🍦Parking dominates City Council meeting

Good morning, Annapolis. Toy Story 5 is comes out in about a month. And the plot’s going to be too real. The villain? A tablet named Lily Pad.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, & Duffy Perkins

P.S. We’re terribly sorry but the DTLR Next store grand opening at Annapolis Mall we wrote about yesterday is not open to the public and nobody told us until after yesterday’s email was published. But the store is super cool and you should still check it out.

Few properties in Annapolis offer this level of privacy, acreage, and waterfront access in one setting. Set on more than four secluded acres along Whitehall Creek with 600 feet of shoreline, 1524 Cedar Lane Farm Road feels more like a private waterfront retreat than a traditional residence. The fully renovated French modern estate spans more than 9,000 square feet, designed for effortless entertaining and everyday life on the Chesapeake Bay.

Inside, soaring ceilings, architectural beams, panoramic water views, and curated designer finishes create dramatic yet welcoming interiors. The gourmet kitchen features Wolf appliances, marble counters, and seamless connection to expansive gathering spaces, while seven bedrooms and multiple fireplaces offer warmth and flexibility for hosting family and guests.

Outside, a waterfront pool, tennis court, expansive lawns, and a multi-slip IPE pier with boat and jet ski lifts complete the experience.

Connect with the Brad Kappel Team for your private tour.

Every college has odd traditions. And many seem to involve obelisks. My alma mater (University of South Carolina) had a secret Frisbee golf course where an obelisk was the target of the fifth hole. But nothing tops the Naval Academy's obelisk-centered tradition.

It's called the Herndon Monument Climb and the idea is simple.

All the plebes (aka first year students) form a human pyramid at the 21-foot tall Herndon Monument to replace the "dixie cup" (Plebe hat) with an upperclassman's cover. Once they do, plebe year is officially over. And it shouldn't be too hard for hundreds of strapping young future officers (seriously, look at those abs).

Indeed, the Class of 1972 did it in just 90 seconds. But there's a catch.

That year, the monument wasn't covered with 200 pounds of vegetable shortening – an important part of the tradition.

Modern day times are measured in hours, not seconds. In fact, no class has capped Herndon in less than 60 minutes since the Class of 1991. Not counting the Class of 2013 (122 seconds) but again. . . there was no grease.

With the Academy back open for general public visitation (U.S. citizens only), we highly recommend watching Herndon if you can. The climb starts at 8 AM. More info.

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Team Naptown Scoop Coast 2 Coast 4 ALS progress: $11,653/$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.

DYK May is National Pet Month? If you haven’t celebrated yet, allow us to make a suggestion. Adopt a special pup like Angel. She’s 8 years, 4 months, and 30 days old, but who’s counting? Angel is, because she wants those senior discounts. You can cash in too when you’re with her, then laugh behind the salespeople’s backs because Angel is far from knocking on heaven’s door. Our friends at SPCA tell us she’s “an excellent running partner, and a perfect pal for hiking adventures.”

Other quick facts about this gorgeous rust-red angel? She’s a Terrier/Pit Bull mix and she’s treat-motivated (like the Scoop team). She’ll do best as the only pet at home and without small children around (she might playfully topple them over).

After being rescued from a difficult situation, Angel has been waiting a long time for her people to find her.

As Sarah McLachlan sings, “You're in the arms of the angel, may you find some comfort here.”

Welcome her with open arms at SPCA’s Bay Ridge Wing. Angel’s been there since December 2020.

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It’s hard to keep up! There are 401(k)s, Roth 401(k)s, Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, 529 plans, Health Savings Accounts, and now even Trump Accounts. And buried inside that list is potentially one of the best moves in personal finance — one that many people earning good money have never heard of.

It's something we call the Backdoor Roth.

Once you earn more than $168k (or $252k as a married couple), the IRS says you can’t contribute to a Roth IRA. Which is a bummer because the tax-free growth allowed by a Roth is a serious wealth generator. Enter the Backdoor Roth.

It’s when you contribute to a Traditional IRA first, then convert it to Roth. Same destination, different door. Under the right conditions, your 401(k) plan may allow for similar options where you could save even higher amounts and roll them to Roth. But there are specific rules for this, and if not done properly could cost more than they save.

Done right, it might be one of the smartest things high-earners can do. Done wrong, it could be an expensive mistake.

Scarborough Capital Management has spent over 35 years helping Annapolis families plan for their future.

A coordinated group of downtown business owners and employees dominated the public comment at Monday's City Council meeting to call for parking reform. Level owner Jennifer Sowers and Level GM Lexi Nydecker led the charge with pricing comps and stories of emotional customers and unsafe walks back to cars after late shifts. Sowers said her business is down 12% since June 2023 which she attributes to the parking system revamp (which took effect around that time).

A few other things from the night:

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for May 26. We’ll let you know when the agenda’s posted.

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🎸 Rock the Dock: The Rotary Club of Annapolis hosts its annual waterfront fundraiser Thursday, June 4 from 6–10 PM at the Annapolis Maritime Museum, benefiting the Blue Ribbon Project, which supports children in foster care. Tickets ($82–$93, 21+) cover all-you-can-eat BBQ, beer, wine, a crush bar, live music from Loose Ties, plus a silent auction and booze wagon raffle. Tickets here.*

🥐 Carbs incoming: Tous Les Jours, a French-Asian bakery chain, opens Friday, May 15 at 167 Jennifer Road. The bakery will serve fresh breads, cakes, milk bread, croissants, kimchi croquettes, and handcrafted drinks.

🌱 Plants to the people: Joy Grows is cutting the ribbon on its new Eastport Community Farm greenhouse Monday, May 18 from 5–7 PM, behind Eastport Terrace and Harbour House. The one-acre site — billed as a million-dollar project built on a $20,000 budget — aims to grow 100,000 servings of fresh produce this year in what's officially Annapolis' only USDA-certified food desert.

💻 Canvas chaos: AACPS has finally restored Canvas access for families and students. They also said that passwords weren’t included in the breach. But if you’re an Internet safety nerd like me, you’ll probably change it anyway.

🚧 Road work: Crews will crack seal and micro-surface MD 178 (Generals Highway) between Housley/Bestgate Road and Mansion Woods Road this month. Work is scheduled for off-peak travel times and should wrap by late June.

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75 🌡️ 56 | 🌧️ | 85% ☔ | 💨 S 16 mph (14 knots)

67 🌡️ 52 | 🌧️ | 18% ☔ | 💨 NW 14 mph (12 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 63ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

The Admiral’s Cup | Kevin Koa | 7–10 PM
Beer Farm | Joey Fitz | 5–8 PM
Brian Boru | Nate Finn | 6–9 PM
Dark Horse | American Darling | TBA
Galway Bay | Irish Trad Music Session | 8 PM
Julep | Dana B | 5 PM
Killarney House | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen | Justin Ryan | 5–8 PM
Middleton Tavern | Alden Ewald | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Chris Diller | 6–9 PM
The Point | Aaron Hawkins | 5–8 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Callum | 9 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Russ | 9 PM

49 West | The Annapolis Roundup | 7:30–10 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | Levi Stephens | 7–10 PM
Beer Farm | The Devaney Brothers | 4–7 PM
Brian Boru | Madisun Bailey | 6–9 PM
Dark Horse | American Darling | TBA
Killarney House | Mike Miller | 6–9 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | Gretna Green | 7 PM
La Sierra | Cristopher Dean | 5:30–8:30 PM
Pirates Cove | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
The Point | Dan Haas | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Zepparella | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Aaron Hawkins | 5 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Tony Streamella Band | 7 PM

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