A Wing and a Prayer Offers Food for the Soul

By Christina Georgiou

Brandi Watson, right, cuts the ribbon on her new take-out restaurant, Ms. Brandi's A Wing and A Prayer, located at
444 Northampton St.

Brandi Watson began cooking for friends and family more than 20 years ago, but it was only yesterday that her dream of owning her own restaurant came true.

"I've always done it for friend and family, and then it grew," she said at the grand opening of Ms. Brandi's A Wing and a Prayer.

Those at the ribbon cutting were
treated to free samples from the
menu, including several varieties
of wings.

Surrounded by dozens of friends and family members, as well as her pastor and other church members, Watson cut the ribbon at the door of her new establishment at 444 Northampton St. to cheers and applause.

The final funding she needed came through a loan from "Sam Adams Brewing the American Dream" and the Rising Tide Community Loan Fund, which enabled Watson to buy the restaurant's equipment.

"It's wonderful when big corporations that started out as small companies help out other small companies," said Easton mayor Sal Panto at the event, noting that the new eatery, which offers soul food specialties, is the only restaurant on the 400 block of Northampton Street, and that its proximity to the State Theatre is sure to help get it noticed by city visitors.

Zepp Watson ladles out a serving of
beans and greens for a customer at the
grand opening her daughter's new restaurant
Wednesday afternoon.

Watson said she's worked hard to get to the point of opening the establishment and credited her faith for sustaining her through hard times.

"I just encourage single mothers, keep moving--you can do it," she said. I hope you feel something diferent than if you just went to McDonalds. Everything here is done with love."s

"I'll be back, because she makes a mean chicken," Panto said, quipping that the rain outside portended a prosperous future. "It's an old oriental proverb. If it rains when you open, it means more money."

Watson said she developed the menu--which includes soul food specialties including fried chicken, wings, hand-sliced cheese steaks, beans and greens, and a variety of desserts, from items she's been cooking regularly.

"They're things I used to cook all the time," she said. "I just slowly did what people liked."

A Wing and A Prayer cook Keven Hernandez puts an
order of wings into a waiting container, held by Brandi
Watson's daughter, Tyra, 16. She and her brother, Trey, will
be working at the restaurant regularly, Watson said.

She'll be adding daily specials to the menu too.

"I like to cook lots of different things," Watson added.

The new take-out currently employs three people, and her mother and 16-year-old twin children will also work at the eatery, in addition to Watson herself, she said.

While Watson, who lives in Easton's West Ward, intends to keep her day job as a Northampton County Prison warden "for at least a couple of years, until the twins are in college", she'll still be a familiar sight at the restaurant, she said.

And, along with delicious food, customers will be greeted as friends, Watson promised.

"I just want people to be comfortable here. We're doing more than just frying chicken," she said.

Kari Holmes hands out menus to guests at
the grand opening of Ms. Brandi's A Wing and A Prayer
Wednesday afternoon.

Ms. Brandi's A Wing and A Prayer, located at 444 Northampton St., is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. A Wing and a Prayer will be closed on Tuesdays.







In addition to take-out, the restaurant also offers catering. Ms. Brandi's A Wing and A Prayer's offerings will be featured at a Sam Adams speed coaching event in Brenigsville on Sept. 12. For more information about that event, click here.

Reach them by phone at 610-515-9900 or visit the restaurant's Facebook page to see what's new.

Weekend Guide, July 19 to 21

After such a hot week, you deserve a cool time. And Easton's the place!

Friday, July 19

Dancing: 7 to 10 p.m. Instruction in the country two-step with Con Callagher from 7 to 8 p.m., open dancing with DJ Carol Coffinger from 8 to 10 p.m. $10 per person, benefits the Third Street Alliance. 41 North Third St. 610-433-7804 or www.thirdstreetalliance.org

Line Dancing: 7 to 10:30 p.m. Lessons at 7:15 p.m. $5 per person for members, $6 for non-members. Tatamy Fire Company, 164 Bushkill St., Tatamy. 610-759-2786 or www.purecountrydancers.com

Line Dancing: 7 to 10:30 p.m. Lessons at 7:15 p.m. $5 per person for members, $6 for non-members. Tatamy Fire Company, 164 Bushkill St., Tatamy. 610-759-2786 or www.purecountrydancers.com

Philadelphia Funk Authority, DJ LAX: Band at 7:30 p.m., DJ at 10:30 p.m.  Rivals Sports Bar & Nightclub, 5 Lehns Court. 610-923-7625 or www.rivalseaston.com

Second Annual Easton Comedy Night: 8 p.m. Easton comedienne Liz Russo will host a comedy show featuring nationally known comics Keith Purnell, Alex House, and Regina DeCicco. Free, for those 18 and over. Beer, wine, and light dinner fare will be available, provided by Porters' Pub. In case of rain, the show will be postponed until Friday, September 13. Riverside Park Amphitheatre, Larry Holmes Drive, just north of the free bridge. For more info, click here.

Brook Shive and the 45s: 8 p.m. The Riegelsville Inn, 12 Delaware Road, Riegelsville. 610-749-0100 or www.riegelsvilleinn.com

Paul Kendall: 9 p.m. Two Rivers Brewing Company, 542 Northampton St. 610-829-1131 or www.tworiversbrewing.com

Schubert &  Binder: 9 p.m. Colonial Pizza & Spaghetti House, 136-138 Spring Garden St. 610-252-3033 or www.colonialpizzapub.com

DJ Mikey Z: 10 p.m. Riegelsville Tavern, 1274 Easton Road, Riegelsville. 610-510-3030 or www.riegelsvilletavern.com

Pam Purvis & The Blue Skies: 10 p.m. Porters' Pub, 700 Northampton St. 610-250-6561 or www.porterspubeaston.com

Christopher Dean's Band: 10 p.m. Pearly Baker's Alehouse, 11 Centre Square. 610-253-9949 or www.pearlybakers.net

Saturday, July 20

Easton Farmers' Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The oldest continuous open-air farmers' market in the United States. Centre Square. www.eastonfarmersmarket.com

Boy Scouts Troop 3 Car Wash: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Merchants Bank, 1250 Braden St., Forks Township. 484-548-6095 or 484-548-6084

RE:find Grand Opening: Ribbon cutting at 11:30 a.m., followed by cookies and coffee, free ice cream samples of a custom RE:find ice cream flavor by the Bank Street Creamery from 2 to 4 p.m., music by DJ Telly with free food bites from 5 to 8 p.m. RE:find is a home furnishings store focusing on environmentally responsible and sustainably sourced home furnishings and gifts. The grand opening will also highlight the work of Pablo Molgora, in a show, titled "Icons Revised". 437 Northampton St. 610-829-1313 or www.refindeaston.com.

Heritage Walk in Hugh Moore Park: 1:30 p.m. Walking tour of canal structures, visit the Change Bridge and locktender's house. Conducted by Charles Derr, retired park ranger. Free, approximately 1 1/2 hours long.  Weather permitting, begins at the Canal Boat Store. Hugh Moore Park, 2750 Hugh Moore Park Road.

Riverside Jazz Explosion: 7 p.m. Leaf Cigar Bar, 90 Mort Drive, Forks Township. 610-559-1336

The Large Flowerheads, DJ Nicky K: Band at 7:30 p.m., DJ at 10:30 p.m.  Rivals Sports Bar & Nightclub, 5 Lehns Court. 610-923-7625 or www.rivalseaston.com

Free Texas Hold'em: 7 & 9 p.m. La Pazza, 1251 Ferry St. 610-515-0888 or www.lapazza.com

Lelica, BD Lenz & Doug Hawk: 8 p.m. Maxim's 22, 322 Northampton St. 610-252-2622 or www.maxims22.com

Andy Killcoyne & Friends: 8 p.m. The Riegelsville Inn, 12 Delaware Road, Riegelsville. 610-749-0100 or www.riegelsvilleinn.com

Second Chance Rodeo: 8 p.m. Riegelsville Tavern, 1274 Easton Road, Riegelsville. 610-510-3030 or www.riegelsvilletavern.com

Trevor Purdy & Scott Young: 9 p.m. Colonial Pizza & Spaghetti House, 136-138 Spring Garden St. 610-252-3033 or www.colonialpizzapub.com

TBA: 9 p.m. Two Rivers Brewing Company, 542 Northampton St. 610-829-1131 or www.tworiversbrewing.com

Connie Edinger: : 9 p.m. The Widow's Tavern, 200 Main St., Stockertown. 610-365-8890 or www.widowstavern.com

Karaoke with Nort: 9 p.m. Rip Van Winkle's Pub, 3700 Nicholas St., Palmer Township. 610-258-8873

Frank Giasullo: 9:30 p.m. The Lafayette Bar, 11 North 4th Street 610-252-0711 or www.lafayettebarjazz.com

Madame Freak & The Funky Fever: 10 p.m. Porters' Pub, 700 Northampton St. 610-250-6561 or www.porterspubeaston.com

Dear Anna: 10 p.m. Pearly Baker's Alehouse, 11 Centre Square. 610-253-9949 or www.pearlybakers.net

"Dance-a-Palooza": 10 p.m. With a DJ. Mesa Modern Mexican, 42 South Third St. 610-829-2101 or www.mesamexican.com

Sunday, July 21

Blues Jam with BC Combo: 5:30 p.m. Bella Luna, 3417 Sullivan Trail, Forks Township. 610-253-7458

Open Mic Hosted by Jim Stocker: 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Riegelsville Tavern, 1274 Easton Road, Riegelsville. 610-510-3030 or www.riegelsvilletavern.com

Industry Night: 10 p.m.  Rivals Sports Bar & Nightclub, 5 Lehns Court. 610-923-7625 or www.rivalseaston.com

Save the Date!

The Easton Hispanic Cultural Festival is Saturday, July 27, noon to 9:30 p.m. in Scott Park. Live music and entertainment, food, and much more is planned for this special event. Fireworks over the river beginning at 9 p.m. too! Click here for more details.

The Easton Farmers' Market "Zucchini 500" will take place on Saturday, July 27 during regular market hours, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Postponed due to predictions of a continuation of the weeklong heat wave, participants build their own race vehicles from zucchini and then compete to see who has engineered the speediest squash on wheels. Click here for more details.Easton's most comprehensive guide to what's happening over the weekend, in the city and beyond, is published every Friday.

Are you planning an event? Did we miss something? Let us know! Email us.

Sponsoring the Weekend Guide is an excellent way to advertise your local business. Plus, you get a permanent link to your website, also a great way to drive more traffic to your door. It's affordable too. Email us for details.

Ribbon Cutting Formally Opens Batuque

By Christina Georgiou

Center, Antonio, Ana, and Barbara DeMattos, owners of
Batuque, cut the ribbon, accompanied by, left, Easton
Mayor Sal Panto, and right, Phil Mitman.
Photo by Howard Lieberman

Easton's newest restaurant, Batuque, quietly opened last month, but with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration the authentic Brazillian barbecue bistro held last evening, word is surely out.

A number of local notables attended the event, including Easton Mayor Sal Panto and former Mayor Phil Mitman, representing Easton Area Industrial Land Development, who helped with financing for the new eatery, along with the Lehigh Northampton Counties Revolving Loan Fund and the Greater Easton Development Partnership.

Representatives from the business community were on hand too, including from the Easton Main Street initiative and the Two Rivers Chamber of Commerce.


Ana DeMattos greets guests and makes
menu recommendations.



Once the official business of the slicing the ribbon was complete, all enjoyed wine, appetizers, and a number stayed for dinner, enjoying the restaurant's specialty, to strains of Nazareth guitarist Doug Sanders.

Batuque is owned by Antonio and Ana DeMattos, along with their daughter, Barbara DeMattos, who are the former owners of Rios in Nazareth, as well as Made in Brazil in Allentown, closed due to sharply rising rent which made the business unprofitable.

Antonio DeMattos said he's looking forward to a long, prosperous future in Easton.



Ana and Antonio DeMattos' smiling faces greet restaurant
guests at Batuque, located at 154 Northampton St. in
Downtown Easton.



With an "endless" stream of meats cooked on a Rodizio charcoal rotisserie grill served by chefs tableside, also known as "Churrasco", the new restaurant is sure to be a hit.

Batuque, located at 154 Northampton St., is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. for both lunch and dinner.

To make reservations or for more information, call the restaurant at 610-250-7171.

Kids Delight in Crayola Experience Reopening

By Christina Georgiou

With about 100 children, parents, and teachers excitedly watching, the newly expanded Crayola Experience reopened in a flurry of colorful confetti this morning.

Isabella Roselli, 11, of Florida, had the honor of cutting the ribbon--crayon-themed, of course--as the crowd cheered and applauded. Isabella gained the honor after winning Crayola's contest to give nicknames to the original colors in the classic crayon eight-pack.


Isabella Roselli, 11, of Florida, cuts the
ribbon, officially reopening The
Crayola Experience Friday morning.

 First graders from Tracy Elementary School in Forks Township, where Crayola's industrial factory is located and churns out six billion crayons annually, were on hand to witness the event and spent the school day enjoying attractions at the Crayola Experience.

First-graders from Tracy Elementary
School in Forks Township watch
the reopening ceremony Friday
morning at The Crayola Experience.
Click any photo for a full-size view!

Crayola executives, along with Easton officials, were on hand to celebrate the event too.

"We wanted to bring the Crayola brand to life, and we wanted kids to have fun," said Vicky Lozano, stressing the newly redesigned hands-on museum is all about fostering creativity. "We wanted this to be a place where kids can imagine."

Vicky Lozano, vice president of corporate
strategy for Crayola, welcomes visitors
at The Crayola Experience's grand
reopening ceremony Friday morning.

Mayor Sal Panto enthusiasticly endorsed Crayola's efforts.

"I can't say how much this means to the City of Easton," he said. "They've done a great job with this facility. It's unbelievably awesome."

 

Crayola Experience Repens in Less Than a Week--Here's a Sneak Peek!

By Christina Georgiou



The newly expanded Crayola Experience interactive museum won't reopen until next Friday, May 24, and workers are busily putting the finishing touches on every aspect of the attraction, but The Easton Eccentric recently got a sneak peek this week of the 60,000 square-foot, four-story monument to creativity, fun, play, and of course, lots and lots of color.

Even those unfamiliar with the City of Easton won't be able to miss the Crayola building, which has been adorned with a bright crayon-themed mural on the Pine Street side, and  features many Crayola favorites, including giant crayon statues and marker pillars on the Centre Square quadrant.



Click on any image for a full size view!



The total of 21 unique attractions are sure to please kids--and their parents--for hours when they visit the interactive museum.

Some of the exhibits and activities will be familiar to those 


who've been to the Crayola Experience before, but they've all been "dialed up", in the words of marketing manager Kristin Luise, who said every aspect of the attraction was scrutinized to see how it could be made better.

More than a million crayons and markers grace
the "Pick Your Pack" wall.

"It's all about those elements that make the place special. We want kids to have a sense of wonder and excitement, no matter what room they go in," Luise said.

Creativity, play, and fun, with a dose of education thrown in for good measure, is front and center of the experiences Crayola has on offer, including the store and cafe.

Basics, like how Crayola crayons are made, and coloring stations are still there, but the digital age has greatly expanded the possibilities, and the Crayola Experience is taking full advantage.

"Scarlet" and "Turq(oise)", two digital Crayola crayon character mascots assist the human "Crayonologist" in demonstrating the process and show how crayons are made, inspected and packaged.

"Kids are having fun, but they're also learning about things like color blending too," Luise says.

Old favorites, like coloring stations, are still part of the Crayola Experience, but the real adventure lies in the other 19 colorful, creative exhibit stations. From bright, interactive digital displays to the opportunity to an entire floor dedicated to melted wax and what you can make with it, the museum is engaging and interesting in the non-stop kind of way kids are famous for loving.

One old-turned-new display is "Water Works", which locals that visited the National Canal Museum when it was still on Centre Square, may vaguely recognize. But the 85-foot-long waterway is now home to "Crayonopolis" and features colorful Crayola boats that kids can load, unload and drive, rather than mule barges, making it more fun than ever.

There's even a two-story play facility with a maze-like layout, that features a dizzyingly-fast spiral tube slide.

"One of the things we learned is that no matter how interesting and exciting, there's always that point where a kid needs to get it all out," Luise said of the Color Playground station. "And this is that spot."

Not only is every part of the experience interactive, but the result is lots of goodies for visitors to take home with them too, the vast majority of which come with the price of admission, though there are plenty of opportunities to purchase add-ons too, like the green screen photo booth, where visitors can pose with a giant "macaroni and cheese" colored crayon and choose the background their image will be printed on.

But the best of the take-home items, other than those found in the gift shop, come with the price of admission or the tokens that come with it.

Personalized crayons, melting crayons into shapes that can then be colored with later, coloring a picture that kids then cut themselves into a puzzle, are all part of what's sure to be a exhilarating visit.

"There's nowhere else in the world where you can make a personalized crayon," Luise said.

A public grand reopening and ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for this coming Friday, May 24 at 9:30 a.m. Crayola executives, along with Easton Mayor Sal Panto, will be on hand, and the ribbon will be cut by the 11-year-old winner of Crayola's recent contest to give nicknames to the basic colors in the company's original iconic 8-crayon pack.

Festivities continue throughout Memorial Day weekend for Crayola Experience visitors.

The admission price has risen from $12 to $15.99, but for all the experience has to offer, the cost seems reasonable. Three tokens come with the ticket, matching the three activities that require a token to participate. One can purchase additional tokens too.

An annual all-access pass is available for $29.99 too, which may be of more interest to those close by, since it offers a savings after only two visits.

A private room is now also available too, on the third floor, designed for birthday parties and other special events.

For more about what's new at the Crayola Experience museum, visit www.crayolaexperience.com

A full list of the newly expanded Crayola Experience exhibits:

Art Alive! - Create digital works of art and project them onto the wall to become part of a bigger
scene. Walk up and touch your drawing to bring it to life!

Be a Star - Everyone is a star at this coloring page photo booth! Kids can appear in their very own coloring page along with some of Crayola's characters.

Café Crayola - Enjoy Crayola-inspired foods from colorful cupcakes to design-your-own pizzas.

Color Playground - This is sure to be a hit with kids who have energy to spare.

Colossal Caddy - Visit this popular classic— a giant caddy that holds thousands of crayons!

Crayola Store - Explore the largest selection of Crayola products and discover one-of-a-kind Crayolasouvenirs not found anywhere else in the world. This is the only place you’ll find a genuine 2-lb. crayon that you can customize with your very own name. You can also turn your creative masterpieces into wearable works of art (i.e. t-shirts) and puzzles, and you can even pick your very own color collection of Crayola crayons and markers.

Crayon Clinic - Load your favorite crayon color into the machine and watch your crayon melt into a Crayola Experience keepsake!

Crayon Factory - Join Scarlet & Turk (Turquoise), our animated crayon friends, as they show you how crayons are made—along with our resident Crayonologist in a live theatre show.

Doodle in the Dark - In this interactive dark room, you can make bright marks on backlit doodle boards. Choose from several games to play on the interactive floor that responds to your motions. Become one of Crayola's recognizable crayon pals when you step in front of a special screen that mirrors your every move.

Drip Art - Load a fresh crayon into the Drip Art machine. Watch it melt and drip crayon wax onto your paper as it spins to create a swirlywhirly masterpiece.

Marker Mania - Create a custom marker by injecting two ink colors into the marker's center. Then, watch the process of putting all the marker parts together. Finally, watch how your colors mix and flow down to the
marker tip and into your finished clear barrel marker.

Meltdown - Choose from a variety of melted crayon colors to create wax art on paper.

Modeling Madness - Sculpt colorful creations using Crayola Model Magic—you can roll it, mold it, and even blend and swirl your own colors. Take your molded creations to the next level with Model Magic accessories. Add bright and silly feet to create a stompin' monster or swirl and press into charms for a fashionable new accessory.

Paint Palette - No Crayola day would be complete without a painting project! A visit to our larger-than life drying oven ensures your masterpiece is ready to take home and display on the fridge. (additional fee)

Puzzle It! - In this kid-powered attraction, you can press your own hand-drawn design through rolling puzzle makers. Choose to cut your creation into 6 or 12 pieces to bring home and show your friends!

Say Crayola - Join Tip in Crayola's ultimate green screen photo booth. Customize your photo with a giant crayon prop and choice of background. Memorialize this colorful adventure with a high quality picture that prints in a flash. (additional fee)

Toddler Town - This area lets Crayola's youngest fans learn and play in colorful ways! Make silly faces in wacky mirrors and play with a multi-colored pegboard. Interact with a giant ball maze where you control the outcome.

Water Works - Be the captain of your own Crayola toy boat, splashing through a working lock and canal system. Work the levees, load your cargo, and take in the sights of Crayonopolis in this one-of-a-kind 85-foot water table attraction.

Workshop - Projects range from airbrush art to fabric art and much, much more! (additional fee)

Wrap It Up! - Personalize and print an authentic Crayola crayon label, wrap it around your crayon, and create your own unique crayon!