You’ve seen my new bathroom.  Now I’m happy to (finally) reveal my all-new kitchen and dining room!  It’s in a 3-bedroom (or 2 and a studio) block home in GHI.  First, the views that I have “before” photos for – from the realtor’s website. Before The narrow entrance to the dining room is on the left, hidden in this photo ...

Improvements coming, thanks to the Greenbelt Community Foundation The Greenbelt Community Foundation recently announced its newest grantees, which include an eco-education program at Greenbelt Middle School (thanks to CHEARS) and a 75th anniversary exhibition at the Greenbelt Museum.  Great causes!  But what struck me is the plebian nature of the other grants, which teaches us that sometimes support takes the ...

Luke Tornatore, a 2012 graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School, entertained shoppers and vendors this week.   Thanks, Luke!  (Editor’s note:  this video taught me to turn the iPhone on its side next time.  First time for everything.) Market’s Invitation to Musicians and Entertainers Nancy Solomon, manager of the Greenbelt Farmers Market, tells me the market loves to have background music ...

Ever wondered what goes on down the stairs from this sign across from the Co-op and behind Domino’s in Roosevelt Center?  The answer is: 33 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings per week. 2 Narcotics Anonymous meetings per week 3 Chemically Dependent Anonymous meetings per week One Dual Recovery Anonymous meetings per week 2 Adult Children of Alcoholics meetings per week Which poses ...

Laurie Lemieux, a long-time Greenbelter and avid cyclist, recently bought Proteus Bicycles on Route 1 (with Proteus employee Ben Bassett) and you can meet Laurie and cycling husband Jeff tomorrow at the Farmers Market.  They’ll be conducting a bike clinic, giving out tips for beginners, maps of PG county trails, and instruction in changing flat tires and adjusting bikes to ...

alight dance theater director Angella Foster Aspiring artists of all types, listen up!  Everyone may be telling you to have a Plan B, your Plan B doesn’t have to mean giving up what you’re passionate about  – what we used to call “selling out” back in the ’60s.  If you’re a savvy artsy type (NOT an oxymoron) like Greenbelt’s Angella ...

The Move your Money Project was started three years ago as a campaign to encourage Americans to get their money OUT of institutions that are too big to fail and into smaller, local institutions – and for lots of good reasons. started that aims to empower individuals and institutions to divest from the nation’s largest Wall Street banks and move ...

Project Laundry List is a nonprofit promoting the outdoor laundry-drying and fighting the hundreds of (ridiculous) homeowner association rules that prohibit it.  Even in relatively with-it Columbia, MD!  I’ve spread the word in frequent blog stories on this national blog and elsewhere (I love their Top Ten Reasons to Line-Dry) and was pleased to find clothes lines are the dominant ...

Front (service-side) garden “before” As an avid gardener now making a living as a garden writer, I’ve gotta have a garden.  No question.  But the one I toiled in for the last 26 years was too much for this baby Boomer, so downsizing to a townhouse hits the spot.  Not an end unit, mind you – some of those lots ...

Before I moved into a block home in Old Greenbelt (from Takoma Park) about six months ago and am finally ready to start showing off the renovations I’m doing. First up, the bathroom, which contained the original 1937 tub and medicine chest but a fairly new sink and vanity cabinet – which I hated. Plus some yucky-colored tile. So here’s ...