On Sunday November 8th the New Deal Cafe celebrated its 20th anniversary – naturally, with a 6-hour party! Bar manager Amethyst Dwyer, who suggested this commemorative blog post, called it “a festive day filled with music, co-mingling among friends, and fond recollections. The New Deal is truly a miracle story and we are so very lucky to have it as our Community Living Room. Hundreds of volunteers, musicians and patrons have contributed immeasurably to its success over the last 20 years and the cafe would not exist if not for that support and love. It DOES take a village and this celebration was for YOU!!”

I was there for the last hour with no camera and a cellphone loaded to bear with other stuff, so this post is thanks to photographers Claire Meiklejohn, Michael Smallwood, and Alan Zambreny, and videographer Beth LeaMond.  Scroll down for photos of performers, party-goers, and a video of the “New Deal Song.”

If you have more photos or videos to contribute or if you’d like to be identified in a photo or like your name removed, let me know in a comment or via social media.

Clockwise from upper left: Amethyst Dwyer, Geff King, Dave Short with Barbara Glick, and Tina Van Pelt.

From left, Prince George’s County Council member Todd Turner and Greenbelt Mayor Emmett Jordan.

Clockwise from upper left: Beth LeaMond, Pat Stephens with Bill Barber, mystery girl, Claire Meiklejohn with Bill Barber.

From left: Tina Van Pelt, Bethany Gresser, Beth LeaMond, Michael Hartman, and Raven Eyes A Cagle. 

From left: Frank Gervasi, Alan Zambreny, and Barbara Glick.

From left: Vanessa Harris,  Rhonda Raven Neuhaus and Dorian Winterfeld.

Clockwise from upper left: Carla Monardes with mystery person, Donnie Dorsey with another mystery person, Michael Rall, Claire Meiklejohn and Tom LeaMond, Rob Petrie and Beth LeaMond.

Clockwise from upper left: Mystery couple, Shobha Duncan, Rob Petrie with Katy Gaughan.

Chef Karim and Maria.

Now, the Performers, Video and Lyrics

The Bachelor and Bad Actress

49 Cent Dress

Cousin John Band

Cold Hard Cash (above and in video below). The music starts at :30.

“The New Deal Song” was arranged by David OBrien and written by Dave OBrien, Rob Petrie, Geff King, Cousin John Mobley, Hillary Gottemoeller, Joseph P. Swelterpants, Melissa Orr, and Jamie M. Krauk. Favorite line: “Where hippie chicks and suits and hicks all frolic merrily/The New Deal is the place I’d rather be!!”  Full lyrics:

No matter how far away I roam
The road always seems to lead me right here back home
To the best damn music joint in Washington D.C.
The New Deal is the place I’d rather be.

I left my home in 1993
Somehow I ended up in OGB
You say you’re wondering where your special crazy would fit in
Well the New Deal is the place mine’s always been.

Chorus:
The New Deal is the place I’d rather be
Best damn music joint in all of Washington D.C.
Where hippie chicks and suits and hicks all frolic merrily
The New Deal is the place I’d rather be.

I used to hate the gigs we played for free
But here they put twenties in the bucket and buy our cds
Other clubs may pay us more but don’t dance so wild and free
Yeah the New Deal is the place I’d rather be.

Chorus:
The New Deal is the place I’d rather be
Best damn music joint in all of Washington D.C.
Where hippie chicks and suits and hicks all frolic merrily
The New Deal is the place I’d rather be.

Despite all of my fortune and fame
Those other places all seem to look the same
Beyonce keeps on calling ’bout our show at Wembley
But the New Deal is the place I’d rather be.

If you ever visit Greenbelt, USA
There’s a home away from home called the New Deal Cafe
Where everybody’s strange, but no one is a stranger
Come on put your loving hand in mine.

Chorus:
The New Deal is the place I’d rather be
Best damn music joint in all of Washington D.C.
Where hippie chicks and suits and hicks all frolic merrily
The New Deal is the place I’d rather be.