LedgerCongress hid here for one day in 1777, and Smithsonian finally wrote it up. Plus the city has an official cocktail.
The Digest
Smithsonian just told the whole country about our one day as the capital
On Sept. 27, 1777, the Second Continental Congress ran from an impending British attack on Philadelphia and convened in Lancaster's courthouse. One day later they kept going to York, and that was that. Last Thursday, Smithsonian magazine's website ran a special report on it by Meilan Solly, the publication's senior associate digital editor for history, built on interviews with people here. Stephanie Townrow of LancasterHistory explained the stakes: "One of the old-fashioned rules of war … is that if you take your enemy's capital, you win." Congress worked out that if they could get to Lancaster this easily, so could the British, and York had the Susquehanna in the way.
Adam Zurn, who runs the Uncharted Lancaster history blog and wrote "Capital Day: Lancaster and the Revolution," told Smithsonian that Lancaster is one of only nine cities to have served as the nation's capital. "We were the third capital, and we were the one to shelter Congress when it was under imminent threat." Two hundred and forty-nine years later, a national magazine finally noticed.
Read more at LancasterOnline →
Lancaster city has an official cocktail now, and it is called the Meloney Zamboni
Thirteen bartenders and thirteen chefs competed at VeloCity, the Lancaster City Alliance's annual fundraiser, in front of about 400 people at Tellus360 last Thursday. Sam Costello of Proof took first place with the Meloney Zamboni, built from watermelon juice, Disco Amaro, canary melon juice infused with mint, and cane sugar liqueur. Mayor Jaime Arroyo, working his first VeloCity as mayor, announced the winners and then made it the official drink of Lancaster city by proclamation. Lindsay Miller of the Belvedere Inn placed second, Elijah Bickel of 401 Prime third, and Jimmy Vega of 551 West took People's Choice with the Isla 717.
On the food side there was one winner: Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen at 351 Mulberry St., where executive chef Amos Kinert made jerk-marinated hot smoked chicken wings over roasted butternut squash puree and charred corn, finished with plantain chips. "We punch above our weight," Arroyo said between bites. Hard to argue with a man holding a wing.
Read more at LancasterOnline →
What's happening
Monday
Market Monday | Drop-in pretend grocery store with play food and cash registers, for ages 2 to 7 | 12 PM to 4:30 PM | Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster | No admission listed
Cooks & Books: Puerto Rican Cuisine & Seasoning Swap | Bring a Puerto Rican dish and a spice to trade, ages 14 and up | 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM | Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster | Free, registration required
Chess Club | Weekly open board night in the Art Bar, hosted by the Lancaster Chess Society | 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave, Lancaster | No admission listed
Collage Night | Scissors, glue and magazines with chef Mary Bova, supplies provided | 7 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave, Lancaster | No admission listed
Eagles vs Bears Watch Party | Monday Night Football with $3 Miller Lite, $1 wings and a halftime prize, 21+ | 8:15 PM kickoff | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free
Tuesday
Freeze Your Bills, Not Your House! | Lancaster Conservancy and RegenAll on cutting winter energy bills, with a take-home guide | 6 PM to 8 PM | Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster | No admission listed, registration required
The Lost Treasure of Captain Starbeard | Interactive pirate adventure with codes and clues to crack, costumes welcome | 6 PM to 7 PM | Milanof-Schock Library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy | No admission listed, registration required
Line Dance w/ JW! | Guided line dancing for every skill level, lesson at 6 and dancing at 6:30 | 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave, Lancaster | $10 suggested donation at the door
Trivia Night | Rotating topics and half price tequila until 10, 21+ | 7 PM | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | No cover listed
Now Playing
Joshua | Israel's journey from the Jordan River to the walls of Jericho, running through Dec. 31 | Tue 11 AM & 3 PM · Wed 11 AM & 3 PM · Thu 11 AM & 3 PM · Fri 3 PM & 7 PM · Sat 11 AM, 3 PM & 7 PM | Sight & Sound Theatres, 300 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks | $82 to $104 adults, $44 ages 2 to 12
Dear Soldier Boy | Amish musical comedy about two friends writing letters to troops in 1990, running through Oct. 21 | Tue 1 PM & 7 PM · Wed 1 PM · Thu 7 PM · Fri 7 PM · Sat 1 PM | Bird-in-Hand Stage, 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike #A, Bird-in-Hand | Show only $47 adults, $18 children
Ragtime | Three families chasing the American dream at the dawn of the 20th century, running through Oct. 18 | Wed 2 PM & 7:30 PM · Thu 2 PM & 7:30 PM · Fri 7:30 PM · Sat 2 PM & 7:30 PM · Sun 2 PM | Fulton Theatre, 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Prices vary, $10 student rush and $2 off for 60+
Live music
Monday
Tom Pontz Trio | Jazz | 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM | Beccafico, 27-31 E. Main St., Lititz | No cover listed
Open Mic Artist Sessions w/ Henry Devorick | Singer-songwriter open mic | 7 PM | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free
Tuesday
Old Time Jam led by Danny Mulligan | Old-time acoustic string band, players and listeners both welcome | 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave, Lancaster | No cover listed