Doing it Right Downtown

Photo by Evan Brandt

One of Santa's elvish helpers gazes out the window of the Santa House in downtown Pottstown while Maggie McCullagh, 7, of North Coventry, reviews her Christmas list with that jolly old elf. 

Santa came calling to downtown Pottstown yesterday and if his visit wasn't enough to bring out the kid in you, there were enough happy kids to make it worthwhile anyway.

With the rain unwelcoming to his traditional red Corvette, Santa turned to the Pottstown Police Department, who know how to deal with a guy often found prowling around people's living rooms late at night.

The Phillies Fire Co. toasted hot dogs and marshmallows to go along with the hot chocolate they were selling and the ChesMont Jubilaires sang Christmas carols.

The tree was lit, the reindeer too, and other trees were decorated in store windows up and down High Street.

Here's some video from the event:



Or, if you're like me and want to read all about it, you can do so here in the Mercury story we already posted online, the highlight of which is the slideshow of photos taken by veteran Mercury photo chief John Strickler.

And of course, there was Tweeting, there's always Tweeting...

A Downtown Pottstown Christmas

Free trolley rides will mark Pottstown's Hometown Holiday Celebration

This Saturday kicks off the nearly month-long series of downtown Pottstown events geared toward drawing shoppers and their dollars to downtown stores.

Saturday, appropriately enough, is Small Business Saturday and the fun starts at 2 p.m. when Santa begins shopping and the tree lighting ceremony in Smith Family Plaza begins.

You can have Tea with Mrs. Claus at The Sitter's Clubhouse, 333 E. High St., from 2:30 to 4:30

p.m.

In addition to stories and treats, there will a special visit from local magicians Kyle and Kelly.

Santa arrives officially in Smith Family Plaza at 4:30 p.m. and you can visit him for photos in the Santa House already erected there.

There will also be music.

Photos are $7 per sitting, and Santa will also return for photos on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, from 2 to 7 p.m. both nights.

Speaking of Santa, you can also have a spaghetti dinner with the jolly old elf on Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Grumpy's Hand Carved Sandwiches, 137 E. High St. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for children 3 to 13.

New this year is a Christmas Tree Decorating contest. The decorating will take place Saturday
from 2 to 7 p.m. and voting will be held on Dec. 12, from 2 to 7 p.m. at Santa's House.

Votes are $1 each and the tree with the most votes wins. A local organization can win $500 or an individual family $100 for the best-decorated tree.

You can help decorate Red Cloud Kung Fu's tree at their Tree Decorating Party, 307 E. High St. on Dec. 5 at 2 p.m.

Or, if Yoga is more your speed, introduce it to your kids on Dec. 5 in a special Yoga For Kids event at High Street Wellness and Yoga, 141 E. High St., on Dec. 5 at 2, 3 and 4 p.m.

Dec. 5 is also "Date Night" from 5 to 8 p.m. with a free trolley ride among downtown restaurants and Sly Fox Brewery and Manatawny Still Works. There is free professional babysitting at the Sitter's Clubhouse, 333 E. High St., from 5 to p.m. (Children must arrive by 7 p.m.).

Free trolley rides downtown will also be offered on Dec. 12 from 2 to 4 p.m.

A Holiday Open House will be held at ArtFusion 19464, 254 E. High St., on Friday, Dec. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. where visitors can enjoy art, shop for unique gifts and enjoy light fare.

ArtFusion 19464 will also host its popular Van Gogh's Secret Studio, which helps children secretly

shop for small handmade gifts from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19. (Adults must remain in the building while their child is shopping.)

The performing arts are also represented downtown, with Steel River Playhouse presenting "White Christmas."

Show times and ticket prices are available at www.steelriver.org and ticket-holders should know they will get a 10 percent discount off their check at participating downtown restaurants before the show.

Also featuring downtown Pottstown and more is the 30th annual Historic House Tour on Sunday, Dec. 13 from 2 to 6 p.m.

Advance tickets, which go on sale Saturday, are $15 and are available at Carter's Locksmith Shop, 127 N. Hanover St. or by calling 610-323-5400.

Period holiday food from John Potts' time will be on display

at Pottsgrove Manor.

Tickets on Dec. 13 are $18 and are available at Carter's, the Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority, 17 N. Hanover St., or the Elk's Club, 61 E. High St.

The tour also coincides with Pottsgrove Manor By Candlelight Tour from 2 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13. Visitors are asked to park at the Carousel building, 30 W. King St., and a shuttle will take visitors to the manor house.

And there are a number of events that will occur throughout the weekends of November and December.

The Phillies Fire Company, which trimmed the tree in Smith Family Plaza, will be selling hot dogs, apple cider and hot chocolate outside Santa's house on Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12.

Beverly's Pastry Shop, 322 E. High St., will host candy cane cookie decorating on Saturday, Nov. 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. and on Saturdays, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Many events will be augmented by roaming illusionists and magicians. Kyle and Kelly will perform on Nov. 28 from 2:30 to 4:30 and Dec. 12, from 3:30 to 5:30 at various locations downtown. And on Dec. 5, it will be Judy Trudy the Clown, who specializes in balloon sculptures, from 3 to 6 p.m.

Last year, elves stopped by downtown Pottstown to ready stories.

Story Time with the Elves will take place every half hour from 3 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the PDIDA
Office, 17 N. Hanover St. and on Dec. 12 at Smashville, 310 E. High St.

Speaking of elves, the Elf on a Shelf Contest could help you win a $10 downtown gift card.

The elf will be downtown watching shoppers from Nov. 28 to Dec. 11.

Find the elf, take a picture with your phone and send it to 484-948-6061 and the first person to send a photo from each participating business will win a $10 downtown gift card.

You can win a $25 downtown gift card in the reindeer "Selfie Contest."

Take a selfie with the adopted reindeer in Smith Family Plaza and you could qualify for a chance to win the gift card. For details, visit downtownpottstown.org

Forget Black Friday, Shop Downtown

As big box stores around the country and the Commonwealth prepare for the wave of shoppers which will inundate them on what is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year, Small Businesses are preparing for a day of their own  Small Business Saturday.

In Pottstown, Small Business Saturday will be celebrated with a scavenger hunt; a Happy Hour and the kick of a "Buy Local Raffle."

The scavenger hunt starts and 10 a.m. at Advantage Insurance, 105 E. High St., and ends at 12 p.m.

One first-place winner will win $100 in local gift cards; three second-place winners will win $50 in
local gift cards and two third-place winners will win $25 in local gift cards.

That's the same place Positively Pottstown's Happy Hour will take place from 4 to 7 p.m.

In the meantime, shoppers who buy a Holiday Raffle Ticket for $25 and spend $100 in downtown stores between Nov. 12 and Dec. 19 are eligible to win a $1,000 first prize or a $500 second prize.

But that's just the beginning.

The Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority's Hometown for the Holidays celebration kicks off the following week.

Here is a run-down of the events:

Saturday, Dec. 6

• 8 to 11 a.m.: Breakfast with Santa at Grumpy's, 137 E. High St. Cost is $10 per person, but kids under 3 eat free. Call 610-323-1232 to reserve tickets.
• 2 to 4 p.m.: Free trolley rides around the downtown.
• 2 to 7 p.m.: Carriage rides, $5 each. Pick up is at the front of borough hall, 100 E. High St.
• 2:30 p.m. through 5 p.m.: Every half hour, Story Time with the Elves at the Milkman Lunch Co., 250 E. High St.
• 5 p.m.: Santa arrives downtown for the tree lighting ceremony in Smith Family Plaza in front of borough hall.
• 5:30 to 7 p.m.: Pictures with Santa, also at Smith Family Plaza in front of borough hall.
• 5 to 7 p.m.: Roaming magician Kyle and Kelly throughout downtown.
• 7 to 9 p.m.: Live music at West End Alley, 107 E. High St. featuring local musician Tom Post.
• 8 p.m.: The Sound of Music at Steel River Playhouse, 254 E. High St. Go to www.steelriver.org for tickets.

Friday, Dec. 12

• 6 to 8 p.m.: Open House at ArtFusion 19464, 254 E. High St.
• 7 to 9 p.m.: Live music at West End Alley, 107 E. High St. featuring local musician Tom Post.
• 8 p.m.: The Sound of Music at Steel River Playhouse, 254 E. High St. Go to www.steelriver.org for tickets.

Saturday, Dec. 13

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Van Gogh's Shop at ArtFusion19464, 254 E. High St.
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: John Gwinn Art Exhibit at West End Alley, 107 E. High St.
• 2 to 4 p.m.: Tree Decorating Party at Red Cloud Kung Fu, 307 E. High St.
• 2 to 7 p.m.: Carriage rides, $5 each. Pick up is at the front of borough hall, 100 E. High St.
• 2 to 7 p.m.: Pictures with Santa, also at Smith Family Plaza in front of borough hall.
• 2:30 p.m. through 5 p.m.: Every half hour, Story Time with the Elves at the Milkman Lunch Co., 250 E. High St.
• 3 to 5 p.m.: Rainbow the Clown, at Smith Family Plaza, 100 E. High St.
• 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.: Free movie "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" at Connections on High, 238 High St.
• 5 to 8 p.m.: Free Babysitting at Sitter's Clubhouse at 333 E. High St.
• 5 to 8 p.m.: Holiday date night. The free trolley will loop from downtown High Street to
  
  various stops throughout the borough, including Proximity Cafe, Cafe 990, Sly Fox Brewery and Manatawny Still Works.
• 7 to 9 p.m.: Live Music at West End Alley, 107 E. High St. featuring Mike Holiday.
• 8 p.m.: The Sound of Music at Steel River Playhouse, 254 E. High St. Go to www.steelriver.org for tickets.

Sunday, Dec. 14

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: #Eatbrunchlikealocal, Live music at various restaurants in downtown for a Holiday Brunch, including Connections on High, Milkman, Lily's and Grumpy's
• 2 to 7 p.m.: Pottstown's Candlelight House Tour. tickets at Carter's Locksmith, 127 N. Hanover St., Grumpy's 137 E. High St., Proximity Cafe, 1450 E. High St., Kiss Accessories in the Coventry Mall.

Saturday, Dec. 20

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Van Gogh's Shop at ArtFusion19464, 254 E. High St.
  
• 2 to 4 p.m.: Tea with Mrs. Claus, the Sitter's Clubhouse, 333 E. High St.
• 2 to 7 p.m.: Carriage rides, $5 each. Pick up is at the front of borough hall, 100 E. High St.
• 2 to 7 p.m.: Pictures with Santa, also at Smith Family Plaza in front of borough hall.
• 2 to 4 p.m.: Roaming magician Kyle and Kelly throughout downtown.
• 2:30 p.m. through 5 p.m.: Every half hour, Story Time with the Elves at the Milkman Lunch Co., 250 E. High St.
• 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.: Free movie "The First Noel" at Connections on High, 238 High St.
• 7 p.m.: Drawing for Keeling it Local Raffle at PDIDA Office, 17 N. Hanover St.
• 7 to 9 p.m.: Live Music at West End Alley, 107 E. High St. featuring Paul Michal.
• 8 p.m.: The Sound of Music at Steel River Playhouse, 254 E. High St. Go to www.steelriver.org for tickets.