By Sara Vigneri Remember when waiting in line to use a grimy portable toilet, drinking overpriced water and standing ankle deep in mud signified a good time? In my college days I attended the outdoor rock festival Lollapalooza with my husband (who was then my boyfriend) and we had a blast despite the rain and the mud. We spent way too much money on the tickets and parking,... »
By M. Minti Ray Agonizing pain was D. Scott Cooney’s reality for over a decade after a screw pierced a nerve in his back during a surgery for treating advanced spinal degeneration. From 2001 to 2011, he experienced chronic pain so unbearable that he could not sleep for more than a few hours a night, let alone spend time with his cherished family. He visited multiple physic... »
By Mary Beth Schwartz As a child, I looked forward to planting a garden every year with my family. We would lovingly care for the land, eager to see those first beans, corn ears and tomato buds. There is nothing like locally grown produce, whether it is from your own raised beds, farm stands or farmers markets. This year, experience the seasonal freshness of nature’s bount... »
By Angela Bristow Get your motors running and drive on over to the 49th annual Das Awkscht Fescht. The antique, classic and sports car festival, held at and benefiting Macungie Memorial Park, will run August 3-5. The festival has something for every generation, including a variety of food, live entertainment, arts and crafts, a toy show and flea market. Housed in a large t... »
By Sara Vigneri While having lunch with my friend the other day, she was complaining to me that she just got off an irritating call with her mother. Her mom, it seems, checks in with her every day to grill her about the details of her life. Let me translate this: a grown woman with a full- time job and kids of her own still has to report back to her mother about the brand ... »
By Nancy Moffett Queen of the Valley 6702 Vera Cruz Road South l Zionsville, PA l 610-967-6371 l queenofthevalleyfarm.com Billed as the “Premier Pet Resort in the Lehigh Valley,” Queen of the Valley Farm Pet Resort offers dog daycare, lodging, grooming and training in a quiet, 32-acre country setting. Here, canine guests find generous accommodations with an outside p... »
Photo provided by the Philadelphia Phillies By Frederick Jerant Year after year, there’s plenty of hoopla about the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs and the Reading Phillies. Both are solid teams, with ardent fan bases that pack their stadiums. And some players move onto the Phillies’ roster. But there’s another baseball event that produces major-league talent, and is recognized as... »
By Mary Beth Schwartz As a writer, there are memories that I will always treasure. Top on my list is a 10-day trip to England, where I visited the historical sites of some of the greatest writers. One day was set aside just for Will, as my friend and I called him, at his birthplace at Stratford-upon-Avon. Another fond memory is seeing Kenneth Branagh’s epic Hamlet at the R... »
By Frederick Jerant When the final school bell rings in June, it signals more than the end of classes…it’s a harbinger of the need to keep the kids occupied. Why not send them off to camp? We don’t mean roughing it in the woods – we’re talking about the many gymnastics, art, drama, sports and other special-interest camps that dot the Valley. There, children have loads of f... »
By Mary Beth Schwartz Imagine emerald green golf courses, professional tennis courts, Olympic size swimming pools, and fine dining restaurants. Add health, fitness and spa programs. Top that with family activities such as camps, social events, junior programs and even arts and crafts. All of this and more is possible at the exclusive country clubs of the Lehigh Valley. The... »
