Mardi Gras North: Stop by this annual event, hosted by Fells Point cohorts Kooper’s Tavern and Sláinte Irish Pub, to get a taste of all things ‘Nawlins on Fat Tuesday. Chow down on Cajun-inspired offerings like classic jambalaya, seafood gumbo, and po’boys at both locations, while jamming to music from DIG Jazz Combo at Kooper’s and funk band Sound Makers Union at Sláinte. Drink specials at both venues will include $3 Miller Lite and Blue Moon bottles and $5 Hurricanes, Sazeracs, and other NOLA-inspired cocktails. 1700 and 1702 Thames St., 410-563-6600.

Birroteca: Known for its unique pizzas and excellent variety of beers on tap, this popular Woodberry spot is a great place to hang out any day, but Birroteca is throwing a special Mardi Gras Pint Night co-hosted by Abita Brewing Company in honor of the festive holiday. The celebration starts at 5 p.m., highlighting some of Abita’s specialty seasonal brews for guests to sample. To sweeten the deal, all party guests will receive a free pint glass with the first purchase of any Abita beer. 1520 Clipper Mill Road, 443-708-1934.

Shoo-Fly Diner: Some of the local food scene’s hottest names are coming together to throw this soiree. Tooloulou, Dylan’s Oyster Cellar, Jinji’s Chocolates, and Flying Dog Brewery have all partnered up with Shoo-Fly to host this New Orleans-inspired event at Spike Gjerde’s Belvedere Square restaurant. From 6-10 p.m., dance the night away with jazz music by Sac Au Lait, sip boozy slushes, enjoy some mouthwatering gumbo and crawfish, and search for prizes in the King Cake to celebrate Mardi Gras in style. 510 E. Belvedere Ave., 410-464-9222.

Mother’s Grille: From weekday happy-hour deals to Ravens pep rallies, this fun neighborhood tavern in Federal Hill is a go-to spot for any occasion that calls for refreshing brews and cocktails. Highlights of Mothers’ “Phat Tuesday Party” will include classics like Hurricanes, gumbo, and plenty of colorful beads for all attendees. 1113 S. Charles St., 410-244-8686.

Mardi Gras Party at Power Plant Live: If you’re one of the Valentine’s Day cynics who’d choose a cocktail over a box of heart-shaped candy any day, then grab some friends and head to this downtown nightlife attraction for an all-inclusive bash from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. on February 14. Stilt-walkers, fire-breathers, Cirque-style aerialists, live music, free drinks, and no-cover access to nine of Power Plant’s bars are all included in the price of admission to this massive party. 34 Market Place, 410-727-5483.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

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(Because who cares about the Super Bowl.)

EAT

Jan. 26-30: Maketto x Shoo-Fly Takeover

Shoo-Fly Diner, 510 E. Belvedere Ave. 5-10 p.m. 410-464-9222. shooflymd.com

You’ve probably seen it all over your Instagram feed: Chef Erik Bruner-Yang of D.C.’s infamous
Toki Underground has taken over Spike Gjerde’s Shoo-Fly this week for an Asian-infused pop-up. At the Belvedere Square digs, he’s been testing out the new menu for his hotly anticipated follow-up, a restaurant/market on H Street called Maketto. The lines have been long, like they are for everything Bruner-Yang does, but the wait is well worth it, with perfect cold-weather reprieves like bao buns, oyster pancakes, wok-fried fish, and curry noodles. Friday is the last night, so brave the cold and get it while it’s hot.

DRINK

Jan. 31: Rye Rocks at the Walters

The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. 7-10 p.m. $75. 410-547-9000. thewalters.org

If you’ve ever had a perfectly poured Manhattan or just-right old-fashioned, you know that crafting a good cocktail is really a work of art. The Walters Art Museum gets that, so this weekend, they’re combining the two and throwing an epic boozy bash. In celebration of the museum’s new exhibit, “From Rye to Raphael,” as well as the all-American spirit, rye whiskey, you can wander the halls and admire the art with your favorite drink in hand. Sample straight-up sips, signature drinks, and get a history lesson from
Esquire magazine’s resident cocktail historian David Wondrich. Don roaring ’20s garb, listen to live jazz, and bridle the booze with a bounty of local eats. Whiskeys will hail from Maryland’s Leopold Bros. and Lyon Distilling Company, plus Virginia’s Catoctin Creek and Copper Fox distilleries—to name a few—but all we know is: they better have Pikesville.

SEE

Jan. 31: Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company

The Gordon Center for Performing Arts, 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills. 8 p.m. $25-29. 410-356-7469. jcc.org

Amy Poehler. Aziz Ansari. Ellie Kempler. Donald Glover. Sadly, they won’t be in town on Saturday night, but on the bright side, their progeny will. The Upright Citizens Brigade has bred some of the country’s very best comedians, and this weekend, their best from NYC and LA will be presenting an evening of improv and standup. Plus, our very own Baltimore Improv Group will be opening the show, and tickets include one complimentary beer by the other UCB, Union Craft Brewing.

HEAR

Jan. 30: Sun Club

The Crown, 1901 N. Charles St. 9 p.m. $5. 410-625-4848. facebook.com

It’s hard to define Sun Club’s sound. They’re a little punk, a little indie-pop, a little alt-rock-and-roll. Their fast beats and sunny vocals can remind you of Vampire Weekend or the early Kooks. Their anthemic choruses can feel like Arcade Fire. Regardless of their peg, their music is energetic, colorful, and ambitious, with strong vocals and killer guitar. They were hailed by Paste magazine as one of Maryland’s top 10 bands to listen to and on the heels of their latest EP, they’ll be performing in Station North with other local artists, like Sherman Whips, Flag Day, and Malakoi.

DO

Jan. 31: Orioles FanFest

Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $6-12. mlb.com

71 days—that’s all we have left till Opening Day, baby. Just 10 weeks. A little over two months. A mere blink of an eye. For some of us, though, it’s an eternity, but luckily this weekend, you can get all the O’s action you’ve been missing this winter at the team’s annual FanFest. Get an autograph by J.J. Hardy. Take a selfie with Chris Davis. Shoot the breeze with Manny Machado. Let Adam Jones throw a pie in your face. Try and hug big man Buck. There will be plenty of players on deck, gear to buy, and
activities to get ready for our best season yet.

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The Belvedere Square restaurant, in conjunction with Flying Dog Brewery and Old Bay, will be hosting “Marylandia,” an event fusing live music and hometown summer eats from 4-9 p.m. on Sept. 6.

In typical Shoo-Fly fashion, the event will feature farm-to-table favorites which reflect the diner’s philosophy of supporting local agriculture.

“It’s our tribute to all things Maryland,” says Spike Gjerde, owner of Shoo-Fly, Woodberry Kitchen, and Artifact Coffee.

Food offerings will include raw or grilled Chesapeake oysters with Old Bay (of course), Eastern Shore BBQ chicken, Baltimore pit beef, crab soup, and sweet corn.

The Maryland-inspired fare will be paired with signature Flying Dog Brewery beers and Distillery Lane ciders.

“Flying Dog is one of our great local brewers,” Gjerde says about the partnership. “These guys know how to throw a party and we know how to cook.”

The end of summer celebration will take place on the newly finished Shoo-Fly patio which, in keeping with the diner’s farmhouse style, features furniture built using re-claimed lumber.

“We’re looking at it as a kick-off for our patio,” Gjerde says. “It’s tricked-out and it’s one of the coolest places in Baltimore.”

Live music by Caleb Stine and Kenny Liner with the ForQuarters Collective will be performed on the diner’s new addition for the event.

A portion of the Marylandia proceeds will be donated to the Oyster Recovery Partnership and the True Blue crab program.

“Our entire focus is around community and we’re part of an incredible food community here in Baltimore,” Gjerde says. “We do whatever we can to support it.”

The admission fee is $10 and includes a gift bag and discounted food and beverages. 

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For $10, guests can enjoy snacks by Woodberry Kitchen chef Opie Crooks, signature punches, beers from Union Craft Brewing, and a free glass of bubbly to start the evening. Guests are, naturally, encouraged to post about the event on Instagram using the hashtags #instafact and #whatsyourfilter. 

We hope the party can help connect like-minded people also stir some conversations about favorite restaurants, photographers, and, of course, Instagram filters. (I’ve personally always been a fan of Lo-Fi).

This is one of many night-time events that Artifact Coffee puts on—from chef pop-ups to speakeasy nights. See the calendar for a complete schedule. Hope to see you all tomorrow!

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Both chefs have been nominated in the past. Spike—who owns Woodberry Kitchen, Artifact Coffee, Shoo-Fly Diner, and the soon-to-open Parts & Labor with his wife Amy, was a finalist last year.

Cindy, who has headed the kitchen at Charleston since 1997 and is a major player in the Foreman Wolf restaurant group, has been a finalist twice.

The
James Beard finalists were announced this morning from Chicago.
Hopefully, the announcer will get Spike’s last name correct if he wins
in May. This guy pronounced it “Gerd.”

Congratulations to both chefs.

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Operating a restaurant isn’t easy, as any owner or chef will tell you. We hope these newbies will be around for a long time:

By Degrees Cafe:
Chef/proprietor Omar Semidey has joined the first wave of restaurants
that is transforming the landscape of South Central Avenue near Little
Italy and Harbor East. His sleek-looking restaurant in a refurbished
warehouse strives for well-prepared plates at reasonable prices.

The Chasseur:
Named after the original “Pride of Baltimore” ship, the Canton
restaurant spiffied up the former Adam’s Eve and started serving upscale
comfort food with one of the best meatloaves I had all year. (And there
were a lot of meatloaves on menus!) The charming white-cloth bistro is a
great addition to the neighborhood.

The Chesapeake:
After a long wait, an updated version of its venerable, eponymous
predecessor opened with a modern American menu in a historic building in
the up-and-coming Station North Arts District. The kitchen’s clever
twist on Mid-Atlantic cuisine keeps the patrons coming back.

Cunningham’s:
The new dining juggernaut in town, Bagby Restaurant Group, unveiled its
fourth restaurant to immediate acclaim with beautiful environs and a
creative farm-to-table menu by executive chef Chris Allen. This is the
place Towson has been waiting for.

Liberatore’s:
The longtime family restaurateurs, who have successfully operated
Italian eateries for 25 years, changed it up this year, opening Liquid
Lib’s, a wine bar adjacent to their Timonium location, and Lib’s Grill, a
steakhouse/raw bar in Perry Hall. Thinking out of the box is good.

Nickel Taphouse:
Chef/owner Robbin Haas, who has worked his culinary magic at
Birrotecca, transformed a failed restaurant space in the heart of Mt.
Washington into a go-to neighborhood tavern with burgers, oysters, and
more.

Oliver Speck’s:
An innovative re-invention happened within a matter of weeks in Harbor
East last summer. Vino Rosina closed, only to open as a barbecue place
with owner Jim Lancaster and chef Jesse Sandlin still firmly in place.
The new concept offers a great alternative to all the small plates in
the area.

Ryleigh’s Oyster: The popular Federal
Hill spot stretched out to the ‘burbs with a second location, taking
over a hulking space once housing Gibby’s and Rib ‘N Reef in Timonium.
The seafood-laden menu, raw bar, and newly renovated space already has a
loyal following.

Shoo-Fly Diner:
Wunderchef Spike Gjerde is creating his vision of American comfort food
in Belvedere Square with dishes like fried chicken, cast-iron catfish,
and a Chesapeake crab roll. Reviews have been borderline. We’re
confident the restaurant will soon follow in the footsteps of Gjerde’s
successful ventures Woodberry Kitchen and Artifact Coffee.

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Starting tomorrow, the new Belvedere Square restaurant will be open from 4 p.m.-1 a.m. seven days a week. There’s welcome valet service in the parking-challenged area. And just drop in. Reservations aren’t accepted at this time.

Owners Spike and Amy Gjerde have had quite a week. Besides opening their third restaurant, they were named one of Martha Stewart’s American Made Tastemakers for their farm-to-table ethos. The editors cited the couple for their commitment to staying local and for their in-house canning program, which will now be done at Shoo-Fly Diner.

I had a chance to walk through the multilevel space and pick up a menu today. As I got a glimpse of the refurbished rooms, Chef Opie Crooks, pictured above, was working with the crew in the open kitchen on the first downstairs level, which overlooks two horseshoe counters for diners.

Take a few more steps down, and you’ll find a carpeted children’s room with toys, games, and a pinball machine. Thank you, Spike and Amy! The bar and booths, pictured top, are located on the entrance level. If you continue upstairs, there is a dining room with tablecloths, pictured. But it still has a laid-back vibe, suitable to the comfort-food menu.

Here’s a sample of the offerings:

Fried-chicken supper with braised greens, cornbread, and pepper gravy, $24.

Cast-iron catfish with cole slaw and malt mayo, $13.

Chesapeake crab roll, $16.

Shoo-Fly burger, $12.

Snacks like a pickle jar, $5; picnic eggs with bacon, $4; and a potato-cheese pierogi, $7.

Shakes and slushes to drink, $5-7. Don’t worry. There are adult beverages, too.

And “Kid Stuff” like griddled PB&J and mac ‘n’ cheese.

There’s no website yet, but you can find Shoo-Fly Diner at 501 E. Belvedere Ave. The phone number is 410-464-9222.

Many Baltimoreans, including me, remember when the building was Hess Shoes. Yes, the sliding board is still there. And, no, we can’t use it. But thanks for the memories.

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The space, formerly occupied by Crush and Taste restaurants, will also be home to Spike’s canning and preserving operations.

The name Shoo-Fly pays homage to the long-ago tenant Hess Shoes (play on words, get it?) and to Amy Gjerde’s interpretation of the molasses-based Pennsylvania pie, according to Washingtonian magazine. Amy is Spike’s wife and the other half of the dynamic restaurant duo.

The restaurant will serve diner food made with local and seasonal ingredients under the supervision of chef Patrick “Opie” Crooks, most recently of Roy’s in Harbor East.

Menu items include sourdough pancakes with maple syrup; a Hangtown Fry with bacon, fried oyster, fried egg, and toast; and sandwiches like creamed chipped beef with toasted butter bread and air-cured beef gravy.

The diner will be open from 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Shoo-Fly Diner is located at 501 E. Belvedere Ave. 

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