🍦9 Million Baby Oysters

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Annapolis. We asked ChatGPT to roast several neighborhoods in Annapolis and boy did it deliver. Bottom of the digest. We give it a 40% chance you spit out your coffee.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

• Chocolate Binge Festival and Latin Fest

• Annapolis’ newest restaurants

• Skipjack Heritage Days Returns

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins

SPONSORED BY SCARBOROUGH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

The New College Graduate’s Guide to Investing

Congratulations, graduate! You’ve made it through all the tough years of school, and now it’s time to set out on the rest of your life. And while your immediate concerns may be focused on finding that first post-college job or setting out on some grand adventure, you’re also in a unique position to make the financial decisions that will set you up for success from here on out.

Unless you were a finance major, you probably didn’t learn a whole lot about investing money during your college career. And what you already know is probably a little confusing—maybe even downright scary.

After all, investing can be a complicated process. But we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be—and that you’re in a prime position in life to maximize the benefits of a sound investment strategy. The key is to start doing it as soon as possible. Investments tend to grow over time, so the sooner you start, the better off you can be. Learn more.

THE DIGEST

We asked ChatGPT to roast Annapolis’ neighborhoods. How’d it do?

Eastport - You haven’t crossed the Spa Creek Bridge in six weeks and speak of the Giant on Forest Drive like it’s at the end of the Oregon Trail.

Murray Hill - You’re one more compostable wine cork away from writing a very firm letter to City Council about how electric leaf blowers are still too loud.

Downtown Annapolis - You tell people your home’s historic, but that’s just an excuse for your drafty windows, slanted floors, and a kitchen last updated during Prohibition.

Bay Ridge - You peak every 4th of July, then spend the rest of the year reminding people your private beach makes you better than them.

Hillsmere - You drive a lifted truck but panic when the Starbucks drive-thru line’s too long.

Admiral Heights - You’re not rich-rich, but you still think you’re better than everyone west of Route 2, especially if they shop at that Safeway.

Cape St. Claire - You live 15 minutes from downtown but act like you need a passport to cross the Severn.

Wardour - You inherited your house, your boat, and your opinions. And all three are aggressively outdated.

Sherwood Forest - You love to say, “life’s just different out here” but mostly it’s just fireworks on the wrong day and a deep fear of exterior color variety.

Epping Forest - Your entire personality is based on the fact that Epping is just like Sherwood but with fewer rules.

Oyster sanctuary on Severn River gets 9 million new spat 🦪

The Severn River Association and the Oyster Recovery Partnership recently dropped 9 million oyster spat into the Severn River, a sanctuary with over a dozen acres of reefs protected and maintained by the SRA.

• Spat are free-swimming larvae that attach themselves to old oyster shells and grow quickly, filtering the water as they mature.

Last year, ORP was responsible for planting 1.5 billion spat in the Bay, helping build back the Bay’s oyster population from 2.5 billion in 2004 to 12 billion in 2024. Want to help out? Spat need oyster shells to grow, so save your shells and recycle them by putting them back in the water or bringing them to a shell recycling drop-off station.

Capital Gazette 2024-25 girls high school Athlete of the Year 🏀⚽️🥍

These days, the three-sport high school athlete is as rare as a unicorn. Yet, South River’s Raegan Ogle — a basketball, soccer, and lacrosse star — fits the bill. The 2024-25 Capital Gazette girls high school Athlete of the Year could’ve specialized on her way to play basketball at Frostburg State. Instead, the point guard capped her senior year with All-County honors in basketball and soccer, a state basketball title, and a surprise lacrosse return after years away. Despite an ACL injury that disrupted recruitment, she bounced back to lead her teams with grit and versatility. At Frostburg State, she’ll leave the door open for a lacrosse future, too. As she said, “You never know.” ($)

Stories with ($) require a third-party subscription.

LOCAL BUSINESS

Former Wendy’s in Edgewater to become Nico’s Bagels & Brunch 🥯

The old Wendy’s in Edgewater (near The Greene Turtle) is going to be Nico’s Bagels & Brunch, with plans to open in November. Get ready for NY-Style bagels, handcrafted Bagelwiches, and signature coffees!

Nico’s opened its first bagel shop last year in Gambrills, “where every bite carries the sweetness of giving back.” The eatery supports mental health in honor of owner Jerry Osuna’s late son, Nico, who died by suicide in 2018. A portion of sales goes to Nico's Hope For Life Foundation, which helps fund therapy and awards scholarships to St. Mary’s grads pursuing mental health careers.

Revisiting Annapolis’ newest restaurants 🥘

Who doesn’t love a new restaurant? We all have to eat, and having fresh options around town is always exciting. This probably explains why new restaurants tend to unite us all. And fortunately for all of us, the past few weeks have been a great time to be a hungry Annapolitan, because a lot of new restaurants have opened up:

🍦Timber Pizza in Edgewater — the latest location for an artisan pizzeria originally from DC

🍦 Don Chico’s — a nomad’s take on creative meals with world beers and vibrant cocktails

🍦 Captain’s Daughter — coastal cuisine inside The Westin

🍦Always Ice Cream in Severna Park — a local favorite ice cream shop’s new Severna Park location

🍦Cavalli — upscale Italian in the Annapolis Town Center with an all-star local ownership team

🍦Sushi Sekai — a new sushi option in West Annapolis

🍦Rumhouse — bringing a taste of the Caribbean to Eastport

🍦 Sea Table — private yacht dining from an award-winning chef

🍦 Naz’s Halal  — NYC-style halal

🍦 Blowfish Poke Hawaiian Grill — a taste of Hawaii in the heart of downtown

🍦Vivi's Chicken 'N Mac in Edgewater — comfort food with a twist

🍦Firebirds — a warm atmosphere with a scratch kitchen and woodfire grill

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.

SPONSORED BY WESTERN SHORE VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Puppy Season. Let’s Do This Right.

There’s nothing better than a summer puppy—until they eat something weird, start scratching nonstop, or cry through the night.

Western Shore Veterinary Hospital helps new dog owners through the chaos. Their team is trusted, kind, and really good at answering the “is this normal?” questions. From first vaccines and diet advice to flea prevention and beach-day safety, they’ve got your back.

Because puppies don’t come with a manual—but Western Shore Veterinary Hospital is the next best thing.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Weekend Preview 📆

Good news: Today is a safe day to use the calendar emoji because it’s actually July 17. So with that said, let’s look at what’s on the calendar for this weekend. (Fun fact: July 17 is observed as World Emoji Day because the calendar emoji shows July 17. Scoop writer Dylan learned this when he was researching to make sure it wasn’t just Apple users who see the calendar emoji this way.)

🕯️ Candlelight: Tribute to Taylor Swift Friday 6:30 PM. Hear some of Taylor’s biggest hits performed by a professional orchestra in candlelit ambiance at Maryland Hall.

🕯️ Candlelight: Tribute to Queen and the Beatles Friday 8:45 PM, Saturday 6:30 PM. Following Candlelight’s Swift tribute, catch this orchestral performance of ‘60s and ‘70s rock legends.

🚜 Summer Field Market at Wildberry Saturday 9 AM. Join Wildberry and other local vendors for a Saturday morning market down on the farm.

🛍️ HERE. Feels Like Summer Pop-Up 2025 Saturday 10 AM–4 PM. This weekend’s featured product is permanent jewelry as part of HERE. a pop-up shop’s daily July shop.

🎶 BloomHaven at Maryland Hall Saturday 6 PM. This weekend’s outdoor concerts at Maryland Hall feature Dirty Grass Players and their combination of bluegrass with jam-band improv.

🎤 An Intimate Evening With Hop Saturday 6 PM. Listen to music and storytelling from John Driscoll Hopkins at a private home on the water to raise money for ALS.

🎵 Free Concerts at Quiet Waters Park Saturday 6:30 PM. The Naval Academy Blue & Gold Band plays blues (and blues-inspired) music as part of this weekend’s outdoor concert.

🍕 Food Truck Friday Friday 4–8 PM. Food trucks converge at the Annapolis Farmers Market on Truman Parkway, where you can find all kinds of fare in one place.

🎡 Earleigh Heights VFC Carnival Friday–Saturday @ 6 PM. Don’t miss closing weekend of the summer carnival at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company.

🎬 $2 Movies at Landmark Theatre Saturday–Sunday @ 11 AM. See Where the Wild Things Are as part of Landmark’s family-friendly summer series.

Mark your calendar: MD Seafood Festival brings Skipjacks to Sandy Point

The Maryland Seafood Festival will debut a new feature this year: Skipjack Heritage Days. While there were once more than 1,000 of the oyster dredgers working on the Bay, today there are less than 20 remaining skipjacks in working condition. The Heritage Days will have a parade of skipjacks and a Sunday race, along with public tours and rides. For tickets, click here. September 13 and 14 at Sandy Point State Park.

Paging Mr. Wonka … Paging Mr. Willy Wonka …

In the sweetest news of the day, vendor applications are now open for the Chocolate Binge Festival happening on Inner West Street Sunday, December 7. Our favorite part of this announcement is that all vendors must be ready to provide free samples to the more than 4,000 people expected to attend. All vendors are required to show how they’re going to showcase chocolate in their offerings, so if you’d like to be a part of the Festival but are more a savory person, check out their sponsorship opportunities.

Speaking of savory delights … Let’s Salsa Latin Fest is also looking for vendors for their event happening during Dinner Under the Stars on August 16. Sign up today! (And no, you don’t have to make your own salsa to participate. It’s the dancing kind of salsa, not delicious tortilla chips.)

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.

NAPTOWN SCOOP WEATHER IS POWERED BY. . .

Thursday

93 🌡️ 78 | 🌤️ | 24% | SW 12 mph (10 knots)

Friday

85 🌡️ 75 | 🌤️ | 15% | 💨 NNE 7 mph (6 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 84ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

NAPTOWN SCOOP LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN IS POWERED BY. . .

Thursday

49 West | Jazz Wire Jam Session | 7:30–10 PM
AMM | Tides & Tunes | Reverend Smackmaster & The Congregation of Funk | 7–9 PM
Brian Boru | The National Bohemians | 6–9 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Steve Herrera | 4–7 PM
Killarney House | Fred & Wilma | 6–9 PM
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen | Chris Sacks | 5–8 PM
Market House | Nate Finn | 7–10 PM
Pirates Cove | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
The Point | Dan Haas | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Jax Hollow | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Open Mic Night | 6 PM

Friday

49 West | Soul Journers Band | 7:30–10:30 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Michael McHenry Tribe | 9–12 PM
Brian Boru | Michael K | 7–10 PM
The Choptank | Kieran Lally | 8 PM
City Dock | Jill Fulton Band | 6–9 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Neel Madan | 5–8 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Wesley Spangler | 9 PM
Great Frogs | Brandt Dunn | 5:30–8:30 PM
Killarney House | Peter James | 7:30–10:30 PM
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen | Ben Heemstra | TBD
The Lodge | Stephen Henson | 8–11 PM
Market House | Alex and Brandon | 8–11 PM
Market Space | Adam Forbes | 6–9 PM
Mike’s Crabhouse | The Fuses | 6–8:30 PM
Pirates Cove | Kevin Lee | 7–10 PM
Rams Head On Stage | The Doobie Others | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Aaron Hawkins | 8 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Joey Fitz | 3–5:30 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Chris Sacks | 5 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | The Shore thing | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Riverside | Mike Miller | 4–8 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Nate & Jim | 9:45 PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today, if you found something useful, please share it with someone who lives in one of the neighborhoods we roasted.