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Valentine Fun: Famous Couples In History

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:32:49 +0000

As Valentine’s Day approaches, why not get in a romantic mood by learning about some of the most soaring love affairs in history? Here are five famous couples sure to get you thinking sweet thoughts on Cupid’s favorite day:

King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson

The feelings between these two were so intense that, when the government demanded that King Edward either abdicate his throne or renounce his attention to marry Wallis Simpson, he chose to give up his crown. Edward’s sacrifice in the name of love remains one of the most famous romantic gestures in history.

Mark Antony and Cleopatra

Theirs is a love at-first-sight story, set into motion when the two monarchs met for the first time and Mark Antony, completely smitten, followed Cleopatra back to Egypt. Though they both met untimely ends, they enjoyed over a decade of life together.

Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo

These two talented painters shared a complicated and fiery love affair that resulted in a marriage, followed by a divorce, followed by another marriage. Along the way, they both had other short-term romantic interests but remained deeply connected and devoted to one another until the end, acting as lifelong inspirations for each other’s work.

Juan and Eva Peron

Thus Argentinian president and his first lady were one of the most famous power couples of all time. They rose together through the political ranks and gained mass popularity with the Argentinian people. Whether or not one agrees with their politics, nobody can deny this couple’s fierce and loving devotion to one another.

Johnny Cash and June Carter

This famous pair met when June started touring with Johnny. Soon after, they fell so madly in love that he proposed to her on-stage in front of a massive audience at a London concert, and she joyfully accepted. They shared a 31-year marriage during which their shared musical talents and collaborations received wide acclaim.

Lancaster Brewing Company: Tip A Glass

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:39:59 +0000

Pennsylvania has a number of high-quality microbreweries advancing the art of craft beer. The Lancaster Brewing Company is no exception. Established in 1840, it’s one of the oldest breweries in Pennslyvania. As the years have gone by, it’s become a very popular local watering hole with its combination of excellent beers and top-quality food. An outpost of the brewery recently opened in Harrisburg and locals have been giving it rave reviews. If you want an overview of what they brew, the beer sampler lets you get a taste of four beers for a mere ten bucks. The food is competent but unexceptional, with a crabcake sandwich and the mussels appetizer winning special mention. While you’re waiting for your food, take a few minutes to explore the incredibly detailed “History of Beer” mural – you’re bound to learn something.

Lancaster Brewing Company
469 Eisenhower Boulevard
Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 564-4448
www.lbcharrisburg.com

Winter Decorating Tips

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:48:43 +0000

As the weather gets colder, here are some tips to make your home as cozy as possible:

Light Candles
Nothing says winter like the warm glow of a candle flame. Why not dim your overhead lighting and light some candles around the house? Candles with seasonal scents like evergreen and gingerbread will doubly enhance the wintery charm.

Garnish The Staircase or Balcony
If you have a staircase or balcony, consider wrapping the railings with with lights, garlands, or bows.

Opt for a Seasonal Centerpiece
Create or purchase a centerpiece with seasonal flair. If you'd like to make your own, try using poinsettias, small wreaths, gourds, birch bark, rose hips, cranberries, pinecones, candles, or evergreen sprigs.

Warm up with blankets and throw rugs
Since your family will be spending more time inside as the temperatures drop, make your home’s couches and chairs as comfy as possibly by draping them with snuggly throws and extra blankets in vibrant colors. What better way to curl up with a book on a winter night?

Happy Friday!

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:35:58 +0000

We hope everyone enjoys their weekend and stays warm!

Oyster Mill Playhouse: Curtain’s Up

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:36:57 +0000

Live theater can add an important facet to a city’s cultural life, and Harrisburg locals are lucky to have the Oyster Mill Playhouse in their town. Nestled in a gorgeous converted oyster mill on the banks of the Conodoguinet Creek, the space was converted in 1988 and has hosted a robust variety of theatrical performances since. A completely volunteer-run non-profit theatre company is the space's exclusive tenant, putting on eight shows a year that run the gamut from comedy to drama. The playhouse is quite small, which means that you’re guaranteed an intimate evening with the actors. On the flip side, that also means that shows sell out quickly, too. In addition to the scheduled performance, the troupe raises funds by conducting entertaining murder mystery parties at your location, with clever improvisation bringing your guests into a hilarious and suspenseful world of deduction. The Playhouse’s lobby features a rotating gallery of work from local visual artists as well.

Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Road
Camp Hill, PA 17011
(717) 737-6768
www.oystermill.com

By The Bay: Traveling To Tampa

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:41:13 +0000

If you’re en route to the Big Guava (as Tampa is called by locals), you’re in for a treat. One of the largest cities on Florida’s western coast is overflowing with entertaining stuff to do. This quick guide will point you in the right direction.

Tampa underwent massive surges of growth in the 1950s and 1960s, as post-war prosperity swept the area. The town built two of the most popular tourist destinations in that time – amusement park Busch Gardens and the spectacular Lowry Park. Tampa was voted one of the best outdoor cities in America by Forbes Magazine, and one visit to Lowry Park will show you why. The temperate weather means that the park stays green year-round, with beautiful meadows and forests.

Located in the hip Channel District, the Florida Aquarium is widely regarded as one of the best in the United States, with over 20,000 species of animals and plants represented. While you’re in the area, visit the SS American Victory, a former World War II victory ship that has been transformed into a floating museum.

In late January, Tampa hosts the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, called by many the Mardi Gras of Florida. This rambunctious event kicks off with a flotilla led by the pirate ship Jose Gasparilla and features parades, concerts, street festivals, and more.

Tampa also has a number of excellent restaurants, as the melding of cultures in the region means you can get excellent Cuban, Cajun, French, and much more. Some of the best include Six Tables, Donatello, and Mise en Place.

Char’s Bella Mundo: An Upscale American Bistro

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:38:29 +0000

This beautiful old-world bistro filled a gap in Harrisburg’s dining scene when it opened, and since then it’s been the recipient of almost too many awards to count. The intimate dining room seats a little over 40 patrons, and also offers a small area for outdoor café-style seating. The intimate setting gives the incredibly talented kitchen the opportunity to deliver a spectacular dining experience from your first bite to your last. This place gets crowded very quickly, so make sure to make a reservation and keep it. Diners rave about just about everything on the European-inspired menu, from the luxurious swordfish steak to the amazing veal osso buco. This is a top-notch restaurant that’s widely considered to be the best meal in Harrisburg, so if you’re planning an evening out that needs to impress, Char’s Bella Mundo should be your first choice. The restaurant also hosts a popular Jazz Wednesdays where live bands accompany service and specially-chosen wines.

Char’s Bella Mundo
540 Race Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104
(717) 213-4002
www.charsbellamundo.com

5 Great iPod Accessories

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:03:12 +0000

Whether you’re shopping for items to enhance your own iPod or looking to give somebody else the perfect iPod-related gift, these accessories will delight you:

Zagg Invisible Shield
This shield performs the all-important job of protecting an iPod screen from scratches, dirt, grease marks, and fingerprints. It's one of the most reliable iPod shields on the market and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

BOSE SoundDock iPod Docking Station
This is a must-have item for diehard music aficionados who place sound quality above price considerations. It isn’t cheap but it offers some of the best sound available among all of the iPod speaker docks currently on the market.

Nike + iPod Sport Kit
If you’re an exercise fan, this accessory allows you to turn your iPod into a workout coach. It works wirelessly with a pair of Nike shoes; put a chip in your shoe and plug in a sensor to your iPod, and you can record the distance and pacing of your exercise.

Shure E500 PTH Earphones
Music fans rave about the exceptional sound quality of these earphones. People also love the Shure brand’s unique push-to-hear function, a small device that lets you temporarily mute your music so that you can hear the outside world – without having to remove the earphones from your ears.

Universal Charger Kit
The Universal Apple iPod USB Charger Kit is perfect for people with on-the-go lifestyle, ensuring that you can always keep your iPod powered up. The kit includes a car charger, an electrical plug-in adapter, and a USB cable. The items in the kit feature compact designs (including retractable coil-cords) for easy storage.

Midtown Cinema: Enjoy The Show

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:19:55 +0000

Most movie theaters left in America are fairly generic corporate-owned affairs, content to program the latest Hollywood blockbusters and leave everything else out. Not so with Harrisburg’s Midtown Cinema. This awesome indie theater was founded in 2001 by a pair of film lovers who wanted to bring the most cutting-edge cinema to the area, and they’ve programmed a regular slate of challenging, intriguing films for over a decade. Midtown Cinema has a fun, funky DIY feel, with comfortable couches in the waiting room and perfectly serviceable seating with good sightlines. They even have board games to play while you’re waiting for your screening to start. A semi-regular movie trivia night draws local cinephiles out of the woodwork as well to challenge themselves with increasingly difficult questions in exchange for prizes. This is a great example of what a community movie theater should be, and it’s well worth paying a visit.

Midtown Cinema
250 Reily Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 909-6566
www.midtowncinema.com

Tap It: Five Awesome iPhone And iPad Games

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:15:25 +0000

Apple’s portable devices have redefined gaming – no longer do you need a joystick or buttons to have fun on the go. Instead, games that use the iPhone and the iPad’s touchscreen interface are all the rage. There are hundreds of games on sale in the App Store, making it hard to find those that are worth your time. Here are five that will give you hours of entertainment:

- Angry Birds. In many ways the killer app for portable gaming, this insanely popular game is deceptively simple: use a slingshot to launch cartoon birds at structures to dislodge pigs. But inside the game is a robust physics simulation and some exceptionally well-designed levels.

- Infinity Blade. This 3D swordfighting game has won legions of fans for its bracing difficulty and gritty, intuitive mechanics. The story hook, which has you playing multiple generations of warriors, is great too.

- Doodle Jump. One of the first iPhone hits, this simple action game has a charming low-tech visual style and is insanely addictive. Guide your little hopping hero up the clouds by tilting the device and tapping the screen.

- Critter Crunch Lite. This charming, colorful puzzle game is easy to learn but infuriating to master, and will have you coming back over and over again.

- Game Dev Story. A hilarious simulation game that puts you inside a software company, this addictive title has won legions of fans for its insider humor and cute art style.