Because this first slue of ways went viral.
Literally.
I was totally floored by the excitement over round 1 of things you know if you grew up in Reading/around Berks County parts, so round two had to come and shine some light on the things I missed before! Same as first time…obviously, if you were born in Reading/grew up there/live there now, you are aware of that fact. But these little gems? This is how you really know.
background aerial shot c/o citywolfservices.com.
1. Clover Farms Icy Tea is a staple in your fridge. Which, as one of you so kindly pointed out, is essentially liquid crack. It’s just this completely addicting iced tea with I-don’t-even-know-what in it. Lies. I do. There’s sugar in it. And it’s so so delish.
2. One of the best date night hotspots downtown is ViVA Bistro & Tapas Lounge. But I appreciate it so much more now that I can order a yummy drink with my Mediterranean cuisine.
3. Reading is Pretzel City, so it’s only fitting that Auntie Anne’s originated nearby. Those greasy, buttery twists of yum. From the originals to cinnamon sugar bites, they’re such a guilty pleasure (that you’re never really guilty over) for strolling through the mall.
4. Was I the only kid who occasionally went to Walmart super late at night back in the day? There’s a giant Walmart Supercenter, and I guess high school me thought it was fun to chill there and sift through dollar movies with my guy friends. #weirdo
5. If you grew up in Reading and never went to Schell’s, did you really grow up in Reading?? Schell’s is the best place to hang out with friends in summer. From mini gold to cheese cubes and soft serve, it’s the catch 22.
6. The Muhlenberg Community Library’s Summer Reading Program from the late-90’s was where. it. was. at. You read books, wrote them down on these little tickets, then got to redeem your tickets for token machine prizes with Grandma Phyllis. Please tell me you Muhlenberg kiddos remember this…
7. You know a ton of folks who went to Kutztown University. And you know you’re in the Kutztown area once painted bears start popping up on every block. Besides that fact that the main street is GORGEOUS to walk down.
8. You hung out in the Fairgrounds Mall until all the good stores left (RIP Claire’s Boutique).
9. The best place to watch movies for cheap was the Dollar Theatre in Laureldale…until it closed down. Pretty sure I hadn’t seen a movie in a normal cinema until age twelve. Movies didn’t come out on time and only about three played at any given time there, but nothing really beats a big-screen flick for just a few bucks.
10. Herr’s potato chips and Middleswarth barbecue chips. Both from the area-ish, both unbeatable. You could cut chips as much as you want, but you can never cut out Middlesworth.
11. For at least one year, you were in the Temple Halloween Parade.
12. And if you weren’t in the parade, you lined your plastic chairs up a week early for the parade, then you tied them to each other and any telephone pole in site. You battled it out for best viewing space on Kutztown Road.
13. When you were a kid, you traveled all over the county for the best playgrounds. Or maybe that was just me with my fam, since we were playground *fiends* back in the day.
14. You know Lebanon Bologna isn’t from Lebanon. It’s from those gloriously fabulous folks called the Pennsylvania Dutch.
15. You remember the day The Fairgrounds Cinema Center opened up and it. was. great. Then you ended up knowing a handful of people who worked there.
16. And when Target opened up on 5th St. Highway…
17. Again with the whole Pretzel City thing, you’re a major fan of Unique Pretzels. And you probably got them or gave them in some gift basket set at some point or another.
18. Ozzie’s took over the old roller rink in Leesport, but you not-so-secretly love it. Mini golf, go-karts, skating, rock climbing and ropes, bumper boats, an arcade…it’s a big kid’s dream.
19. Alright Muhlenberg people…MARGHERITA PIZZA. It was the go-to for any pizza party, and Mario is the bomb dot com.
What’re some hidden gems within your own hometown?
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Now J and I are off to a lil’ vacay. Happy HUMP.
