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Restaurant Round-Up: Pizza Grille, Schiano’s Italian Restaurant & Rock Bass Grill
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 2:18PMNot too many people in Central Pennsylvania have a bad word to say about the Pizza Grille. The place has won about every applicable award an area restaurant can win (scant few), and has gotten nothing but effusive praise from the local media. This week in the Restaurant Round-Up, Spotobe contributor Jim writes about an underwhelming visit. Has anyone else been lately? Did Jim catch them on an off night or has the Pizza Grille become slightly overrated? Also this week in the Round-Up, Lily gives Rock Bass Grill a tepid recommendation and Madeline writes about about a local favorite in Northern Dauphin County. As always, feel free to leave us your thoughts below. Full Article »
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The New Bond
Monday, November 17, 2008 1:45PM
In the course of 22 movies some clichés are bound to pop up. Some might say that the whole James Bond series is a cliché. Possibly; but Bond is such a pervasive cultural wrecking-ball that clichés have infiltrated the critical discourse surrounding 007. There are a handful, but the two most oft-repeated are "Bond's enemies are always more interesting than Bond himself" and "Women want to be with him, men want to be him."
Love it or hate it, the newest installment, Quantum of Solace will at least make critics work a little bit. The sniveling Dominic Greene barely seems a worthy foil to the hero — if Bond actually is one — and there is no way in hell that anyone — least of all Pierce Brosnan — wants to be this James Bond.
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Conor Oberst, Industrial Rap, Profanity & Messiah College
Friday, November 14, 2008 12:47PM
I was unbelievably ill on Monday so I wasn't able to talk about the Conor Oberst concert I went to at Messiah last Friday. That's too bad, because it was quite a night. It's been a week now, but it's still probably worth a brief recap and a photo gallery. The show actually featured three acts, Conor and his Mystic Valley Band, Ben Kweller and an experimental, Gorillaz-esque industrial rap outfit called Rig 1. Rig 1 obviously went on first, and by the time they left the stage a half an hour later, the night had taken an interesting turn.
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This Weekend: Solace of the Traveling Pants
Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:00PM
Through the miracle of modern technology, I'll actually be busy at the Harrisburg Regional Chamber's Business Expo (come visit. I'll give you a spotoball) when this is posted. Advanced stuff, I know. It makes me realize that I could just work super hard for about a month and then take the next month off. In fact, you don't know that I'm not doing just that. A month from now you could be reading a "This Weekend:" post about Christmas at Hersheypark and I might be updating my Twitter account from the beach in Tahiti. Anyway, back to reality and the goings-on of this weekend. Full Article » -
My Pay For Play
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 1:56PM
A loyal Spotobe reader pointed this out to me, and it looks like it’s worth a shout. Starting Thursday morning, the People’s Morning Show on 105.7 the X will kick off the second annual People’s Pay for Play benefiting the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network. It seems like a cool gimmick and it’s definitely a worthy cause. Full Article » -
Restaurant Round-Up: Neato Burrito, Chipotle & Moe’s Southwest Grill
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 3:46PM
We're doing things a little bit differently this week. Spotobe headquarters is choc-full of Neato Burrito devotees, and regular contributor Lily wrote about it in the normal Restaurant Round-Up fashion. But instead of including two more reviews, this week, we're rounding out the Round-Up with an essay of sorts about the merits of Neato as compared to Chipotle and Moe's Southwest Grill. Moe's has two locations in the area, but Chipotle has yet to infiltrate Central Pennsylvania. It has, however, developed an absolutely rabid fan base. If you don't believe me, check out this story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by a friend of mine who drove more than four hours round-trip from Pittsburgh to Kent, Ohio for a burrito. Crazy. As always, we'd love to hear from you, so leave comments. Full Article » -
Thoughts for the Holiday Shopping Season
Monday, November 10, 2008 10:57AM
This is the time of year when our family starts compiling wish lists to share, to ensure that we all get what we want for Christmas. Initially, I rejected this idea as completely missing the spirit of the season. I mean, if you don't know your family members well enough to buy them something appropriate (and be considerate enough to include a gift receipt just in case you are wrong), then why bother shopping for them at all? Let's all write each other checks and be done with it. After I got married, however, and admittedly didn't know the in-laws as well as my own family, I gave in. After all, I'm a list-maker who's happy to cross things off and feel a sense of accomplishment. Plus, the recipients seem to be happy (albeit, not surprised) with their loot.
Last year, we tightened the reins, after taking a guilt-ridden look around the living room at presents stacked five feet high, from wall to wall. We do not NEED all this stuff, and as much as I love to shop for my loved ones, it feels downright wrong to consume so much crap. I emailed all the family and set our limit at $50 per person. Everyone was agreeable and we're sticking to it again this year.
Multiply $50 times all those relatives and a few choice friends, and I'm still spending a nice chunk of change. So I got to thinking about where to spend my money (lists notwithstanding). With the "current economic conditions," it seems to me that WHERE we shop can really impact our region. Follow along with my rudimentary thinking and bring forth your commentary!
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Dance, Dance
Friday, November 7, 2008 2:48PM
Are you a female? Do you have any visible tattoos? Do you own a "cropped dance top?" If you answered yes, no, yes, then congratulations! You're qualified to be a member of the Harrisburg Stampede Dance/Cheer Team. If you'd like to make literally tens of dollars showing off your tummy and dance moves at arena football games, make sure you get a good night of sleep tonight, because tryouts are tomorrow at 1:00pm at Platinum Health and Fitness Center on Jonestown Road in Harrisburg. It might sound like I'm mocking this but I'm not at all; if I could supplement my income by wearing tight clothes and dancing, I'd be all about it. Full Article » -
This Weekend: Escape Your Couch Dent
Thursday, November 6, 2008 1:19PM
Okay, the election is over, Halloween specials are over, baseball is over, pro football stinks this season and the fall Network TV lineup is kind of underwhelming. The Holiday Season is far enough away that you don't have to start worrying about it just yet (unless of course you are in the retail business, in which case, you've been worried about it for two months). With nothing good on the tube (Deal or No Deal? No way!), and the stress of the Holidays coming up, these next two weekends are a great opportunity to get off the couch and do something.
So wipe those brownie crumbs off of your stomach, put on some pants that aren't flannel and get out there. Here's what's up this weekend: Full Article » -
Restaurant Round-Up: Portabella’s, Tokyo Diner & Soda Jerk Diner
Tuesday, November 4, 2008 10:58AM
I used to be a regular at a diner. When I was in high school, my friends and I would always go to the Carlisle Diner late-night, and it was very pleasant. We had the same waitress, sat at the same table in the back and ordered generally the same stuff every time we went. We were like the crew from Seinfeld going to the coffee shop except we were young, poor and probably annoying. No one even suggested going anywhere else; that would have been the equivalent of George suggesting that Jerry and Elaine go to Monks [UPDATE: I have been informed that Monk's is the name of the regular coffee shop in Seinfeld, and then in the episode in question, George is trying to get the gang to go to Reggies. My mistake. As a Seinfeld maniac, I'm ashamed].
To me, that's what a diner is. Apparently some people around here people seem to have other ideas. For a while, Tom Sawyer's Cantina on 2nd St. in Harrisburg was called Tom Sawyer's Diner, but while it looked like a diner on the outside, it certainly wasn't one in spirit. This week in the Restaurant Round-Up, Dori gives another non-diner diner—Tokyo Diner—high marks. Also, Fran talks about eating beef at a place named after a mushroom and Winton reviews a REAL diner, the Soda Jerk in Hummelstown. As always: Comments, leave 'em if you got 'em. Full Article » -
A Fall Afternoon at Kings Gap
Monday, November 3, 2008 12:44PM
Sometimes things just fall into place. After spending an incredible Friday at the Phillies victory parade, I woke up Saturday morning to find that someone had swapped the first day of November with a gorgeous September afternoon. Sunny, low 60's, slight breeze. Perfect.
To make the most of it, I headed to Kings Gap Environmental Education Center with my parents and fiancee to get some fresh air. I went to Kings Gap regularly as a child, but I had not been in years. Going back reminded me why it's such a hidden gem. I know the State Parks don't really have much money to market themselves (do they have any?), but if you don't know anything about Kings Gap, I recommend checking it out out either now, or when the weather turns next spring. Full Article » -
A Dream Within A Dream
Friday, October 31, 2008 10:30AM
Improbably, Edgar Allen Poe is the hottest man in Harrisburg this Halloween season. No complaints here; he was a genius. Few published authors ended their careers (granted, he “retired” young) with a higher batting average, and at least five of his short stories and two of his poems are completely iconic.
Still, he did die 159 years ago (and yes, the rabies story may well be true). Somehow, it hasn’t stopped him from appearing at not one, not two, but three events in Central Pennsylvania this fall.
On October 17, he partied with the guests of Fort Hunter at Under the Hunter's Moon: An Evening with Edgar Allen Poe, this weekend he will take tea and a nightcap with guests at the Hotel Hershey and he has a recurring role in Poe Evermore at Mount Hope Estate and Winery.
Fun events all, but I wonder how many people are still familiar with the work of a man who was one of this country's greatest writers. Since it's Halloween, what better day than today to get reacquainted or become acquainted for the first time? Here's this English major's brief Guide to Poe, complete with full-text links (isn't public domain great?). Happy reading: Full Article » -
This Weekend: Costume Creativity
Thursday, October 30, 2008 2:00PM
I don't really have a Halloween Costume per se, so when I saw a link to the National Retail Federation's list of the 10 most popular costumes this fall, I clicked. Here's the list: 10: Angel, 9: Ghost, 8: Obama or McCain, 7: Batman, 6: Nurse, 5: Fairy, 4: Cat, 3: Vampire, 2: Pirate, 1: Witch.
Really people? That's the best we could come up with? These are trying economic times and costumes are expensive. Let's be a bit more creative. Seriously, get a bunch of friends together, get t-shirts printed with a huge "J" on the front, and—voila!—you're J. Crew. Okay, that's awful, but please, please, please don't dress up as Joe the Plumber or Sarah Palin. You'll be one of 1,000,000. Anyway, no matter what your costume is (if you have good ideas you're not using, feel free to share), here are some places to wear it this weekend:
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Restaurant Round-Up: Hummelstown House, T. Brendan O’Reilly’s & Texas Roadhouse
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 1:30PM
I love introducing people to new things. I get a huge kick out of a friend digging a band he first heard through me or frequenting a restaurant or bar that I turned him or her on to. Well, Spotobe contributor Fran gets that pleasure this week. He went to the Hummelstown House for brunch on Sunday and was so impressed by it, that his description literally made me toss my Subway turkey sub in the trash in disgust. Read his description and tell me you don't feel the same way. Also this week on the Round-Up, Katie gets corned beef and cabbage (really?) at T. Brendan O'Reilly's and Lily enjoys a stuffed sweet potato and some line dancing at Texas Roadhouse. Comments? Full Article » -
Art & Illusion: Go!
Monday, October 27, 2008 11:13AMIt’s a funny thing about art; people always say they want to live in an area with world-class cultural offerings, but that doesn’t mean they want to go. They like to know that their city matters enough to house great art or a top-notch symphony, but they don’t really want to commit any time to it.
Believe me, I’m guiltier than most; I love art, and know I should do a better job supporting local fine arts institutions. With that in mind, I sincerely hope the Susquehanna Art Museum is getting a great turnout for Art and Illusion: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation. Trust me, if they aren’t, they should be. Full Article » -
Indie Film Fridays
Friday, October 24, 2008 2:56PM
If you are looking to chill out after the rather ludicrous afternoon those of us in the Harrisburg area have experienced (Bank Robbers! High Speed Chases! Bags of Money!), there’s a pretty low-key event at the Cleve J. Fredrickson Library in Camp Hill tonight. They have a weekly indie film series on Friday nights and tonight they are showing the critically acclaimed movie Lars and the Real Girl. Full Article » -
This Weekend: Feeling Halloweenish
Thursday, October 23, 2008 2:33PM
People love Halloween. When I was in college, I always thought that Halloween was way overrated. It was kind of like Saint Patties Day except it was cold and you had to spend money on a costume. I could go off on a philosophical bent about the implications of the escapism inherent in the concept of Halloween, but that would be boring and this is not the place. I should start a blog.
Anyway, no one thing—with the possible exception of fireworks—has monopolized Spotobe's calendar in its relatively short life like Halloween has recently. This weekend is full of Halloweenie stuff, but actually plenty of fake-bat-free things as well. Full Article » -
Restaurant Round-Up: Golden Gate 2, Bangkok 56 & Chili’s
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 1:00PM
I love Asian food, and the lack of a viable Asian lunch option in downtown Harrisburg is a source of constant annoyance. The Chinese place in Strawberry Square gets the job done, but I'm through with giving New 2nd Wok chances. This week in the Restaurant Round-Up, we cover two different types of Asian cuisine. Jason reports back after a trip to the new West Shore location of Vietnamese/Korean restaurant The Golden Gate and Evan gives us another opinion on one of my favorites, Korean joint Bangkok 56. Also, Jim writes about a trip to Chili's which isn't even vaguely Asian, but does serve southwestern Egg Rolls. As always, feedback, comments, you know the drill. Full Article » -
Danny Cepero Makes History
Monday, October 20, 2008 4:41PMI'm not normally one for posting video clips, but someone that spent the summer in Harrisburg just made sports history. Danny Cepero, who tended the net for the City Islanders this summer, became the first goaltender to score a goal in an MLS game last weekend playing for the New York Red Bulls. Oh, it was his MLS debut.
Wow. Full Article » -
Your Opinion Counts (We’re Not Just Saying That)
Monday, October 20, 2008 1:47PMAs you may have noticed, Spotobe has added a feedback tab to every page on the site (except for the blog. If you need to leave feedback here, that's what the comment section is for). If you hadn't noticed, head to another section of the site and look left. We are constantly trying to make the site a better resource for all Central Pennsylvanians, and we honestly want your input. If there is a feature that you think would be helpful or a tweak that you would like to see made, please take the time to let us know.
To further clarify the point of this tab, I've graciously provided some examples of good and bad feedback: Full Article » -
Getting Smashed
Friday, October 17, 2008 2:29PM
Friday morning. Old computer that we were about to throw out. Heavy machinery... Completely awesome. Full Article » -
This Weekend: Columbus Day Doesn’t Count
Thursday, October 16, 2008 1:11PM
I feel like we're about due for a holiday. Doesn't it seem like we haven't had a weekday off in a long, long time? I know some of you got off for Columbus Day just this week, but if you did, you probably work in government at some level. If that's the case, you're not hard-up for days off anyway. What? Don't even try to tell me it isn't true.
I was thinking about this because, growing up, my father—a teacher in the Northern York School District—always had off on the Friday of Dillsburg Farmer's Fair which is this weekend. Lame. My fiancé went to high school around York, and they always got York Fair Friday off too. Why can't we have something like that in Harrisburg? C'mon people, lets get together and come up with some event that will get us a day off. Any suggestions? Full Article » -
Restaurant Round-Up: Bube’s Brewery, Hershey Grill and Texas Roadhouse
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 9:11AM
In this edition of our Tuesday feature, we review a favorite brunch spot, a biergarten and a popular chain. For the most part, everyone was satisfied with their meals this past week, it seems. If you have been to any of these spots, be sure to add your review and commentary in the comments section. We love to hear from you! Full Article » -
Pumpkin Pi
Monday, October 13, 2008 3:13PM
For those of you who asked me how to find the volume of a cylinder this weekend, now I don't mind telling you that the formula is V=π r^2 h. Lot of good it does you now, right? Spotobe had great weather and a great time at the Pennsboro Pumpkin Fest, and we are so grateful to everyone who came out and kept us company throughout the two days. The guessing contest seemed to be a hit, and we got well over 1,000 entries. We're in the process of figuring out just how many balls were really inside Perry the Pumpkin, and I promise we'll let you know soon. I can assure you that it is somewhere between our high guess of 50,023,000 and our low guess of 68. Full Article » -
This Weekend: Smashing Pumpkins
Thursday, October 9, 2008 12:53PM
For me, this weekend is all about pumpkins. Hopefully you know by now that Spotobe will be at the Pennsboro Pumpkin Fest all weekend, and hopefully you are all planning to stop by and say hello. Putting together the contest has been fun, but last night I didn't even realize how absurd I looked pushing a shopping cart of 13 pumpkins around Giant until I noticed all of the funny looks that I was getting. I think I need a little bit of a break from pumpkins. Full Article » -
It’s Long Overdue But Now Philly is Slammin’
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 10:51AM
After years of phutility, the Phillies open play in the National League Championship Series on Thursday. As a huge fan, I'm thrilled. I'm also a nervous wreck. Whether you are a fan of the Phillies or not, their victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series has earned all Pennsylvania music lovers an hour of airtime on RadioMilwaukee this evening at 6:00pm.
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Restaurant Round-Up: Visaggio’s, Miyako Sushi & Houlihan’s
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 12:25PM
There are certain times that you really need a restaurant to step up, none more than when you're going out to eat for a special occasion. Like it or not, even the most carefully planned evening can be derailed by an expensive dinner that fails to meet expectations. Last weekend, Restaurant Round-Up contributor Winton celebrated his 5-Year Anniversary with his girlfriend, Ann, at Visaggio's (congrats, guys!), and happily, they had a fantastic meal. Visaggio's website features glowing recommendations from the pages of the Philadelphia Inquirer and from George Will, so it's not a surprise that the meal was good. I mean, if George Will says so...
This week, in addition to Winton's report on Visaggio's, Fran gives the pros and cons of Miyako Sushi and Dave talks about his favorite chain restaurant, Houlihan's. As always, let us know what you think in the comments section. Full Article » -
Where Do You Vote?
Monday, October 6, 2008 1:36PMYesterday was the deadline to register to vote if you planned on doing so in the upcoming Presidential Election. That's right, believe it or not, there's an election coming up. You might have heard something about it.
If you didn't get registered in time, that's okay, you'll be part of the vast majority of American's who don't vote. If one of the many roving volunteers did convince you though, you might not be sure where your new polling place is. I just moved, and I had no idea where I needed to go to cast my ballot on Nov. 4, but I found this page on the Department of State's Website that pointed me in the right direction. The form is a little bit balky, but all you have to do is type in your address and it will tell you where to go.
Also, if you just can't get enough politics, we have some election-related events coming up on the calendar. I've listed them after the jump. Full Article » -
Found on Craigslist Harrisburg
Friday, October 3, 2008 12:58PM
If you've never experienced the wonder of Craigslist, you are seriously missing out. I assume that by now most people have at least heard of the world's largest collection of community classifieds (say that three times fast), but I'm not sure how many people in Central Pennyslvania even know that Harrisburg has a site. It actually launched in June of 2005, so it's not like it's a new phenomenon, but it doesn't seem to have caught on in Harrisburg like it has in other places I am familiar with.
We were talking about it in the office this afternoon, because Dori recently found both a childcare solution and a bedroom set for her son on the List. Pretty cool. When I was looking for apartments, I also found a bunch of leads there. In addition to having tons of valuable information, Craigslist also has some absurd, creepy and downright filthy stuff. Their "best-of-craigslist" section has become legendary, so while I was surfing around today, I decided to collect some of the, er, more interesting posts from the Harrisburg area (completely dirty ones aside) below. I have not edited any of these at all, so for the sake of my credibility, I'd like to put a preemptive [sic] out there for the rest of this post. Full Article » -
This Weekend: Thinking of Winter
Thursday, October 2, 2008 11:13AM
Ever noticed that some bands just sound better in the summer than they do in the winter? I'd say most jam bands fall into this category. Also Tom Petty. Listening to American Girl or Running Down a Dream just isn't as fun if you aren't driving down the highway with all four windows in the car the whole way down.
This isn't only true of summer. There are certain acts that just sound better when it's cold outside. Two of them, Missy Higgins and Joshua Radin will be playing a show at the Whitaker Center on Saturday night. Maybe not everybody thinks this way. Does anyone else get the urge to listen to Keane every time it rains? Anyway, the pair is coming to town at the perfect time, because walking across the Walnut Street Bridge this morning would have been much more comfortable if I had been wearing a jacket. Full Article » -
Restaurant Round-Up: Paxtang Grill, Hampden Diner & El Rodeo
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 2:00PM
Sometimes you want to get dressed up, go out and try something new and exotic on a Friday night. Sometimes you just don't feel like cooking and want to go somewhere you know the kids will be able to get the chicken fingers that they like and the bill won't completely empty your wallet.
Every community has a few inconspicuous restaurants that the locals swear by, and the Paxtang Grill is a place I've heard about from East Shore people ever since I moved back to the area. This week in the Restaurant Round-Up, Dori talked about it, Dave tried breakfast at the Hampden Diner and I ordered Pepe's Special (pictured... yum, right?) from El Rodeo. Again. As always, if you've been to any of these places, leave us some feedback in the comments section. Full Article » -
Route 322 Blues
Monday, September 29, 2008 2:06PM
I hope that all of you had as great a weekend as I did. I know the rain might have spoiled some plans, but I still managed to have some fun. I love going back to Penn State, and I especially love going back to Penn State when the football team is playing well.
What I don’t love about going back to Penn State on football weekends is driving there and driving back. The drive itself snakes along beside the Juniata River and is actually quite beautiful. The traffic is physically painful. Full Article » -
Coming Up: Spotobe at the Pennsboro Pumpkin Fest
Friday, September 26, 2008 2:03PM
Now that we’ve finally wrapped up the art contest, Spotobe is proud to announce our next event. Mark your calendars, because on October 11 and 12, Spotobe will be kicking it at the Pennsboro Pumpkin Fest, one of the largest fall events in Central PA.
We’re going to be hosting another Spotoball guessing contest, because people were really into the first one. This time, we’ll be filling a humongous pumpkin that we have painstakingly built over the last few weeks. The prize is going to be a $300 gift certificate to Giant Foods, so if we have to bribe you to get you to come hang out with us, there you go. It’s just like being in a fraternity. Buh-dum, cha! Full Article » -
This Weekend: Washed Out
Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:43PM
Today is the first day that really feels like fall. You can smell it in the air, and that's oddly comforting. There is something indescribably pleasant about the crispness of a fall day.
That means that your opportunities to enjoy being outside are becoming numbered, though. This weekend, there are a lot of things going on that would have given you the chance to make the most of the relatively mild temperatures. I was going to highlight a bunch of them, but unfortunately it's supposed to rain all weekend. Looks like you're either going to have to grab a poncho or try something inside. Full Article » -
Alas de Pollo: Chicken Wings or Alas! The Chicken!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 4:41PM
I’m frightened by the enormous rooster perched on the roof of Sawyer’s Cantina. The latest refugee from Ron Kamionka’s Land of Misfit Toys appeared sometime last week, and it appeared seemingly without explanation. For a day or two, I thought that maybe I was the only person that could see it; that it was a hallucination brought on by the some unresolved chicken issues or withdrawal symptoms from going a full calendar year without getting a basket of Pazzo’s Choice wings from the Darkhorse in State College.
But when my coworkers started asking questions, I decided I needed some answers, so I called up Sawyer’s and the kindly young lady who answered the phone informed me that it was advertising their new 3-wings-for-a-dollar promotion. Oh. I wasn’t aware that wings were a staple of Mexican cuisine.
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Restaurant Round-Up: Garrason’s, Sandwich Man and Nino’s Bistro
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 10:30AM
The Round-Up took a break last week to make way for our Messiah College Q&A, but it's back and better than ever (we hope). Some interesting selections this week. Lily writes about what has earned Garrason's Tavern such a loyal group of regulars, Dori weighs in on the salads and service she gets at the Sandwich Man and I give my account of my first experience of Nino's Bistro in Camp Hill.
As always, if you agree, disagree or have something to add to what we said about any of these fine establishments, feel free to leave some feedback in the comments section. Full Article » -
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner (Literally)
Friday, September 19, 2008 3:35PMSpotobe would like to thank everybody who participated in the Spotobe Art Contest either by painting, by voting or both. Putting the event together was a lot of fun, and it gives me great pleasure to announce our winners… Full Article »
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This Weekend: Upcoming & Ongoing
Thursday, September 18, 2008 1:31PM
When we designed Spotobe, we tried to fix little problems that annoyed us with other events and entertainment websites. One thing that we thought about long and hard was how to handle events like exhibits. They take place every day, and if you had to wade through two pages of them every day just to find anything else, you'd probably want to smack us. To keep that from happening (nobody likes being smacked), we split our events calendar into upcoming and ongoing events sections.
Problem solved, right? Well, yes and no. Now our upcoming events calendar is nice and clean and easy to use, but I worry that all of the great exhibits we have around here tend to get overlooked. This weekend might be a good time to check one out, so if you haven't been keeping up with ongoing events, I'm providing a crash course. I'll even throw a few other weekend suggestions in along the way. Full Article » -
Q&A: Messiah College Concert Executives Jeff Rioux & Margeaux Monsour
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 11:25AM
I’ve long been impressed by the musical talent that Messiah College brings to campus. It's crazy how quickly the school has built a ridiculous amount of popular music credibility on a campus of less than 3,000 students.
Not too many indie acts have gotten more love from critics than The National and Feist, and both played at Messiah during the 2007-08 school year. The Decemberists came recently too. So did the Counting Crows. Oh, and some guy named Bob Dylan. The College’s Student Activities Board (SAB) organized all of those shows and also oversees a weekly concert series known as B-Sides that features emerging artists.
The SAB is staffed almost entirely by students and is overseen by Jeff Rioux, a 1994 Messiah graduate. When Rioux was in school, the SAB booked strictly Christian concerts and showed Disney movies in the student union. Now it has become one of the premier concert venues in the area. On the even of last weekend's Ingrid Michaelson concert at Messiah, I sat down with Rioux and B-Sides Student Executive Margeaux Monsour to ask them about their work. Full Article » -
An Evening With Ingrid Michaelson
Monday, September 15, 2008 11:31AM
I didn't know what to expect going into Saturday night's Ingrid Michaelson concert at Messiah College. I'd heard some of her music, but I wouldn't have even considered myself a casual fan. With that said, I consider myself one now. I can only remember my opinions on a band changing so drastically for the better after a live show once before (The Get Up Kids; awesome). Full Article » -
The Jellybricks: Goodnight to Everyone
Friday, September 12, 2008 2:56PM
Another rainy Friday. Looking for a little lift I decided to spring for the new Jellybricks album, "Goodnight to Everyone." The Harrisburg power pop standards have been making upbeat music since they hit the scene in 1997 with their album "Kinky Boot Beast." "Goodnight to Everyone" is their first release since 2004, and it was anxiously awaited by local music fans and power pop aficionados alike.
The album cover (pictured) is pretty sweet. Makes me long for the days when I bought CD's instead of digital albums. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that the music lives up to the cover. "Goodnight to Everyone" isn't bad, it's just not my favorite album by the Bricks. Full Article » -
This Weekend: It’s All First Available
Thursday, September 11, 2008 1:51PM
Love it or hate it, the Pennsylvania Smoking Ban is now in effect.
I'm sure this makes many of you quite happy, so this weekend, enjoy the fact that when you go out for a bite you won't have to choose between "non-smoking" and "first available." Smoker or not, If you don't like the law there are plenty of things going on in Central Pennsylvania to keep your mind off of it. You can even smoke at some of them. Full Article » -
Restaurant Round-Up: Spring Garden Restaurant, Spice & McDonald’s
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 11:36AM
For those of you who don’t know, this week is Harrisburg Restaurant Week. You have until Thursday to check out special $30 three-course menus at raspberries, The Firehouse, Carley’s, El Sol, Stocks on 2nd, Cafe Fresco, Zia’s at Red Door and McGrath's Pub. None of them found their way into this week’s Restaurant Round-Up, but Spotobe encourages all of you to help make this first-time event a success.
This week in the round-up, Pete talks up the highly-regarded Spring Garden Restaurant, Dave submits a mediocre experience at Spice and local Twitterer Twoiterrings (who submitted this existential bent on fast food by email) looks at going to McDonald’s in a whole new way. Full Article » -
America’s Oldest Fair
Monday, September 8, 2008 12:40PM
It's kind of funny how separated York and Harrisburg are from each other. The former capital of the United States is a mere half an hour from Harrisburg up or down Route 83 (assuming it's not rush hour) depending on your perspective, but the populations don't seem to mix all that much. Yes, some people from York work in Harrisburg. That's obvious to anyone who has ever been stopped two miles from the 83 split and prayed that the trucker behind him was paying attention. There are obviously some who make the trek for entertainment purposes too, but it doesn't seem to be a common phenomenon. I suppose that's why I'd never been to the York Fair, despite its claim to being America's First Fair.
I finally got around to going Sunday, not to see a concert, but just to check out the scene and see what was going on. My fiancée and I got there around noon, and things were just starting to pick up as we walked down the Midway. The fair is, at its core, pretty much like most fairs, only bigger. You've got the standard portable amusement rides, but more of them. You've got carnival games, but more of them. You've got deliciously artery-clogging food, but more of it. Full Article » -
Farewell Flight: Sound. Color. Motion.
Friday, September 5, 2008 2:47PM
I’m a bit late to the party on this one judging by the response I’ve already heard from local music fans, but we’ll pretend it’s fashionably late. I got a copy of local band Farewell Flight’s debut full-length album Sound. Color. Motion. just before their release party at Champion Ship a few weeks ago, but I didn’t get a chance to really listen to it until this afternoon. Now I can tell you, it’s one of the best albums I’ve heard from a local band in a long time.
Classifying music as “indie” is generally meaningless, but it’s a lazy tag that nevertheless fits Farewell Flight snugly. Their sound resembles “We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes” era Death Cab For Cutie, only a little bit less fuzzy. They rely heavily on the piano to drive the album, but some of Sound. Color. Motion.’s (That’s a punctuation nightmare) hidden gems revolve around Timmy Moslener’s nifty guitar work. Full Article » -
This Weekend: First Fridays
Thursday, September 4, 2008 3:20PM
My fondness for Fridays has been documented in this space before (the day, not the restaurant, although of the major Americana chains, T.G.I.'s is probably my favorite). There is just something magical about Fridays. When you leave work to go home on Friday, there is a sense of infinite possibilities. The second you change out of your work clothes, the second you take that first sip at happy hour, the second you sit down on the couch; whatever that moment is that lets you know the weekend is finally here, it's a glorious thing.
I had never realized that Central Pennsylvania has not one, not two, not three but four First Friday celebrations to help you shake off the work week at the beginning of each month. First Friday is a great thing. It's a chance to grab a bite with friends, have a few cocktails, look at some art and celebrate the downtown experience. This weekend would be the perfect chance to check out First Friday in Carlisle, New Cumberland, Lancaster or Lebanon. Full Article » -
Restaurant Round-Up: Piazza Sorrento, Zia’s & Back Door Café
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 10:26AM
This week, Fran checked out Piazza Sorrento in Hershey for the first time and left underwhelmed, Dori checked out Zia's for the first time and liked it so much she went right back and I went somewhere I've probably eaten 100 times. Variety is the spice of life, but there's something comforting about going back to an old favorite. Who knows, maybe you'll read something here that will make you check out somewhere new and find a favorite of your own. If you have anything to add about any of these places, feel free to do it in the comments section. Full Article » -
Helter Skelter in the Summer Swelter
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 11:34AM
A good weekend should be relaxing. A great weekend should be a little bit tiring—the kind of weekend that leaves you wondering how you are ever going to get up for work on Monday morning. Yes, there is something to be said for a quiet night on the couch to recharge after a rough week. Labor Day weekend isn’t about that, though. Labor Day weekend is about grabbing summer and wringing out every last drop of sun-tanned, sandals-wearing, party-going, family-uniting, outside-enjoying fun possible.
I tried my best. In four days, I hit one of my favorite restaurants in Carlisle, went to the Penn State game, watched the fireworks in Negley Park, went to a pig roast, hung out on the deck at Dockside Willies and went to Kipona. I slept well last night. Full Article » -
A Rainy Day Afternoon
Friday, August 29, 2008 1:28PM
Well, it finally rained. Other than the slight drizzle that seemed to back up traffic for no reason yesterday afternoon, I can't remember the last time we had a legitimately rainy day. That's probably not much consolation for the people who were setting up for Kipona today. To be honest, everyone I saw on Front Street this afternoon looked abjectly miserable. That's understandable — wearing a trash bag isn't the best way to start the weekend. Full Article » -
This Weekend: Closing Out Summer, Kicking Off Fall
Thursday, August 28, 2008 2:37PM
It’s easy to focus on the negatives of Labor Day Weekend. Pools and parks close for the year. The days are getting alarmingly short. If you are a kid, you’re probably already back in school or pretty close to it. Even Labor Day barbeques tend to lack the joie de vivre of their Memorial Day cousins.
But there’s no reason to dwell on that stuff. Seriously, sweatshirts and Elliot Smith albums can wait for a few more weeks. Friday night, high school football is back. Spotobe has compiled the Friday night and Saturday afternoon schedules for every week of the season, so if you need directions to an away game at any time this year, come back and visit us. Full Article »
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