me, you enjoy seeking out hole-in-the- wall dive bars), rather, I found it to be a barometer of the local’s temperament.
You can tell a lot about a town just by sit- ting alone with a book and a beer at a neighborhood bar, and with this in mind, the place didn’t disappoint. Within 15-minutes I had two new guy friends who became my“Norm”and“Cliff”(from Cheers) as our“Sam”(the bartender) told us jokes.
When they had heard I was from out-of- town,my two new buddies quickly chris- tened me their“Honorary Annapolitan.” No, I may never see those two cool cats again,but they sure showed me a good time during my brief stop at Davis’s Pub!
After a next-morning eye-opening break- fast at local landmark Chick and Ruth’s Delly (yes,Delly,as in rhyming with belly),where I snarfed-up a couple crab Benedicts and a big heart-stopping vanil- la milkshake (so much for NewYear’s res- olutions) brought to me by a mensch-of- a-waitress named Jeanette (the friend-
liest service ever!). I then partook in a walking tour courtesy ofWatermark, a company specializing in historical strolls and yacht cruises,and we were off for an inside look at the magnificent Maryland State House where I gandered at its mas- sive wooden dome and at its impressive Senate chambers.
Soon after, I was loaded on board an adorable shuttle, a tiny electric micro zip-van courtesy of Annapolis Urban EvenTours – a convenient way to see Annapolis’ best sights and attractions – and we were off with a quiet whoosh.
The driver, a handsome, informative young chap named Griffin Palmer,point- ed out many facts and figures about his exceptional city (such as it having the highest concentration of Georgian-style architecture in the country) as we zoom- zoomed toward the famed (and free!) Maritime Museum of Annapolis.
Overlooking the Chesapeake Bay,and possessing reception spaces for groups
of up to 150, the museum is a seafaring oasis on this pretty stretch of coastline.
Pull up by car, by van or even by boat – your pier is waiting at the Maritime Museum.
My final stop along the way was Carrol’s Creek Café,a casually-upscale seafood- centric eatery that’s festooned with a nautical vibe and a top-shelf view of the river and its plethora of boats moored in their slips. The wood-lacquered space with contemporary looks and moody backlighting has a décor that continues on through its windows with the view being almost as good as the oceanic cui- sine.
My only regret about this trip was with my timing: Two days simply was not enough to do much more than scratch Annapolis’ surface, since it is a destina- tion so replete with things to see, do and explore in environs that are a snap (or at least a quarter tank worth of gas) to get to, just down the highway from my home- town of Philly.
The Takeaway: The Mid- Atlantic’s seaboard has so much going for it when it comes to places to convene, and Annapolis is absolutely at its vanguard as being a must- know-about destination for those of us who bring people together within our coolest communities.
Too, I always find the best areas to visit also happen to have the most open and receptive visitors’ bureau per- sonnel, and in that regard this one gets an A – as in “Annapolis.”
Check out
www.visitannapolis.org for more information.
Steamed crabs and other seafood dishes from Cantler’s Riverside Inn in Annapolis
Ken Alan is a corporate concierge for CBRE. He is also the lead restaurant reviewer for Main Line Today and the founder of the
Philadelphia Area Concierge Association.
ken.alan@
cbre.com
Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 93
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