When the rather prosaically named Hotel Easton opened its doors on February 10, 1927, visitors discovered a hostelry that was anything but prosaic. Designed by Philadelphia architect Thomas, Martin & Kirkpatrick, the Hotel Easton towered a full 10 stories above street level, and combined modern forms with classic architectural styling. According to then-contemporary re... »
Everywhere you turn, you see witches, warlocks and werewolves. Shelves are overflowing with black-and-orange themed candy. Streamers! Decorations! Party favors! Lights! Streets lined with princesses, superheroes, cartoon characters, animals, and even vegetables. And somewhere, a DJ is spinning “The Monster Mash.” Again. Yes, it’s time for Halloween. There’s no need to knoc... »
Many of us have dreams that remain tantalizingly out-of-reach, no matter how hard we chase them. Mardochee Dade’s dreams of playing cello began when he discovered the instrument in third grade. Just 10 years later, thanks to innate skill, determination, and enthusiastic community support, he’s become one of our region’s most accomplished young string players. It started wi... »
At the age of 18, Madeline Rose Link has already compiled a list of accomplishments that would be the envy of someone twice her age: Honors student from elementary through high school World traveler (England, Spain, China, Africa, Canada) Professional musician Model UN participant for four years Participant in the University of Notre Dame’s Pre-College Leadership Seminar F... »
The arts have power. Films and plays can bring us to tears – whether through comedy or tragedy. Photographs and paintings can hold us transfixed by their colors, composition, even their subjects. And playwright William Congreve knew that “Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast, To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.” … a place where those who are healing find st... »
Most of us are pretty healthy. We skate through life with assorted cuts and bruises, perhaps a broken bone or a bout with the flu. I couldn’t walk more than one block without leaning against a building and trying to catch my breath. But over 122,000 people nationwide (and many in the Lehigh Valley) aren’t so lucky. Their survival depends on receiving a desperately needed o... »
Changes in modern medicine usually bring with them a sense of leaping progress, of conquering new frontiers. But an emerging trend in physician practice, called Direct Primary Care (DPC), actually strives to improve patient care by patterning itself on a business model that dates from the last century. You see, prior to the 1940s, most Americans paid their medical bills di... »
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... »
