The Lehigh Valley’s Dance Dance Revolution

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Guests: Members of the Whitehall Dance Dance Revolution Community

In this episode of Lehigh Valley with Love, we step into the rhythm of the Lehigh Valley’s Dance Dance Revolution scene. Visiting Dave & Buster’s in Whitehall, PA, we meet the passionate players who gather every Thursday night to combine music, movement, and community. From newcomers to seasoned players with decades of experience, this group proves DDR is more than a game—it’s a lifestyle.

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Episode Recap:

Dance Dance Revolution might seem like a relic of the early 2000s, but for the Whitehall DDR community, it’s anything but. Every Thursday night, this group gathers at Dave & Buster’s to celebrate their love for the game, from Eurobeat music to challenging footwork. In this episode, hosts George Wacker and Jeff Warren explore what keeps this community moving.

Finding Connection through DDR
The episode opens with stories from players like Chris, who has been playing DDR for 20 years, and Emily, who joined the scene to make new friends. For many, DDR is more than a game—it’s a way to connect, improve, and push themselves. “Everyone here is supportive,” Chris shares. “No one’s judging you, no matter your skill level.”

The Comeback That Never Left
DDR may have dipped in popularity over the years, but the community insists it never really went away. Alex reflects on the joy of seeing new players discover the game: “Watching kids’ faces light up the way mine did when I first played is what makes it all worth it.”

Exercise, Music, and Fun
For Angeline, DDR is the perfect mix of cardio, movement, and rhythm. “It’s not just a video game—it’s a workout. It’s good cardio, and the music is amazing,” she explains. From Eurodance to classic tracks like Butterfly, the soundtrack is a big part of the draw.

An Open Invitation
The community at Dave & Buster’s is open and welcoming to everyone. “If you’re on the fence, just try it,” Tony encourages. “When I started, I was horrible, but the most important thing is to have fun and push yourself.”

Looking Ahead
With events like a major tournament planned at the Philadelphia Round1 in June, the DDR scene in Pennsylvania is growing stronger. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, the Whitehall group invites you to join the fun every Thursday night.

episode transcript

Lehigh Valley with Love Media at The Greater Lehigh Valley Young Professionals Council’s Leadership Summit

We’re excited to announce that George Wacker, founder of Lehigh Valley with Love Media, will be a panelist at the Young Professionals Council’s Leadership Summit on February 21, 2025, at DeSales University!

As part of the “Building Your Personal Brand” breakout session, George will share insights from over a decade of experience in media and storytelling. With more than 15 million video views and 8 million podcast downloads, Lehigh Valley with Love Media has been recognized regionally and nationally for creative and impactful work that connects businesses, nonprofits, and communities with their audiences.

This is an amazing opportunity to learn how to leverage storytelling, build a personal brand, and make an impact. We’re proud to contribute to this event and share some of the strategies and lessons we’ve learned along the way.

Click to learn more about the event and secure your spot: 📅 2025 Leadership Summit Details: https://bit.ly/3O1D1TR

Lehigh Valley with Love Featured in The Keystone Newsroom as a Top Pennsylvania Instagram Account

At Lehigh Valley with Love, we’re all about celebrating the best of our community—from quirky events and local businesses to mouthwatering food and those little moments that make the Lehigh Valley so unique. That’s why we’re thrilled to share some exciting news: we’ve been featured in The Keystone Newsroom’s article, “Pennsylvania Instagram Accounts to Help You Ditch the Doomscrolling”!

Here’s what they had to say about us:

“If something cool and/or quirky happens in the Lehigh Valley, or even if it’s just Lehigh Valley adjacent—like comedian Pete Davidson rocking a Lehigh Athletics sweatshirt courtside at a basketball game—you’ll find it on Lehigh Valley With Love. Their coverage of Lehigh University students throwing the goal post in a river after the Mountain Hawks’ recent win over Lafayette was award-worthy. ”

Being recognized as a source of positivity and connection in our community means the world to us. It’s a reflection of the amazing people, places, and stories that make the Lehigh Valley such a vibrant and fun place to live. We’re grateful to all of you—our readers, followers, and supporters—for letting us share these moments with you every day.

Check Out the Full Article

 

Conversations with Amy Jo Burns, Shelley Noble, and Meg Shaffer: A Preview of SOTA’s Author Events

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Thank you to our Partners!

Lehigh Valley Health Network

WDIY

Wind Creek Event Center

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate 

Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub

Banko Beverage Company

For more information and tickets, visit sotapa.org/lwta.

Tour The Sayre Mansion in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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Thank you to our Partners!

Lehigh Valley Health Network

WDIY

Wind Creek Event Center

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate 

Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub

Banko Beverage Company

Third Street Alliance’s 27th Annual Bistro on March 25, 2023

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Thank you to our Partners!

WXPN

Wind Creek Event Center

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate

Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub

2022 Lehigh Valley Holiday Lights Map

Would you like everyone on the internet to know where your Christmas / Holiday light display is? Well, we’re putting together a map for everyone to enjoy and we want your residence or business to be a part of it.

If you’re sure, then please submit your information below to be included in our Lehigh Valley Holiday Lights Map.

SUBMIT YOUR HOLIDAY LIGHTS DISPLAY AT THIS LINK

Click here for the map or view below!

We’re excited to see some of the most interesting, traditional, and fun holiday displays throughout the Lehigh Valley area (and beyond)

– Personal Residences are FREE

– Businesses are $50 (Payable via PayPal or Venmo)

– We are looking for a presenting sponsor as well!

By Submitting your light location, you’re agreeing for us to use it on our public Google Map.

We will NEVER share or sell your information.

Lehigh Valley with Love Holiday Spectacular LIVE

Listen to the music only here.

Join hosts George Wacker and Phil Reese on December 7, 2021 as they warm their chestnuts by the fire with some super special musical guests live or recorded including:

Puddles Pity Party
Eljuri
Hannah Gill
Pepperwine
Gangstagrass
Ryan Tennis
Corinne Mammana
Jon Worthy
Carver Commodore
and more!

Listen to the Podcast Version here.

Want to give away stuff? (email us at info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com)

https://linktr.ee/lvwithlove

Eman Jarrah for Lehigh County Judge | Getting to Work in the Lehigh Valley

In our final political podcast of … well for now, we are honored to have on fellow Moravian College grad, Emmaus resident, and farmland preservation champion, Eman Jarrah.

Oh, yeah, she’s running for Lehigh County Judge! Vote on May 18th.

From her website: “Eman Jarrah is a Lehigh Valley native who was born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  She is a graduate of Dieruff High School, Moravian College, and The University of Dayton School of Law.  A long-time Deputy County Solicitor, she has spent most of her career advocating for the community’s most vulnerable consumers.  She manages difficult situations with compassion for the individuals involved but with a respect for the application of the law.  A typical day is one where she assists in coming up with a creative solution to a challenging scenario.  She cares about her community and is committed to its positive growth.”

Check out Eman Jarrah’s website.

Our featured local non-profit this week is New Bethany Ministries!

Thank you to our partners:

Burke Insurance Agency 

Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate

and our Season Featured Partner, Venture X


– Get all of our links here.

– Subscribe to the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast.

– Want to be a guest on the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast?


Watch the video episode here or below 

Bethlehem Christmas Tree Lighting Video Featured in LA Times

The 2020 Virtual Bethlehem City Christmas Tree Lighting, a Lehigh Valley with Love Media project, was recently featured in the LA Times.

The article highlighted Bethlehem and surrounding Lehigh Valley areas’ holiday fansticness. We’re beyond proud to have been a part of this project that showcases one of the most beautiful cities in the United States!

Take a look at the video and read the article!

Oh and Facebook video here…

Vina-Andrea Aguirre | Our Former Intern Talks Work, Graphic Design, Covid, Graduation, more…

In this very special episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we check in with one of our most favorite interns of all time!

Vina-Andrea Aguirre is a Graphic Designer from Manila Philippines, in Bethlehem, PA. She is a recent college graduate from Moravian College and is now working as a Jr. Graphic Designer at Cigars International.

Vina interned with us in her FRESHMAN year at Moravian College and we were happy not only to have her on board, but to see the successes she’s already been having.

Her passion for creative and collaborative thinking is deeply rooted from my experiences of being exposed to different cultures, meeting new people, and learning new things.

Let’s check in with Vina!

Check out Vina’s Website


This episode is brought to you by Burke Insurance Agency


Welcome to the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast.

The aim of this podcast is to connect you to stories and personalities living in or affecting the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania, encompassing the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton and many other wonderful communities in-between.

We talk to business owners, musicians, authors, students, politicians, and maybe even you.

Get all of our links here.

Want to be a guest? info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

Subscribe to the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast.

Will Lewis | News | Grunge | Lehigh Valley

In this episode we talk with WFMZ reporter and anchor, Will Lewis.

Will moved to the Lehigh Valley in 2010 after working at TV stations in Portland, Maine, Charlotte, North Carolina, and several other markets. Because of his love of traveling and various job assignments, he has driven across country seven times. Will has also lived in, visited, or driven through all 50 states.

Originally from Seattle, Washington, Will left the Pacific Northwest to attend The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. We talk about his journey to the Lehigh Valley, how he snuck into grunge gigs in  Seattle, why he loves the Lehigh Valley and some other stuff.


This episode is brought to you by Made Possible in the Lehigh Valley 

Learn more about how they are telling Lehigh Valley stories and how it can help you!


Welcome to the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast.

The aim of this podcast is to connect you to stories and personalities living in or affecting the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania, encompassing the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton and many other wonderful communities in-between.

We talk to business owners, musicians, authors, students, politicians, and maybe even you.

Get all of our links here.

Want to be a guest? info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

Subscribe to the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast.

James P. Jordan | Touchstone Theatre | Don’t Stop Performing or Creating

This episode is brought to you by Made Possible in the Lehigh Valley 

Learn more about how they are telling Lehigh Valley stories and how it can help you!

——————————————————-

Welcome to the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast.

The aim of this podcast is to connect you to stories and personalities living in or affecting the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania, encompassing the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton and many other wonderful communities in-between.

We talk to business owners, musicians, authors, students, politicians, and maybe even you.

Get all of our links here.

Want to be a guest? info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com

Subscribe to the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast.

——————————————————-

We speak with James P. Jordan, Artistic Director at Touchstone Theatre in Bethlehem, about performing during COVID, adapting, thinking way outside of the box, and looking to the past for guidance.

Be sure to check out their website for upcoming performances.

LINKS

Touchstone Theatre Website

Watch Lehigh Valley with Love’s Video As Part of the #BacktoBethlehem Campaign!

The Bethlehem Chamber, Downtown Bethlehem Association, Southside Arts District and Community Action Development Corporation of Bethlehem have come together to launch the #BacktoBethlehem campaign as their counties move to the Yellow Phase.

This campaign is all about preparing both the merchants and the community for getting back to business. “We want to make sure our business community is equipped with all the information and supplies they need in order to safely re-open.” said Tammy Wendling, Downtown Bethlehem Association Manager.

In addition to making sure merchants are ready, Missy Hartney, Southside Arts District Downtown Manager says “it’s extremely important to make sure the community knows what expectations there will be for them as customers as well as making them feel comfortable with coming back out to support these small businesses.”

Bethlehem merchants have been asked to take the Vow of the Valley, launched by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. Those who sign the online vow, will receive a “Back to Bethlehem” graphic to use on social media and their website. This will let the community know these businesses took a pledge to protect their health and safety during this re-opening phase.

In addition to the Vow of the Valley, this task force partnered with Lehigh Valley with Love Media to create a video encouraging the community to come out and support Bethlehem businesses in the yellow phase.

As seen in the video, DLP Real Estate Capital and South Carolina based, SC Health generously donated 10,000 masks to the Bethlehem business community to ensure the safety of both employees and customers.

For more information on this campaign and to take the Vow of the Valley visit : www.lehighvalleychamber.org/backtobethlehem

Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast Episode 46: Author, Comedian, Doogie Horner

We’re super excited to welcome author, comedian, and overall renaissance man, Doogie Horner, to the show. We talk some “Die Hard,” “Die Hard 2”, and why I hate everyone who doesn’t agree with me.

Doogie is the author of the Die Hard Christmas Book. You also may remember him from his performance on “America’s Got Talent” (below).

Regardless, be sure to check him out on December 26 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem for “Home for the Holidays,” a comedy show that also features Jim Tews.

Please follow Doogie on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!


Subscribe to the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast.

This episode features the Song “Goodbye Syndrome” by Sunsets North. (www.sunsetsnorth.com)