Music & 1st Comedy Show Kick Off Return of Live Performances at SteelStacks

Photo by David Happel

Lehigh Valley Icon Craig Thatcher and comedian LaTice highlight lineup on Air Products Town Square this week

BETHLEHEM, PA–Beloved Lehigh Valley icon Craig Thatcher and Cliff Starkey, as well as acclaimed female comedian LaTice, highlight the return of outdoor dining with live entertainment at SteelStacks this week.

While new to the Valley scene, LaTice has been slaying people with her jokes since 2009. She has performed in Las Vegas at the World Series of Comedy and live on ABC’s THE VIEW for “Hilarious Housewives.”

Reservations must be made in advance for each performance. To reserve a table for seating up to four people in the same party, visit https://www.steelstacks.org/eat/. Mask wearing, social distancing and all CDC, state and city health and safety rules and regulations apply.

The schedule for this week is:

Aug. 12: Craig Thatcher and Cliff Starkey (7-9 p.m.)
Aug. 13: Ginger and The Schnappes (7-9 p.m.)
Aug. 14: Zaire (7-9 p.m.)
Aug. 15: LaTice with Glen Tickle & Roya Hamadani (8-9:30 p.m.)

For reservations and more information, CLICK HERE.

SteelStacks’ Independence Day Celebration Returns July 4 with Live Music, Food & More

Photo: Jonathan Davies

Event Culminates with City’s Popular Fireworks Display at 9:15 p.m.

BETHLEHEM, PA – Live music by Big Bone Daddy and the opportunity to enjoy outdoor dining by the blast furnaces – all culminating with the City of Bethlehem’s popular fireworks show – highlight the return of the Independence Day Celebration at SteelStacks July 4.

The Independence Day Celebration, presented by Embassy Bank, starts at 5 p.m. Leading the evening are two sets on the Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage by rock and blues band Big Bone Daddy. This dynamic group has rocked clubs and festivals from the Garden State to North Carolina. Members are Bill DeHart and Paul Berger on guitar and vocals, Ric Carhart on bass and vocals, Jim Flynn on drums and vocals, Ken Fink on saxophone, Mark Young on keyboards and Ray Higgins on harmonica.

The group will take the stage from 6:30-9:15 p.m. and 9:45-10:45 p.m. Dinner will be available for purchase at the ArtsQuest Center from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and a variety of ArtsQuest and Musikfest merchandise, including the popular Musikfest 2020 collector’s mug will be for sale.

Guests who want to attend the Independence Day Celebration must reserve a table – good for the entire evening – since campus attendance will be limited to ensure proper safe social distancing and follow all CDC, state and city health & safety guidelines.

Cost to reserve a table, which can accommodate a single party of up to four people, is $80 plus fees. All proceeds from table reservations will help to cover additional staffing and infrastructure costs for cleaning, as well as to support the nonprofit ArtsQuest, which has been closed since March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related shutdowns. Table reservations are available on a first-come basis starting June 29, 10 a.m., to ArtsQuest Members and June 29, noon, to the public at www.steelstacks.org.

In addition to seating on the Air Products Town Square, ArtsQuest is offering the community the opportunity to reserve a 6’ x 6’ spot on the Levitt lawn, perfect for putting out a blanket or lawn chairs to watch the fireworks and enjoy the music performances via the Levitt Pavilion outdoor screen. Cost per spot, which can hold a single party of up to four people, is only $20. ArtsQuest Members can make reservations starting June 29, 10 a.m., and the public can do so starting June 29, noon, at www.steelstacks.org.

Levitt lawn spots will be spaced accordingly to follow safe social distancing, and food and beverages can be ordered from the Levitt Lawn via the Mack Truck Stop and bar on the lawn. Rain date for the Independence Day Celebration presented by Embassy Bank will be July 5 starting at 5 p.m.

For additional details, visit www.steelstacks.org.

FREE LIVE MUSIC RETURNS TO STEELSTACKS THIS WEEKEND!

Photo: Diane Richter

Valley Favorites Craig Thatcher and Billy Bauer Take Up Residencies at ArtsQuest Center in July

BETHLEHEM, PA—Popular Hector Rosado and Pancho Bongo y Su Orquesta highlight the return of live music at SteelStacks June 26-27 as the ArtsQuest Center officially reopens for indoor and outdoor dining.

The ArtsQuest Center will be open starting at 5 p.m. both evenings, with first priority on seating given to those who make dinner reservations in advance. Reservations can be made now by visiting www.steelstacks.org/eat.

In keeping with the theme of its SABOR Latin Festival, which would have taken place this weekend, ArtsQuest will be featuring some of the region’s top Latino artists. On Friday from 6-8 p.m., the Air Products Town Square will offer the sounds of Pancho Bongo y Su Orquesta, while Saturday from 6-8 p.m. acclaimed percussionist Hector Rosado will bring his dynamic trio to SteelStacks.

Latino artists will also be featured as part of the “Levitt in Your Living Room” online series this weekend. Artists include Gina Chavez June 25, Pablo Batista’s Latin Jazz Ensemble with special guest Nestor Torres from SABOR 2019 June 26 and Latin Express from Levitt Pavilion Arlington on June 27.

Starting July 1, the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks will be open Wednesday-Saturday starting at 5 p.m., with regular Wednesday night shows from 7-9 p.m. by Craig Thatcher, Nyke Van Wyk and Cliff Starkey, and Thursday sets from 7-9 p.m. by Billy Bauer. First priority on seating given to those who make dinner reservations in advance. Reservations for the July events can be made by visiting www.steelstacks.org/eat beginning June 28.

Additional performers will be announced on the SteelStacks website and Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/SteelStacks/. ArtsQuest will be announcing the return of its special July 4th Celebration by the end of this week.

“We are extremely excited to return to our roots and offer live music that brings our community together, something that’s especially important during these challenging times we are just starting to emerge from,” says ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan. “As a small nonprofit that has been closed since mid-March, we know how hard all of our independent business and artists have been hit by this pandemic. Each year, we support hundreds of small businesses and performers, and this is our first opportunity to resume providing opportunities for them to support their livelihood. We encourage the community to come out and support them.”

Among the menu items guests can enjoy are appetizers like succulent smoked chicken wings; pierogis with caramelized onions, scallions and sour cream; and Bavarian pretzels with hot beer cheese dipping sauce, as well a summer Berry Spring Green Salad, featuring romaine and field greens lettuce blend, crumbled goat cheese, seasonal berries, candied walnuts and a raspberry vinaigrette. A variety of gourmet flatbreads, sandwiches and hand-helds are available including the signature SteelStacks Smash Burger, featuring two beef patties, special Stacks Sauce, hickory smoked cheddar cheese, tomato jam and lettuce on a toasted potato roll, served with house-made kettle chips.

Diverse beverage options, including Buckets of Yuengling FLIGHT and Yuengling beers on draft, as well as frozen cocktails are also available. SteelStacks is one of the first locations in the region to have on draft Yuengling FLIGHT, the next generation of light beer.

The Air Products Town Square and first floor of the ArtsQuest Center are the only portions of building open at this time. ArtsQuest is working on plans to reopen both the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas and the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling in July and will announce plans for those two venues by early in July.

STEELSTACKS OPENS FOR OUTDOOR DINING THIS WEEKEND

All-new Menu Being Offered on ArtsQuest Center Town Square

BETHLEHEM, PA–Starting this weekend, SteelStacks joins the list of outdoor dining options for Lehigh Valley residents when the ArtsQuest Center’s new kitchen opens to the public. Outdoor dining will be available Fridays-Saturdays, 5-9 p.m., on the Air Products Town Square by reservation. Guests should check in at the outdoor host station at the ArtsQuest Center, 101 Founders Way, when they arrive and the host will seat them for dinner on the Town Square adjacent to the iconic Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces.

Among the menu items are appetizers like succulent smoked chicken wings; pierogis with caramelized onions, scallions and sour cream; and Bavarian pretzels with hot beer cheese dipping sauce, as well a summer Berry Spring Green Salad, featuring romaine and field greens lettuce blend, crumbled goat cheese, seasonal berries, candied walnuts and a raspberry vinaigrette.

A variety of gourmet flatbreads, sandwiches and hand-helds are available for all tastes. Not to be missed is the signature SteelStacks Smash Burger, featuring two beef patties, special Stacks Sauce, hickory smoked cheddar cheese, tomato jam and lettuce on a toasted potato roll, served with house-made kettle chips. Other offerings include Smoked Chicken Tinga Street Tacos, Cubanos, Yuengling Black & Tan Braised Bratwurst Sandwiches and more. Diverse beverage options, including Buckets of Yuengling FLIGHT and Yuengling beers on draft, as well as frozen cocktails are also available. SteelStacks is one of the first locations in the region to have on draft Yuengling FLIGHT, the next generation of light beer.

Reservations for outdoor dining at SteelStacks are free can be made at www.steelstacks.org/eat. Proceeds from outdoor dining benefit ArtsQuest, which has been closed since mid-March due to the COVID-19 related shutdowns.

Menu is subject to change; additional menu items will be added in the coming weeks. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Get Your Favorite Musikfest Foods at SteelStacks Starting This Weekend

New Curbside Pickup Service to Add Additional Vendors Once Region Moves into Yellow Phase of Re-opening in June

BETHLEHEM, PA—It may only be May, but ArtsQuest is providing an opportunity for the community to support local small businesses and get great food from some of their favorite Musikfest vendors a few months early as the new SteelStacks Curbside Service launches on PNC Plaza at SteelStacks tomorrow.

On the menu for the first weekend of the new Curbside Service are the delicious tacos and taco salads of Take a Taco, a variety of different poutines from The Flying V and the delicious flatbreads, barbeque and more crafted by the Mack Truck Stop at SteelStacks. The second weekend June 6-7 will include Mack Truck Stop, as well as ’fest favorites Festival Island Noodles, known for its freshly made Yaki-Soba noodles, and Bull and Bear, which offers awesome Greek cuisine like gyros and stuffed grape leaves.

After the Lehigh Valley moves into the yellow phase of the state’s reopening process, the Curbside Service will expand from 3 to 5 vendors, offering patrons even more variety. All social distancing and safety guidelines put in place by the city and state will be observed.

For those who prefer a side of Musikfest merch with their order, ArtsQuest is also offering the opportunity to purchase the popular Musikfest mug, t-shirts and more as part of the Curbside Service. SteelStacks Curbside Pickup will take place Saturdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., while the Lehigh Valley is in the red and yellow phases of the state’s three-phase COVID-19 mitigation plan.

SteelStacks Curbside food and merchandise orders can be placed at www.steelstacks.org/curbside. ArtsQuest will alert patrons when their orders are ready for pick up, and people can drive up to PNC Plaza at SteelStacks, 645 E. First St., Bethlehem, and ArtsQuest staff will deliver the order and merch items to their vehicles.

ArtsQuest Joins with Local Small Businesses to Serve up Favorite Musikfest Foods to Area Residents Starting May 30

BETHLEHEM, PA—Starting next weekend, the Lehigh Valley community will be able to enjoy some of its favorite foods from Musikfest and other ArtsQuest festivals, while at the same time helping to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, by taking advantage of the new curbside pickup program at SteelStacks.

Launching May 30-31, “SteelStacks Curbside Pickup” will feature a rotating cast of three or more area vendors and food trucks, coupled with the opportunity to purchase a variety of nonalcoholic beverages from ABARTA Coca-Cola, as well as ArtsQuest & Musikfest merchandise. SteelStacks Curbside Pickup will take place Saturdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., while the Lehigh Valley is in the red and yellow phases of the state’s three-phase COVID-19 mitigation plan.

The inaugural SteelStacks Curbside Pickup weekend will feature Take a Taco, one of the most popular food vendors at Musikfest; The Flying V and its Canadian favorites like poutine; and the delicious flatbreads offered by Levy at SteelStacks. In addition, patrons can package their food orders will popular ArtsQuest items such as the Musikfest 2020 mug, hoodie or long-sleeved t-shirt, as well as the Bethlehem Steel bandana. Other food vendors that will take part in SteelStacks Curbside Pickup over the coming weeks include Lehigh University’s FUD Truck, Heaven on a Bun, Simply Skewered and Bull and Bear.

“As a community-focused nonprofit, ArtsQuest annually provides opportunities for more than 100 local and regional restaurants, food trucks and other eateries to support their livelihood via our festivals and events,” says ArtsQuest Sr. Vice President of Operations Ray Neeb. “The new curbside service is a way we can continue that tradition, even while we are unable to get together in person. It’s also an excellent opportunity for people who miss events like TacoFest and Levitt Pavilion summer concerts to get a little ‘taste’ of their favorite vendors, whether it be tacos, gyros or poutine. Most importantly, every purchase helps to support independent businesses and ArtsQuest, both of which have been impacted substantially by the COVID-19 crisis and related closures.”

SteelStacks Curbside food and merchandise orders can be placed at www.steelstacks.org/curbside. ArtsQuest will alert patrons when their orders are ready for pick up, and people can drive up to PNC Plaza at SteelStacks, 645 E. First St., Bethlehem, and ArtsQuest staff will deliver the order and merch items to their vehicles. All current social distancing and health and safety guidelines established by the city and state will be observed as part of the Curbside Pickup program.

ArtsQuest is looking to increase the number of participating curbside service vendors as summer goes on. For more information on SteelStacks Curbside Pickup, visit www.steelstacks.org/curbside.

Embassy Bank and ArtsQuest Partner to Honor Region’s Servicemen and Women on Memorial Day Weekend May 24-25

BETHLEHEM, PA—A virtual memorial ceremony, veterans writing workshop and the 10th season of the ‘Our Hometown Heroes’ display honoring men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces highlight the 10th year of ArtsQuest’s Memorial Day Celebration presented by Embassy Bank May 24-25. The ceremony and all related Memorial Day programming will be available via www.steelstacks.org/memorial-day/.

Starting this week, more than 130 banners featuring photos of 1,300 Lehigh Valley residents who served in the military are displayed on First and Second Streets and Founders Way on the SteelStacks campus as part of ‘Our Hometown Heroes.’ The community is encouraged to drive through the campus or walk by the banners following proper social distancing guidelines and any other health and safety regulations enacted by the city and the state. With many people sheltering at home, many of the banners are also being displayed online for the first time ever.

“Memorial Day typically signals the start of the summer season, with people getting together for picnics, festivals and of course ceremonies to honor our servicemen and women,” says Embassy Bank President, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman Dave Lobach. “This year, things are certainly different, with the health and safety of our community first and foremost in everyone’s minds.

“Although people can’t get together at SteelStacks, we at Embassy Bank are proud to join with ArtsQuest to present this new way for our community to ‘gather’ and continue the tradition of honoring our members of the military, especially those who have lost their lives protecting and serving our nation.”

The “Time to Remember” Memorial Ceremony will take place May 25, 3 p.m., via SteelStacks Facebook Page this year. The event will include the singing of the National Anthem and God Bless America by Stacy Gabel, as well as a reading by the Lehigh Valley Gold Star Mothers of the names of Lehigh Valley residents who have lost their lives in service to our nation. Speakers include ArtsQuest President & CEO Kassie Hilgert and Lobach. ArtsQuest will also screen a Memorial Day-themed PBS film on the ArtsQuest Memorial Day webpage during the day.

On May 24 from 1-3 p.m., Women Veterans Empowered and Thriving and ArtsQuest present the opportunity for veterans and family members to engage virtually in a free writing and storytelling workshop designed to explore grief, loss, anger and other emotions.

The special event is offered to those who have lost themselves or lost someone they loved and need a place to express what Memorial Day was truly intended for. The workshop is free and open to all veterans; for more information contact Jenny Pacanowski at troupe@wvet.org or register at www.womenveteransempowered.org/upcoming-events.

In addition to Embassy Bank, other partners helping to make Memorial Day weekend programming possible include 69-WFMZ-TV, LehighValleyLive.com/The Express-Times, Lehigh Valley Public Media and Adams Outdoor Advertising. For more information, visit www.steelstacks.org/memorial-day/.

Yuengling Oktoberfest 5K Returns to SteelStacks Oct. 4 to Support Nonprofit ArtsQuest

BETHLEHEM, PA—Runners rejoice – the Yuengling Oktoberfest 5K returns this fall. Registrations are now open for this seventh annual run/walk through historic Bethlehem, set for Sun., Oct. 4, at 10:30 a.m.

Special early-bird registration of only $40 is open now through June 7. Registration June 8-Aug. 10 is $45 and registration Aug. 11-Oct. 3 is $50, while day-of entry fee is $60. Runners can register here.

The 2020 Oktoberfest race will wind its way through Bethlehem’s SouthSide and the Historic District. All registrants will receive a 5K t-shirt, an Oktoberfest 5K beer stein/mug filled with a complimentary Yuengling Oktoberfest beer for those 21 and older (root beer for those under 21) and more. The race will follow any state and city guidelines in place at the time regarding COVID-19 safety and mitigation efforts.

Proceeds from all 5K registrations go directly to support ArtsQuest to help fund its mission of engaging and revitalizing the community through arts programs and cultural events, 50 percent of which are free to attend. These include the Levitt Pavilion Summer Concert Series, Musikfest and the Banana Factory’s ArtSmart afterschool program for area students.

About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences for residents of the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania and beyond. ArtsQuest supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, youth and community programming, and a variety of cultural events.

ArtsQuest Launches 48-Hour ‘at Home’ Quarantine Film Challenge

Sign-ups begin today and films will be screened April 30

BETHLEHEM, PA – You’ve done puzzles, you’ve cleaned closets and you’ve watched absolutely everything the streaming services have to offer. Now, it’s your turn to create something for the screen.

ArtsQuest is challenging the community to make short movies during the quarantine that it will broadcast April 30, 7:30 p.m., on ArtsQuest@Home as part of its ‘at Home’ Quarantine Film Challenge. Those interested must register for free here between April 20, noon, and April 24, 7 p.m. All registered participants will then meet via Zoom April 24, 7:30 p.m., to go over the rules. The biggie?: all movies must be shot inside wherever you are quarantined to make it make it fun, safe and challenging for all.

Quarantine Film Challenge submission categories are ages 6-12, ages 13-17, ages 18-plus and families (meaning a group of related people of varying ages staying in the same home.) Filming will begin April 24, 8 p.m., and all films must be submitted by April 26 at 7:59 p.m.
 
In addition to screening everyone’s homemade masterpieces, April 30 ArtsQuest will give out awards in several categories including:

• Best in Show
• Best Pet Cameo
• Best Costume Design That Still Involves Sweatpants
• The OMG They Still Have Toilet Paper Award
• Best Self Haircut
• Worst Corona-Related Pun
• Best Performance by a Sleeping Parent
• Best Supporting Loaf of Bread

For more information on the 48-Hour ‘at Home’ Quarantine Film Challenge, CLICK HERE.