Practice Safe Tux: Holiday season is black tie season.

October 30, 2015 | by Dave Marcheskie

Where do I put my studs? What’s a cummerbund? Most guys remember nervously navigating that first encounter with the one-night stand floozy of the wardrobe world—the rental tuxedo.

Prom. Groomsman. Groom.

At best, men used to only wear a tuxedo as many times as Jason Pierre-Paul has fingers (Google with caution).

Days of formal wear are changing.

Between the tryptophan overdose and cranberry-sauce coma is that holiday invitation staring back at you with that ominous phrase—“black tie optional.”

This is a trap.

If the invitation either comes from work or is related to an event with your significant other (i.e. New Year’s Eve), the black tie option is your option.

To avoid sartorial diseases like saggy crotch, crooked clip-on or the epidemic of itchy polyester lining, a man must embrace the committed relationship of his own monogamous trophy suit.

Which tuxedo is right for me?

Pick a color. We live in an age where retro is in. This means vintage hues of midnight blue from the ‘50s, burgundy velvet smoking jackets from the ‘60s, or even white dinner jackets from the ‘20s are acceptable alternatives to black. No five-button Mandarins, please (I wore that to prom circa 2001).

Tuxedos are distinguished by the grosgrain silk jacket lapels and stripe down the pant. This formal style was made infamous in America by the son of a real estate mogul at the Tuxedo Park resort in New York in 1886. Traditional English coattails got in the way of him turning down for what, so he asked his tailor to clip ‘em.

Tuxedos should be sleek, not stuffy. If you’re a slender guy, a peak lapel helps broaden the shoulders. Shawl collars help broad-shouldered guys streamline. Fellas with post-Thanksgiving heft should go with a one-button notch. This creates a slimming, deep-V look.

The most important part is getting your tuxedo tailored. Boxy rentals can cost upwards of $200 or more without wedding group deals. You can surely buy a $90 to $125 tux online (Buy4less Tuxedos or Fine Tuxedos). With a nip-and-tuck from the tailor, you saved money and practiced safe tux.

Strictly Tuxedos and Top Shelf Menswear are two great local brick-and-mortar options to get your penguin on.

They didn’t teach Fancy Newsman 101 in broadcast journalism school. Little did I know that I would have a handful of charity galas and award ceremonies to attend every year, which has led me to own three different tuxedos. #AnchorProbs

I learned a few tricks along the way to make my tuxedos appear to be different every time.

Wearing black-and-white shoes, a velvet bow tie or a bright pocket square are great ways to show personality while keeping everything else simple. Always choose a high-shine patent leather shoe unless you can find tuxedo slippers. Bonus points for traditional skull or monogram embroidery.

Back to that cummerbund. The pleated silk waistband was a way to hold tickets or “catch-crumbs”—cummerbund. Today, it can be a dude’s version of Spanx. The cummerbund can help flatten the stomach’s appearance and keep any shirt overflow bottled up.

Grab a laydown spread collar shirt with hidden buttons instead of the ribbed wing collar shirts usually worn by country club bartenders.

Fellas, look up YouTube for step-by-step directions on how to tie your own bowtie. Ditch the clip-ons!

Sure, there is nothing wrong with wearing a red sweater and khakis to your holiday party this year. And the midnight kiss is what she really cares about when the strawberry drops. But if you want to cement the year that was or kick off the new one right—just think, WWJBD?

“There are dinner jackets and dinner jackets; this is the latter.” When was the last time 007 didn’t get the girl while donning a tux?

And, speaking of Bond, give this a try:

“Vesper”

½ oz vodka
2 oz dry gin
¼ oz Lillet Blonde

Stir on ice until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with lemon peel. Drink like James Bond, feel like James Bond.

Our Sharp Press Man, Dave Marcheskie, is a reporter and anchor for abc27 News. If you’d like to ask Dave a question, please email it to [email protected]. He may use it in a future column.

This column is sponsored by Top Shelf Menswear. Check out their new location in the State Street Plaza, 829 State St., Unit 1009, Lemoyne, 717-770-2080. www.topshelfmenswear.com

The Net Appears: Brett Bernardini takes a leap and lands at Theatre Harrisburg.

October 30, 2015 | by Lori M. Myers

Powerful moments transform us, open our eyes, force us to take U-turns. Brett A. Bernardini remembers his.

In theater.

It happened 15 years ago, when he decided to direct a “deaf” production of the musical “Oliver!” Half of the cast was hearing impaired and half was not. The entire production was done in American Sign Language, and the entire six-week production was sold out.

During the third week of shows, a mother and teenaged daughter waited for him in the lobby. This was their second time seeing the production, and they had tickets to see it three more times.

“She wanted me to know that her 14-year-old daughter had been deaf since birth and, in her words ‘…this musical is the very first time that my daughter has ever heard a musical,’” Bernardini recalled. “‘Your production has inspired her to become an actress and make a difference in other peoples’ lives, as you have in hers.’”

That moment has stuck with Bernardini, who is Theatre Harrisburg’s new executive and artistic director, succeeding Samuel Kuba, who retired in August. The fact that theater is in every breath he takes is pretty surprising considering that he had plans to be a concert pianist. As a child, he played piano and the French horn, sang, painted, created.

But no theater until he recognized his own limitations.

“In college, I learned quickly that while I was a capable and excellent musician, I did not possess that something extraordinary that was needed to achieve my dream,” Bernardini said.

Theater became important to him only later, while working as an educator. He saw it was an opportunity for students who had no self-esteem or felt they had no voice to suddenly be heard and seen.

“For me, theater quickly became a vehicle for sharing thoughts, challenging ideas and a means by which to examine the world around us that was visceral, intense and entertaining at the same time,” he said.

Those powerful moments sealed the deal. Bernardini became the founding artistic director and CEO of The Spirit of Broadway Theater in Norwich, Conn., from which he retired last December. Under his leadership, the theater became internationally recognized for its production of new musicals. He’s personally directed more than 300 productions at that theater and others, and, in 2008, created the Connecticut High School Music Theater Awards.

After 17 years, Bernardini made the decision to leave. He had achieved everything he could do creatively, had re-configured the theater space twice and enlarged its technical capacities. He had lost his mother three years before and realized how incredibly short life was. It was time, he believed, to do something else.

That “something else” was Theatre Harrisburg. Bernardini had never been to Harrisburg except to just drive past when he was an undergraduate at Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in Virginia. He arrived for the interview and explored. He found the city beautiful, especially the river, the bridges, the hills, the historic architecture, the diversity.

“For someone like me who has grown up in Minneapolis and worked in New York City, diversity is what makes a city beautiful, alive and exciting,” he said. “In Harrisburg, the richness of the local diversity seems to be more of a challenge and not the exceptional asset it could be. The diversity of Harrisburg is something that should be celebrated and embraced.”

He found out something else—few residents knew of Harrisburg’s exceptional arts offerings. While exploring the city, he stopped people on the street, telling them he’s from out-of-state and that he’s looking for some theater, dance or museums. The responses consisted of, “We have movie theaters at the mall,” or “There’s a science museum for kids, but I don’t know what else.”

“Clearly, there is some significant work to be done in engaging the city with the dynamic arts opportunities that are already here,” Bernardini said.

So, what is Bernardini really like? Well, he’s a foodie, loves to cook and entertain, loves to read real books (although he’s reading one on his iPad right now), loves to kayak, swim, hike, travel. He is 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, Italian, intimidating to some, yet compassionate and gentle. He likes working with talented actors as a collaborator and will push them to emotional places to find truth and give them accolades when earned.

Bernardini, who has taken residence in Midtown, is mum about Theatre Harrisburg’s plans for the future, but notes it’s at a critical crossroads not only due to its age but because it has been eclipsed by other younger, energized and edgy organizations throughout the region. It must decide, he said, what the future path will be.

“I have always lived my life according to the Zen koan ‘Leap and the net will appear,’” Bernardini muses. “Here I am.”

To learn more about Theatre Harrisburg, including its 2015-16 schedule, visit www.theatreharrisburg.com.

Heroism Honored: Black troops were excluded from the Union’s victory parade, so Harrisburg held its own. This month, that event will be commemorated.

October 30, 2015 | by John Duffy

In late May 1865, the Civil War was finally at an end.

The contest had cost more than 700,000 lives, destroyed countless others, and left the South in ruins. That month, the victorious Union armies paraded through Washington, D.C., in what organizers called The Grand Review—two solid days of celebration recognizing the efforts made by a generation in preserving the Union and ending slavery.

For most of the veterans who took part, it was their last act of soldiery. But conspicuously absent were the 180,000 African-American troops who had, by many historians’ estimations, made the crucial difference in achieving victory as the war dragged on for four long years.

“These soldiers played a pivotal role in victory, in saving the Union when it was being torn asunder,” said Dr. Frank Smith, founder and director of the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum in Washington, D.C.

They Earned It

When black troops were finally approved after much debate within the Lincoln administration, the outcome of the war was still very much in doubt.

“Yet after all the suffering and humiliation, after being bought and sold like animals, these men showed their worthiness and had some skin in the game, so to speak,” said Smith. “When Congress was debating the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th amendments after the war, we can read that many of them said ‘these people deserve this because they earned it on the battlefield.’ ”

They had passed through the crucible of war.

However, black and white soldiers could not share the Grand Review in Washington because it was politically toxic, said Dr. Harry Bradshaw Matthews, associate dean and director of intercultural affairs at Hartwick College.

“It would have been troubling to the unification process to have black troops presented on the same footing as whites,” he said. “It is important to remember that, for many white abolitionists, an end to slavery was not the same thing as equal rights.”

But thanks to several men from Pennsylvania’s capital region—politicians, abolitionists, clergy, journalists—the city of Harrisburg did what the nation had not. On a sunny November day, they held a parade of their own, a second Grand Review to honor the African-American men (the vast majority of them former slaves) who had done nothing less than help save the nation.

“And the Harrisburg victory parade showed the country, and indeed the world, that these men indeed had a right to be proud,” said Smith, who will be the keynote speaker at this month’s commemoration in Harrisburg, which takes place Nov. 13 to 15.

The Very Idea

While often delegated for garrison, general labor or guard duty, soldiers of the United States Colored Troops fought with distinction in most major actions of the war’s later years. Some 8,000 would enlist from the commonwealth, more than 1,000 of them from the Harrisburg region alone.

The dangers they faced once at war were often worse than their white comrades. At a time when most military deaths occurred in camp and not on the battlefield, black soldiers died of disease at nearly twice the normal rate. It was also Confederate policy that any black soldiers captured on the field would be re-enslaved. In several instances, surrendering and wounded colored troops were simply executed.

Yet they fought with conspicuous valor at New Market Heights, Nashville, the ill-fated Battle of the Crater, and in actions throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and the Carolinas.

By the fall of 1865, as most Union troops were back home re-entering normal life, most African-American troops were still in the military. A French army bent on taking over Mexico, and maybe Texas for that matter, required immediate attention. So, off to the Rio Grande the veterans went.

Many scholars have debated whether the absence of black soldiers in the Grand Review was a move of a pragmatic command—after all, many colored troop enlistments would not be up for another year—or racially motivated, as many ranking army commanders at war’s end still objected to the very idea of colored soldiers.

“There were more than enough black soldiers in uniform that could have participated in the Grand Review,” stated Matthews.

The end of slavery was, in fact, represented at the Grand Review, but in the form of thousands of camp followers—former slaves who sought the relative safety of the Union armies in a vengeful south.

“It is ironic and also in very poor taste that contraband slaves could take part in the parade only by parading behind those conquerors that saved them,” Matthews said.

All the Rights

Sensing an injustice, Pennsylvania Gov. Andrew Curtin invited several USCT regiments to the city and, on a crisp and sunny November day—a Tuesday—the soldiers formed up at State and Filbert streets and marched through Harrisburg to the cheers of residents, both black and white.

The event had been loudly promoted in the preceding days in the local press, including a notice in The Christian Recorder, which, in proclaiming the event, hoped that “our people will not fail to show their appreciation of the services of our country’s defenders…”

Serving as grand marshal of the review was Thomas Morris Chester, a Harrisburg lawyer, abolitionist and colored troop recruiter. More than anyone present that day, he was intimately familiar with the heroism of the troops he reviewed.

In the waning days of the war, Chester served as the only black war correspondent for a major newspaper, covering the actions of colored soldiers as they helped bring the war to its end outside of Richmond. When the city finally fell in early April 1865, Chester personally witnessed a column of well-armed, smartly uniformed veteran black troops become the first Union men to enter the fallen Confederate capital.

Now, Chester led a column of the same men through his hometown, not as conquerors, but as honored victors. The procession paused at the Front Street home of Simon Cameron, former Secretary of War and U.S. senator. Cameron had been an early advocate of both emancipation and the recruitment of colored soldiers.

Like Chester, he hoped the Harrisburg review would help the nation work quickly towards universal black suffrage.

“Like all other men, you have your destinies in your own hands,” Cameron said to the troops. “And if you continue to conduct yourselves hereafter as you have in the struggle, you will have all the rights you ask for, all the rights that belong to human beings.”

But even if the exclusion from the Grand Review in Washington was intentional, as Matthews insists, the benefits to colored troops of their service were numerous.

“A large number learned to read and write due to their service,” Matthews said. “That was critical.”

Along with nearly $5 million in pension pay starting in 1870, this literacy helped former soldiers become leaders of the post-war South.

“They served in elected offices, became teachers and community leaders, and founded many of the self-help organizations that built the African-American communities of the South,” he said. “At a time when Jim Crow laws were seeking to reassert the old order, they became the new backbone of freedom.”

Many events are planned in Harrisburg from Nov. 13 to 15 to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of The Grand Review. The highlight, The Grand Review procession featuring United States Colored Troops re-enactors, will take place on Nov. 14, beginning at 10 a.m. from Grace United Methodist Church, 216 State St. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.2015grandreview.com.

Seasonal Treat: For Thanksgiving, Rosemary shares her special applesauce recipe.

October 30, 2015 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

When I was a young bride, my mother gave me a kitchen device that is still with me today: a food mill.

It looks like something from the dark ages, I suppose, but I couldn’t be without it. It is a hand-cranked device that purees vegetables and fruits that have been chopped and cooked down along with their skins, seeds and other parts of their natural state. Cooked tomatoes can be pureed in a food mill and used as a base for fresh marinara sauce. My mother would do this every year and freeze the summer’s bounty for the winter.

Mostly, I use mine to make fresh applesauce, which, as the holidays fast approach, would make a lovely addition to Thanksgiving dinner (especially for those guests not particularly fond of cranberries, jellied or otherwise).

I love my applesauce. It is tart and sweet at the same time and is fragrant with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. I cook the apples in apple cider rather than water, which gives the sauce a deep, rich flavor. A splash of fresh lemon juice brightens the flavor. Nothing that comes in a jar comes close to homemade applesauce. I’ve tried them all.

We are fortunate to live in an area with abundant apple harvests from the local orchards near Harrisburg all the way to the apple paradise of Adams County. The Adams County Apple website lists close to 80 apple varieties that are available from early summer to mid-November. In a way, apples are like wine, each with subtle differences in sweetness, tartness, color and texture.

I love sauce made from the first transparent green apples of early summer, like Lodi. Lodi sauce is pale green and fairly tart, requiring a good amount of sugar. Golden Delicious apples of mid-summer make a sweet, slightly yellow sauce, while the Winesaps, as their name suggests, are tart and fragrant with a hint of rich, red wine.

Making applesauce is not hard, although it can be a little messy. If you don’t want to invest in a food mill, you can peel and core the apples, remove the seeds, cut into chunks and simmer on the stove until they are tender. This results in a chunky sauce and, oh, is it good!

Ingredients

8 large apples that are used for cooking, as well as eating (some, like Red Delicious, are sold as “eating apples”)
At least a pint of apple cider or unfiltered apple juice (the amount of liquid you use will influence how thick or thin your sauce will be)
Anywhere from ½ to 1 cup of sugar depending on the tartness of the apples and your taste
Cinnamon and nutmeg (I use a lot but let your taste guide you)
1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 fresh lemon, cut in quarters

Rosemary’s Applesauce

Thoroughly scrub the apples with a stiff brush and running water.
On a cutting board, slice the apples into quarters. If you are using a food mill, there is no need to peel them or remove the cores and seeds.
Place the apples in a large saucepan or Dutch oven and pour enough apple cider to partially cover the apples.
Bring the apples and cider to a boil, and then reduce the heat to medium/medium low. The mixture should be bubbling. Cooking time will depend on the firmness of the apples.
Cook until the apples are very soft, almost “dissolving.”
Remove from the heat and let cool slightly as the apples will be very hot.
Place the food mill over a bowl large enough to hold the applesauce. There is a bit of trial and error here. The food mill has small hooks, and you must find a good fit with a bowl.
When the apples are not too hot to handle, take a large ladle and scoop the apples with some cider into the food mill. Turn the handle until the apples are pureed and all that remains in the mill are skins and seeds. Repeat the process until all the apples are strained into your bowl. Use less cooking liquid if you like a thicker sauce.

Finishing the Sauce

While the sauce is still warm, add the sugar and some fresh squeezed lemon juice. Immediately stir to dissolve the sugar. Keep tasting and adjusting the sugar and lemon juice to your taste.
Add several teaspoons of cinnamon and about 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, along with a big splash of pure vanilla extract. There is no need to stick to precise measurements. You might even try a little cardamom or coriander if you like those spices.
Stir the mixture very well and sprinkle extra cinnamon on top.
Serve warm or chilled with chicken, turkey or pork chops and even for a snack. And applesauce cake is wonderful in the fall.

There are still food mills being sold out there, although, I suspect, not very many. I was happy to see a great New York Times article recently about a man who used his food mill to make his own designer gin and bitters. That sounded wonderful!

I am willing mine to my younger son, the cook. But, in the meantime, there’s lots of applesauce still ahead.

Happy Thanksgiving to all TheBurg readers!

The Blancs of the Loire: France sends two gifts for white wine lovers.

October 30, 2015 | by Steve Juliana

France is a beautiful country imbued with amazing art and architecture, as well as a fascinating, variable natural landscape that defines its many regions.

The Loire River Valley is one of the loveliest areas of France. A designated UNESCO World Heritage site, the valley is known for its 300-plus chateaux, including arguably the most famous, Chambord, the royal house replete with fairy-tale towers and turrets. Of course, this valley is also prime wine country, where two of the world’s great white wines, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, originated.

Sauvignon Blanc is a grape that has spread to almost every wine region on Earth, though it reaches its peak in two villages facing each other across the Upper Loire, Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire. This “wild white” is a savory quaff of medium acidity and crisp flavors. Lime, green apples and white peaches are found on the palate with fresh herbs and gooseberries showing in the nose.

Outside of its home country, Sauvignon Blanc has been embraced by many nations, especially New Zealand, where it is wildly popular and exported to the United States by a number of producers. Is it better than the French? For me, not so much. The kiwi blancs have a grassiness that I have difficulty appreciating. Sauvignon from Chile has more of the European character that I readily enjoy. This is a perfect match for many types of fish and briny cheeses, as well as a thirst-quenching beverage in warmer weather. Try it from any region to taste the uniqueness while the wine is young—it doesn’t age well.

Chenin Blanc is a grape that has always been associated with the Loire Valley. According to “Wine Grapes” by Jancis Robinson, the variety was first mentioned in the 15^th century, taking its name from Montchenin, a monastery in the town of Touraine. A varietal that can be made into different styles, it is a very adaptable fruit whether dry (sec), semi-dry (demi-sec) or sweet (moelleux). Because it has high acidity, Chenin can be fermented into a good sparkling wine.

The best examples hail from the French town of Vouvray, although there are now more acres devoted to vineyards in South Africa, where it is called “Steen.” The wine has a soft fruitiness and mouth feel that is unique in such a light quaff. Citrus, honey and spice are the predominant flavors, while orange blossom is in the nose.

Chenin Blanc is a food-friendly wine that matches well with sweet and sour flavors such as southeast Asian dishes, as well as sushi or traditional French cuisine with cream sauces. I was surprised how well this wine matched cranberry sauce with everyone’s favorite fowl, the Thanksgiving turkey. I also like to drink it without food, as its pleasant fruity flavors need nothing to bring out its personality. So, this month, you can perform a wonderful test. Open a bottle before your holiday meal and finish it up after the food hits the table, taking note of how you prefer to drink the wine.

Keep sipping, Steve.

November Wine recommendations

Philippe Foreau Vouvray Sec 2012

Code 47726 | Price: $38.99

“It’s absolutely delicious,” says French luxury wine buyer Jennifer Brown. Foreau is a benchmark producer in Vouvray, a region known for its amazing Chenin Blanc. Brown adds, “This is a dry Chenin with exquisite balance. Perfect for turkey day.”

Domaine Jacky Marteau Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Code 47790 | Price $11.99

You can’t get much more bang for your buck than with this beautiful Sauvignon Blanc from Touraine. This estate-made French white is perfect with chicken and seafood. And for lighter fare, try it with fresh asparagus and goat cheese.

Château de Moncontour Vouvray Demi-Sec 2014

Code 47120 | Price $15.99

Looking for something a little sweeter? Try this Chenin Blanc. The Wine Enthusiast gives this little gem 87 points and says, “The touch of sweetness cuts down on the acidity and emphasizes the yellow fruits and crisp apple-skin texture.” Although most whites are best when fresh, this one will get better with age. Although it is great with poultry and fish, for something a little different, try it after with a piece of homemade apple pie.

Student Scribes: “Two Poems”

October 30, 2015 | by Austin Shay

He stated that his name was Shannon, but his I.D. said Joe.
What was happening? We saw the prohibitions
of his choices, and he tested our views.

His dress caught my eyes, the very bright purple
with red dots, who was he to determine
he wouldn’t be involved?

I saw his breasts stare at me, and his glare penetrated
right through me. We experimented in college,
and we enjoyed that part of our lives,
but most of us have wives and kids now.

It is only a matter of time until he wanders
toward us and challenges my morals. I had never seen a man
so beautiful. His blonde hair fell flawlessly
down his back. He was bringing me back to college again.
The other men I was with focused on calling him “fag” and “queer.”
But I saw the way his thighs fit perfectly in his dress.
How the lipstick matched his outfit and delivered straight to my libido.
I traveled toward him, and the only words I could say
to him were “are you a he or a she?”
and his reply was simply, “I am a Ze.”

Ze.
What the hell?
The man was staring at me,
and I saw the start of a kiss
from this man with breasts. But he developed his own term.
Ze came back to my mind.
Ze, where the hell did he hear that, but should I call him this?
Ze looked at me,
and I knew that Ze was going to kiss me.
I was kissing Ze as the music played
around us and my friends challenged me when
they decided, I knew, that I was not allowed to come back.
I had made my choice; I shattered through my closet door.
I will not be a Ze, but I would love to f*** this Ze right now.
Ze was like a siren that keeps dragging me closer, and I am in her grasp.
I need to find myself again, and how could I liberate
myself and now I decided that I am enjoying this kiss, this wo(man).
Ze looked at men and me and smiled and I returned.

#Sayhername

We never saw your face
before the news coverage
came. #Sayhername
was all we saw. Shot down
by a group of men
for being herself.
How could a planet be as hurtful?
Being gay is hard enough,
but none of us couldn’t imagine letting the constant urge
from ourselves to be something that society
wouldn’t understand. Why would you portray
the opposite gender if it didn’t come
from somewhere deep within? Transgender
is what made the headlines, but I wish
they would have read more favorable.
“Precious Life Gunned Down by Bigots”
or “Woman Killed by Ignorant Men.”
Why does this keep happening?
Kiesha Jenkins, you were shot and killed
in North Philadelphia at just 22.
Why did you get out of your car at 2:30 am?
Were you just home or were you looking for help?
Six men, emphasis that they were men
that were raised by a woman
who would find this behavior hideous,
approached and assaulted you. Why?
The homicide captain told us you were shot in the back
and I can only imagine how you felt being alone
in the streets bleeding out while the monsters called you names
and ran away. Is this ever going to be solved?
I doubt it will and in a few months everyone will forget you.
Why were you targeted? Was it because you were transgender,
or just because you were at the corner of 13^th and Wingohocking.
A federal hate crime would put your murderers
away for life, but who knows where they are.
I always wonder how we are able to walk
down the streets without getting shot
or verbally harassed. But I know that you are okay
now and we will always remember
you for just being yourself.

Austin Shay is a sophomore English major at Penn State Harrisburg.

Re-Feather Your Nest: Kelly Havens brings repurposed, farmhouse chic to Marysville.

October 30, 2015 | by Missy Smith

Nestled on a busy street corner in Marysville is a small, studio-sized shop, outside of which is a handwritten chalkboard sign that says, “a snug retreat or refuge; resting place; home.”

That’s the definition of “nest,” which serves as a perfect introduction to Nestegg Interiors, where owner Kelly Havens gives new life to old, rustic items, showcasing her passion for upcycling and repurposing, as well as interior decorating.

Located in a building that was previously an ice cream shop, Nestegg Interiors opened its doors in June and welcomes patrons with a repertoire of refurbished furniture and handmade décor for the home, combining vintage charm with modern trends and conveniences.

“I think what you find a lot of around here at the different gift and home décor shops is true country primitive style,” said the Marysville native, who now calls Mechanicsburg home. “My style is more farmhouse chic.”

Inspired in recent years by the DIY (do-it-yourself) crafting trend, Havens decided to apply her lengthy retail experience to opening a shop that highlights her creative passions.

“I have always wanted to own a business, but I never actually thought it would become a reality,” she explained. “I started refurbishing and refinishing furniture about 2 ½ years ago, and everything seemed to just fall into place.”

She was drawn to re-purposing because she wanted to take items that most people think are trash and make them useful again—especially furniture and larger items.

“You can do something new to it to make it fresh and useful, instead of having it collecting dust,” she explained. “Not to mention it doesn’t end up in a landfill.”

Beautiful Pieces

At Nestegg Interiors, visitors can shop for upcycled furniture that is displayed in rotation, such as dressers, side tables, bed frames, ladders for displaying home décor and even vintage furniture repurposed into Lego tables.

But Havens’ favorite piece, and one of the most unique items in her shop, is a chair bench, which she built from two identical chairs.

“When I find two chairs that are alike, I get really excited,” she said. “When I turn them into a bench, it looks totally different than the two chairs separately.”

Havens gathers her vintage goods to upcycle from local thrift stores, sometimes an estate sale or even from the side of the road.

“Sometimes, I’ll find something in great shape that someone just couldn’t use anymore,” she said. “A lot of times, what I’ve found are large furniture pieces. People buy them, then get new furniture and don’t want to haul them anywhere, so they put them on the curb. I have found some beautiful pieces.”

She also constructs smaller pieces to accent the home, including cutting boards cleverly turned into tablet or electronic device holders and finished in trendy, modern colors, as well as reclaimed, wood-tiered shelves. Havens also assembles cake plates, serving tiers and candleholders out of vintage china.

In addition to lovely home accents, Nestegg Interiors offers some fun adult beverage-themed items for beer and wine aficionados. Customers will find wooden six-pack beer carriers with their own bottle openers attached to the side. Havens said these are perfect for craft beer lovers who like to shop for build-your-own six packs. She also makes wooden wine bottle carriers and wine racks.

To accompany these items, she even carries some appropriate signage, such as “A meal without wine is breakfast” and “This home runs on love, laughter and bottles of really cold beer.”

Good Fit

Havens’ shop displays style and personality that she personally seeks out as a consumer.

“What I have for sale are mostly things I love and things I would put in my own home,” she explained. “A lot of people come to my house and say, ‘I love how you decorate.’ People have told me that interior design would be a good fit for me.”

She has heeded their advice and is now offering interior design services through her shop.

She also features the work of artists and crafters who live in the area. For instance, the shop offers stylish, crocheted items by Marysville resident Elizabeth Bitting, as well as Havens’ father-in-law, who creates some of the wooden pieces on display. While Havens orders some other home décor pieces for her shop, she maintains a mostly local focus.

“When you shop locally at a store, it is run by someone in your community,” she said. “You are supporting the family that owns that business and helping their kids get shoes for their ballet class or their soccer team, instead of paying a big business.”

Nestegg Interiors is located at 101 Valley St. in Marysville. For more information, call 717-957-9222 or visit www.nesteggint.com.

Happenings: Our November Calendar of Events

October 30, 2015 | by TheBurg Editor

Museum & Art Spaces

3rd Street Studio
1725 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
Facebook: 3^rd Street Studio

“Secrets of Water,” photographs by Rance Shepstone and “Transrational Viewing Boxes” by Casey Fletcher, through Nov. 13.

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

“Autos in Acrylic,” fine art by Dan Reed, through Nov. 6.

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

“Architectural Visions,” through Nov. 25.

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

Artist of the Month: Kurt Meyer

Gallery@Second
608 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
717-233-2498; galleryatsecond.com

Photography by Erin Cummings, Irene Van Buskirk and John Wright, through Nov. 14.

Works by Jon Tritt and Mark Allison, Nov. 19-Jan. 9; reception, Nov. 20, 6-9 p.m.

Hershey Gardens
170 Hotel Rd., Hershey
717-534-3492; hersheygardens.org

“Bonsai: Living Art of the Susquehanna Bonsai Club,” through Nov. 8.

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

“Chocolate Workers Wanted,” life in Hershey’s chocolate factory from 1905 to 1925, through spring 2016.

Historic Harrisburg Association
1230 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-4646; historicharrisburg.com

“ART/history,” a retrospective exhibit on the career of costume designer Paul Foltz,
through Nov. 17.

Landis House
67 N. 4^th St., Newport
717-567-7023; www.perrycountyarts.org

“PCCA’s First Juried Exhibition,” showcasing original artwork in a variety of media and offering visitors the chance to vote for People’s Choice, through Jan. 22.

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

“Consumed,” an art exhibition examining holiday over-consumption, through Jan. 1; reception, Nov. 6, 6-11:30 p.m.

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

“The Negro Leagues in Harrisburg,” a baseball exhibit highlighting videos, memorabilia and rare cards, through Dec. 31.

“The Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls,” the story of a man born into slavery who rose to the U.S. Congress, through June 2016.

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

“Pennsylvania Artists: A Tribute,” an exhibition featuring eight Pennsylvania-based artists on a rotating basis, concludes with a showing of original acrylic paintings by acclaimed wildlife artist Gerald W. Putt, through Dec. 19.

PCCA Gallery
Perry County Council of the Arts
1 S. 2nd St., Newport
perrycountyarts.org

“Artisan Marketplace of Perry County,” featuring a holiday display of locally made fine art and handcrafted gifts by emerging and professional artists, through Jan. 2.

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

“Pull Left—Not Always Right,” emerging contemporary artists in China, through Nov. 13.

“Student Honors Photography,” Nov. 20-Dec. 11; reception, Dec. 3, 5:30-7 p.m.

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

“A Fondness for Birds: Pennsylvania’s Alexander Wilson,” featuring bird prints and first-edition volumes of the 200-year-old “American Ornithology” series by Alexander Wilson, through Jan. 3.

“The Pennsylvania Modern, A Juried Photography Exhibition of Midcentury Modern Architecture,” honoring iconic and modern architecture, through Feb. 2016.

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

“Towards A New/Old Architecture,” an exhibition exploring modern architecture, through Jan. 17.

“Les Diners de Gala by Salvador Dali,” featuring artwork from Dali’s cookbook, Nov. 20-Feb. 2016.

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

Works by Nate Solberg, through Nov. 13

“CURE International,” a photo exhibit by Jenny England, Nov. 17-Dec. 13; reception, Nov. 20, 6-9 p.m.

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

Artwork by Ryan Spahr, through Nov. 19

“Undefined,” the art of Brook Ramsey, Nov. 20- Dec. 17.

Read, Make, Learn

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

Nov. 5: “Wild Game Favorites,” 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 11: “Hearty Stews and Soups,” 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 18: “Thanksgiving Boot Camp,” 6-8 p.m.

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

Nov 1: “Hurricane Katrina: 10 Years Later,” 1:30 p.m.
Nov 3: Curl Up With the Classics—“Pride & Prejudice,” 1 p.m.
Nov. 8: “Here’s Mark Twain: 180 Years Later,” 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 13: Blood Drive with Central PA Blood Bank, 4-7:30 p.m.
Nov. 17: “Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs,” 7 p.m.

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

Nov. 4, 11: Weight Loss Clinic
Nov. 6: Healthy Kitchen Training Graduation
Nov. 12: Cooking Class—Harvest Side Dishes

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

Nov. 14-15, 21-22, 27-29: Little Elves Workshop, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

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

Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Common Roads Young Adults, 3 p.m.
Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 p.m.
Nov. 3: Women’s Group, 7 p.m.
Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25: Common Roads Youth, 6 p.m.
Nov. 12: Aging with Pride Lunchtime Discussion, 12 p.m.

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

Nov. 2: Midtown Writer’s Group, 6 p.m.
Nov. 3, 17: Meet-Up, 9 a.m.
Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25: Midtown Chess Club, 11 a.m.
Nov. 4: Alder Healthcare Community Class on Transgender Children, 6 p.m.
Nov. 4: Market Place HOA Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 3: Sci-Fi Writer’s Group, 7 p.m.
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
Nov. 6, 13, 27: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
Nov. 7: Good News Café, 6 p.m.
Nov. 8, 22: TED Talks, 1 p.m.
Nov. 10: Dauphin County Young Democrats Meeting, 7 p.m.
Nov. 12, 19: Camp Curtin Toastmasters, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 14: Book Talk/Q&A w/James Hamerstone & Lindsay Musser Hough, 2 p.m.
Nov. 15: Midtown Writer’s Group, 1 p.m.
Nov. 15: Book Club: LGBT, 5 p.m.
Nov. 18: Sci Fi & Fantasy Book Club, 7 p.m.
Nov. 20: Coffee Tasting with Café Staff, 12 p.m.
Nov. 20: Tea Tasting w/Café Staff, 2 p.m.
Nov. 21: Coffee & Critique—Designer Workshop, 8:30 a.m.
Nov. 21: Gamut Theatre’s Popcorn Hat Storytime, 11 a.m.
Nov. 23: Feminist Book Club, 7 p.m.
Nov. 24: Friends of Midtown Safety Committee, 6:15 p.m.
Nov. 28: Top Secret Book Debut with Mrs. Marbles, 11 a.m.
Nov. 28: Book Talk w/Allen Dieterich-Ward, 2 p.m.
Nov. 29: Sunday Screeners, 3 p.m.

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

Nov. 7: Waterscapes
Nov. 8: Fall Feather Frenzy Painting
Nov. 18: Paint Abstractly

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

Nov. 3: Get to Know Your Sewing Machine, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 5: Learn to Knit, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 12: Machine Sewing Basics, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 14: Garment Sewing 101, Oliver + S Sleepover Pajamas, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 19: Brooklyn Tweed’s Kelpie Shawl #1, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 21: PDF Shoulder Bag Sewing Project, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Rubicon
270 North St., Harrisburg
717-317-9027; rubiconhbg.com

Nov. 14: “Wines of Beaujolais” tasting, 4-5 p.m.
Nov. 19: Mulberry Street Mural Project Charity Bartending Event, 5-7 p.m.
Nov. 20: Manada Conservancy Charity Bartending Event, 5-7 p.m.

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

Nov. 14: Workshops in Archaeology, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Nov. 15: Artist’s Conversation—Pennsylvania Modern, 2-4 p.m.
Nov. 20: Learn at Lunchtime, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Suba Tapas Bar
272 North St., Harrisburg
717-233-7348; mangiaqui.com

Nov. 18: “Wines of Tuscany” pairing dinner, 6:30 p.m.

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

Nov. 4: Digital Photography Workshop, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 7: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 7: Landscape Study Group, 11 a.m.
Nov. 9-13: The Great Learny Journey, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

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

Nov. 4: Preschool Storytime—“Fall at Wildwood,” 10 a.m.
Nov. 7: Scout Workshop—Juniors “Animal Habitat,” 10 a.m.
Nov. 11: Veterans Day Bird Walk, 8-10 a.m.
Nov. 18: “Owls—Raptors of the Night,” 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 21: “Turkey Trek,” 1-3 p.m.
Nov. 29: “Gobble and Snort,” 1-2:30 p.m.

Live Music Around Harrisburg

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

Nov. 4: Badfish, a Tribute to Sublime
Nov. 7: Baba Brinkman
Nov. 13: Beanie Sigel
Nov. 14: Local H w/Anthrophobia
Nov. 15: Lonesome River Band
Nov. 18: Zach Deputy
Nov. 21: Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons
Nov. 29: Toy for Tots benefit

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

Nov. 3, 24: Daniel Sheehan
Nov. 4: Deborah Anderson
Nov. 5, 25: Jessica Cook
Nov. 6, 28: Chris Emkey
Nov. 7, 13: Ted Ansel
Nov. 8, 19, 22: Anthony Haubert
Nov. 12, 21, 27: Noel Gevers
Nov. 14, 20: Roy Lefever
Nov. 17: Corinna Mazzitti
Nov. 18: Maria Batista

Central PA Friends of Jazz
www.friendsofjazz.org

Nov. 29: Farid Barron

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

Nov. 3: Rise Against
Nov. 5: Jonathan Richman w/Tommy Larkins
Nov. 7: Emery
Nov. 15: Lukas Nelson
Nov. 18: Sublime with Rome
Nov. 21: Angry, Young & Poor 20-year Anniversary Show
Nov. 22: The Ocean Blue
Nov. 24: Mariana’s Trench
Nov. 28: The Main Squeeze

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

Nov 1: Genesis Lorraine
Nov 6: Antonio Andrade
Nov 7: Dan Zukowski
Nov 8: Coco & The Bug
Nov 13: Marc Lubbers
Nov 14: Seasons
Nov 15: Womack & Lowery
Nov 20: Kevin Kline
Nov 21: Doug Morris
Nov 22: Thieves & Lovers
Nov 27: Hollan
Nov 28: Jane Ramsey
Nov 29: Shelba Purtle

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

Nov. 15: Hiroya Tsukamoto

Gretna Music
Leffler Chapel and Performance Center, Elizabethtown College
717-361-1508; gretnamusic.org

Nov. 1: Joseph Alessi

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

Nov. 1: Screaming Females w/Potty Mouth
Nov. 5: Richard Shindell
Nov. 6: First Friday w/Vetour Productions
Nov. 7: Chatham County Line
Nov. 8: Joe Krown Trio
Nov. 11: Creepoid w/Saint Brendan & The Navigators
Nov. 12: Jim Lauderdale
Nov. 13: Exmag w/GiBBZ & Patrick Richards
Nov. 14: Lavinia Draper
Nov. 14: Cazwell w/Amanda Lepore
Nov. 20: Kilmaine Saints
Nov. 21: Cam Molloy
Nov. 27: The Dirty Sweet
Nov. 28: Rivers

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

Nov. 14-15: “Masterworks 2: William Tell Overture”
Nov. 16: Youth Orchestra Concert

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

Nov. 6: Bridge Street
Nov. 7: Star Child
Nov. 13: Scarlet
Nov. 14: Observe the 93^rd
Nov. 20: Love Lost Horizon
Nov. 21: Fith
Nov. 27: LeadFoot
Nov. 28: End of Silence

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

Nov. 6: Poetry Night w/Fox Lyn, J.C. Payne, Angela Kirkland, C.J. McConnel
Nov. 13: The Anthony Pieruccini Trio
Nov. 20: Taylor George Moreland Beard

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

Nov. 11: Styx
Nov. 19: The Tenors
Nov. 22: Shippensburg University Community Orchestra

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

Nov. 4: Duo Amal
Nov. 14: Majestic’s 90th Gala, “Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway”
Nov. 21: Gettysburg College Symphony Orchestra

The MakeSpace
1916 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgmakespace.com

Nov. 3: Shocking Pinks

Market Square Concerts
marketsquareconcerts.org

Nov. 7: Michael Brown & Nickolas Canellakis

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

Nov. 14: Carly Clark
Nov. 20: Ellyot H. Ray
Nov. 21: Covenant Christian Academy Coffeehouse

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

Nov. 7: Winter

MoMo’s BBQ and Grill
307 Market Street, Harrisburg
717-230-1030; momosbbqandgrill.com

Nov. 6: Devon Cayaro & Justin Clauser Band
Nov. 13: Nate Myers Trio
Nov. 20: Maudlin Moon

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

Nov. 8: Sunday Arts Hour, Steve Rudolph

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

Nov. 1: Erin Cruise
Nov. 4: Acoustic Stew Open Jam
Nov. 5, 12, 19: Open Electric Jam
Nov. 6: Due Process
Nov. 7: Steve Rudolph & Jonathan Ragonese
Nov. 11: Blue Elephant Open Jam
Nov. 13: Haircut & Flower Garden
Nov. 14: Paul Bratcher Organ Trio
Nov. 16: River City Big Band
Nov. 23: Central PA Friends of Jazz Jam
Nov. 27: Shawan and the Wonton

Rubicon
270 North St., Harrisburg
717-317-9027; rubiconhbg.com

Nov. 12: Little Amps Spun Out Vinyl Night w/Peter Allen & Caleb Smith

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

Nov. 6: Dan Zukowski
Nov. 7: Craig Bonner
Nov. 13: Rhoads & Putt
Nov. 14: Just Dave
Nov. 20: Antonio Andrade
Nov. 21: Joe Conney
Nov. 25: Chris Engel & Friends
Nov. 27: Cotolo
Nov. 28: Tom Yoder

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

Nov. 6, 21: Houston Baker
Nov. 7: Shea Quinn and Steve Swisher
Nov. 13: The Visitors Duo
Nov. 14: Song Smith
Nov. 20: US2 Duo
Nov. 27: Josh Krevsky
Nov. 28: Up Pops the Devil

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

Nov. 6: Black Violin
Nov. 6: Jazz in the City
Nov. 18: Hiss Golden Messenger
Nov. 19: Bollywood Masala Orchestra and Dancers of India
Nov. 20: Livingston Tayler
Nov. 22: York Junior Symphony
Nov. 22: Citizen Cope
Nov. 28: York Symphony Orchestra

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

Nov. 6: Strangled Darlings

7: Everything Turned to Color
Nov. 13: Miche
Nov. 20: Blue Elephant
27: Genna & Jesse
Nov. 28: Dirty Little Secret

Susquehanna Folk Music Society
sfmsfolk.org

Nov. 1: Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman
Nov. 15: Lonesome River Band
Nov. 20: Tom Chopin

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

Nov. 1: Portal Percussion
Nov. 5: Aurelio
Nov. 7: World Songs
Nov. 8: Alok Kumar
Nov. 14: Xun Pan & Trio Clavino
Nov. 19: World Percussion
Nov. 22: Fall Percussion Extravaganza

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

Nov. 25: The Machine
Nov. 28: “Revisit Steppenwolf”

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

Nov. 5: Itsy & Im
Nov. 12: TBA
Nov. 19: Rivers
Nov. 26: Live Folkin Music & Art w/Great Northeast

The Stage Door

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

Nov. 3-Dec. 30: “The 2015 Christmas Show”

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

Through Nov. 7: “A Mighty Fortress” (Church Basement Ladies)
Nov. 12-Dec. 31: “A Christmas Story”

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

Nov. 7-29: “Twelfth Night”

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

Nov. 6-7: Raymond the Amish Comic

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

Every Saturday: Free Improv Mixer
Every Sunday: Open Mic

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

Nov. 5: Jerry Seinfeld
Nov. 7: “Disney Live! Three Classic Fairytales”
Nov. 10-15: “Matilda the Musical”
Nov. 20-21: Gabriel Iglesias
Nov. 22: Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood

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

Nov. 1: “Turn of the Screw”

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

Nov. 14: “Nutcracker Preview” (Pennsylvania Regional Ballet)
Nov. 20: Comedy Night

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

Nov. 14: “Sleeping Beauty” (Popcorn Hat Players)

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-732-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

Nov. 27-Dec. 13: “Peter, Hook & the Darlings”

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

Nov. 6-22: “How the Other Half Loves”

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

Nov. 1: “Beauty and the Beast”
Nov. 4-5: York Symphony Orchestra—Classical Kids
Nov. 7: Compania Flamenca Jose Porcel
Nov. 15: The National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China
Nov. 20: Jim Breuer

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

Nov. 6-22: “White Christmas” (Theatre Harrisburg)

York Little Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-5715; ylt.org

Nov. 1: “Dracula”
Nov. 20-22 & 27-29: “White Christmas”

Three Ring Market: Market of Curiosities offers an odd circus of quirky holiday gifts, craft beer and live music.

October 30, 2015 | by Missy Smith

When you step inside a place called the “Market of Curiosities,” you should already know what you’re in for—anything but the ordinary.

And, indeed, the market is unlike the run-of-the-mill Christmas craft show or bazaar. Jam-packed with handmade and vintage offerings by more than 50 vendors, the market entertains holiday shoppers with quirky and unusual gift ideas.

“I want people to scratch their heads first and then realize how amazing these [non-traditional gifts] are,” said Sarah Taby, founder of the Market of Curiosities and owner of Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb vintage shop in Carlisle. “You are going to see really unique things that you wouldn’t find at most craft shows.”

Shoppers can find amusing gifts like pressed young leaves and flowers that are resin cast in metal jewelry by metalledwith; pewter accessories molded around found animal bones and teeth by Martha Rotten; small, upcycled, found-object metal robots by Robot Girl; imaginative plush animals inspired by 1950s-‘60s pop culture by Mod Sew Design; and stationery by “The Society for the Prevention of Psychic Dimming,” a printing business with a stand that at first puzzles, then delights the mind.

Shopping for inimitable gifts and getting in the holiday spirit the hipsterway requires a visit to the Market of Curiosities.

“I describe it as a three-ring circus of shopping, beer tasting and live music,” said Taby.

For Everyone
Last year, the market opened its doors for the first time and welcomed large crowds of shoppers into the historic Carlisle Ribbon Mill, which is the host site again for this year’s market.

“The space is gorgeous, and Carlisle Ribbon Mill was willing and eager to work with me,” said Taby, who estimates that she packed 1,300 people into the historic mill-turned-event facility at the inaugural market.

“It certainly exceeded my expectations,” she said. “I felt really honored that the vendors would take the risk to do this in its first year. When I do this market, I put the vendors first. If we put them first, the crowd will follow.”

With samples of local brews, indie-style music and a vendor selling mustache wax and related products, this market boasts more beards, flannel shirts and tattoos than your traditional holiday outing. This is the vibe that Taby is going for. She describes it as “an odd market for everyone.”

“I have an obsession with all things circus and sideshow, so I just wanted to honor that part of myself. I jokingly say I would love to own a circus, and I like to dress up as a lion tamer for Halloween,” explained Taby, who was bit by the vending bug in high school, when she traveled with her family’s tattoo business to conventions. After putting in some time helping with her family’s booths, she began selling her own vintage jewelry and designs at shows.

“Vending is a circus,” Taby said, laughing. “You are very much a part of that circus lifestyle, like a vagabond or a gypsy.”

On a Limb
Market-goers can even celebrate the carnival atmosphere by stepping into a photo booth to dress the part of circus performers and smile for a humorous photo to take home.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Taby. “Bring your imagination and don’t expect to know what to expect. Bring a little bit of your childhood curiosity with you.”

For attendees 21 and older, be sure to have your ID along to get a wristband at the door, which is your ticket to tastes from Leaux Dog Brewing Co., Market Cross Pub, Molly Pitcher Brewing Co. and Alibis Eatery and Spirits of Carlisle; Big Hill Ciderworks from Gardners; and Wolf Brewing Co. of Harrisburg. Sip your adult beverages as you shop to music by local bands, including Rivers and Hot Mess, and grab a lobster roll, falafel and more from food vendors.

The Market of Curiosities vendors have something to offer everyone and serve as great inspiration for Taby.

“I really love all of the vendors,” she said. “I feel passionate about their work and am very supportive of them. There are so many vendors who have other jobs, or are stay-at-home [parents] who are incredible, creative forces that do this as a side gig. I am very inspired by them.”

Hosting her market in Carlisle, where she lives and works, was just a natural choice to show off what the artistic, hip town has to offer.

“I think Carlisle is under-appreciated,” concluded Taby. “I thought we could have a cool event like one you would see in a metropolitan area. So, I went out on a limb and did it, mostly because I love Carlisle. It’s a cool place, and I wanted to show it in that way.”

The Market of Curiosities takes place Saturday, Dec. 5, 12 to 8 p.m. at Carlisle Ribbon Mill, 320 E. Louther St., Carlisle. For a full list of vendors, visit www.marketofcuriosities.com.

“Twelfth Night” and Transformations: Shakespeare’s “beautiful promise” opens Gamut’s new theater.

October 30, 2015 | by Thomas Weaver

When you’re a classic theater company opening a new home, you must be mindful in choosing the play for your inaugural production.

It’s an important decision. After all, you only get one chance to open the first show. It sets the tone for what the new theater means not only to your company but to your community. The play must be a story imbued with positive elements. When I learned that Gamut Theatre Group’s first production in its new theater would be William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” I immediately thought: “Of course. ‘Twelfth Night’ is the sweet spot.”

“Twelfth Night” could very well be Shakespeare’s greatest gift to any theater. It inevitably brings out the best in everyone. Few plays offer so many chances for actors to shine and for audiences to relish in the hilarious and rich journey. The play is full of what the Bard does best: ploys, mistaken identity, music, revenge, redemption, an enigmatic clown and characters who become more and more self-aware with every line they speak. Whether you’re a theatergoer or a theater practitioner, “Twelfth Night” is likely on your bucket list.

One of the most attractive qualities of “Twelfth Night” is the tragic nature of its comedy. In fact, for a Shakespearean comedy, “Twelfth Night” is full of characters with decidedly unfunny back stories: The Duke Orsino, whose soul is decaying from unrequited love; the Countess Olivia, who is stagnant in a seven-year mourning over the death of her brother; the protagonist Viola, who disguises herself as a man as both a means of protection and mourning as she believes her twin brother Sebastian has died in the horrific shipwreck she survived (Shakespeare’s son Hamnett, the twin brother of his daughter Judith, died suddenly of the plague just a few years before he wrote “Twelfth Night”); the servant Malvolio, who is so repressed and void of joy that his name in Italian literally translates to “I dislike.” Not exactly characters you’d expect to find in one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated comedies.

The laughter and brilliance of “Twelfth Night” lie in its timeless theme of transformation. Each character will experience a transformation so significant, uplifting, and, yes, humorous, one can’t help but delight in the change. Whether it’s the Duke Orsino discovering love in the most unexpected of places, Olivia allowing grief to take a backseat to desire, Viola revealing her identity to experience one of the most moving of Shakespearean reunions, or Malvolio falling in love the moment he realizes he is capable of feeling it, “Twelfth Night” shows us not only who we are, but who we hope to become. This theme of transformation—of honoring the past while looking to the future—is Artistic Director J. Clark Nicholson’s concept for Gamut’s “Twelfth Night.”

Gamut’s production celebrates this theme of new growth from fertile beginnings in exciting ways and is perhaps best illustrated by the actors themselves. For more than two decades, Gamut has employed a full-time company of professional artists in Harrisburg. Through the years, many actors have come and gone, but a number have stayed, choosing to make Harrisburg their home. The cast of “Twelfth Night” consists of current and former company members, including several actors who have served in a similar capacity over the years. The role of the “fair behaviored” Sea Captain, a pivotal character who mysteriously disappears after one scene, will be played by a different former company member each night—some traveling from states away. The result is a cast demographic of new and familiar faces representing not only the theme of growth, but where the company has been and where it is going.

“Twelfth Night” is not so much the best choice to open Gamut’s new home, but really, the only choice. The final lines of the play perhaps illustrate this best. This is not a spoiler by any means—after all, you’ve had nearly 400 years to read “Twelfth Night.” The play ends with a song from Feste, the mysterious clown:

“A great while ago the world began,

With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,

But that’s all one, our play is done

And we’ll strive to please you every day.”

Four hundred years ago, this was Shakespeare’s beautiful promise to his audience. Now, as Gamut opens its new home in November, this is their promise to you.

Gamut Theatre is located at 15 N. 4^th St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 238-4111 or visit www.gamuttheatre.org.

NOVEMBER THEATRE EVENTS
at Harrisburg’s Professional Downtown Theatres

Nov. 6
GAMUT THEATRE GRAND OPENING
11 am to 2 pm
Ribbon cutting with Mayor Eric Papenfuse
Cake & refreshments will be served
Open to the community to tour Gamut’s new facility

Nov. 7 to Nov. 29
TWELFTH NIGHT
The inaugural performance at the newGamut Theatre
Select Medical Mainstage
Tickets at GamutTheatre.org

Saturday, Nov. 7: Opening Night with “Meet the Cast & Crew” reception
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Fridays: Tickets BOGO (buy one, get one free)
Sundays: Tickets BYOP (bring your own price)—any size donation buys a ticket

Nov. 27 to Dec. 13
PETER, HOOK, & THE DARLINGS
The classic story as you’ve never seen it before,Thursdays to Sundays, at Open Stage of Harrisburg, with these special events:

Friday Nov. 27: Opening Night with reception
Dec. 3 & Dec. 10: Thrifty Thursdays with a limited number of $15 tickets sponsored by PSEA
Sunday Dec. 6: 2 pm matinee includes post-show discussion

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like