🍦Revisiting 2026’s new restaurants

Good morning, Annapolis. Back in February, we said the first coffee shop in Annapolis to offer a coffee flight would get a story in the Scoop. We weren’t kidding. Has anyone done it yet? The people want flights!

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Lauren Burke Meyer, Dylan Roche, & Duffy Perkins

This April in collaboration with the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Nemacolin transforms into the ultimate destination for football fans and luxury seekers alike. From April 23-26, 2026, the iconic resort invites guests to celebrate football history through an unforgettable weekend of legends, fine dining, and world-class entertainment.

Imagine sharing dinner with Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw and Jerome "The Bus" Bettis, teeing off alongside NFL greats, competing in a pickleball tournament hosted by Terrell Owens, and capping the weekend with a live performance by Wiz Khalifa under the stars. All of this unfolds across Nemacolin's breathtaking 2,200-acre property in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania.

Packages start at $10,000 per couple, with proceeds benefiting the Fisher House Foundation, supporting military families nationwide.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Contact Michelle Bloomer at [email protected] or 724.329.6638 to reserve your spot today  – only 3 hours from Annapolis!

Yesterday’s story about the MD Ice Cream Trail inspired us. So we whipped up our own. After all, Ryan loves ice cream so much he named the company after it.

Stop #1: Annapolis Ice Cream Company. Great ice cream. Great people. And many locations so it’s always convenient (Always Ice Cream & the Daily Scoop in Pasadena) are part of the same company. They’re also Day 1 fans of Naptown Scoop because they saw our first Instagram post and thought we were a competitor. Once they realized we sold ads not ice cream (much less exciting), we were fast friends.

🍦 Scoop’s favorite flavor: Chocolate brownie brownie batter

Stop #2: Storm Bros. Ice Cream Factory. A clear-cut Annapolis icon. And nobody has a better location. Storm Bros. has been in Annapolis since 1976. Thomas and Sveinn (the real brothers) started it when they were just 19 and 20 and still run the joint. It’s been through flood after flood at City Dock and still it stands.

🍦 Scoop’s favorite flavor: Cappuccino cookie

Stop #3: Kilwins. As you might expect, Downtown Annapolis is the heart of the Ice Cream Trail. And if I walked you through DTA blindfolded, I guarantee you’d know when we passed Kilwins. Nobody really knows what the smell is, but we all know it.

🍦 Scoop’s favorite flavor: Sea-salt caramel

Stop #4: Red Bean. The most creative spot on our trail. The consistency is unlike anywhere else and the flavors are wild (although they’ve got “normal” ones, too). Maybe you’ll try their originals (Old Bay Pretzel, Peach Honey Graham Crackers, or Cinnamon Chili Dark chocolate) or build your own choosing from over 50 mix-ins.

🍦 Scoop’s favorite flavor: Hazelnut espresso & peanut butter

Stop #5: Old Mill Creamery. Hop in the car, we’re leaving downtown. Everyone knows the Red Hot & Blue Windmill on Route 50. Few know the ice cream trailer in the parking lot. The ice cream comes from a sixth-generation family farm in Pennsylvania and that’s all we need to say about that.

🍦 Scoop’s favorite flavor: Peanut butter twist

Stop #6: Pennsylvania Dutch Farmer’s Market. Honestly, ice cream isn’t even close to the best thing here. There’s just so much good stuff. But it’s still good and we’re including it because it’s way more fun to wander around the market everything eating ice cream than not. Bonus points: Get a soft pretzel at the same time. Trust me.

🍦 Scoop’s favorite flavor: Mint chocolate chip

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Seven new restaurants have opened in Annapolis since January – and more are on the way.

The headliner? Celebrity chef Peter Chang brought his legendary Peking duck and Sichuan heat to 918 Bay Ridge Road in early March. Annapolis is not home to many celebrity chefs and Peter Chang’s a legend even among them so people have been pretty stoked about this.

Atlas Restaurant Group, meanwhile, is building a serious presence in town. We all know the Choptank by now (and they scooped up majority ownership of the Boatyard Bar & Grill in January). They opened the Admiral’s Cup in the Stevens Hardware building at City Dock and host live music every single night. And they’re not done yet:

Rounding out the lineup: Wonder food hall on Riva Road, Augie's Mussel House at Annapolis Town Center, Cracker Barrel on Jennifer Road, and World of Beer near the mall.

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🎈 = family-friendly events

🎈 🎬 Annapolis Film Festival - Four days (today’s Day #1), 70+ films, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, parties, and special guests across multiple downtown Annapolis venues. Thursday through Sunday.

🎭 Colonial Players: City of Angels - A smart, stylish film noir musical with a killer Cy Coleman score. Think Raymond Chandler meets classic Hollywood showmanship. Thu–Sat at 8 PM, Sun at 2 PM. Contains adult content.

🎈 🎭 St. Martin's School Drama: Annie & Andy - St. Martin's Lutheran School's Drama Club takes the stage. $9 per person or $15 per family, with concessions available. Also showing Saturday at 2 PM.

🛍️ GIVE BACK. HERE. - The closing celebration of HERE.'s 55th pop-up in Eastport, with 60+ local makers, Naptown Flea vintage vendors, live music from Shelby Blondell, tea leaf readings, a photo booth, and boozy desserts from Bar + Batter. A portion of sales benefits the Taylor Comport Fund at Providence of Maryland.

🎈🥍 Navy Men's Lacrosse vs. Colgate - The Mids host Colgate at noon on Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

🎈 🛍️ Local by Design at The Gallery Artisans Market - 30+ artisans, food and drink, and a free workshop on Margaret Avenue. Also open Sunday.

🏃 B&A Trail Marathon & Half-Marathon - The 35th annual marathon and 31st annual half-marathon follow the paved B&A Trail starting at Severna Park High School. Registration is closed but they’re always looking for volunteers.

🎈 🐮 Anne Arundel County Farmers Market - Fresh local produce, meats, dairy, baked goods, tacos, coffee, crafts, and spirits on Harry S Truman Parkway.

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🏋️ Progressive overload: Onelife Fitness is supersizing its plans for the vacant JCPenney at Annapolis Mall – from 55,000 square feet to 66,000, with a $10 million+ buildout that'll include outdoor turf training, a Pilates studio, and a Hyrox training club. ($)

⚖️ Case dismissed: Maryland's Supreme Court tossed climate lawsuits from Baltimore, Annapolis, and Anne Arundel County against 26 fossil fuel companies, ruling the suits were really an attempt to regulate emissions – the federal government's turf.

🦪 Last call: Chesapeake Oyster Week is wrapping up on Tuesday. If you haven't slurped your way through the lineup yet, don't dawdle.

🗳️ Dinner club: We’re already planning Dinner Club #2 and want to know what kind of night works best.

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Join us on Saturday, May 2, for a full day celebrating the beauty, power, passion, and excitement of the written word. For over 20 years, the Festival has been bringing nationally renowned authors to the community to discuss their books and the craft of writing and featuring a day filled with children's activities, live music, food trucks, and huge used and new book sales. Find out more about this free community event!*

*indicates sponsored advertising content.

70 🌡️ 59 | ⛅ | 5% | 💨 SSW 13 mph (11 knots)

62 🌡️ 53 | 🌧️ | 80% | 💨 N 14 mph (12 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 44ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

49 West | The Jonathan Epley Guitar Trio | 7:30–10 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | Levi Stephens | 6–9 PM
Beer Farm | Joey Fitz | 5–8 PM
Brian Boru | Faith & The Faithful | 6–9 PM
Dark Horse | The Tommy McGee Band | 9 PM
Killarney House |Aaron Hawkins | 6–9 PM
Market House | Micheal K | 6–9 PM
Mother’s Peninsula Grille | Jack-A-Roses | 7:30 PM
Pirates Cove | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
The Point | Bryan Ewald | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Hollywood Nights | 8 PM | Tickets
Rams Head Tavern | Aidan Ewald | 5 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | The Bards | 9:45 PM

49 West | Noah Pierre Band and Josee Molavi | 7:30–10 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | Solid Maybe Music, Kevin Koa | 3:30 PM
Annapolis Smokehouse & Tavern | Mixed Business | 8:30 PM
Beer Farm | Michael McHenry | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Dana B | 4–7 PM
Blackwall Hitch | Red Betty & The Ruckus | 9 PM
Brian Boru | Doug Segree | 7–10 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
The Choptank | Ryan Watkins | 8 PM
Killarney House | John Haywood | 7:30–10:30 PM
Market House | Adam Forbe | 8–11 PM
Middleton Tavern | All You Need | 10 PM
Old Stein Inn | Freshly Squeezed | 7–10 PM
Pirates Cove | Kurt Gibbons | 7:30–10:30 PM
Rams Head Roadhouse | Mike Miller | 8 PM
Rams Head Tavern | Nate Finn & Chase Segree | 9 PM
Romilo’s Restaurant and Bar | Genghis Khan band | 7 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Lost and Found Trio | 8 PM
Stan & Joe’s Saloon | Pandor | 9:45 PM

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