🍦Have you tried Yemeni coffee?

Good morning, Columbia. Yesterday was National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, which made it officially acceptable to eat comfort food for breakfast. Not that you needed permission but validation is always nice.

In today’s Columbia Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Michelle Sinclair

Before the Civil War, the Historic Howard County Jail at 1 Emory Street in Ellicott City held freedom seekers in its cells. It was later the site of both documented and narrowly prevented lynchings. For the last 17 years, it's sat completely empty.

Last week, County Executive Calvin Ball signed CB18 — authorizing a 40-year lease of the building to Preservation Maryland, who will gut and reimagine the site as a center for preservation, education, and community engagement. UMD's School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation will move in. So will a community meeting space, historical interpretive exhibits, contemplative green space, and Preservation Maryland's own headquarters.

Ball also signed two other bills last week: CB20 makes the county's Interfaith Advisory Commission permanent — it was created in 2024 to combat hate and assist at-risk populations, and its own final report said the work needed to continue. And CR39 greenlights a PILOT agreement to replace the aging Fall River Terrace community in Columbia (built in 1971, now inaccessible to residents with disabilities) with a modern 76-unit mixed-income development — 56 units reserved for households at or below 80% of Area Median Income, plus six for-sale townhomes. The developer, Enterprise Community Development, was founded by Jim Rouse in 1982.

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A sharp-eyed Reddit user spotted it in the county permits portal before anyone announced it: Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. is taking over the old Po Boys Jim space on the first floor of the Metropolitan apartment building across from the Mall.

If you haven't heard of Qamaria, here's the quick version. Two Yemeni entrepreneurs — Hatem and Munif — spent eight years building a supply chain to source single origin, organic coffee directly from farms in Haraz, Yemen, one of the rarest coffee-growing regions on earth. They opened their first café about 5 years ago in Michigan and haven't stopped since. Today there are about 40 Qamaria cafes. Their signature drink is a latte spiked with cardamom and cinnamon, drizzled with honey. And the reviews show that people love it.

There’s no official opening date yet (heck, there hasn’t even been an official announcement). So we’ll stay tuned and let you know as soon as we know more.

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🎈 = family-friendly events

🎈🐱 Paint with Kittens - Paint pottery while cuddling adoptable kittens from Furry Paws Foster Inn for a purr-fectly fun night.

🌹 HCAR Cares Annual Spring Gala: A Run for the Roses - Derby-themed elegant evening of fashion, cocktails, and auctions to support Grassroots Crisis.

🎨 Resident Studio Artists Exhibit - Reception and open studios at the Howard County Center for the Arts.

🍺 Laud Shawarma Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Sister-owned Nigerian shawarma spot opens at The Common Kitchen.

🎈🎨 Earth Day Celebration at Color Burst Park - Family celebration with yoga, recycling relays, sustainable maker's market, and free native tree seedlings for first 100 families.

🎈🐴 Gentle Giants Horse Rescue at Manor Hill - Meet friendly draft horses, support rescue mission, plus Kolsch release and farm activities.

🎈🏃 DISCOVER DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA 5K/10K - Columbia's largest foot race showcasing downtown and Lake Kittamaqundi, with inaugural Donut Mile following.

🎈🎨 Holi Celebration - Free Festival of Colors celebration with vibrant powder, dance party, and cultural performances at Merriweather Park.

🎈🎭 Toby's Dinner Theatre Presents: The Wizard of Oz - There's no place like Toby's for this beloved musical, running through early June.

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⚖️ HoCo against the world: The DOJ filed a brief last week backing the developer suing HoCo over private detention centers. That means the federal government has a vested interest in this lawsuit. Howard County officials declined to comment saying the county doesn’t comment on pending litigation. ($)

💼 Growing local: Columbia-based IT and cybersecurity firm Atruent has relocated to a new, expanded headquarters at 7061 Deepage Drive — a move the company says reflects three years of steady growth serving healthcare organizations and government contractors. They're throwing an open house in June if you want to see the new space.

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82 🌡️ 61 | 🌧️ | 20% ☔ | 💨 SW 14 mph

87 🌡️ 65 | 🌧️ | 17% ☔ | 💨 SW 9 mph

91 🌡️ 66 | 🌤️ | 7% ☔ | 💨 SW 8 mph

90 🌡️ 66 | ⛅ | 17% ☔ | 💨 SW 9 mph

Cured 1821 | Chordy | 6 PM
Reckless Shepherd | Redacted | 5 PM

Collective Encore | Abacab | 7:30 PM | Tickets 
Cured 1821 | Bob Butta | 6 PM

Collective Encore | Abacab | 7:30 PM | Tickets
The Morgan Inn | Red Sky Dawn | 6 PM

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