MedStar Opens COVID-19 Testing Center at Baltimore Museum of Industry Parking Lot

MedStar Health opened a COVID-19 testing tent at the Baltimore Museum of Industry parking lot last Thursday. The site is across the street from MedStar’s former Federal Hill ambulatory care center.

MedStar Health said the tent is for patients pre-screened through its eVisit platform or through primary care providers and who meet specific criteria for COVID-19 testing and who do not require any other clinical assessment.

The testing tent will be open for these pre-screened patients seven days a week from 8am to 5pm.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/03/31/medstar-opens-covid-19-testing-center-at-baltimore-museum-of-industry-parking-lot/

Pick Up Chalk Today at South Baltimore Parks for ‘Chalk Your Walk’

From Key Group at Cummings & Co. Realtors:

Looking for an activity while social distancing? We invite you to Chalk Your Walk and spread some joy! Come pick up a free package of chalk tonight!

The 400 packages of chalk can be picked up at Federal Hill Park at Warren Ave. and Riverside Ave., Latrobe Park at Fort Ave. and Towson St., and Riverside Park at Covington St. and Randall St.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/03/30/pick-up-chalk-today-at-south-baltimore-parks-for-chalk-your-walk/

Councilman Costello Warns Parks Could be Closed If Temporary Rules are Not Followed

From Councilman Eric Costello: 

ATTENTION PARK USERS:
I am pleading with everyone one last time, please follow the temporary rules in our parks. I visited several parks in my district over the past two hours, and nothing was as horrible as what I saw at Riverside Park, Latrobe Park, and Wilson & Etting Park. The next step is for the parks to be shut down and we are getting dangerously close to that. If the Director of BCRP shuts down all parks or an individual park, there is absolutely nothing I can do to stop it. In addition, violators will be subject a police citation.

Please educate yourselves and your fellow park visitors on the following rules:
1- no gatherings of 10 or more people.
2- stay at least six feet a part from anyone who doesn’t live in your household, at all times.
3- courts (basketball, tennis, and bocce) are closed.
4- playgrounds are closed.
5- fitness / exercise equipment is closed.
6- pavilions are closed.
7- dog parks – no more than 5 people at any one time inside the park.
*** There are no exceptions to the above rules. ***

Finally, since people don’t want to follow the rules in place for everyone’s health, safety, and welfare, I just requested more signage be posted on the above off limit areas, which is hopefully coming soon.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/03/27/councilman-costello-warns-parks-could-be-closed-if-temporary-rules-are-not-followed/

Ways to Help the Local Restaurant Industry While Dining Rooms are Closed

With the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world, the restaurant industry is among one of the hardest hit as people social distance and quarantine. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan ordered all bars and restaurants to close for dine-in services on March 16th.

Here are some ways you can help the local restaurant industry during this challenging time.

Order Delivery and Carryout

Most places are still open for carryout and delivery. Here is a database that SouthBMore.com, Baltimore Development Corporation, and Baltimore Development Corporation created to show what South Baltimore Peninsula restaurants are open (Note to restaurants: please feel free to make updates to this document.)

Some places are offering alcoholic beverages and packaged good, and some are offering meal prep kits, including pizza kits.

Buy Gift Cards 

Gift cards provide restaurants with some capital to get through this time with limited income.

Rally for Restaurants is a national website that was started so individuals can buy many restaurant gift cards all in one place.

Individuals can also go directly to restaurant’s social media and web pages for links to buy gift cards.

Realtor Erik Thorsvik of The Jeff Washo Team of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices purchased 10 gift cards to South Baltimore restaurants and has been doing a daily gift card giveaways.

Buy Shirts and Gear 

A site called Baltimore Neighbors is selling T-shirts with part of the profits going to support many different restaurants in Baltimore including South Baltimore restaurants Abbey Burger Bistro, Diablo Doughnuts, Don’t Know Tavern, Shotti’s Point, and Taco and Love Grill.

Many restaurants are also offering ways to buy gear through their websites and Facebook pages.

Ways to Donate

–The Baltimore Restaurant Relief Fund is a pending 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that is raising money for the Baltimore restaurant industry and linking to resources for restaurant owners and workers.

-Light Street Presbyterian has launched The Common Table Fundraiser GoFundMe campaign which is raising money to buy food from local restaurants Scipio Catering Company, SoBo Cafe, Wiley Gunthers, and Southside Diner to provide to senior residents in Sharp-Leadenhall Apartments.

-&pizza, which has a location in Federal Hill, has set up a site so people can buy healthcare workers pizzas.

-Mother’s Federal Hill has launched a GoFundMe for its employees.

-Illusions has also launched a GoFundMe.

-Spoons Cafe has started selling a special blend of coffee beans to supports its employees.

Please let us know of any other efforts to help and we will add them!

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/03/27/ways-to-help-the-local-restaurant-industry-while-dining-rooms-are-closed/

South Baltimore Restaurants Named in Baltimore Magazine’s Best Restaurants List

Baltimore Magazine came out with its 50 Best Restaurants in 2020 list and released the results of its Best Restaurants Readers’ Poll.

Three South Baltimore restaurants were named in the top 50 by the Baltimore Magazine staff: Rye Street Tavern, Hersh’s, and Limoncello.

Baltimore Magazine labeled Rye Street Tavern “The Place Where New American Actually Feels New.” In the description it says:

With locally sourced meat, seafood, and produce, daily crab offerings, and whiskey-fermented peppers and vinegars, the menu speaks that story more clearly now—Chesapeake cuisine comfort food that also points toward Maryland’s past.

Rye Street Tavern has been open for three years and is from New York chef Andrew Carmellini’s NoHo Hospitality Group.

Hersh’s was titled “The Place for Pizza” in the feature. The write-up about Hersh’s includes this excerpt:

In an age of fancy foodie experiences, sibling-owners Josh and Stephanie Hershkovitz guarantee a good, simple family meal with their Neapolitan pies and elevated entrees like crispy lamb with borlotti beans, salsa verde, and whipped feta. On Wednesday nights, all wine bottles are half off.

The kale and pistachio pie with house-made sausage is listed as the must-try menu item.

Hersh’s has been open in Riverside/South Baltimore since 2012.

Limoncello was titled “The Place Where the Amalfi Coast Comes to Charm City.” In the  description it says:

Remarkably, this new spot captures some of that old Italian magic with its ocean-centric plates, including a delectable dish of grilled heads-on shrimp, a lemony whole bronzino broiled just so, and a saffron-kissed seafood stew—an easy dish to overcook with so many individual elements (clams, calamari, shrimp, scallops, fish), but not here. And while seafood dishes shine, house-made pastas are also menu stars.

The must-try item is pappardelle zafferano with crab, shrimp, scallops, and saffron cream.

Limoncello opened in October and is the second location for the restaurant which started in St. Michael’s.

In the Readers’ Poll, Otterbein/Inner Harbor restaurants Ramen Utsuke, which opened in 2019, was named Best Ramen; R. House’s BRD, which opened a brick-and-mortar location in Federal Hill last year, was named Best Food Stall; and The Charmery, which will open on Cross Street in Federal Hill, was named best ice cream for its existing shops in Hampden, Medfield, and Towson.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/03/26/south-baltimore-restaurants-named-in-baltimore-magazines-best-restaurants-list/

Southwest Chinese Restaurant ‘Water Song’ Opens on Cross Street in Federal Hill

Water Song, a new restaurant serving dishes from the Yunnan Province of Southwest China, has opened at 21 E. Cross St. in Federal Hill. The approximately 1,500 sq. ft. restaurant space was formerly the home of The Local Fry.

Like other restaurants in Maryland, Water Song is only open for carry out and delivery at this time.

Water Song is a concept from Cheng “Colin” Liang, who grew up in the Yunnan Province and owned two restaurants while he attended college in Shanghai, and his business partner Andrew Hinton. Hinton’s wife is also a native of the Yunnan Province.

Liang spent recent years looking for a location for his restaurant as well as getting an MBA from Johns Hopkins University so that he could better understand business in the United States. He debuted his food at a pop-up at R. House and at a booth at Charm City Night Market.

Hinton, who is a real estate professional in the area, helped in the search for a space and, along with Liang, was drawn to the opportunity in Federal Hill because its where he and girlfriend Roha Zhang, who will be the general manager at Water Song, like to hang out.

Liang’s two restaurants in Shanghai were Japanese Bento Box concepts. He and his partners thought this would be popular with the heavy college population where it was located. One restaurant was delivery only, and the other was a cat café. Liang sold off his share of the business before moving to the United States.

Liang looks forward to showing off the cuisines of his hometown with his new Baltimore concept. Yunnan Province cuisine, which is very different from the more well-known Chinese styles of cuisine popular in the United States, takes many influences from the adjacent Southeast Asian countries. Water Song will serve soups similar to pho in beef and pork broths.

Liang said the closest Yunnan Province restaurant is in Alexandria, VA and the concept is starting to get popular in New York City

Water Song’s initial menu includes three noodle dishes including two soups and a rice noodle salad. It offers rice bowls where customers pick from three items including two styles of pork, beef brisket, scrambled egg, eggplant, and mashed potatoes. Appetizers including Sweet & Sour Ribs, Marinated Beef Shank Slice, Spicy Tofu Slices, Roasted Eggplant Salads, and Purple Sweet Potato Pancakes.

When Water Song opens fully, it will have a Chinese tea bar serving green, black, and flower teas out of a clay pot. For now, it is offering bottled beverages to go. Water Song will be BYOB when restaurants are allowed dine-in customers again.

Water Song is now open 11am to 8pm, but plans on expanding its hours and staying open until 2am on the weekends in the future.

Water Song takes its name from the clouds in the mountains and valleys of the Yunnan Province. Liang and Hinton undertook a cosmetic renovation of the space.

Liang said his main focus at Water Song is the consistency of the food and providing service with a positive and happy attitude.

Water Song will have about 40 seats and will always rely on carryout and delivery business.

Water Song worked with Total Image Creative on the roll-out of the restaurant.

Photos below courtesy of the Water Song Facebook page

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/03/25/southwest-chinese-restaurant-water-song-opens-on-cross-street-in-federal-hill/

Database of South Baltimore Restaurants Offering Food and Packaged Goods

In an effort to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed an executive order on Monday stating all bars, restaurants, movie theaters, and gyms must close. However, restaurants are still allowed to offer delivery and carryout, and now alcohol packaged goods can also be delivered too.

Most of South Baltimore’s bars and restaurants are still open for carryout and delivery food. Local breweries are still open for carryout beer and Diamondback is offering delivery of its food and beer.

Below is a database with information on every South Baltimore Peninsula establishment. This database was compiled through a partnership between Baltimore Development Corporation, Federal Hill Main Street, and SouthBMore.com. It is open to the public and business owners and employees can update it with information about their business.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VXspBczZa0Fpl4SvGM9erA9zNa9tkNZrOmpS-OQAawU/edit#gid=0

For more restaurants around the city, Rachel Lipton of Like the Tea EATS is also compiling a database.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1In-C5ClJS4Yzx5cTGfelmF2GRQ-Ws86QCwjQCihwx14/edit?fbclid=IwAR3-BX7mytgtO5NPRG_6YDRbn61IMxRTjFUCsec0tMX0irCed_T9cPzyb0U#gid=0

via https://www.southbmore.com/2020/03/18/database-of-south-baltimore-restaurants-offering-food-and-packaged-goods/