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Tag Archives: museums
Bethlehem Continues To Boost Christmas Events
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Bethlehem keeps working to earn its Christmas City nickname.
The city may have more holiday events than ever this year: Christkindlmarkt is open for its 21st year, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is holding holiday tours and carriage rides for its 20th year and Center City’s Christmas City Village is returning for its third year.
The continued addition of holiday attractions has only helped existing events, operators said. Christkindlmarkt, a German-style holiday marketplace put on by ArtsQuest, had two of its three best years following the debut of the Downtown Bethlehem Association-organized Christmas City Village in 2011, ArtsQuest spokesman Mark Demko said.
Christmas City Village — an open-air German-style market also known as Weihnachtsmarkt — is adding another five huts for a total of 35 this year, Downtown Business Association Manager Kara Johnson said. And Historic Bethlehem is already ahead of schedule on pre-sale tour and carriage ride tickets, according to LoriAnn Wukitsch, the organization’s vice president and managing director.
Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2013/11/bethlehem_continues_to_boost_c.html
Corning, NY: Most Fun Small Town In America
Just another example of what is possible if there’s a vision. I grew up near Corning and always enjoyed going there. Now it’s even better. Congrats to Corning, NY on their designation as “Most Fun Small Town in America” by Rand McNally!
“Living History Sundays” At Pottsgrove Manor
Pottstown, Pennsylvania — Come spend a casual summer Sunday afternoon at Pottsgrove Manor and enjoy the 18th century surroundings as volunteers demonstrate colonial trades and pastimes.
On August 5, 12, 19, and 26, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Pottsgrove Manor’s living history volunteers, dressed in colonial period clothing, will be living life the colonial way. Activities may include needlework, gunsmithing, butter churning, tape weaving, and more. Visitors can watch, learn, and even join in! Activities will vary from week to week, so call ahead or check the event listing on Pottsgrove Manor’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor to find out what will be offered that day.
A donation of $2 per person is suggested for this program. Guests can also tour the museum’s current exhibit, “Matters Personal, Details Private: Cleanliness, Hygiene, and Personal Pursuits in the Colonial Home” on their visit.
The exhibit can also be viewed during a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during regular museum hours now through November 4. Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3:00 p.m. The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of then 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 and Heritage Services Department. For more information, call 610-326-4014, or visit us the website at http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor.
Midtown Harrisburg Becoming Arts And Cultural District: Susquehanna Art Museum Moving To Midtown
Image via Wikipedia
A vacant property is set to become the new home of the Susquehanna Art Museum in Midtown Harrisburg. Midtown is a neighborhood in transition. If you recall my 3rd in the Burg post, I touched on Harrisburg’s emerging arts and cultural scene. This neighborhood has become a focal point of urban renewal and revitalization by making itself a “destination” that is attracting people to Harrisburg.
Millions of dollars are being poured into Midtown redevelopment. Creative business owners like Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Midtown Cinema, Midtown Harrisburg Arts Center and a growing list of restaurants and cafés are also leading the way. The addition of the Susquehanna Art Museum will strengthen the fledgling district and attract more business to the area. Having events like 3rd in the Burg already in place will only accelerate revitalization efforts.
Another huge addition to Midtown will be the new federal courthouse that will break ground in 2013. The $130 million building will bring an influx of workers into the neighborhood that have disposable income to spend on things like food and arts/culture, along with other businesses that will sprout up as the result of all this development. The site of the new federal courthouse is now a parking lot.
GreenWorks Development has been busy spending redevelopment dollars in Midtown. They own a large amount of property in the neighborhood, including the new museum site. In addition to the $50 million they have spent thus far, they plan to spend another $75 million on future projects. Harrisburg Area Community College and Fulton Bank have already benefited from GreenWorks’ projects. A four-story Campus Green building, costing $14.3 million, is another project that has benefited Midtown. GreenWorks is also involved with residential development by creating affordable and market-priced housing in Midtown, which will be critical for Midtown’s continued redevelopment.
Midtown Development has also been a player in this neighborhood’s revitalization efforts by renovating blighted properties.
Local business owners and residents are optimistic. Most see a bright future for Midtown. There are always some skeptics and detractors, but the majority of residents see these changes as taking their neighborhood in the right direction. There is still a long road ahead and things take time, but tangible progress is being made to revitalize Midtown Harrisburg and make it “the place to be” in Pennsylvania’s capital city.
Pittsburgh’s North Shore Connector 80 Percent Complete
Image via Wikipedia
Pittsburgh’s controversial North Shore Connector project has passed the 80% completion mark. The project is on time and the $528 million dollar budget is on track!
When the project is completed, Port Authority Transit (PAT) will be able to reach the three sports stadiums, museums, a casino and other North Side businesses through two twin tunnels that were bored 22 feet below the Allegheny River.
The “T”, Pittsburgh’s light-rail system and subway, will leave the Golden Triangle, go under the river and come up on the North Shore. This means that all those sports fans, concert goers, museum goers, gamblers, shoppers and diners can park their cars and use mass transit to glide through Pittsburgh to their destination.
Being from Pittsburgh and having used mass transit there extensively, including the “T”, I think this will make life so much easier. Sitting on 376, stuck in the Squirrel Hill Tunnel waiting for traffic to move ain’t pretty. I have sat inside the Squirrel Hill tunnel many times going downtown for a game, shopping, or just trying to cross Pittsburgh during rush hour. Thank goodness I am not claustrophobic.
Tunnels are a way of life in Pittsburgh! The Liberty Tubes and the Fort Pitt Tunnel are also pretty unavoidable and back up as well. For example, it would be nice to ride from the South Hills all the way to PNC Park on PAT. No parking worries and not being stuck in traffic!
While this project has its detractors and has been labeled a gigantic waste of money, hopefully once Pittsburgers are able to use this extension and reap the benefits from it, time will show it was a good thing. I would most definitely use it!
To read more and watch a cool video shot inside the Connector, click here:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_712911.html
A Victorian Christmas – Williamsport Embraces Its Heritage And Capitalizes On Tourism
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A Victorian Christmas in Williamsport is not a one trick pony. The event spans three days and includes a Holiday House Tour, a Holiday Parade downtown, Millionaire’s Row mansion tours, church tours, Williamsport Growers Market, carriage rides at Park Place, a Toy Train Expo, museum tours, a Victorian Soup Luncheon, a Victorian Buffet, a Victorian Tea and a Living Nativity!
A Victorian Christmas in Williamsport starts this Friday, November 19th and concludes on Sunday, November 21.
For more information and details see their website:
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