The Daily Record reported yesterday that a group of investors hopes to redevelop the run-down North Ave Market in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District.  This plan will complement other recently announced development projects in the area, including a plan to create a new Chinatown nearby.  From the Daily Record:

“In a part of the market where a retail clothing operation stood until about a year-and-a-half ago, a new bar called the Wind-Up Space is slated to open May 6. The bar will feature performances of independent music, art shows and film screenings.

The market’s main stall area, which was once home to the Sacred Zion Full Baptist Church, will be converted into an artists’ collective, featuring craftspeople from the Baltimore Glassworks and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, and a coffee shop and bookstore operated by the Baltimore Chop, Schechter said.”

Read the Full Article…

Joss Sushi Bar, the highly acclaimed sushi restaurant on Annapolis’ Main Street, has recently announced that they will be opening their second location in Baltimore this Spring.  The new location will be at 414 N. Charles St. in the Downtown Baltimore area just south of Mt. Vernon.  Joss Sushi Bar in Annapolis is Zagat rated and is considered by many to have the best sushi in Annapolis, if not all of Maryland. 

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

After being closed for nearly a year, Hudson Street Cafe in Canton will reopen under new ownership within the next couple of months.  The new owners have installed a small kitchen and will be serving food, something the old Hudson Street Cafe lacked.  Hudson Street Cafe is located at 2624 Hudson St. across from the Canton Safeway parking lot.

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/03/24/story11.html

http://www.sullivansteakhouse.com/

Pasta Mista, the popular pizza joint at the Dulaney Valley shopping plaza in Towson, will be opening its second Baltimore Area location in Brewer’s Hill.  The restaurant will be located in the small Natty Boh strip mall at the corner of Conkling and Boston St.  The mall, which is part of the Streuver Brothers “Brewers Hill” development, also houses a Five Guys, Dunkin Donuts, Dogma, and a bank.  No word on the exact date when the new location will open.

Pasta Mista might be the only new place that can even hold a candle to the other Southeast Baltimore pizza mainstays - Tutti Gusti and Matthews, although they are hard to beat.  The pizza at Pasta Mista’s Towson location is known for its crispy thin crust with a delightful amount of grease floating atop a nice layer of cheese and sauce.  The sausage pizza is possibly the most popular amongst regulars.  Pasta Mista also offers more adventurous toppings such as caesar salad and baked penne toppings, but these often get lower marks by critics (I give them credit for trying).  Pasta Mista may give the trendy new “Py” pizza, located on O’Donnell Square in Canton, a run for their money.  “Py” has tried to lure customers away from their old favorites by offering unique flavors such as Thai Chicken pizza.  However, the last time I ordered there, it took over an hour to deliver the pizza, which was ice cold when it arrived. 

The biggest problem now posed to residents in Southeast Baltimore might be not whether to order pizza, but deciding from which place?  Will this start a pizza war, or are there enough pizza lovers to go around?  Only time will tell.
jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

A new coffee shop in Downtown Baltimore will be opening at the recently renovated 222 Saratoga condo building.  The coffee shop, aptly named “Saratoga Coffee” will have its grand opening on 3/19/08.  Located on Saratoga St., between Guilford Ave. and Calvert St., the shop is close to Mercy Hospital, City Hall, and I-83.  Saratoga Coffee will also apparently sell books.  Visit http://www.222saratoga.com/

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

Rumor has it that Miss Shirley’s Cafe and Bakery will be opening a second location in the Constellation Energy building at 750 E. Pratt Street near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  Miss Shirley’s current location, a very popular breakfast and lunch spot on Cold Spring Lane in Roland Park, will remain.  The new location would face south onto Pratt St. near the corner of President St.  No word on when construction will start or whether the format of the restaurant will be different from the original.  Keep posted for new information.  Visit http://www.missshirleys.com

Fells Point may start to feel a little more like Greektown, with two new Mediterranean style restaurants and a Greek themed Bed & Breakfast in the works.

Miss Irene’s - Fells Point Bistro - 1738 Thames St. which originally closed in 2004, has reopened with a Mediterranean style.  The new restaurant will be upscale, a far cry from the bar once named the “best bar for hardcore drinking” by the city paper.

Meli (1636 Thames St., 410-534-6354) which means “Honey” in Greek, is the third restaurant in the Kali’s Restaurant group.  The recently opened restaurant will have global cuisine prepared with French techniques.  The best part about it is the patisserie attached to the dining room and lounge.  Apparently the patisserie will be open for late night coffee and dessert for times when a hot dog pretzel from the stand on Broadway just won’t do.

The owners of the Black Olive, which opened in 1997 and has consistently been one of the best restaurants in Baltimore, are building a Bed & Breakfast called the Vineyards at the Black Olive on Caroline St.  Although the project has been in planning stages for a few years now, plans are supposedly being finalized for the 7.5 million dollar project and a permit for the foundation has been obtained.  The foundation permit is only supposed to be good through the end of March, which may be a concern because work hasn’t started yet other than the arrival of a construction trailer.  However, permits can be extended by the city upon request.  Apparently the construction is expected to take 8 months once it begins.  The hotel is to be modeled after the Black Olive Family’s former hotel in Constantinople and is to have a LEED Platinum rating.
jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

A late night coffee shop, something Baltimore needs more of, has just opened up in Hampden.  “El Rancho Grande”, which is supposedly the antithesis of the average coffee shop, is open Monday through Friday from 6pm to 2am and from 3pm to 9pm on Sundays.   Don’t look for fancy latte’s here and I wouldn’t expect it’d be the type of place to study or flip open your laptop to catch up on e-mails, as El Rancho is supposed to be relatively bohemian in nature.  Looks like it could be a great place for a low key evening out on the town or a unique finish to one of Hampden’s off-center restaurants and cafes.  Look for the turquoise, orange, and purple facade (since there’s no sign).   Also look for an occasional music act.   If anyone makes it over there, please post a comment and let us know how it is.   http://www.myspace.com/itsabigranch

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

So I was reading Colleen’s blog - SoBoBlog - and very excited to hear that Ledo Pizza is apparently moving to Southside Shopping Center in Locust Point. For whatever reason my wife and I are addicted to their pizza. Maybe it’s because it’s square (how do they do that?), or maybe it’s the sauce… but nevertheless I’m pumped. My very own Ledo pizza within a couple blocks. I wonder if they will be able to acquire a liquor license for the location. Every Ledo’s I’ve ever been to serves beer & wine. But the shopping center may have restrictions because there isn’t currently any other businesses serving or selling alcohol. But that’s really not important - as long as they got the square pizza and big lasagna, I’m set. Another excuse for us not to have to cook. And yet another reason as Colleen discusses, is the opening of Luca’s Cafe on Fort Avenue. Luca’s - occupying the space that was formerly Truman’s Tavern - is serving pizza/Italian/American. Looks like eating in my area are is getting a lot better.

Read the rest of this entry »