Lehigh Valley and Rising

The Lehigh Valley is home to me, and to many of my friends and family. It is a bustling urban/suburban region of 800,000 residents. It consists of a series of interconnected Rust Belt communities with a history of industrial grandeur. It is a pleasant area to live now, but suffers from a flawed and limited transportation system. In the recent past, as long-time residents can attest to, it has suffered from a long period of urban blight, but, fortunately, is starting to recover in that regard.

Geographically, it is a valley centered on the Lehigh River, which flows through eastern Pennsylvania, into the Delaware River. The river flows through the three main cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, which are located on the valley floor. There are numerous hilly areas both north and south of the river. For example, there are steep hills in much of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township, Palmer Township and Easton. South Mountain cuts through the southern portion of the region, while the Blue Mountains serve as the northern border of the Lehigh Valley.

There are woods and streams throughout the region, along with the hills and mountains, that provide great opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking and fishing. There are also parks in many of the cities and municipalities that are worth visiting on one's days off. I frequently like to ride my bike along the Lehigh Canal toepath, which is part of the Delaware & Lehigh Canal system. I also like to visit Sand Island in Bethlehem, which becomes quite scenic when the weather gets warmer.

The climate of my region is fairly distinct as well. We get our four seasons, along with the great variability of our weather! We can see 60 degrees one day and 25 degrees the next, while also experiencing every form of precipitation, often within the same 24-hour period! The Lehigh Valley also is subject to extreme weather events which include blizzards, ice storms, windstorms, severe thunderstorms, large hail, bitter cold, flooding rains, tropical systems and intense heat and humidity in the summertime. If you don't like the weather, just wait 15 minutes!

For Lehigh Valley residents, there are a number of good destinations for nearby daytrips. These include the Pocono Mountains, the Jersey Shore, New York City and Philadelphia. Weekend getaways can include the Appalachians, southern New England, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and other areas. Based on both geography and transportation, the Lehigh Valley is located in the central part of the Mid-Atlantic. The people of Lehigh and Northampton Counties are exposed to the cultures of surrounding areas within the region, which chase away any feelings of isolation.

In the Lehigh Valley we have some interesting local events, mainly in the urban centers of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. We have fairs and festivals, craft fairs, music performances and an increasing number of arts events. The fairs and festivals include Musikfest, Celtic Classic and Easton's Heritage Day. The arts events include art showings, gallery openings and plays. These are great for making new friends and for people-watching.

Nationally-renowned celebrities and musicians also frequently visit the State Theatre in Easton. These events are always well-advertised and tickets are fairly easy to obtain.

To serve the listening needs of local residents, there are a number of cool radio stations and newspapers in the region. My favorite Lehigh Valley stations are 95.1 WZZO (the rock station) and 99.9 The Hawk (the classic rock station). The two pop stations consist of B-104 and 100.7 WLEV (which focuses on hit from the 70s to 90s, focusing on older listeners). The two major daily newspapers in the area are the Morning Call and the Express Times. The Morning Call focuses on Allentown, while the Express Times focuses on Easton.

Besides the major daily newspapers, there are a number of other periodicals that I enjoy, including arts magazines and college newspapers. My favorite arts magazines are Fig, EastonPOP and the Elucidator, while The Commuter, from NCC, is my favorite college newspaper. Lafayette's college newspaper is also very good. These more alternative periodicals help keep Lehigh Valley residents connected to each other and to the cultural events of the local area.

These periodicals also help to support the emerging local arts scene, which is flourishing due to the proximity of Philadelphia and New York City, as well as to cheap rents in the area. These things are great for up-and-coming artists and musicians. These artists travel to the bigger cities to learn their crafts, then return, create their masterpieces and sell their wares online and via business cards posted in local coffee shops. Due to this upsurge in artistic talent, numerous events are held which are dedicated to the arts. These include art showings, open-mic nights, live music and stand-up comedy in local bars and clubs, along with large outdoor art sales.

The Lehigh Valley is clearly an up-and-coming area, rising up from the ashes of the Industrial Age. The arts scene is coming into its own, independent music is gaining a greater foothold and people are realizing the liveability of the region. The three cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton are attracting young people and immigrants from a large variety of different regions and cities. I can foresee that in the future these cities and boroughs of the Lehigh Valley will become an artistic mecca, fostering creativity in local events, art, crafts, music, writing, journalism, as well as in the social ways in which we organize our lives, all fed by greater diversity and youthful enthusiasm.