🍦74 years of Bay Bridge traffic

Good morning, Annapolis. Welcome to Naptown Scoop, the local newsletter that would never mine all the M&M’s out of the trail mix.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Ryan Sneddon

At 84 Lumber Annapolis, we’re proud to offer Andersen® Windows and Doors, designed to bring more light, fresh air, and beauty into your home, no matter the season!

Visit our interactive Andersen showroom, located in the heart of the Annapolis Design District, and experience the difference for yourself. Explore styles, finishes, and performance options up close, and see how the right windows and doors can completely transform your space.

Andersen’s folding doors make indoor-outdoor living a seamless experience, redefining how you connect with the outdoors this summer.

Contact Store Manager, Bill McDonald, at 724-831-6856 or [email protected] to schedule a tour of the Andersen showroom and check out Andersen’s full product line!

Trivia: How many cars crossed the original Chesapeake Bay Bridge span in its first 24 hours of operation?

74 years ago today, Maryland officials opened the first span of the Gov. William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge. It’s named for the governor who launched its construction. That’s him with his wife in the photo above.

But the opening wasn’t without its problems. For one, it was so long (5 hours and 27 minutes) that a state trooper collapsed from the heat and the sound system broke.

The toll was $1.40 a car plus 25 cents per passenger, so other unscrupulous drivers made their riders walk around the toll booth. The bridge later switched to the flat fee we all know. Bridge director Louis J. O’Donnell told the Baltimore Sun, “These gimmicks will be ironed out.”

For context, nearly 100,000 cars now cross the Bay Bridge on peak days. Maryland expects to start construction of a new Bay Bridge in the early 2030s. Here’s hoping the opening ceremony won’t run almost six hours again.

Team Naptown Scoop Coast 2 Coast 4 ALS progress: $12,923/$20,000

August starts Saturday, and Admiral Heights already smells like Old Bay. The Rotary Club cracks open the world’s largest crab feast at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Moose Tracks scoops 10,000 free servings for charity at The People’s Park on Aug. 5 (yes, really), and the Renn Fest opens its 50th season in Crownsville. And of course, we are STOKED for Nitro Circus.

Pack the calendar, friends. Because school’s gonna be back in session before you can say, “Wow, I can’t believe it’s already August. Where did the summer go?”

👉 Here’s everything we circled for August

Nope, it’s not McGarvey’s (founded June 19, 1975).

It’s not the Annapolis Watercolor Club either (also founded 1975).

I’m talking about PAL Hawks Football.

For over fifty years, they’ve been teaching kids character and teamwork the way only a football field can. Here’s the deal.

It’s open for kids ages 8–14 and is $175 for the entire season. But you have to act fast.

Registration closes July 31. All games are played right here in Annapolis so there’s no traveling and we hear there’s a mean concession stand.

🎈 = family-friendly events

🎶 Thursday Night LIVE! - Dan Heely brings rock and blues to Annapolis Town Center’s free outdoor concert series.

🎶 7/30 Tides & Tunes: John Frase Project - Free waterfront concert at the Annapolis Maritime Museum with food trucks and drinks.

🎈🎭 A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Compass Rose Theater’s student actors bring Shakespeare’s comedy outdoors at Historic London Town & Gardens. Dress in character and join the show.

🎈🍽️ Food Truck Fridays - 12+ food trucks serving diverse cuisines at Harry S. Truman Parkway.

🎈🐮 Anne Arundel County Farmers Market - Saturday market with fresh produce, meats, dairy, and local vendors at Harry S. Truman Parkway.

🎈🧸 Annapolis Toy Show - Vintage action figures, trading cards, comics, LEGO, and Funko Pops at the DoubleTree’s Mainsail Ballroom. 9 AM – 2 PM. Free admission.

🎈🤝 Community Resource Day - Free bilingual event at Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library with clothing giveaways, rent and utility assistance, and community resources. 11 AM – 2 PM.

🎶 An Afternoon with Patty Griffin - Two-time Grammy winner Patty Griffin performs intimate Americana at Rams Head on Stage.

🎈🎶 Concert at Quiet Waters Park: J Castro - Free summer concert at the park’s amphitheater, 6–8 PM, with food trucks from Good to da Bone BBQ and Rita’s Italian Ice.

🎈🎨 First Sunday Arts Festival - Over 150 artisans take over West Street and Calvert Street for the monthly festival with live music and food.

🎈🐮 Anne Arundel County Farmers Market - Sunday market with fresh local produce, meats, dairy, and crafts.

🎈🎨 Wellsview Weekend Community Markets - Handmade goods and holistic wellness services under one roof at Wellsview Center for WellBeing.

🌊 Pump Fiction – Tuesday’s City Dock flooding wasn’t the usual culprit according to city officials. It was flash-flood rain, not tidal inundation – more than 40,000 gallons fell in short order. City Dock’s current pump capacity is 100 gallons per minute. New City Dock’s capacity? 10,000 gallons per minute.

💄 Glow Getter – Shop Miss A is coming to Annapolis Mall. The Dallas-based chain sells makeup, skincare, and accessories – most of it for $1 – and the store (next to American Eagle) will be one of the brand’s first 100 in the country when it opens in September. It joins UNIQLO, Aéropostale, OFFLINE by Aerie, and Curmudgeon Books, all new this year, with Pop Mart, Jack & Jones, Abercrombie & Fitch, Tesla, and Dave & Buster’s still to come. DICK’S House of Sport also announced its opening dates this week (Aug 14–16).

🍔 Second Helping – No, you didn’t miss the SS Soggy Bunz ribbon cutting. Tuesday’s Tunesday was canceled, and the grand opening went with it. Ribbon cutting round two is next Tuesday, August 4, on Back Creek, when Jimi Haha of Jimmie’s Chicken Shack takes the floating stage. He should rename the band Jimmie’s Burger Shack. You can track the SS Soggy Bunz online to find out where it’s anchoring next.

🤝 Helping Hands – Community Resource Day comes to the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library this Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM. Organized by the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services, the free bilingual event connects neighbors with clothing giveaways, rent and utility assistance, and other community resources, all in one stop.

86 🌡️ 70 | 🌤️ | 3% ☔ | 💨 NW 13 mph (11 knots)

87 🌡️ 72 | ☀️ | 1% ☔ | 💨 N 6 mph (5 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 80ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

🌳🎵= Outdoor concert

49 West | Jay Crawdad & Larry Byrne | 8–11 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | TBA | 7–10 PM
🌳🎵AMM Tides & Tunes | John Frase Project | 7–9 PM
🌳🎵Annapolis Town Center | Dan Heely | 6:30–8:30 PM
Beer Farm | Mike Heuer | 5–8 PM
Brian Boru | Aaron Hawkins | 6–9 PM
Dark Horse | Rich Russman | 9 PM
Harper’s Waterfront | Mike Waskey | 7–10 PM
Killarney House | Brooke Foster | 6–9 PM
The Lodge | Moe Stringz Steel Pan Duo | 5:30–8:30 PM
Market House | Chase Segree | 7–10 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | National Bohemians Trio | 7 PM
Pirates Cove | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
The Point | Bryan Ewald | 5–8 PM
Rams Head Tavern | George Evans | 5 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Federico Jazz Ensemble | 5 PM

49 West | Mike McHenry & Friends | 8:30–11 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | Jeznick Duo, Carl Carter | 3:30 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern | Rick’s Revolving Door | 8:30 PM
Beer Farm | Michael McHenry | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Brian Boru | Dave Munford | 7–10 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
The Choptank | Anthony Hurley | 8 PM
Club 164 | Open Mic featuring Incandescent | 7–10 PM
Coconut Joe’s | TBA | 5–8 PM
Galway Bay | Mike Heuer | 7–10 PM
Great Frogs | Alex Peters | 5:30–8:30 PM
Harper’s Waterfront | Michael Miller | 8–11 PM
Killarney House | Freshly Squeezed | 7:30–10:30 PM
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen | Dave Hawkins | 5–8 PM
Market House | Dracula Jackson | 8–11 PM
Pirates Cove | Scoglio Duo | 7–10 PM
Rams Head Roadhouse | David Sparrow | 8 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Paulie C | 9 PM
Reynolds Tavern | Dan Heely | 7 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | The Uncommitted | 7 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Ryan Moran | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Riverside | Michael K | 4 PM
Stan & Joe's Saloon | Hall Williams Band | 9:45 PM
🌳🎵Watermark Annapolis Sunset Cruise | Top Dead Center | 7:30–9 PM | Tickets

Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who’s always wanted to start a hot tub boat rental business. It’s exactly what it sounds like. A floating hot tub. What could go wrong?