Month: June 2018

Summer Youth String Orchestra Forming

 

A new summer youth string orchestra program is forming in the Pottstown area, and any strings player who is between the age of 12 and 20 who is interested in keeping up their skills over the summer is invited to participate. The Youth Orchestra of Pottstown is being organized through the Arts and Culture committee of Mosaic Community Land Trust, which has offices on South Hanover Street. The program is being directed by Niki Purdy, a teaching artist with Play On, Philly!, a nonprofit after-school music program. “Having been part of community ensembles for years, I’ve seen the good that music can do. As a teacher, I feel strongly that music should be accessible to any child who is interested and has a desire to learn and have these experiences. I think that Pottstown is the perfect place for a community ensemble.”

The program is free of charge, but students must bring their own instrument. Rehearsals begin this week at Coventry Christian Academy, 699 N Pleasantview Rd, Pottstown. They will be held from 6:30-8:30 each Thursday throughout the summer.

If you are interested in auditioning for seating in one of the sections (which is not required to participate), auditions will be held Tuesday evening between the hours of 4:00-8:00 pm at the Hobart’s Run offices, located at 701 East High Street in Pottstown, adjacent to the Hill School. All students under 18 who wish to audition must be accompanied by an adult during the audition. Auditions will begin at 4:00 pm and proceed until 8:00 pm. A link to the sign-up for the audition can be found on the Mosaic Community Land Trust website under the events tab . Please prepare 36 bars of a solo or etude, and you will also be asked to sight read a short piece.

A performance will be held in the later part of August which will be free and open to the public. The orchestra is still searching for a location in Pottstown to hold the final performance, so keep an eye on the Mosaic website for information later this summer. Any adult wishing to volunteer to help with the orchestra must have Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearances, obtained here.

If you have questions, you can contact Mosaic at mosaicclt@gmail.com, or call (610)287-7828.

A Week on the Town

So many new places have opened recently on High Street, I thought I’d try a few of them this past week.

The Avenue is a new Caribbean restaurant that opened in the old @107 location across from Borough Hall. I tried the Curry Chicken, Spicy Tomato Bisque, and the Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding. The chicken had a rich flavor, and the fried plantains were the perfect compliment. The soup was fantastic, and my only complaint about the bread pudding is I wish it were served warm, but it was still very good.

The next day, I was about to meet someone at Connections on High when we noticed the new pub across the street, Pottstown United Brewing Company, was opening its doors for the first time. We quickly changed plans so we could be among the first to say we had tried it (but don’t worry, I was back at Connections just a few hours later…I’ll never leave you, Gotta Love Rachel, the best sandwich ever!). We only had time for a quick stop, so I grabbed a soda and a plate of the tasty jalapeno poppers, but I will be back. FYI, the PUB is not open on Mondays or Tuesdays, but I’ll be back and to enjoy some live music and fun with friends.

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I’m not ashamed to admit that I have been to the new Ice Cream Cafe three times this week. I’d blame it on the fact that my mother is addicted to the peach ice cream, but it’s really just that the Banana Peanut Butter Chip ice cream is just so darned good! In my defense, one of the three times was during the FARM while happily listening to the live music. What’s a girl to do when it’s RIGHT THERE? Ice Cream Cafe is located at 250 East High Street.

Speaking of the FARM, if you read the last post, you know this was opening week of this seasonal market. FARM has relocated to the clock tower plaza at the corner of High and Charlotte, and it’s a change I highly endorse! The vendors are all closer together now, and the proximity creates a buzz and excitement that makes the market so much fun. It was great to try several products from the new vendors.  I’m looking forward to June 28th when FARM will be in Riverfront Park for the 5K Run to the River. I hope to see you there!

Back to the FARM

 

This week marks the beginning of the season at the Pottstown FARM. What is the Pottstown FARM, you ask? FARM stands for Farm & Artisan Regional Market, and it’s an open-air farmers market held every 2nd and 4th Thursday in downtown Pottstown at the corner of High and Charlotte Streets near the clock tower.

Kick off will be this Thursday, June 14th at 5:00 pm and runs until 7:30 pm. At the market, you can purchase fresh vegetables in season, flowers and plants, locally produced honey, soaps, wine, and local meats and cheeses, among many other items. There are always fun things for kids to do at FARM, including the Two Bites Club, which allows children 12 and under to try two bites of a new food in exchange for a $5 Market Coin good for use at any food vendor at FARM during the 2018 season! Stop by the Mosaic table for that and other fun kids activities. Convenient parking for FARM is available in all the usual downtown locations.

This years vendors include: Gladiolus Farm of Elverson, Grumpy’s, Stonekeep Meadery, Stony Hill Farm, New Bee Ranch, Snouts and Sprouts Farm, Ethel’s Artisan Vinegar, Kaiya’s Naturals, Blue Zen Wellness Collective, KenCrest self-grown and handmade items, Scentual Gardens Soaps, Brook’s Flowers, Sew Bee Mine, Candle Krazy, Geneva’s Joy, Words of Art by Ali J, Tale of a Snail, Chef’s Duds, Beverly’s Pastry, and Balanced Living.

On Thursday, June 28th, FARM will temporarily relocate to Riverfront Park for the Run to the FARM 5K race. Information on registration for the 5K can be found on the Special Events section on the Pottstown FARM website, Pottstown FARM.

FYI – Pottstown FARM is not the same thing as the recently reopened indoor Farmers Market on the Southeast corner of the same intersection. Watch for a future post about that exciting new venture, but in the mean time, join your friends every other week at the FARM!

(Photo credits: Patti Klein and Audra Ross)

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