🍦A new bookstore drives into town

Good morning, Annapolis. The Rotary cracks open its 81st Crab Feast tonight at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, and the club’s own tally from the feast’s biggest years reads like a dare: 320 bushels of crabs, 3,400 ears of corn, 100 gallons of crab soup, 1,800 hot dogs, and 150 pounds of beef barbeque. BYO stretchy pants.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Ryan Sneddon

You clicked, we counted. Here’s what pulled hardest this week 🏆

And some other big stories, in case you missed them:

🛍️ Tax-Free Week starts Sunday and runs through Saturday, Aug. 15. Clothes and shoes priced at $100 or less per item skip the state’s 6% sales tax, and so does the first $40 of a backpack. Accessories, electronics, and school supplies don’t qualify, and anything over $100 is taxed on the full price.

🏛️ The General Assembly wrapped its two-day special session Tuesday and passed the redistricting amendment, 96–38 in the House and 32–13 in the Senate. Gov. Moore signed it Wednesday, but it only takes effect if voters approve it in November.

🦠 As of yesterday’s press time, still no swimming at Oyster Harbor, Epping Forest, YMCA Camp Letts, or Londontown at Midland. The county’s beach swim guide had all four flagged for high bacteria and awaiting resampling.

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Team Naptown Scoop Coast 2 Coast 4 ALS progress: $13,223/$20,000

A new independent bookstore is hitting the road in Anne Arundel County. Sweet Escape Bookshop, a mobile bookstore founded by Annapolis-area resident Nancy Vazquez, will celebrate its grand opening on Sunday, Aug. 16, from noon to 4 PM at BD Provisions (844 Ritchie Highway, Suite 101, Severna Park). It’s free and open to the public.

Housed in a custom trailer, Sweet Escape Bookshop will bring a carefully curated selection of new and pre-loved books to communities throughout the county. After her launch, Nancy plans to take the mobile bookstore to weekend events, partnering with local businesses, breweries, coffee shops, garden centers, artisan markets, and other community gathering spaces.

Vazquez said she’s most excited about creating a space where readers can connect, discover new stories and build friendships through a shared love of books. “Every book on the shelves is intentionally selected,” Nancy says. “I focus on the genres I genuinely love to read such as romance, romantasy, and thrillers. Many of the titles are books that I’ve personally read, loved and can’t wait to recommend, or gush about, while others are highly anticipated additions to my own TBR.”

Follow Sweet Escape Bookshop on Instagram at @sweet_escape_bookshop for upcoming events and locations.

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🎈 = family-friendly events

🦀 The 81st Rotary Crab Feast – All-you-can-eat crabs, crab soup, corn, and BBQ at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, 5–8 PM. Online sales are closed, so it’s same-day only at the gate: $105 general admission, $40 for kids 3–12. Rain or shine, as it has been since 1946.

🎈🍽️ Food Truck Fridays – More than 12 trucks at 275 Harry S. Truman Pkwy, 4–8 PM. Free admission, come hungry.

🎈🎭 A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Compass Rose Theater’s student actors stage interactive outdoor Shakespeare in the gardens at Historic London Town, 6:30 PM. Tickets from $15, and the run closes with 5:30 PM shows Saturday and Sunday.

🎶 Lilly Hiatt Band – The Nashville Americana songwriter brings her new album, Forever, to Rams Head On Stage at 8 PM.

🎈🐮 Anne Arundel County Farmers Market – Produce, meats, dairy, baked goods, coffee, and tacos at 275 Harry S. Truman Pkwy, 7 AM–noon.

🎈🏈 Navy Football Fan Fest – Autographs from the Midshipmen, games on the stadium field, and giveaways at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, 2–4 PM. Free.

🎈🎬 Ken Burns’ The American Revolution – Five screenings of curated clips inside the 1735 Woodlawn History Center at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater. Free, but space is limited and advance signup is required.

🎈🎶 Concert at Quiet Waters Park: Clones of Funk – Eight-piece Parliament and Funkadelic tribute band on the park’s amphitheater stage, 6–8 PM. Park admission is free for the concert, and DMV & Beyond and Kona Ice are on site.

🎶 Peter Levin with The Fitzkee Brothers – Grammy-nominated Hammond organ player who has recorded with Gregg Allman, Dolly Parton, and Ringo Starr, at Rams Head On Stage at 8 PM.

🎈🏎️ Corvettes on West – Corvettes old and new line the first block of West Street, 9 AM–1 PM. Free to wander.

🎈🐮 Anne Arundel County Farmers Market – Sunday edition of the market, 9 AM–noon, with produce, meats, dairy, coffee, crafts, and spirits.

🎭 CP Open Auditions for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – Heads will roll: Colonial Players is casting 11 to 13 performers for a spooky, funny take on the classic, 3–6 PM at the Annex. All roles open, none paid.

🍷 Yoga and Wine at Dodon – All-levels slow flow in the tasting room at the Vineyards at Dodon in Davidsonville, noon–1 PM. A glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage, is included in the $25.

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🎸 Songs and Stories – One of our favorite aspects of the Annapolis Songwriters Festival is the Songwriters in the Round series, which brings together the people who wrote the songs we can’t stop singing in the shower. Over two days (Sept. 11 and 12) you’ll hear performances of iconic songs along with the stories of their creation. The featured song is Change The World, written by Tommy Sims, recorded by Eric Clapton. Tickets go on sale today at noon.

💪🏻 Get those gains – Navy Football strength and conditioning coordinator Jim Kiritsy is said to spend more time with athletes than coaching staff, considering off-season workouts. His work has paid off: When the team re-assembled for August training this year, body composition scans showed that 450 pounds of muscle mass were added since January, along with 270 pounds of fat loss. Look out Towson University, who’ll meet the Mids on Sept. 5 for the home opener. ($)

🩺 We’re number 6! – Congrats to the health care workers of Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC), who were recently recognized in the latest U.S. News and World Report’s Best Hospitals rankings as the sixth best hospital in the state of Maryland. To us, you’re absolutely number one.

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90 🌡️ 74 | ⛈️ | 60% ☔ | 💨 SW 12 mph (10 knots)

90 🌡️ 74 | ⛈️ | 46% ☔ | 💨 SW 9 mph (8 knots)

90 🌡️ 75 | ☀️ | 4% ☔ | 💨 W 7 mph (6 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 82ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

49 West | Blue Rhythm Boys with Tom Mitchell | 8–10 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | Christopher Dean, Brendan Lane | 3:30 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern | American Darling | 8:30 PM
🌳🎵Annapolis Sunset Cruise | GroundRent | 7:30–9 PM | Tickets
Beer Farm | Michael McHenry | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Brian Boru | Nate and Jim | 7–10 PM
The Choptank | Kieran Lally | 8 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Mike Newberry | 4–7 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Hits Different | 9 PM
Galway Bay | Faith and the Faithful | 7–10 PM
Great Frogs | Carly Winter | 5:30–8:30 PM
Harper’s Waterfront | Kevin Lee | 8–11 PM
Killarney House | Ciaran Quinn | 7:30–10:30 PM
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen | Jeremy Robinson | 5–8 PM
Market House | Laura Brino | 7–10 PM
Market Space | Russ Jacobsen | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Dan Haas | 7–10 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Lilly Hiatt Band | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Aaron Hawkins | 8 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Nate Finn | 9 PM
Reynolds Tavern | Brandt Austin Dunn | 7 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | The Loose Cannons | 6 PM
Stan & Joe's Riverside | TBA | 4 PM
Stan & Joe's Saloon | Tommy McGee Band | 9:45 PM

49 West | Jane Error & Raquel Ra Brown | 7:30–10 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | Dan Heely, 3WhiteGuys | 3:30 PM
Beer Farm | Adam Merkle | 2–6 PM
Brian Boru | Lauren & Rusty | 7–10 PM
The Choptank | Ryan Cobb | 8 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Mark Desrochers | 2–5 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Tunnels End | 9 PM
Dark Horse | Mixed Business | 9 PM
Great Frogs | Danah Denise | 4:30–7:30 PM
Killarney House | John Haywood | 7–10 PM
Market Space | Mike Sharp | 2–6 PM
Pirates Cove | The Hyland Brothers | 3–6 PM
Pirates Cove | Big Scott | 7–10 PM
🌳🎵Quiet Waters Park | Clones of Funk | 6–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Peter Levin with The Fitzkee Brothers | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Life After Dinosaurs | 9 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Hyland Brothers | 9 PM
Reynolds Tavern | Mike Heuer | 7 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Distilled Grace | 6 PM
Stan & Joe’s Riverside | Victoria & Steve | 4 PM
Stan & Joe's Saloon | Russ & Friends | 9:45 PM

49 West | Man & Wolf | 7:30–9 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | Nicky Stacy Acoustic | 2–6 PM
Beacon Waterfront Galley | No Mics | 12 PM
Beer Farm | Pete Best | 2–5 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Roger Greenidge | TBA
Galway Bay | Seamus Kelleher | 4–8 PM
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen | Chapter 3 | 2–5 PM
Market House | Nyah Auane | 5–7 PM
Market Space | Anthony Broccolina | 2–6 PM
Pirates Cove | Trinidad & Tobago Baltimore Steel Drum Duo | 2–5 PM
Pirates Cove | John Luskey | 6–9 PM
Rams Head Tavern | The Geckos | 12 PM
Stan & Joe’s Riverside | Richard Hayward | 4 PM
Stan & Joe's Saloon | Simba | 9 PM

Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who’ll still have Old Bay under their fingernails on Sunday.