🍦340 bottles of beer on the wall 🎵

Good morning, Annapolis. Some say the statute of limitations on saying “Happy new year” has expired. But cheerful greetings are the Annapolis way, so keep on keeping on.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, & Duffy Perkins

P.S. Light Scoop this morning. We call these newsletters Kids Cups when we don’t have many stories.

We’re so excited to share that Dr. Camille Bulte-Choudhry, MD has joined the team at Current Dermatology & Cosmetic Center in Annapolis! A Maryland native and board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Bulte-Choudhry trained at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she graduated magna cum laude and completed her dermatology residency.

She brings a warm, patient-focused approach to caring for all skin types—whether you’re looking for help managing a skin condition, a thorough skin-cancer screening, or rejuvenating cosmetic treatments.

Dr. Bulte-Choudhry has immediate availability for new patients, so now’s a great time to schedule your visit!

Book online at currentderm.com or call 410-384-3045 to make an appointment today.

We can’t wait for you to meet her!

We get it. Life gets busy. Believe it or not, we don’t even read all the newsletters we’re subscribed to everyday. So here’s the biggest stuff that happened last week.

⛵ First things first, Atlas Restaurant Group bought a majority stake in Eastport’s iconic Boatyard Bar & Grill as part of longtime owner Dick Franyo’s succession plan. Dick will remain involved and the management team is staying in place. Atlas says its committed to the Boatyard experience we all know and love.

💩 There was a sewage spill at the end of Spa Creek so there’s a water advisory from Hilltop Lane to Boxwood Road until Wednesday.

🏫 Thursday is a full school day for AACPS and Friday is a full day off for students. The BOE modified the calendar in October.

🔦 The Fresnel lens that illuminated the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse from 1899 to the 1980s is coming back to Annapolis for display at the Annapolis Maritime Museum after 39 years in the Coast Guard offices in Baltimore.

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Here’s a job flex with a side of muscles mussels. Augie’s Mussel House & Sports Bar at Annapolis Town Center (ATC) is hiring bartenders, servers, barbacks, hosts, dishwashers, and line cooks to help bring bold flavors, classic sports-bar fare, and high-energy hospitality to its new location. Interested? Hit their Open House Hiring Event on Friday, January 16 from 10 AM to 2 PM at their soon-to-be hot spot (1915 Towne Center Blvd, Suite 150). Don’t forget your resume. You can also apply online.

Speaking of ATC, Free People is coming in 2026 to the 3,300-square-foot space next to Anthropologie. Lovers of buttery soft leggings and unique styles rejoice! 👖

Those of us not participating in Dry January now have 340 more beer options to weather this winter. World of Beer opens today in the old Applebees spot near the Annapolis Mall, and in its 500-to-600-square foot refrigerator the restaurant stocks beers from as far away as China and as close as Anne Arundel County. And if you’re living with someone committed to Dry January, WOB has a great food menu with options for everyone, from smash burger sliders to big salads. So no matter what you’re doing for your New Year’s resolution, you can make trying a new restaurant part of the plan for 2026. ($)

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.

Gentlemen, this one’s for you. Warrior Medical Group is hosting Brotox, Bourbon, and Barbering—an elevated evening for men who want to look sharp, feel better, and enjoy the process.

Join them on February 11 from 4 to 8 PM at Warrior Medical in Annapolis for a complimentary skin assessment, a professional beard or hair trim, and a pour of bourbon while you learn about comprehensive men’s wellness packages designed to support health from head to toe.

General admission is free, or upgrade to VIP for $100, with your ticket applied directly toward Brotox at the event or a future laser package. VIP guests also receive a gift bag and raffle entries for Nutrafol hair supplements and a Valentine’s giveaway.

Learn more and plan your visit.

It’s a lucky day in Annapolis — even though the Annapolis Irish Festival isn’t until late May, the music lineup recently dropped: Carbon Leaf and Dublin 5 are set to play on Friday, May 29, and Gaelic Storm will headline Saturday, May 30. Also playing on Saturday are Chesapeake Caledonian Pipes and Drums, Hold Fast, Poehemia, Gaelic Mishap, and Scythian.

☘️ Plan ahead: We know May might seem as far off as a pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow, but it’s also gold in terms of its popularity. Don’t wait to get your tickets.

🦆 The Irish Festival’s host, ABC Events, has also been making headlines for an announcement about another of its festivals recently. Mama Duck, the world’s largest rubber duck, will be at the Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point State Park in September.

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 City Council meets tonight at 7 PM in City Council Chambers (160 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis) for its first meeting of the new year. The meeting will begin with public hearings on a potential moratorium on new short-term rental licenses and changes in exempt service job classification. The council will also take action on ordinances concerning property tax credits for child care centers, an order of succession for the mayor, and other legislation. See full agenda. Remember, you can provide input on any agenda item.

The Anne Arundel Board of Education’s next meeting is Wednesday, January 14. The Board is scheduled to vote on reducing the credits required to graduate and adding a financial literacy requirement for graduation. Click here full agenda. The meeting starts at 6:30 PM and happens in the Carol S. Parham Building at 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.

📅 Save this date: The Board is holding a public workshop for the 2027 operating and capital budgets at 6 PM on January 20, also at the Parham Building. Worth noting: There will not be public testimony at this workshop.

Both meetings will be streamed on YouTube.

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43 🌡️ 30 | ☀️ | 2% | 💨 WSW 10 mph (9 knots)

48 🌡️ 41 | 🌤️ | 4% | 💨 S 9 mph (8 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 39ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

49 West | 2nd Monday Songwriters Showcase | 7:30–10 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Jenna Nicholls & Sweet Petunia w/ Callum | 8 PM | Tickets

49 West | Seth Mitchell & Friends | 7:30–9:30 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
Middleton Tavern | Middleton Songwriters Showcase | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Kurt Gibbons | 6–9 PM

She’s already in local halls of fame. She’s already a Princeton record-breaker. She’s already a world champ. Now, Annapolis native Crista Samaras is headed to the top: the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

The Annapolis High grad and unstoppable attacker will be inducted Saturday night in Baltimore alongside two other Anne Arundel greats — legendary broadcaster Leif Elsmo and four-time NCAA champ Christie Jenkins Kemezis of Severna Park.

Crista was a three-sport phenom, a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year, and a star on Team USA for 12 years. She’s been racking up honors for decades — but this one’s the crown jewel. ($)

Women's Basketball (9-6)
1/10 @ Lafayette | W 97-58

Men's Basketball (12-5)
1/10 vs. Lafayette | W 76-50

Men's Basketball (12-5)
1/12 @ American | 7 PM

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