Drinking

Though outside the leaves were changing, when we sat down for dinner at Marlin and Ray's Seafood and Sunsets, we had sand between our toes. Thanks to fun drinks, good seafood and laid-back service, getting a little sandy felt right. The Bel Air eatery, which opened in early October, is the first Maryland outpost of a Tennessee-based chain. When we arrived, it was 7 p.m. and the restaurant was packed. The friendly hostess warned us the wait would be about 20 minutes (it was) so we headed back outside to explore Marlin and Ray's little patch of parking lot beach.

The parents of a 14-year-old Hagerstown girl who died in December are suing an energy drink company in a California court, alleging that caffeine in the beverages contributed to her death, according to court records. A complaint filed Friday by Wendy Crossland and Richard Fournier states that their daughter, Anais Fournier, went into cardiac arrest after drinking two 24-ounce Monster Beverage Corp. drinks within a 24-hour period. Monster is based in Riverside County, Calif., where the case was filed.

On a recent Saturday night at Banditos, the taco and tequila bar located in the heart of Federal Hill's party scene, inconsistent service overshadowed the Tex-Mex spot's laid-back vibe. While some details were easy to enjoy (portions of the decor, music selection and, most importantly, the drinks), the overall experience was not. The central problem seemed to be the underprepared (or undermanned) bar staff, which grew noticeably frustrated by the steady - but not overwhelming - weekend rush.

Baltimore's reservoirs soon will no longer be needed to store the city's supply of drinking water. To meet a 2006 federal water safety rule to protect drinking water from contaminants, the city plans to install underground tanks to replace its reservoirs at Druid Hill Park, Guilford and Lake Ashburton. The city plans to fill in the Guilford reservoir, but the Druid Hill reservoir in particular could become an attractive new recreation area for swimming, boating and other waterfront activities that bring new life to the surrounding communities.

As the Orioles head to the Bronx for the third game of their playoff series with the Yankees, at least a few bars in Baltimore will honor the home team and its fans with specials. (These deals only apply for tonight's 7:30 p.m. game unless otherwise noted.) • Fells Point's Slainte Irish Pub (1700 Thames St.) will serve $10 buckets of National Bohemian and $6 Old Bay wings. • Aside from giving Ravens tickets away during the O's game, Ryleigh's Oyster (36 E. Cross St.) in Federal Hill has $6 "Big Cups" of Bud Light for both O's games this week.

I watched the first presidential debate with a group of wine-sipping West Coast Obama fans who were stunned by the way Mitt Romney dominated the stage. Over the 90 minutes of the debate, Mr. Romney submerged the right-wing image he had adopted in the Republican primary race and came off as a reasonable, moderate technocrat who differs with President Obama only about the means to get to the ends they both seek. For his part, Mr. Obama was pleasant and professorial, as if he were merely engaged in a ponderous academic discussion, rather than a political grudge match with enormous consequences.

We love presidential debates: the theatrics, the clearly rehearsed talking points, moderator Jim Lehrer! But we also love the chance it provides to drink (we're talking about watching politicians talk for 90 minutes, here). So here's b's official 2012 Presidential Debate Drinking Game ™. Because sometimes you need a little booze when listening to politicians talk about domestic issues back and forth. Drink if: Osama bin Laden is mentioned (even though the debate will focus on domestic policy)

Tacos make great bar food. And Banditos makes great tacos. The Tex-Mex-themed bar and eatery, which opened in July in the Federal Hill space that formerly housed Taco Spot, gets a lot of things right — not just the tacos. With an extensive drinks menu, a short list of simple but appealing food, and chipper service, Banditos is a welcome addition to the busy, bar-friendly neighborhood. The team behind Banditos includes Andrew Dunlap and Sean White, former owners of The Reserve and the disappointingly short-lived 1542 Gastropub.

Harford County sheriff's deputies and Maryland State Police report: Aberdeen Erik Takacs, 22, of the 700 block of Plater Street, was arrested Thursday on a bench warrant in a case in which he was charged with possession of an opiate without a prescription, drug possession other than marijuana and drug possession with intent to distribute. Corey Lamont Blagmond, 34, who has addresses in the 200 block of Perrywood Court and the 200 block of Eider Court in Havre de Grace, was charged Saturday with drug possession other than marijuana.

The combination of wine, food, music, crafts and vendors will flow across the landscape of the Carroll County Farm Museum on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15-16, for the 29th annual Maryland Wine Festival. The festival is always a popular event for grape lovers, but it also celebrates the wine industry in the state - this year, some 37 different wineries will be represented. Several winery or vineyard operations either in Carroll County, or immediately close by, will be represented, including Cygnus Wine Cellars in Manchester; Galloping Goose in Hampstead; Serpent Ridge Vineyards in Westminster; Detour Winery near Keymar; and Elk Run Vineyards and Linganore Winecellars in Mount Airy.