Scranton-area filmmakers Stephen Karam and Chris Bongirne headline NEPA Film Festival on March 27-28
From a press release: The Northeast Pennsylvania Film Festival has announced that Stephen Karam and Chris Bongirne, nationally renowned filmmakers who both grew up in the Scranton area and whose 2020 film projects have direct ties to Scranton, will headline this year’s festival, slated for Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29 in a variety […]
Chewy.com expands with new Archbald distribution center, creating 1,000 jobs in Lackawanna County
From a press release: Today, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced that Chewy, a popular online destination for pet supplies, will expand its operations into Lackawanna County. The company has pledged to invest upwards of $35 million into the expansion and create at least 1,000 new full-time jobs in Archbald and retain 2,401 existing jobs over […]
NEPA MUSIC NOTES: Riley Loftus, Jane Train, Gary Goblins, Scaccia, Purcell, and Eye on Attraction
This week in local music, we’ve got a debut single, a few recent albums that didn’t get the attention they deserved, the return of a new band, a secret show, and some heartbreaking news that we were all dreading. ♫ Playing out almost every week at all your favorite local bars, restaurants, and cafes, it’s […]
NEPA electronic artists team up to form Spectre and release debut album ‘Jam the Transmission’
From a press release: Newly formed Northeastern Pennsylvania electronic group Spectre will release their debut album, “Jam the Transmission,” on March 18. The duo consists of local powerhouses Quoth and The Gary Goblins and was born in June of 2016 when the two had an impromptu jam session that spawned their debut album, a perfect […]
Archbald electronic artist The Gary Goblins releases new album ‘Elf Is About to Die’ for free on Jan. 10
From a press release: On Sunday, Jan. 10, local electronic musician The Gary Goblins will release his long-awaited 15th studio album, an 18-track masterpiece crafted under the name “Elf Is About to Die.” He has called the LP, which includes tracks such as “The Embarrass” and “The Rise and Fall of the Snakeman,” a “psychological […]
Santa Train rolls into 6 NEPA towns on Dec. 5 with live music, activities, and more
From a press release: On Saturday, Dec. 5, Santa Claus will leave his sleigh at the North Pole and come to town early on a train. Six local communities will celebrate Christmas in a small town when Santa and his friends arrive aboard a special train provided by the Steamtown National Historic Site. Now in […]
BEHIND THE BLOCK: Boxlot Post No. 2 – random auction observations
Brainstorming for this column inevitably leaves me with stories, thoughts, and epiphanies that aren’t substantial enough to stand on their own. Hence, this second of many Boxlot Posts in which I offer my miscellaneous conceptual tchotchkes in a virtual cardboard box… I often get asked, “What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever sold at auction?” This […]
BEHIND THE BLOCK: That time I was called a racist…
Once upon an auction, I was accused of being a racist. It happened before the sale when people were arriving and registering. I was approached by my cashier, who explained that there was a woman at the front desk who wanted to sign up for a bidding number but didn’t have the necessary identification, so […]
BEHIND THE BLOCK: Vintage advertising is worth more than you may think
One of my favorite genres of merchandise to offer at auction is vintage advertising. Nothing better illustrates the zeitgeist of bygone eras than the ballyhoo used to captivate consumers. Unfortunately, too much vintage advertising gets condemned to landfills and scrapyards. Indeed, many who discover it in estates they’ve inherited disregard its market potential. Perhaps the […]
BEHIND THE BLOCK: Is Billy Beer valuable? It wasn’t even drinkable
When I uncover Billy Beer in an estate, I find it as it is pictured above: unbroken, unopened, and unconsumed. I laugh and imagine a scene in which a fading man, lying in his deathbed and gripping his wife’s hand, hoarsely delivers his final instructions, among which include, “Remember, if you need more money, you […]
