06-09-2024 Capital Style - Flipbook - Page 66
DA R K R O O M
BY PAUL W. GILLESPIE Capital Style
Get cracking
Nash Donaway, left, and Johnny Gomez, of Chesapeake Seafood Catering, dump a pot of freshly steamed crabs onto the sorting table during
the Rotary Club of Annapolis’78th annual Crab Feast fundraiser at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Nothing says summer like a crab feast. And no
one does it better than the Rotary Club of Annapolis Crab Feast at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial
Stadium.
Held rain or shine since 1946, the 79th annual
Rotary Crab Feast is one of the longest-running and
most popular summertime traditions in Annapolis.
Every August, hundreds of people descend upon
the city for the beloved event. It is a picture-rich
environment for a photographer, like me.
Folks line up early, sitting in chairs and socializing. Once the gates open, the rush for crabs begins.
Professional caterers have been preparing the feast
for hours. The steam rises from large pots that are
dumped on tables. Rotary club volunteers work to
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fill trays for guests.
Crab lovers, many in crab-themed hats, can be
seen carrying multiple trays of the steamed red
crustaceans covered in seasoning back to their
tables. This is when their work begins and the crab
mallets start swinging.
As the all-you-can-eat feast gets underway, I walk
the event looking for photos like this one. I wanted
to show the huge piles of steamed crabs on the
tables and the volunteers, who have been working
so hard in hot conditions to ensure guests enjoy
their bounty. The Rotary Club of Annapolis directs
100% of proceeds from the event to community and
cultural nonprofit organizations, according to its
website.
