Flea
Marketeer - Published 11/1/06
Destination
You’ve probably passed it along Route 33 a
million times, but never actually stopped in to the Blue Ridge Flea
Market. There are only a few more weekends left to go “treasure
hunting” in nearby Saylorsburg and see what you have been
missing.
One of the many wonderful things about the Blue
Ridge is its semi-split personality. There are effectively two sections
separated by a double wide lane. The upper, or northern section,
contains more retail style and new items, including some fresh produce
and a snack bar. Think of it as the Upper East Side of flea markets.
Highlights of this section typically include a stand
that sells cellphone accessories, packaged pet goods, miscellaneous
household products, and the occasional small owner stand peddling
some used wares. Be sure to stop by the little Polish lady selling
Linzer cookies. If you’re nice, she will give you “just
one tissue” to clean the powdered sugar off your hands.
The lower section is a little more like Greenwich
Village. Gritty, eclectic and varied, this section can satisfy the
thrill seeking marketeers.
On the “south side” you will be treated
to a selection of live chicks, roosters and occasional rabbits for
sale. You’ll also find a large selection of vintage and antique
tools, and the ever popular array of “anything on this blanket
for $1” offerings. One favorite stop is a stand in the far
left corner specializing in real antique furnishings. With a constantly
rotating inventory of rare finds, this stand is worth visiting every
weekend.
Right in the middle of the entire market, in the
aisle separating the two sections is a fudge stand. A quarter-pound
box is the perfect little pick me up prior to finishing off the
rest of the flea market.
Bring your walking shoes, remember that all that
glitters is not gold, and as always, let the buyer beware. Even
if you refrain from actually purchasing anything, the people watching
alone is spectacular.
Directions
Saylorsburg is just north of Wind Gap off of Route 33 North. Simply
take the Saylorsburg exit off of 33, (Rt. 115). Make a right off
the exit, loop back around and over 33, and make a left at the old
hotel. The Blue Ridge is on the left about a quarter mile further
and is typically open from April through November from 7 AM to 3
PM. For more information, call 570.992.8044.
Run-
Published 8/30/06
Destination
Here’s a great little twist on the “Under
an Hour” theme – how about an activity that you can
start right from your doorstep and be home within the time constraint?
It’s time to dig those stylish running shoes out of the closet
and put them to work.
It’s no big secret that a big portion of the
population loathes running (and most other forms of exercise). What
we all need is a little bit of motivation. Let’s start by
doing the math. The average person walks approximately 2.5 to 3
miles per hour. With just a bit more effort, you can double that
average. Some power walkers can average over 6 miles per hour to
give you an idea that it’s an attainable goal.
Give those 6 miles a little nudge and some Euro
flair, and you have a 10 kilometer distance. It sounds so much more
dramatic, more chic even, to say you’re training for the next
10k doesn’t it? Ok, then start smaller, and make your goal
a 5k race. Either option will sound like a marathon distance to
the slug in the cubicle next to you.
Running promotes better circulation, increases your
metabolic rate, and burns calories. Beyond the multiple health benefits
though, running can help improve
your social life too. A list of organized runs in the Slate Belt
area
can be located at www.lvrunning.com
or www.runningintheusa.com
.
If you start paying attention, you’ll see ads in local papers,
spots on radio stations, and random flyers posted around announcing
runs nearly every weekend. Runs are often held for charity, so local
churches and clubs frequently host as well. Fees usually range from
$5 to $25, and sometimes include free t-shirts and prizes.
If you still need some more motivation, Nike and
Apple have collaborated to produce a little gadget for your IPod
Nano which tracks your mileage and goals, stages competitions between
friends and even urges you to push harder during your run. Check
out www.nike.com/nikeplus
or www.apple.com/ipod/nike
for further details about this on the go gizmo.
Naturally, before starting any form of exercise,
you should consult your physician. Start slow, build up, set realistic
goals, believe in yourself and most importantly, get going!
***10k or 6.2 miles in under an hour is exactly
the goal the author – a self professed “non-runner”
has set for himself. On 9/10, the Lance Armstrong Foundation Livestrong
Challenge takes place in Philadelphia.
For details on AJPags’ personal goal, please
visit www.livestrongchallenge.org/06pa/pags
Dutch
Springs- Published 4/26/06
Destination
Over 70% of the Earth is covered in water, but how
many of us explore what’s below the surface?
Dutch Springs, a quarry based adventure park, affords
that opportunity as it hosts a variety of activities for the entire
family, including a full water park, premier dive sites up to 100
feet in depth, and even a rock climbing wall for the land lubbers.
The water park boasts many giant inflatable obstacles
to climb and bounce around on, including a hot dog looking teeter
totter. The feel is reminiscent of the old Action Park in New Jersey,
where you can roam on your own, and assume the level of risk you
personally desire, but with the safety of a life vest. In the same
fashion, this isn’t exactly Sesame Place either, and waivers
are required for admission. It’s a perfect place for the pre-teen
crowd, and older kids will certainly find enough to keep them busy
too. Dates and hours are 10 AM - 5 PM from May 27th - September
4th for the water park only.
Dutch Springs also offers a fantastic opportunity
for scuba diving. In fact, most of the area dive shops (including
Lehigh Valley Dive Center) use Dutch Springs as a training ground,
and open water certification site. Among the most visited attractions
under water include a submerged fire truck and helicopter, but there
are other smaller sunken vessels and points of interest to merit
multiple visits and dives. Large mouth bass and yellow perch are
also abundant to keep you company, with the occasional Koi lurking
near the shoreline. Don’t expect the Caribbean here though,
as water temperatures are often well below ambient temperatures,
and the locals are often donning seven millimeter wetsuits for deeper
dives.
Even if you’re not that adventurous, there’s
something for you to do at Dutch. While the kids are frolicking,
you can take a paddleboat ride, rent an ocean kayak, or jump on
an aquacycle (a large floating tricycle) for a spin. Dutch Springs
also hosts local parties, picnics, and has camping facilities.
Whether you prefer wet and wild, or semi-dry and
mild, Dutch Springs has your water leisure activities covered.
Directions
Further information and just about everything you
need to know can be found on www.dutchsprings.com . Info on admission,
hours, local dive shops and even water temperatures can be found
there. At a mere 20 miles from Bangor, you should expect to travel
about 35 minutes. Simply take 33 South to 22 West, and get off at
191 North. You’ll only be on 191 for about a mile, and will
make a left hand turn on Hanoverville Road. From there, you’ll
find Dutch Springs at 4733 Hanoverville Road.
GeoCaching-
Published 3/01/06
Destination
The greatest thing about this particular destination
is that it’s really comprised of 536 unique and interesting
destinations all under an hour from the Slate Belt. It’s called
“Geocaching,” and it’s the modern equivalent of
the classic treasure hunt.
Geocaching is an adventure activity that anyone
with a Global Positioning System (GPS) and web access can enjoy.
In its simplest form, it’s a semi-guided treasure hunt achieved
by entering coordinates in your GPS and then going to find the location.
At its most complex, it involves solving puzzles or riddles, doing
multiple finds, or stretching your imagination to find the hiding
place.
Geocaches can be objects, simple logs, small containers,
webcams, or even particular destinations. Typically they include
small trinkets for the adventurer, a logbook to record your visit,
and maybe a trackable item or two.
The rules are pretty straight-forward. Go to www.geocaching.com
and punch in a zip code of your choice. You’ll get a results
page that shows caches in that area, along with short descriptions,
and coordinates. Punch those coordinates into your GPS unit, and
head out on your adventure. Hints are often also provided in code
form through the web page, and you can read about other’s
experiences while doing your research.
When you find the cache, log your visit there, and
on the website. If you take something out of the cache, leave something
for the next person. If you take nothing, leave nothing but footprints,
and let the hider know you enjoyed the hunt. In all cases, return
the cache to where you found it, and if you can improve on its condition
(by waterproofing it with additional plastic bags for example),
feel free.
So what’s out there? If you’re not too
particular, you’ll enjoy the pot-luck aspects of the caching
community. You may end up in a downtown restaurant parking lot,
or on the top of a cliff overlooking a breathtaking site. In both
cases you’ll probably be looking high and low for something
that only the indoctrinated know how to find. Caches in the Slate
Belt area have titles like “Bangor Cache & Dash,”
“Jacobsburg by Bike or Hike Cache,” “Tiki Man
Tree,” and “Cache Me if You Can”. Geocachers have
a unique sense of wit all their own, and some caches have remained
in place for years.
All that is really needed to enjoy this activity
is a GPS and a sense of adventure. GPS units can be had for anywhere
from $100 to $1000, and are available in any commercial electronics
store such as Best Buy or Circuit City. Many Geocachers (author
included) prefer the Garmin line of GPS units for their simplicity.
The look and feel of the smaller Garmin Etrex line is perfectly
suited for hiking, exploring, and of course Geocaching.
Plan an afternoon, grab the kids or the pooch, and
load up the GPS with two or three locations. It’s a great
way to spend an afternoon playing hide and seek with techno-twist.
Directions
Further information and just about everything you need to know can
be found on www.geocaching.com.
There are some tools to help you plan your hunt, as well as an extensive
user community. Remember, caches are hidden for a reason, so don’t
be surprised if your first few finds are harder than you think.
The 536 number quoted in the opening is based on the number of caches
located within 30 miles of zip code 18013.
Hampton
Winds- Published 2/1/06
Destination
Skip the buzz of the downtown jet setters. Forget the raw individuality
of Bethlehem’s South Side. If your focus is the food, the
Hampton Winds has a secret ingredient that’s unsurpassed in
the area.
That secret ingredient is the handful of students that support their
teacher in the kitchen at the Hampton Winds. Situated on the Northampton
Community College Campus, the restaurant is subsidized by the college,
supervised by the culinary department and effectively powered by
the students of its program.
Don’t expect cafeteria quality food when you enter the modest
accommodations. Hampton Winds prides itself on premier high-end
cuisine served right, and with a flair you simply can not imagine
at the price. A five course dinner will run you a fixed $25.00 and
includes an appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, and a choice
of dessert from the display cart wheeled to your table. Adding to
the value is the ability to bring your own beverages, so you can
save a few dollars there as well.
Recent entrees have included a filet of beef described on the website
better than this column could; “wrapped in bacon and rubbed
with cracked pepper then broiled and served with a caramelized onion
red wine relish on top of a risotto cake with fresh vegetables”.
Also from the menu is a marinated duck breast “seared then
finished in the oven and served over a fruited wild rice blend with
glazed pears and a pear and apple brandy demi-glace.” While
some entrees have a $2.50 premium on them, the overall low cost
and quality far outweigh the additional expense.
Not only will you be getting a fabulous meal at a fantastic price,
you’ll be helping in the education of future local chefs.
The program is an intensive one year ordeal that culminates in the
students spending their last semester in the restaurants kitchen
for your personal pleasure.
The “final exam” takes place over two days in the form
of a grand buffet. On March 2nd, you can enjoy a “Tastes of
New York” theme presented by the AM class, and on March 3rd,
the theme is “Regional Cuisine of the US” presented
by the PM class. The same $25 you’d spend on a regular dinner
nets you an all you can eat gourmet opportunity, and the ability
to tell chefs Dan, Sue, and Scott how well their students have followed
their lead.
Reservations are advisable (610-861-4549, seatings offered between
5 and 7:30 PM) as the restaurant can get packed on occasion. Plan
to spend at least 2 hours for dinner and pace yourself. The gourmet
portions may seem small, but you’ll leave full, especially
if you pick the oft-offered half-molten chocolate lava cake.
Directions
Hampton Winds restaurant (www.northampton.edu/HamptonWinds) - Jump
on Rt. 33 South to Rt. 22 West, and take the exit for Rt.191 North
(making a right toward Nazareth). Make the first right on to Broadhead
Road, and follow that to the stop sign. Make a right onto Hecktown
Road, and then left onto Green Pond Road at the light. Make the
first left into the Gates Center, and Alumni Hall is the building
on your right – home of Hampton Winds. Expect about half an
hour travel time for the 18 miles from the Slate Belt. Please note
Hampton Winds also serves an Ala Carte lunch menu.
Godfrey
Daniels- Published 12/7/05
Activity
There are plenty of great “little” places to hear music
in the world. Chicago has its House of Blues, Los Angeles has Whisky
A Go Go, and New York has CBGB’s, all landmark venues that
have had their share of budding talents, and lay claim to their
own locals. Don’t be afraid to mutter Godfrey Daniels in the
same breath.
Located on the South Side of Bethlehem, Godfrey Daniels is a non-profit,
member supported listening club according to their website (http://www.godfreydaniels.org).
While the site details the calendar of events with blurbs about
the artists and music they play, it doesn’t tell you about
the vibe of the club. The room is a dimly lit place where talent
feels free to take some chances, try something new, flirt with the
crowd, ask for and more importantly listen to requests. Godfrey
Daniels is so small in stature and circumstance that artists often
perform their own setup while the crowd is assembling. Even smaller
in personality, be prepared to share your beer with the lead singer
if asked. It’s a BYOB club, so please bring enough to share
while still being responsible.
Don’t let the size fool you though. An intimate gathering
with a lesser-known artist and fifty of their fans is often more
desirable than a stadium concert with a world powerhouse. The acoustics
are impeccable, and the crowd fun yet respectful. A peek at their
current schedule shows a plethora of music ranging from your standard
acoustic folk, some electric Blues, seasonal holiday favorites,
a couple of Jazz nights, and continues all the way out to what’s
described as “NeoFolkCowPunk."
On top of the music, there are two other regular events to mix thing
up. The Lehigh Valley Storytellers Guild has adopted Godfrey Daniels
as their home and offer one night a month of good old fashioned
story telling for the entire family, with kids under five admitted
free. Another favorite is the “Open Mike” night where
participants are given a 3 song or 15 minute set in which they can
pluck, fiddle, tell, laugh, sing or recite until their heart’s
content.
Being a completely volunteer organization, it’s amazing to
note that Godfrey Daniels has just celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Another amazing tidbit is ticket prices that never seem to go over
$20 no matter who the draw is for the evening (with many events
selling for under $5). Skip the movies just once this month and
give Godfrey Daniels a shot.
Directions
Godfrey Daniels - 7 East Fourth Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015 –
Another easy trip if you’re familiar with the South Side of
Bethlehem. Jump on Route 33 South to Route 78 West and take exit
76 for Route 412. Turn right on Route 412, and in about a mile curve
under the railroad bridge (bear right). Continue straight onto 4th
Street past Daly Avenue for about another mile. Godfrey’s
is on the right hand side next to a Lehigh local hangout, the “Funhouse”.
Plan around 40 minutes for the 27 mile ride from the Slate Belt.
Tastes
and Tempations- Published 11/01/05
Activity
“Tastes and Temptations”, ahhh –
just the name should be enough to entice you to read further; think
of it as a shopping and sampling experience. Grab your complimentary
glass of wine and your sampling tickets and peruse the 12 tasting
stations from some of the Lehigh Valley’s finest eateries.
At the tasting stations, you’ll be able to sample some of
their newest creations from a wide array of styles and flavors.
From there, you can move on to perusing the more than 30 vendors
that will be on hand to tempt your reserve. The vendors focus on
the finer things in life such as gourmet foods, culinary arts, wine,
assorted boutique items, and of course a plethora of personal pampering
products. If all that doesn’t set the mood for you, a masseuse
will also be on hand to work out any remaining knots. The event
runs from 5:30 to 9:00 PM Wednesday, November 9th, so you can use
it as a mid-week excuse to grab your mate, maybe put a little something
special on, and go mingle with the discerning crowd.
This fund-raising event is hosted annually by the
Junior League of the Lehigh Valley, a charitable women’s organization
devoted to “promoting voluntarism, developing the potential
of women, and improving communities through the effective action
and leadership of trained volunteers” per their website www.ajli.org.
Consider the support of this organization an added perk when you
email tastesandtemps@aol.com to reserve your tickets ($25 per person).
Note that only a limited number of tickets are available, and will
only be available at the door if the event doesn’t sell out.
Directions
Holiday Inn - 300 Gateway Drive, at the intersection of Routes 22
and 512, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This one’s a breeze. Take
your pick, you can either take the leisurely drive down 512 South
through Wind Gap and Mooretown until you hit the Holiday Inn just
before 22 on the left, or take a more gingerly pace by jumping on
33 South to Route 22 West and get off at the 512 North Exit. Cross
over Route 22, and look for it on your right. Plan around 32 minutes
for the 20 mile ride from the Slate Belt area.
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“Under
an Hour” gives the Slate Belt News reader a selection of unique
and often overlooked options for activities around the community.
The “rules” are to only include activities that can
be reached within an hour of the Slate Belt , determined by commonly
used web direction generators. From time to time, the rules will
be relaxed for especially intriguing activities or events.