Musikfest Poster, 30th Year Plans Revealed

Renowned singer-songwriter John Gorka, who played first notes at first Musikfest in 1984, will return for this year's opening ceremony.

  ArtsQuest unveiled its Musikfest 2013 poster and a new festival logo on Tuesday, while making several more announcements about its plans for the 30th annual August music festival. Created by ArtsQuest graphic designer David Blank, the poster brings to life many of the most popular elements of Musikfest, including the festival’s live music, dancing and iconic performance tents. It also features prominent local landmarks such as Central Moravian Church, Historic Hotel Bethlehem and the former Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces at SteelStacks. “By using blue, orange and golden hues prominently in the work, it gives the poster an outward glow, something that’s meant to highlight that magical time at Musikfest when the sun is setting and all of …

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Easter Peeps Hunt Planned on SteelStacks Lawn

Easter weekend festivities at SteelStacks also include brunch, special movie screenings and an appearance by the Easter Bunny.

  A free hunt for Just Born Peeps chicks is one of the highlights of Easter weekend planned at SteelStacks. The Peeps hunt, which will be open to the public, will take place on the Levitt Pavilion lawn at 1:30 p.m. Sunday and will feature an appearance by none other than the Easter Bunny. On Easter, March 31, the Musikfest Café will present its first Easter brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.. Among the many options from which to choose are entrées such as challah French toast, aromatic poached salmon, penne pasta with Italian sausage, herb roasted turkey, roast beef and apple smoked bacon. Reservations must be made in advance by calling 610-332-3378 or visiting www.artsquest.org. Prices are $32.95 for adults ages 13 and over, $11.95 for ages…

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Daryl Nerl

5:22 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2013

Easter Sunday!   more ›

Crime News

ArtsQuest Employee Accused of Stealing $3,025

Upper Macungie woman allegedly entered fake returns and pocketed $3,025, Bethlehem police say.

  An Upper Macungie Township woman has been charged with stealing more than $3,000 from her employers at Bethlehem’s ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, according to court papers. Tynesha Marie Gilmore, 20, of 5321 W. Tilghman St., allegedly entered fake returns and pocketed the cash from those fake returns, according to arrest papers filed by Det. Bradford Jones of the Bethlehem Police Department. It is unclear from the affidavit where in the ArtsQuest Center Gilmore worked, though based on the description of the thefts, the gift shop appears likely. In a verbal confession to police, Gilmore said that she stole because of family medical issues and to help pay debt, the arrest affidavit says. Gilmore said she began stealing in May and …

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Beloved ArtsQuest Patron Linny Fowler Dead at 73

UPS heiress Linny Fowler has died

Beloved Philanthropist Linny Fowler Dead at 73

Linny Fowler died Monday at the age of 73, according to reports.

Philanthropist Linny Fowler died Monday of natural causes, according to a report in The Morning Call. She was 73. UPS heiress Fowler was known locally for giving generously to the arts and to the poor. Several buildings in the Lehigh Valley are named in her honor, including the Fowler Family South Side Center of Northampton Community College in Bethlehem. She also was a major benefactor of ArtsQuest. NCC spokesman Heidi Butler said, "As the news traveled across campus this afternoon, there was shock and sadness, followed by spontaneous sharing of memories, not only of how generous Linny was, but also of how down-to-earth she was and about the personal interest she took in students and the encouragement she gave them. She was beloved." …

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Graham Parker, The Fixx Coming to SteelStacks

ArtsQuest Center announces new slate of shows, including Graham Parker & The Rumour, The Fixx and comedian Marc Maron.

  Graham Parker & The Rumour, comedian Marc Maron and The Fixx are among the new concerts announced for the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. Tickets for the shows are available at artsquest.org and 610-332-3378. The complete list of newly announced ArtsQuest Center performances is: I Am King - Feb. 22, 8 p.m. Fowler Blast Furnace Room Tickets: $10 in advance; $12 day of show I Am King offers a message of truth and hope with its music, with lyrics that are as important as the music. The group’s self-titled debut EP, recorded with Taylor Larson, is currently available on iTunes.   AmeDeus - March 2, 7 p.m. Fowler Blast Furnace Room Tickets: $7 in advance; $10 day of show   Graham Parker & The Rumour - April 5, 7:30 p.m. Musikfest Café …

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Chick Corea Will Headline RiverJazz Festival

18-time Grammy winner Chick Corea and the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band are the first two acts announced for RiverJazz festival at SteelStacks.

  Eighteen-time Grammy Award winner Chick Corea and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band are the first two acts announced for the 2013 RiverJazz presented by Concannon Miller, May 9-24 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Tickets for the concerts, which will take place at the ArtsQuest Center’s Musikfest Café, will go on sale starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday to ArtsQuest members and 10 a.m. Friday to the public. They will be available at artsquest.org or by calling 610-332-3378. On May 9, 7:30 p.m., it’s an evening of New Orleans-style jazz when the Preservation Hall Jazz Band takes the stage. A touring act for half a century, the band derives its name from Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter that was …

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ArtsQuest Seeking Actors for Interactive Play

Finnegan's Farewell will appear at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in March; apply this week to be in the cast.

  Interested actors have until Thursday to submit applications to audition for an interactive play – Finnegan’s Farewell – that will be performed at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in March. The auditions will be held 1-5 p.m. Sat., Jan. 26 and Sun., Jan. 27in the Banana Factory, 25 W. Third St., Bethlehem. Saturday’s audition will be held in the Banko Community Room; Sunday’s audition will be held in the Crayola Gallery. Audition slots must be reserved by contacting ArtsQuest Programming Manager Ryan Hill at rhill@artsquest.org; each slot is 10 minutes long. The following is a list of roles available in Finnegan’s Farewell: Summary of Types: Men & women ages 18-70, girls ages 5-17 (girls must be able to Irish step dance); Irish …

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Peepsfest Dec. 30-31 Kicks Off New Year's in Bethlehem

Celebrate PEEPSFEST in Bethlehem Dec. 30-31 with music, arts and a Giant Peep-Drop at ArtsQuest Center.

PEEPSFEST™, a family festival that takes place Dec. 30-31, returns for its fourth year at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. The event, which is free to attend, features two days packed with live music, arts and PEEPS®-related programming. It culminates Dec. 31, 5:15 p.m. with the dropping of a 4.5-foot tall, 85-pound, lit PEEPS® Chick and fireworks to welcome in the New Year. Matt Pye, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Just Born, said, “PEEPSFEST™ 2012 will be a magical extravaganza that will continue to make this relatively new event an annual holiday destination for the whole family. PEEPSFEST™ celebrates the fun and passion consumers have for the beloved PEEPS® Brand which is produced right here in Bethlehem.  There…

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Bethlehem Amusement Tax Would be Capped at $1.50 a Ticket

Sands Bethlehem Event Center 'happy' with changes to Mayor Callahan's amusement tax proposal.