TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2026
ST. MARY’S INSIDER
THE LOCAL GUIDE TO WHAT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING
Good morning, St. Mary’s. 👋
We’re at the point in August where every outdoor plan needs water, bug spray, and a backup plan for whatever the weather decides to do that day.
You may notice the Insider looks a little different this week. Same goal, just a cleaner way to keep up with what’s happening around the county. Thanks for making room for it in your Tuesday morning.
Let’s get into it.
🧐 The County Quiz
How well do you know St. Mary’s history? This one has a good local twist. Take your best shot.
What makes Piney Point Lighthouse a record-holder on the Potomac River?
Want the full story behind the answer? Scroll to the bottom for the details.
📰 From St. Mary’s Insider
A new local business looks simple from the outside: the sign is up, the menu is printed, and the doors are finally open. What we don’t see are the months of leases, inspections, equipment problems, and someone deciding whether to put their savings and reputation behind an idea. This article is a thank-you to the people building the places we keep saying we want, and a reminder that a packed grand opening is nice, but a business survives on ordinary Tuesdays. Supporting local does not mean ignoring bad service or lowering the bar. It means giving the good ones a fair shot to earn the second visit.
We found a dark-blue barbecue trailer covered in Kentucky license plates, then followed the smell. Bluegrass BBQ & Dogs is serving smoked pulled pork and ribs, homemade sauces, mac and cheese, cowboy beans, and it’s worth a stop.
🏡 Around the County
🚌 School Bus Routes Are Live: SMCPS has posted the 2026–27 routes by school, from elementary through academy programs. Worth checking now, before the first school morning turns into a scavenger hunt for a bus stop.
🥤 The Fizz Beverage Boutique Has Opened: Leonardtown has a new soda shop tucked inside The Salted Scoop. Dirty sodas are on the menu now, coffee is coming soon, and the Square continues to find new ways to test everyone’s self-control.
🛍 Babes & Bargains Opens Wednesday: A new women’s and juniors’ resale boutique opens August 5 at 11 AM in the Shops at 5 South in Callaway. If you like the thrill of a good find without paying full-price mall money, this is the place to start.
🛰 Verizon Fios Is Coming to More of St. Mary’s: The county approved Verizon’s new cable agreement, clearing the way for Fios to expand into unincorporated parts of the county. It will not show up everywhere overnight, but it gives more homes another fiber-internet option as Verizon builds out.
🏛 St. Clement’s Island Museum Is Being Rebuilt: This is an actual construction project, not just a plan. The old museum was demolished and a new two-story building is now under construction in Coltons Point, with completion expected in January and reopening planned for Maryland Day week in 2027.
🎨 A Tiny Art Vending Machine Has Arrived: Boone’s Bagels in Leonardtown now has a vending machine stocked with miniature art and collectibles from local artist Anita Evans. It is the first stop, with more locations planned around the county.
🥕 Farmers Feeding St. Mary’s Returns Next Week: The first free produce distribution is August 13 at Bay District Volunteer Fire Department in Lexington Park. It runs while supplies last, so this is one to put on the calendar instead of assuming there will still be tomatoes at noon.
⭐ The Top Pick
Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 | 10 AM to 5 PM @ Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park
Piney Point is opening the tower, keeper’s quarters, maritime exhibits, and waterfront grounds for free tours all weekend. There’s an optional water taxi to St. Clement’s Island running 10 AM to 2 PM, weather permitting. Two lighthouses in one weekend is a tough one to beat.
☕ Insider Spotlight (Sponsored)
Finding a healthcare provider who has time to listen can feel nearly impossible. That is exactly what Grove Family Health is working to change.
Located in Leonardtown, Grove Family Health offers Southern Maryland families a more personal approach to primary care. Through a monthly membership, patients receive longer appointments, same day or next day appointments, telehealth visits, direct communication with their provider, and urgent care services without the usual wait.
That direct access allows concerns to be addressed sooner and can help patients avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency room. Membership is $80 per month for adults, $40 for children, or $180 for a family of three. Grove Family Health also partners with employers looking to provide more convenient healthcare for their teams.
This patient first approach recently earned Grove Family Health the 2026 Emerging Business Award from the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce, recognizing its growth, innovation, and positive impact on the local community.
For families and employers looking for healthcare that feels more personal and less transactional, Grove Family Health offers a refreshing alternative. Free consultations are available at GroveFamilyHealth.net.
📆 Your Weekly Calendar
Thursday, August 6
Twice Loved Kids Consignment Sale | 5–9 PM @ 24801 MD-235, Hollywood. Early-access shopping is Thursday; the public sale opens Friday and continues through Sunday.
Macbeth | 7:30 PM @ Historic St. Mary’s City. The Newtowne Players present Shakespeare’s tragedy outdoors at Historic St. Mary’s City.
Music Trivia | 7:30 PM @ Taphouse 1637, California. A music-themed trivia night with questions on songs, artists, and lyrics.
Friday, August 7
Food Truck Fridays | 5–7 PM @ Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Solomons. Food trucks serve dinner at Annmarie Sculpture Garden during the Friday evening event.
First Friday Drum Circle and Beneath the Waves | 5–8 PM @ St. Mary’s County Arts Council, Leonardtown. The evening begins with a public drum circle and continues with the reception for the Beneath the Waves exhibition.
First Friday Music with Monkey Business | 5:30–8:30 PM @ Port of Leonardtown Winery. Monkey Business performs live, with Farm Fork Soul serving food.
Dueling Pianos with Blazin’ Keys | 8:30 PM @ Taphouse 1637, California. Two pianists perform requested songs throughout the show.
Saturday, August 8
U-Cut Flower Experience | Noon–5 PM @ 27075 S. Sandgates Road, Mechanicsville. Visitors can cut their own flowers from the field.
National Lighthouse Weekend | 10 AM–5 PM @ Piney Point Lighthouse Museum. Free tours of the tower, keeper’s quarters, workboats, and museum galleries.
Patina Party | 9:30 AM @ Maryland International Raceway. The event includes a car show, swap meet, and drag racing at Maryland International Raceway.
Second Saturday Family Night | 5–9 PM @ Historic Sotterley, Hollywood. Farmers market, food truck, wagon rides, farm games, and live music. Rain or shine, $10 per car.
Sunday, August 9
Cars & Coffee Car Show | 10 AM–2 PM @ The Bell Building, Leonardtown. A local car show with vehicles on display at the Bell Building.
Analog Pop-Up Market | 1–5 PM @ Slice House, Leonardtown. A parking-lot market featuring vinyl, books, skate gear, artwork, and other physical media.
Music with Swamp Weasels | 2–5 PM @ Port of Leonardtown Winery. The Swamp Weasels perform live, with El Jefe Wood Fired Pizza on site.
Dinner and a Cruise: Blackistone Lighthouse | 4–8 PM @ St. Clement’s Island Museum, Coltons Point. The dinner cruise includes a water-taxi ride, a local seafood meal, and Blackistone Lighthouse history. Reservations are required.
🗼 The Lighthouse That Started It All
Quiz answer: B. Piney Point Lighthouse was built in 1836 and is the oldest lighthouse on the Potomac River.
Master lighthouse builder John Donahoo put it up in 1836 for $3,888, lantern and all. It was the first lighthouse on the Potomac, and it has been watching traffic move in and out of the river ever since.
Today, the site includes the keeper’s quarters, maritime exhibits, historic workboats, and waterfront grounds. It is an easy place to spend an afternoon without having to invent an itinerary.
Read the museum’s Piney Point history before you go, then climb the tower during National Lighthouse Weekend if the stairs are calling your name.
🤝 Trusted Local Partners
St. Mary’s Insider is supported by local businesses that help keep this thing going.
That’s your Insider for this week.
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See you next Tuesday. ✌️
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