Local Food Finds

May Day Happy Hour, DIY Boba Tea, Cinco de Mayo, First Sunday Arts Festival, and AYCE Mother’s Day Brunch

Your weekly dose of some cool food and dining finds around town!

Happy May! The meme of Justin Timberlake singing “It’s Gonna Be May” is on rotation in my head.

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• Mayday, mayday! May Day is here! Today, our beautiful city of Annapolis is transformed with colorful arrangements of blossoms and blooms. Containers full of fresh-cut flowers are thoughtfully placed in front of businesses and homes as part of the annual May basket competition. This annual beautification of our city, sponsored by the Garden Club of Old Annapolis Towne, has been an Annapolis tradition since 1956. Head downtown and check out all the beautiful arrangements! Be sure to stop by Parley Room from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for May Day Happy Hour with us (Annapolis Moms Media) and Studio H Floral Design. 10% of all sales will be generously donated to Friends of Annapolis Moms, the nonprofit arm of Annapolis Moms Media, dedicated to supporting mothers and their children facing financial hardship by providing immediate and critical assistance for needs that may not be covered by public agencies or are time-sensitive.
• Did you know that National Bubble Tea Day was yesterday? You can continue celebrating at Sweet Bamboo Boba in Severna Park, Maryland’s first DIY (Do-It-Yourself) bubble tea shop. Bubble tea (aka boba tea) is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the 1980s, typically made by mixing tea with milk, fruit, and toppings. Sweet Bamboo Boba is veteran-owned and has over 12 different tea bases to choose from, including caffeinated, decaffeinated, and sugar-free tea mixes (plus coffee!); over 15 toppings, like lychee star jelly, popping coffee boba, and the traditional tapioca pearls; and over 10 different syrups, from butterfly pea, brown sugar, and strawberry. They import ingredients from Taiwan and cook their tapioca pearls by simmering them for over 2.5 hours, making them extra chewy! This DIY boba tea shop is great for the adventurous mind, where you can make your own drink all for one price – $7.69. If you are unsure of what to get, don’t worry – there’s a list on the wall where locals share their favorite combos. They also have baked goods (order the Japanese rice cake), macaroons, and bubble waffles with ice cream.
  • Sarah’s fav combo: 1/4 cup of ice, lychee star jelly, lychee popping boba, and a combo of 80% taro milk tea, 10% Japanese Hokkaido milk tea, and 10% vanilla milk tea
  • P.S. – there’s free arcade games, soccer tables, board games, and books to read
  • P.S.S. – all military and first responders get 20% off drinks

All photos courtesy of Sarah Amyot.

• Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862, victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage. La Sierra Mexican Restaurant is having a full day of celebrations – check out the schedule below:
  • 11 a.m. to 1 pm. – Brunch with a mariachi band
  • 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Folklore dances from different regions in Mexico, performed by El Grupo Los Quetzales
  • 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Horse dancing show, performed by Rancho el Magueyes
  • All day – Happy hour drinks and appetizers
• You know what else is on May 5? The kickoff of the First Sunday Arts Festival in downtown Annapolis! Brought to you by the Inner West Street Association, every first Sunday of the month from May to November, you can enjoy café dining, live music, and shop over 130 local vendors along West Street. 
• Hey, you good looking mama! We agree that every day is Mother’s Day. If you are looking for an extra special place to eat, head over the bridge to Knoxie’s Table at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club on Kent Island for an AYCE (All-You-Can-Eat) Mother’s Day Brunch, featuring an omelet station with all the fixings, Belgian waffles, Cajun shrimp and andouille sausage pasta, gazpacho, house made pies, Smith Island cakes, and more! Call for reservations at 443-249-5777.
  • Seatings are at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. 
  • $60 for adults, $28 for kids ages 5-12, and free for under 5