Weekend Guide: April 5th – 7th

Whoa, Nelly! SO many fun, creative and free things to do along the Route 1 Corridor this weekend, dear buds! Contemporary Dance Festival in Mount Rainier, Hard Swimmin’ Fish in Greenbelt, Gospel Choir Concert in College Park, Community Forklift’s always fun Spring Garden Party, Galactic Bowl and more! Check it out!

Weekend Guide made possible by Community Forklift!

Friday Along Route 1 Corridor

Exhibit: “Is there a Doctor in the House? Laurel’s Healthcare Stories”
Got some free time this Friday? Explore the pharmacies, hospitals, medicines, and people who have cared for Laurel for the past 200 years through memorabilia from years of medicine. Learn about folk medicines and homeopathy.
When: 10am-2pm
Where: Laurel Historical Society Museum, 817 Main Street, Laurel
Cost: Free (with donation suggested)

Vigilante Coffee Cupping
From plant to the cup, learn about all the basic steps coffee goes through and what makes it taste so good. The public cupping is essentially an in-depth coffee tasting and an explanation of how a variety of factors can impact flavor. Bring a friend to learn and taste with us at this fun and interactive event!
When: 1-2pm
Where: Vigilante Coffee Company, Hyattsville
Cost: Free, register here

2019 Jazz Series at the Meadworks
This ‘jazzy’ jazz series continues at your local mead house Maryland Meadworks on Friday night. We hear mead and music are made for each other 🙂 Hmm, come find out why!  (and comment on this post and tell us what you think!)
When: 7-10pm
Where: Maryland Meadworks, Hyattsville
Cost: Free, purchase of menu items encouraged to support Maryland Meadworks

Maryland Gospel Choir Concert
Since its founding in 1975, hundreds of voices have joined together to share joyous gospel music through the Maryland Gospel Choir. Come hear the choir perform a free live concert at the University of Maryland College Park’s Dekelboum Concert Hall this Friday eve.
When: 7:30pm-10pm
Where: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, College Park
Cost: Free, RSVP here

Next Look: Dimensions Contemporary Dance Festival
Dimensions Contemporary Dance Festival is a platform to promote, amplify, and spread the various eclectic voices of DMV artist of color.
When: 7-9pm
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, Mount Rainier
Cost: $5-$25, purchase ‘pay-as-wish’ tickets here

Hard Swimmin’ Fish
Have you checked out one of Greenbelt’s hippest joints? It’s the New Deal Cafe and this Friday, they are featuring blues quartet Hard Swimmin’ Fish. A range of blues music in a family-friendly place with plant-based Italian American food. We like the sound of that! The show doesn’t start until 8:30 pm, but the place usually gets packed. Promise, you’ll show up early and make it a date? These guys are amazing!
When: 8:30-11:30pm
Where: New Deal Cafe, Greenbelt
Cost: Free, call for table reservations….301-474-5642

Saturday Along Route 1 Corridor

*Community Forklift’s 10th Annual Garden Party!
Now here’s an event you don’t want to miss as you jump into spring! Lots of free garden-themed workshops, including chats with gardening professionals, opportunities to purchase plants and gardening tools, with live music and delicious local food in the backdrop and activities for the whole family including free face painting. Proceeds from the event help support green jobs and the environment and public education. Note: the garden tool sale beings at 9 am, but the crowd starts lining up so come early! The garden party starts at 10 am, including prizes for people and pets dressed in garden party ‘finery’. Here’s looking at you, Fido! 🙂
When: 10am-3pm
Where: Community Forklift, 4671 Tanglewood Drive, Edmonston
Cost: Free, store items and food available for purchase on site

Ceramic Beauties and Bargains: Local Pottery Sale
Attention all bargain shoppers! Want some new treasures at a bargain cost? Look no further! Local artists from Hyattsville, College Park & Silver Spring will be selling beautiful unique pottery *first & seconds* at a local pottery sale: Ceramic Beauties & Bargains. Ideal gifts with prices starting as low as $5, you can’t beat that (cash and credit accepted). Cha-ching!
When: 11am-3pm (rain date Sunday, April 7)
Where: 5602 42nd Avenue, Hyattsville, MD (front lawn)
Cost: Free, prices for ceramics start at $5

HY-Swap
Stock up on clothing, toys, books, and gear for children of all ages. Take what you need, bring a friend (or more!) and a big bag (or the Swap will provide you with bags) to take home your goodies. Feel free to bring diapers and sanitary items being collected for the Greater DC Diaper Bank. No need to bring other good donations to the Swap. They’ve got you (and your children!) literally covered, from head to toe. 🙂 More on Hy-Swap here.
When: 12:30-2:30pm
Where: Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville
Cost: Free, cash donations accepted to cover costs

Sang Froid Distilling
Fancy an apple brandy or maybe some Dutch-style gin or a little bit of rye whiskey? Stop in for some samples of Sang Froid Distilling’s latest libations. Your glass is waiting for you! Sang Froid can even accommodate large groups, just give them a call in advance to make arrangements for your tasting tour.
When: 1-5pm, weekends
Where: Sang Froid Distilling, 5130 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville
Cost: Free, call ahead of time for large groups (no pricing listed on site, think tastings are free)

Bamburia and BBQ!
Join the Meadworks’ favorite A Capella group Bamburía, a drinking group with a singing problem (LOL). Order up some delish BBQ from 250 Texas Barbecue and while you’re chomping, Bamburia might pull up a chair and serenade you. Food service at 6 pm followed by performances from 7pm-10pm. When: 6-10pm
Where: Maryland Meadworks, 4700 Rhode Island Avenue, St. B, Hyattsville
Cost: Free, purchase of menu items encouraged to support Maryland Meadworks

Raq out! 10th Anniversary Show
The Raq out! is back! Don’t miss the 10th-anniversary show, free this Saturday night at the Old Parish House in College Park. The show celebrates one decade of exploring the cultural diversity of belly dance. Oo-la-la!
When: 7:30-9pm
Where: College Park Arts Exchange, Old Parish House, College Park
Cost: Free

Galactic Bowl
Who doesn’t love a good game of bowling with your buds or maybe on a date? Get a babysitter for the kiddos and do it! Check out some late night bowling at Rinaldi’s Riverdale Bowl. They promise they are one of the areas best light, sound and video shows. Bowling, lights, (you! And some friends!), action! 🙂
When: 9pm-2am
Where: Rinaldi’s Riverdale Bowl, 6322 Kenilworth Avenue, Riverdale
Cost: $5.99 per game, shoe rental $4.99 a pair

Sunday Along Route 1 Corridor

Mount Rainier Bike Co-op
Got a bike that needs some tuning up? Perhaps a flat tire that’s cramping your style while you’re trying to get your ride on? Then the Mount Rainier Bike Co-op welcomes you to their store. You can access bike repair tools, patches, pumps, and repair assistance – for free. Used parts and bikes are also available in exchange for (a little) money) or (a little bit) time (great way to put your bike skills to work). Come check ‘em out, and tell your rider friends (they’re open on Thursday’s too, 3pm-6pm).
When: 1-4pm
Where: 3601 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier
Cost: Free, used parts and bikes available for monetary or labor donation

Chamber Music Concert: Salon Trio
Enjoy this spring performance by talented area musicians and mingle at a post-concert reception. Musicians share personal stories and anecdotes about the composers as well as our knowledge of the music.
When: 2:30-4pm
Where: Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale, MD 20737
Cost: Free!

2019 Montpelier Historic Site’s Hidden Spaces Tours
Ever wonder what’s behind the doors that say “Staff Only” and “Do Not Enter”?  On this tour of the Montpelier Mansion, you’ll explore areas that are seldom open to the public, including the three cellars, the attic, and walk-in vault. Learn about the construction of the house and the changes over its 230-year history. Tours led by Don Graham who started working at the property in 1985 and has been involved with recent restoration work at the Mansion.
When: 4-6pm
Where: 9650 Muirkirk Road, Laurel
Cost: $15/person, $10 Friends of Montpelier and Active Military (reserve in advance, space limited)

Community Yoga
An informal group led by neighborhood instructors. Bring a mat – all levels, including those new to yoga are welcome. Questions? Email: rlgitter at gmail.com
When: 5-6pm
Where: Hyattsville City Bldg, 2nd floor, 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville
Cost: Free!

Some Parting Words: