Today’s newsletter is brought to you by Lancaster BBQ Supply
Good morning, Lancaster!
You feel it. I feel it. Even our new 17-pound rescue pup feels it. We all feel the chill.
The trees feel it too. They are beginning to showcase their annual best: burnt orange, golden yellow, scarlet, burgundy, copper, and more. This week and next are prime time to get outside and catch the show.
Fair warning…first frost is coming too. Grab the knit hat and bring your green babies in.
See ya ’round Lancaster!
-Ed (connect on LinkedIn)
Today’s cover art is by Janell Almodovar-Cora of JALMODOVAR, a woman-owned bag and apparel brand that’s 100% handmade in Lancaster. This piece was crafted from a used coffee burlap bag. Janell is a self-taught seamstress who turns vintage camo fatigues, distressed denim, and burlap into one-of-a-kind art. Every piece is slooooow fashion. see her full line of work
Last week 375 of you guessed correctly that it was a WILLOW tree in the cover art. The artist, Zay, was grateful for your kind words towards his art and we’re discussing a willow tree piece as a potential future collab with the Loop. Thank you to Lemon Street Market for donating a prize for the poll and celebrating Zay.
The winner of the gift card to Lemon Street Market is RonJohn Henry. Check your email!
LANCASTER LOCAL
A Screen, a Salad, a Story & a Soup
Fall in Lancaster is one long harvest plus a few dozen festivals.
The farmers bring in crops, porches fill with pumpkins (how many is too many?), and I hunt for a delicious bowl of soup.
I’m giving you three things to pile on your plate in your bowl and asking for one thing in return.
Your great-grandma may not approve.
A Screen: One Plant | Saturday 10/24 | 1130-430p
A double screening (12p & 230p) at Zoetropolis of a film about loss, rediscovery, and how one plant, hemp, ties the whole world together. Lancaster Farming and Sunflower are bringing it to town. The cast and crew will be there to chat afterwards.
grab popcorn & stay for the conversation
Guess below to win two tickets to a showing of One Plant.
LOOPER POLL
A Salad: So You Want To Be Healthy? | Monday 10/26 | 6–730p
Picture a harvest table conversation, but with a farmer, a chef, a nutritionist, a recipe creator, and a food policy guy all at the same table.
Kegan Hilaire (Blackbird Farms), Kevin Venbrux (Passerine), Maeve Thistel (MAVIS Nutrition), Ann Fulton (Fountain Avenue Kitchen) and Chris Gambino (Independent Candidate) walk us from the field to your fork.
Then they’ll take on all your questions. There’s an autumn kale salad tasting too. West Art’s doors open at 5:30 if you want to mingle, then head upstairs to the Sanctuary.
find a seat & eat…healthy
A Story: Urban and the Chocolate King | Saturday 10/24 | 930-12p
Nothing says fall like a good story and something warm in your hand. Local author, preservationist and storyteller, Gregg Scott, is celebrating his new book and sharing updates on the Roslyn Carriage House restoration at Southern Market.
Have a bite downstairs, get your copy signed, meet the author, and hear about the history hiding in plain sight.
an architect & a hershey
A Soup: The Looper Souper Ladle
I have a mildly selfish ask. I’m working on building a Loop recipe collection. I’m imagining myself in the kitchen with my daughters on a Sunday. Chopped ingredients everywhere. Memories being made. It’s only natural to kick it off with soup.
Your grandma’s chicken corn soup, the pho you learned from a neighbor, the Hungarian goulash recipe your dad has hidden in his sock drawer, a lentil stew, a clam chowder, whatever bowl you absolutely love. And yes, I’ll give you half points if you point me to a local restaurant with a bangin’ bowl.
The only rule: when you think fall, you think of this bowl.
If enough of us share, I’ll turn it into a Looper cookbook and send it out in an upcoming issue.
add my recipe
Neighbors feeding neighbors. Doesn’t get more Lancaster Loop than that.
Skip the Candy Aisle
Everyone else is stocking up on fun-size Snickers. YOU could be the house that hands out ribs. Hear me out…
Want to go down in history as the coolest house on the block? Spend Halloween morning at the Pork & Ribs Class at Lancaster BBQ Supply. Co-owner and pitmaster Tyler Madenford will show you how it’s done. He wins awards - he def knows how to BBQ.
Saturday, Oct. 31 | 9-2p | 1920A Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
Class is over by 2, so you’ll have plenty of time to fire up the smoker before trick-or-treaters show up. The kids get the candy. The parents get a rib. You’ll be the envy of every mom and dad for miles. And I officially declare Sauce Guy or Sauce Girl as a legitimate costume.
Can’t make the class? Stop by the store anyway. Courtney and Tyler stock everything from Traegers and Kamado Joes to wood chunks, rubs and sauces, and they’ll talk smoke with you as long as you want. They’ve also been big supporters of LancoHunts and the Loop.
grab your tongs and a spot in class
Lancaster-specific Side Quest:
The 5Ws of Lancaster
Featured & Upcoming Events
October 25th Community Fair @ West End Yoga Studio 4-6p live music, drink specials from Levengoods, mini classes on Rachel’s Creperie patio, giveaways, raffles, local artisans, and guided meditation
Looper FUNd - Volunteer Time
October 21st & 24th Help plant 525 trees with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay 10-12p locations revealed after sign up, rain or shine, bring clothes to get dirty and close-toed shoes, hat, sunscreen, water, & gloves the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is these two tree-filled days
Tuesday October 20th
Faithful Give @ The Junction Center 5-8p celebrate the last day of a 3-day giving event - explore the expo, free food, bounce house, face painting, 9-hole mini golf and give your fave org a chance to win ten thousand dollars
Lancaster Wellness Club @ 10 North Venue 530-730p Pilates class followed by meditation, journaling, and a social hour + guided breathwork
Behind the Market Stand @ Central Market 7p the crowds are gone and now you can soak in the architecture, history, and mission along with light bites from the standholders
Wednesday October 21st
Libations Lounge @ Proof 6-7p Scotch Edition - go behind the drink and explore the history, traditions, techniques, and stories behind the liquid with four pours and bar snacks
Immigration, Detention, & Legal Landscape @ West Art 6-730p What do changes mean for our community and the impacted families? beyond the headlines
Cultivate Lancaster: Money, Money, Money! @ Armstrong World Industries 5-8p learn about business funding & resources to launch your baby
Thursday October 22nd
Back To One @ Attollo HQ 4-7p a networking event around Lancaster’s film community - just after Ryan Shank’s pod recording & catch previews for this year’s RRFF red rose film festival
Autumn Moss & Magic Happy Hour Workshop @ Gallery Grow 530-630p BYOB and create your own framed wall moss art
Friday October 23rd
Hammer Creek Bluegrass @ Bird-in-Hand Stage 7p BOGO tickets and add preshow meal for this Lancaster County band taking it back to the roots of bluegrass
Guided Ghost Tour @ Downtown Ephrata 630p, 8p, 930p starts the outdoor walking tours and the inside ghost hunt adventure
Pumpkin Carving Contest @ Hell in a Bucket 6-9p carve a gourd and win some prizes
Ultimate Date Night Tour @ The Junction Center with Jay & Laura Laffoon 7p music, comedy, and fun for couples through the Bible to strengthen your marriage
Jeffrey Gaines & Meaghan Farrell @ Ware Center 7p two local singer-songwriters with deep roots in Central PA lancaster loves
Keystone Soul Weekender @ Moose Lodge Lanc City (Fri 8p-1a, Sat 12-5p & 8p-1a, Sun 12-5p) a large wooden dance floor + full bar + 20 Top DJs spinning 60s & 70s Soul and Motown hits in the original 45 rpm formats
Haunted Marietta @ Marietta Community House 430-630p for young kids and 7-9p for older kids and adults with vendors, food and drinks, and two nights (tmrw too) meet Nellie the River Witch and enjoy a Saturday parade
Saturday October 24th
One Plant @ Zoetropolis 1130-430p meet the cast & crew
Urban and the Chocolate King @ Southern Market 930-12p local author, preservationist, and storyteller, Gregg Scott celebrates his newly launched book and updates on the Roslyn Carriage House restoration
Flower String Art @ Ken’s Gardens 10-11a create a vase-shaped string art piece on a board then fill it with dried flowers
McCaskey East Tree Planting & Celebration @ McCaskey East HS 9-12p plant, mulch, and stake over 200 native trees - never planted before?…you’re still welcome green side up
Society of Curious Minds @ Urban Arts House 1130-230p gather and discuss prompted topics and go down all the rabbit holes - this month: empathy, respect, & tribalism
Apoca-Lititz 5K @ Downtown Lititz 9-11a compete in costume or not - awards for best-dressed & fastest time dodge zombies to win
Concerts for Cancer @ Mickey’s Black Box 6-1030p three acts all supporting the cure for cancer - music feeds your soul along with supporting local orgs
Howl-O-Ween Party @ That Fish Place 11-3p support Centerville Pet Rescue with pet photos costumes optional
Unplug Together @ Forest Therapy Willow Street 930-1130a notice, breathe, listen, and enjoy nature with a partner followed by a tea ceremony and light snacks
10th Annual Manheim Township Halloween Carnival @ Overlook Activities Center 1-4p games, haunted hall, costume parade, Skeleton Stroll maze with free admission and trunk-or-treat with cops
The Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Tellus 7p 21+ film begins at 8p, dress up and watch Dr. Frank-N-Furter
Writing Nature @ Tec Centro 9-11a express your ecological perspectives thru creative writing ages 16+ support nature-focused writing
Sunday October 25th
Pups & Pints @ Columbia Kettle Works 1-4p find dogs to adopt, pet vendors, and enjoy drinks on the pet-friendly patio
24th Annual Walk to Remember @ Penn Med Park 5-7p for families walking through the pregnancy or infant loss grief process walk with support
Harmonic Sound Float @ Drift Spa 630p float on an air mattress or on a lounger and let the sound frequencies melt life away
Not From Here Either @ Pearl Street Cafe 1-3p if you landed in Lancaster and are looking for other transplants here’s your club
Sip Sing Halloween Social @ Trio Bar & Grill 10-2p bring your girlfriends, group-themed costumes welcome, food and drinks, and prizes for costume awards
100th Anniversary Casavant Pipe Organ Concert @ Covenant UMC 3-630p recital & hymn sing with Gordon Turk on the pipes
HalloQween Drag Brunch @ Dutch Apple Theatre 11a 18+ four drag performers along with a guest costume contest
Kids’ Halloween Party @ Pocket Books 11-1p Lancaster Tot Spot joins for crafts, games, stories, and trick-or-treating dress up
Fall Makers Market @ The Barn at Paradise Station 10-4p food trucks, vendors, a petting zoo and a train rolling by while you shop
Monday October 26th
So You Want To Be Healthy? @ West Art 6-730p navigate our food system to find health
Halloween Parade @ Lititz Lions Club 7-9p starts at Locust St, heads west on Main and ends at the Broad St fountain - bring your decorated feet or vehicle
The Loop is nearing our one-year anniversary. The first edition, on November 18th, 2025, landed in exactly six inboxes. (hiya, Mom!) Each week it’s researched, written, and sent by one local human (👋).
I find all the good of L🌹nc🌹ster and share it with you.
Always free, always local.
If the Loop has earned your weekly read, make a contribution of any size and receive my eternal gratitude and a high-five or hug at a future IRL event. Every dollar goes back into growing our community. Can’t or don’t want to? I still ❤️🤍 you.
Where’s Wal’Ed’o?
Last week I was standing outside the gates at the Mayer Graveyard, a small fenced family cemetery sitting right behind Whole Foods at the Shoppes at Belmont.
The plot measures 50 by 60 feet. When someone surveyed it in 1935, there were 21 headstones inside the iron fence. One stone was recorded as 1725, which would be five years before Lancaster was even laid out for development. Many of the graves belong to children, which was common for families at the time.
The Mayers owned the land around it. That included the white Italianate mansion across Fruitville Pike (now the Howard Hanna office) and a limestone quarry that made lime for local farmers. The stormwater pond on the north end of Belmont was once that quarry.
Congrats to Merv Zeager, who guessed correctly and will enjoy a gift card to the cemetery’s neighbor, Whole Foods.
Know a landmark, shop or local business you’d love to see featured in Where’s Wal’Ed’o? Shoot me a reply or an introduction to the owner. Forward this email to them.
👇 Click the pic to guess this week’s “Where’s Wal’Ed’o?” location 👇
Click the pic to guess and win
Here’s a riddle:
My name sounds like trouble, but I pour nothing but good times.
I started out on Prince, and now sit right off Harrisburg Pike,
and soon you’ll also find me in Rock Lititz,
moving into a brewhouse that’s already seen a pint or three.
As always, thanks for staying… in the ‘Loop! -Ed
P.S. Property Peek Pickems - Would You Rather edition:
Own a former mill in Reinholds - 3 Bed | 3 Bath | 2,313 sf
- OR -
Own panoramic views of the ‘Susque - 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 2,604 sf
P.P.P.R. The ‘R’ stands for randomness; sometimes life can be hard. I’m excited to showcase some lesser-known orgs doing good in Lancaster for ExtraGive a month from today. In the meantime, count your blessings you’re not living on the edge like this Lancaster squirrel.