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.

September 17, 2012

Cry of the Mountain

Promotional photo

September brings us to the 5th Anniversary of Reel and Meal at the New Deal Cafe. To celebrate, we have stepped out of our usual format of screening documentary films to expand our message in an even more artistic way. We have planned two events to celebrate our 5th Year and we hope you will join us on both evenings.

First, on Monday, September 17, at 7 pm, we’ll host Cry of the Mountain: A Documentary Play about Mountaintop Removal in Appalachia, created by Adelind Horan. (Mountaintop removal is a method of surface coal mining that blows the tops off of mountains in order to access the coal.) One performer, thirteen characters and a banjo-player. Verbatim portrayals of real people from interviews conducted by the artist while volunteering with coal-related clean up in the mountains of West Virginia and Kentucky. Miners, Mining Executives, Scientists, Mountaineers, Hillbillies, Environmentalists, Protestors and more. Live bluegrass music & homemade (vegan) cookies! “Cry of the Mountain balances entertainment with an environmentalist message thanks to a nuanced script and outstanding delivery.” –Georgetown Voice. This is an amazing performance with a powerful message – you won’t want to miss this chance to experience live dinner theater with a timely, urgent message at the New Deal Cafe. The play is free but donations for Adelind’s travel expenses are welcome.

The performance will be followed by a conversation with Adelind and Chris Hill for a discussion of the play and the cause. Chris is an environmental attorney and the Conservation and Policy Associate for the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club. She organizes on various issues throughout the cradle to grave cycle of coal, from mountaintop removal to burning to disposal. Most recently, Chris was chosen by Essence magazine for top 25 up and coming young black females in their field.

On Tuesday, September 18, we invite audience and participants to another first of its kind – Peaceful, Green, Vegan Open Mic night. The New Deal Cafe and the Reel and Meal at the New Deal Cafe partner to create an evening infused with environmental, social justice and animal rights poetry, spoken word, drumming and more. We’ll be joining the regularly scheduled Poetry Open Mic to give our audience an opportunity to be more actively involved and/or to enjoy a different presentation of our Reel and Meal themes.

If you would like to share your talents, thoughts, talkback, please bring your readings of less than 5 minutes to the New Deal Cafe at 7pm and sign up to read.

We hope to see you on Monday for our eco-dinner theater and Tuesday for our foray into spoken word and poetry! And thank you for helping us celebrate our 5th Year Anniversary. With your continued support, we’ll be around at least another 5 more!

Local affinity groups Beaverdam Creek Watershed Watch Group, Green Vegan Networking and Prince George’s County Peace and Justice Coalition comprise the Real & Meal at the New Deal Cafe.

Contact Cam MacQueen at "> or Susan Barnett at "> for more information. To see a trailer of the play, visit www.wholetheatre.org/mountain.