Sara Bozich

Arooga's 15 now open!

As of this blog post (5 p.m.-ish), Arooga's 15, at the former location of Dorado, is now open.

Tweet-up tomorrow at ABC

Tomorrow night is the monthly local blogger/Twitter meet-up, which we affectionately term, "The Tweet-up."

If you're new, read my column on the event, which we hold at 7 p.m. every third Thursday of the month at the Abbey Bar at Appalachian Brewing Company. It's an informal gathering of those involved in the local online community. If you have a blog or a Twitter handle, you're welcome to stop by. We usually hang out for a few hours, some later than others - so don't feel lassoed by the 7 p.m. start time.

Can we get a roll call in the comments?

Flinchy's turns 5!

Stop over to Flinchy's tomorrow - Monday, Nov. 10 - for a multi-purpose celebration extravaganza.

First, it's the anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps, commemorated with a luncheon at precisely 11:30 a.m., followed by a cake-cutting.

Second, it's Flinchy's 5th birthday with original bartenders Jenn Fertenbaugh and Chris Crowley behind the bar and The Freddie Long Band at 10 p.m.

As the folks at Flinchy's are apt to do, there will be plenty of food, drink, cake and fun - and probably some additional surprises along the way. Check out the dinner specials after the jump.

Tonight: Harrisburg First Friday

Weekend roundup 11/06

Ah! The election is over. I hope everyone made it out to vote. Though the recent weather is mild, the holidays are right around the corner. Get ready! To prepare, here's where to be this weekend:

• HYP's First Friday Happy Hour is at McGrath's from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Hallmark has its Holiday Open House on Saturday and Sunday. Get a start on your holiday shopping with cards, gift wrap and ornaments.
• Cordier Antiques hosts a 2-day Fall Antique & Fine Art Auction at 11 a.m. this Saturday and Sunday at Prosser Hall in Camp Hill. 
• Public ice skating at Hersheypark Arena opens this weekend.
• Tuesday, Josephine's in Marietta is having an Italian wine dinner that sounds simply divine. I hope for this to be on my 'to do' list.

Smoking Ban Exceptions: Cumberland County

You can find the list of approved smoking ban exceptions for Cumberland County here, or after the jump:

Smoking Ban Exceptions: Dauphin County

You can find the list of approved smoking ban exceptions for Dauphin County here, or after the jump:

Midtown Halloween Parade TODAY

The first annual Midtown Halloween Parade will kick off at 4 p.m at the HACC parking lot near the corner of Reily and 3rd Sts. It will proceed up 3rd Street to Verbeke, take a turn around that well-known street and end at the Broad Street Market.

Come to march in the parade in your scariest, funniest, Halloweeniest costume. Following, in the Broad Street Market courtyard, there will be costume contests for kids, adults and our canine companions with music, balloons, food and fun for all.

McGruff, the Crime Dog, will be in attendance with his friends from the police and fire departments.

Join Friends of Midtown and do the Monster Mash in Midtown with your friends and neighbors!

Boo! It's the Weekend Roundup

Halloween-style! People, if you're in the mood for a spooky good time, there are ample Halloween-laden adventures all around and about. Alexis has a few, and I'll toss a few in the list below. I'm skipping the festivities, but don't let that deter you. Then, it's November - and you know what that means - the countdown to the holidays is on:

• Tonight: Tattoo Show at Art House Lounge. Stop by in-between barhopping.
• Friends of Midtown hosts its first-ever Halloween Parade tomorrow at 4 p.m.
• November is Blues Month - at least at ABC. Things kick off Saturday, Halloween-style, with The Lookies and The Thing with Two Heads.
• Colin Mocherie & Brad Sherwood of Whose Line Is It Anyway? fame are at The Forum on Saturday at 8 p.m.
• It's Lobsterfest at Flinchy's.
• Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival opens Julius Caesar on Saturday for its near month-long run.
• TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY. PLEASE VOTE.

Vote!

It tickles me when celebrities canoodle with one another - and the message is important. Here is the link to visit when they ask. They'll wait.

Promote the Vote

After you vote on Tuesday, take your "I Voted" sticker or your voter registration card to Molly Brannigans to receive 10 percent off of your food order. Toast the winner or drown your sorrows for America with a round of Guinness while you're at it.

Love on the interwebs

I've been feeling the love lately, folks, and I just wanted to spread it around a bit.

My post on MentalFloss's scholarship giveaway netted me this great shout-out. Thanks to you for clicking through and driving the most traffic to MentalFloss's site. It's always a great read. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to their RSS feed.

We already knew that everyone loves Troegs - that's why @EdGrohl posted a link to the column over on the BeerAdvocate forums, which garnered my work some attention and a few nice compliments. Bill Bostic of The Linglestown Gazette paid special note to the tailend of the piece where I highlighted a new scratch brew featuring Linglestown's own St. Thomas Roasters.

Out with Sara: Troegs' new tasting room

As promised, check out today's "Out with Sara" column on Troegs' upgraded tasting room - now selling $5 beer samples, six-packs and coming soon ... 22 oz. bottles.

Also of note: Mad Elf is available now. Bottles are available at the brewery, participating restaurants and beer distributors. Draft will be out by Thanksgiving.

Wanted: fashion-minded volunteers

UCP Central PA is looking for friendly, personable and fashion-minded volunteers to join their 2009 Smiles & Styles Fashion Show Committee.

The committee meets for just two hours each month and twice the month before and day of the event, which is scheduled for Nov. 8, 2009.

Volunteer committee members are needed to assist with the planning, promotion and implementation of the event.

If you have an interest in working within a committee environment and enjoy fashion and/or modeling, this event is most beneficial. Hours are flexible and may include daytime, evening or weekends hours. An ability to interact with local businesses is a must.

Please e-mail Casey Hurst at UCP Central PA or call her at 717-975-0611, ext. 217.

Mad Elf named #1 Christmas Beer

Troegs' infamous holiday brew, Mad Elf, has been named the number one Christmas beer in Don Russell's new book, Christmas Beer: The Cheeriest, Tastiest, and Most Unusual Holiday Brews.

Mad Elf, a regional holiday must-have, is the first named out of 50 top holiday craft beers. The book is a fun, interesting read, complete with suggested food pairings for each brew. (Mad Elf is recommended with a bacon quiche.)

Weekend roundup 10/15

Man, these weekends keep sneaking up on me. I'm spending the majority of the weekend in Hershey (Tonight, Hersheypark in the Dark; Saturday, PAWs Masquerade Ball at the Antique Auto Museum; Sunday, Falconry).

• Tonight, my favorite party band is at Shakey's.
• ABC has the annual Boobie Bash tomorrow night at 8 p.m.
• Morgan's Place has a Chelsy's Heroes fundraiser on Saturday. $20 donation puts a plaque with your name on it on the bar.
• Tomorrow is also The Great Midtown Cleanup. Join the cause and help make our neighborhood better.
• Sunday brings Halloween Radio Theater, a seasonal regular at the Abbey Bar. Original comedy for mature audiences. $5 donation benefits Bethesda Mission. Starts at 6:30 p.m. View a clip here.
• Do you have dreams of being on stage? Try Open Stage's "Auditioning for the Theater" workshop from 2-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Ages 14-adult.

Agrodolce comes to York in November

Casual four-course dining is coming to York next month. Agrodolce, an Italian BYOB restaurant, is slated to open in November as part of the Codo project at 241 North George St. in downtown York.

Agrodolce, which means "sweet and sour" in Italian, will focus on fresh and seasonal ingredients while incorporating more unusual cuisine for the area, like sweetbreads, veal cheeks and roasted suckling pig. Upscale cuisine in a casual atmosphere.

Read more about Agrodolce after the jump.

The Great Midtown Cleanup

Friends of Midtown has partnered with the Harrisburg Clean Streets Project and the Environmental Law & Policy Society of Widener University School of Law to bring you "THE GREAT MIDTOWN CLEANUP" starting at 9 a.m. this Saturday, Oct. 18.

This ambitious project aims to clean the entire Midtown area. Volunteers are wanted!

Participants will meet at HACC Midtown Campus north parking lot. Bags, gloves and bottled water will be provided, as well as refreshments after the event. The number of routes covered will depend on the number of attendees. 

To participate, please RSVP by emailing either beautification@friendsofmidtown.org or cleanstreetshbg@care2.com or calling 717-695-0253.

More information after the jump.

Weekend roundup 10/11

I'm a little late on the weekend roundup, but I have good excuses - foot surgery and I'm in Elk County. Regardless, I'd hate for you to stumble through the rest of this weekend without a clue what to do, so here's the rundown:

• In response to a Pennlive forum inquiry, Flinchy's says they can make your entree gluten-free, anytime, by request. Also, be sure to ask for their vampire wine from Transylvania - just in time for Halloween.

• HYP has a new website - go there for details on Monday's Movie Night at Midtown Cinema or Wednesday's Debate Watch Party at the Hilton.

There's more after the jump.

The Flavors of York

The Flavors of York, a culinary tasting experience featuring samples from a variety of York restaurants, is coming up on Sunday, Oct. 19.

The event runs from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Yorktowne Hotel, featuring over 20 restaurateurs and vintners, including newcomers to the program, El Serrano, Chapps at the Hill and Heritage Hills Golf Resort.

Add to that silent and live auctions, prizes - with proceeds from the night benefiting Temple Beth Israel and Our Daily Bread - the $35 ticket seems to pay for itself.

For tickets and more info, click here.