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🍦The Blue Angels stood us up

🍦The Blue Angels stood us up

Lax state championships, why Giolitti's closed, and scavenger hunts...

Naptown Scoop
May 22, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Annapolis. We got stood up by the Blue Angels yesterday and while that sucks, the 2026 date is already set. So mark your calendars and submit your PTO requests for May 20, 2026 (or May 19 for the rehearsal) because the countdown starts now. Hope you at least got to see them Tuesday.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Lax state championships
Why Giolitti's closed
Scavenger hunts

Let’s get to it.

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

Ditch the Downtown Madness—Weekends Are Better at Annapolis Mall!

Graduation weekend got the city packed? Annapolis Mall is the perfect weekend escape! Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of parking, great dining, and cool A/C—no cap and gown required.

🍽️ Grab a bite at local favorites like CPK, Stoney River, Rodizio Grill, and more
🛍️ Refresh your wardrobe at Free People, lululemon, Urban Outfitters and Zara
🎬 Catch a movie — Disney’s new Lilo & Stitch hits theaters today!

Whether you're looking to shop, chill, or just avoid the gridlock, Annapolis Mall has your weekend plans covered.

👉 Visit shopannapolismall.com for more.

THE DIGEST

Warning: Friday’s traffic is the worst Annapolis ever sees 🚗 🛻 🚐

As you probably know, Naval Academy graduation is Friday morning at the football stadium. We don’t tell you this because you might find it interesting; it’s only open to invited guests. We tell you this because traffic around the stadium Friday morning is no joke, the worst Annapolis sees all year. Unless you absolutely must, do not drive near the stadium Friday morning. Graduation starts at 9 AM so the worst of it will be from 7–9 AM.

📍 Don’t know where the stadium is? It’s right off Rowe Blvd and Taylor Avenue. Technically the address is 550 Taylor Avenue.

Impact100 Grant 💸

Have you heard about Impact100? It’s a powerhouse group of female volunteers who support local nonprofits with transformational grants. The idea is simple: 100 women contribute $1,000 each then pick a local nonprofit to get the whole sum. With 10,000+ members worldwide, they’ve donated over $80M to their communities over the past two decades! Impact100 Greater Chesapeake grant is now accepting applications for their 2025 grant which will be $56,000. Get all the details regarding requirements and what documents are needed. Then apply via Google Forms by June 30!

County budget moves closer to approval 💵

There’s a lot the county has to budget for — a lot! So many aspects of our daily lives, from schools to public safety, are the purview of the county. So, it takes some deliberation to come up with a budget that works for everybody.

At the beginning of May, County Executive Steuart Pittman proposed his budget for Fiscal Year 2026 to the County Council. The total? $2.4 billion. He emphasized that his proposal makes necessary increases in areas like public safety and education while keeping tax rates steady during a time of economic uncertainty.

What’s in it? A few highlights from the budget proposal include:

✅ $497.7 million for public safety, including new positions, fire training academy expansion, violence interruption programs, and new police and fire stations
✅ $1.5 billion for AACPS, an increase of $52 million over last year
✅ $43 million more on IT upgrades (though this is just to keep up with the times, not because of the cyber incident earlier this year, according to Budget Officer Chris Trumbauer)
✅ Supplements for low-income homeowners
✅ Steady rates for income taxes and reduced property taxes

Response to the budget from community leaders has been positive. Although Pittman’s proposal increased AACPS funding by only $52 million instead of the $104 million the Board of Education requested, both Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell and BOE President Robert Silkworth expressed faith the county is doing everything it can to meet the needs of schools. Meanwhile, members of the County Council expressed general support for the budget, with Republicans appreciating its steadiness on taxes and Democrats praising its investment in public services.

What’s next? The county just held two public budget hearings. Now it’s time to get serious. Approval and adoption is expected by June 13, and the budget will go into effect at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

Lax state championships 🥍

Yesterday, both Severna Park squads faced off in the Class 3A State Championships. Sadly, Marriotts Ridge eked out an 11–10 victory of the Falcon ladies. But on the bright side, the boys knocked off Towson 11–4 to claim their 9th consecutive state title.

The 4A State Championship road continues for Broadneck’s lacrosse teams tonight. In an Urbana double header, the girls play at 5 PM and the boys at 7 PM. Both games take place at Stevenson University’s Mustang Stadium. Good luck to both Bruin squads! ♥️🩶

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@NAPTOWNSCOOP

📸 @jayflemingphotography | 📍Annapolis Harbor (on Tuesday obviously. . .)

Tag @NaptownScoop to get your photos in the Scoop!

LOCAL BUSINESS

Capital Gazette uncovers why Giolitti’s closed 🤔

Late last month felt like a pasta emergency when Giolitti’s Delicatessen abruptly closed, leaving us all wondering . . . Why? Founder Gene Giolitti revealed the reason: electrical failure. A roof leak damaged safety equipment, including gas detectors, causing constant alerts — likely false, but he closed to be safe. Mr. Giolitti pressed pause before a trip to Italy and extended his stay due to the death of Pope Francis. Now he’s back, kneading dough and saucing things up. Stop by on Somerville Road and show some amore! 🇮🇹 ($)

Bonus intel: Giolitti is part of Giolitti Gelato fame, based in Rome with locations worldwide. And future expansion in Annapolis may be on the menu! 🍝

Rumhouse is officially open 🍹

Rumhouse is open for business in Eastport (422 6th Street). Enjoy luxe takes on Caribbean cuisine with dishes like Island Ceviche, Jerk Lamb, and more from international celebrity chef Natasha de Bourg. You may recognize her from Below Deck. And, yes. There’s an extensive rum collection.

Rumhouse is open for dinner Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; afternoon tea on Saturdays; and Sunday brunch. Guests can dine in their sophisticated dining room or breezy wrap-around patio. Book your table today!

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.

Tiny Paws, Big Responsibility. We've Got You.

New puppies don’t come with instructions. But Western Shore Veterinary Hospital comes pretty close. Their team helps new dog owners with everything from first vaccines and food advice to the “is this normal?” late-night panic moments.

They’ve seen it all—tummy troubles, teething, and toys that mysteriously disappear (and reappear). Whether it’s your first pup or just your wildest one yet, Western Shore is the partner you want from day one.

Because cute doesn’t always mean easy. And it’s nice to have experts in your corner. Schedule your pet’s check-up today.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Weekend Preview 🗓️

🌾 Spring Field Market at Wildberry Saturday @ 9 AM. Join Wildberry and other small businesses for an outdoor market.

🪴 Houseplant Swap Saturday from 2–3 PM. Bring a plant or trimmings to the Eastport Library to swap and share.

🖼️ AND Creative’s “Community 25” Opening Gallery Thursday from 5:30–7 PM. Be there for the opening reception of this new showcase of local artists. Exhibit runs through June 29.

🫡 Annapolis Memorial Day Parade Monday @ 10 AM. The parade honoring fallen heroes goes along West Street, Church Circle, and Main Street.

Scavenger hunts are all the rage

Did you hear about San Francisco’s mystery treasure hunt last week? Someone hid a chest worth $10k and released clues to find it on Reddit. Turns out someone in Annapolis may have been inspired. @Naptownwinners drops video clues on Instagram that lead to real cash hidden around Annapolis. Yep, actual money. According to the anonymous founder, “it’s a street-level treasure hunt for the curious, fast, and slightly obsessed.” Rumor has it there’s a drop this weekend so follow @naptownwinners, follow the clues, and find some cash!

And no, while we wish we could take credit for this, the anonymous founder isn’t us.

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

Looking for fun stuff to do with kids?

History comes alive at the Museum of Historical Annapolis and the William Paca House & Garden. 400 years of it! Learn more about the founding of our nation as we get ready for our 250^th anniversary, and the important things that happened here in Annapolis. There’s something for everyone, and our guides have the coolest stories! annapolis.org.*

*indicates sponsored advertising content.

WEATHER

Thursday

65 🌡️ 55 | 🌦️ | 44% | N 10 mph (9 knots)

Friday

66 🌡️ 54 | ⛅ | 4% | WNW 14 mph (12 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 66ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

Thursday

Friday

THANKS!

Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who wears wired headphones because of the EMFs.

🍦The Blue Angels stood us up

Lax state championships, why Giolitti's closed, and scavenger hunts...

TOGETHER WITH

SPONSORED BY ANNAPOLIS MALL

Ditch the Downtown Madness—Weekends Are Better at Annapolis Mall!

THE DIGEST

Warning: Friday’s traffic is the worst Annapolis ever sees 🚗 🛻 🚐

Impact100 Grant 💸

County budget moves closer to approval 💵

Lax state championships 🥍

@NAPTOWNSCOOP

LOCAL BUSINESS

Capital Gazette uncovers why Giolitti’s closed 🤔

Rumhouse is officially open 🍹

SPONSORED BY WESTERN SHORE VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Tiny Paws, Big Responsibility. We've Got You.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Weekend Preview 🗓️

Scavenger hunts are all the rage

EXTRA SPRINKLES

Looking for fun stuff to do with kids?

WEATHER

Thursday

Friday

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

Thursday

Friday

THANKS!