Atomic Warehouse: It’s A Blast

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

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

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

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

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

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

Community Yard Sale!

Heatherfield's Community Yard Sale will be on Saturday May 14, 2011. The sale begins at 8 A.M. Raindate is scheduled for May 21, 2011.

Animal Kingdom Rules: ZooAmerica

ZooAmerica is just the right place for a short, sweet wildlife excursion. Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, ZooAmerica’s origins date back to first decade of 1900, and is now part of Hershey Park—though it can be visited separately. Animals are organized according to their habitat—for instance, you’ll find alligators and crocodiles in the Southern Swamps and vampire bats, Gambel’s quail and Gila monsters as some of the representatives of the Great Southwest.

ZooAmerica has a number of conservation and breeding programs. The organization works with students and volunteers to create appropriate nesting boxes for American kestrels and peregrine falcons. These are then placed strategically in the wild where their natural nesting spots have been compromised or have disappeared. The zoo sponsors a variety of camp and educational outreach programs as well. After-hours events are exciting and informative. For more information, call (717) 534-3900, or visit: www.zooamerica.com.

Theatre Harrisburg: A Tried and True Local Theatre

Theatre Harrisburg was founded in 1926 during the height of the ""Little Theatre Movement""—a nationwide surge in quality regional theater to meet local demands for passionate, detail-oriented productions. The company is still dominating the community's arts scene in its now decade-old home at the Whitaker Center for the Science and Arts, located on Market Street in downtown Harrisburg. For more than 80 years, Theatre Harrisburg is continuously dedicated to its patrons, which means every season offers more convenient times, family friendly productions, and diverse, high-quality performance opportunities. Yearly productions are performed either at the mainstage or in the Krevsky Center, both of which also play host to other unique performance and musical events. Check out the calendar or just stop by to get a taste of the artistic action.

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St.
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 232-5501 ‎
www.theatreharrisburg.com

Tap into Troeg's Brewing Company

Introduce yourself to Tröeg’s Brewing Company. Harrisburg is home to its prize-winning lagers, ales, and stouts! The Trogner brothers set up shop here in 1996. They know their brewing. A dozen brews are available, including the Scratch of the moment—scratch selections are experimental beers, created in sampling quantities and available only in Tröeg’s Tasting Room. You’ll want to visit the Tasting Room to try JavaHead oatmeal stout, flavored with coffee beans and cocoa ot Troegenator Double Bock, a frequent award recipient, including a 2010 World Beer Cup Gold Medal winner. A taste will compel you to return for seasonal winners like Flying Mouflan and Mad Elf Ale.

Informative guided tours are provided at fixed times on Saturday afternoons by reservation, so plan well in advance. Soft pretzels can accompany the tastings, but realize that beer, not food, is what this brewery does.

Tröegs Brewing Company
800 Paxton Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104
(717) 232-1297
www.troegs.com

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