A Seed Is Planted on Seventh...

In the beginning...there were empty flower beds and a dream...

add one expert...Allentown's Bernadette Cozart's knowledge...

and an army of about 50 committed volunteers... armed with cafe seats no less... another army of some really cute industrious kids...
some REALLY cute kids on top of things...
and you get the makings of a really great earth day...here are more people that made 7th Street's Spring Offensive such a great success...

Yodi reaching new heights...

Becky - head of Promotions with businesswoman Dorcas...also from Promotions...they have worked hard to get to this day

more happy volunteers...and expert planter donato dequinto and his lovely wife Joan :)
and 7th street's muscle lending a hand!

Kathleen Kapila head of Organization keeping things well Organized...Deb Rabinsky ensuring that cafe seating is rolling out on this special day...

Ernie Atiyeh...7th street's fearless leader

Chensters Matt Lewis and Sarah Fulton interview our Winston!City Staff helping out the causemore fabu interfaith coalition volunteers...they just rock!
and the finished product...cafe culture comes to 7th street

7th Street's Answer To Earth Day...

our first ever Spring Offensive!

Allentown...we're listening...

folks...a last minute fyi...7th street is going to be on the radio this evening - the information is as follows:

WDIY – April 19 – Valley Venue 88.1 FM Host: Sally Handlon,
“Focus on Allentown….what’s new and happening in downtown”

Guests: Peter Lewnes, Main Street Manager
Rebecca (Becky) Goff –new resident, young professional - Head of Promotions
Dorcis DeRivera – resident over 30 years was going to be there but she's sick today :(

We'll be covering everything from the Main Street program's history, to our accomplishments, covering the upcoming Spring Offensive starting on Earth Day as well as visualizing what 7th will be 3 years from now!

Call Ins are allowed!

special thanks to Miriam Huertas from the Chamber for thinking of us and arranging this!

April Showers Brings…7th Street Fruits and Vegetables

Where else would you want a farmers market, in your back yard, down the street or perhaps next to a culinary arts school? Fruits and vegetables have popped up this April on 7th Street. This is the most likely spot for a farmers market because it is a few doors down from the future site of the Italian Culinary Arts School.
There are plenty of fruits and vegetable to choose from, some locally grown. The market is located on Seventh Street between Chew and Gordon Streets.
The Markets operating hours are Thursday thru Saturday from 9am to 6pm, rain or shine. For more information please contact Ignacio Patricio, owner at 484-223-7816.
Mark you calendars each week to go to market…it’s so close by.

Story and photo by Yodi

Everything Old Is New Again On 7th Street

Peter Lewnes - charismatic (i swear that's what they say) main street manager and resident of 7th street has a slight problem...a new antique store has opened on 7th street! Community Place antiques officially opened this week at 409 N 7th street. Located in one of 7th street's more beautifull historically preserved buildings, Community Place is 7th street's 15th business to open during the Main Street program's tenure. They are open Monday through Saturday from 10AM to 6PM.

OH...The little problem previously mentioned is that I cannot pass an antique store without buying something...I've begged for them to come to my house and start taking things out so I can make room for some new things...speaking of which...have you ever seen better lamps...and for only 30 bucks bought today at Community Place Antiques! now...there was also this little gold armchair that would go so nicely in my living room...

Spring Offensive/Earth Day (Allentown, PA)

7th Street will be celebrating earth day and conducting their Spring Offensive on the same day. Happening that day, April 25, 2009, will be the placement of café seating at the local restaurants, planters along the street, and much more. The 7th street youth will be on hand to debut their Bernie’s Bike Brigade, an artistic combination of bicycles and papier mache in honor of beloved community leader and horticultural specialist Bernadette Cozart. Ms. Cozart is one of the coordinators for the Spring Offensive activities. Also appearing on this day will be a giant puppet named “Vera”, a new spring presence. Come join in on the festivities and roll your sleeves up. Activities begin at 10 am and wrap up at 3pm. There will also be music by a local performer, to be announced later.

Seventh Street Featured in the Morning Call!

The Morning Call's popular Retail Watch column featured the new hubbub of Seventh Street today in a lengthy overview of new establishments:

Allentown's Seventh Street has been undergoing a lot of changes.

If you've been cruising with the flow of traffic on the busy corridor, you may not have noticed.

I had to take a slower pace and study the changes in greater detail. The area has been undergoing a lot work on the retail front in recent months, with some new businesses added, in addition to some existing ones getting facelifts.

Business reporter Tyrone Richardson, who writes the column, went on to describe the new Jamaican eatery, Winston's, at 619 7th St.--which we posted about previously.

Richardson doesn't indicate if he tried the jerk chicken ($8)--but we did, and it's superb.

The Call article goes on to describe some other new arrivals on 7th Street, including La Cocina Restaurant, which (at 37 N. Seventh St.) is in the former Paul's Gyros space.

The facade grant program, directed to high acclaim by Seventh Street's Main Street Manager Peter Lewnes, is also highlighted in the column.