photos by Lisa Boehm Photography The Lehigh Valley Music Awards, the annual showcase for our region’s outstanding music-related talent, turns 21 this year—and it’s traveled a long path since the founding of the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association in 1999. Early versions of the program were held in little clubs throughout the Valley; as few as 100 people watched the pre... »
Despite our sophistication, we continue a practice of our cave-dwelling ancestors: placing mementos on walls. Crude paintings of wild beasts have yielded to diplomas, medals, and photographs, but the intent is the same. Girl on the Hill Framing in Bethlehem specializes in crafting artful displays for them. Owner Dawn Moser traces her artistic roots to her childhood years. ... »
Photos by Daniel Yund and Blake Drummond While there’s no formal curriculum on becoming a vintage lifestyle expert, stylist and interior designer Bob Richter was nutured on this aesthetic from early childhood. By age 6, he was rescuing antiques from the family home’s attic and learning the stories behind them. Other formative experiences of this Allentown native included a... »
When history and alcohol collide, really interesting things happen,” says Mark Will-Weber. “Alcohol is part of the whole fabric of the colonial and American story.” The Bethlehem author learned just how deeply the two are entwined when researching his books “Mint Juleps with Teddy Roosevelt,” which examines the drinking habits of America’s presidents, and “Muskets and App... »
Cardiology patients at St. Luke’s University Health Network might notice a familiar face cooking on “The Chef’s Kitchen” this season. Dr. Dwithiya Thomas, director of St. Luke’s Women’s Heart Center, is the featured chef in three how-to videos that were filmed by the cooking show inside the kitchen at Easton Public Market. The featured recipes come straight from her heart-... »
For Bruce Gaston, music is a labor of love. Manual labor. Gaston, also known as Mr. Handman, is among the best known of a handful of manualists—musicians who make music by squeezing air through their hands—having been featured on CNN, NPR, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “America’s Got Talent,” Germany’s “Das Supertalent,” and numerous radio shows. The son of a music tea... »
MOSAIC STAINED GLASS ARTIST It’s a Monday afternoon at the Banana Factory, and Kim Hogan’s students are gathering up their projects at the end of their stained glass mosaic class. Hogan compliments a girl who comes up to show her the progress she’s made and reminds another to be careful as she hurries out the door. “I love teaching, both adults and kids,” says Hogan, who t... »
Like many Lehigh Valley residents, Zeke Zelker remembers the three men camped on a Whitehall Township billboard in the early 1980s for a radio contest. “I remember going by there with my mom and wondering what they were doing and wondering what was going on at the radio station,” he says. “I have always thought that what goes on behind the scenes of something is a lot more... »
“You are Colombian dancers,” Dominic Fiore tells the young string players. He counts out loud then points animatedly from one section to another as he sings its line, smiling and laughing. A few rooms away, high-school-age musicians have settled back into rehearsal after the stress of seating auditions. “Play the accents,” Kenneth Bean tells them simply as he conduct... »
A Labor of Love and Wonderland for Artists and Hobbyists of All Ages If glass blowing isn’t already on your bucket list, we highly suggest you add it. It all began in the early 1960s. Charles Warner, as a young boy growing up in San Diego, became fascinated with stained glass. Drawn in by the depth and contrast of vibrant colors, his curiosity led him to a community ... »
