🍦Future of outdoor dining at Market Space

Good morning, Annapolis. On this day in 1954, British athlete Roger Bannister became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes at Oxford. Today, in 2026, it will probably take me more than 4 minutes to find my keys.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, & Duffy Perkins

Set along the South River with sweeping views extending to the Chesapeake Bay, 411 Ferry Point Road offers a rare blend of proximity and privacy. From the saltwater pool, deep-water pier with multiple slips, dual boat lifts, and a beachfront Cabana, you’re minutes from open water—and just a short drive to downtown Annapolis.

Custom-built in 2015 in a timeless East Coast gambrel-and-shingle style, the home is both refined and understated. Expansive windows invite natural light from sunrise to sunset, creating a seamless connection to the surrounding landscape.

The main-level primary suite, complete with a private patio, serves as a serene retreat. A beautifully appointed kitchen, open living and dining spaces, and a richly detailed wood-paneled office complete the heart of the home. Upstairs, two en-suite bedrooms with private balconies offer elevated comfort and commanding views.

Outdoors, a resort-style setting awaits—featuring a stone pool, multiple entertaining terraces, and a private beach, all curated for effortless waterfront living.

Experience life on the South River, redefined—presented by the Brad Kappel Team.

Explore 411 Ferry Point Road with the Brad Kappel Team.

Chair Julie Hummer gaveled in Monday night's meeting with a Star Wars opener ("May the 4th be with us") and a packed agenda. Nearly three hours later, here's what landed.

Region 5 zoning — the last of nine regional plans the county has been working through for 2.5 years — got a heavy edit. Council adopted six amendments shifting parcels along Maryland Route 3 and Queen Mitchell Road from residential to commercial, mostly in Gambrills and Crofton. But the night's flashpoint was a 134-acre property on Meyers Station Road near Two Rivers. After more than an hour of testimony from residents fed up with traffic and a long list of broken developer promises, the council landed on a compromise: zoning bumped from rural agricultural to R1, but the planned land use stayed rural — effectively capping the site at five homes on septic. Final vote on the full Region 5 package: May 18.

A few other things worth knowing:

Next up: FY27 budget hearings start May 11, then it's back to the dais May 18 for the Region 5 and cannabis votes.

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Team Naptown Scoop Coast 2 Coast 4 ALS progress: $11,553/$20,000

Always Faithful Dog Training of Annapolis helps dogs and puppies become calm, confident, and well‑mannered through leadership‑based, real‑world training. We specialize in private, in-home training of leash manners, obedience, behavior issues, and puppy foundations. Without treats, clickers, shock collars or gimmicks. Start your dog’s transformation today! Call 2403634432 or visit www.alwaysfaithfuldogs.com/annapolis.

Our boy Thomas is shy — for now. But it's only a matter of weeks before someone gets to find out exactly how goofy this little dude actually is.

A one-year-old apricot mini poodle mix with a face that says "please be patient with me," Thomas is currently in foster, slowly figuring out that the world isn't actually so scary. He takes a few minutes to warm up to new people, but once he does? Full transformation. He runs, he plays, he becomes the kind of unfiltered, full-throttle puppy that makes the whole couch worth it.

Maybe you're a quiet, evening-walk type who's been waiting for the right co-pilot; or you're the kind of person who's always had a soft spot for the shy kid in the corner — the one you knew was secretly the funniest in the class. Thomas is your guy, and we mean it.

He'd do best with older kids (12+), and we don't yet know how he'll do with cats or other dogs — so meet-and-greets are your friend. What he needs most is a family willing to help him keep building his confidence, and the patience to watch him bloom on his own time.

Go find this curly-haired sweetheart at the SPCA of Anne Arundel County and bring him home. He’s been there since December.

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Things are a changing at Market Space.

Five restaurants — Iron Rooster, McGarvey's, Federal House, Market House, and Middleton Tavern — got letters from the city last week stating their shared outdoor dining lease won't be renewed when it expires June 30. After the Capital Gazette ran it, folks were less than pleased. So the city put out a press release to clear things up: outdoor dining is here to stay, but the structure is changing.

Two of the bigger reasons:

The city also flagged winter as a logistics issue: the permanent setup is a snow-removal headache. The new model is meant to right-size the footprint for peak season and keep the streets clear in the off-season.

Worth noting: The current setup will stay in effect through June 30 when the lease ends but the city said, “it is our hope to continue the outdoor dining setup for all of July, August, and September, and as weather permits, later into the fall.”

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🅿️ 55 is the new 62: Annapolis is bringing back, Golden Pass, its discounted senior parking program for round two. And they dropped the age threshold from 62 to 55. From June 1 through August 31, $20 a month gets you two hours of parking daily on Main Street, Maryland Avenue, or in the Mills Hillman Garage. Sign-ups open May 11, and you don't even have to live in the city. Register here.

🗳️ Anne Arundel needs 692 Republicans: Maryland law requires every polling place to staff both Democratic and Republican judges, and the county has a surplus of Dems and unaffiliated applicants but a serious gap on the GOP side ahead of the June 23 primary. If Republicans don't sign up by May 23, the Board of Elections will start filling those slots with applicants from other parties. You can earn up to $375. Apply here.

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75 🌡️ 54 | 🌧️ | 74% ☔ | 💨 S 14 mph (12 knots)

63 🌡️ 48 | 🌧️ | 73% ☔ | 💨 N 7 mph (6 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 60ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

49 West | Dave Chappell & Friends | 5–7 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | David Sparrow | 7–10 PM
Brian Boru | Suzy and Shaun | 6–9 PM
Galway Bay | Irish Trad Music Session | 8 PM
Julep | Dana B | 5–8 PM
Killarney House | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen | Mike Miller | 5–8 PM
Middleton Tavern | Nate Finn | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Brandon & Thordis | 6–9 PM
The Point | Aaron Hawkins | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Colin James, Matt Andersen & Terra Lightfoot | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Hyland Brothers | 9 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Leo Havens | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Joey Fitz | 9 PM

49 West | Jeff Antoniuk Quartet | 7:30–10 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | Heartwood | 7–10 PM
Beer Farm | Joey Fitz | 4–7 PM
Brian Boru | Ciaran Quinn | 6–9 PM
Killarney House | Nate Finn | 6–9 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | Dave Tieff & Cade Long | 7 PM
La Sierra | Cristopher Dean | 5:30–8:30 PM
Pirates Cove | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
The Point | Aidan Ewald | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Mama’s Black Sheep, The Sweet Leda Duo, Regina Sayles, Colleen Clark, and Madisun Bailey | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Mike Miller | 5 PM

Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with a neighbor you can always count on to help you get heavy new furniture into your living room. You’re the man, Justin.