Tag Archives: The Kitchen at HMAC

Ups & Downs: Harrisburg and the unsettled, topsy-turvy, can’t-make-up-its-mind year.

December 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

A heated election, nagging parking problems and lots of bickering—Harrisburg, as usual, didn’t lack for drama in 2015.

Once again, it’s time for my annual Top 10 list of Harrisburg news events. Each January, I revisit and rank the stories that I believe had the greatest impact on the capital city over the prior year.

In some ways, Harrisburg had a good year (continued redevelopment) and in some ways a bad year (stubbornly high crime). All in all, 2015 was a year that started off with great expectations of progress, had plenty of highs and lows and ended up decidedly mixed.

Kipona Chaos. The last thing that Harrisburg needed was to feed the perception that the city is unsafe—and that’s exactly what it got as scores, hundreds (who really knows?) of youth went on a Labor Day weekend rampage. The trouble began with an argument between two teenagers just as the annual Kipona festival was wrapping up for the night. Soon, crowds of kids descended on the riverfront and, emboldened by their numbers, began roaming through streets in Midtown and Uptown, vandalizing cars (including the police chief’s!) and a convenience store. One teenager accidentally shot himself in the leg. Eventually, arrests were made, but not before the damage had been done both to property and to the city’s always-fragile image.

Bar Brawl. What responsibility does a business have to its community? I asked that question in a blog post last year after the city tried to shut down several bars it deemed problematic. The 3^rd Street Café in Midtown fought back, appealing revocation of its business license to the Dauphin County court. The owner claimed he couldn’t be held responsible for what his patrons did just outside his bar; the city disagreed. At press time, the judge still had not decided whether the bar stays open or closes.

Front Street Fix. First came the lane closures, then the tree cutting, then—oh boy—the noise. By early summer, Harrisburg was divided in two: those who approved of PennDOT’s redesign of Front Street and those who didn’t. In the end, it wasn’t the commuters, reduced to two lanes, who bore the brunt of the project, but those who lived along the street, shocked to discover that PennDOT could, and did, work all night long. However, due to their sacrifice, Harrisburg now has a smooth, less forbidding road, which, on most days, begs the question—why were there ever three lanes to begin with?

Nightmare at the Museum. What’s messier than a splatter painting studio? The financial tangle that the Susquehanna Art Museum found itself in just months after opening the doors to its beautiful new facility in Midtown. To sum up: two entities laid claim to one $1.2 million state grant—JEM Group (the project’s general contractor) and Fulton Bank, which wanted to get paid after SAM defaulted on a $3 million loan. The sides chose negotiation over litigation, and, by year-end, an agreement was at hand, which provided some funds to both entities and allowed the museum to stay open.

Midtown Resurgence. At this time last year, the following places did not exist: The Millworks, Zeroday Brewing, the SAM building, Next Step Performance and both The Kitchen and The Capitol Room at HMAC. They all opened last year, and, in October, WCI Partners began converting the Moose Lodge/Ron Brown complex to mixed-use space, bringing back an entire city block that had been shuttered for a decade. In other words, 2015 was a landmark year for Midtown’s main commercial stretch. Unfortunately, it wasn’t all good news. SAM’s financial troubles clouded the picture, and another big project, GreenWork’s proposed “Education Row,” went nowhere. Will last year’s new projects finally push Midtown past the tipping point, ending its annoying one-step-forward, half-a-step-back routine?

Parking Redux Redux. When it comes to Harrisburg’s parking system, if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Parking meter revenues topped projections, but nagging enforcement problems and weak garage usage provided far less income than was expected. One bright spot: Mayor Eric Papenfuse’s gamble—which lowered happy hour rates downtown and provided four free hours of parking on Saturday—paid off, so those parker-friendly measures should continue. So, for the third straight year, parking scores a spot on my annual Top 10 list. To steal a quote from the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza—congrats, or something.

Papen-fights. City Council, the county commissioners, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, the Hershey-Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau—if there was an entity to tussle with, Mayor Papenfuse tussled. October may have been the low point, with Council President Wanda Williams repeatedly calling him “a liar” followed by public squabbles with both HHRVB and the Chamber/CREDC. By year-end, the mayor and his frenemies had mostly walked back their disputes, agreeing to work towards resolutions or at least a détente.

Council Shakeup. Eric Papenfuse is not a shy guy (see above). On TheBurg Podcast, he boldly stated that City Council needed new blood and who, in his opinion, should stay and go. He got his way. Following a spirited election, city residents voted in three new council members, substantially changing the tenor of the seven-member body. I rank this story high not because of the 2015 campaign, per se, but because of what it could mean for the city—and the mayor’s legislative priorities—in 2016.

Harrisburg Less Strong. “Harrisburg Strong” began to show its weak spots as the city’s financial recovery plan failed to deliver expected revenues for a second straight year. In 2015, city revenue was about $6 million less than projected by the Strong Plan. Papenfuse said that the plan’s architects had made overly optimistic projections and that some critical revenue sources, such as from the aforementioned parking, were soft. To fix the structural deficit and deliver an acceptable level of city services, the mayor called for a tripling of the local services tax and greater revenue from commercial sanitation enforcement as part of his 2016 budget.

Reed Arrested. There was no contest for the year’s No. 1 story, as former Mayor Steve Reed’s arrest was not just Harrisburg news but national news. Love him or hate him, Reed reigned over the city for 28 years, commandeering a comeback built upon a combination of bricks, mortar, debt and delusion. In the end, he was indicted on nearly 500 criminal counts covering various theft, fraud and corruption charges. The sight of agents hauling hundreds of museum-quality Wild West artifacts out of Reed’s poorly maintained Cumberland Street house is one this city will not soon forget.

So, what’s the final verdict on 2015? There were plenty of ups and downs, but, in the end, I think we were marginally better off as a city on Dec. 31 than we were on Jan. 1. Not a lot. Not enough. And probably not as much as I had hoped or expected. But, all in all, we’ve moved forward a few squares.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Great Scott! The cult classic “Rocky Horror Show” returns to H*MAC for Halloween season.

September 30, 2015 | by Rebecca Hanlon

Fishnet stockings, heavily made-up transvestites and a hunk by the name of Rocky have made the cult classic “Rocky Horror Show” a fan favorite for years at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center.

This year, the live production returns for four shows, to the great relief of light-shining, callback shouting, dancing-in-the-aisles audience members who can’t imagine a Halloween season without the crazy antics of Dr. Frank N. Furter and his spaced-out, insatiable crew from Transsexual, Transylvania.

“The audience is the best part,” said Lindsay Bretz-Morgan, a longtime producer and choreographer for H*MAC’s “Rocky Horror Show.”

As soon as the band plays the first note, the crowd goes wild, she said.

But it isn’t just the audience at H*MAC that comes back to see the show year after year, sometimes buying tickets for each of the four performances. Bretz-Morgan has participated in a “Rocky Horror” production at various theaters for the past 10 years. The past three have been at H*MAC.

“Performing this show at H*MAC makes you feel a little like a rock star,” Bretz-Morgan said. “It comes back to the stage each year, but there’s always something a little different.”

Based on a story by Richard O’Brien, “Rocky Horror” is about newly engaged couple Brad and Janet, whose car breaks down near the Frank N. Furter castle. The mad scientist, famous as a flamboyant transvestite, takes the couple in and introduces them to a cast of characters who have their own hidden agendas. Things take a twist when the doctor’s project, the creation of a handsome fellow named Rocky, comes to life.

Going into its sixth year at H*MAC, “Rocky Horror” has always had a live band and presents an experience different from any other theater, said John Traynor, H*MAC president.

The entire room becomes the stage as actors interact with the audience and the narrator even tells the story from a spot above the theater’s bar. Many audience members come dressed as the popular Frank N. Furter and are happy to shout or sing along with the cast or toss confetti onto the stage, Traynor said.

He suggests those who haven’t been to the theater performance first watch the movie version, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and have an open mind to the story of acceptance.

“The story has a real fun aspect to it, if you’re open to it,” Traynor said. “I think it’s become so popular because it pushes people to be who they are.”

Bretz-Morgan said that, despite being a yearly production, “Rocky Horror” has a little something different to offer depending on the cast and people behind the scenes. Different directors often bring their own take, she said. In previous years, Justin Beiber jokes and other modern aspects were tossed into the mix. This year, people might notice the addition of a saxophone to the live band. A group of phantoms, who play the ensemble, also make it the largest cast H*MAC has had for “Rocky Horror,” she said.

Returning veterans, such as Ryan Boyles, who plays Frank N. Furter, and Taryn Sprenkle, who plays Janet, also bring back a sense of familiarity to the show. Boyles had to take a break from theater performances a couple of years ago when he and his wife had a child, Bretz-Morgan said. Others members have gone on tour, moved away or become busy with new projects, so it’s nice when an old face can return, she said.

Those thinking of attending the show for the first time should be prepared for a crazy night, said Bretz-Morgan. Friends of hers who attended in the past were expecting a traditional theater experience. By the time the show was over, they wanted to learn all the callbacks shouted out by regular audience members so they could be more involved for the next year.

“If you come knowing that things are a little different, a little out of the ordinary, then you’ll have a great time,” she said. “It’s such a fun atmosphere, and people love that.”

Bretz-Morgan also suggests people make a night of it by having dinner in H*MAC’s restaurant, The Kitchen, which wasn’t an option before this year. In the past, even cast members searched for places to get Chinese takeout between shows.

“Harrisburg, in general, has a lot of cool, new places that have been opening up, and I think people are more likely to grab dinner or a drink and just hang out,” she said. “It’s fun to be in Harrisburg right now. I’m glad H*MAC can be part of that.”

The “Rocky Horror Show” will be performed at 8 p.m. and midnight on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, 1110 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. Tickets are $20 to $25. For more information, visit www.harrisburgarts.com or call 717-412-4342.

September News Digest

September 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Tax Hike Suggested

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse last month proposed tripling the local services tax to help close an estimated $6 million budget gap for the year.

Papenfuse introduced the idea during the annual State of the City address, saying that the Harrisburg Strong financial recovery plan needed to be amended because some revenues, including parking revenues due to enforcement snags, have fallen short of projections.

Under this plan, the local services tax would increase from $1 to $3 per worker per week. The increase would generate about $4 million a year, according to the administration.

The increase must be passed by City Council and approved by the Commonwealth Court. Papenfuse later said that Fred Reddig, a state official and the city’s Act 47 coordinator, supports the idea.

During his speech, Papenfuse also urged Harrisburg-based businesses to help the city financially by ceasing to use private haulers for trash collection. In addition, he floated the idea that the city should consider Home Rule, which would allow it to have greater control in its own affairs.

Papenfuse said that Home Rule was the “only real way out” of Act 47 financial oversight. Many municipalities in Pennsylvania, including Carlisle, have Home Rule charters, but achieving Home Rule would take years.

Reed to Stand Trial

The criminal case against former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed will go to trial, a judge determined last month.

Following a daylong preliminary hearing, Senior Magisterial District Judge Richard Cashman said the state could proceed with a case against Reed on all 485 counts against him, covering a wide range of alleged corruption.

At the hearing, the prosecution presented evidence that Reed had violated numerous laws, including that he had kept in his possession hundreds of artifacts purchased with city money. Reed allegedly bought the artifacts for several museums that he had proposed building in the city.

The defense team, led by Henry Hockheimer of the Philadelphia-based firm of Ballard Spahr, refuted those charges, stating that the property rightfully belonged to Reed.

Separately, Reed’s attorneys last month filed a motion asking the court to dismiss more than 300 counts against him, claiming they were not valid because the statute of limitations had expired.

Sinkhole Application Favored

The state has ranked Harrisburg first in Pennsylvania to receive federal sinkhole mitigation funds, the city learned last month.

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency sent a letter to Harrisburg saying its application for a federal Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant for sinkhole remediation had been ranked No. 1 in the state.

The city is seeking grants for sinkhole repair and home demolition and buyouts in a hard-hit area of S. 14^th Street.

The state support, while positive, does not guarantee that Harrisburg will receive the award, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. Only state emergency management agencies are eligible to apply for grants under the program, but awards are not allocated on a state-by-state basis.

LED Project Gets Green Light

Harrisburg’s plan to upgrade all of its streetlights with long-lasting LED lights is set to begin this month after the City Council approved funding for the project.

Council last month voted unanimously to borrow $3.2 million from M&T Bank for the LED conversion project, the city’s first major borrowing since the financial crisis shut it off from the credit markets. Council then voted unanimously to contract with The Efficiency Network, based in Pittsburgh, to perform the citywide installation of about 6,000 lights.

The administration estimates that the upgrade will save the city about $500,000 annually in energy costs, which should cover the cost of the financing. As part of its contract, The Efficiency Network guarantees the savings for a 10-year period.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said much of the work would be done this fall, but probably would not be completed until early next year.

Council also authorized the administration to apply for a $3.6 million grant from Impact Harrisburg, a nonprofit set up as part of the city’s financial recovery plan to assist its infrastructure and economic development efforts. Impact Harrisburg is in the process of hiring an executive director, which it must do before considering applications for grants.

If Harrisburg receives the money, the city would pay off the loan early and use the savings from reduced energy costs for other purposes, Papenfuse said. The loan carries a prepayment penalty of 3 percent.

The city already has received a grant of $500,000 to offset some of the cost of the LED project.

Campbell Gets Probation

Former Harrisburg Treasurer John Campbell last month was sentenced to three years of probation for stealing money from three nonprofit organizations.

As part of his sentence, Campbell turned over a restitution check for $26,230, which will repay Historic Harrisburg Association, the Capital Region Stonewall Democrats and Lighten Up Harrisburg for the thefts.

In all, Campbell pled guilty to one misdemeanor and two felony counts.

Campbell was executive director of Historic Harrisburg and a volunteer treasurer for both Lighten Up Harrisburg and the Stonewall Democrats when the thefts occurred. He was not charged with any crimes in his capacity as city treasurer.

Dauphin County Common Pleas Judge Scott A. Evans is allowing Campbell to serve his probation in the Washington, D.C., area, where he now lives.

Bar Loses Appeal

A Midtown Harrisburg bar targeted for closure by the city has lost its appeal, and now has taken its case to court.

The city’s License and Tax Appeal Review Board rejected the effort by the Third Street Café (formerly Club 1400) to retain its business license and continue operating from its building at the corner of N. 3rd and Calder streets.

The three-person appeals board unanimously sided with the city, which alleges that the bar attracts criminal behavior, especially drug activity.

“The owners and operators of the Third Street Café consented to or allowed behavior on and around the premises that constituted crimes under federal, state and local laws,” concluded the board in its Aug. 28 decision.

The city has tried for months to revoke the bar’s business license. In late March, it sent owner Tony Paliometros a letter stating it planned to revoke the license, giving him 30 days to cease operations. Paliometros appealed the revocation, and a one-day appeals hearing was held in late May.

After losing the appeal, Paliometros immediately appealed that decision to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas and was granted a stay to remain open. The court appeal is scheduled for Oct. 9.

Housing Market Stable

Housing sales and prices were relatively stable in August, compared to the same period last year.

Throughout the region, 783 houses sold at a median sales price of $165,000, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors. In August 2014, 781 houses sold for a median price of $165,000.

In Dauphin County, 265 houses sold at a median price of $144,900. In Cumberland County, 268 houses sold for a median price of $179,900 and, in Perry County, 27 houses sold for a median price of $165,000.

So Noted

The Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District and Recycle Bicycle last month launched a Downtown Bike Library, which allows people to borrow and then return a bike, a helmet and a lock at no cost from the HDID office at 22 N. 2^nd St. This program is considered a pilot program to the Bike Share Harrisburg initiative that is in the works to bring a bike share program to the city.

The Millworks last month started a lunch service, which begins at 11 a.m. Tuesday to Friday. The Midtown Harrisburg restaurant and art space opened in March for dinner, Tuesday through Sunday. It then added weekend brunch hours.

Bricco halted its lunch service last month in favor of expanding its catering business with Ciao! Bakery, in an endeavor now called Bricco-Ciao! Catering. The menu consists of both Ciao’s sandwiches and Bricco’s Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Bricco, at the corner of S. 3^rd and Chestnut streets, remains open for dinner.

The Kitchen at H*MAC last month announced new lunch and brunch hours. The restaurant, located at 1110 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg, now is open for lunch on Monday to Friday beginning at 11 a.m. and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.

Arepa City, which specialized in the Venezuelan sandwich called the arepa, closed last month after more than six years in downtown Harrisburg. Owner Daniel Farias said customers didn’t follow the restaurant after it moved into larger space further down N. 2^nd Street. Farias said he plans to continue his catering business.

Frederic Loraschi Chocolate opened a retail location and production facility at 4615 Hillcrest St. in Colonial Park. For years, the chocolatier has made his high-end confections from a converted kitchen in the basement of his Hummelstown home. The new shop allows consumers to buy directly from him.

Changing Hands

Berryhill St., 2101: R. Pickles to D. Maxwell, $96,500

Calder St., 116: M. DePhilip to D. Goldman, $150,000

Chestnut St., 2100: W. & K. Richards to H. Trauffer, $65,000

Curtin St., 543, 2135 N. 4^th St., 1949 Berryhill St., 545 Benton St. & 2314 N. 4^th St.: Susquehanna Bank to MBHH RE LLC, $107,000

Graham St., 118: B. & K. Elgart & Cartus Financial Corp. to P. Furlong, $219,900

Green St., 1924: D. Miller & R. Finley to G. O’Loughlin, $214,900

Hale Ave., 428: Metro Bank to T. & K. Vu, $42,500

Herr St., 409: W. & F. Moore to D. Jordan, $106,000

Industrial Rd., 3360: Conewago Contractors Inc. to Norfolk Southern Railway Co., $7,500,000

Kelker St., 319: K. Hancock to J. Marks, $60,000

N. 2^nd St., 1311: J. Feldman to T. Gray, $78,700

N. 2^nd St., 1406: F. Magaro to C. Albers, $149,000

N. 2^nd St., 1520: E. Spaar to N. & R. Masterson, $94,000

N. 2^nd St., 1708: D. Shreve to J. Seigle, $171,300

N. 2^nd St., 1829: E. Stuckey to M. Nolt, $126,000

N. 2^nd St., 3206: R. & P. Kotz to S. Margut, $178,000

N. 3^rd St., 1606: Fannie Mae to Anselmo Brothers Partnership, $52,500

N. 3^rd St., 2243: Kusic Financial Services LLC to A. & M. Collins, $58,000

N. Front St., 2609: Supreme Forest of Tall Cedars to A. Hartzler, $225,000

Penn St., 1820: Bayview Loan Servicing LLC to PA Deals LLC, $50,250

Penn St., 1917: S. Stauffer to S. Cline & J. Lemon, $118,500

Penn St., 1920: WCI Partners LP to C. Clabaugh, $159,900

Rudy Rd., 2141: A. McKenna to M. McNelis, $142,900

Rumson Dr., 2586: Beneficial Consumer Discount Co. to PA Deals LLC, $43,299

Schuykill St., 518 & 522: M. & A. Parsons to J. & B. Readinger, $37,500

S. 15^th St., 347, 1529 Catherine St., 1615 Naudain St., 30 Balm St., 1822 Park St. & 22 Balm St.: I. Colon to C. Harp, $30,000

S. Front St., 555: Ashbury Foundation to D. Ogg, $82,500

State St., 115: Pennsylvania Bar Association to Commonwealth Strategic Solutions LLC, $172,000

State St., 231, Unit 504: LUX 1 LP to M. & K. Lastrina, $144,900

State St., 231, Unit 505: LUX 1 LP to M & K. Lastrina, $154,900

State St., 1336: D. Pinnock to D. Vining, $37,000

Susquehanna St., 1833: G. & K. Ender to J. Secrest, $42,500

Swatara St., 2416: M. Gaston et al to D. & E. Davenport, $129,600

Thompson St., 1257: Jamil Karim LLC to Harrisburg Housing Authority, $80,000

Woodbine St., 502: K. Bethea to C. Guerrier, $40,000

Harrisburg property sales for August 2015, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Tag Archives: The Kitchen at HMAC

Ups & Downs: Harrisburg and the unsettled, topsy-turvy, can’t-make-up-its-mind year.

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