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🍦For sale: 100-foot sailboat once owned by...
Farmers’ Markets This Weekend, Bay Bridge Paddle 2025, Chick & Ruth’s 60th...
Naptown Scoop
August 14, 2025
TOGETHER WITH
Good morning, Annapolis. I would just like to say that we were using (and loving) the em dash long before ChatGPT ruined it for everyone. And you know what? We stand by it – we’re still proud (100% human) em dash users.
In today’s Naptown Scoop:
Farmers’ Markets This Weekend
Bay Bridge Paddle 2025
Chick & Ruth’s 60th
Let’s get to it.
— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, & Duffy Perkins
SPONSORED BY ANNAPOLIS MALL
School’s In Session at Annapolis Mall
Forget the summer slide — Annapolis Mall is packing mid-August with events you actually want to put on your calendar.
🚓 Cram the Cruiser – Help local kids start the year strong by donating new school supplies to fill an Anne Arundel County Police cruiser. Good vibes + good deeds = A+ start to the year.
🛍 MD Tax-Free Week – Upgrade those first-day outfits and score 6% savings on qualifying clothing and footwear, no coupon needed.
🍰 Hello Kitty Café Truck – Swing by for Instagrammable treats and merch from everyone’s favorite bow-wearing cat.
⚓ Annapolis Maritime Museum Activation – Learn about Annapolis’ maritime heritage with family-friendly activities that make history way cooler than textbooks.
Whether you’re shopping, snacking, or giving back, Annapolis Mall is your one-stop shop for a smarter, sweeter back-to-school season.
THE DIGEST
Will the Annapolis Blues ever go pro? ⚽
The US Soccer Pyramid is complicated but we’ll break it down simply.
Our Annapolis Blues play in USL League 2. It is a semi-professional league comprised mostly of NCAA college players.
One level up is Division 3: USL League 1 and MLS Next Pro. This is the first professional level.
One more level up is Division 2: USL Championship.
At the very top is the Division 1 Major League Soccer (MLS). This is where Lionel Messi currently plays.
The Blues didn’t expect to be so successful but the team has taken Annapolis by storm. They averaged 8,700+ fans per game this season and generated over $1 million in revenue. For perspective, if the Blues moved to USL Championship tomorrow, they’d rank #5 (of 24) for attendance.
Going pro is no joke, however. The seasons are longer, so Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium would be out. Division 3 stadiums must seat 1,000; Division 2 stadiums must seat 5,000; and Division 1 stadiums must seat 15,000. They’d also need a year-round training center.
Blues GM Fred Matthes said, “This isn’t going to happen tomorrow, but down the road, if the opportunities present themselves and we have the right finances in place, absolutely it would be a step we would take.”
🥡 The Takeaway: The Blues have built a fanbase and revenue stream that rivals some pro teams, but without a dedicated stadium and training facility, Lionel Messi might be retired before pro soccer has a home in Annapolis.
City to break ground on Robert Eades Park
A waterside park in the Clay Street Community is getting a revitalization (and a new name), with construction officially beginning next week. The ceremonial groundbreaking is set for Thursday, August 21 at 1:30 PM. Real construction starts next month and should be done by April. Upgrades include a path to College Creek, seating, bike racks, landscaping, and of course, a plaque honoring Robert Eades.
🔎 Who’s Robert Eades? Robert Eades was a longtime Annapolis resident who passed away in 2020 and is remembered as an advocate for those facing housing insecurity.
💸 Who’s paying for all of this? The total project cost is $517,665 and is being covered by several state grants as well as the City of Annapolis’ Capital Improvement Program.
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LOCAL BUSINESS
Who wants a hundred-foot sailboat? ⛵
Sorcerer II, a 95-foot sailing yacht that’s often found in Annapolis (usually on Back Creek), is up for sale. Even though she was built in 1998, you’d never guess from the pictures. She was designed as a performance cruiser by German Frers and built by TP Cookson in New Zealand. And although 95 feet sounds like a lot, the yacht’s listing says it can be “easily managed by only 2 crew.” They definitely wouldn’t say that if I were one half of that crew.
She has three staterooms, three heads, and a 6,000-mile range under power. She was once owned by genome scientist J. Craig Venter who sailed her all over the world and even on the Discovery Channel.
So how much for this very pretty boat? Only $825,000. If one of you buys it because of this story we expect an invite to one of the first sunset cruises.
Chick & Ruth’s is turning 60
It’s hard to believe it’s been 60 years since Chick and Ruth Levitt opened the doors of their “delly” on Main Street. Known for their homemade soups, sneaky good crabcakes, unbelievable pastrami sandwiches, and of course, milkshakes, Chick & Ruth’s has welcomed politicians, celebrities, tourists, and local-yokels with the same warmth and charm for 6 decades now.
📅 Stop by on Friday, August 15 from 4–6 PM to celebrate what Love Food once called Maryland’s most fascinating restaurant. 165 Main Street.
1973 newspaper ad for Chick & Ruth’s Delly
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
Adopting a Puppy? Start with the Right Vet.
Bringing home a new dog is exciting — but it’s also a little overwhelming. Feeding plans, vaccine schedules, parasite prevention. . . and that’s just week one.
Western Shore Veterinary Hospital helps new pet parents feel confident from day one. Their experienced team guides you through the basics, answers your questions (even the weird ones), and makes sure your pup gets the care they need to grow up happy and healthy.
Whether you adopted yesterday or you're picking up your pup this weekend, Western Shore is the partner you want by your side. Because healthy dogs start with smart choices.
WHAT’S HAPPENIN’
Weekend Preview
From book bargains to candlelit concerts, this weekend in Annapolis has a little bit of everything. Here’s what’s happening around town.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15
Annapolis – B.I.G. Book Sale @ 9 AM – Stock up on books for just $1–$3.
Eastport – Food Truck Friday @ 4:30 PM – Dinner’s on wheels with local food trucks.
Downtown Annapolis – Dinner Under the Stars @ 6 PM – Outdoor dining with live entertainment.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
Annapolis – B.I.G. Book Sale @ 9 AM – Fill your shelves without emptying your wallet.
Truxton Skate Park – All Girl Skateboard Clinic @ 10 AM – Girls learn to skate in a fun, supportive space.
Eastport Yacht Club – Crab Cup @ 11 AM – Watch sailboats race then party with Misspent Youth for a cause.
Downtown Annapolis – Dinner Under the Stars @ 6 PM – Al fresco dining, European-style.
Maryland Hall – Candlelight: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles @ 6:30 PM – Rock legends meet soft glow.
Crownsville – Wildberry Farm + Market @ 9 AM – Local produce, flowers, and artisan goods.
Truman Pkwy – Anne Arundel County Farmers Market @ 7 AM – Fresh produce, baked goods, and more.
Crofton – Crofton Farmers Market @ 8 AM – Family-friendly market with food trucks.
P.S. What happened to the Farragut Farmers market at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium? They’re taking a break in 2025 and plan to return in 2026.
A month away: Bay Bridge Paddle 2025 🛶
In ☝️ month, it’s oars up for the 9th annual Bay Bridge Paddle. Expect divisions for all sorts of paddlesports (think kayaks, SUPs, surfskis, prone, and outrigger canoe), and three courses for all skill levels: The Span (9M), The Steamer (3M), and The Soft Shell (1M). Don't see your craft type? Reach out — they might just add it.
After the race, relax at the Maryland Seafood Festival with live music, great food, raffles benefitting the Foundation for Community Betterment, and an awards ceremony. The top finishers in the Span course will win over $2K in cash prizes, which is totally worth any blisters from paddling 9 miles. Register now.
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
Thursday
86 🌡️ 76 | ⛅ | 24% | NNE 6 mph (5 knots)
Friday
85 🌡️ 74 | 🌤️ | 17% | 💨 ENE 8 mph (7 knots)
💧🌡️ Water temperature = 83ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication
LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN
🌳 🎵= Outdoor Concert
Thursday
49 West | The Annapolis Round Up | 7:30–10:00 PM
🌳🎵AMM | Tides & Tunes | A Classic Case | 7–9 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Andrew Bell | 3–6 PM
Brian Boru | Ray Wroten | 6–9 PM
Dark Horse | Sidewalk Soul | 9 PM
Killarney House | Suzy & Shaun | 6–9 PM
La Sierra Mexican Restaurant | The Christopher Dean Band | 5:30–8:30 PM
Libbey's Coastal Kitchen | The Bird Daddy Project (Bird Daddies) | 5–8 PM
Market House | Thursday Angie | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
The Point | Bryan Ewald | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Sara Evans | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Aaron Hawkins | 4:30 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Federcio Jazz Ensemble | 5 PM
Friday
49 West | Noah Teague Booz | 7:30–10:30 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern | Moran Tripp Band | 8:30 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Brian Boru | Colby Sard | 7–10 PM
The Choptank | Jon Watkins | 8 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Mook Jones | 5–8 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Crash The Limo | 9 PM
Galway Bay | Lee Allen | 7–10 PM
Great Frogs | Alexander Peters | 5:30–8:30 PM
Killarney House | Peter James | 7:30–10:30 PM
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen | Jonathan Viers | 5–8 PM
The Lodge | Aaron Hawkins | 8–11 PM
Market House | Alex g Lee and Brandon Freelump | 8–11 PM
Market Space | Adam Forbes | 6–9 PM
Middleton Tavern | Sidewalk Soul | 10 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | Alex Cooper | 7 PM
Pirates Cove | Dave Tieff | 7–10 PM
Rams Head On Stage | The Doo Wop Project | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Boroy | 8 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Kristi Allen | 5 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Wild Grey Hairz | 7 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Fred & Wilma | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Riverside | Ryan B | 4–8 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Desert Shade | 9:45 PM
Upcoming games
Women's Soccer
8/14 @ Robert Morris | 4 PM
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THANKS!
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