Restaurant Week at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley

Have you wanted to try one of the restaurants at the Promenade Shops but your wallet has been a little empty? The prix fixe menus for this week's Restaurant Week might be just the treat for you!

"Fine Dining" at Shula's - $39 dinner only
"Deluxe Dining" at Kome, Melt, Pacifico or White Orchids - $20 lunch/$30 dinner
"Casual Dining" at Cosi, Pandini's, The Pita Pit or Red Robin - $8 lunch or dinner
"Sweet Treats" at Barnes & Noble Cafe, Fuzziwig's Candy Factory, MaggieMoo's, Nestle Tollhouse Cafe or Starbucks

Visit their website for menu details and phone numbers to make reservations!

Have a Heart: NET Blood Donation Night

Have a Heart: NET Blood Donation Night (Weds., Feb. 11)

Join NET members by donating blood at the Miller Keystone Blood Center.

“Often, people don’t consider the importance of having sufficient supplies of blood on the shelf until they or a family member need it,” D. Kip Kuttner, D.O, Vice President & Medical Director, Miller-Keystone Blood Center says. “But by that time, it is too late… we don’t have the time to begin the recruitment process, the blood is needed right then and there.”

Please join the NET in meeting the blood demand the Second Wednesday of every month.

Donating blood is completely safe and easy, and takes less than one hour. In order to donate, individuals must be 17 years of age or older, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be feeling healthy; they must not have donated in the past eight weeks. First-time donors are also asked to bring photo identification, such as a driver’s license. In addition you cannot have new piercings or tattoos within one year.

Miller-Keystone is the Lehigh Valley's only blood resource, supplying blood to Blue Mountain Health System, Easton Hospital, Greater Hazleton Health Alliance, Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Lehigh Valley Hospital Health Network, Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, The Reading Hospital and Medical Center, Sacred Heart Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center, St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network and Warren Hospital.

• Location: Miller Keystone Blood Center 1465 Valley Center Parkway, Bethlehem, PA 18017
• Date/Time: Weds., Feb. 11
• Cost: Free

Any Valley Chocoholics?

Anyone out there looking for a place to indulge their sweet tooth and help out a good cause? Head out to Easton for the 3rd Annual Chocolate Lovers' Soiree on Saturday, January 31st to do just that!

For $25 ($20 if you have dinner beforehand at a downtown restaurant and bring your receipt), you'll get 3 hours of chocolate heaven at the Bank Street Annex. It's a fundraising event for the Easton Main Street Intiative. Plus you can enter a prize drawing to win a really nice weekend in Easton for Valentine's Day.

Visit the Easton Main Street Intiative website for more information. Tickets can be bought at the door!

Back in Action!

Hello, faithful readers.

As one anonymous poster commented, yes, I've been away from the blog for a while. Some work commitments have kept me away from my normal Internet routine.

Hopefully you've had a chance to explore some of the links to other LV blogs during my absence. Thanks for all of your great suggestions of blogs that I did not list. I've added most of them to the sidebar.

Now that I have a renewed commitment to keeping you updated not only on the events of NET and the local community, what are you most interested in reading about? Activity schedules? Local business comings and goings? Local politics? This is YOUR blog! Let us know where your interests lie.

For those of you who are not NET members, I'd encourage you to become official members. You can visit our Membership Page to find out more details. You'll get a subscription to LV Style Magazine, so you can know what's going on. You'll get access to discounts to NET events as well as local businesses. You'll get an ARTIX book to get discounts on local theater/arts productions. Plus you'll be supporting the organization that is working to give LV young professionals a voice in the community. What's not to love?!?

The Lehigh Valley Blog List

We're starting a new feature to The After Work Chronicles: a LV blog list. Just take a peek to your right. I've listed several blogs that have LV connections that I read on a regular basis. If you have any to add (or if you own one of these blogs and would prefer not to have extra readers head your way), leave a comment so we can add more in.

Whether you are a "local-yocal" or new to the LV, the many blogs written by LV residents will surely give you new ideas and new perspectives on our community.

LV Wines...and more!

Good wine doesn't just come from places like Napa & Bordeaux. It's not too late to experience a little of the LV wine culture. And, don't fret if you can't make this weekend's events. You can always experience the LV Wine Trail whenever you please.
---
"Harvest Weekend - The Butcher, The Baker & The Winemaker"
Presented by the members of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail
Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, Sept. 13, 12 pm to 5 pm

The LV Wine Trail will be partnering with other PA product manufacturers to showcase the "Pennsylvania Preferred" program. Food, music, vineyard tours, wine pairings and many more activities to keep you busy.

Young Professionals' Night Out at the State Theater

A night of comedy with your peers...
---
Wednesday, Sept 17
Young Professional’s Night Out at the State Theater
NBC's 'Last Comic Standing' Live Tour starring the top five finalists including the season six winner!

Including:
• one ticket to the Last Comic Standing performance

• a pre-show happy hour reception with free appetizers

• 1 free drink coupon

All for only $43!*(Save $10 on tickets alone)
Happy hour: 6pm-7:30pm in the State Theatre second floor lobby
Showtime: 8pm

Celebrate Allentown!

Looking for a way to learn a little more about the cultural diversity of the LV? Perhaps try a little bit of all the great food our area has to offer?
---

The City of Allentown and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce proudly present Celebrate Allentown, a multi-cultural celebration taking place on Saturday September 13th from 12 noon to 8 pm. This event will feature music, food, crafts, art and children’s activities that showcase the different cultures that make up our wonderfully diverse Allentown community.

Besides being a fun event for the entire family, it will also be educational and provide community building and ultimately, be an experience that will leave a lasting impression on all the attendees.

Celebrate Allentown will feature a variety of musical genres from around the world and will bring the PPL Plaza to life. The line-up includes:

12:15 – 1:15PM The Hometown German Band
1:30 – 2:45PM The Great Djembe Jam
3:15 – 5:00PM Haki Haki
5:30 – 6:30PM Emerald City
6:45 – 8:00PM Hector Rosado Y Su Orquesta Aché

This diverse combination of musical groups represents some of the many cultural groups that make up our Queen City of Allentown. It will expose attendees to a variety of musical sounds, including Celtic, German, Kenyan, and Latin Jazz and Salsa music.

Dog Day at the Allentown Arts Park
Saturday, September 6, 12-3 PM

Have you gotten a chance to visit the William Wegman: Fay special exhibition at the Allentown Art Museum? Up for a good day out with your pooch? Head to the Allentown Arts Park to enter your dog in the doggie costume contest (with prizes) and let him/her be walked by volunteers from RFurry Friends while you visit the exhibit at a discounted rate (discount only for those who bring a dog to be walked).

Registration for the costume contest will be held from 12-1 PM, and the parade and judging will begin at 1:30 PM. Mingle with representatives from Lehigh Valley animal shelters (Lehigh County Humane Society, Linda Ann's Greyhound Rescue, RanToo Slow Greyhound Adoption), meet and greet their pooches, and get information from various vendors offering services and products for petowners (Jen Howard Art, The Spotted Dog Barkery). This is one official Dog Day of summer you won't want to miss!

You don't have to go all the way to NYC to see some fashion...

Lehigh Valley Fashion Weekend
Friday, September 12, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Allentown Symphony Hall
23 North 6th St.
Allentown, PA 18101

A true celebration of people in fashion, LV Fashion Weekend is a two-day charitable event that attracts the most beautiful crowd in the Lehigh Valley and showcases the latest fashion trends and styles while offering a first-class philanthropic resource.

The opening night of Fashion Weekend will be an exclusive gala event, one not to be missed - only tell your best friends. Leading into Symphony Hall there wil be a red carpet champagne reception -- watch out for the paparazzi!! Then get upclose with the hottest fashions walking down the catwalk from your favorite designers. After the show VIP's escape to the ultra private Rodale Room where you can indulge in the great culinary tastes from local eateries, meet and greet with celebrities, models, and artists all while enjoying chic entertainment, atmosphere, and a premium open bar. Mingle, Dance, Relax, Enjoy.

Day two of the LV Fashion Weekend we start off by offering special discounts at local participating retailers, where a percentage of your purchases goes toward Allentown Symphony Orchestra Children's programming for charity. This fun day of shopping is designed to support local business for a charitable cause. Shop in the name of charity!

Tables $195 : includes cabaret table for 3 guests closest to the stage, with complimentary drink, hors d'oeuvres, meet and greet in the Rodale Room after the show.

VIP Seats $65 each in the boxes: includes complimentary drink, hors d'oeuvres, meet and greet.

Premium Seating $50: seating in the house includes admission to meet and greet. QTY limited.

General admission: $30 house seating

Interested in the history of transportation?

America On Wheels Road Jamboree
Saturday: August 16, 2008
10:00 am—3:00 pm

-Free Admission To “Outside” Jamboree
-Wide Variety Of Vehicles
-Live Music
-Kid Friendly Games and Rides
-Food Vendors
-Live Radio Broadcast
-$5 Museum Admission (Regular $7)

Located near the Lehigh River, where Hamilton Street meets Front Street, our museum is both easy to find and easy to get to.

Looking for something to do in Allentown?

The City of Allentown Department of Parks & Recreation presents Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns - at Valania Park in Allentown (On Union Street between 5th & 6th)- Movie begins at dark (around 8:30pm) - Join in one of Allentown's best new activities - movies under the night sky on our large outdoor movie screen. Bring your family, friends, a blanket or some lawn chairs and enjoy a great movie in the beautiful downtown Allentown parks.

On August 23rd you can enjoy a catered dinner in West Park, followed by the movie "Grease" which will be projected on our large screen in the band shell . To make dinner reservations please contact the West Park Civic Association at 610-434-0657.

Are you looking for some musical entertainment in the Valley this evening?
---
FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES Presented by the Easton Main Street Initiative

Friday July 25th, 7:30-9:30 pm
Centre Square

JAZZ INDIGO
Savor the timeless sounds of Jazz Indigo, performing a sizzling blend of vocal jazz standards, bossas and blues. Suzanne Pisano-Vocals, Ed Ronco-Sax, Chris Boyce-Piano, Mike Wolf-Bass.

Dine in downtown Easton before or after the show!

Catch our other Shows this Summer... August 29th The New Groove Sept. 26th Vocal Artist, Michele Bautier

4th of July Festivities

Are you looking for some ways to fill your holiday weekend! Here's a list of local events to keep you busy...
---
Thursday 7/3

Summer in the City - at the PPL Plaza - 11:45 - 1:15pm (Allentown)
-Back by popular demand, Summer in the City features the Lehigh Valley's best musicians in
a variety of musical genres. From Jazz to Folk and Classical to Celtic,you will be entertained every Thursday during lunch, from 11:45am -1:15pm, right at the PPL Plaza. Come early and grab a seat, or bring your own lawn chair! This week you can enjoy music with the Fusion Jazz Trio.

Young@Heart - at Civic's Theatre 514 - 7:00pm - $6-8
-You may have seen hilarious, though out-of-context, clips of the Young@Heart vocal choir performing on YouTube, but you have not yet seen the full, uplifting story of twenty-plus senior citizens daring enough to sing songs born in the same years as their grandchildren. This Stephen Walker documentary follows the group over six weeks of rigorous rehearsals, in which they attempt music by the Clash, the Ramones and James Brown, among others. Riotously funny in its portrayal of the generation gap between the songs and the people singing them, but unflinchingly real in its portrayal of heartbreaking loss, Young@Heart is a pragmatic portrait of senior citizens refusing to fade into oldage.
-This film is part of the 19th Street Film Series.
-Visit civictheatre.com for more information.

Son of Rambow - at Civic Theatre - 7:30pm - $6-8
-A strangely beautiful love letter to cinema in general, Son of Rambow follows Will Proudfoot, a reserved young boy whose family is part of the Brethren, a religion that shuns the outside world and prohibits Will from having friends at school or watching TV. Will gets caught up in the world of Lee Carter, however, the school terror who wants help in making a homemade version of the Sylvester Stallone film First Blood. After watching the original, Will writes his own sequel and casts himself as the son of Rambo. The whole school soon wants in on this unlikely project, including a suave French exchange student who threatens the integrity of the production and the friendship between Will and Lee.
-This film is part of the 19th Street Film Series.
-Visit civictheatre.com for more information.

Lehigh Valley Beer Meet Up - at the Allentown Brew Works - 7:00pm
-Come for an early celebration of Red, White and Blue - Blueberry, that is, at the Allentown Brew Works this Thursday! Come join the Lehigh Valley Beer Meetup for a free beer tasting of the Blueberry Belch at 7pm at the main bar. See http://beer.meetup.com/204 for more info and RSVP to diane@thebrewworks.com.

Pioneer Band- 4th of July Concert - at West Park - 7:30pm
-Enjoy a free band concert admist the natural beauty of Allentown's West Park.

IronPigs vs. the Yankees - at Coca-Cola Park- Game starts at 7:05pm
-Hot dogs, locally brewed beer and BASEBALL -- in a brand new stadium...the perfect way to spend some quality time with family, friends or co-workers.
-Visit: www.ironpigsbaseball.com for more information and a complete schedule.


Friday 7/4

"Let Freedom Ring" National Bell Ringing Ceremony - at Liberty Bell Shrine Museum - 1:30pm -Join in this Independence DayCeremony. The ceremony begins at 1:30pm. Allentown's Liberty Bell will be rung, and bell ringing will take place across the nation at 2pm. "Pip the Colonial Mouse" will be there too!

Son of Rambow - at Civic Theatre - 1:30pm - $6-8
-See description above.
-This film is part of the 19th Street Film Series.
-Visit civictheatre.com for more information.

Independence Day Celebration- J. Birney Crum Stadium
-Gates open at 6 pm. Entertainment by the Marine Band begins at 7:30pm. Skydivers will make their first appearance at 7:45pm followed by a second flight at 8:30pm and a third flight just before the fireworks begin. TheMarine Band will play additional sets beginning at 8:15 and 8:45pm. Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Police Chief Roger MacLean and Alan Raber will offer remarks and the Marine Band will play the national anthem just prior to the expected 9pm start of the fireworks.The show will include nearly 3200 shells and is expected to last 30-to-45 minutes. A donation of $5 per family and $2 per adult is requested to defray expenses of the approximately $20,000 show.

Fever Friday - in the Silk Lounge at Allentown Brew Works -10pm-2am
-Dance the night away in the Silk Lounge with DJ Sweetlife.This would be a great way to continue the night after Dancing in theStreets.

Saturday 7/5


Son of Rambow - at Civic Theatre - 1:30pm - $6-8
-See description above.
-This film is part of the 19th Street Film Series.
-Visit civictheatre.com for more information.

Jay and the Techniques - at Buck Boyle Park- 5pm
-Enjoy a free concert celebrating the holiday weekend at the beautiful Buck Boyle Park.

Hot Nights in Silk - in the Silk Lounge at Allentown BrewWorks - 10pm-2am
-Dance the night away in the Silk Lounge with DJ Maze.

Sunday 7/6

Son of Rambow - at Civic Theatre - 1:30pm - $6-8
-See description above.
-This film is part of the 19th Street Film Series.
-Visit civictheatre.com for more information.

Gospel Brunch - at the Allentown Brew Works - 11am-4pm- $5 cover

Bike Night - Art N Soul Studios - 4-7pm

IronPigs vs. the Bats - at Coca-Cola Park- Game starts at 5:35pm
-Hot dogs, locally brewed beer and BASEBALL -- in a brand new stadium...the perfect way to spend some quality time with family, friends or co-workers.
-Visit: www.ironpigsbaseball.com for more information and a complete schedule.

Municipal Band Concert - at West Park - 7:30pm
-Enjoy a free band concert admist the natural beauty of Allentown's West Park.

Monday 7/8

Yoga in the Park - Allentown Arts Park - 5-6:30pm
-Stretch out and do something good for your body and enjoy the beauty of the Allentown Arts Park while you're at it. Suggested donation of $5-10.

Free Jazz in Easton this Friday, 6/27!

Calling all you jazz fanatics!
---
Jazz in the Square
FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
Presented by the Easton Main Street Initiative

Friday June 27th, 7:30-9:30 pm
Centre Square
Duet Jazz Fusion with guitarist, Frank Belinc and pianist, Patrick Poladian playing a soulful mix of rock, jazz and funk. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy "summer in the city!"

Dine in downtown Easton before or after the show!

Catch our other Shows this Summer...
July 25th Jazz Indigo
August 29th The New Groove
Sept. 26th Vocal Artist, Michele Bautier

Local Author Day at the Moravian Bookshop this Saturday, 6/28

Here's a way to beat the summer heat and meet some local authors; the Moravian Book Shop will be hosting a meet and greet with 5 local authors this Saturday (6/28) from 1-3 pm.

You can spend your afternoon with...

Vince Chiles: Happiness in Five Minutes a Day teaches the reader how to find happiness through five one-minute exercises, so that even the busiest person can discover his or her innate ability to achieve and maintain happiness. Vince has fused his education, personal growth, and professional work experience as a hospice supervisor into a common sense guide to finding happiness in everyday life.

William Jennings: Controversies surrounding the first three chapters of the Bible are the focus of Storms Over Genesis: Biblical Battleground in America's Wars of Religion. Feminists say the chapters do women much harm, some environmentalists see the seeds of our environmental crisis, and creationists think the chapters are a bulwark against theories of evolution. The Midwestern Book Review gave the book five stars, calling it "an enlightening study." William H. Jennings (Ph.D., Yale) is Professor of Religion, Emeritus, Muhlenberg College.

John Ketwig: John Ketwig's ...and a hard rain fell is being celebrated in a new, updated 20th Anniversary Edition. This book has been praised for more than twenty years because it is one of the most honest and thought-provoking war books of all time. From the country roads of upstate New York to the jungles of Vietnam, and finally to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., ...and a hard rain fell is a gripping and visceral account of one young man's struggle to make sense of his place in a world gone mad. A former Book of the Month Club feature selection, Kirkus called it "a searing gift to his country."

Larry Kimport: What ever happened to Huck Finn? Here's Clara Waltz's loving account, in the novel A Small Harvest of Pretty Days. An 1890's Pennsylvania love story, as vast and true as the human heart itself. Author Larry Kimport grew up in north-central Pennsylvania. For the past 22 years, he has coordinated an alternative educational program for at-risk teens in suburban New Jersey.

Joey Negron: 1Zero9 is a coming-of-age story that will take the reader on a roller-coaster ride of laughter, sadness, anger, love, empathy and realism. The book is a chronological recounting of life events that are connected, tied and branded by the numbers 1, 0, and 9. Joey works as a Mobile Therapist/Behavior Specialist Consultant for children and adolescents that have mental health disorders ranging from Autism to Conduct Disorder.

Blues, Brews & Barbecue This Saturday 6/28

If you're looking for something to do this weekend

---
Blues, Brews & Barbecue
800 Block of Hamilton Street and the PPL Plaza – noon-8pm

This first year event is just what it sounds like – “Blues, Brews & Barbecue” the epitome of summer in one incredibly tasty, superbly soulful and outrageously fun event. This day will be full of barbecue competitions with the promise of finger-lickin’ good recipes, refreshing brews and music that will have you feelin' good. Hosted by the City of Allentown and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce this event will incorporate several restaurants and barbecue vendors including the Allentown Brew Works, Federal Grill, Grumpy’s Barbecue, Johnny Mañana’s, Tex’s Smokin’ Bar-B-Q, and Vicky’s Sweet Spot that will compete in contests (with celebrity judges like Mayor Pawlowski and others who will be announced soon) and sell delicious food – like brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken and more to the public. There will be several talented musical acts to entertain the crowd like BC & the Blues Crew, the Sarah Ayers Band, The WilyGoats and more. This event will fill the 800 Block of Hamilton Street with activity.

Give your feedback to Lanta!

How many of you use the LANTA system regularly? How many of you would like to, but the current system does not meet your needs?

Take 5 minutes and help the Regional Transportation Planning Advisory Committee get the information they need to improve public transportation in the Lehigh Valley. There are two surveys.

If you currently ride LANTA, click here to take the riders' survey.

If you do not currently use the LANTA system, click here for that survey.

More information can be found on the LANTA website or through the Moving LANTA Forward blog.

Bethlehem Restaurant Week

For all of you young professional foodies, this week is Bethlehem Restaurant Week! Go to your favorite place or try someplace new. With very reasonable pricing ($5-$15 for lunch and $10-30 for a 3 course dinner), you can try a new cuisine or restaurant without worry. 23 restaurants in Historic & South Side Bethlehem are participating, so there are plenty of choices. And you don't even need to worry about paying for parking; Historic Bethlehem restaurants will validate your parking for both garages, and South Side ones will give you tokens for the meters. Reservations are not required for many places, but they are strongly suggested since many places are extremely busy this week.

To see the list of restaurants and more details, visit www.bethlehemrestaurantweek.com.

Insurance, Taxes, and Savings

The New York Times has a great Primer for Young People Starting Their First Job. Make sure to take a second to read this. It offers a simple breakdown of the things you should be looking for in what can be a really complicated benefits package. There's advice on health insurance, taxes and income, and retirement packages.

Have fun.