TOGETHER WITH
Good morning, Annapolis. Rocco’s Pizzeria is celebrating its 52nd anniversary this week. But instead of us giving them gifts, they’re giving us gifts. Through Sunday, anyone who walks in and wishes them a happy anniversary gets a free slice of cheese pizza. One slice per person per day.
In today’s Naptown Scoop:
Toastique and Y'ollk open in Severna Park
Christmas plans
What's on stage this week
Let’s get to it.
— Ryan Sneddon
SPONSORED BY HOMESTEAD GARDENS
Fall Feels Arriving Weekly to Homestead Gardens
Your porch called...it would like to acknowledge the change in seasons.
Homestead Gardens is getting fresh, locally grown fall favorites every week, including mums, pumpkins and the seasonal staples needed to welcome the new season.
Bring the family, wander the garden center and see what’s new. At our Davidsonville location, stop by the Beer Farm brewery while you’re here, because choosing the right pumpkin is serious work and refreshments help.
And save your weekends! Fall Family Weekends arrive September 26 through November 1, with plenty of reasons to get everyone out of the house. Tickets and details are coming soon.
Skip the big-box fall aisle this year. Bring the family to Homestead Gardens to explore, discover and find a little fall magic for yourselves.
THE DAILY GRIND
Café Diem is back ☕
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, Natalie Franke and the Scoop team dreamed up the GAPSCC (Great Annapolis Pumpkin Spice Coffee Crawl). The idea was simple: drink fall-themed local coffee and earn prizes. Y’all loved it, but it was a lot more work than we thought. Luckily, Visit Annapolis was willing to pick up the slack.
They made some improvements, too. First, the name. It’s called Café Diem now. Second, no more punch cards; everything’s digital. And third, espresso martinis and Irish coffees count. I can’t believe we didn’t think of that.
🏆 How to get a prize: Every check-in’s worth 100 points. The first 50 to get 600 points get a Café Diem baseball cap. Everyone with six check-ins is entered to win a gift basket, and the top four Instagram posts tagged #CafeDiemAnnapolis get entered into a lottery for another.
Over 30 coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries are in. Grab your pass to join the fun. The crawl starts September 27. Like we said in 2023, Drink Local or Die Trying!
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Team Naptown Scoop Coast 2 Coast 4 ALS progress: $13,273/$20,000
SLEIGH THE DAY
Annapolis holiday plans you can lock in right now 🎄
Yes, it’s September. And while that’s too early to listen to Christmas music, it’s not too early to plan for Christmas. Especially since some of this stuff sells out.
Lights on the Bay – An absolute icon. It’s a two-mile drive through Sandy Point State Park with over 70 animated light displays. Proceeds support the SPCA of Anne Arundel County. Pro tip: bring a thermos full of hot cocoa. November 23–January 3.
The Nutcracker – Another sacred tradition. Not just in Annapolis but worldwide. The Ballet Theatre of Maryland sets its version in 19th-century Annapolis, with crabs and oysters escorting Clara into the Kingdom of Confections. November 22, then December 12, 13, 19, and 20.
Grand Illumination – The Market Space Christmas Tree is only slightly smaller than NYC’s at Rockefeller Center*. And they can’t even get Santa to come do the lighting in Manhattan! November 29.
* slightly smaller is a matter of heavily biased opinion
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – We aren’t claiming that. It’s just what the play’s called. The Colonial Players do the Herdman kids in the round. December 2–13.
Midnight Madness – Rumor has it Midnight Madness has inspired scenes in 17 Hallmark movies. Ok, that’s not true but it is cute as heck and super fun. Downtown shops and restaurants stay open late on the first three Thursdays of December.
Annapolis Holiday Market – This is at a new location this year while City Dock’s under construction: Annapolis Mall! About 150 vendors (with room for a few more) selling all sorts of goods. December 4 to 6 and 11 to 13.
Chocolate Binge Festival – The December edition of the First Sunday Arts Festival, but heavily chocolate themed. Great for gifting. Not great for your diet. December 6.
Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade – Perhaps the most “Annapolis” tradition on this list and by far our favorite. Decorated boats run up and down Spa Creek and Ego Alley for two hours whether it’s 30°F or 60°F (and yes we’ve experienced both). December 12.
An Annapolis Christmas – Local musicians play Rams Head On Stage for the 28th year, and tickets support Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians, which covers medical bills for working players. December 14 and 15.
Stay tuned for more events as they’re announced!
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STAR TURNS
Theater Talk Tuesday 🎭
Now playing. . .
🎭 The Colonial Players present Our Town, through Saturday, October 3. Thornton Wilder’s small-town classic, in the round on East Street, Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM.
🥜 Compass Rose Theater presents You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, through Sunday, October 4 at Live Arts Studio in the Annapolis Mall. Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturday at 2 and 7:30, Sunday at 2. $15 to $55 before fees, and parking is free.
🔭 Opera AACC presents Computing Venus, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 PM and Saturday at 2 PM at the Kauffman Theater in Arnold. An 85-minute opera about Maria Mitchell, who found a comet from her roof at 29 and got hired as the government’s official ‘computer of Venus.’ $15, or $5 for students.
🎪 2nd Star Productions presents Pippin, through Saturday, October 3 at the Bowie Playhouse. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM, Sunday at 2 PM, $30, fees included. Every seat is $19 on Thursday, October 1.
Up next. . .
🍳 Maryland Hall hosts a staged reading of Writing in Diners, a new comedy by artist in residence Bob Bartlett, Tuesday, September 29 at 7:30 PM. It runs 80 minutes with a talkback after, and you need to register.
👑 Classic Theatre of Maryland presents Hamlet, October 1 through 18 on West Street, Thursdays through Sundays, $61.75 to $98.75, fees included.
🎻 The Annapolis Symphony presents Echoes of the Earth, Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3 at 7:30 PM at Maryland Hall, with cellist Julian Schwarz. From $25, or $15 for students.
🕊️ Live Arts Maryland presents A Concert for Peace, Saturday, October 10 at 7:30 PM at Maryland Hall. Prices aren’t posted, so call 443-771-5198.
💃 Maryland Hall presents Ailey II, Sunday, October 11 at 7 PM, $57 to $98, fees included.
🩰 Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents La Sylphide, October 16 through 18 at Maryland Hall, the company’s first crack at the 190-year-old ballet. $39 to $67, fees included.
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In other news. . .
🥑 Toast Is Up – Toastique opened Saturday at 580 Ritchie Highway, Suite K, in Park Plaza in Severna Park, next to MOM’s Organic Market. It’s the second shop for franchisees Allyson and Mo Jishi, who opened the Annapolis Town Center location in May 2024. The menu: gourmet toasts, açaí bowls, cold-pressed juice, and an all-day espresso bar. It’s open daily from 7 AM to 5 PM, and today’s opening-week deal is a free coffee with any purchase.
🥐 Two for Two – Y'ollk Bakery opened the same day, at 489 Ritchie Highway, Suite 101, in the Severna Park Market Center. The baking is French technique with a Filipino streak: croissants, brioche doughnuts, petit gâteaux, quiches, breads, custom cakes, and coffee, all made in-house.
⚓ Under New Ownership – Misty Morning Marina, a 3.6-acre waterfront property at 1052 Old Turkey Point Road in Edgewater, sold for $1.1 million. The site has about 693 feet of frontage on Selby Bay, two piers, a boat ramp, and a recently renovated 3,296-square-foot building.
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WEATHER
Tuesday
67 🌡️ 58 | 🌧️ | 82% ☔ | 💨 NE 17 mph (15 knots)
Wednesday
68 🌡️ 58 | 🌧️ | 61% ☔ | 💨 NE 20 mph (17 knots)
💧🌡️ Water temperature = 77ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication
LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN
🌳🎵= Outdoor concert
Tuesday
49 West | Seth Mitchell Band | 7:30–10 PM
The Admiral's Cup | Danah Koch | 7–10 PM
Brian Boru | Ray Weaver | 6–9 PM
Captain's Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
🌳🎵Chronic Sailing | Jimi Haha | 7 PM
Copper Creek | Jazz Jam | 8–10 PM
The Point | Kavoossi | 5–8 PM
Wednesday
49 West | Marc Douglas Berardo & Walt Wilkins | 8–10:30 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | Stephen Henson/Slip Hippies | 7–10 PM
Brian Boru | Nate Finn | 6–9 PM
Galway Bay | Irish Trad Music Session | 8 PM
Kelsey's Restaurant & Irish Pub | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Kevin Lee | 6–9 PM
The Point | Aaron Hawkins | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Sean Hayes w/ Etienne de Rocher (Haunted Shed) | 8 PM | Tickets
Reynolds Tavern | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 6:30–9:30 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Open Mic | 7 PM
THANKS!
Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who’s already counting how many Saturdays are left before Christmas.
