TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026
ST. MARY’S INSIDER
THE LOCAL GUIDE TO WHAT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING
Good morning, St. Mary’s. 👋
If you’ve walked through Target lately, you’ve seen it: backpacks, pencils, and folders have already taken over the store. Summer’s winding down fast, so this is your reminder to squeeze in a little more fun before the routine kicks back in.
Let’s get into it.
🔎 Did You Know?
Did you know the beaches just up the bay from us are basically a fossil hunting ground? Calvert Cliffs has been eroding for millions of years, and it’s not unusual for people to walk away with megalodon shark teeth, some bigger than your palm, that are around 15 million years old. Locals treat it like a hobby: low tide, a mesh sieve, and a little patience. If you’ve never gone, it’s an easy day trip and a good one to bring the kids on.
🏡 Around the County
📷 School-zone speed cameras are coming: Warnings start August 21, and tickets start September 7. Six school zones will have cameras, and 12 mph over the limit gets you a $40 ticket. Good to know before that first week of school turns everyone into a rush-hour menace.
🧘 10X Pilates is coming to Mechanicsville: It’s opening in New Market Plaza at 29015 Three Notch Road, and early signups are open now ahead of a late-summer opening. It’ll be Maryland’s first Sculptformer studio.
🧺 Town Cleaners is closing: The longtime downtown Leonardtown shop has moved to pickup-only, Monday through Thursday, 8 AM to 6 PM, with final pickup August 31.
🏘️ 108 townhouses are proposed in California: A 15-acre plan near FDR Boulevard and Chancellors Run is under review. Nothing’s approved yet, but that intersection tends to turn into a traffic conversation no matter what gets built there.
☕ The Charlotte Hall Starbucks is open: The new drive-thru sits at Charlotte Hall Center, next to Aldi and Chick-fil-A, so Route 5 has one more coffee stop on the way out of the county.
🚌 Back-to-school details are live: SMCPS has posted 2026–27 schedules and family resources. Worth checking bus and school details now, before the first morning turns into a group text emergency.
⭐️ The Top Pick
Saturday, August 15, 4–7 PM @ Town Market, Leonardtown
No tickets, no plan required. Bring a chair or a blanket, grab something to eat, and let the kids burn off enough energy to sleep in the car on the way home. Solid Saturday.
📆 Your Weekly Calendar
Thursday, August 13
Farmers Feeding St. Mary’s | 2–7 PM @ Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, Lexington Park. A free produce distribution for St. Mary’s County residents.
Macbeth | 7:30 PM @ Historic St. Mary’s City. Newtowne Players presents Shakespeare’s Macbeth outdoors at Historic St. Mary’s City.
Bowen’s Inn: A Taste of Solomons History | 6–9 PM @ No Thyme to Cook, Solomons. A food-and-history evening built around the stories and flavors of the former Bowen’s Inn.
Friday, August 14
Friday Summer Skate | 1–4 PM @ Leonard Hall Recreation Center. Open roller skating for kids and families, with popsicles included.
Market at MedStar | 10 AM–2 PM @ MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. Local produce, prepared food, and vendors.
Paws & Popcorn Movie Night: The Lion King | 6–8 PM @ Meow Dyer Cat Cafe. A screening of The Lion King at the cat cafe.
Macbeth | 7:30 PM @ Historic St. Mary’s City. Newtowne Players presents Shakespeare’s Macbeth outdoors at Historic St. Mary’s City.
Saturday, August 15
The Vintage Source Monthly Opening | 8 AM–4 PM @ The Vintage Source, Compton. Vintage furniture, home goods, and one-of-a-kind finds.
Rust & Grain Market | 9 AM–4 PM. Local makers, vintage goods, and handmade items.
Toy Boatbuilding | 1–4 PM @ Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons. Kids build and decorate a small wooden boat with help from museum staff.
Outdoor Movie Night at Town Market | 4–7 PM @ Town Market, Leonardtown. Free outdoor movie night. Bring a blanket or chair.
Wine and Vibe! | 2–5 PM @ Port of Leonardtown Winery. Live music and wine.
The Giving Closet | 9 AM–Noon @ Living Word Community Church, Mechanicsville. A community clothing distribution hosted by The Giving Closet.
What to Expect Baby Shower | 11 AM–2 PM @ NAS Patuxent River. A free shower for new and expectant parents with resources, gifts, and a book signing.
Macbeth | 7:30 PM @ Historic St. Mary’s City. Newtowne Players presents Shakespeare’s Macbeth outdoors at Historic St. Mary’s City.
Sunday, August 16
SOMD Cars & Coffee | 8–11 AM @ Laurel Glenn Shopping Center, California. A casual morning gathering for local car owners and anyone who wants to look around.
The Vintage Source Monthly Opening | 8 AM–4 PM @ The Vintage Source, Compton. Vintage furniture, home goods, and one-of-a-kind finds.
Outdoor Clay Date: Wind Chimes | 11 AM–1 PM @ Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Solomons. Make a clay wind chime in an outdoor pottery workshop.
Family Skate | 2–5 PM @ Leonard Hall Recreation Center. Family roller skating.
Smiles For Miles Solomons Sunday Run Club | 8–10 AM @ The Beanery/Juice Buzz, Solomons. A beginner-friendly 3–4 mile group run using run-walk intervals.
🔨 One Last Thing
Maryland’s tax-free week runs August 9–15, covering qualifying clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less per item, plus the first $40 of a backpack. If the school list is still sitting on the counter, this is your sign.
🤝 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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