I took my time working on this. It’s been a while since I’ve approached something with such childlike wonder. Tonight I had fun.

Dixie cups and a pingpong ball. Imagine what shenanigans went on that night.

Last year around this date my friend and I spent a Saturday walking around Annapolis. We did street photography, toured the Hammond-Harwood House, the cemetery, Main Street, and ended the day on the shores of the Severn River on Seabee Beach across from the Naval Academy. Even the most developed areas of Annapolis do not hold very tall buildings. They’re not too far removed from the beautiful natural surroundings of the area.

Back in April I went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore to cover their new dolphin show. I took a few other photos while roaming about.

I don’t remember when I first stepped into Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs on Main Street, Annapolis, but I remember going to brunch there today. I like Sunday brunch, and I’ve gone different places in the past trying to find great food, but ever since I went to Buddy’s, I’ve stopped looking. It’s the go-to place for brunch for tourists and locals alike. Many a midshipman goes there to eat with friends, family or significant others. It delivers the biggest bang for the $12.95 that you pay. The delivery isn’t just in the quality, quantity and diversity of the food—including an omelette bar, carving station, fresh oysters, heck, they have lox ferchrissakes—but the friendly service, warm ambiance and sheer energy of the place make for a great experience to start a day of hitting the town.

Buddy’s can be habit-forming, or, to use a less loaded turn of phrase, it has the makings for a regular Sunday tradition. It’s become one of mine.

(Disclaimer: I have received no free meals nor financial compensation towards this rave review. This is not a sponsored post.)

It’s been almost a month since my vacation weekend at Camp MD, and as the memories fade, the value of photos is reinforced.

Maryland has a funny history of having rainy Independence Day anniversaries (we celebrate the anniversary of something on July 4th and not the date itself: a distinction sadly lost to so many), which make for terrible fireworks photography. This year, the day was clear but not too hot, and a friend and I went over to the foot of the Naval Academy Bridge for a less crowded fireworks show than what could be seen in Baltimore or Washington. Out of around fifty long exposures I took during the show, those above are my favorite.

As a getaway spot, Camp MD is as much or as little fun as its visitors would make it. Since it’s private property, one can take a few liberties that are forbidden in the vacation cities like Ocean City, MD or Rehoboth Beach, DE. Visitors can walk around the beach with alcoholic drink in hand, or have open campfires on the beach. A few friends and I were even able to bring a cooler full of cold beer into the water and drink while bobbing up and down in the water, under the rain.

It’s a place that doesn’t carry much risk, but still reminds visitors to fun at their own little peril. It’s a small hidden gem, a hideaway well worth the visit.