Irish Pub

Cat's Eye Pub The Cat's Eye Pub is one of the bastion bars holding their own amid an ever-changing Fells Point. No yuppie hangout can truly capture or reproduce the feel of a place like this. Where --1730 Thames St. Call --202-393-0930 Website --catseyepub.com Notable --The place has slowly evolved in true Fells Point style since owner Tony Cushing and the late Kenny Orye took over 31 years ago. "One night we had a bottle of something and knocked that down," said Cushing as he pointed to where a wall once stood.

It may have been pouring rain, but inside Ryan's Daughter Irish Pub & Restaurant, stars were shining brightly. Three cast members of the movie, Rent, added pizazz to a crowd bubbling with excitement over the film's Baltimore premiere that evening. Wilson Heredia and Anthony Rapp came down from New York to support cast member Tracie Thoms, who is from here. "Family" is how Heredia and Rapp described relationships among the cast. "It's the nature of the story," Herediasaid. In fact, that "family feeling" permeated the place.

ANNE ARUNDEL 49 West -- 49 West St., Annapolis, 410-626-9796. American. Entrees $6.75-$16.95. B, L, D daily. Adam's Ribs -- 921C Chesapeake Ave., Annapolis, 410-267-0064; 169 Mayo Road, Edgewater, 410-956-2995; 589 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Severna Park, 410-647-5757. Barbecue and seafood. Entrees $6.95-$20.95. L, D daily. Annapolis Chart House -- 300 Second St., Annapolis, 410-269-6992. Seafood, steak and prime rib. Entrees $16-$45. D daily, B Sunday. Aqua Terra -- 164 Main St., Annapolis, 410-263-1985.

You might wonder whether Baltimore really needs one more Irish pub, and you would be right to wonder. Their number is probably eclipsed only by the number of steakhouses that have appeared in the last few years. I date the area's high profile Irish pub explosion from the success of An Poitin Stil in Timonium, which opened in 1999. The new Tir Na Nog, located where the second floor of Planet Hollywood used to be, manages to differentiate itself from the rest of the pack by, well, not being terribly Irish.

There's a lot of history behind Baltimore's newest Irish restaurant. Maggie Moore's Irish Pub & Restaurant is set to open next week in the old Baltimore Equitable Society Building on Eutaw Street. Owner John Moore says the building was constructed in 1847 as the Eutaw Savings Bank and became headquarters in 1887 for the Equitable Society, a fire insurance company. He says he and partner Bill Carr have spent the last year renovating the 9,000-square-foot place, trying to keep as much of the building's original elements in it as they could.

Another Irish pub/restaurant has come to Baltimore. Tir Na Nog Irish Bar & Grill opened its doors in Harborplace last weekend in the space that used to be the upstairs of Planet Hollywood. General Manager Liam Kelly says the name -- pronounced just as it looks -- means "land of eternal youth." He says it is the third Tir Na Nog. The first is across the street from Madison Square Garden in New York City, and the second is near City Hall in Philadelphia. Liam himself comes from the land of the green, and so does everything inside the restaurant, except the TVs and outside furniture.

Your own herb garden Don't let the winter weather stop you from planting an herb garden. Learn how to create a tiny herb garden for the windowsill, porch or patio tomorrow or Saturday at the Cylburn Arboretum Association in a workshop led by city naturalist Glenda Weber. Participants will be provided with all the materials needed and will be treated to goodies made with fresh herbs. The cost is $15 for members and $17 for nonmembers. Friday's class is at 12:15 p.m., and Saturday's class is at 10:15 a.m. Advance reservations are necessary.

In The Region Pub, restaurant set in historic Equitable Society building The historic former home of the Baltimore Equitable Society at Eutaw and Fayette streets will be transformed into an Irish pub and restaurant in the continuing revitalization of Baltimore's west side. The building's new owner, 21 North Eutaw Street, plans a $2 million renovation of the circa-1857 property across from France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, home of the Hippodrome Theatre. The owner expects to open the 200-seat Maggie Moore's Irish Pub & Restaurant next spring.

Haul out those shades. The starlight is blinding in B-more these days. First, Johnny Knoxville and Selma Blair were in town a couple of days ago for the premiere of John Waters' latest flick, A Dirty Shame. Now, invites are out for the Sept. 27 Charm City premiere of Ladder 49 with stars John Travolta, Joaquin Phoenix, Jacinda Barrett and director Jay Russell heading the lineup. The Senator Theatre screening will be a benefit for the Baltimore City Fire Foundation. Which seems only right.

Irish pubs are the reality shows of the restaurant world -- as close to a surefire hit as you can find in a very unsure business. The Towson area in particular seems to take to the concept. Witness the success of An Poitin Stil a little to the north. I waited an hour and a half for a table when it first opened five years ago. Now Ryan's Daughter has moved into the Belvedere Square spot where Chili's used to be. The name comes from the 1970 movie, a favorite of the owners, who also wanted to pay tribute to the Senator Theatre for keeping the Belvedere area alive in the lean years.