"Hip in Hampden" is how the new 13.5% wine bar bills itself on its website. And I have to agree. It definitely adds a sophisticated element to the other restaurants and bars along The Avenue.

I talked to general manager Peter Keck, who’s been busy handling operations at 13.5%, which opened to the public on Friday (July 10). He said the sleek space has been pummeled with business. "It’s almost been too much of a good thing," he said, laughing.

I can understand the attraction. The wine bar (whose name refers to the average alcohol content of a balanced wine) offers small plates, paninis, and salads, all for under $10. It's open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday.

It also has 36-40 wines by the glass, starting at $5. In this economy, this is a deal. Of course, if you’re feeling flush, you can also try a pricier vino for $22 a glass!

The wine bar is also building a 200-bottle wine wall, where you can buy a bottle to go or pay an $8 corkage fee to enjoy it at the swanky tables or bar. There are also beer and cocktails if you’d prefer.

Keck and owner Wayne Laing, former owner of the Wine Underground store, seem to know their stuff.

It’s not too early to make reservations at one of the 90-plus restaurants taking part in restaurant week, which runs Aug. 7-16 this year. The popular restaurants fill up quickly. And it’s such a great deal—three-course dinners for $30.09.

Many of the restaurants also offer two-course lunches for $20.09 and have special wine deals and events. Check out the website for a complete list and menu offerings. There will also be discounted parking, starting at $3, at some city garages.

I’m glad to see new restaurants Alizée and Taverna Corvino participating as well as some established restaurants that haven’t been on the list before. Also, the boundaries are expanding. You’ll find The Grille & Pub at Mountain Branch in Joppa and Elkridge Furnace Inn in Elkridge on the list, too.

I think this is going to be the best summer restaurant week ever.

Last August, we gave Mother’s Federal Hill Grille a Best of Baltimore nod for its pub fare, citing its artery-clogging but absolutely delicious Heart Attack on a Plate. (It’s quite the burger: beer-battered, stuffed with cheddar, and deep-fried.) Then, earlier this year, FoodNetwork.com picked up on the Baltimore burger for its U.S. roundup.

Now, the Federal Hill restaurant is getting more national exposure. At 8:30 a.m. on Thursday (July 9), Adam Rather, chef/co-owner of Mother’s, will be cooking the Heart Attack on NBC’s Today show. He’ll be making the burger outside on Rockefeller Plaza with chefs from Texas and New Jersey, who will be whipping up their Food Network picks.

Of course, everyone at Mother’s is pretty excited about the TV appearance. I talked to Dave Rather, the other co-owner and Adam’s brother, on the phone this morning. He said the burger has been selling like crazy and there will be a T-shirt in its honor. He’s going with Adam to New York as his "talent manager."

To prepare yourself for the morning show, check out the hilarious YouTube video of a guy eating two Heart Attack burgers, which evidently had never been done before.

Only in Baltimore. How cool.

Dave Durian, our favorite wake-up guy on WBAL radio, shared an incredibly simple crab dish with me this morning when I was on the morning show. I, um, didn’t ask if I could pass it on, so I hope he doesn’t mind. But it’s perfect for any get-togethers over the Fourth.

There are no measurements, but I think you’ll get the idea. Take a block of cream cheese and soften it to room temperature. Add a can of crabmeat. Mix gently and shape into a ball. Top with cocktail sauce and serve with crackers.

Dave said it never fails to impress guests. I can’t wait to make it. I hope we all don’t end up at the same party with the same appetizer. Let me know if you have any simple recipes or variations of this one. Enjoy.

Here's an e-mail sent by Ixia's Brendan Dorr, who we picked as one of Baltimore's best bartenders in our March issue. There's a happy ending.

Dear Friends,

Today is a sad day. Ixia Restaurant Lounge and Bar will be closing its doors permanently. I truly think it is a loss to Baltimore. Un Kim, the owner of Ixia, has decided that she no longer wishes to run Ixia and has chosen to close after this Friday, June 26. I know most of you are thinking why; the only reason is that she just doesn't desire to keep it going. 8 years of constant inspiration and devotion is a lot to keep up. She doesn't wish for someone to take over and lose/change her vision.

So this week will be your last chance to come view, eat and drink at Ixia. I will be there all week long. Tuesday I manage, Wednesday I am behind the bar, Thursday I am serving on the floor, and Friday I will be behind the bar. Please come in and say hello and good bye. Forgive me if I am out of your favorite drink (it might happen).

I realize I am leaving out Saturday. That's because we are hosting an invite only closing party.

The next chapter for me. I have already secured a new job as the head bartender at the new hotel coming to town. It is a Kimpton Monaco Hotel. It is ultra boutique and they receive amazing accolades and awards for their hotels and restaurants, so hopefully we can have just as much fun at a new place. The name of the spot I will be working in is in their restaurant called the B&O (American) Brasserie. It is located in the old B&O Headquarters Building on the NW corner at the intersection of Charles and Baltimore Streets. We open at the end of July and the place looks beautiful. We will be doing exciting, boutique cocktails, hopefully/eventually some of my creations to start or down the road. Please come in and visit me there. I will miss seeing all my regulars and friends.

Anyway, thank you all for the many years of joy and fun you have given me. I hope a lot of you come in for one last visit to Ixia before it is gone and I look forward to seeing you all stop in my new spot some time in August. Take care and thank you all once again.

Sincerely,

Brendan Dorr

Soon to be Ex-Beverage Director of Ixia

I had two potato dishes yesterday that I can’t stop thinking about—and can’t wait to eat again. If you have any other suggestions, let me know.

Some friends from Delaware came to visit, and we headed to the Harbor area, happy to finally have a sunny day. First stop was Regi’s in Federal Hill for brunch.

We enjoyed crab-and-spinach omelets, but what we couldn’t get enough of were A.J.’s tater tots. The miniature potato croquettes are covered in melted Brie and applewood bacon bits and are truly addictive. We wouldn’t let the waitress take the dish until we had eaten every one. We washed them down with peach Bellinis to celebrate summer.

Later in the afternoon, after hours of meandering the Harbor (okay, this is hokey, but we did the Ride the Ducks tour. Don’t snicker. It’s  fun), we ended up at the bar at Sullivan’s Steak House, where happy hour was in full swing.

If you want a deal, this is the place to go. Martinis are $5 as is a glass of red or white wine. And bar snacks are half price. Swingin’ at Sully’s, as it’s called, is offered on Sundays and Thursdays.

We ordered the Knockout, the restaurant’s signature drink. Let’s just say that orange vodka is a wonderful thing. We were hungry, so we decided to share blue-cheese chips. This is a decadent dish, but munching on hot, fresh-baked potato chips with gooey blue cheese plus crumbled blue is a great way to end an afternoon with friends.

Don’t miss the National Aquarium’s final event in its "Fresh Thoughts Dining Series" on Tuesday, June 23. It’s geared to families and sounds like a lot of fun. I checked the Weather Channel’s website and, yay, the forecast is for mostly sunny and a high of 85 degrees that day.

Here’s what you can expect besides a yummy, outdoor grilled fish feast, samples of micro-brewed beers from Clipper City Brewery, and other activities like painting your own cookies and making your own shortcake. You’ll also receive admission to the 5 p.m. dolphin show, an after-dinner showing of the 4-D movie "Planet Earth: Shallow Seas, and access to the Aquarium’s exhibits until 9 p.m.

Admission is $55 for nonmembers, $25 for a child. Call 410-576-3869 or visit the Aquarium’s website.