The Point in Towson – Baltimore Magazine

Review: The Point in Towson

Jess Mayhugh — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:30:00 +0000

Any Towson resident of a certain age, and worth their salt, remembers The Crease. It was a pioneer, in the sense that no nightlife existed in the area before it opened on York Road in 1972. After decades of debauchery, wear and tear to its big red booths, and plenty of sloppy “ladies nights,” in 2016, it was announced that The Crease was being replaced, albeit with another bar.

Enter The Point in Towson (523 York Rd., 443-991-4293), a spinoff of its sister bar at the corner of Thames and Ann streets in Fells Point. The Point’s owner, Erica Russo, who grew up around Towson, clearly put a lot of work into the 6,400-square-foot space, which features reclaimed wood, funky light fixtures, nearly a dozen TVs, communal high tops, and an open kitchen.

Aside from the facelift, The Point’s most obvious asset is its stellar service. On a busy Wednesday night, we snagged the last two seats at the bar and were promptly delivered waters and menus—and then informed that it was half-priced wine night. We followed suit and ordered a bottle of the bold and bright Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain, a steal at just $12.50. Knowing that The Point has a Jameson bottle club, we also wanted to try one of the whiskey cocktails and opted for the Banana Old Fashioned. Purists would say never to mess with a classic cocktail, but its walnut bitters had a tang and bitterness that was a nice counterpoint to the sweet house-infused banana Jameson.

Knowing how good the food is (particularly the brunch) at the Fells Point location, we were eager to sample some snacks, including the hearty spinach salad with mushrooms, smoked bleu cheese, crispy onion straws, and charred tomato vinaigrette that made for an ideal greens dish in winter. Always a good Baltimore barometer, crab dip was just as impressive mixed with creamy mozzarella and served alongside buttery, soft pretzel bites.

As we finished our drinks and paid the check, the affable bartender let us know about The Point’s plans for its back patio in the spring, including live music, cornhole, and giant games. While we’ll always have a soft spot for the grittier Towson era, the neighborhood’s future certainly looks bright.

Source

Open & Shut: The Point in Towson; Parts & Labor; The Room

Lauren Cohen — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 15:46:00 +0000

OPEN

The Point in Towson: Baltimore County revelers no longer have to Uber to the city to enjoy the laid-back vibe of The Point in Fells, now that the popular watering hole has finally unveiled its second location in Towson. Set in the former home of The Crease on York Road, the chic spot features modern hanging light fixtures, exposed brick, and flat screens around every corner. The eats and drinks mimic the Fells Point flagship, with fine-tuned pub fare including moules frites and shrimp croquettes. There are also local beers on tap, and, of course, plenty of Orange Crushes to go around. 523 York Road, Towson, 410-327-7264

COMING SOON

Giada De Laurentiis Announces Horseshoe Casino Concept: A few months back, celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis excited local foodies when she—fairly vaguely—hinted that she would be opening a restaurant in Baltimore while filming a Facebook Live video. Recently, the famed Food Network star confirmed the news, announcing that she will open a brand new eatery inside Horseshoe Casino in 2018. The Italian restaurant, whose concept has yet to be fully fleshed out, will take over the former Johnny Sanchez space on the casino’s second floor. The cantina from celebrity chefs Aaron Sanchez and John Besh shuttered its doors in September, shortly before a Times-Picayune report was published alleging sexual harassment by Besh. 1525 Russell St.

CH-CH CHANGES

Arômes: After three years of operating this charming French dining destination in Hampden, executive chef Steve Monnier is ready to switch things up. In a post to Facebook last week, he announced that he would be closing Arômes on November 11 in order to focus on another downtown concept, Chez Hugo. Stay tuned for updates. 3520 Chestnut Ave., 410-235-0035

Parts & Labor: Spike Gjerde’s restaurant group Foodshed is changing up the vibes at this meat-centric sister-spot. Starting on Friday, November 3, the Remington restaurant will ditch its fine-dining feel in favor of more casual sandwiches, soups, snacks, sides, and beer. The space will also reflect the relaxed atmosphere, with a new chalkboard wall and games like Ping Pong and cornhole for diners to enjoy outside near the communal firepit. To celebrate the relaunch, Parts & Labor is hosting a block party on Sunday, November 5, featuring new sandwiches, local beer, and live music by Super City. 2600 N. Howard St., 443-873-8887

One Star Country Club: Federal Hill’s casual cantina No Way Jose is now home to this bar that wants its patrons to leave it one-star reviews on Yelp. (Yes, you read that correctly.) In a time where everyone’s a critic, the concept encourages bar-goers to come see the space for themselves, rather than making a judgment based on others’ online reviews. Swing by the new spot to crack open a can of beer, down a specialty shooter, and chow down on eats like pulled pork nachos and French dip sandwiches. 38 E. Cross St., 410-727-5102

The Elephant: Following a nationwide search, husband-and-wife owners Steven and Linda Rivelis have found an executive chef to oversee culinary operations at this Mt. Vernon mansion. They landed on Venezuelan-born chef Orlando Amaro, a Culinary Institute of Mexico grad who most recently served as executive chef of D.C. hotspot Station 4 Restaurant. Chef Amaro’s experience cooking in kitchens everywhere from Miami Beach to Venezuela will be reflected in the restaurant’s new menu of worldly dishes, which premieres on Wednesday, November 8. 924 N. Charles St., 443-447-7878

EPICUREAN EVENTS

11/4: Taste of the Marketplace
Mount Vernon Marketplace has organized this fun tasting event in an effort to help diners sample all of its stalls without breaking the bank. This weekend, bounce around to taste $5 snacks from the communal food hall’s participating vendors. Look out for favorites like charcuterie from Cultured, burgers from Between 2 Buns, dumplings from Pinch, and shrimp salad from The Local Oyster, as well as offerings from newbies like Mr. Souvlaki and Cucina Al Volo. 520 Park Ave., 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Free.

11/4: Waverly Brewing Company 2nd Anniversary Party
We can’t believe this Woodberry hotspot is already two. To celebrate its big birthday, the brewery is hosting an all-out bash featuring 20 draft beers and savory bites from neighbors Blue Pit BBQ. Plus, get down to tunes spun by DJs James Nasty, Graham Hatke, and Mom Jeans. 1625 Union Ave., 7 p.m., Free.

11/6-11/12: Baltimore Food Truck Week
More than 50 local kitchens-on-wheels are gearing up for the inaugural Baltimore Food Truck Week, which will feature specials from individual trucks and a handful of community events celebrating the area’s mobile vending scene. A culminating festival will be held at Patterson Park on Friday, November 10, featuring live music, local beer and wine, and, of course, fare from local trucks.

SHUT

The Room: We barely got to know this little subterranean space in Mt. Vernon, which closed for good earlier this week after owner Andre Mazelin announced that he would be exploring a new opportunity at Motor House in Station North. The spot was best known for its coffees, community events, and colorful ceiling mural by local painter Wendell “Solely Supreme” Shannon. “Together, we have played, jammed, discussed, laughed, cried, rallied and provided space for community,” Mazelin said in a farewell message posted to Facebook. “What a sweet, rollercoaster of a ride it’s been!” 800 Saint Paul St.

Source

The Point in Fells to Open Towson Spinoff This Fall

Lauren Cohen — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 13:26:55 +0000

It’s no secret that Towson is in the midst of a monumental revitalization, and city restaurants are taking note.

Within the past few months, a number of city spots—including Canton stalwart Nacho Mama’s and McHenry Row beer bar World of Beer—have orchestrated suburban spinoffs in the area, and now, The Point in Fells is following suit.

“That area is getting a nice little facelift,” says Erica Russo, owner of the 6-year-old Thames Street hangout. “When we came across the property, it just felt like that was the area we needed to be in.”

Russo, a Towson native herself, will open The Point in Towson in the former home of The Crease at 523 York Road this fall. After spending upwards of two years touring sites everywhere from Locust Point and Federal Hill to Hampden and Canton, Russo decided that the county was an ideal fit for her brand.

“We didn’t want to do something too close to Fells because we didn’t want to compete with ourselves,” she says. “If we opened something in Canton, we could possibly pull brunch business from our Fells Point location.”

Though The Point’s original concept—with its signature Skee-Ball, live music, and Jameson bottle club—will carry over into the new space, big changes are in the works for the interior. At 9,000-square feet, the new location boasts indoor seating for upwards of 325—a far leap from the Fells Point flagship which is half its size. Russo estimates that 50 percent of the former Crease building, which has sat vacant since 2011, needed to be renovated.

Upon opening in October, the remodel will yield a glass-enclosed sunroom, three different bar areas with rustic-industrial décor, and an exposed kitchen in the middle section of the restaurant.

“The kitchen is going to be something that’s a little bit different for Towson,” Russo says. “People can grab a cocktail and also get a free show while watching the executive chefs work their magic.”

Core menu items including crab cakes and fried-green tomatoes will remain staples, and the chef will introduce new seasonal dishes every four months. Russo says that the menu, sourced with local ingredients, will also offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.

In addition to 27 local beers on tap, the beverage program will highlight margaritas, Crushes, and other fruity cocktails made with fresh-squeezed juices and local herbs. Russo hopes that the bar’s late-night audience will come, not only from the Towson University crowd, but also from regulars who live in the county.

“A lot of customers say that they would come down more often if they lived closer, but Ubers are too expensive,” she says. “New businesses also tend to bring new faces and new residents. It’s going to be an exciting adventure to watch the area grow.”

On the heels of unveiling the multi-million dollar Towson Square project last year, downtown Towson is preparing to debut other in-the-works retail and housing developments such as Towson Row and the brand new Shops at Kenilworth.

Russo notes that the current revival in Towson mirrors the state of Fells Point when she purchased the first location there seven years ago.

“Within the last five years, Fells Point has accumulated a large number of amazing restaurants on top of all of the new condos and construction,” she says. “I see the same thing in Towson now that we saw out there then. The revitalization of the area is super exciting. It all brings us back to where we started.”

Source