🍦Don’t go swimming at these beaches

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Annapolis. Wanna hear an end of Summer fun fact? Bananas are true botanical berries and strawberries are not. Technically speaking, strawberries are something known as an aggregate fruit. So are raspberries and blackberries. Doesn’t matter to us. Strawberries are still the most elite fruit. Especially with some homemade whipped cream.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

• What’s up with Mind Games at the Mall

• Our favorite local boat names

• Why Zachary’s is named Zachary’s

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins

SPONSORED BY MARYLAND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

Enjoy All the Seafood at the 57th Maryland Seafood Festival!

The Maryland Seafood Festival is back September 13–14 at Sandy Point State Park with the Crab Soup Cook-off, fresh-shucked oysters, live bands, and waterfront views that’ll make you wish summer never ended. General admission is only $15 until September 1st, and it's the perfect way to spend the weekend with family. Join the kids' Mermaid and Pirate parade, BMX bikers, or the seafood eating contests!

New this year, celebrate Maryland’s maritime legacy at Skipjack Heritage Day, featuring hands-on exhibits and historic boats on display on Saturday or watch them race on Sunday! The Champions of the Chesapeake returns with information on how to keep our Bay healthy and sustainable for decades to come. We also welcome the Restaurant Association of Maryland, Dept. of Agriculture, and top chefs to compete for a Golden Food Ticket to the World Food Championships!

From seafood lovers to festival families, there’s something for everyone. Get tickets now!

THE DIGEST

Number: 63,927

Tickets issued by speed cameras in Anne Arundel County school zones since June 2024. The fine is $40 for going 12 mph over which totals over $2.5 million in fines, but the police department said not all citations have been paid. The money is used for pedestrian and public safety programs. There are currently 35 cameras up and running with plans for 9 more. ($)

Health department issues warning for 8 beaches

Effective yesterday, Anne Arundel County’s Department of Health has issued a health advisory against swimming and other direct water contact at 8 beaches due to high bacteria levels.

• Bay Ridge at Bay Drive

• Bay Ridge at River Drive

• Beverly Triton Nature Park

• Linstead on the Severn

• Mayo Beach Park

• Sandy Point State Park (East Beach)

• Sandy Point State Park (Middle Beach)

• Sandy Point State Park (South Beach)

Much like the beatings will continue until morale improves, the advisory will continue until water quality improves. Check the status anytime.

St. John’s Fall lecture series announced

Ready to reap the benefits of a brilliant academic intellectual without actually having to re-do (and pay for) four years of college? St. Johns College recently announced their fall lecture series, a dozen lectures by leading voices in the fields of philosophy, history, mathematics, and more.

• August 22: President Susan Paalman presents “A Meditation on Multiplication.”

• August 29: The Elijah Jamal Balbed Quartet performs a jazz concert with Anthony Hervey on trumpet.

• September 5: American University president Tom Merrill delivers a lecture on economist Adam Smith.

• September 12: Nicholas Bellinson presents “The Womb of Time: Drama as Pregnancy in Shakespeare and Elsewhere.”

• September 19: St. John’s Santa Fe Dean Sarah Davis delivers “A Timely Untimely Education.”

• September 26: St. John’s Annapolis Dean Joe Macfarland delivers “Between the Book of Nature and the Phenomena: regarding the Origins of Galileo’s Natural Philosophy.”

Lectures are Friday nights at 7:30 PM in Francis Scott Key Auditorium, and are free and open to the public. Full schedule.

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LOCAL BUSINESS

Zachary’s Rings in 20th Anniversary in new building 💍

Zachary’s Jewelers in Annapolis is marking a sparkling 20 years at its current location, rebuilt after a fire destroyed the original Main Street store. Founded by Steve Samaras in 1992, the business reopened just a week after the Black Friday 2005 blaze, an event that shaped its mission of “bringing humanity to retail.” To celebrate the milestone, Zachary’s will host a fire-and-ice-themed party this weekend, award its first small-business grant, and donate to the Friends of Eastport Fire Company. ($)

💎 Fun Fact: Zachary’s isn’t named after any Zachary. Samaras chose the name to spite a UMD professor who preached using “A” business names to land at the front of the phone book. We’re gonna go Google, “What’s a phone book?”

Mind Games is messing with us

File this under “News that will expose all the adult Pokemon collectors:” Mind Games has, seemingly overnight, disappeared from its location next to the Michael Kors store in the Annapolis Mall. Fear not, creative friends. An Annapolis Mall spokesperson told us Mind Games is moving for a new tenant, not closing. And while they couldn’t tell us who’s moving in, they did say we should be excited.

Fun Pokemon fact: Pokemon is the most valuable IP in the world. It is the only IP to gross more than $100 billion and among the top 3, it is the youngest by far – only 29 years old compared to Mickey Mouse (97 years) and Winnie the Pooh (101 years).

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.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Weekend Preview

Going stir crazy after all that rain? We are, too. Good thing there’s plenty happening to get us outside and having fun.

P.S. Events with $ require tickets. Duffy didn’t want you to show up thinking they were free just in case they sold out. Get tickets ahead if you can!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22

ATC’s Final Summer Concert The Bachelor Boys close out a great season of fun nights on the green. Food and a beer garden, too. 5–8 PM at Annapolis Town Center.

SOFO Drive-In Movie Showing “In the Heart of the Sea,” featuring food by Grumps Cafe and live music by Streetlight Curfew. Bring a comfy chair. Bay Ridge Shopping Plaza, next to Dollar General.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23

Severna Park Farmer’s Market Meal planning has never been so enjoyable. 8 AM to Noon at the Park and Ride lot at Ritchie Highway and Jones Station Rd.

Anne Arundel Farmer’s Market Get your tomatoes and peaches while they’re hot. Saturday 7 AM to Noon; Sunday 9 AM to Noon at the Park and Ride lot on Harry S. Truman Parkway.

Renn Fest Opening Weekend We’re craving a mug o’ mead and some turkey leg, too. Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM to 7 PM in Revel Grove, Crownsville. $

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24

Annapolis Ten Miler (SOLD OUT) If you aren’t running, consider giving yourself an extra few minutes to get around town due to traffic closures. If you are running, have fun! 7–9:30 AM at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. $

Anchors & Artisans at the Annapolis Town Center More than 50 local artists will be on hand for a fun day of family-friendly activities, good food, and live music. Free. 11 AM–4 PM.

Puppy Plunge! A wet pup is a happy pup (unless it’s my pup). All proceeds help the SPCA. 11 AM to 2 PM at Camp Letts. $

Navy Women’s Soccer The Mids take on Wofford starting at 5 PM. $

What we’re looking forward to in September 🗓️

Remember saying, “Wow, I can’t believe school out for summer already?” We were different people then. Now we’re saying, “Wow, I can’t believe kids are back to school — and it’s almost September!” 😱 But hey, there’s plenty to be excited about with September right around the corner. Here’s what we’re looking forward to this upcoming month:

Crownsville | Anne Arundel County Fair | Sept. 10–14 | Carnival rides, contests, and all kinds of country fun take over the fairgrounds in Crownsville.

Downtown Annapolis | Annapolis Songwriter’s Festival | Sept. 11–14 | Local and national songwriters (like the Dirty Heads) perform at venues all throughout the downtown area. There’s even a concert on a Watermark boat.

Admiral Heights | Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival | Sept. 13 | Celebrate Black history and heritage at this upbeat family-friendly event.

Sandy Point State Park | Maryland Seafood Festival | Sept. 13–14 | Taste some of the best local seafood on Anne Arundel’s biggest beach. Also featuring several skipjacks, a crab soup cook-off, lots of bands, and several eating contests.

Eastport | Boatyard Beach Bash | Sept. 20 | World-class musicians headline at this waterfront gathering paying tribute to Jimmy Buffett. VIP tickets are already gone.

Sandy Point State Park | Baygrass Music Festival | Sept. 20–21 | This bluegrass-centered music festival headlined by Greensky Bluegrass also serves as a fundraiser for Chesapeake Bay conservation.

Ballet Theatre of Maryland warms up for new season 🩰

We’re officially one month away from the start to Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s 2025-2026 season. It begins with Ballet in the Garden at the Hammond-Hardwood House on Sept. 21. Following that is another special event at a historic property, this time A Nutcracker Storytime at the William Paca House on Oct. 12.

Then in October, the new season begins in earnest with the haunting romance Giselle running Oct. 17–19, the holiday favorite The Nutcracker (featuring all new choreography) Dec. 13–14 and Dec. 20–21, and the eclectic Momentum: A Mixed Bill Feb. 13–14. The season concludes with La Esmerelda, a ballet retelling of Hunchback of Notre Dame, April 24–25.

🎟️ Season subscriptions get you tickets to all main stage performances (first two events not included)

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.

EXTRA SPRINKLES

A Stylish Night for a Worthy Cause

Fall means one thing: Historic Annapolis’s Blazers . Bourbon . Cigars. Think smooth bourbon tastings, hand-rolled cigars, sharp blazers, and a chance to mix with the region’s top business leaders — but with a purpose. Every ticket for the must-attend networking event of the year supports Historic Annapolis and its mission to preserve the stories and historic charm that make Annapolis so unique. It’s indulgence you can feel good about. Reserve your spot.

*indicates sponsored advertising content.

WEATHER

Thursday

72 🌡️ 65 | ☁️ | 20% | NNE 15 mph (13 knots)

Friday

78 🌡️ 65 | ☀️ | 4% | 💨 NE 9 mph (8 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 79ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

🌳🎵 = Outdoor Concert

Thursday

49 West | Jazz Wire Jam Session | 7:30–10:00 PM
🌳🎵Annapolis Maritime Museum | Sweet Leda | 7–9 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Levi Stephens | 3–6 PM
Brian Boru | Michael K | 6–9 PM
Killarney House | Steve McCoy | 6–9 PM
Libbey's Coastal Kitchen | Justin Ryan | 5–8 PM
Market House | Troll Tribe Duo | 6:30–9:30 PM
Pirates Cove | Erik Hyland | 6–9 PM
The Point | Dan Haas | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Mike Phillips | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Open Mic | 6 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Ryan Moran | 7 PM

Friday

49 West | Justin Trawick & Mark Farmer | 8–10:30 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern | Rick’s Revolving Door | 8:30 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Bravenoise | 9–12 PM
Brian Boru | Seamus Kelleher | 7–10 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
The Choptank | Ryan Cobb | 8 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Dave Tieff | 5–8 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Sister Midnight | 9 PM
Galway Bay | Faith and The Faithful | 7–10 PM
Great Frogs | Guava Jelly | 5:30–8:30 PM
Killarney House | Meg & Angie | 7:30–10:30 PM
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen | Ben Heemstra | 5–8 PM
The Lodge | Jennifer Schimpf | 8–11 PM
Market House | Brett Buehler | 8–11 PM
Market Space | Hurricane Kevin | 6–9 PM
Middleton Tavern | Shatnersl | 10 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | Mallow Hill Duo | 8 PM
Pirates Cove | Pete Best | 7:30–10:30 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Timmie Metz and Tambo | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Dust on the Bottle | 8 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Desperately Seeking Awesome | 7 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | The Crayfish | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Riverside | Kevin Lee | 4–8 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Deni Star Band | 9:45 PM

NAVY SPORTS

Upcoming games

Women's Soccer (2-0)
8/21 vs. Wofford | 5 PM

Men's Soccer
8/21 vs. Mount St. Mary's | 8 PM

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THANKS!

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