Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Dine Out on the Town: Baltimore Restaurant Week

Image courtesy Pixabay
When you think of Baltimore dining, there is so much more than crab to feast upon! If you're often intimidated by the thought of trying new restaurants because of the price, Baltimore Restaurant Week is the perfect time to get outside of your dining comfort zone! The city's summer restaurant week began on July 24, but you have until August 2 to take advantage of the promotional deals!

Sponsored by Dine Downtown Baltimore, Restaurant Week's participating restaurants will offer lunch and/or dinners at a special rate. These offers include a three-course dinner for either $20 or $30 per person, and two-course brunch or lunch meals for $15! More than 50 area restaurants are participating this round, so now is a wonderful opportunity to plan a special date night at that restaurant you and your significant other have been dying to try!

Are you curious as to which restaurants near your apartment home at McHenry Row are participating? The closest participating restaurant is Locust Point's Wine Market Bistro, which is offering a variety of both lunch and dinner deals. You can visit Wine Market Bistro at 921 E. Fort Ave. 

In Federal Hill, participating restaurants include: Blue Agave Restaurante y Tequileria, Bluegrass Tavern, Encantada, Liv2Eat, Matsuri Japanese Restaurant, Michael's Steak and Lobster House, Mother's Federal Hill Grille, Regi's American Bistro, Sip Kitchen & Wine Bar, SoBo Cafe, and The Rowhouse Grille.

To view a complete list of participating eateries, or to search by neighborhood, visit the official Baltimore Restaurant Week website.

If this is your first time sampling new restaurants during Baltimore Restaurant Week, here are a few tips:

  • Make a reservation: The early bird will get the worm, or in this case the table. Restaurant Week brings more patrons to these restaurants than they typically would see during the week.
  • Check out what's near your workplace: Ask a couple of co-workers to join you for a lunch break! Lunch is also an alternative if you're unable to get a dinner reservation.
  • Do your homework: If you've never tried a restaurant, look them up online to see which dishes are recommended!
We'll see you at dinner! Bon Appetit! 

Additional sources consulted:

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

McHenry Row Welcomes InnoVision and Piaza Fresh

Image courtesy InnoVision Eye Care
Within the McHenry Row neighborhood, you can find shopping, dining, residences and events! While there have been a lot of changes going on at McHenry Row lately due to some new construction, we are thrilled to announce that two new businesses within our community have opened (or will be soon!). Join us in welcoming InnoVision Eye Care and Piaza Fresh to McHenry Row!

InnoVision Eye Care
InnoVision Eye Care is "revolutionizing the eye care experience" through modern conveniences like online scheduling, online appointment check in and virtual frame boards. InnoVision is a family-owned business focused on providing convenient and affordable eye care. The practice is open Monday through Saturday. To view its full hours of operation, please visit the InnoVision website.

InnoVision is celebrating with a Grand Opening event this Saturday, July 25! An official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m., followed by a champagne reception and hors d'oeuvres. The celebration will include multiple prize drawings, including designer glasses, a free year's supply of contacts and much more! There will be a live DJ too, so come down to McHenry Row to visit and support this new local business, and do a little dancing!

Piaza Fresh
In addition to InnoVision, McHenry Row is also thrilled to welcome a new fast-casual food option - Piaza Fresh! This is Piaza's second Baltimore area location, with the first located in Berlin. Piaza Fresh serves pizza, salads and piadas on homemade dough that is baked to perfection in a 900 degree flame-fired brick oven! You may be thinking, "What is a piada?" The answer will undoubtedly make you hungry. Think of a piada as an Italian burrito, made up of a flatbread, pearl pasta and other Italian ingredients! Satisfying your late night pizza cravings will soon be just steps away from your apartment home at McHenry Row! 

Piaza Fresh is also planning a Grand Opening for this Saturday! We will post more details on the McHenry Row Facebook and Twitter pages as we receive them. Stay tuned for updates! We hope to see you at McHenry Row this weekend to join us as these businesses officially open their doors! 

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Dine at McHenry Row

Image courtesy Pixabay
After a long, tiring week at work, there is no better way to unwind that right at home at McHenry Row! A nice dinner, a stroll along the water or a happy hour are all within walking distance of your apartment home. For those evenings where you don't want to travel too far or sit in traffic to gather with friends or a significant other, grabbing a drink or meal at McHenry Row is the perfect solution!

Spend an Evening In
Pick up a bottle of wine at The Cellars, open daily from 6 PM to midnight, on your way back from work or takeout from Umi Sake! Soon, McHenry Row residents and patrons will be able to pick up a pie on the way home - Piaza Fresh plans to open at McHenry Row on July 23. Curl up in your apartment home at McHenry Row with a movie or whatever show you're currently binge-watching, for the perfect, cozy night in!

Casual Happy Hour
If you're the type of person who, once home after work has no chance of leaving the house, meet your significant other for a happy hour on the way home! World of Beer-Baltimore is an ideal location for a casual post-work drink, as their happy hour runs weekdays between 4 and 7 PM. Current happy hour specials (subject to change) include $1 off draughts and $5 select tavern food. World of Beer also has weekly events like Monday night team trivia, and regularly features live performances from local musicians and bands. 

Contemporary Cocktails
If beer isn't your favorite beverage, head over to The Greene Turtle for a cocktail during its happy hour, which runs weekdays from 3 to 7 PM. Try the Blood Orange Rita, made with tequila, orange liqueur and blood orange sour, or the Crabby Mary, made up of "Absolut Pepperr Vodka, Finest Call Loaded Bloody Mary, hot sauce and crab meat, garnished with olives, lime and Old Bay seasoning!" Stay for dinner and feast on crab cakes, burgers, ribs and other all-American dishes!

Intimate Dinner
If you're seeking a quieter environment or a romantic sit-down dinner, consider Umi Sake. Umi serves noodles, signature sushi and sashimi, desserts and after-dinner drinks! Try the Wasabi Spicy Salmon or the No Name Roll, which is comprised of shrimp, avocado, crab meat (inside and tempura style), baked with spicy mayo and more crab meat! 

A social meal or drinks with friends or significant others is just one method of unwinding at the end of the week. You can take comfort in knowing that you can socialize and enjoy a meal just steps away from your home! 

Where are some of your favorite dishes at these McHenry Row eateries? Share yours with us on our Facebook or Twitter pages!

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

National Ice Cream Month

Image courtesy Pixabay
Now that we're in the thick of the summer heat, there is no better way to cool off during a commute to and from work than with a good old-fashioned ice cream cone! This month is National Ice Cream Month, and National Ice Cream Day is July 19, so if you don't have a day to spend by the pool, visit one of our favorite area ice cream or gelato shoppes for a cone instead!

Pintago Gelato
If some "exotic" gelato flavors are what you seek, then Pintago Gelato is the place to find them! With flavors ranging from spicy chocolate to mojito, Pintago has a flavor to satisfy any and every craving! The shoppe prides itself on sourcing the best ingredients, which include organic grass-fed milk, free-range eggs and no artificial ingredients. The Baltimore location of Pintago Gelato is in Fells Point, in close proximity to the Water Taxi. The shop features wi-fi, just in case you want to play hooky from work! Pintago Gelato is just 15 minutes away from McHenry Row by car, or you could even take the Water Taxi over!

The Charmery
The Charmery makes its own super-premium grade ice cream in-house, and was started by Baltimore natives (and husband and wife team) David and Laura Alima. Among its regular flavors are Old Bay caramel, baklava, lemon stick and Thai tea, with "guest appearances" by such flavors as butter spiced pecan, nanners & cream and mango lime hot sauce, just to name a few! It's a bit of a drive, about 25 minutes, to The Charmery, but it's nearby The Baltimore Zoo if you're taking a day trip there anyway!

Yogi Castle
Located right here at McHenry Row, Yogi Castle is perfect when you have those sudden frozen yogurt cravings! Fro yo options include non-fat, no sugar-added and non-dairy to accommodate any dietary restrictions. Incorporate any toppings, like gummy bears, cereals or fruit toppings for a healthier treat!

Where are your favorite Baltimore ice cream shoppes to treat yourself? Share yours on the McHenry Row Facebook and Twitter pages, and we'll share them in time for National Ice Cream Day! 

Additional sources consulted:
Baltimore Magazine - Ice, Ice Baby
Baltimore Magazine - Our Favorite Ice Cream

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Independence Day Celebrations

Image courtesy Pixabay
This Saturday, July 4, the United States of America will celebrate its 239th birthday! Because we live in an area of such strong historical significance, there is no shortage of ways to celebrate this Independence Day in the Baltimore area. With an extended weekend ahead, get ready to do some celebrating, American style!

Fireworks
What would the Fourth of July be without a fireworks spectacular to dazzle the night sky? The fireworks show at the Inner Harbor never disappoints! The show, which is choreographed to music, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 PM. Live music and entertainment will take place from 7 PM through 10 PM at the harbor. If you don't want to be amongst the crowds at the Inner Harbor, your apartment home at McHenry Row should offer a first-rate view of the show! 

According to Baltimore Magazine, other fireworks shows in our area on July 4th are scheduled in Annapolis, Loch Raven, Catonsville and at the Baltimore Museum of Industry.

Fort McHenry
Just minutes away from your home at McHenry Row lies Fort McHenry. Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the Battle of Baltimore, which took place at Fort McHenry in 1814.

On Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5, Fort McHenry will offer free deck tours to visitors, and from 3-5 PM on those days, visitors may participate in a day sail. Day sail admission fees are $49 for adults and $35 for children. 

Run to the Fort
Charm City Run is sponsoring the July 4 Independence Day Run to the Fort, which begins Saturday at 9 AM. The race begins at Charm City Run's Baltimore location, and the race continues to Fort McHenry and back. Winners will be treated to breakfast upon their return! Participants are encouraged to dress patriotically! 

BBQ
Fire up the grill and host an all-American cookout at your apartment home!  Before of after your barbecue, you and your guests can take a stroll along the water and throughout McHenry Row! 

Of course, there will be many more events taking place in our area over the long weekend, but these are just a few ideas to inspire your celebration! Where will you be on Independence Day? Share your plans with McHenry Row on social media by visiting our Facebook and Twitter pages! Happy Independence Day! Have a safe and happy holiday!
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