Lehigh Valley Transplant

There ain't s**t to do here

2012-01-17T09:19:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I noticed a message on Twitter (a "tweet") that bothered me. Keep in mind that tweets are limited to 140 characters, hence our abbreviated messages.

"@ROBB_EMLB: RT @JayETC_EMLB: Bethlehem's bigger than you would think unfortunately there aint (sic) s**t to do here."

I asked, "What do you like to do?"

He replied, "I'd like for people to throw more parties and better public transportation and more events overall."

(This is the part where I laugh out loud to myself. If there were any more events in the Lehigh Valley we'd have to add another month to the year.)

I asked, "What events have you been to? Do you like music, art, sports? Public trans is just ok. Good city to city."

He replied, "I'm so use (sic) to New York public transportation, that LV's is mediocre, and I've been to some events but they aren't appealing."

I thought right away about LVWithLove and WINK's upcoming prom, the South Side Film Festival, and the Allentown Art Museum's new photography exhibit, "Rock the Valley," and the Art After Hours event this Thursday night celebrating it. All three are accessible using multiple LANTA bus routes.

Anyone have advice for Jay?

Maxim's 22, Allentown Restaurant Week and other Lehigh Valley foodie news

2012-01-10T13:58:00.002-05:00

I can't wait for a French bistro Maxim's 22 to open on the ground floor of the former Pomeroy building near Centre Square on Northampton Street in Easton. Maxim's 22 is brought to you by some familiar faces in the downtown restaurant scene: the principals are Josh and Terry Palmer, two of the owners of Sette Luna at 219 Ferry St. Patch and Express-Times got the story last month when the liquor license was transferred. So, is that enough to tip off Retail Watch? ;)
Downtown Allentown Restaurant Week January 9 - 15, 2012
Enjoy lunch and dinner at special prices at
Allentown Brew Works
Bada Bingg
Bayleaf
Cafe Central
Cosmopolitan
Island in the Sun
Made in Brazil
Pasta Alla Rosa
Sangria

On Friday night, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., enjoy meet and greet sessions with local artists! Check out Bobby Zeik at Sangria, Chris P. Jones at the Allentown Brew Works and Brandon Wunder at Made in Brazil.

Free valet at Cosmopolitan (as always), free lot parking after 5 p.m. at the Farr Lot after and in the Spiral Deck at 8th and Linden Streets, and free street parking after 6 p.m.

The Long Road for the Sun Inn Restaurant from The El Vee
Michael Adams, the Lehigh Valley's only James Beard-award winning chef, has been busy since he left The Farmhouse. He may even open a restaurant in Bethlehem! Stay tuned.

West End Eats | Introducing the West End Gastro Club
from MY WEST END by MyWestEnd
Hooray for hipsters and foodies in Allentown!

Evans Eats Lehigh Valley & Beyond: Best of 2011
from Evans Eats: Lehigh Valley & Beyond by Heather EvansBest Mediterranean: Soumaya & Sons
Best Gyro: Theo's Gyros
Best Cheese Steak: Steak & Hoagie Factory
Best Breakfast: Blue Sky Cafe'
Best Ice Cream: The Inside Scoop
Best Summer Stop: Limeport Inn
Best Burger: Goody'z
Best Coffee: Brig O' Doon Coffee House
Best Burrito: Cali Burrito
Best Bakery: Vegan Treats
Best Bagel: Three Men & a Bagel
Heather "reviews ‘hole in the wall' restaurants & other eateries for your dining pleasure by providing reviews to support local, purposeful, creative & excellent eating." I had never even heard of some of these places... thanks, Heather!

30 flavors of hot chocolate offered at Zanette's Grill in Upper Nazareth Township from Lehigh Valley Food by Kelly Huth | The Express-Times
It's the perfect time of year for this! Happy new year, foodies!

New Year's Resolution: Exercise, Dance?

2012-01-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

Does your New Year's Resolution include getting more exercise, and learning to dance? Did you dance as a kid and miss the cameraderie of class and discipline of regular dance instruction? Do you want to get your kids interested in dance?

Registration is open now for Spring 2012 community classes at Muhlenberg College. Through its Muhlenberg Community Dance Center, classes are offered in Dance, Pilates, & Fitness for All Ages & Experience Levels.

Registration Deadline: Monday, Jan. 9!

For a full schedule and information about these programs, download a brochure from the College's website.

Classes for Young DancersJan. 17 – May 5, 2012
Young dancers of all ages and experience can chose classes in a variety of levels in ballet, tap, modern, jazz, pointe and hip-hop. Students perform in an annual concert and may be invited to join the MCDC Company. New this year: Creative Movement classes for ages 4-6.

Adult Ballet ClassesJan. 23 – April 30, 2012
If you enjoyed dance classes in your youth, but got away from it, or have always wanted to try a ballet class, MCDC Adult Ballet is the perfect opportunity. Classes meet Mondays 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Tap Classes for Adults with Shelley OliverJan. 24 – March 20, 2012
April 3 – May 8, 2012
Community tap classes are designed to proved a unique dance experience that combines rhythmic expression and organic movement. The object of every class is for each student to have fun while learning and developing at their own pace in a supportive environment. Three levels of tap dance allow students to determine the degree of challenge that they enjoy while experiencing this American art form. All levels of classes meet on Tuesday evenings for one hour.

Pilates Classes for AdultsJan. 24 – May 3, 2012
The Pilates Center has classes designed for all exercise levels and wellness needs. Courses being offered include Beginner Group Mat, Intermediate Group Mat, Intermediate Group Reformer, Core Synergies (for the advanced Pilates student). Private Pilates and duet sessions also available.

New Year's Resolutions: Learn Something New?

2012-01-06T08:27:00.000-05:00

New Year's Resolutions: Learn Something New?

Want to expand your horizons? Maybe meet other people with a global perspective? Lehigh University's upcoming lecture series may be a way for you to accomplish both goals.

Source: Lehigh University:

2011-2012 Town Hall Lecture Series

The ongoing series discusses topics that are timely and relevant to the local community. The lecture begins at 7 p.m. at Bethlehem City Hall, 10 East Church Street.

Now in its second year, the Town Hall Lecture Series, presented by The City of Bethlehem and Lehigh University's South Side Initiative, seeks to foster an exchange of knowledge between the university and city residents, touching on matters of current interest and of local, national, and global importance.
“We have an exciting line-up of lectures this year,” says Seth Moglen, co-director of Lehigh’s South Side Initiative. “Lehigh faculty members, who are nationally recognized experts in their fields, will talk about issues of wide interest to the people of Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley. These are issues that matter, issues that people in our city care about. The lecture series provides an opportunity for university faculty to share their expertise and for open, wide-ranging conversation after the presentations.”

Upcoming lectures include:

Feb. 8, 2012: Breena Holland, associate professor of political science, will draw on her research in order to offer a compelling vision of environmental justice, which will also enable us to think practically about how to address some of the city's most pressing challenges, including hunger and lack of access to affordable fresh food, and related public health issues like obesity, diabetes and asthma in her lecture, “Environmental Justice, Food Security, and Public Health: A Future for Bethlehem.”

April 11, 2012: John Pettegrew, associate professor of history, will speak on, “The Empathy Project: Understanding the Experience of U.S. Combat Veterans of the Iraq and Aghanistan Wars,” which will draw from Pettegrew’s interviews with combat veterans in the Lehigh Valley in order to try to close the huge gap of understanding between American civilians and the hundreds of thousands of men and women who fought in the post-Sept. 11 wars.

New Year's Resolution: Meet people + Learn to SCUBA Dive?

2012-01-05T10:04:00.000-05:00

New Year's Resolution: Meet people + Learn to SCUBA Dive?

Always wanted to learn how to SCUBA dive? Or getting ready to go on a tropical vacation and want to get certified in advance?

Lehigh Valley Dive Center on Route 191 in Bethlehem Township offers classes at a couple of locations in winter.
The first classes are starting soon:

Bethlehem Twp Community Center
Price: $375
Sundays: 9 A.M.-2 P.M.
Orientation 6:00 P.M.: Monday, Mar 5
Pool sessions: Mar 11, 18 & 25
Open water sessions: May 5 & 6

Lehigh University Taylor Gym
Price: $375
Wednesdays: 6:30 P.M.-10 P.M.
Orientation 6:00 P.M.: Wednesday, Jan 25
Pool sessions: Feb 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
Open water sessions: Apr 30 & May 1

PS - I purchased my wetsuit for triathlon training at the Dive Center and found the staff to be knowledgeable, patient and helpful!

Pork = New Year's Luck in the Lehigh Valley

2012-01-03T08:33:00.000-05:00

Although I've lived in the Lehigh Valley since 2006, I had never eaten pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day until I joined a family that draws its roots in Pennsylvania Dutch culture.

I'm not from Pennsylvania or "Dutch" (really, German), so until I began dating my now-FH, I hadn't considered it an essential tradition. But in his family, it's no joke - everyone eats pork, and even those who aren't wild about sauerkraut need to have some of that, too. It's good luck to do it, and bad luck not to.

(This is also the family that is so superstitious about the Philadelphia Eagles that when they scored a touchdown once while we were eating dinner together, they started making new rules, like "Now we have to eat soup every time the Eagles play.")

Like an obedient convert, I ate my pork and sauerkraut and have high hopes for 2012 as a result. 2011 was a sad one for our family, since we lost two loved ones. The recipe for 2012 looks good: start with memories of those loved ones, add a new baby or two, mix in a wedding and a trip to visit family friends in Maine. Bake for 12 months. Serves a family.

My friend Kirwei always buys new pajamas and sheets on New Year's. I always clean my home office desk, put new pictures in frames and dust off the old ones. Some people buy new underwear and eat black-eyed peas.

If you're from the Valley, is pork on New Year's a tradition in your family? And if it's not, have you adopted it since you've moved here? Any other New Year's traditions?

Even if not... happy new year, everyone!

Lehigh Valley restaurant blog roundup

2011-12-12T09:15:00.001-05:00

How was your weekend? See any camels? I did!

Coffee Shop Month #3: Re-Wired Cafe/Alando's Kenyan Cuisine
from Evans Eats: Lehigh Valley & Beyond by Heather Evans
Heather's quest to explore the area's coffee shops is a lot of fun. And I know most of you have never visited this restaurant or had Kenyan food, so read her blog.

Nights at The Roxy
from By Gabriella Lee/Lehigh Valley Style
Gabriella gives a history of the independent, second-run, beautiful theater in downtown Northampton. If you haven't been... put it on your 2012 LV Bucket List!

Restaurant Profile: Chimpun Peru Restaurant
from Lehigh Valley Food by Kelly Huth The Express-Times
See above re: Kenyan food - you probably haven't had this, either. Stop by Chimpun when you're downtown shopping at Boutique Easton, which is open Saturdays until 8.

Bethlehem to get two new Italian restaurants
from Lehigh Valley Food by Lynn Olanoff The Express-Times
For those who identify businesses based on what was once there, Molto Pazzo is on Main Street where Olio was after Bonte Wafflerie. Molinari's is where the Lucky Duck Diner and Steel City Bar and Grill were.

Art Museum Cafe Opening Tomorrow!
from Allentown Good News by Matthew Tuerk
Everyone's favorite high-end caterer, Karen Hunter, enters the cafe scene and we can FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY get her delicious brown sugar chocolate cookies every day of the week. A Christmas miracle! While you're getting a panini and a cookie, visit the museum shop or even - since you're there - the newly-refurbished art galleries.

Feast of the Seven Fishes at Starfish Brasserie – Dec. 11th

2011-12-10T17:01:00.000-05:00

Feast of the Seven Fishes at Starfish Brasserie – Dec. 11th from What's Cooking, Lehigh Valley? by Matty If you love this tradition, as I do, but don't want to prepare seven separate fish dishes in your own home, as I have, you may want to visit this great Bethlehem restaurant tomorrow. Yelling at your relatives in Italian is optional.

Bethlehem Christmas celebrations

2011-12-09T08:49:00.004-05:00

Bethlehem and your adorable holiday traditions!! I love you.

No tickets required, no cost, no paid parking, lots of singing, REAL CAMELS, (no kidding!):
33rd Annual Live Bethlehem Christmas Pageant
Dec 10 & 11, 2 p.m.
Bethlehem Rose Garden Band Shell, off Eighth Avenue between W. Broad Street and Union Blvd. Info: 610-865-0274

One of my favorite *new* traditions in Bethlehem is Saturday's luminaria night, in which thousands of area residents light luminaries (white bags with sand and a votive candle) along the front of their homes.
14th Annual Luminaria Night
The fundraiser benefits New Bethany Ministries.
December 10, after dark
All over the City of Bethlehem and some surrounding areas - drive around, you won't believe how beautiful it is.

Having volunteered at a mall gift wrap fundraising event on the day before Christmas Eve, I can tell you: December 17 may be too early to hold this event. Most men are unapologetically procrastinators. But this is a very festive idea.
Men's Shopping Night in Bethlehem's Two Downtowns
Dec 17 5pm-9pm
During this event, the stores and restaurants of Bethlehem’s Historic District and SouthSide offer discounts on merchandise, free gift wrapping, refreshments and drinks (beer and scotch are on the menu at several locations), as well as personal shoppers offering advice for men looking to pick up the perfect gift for loved ones!
Info: 610-751-4979

Bethlehem is beautiful at night, but for visitors who are unfamiliar with the area, you may miss some of the "good stuff" without a guide. Great for anyone with mobility issues or kids in the "sweet spot" - old enough to sit still, young enough not to be texting the whole time:
Bethlehem by Night Bus Tour
Tours depart from Historic Bethlehem Visitor Center at 505 Main St.
Info: 610-332-3378 or online
$12 for adults; $6 for ages 6-12; Ages 5 and under free
A guide in period dress takes you back in time on a 45-50 minute tour of the Christmas City. Highlights include the unique religious heritage of the town under the guiding influence of its early Moravian founders and the progression of power and innovation that marked the city's later entrepreneurial and industrial spirit.

Check out everything that's happening in the Christmas City here.

Best deals on Christmas shopping in the Lehigh Valley

2011-12-07T09:19:00.000-05:00

Recently, I received a question via Twitter:

@RobRiveraPA: @LVtransplant where are the best deals to go Xmas shopping in
your opinion?

I am probably the worst person to answer this question, since I pretty much don't shop for Christmas gifts. I've given up exchanging gifts with my parents in lieu of a night at the theatre together. This year we're going to Pennsylvania Playhouse in Bethlehem to see "Broadway Christmas Carol." I usually find a couple of things for FH without looking and the rest of my gift giving is consists of one gift exchange with FH's family. I picked FH's cousin who wanted an iTunes gift card, which I got at the pharmacy. Done.

My reply, though, was this:

@RobRiveraPA I like shopping local: downtown Easton, Bethlehem(s). And
getting tix for local events and food from local producers as gifts.

I appreciate the brevity of Twitter Q&A's - gets right to the point. But I still didn't answer the poor guy's question. Any suggestions for great "deals?"

Chipotle in the Lehigh Valley

2011-12-06T08:26:00.000-05:00

Next year, I will celebrate my sixth year as a Lehigh Valley resident. There are so many things I appreciate about my new home. And a lot has changed in these six years. Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Coach, and Banana Republic arrived. But there are still a few things that I miss about Washington, DC.

Trader Joe's is one. Chipotle is another.

The wait is over for one of them. Chipotle is coming.

Yes, I love Cali Burrito. Lots. But Chipotle has some sort of weird hold on me. White Castle lovers say they feel something similar for the chain's sliders. Maybe it's because when I was newly-graduated and living on a really limited budget, a Chipotle burrito could feed me for two days for $10. Or that the one in Tenleytown had a liquor license. (I doubt the Lehigh Valley Mall location will.) I'd wait in line for 20 minutes to get one. On Halloween, people dress up like burritos to get a free one. Music playing inside is hip and the vibe is chill. Food memories are silly but powerful.

In the absence of our favorites, we muddle through, find substitutes or make them ourselves.

Now that Corner Bakery's closed its Lehigh Valley location, I miss their ham and cheese sandwich on pretzel bread - an indulgence I allowed myself when things got stressful at my fundraising job on K Street. But now I can buy pretzel bread at Wegman's, or order up the ham and bechamel on brioche sandwich at The Mint.

What stores or restaurants is the Lehigh Valley missing, in your opinion? And what do you do to get by?

Wing Night at Christkindlmarkt

2011-11-29T09:10:00.000-05:00

Some guys have a regular night for poker, or darts night, or get together at a sports bar for wing night.

Alyssa and I thought that sounded pretty good. An excuse to get together no greater than the bar's appetizer special. We wanted a "wing night," too. Now it's become an ongoing joke: anytime things get crazy, one of us will ask - time for Wing Night?

We organized a wing night - actually a wing "day" - Sunday on the South Side of Bethlehem, that had nothing to do with wings. We'd planned to go to lunch at Blue Sky Cafe, but the tables were full of Lehigh students and parents, and the line was out the door. The food at Blue Sky is fantastic, but the kitchen is only sobig. So we walked up the street to see if Horns was open. Nope. Back up 4th Street, we passed by La Lupita, Subway, Alexandra's Bistro, Nawab and General Zapata's (all open). We decided to visit Nawab since the $9.95 buffet was open and we were both hungry for something a little different. Eating at their daily lunch buffet is a great way to try out a variety of Indian dishes without commiting to one, and you can "order with your eyes" instead of off the menu, where you might not recognize the names of dishes. There were vegetarian and chicken dishes, and lots of colorful options, including a bright-red chicken tikka masala and a green saag paneer (but no wings).

After making a quick detour back home to let FH into the house - he'd locked himself out - we rolled over to SteelStacks to check out Christkindlmarkt. I have two ways to get in free: I volunteered at the event this year, so I can go anytime, and we are ArtsQuest members. She had a free pass from work.

When we arrived, we saw the admissions line snaked out the door, and heard Christmas music playing. We walked right in, and were drawn in to the booths with handmade crafts, ornaments, and silly kids' hats. In the center area, an artist wielding a chainsaw was carving a dog out of ice, and the glass artists from Banana Factory were making glass candy canes. In the second tent, a brass band was performing Christmas standards while the shoppers perused more gifts. Alyssa picked up something for someone which shall remain secret in case that someone reads this blog.

It was a great wing day, and a good example of how to "make a day" on the South Side.

Details:

The history: Christkindlmarkt used to be on the north side of Bethlehem, where Volksplatz is during Musikfest. But its new south side location includes plenty of free parking, access to the ArtsQuest Center with real bathrooms (vs. outdoor port-o-johns at Christkindlmarkt), great food, films and performances, and now - the blast furnace light show!

Cost: $8, but anyone can get a $1 off coupon from the ArtsQuest web site. Military servicemen and veterans also get a discount. Seniors and students get a $1 discount which cannot be combined with the coupon.

Parking: Free, across the street from the tents in a gravel lot.

If you want to volunteer, there are still shifts available. I enjoy helping out at the front of the house, at the information desk or the admissions area, welcoming everyone to Bethlehem and answering questions. Top 2 questions: Where do we go for lunch/dinner after this and where is Santa?

For more information on CK and other Bethlehem holiday happenings: Visit the ArtsQuest web site.

Hookah Lounge

2011-11-28T09:13:00.000-05:00

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 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:

Gardenia Hookah (760 Hanover Avenue, Allentown) - go to Dragon Palace on Airport Road before for a bite to eat.
Bliss Hookah (209 Union St, Allentown) - go to Aci Halal (34 N 2nd Street, Allentown) for dinner before - trust me. Tasty Turkish food!
Sultana Hookah Lounge (3 E 3rd Street, Bethlehem) - on the corner of New Street and 3rd Street, where the Fahy Bridge meets 3rd, across from Tallarico's Chocolates and Glen Anthony Designs. Dinner at 23 East Asian Bistro, or General Zapata's, or the trendy new Horns!
Hookah Turka (44 W.Broad St., Bethlehem) - where the candy store was, on the same block as the (closed) Boyd movie theater. Dinner anywhere on Main Street. Have you been to the new Italian place, Molto Pazzo, at 553 Main Street?

The Great Allentown Comic Con in Lehigh Valley

2011-11-18T11:32:00.000-05:00

November 19 and 20, you are cordially invited to "Get UR Geek On" at The Great Allentown Comic Con.

The Lehigh Valley's largest comic & pop culture convention attracts artists, celebrity guests, dealers, and comic book geeks of all ages. Smurfs, Disney, Star Wars, zombies, Star Trek... this show has something for every comic lover.

At: Merchants Square Mall, 1901 S. 12th Street, Allentown, PA 18103 (just off Lehigh Street, behind the Toyota dealership) Hours: Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm

Admission Cost: One-Day Pass $8 per adult, Two Day Pass $10 per adult
- free for children 12 years-old and under accompanied with an adult
- $1 per pass will be donated to epilepsy awareness
Don't want to pay? The GACC is looking for volunteers. You'll eat free and meet guests and dealers. Email for info.

And while I appreciate the show's effort to promote local attractions (Crayola Factory, Lehigh Valley Mall, Historic Bethlehem, Sands), there are a few places that are even closer to Comic Con that are worth checking out, too.

All of these recommendations are within a 3.5-mile radius of Comic Con:

Go to The Brass Rail for cheesesteaks (3015 Lehigh Street), Louie's Restaurant for Italian (2071 31st Street SW), or Amigo Mio Cafe for Mexican (545 Cleveland Street).

Drop in at Drop Me a Line Costume Shop (1050 Lehigh Street) and Double Decker Records (808 Saint John Street) - two unique indie stores. Catch a screening of "The Skin I Live In" starring Antonio Banderas at The Civic Theatre (19th Street) on Sunday at 1:30. It's a 2-hour film in Spanish with English subtitles. Then visit my friend Steph at Step in 4 Mor (1823 W Allen St) and try on some fabulous shoes.

Comic Con is also close to the South Mall, (3300 Lehigh St) which has the only Stein Mart in the Lehigh Valley. You'll also find a drive-through Starbucks in the parking lot and Gypsy Rose antiques mall inside.

May the force be with you.

Indian cultural celebration in Allentown

2011-11-17T10:22:00.001-05:00

Allentown Symphony Hall (23 N. 6th St. Allentown) is celebrating Indian Culture this weekend with two colorful and exciting events. If you have ever traveled to India, love opera or classical Indian dance, or just want to be transported to another land for a few hours, you may want to attend these events. Not to mention, for those of you who think the Lehigh Valley is not culturally diverse, I suspect this program's audience will be a good mix.

The Metropolitan Opera’s Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series "The Met: Live in HD" features 11 live transmissions, including one at our very own Allentown Symphony Hall. Since the live shows are simulcast, you can enjoy The Met's Opera series without driving to Manhattan and paying high ticket prices.

This weekend, Richard Croft is Gandhi in Philip Glass’s unforgettable opera, Satyagraha, which the Washington Post calls “a profound and beautiful work of theater.” November 19, 2011 at 1pm - Tickets $20-22/$15 Students (Encore: December 21, 2011 at 6:30pm)

On Sunday, November 20, Ragamala Dance will present Sacred Earth at 8 p.m. Tickets: $25-50/$10 Students

Ragamala Dance, called “rapturous and profound” by The New York Times, blends ancient Indian visual art traditions with classical Indian dance in Sacred Earth. Performed against large-scale painted panels by master folk artist Anil Chaitya Vangad, Sacred Earth invokes a deep connection to the earth and illustrates the ever-renewing cycle of life.

Lehigh-Lafayette Football Weekend 2011

2011-11-15T14:07:00.000-05:00

The beer distributors are all out of PBR. The Easton and Bethlehem police are preparing for the crowds. And the rumble of Mercedes and Lexus SUVs from New Jersey, Connecticut and New York is unmistakable. It must be Lehigh-Laf weekend.

For those of you who did not attend one of these schools, are not from the Lehigh Valley, or don't care at all about football, you'd still be wise to pay attention. This Saturday, November 19, the roads, neighborhoods and institutions around Easton and Bethlehem will be full of alumni and students gearing up for the 147th meeting of their two football teams.

Quick wiki lesson: Lehigh University and Lafayette College are located 17 miles apart in eastern Pennsylvania, and are both members of the Patriot League. Their football rivalry has been played 146 times since 1884, making it the most-played football rivalry in the nation. It is also the longest uninterrupted rivalry, since the teams have met every year since 1897.

The game is hosted at the stadiums on Lehigh's and Lafayette's campuses in alternate years. This year, Lehigh "welcomes" Lafayette to their home in Bethlehem/Saucon Valley. If you don't already have tickets, you could watch a live broadcast online, or at bars including Starter's Riverport, Bethlehem Brew Works, and JP Macgrady's in Bethlehem.

Friday night is always a big night to party on and off campus, since young alumni come back to town a little early to start pre-gaming. On Saturday morning, alumni meet up at their old fraternity house for a ceremonial beer or 10, and after the game is over, most will be swerving their way home from Goodman Campus. Many will stay the night in the region's hotels and enjoy a meal at one of their old favorite restaurants (beware, if you were planning to get breakfast at Billy's Diner or a burger at College Hill Tavern this weekend!).

The rivalry is so serious you can taste it in the tailgate beer. (Lehigh's bookstore sells a T-shirt that has "Lafayette" on the front, and "Because not everyone can get into Lehigh" on the back.) So figure out who you're for, and stay away from the people on the other side (and the drunk drivers!).

Lehigh Valley Chorus of Sweet Adelines: The Sing-Off, Lehigh Valley-style

2011-11-11T12:12:00.001-05:00

I met Michele because she had the good sense to join Junior League. She also happens to be a member of the same amazing collegiate sorority as I am - from Texas State, no less - and is a very talented singer (which I am not). I am in awe of musicians like her and my other friend Courtney, who are a capella goddesses, and of course the kids on The Sing-Off.

The Lehigh Valley Chorus of Sweet Adelines International will present its annual show, A Cappella A la Carte, at 7:30 PM on Saturday, November 12, at the Allentown Jewish Community Center’s Kline Auditorium, 702 North 22nd Street in Allentown, PA. Doors open at 7 PM.

We’ll be featuring music that spans every generation, including pop, swing, show tunes and ballads – all in a cabaret setting with refreshments and cash bar for wine and soft drinks. The Lehigh Valley Gay Men’s Chorus and the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts Women’s Choir will join us as guest performers.

Show tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door, and $12 for children 12 and under. For more information, directions to the venue or to purchase advance tickets online, visit LVC’s website. You may also call 908-859-5796 or send an email.

Michele joined The Lehigh Valley Chorus when she moved to the area, and she let me know that the group has its yearly show this weekend, and it promises to be a great evening. She adds:

Also, for anyone interested in joining the chorus, I can attest that the ladies of the group are some of the sweetest and most supportive people I've ever met. Makes it easy for new members to fit right in. I'm still considered a guest singer but hope to audition formally very soon. I'll be performing in one song at the show.

Autographs are $5. Break a leg!

The Pairings - beer, wine and food for Equi-librium

2011-11-10T15:02:00.001-05:00

I was too busy pouring Riesling and IPA to report on The Pairings myself...

So big thanks to my friend Eileen, a local businesswoman and young professional with her own wine events business, who wrote the following guest blog. Visit her web site and follow her @wine_know on Twitter!

Thanks also to Moe, a dear family friend, expert networker and talented photographer, for allowing me to borrow her beautiful photographs for this post.

Stay tuned for more guest posts soon!

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Equi-librium, a therapeutic riding and driving non-profit for children and adults with special needs, hosted their first “Pairings” event this past Sunday, November 4th, at The Bank Street Annex in Easton, PA. In recent years their major fundraising event was the Lehigh Valley Brewfest and I have to admit, I was at first disappointed the LV Brewfest was not going to take place this year. It had become somewhat of a tradition for a number of my friends sporting our pretzel necklaces, but there were some challenging weather conditions the past couple of years. I can understand how having an indoor event eliminates that risk. In addition, if you’ve ever been responsible for fundraising you know that there comes a time and place when a major event needs a change.

Learning about Equi-librium between pairings

After enjoying the fine food, wine and beer at The Pairings this past Sunday, I’m ready to return next year with even more friends. The event was designed to allow guest interaction with chefs from 10 local restaurants and catering businesses presenting a tasty offering paired with wine and craft beer. The fact that there was a beer and wine option for each tasting was impressive and immediately set it apart from other tasting events I’ve attended. Often times either the wine drinkers or beer drinkers are left out. Here both were available and if you enjoy wine AND beer like myself you had options. I am the “Wine-Know” so I tried mostly wines throughout the evening, but I did try a few of the beers and got feedback from others in my group. The number of chefs was nice because it did not overwhelm the guests and it wasn’t over crowded so I felt I had time to actually savor and enjoy every bite and every sip. Also, the quality in presentation of each offering was obvious. The chefs were there to impress and they did just that and I was more than satisfied by the time the event ended.

Weyerbacher's Easton-made beer was a popular pairing

I attended the event with my husband and two of our friends. I asked the three of them to tell me their favorites and one that all four of us and ranked high was from Balasia located in Hereford, PA. Chef Wendy prepared a curried butternut squash dish with poppadom and habanero infused coconut flakes for an extra kick. This tasty vegetarian dish even wow’ed two “meat-eating” men. A great wine selection was made offering Hermann J. Wiemer Semi-Dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes in New York. I visited this winery a few times and it is one of my favorites in that region. As the “Wine-Know” I highly recommend a visit to this area and in particular this winery. Lake Placid Brewery’s IPA was the beer selection for this dish, and interestingly enough another place I had a chance to visit. Also a beautiful area and a fun local brewery worth visiting. Balasia offers vegetarian, vegan, organic and local food. Check out their website to see local farmers markets they sell at and to learn more about their vegan supper club, The Honey Underground.

Wendy from Balasia shows off her vegan spread

The perfect “melt in your mouth” tasty dish was Sette Luna’s Pork Ossobucco. This Easton gem located on Ferry Street is one of my local favorites as well. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve dined there. I know most of the staff and I’ve tried just about everything on the menu. However, they had something new and yummy to try. Once again they did not disappoint. It was delicious so I put in a request to see this on the menu in the near future. The Pork Osso buco was paired with Bigi Vipra Rossa, offered by the quartino (a glass and a half) at the restaurant, and Abbey des Rocs Grand Cru, a tasty brown ale. Both guys commented that this was probably one of the best beer pairings.

Bigi Vipra Rossa

If I had to have my top three favorite pairings, the third would be from Wegmans on Easton/Nazareth Pike. They offered the perfect comfort food dish, which was Steakhouse Chili served in a pretzel roll. The rolls were the perfect size and added to the presentation. Matched with Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel I immediately saw myself stopping here on the way home on a crisp fall or winter night for take out. Wegmans does a great job with quick, fresh and healthy options for occasions when you don’t have time to cook. I dream of the days we have one in the Phillipsburg area, just as Megan dreams of the days we have a Trader Joe’s in the Lehigh Valley. Listen I certainly hope for that day too, but one grocery store hurdle at a time.

Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zin... their motto is: no wimpy wines.

The most unique and impressive presentation would have to go to Chef Mimmo from The Mint, a relatively new gastropub located on W. Broad Street in Bethlehem. “The Egg” was served with Vitiano Vermentino and Bethlehem Brew Works Hop Explosion. The chef used the sous-vide technique which is a French term that means under vacuum. Sous vide is a culinary technique in which vacuum-sealed food is immersed in a water bath and cooked at a very precise, consistent temperature. This technique allows you to cook food to perfection, and eliminates concern of overcooking. They eggs were cooked between soft boiled and hard boiled creating a “pudding like” texture. The pork belly served with the egg was extra tender from this method of cooking. The result was a very savory and decadent dish.

Chef Mimmo from The Mint prepares "The Egg," an item often found on the restaurant's menu

I really enjoyed Pearly Baker’s tasty house-made duck ham served cold on a crostini. It may sound relatively simple, but trust me, it was delicious. I haven’t seen this option on their menu, but perhaps in the near future. Wine and beer selections included Dopplebock Thomas Creek and Wild Horse Pinot Noir. Pearly's does a great job at offering menu options from local farmers, so if you haven’t been it’s worth checking out.

Duck ham on crostini

There was dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. Warm Sugar from Hellertown offered a cherry chocolate cupcake in her “sugarbaby” size/mini cupcake. She had a few of her other flavors on display in both sugarbaby and sugarmama sizes. You can learn more about her bakery and flavor options on her web site. They were so pretty you almost didn’t want to eat them. Well, actually I had that thought for about 5 seconds and then I just had to try one. I’ve had cupcakes from some of the more well-known bakeries in major cities. No need to travel to NYC. We’ve got better cupcakes in the Valley! I enjoyed the cupcake with Robert Mondavi’s Cabernet Sauvignon and the beer pairing was Old Heathen from Weyerbacher Brewery.

No caption needed :)

Even though it seems the retail world is rushing us into Christmas, Vintage at Morgan Hill in Easton wanted us to savor the season and enjoy the “First Thanksgiving Bite”. This yummy phyllo purse was filled with creamy turkey and sat on cranberry sauce. Offered with Smoking Loon Viognier and Amber DBG from Caron Brewing, this “bite” had me looking forward to November 24th!

Yummy Thanksgiving bites from Vintage Restaurant at The Club at Morgan Hill

Around this time last year I was in New Orleans for a long weekend celebrating my mother -in-law’s birthday. I recommend that city for a culinary road trip. In the meantime if you are craving some southern cooking try Gala Gourmet Catering located in Hellertown. They presented creole shrimp on a corn cake bringing back memories from my trip and paired it with L’Ardi Dolcetto and Sam Adams Imperial Wit.

There were two other chefs' offerings to complete the evening and fill our bellies. Meatballs & Pasta Neopolitan from deLorenzo’s at Knox Avenue on College Hill in Easton were paired with Epic Brewing Fest Devious and Ruffino Chianti. I have yet to dine at their restaurant, but after just one bite I’ll be sure to make a visit in the near future. Bethelehem BrewWorks prepared Cold Smoked Salmon Bruchetta with Brew Works Bagpiper’s Scotch Ale and Hermann J. Wiemer Chardonnay.

Indulging for a good cause is always acceptable. I’ll be looking forward to this event again next year and recommend it to any foodie looking for a true tasting experience. The set up was welcoming and provided an opportunity to interact with the chefs and sit down to savor your tasting. There were many generous sponsors that helped make the night possible. You can view them online and to learn more about Equi-librium’s programs, ways to get involved and/or donate please check out their web site.

Cheers!

Westgate Mall Indoor Outdoor Farmer's Market in Bethlehem

2011-11-09T22:05:00.004-05:00

The Westgate Mall (2285 Schoenersville Rd. Bethlehem) is probably best known for the time presidential candidate John McCain visited a few years ago, pushing a shopping cart through Weis Market with the common folk.

Westgate is not as glamorous as the Promenade Shops is - no Starbucks or fountains here - but the Bon-Ton department store is just fine, and Westgate Pizza is one of our favorites. It also has a store that repairs vacuum cleaners and sewing machines, and a drive through coffee trailer in the parking lot(Mocha Mike's - beloved by soccer and baseball moms taking their kids to the Bethlehem Municipal fields for games as well as commuters).

Now it's the first Lehigh Valley mall to open a year-round farmers' market! Westgate Mall Indoor Outdoor Farmer's Market opened today with much fanfare - including a visit from US Congressman Charlie Dent. It will be open every Wednesday from noon until 7 p.m.

Here's a partial list of vendors:

Valley View Farms products
Hereford Country Store - Gourmet Quiches, Veggie Tarts and Old Fashion Baked Goods
The Popcorn Pit - freshly made Gourmet Popcorn
Jett Produce - year-long chemical free greens, holiday wreaths, fresh grain fed turkeys
Y Knot Alpacas Alpaca gloves, socks and soaps
Verba Farms - Fruit baskets, eggs, produce
The Phillips Company - specialty and holiday flags
Hair Accessories plus Uniques - Uniques hair clips and accessories
Apple Ridge Farms - Featuring Brick Oven Bread & Produce
Easton Salsa Company - Salski/Salsa
Christine's Secret Garden - fine teas and tea pots
Blondies - designer cupcakes, haluski, tomatoe mac & cheese and pierogie casserole
Hum-Dinger Alpacas - yes, more alpacas! - alpaca fiber products, both handspun/handknit, and commercially processed

For more information, "like" the Westgate Mall on Facebook.

Friday Roundup

2011-11-04T09:26:00.002-04:00

TGIF!

I love using Google Reader to compile all the web sites, blogs and writers I follow. If there's a post I want to see, it waits patiently in my inbox until I get around to it. If you don't already have a Google account, you can get one for free. Then set up your Reader by adding sites like Lehigh Valley Transplant. :) Then, when you can't remember where you read something, you can search on a keyword in Google Reader to figure it out. (Usually when I can't remember, it's one of the little gems Kelly Huth unearths.)

Speaking of Kelly: read her Restaurant Profile of General Zapata : "Head to General Zapata -- a reincarnation of Zapata's -- for a deep-fried taco"

Then visit Jaime K's piece on co-ops, and envision one in Bethlehem.

Swoon over Abby Leigh's ode to Wawa.

E-visit Bolete Restaurant with Wine-Know.

And tonight, meet up with Twitter users at Starfish Brasserie in Bethlehem (7 p.m.). If you go, you'll meet a friendly bunch of media mavens. Even if you aren't hip to Twitter yet, they'll inspire you to be. #tweetup

Have a great weekend, and don't forget to vote on Tuesday!

Update: Sorry to have to remove the links on this post: One of them was linked to malware! :(

Snowtober in Lehigh Valley for transplants

2011-11-03T11:08:00.002-04:00

On Friday night, we gave away candy to 400 trick or treaters, including one cute little chicken and his parents, Paul and Katie. When we ran out of candy at 7:15 p.m., we turned off the front porch light and took Stella for a stroll to visit our friends Tyler and Jenna (who had 800+ kids in 2 hours- check out their video!) and our friends who recently moved to the neighborhood, Molly and Ryan.

The next day, in the midst of a storm, Lehigh Valley residents lost power as the heavy snow accumulated on the leaves and branches snapped under the weight, bringing down power lines and making a huge mess.

Most people lost power for a few hours. Many faced no power or heat for a few days. Some still don't have power.

Who do you turn to when you need help? A lot of locals stayed with family or close friends. Many seniors were able to tap into a network of social services. But transplants, many of you in apartments or rental houses, or living in new developments where you don't know your neighbors well, were left in the cold. As it is, it's hard to imagine asking a neighbor you barely see or know to house you and your pets, children and freezer contents. It's even harder when that neighbor is staying with family or friends elsewhere.

Now that most of you have power back, how would you do things differently? Would you buy a generator, a backup sump pump and/or a chain saw? Get a wood stove and a gas-powered range? Would you stay in a hotel? Would you get to know your neighbors better? Are you developing an emergency plan in case this happens again someday?

Young Lawyers in the Lehigh Valley

2011-11-02T11:53:00.001-04:00

A bunch of young lawyers walk into a bar...

There's no punchline. It's really happening.

Check out a happy hour fundraiser for the Northampton County Young Lawyers Division tonight.

Mach’s Gute, 713 Linden Street, Bethlehem
Wednesday November 2, 2011, 5:30-7:30 pm
$20 donation pre-registered, or $25 at the door.
Paying guests receive a free drink ticket and free appetizers. Benefits: the Northampton County YLD Holiday Hope Chest Project, which provides Christmas gifts to underprivileged and needy children throughout the Lehigh Valley.

At the event, you might win a raffle or door prize, and are pretty much guaranteed to meet well-dressed, community-minded, smart young professionals who live in the Lehigh Valley.

No Boys Allowed: An event for tweens, teens and moms

2011-10-28T08:36:00.000-04:00

An event just for teen girls and moms is happening this weekend in South Side Bethlehem.

The Glam Squad's mission and purpose is to empower girls/women of all ages. The group's focus is on Body Image, Media, Hair and Makeup, Self-Care and Wellness, Fashion Do's and Don'ts. The genius behind the organization, my friend Rosalin, says the Glam Squad aims to create "a movement of Stylish, Strong, Secure Divas, one girl at time." Righteous!

The annual "No Boys Allowed" event is this Saturday, Octobe 29, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Comfort Suites on E. Third Street. Some programs designed for both moms and daughters, including Fashion/Styling Basics, Age Appropriate Skincare and Makeup, Priority Setting, and Love and Limits. Others are just for moms, including topics like dealing with relational agression and bullying and How to Talk to Your Daughter About Sex. At the same time their daughters attend a session that encourages the girls to DREAM BIG, and to learn how to become financially savvy, and media literate.

The Anti Pageant begins at 6 p.m. featuring a healthy competition that showcases girls' originality, commitment to community service, public speaking, and more. Fathers, brothers and other supportive males are welcome to attend the Anti Pageant.
Tickets are $10, and a portion of each ticket for expo will benefit the YWCA of Bethlehem. Visit http://projectglamsquad.com/ for tickets and information.

Check out the #1 ranked US college theater program - in Allentown this weekend

2011-10-27T09:25:00.000-04:00

Admit it, when you looked at colleges, you read the Princeton Review. You checked to see if a school was anywhere near the top of the rankings for "Party Schools," what the food was like, and whether your roommate was likely to be an aspiring senator. Those rankings often tell more about a school than the M/F ratio (not in my favor at my alma mater, or most colleges, for that matter), average class size and number of student organizations that you'll get in most college guidebooks.

Muhlenberg College, a higher education institution known locally for its beautiful West End Allentown campus, its active Jewish student population, and its drop-dead-gorgeous-looks-like-Hogwarts dining hall, is also ranked #1 in the US among the 376 college theater programs the Review inspected. (It only ranks the best 15% of all colleges and universities to begin with.)

Here's the Wood Dining Hall. When Niki and I had lunch there recently, it took my breath away.

Not #1 out of Mid-Atlantic colleges, or among Division 2 schools, or schools with Hogwarts-like dining halls. #1 in the nation, better than NYU, better than USC, best overall. In Allentown!

The college's summer musical series is unmatched in the region, and shows frequently sell out. Subscribe to the college's Calendar (iCal or Google Calendar) on the theatre department's web site to find out when the shows are announced. See the students in action in their latest musical production," Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along," October 28-November 6. General Admission tickets start at $20. For mature audiences. Call 484-664-3333 or visit www.muhlenberg.edu/theatre.

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

2011-10-26T11:31:00.000-04:00

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 this weekend 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 parades, parties and other fall festivities happening around the Lehigh Valley this weekend. Don't forget that Trick or Treat night in your neighborhood may NOT be October 31. Don't get caught unprepared!
Discover Lehigh Valley also has some great suggestions, including Pennsylvania Youth Theatre's October 29 “Thrill the World” event, where they invite visitors to break world records as you join tens of thousands of people around the globe all dancing “Thriller” at the exact same time, then stick around for music, dancing, movies and general zombiance.

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.

Dayglow Party at Lehigh University

2011-10-25T09:35:00.001-04:00

Sympathies to The Morning Call newsroom, decimated by layoffs. What is written locally is put together by the few brave writers left, and some of the writing is very, very good. Andrew McGill and Spencer Soper are clever and self-deprecating. Reporting by Jenna Portnoy and Arlene Martinez is eloquently researched, written and edited. While I am no news reporter, I admire the hard work of the journalists who make their living covering our community's news. I subscribe to the paper seven days a week, and now also pay extra to read it online, because of their work (and to get a daily update of how bad it things are at Olympus).

But some of the writers...

Susan Gottshall's restaurant reviews are so overly descriptive and sweetly positive that by the time you get to the end, you feel full.

On a pizza place in Bethlehem: "Rosanna's cannoli ($2.75) was a sweet treat, indeed, its creamy, rich center fine contrast for the crispy shell. I enjoyed a cup of cappuccino ($3.25) just as much, thanks to its hot froth steaming the aroma of coffee into my olfactory senses."
On The Mint, a Bethlehem gastropub with 120+ domestic microbrews on the menu, one of its most distinctive features: "I found The Mint a bit noisy, but, even so, I look forward to watching how this restaurant matures, because it already qualifies for my 'must return' list. Including tax and tip, dinner for two without alcoholic beverages totaled $88."'

Tyrone Richardson writes the newspaper's Retail Watch column. I don't know why, but he seems to be the last to know. I know more than Tyrone does about retail happenings in the Valley, and it's not even my job. It seems like most of his sources are press releases and the business owners themselves. It wouldn't be hard to do a little research or get out of the office more. His predecessor used to slay me with his humor and insider information.

But the one that takes the cake - and the inspiration for this post - is John Moser.

He reviewed the Fuel and Buckcherry concert this summer. And, he interviewed Hot Chelle Rae when they visited Crocodile Rock recently . In both cases, he sounded like someone's dad writing about his kids' kind of music.

But this weekend's piece about Dayglow, complete with this photo of a girl covered in paint (black and white in the newspaper), took the cake.

"Expect pulsating club music and body paint at Dayglow party... Dayglow, coming to Rauch Fieldhouse at Lehigh University Dec. 3, will be a rave-style party with club music and body paint."

John quotes three hard-hitting news sources: Temple University's online student newspaper, the promoter's press release, and Dayglow's web site.

What I really want to read is his personal review of the event. :)

P.S. Tickets: $45, general admission. $70, VIP. On sale now online. For more information, call 610-333-3987.

Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley Grand Opening - Part 2

2011-10-19T09:04:00.002-04:00

Here are a few more photos of the newly-renovated Allentown Art Museum. Did you go to the festivities this weekend? Had you visited the museum before the renovation? Maybe you think you aren't the "museum type," but you are curious, and want to check it out in a social setting. If so, check out this event:

Art After Hours, "Celebrate the Renaissance," 5:30-8 p.m. Nov. 17, museum-wide event. $20; $10, members. During the Renaissance, life's milestones were marked in celebrations and light. Celebrate the museum's renaissance with an evening inspired by the "Shared Treasure: The Legacy of Samuel H. Kress" exhibition. Sample themed hors d'oeuvres, regional wines and catch a performance by a madrigal or two.

A view from the arts plaza

New glass facade and a brand new tree on North Fifth Street.

Heaven on Earth: Textiles of the Renaissance and Baroque, Goodman Gallery, through Jan. 15

An accompanying exhibition to "Shared Treasures," "Heaven on Earth" provides a further introduction to the arts of the Renaissance and Baroque through a group of dramatic textiles drawn from the museum's extensive textile and costume collection. Included is a selection of textiles that includes flat and cut velvets, tapestries and embroideries that reflect the important modes of textile production from the 15th to 18th centuries.

Salvatore Grippi: Invented Terrains, Rodale Gallery, through Jan. 15

Salvatore Grippi (b. 1921) uses everyday prosaic objects to convey an impressive sense of mystery, intensity and surrealism in a display of 29 drawings, collages and paintings from the mid-1970s through the early 1980s. The black and white drawings capture light and dark, hovering between still life and landscape, the physical and metaphysical, while the brilliant red paintings shout for a different kind of attention, presenting similar objects as both confrontational and remote.

No visit to the museum would be complete without a visit Artie in the Art Ways area for kids. Here, the museum's Chief Curator Diane Fischer checks on him before the museum opens to the public.

The Art of India and Tibet from the Permanent Collection, Fowler Gallery

Facing Fifth Street with lots of window light, the Linny and Beal Fowler Gallery is an ideal exhibition space for sculpture. The exhibit of sculpture and textiles dating from the sixth to early 20th centuries combines the Asian Indian and Tibetan works from the museum's Goodman Gallery with the recently gifted pieces from the vast collection of Drs. Peter and Caroline Koblenzer of Philadelphia.

A view of the museum's entrance on the left, with the Lehigh County courthouse in the far right and Baum School of Art in the foreground.

Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley - Sneak Peek

2011-10-14T15:54:00.005-04:00

I got a sneak peek of the Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley this week, just before its grand re-opening to the public this weekend.

A view of the museum from the rooftop of the Baum School of Art (courtesy of Allentown Art Museum)
The museum got more than a fresh coat of paint - there are new galleries, a new cafe (opening this winter during museum hours) and a host of new exhibits that are sure to entertain a repeat visitor like me and first time visitors like most of you.

If you've lived in a large city like I have, you know that museums can play a big part in the cultural calendar, and this museum aims to do the same. By increasing the number, size and capacity of its galleries, it is well-suited to host guests young, old, and in-between (the latter being the most elusive museum-going audience). Adding a cafe will entice attract visitors who don't typically visit museums and tempt museum-goers to stay a little longer... and maybe pick up a unique gift at the museum shop.

The museum has already scheduled a series of events, including lectures, festivals, and the return of my favorite cocktail party in the region, Art After Hours (save the date: November 17 is the first one). The museum will re-open its doors this Saturday, October 16th, with a Preview Party from 6-8 p.m. Free admission to museum members, $15 for non-members.

As for the art you'll see if you visit: Chief Curator Diane Fischer has gone for baroque with Renaissance era paintings from the museum's permanent collection, plus additional works collected by Samuel Kress to complement them:

The museum’s inaugural exhibition Shared Treasure: The Legacy of Samuel H. Kress celebrates the 50th anniversary of the gifting of the Kress Collection of Early European Art. It features forty (40) key selections from the museum’s permanent collection as well as thirty (30) additional works borrowed from other museums and institutions such as the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the National Gallery of Art. A few examples (also courtesy of the museum):

For more information, visit the museum's web site. Thanks to Elsbeth and Jen for making my little visit possible!

My Boy's Baking moving to Stoke Park Road

2011-10-11T10:03:00.000-04:00

I wrote about my favorite cookie in the universe a while back, My Boy's Baking's toffee chocolate chip treat that is everything a cookie should be: sweet, crunchy, soft and light.

This year, a box of them was a birthday gift to myself that I savored over many weeks.

While I was inside their shop, the owner let me know that the business will be moving to a bigger location soon. They're leaving their shop at 196 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem, for space next to Dave's Deli and Patrick McIvor Studio at 310 Stoke Park Road in Bethlehem. It's around the corner from the Bethlehem Wegman's. If that's too inconvenient, you can also place your order online. In the new spot, they'll have visibility from Route 22 and more space to bake their signature biscotti and cookies and ship them around the world.

Romance novel discussion in the Lehigh Valley

2011-10-10T09:49:00.002-04:00

I subscribe to Bethlehem Area Public Library's blog, and receive regular updates about new books, e-books and DVDs in stock, book sales (ridiculously great and 6+ x/year) and events like this one. I had to smile at the headline: CALLING ALL ADULTS!

If you have read any Nicholas Sparks’ books or have ever wondered about his books, join us for a fun evening of discussion about this genre: ROMANCE.

Refreshments will be served.

So join us at the South Side Branch for this book discussion group on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 from 6:30-7:30 P.M.

Please register by calling 610-867-7852.

This would be a great event for individuals who enjoy the romance genre and don't know anyone else who does. And the South Side Branch is within walking distance of The Bookstore Speakeasy, a place where a romance novel might be set... sounds like a fun night out! If you go... let me know how it was!

Nothing to do in the Lehigh Valley

2011-10-07T14:46:00.004-04:00

I stopped by an expo hosted by the Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal earlier this week, and was glad to see so much enthusiasm for the growth of business in the Lehigh Valley. Lots of local businesses and organizations that support local businesses were there showing off their stuff.

I paid close attention to two booths in particular. The Lehigh Valley International Airport’s marketing staff and Discover Lehigh Valley ambassador extraordinaire Nancy were giving away swag and information about what’s happening next.

The airport is concerned that with Southwest Airlines’ purchase of AirTran, that the low-cost carrier will leave the region. Wouldn’t it be great to have Southwest Airlines in the Lehigh Valley? If you have never flown Southwest, it is an affordable option that makes up in charm what it lacks in amenities. No meals, no assigned seats… but you'll enjoy the friendly and accommodating staff, and fast boarding and deplaning. To let Southwest know what you think, click here.

Nancy was distributing its 2011 Map and Guide and new Lehigh Valley Dining and Discount Guide in the Discover Lehigh Valley booth. I always learn something new talking to Nancy and reading the organization’s helpful materials. For instance:

Did you know there is a clothing-optional resort in the Pocono Mountains? Oh yes, Sunny Rest Resort is available for your nudist enjoyment year-round.
Have you heard of the Macungie Institute? I hadn’t, but then again, I don’t live in Macungie. It’s a meeting and conference facility with an auditorium, conference room, and classrooms, for both business and social events.
What about Landhaven Bed & Breakfast in nearby Barto?
...Lehigh Valley Tour Group’s haunted tours?
...Flint Hill Farm AG in Coopersburg and Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm in Stroudsburg? Pay a visit, and you and your family can experience everyday farm life.

Still think there's nothing to do here?

Thanks, Discover Lehigh Valley! As always, I encourage Lehigh Valley residents new and not-so-new to explore this region as if you were a tourist.

Weekend in the Lehigh Valley

2011-10-07T11:24:00.000-04:00

Last week, FH was out of town for a few days, and immediately after he returned, I was out two nights in a row with a Junior League meeting and statistics class. Friday night we stayed in and caught up on DVR TV, including The Sing-Off. We love to cheer for the a capella performers and mock Nick Lachey. (See, we're not socialites every night of the week!)

Here's where my insatiable curiosity and blogger tendencies kick in. I wondered whether there were any a capella groups in the Lehigh Valley, so I searched the 'net and found:

Sweet Adelines
Lehigh Valley Harmonizers
Muhlenberg College's NoteWorthy
Lehigh University's Melismatics
Lafayette College' Soulfege, Chorduroys, Quintessence and Cadence

I think the Lehigh Valley could have its own Sing-Off!

When Saturday rolled around and it wasn't raining, I took the opportunity to buy some mums and garden stuff from Lowe's (now that I don't have a Dan Schantz Greenhouse nearby - Boo) and pretty up the front of our house. Stella supervised, of course.

Then in the afternoon, we met our friend Sara at ArtsQuest's Oktoberfest, taking place on the SteelStacks campus. It was $10 at the gate. We bumped into Molly and Ryan and Katie and Paul, both with extended families in tow, and saw lots and lots of little wiener dogs. We missed the dachshund races, but they were darn cute even just walking around. We enjoyed a couple of drinks (me and Sara = spiked hot cider; FH = an IPA). The Oktoberfest continues this weekend, too.

Then, because we were craving something more than a sausage and schnitzel, we stopped by The Mint for dinner. The new fall menu is out, including wasabi pea soup (YUM) and brisket sliders (TRIPLE YUM). Like most places serving microbrews these days, demand far exceeds supply, so the beer list is new all the time, too. I had a stout that tasted like creme brulee and a hefeweisen that tasted like bananas and cloves. (So I didn't need dessert.) The vibe was relaxed but busy inside the restaurant, as it began to pour outside.

On Sunday, Dad, Lauren and Stella joined me on one of my Lehigh Valley expeditions. Until I read this blog post, I had never heard of Columcille Megalith Park, let alone realized it was in nearby Bangor, PA. It wasn't a long hike, but the path was surrounded by stones large and small. If you haven't been, check out the web site, then go explore.

This weekend will look a little bit like last weekend, except there will be more studying for the GRE. Wish me luck!

Restaurants near South Bethlehem: Advice to a chef visiting this weekend for Oktoberfest

2011-10-06T13:57:00.003-04:00

My friend Lori works for Revel in Atlantic City – the newest and most fabulous casino resort at the shore. Her friend, the executive chef at LaSalle University recently asked her:

I'm thinking about visiting Chris in Bethlehem this weekend and seeing his new kitchen and checking out the Oktoberfest thing going on… Are there any places to eat worth visiting while I'm up there? I don't think that Chris is the right guy to ask, as he doesn't really live there, and his idea of a great restaurant is someplace with large portions of meat. (he loves those Brazilian places) Any thoughts? Sunday brunch would be worthwhile.

Since she knows I love food and the Lehigh Valley, she asked my opinion, which I will share with you, too:

Dear Chef,

Welcome to the Lehigh Valley! This weekend’s weather is supposed to be perfect for Oktoberfest, fall harvest activities and general outdoor merriment. Yes, the weather is always this beautiful!

Knowing you are only in town for one weekend and are based in South Bethlehem, I’d recommend you visit a couple of places that we love, not too far from the ‘Fest:

Lunch – Maybe you’ll eat lunch at Oktoberfest – traditional German fare. If you’re in the mood for something else, I’d recommend the not-so-best-kept-secret of West Bethlehem (<5 minute drive), The Mint. Sit at the bar, order the wasabi pea soup or the Bank Burger, and enjoy 127+ domestic microbrews and craft cocktails. (610-419-3810, 1233 W. Broad St., Bethlehem).

Dinner – If you need a break from the ‘Fest, or if you’re done for the night, visit Horns, just six blocks away. The vibe is local, organic, sustainable, eco-friendly, compostable, vegetarian friendly and casual. Your meat-loving friend might not find piles of steak there, but there’s a lot to love. BTW, it is BYOB. You can pick up a bottle of wine or liquor at the Wine and Spirits store one block south of the restaurant, get a six pack to go from JP MacGrady’s, or dry out from your day of wild Oktoberfest antics. You can walk there in <15 minutes. (610-867-5818, 123 W. 4th St, Bethlehem)

Brunch – Go all out at Bolete, with a fancy brunch menu including oysters, lobster, duck eggs, seasonal regional produce, and “(Soon to Be Famous) Ghost of Mary Martinis.” It’s only 10-minute drive from the Oktoberfest grounds. (610-868-6505, 1740 Seidersville Rd. Bethlehem
Enjoy – and let us know what you think!

Readers, how did I do?

From Cali to the Valley (part 2)

2011-10-04T09:32:00.000-04:00

In response to my recent post about Lehigh Valley residents who are from California, I received three comments from ladies, with specific complaints, questions and wistful longings. While I can't manufacture a Japantown in Easton, I have a few ideas that might make life in the Valley a smidgen more Californian for them.
Shari and Jill: Dim sum - what about Eastern Palace Chinese Restaurant on Linden St. in Bethlehem? Everyone I know swears it’s the best Chinese in the Valley, too. I haven’t been, so if you go, let me know how it is!

I can’t help you two with the weather or the ocean… what you see is what you get here. I love three of the four seasons, perhaps even more so because I despise winter so much. I always think that if there was a winter sport I loved, I might feel differently. Instead, I run on the towpath with my Michigander friend who doesn't feel the cold and my dog who will run in any weather. But we are close to some NJ beaches, including some in state parks that aren’t commercialized, to at least get a little “fix.”

Shari: there are outdoor movies all summer long in Bethlehem – the North by Northwest group puts on one series in parks all over the north side, and the Downtown Bethlehem Association screens films in the Sun Inn Courtyard. Sign up for their Facebook fan pages to get updates next year!

Ashley:

Thanks for your comment, and please accept my belated “welcome to the Valley!”

Food: I have found cheap and delicious “world” cuisine in on Seventh Street in Allentown. Central and South American cuisines, plus Caribbean (Winston’s), Turkish (Aci Halal) and Thai (Kow Thai) that rival my favorites in DC. All are casual, most are BYOB, and would be suitable for kids. Most do a brisk takeout business, too. For vegan/vegetarian stuff – do you follow Jaime K and all her vegan/vegetarian activities in the Lehigh Valley? Have you been to Horns, Blue Sky Cafe or The Mint? All are vegan and veggie friendly.

Kid stuff: ArtsQuest is awesome, but it is definitely not the only thing going on. Do you subscribe to The Morning Call or The Express Times? Do you follow LV Little Ones? Are you connected to a LV area MOMs Club?

Movie theaters: We’ve got an IMAX now – yes, here in the Valley! – at the Rave movie theater at the Promenade Shops. And I’m sure you’ve seen the Banko Cinema at the ArtsQuest Center. The Civic Theater in Allentown also screens indie films, and so does the South Side Film Festival.

Museums: The Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley is about to re-open! Stay tuned here for a sneak peek. The DaVinci Science Center is great, and the Sigal Museum in Easton is also open to the public. Visit Discover Lehigh Valley for more ideas.

Brangelina in Bethlehem?

2011-09-27T09:34:00.001-04:00

Bethlehem celebrity gossip news??
In a town where "Celebrity" Scholastic Scrimmage and "Celebrity" bartenders are people you see shopping at Wegman's, reports of a true global celebrity appearing in the Lehigh Valley are pretty rare.

The word is that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and kids somehow avoided every cameraphone in creation and managed to have a normal family outing to Alando Kenyan restaurant on Main Street in Bethlehem. No word on whether elaborate disguises were employed. Regardless of whether it's true, it's fun to speculate about.

In Washington, political celebrities are everywhere, and every famous person visits Capitol Hill to lobby for their cause eventually. I saw George Stephanopoulous every morning at my local Washington Sports Club, reading The Washington Post on the elliptical trainer. When Michael Jordan was coaching (and later playing for) the Washington Wizards, we spotted him at restaurants all over town. A good friend worked for a company that worked for NBC News, and I once helped deliver a package to a bathrobed Tim Russert at his home.

Did anyone see them, or any other celebrities, this weekend?

The Morning Call will require subscriptions to its web site

2011-09-26T15:22:00.000-04:00

I can't say I was surprised to read that The Morning Call is going the online subscriber route. The announcement in Sunday's paper explained that starting October 10, one of the Lehigh Valley's two major newspapers will begin selling subscriptions to its web site:

"Digital subscriptions will be available at an introductory rate of 99 cents for the first four weeks. After that, digital subscribers will pay $2.49 a week or $49.99 for half a year.

Readers who already subscribe to the print edition of The Morning Call will be able to buy a digital subscription at a reduced rate of 75 cents a week or $29.99 a year.

Readers who do not subscribe will be able to view 10 free articles, blogs, videos or picture galleries each month.

Some content, including the home page, news, sports and entertainment section fronts and classified advertising, will remain free to visitors without a digital subscription.

The Morning Call joins about 55 newspapers around the country, including The New York Times, The Boston Globe and The Dallas Morning News, and at least 15 in Pennsylvania, such as The Pocono Record and the Erie Times-News, that charge readers for some or all of their online content."

I've gotten "stuck" using the New York Times web site more than once, and I have subscribed a few times. I read the print edition of The Morning Call most days, and use the web site primarily to link to articles I think other people would enjoy reading, and as an archive. I don't plan to subscribe until I find myself getting "stuck" enough times to make it worthwhile. What do you think? Will you be affected, that is to say, are you someone who reads the newspaper's content exclusively online?

The woman you didn't say hi to in your yoga class last weekend

2011-09-15T10:43:00.000-04:00

I recently chatted over email with a 25-year-old woman who moved to Allentown from NY back in June when her boyfriend got a new job in the area. She's a freelance illustrator and works from home.

Her first email stated:

I haven't had a lot of interaction with other people since moving, and I didn't know anyone in the area to begin with. Any suggestions for things to do, clubs to join, classes to take, etc. that would help me meet people? I joined a gym and a yoga class, but they're not quite doing the trick. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

(Does this sound like you? Or maybe sound like someone you saw in yoga class and didn't say hi to? I'm guilty of this too sometimes.) After I quit beating myself up, I asked her:

You mentioned the gym and yoga as two interests, but what else do you like to do? Would you take an art class at the community college, PSU or ArtsQuest? Or teach one? Would you join a sports team with a bunch of strangers? Do you like wine and beer? Irreverent comedy?
What age range of people and gender are you looking to meet? Couples to hang out with your boyfriend? or girlfriends? Mentors? What area do you live in?

She replied:

I'm 25. I live in west Allentown a few blocks north of Muhlenberg, though my boyfriend and I have found ourselves in Bethlehem a lot, especially when we want to go out to eat. We're both sort of foodies. It would be great to meet people we can both hang out with, though of course I wouldn't say no to girlfriends either.

I actually looked into some art classes to take and teach, so you kind of read my mind! I would LOVE to take an art class. My main issue with that is I'm not exactly rolling in money, so I'd want to make sure it would be worth my while as a class as well as an opportunity to meet people. I do have extensive art training so I don't really want to take a beginner watercolor class, for example. I would definitely be open to teaching too, if I could fit it in my schedule. There is a JCC a couple of blocks from my apartment and I went there asking about teaching opportunities, because back in high school I took a figure drawing class at my local JCC. This one didn't have an art program set up. I don't have a master's degree, so I guess it would have to be a more casual sort of class if I were to teach.

I played softball for many years, and I could definitely join an adult softball league. I could probably persuade my boyfriend to do that too, if they take people of all talent levels. I've been coaching softball and teaching pitching for the past 7 years too. I completely left that back in NY. I don't think I can make the time commitment to coach a team, but I would love to continue giving lessons if I had a place to do it.

My boyfriend and I also swing dance, and would LOVE to get back into that again. We met a lot of people that way in college. I have looked into this, and any weekly or monthly dances I've found have been in Philly. Any idea if there are any around here? We do east coast swing and lindy hop.

Thanks SO MUCH for your help!

Wow! I thought. A swing dancing, softball coaching artist working from home in the West End? How many of those amazing, multi-talented, interesting women do you know? And to think, you didn't even say hello after you did 400 sun salutations on a mat three feet from her. Armed with that information, I did a little thinking and sent back this response:

You live in such a beautiful neighborhood, and the JCC is a tremendous resource there! I am actually surprised there's no art program. Here are my thoughts:
Yoga: I'm not sure where you're taking yoga now, but the Yoga Loft of Bethlehem is pretty social. They have a lobby with couches where people hang out, especially on weekends and especially before and after special workshops.

Art classes: The Muhlenberg College arts department may be a good place for you to look into. They have so many programs in the arts. Have you looked into teaching at ArtsQuest/Banana Factory? There are also artist studios there. You could work there alongside other artists.

Dancing: The only regular dance program I know of is in Easton, at the Third Street Alliance. http://eastonmainstreet.org/ "Dancing on the Thirds - Every Third Friday, 7:00-10:00pm September 16th - Lesson: Night Club Two-Step Enjoy a one-hour lesson in Night Club Two Step with instructor Christine Kam, followed by an evening of open dancing with DJ, Carol Coffinger. Come practice all your favorite ballroom dances! Casual dress, all ages, singles and couples. (Half price admission with college ID). No reservation neccessary, just c'mon down for an evening of good fun and great excerice. It all happens at Third Street Alliance, 41 N. Third Street, downtown Easton.Questions? Call: 610.330.9942. Enjoy dinner or drinks downtown before or after the dance!"

Softball: Not being a softball player myself, I don't know too much about coaching. I do know that The Velocity Sports Performance Center offers coaching for all kinds of sports. I am sure there are lots of leagues out there, but the only one I know of where you can join a team with other random folks is the Roc Social Club. It tends to have a lot of people in their 20s and 30s, vs. the geezer leagues.

Readers, what do you think? What did I miss?

California transplants roll call

2011-09-14T10:32:00.004-04:00

Wow, for those of you natives who read the blog just for fun (I know you know all this stuff and find my discoveries amusing), and think that all transplants are from New Jersey (I kid you not - more than one person has said this to me), I share with you an email I received from a LV Transplant from California.

I just read your article in Lehigh Valley Style and was so grateful that you've paved the way for us transplants. I recently moved here from Berkeley, CA for my husband's job. I am an architect and green building consultant trying to find my place now in the valley. Your article and list of blogs help give me a start to connect with others who have a new perspective and looking to love this new place we want to call home.

I've kept a blog since 2004 when I first studied in Europe. It's gone through ebbs and flows of writing but being in this place and a slower pace of life, I can tell will soon lead to more words and musings. Hope it adds to your collection of transplants to Lehigh and I look forward to joining your tribe.

Roll call: Any other LV transplants from California out there? How is life suiting you here in the northeast? Are you finding the pace any different? Cuisine? Diversity?

Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via

2011-09-12T09:12:00.003-04:00

I spent a few hours yesterday in the back seat of a minivan, chasing my friends as they ran a relay race from Allentown to Easton in the Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via.

The day was overcast and humid, but the humidity did not dampen the spirits of the race participants. The race, a Boston Marathon qualifier, is best-known for its full 26.2 mile challenge and half-marathon distance race. My five friends comprised one of 225 relay teams, which meant picking up and dropping off a runner at five locations, and cheering like crazy. The variety of stops required some sweet minivan maneuvering by Rob, the team's official driver. I had planned to run a leg, but was sidelined for medical reasons. Since I was the only van passenger who had participated in the race before, I became the team's parking director (aka backseat driver) and cheerleader with Jamie. It was a lot of fun to share the experience with the team, marvel at some of the costumed runners (red ball gowns? a purse and boa? gotta keep your gels somewhere, he said), and talk about each leg's unique terrain.

At the finish line, I took a minute to watch the medal ceremony. It was pretty inspiring to see the faces of the people who'd finished hours earlier... people in their 70s not only completing the marathon, but keeping pace with (and sometimes smoking) runners half their age... moms and dads and dog owners who shared the moment with their loved ones... athletes who have sacrificed a lot in order to be among the best runners in the field. And although it was reported that a large number of out-of-towners participated this year, it certainly didn't sound like it from the announcements.

I hope to participate in the race next year, and give a lot of credit to my friends on Team Bobbo:

my (and Stella's) loyal running buddy, our captain Lindsay
another loyal year-round running buddy, and the runner who took on the longest leg (with the shortest legs on the team!) Dana
Rob, our minivan driver, Lindsay's husband and FH's best friend, who we learned is an angry runner
the speedy Eileen (so speedy we almost missed her at the exchange looking for parking in Freemansburg), our pinch-runner
and Lindsey's friend Jamie's husband Chris, who had completed the Spartan Race the previous day

I shared this thought with Dana at the finish line - not to take the race too metaphorically or anything: it's hard to believe that in a region where people balk at driving from their home in Allentown to a business or event in Easton, that 3,000 people would pay to run the distance instead!

LVT Reader Mail

2011-09-09T08:35:00.002-04:00

I received this kind email today from a magazine reader:

I read your article in the Lehigh Valley Style. My daughter is a sophomore at Moravian College , and I'm always looking for good places to go to when I come down to visit . I'll have to definitely go through the article again and highlight info, so the next time I could surprised her with somewhere neat to go. I ordered this magazine for my sister as well who as lived in Allentown for prob 30 years, and I don't think she knows half of what goes on down there! I think she feels one-upped when I come up with something she didn't know about. Hopefully, with your info, she can tell me a few things that she finds out!

Readers, any suggestions for a college sophomore and her mom? Must-visit places to one-up the Allentown auntie? ;)

Activities in the Lehigh Valley, advertised

2011-09-08T10:37:00.004-04:00

As much as I love reading the news online, I still subscribe to the paper(s) every day. Since most of my online reading is done via subscribing to specific RSS feeds, I have a customized online newspaper of sorts in my Google Reader every day. Just the writers I want to read, and the topics I want to read about. And no ads.

When I am holding newsprint in my hands, I actually look at the ads. I noticed these advertisements in the last week and thought they were worth sharing. Enjoy!

• Most Valuable Players, a documentary film centered around the State Theatre’s 2008 Freddy Awards (the Tonys of local high school musical theater), is airing tonight on OWN, September 8, at 9 p.m. We don't have fancy cable, so we don't get OWN. Hoping it will be shown at SteelStacks Cinema or the South Side Film Festival. (TV)

• The 25th annual Easton Jazz Festival is this Friday night, September 9, at 8 p.m. at Lafayette College. Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer Group is playing. Tickets $20. (It makes me crazy when ads don’t include a web page URL. Despite their best efforts to hide it, I found it anyway.) (Easton)

• Penn State Lehigh Valley is offering noncredit art classes for the first time, including drawing, photography, jewelry making and collage. Noncredit classes are taught by college faculty. Classes start the week of September 18. This would be a great way to meet like minded people… just sayin’. (Center Valley)

• PBS Channel 39 is hosting a grand opening at its new public media and education center on the SteelStacks campus this Saturday (September 10). There’s a family fun bike ride, free concerts, and a “celebrity” Scholastic Scrimmage event. It might be kind of crazy down there since the Via 5K Walk starts at SteelStacks, at 9 a.m., too - family-friendly crowds guaranteed. (South Side Bethlehem)

An Amazing Race

2011-09-06T09:12:00.000-04:00

Nothing to do? Nowhere to go? Been there, done it all?

How about a Road Rally in the Lehigh Valley?

Take part in a Fundraising Event to Benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on Saturday, October 15th, 2011.

The starting point is to be announced. All checkpoints and final location will be a surprise!
Create a teams of 2, 3 or 4 people or register solo and get matched up with new friends.

Before September 15: $25; September 15-October 12: $30; October 13, 14 and day-of: $35

Participants will receive a goodie bag, post-race refreshments, prizes to top finishing teams and for team originality, costumes, creative challenge completion and more.

Then when you go and have a blast, make sure you tell Kim (the organizer) you read about the event on this blog!

After the Rain

2011-09-02T23:22:00.000-04:00

Hurricane 0, Megan 1. We survived with a small amount of water on the property and are grateful not have to have been evacuated from our home via motorboat like the holdouts we saw on Action News.

With all the preparation and cleanup happening this weekend, I couldn’t help but reminisce on my last major hurricane experience. I was living in Washington, DC, working at my First Big Job at Smithsonian, responsible for the Institution’s young professional membership program. The group’s annual fundraiser was (and to my knowledge, still is) a black tie gala inside a museum.
Isabel was coming, whether we liked it or not, and if I recall correctly, she hit early in the week – Monday or Tuesday. Our gala, naturally, was the following Saturday night. Everything in the city was a wreck. Metro was operating only on certain tracks to certain stations. Buildings were closed. Power was out to thousands of city residents. Many people lost their homes to flooding, winds or both. We returned to work and had to decide whether to have this silly black tie gala.

We agonized. Should we refund tickets? Reschedule the event for another day? Forfeit our deposit on the caterer (Cap City Brewing) and band (Gonzo's Nose)? I lost sleep. I argued with co-workers and volunteers and unhappy patrons who demanded refunds. Despite the fact that our organization's executive director (pictured below, second from right) did not have power at her home and was forced to shower at the gym for weeks, and everything else in the city seemed to be cancelled, we figured we had more to lose by cancelling, so the show went on. The venue had power and all of our vendors were ready to go.

I can't say it was perfect (the T-shirts didn't make it - they were on a flooded loading dock somewhere), but it was an awesome party. Everyone needed a reason to celebrate and get out of the house. I danced to cover tunes in my ball gown and sneakers. I collected money at the silent auction. I broke up a couple making out inside one of the exhibits. It was a success.

For old time's sake, here's a photo of aforementioned boss lady and the volunteer board members of the organization getting a kick out of my emotional response to the check presentation ($100,000 - not too shabby for a rainy day). Hope everyone is safe and dry.

Outlets to open this year at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem

2011-08-11T12:47:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Lynn Olanoff and Matt Assad for this tip. Even my FMIL - who knows a lot about these things but is smart enough not to share before her client's news goes public - wouldn't dish about the stores earlier this week.

Talbots, Guess and Nine West are among the 30-35 stores opening in the Bethlehem Outlet Mall in the next year. There will also be at least one more full-service restaurant inside the shopping center.

Ariej and I made a run on the Tannersville Outlets a little over a month ago, mostly for work attire but I also found some great bags at Coach for a steal. Since it was a weekday, the center was pretty quiet, despite some impressive sales. On the weekends, the parking lot is packed with cars bearing New York and New Jersey license plates, and the stores and sidewalks are full of shoppers toting multiple bags on strollers, wheelchairs and any free appendage.

In response to Alyssa's question, I would love to see Banana Republic, Calvin Klein and Ann Taylor outlets like the ones in Tannersville. The outlets in Leesburg, VA, near Washington, D.C., include Pottery Barn, Le Creuset and Williams Sonoma outlet stores. When I shopped there, the stores were full of seasonal decor, gift items and beautiful housewares. Great deals on furniture, too.

That still leaves lots of room for a Trader Joe's outlet (just sayin').

Molly Brannigans under construction in Bethlehem

2011-08-10T11:08:00.005-04:00

Construction is about to begin on the building on the corner of W. Broad and N. New streets in Bethlehem.

The Express-Times reported in November that the developer planned to move forward with the project, which since 2005 has included an Irish pub, Molly Brannigans, and 24 residential apartments on the second and third floors of the building.

Molly Brannigan’s has three other locations, in Erie, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. Its menu features "traditional" Irish fare, as well as typical pub grub like wings and quesadillas, and of course, beer.

While you're downtown for Musikfest this week, walk up to New Street to take a peek at the former home of Farr's shoe store before the barriers goes up. The building faces the Bank of America building and One West Broad, where Melting Pot is located.

Junior League: An opportunity to get involved in the Lehigh Valley community

2011-08-09T08:11:00.000-04:00

Ladies, you often tell me that you want to get involved in the Lehigh Valley community. You want to meet other like-minded women, but it's hard to meet people after college or in a new place. You want to make a difference. You want to meet women outside of your place of work. You are busy, and you want someone else to plan social events and seek out service opportunities.

Those are all reasons why women join the Junior League.

The local chapter has definitely made its mark in the region. Members founded the Weller Center for Education, DaVinci Center (once the Discovery Center), Perfect Fit for Women, and a number of other organizations that continue to serve the community. Members volunteer in many different ways at a number of charities Valley-wide, and are trained as community leaders. The group raises funds to support its community initiatives (including Kids in the Kitchen and Strong Moms, Strong Girls) and to grant funds to community nonprofits. They also have a lot of fun together at social events. The variety of events on the calendar shows the diversity of the group's membership.

When I lived in DC, I thought that the Junior League was for society women only, with expensive membership dues and fancy events. In the Lehigh Valley, it's a group of women, many of whom are newcomers to the region or who live here and work at a distance, who are committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

If this sounds like your kind of people, send the group an email or visit the web site to apply for membership.

Musikfest 2011... better than ever, and it's not even over yet

2011-08-08T16:46:00.003-04:00

It's been a busy few days, full of music, walking, friends and beverages in a plastic mug.

Friday night, FH and I met up with R&L at their place on Main Street. They are prisoners to Musikfest and are pretty good sports about it. They did leave for vacation yesterday. (I might need a vacation, too, if I could never go to sleep before 1 a.m. or find a place to park near my house.) We saw Diego's Umbrella at Volksplatz and strolled around, taking in the sights and sounds of Musikfest. We visited the Sun Inn Courtyard for a bit but didn't hang around for the music at Liederplatz (just Gale's brownies). The boys had a taste for gyros. We noticed the Michael Adams menu at the Sun Inn and will be back for a meal sometime this week.

On Saturday it rained quite a bit, and though I'm not afraid to get wet, Maroon 5 sounded pretty good from the kitchen window. We hit up a Musikfest after party at The Mint and got to bed at a decent hour.

After a day of yard work and errands, we were looking forward to a relaxing Sunday night at Musikfest. So last night we met up with FH's mama, and our friends Elena and Beth at Volksplatz for an encore of Diego's Umbrella (Mexi-cali-gypsy-polka did not disappoint). We saw Freak Owls at Lyrikplatz, as the sun set behind the stage. Then it was off to the Bethlehem Dairy Store tent (chocolate almond for me), which we ate while watching the venerable Red Elvises back at Volksplatz "out" the 'Fest's closet disco dancers. After we parted ways with our friends, the two of us took in the last set of Cabinet at Liederplatz, not far from where our city's mayor and his first lady were sitting. Some enthusiastic fans and hoopers danced animatedly, and the laid back music lovers like us reclined in their folding chairs to listen to the show. Thank you, Downtown Bethlehem Association, for sponsoring Liederplatz. It is shows like last night's that make Musikfest history in my mind. What a talented group of young bluegrass rockers! I hope we see them on regional stages again soon. It was a quiet walk home, full of anticipation for seven more days of 'Fest fun.

Musikfest is almost here!!!

2011-08-04T12:50:00.001-04:00

Bethlehem residents and business owners either LOVE LOVE LOVE Musikfest or despise it. Most of those who despise it figured this out years ago and now close the store or go on vacation during the 10-day music, food, and overtaking madness that is 1 million visitors to your neighborhood.

We are lucky to live close enough to walk to the festival, but not so close that we have to deal with litter, trespassers, noise, and parking wars. (Remember my post on saving street spots during a snowstorm? During Musikfest, you'll see the return of the recycling bin and folding chair as placeholder.) Maybe a little more traffic and some street closures downtown, but nothing that would make me want to miss a minute of the Fest.

For me, Musikfest is The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year. It's 10 days straight of some of my favorite things:

Free, outdoor music performances

Ethnic food

Drinking outside

Discovering new things

Traveling on foot or bike

Meeting up with friends

Making new friends

Celebrating Bethlehem

Last year I wrote about the coming SteelStacks project (maybe you've heard of it now?). The previous year, I gave some helpful tips for navigating the event.

Even if you have visited Musikfest before, there will be a few changes you should be prepared for. Stay tuned to the Express-Times and Morning Call web sites. Both papers cover the event in detail, and will suggest great shows to check out and the best ways to get in, out and around. Or, visit the Musikfest web site, which offers printable schedules, links to artist web sites, and more.

This year I resolve to plan my concert schedule in advance and share it with LV Transplant readers. Maybe I'll see you there!

On Friday night, I want to check out:

6 p.m. Frankenpine - Main Street (street performers who play original bluegrass, country and folk). While I'm on Main Street I should be able to get Take-a-Taco for dinner.

7:30 p.m. maybe Sandlot Heroes, if I can get anywhere near the stage, which will be mobbed with tween fans screaming, and my friend Amanda - Plaza Tropical

9 p.m. Diego's Umbrella - Volksplatz (Mexi-Cali-gypsy-pirate-polka!? I must investigate) or Peter Karp & Sue Foley at my favorite stage, Liederplatz

If you're one of the lucky thousands who has tickets to see Stone Temple Pilots play at Sands Steel stage, give yourself ample time to get to the new venue. If you find you get there early, you can enjoy the free music playing at the town square and Levitt Pavilion in front of SteelStacks and get something to eat and drink before the show.

Here's a little Musikfest blog roll FYI:
Musikfest Photo Scavenger Hunt by LVWithLove
How to get around the South Side by Eskandalo!
Musikfest Preview - History in the Making by ArtsLehigh
Lineup at Brew Works during Musikfest by Bethlehem Brew Works

Lehigh Valley Blog Roll - Main Street Depot restaurant, SteelStacks Farmers Market, Emmaus businesses and Horns Restaurant in Bethlehem

2011-07-28T09:18:00.003-04:00

Good news for restaurant lovers in Allentown - there's a plan afoot to promote all of the city's culinary wonders - from takeout to diners to white-tableclothed-full service places. As I wrote about in a LVStyle column last year, Allentown has the broadest variety of dining options in all of the Lehigh Valley, and it's high time you experienced it for yourself. Stay tuned!

There have been some terrific posts this week by some of my favorite bloggers and media outlets. I share them here because it's good stuff, it's a busy week for me (big party this weekend) and I couldn't have said it better.

Horns – New Sustainable Restaurant Coming to South Bethlehem by Michele of Bethlehem
A new restaurant under construction at 123 West 4th Street near Play It Again Records should be open in early September. (One of the last old-fashioned record stores in the Lehigh Valley!)
*Update: It's open, and we can't wait to go with Emilie and Rick when they're in town!
Open for Business by Lehigh Valley Style
Four new businesses in Emmaus:
~ Cake Chic 500 Chestnut Street, 484-201-6206
~ Thai Thai House 302 Main Street, 610-965-0466 (this was the place that was almost a swingers' club)
~ Creamery on Main 332 Main Street, 610-928-1500
~ Design Elements 304 Main Street, 610-928-1144
The Wooden Match by the El Vee
Details about Cigars International taking over the former Main Street Depot restaurant project in Bethlehem. This is the beautiful building at the entrance to Sand Island. Our friend Lauren's dad is involved in the project; she said that he is in charge of the beer list! (Cool job.)
*Update: My book club met here for beers and book talk last week! To answer the $65K question, yes it does smell like cigars, but no, it is not smoky. We just indulged in beer and nachos (like all good book club members do) but we'll be back for "real food." I kind of expected there to be a big Monday night football scene, but the Phillies game was on and no one really seemed to be paying attention. Maybe Sundays are different, but the TV's above the bar really aren't a focal point in the room.

Boating in the Lehigh Valley

2011-07-20T13:29:00.001-04:00

Earlier this year, we took a canoe trip down the Little Schuylkill with our Hawk Mountain friends, then FH participated in another canoe trip with the Lehigh Valley Land Recycling Institute. Maybe it's because it's so stinking hot, or maybe it's because I love to try new things, but I am jazzed to check out some boat-related activities this summer.

The first is a series of canal boat dinner cruises in Easton. The canal boats are available for historical, educational tours nearly all the time, but these are the only tours I have heard about that include dinner and a show. The canal boats are pulled down the Lehigh Canal by mules - where else can you get a ticket like that in the Lehigh Valley?

If you're looking for something to do on date night other than dinner and a
movie, sign up for The National Canal Museum's one-of-a-kind dinner cruises.
Guests will enjoy a full-course meal and historical stories during a gentle ride
along the restored Lehigh Canal aboard the canal boat Josiah White II.

There's still time to catch The Elite Cruise that departs 5:30 p.m. July
23 with a variety of land and sea options including crab bisque, filet mignon
with bordelaise, chicken Alaska and pastries and desserts.

The summer closes with Clambake on the Canal, which departs 5:30 p.m. Aug. 27 and features clam chowder, shrimp, haddock, steamed clams, corn on the cob with drawn butter and classic desserts such as apple pan dowdy and shoofly pie.

In the fall the National Canal Museum will celebrate Oktoberfest with a cruise that
departs 1 p.m. Oct. 8. It features traditional German fare such as chicken and
dumplings, bratwurst, sauerkraut with knockwurst, German chocolate cake and
strudel.

All events are catered by Kasey Lynn's Catering Service and will include entertainment. The cost is $40 per person. RSVP at 610-559-6613. (Source: Lehigh Valley Live)

Next, I want to take a paddle boat ride in Allentown. I member taking a paddle boat out on the Tidal Basin during cherry blossom season to see the monuments and flowering trees from a completely new vantage point.

Looking for a fun afternoon or evening that doesn’t involve the crowds of Dorney
Park, the drive to Easton, or the pocket-emptying power of The Sands? Check out
the paddle boat rides going on at Cedar Beach Park’s Muhlenberg Lake.

The rides are organized by Hyde ‘N Creek Paddleboats and cost just $5
per person for every half hour you’re out on the water. Hyde’s tent sits atop
Sparkle Island in the middle of Muhlenberg Lake... The paddle boats are
available every weeknight from 6 p.m. to sunset, and on the weekends from noon
until sunset, according to their Facebook page. Stop by and enjoy a peaceful
paddle on the lake after work, bring the whole family for an inexpensive
afternoon weekend, or take your beau out for a unique evening date. Hyde ‘N
Creek Paddleboats is open until October. (Source: My West End)

Then, I want to paddle in the Lehigh River with the Wildlands Conservancy. It completely full-service - equipment and guides provided - and the guides take care of shuttle service as well.

Explore the Lehigh River with Wildlands Conservancy! All equipment is provided
and all trips include beginner instruction and are led by our professional guides. Have a blast and learn about the unique ecosystem and the fascinating history that surrounds the Lehigh River. Everyone must pre-register. Space is limited, register today!

August 13th, 6:00pm
Full Moon Evening Bike & Boat Trip
Don’t miss this trip as we bike along the D&L Trail from Sand Island in Bethlehem to
Canal Park in Allentown, then paddle on the Lehigh River back to Sand Island.
We’ll stop on an island for a campfire before finishing our paddle under
moonlight. Trip will take approximately 4 hours from start to finish; cost is
$40/pp. Register by August 10. Maximum: 30

September 24th, 9:00am
Walnutport to Northampton Lehigh River Paddle
Join us for this debut trip as we paddle the Lehigh River starting at the Walnutport boat launch and ending at Northampton’s Canal Park. We’ll meet in Northampton and provide shuttle transportation to Walnutport before launching and paddling this
beautiful stretch of river. Trip will take approximately 4 hours from start to
finish; cost is $40/pp. Register by September 21. Maximum: 20

October 2nd, 1:00pm
Autumn Bike & Boat Trip
Celebrate the beautiful fall season! We’ll meet at Sand Island in Bethlehem and bike to Canal Park in Allentown before getting in canoes and paddling downstream back to our destination. Trip will take approximately 3 hours from start to finish; cost is
$35/pp. Register by September 28. Maximum: 30

Oct. 15th, 10:00am
Fall Foliage Lehigh River Paddle
Close out our season with our traditional paddle down the Lehigh River while the fall foliage is at its peak. We’ll meet at the Wilson Avenue river access and provide shuttle transportation to Canal Park in Allentown where we’ll journey back downriver in canoes. Trip will take approximately 4.5 hours from start to finish; cost is $40/pp. Register by October 12. Maximum: 30

If you have a group of ten or more, we’ll set up a personalized trip for you on the date and time that you prefer. For more information or to register for a trip, contact Wildlands Conservancy’s Outdoor Recreation Manager at 610-965-4397 ext. 135 or email kfister@wildlandspa.org. (Source: Wildlands PA)

Stay cool!

Lehigh Valley electronics recycling - where, exactly?

2011-07-19T09:30:00.000-04:00

My all-in-one printer has a paper jam problem. Not a death sentence, right?

After a somewhat confusing phone call involving two well-meaning Dell customer service representatives in India, the final verdict is not the news I expected.

My printer is a few years old. So old that the warranty expired a year and a half ago (oops).
Warranties are not available for purchase once the existing warranty expires. And even if it was under warranty, Dell would send me a brand new one instead of replacement parts. But it is expired, so... I need to buy a whole new printer. The good news is, a new one costs less than an extended warranty would have cost. The bad news is, I have to figure out how to throw away this electronic device.

I have heard about electronics recycling, but I've never done it myself, so I did a little internet research. I discovered that Lower Saucon Township is having an electronics recycling EVENT in September, which gives me a little bit of time to get the rest of my old equipment organized and ready for recycling. Here are the details:

Electronics Recycling Program
Next event: September 24, 2011 ~ 9 am - Noon

WHAT’S ACCEPTED: Computer monitors (CRTs, Plasma & LCD displays); laptop & notebook computers; televisions (standalone, console, wide-screen, projection-screen, CRT, Plasma, LCD); computer systems (CPU Units); computer peripherals (printers, scanners, plotters, copiers); computer accessories (keyboards, mice, speakers, cords, cables); external disk memory & hard disk drives (confidential data destruction available); circuit boards & electronic components/chips; network hubs, modems & routers; photocopiers & multi-use copies (copy, fax, scan, print); telephone telecommunications/switching systems; PDAs, PDA cradles, & other hand held devices; cellular phones & cell phone chargers; toner cartridges (ink jet & laser jet); CDs, DVDs, magnetic tape, car batteries, household batteries, fluorescent lamps.

*NOTE: THERE WILL BE A SMALL FEE CHARGED FOR ALL THESE ITEMS: $1.00 each – answering machine, cell phone, copier, CPU, fax machine, keyboard, laptop, microwave, modem, pager, printer, radio/stereo, telephone. $5.00 each – Monitors $20.00 each – Televisions $0.25 each – Fluorescent lamps

Of course the newer version of the same all-in-one printer I just ordered does not use the same ink cartridges, so I will probably bring those along, too.

Friday night out in Easton

2011-07-18T09:42:00.005-04:00

My dear high school friend was visiting her family for the weekend and set aside Saturday night to visit with my FH and me.

It's been a while since she's been "out" in the Lehigh Valley and she was staying on the east side of the area, so I suggested dinner at Sogo in downtown Easton. It really has come a long way in the last 15 years, and I hoped she'd be impressed.

I didn't count on the street closures related to the Crayola Factory's 15th Anniversary being an impediment to our travel for a 7:30 p.m. dinner reservation. We who are familiar with Easton handily avoided the barricades and found a parking space (meter parking is free after 6 p.m.). But our friend was forced to navigate a series of one way streets through an area that is less than desirable to be lost in. She ultimately found a space on Northampton Street and arrived at the restaurant just a few minutes after we did.

We'd already put our names in for a table on the outdoor patio (one of the best in Easton IMHO - covered and above street level). Before we could even order a drink at the inside bar, we were whisked away by the hostess and seated al fresco. We enjoyed our delicious meal of sushi, edamame and sashimi, and shared a bottle of wine. Though the service wasn't remarkable, our orders were accurate, and our server was completely unobtrusive to our conversation and we were not left waiting.

Our friend suggested ice cream after dinner, but we knew that Purple Cow Creamery had already closed for the night (it was after 9 p.m.), so we offered to walk her to her car. On the way, we heard some laughing and talking going on inside Connexions Gallery. We stopped in and caught Anthony Marracini and a large group of art lovers in the middle of this event, a festive art auction for a program called Lehigh Valley Art Wars, which earlier this year pitted 16 artists against each other in a timed and themed paint-off. In the contest, these 16 artists were whittled down until the audience and jury decided on one winner. The winner, Alexander Clare, received $1000 and a solo gallery show. I had heard about the art wars but had not paid much attention to the contest. Maybe you'll recognize his work from Brew Works...

After we parted ways with our friend, we determined that we'd swing by the newly-opened Black and Blue on the way home. We found street parking one block away (in the direction of the Northampton County Courthouse). When we walked in the door, the bar was full but the restaurant area was empty, and the crowd was decidedly young and hip. Music was playing over a PA system - loud but not noisy. The bar's 12 microbrews on tap were listed on a chalkboard on the wall. We both caught up with people we hadn't seen in a while and tasted some delicious beer. It felt like Porter's and Which Brew and some of my favorite cozy Washington, DC, bars, wrapped in one. We'll definitely be back to sample some of Black and Blue's popular menu items as well.

If you are going out for dinner, even sort of last minute, I would encourage you to try to "make it a night" instead of just going to a restaurant. That could mean going to some place for a drink, stopping by an art gallery, or seeing a free concert in the park, a show at a theater, or a baseball game before your meal, or getting ice cream after (if you are finished earlier than we are). It might take a little bit of research, but it can really make an evening memorable.

Two Rivers Brewing Company to open in Easton

2011-07-15T13:38:00.004-04:00

I am so happy that Noel Jones of Neighbors of Easton does such a bang-up job reporting the hyper-local news of her neighborhood before anyone else. I love reading her blog.

I am also happy that the owners of Cosmic Cup are planning to open a brew pub in the West Ward of Easton. To the uninitiated, it's bounded by the Lehigh River to the south, the Bushkill Creek to the north, 16th Street to the west (in the direction of Wilson Borough) and 6th Street to the east (close to Centre Square Easton/"The Circle").

Thanks for the tip, and the beautiful writing and photography, Noel!

Flash mob in Easton... and if you don't know what a flash mob is, don't worry

2011-07-14T13:26:00.003-04:00

The owners of Easton retailer Mercantile Home are planning a very cool, new community art project.

It's called a flash mob, and you can be a part of it for free. Maybe you've heard of this concept - there was a TV show on earlier this year about it, and it's a YouTube phenomenon. A flash mob is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment and/or satire (source: Wikipedia, couldn't have said it better myself). Sometimes participants perform a coordinated dance, spontaneously break out into operatic song, or even stage pillow fights, throw confetti or just applaud. The surrounding crowd is usually dumbfounded at first, and ultimately entertained.

Up until now, I haven't heard of any truly substantial flash mob efforts in the Lehigh Valley. You can either join the fun by being a part of the mob, or be there to witness Lehigh Valley pop culture history on July 23.

Rehearsals: Sunday, July 17, 11 am & Friday , July 22 , 6 pm at 516 Northampton St.
Performance: Saturday, July 23, 10:30 am at Easton’s Farmer's Market

Northampton Community College online classes are cool

2011-07-12T23:18:00.004-04:00

I've been out of college for a couple of years. Scratch that, TEN years, as I was so kindly reminded by my alma mater, inviting me to my reunion. How did this happen? Just yesterday I was having Capitol Lounge hot wings and gift beer for dinner, or sharing popcorn with the "Queer Eye" guys on ironing night at my place in Cleveland Park. I've lived away from DC so long that I'm told that my old neighborhood is already un-hip.

I started my MBA at Lehigh when I was at a big corporate job, while staring down another monthly accounting report and wondering how I could improve my job performance vs. squeaking by another month, only knowing as much as I needed to know for my department to "close" correctly, and let the accountants go home before pizza was ordered. My first class was an online accounting class.

Then my position was eliminated and I took an incomplete in my first class while I looked for full-time employment. This past spring, motivated by a new job and a friendly reminder from my B-school adviser that I would lose my credits if I didn't get a move on, I enrolled in the entry-level MBA course again (this time in person). I'm not saying I was the star pupil - by no means was this the case - but I did well, met some great people, and learned a LOT about accounting from a fantastic professor.

I paid a visit to my friendly recruiter who set me back on track, reminding me that I needed to take a couple of pre-requisite courses (see aforementioned # of years since college? that hurts). However, I could take them at Northampton Community College (LV natives call it "Nack-Ack" or "Nack") and save a bucketload of money. The classes at NCC would cost me $342 each instead of $2,520. I am not exaggerating.

First, I had to enroll as a credit-seeking student at NCC. Apparently my history of sushi-making with Courtney, eating yummy student soup creations at Hampton Winds, and tasting the wines of France in non-credit classes didn't qualify me. I did the application online and requested a copy of my undergraduate transcript be mailed to the admissions office. I waited with great anticipation until a FAT envelope (a great sign!!!) arrived in the mail.

After I enrolled in my online class, I received information about how to log on to Blackboard, where to get my textbook, and how to take my online quizzes. I didn't expect much, but... it's actually pretty amazing. The technology that NCC employs is far beyond that of my MBA program's and although there's no lecture, there are regular discussions led on the board by our professor, a well-written textbook, and thoughtful assignments. And, I can see how I did on every assignment, what my grade is to date, and how my quiz grades stack up against my classmates'. I'm only required to take one more class at NCC - statistics of all things - and although I have enjoyed my online experience, I think you'll find me in the classroom for that one.

Have you taken any classes for credit at NCC? Will we see you on a billboard sometime soon (Lisa, I know that you already have one)?

Black and Blue update for Easton hipsters, beer lovers and Which Brew alumni

2011-06-23T08:58:00.003-04:00

I received a sweet e-mail from a reader who is connected to the Black and Blue restaurant project in Easton. The restaurant opened this week, and one of my favorite bloggers, Noel from Neighbors of Easton, reports that all is witchy good over there (read her report, here).

My source gave a great description of why Black and Blue's opening is such a big deal to hipsters in Easton. Which Brew was a special gathering place for this group, and regulars understood the connection with each other. The bar's allure derived from its proprietor, Kelly-Jo Ditze, initially of Weyerbacher Pub fame, whose blended sarcasm and friendly conversation made for a unique dining and drinking experience. I experienced this myself many times. I recall one special night where old friends gathered and shared nibbles and drinks in the dining room to the far left of the entrance, and another evening spent on the beer garden patio.

Which Brew's food menu was peculiar, yet addicitive, and the beer selection was probably the second best in Easton to Porter's Pub, Which Brew's brother/sister bar across Northampton Street. Which Brew's somewhat sudden closing resulted from circumstances beyond the proprietor's control and the word most people use to describe it is "shady." Not being able to confirm any more details, I'll leave it at that.

Now, with the impending opening of Black and Blue (and the illustrious Kelly Jo returning as proprietor, along with beloved servers and bartenders), "the coterie of Which Brew groupies can be reunited," (my source's words - I love them). Fans of Tap & Table (closed), Porter's Pub, Pearly Baker's, and The Bookstore (still open) will enjoy the vibe and would be wise to get in on any mug club early.

Food items range from $4 - $9, beers range from $4 - $24 (for a couple of the wine-sized bottles of import beer), and absinthe runs $9 - $11 a glass. Black and Blue is located at 683 Walnut Street in Easton, across from the courthouse, and is open Tues - Fri 4-11 and Saturday noon to midnight. They do not take reservations, but for more information call (610) 438-3604. (Source: Neighbors of Easton)

My source visited the new spot a few months ago, and many patrons got a peek inside during the recent Easton Pub Crawl event. The remodeled space is cool and inviting...and dark, the way that Which Brew was, but styled more Art Nouveau than Halloween chic. I'm looking forward to checking it out for myself when they open very soon! Places like Which Brew are neighborhood gems and regional draws, the kind of places where people meet their future spouses, talk about anything but work, and experiment with new ways to excite their palates.

Remember Which Brew? Excited about Black and Blue? Did you love a place like this where you lived before you moved to the Lehigh Valley?

Blues, Brews & BBQ - recap & a lovey note to one of my favorite local writers

2011-06-17T08:47:00.000-04:00

Kelly Huth at the Express Times wrote a nice recap of Saturday's event in Allentown.

If you aren't reading Kelly's stuff, you're missing out. Even if you don't subscribe to the paper, you can sign up for an RSS feed of her articles or "follow" her on LehighValleyLive.com. This assistant editor writes primarily about the arts, restaurants, cooking, and entertainment, in a fresh, bright style that is a pleasure to read.

The Mint, a Bethlehem gastropub

2011-06-16T09:41:00.004-04:00

Gastropub = a bar and restaurant that serves high-end beer and food

My bf and I visited The Mint (1223 W. Broad St., Bethlehem) last night. The place is not yet "officially" open, but you can stop in during their soft opening week. The bar was humming when we arrived, and we grabbed two stools next to a guy named Frank, who told me that the rest of his group were regulars at the now-closed Main Street Depot, who'd followed their two favorite bartenders to their new gigs at The Mint.

Owners Domenic Lombardo (of Stefano's and Sweet Basil fame) smartly recruited Pittsburgh native-by-way-of-Arizona Brad Navarra to the Valley to help him open the restaurant/bar/lounge in the former Bank of America building, across the street from Abe's Six Pack shop (a destination for microbrew lovers). Brad is managing the bar and has established the restaurant's extensive domestic microbrew list, designed hand-crafted cocktails and put together the restaurant's wine list, which currently includes primarily Italian and Californian wines by the glass.
The Mint is the only Lehigh Valley restaurant to have Victory's Donnybrook Stout on tap. (The bar hopes to sell enough beer to have its own signature Victory microbrew someday.) Later this month, The Mint will close the restaurant for 25 lucky Victory lovers, for a private Victory pairing night: a four-course meal paired with brews, for $70 a person. They're taking reservations now with a deposit.

Some nuts and bolts to know: The restaurant is open seven days a week for dinner until past midnight, and for lunch every day except Fridays. You'll find plenty of off-street and on-street parking. The patio is dog-friendly and the area that once was the bank's drive-through lane is now a smoking patio which will soon feature a gas fireplace. You'll need a reservation, especially on a weekend night. The menu currently ranges from local favorites - red cabbage pierogies and steak and egg - to gastropub classics like steamers and truffled mac and cheese - to house specialties like a vegetarian chickpea cake dish Dom stole from a friend ("Stolen Recipe"), and smoked trout. The menu will be updated regularly to reflect seasonal items as well as customer tastes.

Here are some pictures of our dinner. The official ribbon cutting is expected to occur next Monday. I wish nothing but the best for The Mint's team! See you again soon.
I couldn't resist the lobster roll with sweet potato fries and wine.Custom napkin rings. The bank theme is subtle and not cheesy.
BF had the signature burger with tater tots and a glass of Victory Summer Love Ale.

Lehigh Valley school districts

2011-06-15T10:22:00.000-04:00

Transplants, even if you are not a property owner (and thus, directly pay taxes to local schools), it would behoove you to pay attention to what's happening in your local school district.

Here are some recent headlines about the three cities' school district budget woes and the state situation:

Bethlehem schools shed 145 jobs in 2011-12 budget: Property taxes to rise 1.7 percent under $203.8 million spending plan (The Morning Call, June 14, 2011)

Easton Area School Board approves agreement with teachers (Express-Times, May 26, 2011)

[Allentown] District Continues To Look For Ways To Pinch Pennies: Budget Deadline Just Two Weeks Away (wfmz.com, June 9, 2011)

Allentown school district lays off 165 employees (WHTM, June 10, 2011)

Budget cuts to education will harm students, force local property tax increases
(PSEA.org)

A few things that are important for transplants to know:

1. True, most of the "cuts" are being made through attrition and eliminating staff who serve "nice to have" programs like hall monitors, reading specialists, parent liaisons and electives that attract only a few students each year. But those people and programs served some of the unique needs of students who don't fit the mold - the ones who need a little more attention/discipline/patience/challenge. Larger class sizes could also hurt the kids that need more - that is, the gifted and talented students as well as students with learning challenges.

2. With hundreds of unemployed teachers living in the region, it's going to be hard for even the most enthusiastic and talented young person with a teaching certificate to get a job here for a while. That means most will be commuting to New Jersey, substitute teaching, or maybe even finding a new career, until things turn around.

3. Despite the cuts, so-called "school taxes" are expected to rise everywhere. Even if you do not directly pay property taxes to your local district, your landlord does, and you are likely to see a higher rent bill in the future to reflect increased costs.

4. Most comments posted on the local media web sites are anonymous. That means anyone can publish any unkind, ignorant, unproductive comment they feel like writing, without any accountability (or spell checking).

There is a lot more to the story, but knowing these facts will help you understand some of the current issues in the region, and hopefully start you thinking about your local district. Find out how the state's budget cuts affect your community and form a well-researched opinion of your own!

TC Salon and Dan Schantz updates - sorry we were right this time

2011-06-14T12:29:00.000-04:00

TC Salon and Spa has closed its Allentown location. That means both locations are now closed, and there's no indication they will re-open. Many other local salons will honor part or all of the gift certificate you never used. Don't say we didn't warn you; here's a link to some other options.

Dan Schantz is closing its Bethlehem location, but its Allentown location will remain open "forever," according to the e-mail I received from the store. Everything in Bethlehem is 50% off while it lasts. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Restaurant updates/transitions... so you are in the know

2011-06-09T08:35:00.004-04:00

Hey, umm... a few things have changed. Here's what you need to know at the watercooler.

1. Open: Bridgeworks, a restaurant on the South Side of Bethlehem near Lehigh University, was purchased and reconfigured, and named Lehigh Pub by the new owners. Then a couple of kids refused to tip their server and it made national news. Now it's called Molly's Irish Grille & Sports Pub. A lot of the old Bridgeworks menu items are still around (shepherd's pie, mmm...) plus the bar features a ton of microbrews on tap and by bottle.

2. Not Yet Open: A tried and true Lehigh Valley restaurant family will soon fill the gastropub void that Tap & Table left. It's called The Mint and is located in an old Bank of America building next to Abe's Six Pack shop. Owner Dominic Lombardo is the son of Stefano Lombardo, of the Stefano's you may already know and love. Dominic is the guy who brought you Sweet Basil in Northampton. The Mint will open any day now, according to my sources, likely around June 15. (1223 W. Broad St., West Bethlehem)

3. Open: Bloggers Chris & Erica, Laini and Glenn got a sneak peek at Emeril's Italian Table, the newest restaurant at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, while I was on vacay. If this is news to you, the only thing you should say about this is, I want to go. It sounds cool. A question like "We have a casino?" is not good. You should also know that Emeril has two other restaurants at The Sands already.

4. Open: There's a new Spanish tapas restaurant on Main Street in Bethlehem called Tapas on Main (easy to remember, right?). It replaced Tika's, which replaced Tortilla Flat. The new place is owned by the people who own Pacifico, the Latin restaurant in the Promenade Shops of Center Valley. It will likely do well because it is affiliated with Pacifico, and it will get overflow traffic from Mama Nina's, which is ridiculously popular. ALSO - be very carefully when pronouncing TAPAS restaurant, as this is not a naked establishment. It is the first Lehigh Valley restaurant to call itself a tapas place, but Apollo Grill has been doing this for a long time. A few Junior League women and I had the sangria last night after an event and sat in the back circular booth and watched the place in action!

5. Not Yet Open: Black and Blue is a new restaurant in Easton, brought to you by the minds behind a place called Which Brew (a business which is now closed - the building at 665 Northampton Street is now home to an Irish pub, Slainte). To say that Which Brew had a cult following is an understatement. Reference the two Facebook pages in the restaurant's honor: "I Utterly Miss Which Brew" and "I miss Which Brew in Easton" each 100+ members strong. Their new location, 683 Walnut Street, Easton, is in the space formerly occupied by the Blue Tone Cafe.

Your additions are welcome, but that should get you started!

Blues, Brews and Barbecue

2011-06-08T08:40:00.005-04:00

BF asked if we wanted to invite our newlywed couple friends to an event this Saturday.
I asked: Isn't it a barbecue event? Aren't they vegetarian? Will this fest have anything they can eat?

Uh, yeah. Vegetarian/vegan local fave Balasia is a vendor. Allentown thinks of everything.

This Saturday's Blues, Brews and Barbecue event is fun for everyone (including vegetarians) and is happening from noon - 10PM on Hamilton Street between 7th and 9th Streets in Allentown.

This annual free event is an urban festival in the tradition of great downtown fests: kids running through the fountain, music, casual food, outdoor drinking, and after parties. If you don't plan get there early, bring a chair or blanket to sit on.

(pics from last year's event, courtesy of Tara Craig)

Some new features for 2011: two stages for non-stop live music, expanded entertainment like cooking demos and fire performing, an array of artists and expanded activities for children including rides and even a petting zoo in Allentown's "Pocket Park" at 8th & Gordon.

Confirmed Vendors include Made in Brazil, Maison Blanc's Deliciously Wicked BBQ, Danny's Fine Foods, Fat Boy's House of BBQ, 8th Street Creamery, Fegley's Brew Works, The Back Door Bakeshop, Grumpy's Barbecue Roadhouse, Balasia, Sangria, and Valenca.

How to get there: Take Route 22 to 7th Street, and instead of going north to the mall like you usually do, go south into downtown Allentown. Park for free in the Farr lot (20-32 N. 8th St.) or Spiral deck (820-836 Linden St.):

Spiral deck (natives call it the Hess's deck for the store that isn't there anymore)

* "After the show is the afterparty": Downtown restaurants will all be offering "after blues specials." We will likely head over to Cosmopolitan's new rooftop deck to check out the views and drink a yummy cocktail (enjoy responsibly, people).

** "After the party is the hotel lobby": And if you don't feel like enjoying responsibly, Holiday Inn Center City is offering a special $99 blues rate if you want to stay over.

Free outdoor yoga meet-up in Allentown

2011-06-07T08:17:00.003-04:00

I just received a tip about a free yoga asana meet-up for people of all yoga experience levels. Instructor Ray Killeen will teach a group outdoor summer series absolutely free to all who attend.

His asana series flows at a steady pace in the flavor of Ashtanga Vinyasa, my favorite practice of yoga, linking movement with breath to foster strength, flexibility, balance, relaxation and self-awareness. This yoga practice is NOT sitting and Om-ing: it's a workout. Participants should wear unrestrictive loose fit clothing in layers (dress for the weather). Bring a yoga mat, water, friends/family/coworkers and a smile!

Meet the group at Hamilton Boulevard & South Ott St. (Cedar Beach Park, volleyball court) 06/05/11 - 08/28/11 Sundays 10:30 am (weather permitting), Allentown, PA 18104 Phone: (610) 406-3395

Local police force might go regional

2011-06-06T07:32:00.006-04:00

The Morning Call ran a piece last week in which Andrew McGill describes Nazareth Borough's dilemma: support a police force with rising costs, or join a regional policing group and save taxpayer dollars?

If the borough doesn't seem to need it (since there's been no major police work despite staffing cuts), why continue to pay for it? Residents weigh in:

"I'm almost kind of disgusted," [one local business owner] said. "When you know the officer, when he drives by, you know who he is. I'll stand on the corner and wave to them."

With Colonial Regional, he wonders if he will ever recognize a friendly face.

Many in Nazareth on Friday agreed. They spoke of outsiders hard inflection: Cops from BETH-lehem, Cata-SAQUA [sic]. They don't want them here. Would you, they ask? Wouldn't you want someone born here, raised here, schooled here?

"They're what kept our town safe for all this time," said Fred Werkheiser, sitting in his Main Street shoe store Friday. "How far are we from Easton? And we're nothing like it. It's because of the attention these guys pay to details. They're a part of the community."

Anecdotally, I am pretty sure that BETH-lehem and CataSAUQUA's professional police and fire departments are staffed mostly with graduates of their own local schools, so it's not as if Nazareth has cornered the (Mitch's) market on favoritism (or even xenophobia).

However, assuming that police officers from other municipalities couldn't do a great job protecting and serving the community is ignorant. Implying that an officer raised in Easton might actually be unfriendly, wouldn't help someone pick up a box, or wouldn't pay attention to details is unkind.

In fact, an officer with broader experience may bring a much-needed perspective to the streets of Nazareth. Plus, it's not like Nazareth is hard for an outsider to figure out or find your way around. Residents have an opportunity to learn from them if they would be welcoming to new faces to the borough. I'm sure the regional entity would place former Nazareth police officers on their existing beats when possible.

I understand that change is hard, but if Nazareth taxpayers don't want to feel the impact of continued rising personnel costs, regionalization may be the only option.

Lehigh Valley Transplants in the news

2011-05-23T15:41:00.002-04:00

Catching up on some old reading, I couldn't help notice some stories highlighting... downright CELEBRATING... the contributions and perspectives some Lehigh Valley transplants bring to the region (go, transplants!):

Blanketing with care: Valley volunteers turn out blankets to warm the soul (TMC, April 5, 2011)
A group meets monthly in the community center of a Moore Township housing development, where members unload four weeks' worth of made-at-home contributions — mainly blankets for babies and children, but larger pieces, too. This month's batch brought the total to 5,000, which is pretty impressive for seven years of part-time needlework. The ringmaster of this cheery blanket circus is a chatty and hospitable transplant from New York, Anita Brody. She moved here in 2003 and started the group the following year.

Royal wedding excites Maureen Hillary, a British transplant to Lehigh Valley (ET, April 28, 2011)
Maureen Hillary, of Forks Township... (was) born and raised in Somerset, England, and celebrated the Royal Wedding in style with a British-style brunch.

Bethlehem flush with young women business owners (ET, May 23, 2011)
...many of the retail store owners were inspired to open their stores after seeing the wider variety of brands available in larger cities where they’ve visited or gone to college. Many of the retail stores focus on having brands that aren’t available elsewhere in the region. (Jennifer Mann said this - smart woman.)

The stores:
Apotheca Salon & Boutique
Hair salon and women’s clothing store
101 E. Third St.
Opened June 2010
Owned by Julie Casciano, 29, and Amanda King, 33

The Attic
Vintage clothing store
14 W. Broad St. through June 12, then 516 Main St.
Opened 2009
Owned by Anne Kuronyi, 34

Eskandalo!
Hair salon
12 W. Fourth St.
Opened October 2007
Owned by Alison Leigh, 36

Hello Burrito
Eatery specializing in wraps and quesadillas
38 W. Broad St.
Opened September 2010
Owned by Rachel Lambdin, 34

Hookah Turka
Hookah bar and Mediterranean café
44 W. Broad St.
Opened March 2010
Owned by Duygu Alkan, 25

Loose Threads Boutique
Women’s clothing store
9 W. Fourth St.
Opened April 2009
Owned by Helene Perrucci, 30, and Laura Jasorka, 27

Sophistikate
Women’s clothing store
574 Main St.
Opened September 2010
Owned by Kate Falasca, 25

Shuze
Women’s shoes and clothing store
530 Main St.
Opened April 2009
Owned by Jennifer A. Mann, 29

"Pennsylvania" names

2011-05-19T08:51:00.000-04:00

A friend was telling a story about someone recently, and I caught myself saying "that sounds like a good Pennsylvania name."

The PA "Dutch" and Native American surnames and municipalities are pretty common in the Lehigh Valley, but they were new to me when I moved here. It took me a while to figure out how to spell names like Reichley, Breidinger and Schoenenberger. Even my GPS still has trouble pronouncing Schoenersville Road, Macungie, Muhlenberg, and Tilghman Street. Sometimes I'll take a guess at the "correct" pronunciation only to find out the locally-accepted pronunciation is actually the American-ized version.

I've also observed a trend of having first names that are two names put together: Joellen, Joelin, Jolisa, Jenelle, Leanne, Deanna, Shaunalee and Jolene are all names that I encounter regularly in PA that I almost never saw in DC. I think it's pretty cool to be able to combine names, especially if one or both names honor someone in your family. Even the Twilight kids did it (though Renesme could be stretching it a bit).

Are there any Lehigh Valley names you have read that you still can't pronounce?

19th on 19th Street, Allentown

2011-05-18T10:05:00.002-04:00

One of the best ways to meet people in the Lehigh Valley is to go to something new, inaugural or original... that way you know that everyone there is new, too. Getting in on the ground floor of an idea or a program in the Lehigh Valley gives you the opportunity to see the community like an insider.

If you're considering opening a small business in one of the region's communities, one of the best ways to investigate and build relationships is to SHOW UP. Some of the most successful business owners in the region have built their empires by acting like locals, despite their origins (transplant or native). This means shopping locally, getting your hair cut at a local salon, going to events and serving on committees, and just walking around and saying hello to people. They're *winning* because they got to know the neighborhood and the prospective customer base.

This Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. West End Allentown business owners and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold the first "19th on the 19th" mixer in Allentown’s West End. You do not need to be a member of anything to attend, and admission is free.

A total of 22 businesses will be opening their doors to members of the Greater
Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and the public alike, with special discounts,
prize offerings, food, live music, wine and beer. Local businesses participating include: Allentown Appliance, Americus Pharmacy, Ashmor Systems, Blink Optical Boutique, BoutiqueToGo, Civic Theatre of Allentown, Cottage Spice Co., Elie’s Floral, Geoff Gutgold Advertising, The Jewelers, Jimmy’s Barbershop, Kate’s Bead Boutique, Lawrence Roth Salon & Day Spa, Mimi’s, Nails by Linda, Pavlack Law Offices, Ringers Roost, Step In 4 Mor, Susan Bella Jewelry, TC Salon, TDS Technology, Tessie’s Fairgrounds Hotel, and Timothy Richard Fine Jewelry.

A few tips:

Navigate to North 19th Street if you're using GPS.

Park for free, on the parking lot inside the Allentown Fairgrounds. That's the big fenced-in area you can see from North 19th Street.

If you want get up to date on what is fashionable in accessories, visit Elena at Boutiquetogo.

Pick up tickets to see Civic Theater's production of Cabaret.

Stop by Stepin4Mor to visit my friend Steph and her adorable doggy, Vino.

And finally, step inside the Allentown Farmer's Market (at the Fairgrounds) to pick up dinner on your way home.

Upper and Lower Saucon Townships

2011-05-17T08:35:00.004-04:00

Since today is election day, let's have a quick chat about a municipal mystery in the Lehigh Valley.

Because of redistricting, or maybe an overall lack of creativity, there are a handful of Upper-Lower township combinations in Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Lower Macungie Township is southeast of Upper Macungie Township, and Upper Milford Township is northeast of Lower Milford Township. North and South Whitehall Townships, Upper and Lower Mt. Bethel Townships, and Upper and Lower Nazareth Townships are also in order as you'd expect.

However, Lower Saucon Township is northeast of Upper Saucon Township. In fact, the Saucons have been divided between two different counties (Lower in Northampton; Upper in Lehigh) since 1812. Oh, did you think that Saucon Valley school district included both Saucons? Me, too. Turns out that residents of Upper Saucon send their kids to Southern Lehigh.

If you haven't voted yet today, get out there. A lot of local elections are decided in the primary.

Bethlehem Farmers Market

2011-05-16T09:39:00.002-04:00

If you are not a regular farmer's market shopper, resolve to visit one of the great local markets this year. There's no time more exciting than the beginning of the season, when people seem to crawl out of their winter hiding spaces, show their toes in sandals, and break out their re-usable shopping totes.

The original Bethlehem Farmer's Market will return to Campus Square at Lehigh University (New and Morton Streets in South Bethlehem) on Thursdays from May 19 through October 27, 11am -3pm. Here's a quote from the market's announcement:

This year’s market will offer something for everyone amongst our usual wide
variety of products, as well as new vendors Key Ingredient Market (spreads and
dips), York Moor Farm (fresh eggs and produce) and Around the World in 80 Cakes.
Returning vendors are Easton Salsa Co., The Popcorn Pit, A Natural Alternative
(soaps and toiletries), Back Door Bakeshop, Humdinger Alpacas (wool products),
Tasty Pastry, Lettuce Alone Farm (produce), Bechdolt Orchards (produce) and The
Flour Shop Bakery.

The produce at this farmer's market is terrific - many of the varieties grown by the folks at Lettuce Alone are heirloom - you won't find them in a pile at Giant. They were picked that morning by the person you're handing money to. I love The Flour Shop's yummy focaccia with toppings, and freshly-baked loaves. And of course, the granola and preserves are worth stopping by the Back Door Bakeshop stand, not to mention the opportunity to chat with THE Dina Hall, who will be playing original and cover songs all over Bethlehem this summer. See you at the market!

Volunteer + make friends + shop = fun

2011-05-11T11:41:00.005-04:00

Here's another great opportunity that is bound to encourage conversation, warm your heart and maybe increase the size of your designer handbag collection.

I mentioned the Great South Side Sale last week. At Lehigh University, students have the option to make donations to the university's annual Move Out Collection Drive rather than throw away items they no longer need at the end of the school year.

Volunteers collect household stuff, furniture, clothing and linens, appliances, rugs, cleaning supplies, unopened food, office supplies. Then donated items are sold at the Great South Side Sale at affordable prices on June 11th, 2011. All proceeds from the sale will fund Lehigh's after school Homework Clubs.

Here are three ways for you to get involved:

1. Donate clothing, linens, electronics, school supplies, household items, furniture and unopened food! Through May 26th, drop off your donations to Kenner Theatre in Ulrich (9am-5pm) or to approved locations in Residence Halls.

2. Volunteer to help pick up items from residence halls or to sort collected items for eventual sale in Kenner Theatre any day from May 5th - May 26th. Sign up online.

3. Volunteer the day of the Great South Side Sale (June 11th, 2011) to help facilitate their endeavor and to have "tons of fun!"

Questions? Call 610-758-6674 or check out the web site.

I would like to help. So if you are interested in joining me, drop me an e-mail or comment below!

Young Business Professionals meet, shake hands

2011-05-10T11:59:00.007-04:00

The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting an event for young professionals on May 17. Four good reasons to go: It's in downtown Allentown, your company is probably already a member, it's a great way to meet people, and you'll polish your business skills. I'm sure there will be drink specials at Allentown Brew Works.

By the end of it you'll "learn techniques to impress your future clients and colleagues through hands-on lessons that teach proper handshaking and a 30 second elevator speech." The YPC aims to develop skills in a fun way while connecting you to other young and established business professionals from the Lehigh Valley. It's not a social or service group like some other young professional groups in the region, and also, non-members are welcome.

It's May 17, 5:30 — 8:00 pm at Silk Lounge inside Allentown BrewWorks, 812 W. Hamilton St. Allentown PA 18101. $10 for Young Professional Council members, $20 for Chamber members. To register, or if you have questions, contact Colleen Daniels.

Great Southside Sale

2011-05-05T14:00:00.001-04:00

I was just asking Samantha at the Downtown Bethlehem Association whether she knew when the Great Southside Sale was scheduled. It's like Christmas in May for those in the know: Lehigh students toss their belongings in donation bins rather than ship or cart them back home. Then the university stages a massive yard sale with the students' donated food, school supplies, designer apparel and accessories, home decor, and books (of course).

I just received this e-mail:

Dear Lehigh Community,

As the academic year comes to a close, we
would like to remind everyone in
the Lehigh community to consider
participating in the "Lehigh Move Out," a
program that raises funds for
children who live in South Bethlehem. This
end of-the-semester event is an
innovative community-service program to
recycle items that our students,
faculty and staff discard as well as to
give items donated by campus offices
back into the local community. Our
donated items will be sold at the Great
Southside Sale that begins at 10
a.m. on Saturday, June 11th at Fourth and
Buchanan streets.

"Lehigh Move Out" runs through Friday, May 13th.
Donations (clothing,
school supplies, cleaning supplies, household items,
linens, appliances,
furniture and food) can be dropped off in Residence
Halls drop-off
locations or at Ulrich Student Center's Kenner Theater from 9
a.m. to 8
p.m.

This project is a true partnership that builds
bridges between Lehigh and
its South Side neighbors. The proceeds support
children and youth programs
through the sale of your donated items. Last
year's event raised $14,000
to benefit our local community.

Please
help us make this another successful year for Lehigh's Move-Out.

Thank
you!

In Service,
Carolina Hernandez

Lehigh Valley Ambassador Walking Tour of Easton - this Saturday

2011-05-03T11:42:00.005-04:00

I spent last Saturday morning planting flowers and spreading mulch in Easton's Centre Square. It didn't look bad before - Easton's Ambassadors (read: extremely friendly men and women who answer questions, clean up trash and generally keep an eye on things downtown) do a good job maintaining the area. But they needed a few extra hands getting the downtown area ready for the Easton Farmer's Market and other springtime celebrations in Easton. Volunteering in this way is a great match for me - it's casual, cost-free, and gives me the opportunity to meet other service-inclined people, and catch up with my family and friends (not to mention, get a workout and a little sun!).
If you have some time and the inclination to volunteer this week, the Easton Main Street program needs help planting annuals in planters around the neighborhood. Just call (610) 330-9940 or e-mail to sign up. (Thursday, May 12 and Friday, May 13, 9 a.m. to noon). Plan to bring your own gardening tools and gloves.

This Saturday kicks off the Easton Farmer's Market season (Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through November). Not sure what that means? I have organized a walking "tour" of downtown Easton on Saturday for people just like you - just sign up through Northampton Community College. If this sounds like fun to you, please register and join our group!

Paranormal activity in the Lehigh Valley

2011-04-30T11:40:00.000-04:00

Any area with as much history as the Lehigh Valley does has got to have some paranormal activity... right? But would you believe that the Lehigh Valley has its own paranormal society (like Paranormal State on A&E TV)?

The Eastern Pennsylvania Paranormal Society recently sent this e-mail to my boss:

Hello {my boss' name}, my name is {former employee of previous building owner}. My sister, {insert sister's name}, who works for {insert name of someone I think is supposed to provide reference for this person}, brought to my attention that you recently purchased the {former business name} building on {location} in Bethlehem. As she may or may not have told you, I was an employee...for about a year. In the time I worked there I had a few experiences that I can not explain. I, as well as may former employees, believe that there is some paranormal activity going on. I'm part of a paranormal investigative group called The Eastern Pennsylvania Paranormal
Society. The previous ownership of the building would not allow us to
investigate, which is why I'm writing you this email. We would love the
opportunity to do a full, formal investigation of the club and, especially for
my own sanity, figure out what is really going on there. Please email me back at
your earliest convenience and let me know if this is at all possible. Thank you
for your time.

I have to tell you that in my time working for this company, I have never received an e-mail like this. My day job is pretty business-y and doesn't stray too much into local lore or ghost investigations. So I was pretty intrigued by the request as well as my company's owners' response. The company owners didn't go for it, so we'll never know... but I have spent some late nights in the office recently, and I haven't experienced anything out of the ordinary. But now I'll be more observant.

Life in the Valley...with a canine companion

2011-04-29T08:41:00.001-04:00

Stella would sign autographs, but she does not have thumbs.

Thanks to everyone who has written such kind words about the May Lehigh Valley Style "Valley Newbie" column. If you haven't picked up the issue yet, or read it online, it's all about life in the Lehigh Valley as a dog owner. In it, I write about the process of adopting a dog through Rogers' Rescues, and my experiences with Stella by my side.

I received the nicest email from a reader with a suggestion of another venue for dog training.

Thanks for sharing your really cool story about you and your newly adopted furry
one in the latest Style mag. I, too, recently adopted a girl, who is my best
friend and most snuggly companion!

Just wanted to suggest that for training, boarding, walking ,and day care that you consider Cole’s K-9, next to Wright’s Animal Hospital in Bethlehem. I love the staff and Linda Cole gets great results training dogs with lots of love and direction. I have completed lots of training there and currently Mollie and I are enjoying an agility class and she gets to go to day care two days a week. Great staff. Great place.
And….they have a swimming pool and a one acre field for training!

Stella's got some Australian shepherd in her, but she hasn't shown any tendency toward agility yet (other than occasionally escaping through a hole in the fence into the neighbors' yard - sorry, neighbors). Maybe with a little training, she could catch 100 frisbees in a minute? Stay tuned!

For the love of shoes

2011-04-27T10:01:00.004-04:00

DSW is coming to the Lehigh Valley, with a new store in the "Airport Center" shopping center, you know, where Christmas Tree Shops and On the Border opened last year.

For the uninitiated, DSW (an acronym for Discount Shoe Warehouse) is better than Famous Footwear because it is bigger, and carries more designer brands. The stores usually offer a selection of accessories - hats, bags, wallets, socks, tights. The sale deals can be hard to beat - the longer the shoes are in-store, the bigger the discounts. The frequent-buyer program gives regular customers free shoe credit. The selection is extensive: dozens of designer women's dress shoes, tons of sneakers and flip-flops, and imported boots and beautiful men's loafers, to name a few.

But the looks are often last year's models (no biggie if you don't care about wearing something fresh off the runway), and you have to be patient. There are lots of aisles to navigate, and you're just going to have to walk up and down them to see everything. Their ad campaigns from a few years back compare women shopping for shoes to lions hunting for prey.

It has been my experience that DSW does not have service of any kind. What you see is what you get. There's also no in-store merchandising, to help you figure out what to wear with the shoes. For that level of service in the Lehigh Valley, you'll need to visit indie shoe stores The Shoe Box, Shuze, or Stepin4Mor.

The local grand opening is Thursday night, with giveaways and a whole lot of hoopla. Some promotions claim that a percentage of grand opening evening sales will be donated to Dress for Success's Allentown location, but actually it's benefitting a similar program called A Perfect Fit in Allentown. If you prefer to do your shoe shopping in (relative) anonymity, wait until next week. Happy hunting!

Four more Lehigh Valley blogs you're probably not reading (yet)

2011-04-25T08:16:00.002-04:00

Here are a few more blogs that Lehigh Valley locals and transplants might enjoy.

My West End. Filled with regular announcements about upcoming events (West End Events), features about local businesses ("Go Local!"), and updates about community revitalization efforts (West End News), this blog is a must-read for anyone who lives in Allentown. It's good reading for those of us who don't live in Allentown, because it gives an insider's look at a little-promoted area. Since September 2010 it has been a regular reminder to me to visit the trendy little neighborhood. Whatever I get when I go there (farmer's market goodies, fashionable bags and shoes),I receive compliments and proudly brag that I got it in the West End.

Wine-Know. Local wine guru, fashionista, fitness goddess and real estate and insurance pro by day Eileen Budd authors a little blog I read to stay informed about wine. Her wine tasting events are fun and educational. Through her travels throughout Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile, as well as domestic wine regions, she has earned an appreciation for all kinds of wines. The fact that she doesn't work for one winery or one importer gives her readers an opportunity to learn about wine without worrying about ulterior motives.

I enjoy sharing and exploring wines with others. I often tell people a good
wine is simply one you like. No need to complicate something that can be so
simple. I try not to get too hung up on every detail the experts are telling me,
but I do enjoy cheese and food pairings with wines, and appreciating each wine
and wine region for what it’s best for. Every glass tells a different story, so
sniff, sip and savor, as the story is told.

Another Day in Catasauqua. If you live in or near "Catty," you will especially appreciate Bev's attention to community details (like the history of the borough's Masonic Temple) and interest in exploring local mysteries (e.g. why is Catasauqua Lake in Hanover Township?). She educates us about local cuisine, including Lenten fish dinners, halupkies and ham and dandelion. She's a grandma, a Sunday School Teacher, and local insider who asks herself the same kinds of questions that transplants do:

I have lived in Catasauqua most of my life, except for a small lapse of judgment when I was in West Catasauqua, which is technically Whitehall, which I quite never understood why if it was West Catty is was part of Whitehall Township.

Maria's Farm Country Kitchen. If you are not familiar with the Rodale family or Rodale Press, read this. Then check out the Rodale CEO's blog for information regarding organic living ("10 Non-toxic ways to kill bedbugs"), recipes, and life in general. Maria's advice about talking to your kids about sex, life lessons she tries to share with her daughters, and incorporating wellness into everyday life, is precious. She writes in a voice unlike any other, because her experience is unlike any other. Her blog is read nationwide but locals will recognize her Lehigh Valley references. Like many bloggers (myself included), Maria struggles with typical blog dilemmas, like whether to organize a "stunt," or how to file posts in neat little categories. Her posts about The Art of Living In Balance are posted at my desk at work as a guide and inspiration for enjoying my own life.

On a recent LehighValleyLive.com blog chat, local bloggers were asked how many blogs we read. I checked my RSS feed, and I subscribe to 215 blogs (so far). I am sure I'll have lots more recommendations as I go along. Please share your favorites if you don't see them here!

Making Friends in the Lehigh Valley

2011-04-22T08:40:00.001-04:00

As the weather warms up and people begin to emerge from their winter hiding places, it's prime time to make friends, platonic and the other kind.

I just received yet another e-mail from a single person wondering how to meet people in the Lehigh Valley. How is it that so many of you are trying to connect, yet you don't seem to be finding one another?

Here's a serious question for loyal readers: Would you be interested in attending a social event with other people you know are transplants, hosted by a few friendly natives?

Lambertville Shad Festival - it's O'Fish'L

2011-04-21T19:56:00.003-04:00

If you can't make it to Easton's Shad Fishing Tournament (given a reprieve from cancellation by Tom Ring/Brown Daub Kia! "Or I'll kiss your mother in law!"), fear not, shad lovers. Lambertville's Shad Festival is worth checking out, too. If you haven't ever crossed the bridge from New Hope to Lambertville, NJ (and you can do so on foot - one reason it's adorable), save the date: April 30 and May 1, 2011.

The festival highlights the region's arts community, the history of the City of Lambertville, the Delaware River, and of course, the Shad! Shad Fest features some fine artists and crafters, fishing for those who want to do it, great food and family entertainment - including historical re-enactments of life on the Delaware around the time when Lambertville was founded. After you check out the art, fish, and history, you can walk back to New Hope for lunch at Triumph Brewery (my BF's and my fave) or somewhere along the river. I think that Molly - who knows Lambertville like the back of her hand - would recommend Lambertville Station.

In the eastern US, shad's roe is prized because the eggs are considered a delicacy. My dad's birthday is always around the very short season when shad roe is available commercially, and it's become a ritual of celebration. (And for those of you who know my parents, you know why tracking it down, buying it in a fish store and sauteeing it in butter is such a nice thing for Mom to do.) Happy birthday, Dad!

Happy Birthday to Lehigh Valley Transplant!

2011-04-20T08:44:00.000-04:00

I started this blog in the spring of 2007 because Alyssa encouraged me. Mom and Alyssa were my only readers for a while. Four years later:

I've written a bi-monthly column in Lehigh Valley Style for a year and a half.

I tweet. And people tweet back! Sometimes I meet them IRL (In Real Life) at Tweetups.

On Niki's recommendation, I made a Facebook fan page, and I don't know half of the fans personally.

I was a guest on Lehigh Valley Discourse on WDIY, where Sally Handlon invited me to share my thoughts about life in the Lehigh Valley from a transplant perspective.

I'm being featured in the next Laini's Little Pocket Guide to Bethlehem, alongside some amazing independent media and marketing gurus.

I'm scheduled to lead a walking tour of downtown Easton for Northampton Community College in May. Lynn Teles has been an amazing supporter.

And finally, I was been voted as one of the Lehigh Valley's Best Blogs on The Morning Call web site. Remarkably, in the "Misfits" category, and the other winners are some of the most talented, funny, passionate writers I know.

All of this would not be possible without your support - voters, frequent commenters, lurkers, off-blog emailers, business contacts, old friends (some of whom don't even live in Pennsylvania!), readers that became friends, and of course, family and friends that feel like family. I love you guys. Thank you for supporting the little blog that became a "thing."

Abode Fine Furnishings to close

2011-04-19T08:23:00.000-04:00

A beautiful little antiques and furnishings store is closing in Bethlehem.

Visit Abode (80 West Market Street, Bethlehem) before it shuts its doors for good on May 30. It's open 11-4 Friday through Sunday, and other times if you happen to catch the owner there or make an appointment. Everything is on sale.

Four Lehigh Valley blogs you're probably not reading (yet)

2011-04-18T09:25:00.003-04:00

You may already know about the cadre of talented (and popular!) bloggers who recently won the Morning Call "My Choice Voice" blog contest. But there are a few other blogs that I enjoy that I thought you might not be reading yet. If you aren't already reading these blogs, add them to your RSS Feed or Favorites ASAP:

The Junk Drawer. Kathy Frederick received national news coverage about her hilarious series of posts about a plastic bag in a tree. And then about a noisy Sun Chips bag. She's one of the best. Her post on experiencing her first ear lavage had me in stitches.

Remember the H. Meghan Loftus, an LV transplanted editor at Rodale Press, treats us to updates on her favorite band's final show, battle with lint, office antics (we used to do this at my old job - I sent a box of cheesy cracker sticks to Derek more than once through interoffice mail), and holiday celebrations that will inspire you to get creative.

Garden in Bethlehem PA. Marie writes about her own garden and gardening events in the Lehigh Valley. This week she wrote about becoming a volunteer for Rodale Institute. Reading her blog reminds me when I should do things like prune rose bushes and de-thatch the lawn. Since 2006 she's been educating me on creeping sedum, composting, and confederate jasmine vine.

The fork city. Erik writes primarily about dining in and around Easton. His blog this week about Olive Garden (which could have been about almost any national chain restaurant) reminds me of the ongoing redevelopment debate: would it be better to have a chain (e.g. KFC) in your struggling downtown than an empty storefront, which is not generating sales tax revenue, employment ops or small town charm? In addition to writing about dining out since 2009, Erik chronologues his own cooking and gardening, and lets us in on the adventures of producing his own charcuterie.

There are so many blogs, so little time, but that's all for today. I'll keep recommending, if you keep reading!

Free directory of Lehigh Valley summer camps

2011-04-02T08:56:00.000-04:00

I attended YMCA camp every summer as a kid, learned to make friendship bracelets, do a cannonball and play capture the flag. We had visits from the 4H Lady and sang songs inside the cabin when it rained. We picked up trash after lunch and made up dance routines to songs we taped from Laser 104.1 FM. We "went out" with boys and had our hearts broken for the first time. I want to go to camp again!! Community Services for Children recently launched LehighValleyCamps.com, which provides a free directory of summer camps in the Lehigh Valley. The site also offers parent tips for choosing camps, keeping kids safe, and more. Camp listing is free and use of the website is also free. Camps will be added continuously, so parents should keep checking the site for new camps.

LV Transplant wins "Best of the Blogs" award

2011-04-01T08:29:00.002-04:00

We won! :) The "Misfits - Defying Categorization" category was a varied, interesting field. It's an honor to have been reader's choice among the outcasts and also to have been grouped with such a talented bunch of winners!

I'm sorry that I couldn't make this year's award party, but I appreciated the late-night recap at Bethlehem Brew Works from fellow winners Andrew Kleiner of Remember and Jon Geeting of Lehigh Valley Independent, Twitter goddess Hillary Kwiatek, and Morning Call writers Jenna Portnoy and Chris Baxter. If you were at Brew Works, we were the wonks animatedly discussing Gracedale and Trader Joe's.

I was tickled pink that my two nominations, Lehigh Valley Running Scene and Lehigh Valley Momma, won in their respective categories. I think that they are awesome! That Jill took the overall crown was no surprise to me. She has developed a great following by providing timely updates and useful, original content including nutrition tips, gear reviews, and events. Her blog is a great resource for real runners, as well as a wannabe runner like me. Jen's blog about being a stay-at-home-mom, caregiver, and super couponer, is fascinating, entertaining and completely down-to-earth. I always enjoy her recaps of super couponing at the Valley's grocery stores and applaud her efforts to teach others how to do it, too.

Congratulations, everyone!

Why I Use Twitter

2011-03-31T18:53:00.000-04:00

I use Twitter... ...to listen to Lehigh Valley buzz (and tweets). ...to find people who like the same things than I do. Like parades, dogs, local shopping and restaurants, running, cities, music, art... ...to find people who like different things than I do. Like airsoft, knitting and breeding alpacas. ...to engage in an instant dialogue. Like, what is going on in ___ tonight? ...to provide helpful suggestions to people looking for answers. Even if they aren't asking me directly. :) ...to test my ability to keep it short and simple. 140 chars or less. ...to get reader feedback. admit it, you know you don't comment on the blog! ...to give an instant shout-out to local businesses and the people who visit them with me. ...to learn about news as it happens. especially Rt 22 traffic jams and errant signals on Schoenersville Rd. Happy Bday, @Twitter!

Lehigh Grad Student Announcements and Events

2011-03-30T06:03:00.003-04:00

In my spare time between authoring this blog, working full time and keeping up with Stella pup's running schedule, I am a part-time graduate student at Lehigh University in Bethlehem. I receive at least one email every day from the university, sharing Announcements and Events on campus. Often, the email mentions that the events are open to the public, although I doubt that they are publicized widely. Yesterday's email included a few upcoming events that seemed worth sharing. If you aren't sure where the buildings are located, check out this campus map. All events are free and open to the public.

The region's colleges and universities offer a variety of free and ticketed events, from performances to lectures to festivals, year-round. I'll make an effort to share some of the other schools' events in future posts.

HUMANITIES CENTER - EXCESS LECTURE SERIES LOIS PARKINSON ZAMORA - Professor of English, History, and Art, University of Houston Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 4:10pm - *Maginnes Hall, Room 102* EXHUBERANCE BY DESIGN: NEW WORLD BAROQUE AND THE POLITICS OF POSTCOLONIALITY. "Excess is not excessive, you see, if it's been conceived on principle." ~Edmund Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac In the 17th and 18th centuries, the New World Baroque was conceived and implemented in the service of European conquest and conversion. Over the past few decades, however, it has become a principle of counterconquest, a sign of the cultural convergences and energies of Indo-Afro-Ibero-America. Professor Zamora will trace this evolution and show how the New World Baroque now encodes postcolonial purposes in much of Latin America. Lois Parkinson Zamora is the author of The Inordinate Eye: New World Baroque and Latin American Fiction (University of Chicago Press, 2006), a comparative study of New World Baroque art, architecture and literature. Her previous books include Writing the Apocalypse (Cambridge UP, 1989) and The Usable Past (Cambridge UP 1997), both of which examine the nature of historical imagination and its representations in contemporary U.S. and Latin American fiction. Her most recent publication is an edited anthology of essays on the New World Baroque, co-edited with Monika Kaup, titled Baroque New Worlds: Representation, Transculturation, Counterconquest (Duke UP, 2010). Co-sponsored with Latin American Studies, English and Art, Architecture, and Design - Email or call 610-758-4649 for more information.

The Richard O. and Cindy F. Connell Lecture Series Prof. George M. Marsden will present his lecture "How Otherworldly Fundamentalism Became a Political Power," on Wednesday, March 30th, at 8:00 PM, in Sinclair Auditorium. Much of the new religious right that arose beginning in the late 1970s was built on a Protestant fundamentalist base. Yet American fundamentalism through most of the 20th century had generally avoided organized political involvement. They had instead emphasized personal salvation and the return of Jesus to set up his kingdom on earth. This lecture will describe the factors involved in this remarkable transformation that remains important for understanding aspects of the current American political scene. Prof. Marsden received his Ph.D. from Yale University, taught history at Calvin College, was Professor of the History of Christianity in America at the Divinity School of Duke University, and was the Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame. Lecture is free and open to the public. For more information call 610-758-3353 or email.

FAZLUR R. KHAN DISTINGUISHED LECTURE Sponsored by the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the Department of Art & Architecture, honors Dr. Fazlur Rahman Khan's legacy of excellence in structural engineering and architecture. The third 2011 lecture is as follows: Chris D. Poland, Chairman & CEO, Degenkolb Engineers, San Francisco, CA - "Building Disaster Resilient Communities" Friday, April 8, 2011 - 4:10 pm Location: Sinclair Lab Auditorium, Lehigh University, 7 Asa Drive, Bethlehem, PA Building Disaster Resilient Communities: Healthy cities continuously grow by driving economic development while protecting their cultural heritage. Success, in part, depends on a healthy built environment that is rooted in contemporary urban planning, sustainability and disaster resilience. Our job, as design professionals, is to provide a built environment that supports all of those goals. Our designs need to be efficient, economical, adaptive, sustainable, and disaster resilient, regardless of which disaster strikes. We are doing well on all fronts except for the last. We need to develop, and have added to the code, provisions that will provide the buildings and lifelines needed to support disaster resilience. Resilient communities have a credible disaster response plan that assures a place and ability to govern after a disaster has struck. While making the shift to updated codes requires new policies and community support, that change is not possible without solid, unified support from the science, architecture and engineering communities that support design. We need to take the time to understand this issue, join the conversation about how to achieve resiliency, build it into our research programs, convince our owners to incorporate it in their projects, and be a part of the common voice from our profession on how to change the codes. If you would like additional information about the Khan Distinguished Lecture Series please visit the web site or email Leslie J. Ladick or call 610-758-6123. This lecture is free and open to the public.

STEPS Dedication: Join the party as Lehigh celebrates the dedication of STEPS, its new facility for Science, Technology, Environment, Policy, and Society. An open house and self-guided tours begin at 5:00 p.m., immediately following the Academic Symposium. A short ceremony will be held at 5:45 p.m. to recognize the individuals and organizations who brought the project to life. Refreshments will be served! RSVP online. Contact University Events at 610-758-3898 or email for more information.

Lehigh Valley definitions: Tricky Tray or "Chinese" Auction

2011-03-28T11:22:00.002-04:00

When I moved to the Lehigh Valley, I noticed signs posted along the road, in church parking lots and in front of schools for "Tricky Tray." I had never heard this term before, so I asked someone. They didn't know what it was. I asked another person and she said it was some kind of fundraiser. Another person asked me whether that was like a Chinese auction. You're asking me if it's like a Chinese auction? When I don't know what the terms Tricky Tray or Chinese auction mean? And what makes it Chinese, exactly?

Here's the definition so you look smart at the PTO meeting or water cooler when someone drops these terms:

Tricky Tray

Synonyms: penny sale, penny auction, penny social, gift auction, chinese auction, silent auction, brown bag auction, basket social dark horse, basket games

A fund raising event for a church, school or other organization where guests buy tickets, then place them in a container next to the item they would like to win. Items can be a single item or a group of items based on a theme. Once everyone has had the opportunity to place his or her tickets in the container, the drawing for the prizes begins. If your number matches the winning number drawn, you win that prize. Source: TrickyTray.com

Chinese auction

A combination of a raffle and an auction that is typically featured at charity, church festival and numerous other events. Can also be known as penny social, tricky tray or pick-a-prize according to local custom, or to avoid any reference to nationality. The difference between a raffle and a Chinese auction is that in a raffle with multiple prizes, there is one "hat" from which names are drawn, but in a Chinese auction each prize has its own "hat." This allows ticket buyers to choose which prize to focus on. It is unclear whether this type of auction actually originates in China; it is much more likely that the term derives from "chance auction," which is also another name for this type of auction. The term "Chinese" may have been used in this case to convey that this type of auction was mysterious, intriguing, or secretive. Source: Wikipedia

Try new things, meet new people this week in the Lehigh Valley

2011-03-25T08:23:00.004-04:00

Recently I mentioned that attending beer and wine tastings was a great way to meet people. If you needed more encouragement, there are three events happening in the next week that would give you an excuse to get out of the house.

Brownie Tasting
If you're into delicious baked goods, music and friendly people who also like baked goods and music, check out the second annual Brownie Tasting Sunday, Mar. 27, 2-4 p.m, at Terra Cafe (formerly Wildflower Cafe) at 326 S. New St. in South Bethlehem. Dina Hall and Beth Sherby will entertain the crowd, and Gail from Backdoor Bakeshop will provide snacks for your consideration. Make a day of it by getting a taco at General Zapata (15 E. 4th Street, Bethlehem), or a sandwich at Goosey Gander (102 W 4th St, Bethlehem, known to locals as "The Goose") before you go, and work off the extra calories by walking over to Loose Threads Boutique (9 West Fourth St., Bethlehem) and Home & Planet (25 E. Third St., Bethlehem) before you head home.

Allentown Restaurant Week
Or, if you want to try a new restaurant (or enjoy a great "old" one again - Bay Leaf is the only one on the list that's been in Allentown more than 5 years), visit downtown Allentown next week for its inaugural Restaurant Week starting March 28. You don't even have to find a parking space or pay to park. From my girl Kelly Huth at Lehighvalleylive.com:

Fixed-price lunches are $10 to $15, and dinners cost $20 to $30. Participating restaurants include Sangria, Cosmopolitan Restaurant, Made In Brazil, The Bay Leaf, Allentown Brew Works and Bada Bingg. Bada Bingg will offer breakfast for $5.

Free parking is available at...The Bay Leaf, Sangria and Cosmopolitan (valet parking). Bada Bingg, Allentown Brew Works and Made In Brazil will validate tickets from the parking deck.

Spring Home Show
Also this weekend, check out the Spring Home Show at Lehigh University. It's always a lively, casual event where you can dream about projects and find experts who can make them a reality in your home. Make sure you check out the promo video on the LVBA web site and watch for the host requesting whipped cream in the hot tub! The event will take place inside Stabler Arena, which is dangerously close to the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley.

Enjoy!

Indie Hardware Stores in the Lehigh Valley

2011-03-23T08:24:00.002-04:00

It's springtime, which means it's time to spend your weekend mornings in line at Lowe's or Home Depot... fighting for the last bag of mulch and searching for someone who can answer your question.

Or, check out your local hardware store. They may not have a circular in your Sunday paper. They may not be located just off a highway exit. But many are still surviving and thriving in our communities, because sometimes, service and convenience beat size and Low Low Prices.

We're lucky to have two of these gems within a stone's throw of home - Aykroyd Hardware (743 N. New St., North Bethlehem) and Cantelmi's Hardware (521 E. 4th St., South Bethlehem). Cantelmi was in the news recently because they're renting space in their building (above the hardware store and below the Yoga Loft of Bethlehem) to Bethlehem's economic development department, which will turn lease space to start-ups (perhaps in a co-working/Hive fashion).

Cantelmi's is also dear to my heart, because when a group of volunteers needed supplies to paint the inside of a women's shelter, the store provided the supplies we needed at cost, without hesitation. The store will always have my business for their generosity, as well as their kind assistance (including recommending the paint brand - durable for kids - and shade - "would this be a calming bedroom color?").

What's your favorite hardware store?

Best of the Valley

2011-03-21T18:42:00.001-04:00

Just like American Idol, Lehigh Valley Magazine's "Best of the Valley" contest is not about actual quality, but rather, which contestants can mobilize their fans to vote for them. Unless you're Apollo Grill, in which case, you don't have to campaign.

If you're new to the area, the page of each year's winners provides a good checklist of things to do and places to visit. At least you know you won't be alone!

In DC, being picked for Washingtonian Magazine could put an indie restaurant out of business - the onslaught of suburbanite foodies was too much for many small kitchens to handle. A great place like Two Amys pizza (which I've mentioned before) loses its luster once the wait for a table on a Wednesday night stretches beyond two hours, or the quality of the food suffers in an effort to expedite dishes from the kitchen. Lehigh Valley Magazine's contest doesn't seem have the same effect.

Check out the full list of last year's winners here. The deadline to vote for the 2011 Lehigh Valley Magazine contest is April 1.

Indie Film and Comedy in Bethlehem

2011-03-18T08:10:00.001-04:00

Because I love ArtsQuest, and Jon is endlessly amusing, AND I'll bet you don't know much about the plans for comedy and independent film coming to SteelStacks in Bethlehem... I share this video for your viewing enjoyment. If you want to get content like this delivered to your inbox, just visit the ArtsQuest web page to sign up for Q Mail.

More sports for adults in/near the Lehigh Valley

2011-03-16T15:25:00.004-04:00

One of the best way to connect with people when you move to a new area is through shared, physical, and sometimes somewhat unusual (in the Lehigh Valley), interests.

One of my colleagues was doing some research on polo last week. I bet him that there wasn't a polo club in the Lehigh Valley and was right (phew). He discovered a polo club not too far south of the Lehigh Valley in Tinicum Park, PA (Bucks County). Beginning in May, the Tinicum Park Polo Club features a weekly match on Saturday afternoons. Tickets are $5/car. For information about becoming a player on Tinicum Polo Club, contact Club Manager Hesham El-Gharby at (908) 996-3321.

I recently received an email that might interest Lehigh Valley street hockey and roller hockey athletes and fans. Do you know about the Allentown Ball Hockey League? They have an informative web site, and the group is organized by volunteers who make sure hockey lovers can play together year-round. For more information, contact Brian Newton at 610-351-5299 or visit the league's web site for details.

If polo and street hockey aren't your thing, here's a good list of Lehigh Valley sports organizations that help you experience Airsoft, Christian fellowship leagues, Grand Prix, cycling at the Velodrome, karate, and more, right here in the Lehigh Valley.

LV Natives vs. LV Transplants

2011-03-14T18:59:00.003-04:00

Recently, the author of the blog entitled Citizens vs. Commissioner Kern wrote about the "split" between transplants and natives in the Lehigh Valley. Being the self-proclaimed transplant writer in the region, I couldn't let it go unaddressed.

I am disturbed by the gross generalizations made in the post and subsequent comments, claiming all transplants are from New Jersey and New York (and, that means something bad). My friends, including transplants from other US states (Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Massachusetts, rural parts of Pennsylvania), and even other countries (Greece, Puerto Rico, Pakistan, Russia and Jordan to name a few), would disagree. And I'm sure most of my Valley native friends would, too.

How could a group whose only commonality is their mutual interest in living in the Lehigh Valley have exactly the same traits? I wonder if instead the problem is that the blog has given a sounding board to a vocal minority of natives who find anyone who wasn't born and bred where they were, to be "rude, outspoken cretins"?

I have re-blogged it here and welcome your thoughtful insights and constructive comments.

Transplants Vs. Natives- A Lehigh Valley Dilemma
Posted on March 10, 2011 by
citizensagainstkern
In the previous blog entry there were a handful of comments which seemed to amplify the split between Lehigh Valley natives and transplants. For the readers outside of Whitehall and the Valley, transplants are folks who moved to the area from New York and New Jersey. For over twenty years there has been a steady stream of families from NY and NJ moving into the Valley. The cost of living and quality of life is more attractive here and definitely worth a longer commute to work. The migration of these people has brought about a number of changes to the Valley. Most have been genuinely beneficial and welcome. Some have not.

Although people from NY and NJ have woven themselves into the fabric of the Lehigh Valley and Whitehall and made their mark, tensions exist and not all of the natives are welcoming. On the flip side of the coin, not all of the transplants feel welcome or are likely to try and integrate themselves into the communities they live in. Occasionally, these tensions reach the boiling point and spill over.

Transplants have brought about some major changes to the area. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton can now be considered the western edge of the NYC empire. They’ve surged out here in droves, eager to find a better life. For the most part they have found it. The real estate market here, in spite of it’s (sic) current woes, has expanded dramatically. New housing developments sprouted up by the bushel and homes were quickly gobbled up by transplants. House prices and property taxes in the Valley are far more attractive than they are in New Jersey or NYC. Transplants have established a large influence. The appearance of high end stores and new malls
can be attributed directly to the presence of former New Yorkers and New Jersey
residents. They want a slice of their former life to be available closer to
their new homes. The LV mall would never have been expanded if the Valley was
not NY/NJ west. Wegmans, the Promenade Shoppes, Macys, and a host of other
stores would not be here either. The demand for them would be nonexistent.
Native Valley residents are more likely to shop at WalMart or Boscovs then (sic) Macys or Brooks Brothers.

A vociferous group of natives would be happy if all of the transplants just got up and went back to New York and New Jersey. They have not welcomed the changes. New houses they cannot afford. Stores they can’t afford to shop in. In their eyes the transplants are rude, outspoken cretins who have taken over the Valley and have no respect for the folks who’ve lived here all of their lives. It’s a deep insult to natives that the transplant crowd seems to want nothing to do with the Valley’s rich history. I saw a serious collision of culture during the 2009 World Series. It was apparent that the Lehigh Valley was as much a bastion of NY Yankee fans as it was a bastion of Philly fans.

Yesterday, there was a discussion between posters on a previous entry that seemed to exemplify the divide between natives and transplants. We have to get along and go on as best we can. No matter if you were born in Long Island or Forks. This place is home for all of us. In the words of Rodney King: Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Best of Lehigh Valley Blogs contest

2011-03-13T23:43:00.007-04:00

I am blushing!!

The Morning Call's blog contest is in full swing, and thanks to nominations from anonymous fans (wow - thank you!), LV Transplant has been nominated in multiple categories.

The contest is a great opportunity to highlight some of the Lehigh Valley's very talented (and often very humorous) local bloggers. It's been my pleasure to share content with many of them, meet them in person at Tweetups and other community events, and support their initiatives, fundraisers, and awareness campaigns. If the goal is to improve the quality of life here in Lehigh Valley, I'm for it. Whether they write for fun (like I do), because it's their job to do so, or to support their small business, I am an avid reader, re-tweeter, and follower.

So thanks for your vote of confidence in nominating me. Now's the time to vote! If you need suggestions, please support me and my friends! Thanks very much for your ongoing support. And in case you were curious, there's no cash prize here - just a framed certificate and the right to brag that your blog is loved. << Vote here >>

Keeping up with the latest Lehigh Valley news

2011-03-10T17:31:00.000-05:00

How do I keep up with Lehigh Valley happenings? Method #28, since I don't have a lot of time, I use an RSS feed (by way of Google Reader) to aggregate all the online content I like to keep up with. Instead of keeping them as "favorites" in Internet Explorer, I add them to the feed and they automatically deliver content into the feed anytime a blog gets updated. Now you know my secret. That's how I learned about these little tidbits. If you aren't following these blogs, I would recommend that you start today.

Review: Mama Nina Foccaceria from The El Vee
Mama Nina’s Foccaceria is a small setting tucked in a cozy space on Main Street in Bethlehem that, for outsiders looking in, always seems jammed with foodies. Even outside in the summer the diners spill out onto the patio and chow down al fresco. Why does the restaurant always seemed to be packed? Click here for more.

Moravian Book Shop welcomes Retro Deli from Lehigh Valley Food by Kelly Huth @ The Express-Times
Retro Deli replaces Dave's Deli & Gelato. Click here for more.(I stopped in for a sandwich made with Boar's Head meat earlier this week and got a yummy wheatberry salad with it.)

Lamenting Hess’s from Allentown Afterthoughts by Jeff Pooley
The Hess’s lament™ isn’t just Allentown. Aaron Renn, writing in his Urbanophile blog. Click here for more.
(Jim Russell views Generation X as the heartland of Rust Belt Chic. I'm not sure I love the title, but it's true - most people my age are interested in improving cities, not longing for days gone by and/or complaining about how cities are now. BTW Sadly, Jeff's blog is still up but will no longer be updated.)

Sangria is changing things around for Allentown with it’s new celebrity chef Abe Lopez by LV Scene
Foodies take note. Chef Abe Lopez, who earned a first place finish on Food Network’s “Chopped,” has taken the helm of the kitchen at Sangria, the chic streamlined eatery owned by Easton restaurateur George Meieles, who added Sangria to his collection of boutique restaurants last August. Click here for more.
(I have never seen this TV show but celebrity chefs are rarer than people who order a fish whole, so WELCOME ABE to the A.B.E. region!!)

March Happy Hour from Lehigh Valley Running Scene by Jill
The next Runner’s Happy Hour will be taking place on Wednesday, March 30th beginning at 6:00 pm. We will be returning to Brew Works on the Green for $1 drink specials (Flagship Beers, House Wines and Well Drinks) between 6:00-7:00 pm but hope you’ll hang out longer than that. Click here for more.

This is Why I Live Here (Easton), Interviews by Kelly Prentice, Photos by Larry Fink on Laini's Little Guide
They flee from New York City and elsewhere, because they found a warehouse building at a price they couldn’t pass up. Or because Easton reminds them of a place they once knew, long ago and far away. Maybe it’s because their friend Karl Stirner convinced them to come. Or because of its historic charm and the opportunity to create art in seeming anonymity. We talked with four Easton artists about why they moved here. This is what they told us. Click here for more.
(Laini picked me and a few other bloggers you might recognize to be featured in the next Bethlehem guide, so stay tuned!)

What's a fastnacht and why is everyone in the Lehigh Valley talking about them today?

2011-03-08T07:20:00.004-05:00

For those of you who are *brand* new to the Lehigh Valley, today may be your first Fastnacht Day.

Regardless of whether you are Catholic, observe Lent or celebrate Ash Wednesday, natives and transplants alike indulge in a tradition the Pennsylvania Germans/"Dutch" called Fastnacht Day (literally, "Fast Night," or the night before the fast).

To prepare for the fast and use up the good stuff people traditionally give up for Lent, bakeries and fire houses fry up doughnuts made of potatoes, sugar, shortening, and butter or margarine. Yes, I said shortening! I found a great recipe for making them at home in the deep fryer, but I usually get one from my neighbor (ironically, she offered one to me this morning after my four-mile run). If I don't get one from Cara, I usually hit up Wegman's to buy them, since I always forget to pre-order from Schubert's Bakery (49 N. Broad St., Nazareth) and Egypt Star Bakery (2225 Macarthur Rd, Whitehall). The Morning Call suggested a few other places to get your fastnacht.

I'm not a huge fan of fastnachts, but I do like to have one (or part of one) every year on Fastnacht Day for good luck. If you want to feel like a true Lehigh Valley native for a day, talk about fastnachts like having one is an annual tradition you look forward to and put one in your mouth.

How to Meet People in the Lehigh Valley (Way #455)

2011-03-01T19:06:00.001-05:00

Q: How do you meet new people in the Lehigh Valley?

A. Numerous organizations host beer dinners, wine tastings and wine pairing nights. Each event I've attended has seated guests around communal tables, and staged the evening so there's plenty of time for conversation with your table-mates. Going it alone isn't a problem - nearly everyone who goes to an event like this is going to be friendly. If they weren't, they'd just stay home and read a book about it.

OR - and this is Lehigh Valley Friendmaking 2.0, people so bear with me - use an event like a beer dinner as a way to get to know someone better. Maybe your neighbor, co-worker or person who you see at the gym might like to join you. Identify an event that you want to attend, then ask around. It's a lot easier than figuring out a random night for coffee or happy hour. "Yeah - we should definitely get together sometime." Then you never do, admit it.

One upcoming event is the Melting Pot's annual St. Patrick's Day Beer Dinner, March 17 at 6 p.m. Stoudt's Brewing Company and The Melting Pot have organized an evening of fondue, paired with fantastic craft beer. You don't even need to place an order or split a check! How easy is that?

Starters Riverport (17 West 2nd St, Bethlehem) hosts monthly Beer Scool and Wine Scool events, and The Farmhouse's (1449 Chestnut St. Emmaus) beer dinners are legendary. Ocean (235 Ferry St. Easton) hosts a very popular wine dinner, so popular it isn't even advertised. I've attended all three and would recommend them to anyone who is looking to learn something, taste good food and booze, and maybe even make a friend.

P.S. Drink responsibly. :)

What's going on in the Lehigh Valley?

2011-02-23T18:26:00.001-05:00

If you're still not sure how to find out what events are coming up, or want to get more involved in the activities in our cities, you can sign up to receive each city's "official" email. They will arrive in your email inbox with a list of events, announcements and special offers in each of the Lehigh Valley's cities. Subscribe to "It's Happening in Allentown" by clicking on this link, follow @AllentownEvents on Twitter, or become a Facebook fan: Subscribe to the "What's Going on in Bethlehem" e-Newsletter by visiting the Downtown Bethlehem Association web site, follow @DwnTwnBethlehem on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook. Sign up for Easton's bi-monthly community email on this web page, follow @EastonMainSt on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook.

Did you forget about Valentine's Day?

2011-02-14T08:28:00.000-05:00

Did you forget about Valentine's Day? Don't worry. Alan Pitotti, Pastry Chef at Dolce Patisserie (23 Main St Hellertown) has you covered. Just stop in and pick up some of the most beautiful chocolates you have ever seen and watch your loved one melt when they take a bite (if they dare - they are almost too pretty to eat. Almost).

Dolce came highly recommended to me by my friend Tom, who told me that when he was on a feeding tube in the hospital, he fantasized about eating the French pastries at Dolce, and when he was well enough, that's exactly what he did. Wow.

Alan's a boomerang like me - he grew up in Pen Argyl, and graduated from Northampton
Community College's culinary arts program. He left the area to study at the Culinary Institute, specializing in baking and pastry, served as the assistant pastry chef at the Hotel Hershey, then worked at Philly's legendary French restaurant Le Bec Fin and Norman Love Confections in Fort Myers, FL, before coming home to the Lehigh Valley to open Dolce in 2008.

Tom took my BF and me over to meet Alan and his family recently. They are one busy bunch. In addition to baking, airbrushing, packaging and selling the sweets themselves, they also serve coffee on site and when Alan's not busy building his empire, he's got a little modeling racket, too - maybe you saw him on a billboard recently?

Happy Valentine's Day, all!

Versant Jewelry & Accessories for a last-minute V-Day gift

2011-02-13T10:08:00.000-05:00

On my way home from a meeting, I pulled into Versant Jewelry & Accessories (3452 Easton Ave. Bethlehem). I'd seen an ad for the store in Lehigh Valley Marketplace a while back and was intrigued by their tagline ("Lunch with Ted or Indulge at Versant? Sorry Ted."). It would be a great place to pick up a last-minute Valentine's gift. You're welcome.

The store features brand-name and locally-made jewelry and accessories, some fine, some just fun, plus gifts and serious handbags. It's not hard to find, but it's a little off the standard shopping path - Versant is located inside a restored 18th-century farmhouse with a big parking lot on Easton Avenue.

The most well-known product line Versant carries is Pandora, the inexplicably popular Danish charm bracelets and jewelry. The store carries a wide selection of bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings and hundreds of charms. Only three other Valley stores carry the line. If your S.O. already has a Pandora bracelet, you're in like Flynn.

Bags, scarves, and other jewelry lines line the walls of three rooms in the 18th century farmhouse that Versant calls home. Featured designers include Slane & Slane, Elle, and Amy & Owen. Spartina 449's bags in linen and leather are a great alternative to Vera Bradley (a little more sturdy, too). I loved the Amy & Owen stuff (above). Versant also carries some items made by talented local artists.

Spartina 449 display

Kate was a gracious hostess, showing me all the product lines and explaining why she's selected them for Versant. If you're looking for a gift, happen to be in the neighborhood, or want to see some new and exciting styles, Versant's a great place to spend a few minutes (and/or bucks).

P.S. I do love a store with a dog.