Lehigh Valley InSite

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Recently, I invited some friends over to hang out. Easy enough, over they came. Done. Good times were had by all, but something was missing. We all wanted food, but no one wanted to go out and no one wanted to cook.

My solution: some of the best food you can get at a fair or festival in Lehigh Valley, Vince’s.

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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.  

Allentown St. Patty's diaper guy

I can’t say that I’ve ever been a big parade person, however, the events I’m about to recount for you will lead you to believe otherwise. I can confidently say that I’m a huge fan of St. Patrick’s Day (being Irish and all), so of course I’ll agree to any and all St. Patty’s Day festivities.

This all started with an invitation to Bethlehem’s Parade of the Shamrocks. The parade started at 2:30, and just to be sure we arrived in time and found parking my friend Jen and I met at Bethlehem BrewWorks for lunch at 11:30. At first BrewWorks was near-empty, but within an hour that place was jamming with green and kilts. After having a wit (best BrewWorks beer ever according to me) or two we headed across the street to meet our friends near the corner of Walnut & Main Streets.

Hops Fogelsville Hotel Logo

For those of you who know me, you know that I am a huge Steelers fan. Yes, I am still mourning over their Super Bowl appearance, but that won’t stop me from watching them next year.

The Friday before the Super Bowl, my girlfriend and I headed out for a happy hour at a place that I hadn’t been to in over 20 years; the Hops Fogelsville Hotel. It’s located on the western side of Lehigh Valley close to one of my of my other favorite places … Glasbern Inn.

Muhlenberg Dining hall

Lehigh Valley is blessed with several excellent institutions of higher learning, one of which I even attended; however, the other day, it became incredibly obvious that I attended college 40 years too early. My, how things have changed related to food service.

My friend Mike Bruckner, Director of Public Relations at Muhlenberg College, invited me to lunch as a way for him to show off the new expansion to their student union. “WOW” is all I can say. From the natural finish on the wood, soaring ceiling, beautiful wood columns, the balcony with open seating and private dining areas, the school seal etched in glass at the exterior peak, to the huge selection of food, this made me want to go back to school. There’s even a fireplace!

Pizza-tini

Over the past couple of weeks, I have watched several episodes of Man V. Food on the Travel Channel. That got me thinking about what kind of challenge I could attempt in Lehigh Valley.

Erin and I decided to meet some friends at Looper’s Grille and Bar in Bethlehem for dinner and some drinks on Friday night. Once we started looking at the martini menu, something caught Katie's eye. She saw the Pizza-tini and really wanted to give it a try, but didn't want to drink the whole thing. Since I am up for just about any challenge, I told Katie that I would happily order the drink and she could try some.

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Lately the weather in Lehigh Valley has been gorgeous! Very summer-like. And Monday marks the official start of summer. In my mind, there's no better local summer activity than to go play mini golf!

Previously on Lehigh Valley InSite, Putt U has been called out on more than one occasion as a favorite mini golf spot. But we have more than one stellar mini golf course in the area. In fact, during my daily commute from New Tripoli to downtown Allentown, I pass three of them:

Ironpigsgame

In part one of my bachelor party two-post series I talked about our adventures at Lehigh Valley Grand Prix.

After that, we went back to my brother’s house. He did a heck of a job setting up a party area in his garage and driveway, which included three hoagie trays from Wegmans, three Malone Pizzas, three homemade strombolis, a giant vat of perogies soaked in butter and onions, and a keg of beer. If that isn’t a party, I don’t know what is.

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The state of Pennsylvania had four teams in the current NCAA Tournament. After the first weekend, the state of Pennsylvania now has zero teams in the NCAA Tournament. Lehigh, Pitt, Villanova, and Temple could not make it out of the first weekend.

For the first round of games, we set up an elaborate display of televisions and computers at my buddy’s house to watch ALL the games. 

Megan bowling

The smack of the pins crashing. The ‘friendly’ competition. The flow of the beer. That’s right, the LVCVB went bowling!

A couple weeks ago, Jenny put the word out in an office email about the “Bowling for Civic” (Civic Theatre of Allentown, that is) fundraiser trying to put a team together. I immediately said to count me and Rosie in.