Arts & Culture

After two months and $450,000 in renovations, the Bethlehem Area Public Library celebrated with a grand reopening on Saturday.

The event featured 35 local vendors selling vegetarian and vegan products as well as free workout classes and a live recipe demo.

After two months and $450,000 in renovations, the Bethlehem Area Public Library hosted a grand reopening April 29, 2023.

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

The outdoor block party has been put off this year due to the rain and cold temperatures.

The walkable tour features gallery stops and showcases paintings, handmade jewelry and sculptures by Lehigh Valley artists.

The Olympic track and field star and accomplished public speaker will share some inspirational words on Saturday, April 29.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission clarified that the proposed South Side Bethlehem Cultural Arts Center isn't expected to meet LEED green certification in construction.

Following the introduction of a resolution to recognize Muslim holidays, the Easton City Council resolved to expand that recognition to include religious holidays from all faiths in a separate calendar.

It's an opportunity to celebrate Hispanic culture during the theater’s Latino open-air block party on Saturday, April 29.

Cavalera, a gold-record-selling metal band from Brazil that has placed three albums on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, on Monday announced its latest tour. Its flier lists a March 8 show at The Archer.

The Gene Simmons Band will perform at Wind Creek Event Center on Thursday, May 8, as part of a tour that so far has 14 dates.

Jordan Davis, whose first single, "Singles You Up," went triple-platinum in 2017 and whose song 2021 "Buy Dirt" (featuring Luke Bryan) went five times platinum, will headline Musikfest in August, it was announced.

Tommy Castro, who has won the Blues Foundation B.B. King Entertainer of the Year four times, will perform with his band The Painkillers on Feb. 27. And Low Cut Connie, the Philadelphia retro-piano-rock band that has shown up on Barack Obama's Spotify Summer Playlist and gotten effusive praise from Elton John, will perform March 5.

During the hourlong drive through Christmas City, a guide shares facts about the Moravian traditions and the Star of Bethlehem.

Social media rumblings this week included a number of people saying they weren’t able to mail Christmas cards from the Bethlehem Post Office using the special Christmas City postmark. Postal service officials have said there’s no cause for concern.

Eric Hutchinson, whose 2008 song “Rock & Roll” topped that chart, and who also hit the chart with 2009’s “OK, It’s Alright With Me” and 2012’s “Watching You Watch Him,” will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 23.

Marblehead Chowder House on William Penn Highway in Palmer Township has been in operation since 1996. The ownership says the business has changed with the times and owes its success to loyal customers and staff.

As the owners of Smartivity Showcase cut the ribbon Thursday night on their new store, they prepared to close the art market's original home in Easton.

"Ready, Set, Glow" premiered on Thursday with host Wes Brown's trip to Bethlehem where he stopped at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem and Christkindlmarkt.

"Disney on Ice Presents Into the Magic," which continues through Sunday at Allentown's PPL Center showcases characters from the Disney movie "Tangled," Flynn Rider and Rapunzel, who fall in love. Turns out that the actors who play those parts — Jason Marsh as Flynn and Taylor Steele as Rapunzel — are real-life husband and wife.

The Four Phantoms in Concert, featuring Brent Barrett, John Cudia, Franc D’Ambrosio and Ciarán Sheehan, will perform "iconic hits from Broadway and beyond" on Saturday, March 29.