A short stroll from the Naval Academy, and the Main Street and Maryland Avenue shopping districts, West Street has morphed into a hip and happening ‘hood.

Until the makeover began a decade ago, the turf belonged largely to prostitutes, drug dealers, and lost tourists searching for City Dock. To drive down the street was to risk eviscerating your buggy’s belly or disappearing in a pothole bigger than Peoria.

Best I can recall, when I arrived from the D.C. ‘burbs in the mid-80’s, the Rams Head tavern, then a teeny basement brew-and-burger joint, and a mom-and-pop pizza parlor were the only draws.

Fast forward 20 years. The unsightly power lines are history, the road is smooth, and the Annapolis Visitor Center, anchoring the block between Church Circle and Calvert Street, opens its arms to out-of-towners.

The street is alive—with the sounds of music emanating from Ram’s Head On Stage—and a string of distinctive new restaurants and boutiques that draws raves from locals and out-of-towners alike.

While tee-shirt shops and national chains threaten to squeeze the vitality and color out of Main Street, West Street celebrates vision, entrepreneurship, and creativity.

It took a transplanted Aussie, Gavin Buckley, to light the fire that fueled West Street development within the shadow of St. Anne’s. Together with business partner Jody Danek and their wives, they lobbied to save some falling-down buildings from the wrecker’s ball and developed the properties into a home for several new businesses.

Here are some snapshots of West Street’s pretty new face.

Shops

A la mode
32 West St.
410-280-9771
alamodelingerie.com
Open daily.
Come here to purchase alluring lingerie by Chantelle, Huit, Hanky Panky and unique gifts for yourself or the the woman (or women) in your life. It’s never too late to forsake flannel and tee-sweats for silk and illusion. Timing is everything.

Artfx
45 West St.
410-990-4540
Artfxgallery.org
Open daily.

The attractive, well-priced pottery, jewelry, glass, candles, sculpture, photography and paintings are all handcrafted by area artists. Translation: there’s a heap of talent on the shores of the Chesapeake. If you’re shopping for a discriminating and/or difficult someone who claims to have it all, come to Artfx for something extraordinary that won’t break the bank.

Astrid
175 West St.
410-626-9726
Open daily, or by appointment

Owner Julie Williams will help you coordinate a silk, cotton or knit top with the appropriate skirt or designer jeans. Julie hand-picks items from New York, Paris and Australia and sells Hobo bags too. Shoes are on their way (in February). The boutique hosts private events such as girlfriends and bachelorette parties.

Object
177 West St.
410-626-9701
Open Mon-Sat; closed Sunday.
Northern Virginia transplant Dot Hewitt has assembled a primo selection of irreverent cards and books (“The Complete Neurotic”), gifts, jewelry and items of sheer whimsy such as Bacon Strips adhesive bandages. If you’re feeling blue, come to Object for a mood-elevating experience and one-of-a-kind finds not usually available in our button-down Zip code.

Tin Can Allee
63 West Street
410-626-1250
tincanallee.com
A one-stop shop for the home (yours or someone else’s), TCA has everything from silk flowers, furniture, pottery and accessories to Thymes skin care products. Ask Michelle or Chrissie for help with accessorizing your favorite space.

Restaurants

lemongrass
169 West St.
410-280-0086
Open Mon-Sat lunch and dinner; Sunday dinner only.
Bring a book to read while waiting in line at peak times.Or get it to go. Reservations are not accepted at this local hot spot dishing up very tasty Thai fare. No wonder they’re so busy. Along with a wide range of salads, soups, and close to 2 dozen entrees are 10 vegetarian dishes. Entrees average $2 less at lunch.

Metropolitan
169 West St.
410-268-7733
Dinner only. Reservations recommended.
A stylish, sophisticated black-and-white restaurant—think, the Stork Club, Annapolis-style—with intimate tables and banquettes, Metropolitan offers diners choices—a downstairs wine bar where you can drink and graze on small portions from $8 to $19; second floor dining room, and rooftop bar and dining area (in season). Chef John Joseph oversees the eclectic menu of New American cuisine which changes seasonally.Most entrées are in the $25-$30 range. Ask about the 5-couse tasting menu.

Luna Blu
36 West Street
410-267-9950
lunabluofannapolis.com
Open daily. Reservations suggested.

I had despaired of finding in Annapolis a true Italian bistro like those in New York that draw me like grated Pecorino Romano to pasta. Then along came Luna Blu. I’m working my way through the menu. Thus far, everything—soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, veal, chicken, seafood—is bellisimo. And it’s dished out in an attractive and cozy setting. Four-course dinners are offered nightly. Me, I prefer to share with my dining companions. On- and off-site catering is available.

For a list of businesses serving the Annapolis Sailing and Boating Communities visit the Annapolis.com Boating Guide.

For a guide to Annapolis Restaurants, Bars and Cafes, visit the Annapolis.com Dining Guide.

For a guide to Annapolis Hotels and other lodging options visit the Annapolis.com Hotel Guide.

Annapolis is within easy reach of the many attractions of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, the largest city in Maryland. Annapolis is also the gateway to the Chesapeake Bay and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Route 50 passes by Annapolis, over the architectural masterpiece of the 4.3 mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and on through the historic towns of Easton and Cambridge, before ending near the boardwalk in Ocean City, the largest resort in the Mid-Atlantic. For information on Ocean City hotels, vacation rentals, dining and entertainment visit OceanCity.com.

Maryland is a small state, (the 42nd biggest in the Union), so that no part of it is more than a day trip from Annapolis, which lies near the center of the state. While Annapolis is close to major metropolitan areas, it is well suited as a base for enjoying the outdoor activities found throughout the state. In Annapolis itself, you can charter a sailboat or take a ferry across the bay or enjoy a leisurely stroll at Quiet Waters Park. Maryland is full of opportunities of enjoying the outdoors by hiking, biking, birding, kayaking, horseback riding, fossil hunting and even skiing at Wisp mountain in Western Maryland.

For a guide to nearby outdoor activities visit the Annapolis.com Day Trips Guide.

Annapolis is home to the United States Naval Academy and St. John’s College, a liberal arts college with a history going back to 1696. Annapolis is well known as a center of sailing and boating in the Mid-Atlantic. Our neighborhood of Eastport, across the bridge from downtown Annapolis, retains much of its old maritime character, showcased at the Annapolis Maritime Museum.

Annapolis has some of the finest examples of colonial homes, including the Hammond-Harwood House and the Charles Carroll House. We have a rich African-American history. We honor those who arrived as slaves, including Alex Haley’s ancestor, Kunta Kinte, at the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation Memorial and the heritage of the Maryland African American community at the Banneker-Douglass Museum.

Explore our site and enjoy your visit to Annapolis!