Lancaster PA Weekend Events - 7/23/2009 - 7/26/2009
Ten Things to do This Weekend: 7/23/2009 - 7/26/2009
Dave Matthews Band live By Lauren Seitz 7/23/2009
Friday: Hersheypark Stadium, Derry Township
Formed in 1991, The Dave Matthews Band was the brainchild of lead vocalist and guitarist Dave Matthews. Complete with a bass, violin, drums, saxophone and sometimes a trumpet, the band shot to lasting fame with such hits as "What Would You Say," "Ants Marching" and "Crash."
Eighteen years later, the band is one of the top-selling musical acts of all time. The band scored the Grammy Awards for the Best Rock Vocal Performance by a duo or Group with "So Much To Say" in 1997 and Best Rock Vocal Performance - Male with "Gravedigger" in 2004.
The band's most recent album, "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 list and is the title of their summer tour.
The band is a rarity in the musical world, as it permits audience members to record and sell its songs. The band's members credit the sharing of its music at colleges in the early 1990s as the source of their fame.
The annual Pride Festival of Central PA is held to increase positive visibility of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and straight ally community.
This year, the festival will feature Tiffany, who was popular in the late 1980s with such hits as "I Think We're Alone Now," "Could've Been" and "I Saw Him Standing There."
The festival showcases organizations available to the GLBT and straight ally community, provides a safe environment and supports local economic growth by partnering with the community and attracting individuals to Central Pennsylvania.
Festivities begin at 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $7 per person; there is no charge for children under 12.
"Hello, Dolly" musical By Lauren Seitz 7/23/2009
Thursday-Sunday: Gretna Theatre, Mount Gretna
"Hello, Dolly" was brought to the Broadway stage in 1964. It's been through three revivals and years of international fame as the story remains an entertaining tale of New York City matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi.
The beloved show features songs "Put on Your Sunday Clothes," "So Long, Dearie" and "It Only Takes a Moment." Winner of the 1964 Tony Award for Best Musical, "Hello, Dolly" was based on the play "The Matchmaker" by Thornton Wilder.
The show follows the widow's antics as she matches young people in the city and decides the widower and half-a-millionaire Horace Vandergelder should be her companion.
Evening shows are 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.
Matinees are 2 p.m. Thursday and Sunday.
For tickets, visit the box office, call 964-3627 or click here.
Los Lobos live By Lauren Seitz 7/23/2009
Sunday: Long's Park Amphitheater, Lancaster
Rock ‘n' roll, Tex-Mex, country, folk, R&B and traditional Spanish and Mexican music combine to create the unique sounds of the American Chicano rock band Los Lobos.
The band has released more than 15 albums and appeared on the soundtracks of such movies as "Bill Durham," "La Bamba" and "Desperado." Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Los Lobos traveled on tour and opened for countless other musicians, including Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead.
The concert, which will showcase some of the songs from their most recent album, "The Town and The City," is part of Long's Park free Summer Music Series.
The Livestock Show Ring will feature the breeding beef and sheep shows. Other events include the "Wild West Follies" and the "Master of the Chainsaw" sculptor.
The final day of the festival, Saturday, will feature a horse show and a 5K run/walk. Both evenings will feature entertainment.
Events begin at 9 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday.
Admission to the fair is free but some events may require a fee.
James Otto in concert 7/23/2009
Sunday: Hersheypark Amphitheatre, Derry Township
Though known for his guitar and vocal talents, country music star James Otto began his musical career in learning to play violin and saxophone.
Otto's debut album with Warner Bros. Records, "Sunset Man," topped the charts at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart after its release in 2008. The album's first single "Just Got Started Lovin' You," was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
Otto is a member of MuzikMafia, a group of country singers that promotes "music without prejudice" and boasts such members as Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich.
Shows times are 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
The show is included with regular admission into the park.
Sports Roundup 7/23/2009
Thursday-Sunday: Multiple venues
The York Revolution host the Somerset Patriots at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Harrisburg Senators stay at home to face the Trenton Thunder at 7 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.
If soccer is more your speed, the Harrisburg City Islanders welcome the Wilmington Hammerheads at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.
Frederica von Stade live By Lauren Seitz 7/23/2009
Thursday: H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center, Shippensburg
Internationally acclaimed opera singer Frederica von Stade will perform with the Festival Chamber Orchestra and Chorus in the third concert of the Summer Music Festival Celebration Series.
The mezzo-soprano singer - known as "Flicka" - has performed in opera houses and concert halls throughout the world. She spent much of her professional career with the Metropolitan Opera, which wrote two pieces for her in 1995 and 2000 to commemorate anniversaries of her singing.
Von Stade's repertoire includes songs from Broadway musicals, as well as works by Mozart and contemporary composers. She has received six Grammy Award nominations and appears regularly on television with choirs.
Friday-Sunday: Paulus Farm Market, Upper Allen Township
Cut your own bouquet of flowers and watch flower demonstrations at the Paulus Farm Market, a family-owned and -operated market and farm.
The market and farm features in-season fruits and vegetables, baked goods, farm-raised beef, plants and planters.
The flower-cutting garden is open through mid-September, though special demonstrations will occur this weekend showcasing flower arranging and question-and-answer sessions. Activities for children also will be available, as well as discounts on bouquets.
The event is during normal operating hours, which are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is free. For more information, click here.
Kayak Tour: Wildlife Watchers on the Water 7/23/2009
Sunday: Codorus State Park, Hanover
Codorus State Park staff will lead an hour-and-a-half kayak tour through the coves of Lake Marburg to see wildlife on the water's edges.
The leisurely paddle will afford participants to see eagle, osprey, waterfowl and wading birds.
Boats, paddles, vests and waterproof binoculars are provided. Beginners are welcome. The $15 tour is 8-9:30 a.m. weekly through Aug. 31.
Call 637-2816 for reservations.
posted: 07/23/09
Economic shock gives rise to coupon cutting
By Emanuella Grinberg
CNN
(CNN) -- The rising price of consumer goods is driving shoppers from all walks of life to use coupons for food, beauty aids and pharmacy products at an increasing rate, according to some of the country's largest purveyors of manufacturers' coupons.
Consumers from several economic backgrounds are clipping coupons.
The once-popular act of coupon cutting -- introduced by the inventor of Coca-Cola syrup more than 100 years ago -- is again becoming a household chore.
While people may be looking to spend less, they aren't necessarily cutting back on necessities or luxuries. Instead, consumers are hunting for deals on where to dry-clean their clothes, get their oil changed or take the family out to dinner, said MaryAnn Rivers, CEO of Entertainment Publications, which publishes community-based coupon books and Web sites.
Rivers said the company's site has seen a 153 percent increase in the use of coupons for day-to-day necessities and a 198 percent increase in the use of coupons for casual or "quick-serve" meals since last year.
"It doesn't appear activity has slowed down, they're just looking to save more often," said Rivers, whose publication is often sold in schools and community organizations as a fundraising tool. "We're getting back to basics with people. They are trading down from activities and moving into more affordable opportunities."
Other companies are also seeing gains. Florida-based Valpak, whose signature blue envelopes land in about 45 million homes each year, has seen use of its coupons increase 8 percent since last year for products such as groceries, take-out food, home improvement products and specialty retail.
"Coupons motivate customers when they're looking at different stores that offer the same goods. They're more likely to go with a store that offers coupons," Valpak spokeswoman Marsha Strickhouser said.
Strickhouser said specific figures related to usage is proprietary information and unavailable for release, but said the number represents a significant surge in consumer response in the company's 40-year history.
"People might say coupons are just for tightwads, but people from all kinds of economic backgrounds are more likely to use them," Strickhouser said. "It's good sense to use them."
In mid-2006, consumers bucked a 15-year period of decline by redeeming 2.6 billion manufacturers' coupons.
Since then, the numbers have remained consistent, with redemption at mass merchandising stores such as Wal-Mart and Target up 11 percent since 2007, according to Charles Brown, co-chair of the Promotion Marketing Association's Coupon Council.
"Couponing," as Brown calls it, also has risen in dollar stores and convenience marts by 14 percent since last year, even as the use of coupons as a marketing tool has declined in the packaged goods arena.
"It's an individual company strategy. Some may be promoting discretionary items that might not be purchased if a consumer is economizing; others might be seeing natural sales generated as consumers economize more," Brown said.
As couponing has become more popular, Brown said manufacturers have become more restrictive with their offerings by imposing shorter duration periods and more purchase requirements to get the deal.
"If the consumer is being responsive and using more coupons, the marketer wants to keep that contained so it doesn't become too costly to them," Brown said.
Despite the restrictions, Brown said he anticipates continued growth in the use of coupons as people get comfortable with the idea of coupons, which languished in the realm of the frugal shopper.
"I think that what we're seeing is a behavioral change in the consumer that could have lasting effects. If you shift buying patterns and enjoy benefits of doing that, you will likely continue in that pattern," he said. "For the marketer, it's an opportunities to bring in more customers and get them to try new things."
These days, it's safe to assume that most consumers are looking to save a buck or two. And for a whole host of Internet entrepreneurs, that spells an opportunity.
A slew of new Web sites offering coupons and online promotions are flooding the Internet. While these sites offer a wide breadth of discounts, they also cause a lot of confusion among shoppers, making it more difficult to weed out the really good deals from the duds.
"There are hundreds, if not thousands, of coupon sites out there offering the exact same thing," says Edgar Dworsky, the founder of consumer advocacy site Consumer World.
The proliferation of these sites isn't just about saving shoppers money. As part of so-called affiliate marketing programs, retailers offer cash to these Web entrepreneurs each time they get a consumer to make a purchase on their store's site.
The enticements these sites use: coupons and other discounts. Each site uses a unique promotional code so the retailers know where a customer is coming from. Usually, though, that's the only differentiating factor among these discount sites. Most of the underlying deals are identical.
Though choosing among hundreds of discounts may not seem like a bad thing at first, it's the relative sameness of these sites that makes it hard for shoppers to find the best deals and discern whether the offers they see are legit, notes Mary Hunt, the founder of money-management site Debt-Proof Living.
Some have more-extensive retailer partnerships and therefore offer a broader range of deals. Others are more diligent about updating offers and weeding out expired coupons.
We asked Dworsky, Hunt and other consumer advocates and deal hunters to point out the free coupon sites they use. Here are five worth bookmarking:
Why the experts like it: Coupons.com offers as wide a variety of timely coupons as you'd find in the grocery shoppers' gold standard, the Sunday paper, says Dworsky. Phil Lempert, the founder of news site Supermarket Guru, praises the site's simple layout, which makes it easy to browse available coupons and then print them out. Enter your ZIP code for area-specific deals.
There's just one drawback: "There are still some retailers that will not accept Internet coupons," cautions Lempert. Check to see whether your supermarket does before downloading the site's coupon-printing software.
Sample deal: Save $3 on Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Complete Acne Therapy System.
Why the experts like it: CouponCabin keeps its discount fare fresh, says Linda Sherry, a spokeswoman for Consumer Action. Staffers update deals three times a day and frequently check each coupon code to ensure it works.
Sections for "most-used coupons" and "favorite deals" point shoppers toward the best continuing promotions at online retailers. An added bonus: A weekly e-mail newsletter alerts consumers to the latest deals every Monday.
Sample deal: Link to Backcountryoutlet.com through CouponCabin and use the coupon code provided to save 40% off your order, excluding sale items. The offer expires Dec. 31.
Why the experts like it: CouponMom.com covers a lot of ground, listing online coupon codes, printout coupons and free samples, among other types of discounts.
While other sites are riddled with offers and banner ads, CouponMom.com's simple design makes finding discounts easy, says Garen Daly, the host of the "Frugal Yankee" radio show. Deals are reliably accurate, too, adds Tawra Kellam, the founder of frugal-living newsletter Living on a Dime.
Members can find all available coupons from several sources using the virtual coupon organizer. Sign up for e-mail alerts on sales at favorite retailers or on a shopping-list staple like the kids' favorite brand of peanut butter.
Sample deal: Link to discount gift certificate site Restaurants.com through CouponMom.com and save an added 40% on any restaurant gift certificate order. (Shoppers pay $6 for a $25 gift certificate, instead of the regular -- already discounted -- rate of $10.)
Why the experts like it: RetailMeNot.com's dedicated community is what makes this site stand out. Users indicate whether a discount code worked for them, helping shoppers quickly filter out bad deals, Hunt says. They also add comments, pointing out when a code last worked, or any strings attached. "It's pretty darn reliable," Hunt says.
E-mail alerts notify you when new codes are posted for your favorite retailers.
Why the experts like it: SmartSource.com merges local store sales and an array of coupons to print out and online deals to help consumers maximize savings, says Lisa Lee Freeman, the editor-in-chief of Consumer Reports' ShopSmart magazine.
The selection is great, and entering your ZIP code yields even more deals specific to your area. (As with Coupons.com, check that your supermarket accepts coupons printed from the Web before downloading the software.)
Sample deal: Save $5 on Aquafresh White Trays Pro-Gentle System.
This article was reported and written by Kelli B. Grant for SmartMoney.
Find out what movies are playing throughout all of the Lancaster County movie theaters. Find Lancaster PA movie show times and search for your favorite actors and directors.
ABOUT HISTORIC DOWNTOWN LANCASTER: Located in South Central Pennsylvania, Lancaster city - the oldest inland city in the US - is an area with an exceptional amount of history. During the American Revolution, the small town was, for one day (September 27, 1777) the capitol of the colonies, as well as being the capitol of Pennsylvania from 1799 until 1812 and was the home of several notable historical figures, including the 15th President of the US, James Buchanan.
While Lancaster County might be best known as Pennsylvania Dutch Country and the home of the Amish, Downtown Lancaster is filled with a variety of small businesses, independent shops, and progressive thinking. From the cities' Gallery Row - a two plus block area of art galleries and local restaurants, to it's Central Market - the oldest continuously operated farmers market in the US, to its historic buildings and architecture.
ATTRACTIONS: CHAMELEON CLUB - The marquee venue of the conference, Lancaster's Chameleon Club is not only the foundation of Central PA's music scene but has been hailed by MTV as "one of the greatest places to see live original music and the most promising up and coming bands"! www.chameleonclub.net
LANCASTER BARNSTORMERS - Catch a ball game at Clipper Magazine Stadium, home of the Lancaster Barnstormers, Lancaster's professional baseball team in the Atlantic League. With tickets starting as low as $5, its a great way to spend some down time! www.lancasterbarnstormers.com
FULTON OPERA HOUSE - Catch a show at the historic Fulton Opera House, a major player in America's theatrical heritage. The Fulton, which dates back to 1852, is also a National Historic Landmark! www.atthefulton.org
WHEATLAND - Get Presidential and tour the mansion home of America's 15th President, James Buchanan! www.wheatland.org
DEMUTH MUSEUM - The restored studio, garden and home of artist Charles Demuth (1883-1935). www.demuth.org
HERITAGE CENTER OF LANCASTER - Located at the very heart of the city, the heritage museums are committed to preserving Lancaster County's history and decorative arts. www.culturalhistorymuseum.com
HOLE IN THE WALL PUPPET THEATER - Local puppet house specializing in marionettes and muppet-esque puppets. www.holeinthewallpuppettheater.com
LANCASTER QUILT AND TEXTILE MUSEUM - Explore the rich and diverse textile traditions of Lancaster County and south-central Pennsylvania. www.quiltandtextilemuseum.com
NORTH MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE AND HISTORY - Extensive collections and hands-on, minds-on exhibits that engage the imagination in a welcoming environment. From outer space to local Native American peoples, from rocks and minerals to dinosaurs, from the Live Animal Room to the Discovery Room, explore the diverse world of natural history and science. www.northmuseum.org
SHOPPING:
DOWNTOWN LANCASTER - Gallery Row, located on Prince Street (in the midst of many of Launch's venues), is Lancaster's "Avenue of The Arts" and is home to an eclectic mix of contemporary and modern art. the 300 block of neighboring North Queen Street - occasionally refereed to as the "SoHo of Lancaster" - is home to a variety of unique shops and excellent restaurants. www.downtownlancaster.com
PARK CITY CENTER - The largest enclosed shopping center in Central Pennsylvania includes in excess of 150 stores! www.parkcitycenter.com
CENTRAL MARKET - A unique shopping experience where tourists can purchase fresh local produce and handmade Amish goods not common anywhere else.
ROCKVALE OUTLETS - Located just outside of town, the Rockvale Outlets are home to more than 100 stores - get the brand names you love at discount prices! www.rockvalesquareoutlets.com
TANGER OUTLETS - Located just down the road from Rockvale are the Tanger Outlets, home to more than 60 brand name manufacturer and designer outlet stores! www.tangeroutlet.com/lancaster
posted: 02/06/09
Opening Events Planned for Lancaster County Convention Center and Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square
Lancaster, Pa. (June 12, 2009) – The Lancaster County Convention Center Authority and Penn Square Partners are pleased to announce:
A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place Thursday, June 18, at 10 a.m. to celebrate the opening of The Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square and Lancaster County Convention Center facility and honor project stakeholders. The brief ceremony, to be held at the lobby entrance on Penn Square, is open to the public.
Additionally, an Open House is scheduled for Sunday, June 21, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; members of the public are encouraged to attend this event. There will be an opportunity for members of the public to tour the facility.
The integrated facility is scheduled to open for business on June 19. The first large-scale use of the facility will be the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities 110th Annual Convention, which will bring more than 500 people to Lancaster beginning June 22. The convention is scheduled for June 24-26.
The landmark $174-million integrated facility, located on historic Penn Square in downtown Lancaster, Pa., is considered by many to be one of the most important regional economic development initiatives in decades.
“These celebratory events represent an exciting milestone in the launch of a facility that will welcome visitors to Lancaster and provide an incomparable gathering place with ties to our community’s treasured past at this landmark setting,” said Nevin Cooley, president of Penn Square Partners.
Kevin R. Molloy, executive director of the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority, owner of the convention center, added, “We are ready to open this world-class integrated facility with its unparalleled amenities, surrounded by a friendly historic urban downtown that offers a sophistication that is Lancaster, Pa.”
About the facility
Anchoring Downtown Lancaster and boldly incorporating the 110-year-old Beaux Arts façade of the historic former Watt & Shand department store, the integrated convention center and 300-room hotel will offer a combined 90,000 square feet of meeting space and the latest technology for conventions, events, and trade shows. Appealing as a unique world-class facility set in a smaller, less expensive urban destination, the facility is centrally located to the metropolitan areas of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and New York. The new venue offers space for groups up to 5,000 and includes a convention and exhibition hall, two grand ballrooms, and several finely appointed meeting and board rooms.
Interiors are distinctive and exude a warm cosmopolitan feel including fresh colors and rich mahogany accents. Expansive windows offer an infusion of natural light and remarkable views onto the Downtown. The facility’s new construction incorporates the iconic façade of the former Watt & Shand Department Store, as well as other important historic structures and features.
In the 300-room hotel portion of this integrated facility, meeting attendees will find all the amenities commanded by the Marriott name, including 37-inch LCD high-def screens, smart plug-and-play system for connecting laptops to TVs, and luxurious pillow-top bedding.
Restaurant and lounge
The facility’s signature Penn Square Grille and Rendezvous Lounge serves contemporary American cuisine with regional highlights. Taking its position among a growing roster of fresh and refined dining options in Lancaster, the Penn Square Grille and Rendezvous Lounge by design is a place and an experience that affords the celebration of connections –– to a region through its offering of fresh local bounty, to a city via remarkable presence on Penn Square, and to a treasured past with the reemergence of this landmark gathering place. The menu emphasizes the grill and incorporates local bounty served with exceptional service. The extensive, hand-selected wine list is abundantly inclusive of California wines. Including 30 wines offered by the glass, the list represents a diversity of selection and price points for every taste and occasion. Seating includes 92 seats in the dining room, 12 seats in private dining, and 54 seats in the Rendezvous Lounge.
Unique historical context
The venue offers significant historical and cultural context. Paying remarkable homage to regional and American history, the facility incorporates historic structures and narratives within and around its own architecture. Eventually the overall project, which from inception held a vision of incorporating the unique historical fabric of Lancaster, will offer a 20,000-square-foot, $20-million interactive museum, the Stevens & Smith Historic Site (see www.stevensandsmith.org for additional compelling background).
Under the leadership of the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County (HPT), a water-collection cistern was unearthed and preserved during construction that had once been part of the Kleiss Tavern owned by influential Congressman and abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens. In the Vine Street entrance area to the facility, guests will behold a view of the preserved cistern, believed by scholars and archeologists – because of the manner in which it was modified after the property had already been connected to the public water system – to have been a hiding place used by Stevens and business partner Lydia Hamilton Smith to assist Americans escaping slavery along the Underground Railroad.
The Lancaster County Convention Center is a publicly owned entity under the direction of the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority; Kevin Molloy, executive director. The Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square is owned by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Lancaster and leased to Penn Square Partners, the private company that holds the Marriott franchise.
About Lancaster County Convention Center Authority
The Lancaster County Convention Center Authority is established under the Municipal Authority Act of 1945 and the Third-Class County Convention Center Authority Act. The Convention Center Authority is run by a seven-member volunteer board, which is appointed by city and county officials. The LCCCA board was charged with developing a unique and inviting convention/ exhibition venue with an intergraded privately owned first-class lodging facility. In addition the LCCCA is working with Historical Preservation Trust to preserve and promote the Stevens, Kleiss & Smith historical buildings.
About Penn Square Partners
Penn Square Partners consists of general partner Penn Square General LP, a High Real Estate Group LLC affiliate, and limited partner Penn Square Ltd., LLC, an affiliate of Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.
About Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, which operates The Lancaster County Convention Center and Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, is the nation’s largest independent hotel management company. For more information about Interstate Hotels & Resorts, visit the company’s Web site at www.ihrco.com.
About High Real Estate Group
High Real Estate Group LLC, based in Lancaster, Pa., is a full-service developer/owner of office, industrial, retail, hotel, and multi-family properties. Through its affiliates — High Associates Ltd., High Construction Company, Greenfield Architects Ltd., High Hotels Ltd., and High Investors Ltd. — the firm also provides architecture, construction services, sales and leasing services, property management, corporate real estate services, strategic planning and consultation, appraisals, hospitality services, and investments. With offices and properties throughout the eastern United States, the company owns and manages a portfolio of more than 9 million square feet of assets. For more information about High Real Estate Group, call (800) 638-4414 or visit www.HighRealEstateGroup.com.
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