Anything to do in Bethlehem, PA??

visit Martin Guitar *LINK*

VTAndy4


>Factory tour is only at certain times, Monday-Friday. There is also a museum. It's about 20 minutes from Bethlehem?

Cheers,

Andy


http://www.mguitar.com/visit/

AND the Wharton Esherick museum!!! *LINK*

VTAndy4


>The Esherick Museum includes a guided tour of his house/workshop. The tour is by reservation only -- easy to do, just call the number. (See link below). The place is INCREDIBLE. If you want to see how a life and working with wood can be completely intertwined, you have to see Esherick's house, which was a life-long project for him!

It is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Bethlehem.

From a former Pennsylvanian,

Andy


http://www.levins.com/esh7.html

Re: Anything to do in Bethlehem, PA??

Steve in Bethlehem


>Are you coming for Musikfest? There is a Woodcraft store in allentown. Enjoy your weekend!

Re: Anything to do in Bethlehem, PA??

Corey Megal


>No, never heard of Musikfest, is that like Summerfest in Milwaukee? I have relatives there, and a niece that is turning 2.

I'll have to check into this Musikfest thing now....

Thanks,

Corey

Thanks, guys, those both look like fun.

Corey Megal

Re: Anything to do in Bethlehem, PA??

Steve Marino in Bethlehem, Pa.


>Hey Corey,

You picked the right weekend to come to Bethlehem. We fill our historic down town with multiple stages and have free concerts from 11am to 11pm. What ever kind of music you like, you'll find it here. Alot of the bands and orchestras are from different parts of the country and some even travel from Europe. Some of the streets are shut down and there is food from all nationalites. And here is the best part. The open container law goes out the window this week and you can walk through the town and listen to music while holding a cold beer in your hand! Wherever you are staying just follow the Musikfest signs - they're all over the Lehigh Valley. To check out the free concerts go to musikfest.org. The event schedule on the website is pretty incomplete, but you can purchase a program guide when you get here and that will give a description of the bands, when, where, and what type of music they play.

Enjoy your stay!

Steve

Re: Anything to do in Bethlehem, PA??

Stephen Kirk in Quakertown PA


>Dang, I only live 30 minutes outside of Bethlehem, but I'm in NC right now, and won't be home until Monday. However, for things to do in Bethlehem, the museums are open over the weekend, and contain some nice historical pieces and artwork. Also look for Burnside Plantation. It is a historic farm and public park. There may be people working there, and the buildings open. If so, ask them about any old woodworking tools.

Let see, you can also take a walk down through the Colonial Industrial Quarter. It's often not open, but you can walk around the outsides of the buildings (floods caused a lot of damage some time back).

Hit Main st for some good little stores. At the corner of Main and Broad is the Bethlehem Brew Works - home brewed beer and good food.

If you grab a map, you can find the local Woodcraft over in Allentown ( on Lehigh St, maybe 15-20 minutes away, you can look up the address on line, it's pretty easy to find). Several of those guys know my name, so you can tell them I sent you.

Theres lots of local parks and hiking, all around the area, and you can find those on just about any map. Many other woodcentralians are from around Bethlehem, so maybe you can get some more info.

If you're around the area again, maybe I can catch you.

Steve

Responding to myself

Stephen Kirk in Quakertown PA


>Sorry, I didn't even realize it was MusicFest this weekend. As such, there will be a ton of fun to be had. You may park a few miles from town center, but that's all part of the fun. As the others said, you can get maps, schedules, and just about everything you need for the event on line.

Re: Anything to do in Bethlehem, PA??

Bill Grumbine (Kutztown PA)


>Corey, I am about 20 miles west of Bethlehem, and just a few miles north of me is a huge barn full of antique tools. The owner is an older man who knows what they are worth, and wil be glad to talk to you. You will find some really nice tools there, but you won't be stealing anything. His prices are fair from everyone I have talked to (and I am a customer of his too) but like I said, he knows what the stuff is worth. You could easily spend several hours there. Martin Shupe took off from the picnic to go buy a saw and came home with three saws and a plane. It was (ahem) a three hour tour! And it only takes about 10 minutes to get there from here. Perhaps if he reads this he will write of his experiences. If you want more info, send me an email.

Bill

Re: Anything to do in Bethlehem, PA??

Corey Megal


>Sometimes, I truly do love the internet.......

Thanks Bill, I did send an email.

Corey

Thanks, everyone......

Corey Megal


>I managed to make it to Martin Guitar, a really great tour they have, much of the factory is automated, factory, mind-numbing work. I did, however appreciate that some of the work is still in need of a true craftsman, and there were a few really vintage workbenches being used here and there. Sort of strange, really, amidst all of the automation, aluminum jigs, and clamps, etc, were these hundred year old benches.

I also took Bill G's advice, and spent some serious time at rummaging through the barn full of tools. Picked up a little back saw and another block plane. Niether was a steal by any means, but very servicable tools. The place is nothing like anything I've been to, more old tools than I could take in, I guess I'll have to go back..... darn.

The only thing I regret is not having the time to stop by Bill's and say hello. Now that I know the five barns gathering is 30 minutes from my relative's place, I'll have to schedule next year's visit around that.

Take Care,

Corey