At Peace, Refreshed: With her music, Carly Clark wishes her audience a gentle escape.

April 28, 2017 | by Trey Knarr

Some of the world’s greatest singers had humble beginnings.

Bob Dylan got his start in Greenwich Village cafés. Even the Beatles began in small places like the Cavern Club. Carly Clark follows in this long tradition.

Recently, I caught Clark during a performance at Little Amps Coffee Roasters in Harrisburg. After a relatively long set by Kevin Bock (who added percussion on the cojón for a few numbers), she joined him and her bassist husband, Todd, opening with Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks.”

Her smoky voice reminded me of Norah Jones. While originals like “Where I Belong” and “Oh, Darling” don’t quite possess the same jazzy progressions as on Jones’ debut, “Come Away with Me,” their dreamlike quality is equally enticing. Indeed, Clark cites Jones as an inspiration, as well as Colbie Caillat, John Mayer and Nina Simone.

In fact, Mayer’s influence showed on “Where I Belong.” The third song and first original she played, it rode along on a wave of soft, strummy chords and a breezy melody. The rhythmic changes and flow displayed the chemistry between the three performers.

A cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” followed, with Bock leaving the group to join the audience. Sipping a cup of strong coffee, he suddenly became less the musician and more the music fan.

The first song Clark and her husband played as a duo, “Dreams,” offered an intimate look at what it’s like when couples make music together. According to Carly, Todd learned the bass so he could accompany her at shows. There is a certain bond that people get when locked in a steady groove, and this is certainly true in their case.

They are an interesting pair from a visual standpoint. Carly’s small stature is offset by Todd’s height. While he towers over the bass, keeping a lock down on the rhythm, her guitar appears at times as if it could knock her down without a fight.

One thing that Clark feels is important to her art is positivity.

“I like to write about positive things and love most of the time,” she explained. “With everything that goes on with the world, it is nice to have something positive to think about and share with people around you.”

Indeed, this sense of love filled the cozy venue during “Oh, Darling.” The track, which she said was recently released as a single, carries the hypnotic quality found in “Breathe It Out.” At one point in the song, she requested that listeners snap their fingers. They did, and the song moved along without a hitch.

Clark’s ability to command attention was marvelous, and it showed her presence and ability to put on a show. Many performers seem eager to either shut out the audience or put up a wall, but, here, we had someone who wanted to get right in there and bond.

Following a cover of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good,” Clark closed her set with an original, “Is it Too Soon?” All of her songs had a well-crafted edge to them, and this is most likely due to how long she’s been at it. By her own admission, she began writing songs because she “found it easier to write my own songs than play covers.”

I left with a feeling that Carly Clark’s songs offer plenty for a casual listener, along with a wealth of things for those who dig deeper. As the artist herself said, she wants her audience “to feel at peace, refreshed,” and to “have fun at the same time.”

For more information about Carly Clark, visit www.carlyclarkmusic.com or look her up on Facebook: Carly Clark Music. Two shows are planned for May 6—one at noon at the Winery at Hunters Valley, 3 Orchard Rd., Liverpool, and another at 8 p.m. at Victor’s, 554 S. Ogontz St., York.

Author: Trey Knarr

In the Groove: Vinylphiles go for a spin at RecordSmith.

April 28, 2017 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

If I had to make up a word to describe Paul Smith, owner of RecordSmith in Mechanicsburg, it would be “vinylphile.”

The music aficionado bubbles over with enthusiasm when speaking of his favorite music medium—vinyl records—and he is eager to share that zeal with the many customers who frequent his small shop located on N. Market Street.

Smith, who also works in furniture restoration, runs the operation with the help of manager Dan Blacker, a friend and fellow music lover.

The Mechanicsburg resident is no stranger to the industry, having dabbled in the record business prior to opening the brick-and-mortar store in 2010. Previously, he ran an online store and sold records in a couple of antique malls.

“I also worked in radio for eight years and wanted to be a little more hands-on,” he said. “I suppose I have a bit of a rebel spirit about me.”

His work in radio likely served him well in predicting when such a business model would be viable. According to an article in Forbes magazine, vinyl sales began surging in 2010, at an average year-over-year rate in the 30 to 40 percent range. Though, for Smith, it’s also a labor of love.

“I do this because I love music,” he said.

And it shows, as his friendliness and in-depth knowledge have earned him a loyal following.

Today, Smith’s inventory is somewhere in the range of 4,000 mostly used records, with more in storage, although he does carry a few new here and there.

“They’ve gotten so expensive though,” he said. “Adele came out with vinyl, and it was selling for $27.98. They do themselves a disservice by starting out with a high base price. It hurts business in the long run.”
A Divergence

According to Smith, the vinyl resurgence started in college towns because that’s what kids could afford. Over time, more and more people became nostalgic as CDs started to die and digital downloads became popular.

“In a way, it was a divergence,” Smith said.

For the avid record collector, there’s a bit of a reverence for the tactile permanence of it all, and it’s not hard to find more than a few who are willing to comment on their devotion to the medium.

Those who remember the shops Sight & Sound and Music Fair may have purchased a few records from Jim Gordon, who worked as a manager at both locations in the Harrisburg area. These days, Gordon plays in the band, Jump the Gun, and continues to add to his collection of vinyl.

“I love the package, the cover art, the readable content,” said the Harrisburg resident. “Listening to it is an experience, and the quality of downloads doesn’t nearly match that of vinyl.”

Smith caters to a diverse demographic that spans decades.

“I’d guess the average age ranges are between 20 and 60,” he said, with a laugh. “There’s a bit of a novelty aspect to it. It’s kind of the newest thing for the younger generation, and it’s almost a counter-reaction to digital downloads.”

He likens streaming to renting music.

“With streaming, there is something missing there,” he said. “For the record collector, it’s somewhat of a tribal thing. There is a bit of a formality to it.”

Customer Fred Trout, Jr., has been patronizing the store for about three years and said he enjoys browsing the large selection, the shop’s welcoming, hometown feel and chatting with Smith.

“Paul always takes time out of his busy schedule to talk and share his knowledge of the music industry,” he said.

Trout added that he likes the personalized service and the fact that Smith is knowledgeable about the artists and willing to play various tracks for the curious.

“All genres of music are on display when you walk through the door, from Loretta Lynn to Led Zeppelin to today’s artists like Adele and The 1975,” he said. “He even carries a nice collection of CDs, for those who are interested.”

Rock Star

Another draw for RecordSmith customers are the live performances on the small stage at the front of the store. Trout said he makes it a point to attend the shows on First Fridays, the borough’s monthly arts walk. The musicians seem to appreciate the opportunity, as well.

“I feel that two things would survive if there were ever a nuclear fallout—cockroaches and RecordSmith,” said Manian Van Hacker, a Harrisburg-based singer/songwriter.

He called Paul a “rock star” for supporting the local music scene.

“He and Dan have opened their establishment to me so many times and have given me a stage to share my truth to those who would listen,” he said.

Colby Dove of Carlisle is another a singer/songwriter who has enjoyed performing at RecordSmith.

“I love the fact that Paul and Dan provide us with an intimate venue that allows us to play while surrounded by the history and legends of music captured on vinyl,” he said.

As for Smith, he’s in it for the long haul, even if vinyl sales start slowing.

“Hey, if it starts slowing down, the big box stores will quit carrying vinyl, and we’ll get some of that business,” he said. “But, right now, we’re going to continue riding the wave and see how long it goes.”

RecordSmith is located at 16 N. Market St., Mechanicsburg. For more information, call 717-713-1636 or visit www.recordsmithpa.com or the Facebook page: RecordSmith.

Author: Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Freedom, Up in the Air: A community’s spirit is elevated in “The Women’s Balcony.”

April 28, 2017 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

You have probably been told to avoid the topics of politics and religion at parties—they are always contentious subjects and best left alone in polite conversation. But as the subject of a film? Perfectly acceptable.

One such film is making its way to the big screen this year: Director Emil Ben-Shimon’s “The Women’s Balcony,” a film about a local Orthodox community in Jerusalem that is disrupted when the balcony in the synagogue collapses, leaving the entire building in disrepair and hospitalizing Rabbi Menashe’s wife. The rabbi immediately falls into poor health, psychologically unable to cope with his wife’s unresponsiveness, and the community is essentially left without a leader—and without funds to repair the synagogue.

The men turn to a neighboring synagogue for help, and Rabbi David (Avraham Aviv Alush) comes to their aid. He quickly puts forward the funds to renovate the synagogue, even in time for Purim. But there is a problem—the women enter the synagogue to find that their balcony has not been built.

In many Jewish synagogues, men and women are separated. Sometimes, there is a simple separation down the middle of the synagogue, and sometimes there is almost a separate room. And, sometimes, the women have their own bright, open balcony, watching the service from behind the men. The latter is what the women of this congregation have been accustomed to, and the loss of freedom in their place of worship is apparent.

The film focuses on Ettie (Evelin Hagoel) and her husband, Zion (Igal Naor), a couple who, while not particularly strict in their orthodoxy, are certainly heavily involved in the work of their synagogue. After Rabbi David theorizes that it may be the women’s impurity that has caused this problem to begin with—and encourages the women to wear head scarves—Ettie takes matters into her own hands. The men may seem enraptured by Rabbi David’s sermons, but Ettie leads the women in bristling with the injustice of the circumstance, trying to right the wrong that has been done in their community.

This is a fascinating story about the battle between a loving community and orthodox religion, a topic that many can relate to. Rabbi David reflects the staunch immovability of those who strive to uphold the religious laws to a tee, regardless of whether they hurt others.

Each member of the ensemble cast partakes in creating a blend of comedy and thought-provoking politics. Alush’s simultaneous piety and slippery affect make him an uncomfortable rabbi, and Naor’s evolving character is delightful to watch. But it is Hagoel who really shines in this film, strong and exasperated in the true air of a woman with a mission. She effortlessly carries the film.

Whether it’s grappling with religious politics or women’s rights, “The Women’s Balcony” has much going for it. This film is in the lineup for this year’s Jewish Film Festival, and it is one you won’t want to miss.

MAY SPECIAL EVENTS

Jewish Film Festival
May 18-25
Schedule at www.hbgjff.com

TED 2017
Opening Event: Monday, May 1, 7 p.m.
Prize Event: Wednesday, May 3, 7 p.m.
Highlights Exclusive: Sunday, May 7, 7 p.m.

Faulkner Honda Family Film Series
“Charlotte’s Web” (1973)
Saturday, May 6, 7:30 p.m.
(Children 12 and under get in for free when accompanied by an adult)

Dance on Screen
“A Hero of Our Time”
Sunday, May 7, 5 p.m.

Hitchcock Collection
“North by Northwest” (1959)
Friday, May 12, 7:30 p.m.

“Psycho” (1960)
Saturday, May 13, 2 p.m.
Sunday, May 14, 7:30 p.m.

“Rear Window” (1954)
Saturday, May 13, 7:30 p.m.

Down in Front!
“Carnival of Souls” (1962)
Friday, May 12, 9:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“Star Trek” (2009)
Friday, May 19, 9:30 p.m.

19th Annual Moviate Underground Film Festival
“Crispin Glover’s Big Slide Show”
Part Two: Friday, May 26, 7 p.m.
Part One: Saturday, May 27, 7 p.m.

Author: Sammi Leigh Melville

World-Class Discourse: The Foreign Policy Association of Harrisburg recruits speakers of global renown to the midstate.

April 28, 2017 | by Robert Naeye

In August 2016, I moved back to the Harrisburg metro area after a 24-year hiatus. Coming from the fertile cultural environment of Boston, I wondered if I could find activities to satisfy my yearning for intellectual growth.

Fortunately, a blurb in TheBurg helped ease this concern.

In the “Happenings” section of the September issue, I noticed that Gettysburg College political science professor Shirley Anne Warshaw would be giving a talk to the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) of Harrisburg. Her topic: U.S. foreign policy in an election year. Given my interest in international affairs, this was an event I was not going to miss.

The meeting room at the Camp Hill Radisson Hotel was packed. FPA President Michele Sellitto delivered some opening remarks, announcing that the October speaker would be former NSA and CIA Director Michael V. Hayden.

Warshaw then proceeded to captivate the audience with her lecture on how U.S. foreign policy would likely differ depending on the election’s outcome. A spirited Q&A followed, with questions coming from all over the political spectrum. I was hooked. Within days, I mailed a $25 annual membership check.

Unknown to me at the time, I was joining this nonprofit, non-partisan organization at a time of great growth. In fact, the Radisson recently moved the regular meetings to a larger location, the main ballroom. Fueled by the energy of Sellitto, but also by a highly contentious national election and what Sellitto calls “the Trump effect,” FPA’s ranks have swelled in just the past few months.

“The FPA’s membership held steady at around 125 for a long time,” Sellitto said. “This year, we set a goal of 160, but we have far exceeded our goal. We’re now close to 200.”

FPA traces its roots to 1949. Although the Harrisburg group is nominally affiliated with a national Foreign Policy Association, it operates independently. The Harrisburg chapter’s stated mission is “to offer, in an unbiased way, information about international issues and policies to our citizens to help them make informed judgments about their relations with neighbors in our global space.”

Sellitto added that, when she became president in June 2015, her objective was to respect FPA’s history while working to grow the organization. In particular, she wanted to expand its role in helping Harrisburg-area residents understand how U.S. foreign policy affects their lives.

FPA accomplishes its mission in several ways.

Most visibly, it conducts eight regular meetings and one president’s speaker series lecture each year. The meetings run from September to May, on the third or fourth Thursday of the month. These meetings feature talks by university and U.S. Army War College professors, scholars from Washington think tanks and other leading experts. Recent lectures have covered the geopolitics of climate change, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the future of American-Cuban relations. Most members attend a pre-meeting banquet at the Radisson.

Sellitto came up with the idea for a president’s speaker series to increase membership. In 2015, she asked an initially reluctant board of directors if the FPA could invite a big-name speaker—former Deputy Secretary of State William Burns. The board assumed financial risk by renting a large room at the West Shore Country Club and paying an honorarium. With encouragement from FPA board member (and former Camp Hill mayor) Lou Thieblemont, Sellitto’s proposal was accepted and ultimately proven correct. Burns’s talk drew 200 attendees, a record.

This enabled Sellitto to invite Michael Hayden for the second installment of the president’s speaker series. All the talks I’ve attended have been highly informative and engaging, but I found Hayden’s lecture to be utterly absorbing.

He explained how U.S. intelligence agencies navigate a fine line between protecting the American public and playing within the boundaries established by national and international laws. Speakers are instructed to be non-partisan, but Hayden indicated his strong preference for Hillary Clinton in the election. He stressed that, if Donald Trump became president, the military would refuse to obey unlawful orders.

The FPA also runs annual bus trips to Washington, D.C., so members can visit the U.S. State Department and a foreign embassy. Past excursions have included the embassies of Germany, France, China, India, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Morocco. This year’s Washington trip, on May 10, will feature a visit to Poland’s embassy, followed by dinner at a Polish restaurant.

Members also can attend an annual event to meet international fellows at the Army War College. Thieblemont recalled that, during one of these visits, he met War College fellow Abdel Fattah el-Sisi—who is now the president of Egypt.

In what Sellitto calls “a new era for the club,” FPA member Phyllis Skok is organizing the first membership tour of a foreign country. This trip will take several dozen members to Cuba for a nine-day “people-to-people” tour next January.

“I want to have trips to places that many of our members have not visited, because that will lead to heightened interest,” Sellitto said.

In my six months as an FPA member, I’ve been impressed by the quality and scope of its activities. I’ve taken copious notes at recent meetings, signed up for the Washington tour, and plan to go on the Cuba trip. But, most of all, I’ve enjoyed meeting informed and engaged people from a variety of backgrounds. I’m very glad I saw the blurb in TheBurg!
To learn more about the FPA and see a schedule of upcoming events, visit www.fpa-harrisburg.org.

Author: Robert Naeye

Student Scribes: If I Could Paint

April 28, 2017 | by Angela Larks

If I could paint, you’d be a glob of brown
I’d add blues and greens to darken your hue
You’d be scribbled with no shape and no form
One couldn’t tell your legs from your arms
Your eyes would be yellowed and your heart in your feet
When I’m done you’d be black as the street
Scumbling would be my next technique
I’d do it to hide what’s beneath
I’ll call you Chameleon, that’s what you are
Upon closer inspection what’s underneath will come into view
Even if marked free no one would want you

If I could paint you’d be a cool breeze
You would sway to and fro and rattle the willow trees
Your pale cool colors would fade away
Just like the dawning of a new day
First orange, then yellow then back again
No matter how hard I’d try, your color wouldn’t stay
Fair well my friend
As memories of you get smaller and smaller
You would end up a dot on my page
And in time, we would disengage

If I could paint, you would be a glass of merlot colored wine
Paper, cotton, linen, perhaps a mural on a wall
Mixed media art, definitely big, not small
I’d start with old gold
You, near my heart, I would shape and mold
Add royal purples, you would be regal and fine
My love for you would stand the test of time
You would be big, strong, and never sold
Looking at you would never get old
Bold strokes of black would accentuate your form
And the stem of your glass would be a vast strong arm!

If I could paint, you would never be complete
I’d start with white then add a red tint
Or, add a touch of white to dark green then you’d be mint
I’d wrap you in softness, easy on the eyes
The color of milk and billowy like the sky
I would never sell you, your value is too high
I’d cover and protect you from pain and danger
You’d be my babe and I your mother
To depart from you would be to die
Like a chain, forever we are linked
There’d be two of you, similar but distinct

If I could paint, rainy days would be great
Boys and girls would be outside having fun
There would be no weapons, no guns
I would paint big strong acorn trees, and kids with scrapped knees
Row homes would be all around,
An ice-cream truck would be coming down the street
And little girls jumping double-dutch to a beat
Children leaping up and down in the water plug
There would be acorn fights and lightning bugs
Your colors would resemble a rainbow, they would ebb and flow
I’d paint you big and place you out front for all to see
When viewing you all anger and sadness would flee

If I could paint . . .

Angela Larks is a recent graduate and communications major at Penn State Harrisburg.

Student Scribes: Bombeando en San Juan

April 28, 2017 | by Ángela M. Capeles Segarra

“Pá, tu tu tún, pá,

tu tu tún, pá,

tu tu tún, pá.”

It was a Friday night out with friends. We were walking through Old San Juan and I kept hearing this sound over and over.

“Pá, tu tu tún, pá,

tu tu tún, pá,

tu tu tún, pá.”

I suddenly stopped to listen. It is the sound of a yubá!, I said out loud to myself. The rhythm possessed my body, and my legs began walking involuntarily toward the direction of the sound. Without question, my friends just followed me.

“Pá, tu tu tún, pá,

tu tu tún, pá,

tu tu tún, pá.”

We were walking through the cobblestone streets made of various shades of gray. The buildings surrounding us were made of the typical Spanish architecture that distinguished Old San Juan. Buildings and houses of different sizes and of colors bordered the streets like a box of crayons. We walked around intently until we found the source of the sound. There it was, on a stage in Plaza del Tótem. A group was playing bomba. All of its members were dressed casually in light colors, mainly white and beige. They sounded pretty authentic.

As my friends and I drew closer to the stage, I noticed there was a long, dark-green cotton skirt lying on one of the corners, suggesting that either someone had danced earlier or someone was about to. I smiled to myself. “Does that mean you are going to dance?” one of my friends asked. She knew I could not resist dancing. “Yes,” I replied as I began to move my body to the rhythm the group was playing. How could I say no to that? I felt as happy as a kid in a candy store. Little by little, without bothering anyone, we moved closer to the stage, giving us a better view of the show. I left my friends at the front while I sauntered over to the stairs at the back of the stage. I was met by two security guards who I asked if I could join the group and dance. The security guards kindly looked for the manager to get his permission. He said yes.

“Here’s a skirt you can use,” the manager said. I was thrilled. I quickly put on the green skirt and waited for a new song to start. I could tell the skirt was a good five yards of fabric. That meant that I would have more freedom to make my movements. I could get really creative in a skirt like this. My hands instinctively reached down and grabbed the edge of the skirt. I was ready to start.

One of the women on stage grabbed the microphone and started to sing a capella.

“Yo estoy buscando un árbol que me dé sombra,
ay, porque el que tengo calor a mí me da.”

Then los rebuleadores began to play their barriles strongly. Oh! I know this song!, I thought to myself. It was one of the very first songs I danced in a batey. Without thinking, my body moved to the rhythm of the song. I could feel my breathing start to change. After the first two stanzas were done, I approached el primo and challenged him. Feeling powerful and confident, I started the unspoken conversation.

El primo was a 40-something man with long, tied-up dreads and a sleeveless white shirt that blatantly showed his muscular arms. I moved closer to him while dancing the basic steps of a yubá. I politely greeted him, in the traditional manner of the dance, by looking at him and lowering my head in reverence. I then gave him a flirty smile to let him know I was about to start. He smiled back. I didn’t know if he was good at repicando, so I began simple.

“Pá, tu tu tún, pá,

tu tu tún, pá,

tu tu tún, pá.”

The rhythm of the yubá was all I could hear in my head. This was my moment. This was my story to tell. My body was consumed with the music, and the movements just started to come out spontaneously. I began by teasing him lightly at first. I let my feet tell him the basic rhythm. Then I teased him more by adding the movement of my hips. He answered my tease by matching my rhythm. That was my cue. I continued to incorporate the rest of my body into the dance, one part at a time. I shimmied my shoulders and my chest, adding my arms, then my legs.

He knew I was just getting started. He was watching every part of my body now, clueless about my next move. I enjoyed playing with him, and he knew it. He couldn’t help but laugh. The tease had escalated and our conversation had evolved. Without thinking, only feeling, I began combining all the parts of my body. They moved cohesively together, pulsating, swaying, working rhythmically to tell my story. The next thing I knew, my skirt became alive as my hips guided it from side to side while my hand held its hem and my arm swirled it in the air.

Follow this Primo!

Ángela M. Capeles Segarra is a communications graduate student at Penn State Harrisburg and the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Capital Times.

Modern Master: HSO puts Gershwin’s “Concerto in F” into the spotlight.

April 28, 2017 | by Jess Hayden

Photo by Alan Wycheck

When one thinks of the musical “masters,” George Gershwin may not be the first name to pop into mind.

Gershwin, after all, is known by many to be a composer of scores for film and Broadway. But he also composed in the classical genre and even his popular melodies often were orchestral in form.

Gershwin, therefore, fits perfectly into the season finale of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra’s Masterworks series, which features Gershwin’s “Concerto in F” with and, more conventionally, Rachmaninoff’s “Symphony No. 2.”

This will be the first time that HSO Maestro Stuart Malina will play the Gershwin piece in public.

“I’ve played ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ many, many times,” he said, referring to an earlier Gershwin work that includes many elements of jazz. “But the concerto is a much more significant work for a pianist.”

Malina said that this would be a good concert for someone who hasn’t been to an HSO concert before or doesn’t regularly attend.

“Both pieces are incredibly beautiful, very exciting and very lyrical,” he said. “From the Gershwin, which is jazzy and fun, to the Rachmaninoff, which is a romantic walk in the park.”

Malina also said that new concertgoers are often surprised at the level of artistry of the orchestra.

“People who come for the first time generally leave feeling like ‘How did I not know that was here?’” he said. “And that’s what we are shooting for.”

Gershwin’s “Concerto in F” is so challenging that Malina has asked Gregory Woodbridge, the symphony’s associate conductor, to take the helm.

“Normally, I conduct from the keyboard, but this piece is a too demanding for that,” Malina said. “Having Greg conduct will be less stressful for me, especially since I’ll be returning to the podium for the Rachmaninoff, which is an enormous piece.”

Despite the concerto’s complexities, Malina said that it’s been a joy to learn.

“Gershwin himself was a pianist, so when he wrote this piece he understood what fingers do on the piano,” he said. “There hasn’t been any point when I asked myself ‘What was he thinking?’”

Gershwin began his career as a “song plugger,” meaning he worked in a department store where he would demonstrate a piece of sheet music that someone might want to buy. He quickly graduated to composing Broadway theater songs with his brother, Ira, many of which have become jazz standards. Interested in composing within a classical music format, he went to Paris to study with the great composer Maurice Ravel, who famously said, “I should be studying with you.”

After the popularity of “Rhapsody in Blue,” Gershwin was commissioned by the director of the New York Symphony Orchestra to write “Concerto in F.” This was the first piece he wrote for all the parts for the orchestra.

“This was a very important progression for him,” said Malina. “So, now we have a fully matured George Gershwin who is beginning to come into his own as a legitimate composer rather than a Tin Pan Alley songwriter.”

Malina also noted that it must have been difficult from him to go from the George Gershwin who wrote “I Got Rhythm” to the George Gershwin who is now writing piano concertos and, eventually, full operas. Tragically, he died of a brain tumor at age 38.

“One wonders if he had lived longer what kind of orchestral output there would have been because it seemed to be the direction that he was moving more and more,” Malina said.

The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra will perform its May Masterworks concert on Saturday, May 6 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 7 at 3 p.m. at the Forum, 500 Walnut St., Harrisburg. An informative pre-concert lecture will begin one hour prior to each concert. For information visit www.harrisburgsymphony.org.

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra Upcoming Events
www.harrisburgsymphony.org

Spring Young Person’s Concert
Carnegie Hall’s Link Up: “The Orchestra Moves!”
May 5, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
The Forum, Harrisburg

May Masterworks Concert
“Concerto in F” by George Gershwin
May 6, 8 p.m.
May 7, 3 p.m.
The Forum, Harrisburg

HSYO Mother’s Day Concert
Harrisburg Symphony Youth Orchestra
Presents Orchestral Favorites
May 14, 3 p.m.
The Forum, Harrisburg

Author: Jess Hayden

Best of the Brews: A self-described “beer snob” makes the rounds of our rapidly expanding craft beer scene—and shares his favorites.

April 28, 2017 | by Robert Naeye

A few months ago, I was marveling at the seemingly endless list of craft beers at the Federal Taphouse in downtown Harrisburg.

I asked my long-time friend Andy Shaffer, “When was the last time you ordered an imported beer?”

Andy couldn’t recall, and neither could I. Long gone are the dark days when beer lovers were forced to choose between imports and wimpy, watery American brews.

With the craft beer revolution in overdrive, the number of quality American breweries has exploded in recent years. And nowhere is this more evident than in the Harrisburg metro area. New brewpubs are sprouting up everywhere, including five in just the past year alone.

“Making Harrisburg a beer destination point is a big thing,” said Kristin Messner-Baker, owner of the Vegetable Hunter, a downtown Harrisburg restaurant that started serving its own beer in February.

Being a beer connoisseur (some might say “beer snob”), I set out to visit all the brewpubs in the immediate Harrisburg metro area. I ordered samples of their beers, or a flight, and then picked my favorite. I focused mainly on beers that are available year-round.

No two people have the exact same taste in beer. I prefer full-bodied, strong-flavored brews, usually with high alcohol content. I am a generalist, meaning I can appreciate quality beers across a wide spectrum of styles, though I gravitate toward porters, stouts, IPAs and Belgian ales. I am particularly fond of beers that are solid representatives of their types but that have subtle and complex flavors resulting from a creative mix of ingredients.

Below are brief descriptions of the breweries and my selections.

Al’s of Hampden / Pizza Boy Brewing Co., 2240 Millennium Way, Enola
This establishment brews so many beers that I couldn’t try every one. I found the quality to be consistently high, so it was difficult to single one out. In a very close call, I went with the double coffee stout over the Murren River IPA, which I also loved.

Sunny Side Up Double Coffee Stout, 9.5% ABV
This stout has such a strong coffee flavor, courtesy of Little Amps Coffee, that it might turn off some stout lovers. But for me, it has the heart and soul of a great stout. It’s full-bodied with an extremely complex flavor, including a very subtle sweetness that complements the rest of the beer. This is right up there with my favorite Harrisburg-area beers.

Appalachian Brewing Co., 50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
There was a period when I avoided ABC because their beers tended to be watery. But I feel ABC has raised its game in recent years. Besides my selection below, I loved the Outta Focus Double IPA and the Chocolate Avenue Stout.

“Jolly Scot” Scottish Style Ale, 5.9% ABV
I instantly liked the ale, and it got better with each sip. It has a tinge of fruitiness that gives it character but does not dominate the overall flavor. I can taste a little bit of maltiness but no hoppiness. It’s right up my alley, but not for hopheads. I sat at the downstairs bar next to a visiting beer-lover from northern Virginia, who said this was his favorite ABC beer.

Boneshire Brew Works, 7462 Derry St., Harrisburg
This small brewpub is one of the new kids on the block, having opened its doors in October.

LazaRIS Unrobed Russian Imperial Stout, 9.5% ABV
This was my favorite in the flight of five, and master brewer Alan Miller described it as his “flagship.” It’s extremely smooth with a beautiful head. It has just enough texture to make it a satisfying stout. I taste a very subtle sweetness that is pleasant but does not overwhelm the classic Russian imperial stout flavor. It has a very pleasant aftertaste, and it went down easily in a way that made me want another.

Ever Grain Brewing Co., 4444 Carlisle Pike, Camp Hill
Ever Grain has gotten off to a flying start since it opened in September, which explains why it has been packed every time I’ve visited. The beers are so consistently strong across the line that it was painful to choose a favorite. All of the IPAs were first rate, and I also really liked the Udder One nitro stout. My bartender Brian said it best: “It’s an honor to pour these beers.”

Kaboo Pale Ale, 5.5% ABV
I actually preferred the IPAs (especially the Surf Breaker and the Doose Juicy), but I was startled by this beer, which I enjoyed far more than a typical pale ale. It has a mild but extremely pleasant hoppy flavor that is a perfect introduction to the world of IPAs for people who normally don’t like hoppy beers.

Harty Brewing Co., 146 Walden Way, Mechanicsburg
This is a very small brewery that opened in 2015. If you visit, I highly recommend the seasonals.

Hefeweizen, 4.9% ABV
I’m one of those snobs who think Americans still have a lot of catching up to do with the Germans when it comes to wheat beers. But this hefeweizen comes razor close to German classics such as Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr. This beer is tasty and thick-textured. The German yeast gives it its flavor, but I could also taste the underlying German hops. Extremely satisfying.

Lancaster Brewing Co., 469 Eisenhower Blvd., Harrisburg
This Lancaster-based brewery has been around since the mid-1990s. The sampler tray consisted of a whopping 13 beers, which ran the gamut—I loved some and hated others.

Boss Hog Double IPA, 9% ABV
This double IPA compares favorably in my mind to any IPA brewed in the United States, or anywhere else, for that matter. It has a strong hoppy flavor, but unlike some IPAs, the hops are in the Goldilocks zone—they are not overdone, they are just right. And it has an extremely smooth and thick texture that makes it an absolute pleasure to drink. And by the way, the Hop Hog single IPA ain’t too shabby either.

The Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
The Millworks started serving its own beer in late 2016 and features a small but excellent list of other Pennsylvania beers.

Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Barley Wine, 10% ABV
This extremely strong-flavored beer is definitely not for Bud or Miller Lite drinkers! The malt is prominent, but this high-alcohol barley wine gains its distinction from a strong whiskey flavor resulting from barrel aging. I also detected a very subtle caramel and oak flavor in the background. The taste is better on the back of my tongue than on the tip. A bitter aftertaste lingers quite a while.

Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works, 1 S. Union St., Middletown
This is another new brewery, having opened last July.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Warbonds Stout, 9.2% ABV
I normally don’t find beers mixed with bourbon to be particularly appealing, but I could drink this stuff all night. It has just enough bourbon taste to give it a distinctive flavor, but it does not overwhelm the underlying stout. The high alcohol content gives it a real bite. This is a very well-crafted and highly original beer, but I agreed with the bartender when she said, “It’s not for everyone.”

Tröegs Independent Brewing, 200 Hersheypark Dr., Hershey
Along with ABC, this is the granddaddy of local breweries. And like ABC, Tröegs has been very generous to startups, loaning equipment and supplying hops in a spirit of brotherhood among craft brewers. Tröegs’s flagship line is strong, but like several friends of mine, I tend to prefer the seasonals (especially Nugget Nectar and Mad Elf) and some of the scratch beers.

Nitro Chocolate Stout, 7.1% ABV
The nitro gives this stout an ultra-smooth, creamy texture. The chocolate flavor is just right—strong enough to make it interesting but not overbearing or causing the beer to lose its classic stout character. It has a mellow but complex flavor, with almost no bitterness. It has a very pleasant, slightly sweet aftertaste.

The Vegetable Hunter, 614 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
Another of the newbies, with four beers on tap during my recent visit.

Veg Halen Porter, 5.6% ABV
This mellow porter has a tinge of coffee and coconut flavor in the background that blends in beautifully with the classic porter taste. And it’s full-bodied, while avoiding the tartness and fizziness that ruin some porters. It also has a very pleasing aftertaste that doesn’t linger too long.

The Vineyard and Brewery at Hershey, 598 Schoolhouse Rd., Middletown
As one might expect, this establishment brews sweet-tasting beers that seem to be catered toward wine lovers.

Chocolate M.I.L.F. Brown Ale, 5.2% ABV
I admit this is a guilty pleasure. I like this brown ale a lot, but the strong chocolate flavor and light texture will turn off some hard-core beer lovers. The sweet chocolate flavor is so dominant that it almost tastes more like chocolate milk than a traditional brown ale. Still, I really like it for reasons I cannot explain, though I preferred some of the seasonals.

Zeroday Brewing Co., 250 Reily St., Harrisburg
This brewery has improved tremendously from when I first visited two years ago. Over a very strong line, I gave the edge to the triple IPA over the seasonals Grievance Ale (a winter warmer) and the DTF Douglas Fir Saison.

Large Ass IPA (Triple IPA) 12.4% ABV
This beer lives up to its moniker: it kicks serious ass. It has a wonderfully full texture and a bold hoppy flavor that stops just short of crossing the line into the realm of hoppiness-for-hoppiness sake. I could drink this stuff all night, but with its high alcohol content, someone better be available to give me a ride home!

Clearly, craft beer aficionados in the Harrisburg area have no shortage of options, and I didn’t even include high-quality breweries in Carlisle and Lancaster County. If you love craft beer, I urge you to check out all of these establishments. Your list of favorites probably won’t overlap with mine, but you’re guaranteed to find beers that are right up your alley. Harrisburg-area brewers have overachieved in both quality and quantity. Our region has indeed become a destination for beer lovers!

To learn more these beers, visit the breweries’ websites. Also check out the film, “Brewed in the Burg,” on YouTube to find out more about the rise of craft beer in our area.

Author: Robert Naeye

Senior Class: Art as therapy at the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg.

April 28, 2017 | by Ann Hess Myers

Fae Morrison

Fae Morrison, 89, worked as a wedding planner for 45 years.

“I worked with young brides, designing and planning their perfect weddings,” she said. “It took a lot of creativity to make each wedding unique and different, reflecting the individuality of each bride and groom.”

Now, as a resident of the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg, she uses her eye for design in the art studio.

“Painting makes me happy and allows me to explore my creative side,” Morrison said. “This is my therapy.”

Morrison paints nearly every day in the studio, which actually is the activities room at the senior living community outside of Linglestown The setting is fun, casual and social. Soft music plays in the background.

Teacher Lisa Koup helps the artists hone their craft. She’s taught drawing and painting for 30 years, mostly to children and teens, she said.

“I see the same joy in every age group,” Koup said. “Art allows you to escape to a happy place.”

Escaping to that “happy place” brings notable gains, said Keona Carter of Jewish Home Social Services.

“For the seniors living at the residence, art therapy serves as a sense of creative expression and emotional exploration,” she said. “Art therapy can help increase self-esteem and can provide our seniors with a sense of self-worth and social belonging.”

The arts also improve the quality of life for the home’s 60 residents, Carter said. The personal-care apartment building offers an independent lifestyle for seniors looking to part from the responsibilities of home maintenance, cooking and cleaning.

“Art therapy is just one of the ways that we are working to enhance and embrace the uniqueness, creativity and talents of those who live here,” she said.

Morrison, who has lived in the residence since 2006, said pursuing the arts has helped her personally.

“Living in your own apartment, surrounded by precious, personal belongings including some of my paintings, makes an enormous difference in my ability to live a full, active life,” she said.

Other seniors agree. Art class is the residence’s most popular program, said Michael Stewart, assistant director of recreation. Some future artists, though, hesitate before embracing a creative side.

“Many of our residents are often reluctant about taking an art class, but they soon find themselves to be budding Rembrandts, unlocking a hidden passion,” he said.

He credited art teacher Koup for piquing students’ artistic interests, calling her “an expert in lighting that desire.”

“There is a special relationship between Lisa and her students,” he said. “It is therapy—it really is a beautiful thing!”

Morrison said Koup helped her transfer the creativity needed as a wedding planner into her paintings. “I credit my talent and perseverance to my teacher, Lisa,” she said.

The residence displays the artists’ work in a “gallery” for residents, family members and visitors to see, Morrison said proudly.

“You can take a walk down the halls of the skilled nursing facility and the residence any day and see the beautiful paintings of our artists on display,” she said.

Like museum-worthy painters, these budding creatives put their emotions, thoughts and personalities into the medium.

“Their feelings, emotions and joy transcend their painting,” Koup said.

Carter added that the art in these halls feels deeply personal.

“When you explore their work, it truly is telling a story,” Carter said. “It’s telling their story.”

For more information about the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg, visit jewishhomeharrisburg.com or call 717.441.8880

Author: Ann Hess Myers

Abroad, at Home: International eats are as close as, well, down the block.

April 28, 2017 | by Carissa Bannister Kauwell

It wasn’t long ago that the corner pizza joint passed for Harrisburg’s best idea in “international cuisine.” No longer. In recent years, numerous restaurants have opened catering to a wide variety of worldly tastes—from Asian to Latin to African food and beyond.

So, take a trip around the world with us, far away from Pennsylvania’s standard meat and potatoes. And you won’t even have to get your passport stamped.

Pho Kim’s

They say your first love stays with you. It’s true with food, too. Vietnamese cuisine was one of my first food adventures. Ever since, it’s my favorite.

Many people have heard of phở (pronounced “fuh”) as it becomes more popular across the United States. Phở is a beef-based soup with distinct flavors of cloves, star anise and cardamom. Accoutrements such as bean sprouts, fresh basil, cilantro and lime wedges make it extra special.

If you’re not in the mood for phở, try one of my favorites—vermicelli noodles. This dish comes in a bowl of noodles, veggies, meat (usually pork) and cut up egg rolls. Then you mix it all together. It’s served with fish sauce, and I also like to add Sriracha and hoisin sauce.

Phở, bánh mì, bún bò huế and vermicelli noodles are just a few of the delicious items on the menu at Pho Kim’s. If it’s your first time, don’t be intimidated by the menu. The Vietnamese names come with descriptions in English. If you’re nervous, try ordering phở ga (basically chicken soup) and some egg rolls to start. The next time you can try something a little bit different. Make it an adventure—food should be fun!

Pho Kim’s is located at 5490 Derry St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.phokimharrisburg.com.

Suba Tapas Bar

Suba welcomes you to a taste of Spain with this staple of Latin gastronomy—tapas.

Also known as small plates, tapas are sharable dishes meant for a group to enjoy. Along the way, they’ve turned into appetizers or snacks, but they have Spanish origin.

“Food represents who we are, where we come from and what happened to us along the way,” said co-owner Staci Basore. “Food allows us to maintain our cultural identity and, more importantly, to share that identity.”

Located above Mangia Qui and owned by Basore, Rosemarie (Qui Qui) Musarra, and Elide Hower, the colorful space upstairs is intimate and inviting.

And the food, which pulls inspiration from Latin American cuisine, is delicious. In addition to the extensive tapas menu, Suba offers four types of specialty tacos, which are to die for. If you’ve never had homemade, stoneground corn tortillas, you must try them. They’ll make you forget all about Old El Paso.

Suba also has made its way into many hearts by mixing up some of the best craft cocktails around. Be sure to try the Caipirinha, the national drink of Brazil (Hower’s homeland), the mojito, a favorite of TheBurg’s editor-in-chief, or one of the many creative seasonal drinks.

Suba is located at 272 North St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.mangiaqui.com/suba.

Korealicious

The next stop on our map isn’t technically in Harrisburg, but it’s close enough. Lemoyne’s Korealicious offers a fusion menu of Korean burgers, tacos and burritos, as well as the traditional bimimbap (rice bowl), bulgogi (slices of beef or pork) and japchae (sweet potato noodles).

Bibimbap translates to “mixed rice.” The dish usually comes with meat and an egg on top, finished with red chili sauce. It’s served with another must-try item, kimchi, a type of fermented cabbage like sauerkraut.

The server brought my bibimbap out in a sizzling hot stone pot. This enticed all five of my senses. There were three little bowls next to the main dish: kimchi, radishes and cucumbers. Using my chopsticks, I mixed the bowl together and dove in. I loved the combination of flavors, and each bite offered me something new. Originally spicy, bibimbap can be adjusted for any level of heat tolerance.

Korealicious is located at 829 State St., Lemoyne. For more information, visit www.korealiciousfusion.com.

Los Tres Cubanos

Los Tres Cubanos could be translated to mean “The Three Cubans,” but the owners’ motto is probably a better version: “Three times the Cubans means three times the flavor and fun!”

Owned by three physicians of Cuban descent, this restaurant in historic Shipoke features classic Cuban fare. The tostones rellenos appetizer, picadillo (ground beef and tomato stew) in a shell made of plantains, is a must-get. For the main course, I suggest the classic dish of lechon asado (roast pork) with moros y cristianos (rice cooked with beans). The succulent pork and beans will melt in your mouth. To finish, you can’t go wrong with the pastelito (puff pastry filled with guava and cream cheese), which will have you asking for más!

This quaint eatery has a classic décor of wood and brick that creates the perfect ambiance for a romantic evening out or a night on the town with good friends. They are only open for dinner (4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday), and reservations are encouraged—which is a good thing because space is limited.

Los Tres Cubanos is located at 540 Race St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit lostrescubanos.com.

2nd St. Shawarma

I always experiment when looking for lunch spots, which led me inside the bright, green walls of 2nd St. Shawarma.

The garlic hummus was the best hummus I’ve ever had—no joke. Maybe that’s because this Mediterranean restaurant prepares everything from scratch.

“The freshest ingredients make the best food,” said owner Mustafa Thabata.

My go-to lunch meal is the mixed grill plate. This time, I ordered it with a skewer of shish kabob, shish kafta (charbroiled ground meat) and shish tawook (charbroiled chicken breast) served over rice and vegetables. The meat was tender. The ginger on the rice and veggies gave a nice contrast to the meat’s seasonings.

As a side, I tried baba ghannouj, which had a nice, smoky flavor. The pealed eggplant dish had a consistency that reminded me of hummus.

Thabata encouraged me in my hunt for international eats.

“Everyone should diversify themselves in every way possible, especially pertaining to food,” he said.

I couldn’t agree more.

2nd St. Shawarma is located at 316 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit the Facebook page.

The Broad Street Market

Our international culinary tour wouldn’t be complete without the Broad Street Market, where you can travel around the world going from stand to stand. The market offers Indian, Greek, Korean, Jamaican, Polish and West African food—and that’s just in the stone building.

“One loop around the stone building is a near circle around the globe in cuisine,” said Market Manager Beth Taylor.

With so many options, I suggest bringing family and friends along to share the best of each vendor. Grab some Puerto Rican beef-stuffed plantains at Ougi’s Cocina, pick up Jamaican oxtail and coconut bread from Porter’s House and round it off with Greek handmade pork souvlaki wrapped in pita bread at Phyllo. There’s plenty of tables and chairs inside, or take your delicious food outside to the courtyard.

Though its regional offerings hit closer to home, the brick building is another must-visit on your trip to one of the oldest indoor farmers market in the country.

“The Broad Street Market is special for so many reasons,” Taylor said. “The most beautiful thing to me is all those people come together every week and cook for one another, support one another and break bread together.”

The Broad Street Market is located at 1233 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.broadstreetmarket.org.

Author: Carissa Bannister Kauwell

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