Going Out On New Year's Eve?

If you're looking for a great local place to enjoy New Year's Eve, be sure to consider these popular spots (all within 10-15 minutes of "downtown" Harleysville!):




Molly Maguire's in Lansdale is a great place to meet a few friends for drinks and a fun night out: Molly Maguire's New Year's Eve Menu

mollymaguireslansdale.com

If you're in the mood to dress up and enjoy a romantic meal, check out the beautiful Hotel Fiesole in the heart of Skippack: Hotel Fiesole's New Year's Eve Menu

www.hotelfiesole.net, Photograhy by Quindry.com

Melodia Grill in Souderton is perfect for a quieter night.  A unique fusion restaurant with plenty of gluten-free, organic and vegetarian options you can check out their website here: Melodia Grill

Best Wishes for the New Year!

Spring Mountain

If you live in the Harleysville area, I'm sure that you're familiar with Spring Mountain...but did you know that they offer way more than just skiing and snowboarding? If you haven't fallen in love with winter sports (and I am one of these people), they offer a lot of other really cool family-friendly  activities year round.

Snow tubing, canopy tours, downhill/freeride mountain biking, spooky halloween events, and a cozy lodge are just a few of the many things that Spring Mountain has to offer.

Source: mcall.com

Check out more details on their webpage here!

Hometown Hero: Derek Fitzgerald

Harleysville resident and heart transplant recipient Derek Fitzgerald, 30, recently completed his second Ironman Triathlon in Arizona along with four fellow transplant recipients: "Team Tin Men".

Congratulations to Derek on becoming the first cancer survivor and transplant recipient to complete an Ironman...in one heckuva time, nonetheless! You are truly an inspiration.

Source: Philly.com

Read the heartwarming story here. And a BIG congratulations to Derek and his beautiful wife LeeAnn who are expecting a baby in January 2014!

Telford's Tree Lighting Tonight!

Head to Telford tonight for their annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, complete with caroling, hot chocolate, cookies, crafts, and Santa Claus himself!

www.stmainst.org

The festivities will begin at 7pm in the Marketplace at Telford Station. We'll see you there!

Best Local Pizza: Lisa's!

I have to admit I'm a little bit biased about this post! After all, I did work at Lisa's for over two years while in high school, and the family who owns this restaurant (and Laura's Pizza in Harleysville) are some of the kindest, hardest-working, and friendliest people around...not to mention they make the very best pizza!

Located in the heart of Telford, Lisa's Pizza has been a longtime favorite of local residents. My personal favorite dishes include calzones, penne a la vodka, and cheesesteak hoagies!  They're available for both eat-in and take-out, and they are a BYOB. Next time you're looking to pick up a pizza or Italian food for the family, give them a call at (215) 723-4095!

Souderton's Holiday Events

If you're in the mood for a little Christmas cheer, head over to Main Street in Souderton for a fun holiday parade Saturday, December 7th at 11am!

 And for more evening activities, check out their tree lighting ceremony at 6pm. See you there!

For more info, check out their website here.

Parkside American Grille

Have you visited Parkside American Grille yet? If not, I recommend it! Located next to the Daniel W. Roth Memorial Park, this newer restaurant is a popular and casual BYOB that will be a hit with the whole family.

Crispy Crab Rolls and their Mango Citrus Salad are my two favorite picks!

My Favorite Local Restaurant: 19 Bella

If you haven't yet dined at 19 Bella in Skippack, you're missing out! Tucked back off of 73 (near the intersection at Bustard Rd) is this quaint, charming, and unique Mediterranean BYOB with an incredible menu. My favorites? Lobster Normandy, fried dates wrapped in bacon, and the caesar salad prepared table-side.

One of the very best parts about 19 Bella is their Tapas-inspired menu which allows you to sample four or five different dishes (without feeling guilty!). It's my favorite local place for a girls night or a date!

Fried dates wrapped in bacon

Bon Appetit!

Have You Ordered Your Turkey Yet??

If you haven't yet ordered your holiday bird, consider heading over to Harleysville's favorite supermarket, Henning's! They're offering great specials on Thanksgiving dinners and pies!

Harleysville: A Great Place To Grow Up!

I was born and raised on Park Avenue in Harleysville, just around the corner from the Wawa on Main Street and Indian Valley Middle School...so I have to admit that this post is a bit biased!

Alanna's Childhood Home in Harleysville

If you've ever been to Harleysville before, you probably know that it's a tight-knit community! Filled with parks, soccer fields, and "Mom and Pop" shops, Harleysville is a friendly town with a lot of small businesses and things for families to do.

Harleysville is also part of the award-winning Souderton Area School District. Most Harleysville residents will attend either Lower Salford, Oak Ridge or Salford Hills for elementary school, and Indian Valley for Middle School. High school students in the district attend state-of-the-art Souderton Area High School, built in 2009 (my alma mater!). An array of local private schools are also available, including Christopher Dock and Gwynedd Mercy Academy.

A Brief History of Harleysville

Settled by religious immigrants in the early 1700s, Harleysville sprang up as a popular village for travelers en route to and from Philadelphia using Sumneytown Pike (then called Maxatawney Rd). A popular tavern was built in the center of the village and eventually became owned by Samuel Harley, the man who would eventually give his name to the town.

Harleysville's population soared in the 1800s, with the first physician opening up a practice in 1829 and the post office opening in 1844. One of Harleysville's most prominent and historical restaurants, The Mainland Inn, opened its doors in 1890.

The early 1900s were another exciting time in Harleysville as two of the most well-known companies, The Harleysville Mutual Insurance Company, and Harleysville Savings Bank, were founded.

Harleysville continues to be a wonderful and tight-knit small town known as a great place to raise a family. The population is approximately 9300 and students attend Souderton Area School District.