America’s Oldest Inland City

Much of the east coast was ravaged by a blizzard this weekend. By luck, the storm was north, and it turned out to be a brisk but sunny weekend to venture into downtown Lancaster city for the Home Show. First stop however, was Central Market, for a sensory feast of flowers, food, and spices. Central Market is a magnificent building, and the indoor market is a destination year round for local produce, meats, herbs, spices, baked goods and prepared foods. With sophisticated shops and restaurants surrounding the square, it enriches the cultural hub of downtown Lancaster. Across Penn square, the jewel in the crown of the city is the recently rehabilitated Convention Center complex, which incorporates existing historic structures around its new architecture and Marriott hotel. The Suburban Pennsylvania Home Show, held in the convention center, was an excellent opportunity for homeowners (or in my case specifiers) to see many options for roofing, siding, windows, kitchens, pavers, gutters & much more, all under one roof. The vendors were friendly, informative, and many offered discounts or random prizes for attendees. I came away with two great new resources for the tedious task of computer drafting. (click on photo to enlarge)