Avenues Spring 2023

NEW FEATURE: ICONIC HOMES AVENUES MAGAZINE CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

The Legacy Cigar Lounge

Celebrating 10 Years

Welcome to the New & Improved Avenues. From our first issue published in 2013, our mission has remained the same: to promote West Reading and the Penn Corridor as Greater Reading’s destination hub for arts, shopping and entertainment. While that still remains our focus, we’ve modified and added updates to showcase other areas of uniqueness along the corridor that extend to work, life and play on and off the Avenues.

We hope you enjoy! ~

Tracy Hoffmann, Publisher

APR 29, 2023

Spring into a Festival this Season

by Mark Ratcliffe, Main Street Manager, West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation

In West Reading, spring is the beginning of our festival season starting with the Craft Pretzel & Beer Festival on April 29th. Our focus at this event is on local and regional pretzels & beer with an occasional tasty national malted product.

This festival celebrates our area’s pretzel heritage thanks to the emigrants from southern and western Germany who bought land from the Penns and started making pretzels. The Pennsylvanian German dialect was spoken in the area well into the 1950s and you can still occasionally hear it today. The Reading area has been known as “Pretzel City” because of our numerous local pretzel bakeries.

Currently, Savor Street (formerly Bachman), Fallers, Uncle Henry’s, Pretzel Revolution, Tom Sturgis, Unique Pretzel along with the numerous soft pretzel bakeries in our farmers markets. Fun fact, we produce 80% of all pretzels consumed in America right here in Pennsylvania. At this year’s Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest, we will have a very special home brewers competition. The winner of this competition gets to brew their beer for public consumption at Chatty Monks who will put it on tap sometime in 2023. The Festival is free and will include our local shops along with specialty pretzel food and gifts. Beer can

be purchased at our local bars, however, the beer tasting is a ticketed event. Tickets can be found on our Facebook page or website: www.visitwestreading.org

Art on the Ave is on June 17th and is one of the biggest events of the year in West Reading. We look forward to including more local artists along with the Goggleworks and Berks Arts. Our Plein Air event hosted by Art Plus Gallery will be bigger than ever this year. This event leads up to Art on the Ave and attracts fine artists from around the region who take this week to paint tableaus of our local area. The paintings are judged and auctioned off on Friday, June 16th.

Other events are our Sunday Farmers Market that continues every other Sunday until May. 2nd Fridays will gear back up and this summer will also bring our French Fry Festival hosted by West Reading Tavern. The West Reading Shopping Center will be getting a facelift this year and will be adding a Cigar Lounge to replace Chef Alan’s. With over 30 food and drink locations in West Reading, this will be a nice addition to our community. There is no better time to spend the weekend than meeting friends and enjoying everything West Reading has to offer.

WHAT’S NEW ON AND OFF PENN

Businesses and other new spots in Avenue’s communities are worth celebrating! This is where we give you the scoop on what’s new and what’s changed along the Avenue. If you have news, please email us at Avenues@hoffpubs.com.

Esterbrook Pharmacy and West Reading Drugstore Merger

A merger between Esterbrook Pharmacy and West Reading Drug Store brings two iconic names in local, independent drug stores together to keep serving Avenue’s communities. Tower Health Reading Hospital will use the Esterbrook location for expansion space. Eric Esterbrook, RPh, owner of West Reading Drug Store and Outlook Pharmacy Services, is a lifelong resident of Berks County.

538 Penn Avenue, West Reading

610-375-4366 • www.westreadingdrug.com

Legacy Cigar Lounge

Taking over the spot known for decades as Chef Alan’s Restaurant and Bar, Adrean and Rick Turner are the owners of Legacy Cigar Lounge. The new space is under construction with Turnberry Construction Group with plans to open in Spring 2023. The Lounge will sell premium cigars and libations. (See our cover story for more information!)

525 Penn Ave, West Reading

www.legacycigarpa.com

Winnie Tea Bar Coming

Soon! Quality and innovative drinks and desserts served by Winnie Tea Bar. Customers to Winnie can look forward to Boba tea, fruit tea, and coffee, plus desserts.

725 Penn Avenue

West Reading

Winnieteabar@gmail.com

Michelangelo’s of West Reading

Michelangelo’s of West Reading, formerly Georgio’s Pizzeria, may have a new name, but they’re keeping it in the family. The Georgio’s owners sold the restaurant to a family member and will still be involved in bringing customers great meals in West Reading.

500 Penn Avenue, West Reading 610-750-7199

Noodl

A fast and casual Asian-inspired dining experience hits Penn Avenue with the opening of Noodl. Diners can look forward to their average meals costing about $14 and enjoy available parking at the rear of the restaurant, including handicapped and food pick up spots. Customer loyalty points can be accumulated and redeemed toward future purchases!

428 Penn Avenue, West Reading 610-750-6160 • www.thenoodl.com

Reading Orthodontic Group

Reading Orthodontic Group (ROG) made the move to their new location in Wyomissing into the former Santander Bank building at Penn Avenue and Park Road. After fifty years at their previous location, the new spot will offer additional parking spaces and an ADA-compliant facility, while staying with their Wyomissing roots.

840 Penn Avenue, Wyomissing 610-374-4097 • www.Fantasticsmiles.com

Reading Skatepark

Reading Skatepark Association moved to the bidding phase and is completely funded for the entire project on Canal Street’s 600 block. The park will be constructed by Grind Line Skateparks and will include a parking lot, sidewalks, and landscaping. Groundbreaking is planned for early to mid-2023 with construction hopefully completed in six to eight months after the startup.

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The Block at Wyomissing Square Wyomissing Square is the future home of 12 suites with mixed-use restaurant and retail space. Formerly Brickstone’s and Viva Bistro and Lounge, the project will include a new outdoor promenade. Folino Estate of Kutztown announced it will open the second location of its Vintner’s Table wine and tapas bar in the new space. Sola Salons, a franchised salon suite rental business, will also occupy The Block.

An Artistic Touch for ROG

The new location of Reading Orthodontic Group (ROG) glitters with three mosaics created under the guidance of local muralist, Michael L. Miller. The ROG staff teamed with their children, grandchildren, Albright College and Reading School District students to create the designs chosen by ROG from ideas presented by Miller. Cutting glass tiles and gluing them onto patterns was a collaboration among the generations that lasted for weeks with results that will enhance ROG’s facility for years.

Photo: Dr. Denny Mauro, ROG partner, joining the fun to create the new artwork.

By Karen L. Chandler

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE MEET ADREAN AND RICK TURNER

LEGACY C GAR

Avenues: What will customers who come to the new Legacy Cigar Lounge hope to experience and when do you expect to open?

Adrean and Rick: The Legacy Cigar Lounge (LCL) is a veteran family-owned membership-driven cigar lounge that provides a public retail store, and a large selection of curated premium cigars and accessories serviced by certified cigar sommeliers.

This establishment will feature a state-of-the-art, medical-grade air filtration system that guests will enjoy while savoring fine cigars, libations, and light bites in a relaxing, and entertaining social atmosphere. The lounge will provide amenities that include flat-screen televisions, surround sound systems, Wi-Fi access, soft leather chairs, game tables and music. We expect to open May 2023.

continued on next page

Amazing things can happen when a happily married couple with a combined wealth of life experiences follows the path to make a dream come true.

The Turner family

Avenues: How do you feel about giving a new life to the iconic Chef Alan’s restaurant which has served the area for over 35 years?

Adrean and Rick: We are excited to bring this cigar experience to the village of West Reading. The Rutters have been instrumental in our transition to the location. They are well respected and admired and leave a legacy of service in which we plan to capitalize on. Also, we could not have asked for a kinder and more gracious landlord to be partnered with who is invested in our success. It’s almost as if the stars aligned for this location, for us, at this time. We are grateful.

Avenues: What background or interests inspired you to open the Lounge?

Rick: I became a cigar enthusiast as a young sailor in the Navy. What began as a desire to create a cigar room in our home, blossomed into the Legacy Cigar Lounge when Adrean was watching one of her favorite TV shows and they featured a couple who had opened a lounge. We asked ourselves, “Why not us too?” And began to immediately map out our ideas to make the Lounge a reality.

Avenues: What have been your work experiences up to now?

Adrean: I have gained a global reputation as a change agent, motivational speaker, educator, coach, podcast host, author, and business leader. I transitioned from a 23-year corporate career where I held roles in operations, finance, marketing, and sales. I have been awarded the Bernadine Legacy Award from Alvernia University and Top 500 Global Entrepreneur by Brainz. Magazine. I also dedicate time as a board member and advisor to organizations throughout PA.

noodl is an Asian inspired ramen restaurant located in the heart of West Reading. We offer signature and build-your-own bowls, along with sides and shareables! Scan the QR code to check out our full menu on our website! In addition to take-out, we deliver with UberEats, Doordash, and Grubhub.

428 Penn Avenue

West Reading

610-750-6160

www.thenoodl.com

Rick: I began my career as a United States Naval Sailor before spending 21 years in corporate roles. During my career, I developed an extensive knowledge of business operations working in Big Pharma and at several startup biotech companies. I’ve led sales and marketing teams earning recognition for outstanding performance. I am also a five-time Ironman Triathlon finisher of which less than 0.01% of individuals worldwide can claim. The skills of stamina, mental fitness, and problem-solving gained through my training are key to success in business and provide a foundation for this endeavor.

Avenues: Not every married couple could undertake an endeavor as big as you have. How long have you been married and what do you each bring to the table? How do you make this partnership work?

Adrean: We will celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary in June. From the day we married, we were planning ways to become entrepreneurs as a couple. We had two other ventures that didn’t pan out as we’d liked over the years. We kept dreaming until we found something we were both passionate about making a reality, which is cigars. Our partnership works because we have the same values of service to others, and we lead in all matters with empathy.

Rick: We understand and value each other’s strengths. And we are open-minded toward each other’s ideas. We are good at cheering each other on and we counsel one another as needed. Adrean is my sherpa and I am her photographer/ assistant at events. We want the best for each other – no matter what. We are truly best friends.

Avenues: Will you tell us about your family and how long you’ve been in Berks?

Adrean and Rick: We have lived in Berks County for 27 years in Exeter township. We have one daughter, Angelique, and two sons, Richard IV, and Jordan, all adults. We also have two granddaughters ages 5 and 11 who are the light of our lives. Jordan will join us as an employee when we open. We are still working on the other two. LOL!

Avenues: What inspired you to choose Penn Avenue to set off on your business venture with the Legacy Cigar Lounge?

Adrean and Rick: Why wouldn’t we choose Penn Avenue? Penn Avenue is lively, full of events, and great businesses of all types. We felt a strong sense of community and it is a safe and comfortable area. We’ve been meeting other business owners and leaders, and everyone has been very welcoming. This is exactly what we want our guests to experience when they visit the Legacy Cigar Lounge.

Muddy Creek Soap Company

artisan handmade soaps • gift baskets • bath bombs body scrubs • gifts • and more

What’s Your Flavor?

If you’re looking for diversity in food and drinks before, during or after a show, or just a break to spice up weekly routines, visit the Penn Avenues Corridor. We have something for almost everyone, from foods across the globe, to exotic drinks and over 800 varieties of domestic and craft beers.

IRELAND

Ugly Oyster Draft Haus

CHINA

Chen Vegetarian House

Great Wall

VIETNAM

Van’s Café

Lang

THAILAND

Spoonful Thai Bistro

JAPANESE

Hawaii Kitchen

Noodl

Takkii Ramen

ITALY

Nonno Alby’s

Georgio’s

GNA

Mom Chaffe’s Cellarette

Tony’s of West Reading

FRANCE

Taste of Crepes

MEXICO

Comalli Taqueria

Let’s Taco Bout It

La Abuela

LATIN-INSPIRED

Mi Casa Su Casa

CARIBBEAN

Mecca Caribbean & Soul Food

LEBANESE & MEDITERRANEAN

Aladdin Restaurant

Judy’s on Cherry

DOMINICAN

La Casa del Chimi Restaurant

JAMAICAN

HOJD : House of Jerk Dread

Cherry’s Jamaican Delight

ALL-AMERICAN

Great American Diner

3rd & Spruce Drafthaus

Ady Cakes

American Diner

Barley Mow

Beer Wall on Penn

Benchwarmer’s Coffee & Doughnuts

B2 Bistro

Brewer’s Bar & Grill

Building 24 Kitchen & Bar

Chatty Monks

Cheers’ American Bistro

Chicken Supreme & Sammy’s Steaks

DeCarlo’s

Fresh

The Farmhouse Kitchen

Trish’s Specialty Cheese Cake

Jimmie Kramer’s Peanut Bar

Nitro Bar

Say Cheese! Restaurant

Saucony Creek Franklin Street Brewpub

Simply Bold

SlyFox Taphouse

Skylight Cuisine & Bar

Speckled Hen Cottage & Ale House

Sweet Ride Ice Cream

West Reading Tavern & Restaurant

Willoughby’s on Park

Wine & Cheese by Say Cheese! Restaurant

Winedown Café & Bar

The Works American Restaurant & Bar

Wyomissing Family Restaurant

Pennsylvania Farm Show Welcomes Chatty Monks

By Ryan Berkis, Marketing Director for Chatty Monks

The Pennsylvania Farm Show welcomed Penn Avenue’s Chatty Monks Brewing Company and its collaboration with another proud Berks business, Unique Snacks.

One of the most exciting food and beverage collaborations on display at the Farm Show was certainly Chatty Monk’s beer along with Unique Snacks. SplitFace, a Pretzel Amber Lager, which combined the brewery’s expertise in crafting high-quality beers with Unique Snacks’ signature pretzel flavor, was brewed with a delicious and unique taste of freshly baked pretzels. This collaboration is a great example of how Chatty Monks Brewery is always looking for ways to team up with other local businesses and bring new and exciting flavors to their customers. They announced plans to create up to four collaborative beers with Unique.

Chatty Monks Brewery, which was founded in 2012, had been a staple of the Reading community for over a decade. The change of ownership in May 2021 focused on using

locally sourced ingredients and collaborating with other local businesses to help establish it as a beloved and respected institution in the area. This year, the brewery showcased a variety of new collaborative beers created in partnership with other local companies, highlighting the best of the local food and drink scene.

In addition to these exciting new collaborative beers, Chatty Monks Brewery also announced plans to open new locations within Reading, Pennsylvania. The new locations would allow even more customers to enjoy their delicious beers and experience the brewery’s unique atmosphere. This was a significant move for the brewery, which had always been a strong supporter of the local community and saw this expansion as a way to continue to serve and bring joy to more people in the area.

Chatty Monks’ newest location is their Brewhouse Taproom, located off Lancaster Avenue in Reading. This new location offers a unique look into the brewing process while enjoying one of the newest beer releases! Expansion of this location is already underway and to be completed in Spring/Summer of 2023.

PRESENTS

SPRING IRON POUR

FORGE FEST

Saturday, April 29th* | 12-9pm Iron Pour begins at 6:30pm

LIVE MUSIC | PERFORMANCES | FIRE PITS

S’MORES STATIONS | FOOD | BAR & MORE!

LIVING THE DREAM Iconic Homes on and off the Avenues

By Denise Drobnick

Mike Miller, retired Wyomissing School District art teacher, mastermind behind public art projects including the West Reading mural corridor, and current Artist-In-Residence at Albright College, was not looking for a house when a house found him in 2008. A friend living on the north side of Penn Ave. encouraged him to look at a recently listed property, a 1908 Craftsman bungalow in her neighborhood that she thought was perfect for him. Although Mike had been content with the simplicity of apartment living in a place above the Art Plus Gallery, he agreed and made a failed bid, losing out to a realtor who intended to flip the house in the red-hot real estate market at that time. By 2009 the market had crashed, and Mike was able to purchase the newly renovated cottage, becoming a homeowner for the first time at age 40.

With positive vibes and a frequent sense of serendipitous coincidence, the house quickly felt like home. Neighbors Ron and Cecile Bechtel confirmed that the previous owners, Clementine and Tony, always filled the house with good energy and laughter in their 60+ years there. Mike was able to connect with their daughter, Barbara, after he was in the house for several years. She gave him some old photos of her family in the house, and he was struck by what he saw…a garden gate almost identical to one he had built after moving in, pear trees like one he had planted in the back yard, and much joy in each photo. She also gave him a house plant that belonged to her Aunt Jean decades before, and it still thrives under Mike’s care. Mike and Barbara, who now lives in Massachusetts, proceeded to become friends and continue to stay in touch, a bond created by the shared experience of having lived in the same home.

With its airy lightness, spacious basement, and backyard gardens and tree grove, Mike’s dream house is more than a place to live; it is an extension of himself and his art. In the summer, the gardens are brimming with produce, most notably acorn squash which can be found stored in the basement rafters for use all winter long. The home itself makes a perfect showcase for Mike’s artwork and serves as his canvas, judging by the watermark-painted squash details on the dining room walls and the stained-glass accents in the windows. His basement is the art studio he was lacking when he lived in the apartment, giving him plenty of room to venture into his next projects –currently hand dying fabrics and making ciders. The detached garage and alleyway became workspaces during Reading’s HOPE mural project in the fall of 2021, and the grove at the side of the house is a place for entertaining friends, including live musical performances and brick oven pizza and movie nights.

Dreams do come true when you follow your heart home! Especially in West Reading.

West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest

Penn Avenue

West Reading, PA

Saturday, April 29th 11am-5pm

West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest is the only festival that features our area’s founding crafts, Pretzels and Beer! The festival runs from 11-5pm and creates a pedestrian friendly corridor on the 500-700 blocks of Penn Avenue in West Reading. The event is free with pay as you go food and drinks, but you can also enjoy a 3-hour ticketed tasting, limited to the first 350 people, of all our region’s best locally made pretzels and beer. VIP ticket holders get to sample up to 25 home-brews and choose their favorite to win prizes courtesy of Chatty Monks Brewing! Over 50 regional beers, a variety of pretzel makers and pretzel dishes will be featured this year. Thank you to our 2023 Lead Sponsor Unique Snacks for their continued support as well as Customers Bank and PA Beer Alliance.

“We’re thrilled to support our community, and we’re looking forward to enjoying all the great craft pretzels and beers with our neighbors during the West Reading Craft Pretzel & Beer Fest,” said Justin Spannuth, COO of Unique Snacks.

Ticketing and vendor/homebrew information can be found at VisitWestReading.org. All proceeds go to support the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation (WRCRF), a non-profit 501(c)3 that is dedicated to the revitalization and growth of West Reading.

Photos by Anthony Matz and Berks County Views

IronSpringPour and Forge Festival

GoggleWorks

201 Washington St. Reading, PA

Saturday, April 29th

(rain date May 6th)

Forge Fest begins at 12pm

Iron Pour begins at Sunset

On Saturday, April 29th, GoggleWorks once again welcomes the community to its annual celebration of all things metal. The art center, which specializes in creating unique experiences out of the artistic process, spares nothing for this event. It’s like the artists’ vision of a fireworks celebration–spectacular yet sustainable, highly technical but packed with fun hands-on activities, and enjoyed by people from across the community.

The event is free and open to the public, with the signature event–the iron pour itself–scheduled at sunset. Held annually for residents, artists, and visitors, up to 1,000 typically witness the sparks, pouring, tapping, and shaping of superheated metal. The celebration is complete with live music, food, and plenty to see and do for the whole family. Returning for the second year, the PA Artist Blacksmiths’ Association will once again be doing live blacksmithing demos throughout the day leading up to the Iron Pour. Experience the brute force and delicate touch necessary to make this amazing work.

The iron pour process is simple, although for GoggleWorks it tells a story of their mission. First, the metal. The nonprofit art center repurposes old radiators and any manner of hard iron. This reclaimed iron gets broken down with a sledgehammer into smaller pieces by staff and students. Next, iron workers need a furnace that can get very hot. That’s where Albright College and artist-professor Brian Glaze come into play. Glaze lends his cupola, which is a specialized iron melting furnace, to heat the old, hard metal. Glaze serves as a sort of master of the ceremony, leading it as a massive, real-time learning experience. A pour team comprised of artists and makers along with students from GoggleWorks and Albright raise the iron to approximately 2,500 degrees, hot enough to turn the metal into liquid. They unplug the furnace and molten hot iron shoots sparks, spilling out and caught into a crucible container. The team pours this into cast molds made by artists and curious attendees who want to participate. Once cooled, these participants take home a new metal artwork relief-casted into the shape of their mold, a memorable souvenir of an unforgettable experience.

continued on page 23

While this process has been happening for thousands of years, it has tremendous potential for an art center like GoggleWorks, which uses hand-on experiences to drive curiosity and engagement by city residents and visitors. Leaders at the nonprofit have recently expanded the scope of their vision, greenlighting and growing outdoor and mobile programs designed to activate public spaces and make creativity more accessible for everyone.

With the additional support of the PA Artist Blacksmiths’ Association (PABA), the event opens its arms to a wider community of artists working metal, showcasing a technique that similarly captivates spectators. The Forge Fest, which will precede the Iron Pour beginning at noon, adds a unique opportunity to show the impact of fire and brute force on metal.

PABA blacksmiths will heat metal in a forge, a furnace that holds fire, until it glows red hot. Removing the object, they hit it repeatedly with a hammer, slowly shaping it with each blow: part artistry, part exercise. Fire and heat only further add to the determination required by these artist-blacksmiths.

The event will again welcome top-notch musical acts and other performances to the table. For those that need the garnish: GoggleWorks will have food and drinks for sale, marshmallow roasting in hot glass crucibles, and hands-on activities for families and kids.

The first forty participants will have the opportunity to purchase and prepare their own mold to be cast in molten iron. The multi-week iron pour class is sold out. Search “Calendar” at GoggleWorks.org for more details and other upcoming events.

June 12-17, 2023

TAKING AIR TO THE

The town and surrounds gear up for Plein Air West Reading 2023

On Monday, June 12, thirty accomplished artists from near and far will hit our streets to capture the beauty and character of Berks County on canvas. While spontaneity is one of the attractions of landscape painting, paving the way for Plein Air West Reading 2023 is anything but spontaneous–it’ll take the commitment of many people over the entire spring season.

“Penn Avenue is the epicenter of Plein Air West Reading, but the scope and support for the event are county-wide,” explains Russell Slocum, co-director of Art Plus Gallery, which has produced the event since its inception in 2016.

Cherry Street Sunrise by David Finnell, a past winner from Charlottesville, VA.

In 2022, sponsorships by Jerry and Carolyn Holleran, The Swift Group at Merrill Lynch, MJ Reider Environmental Testing Laboratory, Elizabeth Rothermel and Vision Mechanical helped establish Plein Air West Reading as one of the top plein air competitions in the tri-state area.

The 2023 event has the potential to be even bigger. There will be two $1000 first prizes: one for the best painting done in West Reading, sponsored by the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation, and the other done anywhere in Berks County, sponsored by the Berks Art Alliance, who is co-sponsoring the 2023 event with Art Plus. Along with traditional awards for second, third and honorable mentions, there will be several $500 sponsor-themed awards: Best painting of one of five historical sites picked by Berks History Center. Linda and Jim Elliot’s “Garden Arty” award for a garden with a water feature. Last year’s “Urban Alleyways” award was a huge hit with the artists. Its sponsors, Shelby Davis Hutchison and her mother, Sherry Davis, might repeat the theme or try a new twist this year.

“The area has a wealth of history and beauty; there is a painting everywhere one looks,” comments Baltimore artist Lissa Abrams, who participated the past two years. “I have really appreciated getting to know this community. People are so welcoming.”

Many of the artists come from other states. Most of them stay with local residents without cost. In return, the hosts enjoy getting to know exceptional creative talents as well as the tradition of artists leaving a painting for their hosts as a token of their appreciation. Some of the stays have even developed into lasting friendships.

Beautiful landscapes, generous sponsors and warm hospitality are the fuel; dozens of volunteers are the gears that drive the success of Plein Air West Reading. Together virtually all 25 members of the Art Plus Gallery cooperative, along with volunteers from the Berks Art Alliance, will dedicate hundreds of hours, without compensation, to planning and staging the event.

“It’s a huge amount of work from a lot of people,” says Karen Weber, past director of Art Plus and one of the event organizers since its inception, “but the joy it brings to the artists and the whole community makes Plein Air West Reading a labor of love.”

In addition to housing a couple of visiting artists for the week, Main Street Executive Director Mark Ratcliffe and Stephanie Rawden help launch Plein Air West Reading with an Artist-Sponsor Mingle at their historic mansion near West Reading.

Simon Shaheen Live at the WRC Center for the Arts

April 22, 2023

Hear one of the most significant Arab musicians and composers of his generation. Grammy-nominated Simon Shaheen and his trio perform on April 22 at 8:00 p.m., at the WRC Center for the Arts at 140 North Fifth Street, Reading.

Shaheen, a professor at Berklee College of Music, is known as an oud and violin virtuoso. He entertains listeners with a wide variety of traditional Arab sounds, as well as familiar jazz and Western classical pieces. Cross-cultural collaborations led to Shaheen performing with Sting, Quincy Jones, Bill Laswell, and The Klezmatics.

The WCR Center for the Arts gives special thanks to Najla and Nabil Muallem and the Reading Musical Foundation for making Shaheen’s performance possible.

Tickets for the Simon Shaheen concert are $35 ($20 for students). Doors open at 7:30PM and parking is available at the Abraham Lincoln parking garage located at the corner of 5th and Washington Streets.

MARCH 24 - APRIL 2, 2023

The annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest is presented by Berks Arts, a nonprofit organization based in the City of Reading in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The festival is led by a small staff along with a volunteer team numbering 200+, and is supported by the hotel and business community through sponsorship support.

VISIT US ONLINE

Celebrating 32 years in 2023, Berks Jazz Fest is one of the most prolific festivals of its kind, drawing nearly 30,000 visitors from all over the world. Musicians from all backgrounds, locales, and genres convene annually for the 10-day festival, which features dozens of concerts at venues across the region.

In addition to the Major Concert Schedule, dozens of free live-music events featuring local musicians comprise the Local Event Schedule in area clubs and restaurants throughout the festival. The festival combines touring artists with unique collaborative performances while providing performance opportunities for world-renowned musicians and emerging artists alike. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of genres including Jazz, Blues, R&B, Funk, Soul, Bluegrass, and more.

Berks Jazz Fest proudly hosts The Art of Jazz, a juried art exhibit featuring works by local artists. Additionally, the getJazzed educational program provides opportunities for students of all backgrounds to learn, perform, enjoy, and become inspired by professional musicians as a centerpiece of the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, paying it forward to future generations.

Manhattan Transfer

MUST-ATTEND events

As always, Avenues is bringing you a sampling of the fantastic events, programs, and exhibits you’ll find in the Avenues’ communities. In this issue, we also highlight both the major and local events in the not-to-be missed Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest lineup! Please visit the websites for each venue to see their full schedules and more details.

MARCH

FRI 3.10.23

Gallery Reception: Dorothy Frey: Studio Farm and Marat Paransky: Ripe for Decay 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington St., Reading

Disney’s The Lion King Jr., through March 19th, multiple times Genesius Theatre, 153 North Tenth Street, Reading

2nd Friday on the Avenue Shop, dine, stroll, hosted by West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation (WRCRF) in support of local businesses

SAT 3.11.23

The Weight Band, Berks Jazz Fest Preview Night, hosted by the Miller Center 7:00 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, RACC, 4 North Second Street, Reading

MON 3.13.23

Art History Short Course

The Louvre, Paris

1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Reading Public Museum,500 Museum Park Road, Reading

TUES 3.14.23

Figure Drawing –also March 21st, 28th

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington Street, Reading

SAT 3.18.23

Comedian Gary Gulman: Born on Third Base Tour

7:30 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, RACC, 4 North Second Street, Reading

Holly Trostle Brigham: Mothers, Sisters, and Daughters, through June 4, 2023

Reading Public Museum, 500 Museum Park Road, Reading

Take 5ive on 5th, An evening celebrating visual artists and jazz

6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

WCR Center for the Arts, 140 North 5th Street, Reading

Face 2 Face Elton John Tribute

8:00 p.m.

Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 North Sixth Street, Reading

SUN 3.19.23

West Reading Farmers Market

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 6th Ave. between Penn Avenue and Cherry Street

Mike Eben & Friends:

Tribute to Doc Mulligan II

Berks Jazz Fest Preview Concert

3:00 p.m.

Yocum Institute for Arts

Education, 3000 Penn Avenue, West Lawn

MON 3.20.23

Art History Short Course, The Prado, Madrid

1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Reading Public Museum, 500 Museum Park Road, Reading

THU 3.23.23

Soul of America: Tribute to Aretha Franklin

7:30 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, RACC, 4 North Second Street, Reading

FRI 3.24.23

The Groovemasters, Harold B. Leifer Memorial Luncheon

11:30 a.m.

The Peanut Bar, 332 Penn Street, Reading

Brian Culbertson – The Trilogy Tour, Berks Jazz Fest Opening Night Celebration

7:00 p.m.

Scottish Rite Cathedral, 430 South 7th Avenue, West Reading

Four80East with special guests JJ Sansaverino and Art Sherrod

7:00 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Small Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Pieces of a Dream with special guests Bobby Lyle & Carl Cox

9:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Al “DJ Act” Taylor, Free entertainment

9:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Cheers Lounge, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Gerald Veasley Unscripted Jam #1, Late-night party jam!

11:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Small Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Love Shaak Organ Trio, Live music, no cover charge

7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Nitro Bar, 416 Penn Avenue, 2nd floor, West Reading

JAZZ FEST 2023

Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, special guest Peter White

SAT 3.25.23

Gerald Albright plus Larry Carlton & Paul Brown

1:00 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Brittany Atterberry with host Al “DJ Act” Taylor, Free entertainment

3:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Cheers Lounge

701 Penn Street, Reading

Oli Silk & Phillip “Doc” Martin, Contemporary keyboardist and saxophonist

4:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Small Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

The Manhattan Transfer 50th Anniversary/Final World Tour and Diva Jazz Orchestra

6:00 p.m.

Scottish Rite Cathedral, 430 South 7th Avenue, West Reading

Jazz Funk Soul plus Raul Midon

6:00 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, 4 North Second Street, Reading

Stanley Clarke N 4 Ever, Philly Native & 2022 NEA Jazz Master

9:30 p.m

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Al “DJ Act” Taylor, Free entertainment in DoubleTree Cheers Lounge

9:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Cheers Lounge, 701 Penn Street, Reading

JazzFest for Kids, The Boy at the Edge of Everything

11:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.

Yocum Institute for Arts

Education, Schumo Theater, 3000 Penn Avenue, West Lawn

Jazz Lunch

Charlie Apicella Duo

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Cheers American Bistro at the DoubleTree, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Therapy Barn

8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Nitro Bar, 416 Penn Avenue, 2nd floor, West Reading

SUN 3.26.23

Gerald Veasley

Unscripted Jam #2, Keep the party going!

11:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Small Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Acoustic Alchemy with special guest Jeff Kashiwa

Sunday Jazz Brunch hosted by Michael Tozzi

10:30 am - 12:00 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Andrew Neu Big Band with David Benoit & Aubrey Logan, introducing Ilya Serov

3:00 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, RACC, 4 North Second Street, Reading

David Cullen, CD Release Concert

3:00 p.m.

WCR Center for the Arts, 140 North 5th Street, Reading

Chris Botti, Dynamic show with many special guests

6:00 p.m.

Scottish Rite Cathedral, 430 South 7th Avenue, West Reading

JAZZ FEST 2023

Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers

Brian Culbertson

MON 3.27.23

RMF Project Penske Jazz Jam, hosted by Mike Eben

7:00 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Small Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Art History Short Course, The National Gallery, London

1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Reading Public Museum, 500 Museum Park Road, Reading

TUE 3.28.23

Trash Juice, Formed in the basement of a college apartment during the summer of 2016

8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Nitro Bar

416 Penn Avenue, 2nd floor, West Reading

Winnie the Pooh

2:00 and 6:00 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, RACC, 4 North Second Street, Reading

WED 3.29.23

Jazz Dinner, Chris Milanek Trio

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Say Cheese!, 600 Penn Avenue, West Reading

Jazz Dinner, Erich Cawalla & The Uptown Band

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Peanut Bar Restaurant, 332 Penn Street, Reading

Night of Sweet Jazz at Sweet Ride Ice Cream, featuring the RMF Guitar Club

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Sweet Ride Ice Cream,

542 Penn Avenue, West Reading

THU 3.30.23

Chuck Loeb Memorial AllStar Jam, featuring special performance by Regina Belle

7:00 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

U.S. Air Force Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble, Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest Free Concert!

7:00 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, 4 North Second Street, Reading

Will Prince with host Al “DJ Act” Taylor, Free entertainment

9:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Cheers Lounge

701 Penn Avenue, Reading

Dirk Quinn Band, high energy funk/jazz

8:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Nitro Bar, 416 Penn Avenue, 2nd floor, West Reading

FRI 3.31.23

Greg Manning & Jeff Ryan, Berks Jazz Fest Debut

3:00 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Small Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

R&R: Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, special guest Peter White, Stars of Contemporary Jazz

6:00 p.m.

Scottish Rite Cathedral, 430 South 7th Avenue, West Reading

Aubrey Logan

MUST-ATTEND EVENTS

FRI 3.31.23

Frank Vignola’s Birdland Guitar Night, Pasquale Grasso, Vinny Raniolo, Houston Person

6:00 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, RACC, 4 North Second Street, Reading

Eric Darius & Eric Roberson, with special guest Avery*Sunshine

9:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Al “DJ Act” Taylor, Free entertainment in DoubleTree Cheers Lounge

9:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Cheers Lounge, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Gerald Veasley Unscripted

Jam #3, Midnight Jam!

11:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Small Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Jazz Dinner, The Frost

Duo: Christian Gratz & LeahBeth Evans

4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Cheers American Bistro at the DoubleTree, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Jazz Dinner, The Groovemasters: Bennie Sims & Cliff Starkey

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Peanut Bar Restaurant, 332 Penn Street, Reading

2023 BCIU Secondary Art Exhibit, through April 18th

The Art of Jazz: Frank Scott Memorial Art Show, through April 21st

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington Street, Reading

Pink Floyd Final Fridays

JAZZ FEST 2023

7:00 p.m.: Wish You Were Here

8:00 p.m.: Dark Side of the Moon

9:00 p.m.: The Wall

10:15 p.m.: Dark Side of the Moon

Neag Planetarium, Reading Public Museum, 500 Museum Park Road, Reading

SAT 4.1.23

Exhibit – Spring in the Tavern, Art Plus Gallery brings a Spring theme to the walls of the landmark pub. April through June West Reading Tavern, 606 Penn Ave., West Reading

Reading Royals – Motor Sports Night presented by Schaeffer’s Motor Sports

4:00 p.m.

Santander Arena, 700 Penn Street, Reading

Celebrating the Women in Jazz: Take 2

1:00 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers: Early Show, with special guest Deanna Bogart

2:00 p.m.

Floyd Final Fridays

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Small Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Art Plus Gallery

SAT 4.1.23

Will Donato with host Al “DJ Act” Taylor, Free entertainment

3:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Cheers Lounge, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Eric Marienthal & the Jazz Cruises All-Stars, Jazz Cruises LLC Night

6:00 p.m.

Scottish Rite Cathedral, 430 South 7th Ave, West Reading

WXPN Welcomes Victor

Wooten & The Wooten Brothers, plus opening act Teen Town

6:00 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, RACC, 4 North Second Street, Reading

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers: Late Show, with special guest Deanna Bogart

7:00 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Small Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Hot Club of Reading, with special guest Andy Roberts

7:00 p.m.

WCR Center for the Arts, 140 North 5th Street, Reading

Adam Hawley’s West Coast Groove, Celebration of Contemporary Jazz

9:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Al “DJ Act” Taylor

Free entertainment in DoubleTree Cheers Lounge

9:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Cheers Lounge, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Gerald Veasley Unscripted Jam #4, One last jam for 2023!

11:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading Small Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Jazz Lunch, The Frost

Duo: Christian Gratz & LeahBeth Evans

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cheers American Bistro at the DoubleTree, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Jerry Laboranti & Friends, Live music, no cover charge

8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Nitro Bar, 416 Penn Avenue, 2nd floor, West Reading

SUN 4.2.23

Brian Simpson, Gerald Veasley, Jackiem Joyner, Jessie J, The Berks Horns Plus, Sunday Jazz Brunch hosted by Michael Tozzi at 10:30 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton

Reading Grand Ballroom, 701 Penn Street, Reading

Samara Joy, Once in a Generation

3:00 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, RACC, 4 North Second Street, Reading

Boney James, Final Concert of Berks Jazz Fest 2023

4:00 p.m.

Scottish Rite Cathedral, 430 South 7th Avenue, West Reading

Blippi, The Wonderful World Tour

2:00 p.m.

Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 North 6th Street, Reading

West Reading Farmers Market

10am-12 noon

6th Ave between Penn Avenue & Cherry Street

Tommy Castro

TUE 4.4.23

Exhibit, Expect-to-Smile, Original paintings and prints designed with your happiness in mind by Karen Weber, Art Plus Gallery’s well-known master of whimsy.

April 4-June 17

Say Cheese! Restaurant, 600 Penn Ave., West Reading

TUE 4.11.23

Benefit for the People of Ukraine, Art Show and Raffle, featuring the talents of Audrey Bordonaro, Linda Elliott, Charlene Job, Trudy Moore, Amy Schade, and Donna Unger.

5:30 p.m., exhibit April 5 – June 30 YR Club, 1029 Thrush Road, Wyomissing

Chicago 7:30 p.m.

Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 North 6th Street, Reading

“After working with the Erics, there isn’t any other realtor we’d rather work with. They are knowledgeable, dedicated, honest, and genuinely care. We would recommend them to anyone who needed a dependable realtor — they are the best!”

Art

FRI 4.14.23

Monthly public reception and Special exhibition, Light Water Tango. Helen Reinhold filters two powerful elements of Impressionistic art–light and water–through her creative lens and into 20+ lively new still life paintings.

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., exhibit – April 2-30

Art Plus Gallery

604 Penn Ave, West Reading

SUN 4.16.23

West Reading Farmers Market

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 6th Avenue between Penn Avenue & Cherry Street

TUE 4.18.23

YOGA in The Neag Planetarium

Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Spring Series 2: April 18 - May 23, 2023 Neag Planetarium, Reading Public Museum, 500 Museum Park Road, Reading

THU 4.20.23

Lancaster Improv Players – Touring Company

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Boscov Theatre, 201 Washington Street, Reading

FRI 4.21.23

The Machine Performing Pink Floyd

2023 Dancing with the Reading Stars

Go to yocuminstitute.com for details.

DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, 701 Penn Street, Reading

SAT 4.22.23

Simon Shaheen and trio

8:00 p.m.

WCR Center for the Arts, 140 North Fifth Street, Reading

Girl Named Tom American Folk Trio

8:00 p.m.

Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 North Sixth Street, Reading

SUN 4.23.23

Jon Anderson of YES will be touring with The Band Geeks Spring 2023!

8:00 p.m.

Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 North Sixth Street, Reading

WED 4.26.23

WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY?

Improvised Comedy

8:00 p.m.

Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 North Sixth Street, Reading

FRI 4.28.23

The Evolution of Joni Mitchell – a concert performance by Lauren Fox Miller Center for the Arts, RACC, 4 North Second Street, Reading

2nd Friday on the Avenue –shop, dine, stroll, West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation (WRCRF) in support of local businesses

7:30 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, RACC, 4 North Second Street, Reading

Disenchanted, a musical comedy

April 28 through May 7

Genesius Theatre, 153 North Tenth Street, Reading

Art Plus Gallery Helen Reinhold

SAT 4.29.23

Iron Pour & Forge Fest

12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington Street, Reading

West Reading Craft Pretzel + Beer Fest – Live music, pretzel vendors, and more 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Go to visitwestreading.org for more information.

WED 5.3.23

My Fair Lady

7:00 p.m.

Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 North Sixth Street, Reading

THU 5.4.23

Madagascar The Musical

7:30 p.m.

Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 North Sixth Street, Reading

SAT 5.6.23

Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band

7:30 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, 4 North Second Street, Reading

Play Me a Story – an interactive story adventure: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Yocum institute for Arts

Education, 3000 Penn Avenue, West Lawn

SUN 5.7.23

West Reading Farmers Market

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sundays

500 block of Penn Avenue and 6th Avenue and Penn and Cherry

THU 5.11.23

Mastodon & Gojira with guest Lorna Shore

7:30 p.m.

Santander Arena, 700 Penn Street, Reading

Kate Hamill’s Little Women May 11 through May 14 at multiple times

Yocum Institute for Arts Education, 3000 Penn Avenue, West Lawn

FRI 5.12.23

Public reception and special exhibition, Illusion, One of Art Plus Gallery’s most versatile painters. Donna Unger, takes her abstract explorations of color, texture and shape into a new realm of imagination.

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., exhibit - May 2 - 31

Art Plus Gallery, 604 Penn Ave, West Reading

2nd Friday on the Avenue – shop, dine, stroll, live music, West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation (WRCRF) in support of local businesses

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

SUN 5.14.23

West Reading Farmers Market Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 500 block of Penn and 6th Avenue and Penn and Cherry Street Go to visitwestreading.org for more information.

WED 5.17.23

World Ballet Series: Cinderella

7:00 p.m.

Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 North Sixth Street, Reading

FRI 5.19.23

Paula Poundstone

7:30 p.m.

Miller Center for the Arts, RACC

4 North Second Street, Reading

SAT 5.20.23

Hot Wheels Monster

Trucks Live Glow Party

12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Santander Arena, 700 Penn Street, Reading

SUN 5.21.23

Hot Wheels Monster

Trucks Live Glow Party

2:30 p.m.

Santander Arena, 700 Penn Street, Reading

West Reading Farmers Market

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

500 block of Penn Avenue and 6th Avenue at Penn and Cherry Street

SUN 5.28.23

Anuel AA Latin Megastar Legends Never Die Tour

8:00 p.m.

Santander Arena, 700 Penn Street, Reading

West Reading Farmers Market

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

500 block of Penn Avenue and 6th Avenue and Penn and Cherry Street

Venues

Save the date!

West Reading Art on the Avenue

June 17th

Art Plus Gallery… artplusgallerypa.com

Berks Jazz Fest… berksjazzfest.com

Santander Events… Santander-arena.com

Miller Center for the Arts… millercenter.racc.edu

Reading Public Museum… readingpublicmuseum.org

Reading Community Players… www.readingcommplayers.com

GoggleWorks… goggleworks.org

Genesius Theatre… genesiusdifference.org

Yocum Institute for Arts Education… www.yocuminstitute.org

WCR Center for the Arts... wcrcenter.org