14 minute read
AROUND TOWN
Cars, Trucks & Ducks, Oh My!
June 12 sees the 15th anniversary of the Fleetwood Rotary Club’s Show of Wheels return to Fleetwood Community Park. The event began as a fundraiser for the service organization to be able to do more in the Oley and Fleetwood areas. Head out to enjoy not only classic cars, but multiple vendors, door prizes, a flea market, a men’s clothing donation center (please bring your donations!) and the annual rubber duck race in the creek. Proceeds will benefit Operation Weekend Tiger, the Hope Rescue Mission, scholarships for area high school students, community projects and more. Also featured will be a Blood Drive from 8am to Noon by Miller-Keystone Blood Center. Register online or call in ahead to secure your spot. Throughout the show, the entered vehicles will be judged by the participants, and more than 70 trophies will be awarded. Registration runs from 8-11:30am; judging begins at Noon; awards are presented at 3pm. For more info visit fleetwoodparotary.org. — EVE FETTER
The Jesuit Center of Spiritual Growth: RefreshYour Soul, Renew Your Life
A truly inspiring place in Berks County, the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth, encompassing 240 acres in Wernersville, will be closing permanently in August, 2021, so schedule your visit soon. Celebrating its 50-year anniversary, the Center continues to be a place to turn to for welcoming quiet and spiritual sustenance. Offering a myriad of retreats and programs, it also is a place of rest and renewal for individuals looking to grow spiritually and for those seeking companionship on their spiritual journey. Throughout its time, the Center has offered retreats and workshops and hosted church groups and service trips. Check the online calendar for private and directed retreat schedules, as well as the upcoming featured program: Grief and Grace: A Pentecost Journey with Christine Marie Eberle. The last event will be a 5-Day Directed Retreat on Aug. 9-15. On the final day, there will be A Mass of Thanksgiving. Attendance is by invitation only and the Mass will be streamed online. Want to learn more? Visit jesuitcenter.org or call 610.670.3642. — EVE FETTER
Wear your PA Pride
Show off your Pennsylvania pride with products from Dutchy Town. Launched in 2020, Dutchy Town was inspired by other shops carrying regionally themed apparel, noticing that Reading and many other surrounding areas did not have any spirit wear. “We see Dutchy Town as the only go-to ‘spirit wear’ representing our community,” say creators Paige and Mike Lamparella. You can choose from an assortment of Pennsylvania-themed apparel and accessories from the online shop. Say Paige and Mike, “As the city of Reading, the anchor of our community, and the surrounding areas look to revitalize, we are hoping that our apparel and accessories will help share some pride for those of us who want to see the city and the region succeed in the future.” Currently, Dutchy Town is an online-only business with products created on-demand. Many new designs and items are in the works, including baseball caps. Want to check it out? Visit dutchytown.com. — EVE FETTER
Get a Taste of Kutztown
The wine and beercentered event is back for 2021, slated for June 12 from 11:30am5:30pm in Kutztown Park. Here are some things to know…
1.
Wine Tastings Galore.
The event will feature 22 wineries, distilleries, mead and cider vendors, all from Pennsylvania. Also in attendance will be five craft brewers to educate guests and offer samples from their product lines.
2.
Eats & Beats.
Guests can also enjoy good eats from food truck vendors, as well as soulful musical acts performing throughout the day. Don’t forget to bring some shopping money, too, as artisan crafters will sell their wares.
3.
Tickets.
The event is rain or shine and free to the general public, but tickets are required for wine and beer tasting. Ages 21+. Pricing ranges from $20-35. For more info visit tasteofkutztown.com.
Folk Festival Goes Virtual.
Look for the 72nd Annual Kutztown Folk Festival online this year from June 26-July 4. At kutztownfestival.com, as well as on the Festival’s social media pages, get updates from the colorful craftsmen, entertainers and long-time participants.
Museum Exhibit Salutes a Screen Legend
BY KELLY TANGER | PHOTOS COURTESY OF READING PUBLIC MUSEUM
Katharine Hepburn…a timeless film legend. Known for her eccentricity, intellect, beauty and pioneering fashion statements, her life takes the spotlight in a special exhibit at the Reading Public Museum beginning on June 12.
Hepburn was born in Connecticut in the early 1900s. Her stardom rose in the 1930s. With a career lasting more than six decades and earning her four Academy Awards, Hepburn died in 2003. She, her film roles, personality and style touched the hearts of many fans. Did you know Hepburn has a relationship with our neighboring city of Philadelphia, both personally and professionally? She was a 1928 graduate of Bryn Mawr College, where her academic interest was in history. She later had a starring role in the film A Philadelphia Story. As Curator of Art, Scott Schweigert says of the Hepburn exhibit, “We thought with A Philadelphia Story being one of her most famous films and the fact she went to Bryn Mawr College, she has some Pennsylvania ties, which is always nice.” The museum has displayed Hollywood costume exhibits for many years, but showcasing a star with close ties with our area makes it feel extra-special.
Golden Age Fashionista
Classic and comfortable are two words that spring to mind when considering Hepburn’s fashion style of the ages. While she wore elegant costumes for film and stage, she also boldly donned everyday outfits that included wide-leg trousers, often in khaki or neutral tones — a trend that challenged yet spoke volumes of encouragement to the post-suffrage generation of women. One of her final wishes was that her collection of textiles be given to an educational institution. Following her death, they were donated to the Kent State University Museum in Ohio. In this exhibit, borrowed from Kent, you get a glimpse of both her elegant and casual wear.
Whether you need a history refresher or are experiencing Hepburn for the first time, a brief biography detailing her life and profession, as well as her preferred fashion designers, such as Walter Plunkett, will be on display to take you back in time. As Schweigert says, “It will be nostalgic for some people, and for other people it will be an introduction to her.” Discover roughly 40 styles worn by Hepburn from film, stage and her personal wardrobe comprised of 1930s patterns, beautiful fabrics and superior designs. A number of the displays feature an accompanying photo of the film in which Hepburn is wearing the very ensemble before you.
Film posters and other fun memorabilia will be showcased throughout the exhibit. The Museum sets the stage for the social and historical context of the 30s, leaving visitors with the often-missed insight as to the type of person Hepburn was. Schweigert states, “The idea of her as an individual, I think visitors will go away with a better understanding of her as a person as well as a performer.” Explore the wonderful merchandise in the Museum gift shoppe related to the exhibit and take a small memory of Hepburn home.
DID YOU KNOW?
Just Right. Interior lighting must be set at certain dimmed levels in order not to negatively affect the textiles and ensure they are kept well preserved.
Medal of Honor. Bryn Mawr College created a Katharine Hepburn Medal, awarded every four years to honor and recognize women who transform lives, especially in activism and the arts.
IN THE LIMELIGHT WITH Anthony Pignetti
BY ALI BECHTEL | PHOTO BY JOHN A. SECOGES, SECOGES PHOTOGRAPHICS When you’re at FirstEnergy Stadium, you see fireworks shows, giveaways and between-inning entertainment. But for Anthony Pignetti, Executive Director of Business Development for the Fightin Phils, those are opportunities to help local businesses grow.
What brought you to Baseballtown? I actually started as an intern. I graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism from Point Park University in Pittsburgh and really wanted to get involved in sports management. But I graduated in 2008, and the economy wasn’t so great. So, I literally called and emailed every single minor league team in the country and heard amazing things about the internship program here. I worked full-time in the group sales office and always had an interest in the operation's corporate side, so I worked on that in my free time. At the end of the season, I was lucky enough to be hired full-time to work in special events and advertising. Now I’m in my eleventh year with the team.
What are some of the growth opportunities you offer for local businesses? We have options that fit any budget. Whether you’re a mom-and-pop bakery or a large corporation, we can tailor our support to meet your needs. I think the best part about my job is that the Fightins is not a one-size-fits-all organization, and we have a huge number of loyal fans who come through the park, so we can help no matter what your business goals are. When it comes down to it, we’re a local business too, and we want to do our part.
Speaking of doing your part, are you involved with other organizations in Berks? Giving back to the community is very important for the Fightin Phils and for me. We see it as an obligation we have and work very hard to create opportunities and to give back. I help with our Dream League, and I also volunteer with the Humane Society. We can work as many as 100 hours a week during the season if we have backto-back games, but when we aren’t working, I take every chance I can get to give back.
Do you have any new programming in the works for this season? We started our season in early May, and we’re very excited to welcome fans back to the park this year. And FirstEnergy Stadium is not just a baseball park, it’s also a community venue. Every time the team goes out of town, we’re hosting events. Anything we can do to get people to the ballpark and to support our partners is a priority for us. And, of course, whether it’s your family or your business coming to Baseballtown this year, your safety is a priority for us as well.
Is your job as fun as it sounds? Yeah, it’s fun. It’s a lot of work; it’s a lot of hours, but it pays off when you’re at a place that brings people so much joy. I see people come in with their families and it makes me proud to be helping them make memories and to be helping our local businesses grow.
DID YOU KNOW?
40 Under 40.Anthony was recently named to the Reading Eagle’s 40 Under 40, an award that recognizes outstanding leaders in Berks County, for his tireless work in the community and his contributions to Baseballtown’s success.
Where Work Meets Play. Every
member of the Fightin Phils front office team has completed the organization’s internship program, which is known across the country for the depth of real-world knowledge it provides. Recent college graduates are encouraged to learn more at fightins.com.
Spicy Mango Martini
COMPILED BY NIKKI M. MURRY PHOTOS BY TANIA COLAMARINO, AMA PHOTOGRAPHY
What’s special about this featured drink?This is one of our
most unique cocktails as it’s both sweet and spicy. As it travels over your palate, you taste the sweet, refreshing mango, then finish with a flavorful kick from the Tabasco and special house-made seasoned rim.
For what occasion would you recommend this cocktail?
This is the perfect martini to warm you up on a cool spring or summer night. It also would be a great way to “spice” up a fun night with friends!
Tip: If you’re a spice lover, you can kick things up a notch by adding more Tabasco, or tone it down by adding less...adjust to fit your taste.
SPICY MANGO MARTINI
Tools needed
◊ Martini glass ◊ Shaker ◊ Strainer HAVE A DRINK WITH Marty Brintzenhoff
Ingredients
◊ 1.25 ounces 3 Olives Mango Vodka ◊ 0.5 ounces Triple Sec ◊ 2 ounces Mango puree ◊ 3-5 dashes of Tabasco ◊ House-made Spice Blend to rim glass
Instructions
1. Chill your martini glass. 2. Blend mango puree. 3. Rim your martini glass with house-made spice blend. 4. Fill shaker with ice. 5. Combine ingredients and shake vigorously (with a smile). 6. Strain into rimmed martini glass. Marty, Stokesay Castle’s Lead Mixologist, has more than 30 years of bartending experience. He was certified by one of the country’s top mixologists. As a Berks County native, he has acquired a following of guests who enjoy his “twists” on classic cocktails. Marty loves the creative freedom of opening up people’s taste buds to new and exciting drink combinations.
PAIR ITWITH…
Friends! The Spicy Mango Martini is served exclusively in The Lord’s Martini Bar where only exceptional martinis and cocktails are served.
Take Advantage of Living in Pretzel City, USA
BY DEREK HARRIS, Research & Technology Coordinator, GRCA,606 Court St., Reading
Craft beer has been one of the hottest trends in the Greater Reading area over the past few years. When having a beer at a local brewery or getting a growler filled, few things go better with beer than pretzels. We are fortunate to have one of the best pretzel bakeries in the country in the heart of our community, Unique Snacks. As a 6th generation family-owned pretzel company celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2021, Unique Snacks has made a lasting impact in Reading being known as Pretzel City USA.
“In 1921, my family set out on a mission to create unique healthy pretzels that were not only simple and delicious, but also nutritious,” says Justin Spannuth, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Unique Snacks. “Today, more than a century later, that mission has not wavered.”
This dedication just happens to pair well with the countless great breweries all over Berks County. Stop by your favorite, refill your growler, or grab a six-pack of what is new and pair it with Unique’s Sourdough Rings, the perfect pretzel for any beerlover. It has malted barley and hops and comes in a fun ring shape that you can store on the neck of your beer bottle! When it comes to fun and flavor, there really is nothing better than a salty pretzel and a local beer.
One of my favorite breweries right now is Schaylor Brewing Company in Shillington. Its plum sour, Plumus Rubus, is my go-to beverage of choice, and when visiting, you can stop by another pretzel city contributor: Tom Sturgis. Tom Sturgis is just up the street from Schaylor in Shillington, making it an easy stop. Their Little Cheesers are a perfect twist on the mini pretzel. Their company store has plenty of options to choose from, and they still use time-tested methods for baking that have been around for generations. They have been in this location since the 1970s, helping the family-owned business live on to its 5th generation! Lifting up and supporting new and old local business in these difficult times is what makes Berks County special. The past and the present can not only coexist, but also thrive together and make us remember why we love this area.
To participate in celebrating Unique’s 100year anniversary, pick up a bag of your favorite Unique Pretzels and use #UniqueSnacks to show them what you are snacking on. Bonus points if you tag the brewery highlighting what you have paired it with!
UPCOMING EVENT
De Mujer a Mujer Awards + Workshop, Thursday, June 10, 10am to Noon. This is a virtual event. Register at greaterreading.org.
A workflow is the process to get stuff done. WORKflow is the place to get stuff done.
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Calling all crafters of companies, the builders of better businesses and the masters of making it work, who just happen to need a place to work. WORKflow, formerly known as Catalyst on Commerce, is a dynamic, coworking space located in Wyomissing and is chock full of amenities needed to get stuff done. Having a quiet workspace to meet with clients, answer emails or plan your next move is a key factor in your success.
For more info or to join, contact Mark Dolinski at
