SaraBozich.com

This week on SaraBozich.com

Svedka Clemmy Cosmo at Red Door

Unfortunately, our trip to State College has been canceled due to illness (not ours), so my day is now re-loaded for errands and housework, which is A-OK. We're still planning to head back for tomorrow's PSU wrestling match versus Ohio State, so that will be fun.

Last night, my girfriend and I decided to hit Friday Happy Hour at Red Door. Her week dictated Dirty Martinis, while I tried the Clemmy Cosmo, made with Svedka Clementine Vodka (and just $5 during Happy Hour). We also noshed on calamari and artichokes - Yum! We then made a quick stop to Ceoltas' Raftery Room, where we scored cheap domestic drafts - $1 during Happy Hour. 

Not long after that we were tucked safely at home. It took 10 years, but now I can finally do Happy Hour without it lasting 'til midnight.

In case you missed anything, here's the week. We paid homage to JoePa, rambled about running and met Tierney's Grandma Cookie! Plus, take a minute to enter to win that 4-pack of tubing passes to Ski Roundtop:

• Giveaway: Roundtop Mountain Resort
• Losing a Legend: Joe Paterno 1926-2012
• The Dreadmill
• Am I a runner?
• Weekend Roundup 1/25
• Beauty Knows No Age
• Out with Sara: Beer expo should get home brewers hopping

 

 

Out with Sara: Beer expo should get home brewers hopping

Photo by DAN GLEITER, The Patriot-News

If you couldn't tell by the record crowds at Shady McGrady's reopening last weekend — among other evidence — craft beer is in these days. In fact, those so obsessed with the nuances and intricacies of the small batch brew often try creating their own basement masterpieces.

Brewing beer is something anyone can do. They sell kits for it, and instructions and tips are available on the Internet. Making it good, however, is much like the difference between a line cook and a master chef. It involves skill, talent, creativity and often, that certain touch.

This May, brewers will gather for the second annual Home Brew Festival/Expo at Appalachian Brewing Company in Camp Hill, an event that showcases local brewers as well as raise money for a good cause.
    
Artie Tafoya, owner of ABC, said, "We believe it's great to support home brewers — they’re really not much different than us. It's like those bumper stickers, 'We make the beer we drink.' It allows them to expand their palate — the sky is the limit. It's neat to see the experimentation and creativity."

Read more: Out with Sara: Beer festival at Appalachian Brewing Company in Camp Hill should get home brewers hopping | PennLive.com

Beauty Knows No Age

I've been very sentimental lately. I'm not sure if it's my impending 25th birthday, things happening in my personal life or just me growing up, but I've been thinking a lot about where I came from and where I've learned the things I know. I've always had a passion for fashion, and when I started thinking about the origins of this I immediately thought of my Grandma Cookie.

I remember being younger and putting together these ridiculous outfits like my favorite black velvet dress with these rainbow tights and thinking, "This is awesome," and then hearing my grandmother remind me, "If that's what you want to wear, do it, with your shoulders back and your head held high." I realize now that a lot of my self-confidence and fashion sense came from her.

Beauty is timeless, and to prove it I sat down with my lovely Grandma Cookie and ask her for her tips, tricks and advice.

Weekend Roundup 1/25

I'm excited because tonight I *finally* get to check out Carlisle's Cafe Bruges. I'm looking forward to catching up with Liz while snacking on mussels and a nice Belgian beer.

Andy and I also are heading to a wrestling match at State College for the second weekend in a row, but our visit is a bit more detailed this time. It'll be my first overnight/nightlife visit to Penn State. Fortunately, we're not doing "downtown" - I obviously missed that phase of my life, but that's A-OK. Instead, our plan is a much more appealing stop at Otto's Pub & Brewery, followed by dinner and entertainment at American Ale House & Grill.

What are you doing this weekend?

Am I a runner?

One of the biggest surprises about reading Runner's World magazine was realizing they don't discriminate between marathoners and us lowly 5Kers. I mean, it does seem like they really do want me to amp that up to a 10K, but each and every issue has information geared towards both experienced runners and less-serious-but-still-into-it newbs like me. Of course, I also adore their monthly feature from "newbie" runner Marc Parent, though I think he may have graduated, given his last piece on running 9 miles.

Kelly says I'm a runner because I run. She has shared inspirational quotes as evidence, like this one:

If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run. - John Bingham

But then I read things from other runner/bloggers who write things like, "2 mile warm-up," and I don't know if I buy it. A 2-mile warm-up? That's my workout! I usually do a 1.5ish mile walk with my dog as my "warm-up." I'd run with him, but he's unruly and a bit of a spaz.

Am I a real runner?

This is me, running.

When Kelly and I ran Wildwood together in the beginning of the month I confessed that I'm not really interested in moving past the 5K mark at this point, even if I can now do a 5K on a cold, dark January evening in shorts.

The Dreadmill

I'm an outdoor runner.

Kelly runs Riverfront Park in Harrisburg

As much as I hate winter and despise the cold, I never think twice about going out for a run in freezing temperatures. I'm sometimes called crazy, but I just like to run, and I do it outside. Plain and simple.

I've run in some pretty bad conditions - and this is entirely my prerogative. I slogged through a 13-mile run during the freak Halloween snowstorm last year. It was miserable, I was freezing and it took forever because I kept my pace pretty slow as I was fearful of slipping and falling. My shoes were soaked through within 30 seconds and my feet and hands had gone painfully numb after five minutes. I had to make pit stops at my house twice to change out of soaking wet clothes into new dry layers.

This isn't something to be admired, it's plain foolishness, especially because it would have been very easy for me to fall and hurt myself. But I am very stubborn about my "long run Saturdays." They are my favorite part of my weekend, regardless if I am even training for something.

When I woke up to the "winter wonderland" on Saturday, I felt defeated. The thought of trekking 13 miles through the snow and ice drained me. I kept having flashbacks of that Halloween weekend run and how tough it was. I knew running in this weather would be less of a run, and more of a quest to not slip and injure myself and trying to prevent frostbite. But I needed to run. I felt antsy just thinking of not running.

That left me one option. The dreaded treadmill.

Losing a Legend: Joe Paterno 1926-2012

Since I was a little kid, I've been lucky enough to have an opportunity to go to sporting events all over the country. 

There was the Final Four, the time I saw Michael Jordan score 40-something against the New Jersey Nets at the height of his Chicago Bulls stardom, Brett Favre's last game at Lambeau Field, NFL playoff games, countless other NFL, NBA, MLB, college football and college basketball games.

Out of all of those great experiences, nothing ever came close to the anticipation and excitement of watching Joe Paterno and his rolled up khakis, white socks and black Nike cleats lead his Nittany Lions out of the tunnel in front of 110,000 screaming fans at Beaver Stadium.

Sadly, Joe Paterno died Sunday morning at the age of 85. Not from lung cancer, but from a broken heart. While he had an incredibly loving and supportive wife, five children and 17 grandchildren, Penn State football was his love and Penn State football his life.

When the Board of Trustees fired Coach Paterno in November and took his football team from him, I feared the worst – that one of my idols would succumb to indescribable heartache.

In 2008, sportscaster Brent Musberger, a longtime friend of Paterno's, told Dan Patrick that Joe, "... is fearful — and he looks back at Bear Bryant as the example — he is fearful that he would not be with us if he stepped away. He is a man that doesn't fish, doesn't play golf ... he has no other interest other than his family and football."

Bear Bryant, the iconic Alabama football coach, retired in 1982 after 25 seasons, saying, "This is my school, my alma mater. I love it and I love my players." Bryant died four weeks later, and his story was obviously not lost on JoePa.

Giveaway: Roundtop Mountain Resort

Calling all snow bunnies!

Roundtop Mountain Resort is up and running -- the winter chill finally has set in, allowing for loads of snow production (and even some of the real stuff).

New this year, Roundtop's snowtubing passes are good all day long (instead of by hour blocks), allowing you the luxury of tubing as you go, stopping for a bite to eat -- whatever you want!

Also, Roundtop is now offering a brand new tubing season pass to visit and tube as much as you want all winter long. Click here for details.

For more information, rates and hours for snow tubing, click here.

This week, you can enter to win a 4-pack of snow tubing passes for the whole family (or your gaggle of friends). 

To enter to win, visit skiroundtop.com and leave a comment below:

For extra entries (you must leave a separate comment for each extra entry in order for each to count), you can:

• Become a fan of Roundtop Mountain Resort on Facebook.
• Become a fan of Out with Sara on Facebook.
• Follow Roundtop Mountain Resort on Twitter.
• Sign-up for Roundtop's e-newsletter to stay up-to-date on specials and more.
• RT this giveaway post (be sure to mention @sarabozich).
• Share this giveaway on Facebook.

Enter early and often. A winner will be selected at random this weekend.

This week on SaraBozich.com

How many of you made it out for Shady's McGrady's grand reopening last night? What did you think of the renovation?

With a beautiful, fluffy snow on the ground, I'm planning to stay safely tucked indoors today (Andy and I have an agreement: he shovels, I do laundry - you may think I've lost in that negotiation, but I beg to differ).In a few minutes, I'm going to throw together this Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup, and then spend the day reading magazines and working from my office - a divine day to me.

It was a bit of a quiet week on the blog, but we were here! Be sure to pay particular attention to Tierney's post on the winter blues if this season has you a little down in the dumps. In fact, get a taste of colorful spring and summer trends with KIST Boutique's new handbags.

Also of note: Jeff interviewed a new local record label, dedicated to turning Harrisburg's local music scene upside down. Enjoy!

• Sneak Peek of KIST's Spring/Summer Handbags
• Giveaway: Vineyard at Hershey - There is still time to enter!
• Record label aims to boost local music scene
• Pajama Party: The new "going out"
• Weekend Roundup 1/19
• Beating the Winter Blues
• Out with Sara: Shady McGrady's to reopen

Out with Sara: Shady McGrady's to reopen

You’re going to want to clock out of work early tomorrow if you hope to grab a barstool (or one of the new high-top tables) at the renovated Shady McGrady’s.

After a robbery/arson in October, Shady’s shut down for repairs, mostly because of smoke damage, and took the opportunity to bring the favorite neighborhood bar back in shining color.
    
I visited the still-in-progress bar earlier this week. Neighborhood bars are often known for their low-key, sometimes even “dive” bar appeal, and the new interior of Shady McGrady’s could shock some regulars.
    
The formerly dark, if not dingy, pub is now aglow with bright yellow walls and a royal blue ceiling, the colors corresponding with Shady McGrady’s new logo — which is now splattered upon the wall where you walk in, via a Fathead Wall Graphic.

New sconces and ceiling fans also help modernize the bar, and the unused kitchen has been cut out for more seating. Additional tables will fill space in the front of the building.

Read more: Out with Sara: Renovated Shady McGrady's to reopen after arson fire | PennLive.com

Also: Barista Throwdown at Midtown Scholar; Winter Winederland at Hummingbird Ridge Winery.

Beating the Winter Blues

Don't let the winter blues leave you in the cold.

Well, winter is here, and in full force.

Those January holiday bills have arrived, it's cold, the daylight is shorter and even the most positive person can feel a little down in these early months of the year.

I've been hearing more and more weary and disheartening things in my social circles lately, and as the resident happy-go-lucky one, I'm here to try and cheer you up!

Here are some ideas on how to kick your "winter blues":

• Exercise! Get up off of your butts and do something active! In the winter we feel less energized because of the lack of sunlight, but don't let it hold you back. Take your dog for a walk, join a yoga class, go for an indoor swim to remind you of the summer -- or just have a dance party in your living room. You could even join a local indoor sports team. It doesn't matter what you do, just do something to kick your energy level up.
• Eat Healthy. When I'm upset, my first instinct is to comfort myself with unhealthy foods. There are many things wrong with this, but one of the biggest concerning your winter blues is that these foods can zap your energy levels, actually making you feel worse. This can be a hard pattern to break, especially for those who have used this as a coping mechanism for a long time. Next time you're feeling down, grab a glass of water and a piece of fruit. You'll feel energized, refreshed, and your body will thank you.
• Be Social. I know in winter it's hard to find the motivation to go out downtown and bar hop on Second Street. There are many other ways to be social! Call an old friend and catch up for awhile, plan a night in (check out Kelly's post here), have a potluck dinner, attend a charity event, check out the HBG Tweetup, or even have a Google+ hangout. Make a mental list of people in your life that make you happy and keep them a bit closer. Maybe they're feeling a little down too! And don't forget to LAUGH!
• Get some sleep. Never underestimate the healing power of a good night's sleep. No matter what time of year, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by work, family, social obligations and everything else in our lives. Make it a priority to get some sleep. Prioritize deadlines and manage your time the best you can. Create a set "bed time" and get there. Try not to oversleep (12 hours+) because this can actually make you feel worse. And, if you have the time, don't feel guilty about an afternoon power nap. This may be the little pick-me-up you need to keep your day going.
• Challenge yourself to think happier. Believe me, it can be quite difficult to find something happy to think about. This is why I say challenge yourself. Will you justify your whining by telling yourself, "It's okay because it's winter and everyone grumpier in winter," or will you stop yourself and try to find a positive in your situation? Will you give up by saying,  "I can't deal with this," or will you find a way to manage? Remember, for the majority of us, what you think is controlled by YOU! Take a minute to think about what's bothering you, find a solution and work for it. Use daily affirmations to remind yourself to be happy. I suggest, "I'm awesome, and I won't let crappy weather ruin my day," or "This traffic may suck, but I can't wait to get to my friend's house!"

Now go seize the day! Don't spend another minute, hour or day being a negative Nellie!

For some of us, however, these suggestions may not be enough, and could be signs of a bigger problem. If you are experiencing significant seasonal depression, or have a reoccurring pattern of seasonal depression, please talk with a medical professional.

Weekend Roundup 1/19

Today is National Popcorn Day (maybe)! Popcorn is absolutely my number one favorite snack - I eat it several times a week, so I'm not sure I need to celebrate today - but I probably will. I don't buy microwave popcorn however. Air-popping is tops, and the Whirley Pop a close second - and I've become more adventurous with my seasonings. Look for a popcorn post in the near future.

Otherwise this weekend, my girlfriend and I might drop in to Flinchy's one evening for a few casual drinks. On Sunday, Andy and I are headed to PSU for a college wrestling match against Iowa State.

Hope the winter blahs aren't keeping you down (though if they are, we have a post for that - coming up!) -- There's a lot going on in the greater Harrisburg area this month.

What are you doing this weekend?

Pajama Party: The new "going out"

Some of my favorite memories from college are from weekends during my freshman and sophomore years. We were too young to go to one of the three bars in town and not always cool enough to be invited to parties, so instead, we'd slyly sneak in some crappy beer, or bottom-shelf vodka, cram into a dorm room, make up games and consider that a great and wild weekend.

Once you turn the magical age of 21 and ditch the vertical license, bars quickly become the game plan. You want to see and be seen. You want to meet new people, you want to take pictures holding shot glasses and you hope that your crush shows up and you develop a little bit of liquid courage.

And I do enjoy that.

I genuinely like meeting new people, trying new cocktails and generally just being social. I also like taking over jukeboxes, and pretending I have no idea who played Janet Jackson's, "If", despite the fact that I still remember the cheerleading routine from third grade, and sometimes do it.

Record label aims to boost local music scene

Any musician or music fan in the Harrisburg area knows that the local music scene leaves much to be desired.

With the recent launch of Rock Paper Records (RPR), Logan Betz, Jay Tran and Sean Kunkle are determined to change that tune and put Harrisburg on the map in the music world.

"We've always talked about starting a label together - just ask our poor wives who've sat through many late-night talks - but the logistics never lined up until we met Sean in 2010," Betz said in a recent interview. "Since all three of us live in Harrisburg, and we are always hoping that the music scene gets a little bit better, it was the perfect place to host RPR."

Combining the label, venue and music business backgrounds of Betz and Tran with the tour booking and promotion successes of Kunkle, Rock Paper Records offers local bands a chance to get their name out and build their brand.

"The goal of RPR is to be a stepping stone label and help our bands and artists get to their next desired level, even if that means leaving for a bigger label one day," Betz said. "We want to help teach our bands and artists how to make their business successful."

Giveaway: Vineyard at Hershey

**Congrats to Marc, winner of a private tour and tasting for two!**

The Vineyard at Hershey will open next month, in time to join the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail's 2012 Tour de Tanks in March. This new local winery produces artisan wines in reds and whites, both dry and sweet.

Founded on the principle that a bottle of wine is meant to be a shared experience with family and friends, Vineyard at Hershey will kickstart its season with a tasting dinner at the Hilton Harrisburg on Feb. 17. Click here for details and tickets.

This week, you can enter to win a private tour and tasting for two to the Vineyard at Hershey. Winning is easy. Simply visit VineyardatHershey.com and leave a comment below.

For extra entries (you must leave a separate comment for each extra entry in order for each to count), you can:

• Join Vineyard at Hershey's mailing list.
• Follow Vineyard at Hershey on Twitter.
• Become a fan of Vineyard at Hershey on Facebook.
• RT this giveaway post (be sure to mention @sarabozich).
• Share this giveaway on Facebook.

Enter early and often. A winner will be selected at random this weekend.

Sneak Peek of KIST's Spring/Summer Handbags

Sneak peek of KIST Boutique's spring/summer handbags:

Find more and shop online at www.facebook.com/KISTBoutique.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Be sure to "Like" KIST on Facebook and sign-up for the mailing list to receive information about upcoming sales, local parties and more!

This week on SaraBozich.com

Andy's usual: Beef brisket sandwich w/homemade chips

Another busy week for the books! Last night, Andy, Kelly, Kirsten and I blew off some steam with $2 Coors Light pints at MoMo's BBQ Grill and some of their tremendous barbecue (I had the MoMo's "Burger," while Andy got a beef brisket sandwich).

This off-the-beaten path bar and restaurant is perfect for happy hour (they also had a handful of half-price apps), dinner -- or what we'll do next time: Friday Blues & BBQ with live music starting at 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, it was a busy week on SaraBozich.com. I recapped some of our wedding vendors in celebration of our one year anniversary last Sunday, and Kelly's hashing article pretty much exploded. Meanwhile, Jeff says "yes" to new PSU coach Bill O'Brien.

Plus - I'll give you the weekend to enter Greenbelt Events' latest giveaway - two tickets each to two shows at the Whitaker this month!

Read on:

• Giveaway: Dukes of Earl (Greenbelt Events)
• Wedding Vendors: Park Inn Harrisburg West
• Wedding Vendors: Event Central
• Wedding Vendors: Taylored for You
• Wedding Vendors: Klose Photography
• We Should ... Support Bill O'Brien
• Running + Drinking = Hashing?
• Weekend Roundup 1/12
• Out with Sara: Bars offer specials for NFL playoffs

Out with Sara: Bars offer specials for NFL playoffs

Out with Sara: Central Pennsylvania bars offer drink, food specials for NFL playoffs | PennLive.com

While most local fans no longer have a horse in the race, the NFL playoffs are still worth watching because the winner, of course, goes to the big dance — the Super Bowl. Divisional playoffs start this Saturday and Sunday, followed by conference championships next Sunday — all culminating on Feb. 5 with the Super Bowl.

Naturally, the area’s many sports bars (and even those without that specific designation) are ready to support your food, beverage and viewing needs this weekend and beyond.

via blog.pennlive.com

Wedding Vendors: Klose Photography

I've been admiring Cyndi Klose's photography work since early 2007, when a work friend shared her blog with us. She had wanted her for her own wedding at the Milestone Inn, but Klose was booked on that date. I loved her photos so much I subscribed to her blog (I think we all did).

Andy and I were together for a few years before we got engaged, but there were only a few elements I had planned for my future wedding. No. 1 - I wanted my first dance to be "Gotta Get You Into My Life" by Earth Wind and Fire, and No. 2 - I wanted Klose Photography as my wedding photographer.

(My no. 3 was The Impact Band to play our wedding, but they were booked! In January!)

We met with Cyndi, who - much to my surprise - was super excited for our winter wedding. (Not everyone else felt the same way.) Cyndi is an admitted lover of all things winter, but apparently it's the natural lighting is so nice - and wedding photographers rarely get the chance to shoot in winter light.

We complicated things (of course) by getting married at twilight because this genius (hi!) thought that would be pretty. We did get the most remarkable post-ceremony shot.

Weekend Roundup 1/12

My goal is to paint our bedroom this weekend. The room really needs some work. It's basically been a disaster area since we moved in.

Since this is not a home decor blog, I won't waste too many words on this, but basically, I'm going to throw some light blue paint on the walls (except for slate gray behind the bed - a faux headboard), finally fix our curtains, put up a new mirror (thank you TJ Maxx for the $33 beauty), afix shelves and artwork and change out the comforter and shams with prettier ones from West Elm. If I could manage to fully clean out both mine and my husband's clutter-filled closets, it would be a full renovation.

For fun, check out our kitchen remodel when we first moved in.

As fascinating as all of that sounds, Friday night, my girlfriend wants to get drinks - but we are both on a serious BUDGET, so we're looking for something cheap. I'll let you know where we end up!

How are you spending the three-day weekend?