Baltimore's Crookie Craze

The Best Things to Do in Baltimore This Weekend...

Author

Eating Baltimore
February 27, 2026

Hey Baltimore—

We just got our latest pastry obsession. The crookie. An idea just crazy enough to work… a buttery, flaky croissant with gooey chocolate-chip cookie dough tucked inside — isn’t just a viral TikTok fantasy anymore, it’s landing on local menus and winning fans fast.

At spots like La Maison by Café Dear Leon (and its sister Café Dear Leon), bakers are folding French-style brown-butter cookie dough right into laminated croissant dough, then topping it with a salty caramelized chocolate finish that’s equal parts sweet and sophisticated.

Originally dreamed up in Paris and catapulted to fame online with millions of views, the crookie craze has found a home here — with locals asking for it by name and shops selling upward of dozens a day. If you’re into modern pastry trends that actually hit the mark, this one might be worth the early-morning pastry run. Anyways.

🏠 For Sale: Spacious downtown condo at Silo Point — 2 beds, 2.5 baths, ~1,860 sq ft with sweeping city & water views, hardwood floors, and a renovated gourmet kitchen.

🍦 Menu Item: the Sagamore Rye Whiskey-infused Blood Orange Crush Creamsicle, from Tipsy Scoop Baltimore, opening in Federal Hill this spring.

🎟️ Hot Ticket: Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival hits the Maryland State Fairgrounds March 27-28 with unlimited tastings of 60+ beers and 40+ bourbons, mountains of BBQ, live music, and backyard-style games.

Here’s what we’ve got this week:

  • CIAA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournament @ CFG Bank Arena…

  • Brewbit 4 @ Peabody Heights Brewing…

  • B&O Railroad Museum’s 199th Birthday Bash…

Scroll on, make plans, and eat well, Charm City.

P.S. Want your business in front of 8,000+ locals? Advertising with Eating Baltimore means growing your business and supporting a feel-good, homegrown newsletter that’s all about building community in the Baltimore area. Let’s talk!

Things To Do In Baltimore & Surrounding Areas This Weekend

Friday February 27th

🎵 Baltimore Irish Trad Fest Fundraiser Concert ($)
📅 Friday, February 27 | 7PM
📍 Church of the Nativity and Holy Comforter, 6112 York Rd, Baltimore
An evening of Irish traditional music featuring many of Baltimore’s top players on fiddle, accordion, flute, piano and more, plus dancers and a silent auction, with proceeds supporting the 13th annual Baltimore Irish Trad Fest in April.

🎵 Hazlow at Blue Pit BBQ (Free)
📅 Friday, February 27 | 8–11pm
📍 Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar, 1601 Union Ave, Baltimore
Hazlow returns to Blue Pit for a three-hour set of live jazz paired with smoked BBQ, whiskey pours, and a packed house—no cover, just show up early for a table.

CIAA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournament ($)
📅 February 27–28 | Times vary
📍 CFG Bank Arena, 201 W Baltimore St, Baltimore
Two days of high-energy college basketball as CIAA men’s and women’s teams battle it out in tournament play, bringing alumni, bands, step teams, and packed crowds to the city.

Saturday February 28th

Edgemere Bait & Tackle Fishing Expo ($)
📅 February 28–March 1 | 8am–2pm
📍 Edgemere VFW Hall, 6521 North Point Rd, Sparrows Point
A two-day fishing expo featuring 75–90 vendor tables (fishing gear, crabbing supplies, hunting guides, charter captains and more), plus guest speakers, raffles, door prizes, food and drinks; proceeds support a local youth fishing rod giveaway.

B&O’s 199th Birthday Bash ($)
📅 Saturday, February 28 | 10AM-4PM
📍 B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W Pratt St, Baltimore
Celebrate the B&O’s 199th birthday with a full day of festivities including jewelry-making workshops, B&O Unlocked tours, special exhibits, cupcakes, crafts, and surprise gifts honoring the legacy of American railroading.

Conservative Series Beer Release (Free)
📅 Saturday, February 28 | 12–6pm
📍 Checkerspot Brewing, 1421 Ridgely St, Baltimore
Celebrate the release of American Goshawk, a 5% ABV pale ale brewed with Riwaka hops, part of Checkerspot’s Conservation Series supporting Maryland Biodiversity Project and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

Cupid’s Undie Run ($)
📅 Saturday, February 28 | 12–4pm
📍 The Admiral’s Cup, 910 S Broadway, Baltimore
A one-mile(ish) untimed “brief” fun run in your undies followed by a big party, all to raise money for neurofibromatosis research through the Children’s Tumor Foundation.

Maryland Spicy Con ($)
📅 Saturday, February 28 | 12–5pm (11am VIP Entry)
📍 Maryland State Fairgrounds – Exhibition Hall, 2200 York Rd, Timonium
Free tastings of 100+ hot sauces and fiery foods, wing and pepper eating contests, craft beer, arcade games, and food vendors like Underground Pizza and Banditos Tacos; VIP includes early entry and drink tickets.

Girl Scout Cookie & Wine Pairing ($)
📅 Saturday, February 28 | 2–8pm (Flights at 2:30, 3:30 & 5:30pm)
📍 Chesapeake Wine Company, 2400 Boston St, Suite 112, Baltimore
Six wines paired with six Girl Scout cookies, with Scouts onsite selling boxes, plus paired pours by the glass and mixed six-packs available to-go.

Sunday March 1st

Brewbit 4 @ Peabody Heights Brewing ($)
📅 February 28 | 12–10pm & March 1 | 12–8pm
📍 Peabody Heights Brewery, 401 E 30th St, Baltimore
Two days of gaming, beer, vendors, and Korean fusion eats as the taproom transforms into a 120+ game arcade set to free play.

Charm City Moon Market (Free)
📅 Sunday, March 1 | 12–4pm
📍 Ministry of Brewing, 1900 E Lombard St, Baltimore
A four-hour pop-up featuring nine magical vendors offering handmade ceramics, crystals, crochet, oracle boards, astrology and found object readings, plus a 6-foot paper moon photo booth for the perfect coven pic.

Year of the Fire Horse Celebration (Free)
📅 Sunday, March 1 | 4–6pm
📍 Nine Tailed Fox, 3 Village Square, Baltimore
A family-friendly Lunar New Year celebration featuring a live dragon dance, face painting, kids’ crafts, and happy hour specials throughout the event.

This Week in the Community…

Homestays Needed! Experience global cultures without leaving Baltimore
The World Trade Center Institute is looking for homestay hosts for two U.S. government–sponsored delegations this spring — Estonia (April 17-25) and Ukraine (May 6-9). Homestays are central to the program. By opening your home, you offer more than a place to stay; you create space for meaningful exchange, cultural learning, and connections that last far beyond the visit. Meet like-minded global citizens without leaving home! Contact us at [email protected] to learn more! Read more…

Boozy Ice Cream Shop Coming to Federal Hill
Tipsy Scoop — the boozy ice cream concept that blends liquor-infused scoops, sorbets and sundaes — is opening a Baltimore “barlour” at 209 Key Highway in Federal Hill this spring. The shop will fill the space vacated by 3 Bean Coffee and will feature Baltimore-exclusive flavors like a Sagamore Rye Whiskey-infused Blood Orange Crush Creamsicle, with liquor-infused items available to patrons 21 and over. Read more…

Primanti Bros. Closes Linthicum Heights Location
The Pittsburgh-born sandwich chain known for piles of fries and coleslaw on its signature “Almost Famous” sandwiches has shuttered its Linthicum Heights restaurant after less than two years in business, according to local reports. The closure comes as the brand reassesses its portfolio, ending its brief run in the Baltimore area after an earlier expansion into the region. Read more…

Real Estate Corner

Pet Of The Week

Have a furry, feathered, or scaly friend you’re proud of? Send a photo and a few fun facts, and we might feature them in an upcoming issue. It’s a fun way to share smiles with the community and discover local pet resources along the way.

This week’s reader submission is: Lola

“Here's Lola… Our bold little sidekick. She follows you from room to room like she’s taking notes on how to run the household.”

Lola, a very good supervisor!

Date Spot Of The Week

Instagram Post

📍 801 S Ann St, Baltimore, MD 21231

This week’s date spot takes us to Fells Point for Bunny’s Buckets & Bubbles — a playful, comfort-forward spot that turns fried chicken and champagne into a full-on night out. The move here is simple: start with a round of bubbles, then dive into one of their signature chicken buckets with house-made sauces and sides that actually hold their own.

The vibe is colorful, high-energy, and a little cheeky — perfect if you want something that feels fun instead of formal. It’s the kind of place where you can split a bucket, clink glasses over fries, and keep the night rolling to the next stop in the neighborhood.

If your ideal date night is equal parts crispy, fizzy, and unpretentious, Bunny’s makes it very easy to say yes.

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Have a great weekend!

Matt | Eating Baltimore

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