Upcoming Event: Music Friday

And yet another sweet event has come to my attention – Music Friday – a night of music and shopping for a cause.

Check it out – http://www.lancasterarts.com/_files/live/MusicFriday_web_download.pdf

Basically there is going to be music at 25 different venues around downtown Lancaster Nov 30th from 5-9pm. Galleries and stores around the downtown are bringing in musicians to provide a warm holiday ambiance as you shop – and many participating shops are donating a portion of the evening’s proceeds to Music For Everyone.

If you’ve never been to downtown Lancaster, make a night out of it- there really is a lot to do and see. And this event gives you one more option for supporting local businesses this holiday season, not to mention having fun while you shop!

I’ll see you there!

Ongoing Event: Artisan Marketplace

Artisan Marketplace of Perry County

Support your local artisans! Here’s an event that might go under the radar but I wanted to promote because it supports the local artisans from around the region. The Artisan Marketplace is an event that is sponsored by HACC’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and the Harrisburg Market Keystone Innovation Zone to allow local artists to display their works for sale in the nationally recognized gallery in Newport, PA for free. It gives the artists great exposure that they otherwise might not be able to afford, even with the great amount of talent that they represent. What can you expect to see? Everything from Jewelry, woodwork, painting, stained glass, and knitted accessories will be available for purchase.

 

The event will be open to the public until December 22nd from 9-4 Mon-Thurs., 9-7 on Fridays, and 9-3 on Saturdays. Take the kids, the wife, or just go by yourself to pick up some unique gifts for this holiday season. You’ve got to feel good about buying local, and you’ll be amazed at the talent right here in Central PA, especially Perry County!  

 

More information on Perry County Council of the Arts website: www.PerryCountyArts.org

Upcoming Event: PA Christmas & Gift Show

One of my intentions in creating this blog is to inform others about interesting events and happenings around the mid-state. I would certainly be remiss not to inform you about the PA Christmas & Gift Show, taking place Nov. 28th-Dec. 2nd, 2007 at the PA FarmShow Complex and Expo Center. The official website: http://www.pachristmasshow.com/

I would encourage anyone who appreciates supporting the local economy to save your holiday shopping for this event! With over 500 vendors you are sure to find something creative and of high quality for that special someone (and definitely more original than that sweater from wal-mart).  

For your convenience I have already added the event to Eventful.com – join the central PA group and bookmark the Harrisburg Calendar to receive automatic email reminders about the event so you won’t forget! Shop local and have fun doing it!

If this event is anything like the PA Food and Beverage Show I attended a few weeks ago I can guarantee a great couple days of fun, giveaways, and free samples. Where else can you get all your holiday shopping done in one place? Not to mention the entertainment that will be going on. Check out the website and mark your calendars!

Win Cash With Your Business Plan

Here’s something you should be aware of going on in Central PA – A business plan competition for college students and start up companies. I think people have a real misconception about the amount of innovation and interesting start ups that are growing in the area.

Here’s the article straight from http://www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org/business/startmeup.asp

The Start Me Up entrepreneurship promotion is back for 2008! The successful program is a three part business plan competition to foster entrepreneurial activity in the region. Cash prizes, products and services, will be awarded to new and emerging businesses that win the competition. The program itself is divided into three separate competitions: a student business plan competition; a contest for companies that are less than 2 years old; and a challenge for companies that have been established from 2 to 5 years.

College Venture Challenge is geared toward area college students, awarding free advisory services and cash prizes for up to two graduate and three undergraduate business plans. Graduate students can earn $5,000 for first place and $2,000 for second place. Undergraduates can earn $2,000 for first place with lower cash prizes available for second and third place winners.

For companies less than 2 years established, the winning business plan of the Murata Great Business Challenge will earn $30,000 worth of free products and services, including six months free rent at the Murata Business Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Also included in the prize package is access to a board of advisors, priority assistance from colleges who can provide trained student interns, consideration for low-interest financing, and additional support services from various business assistance programs.

The CREDC Fab 5 competition seeks to find the “Top 5” companies in the region that have been in business two to five years. Collectively, Fab 5 winners will receive free advertising packages, as well as products and services including: human resource and and access to capital counseling; marketing and sales consulting; and advisory panels.

The winners of the competitions will be announced at the Start Me Up event on April 29 th at the Radisson Hotel in Cumberland County. Sponsors of the event include: Ben Franklin Technology Partners; Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central PA; Harrisburg Area Community College; and the Harrisburg Market Keystone Innovation Zone.

The problem with “finding something to do”

If only everyone knew what there was available to do at any given time, perhaps then we wouldn’t have this ongoing dilemma of finding something interesting to be occupied with. I think the problem with finding something to do especially around Central PA is that people don’t really know what’s out there,and you can bet your beard that the people that do have something sweet to do aren’t so much in a hurry to pull you onto the wagon. It really isn’t that “there’s never anything to do around here” as I’ve heard from so many lips somany times it’s downright annoying.

 

 

Now I’ll admit that on occasion I too have uttered those words so disparagingly, but I have since decided to increase my efforts instead of my tab at blockbuster. The search has been rewarding; it took a great deal of time on the net, but I’ve come across a number of websites that do inform you about what there is to do in the area and when events are happening. Take for instance HarrisburgHello.com, or CampusCentral.org; PAMidstate.com or the burgblurb. These websites (although scattered and segmented) among others can really give you some options for the weekend.

However, my all time favorite event website would still have to be eventful.com. Make a note to visit the site, I’ve already set up a Harrisburg Metro events calender and Central PA group. Eventful is sort of a combination of facebook and google calendar and really has some sweet features. It’s easy to use, free, and does a great job of informing people across the net about what is happening wherever they might be. I don’t think it’s really taken off quite yet, so there aren’t too many events that get put on there of great interest -yet. But I aim to change, and I think if a few other people started posting events on the site it would increase in popularity real quick. The nice part about eventful is that if you do post an event on the site it gives you the option of posting the same event automatically to a dozen other web calendar sites. Free publicity for your next bingo party that’s for sure. Another website that is very similar and I also recommend is Zvents.com.

But don’t take my word for it . . .

MidState Restaurants (try something new and like it)

Where to eat tonight, tomorrow, this morning, WHATEVER. There is certainly a regular routine that forms around the dining out experience that takes place on weekends or for lunch during the week. I’ll admit, I didn’t grow up in a family that went out to eat a lot – if ever. Even still, now that my family has become rather fond of outsourcing dinner to the nearest restaurant, the dining choices have become pretty predictable.

Something quick? – Wendy’s. Hamburgers? – Red Robin. Something nice? – Olive Garden. Something new – um. . . no.

And why not? Simply because people don’t want to try something unfamiliar, something exotic, go outside those “safe” name brand restaurants. The problem for me is that I personally prefer trying new things; I prefer eating something I haven’t experienced before, something authentic. Even if it’s a flavor that I have had before, I want to support the non-name brand restaurant, the little guy, the local economy.

How can this problem be solved?!

The answer for MidState residents is thankfully an easy one: DineOutHarrisburg.com

This website allows anyone to rate or add restaurants that they have been to across the midstate and personally review the experience that they have had.

A perfect way to try something new and be the hero because you know what to expect! I wish this website had been out while I was attending college in central PA, but it is a rather new- and growing- attraction. Here you will find ratings on restaurants by genre: want to try Lebanese? Korean? how about a local Indian restaurant? You will find all you need to know including web addresses, ratings (out of 5 stars), and reviews (some people really do go all out here!)

So check it out: DineOutHarrisburg.com – Find something new to eat and actually enjoy the experience, become a restaurant connoisseur, or just support the little guy!

‘nough said!