View of the Maryland State House as seen from City Dock in Annapolis
while in the NapaValley. (Great Frogs can private-label their bottles as a personal- ized touch for group events.)
Around twilight I strolled through the his- tory-laden downtown quarter where American flags suspend from countless red-bricked, three-story buildings,and cascades of flowers sprout from hanging planters. I noted the incredible number of independent businesses. There’s not one local bookstore - there are three. A few chain restaurants (like The Chart House) certainly exist,but more often than not it’s the indie operations’ taking center stage here.
One such venue isVin 909. It’s a casual spot in neighboring Eastport – a con- vivial restaurant with a focus on great wines and fresh, locally-sourced foods reflecting the region’s maritime influ- ences, along with culinary nodding toward California cuisine.
parade
grounds.They snapped starchily as a few of their older midshipmen coun- terparts chatted in a more relaxed fash- ion with one another. They’re a part of the approximately 4,400 future leaders of this country who are enrolled here.
The
U.S.Naval Academy appeared beyond-huge before me as a seemingly never-ending series of halls extended along the Severn River’s glassy surface.
In my mind, it made Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Academy look like a small community college compared to the shear leviathan-scope of the dormitories at this – one of the nation’s most impor- tant naval and scholastic training facili- ties in the country.
Available to tour (allow yourself a couple hours... wear comfy shoes... and did I mention this place is real- ly big??), the Academy possesses a vast series of rooms,halls,ballrooms,cafes, galleries and lounges that are for public rental,and which can accommodate groups of varying sizes in spaces fit for a president of a company (or a country).
I began my culinary adventures in Annapolis at nearby Iron Rooster,a
92 March April 2017
quaint local’s spot known for its leg- endary brunch,and for having a knack for ribs-sticking comfort foods like their pulled pork, fried chicken with biscuits and gravy, and bulging crab cakes served on a stack of fluffy pancakes.
If there’s ever a place to enjoy a hearty plate of smothered chicken and waffles (like I did), this is it.
Later…
What better way to ebb into a nice, spring-like afternoon than partaking in a wine tasting? At Great FrogsWinery – a rustic barn-like setting with a cozy tasting room that can hold a modest-sized group (up to 25) inside and about 75 on the outside deck – young winemakers Nathanael and Andrea O’Shea have brought both experience and viniferous passion from their native California,and they’ve transplanted it to a Maryland region that’s surprisingly fertile,produc- ing vintages that are as impressive as they are flavorful.
Producing 4,000 cases per year, the cou- ple excels in floral chardonnays and, especially, a Meritage that’s as balanced and fruit-forward as any I’ve enjoyed
If you’re craving pizza, then this is your spot. (Mine was topped with speck,pro- sciutto and gooey mozzarella cheese – a delicious,heat-blasted masterpiece of a pie.)
There’s plenty of nightlife in this town, too.
Being the on-top-of-it concierge that I am, I had neglected to secure my ticket to one of the more popular late-night venues called Rams Head on Stage, which boasts live musical acts as well as comedy nights, so I was out-of-luck due to it being a sold-out performance that night. Instead, I did what I usually like to do when I’m in a different city – I wan- dered the streets searching for whatever the crisp night would offer.
Clicking on an app on my phone, I pulled up“Best Dive Bars in Annapolis” and it up popped Davis’Pub,which is located in in a workaday section of Eastport - just a 15-minute walk from my hotel.
Davis’only real claim-to-fame was a visit by Diners,Drive-ins and Dives host Guy Fieri in 2011. While I don’t recommend this nitty-gritty place as a must-see in your own Annapolis itinerary (unless, like
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