Category: Dining

Happy Hour this Wednesday!

The December Positively!Pottstown Happy Hour is taking place this WEDNESDAY, Dec. 15 from 5-7 at The Brickhouse. We received a donation of a Happy Hour from Katy Jackson (thanks, Katy!) AND we didn’t want to interfere with the Friday night Hometown Holiday Celebrations happening downtown this month.

The fun at The Brickhouse means there are discounted appetizers and drinks in the bar area. So… there’s no $5 cover charge (you’re on your own!), but Positively!Pottstown will buy appetizers until the petty cash from the last event runs out. Get there early to take advantage 🙂 Look forward to seeing you there!

If your life is particularly nuts this time of year and you can’t make it, mark your calendar for the next Happy Hour, which will be held Friday, Jan. 28th from 5-8 pm. Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches will provide the food. I’m still trying to nail down the location, but hoping it will be the Farmers’ Market.

Economic & community development… To-do list

I feel like I’ve been neglecting this blog. On the other hand, because of this blog, the seeds of a whole bunch of ideas and activities were planted and now they need some cultivation & tending… which is happening out in the real world, not online. So, here’s my list of things to do ASAP. I will put up related posts as quickly as I can. Maybe by posting this & being held accountable to you, my readers, I can check some of these things off the list!

1) Announce SCORE scholarships! Two $100 scholarships for Pottstown-based business owners to attend the January workshops to be held at the Tri-County Area Chamber of Commerce. (Positively!Pottstown now has a Pottstown P.O. Box — 1509. I’m still trying to convince myself that that’s a lucky number…)

2) Highlight all the awesome things happening this weekend in P-town.

3) Finish my part of a grant app. to get visitors off the River trail and into the downtown. Marketing the arts, historic, recreational & culinary resources — yeah!!

4) Make edits to Community Land Trust powerpoint & get back out to working group.

5) Send out eVite for Happy Hour! This has been posted here (see right sidebar) for several weeks but I forgot to send out the eVite!! (Happy Hour is this Wed., Dec. 15, 5-7 pm at The Brickhouse. Take time out from the insanity of the holidays to hang out! Nothing fancy, just a good, old-fashioned Happy Hour. Reduced prices on drinks & appetizers. (Happy Hour certificate donated by Katy Jackson – thanks, Katy!) I have some petty cash from the last Happy Hour, so get there early to take advantage of some free appetizers until the $$ runs out!

6) Housing data analysis… totally unrealistic to think I’m going to get to this today… but it goes on the list!

Is this insane? I don’t know. I learned to multi-task while waitressing, scooping ice cream and washing dishes at The Cup at the corner of Charlotte & Wilson way, way back in the day. You had to do everything… always with a smile. 🙂 (I would love to see that place open again.)

Hometown Holidays draw crowds

Last Friday night, there was so much going on downtown that there was no way I could take it all in. Fortunately the action continues this coming Friday, Dec. 10 and the following Friday, Dec. 17. Here’s what I did do…

Remembering Rev. H. L. Butler
I actually kicked off my Hometown Holiday Celebration by dropping in on the tail end of the Pottstown Firebirds luncheon at Brookside Country Club. The reminiscences were in full swing. I just love hearing stories about antics from days-gone-by and this crew had plenty of them. Later, there was more schmoozing with the team at The Gallery’s Open House. You might want to consider purchasing a poster, “Hometown Heroes,” which honors that championship team and was painted by local artist, Mary Ellen Christ. The Gallery also has a wealth of unique gift items in every price range. Last year I got my mom a stained glass cross that hangs in her kitchen window, catching the morning light. It’s something to reflect on every single day. I’ll be back in town this week to do some shopping & I can’t wait; you never know what you’ll find!

Pine Forge Academy Choir
After I left The Gallery, I heard the Pine Forge Academy Choir down at Smith Plaza and caught up with some folks – there was a very nice crowd there all night long. But before too long, my toes were going numb. No matter – I just hopped across the street to Churchill’s and got a melted cheese and tomato pannini. That hit the spot. Churchill’s is so beautifully decorated, and there was a steady crowd as people purchased tickets for the horse-drawn carriage rides. There was a line all night, so get there early this Friday, Dec. 10th so you don’t miss the chance for a charming ride down High Street.

Churchill's on Friday night
After that, I dashed up to St. Al’s, looking for my mom, and caught some of the Charlie Brown performance happening in Begly Hall. But, alas, no sign of my mom. I failed her again! (Like my father, I talk too much and then I don’t show up where I’m supposed to be at the right time.)

There are so many more things I need to do in the coming weeks… look at all the decorated storefronts and vote online at The Mercury, see A Christmas Carol at Tri-PAC – it is getting rave reviews! – take a carriage ride… and maybe sit on Santa’s lap. I’ve got some pretty big wishes for Pottstown for the coming year… maybe he can help. 🙂

Playing catch-up…

1. I feel like I’ve been put through the wringer. Put my last packet of writing for this term into the mail about an hour ago. Brain = fried.

2. The previously mentioned Holiday Hop must, unfortunately, be canceled. Wait. It’s actually it’s not that unfortunate because I will still be there! And I will still be hopping from one place to another and “laughing all the way,” as the song goes. But I didn’t have time to properly advertise it and get all the hoo-ha and goodies organized, and the few people I heard from who were interested in the Hop will be out on the town with their families, so we will run into each other here and there, but not Hop as a group.

3. PLEASE, PLEASE come downtown tomorrow night to check out all the fabulous decorations, fun activities, shopping and merriment!! The Mercury describes a lot of it right here. I will be at the Firebirds lunch tomorrow and The Gallery Open House beginning at 5 pm at 254 E. High Street before hopping around town.

4. Get your tickets for A CHRISTMAS CAROL! It opens at Tri-PAC at 245 E. High Street tonight and runs the next few weeks. I’ll put up a separate post later but get it on your calendar now. Here’s a sneak preview from The Mercury.

5. Last but not least: HAPPY HANNUKAH!! to all readers observing the holiday. May your latkes be crisp and your home filled with the glow and warmth of the Menorah candles.

Pottstown Firebirds return to the nest this Friday!

I was just a kid, but I remember the Firebirds home at the corner of Hanover & Third Streets, across from St. Al’s, if my memory is correct. I think there was a big sign that said something like, “Home of the Championship Pottstown Firebirds.” As a budding athlete, who was interested in all kinds of sports, there was a lot of pride in the community for that team. I’m really looking forward to attending the lunch and reception described below. Come out and meet some of the men who made it happen! More details can be found below and at The Gallery’s website.

Come Celebrate with the Pottstown Firebirds!

The Pottstown Firebirds are coming home, and you are invited to share the day with them! In celebration of the Gallery School of Pottstown’s second edition of the Pottstown Signature Series, which this year honors the Pottstown Firebirds, we will be holding a day of celebration leading up to our holiday party.

The day begins with a fabulous lunch at Brookside Country Club with the team members and managers of the Pottstown Firebirds. Enjoy a delicious menu and relive that time in our town’s history when the Firebirds were all the buzz. The lunch starts at noon and a reservation is required.

Scheduled to attend from the Firebirds: Bob Calvario — President; Al Cavallo — Program advertising; Neil Mahr– Printing /Programs; Jack Dolbin — WR (played for Denver Broncos); Greg Berger — DB; Leo Levandowski — C; Herb Nauss — DB; Dr. William Rakow — DB; Frank Mitchell — OT; John Land — RB; and Jim Haynie – QB.

Tickets are $100 and include lunch and your very own Signature Series poster. A $40 option is available for those only interested in lunch.

And… You are cordially invited to our Annual Holiday Party!
The evening will wind down at Gallery on High, where we will have our annual holiday party with the players and coaches as our special guests. The team will be on hand to sign both the Signature Series posters, which will be available for purchase at the party, or any other Firebirds memorabilia you may have saved over the years. There will also be a display with some Firebirds items from the players’ personal collections. Good food and good times with friends old and new.

Thanks to The Pourhouse for providing the food for this great event!

The party starts at 5pm and ends at 8pm, and there is NO CHARGE to attend. A small donation to the Gallery School for autographed items is greatly appreciated.

Please RSVP to info@galleryonhigh.com or 610-326-2506.

Holidays kick into high gear in downtown P-Town!

Okay, it’s official: There’s a lot on tap during the month of December, and we here at Positively!Pottstown want to do our part to make your head spin.

Please check out the updated calendar here and check back every few days because I’m sure I haven’t gotten everything in there yet. For one thing, I’m still nailing down the details of my own High Street Holiday Hop, but rest assured, it IS happening this Friday, December 3rd, and it will be loads of fun with lots of free drawings for cool stuff! The idea of the Holiday Hop is to roam the downtown with like-minded, upbeat holiday carousers, see all the decorations, stop in at businesses, make merry, hear talented singers, sit on Santa’s knee, and support the whole crazy notion of Pottstown having a lively commercial center!!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR POSITIVELY!POTTSTOWN HOLIDAY HOP

5-6 PM Meet-up at The Gallery on High at 254 High St.(NOTE NEW LOCATION) for their Annual Holiday Party & meet legendary Pottstown Firebirds football champs!! Get your free Positively!Pottstown Santa hat! Win a Firebirds t-shirt!

6-6:30 PM Stop in at Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches & decorate an ornament for the Borough tree!

6:30-7:30 PM Still being planned… salon visit and free drawing for manicure… stop at Tri-PAC…

7:45-9 PM Head to Smith Plaza at catch the Pine Forge Academy Choir, hang your ornament on the Borough tree, sit on Santa’s knee, free drawing for 2 carriage rides down High Street! Wind down with warm drinks & dessert at Churchill’s!

**Free Santa hats to the first 20 Holiday Hoppers that rsvp to positivelypottstown@gmail.com**

Paula’s Pecan Pie

No, it’s not Paula Deen‘s recipe, but my mother-in-law’s. Although she passed away in 1986, Paula’s pecan pie recipe lives on. It may have originally come from a corn syrup bottle or a bag of pecans, but it doesn’t matter to me because it ranks up there with the best pecan pie I’ve ever had! However, since I’ve made five of these pies in the past week for various occasions, I’m not sure I’ll be making any more this holiday season… we’ll see.

For the crust, I usually use a box from Betty Crocker and roll it out myself. In a pinch, I’ll use a frozen crust from — yep — Mrs. Smith. One of these days, I’m going to get my youngest brother to teach me how to make a crust from scratch. The past couple years he’s baked an apple rosemary pie for Thanksgiving that is just melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Thanks to him and his family for hosting another memorable Thanksgiving!

Paula’s Pecan Pie

Place rack below oven center. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tbs. flour
1 1/4 cup light corn syrup
3 Tbs. butter
1/4 tsp. salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 unbaked 9″ pie shell
1 cup pecans

Mix brown sugar and flour in saucepan.
Add corn syrup, butter and salt. Warm over low heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat.
In separate bowl, beat eggs with vanilla, then whisk quickly into sugar mixture.
Turn into pie shell & sprinkle with nuts.
Cover pie crust with shield or aluminum foil.
Bake for 25 minutes, then remove foil and bake for 15-20 more minutes or until filling is set in center.
Cool before cutting.

Urgent: Nutroll for sale at Holy Trinity tomorrow only!

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church on South Street had been my mom’s parish before she married my dad and joined him at St. Aloysius more than 50 years ago. Yesterday, she and I stopped by the basement there to pick up something that I can’t mention here because it involves Christmas presents for the rest of my family.

Anyway… members of the Ladies’ Guild were hard at work producing hundreds of nutrolls, poppyseed rolls and apricot rolls. The smell was divine! We were allowed to buy a few in advance of their sale tomorrow. The nutroll is my absolute favorite, and I just can’t imagine it being better anywhere else! At $10 each, any of these rolls is well worth it. Thank you, Bonnie Stankunas and the Ladies’ Guild for keeping this holiday tradition alive! If they ever run a nutroll baking class, I will be sure to let you, dear readers, know all about it.

Nutroll mania!!
Where: Holy Trinity Church, 370 South Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
When: Sunday, Nov. 21, before and after 10 am Mass
Cost: $10 each
What: Nutroll (walnuts), Apricot roll, Poppyseed roll. All can be frozen and brought out for holiday gatherings. YUM!

Come downtown & build community

It’s Friday afternoon, do you know where your friends are?

They might be at the monthly Postively!Pottstown Happy Hour! It starts in just one hour and runs til 7 pm. It’s at the PDIDA office at 139 E. High Street. $5 gets you refreshments, a free chance to win a $20 gift certificate to Funky Lil’ Kitchen and the opportunity to network with more than 60 people already signed up! Walk-ins welcome!

At 7 pm there’s a Neighborhood Watch meeting at the PAL building at 146 King Street. All are welcome there to meet neighbors and figure out ways to make Pottstown a safer place. Hope to see you there!

p.s. As I type, I can see a tree getting decorated over on Smith Plaza. Hometown Holidays are coming up – Dec. 3, 10, 17. More on that soon!

PDIDA Calendar

If you don’t know what PDIDA is or what it stands for, read on.

The Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority is a special assessment district that provides benefits to businesses such as keeping the area safe and clean and helping with marketing.  The Main Street Manager, Leighton Wildrick, works under their umbrella.

PDIDA is pronounced Puh-Dee-Duh. And, yes, it’s kind of musical!

And now the main reason for this post: PDIDA recently began updating their online calendar and it looks awesome! Please check it out HERE.

Also, please note the Hometown Holiday Celebrations that are happening on Fridays in December – the 3rd, 10th and 17th. There will be TONS to do downtown and it will be lit up and decorated!

To support the businesses, arts & restaurants, I’m hoping we can get a crowd together for a “High Street Holiday Hop” for December 3rd. The basic idea is to start at The Brick House at 5 pm and then every 30 minutes or so, move as a group to another venue. We can listen to the choirs and carolers along the way and eat, drink and shop our way up and down High Street. I’ll let you know more as the date gets closer.

In the meantime, be sure to bookmark PDIDA’s calendar!

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