Between sold-out Kennedy Center performances and hidden gems in Montgomery County, navigating the DMV's theater scene requires insider knowledge. The inaugural Potomac Playbill covers what's actually worth your time—from Les Misérables' final performances (selling fast) to Synetic Theatre's wordless Midsummer Night's Dream coming to Olney. Plus: which shows offer the best value for multi-generational outings and why $20 Shakespeare at STC Academy might be summer's smartest cultural investment. Click here to read the Potomac Playbill.

King Arthur Baking Company—the employee-owned flour empire that's been turning wheat into wonder since 1790—is opening its first Maryland location at Shops at Wildwood this August, replacing the recently departed Indigo Octopus.

After successfully testing DMV waters with their Fairfax Corner pop-up last fall, the Vermont-based company is doubling down on local baking enthusiasts who apparently need more than Whole Foods can offer for their sourdough starter ambitions.

This isn't just another retail expansion—it's a vote of confidence in a region where passionate home bakers treat Saturday morning croissant-making like competitive sport, and where finding the perfect flour blend is considered a legitimate weekend quest worthy of Old Georgetown Road traffic.

Scientists at the University of Maryland are reporting an unusually high surge in bottlenose dolphin sightings across Maryland waterways last week, with pods spotted from the Chesapeake Bay all the way up to the Potomac River—some appearing further north than typical.

Marine biologists say these increased sightings signal improving bay health, as dolphins bring their young to feed in waters that now support diverse marine life—essentially turning our backyard estuary into an exclusive nursery for 300-pound aquatic toddlers.

The Chesapeake DolphinWatch app, launched by UMCES in 2017, has logged over 7,000 sightings from 14,600 registered citizen scientists, proving that DMV residents will enthusiastically crowdsource anything—even marine mammal surveillance—if there's an app involved.

AYSE Meze Lounge, the beloved Frederick Mediterranean restaurant that shuttered in January 2020, is staging its comeback this summer in Rockville, taking over the former Nick's Chophouse space with owner Nezih Pistar promising the same elevated dining experience that earned 4.4 Google stars during its seven-year Frederick run.

The new location will feature signature dishes like manti and wood-fired branzino, along with vibrant mezes that celebrate authentic Mediterranean traditions with contemporary techniques— bringing the sophistication of a Santorini sunset to a strip mall that also houses a Starbucks.

For residents who've been making the trek to Bethesda Row for decent Mediterranean fare, this represents the kind of culinary convenience that turns Tuesday night into a legitimate date night opportunity.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival. July 2-7 @ National Mall
The National Mall transforms into a multigenerational playground where young artisans, musicians, and activists demonstrate how they're preserving heritage trades while revolutionizing everything from street art to Native language reclamation. 👩‍🎨

Trail Trekkers. 10:30-11:30am @ Rock Creek Regional Park
This inclusive walking program invites individuals with disabilities, their families, and community members to explore accessible trails in Rock Creek Regional Park. 🌳

Shakespeare in the Parks: The Comedy of Errors. 7:30-9pm @ Meadowside Nature Center
Bring your blanket and picnic basket for this Carnival-themed production of Shakespeare's most delightfully chaotic farce, where mistaken identities and masquerades unfold on Meadowside's front lawn. 🎭

Cheesesteak Eating Contest. 12pm @ Brew Belly
Contestants race to demolish a 2-pound Wiz Wit for a year's worth of free cheesesteaks while entry fees benefit Hero Dogs Inc., paired with a pet adoption event and supply drive. Call them at 240-389-1927 if you want to actually compete and make Clifford proud. 🐶

Fireworks. Nighttime @ basically everywhere. 🎆

Breakfast with the Animals. 11am-12pm @ Meadowside Nature Center
Join naturalist staff to learn how they care for reptiles and amphibians, help prepare animal meals, then enjoy a continental breakfast alongside dining companions which might include a salamander. 🦎

Germantown Flea Market. 8am-1pm @ MARC Lot (Germantown Rd & Bowman Mill Dr)
Montgomery County's largest monthly treasure hunt returns with ~100 vendors selling everything from household goods to antiques to help turn one family's decluttering project into another's Saturday morning adventure. 🪙

Yoga with Archana. 3-4pm @ Potomac Library
Instructor Archana Gupta leads monthly mat yoga sessions designed to accommodate all bodies, ages, and abilities, with 45 minutes of movement followed by breathwork and meditation. 🧘

Bethesda Big Train Baseball Game. 10am @ Shirley Povich Field
It’s Grandparents Day at the baseball field with mini squeeze bats and chalk for the first 100 kids, followed by postgame base running to tire them out before giving them back to Mom & Dad. ⚾