Catching Up with Lara Bly Ahead of Her Bethlehem Fashion Show

Posted On October 1, 2026 By lvwithlove In /

We caught up with Lara Bly at Lara Bly Designs in South Bethlehem as she gets ready for her Fall/Winter 2026 Fashion Show at The Wilbur Mansion in Bethlehem on Friday, October 9.

Lara takes us inside her boutique and working design studio, where much of what you see on the racks is actually made right there.

Lara Bly Fall/Winter 2026 Fashion Show: Friday, October 9, 2026, at The Wilbur Mansion in Bethlehem.

Tickets and show information: LaraBly.com

Learn more about Lara Bly Designs: LaraBly.com

PRESENTED BY BANKO BEVERAGE CO.

The 12-Foot-Tall Skeleton Crawl Is Back

Explore the community-built map of Halloween displays across the Lehigh Valley and check out the limited-edition It Came From the Lehigh River shirts created with Bethlehem artist Thymes Zup.

EXPLORE THE MAP
SHOP THE SHIRTS

Learn more about the 2026 Skeleton Crawl →

Get More Lehigh Valley with Love

Thank You to Our Partners

Wind Creek Event Center
Michael Bernadyn with RE/MAX Real Estate
WDIY 88.1 FM
Banko Beverage Company
QuoteAhead.com

Email news releases and story ideas to
info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

It Came From the Lehigh River: Thymes Zup x Skeleton Crawl 2026

Posted On August 29, 2026 By lvwithlove In Blog, Press Release /

For the 2026 12-Foot-Tall Skeleton Crawl, Lehigh Valley with Love teamed up with Thymes Zup, a lowbrow project based out of Bethlehem, PA, led by designer Saige Sufrin, to create an original piece specifically for this year’s Crawl.

The result is It Came From the Lehigh River, a distinctly Lehigh Valley take on the strange, oversized world of the Skeleton Crawl.

The artwork is available now as a limited-edition collection of T-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts, with profits from the collection split 50/50 with the artist.

12-Foot-Tall Skeleton Crawl 2026

Posted On August 29, 2026 By lvwithlove In Blog /

PRESENTED BY BANKO BEVERAGE CO.

The 12-Foot-Tall Skeleton Crawl is back for 2026.

Explore a community-built map of Halloween displays across the Lehigh Valley, from 12-foot skeletons and elaborate yards to participating businesses and Halloween events.

Find something worth visiting, build your own route, or add your own location to the Crawl.

ADD YOUR LOCATION

EXPLORE THE MAP

Joining the 2026 Crawl

Have a Halloween display? Add it. Businesses, bars, restaurants, offices and Halloween events can join too.

Submit your location along with a photo or video and we’ll add it to the public map for people exploring the Lehigh Valley throughout Halloween season.

Submitting a home? Only submit an address that belongs to you or that you have permission to submit. Residential addresses submitted for the Crawl will be displayed publicly on the map.

Gun Violence Prevention in the Lehigh Valley with CeaseFirePA’s Maggie Hartmann

Posted On August 11, 2026 By lvwithlove In /

Get More at LVwithLOVE.com!

CeaseFirePA Lehigh Valley Organizer Maggie Hartmann joins George Wacker to discuss gun violence prevention in Allentown and the work continuing after the July 16 Allentown Gun Violence Prevention Forum.

Maggie talks about bringing elected officials, community organizations, law enforcement and residents together, including young people in decisions that affect them, addressing gaps in after-school support and building trusted partnerships within Allentown neighborhoods.

The conversation also covers school safety, secure firearm storage, House Bill 2244 and practical ways Lehigh Valley residents can support CeaseFirePA’s work.

Parent and Caregiver School Safety Survey:
https://act.ceasefirepa.org/a/schoolsafetysurvey

Sign the Petition:
https://www.mobilize.us/ceasefirepa/event/996058/

Learn more about CeaseFirePA:
https://www.ceasefirepa.org/

Contact Maggie Hartmann:
maggie@ceasefirepa.org

This episode is brought to you by Wind Creek Event Center, Michael Bernadyn with RE/MAX Real Estate, WDIY 88.1 FM, Banko Beverage and QuoteAhead.com.

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Thank you to our Partners!

WDIY 88.1 FM

QuoteAhead.com

Wind Creek Event Center

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate

Banko Beverage Company

Email your news release to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

Subscribe to our email list

22 Is 22 Too Many: Gabe Atkins’ Coast-to-Coast Ride for Veteran Suicide Awareness

Posted On August 3, 2026 By lvwithlove In /

Get More at LVwithLOVE.com!

Marine veteran Gabe Atkins is taking on a roughly 3,500-mile bicycle ride from Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, to San Diego, California, to raise awareness for veteran suicide prevention and support organizations helping veterans in crisis.

After serving two tours in Afghanistan, Gabe struggled to readjust to civilian life and watched friends and fellow veterans battle PTSD, isolation, and a loss of purpose. He talks about why asking for help can be so difficult, how photography helped him begin moving forward, and why finding a community can be an important first step.

Gabe also explains the planning behind the 102-day ride, his decision to document the journey in 22-mile blocks, and his commitment to being transparent about the money raised. Fifty percent of proceeds after costs will support organizations including Battle Borne and Wounded Warrior Project.

Follow the journey, donate, or purchase campaign merchandise at:

https://22is22toomany.com/

Veterans in crisis, or anyone concerned about a veteran, can call 988 and press 1 or text 838255 for free, confidential support.

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Thank you to our Partners!

WDIY 88.1 FM

QuoteAhead.com

Wind Creek Event Center

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate

Banko Beverage Company

Email your news release to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

Subscribe to our email list

Lehigh Valley with Love Summer Intern Visits Shankweiler’s Drive-In

Posted On July 23, 2026 By lvwithlove In Blog /

Get More at LVwithLOVE.com!

Lehigh Valley with Love summer intern Caroline Jack from Lehigh University recently visited Shankweiler’s Drive-In for her first drive-in movie experience, catching Toy Story 5 with friends and sharing the night with us.

Dylan Stroup is Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for Bethlehem’s Kids

Posted On July 15, 2026 By lvwithlove In /

Get More at LVwithLOVE.com!

From the top of South Mountain to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem board member Dylan Stroup is preparing to climb Africa’s highest mountain while raising $50,000 for local kids through his Climb for Kids campaign.

We joined Dylan on South Mountain to talk about the personal goal that started the journey, the six months of training behind it, and why he decided that reaching the summit should also benefit the community around him.

Dylan shares how long aerobic workouts, balance exercises, loaded hikes, and repeated climbs up Blue Mountain have prepared him for the challenge. He also talks about the family and friends who inspired him, the community that has joined the campaign, and his belief that success should be measured by the impact we have on others.

The Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem has served local children and teens since 1930. Today, more than 650 young people rely on its educational, recreational, and character-development programs.

Donate to Climb for Kids:
https://givebutter.com/climbforkids

Learn more:
https://bgcob.org/climbforkids

Join Dylan’s final training climb at Blue Mountain on Saturday, July 25:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1739623163752091/

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Thank you to our Partners!

WDIY 88.1 FM

QuoteAhead.com

Wind Creek Event Center

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate

Banko Beverage Company

Email your news release to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

Subscribe to our email list

Coach Dotty Vazquez Shares Powerful Memoir ‘They Turned a Blind Eye’

Posted On June 30, 2026 By lvwithlove In Blog, Community News /

Get More at LVwithLOVE.com!

For years, Coach Dotty Vazquez carried a story she never imagined sharing publicly.

Today, the Lehigh Valley author, life coach, entrepreneur, and advocate is sharing it in They Turned a Blind Eye, a memoir that explores childhood trauma, addiction, homelessness, healing, and ultimately, hope.

But as Vazquez makes clear, this isn’t a book about remaining trapped by the past.

The Painted Petal: History, Renovation, and TNT in the Lehigh Valley

Posted On June 23, 2026 By lvwithlove In /

Get More at LVwithLOVE.com!

The Painted Petal is a restored 1910 Craftsman-style boutique guest house and event venue at 7809 Hamilton Boulevard in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania.

Owner Maggie Fischer transformed the once-deteriorating historic home into one of the Lehigh Valley’s most unique places to stay, gather, create, and celebrate. Inside, the house is filled with restored woodwork, leaded glass, salvaged antiques, vintage furniture, local history, and surprises in nearly every room.

One of the biggest surprises came during the renovation, when crates marked “high explosives” were found in the basement. What first looked like old storage turned out to be very real, very old TNT.

Maggie shares the story behind The Painted Petal’s renovation, the home’s history, the antiques and artifacts that found their way back, the challenges of restoring a historic property, and why preservation matters in the Lehigh Valley.

Learn more or book a stay: https://paintedpetal.com/

Address:
7809 Hamilton Boulevard
Breinigsville, PA 18031

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Thank you to our Partners!

WDIY 88.1 FM

QuoteAhead.com

Wind Creek Event Center

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate

Banko Beverage Company

Email your news release to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

Subscribe to our email list

610 Day: The Most Lehigh Valley Ways to Celebrate, According to You

Posted On June 11, 2026 By lvwithlove In Blog /

610 Day, or June 10, is also known as “610 Day,” which is a nod to the 610 area code. For a lot of us, 610 still feels like the Lehigh Valley area code, even though it came after the 215 days and before 484 entered the chat.

A little phone-number history: 610 was placed into service in January 1994 after being split from the 215 area code, which had covered much of southeastern Pennsylvania since 1947. The 484 overlay was introduced in June 1999 for the same region, which meant 10-digit dialing became part of local life. Today, 610 and 484 cover the same general region, which includes the Lehigh Valley, with 835 also added in 2022.

Mike McGrath Signs Off: You Bet Your Garden’s Final Episode on WDIY

Posted On June 5, 2026 By lvwithlove In /

Get More at LVwithLOVE.com!

Mike McGrath is signing off from You Bet Your Garden on WDIY with a final episode that looks back on 30 years in public radio, a career rooted in organic gardening, and the kind of advice that made him a trusted voice for gardeners everywhere.

In the interview, Mike reflects on his time as editor of Organic Gardening, his years on public radio, and how the show eventually found a home at WDIY. He also shares one last piece of classic Mike McGrath gardening advice: “No trends.” Build raised beds, use real soil, grow without poisons, and do not take advice from random people on the internet.

The final episode of You Bet Your Garden is now available through WDIY. Listen and learn more at https://www.wdiy.org/show/you-bet-your-garden.

Wishing Mike well and thanking him for decades of smart, funny, fiercely organic advice.

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Thank you to our Partners!

WDIY 88.1 FM

QuoteAhead.com

Wind Creek Event Center

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate

Banko Beverage Company

Email your news release to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

Subscribe to our email list

Lehigh Valley Patio Palooza 3 presented by Banko Beverage Co.

Posted On May 28, 2026 By lvwithlove In Blog, Contest /

UPDATE:

The votes are in for Lehigh Valley Patio Palooza 3 presented by Banko Beverage Co., and we have our winners!

Foundation Tavern at Shepherd Hills Golf Club has once again been named the Lehigh Valley’s favorite patio, taking the top spot for an incredible third consecutive year.

Pints & Pies Bethlehem finished in second place, followed by The Wooden Match in third.

This year’s Patio Palooza also introduced the Home Patio Edition, giving Lehigh Valley residents a chance to submit their own backyard patios, decks, porches, and outdoor spaces.

Congratulations to Steve K. of Allentown, our Home Patio Edition winner! Steve will receive a patio prize pack courtesy of Banko Beverage Co.

Thank you to everyone who voted, submitted a home patio, and helped spread the word about Patio Palooza 3.

A special thank you to presenting sponsor Banko Beverage Co. for helping make Patio Palooza possible.

Inspired by Patio Palooza to tackle an outdoor project of your own? Visit QuoteAhead.com to connect with local contractors for patios, decks, landscaping, hardscaping, fencing, concrete, outdoor lighting, and more.

And what’s next? Stay tuned. We might just need to find out who the Lehigh Valley’s favorite bartender is. 🍺

See the latest at www.lvwithlove.com.

——————–

Patio season is almost here, and Lehigh Valley Patio Palooza 3 presented by Banko Beverage Co. is back to celebrate the best outdoor spots in the region.

This year, we’re adding something new!

Along with voting for your favorite restaurant, bar, beer garden, or outdoor dining space, you can also enter the 🏡 Home Patio Edition by submitting your own backyard patio, deck, porch, or outdoor oasis.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT OR TO VOTE

The winning restaurant or bar patio will be part of a summer celebration at their location.

Home Patio Edition entrants will be eligible for prizes, which may include a Miller Lite mini fridge, lounge chair, patio umbrella, Banko Beverage Co. shirts, koozies, promotional items, and a $100 QuoteAhead outdoor project credit.

Foundation Tavern has won two years in a row. Can anyone beat them this year?

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT OR TO VOTE

Questions? Email info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com Use #PatioPalooza to follow along.

Terms and Conditions

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT OR TO VOTE

Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono Builds Confidence One Step at a Time

Posted On May 15, 2026 By lvwithlove In /

Get More at LVwithLOVE.com!

Girls on the Run has the word “run” right there in the name, but this program is about a lot more than running.

On this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, George Wacker is joined by his daughter Dahlia, a first-year Girls on the Run participant at her elementary school, for a conversation with Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono Executive Director Liz Fones, coach Jennifer Leffler, and Laney, a program alumna who now gives back as a junior coach.

Yes, there is running. Yes, the season ends with a 5K. But the real work happens during the practices, where trained coaches help participants build confidence, make friends, set goals, talk through emotions, and learn how to handle the kinds of social pressure that can show up early in elementary and middle school.

Liz explains that the program gives girls tools at a critical age, especially as they begin thinking more about how they fit in, what others think of them, and how they see themselves. Jennifer, who has coached for many seasons, talks about helping girls navigate friendships, peer pressure, negative self-talk, and the simple but powerful idea of changing “I can’t do this” into “I can’t do this yet.”

Laney shares how her own experience with Girls on the Run helped her meet new people, build a love of running, and eventually return to the program as a junior coach. She now runs cross-country and track in high school, and talks about how running gives her a way to deal with stress and reset when life feels overwhelming.

Dahlia also shares what she has enjoyed as a first-year participant, including making new friends and getting to be part of something that gives girls a chance to try running in a supportive way.

The episode also looks ahead to the Girls on the Run 5K Celebration at DeSales University on Sunday, May 17. The event brings together girls, coaches, families, running buddies, mascots, music, and plenty of cheering as participants complete the season together.

Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono serves communities across the region and is open to girls of all abilities. The organization also emphasizes that financial need should not stop a girl from participating, with scholarships and support available for families.

Learn more about Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono at:
https://www.gotrlehighpocono.org/

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Thank you to our Partners!

WDIY 88.1 FM

Wind Creek Event Center

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate

Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub

Banko Beverage Company

Email your news release to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

Subscribe to our email list

JOSHWAY’s new children’s book aims to help kids find the courage to rise

Posted On April 20, 2026 By lvwithlove In Blog, Community News /

JOSHWAY’s next children’s book is built around a simple idea with real weight behind it: kids are often stronger than they know, but sometimes they need help seeing it.

Coca-Cola Park Naming Rights End in 2027: What Should the IronPigs Call the Ballpark Next?

Posted On February 3, 2026 By lvwithlove In Blog, Community News / 1

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs and ABARTA Coca-Cola Beverages announced today, February 3, 2026, that their naming rights partnership will wrap up in September 2027 when the current agreement reaches its planned completion. The team made it clear the relationship is not ending completely. Fans will still be able to buy Coca-Cola products at games, and ABARTA Coca-Cola Beverages will remain a Founding Partner involved with the organization and its charitable efforts.