South Laurel
- Diane Mezzanotte
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Local news covering Laurel Lakes, Victoria Falls, Oakcrest, Montpelier, and the Route 197 corridor
The “Six Degrees of Laurel, Maryland”
Most of us are familiar with the social science theory called the “six degrees of separation.” (Think Kevin Bacon and that American Express commercial.) I have come to believe that there is also a “Six Degrees of Laurel” phenomenon, because I have made quite a few Laurel-adjacent connections in recent years while traveling. For instance, I took an art class in St. Petersburg, Florida, and discovered that the woman sitting next to me used to live in Avondale Apartments, right across the street from my home in the Oakcrest development. And then there was the glass blower in the German section of Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, who told me that he grew up in Laurel. He had a great story about cleaning out the coins twice a year from an apparatus at a dry-cleaning business a friend’s dad owned; I have since forgotten his name.
But perhaps the neatest Laurel connection occurred at the place from which I’m writing this column. Three years ago, I purchased a small home in central Florida, at The Villages. It was mostly to escape the winter cold, and I must say that my health has definitely improved as a result. A self-governing municipality, The Villages comprises about 100 separate villages—kind of like Columbia on steroids. My village is called Tall Trees, and the nearest recreation center is called Laurel Manor. I thought it was a cool coincidence that something called Laurel was nearby, but it goes a bit deeper, as I soon found out.
I joined a knitting club that meets in nearby Pimlico Recreation Center, and my ladies book club sometimes meets at Churchill Downs Recreation Center. I noticed a street called Belmont Place, another called Del Mar Drive, and then Ascot Loop, Cheltenham Court.... This had to be more than coincidence.
A little research told me that parts of the northern area of the Villages were, indeed, named after horse-racing venues. Although there was no track called Tall Trees, I discovered that it was a common nickname for the famous Hialeah Race Track in Florida, which was lined with very tall pine and palm trees.
You’ve probably figured out the punchline here: it turns out that the Laurel Manor Recreation Center in The Villages, Florida, is actually named after our very own Laurel Park! I get a little burst of joy and pride whenever I go there for activities; it gives me a connection to my Maryland home.
Revolutionary VP Studios To Convert Warehouse into Video Production Facility
In February, Laurel-based Revolutionary VP Studios announced the purchase of the former FloorMax warehouse on Mid-Atlantic Boulevard in South Laurel. The company will convert the 30,000-square-foot facility into a state-of-the-art video production studio that independent filmmakers will be able to rent for video shoots.
The company’s website says that the facility “will be one of the best virtual production facilities of its size in the world, purpose-built to support film, commercial, photography, and immersive events.” Modern tools such as CGI and LED technology will be available, making it possible to film scenes that otherwise would be challenging—for instance, replicating underwater scenarios or large-scale backdrops through the use of virtual reality tools. Filmmakers will be able to conduct their pre-production work, film shoots, and post-production editing and enhancements under one roof. Revolutionary VP Studios stated a goal of “re-establishing Maryland as a leader in filmmaking.”
Voices of Laurel first wrote about this exciting venture on our Facebook page, and comments were overwhelmingly positive, with some saying that a venture like this was needed in Maryland. For my part, I’m wondering if the next Jurassic Park sequel could be created there, with its proximity to a certain dinosaur park just across Route 1.
Spring Events at Montpelier Historic Site and Museum
If you’re reading this before April 25, mark your calendar for two things: the Voices of Laurel Day at the Races (see page 13 for details), and the annual Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Teas, and the Arts. (You can do both if you go to Montpelier in the morning.) The festival features local artists, vendors, live music, tours of the museum, and other family-oriented fun. The festival will run rain or shine, from 10 am to 4 pm.
Two weeks later, on May 10, the Montpelier House Museum will offer a “Hidden Spaces Tour.” Participants will learn about the history and architecture of the former Snowden residence, explore hidden stairways, and discover other secrets of the building. Cost is $10 for Prince George’s County residents and $20 for non-residents; purchase tickets through the pgparks.com website. The event runs from 3:30 to 5:00 pm.
An exciting new exhibit will open on June 11 called “The African Odyssey Exhibition.” The exhibit will feature photography from Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, taken by Dr. Joanne Braxton of the Braxton Institute for Sustainability, Resiliency, and Joy. Dr. Braxton is a descendant of African people who were enslaved at Montpelier. Discovering “unexpected, very personal stories” on her journey, Dr. Braxton tried to capture what she saw and felt in Africa, to share with others and to honor her enslaved ancestors. The photo exhibition is open Thursdays through Sundays, June 11 to November 1, from 10–4 pm.
Diane Mezzanotte is a staff writer and member of the Board of Directors for The Laurel History Boys. In addition to covering Laurel city municipal news, she also reports on all things from South Laurel.
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