Hyattsville resident Jamie McGonnigal used to be a Pokémon character. He played some smaller roles in early seasons of “Pokémon” before being cast as Barry in the “Diamond & Pearl” seasons, along with smaller roles. bit.ly/3XgEL12 WAMU 88.5 Washington City Paper Pokémon

.BrentwoodMDTownHall and NBrentwoodMD will replace an ugly symbol of segregation with art dedicated to racial reconciliation. On Sat., 6/29, the two towns — one founded by Black veterans of the Civil War, one historically white — will unveil a sculpture bit.ly/4clcs6p WAMU 88.5

J&J Mex-Taqueria, a popular Mexican taqueria in Mount Rainier and Brentwood, recently opened up a third location at Le Fantome food hall in Riverdale Park across the street from MOD Pizza at The Station at Riverdale Park. bit.ly/4cAcVBy eaterDC Washington City Paper

America Oriental Rugs, a new shop in Mount Rainier, is run by a former political science professor from Afghanistan. When he lived in Kabul, Jawid Jawid worked at a private university but left his job when he fled with his family to the U.S. bit.ly/3VM150m WAMU 88.5 Washington City Paper

A reminder of Route 1’s segregated past has been replaced by a powerful and inspirational symbol of racial reconciliation between two towns: BrentwoodMDTownHall, which was historically white, and NBrentwoodMD, founded by Black Civil War veterans bit.ly/4eKH03d WAMU 88.5 NPR

Heat indexes at 1p. This is hell.

Manifest Bread in @Riverdale_Park_ is expanding its bakery and opening a new sit-down restaurant in a vacant space next door. Located at 6208 Rhode Island Ave., the popular organic bakery launched a Kickstarter campaign to help pay for the costs bit.ly/3W8gAjg @eaterdc

A historic Masonic lodge in Hyattsville may soon get a second life. The owners of the Mount Hermon Lodge No. 179 applied for the building to be designated a historic property by the county and are studying how it could be adapted for other uses. bit.ly/3WmQNnK @urbanturf

.Station3510, a new art gallery and studio at 3510 Rhode Island Ave. in Mount Rainier, inside a renovated historic building from 1947, showcases local art while offering community workshops and teaching various art classes. bit.ly/46dUMaL Artomatic East City Art Washington City Paper

Way up high. bit.ly/4dc0ig7 - @bladensburgMD Parks & Recreation

LV Collective, the new owners of the Campus Village Shoppes center at 8147 Baltimore Ave., announced their plans for the site, which involves building a seven-story mixed-use project to include 299 apartments and 13,000 sq ft of retail space. bit.ly/3SkiqMU UrbanTurf

For the last two years, volunteer residents along the Route 1 corridor called Welcome Home Neighbor have worked to assist families in need who are moving to the area. The effort is called Welcome Home Neighbor. bit.ly/3LOJn7J WAMU 88.5 Washington City Paper The Washington Post

A new public art display inspired by Japanese anime has been installed in City of Mount Rainier. The mural, painted by D.C. artist Kelly Towles, is located on the side of the Wash. Glass School at 3700 Otis St. bit.ly/4dwwevT WAMU 88.5 Washington City Paper GatewayArtsDistrict

A single block of eight townhomes is under construction by RBC Homes and is located next to DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville. The new homes will have a layout similar to the nearby Neighborhoods of EYA. bit.ly/4dcMSkm wamu UrbanTurf Washington City Paper

The The College Park City-University Partnership plans to extend a campus bike path to the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail. The $3 million bike lane would run along Campus Dr from the main Univ. of Maryland to the intersection with the Trolley Trail near the Maryland Fire&Rescue. bit.ly/3WYbyrf City of College Park

Renovations on a popular Hyattsville park that has been closed for two years are nearly complete. Located at 4203 Gallatin St., next to the Mount Hermon Masonic Lodge, Robert J. King Park has been closed since 2022 bit.ly/4dIapKm Parks & Recreation

Brentwood’s miXt Food Hall, located at 3809 Rhode Island Ave. next to the Studio 3807 apartment building, plans to create a new public art display facing Route 1 and is calling for artist submissions. bit.ly/47baHXH East City Art Artomatic GatewayArtsDistrict PG Arts & Humanities

Popular D.C. pizzeria Menomàle Pizza is in talks to open a Hyattsville location. Owner Mariya Rusciano told the Hyattsville Wire that she is looking at a space inside the upcoming Hyattsville Canvas Apartments at 5300 Baltimore Ave bit.ly/479cuwt Eater DC Washington City Paper WAMU 88.5

Thank you Purple Line NOW for inviting me to be part of a distinguished panel to discuss the Purple Line and its impact.