The Lehigh Valley Newcomers’ Guide

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Pronunciation

Lehigh  /LEE-high/

Where would the Lehigh Valley be without the word “Lehigh”? It’s a name that pops up all over the place around here, from schools to roads to rivers. This pronouncer is no great mystery (LEE-high). Easy enough, right? Just be glad the old Native American name didn’t stick, or you’d be doing your darnedest to sound out “Lechauweki” or “Lechauwekink.”

Schuylkill  /SKOO-kill/

We have the Dutch to thank for giving us Schuylkill (SKOO-kill) to grapple with. Schuylkill means “hidden river.” Dutch explorers thought that the name was a perfect fit when they came across the mouth of a river that was tucked away behind the Delaware River's League Island.

Catasauqua  /Cat-uh-SAW-kwuh/

Pretend the u’s are w’s, and you’ll ace Catasauqua (Cat-uh-SAW-kwuh). The name comes from the Lenni Lenape’s garroshacki, meaning “dry ground" or "thirsty ground." If you’re still scratching your head, you’ll find the borough’s nickname easier to master—Catty.

Hokendauqua  /Hock-en-DAW-kwuh/

If Catasauqua had a cousin, it might be Hokendauqua. The same rules apply: turn those u’s into w’s (Hock-en-DAW-kwuh). It’s a mash-up of the Lenape words hackiun (or haki) and dochwe, which means "searching for land." Again, the town’s nickname—Hokey—is much less daunting.

Treichlers  /TRYKE-lerz/

The village of Treichlers (TRYKE-lerz) in Lehigh Township, Northampton County used to be called Kuntzford, after David Kuntz, who owned a mill there. Then Henry Treichler came to town and took over the mill, and the village took his name as its own.

Das Awkscht Fescht  /Daas Awst Fesht/

Now in its 54th year, Das Awkscht Fescht is an annual warm-weather treat in Macungie. It’s a summer smorgasbord of classic cars, good eats, live music and fireworks. What’s not to love? Maybe the tongue twister of a name. It’s Pennsylvania Dutch for “August festival.” Although it looks like a mouthful, it’s a little less intimidating if you ditch some of the consonants (Daas Awst Fesht).

Weis  /WISE/

All it takes is four little letters to divide an entire army of supermarket shoppers. The “Weis” in Weis Markets looks like it would rhyme with “nice.” Lots of shoppers think so, anyway; they’d probably bet their Preferred Shoppers Club bonus points on it. But they’d be “wise” to take a cue from the grocery-store chain itself, and move that “e” to the end of name for the proper pronunciation (WISE).

Yocco’s  /YAH-co’s/

It’s been nearly 100 years since the very first Yocco’s (YAH-co’s) hot dog hit the spot in Allentown. The family-run business has been feeding the Lehigh Valley ever since. But you won’t find the name “Yocco” on the family tree. It’s actually a local interpretation of the family’s real last name, Iacocca. The predominantly Pennsylvania Dutch population pronounced it “Yo-co-ca,” and lo and behold, a legend was born. 

Fun Fact

meLVin

His top priority is getting people pumped up at the PPL Center. But what is meLVin, anyway? With his thick fur, ample belly and multi-colored headdress, he doesn’t seem to fit into any known category of man or beast. That may be because he’s a species unto himself: a Puck-Nosed Pladottle, to be exact. The PPL Center says he was rescued from the vault of the adjoining Dime bank building. Likes: popcorn, Phantoms games (natch). Dislikes: chocolate and penguins.

The Regional Breakdown

Allentown

It’s the Queen City—Pennsylvania’s third most populous city, with a downtown on the rebound. Yet it wasn’t so long ago that Allentown seemed doomed to fulfill the gloomy prophesy of a has-been city that was laid out in the Billy Joel song of the same name. But Allentown is enjoying a dynamic rebirth at its core, fueled by a building boom that’s spawned a slew of new retail shops, restaurants and chic living spaces. It’s home base for the IronPigs, home ice for the Phantoms and host of an impressive park system. Many of the old factories that have fallen silent are being repurposed for a new generation. Yes, we certainly are living here in Allentown—and loving it.

Bethlehem

Oh, little town of Bethlehem. They don’t call it the Christmas City for nothing. This is a place that goes all out for the 25th of December, from a Main Street festooned with holiday trimmings to a German-inspired marketplace, Christkindlmarkt. But Bethlehem is a city for all seasons. Both its stately north side and its up-and-coming south side play host to festivals and community events all year long. This is a city that’s mastered the art of bringing people together under the sun and under the stars. And, as you might expect from a city that’s home to a National Historic Landmark District, Bethlehem is also a city that’s proud of its beginnings.  

Easton

Bacon Fest. Garlic Fest. Enough said. But Easton’s enticements go well beyond the stinky and delicious. With roots that stretch back to the 1750s, this is a city that values its lineage while rolling with the changes of the modern age. Visitors can hoof it between the Bachmann Publick House (the oldest building in town), Lafayette College, the historic State Theatre and the Crayola Experience, all in the same day. And right in the center of it all (during spring and summer, anyway) is a farmers’ market that’s been offering local wares since the city was founded.  

Emmaus

Emmaus packs a lot of living into its three square miles. There’s no circle in the middle of this little borough; instead, Emmaus unfurls from a triangle flanked by an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants. Just a stone’s throw away is the retro-feel Emmaus Theatre, where you can catch a new, classic or cult flick. Another option: Raise a glass at either of the borough’s two breweries—Funk and Yergey’s. Emmaus is also home to powerhouse publisher—and original purveyor of the organic movement—Rodale. Just a bit off the beaten path is the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the crown jewels in the Wildlands Conservancy’s lineup of nature preserves.  

Northampton

The orange-and-black street signs are the first indication you’re on Konkrete Kids turf. It’s not just a high school mascot—it’s a symbol of pride and tradition for this quiet, blue-collar town. Northampton is a place that’s serious about cement: The Atlas Portland Cement Company was once the biggest employer in town. The kilns were silenced long ago, but the industry they fueled is remembered at the Atlas Museum. One thing that hasn’t changed is the borough’s small-town appeal. Many residents who were raised in Northampton stick around for the long haul. You can find them clinking a cold one with friends and neighbors at the Gin Mill and Grille, reconnecting with old classmates at the “Hunky Hall” or scoring a scallop taco at Santa Fe Taco Company.  

Hellertown

It's easy to zip right past Hellertown as you tangle with the traffic on I-78, but this is a borough worth putting on your blinker for. Just off exit 67 is a place that still puts a premium on small-town charm. Beyond Detweiler Plaza, which features a clock tower whose creation was a local labor of love, Hellertown's main drag is peppered with an enticing blend of eateries. Settle in for a plate of bangers and mash at Braveheart Highland Pub, dig into a pair of halupkies at Paprika or chow down on a cheesesteak at the Crossroads Hotel. Any culinary overindulgence can be mitigated by squeezing in a jog or a hike along the Saucon Rail Trail, or by exploring the cool, damp depths of Lost River Caverns.  

Macungie

With a bear emblazoned on its borough seal, it’s no surprise that Macungie loves the great outdoors. A 42-acre park in the heart of the borough boasts of all the amenities needed to have a little fun in the sun. It’s also the staging ground for crowd-pleasers like Das Awkscht Fescht and the Wheels of Time Custom Car Show, as well as the borough’s seasonal farmers’ market. If you prefer an even more aromatic sensory experience, the nearby flower park features some 10,000 plants in every shape and hue. But the showpiece isn’t some prized perennial; it’s a covered pavilion modeled after an old-time train station that’s just feet away from the tracks. Railroad junkies can catch some shade there as they watch the freight haulers lumber past.

Local Landmarks

SteelStacks

Gone are the days when the blast furnaces of Bethlehem Steel roared to life as the beating heart of the second-largest steel maker in the world, but they still cut an impressive silhouette on Bethlehem’s skyline. Now, as part of the SteelStacks complex, they’re the backdrop for the cultural rebirth of the city’s south side.

Moravian Book Shop

Although Bethlehem’s Moravian Book Shop bills itself as the oldest continuously operating bookstore in the U.S., books are almost an afterthought inside the sprawling campus on Main Street. Unique gifts, artwork, home décor and candy are just a few of the enticing offerings adorning the shelves and display cases. A visit during Christmastime is an extra-special treat.

The Handprint

When does a handprint become a tourist attraction? When that handprint can’t be scrubbed or scraped away, and appears to be impervious even to a good paint job. Legend has it, a doomed coal miner who was accused of murder placed the handprint inside a cell at the Carbon County Jail as a sign of his innocence before he was hanged. That was back in 1879. The handprint has been there ever since. Now, the old jail has been turned into a museum that tells the tale of the ill-fated Molly Maguires.

Soldiers and Sailors

Much has changed in Downtown Allentown as of late, but its centerpiece remains the same. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Seventh and Hamilton streets is at the confluence of a burgeoning retail and restaurant scene. The statue is a tribute to Lehigh County’s Civil War soldiers. It was dedicated in 1899. The county seriously considered moving the monument more than once over the years, but cooler heads prevailed.

The Roxy

Curtain up, light the lights. If the marquee on Main Street, Northampton is all aglow, it must be showtime at the Roxy. Originally conceived as a vaudeville theater called the Lyric in the 1920s, the Roxy got its new name and an art deco makeover in the next decade. A rebirth in the 1970s and another facelift in 2010 have ensured that the closing credits for the grand old dame of the silver screen won’t be rolling anytime soon.

Columcille Megalith Park

The Lehigh Valley’s own version of Stonehenge can be found just outside Bangor, in Upper Mount Bethel Township. Columcille Megalith Park’s claim to fame is a variety of stone structures: some stand alone, others are arranged in more elaborate designs and structures. All are meant to inspire peace and reflection.

Local Celebs

The Rock

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson graduated from Freedom High School in Bethlehem in 1990 and went on to become the WWE’s first third-generation wrestler and a cut, charismatic action/comedy star. He told Oprah Winfrey that his coach at Freedom, Jody Cwik, became a father figure to him as a tumultuous teen, so who knows: if it weren’t for his time here in the Lehigh Valley, we might not have The Scorpion King.

Michaela Conlin

Daughter to LVS advertising executive Denise Conlin Lichty, Michaela was born in Allentown and is best known for her twelve-year-long role as Angela Montenegro on the hit television series Bones.  

Chris Renaud

Did you know this Parkland High School grad is behind those adorable minions? Renaud directed box-office smash hits Despicable Me one and two. He executively produced Despicable Me 3, while also directing The Secret Life of Pets.

Larry Holmes

The “Easton Assassin” Larry Holmes grew up in the Lehigh Valley, dropping out of high school to help support his family on $1 an hour at a local carwash before his rise to fame as a heavyweight boxing champion. A bronze statue of Holmes stands at Scott Park in Easton, honoring the only boxer to have KO’d Muhammad Ali.  

Daniel Dae Kim

Another Freedom High School graduate and one of People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive,” actor on stage and screen Daniel Dae Kim is best known for his roles as Jin Soo Kwon in Lost and Chin Ho Kelly in the remake of the ‘70s series Hawaii Five-0. He’ll be in town this November to accept the Pinnacle of the Arts award at the Linny Awards ceremony at SteelStacks.  

Lauren Weisberger

Originally from Scranton, best-selling author Lauren Weisberger nonetheless made her way to Allentown at the age of 11 and graduated from Parkland High School. Her most popular work, The Devil Wears Prada, was made into a movie with Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep. Her most recent book, The Singles Game, might owe a little bit to her time as captain of the girls’ tennis team at Parkland.  

Carson Kressley

Known for the shows Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and How to Look Good Naked, style expert and fashion designer Carson Kressley grew up in the Valley and graduated from Northwestern Lehigh High School. He has collaborated with big names such as Oprah Winfrey and RuPaul, is a New York Times best-selling author, a supporter of philanthropic causes and is the creator of the charity True Colors Fund.

H.D.

Poet, novelist and memoirist of the early twentieth century, Hilda Doolittle was born in Bethlehem and went on to rub elbows with the likes of Ezra Pound, D.H. Lawrence and Sigmund Freud in Europe. An unapologetic bisexual, H.D. was an independent spirit in a backwards world, and she’s buried now in the Nisky Hill Cemetery in Bethlehem. You can find a plaque honoring her just up Church Street.  

Mario Andretti  

An Italian-American imported to Nazareth in the ‘50s, Mario Andretti has won countless awards as a racing driver, including the Daytona 500 in 1967, but he and his brother got their start on dirt tracks near home. With his son and grandson and even his nephew following in his footsteps, the Andrettis seem to have high-performance motor oil in their blood.

Amanda Seyfried

Born in Allentown, Amanda Seyfried went to William Allen High School and appeared in Civic Theatre’s annual production of A Christmas Carol before her breakout role in Mean Girls and subsequent Hollywood success. She’s said to stop by for a family visit, so if you think you see her doppelganger on the streets of Allentown, it just might be the genuine article.  

Fun Fact

Athletes

The Lehigh Valley has produced several athletes who have jabbed, zoomed, pedaled and sprinted their way into the national spotlight. Olympic gold medalist Marty Nothstein has returned to lead the cycling center in Trexlertown that helped launch his career as a teen. Andre Reed traded the halls of Dieruff High School for the playing fields of the NFL. And Devin Street, NFL wide receiver for the Houston Texans, grew up playing in Bethlehem’s youth football organizations, graduated from the city’s Liberty High School and went on to play at the University of Pittsburgh. 

Sports Leagues

Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Don’t be afraid, this local hockey team only haunts the PPL Center in Allentown. Their mascot, meLVin, is a Puck-Nosed Pladottle. The team is a member of the American Hockey League (AHL), and is affiliated with NHL team the Philadelphia Flyers.

IronPigs

A minor league baseball team and triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, the IronPigs call Coca-Cola Park home. The team has two mascots, gray pigs by the names Ferrous and FeFe, after the periodic table name for iron. Ferrous wears the number 26, which is also the atomic number for iron. The team name comes from a type of iron known as pig iron, which the Valley is known for.

Lehigh Valley Steel Hawks

This professional indoor football team calls Allentown their home and plays at the PPL Center. The team’s colors are black, gold and white, and their mascot is a hawk named Talon.

Bethlehem Steel FC

In 2015, the Philadelphia Union became the club’s official affiliate in the United Soccer League, and they branded the team’s name based on a fan vote. Bethlehem Steel FC was chosen over Lehigh Valley Steel SC, Steel FC and Lehigh Valley Blast. The club was born on Oct. 27, 2015 and the crest incorporates steel red and Philadelphia Union blue and gold.

Lehigh vs Lafayette

How can a football rivalry be older than the sport itself? It all started in 1865 when Episcopalian judge and railroad mogul Asa Packer was asked to help assist Lafayette College in building an engineering school. However, when he learned that Lafayette was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, he decided to build the rival Lehigh University instead. Now, 153 years later, the two schools are 20 minutes or 17 miles apart and the rivalry is still going strong.

Can’t-Miss Annual Events

Great Allentown Fair

One of the oldest fairs in the country, the Great Allentown Fair got started in 1852 and has traced history with brass bands, horse racing and airships. Now it’s a week of carnival rides, livestock contests and concerts like Keith Urban and Pentatonix.

SouthSide Film Festival

With shorts, documentaries and features, this film festival presents a mix of the local and internationally acclaimed, sprinkled around venues in South Bethlehem. A free children’s film series gives the whole family an opportunity to experience this celebration of the film arts.

Easton Garlic Festival

“Eat, Drink, Stink” is the motto of this fragrant festival in Easton’s Centre Square in October. Live music and a beer garden accompany the sampling of a whole universe of garlicky goods , including garlic desserts, presented by local restaurants!

Runner’s World Marathon

Another October event focuses less on stuffing your face and more on moving: SteelStacks in Bethlehem hosts this annual festival from Runner’s World magazine, published nearby at Rodale in Emmaus. With a 5K, 10K, a dog run, a half marathon and a kids race, there’s action for all levels, along with seminars, music and vendors with all the best gear.

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

Every summer, without fail, residents of the Lehigh Valley know they can depend on DeSales University in Center Valley to produce a dazzling season of theater. Among six annual plays, you’ll find at least one musical and two or three of Shakespeare’s masterpieces. A Shakespeare for Kids component and one youngster-geared fairytale play each year helps get kids hooked on good theater.

Musikfest

Now in its 34th year, this massive ten-day palooza of festival food, free music and craft vendors brings thousands of people to Bethlehem for hundreds of free concerts. Highlights include Aw Shucks roasted corn, biggish names at the ticketed nightly mainstage concerts and the opportunity to wander around drinking in public, people watching and discovering awesome bands.

Celtic Classic

Since 1988, this festival has been a celebration of all things Scottish, Irish and Welsh, with competitions from pipe band to haggis eating to best Celtic poetry. Modern and traditional bands perform, and the U.S. Highland Games Championship brings athletes from around the country for the caber toss, hammer throw and other feats of strength. Check it out this month.

Local Universities & Higher Education

Lehigh University

LU is a private research university in Bethlehem, founded in 1865 by Asa Packer. The university has four colleges including the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, College of Education, College of Business and Economics and College of Arts and Sciences.

Moravian College

This private institution was founded in Bethlehem in 1742. It was first used as a boarding school for girls, later gaining a boarding school for boys and then becoming the Valley’s first coed college in 1954.

DeSales University

Located in Center Valley, this private Catholic university was founded in 1964. It was first known as the Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales but was changed to DeSales University in January 2001.

Lafayette College

Named after the famous Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, also known as General Lafayette, this private college is located in Easton and has a satellite campus in New York City. It was established in 1826 by James Madison Porter.

Northampton Community College

Founded in 1967, this two-year college has campuses in Bethlehem and Tannersville. It is the only community college in Pennsylvania that offers on-campus housing.

Muhlenberg College

This private Evangelical Lutheran college was established in Allentown in 1848. It is named after Henry Melchior Muhlenberg. The college was located in Trout Hall until moving to its current location in 1905.

East Stroudsburg University

Although the main campus is located in East Stroudsburg, ESU has a Lehigh Valley Center in Bethlehem. It was first established in 1893 as a teachers' college and is now a member of PASSHE.

Lehigh Carbon Community College

Also known as LCCC, the college is located in Schnecksville. It was founded in 1966 and has additional campuses in Jim Thorpe and Tamaqua.

Cedar Crest College

This historic women’s college held its first class on September 5, 1867 in the basement of Zion’s UCC, which housed the Liberty Bell in 1777. In its early days, it was known as the Allentown Female College. Today, the private Allentown school serves 1,591 undergraduate and graduate students—both male and female.

Pennsylvania State University

Also known as PSU or Penn State, this public research university was founded in 1855. Its main campus is located in State College but it has 19 campuses throughout Pennsylvania. The oldest campus is Penn State Lehigh Valley, which was founded in 1912 and is located in Center Valley.

Foodie Fact

Northampton Community College Culinary Arts Program

This local community college’s program has been going strong since 1993 and typically has a waiting list of about a year. Its many graduates populate the kitchens of the region and beyond, but before they do, the school’s on-site restaurant, Hampton Winds, is a great place to watch a budding chef.

History

North & South Bethlehem

Bethlehem was once a city divided—literally. Following its founding in 1741 by the Moravian community, Bethlehem grew and changed according to the identities of its neighborhoods and industries. West Bethlehem and North Bethlehem merged in 1904. South Bethlehem joined in 1917, and Archibald Johnston was named mayor of the newly united city. Bethlehem grew again in 1920 with the annexation of Northampton Heights.

Anna Mae Hays

The U.S. Army’s first-ever female general came from Allentown. Anna Mae Hays moved to the city from Buffalo as a child with her family in 1932. She graduated from the Allentown Hospital School of Nursing in 1941 and joined the Army Nurse Corps the following year. She rose in the ranks, culminating in a promotion to Brigadier General in 1970.

General Harry C. Trexler

Allentown’s lush park system is still thriving today, more than 100 years after General Harry C. Trexler got the ball rolling. Ironically, at one time preserving green space wasn’t high on Trexler’s agenda—his family’s lumber business made a fortune by cutting down and harvesting trees. But in the early 1900s, he purchased a piece of property that would become West Park. Later, Lehigh Parkway and Trexler Park took shape on land he bequeathed to the city. And in his will, Trexler stipulated that his private foundation would continue to provide for the park system in perpetuity.

Easton Heritage Day

They were the words that set our nation free, and residents of Easton were among the first to hear them. The Declaration of Independence was read aloud in Centre Square on July 8, 1776. It was one of only three public readings of the document at the time. The historic event is commemorated every year when the city celebrates Heritage Day.

Liberty Bell

Everyone knows the Liberty Bell lives in Philadelphia, but it once took up temporary residence in Allentown. The bell was hidden beneath the floorboards of Zion’s Reformed UCC during the Revolutionary War in 1777 to keep it out of the hands of the British. The bell was returned to Philadelphia the following year. Now Zion’s houses a museum with a replica of the bell.

Big Name Business

ArtsQuest

This nonprofit is dedicated to outreach programs that aid in economic development, urban revitalization and community enrichment by bringing music, arts, festivals and cultural and educational experiences to the Valley. ArtsQuest is responsible for many of the Valley’s most popular festivals, including Musikfest and Christkindlmarkt, and hosts other events at SteelStacks, the Levitt Pavilion, Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas and Banana Factory Arts and Education Center.

A-Treat

This local beverage company was first started in 1918 in a three-car garage in Allentown. It moved to East Allentown in 1932 and was bottled there until 2015, when the company was temporarily out of business and before being purchased by the Jaindl Companies and resuming production later that same year. Two regional favorites are the A-Treat birch beer and cream soda. A-Treat is a staple that you will find at most barbecues in the Valley.

Dorney Park

This amusement park has been the first job location of many young people in the Valley. It started as a fish hatchery in the 1860s by Solomon Dorney. During the 1870s, games, playground rides, mechanical rides, refreshment stands and even a small zoo were added. In 1884, more rides and attractions were added as well as a Ferris wheel and swimming pool. In 1901, The Traction Company purchased the park and gained the Dentzel Carousel. The park has changed rides, attractions and even owners since the 1860s, but its ability to thrill guests has remained the same.

PPL

It’s not an acronym for “people.” Rather, PPL stands for Pennsylvania Power and Light. There’s a PPL Building, PPL Center and PPL Corporation. The PPL Building was built from 1926 to 1928 by the PPL Corporation. The building was designed by the same architect who helped design the Rockefeller Center in New York. The PPL Building is home to the PPL Corporation and provides electric utilities to the Lehigh Valley and employs about 13,000 employees. The PPL Center is named after the PPL Corporation.

Air Products

Founded in 1940, this company is not just about air. Air Products employs 16,000 people worldwide and works in business, engineering, chemicals and finance, supplying various gases for medical and specialty uses.

Crayola

Everyone’s favorite crayons are made right here in the Valley. The company was started in 1885 by Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith as a pigment supply company. Crayola gets its name from the French word for chalk, craie, and the suffix –ola, which comes from the word oleaginous or oily. In 1996, Fred Rogers, from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, made the one hundred billionth crayon at the Crayola plant in Easton.

Martin Guitar

Otherwise known as C.F. Martin & Company, this manufacturer has been creating guitars for 184 years. It was founded in 1833 in New York City and moved to Nazareth in 1839. Fun Fact: Elvis Presley played a Martin guitar.

Just Born

No, this is not a baby clothing company. Just Born Quality Confections is the ninth largest candy manufacturer in the country and is responsible for the adorable and colorful marshmallow Peeps, Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews, Mike And Ike and Hot Tamales. They also host PEEPSFEST at the Bethlehem SteelStacks in December.

Olympus America

This tech giant has a huge corporate headquarters located in Center Valley. In addition to cameras, this company also works in the healthcare field by providing the newest technologies for minimally invasive procedures. The Center Valley office boasts 5,000 employees, as well as on-site childcare and fitness programs.

Mack Trucks

Located in Macungie, Mack Trucks has been assembling trucks since the early 1900s. There is also a Mack Trucks Historical Museum located in Allentown that houses memorabilia, vintage Mack Truck models and historic photos.

Hospitals:

St. Luke’s and Lehigh Valley Health Network

These health-oriented powerhouses are two of the top employers in the Valley and are committed to keeping its residents healthy.

Fun Fact

Big Brands

Many of the tools we use to live, work and play roll off the assembly line right here in the Lehigh Valley. Crayola crayons come to life just outside Easton. Peeps and other sweet Just Born treats are made in Bethlehem. Martin guitars are manufactured in Nazareth. Sam Adams beer is brewed in Breinigsville. The bright idea for the dimmer switch came from Joel Spira, founder of Coopersburg’s Lutron.

What To Drink

(And Where To Drink It) In The Lehigh Valley

In keeping with its alcohol-laced heritage, the Lehigh Valley is home to many opportunities to drink local beer, wine and spirits. We’ll start with the heavy-hitting stuff and work our way backward, in terms of ABV.

Spirits

Close to home, you’ll find Social Still, County Seat, Triple Sun and Eight Oaks in many bars and restaurants; you can also visit these places for samples and tours. If you are really into local spirits, Pennsylvania is home to a burgeoning craft spirits scene, many using locally grown grains, thanks to some changes in legislation in the past few years.

Wine

Since 2008, the Lehigh Valley can boast that it has its own AVA (American Viniculture Area) designation, covering 1.2 million acres. Turns out the Lehigh Valley’s climate is fairly hospitable to grapes grown for wines, especially Chambourcin, but wineries are adventurous and you can find many different varietals here. To the north, there’s Galen Glen (don’t miss their ice wine), Franklin Hill Winery (which is owned by a woman whose family owns Social Still—fun fact) and Tolino. There’s also Blue Mountain Vineyards and Pinnacle Ridge, and Clover Hill Winery, one of the bigger ones, is west, in Breinigsville. The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, which includes many (nine) but not all wineries and vineyards in the region, seeks to make visiting a lot easier, with maps, events, dinners and tastings.

Beer

And the beer. The Lehigh Valley is home to many award-winning craft breweries, of course! Weyerbacher Brewery started as a small operation in Downtown Easton in 1996 and has exploded in growth, popularity and recognition over the years. Their brewery tasting room is a must for any beer lover. Fegley’s Brew Works holds its own with two pubs and regional distribution, and relative newcomer Two Rivers Brewing nabbed an award at the Great American Beer Festival in 2016. Funk Brewing forms a triangle with an excellent pizza joint (Switchback) and another distillery in Emmaus (Triple Sun), making for a fun day of eating and drinking. HiJinx and Hardball produce beers and cider, respectively, and gypsy brewer Joe Percoco, whose brews engender fanatic devotion, just opened up a tasting room for his Søle Artisan Ales in Downtown Easton. There’s also Bonn Place, Saucony Creek, Yergey, Lost Tavern, Hop Hill and probably others, too, by the time this guide is published.

Mead

Want something totally different but completely authentically American? Try the creative, award-winning mead, which is a fermented honey-based beverage dating back to Colonial times, from Colony Meadery. The operation is based in Allentown in the same building as County Seat and HiJinx, but you can also find an outpost at the Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem.

Foodie Fact

Fasnacht

This potato-based doughnut is a Pennsylvania Dutch (a.k.a. German) treat whose name translates to “fast night” eaten on Shrove Tuesday—a.k.a. the day before Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, they are square, without a hole, and unfrosted. Easton, Egypt Star, Emmaus and Vallo’s bakeries have them, in addition to most supermarkets in the area (Giant, Wegmans).

10 Restaurants You Must Try in Your First Year

1. Apollo Grill

Apollo repeatedly wins raves (and reader contests), year after year for its stellar service, extensive menu—specifically the appetizers—and longevity. Head here for lunch and reserve dinner a few weeks ahead of time for the weekend.

85 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.865.9600 | apollogrill.com

2. Bolete

Everyone buzzes about farm-to-table, but husband-and-wife team chef Lee Chizmar and Erin Shea helped blaze the trail here in the Lehigh Valley for what’s better termed, sustainable fine dining.

1740 Seidersville Rd., Bethlehem | 610.868.6505 | boleterestaurant.com

3. Fegley’s Brew Works

Between their own beer and the expansive, multipaged menu, Fegley’s brewpub has something for everyone, with locations in Allentown and Bethlehem.

812 W.  Hamilton St., Allentown | 610.433.7777 | 559 Main St.  Suite 101, Bethlehem | 610.882.1300 | thebrewworks.com

4. Grille 3501

Dine alfresco, meet friends at the bar with an expansive cocktail menu or opt for more traditional environs. It’s hard to make a bad decision at this mainstay, which fuses Mediterranean, Asian and French fare.

3501 Broadway, Allentown | 610.706.0100 | grille3501.com

5. Molinari’s

Authentic, seasonal and fresh—these three words sum up what happens at Molinari’s, a gem of an Italian restaurant in Southside Bethlehem, on a regular basis.

322 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.625.9222 | molinarimangia.com

6. The Mint

This energetic, whimsical gastropub in the western side of Bethlehem continues to innovate. Chef Dom “Mimmo” Lombardo knows his way around everything from fried chicken to foie gras. The craft beer list ain’t too shabby, either.

1223 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.3810 | bethlehemmint.com

7. Savory Grille

This could be considered a destination restaurant, because it’s tucked in the countryside, away from the cities. Chef-owners Shawn and Dorothy Doyle know hospitality, the merits of seasonal eating and the way to make all feel welcome.

2934 Seisholtzville Rd., Macungie | 610.845.2010 | savorygrille.com

8. Tre Scalini

Picture homemade Italian fare served in an intimate setting—an older Victorian home converted to a restaurant—and that’s what you get at this hidden gem.

221 E. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.1619 | trescalini.net

9. Two Rivers Brewing Company

Located in a rehabbed building dating to the 1800s, Two Rivers is a labor of love. That love includes good craft beer whose brew names contain local color and comfort food with locally sourced ingredients.

542 Northampton St., Easton | 610.829.1131 | tworiversbrewing.com

10. Youell’s Oyster House

What started out as a simple spot in Downtown Easton in 1895 has grown to its current location in Allentown. Oysters come in six days a week; crab cakes are legendary.

2249 Walnut St., Allentown | 610.439.1203 | youellsoysterhouse.com

Foodie Fact

Yocco’s Hot Dogs

People here in the Lehigh Valley are super into hot dogs. It could possibly be part of the German heritage. Yocco’s, which has multiple locations in Allentown, Emmaus and Trexlertown, has been doing dogs right for decades. You’ll fit right in if you order an “everything” (tangy mustard, chopped onions and house-made chili sauce) and wash it down with chocolate milk.

What Grows Here?

A Guide to the Foods of the Lehigh Valley and Where to Get Them

We’re lucky. We’re in Zone 6b, which is an agricultural way of saying that we can grow lots of fruits, veggies and herbs around here. We have many small farms that supply regional food businesses and sell directly to the public, too. Basically, if you have a green thumb, you’d probably like to know that our final frost occurs in early May and the first one is in the fall—early October. So much can grow here.

Spring & Summer

In spring, we see lots of greens—both for cooking and salad—such as spinach, kale, Swiss chard, arugula and mixed greens. Radishes, carrots, beets and so forth also make appearances in spring and in fall, as they prefer cooler temperatures. In the summer you can expect to find just about everything: all kinds of berries, peaches, plums, cherries, melons and more. Here, veggies run the gamut from tomatoes, corn and cukes to eggplants, many varieties of peppers, potatoes, broccoli rabe, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, beans, peas, broccoli and many types of mushrooms, onions and garlic. Herbs do well here, too. The only veggies that may be hard to come by are artichokes.

Autumn

As for the fall, it’s loaded with root veggies—tons of different kinds of potatoes, turnips, multicolored carrots, you name it. Farmers in the Lehigh Valley are creative and resilient. It is still possible to eat fresh food throughout the winter as well at many farmers’ markets—you won’t have the variety of the height of the season, but root veggies and greens that are hardy in cooler temps (such as kale) dominate. We have several orchards that grow interesting varieties of apples, squashes and peaches.

Where to Get Them

The farmers’ market and local food scene here is strong. At the eastern end of the Valley, you’ll find the Easton Farmers’ Market, which is the nation’s oldest continuously operating, open-air farmers’ market. There are a couple in Bethlehem, including one at Northampton Community College and others in Bath, Macungie, Nazareth, Northampton, Saucon Valley, Emmaus and Trexlertown, among others. If you’re looking for producer-grower-only markets, check out Buy Fresh Buy Local Greater Lehigh Valley. All year round, investigate the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market, the Easton Public Market’s farmstand and Valley Farm Market for varying degrees of local produce, meat and cheese.

If you’re inclined to fend for yourself and see food as an adventure in sustainability, foraging is possible. Foragers can find mushrooms (be careful!), ramps, nettles, purslane, mulberries, juniper tips and much more.

Foodie Fact

Tomato Pie

It’s not pizza, really. Nor is it pie in a traditional sense, with a flaky crust. With its origins in Sicilian pizza, tomato pie is a doughy concoction cut into thick squares, often served at room temperature or slightly warm, covered with a sweet, slightly thick tomato sauce and sometimes sprinkled with parmesan cheese. Easton Baking Co. is well known for this item.