Lehigh Valley Food Co-op Opens and Identifies 7th Street Drop Off

The Lehigh Valley Food Co-op is up and running.  Virtually, anyway.

Although I understand that they were looking for a store-front location for much of the last year, they decided to go virtual, and set up drop off locations around the Lehigh Valley.

Allentown's drop off location is St. Lukes on 7th Street (thanks Peter)!

I remember food co-ops in the '70's.  They were a way that people could get good quality organic and grocery store items (that the groceries wouldn't carry then) for a fair price.  During that time, they also acted as a center for community.

The first ordering cycle will start Friday, March 27th and ending March 30th.  And, the first delivery will take place on April 2nd at St. Lukes.

If you have already joined, you will need to go to www.lvfood.coop and log on.  If you're not a member, you'll pay $75 to join for the redeemable membership fair-share price. Every following year you can expect an annual fee of $25.   Children under 18 are free. Fees are waived for full-time college students.  

If you have not joined and want to start participating, you'll need to fill out the online membership form at www.lvfood.coop.

This is a great opportunity for people to be a part of a business, a community and cut the cost of feeding their families.

Winston's Tastes Good, Like Jerk Chicken Should

Last night a gathering of ethnic restaurant-loving Allentonians spontaneously started an Allentown Dinner Club.  The party that was happening at the "Over the Hump Wednesday" at the Allentown Brew Works moved to Winston's West Indian & American Restaurant at 617 N. 7th Street for dinner.

I had heard about this place and their amazing flavors, but hadn't tried it yet.  All I can say is, "Wow!"

The crowd cheered for the jerk chicken and oxtails.  A dispute broke out over which was better.  The fish sauce that Winston brought out to liven up my rice and beans was spicy and amazing (but not too hot).  Really complex, a symphony of fascinating spices.  

Winston Barnes, pictured here with his wife, Francilia Piters-Barnes aim to please.  Bring a party of your friends, like we did, and see for yourself. 

 And, don't forget to try Francilia's carrot cake to top off your dinner.

Take out is available for you to pick up on your way home.  Call ahead at 484-221-9682 and Winston will have your jerk chicken ready for you.  Or, for your next party, they also cater.

Happy 1st Birthday to America on Wheels

The America on Wheels (AOW) transportation museum will celebrate its First Anniversary in April. Hat's off to AOW Executive Director Linda Merkel for a successful inaugural year that brought a visit from Indy legend Mario Andretti, a congratulatory letter from Jay Leno and 30,000 visitors! In addition to the popular exhibits and events over the past year, AOW has gained recognition as an Allentown landmark, including a growing reputation as a location for elegant events and as an icon for redevelopment along the Lehigh Riverfront.

A birthday celebration is planned for 11:00 am - 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 18th, with a special apperance from "Herbie, the Love Bug", a the Volkswagon Beetle that became an icon in the 1969 film. In addition, the Minsi Trails Boy Scout Trexler District Pinewood Derby Finals will start at 9:00 am and British car enthusiast Richard Miller will hold an interactive discussion on the "Post-World War II invasion of the British Cars" from 10:30 to 11:30 am.

April's anniversary celebrations also include the premiere of a new exhibit - "The Bulgari Collection - Automobilies of Excellence," featuring the Allentown-based classic antique vehicles collection owned by Italian jewelry designer Nichola Bulgari. The exhibit, which replaces the very popular "Legends of Speed Racecars", opens April 11th.

Other events scheduled for April include:

• April 4th - "Oldies But Goodies - 55+ Day at AOW", which showcases films and automobiles from the 1950's. The Academy Award-winning movie "Mr. Roberts" will be shown.
• April 4th - Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 11:00 am from children ages 3 - 12
• April 25th - "Black and White Movie Day at the Museum" will feature a series of automobile related films from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
• April 25th - "Park and Perk", 7:30 to 10:30 am for the start of a weekly gathering of motorheads and car enthusiasts in the AOW parking lot. Bring coffee and donuts and your hot-rods, drifters, classic antiques, muscle cars and enjoy a few hours of conversation with other car buffs.

For more information on the exhibits and educational programs, click here.

Tavern on Liberty News

This may not qualify as "news", but we never mentioned it on the blog when it happened. For those poor, lost souls that lament the loss of Cannon's former glory, you can find the menu at the Liberty Street Tavern (23rd & Liberty)! Kevin brought the magic to the West End to make the Muhlenberg kids happy. They have it all, including the butternut squash soup. You will also find an amazing selection of beers. This weekend, I went for the Green Flash Extra Pale.
Do this blgo a favor and make a request to cut the smoking, though. Bars all over the country have realized the tremendous improvement to the atmosphere of their establishments by asking smokers to enjoy a cigarette outside.
Here's a picture from after the West End St. Patrick's Day Parade. Mayor Pawlowski made the crowd, but made the mistake of ducking out just before the drums and pipes.
Make sure to jump over to urbanspoon and rate your favorite Allentown restaurants, including Liberty Street Tavern.

Allentown Brew Works Launches "Green Drinks"

Mark your calendar for the first Wednesday of each month, and plan to be in downtown Allentown after work on that day.

Starting April 1st, the Allentown Brew Works is launching a new opportunity for people interested in socializing and networking on the topic of our local green economy.

As part of a national effort, www.greenddrinks.org, this will provide an opportunity on a monthly basis for people interested in the local living economy, the triple bottom line, renewable energy and green collar jobs, to plug in and find out what else is happening around the town and the region.

WDIY, the Lehigh Valley Sustainable Business Network and the City of Allentown Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste are partners in this ongoing event.

Check out the Allentown Brew Works' website for more information.

Steel Going Up At the Cosmopolitan

Developer Myron Haydt is in the process turning the old Sal’s Spaghetti House into a high-end bistro, to be called the Cosmopolitan. This elaborate, 5-story building design will certainly draw a crowd and bring spirit to downtown Allentown. The first and second floors will hold general seating, a bar area, live music, as well as providing a section of intimate and elegant dining or private meetings. The third and fourth floors will be the banquet facilities, including a mezzanine level. There will be a rooftop deck, in response to the increasingly popular outside seating and a bar above the rooftop deck for happy hours.
This picture was taken yesterday as the steel was finally going up!! I can't wait for this to open.....

Vicky's Sweet Spot Tempts With Treats

Vicky's Sweet Spot, on the north side of Hamilton between 6th and 7th, offers sweet treats freshly baked every day.

I don't know where she gets her recipes, but I swear it was from my mother.  

Last week I stopped in for a quick egg sandwich and learned that Vicky also offers $1 coffee.

With prices like this and fabulous, freshly baked delicacies, what's keeping us from stopping in regularly to buy a box of goodies to reward the troops?  Nothing.  See you at Vicky's!

Express Lunch at the Allentown Brew Works

This may have escaped your attention if you don't make a weekly trip to the Allentown Brew Works, but the Center City Allentown restaurant has added an Express Lunch that puts food on your table in less than 10 minutes for $6.98. You have a choice of two items from the menu (which includes my favorite, the ABW BBQ Pork Slider). This adds a great new dimension to the lunch offerings in downtown Allentown,from authentic ethnic meals to the fusion of the Crave Lounge: good food FAST. Check out more news from the Brew Works at thebrewworks.com. Also, be sure to post your review of the restaurant at Urban Spoon.

Award Winning Classical Guitar Soloist to Perform at Symphony Hall

This weekend, Saturday and Sunday, March 14th and 15th, you can enjoy the Allentown Symphony Orchestra Concert in beautiful symphony hall...

with guest classical guitar soloist , Nemanja Ostojic winner of the 2008 Schadt String Competition.  

I did a search on YouTube, and found this video.  This guy is AMAZING!

Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Ostojic is considered to be one of the finest guitarists of his generation. He has performed in many highly acclaimed recitals in his country and abroad.  Tickets are $25 and $45.  Call the box office at 610-432-6715.  Or , visit allentownsymphony.org, for more information.  

For a WFMZ video on Nemanja Ostojic, click here.

New LEED-Certified Dealership on Former Exide Battery Site

On March 10th, the Allentown Planning Commission granted approval to Bennett Toyota for a new dealership facility on the site of the former Exide Battery plant located at the east end of Allentown's "Lehigh Street Auto Mile." Plans for the new Toyota Dealership include a showroom, service center, parts department, stand alone autobody shop and associated retail uses.

J.G. Petrucci Co., Inc (JGPCO), one of the region's most respected development and design/build organizations, acquired the brownfield property in December 2005 and has taken the site through the Act 2 voluntary clean-up process with Pennsylvania DEP. Demolition of the facility has already taken place and remediation is nearly complete. JGPCO has been retained by Bennett Toyota to develop to 46,000 sq ft dealership, with groundbreaking expected in summer 2009. JCPCO will provide Bennett with a complete design/build pacakage for an enviromentally responsible, Silver LEED-certified state-of-the-art facility, the first of its kind in Toyota's Central Atlantic region.

Once completed, the new facility will create more than 150 jobs and will be a perfect example of successful brownfield revitalization. Greg Rogerson, a Principal with JGPCO stated, "It is very gratifying for all of us to be able to take a blighted property, like the Exide Battery site and convert it into an attractive and productive facility that brings both jobs and ratables to the community." "Ultimately, this project will transform a previously enviromentally impacted site into what is planned to be a LEED certified building without the need for unsustainable infrastructure expansion typical of suburban projects," said Scott Unger, Executive Director of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation.

Since beginning operations in the City of Allentown in May 1969, Bennett Toyota has established a forty-year reputation as the Lehigh Valley's leading full service Toyota dealership. Ed Pawlowski, Mayor of the City of Allentown, stated "Bennett Toyota has been a valued member of the Allentown community for many years and we are delighted that they will be expanding their dealership to better serve customers throughout the Lehigh Valley. He added, "This project was made possbile in part through HUD loans and grants and offers an great example of the benefits that can be achieved through public/private partnerships, involving as it did local and federal government, Bennett Toyota and J. G. Petrucci Co."

Watch the WFMZ clip or Read the Morning Call article

Celebrate St. Patty's Day at the Grand Opening of Crave Lounge

Crave Lounge, a new fusion restaurant located in the heart of Allentown (33 N. 9th St - across from PPL) will be hosting a St. Patrick's Day party in conjuction with their grand opening celebration!

The party starts at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 17th - there will be live entertainment and great giveaways! If you can't make the celebration on Tuesday, Crave will be giving away FREE GREEN BEER on Saturday, March 15th from 7pm - Midnight.

Crave is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with affordable and tasty options. They also have an expresso bar and nightly entertainment including karoke on Tuesday's and comic's on Saturday's. Visit their website to check out the menu and entertainment

*A little side note - if you're like me and love pasta, you must try the Penne Al Vodka. By far the best vodka sauce in Allentown and its only $8 for a (large) lunch portion!!! I've also heard to calamari is to die for....

Wall Street West - Regional Community College Forum

Lehigh Carbon Community College will be hosting a Business & Financial Services Regional Forum sponsored by Wall Street West.

• Dialogue with local Workforce Investment Board representatives, Financial Services Industry professionals, and Community College administrators, faculty and staff
• Reconogize the value of community colleges in developing the Financial Services Industry Workforce
• Explore the benefits of community college graduates to the Financial Service Industry
• Become aware of Financial Services Industry Noncredit Education and Training
• Learn about Financial Services Industry Credit Certificate and Associate Degree Programs
• Discover Student Career Services and Financial Services Industry Career Pathways

The forum will take place on Friday, April 3, 2009 from 8:00 - 10:00 am in Alumni Hall, Rooms 107 - 108 at LCCC's Main Campus (4525 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville). There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Please RSVP to Carol Bowen at 610-799-1949 or cbowen@lccc.edu. For driving directions and a campus map, click here.

West End Plans St. Patrick's Day 5K March 22nd

Join the West End Alliance for their inaugural West End St. Patrick's Day 5K!

Scheduled on the same day as Allentown's St. Patrick's Day Parade (March 22nd), you'll run along the parade route, being cheered on by the thousands of people lining the streets and partying in their front yards.  

Then, hang around after the awards for the Allentown St. Patrick's Day Parade, the largest in the Lehigh Valley.  Enjoy marching bands, entertainers, local groups and much more.  The parade starts at 1:30 p.m. and ends around 2 p.m.  Invite your family and friends to come watch you race, and they can enjoy the parade, post race.

Proceeds from the race benefit the West End Alliance, a group of neighbors and merchants dedicated toward the continued emergence of the West End business district.

For more information or the scoop on how to register (space is limited, so hurry):  click here 

While searching for pictures of green running shoes, I discovered that there are also green running shoes (as in, environmentally friendly).    For more information on how to be even greener as you prepare for this St. Patrick's Day 5K, check out this Runners World advice by clicking here.

Habibi Sweetheart Restaurant Shines With Middle Eastern Flair

Haven't we all heard just about enough about the world financial crisis?  If you need a break from negative news and happen to be hungry, here is just the restaurant to cheer you up.

This afternoon we stopped in to Habibi Sweetheart Restaurant at 1429 Lehigh Street (almost across from the VW dealership).  From the shape of the building, it is located in what appears to have originally been a Pizza Hut.

As you can see from this picture, a total transformation has taken place. This restaurant has friendly servers, white table cloths and amazing food, all made in their own kitchen with the freshest, finest ingredients available.

Habibi Sweetheart Restaurant opened within the last year, but escaped mention here until now.  That was an oversight, especially since I have eaten there many times.  On my first visit I met one of the owners, an accomplished chef who honed his trade in Paris, France.  He told me that "Habibi" means "Sweetheart" in their native Jordan.

This restaurant is a rising star that shines brightly and deserves to be on everyone's list of favorite restaurants in the entire Lehigh Valley.

At Habibi you will find an upscale Middle Eastern menu plus American favorites (with extremely reasonable prices), continental flair, huge portions and beautiful presentations: Dinner prices for Sirloin Steak at $13 and Tilapia at $16.  Lunches were in the $6 to $9 range.   Huge Breakfasts in the $5 to $8 range. 

My personal Middle Eastern favorite is the Maza Plate (a fun assortment of hummus, grape leaves, babaganoush and falafel).  Listed as an appetizer and costing $12, it is way more than I could ever eat at one sitting.  Salads are fresh and fabulous. The most amazing fresh bread -- hot from the oven -- comes with many meals, including some breakfasts.

This restaurant is owned by two brothers, Hamzah and Soad Shamasseen, and they can cook.  With their friendly staff, they dedicate themselves to pleasing you in every way a restaurant can.  

Check out Habibi, Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.  

So, even if the world financial crisis is bearing down on you, take your sweetheart by the hand to a delightful dinner after work or to a Bedouin Breakfast next weekend.   You'll both leave happy.

Lehigh Valley Grand Prix

I recently recieved the March edition of Lead Foot, Lehigh Valley Grand Prix's (LVGP) monthly e-newsletter and I wanted to share all the exciting things they have planned.

LVGP has partnered with Stock Car Racing Experience (who offers a great outdoor karting series) on a program called Team ProKart Racing, offering special discounts to LVGP license holders. (Recieve 20% off your first event and 10% off all future events) Click here for more information

You should take advantage of the great promotion LVGP has right now! Purchase a coupon book and get over $280 worth of racing for only $40. Contact Kristine, LVGP Event Planner, at kristine@lehighvalleygrandprix.com or 610-432-RACE if you are interested.

The Events staff is starting to plan for the Race Dayz event to be held over the 4th of July weekend. This event will consist of a party on Friday, July 3rd followed by a two-day motorsports show. If you are interested in setting up a booth, contact Kristine.

LVGP's upcoming events include:

• Adult Driving Clinic - March 15th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
• 3 Hour Endurance Race - March 22nd from 8:30 am - 12:00 pm

Look for our friends from LVGP at the Lehigh Valley Auto Show from March 26 - 29. If you wear your green LVGP t-shirt, you will recieve a race coupon!!

Allentown Cycling and Appropriate Transportation (CAT) Kickoff Meeting

The first meeting of CAT-Allentown will be held Thursday, March 19th from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Tompkins College Center, Room 1867 at Cedar Crest College.

As a person interested in improving life in Allentown by promoting cycling and other mobility alternatives to the automobile (safe pedestrian access, public transportation and trail systems), we're hoping you can make time and join us for this important meeting. The tentative agenda for the meeting is:

• Introductions (Who you are, and why you're interested in cycling and appropriate transportation for Allentown)
• Bicycle Heaven in Bethlehem (A presentation by Steve Schmidt describing the installation of shared lane markings and bicycle parking facilities that are calming traffic and transforming the Elm Street district of Bethlehem)
• Brainstorming Session: What should CAT-Allentown do to improve our community?

If you are unfamiliar with CAT, you can learn more about the organization by clicking here

Directions to Cedar Crest College:

Enter Cedar Crest College from the Cedar Crest Boulevard entrance--north of Hamilton Blvd., south of Tilghman St. Park in the parking lot that is immediately to the left; or, take a chance that there will be space on the circle. To reach the circle, just walk/drive a bit further down the college road--you'll see Blaney Hall right in front of you--that's the circle (one-way). Drive/walk to the right, and Tompkins College Center (TCC) is the first building on the right--kind of modern, with lots of dark, glass windows. Walk up the pathway to TCC, up the steps to Level 3. Go all the way down the hall; turn right through double doors (or a double doorway, because they may be open); the 1867 Room is the first door on the left.
No outside food allowed; however, there's a cafe one floor below. You can buy snacks/drinks and take them up.