Pub

Joseph Patrick Byrne, founder and proprietor of J. Patrick's Irish Pub, a popular Locust Point tavern with a reputation as a venue for Irish music that went well beyond Baltimore, died Saturday of cancer at Harbor Hospital. The former Cockeysville resident was 81. "It was a real gathering place for the Irish-American community of Baltimore, and it had the feel of a rural country bar, the type you find outside of Dublin. It was both warm and inviting," said Gov. Martin O'Malley.

Sad news for Baltimore's Irish community: Joe Patrick Byrne, who for decades ran J. Patrick's Irish Pub in Locust Point, passed away last Saturday of cancer. The future of the pub is uncertain. Byrne, who lived above the bar, made J. Patrick's one of Baltimore's most authentic Irish pubs. Every week, musicians came to practice, jam and perform traditional Irish music there. While the pub doesn't look like much from the outside (you might drive past it a few times if you don't know exactly where to look)

Charles Village Pub is all grown up — mostly. Before the January 2011 fire that destroyed its building, Charles Village Pub in Towson drew a local lunch crowd, but it was mostly known as a bar for college kids. It was a fun place for after-school beers. CVP is still a good place for drinks. But these days, thanks to a newly rebuilt interior and revamped menu that puts a local spin on traditional bar food, it's a nice place for a meal, too. After the fire, the building had to be completely reconstructed.

Dempsey's Brew Pub isn't quite a home run. But it is a solid hit — rounding the bases and heading for home. This newest addition to Camden Yards' eatery options, backed by legendary Oriole catcher Rick Dempsey, debuted on Opening Day this year. Housed in on the Eutaw Street side of the stadium, in the historic B&O warehouse, Dempsey's interior is a love letter to baseball, and the menu is a bar-food homage to Baltimore. The restaurant is open only to ticket-holders during home Orioles games.

When the Charles Village Pub and Patio, a staple for Towson students since 1985, was destroyed in January 2011 after a kitchen fire, its patrons mourned the loss as if it were a rock god who had tragically died too soon. An outpouring of concern and memories came through Facebook messages, phone calls and voice mails. There was even a memorial in front of the wreckage that included carnations and, of course, plastic shot glasses. CVP was a Towson institution - one frequented by middle-age regulars and college kids alike - and its loss, albeit temporary, was keenly felt.

The crowd inside Pratt Street Ale House on a recent Saturday night was anemic. It was 1 a.m. and a handful of couples idled at the bar and at the sandy brown high-top tables. Some talked among themselves, others watched a hockey game on ESPN. "Don't Stop Believin'" was on. A half hour later, lights came up, and the bartenders started shooing everyone out. The scene looked like something out of a brand-new bar on a Tuesday night, not one that's been open for three years, and a place that's doubled as the home for Oliver Breweries for 19. But the same thing happened two nights earlier, also some time past midnight.

Update April 17 : CVP has set the official opening date as April 23, after a week or so in soft mode, reports Explore Baltimore County . That's a month later than co-owner Rick Bielski had anticipated in early March, when he last spoke out about the reconstruction's progress. Towson's Charles Village Pub, closed for over year after a devastating fire, expects to re-open by month's end, owner Rick Bielski said Tuesday. The pub, a favorite of Towson residents and college students, was struck by a catastrophic, two-alarm fire January 2011 that required some 100 firefighters to put out. Reconstruction started last summer, but was delayed by weather complications.

Our friends from the Classic Catering People sent over a couple of St. Patrick's Dayrecipes. If you can't make it out on Saturday, you can turn your home into an Irish pub . Corned Beef Barley and Cabbage Soup Chef Donald Martin The Classic Catering People Ingredients 1 1/4 pounds corned beef brisket, cut into bite size cubes 4 quarts chicken stock 1/2 cup barley 2 onions, diced small 2 celery Stalks, ½...

Southwestern-themed bar Dark Horse Saloon and Irish Pub Finnegan's Wake, the improbably conjoined bars at the former Canton Arts & Entertainment complex, have switched owners. The pub is poised to close afterSt. Patrick's Day, says Marc McFaul, who after nine months at the helm sold the business to Kenny Der, a regular DJ at Dark Horse. Finnegan's is likely to be turned into an extension of the Southwestern theme at Dark Horse next door. The switch gives McFaul's tenure the sprawling complex's second-longest run. It lasted a little over five months as Canton Arts and Entertainment , which at one point included a bar, an oyster bar and a restaurant.  CAE opened in September 2009 and closed the next March.

Here's a round-up of our week at Midnight Sun: Erik and I wanted to aid in your romantic endeavors so we handcrafted Valentine's Day Spotify playlists. He went with Maxwell, Janelle Monae and Robyn. I chose The-Dream, Jeff Buckley and Ghostface Killah. Just because it's no longer V-Day doesn't mean these won't help set the mood. Erik's is here . Click here for mine. We also ran down the Best Baltimore bars for the "holiday," including Vino Rosina and Pazo. In need of a good date spot or a place to spend an anniversary dinner?