🌹 The Lancaster Ledger

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Good morning, Lancaster. Sunday is Mother's Day, which means Saturday will be "guy at Costco squinting at the floral cooler" day. We see you.

In today's Lancaster Ledger:

• A Philly food critic crowns 15 Lancaster spots

• Conestoga Township weighs a new events venue

• Eight college graduations across the county this week

Let's do it.

— Collin

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Philadelphia Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan has been watching Lancaster's restaurant scene since 2014, and his latest piece declares the "culinary renaissance" has bloomed. His list of 15 standouts: Lapp's Food Trailer, LUCA, The Horse Inn, Issei, Central Market, Passenger, Passerine, Chellas Arepa Kitchen, Yi Pin, Rice & Noodles, Mekatos at Southern Market, Stoll & Wolfe Distillery, Pizzeria 211, Pizzeria LUCA, and Cavolo!. LUCA chef Nathan Flaim — a James Beard finalist — gets a special shoutout. LaBan also nudged at the tourist buffets, noting authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking "still exists in genuine glory if you are willing to venture beyond" them.

Did he miss any of your faves?

Benuel Esh and Rosemary Stoltzfus want to turn a 25-acre property at 4459 Main Street into an events venue with up to 90 events a year and 200 guests on site. The first hearing was Monday before the Conestoga Township Board of Supervisors. The plan: convert a 2,100-square-foot barn for amplified music (acoustic studies say the sound stays inside), allow contracted catering, and use grass parking for 100+ cars. Esh agreed to ban helicopters and aircraft, but he's still asking permission for pyrotechnic displays. Neighbors are not thrilled.

Solicitor Matt Creme is treating the application as "agrotainment," since events venues aren't defined in local zoning. The hearing continues June 2 at 7 PM. As zoning officer Jeffrey Fiant put it: "This is the start of a long process."

Eight Lancaster County colleges and universities are handing out diplomas between May 6 and May 16. HACC kicked off Wednesday at 6 PM at the Giant Center in Hershey, with Millersville, Franklin & Marshall, and Elizabethtown running ceremonies across the next stretch. LancasterOnline has the full lineup with times and locations.

If you know somebody crossing a stage this week — show up. They'll pretend the photos don't matter and then save every single one.

Worn couch? Cracked recliner? Favorite chair seen better days? Before you replace it, call LeatherHelp! Caleb and his family-run team repair and restore leather furniture right here in Lancaster County. Free estimates — and they'll come right to your home!

Send Caleb a text to get a free quote → (717) 650-7091

Herb & Garden Faire at Landis Valley | 70+ vendors selling heirloom plants, perennials, and gardening tools, plus Master Gardener workshops. Continues Saturday. | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, 2451 Kissel Hill Rd., Lancaster | $14 adult / $12 senior / $10 youth (6-11) / under 5 free

Rough & Tumble Spring Steam-Up | Season opener — steam traction engines, tractors plowing fields, gas engines, sawmill, Shay locomotive. | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Rough and Tumble Engineers Museum, 4997 Lincoln Hwy E., Kinzers | $5 adults, $2 ages 6-12, under 6 free

Lancaster Kennel Club Red Rose Classic Dog Show | 82nd annual all-breed dog show, conformation judging, and obedience trials. Continues Saturday. | Rally trial begins 1:00 PM | Lebanon Expo Center, 80 Rocherty Rd., Lebanon | Free admission; $5 per vehicle parking

2nd Friday Lititz | Shops open late, live musicians, sidewalk artists, dancers, and entertainers throughout downtown. | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Downtown Lititz, Broad & Main Streets | Free

Treasure Island at Fulton Theatre (FINAL WEEK) | Closes Saturday — original musical adaptation of Stevenson's pirate tale. | 7:30 PM | Fulton Theatre, 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster | $20–$74

Lancaster County Bird Club Field Trip — Muddy Run Park | Morning birding led by the Lancaster County Bird Club; beginner trip departs 8 AM from Flory Park (416 Dohner Rd.). | 7:00 AM | Muddy Run Recreation Park, 172 Bethesda Church Rd. W., Holtwood | Free

Common Run Club Saturday Run | Weekly group run from Our Town Brewery. All paces welcome, coffee back at the bar after. | 8:30 AM | Our Town Brewery, 252 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Free

Make-A-Wish Mother's Day Truck Convoy & Family Fest | 37th annual fundraiser — 33-mile convoy through Lancaster and Dauphin counties, plus carnival, food, and games. | Family Fest 9 AM – 2 PM, convoy departs 1:30 PM | Manheim PA Auto Auction, 1190 Lancaster Rd., Manheim | Free admission and parking

Run the Vineyards — The 5K Waltz | 5K through the vineyards followed by post-race wine tasting. | 9:00 AM | Waltz Vineyards Estate Winery, 1599 Old Line Rd., Manheim | $48

Harriet Lane: America's Fair First Lady Tour at Wheatland | Special guided tour on Harriet Lane's 196th birthday at LancasterHistory's Wheatland mansion. | Hourly tours 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster | $17 adult / $15 senior / $10 student (11-17) / under 10 free

Open Streets Lancaster | 11th annual — Water Street closes to cars and opens for activities, food trucks, artists, and live demos. | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Water Street (Conestoga Ave. to Chestnut St.), Lancaster | Free

Spring Bloom Artisan Market at Flinchbaugh's Orchard | Outdoor pop-up with 60+ local artists, fresh flowers, locally crafted wine and brews, food, and orchard-side strolls. | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Flinchbaugh's Orchard & Farm Market, 110 Ducktown Rd., Hellam | Free admission

Lancaster Hiking Club Sunday Hike | Moderate 5-mile group hike at Clarence Schock Environmental Center. Meet at Buchanan Park to carpool. | 1:15 PM departure | Buchanan Park, Race & Buchanan Aves., Lancaster | Free

Joshua at Sight & Sound Theatres — 300 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks. Sat showtimes 11 AM and 6 PM. | From $44 child / $82 adult

Treasure Island at Fulton Theatre (FINAL WEEK) — 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster. Closes Saturday May 9. Sat 2 PM & 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM. | $20–$74

Oklahoma! at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre (FINAL WEEK) — 510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster. Closes Sunday May 10. | $55 show-only / $78 matinee dinner + show / $83 evening dinner + show

Friday High 66°F, low 43°F.

Saturday High 65°F, low 50°F.

Sunday High 74°F, low 49°F.

SchnAZZY | Jazz / Pop Standards | 7:00 PM | Tellus 360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free (21+)

Powerman 5000 with 12 Stones & Makes My Blood Dance | Industrial Rock | 8:00 PM (doors 7 PM) | Phantom Power, 121 W. Frederick St., Millersville | $25 advance / $30 door

Charlie in the Question Mark | Americana / Singer-Songwriter | 7:30 PM | West Art (Sanctuary), 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $15 advance / $20 door

Vivace Live: Pop Favorites on Strings (Candlelit) | String Quartet / Pop | 7:30 PM | West Art (City Hall), 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $25 advance / $30 door

Bad Animals (Heart Tribute) | Classic Rock Tribute | 8:00 PM | Mickey's Black Box at Rock Lititz, 101 Rock Lititz Blvd., Lititz | From $33.55

Danny & The Brass Tacks | NYC Jazz Swing | 8:00 PM (doors 6 PM) | Lititz Shirt Factory, 5 Juniper Ln., Lititz | Tickets via venue

Leonid & Friends (Chicago Tribute) | Rock / Tribute | 8:00 PM | American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Hwy E., Lancaster | $44 / $54 / $64 / $74

WXPN Welcomes Mo Lowda & The Humble (Tailing the Ghost Tour) | Indie Rock | 7:00 PM | Tellus 360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | From $25 (21+)

Sandra McCracken | Folk / Singer-Songwriter | 7:00 PM (doors 6 PM) | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lancaster | Tickets via Eventbrite

Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone with Chris Ruggiero | Classic Rock / British Invasion | 7:30 PM | American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Hwy E., Lancaster | $49 / $59 / $69 / $89

Absolute Adele with Jennifer Cella | Adele Tribute | 8:00 PM (doors 7 PM) | Mickey's Black Box at Rock Lititz, 101 Rock Lititz Blvd., Lititz | $33.55 balcony / $44.30 riser

Big Fat Meanies + MFE Sound Factory | Horn-Driven Rock / Ska | 2:00 PM (doors 1:30 PM) | West Art (City Hall), 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $12 adult adv / $5 student adv ($15 / $8 door)

Jam Session with Matt Wenger | Open Jam / Bluegrass | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Tellus 360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free

Take Me Home: The Music of John Denver Starring Jim Curry | Folk / Tribute | 3:00 PM | American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Hwy E., Lancaster | $29 / $39 / $49

Thanks for reading The Lancaster Ledger today. If you found something useful, please share it with the person who calls their mom every single day, even when there's nothing to report. Never change.

Cheers!