MICHELE’S GRANOLA

Necessity, or at least cravings, really can be the mother of invention. Years ago, Michele Tsucalas was waiting tables in Martha’s Vineyard when she fell in love with the granola at the famed Black Dog Bakery Café. “Every morning, I’d go there for a cup of coffee, and they made these scratch-made granola bars,” says Tsucalas. “I’d eat them right out of the oven. They were made with bundles of oats and seeds and nuts—and I was obsessed with them.” Inspired by these bars, Tsucalas started making her own granola back home with simple, wholesome ingredients, which was nothing like the overly sugary sticky stuff usually found on supermarket shelves. “I’d give it to family and friends but was told that I should try to sell them,” she says.

It’s been 13 years since Tsucalas started selling her eponymous all-natural granola at area farmers’ markets, and she now employs a staff of 40 in her bustling Timonium production facility. Though the volume has grown—more than 20,000 pounds of granola, from cherry chocolate to almond butter, are made weekly—it’s all still done by hand—and from the heart. Even the design of the iconic brown paper bag—with its Art Nouveau lettering and a beautiful woman emblazoned on the seal—was inspired by Tsucalas’ travels.

“I was in Prague visiting a friend, and she introduced me to the work of Alphonse Mucha,” recalls Tsucalas. “And that’s what inspired the look of the label. When I was at the farmers’ market, a man at the next table said, ‘You should just call it Michele’s Granola, and you should have your image on the bag.’ I thought I’d come up with something better, but I didn’t, and it ended up working out—the simple quality of the packaging conveys the authenticity of the brand. We are small-batch real people, and, while we’ve grown, not a lot has changed about who we are—there’s a person standing behind the name of the granola.”

PURE CHOCOLATE BY JINJI

In a sense, Jinji Fraser owes it all to actor Woody Harrelson. Back in 2012, Harrelson was visiting his friends at The Black Olive for a dinner to help their struggling Agora Market, and Fraser, a holistic nutritional counselor, was putting a dinner together for the vegan actor. “I said, ‘That’s funny, we don’t have a dessert offering. Wouldn’t it be cool if I knew how to make chocolate?’”

Fast-forward seven years and a few chocolate-making workshops later, and Fraser’s Pure Chocolate stall at Belvedere Market has become a Baltimore institution with a full brick-and-mortar store to open any day now in Lauraville. Through the years, Fraser (and her co-owner father, Guy) have taken sourcing seriously, traveling from Mexico to Guatemala to Ecuador to find the right beans.

“I’ve been obsessed with not only finding a farm” says Fraser, “but finding women farmers, or at least a farm that’s family-owned.” Fraser points out that there’s a disparity between the number of women working in the labor force and those who actually own the farms. “I have the resources to find where these women are and to be supportive of them,” she says.

SECRET SAUCE CO.

When Matthew Steinberg and Vaughn Weitzman set out to start their own ketchup company in 2018, they brainstormed a company name. “We came up with Secret Sauce,” says Steinberg, “but we were sure that it was taken and were surprised that it hadn’t been.”

They settled on the name Secret Sauce Co., then got a call that made their hearts skip a beat. “The person said, ‘This is the CEO of McDonald’s. You’re infringing on our name!’ It was Nick Schauman from The Local Oyster playing a trick on us,” says Steinberg. The ketchup itself, however, is no joke.

Weitzman developed his recipe over many years at his Farm to Charm food truck. Steinberg told him it was so good that he should market it. And a business was born. “Our ketchup is rich in tomato flavor, first and foremost, with notes of onion, garlic, and celery salt,” says Weitzman. In addition to ketchup, Steinberg and Weitzman are set to open a Secret Sauce Co. restaurant in Station North.

The eatery will serve as a testing lab. They’ll feature sauce-starved items like burgers and fries, as well as other inventive toppings. Says Weitzman, “The restaurant will be one big vessel for trying new sauces. We’ll bottle whatever rises to the top.”

Historically, there haven’t been many places in Baltimore to get burger, beer, and a nostalgia-fueled fix of arcade games under one roof. But now, thanks to North Ave. Market, that is about to change.

“It’s a giant nostalgia space,” says Matthew Steinberg of Secret Sauce Co., who runs the Station North spot’s food and beverage program with business partner and chef Vaughn Weitzman of the Farm to Charm food truck. “We have the ’70s and ’80s vibe and classic ’50s diner-style burger menu.”

Though the space has been used for various community events since July, it officially opened to the public this week with daily lunch and dinner service from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. At North Ave. Market, the Secret Sauce team serves the same classic and vegan burgers, hand-cut fries, and milkshakes (think flavors like chocolate, strawberry, and matcha) that they featured at an extended pop-up at Lost City diner a few months back. Of course, there is also plenty of the brand’s artisan sauces for sampling.

Pending liquor board approval—a hearing is scheduled for December 6—the spot will also feature arcade-inspired cocktails such as the “8-Bit,” (whiskey, amaro, honey, and lemon) and the “Disco Lemonade,” an elevated take on a vodka cranberry.

Steinberg and Weitzman first got in touch with the building’s co-owner, Michael Shecter, during the time they were operating the Lost City pop-up. Schecter approached them with the concept and they were enticed by the prospect. The property is another in a slew of refurbished historic buildings across the city being brought back to life for a new concept. Dating back to 1927, North Ave. Market started as a bowling alley with 12 retail shops before later being converted to the home of a confederate general.

Together, the team envisioned a gathering space where people could come after work for a drink and a good burger. Those in charge are presenting the arcade as an alternative to simply sitting down at a bar. “It’s a way for people to connect with one another,” Steinberg says. “They want an activity to do when they go out, and this is a way to do that.”

As for what games to expect, all the typical arcade standbys are present: Ms. Pac-Man, Q*Bert NBA Jam, Galaga, and more. All the games (there’s also a suggestion page for requests) will also be free to play, which is rare for an arcade.

The retro games inspired the design of the space, which features neon signs, and L-shaped bar, a merch area, and an artsy monograph letter board menu. Now that the destination is open full time, there are plans to have DJs most weekends under the light of a disco ball. Steinberg also wants to host watch parties, book local bands, and even hopes to pull in the occasional touring act. The performance aspect is something that has worked well for the arcade in the past, as showcased by the venue’s previous Artscape and Halloween concerts.

Other future plans include an expansion into the building adjacent to the arcade, which will allow the owners to have a more flexible layout and host larger events. North Ave. Market adds to the growth in Station North, as the area continues to thrive with its mix of old and new arts spaces.

“We’re working very hard showing everybody what growth in Station North can be,” Steinberg says. “We want to activate the space in a way that is beneficial to everybody in Baltimore.”

EAT

Oct. 19: The Diner by Secret Sauce Co.

1730 N. Charles St. 5 p.m. Free.

You may have already seen the first bottles of Secret Sauce Co.’s brand-new ketchup on shelves around town (spotted at Trohv and Prime Corner in Hampden), but this Friday, visit this Baltimore-based company’s pop-up restaurant at The Lost City Diner to celebrate the launch of its first sauce. In true diner style, try the ketchup with burgers and fries while sipping on drinks from Vent Coffee and Union Craft Brewing. If you can’t make it, no worries, The Diner by Secret Sauce Co. concept will be around for the next few weeks.

DRINK

Oct. 20: Fall Fling

Old Line Spirits, 200 S. Janney St. 2 p.m. Free.

It’s been almost a year since Old Line Spirits started distilling whiskey in Highlandtown, and this weekend, they’re commemorating their first-ever fall fling with the release of a new seasonal whiskey. Head to the experimental distillery to sample sips of the new American single-malt cask-finished whiskey, as well as snacks and pours from other neighborhood favorites like Monument City Brewing, Snake Hill Tavern, and Mayuree Thai Tavern.

SEE

Oct. 19-21: Rocky Horror Picture Show

Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 7:30 & 10:30 p.m. $12-15.

Spooky season wouldn’t be complete without a night of revelry that takes us time-warping back to 1975. For two nights at Creative Alliance, channel your inner Riff Raff, Janet, or Dr. Frank N. Furter for a screening of this sci-fi horror-comedy that has become an audience-participation phenomenon. Get there early to grab a themed cocktail, snag a toss pack (toast and toilet paper included), and join fellow Rocky-obsessed fans at this one-of-a-kind tradition.

HEAR

Oct. 20: Ed Schrader’s Music Beat

Current Space, 421 N. Howard St. 7-11 p.m. Free.

After touring with legendary Baltimore rock band Future Islands, this post-punk duo is celebrating its homecoming with a jam-packed show that’s guaranteed to rock Current Space’s outdoor stage. Along with new-wave-inspired songs from their latest album, Riddles, hear sets by the likes of beloved local rapper DDm, DJ Pancakes, and Nerftoss at this can’t-miss concert.

DO

Oct. 20: Baltimore Running Festival

McKeldin Square, E Pratt St. 7:30 a.m. $55-270.

Pace your weekend around this citywide marathon that sends more than 20,000 runners through the heart of Baltimore every year. On Saturday, hit the pavement for the full marathon, half marathon, 5K, team relay, or fun-run and take in picture-perfect views of the waterfront while circling the city. If running isn’t your bag, cheer on runners at spectator spots like Lululemon in Harbor East or Lee’s Pint & Shell in Canton and check out post-race activities that range from rowdy to restorative.