Sara Bozich

Groundhog Day: 6 More Weeks of Winter

Happy Groundhog Day!

Hope Punxsutawney Phil doesn't see his shadow and springs us toward spring. In the meantime, click below for a piece I did for my college paper after I visited Punxsutawney in 2001.

You can check out coverage of Groundhog Day throughout the day at PCN.

Update: The prognosticator of all prognosticators, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow this morning. Six more weeks of winter! Boo!

Did you get a text from Phil?

Also, check out my post on Hershey's Chocolate-Covered February.

Groundhog Day 2001

 

Chocolate-Covered February

Tomorrow, we welcome in February. Historically, it's a bitterly cold month, with small highlights dotting its always-short calendar: Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, President's Day. However, if you're anywhere near Hershey, Pa. (and we are!), it's also known as "Chocolate-Covered February," with more chocolate-related events, dinners and treats than you can shake a stick at.

Hershey's Chocolate-Covered February has a variety of events, from tastings and tours, both family-friendly and adult-appropriate activities, starting tomorrow. But the month-long celebration is truly rung in on Friday, Feb. 5 with the Chocolate Dinner Extraordinaire. I dare you to read this mouth-watering menu. It breaks my heart I will not attend this year. 

Here is the link to the 2010 Chocolate-Covered February events. If you haven't been to Hershey in a while or haven't tried any of these special events, I highly recommend this opportunity to splurge and learn more about the area. My personal recommendations are after the jump.

Also, as part of the month's festivities, I will be hosting a signing for my book, Hershey: A Guide to the Town Built on Chocolate, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13 at The Hershey Story. Stop by and pick up a copy! Makes a great Valentine's Day gift for the chocolate lover on your list.

Weekend roundup - NYE Edition

Happy New Year! I hope that Santa was good to you and maybe, if you planned as I did, you spent this last week at home and not at the office. It wasn't a particularly productive week for me, but it was nice to be off.

My New Year's plans consist of a low key evening with fewer than a dozen close friends. We'll have champagne, and I'm bringing guacamole, so things look good. Rumor has it someone's bringing the Super Mario Bros for Wii, so moments may get a little competitive.

After tomorrow we'll be in 2010, and don't you worry - there will be plenty of year-ringing events that carry on into the next decade. Check 'em out after the jump.

Weekend roundup - Christmas Edition

I'll be out of town with the future in-laws for Christmas Eve and Day, but you can see what bars and restaurants are open these days by clicking here.

I'm back on the weekend for more family holiday cheer - plus oodles of relaxation and taking in both new and old favorite restaurants and bars until the new year.

We have an abbreviated schedule of weekend activity - now through Sunday - but look for most bars and restaurants to resume a normal schedule by the weekend.

In the meantime, I wish you all a very merry Christmas, good health and good times. Cheers!

Here's what's going on:

Weekend roundup - 12/17

Christmas is very quickly sneaking up on us. This weekend's activities have a hint of the holidays and just some plain old good stuff. I was hoping to finally have a weekend with the fiance in town now that hunting season is over, but it seems it's just not to be. Guess that will be my Christmas present.

Tomorrow's column previews events at Midtown Scholar and Midtown Cinema, plus the Santa Stumble.

I'll be wrapping up my Christmas shopping (just a few small things yet to get!) and assorted other pre-Christmas duties - and in potential blizzard, no less! Here's the scoop on what else is going down:

Weekend roundup 12/10

Good morning, and welcome to the Weekend Roundup. I'm busy downloading all of Amazon.com's free Christmas MP3s and figuring out the few things left on my Christmas shopping list.

This weekend, I'm attending a friend's Christmas Threw-Up Party, an annual girl-fest with too much food, wine and lots of cheer (plus a fun gift exchange). It's become a highlight of the season we all look forward to. Can't wait! Aside from that - it's the final gift purchases, Christmas cards and, of course, housecleaning. Ah, the glamorous life.

Tons going on in the area as we approach the holidays. Fear not - it's all listed below:

Open for Christmas

Wondering what bars and restaurants are open on Christmas Eve and Day in the greater Harrisburg area? Well, you've come to the right place.

As in recent years, you'll find there are a variety of options for eating and drinking on both nights.

Below is a round-up of some local taverns and eateries that are planning to have some holiday hours this year, and I'll continue to update as I know more. If you know of any additions, please e-mail me or add them in the comments. Happy Holidays!

Lolita Glass Giveaway

To kick off the holiday season, I'm excited to do my very first giveaway!

This week, I'll be giving away one Designs by Lolita Wine Bouquet wine glass. A great Christmas gift for mom or BFF - or just keep it for yourself.

The Lolita brand has a variety of glassware, paper products and accessories with fun, vibrant designs. They're perfect gifts for the birthday girl, Christmas time, and a variety of other occasions. I received the "30-ish" wine glass as a gift for my 30th this past March!

The bottom of each glass features a special cocktail recipe for inspiration - What a better way to enjoy a cup of holiday spirits than in this cheerful glass.

Simply leave a comment below telling me what's on your Christmas wish list this year. I'll then select a random winner to receive this lovely Lolita glass. Contest ends Friday, Dec. 11.

You can also find Lolita on Facebook and Twitter. 

Weekend roundup 12/3

Good morning, and welcome to December! I am nominating 2009 for the fastest year ever.

Start your weekend by visiting me at The Hotel Hershey this Friday, Dec. 4 from 3-5 p.m. for a special book signing opportunity of my Hershey travel guide - it makes a great holiday gift for out of town guests or the Hershey lover on your list.

Saturday, I'm hoping we'll find time to look at a wedding venue or two (quick poll: would a blog on my wedding planning interest anyone, or is that market saturated?), plus wrap up my Christmas shopping and maybe even decorate a bit.

Tomorrow's column takes a quick review of Donnie Brown's new Black N Bleu restaurant, located at the former Juliana's on the Pike, the details on Tuesday's annual Friendly Sons' Toys for Tots party - plus info on a special winemaker's dinner in Gettysburg.

Here's what else is shaking:

Talking Turkey: Thanksgiving Facts & Figures

Happy Thanksgiving! I wish you all safe and happy travels, overstuffed dinners and gratuitous football coverage.

Enjoy these fun numbers and notes from financial blog, mint.com.

Personal Finance – Mint.com