The English language is filled with apparent contradictions – phrases such as “alone in a crowd,” “jumbo shrimp,” “open secret” and (thanks to George Carlin) “military intelligence.” Until recently, I would have included “graffiti artist” on that list – until I had a chance to talk with Max Meano, who specializes in that genre. Max’s medium of expression is spray pa... »
Once upon a time, it seemed that practically every neighborhood included a corner store, a cop walking a beat… and a barbershop. Those original man-caves were easy to spot, usually sporting a rotating red-white-and-blue pole out front. Guys could get a good haircut or a hot-lather shave (followed by a splash of bay rum), talk sports, smoke a cigar with no complaints, or ha... »
Cable viewers, TV streamers and DVD watchers are faced with an annual flood of Christmas-themed movies in practically every genre – drama, spiritual, comedy, horror, animation, documentary, and musicals. Quality-wise, they range from the sublime (Alastair Sim in “Scrooge”) to the ridiculous (“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”). In other words, there’s something for everyb... »
New Year’s Eve! The occasion practically begs for silly hats, slinky dresses, champagne by the jeroboam, noisy revelry and midnight smooches. But if you want something that’s a bit different, check out the venues in our holiday round-up. Many of them include the standard party accessories, but all of them emphasize fun – a good change-of-pace from squeezing into a loud and... »
No matter which winter holidays you celebrate, exchanging gifts is part of the traditions. But if your recipient’s taste is apart from the mainstream, shopping can be tough. You’ll often find shelves loaded with mass-produced merchandise that essentially copies-and-pastes itself. There’s a better approach – the eighth annual Indiemade Craft Market (ICM) on December 5. This... »
The phrase “Pennsylvania Youth Theatre” might prompt mental images of ramshackle sets, homemade costumes, and a cast of awkward kids stumbling around on stage. But you’d be absolutely wrong on all counts. PYT is actually a regional performing-arts school. Thousands of children have studied drama, music and dance during its 30-year history and – with help from professional ... »
Grasping the scope of hunger in America can be daunting. According to the Food Research and Action Center, about one in six Americans was sometimes unable to buy necessary food last year. And in a nation of nearly 320 million, that represents over 5 million hungry people. It’s even more widespread in the Lehigh Valley. Estimates show that up to 25% of Allentown’s residents... »
Typical foreign-language lessons start with words or simple phrases – ¡Buenos días! ¡Buenas tardes! ¡Buenas noches! – gradually building into sentences, and reinforced with tiresome drilling on verb conjugation, noun genders and the like. But imagine walking into a classroom for the first time and discovering that the entire curriculum – including textbooks, signs and even... »
VA-cations can be a hassle: packing, planning, countless miles on the road, uncertain accommodations… But close-to-home STAY-cations commit none of those sins. Consider visiting some of the many attractions right under our noses. America on Wheels America on Wheels celebrates every imaginable type of land transportation – from scooters to trucks, and more. The main entranc... »
The Lehigh Valley has long had a burgeoning music scene – from Lillian Briggs to Dooley Invention to Magnum to Taylor Swift – but, until 1999, there were only the usual ways of recognizing the players’ and singers’ accomplishments. Regular paying gigs are rewarding, and you can’t beat a devoted fan base… but there’s nothing quite like being called on-stage to receive a tan... »
