Made in Brazil Opens in Downtown Holiday Inn

If you like the idea of an all you can eat menu featuring a wide variety of seasoned and grilled meats, then you should plan a visit to Made in Brazil, located in the Holiday Inn at 9th and Hamilton Streets in center city Allentown.

Having opened today, this Brazilian steak house is a welcome addition to Allentown's downtown restaurant choices.  In the traditional Brazilian style, people keep coming over to your table with large skewers of grilled meat to tempt you.   Even though today was their first day, about 80% of their tables were full.

We brought our extended family.  Everyone (from parents to teenagers to kids) left pleased.   Our table sampled filet minon, skirt steak, pork sausages and lamb.  The salmon I ordered had an incredible mango sauce, and the salad bar was interesting and varied.

Open for lunch and dinner, this is one place you  should experience.

Low-interest Small Business Loans available for Energy Efficiency Projects

The City of Allentown has received received approval of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) of $1,038,800, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It is intended to assist cities, counties and states to develop and manage energy efficiency and conservation projects which will 1) reduce fossil fuel emissions, 2) reduce the total energy use of the municipality, 3) improve energy efficiency in transportation, building and other sectors and 4) create and retain jobs.

All departments of the City of Allentown will receive assistance as part of the grant. Improvements include installing efficient lighting in public buildings, improving fuel efficiency in the diesel-powered fleet with fuel catalysts, deployment of solar-powered trash compactors on city streets, master-planning for park facilities and improving bicycling infrastructure by installing shared lane markings (SLM) and bike racks throughout the city.

Of particular interest to Allentown's business community is a buydown of interest rates on loans from the Sustainable Energy Fund. These loans are available to businesses and non-profits to realize economically viable energy efficiency projects. Loans up to $750,000 are available, and as part of the City of Allentown's EECBG plan, the first $25,000 of those loans will carry at 1.5% to 3.99% over 5 years. For more information, visit the Sustainable Energy Fund's web site at www.thesef.org

In Allentown's Enterprise Zone, these efficiency loans can be supplemented by Enterprise Zone Loans. Learn more about the Enterprise Zone at www.allentownedc.com

Homeownership Project in Old Allentown is Underway!

The former Hess Employee Parking Deck, located at 826 W. Turner St, has been an “eye-sore” for people living and working in Downtown Allentown. This week Pennrose Properties began the demolition of the parking deck, marking the start of a homeownership project in one of Allentown’s historic neighborhoods.

As part of this homeownership initiative, Pennrose will renovate 18 existing rowhomes throughout the Old Allentown district, 17 of which will be de-conversions to single family homes and all that will be owner occupied, and construct 22 new dwelling units where the parking deck once stood. There will be a total of 8 units, a combination of 4 new construction and 4 rehabs, which will be priced affordably to meet the needs of low to moderate income families.

Pennrose will be completing this project in two phases. Phase 1, which is now underway, includes the demolition of the parking deck and the rehab of 12 existing homes. Pennrose will be closing on the first 12 rehabs by November and will immediately begin renovations on 6 of them. Once the first 6 homes are sold, Pennrose will begin the rehabs of another 6. The second phase, consisting of the construction of the 22 new units and the remaining 6 rehabs, is expected to start directly following the completion of Phase 1.

Once completed, this project will have significantly reduced the blight in one of Allentown’s most desirable neighborhoods, improving the quality of life for its residents and businesses. Pennrose has been diligently working with the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Allentown (RACA), the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), the County of Lehigh and the Old Allentown Preservation Association (OAPA) to make this project a shared success. RACA has already acquired 14 of the properties to be rehabbed and is in the process of gaining site control over the remaining 4. The County of Lehigh has also been an important partner and has provided funding for the demolition of the parking deck. AEDC will assist Pennrose throughout the projects development and will serve as the primary contact between Pennrose and the community by coordinating public meetings, developing and implementing a marketing strategy and identifying funding sources for neighborhood beautification.

Free Energy Saving Ideas & Freebies

Allentown is thinking green!

This weekend at the Allentown Energy Expo on Saturday, October 17th you can learn energy saving ideas, hear about NEW low interest loans for homeowners and small businesses and pick up a few free energy saving freebies. 

And, the event, being held at the Allentown Brew Works from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. is free.

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Word Wednesdays at The Allentown Brew Works every 2nd Wednesday in Silk Lounge

Okay, the spoken word art form may not be for everyone.  However, I heard that there was a poetry slam happening monthly in downtown Allentown and was curious to check it out.  

Last night I had the distinct pleasure to experience it for myself, in the lower level of the Allentown Brew Works in the Silk Lounge.

About 40 people, a little drumming, a variety of readings, a digital art display and one really beautiful original ballad sung by a woman who strummed a pink guitar.

It was a supportive environment for the kind of creativity that can move mountains...or transform communities.

Touted as, "A hot spot for sweet lines to flow, touch, provoke and arouse.

Join us in SILK Lounge…

Poets, writers, musicians, the inspired and the inspirational come together for Word Wednesdays, every second Wednesday at 7:30pm."

They’d love to include your poetic, literal, or lyrical talents in this evening of Words on Wednesdays.

For more information call or e-mail the hosts Kari Holmes at CommunityRP@mail.com and 610-433-7777 or Yodi Duane Vaden at daven27@hotmail.com."

The next two Word Wednesdays will be November 11 and December 9th.  It's different every time depending upon who shows up to share.  Warning:  this is high octane art -- the kind you didn't know was accessible at the local Lehigh Valley level...not your high school English teacher's stuff. I didn't know that there were this many talented writers in our midst.  

Word Wednesday.  It's certainly worth checking out.

Downtown Allentown at Dusk

I ran into a neighbor of mine last week outside of our apartment building, and we were talking about things we like about Allentown.  

He grabbed his phone and showed me this picture he had recently taken.

We live in the shadow of an architectural treasure and Lehigh Valley icon, the PPL tower.  

With a picture like this, it's hard to take it for granted.

You can see it from all directions in the region.  It's been in movies where it has doubled sometimes as the Empire State Building.  It has been home to some falcons (who we hope come back).

Fifteen thousand people work downtown.  If they, hurry home before dusk, though, they miss the beauty and the majesty of breathtaking views of the PPL tower at dusk.  

Neighbor, thanks for the picture.  

New Race Simulator at the Lehigh Valley Grand Prix!

If you're looking for something new to do to meet your need for speed, check out the Lehigh Valley Grand Prix at 649 S. 10th Street in Allentown.

Tomorrow (9/25/09) a new race simulator will be delivered!  

This simulator is like nothing you have seen before!

This is the ultimate hardcore experience for the racing enthusiast!

Laugh in the face of those unrealistic arcade games.

Forget the two dimensional experience of your game console and get ready for a real racing experience that puts you in the center of the action.

For more information:  www.lehighvalleygrandprix.com  Or call:  (610) 432-7223all 1.610.432.RACE to reserve a session or book it for an event!