diff --git a/crates/notedeck_chrome/src/chrome.rs b/crates/notedeck_chrome/src/chrome.rs
index 29bf7ee..fc7e946 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_chrome/src/chrome.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_chrome/src/chrome.rs
@@ -471,6 +471,7 @@ fn chrome_handle_app_action(
             let m_action = notedeck_columns::actionbar::execute_and_process_note_action(
                 note_action,
                 ctx.ndb,
+                &mut columns.subscriptions,
                 cols,
                 0,
                 &mut columns.timeline_cache,
@@ -527,6 +528,7 @@ fn columns_route_to_profile(
     let m_action = notedeck_columns::actionbar::execute_and_process_note_action(
         notedeck::NoteAction::Profile(*pk),
         ctx.ndb,
+        &mut columns.subscriptions,
         cols,
         0,
         &mut columns.timeline_cache,
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/actionbar.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/actionbar.rs
index a2bd5b1..891ec99 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/actionbar.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/actionbar.rs
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ struct NoteActionResponse {
 fn execute_note_action(
     action: NoteAction,
     ndb: &mut Ndb,
+    subs: &mut crate::subscriptions::Subscriptions,
     timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache,
     threads: &mut Threads,
     note_cache: &mut NoteCache,
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ fn execute_note_action(
             let kind = TimelineKind::Profile(pubkey);
             router_action = Some(RouterAction::route_to(Route::Timeline(kind.clone())));
             timeline_res = timeline_cache
-                .open(ndb, note_cache, txn, pool, &kind)
+                .open(subs, ndb, note_cache, txn, pool, &kind)
                 .map(NotesOpenResult::Timeline);
         }
         NoteAction::Note {
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ fn execute_note_action(
             let kind = TimelineKind::Hashtag(vec![htag.clone()]);
             router_action = Some(RouterAction::route_to(Route::Timeline(kind.clone())));
             timeline_res = timeline_cache
-                .open(ndb, note_cache, txn, pool, &kind)
+                .open(subs, ndb, note_cache, txn, pool, &kind)
                 .map(NotesOpenResult::Timeline);
         }
         NoteAction::Repost(note_id) => {
@@ -222,6 +223,7 @@ fn execute_note_action(
 pub fn execute_and_process_note_action(
     action: NoteAction,
     ndb: &mut Ndb,
+    subs: &mut crate::subscriptions::Subscriptions,
     columns: &mut Columns,
     col: usize,
     timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache,
@@ -250,6 +252,7 @@ pub fn execute_and_process_note_action(
     let resp = execute_note_action(
         action,
         ndb,
+        subs,
         timeline_cache,
         threads,
         note_cache,
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
index dac9122..de44865 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/app.rs
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ fn try_process_event(
 
     for (kind, timeline) in &mut damus.timeline_cache {
         let is_ready = timeline::is_timeline_ready(
+            &mut damus.subscriptions,
             app_ctx.ndb,
             app_ctx.pool,
             app_ctx.note_cache,
@@ -469,6 +470,7 @@ impl Damus {
             parsed_args.is_flag_set(ColumnsFlag::SinceOptimize),
         );
 
+        let mut subscriptions = Subscriptions::default();
         let decks_cache = if tmp_columns {
             info!("DecksCache: loading from command line arguments");
             let mut columns: Columns = Columns::new();
@@ -476,6 +478,7 @@ impl Damus {
             for col in &parsed_args.columns {
                 let timeline_kind = col.clone().into_timeline_kind();
                 if let Some(add_result) = columns.add_new_timeline_column(
+                    &mut subscriptions,
                     &mut timeline_cache,
                     &txn,
                     app_context.ndb,
@@ -507,7 +510,7 @@ impl Damus {
             decks_cache
         } else {
             info!("DecksCache: creating new with demo configuration");
-            DecksCache::new_with_demo_config(&mut timeline_cache, app_context)
+            DecksCache::new_with_demo_config(&mut subscriptions, &mut timeline_cache, app_context)
             //for (pk, _) in &app_context.accounts.cache {
             //    cache.add_deck_default(*pk);
             //}
@@ -519,7 +522,7 @@ impl Damus {
         let threads = Threads::default();
 
         Self {
-            subscriptions: Subscriptions::default(),
+            subscriptions,
             timeline_cache,
             drafts: Drafts::default(),
             state: DamusState::Initializing,
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/column.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/column.rs
index dfb7a91..4c4dc9c 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/column.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/column.rs
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ impl Columns {
 
     pub fn add_new_timeline_column(
         &mut self,
+        subs: &mut crate::subscriptions::Subscriptions,
         timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache,
         txn: &Transaction,
         ndb: &Ndb,
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ impl Columns {
     ) -> Option<TimelineOpenResult> {
         self.columns
             .push(Column::new(vec![Route::timeline(kind.to_owned())]));
-        timeline_cache.open(ndb, note_cache, txn, pool, kind)
+        timeline_cache.open(subs, ndb, note_cache, txn, pool, kind)
     }
 
     pub fn new_column_picker(&mut self) {
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/decks.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/decks.rs
index fc48a0b..470baab 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/decks.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/decks.rs
@@ -80,12 +80,12 @@ impl DecksCache {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn new_with_demo_config(timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache, ctx: &mut AppContext) -> Self {
+    pub fn new_with_demo_config(subs: &mut crate::subscriptions::Subscriptions, timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache, ctx: &mut AppContext) -> Self {
         let mut account_to_decks: HashMap<Pubkey, Decks> = Default::default();
         let fallback_pubkey = FALLBACK_PUBKEY();
         account_to_decks.insert(
             fallback_pubkey,
-            demo_decks(fallback_pubkey, timeline_cache, ctx),
+            demo_decks(fallback_pubkey, subs, timeline_cache, ctx),
         );
         DecksCache::new(account_to_decks, ctx.i18n)
     }
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ impl DecksCache {
     pub fn add_deck_default(
         &mut self,
         ctx: &mut AppContext,
+        subs: &mut crate::subscriptions::Subscriptions,
         timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache,
         pubkey: Pubkey,
     ) {
@@ -125,6 +126,7 @@ impl DecksCache {
         // add home and notifications for new accounts
         add_demo_columns(
             ctx,
+            subs,
             timeline_cache,
             pubkey,
             &mut decks.decks_mut()[0].columns,
@@ -444,6 +446,7 @@ impl Deck {
 
 pub fn add_demo_columns(
     ctx: &mut AppContext,
+    subs: &mut crate::subscriptions::Subscriptions,
     timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache,
     pubkey: Pubkey,
     columns: &mut Columns,
@@ -457,6 +460,7 @@ pub fn add_demo_columns(
 
     for kind in &timeline_kinds {
         if let Some(results) = columns.add_new_timeline_column(
+            subs,
             timeline_cache,
             &txn,
             ctx.ndb,
@@ -477,13 +481,14 @@ pub fn add_demo_columns(
 
 pub fn demo_decks(
     demo_pubkey: Pubkey,
+    subs: &mut crate::subscriptions::Subscriptions,
     timeline_cache: &mut TimelineCache,
     ctx: &mut AppContext,
 ) -> Decks {
     let deck = {
         let mut columns = Columns::default();
 
-        add_demo_columns(ctx, timeline_cache, demo_pubkey, &mut columns);
+        add_demo_columns(ctx, subs, timeline_cache, demo_pubkey, &mut columns);
 
         //columns.add_new_timeline_column(Timeline::hashtag("introductions".to_string()));
 
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/multi_subscriber.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/multi_subscriber.rs
index 567052c..c100263 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/multi_subscriber.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/multi_subscriber.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use nostrdb::{Ndb, Subscription};
 use notedeck::{filter::HybridFilter, UnifiedSubscription};
 use uuid::Uuid;
 
-use crate::{subscriptions, timeline::ThreadSelection};
+use crate::{subscriptions::{self, SubKind, Subscriptions}, timeline::{ThreadSelection, TimelineKind}};
 
 type RootNoteId = NoteId;
 
@@ -383,15 +383,17 @@ impl TimelineSub {
         );
     }
 
-    pub fn try_add_remote(&mut self, pool: &mut RelayPool, filter: &HybridFilter) {
-        self.try_add_remote_with_relay(pool, filter, None);
+    pub fn try_add_remote(&mut self, subs: &mut Subscriptions, pool: &mut RelayPool, filter: &HybridFilter, timeline_kind: &TimelineKind) {
+        self.try_add_remote_with_relay(subs, pool, filter, None, timeline_kind);
     }
 
     pub fn try_add_remote_with_relay(
         &mut self,
+        subs: &mut Subscriptions,
         pool: &mut RelayPool,
         filter: &HybridFilter,
         relay_url: Option<&str>,
+        timeline_kind: &TimelineKind,
     ) {
         let before = self.state.clone();
         match &mut self.state {
@@ -402,6 +404,7 @@ impl TimelineSub {
                 } else {
                     pool.subscribe(subid.clone(), filter.remote().to_vec());
                 }
+                subs.subs.insert(subid.clone(), SubKind::Timeline(timeline_kind.clone()));
                 self.filter = Some(filter.to_owned());
                 self.state = SubState::RemoteOnly {
                     remote: subid,
@@ -415,6 +418,7 @@ impl TimelineSub {
                 } else {
                     pool.subscribe(subid.clone(), filter.remote().to_vec());
                 }
+                subs.subs.insert(subid.clone(), SubKind::Timeline(timeline_kind.clone()));
                 self.filter = Some(filter.to_owned());
                 self.state = SubState::Unified {
                     unified: UnifiedSubscription {
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/nav.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/nav.rs
index 558f664..a205e05 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/nav.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/nav.rs
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ impl SwitchingAction {
                     }
 
                     if switch_action.switching_to_new {
-                        decks_cache.add_deck_default(ctx, timeline_cache, switch_action.switch_to);
+                        decks_cache.add_deck_default(ctx, subs, timeline_cache, switch_action.switch_to);
                     }
 
                     // pop nav after switch
@@ -487,6 +487,7 @@ fn process_render_nav_action(
             crate::actionbar::execute_and_process_note_action(
                 note_action,
                 ctx.ndb,
+                &mut app.subscriptions,
                 get_active_columns_mut(ctx.i18n, ctx.accounts, &mut app.decks_cache),
                 col,
                 &mut app.timeline_cache,
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/cache.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/cache.rs
index cf20e06..e212727 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/cache.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/cache.rs
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ impl TimelineCache {
     /// subscription
     pub fn open(
         &mut self,
+        subs: &mut crate::subscriptions::Subscriptions,
         ndb: &Ndb,
         note_cache: &mut NoteCache,
         txn: &Transaction,
@@ -224,10 +225,10 @@ impl TimelineCache {
             // Check if this is a relay-specific timeline
             match &timeline.kind {
                 TimelineKind::Relay(relay_url, _) => {
-                    timeline.subscription.try_add_remote_with_relay(pool, filter, Some(relay_url));
+                    timeline.subscription.try_add_remote_with_relay(subs, pool, filter, Some(relay_url), &timeline.kind);
                 }
                 _ => {
-                    timeline.subscription.try_add_remote(pool, filter);
+                    timeline.subscription.try_add_remote(subs, pool, filter, &timeline.kind);
                 }
             }
         } else {
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/kind.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/kind.rs
index 2a4496f..6bfa2dd 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/kind.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/kind.rs
@@ -371,7 +371,8 @@ impl TimelineKind {
             }
             TimelineKind::Relay(relay_url, hashtags) => {
                 writer.write_token("relay");
-                writer.write_token(relay_url);
+                // URL-encode the relay URL to avoid issues with the ":" delimiter
+                writer.write_token(&urlencoding::encode(relay_url));
                 if let Some(ht) = hashtags {
                     writer.write_token(&ht.join(" "));
                 } else {
@@ -445,7 +446,12 @@ impl TimelineKind {
                 },
                 |p| {
                     p.parse_token("relay")?;
-                    let relay_url = p.pull_token()?.to_string();
+                    let encoded_relay_url = p.pull_token()?;
+                    // URL-decode the relay URL
+                    let relay_url = urlencoding::decode(encoded_relay_url)
+                        .map(|s| s.to_string())
+                        .unwrap_or_else(|_| encoded_relay_url.to_string());
+
                     let hashtags_str = p.pull_token()?;
                     let hashtags = if hashtags_str.is_empty() {
                         None
diff --git a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/mod.rs b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/mod.rs
index ca7e72c..90eec7d 100644
--- a/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/notedeck_columns/src/timeline/mod.rs
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ pub fn setup_new_timeline(
     unknown_ids: &mut UnknownIds,
 ) {
     // if we're ready, setup local subs
-    if is_timeline_ready(ndb, pool, note_cache, timeline, accounts, unknown_ids) {
+    if is_timeline_ready(subs, ndb, pool, note_cache, timeline, accounts, unknown_ids) {
         if let Err(err) = setup_timeline_nostrdb_sub(ndb, txn, note_cache, timeline, unknown_ids) {
             error!("setup_new_timeline: {err}");
         }
@@ -783,6 +783,7 @@ fn setup_timeline_nostrdb_sub(
 /// example, when we have to fetch a contact list before we do the actual
 /// following list query.
 pub fn is_timeline_ready(
+    subs: &mut crate::subscriptions::Subscriptions,
     ndb: &Ndb,
     pool: &mut RelayPool,
     note_cache: &mut NoteCache,
@@ -870,7 +871,7 @@ pub fn is_timeline_ready(
 
             //let ck = &timeline.kind;
             //let subid = damus.gen_subid(&SubKind::Column(ck.clone()));
-            timeline.subscription.try_add_remote(pool, &filter);
+            timeline.subscription.try_add_remote(subs, pool, &filter, &timeline.kind);
             true
         }
     }