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🍦FYI: Tax-free shopping 🛍️

🍦FYI: Tax-free shopping 🛍️

Oyster Feature 4: Choptank, Eleanor Tierney resigns, Tax-Free Week

Naptown Scoop
August 07, 2024

Good morning, Annapolis. This is Naptown Scoop, where we always own up to our mistakes. And we made a big one yesterday. See the first story in the Digest for an explanation.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Oyster Feature 4: The Choptank – Luxe with a View 🦪
Eleanor Tierney resigns from City Council seat 🏛️
Tax-Free Week 🛍️

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Chelsea Harrison, & Ryan Sneddon

P.S. There’s some serious rain in the forecast so be sure to double check for cancellations when making plans based on stuff in our newsletter. Because once it’s published we can’t change it. Sometimes things do change after publishing.

THE DIGEST

A correction about Annapolis Mall

Yesterday we shared an incorrect story reporting that Westfield had sold Annapolis Mall. Sorry friends. We should have fact-checked better. The mall will be sold, but hasn’t yet. Negotiations are still ongoing. We’ll be sure to only share the story again once it’s 100% confirmed. Thanks for always bearing with us through our mistakes 🐻.

Oyster Feature 4: The Choptank – Luxe with a View

If you’re an oyster fan and you haven’t visited The Choptank yet, make haste. The options here are endless. To celebrate Day 4 of Oyster Week, we went for Happy Hour on a stormy afternoon (thanks, Debby!) and were pleasantly surprised by the variety of oysters and the pleasing presentation.

With the sushi-like oyster menu, you can fill out what type of oyster you want and how many of each. This week, 8 varieties of oyster are on the menu, sourced from Tall Timbers, MD to South Puget Sound, WA. Prices ranged from $2/piece (HH price) to $4.50/piece. We tried the Atlas Salts from VA (small, salty perfection) and the Double T Ranch from MA (buttery and mild). We also tried the Crab & Chili Crusted Oysters which we found let the oyster be the star of the show with a mildly crabby, savory sauce.

How else can you oyster? The decadent Choptank Seafood Platter, Fried Oysters, Oysters Rockefeller, and at least 8 varieties of oysters on the Shucked Oysters menu.

Tax-Free Week 🛍️ 👢👖👗

It’s back-to-school time, and Maryland Tax-Free Week couldn’t come at a better time. From Sunday (8/11) through Saturday (8/17), shoppers won't pay the 6% sales tax on qualifying items. Clothing and shoes under $100, and the first $40 for backpacks will be tax-free. Sweaters, shirts, jeans, dresses, robes, underwear, belts, shoes, and boots are among what's included. Online items qualify too if you pay and have them delivered for immediate shipment during Tax-Free Week.

Pro shopping tip: Consignment stores are also included, offering a chance to get gently-used (or sometimes new) items at an even better price. See the FAQ for more insights. Happy shopping!

Eleanor Tierney resigns from City Council seat 🏛️

Eleanor “Elly” Tierney informed Mayor Buckley and the Annapolis City Clerk that she’ll step down from her Ward One City Council seat, as her family is moving to Cape Cod in September. She’s tackled tough issues on the City Council, including short-term rental licensing, parking, and floodplain management. We wish Elly a happy retirement!

Since the resignation occurred with fewer than 15 months until the City’s next General Election, the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee will name the replacement. Interested candidates should submit written notice by midnight on August 20. Candidates must be registered voters in the City for at least a year and have lived in Ward 1 for at least six months. For more info on applying read this press release.

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@NAPTOWNSCOOP

📸 @annapolissailingschool | 📍Annapolis Sailing School

Tag @NaptownScoop to get your photos in the Scoop!

A MESSAGE FROM ST. ANNE’S SCHOOL OF ANNAPOLIS

Growing Minds, Hearts, and Gardens!

At St. Anne’s School, we know growing the heart is just as important as growing the mind, which is why service learning is a cornerstone of our curriculum. Pictured above is a snapshot from last spring’s Day of Service, when St. Anne’s School partnered with Superior Future, an Alumni founded organization, for community improvement projects in the local Newtowne development. Students, faculty, and parents linked arms with members of the Newtowne community to not only form a meaningful connection, but to also make a big impact within the development by building a community garden. As Head of School Connie Coker noted, the Day of Service was "a good reminder that education is long-game and mostly takes place outside the classroom." Mrs. Coker also noted that here at St. Anne's School, we believe in "preparing students for, while also actively living, a life of community service and purpose."

Beyond the Day of Service, St. Anne’s School students participate in service initiatives year-round. Last year’s initiatives included local needs drives, delivering lunches, fundraising, writing notecards, preparing care packages, painting kindness rocks, and removing both trash and invasive species of plants from Quiet Waters Park...to name a few. While participating in these initiatives outside the classroom, inside the classroom students learn how to advocate for the issues they believe in, educate others on ways in which they can help, and take pride in seeing how their efforts make an impact in their communities.

To learn more about how St. Anne’s School grows both the heart and the mind, come visit us!

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Weekend Preview 😎

“Everybody’s working for the weekend . . . “ 🎶 Such a great song.

Saturday

🍳 Wildberry Field Market: Shop small at the farm for another fabulous morning. Peruse farm fresh eggs, produce, and dozens of local vendors from 9 AM to 1 PM. — 1047 St Stephens Church Rd, Crownsville, MD

📖 Park Books Storytime: Dive into a world of enchantment at this free storytime and hands-on craft for How to Catch a Fairy Godmother at 11 AM. — 555 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., Severna Park, MD

🎷 Quiet Waters Concert: Catch Moxie Blues and their wide range of blues and blues rock (with a touch of Southern rock) from 6–8 PM at 600 Quiet Waters Park Road.

Sunday

🧘‍♀️Yoga on Parley Patio: Join an all-level yoga flow on the Parley Room outdoor patio and soak in the historic downtown vibes of Annapolis State Circle. Enjoy complimentary mimosas and coffee afterwards. Book a $20 class with Adelyn from 10–11 AM.

✨ 🍽️ Dinner Under the Stars: Dine, drink, and dance under the twinkle lights as the first block of West Street shuts down. Make the evening even more magical by booking a reservation. Psst . . . Luna Blu Ristorante, Rams Head Tavern, and Picante take them.

🎒 Backpack on the Green: Team up with Walk the Walk Foundation and Sunday Kids Chesapeake for a Backpack Drive to benefit students in need. Occurs 4–6 PM on the green at Annapolis Town Center.

BONUS: For more end-of-summer fun, see our recent story, “Fulfill your Summer Bucket List in Annapolis.” ☀️🪣

Don’t forget: Pickle for Pilots 🏓

The registration deadline is coming up next week to join Pickle for Pilots. This doubles pickleball tourney raises money for the Gregory S. Winton, Esq. Scholarship, which supports students who pursue pilot school.

Register by August 14 and join the games on September 14, 10 AM–5 PM at Safe Harbor Annapolis. There will be pickleball (of course!) plus food, music, and other activities.

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

Election 2025 🗳

We know what you’re thinking: Let’s get through the 2024 presidential election before we start thinking about any local races. But the Annapolis City Municipal Election Office is now open, so anyone interested in running is now able to file candidacy. Offices up for election: Annapolis mayor + all 8 City Council seats.

Candidates have until July 28, 2025 to file. The primary election is September 16, 2025, and the general election will be November 4, 2025. (Again, note that this is 2025, so you’ve got some time.)

🔎 Double-check this: Make sure you’re registered to vote. You can also file for candidacy at the Municipal Election Office at 160 Duke of Gloucester, Annapolis, MD

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EXTRA SPRINKLES

Bleak to Brilliant

Bathrooms can be hidden gems behind closed doors in your home or they can be a jumpscare waiting on the other side of the wall. They may have showstopping tiles or cabinets that look like they’re from the 19th century. You never know exactly what you might see before you open the door. Start planning your next bathroom remodel with Blue Star Paint & Property and take your bathroom from bleak to brilliant! Contact them to set up an estimate.*

*indicates sponsored advertising content.