🍦It's Ship Selection Night

Good morning, Annapolis. 54 years ago today, Alan Shepard became the first person to hit a golf ball on the moon. And even in zero gravity, he only hit it 40 yards. Sounds like a few golfers I know.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

• Sweetheart Dance

• Real time police surveillance

• Bitty and Beau’s turns five ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

Let’s get to it.

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

THE DIGEST

240 Midshipmen to pick first career ship

It’s Ship Selection Night. Nearly 250 future Surface Warfare Officers will pick their first career ship and homeport tonight. Basically there’s a giant whiteboard and Mids pick placards one by one until they’re gone. You can only pick from what’s left and within that, there are specialties (like nuclear) that narrow choices even further. Selection order is determined by their Overall Order of Merit, cumulative class rank, and physical standings.

Ship Selection is not open to the public (just families of Midshipmen) but it will be streamed here starting at 6 PM. We’re also excited to have a video team on site for the first time. You’ll see that video tomorrow.

ANSWER: Should the new City Dock Park be named after Vincent Leggett?

327 of y’all answered our poll yesterday regarding whether or not Annapolis should name the new City Dock park after Vincent Leggett, founder of Blacks of the Chesapeake. Yes was the majority winner with 51% of the vote.

1. 👍️ Yes. He deserves the honor - 51%

2. 👎️ No. Name it after someone else - 22%

3. 🤷 Not sure. Need to learn more - 27%

That said, thanks to many of you for pointing out we left out two major options. So while this is unorthodox, we’re running the survey again with new options. We love hearing what y’all think. And thanks so much to everyone who leaves extra comments. We read every single one.

Anne Arundel County launches new real-time surveillance center 👮‍♀️

AA County is following in Montgomery, Baltimore, Baltimore City, and Prince George’s footsteps. All counties have a similar Real-Time Information Center (RTIC) to the one the Anne Arundel County Police unveiled last week in Millersville.

It uses security cameras, license plate readers, officer body cams, and data analytics to provide officers in the field with instant intelligence. Basically it’s like the control center in movies where the boss helps his spies catch the super criminals. The $1.5 million program, funded through the county’s fiscal 2024 Capital Improvement Plan, can help locate missing or endangered persons, prevent misidentification, and potentially exonerate people with video evidence. During the testing phase, RTIC helped solve or de-escalate about 200 incidents.

The department also introduced Community Connect which allows residents and businesses to register security cameras for real-time access. Businesses can also permit police to view their footage in real time. ($)

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LOCAL BUSINESS

Foodie Friday: Super Bowl Catering 🏈🍗🧀

The countdown is really on now. Whether you’re potlucking or catering, these places will get ideas flowing or more like mouths drooling . . . 🤤

LEO Annapolis is our MVP Saquon Barkley. The Leo Super Bowl Party Pack feeds 5–7 hungry partygoers and includes:

• French Onion Dip (16oz) with house-made chili crunch

• Truffled Buffalo Chicken Dip (16oz)

• Bowtie Bison Chili (64oz) with cornbread

  • Bowtie Bison is a locally-owned bison farm in Davidsonville. Hi Mary and Chris!

• 12 Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls

• 2 lbs of Pulled Pork + 12 slider buns with slaw

Place an order for pickup on game day (February 9) at 212 West Street in Annapolis, between 3–4 PM. (Leo still has availability, but don’t wait too long!)

Second string catering options? Buffalo Wild Wings is a no-brainer for the unofficial food of the Super Bowl, wings. Main & Market and Giolitti Delicatessen are always winners in our book. Sandwich fans can go to RegionAle (who’s offering 10% off your first catering order) or Full On. And for BBQ lovers, Red Hot & Blue or Mission BBQ.

⚠️ Heads up: Some places may not be able to accommodate large orders on short notice, so check availability ASAP!

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee turns 5 ☕️

Stop by Bitty & Beau’s Coffee on Saturday morning 9–11 AM to celebrate their 5th year in business. This community-minded coffee shop started brewing coffee back in 2020 with an aim to be inclusive — to that end, they provide meaningful employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. When you stop by to celebrate this weekend, you’ll not only get a chance to sample some coffee or hot chocolate but also join a dance party and maybe win a gift card!  124 Dock Street, Annapolis 12401

Fun fact: When Bitty and Beau’s opened in Annapolis in 2020, there were only 4 other locations. Now there are 20 in 13 states! They call it a human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop.

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

Don’t Get Flagged for Illegal Use of Your Couch. Watch the Big Game at X-Golf Annapolis!

The final major of the football season is upon us. Grab your clubs, do a reverse hurdle into your car, and tush push right into our comfy seats. Don’t worry there’s no way you’ll use more mulligans than the refs will give Mahomes.

• $18 Nutrl buckets!

• $10 Hot Dog and tots!

• $5 for 2 fireball shots!

So don’t shank your plans! Book your bay now and spend the Big Game Sunday where you can watch the action and work on your swing at the same time. Nothing says football like a super-sized bowl of tots while your ball touches down softly on the green.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Weekend Preview

Apparently there’s some football game this weekend but if you don’t want to watch that, there are plenty of other events and activities around town. Also, Go Birds 🦅

Friday

🇵🇪 Celebrate Peru’s delicious culinary heritage with Caliente Grill’s Experience Peru dinner featuring a pre-fixe menu starting at 5:30 PM.

Saturday

🌿 Nurture your green thumb at Homestead Gardens with the workshop The Pursuit of Houseplants: How Houseplants Grow with Darryl Cheng at 10 AM at the Davidsonville location.

📖 Observe Black History Month with special family activities, including crafts, exhibits, and interactive performances, 11 AM–3 PM at the Museum of Historic Annapolis.

🧱 Let your imagination go at the Lego Build It! Session for builders of all ages (Legos provided which is good because they are expensive). 10–11:30 AM at the Eastport-Annapolis Branch Library.

Sunday

🫖 Join Jing Ying Institute for an informative Tea Tasting presented by tea professional (yeah, that’s a real thing) Lynayn Mielke from 2–3 PM.

🍵 You can also enjoy a cup at the Historic London Town & Gardens Valentine’s Day Tea Party: Kids Edition at 10:30 AM (reserve a seat fast — the afternoon session is already full!).

🍲 Stop by the SOUPer Bowl, a donation-only lunch at Heritage Baptist Church from 11:30 AM–1:30 PM, with three kinds of soup and plenty of sides. All funds raised benefit the Light House Homeless Prevention Center.

🌱 Create a beautiful decorative piece at the Grapevine Wreath with Succulents Workshop at ArtFarm Annapolis from 11:30 AM–1:30 PM.

Registration is now open: Run for the Light House 👟

Running a half marathon may sound intimidating right now, but you’ve got all summer to train if you register now for the 16th annual RUN for the Light House. You could also do the 5k (running or walking). Registration is now open for the Sept. 14 race at Quiet Waters Park. No matter which distance you run, participation raises money for The Light House, an Annapolis-based nonprofit providing homeless prevention and support services.

Sweetheart Dance at Pip Moyer

Roses are red, violets are blue. ♥️💙
Dinner + dancing, here’s your cue! 💃

Get ready to waltz into a night of family love. Pip Moyer Recreation Center will host its annual Sweetheart Dance this Friday, February 7 from 7–9 PM. Enjoy dinner, dancing, and treats with your little loved ones (ages 3-12). Tickets are only $10 per person and all parents/caregivers are welcome. Each family will receive a keepsake photo to capture the magic of the evening. The dress code is semi-formal — so polish those dancing shoes! Grab your tickets online or pick up at Pip’s front desk.

📍273 Hilltop Lane, Annapolis, MD

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

44🌡️ 39 | 🌧️ | 99% | 💨 S 8 mph (7 knots)

Friday

47 🌡️ 29 | ⛅ | 3% | NW 13 mph (11 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 37ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

Thursday

49 West | Steve Cyphers Band | 7:30–10:30 PM
Brian Boru | Ted Garber | 6:30–9:30 PM
Killarney House | Chris Lee | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
The Point | Bryan Ewald | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Joy Oladokun | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Reynolds Tavern | TBA | 7 PM

Friday

49 West | Tom Mitchell & Friends | 8–10:30 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern | Nate Finn & All You Need | 8:30 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Michael McHenry | 9–12 PM
Brian Boru | Doug Segree | 7–10 PM
The Choptank | Kieran Lally | 8 PM
Galway Bay | O'McPub Band | 7–10 PM
Killarney House | Ciaran Quinn | 7:30–10:30 PM
The Lodge | Dave Tieff | 8–11 PM
Market House | Micheal K | 7–10 PM
Middleton Tavern | Noel & Jeff | 10 PM
Old Stein | Eddie Pasa | 7–10 PM
Pirates Cove | Kurt Gibbons | 7:30–10:30 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Marty Friedman w/ Special Guests | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Aaron Hawkins | 8 PM
Reynolds Tavern | TBA | 7 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Kick Back Classic | 7 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Honey Sol | 8 PM

NAVY SPORTS

Past results

Men's Basketball (8-16)
2/5 @ Boston University | L 87–65

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THANKS!

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