If you told me at the beginning of summer that my schedule would be packed with sweet treat runs to Wawa, I would have believed you, but if you had told me anything else I would have discovered this summer, I would have laughed in your face. From onigiri at 300 Whispering Buddha to weekly trips for groceries at Central Market, Lancaster has become more than my college town; it’s become my home. While I could write essays on all the places I’ve integrated into my weekly routine, I’ll give you my Mount Rushmore of Lancaster. Inspired by a podcast I listened to years ago with my mom —and a serious case of analysis paralysis— Mount Rushmores are people’s top four favorites. My Mount Rushmore of Lancaster includes tried and true Lanc classics like West Art and Central Market, but some are more off the beaten path, like Lancaster Pie and Coffee and 300 Whispering Buddha.
My first pick is a Lancaster go-to; you know it, you love it: Central Market. Central Market is a summertime and school-year staple. It’s not a complete week if I don’t travel to Central Market. While Central Market is my treat during the school year, it’s become a necessity for fresh produce and groceries for the summer. My first stop is always to see what street performers are out and enjoy their art, but once I’m inside, I make a beeline for Charles Family Farms, where Michelle, the farmer’s wife and Mother in every sense of the word, takes the time to plan my meals for the week with me. It doesn’t matter how busy the stand gets; she won’t let me leave until I have almost all my meals planned– most of which she comes up with. After I get my produce, usually the same old tomatoes, cauliflower, and one onion, I wander over to the Tea Bar or Mean Cup because it’s never a complete trip to Market without my chai latte before I make my way out. Central Market used to be Oola Bowls and bagels from Central Market Juice Company; now it’s my one-stop shop for meal support and success.
Second to none is Lancaster Pie and Coffee. Owned by Tara and Bill, they still keep track of how long they’ve been open in baby terms; that’s how recently they opened. It’s hard to imagine my life in Lancaster without my weekly trip to Lancaster Pie and Coffee to get any kind of hand pie they have there. Tara became my second mom this summer, even though our first interaction consisted of me trying rhubarb pie and telling her I didn’t like it. If you ever venture to Lancaster Pie and Coffee and mention “Rhubarb girl,” they’ll know exactly who you’re talking about. Thankfully, other workers there know my name, so I don’t live under an infamous pseudonym at every visit. Whenever I have a bad day, I walk (sprint) to the pie shop because I know I won’t only get a delicious pie but I’m entering a warm and welcoming environment where I forget about any woes that traveled with me. While I tell everyone about my interactions, it’s unlikely that I will take anyone with me to the shop because Lancaster Pie and Coffee is best experienced without the infamous “rhubarb girl” by your side.
Bringing it closer to campus, my next choice, as Abby Lee Miller says, is third on the pyramid and third overall: West Art. My first experience with West Art was their 24-hour play production, where I saw my peers perform sitting with staff and students alike. While that was my first, it certainly was not my last, as I venture down the street every Wednesday for yoga. Continuing with their focus on community, this yoga class is pay what you can, making it accessible to all people, including broke college students. Whether downstairs or in the sanctuary, the yoga will be challenging but always ends with essential oils rubbed on the back of your neck and into your scalp during Savasana. While weeks can be stressful and overwhelming, community yoga cultivates an environment where you let everything go and focus on the here and now of the class. Weekly yoga has gotten me through many mid-week slumps, whether alone or with my friends; community yoga emulates the safe and welcoming environment that West Art advertises. Community yoga is just one of the many events West Art has every week, ranging from jazz classes to improv and anything in between; it would be a crime not to visit it once, seeing as it’s right across the street.
Last but not least in any way is one of the newest additions to Lancaster, 300 Whispering Buddha, located on the corner of West James and Mulberry Street On the great adventure that was Friday, July 19th, none other than Michael Vasquez, Moana Franco, and I were on our way back to campus when we found this wonderful place. (You might be wondering, girl, what was this adventure, and all I can say is that it consisted of flash tattoos, credit to Mik from Clover Tattoos, and fire chai credit to Endo Cafe) You can even say this started a trend, may I present DRUM ROLL: “Fridays are for Firsts.” Let me clarify this: “Fridays are for Firsts.” The original start to this trend is Lancaster’s famous “First Fridays,” where local businesses are open late, have special sales and deals, showcase theatre shows, post public performances in Ewell’s Park, and so much more on the first Friday of every month. This is where Firsts began. First friend hangouts, first tattoos, a first date, first long walks, and talks about an all too busy semester, or year, or life; Lancaster helps give us, the overworked, underpaid, and all too stressed out humans, a chance to feel real again, to feel the rush and the joy of having a First.
As we loudly walked down West James, Masami was in the midst of locking up shop when she warmly invited us inside, only to be met with an orange-tone, sweet-smelling, florally decorated restaurant. Its very recent opening this summer is a refreshing sight for this already vibrantly cultural city; 300 Whispering Buddha has made a splash in local multi-cultural representation. Not only does this place serve delicious rice balls and chilling Green Tea, but the owner, Masami, brings Grade A quality and authentic Japanese cultural clothing and trinkets for her shop’s total immersion. She also puts on special events each week for the community to come and enjoy her food and learn more about her Japanese heritage. With free onigiri, Kimoto Belts, phone trinkets, and a bouquet of flowers, we left not only with full bellies but full hearts.
Only giving you my four favorite places feels like a crime because Lancaster is so much more than these four places if you take the time to explore. “Fridays are for Firsts” is not just a trend but also a challenge to step out of our daily routines and do something or try something new, no matter how small it may be. This article could be so much longer because my summer in Lancaster has not just introduced me to so many new places but also to so many new people who have touched my life, and I will never forget their kindness. Everyone told me that spending my summer would be the best, and they were right. I am forever thankful for the connections I made and strengthened both with my friends at Franklin and Marshall and the greater sphere of Lancaster City.
Sophomore MJ Mancini is a Contributing Writer. Her email is mmancin1@fandm.edu.
Senior Michael Vasquez is a Contributing Writer. His email is mvasquez@fandm.edu.