The Most Wonderful Time of Year

It’s that time of year again! The holiday season is rapidly approaching! Are you ready?

How’s this for a glimpse at the magic of the season: performers from A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker grace the stages at beautiful historical theatres, trains chug throughout the transportation museum, numerous musicians play the tunes of familiar holiday carols and spectacular displays transform a city park into a magnificent wonderland filled with brilliant lights? Art institutions offer unique gifts at their special seasonal shops, historical locations display relics of Christmases past and act out skits which remind the audience of yesteryear also calling visitors to the city.

To me, the holidays are the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with your family and friends, enjoying both the spirit of the season and company of loved ones. As you start to plan your family outings and holiday events, we hope that you will take part in the array of activities that are taking place this holiday season in the City of Allentown.

In addition to the holiday traditions like the Lehigh Valley Christmas at Symphony Hall, Civic Theatre’s A Christmas Carol and Pip the Mouse at the Liberty Bell Shrine Museum, you’ll have to check out the holiday show at our newest entertainment venue – the Pines Dinner Theatre (located in the Fairgrounds). You can also visit the City Of Allentown to find lots of great treasures from the Holiday Store at the Allentown Art Museum and the new Art Mart. Not only will you be crossing everyone off your list, you’ll be shopping locally, supporting Allentown’s emerging artist community, and avoiding the crowds at the mall!

The city’s Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony will take place from 4pm-7pm on Thursday, December 3 in the Pocket Park in the 800 block of Hamilton Street. This year’s celebration includes a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, Pip the Mouse, Nutcracker and Clara, free horse-drawn carriage rides, an elf parade, live stage performances, strolling entertainers, arts and crafts, face painting, and ice carving demonstrations. The Elf Parade is sure to be one of the highlights of this event. Children are invited to dress like elves and get their faces painted with those recognizable rosy red cheeks before being led on a parade by Mrs. Claus. The Italian American Band will provide strolling entertainment. Stage performances are scheduled by Civic Theatre of Allentown, O’Grady Quinlan School of Irish Dance and Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts. All entertainment is free!

Allentown’s 14th annual Lights in the Parkway celebration will brighten Lehigh Parkway beginning Friday, December 11. This year patrons can enjoy the thousands of twinkling lights and accompanying music at a reduced price or while seated as a passenger in a horse-drawn carriage (new for this year!). After a journey through the spectacular displays, visitors can stop by the Gift Barn which hosts vendors selling everything from candies to handmade treasures. Visit with Santa every Thursday-Sunday and the whole week leading up to Christmas. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $5 at City Hall and at all area Wegmans and will be available soon. $1 off coupons can be printed out from http://www.lightsintheparkway.com/

Please go to the City’s Holiday Website for a complete listing Holiday Happenings. As always, visit the Events Calendar for up to date information on daily activities.

SEASONS GREETINGS!!!

Great Things Happening on 19th St

Have you seen the transformation that is taking place on the 19th St Corridor?

In addition to trendy boutiques and businesses moving in, the city has recieved a $30,000 planning grant to support greening, infrastructure and other inititatives in that area.

If you haven't visited first hand, click here to see the WFMZ story.

AEDC Hosting Small Business Roundtable

AEDC is hosting a Roundtable Series small business discussion on Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center , 905 Harrison Street, Allentown PA, 18103.

The Roundtable Series will be presented by members of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of SCORE. Facilitators will lead a discussion about the various issues that affect businesses. If time permits, SCORE will provide counseling services at the end of the session to address specific needs. Business owners should feel free to speak with the Facilitators in order to gain information about how one may receive one on one mentoring advice from SCORE Counselors.

SCORE is the premier free and confidential business mentoring and advice service in the United States . SCORE “Counselors to America ’s Small Business” is a nonprofit association with 364 offices across the country. For 45 years, SCORE’s 12,400 working and retired business professionals have volunteered to help entrepreneurs who are just getting started or those looking for answers on growing or managing an existing business. The Lehigh Valley Chapter maintains almost 50 retired and in-business professional mentors who are eager to help a new generation of entrepreneurs.

We are encouraging you to participate in this event. Please reply no later than Friday, November 13, to Marsha Cox, mcox@thebridgeworks.com or 610-770-1015, with your RSVP.

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.