Freelance writer w/focus on hospitality, travel, food and business. Blog: cheeseplatesandroomservice.com. Work appears in many publications across the US. Winner of five Keystone Media awards and one NAMPA award.
Comedian Steve Solomon tickles funny bones with ‘My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy’
“Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes,” says comedian Steve Solomon, quoting his Jewish grandmother in his one-man play titled, “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy.”
The author, comedian and Broadway star will treat audiences to additional bon mots uttered by his family when he takes the stage at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg on Sunday, May 19 at 3 p.m.
The Road Less Traveled
The Brooklyn-born comedian learned early th...
Pump It Up: Rock band Honeypump celebrates 30 years of making the scene
If you haven’t heard of Honeypump, you just may be a newcomer to the Harrisburg area.
In 2023, the rock outfit won the Central Pennsylvania Music Award for “Best Cover Band,” but that was just the cherry on top of the sundae for a group that celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
Way back when, lead guitarist/vocalist Rit Casey founded the band, which today also consists of Stephanie Casey, lead singer/keyboards, Ray Wright, drums/vocals, and Jim Gordon, bass guitar/vocals.
“We had 46 dat...
Hoagie Heaven: Hefty Lefty’s draws sub lovers to York’s Central Market
Pennsylvanians pride themselves on knowing what constitutes a good hoagie, as opposed to what can be described as “sub” par.
For instance, recently, I was speaking to a young teen who learned the cruel ways of the world when she ordered a hoagie while traveling with her family out west.
“They put bell peppers on it,” she explained incredulously.
One person who knows how to make a Pennsylvania-pleasing hoagie is Mark Millek, who operates Hefty Lefty’s in York’s Central Market.
Millek boasts a ...
A Bigger Boat: J.B. Kelly adds a Dauphin location to his seafood roster
John B. Kelly is all about fresh fish.
You can find his fare at JB Kelly’s Seafood Connection at the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg and at the Central Market in Lancaster. In March, he added another location to his growing portfolio—Red Raven Surf and Turf, a 1,200-square-foot market located in Dauphin on Peters Mountain Road.
Lauren Ellis, John’s business partner of 10 years, provided a rundown of available items, which includes fresh fish and a variety of seafood, such as oysters, clams,...
Flex your creative muscles at Touchstone’s Center for Crafts date night
/Living
Touchstone Center for the Arts in Farmington offers a wide range of classes, but one of the most popular are its date nights, a unique way to learn a new skill.
A trip to the Laurel Highlands is always a beautiful one, especially as the weather warms. The winding roads, tidy farms and sun-dappled woodlands are a wonderful reminder of the beauty of our state.
Nestled within 150 acres of woodland about 60 miles south of Pittsburgh, is a place that has stood the test of time. The Touchst...
Business is thriving for Bellefonte bed-and-breakfast owners after pandemic challenges
This article was provided by HappyValley Industry, an Affinity Connection-run website that highlights local tech companies. Read more and sign up for the newsletter at happyvalleyindustry.com.
Part of Bellefonte’s draws for visitors are the unique lodging opportunities available at local bed-and-breakfasts. Owning and operating a B&B requires hard work and commitment, plus a passion for people and hospitality. Three Bellefonte B&B proprietors share how they have continued to thrive amid chang...
Centre County’s 1st female distiller is getting national attention. You might catch her on TV
This article was provided by HappyValley Industry, an Affinity Connection-run website that highlights local tech companies. Read more and sign up for the newsletter at happyvalleyindustry.com.
Erica Unruh’s circuitous route to becoming Centre County’s first female distiller could be described as a “happy (Valley) accident.”
Unruh was born and raised in Northern California where her family enjoyed homebrewing. It was a hobby that appealed to her, and when she became an adult, she began trying ...
Mary Cardwell Dawson play explores racism in opera and the tenacity to overcome
/Entertainment
When it comes to the music industry, one pioneering female seems to get short shrift for her contributions, and the Pittsburgh Opera is taking measures to change that with the final production of their 2023-2024 season. “The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson,” a 70-minute play with music, will resonate with all audiences who can appreciate one woman’s tenacity as she strives to overcome the obstacles placed in her way by a segregated society.
“Dawson was a teacher and a pianist w...
Penn Staters’ support has helped Herlocher’s Dipping Mustard spread beyond Happy Valley
This article was provided by HappyValley Industry, an Affinity Connection-run website that highlights local tech companies. Read more and sign up for the newsletter at happyvalleyindustry.com.
Most Penn State alums — or anyone who’s spent even a small amount of time in Happy Valley — know Herlocher’s Dipping Mustard. The bright yellow mustard stands out through the glass jar emblazoned with Penn State blue and white. However, while the brand is irrefutably tied to Penn State, its reach now st...
Paranormal researcher shares tales of the supernatural at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
/Local
Do you believe in the things that go bump in the night, or are you a skeptic?
Either way you’ll be entertained when Dustin Pari takes the stage at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall on April 18 at 8 p.m.
As a motivational speaker and paranormal researcher who has appeared numerous times on television’s “Ghost Hunters,” “Ghost Hunters International” and “Destination Truth,” Pari comes by his paranormal passion honestly.
“When I was 9 years old, I saw a humanoid-shaped shado...
Check out a Q&A with the general manager of Husk in Charleston
Husk, the restaurant that has been a hit in Charleston since its inception in late 2010, is undergoing a few changes this year to include casual dining at the bar and patio to make the destination more accessible.
SC Biz News sat down with Steven Chandler, general manager, Husk in Charleston, to learn more about the restaurant.
Question: We hear all the time about restaurants being “farm-to-table.” What sets Husk apart from the others?
Answer: Farm-to-table is a weird moniker. Everything come...
New restaurant coming to former Oak Hill Café space in Greenville
Greenville continues to grow its reputation as a “foodie town” with its latest restaurant concept coming to 2510 Poinsett Highway.
People familiar with the busy area may recognize the building as the one where the old Oak and Fire restaurant operated. (Oak & Fire was was from the team behind the acclaimed Oak Hill Café in the same space).
A new concept, called “HeyDay,” is the latest eatery conceived by the KO Restaurant Group, which is known for other di...
River City Brass Band merges music with visual arts in Pictures at an Exhibition
/Editor's Pick
River City Brass Band will marry music and art during performances across the region in April, including shows in Greensburg and Bethel Park.
The beloved River City Brass Band (RCB), which also has the distinction of being the only professional full-time brass band in the country, is bringing a unique performance to four locations in Southwestern Pennsylvania this April.
Called Pictures at an Exhibition, the concert is inspired by the visual arts, with selections like “Night on...
Singer, songwriter, nomad: Joshua Radin takes the stage in Pittsburgh
Editor's Pick
By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger
Down-to-earth, devoid of bells and whistles, unafraid, vulnerable and minimalist – these are all words that describe Joshua Radin.
The world-renowned artist counts among his credits a staggering 1 billion streams and 1 million records sold — an exemplary feat he accomplished simply, with a guitar in his hands and a song in his soul.
A Musician’s Journey
When it comes to becoming a musician, you could say that Radin was a late bloomer.
“I’ve always lo...
Scranton-to-NYC rail line eyed with optimism
When it comes to resurrecting the Scranton-to-New York City rail line, you’ll be hard-pressed to hear any negativity, at least in the Scranton region.
Everyone seems to be in favor of the idea which would restore a service that was shut down in 1970.
A Casey, Cartwright Proposal
On December 5, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8) announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) had included Northeastern Pennsylvania in its Corridor Identificat...