How Can You Be Involved?

Here is a clear rundown of what we offer:

WE Are a co-space:

Music Venue /Gallery
Private Party Rental
Creative Project or Classes Rental
Yoga/Tai Chi Pop Up Location
Meeting Space Rental
Recording Studio (coming soon)

MUSIC: How we differ from Gallery141's former space (for those of you who enjoyed our space on Water Street 2001-2011), we are flipping the focus from Art-Primary, Music- secondary to the reverse and we are not going to be a retail space with long open hours.  Rather we are answering the needs of the community for a space for amazing sound for musical performance with a hybrid sound system that will be vintage blended with the newest technology.  The best sound engineering available is our goal in this space and Rick, an engineer with a 35 year interest in sound and recording will be working on this as he enters this music phase of his life.  He just retired from the Navy, so we are in the early stages of this now.

ART: Exhibitions will have longer runs and will be just as unique, daring and intense as we held before. We are perfect for rentals for artists with a show to prepare for another space, or artwork to work on that requires a large space.

PERFORMANCE: video recording, set building, or dramatic performance rehearsal, meeting hosting, anything that requires intense quiet (we have 2 ft thick walls and rubber floors so you will be mind blown by the quiet we can offer).  It is a perfect rehearsal, deluxe pre-show hangout space for professional successful musicians who require a place to park their bus and more than just a hotel room.

PARTY: The party rental ranges from kids parties (we have a swing, 300lb tire), teen parties, to very adult, very high end foodie or cigar parties.  Our load in ramp and food prep capabilities are a caterer's dream.

LAYOUT:  Our space was a tobacco warehouse in the late 1800s- early turn of the century.  Most recently it was a boxing gym and was outfitted perfectly to be a music venue with available nearby parking and a pay friendly entry.  We have seating for 100 available.  But when it is not set up for a show it is a very large floor space and a combination of rocker cool with an intimacy that is palpable.  We are developing it to be professional state of the art space that is also personal space and welcoming.  If you are having a hard time imagining this, and think it could work for something you are planning, send me an email at inklingalana@aol.com and I will arrange a visit for you.  Capacity is 125.  We will have after 10:30 events but they will comply with city sound regulations.  Our louder shows will run from daytime hours ending at 10:30 sharp.  We are performance centered, listening room oriented and will not have a liquor license or serve liquor unless it is a private event that is hosted by a LCB compliant vendor or private individual.

DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE: Though I have been involved in the art scene in Lancaster for over a decade at the time of this post, my house in Virginia is under contract and I am moving my permanent residence to Lancaster.  So it is a busy time for me and I anticipate this will continue until the fall.  We hope to be fully outfitted by the holidays of 2014.  In the mean time, if your event is right for us we will continue to host events in our current state of "in process".

Spring Brings More Developments

We continue to share the space with Lancaster artists and musicians for their creative endeavors, and are happy to give a tour to anyone with interest.  We have hosted a few more events of a variety of uses and see the flow of the space with renewed confidence.  If some of the proposed and in the works plans for summer and fall come together as have been envisioned to us it will be a great way to go officially underground!  Our vision continues to be work with the best musicians and facilitators of music in town offering listening room performance, recording space and sanctified gathering space for whatever people need as music in Lancaster continues to come into its own.

The sale of our house in Virginia and our seach for space to call home here is also going to affect the Avenue for at least a few months.

Rick is days away from officially retired from the Navy (as a civilian Engineer) and can not wait to put his full creative energies to music.

We are shaking off this long cold winter and see so much good to come as we find our people and purposes.

Matt Williamson has been so kind to invite us to participate in his event highlighting the diverse venues and  projects coming up in the fresh earth of Lancaster's scene.  We are honored and look forward to connecting with other like minded music lovers.  More on details of this event coming soon.

Tobacco Avenue Cigar Cozy Etravaganzas Planned-Sample invites are circulating now

You asked and we are ON IT!  Local cigar buffs let us know that downtown indoor smoking events would be of interest.  We did our homework and came up with something relaxed but hitting on all the right flavors and touches.  And we will work with our fellas to customize accordingly.

Here is the vision:

Our large warehouse room awaiting with comfortable chairs, as well as ample space to congregate outside in our courtyard outfitted with a coffee table fireplace.

Black clothed tables, cocktail napkins, and manhattan glasses, for the ice to clink into.  1940's style cigarette tray girl to assit with catered dude food.  We have a variety of menus available from Caterer Gina Dambrosio, who comes from a big Italian family with four brothers.  Smoked meats on a stick, bbq sliders, perfect hand food flavors compliment the smokes and drinks.   In a pinch, or if on short notice, we have spoken to several van vendors about rolling up with a sizzle to roll in the door.  In the spring, our mini barrel smoker can be fired up in the courtyard.  Seasonal specialty items to twist up cocktails will be available.  We are having fun learning some great recipes for delicious drinks.  Coffee for the road to finish.  Sweet tooths?  Can we talk Wendy Jo's?

Comfy chair nook in place and ugrades on the way.  (Cable TV and Wifi is soon to be available)  
In the mean time, we have a great available selection of CDs and records and will cue up yours if you bring them on our sound system, with rich, mellow to rockin' analog sounds from our fridge size VOT Speakers.

Your vendors are welcome to supply cigars, and other items.  We will have antique smoking equipment available for your perusal and purchase supplied by Burning Bridge Antiques in Columbia.

Bullet weight poker chips, in house and at the ready, along with chess and backgammon sets of distinction.

Custom calligraphy origami invitations available for the special events or in honor of a distinguished guest.  Easy online communications, and speed dial access to staff to turn on an event.

We will learn your preferences and tweek these events with your special needs in mind.

Due to rights issues for playing CDs, and state laws regarding drinks and cigars, these are going to be legit HOSTED events.  A host is designated and pays.  Your group pays host.  There will be a minimum dollar or participant amount to book.  Down payments will be required upon booking an event, but we will work with you to get you the date and timing you want- including weekday afternoons, happy hour or night events.

You can each BYOC, BYOB or your guys' humidors and cases can be rolled in our ramp.

To make our events safe and responsible we insist on designated drivers (your group can cut them a break in cost or rotate), and coffee hour, cut off times so it will be good night for all involved, and ensure many more events to come.

We have the cadillac of air cleaners, the Swiss IQAire in house, and three windows to pull out smoke to make the space comfortable.

cost per guest will be from 30 up depending on the length, complexity and volume of food for your event.  Tell us what you need an we are really looking forward to making your event smooth smoking.

Contact: Alana at inklingalana@aol.com or call 717-394-9769 cellular.









Due to the laws regarding playing of CDs in a public space, and the liquor control rules, we are making these vents comply by having hosted events.  The group simply pays the host and he pays us.

Fig Music Blogger and Networker Extraordinaire Sam Campbell has got it RIGHT!!!

We definitely have some great community plans in the works!  Such as, Aaron (Fulton Street CoOP has done some killer street fests up our way, and we promise to make the next one WAY OUT cool.

I write this from seaside, St. Maarten in the Caribbean, feeling so lucky to be in such a gorgeous place, but also missing Tobacco Avenue, and my loved ones in Lancaster.  So here are some of the things we are still working on even though I am not in town at the moment.

Cigar Hosted Parties:

We are planning Tobacco - Cigar events coming up soon before the end of 2013 that you can definitely join us for.  Facebook friend me and let me know you are interested.  We will have bourbon tastings, grilled meat on a stick, an adorable cigarette girl, antique smoking items for guests to peruse or buy.  And it can be for you xmas shopping challenged people a way to get some gifts of NON tobacco, but Rock and Roll and jewelry items not only purchased but wrapped and tree ready!!! We will have the touches that will impress for these events, and we hope with each one to make it better and better.  TWO of these events are in the planning for before the end of the year, one with an artist host (no names yet,but that will come), and a host who is in the heart of downtown working the numbers is all we will say about that one.  La Femmes are not discouraged from these events, btw.

Music, we not only want to offer the extended communities best in an intimate and music centered performance space with MAD crazy great acoustics, but we hope to bring some big surprises of world class, big names and some of that is already in the planning stages.  One of the pair of beloved female duo who many of you could guess has a forthcoming solo work, we are working hard on that one.  We have limited seating, and for some we will sell out fast, so please stay tuned and friend me or Jennifer Dunn on Facebook for the absolute most inside word on the shows as they develop.

As always, I will keep giving some help with finding us on blog posts until we have our street signs or it seems unnecessary...if you are standing in front of Molly's Pub's beer takeout (Shippen Street not far from Musser Park)  Look across the street and you see two alleys, Fulton Street and ours the street with No NAME...that is us, we are only about 100 yards from that position.  So it is not hard.  But street parking only, unless you can catch one of the after hours Weinsteins Plumbing spots over by the chain link fences.  Park with care.  I hope to see you there!!!

Raw opening event Sat Nov 2, 7:30 doors open

Jointly with Fulton St. CoOp They have 3 bands and open doors at 5pm.
321 East Fulton St.  Lancaster.

The Exhibition is:  The Rock Poster Show, featuring hundreds of Posters from a variety of local collectors and several of my large hand painted Tower Records Displays.  We will also have posters for sale to benefit our Street Sign Fund.  Vintage rock posters!

Our band Flicker closes the night.  

The Street with No Name

Will be getting a sign very soon.  Our banner is mounted on the building now so when you do find us you can see it from over 100 ft!

For those with a GPS it is easy, simply use Tobacco Alley or Avenue -both work.  NO NEED for a house number. We would have loved to call the venue Tobacco Alley, but as it is it seems there is enough confusion and difficulty for folks finding us, so, Avenue it is.  Verge will only be a series, our getting it up and rolling series that will be us working with musicians and our guests to evolve into what our space can offer not the venue itself.  So ok, good, THAT is SETTLED.

Walkers, at Molly's Pub by Musser Park, walk toward the cemetery on Shippen, turn right after Fulton Street and we are 100 ft on the right.

Driving, Park on Chestnut by the park or Shippen, the Southbound extension of Lemon Street and follow the above directions.  There is no  public parking on Tobacco Avenue, but much around us on the surrounding streets.

Met with the Mayor and MOOSE on Thursday, and the street will be paved pronto, and the Tobacco Avenue Arts District or Arts Triangle is officially established.  TOHO for short.  It is an arrowhead shape the tip runs from Marion at Lime St, down Tobacco Avenue, across Shippen from Musser park to the Cemetery, Chestnut St, and down New Holland Avenue past the Science Museum, Cork Factory, to the Drum Shop.  The bottom boundary is across Ann St.   The Majority of residents are warehouse dwellers living in the remains of Lancaster's over 1000 Tobacco Warehouses and factories which thrived at the turn of the last century.  We have a few working factories in the triangle.  A complete list of businesses and arts venues are being drawn up.  Most notably, we have Molly's Pub bordering us at the SW tip, Lancaster Brewing Co., Quips, the Cork Factory has its restaurant and the wonderful coffee house and brunch destination The Bakers Table.  So lots of food and watering holes are at the flanks.  Arron Shifflet's Fulton Street Co-op and our space are at the tip.  We have design Studios, Photographers, Painters, and more.  Lancaster Cemetery, entrance on Lemon Street is still a beautiful walk for sculpture and history buffs.