Lehigh Valley InSite

Cask Beer Festival

This past Saturday, I attended the Great Allentown Brew Works Cask Beer Festival with my brother / fellow beer aficionado, Bill. There were about 30 limited edition cask varieties available, many of which were brewed especially for this event. I’d estimate that there were a few hundred people enjoying the samples, and we had some great conversations with other beer lovers and home brewers from Lehigh Valley.

Allentown Brew Works did a great job involving local Pennsylvania breweries, including Weyerbacher, Victory, Yards, Prism and SlyFox, among other notable breweries from across the country. If I had to decide my favorite cask conditioned ale, I’d have to say it was definitely the Scotch Ale from Bethlehem Brew Works. I think…

Sushi at Ichiban

My old college roommates and I couldn’t wait to get together for a girls only weekend, so I immediately jumped into planning mode. Being close to nightlife, shopping, and food were a must, and since I’m getting familiar with Lehigh Valley, why not bring it to Bethlehem?

The Comfort Suites Bethlehem seemed like the best option, and thanks to their help, we had a great suite with two queen beds, a sitting area, and a fridge and microwave (thank goodness, because I am the queen of leftovers). It was spacious, our beds were comfortable, and the front desk attendants were more than welcoming. Just a little tip: the hotel has hot breakfast, allows furry friends, and has a free shuttle to Sands Casino.

Sitting Area

I’m always looking for creative ways to show my valentine how much I love him (and how awesome I am), so this year, I decided to take him on a weekend long getaway in Lehigh Valley. There’s nothing more romantic than a bed and breakfast, and the Lafayette Inn in Easton seemed like just the place. I spent a few weeks planning, so naturally something had to go wrong. It turned out we wouldn’t be able to check in until after 1 am, but after a frantic phone call, someone calmly assured me that it was no trouble.

She gave me the front door code, left our key and a lovely note on the table, and we were set. Everything was gorgeous of course, from the parlor to the grand staircase. Our room, Room 10, even had its own fireplace, perfect for a chilly weekend. The huge bathroom and soaking tub in that room is described as “every girl’s dream”, and that is 100% correct, as I dreamed about it for probably a week before arriving.  Even better, there was hot breakfast every morning and a wine and cheese reception every afternoon.

Things To Do on Super Sunday

This list is not intended for the sole use of people who don’t care about football. I also dedicate it to all of my friends who are Eagles or Jets fans, who can’t root for either side.

1. Go Skiing It is winter and although your backyard may not have snow the mountains do. Both Bear Creek and Blue Mountain are ready for you to hit the slopes.

Bear Creek Mountain Resort

Sometimes after-hour work functions can be the death of you. After a long day at the office and not-so pleasant weather conditions, the last thing you want to do is head out for some “rubbery banquet chicken.” While the weather may have been a little less than desirable with fog that had overcome Lehigh Valley last week, I was super excited to head to a dinner function for an event that I am vice president of: SKAL of Northeast Pennsylvania.

Why was I so excited? Because the event was being hosted at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Macungie and it is absolutely a gorgeous facility.

Laughing until I cry

This past Saturday was my roommates birthday, and what Valley based activity did she want to do? Go to the comedy club, so to Wise Crackers Comedy Club we went. For those of you who don’t know about Wise Crackers, it’s located in the Ramada Allentown/Whitehall. What? Where’s the Ramada? It’s behind Best Buy, on Route 145, in most cases you take the jug handle to get to it.

The MC was pretty funny, a dry humor which is right up my alley. Laurence Mullaney was one of the openers, he was pretty good, cracked a few funnies. The best was, of course, the headliner, Mike Eagan. He had me laughing so hard that I let out my hearty, loud, belly laugh several times. It’s tough to get me to laugh like that; I try to keep it for a private setting, like the comfort of my own home while watching Christmas Vacation or another funny flick.

Stay & Investigate Ghost Hunting Guide Book

The children have ventured back to school throughout Lehigh Valley and the air has become brisk. October is upon us and that means the month of ghouls and goblins and Halloween. Discover Lehigh Valley has just launched a brand new Stay & Investigate program that highlights haunted and “true life” horror stories throughout Lehigh Valley.

Check out LehighValleyHaunt.com for a list of the areas creepy locations including Museum of Indian Culture, Wydnor Hall and Buckeye Tavern to name a few. If you are traveling to the area to take in this experience you are going to need more than a day so we have you covered. From the Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Breingsville to the TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Easton, you will find a convenient place to stay throughout Lehigh Valley.

Sands Casino Resort

Sometimes I get to do some really awesome things as part of my job “requirements” at Discover Lehigh Valley. Last week just happened to be one of those times. I had an invitation to the official opening of the new hotel at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. It didn’t stop there though, ’cause when Sands does an event, they do it right. That same day included dinner at the all-new Emeril’s Italian Table restaurant, which happens to be the third Emeril Lagasse restaurant located there. And there always has to be a night cap, so to top it off I got to see a performance by Paul Anka (definitely not my style, but people watching was classic).

My words to describe the 302-room hotel? Classy, stylish, spacious rooms with common areas to match. I absolutely love the artwork that was chosen behind the front desk area and in the hallways, which is reminiscent of the Bethlehem Steel Plant, the grounds it lies on. The hotel also features an indoor swimming pool, small fitness center and around 5,000 square feet of meeting space.

photo courtesy of The Great Allentown Fair

As I’ve mentioned before, I came to Lehigh Valley to open the then “Allentown Hilton” (now the Holiday Inn Center City Allentown) back in 1981. That meant a couple of things. I didn’t have any long term friends in the area…and I worked tons of hours. But, if there is one thing that can be said about working in the hospitality industry it’s that we sure know how to have a good time. My co-workers and I were all about trying new restaurants and, of course, having a well deserved cocktail at the end of the day…or night.

Enter the then named “Fairgrounds Saloon”. After closing back in 1969 the place was restored and re-opened. The crowd was mixed, young professionals like myself, (I was 21) and older folks, probably “empty-nester’s”. We all had a blast!

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For some people the first sure sign of spring is seeing a robin. For others it’s a patch of crocus peeking through the ground. For me, it’s having friends and family gathered at my house about to embark on our yearly tradition…Lehigh Valley Wine Trail’s March Madness Passport Program.

Friday night I pulled the pile of passports out of the drawer where they had been stored since Thanksgiving, then set out my wine socks, bracelet, earrings and pins. I’ve waited all year for this and I was READY!