Nightlife in Southern Maryland??? (Bowie, Annapolis: relocation, transplants, military)

[veronica729]

I'm about to move to the Lexington Park area, but I know pretty much nothing about the city. I'm just trying to find out what there is to do for fun and if there are any good clubs or bars around. Also, what are yall's opinions on the area and what can I expect... weather, restaurants, population, what are the people like and most importantly, do people in Maryland drink sweet tea
Any info that yall can pass my way would be much appreciated. I don't really want to hear the negatives, so please keep to the pros only. Thank you!

[Karamia36]

Originally Posted by veronica729

I'm about to move to the Lexington Park area, but I know pretty much nothing about the city. I'm just trying to find out what there is to do for fun and if there are any good clubs or bars around. Also, what are yall's opinions on the area and what can I expect... weather, restaurants, population, what are the people like and most importantly, do people in Maryland drink sweet tea
Any info that yall can pass my way would be much appreciated. I don't really want to hear the negatives, so please keep to the pros only. Thank you!

Welcome to the County!

I presume you're moving here for work on base? If so, the action (and I use that term relatively) there is at the Flight Deck Lounge in the BOQ. If you're a golfer, the course on base is very well regarded and there's a nice bar/lounge area.

If not, then there's stuff to be found out and around the area. Keep in mind that St. Mary's county is not a metropolitan place, so if you're coming from a big city (or even a small one), you may be in for a rural culture shock. But it's not so bad if you seek to make the best of it. Most of the night life, especially during the warmer months, is to be found across the bridge on Solomon's Island--it's about a 15 minute drive from Lexington Park. Lots of overpriced bars and restaurants to be had there. Closer to home, places such as Donovan's Pub, Fuzion (the closest thing to a "club" as you are likely to find here), and Cadillac Jacks are typically well attended. The bar at Cheeseburger in Paradise also gets a sizeable crowd. If you're looking for something a little "ritzier", The Tides is nice. Please do not fall for the local trick that many SMIBs like to pull on new folks and be talked into going to Roses. To put it bluntly, it's a plus-size strip club located in Great Mills. And, if all else fails, Annapolis and D.C. are only an hour and a half away and boast all manner of clubs and bars. If you don't limit yourself to that sort of thing, and are even remotely into sailing, fishing, or boating, St. Mary's County is the place to be.


Weather: Autumn is beautiful here, as is Spring. Winter is usually wet (occasionally snowy), dismal, and cold. Summer is hot and humid, and we cycle between drought, and massive rainfall on any given year.

Restaurants: Regrettably, St. Mary's County is speckled with chain restaurants, and little else. We have an Outback, Lone Star, Applebees, Ruby Tuesday, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Okada, Asahi, Bob Evans, Panera, Five Guys, Damons, and just about every fast food joint you can name (except Sonic!). There are a few nicer places over on Solomon's Island, and in Leonardtown--also The Tides is good--however I can tell you from experience that the selection down here can get a little old. The fortunate thing, as I mentioned before, is that restaurant havens like Annapolis and D.C. are within driving distance.

Other Amenities: There's been a lot of recent development in the area. We now boast a Wal-Mart, K-Mart, AND a Target. A few other strip malls, but by and large you'll be forced to drive either to Waldorf or Annapolis to do any heavy duty shopping.

Population: Great Mills/Lexington Park is probably the most densely packed region in the county, however we're not exactly overrun with people in these parts.

People: Lexington Park in particular is made up of a lot of transplants from other parts of the country who come for work on base. Basically, it's like anywhere: You get good people, and you get bad. For the most part the "native" crowd (proudly self-termed SMIBs: Southern Maryland In-Breds) tend to be more conservative, good'ole'boy, Southern mannered types. It's certainly not as progressive regarding some social type things as you're like to find in larger cities.

Sweet Tea: Of course! Most of us, anyway.


There's a site called somd.com that's got a section full of relocation information that you might find helpful.


Otherwise, I hope some of your questions have been answered. Good luck with your move!

[ebo202]

To quoth the missus (who grew up in Southern MD)

"No, we don't drink sweet tea. We eat crabs. LOTS OF CRABS. S. MD is known for it's waterfront atmosphere, bars and seafood houses. If you're looking for nightlife, look north to DC... Two hours away. That is, if you're in the club scene. If you want a beer and a sandwich, this is the place for you. Lex Park was established soley fron the Pax River Naval Base, and that is its ONLY claim to fame. Most people down there work for the government or military."

Phew! My fingers were flying! Anyhow, I've hung out there a few times. I liked it. There is this really cool bar where half the bar is in the water... Ummm... The Tiki Bar! Solomons Island, 20 mins away.

[keeshi]

I agree with Karamia36. I grew up in LexPark b/c my father was in the Navy and the area has really seen a lot of growth in the past 10 years. I just went down the other day and saw a Marshalls and Famous Footwear!! I'm glad to be out of there (people are way too narrow minded and judgemental...plus, I'm a city girl at heart), but the summers, spring, and fall were beautiful (especially by the water). Make sure to look for some people to show you around, as many of the "cool" things to do aren't publicized.

[spark240]

There will be a new minor league team for Southern Maryland in the spring. It's a ways up the road from Lexington Park, but much closer than DC or even Bowie.

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs - Professional Baseball Club , playing in the Atlantic League, will have their first home game in Waldorf on May 2. The team is owned by Orioles legend Brooks Robinson, and will be managed by former Red Sox skip Butch Hobson.

Plenty of people in Maryland drink sweet tea, with or without the crabs.

[DvlsAdvc8]

While many people in Maryland may drink sweet tea, it is not the staple it is in the real south. You won't find it in every restaurant (or even many).

I grew up on the base and have lived just about eveywhere down there.

As for night life, most of the places - like Cadillac Jacks serve an older crowd. Solomons is a little younger with Catamarans, but Tiki Bar gets a diverse mix. Then there are a couple college bars - like The Green Door. Like most nightlife, it just depends on the atmosphere you're seeking. You won't find much of anything in the way of clubs or trendy bars, but you will find a LOT of hole in the wall kind of places like ABC.

Solomons Pier is a decent restaurant - I usually get a crabcake sandwhich, and the crabcake is the size of a softball. The crab soup is great, and just about everything on the menu has "old bay" in the recipe by the taste of it.

There are many events that I still make the trip down for, even though I'm now living in northern Virginia. The Tiki Bar opening weekend is always huge (was there this past weekend) and the base used to have air shows (dunno if this still goes on).

It's a decent place, but there is a large "trailer trash/redneck" component, for lack of a better word (though I have noted they've torn down a few of the old trailer parks).

Over all I like it, but then again, its my hometown. I really miss being able to go on base.

[soMDghost]

Originally Posted by DvlsAdvc8

It's a decent place, but there is a large "trailer trash/redneck" component, for lack of a better word (though I have noted they've torn down a few of the old trailer parks).

They have closed three mobile home parks in a year...mostly for new development. In one case, a Home Depot is going in. You had better watch out because the rural character is diminishing and fast....but the good news is you have more options for shoes, clothes and home appliances!!! In a few years the entire farm field across from what was a farm filed less then 5 years ago will be the new restaurant row...can you spell W-A-L-D-O-R-F!

No really, there are a lot of changes going on and if you haven't been here in awhile it is not the same place. There are new hangouts like cheeseburger in paradise and outback that serve a younger crowd without going to solomons. There are also nice hole in the wall places like Blue Wind or for the beer and a bite to eat, you can go to Charlies Deli & Pub where they sure do serve sweet tea. Bear Creek is the same with the Tea, frankly I am not sure I have been to too many places that didn't have it.

The area is in a progressive overdrive right now. I think you still find the backwards thinking naysayers but they are everywhere if you look real hard. Most people are friendly and nice even if some of the old timers are set in their ways.

I moved away and came back but I will have to leave if it turns into a Waldorf. You should see all the trees they leveled on Dowell Road beyond the new Hilton Garden. And my opinion is not so much from a tree hugger perspective as someone who sees our rural character dying for the sake of some fancy condos and a new store around the corner where the people from Leonardtown come to shop. They wouldn't have it in their neighborhood but they will certainly complain and encourage it in someone else's.