Together with Perfect Image Camera
Happy Tuesday Loopers! And just like that, it’s nearly fair season. Plus we’re only a couple of weeks away from pumpkin spice EVERYthing. Here’s to hoping you squeeze in a few more outdoor adventures before summer winds down. Cheers to the lazy days of summer!
See ya ‘round the county…
-Ed (connect over on LinkedIn)
Today’s cover art is by local artist Sheri Hansen. Sheri leads the Art in the Park series on Sundays at Binns Park. This drawing is from a recent Sunday when she sketched and colored a feature of the park. Sheri welcomes all this Sunday for Community Art in the Park. Bring your own supplies; extras supplies on hand.
Our Town Unplugged: Recap
Just over a week ago 120+ of you came out for a techless evening at Our Town Brewery.
No TVs, no lights, acoustic jams from 5 artists, food & drink, candles from Fontana Candle, and the delayed gratification of disposable film cameras from Perfect Image Camera.
My favorite sight was seeing each person check their phone and settle into an evening of slowing down. Some folks realized they still had their smartwatches on & turned them in.
I loved seeing a group playing UNO, hearing string instrument acoustic jams, and learning that a couple attending met through a Loop Dinner Club! Cheers to neighbors meeting neighbors and all the extras.
We received wonderful feedback and are planning on September 14th for the next Our Town Unplugged. Find available soon through Eventbrite.
Many thanks to Perfect Image Lancaster for providing the disposable cameras & developing the film. Here’s a sneak peek at some photos and the link to all the pics. You can order prints through their website! order prints and see all the photos
LOOPER LOCAL LEARNINGS
Lancaster City + Young People
Lancaster City Wants to Hear From You (Yes, too kids!)
Two easy ways to impact how Lancaster City looks & feels in the future…and you can skip the committee meetings.
First, the City is running a Youth Climate Survey on Engage Lancaster, its online platform for community input. If you've got young people in your life (15-24)…students, teens, or neighbors, this is their chance to influence their own future. The city received $50,000 from the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund. It should take just a few minutes with their answers helping guide the City's climate planning. survey for change
Second, check out the River Connections Program, the City's ongoing project connecting us all to the Conestoga River through spoken word, film, music, and those storm drain sidewalk murals you may have spotted around town. You can get involved by hosting a litter clean-up in your own neighborhood — good for the river, great for the block. paint your block
In last week’s poll you voted to allocate the FUNd gift. The results revealed a tie between ‘Youth & Education’ and ‘Housing & Financial Stability’.
I’m excited to identify more organizations with you!
The inaugural Our Town Unplugged was everything a digital detox should be. Candles, Community, Connection….and Cameras.
Many thanks to Perfect Image Camera for providing the disposable cameras and developing the film. Our Town Unplugged will return next month.
See all the film pictures captured here and find everything film & camera you need by visiting their shop on Fruitville Pike.
The 5Ws of Lancaster
Featured Events
August 19 Strasburg Run + Walk Club @ Main & Decatur ifo Olde Bank Building 7p with 30 min run & walk routes continuing every other Wednesday 9/2, 9/16, 9/30, 10/14, 10/28 new club
August 22 Lancaster Craft Beerfest @ Binns Park 12-7p with pours from over 30 breweries, 2 live bands, 9 food vendors, and 1 cigar lounge - each ticket comes with a 5oz mug for unlimited sips two sessions 12-3p or 4-7p tiny mugs
August 22 Kids Cookie Break Fest @ The Junction Center 10-5p two sessions 10-1 & 2-5, live music, jugglers, a ventriloquist, bounce houses, tons of activities, and stuff the cookie car
Plan Ahead
October 9 JOIN ME JUMPING OFF A ROOF- Over the Edge with Big Brothers Big Sisters @ Mid Penn Bank on 2nd St in Harrisburg- Harness up & rappel down 18-stories to raise money for BBBS of South-Central PA donate or join the Looper team with David, Melissa, and whoa…a guy who clearly needs to raise some money
Thank you Cindy Brazina for your donation to BBBS!
Tuesday August 18th
RegenAll Workshop @ SECA Building 830-1130a first of five RegenAll workshops focusing on Energy Independence - if you attend consider donating your $25 gift card to the Looper FUNd -rsvp for this community discussion
Walnut Street Extension Trail Walk @ Greenfield 5-7p 2.2 mile out and back guided walk to explore pollinators, butterflies, and songbirds
Wednesday August 19th
Lititz Lions Club Car Cruise @ Lanc Evangelical Free Church 530-830p vintage to modern rides will line Main St from Locust to Broad fam friendly
Intro to Plant-Based Eating @ Lanc Library 6-8p beginner-friendly overview for 18+ taught by a 31-year vegan
Jeff Buckley tribute @ Tellus360 8p Belgian band Slow Pilot plays the entire Grace album hallelujah or grace
Books & Bites @ Decades by Women of Lancaster @ 630p to discuss A Burning by Megha Majumdar pages and people
Fierce Woman’s Circle @ Urban Arts House 7-830p collective to rediscover all you’re capable of together in kinship
Stu Huggens Band @ New Holland Community Park 7-9p country and American jams with food and treat trucks
Thursday August 20th
Green Drinks @ West Art 5-7p learn about the abundance of Lanc local food with Lemon Street Market & Lancaster Community Cultivators - bring a recipe to swap with a neighbor
Above Ground on the Underground Railroad @ National Watch & Clock Museum 630p learn about Columbia’s role in the above ground movement of freedom seekers to philly
Thirsty Thursday @ Sickman’s Mill 7-945p w/DJ Rell keep your toes wet
Walk to End Alzheimer’s Fundraiser Night @ Decades 530-830p open to all - learn about the org, connect, and donate
Jazz on the Patio @ The Barn at Paradise Station 5-9p with The Wave Quartet food and drinks with the notes
Friday August 21st
The Maxwell Project live music @ Locust Street Park by Columbia Lions Club 630p a mix of R&B, funk, and soul
Park City Center Community Blood Drive @ Park City by Central PA Blood Bank 8-8p appointments are open
National Treasure 2 movie @ Historic Rock Ford @ 8p food and drink concessions available but bring a chair or blanket
Caribbean BBQ Supper Club @ The Conway Room 630p a paced dining experience to find conversation, connection, and discovery
Paranormal Investigation @ Keystone Artisan Werks Columbia 730p investigate areas of the building while learning about its rich history and reported paranormal activity
On the Hook Fish & Chips @ Hempstead Rd Lowe’s 11-7p wild caught in the Bering Sea, Alaskan cod fish & chips or just the fish
Cut Flowers and Coffee @ Ken’s Gardens 9-10a create a floral bouquet and sip from Hopeful Brews their new in-house java shop
Nathan Landis Funk @ Nissley Vineyards 530-830p family friendly music series plus food trucks, bubbles, and an evening hayride
Saturday August 22nd
Society of Curious Minds @ Urban Arts House 1130-230p Live Podcast launch plus guided conversations that open minds and connect with neighbors
Yoga in the Vineyards @ Nissley Vineyards 1030-1130a all-levels slow flow plus an after class optional $12 wine flight
River Glass Windchimes @ Lanc Env Center 10-11a make your own chime and connect with Lancaster waterways and watersheds
2nd Annual Auto Show @ American Legion Post 34 9-2p DJ music, prizes, auction, 50/50, food, and trophies
13th Annual Nicole Conway Recovery Volleyball Tourney @ Fairview Park Columbia 11-3p full day of events and activities plus support your local community by playing
2026 Honey Run @ Amos Herr Park by Hempfield recCenter 8a 5k plus kids’ run with Dutch Gold as a sponsor it’ll be a sweet event
US Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus @ New Holland Park 7-9p 65 band members and 24 choral members sing it proudly
Create with me @ Lancaster Art Vault 1030-1230p w/Jessica Shiner open to all levels and begins with a warm-up exercise to follow your own art
Parlour Noir live music @ Iris Club by Lancaster Swing Dance 7-11p starts with a lesson plus opportunity for discounted admission for volunteers
Community Open Garden @ First In Gardens 9-12p welcoming veterans, first responders, and their families to garden, care for animals and socialize
Lititz Whiskey & History Tour @ Lititz Historical Foundation 4-6p walk, learn, and sip
Pixie Bliss Market @ Neighbors Cafe 12-5p 25+ vendors and dress as your best pixie self
The Uptown Band @ Nissley Vineyards 530-10p upbeat jams and top-40 music among the grapes
Sunday August 23rd
Hayes Carll @ Long’s Park 730p singer-songwriter known for his sharp wit, heartfelt storytelling, and distinctive voice plus food trucks as always
18th Century Medical Day @ Historic Rock Ford 10-4p full day of activities and presentations on beliefs, tools, and practice of medicine from many years ago
Sundown Salsa @ MamboJaz Studio 3-8p byob and family friendly and open dance lesson to kick it off
Trio Confero @ Mt. Gretna Playhouse 3p classical with clarinet, cello, and piano with a First Listen 20min concert by 15 yo Yuze Lee on the piano
Monday August 24th
Elizabethtown Fair @ Etown Fair Grounds 5-11p opens the local fair season look for a full local run down coming next week in the Loop meanwhile see a goat and eat a fried oreo
The Loop is independently and locally written by a guy who 💚s Lancaster. All support is welcome - the biggest compliment is forwarding this email to a friend & asking them to subscribe. -Ed
📣YELL at the Loop (or tell me something on your mind)
LOOPER EVENTS
NEXT DINNER CLUB: September 17th
I didn’t launch the Dinner Club for love, but who am I to stand in the way of what hearts do when neighbors meet neighbors?! Join us for the next one and enjoy a table of five rad strangers who might just become a new friend.
Side Quest: Currently seeking someone to make a “Looper: Dinner Club” button or pin. It’ll help us identify each other at the afterparty. Know anyone who could help me make some buttons? Send ‘em my way…and then join us at dinner for your free merch!
Where’s Wal’Ed’o?
Last week’s location found me at Daily Dose Microgreens.
Husband and wife owners Julien and Flo grow and harvest locally in Lancaster without pesticides or harmful chemicals. Order your fresh cut microgreens by subscription for delivery or pick-up. Non-GMO and cut the morning of delivery, you’ll find broccoli, arugula, green radish, pea shoots, and more.
Pea shoots were the kids’ favorite cutting!
Follow their instagram or check out their page for ordering.
Congrats to Danielle Marion for guessing correctly and winning a giveaway. Look for an email with further details shortly!
Know a local shop you’d love to see featured in Where’s Wal’Ed’o? - shoot me a reply or an 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: I took a no-destination wander through the woods I took this week that resulted in 3 historical discoveries, no humans seen, and finding this structure which looks like something visiting aliens would have a hard time understanding.
If you happen to know where I was or if you know what this thing is, take a stab and one guesser will win a gift card to the nearby Tacos el Gordo food truck. One of my fave spots for tacos in Lancaster.
As always thanks for staying… in the ‘Loop! -Ed
P.S. Property Peek
$749,500 | 5 Bed | 2 Bath | Completely renovated Narvon home on 3.8 acres built into a hill for geothermal heating and cooling help plus a pond
P.P.S. If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, forward it to a friend you’d invite on a Lancaster Saturday adventure that’d start with a Honey 5k, move to yoga in a vineyard, catch a whiskey tour in Lititz, and end with live music swing dancing in the city.
P.P.P.R. The ‘R’ stands for randomness; Live in Lancaster and enjoy fishing? See if you know Lancaster well enough to identify where this fishin’ happens… catchin’ brookies