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!

It seems that Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have been sent letters by the U.S. Olympic Committee to gauge interest in hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics. Aside from any boost Lehigh Valley may get in overflow from a Philadelphia games, what if Lehigh Valley pulled the upset and won the bid for the games outright?

Highlights from the venues:

• Freddy Adu taking a corner kick for Team USA on the Lehigh County Sports Fields with roller coasters from Dorney Park in the background. What a picture!
• Beach Volleyball on Sand Island with the possibility of seeing the Blast Furnaces coming out of a commercial break.
• Handball on the Center Square in Easton. How could that be anything less than awesome?
• Road cycling course taking a tour throughout all three major cities and every borough within Lehigh Valley.
• Bring basketball back to its roots with an outdoor venue at Cedar Beach Park. Let’s call it Old School!

Below is your complete guide of Sports and their Venues:

Sport	Venue
Archery	Archery Addictions
Athletics	Timothy Breidegam Track & Rocco Calvo Field
Athletics (Marathon)	Delaware River Valley Scenic Byway
Badminton	Stabler Arena
Basketball	Cedar Beach Park
Beach Volleyball	Sand Island
Boxing	Easton High School Gym
Canoe and Rowing	Lehigh River
Cycling (BMX)	Blue Mountain
Cycling (Mountain Bike)	Bear Creek Mountain
Cycling (Road)	Allentown, Bethlehem & Easton
Cycling (Track)	Valley Preferred Cycling Center
Diving	Bushkill Falls
Equestrian	Deer Path Riding Stable
Fencing	Sands Bethlehem Event Center
Football (Soccer)	Lehigh County Sports Fields, Fisher Stadium, Goodman Stadium
Gymnastics	Parkettes National Gymnastics
Handball	Center Square in Easton
Hockey (Field)	Ulrich Sports Complex
Judo	PPL Center
Modern Pentathlon	Timothy Breidegam Track & Rocco Calvo Field
Sailing	Delaware River
Shooting	Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays
Swimming	Rodale Aquatic Center
Swimming Marathon	Lehigh River
Table Tennis	PPL Center
Taekwondo	PPL Center
Tennis	Bethlehem City Tennis Courts
Triathlon	Lehigh Canal Towpath Trail
Volleyball	Stabler Arena
Water Polo	Dutch Springs
Weightlifting	PPL Center
Wrestling (if applicable)	Grace Hall
Opening & Closing Ceremonies	Coca-Cola Park

]]> http://blog.discoverlehighvalley.com/2013/02/21/discover/what-if-lehigh-valley-hosted-the-2024-summer-olympics/feed/ 0 http://blog.discoverlehighvalley.com/2013/02/01/discover/super-sunday-is-almost-upon-us-and-lehigh-valley-is-proud-of-its-great-football-ties/ http://blog.discoverlehighvalley.com/2013/02/01/discover/super-sunday-is-almost-upon-us-and-lehigh-valley-is-proud-of-its-great-football-ties/#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:33:40 +0000 Jason Stershic http://blog.discoverlehighvalley.com/?p=13780

This Sunday the underdog Baltimore Ravens will take on the San Fransisco 49ers in Superbowl XLVII. While enjoying the game with good food and beverages, you can wow any out of town visitors with all of the National Football League talent that has been home grown, right here in Lehigh Valley, Pa.

And here’s the list:

• Keith Dorney from Allentown played for the Lions
• Jim Druckenmiller from Allentown played for the 49ers and Dolphins
• Chuck Bednarik from Bethlehem played for the Eagles
• Mike Guman from Bethlehem played for the Rams
• Dan Koppen attended Whitehall High School and played for the Broncos and Patriots
• Jonathan Linto from Allentown played for the Bills
• Ed McCaffrey attended Allentown Central Catholic played for the Broncos, Giants and 49ers
• Kim McQuilken from Allentown played for the Falcons and Redskins
• Matt Millen from Whitehall played for the Raiders, 49ers and Redskins
• Joe Milinichik from Allentown played for the Lions, Rams and Chargers
• Andre Reed from Allentown played for the Bills and Redskins
• Jim Ringo attended Phillipsburg High School  played for the Packers and Eagles
• Larry Seiple from Allentown played for the Dolphins
• John Spagnola from Bethlehem played for the Packers, Eagles and Seahawks
• Tony Stewart (not that one) attended Allentown Central Catholic played for the Eagles, Bengals and Raiders
• Joe Wolf from Allentown played for the Cardinals

That’s quite a lot of talent, not to mention a few current and future Hall of Famers.

Last week I had the opportunity to do one of the most enjoyable parts of my job, telling people who will be moving here all the fun things there are to do in Lehigh Valley. I was asked to participate in the Ocean Spray Relocation Fair since their aging distribution plant in Bordentown, NJ will be relocating to a brand new facility in Macungie, PA.

The fair consisted of four presentations over two days so all shift employees and their significant others could attend. There were also booths set up where everyone could meet one-on-one with all the vendors invited to make the move as smooth as possible. To make it even more fun, MSI, the relocation specialists hired to assist the employees every step of the way, printed up “Relocation Passports” with each vendor representing a cool Lehigh Valley attraction.

I was asked to speak on recreation, entertainment, and shopping in the valley. Unfortunately I was given a time limit. These are topics I could talk about forever! Since I was only able to mention a small sampling I highlighted skiing at Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Blue Mountain, our wide variety of golf courses, our park systems for hiking and biking, and of course our Covered Bridge self-guided tour and Lehigh Valley Wine Trail…which are great ways to explore their new surroundings.

I pointed out that with Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom being in their new backyard, they might want to take advantage of their season passes. More attractions for families: the Crayola Experience, DaVinci Science Center, the Lehigh Valley Zoo.

Everyone loves going to Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs games at Coca~Cola Park and the Valley Preferred Cycling Center is a local treasure. We are also anxiously awaiting the Phantoms hockey team’s move to the valley when their new state of the art arena is completed in Allentown.

Our festivals rival any in the country with Musikfest, Celtic Classic, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Das Awkscht Fescht, Kutztown Folk Festival and a zillion other smaller events like Chile Pepper and Garlic Festivals.

The old Bethlehem Steel site’s transformation into the Sands Casino Resort, Outlets and Event Center as well as SteelStacks performing arts center provides year-round entertainment in the shadows of the old blast furnaces which built our country.

Shopping couldn’t be more convenient with our various malls, outlets and quaint downtown boutiques and shops. There is no excuse for not eating local with our numerous Farmers Markets where you can actually meet the people who grow your food.

I met a bunch of really nice people at this relocation fair and hope to hear from them as they move to the valley. I also have to give a lot of credit to the management at Ocean Spray. It was very obvious they care deeply about their team and want what is best for all their employees and families.

I mentioned a bunch of things all transplants to the valley should experience…what would you add to my list?

Everything old is new again and the “same old, same old” is not humdrum. Sometimes attractions and events that happen each year are the most fun Lehigh Valley things that I want to do again this coming year.

April 4th, 2013 is Opening Day for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Last season, our ‘Pigs fell short of replicating their playoff run of 2011, but they were in the hunt until the very end. Meaningful baseball down the stretch starts with a good April and I’ll be there again to cheer them on.

May 23rd, 2013 is the beginning of Mayfair in Allentown. Four days of arts, crafts, music, food and more. Here’s hoping the weather will hold out to be warm and dry. Last year, despite a few deluges of rain and hot temperatures, it was still the same treat it always was.

June 7th, 2013 is Opening Day for the World Series of Bicycling at the Valley Preferred  Cycling Center. Last year, an Olympic year, local rider Bobby Lea, used the early part of the season to warm up for the Olympics. This year, he’ll be back to challenge 2012 Rider of the Year Andy Lakatosh. They’ll be thunder in Trexlertown this summer, it’ll be amazing.

June 2013 will be full of great theatre as every June before it is, due to the presence of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Featuring, Oklahoma!, Measure for Measure, Beauty and the Beast.

Then comes June 29th, 2013 and the start “Festival Season” with the Kutztown Festival, followed by the Blueberry Festival, Lehigh Valley SportsFest, and Das Awkscht Fescht.

This brings us to the end of summer. I’ll cover the rest of the year in part two.

But until then consider the first seven months of 2013, what on my list are you most looking forward to? What is on you list that isn’t on mine?

Tuesday happens to be my favorite day of the week. Why, you ask? Sure, there’s some good shows on TV, it’s not Monday anymore and it’s a bit closer to Friday… you get the point.  But the real reason I enjoy Tuesdays: dodgeball.

That’s right.  Dodgeball.  I’m sure you have two images in your mind right now:  third-grade gym class and a big-screen battle between Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn.  Put those two together and that’s what the ROC Social Club brings to Allentown on Tuesday nights.

Teams are made up of ten people, and there must be at least 4 girls on each team.  You can choose to play in the ‘social’ league or the ‘super social,’ with the latter being more for amateur dodgeball players (such as myself).  Typically, there are about ten teams in the league and each team plays two 25-minute games a week.

But the ROC Social Club doesn’t just do dodgeball.  They host various leagues throughout the year including indoor volleyball, kickball, softball, laser tag and more.  Besides giving you a chance to channel your inner third-grader, these leagues are also a great way to get out and meet other people in the area; if you don’t have a full team to register with, they’ll match you up with others looking to complete a team and play.

So every Tuesday night, my friends and I head over to the West End Youth Center for our matchups.  We might not be the best team, but we always have a great time!  After the games are over, everyone heads down to Stooges, which is the sponsor bar for the league.  Besides the bracket-style playoffs, there is also a competition to see who can accrue the highest bar tab after each game throughout the season and the winning team receives a gift card back to Stooges as a prize.

So if you’re over 21 and looking to meet some new people in the area, I highly recommend looking into one of the ROC Social Club leagues.  The new winter season kicks off tonight, so I’m warming up my arm and getting ready to play with the help of some wise (and appropriate) words from the classic film Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story … “If you’re going to become true dodgeballers, then you’ve got to learn the five d’s of dodgeball: dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge!”

As we enter 2013, I decided to compile yet another list of things that are often overlooked in Lehigh Valley. Sure we have the Sands® Casino Resort Bethlehem, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom along with The Crayola Experience™ and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, but this blog is giving the proverbial “shout out” to the smaller players that make our area so unique. So without further ado here are 10 places that I’m making a point to visit over the course of the year.

10. Dutch Springs Aqua Park – A real treat for those warm summer days.

9. Covered Bridge Trail – We have so many of them in our area I really should take a ride and discover them all.

8. No. 9 Mine & Museum – Being raised in the coal region (Scranton), I have a great appreciation for how hard the mining industry is and was.

7. Maxim’s 22 – Brought to you by the owners of Sette Luna, I’m sure this French inspired restaurant will be great.

6. Civic Theatre of Allentown – I’m almost embarrassed to say I’ve never seen a movie/show at the theatre, but that will change in 2013.

5. Valley Preferred Cycling Center – Being an avid softball player I’ve played near the velodrome quite often and hear the crowds, but I need to see a race first hand.

4. Lost River Caverns – With a constant temperature of 52 degrees this is going to be a must see in August.

3. Season Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom – What can you say? An entire store dedicated to oils and vinegars, I got to see this.

2. Renningers Antiques Extravaganza – It’s about time to see what my wife’s fascination is with antiquing.

1. Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery – No words needed

So there you have it Lehigh Valley, a list of perhaps some of the lesser known destinations that I plan on getting to in 2013. What have you been missing?

Lehigh Valley has some adorable mascots already.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have Ferrous and Fefe.

JustBorn has Mike and Ike and a bunch of PEEPS.

Yocco’s has the Hot Dog King.

Bear Creek Mountain Resort has their big fuzzy bear.

And, now the Lehigh Valley Phantoms ice hockey team has Dax, a fun looking beaver.

But, what about Lehigh Valley at large? What would be an appropriate, or even just the most fun, mascot that could encapsulate the whole area?

We’re not 100 percent sure, but we did come up with a few, let us know your thoughts.

Historical

1. Steel Worker or Steel Stacks: This is an immediately recognizable and appropriate type of mascot. Not only is it ingrained in the history of the area, but, everyone would want to buy a fun steel worker’s hat!

2. Moravians: They were one of the first groups in Lehigh Valley and their legacy is still felt throughout many local communities. Their 18th Century garb may not elicit excitement,  but it is pretty unique.

3. Liberty Bell:  Sure, Philadelphia is home to this national treasure, but it was kept safe in Allentown during the Revolutionary War.

Animal

1. A Hawk: Hawk Mountain is one of the most beautiful places in the state, let alone Lehigh Valley. So, a soaring Hawk, akin to Lehigh University’s mascot, seems like it could be a good bet.

2. Geese: Anyone who has ever taken a run by the Lehigh River on the canal tow path in Bethlehem, or visited any local park with a body of water, knows that geese really like Lehigh Valley, too. A lot.

3. A Squirrel: Most local college students can attest to the fearless squirrels on their respective campuses. These furry creatures could make for a fun mascot.

4. Shad: Easton’s annual Shad Fest event brings people from all over the area to the city’s beautiful waterfront at the confulence of the Lehigh and Delaware rivers. This fish could be a front-runner!

Events

1. A Big Tent: With a “fest” themed event held seemingly every weekend, tents that house good food and music seem to be up year-round.

2. A Guitar: Martin Guitar calls Nazareth home and with the new Artsquest Center, Musikfest and MayFair, Lehigh Valley is widely known for its musical events.

3. A Guy in a Kilt: Celtic Classic, held in Bethlehem every September, has become synonymous with people wearing their kilts proudly.

These are just a few ideas that we had in mind and we’re sure there are many others.

At the end of the day, however, Lehigh Valley’s diversity and strong heritage encompasses so many different iconic figures and symbols that deciding on one may just be too hard.

What do you think?

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A fine piece of jewelry from Cleo’s Gallery.

Ok, you get the idea. I’m not going to make you read the whole song, so here is my Twelve Days of Lehigh Valley gifts I’d like to receive boiled down for your reading pleasure …

Twelve long stem roses from Phoebe Floral,
Eleven performances at State Theatre,
Ten chocolate goodies from Josh Early Candies,
Nine lessons from Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays,
Eight concerts at Penn’s Peak,
Seven meals from Emeril’s,
Six rounds from Olde Homestead Golf Club,
Five races at Lehigh Valley Grand Prix …
Four massages from The Spa at BearCreek,
Three night’s stay at Glasbern,
Two passes to the movies at Frank Banko Ale House,
AND A FINE PIECE OF JEWELRY FROM CLEO’S GALLERY.     

Even if I get a fraction of these goodies in my stocking or under the tree I will be one happy camper! What local Lehigh Valley gifts would you like to see this year?

♫♫Over the next 25 days leading up to  Christmas

Discover Lehigh Valley will give to you

tons of stuff from local businesses and attractions.♫♫

Ok, so that doesn’t rhyme. But it doesn’t matter because 25 Days of Lehigh Valley Giveaways will run from today, November 30, through Christmas Eve.

Every day at around Noon, we will be posting a giveaway from a Lehigh Valley business or attraction on Facebook. We’ll ask a question along with that post and will then pick a winner from those who commented.

Please be sure to check our Facebook page every day because if you do not claim your prize within 24 hours it will be sent back to Santa’s workshop. Or just given to a new winner.

Below is a list of all the prizes we will be giving away in no particular order.

Thank you, Happy Holidays and good luck!

25 Days of Lehigh Valley Giveaways

• Gift certificate for two to the Bach Choir’s Allentown Christmas Concert on December 8 along with a two CD set of Christmas in Bethlehem Vol. 3 & 4.
• One certificate good for a Santa Photo Experience package at Lehigh Valley Mall. Valid through December 24, 2012.
• Four tickets to Christmas in Nazareth on Saturday, December 15 at various downtown Nazareth locations provided by the Moravian Historical Society.
• Four tickets to Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem donated by ArtsQuest. Valid through December 23.
• Four tickets to The Dan Band on December 15 at the Sands® Bethlehem Event Center.
• One certificate good for two tickets to the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s production of “the Nutcracker” on December 16, 2012.
• One certificate good for the Staybridge Suites Allentown Bethlehem Airport’s “Experience the Christmas Package.” Includes overnight accommodations for two with breakfast and tickets and transportation to experience Christkindlmarkt. Valid Thursday – Sunday through December 23, 2013.
• A pair of tickets to The Wallflowers on December 27^th at the Sands® Bethlehem Event Center.
• The Spirit of America DVD donated by the Liberty Bell Museum of Allentown, home of Pip the Mouse and the puppet show “The Mouse Before Christmas.”
• Two certificates for a family of four for admission to the 8^th Wonder of the World Attraction, the Merchants’ Square Model Train Exhibit.
• Three $20 gift certificates to any Bounce U location in Lehigh Valley. Valid through November 8, 2013.
• One certificate good for an overnight stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Bethlehem. Valid through December 12, 2013.
• One certificate good for an overnight stay at Hyatt Place Bethlehem. Valid through December 12, 2013.
• Two tickets to any production in the Act 1 DeSales University Performing Arts Season. Valid through December 1, 2013.
• One certificate good for one weekend night stay for two people with breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn Allentown Bethlehem Airport. Valid through November 30, 2013
• One certificate valid for Sunday brunch for four at Peddler’s Village Cock ‘n Bull Restaurant. Valid through September 11, 2013.
• Three certificates each valid for a family of four to experience Lost River Caverns. Valid through June 30, 2013.
• Tapas on Main Head Chief Rafael Palomino’s cookbook, Latin Grill.
• One $50 gift card to the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley. Valid one year from first use.
• One certificate good for two tickets to any production during the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University during the 2013 season. Valid through August 31, 2013.
• A family four-pack of tickets to whitewater rafting from Pocono Whitewater. Valid through December 31, 2015.
• Two four-packs to play skirmish from Skirmish USA. This includes the guns, goggles, facemask; unlimited N2 air fills for the day, field judges, for the entire day of play. Valid through March 1, 2015.
• Four tickets in the 4^th row to see the Little River Band with special guest Fran Cosmo at Penn’s Peak on February 1, 2013.
• A signed Copy of the “Organic Manifesto” and “The Prince’s’ Speech on the Future of Food” donated by Rodale Catering, plus a few delicious surprises.
• State Theatre Center for the Arts FREDDY Awards prize pack which includes a $25 State Theatre gift card, Most Valuable Players DVD and two FRED X t-shirts.
• One certificate good for two to a Whitewater Challengers “Adventure Weekend.” This package includes rafting for two on the Lehigh River, lunch, plus one night of camping at the Whitewater Challengers Adventure Campground. Valid Sunday – Friday April 1 through October 20, 2013.
• Certificate for a one night stay in a traditional room at the Lafayette Inn. Valid through December December 20, 2013.
• One certificate good for a midweek ski & stay for two guests at Bear Creek Mountain Resort. Valid through March 15, 2013.
• One certificate good for two house concert tickets at Landhaven Bed & Breakfast. Vaild through January 31, 2014.
• Cigar prize pack which includes five cigars from Famous Smoke Shop and a $20 gift card to Leaf Cigar Bar and Restaurant.
• Family four pack to Delaware River Tubing including a meal for all at the famous River Hot Dog Man. No expiration date.
• Replica diecast collector Bus measuring 8’ long and 1:64 in scale from Easton Coach.
• Tea for Two at the Bridgeton House in Easton
• A Penn State Lehigh Valley 100th anniversary cookbook and Penn State apron.