About once a year, I take a break from my usual conceit of trying to think great thoughts about our fair city and attempt to do something a little different.
So, one year, I tongue-in-cheeked it through a list of Harrisburg “gotta knows” for city newcomers and, another year, I set out to lure overwrought Washingtonians to our smaller capital city.
February seems as good a time as any to distract myself—and you—with more foolishness. So, I’ve compiled a list of 50 “very Harrisburg” items, events and nuggets. This list is designed with residents in mind, though anyone who’s spent time in the city should be able to answer a bunch. Please know that this isn’t a serious competition—it’s just some silly fun.
Award yourself two points for each one accomplished/answered then visit our Facebook page and tell us how you did.
If nothing else, this little exercise may allow you to chew up a few minutes as we all sit around and wait our turn at the vaccine.
The List (each item is worth 2 points)
Harrisburg & You
1) You’re born and raised.
2) You attended school here.
3) You’ve taken a class at HACC (extra point for earning a degree).
4) You’re a happy transplant.
Official HBG
5) Identify the tropical storm that devastated Harrisburg in 1972.
6) Name a Harrisburg mayor not Reed, Thompson or Papenfuse.
7) Name more than one current member of City Council.
8) Correctly name the entity that conducts city street sweeping.
9) Name the entity that owns Harrisburg’s parking system.
10) You own an artifact that once belonged to Steve Reed.
Down on the Corner
11) You know how to properly pronounce “Muench” Street.
12) You’ve almost been hit crossing Forster or State streets.
13) You know the common name of the neighborhood that was destroyed to expand the Capitol complex (extra point for correctly naming the park that now dominates the area in back of the Capitol).
14) You’ve never complained on social media about parking.
15) You’ve been on a Harrisburg house tour (extra point for showing your house).
16) You’ve heard shots fired (another point if you later realized it was duck hunters).
17) What’s the nickname of the Walnut Street Bridge?
Chow Down
18) You’ve eaten at all three: Mangia Qui, Suba and Rubicon.
19) You’ve had pizza at Subway Café.
20) You’ve patronized the taco truck at 15th and Market streets.
21) You’ve brunched at Crawdaddy’s.
22) You’ve held the door open at the Broad Street Market for a long, long line of strangers.
23) You have memories of one of the following long-gone eateries: The Spot, Alsedek’s, Santanna’s or Harry’s Tavern.
24) You can name one previous restaurant in the building that now houses Note Bistro & Winebar (extra point for naming a prior occupant of Ted’s; and yet another point for naming a prior occupant of Los Tres Cubanos).
25) You dined in the street during 2020.
Parks & Rec
26) You’ve picnicked in Reservoir Park (another 2 points for sledding in Reservoir Park).
27) You’ve run an organized race along the Harrisburg riverfront.
28) You’ve walked, run or biked the entire 3.1-mile loop in Wildwood Park.
29) You’ve played Water Golf.
30) You’ve biked the entire Capital Area Greenbelt (extra point if it was during the Tour de Belt; extra two points if you can identify the section of the Greenbelt that features the MLK Jr. Memorial).
31) You’ve attended at least two summer festivals in Riverfront Park (extra point for naming two memorials or statues located in Riverfront Park; extra two points for naming the organization primarily responsible for the Peace Garden)
Harrisburg Critters
32) You’ve waded through a cloud of mayflies (extra point if this happened at a Harrisburg Senators game).
33) You’ve swallowed a gnat while running/biking on the river walk.
34) You’ve had it already with all the spider webs!
35) You’ve dodged geese in Riverfront Park or Italian Lake.
36) You’ve dodged goose droppings in Riverfront Park or Italian Lake.
37) You’ve had some type of mouse, groundhog or squirrel issue.
38) You’ve posted on social media about a stray cat (extra 2 points for adopting the cat; another 2 points for visiting the Friends of Midtown Community Dog Park).
39) You know about the Harrisburg beaver and its vital role in city history.
Hometown Tourist
40) You’ve toured the state Capitol as an adult (add 2 more points for also visiting the State Museum as an adult).
41) You’ve been inside the Harris Cameron Mansion (extra point for touring the Fort Hunter Mansion).
42) You’ve attended at least two PA Farm Shows (extra point for going to “Food Court” day; another point for going in a snowstorm).
43) You’ve explored Harrisburg Cemetery, for fun.
44) You’ve attended a 3rd in the Burg event (extra point for hosting one).
45) You have a favorite Harrisburg mural (extra point for naming the artist.)
46) You’ve been on a pontoon boat on the Susquehanna.
47) You’ve kayaked on the Susquehanna.
48) You’ve sailed on the Pride of the Susquehanna.
49) You have a regular spot where you pick up TheBurg magazine (extra point if you subscribe to TheBurg Daily and another point if you’ve listened to TheBurg Podcast; two extra points if your name has been in TheBurg).
50) You heart Harrisburg.
Extra Credit: Award yourself two more big points if you’re a “Friend of TheBurg!”
How’d you do? We’ll link to this column on Facebook on the day the print issue drops (Jan. 29), so you can share your feedback with us. Sorry—there are no prizes, but I hope this column offered you a brief mental vacation. Now, where’s my vaccine already?
Your Score
Fewer than 20 points: What’s a Harrisburg?
20-30 points: You run the lights on Forster Street to vamoose.
30-40 points: You might show up—if the parking’s free.
40-50 points: Currently scrolling Trulia, hoping to find “deal.”
50-60 points: Asking around for “reliable” contractor.
60-70 points: You know where to get the best food at Kipona.
70-80 points: You eagerly anticipate each new issue of TheBurg.
80-90 points: You should have your own stand in the Broad Street Market.
90-100+ points: You’re John Harris.
Most responses are personal or subjective, but some items have actual answers. These include:
- 5: Agnes
- 6: There are too many to name here, but, believe it or not, there’s an informative Wikipedia page that lists all of Harrisburg’s mayors since the city incorporated—check it out.
- 8: Capital Region Water
- 9: The city technically owns the system but leases it.
- 11: “Min-ick” Street
- 13: Old 8th Ward and, for extra point, Soldier’s Grove
- 17: Old Shaky
- 30: The MLK Jr. Memorial is located on the Greenbelt’s Cameron Parkway.
- 31: The local chapter of the Physicians for Social Responsibility spearheaded creation of the Peace Garden.
Lawrance Binda is co-publisher and editor-in-chief of TheBurg.
Illustrations by Rich Hauck.
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