AROUND TOWN BERKS BITS
Get Organized and Start the New Year Right Clutter can really bog us down. Looking to start fresh for 2022? Here are a few tips.
1Clear . Digital Space.
Clutter doesn’t just come in the form of physical matter. How many unneeded photos are on your smartphone? How many junk emails are in your trash or spam folder? Get rid of these items, too.
Welcome Winter with a Celebration
Head to West Reading Jan. 28 through 30 for the 5th Annual West Reading Ice ‘N Spice Festival if you’re a fan of the coldest of seasons. Featured will be highly talented ice sculptors, including nationally-known Danny Kissel of Kissel Studios, Newville, Cumberland County, chiseling their way through hundreds of pounds of ice to craft beautiful creations. Specials with spice will be highlighted at businesses in blocks 400-700 along Penn Avenue. Don’t miss out on the limited edition spicy drinks, eats with a kick and discounts on merchandise, too. Hours are Friday: 5-9pm, Saturday: 11am-8pm and Sunday: 11am-5pm. Want to get involved? Contact West Reading Tavern, festival host, at 610.376.9232. For more info visit westreadingicenspice.com. – NIKKI M. MURRY
Branding Pretzel City
West Reading Main Street Manager Mark Ratcliffe is on a mission. He wants the Greater Reading area to brand itself as “Pretzel City.” Explains Ratcliffe, “I know how important it is for an area to have an identity. That identity can encourage or discourage people to live in your area. Tourism is also an incredibly important component to a thriving city and community like ours.” He’s putting his mission into motion. “I have talked to numerous community leaders, and all think it’s a good idea,” he says. “It would be great if the City of Reading really embraced it and did a major push, but I also think a grassroots endeavor could help get the ball rolling. As Reading looks for a new identity, I think we should lean on our history, and pretzels are true to who we are, not rich or poor, not male or female, and a product that is loved internationally.” Want to help the effort, learn more and sport Pretzel City gear? Visit pretzelcitypa.com. – NIKKI M. MURRY
2Make . a Checklist.
Overwhelmed by the idea of clearing out items in your home that need to go or by setting up an organizing system? Make a to-do list first. Setting up a plan can make starting – and finishing – a task much more manageable.
3.
Take Photos.
Need a motivator to keep cleanup spaces clear? Take a photo of your work once you’ve completed it. If you’re unsure if it’s becoming cluttered again, refer back to the images of your finished project for comparison.
Kick off the New Year with Creativity
Visit The Art Room in West Reading if you’re looking for a fun and creative way to stay busy on a cold winter day. Opened about a year ago by Brian Adams, many call the business his “love story for West Reading.” He explains, “I felt as if something was missing from the Avenue. And it was an activity!” Since getting rolling, The Art Room now offers ceramic painting, pottery painting, glass painting, wood painting, canvas painting and clay play. Bonus: it’s BYOB! The Art Room is also a collaborative center. Says Adams, “We love to collaborate with our neighbor stores. We have done a makeup tutorial with Tina’s Salon and Day Spa, and recently we started an exciting collab with Chatty Monks Brewing. You can purchase a glass with both of our logos on it, paint it and bring it to Chatty Monks and get it filled with complimentary French fries.” Want to check it all out? Learn more at theartroomwestreading.com. – NIKKI M. MURRY 8
JANUARY 2022 | berkscountyliving.com
100 Years Strong
Head out to the Hamburg Strand movie theater to help celebrate its centennial. This month will feature a special show on Jan. 26 at 7:30pm by the Jeremiah James Patriotic Show. For more info visit hamburgstrand.org/ upcoming-events.
