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- 🍦The best week of the year
🍦The best week of the year
Commissioning Week + Blue Angels, community and conversations, new Anchors Aweigh podcast...
Naptown Scoop
May 19, 2025
TOGETHER WITH
Good morning, Annapolis. From the banks of the Severn to the skies high above, a timeless tradition is about to unfold once again in the heart of Annapolis. The air hums with anticipation, pride, and a hint of jet fuel as families father, fighter jets soar, and midshipmen prepare to take their final march as students. It’s a week when white uniforms gleam a little brighter and futures feel just within reach. Commissioning Week has arrived.
In today’s Naptown Scoop:
Commissioning Week + Blue Angels
Community and conversations
New Anchors Aweigh podcast
Let’s get to it.
— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins, & Ryan Sneddon
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THE DIGEST
Historic Annapolis is a Blue Star Museum 🏛️
Here’s a great deal for our military Scoop readers! Historic Annapolis is participating in Blue Star Museums, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military members (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, and more) and their families. The 2025 program is in effect until Labor Day. Participating Annapolis museums include:
William Paca House and Garden
Museum of Historic Annapolis
Hammond-Harwood House
Annapolis Maritime Museum
Arundel Rivers Report Card 🐟
Good news and bad news about our local waterways. The good is that they’re improving slightly. The bad is they’re still just like my chemistry grades: C average at best. That’s according to the Arundel Rivers Federation. This nonprofit group tracks water quality data from 34 sites along the South, West, and Rhodes Rivers to create the River Report Card.
Although the South River got a C, oxygen levels have improved 5 years in a row. Similarly, the West River, also a C, improved in water clarity. Elle Bassett, the riverkeeper who collects the data, says there’s work to do to get the waterways as healthy as they should be. See the full water quality data.
Anne Arundel County’s Economy At A Glance: May Edition
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SPONSORED BY LIBBEY’S COASTAL KITCHEN
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen is the ultimate summer destination on the Chesapeake. Come by boat or land and enjoy fresh coastal dishes, handcrafted cocktails, and breathtaking sunsets. With boat slips and indoor and outdoor dining, it’s the perfect spot to gather with friends on long summer days. Below Deck is now open for the season! Just a short trip from Annapolis, Libbey’s is your go-to for delicious food, good company, and the best waterfront restaurant. Learn more.
WHAT’S HAPPENIN’
Blue Angels + USNA Commissioning Week ✈️
Time to do your anti-rain dances. We’re officially heading into the Naval Academy’s Commissioning Week, the highlight of which (for the general public) is the Blue Angels air show. But the weather’s looking wet, windy, and cold for the big day. However, all hope is not lost.
There’s technically two days to see the Blue Angels fly in Annapolis — the rehearsal on Tuesday and the official demonstration on Wednesday.
This elite squadron of F/A-18 Super Hornets do all kinds of loops, dives, spirals, and other tricks through the sky, but with Wednesday’s forecast, we recommend planning to watch rehearsal day instead. The jets will arrive and circle some time between 11 AM – 1 PM and perform from 2–4 PM. The Naval Academy Bridge will close at 10:45 AM – 1 PM and again at 1:45 PM until around 4 PM. The Severn River restricted zone will close at 10:30 AM and open after practice. Please also be aware of the temporary channel leading into Annapolis Harbor. Stay out of this unless your vessel is underway.
Weather permitting, the official air show on Wednesday starts at 2 PM and lasts about two hours. The Naval Academy Bridge closes around 1:45 PM and the Severn River restricted zone is closed from 1:30–4 PM.
🌧️ Is the Blue Angels an all-weather event? Unfortunately, no. To do a full show, the Blue Angels need the clouds to be at least 8,000 feet above the ground. If the clouds are at 4,500 feet, they can do a limited number of tricks. At a minimum, the Blue Angels need the clouds to be 1,500 feet above the ground (though the FAA can lower this to 1,000) and 3 nautical miles of visibility from the center of the show area. Like we said, do your anti-rain dance or watch the rehearsal.
✅ Other Commissioning Week Festivities
Commissioning Week continues with the Color Parade on Thursday. This is the final dress parade the mids participate in before their commissioning, and it begins at 11 AM on Worden Field. If the rain continues into Thursday, the parade moves into Halsey Field House.
Finally, there’s the big day itself: graduation day. The ceremony at Navy Stadium is a private event for grads and invited guests, but the Blue Angels will fly over the stadium at 10:04 AM if you want one last glance.
Coming Up This Week
🖌️ Annapolis Watercolor Club Golden Anniversary Exhibit, opening Wednesday at Quiet Waters Park and running through July 6. See work by local artists to celebrate the club’s 50th year.
🍝 Dinner Under the Stars, Wednesday from 6–10 PM. This is the season’s first of the weekly celebrations with outdoor dining specials and live music on West Street.
✈️ Blue Angels Air Shows, Tuesday & Wednesday at 2PM. See the Blue Angels squadron perform aerial acrobatics over the Severn River in celebration of the Naval Academy commissioning. Tuesday = rehearsal & Wednesday = show but Tuesday’s weather is looking way better.
🍓 Spring Field Market at Wildberry, Saturday from 9 AM – noon. Shop for farm goods and other surprises from a variety of local vendors.
🍕 Food Truck Friday, Friday from 4–8 PM. Get dinner (or linner) from a variety of food trucks parked at the Anne Arundel County Farmers Market.
🎺 Naptown Brass Band Cruise, Thursday from 7–9 PM. Take a 2-hour cruise with live music by Annapolis’ legendary New Orleans-style street band.
Community & Conversations 🗣️
Aiming to be the best place for all is an ambitious vision, but it’s what Anne Arundel County wants to be. And that means getting input from everyone. So the county’s Office of Equity and Human Rights is holding Community & Conversations sessions at different library branches this spring. Share your ideas and concerns at the Busch Library on Tuesday 6–7:30 PM. RSVP ahead of time. Can’t make it Tuesday? See future dates.
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
County Council Meeting
In reviewing the proposed FY2026 Budget, the County Council is holding a series of meetings to discuss the budget and hear testimony. Tonight’s meeting is to specifically look at property taxes. If you’d like to stay informed, be at Council Chambers at 7 PM. And bring snacks, because these tend to go late. 44 Calvert Street, Annapolis.
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EXTRA SPRINKLES
🌹 Your only chance to see these gardens
Unless you know every downtown Annapolis homeowner, it's impossible to know what's behind every gate and down every alley. Spoiler alert: Spectacular gardens! The Hammond-Harwood House Secret Garden Tour gives you access to a variety of beautiful gardens. Want the unique chance to peek behind these walls, get tickets today. The self-guided tour runs 12–5 PM, June 7–8.*
🎶 Rock the Dock: A Night of Fun & Giving Back!
Set sail into summer with the Annapolis Rotaract Foundation's Rock the Dock on June 5, 2025, from 6–10 PM at the Annapolis Maritime Museum! Savor mouth-watering BBQ, sip on refreshing drinks, and groove to live tunes by Loose Ties. Plus, support the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council’s mission. This event is all about fun, community, and giving back—grab your tickets before they’re gone!*
*indicates sponsored advertising content.
WEATHER
Monday
77 🌡️ 55 | 🌤️ | 3% | 💨 NW 15 mph (13 knots)
Tuesday
70 🌡️ 57 | 🌤️ | 1% | 💨 NNE 9 mph (8 knots)
💧🌡️ Water temperature = 68ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication
LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN
Monday
49 West | Heather Aubrey Lloyd & Sara Milonovich | 7:30–10:30 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Five For Fighting String Quartet w/ Lace and Lee | 8 PM | Tickets
Tuesday
49 West | Leslie Webber | 4–6 PM
49 West | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 7–9:30 PM
Brian Boru | Ray Weaverl | 6–9 PM
The Point | Kavoossi | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | GRUNGE: The Sounds of Seattle | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Kieran Lally | 7 PM
Mike James of The Mid Report and Rivals.com network joined the Anchors Aweigh podcast to break down the Navy football updated depth chart along with Bill Wagner of The Capital and Baltimore Sun. We also talk Navy track and field with head coach Jamie Cook.
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THANKS!
Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who takes off work to watch the Blue Angels.
