Full-Contact Camaraderie: Touchdowns, first downs and friendship for the Keystone Assault

December 30, 2016 | by Rachel Jenkins

A few years back, Rachel Fischer found herself in Dick’s Sporting Goods, on the hunt for a good pair of shoulder pads.

“They asked, ‘How tall is your son?’” said the seven-season quarterback and now coach of the Keystone Assault. “I said, ‘No, these are for me.’”

The Keystone Assault is a charter member of the Women’s Football Alliance, a full-contact league formed in 2009. In Pennsylvania, the league, which spans the nation, includes teams in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, in addition to the Harrisburg-based Assault.

In the United States, women’s football actually dates all the way back to World War I, and, for most of its history, has had to work to break gender norms. More recently, they’ve had to battle the assumption that women’s football is not a serious sport.

“People ask, ‘Oh, you play football? Lingerie football?’” said Sheaffer. “No, no. Full pads.”

Over the years, the Assault has worked to build a team of athletic, dedicated women who are not afraid of a little turf burn. They’re now facing one of the toughest challenges in their history—player recruitment.

“We’re working to build the team bigger and get back to the numbers,” said Bill Green, director of operations and assistant general manager.

Compared to its more densely populated counterparts, the Keystone Assault is limited geographically in its search for new members.

“The Pittsburgh Passion has 60 or 70 players,” Green said. “Philly has a large number of players, as well, and we’re just stuck in the middle.”

The team’s numbers have fluctuated season to season, peaking during its 2015 winning streak. In that year, the Assault hit a roster high, ending the season 8-0 and earning the title of Women’s Spring Football League Champions.

“We had a lot of vets [in 2015],” said Fischer. “That’s why we had low numbers this year and last year, because everyone retired once they got their [championship] ring.”

It took many years of building up the team to reach that point.

“We played for seven seasons together and finally everything came together,” she said.

The Keystone Assault is now looking for new members before its official, eight-game season starts in April.

Beginning as young as 17 with parental consent, women of every age, walk of life and background can join. You’re then encouraged to play “until you stop running,” according to five-year member Emily Sheaffer.

To help with recruiting, the Assault has gotten the word out through marketing, social media, word of mouth and special events, such as working with bars in Harrisburg and Highspire. Fundraising, which helps offset the team’s expenses, is another constant challenge.

“We’re doing raffles, setting up a booth to get our name out there, sell T-shirts,” said Sheaffer.

The team is also talking with a few nonprofits to try to gain sponsorships.

“Coming up with sponsorships for our dues is one of the biggest challenges,” said Fischer.

“I played seven seasons and didn’t have to pay a dime out of pocket because of sponsorships. But they’re hard to find.”

Membership dues for each season are $350 per person. That’s no small change for the women who must pay to play.

“When you hear you have to pay $350, that’s a lot for some people just to come play football,” said Fischer. “That’s one of the biggest problems we have.”

Becoming a player, though, comes with rewards far greater than making a good block or tackle. The team also promotes a sense of camaraderie and even family to those who join.

“It’s definitely supportive,” said Sheaffer. “I’ve never had anyone, besides my parents who worry about me, disagree with my decision.”

With the season gearing up in the next few months, the Keystone Assault is looking for a fresh start with some new talent to kick off the year.

“We’re starting over from scratch and building on that,” said Green. “You don’t have to have football experience. That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to train you.”

To learn more about the Keystone Assault, including how to join the team, visit www.keystoneassault.net.

Author: Rachel Jenkins

Urban Draw: An eclectic crew of doodlers gathers once a month to sketch our city

December 30, 2016 | by Kari Larsen

Those who live, work or play in Harrisburg encounter the city daily, but probably only see the same few scenes: your commute, your neighbors, maybe your favorite coffee shop. A group of artists meets monthly to see Harrisburg from different perspectives—and then put that vision to paper.

Harrisburg Sketchers gathers every third weekend in a new location with the simple mission of sketching what they see. Founders Ben Cohen and Brian Zeiders started the group in 2012 after learning about Seattle’s Urban Sketchers movement, which started in 2007. Both sketchers, they liked the idea of illustrating city scenes on location in a way that embraces the person’s style. So, they decided to bring the concept to Harrisburg.

Other than a rogue trip to Metropolis Collective in Mechanicsburg, the group meets at Harrisburg locations such as the Broad Street Market, the Market Street Bridge, the Capitol steps or Federal Taphouse. Depending on the weather, the sketchers meet indoors or outdoors.

“It’s best when there’s a lot of activity around you,” Cohen said. “It gives you more subjects for your drawing.”

One of the biggest things Zeiders has taken from the group is the opportunity to meet people.

“Since we’re always drawing in an open location, people might come up to us and ask us, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ They might say, ‘I can’t draw a straight line,’” he said.

Zeiders and Cohen encourage those people to pause and ask themselves why they’d pass up the opportunity to relax and have fun.

“It’s not about making a finished, great piece of something,” Zeiders said. “It’s about taking a moment to tell yourself, ‘You can do this.’”

Prospective members should know the three tenets of the group. There are no rules. There’s no criteria to get involved. And they encourage and love new members.

“People say, ‘No, I’m not an artist,’” Cohen said.

“And we’re like, ‘Good.’” Zeiders said. “That’s not what this is about.”

The group doesn’t judge the quality of attendees’ work. A Harrisburg Sketchers meeting is about enjoying making art in the city. The group values having a diverse crew of sketchers to capture many perspectives of the same location.

“Meetings are the best when there’s a good mix of people, conversation, production of sketches and activity,” Cohen said. “I think it’s about this mix of elements that must include sketching, but also includes a lot of social things, as well. That makes it special.”

“All kinds of styles come out in the different people that show up,” Zeiders said.

Zeiders tends to narrow in on figures and people to sketch. Cohen takes a wider angle and attempts to capture the whole environment.

People come and go from the group, but there are loyal members, including Matthew Hockenberry, who became interested in the urban sketching movement when the Harrisburg Sketchers formed in 2012.

“I remember really liking a session in front of the Capitol building,” Hockenberry said. “I think the thing that keeps me returning to group outings is the conversation. We often talk about current events, both local and regional, as well as pop culture and art.”

The Harrisburg Sketchers group has many ideas for the future. Five years in, the Sketchers have not remotely exhausted Harrisburg’s wealth of distinctive architecture. The group yearns to capture the city from the top of a parking garage, for instance. And it has yet to sketch inside the state Capitol.

Zeiders and Cohen would like to create a show bringing together sketches from the group’s excursions.

“We have enough work from over the years from different sketchers to show Harrisburg from our perspective,” said Cohen.

Chief among their future goals—bringing in more members.

“We want people to know we’re not some closed-off group,” said Zeiders. “We want people. We want all the people.”

For more information about Harrisburg Sketchers, visit their Facebook page. Also, find them on Twitter @HBGSketcher or Instagram @hbg_sketchers. They meet every third weekend of the month.

Author: Kari Larsen

Baby Steps to Fitness: New moms take to the barre (baby required)

December 30, 2016 | by Rachael Dymski

Everyone says that becoming a parent changes everything. In October, I became a mom for the first time and found out that everyone was right.

While I adore this baby and this new phase of life, I’ve quickly realized how difficult it is for new moms to keep up the activities of their pre-baby lives with an infant—specifically, working out.

Tori Levine, founder of Babies at the Barre, felt the same way.

When Levine gave birth to her son in 2015, she experienced the overwhelming feeling common to new mothers—her time was no longer her own. In her pre-baby life, she was a pilates and barre instructor. She wanted to resume work and to get back into shape, but she didn’t want to leave her son with a babysitter to go to work.

“Working moms often don’t want to leave their babies for a moment longer than they have to,” Levine said. “I wanted to provide an option for them to get a good work out and bond with their baby.”

Levine decided to carry her baby while she taught classes. As people asked her about it, she realized there was an interest in this type of exercise—that other moms wanted to resume working out, but didn’t want to leave their babies at home to do so.

“I started teaching baby-wearing classes to other new moms,” said Levine, who holds classes at five locations in the Harrisburg area. “We also focused on how to get back in shape safely and effectively. Many gyms offer boot camp for new moms. I just don’t think that’s the best or safest way to get back in shape.”

Levine’s classes evolved and grew to meet the needs of new moms, and after a few months, Babies at the Barre was established.

Babies at the Barre provides a way for mothers to work out with their baby—literally. Moms wear their babies in carriers or use them as weights while doing all the activities of a Barre class—squatting, lifting and stretching. I decided to take my 8-week-old along to a class to learn what it was about.

We spent the majority of class wearing our babies in carriers. Part of Levine’s motives in starting Babies at the Barre was to provide emotional support and community for new moms, so we began the class by chatting.

“I like for moms to be able to share what they’re going through—what went well this week, what didn’t go well, how they are connecting with their babies,” she said.

After warming up and sharing, we began our workout. Levine likes to focus on small, executed movements to help women recover and strengthen the muscles that are weak after giving birth.

“So many gyms just focus on getting your body back,” said Levine. “You will get your body back, but it’s also about learning correct posture and strengthening weak muscles. It’s about helping your body recover.”

Levine’s classes are about an hour in length. I found them to be movement-focused, and my baby slept happily in the Ergobaby carrier the whole way through. It was a great way to work out, meet other moms, and do something fun with my baby.

For mothers who can’t get to the gym or who live out of town, Levine also offers online classes. Classes are given live and still offer participants the opportunity to meet and connect with other moms.

By the end of the hour, I learned that Levine’s Babies at the Barre classes offer much more than a way to burn calories. They are about restoring your body while connecting with your baby, and they offer a way to meet other moms. I left with a great workout under my belt, and, maybe most importantly, a chance to talk with other new moms in the same stage of life. There is tremendous power and solidarity in being able to say, “Me too!” Levine’s class provided a place to do that over plié squats.

Tori Levine teaches Babies at the Barre classes at five locations in the Harrisburg area. For information about classes, pricing and schedules, visit www.babiesatthebarre.com or email [email protected]. Other instructors teach classes in the Carlisle, York and Lancaster areas.

Author: Rachael Dymski

Reality Reprieve: SPAtacular Escapes offers a break from the outside world (at least for an hour or two)

December 30, 2016 | by Courtney Gontz

Imagine yourself in a plush robe enjoying a glass of wine or cup of coffee by the fireplace.

Relaxing music plays in the background, and a soothing light show dances across the ceiling. Quiet, calm and serene. Your masseuse greets and whisks away to enjoy a piece of Africa, a lovely wine room or perhaps a step back into medieval times.

SPAtacular Escapes, located outside Mechanicsburg, is a family-owned spa and wellness center with a mission to offer high-quality service using all organic, natural and chemical-free products, said salon manager Chelsie Clark.

Upon entering the spa, you feel like you’re walking through a streetscape—each wall is a different color to give the illusion of strolling by different buildings. The five massage rooms each feature a different theme. If you’ve never had a massage before, Clark and her mother, Shelly Wendeln, recommend spending some time in the sauna outside the locker rooms to help warm up the tissue. This will allow you to make the most of your massage time, Wendeln said.

A sitting room is located just outside the locker rooms so clients don’t have to walk around the entire spa in their robes. The room features a beautiful fireplace, cushioned chairs and an array of drinks to enjoy. Whether you’re waiting for your massage, or simply want to enjoy the experience longer, you may find it hard to leave.

Wendeln, president and CEO of SPAtacular, put great thought into the design and layout of the salon. From skylights, beautiful archways and the Mediterranean-style exterior, your mind may trick you into believing you’ve suddenly sailed off to Italy or Greece.

“I wanted clients to get a feeling of stepping back into time when things were slower paced, as well as getting a feeling of being transported to another place,” Wendeln said.

The hair salon is designed with the stylists and clients in mind. The lights simulate natural lighting so there are no surprises when you walk outside after getting a color treatment, Wendeln said. Each station also has its own trico-anazlyzer tool, which is a small microscope stylists use to get down to the root of clients’ hair. The scope is placed on the scalp, and an image appears on the screen, which helps a stylist determine why a client may be losing hair, why it’s oily, etc. From there, the stylist is able to prescribe a treatment specific to the client, Clark said.

It’s important, when a stylist recommends certain products, that clients do their best to listen. While shampoos in local stores may be cheaper, the products often are expired and don’t actually do what the labels promise, she said. Buying from salons is the best way to ensure you’re getting what’s best for your hair, she added.

“While you might be paying a bit more for the products up front, you end up saving a lot more money in the long run,” Clark said. “It’s not me making money or boosting the sale. It’s to help clients see results.”

SPAtacular’s prices are comparable for the area with manicures starting at $20 and relaxation massages $75 for 60 minutes.

“We didn’t want to be a salon that people could only afford to come to once a year,” Clark said. “We want our clients to be able to come back and not break the bank.”
SPAtacular Escapes is located at 200 Technology Dr., Mechanicsburg. For more information, call 717-791-7723 or visit www.spatacularescapes.com or their Facebook page.

Author: Courtney Gontz

Musical Resolutions: It’s the time of year to try something new

December 30, 2016 | by Kait Gibboney

Mountain Road. Photograph by Wendy Adams.

Ah, January.

A time of new beginnings. A time to redefine and expand ourselves in the new year. A time for something fresh. Maybe a change in your weekend routine. Try going to a venue you haven’t gone to yet. Try listening to a band you haven’t heard yet. Better yet, try listening to a new genre of music. Well, that’s the resolution I present to you, lovely readers. Are you up for the challenge? Here are some great acts to diversify your sound and get the year rolling.

MOUNTAIN ROAD CD RELEASE PARTY, 1/7, 8PM, ABBEY BAR, $8

If you need more country music in your life, this band may be for you. Specializing in what they call “the perfect blend of current meets classic,” this southern rock band is returning to its roots in Harrisburg. Mountain Road’s four members have toured locally, regionally and nationally, playing their collection of traditional and contemporary country music. Their recognizable sound will be sure to draw newcomers in. Also, Kevin Cole, the lead singer, advanced two rounds on “The Voice.” If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is.

WEDNESDAY 13 & BOURBON CROW, 1/19, 8PM, H*MAC STAGE ON HERR, $10

This act is for people looking to discover two genres at the same time, so get ready. Wednesday 13 is known as a well-established metal band that features some ghoulish theatrics. However, this show will be a little different. Instead of their regular routine, Wednesday 13 has decided to strip down to an acoustic guitar and adjust their vocals for a different feel. This is part of their “Winter 2017 Acoustic” tour, and the act will feature a Q&A with fans. So, if there’s anything you want to know about playing in a metal band, now’s your time to ask.

FIERCE & LOVERS OF MUSIC (HALFWAY TO PRIDE), 1/28, 7PM, H*MAC STAGE ON HERR, $10

I don’t know about you, but I’m always in need of more strong women in my music selection. From Harrisburg, Lovers of Music features female lead and backup vocals, and Fierce is an all-girl band from Lancaster. Lovers of Music identify as a blend of R&B, jazz and funk, while Fierce is a rock-pop combo. Both acts invite you to feel the music and have a heartfelt time. They’ll come together for the “Halfway to Pride” event, sponsored by the Pride Festival of Central PA. Food and drink specials will be going on, and a drag show is also scheduled for the night. When’s the last time you’ve been to a drag show? Everyone should experience at least one.

Mentionables: Clark’s Secret Identity, Jan. 13, River City Blues Club; Jo Dee Messina, Jan. 20, The Forum; Don Johnson Project, Jan. 21, River City Blues Club; The Highballers, Jan. 21, H*MAC; SPIEL-BURG’s Saturday Solution: First Dose, Jan. 21, J.B. Lovedraft’s Micropub; Anthony Haubert (show tunes), Jan. 22, Carley’s Ristorante & Piano Bar.

Author: Kait Gibboney

Follow the leader: Parents join in pre-K play at Whitaker Center’s Little Learners program

December 30, 2016 | by Gina Napoli

About 20 preschool-age kids seated on carpet squares cheer “yes” or “no” to questions about the day’s theme—bats. Some kids follow along as educators Cynthia Hitz and Melody Graeff introduce big, batty words like “echolocation,” “nocturnal” and “pollinate.”

Some kids itch to scoot away from the carpet square to play. And that’s OK.

The Little Learners program, a two-hour session every Wednesday until March, allows children and their accompanying adults to follow, well, their inner child. For two hours every Wednesday until March, Hitz and Graeff design structured and unstructured play at the Harsco Science Center’s KidsPlace.

“We’re flexible with our Little Learners,” Hitz said. “It’s child-centered and open concept.”

Lead the Way

To start the playdate, kids choose from play stations inside KidsPlace: a grocery store, theater stage, ambulance, construction building site and a vinyl-cushioned obstacle course. The gated-off area is designed for kids under 5 so that they can safely explore and lead their parents around.

The kids run from station to station, seeking out their parents and grandparents from time to time. They find musical instruments and educational toy sets scattered among the stations. Plastic balls fly over the vinyl obstacle course. They build towers with foam building blocks at the construction site.

“We don’t have these things at home to play with. It’s not a regular playdate,” said Kelly Kirsch, who started attending with her three children last year. “We like the different activity stations, the themes, the social interaction and the learning aspect.”

Hitz encourages adults to let the children lead the way.

“Kids already know what they want,” she said. “By adults being the followers, it helps kids work on their planning skills.”

Preschoolers’ communication—whether it’s audible “oohs” and “ahs” or pointing and walking toward what they want—is their way of planning and following through. They might even think about who they want to play with.

“They are capable, highly intelligent and learning to express themselves,” Graeff said. “They are sorting out that process in their own minds.”

Jen Holtry and her three kids keep returning to the program.

“I like the interaction with the other kids,” she said. “Whitaker has a nice, fun environment for learning.”

Graeff and Hitz started singing, “Shake, shake, shake our sillies out,” to transition the group into the day’s lesson. After the kids wiggled their waggled away, they planted themselves on carpet squares, and the educators dove into the day’s lesson.

Miss Them

The program’s content had a little something for everyone.

Teachers led an interactive discussion with kids about the bat theme. The adults left the lesson with some exotic bat facts. We learned about a bat whose wingspan can reach 6 feet. (Relax. It’s native to Australia.).

The kids sat still for as long as someone under 5 can.

Then the teachers unleashed the kids on sense-stimulating, bat-themed learning stations. A playdate overload of bat activities flapped through KidsPlace. Kids paged through books and examined fossil skeletons. They listened to a bat’s squeaking sounds and a narrative lecture.

Adults helped set up projector slides (remember those?) with bat photos. Kids transformed into bats by trying on felt bat wings. They then created a batty craft with paste, cotton swabs, construction paper and toilet paper tubes. Not much else has the ability to transport a sensible adult straight back to childhood.

The theme changes every week. In November, there was such a thing as “National Eat Cranberry Day.” Last month, kids learned about how animals adapt to winter. The educators draw inspiration from science, art or community events. For the wildlife and bird themes, Hanover’s live eagle camera mesmerizes kids while adding a community connection.

One noted downside exists—attachment.

“We develop relationships with the children and their parents,” Graeff said. “We miss them when they grow up.”

Whitaker Center’s Harsco Science Center is located at 222 Market St., Harrisburg. For more information about Little Learners, visit www.whitakercenter.org/little-learners.

Author: Gina Napoli

In the Moment: Just Plain Yoga promises focus, flexibility, with nothing added.

December 30, 2016 | by Susan Ryder

Photo by Wanda June Koch Photography

Tina Stroh mentions something she calls “the disease of speed.”

That’s what yoga is supposed to vaccinate against, she said.

“Yoga is a tool I can use to remind myself of what’s really important,” said the owner of Just Plain Yoga in Camp Hill.

The benefits are both physical and mental, she said.

Yoga stretches muscles, increases flexibility, assists balance, opens pathways in the nervous system and gives energy. And it makes us feel better.

“We rarely allow our feelings, physical and emotional, to percolate,” she said. “As you settle in, it gives you time to digest, and not just your supper.”

Stroh has taught yoga for more than 20 years and has practiced since the age of 16, when someone in her high school sociology class suggested she try it.

She continued to practice through her college years, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in international studies and theater. She never considered teaching, but said she was “shamed” into it when her alumni newsletter inaccurately described her as a yoga teacher.

I’ve always been intrigued by yoga but intimidated, as well. Yoga never seemed attainable for me because I’m about as flexible as an oak tree. Nonetheless, after accomplishing all the necessary tasks on one particular day, I headed to my very first class.

The smell of coffee and vanilla welcomed me, wafting in from the One Good Woman shop next door. After I entered, the receptionist greeted me with a hushed hello. I found myself whispering back. The studio has a noticeable air of quiet and calm. Since I’m normally chatty, loud and bit hyper, I found this to be a stretch. One I needed.

The class was “Basic Hatha.” Hatha, the most commonly practiced type of yoga in the United States, involves postures (asana), breathing (pranayama) and meditation. Stroh described it as moving from concentrating on the physical body, finding where the body is strong or tight, to the more subtle and emotional, calming the mind.

Instructor Carrie Fleming began with a brief meditation, then we commenced to breathing exercises. With instrumental music playing in the dimly lit room, Fleming instructed us, in her tranquil, NPR-style radio voice, to begin stretching our wrists and arms.

I was surprised at how quickly I released my own thoughts (“I hope I’m not late for the concert”; “I need to go grocery shopping”) and focused only on breathing, moving and stretching.

It was clear to me then, why Jane Zicarelli-Knaub found so much benefit from the practice, while caring for her father who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

“Both my horses and yoga were therapy to get me through,” said Zicarelli-Knaub, who has practiced yoga for 17 years and takes classes at the studio. “Just Plain Yoga is unique in that Tina has brought together different styles that can reach any person, beginner or excelled.”

Poses began with “the warrior,” which is rather like standing on an imaginary surf board, arms out for balance. Not a challenging pose, but one that must be done with purpose and mindfulness.

I then attempted “the pigeon” pose, which involved standing on one leg with the opposite foot resting as high up on the leg as possible. This challenged my balance even with my foot close to the floor, but Fleming said that we could use the wall for stability if necessary. I took her up on that.

Not all classes at Just Plain Yoga are as subdued as the one I attended. Ben Dunlap, partner at Nauman Smith, a Harrisburg law firm, prefers the more physical, athletic ashtanga vinyasa.

“Yoga has helped me stay calmer, more even-keeled and more resilient,” he said.

Through breathing techniques, he has solved a problem many people face—waking up in the middle of the night with a whirlwind of thoughts. Yoga allowed him to fall back asleep quickly. It has changed him physically, as well, greatly increasing his flexibility. Like Zicarelli-Knaub, he began the practice to help cope with a life event— his sister’s cancer diagnosis.

Yet another opportunity is the “Yoga for Any Body Class.”

“This class was developed for people who have a larger body or injuries,” Stroh said.

Many different types of classes are available because Stroh said she opened Just Plain Yoga to serve the community at large and not just a niche market.

Ending the class, we gently stretched and relaxed, at one point belly down on the mat. Sleep seemed possible. As I exited the building and proceeded to the concert, I realized that the same stresses existed after the class as before. But I held those stresses differently, with less anxiety and sense of rush. Tasks felt more doable. Perhaps yoga is just plain good for you.

Just Plain Yoga is located at 1845 Market St., Camp Hill. For more information, call 717-975-9642 or visit www.justplainyoga.com or the Facebook page.

Author: Susan Ryder

Flat “Lion”: Film is a tearjerker, but lacks depth

December 30, 2016 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Films that are based on true stories tend to go one of two ways. Either they stray from reality and people object, or they adhere to the original story, and the result is less-than-cinematic. Garth Davis’ recent film, “Lion,” leans toward the latter.

Saroo (Sunny Pawar) is a young boy living in Khandwa, India, with his mother (Priyanka Bose), his brother, Guddu (Abhishek Bharate) and sister, Shekila (Khushi Solanki). Usually tagging along with his brother while their mother moves rocks for a living, Saroo insists on going with Guddu to look for night work to make some extra money for the family. But Saroo is too young to pull an all-nighter and quickly tires, prompting Guddu to leave him sleeping on a bench at the train station until he finishes work. But Guddu never returns and, upon searching for him, Saroo accidentally boards a train that starts moving and doesn’t stop for a long time.

Saroo wanders for months, not knowing the language—he speaks Hindi, but the area he finds himself in is mostly Bengali-speaking. He escapes some pretty harrowing situations and ends up in an orphanage, where an Australian couple (David Wenham and Nicole Kidman) find and adopt him. Twenty years pass before Saroo decides to track his family down, and it becomes his obsession. He uses Google Maps to search the Indian landscape for familiar roads and landmarks along the train route and begins to ignore his family and girlfriend, Lucy (Rooney Mara).

Emotionally, the film packs a punch—the very idea of a lost son looking for his mother will bring some to tears—but, structurally, it feels a little flat. First, while the beginning of the film is certainly engaging, it seems to take a while to get to the promised premise. Saroo gets adopted about halfway through the movie, and his final search only takes about half an hour onscreen. This shifts the focus of the narrative slightly, though, at least, the theme is still prevalent. Whether it’s before he gets taken to the orphanage, or after he’s lived with new parents for 20 years, the majority of the film is about Saroo’s search for his family.

However, this brings up the second way that the film lacks depth. For someone so obsessed with finding his family at the end of the film, he must have thought very little of them for the 20 years in between. One scene has Saroo claiming to have been haunted by his brother’s calls every day of his life, but his lack of consistency before the moment of revelation almost discredits this idea. Perhaps, in real life, there was some sort of gradual process that brought him to search on Google Earth, but here, it seems a bit abrupt and contrived. Additionally, the whole of his relationship with Lucy seems frail when it is indicated that their entire relationship was shadowed by his obsession with finding his parents.

Regardless of the inconsistencies, “Lion” is a story laden with emotion, and those loving tearjerkers should flock to see it. Patel gives a dazzlingly rich performance, as does Pawar. For that first hour, your heart will be stolen. Kidman and Rooney add life to the cast, as do several of the other supporting players, including Bose as Saroo’s birth mother.

This one-dimensional tearjerker is still a decent use of two hours. “Lion” opens at Midtown Cinema on Jan. 6.

MIDTOWN CINEMA UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

OSCAR WINNER SERIES

“Casablanca” (1942), Saturday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m.

“Rocky” (1976), Friday, Jan. 20, 9:30 p.m. ($3 for 3rd in the Burg)

“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1981), Saturday, Jan. 21, noon and 7 p.m.

“West Side Story” (1961), Saturday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m.

DOWN IN FRONT!

Comedy improv riffs on “The Terror” (1963), Friday, Jan.13, 9:30 p.m.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE PRESENTS

“No Man’s Land”, Sunday, Jan. 15, 6 p.m.

DANCE ON SCREEN PRESENTS

“Swan Lake”, Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. presented in partnership with Central PA Youth Ballet

MIDTOWN CINEMA OSCAR PARTY

Feb. 26. Tickets on sale now.

Author: Sammi Leigh Melville

From Slavery to . . . What? With freedom comes uncertainty in Theatre Harrisburg’s “The Whipping Man”

December 30, 2016 | by Lori M. Myers

Theater has, and always will be about, taking risks, pushing boundaries, making audiences think.

The American musical has, as of late, taken chances. But dramatic plays, the really good ones, do it one better. Such is the case with Theatre Harrisburg’s next offering titled “The Whipping Man.”

Not familiar with it? You should be.

The premise is a surprising one—part fiction, part based on truth.

“The Whipping Man” goes back to when the Civil War in America just ended. It is Passover, the Jewish holiday that commemorates the Biblical story of the Exodus and the freeing of the Israelites from slavery. In the play, Caleb, a wounded Confederate officer, has returned from the war to find his family missing but two former slaves remaining, slaves who had adopted their owners’ Jewish religion and customs. The slaves, Simon and John, are forced to care for Caleb as they wait for the family to return.

“We all know that there was a Civil War that tore this country apart,” said David Olmstead, director of the Theatre Harrisburg production. “We know that the slaves were freed. And suddenly the way of life that everyone knew has vanished.”

And then the big question, Olmstead added: “What do you do when you get the thing you most desired?”

That “thing” was the men’s newfound freedom. Olmstead says there was no rulebook or guide to direct those slaves. In “The Whipping Man,” the only thing all three men have in common is their Jewish faith.

“The playwright has done a beautiful job of weaving together the story of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and the exodus of the former Southern slaves to freedom as they celebrate Passover for the first time as free men,” Olmstead said. “There are many ‘Oh, my gosh’ moments as each character frees secrets that have long been enslaved in their own hearts and minds.”

Three veteran local actors, David Payne, Jeremy Patterson and Bill McCarthy, perform the roles and, like their counterparts, Patterson and McCarthy have been real-life friends since boyhood.

“Every day with these guys is an inspiration as we make new discoveries about not just this play and characters, but also about ourselves,” Olmstead said. “We shared stories and bonded over whiskey and hardtack (a simple type of biscuit used for sustenance during military campaigns and during the Civil War). I’ve never had a cast so excited about research as I continually receive emails and text messages alerting to new discoveries they make or suggested films to view.”

Brett Bernardini, who took the theater’s helm as executive and artistic director last year, heard about “The Whipping Man” while he was working in New York. Many of his theater colleagues raved about it, but Bernardini was focused on staging new musicals at the time so wasn’t paying attention. Once he arrived in Harrisburg, he reached out to those colleagues, gave them his criteria for the season and asked for input. Again and again, the play, “The Whipping Man,” came up.

“After reading it several times in the same evening, I realized that this show had to be part of my first season at Theatre Harrisburg,” he said.

Bernardini feels that the playwright, Matthew Lopez, a Hispanic, gay, 30-something, can relate to the play’s themes of oppression and discrimination, even though the timeframe and the characters may be far removed from his own experiences.

“He doesn’t need these truths to be able to write a powerful and deeply moving play,” Bernardini added. “His ability to create dimensional characters, place them in a vivid and historical time period and then remove himself so that the characters can exist and interact is at the heart of playwrighting.”

“The Whipping Man” had its world premiere in 2006 and, since then, has played on stages from New York to California.

The play takes place during Passover, and, as is tradition, the youngest person at the seder table asks, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” Audiences will find out why when they go see “The Whipping Man” at Theatre Harrisburg.

“The story of this play is both inspiring and heartbreaking,” Olmstead said. “You’ll share in their misery and rejoice in their liberation. And you’ll realize that we’ve come so far and still have a long way to go.”

“The Whipping Man” takes place Jan. 12 to 22 at Theatre Harrisburg’s Jay and Nancy Krevsky Production Center, 513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-232-5501 or visit www.theatreharrisburg.com.

Author: Lori M. Myers

Breakout the Beer: Escape room and biergarten combine forces in Hershey.

December 30, 2016 | by Carissa Bannister Kauwell

What do puzzles and beer have in common? The question seems like a riddle itself, but the answer is actually quite simple.

Late last year, Mary and Dimitri Papadimitriou opened Escape Room Hershey and Hershey Biergarten, two very fun (if different) things housed under one roof.

“We are excited that we have a unique venue where customers can pair both or enjoy either independently, depending on their preference,” explained Dimitri.

The two new businesses are located on Chocolate Avenue, taking over the building where Bricker’s Pizza had operated. And, while they may seem quite distinct, there is a common thread, according to the couple, who also run Escape Room Lancaster.

“At our location in Lancaster, people frequently requested to pair the escape room with a dining option so that they could debrief and discuss their experience,” said Dimitri. “When our current space in Hershey became available, we saw the benefits of having the two connected.”

So, everyone knows about beer, right? But what about the escape room part?

An escape room is a relatively new, interactive adventure game spreading across the country. Players are locked in a room and use clues to figure out a series of puzzles to “escape” before an hour expires. In Hershey, players have a choice of games, including “The Wacky Candy Factory,” “Mystery in the Theater” and “Wizard’s Laboratory.” Mary designed the rooms, and all three are different from the Lancaster location.

Since the two businesses are connected, the couple decided to put an open wall between them. So, visitors can look across and see what is happening in the other room—kind of like free advertising. It’s also a great way to expand the space while catching the eye.

On the restaurant side of the wall, Hershey Biergarten’s interior offers patrons an open, inviting space with high ceilings and an industrial look. Dimitri made the wood finish, which creates a warm, comfortable feeling, and white lights strung from the ceiling soften up the room. Even the menus are made of wood—a nice touch, I thought.

One side of the restaurant is lined with a cooler filled with 150 varieties of bottled beer. Customers can also buy six-packs (mix and match as well) to go. Local craft beer drafts are the specialty at Hershey Biergarten. Being a dark beer fan, I tried a peanut butter chocolate stout called Big Gruesome from Lancaster-based Spring House Brewing Co. Delicious.

According to Dimitri, the biergarten has 12 rotating craft brews on tap and will always have selections from our area’s rapidly growing beer scene.

“We wanted to support other local businesses, so we want to have a significant selection of local breweries available at our location,” he said. “However, we also know that many beer enthusiasts want the opportunity to try new options. Our goal is to have a mix of local and unique domestic options to appeal to everyone.”

While the couple has small business experience, this is their first restaurant. However, they’re not worried. Dimitri said he knows customer service is the most important thing when it comes to running a business.

“Plus,” he said, “Greeks know food!”

In addition, they hired Chef Jerimy Simms to head up the kitchen. He offers seasonal items such as prosciutto and pesto panini, which is one of the most popular menu items since opening in November.

I decided to try a flatbread pizza—the traditional margherita. It was served on a beautiful wooden cutting board and was cooked perfectly. The fresh mozzarella melted nice and gooey on top of the crust, which was a bit soft inside and just crispy enough on the outside. The Roma tomatoes, along with roasted garlic oil and fresh basil, made a delicious balance. Panini, tacos and salads, as well as small bites like charcuterie, Bavarian soft pretzels and short rib sliders, add variety to the menu.

The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and full of personality. Hershey Biergarten has a positive, upbeat atmosphere, which spills in from next door.

It turns out that Dimitri was right—the two unique businesses do seem to go well together. As I sat enjoying my pizza, I could see folks at another table drinking beer as they passionately recounted and reconstructed their escape room adventure. I laughed and thought, “Another mystery solved!”

Escape Room Hershey and Hershey Biergarten are located at 253 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey. For more information, visit www.escaperoomhershey.com and www.hersheybiergarten.com.

Author: Carissa Bannister Kauwell

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