🍦Annapolis Film Festival slate drop

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Annapolis. Water taxis are running 10 AM to 8 PM Saturday and Sunday. Don’t forget a jacket because it won’t be 70º like today.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

• Countdown to 250

• Wilma Lee returns

• St. Patrick’s Day Parade route

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, & Ryan Sneddon

SPONSORED BY WESTFIELD ANNAPOLIS

We’re so egg-cited for Easter 🐇

… it’s not even bunny. Ok, sorry for that, but it’s true! Westfield Annapolis is offering photos with the Easter Bunny in the brand new Bunny Cove starting tomorrow!

Check out the Cove for fun family photos with and awesome, interactive displays. There are also neat seasonal crafts for kids. And the best part? Westfield has partnered with SPCA’s Paws at the Mall to have real bunnies at the set!

Make your reservation now so you don't miss out on any of the excitement.

THE DIGEST

2024 Annapolis Film Festival Slate 🎥 ✨

The Annapolis Film Festival is a magical weekend. There’s nothing else like it in town. The 12th running this year will showcase 85 films all over town from April 4–7. You can go to intimate coffee talks with filmmakers, attend glamorous parties, and so much more. As always, the opening night film has caught our eye. Thelma follows a 93-year-old who falls victim to a phone scammer and embarks on a spirited quest to reclaim what’s hers. See the full film slate and purchase passes at annapolisfilmfestival.com 🎬

Countdown to 250 🎉

A 250th anniversary is a big deal. So it only makes sense you’d take years to plan it. That’s why the City of Annapolis made a commission to plan for 2026 – when the Fourth of July means the 250th anniversary of these United States. Let the party prep begin!

Wilma Lee returns

In what might be the surest sign yet that spring’s almost back, the Wilma Lee is back this weekend. This 1940s skipjack belonging to the Annapolis Maritime Museum takes all winter off for some R&R (and we can’t blame her). But starting Saturday, she’s back for public cruises, private charters, and AMM’s famous educational programs. Learn more.

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@NAPTOWNSCOOP

📸 @motoxdms | 📍Mouth of the Severn

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LOCAL BUSINESS

Local by Design Grand Opening 🎨

ICYMI, Local by Design’s Main Street location moved to Maryland Avenue. The grand reopening is Saturday (3/16) from 2–8 PM. Take the “one for you, one for me” mantra to heart and get a gift with a qualifying purchase. LBD sells unique gifts and home décor crafted by local artisans, many of whom will be in the store Saturday. Catch Dan Haas on guitar from 4–6 PM. Gray Wolf Spirits — the grain to glass brand from the Eastern Shore — will also be provided. 41 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401.

New headquarters, who dis?

Chaney Enterprises will soon be the latest business to call Annapolis home. Hyatt Commercial found the concrete corporation a huge 30,000 square foot building for its new headquarters. They’ll move from the current Gambrills HQ as soon as renovations are complete. What can we say, Chaney? We’re stoked you chose Annapolis!

🔎 What’s Chaney Enterprises? You’ve probably seen their trucks. They own dozens of ready-mix concrete plants across the Mid-Atlantic.

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 AVENTON ANNAPOLIS APARTMENTS

Annapolis’ Newest (and nicest and most convenient) Apartments

Doesn’t that look fantastic? That’s an apartment at Aventon Annapolis right off Riva Road. It’s just minutes from shopping and dining at Annapolis Town Center and less than 1,000 feet from the ramp to Route 50 and I-97. So whether you’re commuting or staying local, no location is more convenient.

All 250 pet-friendly apartments are brand new with high-end finishes and thoughtful details. Amenities include a saltwater pool, al fresco dining with community grills, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and too many more to name. They are even offering 1 month rent free!

Aventon is setting a new standard of apartment living in Annapolis. Schedule a tour today and move in tomorrow!

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Weekend Preview

Saturday

⛴️ Watermark’s first cruise of 2024 sets sail from City Dock at 11 AM on Saturday. There are many more throughout the weekend. Book your trip.

Sunday

Not into parades? 🐦 Get out in nature during the Anne Arundel Bird Club Walk through Quiet Waters Park from 8–10 AM. Meet at the Blue Heron Center parking lot.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade 🍀 🇮🇪

It’s our lucky year. The Annapolis St. Patrick’s Day Parade is actually on St. Patrick’s Day. Catch the parade this Sunday from 1 PM to 3:30 ish as it winds through Annapolis (like those wily snakes St. Pat drove out of Ireland). Check out the route below to pick your viewpoint. And don’t miss Shamrock the Dock afterward at Susan Campbell Park! (More details below)

Shamrock the Dock ☘️ 🎸

Why did St. Patrick drive all the snakes out of Ireland? It was too far to walk 🤣. On a serious note, Shamrock the Dock is this weekend at City Dock and we are stoked. Fans of live music and general merriment should be too. The music starts at noon Saturday with The Drinker and The Scholar. Celtic-inspired Seven Nations and Carbon Leaf bring it home.

The fun fires back up before the parade even starts on Sunday. Dublin5 returns to the stage for the first time since last St. Patrick’s Day and Skerryvore headlines for the second year in a row. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this. Here’s the full lineup.

✅ Important note: Sunday isn’t free this year. Tickets are $30 and selling fast. Also important to note: If you catch a leprechaun, you can’t make more than three wishes no matter how hard they try to trick you into making a fourth. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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.

CIVIL NEWS

AACPS cans bus badges 🚌

Anne Arundel County Public Schools has been testing what’s known as a bus badge this year. Spoiler alert: It didn’t work out. Crofton cluster students were scanning badges as they embarked to collect ridership data. Data helps administrators make informed transportation decisions. In the end, the costs outweighed the benefits and it won’t be rolling out systemwide. We’re sure glad they ran the $50k Crofton test rather than a systemwide test that would have cost over $1 million. ($)

To pot or not to pot? That is the question

Annapolis City Council is temporarily extinguishing the permit process for non-medical cannabis businesses. Emphasis on temporarily. The 9-month moratorium should give the Council time to come up with a long-term plan for non-medical cannabis zoning. They say they’re being proactive, rather than waiting for a problem to arise like with short-term rentals. Recreational cannabis got the statewide green light (pun very much intended) last year, but the industry still feels a bit like the Wild West. ($)

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WEATHER

Thursday

71 🌡️ 58 | 🌤️ | 4% | 💨 SSW 9 mph (8 knots)

Friday

71 🌡️ 49 | 🌧️ | 47% | 💨 WSW 10 mph (9 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 47ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

Thursday

49 West | Open Mic | 7:30–10 PM
Brian Boru | Poehemia | 6:30–9:30 PM
Copper Creek Pub & Ale House | Open Mic Night | 7:30 PM
Dark Horse | The Severn River Band | 8:30 PM
Galway Bay | Richard Hayward | 7-11 PM
Killarney House | Timmie & Tambo | 7–10 PM
Market House | b.en | 7–9 PM
O’Loughlins | Jack Rimel | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Jason Bishop | 6–10 PM
The Point | Dan Haas | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Red Wanting Blue w/ Meaghan Farrell | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Chris Sacks | 4:30 PM
Reynolds Tavern | TBA | 7 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Open Mic Night | 7 PM
Vibe | Open Mic Night | 7–11 PM

Friday

49 West | AJ Eckert & The Lovecats | 7–9 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Grayson Moon | 9 PM
Brian Boru | The Drinker and The Scholar | 7–10 PM
The Choptank | Chad Grey | 8 PM
Galway Bay | Chris Baldwin | 7-11 PM
Jalapeños | Tom Lagana | 7:30–10:30 PM
Killarney House | Levi Stephens | 8–11 PM
Middleton Tavern | Honey Sol | 10 PM
Mother's Peninsula Grille | Ebb & Nova | 8–11 PM
Pirates Cove | Ray Weaver | 8–11 PM
Rams Head On Stage | The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band w/ Nat Myers | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Music Room | 9 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Jesse Lee | 5 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Reagan Kent | 10 PM
Reynolds Tavern | Mike Heuer | 7 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Red Betty & The Ruckus | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Deni Starr Band | 9:45 PM

NAVY SPORTS

Past results

Women's Tennis (15-5)
3/13 vs. Marist | W 4-0

Upcoming games & matches

Baseball (8-8)
3/15 @ Bucknell | 2 PM

Men's Lacrosse (3-3)
3/15 @ Johns Hopkins | 7 PM

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THANKS!

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