Together with Our Town Brewery
It’s the end of July and I couldn’t be happier with spending so much time outside. Cool evenings and spectacular sun rays. I hope you find something this week that lures you out of your house for an event where you meet a new neighbor. See you ‘round town.
-Ed (connect up on LinkedIn)
Today’s cover art is by Isabel Imbriano, a Lancaster local graphic artist who captured this shot in front of The Market at Oregon Dairy with her Canon 35AF ML using Kodak 35mm film. Isabel also creates graphic images which can be seen on her Instagram page. Need an image? She’s happy to connect with you there.
Last week’s polls confirmed two things: you love our local food spots and you’re ready for a digital detox.
Check out the graphic below to see which local eateries you'd hand your last dollar to. And just beneath it: the next Looper event, perfect if your screen time report has been feeling a little too scary.
LOOPER LEARNING:
OUR TOWN UNPLUGGED
We're Turning Off Lancaster For One Night (You're Invited)
Remember 2006?
You left the house with a wallet, keys, and maybe a flip phone that lived in your pocket until someone actually called you. People looked one another in the eye. Nobody asked you to scan a QR code to see a menu. Life was a bit slower.
Rob Tarves and I have been longing for some digital detox days.
Rob owns Our Town Brewery, and it turns out we have quite a bit in common. We're both Eagle Scouts & dads for starters. We have both spent large chunks of our lives off the grid…no signal, no screens, just people, a campfire, and whatever conversation showed up or didn’t.
We wanted to bring that feeling back to Lancaster.
So here it is…
Our Town Unplugged
Monday, August 10 | 4–9p | Our Town Brewery X Lancaster Loop
Here's how it works: Arrive anytime you’d like between 4 and 9 pm to connect with neighbors and friends. You'll check your phone and your smartwatch at the door. Think of it like a coat check, except what you're checking is the thing that's been helping us check out too often.
Order dinner, have drinks, or just sit and enjoy a slow evening for an hour or stay for several.
Acoustic music only. Low background music with a variety of artists.
Candlelight only. The lights are going off. But the conversations are going on.
Cash only. No tapping, no swiping. Grab cash at the door for an analog evening.
A real landline. If the babysitter needs to reach you, there's a phone. It has a cord.
Conversation prompts and some light help to foster the night.
Point-and-shoot film cameras. We'll capture the evening the old-fashioned way.
Five hours where nothing buzzes, nothing pings, and nobody is half-listening to you while scrolling.
Why We're Doing This
Last week I asked if you'd be interested in an Unplugged Night. Over 99% of you said yes. I've run a lot of polls in this newsletter, but this message was very clear.
Grab one for yourself… and grab one for that friend who you’d be excited to hang with but minus their phone. And I'll see you at the door.
Where we'll happily take your phone off your hands for a few hours.
Join us for the first Our Town Unplugged on August 10th from 4-9p
Unplug. Unwind. Slow Down.
No cell phones.
No TVs.
No lights.
Conversation. Community. Candlelight.
The 5Ws of Lancaster
Featured Events
July 30 Art Battle Lancaster @ West Art doors 630p, painting 7p - artists get 20 minutes per canvas, the crowd crowns the champion, and every piece hits the silent auction use code LOOP for 20% off your ticket
Plan Ahead
August 10 Our Town Unplugged @ OTB 4-9p No lights, no TVs, no phones, no distractions. Come on out to slow down and connect cash only
October 9 Over the Edge with Big Brothers Big Sisters @ Mid Penn Bank on 2nd St in Harrisburg- You’ll harness up and then rappel down the side of an 18-story building to raise money for BBBS of South-Central PA donate or join the team
Tuesday July 28th
Community Yoga @ Lanc Medical Heritage Museum 10-11a movement & mindfulness with Tommy free or donate to the museum
BookTok Buzz Book Club @ Columbia Library 630-730p read and meet to discuss ‘Our Perfect Storm’ and ‘The Anniversary’ all ages welcome
Line Dancing with Diven @ Ephrata American Legion 7-10p all dance levels for a mix of music
Wednesday July 29th
Backyard Corn Hole League @ Binns Park 630-930p toss bags with Rural City Beer Garden brews
Spirit & Sound @ Elevated Karma Wellness 6p gallery reading with sound meditation to follow limited to ten
Pop-up Shop @ Playa Bowls 5-8p first 10 customers get free playa bowl or smoothie and enjoy a variety of vendors to shop local
Thunder Moon Walk @ Lanc Env Ctr 9-10p fireflies and a full moon
Thursday July 30th
Diet Coke Night @ Decades 4p - girl dinner food features, cocktails, prizes, and themes around a fridge cigarette
Cocktails & Cigars @ Old Republic Distillery 6-830p summer evening on the patio pairing drinks with smokes
Lancaster’s Gayest Happy Hour @ Zoetropolis 5-7p Zoe is closing the restaurant side of the shop with the theater & distillery to continue forward
Author talk w/Warren Throckmorton @ Nooks 6-8p ‘The Christian Past That Wasn’t’ discussing his new book
Lanc Rec’s Ice Cream Social @ Reservoir Park 5-7p free Kona Ice, wading pool, and a mayor visit
Summer Soirée in White @ Blume Aesthetics 6-830p live music, cocktails, curated bites, vendors, and giveaways everyone wears white
Lancaster REC Beer Garden @ Buchanan Park 4-10p (Thur/Fri/Sat) family & pet friendly with games, drinks, and food drinks under the open sky
Friday July 31st
Asheville Mountain Boys & Midnight Flyer @ West Art 730-930p old-school bluegrass with strings and hats
First Ever Sleepover @ Tiny Town 5p-8a sleep in an ‘open air’ space or inside a playhouse - from bubble dances to pizza dinner to pj storytime 9p lights out
Fire Cadet Camp @ Lafayette Fire Company 430-9p (and tmrw 8/1 830-630p) for ages 8-14 - hands-on first responder experience
Music on the Lawn @ Conestoga House & Gardens 5-9p featuring The Dave Wilson Quartet contemporary jazz plus add charcuterie & wine
Pony Beads @ Weaving Willow Craftworks 1-2p Kids flower keychain class all materials included and taught by 11 y/o Lucy make two keychains
Network & Mingle Mixer @ Marion Court Room 5-7p meetup for entrepreneurs and local business owners sponsored by Tito’s grab a free drink
Saturday August 1st
Peach Fest @ Moo-Duck Brewery 12-830p peach drinks with live music in the evening and all day peach food specials
Last Day of Indie Retail Week @ Lanc City shops - one final chance to support 35+ local indie retailers & snag the week’s deals
Free Outdoor Yoga @ Create/Influence Park (corner of Prince & Chestnut) 10-11a - class by I Am Limitless first-timers welcome
First Saturday @ Ephrata 230-8p Book Walk (230-430p) take the walk and receive a signed book then 430-8p live music, food trucks, & bevs explore downtown
D-Bo Summer Music @ Belmont Shoppes 6-10p soul, pop, rock, funk, blues, jazz, and reggae jams
Attic Treasures Summer Sale @ Luthercare 8-12p furniture, households, collectibles, and all the unexpected finds
104th Brubaker Family Reunion @ Bachman Hall 11a If your name is Bruppacher, Brubacher, Brewbaker, Brubacker, or Brubaker your people are expecting you and they have lunch and a website
Redware Ornament Workshop @ Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum 9-12p with redware artist Emily Smucker-Beidler - a hands-on taste of a PA Dutch craft tradition
Sunday August 2nd
Summer Music @ Long’s Park 730p live music by J & The Causeways w/food truck options - New Orleans soul/rock with singer Jordan Anderson’s vocals leading the way
Make a Pizza Cutter, Ice Cream Scoop, & Bottle Opener @ PA Guild 930-1p use a lathe to turn acrylic blanks into three kitchen tools
Music in Memorial Park @ Mount Joy Memorial Park 5p classic rock cover band Whiskey Rose and Piper Belles brings the barbeque
Sundown Salsa Sundays @ MamboJaz Studio 3-8p family friendly Salsa, Bachata, and more open dance lesson for the whole family
Monday August 3rd
Kickoff Event on Solving Homelessness @ West Art 6p Hand Up Partners welcomes all to a community discussion exploring impact of relationships, investment, and enagagement lead to change
Herbs for Women’s Health @ Historic Metzler Homestead 1030a learn about herbs to help with stress, sleep, and vitality throughout life
The Loop is independently and locally written by a guy who loves Lancaster. All support is welcome - the biggest compliment is forwarding this email to a friend & asking them to subscribe. -Ed
(Thank you to Rachel B for supporting the Loop!)
📣YELL at the Loop (or tell me something on your mind)
LOOPER EVENTS
DINNER CLUB:
Lancaster Loop Dinner Club #5 is coming up on September 17th and two improvements are underway. First, look for name tags or a Loop button to help know who’s who at the after party. And secondly, I’m working on a unique behind-the-scenes style afterparty.
MAHJONG
OPEN PLAY:
Next Tuesday, August 4th, Mahjong is back at West Art - Danielle from The 717 Mahj Circle returns for Mahjong open play.
Danielle will be there to answer questions and offer support as you play at your own pace. Enjoy a beautiful venue and grab a drink! sign-ups are live
LOOPER CHARITY
AUCTION:
The auction ends tonight at 8p.
Every single dollar from this auction goes to Luke Rice’s charity choice, the Morgan Wallen Foundation, which funds youth music and sports programs.
I've teamed up with PCI Auctions and Mediatwist to give one lucky Looper a story worth telling.
We're auctioning a one-of-a-kind painting called Breakfast at Tiffany's (54"×48"×2.5") by Luke Rice. By night, Luke plays bass on one of country music's biggest tours. By day, he trades the bass for a paintbrush. Seems he just oozes talent.
The winning bidder and a guest will pick up the painting from Luke himself, backstage at Lincoln Financial Field before one of the tour's Philly shows on 7/31 or 8/1. Then stick around and enjoy the concert. You'll also take home a Certificate of Authenticity and a signed backstage laminate.
Bid on the painting here …and if you win, I'll need every backstage detail. And lots of pics.
Where’s Wal’Ed’o?
Last week I was standing inside Our Town Brewery with owner Rob Tarves and his brewing tanks.
Rob and I initially crossed paths after he posted this clip on Instagram. Check it out and read the backstory of Rob giving away his son’s old bike and the full-circle video that came back to him after it was restored.
Rob and I both had a similar idea for helping neighbors meet neighbors around a screen-free night. We brainstormed and developed the event we’re hosting at OTB on August 10th.
Scroll back up for full details. We’re excited to have you come out and get your analog on.
This week’s winner is Ashley Newson. In the spirit of the first Our Town Unplugged, you’ll receive some CASH that would be ideal to use if you join us for the evening.
Know a local shop you’d love to see featured in Where’s Wal’Ed’o? - shoot me a reply or introduction to the owner. Feel free to forward this email to them as a starter.
👇 Click the pic to guess this week’s “Where’s Wal’Ed’o?” location 👇
Click the pic to guess and win
Here’s a clue: Originally this business was named Fat Cow ______ ______.
In 2024, a name change kept them 'on track' with a rebrand that fits perfectly with the restored location where they make and serve their goods. Where am I?
As always thanks for staying… in the ‘Loop! -Ed
P.S. Property Peek
$1,149,500 | 4 Bed | 3 Bath | 5,599 sf custom-built log cabin in Peach Bottom with real deal logs
P.P.S. If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, forward it to a friend who you’d love to have tag along with you to the first Our Town Unplugged event.
P.P.P.R. The ‘R’ stands for randomness; Today is a quote, “Eat the biggest crabs first, that way you're always eating the biggest crabs.”
Who said it? This Lancastrian earned a Tony and a Grammy.
Sign-off poll: