Last night, Kate and I went to see Incubus for the first-ever concert at the new Sands Bethlehem Event Center. (Kim was there too, but she was with the other big cheeses up in the VIP suites.) We stopped by McGrady’s beforehand to get dinner, fuel up and grab a few pints, then made the short trek over to the Sands property. We found it easiest to park in the deck and venture through the casino and the Shoppes to get in line for the show, along with hundreds of other fans.

Some of us from work got the chance to tour the venue a few weeks ago so we were already familiar with the layout and space. This came in handy when we were ducking and weaving through the massive crowd in order to get to a good spot. I hadn’t listened to Incubus much in the last few years, but I used to be a huge fan so I knew most of the songs they played last night. Here’s a short clip from when they performed “Pardon Me,” my all-time favorite Incubus song. It’s not the best quality, but you get the idea.

Everything went pretty smoothly for a first night event, all things considered. Incubus played a great set and everyone had a really good time rocking out. The event center has billed other world-class performers at their new spot in Bethlehem, including Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Beach Boys, Flogging Molly and Michael Bolton. They’re bringing in some great comedy acts as well, adding to the variety of performers in Bethlehem’s already thriving arts scene.

By the way, we happen to have a pair of tickets that we’re giving away to the Flogging Molly show on May 24, and you can enter here for free. What bands would you like to see at Lehigh Valley‘s newest performing arts venue?

On the morning of Cinco de Mayo, I attended VeloFest at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. It was and most likely will remain the premier cycling flea market on the east coast. And it’s right here on the west side of Lehigh Valley in Trexlertown, Pa.

I showed up 15 minutes before the gates opened and the line was already snaking through the parking lots. There was the smell of someone cooking breakfast on a grill, the smell of bacon is just good. Anyway, there’s no shock at the line or interest, as I mentioned before the premier cycling flea market on the east coast. This is a big deal.

It’s the only place where you can buy last year’s must have cycling tech and gear from up and coming professional cyclists, looking to upgrade to this year’s must have cycling tech and gear. It’s also a place where you can see old school bikes and gear, right along new carbon fiber bikes, that weigh less than your smartphone!

There was cold beer available, but being as it wasn’t yet mid-morning, I opted for a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich with coffee.

Did I purchase anything? Well sure, you can’t really walk in and walk out empty handed. I picked up a few cycling jersey’s for myself and for others, it’s easy gift giving (it doesn’t have to be November to be thinking about gift giving). Did I get myself a bike? No, I did not. I think it stems from the fact that I have a specific kind of bike in mind, and every time I see that bike, even at an extreme discount, it’s out of my price range.

Anyway, it was a great time and judging from the crowd, I wasn’t the only one who had a great time, either.

The 2012 season at our concrete crater has gotten off to a wet start with two Tuesday nights having been postponed already, but we’re one month away from the first Friday night of the season on June, 15th for the US Sprint Grand Prix. I’ll be there on opening night, just like I was last year, will you?

On April 29, I participated in a little thing called Relay For Life. Ok, it’s not a little thing; it’s a very big thing, event, for a great reason. For those of you who are unaware, Relay For Life is cancer fundraising event operated through the American Cancer Society with events all over the world (I believe, don’t quote me). Typically these events held overnight, over a span of 24 hours with food, entertainment, tents, a survivor lap and never a dull moment.

With a little bit of research, you’ll come to find that there are several in Lehigh Valley. This particular event was held at Scotty Wood Stadium, located on Muhlenberg College’s campus, which is literally in my backyard.

I had walked in Relay For Life before, but this year proved to be very different…

For starters, this event was held during the day from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.  I frequently verified the times in sheer disbelief. Instead of tents being pitched on the football field, sunscreen was being passed around the track. There was plenty of food and entertainment from live bands to zumba, so what made this time different? I was walking with purpose. I was walking for a cancer survivor.

Our team captain, Dayna, is such a strong young lady. Having overcome cancer before the age of 29 is something that I can’t even fathom. She’s young and has her life back. Coming out of this, she could have chosen to ignore what happened, but no, she has chosen to stand up and fight along with millions of others, so that future generations might not have to go through what she and so many others have.

When I heard that Dayna had started a team, I said “sure, I’ll walk.” I did what I could to raise a few bucks, and come Sunday morning I laced up my walking shoes and headed up to the stadium. We couldn’t have asked for a better day. I walked four miles then ran home to change into shorts and do a few chores prior to returning. I came back to walk a total of 12 miles that day. Saw old friends, made some new ones and walked for something I believed in.

This was a wonderful event, our team truly represented. At one point we were the only team walking, which is disconcerting, but all registered teams raised money and that’s all that matters, I suppose. Plus it didn’t last too long before people hopped back on their feet.

The definition of cause is the reason or motive for some human action; good or sufficient reason. Relay For Life is mine, what’s your cause of choice?

Ok, I admit it. I’m the mother of an 18 year old. I find that hard to believe because I really don’t feel that old. I still remember putting him on the kindergarten bus and yet next month he will be graduating from high school. It brings both tears of sadness and joy to my eyes. For those of you who think it’s over once your kid turns 18, ummm, let me tell you, it’s far from over. It may be a new chapter, but their need for their parents is probably just beginning, especially the way the world is today.

So, with Mother’s Day coming up this weekend and my son taking on a new chapter of his life, I’m thinking my time is coming for some awesome “payback” gifts to come. Not that his handmade cards and gifts weren’t the best. I’ve loved each and every one of them and still have plenty of them around the house. I would love even more just spending some quality time with him. I’m lucky if I get a, “hi mom” out of him anymore. It’s usually, “I need money.” Oh the joys of motherhood!

What would my ultimate Lehigh Valley Mother’s Day “payback” wish consist of? I’ll give you my top five choices (in no particular order):

1) A day at The Spa at Bear Creek Mountain Resort. I’ve yet to experience their spa, but it looks divine.

2) A limo for a day to carry me away to the wineries on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail.

3) A gift card for the new Shops at The Sands. I’ve had the chance to briefly walk through the outlet stores and there are some that I just can’t wait to frequent.

4) A round of golf at one of Lehigh Valley’s finest courses. There’s too many to choose from, but Olde Homestead Golf Club would do the trick.

5) Dinner, preferably with him, at Glasbern. This is my all-time favorite Lehigh Valley spot!

If you’re a mom, how do you plan to spend your day? Will you be getting any of the above items? Have a super Mother’s Day to all of you moms out there.

This past Thursday I had the pleasure of attending Allentown Arts Commission’s 24th annual Arts Ovation Awards Luncheon held at the Holiday Inn Center City Allentown. The arts hold a prominent place in Lehigh Valley culture and collectively make our job promoting the region that much easier.

I was glad to see the program insert listed all past recipients. This year’s honorees join an impressive “who’s-who” list in Lehigh Valley’s art world. The ballroom was packed with those happy to applaud the 2012 winners and their contributions. Entertained was provided by Dieruff High School’s Jazz Band and Civic Theatre.

All in all, eight awards were bestowed. Joan and John Gaydos, artists and art advocates, won the Special Recognition Award. Their collective accomplishments are far too numerous to mention. An Outstanding Service Award went to Arts-in-the-Park, the annual juried exhibition held every June at Allentown’s West Park. People First Federal Credit Union won the Contribution to the Arts Award, deserved not only for helping raise funds for events like Mayfair, but for providing volunteers from their staff to help.

Outstanding Achievement Award for Performing Arts was bestowed to Patrick Mulcahy, producing artistic director of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. If you’ve never attended, you don’t know what you’re missing. Outstanding Achievement/Visual Arts went to Rosemary Geseck, a name I didn’t think I knew until I heard the 130 foot mural on Phoebe Floral’s building is an example of her work. David Venditta from The Morning Call received the Outstanding Achievement’s Literary Award for his compelling series and book “War Stories: In Their Own Words” local veterans’ tales from World War 1 through Vietnam. Only the fourth recipient of the Emerging Artist Award was Josh Berk, an author of books for teens, and executive director of the Memorial Library of Nazareth.

Last, but not least, our “good friend and neighbor*”, Mr. Lee Butz, won the third ever Lifetime Achievement Award. (*That’s how he autographed my copy of Majestic Vision, his impressive book of photography shot at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.) This gentleman supports more local arts organizations than you could imagine and his company has built or restored many of the magnificent arts and education venues in the valley.

In addition to the awards, 12 scholarships were awarded to students from William Allen, Louis E Dieruff and Allentown Central Catholic High Schools for their excellence in music, dance, theater and visual arts. This is the organizations way of “paying it forward”.

I can’t wait to see who will be honored at the 25th annual awards. Do you have any suggestions?

Some of my colleagues and I had the opportunity to tour the all new Sands® Bethlehem Event Center last week. The venue is sure to impress.  Without giving too much away, the color and décor leads to the upscale feel that I’m sure they were going after. From the point of entry through the Vision Bar, to the concert venue itself, I can’t wait to spend a night here seeing a show with friends.

The folks at Vision Entertainment sure have lined up an impressive list of performers; from the opening act, Incubus on May 16 – to Blink-182, Paul Anka, Melissa Ethridge, CSN and the Queen Extravaganza, who recently appeared on the hit show American Idol, there really is something for every music fan happening here. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

As we toured the facility, the one concern that was reiterated was ticket pricing. With tickets ranging from around $50 to $100, I don’t see where the concern lies. To have a facility in the area bringing in acts of this sort, you have to use some common sense and realize they will demand more than a $25 ticket price. If you were to see a show in Philadelphia or New York you can expect to pay much more than this, especially if you factor in all the incidentals like gas, parking, time and a hotel room if you plan to stay over. Seeing your favorite band in such a quaint venue is well worth it in my eyes.

There will always be those who believe in a project and see the good that it will bring to an area and then there will be naysayers who find something to complain about no matter what. I for one think this is great for Lehigh Valley and welcome the Sands® Bethlehem Event Center with open arms.

Keep on Rockin’

As part of my job, I attend trade shows and conventions all over the United States. One of my favorite parts of traveling is having lunch in local restaurants in each city I visit. After a recent trip to Las Vegas, I got thinking about some of my favorite local Lehigh Valley lunch spots. I put together a list of some of my favorite spots and recommendations when visiting.

Located in the Lehigh Valley Mall, Dunderbak’s is a great place to experience German cuisine. Just about all of my meals begin with the Potato Pancake appetizer and include one of their delicious sandwiches. Some of my favorite selections are The Rathskeller (German hard salami, smoked turkey & tavern ham topped with Provolone cheese and services on a Pretzel Bun) and The Rachel (Corned beef, cole slaw, Swiss cheese & 1000 Island dressing). I recommend adding the Hot German Potato Salad or German Weinkraut as a great side.

Another of my favorite locations is Dave’s Deli in Bethlehem. Dave’s prides itself as not your usual sandwich shop. Their menu includes a wide variety of offerings, and my favorite is the Paula’s Favorite (Hot sweet sliced ham, melted Monterey jack cheese, honey mustard on a toasted pretzel bun). Another great selection is Dave’s Favorite which features hot roast beef, melted mozzarella cheese, home-style grilled sweet Vidalia onions and red chili mayo on a toasted ciabatta roll. Any visit to Dave’s is not complete without a cup of their fresh Gelato.

Last but not least is Binnies Dog House in Coplay. I recently visited Binnies for the first time and instantly fell in love with this unique business. Their menu includes cheese steaks, hamburgers, pierogies and a variety of hot dogs. My first meal included a couple of hot dogs and an order of pierogies. I highly recommend trying the Jimmy’s Dog (mustard, chopped onion and a pickle spear) and Chili Dog (Nana’s Sauce and chopped onion).

These are just a few of my favorite spots in Lehigh Valley. What is your favorite lunch spot?

Last week, a few of us from Discover Lehigh Valley got a chance to tour the newest exhibit at Dorney Park: Dinosaurs Alive! I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but no matter how ready I was, I still think it would have totally blown my mind when I saw these dinosaurs up close.

The entrance reminded me of a scene from Jurassic Park, with the entrance gated off right next to their iconic roller coaster, Steel Force. Dinosaurs Alive! consists of 30 life-size dinosaurs, each of which has information listed detailing where they came from and fun facts about their diet and habitat. Some of the stations even had interactive outlines of the dinosaur complete with buttons that would move the corresponding body part, depending on what you pushed.

The little kids were going nuts when they saw all their favorite dinosaurs up close and in person. Ok, it wasn’t just the little kids, it was the adults too (myself included). I think my favorite part was the 30+ foot tall Tyrannosaurus Rex that would move its head and roar as unassuming visitors walked by. Check out this short video of some of the dinosaurs you’ll find when you visit:

Click here to view the embedded video.

We also got to ride Stinger, the newest roller coaster addition at Dorney, but I’ll leave that for another post.

Dinosaurs Alive! is only accessible once you’re already in Dorney Park, and the admission is an extra $5. I know what you’re thinking; they should make it free. But once you see it in person, you’ll understand that an extra $5 goes a long way in terms of the entertainment and awe-factor you’ll receive. It is a one-of-a-kind exhibit that would be great for any young mind, especially if you’re on a science or history field trip. There’s even a “Dino Dig Site” where kids can dig through the sand and look for fossils and artifacts.

Are you planning on going to Dorney this year? If so, make sure you look for me … I plan on getting the most out of my season pass!

Sure, the middle of March felt like the middle of Summer and the weather in April has been erratic at best, but I promise Summer is right around the corner. In fact, we’re giving away five passes to VeloFest 2012 on May 5th. Yeah, that’s right… start your Cinco de Mayo off right with largest outdoor cycling marketplace in the country!

So in preparation for this VeloFest and this coming season, I invite you to take a look back with me.

Last year, I attended the fall VeloFest. Marty “The Blade” Nothstein returned to the track during the US Masters Track National Championships, Opening Night was wonderful, and then a post from two years ago, when I wrote on behalf of my father, who was unable to attend that opening night.

Rest assured, I’ll be posting more on the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, the Velodrome, T-Town, whatever you want to call it, I’ll be there and I hope you’ll be there too.

Enter here for a chance to win those five VeloFest passes.

This week I started a new kind of blog post. My goal was for a “Where in the World is Waldo” type of guessing game. I posted a picture (see main picture) of a Lehigh Valleylocation and gave a few clues to help you out. My two clues from this week were:

1. This workout station is within a short walking distance of a multitude of colors and sweet fragrances come summertime.

2. There are numerous bird houses located nearby.

If you guessed Cedar Beach Park in Allentown you were right! The main picture was taken along the 1.3 mile loop. Along the path there are different exercise stations that were created for seniors. They even offer an “over 50″ LifeTrail Club you can join for free which will help keep you informed and in shape.

Also along the loop, you’ll find a pool, a basketball court area and a volleyball area. There’s also a brand new 20,000 square foot playground that is a must stop if you have kids. If you’re looking for the perfect place to have an outdoor gathering then the pavilion area is right up your alley. You can grill out, play a casual lawn game with the family or just bask in the sun. You can also fish (of course with a license) if you want.

The clues I gave to go along with the picture pertained to the Malcolm W. Gross Rose Garden which is also located in the park. I absolutely love the setting. The arbors with bird houses are plentiful and at this time of the year the baby birds just chirp away. The roses were not in bloom yet, but come early summer there will be multiple colors and the aroma of them will be sweet.

Cedar Beach Park is also home to some big events including Mayfair Festival of the Arts and Pride in the Park. Each event offers exciting entertainment, lots of hands-on activities for the kids, and an abundance of food.

What’s your favorite part of Cedar Beach Park? I would have to say mine is the “stone” structure. Check out all of my pictures below.