The best part of covering the city's nightlife scene — aside from the obvious — is its surprising nature. "See one bar, you've seen them all" does not apply here, and we're all better for it. Hangovers come and go, but these 2014 moments at Baltimore bars remained:
A show-stopping centerpiece
When I first visited the Nickel Taphouse in January, there was plenty to like from the start: 32 craft beers on draft, a helpful staff and the aromas from the kitchen filling every inch of the Mount Washington space. But it was the 40-foot candelabrum above the bar that stuck with me most. Seeing a staff member light each candle — all 110! — before dinner service on a second visit was a reminder that in order to make a lasting impact, tedious details must not be overlooked.
Hidden in plain view
One aspect of Baltimore bars I love is their occasional split personalities —think the Brewer's Art's well-lit upstairs and its dungeon-like basement. In Fells Point, newcomer Anastasia executes a similarly surprising juxtaposition. When I visited in February, the upstairs dining area nearly put me to sleep ... until I realized there was a DJ downstairs. The club area felt hidden, which only made the discovery cooler.
All Belgians, all the time
Bars often get in trouble when they try to do too much. Hampden's De Kleine Duivel, which opened last December, excels because it identified and catered to its niche from the start. Belgian-beer fans must experience this tucked-away gem firsthand.
Coining a term
Sitting in Cockey's in Upper Fells Point on a random weekday, I realized I needed a term to describe this type of bar. It was recently renovated and rebranded, but still comfortable enough to be called a "dive." Drink prices were cheap, but the selection was smart and craft. Maybe it was the music critic inside, but "post-dive bar" made complete sense to me. I still have yet to hear anyone else say it.
R.I.P. Gold Bar
There's always something sad about watching bars come and go quickly, but losing the Gold Bar — the smaller companion to the Crown in Station North — six months after it opened hit particularly hard. Not only did it attract diverse music lineups and diverse clientele, but its bar program of pickleback shots and seasonal cocktails was better than a lot of bars still open today. Thankfully, the space is still utilized as the Crown's "Blue Room" but it's hard not to wonder what the original Gold Bar staff would have done more with the space, if given the time.
Recher Theatre: truly, sadly gone
Attending a "White Party" — you know, where college-age patrons wear all white, or are supposed to — at Torrent Nightclub was a painful reminder that the Recher Theatre really is no more. The saddest part was that the Towson music venue's history seemed to be scrubbed clean and replaced with vodka marketing and barely used VIP tables. Have fun, kids.
In praise of a pop-up
My favorite new bar of the year had a temporary home. In March, Dylan's Oyster Cellar debuted as a pop-up shop in the Park Plaza building in Mount Vernon. The lease was short term (it ended in September) but the impression lasted longer. The staff knew the history of every oyster I ate, and a bartender made the best-crafted martini I had all year. Owner Dylan Salmon said he has a permanent location in the city to announce soon, and I already can't wait to visit.
New coffee standard
Around the corner from Salmon's former pop-up shop is Dooby's, where I drank the best coffee-flavored cocktail I've come across in Baltimore. It's not surprising since Dooby's serves fine coffee, but the pairing of Ethiopian espresso, lemon vodka and biscotti liqueur was sublime.
A hit is a hit
Boathouse Canton replaced Bay Cafe after the latter spent more than 20 years on Canton's waterfront. The neighborhood responded approvingly, packing the hotspot inside and out on a regular basis since its opening last December. Sometimes, everyone needs a change.
Beyond first impressions
After Barcocina opened in May, I wrote the Fells Point bar off as a trendy, overcrowded cousin to its owners' other spot, Bond Street Social. Then I spent a friend's birthday brunch there and noticed the charms of the chic space, from the views made possible by the new garage doors to even its smart bathroom layout. As always, it's nice to be reminded how wrong I can be.