Together with PCI Auctions
This Thursday is the fourth Lancaster Loop Dinner Club. Registration is open until 630p tonight. I look forward to seeing you at the after party.
We’ll link up at a surprise spot downtown where a portion of our drink sip proceeds will go towards Big Brothers Big Sisters. I’m excited to see more neighbors meeting neighbors. See you out there!
-Ed (connect on LinkedIn)
Today’s cover art is another great photo by Bob Buzzard. A reminder of our recent storms as they rolled across Lancaster. See more of Bob’s work on his site or his facebook.
How did the recent storms treat you?
LOOPER LEARNING:
SO GOOD LANCASTER
Last week we chased 1.2 million pounds of steel that just missed Lancaster. This week we’re chasing something much lighter…a microphone.
If the Loop is your written guide to Lancaster, consider So Good Lancaster its audio amigo. Hosted by Jason Mundok, the podcast digs into the funky, interesting, and storied parts of our county…breakfast hotspots, nightlife, historical roots, and the neighbors doing good work behind all of it.
Fast facts:
Jason has found himself in recording studios since the A/B cassette tape days, worked in Nashville studios in the '90s, and has been making podcasts since 2010. Together with his wife, Anne Kirby, they have a coworking space and social club called The Candy Factory that spans two locations and includes the So Good Media studio where said podcast is created.
Looper advice:
Not sure where to start? Queue up any of these episodes for the Lancaster lowdown…
Lancaster Made Sweets: Stroopies, pies, and desserts that build community and create jobs for resettled refugees
Food Trucks: turns out Lancaster’s food truck owners see each other less as competition and more as a collective
River of the Year: celebrating the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year
Have a story that makes Lancaster so good?
Jason wants to hear from YOU - submit your idea on the website and you could be featured in a future episode.
Listen wherever you catch your pods or directly on the So Good site
If you own a restaurant or just dream of owning commercial-grade anything, PCI Auctions in Manheim is your kind of place. They have everything to outfit a restaurant or help handle the never-fun closing and selling of one.
Have I wanted a ‘Blast Chiller’ ever since watching too many
episodes of Nailed It on Netflix?
Yes.
Will I get one?
That’ll be up to me to convince my wife.
Current number of ‘Blast Chillers’ in the Hanko household = 0.
Touché, Mrs. Hanko…touché
But if you’re in the food industry or just want to build out the most ‘Bobby Flay’ backyard kitchen on your street…view their live auctions
The 5Ws of Lancaster
Featured Events
July 16 Loop Dinner Club #4 @ downtown Lancaster 630p dinner with 5 friendly strangers…200+ past guests and a 4.8/5 rating grab a seat
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July 18 Tomato Festival Final Saturday @ Washington Boro food at 3p, festival 5-9p Kracker Beez music + tomato sandwiches (bacon semi-optional) taste a jet star
Plan Ahead
October 9 Over the Edge with Big Brothers Big Sisters @ Mid Penn Bank on 2nd St in Harrisburg - 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 14th
Open & Over 40 Women’s Soccer Pickup @ F&M Armstrong Field by Red Rose Arena 7p $15 per game/pp, two 25 min halves, 7v7, and no refs
Trail Run @ Lanc County Env Center 630p aiming for 3-5 miles in the woods
Wednesday July 15th
$1 Pretzel Dogs @ Philly Pretzel Factory all day celebrate National Hot Dog Day aka joey chestnut’s fave day
Summer Movie Express @ Regal Manor 16 Millersville Pike 11-1230p $1 movie Scoob!
Co-ed & Open Men Soccer Pickup @ F&M Armstrong Field by Red Rose Arena 7p $15 per game/pp, two 25 min halves, 7v7, and no refs
Thursday July 16th
Loop Dinner Club #4 @ downtown Lancaster 630p dine with 5 friendly strangers and stay for the after party grab a seat
Jazz on the Patio @ The Barn at Paradise Station 6-9p the bistro is open with Big Boy Brass and smooth listening
Sounds of Summer Concert @ Greenfield 5-930p food trucks and summer’s greatest hits live
90s Babes Night Market @ South County Brewing 5-9p DJ, vendors, flash tattoos, and nineties themed photo op
Friday July 17th
Music Friday @ Penn Square 4-8p independent musicians and vendors welcome all to a free music show with five performers
Lancaster International Piano Festival @ F&M runs thru 7/27 world-renowned guest artists kick off a run of seven public concerts
Third Friday in Strasburg @ Strasburg shops discounts, open shops, and find some dinner
Historicon @ Lanc Conv Ctr 10-6p & Saturday 10-6p hundreds of tabletop miniatures, games, tournaments, vendors and classes for 2500 attendees command a mini army
Pennsylvania Wildlife @ Strasburg-Heisler Library 1030-1130a ages 6+ introduction to native wildlife live animals
Music in the Vineyards @ Nissley Vineyards every Friday & Saturday in July sip and sway
Saturday July 18th
Community Conversation on Healthy Masculinity @ YWCA Lanc 2-4p why does research show boys lag behind girls academically panel discussion
Lancaster Brass Quintet w/Allegro Orchestra @ West Art 3p chamber music in the round
Dance in the Park @ Pavilion #11 in Lanc Central Park 7-10p bass, hammered dulcimer, guitar, and fiddle live with new dancer lesson
Summer Wildflowers & Pollinators @ Kellys Run Nature Preserve 3-5p grassy trail walk bring a notebook and water spot a butterfly
Conversation with Tory Mathers @ Nooks 730-930p author of Scenic Natural Wonders of PA natural wonders
Parrot Fest 2026 @ Lancaster Liederkranz 5-11p Tropical Sunz + Jimmy and the Parrot - it’s Margaritaville in Manheim ages 12+ find your lost shaker of salt
Highland Cow Festival @ Cherry Crest Farm 10-7p music, games, food, & the fluffiest creatures on earth
Learn the Ropes @ Lanc Workshop & Tool Library 930-2p Window re-sashing and counterweight class restore old windows to new
Music in the Vineyards @ Nissley Vineyards 530-10p ‘Mama Tried’ with high energy variety and dance + fermented grapes
Summer Music Series @ Shoppes at Belmont 6-10p Jeannette Stillman Band evening jams
Sunday July 19th
Low Lily @ Long’s Park Summer Music 730p Vermont trio blending fiddle tunes, folk, bluegrass, and Americana…you know i love strings
Brain Freeze @ Lanc Science Factory 10-3p celebrate National Ice Cream Day with the science of ice cream freeze your learning
Grecos Ice Cream Open for 24 hours @ Lititz or Hempfield lots of specials and a giant ½ gallon challenge - finish it with a partner in under 10 minutes and you’re the ice cream champs
Taps & Tunes @ Kissel Valley Farm 1230-530p Music by Cody Tyler, 3 food trucks, and drinks by Waltz Vineyard and Our Town Brewery bring a blanket
10-year block party @ Ellicott & Co 2-7p Penny’s Ice Cream and Cabalar with giveaways, discounts, and a pipe tobacco library
World Cup Final @ Decades 3-530p 50 cent wings, ice cream bar, and fútbol
Cars & Coffee @ Urban Werks 9-11a coffee by mean cup
Lancaster Stamp Show @ Farm & Home Center 10-4p collect, trade, or buy old stamps
Celebrate Abilities Concert @ Saint James Episcopal Church by Schreiber Center 3-430p all ages inclusive music by Halley Elwell & the unsinkables
Ben Franklin Tells All @ Manheim Railroad Complex 1-4p Historian Craig Hall shares a story about the Declaration of Independence + free trolley rides
Horse-N-Boogie @ Hifi Izakaya 8p-late jams, dancing & drinks cocktails and surprises
Monday July 20th
Machine carve your own sign @ make717 6-9p Equipment Orientation with the Carvey machine learn to use and create your own keepsake good wood
Micro Wrestling @ Penn Med Park 7-9p full show with arm bars & headlocks
Sunset Writing w/Susquehanna Trekkers @ Marietta Riverfront Park 8p hike then write til your pen runs out of ink
Your Lancaster business should be in front of 12,000+ readers.
They care deeply about where they live & want their dollars to stay local.
The Loop partners with businesses I’d actually recommend to a neighbor.
Let’s have a quick chat, reply to this email with the word LOOP.
The Loop is independently and locally written by a guy who loves Lanc. All support is welcome - the biggest compliment you can share 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
DINNER CLUB:
Lancaster Loop Dinner Club #4 is THIS Thursday the 16th at 630p
Grab your seat by 630p tonight. Have dinner with 5 new neighbors then hang afterwards for a low-key after party close by.
Sit down with five strangers and leave with a new group of neighbors!
MAHJONG:
August 4th @ West Art - Danielle from The 717 Mahj Circle returns for Mahjong open play.
If you have your own tiles please BRING them!
Open play focuses on playing & enjoying the game, with Danielle on-hand for guidance and support! sign-ups are live
LOOPER AUCTION:
Along with PCI Auctions and Mediatwist, I’ve got a once-in-a-lifetime experience for one lucky winner.
We’re auctioning off a custom painting and ALL of the proceeds benefit the Morgan Wallen Foundation whose mission supports youth music and sports programs.
The artist?
Luke Rice, touring bassist, painter, and the creative behind this one-off unique painting titled, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, measuring 54×48×2.5. When Luke isn’t on stage playing bass on one of country music’s biggest tours, he’s behind a canvas and this original is unlike anything else out there.
The winning bid includes a Certificate of Authenticity and a signed backstage laminate. The winner and their guest will pick up the painting from Luke in person backstage at one of their Philly concerts on 7/31/26 or 8/1/26 at Lincoln Financial Field. Then you’ll enjoy the show.
Bid on the painting and come home with your very own backstage story that I’ll want to hear every detail on.
Where’s Wal’Ed’o?
Sometimes you taste a sandwich that sears itself into your medulla oblongata. I experienced this last week when I stopped at the Lincoln Highway location of Bobby Bay’s Sandwich Shop. I had the ‘Bobby’ cheesesteak which is now tastefully programmed as part of my autonomic functioning. Fresh baked bread daily, top-notch highest-quality ingredients, and care go into every sandwich.
Frank Conigliaro, the owner, donated a gift card to give away to a lucky Looper. Congrats to Alison Mercier, winner of some edible submarines!
Know a local shop you’d love to see featured in Where’s Wal’Ed’o? - shoot me a reply.
Bonus points if you can intro me to the owner or GM.
Feel free to forward this email to them as well.
👇 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 found the only stable in Lancaster where the horses never eat, never sleep, and never drop any road apples. And with the right community support they’ll come alive again but likely be very dizzy. Two winners will receive a Christmas tree ornament from this organization.
As always thanks for staying… in the ‘Loop! -Ed
P.S. Property Peek is brought to you by Jeremy Ganse with RE/Max Smarthub Realty.
Walk to parks, Giant, & the Little Conestoga Creek with a 3 Bed | 1 Bath | 2056 sf with large green space and a walk-out basement
P.P.S. If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, forward it to someone who claims to have tasted the world’s best cheesesteak and has the t-shirt to prove it.
P.P.P.R. The ‘R’ stands for randomness; Today is National Mac & Cheese Day. But would you eat this mac and cheese flavored dessert?