchy,” Brainard says. “Everything is either mid-century, rustic, or classical. But here, we wanted it to look like a person collected things throughout their lifetime.” All 107 guest rooms feature a mix of various furniture and accent pieces. (Think touches like vintage rugs and quilts embroidered with a map of the Chesapeake Bay.)

The lobby pays homage to Howard’s Woods 

A stone’s throw away from the Washington Monument, the hotel sits on a 700-acre plot of land that was originally owned by Revolutionary War hero John Eager Howard in the early 1800s. During that time, it became known as Howard’s Woods. To commemorate the nickname, Revival’s front lobby features hand-painted murals of trees and shrubs by local artist Kelly Walker of Artstar Custom Paintworks. “I’ve never worked in a hotel that has a forest inside the lobby,” Brainard says with a laugh. “It’s pretty unique.”

Featured artists took inspiration from the Maryland Historical Society 
A whimsical wallpaper display near the lobby was created to mimic the iconic Baltimore Album Quilts—a style that dates back to the 1800s and makes use of different designs in each block. California artist Cassandra Jones paid a visit to the Maryland Historical Society do research on the quilts, and put her own spin on them with a custom collage using colorful objects like flamingos, flowers, pineapples, and beach balls to create larger patterns. “It’s kind of a trick on the eyes,” Brainard points out. “What you see is not what you get.”

John and Mary Elizabeth Garrett used to live on the property in the 1800s

The art-heavy interior is influenced by philanthropist—and renowned art collector—Mary Elizabeth Garrett, whose father John W. Garrett founded the B&O Railroad. The family’s private mansion previously sat on the Revival site, and was home to the inaugural exhibition of the Baltimore Museum of Art. There are many nods to Mary Elizabeth throughout the space, including an extensive collection of Baltimore art (Brainard estimates that 50 percent of all works displayed inside the hotel are local), and a luxe “Miss Mary” suite equipped with a king bed, restored woods, crown molding, and an oak table.

Staffers sport locally crafted uniforms

It only makes sense that the hyper-local hotel would outfit its staff with Baltimore-made accessories. The nattily dressed valets, bellhops, and greeters sport bow ties from Harbor East-based Christopher Schafer Clothier, while front desk workers don vintage jewelry from Bottle of Bread in Mt. Vernon. Local tailor Aaron Jones of Treason Toting Co. and Bushelers of Baltimore made custom aprons for the restaurant workers.

Peacock designs are featured throughout the space 
There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to Revival’s mascot, the peacock—whose feathers are displayed in wall murals, furniture, and other artistic touches throughout the space. As a symbol of resurrection and resurgence, the animal was an ideal accompaniment to the hotel’s name. “We went through several rounds of brainstorming about Baltimore, and revival was a word that popped up in every round,” Brainard shares. “All of the sudden at the end we had this aha moment where we were like, ‘This is the one.’”

Although San Francisco-based hospitality group Joie de Vivre operates boutique hotels scattered all over the country, its newest property opening in the heart of Mt. Vernon this spring won’t feel like a national chain.

“I’ve worked at a lot of places, traveled, and seen a lot of things,” says Hotel Revival’s executive chef Wilbur Cox, a Baltimore native whose 20-year career includes stints at former favorites Ixia and The Bicycle. “But the thing that is most appealing to me about Revival is that, even though it’s a company that owns the hotel, we are running it like two local, independent restaurants.”

Instead of debuting a carbon copy of one of its hotels in another city, Joie de Vivre is taking a hyper-local approach its Baltimore iteration—playing up its proximity to the Washington Monument and offering two restaurants that make use of local purveyors. Both concepts will have bar programs led by local industry veteran Chelsea Gregoire.

“I couldn’t not be a part of it,” she says about joining the project. “The way that the brand takes the approach of essentially coming into a city, owning it, and loving on it the way that they do really strikes my core. It’s what I’m all about.”

Aside from its 107 guest rooms, the 14-story hotel will boast a lobby-level restaurant and market named Square Meal, as well as a laid-back rooftop destination, Topside, highlighting seafood specialties and local beers.

“Any chef will tell you that they like to have their cash cow, high-end restaurant,” Cox says. “But they also always want to have that fast-casual place where they can be a little more creative and not worry about rules so much. This gives us that opportunity to do both. It’s kind of every chef’s dream.”

Square Meal will offer all-day service, as well as its own retail market with to-go items like local Ceremony Coffee, house-bottled sauces, cured meats sliced to order, and a selection of prepared foods. Cox has enjoyed partnering with area farmers—including Liberty Delight in Reisterstown and Albright Farms in Phoenix—to develop the seasonal menu, with signature dishes including a smoked white fish mousse bagel, soft-boiled Scotch eggs, mustard green agnolotti, and braised pork cheek with red cabbage and pickled mushrooms.

Though there will be plenty of proteins to choose from, Cox says that he’s especially excited to get creative with local produce: “Instead of drying a piece of beef and making jerky, we’ll dry cabbage leaves and make it taste like seaweed,” he says. “We’re really trying to showcase the bounty of the farmers that we’ve partnered up with.”

The downstairs restaurant will also boast a fully stocked bar, featuring a limited-edition bourbon bottled exclusively for the hotel by Old Line Spirits in Highlandtown. Upstairs, the beverage offerings at Topside will be a bit more beer-centric—with 13 East Coast varieties on tap, 60 bottles and cans, a custom brew from Peabody Heights, and a beer-inspired cocktail list.

“Think about those common flavors that you find in beer, like the citrus of a pale ale, or those roasted, nutty, chocolatey notes that you find in a great stout,” Gregoire explains. “Here, we’re breaking it down to a chemical, molecular level and trying to get to the basis of these flavors to put them into a cocktail.”

The beverages at Topside will be paired with Cox’s seafood-centric dishes including a whole-fired blue catfish, bay scallops, and a local seafood tower with mussels, clams, and crab claws. Adds Cox: “When I have an ice-cold beer, I want to be eating something that I can wash down.”

The rooftop hangout will project a laid-back vibe with foosball tables, a giant Connect Four board, and panoramic views of the Washington Monument.

“We want to do something fun,” Gregoire says. “Revival can mean a lot of things, but for me it’s a breath of fresh air. We just want to breathe new life into the city and the community.”

Enhancing the community is something that both Cox and Gregoire say they are most excited about. In fact, the dining team has already partnered with organizations like the Maryland Food Bank and Back On My Feet to help bring opportunities to aspiring chefs.

“If we don’t bring everyone with us as we are moving forward, then we are doing a disservice to our neighbors,” Gregoire adds. “If we’re doing something new, we should bring everyone alongside of us. That’s the true meaning of community.”

This week, The New York Times released an interactive feature describing 52 cities its readers should visit in 2018. And, wouldn’t you know, our very own Baltimore made the cut at no. 15. Each writeup is short and sweet with a map, some links, and a small sentence describing why the city landed on the list. In our case, it’s because Baltimore “honors an abolitionist and lights up with art.”

“Charm City’s packed cultural calendar is showcasing commemorative events for the 200th birthday of the Maryland-born abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass,” writes Nora Walsh. “Meanwhile, an expanded Light City festival in April will feature light-based art installations and performances in 14 neighborhoods.”

We were particularly heartened that the Times chose to highlight our celebration of Douglass, a figure that we chronicled in our cover story “How Baltimore Invented The Modern World.” (We’ll also be detailing the events surrounding the 200th anniversary in our upcoming February issue.)

The writeup also mentions the eventual opening of Hotel Revival, which we’ve reported is going to cut the ribbon in Mt. Vernon this spring. The swanky new spot will have 107 guest rooms, a street-level restaurant, three karaoke rooms, and a rooftop bar headed by by Chelsea Gregoire.

Baltimore joins an elite list of regions, cities, and entire countries around the world in what the publication calls “a starter kit for escaping.” Rounding out the top three are New Orleans, the country of Colombia, and a southern region of Italy.

To get locals involved, the feature linked to a Facebook thread asking followers to post about their favorite things to do in each region. For Baltimore, the suggestions vary—from tours at  Ft. McHenry to visits at local breweries—and it’s a nice nod to the expertise of local residents.

This isn’t the first time the newspaper has lauded Baltimore and, most recently, in its famed “36 Hours” series, we think writer Nell McShane Wulfhart struck the right chord when she wrote, “The traditional things, like the old-school sheet cake at Lexington Market, remain unchanged, while neighborhoods like Charles Village seem to be opening new bars and restaurants daily.”

She continued: “Charm City has raised the charm quotient considerably in the past few years, managing to retain its quirky appeal as it develops stylish, more upmarket restaurants and hotels.”

OPEN

Smoke: City dwellers no longer need to make the trip to Cockeysville to get their hands on a pulled pork sandwich from this barbecue joint. Chef Josh White has brought his fingerlickin’ fare to Federal Hill with a new location inside Cross Street Market. The pop-up stall launched earlier this week, with a menu spotlighting chicken wings, smoked tofu, Korean barbecue spare ribs, and the “Notorious P.I.G.” sandwich topped with pulled pork, Carolina vinegar sauce, and a signature slaw. Be on the lookout for Washington, D.C.-based soup startup Prescription Chicken, which is also opening a pop-up in the market this weekend. (We have a feeling that Federal Hill revelers are going to love the brand’s spicy hangover soup.) 1065 S. Charles St., 410-685-2020

NEWS

Local Spots Top OpenTable’s Best Restaurants List: The Charm City culinary scene received some well-deserved praise this week, as three local dining destinations topped OpenTable’s yearly list of the best restaurants in the country. Chef Cindy’ Wolf’s Lowcountry gem Charleston in Harbor East, rustic Italian favorite Hersh’s in Riverside, and fine-dining den Linwoods in Owings Mills all scored coveted spots on the list—which took into account more than $12 million reviews of 26,000 restaurants throughout the country. The honor comes at an especially serendipitous time for Charleston, which turns 20 years old on Tuesday. 

COMING SOON

The Brass Tap: Since opening a location on Mt. Royal Avenue last year, this beer bar has quickly become a neighborhood go-to in Midtown-Belvedere. Now, the chain is expected to debut yet another local franchise inside Towson Town Center next month. Patrons can expect 60 taps—the majority being local brews—a variety of canned and bottled options, and pub fare like burgers, flatbreads, and street tacos. 825 Dulaney Valley Road, 813-226-2333

Foraged: Foraging fiend Chris Amendola—formerly of Fleet Street Kitchen and Waterfront Kitchen—is opening a new restaurant to showcase his passion for earthy ingredients. Slated to premiere later this month, the hyper-seasonal spot will take over the former Arômes space on Chestnut Avenue in Hampden and feature a menu that includes both large entrees and smaller plates meant for sharing. The 28-seat interior will mirror the sustainable menu, with its own hydroponic garden growing edible flowers and herbs on one of the restaurant’s walls. 3520 Chestnut Ave.

Hotel Revival: This boutique hotel has been in the works for a while now, and is expected to finally cut the ribbon in Mt. Vernon this spring. The swanky spot from Joie de Vivre Hospitality Group will feature 107 guest rooms, a street-level restaurant, three karaoke rooms that can be rented out for public use, and its own rooftop bar with killer views of the Washington Monument—which will be helmed by Charm City’s own veteran bartender Chelsea Gregoire. Stay tuned for updates. 101 W. Monument St., 410-727-7101

Neko No Kafe: Just when we thought having one local cat cafe was big news, another one is on the horizon. Neko No Kafe will open its doors in the former Sirkis Paint and Hardware store on Falls Road in Hampden in early 2018. A partnership with Passport Animal Rescue, the cafe will be a destination for locals to sip coffee and espresso sourced by Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company while playing with adoptable cats. Much like Charm Kitty in Whitehall Mill, the cafe will offer a reservation system where patrons will pay admission for a certain time slot. 3827 Falls Road, 443-692-7567

EPICUREAN EVENTS

12/7: Baltimore Whiskey Company Presents: Gin and Jokes XXII: Holiday Jeers
Join the Baltimore Whiskey Company at Joe Squared in Station North for this holiday joke fest. Sip gin and snack on pizza while laughing aloud to local comics Jason Weems, Denise Taylor, Ian Salyers, and headliner Sonny Fuller. Joe Squared, 33 W. North Ave., 8:30 p.m., $5-7, 410-545-0444

12/11: A Winter’s Harvest Benefit Dinner
Waterfront Kitchen is teaming up with Living Classrooms Foundation to host this dinner highlighting the season’s local bounty. The evening’s menu features dishes such as traditional corn chowder, rosemary-lemon chicken, pesto pasta with mushrooms and pistachio, and an apple cobbler topped with a scoop of vanilla-bean ice cream. Proceeds from the event will benefit BUGS (Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students)—Living Classrooms’ after-school program that teaches elementary school students about cooking, gardening, and creative arts. Waterfront Kitchen, 1417 Thames St., 6-9 p.m., $125, 443-681-5310

SHUT

Big Jim’s Deli: It’s a bittersweet time for Cross Street Market. In the midst of all of the new developments, the decades-old food hall is saying goodbye to one of its longtime vendors. Popular sandwich spot Big Jim’s Deli will serve customers for the final time on Saturday, December 16. Second-generation owner Anna Epsilantis took to Facebook to announce the closure earlier this week. “In 1979 when my Dad, Big Jim, asked me to fill in at the deli until he found new help, I had no idea I would still be here today,” she writes. “Over the past 38 years, I have met so many good people and made many good friends. I want to thank you all for your support and being part of my life.” Epsilantis goes on to say that she “mutually decided to part ways” with Caves Valley Partners—the Towson-based development firm currently redesigning the market. Construction is expected to be finalized by mid-2019.