Lehigh Valley InSite

ResturantMadness

As winter comes to a close and we anticipate spring, one thing comes to mind – March Madness! We are all guilty of filling out our brackets, looking for that upset that no one else predicts, and waiting for Cinderella to find her slipper.

Philadelphia Dance Company

Earlier in the month, I had the chance to stop by Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown to catch a show. They may have recently changed their name (previously Allentown Symphony Hall), but the caliber of performances has remained.

After a pre-show drink at Cosmopolitan, I walked across the street to the theatre. The night I attended, the Koresh Dance Company was in town from Philadelphia. The performance was outstanding and was very well-received by the audience. Rather than a few full-length pieces, the company featured snippets of various works from their repertoire over the last 20 years. We were able to get a taste of many different styles, from fierce full-company pieces to emotional duets.

WHAT IF: Summer Olympics 2024

It seems that Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have been sent letters by the U.S. Olympic Committee to gauge interest in hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Aside from any boost Lehigh Valley may get in overflow from a Philadelphia games, what if Lehigh Valley pulled the upset and won the bid for the games outright?

Lehigh Valley Cigar Bars

We visited some local cigar bars in the latest addition to our“Live Like a Local with George” web series.

Those looking for a place to find a fine cigar and a hearty meal don’t have to venture far throughout Lehigh Valley. We visited Leaf Restaurant Cigar Bar & Lounge in Easton and learned about its strong following and incredible dining and drinking options. We also toured the adjacent and  impressive 22,000 square foot humidor.

Fratzola's Pizzeria

With lent kicking off this past Friday, the time has come to strike up the conversation that people seem to get so passionate about. Who has the best pizza in Lehigh Valley? Well folks I’m here to tell you.

What makes me an expert you may ask? Being a native of the Scranton area (Blakely exactly) I have had the privilege of some of the greatest pizza in the world.  For anyone who disagrees, even the nationally known Parade Magazine did a feature on the best pizza being found in Old Forge, Pa last year.

Corner of Church and Main in Bethlehem

Our latest installment in our Guestagram Series features Bethlehem resident and Florida transplant Ida Rivera, @irivera. Ida’s photos will be on our Lehigh Valley Instagram account throughout the next few days.

“Since I moved to Bethlehem in 2010 (from Florida), I just can’t stop of taking photos,” Ida said. ” This place is too beautiful.”

Copper Lager at PJ Whelihan's

In celebration of Lehigh Valley Beer Week I have created a list of my 5 favorite places to grab a beer in Lehigh Valley.  Each of the bars features a great beer selection on draft and in bottles.

1. The Mint – This former bank has become one of my favorite places to stop for an evening beer.  Their massive beer list includes Rye Beers, Belgian Style Ales, Lagers and so much more.  Some of my favorites include Victory Whirlwind Wit and Troegs Dream Weaver Wheat.
2. Strange Brew Tavern – Looking for a place to relax after a long day, the Strange Brew Tavern is the perfect spot.  This Allentown bar features more than 20 beers on tap and an even larger bottle menu.   The Clown Shoes Clementine and Free Will Citra Pale Ale are highly recommended.
3. PJ Whelihan’s Bethlehem – Whether you are watching the game or getting dinner, Whelihan’s is a great place to grab a beer.  They have great specials including $3.50 Pints of Hoegaarden on Monday and $3.50 Guinness drafts on Tuesday.  I highly recommend the P.J.W. Copper Lager, which is always $4 for a 22 ounce draft.
4. Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery – You can’t go wrong with over 30 beers on tap.  The selection at the Tilted Kilt includes a great mix of local and national options.  The Weyerbacher Last Chance IPA and Victory HopDevil are always great choices.
5. Bethlehem Brew Works – You can’t make a list of bars in Lehigh Valley without mentioning Bethlehem Brew Works.  Their diverse offerings include the Steelworkers’ Oatmeal Stout, Fegley’s ESB and the Valley Golden Ale.  With that being said, my favorites are the Steelgaarden Wit and the Knuckleball.

For those nights that you don’t feel like going out there is always Abe’s Cold Beer in Bethlehem for an awesome selection of 6-packs.   What do you think, who has the best beer selection in Lehigh Valley?

We Love Lehigh Valley

Dear Lehigh Valley,

Happy Valentine’s Day! We love living here and we wanted to share some of our most favorite things about you on this day of romance. So, sit back, relax and we hope you enjoy!

Lollipop: Gutai Influences

Three of the women, adorned in dresses made out of newspaper, entered Little Apple Market on N. 7th Street in Allentown. They made their way through the turnstile just inside the door, careful not to rip their newsprint and spotted a rack of coupon pamphlets. They stopped and noticed the paper coupon booklets were pretty much the same material as their dresses. So, they stopped, giggled, looked at each other and took a few copies. You know, in case they needed an emergency hem.

The artists are just a few of 25 Japanese artists taking up residency in Allentown from February 10 to March 2 as part of the international art exchange entitled “Lollipop: Gutai Influences.” The event is being coordinated by the great people at Fuse Art Infrastructure.

Lehigh Valley Beer Week 2013

On Monday evening, beer enthusiasts from across Lehigh Valley made their way over to the Allentown Brew Works for the official start of Lehigh Valley Beer Week.  As the first of a new annual event, Beer Week stands to celebrate craft beers through different tap takeovers, beer dinners, and sampling events.

Running February 11 – 17, Lehigh Valley Beer Week is modeled after those of Philadelphia and San Francisco; a number of bars and restaurants who agree to host various events throughout the week.