🍦Hickory Ridge taco truck mystery solved

Good morning, Columbia. CNBC just called Maryland the second worst state economy in the country. It’s a pretty big drop from last year when Maryland ranked #26. At least we beat Rhode Island?

In today’s Columbia Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Michelle Sinclair

Of all the made-up food holidays, this is the one worth observing. Not that we’re biased at all.

Sunday, July 19 is National Ice Cream Day, and Howard County is ready. Rec & Parks is throwing a free Ice Cream Social at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center from 2–4 PM. Preregistration is encouraged but not required.

Prefer to celebrate at the source? We put together a guide to which scoop shops you’ll love most in Howard County – from Old Bay Caramel in the Merriweather District to frozen custard Turtles in Hickory Ridge to a mason-jar milkshake on Main Street you get to keep.

Your only job Sunday: pick one. (Or don’t. It is a holiday after all.)

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New for the Scoop: a monthly check-in on the HoCo housing market.

🏘️ Howard County market report

This Howard County market report will be published on a monthly basis. Above is data for June from realtor.com.

Bonus: There is a 38-acre estate in Glenelg just waiting for a visionary owner. It’s not finished yet (the photo below appears to be an AI rendering from the listing agent) but it could become the coolest house ever. Don’t quote me on that. I’m no building expert and have no idea if you could get the permits for a full-size basketball court, tennis court, and a private mini golf course. I don’t even know if you need permits for such things. I just know this place could be absolutely epic.

Check it out! It’s listed at $5 million

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🎈 = family-friendly events

🎶 Summer Sounds Series at Wilde Lake - Live music and family activities at The Shoppes at Wilde Lake, 5:30–8:30 PM.

🪕 Jimmy Charles - Maryland native turned Nashville country rocker debuts at The Collective Encore.

🍺 Bingo in the Barn - Free bingo in the air-conditioned barn at Manor Hill Brewing with prizes and pizza. Ages 21+.

🎈 🏃 Dancin’ Under the People Tree - All-ages dance fitness under the People Tree sculpture at the Lakefront, 7 PM.

🎈 🎬 Movie Night - Goat - A small goat with big dreams gets a shot at the pros in this outdoor movie at the Lakefront.

🎶 Summer Sounds Series at Dorsey’s Search - Totally 90’s night with live music and family activities, 5:30–8:30 PM.

🎶 TRAIN - Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere - Train celebrates the 25th anniversary of Drops of Jupiter at Merriweather; $1 per ticket benefits Family House San Francisco.

🎈 🐮 Farmers Market at Clarksville Commons - Fresh produce, meats, baked goods, crafts, and live music every Saturday morning.

🎈 🍹 Mocktique by Stursi Grand Opening - Savage Mill’s first booze-free bottle shop opens its doors in the Old Weave Building, 12-5 PM.

🎈 🌻 Clarksville Sunflower Festival - Pick-your-own sunflowers, live music, food trucks, and farm fun at Mary’s Land Farm this weekend and next.

🎈 🧚 Fairy Festival at Clark’s Elioak Farm - Games and scavenger hunts in the Enchanted Pine Forest, plus hayrides and a petting farm.

🎈 🚗 Mikey & Mel’s Cruise In at Maple Lawn - All makes and models welcome at this free cruise-in car show, 9 AM–noon.

🎶 Lakefront Concert: Oracle - High-energy cover band with electric fiddle, trumpet, and over 500 songs, 7:30 PM at the Lakefront.

🎶 Phish - Two-night stand at Merriweather Post Pavilion for the legendary jam band.

🎈🌳 Whispering Winds American Indian Pow Wow - Annual pow wow with dancers, drummers, artisans, traditional food, and crafts from tribes including Haliwa-Saponi, Cherokee, and Navajo.

🎈 🍦 Ice Cream Social - Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with free scoops, toppings, music, and activities at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, 2-4 PM.

🎈 🐣 90’s Themed Cookie Decorating Class & Milkshakes - Decorate 90s-themed cookies while sipping a milkshake at The Crazy Mason.

🎈🎭 Toby’s Dinner Theatre Presents: Mean Girls - The musical meets the buffet — dinner theater runs through August.

🎈🌱 Back to School Supply Drive - Drop off fully packed backpacks through July 17 to support students in Howard County.

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🌮 Taco ’Bout a Mystery – For three years, El Sabor Chapin served what many called the county’s best tacos from the Sunoco lot at Hickory Ridge Village Center. In March, it vanished without a word. The Merriweather Post’s Jeremy Dommu tracked down what happened: Sunoco’s lease with Kimco Realty doesn’t allow food trucks, so owner Carlos Estevez was asked to leave. He’s now at the Marathon station at 6315 Washington Blvd in Elkridge – and he’d come back to Hickory Ridge tomorrow if he could. Kimco says it’s open to finding him a permitted spot.

🍹 Zero Proof, Full Send – Savage Mill is getting its first mocktail boutique. Mocktique by Stursi, founded by sisters Lexx and Livv Mills, is a booze-free bottle shop and event space in the historic Old Weave Building with a curated selection of non-alcoholic beer, wine, and spirits. The grand opening runs Saturday, 12–5 PM.

🤝 Signed, Sealed, Dispatched – County Executive Calvin Ball signed a new two-year agreement with the Howard County Public Dispatcher’s Association covering July 2026 through June 2028: a 1.5% cost-of-living raise now, another 1.5% in January, and 3% in January 2028, plus new steps on the pay scale. The county also signed extensions with both police unions, Lodge 21 and Lodge 143.

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98 🌡️ 72 | ⛈️ | 18% ☔ | 💨 NW 9 mph

92 🌡️ 72 | 🌤️ | 31% ☔ | 💨 N 5 mph

88 🌡️ 71 | ⛈️ | 81% ☔ | 💨 S 9 mph

87 🌡️ 66 | ⛈️ | 41% ☔ | 💨 W 8 mph

87 🌡️ 70 | 🌤️ | 16% ☔ | 💨 SE 6 mph

Collective Encore | Jimmy Charles | 7:30–10:30 PM | Tickets
The Morgan Inn | The UpBeets! | 6–9 PM
Turf Valley | Barry Prosser | 6–8 PM

Bare Bones | Don’t Stop | 8 PM
Collective Encore | Jeremy’s Ten: The Pearl Jam Tribute | 8 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Tim Young | 6–11 PM
🌳🎵 Merriweather | Train, Barenaked Ladies, Matt Nathanson | 6:45 PM | Tickets
The Morgan Inn | Sara’s Sandbox | 8–11 PM
Reckless Shepherd | The Chucks | 8–11:30 PM

Bare Bones | Revolver | 6 PM
Collective Encore | A Tribute to Jill Scott, Stephanie Mills, & Teena Marie | 8 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Alex Armbruster | 6–11 PM
🌳🎵 Merriweather | Phish | 7 PM | Tickets
The Morgan Inn | One More Time | 8–11 PM

Collective Encore | Slim Man | 7 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Bob Butta | 5–9 PM
🌳🎵 Manor Hill Brewing | Kenny Arbuckle | 2–5 PM
🌳🎵 Merriweather | Phish | 7 PM | Tickets
The Morgan Inn | The Soul Family Band | 2–5:30 PM

Thanks for reading Columbia Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who has a functioning organ (the music kind) in their house.