- Naptown Scoop
- Posts
- š¦Annapolis Toy Show
š¦Annapolis Toy Show
National Night Out 2025, Annapolis Opera 53rd Season, AACPLās Budget Boost...
Good morning, Annapolis. School starts next month and next month starts tomorrow. As Elon Musk said (while carrying a sink into Twitter HQ after he bought it), let that sink in.
In todayās Naptown Scoop:
National Night Out 2025 šļøš®š§āš
Annapolis Opera 53rd Season š¶š
AACPLās Budget Boost
Letās get to it.
ā Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins

THE DIGEST
Setting the Record Straight
We published a story on Tuesday with what we thought was the list of all people running for City Council or Mayor this year. Turns out we were wrong for the second time this week. Ouch.
While this is a nearly complete listā¦
šµ = Democrats š“ = Republicans
Mayor Candidates: Rhonda Pindell Charles, Jared Littmann, and Robert OāShea
Ward 1: Ben Bramsen, Ron Gunzburger, and Harry Huntley
Ward 2: Karma OāNeill and Ken Vincent
Ward 3: Deborah J. Odum and KeanuĆŗ Smith-Brown
Ward 4: Janice Elain Allsup Johnson and Coren Eve Makell
Ward 5: Brooks Schandelmeier
Ward 6: N/A
Ward 7: Robert Savidge
Ward 8: Frank Thorp
*Michael Dye (Ward 3) and William Richard Cunha (Ward 8) who are both unaffiliated will advance directly to the November General Election Day ballot.
We missed a few names because the City of Annapolis press release only included certified candidates. There are several more names who will be released by Annapolis after the next Board of Supervisors of Elections meeting on August 12.
Ward 1: Katie McDermott (Democrat) & Tom Krieck (independent)
Ward 5: Jack Papaleonti (Republican)
Ward 6: Craig Cussimanio (Democrat) and George Gallagher (Republican)
P.S. If thereās no website for a candidate, itās because we werenāt sent one or couldnāt find one.
Will we see taller buildings downtown?
How tall is too tall? If youāre a building in downtown Annapolis, you have to make sure youāre under 38 feet (unless youāre one of a few buildings built before the height limits were imposed). But that could be changing, at least along Dock Street near the water. An ordinance that would let buildings on Dock Street go 10 feet higher, as long as they met other specific guidelines, such as a green roof designed for stormwater management and energy efficiency is making its way through the City Council.
This would make it possible for Harvey Blonder and FILLAT+ Architecture to build a three-story hotel with a rooftop terrace where Latitude 38 currently stands. Harvey Blonder, owner of Latitude 38, has tried several times to propose the project, but itās always been a no-go with building height restrictions. Opponents to the ordinance donāt want to see spotty variations in zoning, especially in a historic district. ($)
Stories with ($) require a third-party subscription.

LOCAL BUSINESS
The Restaurants Yāall Could Eat at Again and Again
Yesterday, we asked an impossible question: if you could only eat at one Annapolis restaurant for the rest of your life, where would it be? My answer is easy (but a little pricey): Osteria 177 because the food is always amazing, the service is impeccable, and the vibe is so deliciously old school. Here are some of yours.
Julep. Reminds me of Momās meals
This is a sneaky one, but Davisā Pub has majorly stepped up their menu recently and offers such a variety of specials throughout the week
Vin 909, hands down
Boatyard. I mean the chicken tenders⦠period. Also itās iconic, food is great, beers are cold and⦠oysters
Eastport Kitchen for lunch. Sweetheart Patisserie for dessert. Dinner has no clear winner.
And a bonus (outside of Annapolis). If you like Osteria youāll like this, too.
I would head to Arturoās in Glen Burnie. Itās the best
Lasang Pinoy is now closed
One of the cool things about a trip to Annapolis Mall has always been the variety of food options, including classic Filipino fare at the family-owned Lasang Pinoy. But now, after two years in business, the restaurant is now closed. They served their last tables in mid-July and extend their āsincere thanks to every guestā who dined with them. Thereās no word yet on what will move into that space at the mall.
Black Market Bakers Opens in Churchton š

A lot of businesses celebrate their fifth anniversary with a customer-appreciation event or something like that. But not Black Market Bakers. They decided to celebrate by announcing a new shop. Black Market Bakers of Churchton opens tomorrow at 8 AM (5451 Deale Churchton Road, Churchton), marking the third location in addition to the Port Annapolis and Edgewater bakeries. Not bad for what started as a COVID hobby.
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.

WHATāS HAPPENINā
Weekend Preview š
šØ Hobby Fair Saturday 2ā4 PM. Find a new hobby or connect with a fellow hobbyist at the Busch Annapolis Library.
š¦ 80th Annual Rotary Club of Annapolis Crab Feast Friday 5ā8 PM. VIP tickets are sold out, but reserved seating is still available online through midnight tonight.
š¾ Summer Field Market at Wildberry Saturday 9 AM. Join Wildberry and other local vendors for a Saturday market down on the farm.
šļø First Sunday Arts Festival Sunday 11 AMā5 PM. Walk through West Annapolis and check out over 100 vendors while enjoying live entertainment.
ā¾ļø Navy Night and Faith Day at the Baysox Friday 7:05 PM, Sunday 1:05 PM. Two special events at Baysox stadium in one weekend.
š Navy Football Fan Fest Saturday 10 AM. Meet Navy players for autographs and photos ahead of the fall football season.
š Annapolis Toy Show Saturday 9 AMā2 PM. Collectables and other novelties take over the Doubletree Hotel at this toy-centric convention.
Next week: National Night Out 2025 šļøš®š§āš
Want to meet some heroes? For over 30 years, National Night Out has taken place the first Tuesday in August across America. The goal? To promote positive police-community partnerships and enhance neighborhood safety and unity. All events are free and open to the public.
Annapolis will celebrate on August 5, with events at five locations: Annapolis Gardens (5ā8 PM), Bay Ridge Gardens (5ā8 PM), Woodside Gardens (5:30ā8 PM), the Busch Library (6ā8 PM), and First Baptist Church (4ā6 PM). Police, Fire, and Emergency Management teams will host block parties, safety demos, kidsā activities, and more.
Annapolis Opera Unveils an Extraordinary 53rd Season š¶š
Annapolis Opera will soon raise the curtain on a show-stopping 53rd season. Mark those calendars now for events that hit a high note.
September 11: Black and White Gala ā cocktail hour, dinner, and live performances
October 5, November 16, and May 3: Opera Up-Close, **a new recital series offering a behind-the-scenes look
October 31 and November 2: Mozartās Don Giovanni returns to Annapolis after 23 years with a thrilling mix of passion, betrayal, and revenge
February 22: New Work Reading shows the process of making a new opera
March 13 and 15: Hansel and Gretel celebrates resilience, the power of family, and the triumph of innocence over evil
March 14: Family-friendly Hansel and Gretel
April 19: 38th Annual Vocal Competition Finals
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
AACPLās Budget Boost
Anne Arundel County Public Library is seeing a funding increase for next year ā specifically, the library system has $2.4 million more in its 2026 budget for a total of $38.3 million. Whereās that money going? AACPL has specific plans, including:
š 3% cost-of-living raises and 3% merit-based raises
š Security upgrades, including firewalls and cybersecurity training
š Higher rent costs for Discoveries: the Library at the Mall, one of the most popular branches
š 3 Maryland Corps Service Program positions, giving high school grads or GED recipients a temporary job while they plan for their career
But maybe the biggest investment out of all of it? AACPL is getting a Millersville branch, which will share a building with a YMCA. This is set to cost $12.5 million, which will come out of the Anne Arundel County budget, separate from the libraryās budget. ($)
Stories with ($) require a third-party subscription.

NAPTOWN SCOOP WEATHER IS POWERED BY. . .
Thursday
88 š”ļø 70 | š¦ļø | 72% | SSE 11 mph (10 knots)
Friday
74 š”ļø 67 | š¦ļø | 39% | šØ NNE 13 mph (11 knots)

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN
Thursday
49 West | The Morel Trio | 7:30ā10:30 PM
š³šµAMM | Tides & Tunes | Timmie Metz Band ft. Tambo | 7ā9 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Madisun Bailey | 3ā6 PM
Brian Boru | Cobly Sard | 6ā9 PM
Killarney House | Brandon & Thordis | 6ā9 PM
Libbeyās Coastal Kitchen | Justin Ryan | 5ā8 PM
Market House | Tribe Duo | 7ā10 PM
Pirates Cove | Jason Bishop | 6ā9 PM
The Point | Aidan Ewald | 5ā8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Patrick Alban | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Victoria & Steve | 4:30 PM
Friday
49 West | Tom Mitchell & Friends | 8ā10:30 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern | Mac Heat | 8:30 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4ā7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Michael McHenry Tribe | 9ā12 PM
Brian Boru | Doug Segree | 7ā10 PM
Coconut Joeās | Michael Ferro | 5ā8 PM
Coconut Joeās | Miggs | 9 PM
Galway Bay | Sean Suttell | 7ā10 PM
Great Frogs | Michael Kocher | 5:30ā8:30 PM
Killarney House | Alex Peters | 7:30ā10:30 PM
Libbeyās Coastal Kitchen | Mike Miller | 5ā8 PM
Market House | Songbird Collective | 8ā11 PM
The Lodge | Stephen Henson | 8ā11 PM
Middleton Tavern | Noel & Jeff | 6-9 PM
Motherās Peninsula Grille | West Street Revival | 8 PM
Old Stein Inn | Eddie Pasa | 7ā10 PM
Pirates Cove | Kurt Gibbons | 7ā10 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Lez Zeppelin | 8 PM | Tickets
Romiloās Restaurant and Bar | Crush | 7 PM
š³šµ outdoor concert

THANKS!
Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone whose idea of a quick errand involves docking.