On April 30, 1988, the people of Selinsgrove, Pa., gathered 33,000 bananas, 2,500 gallons of ice cream, 6,000 pounds of nuts and, with all of the assorted toppings, created the world’s largest banana split. It measured 7.32 kilometers (4.55 miles) long.
Obviously, the record-setting confection has long since melted/been consumed. But I mention this to show that this historic, riverside community in Snyder County, about 50 miles north of Harrisburg, has a whimsical side, a fun side. (Well, the town is known for being near the Penns Creek Massacre of 1755, but we’ll just let that slide for now).
Today, Selinsgrove is easier to enjoy than it has been in a long time. In recent years, its quaint downtown has been restored to host colorful boutique shops, cafes and family-owned restaurants, making a trip up Route 11/15 worth a day trip from the Harrisburg area.
A Portal to Selinsgrove
A fine arts gallery, the Post & Lintel’s name comes from an architectural term referring to the construction of a door, the “posts” being the sides or door jams and the “lintel” the crossbeam at the top.
Owner Stacey Martin developed her vision for the gallery by designing each space to maintain the integrity of the works contained therein. “I wanted the gallery to function as an inclusive hub where artists can learn and support each other, hence the term ‘portal into the artist’s world,’” she said.
Before opening The Post & Lintel, Martin taught art in the Harrisburg area for 13 years. She is a professional photographer and charcoal artist who has participated in many top 100 art shows across the country.
In addition to showcasing art in the gallery, Martin offers an array of workshops for people of all ages and experience levels.
“The Post Dance Studio,” Martin continues, “is located on the second floor and features a variety of classes, including classical dance, zumba, the Susquehanna Valley Young Actors Camp and voice and guitar lessons.”
On the top floor is the Urban Post, a modern clothing boutique that provides a constantly changing selection of clothing and jewelry on the cutting edge of fashion. No more than three of the same items are ever available at Urban Post, ensuring customers have a unique shopping experience.
“I’m proud that many of the pieces are hand-crafted by local artisans and offered only at Urban Post,” Martin says.
Each month, the Post & Lintel highlights a different artist as part of the “Artists 4 the Grove” series. “The receptions are normally scheduled on the fourth Saturday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m.,” Martin says with a chuckle. “That way, we don’t need to compete with Susquehanna University’s Friday night football games and multitude of activities at the Speedway.”
“The show on Aug. 24 is going to have a little different flavor,” Martin continues. “Rather than featuring a single artist, the gallery will be hosting an exposition on the theme ‘Journey,’ the Post & Lintel’s first-ever literary contest.”
For the contest, writers can submit works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry or a hybrid of these three, she says. Both gallery floors, as well as the Urban Post, will be open that evening.
College & Cars
Just up the hill from Post & Lintel sits Susquehanna University, a liberal arts college founded in 1858.
At the college, activities abound throughout the year to serve more than 2,200 undergraduates from 35 states and 17 countries. Visitors to Selinsgrove might enjoy stopping by the Lore Degenstein Gallery and Degenstein Center Theater, which host exhibits and performances from September through April.
To graduating senior Jamie Beaudoin, Susquehanna University is more than just a school.
“As a first generation college student in my family,” Beaudoin says, “Susquehanna University made it possible for me to attend here through a variety of grants and other programs. And the professors in the creative writing program styled their instruction in a workshop rather than lecture format, something you normally only see at the graduate level in other universities. I’m so glad I could go here.”
Located just a few blocks from Susquehanna University is the Selinsgrove Speedway. Billed as the “Fastest Half Mile on the East Coast,” the speedway hosts races from March through October. The roar of the engines and the cheers of the crowds provide for a fun and exciting evening.
Hungry Yet?
Back downtown, Robert Kirkpatrick opened BJ’s Steak and Rib House in 1982. He moved the restaurant to its present location on N. Market Street six years later, gaining a reputation for serving great steaks.
“The secret is that we dry-age our steaks,” said Cathy Oehrig, restaurant manager who has worked at BJ’s for almost 20 years. “The steaks are stored in our cooler for 28 days before they’re cut by our butcher.”
Other items, though, are just as popular.
“I love it here because Robert is innovative and insists on the best,” says Oehrig, who also mentioned she enjoys the sense of community that permeates Selinsgrove. “For example, he opened an Oyster Raw Bar a couple of years ago and was the first to bring barbecue to the area.”
Like Italian? At Isabella Ristorante, owner Domenico Napoli offers an amazing range of food, from lobster ravioli to rigatoni Roma to veal Parmigiana—and everything in between. The meals are filling, tasty and served with fresh Italian bread and vegetables.
Located in an old bank building, Napoli has kept the original details of the bank, including the old-fashioned teller windows, which he’s made into a small bar. It is an elegant restaurant, yet you can dress casually.
A Sleep Over
If you find you’re too full to drive home, you easily can find great in-town accommodations.
A stay at the Selinsgrove Inn on N. Market allows each guest to enjoy downtown or visit Susquehanna University while being pampered in high style. With lush design and great service, the Selinsgrove Inn is a relaxing, sophisticated place to stay.
I had a chance to speak with Maxine Thwaits, the inn’s manager.
“Scott and Melanie Shaffer opened the inn in October 2006,” Thwaits says. “They wanted a place above the norm, someplace they’d enjoy visiting when they traveled, a place where the rooms are furnished with the furniture a visitor might find in their own home.”
As well as being comfortable, each one of the 24 guest rooms at the Selinsgrove Inn is quite functional with phones, high-speed Internet and kitchenettes.
“And best of all,” Thwaits says, “the breakfasts are special. Not just your run-of-the-mill continental breakfast, but real home-cooked meals, the kind you’d hope to find at your mother’s country home.”
As I traveled around Selinsgrove, I heard rumors that it might be time to try for another record-breaking banana split. If that’s the case, then I suggest you stay tuned and plan your visit accordingly. Oh, and be sure to bring a large spoon.
Don Helin published his first thriller, “Thy Kingdom Come,” in 2009. His second thriller, “Devil’s Den,” has been selected as a Finalist in the Indie Book Awards. Don lives in central Pennsylvania. Contact him at www.donhelin.com.
Isabella Ristorante
23 S. Market St.
Open Monday through Saturday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Phone: 570-374-0255
Selinsgrove Inn
214 N. Market St.
Phone: 570-374-4100
www.selinsgroveinn.com
Post & Lintel
34 S. Market St.
Open Tuesday and Thursday, 11:15 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Open Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 570-374-0606
www.thepostandlintel.com
Susquehanna University
514 University Ave.
www.susqu.edu
Selinsgrove Speedway
47 Sand Hill Rd.
www.selinsgrovespeedway.com
BJ’s Steak and Rib House
17 N. Market St.
Open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight
Open Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
www.bjsribs.com
Phone: 570-374-9841
