🍦Atlas is buying the Boatyard

Good morning, Annapolis. Order a square pizza tonight in honor of Thelma W. Beall. Ledo Pizza posted on Facebook Wednesday that its 101-year-old co-founder and former president died of natural causes. We have Ledos in Annapolis, Edgewater, and Severna Park as well as “corner shoppes” in many Giant grocery stores.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins

A new year means a fresh start & freshly renewed dental benefits! Make a new year’s resolution for a bright, healthy smile. Most dental insurance plans include two FREE teeth cleanings a year, so why wait? Start off your year right by coming into Morabito Family Dental for your FREE cleaning.

Our staff looks forward to your visit. We’re committed to your oral health & providing you the expert care you deserve.

At Morabito Family Dental, we know how busy plans can get, especially around the holidays—that’s why we are open from 7 AM to 8 PM & on Saturdays, so you don’t miss out on any school or work. We’re located on Forbes Street in West Annapolis, across from Navy Stadium. Visit us online to book an appointment or give us a call 443-603-9000. Our caring team looks forward to your visit!

Monday: Register now for Maryland’s Best Expo 🌽
Tuesday: What does $12.5 million get you on Spa Creek?
Wednesday: Chesapeake Chapters: Go Clean, Sexy You 📖
Thursday: Vin 909 winter wonderland wine dinner ❄️🍷

Not that you’d want to right now (the water’s about 40ºF), but no swimming in Spa Creek, OK? A grease blockage caused a 9,000-gallon sewage spill on Wednesday afternoon. The blockage is gone and the water’s been treated, but the health department says no direct water contact from Hilltop Lane and Boxwood Road to the end of Truxtun Park until January 14.

ICYMI, back in October, the Board of Education removed six early dismissal days from this year’s calendar, saying families found them “enormously inconvenient.” Two of those days are next week. Thursday, January 15 is now a full school day. Friday, January 16, is a day off for all students. Just sharing this so you don’t show up at the car line two hours early.

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This may come as a shock. Dick Franyo, the 81-year-old founder of Eastport’s Boatyard Bar & Grill, has agreed to sell a majority stake of the iconic restaurant to Atlas Restaurant Group. The deal will close in February. Dick will “remain on the scene full time . . . as long as I want (maybe 85 is a good target!)” Longtime GM Kevin Schendel is staying put as well. Both Dick and Atlas CEO Alex Smith emphatically stated that the Boatyard as we know and love it isn’t changing.

We’ll shoot it to you straight. That’s what we do here at Naptown Scoop. Atlas’ press materials talk about brand presence, marketing reach, and bulk food purchasing channels. But if you really want to know what this deal was about, read Dick’s Facebook post. It’s not polished PR. It’s straight from his heart and even includes his personal cell phone number.

Dylan here 👋 As the Scoop’s resident vegan, I’m writing Foodie Friday this week — because whether you’re trying to eat more vegetables, cut back on animal products, or just be a more adventurous eater, a vegan meal might be a great option, even if you’re normally a carnivore. After all, you don’t have to be vegan to try vegan food! I should mention that in all my years of dining out in Annapolis, I’ve never not been able to find something on a menu. But these restaurants stand out because of their sheer variety and reliability:

🥙 Bread & Butter Kitchen | 303 Second St, Annapolis | Plenty of vegan sandwiches and bowls, including “crab” cake made from jackfruit.

🥗 True Food Kitchen | 1906 Towne Centre Blvd, Annapolis | You can’t beat their specialty veggie burger or any of their pizzas with vegan cheese.

🥕 Level | 69 West St, Annapolis | Their small plates menu always has several vegan options, and their servers are great about recommending vegetable-forward options that can be easily made vegan with simple substitutions.

🍞 Sprout | 150 Jennifer Road, Annapolis | You need to check out this easy, laidback cafe with all of its vegan sandwiches, soups, baked good, and more.

This is for everyone who would golf daily if not for an unfortunate work schedule. Back Nine, an indoor golf simulator, is coming to the Crofton-Gambrills area this winter. Anne Arundel residents Nate and Nirali DePasquale are opening the 3,866-square foot complex, which will offer 365 days of 24/7 golfing for members of all skill levels. Back Nine’s new location is in the Crofton Princess Center, between Wegman’s and Aldi. Doors are set to open in late January, with founders’ memberships starting at just $159/month. And hey - if you have a non-golfer in your life, let them know Back Nine will also have great massage chairs.

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.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

DoubleTree Hotel | Maryland Yuletide Celebration | Two nights of winter fun including balls, music, dancing, a cash bar, and a renn fair marketplace. 6–11 PM.

SATURDAY

Hammond-Harwood House | Fireside Revelry: A Colonial Twelfth Night Celebration | This candlelit concert revives seasonal music and poetry that once filled Annapolis homes during the Twelve Days of Christmas. 6 PM.

SUNDAY

Truman Parkway | Anne Arundel County Farmers Market | See what local vendors have to offer at this winter market. 9 AM-Noon.

Gallery 57 West | A Day of the Arts | Enjoy live in-gallery demonstrations by two featured artists, Kathy Strouss and Robert Neales, as they share their creative process. 1–3 PM.

Maryland Hall | Annapolis Symphony Academy winter concert | Hear music from the Aries Youth Chamber Orchestra and Orion Youth Orchestra as they play alongside their Annapolis Symphony Orchestra mentors. 5 PM.

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.

With a hiring freeze in effect and a 2 percent cost-of-living salary increase on the horizon, negotiations between AACPS and the Secretaries and Assistants Association of Anne Arundel County are gridlocked. They have been since June, but a mediator’s proposed settlement was rejected in December.

The December settlement addressed the first two points but was denied by the Board, whose policy does not allow them to comment publicly on the negotiations process. Here’s hoping 2026 brings a quick (and happy) outcome. ($)

Everyone (and we mean everyone) is talking about the housing proposal at the Severna Park Golf Center. Developers initially planned about 75 townhomes, but the county’s Housing Attainability Act, which took effect last July, allows higher density with more affordable units. This “density bonus” pushes the Golf Center Project to over 130 homes.

County Councilwoman Amanda Fiedler’s just introduced Bill 5-26 which would temporarily suspend the law for this site, forcing the project back to its original 75 units. The legislation cites traffic (no shock there) and infrastructure concerns. A hearing and potential vote are scheduled for Feb. 2. ($)

The City Council meets Monday 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.

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55 🌡️ 45 | 🌦️ | 64% | 💨 S 9 mph (8 knots)

48🌡️ 44 | 🌧️ | 99% | 💨 ENE 9 mph (8 knots)

46 🌡️ 31 | ⛅ | 19% | 💨 WNW 16 mph (14 knots)

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

49 West | Jeff Muller & Friends | 7:30–10:30 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern | Mac Heat | 8:30 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dan Haas Trio | 9–12 PM
Brian Boru | Aidan and Bryan | 7–10 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
The Choptank | Jon Watkins | 8 PM
Killarney House | Pete Best | 7:30–10:30 PM
The Lodge | Jennifer Schimpf | 5–8 PM
Market House | Faith and the Faithful | 8–11 PM
Middleton Tavern | Sidewalk Soul | 10 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | David Sparrow | 5–8 PM
Old Stein Inn | Eddie Pasa | 7–10 PM
Pirates Cove | The Backburners | 7:30–10:30 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Alison Brown Quintet | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Broroy | 8 PM
Rams Head Tavern | George Evans | 9 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Shiftwork | 7 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Local Souls | 5 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Mr VCR | 9:45 PM

49 West | John Jensen | 4–6 PM
49 West | The Winter Songwriter Showcase Vol 2 | 7:30–9:30 PM
Blackwall Hitch | MXD | 9 PM
Brian Boru | Lauren and Rusty | 7–10 PM
The Choptank | Ryan Cobb | 8 PM
Dark Horse | West Street Revival Band | 8 PM
Killarney House | The Hyland Brothers | 7:30–10:30 PM
Middleton Tavern | All You Need | 10 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | Bryan Miller | 8–11 PM
Pirates Cove | Frank, Elvis & Raines | 7–10:30 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Kashmir | 8:30 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Guava Jelly | 9 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Tavair Dominque | 9 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Epptones | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Higher Hands | 9:45 PM

49 West | Daphne Eckman Band | 7:30–10:30 PM
Galway Bay | The Drinker & The Scholar | 4–8 PM
The Lodge | Eugene Chapman | 11 AM – 2 PM
Pirates Cove | Shaun Gomban | 3–6 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Ana Popovic | 1 PM | Tickets
Rams Head On Stage | Dead Letter Office | 8 PM | Tickets
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Brendan Lane Duo | 9 PM

Women's Basketball (8-6)
1/10 @ Lafayette | 2 PM

Men's Basketball (11-5)
1/10 vs. Lafayette | 2 PM

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Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who thinks Ledo Pizza’s slogan, “Ledo Pizza is square because Ledo Pizza never cuts corners” is the greatest slogan in marketing.