Good morning, Columbia. Southwest is building its first-ever airport lounges, and BWI made the short list. I wonder how long it’ll be until they take away open seating there. . .
In today’s Columbia Scoop:
Last weekend for CA’s outdoor pools
Data center task force
Saturday fireworks in Fulton
Let’s get to it.
— Michelle Sinclair
OVER THE MOON
A new coffee shop opens in the old Cozy Cafe space ☕
Photo: Ellicott City Partnership
Old Ellicott City has a groovy new coffee shop, and until this year its owner had never worked in one.
Luna Coffee Bar opened in late August at 8006 Main St., the storefront that housed Cozy Cafe and then Le Jardin Rose, which left in March. Owner Kayla Draughn, twenty-seven, has spent her whole career on the corporate side of a window company. She told the Baltimore Sun in April she was “really taking a jump.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Well received – Locals already love Luna. Pretty much every review has the word vibe in it (usually preceded by “good” or “cozy” but in one case “cozy witch”). And don’t worry. The drinks are tasty, too.
The menu is coffee drinks, chai, and matcha, plus pastries, muffins, bagels, and cookies from local baker Gingersnap Jess. And if you’re feeling curious, they’ll even give you a tarot reading while they make your drink. Doors open at 7 AM every day and close at 3 PM on weekdays, 4 PM on weekends.
Draughn told the Sun she’s in it for the long haul: “I have a 2-year-old, and I want her first job to be in my coffee shop.”
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THE LAST SPLASH
What’s open, what’s closed, and when the trash comes on Labor Day 🏊
Photo: Columbia Association
Monday is the end of the outdoor pool season. Columbia Association’s nine remaining outdoor pools – Clemens Crossing, Dorsey Hall, Faulkner Ridge, Hopewell, Huntington, Locust Park, River Hill, Stevens Forest, and Swansfield – are open through September 7. The other 14 have already closed for the year. After Monday, swimming moves indoors.
The rest of the holiday is the usual grid.
Closed Monday: County offices, Columbia Scoop (see you next Thursday!), Maryland courts in Howard County, the animal shelter, 50+ centers, the Alpha Ridge Landfill, Robinson Nature Center, the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, Gary J. Arthur Community Center, the Capitoline Center, Kiwanis-Wallas Hall, the Cedar Lane and Schooley Mill activity rooms, and county historic sites. Libraries are closed Sunday and Monday, and schools are out.
Open Monday: County parks. The North Laurel and Roger Carter community centers close at 5 PM (their pools at 4:30), and Meadowbrook Athletic Complex is open for planned programs only. RTA runs a Sunday schedule, and every parking regulation and fee still applies.
There’s no trash, recycling, yard trim, or food scrap collection Monday. Every pickup slides one day for the rest of the week, so Friday’s customers get theirs on Saturday. County operations resume Tuesday at regular hours.
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EVENTS
Weekend preview
🎈 = family-friendly events
Thursday
🐮 Laurel Farmer’s Market – Fresh local produce and artisan goods every Thursday through October.
🎭 Summer - The Donna Summer Musical – Toby’s Dinner Theatre brings the story of the Queen of Disco to life with dinner and a show.
Friday
🎈🐶 Puppy Socials at The Coventry School – Supervised playtime for puppies to safely socialize while owners learn about the school’s training approach.
🎶 First Friday Release of Munich Dunkel – Manor Hill Brewing debuts their new dark lager with live music from Chris Montcalmo and brick-oven pizza from the farm’s pizza trolley.
🎶 Friday Music: South Rolling Band – Free outdoor concert at Clarksville Commons featuring a mix of hits and originals – bring a chair or grab patio dinner.
🎈 Dancin' Under the People Tree – All-ages dance fitness session led by high-energy instructors under the iconic People Tree sculpture at the Lakefront.
🎈 Movie Night - How To Train Your Dragon – Outdoor family film at the Lakefront – bring a blanket and settle in at dusk.
Saturday
🎈⚾ Kids Play Free with Kidokinetics – Free youth sports demo day for ages 2–11, introducing foundational athletic skills in a non-competitive setting.
🎶 Lakefront Concert: Leonardo Garcia y Son Horizonte – Salsa and salsa jazz ensemble brings Colombian rhythms and D.C. influences to the Lakefront.
📚 A Town Divided - Ellicott City During the Civil War – Free historical talk exploring Ellicott City’s role at the crossroads of railroad, war, and divided loyalties.
Sunday
🎶 Pet Sounds Live - A Tribute to The Beach Boys – Studio musicians recreate Brian Wilson’s iconic album with multimedia elements that take you inside the studio.
Monday
Happy Labor Day!
🎈🎻 Labor Day Concert: National Chamber Orchestra and the U.S. Army Blues – Free outdoor concert at the Chrysalis from 4–6:30 PM, running from Copland and Sousa to Nat King Cole and Frank Zappa – tickets are free but you have to register.
🎈🍺 Farm Open for Labor Day at Manor Hill – The farm opens special holiday hours, noon–5 PM, with The Low Keys in the courtyard 1–4 PM, the pizza trolley, and the goats.
🎬 Columbia Maryland Film Festival opening night – The Best of the 48 Hour Film Project screens at The Collective ENCORE with founder Mark Ruppert on hand, doors 6 PM, $30 (all-festival pass $75).
All weekend
🎈⛸️ Public Ice Skating – The Columbia Ice Rink welcomes everyone for daily skating sessions, with rental skates and skating aids available.
More
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In other news. . .
🖥️ Server Squad: Ten names hit Tuesday’s council agenda for the 11-member data center task force – the group the S.M.A.R.T. Siting Act created when the county paused new data centers through November 2027. County Executive Calvin Ball picked five of his allotted six, and each councilmember picked one for their district. Also up for introduction: David Yungmann’s bill to temporarily hold approvals for solar energy facilities. The session starts at 7 PM.
🎆 Boom Service: Howard County Fire and Rescue says a private fireworks display will go off Saturday around 9 PM in the 11100 block of Terrace Lane in Fulton. Neighbors (and their dogs) should expect loud noise and smoke. The state fire marshal permitted the show, and county fire marshals will be there the whole time.
🚸 Gap Year: The county wants to close the sidewalk gap on the east side of Old Waterloo Road in Elkridge, connecting the pavement that ends about 500 feet south of Alayna Road to the sidewalk at US 1 and MD 175. New storm drainage and a cul-de-sac at the dead end come with it. The design plans are on display Thursday, September 10, from 5 to 6:30 PM in the Mayfield Woods Middle School cafeteria. Details
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WEATHER
Thursday
93 🌡️ 75 | ⛅ | 30% ☔ | 💨 W 8 mph
Friday
92 🌡️ 70 | ⛈️ | 60% ☔ | 💨 NW 8 mph
Saturday
84 🌡️ 62 | ☀️ | 7% ☔ | 💨 N 8 mph
Sunday
82 🌡️ 61 | ☀️ | 6% ☔ | 💨 NE 6 mph
Monday
82 🌡️ 63 | 🌤️ | 4% ☔ | 💨 E 6 mph
LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN
🌳🎵= Outdoor concert
Thursday
Bare Bones | One Step Down | 7–10 PM
Collective Encore | Weird Science | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Rodney Kelly | 6–10 PM
The Morgan Inn | David Phenicie & Paula Richardson | 6–9 PM
Reckless Shepherd | Hits Different | 8–11 PM
Friday
Bare Bones | CRUSH | 8 PM–12 AM
Barn & Lodge | Mike Heuer | 8–11 PM
Collective Encore | Urgent: Tribute to Foreigner | 8 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Aiden Interrante Trio | 6–11 PM
Looney's Maple Lawn | Doc Marten and the Flannels | TBA
🌳🎵Manor Hill Brewing | Chris Montcalmo | 5–8 PM
🌳🎵Merriweather | Empire of the Sun, Polo & Pan, Midnight Generation | 7:30 PM | Tickets
The Morgan Inn | GP3 | 8–11 PM
Smashing Grapes | Marissa Zechinato | 8–11 PM
Union's Jack | Mark & Da Sharks | 6–10 PM
White Oak Tavern | Dan Heeley | 8–10 PM
Saturday
Bare Bones | Gary & The Groove | 8 PM–12 AM
Barn & Lodge | Mike Ferro | 8–11 PM
Collective Encore | BRENCORE Presents…Tribute to the Music of Lionel Richie & The Commodores | 8 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Bob Butta | 6–11 PM
Looney's Maple Lawn | Vertigo Red | TBA
The Morgan Inn | The Reckoning | 8–11 PM
Smashing Grapes | Saegin Duo ft. Skyler Parker | 8–11 PM
White Oak Tavern | Casey McConville | 8–10 PM
Sunday
Barn & Lodge | Sean Bera | 11 AM–2 PM
Collective Encore | The Music of the Beach Boys featuring Pet Sounds LIVE! | 7 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Sidestreet Duo | 5–9 PM
🌳🎵Manor Hill Brewing | Almost Infinity | 2–5 PM
🌳🎵Merriweather | Kehlani, Durand Bernarr, TheARTI$t, WASEEL, Dixson | 6:30 PM | Tickets
The Morgan Inn | Soul Family Band | 2–5:30 PM
Smashing Grapes | TBA | 11 AM–2 PM
White Oak Tavern | Jazzy Brunch | 11 AM–2 PM
Monday
🌳🎵Manor Hill Brewing | The Low Keys | 1–4 PM
THANKS!
Thanks for reading Columbia Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with the worst air traveler you know. We’re trying to start some beef today.
