Fresh This Month | Things To Do In Laurel MD + DMV Events + Jobs | May 2026

FRESH THIS Month

By Tcutme Barber Studio | Issue #01 | May 12, 2026

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Laurel, this is Fresh This Week.

A monthly. Straight to the point. Local events, new spots to eat, who's hiring, and what's going on in and around the community from Laurel to Columbia to DC.

If you've sat in our chair, you already know the vibe. No fluff. Just what's worth knowing. Let's get into it.

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WHAT'S POPPIN' IN LAUREL

Local news and community updates

The Preakness is Coming to Our Backyard

For the first time in 118 years, the Preakness Stakes will not be held at Pimlico. The track is closed for a $400 million renovation. So this year, Laurel Park is hosting Preakness 151 on Saturday, May 16. One of the biggest horse races in the country is happening right here.

Post time is 4 PM. NBC and Peacock coverage starts at 1 PM. Tickets are still available at Preakness.com. General Admission puts you on the rail at the home stretch with access to wagering and food. The whole country is watching Laurel this Saturday.

Baltimore Avenue Restaurant Temporarily Closed

The City of Laurel suspended the Use and Occupancy Permit for Amigos Mexican Grill at 13600 Baltimore Avenue. A review found the restaurant misrepresented its security plan to county officials. The closure is in effect. If that was on your regular rotation, plan ahead.

Federal Worker Resources Are Available

Maryland has lost over 25,000 federal civilian jobs since last year. The state set up a dedicated resource page for impacted workers at response.maryland.gov/federalpublicservants. If you or someone you know is navigating the federal layoff situation, that is where to start. More in Money Moves below.

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WEEKEND MOVES

Things to do now through June

This Weekend, May 15 and 16

Black-Eyed Susan Stakes | Friday, May 15

Laurel Park, 198 Laurel Race Track Road. The day before the Preakness. Good energy, good racing, great way to ease into the weekend. Bring someone.

Preakness 151 | Saturday, May 16 | 4 PM

Laurel Park. Ten minutes from the shop. If you have never been to a horse race, this is the one to start with. General Admission is affordable. The atmosphere will be unlike anything Laurel Park has seen in a very long time.

Glen Burnie Carnival | May 14 through the coming weeks

Harundale Plaza, Glen Burnie, MD. Running right now. Rides, food, games, easy family energy. Good low-key option if the races are not your thing.

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Coming Up. Mark These Dates.

Junk Bag Workshop | Thursday, May 22

Bread Studio DMV, 13929 Baltimore Ave, Laurel. Bread Studio is a Black-owned creative space right here on Baltimore Ave that runs workshops and community events year-round. Check thebreadstudios.com for tickets and their full summer lineup. Worth supporting.

Artscape Baltimore | May 23 and 24 | FREE

Downtown Baltimore. The largest free outdoor arts festival in the country. Thirty minutes up 95. The Roots headline Saturday. Stephanie Mills headlines Sunday. Live music, art installations, food, and Artscape After Dark runs 9 PM to midnight. Two full days for zero dollars. Take the family.

Fil-Am Spring Fest | Friday, May 30

Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA. Filipino-American cultural festival with food, performances, vendors and a strong family atmosphere. Worth the drive if your people are from the Philippines or you appreciate the culture and the cuisine.

Capital Jazz Fest | June 5 through 7

Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD. Running every year since 1993 during Black Music Month. Over 30 acts across three days. Craft vendors, food courts and Q&A sessions with artists between sets. Lineup at capitaljazz.com.

Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival | June 13 through 19

Various DMV locations. The DMV's largest Juneteenth celebration runs a full week. The Family Carnival on June 19 at Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda is the anchor event. Parade, marching bands, carnival rides, petting zoo, pony rides, face painting and food trucks. Free and open to all.

AFRAM 50th Anniversary | June 19 through 21 | FREE

Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD. One of the largest African American cultural festivals on the East Coast turns 50 this year. 300,000 people expected over three days. Charlie Wilson, Tamia, The Lox, Mario and Ultra Naté. African drumming, kids' activities and cultural performances running all three days. If you go to one festival this summer, make it this one.

A Taste of the DMV | June 19 through 21

M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD. Fifth year running. Over 150 food vendors, live music all weekend, Beer Wine and Spirits Garden for 21 and up, live art, a makers market and a DMV Auto and Custom Car Show. Same Juneteenth weekend as AFRAM. Plan to hit both.

Jack Johnson | June 26

Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD. SURFILMUSIC Tour. The Strokes follow on June 27. Grab tickets early at merriweathermusic.com.

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On the Radar: Natural Hair and Beauty

Natural Hair Fest DC Metro holds recurring events at the College Park Marriott and Convention Center in Hyattsville. Product demos, panels, networking and a full celebration of natural hair culture. Check naturalhairfest.com and follow @naturalhairfestdmv for confirmed 2026 dates.

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EAT SOMETHING NEW

Within 10 miles of Laurel. New openings get priority.

Wonder Food Hall | 7423 Baltimore Ave, College Park

Opened November 2025. New York food hall concept, first Maryland location. Over 15 restaurants running out of one kitchen. Bobby Flay Steak, Tejas Barbecue, Detroit Brick Pizza and more. Open daily 10:30 AM to 11:30 PM.

Skyvibe Restaurant and Lounge | 352 Main St, Laurel

Afro-Fusion, Rooftop, Open til 2 AM on Weekends. Afro-Fusion cuisine with West African roots and global influences. Egusi soup, Jollof experience, whole fried red snapper, handcrafted cocktails. Multi-level space with rooftop access. If you have not been, you are missing it.

Prime Restaurant and Lounge | 5126 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville

West African and Caribbean, Open til Midnight Daily. Grilled brisket marinated and slow-cooked on open charcoal. Ndole. Eru. Grilled fish with attieke. As the night goes on, the DJs come in and the dining room shifts. Good for dinner, good for a night out.

Huncho House | 6450 America Blvd, Hyattsville

Black-Owned, Upscale, Reservation Only. Executive Chef Tobias Dorzon. New American fusion with seafood as the centerpiece. Book ahead at hunchohouse.com. Worth it for a date night or a celebration.

Olive on Main | Historic Main Street, Laurel

Mediterranean, Family-Run. A family operation on Laurel's historic Main Street. Mediterranean-inspired menu with Maryland classics. The kind of place that becomes your regular once you go once.

Miss Toya's Creole House | 14708 Baltimore Ave, Suite 110, Laurel

Creole Cuisine, Local Favorite. Authentic Creole cooking. Warm atmosphere. Real food. Go.

Smashing Grapes | 6200 Valencia Ln, Columbia

Wine Bar, Mediterranean, Merriweather District. Seven thousand square feet across from Merriweather Post Pavilion. Global wines from South Africa, Argentina and Spain paired with wood-fired pizza, fresh seafood and hand-crafted pasta.

Medium Rare | 6000 Merriweather Dr, Columbia

Steak Frites, Weekend Brunch. Prix fixe menu. Steak, fries, sauce. That is it. You do not need to look at a menu and you leave satisfied every time. Brunch on weekends. Book through OpenTable.

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FAMILY PLAYBOOK

For the parents

Preakness with the Kids | Saturday, May 16

General Admission at Laurel Park is family-friendly and easy on the budget. Race day atmosphere is something kids remember. It is 10 minutes away. Take them.

Artscape | May 23 and 24 | Free

Baltimore's biggest free festival has a Kidscape section built specifically for kids. Between The Roots performing and Kidscape running all day, this is a full family day.

AFRAM 50th | June 19 through 21 | Free

African drumming, kids' activities, carnival mask-making and cultural entertainment alongside three days of headlining music. Druid Hill Park is large enough to spread out. Bring a blanket and pack snacks.

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Juneteenth Weekend | June 19-22 | The DMV Goes All Out

Juneteenth lands on Friday, June 19 this year. The DMV is not letting it pass quietly. Here's where to be.

RIGHT HERE | City of Laurel Juneteenth Celebration | June 22

Granville Gude Park, 8300 Mulberry Street | 3-7 PM | FREE. Start at home. Laurel has its own celebration this Sunday and there is no reason to miss it. Live entertainment, free giveaways, local vendors. Bring the family, support your own community first.

Bowie | Juneteenth Jubilee Festival | June 20

Allen Pond Park | 11 AM-5 PM | FREE. One of the biggest local celebrations in PG County. Kid Zone with free inflatables, water slide, petting zoo, bike rodeo, and face painting. College and D9 Row highlighting HBCUs and Divine Nine orgs with a step show. 140+ vendors. Plan to stay all day.

Baltimore | AFRAM 50th Anniversary | June 19-21

Druid Hill Park | 12-9 PM Daily | FREE. The biggest Juneteenth celebration on the East Coast. 300,000 people expected over three days. Charlie Wilson, Tamia, The Lox, Mario, Ultra Naté. If you only make it to one regional event this summer, make it this one.

Washington DC | Multiple Events | June 19-20

Juneteenth for the City — Community block party at 1700 Marion Barry Ave SE. Live entertainment, local business marketplace, free. National Harbor — 5th Annual Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration on the waterfront. NMAAHC — Community day with art, live jazz, and activities for all ages. Home Rule Music Festival — June 20.

Bethesda | Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival | June 13-19

Family Carnival: June 19, Cabin John Regional Park | FREE. A full week of panels and cultural programs closing out with a massive Family Carnival. Parade, marching bands, carnival rides, petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, food trucks. Free and open to everyone.

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Summer Camp Registration is Open Now

Spots fill fast once June hits. Two resources to bookmark:

• macaronikid.com covers Laurel, Hanover and Jessup with camps, leagues and local kids events updated weekly.

• thecolumbiamdmom.com covers Howard County. Good source for anything Columbia and surrounding areas.

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For the Kids: Summer Activities, Clubs and Sign-Ups

Parents ask about this in the chair more than almost anything else. Summer is weeks away and spots are already filling. Here is what is available right now.

Sports

Laurel Youth Sports Alliance runs organized leagues and programs through Parks and Recreation. Sports, camps, swimming. Register at CityofLaurel.org/parks or call 301-497-0300 ext. 1154.

Laurel Little League is a chartered affiliate right in the community. i9 Sports covers Laurel and Columbia with flag football, soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball and tennis in a low-pressure format. The Y in Central Maryland runs youth basketball, soccer and flag football and works with families on fees.

Howard County families: the Spring and Summer 2026 Activity Guide is live at howardcountymd.gov/campsbyweek.

Music

Howard County Youth Orchestras — Free gifted and talented orchestra for elementary and middle schoolers. hcyorch.org. PG County Teen Vocal Showcase for ages 10 to 18. Audition-based, real stage experience. Search at pgparks.com. Glen Echo Park Arts Camps in Bethesda covers music, theater, visual arts and nature all summer.

Tech and Coding

Coderpie in Ellicott City — in-person coding camps in Python, Java, Robotics and Game Development at 5114 Dorsey Hall Drive. Club SciKidz runs robotics, programming and STEAM camps at multiple Howard County locations. iD Tech on the UMD campus in College Park covers coding, game development, robotics and 3D printing in a collegiate environment.

Chess

Columbia Association Youth Chess Club — completely free. Grades 6 through 12, every Monday 4 to 5:30 PM at the Youth and Teen Center in Oakland Mills. Columbia Chess Club runs a Kid's Night program for K through 12. Silver Knights Chess Academy offers structured camps in Howard County.

Library Programs

The Laurel Branch of PG County Memorial Library is running Summer Prince George's from May 19 through August 14. Kids read 30 minutes a day and earn prizes including Nationals game tickets. Howard County Library System runs Summer Reading Adventures from June 3 through July 31. Theme this year is Color Our World. Register at hclibrary.org.

The One That Covers Everything

Laurel Boys and Girls Club at 701 Montgomery Street serves over 3,500 youth and is one of the largest clubs in the entire state. Grades K through 12. After-school programs, sports, academic support, arts and a full summer schedule. If your child is not already connected here, start here.

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Registration windows close fast. Summer camps fill up in May and June. If something on this list looks right for your child, do not sit on it.

Know a program that should be on this list? Reply to this email and we will add it to the next issue.

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MONEY MOVES

What is happening with the local economy

The Federal Layoff Ripple Is Real

Maryland lost over 25,000 federal civilian jobs since the start of 2025. Non-government layoffs in the region jumped 154 percent compared to the national average. The state set up dedicated support at response.maryland.gov/federalpublicservants. Job placement centers, buyout guidance and pathways into state and local government roles are all available there.

Local Real Estate Is Holding

Laurel's median home value sits at $385,500, up nearly 5 percent from last year. The market is stable but affordability is a conversation that is getting louder as job conditions shift.

Inflation Hit 3.8 Percent in April

Every grocery run. Every tank of gas. Every bill. If you have felt the difference lately, you are not imagining it. And you are not alone. If a career move, a pivot or a second income stream has been on your mind, now is the time to act on it.

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GET THAT BAG

Jobs and opportunities, May 2026

Entry Level and Teen Jobs

Start at the Laurel Regional Workforce Center. Open Monday through Thursday 8 AM to 4 PM, Friday 8 AM to 2 PM. They connect job seekers to openings across PG County, Howard County and the broader DMV.

• Indeed.com filtered to Laurel, MD and Entry Level

• Howard County Careers — howardcountymd.gov/careers

• State of Maryland Jobs — jobapscloud.com/MD

Learn a Trade

HVAC, electrical, plumbing, construction. These trades are wide open right now and apprenticeships pay you while you learn. No student loan debt. Recognized certifications. Real income. Paths to $60K to $100K without a four-year degree.

• Maryland Apprenticeship Locator — labor.maryland.gov/employment/appr/apprsearch.shtml

• Howard County Apprenticeship Program — howardcountymd.gov/hcapprenticeships — 2026 to 2027 positions open now

• Apprenticeship Navigator — 410-767-2246 or dllr.apprenticeship@maryland.gov. Free service.

If you have a young person in your life who is still figuring out the next step, send them this section.

Gig Life: Start Earning This Week

These apps let you set your own hours and start fast: DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Amazon Flex, TaskRabbit, Shipt. Sign up through our referral QR codes — available at the shop and in the printed version of this newsletter.

USAJobs Pick of the Week

Government is still hiring. Highest-demand areas right now: IT and cybersecurity, acquisitions, VA healthcare support, program coordination and facilities management. Go to USAJobs.gov. Filter by Maryland. Sort by opening date. GS-5 and above positions are actively recruiting. If you have federal experience or a clearance, your chances are better than you think right now.

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Shine on, Laurel

Emma's Sweet Shop: Coming Soon

One of our own is building something sweet. Emma has been a part of the Tcutme family for years and she is in the process of launching her own ice cream and sweets business right here in the community. We are putting the area on notice early: when she opens, we are showing up. Details in a future issue.

If you have a small business, side hustle or community initiative worth putting on people's radar, reach out. This section exists for the community and that means you.

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FRESH OUT

That is Issue #1 of Fresh This Week.

Preakness in our backyard. AFRAM's 50th anniversary. New spots to eat. Summer programs for the kids. Jobs worth knowing about. This is what is going on in our community right now.

If someone in your circle should be reading this, forward it. Signup is open at tcutme.com.

Ready for a fresh cut? Book at tcutme.com. Follow us on Instagram: @tcutme

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Stay fresh, Laurel. — TCUTME Barber Studio

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Fresh This Month is published Monthly by TCUTME Barber Studio, Laurel, Maryland.