Visiting Pennsylvania- Tioga/Wmsport/Altoona/Johnstown. (Scranton, Williamsport: neighborhoods, closing, live)

[Dayton Sux]

Howdy, I am going on a road trip to the Northeast. The first part will be to the Southern Tier of NY State.

However the balance will be down into the midsection of Pennsylvania...the so called "Pennsyltucky" part of the state due to it being in Appalachia and with a history of coal mining, I guess.

And Im looking for some advice and recommendations:

My trip will be as follows. Visiting a friend in Tioga near the NY State Line, and from there south to
1. Williamsport.
...then dropping down to
2. Altoona (planning on visiting some railroad stuff in that area)
...then
3. Overnight in Johnstown PA (Saturday night). I plan on visiting the Johnstown Flood sites, the Incline, and what sounds like an excellent local history museum.

My main questions are about Johnstown & Altoona:
1. Old ethnic neighborhoods. Im interested in old neighborhoods that have old churches and such..places that had Italiian, Polish, etc communities. Old mansions and mansion districts are nice too, but more interested in the blue collar areas..
2. Place to Eat. Im not really interested in foodie stuff more local eats.
---Local ethnic places: place where I can get some good local food.
--- bakeries and groceries that sell ethnic stuff (like Italian or Polish... or whatever.... bakeries, if any survive). I noticed there was a lot of this still around in New England and upstate NY and was wonderin if any good stuff is in Johnstown or Altoona.
---restaurants that serve this stuff...good italian, polish, hungarian, greek, etc places: places that serve eastern and southern European cooking, etc
---all night diners that serve breakfast. I get to very early starts on my road trips and am interested in a breakfast places that open early or are 24 hours. Particulary in Johnstown and Altoona, and maybe Williamsport.
---live music. Any good venues in the Johnstown area. I usually like more the folk rock or acoustic or indy rock or punk stuff. But would like any kind of recommendations, particulalry in the downtown Johnstown area since I will be staying at the Holiday Inn downtown.

So...thanks for your advice. Im looking forward to exploring the midsection of PA a bit. Ive been through PA before (stayed in Scranton twice, PBGH three times, Philly once), and really REALLY think this state is pretty impressive when it comes to scenery, and I like the cities there,too.

So, again, looking forward to visiting y'all. Ill be in PA Columbus Day weekend.

[Dayton Sux]

Oh..forgot...any good local beer in these areas? I know that Scranton & Wilkes Barre had their own beer and we are getting Yungling in Dayton now, but would love some recommendations on local beer from this part of PA, if there is any...

[pman]

Bavarian Barbarian Brewing Company
http://www.southsidesaloon.com/

[Ohiogirl81]

When you're in Johnstown, visit George's Song Shop. Even if you're not into music, records, etc., the place is amazing. It's a block away from the Holiday Inn:

GEORGE'S SONG SHOP - The Oldest Record Store in the United States of America

If your room at the Holiday Inn is facing the right direction, you get a nice view of the incline.

There's a Coney Island Lunch downtown, and it opens early for breakfast. There's also a restaurant at the top of the incline; I don't know much about it, other than it's there.

Welcome - City View Bar And Grill

If I think of anything else ...

[Pa Dutch]

"Pennsyltucky", isnt actually a term of endearment. It is akin to calling WV the hillbilly state.

That said, a visit to the Yuengling plant in Pottsville, is the place to go for beer.

[SPSGuy]

Bullfrog Brewery in Williamsport!

[pman]

Does that mean there are two breweries in williamsport?
** Welcome to the Bullfrog Brewery ~ Restaurant and Microbrewery ~ Williamsport, PA **

[SPSGuy]

I guess so, I never heard of the Bavarian brewery. I was up there for work and went to the Bullfrog. I was impressed with Williamsport. It was a nice town. That is one of the nicer ones on the OP's list. I would go hit both breweries if I go up there again.

[wanneroo]

Originally Posted by Pa Dutch

"Pennsyltucky", isnt actually a term of endearment. It is akin to calling WV the hillbilly state.

Yes. Obviously the OP is free to bandy that term around when he visits but he might want to watch who he says it to.

There was a tourist in my town that used that term in a local bar up here in Tioga County, "Pennsyltucky" and he got punched in the nose and laid out on the floor. I laughed.

Also there is only one brewery in Williamsport, the Bullfrog.

[pman]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

Yes. Obviously the OP is free to bandy that term around when he visits but he might want to watch who he says it to.

There was a tourist in my town that used that term in a local bar up here in Tioga County, "Pennsyltucky" and he got punched in the nose and laid out on the floor. I laughed.

Also there is only one brewery in Williamsport, the Bullfrog.

Then where is Bavarian? Punched in the nose...and they say philadelphians are unfriendly. Still its never wise to insult locals whereever you are.
Sps-ive always wanted to visit. Looks like an interesting town but have never been able to work it in an itinerary

Ne remind
http://mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com/2012/...osing.html?m=1