Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Knitter's Edge, a Bethlehem yarn purveyor, is a one-stop shop.
I had a pumpkin latte today. This was a very big deal. It was, as you can imagine, the first of the season. I could choose to mourn the loss of my iced soy vanilla chai and my apple red sundress, or I could embrace my pumpkin latte, along with the firewood piled up at the entrance of Wegmans, the return of sexy boots and all the other small pleasures of fall. And for me, that means the revival of one of my quainter hobbies: knitting. Quite a bit of time has passed since all that “knitting is the new yoga” nonsense. Knitting is not the new yoga. Let knitting be knitting and yoga be yoga. Being a practitioner of both, however, I will say that both have that magical “mind quieting” quality. And who doesn’t like a little mind quieting? Now you…
40.622316
-75.404775
1601 W Broad St, Bethlehem, PA
/articles/great-escape-knit-your-way-to-zen-f0893559
/locations/5365013
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Lehigh Valley now has two lounges where you can enjoy a drink with a view and elevate happy hour to happy escape.
I don’t know about you, but as soon as the air gets a little warmer one of the first things I want to do is find a bar with outdoor seating. And being a bit of an overachiever, I say why settle for “deck” when you can go “rooftop?" Level 3, the rooftop lounge at Melt, has long been a favorite of mine, but we’ll get to that in a second. First, I had to investigate a rumor. I had heard murmurs that there was a new high-in-the-sky spot in downtown Allentown. Naturally, I had to make the long trek (read: 20 minute drive) to see for myself. The Cosmopolitan opened its doors in October, boasting an elegant menu and posh decor. But it’s not until the spring weather arrived that people started really talking about the Cosmo. The reason? Its two-…
Friday, June 17, 2011
The antiques and collectables store will take you back to a simpler time.
You won’t need Stewie’s time machine, a Star Trek transporter or even Mr. Peabody’s WABAC contraption. Just take a stroll inside Cottage Crafters, a store in the Tilghman Square Shopping Center in South Whitehall that specializes in antiques and collectables, and escape to a bygone time and place. You might find yourself in a simpler, less stressful time, or, before you know it, transported an hour or so into the future. It's one way to remember, dream and escape from the here and now. On a recent tour, I traveled back to the 1970s and 80s, when Allentown’s famous Hess’s department store and its Patio restaurant stood as beacons of success in a booming downtown. Seeing the logo pins the waitresses used to wear ($15), a Patio silver fork …
Friday, June 10, 2011
Hellertown's cupcakery uses fresh, natural and organic ingredients to achieve bold flavors.
There are the kinds of foods you eat because they’re there, like drive-through burgers on a road-trip or steamed broccoli because you need the folic acid. And then, there are the types of foods that consume your thoughts and inspire you to get in the car and drive clear across town for a culinary escape. For me, that item is a strawberry cupcake, created by Amy Wardle, baker extraordinaire of Warm Sugar, the newest eatery on Main Street, Hellertown. One bite in and I was scheming to write in to “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” I think I can get Giada on board. For weeks before its grand opening, I was rubber-necking, trying to sneak a peek in the windows, which were promptly adorned with pink and white decals. And the name? Warm Sugar? I mean…
Friday, June 3, 2011
Victory Brewing in Downingtown has been churning out hoppy goodness for the last 50 years, but in the last 10 they’ve taken it to the next level.
Cabernet may be king in Sonoma, but lager is where it’s at in PA. And although the most ubiquitous of all lagers, Yuengling, flows like water from the taps of the Lehigh Valley, there’s another award-winning brewery that deserves some love from its home state. And no, I’m not talking about Fegley’s Brew Works, although Lord knows I loves me some Valley Golden Ale. Allow me to the sing the praises of Victory Brewing Company, the best-kept secret in Downingtown, PA. Tucked away in the corner of an industrial complex, Victory has been churning out hoppy goodness for the last 50 years, but in the last 10 they’ve taken it to the next level. With a 50-barrel system imported from Germany, Victory produces nearly 50,000 gallons of brew per year…
Friday, May 27, 2011
Basically, it’s Disneyland for foodies.
I used to think people who thought cooking was relaxing had a screw loose. The days when chopping vegetables and measuring flour were akin to torture are not that long gone for me, and yet, it seems like a lifetime. I love walking the aisles of the grocery store, sorting through the farmer’s freshest picks and wondering what Julia Child recipe would work best with wild-caught snapper. If this is you, or if you just like to eat, may I encourage you to take a little road trip to the very best grocery store you’ll ever shop (sorry, Wegmans): Trader Joe’s. Basically, it’s Disneyland for foodies. Well ... a mini-Disney, anyway. The primarily Californian grocer has started moving East in recent years, and several locations are just a short drive…
Friday, April 29, 2011
The Parkway offers five ways to escape all spring long.
There’s no turning back now. Spring has officially sprung. No more snow. No more ice. No more annoying, hair-raising static, made worse by itchy wool (does that drive anyone else batty?). What better way to celebrate the smell of fresh flowers and the newfound sunshine than an afternoon lounging about the Little Lehigh Parkway? For those in the dark, the Parkway is a three-mile stretch of water, woods and walkways in Allentown, surrounded by Salisbury Township on its southern flank. It's bounded for the most part by Lehigh Parkway Drive North and Lehigh Parkway Drive South. Here are your top five ways to escape your every day, thanks to this local natural beauty: 1. Take a walk: An ambling pace is the best way to savor all the burgeoning…
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Cozy up in a themed suite at this bed and breakfast "staycation" destination.
I lament that the word “staycation” has become such a permanent addition to our vernacular. “STOP TRYING TO MAKE STAYING HOME FUN,” I want to scream. But at the same time, it really is incredible how, under the right circumstances, you really can feel a million miles away from home while kicking it just around the corner. One of the best ways to achieve this goal: The bed and breakfast. Don’t get those eyes rolling quite yet. B&Bs get a tough rap. Oft associated with lace doilies, cramped rooms and retiring at a sensible hour – how else are you supposed to get up early enough for that free breakfast? – it’s easy to see how some of the more charming ones can get lost in the fray. To be sure, East Greenville’s Globe Inn is completely and …
40.40573
-75.5066
326 W 4th St, East Greenville, PA
/articles/the-great-escape-east-greenvilles-globe-inn
/locations/4090936
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Don't let anyone fool you. Yoga is a real workout.
I can write about “great escapes” for ages. The opportunities for fun and relaxation in the Lehigh Valley are plentiful (thank goodness!). But unless you can escape the constant stream of patter that goes through every mom’s brain – work, dinner, cleaning, education, extracurriculars – your great escape is only a good one. That’s why this week, I would like to recommend The Yoga Loft of Bethlehem (or any other yoga studio or class that happens to be in your neighborhood). Yoga experienced a spike in trendiness in the last few decades, and although people often roll their eyes at its mention, I can tell you it works. What do I mean by that? Yoga, a meditational art whose origins lie in B.C.E. India, has many aspects that should appeal …
40.61063
-75.371608
521 E 4th St, Bethlehem, PA
/articles/great-escape-the-yoga-loft-of-bethlehem
/locations/3869095
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Travel back to a simpler time.
You’re driving home from work. It’s been one of those days. The boss was in a mood; you hated what you brought for lunch; and the day care center called to set up a meeting about “behavioral issues.” You know you need to get home – eventually – but not yet. The oldest has soccer practice, and the youngest can play with Dad for a while. You deserve a few minutes away. A few minutes off from life. Typically, this is where you’d set your autopilot to “Destination: Starbucks,” but not today. Today, you deserve a little extra special treat. Hop on Route 378 and head into South Bethlehem where you will have the extraordinary opportunity to travel back to a simpler time: One where the bartenders wore bowties, and sports games didn’t invade …
40.611385
-75.377144
336 Adams St, Bethlehem, PA
/articles/the-great-escape-the-bookstore-speakeasy-2
/locations/3786073
