visit Baltimore : Development News

Milan, will officially open on Jan 15, welcoming guests for drinks, small plates or multi-course dinners seven days a week from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.with extended bar and late dining hours until 1 am.
 
"We are excited to be a part of Baltimore's developing culinary scene and to be able to share the talents of Chef Carey with customers" explains Peter Mooradian, General Manager at Milan.

Dubbing itself, a unique dining destination "where food meets fashion," the restuarant, located at 1000 Eastern Avenue on the cusp of Little Italy and Harbor East will offer its guests an blend of modern Italian cuisine infused with Mediterranean flavor prepared by Executive Chef Stephen Carey. The innovative menu includes fresh grilled steaks, hand-made pastas, bruschetta, flatbreads and Italian-inspired sushi ("sushi Italiano"), as well as top-rated Italian and world wines and blended cocktails inspired by world-renown fashion designers.

Milan's menu was inspired by the Italian and Mediterranean travels of its owner, Smitty. "Everything he saw and tasted while traveling which he documented in a journal, we've used to try and recreate that with this menu. We've created menus that showcase traditional Italian recipes with modern technique," explains Stephen Carey, Executive Chef at Milan. "We're bringing something fresh and innovative to the Baltimore dining scene."

A selection of appetizers, antipasti, bruschettas, flatbreads and salads are available for guests including a selection of three ($12) or five ($19) cured meats and fresh cheeses; Aragosta Pasta e Caci, lobster mac and cheese with chiocciole pasta, smoked gouda b�chamel, white truffle essence, and citus pistacio gremolata ($12); and Caprese di Fungi, portabella mushroom, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, fresh basil and an imported balsamic reduction ($7).

Perhaps the most unusual item on Milan's menu is its "Sushi Italiano," or Italian sushi, an infusion of both Italian and Japanese cuisine. Similar to Crudo, delicate slices of raw fish typcally served with olive oil in Italy, are recreated at the restuarant, and are served with either three ($9) or six ($17) varieties of fresh fish and include Salmon with lemon caper aioli, Hiramasa with a blood orange balsamic glaze, Arctic Char with a basil pesto, Hamachi with roasted red pepper puree, Yellowfin Tuna with red pepper oil and sea salt and White Tuna with lemon oil and pine nuts.

"Crudo is very traditional Italian food, but just hasn't made much over to the U.S. yet. We're the first place to do it in Baltimore. In Italy it's the freshest fish you can have, but raw. I paired each one with a different sauce that would complement that dish. We do sushi rolls by taking the fundamental Japanese sushi and fusing it with Italian and Mediterranean ingredients. We do the rice and nouri but the inside of the rolls are anything but Japanese," says Chef Carey.

Other selections of sushi Italiano include Uva Fogliame Con Salmone, seared salmon, fresh mozzarella, saut�ed mushrooms, sundried tomato, grape leaves and lemon caper aioli ($12) and Milan Rotolo, Avocado, sun dried tomato, fried calamari, nori, seasoned rice, white tuna, yellowfin tuna, basil pesto, and blood orange balsamic glaze ($18).

The menu also includes the traditional pasta and dinner entr�e selections including Ravioli Deconstruito, cold water lobster, jumbo lump crab, shrimp, house made pasta, swiss chard, and pink peppercorn cream sauce ($28). Risotto Capasanta, seared scallops, wild mushrooms, fire roasted corn and white truffle essence ($22), Vitello, 14 oz. veal porterhouse with a wild mushroom risotto cake and smoked tomato demi glace ($38); and Bistecca Con L'Osso, Milan's 20 oz. dry rubbed USDA Choice bone-in ribeye with Yukon gold mash and melted leeks ($42).

House made desserts include Torta di Formaggio, honey ricotta cheesecake with a balsamic strawberry compote and candied rosemary ($8); Milan's Tiramisu ($8); Grand Marnier Cr�me Brulee ($8); and Piatoo di Fromaggio, a selection of Italian cheese ($12).

Milan also offers an extensive selection of specialty cocktails, top-rated wines and bottled domestic and imported beers. Original martinis inspired by the finest fashion houses include the Dolce & Gabbana, Godiva Milk Chocolate Liqueur, Stoli Raz Vodka, a splash of club soda and fresh raspberries ($11) and Gucci Envy, Absolute Apple Vodka, Sour Apple Liquor, and a splash of Midori and pineapple juice ($10). Other handcrafted cocktails include the Passion of Milan, Captain Morgan Passion Fruit, fresh brewed iced-tea, and a splash of lime juice ($8) and a variety of flavorful mojitos ($10-12). Select cocktails will be served at special prices during Milan's happy hour, offered seven days a week from 5-7 pm.

Source: Chef Stephen Carey, Milan
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Visitors to Maryland planning a longer than usual stay now have a new option. The new Marriott Residence Inn located in Hunt Valley, Maryland is now accepting guests. Developed by Skye Hospitality the hotel features 141 suites.

"We are very excited to introduce the Residence Inn brand to Hunt Valley. The Residence Inn is specifically designed to provide everything travelers need to thrive while on long stays," remarked Bill Bello, Skye Hospitality's president.

The hotel is in the heart of Hunt Valley, adjacent to the Light Rail Station, one block from the Hunt Valley Towne Centre and near the area's largest corporations. Hotel guests, whether on business or leisure travel, are also close to attractions such as Oregon Ridge Park, NCR Trail, Pimlico Race Track - Home of the Preakness, Timonium Fairgrounds, Smithwick Horse Farm, Hayfields Country Club and the Hunt Valley Country Club.

In addition to the 141 suites, the hotel offers guests a small conference room to help serve the corporate community's meeting needs. The lobby features separate nooks offering a semi-private location for impromptu meetings and casual conversations over coffee. Guests will also enjoy luxury bedding, complete in-room kitchens, an indoor pool and complimentary amenities such as WiFi, a breakfast buffet, evening social hours and grocery shopping service.

Source: Marriott Residence Inn
Writer: Walaika Haskins

What's the one thing that's been missing from Ellicott City's Main Street? Well, if you ask Evan Brown, he says it was an affordable Italian restaurant.

"One thing we always thought was lacking in the area, especially on Main Street, was an Italian restaurant. You have French. You have American. You have a brewery. You have fusion. You have alll sorts of different things on this street, but nothing that would come anywhere close to Italian cuisine," he says.

Located at 8085 Main Street in Ellicott City, Portalli's will officially open on Dec. 11. The restaurant, which takes its name from Brown's mother's side of the family, serves up traditional Italian fare from all over Italy at affordable prices.

"We encourage courses...so we will have a salad, antipasta and our first course being a pasta dish. The second course being a protein of some sort, whether that be seafood or steak. But, everything is priced accordingly so that you can leave here and not feel like you've spent a ton of money on one dish. Our portions aren't overwhelming because we want people to come in and try the food," Brown explains.

Formerly, Jordan's Steakhouse, Brown and his co-owner Lee Biars, have made some changes to the restaurant to give it a more Mediterranean feel. "The walls were painted like a pumpkin orange, which was a semi-gloss, shiny color, and we tried to dial it down a bit."

So far, during the restuarant's soft launch, diners have given thumbs up to the Spaghetti and Meatballs and their Duck Confit Manicotti.

"We're doing some housemade pastas. As the evolution of the restaurant goes, we're going to try to do more," Brown notes.

Along with the food, wine is a major focus at Portalli's. According to Brown, the restaurant only stocks wines with some sort of link to Italy. And, for diners who are unsure of which wines make the best pairings, he and Biars are there to share their expertise.

Brown and Biars, also owners of Diamondback Tavern, believe that Ellicott City's Main Street is on the verge of becoming a destination for area foodies, and he says they want Portalli's to be apart of what draws people to there.

"Ellicott City has so much character to it. The people who have been here for years have done a great job, but it's not on the map as a dining destination. But as this whole town evolves I think that's what it's going to become. That's why we were really interested in the area," says Brown.

"This is a restaurant that's going to be based around the community. Whatever we get a really positive feedback on is going to become a staple of the restaurant. We want to make sure people come in here knowing exactly what they're going to get, understanding the quality and level of service we're going to offer. And then we'll go from there," he adds.

Source: Even Brown, Portalli's
Writer: Walaika Haskins

With a new heating system to keep its patrons toasty warm despite the cold weather, Woody's Rum Bar and Island Grill, a summertime favorite in Fells Point, is now open all year long.

According to Bill Irvin, owner, it was a simple matter of economics and a view that was wasted for several months out of the year. "The real reason we reopened was that we have that space up there and not utilizing it is obviously an opportunity that's passed on. We have what are probably the best views in Baltimore and probably the only rooftop view accessible to the public in Fells Point," he says.

Regularly booked with parties of 200 or more people for Woody's downstairs neighbor, Slainte's Irish Pub, that take up the entire two-floor restaurant, using the second and third floors would mean the first floor could remain open to the general public.

Open Thurs., Fri, Sat., and Sun., Irvin says they are still working out the kinks on the Tiki-esque cocktails and food menu comprised of small bites. Sat. and Sun. the restaurant will also serve brunch.

Located at 821 S. Broadway at Thames, Woody's will be available for parties and will be open New Year's Eve. "It's one of the best spots for fireworks, especially on New Year's. We're going to be open and trying to come up with ideas now. I think we're going to make it costumed-themed and a limited number of people, around 40, with an all-inclusive cocktails."

But, even without a special occasion, party or even much advertising, according to Irvin the word has spread about Woody's new hours and even though it was snowing on Saturday, the rooftop bar was "packed." The rooftop bar is open to Slainte's customers as well, who can just walk on up to there, Irvin says.

Source: Bill Irvin, co-owner
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Fans of Nicholas Batey who shed a few tears when his South Baltimore restaurant, The Bicycle, closed its doors earlier this year now have a reason to rejoice. Batey is back in the kitchen. This time, however, he's left behind the global theme and instead has chosen to concentrate on his take on Italian cuisine.

Ullswater, located at 554 E. Fort Avenue, may not sound like the name of an Italian restuarant, says Saundra Batey, co-owner, and that's because it isn't.

"Ullswater is a place in England. You'll see paintings of it around the restaurant. When [Nicholas] was at culinary school, looking at the picture calmed him. He was all alone and could only afford that one painting. He'd go and stare at it when he was lonely. So, he decided that Ullswater was a unique name. We know it doesn't sound Italian," she explains.

The former site of the Sly Fox bar, Batey says she, her partners Monique, Mary and Michael Faulkner, and her husband chose the location because they wanted to create a neighborhood restaurant that was affordable. "We've always loved the area. When we went looking for a restaurant we wanted to keep it in the neighborhood. We noticed that this building was empty and when we walked in it was perfect."

The Bateys and Faulkners completely renovated the two-floor restaurant. "We tore out the back part of the building and redid that, added crown molding. We changed everything. It's basically a brand new restaurant with a brand new bar. The bar is the main attraction."

Ullswater, which opened officially on Nov. 16, will seat up to 100 people. "We didn't want to make it overwhelming and chose to kept it small and intimate," Batey notes.

The restaurant is geared towards families and offers family-style dining for parties. The menu is what anyone familiar with Nicholas Batey might expect. "It's his take on Italian food. One favorite, so far, has been Batey's mozzarella sticks. Forget the frozen and breaded nightmares that are a bar mainstay. These are made with mozzarella, prosciutto, basil, wrapped in phyllo dough and served with a pomodoro sauce.

Another hit is Ullswater's Shrimp Trio. Shrimp prepared three ways, wrapped in pancetta, fried and chilled, served with a sundried tomato cocktail sauce.

"His meatballs in bolognese sauce are very popular and his green bean salad," Batey says.

The menu is changing a bit as the restaurant gears up to begin serving lunch. "We're starting to serve burgers and paninis and will be open for lunch starting next week."

For those who lament the the loss of Bicycle, the Batey's plan to add some of their loyal customers' favorite dishes to the menu. "They aren't Italian but we want to cater to our Bicycle clientele."

Source: Saundra Batey, co-owner
Writer: Walaika Haskins

With the NFL season in full swing, Peope for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has released its annual ranking of teams doing the best job of satisfying their fans' growing hunger for healthy, humane, and Earth-friendly vegetarian options. With more delicious vegetarian food available at sporting events than ever before, the animal-friendly org has had to double its list of winners. Among the stadiums that made the cut - M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens.

Ravens fans have their choice of many meat-, dairy-, and egg-free options (some of which are available only in premium or club seating areas), including meatless burgers, crudit�s, vegetable wraps, vegetable burritos, hummus, and fresh fruit.

"Ravens fans love defense, and there's no better way to defend animals from abuse while defending yourself from heart disease and obesity than to go vegan,"says PETA Director Dan Shannon. "The best way for people to sack potential health problems and hit pay dirt for animals and the environment is to choose vegan foods every chance they get."

Taking first place is Oakland�Alameda County Coliseum, home of the Oakland Raiders, whose spicy Tex-Mex burrito clinched the win. TheSan Francisco 49ers' Candlestick Park came in a close second.

Rounding out the top 10 are the Green Bay Packers' Lambeau Field, the University of Phoenix Stadium home to the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Minnesota Vikings' Metrodome, the Georgia Dome homefied for the Atlanta Falcons, the Pittsburgh Steelers' Heinz Field, and Qualcomm Stadium home of the San Diego Chargers.

Source: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore-area visitors have a new housing option during their stay following the opening of the SpringHill Suites of Columbia hotel. Part of the Marriott group of hotels, SpringHill Suits is located in Minstrel Crossing - a 9.1 acre mixed use development near the corner of Snowden River and Broken Land Parkway.

The suites-only hotel offers 117 spacious studio suites, a 600 square foot meeting facility, wireless internet access, a state-of-the-art gym, and a host of other amenities. It adds to the breadth of affordable high-end Howard County hotels available for both business and pleasure.

This is the 235th hotel to open since Marriott started the all suite select service hotel brand in 1999. Owned and operated by OTO Development, it is the third hotel in the country to feature the all new SpringHill Suites interior design.

"OTO is thrilled to be a part of the community," says Johnetta Jordan, SpringHill Suites of Columbia's General Manager. "We have truly had a warm and friendly welcome from every person that we have come into contact with in the community."

All together, OTO Development will bring nearly 60 jobs to both the the 117-room SpringHill Suites hotel and a planned 124-room Hampton Inn Suites on 5.4 acres of the Minstrel Crossing properties. 

On the remaining two lots developer H&H Rock "plans to build a 9,800 square foot one-story retail building which it will retain," said Bradd M. Caplan, Vice President of Commercial Development and Project Manager, H&H Rock Companies. "H&H Rock will develop the site for an Arby's restaurant which will be leased under a ground lease agreement."

Source: Howard County Economic Development Authority
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The AAA auto club has awarded 10 hotels and two restaurants in Maryland with its AAA Four Diamond rating for the year 2010. For the first time, the Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel is the latest area hotel to be included among the club's top rated hotels.

Announced last Thursday at the Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit in Ocean City, the designation is given to restaurants and lodgings that must undergo a thorough inspection by one of AAA's 65 full-time, trained professional evaluators. These evaluators assess the cleanliness, ambiance, amenities, and service of some 60,000 hotels and restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

"AAA Four Diamond winners know the language of customer satisfaction as they consistently deliver premier experiences, complete with superior personal service, first-class amenities and impressive surroundings," says Ragina C. Averella, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

"Only establishments that meet the extensive quality criteria required to become AAA Approved receive a AAA Diamond rating. The two components work in sync � AAA Approved offers the stamp of quality and AAA Diamond ratings show where establishments fit in the spectrum from basic to luxury," Averella adds.

Also earning a spot on the 2010 list were the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, which received the top rating for the eighth consecutive year, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on the Potomac, National Harbor and  Hilton Suites Ocean City Oceanfront, both making the list for the second straight time; the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, for the 29th year in a row; Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, Cambridge, which made the grade for the seventh year; the InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore for the 23rd time; Loews Annapolis Hotel for the fourth straight year; Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, earning its 22^nd consecutive mention and Cumberland's Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort for the ninth year.

Baltimore's Charleston topped the list of Four Diamond restaurants making its seventh consecutive appearance on the list. Other area restaurants included Sherwood's Landing in St. Michaels.

"The AAA Diamond Awards represent the quality of Maryland's hospitality industry, and I could not be more proud of today's recipients," says Gov. Martin O'Malley. "In these historically challenging economic times, it's important that we maintain the highest standards of customer satisfaction, particularly in our tourism and hospitality sectors. While there is still much work to be done before our economic recovery transforms into prosperity, top quality hotels and restaurants are an essential ingredient to any economic turnaround."

"We are delighted that the AAA Four Diamond awards were presented to the 2010 winners at the Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit," says Mary Jo McCulloch, President of the Maryland Tourism Council. "The winners set the standard for the rest of the industry to follow. It is fitting that they were recognized in front of their peers in the hospitality and tourism industry at Maryland tourism's premier event. It is truly an honor for everyone involved."

Establishments and their ratings will be listed in the 2010 AAA TourBook® guides, in print, and on AAA's website, www.AAA.com. And in response to growing interest in green hotels, starting in 2010, AAA will highlight AAA Approved lodgings that have been eco-certified through a well-established government or private program.

"This recognition is especially important as many businesses, including hotels and restaurants strive to maintain their status of excellence, particularly during these challenging financial times. In many cases, most of us are often doing just as much or even more with fewer resources," Averella continues.

The current AAA Diamond Ratings® system was introduced in 1977 for hotels and 1989 for restaurants. It continues to be recognized as the most trusted rating process for North American restaurants and lodgings.

Source: AAA, automotive club
Writer: Walaika Haskins

 

Baltimore's Historic Charles Street was named a National Scenic Byway by the Federal Highway Administration's Administrator, Victor M. Mendez at a designation event held recently at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC. As a National Scenic Byway, this significant honor helps promote Charles Street as Baltimore's Main Street nationally and internationally to tourists, increase local pride, and leverage funds for preservation and development along the corridor.

"Charles Street is our main street and historic cultural corridor that draws people into Baltimore to live, work, learn, worship, and play by the water's edge," says Mayor Sheila Dixon. "A trek along Charles Street is an all-inclusive way to experience the heart of Baltimore. Linking the Inner Harbor and its attractions to many of Baltimore City's and Baltimore County's outstanding and world-renowned destinations, the Byway travels through an eclectic mix of urban and suburban neighborhoods full of great places to sightsee, shop, and dine."

Nominated in 2006, Charles Street now joins other Maryland Byway designations including the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, Religious Freedom Byway, and the Journey through Hallowed Ground: National Scenic Byway.

The county section of Charles Street is the main northern gateway in which international and national travelers will explore the Byway. The State is emphasizing this gateway with special treatments to the new bridge over I-695, with architectural details that mimic many of the historic buildings such as the Walters and Baltimore Museum of Art to create a grand entrance to Charles Street.

"We are delighted that the national spotlight is shining on the Charles Street corridor - one of our region's richest cultural and historical treasures," County Executive Jim Smith. "We look forward to collaborating with our partners in Baltimore City to preserve and promote this beautiful metropolitan thoroughfare says.

In Baltimore City, visitors travel through the epicenter of the region's cultural stomping grounds as they journey along the Byway through Station North Arts District and beyond to bohemian neighborhoods. Charles Street consists of a virtually unbroken series of local and National Register Historic Districts.

The byway also offers marvelous examples of old and new architecture like the Beaux-Arts B&O Railroad building, the Art Deco Bank of America Tower, and the metal and glass of One Charles Center in the city's historic financial district designed by Mies van der Rohe, a pioneer of modern architecture.

Beyond the city limits, the natural beauty of Charles Street is evident in the County where visitors are treated to a wooded parkway. A sidetrack leads to the historic homes in picturesque Lutherville.

Additionally, Charles Street is lined with historic religious structures; a testament to America' founding principles of religious freedom. The nations' first Roman Catholic cathedral, the Basilica of the Assumption, designed by Benjamin Latrobe, is one of the finest examples of neo-classical architecture in the world. Other Catholic institutions include the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen built in 1959, and the College of Notre Dame, the nation's first Catholic College for women. Also along Charles Street is the Quakers Friends School, the oldest school in Baltimore, and the Mother Church of American Methodism, Lovely Lane Methodist Church, designed by Stanford White.

The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The Program is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. Since 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has funded 2,672 projects for state and nationally designated byway routes in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

Source: Mayor Sheila Dixon, Baltimore City
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Federal Hill's Scarborough Fair Bed and Breakfast was named one of the country's top urban BnBs for 2009-2010 by Bedandbreakfast.com last week.

The award is based on both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the independently posted reviews on BedandBreakfast.com, according to the site.

"They read all the individual reviews that guests have left, star-ratings for different aspects of the inn rating system and using that somehow select the best inns in the country," explains Barry Werner, the inn's co-owner.

Owning a BnB in Baltimore is "pretty different," according to Werner.

"It's not what people traditionally think of when they think of a bed and breakfast experience. We have all of the normal comfort and luxuriousness, but there's, in my opinion, a heck of a lot more to do here than there is at BnBs in more traditional settings," he continues.

"You have all of the different things in the city to do. All of the festivals, tourist attractions and museums. You can do the normal thing, spending all day exploring the city and then come back to a very comfortable setting that's more like staying at your best friends house, except that its yours and its private," says Werner.

Werner was bitten by the BnB bug as a child, playing BnB with his grandmother "all the time."

"I'd design the rooms and pretend what they looked like. And grandma and I would make pretend menus and have pancakes. She's really the reason," Werner says.

Now, 76, his grandmother is an occasional honored guest at Scarborough Fair.

Werner says he hopes that the award will help travelers see that staying at a BnB is preferrable to to choosing a hotel.

"Hopefully it will help people see that a bed and breakfast is about more than where it's located but also about what it offers. You can find wonderful accomadations in BnB in almost any larger city nowadays and have a wonderful, personalized experience. Hotels tend to be too sterile where the shouldn't be and not sterile enough where they should be. This will hopefully help get the message across that there are many more options," he concludes.

Baltimore's VIPs and wannabes welcomed a new club last weekend. Mist took over the Power Plant Live location vacated by the Iguana Cantina in July. Club owners are aiming to bring a bit of the glamor commonly associated with clubs in Miami, Las Vegas or Los Angeles to Baltimore.

"We are the largest upscale club in the area," says Bobby Dylan, owner Good Life Productions and Jetset Mafia.
 
The new upscale club caters to Baltimore's sporting elite and other area people-you-know and people-you-should-know. According to Dylan, Michael Phelps along with a few other sports notables attended the club's grand opening Saturday.

The club's decor, in shades of turquoise and blue, is meant to evoke a sense of water, leather ottomans make it easy to customize seating arrangements, while a giant 30-foot video screen and plasma TVs keep the party going showing videos as DJs spin tunes from dance, pop and hip-hop. Two "huge" bars also fill the space.

"We do mostly bottle service to tables. But we also have nearly every vodka made," Dylan says.

Only half of the club is currentlyopen, the other half, featuring a lounge, will open by New Years.

"We're open from 10 pm to 2 am, Friday and Saturday. Right now, we're just doing two nights a week, but later on we'll open on Thursday, but for now we're concentrating on Friday and Saturday," says Dylan.

Unusual times call for unusual enterprises. That's the philosophy of Baltimore-based graphic designer and graffiti artist Adam Stab, whose boutique End Times Trading Post � a collaboration with Ginny Lawhorn � will bring a bounty of one-of-a-kind, custom-made merchandise to Fells Point starting in October.

"The name is basically my take on where we are on the timeline of the human experience," Stab says of End Times, located at 1709 Aliceanna Street. "There's kind of a put-up-or-shut-up desperation to how we're seeing humanity handle our own growth and technology. Are we on the precipice of doing ourselves in, or will we be forced to the point where things are so rough we're going to figure it out? Whatever direction we go, I feel like we're at the end of where things have being going and at the beginning of what's next."

Given Stab's worldview, it's no wonder End Times' merchandise will be a study in deconstruction. The boutique is guaranteed a home run with its couture clothing, designed in-house, made entirely of reused, donated clothing. A Tommy Hilfiger shirt could end up a pair of women's shorts; a dress might emerge from a DKNY skirt.

"Everything's a cultural web, a remix of the original. We respect the origin of the style, but we break it down in the studio and take it in different a direction," says Stab. But don't let the couture concept scare you: this proprietor's adamant that these one-of-a-kind garments be affordable. A one-piece dress could be as little as $55; tops and shorts sets around $80.

End Times, which opens Oct. 3 during the Fells Point Fun Festival, will also offer a wide array of highly stylized accessories. Stab and Lawhorn are partnering with a Philadelphia-based firm to offer custom-painted tennis and are bringing in jewelry from local artists, some of it "rough-and-tumble, gritty and urban" and some delicate and floral. All will be from small runs, which should ensure that patrons' purchases won't pop up on everyone else's necks, wrists and fingers like mass-marketed trinkets from H&M.

"We have a desire to run a boutique that will help recreate the atmosphere Fells Point used to have, when the stores were eclectic and it was easy to have a fun shopping day because prices were reasonable," say Stab, who moved with his family to Baltimore as a teenager and recalls riding his skateboard regularly to the neighborhood. ("It was my available getaway," he says.)

In the interest of providing gift options for its patrons, End Times will devote its wallspace to artwork from local artists and will also invite local artists to avail themselves of a vast quantity of 1950s and 1960s molds that Stab has inherited. Stab hopes the artwork they create from the molds, which of course will be for sale, will offer customers a fresh but equally quirky alternative to the plastic Japanese toys and tchotchkes that are now en vogue.

Source: Adam Stab, End Times Trading Post
Writer: Lucy Ament

If you think finding a parking spot in the heart of Fells Point is hard, try being a boater. Slips to, well, slip into for an evening of shopping and dining on dry land are relatively scarce, but there will be quite a few more next spring thanks to Brown's Wharf.

The development, which contains more than 105,000 square feet of restaurants, retail and office space, will begin construction this fall on 19 40-foot slips and 210 feet of side ties (spaces where boaters can moor parallel to the dock). The marina by the time boating season begins next spring.

"We bought the building three years ago, and we were aware there had once been a marina there and that there was in fact a marina in that location in the master plan of Baltimore Harbor," says Brad Dockser, managing partner for ownership group, Brown's Wharf, LLC. "It was always our intention to rebuild a marina there, in part to activate the waterfront to increase activity there. We spent last year designing and thinking about what we wanted."

While some of the mooring spaces will be available for month- or yearlong rentals, others will be made available on an overnight basis. Dockser says the marina will not only be a revenue source for the management company, but will bring more customers to Brown's Wharf businesses.

"Most 40-foot boats don't have a kitchen," Dockser notes. "Because of the demographics of boating, we anticipate that more people will come to Fells Point for an overnight stay and dine at places like Kali's Court or Meli. Or, if they want something more informal, they'll go eat at a place like Shuckers."

Dockser says rates and policies for the marina should be determined by early 2010.

Writer: Lucy Ament
Source: Brad Dockser, Brown's Wharf, LLC

Restaurant-goers who like to eat where it's edgy will delight in the arrival of The Reserve, a new Federal Hill eatery that's brought a jolt of industrial chic to 1542 Light Street. After a soft opening, owners Andrew Dunlap, Sean White, and Thomas Brown recently unveiled the restaurant's full menu and it has brought business up to a rolling boil.

"I think The Reserve brings a whole new atmosphere to Federal Hill," says Brown. "It's kind of like bringing a D.C. type place to Baltimore but not taking it too far. D.C.-style bars don't usually work in Baltimore; every time I've seen them come they never last."

With it's concrete floors and countertops, stainless steel embellishments, and exposed beams and duct work, The Reserve is a study in cool, clean lines. It has an L-shaped bar that stretches across half of the first floor, which is painted in shades of blue, gray and silver, and another in the back, which is used for private engagements. Beer taps are embedded in a stone wall, and patrons are invited to watch the chefs at work through a large open window.

"We're bringing customers very high quality foods at very reasonable, Baltimore prices and in a relaxed atmosphere," Brown says. "Seafood is delivered every day, we serve top of the line filet and we offer a seasonal menu that changes four times a year."

While the entrees cover the standard surf and turf repertoire, it's the preparation at The Reserve that's intriguing. The calamari appetizer comes with a tomato hazelnut vinaigrette; the tuna with a crispy pineapple mille feuille with soy ginger vinaigrette; the bison burger with a jalapeno cream, raw onion, cucumber & red pepper coulis.

Brown says The Reserve will begin featuring sushi on Sundays as well as live music. The restaurant also has a second floor, which will open in three-to-six months.

Writer: Lucy Ament
Source: Thomas Brown, The Reserve

"Small plate" savorers can soon mix and munch at a new Fells Point location: a Spanish tapas restaurant called Adela that's slated to open Oct. 1.

Located on the South Broadway side of the Admiral Fell Inn, Adela is the latest brainchild of Kali's Restaurant Group, which has brought to Fells Point a suite of high quality and sophisticated restaurants at varying price points. (There's the group's marquee restaurant, Kali's Court; the bistro Meli with its elegant, ample entrees all below $20; and Mezze, a Greek/Turkish tapas restaurant on the Thames side of the Admiral hotel).

Darin Mislan, who handles operations for Kali's Restaurant Group, says the success of Mezze has signaled an interest in small plate dining, and that traditional Spanish fare seemed the obvious way to go. The group has created for Adela a traditional Spanish atmosphere, with a mosaic tiled bar, traditional wrought iron, Spanish motifs, and a courtyard boasting a lush garden. The restaurant can seat roughly 120 diners, and includes a private room, accommodating 12, that overlooks the courtyard.

"We're going to have a very active bar and cocktail scene, with a fantastic wine list centered in Spain and specialty cocktails," says Mislan, adding that the menu will include lots of Spanish cheeses and cured meats. "It will be a spot to go and grab a glass of wine and have a bite to eat before going home to have dinner with the family, or a place to bring a group and make a night of it."

Another sign of authenticity? "We're getting very, very serious about sangria," Mislan says. "The chef and bartender have been researching different types, and we have some guys who just got back from Brazil and Spain who are helping us."

A fixture in Fells Point since 1999, Kali's Group hasn't seen a need to branch out to other neighborhoods.

"We've had great success in Fells Point," Mislan notes. "We've had huge neighborhood support. We've always looked for unique and beautiful properties, and because Fells Point is historic district, we find so many here. We're not the kind of group that goes into strip malls."

Writer: Lucy Ament
Source: Darin Mislan, Kali's Group