‘LancLoop Ed in a Cessna 172 Superhawk taking pictures of Lancaster’ by LancLoop Ed
Good Morning, Lancaster Loopers! We’re experiencing a true artic blast and one for the books, I hope you’re staying warm.
I’ve got some great ways to bundle up and endure the cold spell. From writing to flying to a brand new bodega, all the good of Lancaster is here in your inbox. One of the pillars of the Lancaster Loop is to help neighbors meet neighbors. The Loop is a conduit for community showing up in real life. T-minus 16 days until the first Lancaster Loop Dinner Club where readers of this newsletter will come together in person and break bread!
Catch ya round (or above) the city & county! -Ed
Today’s opening ‘art’ comes by way of a double feature. Lancaster local business owner Brendan Johnson who owns Red Rose Flight Tours took me up for a different view of Lancaster.
The pic above was captured from 1,200 feet above Lancaster. Lookout below, Brendan has a fun, exclusive giveaway for our community. It was thrilling to go for a ride!
Ryan and I met on LinkedIn, two former public servants trading stories and instantly clicking.
He’s a US Coast Guard reservist with 10+ years active duty, now raising his family in Manheim Township and building Perch Bookkeeping for service-based businesses. Ryan uses his Discovery Call to truly understand a business owner’s needs. If your business’s revenue is $2M or less, he’s the guy to talk to. If he can’t help you, he’ll find you the right local resources or partners.
Tax day is fast approaching, 👋 April 15th. Grab a free 30-minute consult with Perch Bookkeeping, a partner of the Lancaster Loop.
Lancaster Loop Dinner Club
Sponsored by Decades Lancaster
The guest list is growing quickly…over 8 tables with 50 brave Lancastrians have signed up. But, there is still room for plenty more!
Your table will stay low-key with you and 5 new-to-you Lancaster Loop members.
On Thursday, February 26th, come to Lancaster City & enjoy a meal while you meet & mingle with other Lancaster Loopers.
I’m excited to announce that Decades Lancaster will be hosting the after-party! Tokens to play your fav retro arcade games with your new friends await you.
Quick recap: Take a quick quiz, get matched with 5 friendly Lancaster Loop members, receive your table assignment by text the morning of (cue thrill and suspense), pay your way for the meal, and then attend the free optional after-dinner party where you’ll be comped some free entertainment from Decades Lancaster (cue good vibes).
A few FAQs have popped up:
What’s the age range? Registered guests’ birth years cover the 1950s to 1990s. This is all about meeting your neighbors and I LOVE the range of ages.
Is this a subscription? Nope, the $16 buck fee covers this event only. I’ll handle all the logistics. I think you’ll have a blast and want to attend future dinner clubs, but it’ll be your choice.
How do I ensure I have fun? The goal is meeting new people. Open-minded and laid-back conversations will fuel the evening. If you get stuck, “Lancaster” is an easy common theme. And don’t stress about names, forgetting people’s names is my superpower, so you’re in good company. Just grab a deep breath and say hi!
Cheers to Decades, where you’ll always find entertainment and a warm reception. I look forward to meeting you at the after-party.
P.S. This is the inaugural Dinner Club and if it goes well (which I think it will) I’m eyeing Lititz for round two!
Lancaster’s newest Bodega & Cafe
GEM’s Bodega and Cafe is the next chapter in one of my favorite Lancaster food stories.
Emily Gonzalez started GEMs Catering out of her home kitchen, cooking empanadas so she could be with her kids more and still help support her family. Now she’s running a full-fledged catering company on N Queen, feeding everyone from neighbors to big-name clients. Emily bought Inna’s Pierogi Shop in 2024 with a business partner.
GEM’s Bodega and Cafe is where all Emily’s heart and hustle lands in one space: Puerto Rican roots, Lancaster local, coffee and community. It’s Emily doing what she’s done again and again…creating joy through her art and gift of cooking. Check it out, every bite is fueled by the passion of a dedicated entrepreneur.
GEM’s Bodega and Cafe ribbon cutting is happening this Friday, February 13th at 1130a. Pop by, say hi, grab something delicious, and support a local business owner who’s pouring so much love into Lancaster.
Learn more by visiting GEMs Catering or GEMs Bodega or Inna’s Piergoi Shop
The 5 Ws of Lancaster - (who-what-why-when-where)
Brought to you by Breezy House Bread & Levengoods of Lancaster
2 Drinks, 2 Treats for twenty bucks. This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Levengoods you can enjoy any two drinks and two treats baked by Mia at BHB drinks & treats
Featured Events
Feb 13th: Soft Opening @ The Green Nook 4-8p E-town’s newest event venue, comped bevs, cotton candy, popcorn, write a letter to future you
Feb 14th: Lancaster Brewery Walk-about Tour, brews on foot around the city w/love
Feb 14th: Haitian Valentine Pop-up Dinner 5 courses w/Chef Kali in Millersville 5-8p text for details 7177474899
Feb 16th & 17th: 7th Annual Fasnachts for Fassnacht by Lafayette Fire Company pre-order to support cancer prevention
Today - Tuesday the 10th
Toddlers to Age 3: Hibernation critters @ Lanc Enviro Ctr 10-1045a feel real fur
Latin Dance Night @ West Art 7-10p bring a friend and your hips
Children’s Mental Health Listening Session by Strong Minds & Bright Futures 5-7p support kids
Wednesday the 11th
Slug in Love book & slime making for kids @ Env Center w/Katie 10-11a slimy
211 Day Summit @ DoubleTree Resort 830-315p addressing comm needs support local orgs
Thursday the 12th
Derek Henry live music @ Harvest Lancaster 6-8p farm to chords
Galentine’s Market @ Annie Bailey’s 5p jewelry, soaps, art, flowers w/special menu
Senior Bingo @ Eleanor Home Health 1-3p hosted by Crispus Attucks Comm Ctr free food & bevs
Dads Night Out by Good Dads of Lanc @ Our Town Brewery 8-10p kidless this time
Fringe Variety Show @ West Art 630-9p poets, music, dancing Lanc Fringe Fest teaser
Empowering Growth Conf by YWCA 8-5p keynote by Christal Brown transformational vision coach student discount
Chair Yoga @ Lanc Rec Senior Ctr at 920a followed by Ukulele Jamming at 10a yes plz
Launch Party: Winter’s Coolest Night Out @ Lititz Shirt Factory 6-9p music & ice ice lititz
Friday the 13th
Paint Your Date - R&B Night @ Creative Pursuits Studio 730p stick figures count
Candlelight @ Barshinger Center Coldplay vs Imagine Dragons (SOLD OUT 2/13) so buy now for the next show 2/28 sky full of stars
Lititz Fire & Ice Festival thru 22nd ice sculptures, food trucks, and open shops
Valentine’s Line Dance @ Lanc Legion 7-11p drinks, food, friends 21+ wear red
Seoulmates Korean Kitchen Pop UP @ Pocket Books 10a-1p, words & yum
Saturday the 14th
Dueling Pianos @ West Art husband & wife duo Mary & Devin battle for 88 keys
Altars & Vows @ Legacy Church 10-2p newly engaged & new marriage help
Couples Workshop @ Board & Brush 10a pick from ceramic & wood
Adoptable Dogs @ PetSmart w/Charlie’s Crusaders 11-1p new furball bff
Neil Diamond Valentine’s Dance @ Mulberry Arts Studios 6-10p byob and buffet dinner
Vintage Revival Market @ Bierhall Brewing 12-5p beers & goodies
Lititz Ice Cream Festival @ Lincoln Shoe Comp 12-4p sweet treats good cause
Book Release Brunch for Sean A. Wright @ Crispus Attucks Comm Ctr 12-5p book ‘falling for my sneaky link’
Valentines Freestyle Bash @ Trust Performing Arts Ctr 7p special guest
Sunday 15th
Cars & Coffee @ Urban Werks Detailing 9-11a mean cup served burnout free
Witches Brew Makers Market @ West Art 12-5p support local artists
UUCL’s 3rd Annual V-Day Classical Music Concert 230p Beethoven & Schubert by piano
Susquehanna Trekkers @ Otter Creek Trail 10a 4.1 mile loop shinrin yoku
Monday the 16th
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary @ Lanc Science Factory 11-2p birds of prey
Chris Ivey Juggler Extraordinaire @ Lititz Senior Center 1015a no knives or fire
Lancaster From the Sky & an exclusive Valentine’s Giveaway
Skip the Route 30 traffic, skip the buggies (love the buggies)…there’s a brand new professional aviation outfit that lets you see Lancaster County from a whole new perspective.
And in full Lancaster Loop style, we have an excellent giveaway to pair with Red Rose Flight Tours.
The flight tour offering allows the owner, Brendan, to take you up in a comfy Cessna 172 Superhawk (think SUV with wings) for private tours over the rolling farmlands, Central Market, or a cruise over the Susquehanna River.  With room for up to three passengers, you get big windows, great views, and a pilot who loves this place as much as you do. 
Brendan loves Lancaster and is excited to get more locals and visitors in the sky above it. He’s giving away 3 seats to Lancaster Loopers. Click the poll below and you’ll be entered into the giveaway. Three winners will be choosen to board a special Lancaster Loop flight. Flight date and time remain at Brendan’s discretion and will be coordinated among the winners.
Flights take off from the main terminal at Lancaster Airport, so you can park free, meet your pilot, cruise the countryside, and then grab an after-flight drink at Florentino’s.
The giveaway runs through Monday Feb 16th at 8pm. You can also gain a second entry if you like and tag someone on the Instagram or Facebook posts.
RED ROSE FLIGHT TOURS GIVEAWAY
Lancaster Airport has two runways. The longer runway measures out at how many feet?
The Red Rose Flight Tours giveaway is your way to see Lancaster from a whole new viewpoint. All you have to do is click an answer above and you’ll be entered to win. I can’t think of a cooler place for neighbors to meet neighbors than 5,000 feet above Lancaster! fly lanc fly
SUPPORT THE LANCASTER LOOP
Your Loop will always be 100% free to read, independently owned and locally operated (yep, it’s just me). It’s human curated, written and always will be.
Much love Loopers.
The Write Path to Self Love
Write Now Lancaster is one of those “this is why I love this city” kind of communities.
It’s simple: Space. Time. Community. Writing.
It’s a welcoming group of writers who gather in Lancaster to talk a little, snack a little and then actually put words on the page. From published authors to been-thinking-about-it-writers, everyone is welcome
It’s free to join in, potluck-style food and drink, with optional $2–$5 donations to help cover costs. I’ve always found the act of writing to help get the insides on the outsides. Clarity and peace often follow me putting words on paper.
If you’ve been looking for a place where your best, broken, beautiful words are welcome, this might be your new fav routine. You won’t find judgment or red pens here.
Meeting this Thursday Feb 12th from 6-8p at Lancaster Public Library we’re all writers
Where’s Wal’Ed’o?
Last week’s location is back again.
I received lots of emails saying the link wasn’t working. Preciate your patience! So we’re back to the original Google Forms for collecting your guesses. Winners coming next week! I can taste it already…
👇 Guess this week’s Where’s Wal’Ed’o location below 👇
Where’s Wal’Ed’o in Lancaster? Click the pic to guess
Guess correctly and you’ll be entered for a giveaway to the business. Lots of clues in the photo so make sure to ‘Zoom Zoom’ in!
And Yes!, this is the same photo as last week. There was a technical glitch on the backside that prevented many of you from guessing, so we’ll run it back. Next week I’ll be back with another new location.
Thanks for staying…in the ‘Loop! -Ed
PS Forward this to someone who still likes receiving snail mail. Here’s an old timey postcard about Lancaster. Maybe one day the Lancaster Loop might deliver a monthly or quarterly snail mail version. Would you be interested in receiving it?
PPS Property: Want to own a house with a turret?