🍦Renn Fest is suing scalpers

Good morning, Annapolis. The Knot estimates that Taylor Swift getting engaged will create $2.2 billion in new wedding spending over the next 2 years – something its calling the Swiftification of Weddings. Don’t believe it? Searches for both gardens and engagement photographers surged 71% the week after Taylor and Travis announced their engagement.

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, Duffy Perkins

As the leaves turn shades of yellow, orange & red, get your smile white & healthy at Morabito Family Dental! We offer a wide range of services including cleanings & teeth whitening that will keep you looking & feeling your best.

Cleanings are FREE for most insured patients and we have a great in-house plan for uninsured patients to help make great oral health affordable for all. Morabito Family Dental is open from 7 AM to 8 PM & on Saturdays, so you don’t miss out on any school, work or pumpkin spice lattes!

Call us today at (443) 603-9000 or visit us online to schedule your appointment. We look forward to your visit & showing you why so many great neighbors in Annapolis trust their care to our team!

Before you ask if this is a case of “the dog ate my homework,” sometimes extensions make sense. The BOE postponed its first Phase 2 redistricting hearing, originally set for October 13, to allow time for new student enrollment data. Superintendent Dr. Bedell will share preliminary 2025–2026 enrollment figures at the Board’s October 15 meeting to help inform decisions. The Board will release an updated hearing schedule after its review. According to The Capital, the second hearing remains set for October 27. ($)

Recap: The district is nearing the end of a three-year process to redraw the boundaries. The board is considering Dr. Bedell’s two recommended maps along with eight proposed amendments. If you’re lost in the redistricting shuffle, check out the Phase 2 process.

We all know it’s never polite to ask someone why they don’t have kids. But asking this question about ospreys is a totally different matter. And for the Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary, there’s no clear answer to the question. But the news isn’t great: Osprey aren’t breeding the way they used to. Surveys conducted all around the bay between March and April (aka osprey nesting season) this year showed what limited sample sizes over the past couple of years have suggested. Specifically, osprey are showing less “nest productivity,” meaning they’re having fewer chicks and fewer chicks are surviving. There are a few reasons this could be, primarily less prey for the osprey to feed on. Overall, it signals “the Chesapeake Bay is changing,” according to Will Poston of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Learn more: Chesapeake Forum is holding a lecture called Our Disappearing Osprey on Nov. 4 at 4:30 PM. It’s a long ways away at the Avalon Theatre in Easton, but the environmentalists among us won’t mind the drive in their Priuses.

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After just a year in the Annapolis Town Center, and a lengthy two-year build-out process, Urbano Mexican Fare (in the old Bonefish location, RIP bang bang shrimp) seems to be non-operational. While a sign on the front door says that the restaurant is closed for construction, there may be something else happening: on the corporate website, references to the Annapolis location have been removed, online ordering is no longer available, and its Google profile says “permanently closed.”

However, managers at two other Urbano locations told the Scoop the restaurant is going through a refresh and rebrand process, and the closure is temporary. The notice on the restaurant’s door directs patrons to their Instagram page for updates, but it looks like that hasn’t been updated since May. We’re looking forward to an announcement from ATC soon.

Boat show veterans always say rainy days bring out real buyers, but incredible weather seemed to help the Annapolis Powerboat Show just as well. While exact numbers aren’t given, organizers said attendance was the highest it’s been since 2021 (a banner year for the shows). Not bad considering it shared a weekend with the biggest Navy football game of the year so far.

As for boat sales, Mary Ewenson, president of Annapolis Boat Shows, said "boat sales were brisk across the board, including several models north of the $1 million mark.” So, while the Thursday morning setup flooding complicated things, it didn’t seem to turn people away. Next up: The Annapolis Sailboat Show, which starts today and runs through Sunday ⛵

The Village at Providence Point, the retirement community planned in the area also known as Crystal Spring, broke ground on Tuesday after more than a decade of planning and delays. The Village will consist of 272 independent living apartments, 30 cottages, and 48 health care suites, with construction set for completion in 2028.

The vision for the property has evolved over the years as various environmental groups opposed the project’s impact on the area, both in terms of wildlife destruction and the strain on the Forest Drive corridor. In 2020, a collaboration between developers and conservationists led to the current project, which they believe modifies plans to better fit the community and protect the natural area. A fact sheet shows that 28 acres of forest will be cleared, but all trees removed will be replaced, as per a city ordinance, and the remaining 124 acres will be preserved in a conservation easement.

The Village is meant to be a retirement community where seniors can continue living in the same place as they age and depend on higher levels of care. If you’re interested in learning more about the Community, you can check out their lunchtime info session on October 15. For more details on the collaboration, check out the Capital’s story here. ($)

This is a jousting match we would happily buy tickets for. After the success and popularity of the Maryland Renaissance Festival, which remarkably sold 187,000 tickets in just ten hours, festival organizers are now seeking legal action against ticket scalpers who buy up tickets and list them on resale sites. Of the 400,000 tickets sold this year, only about 1,800 ended up on the resell market, but these were listed for more than twice the list price ($32). Some for way more.

Festival organizers are asking attendees that if you did buy from resale sites, let them know so they can track the scalpers and file lawsuits and restraining orders, and potentially recoup some of your money. And if you’re a ticket scalper who scalped Renn Fest. . . to the stocks with you!

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.

Get ready for one of the biggest events of the season—LIBBEY’S FALL OYSTER SHUCKDOWN. Join us on Saturday, October 18th at 3 PM for an afternoon on the water, filled with local oysters, live music, and weekend fun, as the sun officially sets on another season of Below Deck!

Oysters Every Way – RAW + FRIED + BAKED + MORE with all the fixings | BBQ Station – Brisket, Pulled Pork & BBQ Chicken with all the classic sides | Unlimited Beverages – Beer, House Wine & Soft Drinks (cash bar available for spirits) | Live Music – Featuring the Chris Sacks Band

Don’t wait—TICKETS are on sale now!

THURSDAY

⛵️ Annapolis Sailboat Show | City Dock | See the latest and greatest in sailboats and all the swag and gear you need | 10 AM-6:30 PM Thur-Sat, 10 AM-5 PM Sun

SATURDAY

🖼️ Art at the Park | Quiet Waters Park | Enjoy the best in local art and music at this family-friendly festival | 10 AM-4 PM Sat-Sun

🎶 Naptown Vinyl Record Show and Vintage Market | Maryland Hall | Gather at Maryland Hall to dig through crates of vintage records and find that hidden gem | 11 AM-4 PM

📚 Greenfield Library Annual Book Sale | St. John’s College | Bring your tote bags and stock up on used books for low prices | Noon-3 PM

🐉 Dragon Fest | Eastport | Join the Annapolis Dragon Boat Club for an afternoon of fun, food, and music. | Noon-4 PM

MARKETS

🥕 Anne Arundel County Farmers’ Market | Parole | Products, produce, and meat from local farmers and artisans | Sat 7 AM-Noon, Sun 9 AM-Noon

🌾 Fall Field Market at Wildberry | Crownsville | Join Wildberry and other local small businesses for an outdoor market on the farm | Sat, 9 AM-Noon

🍎 Severna Park Farmer’s Market | Severna Park | More products, produce, and meat from local farmers and artisans | Sat, 8 AM-Noon | Only runs through October so time is running out!

FALL FUN

🎃 Friends of the Light House Pumpkin Patch | Annapolis | Find the perfect pumpkin as part of this tradition to raise money for the Light House Shelter | 2 PM-6 PM Thur-Fri, 10 AM-6 PM Sat-Sun

🎃 Great Annapolis Pumpkins | Downtown Annapolis | Check out the enormous pumpkins, ranging from 600 to 1,500 pounds, decorating the downtown area | All weekend

🎃 Harvest Bash | Arnold | Join the Providence Center for an Oktoberfest-themed fundraiser | Saturday 7 PM

🎃 Fall Festival Weekends at Homestead Gardens  | Davidsonville | Get a true farm experience with barn animals, hayrides, and pumpkin picking. | 10 AM-4 PM Sat-Sun

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.

63 🌡️ 50 | ☀️ | 2% | NNE 13 mph (11 knots)

66 🌡️ 56 | 🌤️ | 4% | 💨 E 9 mph (8 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 72ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

49 West | Annapolis Round Up | 7:30–10 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Marilyn Hucek | 6–9 PM
Brian Boru | Joe Hickey | 6–9 PM
Dark Horse | ilyaimy | 10 PM
Fleet Reserve Club of Annapolis | Pretty Big Deal | 2 PM
Killarney House | The Langer's Ball | 6–9 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | Kyle Steel | 7–10 PM
Pirates Cove | Ryan Emmert | 6–9 PM
The Point | Dan Haas | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | The Ocean Blue w/ Brian Tighe | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Steve & Victoria | 4:30 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | MXD | 7 PM

49 West | Mac Walter | 7–10 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern | Sidewalk Sou | 8:30 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | ONO Band | 9–12 PM
Brian Boru | Aidan and Bryan | 7–10 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
The Choptank | Fred Moss Music | 8 PM
Galway Bay | The Langer's Ball | 7–10 PM
Great Frogs | Daphne Eckman | 5:30–8:30 PM
Killarney House | SVV Duo | 7:30–10:30 PM
Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen | Dave Hawkins | 5–8 PM
The Lodge | Andy B | 8–11 PM
Market Space | SVV | 6–9 PM
Middleton Tavern | Moon Cherry | 10 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | Chuck Defontes | 5–8 PM
Old Stein Inn | Alexander Peter's in The Biergarten | 7–10 PM
Pirates Cove | Kurt Gibbons | 7:30–10:30 PM
Rams Head On Stage | The Ocean Blue w/ Brian Tighe | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Roadhouse | Boroy | 8 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Chris Sacks | 5 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Shift Work | 7 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Three Beers Wrong | 7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Riverside | Kevin Lebling | 3–7 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Racheal & The Rescuers | 9:45 PM

The red hot, undefeated Midshipmen are rolling to Philadelphia this weekend to face the 3-2 Temple Owls. Mindset’s a factor as it’s homecoming and Temple’s expecting a big crowd. There’s also fear of an emotional hangover after last week’s thrilling win against Air Force.

Coach Brian Newberry called Temple the “most complete” team Navy’s faced so far.

Indeed. Temple’s QB has thrown 0 interceptions. Temple actually hasn’t committed a single turnover yet. No other team can say that. Temple is almost certainly better than its 3-2 record with 2 wins being blowouts and both losses coming to Top 20 teams.

Navy’s doing a lot well. They lead the nation in rushing yards per game by a healthy margin. They have the third most rushing TDs. And it’s not just a dominant ground game. The Mids are #2 overall for passing yards per completion. And they aren’t losing yards. They’ve only allowed 1 sack and 3.2 tackles for loss per game (#6 in the country).

If you’re heading to Philly, enjoy a cheesesteak and a great game. If you’re back home, watch on ESPN2 at 4 PM or as always, listen on WNAV 1430 AM.

Severna Park senior Nicol Chovanec captured her third Anne Arundel County girls golf title, shooting a 76 and carding a birdie on the 16th hole to seal the win. She also helped the Falcons clinch the team championship, edging Broadneck by three strokes (310–313). The top four Falcons — Chovanec, senior Lily Wells, fourth-place boys golfer Logan Clarke, and Jacob Rollin — made sure Severna Park outshot Broadneck.

Crofton sophomore Ty Swann won the boys title by one stroke over Southern’s Winston Thomas.

Fifty-two county golfers qualified for districts next week, where Chovanec and Swann will compete for even more hardware.($)

Women's Soccer (8-5-1)
10/10 vs. Army | 4 PM

Men's Soccer (3-5-4)
10/10 vs. Army | 7 PM

Women's Volleyball (6-9)
10/10 vs. Colgate | 6 PM

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