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... »
Dear Readers, It’s been said that April showers bring May flowers. If only it were that easy. Every year around this time we find ourselves weeding, digging, planting, fertilizing, watering… and waiting. With every glance out the window and every stroll around the yard, we hope to see the first flower peeking through, bringing new color, life and energy to our homes. The g... »
Those of us who call the Lehigh Valley home spend a good portion of the year weighed down by our coats – and our fantasies of a tropical relocation that become a little more serious after each snow storm. Now that dreary forecasts are behind us, it’s time to hail our favorite spring hallmark: the sight of raised patio umbrellas and table-lined sidewalks. Ring in the season... »
Allentonian David Binder was just 19 years old when he joined the U. S. Navy in 1963. Now 70, he and Lois (his wife of nearly 44 years), are the parents of three, and the grandparents of seven. He retired from PPL Electric Utilities in 2013. Dave’s a veteran of two tours in Vietnam, and agreed to give us a glimpse of his military life. Lehigh Valley Marketplace: How did yo... »
The idiom “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow” aptly describes the Upper Macungie Township plant food maker JR Peters, Inc. The family-run fertilizer business began in the basement of an Allentown home and now sells to greenhouse growers around the globe. “We make water-soluble fertilizer for greenhouses and nurseries” from Kutztown to South Korea, said Dr. Cari Peters, ... »
As we entered the front door of the Rennaissance Allentown Hotel, a friendly greeter led us to an elevator that would take us to the third floor. We were amazed at what we saw when the elevator doors opened. The Dime is one of the newest additions to the burgeoning Allentown restaurant scene and it is very impressive. Shiny dark floors and wooden wall accents lead to the h... »
In college I had to take an art class so I chose watercolor. It was there I discovered I am great at painting bananas. For real. Still life – a banana. Landscape – a banana tree. Abstract – dancing bananas. However, it was also there that I discovered that if it is NOT a banana, I stink at painting. So when I had the opportunity to take some painting classes for this artic... »
When busy people volunteer for time-consuming tasks, you can believe they care about what they are doing. One such collective of civic-minded volunteers run Northampton County’s Bushkill Stream Conservancy (BSC). By giving a platform to what is otherwise voiceless, this diverse group of about two dozen folks is shedding light upon the importance of this quiet stream. The B... »
Editor’s Note: The Holiday 2014 edition of Lehigh Valley Marketplace featured an article detailing the then upcoming SkillsUSA Culinary Challenge. Following is a recap of the Challenge which took place on March 30th. Please visit our archives at lehighvalleymarketplace.com to read more about the background of this event. Five popular local chefs combined their talents with... »
Everyone knows the feeling, whether it has happened to you personally or to a friend or relative, when a construction project on their home doesn’t go as planned. A person’s home is their castle, and we naturally want everything to be perfect. Most contractors do their jobs well and only want to please their customers and get paid. But sometimes trouble strikes: on occasio... »
