Bethlehem has five distinct sections, each with its own
flair and sense of community. Center City is the heart of the city and the
oldest section of town, containing Moravian College. South Bethlehem is an
ethnically diverse area that is home to Lehigh University, many shops, bars and
restaurants, as well as Sands Casino and a large arts community. West Bethlehem
and North Bethlehem are both residential, covering large areas of land. East
Bethlehem is cheaper and caters to a younger, more diverse crowd. There are
many NCC students and recent college graduates who live in that area.
Center City Bethlehem is the location where Bethlehem was
founded by the Moravians in 1741. It also contains top-notch bars, coffee shops
and restaurants. Center City Bethlehem has some premier restaurants, including the
Apollo Grille, Bethlehem Brew Works and Edge Restaurant. For Italian, there is
Mama Nina’s, which has entertained some prominent national figures over the
years.
This is the part of Bethlehem where I now spend most of
my time. It is served by the Bethlehem Transfer Center for Lanta Metro. Two of
my favorite coffee shops are also located here. In addition, I frequent the
Bethlehem Library. Everything is close and walkable, so getting around is no
problem for me. I, not surprisingly, have a lot of good friends who live in
this section of town.
South Bethlehem is where I attended elementary school,
the source of many childhood memories. I also lived here in 2011 and 2012.
During that time I loved the walkability and excitement of this part of town,
as well as its diversity and was intrigued by its youthful population, both of
young locals and Lehigh students. It is the part of Bethlehem that is most on the rise,
especially Third Street’s thriving shopping district. The coffee shop Lit is a
new addition to this urban destination.
West Bethlehem is the section of Bethlehem that is west
of the Monocacy Creek, and therefore part of Lehigh County. This was where I
grew up, my home from 1983 to 2010. It is a very nice residential section. As a
kid, I used to go out and play in the neighborhood. In recent years, more young
renters have moved into the area, much to the dismay of the longtime, older
residents. I guess it is just a change in generations! The interesting thing
about West Bethlehem is that it borders East Allentown; it is hard to tell
where Bethlehem ends and Allentown begins.
North Bethlehem is a large middle-class residential area
that is quite large. It basically extends from Washington Avenue to near
Freedom High School! My Noni lived there for many years and it's a cozy part of
town, as many of the homes there were built in the Postwar Era, staying in the
same families for multiple generations. The Edgeboro neighborhood is especially
nice and contains some beautiful, stately homes.
The outstanding features of East Bethlehem are that the
housing projects are located here and that there are a few shopping centers
here. I had a lot of fun bowling at Town & Country Lanes between the ages
of 11 and 16, and have also frequented the Taco Bell located in this section of
town. It is poor and gritty, but this area does have character to it. It is
well-suited for people watching. The drama includes everything from drag-racing
to picnicking strikers.
Bethlehem has its unique culture that makes it stand
apart from communities nearby. Its ethnic mix creates a rich culture that is
the envy of surrounding municipalities and makes life more interesting for the
city’s residents. There are numerous street festivals which bring the community
together and form the basis of new friendships, relationships and family
gatherings. Bethlehem also has a thriving and expanding arts scene, improving
the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Finally, the cheap rents
make Bethlehem affordable for a lot of people, including artists, performers,
students, college graduates and individuals who work in the retail or service
industries.
Bethlehem is a diverse town, home to various ethnic
groups, as well as to members of the LGBT community. The city is inhabited by
Germans, Irish, Hungarians, Polish, Slovaks and Puerto Ricans, as well as
African-Americans. I have always loved this diversity of my home town; our
cultural differences enrich our lives! This ethnic mix is due to Bethlehem’s
history as a steel town, as well as its proximity to New York and Philadelphia.
In recent years, there have also been immigrants from Central and South America
who have settled in Bethlehem, in search of a better life.
Bethlehem's street festivals include Musikfest and Celtic
Classic. Musikfest is a city-wide celebration of Bethlehem; it draws locals and
returning natives. It also, however, draws a number of miscreants, including
drunken brawlers, public adulterers, armed individuals and rowdy teenagers.
Despite this, I have many memories of exploring Musikfest and meeting friends
there. Most locals can enjoy a fun night of drinking and carousing without
incident. Celtic Classic, on the other hand, is more subdued and focuses on the
culture and artifacts of Irish, Scottish and Welsh heritage.
The Christmas City has a thriving and expanding arts
scene, centered on ArtsQuest and the SteelStacks. The City of Bethlehem is
making a concerted effort to expand the city’s burgeoning arts scene. Local
artists and organizers are working to achieve this. The presence of the casino
has served as a focal point for this development, though some regret the crime
and addictive behavior that come with it.
In addition, the Funhouse is the gathering place and
point of exposure for a large number of local and up-and-coming artists. It is
also a mecca of the large Bethlehem punk/hippie/hipster/bohemian scene. The
Funhouse has been around for many years and is an established Bethlehem
institution. It is packed and rowdy, but it is a lot of fun!
I know many people involved in this culturally creative
environment. These individuals include artists, musicians, bloggers, and
merchants of arts and crafts. These people are some of the best individuals
that I know. Bethlehem's art scene is closely interwoven with that of both
Allentown and Easton, and is linked to the larger art scenes of Philadelphia
and New York. Any thriving community needs its creative and artistic types.
One factor of Bethlehem that draws many people in is the
cheap rents for apartments and rental houses. You can get a decent apartment
here for $800 a month. In fact, I rented a room for $395 per month on Southside
in 2011-2012. This draws young professionals and recent college graduates from
New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia, and is a magnet that often forces
Bethlehem natives to move back to the area from other states and regions!
Bethlehem has a very convenient grid system to its
streets, which facilitates transportation between various sections of the city.
The grid largely hinges on a handful of major roads: Main Street, Broad Street,
Union Boulevard, Center Street, New Street, Third Street and Fourth Street.
Main Street is what most Lehigh Valley residents refer to when they say
“downtown Bethlehem.” Broad Street and Union Boulevard link Bethlehem with
Allentown and are important thoroughfares. New Street connects Center City with
both South Bethlehem and North Bethlehem, while Third and Fourth Streets form
the backbone of South Bethlehem. A driver can usually get across town very
quickly.
Bethlehem's landmarks have great meaning for me and all
of my fellow Bethlehem residents and natives. The major landmarks include
Central Moravian Church, Payrow Plaza, Hotel Bethlehem and the Main Street
Commons. A lot of Bethlehem residents have gotten married at Central Moravian
Church. Payrow Plaza lies between City Hall and the Bethlehem Area Public
Library. It presents a great view of South Bethlehem and South Mountain, which
is beautiful at night when South Bethlehem is all lit up; it is the location of
the Bethlehem Christmas tree. Hotel Bethlehem is an expensive, historical venue
that hosts many wedding receptions and events. Finally, the Main Street Commons
(formerly Orr’s department store) is home to a number of retail shops, including
Marlo’s Pizza and the Bethlehem Brew Works in a visually appealing building at
the corner of Main and Broad Streets.
Bethlehem definitely has its parks that are suitable for
outdoor recreation and physical exercise. Some major outdoor/natural areas are
Sand Island, Monocacy Park, the Rose Gardens, and South Mountain. Sand Island
is a lush recreation area located at the intersection of the Lehigh River, the
Monocacy Creek, and the Lehigh Canal. It is a great spot to pick up the canal
towpath, which I used extensively when I was in my early-to-mid 20s. Monocacy
Park is situated along the creek of the same name and has gazebos that serve
locals’ picnicking needs. Finally, South Mountain has some spectacular
hiking/biking trails that are filled with scenic beauty in the fall.
Bethlehem is a great city, one that I am proud to call my
hometown. I have had many wonderful memories here and am glad that its
prospects are looking up in many ways. I look forward to enjoying and taking
part in its future success!
