Lehigh Valley InSite

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.

Ribbon Cutting at Haydenfilms Institute

Last night I was delighted to attend the official ribbon cutting ceremony at Haydenfilms Institute in Breinigsville. I sat down with Hayden a week or so ago at the suggestion of Frank Facchiano from the Chamber. In his words “we are of a kindred spirit”. Frank was right.

There are two things bigger than Hayden Craddolph (the guy is like 6’8”!)… his smile, and his enthusiasm for film making in Lehigh Valley. What sets his institute apart is the “focus on student and independent content rather than commercialization.” Ok, I stole that quote from their vision statement.

Captain America's Shield

Thanks to weather.com, I know now that Saturday’s temperature was 11 degrees over the average high and only 3 degrees off the record high, in Allentown anyway.

So, I’ll let you in on how I beat the midday heat, and let me tell you that I wasn’t alone…

civic night

I think the last time I was at The Civic Theatre in Lehigh Valley was during elementary school to see a Christmas play or something. I wonder a lot of things about myself back then. Why did Pokemon seem so cool? Did anyone who told me they believed I could play in the NBA actually mean it? Who thought showing The Ring to an easily-traumatized coward was a good idea? And now I can add another question to that list: How did I not realize how awesome The Civic Theater is?

I went with my film major friend Pat to a screening of Terrance Malick’s The Tree Of Life, which included a “talk-back” with one of my favorite professors from Muhlenberg College afterwards.

Melt Staircase

The Granchio Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Lemon Garnish may well be the single most delicious thing I have ever eaten. I partook in this culinary delight at Melt, one of the premiere restaurants at Lehigh Valley’s Promenade Shops in Saucon Valley. The best part? It was only the appetizer.

In addition to the delicious food, the atmosphere is equally impressive. Their website describes it as “warm” and “soothing,” and they actually deliver on that with soft lighting and subtly striking decor. They have this really cool chandelier (pictured), and these neat luminous vases flanking the granite staircase. I wish I could have explored the place a bit more, just to find out what other sights there were to be seen. Oh, and the bathrooms are amazing. If you go to Melt, do not miss the bathrooms. I’ll just leave it at that.

Becky's Drive-In

For the past month or so, I’ve been overly excited to see the movie Bridesmaids. Friday night, May 13th, Bridesmaids hit the theatres. Finally!

I found a friend, Emily, who was interested in seeing this hilarious movie with me and we planned our ‘date night’ to Becky’s Drive-in (one of two drive-ins in the Valley, bet ya didn’t know that). It was Emily’s first time at Becky’s, I helped to build her excitement by telling her about how they have two screens, both of which feature two movies a night for only $8 (per person). “Only 8 bucks! We’d have to pay $10 at the theater for only ONE movie!” Emily said.

SteelStacks

What do you get when you combine a lot of history with a bit of new architecture in Lehigh Valley? A whole lotta awesomeness! This is the way I would describe the new ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks which sits on the Bethlehem Steel property that shut down in 1995. It’s built right in front of the steel stacks making for a dramatic backdrop, especially at night when they’re illuminated with colored lights.

For me, the location is one of the best parts. Not only have they converted one of the largest industrial brownfields in the nation, but my grandfather used to operate a crane at Bethlehem Steel for years, so just being on the site where he worked gives it an eerie, yet comforting feeling. I remember when I was a little girl he used to take us for a ride to the SouthSide to pick up his paycheck. We were always in awe over the grand inspiring views of the site.

View from Southside windows of ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks

A few of us from Discover Lehigh Valley recently went on a hardhat tour of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. It was impressive, to say the very least. The massive 4-story performing arts center will be the anchor for the SteelStacks campus, bringing musical and cinematic performances to Lehigh Valley every day of the year.

The list of functions that this space will allow is incredible. Aside from the musical, cinematic and theatrical elements (many of which are FREE), the ArtsQuest Center will offer an Alehouse Cinema (yes, you can enjoy cocktails, beer or wine while watching a movie in stadium style seating), al fresco dining, areas for business/conference meetings and free space for local non profits and community groups to offer programming.

Dlv shankweiler's

Lehigh Valley is fortunate to be home to not just one drive-in movie theater, but two: Becky’s Drive-In in Berlinsville and Shankweiler’s Drive-In in Orefield. Considering there are only 35 drive-ins left in Pennsylvania, I’d say the fact that we have two of them is pretty unique.

My favorite drive-in movie theater is Shankweiler’s Drive-In, only because I grew up near by (did you know that Shankweiler’s is America’s oldest drive-in, opening in 1934). My girlfriend used to live right behind the drive-in and had access to the speakers so we could hear and see the movies from her roof.

Enter to win 11...

Fair warning: I’m cranky today. I was sick most of last week and still don’t feel “back to normal”…whatever that is. My desk, usually “cluttered” (and by cluttered I mean I’m not sure what color the formica top is) now looks more like the inside of the junk mail dumpster at the recycling center.

The happy little tune repeating in my head is Huey Lewis and the News’ 80s hit “All I need is a couple days off.” Well, part of the clutter on my desk will provide 11 lucky people with just such a cure. I have a complete list of Lehigh Valley Overnight Getaways and corresponding gift certificates just waiting to be mailed out to winners of our drawing from the New York Times Travel Show.