Edition 100. CNN sent its readers here this week, and a $300 cork business turned into Armstrong.

The Digest

CNN just told its readers to come here

CNN.com posted a travel story on Sunday under the headline "This Pennsylvania city was the US capital for a day. 250 years later, it's having another moment in the sun." It uses Capital Day as the way in and then spends most of its length on what the city looks like now, including Gallery Row, Olivia's Fine Art and Red Raven Art Company. "Though brief, Lancaster's stint as the nation's capital is just one example of how this community of roughly 58,000 people has long punched above its weight," the article says, and it quotes Thomas Englert of the Historic Lancaster Walking Tour on the city's habit of turning up at the country's turning points.

The writer is Kate Springer, a Lancaster native and 2005 Manheim Township graduate who has written for Vogue, Condé Nast Traveler and Time. Second national write-up in a week, if you are counting.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

The $300 cork business that became Armstrong

In 1860 a 24-year-old Pittsburgh shipping clerk named Thomas Morton Armstrong put money into his friend's cork-stopper business. They cut the corks by hand until they spent $1,000 on a machine that punched them out identically, and Armstrong sold them under the slogan "Let the Buyer Have Faith," which was a deliberate shot at "Let the Buyer Beware." Cutting corks made waste, so the waste became corkboard. Corkboard made dust, and cork dust happened to be a key ingredient in linoleum.

His son Charles built a linoleum plant on West Liberty Street in 1907, and the company later figured out how to emboss the stuff so it could imitate tile, marble, wood or mosaic. By mid-century Armstrong held more than half the American flooring market, and when Disneyland needed a Floor of Tomorrow in 1957, it called Lancaster.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

100 Editions

We asked on Monday what you love about Lancaster.

We heard about the old brick houses in the city, and how you start slowing down for them once somebody points out what you have been driving past for years. The shop owners who are still the ones behind the counter when you walk in. The diversity and quality of the food. And walking to Central Market on a Saturday morning.

Lancaster is pretty dang awesome. Cheers to the next 100 editions.

What's happening

Wednesday

Community Yoga w/ Lija | One-hour Vinyasa class in City Hall, the old sanctuary space | 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave, Lancaster | Pay what you can, $10 to $20 suggested

"Antiques Roadshow" @ the Library | Learn to price what you own using Google Lens, bring a small household item, ages 18+ | 6 PM to 7 PM | Ephrata Public Library, 550 South Reading Rd., Ephrata | No admission listed, registration required

Storm Science: The Real Meteorology Behind the Movie | Millersville's Weather Information Center director on what disaster movies get right | 6:30 PM to 8 PM | Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster | No admission listed

Spectacle of Bands Parade | The New Holland Farmers Fair parade, marching bands through town, roads close at 6 | 7 PM | Route starts at New Holland Community Memorial Park and runs to E. Main St., New Holland | Free

Thursday

New Holland Farmers Fair | Day two of the fair, with the midway, the livestock shows and the food stands | Rides open 4 PM | 100 blocks of E. and W. Main St., New Holland | Free admission, $25 all-day ride wristband

Colonial Candle Making and the Evolution of Light | Candle artisan Ginny Good on the colonial craft, then dip one yourself | 5 PM to 6 PM | Adamstown Area Library, 110 W. Main St., Adamstown | No admission listed

The Waldorf Effect: A Paranormal Research Theory | Author Laurissa Mary Rex on her four-part theory of hauntings, built at the Waldorf Estate of Fear | 6 PM to 8 PM | Lancaster Public Library, 151 N. Queen St., Lancaster | No admission listed

Drink & Draw! | Weekly open art meetup in the Art Bar, any skill level, any medium | 7 PM to 9 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave, Lancaster | No admission listed

Zak Toscani Headlines West Art Lancaster | An hour of standup from the Comedy Central and Vulture writer, in the Sanctuary | 8 PM to 9:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave, Lancaster | No price listed

Now Playing

Joshua | Israel's journey from the Jordan River to the walls of Jericho, running through Dec. 31 | 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 | 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

Wednesday

Inspiration! featuring Perfect Harmony | A vocal trio and live band running from folk to Broadway to gospel | 6 PM to 8 PM | The Barn at Paradise Station, 312 Paradise Lane, Ronks | No price listed

Thursday

Monthly Honky Tonk Night w/ Danny & the Do-Overs | Honky-tonk and classic country, with a dance floor | 6:45 PM to 9:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave, Lancaster | $15 in advance and at the door