Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay

 What’s New for Fall and Winter 2011-2012

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND—There’s a lot that’s new in Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay this fall. Below is a sampling of some of the latest attractions and experiences that beckon travelers in the months ahead. For a complete listing, visit the Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau’s website at www.VisitAnnapolis.org.

New Events

Haunted Ghost Tours—Historic Annapolis Foundation (HAF) and Watermark Tours. Charters. Cruises. have teamed up to offer Haunted Ghost Tours through historic Annapolis on Friday and Saturday evenings from September 2 through October 29. Special Halloween tours will also be held on Sunday and Monday, October 30 and 31. The two-hour tours depart at 7:30 p.m. from the HAF Museum Store at 77 Main Street. 410-268-7601, ext. 100, www.watermarkjourney.com.

U.S. Naval Academy Commissioning—The U.S. Naval Academy Commissioning ceremonies for the 2012 graduating class will be held May 29, the Tuesday after Memorial Day. This is a departure from the traditional Friday before Memorial Day commissioning. The Blue Angels will not be performing in Annapolis during the 2012 commissioning week, due to previous commitments. 410-293-1520, www.usna.edu.

What’s New with Attractions

Annapolis Food Tours—In January 2011, Annapolis Food Tours purchased Capital City Colonials, and took food tours to a new level with their Annapolis Food and History Tours. Tour participants can now enjoy specially created small plate dishes as they stroll from restaurant to restaurant. The tours connect the cuisine with the chefs, restaurants, history, and culture of the area. In June, the company launched an Evening Dine Around, a fully customizable tour that features a six-course progressive meal at three different restaurants. The company soon will be offering a food tour that ties in with War of 1812 and Civil War commemorations. 202-683-8847, www.FoodTourCorp.com.

Annapolis Sailing Cruises: Schooner Woodwind and Woodwind II—In the summer of 2011, the Schooner Woodwind partnered with Historic Annapolis Foundation (HAF) to bring a bit of history to some of its Monday evening cruises. Every other Monday through September, a guest speaker from Historic Annapolis Foundation brings the history, lore, and intrigue of Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay alive for individuals taking a sunset sail aboard the 74’ wooden schooner. For guests who aren’t able to make one of the HAF cruises, every other Monday features Woodwind’s own Miss Pat, an 18th-century working woman in full period costume. 410-263-7837, www.schoonerwoodwind.com.

Ballet Theatre of Maryland—Maryland’s only professional ballet company is scheduled to officially open its new Merrit Annex at 1981 Moreland Parkway, Bay 4, in Annapolis on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Annapolis Mayor Joshua Cohen and Councilperson Classie Hoyle have been invited to speak and participate in a ribbon cutting for the 5,400 square foot studio that has been in operation since April 2011. Founded as the Ballet Theatre of Annapolis in 1978, The Ballet Theatre of Maryland has additional facilities at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park and at the Academy Art Museum in Easton. 410-224-5644,www.balletmaryland.org.

Compass Rose Studio Theater—The non-profit professional acting studio and theater company opened in Eastport in the spring of 2011. It offers professional performances and theater education for all ages. Compass Rose offers after-school residencies and arts integrated programming in schools throughout Anne Arundel County. It partners with Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and the Chesapeake Arts Center in its quest to bring the joy of theater to all. The first show of the theater’s fall season, Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon, opens October 21, 2011. 410-980-6662, www.compassrosetheater.org.

GreenPedals—Renting an electric bike in Annapolis just got easier. In the summer of 2011, Green Pedals moved from McGukian Street in Annapolis to 105-B Annapolis Street in West Annapolis. Visitors can rent bikes in the cycle-friendly neighborhood for as little as two hours. In addition to repairing bikes, the West Annapolis shop also sells a variety of light electric vehicles including bikes, scooters, and skateboards. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. 410-280-5005, www.green-pedals.com.

Infinity Theatre Company—Founded in 2010 by theatre professionals Anna Roberts Ostroff and Alan Ostroff, the company brought its first full summer season of professional New York City theatre to Annapolis in 2011. Infinity brings together a high quality team of directors, designers, actors, and technicians from New York City. Its performances are held at the Children's Theatre of Annapolis at 1661 Bay Head Road. 877-501-8499, www.infinitytheatrecompany.com

Maryland Live!—The first phase of Maryland Live! Casino at Arundel Mills is scheduled for completion in June 2012. The largest gaming facility in Maryland will feature 4,750 slot and electric table games, including black jack, roulette, craps and poker. The second phase of construction will include several upscale dining establishments and an intimate live music venue. It is slated for completion by October 2012. The approximately 300,000 square foot casino is expected to enhance the Arundel Mills Commercial District, which is already the #1 tourist destination in Maryland. 410-572-5444, www.ppecasinoresortsmd.com.

Memories and Mementos—The Captain Salem Avery Museum, a National Historic Landmark that collects, preserves and shares local Chesapeake history, has a new major exhibit, Memories and Mementos: The History of Shady Side Schools from 1868 to 1978. Opened in April 2011, the free exhibit researched by the Shady Side Rural Heritage Society can be viewed during the museum’s regular operating hours: Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 410-867-4486, www.shadysidemuseum.org.

Thanksgiving Farm Winery—Southern Anne Arundel County’s first winery opened in spring 2011. Its wines are made exclusively from grapes that are hand picked from the 58-acre vineyard. Owned and operated by Maureen and Doug Heimbuch, the winery focuses on producing a single, premium red wine made from a blend of Bordeaux – their Meritage wine. Visitors are invited to sample the wines in their tasting room on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. 410-630-1511, www.thanksgivingfarm.com.

What’s New with Restaurants

Annapolis Grill—Located at the Westin Annapolis Hotel at 100 Westgate Circle, Annapolis Grill opened in summer 2011. It features a wide selection of classic American cuisine in an inviting atmosphere. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and offers a Champagne Brunch on Sundays. 410-216-6030, www.annapolisgrill.net.

Annapolis Towne Centre—Two new restaurants opened at the Annapolis Towne Centre in the summer of 2011. Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop and Zoe’s Kitchen, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, are part of the third phase of construction at the Towne Centre. Saladworks is slated to open in October 2011. It will offer made-to-order salads, soups and sandwiches. Also scheduled to open in the near future are: Flat Top Grill, a stir fry restaurant, and Qdoba Mexican Grill. These new restaurants add fast casual options to Annapolis Towne Centre’s dining scene. 410-573-9050, www.visitatc.com.

Chick & Ruth’s Delly—No matter where they might be in the country, individuals with a craving for Chick & Ruth’s jumbo lump crab cakes are never more than a day away from satisfying their taste buds. That’s because the restaurant has begun daily shipments of their half-pound crab cakes via UPS. Individuals can place their orders online or contact owner Ted Levitt between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily. Each crab cake is individually packaged and shipped uncooked, so they arrive at their destination fresh and ready to be enjoyed. 410-269-6737, [Back to Press Releases Main]