Recipe for Success: See what’s cooking at Taste Test York.

May 31, 2018 | by Rachel Jenkins

To open a restaurant, you need the concept, location, connections, funds and courage to make it happen. Or do you?

Taste Test York is trying to make the path to starting a restaurant a little less rocky by providing mentorship and a safety net. This kitchen incubator helps reduce the risk by helping aspiring restaurateurs hone in on their brand, concept and issues in an educational way.

Taste Test encompasses two pop-up shop locations, including the audition space and the restaurant and bar, as well as an outdoor bar and eating area known as the cantina. While the audition and restaurant space can house completely separate concepts, they both have one thing in common. Each menu has a QR code and a call to action requesting that customers provide feedback via an online survey about the food, service, experience and what could be done better.

That’s because, unlike a traditional restaurant, Taste Test York is a space for restaurateurs to test concepts and ideas for a short period of time without the financial burden or risk of opening a restaurant on their own.

Rookie Mistakes

Allison Witherow is chief marketing officer of ONE Hospitality and co-owner of Taste Test York. Her brand development and marketing expertise make up one-quarter of Taste Test’s mentorship team.

The rest of the team includes co-owner Toni Calderone, owner of Tutoni’s Restaurant and president of Taste Test, Robert Faucette, the director of operations, and Jordan Pfaultz, the director of finance.

Together, these seasoned industry veterans provide aspiring restaurateurs with the knowledge, know-how and skills to get started.

Witherow explained the inception of their unique business venture.

“[Calderone] had such a difficult time getting her restaurant started,” she said. “She always says she heard the word ‘no’ from 17 different banks because restaurants have such a high failure rate that banks aren’t lending to them right now.”

After Calderone successfully received private funding and opened her first full-service operation, a whole new set of rookie mistakes ensued.

“So, we got to thinking one day, there must be a better way,” she said. “There must be a better way for somebody who doesn’t currently have a restaurant to enter the restaurant industry as an owner. Both by getting financing, but also just a way for them to make all of their mistakes before it’s too late.”

Instead of having aspiring restaurateurs put their livelihoods, houses or futures on the line, Witherow and Calderone put their local connections to the test.

Fast-forward almost two years, and Taste Test has proven itself to be a staple in downtown York’s food scene. Chefs and entrepreneurs alike come to pitch their ideas to the four mentors in hopes of landing a spot in the audition space. From there, they are given one month, with a minimum of 15 days of service, to flesh out their concept and captivate local audiences.

The best part? Besides the guidance of four local experts, participants are given an opportunity to run with their concept without having to front the money.

“We actually are willing to put food costs up front so you don’t have to,” Witherow said.

The Feedback

For local chefs and restaurateurs, this concept has been a game-changer.

Chef Brando Diaz and his partner, Anisa Diaczun own Paco’s, a taco shop concept that’s been in Taste Test three times over the past year and will be back this month.

A former cook at Tutoni’s, Diaz explained the importance of this concept to him.

“[Tutoni’s] was probably the highest level of cooking I could get at, but it wasn’t what I wanted to cook,” he said. “It wasn’t Mexican. It wasn’t the things I wanted to learn.”

From the inception of a basic taco shop offering hand-pressed tortillas with meat and cilantro, Paco’s has transformed into a locally sourced, signature taco-based concept featuring exotic and authentic Mexican flavors.

“Our first pop up was completely different than our current pop up,” Diaz said.

Through Taste Test, Paco’s has created a following of customers eagerly awaiting their next move.

This is especially important because the co-owners of Taste Test and aspiring restaurateurs agree that customer feedback is one of the most important learning tools.

“We like Taste Test so much because it’s about the feedback,” Diaczun said. “We like getting the ideas of other people. What the customers like, what the area around you is like, it’s all really helpful.”

And, according to Witherow, it’s not just Paco’s that’s gaining local attention.

Known affectionately as “taste testers,” locals enjoy playing critic for the day as they try out every new concept that comes through the door.

“We’ve actually been blown away by the number of people who want to support Taste Test just because of the process, and they want to be invested in what’s happening next in downtown York,” said Witherow.

Taste Test is currently located only in York, and it will likely stay there for the time being. However, expansion is possible.

“What we would like to do is be able to distill our concept even further into other cities our size,” Witherow said. “Because what we want to do is use this as a revitalization tool for towns that are able to revitalize themselves through food because food brings people and different cultures together.”

Taste Test York is located at 101-105 S. Duke St., York. For more information, visit www.tastetestyork.com. Also follow Paco’s on Instagram at PacosTacos717.

Science and Arts and eSports: At Whitaker Center, new leadership and new ideas.

May 31, 2018 | by Alexandra Jones

Ted Black

When Ted Black walked into Whitaker Center for the first time, he knew he’d stumbled upon an architectural gem.

Constructed with 1,405 tons of structural steel and 6,455 pieces of golden sandstone, the distinctive building in downtown Harrisburg houses a three-level, hands-on science museum, a 200-seat cinema and a 700-seat performing arts theater.

“It’s spectacular that a community of any size, let alone the size of Harrisburg, was able to pull off something of this magnitude,” Black said.

In March, Black became the president and CEO of the center and, as such, he has three major goals: replace timeworn exhibits that opened with the center in 1999, upgrade the space to support WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and provide a venue for “esports,” competitive video game tournaments.

That last item on the list may be his greatest initiative.

Having worked as the president of the Buffalo Sabres NHL hockey franchise and as a vice president for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Black knows a thing or two about how to identify growing sports markets and trends.

He doesn’t play video games personally, but he’s noticed that the market for esports has been growing at an astounding rate. The industry generated $1.5 billion in revenue last year and is projected to bring in $2.3 billion by 2022, according to SuperData Research, a game industry research firm.

Black thinks the center’s unique layout make it the perfect venue to host live esports competitions at the Sunoco Theater and stream tournaments in the Medical Digital Cinema (formerly the IMAX theater). He has already secured a venue partnership with Harrisburg University’s new esports program. With a little luck and planning, the objective is to make Harrisburg the hub of Pennsylvania’s burgeoning esports community.

Chad Smeltz, esports program director at HU, thinks this just might work.

“It’s in the middle of the state, so it’s easy to get to,” he said.

Smeltz, along with head coach Geoff Wang, was hired in January to lead HU’s first esports athletes, who will arrive in the fall. In early May, the university awarded 16 full-ride scholarships for students to train and compete within two popular, team-based video games—League of Legends and Overwatch.

Partly due to Black’s suggestion, partly due to overwhelming student interest, HU became the first mid-Atlantic university and the 50th in the United States to recognize esports as a varsity sport last October, according to the university.

Marcus Raskob, an incoming freshman studying interactive media, will be one of the full-ride athletes on the Overwatch team.

“It’s a commitment because you’re playing 20 hours a week on top of whatever else you have going on,” Raskob said, noting that he is nervous but excited to have the opportunity to play games at the varsity level.

According to Smeltz, the university expects to host several statewide competitions a month at Whitaker Center and at least one national competition a year. The national competition, he thinks, will put Harrisburg on the map, since there aren’t a lot of big gaming competitions on the East Coast yet.

What’s more, hosting esports tournaments will draw in new audiences and spike the center’s attendance numbers, which, according to Black, average around 150,000 visitors per year right now, a third of whom are kids on field trips.

He hopes that Whitaker Center’s esports partnership with HU, alongside the possibility of hosting adult recreational leagues and educational events that explore the science and art behind video games—coding, graphics, animation, etc.—will attract attendees of all demographics, socioeconomic statuses and ages.

In a way, Black’s plans to immerse Whitaker Center in esports may be the venue’s first step in acknowledging the notable difference between the world today and the world of 20 years ago when it it was founded.

“Now, there’s more competition for customers’ attention,” Black said. “The key to gaining that attention is figuring out how to leverage the center’s assets.”

For more information about Whitaker Center, visit www.whitakercenter.org or call 717-214-2787.

Love Letter to Harrisburg: Gamut celebrates 25 years of “Free Shakespeare in the Park.”

May 31, 2018 | by Laura Dugan

An idea thrown out at a meeting to offer a free performance of Shakespeare, a budget of $500 and a stage at Reservoir Park—a simple recipe that has held for 25 years (with some budget changes thrown into the mix).

Gamut Theatre Group’s Melissa and Clark Nicholson introduced Harrisburg to their version of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 1994. This June, “Free Shakespeare in the Park” will feature “Midsummer” once again to celebrate the series’ 25th anniversary.

“Free Shakespeare in the Park” resulted from the Harrisburg Parks Partnership. In 1994, the city was looking for ways to bring arts and culture to the park. The initial idea offered up by Clark, Gamut’s artistic director, was to do a scaled-down version of “Midsummer.” The show quickly went from the original idea with a cast of seven to a full production with a complete cast. Even with the support of the city government behind them, success was never guaranteed.

“People started coming up to us saying, ‘Shakespeare’s not going to go in Harrisburg,’” said Melissa, Gamut’s executive director. “Apparently, a group had tried to start a Shakespeare company in the ‘70s, and it failed miserably. We had no idea what was going to happen. That first night the cars just kept coming and coming. It was this huge crowd, and we thought ‘I guess Harrisburg does like Shakespeare.’”

“Free Shakespeare in the Park” has been offered continuously since that first performance in 1994, despite the challenges of weather, budgets and changing city administrations. A stage was added in front of the bandshell in 1998. In 2003, plumbing, sound and lighting upgrades were put into place. While other groups using the park fell away over the years, Gamut remained.

“‘Free Shakespeare in the Park’ is very important to our mission,” said Melissa. “Before we did Shakespeare indoors, we were doing the ‘Park’ show. It’s an important touchstone and part of the heart of the company.”

Melissa credits the success of “Shakespeare in the Park” to both the city administration and the community at large. Her husband, Clark, agrees.

“Over and over, we see the community come and be a part of this,” Clark said. “The community accepts the show is not just a passive thing shown to them. It is a part of who they are.”

This year’s production of “Midsummer” will pay homage to the city that has been so supportive of the series. Director Thomas Weaver is staging the play in modern times, adding in a local twist.

“I decided to set the play in Harrisburg,” Weaver said. “Throughout the play, there are references to the city itself. Our scenic design will look very familiar. In a lot of ways, it’s a love letter to the city. The city has supported this endeavor for 25 years, so it’s a way to honor that relationship and this great place where we live.”

Community involvement with the show has taken many forms. Over the years, the staff has seen families with adults who have been coming since they were children or children who are now growing up with “Shakespeare in the Park.” The interest of local children is often one of the highlights for all involved in putting on the show.

“We came out to rehearsal one day and saw the kids on the stage doing their own version of the show,” said Clark. “We see that over and over again.”

This year, residents of the city will be able to contribute to the show in a new way. The production will feature a backdrop of the Harrisburg skyline. There will be opportunities for the community to come in and help with painting, including during Artsfest. Additionally, pop-up auditions were held to encourage anyone interested to stop by and read scenes, reaching out to a broader group of actors, including some who have never done a “Park “show before.

“It brings so many people together from so many different backgrounds,” said Weaver. “That’s what’s special to me about the event every year. It goes beyond just doing a play. It’s such a special event, and the way that I always describe it to people is, if you love Shakespeare, it’s great. And even if Shakespeare is not your thing, the event has something to offer you.”

“Free Shakespeare in the Park” runs June 1 to 16 at Reservoir Park, Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.gamuttheatre.org.

Coffee Connection: A Little Amps barista ventures to Central America to complete the coffee circle.

May 31, 2018 | by Kait Gibboney

Recently, a longtime dream of mine came true.

I’ve always wanted to travel and explore the world, but I had never left the United States. In early March, that changed, as I got to visit Costa Rica for about a week, touring coffee farms in the hopes of sourcing some product to bring back to Harrisburg.

The trip was hosted through Cafe Imports, one of the largest coffee importers in the industry. It’s my hope that, by sharing my story, you’ll better understand the coffee industry, the people who make it their passion to cultivate delicious coffee for us to enjoy at home, and what we can do to help them.

First, an introduction. I’m a two-year resident of Harrisburg and a freelance music columnist for TheBurg, But I’m also a full-time barista and coffee educator at Little Amps Coffee Roasters in the city. You usually can find me at the downtown shop by the Capitol slinging drinks and chatting up regulars. Cafes have this wonderful ability to bring people together, bonded by a common interest—coffee.

Ever since I became a barista, I’ve wanted to know as much about coffee as possible. Going into my first barista job, I didn’t know much of anything about it, other than how to work a Keurig. Over time, my knowledge grew, expanding beyond the everyday shop talk and moving more into the full circle of coffee: growing, producing, roasting, brewing and serving. Whether we think about it or not, coffee goes through a lot before it’s given to a customer. Right now, I’m going to focus on two important steps of the coffee life cycle that I got to know more about while on my trip—growing and producing.

Beautiful Symphony

Growing coffee is a labor of love that requires intention and passion to do right. It is also a science, taking into consideration factors like elevation, climate, weather and soil quality. Farmers like to experiment with where and how to grow specific types of coffee plants, which ultimately yields surprising differences in taste. A lot of farms that we visited had their crops nestled high in the mountains, living among other plants and flowers native to the area. One farm that we visited in the West Valley, Cerro San Luis, had about 14 varieties of coffee growing along the cliff sides and in fields high above the valley.

Most Costa Rican coffees that we tasted on our trip were honey- or naturally processed. These processes involve leaving differing amounts of fruit on the outside of the seeds while they dry. In part, this is done because the coffees grown there taste great using these processes. But they’re also used because they’re much cheaper than washing stations, which immediately remove the fruit on the outside of the seed for processing. I personally love natural- and honey-processed coffees because they tend to be more fruity and sweet.

My favorite farm that we visited was Finca Genesis, run by Oscar and Olga Mendez.

Their farm specializes in natural- and honey-processed coffees, although they produce some washed, as well. Their crops and drying beds are located high in the mountains, among other indigenous plants and animals, crucial to maintaining excellent soil to grow coffee, according to Oscar.

By embracing the natural environment around them and the plants that already grow there to provide shelter and pest control for the coffee, the couple consistently produces award-winning products. My favorite quote from Oscar Mendez perfectly encapsulates his view on how coffee should be viewed by us, the preparers and consumers.

“I have a lot of respect for cuppers and roasters, as they know that what they are tasting is a beautiful symphony—a culmination of the world’s natural beauty and the hard work of many different hands,” he said.

Personal Touch

Unfortunately, green farmers and producers aren’t earning their fair share of the profits. As roasted coffee prices have gone up in countries like the United States over the years, green coffee’s price has not shown much growth.

Before I left on my trip, I read an article from Standart, a coffee magazine covering stories on many aspects of the industry. The article, “What We Hope to Learn,” by Chad Trewick, outlines a summary of problems facing the industry among green growers and producers and what we should do in the coffee market as a whole. It made clear that there is a disconnect between those buying the coffee to roast and sell and those producing the coffee to be sold.

“Roasting and retail companies note higher costs of living and value additions that are exponentially higher than those of coffee producers—but many in coffee-producing countries argue that their increasing costs receive little attention in the face of the prices the market will pay,” Trewick wrote. “What seems clear is that, in order to sustain a certain quality to the consumer, we need to increase the value to producers or they will continue to abandon coffee production.”

He stated that a solution must be reached, whether it involves redistributing profit margins throughout the value chain or increasing consumer prices, or some other solution. Without a compromise and without incentive to continue growing and producing, the coffee industry will suffer from a lack of people at origin, resulting in less green coffee and, ultimately, less coffee to drink, and higher prices for the consumer.

I offer another solution to this problem through something I experienced shortly after my trip ended. Two exceptional people on our trip, Jared Truby and Chris Baca, co-owners of Cat & Cloud Coffee in Santa Cruz, Calif., proved to me that it takes a personal touch to keep the coffee industry going. Cat & Cloud Coffee has a podcast that is fairly well known among the coffee community. After finishing up the trip with us, they went on to visit Honduras for a few days. Tune into their podcast to hear their full account, but I’ll try to summarize a part of their trip that connected with me.

While traveling, they met with Damien Chavez, a second-year producer at his farm in El Cedral in Santa Barbara, Honduras. They had received some of his coffee awhile back that they had roasted and served in their shops, and it ended up being both a staff and customer favorite. On this trip, they were looking to meet with Chavez in person to create a relationship between grower and buyer. They then learned that he was looking to increase production and provide better quality control through a purchase of a de-pulper, an expensive piece of equipment. Truby and Baca ended up buying the equipment for him, which will allow him to continue to produce the amazing coffee that their customers relish.

Through this trip, it become clear to me that we should do our part to get to know the people at origin, invest in their livelihood, and encourage growth, however small the gesture may be. It has been amazing to get to know the incredible coffee community in Costa Rica, and it has opened my eyes to the possibilities of what relationships could be between the growers, the green buyers and the consumers at home. If farmers and producers can provide amazing coffee with limited equipment and money, just think of what they can do with more.

You never know how huge the impact may be to their future and to the future of coffee.

Visit Kait at Little Amps Coffee Roasters, 2nd and State streets, Harrisburg. For more information on the coffees they offer, visit www.littleampscoffee.com.

Setting Goaaallllsssss!!! Soccer Shots has ambitious plans to build on its already successful model for youth sports.

May 31, 2018 | by Rachel Jenkins

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy boldly proclaimed the nation’s goal of landing a man on the moon. Seven years later, America made it happen.

In 2017, Soccer Shots used Kennedy’s speech for its own inspiration.

“Our ‘we choose to go to the moon’ moment was when we said that, in five years, we want to serve a million unique children in a calendar year,” said Chief Executive Officer Justin Bredeman. “And we want to do that in the year 2022.”

Soccer Shots is an athletic program for children ages 2 through 8, designed to introduce them to basic soccer skills and character development. Though its roots are deeply embedded in local turf, this company currently operates 192 franchises across 36 states and Canada.

Currently, Soccer Shots serves around 250,000 to 300,000 children a year. In order to reach 1 million by 2022, they’ll need to double their current numbers, and then double them again. But, for those at Soccer Shots, this is one goal they’re determined to score.

The initial idea of Soccer Shots, born by Messiah College graduates Jason Webb and Jeremy Sorzano, was to fill a void in athletic education for young children.

Webb, now the vice president of strategic partnerships, and Sorzano began their venture as a side hustle to make some money and engage young kids in a sport that they love.

“It’s everybody’s game, but it’s always been a great game for little kids to start with,” Webb said. “And kids as young as age 2 or 3 can do soccer. We were really the first organization to professionalize and package our program, and we put it together and scaled it.”

Webb and Sorzano pitched their program to local daycares and, to their surprise, found immediate success. The pair began to dive in deep, developing their simple idea into an organization that was, at the time, completely original.

“It was something that wasn’t being done,” Webb said. “We discovered that it could be done, and it worked. And parents loved it and wanted it and kids did too.”

Concurrently, they continued to play soccer professionally for North Carolina’s Charlotte Eagles. Eventually, Sorzano stayed to run the program in North Carolina and Webb moved back to central Pennsylvania to play for the Harrisburg Heat. It was at this time that Harrisburg became home to Soccer Shots headquarters—otherwise known as Webb’s kitchen counter.

Fast-forward to 2005, and Soccer Shots made its first headshot into the world of franchising. It was then that Bredeman, college teammate and friend to Webb and Sorzano, brought his franchising background to the business as Soccer Shots expanded its reach to Cleveland, Philadelphia, Lancaster and Miami.

Through its immense growth over the past two decades—growth that recently led the company to build a new, 16,000-square-foot headquarters just outside Harrisburg—Soccer Shots has evolved, systemized and improved the curriculum taught by coaches. But through it all, the founders have remained firm in their belief that sports should be a foundation for positive character development.

Amongst drills, passes and kicks, the Soccer Shots curriculum is built to encourage personal growth, emphasizing ideals like respect, sportsmanship and courage.

“You don’t have to be all grown up to learn what’s right and what’s wrong or what it means to demonstrate and live out good character,” Webb said.

And, in an effort to practice what they preach, Soccer Shots began to partner with the U.S. Soccer Foundation in 2010 to give back to underserved communities and families that may not be able to afford such programs.

Bredeman acknowledges that Soccer Shots serves primarily middle- to upper-middle-class families. But, because the partners understand the importance that sports has on the physical and mental growth of a child, they’re committed to sponsoring events hosted by the U.S. Soccer Foundation, as well as supporting soccer pitches constructed through the program “Safe Places to Play.”

As the company works toward a lofty goal of serving 1 million children, Bredeman said they’re staying focused on Soccer Shots’ vision statement: “To provide a beloved growth experience for every child, a remarkable experience for every family.”

Taking those words to heart, Soccer Shots is looking to achieve its goal in both quantity and quality.

“We need to have as many children as we can to have a positive experience, but it can’t be at the expense of a depth of experience,” Bredeman said. “But I truly believe that, if you do sport right, there is no reason why every kid shouldn’t have a positive experience with sport.”

For more information about Soccer Shots, visit www.soccershots.org.

Films al Fresco: Family fun on the big screen at Fort Hunter.

May 31, 2018 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

After months of lingering cold weather, June is here at last with hopes of warm, mild days and glorious, long sunsets that herald summertime.

June also means that it’s time once again to round up the lawn chairs, blankets, family and friends for free, outdoor movie fun at Fort Hunter Park.

Starting June 1, Dauphin County Parks and Recreation’s “Sunset Movie Series” returns with the family-friendly adventure film, “Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade.” Movies are shown on a 9-by-16-foot screen next to the Centennial Barn but move inside the barn in the event of rain.

“June is a good month for the film series,” explained Michelle Hornberger, assistant program director for Dauphin County Parks and Recreation. “We tried doing it in July, but it didn’t work. June works because kids and their families still are in a routine from school.”

Moreover, trial-and-error has proven Friday to be the choice evening of the weekend.

“Friday night is a good night to show films because it’s before people get into their weekends,” Hornberger said. “We tried doing it on Saturday and Sunday, but those didn’t quite work, either.”

On a “good night,” attendance can surge to 400, depending on the weather, Hornberger said. While waiting for the movie to begin at 8:30 p.m., filmgoers often toss footballs, chat with neighbors or simply savor a descending sunset over the Susquehanna River.

Early-birds also dig into picnic baskets or purchase movie snacks as such popcorn, candy or ice cream from the Friends of Fort Hunter. Dauphin County Human Services also is on hand to offer children’s activities, crafts and resource pamphlets.

“It’s great to see families have fun together,” said Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste, who comes to the films each year with his children and grandchildren. “You see people in lawn chairs and blankets there. It’s a fun night.”

The series began 12 years ago after Haste, who oversees the county’s Parks and Recreation, challenged the department to offer more family-friendly activities, he said. In response, staff and the Friends of Fort Hunter developed what would become the Sunset Movie Series.

“The Dauphin County Commissioners really wanted us to ramp up our programs,” said Hornberger.

For the series’ first year, the county offered just two movies, but the films attracted so much response that more shows were added.

“Our movies tend to be nostalgic,” Hornberger noted. “It’s not all the latest and the greatest. It’s often films that people in their 30s and 40s might remember as kids and want to share with their own families, like ‘The Mighty Ducks’ or ‘Indiana Jones.’ We also show one funny movie each year for a date night, like ‘Airplane.’”

Dauphin County’s Sunset Movie Series is sponsored by TheBurg, Sheetz and WGAL-TV Channel 8.

Fort Hunter Mansion and Park is located at 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg.

Blankets Down

Get the kids and coolers ready for Dauphin County’s “Sunset Movie Series” at Fort Hunter Park. All shows begin at 8:30 p.m.

June 1: “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”

June 8: “Angels in the Outfield”

June 15: “Jaws”

June 16: “The Mighty Ducks” (at Shope Park in Middletown)

June 22: “Little Giants”

June 29: “Airplane!”

Listen to Her Heart: A feel-good indie film in “Hearts Beat Loud.”

May 31, 2018 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Director Brett Haley is no stranger to the indie film scene, with past films such as “I’ll See You In My Dreams” and “The Hero.” And now he’s back with “Hearts Beat Loud.”

Frank Fisher (Nick Offerman), a stubborn, quietly enthusiastic record-store owner struggling to make ends meet, decides to push his dream (and history) of being in a band onto his daughter, Sam (Kiersey Clemons). Having once been in a band with Sam’s late mother, Frank wants Sam to discover the talent inside of her. But Sam is about to leave for a pre-med program and does not want to be in a band with her father, despite her obvious talent. What follows is the sweet story of a family coming together under a common interest—whether that interest will last or disappear in the cracks of responsibility is yet to be determined.

Reminiscent of “That Thing You Do” but with the heartfelt, indie vibe of “Once,” “Hearts Beat Loud” produces a feel-good version of the pull between dreams and reality. The plot doesn’t follow any groundbreaking concepts or take heady risks—and maybe that’s what makes the film so endearing. It’s just a snapshot of people living, struggling and testing out their passion.

Offerman changes his usual routine for a more earnest, adorable character, and Clemons wins hearts with both her awkward sweetness and her voice. And the supporting cast brings the world around these two protagonists to life. Toni Collette plays the landlady who unwittingly has Frank’s heart, Ted Danson is the strange, bartending best friend, and Sasha Lane tugs at Sam’s heartstrings right before she leaves for college.

While the story does get a bit contrived in parts, leaving a somewhat sugary aftertaste, Haley’s avoidance of the “man against man” setup reveals a truth about the world. Sometimes, you’re just fighting against fate and the nature of life. If you’re looking for a feel-good indie summer flick, don’t miss “Hearts Beat Loud,” starting at Midtown Cinema on June 22.

Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

MIDTOWN CINEMA
JUNE EVENTS

Pride Collection

“The Children’s Hour” (1962)
Sunday, June 17, 2 p.m.

“The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (1994)
Thursday, June 21, 9:30 p.m.

“The Boys in the Band” (1979)
Sunday, June 24, 2 p.m.

“The Kids Are All Right” (2010)
Wednesday, June 27, 7:30 p.m.

3^rd in the Burg $3 movie

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (2001)
Friday, June 15, 9:30 p.m.

Down in Front! presents

“Gigli” (2003)
Friday, June 29, 9:30 p.m.

FREE Outdoor Films

“E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982)
Friday, June 8

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005)
Friday, June 22

All outdoor films play at dusk. Rain date on the following day.

Musical Notes: Vacation Vibes–Get away without going away.

May 31, 2018 | by Kait Gibboney

Ah, summer is upon us! While it may be hot, the days are long, and the nights are perfect for catching some peak performances around Harrisburg. You don’t have to plan an elaborate trip to have a fun time this summer. Get into vacation mode at home and check out some hot shows happening this month. The usual venues never fail to disappoint, and it’s always fun to check out the newer places bringing the noise. Look out for some of my favorites this month and kick off your summer right.

JASON RICCI AND THE BAD KIND, 6/1, 7PM, RIVER CITY BLUES CLUB, $10-12
Whatever you expected in music featuring harmonica, Jason Ricci’s about to blow your mind. This ain’t just blues, baby. This multi-genre artist is considered among many as a revolutionary and well-known harmonica player worldwide. Throughout his 10 years of touring, TV appearances and recording, he has built a recognizable name for himself, but, every once and awhile, he goes by his old nickname, “Mooncat.” His newest work, “Approved by Snakes,” was released last year with his band, The Bad Kind. When you listen to the first track, “My True Love is a Dope Whore,” you can feel his life experiences, his struggles and his triumphs all reflected into his soulful lyrics and smooth instrumentals. It’s like George Clinton met Jack White while touring the New Orleans golden age of jazz. I dig it, and I’m sure y’all will too.

OLDE TIGERS, 6/2, 8PM, THE UNDERGROUND BIKE SHOP, $5
Coming at you straight from your local bike shop is the hardcore fix you’ve been needing. Olde Tigers from York headlines a night of hardcore and punk featuring other PA bands, USVSW and L.M.I. Unapologetically loud and riffy, these guys describe themselves as “East Bay punk meets East Coast hardcore,” influenced by music from the Bay Area punk rock and New York hardcore music scenes. To get a better idea of their sound, check out their album “PennsylVANia” on Bandcamp. Their driving guitars and fast drums create heavy layers of sound to get lost in. Whether you’ve been in the scene for years, headbanging and throwing yourself to the mercy of the pit, or if you’re checking out a new sound, local DIY shows like this are the backbone of the music scene in Harrisburg and deserve a hearty shout out.

THE MOTET, 6/22, 9PM, H*MAC CAPITOL ROOM, $20-25
“Music and escapism go hand in hand.” This phrase, uttered by the band itself, perfectly encapsulates what The Motet is all about. “When you’re listening to us, I want your mind to be taken away from wherever you are during the day and into some other place,” said drummer Dave Watts. Specializing in bringing you the freshest funk, this Denver-based seven-piece is made up of Watts on drums, Lyle Divinsky on vocals, Joey Porter on keyboards, Garrett Sayers on bass, Ryan Jalbert on guitar, Parris Fleming on trumpet and Drew Sayers on saxophone. Since their start in 1998, they’ve released seven albums, toured and performed at festivals such as Bonnaroo and Electric Forest. H*MAC has been on a roll lately with big artists coming to our humble city, and this show will be one I hope you don’t miss. To warm up to their sound, check out their latest release, “Supernova.” This single kicks off their latest tour and will certainly get you in the mood to groove.

Mentionables:

The Nose, June 2, Little Amps Downtown;

Bumpin’ Uglies, June 7, The Abbey Bar;

The Posies, June 12, H*MAC Stage on Herr;

Beatlemania Now, June 15, Scottish Rite;

Emily’s Toybox, June 16, H*MAC Capitol Room;

Shawan and the Wonton, June 16, GK Visual;

Joe Olnick Band, June 16, River City;

KIX, June 16, Club XL;

The Trainjumpers, June 29, The Abbey Bar

Happenings: Our June Calendar of Events

May 31, 2018 | by Missy Smith

Museum & Art Spaces

3rd Street Studio
1725 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-385-3315; Facebook: 3^rd Street Studio

“101 Faces: The Portrait Art of Kevyn Knox,” through June 9.

“Nothing Pretty,” an ongoing collaborative art project with a team of artists, June 15-July 15; reception: June 15, 5-9 p.m.

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

International Thunderbird Club Exhibit, through Oct. 14.

“Mustangs: Six Generations of America’s Favorite Pony Car,” through Oct. 14.

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

90^th Annual Juried Exhibition, through June 21.

“Free For All,” artwork by AAH students and members, June 29-July 19; reception: June 29.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

“Flow: Kim Banister and Wendy Edsall-Kerwin,” through June 2.

“Inventing History: Richard Chandler Hoff” graphite drawings, with a vintage, yet dream-like feel, June 8-July 21.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Artist of the Month: Mary Fox

Fort Hunter
5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-599-5751; forthunter.org

Needle Art Exhibit, featuring the handiwork of local needle artists, through June 17.

Gallery@Second
608 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
galleryatsecond.com

Works by Steve Wetzel and Peter DeHart, through June 9.

Works by Jason Orr and Holly Angelique, June 14-Aug. 4; reception: June 15, 6-9 p.m.

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

“SVC Moving Fourth,” works of Susquehanna Valley Chapter of the PA Guild of Craftsmen, celebrating its fourth year, through June 30.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Cocoa Beanery Art Exhibit, through June 9.

Harrisburg Area Art Association Member Art Exhibition, through Dec. 31.

Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Downtown Details,” a photographic look at Newport’s historic buildings and architectural details, through the lens of photographer Irene VanBuskirk, through July 7.

Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; Facebook: Metropolis Collective

“Who’s Your Dada: A Group Tribute to an Art Movement,” through Aug. 20.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

New works by Joelle Arawjo, Meg Caruso, Kristin Fava, Andrew Guth, Marsha Souders & Richard Souders, through June 10.

New works by Tina Berrier, Yachiyo Beck, John Davis, Julie Iaria, Joan Maguire and Bob McCloskey, June 12-July 15.

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

“Honored Veterans: Fraternal Organizations Borne of the Civil War,” through June 2.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

“The Photo Ark” by Joel Sartore, National Geographic photographer and fellow, through September.

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Black and white prints by Charley Krone, including local landscapes, PA colleges and more, through June.

PCCA Gallery
Perry County Council of the Arts
1 S. 2nd St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Man Cave,” a creative showing of his favorite room in the house, with locally made artwork and handcrafted items, through June 30.

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-232-8915; pnfm.org

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

“Art of the State—Pennsylvania 2018,” the official, statewide juried competition for Pa. artists, June 24-Sept. 9; reception: June 24, 1:30 p.m.

“Pennsylvania at War,” highlighting World War I posters from the Pennsylvania State Archives and the saga of the US Pennsylvania, through Dec. 30.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

“Identity Spectrum,” a juried exhibition that examines one of the fundamental aspect of personal identity: gender; through Aug. 5.

“Romare Bearden: Vision & Activism,” June 9-Sept. 23; member’s preview reception: June 8, 5-7 p.m.

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts

“Expanded Visions,” a juried exhibition that embraces all forms of photography from traditional darkroom to the digital image, June 1-29.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

“Art in the Wild,” Wildwood Park’s annual outdoor environmental art exhibit, through Oct. 31.

Yellow Bird Café
1320 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-635-8991; yellowbird-cafe.com

Works by Ann Lawson, through June 11.

Works by Tristan Bond, June 15-July 9.

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

Abstract works by Doug Butari and Laura Cowden, through June 15.

“ReBoard,” works by Nate Demuro and Jay Bowser

Read, Make, Learn

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

June 4-8: Let’s Go to the Beach!, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
June 6: Set the Table Ceramic Workshop, 6-8 p.m.
June 11-15: All About Animals Art Camp, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
June 11-15: Summer Dance Camp w/ Central PA Youth Ballet, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 13: Make a Face Ceramic Workshop, 6-8 p.m.
June 14: Paint Night—Koi Pond, 6:30 p.m.
June 15: Craft Beer & Clay, 7 p.m.
June 18-22: 7 Continents of Fiber Fun!, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
June 18-22: Art of Improv (ages 11-15), 1-4 p.m.
June 19-July 3: Intro to Metal Jewelry 3-Day Workshop, 6-8 p.m.
June 25-29: Books & More Art Camp, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
June 25-29: Art Investigators Art Camp, 1-4 p.m.
June 27: Porcelain Pinch Pots, 6-8 p.m.
June 29: Experimental Mixed Media, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
June 30: Experimental Mixed Media, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

June 7: Relaxing in the Caribbean, 6-9 p.m.
June 11: Grilling Favorites, 6-9 p.m.
June 22: Grilling Favorites, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
June 28: The Italian Countryside Wine Pairing, 6-9 p.m.

East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org

June 1: Basic Internet I, 11-12:30 p.m.
June 2: Mary Sachs Series—Building Positive Body Image, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 3: Crazy for Coloring, 2-4 p.m.
June 4, 11, 18, 25: Paws 2 Read, 6-8 p.m.
June 5, 12, 19, 26: LEGO Robotics, 6-7 p.m.
June 10: The Life of Ulysses S. Grant, 1-2 p.m.
June 13: Rainforests, presented by the National Aquarium, 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 6-7 p.m.
June 14: Bank on Your Success—Banking Basics, 4-6 p.m.
June 15: Basic Internet II, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
June 20: Family DIY with the Home Depot, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
June 20: Egg Drop, 6-7 p.m.
June 21: Device Club, 1-2:30 p.m.
June 26: Friends of East Shore Area Library Meeting, 9:30-11 a.m.
June 27: Walking Piano, 10:30-11:15 a.m.
June 27: Family Dance Party, 6-6:45 p.m.

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

June 1: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
June 1: All Ages Movie Sing Along! The Wizard of Oz, 6:30 p.m.
June 5: Curl Up with the Classics—“The Great Gatsby,” 10 a.m.
June 8: Foreign Film Friday, 2 and 7 p.m.
June 9: BYOB Trivia After Hours—80s, 7 p.m.
June 11: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
June 12: Teen Book Bingo, 2 p.m.
June 13, 20, 27: Teen Movie Matinee, 2 p.m.
June 15: Family Movie Night, 6:30 p.m.
June 19: Andrew’s Big Show, 10 a.m.
June 19: Fredricksen Reads—Visit from the Good Squad, 7 p.m.
June 19: Gardening with Nature with Penn State Master Gardeners, 7 p.m.
June 21: Let’s Talk Comics! Book Club (ages 10-13), 3 p.m.
June 22: Foreign Film Friday, 2 and 7 p.m.
June 26: Magical Nick, 10:30 a.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

June 6-July 25: Realistic Oil Painting, Wednesdays, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

June 5-25: Why So Serious? Dramatic Improv, 7-10 p.m.

Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
717-533-6555; hersheylibrary.org

June 7: HR Hershey Quilter’s Guild, 12:30 p.m.
June 9: Storytime for Grown-Ups, 2 p.m.
June 11: Junior Fused Glass Class, 1 p.m.
June 12: Hershey Writer’s Critique Group, 6 p.m.
June 13: In the Middle ART, 2:30 p.m.
June 14: Meet us at the Market!, 2:30 p.m.
June 15, 29: Play Day for Families, 10 a.m.
June 18, 25: Books and Babies, 9:30 a.m.
June 18, 25: Books Buddies, 10:30 a.m.
June 19: History of American Pop Music, 1 p.m.
June 20: In the Middle Book Club, 2:30 p.m.
June 20, 27: Furry Tales, 6:30 p.m.
June 21, 25, 28: Chewsy Readers, 12:15 p.m.
June 22: Movie and a Craft: Sing!, 10 a.m.
June 26: Act a Story, Sing a Song, 1 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St, Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

June 1: Coloring for Adults, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
June 2: Summer Reading Kickoff, 11-1 p.m.
June 5: Tabletop Games, 6-8 p.m.
June 5, 12, 19, 26: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 6: MacBook Lessons, 6-8 p.m.
June 6: Genealogy: Accessing Military Records, 7-8:30 p.m.
June 7: Learn-Knit, 7-8 p.m.
June 11: iPad/iPhone Beginners, 1-3 p.m.
June 11: English Conversation Group, 6:30-8 p.m.
June 13: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
June 14. 28: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
June 18: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
June 20: Cello Concert, 7-8 p.m.
June 25: English Conversation Group, 6:30-8 p.m.
June 26: Tea & Stitches Extended, 10-5 p.m.
June 27: Yoga for Beginners, 7-8 p.m.
June 28: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10-11 a.m.
June 29: Summer Scrapbooking, 1-3 p.m.

Kline Library
530 S. 29^th St., Harrisburg
717-234-3934; dcls.org

June 7, 14, 21, 28: LEGO Robotics, 6-7 p.m.
June 14: Walking Piano, 10:30-11:15 a.m.
June 21: Friends of Kline Library Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
June 26: The Marshmallow Games, 6-6:45 p.m.

Landis House
Perry County Council of the Arts
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

June 2: Drop-in Art, 1-4 p.m.
June 3: Blackout Poetry, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 3: Pottery—Customized Fairy House, 2-5 p.m.
June 9: A Novel Idea, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
June 13: Flower Pounding, 6-8 p.m.

The LGBT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Passage Ways—Trans & Non-Binary Group, 2 p.m.

June 3, 10, 17, 24: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.

June 6, 13, 20, 27: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.

June 9: QTPOC Mixer, 6-8 p.m.

June 12, 26: Queers and Quests, 6-8 p.m.

June 14: Aging with Pride Lunchtime, 12-2 p.m.

June 19: Queering Immigration Panel, 6-8 p.m.

Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library
2410 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-232-7286; dcls.org

June 4, 11, 18, 25: Video Game Club, 4-5 p.m.
June 6, 13, 20, 27: Afternoon Hangout, 3-4 p.m.
June 6, 13, 20, 27: Let’s Get Creative, 4-5 p.m.
June 12: Bank on Your Success—Banking Basics, 2-4 p.m.
June 12: Music and Movement, 4-5 p.m.
June 18: Cookbook Book Club, 6 p.m.
June 26-29: Beat Making Camp, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
June 30: Essentials Oil Bracelet, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

McCormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-234-4976; dcls.org

June 6, 13,20, 27: Mid-day Getaway, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
June 13: Mindful Snack, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

June 5: An Evening with Todd Mealy, 7-9 p.m.
June 17: LGBT Book Club, 4:30 p.m.
June 23: An Evening with Eliza Griswold, 6-8 p.m.
June 29: Book Signing, 2:30 p.m.
June 30: Book Launch with John Fea, 2:30 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

June 6: Crab or Lighthouse Mixed Media Collage, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
June 9: Fluid Art Class, 12-2:30 p.m.
June 20: Watercolor “Full Bloom” Poppy Painting Party, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
June 23: Wine and Tine Modern Calligraphy Workshop, 1-4 p.m.
June 29: Mixed Media and Collage Painting, 6-8:30 p.m.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

June 2: Fishing for Families, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

June 7: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 8, 22: Teens After Hours, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
June 9: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
June 11, 18, 25: Try It! Music and Movement (ages 3-6 years), 10:30 a.m.
June 12, 19, 26: Try It! Music and Movement (6-24 mos.), 10:30 a.m.
June 12, 26: Tales for T.A.I.L.S., 6:30-7:30 p.m.
June 13, 27: Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
June 15, 29: Fun Fridays @ the Library, 3-5 p.m.
June 16: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 16: Children’s Book Writers Critique Group, 2-4 p.m.
June 18: Archaeology w/ the State Museum of PA (ages 8-12 years), 1-2 p.m.
June 21: Mandala Stones, 6:30 p.m.
June 22, 29: Library for Lunch, Rock Edition!, 12:30-1:15 p.m.
June 25: High Tech Coding Toys (ages 8-12 years), 1-2:30 p.m.
June 27: PennWriters Writing Group, 5:30-7:45 p.m.
June 28: Teen Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
June 29: Little Mozarts Piano Class (ages 4-6 years), 10:30 a.m.
June 30: Dash and Dot Robots, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

June 22, 29: Learn at Lunchtime, 12:15 p.m.
June 27, 28: Meet the Experts, 11:30 a.m.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

June 13, 20: Yoga in the Galleries, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
June 16: Yoga & Art Summer Saturdays (kids, ages 6-11), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 20: Life Drawing, 6-9 p.m.
June 23, 30: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 23, 30: Young Artist Camp (ages 8-12), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Untitled: A Storytelling Project
untitledhbg.com

June 10: Storytelling Workshop, 1:30 p.m.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

June 2, 9: Brownie Scout Workshop—Wonderful Water, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
June 13: Stress Relief Walk, 6-7:30 p.m.
June 21: Get in Shape Walk, 6-7:30 p.m.
June 23: Detweiler Park Hike, 10-11 a.m.

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library
200 W. Second St., Hummelstown
717-566-0949; dcls.org

June 5: Novel Thoughts Book Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
June 7, 14, 21, 28: Afternoon Hangout, 3-4 p.m.
June 7: Escape Room, 6-7 p.m.
June 7: Teen Night, 6-7 p.m.
June 11: Rustic Americana Blocks, 6-8 p.m.
June 13: 2^nd Wednesday Cinema, 6-8 p.m.
June 14: Library Regatta, 6-6:45 p.m.
June 19: Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club, 1 p.m.
June 21: Music and Movement, 6-6:45 p.m.
June 25: Crazy for Coloring, 6-8 p.m.
June 28: Ryan the Bug Man, 6-6:45 p.m.

Yoga at Simply Well
28 S. Pitt St., Carlisle
717-968-0167; yogaatsimplywell.com

June 3, 10, 17, 24: Tween Yoga 4-week Series (grades 6-8), 12:30-1:30 p.m.
June 23: Chakra Balancing Workshop, 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

June 2: Who’s Bad—The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute
June 3: John Denver Tribute w/ Ted Vigil
June 8: The Righteous Brothers—Bill Medley and Bucky Heard
June 9: Mark Lowry
June 10: Mickey Gilley & Johnny Lee
June 16: Summer Doo Wop Cavalcade
June 22: Under the Streetlamp
June 23: Happy Together Tour
June 26: Kenny G
June 28: Kristin Chenoweth

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

June 1: Nate Myers & the Aces
June 2: Switch Fu
June 7: Bumpin’ Uglies
June 9: Solar Federation (RUSH Tribute)
June 15: The Might River Band (Grateful Dead Tribute)
June 29: The Trainjumpers
June 30: PennsylMANIA Music Fest 4

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

June 1: Jazz in the City
June 3: York County Honors Choir
June 9: York Symphony Orchestra—Music of “Harry Potter”
June 14: The Robert Cray Band
June 19: Boz Scaggs

Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
204 Locust St., Harrisburg
717-909-9191; carleysristorante.com

June 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 21, 22: Noel Gevers
June 2, 23: Ted Ansel
June 6: Deb Anderson
June 7, 20: Chris Purcell
June 9,13, 30: Roy Lefevre
June 14, 19: Corinna Joy
June 16, 24: Anthony Haubert
June 26, 27: Chris Emkey
June 28: TBA
June 29: Corinna Joy w/ Noel Gevers

Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

June 9: Newsong, Plumb, Unspoken, Johnny Diaz
June 15: Debbie Cunningham & Band

Central PA Friends of Jazz
friendsofjazz.org

June 15: Rodney Whitaker

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

June 6: Tech N9ne, Chris Knight
June 7: The Slackers
June 7: Geoff Tate
June 12: Anarbor
June 13: X Ambassadors
June 15: They Might Be Giants, The Russian White
June 16: Jimmie’s Chicken Shack
June 18: Bad Wolves, From Ashes to New
June 19: G.B.H.
June 23: Hail Sagan, Face to Face
June 24: Plain White T’s
June 26: Sun Parade
June 28: Old 97’s
June 30: Pearl Earl

Club XL
801 S. 10^th St., Harrisburg
717-409-8975; xlhbg.com

June 2: Ex Mag, Birocratic, Sky Society
June 9: Smooth Like Clyde
June 16: Kix, Stone Horses, Small Town Titans
June 23: Kevin Miller’s Smashed
June 29: Otown, Aaron Carter, Ryan Cabrera

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

June 1: Antonio Andrade
June 2: Hard Travelin
June 3: Sweet Maple Singers
June 9: Grit
June 10: Shelba Purtle
June 15: Kevin Kline
June 16: Paul Zavinsky
June 17: Dominick Cicco
June 22: Steven Gellman
June 23: Michael Arthur
June 29: Joe Cooney
June 20: Kip & Megan Skirpan

East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org

June 17: Tonks and the Aurors

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

June 12: Steven Courtney
June 14: Trinidad and Tobago
June 23: Hamiltunes! Sing Along

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

June 30: Summer Concert at Negley Park

Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville
717-469-2211; hollywoodpnrc.com

June 1: Late Last Night
June 2: DJ Ray Rossi, Into The Spin
June 8: The Luv Gods
June 9: DJ Dave Styles, Sapphire
June 15: Cazhmiere
June 16: DJ Matrix, Smokin Gunnz
June 22: 52 Pickup
June 23: 7 Bridges Eagles Tribute Band, DJ Dave Styles, Honeypump
June 29: Smooth Like Clyde
June 30: DJ Ray Rossi, Janelle Verones Band

House of Music, Arts & Culture (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

June 1: The OK-OK’s, Fox Hollow, Snow Villain
June 1: FoxyPanda, Mr. Cudz, Xander
June 5, 12, 26: Open Mic Tuesday
June 8: Soul & Spirit—The Essence of Jimi
June 9: Yam Yam, Medusas Disco, Grace Mahar
June 12: The Posies, Terra Lightfoot
June 16: Emily’s Toybox, Observe the 93^rd
June 22: The Motet
June 23: H-Burg Summer Pop-Punk Party
June 24: Anthony Fantano

Johnny Joe’s Sports Bar & Grill
5327 E. Trindle Rd., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2254; johnnyjoesbar.com

June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: DJ Joe Hertz
June 2: Observe the 93^rd
June 6, 13, 20, 27: Open Mic, Water DeWall
June 7, 14, 21, 28: DJ Eric B
June 9: Suicide Puppets
June 16: The Colt Wilbur Band
June 23: SOS
June 30: Adrian Blitzer

Keystone Concert Band
145 E. Main St., First Floor, Mechanicsburg
717-421-1512; keystoneconcertband.com

June 3: Concert at Peace Church, Mechanicsburg

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Downtown
133 State St., Harrisburg
717-635-9870; littleampscoffee.com

June 8: Eternal Summers, Concrete Beach
June 16: Minor Jake
June 17: The Last Origin, GLOOP, Small Pollen
June 21: BIRDS, Shrouded Strangers

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, Uptown
1836 Green St., Harrisburg littleampscoffee.com
717-695-4882; littleampscoffee.com

June 2: The Nose, Hoastt

The Lodge at Liberty Forge
3804 Lisburn Rd., Mechanicsburg
717-691-5335; lodgeatlibertyforge.com

June 7: Nate Myers Trio
June 14: John Chapman w/ Amy
June 21: Shea & Len
June 28: Chuck Britton

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

June 2: Resurrection—A Journey Tribute

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

June 3: David Crosby & Friends
June 4: Fourth of July Gala Pops Concert

The Mill in Hershey
810 Old W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-256-9965; themillinhershey.com

June 2: Keith Goldstein
June 5, 23: Lucas Gienow
June 9: The Jayplayers
June 12, 26: Hank Imhof
June 16: Ryan Moran
June 19: Corinna Joy
June 30: Wayne Thompson

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

June 9: Pentagon

River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
rivercityhbg.com

June 1: Jason Ricci and the Bad Kid
June 2: Lazy Joe Fink
June 15: Emmanuel Nsingani
June 16: Joe Olnick Band

River House
5258 N. Front St., Harrisburg
odinsviolin.com/river-house-concerts

June 9: Odin Rathnam

Rusty Rail Brewing Company
5 N. 8th North St., Mifflinburg
570-966-7878; rustyrailbrewing.com

June 22: Albert Cummings
June 29: Woody Pines

St. Thomas Roasters
5951 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg
717-526-4171; stthomasroasters.com

June 2: Alex Stanilla
June 7: Brandon Bomberg
June 8: Cotolo
June 9: Relics of Medievalism
June 14: Vaughn Hummel
June 15: Sterling Koch
June 16: Rayzen Kane
June 21: Amber Nadine
June 22: Just Dave
June 23: Craig Bonner & Steve Geib
June 28: Channalia
June 29: Rhoads & Putt Trio
June 30: Joe Cooney

Stock’s on 2nd
211 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
717-233-6699; stocksonsecond.com

June 1: Cruise Control Trio
June 8: Quentin Jones
June 9: Acoustic Night with Keith Golstein
June 15: Lucille and the Wolf
June 22: Shea Quinn and Friends
June 29: Funktion Band
June 30: Noel Gevers

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

June 17: An Appalachian Ceilidh

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; millersville.edu/muarts

June 1: The Rise Festival
June 10: Allegro—Young Music Masters Competition

The Stage Door

The Belmont Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-3894; thebelmont.org

June 15-24: “South Pacific”

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

June 4, 11, 18, 25: “A Guy Walks Into A Bar” Open Mic Comedy Night

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

Through June 17: “Grease”
June 21-Aug. 4: “The Wizard of Oz”

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

June 19: Andrew’s Big Show
June 26: Magical Nick

Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

June 1-16: Shakespeare in the Park—“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

June 7, 14, 21, 28: Open Mic
June 10: Oxymorons

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

June 1: Character Development Class Show
June 24: Magic Fairy Pirate Monkeys
June 29: Level 1 Class Show

Harrisburg Scottish Rite Theatre
2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-238-8868; valleyofharrisburg.org

June 15: “Beatlemania”

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

June 17: Champions of Magic

Lancaster Marionette Theatre
126 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-394-8389; lancastermarionette.org

Through June 23: “Aladdin & His Magic Lamp”

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

June 2: Pennsylvania Regional Ballet

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

June 8-30: “Little Women”

Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill
717-737-6768; oystermill.com

June 1-17: “Death By Design”

The Playhouse at Allenberry
1559 Boiling Springs Rd., Boiling Springs
717-258-3211; allenberry.com

June 22-July 8: “Anything Goes”

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg
717-232-5501; theatreharrisburg.com

June 8-17: “Grave Doubts” at Whitaker Center

The Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

June 6: Story Slam
June 8-17: “Grave Doubts” w/Theatre Harrisburg
June 20-23: Central PA Youth Ballet

Nappy Time: Diaper bank fills a need, removes an expense, for low-income families.

May 31, 2018 | by Susan Ryder

Struggling parents have to make decisions that are unimaginable to others—for instance, whether to reuse diapers, allow their child to remain in a soiled diaper for hours, or resort to using tea towels as nappies.

Susan Speese (aka the “diaper lady”) is on a mission—to provide diapers to families so they don’t have to make that choice. Speese is the founder and president of the Healthy Steps Diaper Bank, which provides diapers to 25 partnering organizations in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties.

“The majority of people believe women and babies are serviced through WIC and food stamps, but none of those programs provide diapers,” said Speese, explaining the situation recently while surrounded by piles of diaper boxes in a chilly back corner of Mission Central’s Mechanicsburg warehouse.

Speese formed the organization five years ago after reading an article about the National Diaper Bank Network. As a volunteer at Morning Star Pregnancy Services, she had seen the need firsthand and thought to herself, “Someone has to do something about this.”

Semi- retired at the time, she had found her next calling.

“I realized there still was stuff for me to do out there,” she said.

“Out there” includes the corner of N. 3rd and Kelker streets in Harrisburg, where she works with the Neighborhood Center of the United Methodist Church.

“If we didn’t have the diaper bank, we wouldn’t be able to give out diapers,” said Kyla Harvey, the Neighborhood Center’s executive director.

Stephanie Evans, the center’s receptionist and assistant, explained that free diapers can make a huge difference to a person who is struggling financially.

“If a woman had $8 and used every dime she had to buy diapers, and we can provide diapers, she can keep that $8 for other things that might come up,” Evans said.

In addition, day cares require children to come with a full complement of diapers. If parents don’t have diapers, they don’t have day care, and most centers don’t allow cloth diapers.

Family Promise of the Capital Region, which helps move families out of homelessness, is another organization that receives diapers from Healthy Steps.

“Trying to save every penny they have, having a resource for diapers is huge,” said Executive Director Lissette Gonzalez.

More Confident

Rebecca Gouse recently sat on the porch of the Lemoyne Family Promise Day Center. She said that she and her 1-year-old daughter benefit from the diaper bank.

“When you don’t have any income, it’s big,” she said. “It’s a huge load off my mind to be able to have diapers. I don’t know how I would get diapers.”

Economics is one factor at play. The other is less obvious.

“It boosts their morale,” Gonzalez said. “They feel more confident in their parenting.”

Speese said also stressed that point.

“Moms are suffering because they can’t provide, can’t bond over diaper changing because they are stressed,” she said.

The funds and diapers that assist these families come from grants and personal donations. People and organizations hold diaper drives. Schools and businesses hold dress-down days, with a pack of diapers being the price of participation. Speese said that one mother held a diaper drive for her 2-year-old’s birthday party, opting for diaper donations rather than gifts.

Speese said that she would like to see legislation passed that would assist families with diapers. In California, a recent bill allows a $50 diaper stipend for low-income working parents. Pennsylvania is considering House Bill 1820, presently in the Children and Youth Committee, which would offer a tax break to businesses donating to diaper need organizations.

To date, the diaper bank has distributed about 500,000 diapers. Yet, said Speese, there’s still much work to be done.

“It’s sad, in our day and age, that people have to deal with this,” she said.

For more information on the Healthy Steps Diaper Bank, visit www.healthystepsdiaperbank.com.

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