Weekend in Harrisburg, PA

"Eclectic" pretty much sums it up. Imagine jewelry, pottery, soaps, soy candles, all mixed with a random supply of notecards and old VHS videos (which I think can be rented). Everything is pretty moderately priced and many of the items benefit various artisans or artistic communities.

I'm struggling to categorize this place in a way that captures the ambience. It's a bit crowded with items and you have to search around to find what you're looking for. But the search is worth it. The owners are both great, and it's a good stop-off when you're in search of a wedding gift (I just purchased a nice wood cheese board) or a yummy smelling glycerin soap. But, the visit is also about the experience, the chance to talk to the owners and to see other locals.

Back a block from the popular Midtown Cinema, this new gallery is easy to miss. It's small and a bit back from the road.

All of this is unfortunate because it's definitely worth it to take a tour. Right now, the gallery has a combination of watercolors, oils, and some fun metal sculptures, but I was told that the exhibits will change on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. One of the owners plans to also build a sculpture garden behind the gallery, and (fingers crossed) to have performances on opening nights.

More information about the gallery and its hours is available here: http://galleryblu.org/.

Harrisburg is the Capital of Pennsylvania. This comes as a shock too many who suspect that Philadelphia, home to the Liberty Bell, or Pittsburgh, home to the Steelers, or, even Hershey, home to mucho chocolate, should be the Capital. Nope - I swear, it's Harrisburg, and there are good reasons to visit. Here are some of them:

1. The Capitol Building - I have seen lots of capitol buildings and I remain convinced that Harrisburg's capitol is among the most spectacular in the nation. If you can bear the tour - and I would recommend taking it - you'll learn about the gorgeous dome and the beautiful tile floors. Also, there's a great fountain out front, where as a child, I regularly (and probably illegally) would cool down.

2. Near the Capitol: The Whitaker Center, which is a venue for music and plays, also contains a great IMAX screen and a fun interactive science museum. If you're venturing to Harrisburg with kids, I would definitely stop off at the Whitaker Center.

3. Civil War Museum - Outside of the "city" proper is a large Civil War museum, located in Reservoir Park. The mayor of the City apparently believed that hordes of people would come from Gettysburg (an hour away) just to see this museum. As a result, MILLIONS of dollars were invested into this colossal and quite beautiful museum. Contains lots of Civil War memorabilia, fun videos, and - usually on the weekend - you can see various reenactments. In addition, the location of the museum in Reservoir Park is really pretty and would make an excellent place for a picnic or game of ultimate. 3. Second Street is the place to go for restaurants and nightlife. The recent proliferation of fun bars has brought the town to life, even after all the state workers head home at 5pm.

4. City Island - Off the Market Street Bridge, City Island provides a nice respite from the city. The "Island" has bating cages, an arcade, a mini-gulf course, and is home to the Harrisburg Senators, a minor league ball team. A great place to walk around and admire the Susquehanna River.

Quick Tips:

Visit the Spot for hot dogs. Located on Second Street, the Spot is an historical landmark in the city.

Best Way To Get Around:

Harrisburg is a VERY walkable city, which is good because there isn't much in the way of public transportation. Metered street parking is easy to come by on the weekend but you'll have problems during the week. On the other hand, the ample garages in the city make it possible to drive in and park. You can also park on City Island and take a short (.5 mile) walk into the city.