Raw Bar

He ignored the warm, steady rain that slicked his full beard to his face. He tuned out the crowd in the bleachers. He didn't glance across the stage at his foe, the ex-U.S. champ he was about to fight for a title he'd coveted 30 years. He never thought of the trip to Galway, Ireland, that hung in the balance.No, for two minutes and 19 seconds, George Hastings saw oysters and -shucked -- lancing and scooping in a Zen-like rhythm -- until his trusty Chesapeake stabber had dispatched eight, 16, and finally the two dozen oysters the judges had set before him. "I only won by seven seconds," marvels Hastings, 44, a Baltimore native, of the national oyster-shucking championship he netted last month.

You think Federal Hill would just relax on the Raven's bye week. Nope. Ryleigh's is using the weekend for its annaul oyster festival for that weekend, so, of course, Mother's would have to go and schedule Baltimore's first annual Charm City Wing Wars for the Purple Patio on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2-6 p.m. Pay $10 and you get to help judge Baltimore's best wings. Lined up so far - Alexander's Tavern , Delia Foley's , Looney's , Tilted Kilt, Ryleigh's , Razorback's Raw Bar and Grille , No Way Jose Cafe , MaGerks and Kooper's .  

The Columbia Foundation will hold its 26th annual Spring Party at the Spear Center in the General Growth Properties building from 5:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 1. A buffet, raw bar and beverages from Clyde's of Columbia are planned. Proceeds will benefit nonprofit human service, cultural, civic and educational organizations in Howard County. Tickets are $75. Those who add $25 to the ticket price will contribute $1 to each of 25 agency endowments established by nonprofit organizations. The foundation, which started in 1969, has awarded more than $9 million in grants to Howard County nonprofits.

Phillips Crab Deck is now open in Annapolis. The 140-seat terrace restaurant, which opened very quietly on Aug. 16, marks Phillips Seafood's return to Annapolis -- in  the same Dock Street location that it left in 2009. It was replaced there by Hell Point Seafood, which shut its doors in late February of this year. Phillips Crab Deck, which is open daily for lunch and dinner beginning at 11:30 a.m., occupies only one of three buildings -- 14 Dock St. -- that housed the Phillips Annapolis Harbor Restaurant and then Hell Point Seafood.

Whether it's a wedding on the beach, a White Marlin fishing tournament, muscle car shows or ocean baptisms during the annual Jesus at the Beach festival, Ocean City isn't afraid to mix things up a bit. The resort offers an ample dose of tradition, yet just enough novelty to keep things fresh. Ocean City has officially declared the summer of 2012 the "Summer of Thanks. " As a way for the town to show appreciation to all who have supported the resort throughout the years, look for a bevy of fun, discounts at hot spots, and town-wide promotions for vacationers.

Jason Patrick Heeney, a chef and musician, died in an automobile accident Wednesday in Annapolis. The Glen Burnie resident was 22. Mr. Heeney was a passenger in a Honda that struck a telephone pole at Bay Ridge Avenue and Bank Street. Mr. Heeney and the driver, Ryan James Wiseley, 21, also of Annapolis, were pronounced dead at the scene. Born and raised in Annapolis, Mr. Heeney was a 2000 graduate of Annapolis High School. "He started out working as a door guard and waiter and later moved up to cooking at Riordan's in Annapolis.

The man who runs many of Baltimore's marinas, a former captain in the Israeli navy, prefers the sky to the sea. The only boat he owns is a gondola, which he keeps tied up at his marina in Canton. "I love aviation; that's my passion," said Dan Naor, 47, chief operating officer of Baltimore Marine Centers, as he stood next to a cherry-red helicopter on a recent weekday. He flies it - not as often as he'd like - from Pier 7 in Canton, the base of another business he runs, Baltimore Helicopter Services.

Razorback's Raw Bar & Grill is something of a rarity. It turns out food that tastes as good as or better than the menu describes it. It also looks as stylish as the photos in some glossy culinary magazine and isn't overpriced.Yup, you'll think you died and went to hog heaven at this Canton eatery, and not just for those reasons. Pigs are everywhere at Razorback's, where ribs are the house specialty and the house lager, brewed by Clipper City, is called the Razorback Hogwash. For the porcine-impaired, a razorback is a wild hog, depicted in a cartoon mural here lounging with a martini on a hammock surrounded by fish bones.

One of the best reasons to go to Harrison's Harbor Watch is the view. The multilevel restaurant boasts tall windows that overlook the Ocean City inlet and Assateague Island. Even if you're seated on the boardwalk side of the restaurant, as we were, the windows offer a great place to people-watch. I counted 11 people posing for snapshots with the giant anchor at the O.C. Lifesaving Station Museum during our dinner.The other reason to visit Harrison's Harbor Watch is the seafood. A large chalkboard at the entrance to the dining room lets visitors know immediately what's fresh in the kitchen each evening.

Eddie Tarver Jr., a retired restaurant cook who attracted a following at a Lexington Market raw bar, died of heart disease Friday at Sinai Hospital. The Gwynn Oak resident was 93, and leaves 108 descendants across four generations. Born and raised in Bullock County, Ala., Mr. Tarver moved to Baltimore in 1937. He lived in the 600 block of N. Carey St. for many years. He worked as a laborer in the 1940s in the foundries of Koppers Co. and Gibson & Kirk in Southwest Baltimore. In the 1950s, he became a chef at the old Dubner's Restaurant on Frederick Avenue and was a seafood handler at Gordon's Crab House near Patterson Park.