Mark Your Calendar For Pottstown ArtsWalk – A Free Event – Saturday, January 7, 2017!

POTTSTOWN, PA  –  “We have always recognized and embraced what the arts and collaboration can do for a community”, said Erika Hornburg-Cooper, ArtFusion19464. Join us for a day of discovery on Saturday, January 7, 2017. Arts and culture organizations, local businesses and restaurants are teaming up to bring you an amazing day of fun, food and entertainment. “The Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority (PDIDA) is excited to be a part in this venture. It has been very exciting to see our downtown community pull together with our arts and cultural organizations to create this amazing event,” states Sheila Dugan, PDIDA.

Viewing the art in a kind of “pub crawl” format adds to the fun and energetic quality of this event. Family-friendly activities are scheduled from 2 to 4 pm and from 4 to 8 pm more great activities designed for adults. Nearly 20 downtown business will be open to showcase original artwork displays and live musical entertainment.

 

“It all starts with the arts!” said Lauren Pierson-Swanson, Steel River Playhouse. “To know Pottstown is to love it. The people behind the businesses and attractions on and around High Street are smart, driven and dedicated to this beautiful historic town. Art has always been a catalyst in the rejuvenation of American communities and is the focus of Pottstown ArtsWalk.”

While this event is free, we ask that you pre-register for your free ticket. Each is valid for one person to join the Pottstown ArtsWalk on Saturday, January 7, 2017, and you can order as many as you need. Visit www.artfusion19464.org/artwalk.

Get a taste for all the activities, food and arts presentations. Here is a list of venues and artists joining us Saturday, January 7th to showcase Pottstown and all that the our community has to offer:

@107, 107 E. High St. and Advantage Insurance – music by Cordilla Arcay and Matt Asti and original artwork display from John Quinn; light refreshments; wine tasting

ArtFusion 19464, 254 E. High St. – local artists’ collections, an interactive art experience, and soup bowl glazing fundraiser

Ballroom on High, 310 E. High St. – free dance lesson and live band dance with Temple Avenue; refreshments

Beverly’s Pastry Shop, 322 E. High St. – discounts on sweet treats

Connections on High, 238 E. High St. – custom portrait making and local artists’ displays; hot holiday beverages

Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches, 137 E. High St.– Pottstown HS Culinary Arts students will be making/serving complimentary hors d’oeuvres; discounts on food/meal during the ArtsWalk

High Street Music, 135 E. High St. – original artwork display by Pottstown HS students and the Craig Clemens Jazz Trio

iCreate Cafe, 130 King St. – discounts on food/meal during the ArtsWalk

Juan Carlos Fine Mexican Cuisine, 235 E. High St. – discounts on food/meal during the ArtsWalk

Lily’s Grill, 115 E. High St. – discounts on food/meal during the ArtsWalk

MCCC North Hall Gallery, 16 E. High St. – staged reading of A Bright Room Called Day by Tony Kushner

Memory Madness Photo Studio, 16 N. York St. – open house

MOSIAC Community Land Trust, 10 S. Hanover St. – painting Schuylkill River rocks for placement in gardens around town

Potts & Penn Family Diner, 80 E. High St. – discounts on food/meal during the ArtsWalk

Smith Family Plaza, 100 E. High St. – view sculptures by Eric Berg

Steel River Playhouse, 245 E. High St. – hand-made theatrical costume display by Ally Boughter; artwork by Thomas Poplawski

The Carousel at Pottstown, 30 W. King St. – meet artists of the all-volunteer organization and hear presentations on the project’s history

The Hill School Center for the Performing Arts, 780 Beech St. – paper lantern art activity and backstage tours

Weitzenkorn’s, 145 E. High St. – view works by our families fifth generation, light refreshments

To get the latest update on locations and activities, visit artfusion19464.org or www.steelriver.org. Don’t forget to pre-register for Pottstown ArtsWalk! Visit www.artfusion19464.org/artwalk.

Pottstown ArtsWalk is brought to you in partnership through ArtFusion19464, Steel River Playhouse, @107, Proudly Pottstown and Advantage Insurance Group.

P.S. A great ending to a great day with lots of laughs! The N Crowd Improv Group from Philly will be at Steel River Playhouse for an 8 pm show! Tickets available at www.steelriver.org

Montco Town Hopes Carousel And Train Will Revive Economy

The wooden animals, sanded and painted to resemble the 109-year-old originals they replaced, are waiting for visitors at the end of a restored railroad line in Pottstown.

The horses, giraffes, and reindeer on the Derek Scott Saylor Memorial Carousel are part of a merry-go-round meant to be more than an amusement.

The attraction – and the similarly restored old train that will drop visitors at its doorstep – are the centerpieces of a downtown revitalization effort for a slumping Montgomery County borough taking steps toward a comeback.

The carousel and train are scheduled to officially begin operations next fall.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20141213_Montco_town_hopes_carousel_and_train_will_revive_economy.html#rzbZLGpexQxRw0vQ.99

Tourism Touted As Means To Rejuvenate Pottstown

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

POTTSTOWN — “Tourism” might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you say “Pottstown,” but as far as Bill Fitzgerald is concerned, that won’t be true for long.

Fitzgerald is the president of the newly reconstituted Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board and he was in town last week to talk to Pottstown Borough Council about how his organization can help promote what Pottstown has to offer.

Tourism is on the upswing in Montgomery County, Fitzgerald said, and Pottstown is well-positioned to benefit from that trend, Fitzgerald said.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140908/tourism-touted-as-means-to-rejuvenate-pottstown

2013 Pottstown Carousel Of Flavor, September 22nd

Carousel At Pottstown Announces Winners Of Culinary Contest

POTTSTOWN – The board of directors of the Carousel at Pottstown have announced thewinners from the culinary contest held during the 9th Annual Carousel of Flavor restaurant festival Sept. 30.  The event, which is the nonprofit Carousel at Pottstown’s main annual fundraiser, raised $10,000 for the organization, which is in the process of renovating a building at 30 W. King St. to house a restored 1905 Philadelphia Toboggan Co. carousel.

Judging food entries from the 17 participating restaurants were Chef Christopher Allen Tanner, director of The Culinary Arts Institute of Montgomery County Community College, Career Coach Austin Hall, and culinary students Jackie Hill, Joe Bullock, Sean Collins, Kim Spuril, Chris Hatzai, Pedro Loero, Ameerah Williams, and Sandy Cumens.  Also awarded were the restaurant that raised the most money and the best-decorated booth.

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-mercury/story/carousel-pottstown-announces-winners-culinary-contest/1

Pottstown Carousel Of Flavor Big Hit, Large Crowd

Yesterday’s Ninth Annual Carousel of Flavor in Pottstown was a smashing success.  The very large crowd was happily eating, listening to live music and people were catching up with old friends they kept running into.  The weather, in the upper sixties, was perfect to work up an appetite.

Pottstown needs to do a large downtown event at least six times a year to draw people into the borough.  If there is something worthwhile going on, people will show up; as evidenced by the thousands who came out yesterday to enjoy themselves.

We were happy to see former Pottstown Borough Manager Jason Bobst in attendance.  Jason looked well-rested and refreshed as he greeted the many people who were clearly glad to see him.  Evidently his new job is agreeing with him!  We think that showed a great deal of character for Jason to show up and support Pottstown.  How many borough councilors were there yesterday?  I didn’t see any.  I only saw the mayor.

Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to make yesterday’s event a huge success!

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The Ninth Annual Carousel Of Flavor Restaurant Festival

Date:  Sunday, Sept 30, 2012 from noon to 4 p.m.

Where:  100 Block of High Street, Pottstown (in front of Borough Hall)

Expanded wine and beer garden this year!  Over 4,000 attended last year.  Featuring live bands, crafters and a clown for children of all ages.

The Ninth Annual Carousel Of Flavor Restaurant Festival – Pottstown

Date : Sunday, Sept 30, 2012 from noon to 4 p.m.

100 Block of High Street, Pottstown in front of Borough Hall

Expanded wine and beer garden this year! Over 4,000 attended last year.  Featuring live bands, crafters and a clown for children of all ages.

If you have any questions regarding the Carousel of Flavor, please contact the Chairpersons:

Jill Burbank (610) 970-0624 or email CarouselofFlavor@hotmail.com

For access to forms, click here: http://www.pottstowncarousel.org/events.htm

“Come To The Fair!” – Annual Colonial May Fair At Pottsgrove Manor

Pottstown, Pennsylvania – Celebrate spring at the Annual Colonial May Fair held at historic Pottsgrove Manor on Saturday, May 5^th from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

This yearly event is a fun-filled day with activities for all ages—games, music, dancing, and crafts. New to the fair this year is colonial conjurer Levram the Great, who will perform colonial magic shows and entertain visitors with pocket magic tricks throughout the day. Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre returns again this year to perform the puppet shows St. George and the Dragon and their brand-new adaptation of the classic Cinderella. They will also provide festive historic music around the grounds during the event. Members of the Tapestry Historic Dance Ensemble will demonstrate authentic country dances and will lead visitors in dances around the Maypole to open and close the fair. 

In addition to the entertainment, a variety of Early American crafters and demonstrators will be on hand to display historic skills and trades and sell their wares. Young visitors can compete in hoop races, play with colonial toys and games, help churn butter, and more! The first floor of colonial ironmaster John Potts’ 1752 manor house will be open for self-guided tours during the fair. Historic foodways expert Deborah Peterson of Deborah Peterson’s Pantry will be demonstrating open-hearth cooking in the Pottsgrove Manor kitchen. Visitors can also shop at the Manor’s museum shop for colonial games, books, and unique gifts. 

While visitors can’t try the food cooked in the colonial kitchen, they will be able to purchase food during the event, including a variety of tasty baked goods from the Milkman Lunch Co. and Cake Shoppe of Pottstown.

A donation of $2 per person is suggested for this event. Visitors are asked to park at the Carousel at Pottstown building, 30 West King Street. Visitors can also stop in to the Carousel and see the progress that is being made there. Pottstown’s restored trolley will be giving FREE rides during the fair between the “First Saturday” activities downtown, the Carousel at Pottstown, and Pottsgrove Manor. Handicapped parking is available in the museum’s parking lot.

Pottstown 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 and Heritage Services Department. For more information, call 610.326.4014, or visit us on the web at http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor.

Carousel Of Flavor Colossal Success!!

A large crowd of people packed into downtown Pottstown this afternoon for the 7th Annual Carousel of Flavor.  High Street was closed between Hanover and York Streets and the crowd spilled over into Smith Plaza.  About a dozen local restaurants and a dozen local crafters lined High Street for festival goers to patronize.  The sound of live music filled the air as well. 

Pottstown Borough Manager, Jason Bobst was manning the beer tent, Pottstown Mayor Bonnie Heath was meeting and greeting and Steve Toroney, Council President was enjoying the sights and smells.  I also saw some school board members and former school board members in the large crowd supporting a glorious day in Pottstown!

Here are some pictures of Pottstown at its best for your enjoyment.