Tree Well Surrounds in Sight!

As of today, seven tree well surrounds have been installed. Several more will be in within a few days.

New Restaurant Opens in Old Allentown

Morton's Restaurant, "With a Southern Flair," opened this week at the former location of LoBaido's on the corner of Liberty and 8th Sts. The restaurant offers dine in or carry out service, as well as catering and delivery services. Hours are Monday - Saturday 11am - 10pm, closed Sundays. Morton's Restaurants has a new sign and customized front door awning thanks to an ANDA grant. A special note of thanks to KNBT and PPL for their support of this program - a program of the Allentown Neighborhood Alliance (ANDA).

Closing Remarks

The fact that ten weeks have come and gone in and of itself is quite a surprise to me. It feels like only a few days ago that I was reading an email from my Professor encouraging me to apply for this internship. In these ten weeks I have had the privilege of observing and being a part of a very unique organization in a neighborhood that is as diverse as they come. From the facade renovations to the mural project and the youth arts programs, OAPA has found a way to touch the lives of almost everyone who lives in Old Allentown. One of the mixed blessings of a neighborhood with so many people from so many walks of life is that very rarely, if ever, will everyone see eye to eye on much of anything. Although many consider this a stumbling block, to me this is one of the greatest things about the neighborhood. Very few places, especially in Pennsylvania, will you find a neighborhood with so many cultures, personalities and opinions. One of my tasks in my time here was to disperse, collect and tabulate the Elm Street Survey. One of the things that stood out to me was how people who live so close to each other could have such differing perceptions of the neighborhood that they live in. Almost every question received responses that were all across the board. The only exception being that almost everyone seemed to want a bakery, so it seems there is something that everyone can agree on.
I will definitely miss the unique personality of this neighborhood. From the Victorian architecture, to the culture influence of the Latino community, the mix is not one that I have found anywhere else that I've been.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said "The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do, well." After being a part of Old Allentown for ten weeks I think my final observation is there is a good thing going on here. Keep doing what you are doing, and this historic district will continue to prosper as a unique and diverse neighborhood. I am grateful for the time that I have had here and the lessons that I have learned.

-Adam Labs

Wow! Tree well surround sure looks good! 411 N 9th St

Tree Well Surround Project begins in Old Allentown

Today, the anxiously awaited tree well surround project is underway. The first one is being installed on the 200 block of North 9th st with the others to follow. The installer, Andrew, had dug the post holes and was just beginning cut the legs to height so that they could be installed level to the ground when Marie and I stopped by to see how things were going. With the exception of a few roots getting in the way things seemed to be going along quite smoothly. As this one and the others to follow become completed we will post pictures to document the progress.

More Summer Arts in the City

Another huge Thank You to ANDA (Allentown Neighborhood Development Alliance)’s Neighborhood Partnership Program, funded by KNBT and PPL, for another day of Summer Arts in the City. On Wednesday, August 5, 2009, through ANDA arts programming, Old Allentown Preservation Association treated 27 local teenagers to a day of arts in the city, the second such session. The teens enjoyed a two hour visit to the Allentown Art Museum, featuring the exhibit, Fashion in Film. After viewing and learning a bit about the many portraits downstairs, the teens explored the thirty two costumes on display upstairs. The period costumes captured their imaginations, all the while absorbing valuable historical information, and connecting the past with today. The teens had a chance to put their creativity to use by learning how to insert dyed wool into felt in the museum’s Crayola Learning Center. This project became the cover of a journal they put together for themselves to take with them back home. But it wasn’t time to go just yet! Just outside the museum, across the street at the Arts Park, the teenagers had a delicious lunch of gourmet deli wraps from Plaza Deli waiting for them. And, after eating, Alfonso Todd (BLURB Media/Promotions), presented “Hip Hop Interactive.” Alfonso and the teens had fun taking turns dancing and learning new steps from each other while discussing their surroundings and how the ‘hip hop’ lifestyle affects themselves, their family and friends, and schools. There were many smiles to be seen.

Joshua Jones

Hello my name is Joshua Jones and I’m a rising senior at Lafayette College. I’m interning with the Old Allentown Preservation for the summer. Receiving this internship has meant a lot to me and I enjoy every minute I’m working with the organization. Last week Carmen (who is another associate of the Old Allentown Preservation) and I took a group of kids ages 8-11 to the art museum in Allentown and spent the day there doing projects teaching them a little about art. Then we came back to the office and did activities with kids such as hula hooping and playing the drums. This was a lot of fun and the kids seemed to be having a lot of fun also. Events and activities like this are great for kids because they are learning and having fun all at the same time. More events like these are needed in communities and do nothing but help push them in the right way starting with the kids. I just hope with my little time at Old Allentown Preservation I can help their cause in bringing Allentown back to its old self.