Massachusetts Looks To The Lehigh Valley For Inspiration

It’s a river city with quaint Victorian architecture once known for its pioneering manufacturing processes that gave America the industrial might to fight its wars.

But now, it’s re-imagining itself as a “knowledge corridor,” thanks to nearby colleges, and possibly as an entertainment center as gaming companies circle for a place to put a new casino.

That might sound a lot like Bethlehem.

But it’s Springfield, the biggest city in western Massachusetts.

As leaders there begin to dive into the details of reinventing the greater Springfield area, they are looking at Bethlehem as it enters its fourth year hosting a casino and the rest of the Lehigh Valley for advice and inspiration.

Read more:

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-bethlehem-springfield-gaming-20121129,0,5144006.story

Top Selling Jazz Act Appearing At The Sands Event Center, Bethlehem

Image via Wikipedia

Diana Krall, the pianist and singer who has sold more than 6 million albums in the United States — she’s the only singer to have eight albums (her last eight) debut at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums — and won three Grammy Awards, will play the center on July 8.

That’s according to a tour itinerary sent out by Krall’s publicist. Neither her website nor the event center’s lists the show yet.

Gerald R, Deifer, one of the founders of the event center, said only, “that would be a big show.”

Read more: http://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2012/03/another-big-act-revealed-for-sands-event-center-this-ones-a-jazz-singer.html

Eagles’ Lead Singer Glenn Frey Coming To Bethlehem’s Sands Event Center

Image via Wikipedia

The lead singer of a classic rock band that is among the biggest-selling of all time  – and who also had six Top 20 solo hits — will complete the lineup for the opening week of the Sands Bethlehem Event Center, the venue just announced.

Glenn Frey, who sang The Eagles’ breakthrough hit “Take It Easy” and No. 1 songs “New Kid in Town” and “Heartache Tonight,” then topped the charts solo with “The Heat is On” and “You Belong to the City,” will play the event center on May 18, the venue announced on its website, www.sandseventcenter.com.

Read more: http://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2012/03/singer-from-one-of-biggest-selling-bands-of-all-time-to-play-at-sands-event-center.html

Jay Leno To Headline At Bethlehem Sands Event Center

Image via Wikipedia

Jay Leno, who hosted NBC-TV’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” from 1992 to 2009, then resumed as its host in 2010 after having his own prime-time “The Jay Leno Show,” will perform at the event center  on Aug. 10.

Tickets are $65, $79.50 and $99.50.

To see who else is coming, click on the link below: http://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2012/02/late-night-talk-show-icon-country-music-monarch-biggest-selling-instrumentalist-ever-set-for-sands.html