The Irregular's Easton Holiday Guide

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Winter 2019

Easton Holiday Guide

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Easton Holiday Guide

Winter 2019

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Easton Holiday Guide

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From the Publisher

The Irregular is...

The holiday season is here! The City of Easton will be kicking it off on Friday, November 29 with the annual Christmas Tree lighting at Scott Park during its monthly Easton Out Loud event; activities begin at 5 PM. The festivities continue on Saturday, November 30 with the Easton Peace Candle Lighting & Small Business Saturday event from 10 AM to 8 PM. (More information on these Downtown Easton events can be found on page 18.) Then venture back downtown on December 7 for Easton’s Holiday Open House. And there is FREE parking in Easton every weekend from November 30 through December 22. Monday, December 23 marks the start of Chanukah. Join Chabad of the Lehigh Valley in Centre Square from 5-6 PM for the Grand Menorah Lighting Ceremony.

There are tons of fun, festive holiday events throughout the entire Lehigh Valley to enjoy this year. While you’re out and about enjoying time with family and friends, I hope you will remember to “buy local” at the many shops and eateries the area has to offer. Thank you to all of the amazing local businesses who have advertised in the Easton Holiday Guide this year and in years past! I couldn’t do it without you. Many thanks to our readers, our dedicated staff of contributors, and to our Creative Director, Michelle L. Corby. And last but not least, much adoration to friends and family who support me in keeping a print publication alive. Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Happy Holidays to all! I will see you in the February 2020 issue of The Irregular . . . and remember, support your local community, BUY LOCAL!!!

Lydia E. Bruneo Publisher & Editor

The Irregular will return in its regular format February 1, 2020.

Thank You & Happy Holidays!

Easton Holiday Guide 2019 Lydia E. Bruneo Publisher & Editor Michelle L. Corby Creative Director Contributors: Carole J. Heffley Christine Lake Dawn Ouellette Nixon James Jacob Pierri Pam Ruch Reach us at: PO Box 85, Easton, PA 18044 610-258-4330 bruneo1776@aol.com facebook.com/ theirregularnewspaper © Bruneo Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.

On the Cover

This year’s cover displays a photo of The Bachmann Players posing with Santa Claus in front of Third Street Alliance for Women & Children during the annual Easton Peace Candle Lighting. The Bachmann Players is a group of locally based amateur historians and actors. Mining the area’s rich colonial history, they use letters, diaries, and other source materials to recreate the people and events of the 1700s so that they can be experienced by a modern audience. The Players are under the artistic guidance of Christopher Black, a veteran stage actor who spent over a decade as a member of the former Jean Cocteau Classical Repertory in New York. Christopher graciously permitted use of the photo to adorn this year’s cover of The Irregular’s holiday issue.

The Bachmann Players will be escorting the parade from Centre Square to Scott Park during Easton Out Loud on November 29 to light the Christmas Tree, and they will strolling, caroling and posing for photos on November 30 throughout the day beginning at 2 PM during Easton’s Shop Small Saturday & Peace Candle Lighting celebration. For more information on The Bachmann Players and for future events, visit www.bachmannplayers.com.

Cover Art and “On the Cover”Art Work provided from

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Easton Holiday Guide

<a href=’https://pngtree.com/so/christmas frame’>christmas frame png from pngtree.com</a> <a href=’https://pngtree.com/so/happy new year’>happy new year png from pngtree.com</a>

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Thanks!

Contents

American Printing...................... 25

Jimmy’s Doggie Stand................ 39

Angelo’s Restaurant ................... 35

Judy’s Auto Repair...................... 25 State Theatre Center for the Arts .......6

Antonio’s Pizzeria and Restaurant ........................ 33

Kaplan’s..................................... 2

Strunk Funeral Home.....................25

Kevin Kocher Remodeling........... 19

Susan Kolar Couture ..........................7

Kirk Wagner Home Improvement.. 39

Swift Print Solutions......................37

Lafayette Inn.............................. 2

Taqueria La Plaza..........................37

Merchants Bank.......................... 5

Terry’s Italian Restaurant ................25

TREE LIGHTINGS, SANTA CLAUS & FESTIVE FUN! 18

Michael Buskirk Painting.............13

The Loving Piece ............................13

HISTORICAL CHRISTMAS 20

Mycalyn Florals......................... 44

Third Street Alliance ...................12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 26

Pat’s Brakes/Lynn’s Garage.......... 35

Touchstone Theatre ......................24

ARTIST PROFILE 32

Easton Computer & Electronics....12

Quadrant Book Mart & Coffee House.............................13

Two Rivers Brewing Company.........21

IRREGULAR BOOKSHELF 34

Easton House of Jerky ................17

Reagle Insurance....................... 22

U-Launderit .................................23

GARDENING 38

Flower Essence......................... 13

Ressler’s Market........................ 44

Valley Tire....................................44

IRREGULAR EATS 42

GEDP .........................................3

Salvage Goods ..........................33

G.S. Oswald Jewelers................. 44

Smartivities Showcase ................ 25

Heritage Guild.......................... 47

Spring Garden Court Apartments.12

Arndt’s Lutheran Church............. 21 Ashton Funeral Home.................. 7 Aura Ceramics.......................... 17 Auset Gypsy .............................17 Carmelcorn Shop ......................... 2 Colonial Pizza & Spaghetti House.. 24 Constable Gordon R. Crowell Jr.....48

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State Café and Grill ..........................24

FROM THE PUBLISHER 4 THIRD STREET ALLIANCE GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST 6 EASTON PEACE & LIGHT NIGHT 8 EASTON COLLECTIBLES 10 MODEL TRAIN EXHIBITS 14

HOROSCOPES 43 IRREGULAR EVENTS 45 AT THE LIBRARIES 46

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THIRD STREET ALLIANCE GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTAST The Gingerbread House Contest is a fun way to show off your creativity and help raise funds for Third Street Alliance.

Making gingerbread houses is a popular holiday tradition in America, but the origin of the gingerbread house is a bit of mystery. It is popular belief that the Germans invented the concept. Though others believe that decorating gingerbread houses began in England because the English used to display painted gingerbread in shop windows. Research shows links to the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm as inspiration for this holiday tradition. Whatever the origin, making gingerbread houses is a fun activity for all ages. Both the building of the structure and the decorating allow children

and adults to express their creativity, and the finished product serves as a lovely holiday decoration.

In 2016, Third Street Alliance for Women and Children (TSA) began The Gingerbread House Contest with a small collection of community-made houses and houses made by the children from The Learning Center at TSA. They were set up in the dining room of the mansion that houses TSA for the public to view and some took a chance to win a home through a raffle.

There were less than 10 community entries that first year.

Last year, in 2018, those entries grew to almost 30 houses with each being placed in a silent auction to raise funds for the programs at Third Street Alliance.

Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gingerbread House Contest entry from students at Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech. photo courtesy of Third Street Alliance

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Third Street Alliance Gingerbread House Contest Third Street Alliance hosts photos with Santa during Easton’s annual Peace Candle lighting ceremony events. Lynn Schoof, Lynn has a account Community Outreach and Communications Manager at TSA says, “We wanted to add a little something for families to look at while they waited for their photo with Santa, but it has grown to have judges.” Anyone from the community can participate. “We welcome scout troops, businesses (bakeries to architect firms and engineers), students, professionals and amateurs (families and children),” says Schoof. Students from the culinary program at Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech will be entering three houses this year.

There is a $5 entry fee to enter a house in TSA’s Gingerbread House Contest, and the entry form can be downloaded from

their website at www.thirdstreetalliance.org/events. Houses can be dropped off at Third Street Alliance between November 25 and 27 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM or on November 30 between 10:30 AM and Noon. Judging will take place between Noon and 1 PM on November 30. Winners will be announced at TSA between 2 and 3 PM, and the houses will be silent auctioned throughout the day with winners will being notified after 6 PM. The houses will be on display until 7:30 PM. Third Street Alliance for Women & Children inspires and equips women, children, and families to live, learn, and thrive. They are located at 41 N. 3rd Street in Easton, PA. For more information on TSA, call 610-258-6271 or email info@ thirdstreetalliance.org.

Gingerbread houses from last year’s Gingerbread House Contest. photo courtesy of Third Street Alliance

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EASTON PEACE & LIGHT NIGHT

by Christine Lake For the fourth year, interested Easton residents will light up the night in early December as a symbol of the hope, peace and community that the holiday season brings. Easton Peace and Light Night will take place on Sunday, December 8 beginning at dusk. The event takes place wherever you are, and the hope is that all Easton neighborhoods will take part.

The event was first started in 2016 as a simple way for people to participate in a community activity. “People often feel disconnected from one another, and many neighborhoods do not have gathering places to strengthen the common ties that we share,” explains event organizer Lynn Alexander. “While we all have different spiritual and cultural beliefs, Easton is a community of people who are often engaged and united in the desire for stronger neighborhoods. I wanted an event that helped us focus on the collective power of taking time to reflect on our shared hopes.” As a volunteer with the Karl Stirner Arts Trail, Alexander saw the simple power of some of the candle lighting events along the trail, and noted that people often found beauty in the simplicity of the display. Though the event began as a West Ward initiative because that’s where Alexander lives, this nowannual event is open to anyone in Easton, and ideally will encompass every neighborhood.

Participation is easy: make a luminaria (or two, or several!) and light it outside your home on December 8 at dusk. Luminarias are traditionally Christmas lanterns with a votive candle set in a small paper bag weighted with sand. The event lasts until the candles burn out. You can use colored or white bags, tea lights or votives, traditional flame candles or battery-operated, whatever you have at your disposal. If you don’t have those things on hand, Alexander makes several hundred 8

Easton Holiday Guide

photo by Rich Penyak and courtesy of Easton Peace & Light Night

“luminaria kits” to give away a week before the event to anyone interested. Pick up for those kits will be on Saturday, December 1 from 2-4 PM outside of Paxinosa Elementary School on Northampton Street. An as-youcan donation will be accepted for those materials, and all profits will be donated to a local nonprofit that provides resources for Easton’s homeless population. “How you choose to participate and what the ideas of ‘peace, hope and light’ means to you can and should be individual,” says Alexander. “There is no agenda for this event. The lights represent anything from safe streets and an end to violence, to unity and peace, to an honoring of loved ones, or an acknowledgement of the holiday season and even beyond. Your ideas are welcomed and valued.”

For the most up to date information about the event, visit the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ peaceandlightnighteaston18042. Questions can be

Winter 2019

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Easton Peace & Light Night directed to Alexander via the Facebook messenger of the page or by calling 484-894-6923. Any support of the event is welcome: this could be anything from supporting the cost of supplies, volunteering as an additional pick-up location, putting flyers up around your home or business, or sharing the event on Facebook. Anyone interested in donating should contact Alexander. Participants are encouraged to share photos of their display to the Facebook page during and after, as a record of the event.

Photos from prior events are available now. Peace and Light Night takes place on Saturday, December 8 at dusk; rain date is Sunday, December 9 at dusk. photo by Rich Penyak and courtesy of Easton Peace & Light Night

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COMMEMORATIVE COLLECTIBLES ARE A HOLIDAY TRADITION IN EASTON A commemorative Christmas ornament is a part of the city’s holiday traditions with a history that goes back many years.

The Easton Holiday Committee, formerly responsible for the maintenance and erection of the Peace Candle, began selling ornaments in 1985 to help defray costs; the first was, of course, of the Peace Candle itself. In 1986, ornaments depicting the first Christmas tree were sold to commemorate the planting and lighting of the tree in Scott Park. The ornament tradition was then revived in 2014, again with the Peace Candle. This was followed by the Northampton Street “Free” Bridge in 2015, the Easton Bugler in 2016, the Easton Farmers’ Market in 2017, and the State Theatre Marquee in 2018.

The 2019 limited edition ornament honors Cottingham Stadium, Easton Area School District’s football field. The timing is fitting, as the 90-year-old stadium will soon be renovated.

Supplies are limited for this collector’s item, which is handcrafted in the United States.

“Whether your roots are here or you’ve grown your family here, these Easton ornaments are all about honoring local traditions,” says Kim Kmetz, manager of Easton Main Street Initiative. “And one of those traditions that so many families have taken part in is cheering on our team inside Cottingham Stadium.”

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Ornaments sell for $20 each and can be purchased online at store.shopdowntowneaston.com and at the following downtown locations.

• Connexions Gallery, 213 Northampton Street • Mercantile Outpost (Easton Public Market), 325 Northampton Street • Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton Street • Easton Farmers’ Market (9am-1pm Saturdays), Centre Square Proceeds from sales go to support the events and initiatives of the Greater Easton Development Partnership.

The “Hometown Series Collectible”, designed, produced and sold by Aura Ceramics & Supplies in Downtown Easton, is a tradition that began in 1985. The first Easton collectible was a Peace Candle medallion created by Aura’s owner Larry Keiper, who was Committee Chairman of the Easton Holiday Committee at that time, and sales of the collectible offset the

Winter 2019

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Commemorative Collectibles are a Holiday Tradition in Easton costs of the Peace Candle and various other holiday activities in the city. Originally known as Christmas ornaments, the name was changed to collectibles as they were a bit too heavy for tree decorating, according to Keiper, and rather than risk breakage from people mistakenly hanging them on trees, they became “collectibles”. The first historic building in the series appeared in 1991 with the George Taylor House, and Aura has produced buildings ever since—The State Theatre, St. John’s Church, the county courthouse, Easton Area Public Library, the Easton Armory are just a few in the series; two buildings were created in 1997 (one in the summer and one during the holiday season), and there is a break in the series in 2016 after the passing of Aura’s co-owner, the beloved John Govan.

This year’s collectible features 501 Northampton Street in Easton, also known as the “Hooper House”. During the American Revolutionary War this building became the residence of Colonel Robert Lettice Hooper in 1779 and served as one of the three Deputy Quarter Master General’s of the Continental Army headquarters. While residing here, Col.

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Hooper organized all of the military supplies for General Sullivan’s Expedition to suppress the Iroquois Nation.

The inscription on the back of the building reads: “Built in the late 1760’s as a residence; first to Captain Alexander Patterson and in 1779 Colonel Robert Lettice Hooper who organized military supplies during the revolutionary war. The building was then used as a mixed use commercial including a printing shop, butcher shop and apartment rental on the second floor.” Hometown Series Collectible Aura ©2019 Easton, Pennsylvania Collectibles can be purchased for $30 at Aura Ceramics, 12 S. Second Street, Easton. View the entire series at auraceramics.com/hometown-series.

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Many years ago, North 3rd Street in Easton, PA was the place where millionaires such as silk industrialists and canal barons sought out space for their luxurious townhouses. Mansions such the Simon Residence (pictured above) led to the street being coined with the term Millionaireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Row. Please support the fine merchants and professionals on North 3rd Street who continue to keep the beautiful architecture and memories of these past millionaires alive.

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MODEL TRAIN CLUBS INVITE YOU TO THEIR EXHIBITS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

by Christine Lake For many, the Christmas season conjures up visions of a cozy living room with a yule log in the fireplace and a twinkling tree complete with a model railroad circling the base. This tradition may have started in Pennsylvania, according to Jim Morrison, curator of the National Christmas Museum in Paradise, Lancaster County. The Moravians who settled in Bethlehem in the mid-1700s used to set up elaborate nativities in their homes, which generally enlarged year after year to include other biblical scenes beyond the Nativity. This practice eventually evolved into the creation of model villages around the Christmas tree, which often included cast-iron toys like carriages, homes, and trains.

When Lionel manufactured the first electric toy train in the early-1900s it was both a coveted gift and a natural evolution of this decorative tradition. For those who miss an electric train set-up at Christmas, several local displays in the Lehigh Valley run throughout the holiday season.

The Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Railroad Club was formed in 1994, and purchased a building on Linden Street in Bethlehem in 1996. Following months of construction, they held their first Christmas Open House in 1997. Incorporated as the Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum in 2006, the space features the railroads of the Lehigh Valley and Western NJ on a double-deck layout in nearly 5,000 feet, including the Lehigh Valley from West Portal, NJ to Pittston, PA; Central of New Jersey from Phillipsburg, NJ to Ashley, PA; and Reading from Allentown, PA to Quakertown and Harrisburg, PA. Normally open to the public on the third Sunday of every month from 2-5 PM, the museum expands

those hours for the holiday season. The Christmas Open House schedule is: 1-5 PM on November 29 and 30, and December 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30 and 31; and January 1, 4, 5, 11 and 12. The display is also open from 5-9 PM on December 26 and 27. There are some special themes for some of the dates: December 8 and 9 feature all steam trains, December 21 and 22 will be Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, and January 4 and 5 will have all modern trains. Admission is $7 for adults 13 and up, children 12 and under are free. The museum is located at 705 Linden Street in Bethlehem. For more information visit www.lkvmodelrailroad.com or call 610-868-7101.

The Black Diamond Society of Model Engineers, also in Bethlehem, may start their holiday display a little later in December but their history begins even earlier than our first featured display. Incorporated as a non-profit in March of 1965, the group formed from previous model railroad clubs in the Valley that can date back to 1948! The miniature world theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve built includes turn-of-the-century logging railroads, freight yards, trolley cars, passenger stations, farms, villages, coal mines and more. Generally open on Tuesday evenings, for the holiday season they open their display from 1-4 PM on December 7, 8, 14, and 15; January 4, 5, 11 and 12; and February 8 and 9. They also host Scout Night on December 10 from 7-8:30 PM. There is a suggested entry donation of $5 per adult with 12 and under admitted free. The Society is located at 902 E. Macada Road in Bethlehem. More information can be found at www.bdsme.org or by calling 610-974-9718.

photo courtesy of Nazareth Area Society of Model Engineers

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Model Train Clubs Invite You To Their Exhibits This Holiday Season

photo courtesy of Nazareth Area Society of Model Engineers

The Nazareth Area Society of Model Engineers was founded in 1980 and has gone through several locations and iterations since then. Located at 212 Main Street in Stockertown since 1986, the club consists of two floors of trains with four scales.

A helix allows trains running on the upper and lower lines to travel between the two levels for a unique display, and upstairs features 5-6 trains running at the same time, and allows visitors to operate some action accessories. There is also a Thomas the Tank Engine display that kids (of all ages!) can operate. The NASME annual Open House kicks off on November 29 from 7-9 PM and continues from 1-4 PM on November 30 and December 1, 7, 8, 14 and 15. After the holidays, the show continues, running from 7-9 PM on Friday December 27 and January 3; and from 1-5 PM on December 28 and 29, and January 4 and 5. This show even runs into March, running from 1-5 PM on March 7 and 8. Suggested entry donations are $5 for adults and $1 for children. Visit nasme.tripod.com or Facebook: @NASME1980 for more information and directions.

The Merchants Square Model Train Exhibit has been in Allentown since 2012 and boasts thirty-thousand lights, stars, a moon and illuminated buildings, along with 40 model trains (including underground subways), a 24’x16’ lake complete with scale rainfall, thunder and lightning, an operating amusement park and drive-in movie theater, plus a ski area and over 1,000 structures. Train shows run for 30 minutes, but tickets are “all day” tickets so you can watch the show as call 610-258-4330 to advertise

many times in a day as you’d like. Shows run on the half hour from 12:30-5:30 PM on Fridays, 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM on Saturdays, and 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM on Sundays. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for Senior Citizens (65+), $5 for children 5-12 and free for children under 5. The exhibit is located on the second floor of the Merchants Square Mall, 1901 S. 12th Street in Allentown. Visit www.modeltrainexhibit.com or call 610-797-7743 for more information.

The Lehigh Valley Garden Railroaders are a group of men, women and children who enjoy the fun, challenge and experience of large-scale model railroading. Most have outdoor “Garden Railroads” at their homes, and for the holiday season they set up a display at the America on Wheels Museum in Allentown. The trains run Wednesday to Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday from 12-4 PM beginning November 29 through December 29. In addition to the model trains stationed around the museum, the exhibit also features special events during many days including the Magic of R.J. Lewis on November 29, Christmas Marionettes and Elf making with the Mock Turtle Marionette Theatre on December 1, a make your own holiday nail polish event with Taylor Made Polish on December 21, and a family and friends Pre-New Year’s Eve Party on December 29. For a full list of events and more information, visit www.lvgr.org or call 484-809-9417. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for seniors (62+, and seniors get free admission on the first Thursday of each month), $7 for children 13-16 and free for 12 and under.

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MODEL TRAIN EXHIBITS 1. Lehigh & Keystone Model Railroad Museum 705 Linden Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-868-7101 lvlou04@aol.com www.lkvmodelrailroad.com 2019 Christmas Open House Schedule Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30, 31: 1-5pm Dec. 26, 27: 5-9pm Jan. 1, 4, 5, 11, 12: 1-5pm Special Days: 1-5pm Dec. 8, 9: All Steam Dec. 21, 22: Thomas/Friends Jan. 4, 5: All Modern Trains $7 per adult, children under 12 FREE 2. Black Diamond Society of Model Engineers 902 East Macada Road Bethlehem, PA 610-974-9718 d570jm@yahoo.com www.bdsme.org Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15: 1-4pm Scout Night - Dec. 10: 7-8:30pm Jan. 4, 5, 11, 12: 1-4pm Feb. 8, 9: 1-4pm Donations $5, 12 and under FREE 3. Nazareth Area Society of Model Engineers 212 Main Street, Stockertown, PA 610-252-8082 nasme@yahoo.com nasme.tripod.com

Winter Train Shows Jan. 3: 7-9pm; Jan. 4, 5: 1-5pm March 7, 8: 1-5pm Donations $5 for adults, $1 for children 4. Merchants Square Model Train Exhibit Merchants Square Mall, 2nd floor 1901 S. 12th Street, Allentown, PA 610-797-7743 info@merchantssquaremall.com modeltrainexhibit.com Each train show is 30 minutes.

Many visitors wish to see the show for more than 30 minutes, so your ticket is an “all day” ticket – you can see the show as often as you like within that day.

Friday: 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30 Saturday: 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30 Sunday: 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 Admission: Adults, $10.00; Senior Citizens (65+), $8.00; Children 5-12, $5.00; Under 5 FREE 5. Lehigh Valley Garden Railroaders 484-809-9417 CKacsur.LVGR@gmail.com lvgr.org Nov. 29-Dec. 29: Wed.-Thur. 10am4pm, Sun. 12-4pm Adults $12, Seniors 62+ $9 (free first Thur.), Students ages

Holiday Train Shows Nov. 29: 7-9pm; Nov. 30: 1-5pm Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15: 1-5pm Dec. 27: 7-9pm Dec. 28, 29: 1-5pm

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2ND STREET

PA

EASTON

On August 22, 1751, Thomas Penn married Lady Juliana Fermor, the daughter of Lord Pomfret. In choosing names for the newly established territory, Penn honored members of his wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family. These names remained for nearly one hundred years before they were changed to unromantic numbers. What is now Second Street was originally Fermor Street; Third Street had been Pomfret Street; and Fifth Street was Juliana Street.

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TREE LIGHTINGS, SANTA CLAUSE & FESTIVE FUN! PENNSYLVANIA Downtown Allentown Tree Lighting Celebration

Thursday, December 5 from 4-6:30 PM Grand Plaza, 845 Hamilton Street Festivities include street performers, carriage rides, hot chocolate, gifts for children, live music, and of course, Santa Claus! Info: 484-226-6323, downtownallentown. com/events/holiday-tree-lighting Allentown West Park’s Annual Tree Lighting in the Park Saturday, December 7 from 6-8 PM Park located between Linden & Turner Streets and 15th & West Streets Make edible ornaments for West Park furry and feathered friends at the Church of the Mediator (1620 W. Turner St., Allentown). Then help trim the West Park tree with the edible ornaments accompanied by musical performances and refreshments. Info: 610-737-7132, westpark-ca.org/events/2016/12/3/annual-tree-lightingin-the-park Borough of Bath Tree Lighting December 1 from 6-8 PM Monocacy Creek Park Guest speakers, free horse and carriage rides from 5-7 PM, cookies & hot chocolate, storybooks for kids, and of course, the arrival of Santa Claus! Info: 610-837-6525 Bethlehem - The Christmas City’s Tree Lighting Ceremony November 29 at 4:30 PM Payrow Plaza, 10 E. Church Street Join Mayor Bob Donchez for cookies, hot chocolate, and a special visit from Santa Claus! There will be performances by the Freedom High School Band, Tolu Adebayo, The Swingtime Dolls, Orbital Drums, Sea Rae, Cunningham & Associates, and more. Please bring a new or gently used children’s book to donate to the children of the community through Cops ‘n’ Kids. Info: facebook. com/events/2688863121147890, 610-739-1775 Easton Out Loud: Tree Lighitng & Kick off to the Peace Candle Lighting Friday, November 29 from 5-9 PM Centre Square & Downtown Easton Enjoy a Candy Cane Hunt, Selfies with Elfies, letter writing to Santa, holiday singing with the mayor, and the annual tree lighting! Stuff the Bus will be in Centre Sq. Friday-Sunday. Drop off your NEW donations of toys, winter wear, food/toiletry items to be distributed to 18

Easton Holiday Guide

EASD families this holiday season. The parade escorting Santa to the tree lighting leaves Centre Sq. at 7:15 PM, accompanied by The Bachmann Players and The Big Easy Easton Brass Band who will provide caroling and music. Info: eastonoutloud.com, 610-250-2063 Easton Peace Candle Lighting & Small Business Saturday Saturday, November 30 from 10 AM-8 PM Centre Square & Downtown Easton Families can enjoy live music, strolling street performers, ice carvers, Cinderella carriage rides, pictures with Santa, pony rides, petting zoo and lots more. Food vendors will be on site all day. The Peace Candle Illuminator will light the candle at 6:30 PM. Kick off the holiday shopping season with Downtown Easton’s selection of unique boutiques and specialty stores. A full day of merriment culminates in the grand lighting of Easton’s Peace Candle. Also, enjoy FREE Parking every Sat. & Sun. Nov. 30-Dec. 24!

Info: eastonmainstreet.org/peacecandlelighting Easton Area - Forks Township Tree Lighting Sunday, December 8 from 4:30-7:30 PM Forks Township Municipal Complex 1606 Sullivan Trail Holiday activity stations and a Santa’s workshop; enjoy an indoor snowball fight, crafts and Christmas themed games. Tree lighting Ceremony begins at 7 PM and will conclude with Santa’s arrival to Forks Township! Info: 610-250-2260 Easton Area - Palmer Township Holiday Fest & Tree Lighting Saturday, December 14 from 6-9 PM Charles Chrin Community Center of Palmer Township, 4100 Green Pond Road Be on time for Santa’s arrival at 6:15 PM via a Palmer Fire Truck. There will also be live performances, refreshments and family-fun activities. Info: 610-253-7191 Emmaus’ Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration & Tree Lighting Saturday, December 7 from 11 AM-7 PM Triangle Park, Main Street in the center of downtown A day filled with family fun and festivities. Activities include pictures with Santa, the reading of Christmas stories, live music, holiday doors and windows contest, Cheers Trail, cash trolley rides, tree lighting at 6 PM, and much more. Info: 610-573-4010

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Tree Lightings, Santa Clause & Festive Fun! Hanover Township Tree Light Ceremony Friday, December 6 from 6-8 PM Hanover Township Community Center 3660 Jacksonville Road Santa, hot chocolate bar, live reindeer, horse-drawn carriage rides through an illuminated path, arts/crafts, choirs, indoor snowball fight, and more. Info: 610-317-8701 Hellertown Light Up Night Friday, November 29 from 5 to 9 PM Dimmick Park, 570 Durham Street Holiday movies in the park kick off this annual event.

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities; ice sculpting demonstrations; live reindeer; caroling; dance performances; food; wine & beer; free hot cocoa, cookies, cider, coffee and apples; and more to the get the holiday season started. Info: facebook.com/events/954775468192710 Nazareth Christmas Tree Lighting Thursday, December 5 at 7 PM Center Square Kids come to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, receive a toy and candy. Live music and much more. Info: 610-7599188, nazarethchamber.com

Frenchtown Tree Lighting & Santa on the River Saturday, December 7 from 2-5 PM Sunbeam Lenape Park (the park next to the Frenchtown-Uhlerstown bridge entrance) Santa will leave his reindeer at the North Pole and instead arrive in town by boat, along the banks of the beautiful river! Take your own photos with the Big Man in Red, enjoy crafts, hot chocolate and snacks and the Annual Tree Lighting at 5 PM. Info: lovefrenchtown.org Phillipsburg Tree Lighting & Santa Visit Monday, December 2 from 6-9 PM Shappell Park, 353 South Main Street Enjoy free hot chocolate, Christmas cookies, holiday crafts, carolers, dancers, a winter coat drive, and more as they anxiously await the arrival of Santa Claus! Each child in attendance will have the opportunity to take their photo with Santa and receive a special holiday gift from him. Info: facebook. com/events/1589374564533420/?active_tab=about, LaurenS@lehighvalleychamber.org

Northampton Borough Annual Tree Lighting Sunday, December 1 at 5:30 PM Main Street & Laubach Avenue Carols begin at 5:30 PM, and Santa arrives at 6 PM with treats for all the children. Info: 610-262-2576 Wilson Borough Tree Lighting Meuser Park, 22nd & Northampton Streets November 23 from 7-8 PM Info: 610-258-6142

NEW JERSEY Clinton Christmas Parade Friday, December 6 at 7 PM The parade takes place in the center of Clinton Floats will line up on New Street and Center Street east to CenturyLink. Viewing is allowed anywhere along the Parade Route. Info: theclintonchristmasparade.com

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LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OFFER A TASTE OF CHRISTMAS PAST December 25 was declared a federal holiday in the United States in 1870; however, Christmas traditions date back much further. The Lehigh Valley is rich in history so it shouldn’t be surprising to find a number of historical organizations throughout the area. Many of these organizations celebrate annual holiday traditions and share them with the public. Below are some festive ways you can share in the holiday spirit this year and learn about different customs.

Governor Wolf Historical Society The Wolf Academy Historic Site 6600 Jacksonville Road, Bath, PA 18014 610-837-9015 - govwolf.org

Jacobsburg Historical Society 402-403 Henry Road, Nazareth, PA 18064 610-759-9029 - www.jacobsburghistory.com

The Governor’s Historic Family Day On Saturday, December 7 from 9 AM-4 PM, the entire historic site will be open. Quality crafts, Colonial craftsmen, hearth cooking, a Civil War encampment, kids arts & crafts, slate working, herbs, fresh annual wreath sale, and much more. Delicious food by Daily Grind will be available for purchase. The Museum will feature this year’s house tour theme: “Artistic Dates and Documents”, a celebration of dated Pennsylvania fraktur, taufschein, and family heirlooms. The museum will display a sampling of painted and dated documents and heirlooms.

Christmas House Tour Also on Saturday, December 7 from 10 AM-4 PM, tour 10 local historic homes and structures from the 18th and 19th centuries on the 39th Annual Governor Wolf Historical Society’s Christmas House Tour. All the homes will be dressed in their Christmas finery. $25 advance tickets are available at Curt’s Cyclery, Nazareth; S. Seem Antiques, Bath; The Snow Goose Gallery, Bethlehem; Bath Drugs, Bath; and Miller’s Ace Hardware, Northampton. $30 day of tour on-site only.

Candlelight Concert The 6th annual Candlelight Christmas Concert is Sunday, December 15 from 7-9PM. This is a wonderful evening that will kindle your holiday spirit with glowing candles and a night of holiday music. The 7 piece Mt. Laurel Brass will entertain with favorite Christmas and seasonal tunes. The evening concludes with an amazing complimentary dessert buffet. Concert tickets are available during the House Tour on Dec. 7 or can be purchased at the door. Email gwhs1958@gmail.org if you’d like to reserve your seats in advance. Seating is limited. Doors open at 6:30pm; suggested donation is $15 or $25 per couple.

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Christmas at Boulton 2019 From 11 AM-4 PM on Saturday, December 14 and 12-4 PM on Sunday, December 9, The Jacobsburg Historical Society will proudly open its museums and displays for their annual Christmas at Boulton. This special weekend will showcase the J. Joseph Henry House, adorned in beautiful Victorian Christmas décor. This exquisite house museum was built in 1832 and was continuously occupied by the Henry family for five generations. The Henry family saved so many of their precious belongings, so today’s visitors are able to view a unique display of original furnishings, clothing, china, and other antiques within the home where they were actually used. In addition to the Henry House museum, Christmas at Boulton visitors will be able experience the warmth of the fire in the Summer Kitchen, view a lighted display of historic carriages and sleighs in the Carriage Barn and purchase fresh greens in the horse barn. Don’t miss the Blacksmith Shop display and be sure to visit the Pennsylvania Longrifle Museum. This museum contains a substantial collection of original, hand-crafted Pennsylvania longrifles and items related to the making of longrifles from the 18th and 19th centuries and features more than 100 historic arms on display. Guests may also admire the Nicholas Hawk Gun Shop, an authentic, 200-year-old log gun shop that was moved from its original location in Monroe County and reconstructed on the Boulton campus. The Historical Society’s Gift Shop is stocked with unique items for holiday gift giving. Refreshments will be available in the Society’s Craft Barn where colonial crafters will be demonstrating their work. Adults $10, children 12 and under are free. If you are unable to attend before Christmas or wish to experience the elegant beauty of the Henry House again, the House Museum and Gift Shop will be open on Saturday, December 28 from 11 AM to 3 PM ($5 admission).

Winter 2019

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Local Historical Societies Offer A Taste of Christmas Past Hellertown Historical Society 150 West Walnut Street, Hellertown, PA 18055 610-838-1770 hellertownhistoricalsociety.org Holiday Open House On Friday, December 6 (Snow Date: Dec. 7) at 6PM join the Hellertown Historical Society in the perioddecorated Tavern Room on the Lower Level of the Historic Heller-Wagner Grist Mill for their Annual Holiday Open House. Enjoy holiday spirit, music and meet new friends or chat with old ones. Also enjoy complimentary refreshments, live entertainment, free tours, a raffle, and much more. This is a family friendly event for anyone who wishes to visit the grist mill and other building.

Hellertown Historical Society Train Display Hellertown Historical Society Engineers will be running the Miller’s House Train display on the lower level for visitors on select days in December. See vintage toy trains from the nostalgic 1950s taking passengers and freight through town featuring scale scratch-built replica historical Hellertown structures Dec. 6 from 6-9 PM, Dec. 7 & 8 from 1-4 PM and Dec. 15 from 12-4 PM. Christmas Shopping At The Mill and Santa Visit Sunday, December 15 from 12-4PM, stop, shop and visit with Santa at this free event! Local vendors offering gifts of candy, crafts and other unique items will be offered as well as some ideal choices from the Hellertown Historical Society Store. Santa stops by on the same day for a visit with kids of all ages. Be sure to bring your list for Santa and have your photo taken.

Complimentary refreshments will be offered.

Historic Bethlehem Museums & SitesVisitor Center 505 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018 610-691-6055 / 800-360-TOUR historicbethlehem.org Holiday Wassail Open House Visit the Moravian Museum, 66 W. Church Street, on November 29 from 5:30-7 PM to see the lighting of the Trees of Historic Bethlehem, officially kicking off the Trees of Historic Bethlehem exhibit. Hear some of Bethlehem’s storied past from costumed docents stationed throughout the Moravian Museum. Lend an ear to festive holiday tunes to get in the holiday spirit.

Light refreshments will be offered at this familyfriendly event. Suggested donation of $3

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Local Historical Societies Offer A Taste of Christmas Past Trees of Historic Bethlehem Thru January 12 (times vary by day), explore a winter wonderland of Christmas trees beautifully decorated by the Bethlehem Garden Club. This Couture Trees of Historic Bethlehem will amaze visitors with a unique holiday experience in the heart of Christmas City, USA. Journey through four historic sites where over 20 trees display decorations inspired by famous fashion designers such as Dior, Chanel, Burberry, and more. These trees will be displayed alongside the PURSEonality exhibition with corresponding purses, clutches, and handbags from the private collection of Ilene Hochberg Wood. Be sure to vote for your favorite.

Sites include:1810 Goundie House (Decorated by Marche Maison), 501 Main Street; Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, 427 N. New Street; Moravian Museum Gemeinhaus, 66 W. Church Street; and Single Sisters’ House, 50 W. Church Street.

Holiday Putz Trail Also thru January 12 (times vary by day), view the Holiday Putz Trail. A Putz is a traditional Moravian decoration used around Christmas time. The word comes from the German term, which means “to decorate” or “to embellish”. These miniature replicas depict various settings of the Nativity story through the use of ornate, handcrafted figurines. Each set may feature animals, buildings, and amazing details to recreate the holiest of scenes. The trail features putzs at seven locations; the four listed above where Trees of Bethlehem are on view (included in Tree Pass) and additional locations at Central Moravian Church, 73 W. Church Street; Edgeboro Moravian Church, 645 Hamilton Avenue; and East Hills Moravian Church, 1830 Butztown Road.

Moravian Historical Society Whitefield House 214 East Center Street, Nazareth, PA 18064 610-759-5070 - moravianhistory.org Christmas In Nazareth On Saturday, December 14 from 12-4 PM, The Moravian Historical Society will transform the lawn of the historic 1740-1743 Whitefield House into a Christmas village offering a holiday artisan market, food and beverage tent, free admission to the Whitefield House Museum, candle dipping in the 1740 Gray Cottage, special markdowns in the Museum Gift Shop, and the Silent Night Putz. Some highlights of this year’s market include: alpaca apparel and toys, beautifully handcrafted serving boards and bowls, glass blown vases, jewelry, and more. At 12:30 PM, enjoy a performance by the Nazareth High School String Ensemble. Historic Walking Tours will be offered at 1 & 3 PM, and at 1:30 PM, watch Student Colonial Project Presentations. This free, family-friendly event includes activities hosted by participating businesses and organizations throughout Nazareth as well.

Live Advent Calendar The only one of its kind in the country! Visitors of the Historic Downtown Bethlehem will enjoy this 14th Annual one-of-a-kind tradition. Every day from December 1-23 at 5:30 PM, knock on the door of the 1810 Goundie House, 501 Main Street, for a special treat. Hosted by the merchants of the Downtown Bethlehem Association (DBA), a council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites.

Christmas City Stroll, Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides, & Bethlehem By Night Christmas Bus Tours Strolls, carriage rides and nighttime bus tours are three ways to explore the history and traditions of Bethlehem during the Christmas season thru December 30. Each tour is a unique and beautiful experience. Days/times and prices vary; for more information, call the Visitor Center or visit their website listed above. (Carriage rides run thru Dec. 31.)

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Winter 2019

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Local Historical Societies Offer A Taste of Christmas Past Silent Night: Christmas Putz Collection The Silent Night: Christmas Putz Collection opens November 30 and will be on display thru January 12.

The innovative and unique Morris family Christmas putz is an elaborate miniature display that tells the Christmas story. The putz is a Moravian tradition that reaches back into the 18th century. The Morris family putz began in the 1850s and continued in the family home in Bethlehem until 1994 when it was donated to the Moravian Historical Society by Joseph C. Morris.

Originally the putz occupied most of the dining room at 67 E. Market St. and was lit with beeswax candles.

Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents, Harry and Margaret Morris, added a sand table with toys for children to play with (circa 1910) so they would not rearrange the figures, but the most unique feature of the Morris family putz is the inclusion of wild animals, including giraffes, bears, wolves, and lions. Whitefield House is open 7 Days a Week from 1-4 PM and admission is $5, free for members. The Moravian Historical Society will be closed on Dec. 24, 25 & Jan. 1.

Holiday Concert: Music for Advent and Christmas Visit the Whitefield House Sunday, December 15 at 4 PM for holiday music featuring Gwyneth Michel on the 1776 Tannenberg Organ. Tickets can be purchased on the Eventbrite page and are $10 for the general public,

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Local Historical Societies Offer A Taste of Christmas Past $5 for students with I.D., and free for MHS members.

All proceeds benefit the Moravian Historical Society and the Moravian Music Foundation.Zmerican Printing Northampton Historical and Genealogical Society Sigal Museum 342 Northampton Street, Easton PA 18042 610-253-1222 - sigalmuseum.org Peace Candle Day Visit the Sigal Museum before the Peace Candle Lighting Ceremony on November 30 from 10 AM-4 PM to watch the Peace Candle documentary and learn about the history of this symbol of hope and community.

Documentary will screen on a loop throughout the day.

Celebrate Small Business Saturday with 10% off local history books in the Museum Store. From 5-6:30 PM, watch for the Bachmann Players in period dress in and around Centre Square before the lighting ceremony They will be caroling, stopping for pictures, and escorting Santa to the candle lighting.

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Giving Tree – benefits The Children’s Home of Easton Visit the Sigal Museum lobby November 30 thru December 13 to participate in the spirit of giving.

Help decorate the Giving Tree with donations for the Museum’s friends at The Children’s Home of Easton.

With your help, they will make the holiday season a little brighter for the young women and men in their care! Wish List items include twin bedding sets; shorts and sweatpants (size large); pajamas (size medium, size large-boys and girls); toiletries (Axe brand, body wash, etc.); plates, cups, and glasses (for young adults in independent living); books; and gift cards. For a complete list, visit sigalmuseum.org/giving-treebenefits-the-childrens-home-of-easton.

Museum Store Sunday Visit the Sigal Museum Sunday, December 1 from 12-4 PM for free admission and a 20% discount on all purchases. The Sigal Museum shelves are overflowing with holiday abundance!

Winter 2019

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Allentown Art Museum 31 N. 5th Street, Allentown, PA 610-432-4333 Collecting across Cultures: Japanese Textiles in the West (Rotation 1) thru Dec. 1, Designing Hollywood: Golden Age Costumes from the Gene London Cinema Collection thru Dec. 22, Danny Lyon: Prison thru Jan. 5, and Evolution of the Spiritual: Europe to America thru March 29. Open Wed.-Sat. 11am-4pm (3rd Thur. till 8pm) & Sun. 12-4pm. allentownartmuseum.org Arts Community of Easton: The Susan Huxley Gallery at the Quadrant 20 N. 3rd Street, Easton, PA 484-894-6652 Avision Art Wave: artwork by Aaliyah Kee thru Dec. 14. Open Tues.-Sat. 8am-5pm & Sun. 8am-4pm. eastonart.org

Banana Factory 25 W. 3rd Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-332-1300 Featured Resident Photographers from the Banana Factory Arts Center with Judy Reinford, Olaf Starorypinski & Bruce Ward thru Nov. 30, The Morning Call Scholastic Digital Photography Contest thru Dec. 15, 9th Annual InVision Juried Competition thru Jan. 5, InVision College Competition thru Jan. 7, and James M Collins: Patio Life thru Jan. 12. Open Mon.-Fri. 8am-9:30pm, Sat. & Sun. 8:30am-5pm. bananafactory. org/events/exhibitions

ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA 610-332-1300 Greetings from Bethlehem: Postcard Mural by Samantha Redles thru Jan. 1, Mary Ellen Matthews: Live From New York! SNL Portraits thru Jan. 6, and Last Look: Rob Tucher, Photographer Dec. 21-March 15. Open Monday-Wednesday 3:30-9pm, Thursday 4-11pm, Friday 4pm-12am, Saturday 11am-12am, and Sunday 12-9pm. artsquest.org/arts Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center The Fine Art Galleries 522 W. Maple Street, Allentown, PA 610-347-9988 Pride = Power: recent work by Gabriel Martinez thru Dec. 30, and getting off: drawings by Gerald Simcoe Jan. 3-Feb. 21, reception Jan. 16, 6-8pm.

Open Mon.-Fri. 10am-6pm & during programs/events. bradburysullivancenter.org/galleries Brick + Mortar Gallery Silk Mill Complex, Unit 101 1247 Simon Boulevard, Easton, PA colleen@brickandmortargallery.com Ideogrammatic: works of Jose Camacho and Amanda Thackray thru Dec. 1, and PEOPLE featuring Corey Lamb, Shoshanna Weinberger, Sandra Flood, Joseph Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal , Armisey Smith, Mic Boekelmann & George Spencer Dec. 14-Jan. 30, reception Dec. 14, 6-9pm.

Open Fri. & Sat. 12-6pm, Sun. 12-4pm & by appt. brickandmortargallery.com

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Center for Visual Research Cedar Crest College/Miller Family Building 100 College Drive, Allentown, PA 610-437-4471 Traditional Works from the Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites paired with contemporary art

by Leslie Fletcher, Jill Odegaard, Scott Sherk & Pat Badt, Rhonda Wall, and Brian Wiggins thru Jan. 2.

Open Mon.-Fri. 10am-6pm, Sat. & Sun. 9am-4pm & by appt. cedarcrest.edu/academics/art/campus_ galleries.shtm Charles Klabunde Gallery & Studio 73 N. 2nd Street, Easton, PA 610-252-1938 Original etchings, drawings and paintings by Charles Klabunde. Open Thur.-Sat. & 1st Sun. 12-5pm & by appt. CharlesKlabundeArtist.com

Winter 2019

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Brick + Mortar Gallery 8 Centre Square, Easton, PA 610-829-1360 Return: Benjamin Long and Berrisford Boothe thru December 1, and Buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market: All works priced at $200 December 1529, reception December 15, 6-9pm. Open Friday 1-6pm, Saturday 12-6pm, by chance & by appt. brickandmortargallery.com

Communications Hall Northampton Community College 3835 Green Pond Road Bethlehem, PA 610-861-5300 Photographs: Dave Meyers and James Taylor thru Dec. 14. Open Mon.-Thur. 8am9pm, Fri. & Sat. 8am-5pm. northampton.edu/news/eventscalendar.htm

Connexions Gallery 213 Northampton Street, Easton, PA 610-250-7627 Annual Holiday Show Dec.7-Dec. 31, reception Dec. 7, 7-10pm. Open Mon. 12-5pm, Thur. 127pm, Fri. 12-8pm, Sat. 11am-8pm & Sun. 12-6pm. connexionsgallery.com The David E. Rodale and Rodale Family Galleries The Baum School of Art 510 Linden Street Allentown, PA 610-433-0032 Holiday Pop Up Shop Dec. 2-21, cookie & coffee reception Dec. 7, 1-3pm and wine & cheese reception Dec. 11, 6-8pm. Open Mon.-Thur. 9am-9pm, Fri. & Sat. 9am-2:30pm. baumschool.org The Eagle Nest Gallery Nazareth Area High School 501 E. Center Street, Nazareth, PA 610-759-1730 InVision Photo Festival: We the Photographers thru Dec. 13, reception Nov. 26, 6-9pm. Open Mon.Fri. 8am-3pm & during cultural events. hs.nazarethasd. org/en-gallery-home-page Easton Public Market 325 Northampton Street, Easton, PA info@eastonart.org Arts Community of Easton (ACE) Artists. Open Wed.Sat. 9am-7pm & Sun. 9am-5pm. eastonart.org

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Easton Hospital Gallery State Theatre Center for the Arts 5th & Northampton Streets, Easton, PA 800-999-STATE SMOKE EATERS: The faces and lives of Palmer Municipal Fire Department by Peter Keady, Photographer thru Jan. 23.

Open 90 minutes prior to most performances. statetheatre.org/gallery

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Gallery On Fourth 401 Northampton Street, Easton, PA 610-905-4627 Glenn Harren: Solo Show of Paintings thru Dec. 1, and Femi J. Johnson: The Embodiment of Abstraction Dec. 14-Jan. 26, opening reception Dec. 14, 6-9pm, closing reception Jan. 26, 12-5pm. Open Wed.-Thur. 12-7pm, Fri.-Sat. 12-9pm & Sun. 12-5pm. galleryonfourth.org Hunterdon Art Museum 7 Lower Center Street Clinton, NJ 908-735-8415 Cliff Lee: Porcelain Master, Holly Lee: A Jeweler’s Journey, Works by Mia Brownell and Martin Kruck, and 2019 Members Exhibition thru Jan. 5. Open Tues.-Sun. 11am-5pm. hunterdonartmuseum.org

Lehigh University Art Galleries 420 E. Packer Avenue Bethlehem, PA 610-758-3615 The Teaching Museum: Selections from the Permanent Collection thru Dec. 8, and Crochet Coral Reef: By Margaret and Christine Wertheim and the Institute For Figuring thru Dec. 8. Open Tue. 11am7pm & Wed.-Sat. 11am-5pm. luag.org Martin Art Gallery Baker Center for the Arts Muhlenberg College 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 484-664-3467 Adam Diller: Project 02 thru Jan. 5. Open Tue.-Sat. 12-8pm. muhlenberg.edu/gallery ME-Art Studio 22 S. 3rd Street, 2nd floor, Easton, PA 908-319-4864 Gallery and working studio of Beverly MurbachErhardt featuring watercolors, acrylics and art cards.

Open Fri.-Sat. 11am-4pm. me-artstudio.com Museum of Ethnography 22 S. 3rd Street, 2nd floor, Easton, PA 908-798-0805 Conflicted No Longer (8 minute film) thru Sept. 30.

Open Tues. & Fri. 11am-4pm, Sat. 11am-2pm & by appt. maryaclarity.com Nurture Nature Center 518 Northampton Street, Easton, PA 610-253-4432 Thom Cooney Crawford: The Inner Eye of Art, The Outer Spark thru Jan. 5. Open Wed. 12-4pm, Thur.

6-9pm, Sat. 12-4pm & by appt. nurturenaturecenter.org Payne Gallery Moravian College 346 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 610-861-1491 Light from the End of the Earth thru Jan. 11. Open Tue.-Sun. 12-4pm. moravian.edu/art/payne-gallery

Gallery at St. John’s 330 Ferry Street Easton, PA 610-258-6119 Holiday Art Show: Fine Art & Fine Art Crafts for Holiday Gift Giving thru Dec. 22.

Open Sun. 12-3pm & by appt. (closed Dec. 1). stjohnseaston.org/ministries/gallery 28

Easton Holiday Guide

Winter 2019

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Ronald K. De Long Gallery Penn State Lehigh Valley 2809 Saucon Valley Road, Center Valley, PA 610-285-5261 #MeToo Project: Martha Posner and Amy Arbus thru Dec. 14. Open Mon.-Thur. 11am-5pm, Fri. 11am-3pm & Sat. 10am-2pm. lehighvalley.psu.edu/ronald-k-delong-gallery Rotunda Gallery at City Hall 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-398-1451 Charles Stonewall: Photography thru Dec. 19, and Lehigh Art Alliance Members Exhibition Jan. 5-Feb. 13, reception Jan. 5, 2-4pm. Open Mon.-Fri. 8:30am4:30pm. bfac-lv.org SmARTivities Showcase 60 Centre Square Easton, PA 484-544-3954 Various artists and working studios on display, and Holiday Showcase & Youth Market Dec. 8, 10am4pm. Open Tues.-Sat. 10am-6pm & Sun. 12-5pm. smARTivities.net Stirner Modern Gallery 230 Ferry Street Easton, PA 908-472-7574 Inaugural Exhibition featuring selected works by Karl Stirner, Berrisford Boothe, William Hudders, Ed Eckstein and Luke Wynne thru Nov. 30.

StirnerModern.com

Lauren Kindle Studio and Gallery 7B N. Bank Street, Easton, PA 267-247-6364 In Plain Sight: paintings by Abigail Synnestvedt and Lauren Kindle Nov. 29-Dec. 29, reception Nov. 29, 6-9pm. Open Sat. in Dec. 10am-3pm & by appt. laurenkindle.com

Williams Center Gallery Lafayette College 317 Hamilton Street, Easton, PA 610-330-5361 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi: Japanese Prints from the Taubman Museum of Art’s Permanent Collection thru Dec. 15. Open Mon.-Fri. 11am-5pm, Thur.

11am-8pm, Sat. & Sun. 12-5pm, and performance nights 7:30-9:30pm. galleries.lafayette.edu/category/ exhibitions call 610-258-4330 to advertise

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Arts & Entertainment Buck Hall Lafayette College 219 N. 3rd Street, Easton, PA 610-330-3311 Theatre Dept.: Holiday Shorts Dec. 6-7. lafayette. universitytickets.com Bucks County Playhouse 70 S. Main Street, New Hope, PA 215-862-2121 Once thru Nov. 30, and Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG Playhouse Christmas Show Dec. 6-29. bcptheater.org Civic Theatre of Allentown 527 N. 19th Street, Allentown, PA 610-432-8943 Christmas Carol 1944 Dec. 6-21, and Who’s Holiday Dec. 13-27. civictheatre.com DeSales University Act 1 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 610-282-3192 Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play Nov. 20-Dec. 8. desales.edu/act1 Country Gate Theatre 114 Greenwich Street, Belvidere, NJ 908-475-1104 A Christmas Story, The Musical Dec. 14-22. countrygate.org

Hunterdon Hills Playhouse 88 Route 173 West, Hampton, NJ 800-447-7313 Our 2019 Holiday Musical! thru Dec. 21. hhplayhouse.com

Pennsylvania Playhouse 390 Illick’s Mill Road, Bethlehem, PA 610-865-6665 She Loves Me Dec. 6-22. paplayhouse.org

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Winter 2019

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Arts & Entertainment

Shawnee Playhouse River Road, Shawnee-OnDelaware, PA 570-421-5093 A Christmas Wizard of Oz thru Dec. 21, Miracle on 34th Street thru Dec. 22, The Nutcracker Ballet Nov. 30-Dec. 20, Hollydaze Kidz Kabaret 2019 Dec. 11-12, Christmas Kast Memberz Kidz Kabaret Dec. 19, Messiah Sing In Dec. 21, and A Tribute to George Gershwin Jan 3-5. theshawneeplayhouse.com

19, Straight No Chaser: The Open Bar Tour Dec. 22, Comedy Pet Theater Jan. 10, STOMP Jan. 17, and The Hit Men Jan. 25. statetheatre.org

Northampton Community College Theatre 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA 484-484-3412 Waiting For Godot thru Nov. 25. ncctix.org Pennsylvania Youth Theatre (PYT) Bethlehem, PA 610-332-1400 Disney’s Frozen, Jr. Dec. 4-15 at Charles A. Brown Historic Ice House in Bethlehem. 123pyt.org Pines Dinner Theatre 448 N. 17th Street Allentown, PA 610-433-2333 Pines Country Christmas thru Dec. 29. pinesdinnertheatre.com Star of the Day 484-809-9228 A Christmas Story: The Play Dec. 5-8 at St. John’s UCC, 139 N. 4th St., Emmaus. staroftheday.org State Theatre Center for the Arts 453 Northampton Street, Easton, PA 800-999-STATE Chris Collins & Boulder Canyon: A John Denver Christmas Dec. 5, The Ten Tenors: Home for the Holidays Dec. 7, Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker Dec. 8, Cirque Dreams: Holidaze Dec. call 610-258-4330 to advertise

Touchstone Theatre 321 E. 4th Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-867-1689 Christmas City Follies XX Dec. 5-22. touchstone.org Williams Center for the Arts Lafayette College 317 Hamilton Street, Easton, PA 610-330-5009 Student Honors Recital Nov. 22, Chamber Orchestra Nov. 24, Percussion Ensemble Dec. 2, Concert Band Dec. 6, Concert Chorus Dec. 7, and The Marquis Consort Dec. 8. williamscenter.lafayette.edu Zoellner Arts Center Lehigh University 420 E. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 610-758-2787 ext 0 Opera: Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro by the Academy of Vocal Arts Nov. 24, Cirque Mechanics: 42ftA Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels Dec. 1, LU Philharmonic: Shostakovich, Mozart & Prokofiev Dec. 6-7, LU Choral Arts: Christmas Vespers Dec. 8, Pennsylvania Youth Ballet: The Nutcracker Dec. 14-15, and PA Philharmonic: Holiday Swing Dec. 22. zoellner.cas2.lehigh.edu

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ARTIST DIRK BACH SHOWS HIS WORK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AT THE SIGAL MUSEUM IN CANINE ILLUMINATION: DRAWINGS AND PAINTINGS

by Dawn Ouellette Nixon Artist Dirk Bach is consumed with his work.

Each day he spends an average of eight hours in his studio drawing and painting, with each of his pieces taking between 100 and 200 hours to complete. His work, detailed still lifes of everyday objects like baskets, rugs, and even bicycles, are juxtaposed in such a way that their humble beauty becomes evident.

Today, he is busy preparing for a one-man exhibition of his art in his home city of Easton. His work will be displayed from November 22 through May 31, 2020 at the Sigal Museum in a show entitled, “Canine Illumination”.

The exhibition spotlights Bach’s studies of “Mavis”, a canine muse featured in many of his paintings. Mavis, a friend’s dog, first caught Bach’s eye as a puppy, with his black and white coloring and charming poses. “She’s perfect for a draftsman because she is black and white,” Bach says. “The dog is a poseur. Her owner has taken pictures of her in every conceivable position.” Bach painted Mavis in varying scenes, against the backdrop of the intricate artistic patterns of rugs,å pillows and japanese art prints.

Bach first became driven to make art during his early years at Colgate University in New York in the 1950s. Though the son of the director of the Denver Art Museum, Bach preferred piano to painting when he was growing up. That is until a chance conversation one day at college. “I asked a roommate what would be an easy course to take and he said, ‘Why not take a drawing course?” Bach recalls with a laugh, “and that was the

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beginning for me. I was hooked. I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

In addition to his newfound love of art, Bach became interested in education, and went on to become an art history professor, thriving in the teaching environment. He enjoyed the theatricality involved, he says, and the academic environment of teaching art history to students who would use the information to inspire their own work.

After many years as an art history professor at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, Bach took a well-deserved retirement, and has devoted his life to painting and drawing ever since.

Bach and his wife, the celebrated Native American painter, Kay WalkingStick, moved to Easton from New York in recent years. The two set up studios in a historic three-story townhouse that they also live in. “It’s just perfect for us,” remarks Bach.

He and his wife don’t find any friction in being two working artists living together. “We live in each other’s minds anyway,” he says. “We are constantly looking at each other’s work, in both an encouraging and critical way. It works perfectly, which is interesting, considering our work is so different from each other.”

Kabuki Umbrella”, 32”x40”. acrylic on panel, 2018

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Artist Dirk Bach Happy to be working side by side with his wife, Bach is enjoying spending this time of their lives in Easton.

“It’s a small, workable city,” he says. “It’s the river town we were looking for. It’s both powerful and peaceful. We love it.”

View the exhibit thru May 31 at the Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton Street in Easton. Hours are Wednesday to Saturday 10 AM-4 PM and Sunday 12-4 PM. Admission is $7; students/$6; senior citizens, children 3-12, active military/$5; free on Sundays. Visit sigalmuseum. org for more info. To learn more about Dirk Bach, visit dirkbach.com.

Bulb Puja IV”, 36”x40”, acrylic on panel, 2019

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IRREGULAR BOOKSHELF

with Carole J. Heffley

Has another year gone by so quickly? Even before Halloween, the mall stores were decorated for the Christmas season and displaying the thousands of gifts for the season of giving. Along with that, the many, many letters asking for donations were right on time.

Along with my grandchildren, at year’s end, we pick out the 2 or 3 charities we deem most needy and send out a donation to each one. We make it a festive evening of going through all the requests and thinking of where we feel our money should go. Saving the ocean and nature conservancy organizations like the Sierra Club were top picks last year.

THANKSGIVING NIGHT by Richard Bausch ©2006, 403 pages If you like drowning in words, this is the book for you.

There is little dialogue in the story followed by gobs of words. Too many words. The description of every little thing, the merciless introspection of each character, lost any interest I might have had in the plot. It was difficult, in fact, to find a plot. Thanksgiving Night is one of those rare books that I just could not slog through and was so weary after chapter two that I simply gave up.

THANKSGIVING PROTECTOR (TEXAS RANGER HOLIDAYS) by Sharon Dunn ©2017, 224 pages ACTION!!!! And more action. More action than a Van Diesel movie!! Kylie is one of the few female Border Patrol agents working the Texas border watching for violent drug lord Garcia to cross the Rio Grande.

Murder is no problem for Garcia to get what he wants and he wants Kylie dead for having an informant friend, Valentina, who has secretly signed papers giving Kylie her 6-month old baby girl should anything happen to her.

Kylie has just found Valentina dead in the desert on a night ops with her stalwart Texas Ranger partner Austin.

Austin has had a rough life and he thinks he does not want any entanglements to tie him down and keep him from his beloved career as a Texas Ranger. Likewise Kylie is cautious where relationships may arise. The sparks between the two light up the skies even as gunfire lights up their nights on patrol. There is one chase after the other as Kylie becomes the target of Garcia’s revenge for being part of the drug enforcement that disrupts his crimes. Or is it the baby that is the target of his bloodthirsty plans?

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Irregular Bookshelf Border Patrol? For all you fans of action and mystery, you’ll love this book. Its fast pace makes for a fast read on the edge of your comfortable chair!

AN AMISH SECOND CHRISTMAS by Shelley Shepard Gray, Patricia Johns and Virginia Wise ©2019, 320 pages The title of this book is loosely based on the Amish tradition of having two Christmas celebrations. The first day of Christmas for the Amish is set aside for purely religious introspection. The Bible is read and a solemn day is spent remembering the birth of Jesus. The next day, the “second day” of Christmas in the Amish community is for gift giving and visiting and feasting.

Though none of the three stories in this book adhere to that Amish tradition, each story revolves around a sweet romance that involves the Christmas holiday. As is the “formula” in writing Amish stories, the tales are gentle and as sweet as apple pies. Each of the authors tells a good story of romance won and lost and won again. Naturally, each story ends happily! In “Their Second Chance” by Shelley Gray, Rob, a fireman who is trying to leave his Amish roots behind, saves Hannah whose apartment catches fire. Rob knows Hannah from their schooldays. She has become a very independent woman who has left her family home to live on her own. He antagonized her in school years ago with his jokes and pranks. She remembers him with not the best of memories. He remembers her as the shy pretty girl who broke his heart a couple years ago. Starting over after the fire and knowing that Rob saved her life, what feelings will she have for him now? The second story, “His Christmas Angel” by Patricia Johns, has Maggie Lapp, a twenty-five year old single woman, who wants to be a writer more than anything even though her quilts outsell everyone else’s. The bishops have warned her about her working for a small weekly paper where her stories are being printed. It is not seemly for a woman of her age, unmarried, to be doing that! But now, at Christmas with all the Amish men assembled to repair

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the family barn that caught fire last night, Atley Troyer shows up to help. Atley, the man who revealed that the columns written under a pen name were by Maggie and so brought down the ire of the bishops upon her. Atley, the man who proposed marriage to her then broke up with her. Well, there’s a lot of fixing to do and not just with the burned barn. Can they put aside the past and start over again? In the last story by Virginia Wise, “An Heirloom Christmas”, Joseph Webber promised to take a job with the Miller family to help their daughter, Rachel,

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Irregular Bookshelf in her greenhouse. Joseph knew Rachel from school.

She was always a very quiet girl, not given to laughter or conversation and after her bone cancer illness years earlier that left her in a wheelchair, how, he wondered, had she changed? He was not looking forward to spending his days with Rachel but he needed the money to leave his family farm and search for his own destiny out among the “English”. The work would only be until Christmas and surely he could endure anything for that short amount of time. It was already late autumn. What would the coming days bring? There is triple the reading enjoyment in this trio of stories, so dig in!

A MRS. MIRACLE CHRISTMAS by Debbie Macomber ©2019, 272 pages Do you believe in angels? Perhaps you have seen a Mrs. Miracle movie on the Hallmark channel in past years.

Prolific writer Ms. Macomber has written several of the stories under the Mrs. Miracle title and even a Mr. Miracle, plus she has many other books to her credit. This latest sweet story with a young couple (Laurel and Zach) enlisting the aid of a caregiver for Laurel’s grandmother, has Mrs. Miracle (who is actually a real angel) coming to their house during the Christmas season. The couple’s marriage is perfect, or would be if only they had a baby to complete their lives. You can guess what happens due to Mrs. Miracle and the grandmother’s prayers for a baby. Nevertheless, the tale is so worth reading for its unabashed sentimentality, especially at this time of year and is a fast read that can be easily enjoyed in a weekend or even a day. By the book’s end you may believe in angels!

AND FOR 25-cents— BARGAIN BIN FIND THANKSGIVING by Janet Evanovich ©2006, 256 pages Best dialogue in a long, long time!! Yes, get a copy of this older paperback book (10-cents and up on Amazon); it’s a real gem. Funny!

Moving! And a complete delight! This novel can be easily read in a day. Think of a snow day, have this book at the ready, and cozy up to a wonderful story that will leave you with a chuckle and warm feeling for days afterward.

Megan, who works at Colonial Williamsburg while fostering her talent as a potter, meets Pat, a veterinarian, over his pet rabbit who chews a hole in Megan’s colonial cape while she’s sitting on a bench enjoying the falling leaves.

It’s autumn and Williamsburg is alive with the colonial

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Irregular Bookshelf themes of the approaching holiday season. In short order, a young woman barges into Patâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office while Megan is visiting and thrusts her baby at him saying she does not know anyone except him and needs to leave her baby for 2 weeks . . . and leaves! Pat hires Megan to help him look after the baby when he cannot find the woman nor is emotionally willing to take the child to a state protective agency. Sparks fly. Suspend rational thinking and climb aboard this train wreck of a story through the brilliantly sparkling and often hilarious dialogue/banter between Megan and Pat. I guarantee you smiles and the kind of warm feeling you have holding a cup of steaming mulled cider.

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GARDENING

FOR THE BIRDS article and photos by Pam Ruch

Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

I have a problem with birdfeeders. I’m forgetful when it comes to filling them. Even though researchers have concluded that bird populations are not harmed by unreliable feeder-fillers such as me, I see my empty feeder and feel as though I am letting the birds down.

If you only have space for one shrub for migrating birds, choose Arrowwood Viburnum. Studies have shown that this viburnum species is a better producer than other shrubs with high-fat berries, such as spicebush and bayberry, and that its fruits are preferred by birds. Plant it, and warblers, vireos, thrushes, and other migrating species will thank you!

So I’ve come to a decision. Rather than fill bird feeders, I plant them. When snow covers the ground, the birds still come around to snatch seeds from last summer’s coneflowers and feast on viburnum and holly berries. I don’t need to continually outsmart the squirrels to feed the birds, and the view outside my window is colorful even in winter.

MIGRATING BIRDS NEED A HIGH FAT DIET When planning your winter garden remember that native plants, having evolved with the insects and animals they provide for, are always a good choice. If you take a winter walk in the woods you’ll notice that bird preferences change with the seasons. Some berries are plucked from their branches as soon as they ripen; others cling tight into February. It’s the fat content that makes the difference.

Many native high-fat berries ripen just when migrating birds require fuel for their rapid metabolisms. Even birds that feed on insects during the summer may switch to a fruit diet in fall. In addition to providing energy for the trip south, these fall fruits are often excellent sources of dietary antioxidants that help alleviate the stress caused by long-distance migration.

Arrowwood viburnum is adaptable to sun or shade, not fussy about soil conditions, and not particularly attractive to deer.

Dogwood (Cornus spp.)

Dogwood berries are popular with robins. A flock of them can strip a tree in no time!

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Florida Dogwood fruits are stripped from the trees as soon as they ripen. Gray Dogwood, a spreading, dense shrub tolerant of wet or dry soil conditions in both sun and shade, provides another high-fat option for migrators. Other shrub dogwoods are also favored, though their berries are not quite as high in fat. Catbirds, robins, cedar waxwings, cardinals and others enjoy dogwood fruits.

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Gardening PLANTS FOR WINTER SUSTENANCE

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) We all know that the spicebush swallowtail butterfly depends on Spicebush. This native shrub also provides high-fat berries for migrating birds, including robins, thrushes, veeries, Eastern bluebirds, and catbirds.

Though not particularly showy in summer it bursts out in a display of chartreuse flowers in early spring, another reason you’ll want it in your landscape.

Plants that hold their fruit into winter are pleasing to birds and gardeners alike. Winterberry Holly, for one, is more palatable to birds after the fruits have frozen and thawed a few times. Here are a few options to round out your visiting birds’ winter diets.

Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Though its fruits are even higher in fat than Arrowwood Viburnum, Bayberry has been found to be a second choice of many birds in fall. This tall, suckering shrub tolerates a multitude of soil conditions in sun and part shade. Winter songbirds and waterfowl enjoy the white waxy fruits.

This landscape-friendly small tree will attract a variety of birds—woodpeckers, tanagers, grosbeaks, cardinals, and catbirds, among others—when its fruits ripen in early fall. At about 30 feet in height and half that in width, it’s a good fit for an urban lot.

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)

Bayberry, native to the eastern coastal zone, thrives even in poor soils.

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Gardening Chokeberry (Aronia spp.)

Initially overlooked, Chokeberry fruits are often still around in winter, when birds need the sustenance. This 6-foot tall shrub can be a problem solver as well as a bird pleaser in wet soils.

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)

The 30-foot deciduous Hawthorn tree attracts a long list of birds, and its thorny stems make it an attractive nesting option. Nicely shaped and beautiful in fruit, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great choice for the small yard.

Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

When you think about fruits for birds, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t generally think of evergreen Junipers. Its blue berries are not particularly tasty, but when better options are gone, they will help get birds through the coldest winter months.

Rudbeckia maxima is a tall, stately Black-eyed Susan, with a seedladen cone at its center.

Washington Hawthorn has showy white flowers in spring and red fruits that persist into winter.

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Gardening Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) Clusters of red fruits make Winterberry Holly an attractive winter plant, especially against a snowy landscape. Relatively high in carbohydrates but low in fat, the fruits are not a top pick for migrators, but once cold weather converts the starches to sugars, the birds take notice. Male and female flowers are on separate plants, and both are needed for berry formation.

Horticulturist and writer Pam Ruch, caretaker of the Nurture Nature Center Urban Recycle Garden, tends gardens in the Lehigh Valley and beyond, and presents gardening and nature journaling programs throughout the region.

Winterberry holly plants grow to 8 feet or more, and produce best in rich, moist soil.

Coneflower (Echinacea) seeds are plucked one by one throughout fall and winter.

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Irregular Eats Local Holiday Treats If baking isn’t your strong point or you simply don’t have the time, there are several locally owned bakeries throughout the Lehigh Valley to pick up holiday treats.

Cake & Corolla in downtown Easton and Vegan Treats in Bethlehem share their customer favorites with us.

CAKE & COROLLA

125 N. 3rd Street, Easton, PA 484-272-9090 cakeandcorolla.com Cake & Corolla offers an assortment of cookies in a decorative holiday box including but not limited to gingerbread, sugar, and chocolate chip cookies as well as brownie truffles and other assorted goodies, and they come in two different sizes, a large for $50 or a small for $35. These cookie tins are an easy holiday gift or perfect to share at a party, and allow you to try many festive flavors at once. photo courtesy of Cake & Corolla

VEGAN TREATS

1444 Linden Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-861-7660

vegantreats.com

Need holiday treats free of animal products... Visit Vegan Treats. Their most popular seasonal treats include these holiday inspired three-inch cakes, and they will be an adorable and delicious addition to any holiday event.

Their popular peanut butter bomb cakes are available for special order as penguins. photo courtesy of Vegan Treats

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Happy Holidays to all the Good boys and girls out there, I hope Santa is kind! As for those naughty types, there’s still time to redeem yourselves, I trust Santa is kind and will deliver just the same. The Sun enters the sign of Capricorn marking the reason for the season, the wondrous Winter Solstice or the longest day of the year.

It ushers in longer days ahead and our Sun’s cosmic rebirth! We all celebrate simultaneous holidays and for different reasons, let’s drop the restricting fences that separate us and all join in a universal celebration!

Virgo- Decorations need to be just right and we rely on your perfection to create the right holiday environment!

Your gift to everyone around you is that need for perfection, our gift to you, gratitude for pushing us to be better than we are.

Aries- Love, joy and all that holiday cheer won’t escape you, give in and lap it up. Spend more time under the mistletoe and give, then receive and give again!

Someone somewhere misses you, reconnect and try again.

Scorpio- A silent night is indeed a holy night; a moment to yourself to regroup and center is called for previous to holiday hysteria. Give yourself that gift and it could be the best present received all year!

Taurus- Libations keep pouring and party trays with delectables keep on passing! Indulgence of good times and fun friends are what the holidays are all about, indulge! Keep a special someone close by for those memorable magic moments.

Libra- You’re expected to be the life of the party, don’t disappoint! No nostalgia this year, live in the very moment! It doesn’t need to be the holidays to be utterly evolved in the present! Old friends need to hear your voice, give them a call.

Sagittarius- Family festivities are not as bad as expected; don’t trade those plans in for friends or isolation. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that it’s just what is needed. Surprise friends with out of the way gifts, it will light up their holiday!

Gemini- Be a good elf instead of an imp! Don’t get all humbug and ruin everyone’s good time; remember Santa’s watching so no pouting. Gifts from the heart are important, make sure you’re grateful for whatever goodies come your way.

Capricorn- Don’t be pegged as a Scrooge, give employees time off to shop or travel, go out of your way to get the prefect gift for family members and remember to give an extra something to those charities that are doing their best to help others. There’s an angel looking out for you.

Cancer- Add some memory magic and take snap shots, quick videos and keep sentimental reminders of this festive holiday season. These visions will keep you smiling long after the moment has passed. Maybe Santa is bringing you a camera? Hmmm...

Aquarius- Like the wise men before you, follow that Star to Bethlehem and you may just find the magic you’re so desperately looking for! Stars make perfect gifts this year, in all shapes & sizes! Remind others that they too are shining stars!

Leo- Surprise visits from old friends, family or coworkers brighten up the season. Keep room in your hectic schedule for spontaneous celebrating. From now until NYE, workdays may end earlier than expected!

Pisces- Hypnotized yet by flickering candles, holiday lights and pretty twinkling decorations everywhere?

Give in and hang your stockings with care, expect life to be filled with magic & love at every turn. You are a joy to the world, thanks for adding your special romantic touch!

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IRREGULAR EVENTS COMMUNITY:

MUSIC:

Every Tues. & Thur. 10am-3pm: Senior Connection, a free community senior program offering social and mental stimulation for older adults. Arndt’s Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Forks Twp. Info: 610-253-3732, Nancy Walters 610253-0726, nancywalters@rcn.com

Every Fri.: Free Range Music in the Acoustic Kitchen (Nov. 29: Leah Marie Fuls, Dec. 6: Brad Hilton). 6-8pm. Easton Public Market, 325 Northampton St., Easton. Info: 610-330-9942

Every Tues., Wed, Thur. 9am-1pm: Silver Connections: Fun for Seniors. Easton Area Community Center, 901 Washington St., Easton. Info: 610-253-8271, Saints1@ptd.net Every Sat. thru Dec. 21: Easton Farmers’ Holiday Market. 9am-1pm. Centre Sq., Easton. Info: 610-330-9942, eastonfarmersmarket.com Nov. 30: Unique Artisan Markets Handmade Craft Shows. 10am-5pm. Grand Eastonian Hotel & Suites, 140 Northampton St., Easton. Info: facebook.com/ events/1010791162598301/?active_tab=about

Dec. 7 & 8: The Bach Choir’s Christmas Concerts. Dec. 7 at 8 pm. First Presbyterian Church, Cedar Crest & Tilghman Sts., Allentown. Dec. 8 at 4pm. First Presbyterian Church, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem. Adults/$38, Students/$9. Info: 610-866-4382 x115 or x110, bach.org Dec. 8: Concord Chamber Singers Family Concert. 4pm.

Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, 321 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem. $10 per person, children 12 & under free. Info: 484707-5078, ccsingers.org

HISTORY & NATURE:

Nov. 30: Cookie Workshop. 11am-2pm. Easton Public Market, 325 Northampton St., Easton. The EPM elves are ready to get into the holiday spirit with fresh baked cookies for the kids to decorate in the Easton Public Market kitchen. After the cookies cool, the kids get creative by adding their special decorative touch. Every child will decorate two cookies and enjoy yummy hot chocolate or apple cider. $5 per child. Info: facebook.com/ events/393552031583180 Dec. 6: ArtsQuest’s First Friday Events. 6-9pm. Banana Factory, 25 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem. Info: bananafactory.org Dec. 7: Cookie Crawl and Downtown Holiday Open House.

10am-5pm. Downtown Easton.

Shop small and support local retailers, and you’ll be rewarded with cookies! A list of participating retailers will be available closer prior to the event. Info: 610-250-2076, eastonmainstreet. org/cookiecrawl Dec. 12 & 13: A Yuletide Feast: Christmas in New York with Concord Chamber Singers.

The festivities begin with a Cash Bar at 6pm followed by dinner and entertainment at 7pm. Northampton Country Club, 5049 William Penn Hwy., Easton. Tickets are $55 each and include a three-course meal. Info: 484-707-5078, ccsingers.org Dec. 19: Destination Arts: Third Thursday. 5-8pm. Multiple Art Venues in Downtown Allentown. Info: 610-751-4929, downtownallentown.com Dec. 27: Easton Out Loud: Enchanted Village. 5-9pm in downtown Easton. Enjoy snowflake crafts, a hot chocolate bar, Christmas cookies, live entertainment and more. Info: 610-2506533, eastonoutloud.com

National Canal Museum 2750 Hugh Moore Park Road, Easton, PA 610-923-3548, canals.org Thru Dec. 29: Museum only. Current Exhibit: What the Rivers Saw: Mapping 200 Years of the D&L Corridor’s Living Landscape Nurture Nature Center 518 Northampton Street, Easton, PA 610-253-4432, liesel@nurturenaturecenter.org, nurturenaturecenter.org Every Wed. & Sat. 12-4pm, Thur. 6-9pm: Science on a Sphere & SOS Explorer Touch Screen Kiosk Nov. 30: Science on a Sphere Spotlight: Giving Thanks. 1-2pm Dec. 4: Holiday Wreath Workshop. 6:30-8:30pm/$35, reg. req.

Dec. 5: Thom Cooney Crawford Poetry Reading and Documentary Screening. 7-8pm Dec. 7: Lehigh Valley All Day Singing VII with Lehigh Valley Shape Note Singers. 10am-3:30pm Dec. 21: Science Sphere Spotlight: Winter Solstice and the Seasons. 1-2pm Sigal Museum (NCHGS) 342 Northampton St., Easton, PA 610-253-1222, sigalmuseum.org New Ongoing Exhibit: Destination: Northampton County Thru May 31: Canine Illumination: Drawings and Paintings by Dirk Bach Dec. 1: Museum Store Sunday. 12-4pm Dec. 4: Lunch & Learn: The Journey Home with Dr. Bonnie Winfield. 12:30-1:30pm/$5 donation Dec. 7: Elvira Woodruff – Immigrant Tales and Family StoryMaking. 2pm

Have an event taking place in the Easton area? Email it to us here at The Irregular, bruneo1776@aol.com. Events will be placed on the events calendar at the discretion of the publisher. Or consider placing a display ad with us; email or call 610-258-4330 for rates.

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AT THE LIBRARIES Easton Area Public Library (Downtown Branch) 515 Church Street • Easton 610-258-2917 • eastonpl.org Hours: Mon.-Thur. 9-9, Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-5, Closed Sun. Nov. 26: Non-fiction Book Group: Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou. 7-8pm Dec. 6-10: Holiday Book Sale. Fri. 10am-5pm, Sat. 9:30am-3:30pm, Mon. 2-7pm (half price day), Tues.

2-7pm (bag day) Dec. 7: American Sign Language w/Allison Didden.

11-11:45am Dec. 7: See Santa read a story, make a wish and receive a gift. 11:30am-12pm Dec. 16: Quilting Club. 6-8pm Dec. 17: Romance Book Club: Marry Me at Christmas

by Susan Mallery. 6:30-7:30pm Dec. 17: Holiday Workshop: Painted Candle Holder and Felt Ornament with April Khalil. 6:30-8pm, reg. req.

Dec. 19: Kwanzaa Celebration. 4:30-5:30pm Easton Area Public Library (Palmer Branch) 1 Weller Place • Easton 610-258-7492 • eastonpl.org Hours: Mon. 9-5, Tues.-Thur. 9-7, Fri.-Sat. 9-5, Closed Sun. Every Thur.: Sew Others May Be Warm Knitting/ Charity Group. 1-2:30pm Every Thur.: Chapter #14, Soc. PA Archaeology Meeting: Bring your Indian artifacts for typing, age determination. 7pm. Info: Len Ziegler 908-750-4110 2nd Thur.: The Writers Café. 7-9pm. Info: glvwg. vebmeister@gmail.com 2nd Sat.: Pocono Lehigh Writers meeting. 10am-2pm.

Info: dpetersmayer@aol.com (no Dec. meeting) 4th Sat.: Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group meeting.

10am-12pm. Info: glvwg.vebmeister@gmail.com Nov. 26: Adult Book Group: A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum. 6-7:30pm Dec. 7: Visit with Santa, holiday stories and a craft.

10-11am, reg. req.

Memorial Library of Nazareth & Vicinity 295 E. Center Street • Nazareth 610-759-4932 • nazarethlibrary.org Hours: Mon. 10-5, Tues.-Thur. 10-8, Fri. 10-5, Sat. 9-4, Closed Sun. (Closed Oct. 7 & 19) Dec. 2: Historical Tour of the Library. 11-11:30am Dec. 3: Historical Tour of the Library. 6-6:30pm Dec. 3: Brainy Bibliophiles Book Club: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. 6:30-7:30pm Dec. 4: Holiday Family Craft Night. 6:30-7:15pm, reg. req.

Dec. 4: Children’s Author Meet & Greet: Earl: The Christmas Tree Spider by Erin Rafanello Ferguson.

6:30-7:30pm, reg. req.

Dec. 7: Movie Night (Polar Express) with Santa at Lower Nazareth Municipal Building. 5-8pm/$2.50 Dec. 14: Christmas in Nazareth. 12-4pm Phillipsburg Free Public Library 200 Broubalow Way • Phillipsburg 908-454-3712 • pburglib.org Hours: Mon.-Thur. 9:30-8, Fri.-Sat. 9:30-5, Closed Sun. Every Fri.: Pinochle Club. 12:30pm Nov. 26: PFPL Writers Group. 6pm Dec. 2: Laughter Yoga. 12 & 6:45pm Dec. 3: Yarn Crafts Group. 5:30pm Dec. 4: Happy Bookers Discussion Group: The Library Book by Susan Orlean. 7pm Dec. 10: Classic Book Club: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. 7pm Dec. 17: Yarn Crafts Group. 5:30pm Dec. 19: Film Discussion Group. 7-9:30pm Dec. 23: PFPL Writers Group. 6pm Dec. 26: Book Forum. Laughter Yoga. 6:45pm

Mary Meuser Memorial Library 1803 Northampton Street • Wilson Borough 610-258-3040 • meuserlib.org Hours: Tues.-Thur. 9:45-8, Fri. 9:45-5, Sat. 9-4, Closed Sun. & Mon. Dec. 12: Holiday Acrylic Painting Class instructed by Artist, Susan Camarata. Each participant will paint a Holiday “Gathering Wreath” on a specially prepared 8” x 10” canvas. 6-8pm, reg. req./$10.

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