COMING SOON
Aveley Farms + Diamondback Brewing Co.: The two local beverage businesses are teaming up to launch a collaborative concept that fuses the best of both. Earlier this month, Locust Point’s Diamondback Brewing Co. and Towson’s Aveley Farms Coffee Roasters announced that they’re building an “all day and all night” venue at 9490 Deereco Road in Timonium. Guests will be able to enjoy a roastery and cafe by Aveley, as well as a brewery, taproom, and pizza kitchen by Diamondback. The new venture—which will serve as a second location for both establishments—was born out of the businesses’ shared need for more production space, as well as Diamondback’s desire to serve a Baltimore County crowd, according to a press release.
“[Diamondback owner] Tom [Foster] and I started kicking this around about a year and half ago, as we were both looking to expand our manufacturing and retail footprints,” reads a statement by Aveley Farms owner Corey Voelkel, whose friendship with Diamondback owners Foster, Colin Marshall, and Francis Smith dates back to when they were high school classmates at Loyola Blakefield.
Construction on the new spot will begin this spring, with a grand opening slated for later this year. Need a fix in the meantime?Diamondback is commemorating its 10-year anniversary at its annual Greenerfest on April 20, which will feature special beer releases, live music, and local vendors.
Kneads Bakeshop & Cafe: Late last year, we were sad to say goodbye to The Local Oyster’s brick-and-mortar locations, including one in Locust Point. But the space at 838 E. Fort Ave. won’t be vacant for much longer. Kneads Bakeshop—the retail and cafe concept from H&S Bakery that debuted in Harbor East in 2022—will open a pop-up location in the former shucking spot next month. “As we expand our roots within Baltimore, we cherish the opportunity to become a part of the vibrant Locust Point neighborhood, offering the same beloved baked goods, coffee, and light fare that have made us a local favorite,” Kneads wrote on Instagram. The team added in a comment that although it’s a temporary gig, “things could possibly change. [You] never know.”
This news comes just a few weeks after Kneads announced that it will debut a smaller, grab-and-go style bakery and coffee shop at The Village of Cross Keys later this year. (Interestingly, it’s soon-to-be Cross Keys neighbor Easy Like Sunday is also opening a cafe in Locust Point, at the McHenry Row development, this summer.)
OPEN
Love, Pomelo: This Italian eatery from Min Kim and Cheolsoo “Charles” Lee, the-co owners of Canton’s beloved Café Dear Leon, debuted last week in a space just two doors down from their bakeshop on O’Donnell Square. Love, Pomelo opened with a minimalist menu, highlighting dishes like a whipped ricotta spread with honey and pistachio, rigatoni with a white bolognese sauce, mussels, strip steak, and grilled romanesco cauliflower. But its aperitivo, or pre-dinner drinks, deserve just as much attention. When we dined here earlier this week, nary a table didn’t hold a Love, Pomelo Spritz, made with L’Aperitivo Nonino, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice, and tonic. The negroni selection—a house negroni and a negroni bianco—is noteworthy, too.
Roggenart Mt. Vernon: The eclipse wasn’t the only noteworthy thing to happen for Mt. Vernon locals on Monday. The neighborhood also officially welcomed this European cafe chain—which has rapidly expanded throughout the years with locations everywhere from Towson and Ellicott City to Arlington and Chicago—on North Charles Street. Situated on the ground floor of the City House Charles office and retail complex (formerly the hallowed Grand Central Nightclub), the shop offers a menu of scratch-made pastries, breakfast sandwiches, paninis, and a robust coffee and espresso program.
NEWS
Le Comptoir du Vin Taking Over Birds of a Feather: Decades-old Fells Point scotch bar Birds of a Feather has sadly closed, but the gears are turning to reactivate the space soon. Owner Alicia Horn Merritt is retiring and will sell the bar to Will Mester and Rosemary Liss, the owners of Station North star Le Comptoir du Vin. Mester tells us that he met Merritt when he previously stopped by for a drink, and learned she intended to retire. “I called her a couple of weeks later and asked her what she was planning to do with the space, and we worked it out from there,” he says. “We’ve been looking at doing it for about a year and a half.”
Plans for the space are still mostly under wraps, but Mester shares that it will be a pub with a dining room upstairs for dinner service a few times per week. “We want to do a pub without food flying around everywhere,” he says. The hope is to open sometime before the end of the year.
EPICUREAN EVENTS
4/12: Moveable Feast’s Rebel Keg Party at Gertrude’s
The Rebels are back at it. Tomorrow, local cycling team Rebels with a Cause will throw its annual fundraiser for Moveable Feast at Gertrude’s inside the Baltimore Museum of Art. With proceeds directly benefiting the organization that provides meals to Marylanders living with HIV/AIDs, cancer, and other life-threatening diseases, the “refined keg party” will feature live music, local beer, and food from area restos like True Chesapeake Oyster Co., Marta, Foraged, and Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar. Expect pours from greats like Mobtown Brewing, Union Craft Brewing, Guilford Hall, Pariah Brewing, Brewer’s Art, Checkerspot Brewing, and Charm City Meadworks. Tickets range from $35-$75.
4/13: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Feastival at West Shore Park
Speaking of events for a great cause—this weekend, Baltimoreans can join in this annual “food adventure for a cure.” The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s celebrated tasting event returns this Saturday, but at a new venue. This year, the foodie fundraiser will take place at West Shore Park in the Inner Harbor. Tickets ($125 for singles, $200 for two) include all-you-can-eat bites from local restaurants like Sally O’s, Osteria Pirata, and Alma Cocina Latina.
5/19: Gin Fling at Dutch Courage
Old Goucher gin bar Dutch Courage announced this week that it will host a Gin Fling for those who want to taste, drink, and learn more about its spirit of choice. On Sunday, May 19, the ticketed event at the bar will offer 14 different gins to sample, plus cocktail tastings, oysters, and live music from The Flying Faders. Full-sized cocktails and other food will be available to purchase. Tickets run $50 and can be bought via OpenTable.