🍦Luna del Sea soft opening

Good morning, Columbia. We’re excited to introduce a new feature today. It’s called Theater Talk Tuesday and it highlights events from HoCo’s local performing arts scene. The Naptown Scoop crew in Annapolis has been doing it for years and their readers love it. I hope you do too.

In today’s Columbia Scoop:

Let’s get to it.

— Michelle Sinclair

I sat down to write something for Pink’s. . . then I started reading through their 170 five-star reviews and found this one:

Pinks Window Services did an absolutely incredible job on my 33 windows, 3 sliding doors and 3 skylights including the screens. The windows looked so clear and amazing that you couldn’t tell the windows had screens. In fact, the dining room windows were so clear that I threw out my drapes so I can see more of the Chesapeake Bay. They are worth every penny and I plan to have them return every year in the spring. Many of my neighbors stopped by to check it out.

Imagine window cleaners so good they make you toss the drapes. If you have filthy windows, clogged gutters, a streaky roof, or anything grimy on your homes exterior, Pink’s is the crew to call

Now playing. . .

🪩 Toby's Dinner Theatre presents SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical, every day but Mondays through November 1. Toby’s is unique for two reasons: dinner comes with the ticket and it’s theater in the round (aka the audience surrounds the stage). Know before you go: Toby's lot is closed for construction, so park in the Symphony Woods Office Center garage next door and ride the free shuttle. The 9/30 and 10/21 shows offer ASL interpretation.

Up next. . .

🎻 The Columbia Orchestra presents Beethoven 5 at Wilde Lake High’s Jim Rouse Theatre, opening its 50th season with a world premiere by Howard County composer Evan Ross Solomon. Saturday, October 3 at 7:30 PM.

😈 HCC Theatre presents Witch in the Horowitz Center's studio theater, where the devil shows up with offers almost nobody can turn down. October 8 to 11.

📚 Silhouette Stages presents Matilda The Musical at Slayton House, October 9 to 25. Two girls split the title role, so which Matilda you get depends on the night.

🎷 The Columbia Orchestra plays the Chrysalis with jazz singer Lena Seikaly. It’s free. Bring a blanket. Sunday, October 18 at 4 PM.

🎻 Chamber Music Maryland presents Quatuor Danel and Natalie Clein in the Smith Theatre, the French-Belgian quartet's first time here. Sunday, October 18 at 4 PM.

🎼 Columbia Pro Cantare sings Brahms's Schicksalslied at First Evangelical Lutheran in Ellicott City. The chorus is 50 this season too. Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 PM.

🎃 The Columbia Orchestra presents The Wizard and the Wolf at the Jim Rouse Theatre – Harry Potter music, Peter and the Wolf, and Bluey. We dare you to go in costume. Saturday, October 31 at 10:30 AM.

🎄 Toby's presents Irving Berlin's White Christmas, opening Friday, November 6 and running to January 10.

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🎈 = family-friendly events

🏛️ State of the County 2026 – County Executive Calvin Ball delivers his eighth and final State of the County address at HCC's Smith Theatre. RSVPs required.

🍽️ Food Truck Wednesdays in the Merriweather District – D's Tropical Breeze and Tasty Empanadas serving up international flavors at Merriweather Row Plaza for a midweek lunch break.

🍺 Graze Craze One Year Anniversary/Client Appreciation Party – Celebrate the charcuterie shop's first year with a spread of bites and local award-winning wines from Penn Oaks Winery. Space is limited; registration requested.

👮 Community Conversation with Acting Police Colonel Terrence Benn – Coffee with the colonel at the courthouse. We love alliteration.

🍺 Beer, Bourbon & Blues – Sample bourbon, beer, and live blues at this Blossoms of Hope fundraiser with Big Joe and the Dynaflows, food, raffles, and a silent auction.

🎈🎨 Fall Art in the Barn: Fall Decoupage Pumpkin Workshop – Create a one-of-a-kind decoupage pumpkin in a cozy barn setting with all supplies, instruction, and hot cider included.

🎈🎬 Movie Nights in the Park at Color Burst Park – Free outdoor screening of The Wizard of Oz (the 1939 original) for Tween & Teen Night Takeover, with lawn games, trivia, popcorn, and music.

🎈🧙 Wizarding Weekend on Magical Main – Historic Ellicott City goes full wizard for two days with costume contests, scavenger hunts, butterbeer, and street performers. Saturday and Sunday.

🎸 Power to the People Festival – Tom Morello's sold-out one-day festival takes over Merriweather Saturday with Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, and a very long list of guests.

🎈🧱 Autumn LEGO Train Garden – A new "spooktacular" autumn-themed LEGO train garden at the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum.

🎈🐴 Draft Horses & Draft Beers at Manor Hill – Meet friendly Belgian draft horses from Gentle Giants Rescue (available for petting and photos noon-4 PM), plus brick-oven pizza, lemonade, and farm-brewed beers. A portion of proceeds benefits the horse rescue.

🎈🐈 Meowtoberfest Adoption Event with BARCS – Meet adoptable animals, enjoy kids' crafts, a mini-makers market, live music from Tears for Devere, and farm brewery beers at Manor Hill.

🎈🚲 Free Bikes 4 Kidz Maryland Donation Event – Drop off gently used or new bikes at any Howard County fire station or Trek Bikes Columbia to help provide cycling opportunities for kids and teens.

🎈🏡 Suburban Maryland Fall Home Show – Meet home improvement companies, landscapers, and designers at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Get expert advice and shop for show special pricing.

🎷 Jazz in the Garden with High Caliber – Bring a lunch and enjoy an autumn afternoon of jazz standards in the John L. Clark Native Plant Garden with quintet High Caliber.

🏃 HCC 5K Challenge Race – A team-based 5K obstacle course on Howard Community College's campus, raising funds for student scholarships. Test your strength, coordination, and endurance.

🎶 Maryland Winds - Bookmarks from Japan – A professional wind band performs Julie Giroux's vivid symphony inspired by Japanese artwork and landmarks at Guilford Park High School.

🚗 Columbia Cruise Night – Hot rods, street rods, classic cars, and modern muscle cars gather at McGaw Plaza with free parking, music, and nearby restaurants.

🦇 Vampyres in the Park – A vampyre and goth picnic in the Hollofield Area of Patapsco Valley State Park. Sunday at noon, black parasols encouraged. BYOB (blood or booze? You decide).

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🧙 Spell Check – Main Street in Ellicott City becomes a wizarding village this weekend and we are here for it. There’s a costume contest, wizard-themed food and drink, magical photo opps, and so much more. Btw, when we say wizarding we mean Harry Potter. The Ellicott City Partnership can’t say that because of intellectual property law. But we can. Saturday and Sunday.

👗 Vintage Point – Victorian Flower Child finally has a storefront. Jenesse Wannall spent about 20 years selling vintage clothes and her own upcycled designs at craft fairs and online, and now she's got her first brick-and-mortar shop at 8370 Main Street in Ellicott City. Racks of vintage, her own label, and upcycled furniture. Open Thursday through Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM.

🎖️ Flight Nurse – Retired Col. Andrew Wolkstein will lead the Howard County Veterans Day Parade as grand marshal. He was a nurse for 40 years, 27 of them in the Air National Guard, where he deployed four times and eventually commanded the 167th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. Thank you for your service, sir. The parade steps off in downtown Columbia at 9:30 AM on November 8.

🦞 Sea Trial – Luna del Sea’s new Columbia location has started serving brunch and dinner. It’s still in the soft opening phase, so be patient if you go. The kitchen’s still finding its rhythm and the menu may not be exactly what you’re used to from the Baltimore location. Luna del Sea is in the old Periodic Table space at 8808 Centre Park Drive, open 10 AM to 11 PM daily.

Stories with ($) require a third-party subscription.

75 🌡️ 57 | 🌤️ | 2% ☔ | 💨 NW 8 mph

79 🌡️ 60 | 🌤️ | 0% ☔ | 💨 SW 6 mph

82 🌡️ 64 | 🌤️ | 0% ☔ | 💨 SW 8 mph

Cured 1821 | Chordy | 6–10 PM

Collective Encore | Trouble Proof: The Music of Carole King and James Taylor | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Cured 1821 | Kevin Howard | 6–10 PM

Bare Bones | Spike & Friends | 7–10 PM
The Morgan Inn | David Phenicie & Paula Richardson | 6–9 PM

Thanks for reading Columbia Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with the person who has the creepiest Halloween decorations. In my neighborhood, that’s the one with the headless baby dolls. I knew I should have picked an HOA neighborhood. . .