Reel and Meal at the New Deal

Reel and Meal is a monthly film series at the New Deal Cafe exploring vital environmental, animal rights, and social justice issues. Admission to the film is always free, sponsored by several Greenbelt community organizations. Contributions are gladly accepted to cover each month’s donation to a non-profit organization.

Reel and Meal events are in-person (limited seating) and online via Zoom.  Each month registration links will be posted here.  You can also reach out to Reel and Meal at

Date: Third Monday of every month
Time: The free film starts at 7pm.
Dinner: Dinners are available at the café after 4pm with several plant-based options.
Carryout: The Co-Op Supermarket Meatless Monday meals can be picked up from the “grab and go” for Zoom at-home viewing after 11am.
Location: Online or at the New Deal Cafe – 113 Centerway in historic Greenbelt, MD
Public transportation: The cafe is accessible by Metro Buses G12, 13, 14 and 16 from the Greenbelt Metro station.

October 18, 2010

This month’s film is Green Towns USA: A New Deal. Planned and built near major cities in the 1930s as alternatives to inner city slums, Greenbelt, Maryland, Greenhills, Ohio, and Greendale, Wisconsin were Depression-era experiments in federally-directed suburban planning. But when the federal government withdrew its support, each of these towns had to make it on its own. The planning principles involved, the effectiveness of the solutions, and the state of the towns today are the subject of this documentary by June Finfer. The story in this documentary is told by Glory Southwind, president of the National New Deal Preservation Association, who grew up in one of the towns.

This documentary was one of the most popular films exhibited at last year’s Utopia Film Festival and is being shown again by popular demand as part of the Utopia Film Festival kickoff in partnership with Reel and Meal at the New Deal.

It is fascinating to see what our sister cities have in common with Greenbelt, how they developed differently and the particular challenges they face now. We hope to have some of the Greenbelters that appeared in the film as part of a panel discussion following the viewing. For more information contact Steve Kane at .