Who Tells the Story || Cosas que arreglar 

May 9th is the annual Open Studios Tour of the Gateway Arts District.

📣 Welcome

Date 5/1/2026
Issue #25

Last week, I attended The Vision is Yours placemaking conference hosted by The Neighborhood Design Center at Joe’s Movement Emporium. (NDC is tucked next to The Water Hole on 34th in Mount Rainier and they do Good Work.) 

It’s truly a remarkable experience to be in a room of people that train themselves to see anything but a parking lot when they’re looking directly at a parking lot. I took away many little nuggets I know I’ll revisit. During the session ‘Stores are Infrastructure: How Narrative, Movement, and Memory Build Place,” one question in particular stood out to me: “Are you the right person to be telling this story?’ 

And so I started this intro intending to talk about the rich art community in the Lower Gateway. And then I realized, I should not be the one talking about this. 

Instead, I’m taking my curiosity on the route with me next weekend for the annual Gateway Studio Tour. Questions I'll be carrying include:  

1)  How does an area declare itself an arts district? 

2)  What’s the history of our rich artist community?

3)  What’s the community like today?

4)  How can neighbors support the artists?

5)  Where can I see art when it’s not a studio tour?

6)  Where do I meet the artists (and will I be considered cool by going there?) 

Got a question you want to add? Lemme know! Have some answers to the questions above? Also lemme know! 

My Top Five

1. 🛹 Link Wray Day — 5/2 (Sat) (2–6 PM)

2. 💐 Mother’s Day Local Picks — 5/3 (Sun) + ongoing

3. 🎨 Gateway Arts District Open Studios — 5/9 (Sat) (12–5 PM)

4. 🧠 Stroke Prevention Training — 5/9 (Sat) (Noon)

5. 💃 The Movement is for Everyone Dance Party — 5/17 (Sun)

🏛️ City Updates

Brentwood: 

• 5/5 (Tue) (7 PM): Town Council Workshop – The Mayor and Town Council will meet for their monthly workshop to discuss upcoming legislation and town projects.

• 5/12 (Tue) (7 PM): Business Meeting – Monthly legislative session where the Council votes on town ordinances and resolutions.

• Seeking Vendors for Brentwood day

Cottage City:

• 5/4 (Mon) (10 AM): Town Election

• 5/5 (Tue) (6:30 PM): May Work Session

• 5/13 (Wed) (6:30 PM): Regular Town Meeting

Mount Rainier: 

• The Tree Commission is looking for new members!

• 5/1 (Fri) (2–6 PM): Link Wray Day

  • Skateboard Community Day sponsored by the Mount Rainier Rec Committee

• 5/5 (Tue) (7 PM): City Council Meeting – Public Comment Agenda Item (Come have a say, folks!) 

• 5/7 (Thu) (7 PM): Mixed-Use Form-Based Code Committee

• 5/9 (Sat) (Noon): CERT Meeting – Stroke Prevention Training

  • Learn stroke risk factors, how to recognize symptoms, and how to respond—because in the U.S. 1 in 6 people will experience a stroke, and this training is for everyone, no CERT membership required.

• 5/12 (Tue) (7 PM): City Council Work Session

• 5/14 (Thu) (6:30 PM): Recreation Committee Meeting

North Brentwood: 

• • 5/8 (Fri) (2 PM): Food Distribution – Free groceries distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at Sis's Tavern.

  • 5/9 (Sat) (10 AM): Community Clean Up

  • • 5/13 (Wed) (7 PM): Mayor and Council Meeting

🎒 School News

PGPS Calendar

The Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Superintendent search is ongoing. By state law, the County Executive must select a new superintendent by June 1, and the Board of Education will finalize the appointment by June 30.

🦅 Mount Rainier Elementary

Thank you to all who participated in the annual PG County Clean and Green event! Under the guidance of Ms. Thomas, we beautified the lower level exit way and put up some barriers to protect our daffodils from tiny feet. The highlight was using compost developed from PGCPS students’ food waste to feed our flowers!

This coming week brings a variety of opportunities, starting with Teacher Appreciation Week. The PTO has a different activity for every day so we can show our appreciation for the incredibly important work our educators do. But even if you’re not a MRES parent, this is a great chance to pause and consider how teachers have impacted your life. If you have 5 minutes, reach out to a teacher of yours and share your thanks. (And if you have the budget, and are moved to do so, feel free to buy an MRES teacher a classroom gift from their wishlists: https://mrespto.org/teacher-wishlist/)

We will also be participating in National Bike & Roll to School Day on Wednesday May 6th. This event helps families celebrate the joys of active commuting while building a sense of community, safety, and school spirit. Pay attention as you move around our community this week. What are things we could do to make our community safer for kids? Is there and intersection that could use a cross walk or stop sign? Are there personal changes we can make to our driving habits? Reach out and let your local leaders know as we work together to make our community safe, and consider using this guide to practice traffic safety with your kids.

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• 🍎 05/04–05/08 (Mon–Fri) – Teacher Appreciation Week - Stay posted on how to celebrate our teachers!

• 🚶5/6 (Wed) National Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day

• 💼 05/13 (Wed) – Career Day - If you are not an MRES parent, but are interested in sharing your career with students, reach out to mountrainierPTO@gmail.com

• 🚴‍♀️5/15 (Fri) WABA Bike to Work (School Day)

• 🎡 05/15 (Fri) – Community Carnival

🐅Thomas S. Stone Elementary 

We’re now less than two months away from the last day of school—time is flying! Thank you to everyone who supported our 2026 Green & Clean: Elevate the Scene Spring event. Your participation helped make it a great success.

We’re also looking forward to celebrating at Mount Rainier Day and Brentwood Day in the coming weeks. Our 5th graders enjoyed an exciting overnight adventure at Camp Schmidt this week—an experience they won’t soon forget!

Here’s what’s coming up in May:

🚶 May 6 – Walk, Ride, and Roll to School Day
🍎 May 7 – Teacher Appreciation Brunch
⚾ May 10 – TSES at Bowie Baysox
🎨 May 11 – Book Club Meeting & Painting with TSES Moms
📚 May 18–22 – Book Fair
🌎 May 20 – Family Environmental Night
🇺🇸 May 25 – Memorial Day (Schools and Offices Closed)

We look forward to seeing everyone at these upcoming events!

🌎 Stay Local

Have you seen these signs around Mt. Rainier? They’re designed by local artist Torie Partridge and represent an initiative developed by the Mt. Rainier Green Team and resident volunteers to create a network of native gardens through the area.  The signs mark properties with at least 10% of their space planted with natives or with at least 25 different native plant species on the grounds.  

Brentwood has since started its own native plant network, which means you can make a nice, long walk out of hunting for native plant gardens. How many signs can you spot?

Want to plant along, and maybe get your own snazzy sign? Here’s where to start: 

• Visit the link for your town and see what its certification requirements are.  

• Join the Capital Area Native Plant Group’s new app, WeWild. It’s designed to be a forum for sharing native plants, and the key to success is lots of members logging, offering and looking for plants. Several neighbors have already offered up native plants from their own gardens to get you going!

• Check in with the PG Audubon Society and schedule a free garden consultation to learn more about how to develop a wildlife habitat in your own yard. 

And, in the same vein, thanks to the Capital Area Native Plant Group for sponsoring a spring native plant plug order and distributing 4700 (!!!) native plant plug to support our neighborhood ecosystem!

🎉Business Announcements

🌱 Space is still available EcoCity Farms spring to summer and spring to fall CSA. Learn more and sign up here to enjoy hyper-local produce all season long. 

• 🥐 Cariñito Pop Up Bakery has changed their hours from Sundays 9-12 am (or until sold out). Bring your own coffee mug and come get some yummy treats! 

• 🧁 Purple Rose baked goods are available by preorder only this season. Sign up for their drops so you can preorder each week! 

• 🍺 The Odd Couple New Beer Release happens this week! This collab is between The Burger Shop and Streetcar 82. Pop over to MiXt Food Hall on 5/4 (Mon) to give it a try! 

🎭 Neighborhood Happenings

• 🛹 5/1 (Fri) (2–6 PM) – Link Wray Day

• 🛼 Community Skateboard Day at 3710 Wells Ave, Mount Rainier

• 🔥 5/2–5/3 (Sat–Sun) – Glass Lover’s Weekend at the Washington Glass School

• 🚲 5/3 (Sun) (1 PM): Mount Rainier Bike Coop Spring Bike Sale – 

  • 3601 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, MD. Bargain prices on refurbished bikes, frames, and new and used parts. 

• 💐 5/3 (Sun) (12–3 PM) – Bloomed in Motherhood

  • Pop Up Shop and Social, Mix Food Hall 

• 🌿 5/3 (Sun) – Gardening for All at the Mount Rainier Nature Center #Free

• 🎨 5/9 (Sat) (12–5 PM) – Gateway Arts District Open Studios

  • The event of the season! It’s time! It’s time! It’s time! 

• 🍷 5/9 (Sat) (1-4 PM) Paint Sip and Eat - Mannequin Head Flower Pot Mother's Day Experience

• 💃 5/17 (Sun) – The Movement is For Everyone Family Dance Party supporting PG IRC! 

• 🥘 5/29 (Fri) (6–8 PM) – Gateway Aging Together potluck at Mount Rainier Nature Center. Free. This month the speaker is Circuit Judge Calonette MacDonald who will speak on Trusts and Wills.

  • 🚶 GAT Walks now on Tuesdays AND Fridays at 10:30 AM

  • Tue meet at Joe's Movement Emporium 

  • Fri Meet at parking lot of Brentwood Community Center

☮️ Volunteering and Mutual Aid 

• 🤝 5/17 (Sun) (4–6 PM) – Give Back To Your Community

  • Station 3510, Mutual Aid Gathering 4-6 PM 

• 🆘 PGIRC Families in Need of Support Sheet — Spreadsheet of PGIRC ICE-Impacted Families currently in need. Donate and share if and when you can.

• 💃 5/17 (Sun) (4:30–7:30 PM) – The Movement is for Everyone Family Dance Party benefiting PGIRC

🧑‍🌾 Gateway Farmer's Market Feature

🧺 The outdoor market is officially open! To see this week’s roster, follow the Gateway Farmer’s Market Instagram.

🩰 Joe’s Movement Emporium 

•  🎨 Joe’s is offering summer camp for teens this year. 13-16 year olds can join one (or more) of 4 weeks of Creative Youth Lab to explore digital arts, performing arts, theater tech and leadership skills. 

• • 🎭 Get your tickets for the upcoming Heauxs in Wonderland, A Burlesque Variety Show

• • 💃 5/17 (Sun) – The Movement is For Everyone Family Dance Party supporting PG IRC! 

☕ Etc.