Turning Point

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.