First Friday In Lancaster City Draws Thousands To Downtown For Food, Music and Shopping

Another great First Friday in Lancaster City.  The day appeared to possibly be “iffy” weather wise but despite some ominous looking clouds at one point in the afternoon, the sky cleared in the early evening and the sun came back out.

There were a bevy of food trucks on the plaza next to the Hotel Lancaster. Musicians lined the streets. The pianos are back and we didn’t pass one that somebody was playing.  We even heard some very good jazz being played in Lancaster Square.  People from many cultures mingled and enjoyed the entertainment, shopping, eating and warmer weather.  The Lancaster Police Department was present along with the Ambassadors ensuring everyone behaved themselves.  There was even a break dancing competition going on next to the food trucks that drew a very large crowd.

We also checked out the new pop up pocket park on Prince Street before the First Friday throng arrived. What a nice thing for tourists and city residents, alike.  A coffee company and an ice cream vendor (selling Carmen & David’s ice cream) have set up shop here.  The park makes use of a parking lot which eventually will be a boutique hotel.  The asphalt was been painted, trees and flowers and seating were added.  There was even a television crew there from Blue Ridge Cable TV who were filming and interviewing the vendors.  Many people were checking this out.  When we went by much later in the day it was very full!  People were really liking the space!

Lancaster is such a great example of what revitalization can do for a downtown.  Up until the 90’s there was no reason go to downtown (other than Central Market).  Now, it’s full of shops and restaurants. There are always people on the streets taking advantage of all downtown has to offer.  There is nothing better than spending time in a vibrant city!

To check out Passenger Coffee Roasters, click on

http://www.passengercoffee.com/

If Lancaster’s First Friday Is A Taste, ArtWalk Is The Full Smorgasbord

How do you keep a good thing going?

You keep it fresh.  You keep it innovative.

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County

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

And you keep it energized.

In the past three years, Lancaster’s Fall ArtWalk has been gaining momentum, and director Nick Mohler sees the city-wide event’s success as one based on change.

“I think ArtWalk is changing.  I’m seeing galleries trying new things,” says Mohler.  “There’s been a lot of discussion with local art groups to put on performance art, which is something I think will come more into focus in the spring next year.”

New Gallery Opening On First Friday In Downtown Lancaster

Northumberland County couple hang shingle on Water Street

They were only supposed to be visiting for the day.

In early June, Jody and Cheryl Fallon came to Lancaster to see a friend’s art exhibit on Gallery Row.

The Fallons, married artists who live about two hours north of Lancaster, walked around town and wound up in a gallery on Water Street.

They noticed the space next door was vacant and learned it was for rent. They looked at each other, Jody Fallon recalled, and an idea formed.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/696570_New-gallery-opening-First-Friday.html#ixzz227PgVsv7

First Friday In Lansdale Moves Forward With New Leadership

Location of Lansdale in Montgomery County

Image via Wikipedia

LANSDALE, PA  – The committee to run the borough’s First Friday festival, formed earlier this week over coffee, has only three members and is just beginning to formulate a plan.

That’s according to Charles Booz, whose family owns the Chantilly Lace Florist at 29-31 West Main Street.

Booz said the fledgling committee, which includes himself, Ellen Foulke – manager of the Lansdale Business Center – and his mother Margie, plans to meet with the borough’s parks and recreation and public safety committees next month to find out what is required to hold the event.

Read more: http://thereporteronline.com/articles/2012/01/27/news/doc4f233e4302e5e074103950.txt

Lancaster City Homeowners Going For Bright Colors

You can’t miss them.

North Mary Street is home to a tangerine-colored house, which happens to be next door to a purple house.

A house painted the same shade as the aquamarine hue of the Caribbean Sea sits along South Queen Street.

And have you seen the hot pink house on Beaver Street?

Yowza!

Bright-colored houses and businesses are popping up all over Lancaster city, which has traditionally been more of a colonial-hued town.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/486890_House-hues-brighten-Lancaster-city.html#ixzz1c5uTqaBk

City Of Lancaster Gets High Marks As Travel Destination From Philadelphia Inquirer

Glad to see that people are finally noticing what Lancaster has to offer! 

THERE’S MORE to Lancaster than outlets and buggies.

Although the eighth-largest city in Pennsylvania is closely associated with the Pennsylvania Dutch, a community that came to this part of Penn’s Woods back in the early 1700s, there’s as much city as there is country to this picturesque part of the state…

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20111007_Lancaster__More_than_just_Amish.html?viewAll=y#ixzz1a6sGAITg