Weekly pick: Alpaca festival

Posted on May 10, 2012 in Festivals

KYLE DUNLAP, For York Weekend

The benefits of taking the whole family out to an alpaca show are no secret, according to Scott Johnston, coordinator for the 2012 Pennsylvania Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association Breeders Showcase.

“Seeing the alpacas, seeing what is made from their fiber, show ring judging and much, much more make the PAOBA Breeders Showcase a great event for all ages,” he says.

The family-friendly show will be open to the public Saturday and Sunday in the Toyota Arena at the York Expo Center. This year’s show will incorporate special events including the alpaca-to-shawl competition and a Pennsylvania alpaca princess competition.

Spectators of all ages at the Breeders Showcase will be able to meet and greet alpacas. (credit: PAOBA)

“The event will showcase not only the alpacas themselves but also what can be made from their fur,” Johnston says. “The kids can enjoy crafts such as finger puppets, felted items, flowers and stuffed animals while their parents can browse the selection of alpaca fiber socks, sweaters” and other items.

Watch and learn: “We just have a great time and get to know new people and be reacquainted with old friends and fellow breeders,” says Beth Lutz, coordinator of the alpaca-to-shawl demonstration and auction. She describes the demonstration as being similar to the sheep-to-shawl competition at the Pennsylvania Farm Show — but even better.

“Show-goers get an up-close and personal view of the shawl competition at the PAOBA event,” Lutz says. “Event-goers at the farm show can only watch from the stands, but our contest allows people to stand right beside the action.”

The alpaca-to-shawl contest will involve three teams of four to five members making a complete shawl from alpaca fiber in roughly three to three and a half hours. The shawls are then auctioned off with most of the proceeds going toward the association’s scholarship program.

“People just stop and watch and absolutely love it and love being a part of it,” Lutz says.

In style: The show also will feature a unique event for humans, the Pennsylvania alpaca princess competition. The girls and young women involved are working toward winning college scholarships. The public will be able to vote for their favorite alpaca princess, with the competition beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Breeders Showcase will feature between 400 and 500 alpacas from more than 175 farms. The association hopes to educate the public about the benefits of alpacas and alpaca fiber.

“Right now, alpaca fur is featured in high fashion in cities like Paris, Milan and Tokyo,” says Darwin Kell, organizer of the fashion show and alpaca princess competition. “It is our hopes to make the fur more available to the public.”

The group’s goals made a fashion show a natural fit for the showcase.

“This is the reasoning behind the fashion show,” Kell says. “We will feature the contestants from the alpaca princess competition in the show.”

Debby Wise, owner of Fashion and Design Co. International, is spearheading the fashion show.

Owners describe alpaca behavior as similar to cats -- friendly, but independent. (credit: PAOBA)

“Wise has traveled all over the country,” Kell says, “so we are lucky to have such a celebrity helping us out.”

Alpaca attitude: Association members describe the alpacas themselves as much like cats.

“Alpacas are more like cats than dogs,” Johnston says. “Each has a unique personality. I have some that will let me touch them and some who are always very timid, but people will have ample opportunity to touch many alpacas at the show.”

Lutz agreed, saying, “They all have different personalities, but overall, I find them easy, friendly, and not very difficult to take care of. I can take care of 20 alpacas in the amount of time it takes me to take care of my two horses.”

Kell described his alpacas as “very inquisitive, gentle, and laid back.”

He points out one common fear that is generally unfounded.

“Most people are afraid of alpacas because they think they’ll spit on them,” he says. “I’ve been in this business for over 11 years and have only been spit on four times, so I can assure people they don’t have much to worry about.”

As for the showcase itself, Kell says he hopes to see visitors taking advantage of the chance to pick up last-minute Mother’s Day gifts.

“This is just an overall great event,” Kell says. “We hope to have a great turnout in order to inform more people about the benefits of alpacas. It’s also a great way to treat your mother to a more memorable Mother’s Day gift then just flowers and a card.”

“Alpacas are truly wonderful animals,” Kell adds. “I take them to schools and nursing homes and everyone loves them. Hopefully we can convince more people to invest their resources into these creatures.”

Going to the show

The 2012 Pennsylvania Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association Breeders Showcase is open to the public starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Toyota Arena at the York Expo Center, 334 Carlisle Ave., West Manchester Township. Events last all day.

Admission and parking are free.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit the organization’s website at www.paoba.org.

— Reach Kyle Dunlap at 854-1575 or news@yorkdispatch.com.

Extras: Mother’s Day, concerts, Fat Freddy

Posted on May 10, 2012 in Festivals, Misc., Music & Dance, Outdoors, Theater

The weekly York Weekend roundup of openings, extras and weekend sports:

Rockers Switchfoot, famous for songs including “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move,” will give a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, 1031 Edgecomb Ave. on the Penn State York campus. The Rocket Summer will open the show. Read the York Weekend interview with The Rocket Summer here. Tickets: $36. Information: (717) 505-8900 or pullocenter.yk.psu.edu.

Murder, mystery and comedy merge in Fat Freddy’s Fried Chicken Funeral at 6 p.m. Friday, May 11, at the York City Ice Arena, 941 Vander Ave. The interactive murder mystery, written by Calvin Weary and featuring some actors from the York-based movie Dead Queens, will benefit the Urban Impact Community Fund’s scholarship fund for local students. The night includes dinner, beer and wine, and the mystery show. Read a York Dispatch feature on the show here. Tickets: $35. Information: (717) 845-4046 or www.uicfund.org.

Addie Cannizzaro, left, as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie and Niki Swatski as Truvy Jones rehearse a scene for the York Little Theatre production of "Steel Magnolias." (credit: Scott Miller)

The comedic drama Steel Magnolias comes to the stage for two weeks at the York Little Theatre, 27 S. Belmont St., Spring Garden Township. The lives of six women take shape in a small-town southern beauty shop at 7:30 p.m. May 11-12 and 17-19 and at 3 p.m. May 13 and 20. Tickets: $10-$23. Information: (717) 854-5715 or www.ylt.org.

William Shakespeare’s comedic look at the joys of finding a wife will take the stage once more when OrangeMite Studios presents The Taming of the Shrew at 7 p.m. May 11 and 12 and 2 p.m. May 12 and 13 in The Barn at Tall Fir Acres, 2035 Tall Fir Drive, Dover Township. Dinner is available at 6 p.m. May 11. Tickets: $10 show-only, $20 with dinner. Information: (717) 814-1151 or www.orangemite.com.

The 13th annual York Young Professionals Home Tour will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 11, in the Springdale and Pine and Market areas of York City. The tour begins and ends at the Historical Society Museum, 250 E. Market St., where participants can pick up their maps and bus schedules. A reception with live music and Liquid Hero beer will follow from 8 to 10 p.m. at the museum. Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Information: www.yorkyp.org.

The three local teens behind the classic and acoustic rock band Soul R System will give a concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the Eichelberger Performing Arts Center, 195 Stock St., Hanover. Check them out in the embedded video at right; visit their website for more. Tickets: $5. Information: (717) 637-7086 or www.theeich.org.

West Virginian bluegrass group the Paul Adkins Band will perform in the Seven Mountains Bluegrass Association concert series at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the Goodwill Fire Co. hall, 2318 S. Queen St., York Township. Doors and kitchen open at 5 p.m.; the family-friendly show is smoke- and alcohol-free. Admission: $16 for adults, free for children under 12. Information: (717) 395-7128, (717) 350-4791 or www.sevenmountainsbluegrass.org.

The 37th annual Olde York Street Fair fills downtown York City on Sunday, May 13, with an array of art, craft and food stands, strolling performers, children’s activities and other fun events from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Admission is free. Market Street will be closed to vehicles from Newberry to Pine, and George Street will be blocked off between King and Philadelphia. Information: (717) 854-1587 or yorkcity.org.

Spend time with mom during the Mother’s Day Nature Walk from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 13, at Nixon County Park, 5922 Nixon Drive, Springfield Township. The free hike through the woods will include a discussion of how animals take care of their young. Information: (717) 428-1961 or www.yorkcountyparks.org.

Weekend Sports

The Central Baseball League season starts Saturday, May 12, with four 1:30 p.m. games — Glen Rock at Shiloh, Mount Wolf at Stoverstown, Pleasureville at Manchester and Jefferson at Dover.

The York-Adams League Track and Field Championships will be held Friday, May 11, at Dallastown High School, with action set to start at 3:30 p.m.

Williams Grove Speedway will play host to a two-day World of Outlaws sprint-car program this weekend. Action starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12.

New movies: Dark Shadows

Posted on May 9, 2012 in Movies & TV

Opening in York County on Friday, May 11:

Dark Shadows at Queensgate Stadium 13, R/C Theatres Hanover and Regal West Manchester 13. (Midnight showings start Thursday night at all locations.) Rated PG-13 for comic horror violence, sexual content, some drug use, language and smoking. Running time: 113 minutes.

For complete movie showtimes in York County, visit the following sites:

• Glen Theatre
• Haar’s Drive-In
• Queensgate Stadium 13
• R/C Theatres Hanover
• Regal West Manchester
• South York Plaza Cinema
• West Shore Theatre

On sale: Microbrew Fest, Busytown, Luke Bryan

Posted on May 8, 2012 in Featured, Festivals, Music & Dance, Theater, Tickets

Tickets going on sale this week for events in York County include:

Tickets for the York County Heritage Trust’s 15th annual Microbrew Festival, which features two dozen participating breweries, dinner, live music and more, went on sale Tuesday, May 8. Prices are $15-$60. The festival runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at the Agricultural & Industrial Museum. Attendees must be 21 or older. For tickets, stop in at 250 E. Market St., call (717) 848-1587 or visit the trust website.

Tickets for Richard Scarry’s Busytown: Busytown Busy, a kid-friendly musical theater production of the classic children’s books and television series, will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 11. Prices are $20-$36. The show will be offered at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center. For tickets, call (717) 505-8900 or visit the Pullo website.

Tickets for the York Fair concert featuring country music star Luke Bryan and special guest Easton Corbin will go on sale at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 12. Prices are $34-$39. The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the grandstand on the fairgrounds. Fair admission is included with concert ticket purchase. For tickets, stop by the box office at 334 Carlisle Ave., call (717) 848-2033 or visit the fair website.

Visiting San Antonio: A photo odyssey

Posted on May 8, 2012 in Featured, Travel

The Alamo at night in San Antonio, Texas. (credit: Randy Flaum, The York Dispatch)

York Dispatch visuals editor Randy Flaum recently took a trip to San Antonio, Texas.

San Antonio, currently home to more than one million Americans, was founded by Spanish explorers in the New World about 300 years ago. The mission that would eventually become famous as the Alamo first opened there in 1718. In the years since the mid-1960s, San Antonio has become famous for another tourist attraction: the Riverwalk along the San Antonio River.

Check out highlights from Randy’s trip in the San Antonio travel album, which features scenes from the Alamo, the Riverwalk, San Antonio’s Historic Market Square, the Pearl Brewery Market, Sunset Station and other sights.

To learn more about San Antonio or plan a trip, visit the city’s convention and visitors bureau website.

The Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas. (credit: Randy Flaum, The York Dispatch)

A chat with The Rocket Summer

Posted on May 7, 2012 in Interviews, Music & Dance

Bryce Avary, the man behind The Rocket Summer, will open for Switchfoot on Thursday, May 10, at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center. (credit: Bradstreet Entertainment)

Bryce Avary, aka The Rocket Summer, will open for Switchfoot in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, 1031 Edgecomb Ave. on the Penn State York campus in Spring Garden Township. Tickets are $36. To get tickets, call (717) 505-8900 or visit the Pullo Center website.

York Weekend entertainment editor Mel Barber interviewed Avary via email about the inspirational messages in his music and his upcoming show in York. Read the feature story and hear Avary’s music below:

—

At 29, alt-pop rocker Bryce Avary has more than a decade of professional musical experience and five studio albums under his belt. Going by the name The Rocket Summer, he finds ways to spread optimism and inspiration to thousands of fans — including his more than 35,000 Twitter followers.

But Avary is quick to turn the acclaim around and praise his own sources of inspiration: his fans and his faith.

“My relationship with my fans has always been so important to me and so vital to the life of The Rocket Summer,” he writes in an email interview while on the road between shows in Alabama and Missouri. “Through the highs the fans have always been there, and through the lows the fans have always been the ones carrying this. I feel like the most blessed guy in the world to have the fans that this thing has.”

The sense of optimism and hope is palpable in songs like “Walls,” off The Rocket Summer’s 2010 album, Of Men and Angels, in which the singer empathizes with listeners’ struggles and assures them they are not alone.

“I certainly aim to be optimistic, but life throws its curve balls and can sucker punch me just like the next guy. My faith and relationship with God is the core of any of my hope,” Avary writes. “Sometimes writing hopeful songs is therapeutic throughout the garbage. I see music as the friend that can convince you not to jump, and I think about that when I write.”

It’s personal: The personal connection is something Avary prizes in all aspects of his music, from the production to the instrumentation to the lyricism. Though he tours with a band for live shows, his albums are all Avary: every vocal is his, every instrument is in his hands. He draws his music from his life, and he breaks down walls wherever he can, even when it means leaving the traditional music industry to return to an indie model.

“I felt it was time to tear down the corporate barrier between my music and my fans,” he writes of the decision to leave the Island Def Jam label and produce his fifth album independently. “It’s a dream come true, owning my own label, Aviate Records. For me, it was an easy decision to walk away from any kind of corporate handcuffs and know that I could put out my music whenever and however I want.”

The new album, Life Will Write the Words, comes out June 5. But visitors to The Rocket Summer website can already get sneak peeks, including a free song download. It’s not Avary’s first venture in that arena; his acoustic live album, Bryce Avary, His Instruments and Your Voices, released a year ago, is still available as a free download on the site.

“Releasing the live acoustic record was a way to thank fans for their support over the years,” he writes.

On tour: And Rocket Summer fans at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center show will be able to hear at least a few songs off the new album weeks before it hits iTunes and mainstream ears.

“The songs I’m most excited about playing right now are the new ones that we are slowly debuting live and are on the new record,” Avary writes. The fan feedback at concerts is one of the things he says he loves most about touring.

“The best things are hearing the songs come alive and hearing the crowd react to them,” he writes. “It’s amazing to hear the stories that the fans have about how powerful music is. I always see that as God working through music.”

Avary expects that music will continue working through him, as well; the primarily self-taught instrumentalist enjoys making music through whatever speaks to him, whether that’s a guitar or a banjo or even a typewriter.

“I hope I don’t ever stop,” he writes. “I’d love to pick up some less-traditional-to-the-standard-rock-band-outfit instruments such as cello, but right now I think I have enough on my plate.”

On Thursday night at the Pullo Center, the crowd will taste what new delights he’s serving up. It’s a meal that should fill fans with hope.

— Reach entertainment editor Mel Barber at 854-1575, ext. 458, or mbarber@yorkdispatch.com, or follow @yorkweekend on Twitter.