19th Street Allentown

the store's exterior at night

The Lehigh Valley has some great shopping districts, and I don't mean the Promenade Shops (2845 Center Valley Parkway, Center Valley) or the Lehigh Valley Mall (1491 Macarthur Road, Whitehall). I am referring to South Side Bethlehem, Historic Bethlehem, Downtown Easton, Main Street Hellertown, Downtown Emmaus, and my recent fave... 19th Street in Allentown.

Last week I joined a group of commercial real estate brokers and developers on the West End of Allentown for a walking tour of 19th Street and a preview of what's to come.

Frank Shipman gave us an update on what's going on in the former Shanty Restaurant. The building will soon be a salon and spa with a full-service restaurant. He is looking for a distinctive eatery to lease the 3,000 square foot frontage of their space. Then we visited the Civic Theatre (527 North 19th Street, Allentown), where my family will be enjoying the annual production of "A Christmas Carol" on Friday night. We heard about the West End Alliance's efforts to improve the quality of life in their urban neighborhood. The Alliance put together "19 Fun Facts About 19th Street," an inspiring list for any neighborhood, let alone one in Allentown! A few tidibits I didn't know: The Allentown Farmers Market attracts 25,000 people weekly, and the West End has its own dinner theater, Pines Dinner Theater (448 North 17th Street, Allentown).

When I saw the sign for Step in 4 Mor (1823 W Allen St., Allentown - a block off 19th Street) when I was turning around to go home, I pulled in to the parking lot. Niki told me about the store, which is owned and operated by her friend, Muhlenberg College alum Stephanie Morffi. I'd seen her ads, and I've been told that if I liked Shuze, that I should check out what Steph's got going on in Allentown. Steph and Vino, her adorable dog, were inside the store when I stepped in. Steph's done a great job selecting beautiful, of-the-moment shoes. I picked up a pair of Sam Edelman ballet flats with a crocodile-patterned leather and leopard-print fabric lining, and definitely selected an outfit to go with them today so that I could break them in! The store also has a fully-stocked wine fridge, some perfect housewarming gifts for holiday parties (including a girlie flask with hot cocoa mix), and great accessories you might just want to gift to yourself.

Check out little Vino, posing on the zebra-print settee!

Challenge: Shop Locally for the Holidays

It seems like the spirit of Christmas in a tough economy has everyone thinking about shopping locally.

The Neighbors of Easton wrote about local businesses this week, and included some helpful links to learn more about creating and fostering a sustainable local economy.

Then I received an e-mail with a direct link to the SBNLV (Sustainable Business Network of the Lehigh Valley)'s new Internet video. Check it out on youtube by clicking here. A few of my favorite places to shop are featured in it!

After that, I read Jana's blog for Lehigh Valley Style, and was inspired by her commitment to contribute to the local economy for the holidays:

It has become customary that my dad, sister, and I bear the selfish Black Friday
crowds at the Lehigh Valley Mall for a few deals and steals, but this year I
want to focus my energy into seeking out unique gifts while helping our local
economy at the same time.

And today even the Chamber of Commerce asked for businesses to pledge to shop locally:

The pledge is simple: businesses, whether they are members or not, pledge to
shift 5% of their spending from out of the Valley to back in. According to our
statistics, if every business in the Valley took this pledge, an additional $100
million would be spent in the Lehigh Valley.

I realize that not everything on your list is going to be available in an independently-owned local business, but to the extent that it's possible, give it a shot. It might mean one extra trip in the car, but maybe you'll start a new holiday tradition of shopping in a downtown area, or discover a whole new shopping experience. If you have already done some local shopping, how did it go? Did you find anything completely surprising or unique?

In Search of the Great Third Place

When I read about the outcry over an Emmaus coffee shop (Mas Cafe) closing, it reminded me of Dr. Ray Oldenburg's "The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons, and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community." I read Oldenburg's book shortly after we moved to the Lehigh Valley: in it, he travels all over the United States, seeking out the "third places" (meaning, a place to go when you aren't at home or work) where people congregate.

The Great Good Place argues that "third places" - where people can gather, put
aside the concerns of work and home, and hang out simply for the pleasures of
good company and lively conversation - are the heart of a community's social
vitality and the grassroots of democracy.

For people living in big cities, open space and community gathering spaces are key. Apartments are small and many people don't have cars or prefer not to use them to get around. So their little neighborhood joints become part living room, part kitchen, part remote office, part conference room. The people who work at these businesses, and the other people who hang out there regularly, become a second (or third) family.

In a region like the Lehigh Valley, it's easy to get into a rhythm of driving from home to work and back again without getting to know your neighbors or spending any significant amount of time anywhere else. There are a lot of private clubs in the area, where mainly locals meet for cheap eats and drinks, gambling (shh...) and sometimes entertainment. But what about those of us who are new to the area? Especially if we aren't the kind of person to hang around a coffee shop and strike up conversations with complete strangers who might just be there to pick up something to drink and head back home or to work?

Do you have a Third Place? Would you nominate some of the best Third Places that might be a good place for a transplant to meet other like-minded individuals?

Mexican food in the Lehigh Valley

my lunch - a beef burrito (just eh) and chicken and cheese taco (YUM). Hot sauce on the left.

Danielle and I had lunch at General Zapata (15 East 4th Street, South Side Bethlehem, a.k.a. GZ) last week. I'd been there a couple of times before (notably, once with the gang from RenewLV) and even ordered some quesadillas for a little office open house we held last Friday night.

The restaurant's name pays tribute to the former Zapata's Place (ZP) on Stefko Boulevard, where Rick worked for 10 years. Rick told me that even the hot sauce on each table is an homage to ZP's owner. Rick's extended family operates Amigo Mio (545 Cleveland Street, Allentown), a place known as much for its incredible food as it is for its strict rules (open 6-9 p.m., cash only, long waits because staff is limited). In addition to great Mexican, General Zapata's also includes cuisine from Rick and Carmen's Puerto Rican heritage. Rick makes the tortillas from SCRATCH, people. That means they are seriously fresh and chewy, not rubbery from refrigeration like the kind you get at many Mexican places. He also sources his beef and some other ingredients locally.

GZ open its 30-seat Mexican/Caribbean fusion dining room in May. When it's full (as it's been many lunches and dinners since it received a positive review from The Morning Call), it's tough to get in. I adore this size of restaurant; many are BYOBs and usually, the owner's in the back cooking up a storm or in the front, making sure everyone is comfortable. Sette Luna (219 Ferry St., Easton) started out about that size (before expanding into the space next-door). Sagra Bistro (620 Main St., Hellertown) seats about 30 in the dining room. The Cafe (221 W. Broad St., Bethlehem) probably seats about 50 in two separate, intimate rooms. You get a cozy feeling in a place that size. I know there are other restaurants this size - did I miss any gems?

Speaking of Mexican, Danielle told me that Fiesta Ole is opening where Fuddrucker's was (2955 Linden Street, Bethlehem), and then I read about it in Retail Watch. She is not the first person to tell me that Fiesta Ole is good stuff. But Mike at Beyond Scrapple (and Capri) panned it, so I'll need to investigate for myself. There are now three locations (in addition to Bethlehem, at 1116 Chestnut Street, Emmaus and 1808 MacArthur Road, Whitehall) in the Valley and two in Reading.

Nazareth Center for the Arts

I learned this week that an arts center has opened at 30 Belvidere Street in Nazareth Borough. Volunteers spent the past year renovating the building that previously housed the Vigilance Hose Company No. 1 into an art gallery and venue for musical performances.

The second annual Nazareth Area Holiday House Tour (to benefit the Nazareth Center for the Arts) is Saturday, December 12, 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. In addition to the Nazareth Center for the Arts, nine other properties in Nazareth and Bushkill Township will be included on the house tour. Each home will feature art by a local artist and live music. Tickets are $20.

The Center's blog has more information about the house tour, and lists a few upcoming events. Their current web site is a bit sickly. When you're in Nazareth visiting the Center for the Arts, check out one of these great restaurants (just one or two blocks from the new Center for the Arts):

• Rios Brazilian Steak House (a meaty bonanza at 127 South Broad Street)
• Hana Sushi‎ (just opened last month at 6 Belvidere Street)
• Main Street Garden Cafe‎ (lunch only, 52 South Main Street)
• Bistro on Main (replaced Dutch N Such at 47 South Main Street)

If you live in Nazareth, please investigate and report back! Or if you're involved in the project, let us know how it's going.

Middle Eastern Cuisine in the LV

When I was in Easton last week, I noticed a sign announcing Phoenicia Restaurant (154 Northampton St., Easton) would be opening soon. I saw on a blog this week that the restaurant recently joined the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber is hosting a ribbon-cutting event for them. I checked out the web site and learned that it will be opening on December 10, and the Grand Opening Friday & Saturday nights, December 11 & 12 , will feature live entertainment and belly dancing.

I was thinking to myself that it might be the only Middle Eastern restaurant in Easton. Both Olive Branch Cafe & Restaurant (355 Broadway, Bethlehem) and Petra Mediterranean (81 W Broad St, Bethlehem) feature Middle Eastern dishes, but I think Allentown has cornered the market on real Middle Eastern food in the Lehigh Valley: Damascus Restaurant‎ (449 North 2nd Street, Allentown); Habibi Sweetheart Restaurant‎ (1429 Lehigh Street, Allentown); and Aladdin Restaurant (651 Union Boulevard, Allentown). I know there are some loyal LVT blog readers who are big fans of Middle Eastern cuisine - what's your favorite? I know that Petra's food is a little Moroccan and a little Jordanian, Habibi is Jordanian, and Phoenicia will be Lebanese. From where in the Middle East do the others originate?

Also, does Easton have room for another fabulous restaurant? (Sort of a rhetorical question.)

Pay to Shop?

I volunteered a shift at Christkindlmarkt (C't) yesterday. I was initially signed up to help at the information booth, but was reassigned to "St. Nick's Assistant." (No, I did not have to wear an elf costume.) I got a kick out of seeing the little kids interact with Santa - I kid you not, our M.O. was to encourage them to 'Give Santa a High Five' - and surprisingly, seeing so many adults cozying up to the old guy. A few even paid to have their picture taken with him.

The tradition of children seeing Santa, telling him what they want for Christmas, and getting a gift, evolved into a moneymaker once malls figured out they could milk you for another few bucks. Polaroid cameras made it possible to instantly have a momento of your child screaming because Mommy left him on the lap of some stranger. With the advent of digital photography, everyone's got a camera or a phone with a camera in it at all times. We don't need anyone to take our kid's picture. But not only will ArtsQuest volunteers take a picture, they'll take a few, and let you pick your favorite. Then they'll print however many you want in whatever sizes you need. I noticed that most people only got one 5"x7" photo; I'm sure most will scan it, put it on Facebook, and e-mail Grandma. Some people didn't want to purchase a photo. One teacher held up the line of paying customers while she took pictures of her students with multiple cameras and cameraphones. But here's the problem - the proceeds from this annual photo op benefit kids' programs at The Banana Factory. While the artists profit from the purchase of the items in the booths and pay a small fee to exhibit, it's ArtsQuest that pays the bills (including St. Nick's salary).

Many locals shun C't, because they 'don't want to pay to shop.' I justify the $7 entrance fee this way (we saved $1 using the coupon on the Artsquest web site): I paid $2 to park in one of the City's municipal parking lots. I figure that I would pay $5 or more in a bigger city. So that's a $3 donation for parking. Then I'd pay at least $3 for the entertainment - there's live music and performances all day inside, plus glass blowing and ice sculpting demonstrations outdoors, between tents. And finally, I'd make a $1 donation to the folks at ArtsQuest for creating a warm, festive holiday wonderland that has become an annual tradition. Then the $7 entrance fee doesn't seem so steep to me. Considering the large groups of visitors that come on tour buses from all over the mid-Atlantic, it seems like a lot of people agree.

My husband and I went to C't today and purchased two wall-hanging pieces from an tile artist from Easton whose company name is BB Tiles. The artist's web site is a little outdated (shows listed are from 2004), but contact information is correct. Promise I'll photograph them once they are properly mounted.

What do you think about C't, and all the festivities in the Christmas City?

The danger of telling the world about your favorite place

When you find a truly great place, a tiny gem in a field of rocks that look like chain restaurants, you cherish it and visit it often. While you love it, you are often hesitant to tell people about it, lest it become played out, crowded, and suddenly, a different place altogether.

For stores, or events, who cares if there are 100 people there. If you know the store owner, you might even get a heads-up when new gear arrives. But a restaurant you like to go to on Friday nights? Or a coffee shop with four seats? Dilemma.

There's a restaurant near the house I rented with friends in DC called Two Amys. When it first opened, it was a neighborhood gem. Tucked on a side street behind a popular Mexican restaurant, it subsisted mostly on overflow from that restaurant and maybe Cafe Deluxe. It had great pizza and a cozy little bar in the back that was perfect for meeting friends or a date, but it also had no parking and no "lobby." All of this made it charming and kind of a local favorite. Then it was discovered by Washingtonian in 2003 and picked for the cover of its Cheap Eats edition. Suddenly, the place was overrun by suburbanites desperate to escape the duldrums of their strip-mall Pizzeria Uno and California Pizza Kitchen. You couldn't get a table there on a weeknight, let alone a Friday. Even takeout was a problem, since the front of the restaurant was clogged with people waiting for a table. Parking in the neighborhood, already at a premium, became a nightmare. We stopped going there and found other neighborhood places that were just as good, but undiscovered.

Imagine my horror when the place all the hipsters have been buzzing and Twittering about was discovered by the Morning Call's Retail Watch. Word on The Bookstore Speakeasy (336 Adams Street, South Side Bethlehem) is out.

it's a book...

...actually, it's the drink menu.

When Beata, Jorge, Courtney, Mark and I went last week for cocktails and microbrews after work, we were impressed. The place is cool - can't say I've ever been anywhere like it - but it isn't cheap. But that's what everyone said last week: The El Vee, Lehigh Valley Style blog and LV Scene all wrote reviews, Lehigh Valley With Love gave it a shout-out, Channel 69 stopped by, and Retail Watch proves again just how out-of-touch The Morning Call is. If you are thinking about going, check out the menu online and read at least one of the reviews so you don't look like a rookie. Here are a couple of tips: It is located between Fourth Street and the Trans-Bridge bus station. There is no dedicated parking, just meter parking at lots and on the street. The door says "THE BOOKSTORE" and you have to push open a curtain inside to find the bar. The Bookstore offers a limited menu, but the owners just introduced a prixe-fixe dinner menu, $35 for four courses (not bad), Thursday-Saturday between 5-7 p.m.

Best cocktail on the planet: the sidecar. At The Bookstore, it costs $11.00.

Rock N Joe Cafe

I mentioned Rockn' Joe Coffeehouse and Bistro in February (post here). Maybe you read in the Express-Times that the bistro recently opened in Bethlehem. I stopped in and learned that when the Stroudsburg-based proprietor, Khem, grew weary of his Manhattan commute, he looked into opening his own business. He searched the area and chose a beautiful spot to open a franchise at One West Broad Street, on the ground floor of what most people call "The Bank of America building."

The interior is large compared to most coffee houses in the area, average for most restaurants. A variety of seating options gives visitors a choice! In this photo, you can see cafe seating, bar seating and comfy chairs. In warmer weather, I'm sure there will be plenty of outside cafe seating. It reminded me a little of Xando, a company that merged with Cosi, but with infinitely more blends of coffee.

It's way more than a coffee house with a rock soundtrack (and yes, Nirvana's "Heart-shaped Box" was playing while I was inside). There's a full menu, serving three meals a day plus coffee, including a Thanksgiving panini sandwich that inspired me to get hungry for the real thing on Thursday.

Follow them on Twitter, or follow your nose into the bistro, and welcome this new small business owner who's introducing this new small business concept to the Lehigh Valley.

Celestial Custom Jewelry

I noticed Celestial Custom Jewelry (132 W 4th St, Bethlehem) while I was at the post office on the South Side of Bethlehem last week. I have tried to stop by a couple of times and keep missing the hours (or the store isn't open during its marked hours). I peeked in the window, and it appears that all kinds of fun gift items are for sale in addition to custom jewelry. The next time you're on Fourth Street, visiting Eskandolo!, Play it Again, Home Base or Loose Threads, swing by, and let me know what you think. PS - The orange barrels are for the new curbs being installed on the corners of intersections where there are signals.

Goosey Gander & the Lehigh pep band

Last Friday, Donna and Mark and I were picking up lunch at Goosey Gander (102 W. Fourth Street, Bethlehem) when...





See the drum major's baton? It's a tiki torch.






Check out the gander sandwich (above, right).


Lehigh beat Lafayette in their 145th meeting on Saturday, 27-21 in overtime. Theirs is the most-played rivalry in all college football history.

Comment Moderation & Lehigh Pub

This blog received a number of negative comments in a row this afternoon about Lehigh Pub.

In case you hadn't already figured it out, this blog's purpose is to educate people about what the Valley has to offer and to encourage Valley natives and transplants to visit local businesses. I'm not fond of publishing anonymous negative comments (though as long you aren't shilling for profit, anonymous positive comments, and shilling for a good cause or because you genuinely like something is okay by me).

The Express-Times recently covered the story of two college students who refused to pay a mandated tip at the restaurant. There are two sides to every story; however, the restaurant refused to comment in the article, so make up your own mind.

Easton After Five

For my first Style column, I plan to highlight a few things to do "after 5" in Easton. I think most people already know about the Easton Farmer's Market and cute downtown retailers, and Easton's fabulous restaurant scene. Add to that: Townies know where to go to see a cover band and drink a beer, and Lafayette College students know which places will serve them underage.

I'm gathering a small group of transplants and natives to have dinner at Sette Luna (a place where we love to take our friends from out-of-town) and then explore downtown Easton at night. I already have a list of no fewer than EIGHT things happening that night and plan to encourage everyone to do what they like and report back. I'm also taking suggestions from the floor (read: you). Then I'll compile everyone's thoughts into a 1500 word column for the magazine.

If it's okay with you all, I'd love to preview at least part of the column here, to get your feedback before my December 15 deadline. You'll have to tune in to Style in March to get the full story.

Let me know what you think! Want to join us?

Thanksgiving Eve in the Valley

I'm sure it's not just a Lehigh Valley phenomenon, but Thanksgiving Eve is the biggest party night of the year around here.

There are a multitude of reasons for this. First of all, expatriates return home for some mandatory time with family who stayed in the Lehigh Valley. One can only handle so much of that, so after a few hours of unpacking and getting caught up on family dysfunctions, a stiff drink may be in order. For those who are not traveling out of town, it's a chance to catch up with old friends who are only in town for a few nights. Since it isn't a religious holiday and there's no reason to wake up early on Thanksgiving, it's prime for staying out late. Most people tend to stick close to home (and to the bars that were second homes), but some will flock to the bigger entertainment venues. Either way, it's a good excuse to get dressed up and show everyone how well you have done for yourself since the days of braces, driver's ed, and passing notes (which I doubt kids even do anymore w/ the proliferation of text messages). Here are a few fun parties I have heard about:

Pigpen Bar & Grille (702 Union Blvd., Allentown) has The Large Flowerheads, "Groovy '60s Music You Love," and no cover for ladies.

Allentown Brew Works (812 W Hamilton St, Allentown) has its regularly-scheduled Trivia Night, Whitehall High School 5th Year Reunion, and more.

Starters Riverport (17 W. Second St., Bethlehem) has DJ Cap Cee, no cover, and a naked chick rolling in leaves on the invite. (?!)

Sands Bethlehem (77 Sands Boulevard, Bethlehem) has Lauralea & Tripp Fabulous in the Molten Lounge, 8:30pm - 12:30am, no cover.

Blue Monkey (1092-1094 Howertown Road, North Catasauqua) is feature live music from Common Bond.

Drinky's (5 Centre Square, Easton) needs to update their web site, but I am sure they will be having a party.

Metromix is hosting a Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl at Firehouse, PigPen, Mezza Luna and Roosevelt's 21st, beginning at 7 p.m.

Natives, is there a spot that your high school friends have claimed as their own?

Transplants, will you be celebrating Thanksgiving Eve out of town at your old watering hole? Or will you be out in the Valley, laughing at all the awkward reunions or tagging along with your significant other to their reunion?

I miss Trader Joe's

In DC, there were great grocery stores (Trader Joe's, Whole Foods), bad grocery stores (Safeway, Giant), and corner markets.

I really miss the variety and relatively low prices at Trader Joe's. They had some classic items which I stockpile when I have a chance to go. These include Big & Chunky Applesauce, a million Indian items, frozen goodies including to-die-for mac and cheese, Avocado's Number guacamole, soups, Dunkers cookies, tiramisu gelato, and French Market Lemonade. Their cheese section is drool-worthy. And I'm always game to try something new there, because the cost is so low (me: Do I like New Zealand Sweet Apple Rings/Indian Fare Punjab Choley/Pizza Parlanno? husband: Get it, it's only $2.99!). A Facebook group 1,500+ members strong hopes a Trader Joe's will open in downtown Easton, and I concur. I am tired of making the pilgrimage to King of Prussia and Westfield, NJ (where they have wine! Three Buck Chuck!).

I don't miss the prices at Whole Foods, but I did like the samples and staring at the bakery displays. And, they always had a good beer selection and the most beautiful organic produce.

I never miss Safeway. Each store has a nickname. The one near Georgetown is called the Social Safeway since it is such a pickup joint. It's been called that since before my parents lived there as young professionals. The Tenley store is Secret Safeway (obscured by trees) and the Dupont store is Soviet Safeway (because there is never anything on the shelves and there are always long lines). There may be others I can't remember, but I've blocked most of my memories of Safeway, primarily because the service was so awful and the produce was so peaked. DCist does a good job of outlining all the names and their reasons.

This week, I took an extra look around at Wegman's. The store has done a great job of buying and stocking items that are... dare I say?... Trader Joe's-esque. The organic aisles are reminiscent of Whole Foods, too. I'm impressed. We picked up pumpkin butter, soy milk and frozen organic burritos.

I still like going to small natural foods stores, however. There's something about the smell (is that ginger? patchouli?) and the idea of a local market that I like. Plus, when I find a new one, I like to take the time to explore, and often go home with treasures.

One of my favorites is Nature's Way Market on 143 Northampton St. in Easton. It's been open for 34 years and offers a good mix of fresh produce, pantry items, supplements and beauty products. They also frequently host educational workshops and have a great book and magazine section. This weekend, Courtney and I stopped in to pick up some vitamins, chocolate, mushrooms and energy bars.

Frey's Better Foods‎ at 1575 Main St, Hellertown is right across the street from the Exxon station. On top of everything you'd expect, it has a great frozen section, a ton of grains and nuts, and lots of good organic cleaning products. They have also been around forever, and the staff is very knowledgeable.

Queen's Nutritional Products is a little off the beaten path, near the Giant shopping center at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave. in Allentown. I have heard about Garden Gate Natural Foods at 17 S 9th St. in Allentown but have not visited personally.

Transplants, do you miss your old grocery store?

It Must Be Christmas...

Marie, one of my favorite local bloggers who writes about gardening in Bethlehem, tipped off her readers about the Bethlehem Garden Club Juried Flower Show happening this weekend. Visitors can peruse and purchase house plants, baked goods, holiday decorations, and books. The Club has also designed Christmas & New Year's table settings and decorated Christmas trees for your enjoyment and inspiration.

• At Advent Moravian Church, 3730 Jacksonville Rd. Bethlehem
• Friday, November 13, 3-8, Saturday November 14, 10-3
• Free admission, and free coffee, tea and cookies
• Proceeds from the garden sale and raffles benefit the BGC Scholarship Fund.

She's Crafty

My SIL and I were chatting recently about what there is to do in Memphis. She's a recent transplant there and is looking to make friends and get active in her new city. I started Googling away and found a bunch of Meetup groups in her area. I figured she's kind of crafty so a knitting group might be fun. I don't know what it is about young women and needlecraft. Courtney has been talking about learning to stitch-n-bitch forever. I used to make pretty awful counted-cross-stitch designs and give them as presents, but I've hung up my needles for a while. I could be persuaded if the yarn had a really cool name (like Mauch Chunky!) and was made locally!

There are knitting stores that host knitting circles and classes on site, and libraries that invite patrons to BYOK. Classes are cheap - often $5 or less - and the stores often offer discounts on your purchase of supplies.

I found a few knit shops in the Lehigh Valley. Did I miss any good ones?
- Tangled Yarns, 519 Main Street, Bethlehem
- The Knitter's Edge, West Broad St. at 15th Avenue
- Knitwitz & Sew Much More, 828 Main Street, Hellertown
- Conversational Threads Fiber Arts Studio, 8 S. 4th St., Emmaus

There's a Whitehall Knit Wits Meetup Group that gets together weekly at Barnes N' Noble. Also, Allentown used to have an S-N-B group, but their web site is outdated. Happy stitchin'!

November First Friday in Bethlehem

Now that the election is over, please turn your attention to the monthly First Friday celebration in Bethlehem (November 6, 6-10 p.m. on the South Side). I picked up an event guide at Cleo's when I was in shopping for a birthday gift for Mom.

Tonight, there are:

• Six places to catch live music and enjoy art and shopping: Stone Soup Studios (301 Broadway), Comfort Suites (120 W. Third St.), Cleo's Silversmith Studio & Gallery (21 E. Third St.), Lehigh Bookstore (Campus Square), Fox Optical (28 E. Third St.) and of course, a DJ at Home & Planet (25 E. Third St.)
• Five great places to shop for holiday gifts: Shuze (17 E. Third St.), Tallarico's Chocolates (26 E. Third St.), Monsoon (11 E. Third St.), Loose Threads (9 W. Fourth St.), and Cutters Bike Shop (418 E. Third St).
• Two new exhibitions at The Banana Factory (25 W. Third St.) and Fox Optical
• Two live theatrical performances: The Tempest at Touchstone (321 E. Fourth St.) and The Lord of Misrule at Zoellner Arts Center (420 E. Packer Ave.)
• One wing-eating contest at Lehigh Pizza (13 W. Third St.) to benefit Meals on Wheels of Northampton County
• Two ways to work off those wings: Dancing at Northampton Community College's Fowler Family Center (511 E. 3rd St) and skating at the Steel Ice Center (Corner of Polk & 1st)
• A million places to have dinner within four blocks: 23 East Asian Bistro, La Lupita, Tulum, Alexandra's Bistro, Lehigh Pub, General Zapata's, Nawab Indian, The Olive Branch, Thai Kitchen, Starters, Michael's Steaks, Sal's Pizza, Lehigh Pizza, Campus Pizza, Sotto Santi, Goosey Gander, Blue Sky Cafe, Wildflower Cafe, and Dave's Deli and Gelato (I am sure I have forgotten some, but those are a good start.)
• Eight places to booze up after all of the other activities "officially end" at 10 p.m.: Starters Riverport (17 W. Second St), Comfort Suites, Looper's Grille & Bar (313 E. 3rd St.)afeaturing a winter wine tasting, JP Macgrady, Funhouse, Firehouse, Tally Ho, and the brand-new Bookstore Speakeasy

LV Elections

As promised, TMC's voter's guide was published online recently. It's not comprehensive, but you can "meet" the candidates for PA Supreme Court, Lehigh County Commisioner (sic), Lehigh County Executive, and Northampton County Council by downloading PDFs. I've seen some other "meet the candidates" features recently, so I wonder if they will be online soon, too.

The Express-Times' guide is an interactive site. First, you'll enter your address so that the site can populate your online "ballot." (It didn't include any of my Lehigh County races.) Each ballot page has a full bio as well as an area to cast your "vote." You can even make notes for yourself and print a sheet to bring with you on election day.

There's no reason not to be informed before you hit the polls!

First Mondays in Allentown

Vanessa tipped me off to a monthly event in Allentown called First Mondays.

November's First Monday (on November 2) will be held at Made In Brazil, the restaurant that will be opening soon inside the Holiday Inn (9th & Hamilton Sts., Allentown).

Once it's open, Allentown will be able to boast that it has one of nine churrascarias in the state of PA. Stop by between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to preview the restaurant, and to sample Brazilian foods and drinks.

When I was looking for the link, I found the Allentown City calendar of events. I was impressed by the diversity of everything that is going on mid-week. Next Wednesday night after work, you could:

• Learn what encaustic painting is by visiting Lee Leckey's “Layers” exhibition in the Cressman Library Gallery at Cedar Crest College
• See A Serious Man at Civic's 19th Street Theatre
• Enjoy Wacky Wednesday Bowling Night at AMF Legends and Parkway Lanes for $1.00
• Meet other people interested in Downtown Allentown at Over the Hump Wednesdays at Allentown Brew Works (the Leadership Lehigh Valley alumni will be meeting up there that night as well)
• Attend a panel discussion on the 2010 Census at Muhlenberg College
• Be a smarty pants at Trivia Night at Jack Callaghan's
• Raise funds for United Way by shopping at the Women's Leadership Initiative's Power of the Purse event

That is just ONE NIGHT - a WEDNESDAY - just in Allentown! Visit the Allentown Calendar of Events for more information, and get out there.

Consignment, Vintage and Thrift Stores

I have always found bargain hunting to be a great way to save cash and hone your "gatherer" skills. I still have a couple of finds from thrifty excursions with Leanne, Sara and Anneke in high school. I always get compliments on the tweed suit jacket I "borrowed" from Mom, which I had tailored to fit my modern sensibilities. Holly and I competed for space with drag queens in the consignment boutiques in Dupont Circle. I even went thrift shopping in Costa Rica when I realized I didn't have enough long-sleeved shirts to get me through my study abroad trip. I have no problem buying "gently used," but lately, I haven't had as much time as I'd like to sort through racks of has-beens and cast-offs to find the gems.


I want a new bag for the fall, and new Coach just isn't in the budget this year. I want to get out and explore a few shops this weekend. Here are the places on my shopping list:

• The Green Punkin Consignment Shop
  327 Front St., Catasauqua • (610) 443-3222
• The Attic
  4 West Broad St., Bethlehem • (610) 866-2279
• Underwired
  520 Main St., Bethlehem • (484) 821-0326‎
• Good-Buy Girls
  1752 W Allen St., Allentown • (610) 434-5868‎
• Shelby's Closet
  423 Chestnut Street, Emmaus

These shops are every bit as good as the others, and their proceeds benefit nonprofit organizations.

• Second Sight Thrift Shop
  224 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem • (610) 759-2002
• My Sister's Closet‎
  3400 Bath Pike, Suite 103, Bethlehem • (610) 438-1269
  ‎
  Am I missing any? Want to come?

* Lehigh Valley Style just posted about thrift store shopping on their blog. They missed some of the ones I mentioned, but included a few I missed (or thought were a bit too far away to be considered "Lehigh Valley"). Incidentally, I did find a fall bag, but it was in the going-out-of-business sale at Head Over Heels at the Promenade Shops, not a thrift store!

Singles Happy Hour at Looper's

Update: Some photos of the singles happy hour are posted on Lehigh Valley Style's web site. I hear the place was wall-to-wall women. Go figure.

A few of my favorite bloggers have inquired offline about the Singles Happy Hour happening tomorrow night at Looper's (313 E. Third St. Bethlehem, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15).

Inquiring minds wanted to know:

Is it exclusively for singles? Well, the restaurant's open to the public, and I doubt they're checking for wedding bands.

Are there going to be good people there? I don't know, are you going? The crowd at LVStyle happy hour tends to skew towards the thirties - some a little younger, some a little older. If it's lame, then head over to Starters Riverport. I'm sure the US Open will be on. :)

Is it going to be sketchy? Will it be a pick-up joint like LA Fitness?* Hey, it's a singles happy hour. People who want to meet other single people should go. This is not exclusively a dating thing. Hello, ladies who complain that all your friends are married... here's a great op to meet other single women. Just say hi! If conversation lulls in seven minutes, order one of their fabulous Cosmos and toast the ladies from Sex & the City.

Bottom Line: JUST GOOOOOO. And let me know how it is. My married self will be on a treadmill thanks to my fabulous trainer, Becca, and the need to fit into aforementioned mermaid-shaped dress at Courtney's wedding in two weeks.

*I hear that LA Fitness is a pick-up joint that has workout equipment. I know that Kim and Kacie work out there, anyone else? Weigh in?

Christmas has arrived in Bethlehem!

The trees are going up, so it must be Christmas! So what if it's not even Halloween yet.

Hyatt Place in Bethlehem

I happened to be visiting the new Hyatt Place (45 W. North Street at Guetter Street, Bethlehem) at the same time as WFMZ reporter Jaccii Farris and her camera guy. I barely escaped the lens as I visited with Maria in the sales office. Click the link above for the story.

The hotel's grand opening is next week, but I had a chance to see it before the crowds. After managing housing for lots of people in my last job, and traveling quite a bit myself, I can appreciate the amenities the hotel offers visitors to Bethlehem.

First, technology and contemporary living style rules. There's a check-in kiosk (like you'd find at an airport). Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Two computers in the lobby provide free faxing and printing for guests. Each room has a mini-fridge. The gym and pool are small but modern (so the whole building does not smell like chlorine). And, the property is 100% smoke-free.

I was most impressed by the hotel's 24/7 "Guest Kitchen" (pictured below). At any time of day or night, the same staff that can check you in or get you another pillow (they call them gallery hosts) will also make you a hamburger, ice cream sundae or cobb salad. You can place an order on a touch screen that is reminiscent of Wawa's. You can also grab a cup of real Starbucks coffee and something to eat in a case that looks a lot like the kind you'd find in a Starbucks cafe. Nothing they're offering is revolutionary, but touches like those make traveling more comfortable.

In addition, there are lots of little nooks, including in the lobby ("gallery") and in each of the rooms. The sofabed in each room has a huge cushioned ottoman that would be perfect for curling up with a book, or to watch bad late night TV on your 42" flat panel screen (see below).

There is a 70-person flexible meeting room, as well as some space off the dining area that could be set for a 20-person dinner (including on the patio) - perfect for a rehearsal dinner or other private meal. Some catering is done on-site, but the Apollo Grill will cater a full menu for private events.

So with all these amenities, you are probably wondering - how much? I checked the rack rate for tonight, and it's $139 for a room with a queen bed, about the same as Hotel Bethlehem.

Tango Tea at Moravian

The inaugural "tango tea," a dance lesson with cheesecake & tea, will take place this Sunday at Moravian College. No partner or reservation necessary.

October 25

4-6 p.m.
Bahnson Center @ Moravian College (60 W. Locust St., Bethlehem)

A free intro class will be held at 3:30 p.m. Then to stay for the tea and tango event (the "milonga"), it's $8 for general admission, and $3 for full-time students. The group also meets on Thursday evenings in the same place. There's a minimal cost for the Thursday night events as well. E-mail Andrew Kaye for more info.

Young Professionals get together in the LV

If you haven't heard, young professionals in the Lehigh Valley are getting together on October 29 for a forum about... ourselves. (How very Gen X of us.)

If you are not clued in to what's going on in the Lehigh Valley, this event should be a great intro. It's free, at a fun venue (the baseball stadium), and is guaranteed to be good networking. And, I predict there will be an after-forum social at Pig Pen across the street.

Check out the event's web site, and I'll see you there.

YP Forum 2009: Your Voice, Your Valley
Date: October 29, 2009, 5-8 p.m.
Location: Coca Cola Park, Home of the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs
Register: theisler@lehighvalley.org or 610-266-2217

What's a "young professional" or "YP"? Technically, for this event it's anyone who lives and/or works in the Lehigh Valley and is from the Generation X (born between 1961 and 1981)and Millennials (born between 1982-2003); however, everyone is
welcome!

Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation wants:
-To learn about the key areas of interest for retaining and attracting graduates and younger talent to the region.
-To develop focus groups around those key areas and put you in touch with the appropriate groups, like our elected officials, community leaders and area employers, who can bring about change;
-To create new and innovative ways to reach out to YPs and tout the assets of the Lehigh Valley; and
-To get more young professionals, like you, engaged in the Lehigh Valley community.

Halloween for Grown-ups (III) - Zombie Prom

What's a Zombie Prom?

First it was a comic book. Then it was a film, and an off-Broadway musical.

Now it is a phenomenon, apparently sweeping the Lehigh Valley. If you missed the Zombie Prom at Crocodile Rock last weekend, there's at least one more opportunity to dance like you're dead this month.

On Oct 24 at 9 PM Sotto Santi Restaurant (10 W. Fourth St. South Side Bethlehem), invites you to a Zombie Prom celebrating Eskandalo Hair Salon's 2nd Anniversary party. $5 gets you in to enjoy DJ Brown Nick spinning punk rock as well as a noise band called TILE (performing at 10 PM).

If you're going to be a zombie prom-goer, why not be queen?

Valley Social Magazine

If you hang out at someplace trendy, there will inevitably be a pile of Valley Social magazines wedged somewhere near the entrance. (I have yet to see a lit rack in a night club.)


If you don't visit anywhere that is trendy, or if the trendsetters have wiped out your hot spot's pile, you can read it online. It's not nearly as glossy, but it's a little easier to handle than the massive mag. There are a few local features, interviews with famous faces (some even have "regional" connections - e.g. Chelsea Handler is from Livingston, NJ), people posed in front of a step-and-repeat banner, and an aspirational fashion spread. Also, really beautiful photography.

While you're online, sign up for their e-mail updates. Since the magazine's deadlines are so far in advance (they're just getting around to putting a female golfer from the US Women's Open on the cover), they can't promote their upcoming events in the printed version.

For instance:

Tomorrow (October 22), Knopf Automotive will celebrate the launch of "the highly anticipated 4-door sports sedan, the Porsche Panamera. Enjoy live entertainment, Octoberfest (sic) inspired hors d'ouerves, and German beer & wine..."

Celebrate El Dia De Los Muertos on October 24 by wearing all black... "dance the night away and awaken your soul to the contagious salsa beat" at Pacifico. Starts at 10 p.m.

Head out to Yianni’s Taverna for a Muscular Dystrophy fundraiser on November 03, which is mysteriously promoted as a Grand Opening.

Halloween for Grown-Ups (II)

Since I posted my search for grown-up fun for Halloween, I have received a couple of suggestions off-blog that I thought you all might like. Feel free to add your own suggestions!

First, the GlassWorks Halloween Party is at the Banana Factory (25 W. Third St., Bethlehem) on Friday, Oct. 30, starting at 8 p.m. Enjoy glassblowing demos, specialty beers, treats by Chocolate Lab, martinis by Marani, music, dancing, and a costume contest. Tickets are $50 (must be 21 to attend).

Also, members of the Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild will be telling scary stories at Godfrey Daniels (7 East Fourth Street, Bethlehem) on October 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets $5.50, children 5 and under free.

And finally, I forgot to mention Dorney Park Halloween Haunt (3830 Dorney Park Road, Allentown)? The park offers a variety of Halloween-themed attractions (some for little kids, some truly gruesome and scary for big kids and adults). Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through November 1. Tickets start at $22.99.

Competing Events

My dance card is never so full as on a night when I have purchased tickets to something.

Tonight is no exception: I'd already registered for the Power of Women fall networking event, when the opportunity to go to Celebrity Scholastic Scrimmage (benefiting Communities in Schools) came up.

LVT correspondents Courtney and Julie will have to report on how CSS went - I hear it can get quite competitive. I'll be checking the PBS schedule to see if I can catch it later!

Instead, I'll be hanging with the ladies at the Banana Factory, delicately stuffing my face with whatever the gang at Sagra Cooking are serving up, and listening to Tina Bradford talk about social networking.

(It's not too late to register for either event, so visit the embedded links above if you're interested in attending!)

My Boy's Baking

I was running an errand for a client and stopped by My Boy's Baking (196 Nazareth Pike, "Bethlehem" - just north of 22 on Route 191 next to Susan's Gourmet). I had heard that Rachael Ray was a fan, but I hadn't stopped in, since their bakery hours are 10-5, M-F. I had seen this sign many times:

...but this time I actually pulled into the parking lot.

The outside may not look like much, but the inside smells like... heaven. Bright and clean, there's no place to "eat in" - probably dangerous for those of us with a sweet tooth anyway. A ton of colorful baskets, trays and plates were displayed, just waiting to be loaded up with freshly-baked goodies. I picked up a box of cookies to take back to my client and a few fliers. The chocolate chip-toffee cookies were still warm and I am salivating even as I type this the next day.

If you order a pound, you get a box with this many cookies (minus the two I ate in the car on the way home - oops) for $11.

Visiting their web site reminded me of another great way local businesses diversify. I'll bet they get a lot of online orders from biscotti and rugalach fanatics, especially now since Rach has introduced them to the world, but locals should know about MBB too!

Boutique shopping in the Lehigh Valley

I work dangerously close to Shuze - as in, I can hear the UPS truck departing after making a delivery of new goodies. I am tres jolie about the new pair of knee-high black leather boots Jennifer suggested and am wearing them any chance I get. I love shopping there, because there's always something new, she's hand-picked every item in the store and can give you the back story. She's also effortlessly fashionable herself and has a great eye for style, and like a real friend, will give you an honest opinion. Shuze has established relationships with local jewelry designers and always has the of-the-minute acessory you didn't know you were looking for.

I got a similar vibe at Boutique to Go/Boutiquetogo(522 N. 19th St. Allentown). I was exchanging some tickets at the Civic Theatre box office across the street; next Saturday night, we're going to see Abe Lincoln in Illinois. Since I had a few extra minutes, I wandered in and looked around the store. Despite the fact that the other patrons in the store were old enough to be my (very fashionable) grandmother, there were many, many items that are very much "this season," if you follow these things:

Chainmail and mixed metal, multi-strand bracelets and necklaces.


"Statement" pendants similar to this one.


A huge wall of handbags including Jewel-toned totes similar to these.

There are also quite a few special gift items. I adored the wine "cases" in the upper-right hand corner of this photo. (Yes, this would be an upgrade to the paper bag from the state store that you have been using.)

The mommies-to-be in my life (Jill, Kim, Kristen, Jessica) should drop some serious hints about this place. This is definitely a baby gift zone - nothing essential, just fun, designer baby blankets, toys, and decor. Mixed among the items in the girl/baby section (pictured below) were terry cloth-covered flip-flops designed to get you home from the spa in style - a thoughtful gift for Mom!

The prices were more than you'll find at Target, but still not outrageous (and there's a sale going on now). But for that special thing, a unique piece for yourself or a one-of-a-kind gift, the satisfaction of knowing that you are supporting a local small business, and a great story to boot, both Boutiquetogo and Shuze should be on your short list.

Alternative Medicine in the Lehigh Valley

Lucky dog getting Reike treatment.

We received a postcard in the mail today about a local animal therapy center. I thought it might be a training center for therapy animals, but actually it's a therapy center FOR animals, right here in the Lehigh Valley. The center offers alternative medicine for your pets, including reike (hands-on healing) for your German shepherd's injuries, acupuncture and aromatherapy for your cat's anxieties, and underwater treadmill for your labradoodle's rehabilitation after surgery. I'm not sure whether any other local animal hospitals offer these kinds of treatments - if they do, please comment!

The Animal Therapy Center on the Companion Animal Campus of Wright Veterinary Medical Center (3247B Wimmer Rd., Bethlehem, at the intersection of Butztown Road). Check out the new center on October 17 & 18 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Our cat, who thinks that he is a person (or at least, that we are cats).

Lehigh Valley Brewfest

The annual Lehigh Valley Brewfest is happening this Saturday in Easton. Yes we do still live in Bethlehem but apparently I spend all of my time and money in Easton. On October 17 in Hugh Moore Park, about 1,000 people are expected to taste a ton of different kinds of beer, enjoy music, food, and some beautiful scenery.

If you are "not a big beer person," which is apparently the excuse everyone who is not going is using, that is okay. The point of the 'fest is to introduce you to new things - perhaps even a beer or two you might like - so unless you don't like people (which is a whole other thing), you should still go. There are over 25 breweries and each one will have at least two beers to sample. Some taste like fruit, some taste like wine, and some taste like flavorful beer, but I doubt that anything will taste like Miller Light.

If you ARE "a big beer person," then perhaps the Connoisseur Tasting that starts at 12:30 might be for you. If not, hop on the shuttle from the city parking deck with the rest of us at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the event. At last year's event, a technology hiccup made the line move slowly, but I've been assured that it won't be a problem this year.

If you have never been to Hugh Moore Park, it is a beautiful wooded recreation area maintained by the folks at the Canal Museum. It's just a couple of miles from downtown Easton, along the Lehigh River. If you're game for an educational field trip, there will even be a chance to take a canal boat ride and sober up a little. There will also be information about the organization that benefits from the 'fest, Equi-librium, inside the tent.

this could be you.

Your ticket price does not include the cost of food, but you can pick up reasonably-priced eats from the vendors on site: Pearly Bakers, Sagra Cooking, Stewarts Concessions, A Great American Sausage, Dave's Ice Cream, Wood's Wings, Fat Daddy's BBQ, Mex-Tex Trio, and 3rd St. Cafe.

At the end of the event, the shuttle will take you back to downtown Easton, where you can grab a bite to eat (last year we went to Sette Luna - yum) or continue the party at any of the downtown bars. The event is rain or shine, under tents and on grass. Wear sensible footwear and we'll see you there.

Easton Wins

If there was a contest for "best city of the week," I think that Easton might win for its activities last week.

Bethlehem: Lehigh football beat Georgetown (yay), Firehouse ribbon-cutting (couldn't find any photos), a new dance floor at Starter's (+2.5 points)

Allentown: Mayoral debate (-.5 points)

Easton: Hosted Urban Land Institute's "The Ultimate Green Choice: Urban Revitalization - City of Easton Case Study" on Thursday. Hosted Movies at the Mill at the Silk Mill on Friday. Hosted Apple Fest at the Easton Farmer's Market on Saturday. (+10 points)

I took part in the ULI conference, wherein the busy people of Easton took a few minutes to tell us about their urban revitalization progress, especially in residential neighborhoods (including some before-and-after comparisons of Easton Redevelopment Authority (ERA)'s blighted or vacant structures within the City limits). We also heard Easton's plans for the Silk Mill project.

The Simon Silk Mill is a 330,000 square foot historic complex in Easton's West Ward. It is easily accessible from the 13th Street exit from Route 22. The ERA, which owns the Mill complex, is considering it as a major arts center and destination, with buildings ranging from light industrial artist workspaces to media technology, as well as more traditional artist studio spaces. Artist enterprise facilities may be offered as condominium units and/or rentals, retail, restaurant, and plenty of parking. It will also be a part of the Bushkill Creek trail, which will begin near the intersection of Fourth Street and Route 22, where Lafayette College is planning a fabulous upgrade (once all those nasty hubcaps are out of the way).

The mayor then took the 90 of us on a walking "tour." We began with a history lesson and self-guided condo tour at The Grand Eastonian. We then walked down Restaurant Row, aka Ferry Street, where Sette Luna and Ocean were getting ready for the happy hour and dinner crowds and construction on the King's Drycleaner building and former Lipkin's space (soon to be restaurants as well) was evident. We walked past the Crayola Factory and Canal Museum, much to the amusement of the hassids who were parked at one of the wrought-iron tables. The Northampton County Historical and Geneological Society building was next, actively under construction and expected to open next year.

Here's an interior shot of the multi-purpose space in the Nurture Nature Center building (516 Northampton Street). It was once a fancy movie theater and will soon be available for event rentals and public events. Another part of the building will house the Easton Farmer's Market (indoors, off-season! Brilliant) and a few other office and retail tenants.

Emily, Katie and I were just at the State Theatre last week to see David Sedaris, but we didn't have a lot of time to gawk at the scenery. Most original architecture has been carefully preserved. Here, Denise Smith lets us know that this room has a "ship" theme (starboard ahead).

The front lobby of the State Theater (below) used to be a grand old bank.

In case you were curious, the red bags everyone is carrying are Easton Farmer's Market totes.

Voting in the Lehigh Valley

When you moved to the Lehigh Valley, you should have changed your driver's license to reflect your new address. Did you notice the voter registration option on the form? Did you check yes and register to vote in PA? Yesterday was the last day to register to vote in the November 3 election.

Local elections are a bit of a mystery to transplants, because in some cases, we aren't even sure what we're voting for, let alone who the candidates are. For instance, when we moved here, I was not familiar with of the concept of "County Commissioner." In D.C., I voted for city council, mayor and our district representative in Congress*. For those of you who didn't know either and maybe pretended you did, here's what commissioners do in Lehigh County:

"The Board of Commissioners is the legislative branch of County
government and has all the legislative powers that may be exercised by
the County under the Constitution, the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
and the Lehigh County Home Rule Charter. Some of the Board's powers are: To
enact, amend or repeal ordinances, resolutions, and motions; to make
appropriations; to incur indebtedness; to adopt the budget; to levy taxes,
assessments and service charges; and to adopt the Administrative Code and the
Personnel Code."

There is no county council in Lehigh County, just a board of commissioners. Most townships also have a board of commissioners. Individual cities and boroughs have their own councils in addition to the county's board of commissioners.

Another office that was new to me was state constable. A constable serves six-year terms and belong to the executive branch of government. They answer to the governor and are not formally overseen by any state agency. They perform services for the Magisterial courts, but do not belong to the judicial branch. Constables maintain order at election polls and in the courts, may serve judicial process, writs, arrest warrants, levies and collect fines.

Many candidates have familiar surnames to Valley natives. Some were grade school classmates or are parents of their grade school buddies. Others have become household names by serving their communities in various volunteer capacities or by speaking out against current elected officials. Others have been in office so long, that no one can imagine anyone else in the role. You may be surprised at at the number of uncontested races in your district.

Local newspapers ask candidates to fill out a questionnaire and publishing the answers. They also generally endorse candidates for the major elections, but the rest of the pre-election coverage is pretty thin. The Pennsylvania League of Women Voters also provides a lot of valuable information on local elections, including where your polling station is, what to bring with you, and candidate bios. There are often public debates, but generally only the Congressional races' debates are televised on WFMZ, Channel 69.

Depending on where you live, this year's election could include county commissioners, state senators, judges and other local officials. Do your homework - vote - and please, for me, don't base your votes on name recognition (e.g. "I saw a lot of her signs in my neighborhood.")! Voter turnout is generally low in years where there is not a presidential race, so you will probably not have to wait very long to cast your ballot (paper, or touch-screen, like at my polling station).

*A little civics lesson for those of you who don't know: D.C. residents do not have voting representation in the United States Senate. D.C. has only been entitled to electoral votes for President since 1961. In the U.S. House of Representatives, the District is entitled to a delegate, who is not allowed to vote on the floor of the House, but can vote on procedural matters and in House committees. This is why many D.C. residents choose the license plate that proclaims "taxation without representation" and many remain registered to vote in their hometowns.

No Boys Allowed: Girls-only activities in the Lehigh Valley

If you are a football widow, or just looking for some fun with the girls this month, you are in luck!

Girls Night Out Lehigh Valley is an evening of beauty, shopping, food & entertainment, hosted by TC Salon Spa in Bethlehem. The event on October 8 raises funds & awareness for Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley and the Beginning over Foundation. General admission $25.

The next Martinis and Manicures events are October 14 at Allentown Brew Works and October 29 at Bethlehem Brew Works. Your $10 cover gets you a mini-manicure or mini-massage and your choice of a martini from the special Ladies Night Menu.

Run, walk or volunteer at the 17th annual Women's 5K Classic on October 17, on the Lehigh Parkway. All money raised goes directly to help fund breast and female cancer programs in the Greater Lehigh Valley area.

The Ladies Affair (postcard, above) raises funds for Lehigh Valley Hospital Health Network with an event at Melt Restaurant on October 25. The afternoon soiree will feature mini facials, massages, manicures and makeup and hair demonstrations, plus shopping and a raffle (what Lehigh Valleyans frequently call a "Chinese auction," which is neither Chinese in origin nor a true auction - just put your tickets in the bag next to the item you want and don't ask questions).

Enjoy!

Fall fever: pumpkin picking and other fun autumn activities in the Lehigh Valley

image borrowed from The Gold Puppy - I adore the string at the end of the pumpkin stem.

From my window in Bethlehem this morning, everything is still green, green, green. But I drove up Route 33 to Wind Gap yesterday and it is definitely fall there already. Which means... next weekend is probably going to be peak leaf peeping time north of here.

Everyone seems to be itching to do fall-type activities, like stomping grapes, picking pumpkins and apples, taking a hay ride, and generally enjoying the anomaly that is the Lehigh Valley: Where you can enjoy a pastoral afternoon on a real working farm and a world-class farm-to-table meal and show in the evening, and never leave your county.

TMC and ET list the Northampton County Open Gate Farm tour options. Amore Farms (6821 Steuben Rd. Nazareth) really has fun for all ages: hay rides, a pumpkin patch and fresh produce, plus a vineyard and winery tasting room.

CVB also has some great suggestions, including a trick donkey show at Corinne’s Carriage House (7531 Bausch Road, New Tripoli)!

I'd also suggest visiting Hawk Mountain, since the fall migration is in full swing and you'll likely see a lot of birds: yesterday, 151 were sighted off the various lookouts on the mountain. Even if you aren't an avid birdwatcher, the Mountain's trails are well-maintained and the views are breathtaking, especially as the leaves change.

Lehigh Valley Fests this weekend

If you transplants haven't noticed, the Lehigh Valley loves a 'fest.

Even last week's Celtic Classic is frequently called Celtic Fest.

There are at least three FREE options for your entertainment this weekend.

Easton's Garlic Fest kicks off on Saturday with the Easton Farmers Market from at 9:00 a.m. "The Circle," where Northampton St. and Third St. intersect, two blocks from New Jersey and Route 22, will be closed to traffic. At 2 p.m., the wine and beer tasting event begins. Enjoy live music all day, including a concert by the kids from School of Rock at 2:30 pm! There's a Gastric Garlic People's Choice contest, a garlic dip contest, chef cook-offs and demonstrations, and children's entertainment. Plus, there's a blood drive for those of you who can make the connection from garlic to vampires to blood.




The 4th Annual Bethlehem Harvest Festival will feature an array of fall fun on Saturday. Beer tastings will once again take place on Main Street in Bethlehem from 1-4 p.m, with the beer garden in the Sun Inn Courtyard beginning at 3 p.m. There will be:
•Beer and food sampling
•An open air produce market
•Fine arts and crafts vendors
•19th Century brewing demonstrations
•Live music
•Children’s activities at the Smithy
•Harvest Soup contest and sampling
•Apple dessert features from the Sun Inn


Finally, Galen Glen Winery is offering tours of their vineyard & cellars this and next Sunday. Not to take anything away from the other wineries on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, but Galen Glen is gorgeous. The view reminds us of the hills of Napa Valley, and the wine is tasty. Free tractor and wagon tours depart at 1, 2, 3 & 4 p.m.

I'll be stopping by the Harvest Fest with my sister and husband, after visiting the ArtsQuest Musikfest volunteer appreciation reception at Banana Factory. Go out and 'fest, let us know where you end up and what you think!

Cabaret in the Lehigh Valley

I received an e-mail from Touchstone Theater today announcing an upcoming cabaret event. I couldn't help but wonder if cabaret is making a comeback. A cabaret show features comedy, song, dance, and theatre. The two things that make it unique from other forms of entertainment is its performance venue—a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables (often dining or drinking)— and its master of ceremonies.

The Touchstone performance is on Saturday, October 19 at Touchstone Theatre (321 E. Fourth Street, Southside Bethlehem). Doors open at 10:00, Performance at 10:15 p.m. $10 general admission, $7 students. Tickets on sale at the door or e-mail LVDance@gmail.com. The show will feature music, dance, food and beverage, and is produced by the Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange.

On October 27, November 24, and December 29, Allentown Public Theatre hosts the Spotlight Cabaret and Piano Bar at Allentown Brew Works. You'll hear Cabaret-style songs from 8-9:30 pm. After the show, an open piano bar will entertain the crowd with sing-along standards and show tunes. Cover is $5, not including a two-drink minimum (includes all bar drinks, soft drinks, and bottled water). The High Gravity Bar is no Kit Kat Klub, but I'll bet it would be a fun venue to see a cabaret show.

The Lehigh Valley chapter of the American Red Cross hosts their Cabaret & Cuisine party each spring. Next year's will be held on April 9 at Holiday Inn Conference Center, Fogelsville.

Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University has had cabaret nights in the past, but I couldn't find any mention of one in the 2009-2010 season schedule.

Is the Lehigh Valley ready for a cabaret revival?

Halloween for Grown-ups

It is almost October, and I am thinking about what to do on Halloween (other than handing out candy to 200 kids who know our neighborhood is a good one to trick-or-treat in - that's just an estimate since we turned the light out last year after one hour and 100 kids). *

There's no way I'll get all tarty and dress up as a "sexy" whatever (kitten/nurse/devil/bumblebee etc.). But we love Halloween and want to celebrate it with adults, as well as the trick-or-treaters. Last year we dropped in on a party at the coolest apartment on Main Street in Bethlehem.

I just heard about a WDIY fundraiser at Allentown Brew Works called "One Ale of a Night" on Halloween, and it sounds fun: Guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite forest deity or nature spirit (though costumes are optional). $70/person.

I also saw an ad in Lehigh Valley Style for Black Out III, a party that benefits the MAC AIDS Fund and AIDS Activities Office of Lehigh Valley Hospital, on October 15 (close, but not 10/31; however, the ad features a woman seemingly wearing a mask made out of a lacy bra, and black attire is recommended). The festivities begin at 8 p.m. at Melt's Level 3 and tickets are $30 each.

The American Lung Association is hosting a party called Thriller at Masquerade at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Fogelsville on November 13. Since the costume stores will slash prices after October 31, they might be on to something. Tickets are $125 and there's only one hour of open bar (cash bar after), so go early.

I was wondering, does anyone know of other options for a fun, grown-up Halloween in the Lehigh Valley?

* If you are thinking about taking your kids trick-or-treating in a neighborhood other than your own, prepare to get funny looks.

New News

The Eastern PA Business Journal shared some good news this week about some developments in the Lehigh Valley. If you don't subscribe (or read it at the office), it's actually a great source of tips for what's going on. Unfortunately, they don't post much news on their web site, so you either need to read the paper version or hear about it from bloggers who are too busy with weddings to go out and get news this week!

• Montana West (1030 Route 309 Quakertown) opened a second dance club, next to the bar where you can still ride the mechanical bull between line dances. The new night spot, called Storm, is supposed to resemble a Las Vegas night club.
• A new building that will house Cosmopolitan Restaurant is going up at 20 N. Sixth Street in Allentown. In fine Lehigh Valley tradition, this place will probably be known as "the restaurant where Sal's Spaghetti House used to be," at least for a while. There will be an upscale restaurant including a rooftop bar and dining area. It's right across the street from Allentown Symphony Hall and might fill the fine-dining void on that end of Hamilton left by Federal Grill.
• Hyatt Place (45 West North Street, Historic Bethlehem) is taking reservations beginning October 24, just in time for Christmas City USA festivities. Unfortunately, there isn't any event space or restaurant on-site, just amenities for hotel guests.
  

I don't think the recession is over, but these are all good signs!

Chocolate Lab

It is time again for one of my favorite holidays... my sister-in-law's birthday. I told her recently that she is one of my favorite people to shop for. A couple of years ago, we got her a custom-made necklace from Jewelry by Randi. Aimee's got so many interests, and likes "pretty, shiny things" - like a swallow - so anything girly, or funny, or literary, is good. We also both happen to love cupcakes.

I wanted to send her something from a local business, and while I was in Historic Bethlehem yesterday meeting Christine for lunch at Mama Nina's (mm... Boccocino Salad) I stopped in at Chocolate Lab. Arlene helped me pick out a box of completely gorgeous, unique chocolates (including a fluffernutter cup - yum) and advised me how to ship them (in bubble wrap, inside a postal service box, on a cold week like this week).

Don't they look like cupcakes?! Happy Birthday, SIL!

Update: You can now find Arlene's chocolate goodness at 446 Main Street, next to the Moravian Book Shop and across the street from Hotel Bethlehem (store interior, pictured below).

Pinkberry in Bethlehem?!

I took a walk down Third Street today to get a cup of seriously strong iced coffee from Hard Bean Cafe.

I noticed some guys working in the space that used to be Southside Serendipity. One was posting a sign for Euro Yogurt. I asked a friend in one of the retail stores on the block, and she said she heard a rumor it was going to be a Pinkberry. I always get Sprinkles Cupcakes and Pinkberry mixed up, so I had to Google it. Now I remember: I had Pinkberry frozen yogurt last summer when I was in Queens/Flushing for the US Open.

From their web site:

"The creation of Swirly Goodness dates back to January, 2005 when co-founders
Shelly Hwang, an experienced restaurateur, and Young Lee, a Parsons-trained
designer with a fascination for desserts and frozen treats, blended past
inspirations from an Italian gelato store with fond memories of mixing fruit
with soft serve at a Hawaiian pineapple plantation. The result was Pinkberry’s
perfect marriage of extraordinary taste palates, inspired design and a social
experience that indulges the senses. Today, Pinkberry has grown to over 70
stores and our wildly popular tart yogurt has become known as “the taste that
launched a thousand parking tickets.” Pinkberry is the most talked about, great
tasting, premium frozen yogurt available."

The most talked about yogurt? Are there any other great tasting, premium frozen yogurts available? Isn't this kind of a Blue Ocean situation?

Regardless of whether it's ACTUALLY Pinkberry or a place that's a lot LIKE Pinkberry, it's great to see some more businesses giving it a go on the Southside. I think the only frozen treat option now is The Cup on Fourth Street, and they are best known for tasty homemade hard ice cream.

Update: Euro Yogurt (129 E. Third St., Bethlehem) has been open for a while now, but I have been too busy trying all the toppings to post about it. I love the fresh mango, Godiva chocolate and Fruit Loops. Prices start at $2.50 and go up with each additional topping. It is a tasty, healthy treat (if you don't count the toppings) and I heard a rumor that there will be a cereal bar soon. Lucky Lehigh students: Free wifi and tasty froyo? I would have loved that when I was at AU!!

Action Wheels/Cutters Bike Shop

Like a lot of people, when gas hit $4.00 a gallon, I considered riding my bike to work. There are showers and bike lockers at work, so I had no good reason not to, and it's only 9.5 miles each way... right?

I was pretty daunted, not really having ridden a bike since high school. I stopped by Action Wheels Bike Shop (530 W. Broad St., Bethlehem) and talked with one of the owners, John Ronca, who assured me that not only could I do this, but that it would be no sweat. He hooked me up with a great road bike at a good price, a helmet and a couple of accessories. Plus... he promised I could bring my bike in for a tune-up anytime.

Well, the commute was, ahem, more exercise than I was willing to endure on a weekday morning, plus the ride felt like it took forever. So for a while I would drive over the mountain, park at the Lehigh tennis courts, and ride the rest of the way on my bike (about 3 miles each way). Kind of a cop-out, I know. But along the way I started really loving riding my bike and started training for a sprint triathlon race. I visited John and his crew again, and they gave me advice and suggested some equipment to help me along.

About a week after the race, I went to Action Bikes again. I'm hooked - I said to Larry - I want toe clips and shoes! Next year I hope to take part in the City to Shore fundraising race for MS (at least 45 miles of it) and I owe it all to Action Bikes and $4.00 gas.

Update: John and his family have opened a new bike shop on the Southside (418 E. Third St., Bethlehem) and they rent bikes in addition to selling and repairing them. So if you have heard about the tow path, or are excited to see whether the Greenway becomes a reality, but you don't have your own wheels, check out Cutters. It's just $20 a day; even Rachael Ray can't beat that.

What They Made

Every year, TMC prints the annual compensation for local area executives. The 2008 edition was printed in this past Sunday's paper.

For those of us from outside the area, the list doesn't mean much. First, there are only 13 publicly-traded companies "in the Lehigh Valley," which includes East Greenville, Harleysville, Souderton, Boyertown, Breinigsville and Doylestown for the purposes of this report. I'd venture to guess the biggest cheeses who actually live and work in the Lehigh Valley don't show up on this list, even though many of their salaries are public information, too. (If you're curious how much our elected officials and their staff members make, visit this site. You might be surprised!)

It took two TMC reporters to paraphrase the report and make the observation that even executives got a pay cut this year. I miss The Washington Post.

Thriller!

The Thriller wedding dance video was a Youtube sensation. MJ's recent passing started the fire burning again. And now, right here in the Lehigh Valley, you can be a part of Thriller history.

Pennsylvania Youth Theatre will aim to break the World Record for number of dancers simultaniously doing the Thriller Dance. First, register in advance. They ask for everyone to try to give or get $20 in donations. Then attend one rehearsal to learn the dance. Finally, find a great Zombie costume and get wear it to the Banana Factory at 7 p.m. on October 24. It's advertised as a family-friendly event, but I guarantee the bars on the Southside will be flooded with zombies that night after the event (BEWARE).

PYT's studios are inside the Banana Factory (25 W. 3rd Street, Southside Bethlehem).

"Do You Ever Stay Home?"

Tonight after my early gym workout and long, full workday, I am relaxing at home with a home-cooked meal and a DVR'd episode of Mad Men. However, I am looking over the pile tickets we ordered: Historic Haunts of Downtown Bethlehem with Becky and Todd; season tix for DeSales Act 1 mainstage season for the second year in a row; great seats for Abe Lincoln in Illinois, A Christmas Carol, Little Shop of Horrors, and Rent at Civic Theatre in Allentown; Lehigh Valley BrewFest; and last but not least, David Sedaris at the State Theatre in Easton.

Tennis

I spent a lot of time working at the US Open over the last two years. Yesterday I had the opportunity to be a spectator for once! Mom and I ordered tickets as part of a bus tour sponsored by a local tennis club. We saw Roger Federer beat Lleyton Hewitt (4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4) - a great match for Round 3. We also watched a match on one of the side courts, where we were so close, we could almost touch the players. But the highlight of the day, hands-down, was witnessing (I hope) American tennis history. Melanie Oudin, a 17-year old from Marietta, GA, put Maria Sharapova out of the spotlight for once (3-6, 6-4, 7-5). Melanie leveraged Maria's 21 double faults and scrapped for points throughout the match to advance to the fourth round of her first US Open. The crowd was pulling for her, cheering even when Maria made unforced errors. Pretty cool on its own, especially if you used to sort of love to hate Maria Sharapova for her affiliation with a competitor. But Melanie's emotional on-court interview following the match was one for the USTA history books.

Anyway, it got me thinking about tennis. I played a lot growing up, and I might take it up again someday. Where do people go to play? Obviously there are public courts all over the Valley. But as far as private clubs where you can take a lesson and potentially play in a league, I found only a few options outside of country clubs.

1. Winning Touch Tennis of Lehigh Valley 1166 Sherman St., Allentown
2. Oakmont Tennis Club 2101 W Allen St., Allentown‎ (Clay courts only)
3. Westend Racquet Swim & Fitness Club ‎4636 Crackersport Rd., Allentown‎
4. Sand Island River St., Bethlehem
5. Northwood Racquet & Fitness Club 3738 Northwood Ave., Easton‎
6. Tennis Zone & Fitness Center 451 California Rd., Quakertown

Did I miss any? What are there benefits and drawbacks to each?

First Friday

I have rounded up a few friends to check out First Friday in Southside Bethlehem. It is one of my favorite nights of the month, such a great vibe and the sidewalks are full of people of all ages. The weather should be divine (for once!)

I'd like to start with a drink somewhere. It's Friday! A couple of months ago it was Lehigh Pub. This time it might be Looper's, Starters, or somewhere at the Sands. I'm not a smoker, so McGrady's and Tally Ho are out. Am I missing anywhere great?

Then maybe we'll visit Banana Factory and see what's going on. The glass blowing studio's "stadium seating" gives everyone a great view of the entire operation, and you can jam along with the artists to the live band playing.

Depending on what's in the gallery space (one time, the kids from the Lehigh Valley High School for the Performing Arts were performing), if there's a new exhibition, I'll hang around and take in the sights. It's a good meet-up place; every single month I see someone I know in the hallways. Sometimes I'll peek into some artist studios upstairs. It's cool to see what they're working on. I appreciate it so much, because I have no artistic talent whatsoever. There's always food and wine, and Olaf's got vodka on ice. Anneke and Becky have both attempted to entice me to join them in the salsa dance class held on Friday nights at the Banana Factory, but I haven't given in yet.

Then I'll make my way down Third Street to the places that are part of the Downtown Bethlehem Association. If I'm shopping for a gift for someone, I will visit Home & Planet, Stone Soup, Comfort & Joy, and Cleo's. Shuze and Clothesline Organics are my favorite places to shop for me. :) Clothesline welcomes classical guitarist Heath Hitchcock and will serve up local microbrews. Shuze has got jewelry from Loris Miller and fall boots! I want to get up to visit Loose Threads on Fourth Street, too. I stopped in to meet Helene - we have mutual friends, small Valley - and learned that the artist Todd Juknevic will be adorning the shop's walls with art and filling the air with music. Busy guy. If I'm craving a snack for the ride home, it's a toss-up between a dish of wild berry Euro Yogurt with mango or Tallarico's Chocolate (just about anything with dark chocolate works, but I love the coconut almond).

Have you been to First Friday, and if not - how come?

Singles in the Valley (II)

I really appreciate everyone's honesty in their response to my recent post about being single in the Lehigh Valley. I thought of you all when I read Lisa Gotto's post on the Lehigh Valley Style blog. Lehigh Valley Style is hosting a Singles Happy Hour at Looper's on the Southside of Bethlehem on September 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

A woman who works in my dentist's office has been telling me for years about how her son never meets any nice young women. Every six months I get the same story - no prospects. I figure the guy must be either (a) shy, (b) a workaholic and/or (c) gay, because most single women I know would at least go on a first date with a guy who (his mother claims) is good looking, has a job and has his own apartment, if they were asked. Am I right? What should I tell her the next time I'm in the chair for a cleaning?

Haircuts

One of the last things you think about when you move to a new area is where you're going to go to get your hair cut. If you're a woman, you can go plenty of weeks before you realize your hair is growing out unevenly (new me) or your roots are showing (old me).

Fortunately, I had the pleasure of doing business with a few stylish women shortly after moving to the area. I admired Tanya's hairstyle and asked her where she got hers cut. She recommended TC Salon & Spa in Bethlehem. I saw her stylist a few times, but there wasn't any chemistry. History: My stylist in DC was amazing; he became a friend and I saw him for almost eight years, despite his moving over to a tonier location (Friendship Heights) and becoming a big shot salon manager. So I asked the girl at the front desk for a recommendation - I have thick hair, don't need color services, want someone who will likely stick around and has some night hours. She recommended the woman I see now and I've seen her consistently since. She also recommended an aesthetician on staff at TC that I see regularly, too.

If you are looking for a salon and stylist that's right for you, I'd definitely recommend doing what I did - even if it's in the checkout line at Wegman's. I don't think you have to go to a fancy salon to get a great cut or color. The longevity of many converted-porch salons is a testament to that theory. I also don't think you need to drive far away - try visiting a couple of salons within a few miles of your home.

I know two people who drive more than 100 miles to get their hair cut, where they used to live. I say, it's time to cut the cord (you know who you are)!

Pamela Varkony wrote about TC's new salon in Allentown recently. The new salon will be designed by the same firm that did Melt at the Promenade Shops!

Ornamental Tin Stars

Someone asked at dinner the other night, "What is up with the big stars on some people's houses?" I noticed when I moved to the area that in addition to the PA Dutch hex signs,
some locals were mounting gigantic tin stars on the sides of their suburban homes.
I don't recall seeing any in the cities, but I haven't exactly been hunting for them.

She said that she heard they were good luck. I wondered whether size or
color mattered. I did a little research online and found on Americantinstar.com:

The tradition of the barn star in America can be traced back to the 1700’s, and
to at least the 1820’s in Pennsylvania. Barn stars were most popular after the
Civil War. On many older American barns, particularly German farms, one could
see a large decoration in the shape of a star mounted on the face of the barn.
Sometimes they were just aesthetic, but sometimes they represented the trademark
of a specific barn builder. It is our understanding the original star shape was
a three-pointed star but has changed throughout the years. Colors had
significance with Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch barn paintings. These folk art
designs, many of which were star shaped, were painted directly onto each end of
the barn, and date back to the 1850’s. Black - Protection, also used to blend or
bind elements together; Red - Emotions, passion, charisma, lust and also
creativity. White - Purity, power of the moon, allows energy to flow freely.
Blue - Protection, peace, calmness and spirituality; Green - Growth, fertility,
success in things and ideas that grow. Yellow - Health in body and mind, love of
man and the sun, connection to the God. Brown - Mother earth, also can mean
friendship and strength. Orange - Abundance in career, projects and matters
needing an added push. Violet - Things that are sacred.

On one forum, a number of people wrote that they heard that the star indicated there was a sex offender living in the home, and the color and size indicated the severity of the offense. If that's the case, the family that owns this house must be a bunch of criminals.

Some people really believe this stuff, so if you are thinking about mounting an 8' red star on your garage, beware.

A story in the MetroWest Daily News breaks it down for us with some hard-hitting reporting:

"It's for decoration and it's very countryish. The inside (of my house) is very
countryish. (The star) also matched the paint and doors," Army said.

There you have it. Countryish. Have you put a star on your house? What does it mean to you?

WineScool

On Julie's recommendation, I joined the WineScool Meetup Group, which meets monthly at Starters Riverport. Last night was the first time I attended any kind of Meetup group event - a wine "school" that taught/reminded us how to taste wine (but we didn't need any help learning how to drink it). I registered online and could see who else was going in advance.


When I showed up, I saw my friend Christine, and the two of us found a seat at a table with Julie, her boyfriend Jake, and their friend, Kim. Soon our little group was surrounded by friendly people on either side. The instructor, a rep from a company that imports and distributes the wine we tasted, talked over loud sports bar noise about the wines we were tasting, where they were made, and how to pair them with food.

We started with a Seaglass Sauvignon Blanc from Santa Barbara. Flavors of grapefruit and freshly cut grass, we were told - hmm. We all helped ourselves to the generous buffet and moved on to an Italian Pinot Grigio from a winemaker called Bollini. Round Hill's Oak-Free Chardonnay was next (definitely more my speed than the buttery, toasty chardonnays from Napa and Sonoma Valleys). We enjoyed a glass of Malbec from Elsa, made in Argentina (which we learned is made from mostly cabernet sauvignon grapes), and finished back in California with a bold Cabernet called The Show, from Three Thieves. The last wine was definitely my favorite.

After dinner and five half-glasses of wine, we were feeling pretty good, so we all had dessert (included). Note the empty bottle in the foreground of this photo. We left just before 10 p.m. and there were quite a few people still hanging out, finishing the open bottles. Not bad for $25! This kind of group would be great for anyone looking to meet people in a social environment, without the pressure of making awkward introductions. Everyone there is game to meet new people. The only problem with an event that is structured like this is that you only really get to meet the folks seated near you. Meetup groups like the ones for pet owners or people who enjoy outdoors activities are probably better for mass mingling, but groups like these are great for people like me who enjoy small-group conversation.


Most of the crowd appeared to be in their 30's and 40's, and maybe a couple were older, and a few younger. It was hard to tell who came with who, since conversation seemed to be flowing at all the tables as if everyone were old friends. The next WineScool is September 23 at 7 p.m. at Starters - register here and check out the other Meetup groups while you're on the site.

Lehigh Valley InSite

I was recently recruited to contribute content to a blog hosted by Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. Since transplants like me feel like visitors for a while after we land here in the LV, I think it's a good match.

You won't find any new content there - I'll post everything on this site first - but hopefully it will lead to a broader audience for LVT. I promise not to sell out. You'll still find my made-up words and references to the people I love, and honest assessments of places I visit.

My post about Green Harvest Cafe was picked up first. Please join me in a toast to celebrate - and thanks very much for reading, commenting and sharing!

Lombardi's Deli

The last couple of times I got my hair cut at TC Salon and Spa, (I will not tell you who I see, because I love her work and she's already tough to get an appointment with!) I stopped in at the building across the street to pick up a sandwich from Lombardi's Deli (77 W Broad St., Bethlehem, facing the Sun Inn courtyard).

Last time, I got a wrap stuffed with a ton of Boar's Head ham and swiss cheese, and toppings; a soda and a chocolate chip cookie for about $7.00. Today I opted for the Italian flag wrap, which featured some darn tasty mozzarella. There was an Italian hot dog special on the menu for $1.99. I also noticed a sign advertising their breakfast sandwich and coffee special for $2.99... can anyone tell me anywhere else in the Valley you can get a freshly-made egg sammie and coffee to go for less than three bucks?

I chatted with the owner for a few minutes as he was wrapping up my sandwich. Evidently, there's a new deli opening on the other side of the 77 W. Broad Street building. He said the timing's unfortunate, since business isn't booming as it is now. The other storefronts facing the courtyard are all still vacant.

I'd like to end on a more positive note:

• The Firehouse (217 Broadway, Southside Bethlehem) is opening soon. I was impressed by their use of social media to spread the word...a banner outside instructs you to "Text the word FIRE to 83361 to become a member of the VIP text list."
• Olio Trattoria in the space of the former Bonte Cafe (553 Main Street, Bethlehem) is slated to open "late summer 2009." I walked by the storefront today, and it's still covered up. The Italian restaurant is a project by Sal Biundo - yes, the same Sal Biundo who ran Bacio in Allentown, and current operates Ciao Baby Cafe in Quakertown. Busy guy. The restaurant (smartly) had a stand in front of the restaurant during Musikfest.
• Save the date: There will be a truly special event going on in Easton on October 9. My colleagues working on the Simon Silk Mill project announced "Movies at the Mill" last week.
• You might be seeing Lehigh Valley Transplant in a couple of new places... we've been invited to guest-blog for Lehigh Valley InSite, and to write a column for Lehigh Valley Style.
• We're heading to Emeril's tonight to celebrate my birthday!

Musikfest - Candlelight Series

I am going to let you in on a little Musikfest secret.

Every year since we moved to the Valley, we have made sure to pick up a pair of tickets for one of the Candlelight concerts at Moravian College's Foy Hall (in one of the buildings close to Moravian Book Store, not all the way up Main Street on main campus). The shows we've seen there have been on par with the ones we'd catch at the 9:30 Club, The Birchmere or Iota Club: Jonatha Brooke, Over the Rhine*, and now Dar Williams**.

Dar Williams is one of those artists I've listened to since I discovered non-commercial radio in high school. When I saw her name on the list of artists I jumped at the chance to see her, especially in a small venue (428 seats, to be exact). It's almost the anti-Musikfest. You won't find crowds or food vendors; you will find padded seats, air conditioning, great acoustics, candlelight, and a whispered hush across the audience. True, you pay for this experience, but considering I wouldn't get to see this artist in the Lehigh Valley otherwise, and it's sponsored by WDIY, AND in the end everything benefits ArtsQuest, I am happy to contribute.

*I had never heard of Over the Rhine until they appeared on the Musikfest calendar. Since I knew I liked the series, I looked them up on iTunes. I enjoyed what I heard online enough to get tickets, and we loved the show.

**I asked someone yesterday if the die-hard Dar Williams fans from outside the region had any idea what they were getting themselves into when they bought the tickets to this show. Why is there no parking in this city, and what is going on here?!

Musikfest and Singles in the Valley

I volunteered at Musikfest the other night, providing bouncer services for one of the special hospitality areas. I got to see a great concert up-close for free (and ate for free, too - bonus!).

What astounded me was just how many young people were out en masse for this show. There was a big group of guys from a local company hanging out, talking about how they never meet any single girls, that the girls in bars aren't the kind of girls they want to marry, etc. It made me laugh out loud, since that's what the single girls I know say about meeting guys.

I wondered what opportunities exist for single people to meet outside the traditional ways (bar, church?) here in the Lehigh Valley. Do people date online? I know of one couple from the area that met online last year and are planning their lives together. How about matchmaking or blind dates?

Is finding a mate in the Lehigh Valley like finding a job when you're unemployed? Do you need to "put yourself out there" and tell everyone you know you are looking, risking looking desperate? Or do you immerse yourself in activities like kickball, Network of Young Professionals, or graduate school? Or, do you hang around Deja Brew, Hava Java or The Quadrant waiting for Mr. Right to walk in and order the same coffee drink you like?

Musikfest

When you first move to the Lehigh Valley, one of the first places you learn about is Historic Bethlehem. It's easy to find, so you go to Bethlehem Brew Works and walk up and down Main Street.

Soon, depending on the time of year, you may hear about Musikfest. You wonder what's up with the "K" and why everyone is so passionate about it (one way or the other). When Musikfest approaches, you read the long lists of performers in the newspaper and you don't recognize any names except the ones that you have to pay to see.

You think, what is this, a battle of the bands? This event is not for me. And maybe you skipped it.

Fortunately, someone showed me the way. In my opinion, the key to enjoying Musikfest is 50% preparation and planning, 30% footwear choice, and 20% weather. I always wear a little backpack. I don't care if it isn't "cool." I have stuff to carry, and I don't want to lose it or get my purse dirty (I won't say stolen because I've never heard of any kind of theft at the Fest, but I'm sure it happens). The "stuff" I carry is everything from my purse plus my Fest tickets, extra tissues for the Port-o-Potties, wet wipes, and a bottle of water (sorry, I know it's illegal, but I do it anyway). I also take a few minutes to look on the Musikfest web site to plan what I want to see. I wear shoes that can take a beating on the hills of Bethlehem and through mud puddles or dust. And I always, ALWAYS plan for the weather, bringing day supplies (hat, sun block, fan) or night supplies (flashlight), and an umbrella if there's even the slightest chance of rain.

It may sound a little like camping, but that's because unlike going to the mall, you are not going to see your car for a long time. There is covered seating at a number of stages but some aren't covered at all (Americaplatz) but are worth going to for the view of South Mountain. A lot of the food is generic but there is some good stuff out there, so walk around and peruse before deciding (my personal favorite "row" of vendors is near Volksplatz, there's just so much to choose from).

Parking is everyone's favorite subject to debate about Musikfest. Some lucky people know someone who lives close to the Musikfest grounds with a driveway. The rest of the world pays $10 to park in a lot or takes the shuttle from Martin Tower. Traffic is pretty tight in downtown so it's usually easier to park on the outskirts of the direction you're coming from. Actually, the shuttle is kind of fun and reinforces that camp feeling.

I'll be volunteering at Musikfest tonight for the first time ever. Maybe I'll see you there.

South Side Restaurants and local blogs

The Express-Times scooped the Call last week when they posted this informative story about South Side Bethlehem Restaurants.

I LOVE the idea of a real diner (sorry, Perkins) in walking distance of Loopers, MacGrady's, Tally Ho, Starter's Riverport and Lehigh Pub! Hope it's open late!

Lynn Olanoff reports: "A Mexican and Caribbean fusion restaurant opened last
week on East Fourth Street, and a diner and takeout Thai restaurant also are
planned for the neighborhood."

The Mexiribbean place is called General Zapata's and is on the same block as Nawab, on Fourth Street. Now that I work, live and work out in the city of Bethlehem, I'm going to try to make an effort to leave the Christmas City every now and then.

The local bloggers have Allentown covered up. Here are some of my favorites. Mind you, I don't always agree with some of the political opinions, but it's good to know:

• A Voice in the Valley Rename
• Allentown Good News
• Allentown: From The Ground Up
• molovinsky on allentown
• REMEMBER
• Seventh Street Now
• URBAN RENEWAL
• What's New in Old Allentown

This week someone posted a friendly note here and I saw his blog about Easton restaurants for the first time. There are only a couple of Easton blogs that I know of.

• The fork city
• Neighbors of Easton

Are there any local blogs I'm missing?

If you like my blog, please share it with your friends, especially if you know other LV Transplants. See the handy tool for sharing blog posts at the bottom of each post - the little envelope with an arrow? Click away!

Green Harvest Food Emporium

There was fresh, local lettuce on my ham-and-cheese-on-pretzel bread sandwich. I could taste it. It was multi-colored, tender and sweet.

Green Harvest (140 Northampton St. Easton - between the Circle and the Free Bridge) is in the same building as the Grand Eastonian Condominiums (which is more hotel than condo building). They serve BL&D every day of the week except Sunday. I love the term "Food Emporium" - which means they are a market that sells a variety of food items, even though the cafe is not a big place.

Besides tasty sandwiches and salads, GHFE's owner, Doreen Repsher, makes freshly baked goodies, including a bunch of vegan and gluten-free products, which is really thoughtful. There were plenty of dairy options, too: I saw Purple Cow creamery treats in the freezer!

The store's interior is spacious and bright, and features quite a bit of recycled materials. I learned that July 2 marked two years since the business opened, and the owners recently acquired the Easton Coffee Exchange.

While I was walking back to the parking garage, a cute little family with Crayola stickers on their shirts asked me where to go for lunch. Since the only dining option that is evident when you're stepping out of Two Rivers Landing is the scariest McDonald's I have ever seen, I don't blame them for crossing Third Street to see what else was out there. I gave them a couple of options (the Exchange, Mex Tex Trio, Phenom, Sette Luna). As Mom, Dad and the two girls headed in the direction of the Exchange, the wife said to the husband, "Wow, Easton is really great. There's all kinds of good things down here for us to do."

Hookah Lounge

I am in stitches about the recent announcement of multiple hookah lounges opening in the Lehigh Valley.

Mostly what's cracking me up are TMC's attempts to explain hookah. There was a great profile of one of the entrepreneurs in this Sunday's TMC.

Here's the deal. Hookah is kind of like smoking a bong, but with tobacco instead of pot (or in some cases, just tobacco-free, flavored herbs). You can get a little buzzed off of smoking it, but don't worry, Mom, it's not illegal. The hookah itself is usually glass with multiple flexible stems (everyone gets their own - and it comes with a disposable mouth cover for hygiene purposes). Often smoking is the centerpiece of activity at a lounge/nightclub that attracts a lot of young people of Middle-Eastern decent and/or hipsters. There's usually contemporary and Middle Eastern music, think lounge-y, more than clubb-y. And somehow backgammon usually follows. Needless to say, this is not MOST Lehigh Valleyans idea of a fun time (yet). But for those people who:

a) don't feel like wilin' out to Livin' on a Prayer for the 900th time at MacGrady's

b) can picture you and your friends hanging out on pillows, talking without screaming over music or the blaring distracting of the Phillies game

c) can get a sitter - (this is not a family activity)

and d) are down with a little variety in your cultural diet and don't mind the smell of fruit-flavored smoke

... this is for you.

The ones I went to in DC (Chi-Cha Lounge and... shoot, I can't remember the name of the other one, I am sure it's closed now, but it was in the Foggy Bottom area... pretty far west on K Street I think, somewhere in the 30's) served yummy, authentic food, tea and coffee, and it was cozy and low-key. I say: Gentlemen, bravo. You have the pleasure of educating the area locals on hookah and have committed to running businesses in urban neighborhoods, and I wish you the best of luck!

Get your Hookah fix here:

Hookah Turka (44 W.Broad St., Bethlehem) - where the candy store was, on the same block as the movie theater

Bliss Hookah Lounge (2nd & Union Streets, Allentown) - two blocks south of Hamilton

Downtown Easton

I've been spending more time in Easton lately, and I like it. :)

On Friday, I walked from a meeting in Centre Square over to Sette Luna (219 Ferry St, Easton) for a quick lunch. It's hard to describe a place that really "gets" it. From the attention to preserving and enhancing the building's architectural charms, to hiring and training knowledgeable servers and bartenders, to creating a menu that satisfies expectations for Italian food (and also honors the other 19 regions of Italy that most "Italian" restaurants forget), and finally, stocking a fabulous variety of wines. It's one of the few places we consistently choose when we have friends visiting from out of town.

Sigh. Thinking about Sette Luna makes me a little romantic.

A few years ago, we hosted a surprise birthday dinner in their private wine cellar. It seats up to 12 people and there's a $500 minimum - not hard to reach if everyone's drinking wine. I wish the web site was up and running so I could show you pictures of this beautiful room, but it's not. So for now, you'll either need to go there and check it out for yourself or wonder!

On Friday, my friend and I both ordered "the special," which to my knowledge is always 1/2 a pizza with a side salad for 8 bucks. The toppings vary daily, and you have a choice of Caesar or house salad. SL's brick oven cooks up a crust that's crunchy, soft, sweet and salty all at once. Yum. The menu's the same all day long, so if you're hungrier, entrees like osso bucco, pastas and big salads are all available as well.

The restaurant is located two blocks off Fourth Street, next to the post office in downtown Easton. We walked right by the newest venture by Mike Pichetto and Dominic Albanese, soon to be a seafood restaurant with apartments above (pictured below, on the corner of Fourth and Ferry);

and also the former King's drycleaner next to Ocean (below).

Both buildings are currently under major reconstruction. The guy who's heading up the project at King's gave us a tour of all three floors. The owner is an artist that specializes in metal work, who travels back and forth from his apartment in Brooklyn, studio in Chinatown, and his future studio/restaurant project in Easton. Ferry Street is becoming quite the little dining destination!

St. James Gate & US Women's Open

We're headed to St. James Gate Irish Pub and Carvery at the Sands Casino for dinner tomorrow night. Has anyone been there, and if so, any tips?

I, along with 3,000 other folks, am working/volunteering at the US Women's Open this week. It's pretty cool, and have the distinct honor of serving in middle management as a part of the corporate hospitality team.

I was impressed to see so many local volunteers, and also vendors! I saw Nacci Printing did the event programs, and Yocco's staff was serving lunch to volunteers. It looks like quite a few local businesses supported the volunteer operation.

Art 4 Homes

I noticed little green house-shaped flyers on retail counters recently. A group of people are putting together a party to benefit the fire victims on Ninth Avenue in Bethlehem, whose homes face/faced the park where the Bethlehem Rose Garden is located.

The flyer proclaims "Music, Art, Buskers, Workshops & More!" I hope that one of the workshops is on fire safety... seriously, we can all use a refresher. This fire started because one guy was grilling on his deck on a warm spring evening. It destroyed one duplex (two homes), damaged four other homes, and injured seven firefighters.

From the Express-Times story: "...Flames from a gas grill...compromised the hose to the propane tank, which exploded. The fire spread quickly across the wooden porch and also caused several other nearby propane cylinders to explode."

Best wishes to all of the families affected by the fire. The benefit will be held July 18, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Southside Film Festival

Anneke and I checked out the Southside Film Festival (SSFF) opening soiree last night at Home & Planet. (I suspect there may have been some other local bloggers present as well. Hmm...)

We didn't appear in the FMZ featurette. And conveniently, I didn't take any pictures. We were too busy chatting with Brian Tallarico, shimmying to the DJ's tracks, and ogling beautiful recycled furniture. We did wave to the bagpipers on the way in and we saw Graham and John. They could vouch for our presence, if they weren't running around making the whole festival happen this week. We left before they screened "Metropolis." There were a couple of martinis with our names on them at Looper's (props to our bartender, who looked up how to make my precious Sidecar).

I've never been to any Film Festival before. I'm not going to act like this is my "thing," but you know how I love a party. I admit that we rent our share of "indie" films, but they're from Netflix, so really, how indie are they? We liked Rachel Getting Married. I'm also a sucker for documentaries - that must be why I like reality TV. For my first films, I'm planning to see The Town that Was on Thursday at 7:30 in Whitaker Lab, and Imminent Domain on Saturday at 1:30 in Victory Firehouse. What are you going to see?

Casino billboards

I noticed the billboard for Trump casino when I was on Route 309 this week. It illustrates to the reader, driving at 65 mph, the features of the Atlantic City gambling experience vs. Sands Bethworks.


WFMZ covered the hard-hitting story without an ounce of humor.



But the billboards are hilarious! Here's the transcript.



TRUMP GIVES YOU MORE



TABLE GAMES
FREE OCEAN VIEW ROOMS
ENTERTAINMENT
BEACH
SLOT DOLLARS

----------------------------------


My response:


ACTUALLY, BETHLEHEM GIVES YOU MORE


DINNER AT THE TABLE WITH YOUR FAMILY
FREE CHRISTMAS CITY WALKING TOURS
ENTERTAINMENT (NOT JUST THE ADULT KIND)
TOW PATH AND SOON, A GREENWAY
SLOT DOLLARS

Easton Farmers' Market

It was a great market morning at the Easton Farmers' Market. We headed east on 22 and found a meter spot right in front of the Third Street Alliance.

Moms pushing kids in strollers, older couples walking cute dogs, and a wide range of other people were strolling around Centre Square. I love taking my sister Lauren and watching her fascination with all the different sights, sounds and smells. The vendors are always so sweet to her. Today the Market was celebrating strawberries, and the strawberry pancakes with strawberry syrup looked yummy.

However, I was focused in my pursuit of rosemary and lavender plants for our garden. The lavender didn't survive 'the move' and I forgot to move the rosemary indoors for the winter. One of the merchants had a huge spread of herbs in little pots, looking very healthy and smelling yummy and fragrant! Our purchase totaled $7.50 and the little guys went into the ground the minute we got home, next to huge bushes of purple sage, mint, tarragon, oregano, and chive, and rows of cilantro and basil peeking out of the ground.

My husband also picked out some baked goods from one of the stands ($11.00) and a pack of bacon from a local pig farmer ($5.50). Oddly, they brought a pig too.

While we were downtown, we stopped by the Carmelcorn Shop and Eagle's Nest Antiques, too. We picked out some vintage candy for my in-laws and a pack of fudge to share. In the antique store, we wandered and gazed at some beautiful pianos and brooches, but didn't take home any souvenirs.

My favorite market in DC was held in the parking lot of the USDA building next door to the Smithsonian Castle on Friday afternoons. I learned so much about fresh food from those vendors. Just like in Easton, there were soap makers, bakers, dairy farmers with homemade yogurt and cheese, fruit farmers, and farmers who raise their own organic meats and grow organic veggies that didn't always look as pretty as the ones in Safeway, but were quite tasty.

The Easton Farmers' Market is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday from May through October.

Camody Shoe Service

I tend to wear my shoes until the heels are ground down to a nub and the arch is completely broken. I have always done this, and in DC, especially walking to and from the Metro, I went through quite a few new posts, insoles and slip pads. I was on a first-name basis with my cobbler at The Cobbler's Bench, in the basement of an office building at Connecticut Ave & M Street.

Here in the Valley, my shoes get a lot more mileage, since I'm not hoofing it on sidewalks as much. The worst wear they get is the rug-burn on the back of the right one from putting the pedal to the metal in my Jetta.

I've had a pretty good run so far, not having to repair a single pair of shoes since we moved here three years ago. But the day came, and I asked around: where do people get shoes repaired around here? The Eastern PA Biz Journal recently ran a feature on the topic, but the resounding answer from people I asked was: Camody Shoe Service (502 N. 15th St., Allentown). Despite my earlier positive experience with Shepherd Hills, Camody is closer to where I live (and downtown), so I thought I'd start there.

I dropped off the shoes off on Thursday, and they were ready by Monday. Re-heeled and ready to hit the pavement again, for a mere $8. Definitely cheaper than replacing them altogether!

The shop is open 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. M-Th, 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. F, and 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Sat.

Bethlehem Restaurant Week!

It's Restaurant Week time again in Bethlehem! As always I am making my list and planning to go. Maybe this time I will actually be in town (sorry Court! I owe you lunch from January!). June 21-27, many restaurants belonging to the Downtown Bethlehem Association are offering some great specials. It's a great excuse to get out and try something new.

There is one new place on the list since the last R Week:

• Tika's/aka South Beach (formerly Tortilla Flat)- 500 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 18108; Call 610-841-5831 for details

I still have never been to:

• Dartos’ Restaurant 46 W. North StreetBethlehem, PA 18108610-866-5005 Lunch: $5 Dinner n/a

These joints usually have some outside seating:

• Bethlehem Brew Works 569 Main Street Commons Bethlehem, PA 18108610-882-1300 Lunch: $10 Dinner $20
• Looper's Grille & Bar 313 E. Third Street Bethlehem, PA 18108610-882-2424 Lunch: $10 Dinner $30
• Main Street Depot 61 W. Lehigh Street Bethlehem, PA 18108610-868-7123 Lunch: $10 Dinner $20
• Mama Nina Foccaceria 548 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 18108610-867-9802 Call for pricing
• Starfish Brasserie 51 W. Broad Street Bethlehem, PA 18108610-332-8888 Lunch: $15 Dinner $30
• Starters Riverport 17 W. 2nd Street Bethlehem, PA 18108610-625-2300 Lunch: $10 Dinner $20
• The Café 22 W. Broad Street Bethlehem, PA 18108610-866-1689 Lunch: $15 Dinner $30
• Edge Restaurant 74 W. Broad Street Bethlehem, PA 18108 610-814-0100 Lunch: n/a Dinner $30

Here's the rest of the list! Where are you going to celebrate Restaurant Week?

1741 on the Terrace 437 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 18108
610-625-2226 Lunch: n/a Dinner $30

24 East Asian Bistro 24 E. Third Street Bethlehem, PA 18108
610-867-5979 Lunch: $15 Dinner $30

Apollo Grill 85 W. Broad Street Bethlehem, PA 18108
610-865-9600 Lunch: $15 Dinner $30

Blue Sky Café 22 W. Fourth Street Bethlehem, PA 18108
610-867-9390 Lunch: $10 Dinner $10

Confetti Café 462 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 18108
610-861-7484 Lunch: $10 Dinner $20

Hotel Bethlehem–Tap Room 437 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 18108
610-625-2226 Lunch: $10 Dinner n/a

McCarthy’s Tea Room & Restaurant 534 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 18108
610-861-7631 Lunch: $10 Dinner n/a

Moravian Book Shop Deli 428 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 18108
610-691-6619 Lunch: $5 Dinner n/a

Rail Service

I'm by no means a car hater, but I do like public transportation. Living in DC was made infinitely easier (usually) by the use of an affordable bus and subway.

Con: I'd love to see a train to NYC, but honestly, I don't know how much I'd use it. When I want to go to the city, either for work or pleasure, a 2-hour bus ride isn't too bad, and for less than 40 bucks, Bieber Tourways delivers me directly. I doubt I would take a train to Philadelphia, because I don't think you can get around Philly very easily without a car (Anneke, please chime in).

Pro: When new stations were added to the DC Metro, a veritable explosion of economic development occurred around them - condos, apartments, parking garages, Starbucks, bus depots, you get the idea. We lived almost right on top of a stop in the northwest part of the city, and there wasn't a square inch that was not developed and/or leased within 10 blocks. Hot property. And, tourists from Jersey and New York would visit the Valley for our casino, and Christkindlmarkt (oh wait... they already do). :)

What do you think we need? Trains? Bus? People movers?

Random aside: I can't stand the word "gauging," as in "gauging support." Sounds painful.

Bridals by Sandra

I am honored to have been asked to serve as an attendant in my friend Courtney's wedding. It's been a while since my last bridesmaid duty, so I'm a little rusty. Luckily she is incredibly organized and enthusiastic, and the other bridesmaids are funny and sweet, just like she is.

I had my doubts about the dress, I'll be honest. I don't favor dresses that have a mermaid shape generally, due to my curvy frame and general clumsiness. However, the milk-chocolate color of the dress Court selected is very pretty, and will complement the flowers and decor (light greens and yellows). I held out hope. I picked my dress up from Bridals by Sandra (56 East Lawn Road, Nazareth) today, and once I tried it on, I absolutely loved it. It needs a little bit of alteration (it's strapless, and a little loose around the chest) but the length is great, and the mermaid shape I feared is actually flattering. A sash ties in the back and lays low and flat against the dress.

I purchased my wedding dress from Sandra's, and I really enjoyed working with the staff. They have to be poised, detail-oriented and friendly. If I worked in a bridal shop, I'd probably take up turkey hunting or tae kwon do to balance all that tulle and lace. I wonder how they put up with all those bridezillas, prom princesses, and mothers of the bride! The store is quite large, and in addition to bridal gowns, mother of the bride outfits, and bridesmaid dresses, it also offers tuxedo rentals and tons of shoes and other accessories.

Anyone else a bridesmaid/matron this summer? Any ideas for a unique shower gift?

Lehigh Pub, Tap & Table, Stefano's and Emeril's

I learned a few things today:

1. I knew that Bridgeworks had been purchased and reconfigured, and named Lehigh Pub by the new owners. I stopped by on my bike earlier today and picked up the menu/placemat. It's now got pool tables and the wall between the bar and restaurant was taken down. Fresh coat of paint. Other than that, the menu has been simplified (though the French onion soup remains... we'll see), and Miller Lite Pitchers are $5 all day every day. They're open from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. but I guess it's always 5 o'clock somewhere.

2. Lehigh Valley has a gastropub. It's called Tap & Table (4226 Chestnut St. Emmaus). Has anyone been? I see that they offer my husband's favorite style of beer: milk stout, the Duck Rabbit variety. The beer we enjoyed at the Farmhouse beer dinner, La Chouffe, is also on the menu.

3. Stefano's (2970 Linden St. Bethlehem) has a gelato cafe. Anyone who has been to Italy can back me up: gelato is a food group. Many Italians eat it every day (sometimes multiple times a day). It's basically ice cream with less air to fluff it up, so it's a denser, more concentrated flavor and mouth-feel. Overall, YUM.

4. The reports from this week's soft-opening events are good: the Sands Casino's restaurants are top-notch and Emeril's was a veritable who's-who in business last night. We were invited, but already had plans to go out, so we passed on the invite. (Instead we had a delicious if somewhat overpriced dinner at Thai Thai II with two friends who live on Main Street, Jon and Jess). Can't wait to check it out soon, once they've ironed out the kinks (parking... server training... traffic).

Dan's Camera City

This weekend I'm headed to the shore with two old (ahem... long-time) friends and their daughters, and my sister. We'll be catching up and reminiscing, sharing and making memories, I'm sure.

When we started planning the weekend a while back, I remembered that when we were kids (around age 12) we made a bunch of home movies of ourselves goofing around. One of us is a naturally funny person with comedic timing. The other two (myself included) are just awkward, and that's funny. Our music videos in Jacobsburg Park, surprise birthday parties for everyone's birthdays, and early '90s hairdos and outfits are too cute for words. Sadly, the VHS tapes are in bad shape. We watched them a lot back then, and they've been passed from friend to friend like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

I wanted to get the VHS tapes copied onto DVDs for all of us to enjoy at the beach together, and I knew exactly the place to go: Dan's Camera City (1439 W. Fairmont St., Allentown). They have done such an outstanding job over the years with our camera equipment and prints, and we receive amazing service every time we're in the store.

I don't own a VCR anymore, so I had no idea what was on the tapes. I dropped them off on Friday, and received a call from Lori at Dan's earlier in the week letting me know that one of the tapes was longer than 2 hours, and did I want to come in and look at it, in case I wanted a second DVD made from the rest of the tape? Unfortunately, the only DVD player was in the digi-lounge, so the other dozen or so patrons got a little show (blush). I did keep the audio muted, but our antics and colorful clothing and makeup did attract some attention. I found what I was looking for and slinked back to the front counter, where Heather patiently explained all my options.

I picked up the DVDs today, and they look great. Converting the first tape was $29.99 and additional copies were $19.99, but the results are PRICELESS.

Bicycles

I read an awful story today that made me think about sharing a friendly reminder with you all: Now that it's warmer outside, be careful on the road, even when it's dark or raining. A lot of people use bicycles for transportation and exercise, and though some people may not make the best decisions (e.g. riding around midnight on Schoenersville), their lives are no less precious. Some people don't have a choice in their mode of transportation - they cannot afford the bus, the bus route is not convenient for them, and/or they are not legally able to drive a car.

Overall I've been pleasantly surprised with the respect I've received as a bicyclist on local roads here in Bethlehem. I try to be as careful as I can, and make myself as visible as possible without being a distraction, but sometimes things (deer! trash! potholes!) happen. And when they do, I appreciate having the right of way, or not being bullied or scared off the road. I use toe clips, so I need an extra second to unlock before my feet are on the ground. I never got a bike in DC because public transportation was so comprehensive that I didn't need another way to get around, and riding on the roads was too dangerous.

Local businesses or business districts that offer a bike rack are awesome. I would much rather lock up my shiny red wheels on a proper bike rack than to a trash can or drain pipe outside your business - but I also might not visit your business at all if there's no good place to lock up (ahem. CVS). Props to Riverport, Main Street Commons, and the Bethlehem Post Office (among others).

So when you're on the road, please use that peripheral vision that your Driver's Education instructor told you about!

Mama Nina Foccacheria

This week, I finally had the chance to introduce my husband to Mama Nina (546 Main Street, Bethlehem). Mama Nina herself greeted us at the door, with kisses and hugs, and the two of us settled in for a big meal and a few precious moments of time together.

I'd been to the restaurant many times before, with friends, but never with my Italian husband. Bethlehem doesn't lack for Italian restaurants, even good Italian restaurants. Metromix lists 220 in the Lehigh Valley. There's a clear difference between Sal's on the Southside and Melt in the Promenade Shops. MN falls in between, with the homey feel of a relative's dining room, friendly and sincere service, and the flavors and presentation of a sophisticated chef. If you haven't visited yet, you might want to order your complimentary garlic bread with the garlic on the side, so you can "control" the amount of garlic intake. Also, you should know that the restaurant is BYOB. If you forget to bring a bottle, they'll offer you a complimentary glass of house wine, or you can scoot across the street to Franklin Hill to pick up a bottle of local vino.

We shared crab-stuffed-mushrooms, which were tasty, as was the salad underneath the mushrooms, and I had a salad. I ordered the Tour of Mama Nina, knowing my husband would enjoy the leftovers while I was out of town. The eggplant rollatini was to die for. I'm a sucker for ricotta in general, but the preparation was sublime. He also loved Mama Nina's Angel Hair pasta with seafood and gorgonzola. Our bill came to $70.00 including tip. (His entree made up more than 1/3 of the bill.)

A few tables out on the sidewalk are always in demand this time of year. The restaurant doesn't take reservations except for large groups, so plan ahead. (And don't forget the mints - you'll need them after the garlic bread.)

Bloomie's Flower Shop

With all my job transition activities lately, I haven't been able to do as much exploring. I'm set to visit Mechanicsburg, State College and Pittsburgh in the space of one week so maybe I'll share some of my fun discoveries there, if you're interested!

Today I visited State Rep Bob Freeman's office in downtown Easton, next to Connexions Gallery. There was a meter spot right in front of the door. (I learned when I moved to the area to get a few rolls of quarters from the bank and just keep it in the place where an ashtray should be in my car - I have a knack for parallel parking and prefer meters to parking garages.) After our meeting, he mentioned that his wife, Terri, has a flower shop around the corner, and asked, would I like to see it? It's called Bloomie's (21 N. 2nd St., Easton) and they don't have a web site just yet, so you'll have to stop in or call them at 610-258-6331. Bob suggested their slogan should be "We peddle petals" but Terri prefers "Be surrounded by flowers." I walked with her and Michelle to the Eastonian Hotel, where they delivered an arrangement of calla lilies with red sticks (a subtle nod to Easton High School colors). In addition to floral arrangements, they offer greeting cards, balloons, plants and dish gardens. They do make deliveries and are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10-6.

It's Administrative Professionals Appreciation Week, so if you are lucky enough to have someone to keep you organized, now would be a good time to thank them for all their hard work!

Petra Mediterranean

In DC, I was very lucky to have close friends with roots in the Mediterranean: Miss Bridget lived in Morocco in college and brought spices and tagines back with her, cooking up a mighty Moroccan feast on more than one occasion; and my old friend Banu, who disappeared off the face of the earth when she joined the DIA (this happens sometimes in DC), who is half Turkish and used to read my coffee grounds after dinner at Zaytinya downtown. We would also wait for the lamb truck to come down Connecticut Ave. so we could get melt-in-your-mouth gyros at Yanni's Greek Taverna.

Not too long ago, I shared my experiences about one of the many little coffee joints in Bethlehem, Java Mill. Since then, Java's Brewin' (the one in the building where Melting Pot is moving in) has closed, and Java Mill (the one next to Chocolate Lab and Rippers) has closed, too - it's now Petra Mediterranean. When I ducked in out of the rain, the owner, Elias Salameh, mentioned that there is a $9.00 lunch buffet and a few patrons encouraged me to come back for couscous tomorrow. He and his family used to run a Moroccan restaurant in Jordan so you'd better believe they know their couscous!

In the meantime, here's a little snack to tide you over... some lamb in spicy pasta, muhamara (dip made with walnuts, pomegranate, molasses, toasted bread crumbs, olive oil, roasted bell peppers and spices), and tabbouleh (fine bulgur wheat soaked in lemon juice, fine chopped parsley, tomatoes, green onions and seasoned with olive oil and mild spices). Anneke, please teach me to properly photograph food. All I can say is, I have never tasted anything like the muhamara but now that I have had it, I'm hooked. Everything was fresh and delicious.

Here's the menu:

Once it quits rainin', they plan to put out lots of tables and chairs for an al fresco dining experience, but in the meantime, we can stop in for lunch, takeout, or an early BYOB dinner. The menu boasts some familiar dishes, and family recipes which received rave reviews from a couple of friendly patrons I met.

Dan Schantz Greenhouse

Our home in PA, unlike our DC apartment, has a lot of space for gardening, planting and landscaping, especially for a property on a quarter of an acre in Bethlehem. The previous owners were members of the garden club and had landscaped the entire backyard. We've since put in some grass in the back, but we still have roses, bushes and decorative grasses, planted annuals along the front walkway and planted an herb and vegetable garden in the back.

One of the first places we visited was Dan Schantz Greenhouse on West Union Boulevard in Bethlehem. We'd seen the ads on TV and were endeared by Mr. Schantz's Dutchy accent (we love how he pronounces the word "flowers"). We've since bought gifts, trays of mums, Christmas trees and seeds. The quality of the products and service is fabulous - definitely better than what we've found at Lowe's, which is both closer and often more affordable.

This weekend our mission was to get a few Easter gifts. We strolled past the huge outdoor display (complete with a man dressed in a sorta creepy Easter bunny suit), through the store into the greenhouse area, where hydrangea, lilies, tulips and daffodils crowded every surface. Men, women and families pushed carts through the wide aisles. "Hyacinths have never done anything for me," one gentleman said to his companion. "But lilies... ohhh... these are nice." No doubt, spring is in the air! We picked out two huge potted plants as gifts: total $28.00.

The Dan Schantz Farm is located just down Limeport Pike in Zionsville, PA. On their web site, they recommend waiting until mid May to plant annuals and seeds just in case the Valley gets a late frost. I have always used Mother's Day weekend as my planting time and so far it's worked well. This year I started a few seeds in a tray in by the spare bathroom window - some rosemary, cabbage, mini bell peppers and chives. The bell peppers always take forever to come up, and I'm often chasing the first frost in October, waiting for them to get big enough to pick before the freeze. The cabbage will get big enough to pick before it gets super-hot in July. The annual herbs we put in the garden last year - oregano, thyme, chives and mint - are growing and greening already!

Five Guys II and "trade ya"

You have been warned!

Anyone who read my post on Five Guys knows I am a sucker for their chow. But, please. How many franchises do we really need? Why ruin a special thing by making it mainstream? Look how successful Sonic is. I have heard of people making pilgrimages to Sonic. Every drive-in slot is full.

It got me thinking about school lunches. Remember trades? Mom would spend hours shopping, preparing and packing lunches, and then kids would just trade their goodies away. So, using that strategy, can I trade one of the Five Guys franchises for a pet store on Southside Bethlehem? How about a bread and cheese shop on Main Street Bethlehem instead of one of the 14 gift shops? Can I trade one of the 13 hair salons in West Side Bethlehem for a coffee shop? I'll trade you one of the 3 cigarette shops on Northampton Street in Easton for a music store!

(Anyone who thinks I'm exaggerating, Google it. Those are exact numbers. Yes, we really do have 13 hair salons on Broad Street between First and Fifteenth Ave.)

Best of the Valley

I just cast my votes for Lehigh Valley Magazine's Best of the Valley. When I worked at Morgan Hill, it was a huge deal when we were selected by the magazine to be the best public course in the region. So for old time's sake, despite the fact that Colleen and I only played there once last year, I voted for them again. I still think the course is impeccably maintained, and if you think the views from Riverview are impressive... try a birds-eye view of downtown Phillipsburg and the surrounding farms from the 9th green. Gorgeous. Plus, at Vintage, the food is incredible (from ingredients to preparation, Mike and his team are the best) and service atmosphere (friendly, sincere, capable, knowledgeable and not at all stuffy) are as good, if not better, than any restaurant's in the Valley.

It was easy to pick my favorite BBQ (Conway's), dentist (Dr. James Falco), vet (Dr. Kristen Reis from Wright Veterinary Hospital ) and breakfast (Billy's), but I was torn on the categories of Italian restaurant (Mama Nina's or Taste of Italy?) and sushi (Sogo, Teppan, Kome?).

So after you vote, come back and report - what was the hardest category for you to choose a winner? Were there any you left blank because you couldn't decide (or because you have no idea -- best podiatrist)? Or did you fill in the blanks on a business you've never visited (did you feel compelled to pick a favorite dog groomer and you don't even have a dog)? Do you feel like there are "gimme" categories like Festival, Bridal Boutique and Independent Movie Theater?

The Farmhouse Unique Beer Dinners

The Farmhouse (1449 Chestnut St., Emmaus) had been on my list for a while. Chef Michael Adams' victory at the PA Preferred Best Chef in Pennsylvania competition was well-publicized, and I kept hearing good things about him, his commitment to locally-sourced ingredients, and the restaurant. But - not to get all typical Lehigh Valleyan - Emmaus is not on the beaten path from where we live in Bethlehem, so it stayed on the list. Last week, Kristine recommended I bring my husband and check out a special event there, so we had no more excuses.

We had the pleasure of participating in one of The Farmhouse's Third Thursday "Unique Beer Dinners" where both the beer and the dinner turned out to be unique. Stephen Pekarik was our host for a three-course, $40/person meal paired with Achouffe beers.

I won't dare review the restaurant, because we technically haven't dined there yet. The event is held in The Barn, just across the way from the main restaurant building. Each delicious dish featured seasonal ingredients and was thoughtfully prepared: Salsify Flan, Braised Pork Cheeks with Gnocchi, and Banana Almond Financier (aka Brown Butter Heart Attack) with white chocolate ice cream. The atmosphere was rustic and warm: the barn's exposed beams and stone were beautifully restored along with the troughs (which now hold flickering candles instead of animal feed) and floorboards. The meal was served banquet-style by friendly and skilled servers, at tables of 8. We were fortunate to be seated with five Farmhouse devotees (and one other rookie). The veterans raved about the restaurant, its chef, and the great meals they've had over the years. Thanks, Kristine, for the invitation.

The next dinners are:

• April 16, Bieres de Chimay
• May 21, Jolly Pumpkin
• June 18, Victory Brewing

Want to go?

Christmas Tree Shops

When Retail Watch announced the arrival of a store called Christmas Tree Shops, I ignorantly assumed this was one of those seasonal stores that evolves from a retailer of Halloween costumes to holiday decorations to flea market. Turns out, I was sort of right. Courtney explained that it was "like a cheaper Bed Bath and Beyond," which makes sense, because I did a little research, and BBAB owns them. I still can't figure out why it's not called Christmas Tree Shop (singular). If anyone knows, please explain. Has anyone been to the new store on Airport Road?

Rios Brazilian Steak House

Guest blogger alert!! Thank you for letting me add one of my own fun local adventures to the blog!

After I spent a great day with the girls traveling the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail for March Madness, my parents came to visit me and Brad at our new apartment in Nazareth on Saturday night. To give them a little local flavor, we walked to the newest hot spot: Rios Brazilian Steak House. This little gem (it is small - be sure to call ahead for reservations!) is located in the old Broad Street Tavern on, you guessed it, Broad Street in Nazareth (127 South Broad Street). The restaurant has been open for about a year now and is run by two Brazilian couples and their families. Rios offers a very unique and authentically Brazilian barbecue experience, also known as the churrasco.

Rather than an al a carte menu, dining is all-you-can-eat, so come hungry! A buffet provides salads and sides like rice and beans, pickled vegetables and more, and meat runners constantly circle the restaurant with skewers, bringing diners choice cuts including beef ribs, pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon, chicken legs and much (MUCH) more. Every night chefs prepare at least five to ten different cuts of meat on the huge grill located at the front of the restaurant.

It was great watching Brad's eyes light up every time a new skewer passed our table. I'd also recommend the Brazilian style sangria, which definitely helps quench your thirst after all the meat! For four dinners, plus sangria and a round of coffee, the bill totaled about $120, but we were not hungry for days!

Taste of Italy

We'd read that one place had won "Best Italian" in the Lehigh Valley for three years running in LVStyle. We'd short-listed it for a carb-feast prior to last year's St. Patty's Day crawl in Allentown, but opted for Buca di Beppo instead, since it was closer to the direction we were headed.

This weekend, we resurrected the idea of checking out Taste of Italy (1860 Catasauqua Road, Allentown - in the Jack Creek Steakhouse shopping center) from the archives, and paid a visit. The place looks like nothing from the outside. Squeezed in a strip between Dollar General and D&D Furniture Warehouse (sorry I didn't take an exterior shot this time), you might miss the storefront even if you're looking for it. But inside the dining room is spacious, the service is attentive and friendly, and the food, as you might imagine, is buono. We joked that a place that's voted Best Italian three years in a row kind of sets expectations high, and the Grisafi family didn't disappoint. Three of us had stromboli, and Court ordered a "small" pizza. We knife-and-forked our way through, and there was no question we'd be taking the leftovers with us. Total for four, with a couple of drinks and soups: $53.53 before tip. When I told Eric that we should get take out sometime, he asked if the 'boli was as good as the kind shaped like elf shoes we feasted on in Siena. I'd say it's the closest I've found on this side of the Atlantic.

March Madness

It's March Madness time, and not just for those of us who are proudly sending a team to the Dance (two years in a row - that's right!). The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is open for the season!

Wine enthusiasts can enjoy the mild weather and festivities at the region's nine participating wineries in March, that is, if they remembered to buy a passport in November. The tickets are plumb sold out. Luckily Courtney's got the hook-up, so we were able to score four at the last minute.

Wouldn't you give free wine to these friendly faces?
Above, Sarah, Courtney and Rachel belly-up to the bar at Vynecrest Winery. We loved their Riesling, dry Riesling and cherry divyne! Below, the group learns about caper buds at Clover Hill Winery. Rachel isn't buying our host's bad jokes.

Here's a peek inside the tasting room at Amore Vineyards & Winery (7054 Beth-Bath Pike, a.k.a. Route 512 just north of Hanoverville Rd., Bath).

My attempt at a filter effect... here's Dr. Amore, winemaker, aviator, and motivational speaker, through one of his wine bottles.

Here's a little souvenir I brought home. What's your favorite local wine?

St. Patrick's Day in the Valley II

I have an update, thanks to one of my favorite local bloggers, Caitlin Stibitz, from Allentown Good News: Crave is hosting a St. Patty's Day celebration. I have still not been there! If you have been there already, can you share what it is like?

Bethlehem Public Library II

Now that I'm a proud owner of a Bethlehem Public Library Card, I feel a little smarter, and greener.

Reason #1: the card is scannable (I am ashamed to admit, the last card I had, unless you count the one from the Library of Congress, was at the Nazareth Memorial Library, and it was paper), AND you can renew books online. Those of you who have had a library card for a while now will think me ignorant, but this is revolutionary for me.

Reason #2: My library has a blog. Nice.

And Reason #3, my library is hosting a fantastic, original fundraiser: mini golf in the library. I need to work on my putting anyway. I couldn't find a link, but it's Sunday, April 5, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the library at 11 W. Church Street in Historic Bethlehem. Adults $7, Children $5, guaranteed to be less expensive and more "crazy fun" - their words - than a day on the links. To register, call 610-867-3761 x259.

Bethlehem Public Library

Mom and Dad aren't going to believe this, but I don't have a library card. Since we moved to Bethlehem, I have munched on a gyro on the steps during Musikfest, driven by on the way to South Bethlehem, and donated a few boxes of books and CDs, but I have never taken the time to join the library and borrow a book. This is shocking, considering I'm the same person who would frequently "sneak" Beverly Cleary under the covers with a flashlight after bedtime.

#1 good reason: time. I didn't have much (until recently). #2 good reason: Mom and my favorite SIL Aimee give me enough good fiction/novels to fill my nightstand and for plane trips. I buy my own nonfiction primarily, so I'm usually working on a few books at the same time and always have a backlog.

I have been curious to see what's going on at the library, and an article in The Morning Call and a subsequent blog from Bryan at A Voice in the Valley reminded me again. So in order hold myself accountable, I post now and promise to report. Is anyone else a reformed library dropout?

Clothesline Organics

When we first moved to PA, I poked my head inside Clothesline Organics, not realizing that Josh and Kim had only recently set up shop. Their store at 101 E. 3rd St. in South Bethlehem used to be a refrigerator store! I told them that C.O. reminded me of a great boutique on U St. in Washington, DC, called Nana. Kim laughed because that was one of the places that inspired their design! I have a few pieces for a couple of different seasons, plus great yoga pants that I wear all the time, and I still kick myself for not picking up a beautiful, soft, teal sweater that was a bit out of my price range, a couple of years ago.

I get periodic e-mails from the store, not only letting me know what's going on at the shop (this month: A new line, Toggery by Kate D'Arcy...made in the Lehigh Valley!) I'd never heard of Kate but I Googled her and found the web site linked above. Here's one of the pieces in Toggery's spring line I love:

They shared two new-ish "green" places in their e-mail that I've been hearing about: Eco-salon Lux at 648 North New Street, and LaRose Boutique at 85 East Broad Street. Both shops are on Bethlehem's "north side" which I guess means anything that isn't classified as "Historic," "Southside," or "West."

I plan to swing by tonight during the First Friday Festivities. Here's a word from Josh and Kim, who are big supporters of small businesses in the Lehigh Valley and the "Buy Local" initiative:

This spring, your support means more than ever. We believe that we are at a
point at which it's becoming increasingly important to look carefully at how we
think about our purchases, including, when possible, buying fewer, but
high-quality items, buying green, and buying from independent, community-based
shops. We're so pleased to be a small part of this changing conversation, and we
so appreciate your support as we go forward!

Rita's Italian Ice

I thought I might be seeing things as I drove down Union Boulevard, but oh yes, my Rita's is open for business (at least in some places in Hellertown and Allentown). Channel 69 confirmed it.

Rita's was one of the retail establishments that the Lehigh Valley had that DC didn't (or at least not accessible by public transportation or anywhere close to the city). Sign of the Carpenter (RIP) was the other. When I lived in DC, a visit to the Valley always included a visit to these places. Now that we live here, of course we miss what DC had that we don't have here (Chipotle, DSW, Trader Joe's, Best Cellars, and Caribou Coffee... not to mention about 100 indie stores and service providers). I understand that to be a local Rita's franchise operator is to have winters off, make people smile, and haul in serious bank. Anyone know a franchisee; is it all it's cracked up to be?

Check out Rita's web site for a countdown to the first day of spring!

Wise Bean Coffee

I had a good reason to visit one of the small businesses in Bethlehem yesterday: I'm unexpectedly looking for work after being laid off by O. A friend mentioned The Wise Bean (634 North New St., Bethlehem) as a good place to meet and catch up.

I'm not sure why I haven't been to Wise Bean before. But apparently I'm not alone, because Exposed's own Queen of Coffee Lynn Olanoff didn't stop in on her tour de LV caffeine recently, either.

"Around the corner is The Wise Bean (634 N. New St.), a hard-to-miss
coffeehouse with an interesting parking predicament. There's no on-street
parking in front but a sign out front of The Wise Bean suggests people can park
in the lane of traffic for five minutes to pick up coffee. I have my doubts and
haven't wanted to risk a ticket, much less be rear-ended. Visiting The Wise Bean
is on my list once I figure out where to park."

Now having been there, I completely agree with the writer of a letter to the editor. There's a parking lot in the back, and 5-minute parking in front of the door (which I witnessed a few people taking advantage of)!

It's small - just a few stools at a counter where you can plug in your laptop and a few comfy sofas - and my latte was divine. If you read my earlier post on Java Mill, you know how I feel about foam. I will definitely be back. What with free wi-fi access, maybe Wise Bean could become Lehigh Valley Transplant Headquarters.

St. Patrick's Day in the Valley

It's almost St. Patrick's Day... you know what that means... amateur night #1 of the year (who can guess what #2 and #3 are?!).

I'm sure there will be a thorough list of Patty's Day activities in The Morning Call and Express-Times weekend editions, but I wanted to share a couple of unusual events that I might want to check out:

1. Allentown St. Patrick's Day Parade activities in the West End.
On March 21, the Parade sponsors a Pub Crawl. $15 gets you drink specials, bus transportation if you want it, and a T-shirt. Participating pubs: Jack Callaghan’s Ale House, Ringers Roost, Volpe’s Sports Bar, Ruffinos Pizza, Mixx Lounge @ The Rose Bowl, Liberty Street Tavern, Greg’s West End Saloon, Maingate, and Stooge’s. If you're not hurting too badly the next day, join The West End 5k run, which mostly follows the parade route, kicking off at 12:30 p.m. Registration is $25. The parade starts at the Allentown Fairgrounds at 1:30 p.m.

2. Donegal Square's "Best Men's Legs in a Kilt" Contest on March 14 at 2 p.m. The postcard says "Contest open to men only. Must be wearing a kilt (at least)." 534 Main Street in Historic Bethlehem.

Festive! How will you celebrate?

A special event at The Farmhouse

A kickoff event for The Walk to Cure Diabetes is happening at The Farmhouse (1449 Chestnut St. Emmaus) next Wed., March 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

It's the first time JDRF has held an event like this in the Lehigh Valley so they are inviting everyone to come check them out and hear about their mission (curing diabetes - Amen!). No strings attached. I have STILL never been to the Farmhouse and I have a soft spot for the cause, so I definitely want to go.

The Farmhouse is giving away $100 gift cards to a few lucky attendees. Plus there will be free wine and cheese, who doesn't love that? RSVP 610-826-4440 or mmoccio@jdrf.org

Hockey in Allentown?

I posted a few days back about Easton's restaurant scene rivaling anything that's going on in Bethlehem. Well now Allentown wants to get in the game!



According to Bill White and The Morning Call, Mayor Ed Pawlowski wants hockey. The Philadelphia Phantoms minor league ice hockey team wants to build an arena in the Lehigh Valley, if area leaders can find a good site and enough public money by Aug. 1.

''They got the casino,'' says Ed Pawlowski in White's Feb. 28 column. ''We're going to get the arena.''

It's on!!!

Good news in Easton

I heard from a little red-haired birdie (insiders, you know who I mean) that some good news was going down today in Easton, so I headed east on 22 to find out what was up.

Turns out, Victory Square Brewery was ready to formally announce that they will be opening a new restaurant (they've already got one in Downingtown) with the geniuses at The Farmhouse, in the vacant-for-a-nanosecond Weller Educational Center. Here's the WFMZ coverage. The FMZ reporter pressed Mayor Panto for updates on the old Perkins site and the eyesore Hubcap Store, good stuff. What WFMZ got wrong is: there won't be 50 new jobs. It was announced that there will be the equivalent of 50 full-time jobs. Great for Lafayette College, and Easton and Pburg high school students. They also failed to point out that this project was supposed to be across the street inside the former Pomeroy's building. Good for us -- there will probably be something cool in there too (eventually)!

I bumped into Mike Pichetto (probably best-known for being chef at Vintage but he wears at least 10 other hats) at the press conference and he's playing a big role in what's happening in Easton too. The new seafood restaurant that he, his wife Rebecca, and their talented team are bringing to the former Lipkins building will open later this year or early 2010. Having seen the operation at Vintage/Morgan Hill somewhat behind-the-scenes, I can guarantee that it will be first-class. I cannot wait to check it out.

After the press conference, I stopped in and say hello to Jeanette and Brian Pitcher over at Baby Gift Clouds (403 Northampton St., Easton). They own the most adorable shop for baby gifts (if you could tell by the name) in the Lehigh Valley. They have unique gifts including a number of handmade items, plus the most gorgeous christening gowns I have ever seen. The Pitchers are active in the downtown Easton business community and their shop is next to the State Theater.

Fellow LV blogger Tracey Werner loves Easton, too. I completely agree with her assessment that Easton's restaurant scene is giving Bethlehem's a run for its money. I say - go, Easton, go! Raise the bar. I love to see a little friendly competition. I think there's room in the Valley for two amazing dining destinations.

Bar formerly known as Our Beerbelly's

Our Beerbelly's is under new management!

Billy Cornish, the owner of The Standard, Mother's Bar and Grill and Drinky's in Easton, has re-opened the bar as Roosevelt's 21st (21 East Elizabeth Ave. Bethlehem). I love the concept; taking the bar's street address and paying tribute to the amendment that ended Prohibition. Smart.

It should be open by the beginning of March, and it will be a great place to go before Moravian College and Liberty football games.

DeSales University Act 1 performance: Death of a Salesman

We used to dress up and go to shows at the Kennedy Center, marveling at its towering red curtains, spacious hallways, panoramic views of the Potomac River, and world-class performances. So when I tell you that we were impressed by the latest DeSales University student production, you should know that we have seen enough to know what's really good.

And these students - we dare not call them kids - are GOOD.

So good that we actually subscribed to the Act 1 (DeSales University's theater company's) 2008-2009 season. In October we tried to guess the ending of The Mousetrap, Agatha Christie's murder mystery. We caroled along with the cast during their clever rendition of Merry Christmas, George Bailey! - an old-timey radio show production of It's a Wonderful Life - in December.

Not only is the university casting students for the right roles in the productions, but they are recruiting gifted young performers out of high school in the first place, as well as selecting productions that are suitable for the audience (mostly older), theater size (473 seats - and almost always sold out when we visit), and pool of talent (richly diverse). Add to that an obvious commitment to service, from the box office to the ushers, a reasonable ticket price, and a terrific sound and lighting team, and you have an amazing asset here in the Lehigh Valley.

The latest performance we took in was Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, and we were fortunate to have selected the ASL-signed performance for hearing impaired. (We got twice the show - those interpreters signed with passion!) Professor Wayne Turney portrayed Willy Loman, a salesman who is plagued by memories and battles his own ego in his "quest for legacy." But the students stole the show - Jenny from the LVCVB took the words out of my blog - Victoria Rose Bonito's portrayal of Willy's glass-half-full, desperate wife sent chills down my spine. We've seen her in a number of Act 1 performances, and she has impressed us every time. The best part of being a subscriber is following the students from their first shows (their bios in the show program tell us) to their final, and the spring musical, Sunday in the Park with George, will likely be Ms. Bonito's last show at DeSales. We can't wait to see what she and her fellow cast members will do with Sondheim's modern musical ode to Seurat's painting, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," (which we saw last year at the Art Institute of Chicago).

Crave

I'm not sure whether all of you know any good news about Allentown, but these people have lots of it. I really enjoy the Allentown Good News Blog and I recently read about Crave (occupying the space where the 9th St. Loop used to be, 33 N 9th St, Allentown) there. It's now on the top of my long list of places to visit once I return from another week in Las Vegas.

By the way, there's a great feature on Google that helps you keep track of your favorite blogs (ahem) that I've been meaning to share. Sure beats typing in the URLs, or even clicking on your favorites once a day to see what's up. It also features links to e-mail, share and tag (helpful for aforementioned must-visit list). Brilliant!

"Foodie alert" ? Restaurant Week

The Morning Call posted an all points bulletin today announcing not one but two Restaurant Weeks in the Lehigh Valley. In DC, the announcement of Restaurant Week always prompted an e-mail from my friend Kirwei with a list of restaurants and a request that the group narrow it down and pick a night. It was a great excuse to get friends together and check out a place that most or all of us had not been before. True, the servers hated waiting on a bunch of poor young pros like us, and the ingredients were not usually the fanciest. But baby, it was cold outside, and we usually went back at non-RW times if we liked it. Isn't that the point?

So... in the spirit of Kirwei and the DC Restaurant Week, here's a list of places I haven't visited yet and want to go to during Restaurant Week(s):

Dinner

• Shula's Steak House, Promenade Shops

Lunch

• 24 East at 24 E. Third Street - Bethlehem
• Dartos’ Restaurant at 46 W. North Street - Bethlehem