People around the world are excited about the Christmas Day launch of the greatest-ever space telescope – the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) – but Greenbelters seemed even more excited, if their posts on Facebook are any indication. That’s because so many Greenbelters work at Greenbelt-based NASA-Goddard and some even have worked on Webb. Webb is an infrared telescope with ...

I LOVE this resourceful alternative to Greenbelt’s traditional (pre-covid) Tree Lighting celebration in Roosevelt Center, from the very creative mind of Greenbelt’s Performing Arts Coordinator Chris Cherry. He writes: December Days was scheduled as an alternative to the annual in-person Tree Lighting celebration, which had to be cancelled again this year due to the pandemic.  With Santa Claus’ fanbase not ...

Needing some holiday cheer around now? Good old Beltway Plaza Mall has Santa photo opportunities every day (Santa got his covid booster) and most importantly, the vendors and the Plaza itself have survived! (Tomorrow Eric Maring’s Sunshine Family Band will be performing holiday music in the Mall from 2 to 4 pm.) Beltway Plaza Mall and the Pandemic Yes, I’m ...

Entrance to the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in the National Arboretum in November of 2021 The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum opened in 1976 with a gift of 53 priceless bonsai trees from Japan to commemorate the U.S. Bicentennial. Some bonsai were several hundred years old and one had even survived the bombing of Hiroshima. Japan’s gesture harkens back to its ...

Suddenly there’s lots more to see and do in the tourist center of D.C., a quick trip away from Greenbelt on the Green Line. And boy was it ever great to be back on Metro again, all masked with cars almost empty off-peak. I got off at the Archives – such an easy trip! Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building The ...

The Utopia Film Festival, a beloved Greenbelt tradition now in its 17th year, is BACK IN PERSON (mask and proof of vax required, of course). Now’s a good time to watch some trailer and then get your ticket! Saturday Films “Umoja” 10-noon slot at OGT Umoja Trailer from Justin Brown on Vimeo. Director: Justin R. Brown / USA, 25 min. Documentary ...

Editor’s Note: For all the details about UMD’s Golden ID program, see this resource on Greenbelt Online. It was compiled from official UMD sources and many Golden ID students. by Shannon Clark A short bus ride away from their hometown, some Greenbelt residents are taking advantage of the University of Maryland’s (UMD) Golden ID Program, a program built to provide ...

It was a big night last night for Greenbelt’s candidates, supporters and voters as we awaited results of the City Council election. With early votes and mail-ins to count, the results were 2-3 hours later than usual – but Greenbelt Access TV’s station manager/videographer Phoebe McFarb stayed until the very end – post-midnight – at the Greenbelt Firehouse, where the ...

Banner of the Greenbelt Maryland YouTube Channel. Some good news about the Greenbelt community… Greenbelt Access TV Sharing Videos GreenbeltOnline has long been associated with video – some that I’ve made myself, but many more that I include on the Greenbelt Maryland YouTube Channel associated with this site. There you can watch curated videos sorted into playlists like Arts and ...

This Day Trip report covers a little island in the Chesapeake Bay that we drive over after crossing the Bay Bridge on our way to the ocean, but may never stop and explore. Time to change that – because Kent Island and the adjacent Kent Narrows are just about an hour from Greenbelt (at off-peak traffic times). Hiking/Cycling Kent Island ...

This Day Trip is about 2 hours and 15 minutes away from Greenbelt, but if you’re visiting your favorite Maryland or Delaware Beach, it’s much closer – about 20 minutes west of Bethany Beach. It’s recommended for anyone, but especially gardeners and nature-lovers. DO note the their restricted hours, however – Thursday to Sunday from 9 to 1. Five years ...

The Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Ensemble The return of Greenbelt’s Blues Festival in September of 2021 was a HUGE hit with what was possibly the largest crowd ever seen in Roosevelt Center! So with our next outdoor festival coming up this week – the Crazy Quilt Festival with its assortment of music genres – we’re posting our favorite images of ...

I recently wrote about the Horticultural Society of Maryland visiting my garden and the gardens of Mary Lou Williamson and Melissa Mackey, including the link to a video of Melissa’s. Well, I’m happy to say I’ve (finally) finished my video of Mary Lou’s garden, filmed just prior and during the April 2021 party in her large lakeside garden. (Mary Lou ...

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2021, with thanks to ride organizer Dave Whiteman, who also has an awesome app to recommend for cycling routes –  Ride with GPS. Here’s some details Dave provided about it: Most popular routing app with best tools in the industry for creating new routes Both free and paid versions Search for routes of varying lengths from anyplace Turn-by-turn ...

Mary Jo, Diana and Nancy in my front garden The Horticultural Society of Maryland is a well-oiled horticultural and social machine, hosting talks by expert speakers and tours of amazing gardens in the tonier parts of Baltimore and its suburbs  (Here are some of them, and here’s more – Diana’s garden is the last one.) I’ve attended several tours with fellow ...

Like so many Greenbelters and visitors, I was beyond thrilled to have even a somewhat limited Labor Day Festival BACK! And with mostly GREAT WEATHER, too!. With everyone experiencing the Festival in their own way, here are MY top memories of Labor Day Festival 2021. With thanks to Linda Ivy and the other hard-working festival organizers for their creative adaptations ...

Good news! This year Greenbelt’s famous and historic Labor Day Festival is mostly back, after its so-sad cancellation last year due to covid. A big thanks to the hard-working Greenbelt Labor Day Festival Committee! Check the Schedule (subject to change) and you’ll find these popular events back this year: the PTA Book Sale, the Opening Ceremony with announcement of Citizen of ...

by Sheila Maffay-Tuthill, Education and Volunteer Coordinator, Greenbelt Museum The utopian planned community of Greenbelt has had a complicated history with “man’s best friend.” When families were first moving into the town, it was decided that pets of any kind were not allowed. Some of the thinking that went into the decision is worth considering. In this time period, the ...

UPDATE for 2021: The Maryland State Fair,  just an hour up the road in Timonium is coming soon – August 26 through Labor Day, September 6. Here’s a report from the 2019 Fair. Honestly, I’ve always attended the Montgomery County Fair and have only recently driven a bit farther to experience the Maryland State Fair. For its diversity of actual ...

Robin and Cocoa by Rev. Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline  I have been blessed to be in some glorious worship spaces, including not only National Cathedral in D.C. but also grand spaces in New York, Boston, Detroit, and Rome. But none has had the impact on me like the one right here in Greenbelt. Of course, many of us know that our ...