So Good Lancaster

We’re living in a state of hyper-connectivity. We are all carrying around super computers in our pockets that are connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. Yet, we are in the midst of a loneliness epidemic here in the United States. The Surgeon General recently compared the health risks of social isolation to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. But here in Lancaster county, we’re finding creative ways to connect and fight this loneliness epidemic.

Natalie and Salina from the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design’s Center for Creative Exploration host a monthly event called Art Recess at Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse. It’s a free gathering, with no registration required and no pressure around anything other than creating and connecting, with other humans. It’s an opportunity to socialize while letting creativity lead the way.

Jo Davis hosts a gathering called Creative Release at The Candy Factory coworking + social club. In this open studio environment, Jo creates a welcoming judgement free space where people can sit with others adn explore their creativity. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a total newbie, all are welcome.

These art gatherings build a stronger community while offering an antidote to loneliness, one creative session at a time.

- Jason

(all of these words came from my brain)

Links:
Pennsylvania College of Art & Design Center for Creative Exploration
Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse
Jo Davis
Creative Release

We want to hear from YOU! What do you think makes Lancaster So Good? Is there a special event or occasion coming up you want to highlight? Fill out the form on our website, and you could be featured in a future episode of So Good Lancaster.

So Good Lancaster is produced by So Good Media at The Candy Factory, a coworking and social club in Lancaster, PA.

Web: https://sogoodlancaster.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SoGoodLancaster
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sogoodlancaster
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@sogoodmedia

I love me some Lancaster County breakfast! For our first foray into the local breakfast scene, I wanted to feature two of my absolute favorites. I’m joined by Gracie Volker and Jim Lorah, co-owners of Gracie’s on West Main in Leola, and Melissa Watro, owner of On Orange in Lancaster City.

Gracie and Jim tell their wild origin story, including Gracie’s entry into the food industry at a bakery in Strasburg after Jim convinced her to take a slice of fresh baked apple pie to the job interview. Although Jim was reluctant to get back into the restaurant business, after Gracie gained some experience at the bakery, the couple decided to buy the restaurant that became Gracie’s on West Main, despite being told by friends and family that it was a terrible idea. Well, years later we know that Gracie and Jim were right and the naysayers were wrong.

Melissa Watro came back to Lancaster County after being away for 20 years. Upon her return she was able to realize her dream of owning a restaurant when she purchased the beloved Wish You Were Here on Orange St. in Lancaster City back in 2010. Melissa added her own touches to the space creating a delightfully cozy environment. She commissioned local artists to decorate the space and even employed her brother to make barstools for a newly added counter.

Lancaster City Council Vice President, and episode one guest, Jaime Arroyo, makes a cameo and a bold claim that Lancaster has "one of the best breakfast scenes in the country." Enjoy this peek behind the curtain of just two of the many restaurants and cafes that make up the Lancaster breakfast scene.

- Jason

(all of these words came from my brain)

Links:
Gracie’s on West Main
On Orange

We want to hear from YOU! What do you think makes Lancaster So Good? Is there a special event or occasion coming up you want to highlight? Fill out the form on our website, and you could be featured in a future episode of So Good Lancaster.

So Good Lancaster is produced by So Good Media at The Candy Factory, a coworking and social club in Lancaster, PA.

Web: https://sogoodlancaster.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SoGoodLancaster
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sogoodlancaster
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@sogoodmedia

In this first episode of So Good Lancaster, we chat with a handful of Lancastrians with very different Lancaster stories. Jaime Arroyo is the CEO of ASSETS, a local business resource that provides training and financing for entrepreneurs throughout Lancaster County. He is also serving as the Vice President of the Lancaster City Council. Jaime and his family moved to Lancaster from Puerto Rico when he was a child.

Kendra Wolf is a relatively recent Lancaster transplant who has lived all across the U.S. She moved to Lancaster to attend Lancaster Bible College just before the COVID pandemic in 2020. Since then she started a business called Unique Lancaster Experiences, providing tours and fun culturally enriching group activities in Lancaster.

Robert Diggs (better known as just Diggs) came to Lancaster in 2009 to attend Franklin and Marshall College. Diggs stuck around and settled here in Lancaster after graduating in 2013, which is what he considers the start of his real Lancaster journey. Since growing up in Brooklyn, NY, Diggs offers a unique perspective about our little city that is sometimes referred to as “the new Brooklyn” or “little Brooklyn”.

Beatrice Zorilla grew up in Ephrata here in Lancaster county, but spent several years (including middle school) in Honduras. She is a freelance designer and photographer who has traveled the world. She really appreciates the cultural mix in Lancaster that has developed over the years through the international organizations that have helped settle refugees in Lancaster County for the past several decades.

These perspectives bring just a small fraction of the incredible diversity that makes up Lancaster City and all of Lancaster County. As the podcast unfolds, we’ll be bringing in more and more perspectives about what makes Lancaster such a great place to live through features and stories of those who make it so. This is just the beginning and I thank you for joining me on this journey. Stay good, Lancaster, stay good!

- Jason

(all of these words came from my brain)

We want to hear from YOU! What do you think makes Lancaster So Good? Is there a special event or occasion coming up you want to highlight? Fill out the form on our website, and you could be featured in a future episode of So Good Lancaster.

So Good Lancaster is produced by So Good Media at The Candy Factory, a coworking and social club in Lancaster, PA.

Web: https://sogoodlancaster.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SoGoodLancaster
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sogoodlancaster
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@sogoodmedia

We are so excited to launch "So Good Lancaster",  your guide to the funky, interesting, and hidden gems of the area. From breakfast hotspots to nightlife, historical roots to modern attractions, we are bringing you the perspective straight from those who live, work and play in Lancaster county. 

We want to hear from YOU! What do you think makes Lancaster So Good? Is there a special event or occasion coming up you want to highlight? Fill out the form on our website, and you could be featured in a future episode of So Good Lancaster.

So Good Lancaster is produced by So Good Media at The Candy Factory, a coworking and social club in Lancaster, PA.

Web: https://sogoodlancaster.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SoGoodLancaster
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sogoodlancaster
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@sogoodmedia