🍦Blue Angels by boat: comprehensive guide

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Annapolis. Need a gift for Mother’s Day? Bamboo pajamas, Spanx AirEssentials, Nodpod sleep masks, and Ugg Tasman slippers are all the rage right now.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

• Children's Business Fair

• Our favorite Commissioning Week events

• When do the public pools open?

Let’s get to it.

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

SPONSORED BY YOGA FACTORY

Thank you, Arnold! Yoga Factory is now 3 studios strong!

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the grand opening of Yoga Factory Arnold! From the ribbon cutting to the champagne toast, your energy and support made the day truly special.

With Arnold now open, Yoga Factory is proud to offer three full-service studios — Annapolis, Crofton, and Arnold — each one with a wide variety of classes for every level and practice, from hot 26+2 and Vinyasa to Sculpt, HIIT, Yin, and more.

The new Arnold studio features two beautiful yoga rooms and a Kids Club, making it easy for busy families to find time for self-care. With over 100 classes a week across all studios, there's always a class to fit your life.

We’re so excited to grow with this amazing community — and we’ll see you on the mat!

Sincerely, the Yoga Factory Team :)

THE DIGEST

When is the last day of school? ✏️

“School’s out for summer!” Almost. Most AACPS students in PreK-11th grade can pencil in Friday, June 13 as their last day. Exceptions:

• Seniors finish May 23.

• Centers of Applied Technology’s last afternoon class is June 11 (morning sessions end 6/13).

• The last bell for ECI students rings June 11.

Although rare at this point in the year, inclement weather closings can shift dates. For parents counting down to the start of the 2025–2026 school year, it starts August 25. 🍎

Get ready for Pool Szn 🏊‍♂️

As Memorial Day approaches, one thing is for certain: pools around Annapolis are getting ready for their seasonal debuts. Most neighborhood pools will be opening over the holiday weekend, but if you need to get your laps in or entertain the kids without annual dues, the Truxtun Park pool is the place to be starting May 24. And you’re never too old to enjoy a water slide. Most pools have different opening hours until schools let out, so check hours online before you get all sunscreened up. 😎

Regatta Report: Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta

The Chesapeake was a little busier than usual last weekend, as 240 sailboats competed in 18 classes during the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series (formerly the NOODs). Racers tackled current, crowded start lines, and unreliable winds to get to the top of the leaderboard, but shakeups throughout the three days kept the final outcomes in question until the very last race. While every class had their standout, it was Andy Graff’s J/88 Exile who took home the regatta’s top honors. Exile started the final day with the wrong sails and a tightly-tuned rig, but despite this (and with some added drama among the rest of the J/88 fleet), the team finished well enough to earn overall honors and a space in the series’ championships in the British Virgin Islands this October. For full results, click here.

Scoop writer Duffy’s husband was racing in the J/80 fleet onboard J.R. Maxwell’s Scamp. Trevor missed two soccer games, three tween meltdowns, 17 meals of “snacky snacks,” and an innumerable ground bee infestation to help push Scamp to a respectable second place overall. Duffy has asked us to point out that the second place trophy is not the same as spending her birthday in the BVIs.

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LOCAL BUSINESS

Children’s Business Fair

Minnow Minds. The Guppy Pitch. We’re workshopping nicknames for Shark Tank for kids — aka the Children’s Business Fair on May 17. 🦈 Kids ages 5 to 16 develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and open for customers at a one-day marketplace hosted by the Maryland Curiosity Lab. It’s a fast-track intro to business and entrepreneurship at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church parking lot (461 College Pkwy, Arnold) from 1–4 PM. There’s no fee to apply. Accepted businesses pay $25 per booth. Award categories include most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation. Winners earn $50 and a certificate.

🔗 Wave Makers (sorry, we can’t stop the Shark Tank puns) should apply here.

PSA for helicopter parents: You aren’t allow to sell for your kid. If you do, your kid will be disqualified and you’ll have to tell them it was your fault.

Need some free ideas? Here’s what I’d do if I were a kid again.

🧘‍♀️ Mini Zen Gardens = Little Rake Co.
⛺ Build-your-own fort kits = Fort Factory
🐜 Bug hotels = Bug BnB
🦖 Dinosaur-shaped candles = Jurassic Wax
🐶 Homemade doggy treats = The Droolery

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 X-GOLF ANNAPOLIS

🎉 Happy Hour Just Got a Whole Lot Happier at X-Golf Annapolis! ⛳🍻

We’re thrilled to announce that — and it’s a game changer.

Join us Sundays through Thursdays from 4 PM to 6 PM and enjoy 50% OFF EVERYTHING.

That’s right — golf, food, drinks — half off across the board when you order during Happy Hour!

Whether you’re getting a few swings in after work, catching up with friends, or just looking for a great deal, this is the perfect time to play, eat, and drink for less.

📅 When: Sunday–Thursday
🕓 Time: 4 PM – 6 PM
💥 Deal: 50% OFF everything during Happy Hour

Book your bay now at XGolfAnnapolis.com or swing by 167 Y Jennifer Rd.

X-Golf Annapolis Happy Hour is officially in full swing.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Theater Talk Tuesday 🎭

Let’s skip the overture for this show — we have a lot to cover for today’s theater roundup:

⚔️ A Knight’s Tale — a comedic retelling of Chaucer at St. John’s College, Wednesday at 2:30 PM and 7 PM.

🎺 Navy Band Concert — the USNA Concert Band performs a varied lineup of music, Saturday at 7 PM.

🎹 Behind the Keyboard: Jane Austen’s Musical World — an immersive concert experience celebrating the author’s 250th birthday, Saturday at 6 PM.

🎭 sARTurdays at CTA — catch a show specifically designed to introduce young audiences to the performing arts, Saturday 10 AM.

🦋 Colonial Players announces next season — the Annapolis-based theater’s 77th season is themed “Time & Transformation,” and opens in September.

Watching the Blue Angels by boat? Pay attention ✈️ ⛵️🚤

Anyone who knows me knows Blue Angels is my Christmas. The #1 place to watch? By boat, of course. As always, the water will be packed. This isn’t for the faint of heart. Pay attention to markers and listen to officials. And, not to sound like my dad but . . . no drinking for the captain. We’re sharing the scoop for smooth sailing. All times are estimated.

Practice Day: May 20
10:30 AM: Severn River restricted zone closes to all unauthorized traffic
2 PM: Practice air show begins
4 PM: Severn River reopens

Show Day: May 21
1:30 PM: Severn River restricted zone closes to all unauthorized traffic
2:00 PM: Air show begins
4 PM: Severn River reopens

A temporary channel will be marked with red and green buoys — keep it clear of anchored boats throughout the shows. The handy dandy map below shows restricted zones on both days. The best anchor spots? Greenbury Point by Carr Creek, or the other side of the flight box near the Rt. 50 Bridge. Here’s all the info. When in doubt, just listen to the Coast Guard, DNR, and other authorities patrolling the waters.

USNA Commissioning Week ⚓️

It’s hard to believe we’re a little more than a week away from the Naval Academy’s Commissioning Week festivities. It’s practically a holiday season in Annapolis, with an annual lineup of events to commemorate the end of the academic year for these midshipmen — and graduation for those in their fourth and final year. Here’s the schedule for the major dates you should know:

🧈 Herndon Climb, Herndon Monument. This tradition marking the end of plebe year, in which first-years form a human pyramid to reach the top of the greased monument, is Wednesday, May 14, starting at 8 AM. (We’ll see how long it takes them this year.)

✈️ Blue Angels practice day, Severn River. Watch the Blue Angels practice for their official airshow (the practice is usually just as good as the real thing!) on Tuesday, May 20 from 2–4 PM. Expect the Rt. 450 Bridge to close 10:45 AM – 1 PM and 1:45–4 PM.

✈️ Blue Angels Flight Demonstration, Severn River. The highlight of Commissioning Week, the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration takes to the skies Wednesday, May 21, 2–4 PM. Expect the Rt. 450 Bridge to close at 1:45 PM.

🇺🇸 Color Parade, Worden Field. The last formal dress parade of the year for the Brigade of Midshipmen is Thursday, May 22, at 11 AM on Worden Field (inside Halsey Field House if it’s raining).

✈️ Blue Angels graduation flyover, Navy Stadium. You get one more chance to see the Blue Angels this week when they fly over Navy Stadium for the graduation ceremony on Friday, May 23, at 10:04 AM. (Please note the graduation ceremony is closed to the public.)

For more Commissioning Week dates and details, here’s the full schedule.

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

Tuesday

73 🌡️ 59 | 🌦️ | 24% | 💨 S 11 mph (10 knots)

Wednesday

74 🌡️ 60 | ⛅ | 25% | WNW 7 mph (6 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 66ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

Tuesday

49 West | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 7–9:30 PM
The Point | Kavoossi | 5–8 PM
Rams Head Roadhouse | Hall Williams | 7 PM

Wednesday

49 West | Dave Chappell & Friends | 5–7 PM
Brian Boru | Nikki Stacy | 6–9 PM
Galway Bay | Irish Trad Music Session | 8 PM
Killarney House | Kevin Lee | 6–9 PM
Middleton Tavern | Nate Finn | 6-9 PM
Pirates Cove | Loose Change | 6–9 PM
The Point | Aaron Hawkins | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | John Moreland w/ Ramsey Thornton | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Troll Tribe | 4:30 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Russ | 9 PM

THANKS!

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