For Immediate Release

Contact: Susan Seifried, sseifried@visitannapolis.org, 410-280-0445

Date: June 3, 2022

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND—There's a lot that's new in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Maryland this summer! To make it easy for journalists to be in the know, Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) has compiled a sampling of some of the latest attractions and experiences that beckon travelers in the months ahead. For a complete listing, visit the VAAAC website. High resolution images are available upon request.

What's New with Attractions

Annapolis: An American Story – The $1 million permanent exhibit at the Museum of Historic Annapolis at 99 Main Street officially opened on March 19, 2022. Annapolis: An American Story provides an engaging introduction to the rich history of a city that once served as the nation's capital. It shares dramatic stories of Annapolis and its diverse people – revolutionaries, visionaries, and champions in our nation's continuing quest for liberty and justice – who helped shape our American story over more than 400 years.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center – On June 29, 2022, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater will cut the ribbon on the first-ever exhibit at Woodlawn, a 1735 residence that is the oldest building in the Smithsonian Institution's collection that's still in its original location. Based in part on archaeological findings, the exhibit will recount the history of the site, beginning with its native American inhabitants who lived there long before the first Europeans arrived in the 1650s. SERC completed architectural renovations to Woodlawn in April 2021. SERC is a 2,650-acre site on the Rhode River that's open to the public six days a week. Outdoor enthusiasts hike the trails and take advantage of the car-top-boat launching available along SERC's 15 miles of shoreline. 

National Cryptologic Museum – A major transformation effort is underway at the National Cryptologic Museum (NCM) to share the unique history of the “old” in an entirely “new” way. Located adjacent to the National Security Agency's (NSA) headquarters at Ft. George G. Meade, the National Cryptologic Museum operates as NSA's principal gateway to the public. The Museum is working in overdrive to create a reimagined experience of cryptologic history that includes a completely renovated building and transformed exhibits. Arguably the keeper of some of the best stories history has to tell, NCM has centuries-old original books, documents, and artifacts that can be found no place else on earth. Some of them have never been on public display until now. A grand reopening is scheduled for fall 2022. 

Annapolis Maritime Museum – The Annapolis Maritime Museum (AMM) officially reopened to the public in April 2021 with a new, nearly $1 million museum-wide permanent exhibition, Our Changing Waterfront. Re-imagined exhibits invite visitors to experience the Chesapeake Bay and the area's local history through interactive and immersive displays covering three main themes: Bay Health, Oyster Economy and History, and Annapolis Waters. Highlights include two 500-gallon aquariums that compare the health of the Chesapeake Bay in the 1700s with the health of the Bay today. A hologram invites visitors into the life of an engaging, hard-working Chesapeake Bay waterman. An interactive “Harry Potter”-style book examines the Bay watershed. A touch-screen table game enables players to compare the pros and cons of various oyster harvesting methods through the lenses of cost, income, and Bay health sustainability. Kids of all ages will enjoy the virtual reality boat that enables them to join a sailing race mid-stream, accompany a waterman on an oyster boat, or explore the Bay in a kayak.

Wilma Lee Skipjack Cruises – The Annapolis Maritime Museum (AMM) began offering its first full season of cruises aboard the refurbished 1940 Chesapeake Bay Skipjack, the Wilma Lee in April 2021. The 75' vessel offers two-hour heritage, sunset, and Wednesday Night Sailboat Race watch cruises. Coast guard certified to handle 42 passengers, the Wilma Lee is one of about 22 remaining skipjacks on the Chesapeake Bay. In their heyday, some 1,000 of the beautiful workboats graced the Chesapeake.

Live! Casino and Hotel held a ribbon cutting and the official launch of its FanDuel Sportsbook in December 2021. Located next to Live! Casino and Hotel's Sports & Social, FanDuel Sportsbook features legal betting on all major U.S. sports and a majority of international sports including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, tennis, auto racing, and more. It does not include horse wagering. Customers can place their wagers at any of ten betting windows with a live sportsbook writer or at any of the 61 self-service betting kiosks dispersed throughout the property. After placing their bets, sports enthusiasts can sit back, relax, and watch the game on one of 40 televisions while they enjoy great eats and an extensive drink selection at Sports & Social Maryland.

Sports & Social Maryland opened at Live! Casino & Hotel in April 2021. The new one-of-a-kind dining and entertainment venue is located at the heart of the casino floor in the space formerly occupied by Live! Center Stage. The $12 million project created by ICRAVE, an internationally acclaimed award-winning strategy, design and development firm, is the first Sports & Social venue to open in Maryland. The 212-seat venue is positioned to become the place for diehard Maryland and DC sports fans to cheer on their teams and watch multiple games and sporting events simultaneously. Sports & Social Maryland features a state-of-the-art AV system with more than 100 linear feet of LED screens, including a giant, 47-foot-wide main screen. Every guest can watch at least 10 games at once. Sports & Social features two main bars, luxurious VIP lounges, tiered sports viewing lounge chairs, casino games such as blackjack and roulette, as well as an assortment of interactive social games including mini-bowling and oversized foosball.

Black History 365 – In February 2022, the Banneker-Douglass Museum (BDM) and Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) announced the creation of a newly launched Black History 365 microsite that makes it easy for interested individuals to celebrate the heritage and culture of the people of the African Diaspora in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County all year long. Spearheaded by the Banneker-Douglass Museum and curated by Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, Black History 365 is a compilation of videos, blogs, resources, and events from a myriad of sources that provides insights into the lives of generations of individuals of the African Diaspora. The ever-evolving site shares the stories of a people who have made significant contributions to Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, the State of Maryland, and the nation. The site is designed to help build understanding among all peoples.

Maryland State House – After a 14-month COVID-19-induced shutdown, the Maryland State House reopened to the general public in May 2021. The reopening provided many individuals with their first opportunity for an in-person look at life-size bronze statues of Harriet Tubman (5'2”) and Frederick Douglass (6'2”) that were installed in the Old House of Delegates Chamber in February 2020, just one month before the State House was shut down. The new statue depicts Douglass at the moment the Maryland Constitution of 1864 was ratified in the Old House of Delegates Chamber, freeing enslaved individuals in Maryland. The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 only freed slaves in states that had seceded from the Union. It had no impact on boarder states like Maryland.

Neither Douglass nor Tubman would have been in the House of Delegates Chamber when the Maryland Constitution was ratified. Prior to the ratification, they would have been forbidden to enter the building. The statues were placed in the Chamber as silent witnesses to the significant event that took place in history that day. Because of the 1864 interpretation, the Harriet Tubman statue depicts a younger version of the abolitionist and political activist than most people are familiar with. Tubman and Douglass were slaves who became abolitionist heroes after fleeing Maryland in search of freedom.

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts – Internationally acclaimed artist Patrick Dougherty unveiled an environmental art installation outside of Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in May 2021. Three weeks in the making and multiple stories in height, the monumental scale piece of artwork fashioned from sticks and living saplings will reside on the front lawn of Maryland Hall for up to three years for all to enjoy. Nature lovers, art enthusiasts, and curiosity seekers are invited to come and experience The Old Home Place that's designed to be walked through, lingered with, and enjoyed. Dozens of volunteers gathered saplings from private farm properties on Maryland's Eastern Shore – including from Poplar Grove, a 400-year-old former plantation – to make the sculpture a reality. The saplings used for the project are a renewable resource. Because they are cut, rather than uprooted, they will grow back.  

Chase Home Garden Tours – The historic 1774 National Historic Landmark Chase-Lloyd House in downtown Annapolis now offers hour-long self-guided tours of its 6,000-square-foot garden Monday-Friday at 11:00 a.m., noon, 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. Chase Home gardener Kim Forry and garden volunteers are on the premises to answer questions. They encourage advance reservation and payment online but can accommodate walk-ins.

Featuring native and non-native species, the certified Bay-Wise Garden at 22 Maryland Avenue serves as a teaching tool for individuals who want to garden safely and successfully without using pesticides. The $5 admission includes a garden map that identifies Chase Home Garden blooms by season and a list of Bay-Wise practices employed in the garden that help contribute to cleaner waterways and a healthier Chesapeake Bay. The Chase Home first began offering self-guided garden tours in June 2021.

When Edward Lloyd V was considering plants for his garden in 1806, his friend Dr. Upton Scott of Annapolis provided him with a list of native Chesapeake Bay watershed plants to consider. Today's Chase-Lloyd Garden uses the same pollinator-friendly native trees, shrubs, and perennials as ecological standards. Garden tours are limited to eight individuals at a time. Advance reservations and online payment can be made at http://www.chaselloydhouse.org/tours/.

Captain Avery Museum – The Captain Avery Museum in Shady Side officially reopened in July 2021 with a new museum exhibit, Three Centuries of Chesapeake Bay History. Visitors are invited to explore how watermen made their living on the water in the 19th century, how recreational boating took over in the 20th century, and how concerned individuals everywhere can do their part to help preserve the Chesapeake Bay in the 21st century.

What's New in the Great Outdoors

The Preserve at Eisenhower Golf Course – May 1, 2021, marked the official opening of The Preserve at Eisenhower Golf Course in Crownsville. Two years in the making, the 18-hole, 7,100-yard public golf course is a remake of the 220-acre Eisenhower Golf course that first opened in 1969. Project architect Andrew Green combined the history of the original course with an emphasis on sustainability and a focus on environmental stewardship. Green used strategic mounding and native fescue grasses to ensure the golf course retains its visual appeal and challenge. The traditional sand bunkers have been removed. In their place, the larger reshaped greens are protected by strategic knolls or hummocks and low-cut approaches/mounding. The redesign also includes the addition of 17 boardwalks. That translates into 1,343 liner feet of boardwalk to protect natural resource areas and allow floodplain connection.

Waterworks Park Trails – The 600-acre Waterworks Park in Annapolis is among the newest locales attracting off-road bike enthusiasts who enjoy a rugged workout on beautiful terrain. In 2019, members of the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) cut eleven miles of new trails at the park. The open space recreational area operated by the City of Annapolis provides the public with hiking and biking, as well as a place to picnic and fish. Most of Waterworks Park is relatively undisturbed. Individuals can ride or hike in to access the trails. Offering public access and parking, the Housley Loop is the most frequented. Located at 260 Defense Highway, Waterworks Park served as the city's water reservoir until it was retired when aquifers were tapped in the 1920s.

Bacon Ridge Natural Area Trail – The multi-purpose trail designed for hikers and mountain bikers includes the first legal natural surface singletrack trail in Anne Arundel County. Created in 2018, it consists of approximately 18 miles of narrow, twisty dirt trails – sections of which are more suitable for intermediate to advanced riders.

Encompassing more than 900 acres, the Bacon Ridge Natural Area is a natural gem with expansive marshes and mature forests. At the center is its namesake creek, Bacon Ridge Branch. Located in Crownsville at the headwaters of the South River, Bacon Ridge Natural Area is owned by Anne Arundel County and managed by the County's Department of Recreation and Parks.

The central 630 acres of the Natural Area is protected by a conservation easement between Anne Arundel County, Scenic Rivers Land Trust, and Maryland Environmental Trust to preserve the natural features of the land.

The first publicly accessible trail at Bacon Ridge was built in the summer and fall of 2015, totaling 2.5 miles. The trail is located just off Hawkins Road, a few hundred yards past the overpass of Interstate 97. There is a small 10-12 space gravel parking lot for public use. The second phase of 4.5+ miles of trail was added in the fall of 2016. A map of the trails is available at the trailhead. Parking areas are located at 1284 Bacon Ridge Road, Crownsville, MD 21032 and at 1801 Hawkins Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.

What's New on the Arts Scene

Gallery 57 West – The nonprofit collective artists' group, Annapolis Arts Alliance (AAA), opened the doors of Gallery 57 West in the heart of Annapolis' Arts District in August 2020. In a “Fusion of the Arts” created by AAA members, the gallery showcases paintings in all media, photography, jewelry, sculpture, glass work, pottery, textiles, mixed media, maps, and collages at all price points. Prior to opening Gallery 57 West in renovated space where Whitehall Gallery used to be, AAA relied largely on seasonal pop-up shops to bring its creations to the marketplace.

Chesapeake Arts Center – As one of its 20th anniversary celebration events, the Chesapeake Arts Center (CAC) in Brooklyn Park installed Annapolis & Anne Arundel County's newest mural, a 20' x 16' depiction of famed author and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou. Entitled, “Infinite Creation,” the mural was affixed to the exterior brick entrance wall of the 194 Hammonds Lane property in January 2022. It features a portrait of Angelou along with her famous quote, “You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

Designed by The Artist Oliver James, the mural was created through the efforts of an all-female team of artists from the Annapolis-based non-profit, Future History Now, and students from Brooklyn Park Middle School. The Future History Now artists helped sketch out the overall design on 10 MDO boards, and seventeen students from Brooklyn Park Middle School helped paint them. The ten boards were then assembled and affixed at the entrance to the center's education wing near the Studio 194 Theater. CAC is a focal point for the arts in Northern Anne Arundel County.

Equal Justice Under the Law Mural – Visitors returning to Annapolis following a COVID-19 hiatus are being welcomed by more eye-catching murals. Future History Now (FHN) co-founder Jeff Huntington completed an Equal Justice Under the Law mural featuring equal rights champions, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Thurgood Marshall, in April 2021. Huntington and his wife, FHN co-founder Julia Gibb, led a team of youth artists and professional teaching artists to create the mural that adorns a 156 South Street building adjacent to the Circuit Courthouse on Church Circle in downtown Annapolis. The Equal Justice Mural Project is part of FHN's Kids Making History Mural Tour, a self-led walking tour that includes stops at a series of public murals in Annapolis.  

Carr's Beach Mural – April 2021 marked the completion of a Carr's Beach mural on West Street near Westgate Circle in downtown Annapolis. Created by Annapolis artist Comacell Brown and a host of volunteers, the mural at the Maryland Cultural and Conference Center's (MC3) StageOne at Park Place memorializes the African American resort and concert venue that had its heyday during the racial segregation years of the 1950s and 1960s.

Famous African American musicians including the Temptations, Ike and Tina Turner, the Shirelles, Little Richard, Billie Holiday, the Supremes, and many others performed there. Brown's mural includes depictions of distinguished Annapolis radio host Hoppy Adams and rhythm and blues legend James Brown, as well as Mary Florence Carr Sparrow and Elizabeth Carr Smith. The two sisters used land along the Chesapeake Bay that they received from their father to create Carr's Beach and Sparrow's Beach. The side-by-side, but separate, resorts catered exclusively to the African American community between the 1930s and 1960s.

Carlester 'Walking Man' Smith Mural – Created by Annapolis artist Comacell Brown and a host of volunteers, the Carlester 'Walking Man' Smith mural on the side of Pinkey's West Street Liquors at 1100 West Street in Annapolis is a work of love in honor of a man of love that was completed in July 2020. It honors an Annapolis icon who for 40 years briskly walked along West Street greeting people, picking up trash, and offering help wherever he could. Funds to create the mural were raised in a single evening through a Facebook fundraiser page. Pinkey's was a logical location for the mural – as Smith used to buy his sodas there after he finished cleaning the parking lot. A few years ago, health issues made it impossible for Carlester to continue his daily jaunts along West Street. He died in March 2021 at the age of 63. 

Breonna Taylor Mural – The Annapolis nonprofit, Future History Now, the Banneker-Douglass Museum, and the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture teamed up to find the space, sponsors, and volunteers to create a 7,000-square-foot mural of a black medical worker whose shooting death by police in Louisville, Kentucky in March 2020 sparked national outrage. Nearly 100 volunteers painted the mural at Chambers Park in Annapolis over a four-day period on Fourth of July weekend 2020. Bearing the words, “Black Lives Matter,” the creation is designed to be viewed best via satellite.

What's New on the Culinary Scene

Garten – The owners of Preserve restaurant in downtown Annapolis are planning to open a beer and wine garden in Severna Park in summer 2022. Culinary Institute of America graduates Michelle and Jeremy Hoffman say the 140-seat Garten will include an indoor/outdoor garden featuring locally brewed beers and European-inspired dishes. Larger than Preserve, the duo's modern biergarten concept will be located at 849 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard where Café Bretton used to be. It will include event space, onsite parking, and space for building gardens and growing a retail program. The couple opened the popular Preserve at 164 Main Street in Annapolis in 2015.

The Choptank Restaurant – The Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group is planning to open a new Choptank Restaurant on Ego Alley in Annapolis by the end of June 2022. The newest Choptank will be located at 110 Compromise Street at City Dock where the old Fawcett Boat Supplies used to be. The Choptank is a classic fish and crab house in the center of Baltimore's Fells Point waterfront. The Annapolis Choptank location will include 7,500 square feet of indoor space and 8,500 square feet of outdoor dining space. The outdoor area will feature a covered rooftop bar overlooking the water and dockside dining with fire pits and outdoor games. The Atlas Restaurant Group has 21 restaurants, 16 of which are in the Baltimore area. The City Dock location will be the group's first venture into Annapolis. Atlas Group CEO Alex Smith is a Baltimore native who has had a connection with Annapolis ever since he played professional lacrosse for the Chesapeake Bayhawks at Navy Marine-Corps Stadium.

Tuscan Prime Italian Chophouse & Dolce Bar – The newest concept by the Annapolis-based Monte Restaurant Development Group (Monte RDG) opened at the Annapolis town Center in January 2022. Proprietors Michele and Gennaro DiMeo have nearly three decades of experience owning and operating restaurants. Their fleet of successful eateries includes fine dining restaurant Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen and the fast casual chain, Squisito Pizza & Pasta. Located at the corner of Towne Centre Boulevard and Tower Place, Tuscan Prime features outdoor dining areas, three private event spaces, and an open and inviting bar. In addition to prime steaks and chops, award winning Italian cuisine, and a well-crafted wine and cocktail list, Tuscan Prime features over-the-top desserts including a tiramisu milkshake and carousel of profiteroles.

GameOn Bar & Arcade at 114 West Street next to the Graduate Annapolis Hotel held a ribbon cutting in March 2022. Owner Casey Linthicum combines classic arcade games, including Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Skee Ball, and more, with a bar featuring wine, beer, cider, and slushies. GameOn offers food truck-inspired snacks for hungry gamers at the 102-year-old former firehouse turned arcade. When it comes to hosting events, Linthicum teams up with a host a host of female catering partners to deliver the desired food and ambiance.

Full On Craft Eats & Drinks opened at the Annapolis Harbour Center in February 2022. Located at 2478A Solomons Island Road, where Baja Fresh used to be, the menu features American fare, appetizers, sandwiches, salads, wine, and beer. The high-end sandwiches feature in-house roasted meats and house-made sauces. Co-owners Julie and Michelle Harris and Bev and Joe Hospital opened the restaurant's first location in Rockville in 2014.

Black Market Bakers – Father and son Tom and Steve O'Leary started their business during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited indoor seating prompted them to open a Black Market Bakers food truck outside Tom's Chevys Fresh Mex in Annapolis. They went on to compete in a new NBC cooking show called Baking It, bringing more visibility to their baking skills and food truck enterprise. In April 2022, the duo began serving breakfast and dessert from their new brick and mortar location at 155 Mitchells Chance Road at South River Colony in Edgewater.

Agave Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar is expected to open at 106 Annapolis Street in West Annapolis in fall 2022. The Delaware-based restaurant is slated to occupy the first floor of MRE Properties' 15,000-square-foot mixed-use redevelopment project that will include four luxury rental apartments above. The apartments are expected to be available for rental by summer 2022. Named the eighth best Mexican place in America, Agave Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar has been the Mexican cuisine of choice for many Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware locals and visitors since 2008. The restaurant is known for its wide variety of seasonal hand-crafted cocktails as well as entrees and appetizers that are perfect for sharing.

Always Ice Cream held the grand opening of two new locations in 2021. In July 2021, co-owners 27-year-old Mark and 30-year-old Adam Cohen opened the first Always Ice Cream at 116 Annapolis Street in West Annapolis, and in December 2021, the duo opened a shop at 129 Mitchell's Chance Road in the South River Colony Shopping Center in Edgewater. The ice cream parlors are offshoots of Annapolis Ice Cream Company, which opened at 196 Main Street in Annapolis in 2004. The flagship shop was purchased by their father, Ross Cohen, about two and a half years ago. The brothers began planning a westward expansion shortly after they joined their father in the family business in 2020.

The new Always Ice Cream shops feature the same homemade ice cream that has consistently earned Annapolis Ice Cream Company the “Best Ice Cream in Annapolis” designation for nearly twenty years. Now, the ice cream for all three stores is made from scratch at the Edgewater location. Using original recipes created by Annapolis Ice Cream Company founders Walter and Nancy Giera, Always Ice Cream now counts vegan offerings among its ranks, including chocolate-chocolate chip and coconut chocolate chip with a gluten-free cone. Other new treats include ice cream-filled Nutty Buddies, Belgian Waffles, Brownie Sandwiches, Chocolate Chip Cookie, and Chocolate Wafer Sandwiches. The Always Ice Cream truck provides cold treats at local events, food truck parties, and other gatherings.

Dangerously Delicious Pies – Dangerously Delicious Pies of Baltimore and Washington, DC fame opened at 212-214 West Street in downtown Annapolis in November 2020. Offering sweet and savory pies and quiches whole or by the slice, the 2,400 square foot duplex that once housed an art studio now features a full kitchen. Owned by Christopher and Kimberly Miller, the Annapolis shop is the fourth location in the region for business founder Rodney 'The Pie Man' Henry. The other three are in the Hampden and Canton neighborhoods of Baltimore and in Washington, DC. Dangerously Delicious Pies has long been known for its popular Baltimore Bomb pie that includes Berger Cookies mixed with a cheese filling. Miller offers a revolving menu and has incorporated some Annapolis pies into the mix.

Forward Brewing Company – the first nano-brewery in Eastport opened its doors on Fourth Street in May 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic didn't slow down owners Claire and Cam Bowdren. They opened as planned, serving food and drinks through the windows of their 28-seat restaurant until the brewery could safely serve guests inside.

Flamant – In October 2020, the restaurant opened a new outdoor covered patio experience with a clear roof that gives diners a view of the stars and protection from the elements. The patio is completely heated, curtained for privacy from passers-by, and decorated in Flamant's signature style: simple florals, stylish chandeliers, and vintage carpets.

In Grano – The Annapolis-area bistro-bakery opened its doors in December 2020. Owners Pericles Lewnes and Adam Pusateri mill their own locally sourced grains to produce easily digestible tasty, healthy bread. The duo uses ingredients and an old-world process of baking that breaks down the proteins in bread, allowing a larger number of people – even those with gluten sensitivities – to enjoy it. True to its name, which is Latin for “against the grain,” the bistro is committed to reviving the old-school bread methods that have become 'unique' and make them the standard. Their breads are made fresh daily, with all natural, never processed, ingredients.   

Trained at the Culinary Institute of America, Pusateri focuses on sourcing sustainably, supporting local farmers, and pairing unique ingredients to create a memorable experience. Lewnes began his career in film, becoming a successful director and editor. He grew up in the restaurant industry, surrounded by family members who shared in creating and cooking for others. His passion for baking is reflected in his creative approach to refreshing the classics.

Pherm Brewing Company – Billy Abbott and Henry Jager opened Pherm Brewing Company in Gambrills in December 2020. Dedicated to bringing the love of music and beer to the county, the duo combined fermentation – the process of making alcohol – and the band, Phish, to come up with the brewery's name. Located at 1041 Robert Crain Highway, Pherm Brewing offers more than beer. Customers enjoy live performances by local artists and food from on-site food trucks. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food. Pherm brews hazy and fruited sour IPA's, barreled age brews, lagers, and seltzers that are available via its 12-tap system.

Miss Shirley's Café – Travelers passing through BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport in Anne Arundel County can now treat themselves to a Baltimore and Annapolis culinary tradition by grabbing a bite to eat at Miss Shirley's Cafe. Opened in April 2021 in Southwest Airline's Concourse A, the 100-seat café with a full bar offers a smaller version of Miss Shirley's menu. Individuals traveling for business or pleasure can choose from many of the restaurant's well-known signature dishes as well as some seasonal selections for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks. This is the fourth Maryland location for Miss Shirley's.  

Smashing Grapes Kitchen and Bar – The Titan Hospitality Group opened Smashing Grapes Kitchen and Bar locations at 177 Jennifer Road in Annapolis in September 2020 and at 2383 Brandermill Blvd. in Gambrills in February 2021. Offering what they call “A fusion of Mediterranean and California Coastal cuisine paired with world class wines and craft cocktails,” the restaurants are conversions of former Greene Turtle Sports Bars. Designed by chef Matthew Newland, who previously worked for Hilton Worldwide and the RW Restaurant Group, the menu features a blend of Mediterranean and California Coastal cuisine and a wine list that includes 350 varieties. Smashing Grapes in Annapolis seats up to 375 guests. The Gambrills location can accommodate up to 250 guests.  

Yard House – The Yard House opened at Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover in November 2020. Featuring more than 100 beers on draft, including those from local brewers Flying Dog Brewery, Heavy Seas, and Crooked Crab Brewing, the 14,154-square-foot bar and grille boasts an 80-item menu. Along with the popular pork burger and hot chicken and nachos, the menu features gluten-sensitive, vegan, and vegetarian options. The Yard House is owned by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants. The Arundel Mills Mall restaurant is located between Chevy's and Buffalo Wild Wings. It is the second in Maryland (following Gaithersburg) and the 84th in the nation.

Nothing Bundt Cakes – Annapolis's first Nothing Bundt Cakes bakery held a grand opening at the Annapolis Town Center in January 2021. This is the fifth Maryland location for the national franchise that boasts more than 300 locations nationwide. Operated by Glenn and Rhonda Rogers, of Arnold, the 2,374-square-foot bakery specializes in sweet cakes that take their name from the pan they're cooked in. The bakery sells 8- and 10-inch cakes, tiered cakes, miniature, and bite-sized cakes, and specialty cakes. Glenn is a commercial airline pilot and former Marine with ties to the Naval Academy. Nothing Bundt Cakes is located between A Taste of New Orleans and Jimmy John's at the Annap0lis Town Center.

1771 Grill and Taproom – Music is a big part of the menu at the 1771 Grill and Taproom that opened at 26 Market Space in downtown Annapolis in July 2021 at the site of the former Harvest Wood Grill & Tap. Live music, karaoke, and DJ entertainment compliment a menu that includes popular tavern fare. 

True Food Kitchen – The health-centric eatery, True Food Kitchen, opened at the Annapolis Town Center at 1906 Towne Centre Blvd. in July 2021. The restaurant serves seasonally changing menus built around an anti-inflammatory food pyramid championed by founder Dr. Andrew Weil. The menu emphasizes wholesome, simple ingredients prepared in a way that shows off their natural health benefits and flavors. Patrons choose from a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options that are nutrient rich and responsibly sourced. The 6,675-square-foot restaurant features a dining room, open kitchen, and full-service bar. Located in a former Brooks Brothers store, the restaurant also features a private dining area and covered patio. True Food Kitchen is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. The Phoenix, Arizona-based chain has more than 40 locations across the country, including one in Bethesda.

Trophy Room –The Graduate Annapolis Hotel at 126 West Street opened the Trophy Room restaurant in April 2021. It features an airy open floor plan with oversized windows, ample seating, and doors that lead to an outside patio with a sofa-style conversation pit and a covered, street-facing gallery for outdoor dining. In keeping with its name, the restaurant includes cases filled with vintage trophies. As a nod to the hotel's original restaurant, Camp Severn Shore, the Trophy Room has kept the wall of sea-captain portraits by the bar. Among the most noticeable changes is how the new restaurant has amped up the fun level with games. Highlights include two foosball tables by the open kitchen as well as table shuffleboard. Deluxe Scrabble, Jenga sets, and other games are scattered about the tables to inspire spontaneous competition. The outside patio includes a cornhole set with navy and gold bean bags. The signature Graduate Hotels' restaurant serves up classic American dishes with a youthful spin.

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What's New with Event Venues

The Atreeum at Soaring Timbers – Annapolis's newest event venue opened at 610 North Bestgate Road in Annapolis in April 2021. Capable of accommodating up to 350 guests, the inviting timber frame structure is made up of Yellow Pine, White Oak, Douglas Fir, and Black Walnut. Featuring soaring ceilings, expansive windows and doors, a natural décor, and a neutral base, the post and beam-constructed building capitalizes on nature's beauty both inside and out. The timbers soaring skyward and open to the ceiling create an open, light-filled blank canvass for creating one-of-a-kind events. Soaring Timbers also provides on-site complimentary parking.

The environmentally-friendly timber frame venue developed by Woodhouse, the Timber Frame Company in Mansfield, PA aids in the sustainability of forests since it required less wood to build – and fewer trees to be cut – than a stick-built structure.

Jack C. Taylor Conference Center – The U.S. Naval Institute dedicated the Jack C. Taylor Conference Center on September 30, 2021. The high-tech venue provides a platform for events that stimulate innovative thinking about complex issues facing our nation. Here, ideas will become solutions, supporting the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard professionals who serve our country. For the community, the Conference Center offers a unique meeting space in historic Annapolis featuring a 406-seat auditorium, reception spaces, an indoor/outdoor rooftop terrace, five unique meeting rooms, and a broadcast studio. The Center has a sustainable design that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards. It also meets Department of Defense force protection standards. The venue is ideal for professional symposia and is optimized for classified discussions on a per-use, waiver basis. The Conference Center adjoins the U.S. Naval Institute's headquarters on the Yard of the U.S. Naval Academy.

What's New with Retail

All the Rage Vintage – A November 2021 ribbon cutting marked the official opening of All The Rage Vintage at 208 West Street in the heart of the Annapolis Arts District. Owners Erica Kagan and Sarah Taylor envision their store as a destination. They scour estate sales, auctions, and flea markets to provide a store full of nostalgia for all. Kagan who hails from Wales and Sarah who's lived in Annapolis for decades met around 2018 and began working together in a vintage store in Old Ellicott City. When they outgrew the space, they set their sights for a store in Annapolis.

Vignette, Home Table Garden – The lifestyle store, Vignette, opened at 53 Maryland Avenue in June 2020. Pushing home, table, and garden to the forefront, owner Laura Cottrill seeks to inspire patrons to re-imagine their homes and explore the possibilities of a creating a comfortable space as they browse the pillows, throws, soft seating, hostess essentials, lighting possibilities, and more that grace the store. Vignette focuses on enhancing life's simple pleasures – like gathering, entertaining, cooking, sharing a meal with family and friends, and getting back to basics.

Vitola 121 – The newest premium cigar retailer in Annapolis opened at 121 Maryland Avenue in downtown Annapolis in April 2021. It offers premium products in an inviting space.

What's New with Accommodations

134 Prince Luxury Boutique Hotel – Class of 2011 U.S. Naval Academy graduates and former Navy pilots Clinton Ramsden and Cody Monroe opened the five-suite hotel at 134 Prince George Street in Historic Downtown Annapolis in December 2020.

The award-winning interior design firm Interior Concepts, Inc. planned the layout and furnished the property with the luxury traveler in mind. Built adjacent to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1849, the hotel has been fully upgraded with world-class furnishings that include custom furniture, spa quality bathrooms, and state-of-the-art technology to enhance the guest experience.

Ramsden and Monroe began their real estate partnership in 2013 after completing flight school. They initially transformed historic properties into luxury accommodations in Florida. In 2019, they looked to Annapolis. Ramsden says their company, Annapolis Capital Partners, spent more than a year studying the property's rich architectural details “so that we could breathe new life into the building, while simultaneously featuring its distinct and unmistakable history.”

Annapolis Waterfront Hotel, a member of Marriott International's Autograph Collection, completed a comprehensive, multi-million renovation of its exterior, 150 guest rooms, and extensive meetings and event spaces in August 2020. The D.C. firm, Baskervill, led the design that brings the harborside location of Annapolis' only waterfront hotel inside with a maritime-inspired theme.  

The building's original brick façade is now a welcoming white. New awnings, lighting, furniture, and planters complete the exterior's contemporary-meets-coastal-classic look. Ocean hues of blues, grays, and tans beckon guests in with layered fabrics and textural accents that are complemented by natural materials in furniture and accessories throughout the rooms and public areas. An eclectic collection of artwork, furniture, and organic patterns inspired by the winds and seas gives the space a charming, residential feel, complemented by harbor views.

The guest rooms and Waterfront Harbor Suite feature details inspired by elements of a sailboat. Walnut hardwood floors reminiscent of a boat deck and a tufted channel headboard with brass nail heads are paired with white linens sporting a coastal blue trim. Bathrooms have been completely redone in tonal blues and whites.

Subtle nautical influences imbue the hotel's nine event rooms, more than 6,000-square-feet of interior event space and 8,500-square-feet of adjoining outdoor event space with a sense of warmth, familiarity, and authentic sense of place.

Annapolis Waterfront is participating in Hersha Hotels and Resorts Rest Assured Program™, a 5-point program to ensure guests and staff are safe while on property. It includes increased cleaning and sanitation measures, reimagined guest services, innovative accommodations, and proactive communication between staff and guests.

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