Happenings: Our December Calendar of Events

November 30, 2017 | by Events Editor

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“Nothing Pretty,” group exhibition of local art, through Dec. 2.

“Imaginative Spaces,” featuring the art of Joan Maguire, Christine Goldbeck and Elaine Brady, Dec. 15-Jan. 15; reception: Dec. 15, 6-9 p.m.

“Artisan Market,” showcasing gifts and art created by local artists, Dec. 11-23; reception, Dec. 15, 6-9 p.m.

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

“Cars and Christmas at the AACA Museum,” annual holiday exhibit, through Dec. 31.

“National Corvette Restorers Society Exhibit,” through April 23.

“Getting the Job Done—Vehicles that Earned Their Keep,” through April 23.

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

“Linear Juxtoposition,” featuring the art of Jim Caufield, G. Mark Schwager, Pamela J. Souders, Wendy S. Sweigart and John Wright, Dec. 1-Jan. 4; reception: Dec. 1, 5-8 p.m.

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

“Art for the Holidays,” artist and designer boutique, through Dec. 30.

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

Artist of the Month: Amanda Rife

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

“Fort Couture,” displaying Christmas tree dresses created by Fort Hunter friends and neighbors, Dec. 2-17.

“Hanging by a Thread,” exhibit showcasing handmade needlework, through Dec. 23.

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

Works by Carrie Wissler-Thomas and Peg Belcastro, through Jan. 13.

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

“Annual Holiday Show,” featuring unique, locally made items for holiday gift giving, through Dec. 23.

Historical Society of Dauphin County
219 S. Front St., Harrisburg
dauphincountyhistory.org

“Uncle Sam Calls: Dauphin County in World War I,” an exhibit of historic posters and artifacts, through Dec. 22.

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

Third Annual PCCA Juried Exhibition, featuring juried regional artwork in a variety of media, through Jan. 19.

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

“Haley and Hana Flower and Art Show,” Dec. 9

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

“Night Visions,” a solo exhibition featuring the art of Hannah Dobek, Dec. 1-Feb. 5; reception: Dec. 1, 6-11 p.m.

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

Group show featuring The Millworks’ artists, through Jan. 14.

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

“Reconstruction: The Unfinished War,” examining the unfinished issue of equality among races in the reunited states, through Dec. 31.

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

Quilts by Sue Reno, a textile exhibit composed of brilliantly patterned quilts, through Jan.1.

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

Works by Stephanie Thompson through December.

Works by Lee Huntingdon through December.

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

“Artisan Marketplace of Perry County,” showcasing unique local art and handcrafted items for holiday gift giving that supports regional artists and crafters, through Jan. 6.

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

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history.

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

Student Honors Photography, through Dec. 7.

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

“Pennsylvania at War: The Saga of the USS Pennsylvania,” through Dec. 30.

“The Art of the State Purchase Award Collection,” showcasing Art of the State works that were purchased by the museum, in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the juried exhibition, through Feb. 18.

“Every Thing of Interest Show: T.M. Fowler’s Pennsylvania Bird’s-Eye View, 1885-1905,” showcasing Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler’s lithographic prints with bird’s eye views of American towns and cities, through May 6.

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

“In the Vault,” small works on magnetic templates displayed on the museum’s bank vault walls, through Dec. 17.

“Ansel Adams: Early Works,” through Jan. 21.

“Neil Anderson—Quartet for America,” contemporary paintings inspired by natural landscapes, through Jan. 21.

“Memory and Invention,” landscape and cityscape paintings by Robert Andriulli, through Feb. 11.

“Tropical Wasteland,” abstracted landscapes by Vu Nguyen, through Feb. 25.

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

Works by Eli McClymont, through Dec. 10.

Works by Emmeline Zhu, Dec. 15-Jan. 14.

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

“The Witch,” works of Steve Zerbe, through Dec. 14.

Art by Ryan Spahr, Dec. 15-Jan. 18.

Read, Make, Learn

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

Dec. 1: Craft Beer & Clay, 7 p.m.
Dec. 6: Ceramics—Make a Face, 6-8 p.m.
Dec. 9: Gourdaments, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 14: Open Paint Studio, 7 p.m.
Dec. 15: Indigo at Night, 6:30-9 p.m.

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

Dec. 30: Night Before New Year’s Eve, 6-9 p.m.
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration, 6-9 p.m.

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

Dec. 2: Gingerbread Friends

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

Dec. 1: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 5: Curl Up with the Classics—“The Color Purple,” 10 a.m.
Dec. 5, 12: Daddy/Daughter Ballet, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Dec. 6: Star War Reads (ages 3-6), 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 7: Never Too Old—Young Adult Book Club for Adults, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 7: Girls Who Code Information Night, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28: Blood Pressure Screenings, 9:15 a.m.-1 p.m.
Dec. 9: Teen Gingerbread Extravaganza, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 9: Trivia After Hours—Holiday Pop Culture (BYOB), 7 p.m.
Dec. 11, 12, 14: Library for Lunch—“The Gingerbread Man,” 12-1 p.m.
Dec. 11: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 15: Foreign Film Friday, 2 and 7 p.m.
Dec. 17: Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 19: Snowy Story Time, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 19: Fredricksen Reads, 7 p.m.
Dec. 22: Family Movie Night, 4 p.m.

The Hershey Story
63 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-534-8939; hersheystory.org

Dec. 2-31: Little Elves Workshop, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Johnson Memorial Library
799 East Center St., Millersburg
717-692-2658; dcls.org

Dec. 5: Gingerbread Friends, 6 p.m.
Dec. 14: Adulting 101—Show Me the Money, 6:30 p.m.

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

Dec. 1: Coloring for Adults, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 5: Tabletop Games, 6-8 p.m.
Dec. 6: Intro to Apple MacBook, 6-8 p.m.
Dec. 7: Learn to Knit, 7-8 p.m.
Dec. 11: iPad/iPhone Beginners, 1-3 p.m.
Dec. 13: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
Dec. 14, 28: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Dec. 18: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
Dec. 20: Intermediate Excel, 6-8 p.m.
Dec. 21: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10-11 a.m.
Dec. 27: Apple Users Group, 1-3 p.m.
Dec. 27: Yoga for Beginners, 7-8 p.m.

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

Dec. 5: Gingerbread Friends, 6 p.m.
Dec. 7: Adulting 101—Show Me the Money, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 20: Friends and Readers Book Club, 2 p.m.

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

Dec. 2: Free Drop-in Art, 1-4 p.m.

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

Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
Dec. 14: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12 p.m.

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

Dec. 18: Food for Thought Book Discussion, 6 p.m.

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

Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27: Mid-Day Getaway, 11:30 a.m.

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

Dec. 1, 8: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7-9 p.m.
Dec. 4: Author Event with Michael Gingerich, Tom Kaden, Abby Turner
Dec. 5: Coffee, Cake and True Islam, 5-7 p.m.
Dec. 9, 23: Children’s Storytime
Dec. 17: Midtown Writers Group, 1 p.m.
Dec. 17: LGBT Book Club, 5 p.m.

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

Dec. 16: Fluid Art Painting Class, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

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

Dec. 2: Christmas Card Craft, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Dec. 2: Santa’s Secret Workshop, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19: Preschool Storytime, 10:15 a.m.
Dec. 4, 11, 18: Toddler Storytime, 11 a.m.
Dec. 4, 13, 18, 27: Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Dec. 5, 12, 19: Book Babies, 11:15 a.m.
Dec. 7: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 9: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Dec. 9: Couponing For Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 21: STEM Club, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
Dec. 23: Saturday Morning Art (ages 7-10), 10:30-12 p.m.

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

Dec. 7: Nature Lab—Re-introduction of the Beaver and Elk, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Dec. 15: Learn at Lunchtime—PA Guild of Craftsmen, 12-1 p.m.
Dec. 21: Nature Lab—Rocks in our Daily Life, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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

Dec. 2, 9: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Dec. 13: Life Drawing, 6-9 p.m.

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

Dec. 2: Wreath Workshop, 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m.
Dec. 2: Winter Bird Walk, 8-10:30 a.m.
Dec. 3: Mindfulness Hike, 8-10:30 a.m.
Dec. 3, 10, 17: Natural Ornaments, 1-3 p.m.

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

Dec. 5: Novel Thoughts Book Club, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 7: Teen Nights, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 13: 2^nd Wednesday Cinema, 6 p.m.
Dec. 14: Gingerbread Friends, 6 p.m.
Dec. 19: Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club, 11:30 a.m.

Live Music

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

Dec. 31: Lancaster Symphony Orchestra w/Will & Anthony Nunziata

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

Dec. 1: MiZ Plays Petty
Dec. 2: John Brown’s Body
Dec. 8: Primate Fiasco & LITZ
Dec. 9: Dr. Slothclaw and The Southern Belles
Dec. 15: Start Making Sense—Talking Heads tribute
Dec. 16: Solar Federation—RUSH tribute
Dec. 22: Colebrook Road & Man About a Horse
Dec. 23: Steal Your Peach
Dec. 31: Flux Capacitor

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

Dec. 1: Jazz in the City
Dec. 3: Canadian Brass
Dec. 8: Steep Canyon Rangers
Dec. 15: Darlingside
Dec. 16: Scotty McCreery
Dec. 18: Kenny G

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

Dec. 1, 8, 14, 15, 26, 29: Noel Gevers
Dec. 2, 13, 22: Roy Lefevre
Dec. 3, 27, 30: Chris Emkey
Dec. 5, 16: Daniel Sheahan
Dec. 6, 21: Chris Purcell
Dec. 7, 15, 19: Corinna Joy
Dec. 9, 23, 31: Ted Ansel
Dec. 10: Anthony Haubert
Dec. 12: Maria Battista
Dec. 20: Deborah Anderson
Dec. 28: TBA

Central PA Friends of Jazz
friendsofjazz.org

Dec. 27: Ron Waters Scholarship Party & Jam

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

Dec. 1: The Wild Hymns
Dec. 2: Sundance Head, The Thing with Two Heads
Dec. 5: Set to Stun
Dec. 7: The Life and Times, Sweet Cobra
Dec. 8: Gary Numan
Dec. 9: Left Land Cruiser
Dec. 12: Convictions
Dec. 13: New Madrid, David Barbe
Dec. 14: The Harmaleighs
Dec. 15: What’s Her Face, Lower Wolves
Dec. 16: Main Street Sweep
Dec. 17: The Pink Spiders
Dec. 22: Medusas Disco
Dec. 27: One Year Later, Almost Honest, Metalwulf
Dec. 30: August Burns Red

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

Dec. 1: Antonio Andrade
Dec. 2: Hard Travelin’
Dec. 8: Emily Lynn Wilkins
Dec. 9: Paul Zavinksy
Dec. 10: Michael Arthur & Kristina Machusick
Dec. 15: Kevin Kline
Dec. 16: Doug Morris
Dec. 17: Kirk Wise
Dec. 22: Dominick Cicco
Dec. 23: Sinclair Soul

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

Dec. 6: Saint Thomas Dulcimer Society
Dec. 17: Triumphant Brass

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

Dec. 11: Harp and Handbells Concert

Greater Harrisburg Chorus, Sweet Adelines International
717-564-1034; ghchorus.com

Dec. 9, 10: “What the Dickens?” A Partridge in a Parody

Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus
harrisburggaymenschorus.org

Dec. 2: Concert with Baltimore Men’s Chorus
Dec. 8-17: “A Dickens Christmas” Concert

Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

Dec. 1: Don’t Sleep, Steel Nation, Tonka Tuff, Back to Life, Bitter Taste
Dec. 8: Separations
Dec. 9: Team Rowland
Dec. 12: Reverend Horton Heart, Junior Brown, The Blasters, Big Sandy
Dec. 15: He is Legend, Dead Eyes, Imbued, The University of South Vietnam School of Warfare
Dec. 16: Kilmaine Saints, Hold Fast, The Mongols
Dec. 29: The Werks
Dec. 30: NRBQ

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

Dec. 9: Hershey Symphony’s Holiday Spectacular
Dec. 21: Jewel
Dec. 23: Straight No Chaser

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

Dec. 1: Funktion
Dec. 2: DJ Ray Rossi, Vinyl Groov
Dec. 8: Uptown
Dec. 9: DJ Magic, Emily’s Toybox
Dec. 15: Mountain Road
Dec. 16: DJ Styles, Smooth Like Clyde
Dec. 22: Honeypump
Dec. 23: DJ Magic, The Luv Gods
Dec. 29: That Band
Dec. 30: DJ Ray Rossi, Mystery Machine
Dec. 31: DJ Styles, No Bad Juju, Green Eggs

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

Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: DJ Joe Hertz
Dec. 2: Observe the 93^rd
Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27: Open Mic, Walter DeWall
Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28: DJ Eric B
Dec. 9: Lazy Joe Fink
Dec. 16: Adrian Blitzer
Dec. 23: End of Silence
Dec. 30: The Colt Wilbur Band
Dec. 31: TBA

Keystone Concert Band
717-421-1512; keystoneconcertband.com

Dec. 2: Holiday Concert (St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Harrisburg)

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

Dec. 29: Koji, Shortly, Porklord

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

Dec. 2: R. Ariel, Kafari, Weird Year

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

Dec. 3: The Raleigh Ringers
Dec. 9: The Ten Tenors
Dec. 21: The Oak Ridge Boys

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

Dec. 1: Gettysburg College Symphony Orchestra

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Dec. 3: Messiah College Christmas Concert
Dec. 4: United Voices of Praise
Dec. 6: Music Nova
Dec. 8: Tim Warfield All Star Jazzy Christmas
Dec. 9: Guitar Ensemble
Dec. 9: One College Ave Concert

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

Dec. 1: DJ Zack Rudy

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

Dec. 2: Nate Myers
Dec. 9: Conrad Fisher
Dec. 23: Lucas Gienow
Dec. 30: Olivia Farabaugh

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

Dec. 1: Benjamin Vo Blues Band
Dec. 2: Maiden America
Dec. 5: Steve Rudolph & Cathy Chemi
Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27: River City Open Mic & Jam
Dec. 8: Ben Brandt Trio
Dec. 9: Jeff Fetterman Band
Dec. 10: Steve Rudolph & Tom Strohman
Dec. 15: Middleton Brother
Dec. 18: River City Big Band
Dec. 19, 26: The Steve Rudolph Duo
Dec. 22: Shawan and the Wonton

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

Dec. 8: The Suitcase Junket

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

Dec. 1: Grit
Dec. 2: Channalia
Dec. 8: Crossroads Duo
Dec. 9: Rayzen Kane
Dec. 15: Cotolo
Dec. 16: Just Dave
Dec. 22: Rhoads and Putt Trio
Dec. 23: Joe Trojcak & Friends
Dec. 29: Something Else
Dec. 30: Graig Bonner & Steve Geib

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

Dec. 2: Open Mic
Dec. 7: April Verch & Joe Newberry
Dec. 10: Jam Session

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

Dec. 7: Robin Spielberg
Dec. 14: Irish Christmas in America
Dec. 15: Champian Fulton Quartet

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

Dec. 1-2: Get the Led Out
Dec. 13: Simply Three
Dec. 14: The Company Men
Dec. 16: Aimee Mann

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

Dec. 9: Ray Holland

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

Dec. 15: Dan Jamison
Dec. 30: Lebowskis

The Stage Door

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

Dec. 1-30: “The 2017 Christmas Show: Home for the Holidays”

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

Dec. 7: Philly Plowden
Dec. 8: “The Hip Nut” w/Greater York Dance
Dec. 9-10: “The Nutcracker” w/Midstate Ballet

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

Dec. 1-31: “White Christmas”

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

Dec. 15: TMI Improv Show
Through Dec. 16: “A Popcorn Hat Christmas Carol”
Dec. 31: Popcorn Hat New Year’s Eve Party

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

Dec. 1, 2: Cee-Jay Jones & Pat House
Dec. 8, 9: J Bliss and TBA
Dec. 10: Oxymorons Improv Comedy
Dec. 15, 16: Grandma Lee and Bob Lauver
Dec. 29, 30: Liz Russo

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

Dec. 1: Oppositional Defiants/Hawkward, Name That Tune/Ferd Majelly
Dec. 1, 3: Level 1 Class Show
Dec. 2: The Bat Class Show/Love Triangle, Last Resort, Bandito/Fours Company 2—In Addition Too
Dec. 8: The Bat Class Show/What’s the Matter with Henry?, HAI/Brainwave Aftershave, Phlegminism
Dec. 9: Zesty!/Bandjob, Spacework, Ferret Prom/Solo Sleepover
Dec. 10, 11: Sean Conroy
Dec. 15: Intro to Musical Improv Class Show, Oppositional Defiants/Hawkward, Images
Dec. 16: TBA/JohNathan, Spank’d, Tony Stanza
Dec. 22: TBA/What’s the Matter With Henry?, Tiny Town
Dec. 23: Zesty!/The Fourest, Introduce A Self, The Actor’s Craft/Pillow Talk
Dec. 29: Hit Bits

Hershey Area Playhouse
830 Cherry Dr., Hershey
717-533-8525; hersheyareaplayhouse.com

Dec. 1-9: “A Christmas Carol”

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

Dec. 1-3: “Kinky Boots”
Dec. 6-7: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical”
Dec. 16-17: George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” w/Central PA Youth Ballet

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmpa.com

Dec. 1-10: “A.N.G.E.L.s, INC.”

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

Dec. 8-17: “A Christmas Carol” w/Totem Pole

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Dec. 1-2: Grace Pollock Dance Studio
Dec. 8-9: Poorman Black Box Theater

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

Dec. 1-23: “A Christmas Carol”
Dec. 3-22: “The Santaland Diaries”

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

Dec. 1-17: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever The Musical”

Studio 91
712 Grantham Rd., Mechanicsburg
717-691-5567; studio91.com

Dec. 1, 2: “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”

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

Dec. 15-17: “Yours Truly, Jack Frost”

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

Dec. 1: We the People—Portals, The Gail Gray Project

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

Dec. 9-10: George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker”

A Very Harrisburg Holiday: This Christmas, shop for gifts that are not only sold locally, but made locally.

November 30, 2017 | by Ann Knaus

For years, professional shoppers and last-minute gift-buyers had few choices but to hop in the car and travel to the local malls or big box stores to stock up on holiday presents and other seasonal goodies. What they found were the same offerings over and over, from store to store. It could leave even the merriest uninspired.

This year, break the mold and explore some of the unique local businesses that are bringing new life and new ideas to the holiday season.

It’s possible to shop for almost everyone on your list with a single visit to the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg, where an array of vendors offers everything from food products to beautifully handcrafted items.

Popped Culture in the stone building is owned by attorney-turned-entrepreneur Mark Wieder. For the holiday, the artisan popcorn business is featuring Chocolat à L’orange, (dark chocolate with orange), Caspers’ Peppermint Bark, (white chocolate with peppermint bits) and Gingerbread Pop (just like the cookie). They are also introducing POPelicious popcorn spice blends so fans of the popcorn can recreate Popped Culture popcorn at home. “We are really excited to bring some holiday flavor and flair to the Broad Street Market,” Wieder said. Guests are invited to stop by for a popcorn demo this month.

Over in the brick building, be sure to check out the offerings at Elementary Coffee Co. “We’ve garnered a really good following at the market,” owner Andrea Grove said about the 3-year-old shop, which is partnering with Fennec Design, located across the street in the Millworks, to create enamel coffee mugs for gift-giving. “We had some merchandise the past couple of years, but (this year) we wanted to do something unique and are really excited about this. This is the only place in town you can get this type of mug.” The mugs retail for $15, and shoppers can choose from the simple Elementary Coffee logo and a more intricate flower design. Later in December, the shop also will carry MiiR travel mugs for coffee-drinkers on the go. Need a drink now? Elementary is serving up eggnog lattes made with steamed Apple Valley Creamery (East Berlin) eggnog and the ever-popular Midtown Ginger drink: a maple syrup-based latte with Apple Valley Creamery whole milk, topped with Calicutts (Lemoyne) fresh ginger and cinnamon spice mix. The shop also serves a peppermint ganache mocha, a warm, dark chocolate mint ganache mixed up daily and ladled out of a crockpot topped with Apple Valley Creamery milk and dusted with cocoa powder.

Vie Chevre owner David Kern is making it easy for shoppers to find just the right gift. The goat milk soap company in the market’s brick building has grown by leaps and bounds in the past year. Kern made “gifts on a budget” the theme this holiday season, making it easy for shoppers to buy everything from Secret Santa gifts to the unique objects for that special someone. Candles, a main staple item at the shop, will feature three specialty scents: On an Open Fire, Winter’s Chill and Home and Hearth, with each evoking warm and familiar fragrances of the season. Additionally, reasonably priced and ready-for-gifting are mason jars complete with to-and-from cards that include Vie Chevre’s famous Goat Milk Soap, Lip Balm and samples. Small jars are $7 and large jars are $10. “The week before Christmas, we will also be doing a full-push, last-minute gift sale,” said Kern, anticipating a bustling season.

If you have a sweet tooth or someone in your life adores anything that resembles Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, then Fudge-O-lutely is not to be missed in the brick building. The demure shop packs a punch of color. Visitors’ noses are overwhelmed by the delicious smell of chocolate wafting over the counter. Owner Jessica Kost says it all started with her grandma’s fudge recipe. “I used her base recipe and played around with ingredients to come up with new flavors. More recently, I started adding other products like marshmallows and cotton candy,” she said. Her holiday flavors include peppermint bark, gingerbread and eggnog. Other treats are handmade peppermint marshmallows dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in crushed peppermint candy. The shop also offers gift samplers and a mug set including Fudge-O-lutely handmade marshmallows and Frederic Loraschi (Colonial Park) gourmet hot cocoa mix.

Eight Oaks Distillery is a new kid on the block at the Broad Street Market, and owner Chad Butters is feeling at home. “The community here is so supportive,” he said. The New Tripoli-based business set up shop in the brick building a few months ago and hit the ground running. Serving American vodka, authentic applejack, colonial rum, American gin, Pennsylvania rye whiskey and bourbon whiskey, Eight Oaks is using traditional distilling methods to create its Pennsylvania-based products. Three new releases this month include pinot bourbon, aged rum and aged applejack. For anyone looking for gifts for that person on your list who likes to imbibe, two gift packs will be available: one with a bottle of vodka, Moscow mule cup and recipe, and another with applejack, a cocktail glass and recipe.

Speaking of the hard stuff, Harrisburg’s own Midstate Distillery is just a few blocks from the market. The distillery, located at 1817 N. Cameron St., offers a wide selection of spirits, including bourbon, vodka, moonshine and rum, for drinking on site or gifting. It may be the perfect place to unwind with your out-of-town visitors following that mandatory tour of the state Capitol.

While in the city, be sure to stop in at Matangos Candies, which has been in business for 60 years. Peter Matangos, the grandson of founder Chris “Pop” Matangos, is the face of the business these days. The old factory store at 1501 Catherine St. has remained the same since it opened its doors. This year, customers can buy old-fashioned clear toys as candy-lovers enjoy chocolate straws, chocolate Santa molds, Christmas crystal creams, peanut brittle, black walnut brittle, cashew brittle, black walnut hash and Roka, which is a cashew butter toffee rolled in milk chocolate and chopped almonds.

Just over the river, Market Street in Camp Hill is like something from a Norman Rockwell painting. Lined with small shops and restaurants, this centerpiece of the community looks like it belongs in a snow globe. At the center of it all is Cornerstone Coffeehouse at 2133 Market St., a community favorite since 1994. Stop in to get your caffeine fix and pick up some great gifts, including coffee mugs, 25 different teas, tea steepers, tea infuser mugs, T-shirts and other coffee supplies like French presses. “We carry so many items, but it’s what our customers want,” said General Manager Nicole Miller, who has been at Cornerstone for seven years. The shop also will be offering Christmas coffees that include Kringle Crunch, Santa’s Toddy, Jingle Bell Brew, Peppermint Mocha and fan favorites egg nog and egg nog lattes. Quiches will be available made-to-order for Christmas morning, and Chef Chuck LaPorta will offer a Feast of Seven Fishes class. Beyond the gifts and treats, it’s still about the people. “We are very community-oriented and our customers love our barristas,” Miller said.

A few blocks away is One Good Woman at 1845 Market St., specializing in coffee, loose-leaf tea and gourmet foods and gifts. “We have an ever-changing inventory so there is always something new to look at,” co-owner Mechelle Webster said. This season, the store offers baskets as personal, business or corporate gifts. Customers have the option to select the items for the baskets themselves or have them selected by staff. Despite the name, One Good Woman carries gifts for men, women and children. Be sure to check out the fine, handmade jewelry and the wide range of One Good Woman-branded items.

This is just a small sample of craft, bespoke and local products from Harrisburg-area shops. Be creative in discovering your own. You’ll find the search fun, the people friendly and the results better, more creative and more delicious than anything out of the big box.

Author: Ann Knaus

At Home: The LGBT Center of PA helped Amanda Arbour. Now, she’s leading the way.

November 30, 2017 | by Gillian Branstetter

For Amanda Arbour, being asked to serve as the executive director of the LGBT Center of Central PA was like returning home.

Shortly after coming out as a lesbian, Arbour sought out the center as a place to feel included and be herself.

“I would come to movie screenings, ice cream socials, 3rd in the Burgs,” she said. “Just a lot of the open community events that are less formal. As I’m coming out and finding my community, this was a welcoming place for me and not just in my professional role but just me as a queer person.”

In her new role, Arbour hopes to make the center as welcoming to all queer people as it was to her. Part of that, she says, is “recognizing that, within our LGBTQ community, we have racism.”

“We have transphobia, biphobia, xenophobia,” she said. “All the forms of oppression in our society, unfortunately, are also present within our LGBT communities.”

(sub)Push Back
Tackling such difficult questions about race and identity is well within the reach of Arbour, a lifelong social activist.

After the Philadelphia native graduated from Messiah College, she began work at the campus Service Learning Center “engaging students in local community service opportunities, primarily in Harrisburg, and providing an educational lens through which they could reflect upon and learn from their experiences.”

Shortly after leaving the SLC for the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, Arbour took on the role of director of racial justice at the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg. There, she cut her teeth leading classes and seminars to help businesses, schools, police departments and other institutions challenge racism in their own organizations.

“Anytime you’re challenging things like racism or white supremacy, there will be parts that push back,” she said. “All of us have been socialized within a society that functions on these oppressions and, in particular, in institutions where it’s been so deeply embedded.”

Approaching such thorny topics did not come without some challenges.

“When I would do trainings or sessions, there would always be people who don’t understand why we’re still talking about race—because clearly racism is not an issue anymore,” she said sarcastically. “Or they wouldn’t understand why language is important, or felt offended when we talked about white privilege or didn’t recognize they had privilege. I would say that, with every training, there was always some kind of pushback like that.”

It’s that kind of self-reflection that Arbour hopes to inspire in the queer community through the LGBT Center.

“I definitely felt like it was my responsibility to particularly educate other white people,” she said. “We have a lot of privileges, and part of that is not having to have conversations about privilege or about race. So, I think there’s a lot less tolerance for that and a lot less practiced ability in having those conversations.”

(sub)Safe Space
For Arbour, this also means addressing the divisions within the queer community and between different identities.

“We often talk about gender and sexuality as gay or straight, men or women, these kind of black and white separations,” she said. “What does it mean when you’re in between or outside of those social constructions? What does it mean for people who are intersex, bisexual or nonbinary?”

Arbour wants the center to be a space where everyone feels at home.

“Trans women of color, queer immigrants who might be undocumented—those that live at those intersections can feel like they can bring their whole selves here and feel recognized and affirmed and see themselves reflected, too,” she said.

To Arbour, the main challenge of the LGBT Center is making sure the organization is well known throughout the midstate as both a resource and a safe space.

“A lot of people don’t know the center is here or don’t know the breadth and depth of services and programs that we offer,” said Arbour, citing the community events, art showings, fundraisers and support groups hosted by the center. “So I wanted to be very intentional in finding creative ways beyond typical ways of advertising to get the word out.”

This is a challenge of particular importance when it comes to gay students and youth.

“I think of, in particular, our youth who are experiencing high levels of bullying and harassment and suicide,” she said.

According to a 2015 study by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, more than two-thirds of LGBT students in Pennsylvania had experienced verbal harassment for their sexual orientation or gender identity and nearly one-third had experienced physical harassment.

“I want every queer kid in school to know we’re here and that this space is available,” Arbour said.

And she knows firsthand the value such a space can have to queer people wrestling with their own identities.

“Being a gay woman, being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, this is a neat opportunity to invest in the center that has been important to me personally,” she said.

After all, it played a large role in her own coming-out process.

“I believe very deeply in the work the center does and in creating a safe space and educational programming, supportive services and all the things the center has become known for,” she said.

The LGBT Center of Central PA is located at 1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.centralpalgbtcenter.org.

Author: Gillian Branstetter

Crab for Christmas: Take a little dip.

November 30, 2017 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

For food junkies like me, the Christmas holidays can best be described as a “cook-a-thon.” By the time Thanksgiving is over, I find myself frantically scouring magazines and cookbooks for special things to make throughout the season.

I make a few cookies each year but seem to always come back to the crispy gingersnaps I have made for decades and Martha Stewart’s sugar cookies laced with a touch of brandy. There’s always a standing rib roast for Christmas dinner and a fruit-studded pound cake that I soak in bourbon for days after baking. If I have time, I will make sweet almond macaroons with pine nuts (Italian pignoli cookies) and a seasonal biscotti, perhaps with cranberry and orange. Tradition usually prevails.

For almost 30 years, my family hosted a Christmas Eve open house. Although it began as a two-hour event, it eventually stretched from one in the afternoon to well into the evening. There was always lots of food: baked ham with brown sugar and cloves, turkey breast roasted with butter and maple syrup, smoked salmon with capers and red onion, Italian antipasto, cold shrimp, a variety of wraps and the ever-popular “cocktail weenies.” This latter item was very popular among the high school crowd when our sons were that age.

But the star of the show was my baked crab spread. A co-worker shared this recipe with me many years ago, and it has been a holiday “go-to” ever since. For some reason, I opted to exclude it from my open house menu one year. There were protests all around.

Whenever I serve this to guests, it is quickly eaten, and so I always double the recipe. I like that I can use a lower fat cream cheese without harming the consistency of the spread and, if there happens to be any left over, it re-heats beautifully. You can make it with backfin crab rather than the very expensive lump or jumbo lump variety, thus cutting the expense somewhat. And as Martha Stewart is fond of saying: “That’s a good thing.”

Rosemary’s crab spread can be part of your cocktail party spread at Christmas (or all winter long). But it is light enough to serve as an appetizer before dinner, as well. I hope you find many occasions to serve it throughout the holidays and beyond.

Baked Crab Meat Appetizer

Ingredients

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened (I use either the “lower fat” or regular fat.)
8 ounces fresh crab meat
3 tablespoons onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons milk (Whole milk works well, but I have often used half and half for added creaminess.)
1 teaspoon horseradish
½ teaspoon salt
Dash of freshly ground pepper
½ cup sliced (not slivered) almonds, lightly toasted.

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
Combine all ingredients except the almonds in a bowl and mix together well (I use a wooden spoon.)
Spoon mixture into an oven-proof baking dish.
Sprinkle the almonds on top and bake until bubbly, about 15 minutes.

The crab spread can be made ahead, kept in the fridge, and popped in the oven right before your guests arrive. I usually serve it with nice crackers, but it is also very good with crostini or small pumpernickel bread rounds that are available at the holidays. Sprinkle the top of the spread with a little paprika for a nice touch. And, if you like things spicy, sneak in a few red pepper flakes when mixing.

I do a fair amount of cooking over the Christmas holiday and often a lot of fretting over getting everything done. But my one constant is my crab dip. It works for almost every occasion (well, maybe not Christmas morning brunch!) And it sure beats cocktail weenies.

Buon Natale!

Author: Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

60 Shades of Green: Freshening up fast food in downtown Harrisburg.

November 30, 2017 | by Diane McNaughton

In Shawn You’s world, there are two types of people: those who eat raw fish and those who don’t.

He and business partner Benson Chan are catering to the tastes of both at their trendy new eatery at the corner of 3rd and Market, fronting a resurgent Strawberry Square.

Named “Freshido,” which translates to “fresh way,” the restaurant with the clean, cosmopolitan vibe opened to eager eaters last month. Already, they are serving between 100 and 150 customers over the normal, two-hour lunchtime, You said.

Many customers converge upon Freshido from nearby state and county offices, as well as Temple and Harrisburg universities. Their “second stage” of customers consists of willing-to-drive-downtown suburbanites and West Shore office workers.

When asked what customers are saying about the fledgling restaurant, You answered modestly.

“They like it,” he said. “They like the food. They like the design of the restaurant. It’s a totally different experience.”

Customers are less understated.

“This is damn good,” said a 20-something blonde clad in running gear as she daintily picked through Freshido’s signature dish, the Hawaiian “poke” (two syllables) bowl. “It’s like a sushi salad.”

A baby boomer county employee said, “I wanted to build my own bowl, but I messed up and they built it for me, but I couldn’t have picked any better. It was perfect.”

Be Creative
You said that Freshido meshes Korean food with Japanese, accented by a hint of Hawaiian.

The service design mimics a Chipotle. Customers move through the line while workers behind a glass counter assemble their custom-made meal from the colorful array of 60-plus choices.

Diners can build their own poke bowl by selecting from a medley of dark and lime greens, deep purples, pale peaches, carrot oranges and melon yellow.

They first choose their base rice, then meats and seafood, followed by countless fresh ingredients and sauces. With so many ingredients and toppings to choose from, the combination of tastes and textures is almost endless. Tuna, salmon, shrimp, scallops, chicken, beef—it’s all there for the picking. An average meal costs about $10.

“Customers can be their own chef,” You said. “Just try the different ingredients. Try different sauces. Use your imagination. Be creative.”

To keep the food at its maximum freshness, Freshido prepares only the food needed for that day, You said, and it’s all locally sourced.

“It’s very healthy,” You said. “It’s just like a salad.”

Freshido is the latest entrant in a freshness invasion taking over downtown Harrisburg, following on the heels of the new Fresa Bistro and Provisions grocery store.

You and his co-owner decided that fast food should not be synonymous with frozen, fried and fattening. He noted that a cheeseburger and French fries can sit out at room temperature for a week, and, loaded with preservatives, still won’t decompose.

“Think what that does in your body,” he said.

So, they decided to launch a new concept that is simply fresh fast food.

The health benefits are displayed right on the menu board: an improved immune system, better cardiovascular health, weight loss and a multitude of vitamins.

The food also boosts your taste buds, whether you opt for surf and turf, sesame tofu or sushi burritos.

Also Delicious
You came to the United States 19 years ago, when he was 13. His parents operated a restaurant in Cherry Hill, N.J., where he worked as a dishwasher in the early days, as the only son in a family of seven children. His parents offered to turn the restaurant over to him, but he declined.

“I wanted to go out and try new stuff,” he said.

Enter Freshido. The hours are long at his new enterprise, but his dreams are growing alongside those vast fruits and vegetables. He wants his restaurant to be a “prototype for Japanese fast food” and hopes that, someday, shops like his will be all over the country.

To fill his 19-person staff, he hired a host of local college students, including full- and part-time workers.

“We want to provide job opportunities for students.”

Freshido also offers a cozy escape.

The decor is urban factory chic, with dark, red-brick walls, clean lines, small wooden tables, pendant lighting, wooden-crate ceiling tiles and spare, black-and-red chairs. The simple décor reflects the simple food philosophy, You said.

The partners also operate Shogun Fusion near Costco in Lower Paxton Township and Kondu by the Harrisburg East Mall in Swatara Township.

They hope soon to open restaurants in Hershey and Mechanicsburg and to expand the menu with even more options. They also plan to launch an app for iOS and Android so Freshido fans can see the specials daily and order quickly and easily. Also in the works is catering for private parties.

The young Freshido owners think big but believe they have the recipe for success. The visibility in their new location is good, You said. People see them when they walk to work or on their way to Whitaker Center or Strawberry Square.

“Healthy is simple,” the sign on the message board says.

And judging by the buzz Freshido has generated so quickly, it’s also delicious.

Freshido is located at the corner of 3rd and Market streets in Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.freshido.com or the Facebook page.

Author: Diane McNaughton

What to Bring? Our wine guy shares his notes for your holiday meal.

November 30, 2017 | by Steve Juliana

At this time of year, conversations often turn to the subject of the upcoming holiday meal.

In my family, tasks are divided between the food and the beverages. Since I don’t consider myself much of a chef, my responsibility is to bring wine that will match the dishes that my relatives create.

Therefore, I was looking for inspiration when I was invited to the Chairman’s Selection tasting this past fall. I sampled many wines and made notes that would keep me up to date when it became time to shop for the quaffs that will make our holidays a memorable occasion.

I hope you find my choices helpful and that they make the holidays brighter for you and yours.

Keep sipping,

Steve.

White Wines
Olivier Lebrin Chateau de L’Aujardiere Muscadet Sur Lie 2016, $12.99, Code #78690
France’s oyster wine with citrus flavors and long finish. Very good.

Jean Cavaille Apremont Cep Noir Vielles Vignes 2016, $17.99, Code #78702
Palate-scrubber from French Alps with citrus fruit and bright acidity. Unoaked.

Domaine V La Grange Viognier 2016, $14.99, Code #78704
Flowery example of Rhone’s great white grape. Excellent holiday table wine. For ham or shrimp.

Red Wines
Rock Point Pinot Noir 2015, $10.99, Code #78686
Savory Oregon Pinot with strawberry nose, cherry and herbs on the palate.

Montague Winery Pinot Noir Reserve 2014, $17.99, Code #78730
Nice Cali Pinot with big mid-palate fruit and a long finish. For turkey.

Z’ivo Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2012, $19.99, Code #78695
Light, easy-drinking Pinot from Oregon leaning towards Burgundy. Velvety finish.

Renato Ratti Barbera D’Alba Battaglione 2014, $11.99, Code #78678
Tasty red from Italy. Spicy and fruity. Good food wine.

Bersano Generala Barbera D’Asti Superiore Nizza 2011, $14.99, Code #78721
Well-balanced red from famous Italian village. Big mid-palate, fruity.

Babylon’s Peak Shiraz-Carignan 2015, $13.99, Code #78605
Spicy, well-layered Rhone blend by way of South Africa. Good beef wine.

Rhebokskloof Cellar Selection Flat Rock Red 2014, $12.99, Code #78606
Another South African blended red with Pinotage and French grapes. Easy-drinking.

Les Vignobles Foncalieu Latoque Reserve 2015, $10.99, Code #78715
Bordeaux meets Rhone in this rich blend from southern France. Tasty.

Domaine Les Evigneaux Rateau 2015, $14.99, Code #78727
Big, punchy Rhone red with a blend of five grapes. Good winter quaff.

Aranleon El Arbol Tempranillo 2015, $19.99, Code #78670
Rich, dark wine from one of Spain’s most well-known grapes.

Precision Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, $24.99, Code #78717
Light wine from Napa Valley. To drink now or lay down. For the grill.

Havens Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, $29.99, Code #78663
Delicious example of Napa Valley Cab that won’t break the bank. Very smooth.

Napa Valley Cattle Company Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, $29.99, Code #78738 Heavy blend of four Cabs from mountain vineyards. Best to lay down.

Havens Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District 2013, $39.99, Code #78664
Balanced Cab with cassis, blackberry and dusty tannins.

Sweet Break: A scrumptious snap at Brittle Bark.

November 30, 2017 | by Karen Hendricks

Brittle Bark could quite possibly be the happiest place in all of central Pennsylvania—especially during the holiday season.

Tucked into a tall corner storefront along Main Street in Mechanicsburg with a brightly decorated seasonal front window, the chocolate and candy shop has earned a sweet reputation over the past 10 years.

“Everybody who comes into a candy store is happy,” manager Vonny Getz said. “It’s an extremely fun job because we’re able to help people find unique gifts that make them happy.”

Brittle Bark—think peanut brittle, evolved into 15 varieties—is the product that launched the business and transformed owner Diane Krulac from a software executive into one of central Pennsylvania’s most famous specialty careers: chocolatier.

“Our Brittle Bark covered in dark chocolate and sea salt is my personal favorite,” Getz said. “It’s crunchy, sweet and salty, and I recommend it all the time.”

Hand-Dipped

It was 1992 when Krulac whipped up a batch of peanut brittle for her daughter’s preschool fundraiser. Requests for more poured in, and a decade later, Krulac founded Brittle Bark as a side business.

Krulac, originally trained as a dental hygienist, was enjoying a second career in the software and IT industry after earning her undergraduate and master’s degrees in computer science.

“As many women do, I needed a clean break,” she said. “So I went back to school again—this time to become a chocolatier. At 66 years old, this is my third career, and I’m fascinated. There’s never a dull moment, and I have so many ideas.”

By 2008, Krulac opened Brittle Bark as a brick-and-mortar retail shop in Mechanicsburg. In addition to the namesake product, the shop offers chocolate-covered pretzels, fruit such as blueberries or strawberries dipped in chocolate, gourmet popcorn in several varieties, Oreos encased in chocolate—many of which are adorned with colorful and artistic transfer art.

A candy case features about two dozen types of gourmet and artisan chocolates, including classic varieties like raspberry truffles, sea salt caramels, peanut butter cups, chocolate-covered cherries and Krulac’s favorite—buttercreams. More creative varieties include truffles infused with coffee, cappuccino, key lime, Earl Grey tea and cabernet flavors.

“I never set out to own a retail candy store,” Krulac said. “But I’ve always had a sweet tooth.”

Getz said that they know the favorites from all their regular customers.

“We know everyone’s vices,” said Getz, with a laugh.

The one thing all Brittle Bark products have in common?

“Everything is hand-dipped,” Krulac said.

Find Your Niche

“Buy local” is one of Krulac’s guiding principles.

Nearly all of the chocolate melted into the shop’s creations begin as Wilbur Buds, produced in Lititz, Pa. Krulac has established a relationship with Wilbur Chocolates’ chocolatier, who supplies her with both milk and dark chocolate varieties.

“Wilbur Buds are very cocoa-rich and creamy,” Krulac says. “It’s fun when we do a chocolate tasting of international and American chocolate varieties—by far, the favorite is always Wilbur.”

Additional local flavors intertwined with Brittle Bark’s products include Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels and fruit from Mechanicsburg’s Oak Grove Farms. “Fire Salt” sprinkled atop Aztec Truffles hails from Lemoyne’s Calicutts Spice Co. The shop even invested in candy molds shaped like the state Capitol so visitors can purchase dome-shaped chocolates.

Sweet holiday treats include a peppermint-flavored Brittle Bark, pumpkin spice and sugar plum truffles, artisan s’mores and a wide variety of holiday gift baskets.

Krulac said that one of the biggest advantages to “buying local” chocolates and candies is that everything in her shop is fresh. In contrast, commercially produced holiday candy is manufactured six to nine months before the holidays, she said.

She especially enjoys the challenge of creating customized chocolates and candies for customers, including branded goods for businesses.

“We are not afraid to do crazy things,” she said. “Chocolate is a great marketing tool and leaves a delicious lasting impression much better than a ballpoint pen.”

Brittle Bark’s local partnerships extend to events, as well.

Their maroon and white “Downtown Mechanicsburg Partnership” flag flies outside during shop hours. Recently, the shop partnered with Mechanicsburg’s Rosemary House for a chocolate-and-tea pairing. They also created a beer brittle for a local brewery’s fall event, and planning is underway for the “Cha Cha Cha Chocolate Extravaganza” on Feb. 2.

If the idea of becoming a chocolatier—at least for one day—sounds appealing, Krulac has you covered. Brittle Bark offers seasonal chocolatier classes, including those designed for teens and younger children, plus “mommy and me” sessions. Participants learn how to melt milk, dark and white chocolate, incorporate flavorings such as raspberry, create special effects, decorate the candy and much more. Current classes allow participants to create holiday gifts complete with gift packaging, ribbons and bows on top.

Krulac’s own chocolate education also continues.

“You’re never too old to learn,” she said. “I try to take a class every year.

She said that creating vegan chocolates is the field’s “new frontier.”

“Chocolate making is a very creative field, especially today,” Krulac said. “There are high expectations because of the specialty food industry. You have to find your niche and then you can express your creative soul to the enjoyment of others.”

Brittle Bark is located at 33 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg. For more information, call 717-697-6950 or visit www.BrittleBark.com.

Author: Karen Hendricks

Slip into Chemise: Women’s clothier bolsters “boutique row” in Camp Hill.

November 30, 2017 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Siena McLees in her new shop.

Fashion maven and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour once said, “You either know fashion or you don’t.”

For those who are in need of a little advice, experts like Siena McLees are ready, willing and able to step up to the fashion plate. The Shipoke resident recently joined the ever-growing list of female entrepreneurs setting up shop in Camp Hill.

Her new store, Chemise, slipped into its little niche on Market Street in mid-October among other boutiques that are increasing in number as the borough’s business district continues to expand.

McLees describes her shop as a “curated collection for modern dressing,” and her personal style is a reflection of that collection—elegant, understated, textural. She suggests that her interest in fashion may be inherited.

“My father’s mother was a seamstress,” she said. “She made beautiful clothing.”

The shop owner, who majored in theater at Penn State, discovered her calling while working on a school assignment.

“We were required to complete 40 hours of technical theater, and I gravitated towards costume design,” said McLees, whose face lights up when she recalls seeing her creations come to life on the big stage for the first time. “I sewed a suit for production, and my professor said that’s what I should do.”

Her attention then turned to retail.

“I decided I didn’t want to be a performer,” she said.

After McLees’ daughter was born, the family relocated to Philadelphia, where she spent time working for clothing giant Max Mara, founded by Achille Maramotti, a leading fashion entrepreneur in postwar Italy. She worked her way up to the position of Northeast merchandise manager before returning to the Harrisburg area.

“My husband took advantage of a great job opportunity here,” she said.

When she heard that Meeka Fine Jewelry was relocating on the same street and the building was ready for a new tenant, she knew the time was right.

“I had been thinking of opening up my own shop for 15 years, and I loved this little pocket right here on Market Street. We all offer something a little different,” McLees said of her neighboring shop owners.

She enjoys bringing a little bit of the Big Apple to Camp Hill.

“I have family that lives in Brooklyn, so I go to New York often,” she said. “The designers that I bring here are in my favorite boutiques.”

Perfect Addition

Inside of the new shop, shoppers discover a minimalist and elegant décor with an industrial chic vibe that features Edison bulb pendant lighting, attractive wood flooring and a front desk crafted from reclaimed barn wood and festooned with an Art Deco postage stamp design.

Racks of clothing line the walls and range from shirts and dresses to pants, jeans, capes and coats. Accessories include handbags and a special collection of what McLees describes as “non-massed produced” jewelry, as well as a selection of shoes to pull it all together.

Customers are provided with plenty of room to browse as Audrey Hepburn’s famous Vogue cover hangs on the wall, overseeing the entire enterprise.

Kara Beem describes McLees as her “go to” person for fashion advice.

“Siena is great at pulling a wardrobe together for anything from a casual event to date night,” said the Camp Hill resident, adding that she also appreciates that McLees offers customized advice based on lifestyle and personal preference. “With her background in working with Max Mara, she has an incredible ability to pull various textures together.”

Laurie Kennedy of Camp Hill considers the collection “contemporary, with an edge.”

“Siena has a skill for not only determining what will look great on a customer based on their body type, but also how various pieces will fit into their lifestyle,” said Kennedy, adding that the boutique owner is able to envision how something will look, often before a customer is aware of it.

“She showed me a pair of brocade pumps that I didn’t think were for me until she put them on me,” she said. “They work with so many outfits.”

Kennedy said that she likes that McLees has put so much thought into selecting pieces that work together for wardrobe-building and describes the merchandise as “versatile and wearable.”

“When I purchase one of her pieces, I find myself reaching for them time and time again,” she said. “They always fit well and look good.”

Kennedy, who also is a member of the Camp Hill school board, said she is delighted that another enterprising woman has chosen to open in Camp Hill.

“We, as a community, are trying to develop our business area on Market Street, and she is a perfect addition to our retail offerings,” she said.

Chemise is located at 2205 Market St., Camp Hill. For more information, call 215-740-9598 or visit the Chemise Facebook page.

Author: Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Novel Gifts: Christmas, in the present tense.

November 30, 2017 | by Alex Brubaker

E-books have their place, but good, old-fashioned print remains dominant as a holiday gift. After all, it’s still rather difficult to wrap up a bunch of pixels and put them under a Christmas tree.

With that in mind, I compiled a selection of great books worthy of giving this season, broken into a number of categories. I’m sure that you’ll discover something here for the book-lover on your list.

The Novel of the Year

“Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders

Here it is, folks—this year’s must-read novel. Not only is George Saunders one of the most celebrated American writers working today, but his debut novel recently won one of the most prestigious international awards in all of literature—the Man Booker Prize. In “Lincoln in the Bardo,” Saunders deftly blends historical realism with supernatural elements to deliver one of the most original and moving novels of the year. Taking the death of Abraham Lincoln’s son, Willie, as its historical genesis, “Lincoln in the Bardo” is a literary masterpiece that proves Saunders’ place in the pantheon of American writers. Oh, and Saunders happens to be visiting the Midtown Scholar Bookstore on Friday, Feb. 9. To reserve your book and ticket, visit www.midtownscholar.com.

Related Recommendations: “Sing, Unburied Sing” by Jesmyn Ward; “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng; “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness” by Arundhati Roy

For the Rare Book Enthusiast

“Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts” by Christopher de Hamel

Brighten your literary nerd’s heart with this journey into some of the world’s most ancient, elusive and remarkable manuscripts. With stunning photographs to boot, “Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts” takes us on a deep dive into 12 of the most fascinating manuscripts in the world, including “The Canterbury Tales,” “The St. Augustine Gospels” and a 6th-century Greek manuscript illustrating the life of Christ. Don’t let its scholarly subject matter fool you—Christopher de Hamel makes this book fun, insightful and the perfect gift for the rare-book lover in your life.

Related Recommendations: “The Written World: The Power of Stories to Shape People, History, Civilization” by Martin Puchner; “The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve” by Stephen Greenblatt; “An Odyssey: A Father, A Son and an Epic” by Daniel Mendehlson

For the True Crime Addict

“Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” by David Grann

New York Times bestselling author David Grann is quickly turning himself into a master of eminently readable narrative non-fiction. After watching his bestselling “Lost City of Z” turned into a major motion picture, Grann is back with his latest—“Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.” The breadth and scope of this true story border on the unbelievable, and Grann is here to uncover the mystery. After oil is discovered beneath Osage land in 1920s Oklahoma, those belonging to the Indian nation begin to disappear, one by one. Featuring a young J. Edgar Hoover, the dawn of the FBI and one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history, “Killers of the Flower Moon” will leave you breathless, angry and hopeful that Grann will be back sooner rather than later with his next project.

Related Recommendations: “The Fact of a Body” by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich; “Death in the Air” by Kate Winkler-Dawson; “The Man From the Train” by Bill James

For the Politically Conscious

“We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy” by Ta-Nehisi Coates

In a time of tragedy, whose voice do we turn to for our collective conscience? In “We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy,” national correspondent for the Atlantic, Ta-Nehisi Coates, collects his most powerful and vital essays written during the eight-year Obama administration. In our current political moment, Coates has proven time and time again to be the leading intellectual of our generation, offering insights and reflections that are despondent, yet propitious—pragmatic, yet hopeful.

Related Recommendations: “Democracy in Chains” by Nancy MacLean; “Notes on a Foreign Country” by Suzy Hansen; “Origins of Others” by Toni Morrison

Best Fiction of Pennsylvania

“Heat & Light” by Jennifer Haigh

If you enjoy novels like Jackson Taylor’s “The Blue Orchard” that resonate with a sense of place and history, you’ll find Dickinson grad Jennifer Haigh’s “Heat & Light” immensely satisfying. Her sharply drawn characters from the contemporary fictional town of Bakerton, Pa., reveal secret desires, fears and regrets to the reader, even as they hide essential truths from one another. Nurses, ministers, addicts, farmers, gas-drillers, tavern-keepers and scientists wrestle with the impact of fracking on the former coal mining town, while the energy industry’s machinery, from 19th-century oil wells to Three Mile Island’s generators to a Texas gas company’s extractors, prove monumental actors in their own right. Haigh spoke at the Harrisburg Book Festival about her affinity for the life of a hermit, but her characters leap off the page with a verve and passion that belies this, and her Bakerton novels deserve a place on your shelf alongside the classics of Americana fiction.

Related Recommendations: “The Signal Flame” by Andrew Krivak; “The Readymade Thief” by Augustus Rose; “Love is No Small Thing” by Meghan Kenny

Not Your Ordinary Presidential Family Biography

“Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave” by Erica Armstrong

Drawing on what might be the only recorded narrative of an 18th-century Virginia fugitive to have escaped slavery, University of Delaware Professor Erica Armstrong Dunbar recovers the fascinating, previously untold life of Ona Judge in her National Book Award-nominated biography, “Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave.” Judge was among the enslaved workers in Martha and George Washington’s households at Mount Vernon and their Philadelphia Executive Mansion. For biography fans seeking a new view on our first presidential family, Dunbar offers a compelling other-side-of-the-story. In an impressive act of scholarly reconstruction, she recasts the Washingtons’ domestic family life in the early Republic matter-of-factly, as Judge might have seen, felt and experienced it. The free black community of 1790s Philadelphia showed Judge what freedom could be like and aided her escape. Her life afterwards is traceable thanks to New England abolitionist newspaper reporters’ interviews with her, 50 years later. Now thanks to Dunbar’s vivid historical re-imagining, we can finally learn her story, too.

Related Recommendations: “Grant” by Ron Chernow; “The Earth Is Weeping” by Peter Cozzens; “Thunder in the Mountains” by Daniel J. Sharfstein

Alex Brubaker is the manager of Midtown Scholar Bookstore.

Awfully Festive: It’s the most hideous time of the year.

November 30, 2017 | by Joanne Kaldy

It’s that magical time of year—snowmen, Santa Claus, trees with glittering lights, presents wrapped with festive paper and tied with color bows, and really, really, REALLY ugly sweaters.

Times have changed. Instead of hiding that tacky Christmas sweater from grandma under a ski jacket or shoving it into the back of the closet, people proudly show off their gaudy apparel at “ugly Christmas sweater parties.”

Why have ugly Christmas sweater parties become so popular? Well, for the simplest of reasons.

“They’re fun,” said Justine Yelk of New Cumberland.

The dress code at the Dauphin County Courthouse, where she works, is very strict. Everyone works hard, and the business is serious.

“We wanted to come up with fun ways to brighten up the office,” she said. “We came up with theme days. For one, we wore sports-related apparel; for another, we wore red for women’s health. We thought tacky sweaters would be the perfect way to brighten things up for the holidays.”

Yelk said that the sweaters attract a lot of double takes, laughter and jokes.

“The sweaters lightened the mood and gave people something to laugh about throughout the day,” she said.

She added that holiday parties frequently can be formal and stuffy, and the ugly sweater concept is a “nice break.”

Harrisburg resident Alex Craver said the ugly sweater party was a collaborative idea at his office, as well.

“About three-fourths of the firm was excited about it,” he said of his colleagues at Camp Hill-based accounting office Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz.

Craver himself was a bit on the fence until he won first prize with his sweater.

“It’s a fun conversation starter, especially when everyone is wearing them,” he said. “You talk about where you got it, why you picked it, and you have a good laugh.”

Wormleysburg resident Randall Gooding, whose friends have an ugly Christmas sweater party annually, described the practice as a stress reliever, a break from a year of hard work.

“This is a chance to relax, have fun and be social,” he said. “We laugh at each other and just have a good time.”

His friends have taken the ugly sweater concept a step further. People wear their tacky tops on a scavenger hunt that takes them to various establishments—stores, bars and restaurants—in the area.

“You have to take pictures of yourself at the different locations,” he said.

Mostly, people just point and laugh or make a joke. However, he admitted that one establishment was not amused and asked the group to leave.

“It’s not for everyone,” he said, with a shrug.

He added that his friends ask people to bring food donations for a local non-profit group, and the charitable focus of the party makes it more meaningful for him.

The Beholder

It is difficult to pinpoint the origin of the ugly Christmas sweater party tradition.

The popularity of the ugly sweater dates back at least as far the 1980s. Actor Chevy Chase wore one in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” and kitschy, tacky, vintage clothes started to gain popularity.

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder, Craver said, but he knew his prize-winning sweater was a champ when he saw it.

“It had to be hideous, and this one fit the bill,” he said. “The colors were awful, and the design was just so tacky.”

Santa is a popular theme, and the one Yelk chose.

“On my sweater, Santa is huge, and he has a big plush beard,” she said. “He takes up the entire front of the sweater. It’s just ridiculous.”

Basically, said Yelk, an ugly sweater is anything that is ridiculous, absurd and laughable.

“I think you basically want to look for something that is very bright and colorful, with lots of textures and add-ons such as lights, pompoms and buttons—things that wouldn’t normally be on a sweater,” she said.

One-Stop Shop

Most people agree that the first rule of ugly sweater shopping is price.

“I wanted something cheap,” Craver admitted.

So, he headed to one of the CommunityAid thrift stores in the area, which is where Gooding also got his sweater. In fact, the organization has made itself a sort of ugly Christmas sweater headquarters.

“We realized that there is a demand for ugly sweaters and that people want to get them affordably,” said Bob Haur, director of communications for CommunityAid. “It made sense to us to be the one-stop shop for these items. We have thousands of them across five stores, and they’re all $9.99 or less.”
Not surprisingly, a lot of the thrift store sweaters come from donations, but the company also contracts with a vendor that brings them a large supply every year.

“It’s so funny to watch people shopping for ugly sweaters,” Haur said. “They laugh and scream, and you hear, ‘You’ve got to see this!’”

There are so many to choose from, he noted, many people walk out with two or three.

“Some people will gravitate toward something that matches their personality,” he said.

For example, animal-lovers may pick a sweater with a reindeer, cat or polar bear, though Haur said he’s seen people go in the opposite direction.

“Sometimes, people will pick something that is totally not like them at all,” he said.

Discount stores such as Wal-Mart and Target also have some deliberately tacky sweaters for the holidays, featuring everything from traditional images such as Santa, reindeer and snowmen to cartoon characters such as Snoopy and Mickey Mouse.

These may be a bit more expensive, ranging from about $15 to $30. If you want to spend a little more (around $15 to $45), a whole range of outrageous and tacky Christmas sweaters can be found online. You even can buy a kit to make your own ugly Christmas sweater.

Haur isn’t surprised that ugly sweater parties have become so popular.

“It’s kitschy and silly. It’s a simple way to make the holidays more festive and fun,” he said. “It has become an important tradition for some people. It’s even been competitive among some friends and families with a little one-upmanship at play.”

To learn more about CommunityAid, including the location of local thrift stores, visit www.communityaid.net.

Author: Joanne Kaldy

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