Growing up near the big steel mills of Pittsburgh, words like coke (not the soda or the sniffy kind,) Bessemer oven and Carrie furnace were part of the local vocabulary, but I admit I didn’t really know what they were . . until yesterday.  The Babushkas & Hard Hats tour, sponsored by Rivers of Steel, [...]

As someone very unfamiliar with anything rural, the Amish culture has always fascinated me. My experience with them consisted mainly of passing them in my car on the drive back to college. I was curious about their Amish rules and culture, ‘how did they live without electricity?’ or ‘are they ever allowed to shave [...]

This Sunday, June 13, is the 21st Annual Billtown Blues Festival in Hughesville, PA. This all-day festival takes place at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds and features local, national and international musicians. The name for the festival comes from the nickname given to Williamsport (Billtown) and the fact that blues music is the type of music [...]

It’s hard to find a more inspirational place than Gettysburg.  From the charming Civil War era downtown to the hallowed battlefields, Gettysburg’s scenery triggers inspiration of many kinds.  This amazing backdrop of history, countryside and battlefield inspired my artistic side recently.  The swift approach of springtime helped as well!
And so I set out, camera in hand, attempting to capture [...]

Got an art lover on your list of people to buy a Christmas present? Gallery Row in Downtown Lancaster is a great place to shop – one of my favorite unique stores  is CityFolk.
They carry a ton of unique stuff – more than just paintings to hang on the wall. One of my favorite pieces [...]

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a complex person when it comes to winter (and thus, the holidays). While I love wearing cozy layers, drinking hot tea, and baking Christmas cookies, I have a very low tolerance for cold weather. If there’s snow on the ground, I’m OK with winter for a few [...]

The Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Open House is “fun for kids of all ages”. Train lovers young and old will see freight and passenger car trains rumbling over 700 feet of track, over high trestle bridges, through towns, around mountains and through tunnels along the right of way from Reading to Philadelphia. Hundreds of buildings, [...]

Have you heard the term “Barn Raising” before? What does it bring to mind? To me, it brings to mind community. Let me explain what a Barn Raising is.
When an Amish man loses his barn due to fire, his neighbors, relatives and friends gather for a “Barn Raising.” The men cooperate, each performing his job, [...]

I like to think I have an appreciation for all types of artwork, but my favorite has to be photography. This is one of the reasons I am a fan of Dakota Ridge, a fine art photography gallery located in the northern Lehigh Valley locale of Jim Thorpe.
Dakota Ridge is run by photographer Dan Hugos, a friendly man [...]

Philadelphia’s South Street is a well known destination for visitors interested in exploring a hip, urban, funky spot at any hour of the day. One of our favorite destinations is Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, a fantastical creation by an iconic artistic figure in the Philadelphia community, Isaiah Zagar. Click here to view our photos taken during [...]