Good morning, St. Mary’s. 👋
If it feels like every time you drive down 235 lately another ribbon is being cut, you aren’t imagining it. Between new produce stands, upcoming food joints, and a casual $320 million sports complex proposal, the county is officially in its "under construction" era. If you’ve got a piece of land lying around, hang onto it. There’s probably a Jersey Mike’s or a Home Depot already looking at it.
Let’s get into it.
🧐 The County Quiz
Why did roughly 1,500 British troops raid Leonardtown during the War of 1812?
🏡 Around the County
🏟️ A $320 Million Sports Complex Gets a Detailed Blueprint: St. Mary’s County now has a detailed plan for a sports complex along St. Andrew’s Church Road, with a 145,000-square-foot indoor facility and as many as 18 tournament fields. The harder part is finding roughly $320 million to build it.
🧸 St. Mary’s Early Learning Academy Cuts the Ribbon Tuesday: The county is cutting the ribbon on a new early learning center inside the former Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy building. The YMCA of the Chesapeake will run it, with room for about 100 children from six months through age 4 when care begins in August.
🥪 Jersey Mike’s Targets July 29 as Pax River Village Adds More Names: Jersey Mike’s is targeting a July 29 opening, with Starbucks and Planet Fitness also headed to the former Millison Plaza property. Jersey Mike’s still lists the store as “In Development,” and Planet Fitness has not announced a date, so treat July 29 as a target rather than a promise.
🧰 Home Depot Has Secured Its California Location: Home Depot’s broker says the company has secured its site near Lexington Exchange. The 136k-square-foot store was approved last summer, but construction and opening dates are still unknown.
🥕 Lexington Park Just Got a Self-Serve Produce Stand: Potluck Produce Stand is now open daily from sunrise to sunset at 46325 Rue Purchase Road. It has locally grown produce, fresh-cut flowers, self-checkout, and an aquaponics garden where you can snip your own herbs. Owner Lindsay Digman designed and built the whole thing herself.
📸 Your Photo Could Land on the 2027 Cedar Point Calendar: Local photographers have until Friday at 11:59 PM to submit up to five Southern Maryland photos. The cover winner receives $200, and selected work will be displayed at Cedar Point branches and the Arts Council Gallery.
⭐ The Top Pick
Saturday, July 25 | 9 AM to 4 PM | Sunday, July 26 | 11 AM to 3 PM | Leonardtown Wharf Park
Vintage race boats are taking over Breton Bay for two days, and this is the weekend’s most unique local plan.
The best part comes during the lunch break, when the pits open and visitors can meet the drivers and see the boats up close. Bring chairs, sunscreen, water, and hearing protection for younger kids. These boats are not subtle.
☕ Insider Spotlight
Botanic Café has a feel you won't find anywhere else in St. Mary’s. Set inside the Shepherd’s Old Field Market compound on Duke Street, the multi-floor space is packed with plants, cozy touches, and enough natural light to turn a quick coffee run into a legitimate reset.
The main levels are built for morning espresso, breakfast, or lunch while you explore the market, while the top floor plays host to private events, workshops, and catered get-togethers. It’s the rare spot that handles a quiet solo morning just as effortlessly as a full bridal shower.
Chef and owner Lia Horna-Smith draws on her Peruvian roots to craft a menu focused on scratch-made, seasonal comfort food. Think hot panini, wraps, fresh salads, soups, plenty of plant-based options, and homemade empanadas (grab those early before they sell out). If it’s your first visit, you can’t go wrong with the chimichurri breakfast burrito, salmon avocado wrap, or turkey cranberry-brie panini.
Pair any of it with their stellar coffee menu, and it's easy to see why Botanic is such an essential part of the SOF Market scene. It’s yet another great independent spot proving St. Mary’s never has to settle for drive-thru chains.
📅 Your Weekly Calendar
🟢 Wednesday, July 22
Welcome Back Wednesday | 12 PM to 2 PM @ St. Mary’s County Arts Council, Leonardtown. Bring a project of your own, work from one of theirs, or stop by and meet other local artists.
Teen Video Game Drop-In | 2 PM to 4 PM @ Leonardtown Library. An afternoon of Mario Kart, Switch Sports, Just Dance, and snacks for local teens.
🟢 Thursday, July 23
Night Bloom | 6 PM to 8 PM @ The Beanery, Solomons. A cozy girls’ night with pajamas, gentle yoga, flowers, coffee, and mocktails.
Hands-On Homemade Pasta | 6 PM to 9 PM @ No Thyme to Cook, Solomons. A hands-on cooking class centered on fresh pasta, homemade ricotta, sauces, and dessert.
The SpongeBob Musical | 8 PM @ Three Notch Theatre, Lexington Park. A bright, funny stage version of SpongeBob that kids and adults can enjoy, with performances through Sunday.
🟢 Friday, July 24
Family Fun Friday: Blooms and Bugs | 9 AM to 11 AM @ Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons. A museum morning with bug-themed games, native plants, and nature crafts.
Pirate’s Cove Axolotl Make & Take | 10 AM to 11 AM @ The Imaginarium, Solomons. Kids can make and take home an axolotl craft, which is considerably easier than the real thing.
Mix & Match Summer Skate | 1 PM to 4 PM @ Leonard Hall Recreation Center, Leonardtown. A goofy-dress-themed afternoon of roller skating at Leonard Hall.
Frozen: The Broadway Musical | 7 PM @ Great Mills High School. Summerstock brings Frozen to the stage, with performances through Sunday.
River Concert Series Finale | 7 PM to 9 PM @ St. Mary’s College Townhouse Green. The season closes with an evening of Mozart, Rossini, Haydn, and more on the Townhouse Green.
Ties & Tiaras | 7 PM to 9 PM @ Wildewood Village Event Center, California. A special dance for young girls and an important man in their lives, benefiting the Center for Children.
Warren Zeiders with Wesko | 7 PM @ Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons. The country singer brings his current tour to Southern Maryland, with Wesko opening.
🟢 Saturday, July 25
Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad Yard Sale | 7 AM to 11 AM @ Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad. An indoor community yard sale, which is the correct kind of yard sale in July.
LEXBA Market Days | 9 AM to 12 PM @ Pax River Village Center, Lexington Park. A morning market with handmade goods, artwork, jewelry, and other products from local entrepreneurs.
DIY Glass Blowing | 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM @ Port of Leonardtown Winery. Make a custom glass piece with McFadden Glass while spending the afternoon at the winery.
Bad Parent Night | 2 PM to 8 PM @ Barefoot Farms, Avenue. Live music, vendors, food, fishing, cornhole, and paintball spread across an afternoon at the farm.
SoMD LIVE | 4 PM to 9:30 PM @ Historic Sotterley, Hollywood. Local acts span electronic music, blues, R&B, indie rock, folk, and hip-hop at Historic Sotterley.
XDA Bike Fest | 4 PM to 11 PM @ Maryland International Raceway, Mechanicsville. More than 600 racers, live music, custom bikes, and machines pushing past 240 mph.
Jazz in the Country | 6 PM to 8 PM @ Corteau Vineyards, Mechanicsville. Keyboardist Kevin Howard brings an evening of live jazz to the vineyard.
SOMD Wine in White | 6:30 PM @ LUX Sports Bar & Grill, California. A 1970s New York-inspired party with an all-white dress code, disco, funk, and house music.
Rock the Dock: All-Star Purple Party | 7 PM to 10 PM @ Rod ’N’ Reel Resort, Chesapeake Beach. A full Prince tribute on the waterfront, led by Edward “Junie” Henderson.
Rex Christmas in July | 9 PM @ The Rex, Leonardtown. A 21-and-over Christmas-in-July party with a DJ, cocktails, lights, and snow inside The Rex.
🟢 Sunday, July 26
Cars & Coffee | 10 AM to 2 PM @ Town Market Bell Building, Leonardtown. A laid-back Sunday car show with coffee, music, cornhole, raffles, and prizes.
Jasmine Cain at Toot’s Bar | 4 PM @ Toot’s Bar, Hollywood. Jasmine Cain brings a Sunday-afternoon rock show to Hollywood.
American Catholic History Pilgrimage | Begins at 4 PM @ Historic St. Mary’s City. A multi-day pilgrimage through the places that shaped early American Catholic history.
Summer Slamboree Wrestling | 5 PM to 7:30 PM @ Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department. MCW Pro Wrestling brings a full card of live matches to the Hollywood firehouse.
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