‘SOOP in the city’ by Lancaster local artist Cat
SNOW there! (‘hello’ in Lancaster this week). Hope the blanket of white is bringing joy to your days and you stay warm this week!
Many of you noticed last week’s newsletter arrived at 8:17 am instead of 7:17 am. After spending a few days in Nashville, I’m glad to be back on EST where again the delivery time truly matches the zipcode. And if the snow has you feeling antsy and cooped up there are lots of ways to meet your neighbors and catch all the great events in Lancaster this week. Let’s dig in!
See ya round the county & city! (always covering both in your ‘Loop)
-Ed
Today’s cover art is by Lancaster local Cat who created the character SOOP. The above piece is titled ‘SOOP in the city’, and she’s kindly offering another of her pieces as a Lancaster Loop exclusive giveaway. She also has an art show Jan 30th to Feb 28th at the Lancaster Art Vault @ 100 N Queen St where she’s a resident artist.
Last week’s winner of Ian Brandt’s piece was @berlaw32. Congrats Bernard!
Lancaster Loop Dinner Club
You voted and I listened, so here we go…the very first Lancaster Loop Dinner Club is happening and it’ll launch in downtown Lancaster on Feb 26th.
This is your chance to gather around a friendly table, meet 5 Loop readers who also love Lancaster, and try a great food spot while building community.
Here’s how it works:
🍽️ You’ll take a quick questionnaire covering your interests, food likes, budget, and the types of folks you’re hoping to meet…nothing fancy, just real-life questions to pair you up with a mix of Lancaster Loopers.
🍽️ From there, you’ll get matched with five other Loopers based on your answers.
🍽️ The morning of the dinner, you’ll receive an email and text with the restaurant where your group will be eating (Downtown Lancaster City area)
🍽️ Dinner Club will be on Thursday, February 26th at 630 pm. After dinner, everyone will be invited to a designated central spot for a light & easy after dinner meet-up. The after-party is optional, so if you’re in a food & new friend coma, you have full permission to head home and crash.
The logistics: the booking fee is $17 per seat, you’ll pay for your own meal at the end of dinner, and I’ll handle the rest, the matching, the reservations, and the reminders. All you have to do is show up, meet some new friends, and have fun.
P.S. The afterparty (optional) will be low-key and in a central location where all the Dinner Club tablemates will meet at 8pm.
If you have any questions, there’s a little chat bubble at the bottom right of the page when you sign up.
Can’t wait to meet you all at the after-party!
Lancaster Brewery Tours & Ale Rails
Here’s a great way to slow down with a winter walkabout and see all beauty of Lancaster. Imagine a Saturday walk that includes new friends, great beer, and local connections .
The Ultimate Craft Beer Experience (UCBE) is a guided Walk-a-Bout through Lancaster City’s craft beer scene. Visit three hand-picked independent breweries, try 12 different beers, and explore our Red Rose city from the sidewalks…pint in hand, stories along the way.
Your personal Beer Guide shares local history, brewing insights, and those little Lancaster-only nuggets you can’t get from a Google search. You have behind-the-scenes peeks of the brewing process, seasonal specials, street art, and the city’s food scene as you stroll between 3 breweries.
Whether you’re a hardcore craft beer nerd or just a know-what-I-like-when-I-taste-it sipper this tour is custom designed to be relaxed, welcoming, and fun. The Walk-a-Bout runs every Saturday at noon with limited spaces. You can even charter your own private tour for a group.
Glenn Smith, UCBE’s founder has offered two tickets to our Lancaster Loop community. Click the poll and everyone who guesses will be entered for a chance to win two tickets! (valued at $200)
Glenn and crew also have space on an upcoming Ales on the Rails event on Jan 31st. If you can’t make this one, there are more rides listed, and maybe Glenn & I will collab to put on a Lancaster Loop train tour!
Approximately how many gallons of beer does Pennsylvania consume annually?
5 Ws of Lancaster
Who / What / When / Where / Why - all across the county & city
send me your events here
Today - Tuesday, 27th
Aligned Nutrition by OWL Chiropractic 630-830p less junky food - eat clean
Scream Club by Women of Lanc 21+ 7-8p bring a yoga mat & let it out
Good Dads of Lanc trivia night @ Tellus360 7p dads & beer
Starry Night Pendants @ PA Guild of Craftsman 530-830p beginners welcome torch glass
Wednesday, 28th
every brillant thing w/Andrew Kindig @ Fulton thru 2/1 one-person play
Afroman @ Phantom 8-11p because I got high or songs
Stained Glass Hearts @ PA Guild of Craftsman 930-4p make a heart
Clue the Muscial @ Dutch Apple thru 2/8 food & singing clues
Fiber Arts Group @ Lanc Public Library 2-4p knit, embroider, crochet
Thursday, 29th
Carbon Neutral Coffee meetup @ High Leadership Center 745-9a climate change citizenry
Soul Grooves w/Lisa @ Lanc Moose Lodge 6-730p line dance vibe
Featured Event
Art Battle Lancaster @ West Art 630-1030p - live art creation 3 rounds, blank canvas to finished in 20 min, 12 artists, you vote, every1 wins. Art is auctioned off after every round. All ages. more deets & tickets (special promo code for being a reader ‘lancloop’ saves you 40%)
Friday, 30th
Jackson Cavalier @ WestArt free show harmonica & his axe
The Amish Outlaws plus Millennial Mixtape @ Phantom 8-11 buggy free jams
Camouflage animals vanishing @ Lanc Environmental Center 10-11a all ages spot them if you can
Bedroom ropes by Bound Studio 7-10p knot your typical date night
Elevate your Cocktails by the Traveling Tap 7-9p learn to mix & bring your bottle
Saturday, 31st
Featured Event
Stuff To Do Fair @ Washington Elem School 10-1p 55 tables of classes, clubs, hobbies and activities for 18+ covering all of Lancaster come out and meet community
Night Sleepover @ Lanc Science Factory 7p-8a 75 exhibits, snacks, light breakfast & pack your sleeping bag
Quarter Moon Band @ Lanc Sports Farm 8p-12a line dance with a band
Seed Swap Day @ Lanc Environmental Center 2-3p no magic beans just seed wapping
Beers & Laughs @ Our Town Brewery 8p hops & jokes
Midst the Noise @ Lucky Dog Cafe 7-10p Columbia Ave location food & jams
Slow Flow Jams w/Tommy @ West End Yoga 2-3p stretch & flow
Portraiture w/Natural Light by Lanc Photo Group 10-12p learn & snap
The Sixties Show @ AMT 730p authentic jams no samples all live
Toy Train Show @ Lanc Farm & Home Ctr 9-1p choo choo
Featured Event
Cozendagen @ West Art 530-10p w/Super Vehicle, The Corsage, and Weird Mirror! A new winter tradition to embrace the slow, warm, and cozy. Free event w/soups, drinks and neighbors
Sunday, 1st
Elvis Gospel Show ft The Stamps Quartet @ AMT 3p thankyaverymuch
Author time @ Nooks with Christie Purifoy 4-6p buy a ticket = a signed book
3 local singer songwriters @ WestArt 730-930p Jac, Barkley & Tess releasing Jac’s new ep
Burns Night Supper @ Quips 3-7p 5-course Scottish meal + bagpipes + attire & poems dram of scotch
Melhorn Manor open house 1-330p wedding venue & vendors mt joy
Monday, 2nd
Groundhog Day by Acorn Acres 9-11a @ Conestoga House & Gardens prognostication
Groundhog Day Party by Acorn Acres @ Tellus360 5-8p tix required but free
Ed’s Favorite Movie Ever
The Greatest Movie (says I) - Groundhog Day w/Bill Murray is it a comedy or a philosophical life guide? Dennis with PDF @ Zoetropolis 630p welcomes you out of the snow and into a flick that’ll help you survive not only the next 6 weeks, but also survive life. Bing! with Ned Ryerson
Lancaster Running with Common
Running can be solo or it can be in a group.
Common amplifies it to become a community.
If you’ve been looking for a ‘circle this on the calendar’ kind of challenge, this is it.
Last One Standing.
On Saturday, March 28, Common is hosting their first-ever official race: The Common Last One Standing. A test built for every kind of runner. My first 5K folks, comeback stories, weekend warriors, seasoned marathoners…this race is less about your PR and more about what you find out about yourself when things get hard.
Here’s the twist: every hour, on the hour, runners head out for a 5K loop around the farm and you keep going until there’s only one runner left. One official winner for the books. But everyone picks up a personal win along the way.
Whether this is your very first 5K, your hundredth, or a new way to challenge yourself…the energy, community, and amped atmosphere will carry you farther than you thought possible.
If ‘doing hard things’ with good people sounds like your kind of energy…join me in the fields
SUPPORT THE LANCASTER LOOP
Your Loop will always be 100% free to read, independently owned and locally operated (heck, it’s just me). It’s human curated, written and always will be. Many thanks friends.
Want to rent a mansion? 135 acres up to 25 guests, indoor pool, sauna, hot tub, cold plunge and you can see 6 counties. Someone set this up & rsvp me. Just over the river
Where’s Wal’Ed’o?
Last week’s location was the Lancaster Science Factory. There’s a sleep-over there on the 31st (details above). Sign up & give the kid in your life a night they’ll never forget!
Everyone who guessed had the correct answer. Congrats to Erin erin***ns67@gmail. You’ve won 2 passes to the Lancaster Science Factory! Check your email.
👇 Guess this week’s Where’s Wal’Ed’o location below 👇
Guess correctly where I am & you’ll be entered for a giveaway to the business.
Thanks for staying…in the ‘Loop!
-Ed
PS Preciate all the love you showed in supporting your snowed in neighbors last week and again this week….and again maybe this weekend 🌨️🌨️🌨️ —> snow angels
PPS Forward this to someone who’d like to know that on this day in 1756, a fella named Mozart was born. I say we need more babies named Wolfgang in 2026.