Best of Lancaster

June 26, 2015

10:31 AM

Photography by Donovan Roberts Witmer

The results are in! Here’s Susquehanna Style’s list of the best of everything in Lancaster as voted by our readers. And, as always, we’ve included a few Style Girl favorites.

Reader Favorites

Best Men’s Clothing Boutique: Filling’s

Since 1929 , the Filling family has been an integral part of Lancaster fashion culture. Sit down to have a chat with Jay Filling, and you’ll understand what sets their award-winning business apart: integrity. “We don’t ever compromise on service and quality,” says Filling. “Ever.”

Filling, who operates the boutique with his wife Mary Beth, is of the third generation of owners. His grandfather Frank Filling began the company in 1929. They were largely known for their tailor-made suits and operated out of a location on Lemon Street for much of their time in business. During those years, they built a loyal base of customers whom they knew by name, just as they do today.

At their current location on Harrisburg Avenue, one can walk in, peruse a selection of high quality products for men and women, and expect friendly, helpful service in a fun environment. For men, you might recognize brand names such as Tommy Bahama, Robert Graham, Samuelson, and Jack Victor. Though, as Filling says, “We hang our hat on product, not on brand.” At Filling’s, the staff searches the market high and low for the best products from a variety of sources. He puts it simply: “Filling's is the brand here.”

Filling’s / 681 Harrisburg Ave., Lancaster / www.fillingsclothing.com / 717-735-9550

Best Charity Event: The Extraordinary Give

Over $9 million. That’s the amount that the Lancaster County Community Foundation (LCCF) helped raise for local non-profit organizations during last year’s Extraordinary

Give event alone. What is it that makes this event so successful?

Tracy Cutler, LCCF’s vice-president of communications and donor cultivation, attributes it to our community’s support of the good being done here in Lancaster.

Unlike other events, The Extraordinary Give benefits multiple local charities. By meeting a few criteria—including serving the residents of Lancaster County and being a registered non-profit—they are considered eligible to be part of the event. “This way, we are able to work 360 degrees around the community,” she says. “It allows people to give to causes that they really care about.”

Another huge factor is timing, says Cutler. Rather than holding the event on Giving Tuesday, which falls after Cyber Monday, The Extraordinary Give is held every year on the Friday before Thanksgiving. “It’s a kickoff to the giving season,” she says. “It puts community giving at the head of the table.”

Originally designed as an online-only event, The Extraordinary Give has turned into a community- wide celebration including countless independently organized events. A new feature last year, The GiveMobile—a box truck that acts as a pop-up donation station—will appear around the community during this year’s event on November 20. And just like the GiveMobile, this good cause is on a roll.

The Extraordinary Give / Lancaster County Commuity Foundation / www.extragive.org

Best Landscaping Company and Best Pest Control Company: Tomlinson Bomberger

It’s summer, which means we’re always outdoors. But doesn’t it seem that while we’re always trying to get outside, pesky insects are constantly trying to get in? Whether you’d like to enjoy the warm weather months with a well-manicured lawn and garden or you need help with pest control, give Tomlinson Bomberger a call. These are just two of the many services they’ve been providing a devoted clientele for years.

In 1981, Clark Tomlinson and Dave Bomberger decided to start a small landscape maintenance company. Over the past three decades, only one element has remained constant in their business: change. “We’ve evolved primarily by request from our customers,” explains Tomlinson, the company's sole owner now that Bomberger has retired. Turf management customers would request landscaping, so they brought in a professional. Hardscape specialists, certified arborists, and pest control experts were all added in the same manner.

With their services, Tomlinson Bomberger puts great emphasis on the customer’s understanding of its importance. In recent years, they’ve had a presence on social media and a frequently updated blog, allowing locals to learn about common problems and interact with experts.

Now, the company’s team is as expansive as their offerings. “I’ve been blessed to grow to this size, with nearly one hundered coworkers, as we call them, not employees,” says Tomlinson. It’s clear that this is not only a well-rounded business; it’s a family.

Tomlinson Bomberger / 3055 Yellow Goose Rd., Lancaster / www.tomlinsonbomberger.com / 717-399-1991

Best Coffee Shop: Mean Cup

In 1997 Clark Schenck opened a coffee stand at Central Market with his wife Hilary. Since then, they’ve experienced a substantial expansion, a rebranding, and what can only be described as a cult following, as verified by their win for Best Coffee Shop in Lancaster.

What’s with the name? “It came from our love-hate relationship with customers, particularly [those] in need of caffeine,” says Schenck. Although, from our experiences, the service is really not so mean. Schenck says he’s heard that before. “I guess you didn’t do anything to deserve it,” he quips.

One thing is for sure: they definitely serve up a mean cup of Joe. From Americanos to lattes, Mean Cup has anything you need for an early morning or mid-day perk-up. We love the “Meanie Mocha,” which has the spicy addition of a sweet ghost pepper syrup. Or for something edible with the same kick, try the “Meanie,” a chili oil-infused brownie.

Their Central Market roots helped them make many connections that they still have today. For example, you’ll see products from The Goodie Shop, Rick’s Breads, and Amarynth Gluten Free Bakery.

Mean Cup’s current location is just a few blocks from Franklin & Marshall College in Champion Forge Plaza. “We have one foot in the college and one foot downtown,” says Schenck. We’d say that’s a happy medium for their old and new clientele.

Mean Cup / 398 Harrisburg Ave. #200, Lancaster / www.meancup.com

Best Brunch: Eden Resort & Suites

Move over, bacon and eggs. Step aside, pancakes. When it comes to Eden Resort & Suites’ Champagne Sunday Brunch, they just can’t compete. Sure, you can find these and every other breakfast staple here, but it’s just a small sliver of what’s available.

There are seven food stations at this grand buffet-style spectacle, and whether you’re craving made-to-order omelets from the breakfast station, prime rib from the carving station, or fresh cinnamon rolls from the dessert station, you’ll find something you like. “There is never anyone that does anything but rave about the selection of products,” says Stephen Sikking, managing partner of The Eden Resort.

Sikking’s personal favorite is the pasta station, which allows diners to fully customize their pasta dish, selecting the type of pasta and sauce, then choosing from over twenty toppings before their creation is prepared right in front of their eyes. He also suggests grabbing a glass of champagne, a mimosa, or an Eden Sunrise (a bit of bubbly with cranberry juice), all of which are included in the price of the brunch.

With 500 to 700 patrons seated every weekend, this is a dining event so magnificent that you simply have to see it to believe it. Make your reservation any Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eden Resort & Suites / 222 Eden Rd., Lancaster / www.edenresort.com / 717-569-6444

Staff Picks: Our Favorite Things

Music In the Vineyards

Judy Nissley loved the Hershey Starlight Ballroom, a bygone music venue where locals could dance to the tunes of live bands. She wondered: Wouldn’t it be wonderful to combine that big-band dancing theme with the elements of outdoor music festivals and al fresco dining? So began the very first Music in the Vineyards event.

Thirty-three years later, the series is still going strong. “It has become a go-to kind of place in the summer,” Nissley explains. This year, every Saturday between July 11 and August 22, live, open-air musical events will be held on the grounds of her award-winning winery, Nissley Vineyards. The music ranges from swing to Motown to rock, so you can plan to attend for your favorite genre. If you’re having trouble deciding, you’re not alone. “Some come for the big band, some for variety, and season passholders for them all,” Nissley says.

Here’s how it works: Bring a chair, pack a picnic, and grab a bottle of Nissley wine when you arrive. Then sit back and relax, or get your dance on. Of course, there are many variations of this procedure. Some use the concerts as elaborate entertaining experiences, bringing tables, chairs, china, flowers, and candelabras. “But just as many people come only with a chair and buy food here,” says Nissley. There’s no wrong way to do it, but trust us: do it.

Music In the Vineyards / Nissley Vineyards / 140 Vintage Dr., Bainbridge / www.nissleywine.com / 717-426-3514

Upohar

Walk into Upohar, a cozy ethnic eatery tucked inside the business plazas on Roseville Road, and you’ll be welcomed by a waft of flavorful aromas. Likely, you’ll also be greeted by Srirupa Dasgupta, founder of the business. “Upohar means 'gift',” explains Dasgupta. “We provide unusual, delicious food and employment opportunities for those in need.”

In fact, the menu, which is mainly vegan and vegetarian, is largely composed of the native dishes of Upohar’s employees, many of whom have been refugees. Congolese and Nepali cuisine, along with Dasgupta’s Bengali dishes, appear among the offerings.

Though Upohar originally began as a catering business and still offers those services, our Style staff favorite is their lunch buffet. Every weekday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Upohar opens their doors for you to experience a world of flavor. For just $10, you can sample dishes like African peanut stew, vegetable tagine, and Nepali cabbage salad. Each Saturday, a BYOB dinner buffet is available for a slightly higher price.

Or, if you’ve been inspired by the Upohar mentality of giving back, pre-purchase a “suspended lunch.” This allows you to buy a meal in advance for someone in need to redeem at a future date. All they have to do is walk inside and claim it. And with the delicious smells coaxing passersby, we’re sure you’ll want to do the same.

Upohar / 241 Roseville Rd., Lancaster / www.upoharethniccuisines.com / 717-569-2782

Silent Symphony Wind Sculpture

If your daily commute takes you over the new Thaddeus Stevens Bridge in downtown Lancaster, you’ve likely noticed a collection of new wind sculptures whirling and twirling in the summer breeze. If not, it’s worth a detour to take a few moments to watch.

Lyman Whitaker, a Utah-based artist who specializes in kinetic sculpture, is the creator of this massive grouping entitled Silent Symphony. On each of the forty-two individual components, copper cups are attached to stainless steel arms that allow the structure to interact with the wind. The result is a connection of the viewer to our surroundings here in Lancaster County, says Tracy Beyl, the city’s public art manager. “What they’re doing is based on what’s happening outside, what’s happening in nature,” she explains.

The installation of these kinetic sculptures has been no easy task, according to Beyl. From a tedious artist selection process to fabrication and installation, it’s taken nearly three years for the Office of Public Art to complete the project. But the wait is nearly over. On July 22, from 4 to 5 p.m., residents are invited to attend the work’s official dedication by Mayor Gray.

In Beyl’s opinion, the impact Silent Symphony will have on the Lancaster community is immeasurable. “Every day 30,000 people come over that bridge,” she says. “It makes them smile; it spurs ideas. It could even spur a young person to become an artist.”

Silent Symphony Wind Sculpture Thaddeus Stevens Bridge / City of Lancaster Public Art / www.publicartlancaster.com

Quips Pub

Want to get away? Transport yourself across the pond without leaving Lancaster. For a casual night out with some British flair, the Style staff recommends Quips Pub. Inside this hole-in-the wall tavern, walls filled with English-themed ornaments and curios surround you. “The décor just kind of happened,” says manager Leah Margerum. “I’ll look around and still see stuff I haven’t seen before.” That’s really saying something, considering Margerum has been part of the Quips family for fourteen years.

Besides the quirky UK vibe, Quips is widely known for their English beer offerings. At any given time, the restaurant has beer on sixteen taps, as well as a cask ale that is kept at cellar temperature and hand pumped from the basement. As of recently, this offering has been permanently switched to an English-style ale that is custom brewed by Lancaster’s Wacker Brewing Company and served only at Quips.

But to visit Quips in true Style Girl style, you absolutely have to order Vincent Crummles’ crab cakes. Drizzled with remoulade, these plump, meat-filled delights are named after the Charles Dickens character, as are the other signature items on the menu. Choose from one or two with potatoes and a vegetable as an entrée, opt for the sandwich, or get it on a salad. Order with a Fuller’s ESB and enjoy this brilliant combination.

Quips Pub / 457 New Holland Ave., Lancaster / www.quipspub.com / 717-397-3903

Lititz Springs Park 4th of July Celebration

198 years and still going strong. That's how long the Lititz Springs Park has been celebrating the Fourth of July, making it the second oldest continuous July 4th event in the country. The town began celebrating on the grounds of the park in 1818, the same location where events are held today. Although the theme of the day changes from year to year, many traditions remain true.

Each year since 1843, more than 5,000 candles are lit along the stream during the Grand Illumination to symbolize the freedom that eternally burns in the United States of America. Other traditions include the Queen of Candles pageant, a baby parade, and live music and performances. The renowned fireworks display that cap off the evening are a must on your local bucket list. Celebrations Fireworks fills the sky with a show choreographed to music by Clair Global, the number one live audio company in the world, acting as a finale for the entire day.

The Fourth of July celebration is the main fundraiser for the park, which is privately owned by the Moravian Church in Lititz. The funds collected are used for the maintenance and upkeep of the park throughout the year.

Be sure to sock-hop on over to partake in this year's “Red, White & Cool” 1950s themed event, and make this Lititz legacy part of your summer traditions.

Lititz 4th of July Celebration / Lititz Springs Park / www.lititzspringspark.org / 717-626-8981