I am a Marx Brothers fan. So being able to see An Evening with Groucho at Miller Symphony Hall this past Saturday night seemed like a blast. It was.

An Evening with Groucho is a show starring Frank Ferrante as Groucho, accompanied by pianist Jim Furmston. It starts when Jim comes onstage to play a Medley from the Marx Brothers Films. From there, hold onto your hat.

Ferrante comes onstage as himself and explains why he enjoys Groucho, how he used to stay up to catch “You Bet Your Life” and while telling us this, he is getting into character. When he done speaking, he’s done with the makeup; the eyebrows, the mustache. He’s transformed into the one, the only, Groucho.

In classic Groucho fashion, the first thing he does is tell us he must be going, with “Hello, I must be going” from Animal Crackers. This naturally leads Groucho into, Captain Spalding the African Explorer.

Then onto the audience participation. A woman in the front row said she was from Schnecksville.

“Schnecksville, you made it out! This is a big day for you!” Groucho replied.

“How’s the balcony? JUMP!”

Then he finished being Captain Spalding and started telling us his history.

Did you know it all started for the Marx Brothers in Allentown? They were big in Vaudeville but it was when I’ll Say She is debuted in 1923 at the Lyric Theatre in Allentown, before opening and running successfully in Philadelphia before taking over Broadway, that they started doing shows and getting into “the pictures”.

Throughout the performance he would occasionally break character to be one of the other Marx Bros to set himself up, for example;

Zeppo says “The garbage man is here”, Groucho replies, “Tell ‘em we don’t want any!”

Then back to the history, it was Art Fisher who nicknamed the brothers. Then onto a great, not very well known song called “Father’s Day”, which has a great punchline, look it up!

Moving on, there were scenes and monologues from The Cocoanuts, A Day at the Races and “Lydia the Tattooed Lady” from At the Circus.

Prior to intermission Furmston and Groucho did the piano gag that Groucho and Chico did in Animal Crackers, this faded us into intermission.

Coming out of intermission they finished the piano bit and there was more singing and more audience participation, which was more like a slightly toned down Don Rickles!

Another example,

“Where are you from?” – Groucho

“Bethlehem” – Member of the Audience

“Jesus Christ” – Groucho

“Oooooooo” – The audience

“Come on, you can’t make them that easy.” – Groucho

The night was filled with comedy, old school comedy. It was also filled with history, in which Lehigh Valley played a part, as it wasn’t just Allentown, but a theatre in Easton also hosted the Marx Bros, for a show as well.

With audience participation, there is no third wall, so he comes right out and says that our ticket money went to a great meal at Cosmopolitan, where he had the salmon and loved it and Jim had the amazing braised ribs.

It all started 90 years ago this month in Allentown.

“Allentown… It’s just right” that’s how he closed the show.

Frank is great as Groucho. He has a PBS special you may have seen, but I urge you to seek out a show and see him. With the audience participation no two shows are ever alike, and even if you’re a big fan (like me), you’ll know all the punchlines, but he’ll still surprise you, as Frank himself can put on the Groucho wit and go at the audience very well. In my opinion, the man must have studied hours of “You Bet You Life” episodes both on the radio and on TV.

The day is nearing quickly. You know, that ONE special day that every mom gets, Mother’s Day. This year it’s on Sunday, May 12 and I’ve got the job of making restaurant reservations for our gang in Lehigh Valley. I’ve found ten great places to take your mom, and I’ve listed them in no particular order. Some are offering special brunches and others are opening up special for the day.

1. Blue Mountain Ski Area, 1660 Blue Mountain Dr., Palmerton, Pa., 610-826-7700, Brunch Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., MENU, Brunch $24.95 Adults; $12.95 – 12 & Under; Free – 2 & Under
2. Iron Lakes Country Club, 3625 Shankweiler Rd., Allentown, Pa., 610-395-3369, Brunch Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. MENU, Brunch $29.50 adults; $19.50 children under 10
3. Allentown BrewWorks, 812 W. Hamilton St., Allentown, Pa., 610-433-7777, Brunch Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., MENU, Brunch $22.95 Adults; $11.95 Children 5-9; Children 4 & Under Free (also available at Bethlehem BrewWorks)
4. blue grillhouse, 4431 Easton Ave., Bethlehem, Pa., 610-691-8400, Brunch Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., MENU, Brunch $38 adult; $18 child (12 & under)
5. Buckeye Tavern, 3741 Brookside Rd., Macungie, Pa., 610-966-4411, Brunch Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., MENU, Brunch $24.95 Adults; $12.95 Children 4-12
6. Copperhead Grille, 1731 Airport Rd., Allentown, Pa., 610-403-4600, Dining Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m,. MENU, Surf & Turf special $21 to $29, regular menu served as well (also available at Center Valley location)
7. EDGE, 74 W., Broad St., Bethlehem, Pa., 610-814-0100, Brunch Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., MENU, Brunch menu, $34.95 adults; kids 6-12 $14.95; kids under 5 free
8. Sangria, 840 W. Hamilton St., Allentown, Pa., 610-432-3280, Dining Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., MENU, Exclusive, pre-fixed menu still TBD
9. Grille 3501, 3501 Broadway, Allentown, Pa., 610-706-0100, Dining Hours: 1 to 7 p.m., MENU, Regular dinner menu being offered, $23 to $34
10. Bear Creek Mountain Resort, 101 Doe Mountain Ln., Macungie, Pa., 610-682-7100, Brunch Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m,. MENU, Brunch $27.95 adults; seniors $19.95; children 10 and under $13.95; children 5 and under FREE

Now that I’ve done my homework, I need to decide and make reservations quickly as these places will fill up fast. They all sound great, but I have to choose. Which one would you go with? Decisions, decisions.

As lunch draws near, I decided to enlighten Lehigh Valley on one of America’s lunch time staples. No not pizza, burgers, or fried chicken, but the deli sandwich. Yes, I’m here to tell you on my top five deli’s Lehigh Valley has to offer you.

5. This is a hidden gem that not many know about, but once you grab a sandwich from here you’ll definitely be back. Brookside Deli. Located at the corner of Brookside and Lower Macungie Roads in Macungie, this no frills deli just delivers a great sandwich time and time again.

4. If you are looking for two of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, check out Deli Plaza II. Located in the Butz Corporate Center on the corner of Ninth and Hamilton Streets in Allentown, Mike and Mohammed always have a warm smile and an overstuffed sandwich for your plate. Keep an eye on Mike as if you blink, you might find the “kitchen sink” on your sandwich. He’s been known to pile the sandwich with every ingredient behind the counter.

3. One of the more popular delis can be found on Stoke Park Road in Bethlehem. At Dave’s Deli you’ll be treated to a wide variety of sandwiches and sides that are sure to please. Get there early as lunch time draws a large crown which places seating at a premium.

2. Located in the Sands Casino^® Resort Bethlehem is quite possible the largest sandwich any one human can eat. Carnegie Deli is known for their enormous portions and great pastrami sandwiches. Make sure to sample the pickles.

And number one is . . . . . . a little shop at the corner of Union Boulevard and 7^th Avenue in Bethlehem. Black Forest Deli is as much about the food as the owner. Vica has some great food and an attitude to match. Whatever sandwich I have gotten in the past has been delicious. A little recommendation, order a side of her sauerkraut pierogies, they’re amazing.

So there you have it Lehigh Valley, my top five delis. Which ones did I miss? I’m always up for a great sandwich so let me hear them.

Looking for something to do this weekend? The weather forecast may not be the brightest, but there are still tons of great things happening in Lehigh Valley!  Tomorrow, April 20, marks the celebration of Earth Day.  So get out of the house and think green for the day!  Here’s some great activities happening in celebration of Earth Day.

If you’re looking to learn a bit more about sustainability and all things eco-friendly, head over to the Earth Day celebration at Ten Thousand Villages at the Lehigh Valley Mall.  While you’re there have a look around the shop‒ it’s never too early to start planning for Mother’s Day.

On Saturday, stop by the Spring on Fourth! What’s on Third? Throughout the day there are free events on the South Side of Bethlehem including live music, family activities, discounts, deals and specials at many local shops.  Of course, there’s also the chili contest going on.  Unfortunately, passes for this event are already sold out, but you can still have a taste of the various chilis for sale.

On Sunday, bring the family out to JellyBean Town, USA for Earth Day-themed crafts and playtime in the village.  Give them a call to reserve your spot.

You’ll also find the Lorax Earth Day Celebration of Dr. Seuss and Planet Earth at the Gertrude B. Fox Environmental Center at Illick’s Mill.  Throughout the afternoon you can participate in Dr. Seuss themed events such as Green Eggs and Ham Tastings and There’s a Wocket in my Pocket Scavenger Hunt.

If those activities still aren’t enough for you, visit Pocono Whitewater for a weekend of outdoor fun.  Join them for a day of whitewater rafting or Rail-Trail biking. When you do, you will get a free pass to come back and play Skirmish Paintball, that is a $30.00 value! Keep in mind this offer is good for the whole month of April!

With so many great things going on this weekend how will you spend your “Earth Day Weekend?” Share your plans below and get out to celebrate green!

When asked what we do here at Discover Lehigh Valley I often answer, “We sell fun”. That’s over simplification, but you get the idea. We want everyone to know all the cool things there are to see and do in our great region.

Others who are charged with sharing their knowledge of the area are the fine folks at our PennDot Keystone Welcome Centers. Last Thursday I had the pleasure of escorting Kathy and Abeda on a “mini-familiarization” tour and duplicated the tour on Friday for Anne, April, Johnnie and Chris.

Using our Official Visitors Guide they compiled a list of places they’d like to visit and I did my best to include as many as possible. We started bright and early at the Sands Casino Resort. Gary Scott, a Front Services Manager, could not have been more welcoming as he showed us around the hotel, (you must see the Presidential Suites), Casino floor, Restaurants, Meeting Space and Outlets.

We finished up on stage at the Event Center, undoubtedly my only chance to appear there.

Next, we headed to ArtsQuest where Mark Demko and Curt Mosel highlighted all the fabulous programming their organization offers throughout the year at their various venues. If you haven’t been to SteelStacks or the Levitt Pavilion you need to go. You’ll be hooked.

Moving along we made stops at Historic Bethlehem’s Visitor Center to hear about their various tours offered, and then off to America On Wheels for a quick walk through with Linda Merkel.

Our stomachs were growling by the time we reached Allentown Brew Works for a tour of their restaurant, lounges and banquet space. Luckily, we were having lunch there as well!

Next on the agenda was the Mack Truck Museum at their Customer Care Center. Free tours are given by retired Mack workers and you could spend hours learning about the rich history of this iconic company and its contributions to the world.

We concluded our day at the Martin Guitar Factory. Since we missed the last of the free factory tours and had a limited amount of time Sherri Hoff gave her mini-tour of the floor and an introduction to the Museum.

All of my guests were extremely impressed with each of the places we visited and vowed to visit them all again with friends and family when they had more time. There are so many other places that are on my Lehigh Valley “must visit” list…but they’ll have to wait for another day.

What do you think should be included in my next Lehigh Valley “mini-fam”?

It’s that time of year when the flowers start the bloom, temperatures are warming up, and people are getting out of the house.  I know the last thing I want to be doing on a warm spring day is cooking dinner, so why not get out of the house and enjoy the weather?

Lehigh Valley has a ton of great restaurants where you can enjoy a seat outside, whether you’re stopping by for happy hour drinks or for a full meal.  Check out my list of personal favorites below!

5. Melt- Located at the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, you’ll find this great spot for a delicious meal.  But during the summer months, they open up the rooftop bar which is complete with brightly colored couches and tables. There’s just something about being outside on a nice summer evening having dinner with friends

It’s a great place to stop by for an evening of drinks with friends- you’ll feel just like you are in New York!

4. Sangria- With plenty of tables outside, Sangria is a great setting to experience Downtown Allentown in the summer months.  They have a ton of fantastic menu items that will fit everyone’s tastes, making it a great choice for a night on the town.

If you come during the day, you can see the fun water display across the street at PPL Plaza.

3. Gio Italian Grill- Voted the best pizza in 2012, Gio brings a little slice of Italy right to Macungie.

Gio has quickly become a favorite among locals and a place many Lehigh Valley residents (and those visiting) are happy to drive to.

Enjoy a casual atmosphere here while you try out all of the fresh brick-oven pizzas – my favorite is the Campania!

2. Edge- Just off of Main Street in Bethlehem, Edge has a nice outdoor seating section.  It’s tucked back off the street a bit so you have a little more privacy while still getting the appeal of dining outdoors.

There’s also a covering over the dining area so you can shield yourself if the sun is strong!

Don’t forget to take a stroll down Main Street before or after your meal for a variety of fun stores.

Sette Luna in Easton, Pennsylvania

1.  Sette Luna- The outdoor seating here at this Easton favorite gives just the right amount of shade from surrounding trees, and a great people watching view as well!  You’ll occasionally find live music being played outside as well.  Pop open a bottle from their wine list and enjoy the warm temperatures!

So there you have it, my top five locations to dine outdoors in Lehigh Valley.  But there are many more! What are your favorite spots on a warm spring evening?

Bathrooms are a necessity of any restaurant, sports venue or entertainment location. And, while they can be an easy afterthought when it comes to decor choice or even design, there are a few restrooms in Lehigh Valley that raise the bar when it comes to, well, bathroom business. Our list of the Top 5 Bathrooms in Lehigh Valley takes into account a variety of factors including, but not limited to, cleanliness, creativity and decor.

If there’s a bathroom you know of that’s not on this list, please let us know why it should be in the comments section below. Also, don’t forget to see our “bonus” bathroom and gallery at the bottom of the blog.

5. Mesa Modern Mexican in Easton & Tapas on Main in Bethlehem: These are two “sister” restaurants and that is shown in their choice of bathroom decor. Far from a “traditional” bathroom style (your typical white tile floors and white porcelain toilet) both restaurants continue their motif in the washroom. Sinks in both bathrooms are reminiscent of a rustic wash basin. The toilets and walls also get the Mesa and Tapas motif treatment, respectively, with dark brown hues, distinctive tiling and an overall warm feeling. By keeping the theme of the restaurants consistent in the design of the bathrooms, the overall experience while at either restaurant is kept intact throughout the whole evening.

4. Coca-Cola Park in Allentown: How can we not mention the first urinal video games in the country? Sure, it’s a novelty, but it’s a fun one and has been featured in media nationally since the IronPigs announced their version of bathroom Pong about a month ago. Teenage boys (wait, actually most adult men) now don’t mind having to miss a pitch or two to head in and see what all the hooplah is about. Besides, what are video games for if not besting your friend’s high score? Take a peek at our demonstration video on Youtube.

3. Artsquest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem: Artsquest’s large bathrooms keep in theme with the Bethlehem Steel land they were built on. Their post modern design incorporates images of local Bethlehem Steel history and has a light gray industrial color scheme that still doesn’t make the bathrooms feel cold and distant. They have also been described as the cleanest bathrooms in Lehigh Valley and, even during a sold out show, their size keeps the lines short.

2. Melt in Center Valley: Fancy schmancy is the name of the game at Melt.  Melt’s upscale bathrooms keep the upscale dining feel without over doing it. Let’s be honest, if you’re going out for a nice dinner, walking into a non-nondescript bathroom can really lower the overall evening experience. Melt makes sure that doesn’t happen with their bright, modern design.

Melt also employs the “basin” type sinks that we saw at both Tapas and Mesa. This must be a thing. Note to self: When remodeling home bathroom, stock up on basins at Lowe’s.

1. Home & Planet in Bethlehem: The clear cut winner in any Lehigh Valley bathroom debate. Home & Planet’s bathroom was built by none other than Mr. Imagination himself. AKA Gregory Warmack, Mr. Imagination was a long time Lehigh Valley resident and artist who has inspired many in life and in death. Home & Planet’s bathroom, while small, is filled to the gills with the artist’s signature bottlecap detail work along with pounds and pounds of hand molded concrete. Many visitors to Home & Planet are never aware of the fantastic treat that is in the back of the store. Finding the bathroom is task in itself. Your best bet is to ask one of the employees about it before making your way back there. But, when you do find it, be prepared to be transported to a bathroom that you can’t stop staring at. The sheer amount of detail that went into making this work of art is mind boggling. Thank you, Mr. Imagination, for this fun hidden treasure.

Bonus! Sands Event Center Bethlehem. While watching the Yes concert the other night, I stopped into the bathroom and was greeted by these peculiar hand dryers. And, I thought, I KNOW I have seen them somewhere before. Where have I seen these interesting Dyson hand dryers before?

Oh, yeah, outer space.

IronPigs baseball is back! Although, last week for the first two games of the season it was anything but spring-like. Cool temperatures and wind made if feel much more like November.

But I repeat, IronPigs baseball is back! The crisp spring weather seemed to have kept the ‘Pigs bats in check, but Saturday was a bit warmer and with that, the ‘Pigs bats warmed up as well earning them their first win of the season.

As much of a baseball purist as I am, there are things that are growing on me. I was nice to once again see the Dancin Dirt Dudes, Ferrous and FeFe and hear the crowd roar for free stuff (on Thursday and Friday nights there wasn’t much else to cheer for).

There are some new additions to the park and the atmosphere this year; the Youth Education in the Arts (YEA) Drumline, the East Penn Foot & Ankle Associates (EPFAA) Ball Girls, the “Sooeey’te Spot” Frozen Yogurt Bar, the “Boar-rito” Mexican stand, the “Urinal Gaming System”, and the most amazing new thing this season PorkCenter.

PorkCenter is a “fan-interactive social media command center” where you can interact on twitter (@PorkCenter) with hashtags such as #AskPork, #PorkSwag and #PorkIQ. Porkcenter is also on Facebook, Instagram, Foursquare, Google+, Pinterest and Vine. The point is, where ever you are, they are, and they’re there for you.

And so the season begins, with promise and hope. We’ve seen winning seasons and losing season… This year is still yet to be determined, but I will guarantee you this: You WILL have fun at the beautiful Coca-Cola Park all season long!

And last night, the temps were up and the bats were hot, which could be a great sign of things to come!

The Lunacy has finally come to an end. After 32 days, 63 matchups and over 3,000 votes, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs have emerged victorious as the 2013 Lehigh Valley Lunacy Champions!

Going into this final matchup we asked “Can the ‘Pigs hit it out of the park or will the ‘fest strike the final chord?”

Well, the ‘Pigs hit it out of the park for the win!

How did we get here?

The First Round was ruled by upsets all over the bracket. First Round Recap

The Second Round was were we found Cinderella in the Play region twice. Second Round Recap

The Sweet Sixteen saw many close battles, but it was Cinderella #9 Lehigh Valley Zoo that kept moving on as the lowest seed still remaining in the field. Sweet 16 Recap

The Elite Eight was when the clock struck midnight and the lowest seed remaining #4 Allentown Brew Works. Elite 8 Recap

The Final Four was the end for #4 Brew Works and #1 Bear Creek Mountain Resort. Final 4 Recap

And in the Championship Matchup it was the #2 Lehigh Valley IronPigs over #1 Musikfest.

We hope you had fun voting and following along, but it’s the end of the line for Lehigh Valley Lunacy this year.

All too often I hear way more negative things about Lehigh Valley then I’d like, especially for a guy who has a career in tourism. Sure, we have our fair share of issues, not unlike many regions and cities our size, but we have a lot of great attractions, restaurants, arts, and cultural events that make our geographic location, in my opinion, second to none.

So here are my top five pet peeves and my discouragement of them.

5.  Rt. 22 traffic –

Let’s be honest folks, traffic is all relative. I’ve often complained about it once or twice myself until I had conversations with friends that commute into New York City from 30 miles away. Some days it can take them up to two hours to make it to their office. Needless to say, I shut my mouth quick. How about those that live in Los Angeles and have to use the 110 daily? We truly don’t have it bad at all.

4.  The only city worth visiting is Bethlehem –

Sure, Bethlehem has made great strides and continues to do so. Affectionately known as the “Christmas City,” the holiday season is something special to feel and see in Bethlehem. With the revitalization of the Bethlehem Steel site the city is flourishing again. But let’s be honest, Easton and Allentown have their fair share of gems. From The Crayola Experience^™, which is undergoing a major renovation (opening slated for Memorial Day weekend), to the plethora of excellent restaurants such as Valenca, Porter’s Pub and Sette Luna to name a few, foodies have come to love Easton.

And for Allentown, let’s not forget the highest attended stadium in all of minor league baseball, Coca-Cola Park and the IronPigs, who provide family-friendly entertainment to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.

Easton and Allentown, along with Bethlehem make the area a wonderful place to visit and call home.

3.  Weather –

Stop it already. We live in eastern Pennsylvania. It will get cold in winter and warm in summer. This just in . . . that’s what happens in our part of the country. It is also what makes the area such a special place, we have four seasons. Plus, who doesn’t love Ed Hanna! (See previous blog)

2.  Nothing to do –

This almost made number one. I can’t stand this. We have so much to do in the area. I’ve talked to other marketing directors at destination marketing organizations similar to Discover Lehigh Valley and they are jealous. When you can only hang your hat on one or two focal points it makes the job difficult.

I’m happy to tell people I don’t have that problem. From the aforementioned attractions to ArtsQuest^™ Center at SteelStacks^™, Sands^® Casino Resort Bethlehem, C.F. Martin & Co., America on Wheels, Allentown’s Miller Symphony Hall, The State Theatre, National Canal Museum, Lehigh Valley Wine Trail and so much more, I should never hear there is nothing to do. You might have to step outside your comfort zone, but there is plenty to do. Shameless plug here, check out our calendar it’s filled with things to do.

And without further ado, the number one pet peeve . . . building PPL Center on 7^th and Hamilton Streets is a mistake.

In my opinion this is the best place in Lehigh Valley for the arena. I’ve heard a million times there isn’t enough parking, traffic will be unbearable (see number five), there is too much crime, blah…blah…blah.

Come on people, educate yourselves on the matter. Actually don’t. Just evoke some common sense. I often ask people if they have been to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor? Inevitable most respond with a huge smile and a yes. That place is great. Folks it was a harbor. The most upstanding people didn’t usually frequent a harbor; in fact it would be the place that most would have avoided.

Now I’m not comparing Allentown to Baltimore, just trying to open people’s mind and encourage them to think. With a multi-million dollar project underway and plenty of businesses committed to coming or staying downtown such as PPL, Alvin H. Butz and National Penn Bank. The future looks bright for Allentown as well. This in the long run will only increase the overall beauty of Lehigh Valley.

Thanks for reading my rant. I’d be curious to hear some of your pet peeves Lehigh Valley?