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EAT

Aug. 1-9: Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week

Multiple locations including The Land of Kush. 840 N Eutaw St. 12-3 p.m.

On the heels of Baltimore Restaurant Week, Maryland Vegan Eats is bringing back its vegan version of the dining-out promotion, which encourages our favorite restaurants to promote healthier menus with plant-based food options. To celebrate the start of the week—which will host events and specials from participating spots like Golden West Cafe, Larder, Gangster Vegan Organics, and Great Sage—one of Charm City’s premier vegan restaurants, The Land of Kush, will be hosting a pop-up with The Bakers Nasir, Friend of Vegans on August 1 from 12-3 p.m. Stop by the restaurant to sample homemade dairy-free desserts such as bread pudding, banana bread, and bean pies.

DRINK

Aug. 1-2: Guinness’ Second Anniversary Weekend

Guinness Open Gate Brewery. 5001 Washington Blvd. 11 a.m-10 p.m. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

As crazy as it seems, Guinness Open Gate Brewery is already turning two in August. And the team at the Halethorpe facility is pulling out all of the stops to celebrate right—starting with two new beer releases. An homage to one of Baltimore’s favorite summer treats, the 2nd Anniversary Lemon Peppermint Stick Golden Ale is a mix of a kettle sour and a golden ale that has been aged in bourbon barrels and finished with lemon and mint. (To sweeten the deal, all guests who purchase a six-pack of the new beer will receive a private Zoom code to join a guided tasting on August 13.) The commemorative 2nd Anniversary Honey Pale Ale—made with local honey from Apex Beer Company and barley from Maryland’s Dark Cloud Malthouse—is also set to debut this weekend, and District Donuts will be on hand with flavors inspired by the beer releases. Find a spot on the spacious outdoor lawn, which is currently open with significant social distancing precautions, to raise a glass to the brewery’s the big birthday.

SEE

Aug. 2: Phoenix Art Yard Art Market

1320 Bayard Street. 12-6 p.m. Free.

While we are used to shopping for fresh produce and flowers at our favorite open-air markets, this weekend, switch things up with a visit to the Phoenix Art Yard. The new Sunday event hosts local artists, live music, and food vendors in Pigtown. Spend your Sunday browsing one-of-a-kind works from makers while engaging with the community from a safe distance. Organizers are still accepting vendor applications, so if you’ve got some art of your own that you want to share with the city, head to their Facebook page to get in on the action.

HEAR

Aug. 1: Super City Virtual Front Row

Creative Alliance Streaming Portal. 8- 9:15 p.m. $5-15.

Creative Alliance is ready to launch its new streaming portal, and what better way to celebrate than with a virtual concert? Indie quintet Super City will be taking the Patterson Theater stage to broadcast their old-school showmanship live for you to enjoy in the comfort of your homes. A portion of the proceeds from the concert will benefit the Equal Justice Initiative, which works to stop mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial inequality. Super City’s heavy, guitar-driven pop music and danceability combined with Creative Alliance’s HD stream will make you forget you aren’t dancing along in the front row.

DO

Aug. 1-2: Drive Thru Peach and Blackberry Festival at Weber’s

Weber’s Cider Mill Farm. 2526 Proctor Lane. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

Summer is the best time to snap up your favorite freshly-picked fruit, and Weber’s Cider Mill Farm won’t let COVID-19 stop them from serving up their juicy, sweet peaches and blackberries. The Parkville farm will be hosting a drive-thru festival so you and your family can safely get your hands on their sweet treats, including a peach-and-blackberry sundae, peach slush, peach creamsicle, and their famous cider donuts. You can even call ahead for curbside pick-up.

As plant-based restaurants continue to crop up all over the country, it seems as though the philosophy of veganism is advertised everywhere. Abstaining from the use of animal products reduces the pressure on the environment and has many health benefits. Baltimore has never been shy about partaking in the movement, and the second-annual Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week, returning February 7-23 this year, aims to further that mission locally.

Samantha Claassen, co-founder of the event, started her own Vegan Restaurant Week at Golden West Cafe in Hampden back in 2012. A few years later, she met Naijha Wright-Brown, owner of The Land of Kush, who wanted to partner to make it bigger.

“It was kismet,” Claassen says. “We thought we could make it city-wide and make it much bigger and broader.”

Claassen and Wright-Brown co-founded Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week shortly after, and the partnership has helped many other local restaurants catch on. With the motto, “something for everyone,” they want all diners to feel equal. Vegan Week encourages Maryland restaurants to create menus that are more inclusive, expanding their horizons to cater to all food restrictions.

“What goes on your plate is one of the most powerful decisions that you can make,” Claasen says. “The modern foodie realizes the power that they have when they make those choices. This echo-effect of positivity has the vegan marketplace continually growing in Baltimore.”

The bi-annual Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week, which was the first to go state-wide, returns this weekend with specials at more than 20 eateries. Participating restaurants have been challenged to showcase their most creative plant-based menu items, and this time around, exciting pop-ups will also be happening throughout the week. (Mark your calendar for a brunch at R. House on February 9 and a Valentine’s Day bingo night at L’Eau de Vie Organic Brasserie on February 14.) A portion of all profits will be donated to BARCS’ mission of helping animals in need.

With plenty of restaurants participating, here are a few recommendations to get you started:

Where to Take Your Vegan Friends

Golden West Cafe: Claasen’s Hampden cafe serves cuisine rooted in traditional New Mexican specialties and sourced from local producers. While its traditional menu serves a wide array of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, the team will be whipping up a vegan-specific menu for Restaurant Week. Diners can indulge in Oreo French toast, a pimento cauliflower sandwich, or the Beyond/Impossible sausage and frites. With so many menu items to choose from, your vegan friends will thank you. 1105 W 36th St.

The Land of Kush: Wright-Brown and her husband, chef Gregory Brown, have brought vegan soul food to Baltimore. Menu staples including meatless BBQ ribs, curry “chickun,” and vegan crab cakes are top sellers, and we can’t wait to see the new items they put out for the celebration. 840 N. Eutaw St.

Lunch Spots

Miss Shirley’s Café: This Charm City hotspot is known for its award-winning breakfast, brunch, and lunch, and it will be serving a vegan-specific menu for the occasion. If you’ve never eaten vegan before and aren’t sure if it’s right for you, the lengthy menu makes it easy to transition. Special dishes include avocado toast, gluten-free griddle cakes, a “Be More Beyond Burger,” and lemon-poppyseed pancakes. Various locations including 750 E Pratt St.

Sobo Cafe: If you only have time to grab lunch, this Federal Hill mainstay will be featuring options such as rosemary hummus, a grilled vegetable flatbread, and a mushroom Bahn Mi sandwich on special during Vegan Restaurant Week. 6 W Cross St.

Wicked Sisters: To help narrow down the choices, Wicked Sisters in Hampden will be offering a two-course lunch menu for $20, and a three-course dinner menu for $35 throughout Vegan Week. Choose from featured items like quinoa pancakes, the Beyond Vietnamese bowl, and a citrus almond salad. 3845 Falls Rd.

Dairy-Free Dessert

Harmony Bakery: This gluten-free, soy-free, and vegan family business serves customers savory and sweet treats daily. While they have a wide array of breakfast and lunch items, we’re a sucker for the sweets. Be sure to try the homemade strawberry pop tarts, the chocolate cake with lavender frosting, or a slice of chocolate turtle cake if you’re stopping in for a snack. Harmony also has special orders available for events. 3446 Chestnut Ave.

Vegan Twists

Alma Cocina Latina: With a menu that blends Venezuelan traditions with contemporary interpretations, Alma Cocina Latina has become a dining destination in Canton. While not traditionally vegan or vegetarian, Alma will be participating in the promotion with a special three-course fixed menu offering items such as a squash tartare and avo-chocolate mousse. 2400 Boston St.

Little Havana: While Cuban-inspired cuisine on South Baltimore’s waterfront might seem like it shouldn’t belong on this list, Little Havana is excited to switch up its menu and showcase how diverse vegan cuisine can be. The restaurant will be featuring vegan appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Be on the lookout for items like arepas and jackfruit carnitas tacos. 1325 Key Highway.

Koshary by Misteka: A traditionally vegan restaurant, Koshary by Misteka serves Egyptian street food which will be expanded to include surprise menu items. Located in Clarksville, Koshary aims to provide economic stability to refugee women and fight hunger. Its #DontEatAlone initiative donates one meal for every three sold, with over 2,600 meals donated by the restaurant thus far. 12250 Clarksville Pike.

Be sure to visit Red Emma’s, The GruB Factory, Namaste Donuts, L’Eau de Vie Organic Brasserie, Stem Farm and Kitchen, Sprout Natural Choice, and Gangster Vegan Organics both during the week and after, as each of these restaurants are all vegan all of the time.

Additional restaurants that will be participating in Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week include Hampden spots Paulie Gee’s, Treehouse Cafe, and The Charmery. Roland Park Bagels, Charm School Chocolate, and Flight American Fusion are also included.

EAT

Feb. 7-23: Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week

Locations, times, and prices vary.

Calling all plant-based eaters: Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week is back with enough meatless specials, restaurant takeovers, and tasting activities to stay full all month long. The bi-annual affair features more than 20 participating green spots—including Baltimore favorites like The Land of Kush, Paulie Gee’s, and Wicked Sisters—to help you spend the weekend munching on the best vegan dishes in town.

DRINK

Feb. 8: Nepenthe First Anniversary Party

Nepenthe Brewing Co., 3626 Falls Rd. 12 p.m.-12 a.m. Free.

Somehow it’s already been a year since Nepenthe Brewing Co. opened its doors, and we’re not ashamed to admit how many Space Jellyfish IPAs and orders of thick-cut fries we’ve downed in that time. Celebrate the Hampden brewery’s first birthday with food specials, a commemorative pint glass, as well as three new beers including an imperial stout, an IPA with tropical notes, and a double IPA. Raise a glass (or several) to this local staple, and stick around all day long to catch pours of limited-release versions of some of Nepenthe’s most popular beers.

SEE

Feb. 7-16: The Rocky Horror Picture Show—Valentine’s Edition

Baltimore Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St. $45-65.

Who says The Rocky Horror Picture Show can only be experienced during Halloween? Turn up the heat ahead of Valentine’s Day with a date night full of kitschy mania, outlandish rituals like call-outs and cascading toilet paper, and singalongs with Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Rocky, and the whole Transylvania crew. Bring your sweetheart to see live performances during this special take on the 1975 cult film, which is almost guaranteed to leave them wanting more, more, more.

HEAR

Feb. 7: Live Lunch with Emily Wolfe

WTMD, 1 Olympic Pl., Towson. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

Back in September, Texas guitarist Emily Wolfe rocked the WTMD First Thursday Festival and showed the Baltimore crowd why NPR described her sound as “stormy, seductive blues-rock thunder, with riffs for miles.” Ahead of her Friday night show at The 8X10, this rising artist will play a live midday set at WTMD’s Towson studio for fans who want to get to know the singer behind songs like “Atta Blues” and “Steady.” If you can’t leave the office during lunch, no worries, tune into 89.7 FM to broadcast the show.

DO

Feb. 8: Melanin Market

Union Craft Brewing, 1700 W. 41st St. 12-5 p.m. Free.

In honor of Black History Month, Union Craft Brewing will transform its taproom into a full-blown marketplace packed with some of the city’s best black artisans, vendors, and performers. In between cheering on the Lethal Ladies Step Team and musician Spirulina Green, explore the pop-up’s wide range of wares, including everything from custom notebooks and sporting goods to haircuts and vintage clothes. Don’t forget to slurp down a few half-shells from The Urban Oyster before heading home with your goodies.

NEWS

Rooster & Hen Moving to Cross Street Market: Just when we thought Cross Street Market couldn’t get any more enticing, the newly renovated food hub recently announced that Catonsville grocery Rooster & Hen will be opening a “market within the market” this fall. Owners Joseph McRedmond and Allison Smith will close their Frederick Road favorite in September and head to Federal Hill to get the new 1,800-square-foot stall up and running. Since 2016, the owners have peddled local produce, featured items from small-batch makers, hosted area pop-ups, and even opened the store up for community events. That mission will continue in the new space—which will offer flowers, pantry staples, frozen comestibles, prepared foods, fresh fruits and veggies, meal prep kits, and a full kitchen for hosting pop-ups and cooking classes. “The Federal Hill community holds a special place in our hearts and has been the setting for some of our fondest memories,” the owners said in a statement. “Becoming a part of the historic legacy is an honor.”

Maximón Releases Patio Renderings: It seems like the wheels never stop turning for Atlas Restaurant Group—the team behind Harbor East hotspots Ouzo Bay, Loch Bar, Azumi, and Bygone. Next up is Latin American-inspired restaurant Maximón, which is expected to open this fall in the former home of Wit & Wisdom inside the Four Seasons Baltimore. Atlas recently unveiled renderings for the restaurant’s Spanish-style courtyard executed by local designer Patrick Sutton. The plans for the promenade include glowing purple lighting, lush greenery, lounge furniture, and an oval-shaped bar overlooking the harbor. Stay tuned for more details.

Roggenart Closes Temporarily: Many Mt. Washington locals have made stopping into this European pastry palace a part of their morning routine for the past two years. But recently, the cafe—which was nearing the end of its lease—closed temporarily while the team prepares to open a new location at the yet-to-open Whitehall Food Market in Hampden this fall. Though a reopening date hasn’t been solidified as of yet, here’s hoping it’s only a matter of weeks before the Mt. Washington shop starts cranking out its famous croissants and pain aux chocolat once again.

Wet City Lauded by Bon Appétit: Last week, we were pleased to see a local name featured in Bon Appétit magazine’s recurring column “Highly Recommend,” in which editors’ share their favorite things. The piece was dedicated to the “Spaghett” cocktail at Wet City in Mt. Vernon. “This cocktail has become my official drink of the summer,” editor Alex Delany wrote about the $5 happy hour drink that combines Miller High Life, Aperol, and lemon juice. “This is on deck for the rest of August and most of September for me. Long live Baltimore. Long live summer. And long live the Spaghett.” We couldn’t agree more.

EPICUREAN EVENTS

8/16: Jade Pop-Up at Fadensonnen
Johns Hopkins biomedical engineering student Jesse Wu, who started his own pop-up inside his dorm room last year, is bringing his Chinese-American cuisine to Fadensonnen in Old Goucher. Grab an order of Wu’s signature Hunan rice noodles, and stick around to sip Fadensonnen’s natural wines, beers, and sake throughout the night.

8/16-9/1: Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week
As Baltimore Restaurant Week comes to a close (many participants have extended their menus through Sunday, August 18) another dining-out promotion is just ramping up. Spots all over the state are rolling out dairy-free dishes in honor of Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week. Of course, staple vegan eateries including Golden West Cafe, L’Eau de Vie Organic Brasserie, Great Sage, and Stall 11 will be putting out their best plates. But you can also enjoy specialty dishes at restaurants like Wicked Sisters, La Scala, Little Havana, and Sobo Cafe. An array of special events throughout the week will kick off with a vegan baked goodspop-up at The Land of Kush on August 19.

SHUT

Bill Bateman’s Bistro Reisterstown: Baltimore County locals are still reeling from the loss of the Bill Bateman’s location on the Towson University campus, which closed for good last year. Now, yet another one of the homegrown pub’s outposts is shutting its doors. After 21 years, the Reisterstown mainstay in the Chartley Shopping Center will close for good on Sunday, August 18. “It has truly been a pleasure being a part of this ever-growing and always-friendly neighborhood,” management wrote in a post to Facebook announcing the closure. This weekend, regulars will gather for one last pint, crab pretzel, and order of wings around the bar at the community hangout. The Severna Park, Parkville, and Rosedale iterations of the local sports bar are still going strong.

Although the term veganism was first coined in 1944, its place in the recent cultural zeitgeist has largely been relegated to that one-month phase your worst friend went through three years ago and hasn’t stopped talking—bragging?—about since. Of course, veganism is an honorable commitment with a raft of documented health and environmental benefits, but it’s hard to imagine life without cheeseburgers. In the court of public opinion, the vegan lifestyle has always seemed undeniably noble, but carried the weight of certain stigmas.

This is changing.

For the first time ever, Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week will demonstrate that vegan food can be delicious and satisfying. From February 8 to the 18, more than 30 restaurants in Baltimore and the surrounding areas will offer special vegan menus (while Charm City has been celebrating a veganism week for the past three years, this is the first time the rest of the state is getting in on the fun). Venerable omnivorous—that’s vegan-speak for “non-vegan”—institutions such as Miss Shirley’s, R. House, and Gertrude’s will try their hand at plant-based cuisine, demonstrating how this event has permeated the mainstream and is working to reshape it.

“When I go out with my husband or my daughter, we’d like to see more on the menu than just a salad,” said Naijha Wright-Brown, the event’s co-founder and owner of The Land of Kush, a vegan soul-food restaurant in Mt. Vernon. “Part of this event is showing how creative you can be with vegan dishes.”

So, where should a curious meat-lover start on their journey to vegan-dom?

“Start with sweets, something you know you like,” advised Wright-Brown, “and the only difference you’ll notice is that you feel better afterwards.”

Luckily, there are plenty of places to sample your first vegan brownie, since Baltimore’s vegan scene is by no means a small niche. While veganism has gained traction all over the country, it has especially resonated in Baltimore.

“When I moved here over the summer, one of the first things I noticed was the number and, also, the quality of vegan restaurants” said Erin Johnson, a social media influencer who practices a vegan lifestyle. “As a transplant from the Bay Area, I just feel like, ‘Why doesn’t California have this?’”

Surprisingly, Baltimore is showing up the Bay Area in this department (as they did in Super Bowl XLVII). Beyond showcasing the endless possibilities of plant-based food, Vegan Restaurant Week is a celebration of the city itself and the people who live in it. The event is about more than new menu items—it is about fostering belonging.

“Food is about community,” said Samantha Claassen, the event’s co-founder and the owner of Golden West Cafe, a vegan-friendly southwestern restaurant in Hampden, “but it can be very challenging to find a vegan meal when you’re around other [non-vegan] people. We wanted to create a space where people could come together.”

During the themed week, this camaraderie will manifest itself through partnerships with organizations such as Vegan Drinks (a national vegan happy hour community) and No Meat Athlete (a vegan running club) to host a happy hour, run, and karaoke night, which, presumably, is no different than standard karaoke, save for a hard ban on Webstar and Young B’s 2006 classic “Chicken Noodle Soup.”

“Being a vegan can be very socially isolating,” said Rissa Miller, the founder of the Baltimore chapter of Vegan Drinks, “so, with Vegan Drinks, I wanted people to not only support plant-based restaurants and restaurateurs, but also each other.”

Baltimore’s vegan scene is also united by a singularity of purpose: to make the world a better place. According to a report by the United Nations, farmed livestock is responsible for over 14 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions; the polar ice caps are melting one porterhouse at a time. This fact is not lost on Baltimore vegans.

“I think part of the reason that veganism has caught on in Baltimore is that we’re on the coast,” said Elena Johnson (no relation to Erin), the owner and chef of the French-inspired vegan spot L’Eau de Vie Organic Brasserie in Fells Point. “We know what’s happening and what’s going to happen.”

Similarly, Wright-Brown noted that veganism is the natural result of Baltimore’s fierce civic pride. “Baltimore has a large population of activists and advocates who have introduced people to the idea that being vegan can save your body, save the planet, and save the animals,” she said. “Climate change is happening and people are getting educated and people love their city so they’re passionate about what they do.”

All sizzle, no steak never tasted so good.

EAT

Feb. 8-17: Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week

Locations, times, and prices vary.

Whether you’re a lifelong plant-eater or started veganism last week to score free Beyoncé and Jay-Z concert tickets (we get it), Baltimore’s annual winter celebration of all things herbivore has got you covered. Spend the weekend eating your way through meat- and dairy-free options at local vegan standbys like Golden West Café, Land of Kush, and Red Emma’s Bookstore & Coffeehouse, as well as participating restaurants like Wicked Sisters and Paulie Gee’s in Hampden and Café Fili and The Grub Factory in Mt. Vernon.

DRINK

Feb. 8: Will’s Back!

Monument City Brewing Company, 1 N. Haven St. 5-10 p.m. Free.

One of the most shared local stories of the week was the citywide search for Monument City Brewing Company’s adopted cat, Willow. Thanks to the Highlandtown brewery’s viral Facebook post and calls to action by local media outlets, Willow (or Will to regulars) was returned on Wednesday by brewery patrons who mistook him for a stray. To celebrate the return of the brewery’s mouse-catcher, Monument City is throwing a party in his honor, featuring the final release of its seasonal IPA and eats from Taco Bar food truck. Bring a cat-related donation on Friday to support BARCS Animal Shelter and raise a glass to the greatest pet saga since Homeward Bound.

SEE

Feb. 8: Devin Allen: Spaces of the Un-Entitled

The Peale Center, 225 N. Holliday St. $20.

Although this West Baltimore photographer has gained national acclaim since his iconic shot of the 2015 Uprising graced the cover of Time magazine, it’s clear that Devin Allen’s heart and inspiration still lies in Baltimore. For the next six weeks, Allen’s latest project and first-ever color show, Spaces of the Un-Entitled, will be on display at The Peale Center, showcasing the young photographer’s analysis of architecture and its impact on impoverished communities. On Friday, experience a live performance by Allen himself as he speaks to the ghosts who were left behind in the gentrification of areas shown in his must-see series.

HEAR

Feb. 8: Jim Gaffigan

The Modell Lyric, 140 W. Mt. Royal Ave. 7 & 9:30 p.m. $35.25-55.25.

Whether it’s in his scene-stealing TV roles, his bestselling books, or his four Grammy-nominated comedy albums, Jim Gaffigan always manages to earn a laugh. The family-friendly comic, who is known for finding humor in the mundane—like doctor visits, food, and fatherhood—will take over the Modell Lyric on Friday for two back-to-back shows that are sure to deliver side-splitting laughs.

DO

Feb. 10: Lunar New Year Celebration

The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

Across Asian cultures, the lunar new year marks the beginning of a new calendar year. To ring in the Year of the Pig, the Walters Art Museum is throwing a free, family-oriented celebration in their sprawling Mt. Vernon complex. Visitors of all ages can explore the museum’s expansive and much-lauded Arts of Asia exhibition, followed by a chance to create their own Asian-inspired works. Make sure to catch the traditional lion dance performance, which is believed to bring good luck in the new year.