To get a little ahead of the week, I went through my work e-mail after I shoveled out the driveway yesterday.
The really long driveway.
No, no, of course I'm not bragging.
Here's what people told me about and what I'll be working on to find out more this week -- plus a few tidbits and crumbs that don't really fit anywhere: ...
A friend sent me more info on Porter's in Federal Hill, which is reopening with new owners and Peter Livolsi from Three... as chef (as I reported here before).
The menu will be a bit more ambitious than the old Porter's, with a lot of small plates, natch. I hope to talk to new manager Kevin Cooper this week, who was a bartender at Regi's for nine years. The liquor license transfer hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11, and plans are to open maybe as soon as next month.
I'm also hoping to talk to Patrick Morrow, who will be the chef at Blue Grass at Hanover and Fort Avenue when it opens.
I have no contact info about the following, but maybe someone at the Liquor Board will be able to help me. All I know is that Angelina's now has an awning that says "Rain." Sounds pretty trendy.
I want to find out more about the Brass Elephant being sold.
As for the tidbits and crumbs:
I got something saying Margaritas, a New England Mexican restaurant chain (that's odd right there) is launching a big expansion into Baltimore with four franchise locations.
The Bistro at South River, a restaurant at the Golf Club at South River in Edgewater, just opened for lunch and dinner featuring "fine dining and original American cuisine." This is a strange trend -- the opening to the public of restaurants (some of which are quite respected) in golf clubs.
Sofi's Crepes downtown is now open for breakfast, with new hours from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are several new breakfast crepes, like blueberry and ham and maple syrup.
Tony wrote me about Sidamo Coffee and Tea, which opened in Maple Lawn in October:
Every Sunday at 2, they hold an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The ancient ritual involves washing and roasting arabica beans, along with the burning of incense and music commonly played in villages back home. It's really fascinating and underscores the important role coffee holds in this country, where goat herders harvested the first coffee beans 1,000 years ago. Plus, I was blown away by the paninis our group were served.
By mistake I just killed out an e-mail recommending the new as of last summer Acorn Market in Salisbury, and I can't access my Outlook "trash" from my Mac, but when I get to work today, God willing, I'll try to remember to rescue it.
Finally, DuClaw Brewing Co. has opened in BWI, near the Southwest ticket counter.
(Photo of the old Porter's by Elizabeth Malby/Sun photographer)