Greenbelt, we have you on the line!  On July 11, as part of NASA's Year of Education on Station, the NASA Goddard Visitor Center will receive a special call from the International Space Station.  Summer camp participants will speak directly with NASA astronaut  Ricky Arnold  at  10:15 am.  

The event, one of only four being held across the country, gives kids a chance to find out anything they would like to know about life aboard the space station, NASA's mission and upcoming science investigations. 

According to NASA, lin king students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The 20-minute, Earth-to-Space call will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website .

The NASA GODDARD VISITOR CENTER and Gift Shop are open to the general public Tue-Fri, 10-5 pm; and Sat-Sun, noon-4 pm. 

It's not summer until the flavorful smokiness of BBQ takes hold. And, in a region that has a southern sensibility in terms of comfort cuisine, combined with an abundance of transplants (from the country's BBQ breadbaskets), doing Q right is a high priority round these parts.

Recently, BBQ fanatic and Washington Post food writer Tom Carman dropped his annual breakdown of the DMV's very best Q. Making the illustrious list of BEST BBQ JOINTS IN THE DC AREA for the second year is Texas 202 Barbeque in Brandywine. And, making its first appearance, Rolling Rib in Upper Marlboro. In a lofty field of DC's eleven best BBQ's, they placed #6 and #7 respectively. 

ELIZABETH SETON HIGH SCHOOL will begin its new Hospitality & Tourism Management program this fall. It  is designed in partnership with the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute to prepare students to enter and succeed in the hospitality and tourism industry through classroom learning and work experience. 

The academic component includes two year-long courses and 100 hours of work experience in industry internships. Students who successfully complete the program will be eligible for globally-recognized certifications with industry credentials.

Located in Bladensburg, Seton is an all-girls Catholic school. It has three other Pre-Career Programs - the Agnes M. Brown Law Academy, Learning Engineering & Design (LEAD), and the Pharmacy Technician Program. 

In DMV dining circles, her name is synonymous with inventive, delectable cocktails. She's one of the top mixologists in the region and she'll be serving up that swagger on the waterfront this summer.  Award-winning mixer supreme, Gina Chersevani, brings her new WANDERING OASIS mobile drink truck to National Harbor. 

Chersevani is widely known throughout the area, having crafted cocktails at some of the area's best restaurants and bars. She's a founding member of the DC Craft Bartenders Guild and a grad of the University of Maryland. She got her chops here having once worked as a bartender at Terrapin Station.

She is also the creator of the Buffalo & Bergen NYC-inspired "lunch counter, bar, bagel & soda" joint at DC's Union Market. B&B combines modern cocktails with handcrafted sodas, beer, wine, bagels and Knishes.  She's also responsible for Suburbia, a cocktail bar that operates out of a 1967 Airstream, also at Union Market. 

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Located in the Roosevelt Center, NDC is a neighborhood staple in Old Greenbelt. It's cozy in size (seats 99), not pretentious, and big on the welcome factor. The kind of place locals hang with friends, have a good meal, a cocktail, and nightly entertainment. An mash-up of dine, coffee house & music venue all in one. 

NDC's new direction adds a wonderful new element, new taste sensation to PGC's expanding dining scene. It is open Tues-Sun, lunch and dinner. Breakfast hours are on the horizon, along with Sunday Brunch. 

WHAT MAKES GREENBELT A LANDMARK? The  Greenbelt Historic District (also known as Old Greenbelt) is a National Historic Landmark and one of just three built Franklin D. Roosevelt-era New Deal "Greentowns" in America. Inspired by the Garden City Movement, it incorporated affordable housing, vast green spaces, walking trails, and core center, it's the early prototype of the "planned" community. To learn more about the history of Greenbelt, visit the Greenbelt Museum & Historic House.

The 18-story, full-service Greenbelt Marriott is expected to change its flag this summer, possibly as early as July 19. 

The prop was acquired by Atlanta-based Valor Hospitality Partners (VHP) earlier this year and is expected to  be converted to a CROWNE PLAZA hotel. Crowne Plaza is an InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) brand. Timeline has yet to be formally announced, but a complete multi-million dollar renno is expected to commence this summer/early fall with completion mid/late 2019.

In its current configuration, the property consists of 280 rooms, four suites, 14 meeting rooms, and almost 20k sqft of total meeting space.  

Prior operation is by Rockville-based majority owner Lerner Hospitality. Lerner Hospitality is a division of LERNER, the commercial real estate development company with an extensive portfolio of DMV office, residential, and retail. LERNER also has a sports & entertainment arm and is the majority owner of the Washington Nationals. 

We'll have more as details become available.   

This is not your typical "review" show. This is real people talking about the food they love. That's  CHECK PLEASE! DC, now airing on WETA. Check Please!  takes area diners around the region and gives viewers an unfiltered look at the Greater Washington restaurant scene - through a panel of citizen reviewers, sharing their favorite eateries and dining experiences.

So, its not surprising that our Gateway Arts District got some love. The corridor has an eclectic and varied dine scene that includes some of our favorite spots.

Recently, Hyattsville's  Franklins Restaurant & Brewery & General Store  ( EPISODE#9 ) and Shagga Coffee & Restaurant ( EPISODE#12 ) were featured on the program.  

One of the region's premiere properties, THE HOTEL at the University of Maryland, has two new additions, complimenting an already amazing staff. 

Joining the team last month is Tracy Kaitman-Ahmed. Tracy takes the helm as the hotel's new Director of Sales & Marketing. She has over 20 years of experience in the industry. After being on the West Coast, she's thrilled to be back in the DMV area. She knows the region which will serve the property well. In a prior life, Tracy was the sales & marketing maven at such props Hilton McLean Tyson Corner, St. Regis Washington DC, Loew's L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, Embassy Suites Washington DC, and Sofitel Washington DC.   

ALSO, in May THE HOTEL welcomed Linda Westgate as General Manager. Linda has over 20 years of experience as a GM. She's spent the majority of her career with Hilton Hotels. She previously served as a GM with Crescent Hotels & Resorts, as well as the Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel from 2007 to 2014.