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ARTSQUEST ANNOUNCES 2nd Annual GINVITATIONAL SPIRITS EVENT

Presented in partnership with Jay Nee of Juniper and Grain, the cocktail celebration and educational event will take place on Sunday, June 4, 2023

Bethlehem, Pa, Feb. 16, 2023— ArtsQuest announces its 2nd annual Ginvitational, a celebration of cocktail culture featuring gin, bourbon, vodka and more, taking place on Sunday, June 4, 2023. This spirited event, produced in partnership with Jay Nee of Juniper and Grain, will be held at the ArtsQuest Center in the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling, from 1 to 5 p.m., with Premium Access beginning at 11 a.m.  

Tickets can be purchased now on steelstacks.org. Tickets start at $34 for ArtsQuest Members and $39 for the public. See website for additional pricing, including premium access. For more exclusive ticket access and advance purchase opportunities, become an ArtsQuest Circle donor today. 

“We really enjoyed helping Jay bring his vision to life last year and working with him to make this year’s event bigger and better,” said Ryan Hill, ArtsQuest Senior Director of Programming. “There’s no one in the Lehigh Valley better equipped to celebrate cocktail culture than Jay Nee and we’re glad for the opportunity to work so closely with him.”

Nee brings more than twenty years of beverage hospitality experience to the table. Since moving to the Lehigh Valley from New England 15 years ago, he has worked in the beverage hospitality industry in a number of roles. He helped develop one of the most interesting wine programs in the area and launched a recurring wine education night that has entertained hundreds of guests. He has gone on to present more than 400 wine, beer and spirits events for thousands of guests.

Guests of this event will be introduced to spirits from a long list of local, national and international distillers including the Ginvitational Lounge sponsor Edrington who will be featuring their No. 3 London Dry Gin, Wyoming Whiskey, Noble Oak and Naked Malt. Distillers and distributors include Bello Wines, Big Spring Spirits, Black River Farms & Wardog Spirits, Caledonia Spirits, Catskill Provisions Distillery, Christmas City Spirits, County Seat Spirits, Doan Distillery, Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Eight Oaks Distillery, Kilimanjaro Distillery LLC, KLYR Rum LLC, Lucky Sign Spirits, Magical Spirits, Manatawny Still Works, Oasis Wine & Spirits LLC, Palm Bay International, Silverback Distillery, Social Still Distillery, St. George Spirits, Vintage Wine and Spirits and Wigle Whiskey.

Nee will present these spirits along with educational seminars to help take attendees’ cocktail knowledge and skills to the next level with topics such as Icebreaker, Syrups/Shrubs, Life of the Party, Infusions and Gin is In. The event will also feature food from some of the area’s top restaurants – The Bayou, Whiz Kids, and Colonial Pizza & Spaghetti. Additionally, NiteLiters LLC will be spinning soul, funk and lounge classics.

Premium ticket holders will enjoy exclusive access to the first hour of the Ginvitational (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.), access to the Chasing Cocktail Classics seminar from Edrington as well as a custom cocktail shaker can.

Guests are also invited to join Jay and ArtsQuest on Thursday, March 30 for a French Wine Dinner. Purchase tickets at steelstacks.org.

ArtsQuest and Embassy Bank Invite Community to Submit Images for 13th Annual ‘Our Hometown Heroes’ Photo Display at SteelStacks

Photo submission deadline of March 31 to be included in the annual recognition display

Feb. 14, 2023, Bethlehem, PA – ArtsQuest, partnering with Embassy Bank, invites the community to submit photos of family members, neighbors and friends who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces for the 13th annual ‘Our Hometown Heroes’ display at SteelStacks. Submissions will be accepted beginning March 1 through March 31. The photos will go on display beginning May 27 through July 4, (Memorial Day weekend through the Fourth of July).

“We’re proud to partner with ArtsQuest in continuing the tradition of honoring our members of the miliary, especially those who have lost their lives protecting and serving our nation,” Embassy Bank President, CEO & Chairman Dave Lobach said.

The deadline for photo submission is March 31 and only the first 200 photos received will be accepted for the 2023 display. Over the past thirteen years, more than 1,400 images of local servicemen and women from all branches of the military have been on display in honor of our hometown heroes. Individuals can submit photos two ways, either through ArtsQuest’s website or photos can be dropped oof in person at a local Embassy Bank branch or at ArtsQuest’s Banana Factory, located at 25 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem.

To upload digital photos, visit Steelstacks.org/memorial. Images must be of high-resolution jpeg, tiff, bitmap or PDF file. Color photographs in addition to black and white photos will be accepted. All hardcopies will be returned promptly to the location where they were submitted.

The first 200 photos submitted will be displayed on one of the ‘Our Hometown Heroes’ banners on the SteelStacks campus and will include the soldier’s rank, branch, dates of service and hometown. All images submitted in previous years will automatically be displayed as part of the ‘Our Hometown Heroes’ display. The public is invited to attend “A Time to Remember” Memorial Day event on May 29 at 3 p.m. on the stage at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks. Additional details of 2023 Memorial Day events and activities held at SteelStacks will be available later this spring at Steelstacks.org

Written by Cassidy Wampole & Rianna Aucker | 2.10.2023

Sláinte! Or “Cheers” to our second annual three-day Sláinte Festival- A Celebration of Irish Heritage! From whiskey and food pairings to youth fiddle competitions, join us for a weekend of fun from March 16-18 as bands from Ireland, Scotland, the Lehigh Valley, and beyond will perform to give us a true experience of the music and traditions of the Emerald Isle! 

Irish Whiskey Tasting

Saturday, March 18 at 1p.m.

Sláinte offers the finest whiskey tastings that come from the Emerald Isle!

Neville Gardner will be on hand to guide guests through each selection, while incorporating details on the history of Irish Whiskey, St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland and more!

Whiskeys being offered:

Method & Madness Single Pot

Green Spot

Drumshanbo Single Pot Still

Knappogue Castle 12

All attendees will be getting a complementary Sláinte logo souvenir as a Glencairn glass sourced from Scotland! That won’t be the only thing, as ground coffee beans and delicious Irish chocolate pieces will be served as palette cleansers after the whiskey tasting!

Don’t forget to purchase your tickets to try some whiskey!
This event is 21+

The McCarthy’s Red Stag Pub Whiskey and Food Pairing

Thursday, March 16 at 6:30p.m.

Neville Gardner of Red Stag Pub & Donegal Square presents a special pre-Saint Patrick’s Day dinner with Executive Chef Jill Oman, along with Director of the Saint Patrick Centre in Northern Ireland, Tim Campbell. Make sure to bring your appetites because they won’t let you go home hungry!

Course One

Honey and Vanilla Glazed Sea Scallop, paired with Balvenie Caribbean Rum Cask Scotch Whisky

Course Two

Hazelnut and Currant Jam Burger Slider, paired with Red Breast 21 Irish Whiskey

Course Three

Smoked Whiskey Wings and Charred Pineapple Salsa, paired with Teelings Black Pits Irish Whiskey

Dessert

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake, paired with Glenmorangie Signet Scotch Whisky

Click here to reserve your spot today!
This event is 21+

Guinness Tasting

Friday, March 17 at 8:15p.m.

Saturday, March 18 at @ 6:00p.m.

For Sláinte 2023, add-ons for the exclusive Guinness Tasting are available for guests to taste a variety of Irish beers. If you’re looking to cleanse your palette from all of the Irish whiskey and food pairing, you won’t want to miss out on tickets to this!

Come take a trip through the history of Guinness and taste delicious Irish beer.

Guinness being offered:

Guinness Extra Stout (1801)

Guinness Foreign Extra (1810)

Guinness Draught in a Can (1958)

Guinness Blonde (2017)

Guinness Nitro Cold Brew Coffee (2021)

Guinness Zero (2022)

For Sláinte ticket holders, you will receive a pre-engraved glass and a voucher to get yourself a full pint of Guinness Extra Stout! For the fun of it, you can also get your face put in the head of your pint with Guinness’s special ripple machine!

Want some beer? Purchase your ticket here! This event is 21+

Youth Fiddle Competition 

Saturday, March 18 at 11:00 a.m.

The Youth Fiddle Competition is having their second annual competition set for Saturday, March 18 at 11am!

Divided into two levels: 13 and younger, and 14 to 18 years old.

First place will win $100, Second place will win $50, and Third place will win $25

Click here for tickets to enjoy some good tunes!

Gather your friends and family to join in the three-days of fun at
Sláinte this March! If you can’t wait until then for a fun experience, be sure to check out what other events are coming up, as the fun never stops on the SteelStacks campus!

MEDIA ADVISORY  

+LIVE+ RETURNS TO THE STEELSTACKS STAGE  

Lightning strikes twice with Platinum artist revival tour Thursday, June 1, 2023 

Bethlehem, PA, Feb. 13, 2023 – Coming to the SteelStacks campus this summer, ArtsQuest and media partner 95.1 WZZO are thrilled to announce platinum recording artist +LIVE+ will return to the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks stage with its revival tour Thursday, June 1 2023, at 7 p.m. Tickets for ArtsQuest Members will go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 14 with general admission tickets on sale Friday, Feb. 17 on steelstacks.org For more exclusive ticket access and advance purchase opportunities, become an ArtsQuest Circle donor today.  

In 1984, a group of four York, Pennsylvania pre-high school graduates came together to create music. The singer, guitarist, bassist and drummer tried out several names ranging from Action Front to Club Fungus, releasing their self-recorded cassette tape of original songs under the name Public Affection. By the early 1990s, the band evolved their sound and name, settling on +LIVE+, and released the studio recorded single “Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)”. The song hit No. 9 on the Modern Rock charts and gained regular rotation on MTV, gaining the group the chance to perform on MTV 120 Minutes tour, Woodstock ’94 and Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD tour. 

In 1994, the group released its biggest success “Throwing Copper” featuring “Lightning Crashes,” “All Over You” and “I Alone.” The album sold over 10 million copies. The follow-up album, “Secret Samadhi” featuring singles “Lakini’s Juice” and “Heropsychodreamer” immediately became #1 on the Billboard Top 200, going double platinum. The 1999 release “The Distance to Here” turned +LIVE+ into an international powerhouse moving them from arenas to stadiums around the world. +LIVE+ went on to record and release nine full-length albums. In 2019, “Throwing Copper” celebrated its 25th anniversary with a newly released deluxe edition accompanied with a global tour across major festivals, amphitheaters and arenas.  

This summer, lead singer Ed Kowalczyk will be joined by a group of musicians as a part of the band’s extended family, including guitarist Zak Loy, drummer Robin Diaz and bassist Chris Heerlein. The group will bring an electric performance filled with all the fan-favorites and hits from their Billboard chart topping music catalog to the SteelStacks crowd.  

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CLICK FOR PHOTO 

About ArtsQuest  

ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, approximately 50% of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.  

— 

Contact: 

Jon Lunger

Sr. Director of Marketing

jlunger@artsquest.org

STEELSTACKS TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL YOUTH FIDDLE COMPETITON

AS PART OF SLÁINTE IRISH HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Bethlehem, Feb. 10, 2023 – ArtsQuest is pleased to announce the second annual Sláinte Fiddle Competition taking place Saturday, March 18, from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. The competition will include two categories: 13 years of age and under and 14 to 18 years of age. Fiddlers will have up to six minutes each to play tunes of their choosing from Celtic origins and may bring another musician to provide accompaniment.

Prizes will be awarded as follows: 1st place – $100; 2nd place – $50; 3rd Place – $25. Registration is $19 and includes one (1) Saturday pass to the Sláinte festival. Fiddlers can use the following link to register: https://fest.formstack.com/forms/slaintefiddlecomp23. The fiddle competition is free to attend. Tickets to the rest of Sláinte festivities can be found here: steelstacks.org/slainte

For more information, contact Programming Specialist, Addyson Young at ayoung@artsquest.org. ArtsQuest Box Office: 610.332.3378

About ArtsQuest

ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, approximately 50% of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.

Gettin’ Jazzy at the Musikfest Café

Annual SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase Returns for 11th consecutive year

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — ArtsQuest is honored to host and present the annual SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase presented by law firm King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, in partnership with Moravian University and official media partner, Service Electric Cable TV. The preliminary rounds will be held at the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, and Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, with the first and second rounds consisting of nine and twelve schools, and the finalists called back to perform Sunday, March 19, 2023. Tickets for the preliminary rounds are now available, priced at $7 and can be purchased on our website, steelstacks.org, or by calling the box office at 610.332.3378. For more exclusive ticket access and advance purchase opportunities, become an ArtsQuest Circle donor today.

“KingSpry is thrilled to partner with ArtsQuest to present this festival for an amazing 11th year,” said Matthew Tranter, Deputy Managing Partner of the KingSpry Law firm and a board member of the Friends of Levitt Pavilion. “Our education practice serves many of the schools represented in the competition, so it is particularly fun for us to see these incredible students performing on the ArtsQuest stage.”

“We are honored to once again be able to host these talented musicians from so many high schools throughout the Lehigh Valley and beyond,” commented Shayna Super, Executive Director of Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks & Programming Manager at ArtsQuest. “The level of competition that these students perform at is exemplary and will make for a memorable experience for all of the bands as well as the audience.”

For the past decade, the city of Bethlehem has had the privilege of hosting high school bands from over 20 different local and regional schools to compete, showcasing their extensive musical abilities. This year, more than a dozen schools from Pennsylvania and New Jersey will compete in front of musical educators, judge panelists, and a live audience for awards and titles.

The High Schools represented in this year’s 2023 showcase are Bangor Area High School, Brandywine Heights High School, Delaware Valley High School (NJ), Dieruff High School, Easton High School, Fleetwood Area High School, Freedom High School, the Hill School, Kutztown High School, LaSalle College High School Competition Band, LaSalle College High School Lab Band, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, North Penn High School Columbia Jazz Band, North Penn High School Navy Jazz Band, Pocono Mountain East High School, Quakertown High School, Southern Lehigh High School Jazz Band Society, Southern Lehigh High School Jazz Trane, Upper Moreland High School, Warren Hills High School, and Wilson Area High School.

This competition is in collaboration with a music-in-education program between ArtsQuest and Moravian University’s Music Department’s Jazz Studies Program. The competition will be split between five events over the course of February and March. The dates and times are as follows: Sunday, Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26 at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., and Sunday, March 19 at 2 p.m.

About ArtsQuest

ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, approximately 50% of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.

ARTSQUEST ANNOUNCES FIRST OF FOUR GRANGE PARK EVENTS

Partnership with Upper Macungie Township kicks off with weekend of concerts

BETHLEHEM, Pa.— Grab your lawn chairs and get ready because Grange Park in Upper Macungie Township will soon be rocking! ArtsQuest, Upper Macungie Township and presenting sponsors Uline and Service Electric are bringing Concerts on the Grange to the 165-acre park Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13. Tickets for ArtsQuest members go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 8 and for the general public on Friday, Feb. 10. For more exclusive ticket access and advance purchase opportunities, become an ArtsQuest Circle donor  today. Tickets can be purchased at steelstacks.org.

“Upper Macungie Township is excited to partner with ArtsQuest and bring programming that will attract new audiences to Grange Park,” said Robert Ibach, Jr., Upper Macungie Township Manager. “For the last four decades, ArtsQuest has consistently provided access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences. Concerts on the Grange is a great way to extend that access to our residents, enhance our quality of life, strengthen our community and grow what connects us to one another.”

“Uline is thrilled to support ArtsQuest’s exciting summer event lineup, happening right in our neighborhood!” said Uline Pennsylvania Branch Manager Tim McDonough. “We look forward to spending time with our Upper Macungie Township community, and sharing in the upcoming artistic, cultural and educational experiences.”

The rockin’ weekend begins Friday at 5:30 p.m. with entertainment featuring DJ Jamal Knight followed by a special live performance of Face 2 Face: A Tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel at 8 p.m. Saturday will feature two nationally touring tribute bands, The Ultimate Doors at 5:30 p.m., and Splintered Sunlight – Grateful Dead Tribute at 8 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the two-night weekend under the stars. To enhance the mini-festival experience, food trucks, vendors and a full-service bar will be on-site with snacks, drinks and cocktails for purchase.

“ArtsQuest is ecstatic to partner with Upper Macungie Township again this year to present this concert series at Grange Park,” said Curt Mosel, ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer. “We are fortunate to have the support of local companies like Uline and Service Electric which will help make these events possible.”

Mosel explained that the new weekend concert series allows the Bethlehem-based nonprofit to further its mission of providing accessible programming to the greater Lehigh Valley community. “Last year’s SangriaFest in Upper Macungie was very well received,” Mosel said. “That event led to conversations about how we could bring SangriaFest back to Grange Park in 2023 and also work with the Township and business community to offer a wider variety of programs like Concerts on the Grange and others this year.”

Premium access ticket holders will enjoy the best seating in the park, private bar and air-conditioned restrooms, in addition to access of all food trucks and vendors. Premium access tickets start at $24 through Mar. 7, then move to $29 pricing through May 6 and are $34 if purchased during the week leading up to the event. Tickets are priced per night.

General admission tickets start at $12 through Mar. 7, then move to $17 pricing through May 6 and are $22 if purchased during the week leading up to the event. Children ages two and under do not need tickets to attend Concerts on the Grange.

Concerts on the Grange is the first of four events ArtsQuest will be producing at Grange Park in 2023. The remaining three events will be rolled out over the course of the next two months and will include the return of Sangriafest Upper Macungie, featuring Clover Hill, Vynecrest and Franklin Hill wineries, on Sep. 2.

Upper Macungie Township Grange Park is a 165-acre facility located on Grange Road between Ruppsville Road and Route 222, consisting of three rentable pavilions, multiple indoor restrooms, 12 Pickleball courts, soccer, lacrosse, football and baseball fields, walking trails and handicap accessible paved parking.

About ArtsQuest

ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, approximately 50% of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region. ArtsQuest is a proud member of IFEA, the International Festivals & Events Association, NIVA, the National Independent Venue Association and NATO, the National Association of Theatre Owners.

Media Contact
Curt Mosel, CFEE
ArtsQuest
Chief Operations Officer
cmosel@artsquest.org

Written by Anthony DeSanctis | 2.3.23
Programming Manager, Lead Programmer, Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas

As a huge movie buff I typically try and watch a movie a day. In my trip to Sundance Film Festival 2023, I definitely got in well over a month’s worth in just about ten days!

Here Are My Top Films from Sundance

  1. Flora & Son – Okay, I may be a little biased as I love the work of John Carney. The director of Once and Sing Street does it again with another inspiring music drama! Easily the biggest crowd pleaser of the festival. It’s sure to be a film that will have audiences cheering and clapping along continuously throughout! I had a smile on my face from start to finish and didn’t want it to end. Eve Hewson (Bono of U2’s daughter) gives a star-making performance as Flora, who mends the fences of her troubled relationship with her teenage son, through their shared interest in music. As soon as it ended, I wanted to call my mother and tell her how amazing she is! See it in a theater with an audience, you won’t regret it 🙂
  2. Cassandro – I love it when a biopic avoids all of the typical clichés! Cassandro has a singular, unique voice that I found myself fully engaged in from start to finish. And it also features possibly a career best performance from Gael García Bernal.
  3. Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis) – A deep dive into how some of the most iconic album art of 1970s rock came to be, from the art design studio that made them. It’s a love letter to a time long gone. A time where lots of attention was put on what was on the front covers, and the (sometimes) extreme lengths people would go to to achieve the desired vision. A truly fascinating and entertaining watch that I could see over and over again.
  4. Scrapper – A heartfelt yet surprisingly charming tale of fathers and daughters, love and loss, acceptance, and forgiveness. Harris Dickenson and Lola Campbell play off each other very well as father and daughter. This is Campbell’s first film and she commands the screen with the confidence of an actor who has been in the industry for decades.
  5. Magazine Dreams – 2023 is the year Jonathan Majors becomes a star. Sure he’s about to be the next big bad Kang in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but with Magazine Dreams, he may very like have an Academy Award on his mantle next year for this performance, which is a powerful, distributing portrayal about obsession and what one will do to be the best of the best.

To keep your 2023 film list growing, be sure to see what’s playing at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas!

Written by Amanda Seemayer | Marketing & Social Media Intern 1.30.2023

Ahh, February. The month of love and friendship. If you’re looking for some date night inspiration (or a fun venue to host Galentine’s Day), why not look for some events at ArtsQuest?

Music

Explore new musicians, or dive deeper into your favorites this February with these offerings!

Patty Griffin with special guest Raul Malo

Start off the month right with GRAMMY® Award winner Patty Griffin with special guest Raul Malo at the Musikfest Cafe, presented by Yuengling on Wednesday, February 1!

Patty Griffin is among the most consequential singer-songwriters of her generation, a quintessentially American artist whose wide-ranging canon incisively explores the intimate moments and universal emotions that bind us together. Get your tickets here!

Long Live: A Taylor Swift Inspired Dance Party

Missed out on Taylor Swift tickets this year? No problem – we’ve got the next best thing! On Saturday, February 4 at Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling, celebrate all things Taylor with your fellow Swifties. Get your tickets here!

Cash Unchained – The Ultimate Johnny Cash Experience

On Saturday, February 11 at Musikfest Cafe, presented by Yuengling, say hello to The Man in Black at this tribute to the one and only Johnny Cash! Get your tickets here!

The Dude Ranch with 40oz to Freedom

Channel your inner emo kid with The Dude Ranch with 40oz to Freedom. Catch this tribute act to Blink 182 and Sublime on Friday, February 17 at Musikfest Cafe, presented by Yuengling. Get your tickets here!

Philadelphia Funk Authority

Don’t miss out on this powerhouse group on Saturday, February 18 at Musikfest Cafe, presented by Yuengling. The talented musicians of Philly Funk Authority bring together the experience of literally thousands of performances to formulate the ultimate entertainment machine. Get your tickets here!

The Brit Pack

Capture the spirit of all things British at The Brit Pack on Friday, February 24 at Musikfest Cafe, presented by Yuengling! From The Beatles to Elton John to Amy Winehouse, The Brit Pack will be sure to bring the crowd to its feet. Get your tickets here!

Dancing Dream – ABBA Tribute Band

Calling all Dancing Queens! Saturday, February 25 at Musikfest Cafe, presented by Yuengling is a can’t-miss night for all ABBA lovers. Get your tickets here!

Comedy

Be aware that these comedy shows will contain adult language and/or situations.

We’re Good, You’re Great

Kick off the month with some laughs from We’re Good, You’re Great. Performing on Friday, February 3 at the Visitor’s Center, presented by St. Luke’s University Health Network, We’re Good, You’re Great is a quick witted, fully improvised show focusing on the humor found through a labyrinth of audience informed characters and comedic situations. Get your tickets here!

Ryan Hamilton

Laugh the night away with Ryan Hamilton on Friday, February 3 at Musikfest Cafe, presented by Yuengling! Ryan been named one of Rolling Stone’s Five Comics to Watch; and his recent appearances include The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Conan, as well as opening spots for Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan. Get your tickets here!

Gianmarco Soresi

Don’t miss Gianmarco Soresi on Saturday, February 4 at Visitor’s Center, presented by St. Luke’s University Health Network. Gianmarco’s stand up has been featured on Comedy Central, Netflix’s Bonding, PBS’ Stories from the Stage, SeeSo’s New York’s Funniest, Real Housewives of New York (really), NY1, New York LIVE, Vanity Fair, George Takei Presents and he was the winner of Amazon’s Comics Watching Comics Season 8. Get your tickets here!

Swipe Right: The Online Dating Game Show

On Friday, February 10 at the Visitor’s Center, presented by St. Luke’s University Health Network, host Aliya Brown will take away key words in real people’s online dating profile bios. Two teams of comedians will compete to replace the words Mad-Libs style to please the judges. Will the judges swipe right? Swipe left? Super like!? There’s only one way to find out! Get your tickets here!

Improvised Date Night

What better way to get an early jump on Valentine’s Day than with an improvised comedy show telling quite perhaps the greatest love story ever told? And maybe that love story is YOUR love story. You’ll never know if you’re not there on Saturday, February 11 at Visitor’s Center, presented by St. Luke’s University Health Network. Get your tickets here!

Cracking Up in the Valley – Valentine’s Masquerade Night

Cracking Up in the Valley returns for a night of love and laughter. Featuring a fun game show for couples and a chance to win some fabulous prizes! You can expect a fun evening mixed in with some romance. Will we see you there on Tuesday, February 14 at the Visitor’s Center, presented by St. Luke’s University Health Network? Get your tickets here!

Sammie James and Friends

On Friday, February 17 at the Visitor’s Center, presented by St. Luke’s University Health Network, join Sammie James, a comedian, storyteller, writer, actor, and voice actor from New Jersey.  Sammie James is soon to be your favorite disabled, nerdy, butch trans woman in comedy. Get your tickets here!

Jumanji: A Burlesque Show

Jumanji is an immersive burlesque show for risk takers. Our menagerie is not for the faint of heart. Beware! Do not start the game unless you intend to finish on Saturday February 18. This is an 18+ show. Get your tickets here!

Isabel Hagen in: IMAGINE I’M SOMEONE ELSE

Join Isabel Hagen for this one-woman, one-viola comedy show on Friday, February 24 at the Visitor’s Center, presented by St. Luke’s University Health Network. Isabel made her debut performance on “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” March 11, 2020, and was the last comic to perform before the quarantine. Her second appearance was October 26, 2022. Get your tickets here!

Cinema

There’s a reason why a night at the movies is a classic date night staple. Why not keep the tradition going at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas this month? We’ve got a number of special screenings to choose from.

BTS: Yet To Come in Cinemas

Join RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook in this special cinematic cut, re-edited and remixed for the big screen. Catch this cinematic event on Wednesday, February 1, Friday, February 3, and Saturday, February 4. Get your tickets here! This film is in Korean and English with English subtitles.

Piggy

“Piggy” is a part of our First Saturday Horror Series on Saturday, February 4. Who says you can’t be scared other than on Halloween? Get your tickets here! This film is in Spanish with English subtitles.

Dressed in Blue (Vestida de Azul) (40th Anniversary)

As part of our LGBTQ+ Film Series, on Wednesday, February 8, we will be screening Dressed in Blue (Vestida de Azul). This screening will feature a special performance by Elektra Fearce St. James before the film. Be sure to be there! Get your tickets here!

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (20th Anniversary)

This Galentine’s Day, celebrate the 20th Anniversary of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days! Celebrate this iconic romantic comedy with us on Monday, February 13. Get your tickets here!

Mo’ Better Blues

As part of our Black Film: Then And Now series, we will be showing Spike Lee’s “Mo’ Better Blues”. Join us on Thursday, February 16 for this classic drama from an iconic director. Get your tickets here!

Let There Be Drums!

This rock documentary features interviews with Ringo Starr from The Beatles, Taylor Hawkins from Foo Fighters, Stewart Copeland from The Police, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann from Grateful Dead, Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more. Celebrate what would have been Taylor Hawkins’ 51st birthday with us on Friday, February 17. Get your tickets here!

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Get ready to do the Time Wrap with us! Our monthly screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show will occur on Friday, February 24.
These screenings will feature a live performance from the Spaced Out Sensations shadowcast. Get your tickets here!

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

On Saturday, February 25, as part of our Saturday Night Anime Series, we will be screening Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Be sure to join us for this Hayao Miyazaki classic on the big screen! Get your tickets here!
This screening will be in Japanese with English subtitles.

In addition to our special screenings, we have our regular cinema showings. Since these change every week, be sure to keep yourself updated here.

Art Classes

Take the opportunity to learn a new skill with your bestie or significant other this month. We always have classes running; however, these classes will be best enjoyed with someone you know.

Parent + Toddler Handprint Trays

Parents, you and your toddler can create a keepsake piece on Tuesday, February 7. Pieces can be designed, carved, and decorated on the day of, and picked up at a later date as bisque-ware or taken to a glaze day offered by the instructor after the first firing. Sign up here!

SoulCollage© Card Making Studio

Join artist Erica Gramp for this one day workshop on Wednesday, February 8. SoulCollage® is an easy, fun, creative process for discovering the wisdom inside of you. It is a simple process that is full of surprise epiphanies! Sign up here!

If you can’t make the February 8 SoulCollage® workshop, check out the February 15 workshop. Find more information on the February 15 date here!

Yoga in the Gallery

Gain some serenity with instructor Susan Morelock, starting on Thursday, February 16. These classes follow a model of All-Levels Yoga Flow: each class will be based on a theme present in the artworks on view. Examples included harmony, empowerment, individuality, expression, and power. Sign up here!

Fusing – Sand Dollar Bowl

It may be hard to remember those warm days on the beach in the middle of winter, but you’ll be sure to channel in those feelings with our Fusing – Sand Dollar Bowl class! Starting on Monday, February 13, join artist Rebecca Shoemaker for this 4 week class. Sign up here!

Second Sunday Hot Glass Experience – Heart

Work one on one with a hot glass instructor to create your own piece of art from molten glass on Sunday, February 12, as part of our Second Sunday series. No experience necessary! Sign up here!

Date Night Experience: Matching Mugs

In need of some coffee/tea mugs? Skip the store and make your own! As part of our monthly Date Night Experience, on Friday, February 24, make your own! Sign up here!

As always, be sure to check out our event page to be updated on all of our classes geared to all ages!

Art Exhibition

Running from January 21 through March 19, be sure to visit our current art exhibition, We are Empowered: Women Veteran Art Exhibit & Ritual Storytelling. This exhibition showcases the work of several women veteran artists. In each piece, these women use their artwork as part of their ritual storytelling to talk about and process their experiences as women veterans. Find more information on this exhibition here!

We hope to see you and your loved ones at these events happening in February! Be sure to check out our website, as we are always adding more fun to our campus!

Written by ArtsQuest | 1.25.2023

Anthony DeSanctis

Programming Manager, Lead Programmer, Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas

  1. Everything Everywhere All At Once – The best multiverse movie of the year. One of the most original and unique films I’ve ever seen that at its heart is a story about family, love, and relationships. In the same movie where we have truly powerful moments between mother and daughter or husband and wife, we also have hot dog fingers. And it works! Masterpiece. This is the kind of film that really showcases just what the medium is capable of. I’ll be very surprised if this doesn’t make my top 10 films of the decade list in 2030!
  2. The Whale – This movie broke me. I bawled my eyes out at the end and thought about it long after it ended. Brendan Fraser’s triumphant return. Fingers crossed he wins the Oscar!
  3. RRR – Probably my favorite movie going experience of the year… and I was in a theater all by myself ☹ But I was screaming and cheering for the other 189 people not in the theater. Easily one of the most entertaining and incredible spectacles I’ve seen on screen in years. RRR is the reason movies need to be seen on the big screen.
  4. Turning Red – I really wish this had been a theatrical release because I feel it would have been a smash. I found it to be a hilarious, charming, heartwarming coming of age tale of the struggles to express yourself to your family and friends as you grow up and find yourself. One of my favorite Pixar films of the last decade.
  5. The Northman – A simple revenge tale executed very well. Had this come out later in the year, I think it would have swept the Academy Award nominations in all of the technical categories… and hopefully a few of the bigger ones. It’s a perfect showcase of every aspect of filmmaking. Hands down my favorite visuals of the year. The cinematography is breathtaking. Robert Eggers is 3 for 3 in my book and one of my favorite upcoming directors. I will see anything he releases.
  6. Girl Picture – A Finnish coming of age tale I saw at Sundance in 2022 that won the Audience Award for World Cinema Dramatic. It’s sweet, honest, and really wears its heart on its sleeve. When I saw it for the first time back in January, I said there’s no way this isn’t making top 10 of 2022 at the end of the year. And it’s still here!
  7. The Batman – Okay, I may be a little biased as I love all things Batman. Okay, maybe not Batman & Robin, but everything else. But what Matt Reeves did with his take on The Batman is nothing short of spectacular. Rather than making a superhero movie, he took a page from Se7en and Silence of the Lambs and basically made a crime mystery thriller that just so happen to have Batman be your detective and The Riddler your killer. AND IT WORKS! Incredible performances from Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, and Paul Dano but it’s Colin Farrell as The Penguin who really steals the show!
  8. Triangle of Sadness – Another director who is 3 for 3 in my book! Ruben Östlund really knows how to lean into the cringe but in the best way possible. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed being so uncomfortable watching a movie. It’s an absolute blast that I honestly didn’t want to end. I could have watched six more hours of this.
  9. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – I love the Shrek films and Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots has always been one of my favorite voice performances of the last twenty years. But I’ll be honest, the trailers didn’t do it for me. And then I saw the movie. Within five minutes, I told myself “This will be one of my favorite movies of the year.” I really enjoyed the new direction they took with the animation and how they grounded Puss in Boots’ character. Despite the nonstop laughter, this is actually a very honest approach to exploring one’s own mortality.
  10. The Banshees of Inisherin – Brendan Gleason stops being friends with Colin Farrell because he finds him boring and Farrell doesn’t take it well. That’s the plot of the film but it’s so much more. I’ve always been a fan of Martin McDonagh, but his film and stage work. He has a signature wit and dark sense of humor that I think really makes him such a distinct voice in the entertainment industry. I think this one may be my favorite of his films because it actually feels the most like his plays which makes this the perfect showcase for his talents.

Ryan Hill

Sr. Director of Programming

  1. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – only a select few movies have ever made me laugh like that while also making me cry like that.
  2. Aftersun – it’s so hard to not overdo it on a film as deeply personal as this one; the restraint is as impressive as the acting.
  3. Everything Everywhere All At Once – a fantastic answer to those who say there’s no originality left in cinema.
  4. George Carlin’s American Dream – the title is perfect; this is a story about Cold War-era America as much as it is a brilliant comic.
  5. Petit Maman – Céline Sciamma continues her mastery of quiet cinema, and much respect to anyone brave enough to put out a movie less than an hour and a half long these days.
  6. 32 Sounds – arguably more of an interactive experience than a movie, but one that ensures you’ll never take the sense of hearing for granted again.
  7. Fire Island – the funniest movie I saw all year.
  8. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story – on the nose in some spots, but still incredibly fun cinema.
  9. The Banshees of Inisherin – the only real way to tell the story of male depression is to place it in a pitch black anti-buddy movie set in 1920s Ireland and involve a donkey.
  10. The Automat – Anthony (the guy above me on this list) recommended this on a trip to NYC, which I quickly dismissed because it sounded way too little. I was way too wrong

Lauren Tocci

Co-Curator of the First Saturday Horror Series, and Cinema Member

For a moment I am going to do the thing Cinefix does with any “top” list and throw a bunch of films that should have been contenders. This was a year that saw people united about their love of film over a Top Gun sequel. I didn’t have that on my 2022 cinema bingo card, and I am happy for the surprise. It kicked off with yet another vision for The Batman, one that I think highlighted where DC films can go and the undeniable talent of Robert Pattinson (or as I call him RBatz). Bodies, Bodies, Bodies whodunit, madcap, and brilliantly lit and composed satire of Gen Z was truly hilarious. It was a year where horror won, okay not all of it, but in many ways, it is the genre that dominated and occupied many of the bests of the year (even if The Academy will continue to pretend that’s not the case). I settled on a top 5 for this yearly count, because these are films that I think will stay with me long past this year.

  1. Everything Everywhere All at Once: Is too cheesy to say this movie has everything? I don’t care if it is because that’s how it feels. This is that rare film that comes out and gives you the opportunity to feel everything. It’s creative and clever in ways that innovate and break the form. Backed by insanely profound performances it’s the kind of film that years from now will still be referenced, taught, and be that niche film that if you know this, then you are someone who loves great films. As Hollywood finds it footing at the stage of the pandemic, I hope this is the path collectively that cinema keeps taking.
  2. X & Pearl: Can you choose two movies at once? Because I have to do it! Mia Goth. Mia Goth. Mia Goth. I will repeat her name over and over again for what she accomplished in these two films. Also, Ti West too. I refuse to pick which one I love more, Pearl definitely panders to my sensibilities, but X challenged me and started conversations about beauty, age, violence in a way that didn’t feel like an overreach for the craft of the filmmaker and screenwriter. 
  3. The Fablemans – Best. Cameo. Ever. Aside from that, I am a Spielberg kid. I will never tire of how he tells stories, the emotional depth and grace he affords flawed adults and wonderous children. In many of Spielberg’s films I always marvel at the whole, however, there is always one moment that catches my breath. This movie definitely has that.
  4. Nope – In any year if Jordan Peele is putting out a movie, then it is likely to be something that beleaguered friends can admit, I talk way too much about. This film walks the line of combining several genres with their packed expectations and has a lot of fun turning those notions on their heads. It also truly had a scene that makes me more uncomfortable each time I think about it.
  5. Turning Red – This year saw animation as a form have many contenders that could be counted in the conversation of best films of the year. I was blown away by Turning Red. Call it nostalgia for my own boyband-obsessed years or remembering with cringe-inducing realness that moment of growing up, but this movie just hit everything right.

Catherine Ford

Co-Curator of the LGBTQ+ Series, and Cinema Committee Member

  1. Petite Maman – Wonderful movie by director/writer, Céline Sciamma. Easily my favorite of 2022. Lovely cinematography and heartfelt story that is rarely told with such gentleness and depth. It captured me from beginning to its beautiful ending.
  2. Official Competition – Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas at their best. The script is great. A comedy satire about the film industry that I thoroughly enjoyed.
  3. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – Loved this “mockumentary” about a one-inch shell and family. Moments of hysterical laughter and at times a tear or two. The voices of Jenny Slate as Marcel and Isabelle Rossellini as their grandma are magic.
  4. Good Luck to You Leo Grande – Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack and a hotel room are the leads in this comedy/drama. Sensual, sensitive, and funny.
  5. Everything Everywhere All at Once – Simply Entertaining! Refreshing with some life lessons thrown in.  Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis are fantastic.
  6. Girl Picture – Loved this coming-of-age story out of Finland directed by Alli Happasalo. It’s filled with so much emotional nuance and exceptional storytelling not seen in similar films. Both Entertaining & Heartfelt. Awesome performances by the three young female leads Milonoff, Leino and Kauhanen.
  7. Fire Island – Never expected a gay romcom set in 1995 to be adapted by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in 2022. But thrilled that it did. Fun, light-hearted and sensitive. The cast was wonderful, especially Joel Kim Booster, plus I never miss a chance to catch Margaret Cho.
  8. Nothing Compares – Documentary about Sinead O’Connor that provides insights that told me so much of what I did not know of this iconic artist of the 90s. It clearly shows how O’Connor was 20 years ahead of her time. A must see whether or not one is familiar with her fame, unwavering activism or fall from stardom.
  9. The Banshees of Inisherin – Beautiful cinematography that completely contrasts with the melancholy and sadness of the film (which appeals to me). Appreciated the symbolism throughout. Although Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are the leads, I found Kerry Condon a breath of fresh air in her supporting role, a bright spot in a dark movie.
  10. Ester Newton Made Me Gay – I was fortunate to meet the director, Jean Carlomusto, at Provincetown International Film Festival where it won best documentary. This film explores the life and times of cultural anthropologist Esther Newton. It tells her story of awakening to gay life in the 1950’s. Appreciated the raw footage and the journey Ester Newton traveled. A trailblazer!! 

Honorable Mentions.

  • Tár – Loved and hated this movie which means it’s in my top favorites list. Intense! Cate Blanchard is incredible but so is the entire cast.  Appreciated the contrast between Tár and spouse, along with the musical score that magnified the tension.
  • Emily the Criminal – Emily (Aubrey Plaza) is weighted down by student debt and works hard to follow the right path but finds it impossible because of her minor criminal record. Plaza is terrific in this thriller, as my sympathies for her slowly evolved to OMG!!!

Alessandra Fanelli

Curator of Cinema Significa Series, Co-Curator of the LGBTQ+ Series, and Cinema Committee Member

  1. Lucy and Desi – My favorite documentary of the year. Poignant and fascinating. I will never not love learning about them.
  2. White Noise – I would watch Adam Driver eat a sandwich, and a few times in this film I had to remind myself of that. However, I was very locked into this one.
  3. The Whale – This is a story that resonates with me that I did not realize I needed to see on the screen. It activated a huge emotional reaction in me and for Brendan Fraser’s performance mostly (which by itself would be #1). This was a huge favorite.
  4. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent – I don’t know what I was expecting from this, but it was not to thoroughly enjoy it as much as I did. It was meta, warm, charming, and… a Nicholas Cage movie actually worthy of a theatrical release.
  5. Elvis – Some super neat sequences and, yes, a great performance by Austin Butler. The scene where Priscilla leaves (sorry, spoiler) was enough to put this one on my list.
  6. The Batman – Similar sentiment to Adam Driver, but with Robert Pattinson. Inner torment and Zoë Kravitz-what more could you want? I hyped this one up for myself and while I feel it fell short in a lot of ways, still one of my favorite watches of the year.
  7. Bodies Bodies Bodies – It wasn’t a sexy slasher and balanced out enough entertainment with annoyance and anxiety, and for that, I have to award it kudos.
  8. Top Gun: Maverick – I was morally against this one and still couldn’t turn away the entire time. I don’t know why I loved it. But I did.
  9. DC League of the Super-Pets – Bat-Hound Puppyhood Trauma. Natasha Lyonne. That’s all.
  10. Thor: Love and Thunder – This took Avatar’s place because of the frame rate. I really enjoyed watching this- it wasn’t like other MCU and wasn’t groundbreaking, but had a lot of good dialogue and visuals.

Professor Bob Kilker

Cinema Committee Member

  1. Everything Everywhere All at Once – I just love how inventive and emotionally resonant this movie is.  The Daniels know how to thread that needle. And Michelle Yeoh proves what a gift to cinema she truly is.
  2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story – It’s funny and well-observed look at a particular cultural moment. 
  3. The Menu – I keep revisiting this dark and snarky commentary on privilege and critic culture.
  4. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – The movie is sweet, but never saccharine.  Truly a delight.
  5. The Banshees of Inisherin – A grim story to be sure, but still a pleasure to see this depiction of a crumbling friendship.
  6. Nope – This horror film didn’t get the attention paid to Us or Get Out, but it’s still a fascinating film and Keke Palmer is especially good in it.
  7. Prey – This prequel to Predator focused on indigenous Americans isn’t just a representational victory; it’s a compelling and endlessly rewatchable action film.
  8. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story – It’s as charmingly silly as you’d want a parody biopic of Weird Al Yankovic to be.
  9. The Lost City – I loved this Romancing the Stone-style throwback; we need more movies like this.
  10. The Woman King – Viola Davis is always brilliant, but Lashana Lynch stole this movie with a powerful performance.

Adrianna Gober

Co-Curator of the First Saturday Horror Series, Co-Curator of the LGTBQ+ Series, Co-Curator of The Unknown Planet Film Society, and Cinema Committee Member

  1. Tár
  2. All The Beauty and the Bloodshed
  3. The Banshees of Insihirin
  4. Saint Omer
  5. Aftersun
  6. Decision to Leave
  7. Flux Gourmet
  8. Everything Everywhere All at Once
  9. We’re Going to the World’s Fair
  10. Crimes of the Future

Jen Suwak & Steve Abruzzese

Cinema Committee Members

  1. Everything, Everywhere All at Once
  2. Barbarian
  3. The Last Movie Stars
  4. Top Gun Maverick
  5. The Fablemans
  6. The Menu
  7. Smile
  8. All that Breathes
  9. The Batman
  10. Nope

Lou Fromm

Cinema Committee Member

In no particular order:

  • The Whale
  • The Tender Bar
  • Top Gun: Maverick
  • Hustle
  • White Noise

To keep your “Must-Watch List” growing, be sure to see what’s playing at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas!

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