RUSH For $15 Tickets For Bach Choir Christmas Concert!

RUSH TICKETS AVAILABLE

Last-Minute Discount!

$15 Adult / $4 Student

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Christmas Concert

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Parts 4, 5 and 6 presented by The Bach Choir of Bethlehem

Saturday, December 10, 2016
8:00 p.m.
West End of Allentown
First Presbyterian Church of Allentown
3231 Tilghman Street, Allentown PA 18104

(Sunday’s performance is SOLD OUT!)

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Soloists: Ellen McAteer, soprano Laura Atkinson, mezzo-soprano Benjamin Butterfield, tenor David Newman, bass-baritone

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Sing ye heavens, tell the story
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Following up last year’s concert of Parts 1, 2 and 3, this year’s performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio offers the final three cantatas. Choir member and writer David Ruhf characterized the work in this way:

“The Christmas Oratorio includes many kinds of joy and devotion, from ecstatic rhapsody to hushed bliss. … no better way to begin December’s festivities than to encounter this radiant music, offered with love and passion in an atmosphere of celebratory and appreciative engagement.”

More info on 2016 Christmas Concerts

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem’s Facebook

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RUSH PRICES: $15 Adult / $4 Student

price of regular General Admission ticket: $37 Adult / $9 Student

Rush Tickets available online only through Lehigh Valley Arts Council Box Office

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PLEASE NOTE:

Rush Tickets are available for General Admission seating.
Convenience fee ($3 or $2.50, depending on price level) is charged at checkout in addition to the price of a standard Rush Ticket (total ticket price + convenience fee = $18 Adults; $6.50 Students)
For additional information, please visit The Bach Choir of Bethlehem’s Website or call: 610-866-4382.

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Rush Ticketing is a service of the Lehigh Valley Arts Council

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Lehigh Valley Arts Advocate – December 2016

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DECEMBER 2016

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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Happy Holidays!

This holiday season will shine a little brighter because I will be witnessing it through the eyes of my new grandchild. He teaches me about wonder and renews a sense of hope for the future. What a piece of work is a child. The beauty of the world.

Wishing you peace and joy this holiday season.

Randall Forte, Executive Director

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The most wonderful time of the year…to enjoy the Arts and Culture of the Lehigh Valley! These festive months are full of chances to celebrate, creating memories to last a lifetime. Catch a holiday themed dance or theatre performance, listen to the songs of the season, shop handmade for cherished gifts, or create a holiday craft perfect for giving.

Here’s your guide to get into the spirit of the season with the Arts!

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Save the Date for Young at Art!

You won’t want to miss this year’s day of creative fun for the whole family!

SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2017
10:00am to 2:00pm
Penn State Lehigh Valley
free admission for the community
The day will be jam-packed with hands-on activities and performances from the participating groups, from dance routines and theatre workshops to arts demonstrations and craft projects. Kids of every age and ability will find a way to sample the arts in all forms, while parents can gather information about classes and summer camps.

Join us as an Exhibitor!

The deadline for early registration is Friday, December 2nd!

Advertising is available for our full-color program!

Our event brings in local families with children of all ages – reach this target audience with an affordable ad, while supporting arts education in our region!

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Kiddos enjoying an interactive performance with Mock Turtle Marionette!

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Upcoming Performances

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BACH & HANDEL CHORALE

December 3 at 12pm
Christmas Concert
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

December 3 at 3pm
Christmas Concert
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

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MORAVIAN COLLEGE THEATRE COMPANY

December 1 at 8pm
Everyman on Trial
Arena Theatre, Moravian College

December 2 at 8pm
Everyman on Trial
Arena Theatre, Moravian College

December 3 at 8pm
Everyman on Trial
Arena Theatre, Moravian College

December 4 at 2pm
Everyman on Trial
Arena Theatre, Moravian College

2016 Trees For Troops At Bustard’s Christmas Trees

Christmas tree delivery to a military base thanks to Trees for Troops.

Christmas tree delivery to a military base thanks to Trees for Troops.

Trees for Troops (T4T) was launched by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation in 2005. Since then, more than 176,096 real trees have been delivered via T4T partner FedEx to military families at 65 military bases throughout the United States and overseas. In 2015, 18,633 trees were shipped to every branch of the military.

Bustard’s Christmas Trees joins about 400 other Christmas tree growers and retail lots in 26 states throughout the U.S. Since the local Christmas tree farm began participating in Trees for Troops, it has contributed 2,300 trees. Last year, one of Bustard’s Fraser firs graced the White House Blue Room, which adds pride to military families who receive a tree from the 87-year-old family-owned business.

“People who are unable to attend T4T Weekend can still donate a tree,” advises Jay Bustard. “Make a check for $35 payable to Christmas Spirit Foundation and send it to Bustard’s Christmas Trees, 2210 Bustard Road, Lansdale, PA 19446. Checks must be received by December 5th. We will add these trees to the FedEx truck collection.”

Bustard’s Christmas Trees will launch the holiday season Friday, November 25th, the weekend before T4T. In addition to real Christmas trees, it sells handcrafted wreaths, swags, garlands and grave blankets. Real Christmas trees are also sold at Vernfield Village Market, 883 Main Street in Vernfield. Both locations will be open through December 23rd daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Both sites provide Bustard’s 2016 calendars, a Santa mailbox for kids and tree tying and bottom-trimming services. The Bustard Road store brews hot chocolate on weekends for customers to enjoy while shopping for trees and wreaths. For details, visit bustardschristmastrees.com or call 610.584.4058 or Jay Bustard at 484.300.0634. Go to christmasspiritfoundation.org for Trees for Troops, a 501(c)3 public charity.

Dec. 11th – Pottsgrove By Candlelight Holiday Tour

news_finishing-touchesPottstown, PA – Revel in the spirit of the season at historic Pottsgrove Manor with the annual “Pottsgrove Manor by Candlelight” open-house on Sunday, December 11, 2016 from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and enjoy the beauty of the manor lit by candlelight and bedecked with greenery.

The public is invited to take a self-guided tour of the stately 1752 manor house, where costumed interpreters portray the colonial residents of Pottsgrove Manor. A walking tour guides visitors through the household of John Potts, his wife Ruth and their 13 children. In the formal parlor, an animated gathering is underway as 18th century “guests” socialize and enjoy the latest dances to the lively music of a harpsichord, flute and harp. The dining room displays an elegant dessert table filled with cakes and pastries, and a “glass pyramid” loaded with delectable seasonal treats – nuts, candied fruits, and colorful marzipan.

Cooks and servants bustle about the kitchen, busy concocting authentic dishes and cooking in its 8 foot wide fireplace, but not too busy to answer a passing question about methods or ingredients. Following passageways through the 17 room mansion, visitors continue to the 2nd and 3rd floors, to view the intimate chambers of a well-to-do colonial family, and learn about preparing for the holiday season.

After exploring the house, complimentary refreshments are available at the end of the tour, and young visitors will be able to create make-and-take free seasonal crafts as a souvenir of their visit. Guests will also want to visit Pottsgrove Manor’s museum shop for unique, historically-oriented gifts like locally-made redware pottery and ornaments, reproduction glassware, handcrafted candles and soaps, books, toys, games, and more.

Outside, in the manor’s courtyard, visitors will be able to enjoy historic carols sung by the Colonial Revelers singing group (performing from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm).

This is a free event! A donation of $2.00 per person is suggested. The tour will be held weather permitting. No reservations are needed. Visitors are asked to park at the Carousel at Pottstown (30 West King Street) or at Memorial Park (75 West King Street); a shuttle will transport visitors to and from Pottsgrove Manor throughout the event. Handicapped parking is available in the museum’s parking lot. The manor’s open house will also be featured as a stop on the Pottstown Historical House Tour that evening.

Can’t make it to the open house? Visitors can enjoy the spirit of the season at Pottsgrove Manor now through January 8, 2017 with a guided tour of the mansion, decorated for the holidays. Tours are offered during regular museum hours, and the museum shop will also be open for holiday shopping. Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins as 3:00 pm. Groups of 10 or more should preregister by calling 610-326-4014. The site is closed Mondays, as well as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at
www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook here
www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Althouse Arboretum Events

Save Our Ash 5K Dash

October 8 @ 10:00 am12:00 pm

Althouse Arboretum   ($15 fun walk/run, $25 5K trail race)

Come on out and give the short but challenging “Save Our Ash” 5K trail run a try, and help save the beautiful Arboretum’s ash forest from a killer invasive beetle!

> 3.1 Mile Trail Run starts at 10:00 am
> 1.3 or 2.4 mile (your choice!) Fun Walk/Run begins at about 10:05.
> New for 2016: Race Timing by Pretzel City Sports

Find out more »

Family Night Hike

October 14 @ 6:00 pm9:00 pm

Due to high demand for this event we will be having two nights you can attend this year, Friday October 14th or Saturday October 15th. Both nights come anytime between 6pm – 9pm. Our most popular event! Families can walk through candle-lit trails to storytellers, then end the evening with marshmallows and the bonfire. Additional games and children’s activities will take place beneath the pavilion. This is a great event for young children as alternative to traditional Halloween activities. $2.50…

Haunted Woods

October 29 @ 7:00 pm10:00 pm

Unlike our Family Night Hike which is not scary at all, we have this terrifying event made for the thrill seekers in our community. Come in your best costume to watch a classic horror movie in the Arboretum meadow, and if you dare try venturing out into our haunted woods, but you won’t be alone… $5 per person

Visit us at http://althousearboretum.org/ for future events or to sign up for our newsletter!

Valentine’s Day Cooking Demonstrations At Pottsgrove Manor Saturday, February 13, 2016 From 11:00am To 3:00pm

Pottstown, PA – Visit historic Pottsgrove Manor on Saturday, February 13, 2016 between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm for demonstrations of open-hearth cooking with the program “Valentine’s Day, the Colonial Way.”

In the colonial era, before the invention of the techniques that give chocolate the smooth consistency people know and love today, chocolate was usually consumed as either a hot beverage or as an ingredient in various “made” dishes. In this program, historic cook Connie Unangst will prepare a variety of 18th-century recipes using chocolate. Visitors can stop in the kitchen at any time during the hours of 11:00 am to 3:00 pm to see what’s cooking. Guided tours of the manor will also be offered on the hour throughout the day, and the site’s museum shop will also be open. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 per person for this program.

Visitors can also take a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during regular museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Tours begin on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3:00 pm.

Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at http://www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Pottsgrove Manor To Host Spinning Demonstrations Saturday, January 9, 2016 From 11:00 am To 3:00 pm

Pottstown, PA  – On Saturday, January 9, 2016 from 11:00am to 3:00pm, historic Pottsgrove Manor will host “Distaff Day,” showing the art of spinning fibers into thread.

From medieval times, the day after the Feast of the Epiphany was known to many Europeans as “Distaff Day.” The distaff, a tool used in spinning, was a symbol of female industry, and Distaff Day was traditionally when women resumed their work after the Twelve Days of Christmas. During this program, visitors will see demonstrations of traditional spinning techniques and learn about the natural fibers that were used to make yarn and thread for textiles. This event will also give guests a chance to enjoy a guided tour of the manor house for the holidays, in the final “Twelfth Night Tours” of the season.

There is a suggested donation of $2.00 per person for this program. The museum shop will also be open throughout the event and will be having a special one-day-only sale – 10% off everything in the store!

The seasonal “Twelfth Night Tours” are running now through Sunday, January 10, 2016 during regular museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3:00pm. The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at http://www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

MCCC Student Nurses Club Donates 25 ‘Trees For Troops’

PHOTO: Members of the Student Nurses Club (SNC) and Student Veterans Organization (SVO) from Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) tagged and donated 25 trees at Bustard’s Christmas Tree Farm in Lansdale on Dec. 5. Pictured (from left) Hector, Figueroa, SVO president, Social Sciences major; SNC members and Nursing majors Leigh Ronnan, Aimee, Augstine, Emily Odom and Liz Martinez; and Joe Long, SVO and Veterans Services assistant, Engineering major. Photo by Alana J. Mauger

PHOTO: Members of the Student Nurses Club (SNC) and Student Veterans Organization (SVO) from Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) tagged and donated 25 trees at Bustard’s Christmas Tree Farm in Lansdale on Dec. 5. Pictured (from left) Hector, Figueroa, SVO president, Social Sciences major; SNC members and Nursing majors Leigh Ronnan, Aimee, Augstine, Emily Odom and Liz Martinez; and Joe Long, SVO and Veterans Services assistant, Engineering major. Photo by Alana J. Mauger

Worcester, PA —Members of the Student Nurses Club (SNC) and Student Veterans Organization (SVO) from Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) selected and tagged 25 trees on Dec. 5 at Bustard’s Christmas Trees as part of the national Trees for Troops initiative.

The Student Nurses Club raised $600 for this year’s 25-tree donation, bringing the total number of trees it donated over the past four years to 100. The club raised money by selling raffle baskets on and off campus, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting Trees for Troops.

“The student nurses, like most of our population, have come to a greater realization of the sacrifices those in the armed forces make. Through our participation in Trees for Troops, via the association with Bustard’s Christmas Trees, the students feel they are assisting the families of individual service members,” explained Connie Fiorentino, assistant professor of nursing and SNC faculty advisor at MCCC.

After the first year of tagging and donating the trees themselves, the student nurses have since invited MCCC’s student veterans to join them, building an important connection between the two groups and the national movement.

“Trees for Troops is a well-attended event by both the student nurses and student veterans because there is a direct personal connection. They feel there is something very special about this event. When they personally tag a tree, they know they are doing so for a family who may suffer the loss of their service member during the holiday season. The students are proud of their part in assisting these service families,” shared Fiorentino.

The relationship forged with Bustard’s Christmas Trees over the past several years earned MCCC nursing and veterans students an invite to a special press event in September when White House officials selected the 2015 White House Christmas tree at Bustard’s farm in Lehighton, Pa.

For MCCC’s Nursing program, Trees for Troops aligns with its participation in other veterans causes, such as the Wounded Warrior Project and Joining Forces. Over the past several years, the Student Nurses Club raised over $3,000 for Lansdale’s Hometown Hero Walk and sponsored donation drives for personal care items that were delivered to military troops stationed abroad and to the Veteran’s Center of Montgomery County.

Trees for Troops was launched by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation in 2005. Since then, more than 157,000 real trees have been delivered to military families at 60-plus bases throughout the United States and overseas. Trees are contributed by Bustard’s and about 30 other Christmas tree growers and retail lots in the U.S. To learn more, visit http://www.treesfortroops.org.

More Unique Holiday Gift Ideas

If you are looking for something unique, check out Nom Prophets: Helping people through food.  Nom Prophets is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping people in need through food. They provide meals, job training and self confidence.

This company is based in Kutztown, Berks County and sells food products you can use for gifts.  With Christmas just 13 days away, we thought you might enjoy something inexpensive and unique for those special people in your life.

Nom Prophets: Helping people through food will be selling their Red Hot Cayenne Pepper sauce at iCreate Cafe, in Pottstown (130 King Street) AND Daniel’s Produce in Pottstown (219 E. High Street). It’s $7 per 16 ounce jar and all the proceeds go towards the non profit. Owner Ashraf Khalil has generously donated shelf space.   They will be stocking a second flavor, Tangy Tomatillo, after next Friday.

I don’t know about you, but I have people in my life who LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hot sauce!  We are buying some!  Buy local and help others.  What could be better!!

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Nom Prophets sauce 1

The Holiday Spirit Comes To iCreate Cafe, Pottstown

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Exterior, iCreate Cafe

With the Holiday Season upon us, many folks are busy preparing for Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanza. If you live in the Tri-County area or are adventurous and don’t mind making a trip, iCreate Cafe, located at 130 King Street, in historic Pottstown, is open to serve your holiday needs.

Whether you need a break from shopping and want a healthy meal alternative; if you are looking for a great gift to give the people you care most about or if you are looking for a place to gather with friends to celebrate the season, iCreate Cafe can fill all your needs.

Gift certificates are available and you select the amount.  Nothing says, “I love you” like the gift of great food!  Take the worry out of your holiday shopping!

iCreate Cafe, Vegan Heaven

iCreate Cafe, Vegan Heaven

If you are looking for a unique space to gather with friends, look no further.  The spa-like atmosphere and amazing vegan cuisine are a winning combination.  The food is filling as well as healthy.  The prices are reasonable and the portions are generous.  The new iMenu 5 food menu has been expanded, the drink menu has been expanded and more dessert options are available to please the most discriminating palate.

The owner and vegan chef, Ashraf Khalil (you can call him Ash) has created one of the most unique dining experiences in the Philadelphia region. The food is made from scratch, made with love and beautifully presented.  A feast for the eye as well as the mouth!

The cafe, located at 130 King Street in Pottstown, is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm.  Friday and Saturday the cafe is open from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm.  You can view the menu online at http://www.icreatecafe.com.  You can also check out reviews of the cafe on Yelp, Trip Advisor and Happy Cow.  If you want to inquire about gift certificates or make reservations you may call the cafe at (484) 312-0404 during business hours.

UPCOMING HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY

BACH & HANDLE CHORALE presents:

 

December 12, 2015 | 3:00 pm @ St. John’s Lutheran Church
Christmas Concert – St. John’s Lutheran Church

December 13, 2015| 3:00 pm @ St. Paul’s United Church of Christ
Christmas Concert – St. Paul’s United Church of Christ


YOUNG PEOPLE’S PHILHARMONIC presents:

December 20, 2015 | 4:00 pm @ Miller Symphony Hall
The Young People’s Philharmonic and Junior String Philharmonic Holiday Concert

 

PURCHASE TICKETS AT OUR BOX OFFICE TODAY!