🍦Navy football gameday guide

Good morning, Annapolis. Yesterday we said fall was coming. Starbucks just said it’s here. Today is the official return of the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (aka PSL). Believe it or not, this 4 days later than last year’s launch – but still a full two weeks before it was available 10 years ago. Think that’s bad? Dunkin’ released its fall menu a whole week ago. As for us, we refuse to order pumpkin coffee until we’re wearing big, chunky sweaters.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, & Duffy Perkins

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The Annapolis Rotary Club’s annual end-of-summer crab feast is always a big deal, and this year was no exception — the club raised over $30K. That’s a lot of shells cracked and a lot of corn shucked. It’s also a lot of dough for local nonprofits. All the money raised by the crab feast goes back to the community in the form of grants for good causes. If you work with an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the zip codes 21401, 21402, 21403, 21405, 21409, 21012, 21032, 21035 or 21037, you’re eligible for up to $4,000. Apply for a grant by telling the Rotary what project you’ll undertake with the requested funding. Applications are a maximum of 700 words so you really have no excuse.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools is starting the year with just 32 classroom vacancies — a major improvement last year’s 69 and and 2022’s 283. Thanks to A+ recruitment, better pay, and improved conditions, the district has hired 544 new teachers, including 118 AACPS grads.

Nationwide, districts continue to struggle with recruitment and retention. Last year, more than 400,000 positions were unfilled or filled by uncertified educators — about 1 in 8 teaching positions nationally. For now, AACPS heads into the year with its strongest roster in years and steady improvements in other vacancies, including drivers and counselors. ($)

Teachers, we know this first week of school can be a stressful one, so here’s some good news: Registration’s now open for the Military Bowl’s annual Extra Yard for Teachers initiative. This is a grant program for public school teachers who could use the funding in their classroom and for their students. And if you’re a veteran or from a military family, or if you teach in a community with a significant military population (hello, Annapolis and USNA), you could get preference. Nominations and submissions are due by Sept. 30, though if you nominate by Sept. 10, you have the chance to receive early recognition on Sept. 16. Selected teachers will receive their grants at the Military Bowl on Dec. 27, held at Navy Stadium.

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I know it’s not Foodie Friday, but I (aka Lauren) need to know . . . What’s the best burger in Annapolis? My vote is the Chessie Burger from Chessie’s Wharf. Sure, I love a cute gimmick and obviously love the sea monster emblem on the bun. But it’s the mouth-watering burger on an unassuming silver tray with a side of tots that keeps me coming back.

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.

The Maryland Seafood Festival is back September 13–14 at Sandy Point State Park with the Crab Soup Cook-off, fresh-shucked oysters, live bands, and waterfront views that’ll make you wish summer never ended. General admission is $15, and it's the perfect way to spend the weekend with family. Join the kids' Mermaid and Pirate parade, BMX bikers, or seafood eating contests!

Celebrate maritime legacy with Skipjack Heritage Days, featuring hands-on exhibits and historic boats on display on Saturday or watch the race on Sunday! Champions of the Chesapeake returns with information on how to keep our Bay healthy for decades to come. Get tickets now!

⚗️ Classic Theatre of Maryland presents The Imaginary Invalid Last performance tonight at 7:30 PM. Enjoy this outrageous comedy about a hypochondriac’s rebellious love-struck daughter, in the outdoor courtyard of Reynolds Tavern.

🕳️ Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre presents Groundhog Day Through August 31. ASGT closes out its 2025 season with this musical adaptation of the ‘80s comedy about a weatherman stuck reliving Feb. 2 over and over again.

🎩 Colonial Players presents An Ideal Husband Opening Sept. 5. Colonial Players opens its new season with this witty Oscar Wilde comedy about a politician trying to hide his sordid past.

Looking ahead…

🎺 Classic Theatre of Maryland’s 1920s Cabaret: The Speakeasy Sept. 15-16. Go back to the era of sizzling jazz and glittering costumes at this cabaret-style performance.

🌥️ Compass Rose Theater presents Annie Opening Sept. 19. The Compass Rose season begins with this family-friendly musical about a plucky orphan who knows the sun’ll come out tomorrow.

🎶 Naptown Philharmonic Orchestra performs Music of the Americas Sept. 21. Celebrate musical diversity with this performance full of incredible rhythms and melodies at Maryland Hall.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Annapolis Chorale presents Brigadoon Sept. 26–27. Follow the exploits of two American tourists who stumble upon a magical Scottish village that appears every 100 years in this Lerner & Lowe classic.

🧛‍♂️ Colonial Players presents Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors. Opening Oct. 24. This hilariously absurdist take on the classic vampire story may cause bloodcurdling screams — of laughter.

You plant your milkweed. You wax poetic about native plants. And now: you’re about to spend the month of September celebrating BioBlitz, a citywide effort highlighting local biodiversity. For the second year in a row, residents are invited to identify wildlife in the Annapolis parks system by uploading observations into the “Parks for Pollinators Annapolis 2025” project located in the iNaturalist app. There are prizes and cache for the resident who contributes the most information between September 1 and 30. For full details, click here.

Sipping chardonnay in the non-fiction section. Arguing about the prevalence of the passive tense with a bestselling author. Feeling alive for the first time as a librarian announces the winner of the book pull. If you’re a bibliophile, there’s absolutely nothing like the thrill of the For the Love of the Library fundraiser, happening this year on September 19. Tickets are $100 through September 8, at which point they jump to $125. It’s the social event of the year for those who like to be in bed by 9:30 PM. If you want to get involved with the library’s social calendar but can’t make the September 19 event, check out the three Books, Brews, and Belonging events happening at local brewpubs in October.

Organizers of the annual Lifeline 100 Ride are encouraging all avid cyclists to secure their spot in this year’s event before they cap at 1,000 participants — yes, that’s how many cyclists will be touring Anne Arundel County by bike on October 5. Now in its 11th year, the Lifeline 100 has its signature 100-mile route (including water views and historic sites), along with a 65-mile route, and options to do 15 or 30 miles along flat paved trails. Then there’s the free bike rodeo for kids age 4-10. In short, there’s a cycling activity for everyone of all experience levels.

Regular registration is open through Sept. 11, and then you’ll have to pay a late registration fee. So sign up online or download a mail-in registration form this week.

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.

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79 🌡️ 62 | 🌤️ | 3% | 💨 WNW 7 mph (6 knots)

77 🌡️ 60 | 🌤️ | 1% | NW 9 mph (8 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 79ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

🌳🎵 = Outdoor Concert

49 West | Hot Funyuns | 7:30–10:30 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
🌳🎵Chronic Sailing’s Tunesday | Brandon Hardesty | 6–8:30 PM
Middleton Tavern | Annapolis Songwriters Showcase | 6–9 PM
The Point | Kavoossi | 5–8 PM
Pirates Cove | Soren Mattson of Mr. VCR | 6–9 PM
Rams Head Roadhouse | Dust On The Bottle | 6 PM

49 West | Dave Chappell & Friends | 5–7 PM
49 West | Mr VCR & Friends | 8–10 PM
Coconut Joe’s | Jordan Franks | 5–8 PM
Dinner Under The Stars | SoulJourners | 6–9 PM
Galway Bay | Irish Trad Music Session | 8 PM
Killarney House | Jason Bishop | 6–10 PM
Middleton Tavern | Alex Lee | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Kurt Gibbons | 6–9 PM
The Point | Aaron Hawkins | 5–8 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Michael Miller | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | George Jano | 9 PM

College football season means tailgates with crab dip and Navy gear, families strolling toward Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, and the thunder of jet flyovers before kickoff. The Brigade of Midshipmen march-on feels as timeless as the academy itself, while the cannon boom and end-zone push-ups electrify the crowd. For fans, it’s more than football — it’s a ritual of pride and pageantry that makes Annapolis come alive each fall.

Last year, the Mids were high-performing underdogs, finishing third despite predictions of 11th in the American Athletic Conference. We’re hopeful for another historic season. Here’s what to know before you go — from tickets to tailgates, concessions to post-game recs, and beyond.

🔗 Naptown Scoop’s Guide to Navy Football Games.

Men's Soccer (0-0-2)
8/25 vs. William & Mary | T 1-1

Women's Soccer (3-1)
8/26 vs. Marywood University | 4 PM

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Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who is already wearing sweaters because anything under 80º F might as well be Antarctica.