http://archive.aweber.com/eyeonannapolisEye On AnnapolisThu, 03 May 2012 10:43:21 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/eyeonannapolis/GhI7k/h/In_The_Know_Eye_On.htm In The Know May 2012 A New Look -- our newsletter has a new look. What do you think? We thought the old one looked a bit cluttered and were planning a re-design, but as luck would have it, our email management company re-developed their platform--so we have no choice. If you feel so inclined, drop us an email and let us know your thoughts. While you're at it, let us know how we are doing in general! Upcoming Events May 4th, 5th, and 6th This weekend is a killer weekend for events! It all starts out with the NOOD One Design Regatta on Thursday, morphs into the barBAYq on Friday and Saturday, the Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival on Saturday and Sunday, The Annapolis Comedy Festival on Saturday, The City Fair on Saturday and Sunday, and the First Sunday Arts Festival on Sunday! Whew! Toss in many Cinco de Mayo celebrations and it is a jam packed weekend for sure. Read More Mark Your Calendars The summers in Anne Arundel County are packed with festivals and events. Please be sure to read Eye On Annapolis (and check our online calendar) to keep up to speed. But there are a few biggies so grab your crayon and mark your calendar for these great events--most of which are supporting a local charity! You will be hearing plenty about these events from us in the coming weeks and months!Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival (May 19, 20)R2Hop2 Beer and Music Festival (May 19) Wingstock 2012 (June 9)Eastport A Rockin' (June 23)Eastport Luau (June 30)The Annapolis Irish Festival (July 14)Silopanna Music Festival (August 11) Special Offer For Subscribers Save 50% On Cinco de Mayo Bar Tour Valid through 05/04/2012 Join our friends at Barhopolis as they take a group of revelers on a tour of our downtown watering holes on Cinco de Mayo. Your ticket includes the tour, a free drink, discounted drinks, and plenty of surprises along the way.When purchasing, use the code EYEONCINCO to receive your 50% discount! News From The Site HELP USWe need your help! We are considering an additional and optional newsletter for our readers. Someone mentioned that they would like to hear from us more often in their email boxes. What do you think? Please let us know in this very short poll!OUR NUMBERS In case you are wondering, we are still growing by leaps and bounds. We launched in March 2009 and by year's end we saw 90,000 visitors. Fast forward to 2012, and in January alone, we saw 86,000! When coupled with our Facebook page (46,000 fans), our Twitter followers (8,500) and this newsletter (3,600) we have the largest measurable reach of any media outlet in the county. If you, or anyone you know is interested in advertising please have them request a media kit. We are affordable and effective.THE MONTHLY BUZZ This month was not without controversy in Anne Arundel County. Among our top ten stories of the month (in no particular order), we saw Annapolis City approve the raising of chickens for city residents and lose a bid to build a garage on Compromise Street. There was a sex offender in the Glen Burnie Panera Bread store and three stabbed at the Edgewater Elks Lodge. And of course, you can't miss Chowin' Down--our restaurant review column. This past month saw Mike's Crab House, Cafe Normandie, The Boatyard Bar and Grill, Saladworks, and Sin Fronteras on our crosshairs!But one of the most read stories was our report on a screening of the new movie, Bully with WRNR's Alex Cortright and First Lady Katie O'Malley. Bullying is an issue in our schools and Eye On Annapolis is working on several original stories that will highlight just how bad it has become. During the screening one brave teacher asked the First Lady how to address an administration that dissuades teachers from reporting acts of bullying by insisting they use a minor infraction report. Up next week is a story of a girl who has been bullied from Southern Middle School all the way through Southern High School with no real resolution from the administration or the school district.THE SOCIAL CONNECTIONAs everyone is aware, social media is not going anywhere. We have integrated several platforms into the site and encourage you to use them.Comments --you can log in to leave a comment on ANY story using your Facebook, Twitter, Open Source or other ID. You can even leave anonymous comments. Part of the new media is to have a conversation, Your opinion is important to us!Social Sharing--at the top and bottom of each article are multiple opportunities to share with your friends and colleagues. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+--you name it, we have it. Please share our stories by giving us a click on the stories you appreciate and like!And if you are a little confused about social media, we have started a free site to hopefully sort it all out. Social Annapolis is live, but still under development. Take a look. You might find a tip! Our Sponsors -- we are so appreciative of our sponsors. Of course we solicit advertisers and often we are approached by companies and organizations to help spread their message. What you may not know is that we are very particular and we do not accept advertising from just anyone. We truly support local businesses and believe that they are the core of a vibrant economy. We also believe that these advertisers are the cream of the crop (of course they have exquisite taste in advertising as well) and encourage you to support them, click their ads and check them out.HOMESTEAD GARDENS--Homestead is one of the most community oriented businesses you will find. In addition to their business, they support the local Boy Scouts, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, and much more! ZACHARY'S JEWELERS--A staple of Main Street for decades and more recently Severna Park. When they suffered a fire, the community came together for them. And they have been giving back ever since. If you are downtown on Saturday, check out the Kabana Trunk Show from 10am to 530pm.RAMS HEAD ON STAGE--From a small bar to a multi location entertainment conglomerate, Rams Head offers it all. Fine foo and the best entertainment in the area. They will be bringing the Silopanna Music Festival to the area in August! We respectfully request that the hurricane gods smile down on Silopanna this year!WILD WILLY'S --Located on the outskirts of town next to the Annapolis Towne Centre is Wild Willy's. Annapolis is in need of a good sports bar and this place fills the bill. But more importantly, Willy (yes there really is a guy named Willy) is always willing to offer up the venue to support local fundraising efforts!THE CITY OF ANNAPOLIS--Yes, despite our editorial criticism at time, they are sponsoring us with their Circulator Trolley initiative. If you are unaware of the FREE trolley, you owe it to yourself to check it out (click the ad). Discounted parking at Knighton or Park Place and a free ride around town--soon to come to Eastport!CHESAPEAKE BAY TRUST --They are smaller than the "other" organization, but have no problem getting their boots dirty and really making a difference in the health of the bay. Just recently, they were the recipient of a Groupon deal where pledges went to removal of trah from the Bay. Now that's something we can all get behind!FLOYD'S BARBERSHOP--OK, so they are a national chain of uber cool barber shops. But did you know they had their start in Bowie? Yes, three brothers developed the concept and ran with it. Now they are well represented here in the County with stores in Annapolis and Crofton.SONIC --Also a national chain, but owned by a Davidsonville resident. Sonic was long awaited and from the looks at the lines, much appreciated. As summer approaches, stop by their Edgewater location and try one of the custom blended ices. It is the perfect addition to a hot summer's day!SCHOONER WOODWIND--Annapolis is a sailing town and there is no better way to see it than from the water on the deck of one of the Woodwinds. If you own your own boat, it's better--no work! The Woodwinds offer specialty sails, group sails, and a romantic boat and breakfast package. Check it out!MIDDLETON TAVERN, OBRIEN'S OYSTER BAR, OB's PRIME, AND ANNAPOLIS UNPLUGGED --These are the quintessential Annapolis dining establishments run by the the Hardestys who have been in Annapolis for generations. Annapolis Unpplugged is a series of very local (and upcoming) live music brought into their restaurants--often coupled with a WRNR event! THe food is consistently great as is the service. The End! Thank You! And finally, thank you for taking the time to visit the site, to engage with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to this newsletter! As a reward for making it all the way to the bottom of this newsletter, the first five people to click this link to email me, will receive 2 tickets to the Annapolis Irish Festival on July 14th! They are real tickets, so please leave a mailing address!And until next month, we'll see you around the county!All the best-- Follow: Thu, 03 May 2012 10:43:21 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/eyeonannapolis/HzpEE/h/A_doomsday_budget_for_our.htm A doomsday budget for our schools? Good morning ! The Maryland State Education Association has asked us to pass this message along to our subscribers. April 9 was supposed to be the final day of the legislative session. But the clock struck midnight before the legislature acted on important components of the budget that would protect state funding for our schools in the coming year. If the legislature fails to reconvene to address this, it will trigger a so-called "doomsday budget" that will mean more than $200 million in cuts to school funding next year, including $13 million in Anne Arundel County. Click here to urge the Governor and the General Assembly to get back to work and fix this unfinished business before our children, families, and schools suffer. What would this doomsday budget mean for our schools? Per pupil aid for every student in Maryland would be cut by more than $100. That's fewer programs, services, resources, and assistance for each and every child in our schools. The Geographic Cost of Education Index, a critical component of Thornton education funding, would be eliminated, resulting in $128 million in cuts spread out across Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George's, Queen Anne's, and St. Mary's Counties. And we'd see the elimination of other funding that aims to improve teacher quality. And it's not just our schools that will see cuts--there would also be hundreds of millions in cuts to local libraries, law enforcement, higher education, and much more if legislators don't fix their unfinished business. This session, legislators came very close to solving a complicated state budget puzzle. Tell Governor O'Malley and your senators and delegates to come back and finish the job rather than forcing cuts to schools, jobs, and critical services Marylanders depend on. Thanks for taking the time to learn about this important issue. All the best and see you around the County, John W. Frenaye, Jr Publisher PS--if you are interested in any back issues of our newsletter, they are available here. We're socially connected. Are you? Local Businesses Local business makes the world go around. Well maybe not the world, but certainly Anne Arundel County.Please check out these local businesses and support them when you can! Have A Tip, Topic, or Idea? This site belongs to the readers! As our shareholders, we want to know what you want. If you have any suggestions for the site or this newsletter, please let us know. If you have a tip for us, please let us know and we will follow up on it. Do yo have a photo of an event or incident? Please send them in and we will publish them! And,if you are interested in writing for us, we are always interested in well reasoned thoughts from guest bloggers! You can contact us by replying to this email, sending us an email at info@eyeonannapolis.net, or by using the Contact Us page on the website. UnsubscribeWed, 11 Apr 2012 10:41:27 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/eyeonannapolis/DLu8Q/h/Eye_On_Annapolis_March.htm March 2012 Newsletter Hello ! This is a MVN! This is one of the most valuable newsletters we have sent. In addition bringing you up to speed on the hot topics in the area, we are bringing you some valuable offers for dining, a weekend getaway, and some entertainment that will have leave your wallets and purses very happy. Please take the time to read it all! Fantastic Deals Here is the good stuff. We have partnered with Landmarks Great Deals to bring you some fantastic money-saving offers on the different inns and beds and breakfasts that dote the Chesapeake Bay--Easton, Tilghman Island, and right here in Annapolis. Take a look at the article just published and then consider a weekend away from the hustle and bustle at the Black Walnut Point Inn, The Tilghman Island Inn, the Inn at Horn Point or even the renowned Inn at 202 Dover! All at an amazing price. Note to the Dad readers--Mother's Day is coming up soon! Hint! Hint! These deals will save you 50% or more and are ONLY available until Tuesday, March 27, 2011! And since we need to eat, why not pick up a gift certificate from our friends at Barhopolis. Right now they have a 50% off sale 17 of your local favorite restaurants like the Mexican Cafe, The Rockfish, Tsunami, Cafe Normandie, Gordon Biersch, Fado, and many more. But for subscribers (luck you) you can take anadditional 25% off when you check out. Just use the promotional code EYE25 and save a bundle! To get started, click here! Now--go forth and shop! Awesome Events There are a few events coming up that are worth pointing out and making a big fuss. Be sure to mark your calendars! MARCH MADNESS. Not the basketball, but the Downtown Merchants! The Annapolis Business Association has put together a program this weekend (March 24th and 25th) where you stop in a participating downtown store (there are 32 of them) and drop your name into a box--you could win a $750 shopping spree. Yes, you can have up to 32 different entries and the winner will be drawn on Monday evening! (Details) IN VINO VERITAS. St. John's College is presenting a day full of the grape complete with tastings, panel discussions, and workshops. In addition there will be a cooking demonstration as well as advice for pairing wines with food! It all happens on Saturday, March 24th from 1:30pm to 6:00pm at the Francis Scott Key Auditorium on the St. John's campus in Annapolis. (Details) CHESAPEAKE BAY WINE FESTIVAL. Head on over to the Eastern Shore on May 5th and 6th and get your wine on. Eye On Annapolis is proud to be a media sponsor of this event along with our friends at Chesapeake TASTE magazine. Learn more about this annual event that draws more than 4,000 on their site. Or if you are ready to get your tickets while they last, here is the link! We will be giving some tickets away as well! BAY BRIDGE BOAT SHOW. While we are talking about our neighbors to the east, don;t forget the Bay Bridge Boat Show from April 19-22! This is the first in-water spring boat show in the area and it is put on by the same folks that bring the fabulous boat shows to Annapolis in October of each year--United States Yacht Shows.This year looks to be filled with some fabulous vendors and the latest boat, equipment, and supplies.For more details and to purchase tickets, click here. NAPTOWN BAR-BAY-Q. They did it last year for the first time and this year the Parole Rotary has kicked it up a notch or two. The event will be May 4-5, 2012 at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds and will feature two stages with live bands and more pork, beef, and barbeque than you can imagine. Tickets are available online (they are only $5) as are special VIP tickets which include an exclusive tasting tent. ANNAPOLIS IRISH FESTIVAL. If you were there last year, you know what a great time it was! This year, like the Parole Rotary, they have kicked it up a notch with more stages, more entertainment, and more fun. Kids are free and tickets for the entire day are $20 (but keep an eye on us--we will have plenty to give away) so it makes for a fantastic family outing. This year, Busch Gardens is sponsoring the Leprechaun Land (kid's zone) and will be bringing the fun that only Busch Gardens can. Check it out. Save the date--July 14th! If that was not a bargain enough, use the promo code EYE and save 50% on up to 12 tickets. No scalping now! Here is the link to buy your tickets online! CHESAPEAKE BAY BLUES FESTIVAL. There is nothing like putting your toes in the sand and listening to the hot riffs ans soulful sounds of some of the hottest blues and jazz artists. No need to head to the Caribbean, the Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival brings it right here to Annapolis at Sandy Point State Park on May 19th and 20th! This year will see Jonny Lang, Shemeika Copeland, Tedschi Trucks, Big Head Todd and The Monsters and many more! Get your tickets while you can, and if you are looking for VIP tickets--they are going fast! Business Shoutout Vault Denim is a new company here in Annapolis that sells designer jeans at wholesale prices. There's no store - the jeans are sold at privately hosted parties in people's houses (think Tupperware, Pampered Chef, etc.). To celebrate their launch in Annapolis, Vault Denim representative Jeanne Barr (a local Annapolis gal) is throwing a jeans party on April 29 to thank everyone who has liked them on Facebook and to give people a chance to check out the jeans. As a special thank you to their Facebook fans, Jeanne will be raffling off the party's hostess credit (10% of the total jeans sales from the party - the credit can be used to buy jeans for yourself). To enter, you have to like them on Facebook and attend the party. For more information on the company or the party on the 29th, head on over to Vault Denim Annapolis on Facebook, give them a like and tell them we sent you. Opinions Wanted Last month, we upgraded our look. We wanted to bring a more user friendly experience with easier navigation to the site. Personally, we thin we succeeded, but the proof is in the pudding so they say. So we want your opinion as well. Do you like the new look? What are your thoughts? And a second question about the usefulness of a second newsletter--this time weekly with updates to the newest stories. Please take a moment and view this private post with polls for the two questions! Thanks! Hot Topics! Our readership has skyrocketed--thank you! The past two months have seen unique visitors fall thismuch shy of 90,000. WOW! So, what were they reading? Here are the top five since the last time we spoke! Hate is coming to Glen Burnie (our coverage of the Westboro Baptist Church protest) Man with fake genitals arrested in community college case (my personal favorite) UPDATE: Stabbing/road rage incident in Gambrills Son attacks mother with hammer in Cape St. Claire Critically missing man (he is still missing, please read) Have you checked out our new blog called Chowin' Down. We are sending undercover critics to restaurants and bars for honest reviews. We are not going to sugar coat it like the local paper or cater to advertisers like the local city magazine. The columns are a recap of of the experience by regular people who happened to be out eating on their own dime! Good, bad, or indifferent. This month, our agents took a taste of LeveL in Annapolis and Deale Umai Sushi House in Deale. Local Flavors! On the local biz front, we have gained even more sponsors this month. These guys help us pay the bills and help make our County such a special one. Please support local businesses when possible. I encourage you to check these supporters out--give their ads a click and see what it happening in your local community! Vault Denim Annapolis. Tupperware meets Levis. What a fantastic way to shop for jeans--in the comfort of your home with incredible pricing on designer and name brand jeans. The Maryland State Education Association wants you to be informed about how our state lawmakers are handling the funds for public schools. Please take a moment to review their site and so you can be informed of their position. Bay Bridge Boat Show. This is the first in-water spring show in the area. Come out and see the latest boats, accessories, equipment, and gear to get ready for the summer season. The show runs April 19-22 at the Bay Bridge Marina just over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge from Annapolis. The Circulator Trolley. I am really starting to love this addition to the Downtown Annapolis scene.I pout it to good use on St. Paddy's Day! Plus it is free. Yes, that is right--free! Just flag the trolley down at any point on the route (or wait at one of the marked stops) and you have Annapolis at your disposal! Bonus: park in the Knighton or Park Place garages for reduced fees and take the trolley! Both of them are $5 up to 24 hours! Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival. Oh yes, it is coming in May to Sandy Point State Park. After last year's lineup, no one thought it could be beat--but they did. Jonny Lang and Big Head Todd and The Monsters are just two of the powerhouses you can expect on the beach in the shadows of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Wild Willy's is your not-downtown answer to live music and entertainment. Wild Willys is on Somerville Road across from the Annapolis Towne Centre and features one of the largest televisions on the East Coast along with nightly entertainment and fabulous food. If you are in the mood for a fun night out or a great place to watch the games--head on over to Wild Willy's. While somewhat new to the Annapolis nightlife scene, they are a great neighbor and host many different benefits! Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival. Come join 4000 of your closest friends and stroll throughout the grounds of the Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival this May 5th and 6th! Sample a bevy of wines from local, regional, and national vinyards. Live entertainment is planned as well. This is a tented event, so even if it rains, it will not rain on this parade. Floyd's Barbershop. Floyd's Barbershop has an interesting local hook to their success. The chain was started by brothers from just across the county line in Bowie. Now with more than 50 stores nationwide, Floyd's is coming home, so to speak, with a rocking shop at Westfield Annapolis. Chesapeake Bay Trust. You see them all around--the cool license plates depicting the Chesapeake Bay. Why not ditch the boring white plate and do a little bit to help save our most important resource. When you renew your registration,help clean up the Bay--and after the storms we had--the Bay needs some cleaning up! Here is a fun commercial--take a watch! Artists 4 Amy. A series of concerts are planned to benefit Artists 4 Amy and the Parole Rotary Foundation. Artists 4 Amy is a foundation set up to help parents with the unexpected expenses of caring for a sick child by Silvia and Tom Poore who lost their daughter, Amy, to cancer. The final concert is coming up in April and will be held at Wild Willys. Middleton Tavern, O'Brien's Oyster Bar, O'B's Prime, and Annapolis Unplugged. They are your favorite places to dine in Annapolis. For steak, seafood, entertainment and a great piano bar featuring Larry Lay, head to Middleton Tavern. For a more rocking night and some fantastic Oysters Annapolis, O'Brien's Oyster Bar is the place to be. And right upstairs from O'Brien's is O'B's Prime--Annapolis' best kept secret steak house--small and intimate and a perfect place for date night! Rams Head On Stage. They have been around for more than 20 years. That is quite a run in Annapolis and it is no wonder. Rams Head On Stage is known for bringing world class music to our back door. Check out the schedule and I am sure you will find a favorite--old or new! And to be honest, the venue is one of the best--small, intimate and some awesome acoustics! Zachary's Jewelers. There is not much that can be said about Zachary's that has not been said before. They are a staple of the Downtown Annapolis scene and now in Severna Park. They are the model for a community involved business. And, they have free monthly kid events on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in addition to their fabulous baubles. Naptown barBAYq. Oh yeah, it's back! Bigger, badder, and better than last year. The 2nd Annual barBAYq, sponsored by the Parole Rotary will be coming to the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds May 4-5. It will feature 25 bands on 2 stages. Oh, and it will have just a little bit of food as well! The event is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society! Sonic of Edgewater is HERE. Really it is. The business opened right after Christmas and has been doing a booming business. My family has had their share of Sonic goodness. The drive thru line can be long, so here is your tip--pull into an open drive-in slot, order your food and either stay there and eat it or take it home!And be sure to check out our Business Spotlight with Sonic on Anne Arundel Week In Review. Annapolis Irish Festival. Last year, it drew more than 10,000 people. This year, the day is longer and there will be a special Friday night show before the event. Expect to see the greatest names in Irish music--traditional and modern including local favorites The Rovers! Vendors galore, activities and plenty of fun stuff for the little leprechauns. Do it now, mark the date in pen on your calendar--July 14th! Bayside Bride is an awesome new project by local photographer Natalie Franke. This is a one stop resource for any wedding related information in the Chesapeake Bay area. Photographers, venues, caterers, transportation, planners, preparations, clothing, gifts, and more! If you are getting married in the Chesapeake Bay region, Bayside Bride is the one site that must be bookmarked. Homestead Gardens is in all out spring mode. If the outside of your home needs some sprucing up, make sure you think of Homestead Gardens. You can do it yourself or have their experts come and craft a backyard oasis just for you--and think how jealous the neighbors will be! Please take a moment and check out our sponsors and advertisers. Give their ad (on the right) or the link (above) a click and explore what they have to offer! You won't be disappointed! HELP! If you enjoy Eye On Annapolis, please do us a favor and let others know. A word of mouth referral is by far the biggest compliment we can receive. Let your friends, neighbors, co-workers and enemies know about us! Let the businesses you patronize know about how affordable it is to reach more than 60,000 local people each and every month! IMPORTANT If you are reading a post, take the time to leave a comment! We want to get the conversation started. If you enjoyed or want to share a post, we try to make it easy for you if you are on Facebook--just click the little like button at the top or bottom of each post and if you are on Twitter, there is a re-tweet button there as well and most recently, we added a Google +1 button--just give them a click--oh heck, click them all. If you are on facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, FourSquare etc.--please follow, fan, subscribe, etc to us there as well. We do a lot of fun stuff and giveaways all the time and it makes it a lot more personal for everyone! All the links are at the bottom of the newsletter! And last but never least, as always--we're glad you are here! All the best and see you around the County, John W. Frenaye, Jr Publisher PS--if you are interested in any back issues of our newsletter, they are available here. We're socially connected. Are you? Local Businesses Local business makes the world go around. Well maybe not the world, but certainly Anne Arundel County.Please check out these local businesses and support them when you can! Have A Tip, Topic, or Idea? This site belongs to the readers! As our shareholders, we want to know what you want. If you have any suggestions for the site or this newsletter, please let us know. If you have a tip for us, please let us know and we will follow up on it. Do yo have a photo of an event or incident? Please send them in and we will publish them! And,if you are interested in writing for us, we are always interested in well reasoned thoughts from guest bloggers! You can contact us by replying to this email, sending us an email at info@eyeonannapolis.net, or by using the Contact Us page on the website. UnsubscribeThu, 22 Mar 2012 11:07:23 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/eyeonannapolis/7jMZg/h/Help_protect_local_school.htm Help Protect Local School Funding! Good morning ! The Maryland State Education Association has asked us to pass this important message along to our subscribers. Last week, the Maryland Senate passed a strong, comprehensive fix to the state's broken maintenance of effort law, originally intended to protect local school funding. This legislation--Senate Bill 848--is critical to protecting school funding for the long term and helping put an end to rising class sizes, reduced student programs, and more cuts. SB 848 greatly strengthens maintenance of effort and protects local school funding by creating funding predictability and consistency and increased flexibility for county governments. The bill would ensure that counties that have chosen not to adequately fund their schools make the needed investments to provide a great public school for every child in the county and not shortchange our students. Now, the House of Delegates will discuss and vote on fixing maintenance of effort. We need to urge the House to pass a strong MOE bill and continue efforts to protect school funding. Please click here to email your delegates today. Failure to fix maintenance of effort will have a direct impact on class sizes and student programs. This fight is an important one--and we're making major progress. Help us get all the way there by emailing your legislators today. To learn more about maintenance of effort, please visit www.marylandeducators.org/moe. Thanks for taking the time to learn about this important issue. All the best and see you around the County, John W. Frenaye, Jr Publisher PS--if you are interested in any back issues of our newsletter, they are available here. We're socially connected. Are you? Local Businesses Local business makes the world go around. Well maybe not the world, but certainly Anne Arundel County.Please check out these local businesses and support them when you can! Have A Tip, Topic, or Idea? This site belongs to the readers! As our shareholders, we want to know what you want. If you have any suggestions for the site or this newsletter, please let us know. If you have a tip for us, please let us know and we will follow up on it. Do yo have a photo of an event or incident? Please send them in and we will publish them! And,if you are interested in writing for us, we are always interested in well reasoned thoughts from guest bloggers! You can contact us by replying to this email, sending us an email at info@eyeonannapolis.net, or by using the Contact Us page on the website. UnsubscribeMon, 19 Mar 2012 11:06:37 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/eyeonannapolis/GqsdQ/h/Thinking_About_Lunch_Or.htm Annapolis Restaurant Week Update Good morning ! Well, it's underway--Annapolis Restaurant Week! 41 Annapolis area restaurants are offering specially priced two-course, price fixed lunches for $15.95 and three-course, price fixed dinners for $32.95. And there are even two establishments (Miss Shirley's Cafe and Metropolitan Kitchen and Lounge) offering two-course breakfasts for $12.95. Last night, we went out trying to beat the crowds, but they were already out in force and while strolling around, took some video of some of the participating places. Check it out. (Will open in new window) Judging from the Monday night crowds, the rest of the week will only get more crowded. To make the most of your night out, please make your reservation in advance--especially if you plan to go out this weekend! To make your decision easier, we have included links to all of the participating restaurants' special menus for Restaurant Week. Just click the link to view the special menus in PDF format. The Restaurants One bit of sad news. Yesterday, Annapolis Grill closed their door permanently. Hopefully the closure does not have too much of an inconvenience on anyone's Restaurant Week plans. On the good news side, Aqua Terra has joined Restaurant Week and we have included their fabulous menu here. Aqua Terra Azure Restaurant at Westin Annapolis The Boatyard Bar and Grill BREEZE at Loews Annapolis Buddy's Crabs and Ribs Café Normandie Cantler's Riverside Inn Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen Carrol's Creek Café Chart House Fado Irish Pub and Restaurant Federal House Bar and Grille Galway Bay Harry Browne's Hell Point Seafood John Barry Restaurant at the O'Callaghan Lemongrass Luna Blu Ristorante Italiano Lures Bar and Grille The Main Ingredient Café McGarvey's Saloon and Oyster Bar The Melting Pot Metropolitan Kitchen and Lounge Middleton Tavern Miss Shirley's Café O'Brien's Oyster Bar O'Leary's Seafood Paul's Homewood Café Pusser's Caribbean Grille Rams Head Tavern Reynolds Tavern Ristorante La Piccola Roma The Rockfish Ruth's Chris Steak House Sam's on the Waterfront Severn Inn Treaty of Paris at the Maryland Inn Tsunami Vin 909 Winecafe The Wild Orchid Café Yellowfin Steak and Fish House The Parking and Perks Parking is a snap. Just park in the Knighton or Park Place garages with their discounted rates and then, hop on the FREE Circulator Trolley which will whisk you away to your favorite downtown restaurant and back. Just flag down the blue, bell-ringing trolley anywhere along the route. This year, when you dine at a participating restaurant, you will receive a Plates and Perks card which will entitle you to some fabulous offers and free parking when you return in March! Congratulations Congrats to Brandy Merson who won a $50 O'Leary's Seafood gift card by picking a random number in our contest from the last newsletter. What is your favorite restaurant in town? Why not chime in on our poll? Now go out and get your food on! All the best and see you around the County, John W. Frenaye, Jr Publisher PS--if you are interested in any back issues of our newsletter, they are available here. We're socially connected. Are you? Local Businesses Local business makes the world go around. Well maybe not the world, but certainly Anne Arundel County.Please check out these local businesses and support them when you can! Have A Tip, Topic, or Idea? This site belongs to the readers! As our shareholders, we want to know what you want. If you have any suggestions for the site or this newsletter, please let us know. If you have a tip for us, please let us know and we will follow up on it. Do yo have a photo of an event or incident? Please send them in and we will publish them! And,if you are interested in writing for us, we are always interested in well reasoned thoughts from guest bloggers! You can contact us by replying to this email, sending us an email at info@eyeonannapolis.net, or by using the Contact Us page on the website. UnsubscribeTue, 21 Feb 2012 10:50:12 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/eyeonannapolis/7kvtw/h/Special_Foodie_News_Alert.htm Special Foodie Alert Hello ! We interrupt your Tuesday to bring you some important foodie news! Lonely Hearts Bar Tour First, our friends at Barhopolis have organized a Lonely Hearts Bar Tour for this Saturday. They have pulled together a few hundred young couples and singles for a bar tour of some of the favorites in downtown Annapolis. Enjoy drink specials at Dock Street, Armadillos, Middleton Tavern, O'Briens Oyster Bar and Restaurant, McGarvey's, Federal House, Castlebay, Sly Fox, and Stan and Joe's. There will be drink specials on domestic and imported beers and spirits as well as a signature tour drink of SoCo and Lime for only $3. Many of the establishments will also have some food specials for you. But, here's the good deal for you. We partnered with Barhopolis to save you money! When you buy your ticket (you must be 21 or older) you can save 45% off the price by using the code EYEONHEARTS. The cost is $25, but for reader of Eye On Annapolis, we save you $11.25--that's more than the cost of a subscription! :) Tickets are limited, and we do plan to release this to our Facebook page and Twitter feed--so act soon! BUY YOUR TICKET HERE! Annapolis Restaurant Week Mark your calendars for February 20-26th. Participating establishments will be offering two-course, price fixed lunches for $15.95 and three-course, price fixed dinners for $32.95. And for the first time, there are two establishments offering two-course breakfasts for $12.95. Participating restaurants include: Annapolis Grill, Azure Restaurant at Westin Annapolis, The Boatyard Bar and Grill, BREEZE at Loews Annapolis, Buddy's Crabs and Ribs, Café Normandie, Cantler's Riverside Inn, Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen, Carrol's Creek Café, Chart House, Fado Irish Pub and Restaurant, Federal House Bar and Grille, Galway Bay, Harry Browne's, Hell Point Seafood, John Barry Restaurant at the O'Callaghan, Lemongrass, Luna Blu Ristorante Italiano, Lures Bar and Grille, The Main Ingredient Café, McGarvey's Saloon and Oyster Bar, The Melting Pot, Metropolitan Kitchen and Lounge, Middleton Tavern, Miss Shirley's Café, O'Brien's Oyster Bar, O'Leary's Seafood, Paul's Homewood Café, Pusser's Caribbean Grille, Rams Head Tavern, Reynolds Tavern, Ristorante La Piccola Roma, The Rockfish, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Sam's on the Waterfront, Severn Inn, Treaty of Paris at the Maryland Inn, Tsunami, Vin 909 Winecafe, The Wild Orchid Café, and Yellowfin Steak and Fish House. And to make getting around town easier, don't forget the FREE Circulator Trolley. Just flag it down and move around. For more details, including menus, please visit the Annapolis Restaurant Week website. As always, thanks for being a reader and subscriber! Cheers- John W. Frenaye, Jr Publisher PS--if you are interested in any back issues of our newsletter, they are available here. We're socially connected. Are you? Local Businesses Local business makes the world go around. Well maybe not the world, but certainly Anne Arundel County.Please check out these local businesses and support them when you can! Have A Tip, Topic, or Idea? This site belongs to the readers! As our shareholders, we want to know what you want. If you have any suggestions for the site or this newsletter, please let us know. If you have a tip for us, please let us know and we will follow up on it. Do yo have a photo of an event or incident? Please send them in and we will publish them! And,if you are interested in writing for us, we are always interested in well reasoned thoughts from guest bloggers! You can contact us by replying to this email, sending us an email at info@eyeonannapolis.net, or by using the Contact Us page on the website. UnsubscribeTue, 07 Feb 2012 11:40:29 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/eyeonannapolis/7fhPQ/h/Eye_On_Annapolis_January.htm January 2012 Newsletter Hello ! Welcome to 2012! Well, a lot has happened since the last newsletter and there are some exciting things on the horizon. One Million Visitors First, I want to say thank you to everyone for contributing to the success of this website. In late November, we saw our 1 millionth visitor to the site--I thought it was to be on Thanksgiving, but it ended up a few days later. But, with 1 million visitors, we solidify ourselves as a major player in not only the blogosphere, but in Anne Arundel County as well. Our traffic numbers are not anywhere near the ones of The Capital (and I do not expect them to), but we have far surpassed any other regional media with an online presence. And for that, I offer my thanks! Business Spotlight We have partnered with Anne Arundel County and will be hosting a weekly (ish) segment on Anne Arundel County Week In Review spotlighting local businesses. So far, we have visited Metropolitan Kitchen and Lounge and Sonic of Edgewater. Despite all the uhms and ahs it has been a lot of fun and we are all about spotlighting locally owned businesses. If you have a business to suggest, please shoot me an email. The business should be accessible to the public. SOPA and PIPA Yesterday, there was not much to read on the site--we went dark to support the protests of the two Internet censorship bills winding their way through Congress. We fully support copyright protections, but the way the bills were written was ill-conceived and did not take into account the unintended consequences. For this site, one of the most significant would be is a commenter (you) used a copyrighted piece of work in a comment--we could be found complicit and penalized monetarily and by being shut down virtually without warning. The good news is that it looks like the bill is losing backing and may be re-written. Thank you for your patience while we offered our small show of support to the cause! 2012 Reader Survey Many have asked about the reader survey we took the final months of 2011. We use the data to provide an aggregate snapshot of who reads us to our advertisers and sponsors! So, who is the average reader of Eye On Annapolis? She (72%) is between 46 and 55 years old (28%) with a Bachelor's degree (38%) and earns upwards of $100,000 per year (46%). She probably reads us daily (21%), weekly (22%) or subscribes to a daily RSS feed (22%). 25% of our readers are following our Facebook page and 12% of them follow us on Twitter. Not a bad demographic if you ask me. Although I am somewhat surprised that the females are so well represented and that our audience is following our RSS feeds. If this sounds like a demographic that you might be interested in tapping, please check out our Advertising page and request a 2012 Media Kit. If you have a 2011 Media Kit and would like an updated one, please send me an email and I will send one out--there is a glitch in the system that will not allow you to get a 2012 one if you already requested the 2011--we're working on that! A New Look In the next month, Eye On Annapolis will be going Hollywood and getting a facelift. We have hired a developer to revamp the site for us and the theme and template is almost complete. We are always looking for ways to improve the user experience and I am very excited about out latest iteration and I hope you will be too. Rest assured all of the content will still be here along with the comments and features you have come to love. Expect it to go live (probably with a few glitches here and there) by the middle of February. And when it does, please let us know what you think! Hot Topics! Our readership continues to grow and over the past three months, we have seen a monthly average of more than 60,000 unique people reading the site! So, what were they reading? Here are the top five since the last time we spoke! Archbishop Spalding Teen Stabbed In Pasadena Home Invasion* Police: Spalding Teen's Wounds Self-Inflicted Concord Shoes Cause Crowd Problems At Westfield Annapolis And Other Malls Annapolis Alderman Kirby's Apartment Raided By Police In Drug Operation Armed Home Invasion In Odenton Have you checked out our new blog called Chowin' Down. We are sending undercover critics to restaurants and bars for honest reviews. We are not going to sugar coat it like the local paper or cater to advertisers like the local city magazine. The columns are a recap of of the experience by regular people who happened to be out eating on their own dime! Good, bad, or indifferent. If you are interested in being a critic, shoot me an email.Since last time, the new Mexican restaurant in Edgewater, Plazuelas got a thumbs up but Miss Shirley's Cafe did not fare so well. Local Flavors! On the local biz front, we have gained even more sponsors this month. These guys help us pay the bills and help make our County such a special one. Please support local businesses when possible. I encourage you to check these supporters out--give their ads a click and see what it happening in your local community! The Circulator Trolley. We put the Circulator Trolley first because it will be a great tool to get you around Downtown Annapolis. Plus it is free. Yes, that is right--free! Just flag the trolley down at any point on the route (or wait at one of the marked stops) and you have Annapolis at your disposal! Bonus: park in the Knighton or Park Place garages for reduced fees and take the trolley! Both of them are $5 up to 24 hours! Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival. Oh yes, it is coming in May to Sandy Point State Park. After last year's lineup, no one thought it could be beat--but they did. Jonny Lang and Big Head Todd and The Monsters are just two of the powerhouses you can expect on the beach in the shadows of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Wild Willy's is hosting a fantastic pre-Thanksgiving party featuring local (Crofton) artist Dave Teiff. Wild Willysis on Somerville Road across from the Annapolis Towne Centre and features one of the largest televisions on the East Coast along with nightly entertainment and fabulous food. If you are in the mood for a fun night out or a great place to watch the games--head on over to Wild Willy's. Houle and Associates. Tax time is coming up fast. Are you prepared to deal with all the changes to maximize your financial situation? Don't leave your financial well-being to chance; hire a professional to do it for you. Exclusively through Eye On Annapolis, Houle and Associates will offer a $35 discount off of any tax preparation. Annapolis Home Show. The Annapolis Home Show will be rolling into the Armory on Hudson Street again in February. This year the expo will feature plenty of hands on seminars and presentations by your favorite home and garden television stars including Billy Derian and Dr. Lori. Tickets are only $6 and well worth it for any homeowner or someone looking to spruce up their home or property. Annapolis Restaurant Week 2012. When we heard that 42 restaurants were participating in this year's event, our jaw dropped. Who knew that Annapolis proper had 42 restaurants? Well, now you can sample them all (or some of them) for a fixed price for lunch and dinner. February 20-26 is the week and there are some old favorites and some new and exciting ones to try! Floyd's Barbershop. Floyd's Barbershop has an interesting local hook to their success. The chain was started by brothers from just across the county line in Bowie. Now with more than 50 stores nationwide, Floyd's is coming home, so to speak, with a rocking shop at Westfield Annapolis. Chesapeake Bay Trust. You see them all around--the cool license plates depicting the Chesapeake Bay. Why not ditch the boring white plate and do a little bit to help save our most important resource. When you renew your registration,help clean up the Bay--and after the storms we had--the Bay needs some cleaning up! Here is a fun commercial--take a watch! Artists 4 Amy. A series of concerts are planned to benefit Artists 4 Amy and the Parole Rotary Foundation. Artists 4 Amy is a foundation set up to help parents with the unexpected expenses of caring for a sick child by Silva and Tom Poore who lost their daughter, Amy, to cancer. The first concert will feature The Rol\lex Band and will be held at Wild WIllys. Middleton Tavern, OBrien's Oyster Bar, O'B's Prime, and Annapolis Unplugged. They are your favorite places to dine in Annapolis. For steak, seafood, entertainment and a great piano bar featuring Larry Lay, head to Middleton Tavern. For a more rocking night and some fantastic Oysters Annapolis, O'Brien's Oyster Bar is the place to be. And right upstairs from O'Brien's is O'B's Prime--Annapolis' best kept secret steak house--small and intimate and a perfect place for date night! Rams Head On Stage. They have been around for more than 20 years. That is quite a run in Annapolis and it is no wonder. Rams Head On Stage is known for bringing world class music to our back door. Check out the schedule and I am sure you will find a favorite--old or new! And to be honest, the venue is one of the best--small, intimate and some awesome acoustics! Zachary's Jewelers. There is not much that can be said about Zachary's that has not been said before. They are a staple of the Downtown Annapolis scene and now in Severna Park. They are the model for a community involved business. And, they have free monthly kid events on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in addition to their fabulous baubles. Naptown barBAYq. Oh yeah, it's back! Bigger, badder, and better than last year. The 2nd Annual barBAYq, sponsored by the Parole Rotary will be coming to the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds May 4-5. It will feature 25 bands on 2 stages. Oh, and it will have just a little bit of food as well! The event is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society! Sonic of Edgewater is HERE. Really it is. The business opened right after Christmas and has been doing a booming business. My family has had their share of Sonic goodness. The drive thru line can be long, so here is your tip--pull into an open drive-in slot, order your food and either stay there and eat it or take it home!And be sure to check out our Business Spotlight with Sonic on Anne Arundel Week In Review. Annapolis Irish Festival. Last year, it drew more than 10,000 people. This year, the day is longer and there will be a special Friday night show before the event. Expect to see the greatest names in Irish music--traditional and modern including local favorites The Rovers! Vendors galore, activities and plenty of fun stuff for the little leprechauns. Do it now, mark the date in pen on your calendar--July 14th! Bayside Bride is an awesome new project by local photographer Natalie Franke. This is a one stop resource for any wedding related information in the Chesapeake Bay area. Photographers, venues, caterers, transportation, planners, preparations, clothing, gifts, and more! If you are getting married in the Chesapeake Bay region, Bayside Bride is the one site that must be bookmarked. Homestead Gardens is gearing up for the spring. If the outside of your home needs some sprucing up, make sure you think of Homestead Gardens. You can do it yourself or have their experts come and craft a backyard oasis just for you--and think how jealous the neighbors will be! Please take a moment and check out our sponsors and advertisers. Give their ad (on the right) or the link (above) a click and explore what they have to offer! You won't be disappointed! HELP! If you enjoy Eye On Annapolis, please do us a favor and let others know. A word of mouth referral is by far the biggest compliment we canreceive. Let your friends, neighbors, co-workers and enemies know about us! Let the businesses you patronize know about how affordable it is to reach more than 60,000 local people each and every month! IMPORTANT If you are reading a post, take the time to leave a comment! We want to get the conversation started. If you enjoyed or want to share a post, we try to make it easy for you if you are on Facebook--just click the little like button at the top left of each post and if you are on Twitter, there is a re-tweet button there as well and most recently, we added a Google +1 button--just give them a click. If you are on facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, FourSquare etc.--please follow, fan, subscribe, etc to us there as well. We do a lot of fun stuff and giveaways all the time and it makes it a lot more personal for everyone! All the links are at the bottom of the newsletter! And last but never least, as always--we're glad you are here! All the best and see you around the County, John W. Frenaye, Jr Publisher PS--if you are interested in any back issues of our newsletter, they are available here. PPS--GO RAVENS! We're socially connected. Are you? Local Businesses Local business makes the world go around. Well maybe not the world, but certainly Anne Arundel County.Please check out these local businesses and support them when you can! Have A Tip, Topic, or Idea? This site belongs to the readers! As our shareholders, we want to know what you want. If you have any suggestions for the site or this newsletter, please let us know. If you have a tip for us, please let us know and we will follow up on it. Do yo have a photo of an event or incident? Please send them in and we will publish them! And,if you are interested in writing for us, we are always interested in well reasoned thoughts from guest bloggers! You can contact us by replying to this email, sending us an email at info@eyeonannapolis.net, or by using the Contact Us page on the website. UnsubscribeThu, 19 Jan 2012 09:28:47 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/eyeonannapolis/BOFEs/h/Happy_Holidays_From_Eye_On.htm Happy Holidays! As the Holiday Season is upon us, I find myself reflecting on the past year and on those who have helped to shape my business in a most significant way. I value our relationship and look forward to working with you in the year to come. I wish you a very happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with peace and prosperity. All the best-- Eye On Annapolis Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:08:39 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/eyeonannapolis/6C_FM/h/Happy_Thanksgiving_From_Eye.htm Thank someone for being a part of your life. It's the best gift you can give them. May you have a Happy Thanksgiving! Quite simply, from Eye On Annapolis...Thank You! Our entire team of writers, bloggers, columnists, and editors send our best wishes to you and your family a most wonderful Thanksgiving! John Frenaye Publisher Eye On Annapolis Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:02:39 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/eyeonannapolis/5A9sM/h/Update_For_The_Dine_For_75_.htm Special Announcement Hello ! First, my apologies for the second email in a day. Earlier this morning, we sent out the below message about a partnership with Barhopolis. We did not expect the response! Some of you may have clicked through to purchase the certificates only to be greeted with a Sorry This is Unavailable message. We sold out. Fast! Since these are unrestricted certificates, there are a limited number for each participating restaurant. We have secured some additional inventory for this promotion, but once the inventory is gone, unfortunately it will be gone. We had planned to release this to the site after you received your morning notice, and again to our social channels in the afternoon, but we have pulled that back at this point to make sure you have the opportunity to purchase the certificates you want. So, please take a look (all the instructions and links are below) and don't wait. This is a limited time offer and controlled by inventory and once this replenishment is gone, it is gone. I do apologize for the confusion and any inconvenience. ~John PS: The Coupon Code is EYEON50 Letters=EYEON Numbers=50 Save 75% At Your Favorite Restaurants We are always on the lookout for ways to add value for our readers. And this is a great one! We have partnered with Barhopolis.com for a very limited time to offer our readers a 75% discount on dining at your favorite area restaurants. There are some hoops, but no fine print! When is this happening? This offer is good from now through Cyber Monday (November 28, 2011). After that, all bets are off! The number of certificates is limited (not ridiculously so) and as a subscriber, you are getting the first crack. Later this morning, we will be releasing it to the site and then later today to our Facebook and Twitter folks! So, if something catches your eye, go for it now! Who is participating? Annapolis Grill Aqua Terra Azure Bridges Cafe Normandie Fado Federal House Hell Point Seafood Heroes Pub Luna Blu McCormick and Schmick's Metropolitan Mexican Cafe O'Loughlins Piccola Roma Rockfish The Narrows Tsunami How do I get the deal? To claim the deal, you need to go to this URL http://tinyurl.com/c3luhjq (or click the link or logo above) and you will be taken to the Barhopolis site. Once there, shop to your heart's content and go to the checkout. If you already have an account, you can sign in. You can create an account; or you can just do it as a guest. You must fill out the form (there is the hoops I mentioned) and click the CONTINUE TO NEXT STEP button.Do not click the PayPal or Google Checkout links above the form (they look like this) .... because you will not get the discount. Make sure you fill out the form and CONTINUE TO NEXT STEP. On this page you must enter the discount code EYEON50 and your total will adjust. Then finish the transaction and your gift certificates will be delivered to you electronically! Here is the not so fine print. These are unrestricted. Unlike restaurant.com, Groupon, Living Social, and that new local deal thing with the guy in tights as a mascot, these can be used anytime and for anything on the menu--booze included. Tips are NOT included and MD Sales Tax will be added to your dining tab--there is no tax on the certificates. They do not expire. There is a sizable inventory of certificates for each restaurant, but when they are gone, they are gone and the site will tell you it is sold out. Let's say I want to take my girlfriend to a swanky dinner at Hell Point Seafood. I buy 4 $25 certificates for $13 each from Barhopolis.com. Already I have saved nearly 50%. But when I put in the EYEON50 code, it brings my $100 gift certificates down to a whopping $26. So, what are you waiting for? The rest of the world will begin to hear about it at 11am and then our 42,000 facebook fans will hear about it at 2pm. Thanks for being a subscriber and have a wonderful holiday! All the best, John W. Frenaye, Jr Publisher We're socially connected. Are you? Local Businesses Local business makes the world go around. Well maybe not the world, but certainly Anne Arundel County.Please check out these local businesses and support them when you can! Have A Tip, Topic, or Idea? This site belongs to the readers! As our shareholders, we want to know what you want. If you have any suggestions for the site or this newsletter, please let us know. If you have a tip for us, please let us know and we will follow up on it. Do yo have a photo of an event or incident? Please send them in and we will publish them! And,if you are interested in writing for us, we are always interested in well reasoned thoughts from guest bloggers! You can contact us by replying to this email, sending us an email at info@eyeonannapolis.net, or by using the Contact Us page on the website. UnsubscribeMon, 21 Nov 2011 17:11:35 -0500