Second Annual Young At Art Expo Is Back!

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is proud to present the second annual Young at Art Expo.on Saturday, March 11, 2017. Held at Penn State Lehigh Valley, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, this event invites families with children of all ages to enjoy music, dance, arts and exploration. Admission is free and open to the public.

Local arts providers will assist parents with selecting the right summer class for their aspiring creatives. Parents will witness first-hand how the arts ignite their children’s imagination, while their kids get the chance to explore their inner dancer, actor, musician, author or visual artist.

“Young at Art is a day devoted to curiosity and entertainment,” says Executive Director Randall Forte. “Last year, we welcomed over 300 guests to our inaugural event, and the positive response from local families was wonderful!”

“My girls loved the different activity tables and face painting,” said Hazel Singleton Chumo, mother of two fun-loving girls, ages 7 and 4. “They also enjoyed the live performances which made it more entertaining.”

The expo showcases twenty arts and cultural businesses in the region that offer a wide range of children’s programming, both for beginners and for kids at an intermediate level. Among them include Community Music School, Banana Factory, Allegro Dance Studio, Swain School, Mikayla’s Voice, and the Mayura Academy of Dance.

The day’s festivities will feature an arts demonstration or performance every fifteen minutes, so kids will have a chance “to imagine what kind of artist” they want to be this summer. Families will have the opportunity to meet different arts instructors and join in hands-on activities. Lunch will be available for purchase, and parking is free.

For more information, visit http://www.lvartscouncil.org/young-at-art/.

Great FREE Pottstown Food Program‏

The Borough of Pottstown’s Summer Food Service Program is in full swing serving FREE lunches daily! 

 

Every Monday-Friday from 1-2 PM FREE meals are served at the Memorial Park Pavilion (75 W King Street) for all aged 18 and under! The program is running now until Thursday, August 18th so hurry over! Don’t miss out on this awesome, FREE opportunity!!

 

It is a goal of the program to reach as many children in need of the program’s benefits as possible. They will deliver to numerous sites around Pottstown, and personally oversee the location at the Memorial Park Pavilion.

So far, participation has been great, but they are always looking to gain more youth and offer them a free meal daily.

 

The program is about halfway through but there is still plenty of time for people to benefit!

Share the information with those who need it and those who can help spread the word!

Please contact Kristin Robinson at krobinson@pottstown.org for more information.

Firefly Cafe Opens In Boyertown

Photo by Ashraf Khalil

Photo by Ashraf Khalil

Photo by Firefly Cafe

The Firefly Cafe has opened in Boyertown offering vegetarian/vegan breakfast and lunch options.

The cafe, owned by Michael and Loriann, uses the best locally sourced ingredients to prepare their delicious and healthy food.  So far, the reviews are very positive from folks around the area.

The hours of operations are:

Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. ’til 2 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. ’til 4 p.m.

Closed Monday

Phone: 484-415-5066

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fireflycafeboyertown/

Website: http://fireflycafeboyertown.com/index.php

Their menu is found on the website so you can peruse their selections.

We hope you get the opportunity to check them out and support a local business who uses locally sourced ingredients!  We hope they succeed!

Women’s Symposium At Brookside CC In February

Lehigh Valley HopsFest Coming Saturday, June 13th

The Celtic Cultural Alliance, host of the Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival, has set out to create one of the largest beer tastings in the Lehigh Valley (over 61 breweries participating).

Lehigh Valley HopsFest will happen on June 13th on the Celtic Classic competition field (Main & Lehigh Sts., Bethlehem).  This fundraiser has been created to help us grow our mission of promoting and preserving the Celtic culture.

Click the link for more information and to buy tickets:  http://www.celticfest.org/lv_hopsfest

Tri-County Area YWCA’s 1st Women’s History Month Celebration 2014

Where: Montgomery County Community College West
101 College Drive
Pottstown, PA 19464

When: Sunday, March 09, 2014

Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM

RSVP: Dawn Short (610) 323 – 1888 ext. 202

Email: dshort@ywcatricountyarea.org

Price: $40 Includes performance & lunch

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL $35 BEFORE FEB. 07
Get Your Tickets Now-This Event Is Sure To Sell Out Fast!

Featuring: Dr. Daisy Nelson Century – Dr. Daisy Nelson Century defines her role as a Historical Interpreter because she becomes that character.  She dresses like the character from that particular time period and weaves their story to the audience from birth to death.  She engages the audience through every phase of their life.  The audience will be right there to laugh, cry, sigh, and cheer as the character unfolds right in front of their eyes.  The performances are usually 35 minutes to 1 hour long. There is always room for questions at the end. 

Dr. Daisy Century has her Ed.D. She taught for over twenty years in the Philadelphia School System as an award winning science teacher.  She has become quite a history hound and historian researching information for her historical interpretations.

YWCA Tri-County Area  *  315 King Street, Pottstown, PA 19464

(610) 323 – 1888 *  www.ywcatricountyarea.org 

New Cafe Opens In Downtown Reading

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Reading PA – The customers of the cafe on the first floor of the M&T Bank building didn’t have much time to be disappointed when Dessert Dreamz moved to West Reading in June.

That’s because the cafe at 50 N. Fifth St. was vacant for only about a week until it reopened with the name Reggie’s Place.

Reggie McMullen, 54, of Cumru Township said she has worked in the food industry all of her life and served as catering manager for Panera Bread.

Building owner Alan Shuman knew of McMullen’s experience and contacted her when he found out Dessert Dreamz would be moving.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=502219

A Review Of The Milkman Lunch Co. & Cake Shoppe, Pottstown

Two friends and I paid a visit to the Milkman Lunch Co. & Cake Shoppe this afternoon.  I am instructed to tell you they are my very attractive friends, but I digress 🙂  Not long after the door closed I forgot I was in Pottstown.  The smell of cake and icing immediately filled our nostrils and we were transported to another place.

The decor and overall ambience immediately makes one feel at home.  My one friend said it makes her feel like she is in her grandmother’s kitchen.  The Milkman is a great place to linger over a leisurely lunch and some good conversation, which is exactly what we did.  I think we spent two hours there.

On a cold blustery day it was the perfect spot for lunch.  It was nice and warm inside and a great respite from the winter weather.  The owner Chris Longeway and Pastry Chef Sam Rhame were very welcoming and friendly.  The intimacy of the space makes you feel like you are visiting a friend’s home.

Today’s special was a Winter Bird Panini for $6.50.  The perfectly grilled sandwich included turkey breast, caramelized onion, tomato and other delicious ingredients.  We all had the special which came with the choice of a side.  Two of us had the pasta salad and one of us had pickles.   The pasta salad was a nice twist with a creamy dressing instead of the usual Italian and included asparagus, white beans, black olives and red bell pepper.  Delicious!

There is always room for dessert!  My companions each had a grilled muffin and I had the Mocha Spice cupcake.  Needless to say, this was a “makes you wanna slap your mama” good lunch!  Not a crumb was left!

I give two Roy’s Rants thumbs up to this little culinary treasure in the heart of Pottstown.

The Milkman is located at 451 North Charlotte Street.  They are right across Oak street from the North End Florist. 

Here is a write up from my friend Sue Repko of Positively Pottstown’s blog for some more information: http://positivelyptown.com/2011/06/06/the-milkman-serves-up-light-lunches-and-pretty-cakes/

You can also check out their Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Milkman-Lunch-Co-Cake-Shoppe/247142981979590

The Pottstown Cup – A Review

I had dinner at The Cup tonight and it was like visiting an old friend.

The place was packed, which is a great sign.  When I passed by this week I noticed there were a good amount of cars in the parking lot.  They opened Monday and it was a struggle to wait until Friday night to eat there.

I was hoping the menu would be more reflective of when Gerber’s owned the restaurant instead of the new incarnations which were too upscale and expensive for the type of establishment The Cup is.  Sandwiches, inexpensive platters and of course desserts, including ice cream, are back on the menu! 

This North End eatery has been a favorite and frequent spot for many Pottstown area residents.  When we walked in the door we immediately saw a family we know.  Once we made our way back to the dining room we saw three more couples we know.  For a moment I felt like I was at Cheers, where everybody knows your name.  In the past, many people at here once a week, or more.

There was only one item on the menu that I saw over $10.00 and that was a steak.  Most platters ranged from $6.95 to $9.95 and come with one vegetable and the soup and salad bar.  Of course sandwiches, hoagies, steaks, club sandwiches, salads and appetizers were on the menu and moderately priced as well.  There were specials on the board when you first walked in along with the regular menu items.

There were two soups, which I would say were homemade.  New England clam chowder and Italian Wedding (I think). We both had the Clam Chowder and were quite pleased.  The salad bar is small but has enough items to make a decent salad.  Rolls and butter were delivered to the table as well.

My girlfriend ordered the Chopped Steak which comes with sautéed onions and gravy.  She skipped the gravy but one of the couples we know said the gravy was good.  I ordered the Fried Haddock (two pieces) which comes with homemade tartar sauce.  We each ordered mashed potatoes as our one vegetable.

When the food came it was hot, prepared as requested and delicious.  The chopped steak was moist but not greasy.  It was a nice size!  My haddock was moist; it was not greasy nor was it over cooked.  The two pieces of fish were ample.  The mashed potatoes were instant but I didn’t expect they would be real.

The service was good.  Things were a little chaotic because they were very busy and this is the first week, however we had no complaints.  We were asked several times how the food was and did we need refills or anything else.  Everyone was friendly and attentive.

I give two Roy’s Rants thumbs up and hope business stays brisk.  I for one really missed The Cup and hope it is back to stay! 

The Cup is located at 903 N. Charlotte Street in Pottstown’s North End.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served.   Breakfast is served all day.

Bistro 137 – A Restaurant Review

As promised, I visited Bistro 137 on High Street in downtown Pottstown for breakfast this morning.  I have some interior shots for you and a review of breakfast.

When my breakfast companion and I entered the restaurant we were cheerfully greeted by what appeared to be the owner and two young women who were servers.  We were the only customers for a little while but while we were there 4-5 people came in and ordered breakfast to go.

The interior has been redone.  It is bright and cheerful, yet tasteful.  The menu gives diners a nice selection without overwhelming them with too many choices.

My friend ordered coffee and I ordered hot tea.  Coffee and tea come in three sizes, small, medium and large.  We both ordered a medium, which is a nice size.  My friend likes a good cup of coffee.  Her rating on the coffee was excellent (and she has high standards).

A wooden box was brought to the table and I was allowed to choose my tea from at least a dozen flavors.  Since it was breakfast, I stuck with good old Lipton.  Sweeteners are on the table.  Skim milk, whole milk and half and half are available for those who like a little cow with their beverage.  Hot drinks come in paper cups like at Wawa, with a cozy to keep your hand from getting too hot and a lid.  This is nice if you don’t finish your beverage; you can walk right out the door with it.  Mediums are $1.85.

We both decided on an omelet.  My friend ordered the American omelet and I ordered the Italian omelet.  They come with a choice of bread or roll.  We both decided on a roll with some basil in it.  I especially thought that would be a nice compliment to my Italian omelet.  After a reasonable amount of time, the food emerged from the kitchen.  It was hot and delicious. 

The Italian omelet is filled with Mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, peppers and onions.  It was a nice size and had just the right amount of each ingredient.  The basil roll was large and excellent (just the right amount of basil).  The server brought us butter for our rolls and for once there was enough butter!

My friend’s American omelet was filled with American cheese and bacon.  She thoroughly enjoyed it!  It appeared to have a decent amount of bacon in it.  The omelets were the same size, so their portion control is consistent.  She had the same basil roll and enjoyed it as well.

The atmosphere is casual, comfortable and we enjoyed a nice conversation about movies while we were there.  Good place to grab a bite with family or friends and relax.  Prices won’t kill your budget either.  The omelets were $4.50 each.  Our total bill, including drinks and tax was $13.46

We give two Roy’s Rants thumbs up to Bistro 137.  We plan on making a return trip to review their lunch menu.

Hours of operation are daily from 7:30am to 2:30pm. 

Voice:  (484) 300-4829

Internet: www.bistro137.com

Bistro 137 Opens On High Street In Downtown Pottstown

We have a new restaurant in the 100 block of High Street in downtown Pottstown.  Bistro 137 opened this week. 

They are open daily between 7am and 2:30pm serving breakfast and lunch.  I stopped in to grab a menu so that my readers will know about this new addition to our downtown.

Located in the building that formerly housed Churchill, Bistro 137 has a nice offering at very reasonable prices.  Breakfast includes bagels, pancakes, waffles, french toast, Danish, muffins, turnovers, oatmeal, low-fat granola with yogurt, yogurt, eggs, omelets and hash browns.  Everything on the breakfast menu is under $5!

Lunch includes appetizers, salads, cold sandwiches or wraps, New York style sandwiches and wraps, Bistro 137 signature sandwiches and wraps, Panini and soups.  Nothing over $9.

Drinks include coffee, tea, smoothies (a variety of flavors) soda, juice, bottled water and an expresso bar!

Bistro 137 also does catering!

I will be stopping in and giving Bistro 137 a try soon.  Look for a restaurant review!

Voice (484) 300-4826

Fax (484) 300-4829

Email: bistro137@gmail..com

Internet: www.bistro137.com

Ruby Tuesday, Lehigh Valley Mall, Restaurant Review

I needed to go to Allentown today and had a coupon for a free burger at Ruby Tuesday so I decided to hit the Lehigh Valley Mall as part of my trip.

Let’s just dive right in!

I was seated right away and the host was pleasant.  Sadly, I waited entirely too long for my server to make her way to my table.  They were NOT busy.  Once she arrived she was pleasant enough, but it took entirely too long.

Décor is tomb-like.  Talk about being ripe for a make-over!  Oy veh, I almost needed a miner’s helmet!  Everything is dark, including the lighting.  Whole place needs a gut and remodel.  Calling Candice Olson!  http://www.hgtv.com/candice-olson/bio/index.html  Worst décor in a Ruby Tuesday I have EVER seen!

The salad bar was awesome as usual.  Ruby Tuesday has a very nice salad bar.  It’s only $2.99 with a meal or sandwich so what the hell.  The salad bar was well stocked, clean, fresh and all those important things.

My entrée was a total disappointment.  I asked for my burger to be medium well.  It was medium rare.  There was entirely too much BBQ sauce, hardly any bacon, blue cheese or onion rings.  It was the Boston Blue Burger (a Ruby Tuesday signature item) topped with blue cheese crumbles, crisp onion rings, and our house-made Boston barbecue sauce $8.99.  If that’s a signature item you all should close the damn doors!  It SUCKED!  The meat, in addition to being undercooked, was tasteless.  I don’t think it was seasoned (don’t we watch the Food Network?)  It came with unlimited fries.

For dessert I tried the Tiramisu.  I asked the waitress if it was good and she didn’t know.  I gambled thinking it if sucked I would complain about it.  Thankfully, it was a nice sized portion and very tasty.  I could taste all the flavors and it was fresh.  The $4.99 price was a good value for a restaurant dessert.

The waitress did keep my tea glass full and she did offer me more French fries with the crappy entrée, which I declined.  She gets a few points for that.  She also wished me a happy birthday since my free meal was a birthday gift from Ruby Tuesday.  It is a shame that a signature item was so awful.  I have eaten and at number of Ruby Tuesday restaurants and have always enjoyed my food.  However, I never tried a burger before.  Nor will I again.

Décor/Ambience – F

Salad bar – A

Entrée – F

Dessert – A

Service – B

Overall score – C