Thames Street Oyster House caught the attention of eater.com for the website's "One Year In" feature, where they chat with chefs and restaurant owners who are celebrating a one-year anniversary.

This time, they talked to Candace Beattie, the owner of Thames Street Oyster House, for a q-and-a on what she's learned about owning a restaurant. She's a first-time restaurateur.

Candace talks about the lengthy restoration of the building in Fells Point, her chef and menu, and what's next for the restaurant.

It's nice to get attention for a Baltimore restaurant on a national website. Read the entire interview here. 

The Inn at The Black Olive and Soul Body are presenting their first event on Saturday in a partnership that pairs healthy foods with yoga. They've also managed to entice actor Woody Harrelson, pictured, to attend the raw-foods dinner. He's a big advocate of the diet.

The dinner, including cocktails, will be held at The Black Olive's rooftop Olive Room. The cost is $90 a person. For ticket information, visit Soul Body's Facebook page. The event is limited to 60 guests.

On Sunday, a morning Vinyasa class will be held by visiting yoga instructors from Dhyana Yoga in Philadelphia, followed by samplings of juice and tastes. The cost is $30.

The weekend event came together fast, said Stacey Vandiver, who runs Soul Body at Bare Hills Racquet & Fitness Club with business partner Ann Marie Barbour. Harrelson was able to come to Baltimore this weekend, so the organizers kicked into gear.

"This first one is so special," Stacey said on the phone today. "We wanted Baltimore to see and experience what we were doing" when it comes to healthy foods and exercise.

Harrelson stayed at the Inn when he was in Baltimore filming HBO's political movie Game Change. He and Black Olive co-owner Dimitris Spiliadis connected through a shared interest in a holistic lifestyle.

Soul Body got in the act when they attended a dinner at the Olive Room earlier this month, where David Wolfe, a well-known proponent of raw foods, lectured. Stacey and Ann Marie met Dimitris, and a team was formed.

"We had so much in common," Stacey said.

The Black Olive and Soul Body will continue to offer monthly events, including a yoga social happy hour, starting July 12. Guests will be able to take a class at the Olive Room and then enjoy organic wines, local beers, and juices afterward.

Photo courtesy of IMDb.com 

The recently opened Fleet Street Market offers shoppers a place to pick up fresh produce and organic ingredients in Fells Point.

Featured items include fresh bread delivered daily, frozen pasta from Little Italy, specialty products like Old Bay Peanut Spread from local business Nuts to You!, sweet and spicy sausages from Ostrowski's, and various locally grown fruits and vegetables.

The corner grocery store is owned and run by Claudette Torbey, a former Chicago lawyer. She noticed a need for a neighborhood store "that you could walk to," she said.

Claudette, who came to Baltimore when her husband got a job here, also hopes the store will become a gathering place for the community. "There were people in here ... just hanging out and talking," she said of recent customers.

She is also beginning to stock requested items like coffee and prepared sandwiches and salads.

For more information, visit the market's Facebook page.

—By Joshua Lazarus, Baltimore magazine intern 

Don't miss the cooking demonstrations being held during the Star-Spangled Sailabration, starting today through Sunday, in Bicentennial Plaza near the Baltimore Visitor Center at the Inner Harbor.

Area chefs and restaurants and a Navy representative will be leading the sessions.

Here's the schedule:

Thursday

1 p.m.—Al Spoler and chef Jerry Pellegrino of Waterfront Kitchen.

2 p.m.—The Classic Catering People.

3:30 p.m.—Navy culinary specialist.

5 p.m.—Chef Johnny Mo, author of Rock the Kitchen.

Friday

1:30 p.m.—Bistro 300, Hyatt Regency Baltimore.

3:30 p.m.—Navy culinary specialist.

5 p.m.—Fleet Street Kitchen.

Saturday
1:30 p.m.—Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards.

5 p.m.—Navy culinary specialist.

Sunday

1 p.m.—Chef Sandy Lawler, Feast @ 4 East.

4 p.m.—Navy culinary specialist.

5 p.m.—Captain Rick: How to Make Maryland's best crab cakes.

—Joshua Lazarus, Baltimore magazine intern

The Blue Hill Tavern guys are at it again. They’ve added another restaurant in Canton in addition to their Tavern on the Square on O’Donnell Street.

Shiso Tavern officially opens to the public today. Co-owner Mel Carter describes the new rendition as an Asian bistro and sushi bar. “It was definitely challenging for me and Brett [Lockard, co-owner] to do this,” Mel says. “We had to teach ourselves a lot. Daniel helped.”

Daniel is Daniel Binghak, who will be Shiso’s executive sushi chef. He worked previously at Morimoto for five years. Impressive.

The space was formerly Cosmopolitan and, most recently, the short-lived Te Amo. “It was the right opportunity at the right time,” Mel explains.

Besides sushi, the restaurant will have appetizers, soups, salads, wok dishes, and hot entrees like crispy whole fried fish, Hong Kong short ribs, and sesame-seed-crusted yellowtail.

The executive chef is Brendan Tharp. The general manager is Tim Ernst. Both worked at Blue Hill Tavern. “I always try to promote within,” Mel says.

The restaurant is named after an Asian mint leaf. Hence, the restaurant logo.

Old Bay—the iconic spice mix—kicked off its "Summer of Baytriotism" in Baltimore today at Miss Shirley's Cafe on Pratt Street. From billboards and smart-phone apps to a giant can of Old Bay attached to the side of a parking garage near Miss Shirley's, pictured, Old Bay's summer marketing campaign is sure to hit home with the community that has supported it for 70 years.

During this morning's event, Old Bay promoters defined a "baytriot" as "one who loves Baltimore, and would promote and defend it to the end." They also introduced "baytriot" Marianne Handlir, the winner of a "Voice of Old Bay Radio" competition.

There was food to be sampled, too. As a Florida native, I'm still learning about the city's habits. Handlir began by teaching me how to properly eat a deviled egg (in one bite).

She will also teach "Bawlmarese" to visitors of the Old Bay Facebook page. And her voice will be featured in two radio ads that focus on what makes a "baytriot."

Foodies can also enjoy a "Taste of Baytriotism." From June 22-30, many local restaurants will feature Old Bay menu items and participate in a judged competition to determine the most innovative menu. The participating restaurants will also be giving away Old Bay coasters and stickers to patrons.

Old Bay's recipe has not changed over the years, and the blend is still packaged in the familiar blue-and-yellow can. It is now a product of McCormick and Company, based in Sparks.

For more information on the "Summer of Baytriotism," visit Old Bay's Facebook page. To find out more about the restaurant promotion, visit the Taste of Baytriotism website.

—Blog and photos by Joshua Lazarus, Baltimore magazine intern 

The Tuesday Market in Lauraville starts back up tomorrow. And this year, the market is working with the Hamilton Crop Circle to set up a hoop house—a type of greenhouse—to grow crops.

The Crop Circle is a group of volunteers committed to educating people about the benefits of growing local, organic produce.

The market runs from 4-8 p.m. at 4500 Harford Rd., next to the Safeway, until Oct. 30.

Other local farmers' markets worth checking out include:

The Farmers' Market at Kenilworth is open every Tuesday until the end of October, from 3:30-6:30 p.m., and is located at The Shops at Kenilworth in Towson.

The first Canton Farmers' Market is open every Saturday until Aug. 25, from 8 a.m. to noon, and is located on the back lot of FutureCare Canton Harbor, 1300 S. Ellwood Ave.

Starting Thursday, the Baltimore County Farmers' Market will be open Wednesdays from 2:30-5:30 p.m. until the end of October at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.

For more information about area farmers' markets, visit the Maryland Farmers' Market Directory.

—Joshua Lazarus, Baltimore magazine intern