The beloved Maryland Seafood Festival, held for the past 40 years in or near Annapolis, won't be happening this year because of ailing economic conditions, but one of the festival's most popular events is still set to simmer. The Crab Soup Cook-Off will take place this Saturday, Sept. 6, at the U.S. Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.
Ten dollars lets you taste the "best-of" crab soups concocted by area restaurants, whittled down earlier in the week by the event's official tasters. Other attractions include green-savvy vendors, there to explain clean-up efforts of the Chesapeake Bay.
While traffic won't be quite as uncontrollable as when the full-fledged festival takes place, I suggest you keep the green theme goin' and take advantage of the city's own little bike-sharing initiative, Free Wheelin' Annapolis, a completely free program by the Department of Transportation and Capital Bicycles in Annapolis, which provides the city with its older, but well-repaired bikes. I visited Annapolis over the Labor Day weekend, and I have to say I fell in love with my powder-blue city cruiser speckled with colorful flowers, complete with a vintage-looking basket in front. (Don't worry, fellas, there are boy bikes, too). It's the perfect way to tour both the seascape and the tiny cobblestone streets that slink through the downtown harbor area.
Free Wheelin' will remain in operation through this weekend, although it was initially scheduled to end for the season on August 31. Take advantage of the extension—and the creamy crab soup—by making a stop in Annapolis, less than an hour's drive from D.C. The festivities kick off at 11 a.m. and end around 5 p.m.
For more information on Free Wheelin', call the Annapolis Harbor Master's office (located at City Dock): 410-263-7973. Bikes are available to check out there every day between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Photo: Bikes and Oysters set the scene in Annapolis, via sipakoa's Flickr
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