Lauren Krady Lancaster PA Realtor

A great way to learn about Lancaster City real estate is to walk around and see the different styles of homes and the different neighborhoods. The Lancaster City website has a bunch of walking tours listed, I will feature a few of them. Here is one of them:

A Walk Around Downtown Lancaster
(covering three centuries in four blocks)

Lancaster City is an architectural gem. Stroll down any street, in any direction, and you will encounter remarkable, and remarkably intact, historic buildings.

The following walk takes in four blocks near Lancaster's Penn Square, which will take tour participants through three centuries of Lancaster's civic, commercial, religious, social and architectural history. Despite the time travel, this leisurely walk can be accomplished in less than an hour. (You may want to spend much longer than an hour, however. Every street contains many delightful and charming details, so it's a good idea to stop often to look up at rooflines, look down at cellar windows, and peek through alleyways in order to fully appreciate the quirks and beauty of the architecture.)

[Sites on this tour that are open to the public have been noted. Otherwise, the buildings are private residences or offices and should be respected as such, but the exteriors can be viewed and admired.]

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Penn Square
Penn Square is Lancaster's geographic, commercial and civic hub. From the 1730s until 1853, two different courthouses stood in the center of the square. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is erected there now, built of granite in 1874 to honor those who fought in the Civil War.

This walking tour begins at the northwest corner of Penn Square, where there are three centuries of history present: an old city hall dating from the eighteenth-century, a nineteenth-century markethouse, and an early twentieth-century skyscraper.

South Queen Street
One block south of Penn Square, along South Queen Street, tour goers will come across buildings with connections to the American Revolution and the abolition of slavery as they view a Georgian townhouse, a Federal mansion, and a complex of buildings linked to the Underground Railroad.

Old Town
The tour continues east along East Vine Street, within an area known as Old Town, one of the City's earliest areas of development during Colonial times. This neighborhood contains houses dating from the 1700s through the 1900s. In the 1970s, much of this area was slated for "urban renewal," which would have meant the demolition and loss of these irreplaceable historic resources. Instead, the houses were rehabilitated in one of Lancaster's earliest historic preservation efforts. Tour highlights in this neighborhood include a converted stone stable, the former home of Lancaster's premier portrait painter, and a dignified Classical Revival mansion.

East Orange Street
This section of East Orange Street is part of the City's original Historic District, established in 1967. Along this tree-lined street, tour goers will pass an Italianate villa and a church cemetery established in 1744.

North Queen Street
Downtown Lancaster has been a commercial center for 275 years, and North Queen Street has long been an important retail area. The colonial city owed its early prosperity to its strategic position at a transportation crossroads. Lancaster's role as a retail center grew rapidly with the Industrial Revolution, which produced more plentiful and cheaper goods and a growing urban population to consume them. Turn-of-the-century technology introduced new building materials and construction methods, and Lancaster's storefronts exhibited the latest architectural styles.

The tour concludes at the original starting point at Penn Square. There are numerous shops, museums, art galleries, and restaurants along West King, West Grant, North Queen and North Prince Streets. Central Market is open each Tuesday and Friday from 6:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m, and on Saturday from 6:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

For information about downtown attractions and businesses, visit: "Lancaster City's On-Line Guide" at www.lancasterpa.net

Don't you just love the tree lined streets around Lancaster City? Spring and Summer time has Lancaster City in it's full glory with all the blooming trees as you drive through town. So if you live in a spot without a tree in front of your house, don't fret, Lancaster City will dig up the sidewalk and plant one for you. The fees are very reasonable but you are responsible to water it. Here is the information from the Lancaster City website:

City Services

Tree Planting
Street Tree Planting Those residents living within Lancaster City limits may take advantage of the City's Street Tree Planting Program. The program is free of charge except for the cost of the tree. The hassle-free four-step process is listed below for interested residents.

Step 1 Call the City Arborist, Jim Bower, at (717) 291-4846. He will answer your questions, study your particular needs and wants and make recommendations, at no charge.

Step 2 Look at our tree list below, find the kind of tree you want and determine the price. Then, complete a Tree Planting Release form and include a check for the

Step 3 The city will prepare a proper site for your new tree. If an old stump or concrete sidewalk must be removed, they handle it. There is no additional charge.

Step 4 A crew from the Parks Department will deliver and plant your new tree. This typically involves soil preparation, mulching, staking, and anything else required to make sure your tree will thrive. There is no additional charge.

Tree List Based on the best information available today, the following trees are well suited for life on the streets of Lancaster. They are hardy, resistant to disease and require only a normal amount of care and maintenance. Ask the City Arborist to tell you more.

These trees have been purchased from reliable, professional nurseries and are resold to you with no price markup.

First Friday
Downtown Lancaster
It’s the first Friday of the month, and that means downtown Lancaster is cooking up a night of parties, with art as the main plate. Join more than 90 galleries, theaters, merchants and restaurants that participate in the cultural grid that host artist receptions, artisan demonstrations, book readings, live musical performances and more. For a list of venues and artists click here.

Feb. 6 - Kenny Rogers - American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Hwy. E. (Rt. 30), Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-397-7700, 800-648-4102. Kenny Rogers, As one of country music’s biggest crossover successes, there was a time you couldn’t pass a radio that wasn’t playing one of his numerous hits—42 in all, including: “Lady,” “Through the Years,” “The Gambler,” “Lucille,” and “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town.”

Feb. 6 - The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass - Pennsylvania Academy of Music, 42 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA, 717-399-9733. Twilight Series concert featuring The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass, a compilation of Philadelphia's top brass and percussion players performing a variety of musical styles from Renaissance to Jazz. 8:00 pm.

Feb. 7 - Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt - American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Hwy. E. (Rt. 30), Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-397-7700, 800-648-4102. Though initially labeled as a country singer, he unique style combines rock, R&B, country, folk, big band, swing and traditional pop sounds to produce an eclectic, multi-layered sound. Hit singles include “Farther Down the Line,” “Cowboy Man,” “God Will,” and “Why I Don't Know.” Singer-songwriter John Hiatt has written folk, pop and blues songs for Three Dog Night, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, and Conway Twitty. Hiatt’s albums include Bring Up the Family, Slow Turning and Stolen Moments.

Feb. 8 - Disappearing Act - Hands-On House Children's Museum of Lancaster, 721 Landis Valley Road, Lancaster, PA 17601, 717-569-KIDS. Where do snowmen go on warm sunny days? Come find out what the big “melt down” is all about in our make it, take it workshop. 2:00 - 4:00 pm


Feb. 6-7
BalletX
8 p.m. both nights Intimate and emotional, BalletX, offers an entirely new spin on an old dance vocabulary. Possessing dynamic grace and athleticism, the members of this company present a dance experience that brings a contemporary sensibility to the classic form of ballet and promises to be an entertaining and enriching experience for all audiences!
Tickets: $7.50 students/seniors, $10.00 college employees, $15.00 off-campus patrons
Location: Roschel Performing Arts Center, F&M College
Contact: 717-358-4858


Feb 8
Children's Workshop
2 p.m. The Lancaster-Art-and-Workshop-Meet-up instigated by Chelas-Is-A-Showoff presents a children’s workshop making milk carton birdfeeders.
Tickets: Free
Location: 342 N. Queen St., Warehouse B
Contact: 717-394-7201

Lancaster County Magazine took a survey about the best of Lancaster and here are the Dining Out results:

Favorite Restaurant for:

Breakfast
Lyndon City Line Diner

Lunch
Isaac's Restaurant & Deli

Brunch
Palm Court at Willow Valley

Dinner
Belvedere Inn
Gibraltar
Haydn Zug's

Late Night
Lyndon City Line Diner

Extras

Family Dining
Willow Valley Family Restaurant

Outdoor Dining
The Cove

Take-Out Restaurant/Deli
Isaac's Restaurant & Deli

Smorgasbord/Buffet
Shady Maple Smorgasbord

Romantic Setting
Belvedere Inn
Olde Greenfield Inn

Celebrating
Haydn Zug's
Olde Greenfield Inn

Wine List
Strawberry Hill

Beer Selection
Lancaster Brewing Co.

Martini
Belvedere Inn

Dessert
La Dolce Vita Courthouse Bakery

Cooking Styles

Chinese
Hong Kong Garden

Other Asian
Sukhothai

Italian
Olive Garden

Mexican/Latino/Southwest
El Serrano

Pennsylvania Dutch
Good 'N Plenty

Other Choices

Seafood
Red Lobster

Sushi
Blue Pacific Sushi & Grill

Steak/Prime Rib
Outback Steakhouse

Vegetarian Selection
Sukhothai

Coffee/Tea Shop
Starbucks

Favorite Restaurant in ...

The City
Belvedere Inn

Manheim Twp./Hempfield Twp.
Haydn Zug's

Manheim/Lititz
General Sutter Inn

Mount Joy/Elizabethtown
Bube's Brewery

Columbia/Marietta/Wrightsville
Bully's Restaurant & Pub

Willow Street/Quarryville/Conestoga/Millersville
Barn Door

Strasburg/Paradise/Intercourse/Gap
Iron Horse Inn

East Lampeter/Smoketown
T. Burk & Co.

Leola/New Holland/Blue Ball/Churchtown
Restaurant Mazzi

Akron/Ephrata/Adamstown
Lily's on Main

Park City/Red Rose Commons Area
Olive Garden

Favorite New Restaurant
J. B. Dawson's

OTHER EDIBLE ESSENTIALS

Caterer
Olde Greenfield Inn

Burgers
Five Guys Burgers & Fries

Cheese Steaks/Subs
Captain Gus's Steak Shop

Pizza
Pizza Hut

Hard Pretzel
Hammond's Pretzels

Soft Pretzel
Auntie Anne's

Ice Cream
Maggie Moo's Ice Cream & Treatery

Bakery
La Doce Vita Courthouse Bakery
Willow Valley Bakery

So what do you think, do you agree? Are there any that you think should have made the list? My family loves to eat out and I do agree with most of them. I don't think Pizza Hut has the best Pizza, I prefer pizzeria style. My favorite is Two Cousins Pizza on Lincoln Highway in Lancaster.

For a complete list of "The best of Lancaster" visit Lancaster Magazines website here.

Why not visit Lancaster for Valentine's Day weekend? There are many bed and breakfasts in Lancaster county. Here are a few:

Bella Vista B&B 1216 Main St. Akron, Pa., 17501 Phone: 717-859-4227 Toll Free: 888-948-9726 Details on this inn

The Hurst House Bed & Breakfast 154 E. Farmersville Rd. Ephrata, PA, 17522 (GET MAP) Phone: 717-355-5151 Toll Free: 800-603-9227 Details on this inn

Harvest Moon 311 East Main St New Holland, PA, 17557 (GET MAP) Phone: 1.717.354.0213 Toll Free: 1.888.824.3763 Details on this inn

Kromers Bed & Breakfast 229 W. Main St. Ephrata, PA, 17522 (GET MAP) Phone: (717)733-7830 Toll Free: 877-455-2157 Details on this inn

Richmond House 371 East Main St New Holland, Pa, 17557 (GET MAP) Phone: 717-355-0450 Toll Free: 866-279-7599 Details on this inn

Amanda Gish House Bed & Breakfast 556 W. Bainbridge St. Elizabethtown, PA, 17022 (GET MAP) Phone: 717-361-8637 Toll Free: 866-401-0889 Details on this inn