Bistro on Main

The Morning Call has a review today on Bistro on Main.

Have been there for morning coffee, but need to get there for a meal yet, and am looking forward to it!

The review is available here.

Community Benefit

There is a nice article in the Express-Times (read it here) on the value of community theatre as an anchor for a downtown.

The article features several community theatres including Insomniak here in Nazareth and now located on Main Street where the Nazareth News Agency was previously located.

The article notes that the first performance will be Biloxi Blues - you may have seen them in the Halloween Parade - and the event will be $5.00 per ticket. The new theatre will seat 70.

Yoga Studio Opens on Main Street

JD Malone of the Express-Times reports that Kula, a yoga studio, will open at 2 Belvidere (near Main) where the Northampton County Day Care was once located (read the article here).

In the article the owner, Silver Kim, is quoted as saying:

Kim said when she decided to open her own studio, Nazareth stood out as an untapped market and offered what she considered a friendlier air than Easton or Bethlehem.

"I love the community and the historic buildings are so beautiful," Kim said. So I said, 'I think I better move into Nazareth.'"

You can learn more about the studio by calling 610-746-KULA or by visiting their web site: http://www.kulaheartyoga.com

Kraemer Textile Building Purchased

The Kraemer Textile Building has been purchased by a Philadelphia based company.

The Yarn Shop and Mill will remain open with the rest of the building being used for storage according to the Express-Times (read the article here).

Kramer Textile Featured in Express-Times

The Express-Times has a nice article about Kramer Textile (read it here and a corporate snapshot here) today.

The article speaks of how Kramer has reinvented itself, overcome Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, and now celebrates its 100th year of ownership by the Schmidt family.

Open Mic at the Nazareth News Agency

JD Malone has an article in the Express-Times about the Nazareth News Agency's Open Mic night held each Tuesday (read it here).

In it he interviews both participants and the people who stop by to listen to both kids and adults who take advantage of the opportunity to perform.

The Java Lounge is something new on Main Street and it along with Dutch n' Such are open late, something to keep in mind as summer rolls around and evening walks take you out and about town.

The Nazareth News Agency has entertainment on many nights and you can view a partial performance calendar here. I almost forgot to include this note I received from a reader who was at the Wesley Concert there on Saturday night (I believe):

Woohoo! I have to go downtown this morning and make sure the News Agency is still standing, because I'll tell you what--that place was on fire last night! George Wesley laid it down like a missionary come to preach the gospel of reggae in a heathen town, and his band's flawless chops and infectious positive energy produced a congregation of blissful converts. Those who weren't dancing in front of the stage were dancing in their seats, clapping, or whooping it up. Wesley's awesome sound system demonstrated the fine acoustic potential of the News Agency concert space.

If I waited to think of superlatives strong enough to describe the show, this email would probably never get finished, so I'll just ask you to say thanks for me to everyone who had anything to do with bringing it to town. If this is the new day dawning in Nazareth, then I'm setting my alarm, because I don't want to miss a moment of it!

Owner Mike Kemmerer is also open to hosting meetings and events, as he provided space to me for the Resident to Candidate Night and the two Candidate Open House events. Contact Mike or Heidi at the Nazareth News Agency about having your next meeting there.

Alpaca Day at Kramer Textiles

Who knew? The Express-Times reports (read it here) that today until 2:00 p.m. you can see alpaca's with thick coats who will be sheared as part of Alpaca Day festivities at Kramer Textiles on 240 South Main Street.

The Future of Nazareth?

Northampton Community College's Neighborhood Design Center's Open House - Partnership with Nazareth was held last night and a large crowd was on hand to see the work of the students and learn more about the four point approach to community development.

The four point approach will be used by the Nazareth Downtown Association and features (in a nutshell) organization (forming a 501(c)(3) and implementing its strategic plan), design (what we saw last night, having aspirations and ideas), economic restructuring (providing resources and assistance), and promotion (communicating the happenings of the community).

Despite the rain, the property at 113 South Main Street (space was donated by Mark Metzgar), was not only packed with people, but ideas and visions of what Nazareth could look like.

Student projects included scale 'diaromas' of current features, like the Circle including the buildings surrounding it, and future potential structures, like the parking garage and new retail shops around an expanded municipal building on South Main (from Main to Walnut to Green). Others featured entire blocks of Nazareth with photos next to drawings that had enhanced elements, new colors, trees, and lightposts resembling those at the Circle and now installed along Franklin Street. There were also interior layouts like you'd see on design shows on TV. The Java Lounge at the Nazareth News Agency had at least five floor plans along with swatches of materials, colors, and pictures of elements that could be used inside to enhance the look and feel.

One of particular interest was the redesign of 30 Belvidere into a Community Theatre. The students not only redesigned the current building, but did so after having studied Bethlehem's Touchstone Theatre. The student design included a theatre, office space and a coffeeshop if I overheard the full description correctly.

All in all I was quite impressed (and no I don't impress easily;-) with the work the students did.

Thanks to Ken Trionfo of the Community College for bringing this project to Nazareth and presenting it within the community for all to see and thanks to my daughter Alexa who took the photos while I talked.

Gov. Announces Best 50 Women in Business

Gale Schmidt Hodavance, Principal of Jangle Advertising and Marketing, located in Nazareth, was selected as one of the Best 50 Women in Business according to a PR Newswire release. Gale was one of only three selected from Northampton County. Governor Ed Rendell announced the recipients (read it here), who will be honored during an evening reception on Monday, May 21, at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg.

Now in its 12th year, the release stated:

"This year's honorees are leaders who are dedicated to creating a better Pennsylvania," said Governor Rendell. "From large to small businesses -- covering a wide array of industries -- these women, and countless others across the commonwealth, are making valuable contributions to the state's future. Their substantive efforts are creating new opportunities for our residents, growing the state's economy, and improving the quality of life in our communities."

Nazareth News Agency in Morning Call

Today's Morning Call has a story on the Nazareth News Agency (read it here).

It was good to see a local business get some attention in the daily press to spread the word throughout the Valley.

Owner Mike Kemmerer worked with me when I held the "Resident to Candidate" program and we had a tremendous turnout, about 40 people.

In talking to Mike then, he has had some help from the Northampton County Community College architectural program. Student designs have been created for Mike to help with an interior renovation. He wants to keep the historic look and feel, the floors, etc., but bring the rest of it up to date. It will be exciting to see where that leads.

Towns need places where the community can meet, and the Nazareth News Agency is serving this purpose well for a lot of different people within the community.

I look forward to the two Candidate Open Houses being held at the News Agency on Thursday, April 19 and April 26. Hope everyone will come out, stop in, meet some candidates, and enjoy a couple of nights at the Nazareth News Agency.

Mara's Cafe

Another new eatery in the Nazareth area is Mara's Cafe on the south end of Main Street between the Mini-Market and D&R Beverage.

I've also not been to this cafe yet, so if you have or you have any information about it please share it with the rest of us.

I hope to get in soon to share days, hours, and menu items.

Best of luck to this new establishment!

Dutch n' Such Now Open

Dutch n' Such cafe on Main Street in Nazareth just south of the YMCA is now open.

The quaint, well-decorated sit down cafe will be closed Monday, but open the rest of the week. I hope to have more information on hours (it is open for dinner) and menu items and pricing in the near future.

If you visit, send me a note and let us all know how it was.

Best wishes to everyone at Dutch n' Such cafe for a successful year!

Kramer Textile turns 100

In a brief note in the Express-Times this morning it states that Kramer Textiles on Main Street in Nazareth turns 100 this year (read the article here).

The Yarn Shop at Kramer Textiles offers classes for everyone from beginner on up. Classes are $5 and more information is available here.