Fighting Racism: Community stands together – strategically – to oppose white supremacist rally.

November 4, 2016 | by Danielle Roth

What do you do in the face of bigotry?

Tomorrow, the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement group has a permit to rally on the state Capitol steps, and protestors are expected to gather nearby.

But Ann Van Dyke has another answer. She has helped organize a “Speak Up for Unity” program, held not in the vicinity of the Capitol, but at Harrisburg High School.

Van Dyke, chair of the Rapid Response Team at the Community Responders Network, said that attending the white supremacist rally to protest would play into the hands of the white supremacists.

“These groups are very good at inciting violence without creating violence” said Van Dyke, who has more than 20 years of experience working against hate speech. “Police will have to protect the group who has the permit to protest.”

Saturday’s event, moderated by City Council member Shamaine Daniels and Capital Area School of the Arts student Nick Byrd, will include drum performances, rappers and singers. Speakers representing many faith groups will give words of peace and love.

The Community Responders Network, Christian Churches of the Tri-County Area, Mayor’s Interfaith Advisory Council and the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg sponsor this event.

The event will give children the precedent that love conquers hate, organizers said.

“Our young people will be setting an example this Saturday,” said City Council Member Cornelius Johnson. “While others choose to speak out against diversity, we choose to embrace it.”

If you go:
Saturday, Nov. 5
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Harrisburg High School
2451 Market St., Harrisburg

For more information, visit www.speakupforunity.org or the Facebook event.

Author: Danielle Roth

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

November 3, 2016 | by Sara Bozich

This will be a relatively low-key weekend for me. No plans tonight or tomorrow (though who knows?).

On Saturday, I’ll do my usual weekend trip to the gym and the market, but by afternoon we’re State College-bound. I’m excited to finally visit Elk Creek Cafe & Ale Works and maybe something else ahead of the PSU-Iowa game.

Sunday is for Steelers football, but you already know that.

Meanwhile, while you’re relaxing, don’t forget to pick up your Holiday Pop-Up Party tickets! Early Bird pricing was extended through Monday, Nov. 7 only!

What are you doing this weekend?

Rather have this via email each week?

Don’t see your event listed? Post it in the comments below. Want to be featured in the future? Submit your events here.

Buddy the Elf and Santa will reunite for Nov. 19 Holiday Parade

November 1, 2016 | by Danielle Roth

Halloween may have just ended, but Harrisburg is well underway in preparing for this year’s Holiday Parade.

The parade will step off at noon on Nov. 19 from City Island and follow a two-mile route through downtown.

The parade, with the theme of “Making the Season Bright,” will include Harrisburg High School and Central Dauphin marching bands, floats, vintage and classic cars and helium balloons. The city expects 10,000 people to attend the free event.

City of Harrisburg officials and partners announced the 2016 Harrisburg Holiday parade today.

From left to right: Megan Roby, City Marketing and Events Manager; Devan Drabik, City Business Development Director; Santa; Buddy the Elf; Mayor Eric Papenfuse; Jeffrey Briel, Sigma Resources; and Shawn Baile, PSECU.

Attendees will be entertained by local celebrities and musical acts, including No Last Call, Harrisburg’s “hit and run” street band. Characters from Cinderella, the Nutcracker and Star Wars will make guest appearances.

“This will be one of the best Star Wars displays in the midstate,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said.

Nonprofit groups and community organizations can apply to participate in the parade. Applications need to be submitted by Nov. 4. Nonprofits and military units do not need to pay a fee to participate.

Parade-goers can take advantage of free parking sponsored by PSECU from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Market Street Garage. Attendees can use the code “LUVHBG” on the Pango App to get four hours of free street parking.

After the parade, festivities will continue in Strawberry Square, where children can visit Santa and his elf helpers. An awards reception at 3 p.m. will recognize the top step and drill teams, and high school marching bands will receive cash prizes.

The parade will cost $40,000 to produce, the amount split between the city and sponsors.

Author: Danielle Roth

Capitol Capital: To fight real and perceived corruption, we must strengthen our campaign fundraising rules.

October 31, 2016 | by Stan Rapp, Matt Steck, Clint Cullison and Ken Rapp

Last year, we authored an article discussing the conflict of political consultants as registered lobbyists in Pennsylvania—those providing services to the same lawmakers they seek to lobby.

Despite the mostly positive feedback, the legislative process in the commonwealth moves slowly on issues that impact the business of politics and so, a year later, no meaningful action has occurred on the legislation discussed or introduced on the topic. We remain hopeful that these issues will be a priority in the next legislative session.

As this year’s presidential election illustrates, the perception of government and elected officials amongst the public may be at its lowest point. Both federal and state elected officials collectively endure low ratings and remain the target of public criticism and dissatisfaction. Many elected officials are well intentioned and whole-heartedly committed to their constituents. However, the perceived arrogance and entitlement pervading Washington and Harrisburg alike reveal a woefully unbalanced system.

Perhaps now is the ideal time for serious introspection and constructive self-criticism. Society, admit it or not, comprises the haves and the have nots; those in power reside in the obvious. Arrogance and entitlement led to recent investigations and prosecutions against various members of the General Assembly, an attorney general and state treasurers. Conflicts of interest permeate government operations and the public largely ignores it.

On any given day when the Pennsylvania General Assembly is in voting session, Harrisburg is flooded with a small army of “suits” bustling about downtown. The business of political fundraising and the proximity of lawmakers to viable fundraising sources provide an exceptional casting opportunity to snag lobbyists, interest groups and each other in a quest to fund their political action committees (PACs) and, in some cases, their own elections. In Pennsylvania, this has become a “cost of doing business” in the lobbying community.

To be fair, getting elected is expensive and message delivery is vital. Full-color mailers, television and radio advertisements, door hangers, stickers, yard signs, billboards and the like are not cheap. To compete, many times a candidate will hire someone who knows how to best maximize available resources, a political consultant. Getting money for all this is no easy task either. It can be full-time work, so candidates better hire a fundraiser to help coordinate donors back in the district and in the target-rich environment of Harrisburg—full of lobbyists and special interests willing to help fill the coffers.

During the course of 2016, the General Assembly scheduled 65 House session days and 54 Senate session days, days when the 253 members traveled to Harrisburg to deliberate, subsequently act upon legislation and conduct the business that the citizens of Pennsylvania elected, and entrusted, them to do.

Nevertheless, fundraisers have become a regular part of session days in Harrisburg. Keep in mind: The legislature travels to Harrisburg to focus on the people’s business and not to raise monies for their own campaigns. Their time in the Capitol is funded by taxpayers in the interest of those taxpayers and the commonwealth. To equalize the travel for some lawmakers, per diems on top of salaries, and, in some cases, additional expenses, are allowed so lawmakers may address the plethora of challenging issues facing the state. The increasing perception in Harrisburg and Washington is that discussions of issues and policy are pushed aside for the business of fundraising, especially during election years.

One solution to prevent distractions during legislative session days would be to change the campaign finance laws to prohibit PAC events during those session days. Why, you might ask? Pretty simple, according to the Maryland Joint Legislative Committee on Ethics Advisory Commission from March 13, 1989:

“The purpose (of Section 13-235 of the Election Law Article) is to curtail corruption or the appearance of corruption by eliminating financial quid pro quo contributions in return for a vote on legislation during the regular session of the General Assembly.”

This proposal removes intimations of impropriety between legislative action and fundraising without an outright prohibition of fundraising in Harrisburg. Events currently held in legislative districts routinely draw many from Harrisburg and will continue to do so, muting the perceived financial impact on fundraising.

Second, focus on how monies are raised and how funds are reported. Demand stringent penalties for ethics violations and resources for the State Ethics Commission to investigate elected officials, lobbyists, fundraisers and political consultants. Enable the commission to enforce a strengthened law. Ignorance of the law is not the issue; beguiling and complacency in a broken system is.

Several pieces of legislation were proposed this session to address related ethical dilemmas, none specifically on the timing of fundraisers, mind you, and none saw the governor’s desk. Among the many challenges required to restore the image of government, the prohibition of fundraisers on session days lacks complication and addresses part of the perception of elected, governmental and political professionals. Will we see action on these proposals in the next session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly? Only time will tell.

The authors are partners and associates with Greenlee Partners, a community publisher of TheBurg.

Authors: Stan Rapp, Matt Steck, Clint Cullison and Ken Rapp

Price of Progress: With development come growing pains

October 31, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

A short while ago, after (another) grueling workout at Next Step Performance in Midtown Harrisburg, I tried to cross the street and—blammo—almost ended up as part of the pavement.

An SUV had turned west onto Herr Street, the second wrong-way driver on that road I had seen in about 10 minutes, both needing to throw it into reverse, say a prayer and back up into a busy 3rd Street. Five minutes later, as I drove home, another SUV almost hit me head-on driving the wrong way up Verbeke Street near the Broad Street Market.

Clearly, something was going on.

As it turned out, both HMAC and the Millworks had events that night, which had brought in folks who were not familiar with the neighborhood and its narrow, poorly marked one-way streets.

My reaction—terrific!

It wasn’t long ago that you could drive a tractor down 3rd Street after 5 o’clock and hit nothing but air and maybe a surprised squirrel. To me, the near misses were signs of progress, a quirky indication that this once desolate, forlorn commercial strip was coming back.

But I don’t think everyone feels this way.

Lately, I’ve heard long-time residents gripe about a lack of parking (especially of the free variety), confused motorists and plain-old congestion. Saturdays can be so busy in the heart of Midtown—cars, pedestrians, baby strollers, bikers, skateboarders—that it resembles one of those “shoot don’t shoot” tests that police trainees take.

I once wrote a column titled, “Harrisburg Needs People.” It told of my first long walk, a few years earlier, soon after my arrival here, through downtown and Midtown in the middle of a weekday afternoon. To my great dismay, I encountered almost no one on the streets, excepting a few guys trying to bum cigarettes off of me. Those days (thankfully) seem to be coming to a close.

In that column, I compared Harrisburg to my former home of Washington, D.C., where I watched entire blocks—then neighborhoods—transformed from blighted to bustling over a period of maybe 20 years. The process began slowly when some intrepid developer (typically a starry-eyed novice) took a huge risk, borrowing tons of money then throwing it into some forlorn old building in a tough location. When that project didn’t flop, someone else improved another nearby property—then another. Those buildings soon housed quirky little shops or the hottest new restaurants—proving demand—and a virtuous cycle began. The same thing now seems to be happening in parts of Harrisburg.

Everything, though, even progress, has a downside. In Washington, residents had to get used to two things, and I believe the same applies here. First, they had to deal with the small inconveniences brought by an improving city—harder parking, longer waits, lost visitors. In other words, what has become your average Saturday afternoon in Midtown Harrisburg.

Secondly, they had to get used to the rule of law. In Washington, a type of anarchy had long reigned in many parts of the city where you could park (or double-park) wherever you wanted, lazily stroll across the middle of a street, litter at will and neglect your rundown property without embarrassment or sanction. In a depressed, depopulated city, no one much objects because, well, everyone seems to do it (or not do it, as the case may be), and there are few, if any, consequences for breaking small rules.

When I arrived here, Harrisburg seemed like a haven for scofflaws. You could park downtown all day for free because the city didn’t enforce its own parking rules. State workers parked on almost any street in Midtown, all day long, for the same reason. Empty lots were virtual invitations to dump trash, and once grand, historic buildings had been crumbling for so long that everyone just ignored them.

When a city redevelops, though, the situation changes. Slowly, slowly, people come back. They want to see the places that had been hidden for so long beyond fences and behind boards, newly restored and open again. They want to visit for nice meal, a drink, a show. Small offices open, often occupied by young, creative companies looking for an urban location. Increasingly, people also want to live there.

In other words, a place recently desolate teems again with life. That, however, may create problems for people accustomed to the old ways. There are more rules to follow, and they’re enforced more rigorously. There are inconveniences. There are new ways of doing things. There are some new faces. There are growing pains.

All of these things happened in my old neighborhood in Washington. About 15 years ago, a guy who owned the long-defunct Capitol Hill Hospital wanted to turn his almost empty building into condos. Some neighbors objected, worried what would happen to their easy street parking. They actually went to court, delaying the project for so long that the owner went bankrupt. As a result, an entire city block sat unused—desolate and dangerous—to preserve the parking privileges of a handful of entitled residents. Ten more years would pass before that prime urban land was redeveloped.

Like D.C. of two decades ago, Harrisburg is starting to change, and that change is accelerating, as one project feeds another. For the most part, this is fantastic news. You can see parts of the city coming back, wakening from a very long slumber. Along with growth, though, come problems. Traffic is tougher, parking more difficult, lines longer. Sometimes, out-of-towners drive the wrong way up Verbeke Street. Progress has finally come, but not without a small cost.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

A Life in Style: Handbags, accessories, inspiration welcome you at AMMA JO’s

October 31, 2016 | by Jen Fertenbaugh

It turns out Little Amps isn’t the only place to get a pick-me-up in Strawberry Square.

Along the corridor of the Market Street entrance, shoppers can visit the showroom of fashion label AMMA JO and peruse her colorful handbags and unique accessories. Expect to smile, experience warmth and, for those who seek it, be inspired. Oh, and chances are also pretty good that you’ll score the perfect piece to accompany your wardrobe.

Owner and designer Amma Johnson will tell you that’s exactly the point.

“We want people to feel exhilarated when they come to the store,” she said.

Her showroom sets the stage. Vibrancy is palpable, generated by the juxtaposition of the colorful patterns and fabrics with the abundance of bright lights and white displays.

“All the color comes from what we are selling—it comes from the bags,” she explained.

Johnson’s dream of becoming a designer began in childhood, but her journey paved the way for making it a reality just two years ago.

“I had something that I was supposed to give to the world, and I wanted to share it,” she said.

Johnson sketched a handbag and had one sample made.

“It was the happiest day of my life,” she said.

She recalled her first vendor show to illustrate the connection between her showroom and her story.

“I didn’t have enough money for a display, so I used white shipping boxes and brought some LED lights I bought from Amazon,” she said. “It was white boxes and lights—and my purses. And it was wonderful.”

Something Beautiful

Today, AMMA JO products are sold in about 40 small- and mid-size boutiques across the country, through her online store and in the Harrisburg showroom.

The label offers 10 lines of limited edition handbags. Only 30 to 40 bags are produced, each showcasing colorful fabrics or Johnson’s digital art. Only one style—her signature color bag—is brought back every season.

“Everything changes,” she said. “Just like life.”

Shoppers can also find beaded belts and jewelry crafted by Kenyan women and tote bags from Ghana, made by a designer who lives in her father’s hometown.

“Africa is part of my story,” she said.

Johnson sketches designs and sends them to the African artisans, empowering them to add their own personal touches.

“We get to work together to make something beautiful grow,” she said.

Local artisans also market accessories and lifestyle items under the AMMA JO label. For instance, under Johnson’s mentorship, Angel, one of her employees who shared a similar dream, now sells her jewelry line, “Twisted,” in the showroom.

Recognizing that customers need to connect personally with her brand, Johnson also holds trunk shows and travels to the boutiques that carry her line.

“People need to experience the story—shop the brand with their five senses,” she said.

For locals, the Strawberry Square showroom is the perfect place to do just that. Citing Harrisburg’s central location, Johnson easily caters to thousands of locals and visitors at Strawberry Square, including the many state workers who recently relocated from the former State Hospital grounds.

“Ladies enjoy having another opportunity to shop,” she said. “It has been great. The foot traffic is amazing.”

In fact, Johnson recently doubled her retail space, tearing down a wall to expand to the storefront next door.

“This has been a real win for us,” she said.

Beautiful Too

Johnson is designing more than a handbag; she is living her life’s mission.

“I get to inspire people to live their dream,” she explained. “It’s about adding color, adding vibrancy to people’s lives.”

Johnson plans to expand and form AJ Brands, with the AMMA JO label leading the way. She envisions the showroom as a location for mentoring budding designers and empowering young entrepreneurs, just like her mentors once guided her.

“People believed in me,” she said. “They coached me, gave me tips and encouragement. They saw something in me, and it propelled me forward.”

One look around the showroom at the Kenyan belts and the Twisted jewelry line, and it’s clear Johnson is well on her way of accomplishing that, too.

And, of course, her mission is perfectly captured in the design of a handbag.

“Initially, several panels of fabric may seem like they would never fit together,” she said. “But they do. They came together right here, in this beautiful bag.”

And the bag symbolizes the messages she wishes to share with the world.

“Life is crazy. Life is contrasting, but life is beautiful too.”

The AMMA JO Showroom is located on the first floor of the Shoppes at Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg. For information or appointments, call 717-745-8391 or visit www.ammajoshowroom.com.

Author: Jen Fertenbaugh

Happenings: Our November Calendar of Events

October 31, 2016 | by TheBurg Editor

Happenings

Museum & Art Spaces

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

“NO EVOL,” the art of losing, featuring artists Ashley Russo, Rance Shepstone and Daniel Beard, through Nov. 18; closing reception: Nov. 18, 6-9 p.m.

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

“Steampunk U,” recycled gears and parts, repurposed with artistic and functional form, through Nov. 6.

“Mopar Midsize Muscle,” a mini-exhibit of Mopar muscle cars, Nov. 18-April 22.

“Three Chevys and a Diner,” an exhibit featuring a neighborhood diner and three 1950s Chevys, Nov. 18-April 22.

“Amore della Strade: Italian Cars,” featuring Italian cars and motorcycles, Nov. 19-April 22; reception, Nov. 18, 6 p.m.

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

“Five Artist Invitational,” with Audrey A. Bordonaro Klint Ericson, John Firestone, Jeanne McKinney and Ema Tunno, through Nov. 23.

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

“Bones,” original ink and digital works by Jason Kreiger, through mid-November.

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

Artist of the Month: Sarah Fogg

Eckert Art Gallery
Millersville University
60 West College Ave., Lancaster
717-871-4633; artsmu.com

“Response as Catalyst,” a year-long conversation through drawings by artists Leslie Gates and Dan Clark, through Dec. 6.

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

“Downton’s Last Stand: A Reprise of the Fort Hunter Fashions of the Downton Abbey Era,” through Dec. 23.

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

Works by Thom Kulp and Susan Benigni-Landis, through Nov. 12.

Works by Rosanne S. Wolfe and Becky D. Shagin, Nov. 17-Jan. 14; reception: Nov. 18, 6-9 p.m.

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

“Faith, Family and Community: Folk Art Links to the Early Pennsylvania Dutch in Perry County,” Perry Historians exhibition, through Nov. 5.

PCCA Juried Exhibition, featuring juried regional artwork in a variety of media, Nov. 11-Jan. 20; reception and awards: Nov. 11, 6-8:30 p.m.

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

“SPACE + TIME,” recent works and mixed media paintings by Reina Wooden, through November; reception: Nov. 18, 5-7 p.m.

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

“Chris Cash: Altar Boy Gone Wrong,” boldly colored, playful works, using plastic figures, recycled machine parts, beading and more, through Nov. 24.

“Microcosm: Dioramas & Tiny Worlds,” an exhibition providing a window into the mind of each artist, Nov. 4-Jan. 1; reception: Nov. 4, 6-11 p.m.

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

“Tell Mother I’ve Been Good: Vice & Virtue in the Civil War,” illustrating the moral challenges faced by thousands of men in the ranks, through Dec. 31.

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

The art of Tom Wise and Yevette Hendler, through Dec. 26.

The Paper Lion Gallery
1217 Hummel Ave., Lemoyne
717-612-9950; harrisburgframers.com

“Ivan’s Swans,” featuring the paintings of Sandra Philpott and photography by Madeline Marie Wilson, Nov. 19-Dec. 23; reception: Nov. 19, 5:30-8 p.m.

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

“Artisan Marketplace,” locally made fine art and handcrafted items for unique holiday gift giving, through Jan. 14.

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

Paintings by Sean McConner, through Nov. 1.

Student Honors Photography, Nov. 21-Dec. 9; reception: Dec. 1, 5:30-7 p.m.

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

“Working Together for Wildlife: Three Decades of Pennsylvania’s Nature in Art,” through Dec. 31.

“Sixty Years with the Seven Lively Artists: 1956-2016,” celebrating the 60th anniversary of Central Pennsylvania’s plein air painting group The Seven Lively Artists, through Feb. 12.

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

“Despues De La Frontera (After the Border),”a bilingual group exhibition honoring immigrants who fled their homes in Central America, through Dec. 4.

“African American Art Since 1950: Perspectives from the David C. Driskell Center,” through Jan. 22.

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

“Nyumba a Sanaa,” works from the Maryknoll Collection, through Dec. 18.

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

Works by Nate Solberg, through Nov. 13.

Works by Amie Bantz, Nov. 18-Dec. 11.

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

“Handmade Music,” works by Mike Orr, through Nov. 17.

Read, Make, Learn

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

Nov. 10: Wild Fish & Game, 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 16: Soups and Stews, 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 30: Holiday Breakfast & Brunch, 6-9 p.m.

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

Nov. 1: Curl Up With the Classics—“Polyanna,” 3 p.m.
Nov. 1: Coloring for Grown-Ups, 7 p.m.
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Homework Helpers, 4 p.m.
Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24: Device Advice, 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 4: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 5: Cookbook Club, 1 p.m.
Nov. 7, 12: Library for Lunch, 12 p.m.
Nov. 7, 21: Fredricksen Writes, 6:45 p.m.
Nov. 10: Drop-in Story Time, 7 p.m.
Nov. 10, 17: Teen Writers Group, 6 p.m.
Nov. 11: Foreign Film Friday, 2 p.m., 7 p.m.
Nov. 14: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 14, 28: LEGO Club, 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 15: A Consumer’s Guide to HICPA, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 15: Fredricksen Reads—“Fates and Furies,” 7 p.m.
Nov. 30: Adventure Crafts—Star Wars, 4:30 p.m.

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

Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26: Improv Mixer

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

Nov. 29: From Scrooge to Santa: How to Practice Giving, 10-11:30 a.m., 7-8:30 p.m.

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

Nov. 5: Blackout Poems, 10 a.m.
Nov. 5: Free Drop-in Art, 1-4 p.m.
Nov. 19: Rughooking, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 19: 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

Nov. 1: Men’s Group, 6 p.m.
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26: Weekly Meditation Practice, 11 a.m.
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27: Common Roads Young Adults, 4 p.m.
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
Nov. 8: Seniors Group, 6 p.m.
Nov. 10: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12 p.m.
Nov. 15: Women’s Group, 6 p.m.
Nov. 22: LGBT Parents, 6 p.m.

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

Nov. 1: Sci-Fi Writer’s Group, 7 p.m.
Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Meet-up, 9 a.m.
Nov. 2: Marketplace HOA Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.
Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
Nov. 4, 11, 25: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
Nov. 5: Health and Wellness Meet-up, 10 a.m.
Nov. 5: Good News Café, 6 p.m.
Nov. 7: Mindful Nutrition & Health Meet-up, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 8: Dauphin County Young Democrats Meeting, 7 p.m.
Nov. 8: Men’s Conversation, 7 p.m.
Nov. 10, 17: Camp Curtin Toastmasters
Nov. 12: Book signings: Terry Walters, Mike Kaminski, Howard Bryant, 2 p.m.
Nov. 16: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7 p.m.
Nov. 20: Midtown Writers Group, 1 p.m.
Nov. 20: LGBT Book Club, 5 p.m.
Nov. 22: Friends of Midtown Safety Committee, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 27: Harrisburg Young Professionals Book Club, 2 p.m.

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

Nov. 12, 13: The Basics of Mosaic Design, 1-4 p.m.

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

Nov. 13: 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

Nov. 10: The Wild Game Chef, 7 p.m.

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

Nov. 4: Nature Lab—Birds and their Beaks, 11:30 a.m.
Nov. 18: Nature Lab—Preserving Wildlife through Art, 11:30 a.m.

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

Nov. 5, 12, 19: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 6: First Family Sunday, 2-5 p.m.
Nov. 16: Life Drawing Class, 6-9 p.m.

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

Nov. 29: Innovative Lecture Series—Michael Rohd

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

Nov. 2, 19: Preschool Storytime, 10 a.m.
Nov. 3: Educator Workshop—Go Teach, Hiking 101, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 5: Scout Workshop—Juniors, “Animal Habitat,” 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Nov. 12: Getting Started in Digital Photography, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 12: Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 26: Kids Discover, 10-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 30: Late November Bird Walk, 8-10 a.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

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

Nov. 4: Penque-Diomede Band
Nov. 5: Old Soul Revival
Nov. 9: The Heavy Pets
Nov. 11: Big Mean Sound Machine
Nov. 13: Cassie & Maggie MacDonald
Nov. 19: Start Making Sense
Nov. 20: John Kadlecik Band
Nov. 26: Flux Capacitor

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

Nov. 1, 22: Daniel Sheahan
Nov. 2, 11, 17: Jessica Perla
Nov. 3, 19: Roy Lefever
Nov. 4, 8, 26: Corinna Joy
Nov. 5, 18: Ted Ansel
Nov. 9: Deborah Anderson
Nov. 10, 23, 25: Noel Gevers
Nov. 13, 27: Anthony Haubert
Nov. 15, 29: Christine Purcell
Nov. 16: Maria Battista
Nov. 30: Marc Lubbers

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

Nov. 5: Eric Paslay

Central PA Friends of Jazz
friendsofjazz.org

Nov. 27: Pat Martino Trio

Central PA Oratorio Singers
cposingers.com

Nov. 6: Fall Concert at Market Square Presbyterian Church

Central Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus
cpwchorus.org

Nov. 19: Concert at Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church
Nov. 20: Concert at Colonial Park United Church of Christ

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

Nov. 4: Screaming Females
Nov. 5: Elise Testone
Nov. 11: The Vanishing Life
Nov. 11: Adam Gontier
Nov. 14: The Heavy Pets
Nov. 15: Reel Big Fish

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

Nov. 4: Antonio Andrade
Nov. 5: 1096 Crazy
Nov. 6: Taylor Taylor
Nov. 11: Jim Haas
Nov. 12: Dan Zukowski
Nov. 13: Kirk Wie
Nov. 18: Kevin Kline
Nov. 19: Jeanine & Friends
Nov. 20: Crimson
Nov. 25: Dominick Cicco
Nov. 26: Doug Morris
Nov. 27: Shelba Purtle

The Forum Auditorium
5th and Walnut streets, Harrisburg
717-783-9100

Nov. 14: Harrisburg Symphony Youth Orchestra

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

Nov. 1: Celebrating Bob Dylan in Song

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

Nov. 4: Vetour Productions First Friday
Nov. 5: Livingston Taylor & Tom Chapin w/Eva
Nov. 10: The Jellybricks
Nov. 11: Yam Yam
Nov. 17: Cheetah Chrome w/The Bo Deadlys
Nov. 18: Kilmaine Saints

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

Nov. 12-13: Masterworks

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

Nov. 16: Goo Goo Dolls

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

Nov. 4: JJ Rupp Band
Nov. 5: DJ Ray Rossi, Strange Magic, Honeypump
Nov. 11: The Luv Gods
Nov. 12: DJ Dave Styles, Sapphire
Nov. 18: Bunch-a-Funk
Nov. 19: DJ Magic, Smooth Like Clyde
Nov. 23: Emily’s Toybox
Nov. 25: Uptown Band
Nov. 26: DJ Coach K, Radio Neon

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

Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Open Mic
Nov. 5: The Dirty Place
Nov. 12: SOS
Nov. 19: Colt Wilbur Band
Nov. 26: Fith

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

Nov. 19: Concert at Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren

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

Nov. 11: Sea Offs
Nov. 25: Matt Tarka

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

Nov. 7: Narrow Arrow & Cave Paint

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

Nov. 12: Martina McBride
Nov. 20: Shippensburg University Community Orchestra

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

Nov. 11: Brown Bag Jazz—The Buzz Jones Quintet
Nov. 18: Symphony Orchestra

Market Square Concerts
www.marketsquareconcerts.org

Nov. 2: Heath Quartet

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

Nov. 4: Symphony Orchestra
Nov. 5: Percussion Ensemble
Nov. 11: Faure Requiem w/ Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
Nov 13: Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
Nov. 14: Chamber Ensemble
Nov. 16: Jazz Fusion
Nov. 17: Chamber Ensemble
Nov. 20: Susquehanna Chorale Annual Youth Chorale Festival
Nov. 21: Brass Choir & Brass Studio

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

Nov. 18: Kosi

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

Nov. 5: Shea & Len (Luv Gods)
Nov. 12: Dave Kelly Duo
Nov. 19: Funktion Quartet
Nov. 26: Sherri Mullen Duo

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

Nov. 5: Shine Delphi and Saint Brendan & The Navigators
River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
rivercityhbg.com

Nov. 4: Nate Myers
Nov. 5: Sweetcorn and Peanut w/ Yam Yam
Nov. 11: Andy and Rob Middleton Quintet
Nov. 12: Sabrina and the Mutual Love Society
Nov. 16: Shine Delphi w/ The Vinegar Constituency
Nov. 18: Erica Everest
Nov. 21: River City Big Band
Nov. 25: Phipps and Phriends
Nov. 28: Friends of Jazz Jam

Rose Lehrman Art Center
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-780-2545; hacc.edu

Nov. 30: “Tartan Terrors”

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

Nov. 11: Selwyn Birchwood

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

Nov. 4: Joe Cooney
Nov. 5: Paul Zavinsky
Nov. 11: Collective Academy
Nov. 12: Craig Lamberth
Nov. 18: Crossroads Duo
Nov. 19: Just Dave
Nov. 25: Cotolo
Nov. 26: Craig Bonner

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

Live music: Friday, Saturday nights

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

Nov. 2, 3: York Symphony Orchestra
Nov. 5: Beatlemania Now
Nov. 6: Loreena McKennitt
Nov. 9: Sierra Hull
Nov. 10: The Wood Brothers
Nov. 12: Big Head Blues Club
Nov. 16: Home Free
Nov. 19: Jake Shimabukuro
Nov. 20: York Junior Symphony Orchestra & York County Senior Honors Choir
Nov. 26: York Symphony Orchestra

Suba Tapas Bar
272 North St., Harrisburg
717-233-7358; mangiaqui.com

Live music: Friday, Saturday nights

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

Nov. 3: Anna & Elizabeth and The Murphy Beds
Nov. 5: Susquehanna Folk Fall Coffeehouse
Nov. 13: Susquehanna Folk Jam Session
Nov. 13: Cassie & Maggie MacDonald
Nov. 22: Pete’s Posse

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

Nov. 12: Trio Clavino
Nov. 18: Allegro Chamber Orchestra

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

Nov. 3: Dweezil Zappa
Nov. 4: Gov’t Mule
Nov. 10: Dave Mason
Nov. 15: Sully Erna
Nov. 16: Steve Vai
Nov. 23: The Machine, Pink Floyd tribute

Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center
Millersville University
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

Nov. 4: Jazz at the Ville
Nov. 5: MU Choral Concert
Nov. 17: World Percussion Concert
Nov. 20: MU Concert Band and Wind Ensemble
Nov. 20: MU Percussion Ensemble

The Stage Door

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

Nov. 1-Dec. 30: “The 2016 Christmas Show—Winter Wonderland”

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

Through Nov. 12: “Anything Goes”
Nov. 17-Dec. 31: “Holly Jolly Christmas”

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

Nov. 5-27: “Death of a Salesman”
Nov. 30-Dec. 17: “A Popcorn Hat Christmas Carol”

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., Harrisburg
717-909-3637; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

Nov. 4-5: Chris Barnes
Nov. 11-12: Raymond The Amish Comic
Nov. 18-19: J. Bliss w/Shane Gillis
Nov. 25-26: Jeremy “Burpie” Alsop

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

Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25: Harold Hour
Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25: Jam
Nov. 6: “Monotone,” An Improvised Musical
Nov. 19: Tony Stanza
Nov. 27: Magic Fairy Pirate Monkeys

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

Nov. 1: The Capitol Steps
Nov. 18-20: “The Itch of Gloria Fitch” (Narcisse Theatre Co.)

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

Nov. 1-6: “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder”
Nov. 22-27: “The Book of Mormon”

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

Nov. 4-20: “Nuncrackers”

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

Nov. 3-6: “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”

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

Nov. 10-20: “Radium Girls”
Nov. 17: “Blue Christmas”

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

Nov. 12: “Nutcracker” excerpts w/Pennsylvania Regional Ballet
Nov. 18: Comedy Night

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

Nov. 4-20: “Bye Bye Birdie”

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

Nov. 30: “Tartan Terrors”

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

Nov. 3: “Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two-Woman Show”
Nov. 3: Darren “DS” Sanders and Melissa Douty
Nov. 13: Shanghai Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China
Nov. 15: York Story Slam Grand Slam
Nov. 17: Kevin Lee and James Hodge

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

Nov. 10-20: “Down Range”

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

Nov. 5: “Sleeping Beauty”
Nov. 15: “Passion of Flamenco”

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

Nov. 5: Steven Wright
Nov. 7: Henry Rollins
Nov. 10-20: “Down Range”
Nov. 18: Hasan Minhaj

Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center
Millersville University
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

Nov. 10-13: “Spring Awakening”

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

Nov. 18-27: “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”

Underestimating Women: Women—and the American Dream—and “Death of a Salesman”

October 31, 2016 | by Meghan Jones

Sharia Benn

In a letter to a fan in 1990, Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “It can’t be said often enough, ‘It is the woman who pays.’ The miracle is that so many can and so somehow… I told [my wife] one time, ‘I worry about women.’ She said, ‘Don’t.’”

This sentiment certainly echoes the themes present in Arthur Miller’s 1949 play “Death of a Salesman,” presented this month by Gamut Theatre Group. The play explores family and the “American Dream” and the complicated relationships, expectations and disappointments that come with it. Sharia Benn, the actress playing Linda Loman, the wife and mother in the play, says, “With all of the tragedies of life in the play, it is a celebration of being a part of a family.”

The American Dream can be summarized as: Anyone has the opportunity of success, no matter your place in society. All it takes is dedication and hard work to achieve prosperity and upward mobility. With the capitalist mindset, the middle-class American man could have the perfect life with a house, car, children and white-picket fence. This concept is clearly centered around men. Men brought home the money because they had the jobs, they provided for their families, and everyone was happy. Right?

“Death of a Salesman” explores how problematic this ideology is not only to the family, but to personal identity and to women, specifically. Benn’s character, Linda, plays a large role in that. With a husband and two sons, her role is centered around domestic stability. The family is about to make the last payment on their house, the boys have ideas on how they can help the family thrive, and her husband struggles with a constant paranoia that the reason for his perceived failure is because he is not well-liked. He holds strongly to values taught by the American Dream, yet is still not coming out ahead. All of the men are attempting to achieve success through being popular, making money or having social dignity. Meanwhile, Linda is keeping everything afloat. She plays the role of mother, wife and caretaker, but she fulfills so much more than that for the characters and for the plot.

“She does this amazing job of pulling it all together and making everyone else pull it together, too,” Benn said of her character.

In a way, Miller’s critique of the American Dream and its surface attractiveness is also held by Linda. She is representative of the importance of personal value and truth over monetary gains and is the character given the most power, as she is the only one who has the opportunity to change.

Indeed, Linda is always focused on others, the antithesis of the American Dream, which values individuality and self-reliance. Miller gives her the opportunity to express dismay about the way society tricks men into believing that the keys to success are measured in monetary gains. In Act 1, she says, “The man who never worked a day but for your benefit. When does he get the medal for that?” Benn agrees that Linda’s invaluable worth is in her ability to humanize her family as a method of protection.

“She understands what it is to be human and how fragile we are as individuals, and what I love about this play is that Miller allows, through Linda, the audience to unpack that through the family as a whole,” said Benn.

And are women overlooked or minimized for their role in the “man’s world” of the American dream?

“Miller is intentionally showing how men in society cut women off and disregard them, but, when they are in need, when something is happening, when there’s a problem that needs solved, they look to the woman,” she said. “And she holds it down.”

It is true that women are often the overlooked grounding force of plays in this era, and Linda has the benefit of understanding that her role goes beyond this moment, that her actions have consequences beyond her control, and that the most important thing is for her to be accepting of her own hardships. There is a reason why Miller makes Linda, one of the only women in the play, the only character able to do this. There is a reason he begins and ends the play with her. Benn muses that there really should have been a sequel, where we get to hear Linda’s story.

For this period of American ideology, the death of the salesman is imminent, inevitable even, but the life of the woman is the direct result. It is the woman who pays—Vonnegut remains true—but Miller drives home the fact that the women can take it, and do. Benn’s Linda sure does. Her lines at the end of the play have a lot of depth.

“I made the last payment on the house today… and there’ll be nobody home… We’re free… We’re free…” she states.

Free of the grasps of the life led during the play that causes each male figure to doubt himself and how he interacts with his world based on a warped concept of success that was fed to him his entire life.

“Death of a Salesman” will be performed Nov. 5 to 27 at Gamut Theatre, 15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.gamuttheatre.org.

Upcoming theater events at Harrisburg’s professional downtown theaters

At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org

“Death of A Salesman” by Arthur Miller
Nov. 5 to 27
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Doors and bar open one hour prior to performance
Tickets are $30 on Fridays and Saturdays and “Bring Your Own Price” on Sundays.

“A Popcorn Hat Christmas Carol”
Nov. 30 to Dec. 17
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. available by request for groups of 20 or more.
Tickets $8

At Open Stage of Harrisburg
www.openstagehbg.com

“A Christmas Carol”
Dec. 2 to 23
A new dazzling production of the Charles Dickens classic
Tickets $15 to $35

“The Santaland Diaries”
David Sedaris’ irreverent comedy Crumpet the Elf is on tour!
Sundays, Dec. 4 & 11 at Federal Taphouse
Dec. 9, 20 & 22 at Open Stage with Santa’s Little Helpers Improv opening
Tickets $20 to $35

Author: Meghan Jones

Homey for the Holidays: Downtown Carlisle puts the shop back in shopping

October 31, 2016 | by Susan Ryder

Harmony Society

There are several ways to go about holiday shopping.

You’ve got the bump and rush of the mall, the drive and drive more of the big box, and the click and pray of the Internet.

Then there’s my favorite way—browsing the fascinating, small shops of Pennsylvania’s many historic downtowns. You park once, stroll from store to store, discover unique goods, meet some interesting people, maybe stop for lunch or coffee.

To me, downtown Carlisle fits this bill perfectly, with its wide, tree-lined streets, old brick buildings and parking meters that still take coins, making a click and clunk with the turning knob.

The place has a relaxed feel about it, with no blinking lights or huge signs. The streets are clean but not sanitary, and the sidewalks are a patchwork of brick and concrete. The nondescript storefronts give hints to their contents and offer the impression that there are treasures to be found within.

Some of those treasures wait inside Whistlestop Books on West High Street. The small, well-stocked store smells like, well, books. Owner Jeff Wood carries a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction titles, poetry, drama and the like, as well as booked-themed T-shirts, boxed cards and something called “decomposition books”—notebooks created with 100-percent post-consumer waste.

Notably, Wood, a bird lover, features several shelves of bird guides and a nice collection of wildlife cards by artist Roger Tory Peterson.

“If you are going to be small, you might as well be interesting,” said Wood, commenting on his eclectic selection.

Interesting and tasty is a good way to describe Georgie Lou’s Retro Candy, just a few doors down and across the street. The bright, colorful store, a must-see for any sugar freak, doesn’t just sell candy. It sells memories, said owner Stephanie Patterson Gilbert, who lines her shelves with Sky Bar, Necco Wafers, Mallo Cups and so much more.

Customers can pick Zotz, Candy Buttons and Marshmallow Ice Cream Cones from the 10-cent and 25-cent bins. Those searching for a beloved candy from their past just might find it, one reason to shop here rather than at a big box.

“You can’t go into Wal-Mart and ask what happened to the Marathon Bar,” said Patterson Gilbert. “I can tell you.”

Clothing shops in Carlisle are equally unique. I can assure you that you’ll discover well curated, eclectic finds in independent boutiques like the ClothesVine (apparel, accessories, jewelry) and Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb (vintage ware and accessories) that you will never see in any chain store.

Cult Following

With the peal of a bell from a nearby church, I was reminded that it was time for lunch. Downtown Carlisle offers about 30 restaurant to choose from, such as Café Bruges, a Belgian eatery; Andalusia, serving Spanish and Moroccan tapas; and Issei Noodle, dishing up Asian infusion cuisine.

Issei Noodle is a warm, conversational restaurant with an open kitchen. It serves ramen of many varieties, rice bowls and small dishes such as Japanese seaweed salad and fried gyoza, a handmade, Japanese-style dumpling served with ponzu sauce. Diners can wash down their meal with a glass of ginger honey green tea.

I wrapped up lunch with a visit to Helena’s Chocolate Café and Crepêria, serving sweet and savory crepes, French macaroons and other delectable morsels, including a 3-inch thick piece of peanut butter pie surrounded with a thin skin of dark chocolate.

Emily Bartholet, a Dickinson College sophomore, frequents Helena’s.

“I work so that I can come and eat here,” she joked.

Bartholet kindly offered some of her favorite places in downtown Carlisle, one of which is No Common Scents, a newly opened soap store.

This Hanover Street store has a bubble machine attached to the front door, spurting out little, shiny soap globes to attract the attention of passersby. Walk inside, and you’ll discover what owner Tami Shaffer describes as “where art meets soap.”

Shaffer’s striking soap creations look good enough to eat. Her colorful soap roses top bricks of soap, resembling pieces of cake. The soap by the slab contains multihued striations, some looking like watermelon and some like camouflage. Soaps come in many scents such as salted caramel apple, apple honey goat’s milk, ginger snapped and mango tea. Men also appreciate the line of organic products, including beer soap and Bossman beard jelly.

“I have a cult following of men,” Shaffer said.

Harmony Society is another store relatively new to downtown. This vintage clothing and yarn store on West High Street has a wide assortment of beautiful, mostly natural fiber yarn.

When I visited, Judy Nuñez sat in the store working on a gray sweater for her great niece. She said that it’s nice to have a community yarn shop where people can come, work on projects and learn from one another.

“Here, I know that I have the yarn and the pattern, and I can come for help,” she said.

The shop offers a variety of classes, including how to use a drop spindle to produce yarn, how to make felted clogs and knitting for beginners. Owner Amber Martin makes some of her own yarn, her spinning wheel visible in the rear of the store.

Navigating to these destinations isn’t difficult, especially when the visitor’s center is located right the middle of town at History on High, run by the Cumberland County Historical Society. The center contains easy-to-read maps, brochures on local destinations and helpful staff to answer questions.

I left downtown Carlisle having seen beautiful things, having bought some lovely, useful items and having eaten unique, delicious food. But I also found it comforting knowing that there was plenty more to see and buy on my next visit.

Going There

Downtown Carlisle boasts dozens of shops and restaurants to explore and enjoy. Here are several mentioned in this story:

Andalusia, 26 N. Hanover St., www.andalusiacarlisle.com
Café Bruges, 16 N. Pitt St., www.cafebruges.com
The ClothesVine, 134 W. High St., www.theclothesvine.com
Georgie Lou’s Retro Candy, 56 W. High St., www.georgielous.com
Helena’s Chocolate Café & Creperie, 36 W. High St., www.helenascafe.com
Harmony Society, 136 W. High St., www.harmony-society.com
History on High, 33 W. High St., www.historicalsociety.com
Issei Noodle, 54 W. High St., www.isseinoodle.com
Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb, 115 & 119 W. High St., www.missruthstimebomb.com
No Common Scents, 15 N. Hanover St.; Facebook: No Common Scents
Whistlestop Bookshop: 129 W. High Street; www.whistlestoppers.com

Author: Susan Ryder

Squashy Pasta: A meal at Pastorante inspires an autumn recipe

October 31, 2016 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

When I was growing up, we ate lots of pasta.

Mostly, it was spaghetti or rigatoni, but always with my mother’s red sauce. Many Italians still call this “Sunday gravy,” but, to us, it was just “sauce.” We often had meatballs with the pasta and, just as often, the pork that was cooked in the sauce to flavor it. It was very simple but delicious and always the same.

I wonder what my mother would think now that pasta has become the darling of fine restaurants, cooking shows on television and “gourmet” cookbooks. For just tomato sauce alone, a favorite recipe collection instructs me how to prepare pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil, cherry tomatoes and oven-roasted tomatoes. There is pasta with pesto sauce, green beans and potatoes, as well as with zucchini, peppers and peas, many varieties of mushrooms, artichokes, broccoli rabe and beans. And because pasta with Italian sausage now seems pretty tame, we are seeing sauces with all types of game, such as venison, duck and rabbit. While pasta with seafood has always been a staple in Italian coastal towns, I’m seeing restaurants here offering pasta dishes with octopus, sea urchins and conch. I am never very eager to try these.

One trend I like a lot is preparing pasta dishes that reflect the changing seasons: hearty “hunter-style” pastas in the winter, “primavera” vegetable pastas in the spring and the many uncooked sauces that have become popular in the summer. It is now November, and why save squash and pumpkin for the Thanksgiving table?

I recently had a wonderful pasta dish at Harrisburg’s Pastorante, the unpretentious little restaurant on N. 3rd Street where homemade pasta is served every day. It was fusilli (corkscrew pasta) with mascarpone cheese, butternut squash and chopped hazelnuts. It was a rich dish (certainly fattening), but I couldn’t stop eating it.

I came home and began searching my mountain of Italian cookbooks and cooking magazines for a recipe that might be similar. What I found was “Risotto con la Zucca” or Pumpkin Risotto, which I felt I could easily adapt to pasta with butternut squash. With a few changes and additions, I think it works.

Pasta with Butternut Squash

Ingredients

½ to 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth (plus extra to thin the sauce if needed)
1 pound butternut squash, cut into small cubes (you could use fresh pumpkin as well)
2 tablespoons unsalted sweet butter
1 medium sweet onion, finely chopped
2 ounces bacon or pancetta, chopped
Salt to taste
1 pound pasta (penne, fusilli or orecchiette)
½ cup mascarpone cheese (Italian cream cheese)
½ cup chopped toasted hazelnuts (optional)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a non-stick skillet, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter until frothy.
Add the chopped onion and bacon and sauté until softened and golden in color, about 5 minutes.
Add the cubed squash or pumpkin and sauté gently over medium-low heat until it is softened and covered with the onion and bacon.
Add the ½ cup broth and cook over low heat for about 15 to 20 minutes until the mixture has reached the consistency of a chunky puree. Add a little more broth if needed and enough salt to your liking.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water, drain and place in a large bowl.
Add ½ cup mascarpone cheese, the squash mixture and the grated Parmesan to the pasta and mix well.
Sprinkle with the chopped toasted hazelnuts if you are using them.

Notes

The sauce should be the consistency of chunky applesauce, so, depending on the moisture content of the squash you are using, have extra chicken broth on hand.
Mascarpone is the best cheese for this dish. It is available at most grocery stores. If you absolutely cannot find it, try using heavy whipping cream.
Try this pasta dish even if you haven’t been fond of squash in your past life! Cooking it this ways results in a wonderful sweetness I think you will like.

Thank you, Pastorante, for the inspiration for this silky and rich pasta dish that is so perfect for fall. You are a Harrisburg treasure.

Author: Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

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