🍦Hillman Garage opening date set

Good morning, Annapolis. This is Naptown Scoop – the newsletter equivalent of a bonfire on a beach, waves gently lapping the sand, your best friend strumming a guitar. . . . Ahh, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. 🌴

This is also where I warn you that lots of stuff in Scoop is weather-dependent and there’s a slight chance of rain Saturday so check for updates before you go anywhere.

Let’s get to it.

—Ryan Sneddon

After 2 years of Herndon Climbs that went about as fast as 3 PM school year traffic on Duke of Gloucester, it was nice to have a quick one this week. Well done, Class of 2026. MIDN 4/C Chris Paris of 28th Company from Louisville, KY capped the monument in 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 51 seconds. Click here to see the joyous moment (and a whole lot of epic downfalls).

P.S. Commissioning Week officially starts today. Downtown will be crowded, traffic will be slow, and restaurants will be full. But there’s one thing that makes it all worth it . . . The Blue Angels. Twice 😍. Here’s Scoop’s full guide to the week.

Attention, outdoor dining lovers! The Choptank rooftop is back open. With Annapolis’ only public waterfront rooftop, a meal at The Choptank is a meal like no other.

Let’s order appetizers. Maybe Cajun Spiced Tuna Tartare or Maryland Crab Dip? Or keep it on land with Prime Beef Carpaccio or a Wagyu Meatball?

For the main event, there are 8 fresh fish, 6 steaks and chops, many salads and sandwiches, and if that’s still not enough, classics like the Black Angus Burger or Maryland Crab Cake – (9.0 composite rating in Naptown Scoop’s famous crab cake reviews).

There’s a reason Alex Smith calls 110 Compromise Street “the best waterfront location in the entire state of Maryland.” One meal on the rooftop and you’ll understand.

If you want unmatched atmosphere, delicious food, and views only available at The Choptank, make a reservation today. It’s not just a meal, it’s a memory.

It’s official. The City of Annapolis set an opening date for the brand new Hillman Garage. Mark your calendar for June 14, y’all, because Annapolis is about to have the nicest parking garage you ever did see. It’s got 165 more spaces than the old one, gateless (aka faster) entry/exit, public restrooms, EV charging stations, bike racks, space count indicators, and some cool stuff you may not notice like stormwater controls and solar panels. Rumor has it there are even pickleball court lines on the roof!

The grand opening is June 14 from 4–6 PM and there will be live music, giveaways, and most excitingly, free parking from 6/14–19.

Fair Winds Capital Investments got permission to turn Ogle Hall into an inn this week, but they were unanimously denied also being able to turn it into a “social organization.” The club designation would have allowed Fair Winds to host catered events like weddings. Members of the Board of Appeals alleged that the investors “invented the social organization” just to host events. Per C1 zoning (where Ogle Hall is), inns can only serve food and beverage to guests. The group now has the option to go forward with building an inn that can contain up to 20 rooms. ($)

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📸 @capitalsup | 📍Quiet Waters Park

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Local entrepreneurs Stephy Samaras and Jeremiah Batucan are opening an outdoor pickleball facility at Annapolis Mall called Ball at the Mall. It will have 8 dedicated courts (with lights), online reservations, and regular leagues and tournaments. Ball at the Mall plans to host a grand opening party in June.

ArtFarm Studios is stoked to be celebrating its last single-digit birthday this year. If you want to see what artist owners Darin Gilliam and Alison Harbaugh have been up to, come on by from 1–4 PM on Sunday. There will be live demos, snacks and drinks, and tunes provided by ArtFarm’s resident DJs. Sounds like a great time to learn about ArtFarm’s spring classes and summer camps. The 4,000-square-foot creative space is located at 111 Chinquapin Round Road, Annapolis, MD 21041.

Locally-owned (and wildly popular) performance fishing apparel company Local Coast is hosting its second Shop Local waterfront shopapalooza at Rugby Hall Marina this Sunday from 12–4 PM. Confirmed vendors include Nina’s Flying Needle, Winnie Harper, Local Coast (duh…), and several more. Food and local beer & spirits will also be available for tasting and purchase. Directions: Plug “Rugby Road and Buckingham Road” into your GPS; that’s in Arnold. When you arrive, drive to the end of Buckingham Road, park, then shop till you drop.

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.

This is a problem. Typically, the Luminis Health Pediatric Department “toy room” is full. Giving children toys is one way Luminis makes being in the hospital easier. The toy room normally gets filled during the holidays.

But donations weren’t as plentiful as Luminis hoped last year.

That’s why Westfield Annapolis and the Anne Arundel County Police Department are hosting a toy drive to stuff the Toy Room until it’s stuffed to the gills. Let’s put a smile on some children’s faces. If you can help, please bring new, unwrapped toys to the Mall’s main entrance – right by Rodizio Brazilian Steakhouse – from 10 AM–5 PM on May 25.

Dumb question. Everyone does! Naptown Music Feast (brought to us by the organizers of the Trifecta Food Truck & Music Festival) is rolling into the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds this Saturday. Bands include Almost Queen, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, Kelly Bell Band, and more. Food trucks include JD's House of Bacon, Top Nach, Blowfish Poke, and 20+ more. Tickets start at $18.75 and the gates open at noon.

You can eat dinner in the street, you can dance the night away, you can be whoever you want to be. Ok, I made that last one up but it’s good advice. Dinner Under the Stars returns regularly this Saturday. For the uninitiated, this is when West Street closes down between Calvert Street and Church Circle. Restaurants set up tables in the street, there’s always a band, and usually some dancing. Tomorrow evening we’ll see a performance from the Ballet Theatre of Maryland and Pure Motown at 5:30 PM followed by live music from Moonie & Friends. This happens every Wednesday and Saturday through September 23.

This got rained out last week so it’s this Saturday from 8 AM to noon. If you want to sell stuff at this community-wide yard sale, register online then show up at 7 AM for setup. If you want to buy stuff, show up any time between 8 AM and noon but remember, the early bird gets the worm. Pip Moyer Recreation Center – 273 Hilltop Lane, Annapolis, MD 21403.

SPCA’s 32nd Annual Walk for the Animals is this Sunday from 8 AM to noon. From 8–9 AM there’s an untimed 5k fun run, from 9 AM–noon is the walk, and from 9:30 AM–noon there’s a car show. After your walk you can enjoy fun-filled doggie activities, music, various vendor booths and food trucks.

NCAA lacrosse tournament quarterfinal games will be held at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium this Sunday. #5 Penn State faces Army (#GoLionsBeatArmy) at noon and #3 Notre Dame faces #6 Johns Hopkins at 2:30 PM. Tickets are available from $20. Should be some very high-quality lax.

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.

A City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday at 7 PM, but no agenda has been posted online. When it is, it will be posted here and you can submit public testimony here. The meeting is at 7 PM in the City Council Chambers at City Hall – 160 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD 21401.

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70 🌡️ 60 | ⛅ | 6% | 💨 SE 13 mph (11 knots)

73🌡️ 57 | 🌧️ | 30% | 💨 E 7 mph (6 knots)

76 🌡️ 60 | ☀️ | 8% | 💨 N 8 mph (7 knots)

49 West | Gary Wright, Leah Weiss, & Jimmy Jacobs | 7:30–10 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse | All You Need | 9–11:45 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Timmie Metz Band | 9 PM
Brian Boru | Kavoosi | 7–10 PM
The Choptank | TBA | 8 PM
Great Frogs | Dave Zelonka | 5–8 PM
Jalapenos | Tom Lagana | 5–8 PM
Killarney House | Levi Stephens | 8–11 PM
Market Space | Russ Jacobsen | 6–9 PM
Middleton Tavern | Mac Heat Band | 10 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | Grace Guild | 8 PM
Old Stein Inn | Skribe | 8–11 PM
Pirates Cove | John Luskey | 8–11 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Sierra Hull | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Boroy | 9 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Aaron Hawkins | 5 PM
Reynolds Tavern | Fireplace | 7 PM
RiverBay Roadhouse | Mozaic | 8:30–11:30 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Remedy | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Riverside | Rich Walton | 4–8 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Mike McHenry Tribe | 9:45 PM
Watermark TGIF Cruise | Dan Haas | 7–9 PM | Tickets
Vibe | Under the Covers | 9 PM
Waterman’s Tavern | Kevin Pollock: | 8 PM

49 West | John Jensen | 5–7 PM
49 West | Dean Rosenthal’s 4 Piece Racket | 7:30–9:30 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Stephen Henson | 8 PM
Bread & Butter Kitchen | Pretty Big Deal | 10 AM
Brian Boru | Meg and Angie | 7–10 PM
The Choptank | TBA | 8 PM
Jalapeños | Tom Lagana | 7:30–10:30 PM
Great Frogs | Aaron Hawkins | 12–3 PM
Great Frogs | Jordan Sokel | 5–8 PM
Killarney House | John Luskey | 8–11 PM
Market Space | Sloe Jim Matteo | 2–6 PM
Middleton Tavern | Mike McHenry Tribe | 10 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | Moran Tripp | 8 PM
Mike’s Crabhouse | The Fuses | 8 PM
Pirates Cove | Kurt Gibbons | 7–10 PM
Pirates Cove | Pete Best | 3–6 PM
Rams Head On Stage | BoDeans | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Fess Up | 9 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Mike Miller | 10 PM
RiverBay Roadhouse | Tim Atkinson | 8–11 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Michael Major | 6 PM
Smashing Grapes | Dave Tieff | 8–11 PM
Stan & Joe’s Riverside | Mr VCR | 4–8 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Will Hill Band | 9:45 PM

Bread & Butter Kitchen | Combo Indigo | 10:30–12:30 PM
Brian Boru | Big Brother's Porch | 4–7 PM
Galway Bay | Chris Baldwin | 4–8 PM
The Choptank | David Sparrow | 5–9 PM
Dark Horse | b.en | 6 PM
Hatton Regester Green | Karen Collins and the Backroads Band | 4–6 PM
Killarney House | Madisun Bailey | 3–6 PM
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen | Justin Ryan | 4–7 PM
Market Space | Tim Atkinson | 2–6 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | Michael Miller | 3 PM
Pirates Cove | Eddie Rogers | 3–6 PM
Rams Head On Stage | One Particular Harbour | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Jazz Trio Oreo | 3 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Guava Jelly | 12 PM
Stan & Joe’s Riverside | Nate Finn | 4–8 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Mike Heuer | 8–11 PM

Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with that friend who says they’ll ride shotgun on a road trip and promises to stay awake with you but falls asleep 15 minutes into the trip.