Out and About in Lebanon: Go out for Valentine's Day
This is not a weekend to stay home. With Valentine's Day coming up, it's the perfect time for a night on the town.
Plenty of good music with talented entertainers abounds. If you like Celtic music or rock and roll or classical, you can find it here. You could also go on a bird count, view ice sculptures or indulge in the treats at Hershey's Chocolate World. Or, go for all of it.
6:30 p.m. Thursday: Loxley's Restaurant in the Heritage Hotel, 500 Centerville Road, Lancaster, will be presenting entertainer Mark DeRose this evening as part of their "Live and Local Talent" series. There is no cover charge. For more information, call 717-898-2431.
4 p.m. Friday: The best of bluegrass music is on tap every Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Myerstown Indoor Flea Market, 115 - 119 East Main Ave., Myerstown. Everyone is welcome - pickers and listeners alike. Food is available for purchase. For more information, call 717-269-7891.
5 p.m. Friday: Come on out to a downtown block party in Lititz, at Main and Broad streets and Lititz Springs Park, with the annual "Fire and Ice Festival." A park full of ice sculptures, plus food, games, local retailers and live entertainment all work to create a magical night. The fun lasts until 9 p.m. For more information, call 717-371-1846.
7 p.m. Friday: It's probably never too early to begin thinking about St. Patrick's Day - not if you like Celtic music. One of the best Celtic bands around, the Celtic Martin Band, will be at Legends Cafe, 9 South Ninth St., performing Celtic music and Celtic dance until 9 p.m. For more information, call 717-273-7700.
7 p.m. Friday: If you're into good rock and roll, come out to the YR Club on Thrush Road, Wyomissing, for some of the best tunes ever with the "Mike Schwartz Band." This evening, the club is open to the public and the band plays until 10 p.m. No cover charge, food is available for purchase. For more information, call 610-376-1303.
8 p.m. Friday: "Masters of Illusion," the largest magical touring show in the world, will be stopping at the American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, this evening, with grand illusions, scary escapes, and comedy magic. Tickets are $45. For more information, call 800-648-4102.
6 a.m. Saturday: It may be Saturday morning, but this is no time to sleep in - try "Breakfast With the Birds" at the Governor Dick Environmental Center, 3283 Pinch Road, Mt. Gretna. Experience a winter woodland sunrise with our feathered friends. Coffee and snacks provided. Bring binoculars if you have them. This is a "weather permitting" event; please call 717-964-3808 to pre-register or go online at governordick@hotmail.com.
9 a.m. Saturday: You've awakened with the birds, now you get to count them. This is the "Great Backyard Bird Count," an annual count of the birds that you'll see in the forest around the Governor Dick Environmental Center, Mt. Gretna. This information is important and will be sent to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Be sure to bring binoculars, this is also a 'weather-permitting' event. Please call 717-964-3808 to pre-register or go online at governordick@hotmail.com.
10 a.m. Saturday: Embark on Hershey's Chocolate Dessert Journey as you taste six delectable sweets presented by chocolate connoisseurs stationed in Chocolate World. Cost for this tasty trip is $12.95 and is part of Hershey's Chocolate-Covered February. The dessert journey is also available on Sundays in February.
11 a.m. Saturday: When was the last time you tried 20 different kinds of chili? Try the Lititz "Fire and Ice Festival" famous Chili Cook-Off held in the Warwick High School cafeteria at 301 West Orange St. Tickets are $10 at the door, for quite possibly all the chili you can eat. Also on hand is the Winter Wonderland Carnival held in the high school gym. No entry fee is needed, just pay as you go for games, snacks and activities. Both events last until 3 p.m.
1 p.m. Saturday: Experience "Sweet Storytelling" at Hershey's Chocolate World every Saturday and Sunday in February as part of Hershey's Chocolate-Covered February events. In Chocolate World, listen to free interactive chocolate tales and get a tasty surprise at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. At 2:30 p.m., the Hersheypark Band will make an appearance along with a number of Hershey's characters for the Hersheypark Chocolate Parade.
2 p.m. Saturday: The movie "Life Is Beautiful" (PG-13) will be presented by "Italian Films for the Armchair Traveler" in the meeting room of the Hershey Public Library, 701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey. This is a free event. For information, call 717-533-6555.
6 p.m. Saturday, Feb.13: Call now to reserve a table for a special Valentine's Day Dinner at 10,000 Villages in Ephrata. A full-course meal with a Valentine's Day theme will be served as guests listen to the romantic piano jazz of Colin Meekel. Tickets are $35 and must be reserved online at: ephrata@tenthousandvillages.com. For more information, call 717-721-8418.
7 p.m. Saturday: Celebrate Valentine's weekend with Julie Scoggins and John Lavarone and their blue collar comedy at Stitches Comedy Club at 2250 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster. A second show starts at 9:30 p.m. Cost is $15. For more information, call 717-826-3472.
7 p.m. Saturday: The high-energy Christian music band, Damaskus Road, will be at Legends Cafe this evening, on stage until 9 p.m. There's a reason why this band is one of the top Christian bands around - come on out and enjoy. Legends is located at 9 South Ninth St. For more information, go to: www.legendscafe.org.
7 p.m. Saturday: You can't go by the name - the rock band "Better Than Nothing" is really better than that, and you can see for yourself when they take the stage at Johnny and Hons' Smokehaus, 924 W. Penn Ave., Robesonia, this evening. They'll be playing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call 610-589-6397.
7:30 p.m. Saturday: The Reading Symphony Orchestra will be at the Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 N. Sixth St., Reading, with the show "Dee Daniels - A Tribute to the Great Ladies of Swing." For tickets, call 800-515-2171.
8 p.m. Saturday: Two of the best 60s rock groups - the American Tommy James and the Shondells, and the British Herman's Hermits with Peter Noone, will be singing all your favorites at the American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster. Tickets are $69. For tickets, information, call 800-648-4102.
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19: Are you itching to hear "Kashmir" again? Who isn't? The good news is that the premier Led Zeppelin tribute band "Get The Led Out," will be appearing in the Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 N. Sixth St., Reading, ready to transport you to the past with their greatest hits. For tickets, call 800-515-2171.
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19: The Hershey Symphony Orchestra will be performing in the Hershey Theatre with an evening called "Warm and Snuggly: Intimate Classics," featuring Gretchen Dekker on piano. For a relaxing evening of fine music, call for tickets at 800-683-8959.
7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20: For an evening of good food and good music, come out to Johnny and Hons' Smokehaus in Robesonia. The band "Pistol Whip'D will be on stage from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Have a drink, a sandwich or a meal while you listen to the music. For more information, call 610-589-6397.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20: The Whitaker Center in Harrisburg will present comedian Earl David Reed and his show "The Secret of My Unsuccess" at the Sunoco Performance Theater. Reed has been called "an urban Don Rickles" and his brand of humor is appreciated by all. This particular show will be filmed for an upcoming TV broadcast. Tickets are $18, $19, and $20. For tickets, call 717-214-2787.
9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27: Learn the techniques used by 18th and 19th century Pennsylvania German potters during a folk art class with the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Denise Wilz, a local potter, will teach a workshop on redware sgraffito from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the historical society at 2215 Millstream Road, Lancaster. Cost for the course is $70 for Society members and $80 for nonmembers. The cost for the course includes all materials. Advance registration is required, and can be done by calling 717-393-9745 or online at lmhs.org.
2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27: If you remember the days of "doo wop," then this is the event for you: the "Spring Doo Wop Cavalcade," held in the American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster. This line-up will really bring back the musical memories, as groups including Lou Christie, Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners, The Passions, The Capris and The Happenings take the stage. For tickets, information, call 800-648-4102.
6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27: Immerse yourself in a tricky murder mystery when you enter "Murder, Marriage, and the Mob" at The Franklin House Restaurant at 101 N. Market St., Schaefferstown. This is a dinner and theatre all in one, with the help of "2-Shea Productions." This show has a bride, a groom, and a mob boss, and mayhem ensues. For reservations, call 717-949-2122.
7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 27: Rockers Dave Mason and Leon Russell will be performing in the Santander Performing Arts Center at 136 N. Sixth St., Reading. Mason is a master of guitar and vocals and is a former member of the band "Traffic." His debut solo album, "Alone Together" came out way back in 1970. Russell, on keyboards, is guest musician for the evening. For tickets, call 800-515-2171.
7:30 p.m., Friday, March 11: Local illusionist Jason Bishop returns to Reading for what promises to be an unforgettable show on March 11 in the Santander Performing Arts Center, 136 North Sixth Street, Reading.
Bishop is an award-winning illusionist who was the youngest performer to win the Magicians' Alliance of Eastern States Stage Award. Tickets begin at $15.50 and are available at the VF Outlet Box Office at Santander Arena, by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at TicketMaster.com.
8 p.m. Friday, March 18: The Chameleon Club, 223 N. Water St., Lancaster, will be hosting the progressive rock band "Rjd2." If you want something different, this is the ticket. Speaking of tickets, the box office is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. until midnight, so call 800-840-9227 for a fantastic musical evening.