🍦Friary sells after 13 long years

Good morning, Annapolis. Pantone has revealed its highly anticipated 2026 Color of the Year and it is. . . white. . . Well, technically it’s called Cloud Dancer but it’s basically white. The company says its “lofty white serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection.”

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins

The holiday season is in full swing at Annapolis Mall, and it is the perfect time to soak up a little magic. Start with Santapolis, the mall’s signature Santa experience filled with sparkle, smiles, and photos your family will treasure. Whether it is your kid’s first visit or an annual tradition, Santa is ready to help you kick off the season with fun and festive energy.

Keep the good vibes going with Coffee with the Community, at Starbucks on Saturday at 2 PM, a friendly meet-up with local police officers. Grab a warm cup, ask questions, say hello, and help support the Toys for Tots collection by bringing a new, unwrapped toy. It is an easy way to spread kindness and brighten a child’s holiday.

Make a day of it. Photos, coffee, giving back, and holiday cheer come together to make the mall feel like the heart of the season. Everything you need for a memorable outing is waiting for you.

Visit Santa at Santapolis
Join Coffee with the Community

🍽️ Wonder Food Hall is opening on Riva Road in January. Most Wonder food is prepared at a commissary kitchen in New Jersey and interestingly, the reviews seem to be lower the further you get from that kitchen. Wonder’s NYC locations are mostly rated 4 stars on Google. Wonder’s MD & DC locations are all rated somewhere between 2.5 and 3.5 stars.

🏛️ Annapolis has a new mayor and several new city council members. They were inaugurated on Monday and their first meeting is this coming Monday.

🍎 AACPS revealed 18 semifinalists for 2025 Teacher of the Year.

⛳ There’s a community meeting Tuesday regarding a possible 135-unit townhouse development where Severna Park Golf Center currently sits.

Monday: Naval Academy to build $22M lacrosse facility ⚓️🥍
Tuesday: Annapolis Italian Christmas Market
Wednesday: Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year award Semifinalists
Thursday: West Annapolis Holiday Market

There was recently some chatter about AACPS students heading back to school on August 19, a full week earlier than usual. Those rumors were quashed Wednesday night, when the Board of Education chose to stick with August 24 as Back to School for the 2026-27 school calendar. To do this, days were added to the Christmas calendar, keeping students in classrooms until Christmas eve. The full calendar is here. Also on the agenda was the election of a new president: Vice President Gloria Dent was chosen to succeed outgoing president Robert Silkworth, who is finishing up the one-year term. ($)

On Wednesday, Gloria Dent (who represents District 1) took over as Anne Arundel County Board of Education president, succeeding Robert Silkworth. The former BOE VP won 7–1; only Dana Schallheim opposed her nomination, citing communication and collaboration concerns. District 7 member Dawn Pulliam was elected vice president. Both roles serve one-year terms. Dent, who’s served on the board since 2021, pledged continued transparency and accountability as the board heads toward the 2026–27 school year.

More wrist slaps: There must be something in the water lately. First Pittman’s newsletter, now this. The Open Meetings Law Compliance Board found the BOE violated the law at its Sept. 17 meeting by recessing into what amounted to a closed session without a vote during the redistricting process. On the livestream, Dent called over the board’s attorney before the video cut to a screensaver. The “five-minute” recess stretched past 10. The board acknowledged the finding Wednesday — right before Dent became president. ($)

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Here are three things we know about Brad Kappel. The man loves to paddleboard, usually wears loafers (a great choice), and never quits. The Friary on the Severn – the 35,000-square foot home owned by the owners of Phillips Seafood – has just been sold for $12.5 million. While the Phillips family has been trying to sell the home for over a decade, friend of the Scoop Brad Kappel has been working on it for the last 5 years – including a 2021 auction that was cancelled at the last second. We had the opportunity to tour the home during that auction process and wow, words don’t do it justice. Watch this video to see what we mean.

Brad told the Baltimore Business Journal the house will no longer be a punchline at parties. Many people (me included if I’m honest) had jokingly asked Brad if he’d ever sell the house. It’s a good thing he didn’t let us bother him. ($)

All this Midnight Madness and Hallmark movie talk lately has us craving top-notch hot chocolate.

If you’re not in the mood to make it . . .

Annapolis Ice Cream Company | 196 Main St | Cute stuffed penguins beckon at the award-winning ice cream store. Don’t sleep on their hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream!

The Red Bean | 220 Main St | Their classic Hot Chocolate holds its own. But who doesn’t want to try their Peanut Butter or Mexican versions?!

Bean Rush Cafe | 112A Annapolis St and 1015 General’s Hwy | Grab a piping hot cup of standard Hot Chocolate, Organic Ruby Cocoa Latte, or a flavored Hot Steamer from their West Annapolis or Crownsville locations.

Bread & Butter Kitchen | 303 Second St, Suite A | Hot chocolate snobs might point their noses northward, but powder-based cocoa can still be delicious. The perfect time to try theirs is during the 2nd annual Cookies and Cocoa event on December 20. Decorate cookies, enjoy bottomless hot cocoa, and finger foods. Grab tickets to this hot event.

Publisher’s note: Homemade is the way to go. Gently heat whole milk on the stove, whisk in high-quality chopped chocolate and cocoa powder, add a touch of vanilla and salt, and top with homemade whipped cream.

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.

Although we should be watching Navy in the American Conference Championship game tonight then celebrating victory all weekend long, here’s what we’re doing instead because life’s not fair.

SATURDAY

Quiet Waters Park | DeCesaris/Prout Jingle Bell Run/Walk | Get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather while raising awareness of lung and ovarian cancer. 9 AM.

West Annapolis | West Annapolis Holiday Market | Over 30 vendors, Santa sightings, fire pits, and more. 11 AM – 4 PM.

Millersville | Kinder Park Jingle Bell Hayride | Superfun day for the family (make sure to RSVP in advance for Santa photos). 10 AM – 1 PM.

Crownsville | Wildberry Vintage Christmas Market (final market ever) | It’s their final market before transitioning into a brewery. Come say hi (and goodbye - sniff) to the whole family. 1–4 PM.

SUNDAY

Lothian | Honey’s Harvest Farm Market | Vendors provide organic, fresh produce, pasture-raised meat, wild-caught seafood, natural soap, wine, craft brew, spirits, jewelry, and so much more. 11 AM – 3 PM.

West Annapolis | Italian Christmas Market | The Sons and Daughters of Italy have a great bazaar with all the gifts and snacks you love (it’s time to buy your panettone). 10 AM – 3 PM.

Eastport | Eastport Christmas Market | Oscar’s Coffee and Horn Point Marina host this fun annual market - the perfect place to find special gifts while supporting the community. Noon – 4 PM.

West Street | Chocolate Binge Festival | It’s more chocolate than you can imagine, but there’s so much more in store. Come check it out. 11 AM – 4 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.

If you have a sidewalk in front of your house, maybe ask Santa for a snowblower? The County Council recently approved a measure to increase fines for failure to remove snow from sidewalks. Previously, residential fines were just $10, but now the fine’s $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second, and $500 for any subsequent issues. The Capital notes that “The bill changes the penalty from a criminal to a civil offense and shifts responsibility for enforcement from the county police to the Department of Inspections and Permits.” The bill now moves to County Executive Steuart Pittman’s desk, where he’s expected to support it. ($)

The newly inaugurated City Council has the first meeting of its new term this upcoming Monday 6 PM at City Council Chambers (160 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis). An agenda has not yet been published, but we’ll share it with you in Monday’s Scoop ahead of the meeting. Stay updated here and sign up to give testimony.

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32 🌡️ 29 | 🌨️ | 42% | 💨 ENE 5 mph (4 knots)

41🌡️ 32 | 🌤️ | 13% | 💨 SW 5 mph (4 knots)

42 🌡️ 33 | 🌤️ | 6% | 💨 NE 5 mph (4 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 46ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

49 West | Tom Mitchell & Friends | 8–10 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern | Nate Finn | 8:30 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Michael McHenry Tribe | 9–12 PM
Brian Boru | Poehemia | 7–10 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
The Choptank | Jon Watkins | 8 PM
Galway Bay | The Hyland Brothers | 7–10 PM
Great Frogs | Tim Atkinson | 5–8 PM
Killarney House | Viands & Co. | 7:30–10:30 PM
The Lodge | Andy B | 5–8 PM
Market House | Suzy Lenox | 7–10 PM
Middleton Tavern | Noelle & Jeff Band | 10 PM
Old Stein Inn | Johnny Poulos | 7–10 PM
Pirates Cove | Kurt Gibbons | 7:30–10:30 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Pure Prairie League | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Aaron Hawkins | 8 PM
Rams Head Tavern | One Step Down | 5 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Shiftwork | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Tommy McGee Band | 9:45 PM

49 West | John Jensen | 4–6 PM
49 West | Spa Creek Jazztet | 7:30–10 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Red Betty & The Ruckus | 9 PM
Brian Boru | Lost and Found | 7–10 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Goodbye Vienna | 9 PM
Dark Horse | Troll Trive | 9 PM
Great Frogs | Daphne Eckman | 1:30–4:30 PM
Killarney House | Kevin Lee | 7:30–10:30 PM
Middleton Tavern | Mojo Collective | 10 PM
Pirates Cove | Stephen Henson | 7:30–10:30 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Laura Tsaggaris | 1 PM | Tickets
Rams Head On Stage | Atlanta Rhythm Section | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Ghosts on the Wall | 9 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Ginger and the Other Dave | 9 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Epptones Band | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Honey Sol | 9:45 PM

49 West | Gary Wright & Leah Weiss | 4–6 PM
49 West | Tom Lagana & Darden Purcell | 7:30–9:30 PM
Brian Boru | Finbar's Flight | 4–7 PM
Galway Bay | Brandon the Wandering Bard | 4–8 PM
The Lodge | Tony Gatlin | 11 AM – 2 PM
Market House | Jill Janota Davolio and Don of Lost Souls | 5–8 PM
Pirates Cove | Madisun Bailey | 3–6 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Jeffrey Gaines & Sawyer Fredericks | 1 PM | Tickets
Rams Head On Stage | Tab Benoit w/ Jesse Dayton | 8 PM | Tickets
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Sydney Smith & Jake | 9 PM

Women's Basketball (5-3)
12/4 @ Radford | L 84-97

Women's Basketball (5-3)
12/7 vs. Iona | 3 PM

Men's Basketball (5-5)
12/7 vs. Air Force | Noon

Men's Hockey (8-9)
12/5 vs. Temple University | 7 PM
12/7 vs. West Chester University | 5:30 PM

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Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who’s absolutely going to paint their entire house Cloud Dancer white now.