Arts & Culture

About 900 feet above sea level, the nearly 100-foot-high beacon atop South Mountain sports 238 brand-new LEDs and a jump in wattage from 5.5 to 7 per lamp, according to Bethlehem Electrical Bureau Chief Greg Cryder.

Celebrate the start of summer with traditional folk dance and son jarocho music at the Charles A. Brown Ice House on Saturday, June 21.

ArtsQuest's new Movie Trivia Mayhem, a tournament-style movie trivia showdown, is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas in ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.

The Smashing Pumpkins founder and frontman Billy Corgan played a two-hour, 22-song set with his new band The Machines of God before a near-sellout crowd of perhaps 1,500 at Allentown's Archer Music Hall.

A cappella group Straight No Chaser, best known for its viral internet video of “Twelve Days of Christmas” mashed with Toto’s “Africa,” will perform at the theater Dec. 7. And Wizards of Winter, the popular rock-music-holiday show, will return at 3 p.m. Dec. 21.

The five-story cultural hub, which will replace the Banana Factory, will house a recording studio, a 125-seat theater, STEAM classes, a glass studio and programming in English and Spanish.

Crumb has started a short tour that brings it later this week to Allentown's Archer Music Hall. Tickets, at $41.80 for general admission standing, with pop band Kassie Krut as opening, remain available for the Thursday show.

The fair said Monday that Ace Frehley, former guitarist for KISS, and 1980s hard rockers Quiet Riot and Great White will perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 30.

"Rooted: A Story of Artists Embracing Place" debuted on Sunday at Zoellner Arts Center. It is produced by Doug Roysdon, Dave Fry, Bill George, and Bridget George. The riveting film features interviews with Bethlehem's community leaders, directors, and arts advocates.

Night at the Drive-In: On Tuesday, June 17, Shankweiler's will host Brad Klein and Marty McGuire for Watching the Skies' first live event. And they will screen (also for the first time) a presentation by Bethlehem’s "Backyard Astronomer" about his favorite planet, Mars.

Allentown will host a walking Halloween parade this year. The event has not been cancelled. However, cars and floats will not be part of this year's event.

Hurricane Fiona hammered Puerto Rico with up to 15 inches of rain and knocked out power across the island.

Ms. Velvet’s Café, a walk-up eatery serving breakfast and lunch, held a grand opening Sept. 20 at 239 N. Fourth St. in downtown Allentown. The business is named in memory of owner Carlos Marrero's late sister, Ruby Marrero, who died as a result of a hit-and-run accident a few blocks away from the eatery in 2017.

Husband and wife Juan and Melanie Martinez, will open their 6th eatery, Miss Jackson’s Kitchen, at 201 McCartney St. in Easton. on the ground floor of Lafayette College’s McCartney Residences.

Seniors say their families are safe but still in need of support.

The inaugural Latino Restaurant Week LV, highlighting Latino eateries and cuisine throughout the area, kicked off Thursday in Bethlehem. The event is dubbed as a week, but it actually will take place over three weeks in three cities: Sept. 15-23 in Bethlehem, Sept. 23-30 in Allentown and Sept. 30-Oct. 7 in Easton.

A free presentation is being offered Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Allentown Public Library.

Amanda Seyfried won Monday night for her leading role in the Hulu series 'The Dropout.'

After two years of being shuttered during the pandemic, The Macungie Institute has new leadership and new events.

Allentown Fair kicked off its 170th year Wednesday. It continues through Labor Day.

The popular attraction is set to kick off the Halloween season Sept. 16.

The fair is set to make a big return after one year closed by and another subdued by COVID-19.