A Warm Hug: Step into THEA—and feel embraced.

February 28, 2017 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

AnnMarie Nelms takes a break from her busy day to take a seat in the spacious dining room of THEA, the restaurant she opened in mid-December in the Arcona development in Lower Allen Township.

“Thea is the Greek word for aunt, and, for me, it embodies the warm, fuzzy feeling one gets when sitting around a table, eating and drinking with loved ones,” explained Nelms, who wants all of her patrons to experience that pleasure when dining at her establishment.

The young chef might just be onto something. A recent issue of The New Yorker described 2016 as the year of hygge. For those who are unfamiliar with the décor trend, it seems to sum up the vibe that Nelms is seeking to achieve.

Pronounced hoo-gah, the Danish term has origins in the English word “hug,” but encompasses many things related to coziness and enjoying life through relaxation and conviviality. Ducking away from the frigid temperatures of a cold night into the warm, dimly lit dining room with a roaring fireplace as a focal point is nothing if not hygge. For Nelms, however, it’s less about being au courant than about sharing a slice of what gives her joy.

“I grew up with really amazing food with my German-Hungarian grandmother and with the Greek side of my family,” she said. “When I cook for people and see them smile, knowing that they are loving my food—that makes me happy.”

In creating THEA, the local entrepreneur fulfilled a lifelong dream.

“I’ve loved restaurants ever since I was little,” said Nelms, who took pleasure in designing the attractive establishment with help from friends and family. “From the tables to the bench seating—everything is handmade, including the attractive and colorful striped cushions that bring it all together.

“My aunt Olga made them,” said Nelms, referring to Olga Lembesis, well-known local caterer and designer.

You may say Nelms is “to the restaurant born.” Long-time locals may recall KitchenWorks Catering—Nelms’ mother started the business, as well as Sophia’s on Market in Camp Hill and the more recently opened Sophia’s at Walden. AnnMarie, steeped in her family’s business, served as chef at both places.

Perfect Complement

THEA serves both lunch and dinner and, in keeping with the concept of familial fare, offers dishes designed to appeal to a wide variety of tastes.

Those visiting for lunch can choose from a selection of salads like beet and arugula, Caesar and a blackberry brie, which includes field greens, red onions, sundried cherries and hand-breaded fried brie topped with a drizzle of blackberry vinaigrette.

Burgers are also available during the lunch hour and range from the standard to the unique, like the one topped with bacon, brie and roasted pear or the vegetarian black bean burger with avocado salsa and pepper jack.

Sandwich selections include turkey, chicken salad, beef brisket and roast beef. If you prefer pizza, THEA offers a selection of those, as well, from pear and walnut-topped pies to other combinations like prosciutto and asparagus or sausage and goat cheese.

Dinner selections include a hearty helping of comfort food—some with an upscale twist. The meatloaf, for example, is served over a leek and gruyere bread pudding and finished with a marsala reduction demi-glace.

“So far, people are loving it,” she said.

Additional dinner options include lemon roasted chicken, eggplant rollatini, chicken pie, fried halibut and a bone-in ribeye.

On a recent visit, I opted for the Bolognese with pappardelle. The meaty, well-executed sauce, containing finely chopped vegetables, paired well with the homemade ribbons of pasta. The ground sausage was spicy, but not enough to overwhelm the rest of the dish.

My husband ordered a panko-breaded pork chop served over haluski with bacon, which was a revelation. Why isn’t haluski—an Eastern European noodle—always served with bacon? We’ve heretofore been deprived. The combination was delicious. We also shared a stick-to-your-ribs beef goulash served with tenderloin tips and mini-dumplings and an outstanding garlicky, rich, white bean, sausage and escarole soup.

Service was remarkable for a place that had only been open for a few weeks. The staff was professional, knowledgeable and on their game. Timing was just right, as well.

Ross Gibson-Delasin is just one Arcona resident who is happy to welcome THEA to the neighborhood, describing the business as the “perfect complement to the area.”

“AnnMarie brings us her exquisite culinary experience, knowledge and passion and adds to that an excellent and friendly staff to make it a truly inviting atmosphere that makes you feel like you are dining in the comfort of your own home,” he said.

Chad Arentz of Enola agreed, saying that he first learned of THEA at a networking meeting.

“Since my family of five were already fans of Sophia’s food and were aware that AnnMarie is a recipe wizard, we visited as soon as we learned of the place, and she didn’t let us down,” he said.

Those who enjoy dining al fresco will be happy to learn that Nelms will be opening the patio in early spring, with an outdoor fireplace providing warmth against the elements.

Nelms is hoping that, through her new venture, she will be able to share the love and togetherness that she felt when gathering around the table with her family.

“I lost my theas—they were the most loving, amazing people, and that’s what I want to be to my nieces and nephews,” she said. “When you visited their home for dinner, you ate great food, you talked—it was comfy and cozy. For me, that was happiness. That’s what I want for my customers.”

THEA is located at 1303 Saxon Way, Mechanicsburg For more information, call 717-759-4654, or visit www.thea-dining.com or the Facebook page.

Author: Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

A Splendid Squash: “My Life as a Zucchini” is Emotional and vibrant

February 28, 2017 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

If children were allowed to choose their names, they would probably make some crazy choices; and it probably doesn’t help that parents have a common practice of giving nicknames.

Such is the case for little Icare (Gaspard Schlatter), who was dubbed “Zucchini” by his mother. It is, as he tells Raymond the policeman (Michel Vuillermoz) on the day of his mother’s death, what he’d like to be called.

“My Life as a Zucchini,” directed by Claude Barras and adapted from Gilles Paris’ YA novel by Céline Sciamma, tells a stop-motion animation story of Zucchini as he goes to live in an orphanage run by Madame Papineau and Mr. Paul (Monica Budde and Adrien Barazzone). There, he meets a slew of children, bruised by their personal histories and finding solace in the arms of their makeshift family.

Among Zucchini’s new acquaintances is Simon, the troublemaker (Paulin Jaccoud), who immediately swoops in with a large dose of mischief. There’s Alice, Ahmed, Jujube, Béatrice, and Tante Ida—and then there’s Camille (Sixtine Murat), the newest to the orphanage, who steals Zucchini’s heart upon first sight of her. But Camille’s horrible aunt wants her to live with her, just to reap the benefits, and soon the whole orphanage works together to fight her wishes.

Visually, the film is stunning. The scenery looks like a giant 3-D watercolor painting, and the characters—well, every speck of their juvenile faces seems to have color swathed on it— from the rosy cheeks and noses of childhood to the blue shadows around an emotionally tired child’s eyes to Zucchini’s bright blue head of hair. “Zucchini” transports its audience with its whimsical mise-en-scene.

But its fanciful imagery is carefully balanced with a hard dose of realism. This is not a happy-go-lucky adventure movie or a fantasy with talking animals. It, instead, grapples with lifelike scenarios, dealing with some pretty tough subjects and treating its younger audience members like they can handle it. Don’t get me wrong, it is rated PG-13, so the plot doesn’t get too overbearing. But, instead of a passive film made to pander to children, you will find a thoughtful, genuine story that kids can sink their teeth into.

The cast in this film is phenomenal. Though the adults have a few films behind them, most of the actors who voice the orphans are fresh in the industry—and what a first performance to have on your resume. While the Americanized, dubbed version of the film includes actors like Nick Offerman, Will Forte, Ellen Page and Amy Sedaris (this critic hasn’t actually seen the dubbed version, so no comments can be made about it), the subtitled version breathes life into its little puppets, and every line of dialogue holds a tremendous amount of emotion, rounding the film out to be a must-see.

Nominated for “Best Animated Film” at this year’s Academy Awards, this is not a movie you should miss—it is sweet, emotional and vibrant. “My Life as a Zucchini” is coming soon to Midtown Cinema. And, in honor of the Family Film Series, children ages 12 and under will get in for free on Sunday, March 19, when accompanied by an adult.

MARCH SPECIAL EVENTS AT MIDTOWN CINEMA

Dance on Screen
“The Sleeping Beauty”
Sunday, March 5, 5 p.m.

Down in Front!
“Leprechaun” (1993)
Friday, March 10, 9:30 p.m.

Digital Theatre Series
“St. Joan”
Sunday, March 19, 1:30 p.m.

Mel Brooks Collection
“Blazing Saddles” (1974)
Friday, March 24, 7:30 p.m.

“Spaceballs” (1987)
Sunday, March 26, 7:30 p.m.

Faulkner Honda Family Film Series
“My Life as a Zucchini” (2017)
See midtowncinema.com for showtimes
On Sunday, March 19, kids 12 and under get in free when accompanied by an adult!

Author: Sammi Leigh Melville

Happenings: Our March Calendar of Events

February 28, 2017 | by TheBurg Editor

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“Exploration of Pennsylvania Landscapes,” mixed media and collage works by Amy Powell, through March 17; closing reception, March 17.

“Dimensional Abstraction,” works by Chris Lyter, March 17-April 17, at Café 1500, 1500 N. 6th St.; reception, March 17, 6-9 p.m.

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

“Sin City Tucker ’48 Replica,” through April 1.

“Magic Skyway 1964 Ford World’s Fair Thunderbird Convertible,” through April 15.

“Mopar Midsize Muscle,” a mini-exhibit of Mopar muscle cars, through April 22.

“Three Chevys and a Diner,” an exhibit featuring a neighborhood diner and three 1950s Chevys, through April 22.

“Amore della Strade: Italian Cars,” featuring Italian cars and motorcycles, through April 22.

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

“Impulse: Then & Now” Curator’s Choice, through March 30.

Brain Vessel Gallery
4707 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg
717-350-2306; bvcargo.com

“The Road Traveled,” license plate art by Jennifer Savo, through mid-April.

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

“Orange Crush,” CALC member show, through March 11.

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

Artist of the Month: Chris Inch

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

Artwork of Chris Lyter, through March 11.

Works by Holly Angelique and Ann Benton Yeager, March 16-April 29; reception: March 17, 6-9 p.m.

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

“One Ground Beetle,” highlighting the collaboration between haiku poet Melody Davis and printmaker Harold Lohner, through May 6.

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

Recent works by Mikey Rioux, an exhibition of collage and mixed media works, through March 3.

“American Gestures,” exhibit of printmaking by Andrew Guth, March 1-31; reception, March 17-, 5-7 p.m.

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

“Modern Muse,” works by Tiff George, through March 31.

“Man vs. Machine,” a group exhibition, March 3-April 13; reception: March 3, 6-11 p.m.

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

Works by Jenna Carls, Joan Maguire, Marsha Souders and Richard Souders, through March 12.

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

“We Call Them Buffalo Soldiers,” examining the service of black soldiers in the U.S. Armed Forces from the American Revolution to the integration of the services in 1948, through June.

“Reconstruction: The Unfinished War,” examining the unfinished issue of equality among the 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

Works of mixed media artist Wendy Weyant, through April 3.

“Nests,” photography by Sharon Beals, through April 7.

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

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history.

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

“Off the Page,” visual artwork inspired by the written word, through March 4.

“Move Beyond,” featuring dramatic, abstract oil paintings by Chris Lyter, March 10-April 9; reception: March 10, 6-8:30 p.m.

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

Ceramic sculptures by Robert “Boomer” Moore, through March 31; lecture: March 16, 5:30 p.m.

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

2017 South Central Pennsylvania Scholastic Art Awards, through April 16.

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

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

“Relics,” photographs by Stephen Althouse portraying humanity through tools and artifacts people leave behind, through May 7.

“Philip Pearlstein: Seventy-Five Years of Painting,” through May 21.

Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

“Tiny: Streetwise Revisited,” photography by Mary Ellen Mark, documenting homeless child Tiny and her journey over 30 years, through March 19.

Sykes Gallery
Millersville University
Breidenstine Hall, 46 E. Frederick St.
artsmu.com

Emerging Artists in Residence, through March 29.

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

Expressionist art by Paul Kicklighter, March 3-April 5.

Millersville University Art & Design Faculty Exhibition, through March 8.

Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center
Millersville University
60 W. Cottage Ave., Millersville
717-871-4700; artsmu.com

“Art from Imperial China” by Frank Orban, through March 10.

“A Planet that Dreams,” art by Darlene Farris, March 21-May 5.

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

Photography by Deb Schell, through March 12.

Works by Val McClymont’s art students, March 17-April 9.

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

“The City I See/Chaos and Calm,” photographs on canvas by Deb Schell, through March 11.

“Get on Board Art Fundraiser,” presented by Gallery@Second, March 17-April 20.

Read, Make, Learn

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

March 25: “A Silent Cry,” book signing w/Mark Armstrong, 2-5 p.m.

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

March 9: Garlic Lovers Paradise, 6-9 p.m.
March 16: All About Stuffed Dumplings, 6-9 p.m.
March 22: Thai Temptations, 6-9 p.m.
March 31: Tuscan Dinner and Wine Pairing, 6-9 p.m.

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

March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Language at the Library, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
March 3: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
March 4: Cookbook Club—Cook Your Heritage, 1 p.m.
March 4: Prime Time—TEDx Fredricksen Library, 3 p.m.
March 5: Strong Drinks and Heavenly Brews, 1:30 p.m.
March 6, 20: Fredricksen Writes, 6:45 p.m.
March 7: Curl up w/the Classics—“The Jungle Book,” 10 a.m.
March 7, 21: Teen Meetup Discussion Group, 7 p.m.
March 8: Great Stories, 10-11:30 a.m.
March 9, 23: Drop-in Story Time, 6:30 p.m.
March 9, 23: Plot Twisters Tween Writers Group, 6:30 p.m.
March 11: Games of Deduction—Fury of Dracula, 1:30 p.m.
March 13, 27: LEGO Club, 4:30 p.m.
March 14, 21, 28: Natalie D. Craumer Writers Workshop, 6:30 p.m.
March 15: STEM Exploration Lab, 4 p.m.
March 16: READ to Dogs, 6:30 p.m.
March 21: Fredricksen Reads—“Rose Under Fire,” 7 p.m.
March 24: Artist Alley, 6:30 p.m.
March 25: Safe Sitter Workshop, 10 a.m.
March 27: Library for Lunch—Teddy Bear Picnic, 12 p.m.
March 28: Gardening w/Nature—Spring Wildflowers, 7 p.m.

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

March 6-May 1: Improv Level 1 for Teens, 7-9 p.m.
March 9-April 27: Improv Level 1, 7-10 p.m.
March 15-April 19: Improv for Insight—Drama Therapy, 7-9 p.m.

Healthy Living Kitchen
16 S. Rosanna St., Hummelstown
717-512-0077; healthylivingkitchenpa.com

March 3: Build a Better Menu, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
March 6: Food Therapy—Monthly One-Day Detox Program, 6-7:30 p.m.
March 11: Vegan Sweets for Fun, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
March 23: Root Vegetables and Sugar Cravings, 6-8 p.m.

Kalpa Bhadra Kadampa Buddhist Center
251 Wiconisco St., Harrisburg
717-232-2700; meditationpa.org

March 25: Becoming a Buddhist: Teachings on Refuge, 1-4 p.m.

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

March 4: Drop-in Art, 1-4 p.m.
March 18: A Novel Idea 102, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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

March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
March 5, 12, 19, 26: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
March 7: Men’s Group, 6 p.m.
March 9: Aging w/Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12 p.m.
March 14: Seniors Group, 6 p.m.
March 21: Women’s Group, 6 p.m.
March 28: LGBT Parents, 6 p.m.

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

March 20: Ballroom Dance Lessons, 5:30, 6:30 p.m.

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

March 1, 8, 15, 22: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.
March 2, 9 16, 23, 30: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
March 3, 10, 24, 31: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
March 4: Work From Home—Entrepreneur Meet-up, 10 a.m.
March 4: Author Event—James Young, 3 p.m.
March 4: Good News Café, 6 p.m.

March 5: Harrisburg Young Professionals Book Club, 2 p.m.
March 7: Sci-fi Writer’s Group, 7 p.m.
March 7, 21: Meet-up, 9 a.m.
March 8: Author Event—James Lyon, 6 p.m.
March 9, 16: Camp Curtin Toastmasters, 6:30 p.m.
March 11: Storytime w/Lisa, 11 a.m.
March 11: Book signing w/Michael Kaminski, 1 p.m.
March 14: Men’s Conversation, 7 p.m.
March 14: Dauphin County Young Democrats Meeting, 7 p.m.
March 15: Sci-fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7 p.m.
March 19: Midtown Writers Group, 1 p.m.
March 19: LGBT Book Club, 5 p.m.
March 25: Book signing w/Gene Barr, 2 p.m.
March 28: Friends of Midtown Safety Committee, 6:30 p.m.

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

March 18: Botanical Zen Doodling, 6:30-9 p.m.
March 25: Basic Oil Painting—Still Life, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Movement Center
2134 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
717-238-0357; themovementcenter.net

March 12: Community Yoga—Free Beginner Class, 10 a.m.

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

March 3-5: Three-day Bluebird Carving Workshop

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

March 3: StoryTime, “Fire Engine No. 9,” 10-11 a.m.
March 17: Learn at Lunchtime, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
March 24: We Are Stars, 12:15-12:45 p.m.

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

March 15: Life Drawing Class, 6-9 p.m.

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

March 11: Volunteer Work Day, 10-11 a.m.
March 18: Bear Boy Scouts—Fur, Feathers and Ferns, 10:30-2:30 p.m.
March 19: Flower Walk—Cold Tolerant Plants, 1:30-3 p.m.
March 25: Tiger Boy Scouts—Tigers in the Wild, 10:30-2:30 p.m.
March 26: Painting at the Park, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

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

March 3: Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby
March 4: Martina McBride
March 11: The Oak Ridge Boys
March 17: Amos Lee
March 19: John Denver Tribute w/Ted Vigil
March 24: Rain: A Tribute to The Beatles
March 25: The Charlie Daniels Band
March 26: Under the Streetlamp
March 30: The Beach Boys
March 31: Celtic Woman

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

March 3: Sythian
March 4: Vulcans and Mark DeRose Band
March 10: Strung Like a Horse
March 17: Cheezy and the Crackers
March 18: Kilmaine Saints
March 24: Larry Keel Experience
March 25: Hip Pocket
March 26: The Outside Track
March 31: The Dirty Sweet

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

March 1: Marc Lubbers
March 2, 12, 16, 26, 30: Anthony Haubert
March 3, 9, 14, 17, 31: Noel Gevers
March 4, 25: Roy Lefever
March 7, 15: Daniel Sheahan
March 8, 21: Christine Purcell
March 10, 23: Corinna Joy
March 11, 24: Ted Ansel

March 18: Jessica Perla
March 22, 28: Maria Battista
March 29: Deborah Anderson

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

March 3: Queen Of Jeans
March 5: Dance Gavin Dance Chon
March 7: The Stonewall, Vessels, Dead Coast, Paradrei
March 8: Turnover
March 10: Bitter Taste, Broccoli Samurai, ELM
March 11: Attila
March 17: Memphis May Fire, Bless The Fall
March 18: Captured! By Robots
March 20: Black Stone Cherry, Typesetter
March 22: Cash’d Out, Tribute to Johnny Cash
March 24: Spill, Turkuaz
March 25: Moakler
March 26: Hodera, CityCop
March 30: Beach House

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

March 3: Antonio Andrade
March 4: Alex McQuade
March 5: Colette Eckert
March 10: Caelan Perez
March 11: Jeanine & Friends
March 12: TBA
March 17: Steven Gellman
March 18: Doug Morris
March 19: Kate Parson
March 24: Paul Zavinsky
March 25: Hard Travelin
March 26: Dan Zukowski
March 31: Alex Allegra

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

March 14: Seasons

Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus
harrisburggaymenschorus.org

March 12, 20: “The Big Three-Oh” anniversary concert

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

March 2, 16: Full Band Open Jam
March 3: Vetour Productions First Friday
March 4: Playing for Purpose Music & Arts Festival
March 4: The Figgs, The Split Squad
March 9: Seepeoples, Switch Fu
March 10: Shea Quinn’s The Band Who Sold the World
March 10: Ton-Taun, The Jellybricks
March 11: Soul & Spirit—Jimi Hendrix Tribute
March 17: Ben Brandt Trio, Some Hands
March 18: Manian Van Hacker
March 24: The Jigsaw Seen
March 25: Shine Delphi, Magic Dick & Shun NG
March 30: Deniz Tek
March 31: David Lindley

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

March 4-5: Ann Hampton Callaway
March 15: Stuart & Friends
March 18-19: Masterworks

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

March 4: The Classic Rock Show
March 10: Kool Kats!
March 19: Red Hot Chili Pipers
March 31: John Prine

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

March 3: Sapphire
March 4: DJ Magic, Cazhmiere
March 10: Funktion
March 11: DJ Dave Styles, Smooth Like Clyde
March 17: Uptown Band
March 18: DJ Matrix, The Luv Gods
March 24: Emily’s Toybox
March 25: DJ Ray Rossi, Time Traveller, Radio Neon
March 31: That Band

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

March 19: Sunday Arts Hour w/George Bowerman

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

March 3: Pilgrim Age
March 10: Travis Pilsits
March 17: Animal Logic
March 24: Babel Map
March 31: Andrew Weathers & Guillermo Pizarro

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

March 4: ZZ Top
March 24: The Zombies
March 31: Kool & The Gang

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

March 8: Five Irish Tenors

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

March 29: David Kim and The Messiah College Symphony Orchestra

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

March 17: Hard Travelin’

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

March 14: Spring Serenade w/Stuart Malina & Friends

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

March 1: Patrick Bowman and Friends Open Mic
March 3: Jonathan Ragonese
March 4: Lovers of Music Band
March 8, 22: Kevin Bock and Friends Open Mic
March 11: Paul Bratcher Quartet w/ Manny Arciniega
March 17: Aortic Valve
March 18: D-bo
March 20: River City Big Band
March 24: West End Blend
March 25: Colebrook Road
March 27: Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz Jam Session
March 31: Steeley Jam w/ Humandala

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

March 3: Steve Forbert
March 24: Victor Wainwright, The Wildroots

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

March 3: Kelsey Kindall
March 4: Jamie Wolmack & Jody Echterling
March 10: Something Else—Jane Ramsey
March 11: Craig Bonner, Steve Geib
March 17: Cotolo
March 18: Just Dave
March 24: Rhoades & Putt
March 25: Betsy Barnicle
March 31: Crossroads Duo

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

March 3: Cruise Control Trio
March 4: Houston Baker
March 10: Shine Delphi
March 11: Gold Dust
March 17: Visitors Duo
March 18: Swisher Sweets
March 24: Music Thru Science Lite
March 25: Shea Quinn and Friends
March 31: Noel Gevers, Andy Alonso

Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; mystrandcapitol.org

March 3: Jazz in the City
March 4: York Symphony Orchestra—“Titanic”
March 11: York Symphony Orchestra—“A Brave New World”

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

March 11: Low Lily
March 26: The Outside Track

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

March 3: We the People: First Friday Initiative, Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus
March 4: Caladh Nua
March 10: Jazz in the Sky—JD Walter Group
March 17: Music in the Round—Irish Eyes
March 18: Alok Kumar
March 22: Hilary Hahn
March 24: Erin Cruise

Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center
Millersville University
60 W. Cottage Ave., Millersville
717-871-4700; artsmu.com

March 3: Winner’s Circle—Lancaster International Piano Competition
March 5: MU Concert Band & Wind Ensemble

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

March 4: Taryn & Step
March 11: Flint Zeigler
March 24: HIP 450
March 26: Josh Dominick
March 30: Shine Delphi

The Stage Door

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

March 12: Oxymorons Improv Comedy Show

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

March 31: “Sister Act”

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

Through March 18: “Jesus Christ Superstar”

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

March 8-25: “The Snow Queen” w/Popcorn Hat Players
March 17-26: “Romeo and Juliet”
March 31: Improvapalooza 2017

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd., Middletown
717-939-9333; hbg-cpac.org

March 31-April 9: “Hope Has Come”

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

March 3-4: Jody Kerns, Dusty Slay
March 10-11: Patrick Garrity
March 17-18: Tim Kidd, Eric Grady
March 24-25: Basile
March 26: Basile Greek Show

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

March 3: Spank’d, TBA
March 10: No Artificial Sweeteners

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

March 3-5: “The Cemetery Club”
March 10-11: “Unforgettable Big Band”

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

March 9: Travis Wall’s “Shaping Sound”
March 18: “Theresa Caputo Live”
March 21-26: “The Sound of Music”
March 28-29: “Paw Patrol Live”

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

March 16: Mike & Donna Snyder, Magic & Illusion

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmonline.net

Through March 12: “Love From a Stranger”

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

March 31: Golden Dragon Acrobats

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

March 30-April 9: “The Shaughraun”

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

March 17: Comedy Night

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

March 12: “The Diary of Anne Frank” (Whitaker Center)

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

March 10-26: “The Spitfire Grill”

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

March 29: “Broadway’s Next Hit Musical”

Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; mystrandcapitol.org

March 2: Mark Klein, Jamie Utley
March 12: John Edward
March 16: Earl David Reed, Blayr Nias
March 16: Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live

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

Through March 5: “City of Angels” (Whitaker Center)
March 23-April 2: “4000 Miles”

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

March 11-12: DanceLancaster

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

Through March 5: “City of Angels” w/Theatre Harrisburg
March 12: “The Diary of Anne Frank” w/Open State of Harrisburg

Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center
Millersville University
60 W. Cottage Ave., Millersville
717-871-4700; artsmu.com

March 23-26: “Heathers: The Musical”

Midtown, By Design: ModernRugs creates beautiful, functional art, helping to weave together a neighborhood.

February 28, 2017 | by Jen Fertenbaugh

Owners Tahirih Alia and Zachary Nitzan

Two decades ago, passion drove Zachary Nitzan to share an ancient art with the modern world.

He launched a website, starting a business and a renaissance—an artistic revival that would carry him and his work around the world, and, eventually, lead him to join the architectural restoration of historic Midtown Harrisburg.

Nitzan is the owner of ModernRugs.com, a global, online curator of contemporary area rugs. Last summer, Nitzan, along with his business partner, Tahirih Alia, moved all operations from Washington, D.C., to Midtown after falling in love with its urban landscape.

“Harrisburg is such an organic city with so much beauty,” Nitzan said.

They purchased much of the 1400-block of N. 3rd Street across the street from the Susquehanna Art Museum, including the old Volunteers of America (VOA) building, the adjacent, three-story building that once operated as Midtown Paint & Hardware, two smaller storefronts at the end of the block, and two empty lots behind the properties.

Renovations began shortly after closing on the century-old properties last winter, a project that proved to be an enormous undertaking.

“There was a lot that we couldn’t salvage due to so much intentional damage and neglect,” said company Media Director Brad Moody of the newly remodeled, 8,000-square-foot headquarters of their operations.

The interior’s exposed brick creates a modern, urban feel while preserving the building’s authentic character. This was the perfect project for Nitzan and Alia, as the idea of blending antiquity with modernity is central to their business.

“The process of creating a rug—of knotting the handspun, naturally dyed fabrics together in a precise pattern—is an ancient and beautiful art,” explained Nitzan, who has dedicated much of his life developing his expertise. “Ancient rugs tell the story of life.”

In addition to ModernRugs.com, Nitzan and Alia own and operate Christopher Fareed Design Studios, an exclusive design label serving commercial designers and developers. The label’s high-end, custom-designed area rugs possess remarkable attention to detail, employing organic materials and, when possible, natural dyes. Christopher Fareed rugs decorate the floors of some of the world’s most exclusive properties, including palaces in Dubai and VIP suites in Las Vegas.

“I’m constantly pushing the boundaries of design and materials,” he said, describing his design process as an evolution.

Some clients request an original design while others alter an existing one.

“The rug evolves to perfectly reflect a precise part of life,” he said.

While many of the designs are commercial pieces, several Christopher Fareed collections are sold on ModernRugs.com. Moody added that the custom, commissioned business is expanding into commercial spaces and upscale shopping malls—more evidence that the movement that Nitzan helped start is taking hold.

With increasing demand, Nitzan and Alia both emphasized the importance of maintaining a clear set of ethics to guide their business decisions.

“There is a danger in art becoming a commodity,” Nitzan said.

He and Alia frequently travel the world, searching for high-quality materials and developing personal relationships with the artisans to monitor ethical production practices and support the regions where the rugs are produced.

Despite visiting exotic locales, Nitzan and Alia decided on Harrisburg as the perfect location to relocate their operations, noting that several rug designs hanging in the showroom were inspired by walks along the capital city’s streets.

The showroom is currently open by appointment. However, Nitzan and Alia said the renovations, which should be completed by fall, will allow them to further immerse themselves into the local art scene.

The two small, dilapidated buildings at the end of the block will be torn down to expand the three-story, 9,000-square-foot building at 1408 N. 3rd Street, once a hardware store. The first floor will house an urban showroom open to the public, and the second floor will function as an industrial-style workspace, complete with pendant lights made from repurposed flood lighting that Nitzan acquired from Camp Hill borough’s pool. ModernRugs.com and Christopher Fareed already employ a team of 10, and that number is expected to double.

Alia said that she and Nitzan are committed to supporting the local art scene, and they plan to utilize the top floor to host community events. Future plans also include the transformation of the empty back lots into an outdoor gathering spot.

“Our vision is to create a space where artists can thrive,” Alia said.

They expect that they will build upon the foundation in Midtown already pioneered by such places as the Broad Street Market, H*MAC, Midtown Scholar and the Millworks.

“We are in good company,” Nitzan said.

He added that the community response to their relocation and renovation project has strengthened his appreciation for Harrisburg.

“The city has been so welcoming to us—from area businesses to the mayor’s office,” he said. “We love it here.”

ModernRugs.com is located at 1404 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. To learn more, visit www.new.modernrugs.com and www.christopherfareed.com.

Author: Jen Fertenbaugh

Final Bow: Open Stage’s founders retire, ushering in a new era of leadership.

February 28, 2017 | by Laura Dugan

Burg in Focus: Open Stage of Harrisburg from GK Visual on Vimeo.

Every time a theater season closes at Open Stage of Harrisburg, founders Don and Anne Alsedek embark on a routine that is seldom interrupted. They put away scripts, sets and costumes and begin to plan the next productions—until this year.

As the theater company’s 31st season ends in June, the husband and wife duo will enter a different stage of life: retirement.

“We have created a place where there is excellence in theater, and excellence in making the theater connect to the lives of the people who come to see it,” said Anne, the theater’s education director.

The mission of Open Stage has remained consistent since its founding in 1983. The theater is committed to diversity, thought-provoking theater and education—all in an intimate setting, Anne said.

“From the beginning, Open Stage has taken chances and produced plays that resonate with the entire community and have given actors roles they may have only dreamed of,” said Kristin Scofield, former OSH board member.

Humble Beginnings

The Alsedeks, with former Managing Director Marianne Fischer, created the theater in response to a 1982 report about Harrisburg’s art scene, which outlined the city’s need for high-quality theater.

“There was not enough thought-provoking theater, and I thought we could fill that particular need,” said Don, the producing artistic director.

They called Open Stage’s first location—a spot quietly tucked behind an office building on Jonestown Road—“The Alley Theater.”

Anne laughed while describing Don standing outside with a flashlight to help theater-goers find the place of their first production, Eugene O’Neill’s “Moon for the Misbegotten.”

“They crawled up a loading dock and came in the back door to a tiny box office area,” she said.

The space lacked permanent seating, so the staff added or removed seats depending on the size of the crowd. This guaranteed a full house.

“I was just amazed at the fact that people came and continued to come,” Anne said. “We were all inside wondering if we’d have an audience, and we did.”

Open Stage Studio/School debuted in 1985, and the theater’s first full season opened in 1986. It has been located in its current location at the Walnut Street Parking Garage, in the heart of downtown Harrisburg, since 1992

“We started out as a little, tiny theater,” Don said. “Now, I like to think we’re part of the fabric of the city.”

Mission Driven

Open Stage’s commitment to education and telling diverse stories makes it different from other professional theaters.

Production study guides encourage audience members to converse after the show. Post-performance discussions with the cast and production team offer a glimpse into the theatrical process. Open Stage brings in local experts so audience members can take a deeper dive into a dramaturgical topic.

“We are dedicated to telling African-American stories, and we also have had programs and series that focus on LGBT voices, women’s stories and playwrights, works by emerging artists and local history,” said Stuart Landon, Open Stage’s associate artistic director.

Each season brings at least one show focused on African-American themes. This winter, Open Stage produced “Father Comes Home from the Wars,” a story of a slave coming to terms with what it means to be free.

Each spring, Open Stage offers student matinees of “The Diary of Anne Frank” and reaches more than 2,000 local students every year.

“I think learning is something we take for granted,” Don said. “We benefit by what we learn.”

The theater’s commitment to education led Open Stage to play an instrumental role in founding the Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School in 2001.

“Open Stage has made a difference in the lives of the people who live in and around the city,” said Nicholas Hughes, board member emeritus. “It has made itself a valuable contribution to the cultural scene in Harrisburg.”

Next Steps

While the Alsedek’s retirement means changes for Open Stage, the theater will continue to provide stories beyond the mainstream.

“I think Open Stage owes it to the community that it continue beyond the founders,” Don said.

Board members commend the leadership and vision of the duo.

“More than 30 years is a long time to have started a theater from scratch,” said Hughes. “To be able to pass it on in fine working order to a new generation is a real achievement.”

Current board member (and frequent actor) Sharia Benn praised the pair’s “talent, teaching, encouragement, inspiration and joy.”

“They have given so generously to build a deeply engaging and beautiful theater gem in Harrisburg,” she said.

Landon will step into Don’s shoes and take on the role of artistic director starting with season 32.

“Anne and Don have built something really beautiful,” he said. “I am excited about the future of Open Stage and hope to make them proud.”

After June, Don plans to take a year off from directing. He looks forward to spending time with family. Anne will continue to teach adult acting classes and assist the Studio/School.

The current season will bring the duo’s careers full circle. They started their tenure with a Eugene O’Neill piece, and now will close with “Ah, Wilderness,” O’Neill’s only comedy. A few familiar faces will return to put on this show, including cast members who have been involved throughout the years. Gwen Alsedek, Don’s sister and resident costume designer, retired from Open Stage in 2015, but will return to design the closing show.

“It’s wonderful that we’ll be able to work with some people who have been with us for a long time,” Don said. “It’s nice that we get to go out together.”
For more information about Open Stage of Harrisburg, visit www.openstagehbg.com.

Author: Laura Dugan

Burg’s Eye View: Photos of the Allison Hill community

February 28, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

The Harrisburg area has many great communities. So, we’re sending photographer Ali Waxman out to capture scenes from these places, which we’ll share in our pages from time to time.

We first sent Ali to the Allison Hill neighborhood. Allison Hill was built as Harrisburg’s first suburb, mostly middle and working class, on a bluff overlooking the city’s original neighborhoods along the Susquehanna River.

Today, the term “Allison Hill” usually includes once-separate areas such as Mount Pleasant, Sylvan Heights and North and South Allison Hill. The city’s most densely populated area, it is largely residential, with some strips of small shops and an industrial area along S. 17th Street that has been slowly reviving following the relocation of Hamilton Health Center.

Although often presented in the press as a troubled community, Allison Hill is actually a diverse and vibrant place, with a rapidly growing Latino population. In these photos, Ali shows us some of the people of Allison Hill, those who live, work and play there.

Author: Lawrance Binda

Bangers & March: St. Pat’s Day Parade steps off with new organizers, new ideas.

February 28, 2017 | by Rachel Jenkins

The Downtown Improvement District may be best known for painted planters, bike racks, Restaurant Week and keeping Harrisburg’s main business district nice and tidy.

This month, it will add another project to its rapidly growing portfolio—the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, taking up the mantle from the long-time organizers, the Capital Region Association of Irish and Celts (CRAIC).

Many things will remain the same as before: bands, bagpipes, floats, dancers and, of course, a central location to grab a pint or two. But HDID is adding some of its own touches, including a new route and a race prior to the parade.

“It is a very positive thing for the city,” said Director of Marketing and Special Events Leigh Ann Urban. “Anything that the Downtown Improvement District can do to help encourage and promote the positivity of the city, we’re willing to do.”

Welcoming, Inviting

Last year, CRAIC notified local businesses and past participants that they would no longer host the parade. As members left and the organization shrank, running such a mammoth operation became too much, said President Morgan Williams-Fake.

“When we were very successful with fundraising is when the downtown bars were doing very good,” he said. “The parade was one of their biggest revenue draws, single-event wise.”

With no one to take their place, HDID began to consider taking on the project, which, Urban said, fits into the organization’s mission of creating a welcoming and inviting downtown.

“In some aspect, we’ve always been involved, we’ve always promoted the parade,” she said. “Anything they’ve needed, we’ve always tried to help out.”

To include more businesses and bars, the parade route will shift. It still will begin on Walnut Street, but then will turn onto N. 4th Street followed by Market Street before turning on to N. 2nd to North to 3rd streets. The route also will take the parade past several new downtown apartment buildings, now filled up with residents.

“They can look outside their big picture windows right to the parade,” Urban said.

Another new feature is the “Harrisburg Lucky Charm 5K/10K” race, which will end just as the parade begins. Parade-goers and pub-crawlers will already be in place to cheer on runners as they finish.

“As soon as they’re done, the parade starts and comes around the other side,” Urban said.

This new element may bring challenges of timing, but the outcome, according to Urban, will be worth it.

“This year, it’s going to be a thousand people running,” she said. “So, you’ll have a thousand people and their families who come to watch them finish, that are guaranteed to be down here to watch the parade.”

Better Position

More people at the parade, of course, means more business downtown, said Tom Scott of McGrath’s Pub.

“It’s a chaotic day,” he said. “But it’s fun, because it starts early and goes all day.”

Like many businesses, McGrath’s will open early—at 8 a.m. Breakfast and beer will be served for ambitious celebrators looking to get a head start on the day’s festivities.

The traditional Irish bar, one of the last of its kind in downtown Harrisburg, has taken part in celebrating the St. Patrick’s Day Parade since it opened 15 years ago.

“We have a limited menu—it’s all Irish food,” Scott said. “Lots of things that we’ve had on our menu before, like bangers and mash and other Irish meals. We get people who come in for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They’re there all day.”

Scott looks forward to the changes that HDID is making this year, but also sympathizes with the challenges that CRAIC had, saying that, while businesses prospered from the parade and crowds, there wasn’t enough willingness to give back to the event.

“That’s always the issue, trying to get the money to pull it off,” he said. “[CRAIC] always struggled with the sponsorships and the money. And I think the DID is going to do a lot better that way. Financially, they’re in a much better position.”

Urban said that this year’s parade will have all the favorites, including pipe and drum bands and traditional Irish dancing. Local shops and businesses have been encouraged to open up early, especially for people who may be visiting Harrisburg for the first time.

“This is just one more way for us to put on a positive event and showcase downtown and how great it really is,” Urban said.

The Harrisburg St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place March 18, starting at 1 p.m., at the corner of Walnut and Aberdeen streets. The “Lucky Charm 5K/10K” race precedes the event. For more information, visit www.harrisburgstpatricksdayparade.com.

Author: Rachel Jenkins

March 2017 Community Corner

February 28, 2017 | by TheBurg Editor

Homebuyer Workshop
March 1: Centric Bank will host a free first-time homebuyer workshop at Harrisburg Regional Chamber, 3211 N Front St., 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Learn how to purchase a home with little money down, repair your credit, qualify for a loan and more.

RSVP to [email protected] or 717-657-7727.

World War II Talk
March 2: Hear the story of Don Greenbaum and Ernie Gross, a World War II soldier and the prisoner he helped free from the Dachau concentration camp, at the monthly meeting of the Central Pennsylvania WWII Roundtable. The free event takes place at 7 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 433 E. Main St., Hummelstown. For more information, visit www.centralpaww2roundtable.org.

Community Health Fair
March 2: Holy Spirit—A Geisinger Affiliate will be at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. offering free services, including blood pressure screenings, bone density scans, cardiovascular risk assessments, nutrition information and sleep assessments. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org or hsh.org.

Blood Pressure Screenings
March 2: PinnacleHealth will offer free blood pressure screenings from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Food Court Pavilion at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com.

First Friday
March 3: Enjoy First Friday in Hummelstown, 6 to 9 p.m., with shopping, dining, raffle prizes, music and dancing. First Fridays are free. Organizers encourage attendees to bring donations for Morning Star Pregnancy Services. For more details, call 717-991-5105 or email [email protected].

Cancer Awareness
March 4: PinnacleHealth will host the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Fitness Fair at Capital Blue Store, Hampden Marketplace, 4500 Marketplace Way, Enola, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Talk with surgeons and gastroenterologists about cancer screenings. Ask questions and learn about colonoscopy. Visit pinnaclehealth.org.

Winter HBG Flea
March 4: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures and curated curios at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit hbgflea.com.

TEDx Fredricksen
March 4: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, will host TEDx Fredricksen Library, a series of local viewings that bring people together to share a TED-like experience and to spark deep discussion. The talk will focus on the concept of happiness and will run from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Visit fredricksenlibary.org.

Maple Sugar Festival
March 5: Head to Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, for the Maple Sugar Festival, 12 to 4 p.m. Kids and adults can have hands-on fun with tree tapping, eating real maple syrup on ice cream and shopping for PA maple products. Visit forthunter.org.

Decisions 2017
March 6, 20: The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg will host “Great Decisions,” a world affairs program organized by the Foreign Policy Association. Sessions are held every other Monday at 1 p.m. at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, through May 15. Cost is $10 per session. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Crazy for Coloring
March 6-26: Dauphin County Library System will host “Crazy for Coloring,” two-hour social, adult coloring sessions at Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library, March 6, 6 to 8 p.m.; William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, March 22, 6 to 8 p.m.; and East Shore Area Library, March 26, 2 to 4 p.m. Visit dcls.org.

Understanding Islam Series
March 7: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for Islam 101 to learn the basics of the faith, its many denominations and its widespread diversity. Come prepared with questions for the Q&A session that follows. Other sessions in the series will be held on April 7 and May 2 at 7 p.m. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Taste of the Chamber
March 8: West Shore Chamber of Commerce will host “Taste of the Chamber” at Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill, 4 to 7 p.m. Enjoy culinary masterpieces from the area’s best restaurants, hotels and caterers. Tickets are $25. Visit wschamber.org.

Well Water Talk
March 9: Join Penn State Extension, Perry County Master Gardeners and Perry County Conservation District for a free presentation on “How Healthy is Your Well Water?” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Perry County Penn State Extension office, 8 S. Carlisle St., New Bloomfield. Visit extension.psu.edu.

Indie Film Friday
March 10: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for “The Commitments,” a movie from Ireland featuring ’60s soul classics and centering on a soul band popular in local clubs, hoping to make the big time. Showings are 2 and 7 p.m. Visit fredricksenlibrary.org.

Railroad Show
March 11: National Railway Historical Society Harrisburg Chapter will host the 31st annual Railroad Show & Collectors Market at First Church of God, 245 W. High St., Middletown, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donation at the door is $5; kids under 12 are free. Call 717-439-9744 or email [email protected].

Volunteer Work Day
March 11: Head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves will be provided. To reduce plastic usage, bring along a water bottle. Refreshments will be available. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Board Game Day
March 11: Join Friends of Midtown at Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, 1110 N. 3rd St., and get to know your neighbors with friendly rounds of board games from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Games will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. Food and drinks can be purchased from The Kitchen at H*MAC. Visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Meditation & Happiness
March 11: Kalpa Bhadra Kadampa Buddhist Center, Harrisburg, will host “Meditation and the Art of Happiness,” 1 to 2 p.m. at Kline Library, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg. Learn basic meditation techniques and receive guidance for healthy and positive thinking. Visit meditationpa.org.

Free Community Day
March 12: Hershey Gardens will offer free admission from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Browse the gardens, the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory and the indoor butterfly atrium. Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., enjoy presentations from local gardening and horticultural organizations. Visit hersheygardens.org.

Charter Day
March 12: Celebrate the commonwealth’s 336th birthday with free admission to the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 12 to 4 p.m. Through March 17, view the original 1681 charter that granted the land of Pennsylvania to William Penn. Visit statemuseumpa.org.

Ducks and Geese
March 13: The Ned Smith Center, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, will host its annual “Ducks and Geese of the Susquehanna River,” 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn about waterfowl and seasonal migration patterns with Scott Bills, retired land management group supervisor at the PA Game Commission. Stay for the Annual Waterfowl Watch. Visit nedsmithcenter.org.

Soup & a Bowl
March 13: The 24rd annual Soup & a Bowl, Harrisburg, will be held at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy soups, breads, desserts, live music, pottery throwing and a raffle. Locally crafted commemorative Central Pennsylvania Food Bank bowls can be ordered in advance. Visit centralpafoodbank.org.

Train Talk
March 14: National Railway Historical Society Harrisburg Chapter will host “Continuing a Legacy: Photographing the Pennsylvania Railroad,” a presentation by Michael Froio at Hoss’s Restaurant, 743 Wertzville Rd., Enola. Business meeting and speaker begin at 7 p.m., with a meal available as early as 5 p.m. Call 717-439-9744 or email [email protected].

GreenCon 2016
March 16: GreenCon, Central PA’s annual Green Building Conference & Expo, will be held at Millersville University, Gordinier Hall, 30 S. George St., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event features a keynote presentation, breakout sessions, a walking tour of MU sustainability initiatives and an expo hall of 30 exhibitors. Visit usgbc-centralpa.org.

3rd in The Burg
March 17: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown. Check out all the action at thirdintheburg.org.

Job and Resource Fair
March 18: The Dauphin County Commissioners will host the 6th annual free “One Stop Shop” Job and Resource Day at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event includes free health screenings, family resources, services and programs. Visit shopharrisburgmall.com.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 18: Presented by The Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, the 17th Annual Harrisburg St. Patrick’s Day Parade will step off at 1 p.m. The Lucky Charm 5K and 10K race precedes the parade. For details and parade route, visit harrisburgstpatricksdayparade.com.

New Member Social
March 21: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals for its New Member Social at 6 p.m. at Café 1500, 1500 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. This event is for new and prospective members who would like to learn more about HYP. An RSVP is required to attend. A cash bar and full menu will be available. Visit hyp.org.

Women of Excellence
March 23: YWCA Greater Harrisburg will host the 28th Annual Tribute to Women of Excellence awards dinner at the Hershey Lodge, 325 University Dr., Hershey, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The tribute will honor 31 outstanding women who dedicate time and talent to making a difference in Central Pennsylvania. Cost is $100 per seat. Visit ywcahbg.org.

Russia and the West
March 23: Brig. Gen. Peter B. Zwack (Ret.), former U.S. senior defense official and attaché to the Russian Federation, will speak at 7:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill. The talk is free and open to the public. There is a preceding reception and dinner for which reservations are required. Visit fpa-harrisburg.org.

Local Lunch
March 25: Join Friends of Midtown at its monthly community lunch, which will be held at Pastorante, 1012 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, 12 to 2 p.m. Contact [email protected] or visit friendsofmidtown.org.

Painting at the Park
March 26: Take your creativity to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for guided painting for all experience levels, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Create a Wildwood Lake-inspired scene to take home with instruction from Jenn’s Craft Parties. Fee is $30; all materials are provided. Visit wildwoodlake.org.

Nature Film
March 27: Harrisburg Parks Foundation, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and Capital Region Water will host the screening of “Hometown Habitat, Stories of Bringing Nature Home,” at Appalachian Brewing Co., 50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg, 6 to 9 p.m.

Open House
March 29: St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, 215 N. Front St., Harrisburg, will host an Academic Open House from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Take a tour, ask questions and meet school faculty, staff and families. A pizza dinner will be served. Please RSVP to the school office at 717-238-8590. Visit sseschool.org.

Waste as Resource: You can help turn trash from pejorative to positive.

February 28, 2017 | by Kathryn J. Sandoe

What comes to mind when you hear the word trash? What about waste?

For some, waste is excess. For others, waste is an end product. It’s the “stuff” leftover and no longer useful. In most cases, the implications are negative. But what if the opposite was also true? What if waste offered opportunities to positively impact our community?

LCSWMA works toward this end every day, taking something that people once viewed as worthless and using it to improve Lancaster and Dauphin counties. We view waste as a resource for making great things happen in our community. Here are a few examples of how waste is used to positively impact Harrisburg:

The trash from Harrisburg and surrounding Dauphin County is burned at the Susquehanna Resource Management Complex (SRMC) on S. 19th Street and transformed into renewable energy (electricity) to power state Capitol buildings.
Harrisburg receives a host fee of $1/ton of waste delivered to the SRMC. Over the last 3½ years, this equates to $963,785 paid to the Harrisburg Environmental Advisory Council (EAC). The EAC helps Harrisburg and its residents work together to create a natural and built environment that is both healthy and sustainable.
The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) receives $4/ton of municipal solid waste for its “Growing Greener” program. DEP allocates grant funding from this program to local communities for such efforts as cleaning up abandoned mines, restoring and protecting watersheds, building recreational trails and local parks, helping communities address land use and much more.

These are just a few of the countless ways waste can be used as a resource. I invite Harrisburg residents and businesses to consider all the ways waste impacts your lives, and what you can do to help make it a resource for the capital city.

Here are some programs offered throughout Harrisburg that promote litter abatement, sustainability and beautification. By investing in these worthy causes, you are helping to make Harrisburg a cleaner and safer place for everyone to live, work and play.

Even if you have just two minutes to spare, you can make a big impact. That’s the philosophy behind “2Minute Tuesday,” a program for Harrisburg residents and businesses to help fight litter. Commit to spending two minutes every Tuesday to pick up trash, pull weeds or sweep the sidewalk outside your home or business. Post your progress online using the hashtag #2MinTuesday, and encourage those around you to join the cause too.

For only $10, residents can help fight urban blight and grow fresh food for their families by partnering with the Green Urban Initiative (GUI), a non-profit organization dedicated to implementing sustainable living practices in Harrisburg, especially through small-scale neighborhood gardens. The organization provides construction materials, tools, seeds and gardening tips, while residents rent a garden plot for the season and supply the maintenance and care. GUI operates five community gardens throughout the city. Call 717-831-8872 to reserve your garden plot for the 2017 season.

Join residents, businesses and other community organizations during the “5th Annual Great Harrisburg Cleanup,” happening Saturday, April 22. This citywide effort aims to raise awareness about the negative effects of litter, as well as clean up Harrisburg’s streets, alleyways and public spaces. To get more information or volunteer, call Tri-County Community Action at 717-232-9757. You can also register your own cleanup event by visiting www.gacofpa.org. Registered events receive free supplies such as trash bags and gloves.

Bring art out of galleries and onto the streets by supporting Sprocket Mural Works. With a mission to increase neighborhood pride and civic engagement in Harrisburg through creative action, Sprocket Mural Works fights blight by adding color to city buildings. Help revitalize Harrisburg through art by making a monetary donation, volunteering as an artist or contributing your wall or building. Email [email protected] for more information.

Bike one of the nation’s oldest greenways on Sunday, June 4, during the Tour de Belt, which raises money for the upkeep of Harrisburg’s 20-mile recreational trail, the Capital Area Greenbelt. The trail provides access to green space for all capital region residents, and includes scenic parks, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and Five Senses Garden. Call 717-921-4733 to volunteer time, supplies or monetary resources to help with the maintenance and upkeep of the trail.

Kathryn J. Sandoe is the communications manager for the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, a community publisher of TheBurg.

Creative Class: Education is a core mission for Harrisburg’s theater groups.

February 28, 2017 | by Laura Dugan

When you think of theater, you likely think of the drama, the comedy, the lights, the excitement.

Education may not immediately spring to mind.

But the benefits of an arts education are many—among them, improved communications skills, critical thinking and problem solving. Fortunately, two local theaters provide ample opportunities for education in the arts for students in the Harrisburg area.

Education on Stage

Since 2002, Gamut Theatre Group has been performing both in-house and touring educational productions for students. Gamut’s current offering is William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Each performance includes a post-show discussion, which can be customized depending on the school’s curriculum. Gamut’s director and professional actors pose questions to students and encourage a dialogue about themes of the play, character development and staging choices for the production. Students and teachers also have an opportunity to ask questions they might have.

Melissa Nicholson, Gamut’s executive director, said that students benefit greatly from seeing Shakespeare performed.

“Shakespeare wrote these as plays,” she said. “However, in schools today, it is studied as literature, which can be confusing since the language is 400 years old. The biggest thing we hear when students come to see a show is, ‘Now we understand it.’ It connects them to the story in an entirely new way.”

Nicholson understands this issue well. She currently is president of the Shakespeare Theatre Association, an international association for theaters that primarily produce the works of William Shakespeare.

The educational performances are designed not to run longer than 90 minutes and combine Shakespeare’s original text with modern “narrations” to increase student understanding.

A few blocks away at Open Stage of Harrisburg, the educational production, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” has been performed for 18 years. This play, which is staged each March, is available as a morning performance for school groups and one public performance. The performances for school groups include a special presentation by Holocaust survivor Hilda Mantelmacher.

“Being able to include a presentation from an actual Holocaust survivor with these performances has such an impact on the audiences,” said Open Stage Associate Artistic Director Stuart Landon. “It brings to light that this is so much more than just a play. It’s a recounting of history, a true story of suffering and survival.”

For the second year in a row, local actor Erin Shellenberger will portray Anne.

“I think that presenting this story through live theater is key,” she said. “Many of our youth are very visual learners, and, by presenting the story to them in real time, it humanizes an event that can sometimes feel distant.”

Education at Camp

In June, school may end, but that doesn’t mean the learning stops. Both Gamut and Open Stage host summer camps so kids interested in the performing arts can pursue their emerging passion.

Open Stage of Harrisburg’s Studio School offers summer classes for kids ages 8 to 18. The OSHKids “Summer Camp: Disney’s Aladdin,” for kids ages 8 to 11, runs June 12 to 30. The classes focus on developing characters, learning how to build sets and costumes and preparing for a student showcase.

For kids ages 12 to 18, the Music Theatre Workshop (MTW) runs July 10 to 28. MTW is an intensive, three-week program in acting, singing and movement focusing on the repertoire of classic and contemporary music theater. Auditions are required to participate in both programs. OSHKids auditions will be held in May and MTW auditions will be held in June.

Over at Gamut Theatre Group, summer programs are offered for kids ages 6 to 16. The Gamut Summer Theatre Academy is for ages 8 to 16 and is an all-day, intensive four-week program in the study of theater, dance, voice, improvisation, stage combat and writing. The academy is offered in one-week sessions, with each week including a Friday night production. The program begins July 10 and ends Aug. 4. The Popcorn Hat Players Theatre Camp is for kids ages 6 to 12 and is a half-day program that runs Aug. 8 to 18. The goal of the camp is to enhance communication skills and develop self-confidence, imagination and creativity.

Education Essentials

At Gamut Theatre: In March, Gamut offers two weeks of educational shows to the public. The public performances of “Romeo and Juliet” are March 17 to 26, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. For tickets, visit www.gamuttheatre.org/tickets. Student matinees run from October through July. Schools interested in more information on the educational outreach performances should call the theater at 717-238-4111. Additional information is available at www.gamuttheatre.org/student-matinees.

Registration for both the Gamut Summer Theatre Academy and the Popcorn Hat Players Theatre Camp can be done online. For more information and to register for classes at Gamut, visit www.gamuttheatre.org/summercamps.

At Open Stage: “The Diary of Anne Frank” will be performed on March 12, for which a limited number of tickets are available. Tickets for the public performance are available at www.openstagehbg.com. Educators interested in bringing classes to see “The Diary of Anne Frank” should contact [email protected] for reservations for performances in 2018.

If your child is interested in either OSHKids Summer Camp or Music Theatre Workshop, call 717-214-3248 to schedule an audition appointment. For more information on classes at Open Stage of Harrisburg, visit www.openstagestudioschool.com.

Upcoming Theater Events At Harrisburg’s Professional Downtown Theaters

At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org

The Popcorn Hat Players Present “The Snow Queen”
March 8 to 25
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. available by request for groups of 20 or more.

“Romeo and Juliet”

March 17 to 26
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Doors and bar open one hour prior to the performance.
Tickets are $30 on Fridays and Saturdays.
“Bring Your Own Price” on Sundays, where any size donation buys your admission.

“Improvapalooza 2017”

March 31
Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15

At Open Stage of Harrisburg
www.openstagehbg.com

Studio Workshop at Open Stage
Free evenings of 1-act plays
March 8 & 9 at 7:30 p.m.
No reservations required

“Sundae Best Variety Show”
At Open Stage
March 11 & 12 at 7:30 p.m.

“The Diary of Anne Frank”
Sunday, March 12 at 2 p.m.
Open Stage’s 18th annual production
At Whitaker Center

“Uncanny Valley”
A new play about artificial intelligence by Thomas Gibbons
April 7 to May 7

Author: Laura Dugan

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