Wednesday, January 30, 2013

About the header image: January 30, 2013


This week's header is from Lara Greenberg (larasbookclub.wordpress.com). It's a view of the Market Street Bridge from the Kingston side, looking towards Wilkes-Barre on January 23, 2013. As Lara says in the accompanying note:
...it may not be the snowiest NEPA photo but you can almost feel how cold it was when this picture was taken. Ice was floating in the Susquehanna River and I couldn't entirely feel my fingers. Thank you, Winter, for reminding us what 7 degrees feels like.
Spring is coming! But Winter will still be with us for a while. If you have any photos that capture Winter or Spring in NEPA, or any other aspect of NEPA you'd like to put on display, send it in to us at nepablogs@gmail.com and we'll use it as the blog header some week!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Scranton & Wilkes-Barre in Entertainment



NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on the WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.


Watch this episode on the PA Live! site:  http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=312192

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Scranton & Wilkes-Barre in Entertainment (http://wb-scranton-movies.blogspot.com/.)

Scranton and Wilkes-Barre have a long relationship with entertainment, stretching from the days of Vaudeville and traveling shows where Northeastern Pennsylvania was considered a necessary stop, to modern movies and TV shows where the region is used as a backdrop. The folks at the Reference Department at the Albright Memorial Library in Scranton have set out to catalog all of these references, and have been at it. You probably know that Scranton is the setting for the Woody Harrelson movie "Kingpin" and the American version of the TV series "The Office," but there are dozens - maybe hundreds - of other movies and TV shows that mention Scranton or Wilkes-Barre at least in passing. 

This site contains all sorts of references and connections between  movie, television, and the Scranton/Wilkes-barre area. More than that, this site also lists folks from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area who have made it big in the entertainment industry. It's been going strong since July of 2005, and still hasn't run out of ideas! If you'd like to learn more, be sure to check out Scranton & Wilkes-Barre in Entertainment!

If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Whiskey Bacon

I first met Dan Kimbrough at last September's NEPA BlogCon, where he was recording the event on video and serving delicious food courtesy of Whiskey Bacon, which was one of the BlogCon's sponsors. I didn't realize at the time - or in the numerous times that I've met and hung out with him since, up until last night - that Whiskey Bacon is actually Dan's blog!

Whiskey Bacon
http://whiskeybacon.com/

Correction/update, 1/31/13: Dan has pointed out to me that Whiskey Bacon isn't "his" blog, but is instead a team effort:
I did want to mention one thing, I'm not Whiskey Bacon, we're a team. It's Leni Konstas, Theresa Lazzari and myself. We all work on the blog, photos, recipes and outings we go on. There's no way I could handle it all on my own!
I've also met Leni at the NEPA BlogCon and at a few events afterwards!

Whiskey Bacon is a food blog, and what a food blog it is! It features delicious recipes for delicious food, and delicious photos of delicious food!

From their "About Us":


Whiskey Bacon is…
…your drunken one night stand, sober up meal at six a.m., all while meeting friends at your favorite diner.
…ripping the recipe out of the magazine, changing the ingredients, turning a pasta into a pizza,  or a vegan dish into a bacon feast.
…the loudest table shoved into the corner of the restaurant, who doesn’t leave until after last call is served.
… the twenty things you shouldn’t have eaten last month, but really, who’s counting carbs that taste this great?
… the bakery you stumble into on accident, and return to every week for fresh muffins and bread.
… taking that box of CSA ingredients to make a pesto to last all winter.


If you like food, like reading about food, or just like pictures of food, be sure to check out Whiskey Bacon! Keep some wipes handy, because you may drool on your keyboard and lick your monitor!


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

About the header image: January 23, 2013




Well, so far this year we've posted headers from Mike Burnside, Frank Dutton, and Michelle Hryvnak Davies - so I figured I may as well throw in one by me! This is actually a panorama, a composite of several overlapping images I took of the partially-frozen Susquehanna back on February 5, 2009. The full story of this photo safari can be found here. (To sum up: Damn, it was cold on that bridge.)

2013 seems to be having a Winter, something we really didn't experience in 2012. Do you have any photos that capture Winter in NEPA - even if it isn't this Winter? Send them in to us at nepablogs@gmail.com, and we'll use them as the NEPA Blogs header! But hurry - Spring is coming!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Jenny Hill


NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on the WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.



Watch this episode on the PA Live! site:  http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=309812


Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Jenny Hill (http://jenniferdunnhill.blogspot.com/.)

Jenny Hill may be familiar to regular viewers of PA Live! As a member of Whirligig Hoopers, she appeared on the show in November 2011 to teach Dave and Monica how to hoop. But hooping was just one of Jenny Hill's many talents. She is also an accomplished poet, and she uses her eponymous blog Jenny Hill to share her poetry with the world. Jenny no longer lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania; she moved away to the Lancaster area a few months ago. So her blog now also serves to help her stay in contact with friends and fans in NEPA while she's off somewhere else.

Northeastern Pennsylvania is full of talented and creative people: hoopers, poets, artists, writers...all of whom could benefit from having a blog as a means of sharing their creative works with the rest of the world. A blog is a quick, simple, and free way of establishing your presence online and showing everyone what  you've got!


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Pecha Kucha returns to The Vintage in Scranton

The speed-slideshow presentation known as Pecha Kucha returns to The Vintage in Scranton this coming Saturday, January 26! Twenty slides, twenty seconds apiece, no going back! Several NEPA bloggers will be involved in this event, including co-administrator Michelle Hryvnak Davies. I will also be presenting "A Brief History of NEPA Blogs," covering the first seven years of the site in six minutes and forty seconds!

Pecha Kucha night will take place at the new location of the Vintage, 326 Spruce Street in Scranton. The last time Pecha Kucha was at the Vintage it was standing room only.  Presentations start at 7:30, so be there early to get a good seat!

From the Pecha Kucha Scranton Facebook page:


Join us for an evening of supercharged show and tell for the 21st century as we present Scranton's 3rd Pecha Kucha Night at The Vintage Theater on Saturday, January 26 at 7:30 p.m. 

Grab your tickets! http://pechakuchascranton.whindo.com/

Each presenter gets 20 slides and 20 seconds per slide to get to the point on whatever subject they choose. Past presentation topics include library crimes, life lessons learned from a first job, Scranton movie title parodies, lies about Belgium, and increasing your real life social network. 

You'll enjoy the talking talents of local movers, shakers, storytellers, and creators like: 
-Ted Michalowski
-Jeff Fowler
-Michelle Davies
-Karla Porter
-Brian Fulton
-Jenna Urban
-Harold Jenkins
-Jeff Stolarcyk
...and maybe a few more surprises!

Pecha Kucha Night was devised in Tokyo in February 2003 as an event for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public. Today, this concise but fun presentation style is practiced in more than 500 cities around the world. Learn more at: http://www.pechakucha.org/

Tickets: $8 in advance online (http://pechakuchascranton.whindo.com/), $10 at the door. 

What: Pecha Kucha Night Scranton
When: Saturday, January 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Vintage - 326 Spruce St. in Downtown Scranton
How much: $8 online, $10 at the door
To purchase tickets: http://pechakuchascranton.whindo.com/

Questions: Send us an email at pechakuchascranton@gmail.com, add us on Twitter @pechakuchascran, or visit our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/PechaKuchaNightScranton

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

About the header image: January 16, 2013


Our header photo this week comes from co-administrator Michelle Hryvnak Davies. Countless times I've looked up at the towers on the hill known as Penobscot Knob and wondered at their sheer size. A few times I've taken the drive up Giant's Despair and passed between the towers like a football through goalposts.  This week, Michelle shares with us the view of the Wyoming Valley as seen from the base of these towers!

Do you have any unique views of Northeastern Pennsylvania you'd like to share? Send them to us at nepablogs@gmail.com and we'll feature them as NEPA Blogs headers!


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Northeastern Pennsylvania Writers' Collective



NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on the WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.


Watch this episode on the PA Live! site:  http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=307622

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Northeastern Pennsylvania Writers' Collective (http://nepwc.blogspot.com/.)

Northeastern Pennsylvania is full of talented artists, writers, poets, and playwrights, creative people who practice their skills individually or in groups. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Writers' Collective is a writing group based in Scranton's Vintage Theater. It's one of many writing groups in the area, and with a history stretching back forty years possibly one of the oldest. It's also one of the only writing groups to have a blog, or a dedicated website of any sort. (Full disclosure: I created and maintain the blog, and have been a member of the group for the past year.) On the Northeastern Pennsylvania Writers' Collective blog you'll find news and announcements about the group and its upcoming events, writing prompts, writing tips, basic information for people thinking of joining, and lots of links to writing blogs and other blogs of interest to writers.

Many groups could benefit from having a website of some sort for keeping in touch with members, advertising events, and attracting new members. But too often people are discouraged from creating a website because they feel they will need to take on the expense of buying a domain and hiring someone to design, build, and maintain the site. With a blog you can go from idea to execution in just a few minutes with no technical knowledge, and you can continue to update and revise your site without having to hire anyone else to do it for you. The site and space are free if you use a service like Blogger or Wordpress. At no expense anyone can set up a blog for their group and let the world know what they're all about. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Writers' Collective blog is an example of this sort of do-it-yourself group website. How many other groups are just waiting to make their presence known on the internet? Free publicity is just a blog away!


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Linking back to NEPA Blogs

NEPA Blogs is a network of blogs by people from or living in Northeastern Pennsylvania or who blog about Northeastern Pennsylvania. Our goal is to link to all of the blogs that fall into those categories, and to increase the "linkiness" of all the linked blogs, making it more likely that people will find your blog through a link or a search engine search.

Originally NEPA Blogs was going to be a one-to-one network (or, really, all-to-all), where every member would link to every other member. This would increase everybody's linkiness tremendously, but would also require lots of effort to add new members, or remove dead links. So the decision was made to make it a hub-and-spokes network, where there would be a central site - NEPA Blogs - that points to everyone else's site, and everyone in the network would point back to the central site. In this way the central site would have a high degree of linkiness - lots of links coming in, lots of links going out, and everyone else would have the benefit of being linked by a strong central site, and being just two clicks away from everyone else. (And, of course, everyone could still link to everyone else if they wanted to!)

The thing is, this plan only really works if everyone who is being linked by the central site also links back to the central site. Otherwise the central site has a lot of links pointing out, but only a few pointing in, and the benefit of being linked by the central site is diminished.

Is your site linked from NEPA Blogs? If so, does your site link back to NEPA Blogs? If not, there are some simple ways to fix that.

One way is to just add a link to your main page. The link could go to http://nepablogs.blogspot.com, or even http://nepablogs.org (which would be especially useful when and if we ever migrate to another platform.) Test the link, make sure it goes where it's supposed to go - the main page, that is - and you're done!

Another way is to add one of our lovely lovely buttons to your site - or even make one of your own! As of this writing we have nine styles on our sidebar to choose from, four by me, four by professional designer Leslie Stewart of Darling Stewie! Just be sure to add the code that will link the button back to either http://nepablogs.blogspot.com, or http://nepablogs.org. If you need instructions, Michelle has also written those out in tremendous detail.


So that's it! By linking back to the NEPA Blogs site, you help to strengthen the linkiness of the entire NEPA Blogs network. And that benefits all of us!


Wednesday, January 09, 2013

About the header image: January 9, 2013


It's been so long since Northeastern Pennsylvania has dealt with a snow-covered landscape for more than a few days at a time that I'd actually forgotten how the snow and ice highlights and transforms once-familiar landscapes. Frank Dutton has taken many, many photos of Nay Aug Falls in Scranton, but when I saw this photo this past weekend I felt like I was seeing the Falls for the first time. I am grateful that Frank was willing to share this image with us, and I regret that I had to crop it a bit to fit our header guidelines. You can see the full-sized original here, and you can see all of Frank Dutton's remarkable photography over at his blog, Frank's Place (http://frank-dutton.blogspot.com/).

Has the snow opened your eyes to new ways of seeing familiar landscapes? Take a photo and send it in to us at nepablogs@gmail.com, and we'll post it as a header!

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Chris Dolan's Blog



NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on the WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.


Watch this episode on the PA Live! site:  http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=305232

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Chris Dolan's Blog (http://www.christopherdolan.net/.)

Chris Dolan was an intern at WBRE and PA Live! a while back. He used to escort guests onto and off of the set, along with other behind-the-scenes duties. It wasn't until after his internship ended that I discovered he was also a blogger! Chris blogs about a lot of things: his experiences at the University of Scranton (where he is a writer for the school newspaper, the Aquinas), politics, autograph collecting, Bruce Springsteen, and other things that interest him. Having met Chris many times on the set of PA Live!, I found it fascinating to get this completely different window on his life.

Personal blogs let us see people as they choose to present themselves to the world, celebrities and everyday folks alike. By reading a personal blog like Chris Dolan's, you can get new insights into a person and learn things you might not otherwise have known. And by creating your own personal blog, you can tell your own story and decide what you want to share about yourself with the rest of the world.


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

From the mailbag: Abingtonian Adventures

Today's blog addition comes to us from Jennifer Deinlein, a NEPA transplant originally from SouthCentral PA. Jennifer is using her blog "Abingtonian Adventures" to document her adventures as a new NEPA resident and equally new mommy-to-be, as well as the not-so-new adventures in freelance writing and other activities.

http://abingtonianadventures.blogspot.com

Hello!
 
I have recently started a blog called "Abingtonian Adventures." My husband and I are fairly new to NEPA, now living in South Abington Twp., and I like alliteration. :-)
 
I blog about getting to know NEPA, organizing our house, being a new mommy-to-be, freelance writing, and anything else I deem "adventure." I'd really appreciate being listed on your blog!
 
Thank you!
Jennifer


Jennfer's "adventures" could be as simple as going on a drive or organizing her house.  They could also be complex like adapting to a new area or preparing for a new baby.  We are glad to add "Abington Adventures" to our blog roll and hope that you'll take a moment to follow along with these adventures on her blog! 

Sunday, January 06, 2013

Herbvaceous Lady

The Herbavaceous Lady (aka Sara Crolick) is a little lady on the quest for all things green, nutritious, and joy-inducing as indicated by her blog's tagline.

http://www.herbvaceouslady.com

Sara is a relatively new member to our NEPA Bloggers Facebook group.  She's a former resident of PA who attended Wilkes and is now living in Colorado.  I hate putting labels on bloggers, but Sara is a true "life" blogger with sprinklings of her vegan roots.

From the about page:

Why I became a vegan:  I was twelve the first time I told my parents I would be a vegetarian. I would love to attribute some deep, secret, humanitarian voice guiding my decision, but I feel restlessness and identity-searching were the driving force. My mother didn’t give the cause much thought, certain I was going to lose interest in the idea; my attention span was inconsistent, at best. She just insisted that if I was to become a vegetarian, I would cook for myself. In response, I bought a cookbook. Purchasing a physical object that represented my decision seemed a solid first step.   Ours was a household of comfort foods. The menu often promised animal centered dishes like tunafish casserole, beef stroganoff (a disastrous night for me), and scrambled eggs for dinner. I didn’t know it then because I was too busy having a happy childhood, but these meals were a quiet representation of our meager financial standing.  My parents cooked within their means and I was always physically satiated when I went to bed; however, I still sought a spiritual satiation. My relationship with vegetarianism was short lived and (much like my attention span) inconsistent. Time passed and like most kids, I grew up, though, I did keep the cookbook. 

Be sure to check out her edibles section as there are a lot of yummy and healthy ideas to get a kick start on that New Year's resolution that we all have -- to eat better!


Sara has a loyal Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest following if you'd like to connect with her.  Don't forget to connect with us on those networks too!

Saturday, January 05, 2013

NEPA Pets

When the list of bloggers who took part in the NEPA BlogCon was compiled back in September, Dawn Miklich's NEPA Pets was referred to as a "blog in progress." In the months since then it's become fully activated, with regular posts - including daily posts through December right up to Christmas!

NEPA Pets
http://www.nepapets.com/

From the "About" page:


I think loving pets is a genetic thing in my family. Everyone does, although probably not as much as me. I think the gene is amplified in me. While I never became the veterinarian I wanted to be when I was younger, I’ve been lucky to spend most of my life working and learning about pets.

Much of that time working with pets has been here in Northeastern Pennsylvania so I know people living here are passionate about their pets. NEPA Pets was started to give pet owners a place to learn new things to help give their pet the best life possible, to help make a difference for homeless pets in NEPA and to share the love we all have for our pets.

The NEPA Pets blog is part of a complete online presence, with components on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest, too! If you're a pet lover, be sure to check out Dawn Mikulich's excellent blog!

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

About the header image: January 2, 2013


A new year is a lot like Shakespeare's "undiscovered country," from Hamlet - and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. In Hamlet the undiscovered country from which no traveler has returned is "death," but Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country recast it as "the future." (Ironically, the guy who made that reference in the movie wound up dead just a few scenes later.)

Mike Burnside's picture of Route 118 near Ricketts Glen State Park is a lot like a new year: the view in the distance is shrouded in fog, with looming shapes and oncoming dangers.  It's gloomy and spooky. But there's a bright red sign for a hotel. Maybe we should just check in there until the fog burns off and it's safe to drive again!

So now we've entered into a new year. What does 2013 have in store for NEPA Blogs? If you submit your photos to nepablogs@gmail.com you can help to set the look for the NEPA Blogs header a week a a time!


Sunday, December 30, 2012

PensFans4Ever

Oh no!  Not another hockey blog!  Indeed, yes.

PensFans4Ever is tagged the "Official Web Site of the WBS Penguin Fans" (and the professional and farm teams associated with the franchise as well).  At the site you can find game recaps, a chat room for Live Game Day chats, and a message board. There's also an Interactive Schedule where you can get up to date information on past games.  WAIT!  That's not all!  The site has a mobile app, an RSS Feed, and much much more!



 http://pensfans4ever.com

From the About:  PensFans4ever was developed by Butch Pettit. It was started to keep the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Fans along with the Pittsburgh Penguin Fans up to date with happenings as far as who is up and who is down.




Thanks to Butch joining the NEPA Bloggers group on Facebook, we learned about a blog that we wouldn't have otherwise known was out there.  Do you know of a blog that we aren't already listing?  Send us an email at nepablogs@gmail.com or join our Facebook Group!

Friday, December 28, 2012

Poor Parking in PA

Rock 107's morning DJ, Prospector, gets angry when he's out and about and notices people who have issues with parking properly.  These inept parkers may have parked in between two spaces, parked in a handicapped spot with no tags, or parked between two meters.  Prospector decided to take his frustrations with these "yambags" to a Tumblr photo blog called "Poor Parking in PA". 

http://poorparkingpa.tumblr.com

Have you seen a bad park job in NEPA?  You can submit a picture through the webpage http://poorparkingpa.tumblr.com/submit or via email at Prospector@rock107.com.  Please keep people's names out of the equation when you submit your image.

Maybe, just maybe, together we can help people learn how to park correctly.....

(....but probably not)

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

From the Mailbag: Blogs by Robert Flach

Good morning!  We hope that you all had a wonderful holiday. It's back to business here at NEPA Blogs.  We had email submission with several new blogs that we'd like to share with you - especially timely since tax season is looming right around the corner!

Dear NEPA Blogs-
I recently moved from Jersey City NJ to Hawley PA (after having come to this area in the summer for almost 50 years) - and am especially happy I moved when I did because of SANDY.
 I have been writing the popular tax blog THE WANDERING TAX PRO (http://wanderingtaxpro.blogspot.com/) since June of 2011.  It provides advice, information, and resources on federal income taxes and is written for the average middle and upper-middle class taxpayer.  I also write the blog THE TAX PROFESSIONAL (http://thetaxprofessional.blogspot.com/) for professional tax preparers.
 I would like these blogs to be considered for inclusion in the NEPA Blogs.
Thank you and Merry Christmas
 RDF
 http://robertdflach.blogspot.com

All of these blogs will be listed in the side bar for your reading pleasure.  If you are new to the area and would like us to list your blog, send us an email at nepablogs@gmail.com!

About the header image: December 26, 2012

This week's header image is a little unusual. I couldn't decide on which image to use to bridge the week starting the day after Christmas and ending on New Year's Day. So I decided to use all of them. Every header that we used in 2012!


"But wait," you might say, "An Earth-standard year is fifty-two weeks long, and the image above, while impressive and all, contains (7x4)+(6x4)+2 = 28+24+2 = 54 images! How can this be?!" To which, of course, I would explain "Shut up, that's how." Sharp-eyed observers might note that an image in the second-from-last row on the right-hand side appears twice; this is because these pictures are taken from the NEPA Bloggers "Past Headers" photo album, and I initially posted this photo with an incorrect location description. By the time I got the correction, several comments had been posted to the first version. So, rather than delete it, and them, I kept both versions.

Sharp-witted observers will further note that the first image is actually our Christmas 2011 photo, which was posted on December 21, 2011 and ran until December 27, 2011.So it doesn't really belong here, but I liked it so much I wanted to include it. Also, excluding it would have required some effort on my part that I didn't feel like exerting.

This was actually the most difficult and time-consuming image of the year, mainly because of three arbitrary rules I set up long ago: each header image must be 920 pixels wide, "NEPA Blogs" must appear in 96-point Times New Roman Bold, and the descriptive text must appear in 18-point Akbar. This meant I had to wing it when creating the basic image with two blocks of photos captured by screen grabs, particularly the gap between them. After I had them assembled, cropped, and resized to 920 pixels across, I then tried to fit the logo and descriptive text between them. If the text didn't fit, I couldn't just move things; I had to throw it all away and start over, leaving a slightly larger gap...all while working in a graphics program I'm just learning to use.

I hope I got the names of everyone who contributed a photo this year. Some of the names on that list were responsible for numerous photos, especially Cheri Sundra, Trish Hartman, and Brent Pennington. Michelle Hryvnak Davies and I also provided a disproportionately large number, though my contributions were often the result of suddenly realizing we didn't have anything else lined up, or that the image we planned to use for a given week couldn't be used for some reason.

(All of these images can be viewed in full size by clicking on the thumbnails in this post.)

These pictures represent Northeastern Pennsylvania ans seen through the eyes and lenses of many excellent local photographers. I know there are many others out there who have their own unique views of the region. Please share them with everyone by submitting them to nepablogs@gmail.com!

A big thank you to everyone who contributed a photo in 2012! And thanks to all the bloggers and readers who continue to give us a reason to keep NEPA Blogs going!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

About the header image: December 19, 2012


Our header image for this week - the last one before Christmas! - is a shot of the WNEP backyard in holiday mode by Michelle Hryvnak Davies (http://www.mhryvnak.net/blog.)

This will be our header until a new one goes up on December 26, and that header will stay up right through January 1! So, if you want to be in the position of having the very last NEPA Blogs header of 2012, and the very first one of 2013, send your header submission to nepablogs@gmail.com!


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

PA Live! Blog of the Week: A Debbie-Dabble Christmas



NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on the WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.


Watch this episode on the PA Live! site:  http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=300852

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is A Debbie-Dabble Christmas (http://adebbie-dabblechristmas.blogspot.com/).

Debbie Dabble is a local crafter and bon vivant who loves Christmas. A lot. She has one blog all about crafting, decorating, and things that interest her, but A Debbie-Dabble Christmas focuses exclusively on Christmas. And it's updated year-round! Her blog is filled with photos of ornaments, decorations, figurines, collectibles, wreaths, and more trees than you can imagine. If I were looking at this stuff in person I would be afraid to move for fear of knocking over something, or a lot of somethings. But with A Debbie-Dabble Christmas you can view it all on her blog from the safety of your computer!

Lots of people have hobbies. Lots of people like to decorate. Lots of people like to collect things. And lots of people love Christmas. But some people take it to the extreme - and then are good enough to share the results with the rest of us. Maybe you won't wind up decorating your house quite as elaborately as this, but A Debbie-Dabble Christmas is still a fun place to visit!


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

About the header image: December 12, 2012


The header image for the week of December 12, 2012 is a shot of the Westmoreland Club on Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre decorated for Christmas, and is by me. I took this photo last Tuesday as I walked from the WBRE studios back to Boscov's, where I had parked. (I walked through Boscov's and took a quick tour of downtown Wilkes-Barre, something I haven't done often enough lately.)

We've got an image already lined up for next week's header, but if you have one to run the following week - December 26 through January 1 - we'd love to see it! Please send it to us at nepablogs@gmail.com. Just think, you can have the last word on Christmas, and the first word on New Year's! Your image can close out 2012 and ring in 2013!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Locate the Lights



NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on the WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.


Watch this episode on the PA Live! site: http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=298822

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Francene Pisano Dudziec's Locate the Lights (http://www.locatethelights.com/.)

At Christmastime, many people love going around to see the elaborate and festive lighting displays that are scattered around Northeastern Pennsylvania. But wouldn't it be nice if there were a website to tell you where to see the biggest, the brightest, and the best? That's exactly what Locate the Lights does: it's a guide to the best lighting displays in the area, plus outstanding lighting displays from all over. The site also lists Christmas parades, holiday markets, and more. There's even a form that allows you to share any lighting displays you may find, and you can submit your photos as well!

It's fun to drive around and randomly discover lighting displays tucked away on side streets and in obscure locations. But Locate the Lights helps you find the most impressive ones - maybe even ones you would never have found on your own. And if you do discover one that's especially impressive, be sure to share it so everyone can enjoy! 


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Sunday, December 09, 2012

Three Christmas blogs

We've got three blogs on the NEPA Blogs roster that are specifically dedicated to Christmas. Are there more out there in northeastern Pennsylvania?

The first blog I want to mention is one we haven't actually showcased yet, though it is listed on our sidebar. It's called Locate the Lights, and it's a blog dedicated to connecting you with the biggest, brightest, and best Christmas light displays in Northeastern Pennsylvania! This site has recently been featured in local newspapers. Watch for it on WBRE's PA Live! on Tuesday, December 11!

Locate the Lights
http://www.locatethelights.com/


The second blog is one that was mentioned a while ago, and is by crafter, decorator, and Christmas enthusiast Debbie Dabble! She has two blogs, but this one - A Debbie-Dabble Christmas - is dedicated entirely to Christmas! Debbie Dabble is into Christmas in a huge way. Visit her site to marvel at her amazing decorations, or to get decorating ideas for yourself - or if you don't feel like decorating for Christmas, just leave her site up on your computer and you'll be ahead of the game! Look for this blog to be featured on PA Live! on Tuesday, December 18!

A Debbie-Dabble Christmas
http://adebbie-dabblechristmas.blogspot.com/


The third blog is no longer updating, because it has done its job already. We first mentioned Scranton Christmas Windows, 1938-1960 way back in 2009, and we featured this blog as the Blog of the Week on PA Live! in December 2011. It set out to post all of the photos of the Christmas windows of Scranton that were uncovered in a trove some years back, and they accomplished this in just a few months. But the blog remains, featuring all of these amazing images!

Scranton Christmas Windows, 1938-1960
http://scrantonchristmas.blogspot.com/


So there you have it: three NEPA-based blogs that focus exclusively on Christmas! Are there more? Let us know!

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Christmas magic with Mark Mysterrio

Magician and blogger Mark Mysterrio (http://pennsylvaniabirthdaymagitcian.com/) is involved with two different Christmas magic events in the next week and a half.

The first is this weekend's 2nd Annual Magic Show for Toys for Tots (http://www.facebook.com/events/161955357281050/) being held at Brews Brothers West in Luzerne (75 Main Street) on Saturday, December 8 from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM. This show features numerous local and regional magicians. It's targeted towards children, but adults will have fun too! Admission is only $5 or a new, unwrapped toy.

Mark Mysterrio also has a magic show in honor of Frosty's birthday on Sunday, December 16 at The Living Room in Stroudsburg (522 Main Street, next to the Sherman Theater) at 2:00 PM.  Admission is $8, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.

About the header image: December 5, 2012


This week's header image is of the WNEP Wyoming Valley Newsroom on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, festively decorated for Christmas. The image is by reporter Andy Palumbo (http://andypalumbo.blogspot.com.) You can see the full photo in this post: http://andypalumbo.blogspot.com/2012/11/bad-photography-saturday-wvnr.html.

And with that, NEPA Blogs enters Holiday Mode! We're going to be featuring several Christmas-themed blogs in coming weeks, and we'll also be making some announcements about upcoming holiday events involving bloggers - such as this weekend's 2nd Annual Magic Show for Toys for Tots (http://www.facebook.com/events/161955357281050/) being held at Brews Brothers West (75 Main Street, Luzerne, Pennsylvania ) on Saturday, December 8 from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM, featuring numerous local and regional magicians including Mark Mysterrio (http://pennsylvaniabirthdaymagician.com/) - admission is only $5 or a new, unwrapped toy. Mark Mysterrio also has a magic show in honor of Frosty's birthday on Sunday, December 16 at The Living Room in Stroudsburg (next to the Sherman Theater) at 2:00 PM (admission $8, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.)

If you have any holiday-themed photos of Northeastern Pennsylvania you can share, we'd like to feature them as our header of the week for one of the remaining weeks of December! Please send them to us at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Lacey's Barkery Blog



NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on the WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Watch this episode on the PA Live! website: http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=296932

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is  Lacey's Barkery Blog (http://laceysbarkery.com/blog/).

Lacey's Barkery is an Old Forge-based dog bakery that sells healthy homemade human-grade dog treats and dog birthday cakes. A few months ago they incorporated a blog into their website, and the blog has taken off. Lacey's Barkery Blog is written by a team of bloggers and pet industry professionals.  Posts cover dog health, dog safety, human-canine interactions, dog product recalls, and all sorts of other information to make sure your dog friends have a long and happy life, with some funny dog stories thrown in here and there.

If you have a dog, or if you ever interact with a dog in your daily life, Lacey's Barkery Blog is a great place to go for a wealth of information and resources for keeping your doggie friends happy and healthy for years to come.


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

About the header image: November 28, 2012


The NEPA Blogs header for the week of November 28 is a sunrise over the Luzerne County Courthouse. Photo courtesy of ShadowCatcher Ltd. Photography. Submitted by Lori Prashker-Thomas.  Additional photos can be seen at http://shadowcatcherltd.zenfolio.com/wilkes-barre.

Do you have photos that capture some unique aspect of Northeastern Pennsylvania? Would you like to see them featured as the NEPA Blogs header? Send them to us at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

PA Live! Blog of the Week: 590 Forever WARM Radio


NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on the WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Watch this episode on the PA Live! website: http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=294922

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Dave Yonki's 590 Forever WARM Radio (http://david-yonki.blogspot.com/).

Anyone over a certain age who grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania is familiar with "The Mighty 590", WARM. It first began broadcasting in 1940, came of age in the 1950's, and hit reached the height of popularity in the 1960's and early 70's. Dave Yonki's 590 Forever WARM Radio treats us to  behind-the-scenes stories of life at WARM back in the day, clippings of old-time newspaper ads and articles about WARM, and updates on the larger-than-life figures who once broadcast from the WARM studios. The history of WARM is tied into the history of Northeastern Pennsylvania, so many of these stories of WARM reflect NEPA as it once was - for example, the role WARM played in the response to the Agnes flood of 1972.

WARM still exists, and still broadcasts music from those long-ago times. What was once the hottest contemporary station is now an oldies station, playing music that brings back memories of a long-ago time. Dave Yonki's 590 Forever WARM Radio fleshes out those memories with pictures and stories of the people who once made WARM into "The Mighty 590."

If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

From a Corner of a Foreign Field...

I wasn't able to make it to last Friday's Scranton StorySlam - it was a work night, and I had no way of knowing if I'd be there in time to hear any of the stories. But I do follow their Twitter feed, and last night I noticed several tweets being relayed on their feed coming from someone whose profile indicated she had a blog. A quick click on the link and a lot of reading later, and I knew we had found a new blog that had to be added to NEPA Blogs.


From a Corner of a Foreign Field...
http://eleanorgwyn-jones.blogspot.com/


Eleanor Gwyn-Jones is originally from England. She came to Northeastern Pennsylvania through a series of steps that she describes in various locations around her blog. But she didn't stay - she lived in Scranton and moved out. Out to the city that never sleeps, New York City, Brooklyn to be exact. And she found when she was there that she missed the things that had made Scranton special to her. So she moved back.

From a Corner of a Foreign Field... isn't the first blog we've listed by someone who originally hails from overseas. (That would be Moving to NEPA.)  But it's always fascinating to see NEPA through the eyes of someone who didn't spend their whole life here. Eleanor is also an excellent writer and storyteller, which are always pluses when it comes to a blog. Be sure to check it out!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!


Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all of the things that we are thankful for.  I believe that I can speak on behalf of the 2 other co-admins and say that we are thankful to be a part of all of your lives.  We enjoy reading your posts and are fascinated by your thoughts and ideas.

"Gort" (*ahem* Ben), Harold and I wish you and your family the happiest of Thanksgivings!



Here are some blog posts from Thanksgiving's past to entertain you while we enjoy the holiday with our families.

Gort's guest blogger reminds us of the finest traditions of the holiday:


I look fondly at holiday memories with family:

While I serve up a rerun of a classic heartwarming illustrated tale. Gather the kiddies and share with them the true joy of Thanksgiving!
Take care!

Harold
 









Michelle











Gort 


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

About the header image: November 21, 2012


This week's header image comes to us from Russell Hryvnak of the blog Shit Under the Counter.  It's of a train track near Campbell's Ledge in Pittston Lehigh Valley Gorge in Jim Thorpe,* and was one of several images Russell submitted that he took while hiking around Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Do you have any photos that capture some unique or special aspect of Northeastern Pennsylvania? Would you like to see them featured as the header image on NEPA Blogs for a week? Drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com and we'll make it so!

*Corrected per Russell Hryvnak.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Nine Kilobytes


NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on the WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.



Watch this episode on the PA Live! website:  http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=293212
 
Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Nine Kilobytes (http://www.ninekilobytes.com/blog/).

Nine Kilobytes is a blog about technology, games, life, and humor. It takes its name from examples of the equivalent data sizes of things in the bricks-and-mortar world: A typewritten page comes in at about two kilobytes, while an encyclopedia article would measure around ten kilobytes. The typical blog posts on this site are longer than a typewritten page, but a little shorter than an encyclopedia article. Nine kilobytes should cover them nicely.

The author of this blog - who goes by the nom de blog killnine, but also uses the name Glenn - is someone fascinated by technology, but this is not a tech blog, or not just a tech blog. Glenn covers all sorts of topics, from fun incidents (like turning the wall of a nearby apartment building into a screen for projecting movies for a movie night get-together) to an experience of a single perfect moment (it involved a motorcycle) to a chance encounter with a neighbor that completely made his day.

Nine Kilobytes is another great example of a "Life" blog: Rather than focusing exclusively on any one topic, this blog covers many different topics of interest to the blogger, and becomes a reflection of the blogger's life and personality. If every blog out there were a "Life" blog, every blog would be completely different from every other blog.

How about you? If you were to create a blog that was a reflection of your life, what would it include? What topics would you cover? What stories would you tell? Give it a shot and try creating a Life blog all your own! 


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!






Wednesday, November 14, 2012

About the header image: November 14, 2012


The photo for this week's header image comes from Tami Quigley of the blog Trailscapes. Here's what she had to say in the accompanying note:

Hi! I've attached a submission for Header of the Week. It's a photo of Bogert's Covered Bridge that I took Nov. 11, 2012 in Lehigh Parkway, Allentown.


The bridge spans 145 feet over the Little Lehigh River in Lehigh Parkway, Allentown. It's history traces back to the mid-1700s when the Bogert family moved into a log cabin next to the future site of the bridge. It is one of the oldest in the region and nation. The historical attraction is open only to pedestrian traffic - it's one of my favorite spots when walking.

The photo is posted on my blog, Trailscapes, at http://trailscapes-tami.blogspot.com

Do you have a photo that you'd like to see featured as the NEPA Blogs header image for a week? Send it to us at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Pretty My Party



NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on the WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.


Watch this episode on the PA Live! website:  http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=291262



Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Cristy Mishkula's Pretty My Party (http://www.prettymyparty.com/)

If you're planning a party, big or small, Pretty My Party is the place to turn for inspiration, advice, and useful links. Cristy describes herself as having "a passion for parties, weddings, entertaining, and celebrating life’s greatest moments," and all this is reflected in her blog. Whether you're a party planner, a bride-to-be, or just someone who wants to make your children's next party a memorable one, Pretty My Party is a great place to turn for ideas and resources.

Cristy Mishkula is based in Northeastern Pennsylvania and works as a lifestyles editor at one of our local newspapers. On Pretty My Party she taps into an extensive network of other creative sites dedicated to entertaining and party planning. If you're looking for a fun idea for your next party, Cristy has already brought together many of the most interesting on her blog. Check it out!


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Dale Rides His Bike

It's been a while since we got a bunch of new blogs for the lists by way of the NEPA BlogCon. We'll be adding them one at a time for a while, though you can see the whole list here. Here's another one:

Dale Rides His Bike (http://dalerides.blogspot.com/)

From his "About" page:


Hey, there! My name is Dale Culp, and I'm a bicycling adventurer.

My goal is to show you the world through the eyes of a bicycling enthusiast as someone who loves going on long rides along back roads, visiting trails and exploring North-East Pennsylvania.

If you'll follow me, I'll show you what some of these places look like, how to get to them and how to keep yourself from getting hurt while riding through them. We're going to have a really good time!

Dale has been keeping up the riding - and the blog - even as the weather has gotten colder in recent weeks. How long will he be able to keep going? Find out by following Dale Rides His Bike!




Wednesday, November 07, 2012

About the header image: November 7, 2012


This week's header image is yet another photo of the interior of the Hotel Sterling in Wilkes-Barre by Cheri Sundra. In fact, this is the top half of another photo that we used as the header image several weeks ago!


Do you have any photos that you'd like to see used as the NEPA Blogs header image? Please send them to us at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Casa de Lola



NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on the WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.



Watch this episode on the PA Live! website:  http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=289172


Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Nathalie Sousa's Casa de Lola (http://www.casadelola.com/.)

Casa de Lola is a locally-produced fashion blog with a genuinely international flavor. Editor-in-chief Nathalie Sousa is a relative newcomer to Northeastern Pennsylvania, but has put a lot of effort into integrating her new home into her established blogsite. So an entry about fine Italian dining in Pittston is posted alongside a list of must-see locations in Paris and a photo essay on anything-goes Fall fashions.

Casa de Lola isn't just about fashion; it also features blog posts on music, culture, film, art, food, photography, travel. There's even a category called "Dog Park" - after all, the namesake of the blog, Lola Fink, is a Weimaraner!

For a visit to a world of international fashion and fun with connections right here is Northeastern Pennsylvania, be sure to check out Nathalie Sousa's Casa de Lola!


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!