Author Archives: Maddie Conley

Owners of Black art-focused café to open “upscale” sports bar in former Crawdaddy’s restaurant

May 12, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Jameson Christopher and Sachiko Baez in front of the future location of Slice.

When Sachiko Baez thinks about what Harrisburg needs, she envisions a sports bar.

But it’s not just any sports bar that she has in mind; it’s elevated, upscale and inviting.

This is exactly the atmosphere she and partner Jameson Christopher plan to bring to their new business venture, “Slice,” a bar and restaurant coming to the former Crawdaddy’s Restaurant on N. 6^th Street.

Slice will be Baez and Christopher’s second Harrisburg business after Coda Rouge, a brunch café featuring Black art, that opened in early 2024, also on 6^th Street.

Crawdaddy’s closed in January this year after over a decade in business.

According to Baez, for much of its lifespan, Crawdaddy’s was owned by her uncle, whom she came to help with his business towards the end of the pandemic.

“I’ve always been interested in that space,” she said. “I always envisioned a sports bar.”

Baez said that Slice, her father’s nickname, will be reminiscent of upscale sports bars in bigger cities, something she didn’t see locally.

“You’ll feel like you’re in a big city, but this is your neighborhood,” Baez said.

Baez said the bar will pay homage to the local sports scene and local legends, with athletic-themed art and décor.

“We want to represent the Harrisburg talent,” she said. “There’s so much sports talent that came out of Harrisburg.”

The restaurant’s menu will offer elevated sports bar food for lunch and dinner hours.

The team also wants Slice to be a hangout spot for the community. They will have billiards, possibly golf simulators, live music, and of course, sports games on T.V.

Slice is slated for a soft opening at the end of June.

“Everybody’s welcome,” Baez said. “I just want it to be fun.”

Slice will be located at 1500 N. 6^th St. A website for Slice is still in the works. For more information about Coda Rouge, visit their website.

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Civic Club of Harrisburg to host annual show, market during Artsfest to highlight newer, local artists

May 12, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Artsfest at the Civic Club 2025

An upcoming show will let the community get a taste of the area’s up-and-coming artists.

During Artsfest over Memorial Day weekend, the Civic Club of Harrisburg will host local artists in its riverfront building, helping newer artists get their foot in the door.

“We are attracting people who don’t generally do shows,” said Reina 76 Artist of Harrisburg, the event organizer. “We offer the opportunity to be part of something larger.”

This will be the fifth year that the Civic Club has hosted the event, this year bringing 35 vendors who will show and sell their wares from May 23 to 25. There will be videography, jewelry, fine art, woodwork, fashion, photography and more, including returning and new vendors.

Reina said she helps guide newer artists on how to set up a vendor stand, how to market themselves and engage with the public. The experience, she said, helps build their confidence.

“It’s like the training wheels,” she said.

While the main Artsfest includes a juried selection process and entry fee, the Civic Club’s show is a low barrier to entry. Some artists who started in the Civic Club have eventually gone on to be selected to vend at Artsfest, Reina said proudly.

Artsfest in the Civic Club 2025. Pictured: Jemar Sweets.

The event also gives the public the chance to view the historic Civic Club building and grounds, Reina said. The club also hosts a wine garden outside during the festival.

Contrena Baltimore, president of the Civic Club, said that the event serves as a “cultural gathering.”

“The Artsfest, for us at the Civic Club, is not just an event, it is a returning breath,” Baltimore said. “A yearly gathering where art, people and place remember each other.”

Reina is especially excited about the community that the art show is forming in Harrisburg.

“I’ve always wanted to build a community of artists,” she said. “We need that in the city full-time. We need that collective and camaraderie throughout the year.”

Each day of the festival, the Civic Club show will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Harrisburg seeks to fight illegal dumping with summer cleanups

May 11, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

City Council member Ralph Rodriguez, along with city and local officials, announced Hot Spot Saturdays at city hall.

This summer, a community event will tackle a hot city issue.

Harrisburg City Council member Ralph Rodriguez and Mayor Wanda Williams on Monday announced this year’s Hot Spot Saturdays, an effort to address illegal dumping.

“The message is: we don’t want your waste any longer,” Rodriguez said, at a city hall press conference.

The cleanups, which the city has hosted for several years, utilize volunteers help to clean up hot spots for illegal trash dumping across the city. With equipment provided by the city, volunteers will clean alongside public works employees. The city has also partnered with LCSWMA for disposal, at no cost to the city, Rodriguez said.

In the past three years of Hot Spot Saturdays, volunteers have cleaned up about 200 tons of trash, Rodriguez added.

Director of Public Works Dave West also shared that the city continues attempting to catch illegal dumpers by utilizing cameras in hot spots.

This year’s Hot Spot Saturdays will take place at the following locations, with the following partners, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.:

May 16—Allison Hill cleanup, Wildheart Ministries, meetup at 333 S. 13th St.
June 27—South Side cleanup, Dauphin County Recycling Center/Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), meetup at 1710 Hanover St.
June 25—Shipoke cleanup, Capital Region Water, meetup at 547 S. Front St.
29—Midtown cleanup, Friends of Midtown, meetup at 1830 N. 5th St.
19—Uptown cleanup, Camp Curtin YMCA, meetup at 600 Woodbine St.

“A clean city does not happen by accident,” Williams said. “It happens when people decide that pride still matters.”

For more information, visit the city’s website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

May 8, 2026 | by TheBurg Staff

City Island Arcade

Happy Friday, Harrisburg. Finish the week strong by catching up on our news coverage.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, as our publisher and editor-in-chief, Larry Binda, will be speaking with Strong Towns about TheBurg’s place in the city and how our local news outlet came to be.

Check out the full weekly news haul below:

Harrisburg announced plans to reopen the arcade on City Island later this month. It previously closed in 2019.

Harrisburg officials said Tuesday that the total estimated cost to rebuild the Broad Street Market has risen from $20.8 million to $23.7 million, partly due to the collapse of a wall on site this winter.

Harrisburg Police Bureau launched a new mental health tool, offering residents a new way to seek assistance with mental health issues.

Harrisburg specialty coffee shops and roasteries Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Elementary Coffee Co. and Denim Coffee took TheBurg behind the scenes to share how they roast their beans.

Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville will host its annual Armed Forces Day Echo Taps ceremony next weekend.

Midtown Cinema will soon show the movie “Blue Heron,” which traces the story of a family and a childhood on the rocks. Here’s what to expect from our movie reviewer.

Our editor introduced TheBurg’s May dining issue with his monthly publisher’s note, praising the city’s food and beverage offerings.

Sara Bozich has compiled the best events of the weekend in her Weekend Roundup, including the first of a new Tiny Park Concert Series in Coronet Park. Check out the full list.

St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Steelton will host the Serbian Singing Festival, celebrating 100 years of Serbian choral music in North America, over Memorial Day weekend.

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Harisburg to reopen City Island arcade for the summer

May 6, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

City Island Arcade

It’s game on, on City Island.

Harrisburg recently announced that, later this month, it will reopen the arcade on City Island, which closed in 2019.

City Communications Director Mischelle Moyer shared that Harrisburg will host a grand opening of the arcade on Friday, May 22, from 3 to 9 p.m.

The arcade will be open for the summer, through August, with hours from 3 to 9 p.m. on Mondays through Sundays. Hours will occasionally be extended to coincide with Harrisburg Senators’ baseball games.

Arcade games will cost between $1 to $3 per play.

The arcade closed in 2019 along with nearby batting cages owned by the same company.

Last year, parks and recreation officials shared that they were working to increase programming on City Island. They started hosting roller skating nights in the pavilion building and hosted a one-time arcade night in the arcade building, serving as a pilot program to gauge community interest.

Also, at a meeting last week, City Council approved the submission of a grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for $500,000 to develop a master plan for City Island. According to the grant application, the plan would help Harrisburg study traffic flow on the island, the current use of the island by vendors, and possibilities for year-round activities, among other items.

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Harrisburg Police Bureau offering mental health support meetings with co-responders

May 6, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Public Safety Building

The Harrisburg Police Bureau has launched a new mental health tool.

In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month, the bureau is offering residents a way to set up a meeting with a Dauphin County co-responder, mental health professionals who partner with police.

By filling out an online form, residents can seek assistance with issues around mental health, alcohol and substance abuse, aging and other concerns. A co-responder will then contact the resident and schedule a meeting to hear their concerns and connect them to local resources.

According to Capt. Kyle Gautsch, the initiative is a way for the bureau to better help city residents.

The form is for non-emergency situations. To report emergencies or crimes, residents should call 911.

For more information, visit the Harrisburg Police Bureau on Crimewatch.

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Winter wall collapse raises cost of Broad Street Market rebuild

May 5, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Broad Street Market brick building construction in March.

The price tag for the Broad Street Market rebuild has increased due to unexpected expenses.

At a City Council meeting Tuesday, Harrisburg officials shared that the total estimated project cost will jump from $20.8 million to $23.7 million, with some of the change due to the collapse of a wall on site.

In September 2025, the city estimated that the cost to rebuild the fire-damaged brick building would be about $23 million. However, that number lowered to $20.8 million once construction contracts were in place, explained City Solicitor Neil Grover. Officials say that number is now closer to the original projection, due to about $3.2 million in unexpected change orders.

A big chunk of those change orders stem from the collapse of a wall of the brick building in December. Debbie Reihart, city project manager, said that shoring work to stabilize the structure after the collapse costs about $2.5 million.

To cover the costs, Harrisburg expects that it can get another $3 million from insurance proceeds and wants to draw down $2.2 million from its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) fund, federal money awarded to the city.

City Council is slated to vote on the budget reallocation at its next meeting. Council Vice President Lamont Jones has questioned the high price tag of the project.

Reihart explained that the high cost of building materials, the historic nature of the building, and the unexpected wall collapse all have contributed to the cost increase.

Construction is slated to be completed by May 2027, Reihart said.

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Veterans to be honored with Taps on Armed Forces Day

May 1, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Bugles Across America members at a previous event.

An upcoming event will honor veterans with traditional music.

Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville shared that it would host its annual Armed Forces Day Echo Taps ceremony on May 16, made even more significant by the 250^th anniversary of the country.

“This occasion offers a special moment for reflection and gratitude, recognizing the sacrifices made by veterans and commemorating this important milestone in our country’s history,” said the organization’s press release.

The ceremony will feature a traditional three-volley rifle salute by the Vet 21 Salute Honor Guard of Lancaster and the Echo Taps, the sequential sounding of Taps throughout the cemetery by a corps of buglers from across the region.

The Pennsylvania chapter of Bugles Across America, which is sponsoring the event, will also perform a musical tribute at the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Memorial at the cemetery. Chaplain (Colonel) Matthew Atkins of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle will speak as well.

At the event, there will be a memorial book for friends and family to sign.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in front of the cemetery’s administration building.

For more information about Bugles Across America, visit their website.

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Harrisburg YMCA takes over Strawberry Square boutique fitness space

April 30, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Rendering of Y on Market signage.

Harrisburg fitness enthusiasts can get their sweat on at a new YMCA location.

The Harrisburg Area YMCA on Thursday announced that it has taken over operations of the former “Fit on Market” fitness studio in Strawberry Square downtown.

The 3,420-square-foot boutique fitness center opened in 2020 at 312 Market St. and was operated by Harristown, the owner of Strawberry Square. However, beginning April 1, the Y began leasing the space and operating it.

“We are always looking for new ways to serve our members where they are, and this space allows us to bring the YMCA mission directly into the center of downtown Harrisburg,” said David Ozmore, president & CEO of the Harrisburg Area YMCA.

Previous Fit on Market members’ rates will be matched until their membership terms end. Strawberry Square tenants and Fit on Market members can get 20% off the standard Y membership rate, if applied for before the end of June.

YMCA members can access the new location even when Strawberry Square is not open. Shower facilities and lockers are available to all members.

On-street parking downtown is free before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m., and all day on Sundays.

According to the Y’s press release, the organization’s expansion reflects its commitment to the revitalization of downtown Harrisburg. The Market Street gym is the Y’s second downtown location, with its first being located on N. Front Street.

“We welcome the Harrisburg Area YMCA as our new tenant here to bring its respected brand to Strawberry Square,” said Brad Jones, president & CEO of Harristown. “Serving both the workforce and residential populations here in the city, this location will add a very convenient branch to the YMCA lineup of central PA locations.”

For more information about the Y on Market, visit their website.

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LGBT Center shares schedule of upcoming spring events

April 30, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

LGBT Center’s building on N. Front Street.

Community events are blooming this spring at the LGBT Center of Central PA.

The organization recently announced its schedule of happenings for the coming months, including exhibits, screenings and celebrations.

“Spending time in community is as important as it ever has been, and we’re excited to open our doors to all,” said LGBT Center Executive Director Amber Barnes.

Events will kick off in May, with a Kentucky Derby fundraiser at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course on May 2. At the event, there will be food, drinks, a hat contest and hobby horse race.

On May 16, the LGBT Center will participate in a Highmark Walk Fundraiser, starting in the HACC parking lot. The following day, on May 17, the center will collaborate with Midtown Cinema for a screening of “The First Lady,” as part of the Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival.

Also this spring, an LGBT History exhibit, “HIV/AIDS: A History of the Response of the Central PA LGBTQ+ Community to the Pandemic,” will be on display at the LGBT Center.

At the end of the summer, the center plans to host its largest event, its annual FAB celebration, on Aug. 22

For more information about the LGBT Center and upcoming events, visit their website.

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