Lehigh Valley InSite

1999 Anchor Steam

I’ve been meaning to visit the Farmhouse for quite some time, pretty much since I started working at Discover Lehigh Valley. Since the Farmhouse recently made the 100 Best Beer Bars in America list, it was high time I go.

Out of curiosity, I scoped out the beer list for the highest priced bottle they had. It was a 4L bottle of Dock Street, which would set someone back a cool $500. Mind you, this is a bottle of beer.

Bowling

The forecast was not pleasant for Lehigh Valley last night, with thunderstorms and tornado warnings flashing on tv screens…but we still wanted to do something fun. So why not bowling? Why not.

So down to the Emmaus Bowling Center we went, not knowing what would happen. I mean, the last time we went bowling was in our living room, or at least someone’s living room on the Wii.

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“Remember you can’t eat meat on Friday.”  Growing up these words were often overheard throughout my house during Lent. Being a native of the Scranton area (Blakely exactly), I had the privilege of some of the greatest pizza in the world. For anyone who disagrees, next time in the Scranton, PA area take a trip down Main St. in Old Forge and grab yourself a tray (yes, “Scrantonites” call it a tray). Let me know what you think.

A Lehigh Valley resident for the past 15 years, I long for the pizza from the Northeast. I’ve tried a bunch of pizza shops over the years.  

Glasbern

Within each of you is a power, a Cosmic Force, everything bears a relationship to every other thing and to the Infinite Spirit. We are all part of the one great Universal Whole.

Wow, I sound like Shirley Maclaine! Ok, let me begin … last year we attended the SnowBlast Winter Festival in Emmaus, we had a great time and we purchased a couple of raffle tickets. My husband picked the numbers based on his favorite football team, and the last numbers were jersey numbers of two of his favorite players.

2008 Emmaus SnowBlast Winter Festival - ice carving

Let’s face it, this winter in Lehigh Valley has been perfect for Bear Creek Mountain Resort, Blue Mountain Ski Area and for those with plow attachments on their pickup trucks. Unfortunately, I don’t ski, and my little convertible can barely make it out of my ice covered driveway. I officially have cabin fever.

Luckily there are plenty of local indoor attractions to keep even the most active families busy. Lehigh Valley Grand Prix and Lehigh Valley Laser Tag are perfect examples. I wish they were around when my son was a “tween”.

Blog Picture - dream come true

If you have been paying attention to my blog posts, you can tell that my wife and I love experiencing restaurants in Lehigh Valley.  I recently came across a fantastic offer that I couldn’t pass up.

The Dream Come True charity is selling a Restaurant of the Month Calendar for $50. Each month the calendar offers a Buy One Entrée, Get One Free offer at a selected Lehigh Valley restaurant.  Participating restaurants include:

Bear Creek Pics 002a

Lehigh Valley is covered in snow, which reminds me of the first time I tried skiing. I was in 7th grade when I signed up to go on a ski trip with my church youth group to Bear Creek Mountain Resort (although back then it was called Doe Mountain). As we pulled up to the base of the mountain, which was brightly lit in the night sky, I was in awe  – although now, with all the terrain parks, halfpipe and massive slope-side resort, it’s even more impressive.

After figuring out how to get those rental boots on, I walked out to the man-made-snow-covered mountain holding my rental skis and polls pointing in all directions. I was wearing jeans, my winter coat, some gloves and an ear-warmer. Looking back, I realize I must’ve looked completely clueless. But, wait, it gets better!

Tap & Table

My girlfriend, Jeanne and I traveled back in time last Friday night. We are always looking for new experiences and we found one from another world last week. Jeanne and I ventured to Tap & Table in Emmaus. I have been hearing all kinds of good things about this Gastro Pub and we were finally able to find our way there.

We walked in and decided to sit at the bar area. The place is very small, one room with a bar and some tables. There are a few high top tables and some lower tables with wooden benches that are kind of set up in a family style setting. There were a few red lights in the ceiling, but other than that, the entire place is lighted by candles. Yes, candles in the chandeliers, by the windows, on the tables, everywhere. It was really old-world charming! There wasn’t even one TV in the place.

Das Awkscht Fescht

Lehigh Valley is well known for its automotive tradition. This weekend that tradition is at its peak with Das Awkscht Fescht (starting today and running through Sunday).

I am far from being a ‘gearhead’, but this antique auto show is amazing. Nearly 3,000 cars will make their way to Macungie Memorial Park for all or part of the weekend. (Saturday and Sunday, in my opinion, are the best days.)

The burgery company

Saturday was a beautiful spring day in Lehigh Valley, so it was a good day to take care of some of the outdoor work that my wife, Sybil, has effectively “delegated” to me during the 36 years of our marriage. After six hours of edging, weeding and mulching the flower beds and cutting grass, Sybil offered to buy dinner.

We had been wanting to try a new place, The Burgery, on Chestnut Street in Emmaus. It’s owned by the Billera family (owners of Grille 3501 in Allentown) and has a sports theme.