For oldtimers, newcomers and all those who left Berks County borders to travel the world, serve Uncle Sam or take a job, only to return and settle back down, the answer to “why Berks?” is a no-brainer: this place delivers tangible access to foods and drinks that are tasty, art that inspires and daytrips that fulfill a natural need for historical grounding.
For Foodies
Face it: Berks County is Food Country. Here are three destinations to not miss.
Dutch-Maid Bakery
For an old-fashioned bakery with all kinds of sugary delights, Dutch-Maid continues its tried-and-true traditions, making coconut cakes and wedding cakes, apple fritters, donut holes and classic “baby cookies.” The latter are shaped like people; they’re never overly sweet, are perfectly baked (they never fall apart when you bite off a piece) and are thicker than many other bakery versions of this goody, which appeals to young and old alike. Dutch-Maid’s signature donuts, doughy and satisfying, are called “cherry tops” with a delectable white vanilla frosting. Just one warning: they sell out fast!
And what about those amazing Lenten fastnachts? Ash Wednesday is March 2 this year, which means everyone will crave fastnachts starting in February to kick off the prelude to Easter. Dutch-Maid uses the same delicious recipe every year, with just the right time in the oven for these yummily browned treats.
4925 Kutztown Rd., Temple & Boscov's Fairgrounds Farmers Market, Reading
610.929.9924
FB @dutchmaidbakery
New York Bagelry
Fast and furious. Working at a New York City pace and churning out the most authentic bagels in a 100-plus-mile radius, New York Bagelry delivers utterly fresh, well-textured, flavorful bagels and cream cheeses — starting early in the morning and well into the afternoons. They’ve got all the classics you’d find in the “bagel states” (like New Jersey and New York) — plain, sesame, poppyseed, egg, cinnamon-raisin, pumpernickel and an over-the-top “everything” bagel, where the bottom half is just as tasty and onion-garlicky as the top. And they creatively throw in holiday specialties, so expect the unexpected! The egg and bacon breakfast sandwich on any bagel with coffee (from regular to blueberry) is a hearty, popular choice. For two distinctly amazing flavor combos, try the Black Russian with olive cream cheese (savory green olives thickly chopped in) and the Sun-Dried Tomato bagel topped with vegetable cream cheese (made with celery, peppers, onions and carrots) or their NY-deli-style egg salad.
2720 Penn Avenue, West Lawn 610.678.6420
150 Kenhorst Plaza, Shillington 610.775.8423
FB @NewYorkBagelry
The Windsor Inn at Shillington
Writer-photographer Anthony Maize loves fine wine and dining, and once he found The Windsor Inn, he became a regular patron. “The first thing I love about the Windsor is that it is very cozy,” says Maize. “The architecture, with its tall windows and dark woodwork, dates from an era when builders were craftsmen who took pride in their work.” And the food, he says, is outstanding. “My favorite dishes are Chicken Parmesan, the handmade burgers, and a dish called Pappardelle diAngelo which includes sirloin tips in a sauce that makes you never want to leave. As for the Chicken Parm, the chicken breast is plump and perfectly cooked through, but still moist. The sauce is freshly made on site and deliciously seasoned. Perhaps the best thing about this dish is the pasta, also made on site.” Salad ingredients are hand-picked by owner-chef Gina Hurwitz, whose lively dressings include a tomato gorgonzola vinaigrette where “the tang of the vinaigrette and gorgonzola is moderated by just a hint of sweetness.”
Gloria Flynn, another Windsor fan, believes, “It’s all in the way the chef seasons the food. I had swordfish in a light white wine broth with capers. Mine came with a side of roasted vegetables. Both were out of this world. Again, it’s the tasty blend of seasoning. I’ve had roasted vegetables many times before, and this was just different enough to taste special. I like that we are never rushed there, so that we can enjoy our lengthy conversation while eating delectable food.”
38 W. Lancaster Avenue, Shillington 610.777.6667
FB @thewindsorinn
For History Buffs
A rich history manifests itself in too many directions to count. The bucket list for lovers of history includes everything that’s obvious — Berks History Center Museum and Henry Janssen Library in Reading and the Conrad Weiser Homestead in Womelsdorf — and not-so-obvious — the fertile fields in Oley’s lush valley, named by the Lenni Lenape. Here are more ways to indulge in the past.
The John Updike Childhood Home
“The John Updike Childhood Home preserves the history and tells the story of John Updike’s relationship with Shillington,” says Maria Lester, Ph.D. She’s the Director of Education for this newly opened (2021) historical landmark and a scholar with whom the famous author corresponded. “There is something for everyone in the house,” says Lester. “There are treasures that range in topic from his fame to his high school days to family and literary pieces.” As you walk through the house, you can imagine him hiding beneath the dining room table as a boy and immediately sense the author’s life as a boy growing up in Berks.
117 Philadelphia Avenue, Shillington
309.556.3352 | johnupdikechildhoodhome.com
Reading Area Firefighters Museum
Kyle Vonderlinden, a probation firefighter at Amity Fire Company, recently visited the Firefighters Museum, reflecting, “It’s an astonishing place to explore.” Richard Boyer, a volunteer there, explained to him: “This building, where this Museum is located, was the home of the Liberty Fire Co. Number 5, and the first fire company station was built on this plot of land in 1854.” Housed within the Museum is the stunning John Wanamaker-designed “best room.”
“They have some magnificent pieces from the firefighters’ past,” says Vonderlinden, “such as the first-ever steam engine that was made and put into service. They also have this cool alarm box that they used back in the day, which alerted the fire company that there was a fire.” Says Boyer, “The alarm box was run by wet cell batteries, and wires ran throughout the cities.” This alarm box sent out a code to tell what street of the city was on fire.”
501 S. 5th St., Reading
484.525.0590
readingareafirefightersmuseum.com
A Path Less Traveled
History Professor John Pankratz of Albright College finds pleasure in historical canal walks with his wife, artist Cocol Bernal. He explains, “Berks County, as did many American communities in the early 19th century, pursued infrastructure projects — ‘internal improvements’ they were called — designed to make landscapes and water courses just a bit more useable, to facilitate the movement of crops and coal to market, to create from one-way rivers a two-way route. The best local examples of these improvements are the series of dams, canals and locks that tame and graduate the flow as the Tulpehocken and Schuylkill pour downstream through Reading and on to Philadelphia.”
He adds, “Throughout this long and lingering pandemic, and particularly during its early lockdown phase, as Cocol and I sought the safety and reassurance of fresh air, we didn’t seek to scale nearby pinnacles but instead gravitated to the nearly level surfaces of former towpaths along the Union Canal Trail. Easily walkable in segments or in one large gulp, as variable in different seasons and lights as the façade of Rouen Cathedral, what’s left of the Canal persists as ruins, incongruous blocks of a giant’s granite Lego set, or else has settled back into overgrowth along the river banks. There’s a lesson in that decay. Even granite doesn’t last forever, at least not as usable transportation technology. For those not already humbled by the pandemic itself, a walk along the former canal cultivates a seemly humility in the face of Nature’s law of averages.”
Union Canal Towpath Trail
co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Parks/Pages/default.aspx
For Art Enthusiasts
Whether you love artwork in rarified air or on the kitchen wall, keep these locales in mind.
Studio B Art Gallery
Studio B, located in historic Boyertown, is the home of the Arts and Activities Alliance, a committee of Building a Better Boyertown. Community Relations Director Jane Stahl explains, “Folks tell us that they feel welcome and supported at Studio B: the little gallery that does! We are eager to take opportunities to promote our artist members however we can — through social media, on-the-road exhibits, our members’ pages on our website, Facebook LIVE recordings, podcast episodes and award ceremonies that introduce them, their work, passions and studio spaces to the general community. We believe that when folks get to know one another, they support one another. And we are eager to support one another’s art and self-expression. We want our artists to feel special and appreciated from the moment they walk in our door. We want them to feel the love!”
Author John Yamrus is one of many fans: “Every time I’m at Studio B, I’m blown away not only by the fabulous art, but also by the welcoming environment Jane and Susan Biebuyck have made. As for the art... Studio B shows impeccable taste in what they hang and show, and having a piece of art in your home, art that speaks to you and that you love, art that changes and grows along with you — it just adds so much to your life and your world. You can’t put a price tag on something like that!”
39A E. Philadelphia Avenue Boyertown | studiobbb.org
Art Plus Gallery
A nonprofit artists cooperative since 1999, Arts Plus Gallery is surrounded (up and down the street, a great place to stroll) by dozens of shops and restaurants, craft beer makers and coffeeshops, and this small but powerful space continues to surprise and delight. Here is a place to enjoy and purchase collectible works by dedicated artists such as Russell Slocum and Helen Reinhold.
604 Penn Avenue | West Reading
610.375.9122 | artplusgallerypa.com
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts
In 2005, this compelling arts center showed the community what could become of a former goggles-making factory. Because it is such a dynamic venue, GoggleWorks deserves several trips a year on the part of anyone who adores art. Showcasing just one studio is proof positive. Kachina Leigh Studio 313 is an adventurous and eloquent place to visit, as this artist explores fiber and found objects in profound ways. According to Leigh, “Having a studio at the GoggleWorks was a goal for years. I co-owned a small shop in Reading years ago and thought that the downtime would provide an opportunity for me to do some of my own work. I quickly learned that there is never downtime with your own business. From there, I had a home studio, which was lovely; however, I missed interacting with people and really hated having to travel to show my work. The GoggleWorks is the perfect mix of private and public.” She explains: “When I need to focus, I pull my door shut. However, most times and with most of the artists, the door is open, and I have such interesting conversations with people… My space very much reflects my aesthetic, with a mix of vintage clothing and fabrics, along with found objects and curios. Mixed in are my pieces, both wearable works that reflect my interest in shibori and other fiber techniques along with my collage, encaustic and sculptural work.”
Kachina Leigh - GoggleWorks Center for the Arts | goggleworks.org
