🍦What’s the deal with data centers?

Good morning, Annapolis. McDonald’s just announced an $8.5 billion plan full of AI and digital ordering and more chicken to juice slowing sales. I’ve got a better idea. Just bring back the ball pits. Or the free N64s with Mario Kart. Or maybe just fix the ice cream machines???

In today’s Naptown Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Ryan Sneddon

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Schedule a consultation with Dr. Murthy.

Recent polls say 71% of Americans would oppose a data center in their neighborhood compared to only 55% against an abortion clinic. So it’s no surprise the Anne Arundel County Council is pumping the brakes.

What started as an outright ban is now a proposed moratorium (a fancy government word for pause) on new data center applications until January 31, 2028, or until it passes new rules – whichever comes first.

It’s a bold move for the county that literally contains the NSA headquarters. But how many data centers does Anne Arundel currently have? Estimates vary from two to four. NSA broke ground on a 600k sq ft data center in 2013. Sandy Farm (110k sq ft) was developed in Severn in 2020 and phase 2 (90k sq ft) is under county review.

The public hearing on the amended bill happens during the County Council meeting on Monday, October 5. You can submit written testimony or sign up to speak in person here.

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Team Naptown Scoop Coast 2 Coast 4 ALS progress: $13,273/$20,000

Believe it or not, fall fun can be had without posting. That said, here’s where you’ll get the best pictures.

Great Annapolis Pumpkins in downtown Annapolis. The massive pumpkins return to our fair city in early October. Local artists carve them into jack-o’-lanterns just before Halloween, then they get hauled away in early November before they rot.

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville. It’s not just for shopping. They’ve got all the fall fun except apple picking. Hayrides, a maze, pumpkin picking, apple cider donuts. We could go on. Weekends through November 1.

Knightongale Farm in Harwood. A 25-year local tradition. Again, all the fall fun except apple picking. Even barnyard basketball! Weekends through October 25.

Greenstreet Gardens in Lothian. The corn mazes keep getting bigger. This one’s 5 acres and America 250-themed. You can feed the animals too! Weekends through November 8.

MD Corn Maze in Gambrills. This maze is so big (8 acres) there’s a worker on a tower in the middle to help if you get lost. It’s Toy Story-themed this year and open at night on select Saturdays. There are also 30+ farmyard activities like slingshots, ziplines, and corn pits. Open some weekdays and all weekends through November 8.

Y Worry Farm in Davidsonville. Given the name, it’s apropos that admission is free. Just pay for what you pick. They restock the fields late in the season, so even procrastinators get pumpkins here. Open weekends in October.

Hansel Hill Farm in Millersville. They’ve got a not-spooky-at-all hayride and a sorta spooky orchard walk (no chainsaws, jump scares, or professional actors though). Open weekend evenings in October.

About those apples

2026 was a rough year for apples statewide with the late-April freeze. Larriland Farm’s probably your best bet, but it’s an hour’s drive. Call its Harvest Hotline (410-442-2605) first. The owner says picking will be “spotty and erratic” this year.

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That means one provider who knows your health, listens to what’s changing, and can help determine the right next step for you.

Because good primary care isn’t just about treating what’s wrong. It’s about understanding what’s going on.

Learn more about Warrior Medical’s integrated approach to primary care and hormone treatment.

Now playing…

🎭 The Colonial Players present Our Town, closing Saturday. Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM in the round on East Street, no closing matinee.

🤪 Compass Rose presents You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, through Sunday at the Live Arts Studio in the Annapolis Mall.

🎬 Classic Theatre of Maryland presents Hamlet, opening Thursday on West Street and running Thursdays through Sundays until October 18.

🎪 2nd Star presents Pippin, at the Bowie Playhouse, closing Saturday with a 2 PM matinee and no Saturday night show.

🖋️ Maryland Hall presents Writing in Diners, a staged reading of Bob Bartlett’s new comedy in Room 308 tonight.

Up next…

🎻 The Annapolis Symphony presents Echoes of the Earth, at Maryland Hall on October 2 and 3, with a free lecture ahead of the performance.

🎶 Live Arts Maryland presents A Concert for Peace, Karl Jenkins’s mass for peace, at Maryland Hall on October 10.

💃 Maryland Hall presents Ailey II, the company’s young touring troupe, Sunday, October 11.

🩰 Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents La Sylphide, at Maryland Hall October 16 through 18, its first run at the 1836 Bournonville classic.

👻 Naptown Philharmonic presents Halloween Spooktacular, at Key Auditorium Sunday, October 25, with a costume contest, prizes, and free admission for students.

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🚧 Dock Blocked – Crews start setting up the boat shows tomorrow (Wednesday). The city advised us that this will create “some limitations” on downtown parking. More impactful setup starts October 5, so watch out for road closures, detours, and more parking restrictions then. The powerboat show is October 8–11. The sailboat show is October 15–18.

🚗 Detour De Force – Weekday drivers, plan around Spa Road. It’s closed between Hunt Meadow Drive and Harness Creek Road from 9 AM to 3 PM while crews run utility work for the Village at Providence Point. Nights and weekends are clear. The closure started yesterday and will last about four weeks.

🅿️ Gripe Session – Here’s your chance to tell the city what you really think about parking downtown. There’s a virtual forum with small breakout discussions on Thursday, October 8. It’s part of the parking reform work group’s second phase, which already has 12 draft recommendations on the table. Registration is open.

🥂 Cheers, Boatyard – Boatyard Bar & Grill turns 25 this year. And if there’s a more iconic restaurant in Annapolis, I’ve yet to find it. In true Boatyard fashion (this is the crew that brought us Bands in the Sand and Boatyard Beach Bash), there’s a party. It’s this Thursday from 5–7 PM. Buy a drink and get a free anniversary glass. Apps are free. And there are door prizes!

⚓ Dead Reckoning – What’s more fun than a murder mystery night? Murder mystery night on a boat! The Annapolis Maritime Museum is hosting a Murder on the Waterfront cruise on its historic skipjack Wilma Lee next week with Annapolis Ghost Tours storyteller extraordinaire Melissa Huston and dinner from Bread and Butter Kitchen paired with beer, wine, and cocktails. If I were setting the odds, I’d give it a 100% chance this sells out. Tickets are $150 and it’s Friday, October 9.

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73 🌡️ 60 | 🌤️ | 3% ☔ | 💨 NW 8 mph (7 knots)

75 🌡️ 63 | 🌤️ | 0% ☔ | 💨 E 7 mph (6 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 69ºF
Temperature readings taken from the mouth of the Severn River the night before publication

🌳🎵= Outdoor concert

49 West | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 7–9:30 PM
The Admiral’s Cup | Madisun Bailey | 7–10 PM
Captain’s Daughter | TBA | 5–7 PM
🌳🎵Chronic Sailing | Shawn & Friends | 7 PM
Copper Creek | Jazz Jam | 8–10 PM
The Point | Aidan Ewald | 5–8 PM
Rams Head On Stage | Los Lonely Boys w/ Lisa Morales | 8 PM | Tickets

The Admiral’s Cup | Stephen Henson/Slip Hippies | 7–10 PM
Brian Boru | Chase & Davey | 6–9 PM
Galway Bay | Irish Trad Music Session | 8 PM
Kelsey’s Restaurant & Irish Pub | Jason Bishop | 6–9 PM
Pirates Cove | Big Scott | 6–9 PM
The Point | Jordan/Pressing Strings | 5–8 PM
Reynolds Tavern | Unified Jazz Ensemble | 6:30–9:30 PM
Severna Park Taphouse | Open Mic | 7 PM

Thanks for reading Naptown Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with the friend who still won’t share their secret boat show parking spot with you.