20 Questions With Some of Berks' Finest Men

We asked and they answered! See what the men of Berks County rate as their best of the best.

1. After a long day at the office, I head to winedown café & wine bar to unwind. My order of choice: Grey Goose, Rocks, No Fruit.  -  Tom Sheehan, tomsheehan worldwide

2. When I want to surprise my wife with a night out on the town, I make reservations at Canal Street Pub and Restaurant.  I highly recommend the Black and White Sesame Tuna.  – Adrian Grieve, American Red Cross

3. A ride up Skyline Drive past the Pagoda and getting lost in the Oley countryside is my favorite place in Berks to go for a bike ride. If I have the kids with me, we then cycle out Old Wyomissing Road. – Tim Keeler, ProAsys

4. The best local trail to run is Gring’s Mill. So far, I’ve completed a 5K & 10K. – Marshall Pickard, Pickard Advertising & Design

5. When I want to look my best, I shop locally at Bills Khakis. I’ve got my eye on a pair of their Island Twill Parker Shorts in Mango. Would you rock a bow tie? Yes. Bills fashions the kind of high quality wear their American Heritage deserves, and I'm proud to support them in Reading. I'd totally rock a bow tie! They're the best accessory to add a little fun to your formal wear. I prefer to accessorize in colors that pop with print; ones that complement rather than match. – Collin Oswald, Sorrelli

6. There’s nothing like a day out on the course. When you want to hit the links, which course is your go-to? Private: Ledge Rock Golf Club Public: Golden Oaks Golf Club. – Ted Kolva, Body Zone Sports & Wellness Complex

7. As a local musician, I love to sit back and listen to some great classical music at the WCR Center for the Arts (Woman's Club of Reading). And I love to play at the Miller Center because acoustics are perfect without the need for much or any sound reinforcement. – Chris Heslop, Hesse's Hot 3

8. Looking for some culture in Berks? I head to GoggleWorks Center for the Arts to check out the galleries, the Yocum Institute to see the latest exhibitions, & the Reading Public Museum for the impressive collections to see great local art. “When thinking of  destinations or places to go in Berks County to see local art, the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts and the Yocum Institute immediately come to mind. Although they are on two different scales in terms of facilities and programs, they are abundant in local art in terms of painting, sculpture and drawings. The galleries of the GoggleWorks are always displaying Berks County talent as does the Yocum Institute. Their schedules of exhibitions and showings is phenomenal for our area. The quality of the work that they display is first class. But the real treasure house for both local and international art is our own Reading Public Museum. This cultural institution is a museum, an art gallery, a planetarium and an arboretum, on 25 compact acres! The Museum is our own mini-Smithsonian! We have over 26 collections under the umbrella of "the collection.” It has world class fine art, outstanding permanent exhibits of cultural artifacts and well planned and topical traveling exhibits. The showing of its permanent collection for this year's centennial celebration is eye-opening. The concerts, lectures and special exhibitions are just grand events for community socialization,” explains Olsen.– Lee Olsen, Olsen Design Group Architects 

9. Guys like a little pampering, too! American Male Salon on Route 10 is the perfect spot to be pampered, but lets me still feel like a guy. The best part is the: the scalp massage, the beer they serve, or the price.“The girls are great, too, and they have a nice selection of microbrews,” added Wanyo. – Charlie Wanyo, Penske

10. Playing pool with the gang is perfect at Canal Street. Be sure to order something off of their killer rotating draft list to enjoy while you play. – Ian Gross, Carpenter Technology

11. My favorite restaurant to impress out of town guests is Papillon Brasserie in West Reading. Besides the delicious food, you can’t beat the cuisine and attentive waitstaff.  He also says, “I like to go to Papillon just before closing and have dinner at the ‘kitchen table’ bar that overlooks the kitchen.”– John Weidenhammer, Weidenhammer

12. For all you beer connoisseurs out there…. the beer choices can’t be beat at Paradise by the Slice in Wernersville. Make sure you order the Green Flash Brewing Company Palate Wrecker. If you like Lagunitas IPA, you’ll like this. –Wayne Gehris, CPA, Herbein + Company, Inc. and Financial Outsourcing Solutions, LLC                                       

13. A special spot in Berks to celebrate an anniversary is The Reading Public Museum, including a walk on the grounds; then having a nice lunch out together. Three tips to remember to impress your lady is tell her how much you love her, hold her hand, give her kisses, and also a backrub, after a wonderful dinner out at one of Greater Reading’s excellent restaurants, going home and having a bottle of champagne with strawberries and blueberries listening to classic rock and having fun. And a bonus: Playing with the three dogs. – Jon Scott, Greater Reading Economic Partnership

14. There’s nothing like watching the game(s) at local sports bars with friends and family. Best spot in my opinion is Trooper Thorn’s in Reading, especially to watch soccer. – Matt Steber, Hollywood Cleaners

• Rank in order of preference:
• 3 Football
• 2 Baseball
• 6 Basketball
• 1 Soccer
• 4 Golf
• 5 Hockey
• 7 Racing

15. Sometimes a good cigar is the best way to cap off the end of a day. Cigars on the Avenue in Sinking Spring has an amazing selection. My top pick is Arturo Fuente Double Chateau with the Natural Wrapper. – Dave Meas, Hair On The Avenue

16. I try to stay in shape, and love the variety Colonial Fitness provides. My work out always includes a  good 30-45 min cardio workout on the elliptical machine. – Rick Kleckner, New Castle Lawn & Landscape

17. For a quick lunch in Reading, my go-to is GoggleWorks Cafe. For a business meeting though, I like to choose Judy’s on Cherry. – Phil Walz, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts

18. Wings are my guilty pleasure. And my favorite place to get them is The Pike Cafe. Best flavor is Garlic, no question. – Jeff Woytovich, Woytovich Consulting

19. My favorite movie spot to see a good flick is R/C Reading Movies 11 & IMAX. Favorite movie genre: action, horror, comedy, drama. – Michael Rivera, Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry

20. They say clothes can make the man. But the fit may be what counts. For the perfect tailored look, go to Supreme Cleaners and ask for Victor Castillo. You’ll love how they tailor your suits. – Jon Zeigler, ParenteBeard L

Favorite bar

1. Brad Weisman, Coldwell Banker Select Professionals – The Railroad House

2. Adam Kenderdine, Benchwarmer’s Coffee – Captain’s Cove in the summer

1. Zane Collings, Sovereign Center & Reading Royals– The Peanut Bar

1. Lenin Agudo, City of Reading – Sofrito Gastro Pub

Favorite Must-See TV

1. Matt Forrer, Burkey Construction – Downton Abbey on PBS & Seinfeld reruns

2. Keith Mooney, attorney at Barley Snyder – The Following on FOX

3. Mike Jupina, St. Joseph Regional Health Network - Pardon The Interruption on ESPN

4. Anthony Pignetti, Reading Fightin Phils – Seinfeld reruns.

What was the best concert you ever attended?

1. Michael R. Kuhn, Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc. – Barenaked Ladies  

2. Francis G. Acosta, Reading City Council President - Puerto Rico’s Symphony with Placido Domingo.  It was an amazing demonstration of Puerto Rican classical music mixed with a superb performance by Placido Domingo.  Best word to describe the concert… MAGNIFICENT!

3. Rob Wolf, Launch DM - Phish - at The Mothership in Hampton, VA - March 6, 2009. Phish ended their five-year hiatus that night!

4. Jim Giuffrida, Railroad House - The Temptations at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center in 2011.

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want

1. Nathan Brant, South Mountain YMCA –

• 1. A picture my wife, Kristi, and three my little girls, Annalee, Dahlia and Gwyneth
• 2. A guitar
• 3. And perhaps a satellite phone so I can eventually get off the island . . . If the phone violates the spirit of the question, leave me with a notebook & pen. 

2. Tom Minick, Alvernia University

• I’d spare my family from this hardship and would take

• a lighter

• a knife

• my dog, Jeter.

3. Patrick J. Dolan, AIA, LEED AP Dolan Construction, Inc.

• I would probably ask for qualifications to the question. Where am I stranded? Is it a nice warm South Pacific island with sandy beaches and plenty of food and water source on the island, and maybe a doctor? If so, I would answer that I’ll take my wife Kim, and kids Mairéad and Liam (convenient that we are a family of four for this question!).But ok, if I could have only three things I would have to ask for the obvious, means to survival and a way off (again, unless it’s in the South Pacific!). I’d ask for

• water

• a satellite phone (fully charged)

• and a big boat!

• 4. Craig Poole, Crowne Plaza (General Manager)
• 1. My wife of 42 years, Melissa
• 2.  Bible
• 3. No trespassing sign