61 days in a car?!

I have to admit, I actually enjoyed myself at the America on Wheels Museum. It was pretty cool considering cars aren't that interesting to me. But actually, I found that there was a lot of history of the U.S. preserved in the cars and photos that the museum displayed.

One of the most interesting facts that I learned was that in 1919, before the national interstate highway system was designed and constructed, it took President Dwight Eisenhower 61 days straight to cross the U.S. by car. Now that's a long time to be in a car. At the time, Eisenhower was serving in the Army, but during his presidency, that experience led to his support of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956.

So I'll add that fun fact to my repertoire of random information, and maybe I'll consider going back to the museum when its rotating exhibit changes. I was surprised by my interest in the information there, and I would guess that the Valley has many other places that would do the same.

Here's a few photos we took!

 I LOVE photo ops!

 Car colors were so much prettier back then!

Shop for a Cause

This weekend, instead of fleeing to the Lehigh Valley Mall for a shopping spree, why not stick to downtown Bethlehem? From Feb. 17 to 19, the Downtown Bethlehem Association is supporting a Shop for a Cause event. This means that while you shop for yourself, 10 percent of all your purchases at participating locations with go to a charity of your choosing. Better yet, when you dine at participating restaurants, 10 percent of your bill will also go to your charity.

The way it works: Print out a “Shop for a Cause Purchase Form” off of the website of the charity you pick. Then, bring that form to the store or restaurant you decide to shop or eat at and have the owner fill out the form. That’s it.

For a complete list of participating businesses, go to the event’s page on the Downtown Bethlehem Association’s website. The site also has a tab with a list of charities to choose from, including the Bethlehem Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers and United Way of Lehigh Valley, just to name a few. See online for the rest of the charities you can choose from.

This event is a really great way to support a local cause, but also get something for yourself out of it too. Of course, we always feel better about ourselves when we can do something nice for someone else, but there’s also the added benefit of picking up a cute top or grabbing a nice meal at the end of a stressful week.

It seems that people are always more inclined to do something if they can get something out of it too. Incentives are pretty powerful sometimes, and this is a pretty good one. Shop for a Cause offers virtually no effort on your part, besides printing the form. So why not participate?

restaurant week is back!

The only thing better than being served a full course meal is being served a full course meal at a fraction of the cost.

This past Sunday, Jan. 22, marked the beginning of Restaurant Week in Easton. Eleven eateries are offering lunch for $8 and three-course dinners for $30. This weeks offers locals the opportunity to eat great food for a great price, while also helping out the local restaurants. Sette Luna, Mangia Italian Restaurant, Colonial Pizza & Pub, Ocean, Mex Tex Trio, River Grille, The Standard Restaurant, Vintage, Widows Tavern & Grille, Phoenicia Middle Eastern Cuisine and Porters' Pub will be offering tasty food for a lower price through Saturday.

Also, you can enter to win four tickets to "Shrek the Musical" at the State Theatre in Easton while dining at any of the restaurants participating in Easton's Restaurant Week. Maybe not a show you would normally opt to go to, but hey, if you win free tickets, you gotta go!

I'm always looking for the good deals or specials, and when it comes to eating out, Restaurant Week is just about the cheapest way to get quality dishes for less.

So the best part of Restaurant Week is that it is coming to Bethlehem next week, beginning on Sunday, Jan. 29. With varying price points, 32 restaurants will offer breakfast, lunch and/or dinner menus all week long. Some participants are Apollo Grill, Blue Grillhouse and Winebar, Burger's and More by Emeril, Mama Nina’s Foccacheria, The Melting Pot, Starters Riverport and many more. For a full listing of the restaurants, and links to their menus, visit the Downtown Bethlehem Association's Bethlehem Restaurant Week page. An added bonus: when you dine at any participating restaurant, fill out a entry form for their gift card drawing. Five winners will be awarded gift cards for two to every participating restaurant.

Restaurant Week can also be a time to try out new foods or new restaurants. Since the prices are considerably lowered, maybe try a new appetizer or entree, or a whole new eatery altogether (Might I suggest Blue, one of my favorite places to go in the area).

So start planning now because the deals are only here for a short time. And make sure to take advantage of all the food and sweepstakes opportunities.