🍦Black Market Bakers opens Friday!

Good morning, Annapolis. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Dive Bar is not an insult. It’s a compliment.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins

Winter is just around the corner, and a wonderland of fun awaits you just 3 hours from Annapolis at Nemacolin!

Take a break from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the tranquil, serene surroundings of the Laurel Highlands. Hit the slopes for skiing or snowboarding at the Peak, warm up with a whiskey tasting, or enjoy the Hardy’s Holiday Village from November 30 to December 23 – where elves invite you to play and cozy shops invite you to indulge in festive treats and glamorous gifts.

Nemacolin even features a year-round outdoor pool, heated to perfection for swimming even in the colder months!

Nemacolin has something for everyone. Plan your stay and experience real-life magic by visiting nemacolin.com

Here’s your feel-good story of the day. Sarah Stusek — a Broadneck High alum — pledged to pay off all $2,630 in lunch debt at Annapolis Middle School. A video of her call to the school went viral, drawing 1.4 million views on Instagram alone. Inspired by a social media post suggesting people pay school lunch debt, Stusek launched the Proper Help Foundation in 2024. The nonprofit has since paid more than $75,000 in school lunch debt, including a $29,720 gift that cleared balances at all 18 Alexandria City Public Schools. ($)

The Coast to Coast 4 ALS (C2C 4 ALS) ride was born the way many great ideas are — over beers at Sailor Oyster Bar. And it’s a mission fueled by one woman’s strength: Laura Olds.

Laura was diagnosed with ALS in 2023. Before her diagnosis, she was always in motion — hiking, dancing, and biking. Today, her unwavering spirit inspires everyone around her. The C2C 4 ALS ride is for Laura, and thousands of other families facing ALS.

On May 1, 2026, riders will leave La Push, Washington, traveling 4,000 miles across 12 states, ending in Dewey Beach, Delaware. The route climbs the Rockies, rolls through the Great Plains, passes the Great Lakes, frequently visits dive bars, and will connect with communities touched by ALS nationwide. All to raise money for ALS research at the Johns Hopkins Packard Center.

For co-chair, rider, and iconic Annapolitan Rex Houlihan, the mission is deeply personal. He’s known Laura since he was 20 and considers her a sister. “It’s not about one person,” he says, “but rather a community pulling together.”

How to support the ride:

📧 Got questions or want to help? Email Rex at [email protected].

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This is not a drill. Remember when Black Market Bakers was just a food truck during the pandemic? Or if you’re a real early supporter, a home bakery 🤫. Well, they now have multiple brick-and-mortar locations. And their latest (and also biggest) is opening this week. Friday is opening day for Black Market’s 1804 West Street location.

ℹ️ BMB usually doesn’t open new stores with much fanfare. They just unlock the door and the store’s open! There’s always great energy, though. This bakery’s got a serious fanbase.

If you’re like us, you’ve seen the movie A Christmas Story enough times to know that Peking Duck is, indeed, a Christmas dinner. But even if it’s not about the Bumpus Hounds, and more about you not wanting to cook, there’s plenty of international cuisine to be had on Christmas to make the day special.

Christmas Day hours:

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.

Looking for the perfect holiday flowers or gifts in Annapolis? Fig & Flower in Eastport has you covered. Owned by local neighbor Denise Mills, this luxury floral studio started from a lifelong passion for blooms.

From same day delivery anywhere in Annapolis, to floral styling for events, unique gifts, and subscriptions for regular fresh flowers, Fig & Flower makes it easy to add beauty to any day.

Want to learn floral design? Private workshops for six or more give you hands-on experience. And with holiday events in the shop and around town, there is always something blooming.

Rooted in community and sourcing locally, Fig & Flower is more than flowers, it is a neighborhood experience.

Stop by the shop or visit their Instagram to learn more.

🩰 Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents The Nutcracker Dec. 13-21. Our state’s premier professional ballet company opens an all-new production of this holiday favorite.

🎄 Talent Machine Company presents A Merry Mix-Up Dec. 12-23. Experience the magic of the season with Talent Machine’s spectacular revue full of holiday cheer.

❄️ Classic Theatre of Maryland presents White Christmas Nov. 28-Dec. 28. Enjoy the hijinks of two WWII vets who team up with a sister act to bring holiday cheer to a failing Vermont inn.

👻 Classic Theatre of Maryland presents A Christmas Carol Dec. 4-Dec. 27. Watch cynical old Scrooge’s miraculous Christmas Eve redemption as he is visited by three spirits who show him his past, present, and future.

🏫 Enrollment open for Compass Rose Theater’s winter/spring classes Starting Jan. 20. Youth and adult performers can learn theater skills from accredited professional teachers.

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.

Wednesday’s meeting of the AACPS Board of Education will take a look at Superintendent Bedell’s Fiscal Year 2027 operating and capital budgets, which will be sent to County Executive Pittman’s desk in February. Also on the agenda is a presentation on the Long Range Facility Master Plan. The Board is set to hold two public meetings and a workshop on the budget in January, so if you can’t make tomorrow’s meeting, don’t fret. Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 PM in the Parham Building located at 2644 Riva Road.

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38 🌡️ 30 | 🌤️ | 4% | 💨 NNE 5 mph (4 knots)

48 🌡️ 32 | ⛅ | 5% | 💨 WSW 8 mph (7 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 40ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

49 West | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 7:30–9:30 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
Middleton Tavern | Songwriters Showcase | 6–9 PM
The Point | Jack Jones | 5–8 PM

49 West | Dave Chappell & Friends | 5–7 PM
49 West | Mr VCR & Friends | 7:45–10 PM
Brian Boru | Bobby Reed | 6–9 PM
Galway Bay | Irish Trad Music Session | 8 PM
Killarney House | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
Middleton Tavern | Michael Waskey | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Kurt Gibbons | 6–9 PM
The Point | Aaron Hawkins | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Jay Hurtt VI of Little Bird w/ Skribe | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Steve & Victoria | 9 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | George Jano | 9 PM

The Touchdown Club of Annapolis — a nonprofit established in 1955 — is recognizing two standout Edgewater athletes this year. South River senior Jaden McDuffie was named the Jim Rhodes Memorial Trophy winner as Anne Arundel’s top all-around football player. The Northwestern commit tallied 21 touchdowns, 31 tackles, and broke his own school record with 1,338 receiving yards on 58 receptions. Spalding offensive tackle Kyle Lucas earned the Al Laramore Memorial Award for the county’s best down lineman. Lucas anchored a dominant line that powered Spalding to a fourth straight MIAA A Conference championship. He’ll play football at the Naval Academy next year.

The Touchdown Club’s annual awards banquet will be held February 19, 2026 for the first time at The Westin in Annapolis. ($)

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