Joe Edwardsen of Joe Squared is always planning ahead for the next big thing. First, he introduced his square pizza; then, moved on to coal-fired pizza. Now, he’s setting up a barbacoa (Mexican barbecue) place at the corner of North Avenue and Howard Street across from his pizza emporium. It’ll be called Cuadrado, which is Spanish for squared, he says.

Joe will be featuring slow-cooked meats from Springfield Farm, like pork, lamb, beef head, wrapped in agave and banana leaves, corn tortillas made in house, and seviche with rockfish, oysters, and crab, as well as other South-of-the-Border fare.

He says he got the idea on visits to Mexico. "It’s an empty market for it here in town," Joe says. "I thought it would be a great addition."

But don’t start drooling just yet. It’ll be six to seven months before the building is renovated with big windows, elevated kitchen, and comfortable seating. When it does open, there will a wall dedicated to art shows and live music. We’ll be ready.

The owners of Freda’s Kitchen, a relatively new upstart in Mt. Washington, are poised to start phase two of their New York-style deli with a recently granted liquor license. "We’re ready to move to sit-down service," says Josh Emmer, who owns the 76-seat restaurant with his parents, Linda and Martin Emmer.

With the liquor license and approval by the Mt. Washington Improvement Association in hand, the family plans to add a small bar with a few stools and extend its dinner hours. Fare will include its already sought-after corned beef and other sandwiches as well as four to six affordable entrées like meatloaf and lasagna. The owners want to appeal to families. "Our intention is for it to be inexpensive," Josh says.

Some area merchants opposed the restaurant’s move to add liquor, he admits, but everybody is satisfied now. There are no grudges. He points out that he was raised in Mt. Washington and his father was born there. "This is our community," he says.

Aaron Meisner, president of the improvement association, said the community group supported the license but added some restrictions, like a midnight deadline for selling liquor and not allowing lottery sales.

Also, for now, Freda’s Kitchen won’t be able to serve alcohol outdoors. "I was personally looking forward to mimosas and bagels on the sidewalk come summer," Meisner said in an email.

Well, Mr. Meisner, your wish may be granted. Josh said the family is seeking appropriate zoning approval to serve outdoor liquor. Then, they will return to the liquor board for its approval. Expanded hours and liquor service will begin in about two months, he says.

Bluehouse in Harbor East is closing today and is paying its respects to customers by offering free coffee, any size, any flavor, even lattes and cappaccinos, for free. I was happy to get the freebie but am really sad to say goodbye to my favorite hideaway cafe. I would often lose myself in a book at one of the tables while enjoying a mid-afternoon coffee.

Bluehouse, which bills itself as an "eco-friendly home-furnishing store," will still exist at the Shops at Kenilworth in Towson—but minus the cafe. The industrial-chic space on Fleet Street was just too big to maintain, a barista told us. Talk about a rotten Friday the 13th.

This year, with Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday, the lovers’ holiday seems to be stretching across the weekend. Charleston has been bombarded by reservations for Feb. 14, so it’s offering a prix-fixe menu on Sunday, Feb. 15, too.

Here’s a roundup of some other options that I've received. I don’t know if reservations are still available.

Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia has a special V-day menu in addition to its a la carte menu with free chocolates for all diners.

The Brass Elephant’s "Love It, Hate It" V-day, prix-fixe menu zeroes in on an "everything red" meal for sweethearts in the dining room and on yummy dishes and drinks under $12 in the Tusk Lounge.

Giant Food gets into the action on Feb. 13 with a Valentine’s Date Night event from 4-8 p.m. at the Cockeysville and Pikesville stores with cooking demos, games, and prizes.

Feast@4 east presents "sexy, sumptuous tastes" on Feb. 12, 13, and 14.

Morton’s steakhouses in Baltimore and Annapolis have meal options for couples from now until March 31—steak and seafood for two for $99 and steak and lobster for $75. There’s also a special V-day wildflower Champagne cocktail for $16—the bubbly is poured over an edible hibiscus at the bottom of the glass, which then blooms.

Melting Pot restaurants have a special Feb. 14 menu, which includes desserts like a white-chocolate fondue with a raspberry heart. They also are giving away prizes.

If you’re looking for a romantic setting, you also might want to consider the new Miss Irene’s upstairs dining room. It’s a beaut with a gorgeous view of the harbor.

Leave it to Zagat to capitalize on its reputation as a premier restaurant primer with a new take on eating out: a Dating (And Dumping) Guide—just in time for Valentine’s Day. For now, it only delves into the best places for loving and leaving in New York City and Los Angeles. I think it's only a matter of time before we see this concept in other cities.

"Good Morning America" did a recent segment about the guide, citing "Seinfeld" for popularizing Pomodoro on the upper West Side in NYC as a breakup place. It also said kid-friendly restaurants are good for women who want to end a romance because the guy will think you’re pushing babies. For guys, there’s a New York barbeque hangout called Brother Jimmy’s. Why there? It has babe waitresses, so once you end it with one girl, the thinking is that you can quickly hook up with someone else.

I wonder what Baltimore restaurants would be included in such a guide. Any suggestions?

Cindy Wolf, perhaps one of the most recognizable names in Baltimore’s culinary world, is featured, along with several prominent chefs, in a gorgeous publication called DC CHEFS. She is the only Baltimorean.

You can’t buy the magazine or subscribe to it. It is shared among chefs and other lucky recipients. There’s a website, but it hasn’t been updated from 2007-08.

But back to Chef, as she likes to be called. Where does she go when she’s not toiling away at Charleston? Here are her recommendations in DC CHEFS:

Best burger—Kooper’s (the mag spelled it Coopers) Tavern
French fries—Petit Louis, Pazo (nice plug, Cindy)
Best Mexican—Tortilleria
Best hot dogs—Weis Deli
Best deli/sandwich shop—Weis Deli (wow, a little love for the regional store)
Best oysters/seafood bar—Faidley, Lexington Market
Best diner—Bel-Loc
Best comfort food—Andy Nelson’s BBQ
Best ice cream—Maggie Moo’s
Best breakfast/brunch—Jimmy’s Diner for breakfast, Bonaparte for brunch
Best coffee shop—Bonaparte
Best business lunch—Tio Pepe
Romantic restaurant—The Prime Rib
Best bakery—Bonaparte or Patisserie Poupon
Best farmers’ market—Under I-83
Favorite wine shop—(What a surprise) Bin 604 Wine Sellers, which she owns with hubby Tony Foreman
Supermaket—Eddie’s of Roland Park

I also thought it was nice that another featured chef, Bryan Voltaggio of Volt in Frederick, gave a shout out to Thrasher’s Fries in Ocean City.

If a night on the town is important to your sweetie, it’s time to plan for Valentine’s Day, especially since it falls on a Saturday this year. Baltimore has lots of romantic places to consider. But one you may not have thought of is Miss Shirley’s Cafe—yes, the same place the serves up bountiful breakfasts and lunches with a Southern twist.

For the second year, the Roland Park restaurant is going to offer a three-course dinner for V-day. It sold out last year. (Disclosure: I am the proud mother of the chef, but I don’t make a penny off this pitch!) I thought diners who like the early-day menu might want to know about the $45-a-person menu (full menu online, but includes choices like duo of oysters, grilled beef tenderloin, and chocolate beignets). And it’s amazing how Shirley’s transforms itself at night into a seductive setting with soft lighting and quieter surrounds.

Okay, mom duty done. Please let me know about other special Valentine’s promotions around town. I’d love to share them, too.