Springford Apartments Respage » Things to Do

Color Me Mine: Show Your Artistic Side

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:41:50 +0000

People looking to flex their creative muscle have been coming to Harrisburg’s Color Me Mine for years. The wide range of artistic activities on offer at Color Me Mine encourage repeat visits. Here’s how it works: first, you select from the literally hundreds of ceramic pieces available to paint on. This stuff runs the gamut from plates and tiles to more complicated pieces, and the prices are very reasonable. Second, pay an eight-dollar studio fee and then start painting. The fee covers everything you’ll use at Color Me Mine… and there’s a lot of stuff. The sheer number of paints and glazes available boggles the mind, and the staff is always available to help you with your artwork. Once it’s done, you leave it there to be fired in the kiln and come pick it up approximately five days later. It’s a great creative outlet for people of all ages, and Color Me Mine offers a number of special deals and packages throughout the week.

Color Me Mine
5110 Jonestown Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(717) 909-8170
www.harrisburg.colormemine.com

Popcorn Hat Players: Theatre With Salt

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:37:17 +0000

If you’re looking for a more irreverent take on the stage, Harrisburg’s Popcorn Hat Players might whet your appetite. This much-loved local children’s theatre troupe has been putting on shows since 1993, using professional actors and directors to bring top-quality performances to children of all social and economic backgrounds. Plays put on by the troupe include adaptations of classic Mother Goose rhymes as well as fairy tales like The Little Mermaid and Rumpelstiltskin. Their performances are very entertaining. Although the stagecraft is serious business, each show has a real sense of humor that will keep kids riveted to the stage. And, of course, the Popcorn Hat Players throw in a few jokes for the grown-ups as well. Ticket prices are incredibly reasonable – just seven dollars – which makes it an excellent entertainment value. The troupe also runs a number of educational and outreach programs and mentors a group of young actors who perform in a yearly show.

Popcorn Hat Players
Third Floor
605 Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 238-4111
www.gamutplays.org/popcorn

Midtown Scholar Bookstore: Read And Learn

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:20:11 +0000

The independent bookstore is a dying breed, but stalwarts like Harrisburg’s Midtown Scholar are bucking the tide. There are things you can get at a locally-owned business that you can’t from Amazon or Barnes & Noble – most importantly, customer service. The employees here know their literature, and are happy to offer recommendations that usually hit the mark. This is the largest academic used bookstore between New York and Chicago, with an unreal selection of over 100,000 volumes! The space is incredibly beautiful, illuminated with tons of light, and it’s easy to lose many hours browsing the stacks, finding rare treasures at great prices. A kids play area gives the little ones a place of their own to enjoy. The bookstore also hosts a café that serves up delicious free trade coffees and teas. Friday and Saturday night the Midtown Scholar Bookstore uses some space for free concerts by local musical acts.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore
1302 North Third Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 236-1680
www.midtownscholar.com

The HodgePodgery: A Little Bit Of Everything

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:22:11 +0000

People are getting more and more interested in celebrating their local culture, and shops like Harrisburg’s HodgePodgery are helping that happen. This charming boutique selects its wares by one criteria: they must be handmade by artists and artisans residing less than a hundred miles from Harrisburg. Thankfully, the area has an incredibly wide variety of talented folks making all kinds of cool stuff. Over 150 artisans are represented, offering housewares, clothing, and even soaps. A real emphasis here is on reusing, recycling and repurposing materials, and a lot of the merchandise has a funky vibe. The owner and staff are all super friendly and very happy to help you shop for what you need. The HodgePodgery also hosts a number of classes taught by artists, including sewing, photography, soldering and more. Locals love this place because they know they’ll walk out the door with something unique that they couldn’t get anywhere else.

The HodgePodgery
1100 North 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 236-0150
www.thehodgepodgery.com

Atomic Warehouse: It’s A Blast

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 09:19:05 +0000

If your interests lie in the art and design of the 20th century, Harrisburg’s Atomic Warehouse is going to feel like a paradise on Earth. Specializing in art deco, Mission, and mid-century modern design, the two gigantic floors are packed to the rafters with incredible merchandise plucked from the vault of history. Atomic Warehouse's owner is obsessed with his finds and will gladly regale you with the details of their provenance. Even if you’re not going to buy anything, Atomic Warehouse is still an incredible place to spend an afternoon digging through treasures. Of course, the staff would really prefer it if you bought something! From amazing furniture to vintage magazines, Atomic Warehouse has something for every interest. Some complain that prices are a little high, but it’s not like a factory can just make more of this stuff. There is literally no other store like this in the country, so visitors should be thankful that it even exists.

Atomic Warehouse
1021 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 236-1900
www.atomicwarehouse.com

Five Senses Gardens

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:39:52 +0000

All this city life can make a soul pine for the natural world! Luckily the Five Senses Gardens are right here for Harrisburg residents and visitors alike to enjoy. Situated on the Capital Area Greenbelt, this lovely and distinctive park has endured some seriously adverse conditions in recent years, but thanks to the efforts of a very dedicated group of volunteers has rebounded and continues to serve the community. As you might guess from the name, the park is divided into five individual “gardens,” each one of which is designed to stimulate a specific sense! The sight garden offers flowering plants and beautiful botanicals that tantalize the eyes with color. The sound garden plays host to a wide variety of songbirds. The smell garden boasts a number of different plants that emit distinctive and pleasurable odors. The taste garden offers mint, blueberries and other examples of nature’s bounty. And, finally, the Labyrinth uses the sense of touch to navigate a maze. This is an experience not to be missed.

Five Senses Gardens
www.caga.org/five_senses_gardens

Visit the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts For Educational Entertainment

admin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:29:34 +0000

There's no need to choose when to visit the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. The unrivaled facility in downtown Harrisburg is the home to several resident arts companies, science exhibitions, and plenty of educational and entertainment-oriented programs. Whether you're in the mood to see a recently released movie on IMAX, check out three-floors worth of interactive science displays (all hands-on, of course), or take in a top-notch dance or theater performance, the Whitaker center is the place to be. True to its dedication as a resource for educational and expressive experience, the facility also offers 16 flexible spaces to accommodate practice spaces, private viewing events (for up to 1,500 guests), and elegant lobbies for private functions or gatherings. The Whitaker Center is one of the pulsing centers of Harrisburg's cultural activity.

Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
222 Market St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 214-ARTS
www.whitakercenter.org

A Great Park In the Blue Mountains: Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:39:55 +0000

The Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area is one of Pennsylvania's newest state parks. Straddling the Blue Mountains with 1,025 acres of pristine wilderness, the park is home to many species that are ordinarily hard to find on a quick outdoors trip. From unique large trees to deep forest birds, fields of wildflowers, and seasonal gatherings of butterflies, this is a haven for nature lovers as well as anyone who wants to get back and reconnect with the quiet simplicity of the natural world. Visitors are encouraged to explore on their own, but guided tours and special focus programs offer a more in depth experience for anyone looking to learn a little along the way.

Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area
Fishing Creek Valley Road
State Road 443
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(717) 567-9255
www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/boydbigtree.aspx

Capital Area Greenbelt: A Hiker's Paradise

admin — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:54:25 +0000

Capital Area Greenbelt is a dedicated millennium trail for residents and visitors in need of a natural getaway. The recreational pathway runs in a ring around Harrisburg, offering a scenic track for hikers, bikers, skaters, and runners alike. If you're simply in the mood to take in the flourishing animals and plants, this is also a wonderful place to stroll with friends or walk your dog. A labyrinth of pathways and gardens makes it easy to get happily lost, but a series of well-marked signs and maps will help you find your way back home. In other words, you can get lost in the natural splendor without having to venture far from the bustle of the city.

Capital Area Greenbelt
1690 S. Cameron St.
Harrisburg, PA 17104
(717) 921-GREEN
www.caga.org

Raise a Glass to Gettysburg at Hauser Estate Winery

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 17:44:27 +0000

Hauser Estate, a young winery with robust presence, is gathering a following. On what was once an apple orchard, Hauser Estate is committed to preserving agriculture in the Gettysburg area. They’ve perched their tasting room and rental facilities to take advantage of a 360-degree view of the countryside, while the wine-making takes place underground. Besides arranging catering to your own special events, Hauser Estate offers happy hour on Thursday evenings and After Hours weekend parties with live entertainment. The Tasting Room is open seven days a week. You can taste Hauser’s products at two other sites—in Gettysburg and Chambersburg—as well.

Hauser produces a number of different choices for different tastes, including reserve wines and Jack’s Hard Cider. The winery gives the nod to local history with its Jenny Wade White, named for the only civilian known to be killed in the battle of Gettysburg; and Devil’s Den Red, named for the site where Union soldiers died from Confederate sniper fire.

Hauser Estate Winery: Tasting Room and Winery
410 Cashtown Rd
Biglerville, PA 17307
(717) 334-4888
www.hauserestate.com