🍦We had faith in the flakes

Fun things to do inside, NEW: Reader Recommendations, learn how to make a campfire...

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Naptown Scoop
January 07, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Annapolis. I was dreaming of a white Christmas. But I guess I can settle for a white National Bobblehead Day instead.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

  • Fun things to do inside

  • A new feature: Reader Recommendations

  • How to make a campfire

Let’s get to it.

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

P.S. Happy birthday, Carole Eagleson! 🎂

New Year, New You – Start strong (and flexible) with Yoga

Ready to make 2025 your healthiest year yet? Yoga Factory’s New Student Deals make it easy to start your journey: Get one month of unlimited classes for just $39 or 10 classes for only $29 (30-day expiration).

With over 100 classes each week, including hot yoga, restorative flows, and more, there’s something for everyone at Yoga Factory. Build strength, find balance, and feel amazing in the new year.

Don’t wait — your future self will thank you. Sign up today!

THE DIGEST

We had faith in the flakes ❄️☃️

Photo: Scoop writer Dylan during his run in the snow yesterday. Don’t ask – there’s something wrong with him.

We probably don’t have to tell you: If you look out the window, you’re probably seeing a lot of snow. Winter Storm Blair came through yesterday and dumped a ton of snow on Annapolis – around 10 inches according to the National Weather Service. Schools, government offices, and most businesses closed yesterday, and some are still digging themselves out today. If you spent yesterday bundled up inside with blankets and hot chocolate (I’m jealous), here’s a peek at what it was like.

Remember, if you’ve got great snow pics, we want to see them. Tag us @naptownscoop so we can share our favorites!

Fun things to do inside

Brr! It’s cold out there. We’re bringing you weather-proof activities to fight those stir-crazy feelings. Remember that some places might still be digging out from the snowstorm, so check online to see if they’re open before making plans. And drive safe if you must!

🎳 Annapolis Bowl (2057 General's Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401)
Anyone with a winter birthday knows bowling is right up everyone’s alley. Plus, we did just host the Go Bowling military bowl, didn’t we? Time to strike!

🛝 Play Street Museum (560 Ritchie Highway Suite F, Severna Park, MD 21146)
Enjoy endless entertainment for kids ages 1–8. Play spaces feature costumes, toys, crutches, and anything else needed for imaginative play. Admission is $14.50 for a 90-minute play session. Book a playtime.

🏌️X-Golf Annapolis (167 Jennifer Rd, Suite Y, Annapolis, MD 21401)
Keep your hand in the game this winter with their state-of-the-art indoor golf simulators. Golfers typically take one hour to play 18 holes. Keep an eye out for Ryan, who calls it the “official second office” of Naptown Scoop.

🛍️🍿Annapolis Mall (2002 Annapolis Mall Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401)
Fuel up at the dining court (we recommend Baba’s Halal) before you shop til you drop. Make a day of it and spend those Christmas gift cards. Then kick your feet up and see the latest movie. They’re always the best this time of year! 🎥

📚Book it to the bookstore
Some of our favorite local bookstores:

P.S. Visit their websites (linked above) or social channels for cool events like book signings, storytimes, comedy nights, and so much more.

🖼 Move it to the museum
Along the same lines as a bookstore visit, our community has plenty of museums where you can learn, think, and admire exhibits:

👾 GameOn Bar + Arcade (114 West St Annapolis MD 21401)

📚 Anne Arundel Public County Library
Take our word for it. There’s something at the library for everyone. Book clubs, story times, movie showings, line dancing, game nights — and that’s just the beginning. Check their events calendar for free activities all over our county.

🤔 Escape rooms
The best way to escape being cooped up at home is to go escape from . . . another room, but this one is outside your house. An escape room gives you a set amount of time to solve a series of puzzles using clues and ultimately find your way out. Try the experience with a group of friends at Mission Escape Rooms or Escape Time.

🤸 Thrive Gym
Let the littles release their excess energy at Thrive Gym, which offers open gym time for children 5+ to practice skills and jump around. You can book a 1-hour or 1.5-hour appointment from 7–8:30 PM at the Annapolis location or at 1 PM at the Arnold location.

Parole Rotary Foundation Grants 💰

$3K for a good cause is not chump change by any measure. And local nonprofits can receive up to that amount through the Parole Rotary Foundation Grants. If your nonprofit serves children or families in the areas of education, health, and the arts, there’s still time to apply for the 2025–26 program. Applications are due by Jan. 31. Get details.

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LOCAL BUSINESS

We’re trying something out: Reader Recommendations 🔍️ 

Here at Naptown Scoop, we love trying new things. We also love getting our readers involved. So we’re introducing a new section: Reader Recommendations. And today’s is a service that you definitely should keep in your back pocket – a good locksmith. Our first ever Reader Recommendation comes from C.R. “Tony” Wheeler.

Your item on new and closing businesses brought to mind what a couple individuals told me when they were looking for a locksmith and had to go to Baltimore to satisfy their needs at an expense they really did not expect. I informed them that I use a local locksmith, who I have found to be knowledgeable, honest, quick (you can wait for what you need or get same day satisfaction on almost all needs) and is very reasonable. They were totally unaware that we had a locksmith here in town. The locksmith I use is Dan Thompson, the shop manager for Baldino’s Lock & Key at 111 Chinquapin Round Road. He has hardware, does key resets, duplicates keys including automobile keys, and has safes available.

We did a little of our own digging and found that Baldino’s has an incredible founding story as well.

P.S. Have a recommendation of your own to share with your fellow readers? Click here!

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.

The Satellite Ep. 3 The Science of Reading in Action

You may have heard of the Science of Reading or the debate regarding balanced literacy versus structured literacy; it’s a hot topic within the world of Education that has made headlines in recent years. But what does the Science of Reading actually mean? And more importantly, how does it impact young readers? Episode 3 of St. Anne’s School’s new podcast series, The Satellite, dives deep into this very topic. Educators who are experts in the Science of Reading discuss this cognitive research-backed approach to emergent reading and analyze audio clips from the classroom. Tune in to hear firsthand how this approach helps students progress from learning to read to reading to learn. The Science of Reading in Action is available on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Theater Talk Tuesday 🎭

It’s the start of a new year, and two local theater companies are opening new productions. Here’s what’s on the calendar this weekend:

Colonial Players presents Alabama Story
A timely and thought-provoking historical drama takes us to Civil Rights-era Alabama where a segregationist Senator goes up against a tough librarian to try banning a children’s book about a black rabbit marrying a white rabbit, running Jan. 10–Feb. 1.

Compass Rose Theater to open Proof
Coming soon to Compass Rose Theater is the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning play Proof, about a woman trying to navigate the emotional toll of her brilliant mathematician father as she questions whether she inherited any of his genius or his madness. Tickets are now on sale for the Jan. 17–Feb. 9 run.

English Country Dance 🎻 🎹

Fancy a dance? Annapolis Trad Dance and Music is hosting The Annapolis English Country Dance on Saturday, January 18 with a lesson at 6:30 PM and dancing from 7–9:30 PM. No experience or partner required. It’ll be a dance for the ages at Annapolis Friends Meeting Hall (351 Dubois Road, Annapolis, MD 21401). Costs $15; students $5; children 5 and under are free. BYO water and snacks!

Campfire Rule #1 🔥🪵

What goes in the fire stays in the fire. Join Park Ranger Newbill on January 25 for a hands-on session about campfire safety and techniques for building a campfire. Head to Quiet Waters Park’s Sycamore Pavilion from 4–5:30 PM. Perfect for beginners and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Cost: $5 per person. Got burning questions? Learn more and register now.

☔️ Rain date (because fires don’t like rain): February 1

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

Tuesday

34 🌡️ 23 | 🌤️ | 3% | 💨 WNW 19 mph (16 knots)

Wednesday

31 🌡️ 20 | 🌥️ | 3% | WNW 18 mph (17 knots)

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

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

Tuesday

49 West | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 7–9:30 PM
The Point | Aidan Ewald | 5–8 PM

Wednesday

49 West | Pam & Paula Classical Duo | 5–7 PM
49 West | Pam & Paula Classical Duo | 7:30–10 PM
Brian Boru | Nate Finn | 6–9 PM
Galway Bay | Irish Trad Music Session | 8 PM
Killarney House | Jason Bishop | 6–10 PM
Middleton Tavern | Ryan Kozel | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Peter James | 6–9 PM
The Point | Jordan/Pressing Strings | 5–8 PM
Reynolds Tavern | TBA | 7 PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with that friendly neighbor who should really let you borrow their snowblower.