OPEN
Saunter Corner Bar: A new neighborhood watering hole has opened inside the former home of Bar 1801 in Upper Fells Point. Saunter Corner Bar is coming up on its third weekend of serving customizable smashburgers and classic cocktails with a focus on local products. The concept comes from Martha Robichaud and business partners Michael Cohn (of board game bar No Land Beyond) and Matthew and Molly Steinberg—the co-owners of Kenwood Tavern who also formerly co-owned Bar 1801.
Robichaud says Saunter is a “prelude” to what will eventually become an arts bar, Meander, in early 2025. But that isn’t to say Saunter is without a proclivity for art. Right now, guests can expect art club meetups, workshops, meet-the-artist sessions, and other art-related events.
“It will be a pretty seamless transition,” Robichaud says. “We had a fairly quick turnover. We wanted to get open, but we didn’t have time to do the full concept immediately. So we’ve started with our food and beverages, and then over the next few months, you’ll see more and more of the art aspect being added. We already have several art workshops coming up.” (Think: painting with pastels and dried flower bouquets for fall decorations.)
When it becomes Meander, patrons can expect to find a list of rentable arts and crafts kits alongside their cocktail and food menus—which will be expanded, as well. This means they can pair their negronis or daiquiris with a beading experience, air-dry clay, acrylic paint, or even Legos.
“I’m really passionate about creating spaces where people can explore their creative sides without feeling pressure,” says Robichaud, a lifelong artist who attended Baltimore School for the Arts. “As someone who has trained in the arts, I know that a lot of people can feel intimidated, but I also know that the arts are really healing and a wonderful way to connect with yourself and others.”
With her art background, paired with the hospitality expertise brought by Cohn and the Steinbergs, Robichaud is excited to bring life back into the Lombard Street space. Follow the bar on Instagram for both Saunter—open Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to midnight—and Meander updates.
COMING SOON
Morning Mugs Coffee: This Otterbein java joint is widening its footprint to Locust Point. Morning Mugs Coffee will officially debut its second location at 1642 Beason St. on Saturday, Sept. 21. The new cafe will offer the same coffee, cold brew, matcha, chai, espresso, and pastries patrons have come to love, but you can also expect new food offerings—namely breakfast burritos, a “French toast crunch wrap,” and breakfast taquitos, according to SouthBmore.com.
NEWS
Hollins Market Reopens After Renovation: Phase two of this Southwest Baltimore public market’s redevelopment project is set to debut with a grand opening celebration this weekend—bringing much-needed fresh produce to an area once considered a food desert. After the reconstruction of seven stalls in the market shed, new vendors now include Nafasi Catering, Freshly Seafood, K’s Chicken, Lauman’s Quality Meats, and dessert shop MikksKakes. Another major addition: a new grocery stall that offers dry goods, pantry staples, everyday grocery items, packaged prepared foods, and basic household items. Neighbors can also expect a pop-up stall for startup food entrepreneurs to test their concepts, as well as new signage, seating, public restrooms, and public Wi-Fi.
Old Westminster Winery Honors Blood Cancer Awareness Month: In honor of Blood Cancer Awareness Month in September, Old Westminster Winery is once again raising funds to find a cure. Ever since co-founder Drew Baker was diagnosed with leukemia in 2022, the winery has become a dedicated advocate for organizations fighting the disease. Throughout the month of September, Old Westminster will donate one dollar from every bottle of wine sold in its tasting room and online to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and it will match each donation up to $10,000. (If you can’t make it out to the winery this month, there’s a link to donate, here.)
EPICUREAN EVENTS
9/21: The Stoop’s Grand Opening
We gave readers a sneak peek of this new Pigtown coffee shop in August, and now it’s officially time for the owners to cut the ribbon. Stop by The Stoop—which took over the Washington Boulevard space once home to Zeke’s Coffee—this weekend for a grand opening celebration featuring coffee service out on the sidewalk and the shop’s pastry provider, Bluebird Bakery, on site. “It’s one week before the Pigtown festival, so this will be a great way for us to test our abilities,” owner Paige Stamerro told us last month.
9/16-9/22: Negroni Week at Dutch Courage
Are you a negroni fan? If so, plan a visit to Dutch Courage this weekend. The Old Goucher gin bar is hosting Negroni Week now through Sunday as part of the Slow Food Foundation’s national campaign “to foster a more sustainable and equitable world of food and drink.” For the occasion, Dutch Courage bartenders will whip up daily riffs on the classic cocktail (bartender Nick Scott’s “Rumble-oni In The Jungle-groni” featured gin, rum, Velvet Falernum, Campari, and cardamom bitters, for example) all weekend long.