Hailed as Annapolis’s largest music festival, the event will be taking place this Saturday, August 11 in the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds. Headlining this year will be Cake, Citizen Cope and G. Love & Special Sauce, among 17 other fantastic acts. Styles ranging anywhere from blues, to rock, to singer-songwriter will have the crowd stomping, swaying, and singing along. A number of the performers, Pasadena and Jimmie’s Chicken Shack to name a few, are proud Maryland natives themselves.

Great music in a bustling city seems like something almost everyone would enjoy, but last year, a certain lady stood in the way of the first-ever Silopanna festivities; Hurricane Irene. Feat not music-lovers, because this year’s event will be rain or shine.

Come hungry because gourmet food trucks out of Washington D.C. will be vending an assortment of rocking food; Cajun, pizza, empanadas, crab & lobster rolls and a favorite summer treat craved by all; ice cream.

The first act goes on at 11 a.m. and the music will not cease for close to 12 hours! The festival is open to all ages and regular-priced tickets are available for $59.50. Tickets and a full set list are available through the following link: http://tickets.silopannafest.com

On the day of the event, they will be available for $75. VIP tickets are also available online for $195. Exclusive amenities will include preferred parking, access to a shaded tent, complimentary beer and wine, a dinner buffet and private bathrooms. (Will be sold for $250 on the day of the event).

Don’t miss out on the Bud Light Happy Hour! From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., ice-cold BL drafts will be sold for a mere $3.

Proceeds from the tickets will benefit the Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships as well as temporary, emergency relief for musicians in the area due to sickness or injury.

With a great location, a fantastic variety of musicians and more, it’s easy to see why Silopanna is the largest music festival in Annapolis; spell it backwards and find out.

Founded in 1986, the museum’s staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that the community and its visitors of all ages are educated in the history of Annapolis’ maritime heritage as well as the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay.

“This is not your typical ‘Smithsonian’ type of museum, its focus is very programmatic,” said Jeff Holland, executive director, as he discussed the limited space of the building. “Our programs here are a vibrant focal point for community engagement.”

Those who simply know Annapolis for its sailing and shopping will truly be enlightened as they experience the variety of interactive exhibits featured inside, as well as outside off of the pier. The current exhibit, Oysters on the Half Shell, showcases the importance of the oysters, the industry and the hardworking people who made the booming business possible. Sadly, the industry has slowed down significantly over time.

The docks that sit behind the museum were once a prosperous and profitable market place. In the 60s and 70s, McNasby’s son William Jr. (who eventually took over the company) would tally the bushels of oysters being brought in. At that time in history, it was common to see men selling 100 bushels, a rate that is simply impossible now. Holland noted that now, even eight bushels would be hard to accumulate in a day’s work, as we are left with only 1 percent of the historic oyster population. Problems like pollution, disease and overharvesting have created the severe change. The staff is active in the Oyster Recovery Partnership, which helps stabilize the population through sanctuaries and planting spat (oyster larvae).

Despite this harsh impact, the museum hosts a tank containing a living oyster reef. The water inside is surprisingly clear, as the cleaning is done by the oysters themselves! Holland commented that a single oyster can filter an entire bathtub’s worth of water. The tank is custom-designed, and its C-shaped arch allows children (and anyone small enough!) to immerse themselves in the habitat of one of the bay’s most cherished creatures.

The exhibit also features a large-scale oyster (for a closer look at their fascinating anatomy), actual equipment used for packing and processing, and the V-shaped deadrise boat Miss Lonesome. Kids are encouraged to climb aboard the workboat and learn how the watermen once tonged oysters off of this very vessel.

Oysters on the Half Shell may primarily celebrate the impact that these critters had on the past of Annapolis, but the legacy of the business is still very much alive in the city.

“Just the other day a woman came in here to see the museum and was pointing at many of these photographs, identifying people that she knew,” Holland said. “It’s fun seeing what information some of our visitors share back with us. Some of those watermen still live in the area today.”

The Buchanan Bay Room is a multipurpose area in the back of the museum, primarily used as an art exhibit. The staff replaces its photographs and paintings every six to eight weeks with new exhibits, which all showcase the work of local artists. It is also used as a classroom, lecture hall and concert hall. Last year the museum connected 2,237 kids with the culture of the bay through their educational programs.

While walking outside on the pier, guests may notice signs instructing them not to loiter, fish or crab. The staff at the museum instructs their visitors to do the opposite; ignore them and enjoy the splendor of the Chesapeake Bay! Throughout the year, visitors are encouraged to canoe, kayak, fish, crab and sightsee as this location provides an excellent view of the gleaming Chesapeake at the mouth of the Severn River.

Tied to the wooden docks of the museum are a number of boats with incredible history behind them. One particular boat, the Stanley Norman, a skipjack built in 1902, is truly one-of-a-kind. Known for their large triangular sails, the boats were used for oyster dredging. Attaching a motor to these vessels was prohibited by law,so watermen would sometimes attach pushboats to better mobilize the ships. Holland stated that 100 years ago, there were around 1000 skipjacks. Now there is said to be between merely six and eight, the Stanley Norman being one of them!
Inside and out, the Annapolis Maritime Museum is a treasure chest full of interactive history, education and fun, waiting to be opened by visitors, locals and maritime enthusiasts alike.

Through their conservation efforts, tours, educational programs and concerts, the staff’s passion for the bay and getting the community involved is clearly evident.

Make sure you don’t miss out on a Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse tour this year; the next is Saturday, July 28. For more information on the tours check out:
http://www.visit-annapolis.org/all-aboard-first-annual-thomas-point-shoal-lighthouse-tour-of-the-summer/

Lemongrass, on 167 West St,  is another popular location for locals and tourists alike to bring their pups. “We have a big grass lot that’s perfect for guests that bring their dogs. Everyone that works here is both enlightened and entertained when they stroll in,” said Emma deZries, hostess at Lemongrass. “In my two years working here, I’ve learned that locals love two things; dogs and sailing.”

Other doggy-friendly dining options include Fado Irish Pub, Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen and Reynolds Tavern.

Hotels:
You don’t have to leave your dog home when you’re booked at the Loews Annapolis Hotel. Their “Loves Pets” program allows up to two pets in your room and includes a complimentary water, placemat and exclusive pet menu from room service. Your dog won’t want to leave when they smell the best part of the deal; biscuits! All of this comes for the low price of $25. Reserve your pet-friendly room today by calling 410-263-7777.

The Westin Annapolis Hotel doesn’t discriminate against man’s best friend. Their welcome kit that they offer to guests includes treats, toys, bowls, a comfy bed and they even get a sign for the door to let everyone know they are inside being pampered! Call today at  410-972-4300.

Don’t forget about Residence Inn Annapolis, State House Inn and Annapolis Accommodations.

Shop Stops:
The fun-loving owners of Mary & Blanche, found at 188 Main St, encourage the company of your dog or cat. So come inside for an enlightening shopping experience and a treat for your pet to show them both you and the city of Annapolis care!

Paws Pet Boutique are not timid about their love for dogs. The boutique features a gourmet bakery for your pup, fresh water for those panting tongues, a welcoming treat and a huge variety of toys. So make 64 State Circle a tradition whenever you bring your companion along for a shopping spree.

East Street Gallery, Brown Eyed Girl Surf Shop, Annapolis Pottery and Wild Bird Center of Annapolis also all welcome you as well as your pet.

No matter one’s age, summers should include at least one memorable adventure. What could be better than a boat ride on a beautiful summer day, an intimate group size and a tour of the last screw-pile lighthouse in its original location? This Saturday, June 30, marks the first of many tours of the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse held by the Annapolis Maritime Museum. The three-hour fun begins with a 30-minute boat ride which departs from the museum. Participants will then be led on an engaging tour of the lighthouse where they will be informed on topics ranging from the lifestyles of the past lighthouse keepers to the explanation of how the rest of this specific type of lighthouse came to be destroyed. The tour ends with another 30-minute boat ride back to the museum, where guests enjoy the splendor of the Chesapeake Bay.

Model of Thomas Point Shoal displayed in Annapolis Maritime Museum

Museum Director Jeff Holland recounts his times at the lighthouse on the docks behind the museum.

In 2004 the Annapolis Maritime Museum became one of four partners to adopt the lighthouse. They also have joined the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society for the purpose of protecting and restoring such a marvelous structure. Currently, the Thomas Point Shoal uses solar panels on its roof. Now the structure is open to public for educational purposes, sailing enthusiasts, and overall curiosity. This is the sixth year of the tours and last year over 600 guests had this enlightening opportunity.

So don’t waste your time and reserve your spot today as there is a limited 18-passenger capacity for each tour. All tours run at three separate times: 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Tickets are $70 and can be reserved by calling the museum at 410-295-0104. The other tours will be held on July 7, July 28, August 11, August 18 and September 6, all at the same time periods listed above.
It’s exciting and meaningful events like this that really celebrate the spirit and history of Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay.

Make sure to catch the parade which will begin at Main Street, run through State Circle and end at Maryland Avenue. The Chesapeake Caledonian Pipes and Drums Band will be keeping the Irish spirit alive with a large group of dancers behind them, even local kids from the community!

Bistro dining is available throughout the day at Galway Bay Irish Pub at 63 Maryland Ave and also at Harry Browne’s on 66 State Circle.

Great Irish music will be provided from noon until 5 p.m. by Celtic Crossing, Up on Blocks and The Bridgette Michaels Band. Free parking is available at the State Garage at Calvert and St. Johns Street. So whether you have any Irish in your blood or not, come celebrate the spirit in this fun-filled festival for the entire family!

Azure, Carpaccio, India’s, Fado Irish Pub, Metropolitan Kitchen & Lounge, Lemongrass, O’Callaghan Hotel, Tsunami, 49 West, Wild Orchid Café, Crush, Stan & Joes, El Toro, Luna Blu, Rams Head Tavern and Annapolis Collection Gallery.

This year, Luna Blu will be serving fresh, in-house, mozzarella caprese made with creamy buffalo mozzarella and local tomatoes. They will also be sampling Chianti and Italian Orvieto wines.

The fun doesn’t stop with the food and beverages; live music and entertainment will be provided throughout the day at various locations. The interesting and diverse variety will include Irish dancing, bagpipes, Flamenco, a Mariachi band, an Italian opera singer, a Thai dragon and a Japanese Tea Ceremony.

So come experience a plethora of delicious food and drink and the opportunity to learn a bit more on the diverse culture that is within the great city of Annapolis. Tickets are only $30, but a set of four can be purchased at the discounted price of $100. Last year’s pre-sale tickets sold out, so get them fast! You can purchase them online through the following link: http://tickets.marylandhall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=860&c=52&pg=

Once you have a confirmation receipt, you must exchange it for a wristband at one of the following locations after 12:30 p.m.: Metropolitan Kitchen & Lounge, Tsunami, Westin Hotel lobby or Loews Annapolis Hotel lobby. Valid photo IDs are required. The event is rain or shine, but we’re expecting a beautiful summer day!

Located in the Loews Hotel, the Breeze has only 58 seats. Its simple, modern elegance warrants business casual attire. The menu features local products from the nearby waters and farms. The top cuisine prepared by its award winning chef includes crab and lobster pot pie at $27 and grilled pork loin with caramelized apples and brandy sauce at $22. Small plate options are also available at dinner. At lunch, prices are slightly lower and sandwiches are available. Dessert choices include hazelnut mousse and passion fruit crème brulee. Breeze is not a typical hotel restaurant. Although open daily for breakfast, it is closed for lunch on the weekends and for dinner on Sundays and Mondays.
There are many options close by on West Street, however. Open seven days a week from 4:30 PM to 1:30 AM, Level is a romantic casual lounge, complete with exposed brick and candlelight, serving small plates ranging from cheese selections to salads, soups, pizzas and light entrees. Sharing and combining is encouraged so a wide variety of tastes can be experienced in a single visit. Prices run from $4 per wedge of cheese to $12 for hummus with chipotle-agave nectar. Homemade seasonal desserts present a few surprises. Warm chocolate chip cookies are served with chocolate milk. Black ale is served with vanilla ice cream as a beer float. Sorbet can be paired with a New Zealand ice wine. There is a wide variety of wines, liquors, liqueurs, specialty cocktails and even house made spirits on hand.
The Rams Head Tavern offers not only food and beer and ale selections but also live entertainment. Its seafood choices include traditional Maryland crab cakes. Angus beef is served as is a grilled steak with apple chutney and sweet potato fries. Sandwiches and salads are also available at this comfortable casual tavern where prices run from $6.95 for a bowl of cream of crab soup made from Maryland crabs to $29.95 for a Delmonico rib eye steak with shrimp and crab meat béarnaise.
Another of the good restaurants along West Street is Tsunami. This trendy, dark, casual restaurant is as loud and lively as the tidal wave its name evokes. Open for lunch on weekdays and for dinner nightly, its sushi bar remains open until 1 a.m. Tsunami offers food with a Pan Asian fusion twist, including a wide selection of sushi choices as well as meat and seafood options. Prices for main dinner entrees are from $18 to $33 while the unique sides are extra. Sushi servings run from $4 to $10. Kobe beef sliders are $14 and strip steak with Hoisin sauce and fries is $18 at lunch.

So, while a seafood restaurant or a fish restaurant might be expected of restaurants in Annapolis, and seafood restaurants do abound, we hope this dining guide of restaurant menus can make everyone happy in Annapolis MD.

Wherever you go, the restaurants in Annapolis present variety to satisfy every palate.

For an upscale experience with the sweet sounds of live jazz in the background, check out Aqua Terra at 164 Main Street. As a seafood restaurant with Italian and Asian flair, Aqua Terra serves up everything from sushi to pizza. The Tempura Crunch Roll is a sweet bite with pineapple and shrimp, while Tyler’s Fire Roll steps it up as spicy sriracha is paired with salmon, cream cheese and flying fish caviar. Reservations are recommended, and you’ll fit in with business casual or a notch higher. Sushi averages about $10 a roll, while entrees run about $25.

Another in the series of good restaurants in downtown Annapolis is O’Brien’s Oyster Bar at 113 Main Street. The building dates back to the American Revolution and patrons are surrounded with images of local history and the Naval Academy. But this seafood restaurant will quickly bring your attention back to the table with its top cuisine. Start with the luscious Cream of Crab Soup and move to the Colossal Crab Cake on a bed of pilaf and fried green tomatoes. The restaurant menus for brunch and dinner include other inventive fare, from Crab Benedict in the morning to Rockfish O’Brien’s, a dinner plate of striped bass topped with crab and asparagus. Entrees start at $20, but sandwiches and bar food are comparable to chain restaurants.

For a straightforward fish restaurant in Annapolis MD, you’ll get your fill at Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs at 100 Main Street. The buffet lines are open daily, or order off the restaurant menus for salads, seafood and sandwiches. Prices depend on your tastes — you can pay about $15 for the Big Buddy Crab Cake sandwich or $45 for a plate of King, Alaskan and blue crabs. Kids under 10 eat for free. Buddy’s is extremely casual and inviting.

While different preparations of crabs are the Main Street specialty in Annapolis MD, this local dining guide offers more than just seafood restaurants.

Piccola Roma, 200 Main St., steps out with heavy doses of cream, herbs and fresh ingredients to plate classic Italian dishes. The Veal Saltimbocca lives up to its name by exciting your taste buds with a tangy sauce including prosciutto and sage. And just in case you prefer to call it a fish restaurant, Piccola offers a variety of stuffed ravioli, risotto and pasta dishes with scallops, shrimp and crab. Expect to pay $15-25 for a main dish and come as you are, as the white linen dining room has a feeling of home.

And perhaps no trip to see the good restaurants of Annapolis would be complete without a stop at Chick and Ruth’s Delly at 165 Main Street. It’s Americana at its finest. Come in the morning to say the Pledge of Allegiance with a crowd, or stop in the afternoon and freeze your brain with a 6-pound shake. You’ll find burgers and crab cakes here, and it’s reported you can even get something green like a salad or wrap amid this meaty decadence.

For anyone in the Main Street area, wandering the historic Annapolis cityscape and finding themselves on the peckish side, there are many great dining options available. Fish is a natural favorite for the area and rightfully so, but there are plenty of dining choices available in the Main Street Area.

Greystone Grill: Fine Dining

In and around the Maryland Ave area, there are plenty of seafood restaurants and steakhouses to choose from in Annapolis. The Greystone Grill has a restaurant menu which is a combination of steak and seafood restaurants rolled into one. For starters, the patron may choose the sautéed sea scallops wrapped in a center-cut slab of bacon and served on a bed of baby spinach with a citrus sauce. For a seafood dinner, one may choose the chicken and crab, a choice dish of lump crab meat combined with a pan seared chicken breast in a cream sherry sauce. The Greystone Grill is considered a good restaurant by all standards so be prepared to dine in business casual attire and bring your wallet. Prices for entrees range from eighteen dollars for a vegetarian plate to over thirty dollars for other dishes.

Galway Bay Irish Pub: A Casual Experience

Regular diners around the Maryland Ave area will relay no better place for brew and crabs is the Galway Bay Irish Pub. Not only is Galway Bay considered one of the good restaurants, but it’s a great place to spend time after hours as well. Guinness rules the roost and many diners start with the Guinness Fried Oysters, which are considered the pride of Chesapeake Bay. For dinner, you can enjoy a wide range of fare from salads, seafood entrees and traditional Irish food. The Galway Bay Irish Pub is a little more casual than others found in a dining guide. Come as you are and enjoy one of the many foods on their extensive lunch and dinner restaurant menus where prices range from about ten dollars for appetizers to twenty dollars for entrees. Locals consider this place one of the best restaurants in Annapolis. Whether you are looking for a seafood restaurant or a place to hang out, give Galway Bay a visit.

Harry Browne’s

For a lighter side of Annapolis, you might want to visit Harry Browne’s on State Circle in Annapolis MD. Harry Browne’s is a casual atmosphere that is home to the happy hour five dollar burger. Considered by this dining guide as one of the best places to have a beer after work, Harry Browne’s offers its guests beer, wine, and a full liquor bar and restaurant menus for lunch and dinner. Harry Browne’s is also said to have one of the best soup menus in the city. One can enjoy a five-dollar burger during the hours of four and six o’clock or enjoy an entrée such as a seared filet of salmon over a fried rice cake. Although casual attire, Harry Browne’s is not just a fish restaurant so be prepared to pay upwards of thirty dollars for some entrees. Although a bit pricey, patrons hail Harry Browne’s as one of the better restaurants in Annapolis with top cuisine for every taste.

Seafood restaurants in the State Circle and Annapolis area abound — although some are different than others. Many people visit one per week, and in a short amount of time have a go-to favorite they recommend above all others. We’re a little more general than that, so take your pick and have a good time.

Hell Point Seafood

Don’t let the name scare you, but this is actually one of the warmest environments you will find when it comes to seafood restaurants in Annapolis. It also offers top cuisine. One of the best dishes you can order is the lobster roll, which comes with French fries and coleslaw. Other great options include fish and chips and a jumbo lump crab cake. The prices are a little higher than some other options, but we find they are well worth it. You should expect to spend between $30 and $40 per person. Many people walk, because parking can sometimes be a challenge. Water views are available. Overall, this is a worthwhile experience if you desire a seafood restaurant with great food and service in a casual and warm atmosphere.

McGarvey’s Saloon

This is the place to go if you’re a beer and wings person. That said their oyster bar, crab soup, hamburgers, raw bar and crab cakes are all excellent. You will have many options to choose from. The portions are large and the prices are very fair. If you’re not drinking alcohol, you could spend less than $15 per person. You might not think of this as a top cuisine option, but the food will pleasantly surprise you. McGarvey’s Saloon has a classy look inside and out, but it’s not for those who want a quiet meal. It can get loud at times, especially if there’s a popular sporting event playing. McGarvey’s Saloon might not be looked at as one of the finest dining restaurants in the area, but it does offer great food.

Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs

It’s not often that you have an opportunity to eat at a seafood buffet. Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs offers the best seafood buffet you will find anywhere. However, it does come at a $30 price tag. The best dishes here include crab cakes, crab imperial, cream of crab, crab soup and the ribs. The wait staff here is great because they have a knack for figuring out what you want without you having to ask for it. As far as views go, make sure you request a table by the window.

Pusser’s Caribbean Grille

When we stated above that it’s possible to dine while only four feet from the water, this is the restaurant we were referring to. The best time to eat here is during the summer so you can eat outside and enjoy the fresh air and views. Watching the sailboats also adds to the experience and has a tendency to soothe most people. This is the most popular happy hour spot in the area and the prices for both food and drinks are cheap. If you dine here, put the crab cakes at the top of your list. Pusser’s Caribbean Grille also has one of the simplest restaurant menus in town, which many people consider a good thing.

Now you’re informed about all the best restaurants in Annapolis. Use this as your dining guide prior to visiting. As you can see, it would be wise to choose a fish restaurant. If you only have time to dine at one of these Annapolis MD establishments, don’t pay too much attention to the restaurant menus. This dining guide saves you the hassle and focuses on the most important aspects of the best local seafood restaurants.