🍦Ring in NYE in Naptown 🎊

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Annapolis. This is Naptown Scoop. Did you know Bing Crosby, Rudolph the Reindeer, and Mrs. Claus are all originally from Annapolis? Well they’re not, but if they were, you’d learn about it here first. 🤶😉 

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

• First Day Hikes 🌳

• Cookies & Cocoa at Bread & Butter 🍪

• Quiet Waters’ Artisan Market 🎨

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins, Chelsea Harrison, & Ryan Sneddon

SPONSORED BY ANNAPOLIS MALL

Santa’s Ready—Are You? 🎅✨

The clock is ticking! Don’t miss your chance to visit Santapolis: A Magical Holiday Experience at Annapolis Mall – open through December 24.

Capture the magic with family photos with Santa in his winter wonderland, located next to Crate & Barrel. Reserve your spot ahead of time to skip the line and unwrap two bonus gifts:

🎁 10 holiday cards and 50% off your Shutterfly order
🎁 A personalized digital message from Santa before your visit

Walk-ups are welcome too — Santa’s always happy to see you!

Don’t wait — Santa’s got a big night on December 24 so he’s done at 5 PM on Christmas Eve! Visit our website to book your spot and create magical memories for the whole family.

🎄 Hurry in before the sleigh takes off!

THE DIGEST

A+ partnership tackles teacher shortage 🤝

St. John’s College and Indian Creek School get gold stars for a smart partnership. 🌟🌟 Their new Teaching Fellows program lets graduate students earn a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts from St. John’s while gaining hands-on classroom experience working part-time at Indian Creek.

It’s a win-win: future educators receive real-world training, Indian Creek gains fresh talent, and Maryland gets help addressing its teacher shortage. Recruitment begins January 1, with fellows hopefully ready to hit the books (and the classroom) by Fall 2025.

MDA Spay & Neuter Grants 🐶🐱

Spaying & neutering pets is an important measure in keeping shelter intakes and euthanization down. But these procedures can get expensive for pet owners. So as a way of helping foot the bill (paw the bill?), Maryland Dept. of Agriculture is providing competitive grants to local governments and non-profit animal welfare organizations who will then provide free spay and neuter services. Two types of grants are available: one is for spay/neuter for pets of low-income Marylanders; and one is for spay/neuter of free-roaming, unowned community cats. Applications open in January.

Note: This program does not provide funding directly to individuals. If you are a pet owner, see a list of active pet programs. If you are seeking programs for unowned/feral cats, see a list here.

Officials plan how to implement Swedish sustainable living wisdom 🌍

More than two months after Maryland officials visited Sweden, Annapolis leaders are tackling how to fund and achieve sustainable living. Ward 7 Alderman Rob Savidge calls it a three-pronged endeavor, including:

1.) Working with tourism and economic development officials to integrate sustainability into the city (e.g., car-free days downtown to boost shopping).
2.) Pushing for carbon neutrality.
3.) Moving toward a fully electric public transportation system, including:

1. Two all-electric buses launching next spring

2. Plans for a small electric passenger ferry between City Dock and Eastport.

3. Exploring the return of electric streetcars. ($)

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@NAPTOWNSCOOP

📸 @jarvinphotography | 📍City Dock

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SPONSORED BY LACE SILHOUETTES LINGERIE

Did you know 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size?

Discover the perfect fit with a complimentary, expert bra fitting at our boutique at 152 Main St. in the heart of Annapolis! Enjoy a personalized shopping experience in a warm, inviting space. We offer a curated collection of luxurious yet affordable brands, including UGG and PJ Salvage, along with exclusive pieces you won’t find in department stores. Every woman deserves to feel confident and beautiful—visit us today and find the perfect fit that’s all about you!

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Weekend Preview

You’re likely a bit busy this weekend, but here are some can’t-miss events worth squeezing in!

Thursday

🛍️ 🎄Final Midnight Madness: It’s your last chance to live out that Hallmark Christmas movie dream! Shops and restaurants are staying open late, from 4–11 PM.

Saturday

🩰 BTM presents: The Nutcracker: Witness the timeless holiday tale of Clara and her quest to rescue her Nutcracker from the Rat Queen’s evil spell. Maryland Hall hosts this beloved-dance and theatre performance at 7 PM. Tickets.

Sunday

🎅📸 Maggiano’s Breakfast with Santa: Enjoy a jolly morning at Annapolis Mall’s Maggiano’s. Besides a delicious breakfast, snap a photo with Santa. 9–11 AM. Get tickets.

🩰BTM presents: The Nutcracker: Grab tickets to the 1 PM or 4:30 PM showings at Maryland Hall.

🥣 ☕️Empty Bowls Fundraiser: Keep your hand-thrown ceramic bowl or mug, plus get soup or coffee! Proceeds go to Providence Center who help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities discover their best lives. From 9 AM to noon at The Station. — 44 W Earleigh Heights Rd in Severna Park.

Last Call

🎅 📸 Santa Photos: Pose with Santa at the Annapolis Mall and Annapolis Town Center until Christmas Eve. Know before you go.

🛍️ #ShopLocal: Last chance to support our local businesses. See our gift guide for ideas and booklovers should bookmark this. 🎁 📚

✨🌊Lights on the Bay: See the holiday lights display along the Chesapeake Bay—all in support of SPCA until January 1. Open every night (including holidays) Sunday–Thursday from 5–9 PM or Friday/Saturday from 5–10 PM.

⛴️Jolly Express Cruise: This 45-minute boat ride turned “sleigh ride” includes hot cocoa, holiday music, and good cheer. Proceeds go to Historic Annapolis. Book now through January 1.

🕎 Celebrate Hanukkah: The Annapolis Town Center is hosting a Menorah lighting at sundown on December 25 through January 2.

Cookies & Cocoa at Bread & Butter 🍪

Holiday break starts soon. If you’re not yet in the spirit, Bread & Butter Kitchen can help. You’re invited to their Cookies & Cocoa event tomorrow 4–6:30 PM or 7–8:30 PM at the eatery’s hub (303 Second Street, Annapolis). It’s a chance to decorate cookies, sip cocoa, listen to some festive entertainment, and shop for some gifts made by local artisans. You can even take a cookie decorating kit home with you for an extra small cost! ☃️

Quiet Waters Artisan Market 🎨

Looking for last-minute gifts or unique statement pieces for your home? You’re in luck. The Holiday Artisan Market is open until January 5, weekdays 9 AM to 4 PM and weekends 10 AM to 4 PM. Closed only on Christmas. Nine artists are showcasing pottery, painting, fresh greenery, baskets, rugs, fused glass, ornaments, jewelry, and clothing. Come by the Galleries at Quiet Waters Park (600 Quiet Waters Park Rd.) to shop and support local artists. The park entrance fee is $6 per vehicle.

Got plans for NYE yet? 🎊

If you haven’t figured out how you’re ringing in 2025, don’t worry. You still have a week and a half to go. More importantly, there are plenty of options around Annapolis, whether you want something mellow or upbeat. Here are a few events that have caught our attention around town:

🎉City Dock Fireworks
Don’t miss this ever-popular Annapolis tradition! Gather at City Dock and watch the fireworks over Spa Creek at 9 PM.

🎉 Noon Year’s Eve at Busch Annapolis Library
Don’t stress about having the kids stay up until midnight—let them start celebrating at 11:30 AM instead.

🎉 Yacht Party with Watermark
Cruise around the local waterways with Watermark—there will be drinks and dancing, plus you’ll make it back to the docks in time to make it home by midnight.

🎉 Lights on the Bay
New Year’s Eve is the penultimate night to see the lights display at Sandy Point State Park (it closes January 1), and it’s open until 9 PM—drive through before your midnight countdown!

🎉 New Year’s Eve Party at The Choptank
Ring in 2024 on the rooftop with the best views in Annapolis! Enjoy a standing buffet, open bar, live DJ, and a champagne toast with fireworks over the harbor.

🎉 Ultimate ‘80s NYE Party at Rams Head
Welcome in 2025 in the style of the ‘80s with cover band The New Romance at Rams Head On Stage starting at 9 PM.

🎉 New Year’s Party at Acqua Al 2
Get tickets to this celebration with food, an open bar, and a live DJ at Acqua Al 2. View the menu.

First Day Hikes 🌳

What better way to get the new year started off on the right foot (pun intended) than by getting out in the fresh air and moving a little bit? That’s the idea of First Day Hikes. Many parks offer ranger-led opportunities to explore nature on January 1 in a low-stakes, inclusive, all-ages environment. This trend is part of a nationwide initiative on the part of America’s State Parks, and there are plenty of hikes happenings right here in our area:

🥾 Bacon Ridge Natural Area Noon-2 PM (1555 Severn Chapel Road, Crownsville)
🥾 Earleigh Heights Ranger Station (51 West Earleigh Heights Road, Severna Park)
🥾 Kinder Farm Park (1001 Kinder Farm Park Rd, Millersville)
🥾 Quiet Waters Park (600 Quiet Waters Park Rd, Annapolis)
🥾 South River Farm Park (3538 Loch Haven Dr, Edgewater)

Get times and other details or register for any of the hikes through Anne Arundel Rec & Parks.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

WEATHER

Thursday

45 🌡️ 34 | 🌤️ | 4% | N 11 mph (10 knots)

Friday

41 🌡️ 33 | ☁️ | 17% | 💨 NNE 6 mph (5 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 42ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

Thursday

49 West | Jazz Wire Jam Session | 7:30–10 PM
Brian Boru | Aaron Hawkins | 6:30–9:30 PM
Killarney House | JT Horne | 6–9 PM
Market House | Mike Heuer | 6–8 PM
Pirates Cove | Jason Bishop | 6–10 PM
The Point | Kavoossi | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Will Downing | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Reynolds Tavern | TBA | 7 PM

Friday

49 West | The Geckos | 7:30–9:30 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern | Rick’s Revolving Door | 8:30 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Timmie Metz Band | 9 PM
Brian Boru | Lost and Found | 7–10 PM
The Choptank | Kevin Koa | 8 PM
Coconut Joe | Nerve | 9 PM
Killarney House | Meg & Angie | 7:30–10:30 PM
Middleton Tavern | Three of a Kind | 9 PM
Old Stein | Mac Heat Band | 7–10 PM
Pirates Cove | Kurt Gibbons | 7:30–10:30 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Will Downing | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Kieran Lally | 8 PM
Reynolds Tavern | TBA | 7 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Stillbound 2.0 | 7 PM

NAVY SPORTS

Upcoming games

Women's Basketball (7-3)
12/19 vs. Delaware | 6 PM

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THANKS!

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