Category: Art

The Millworks in Harrisburg, PA

The focus at the Millworks in Harrisburg, PA is on local and seasonal ingredients, especially when it comes to comfort food.

Friends, colleagues and I have celebrated many occasions at the Millworks in Harrisburg, PA. It’s great for both small and large parties alike, as the less than adventurous eaters will always find something they can love on the menu. The Millworks’ focus is on local and seasonal ingredients, especially when it comes to comfort food.

While it’s a large space, the decor of the Millworks is also comforting and inviting with its exposed brick, reclaimed wood and warm lighting. It is across the street from the Broad Street Market (founded in 1860) and a few blocks from the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex. When the weather is nice, there is seating outside in the courtyard on the first floor or the Biergarten upstairs where you can also order food. The Millworks also houses studios of many local artists.

The Millworks in Harrisburg, PA
Main dining area
Main entrance to the Millworks where the work of local artists is displayed and for sale

Cocktails

The beer, wine and cocktails are also follow the local and seasonal ethos at the Millworks in Harrisburg, PA. There is a on-site brewery at Millworks, but I’d rather highlight the wonderful and unique cocktails. During a recent dinner, we indulged in the following:

The Millworks in Harrisburg, PA
The Sage – vodka, blueberry sage shrub, lemon, champagne, egg white, orange blossom water
The Millworks in Harrisburg, PA
Verbeke Stinger – house-infused rosemary jalapeño tequila, honey simple syrup and lemon
The Millworks in Harrisburg, PA
Briar Patch – beet infused vodka, house lavender balsamic, suze, lemon, blackberry and basil

Small Plates

Fries are always a must at the Millworks, especially since they are served in a mini cast-iron skillet (which I love). In the summer, the fried green tomatoes are delicious with their crunchy cornmeal crust, served with a tangy buttermilk aioli. A constant on the menu is the Pennsylvania favorite, pierogies, with smoked brisket burnt ends on top.  

If you want something on the lighter side, I love the salads at the Millworks. I often get the kale and broccoli rabe salad because its chimichuri vinaigrette is just divine. Soups are also really good like the new potato and spring onion bisque with Maryland crab ceviche. The butternut squash bisque is a favorite during the colder months.

French fries
Fried green tomatoes with cornmeal crust, buttermilk and pickled spring onion aioli
Pierogies with brisket burnt ends, potato and smoked cheddar, caramelized cipollinis, brown butter, horseradish creme fraiche, crispy fried onion
Wood-grilled kale and broccoli rabe salad with chimichuri vinaigrette and chile dusted pumpkin seeds
New potato and spring onion bisque with Maryland crab ceviche

An updated menu can be found on the Millworks’ website. Specials are often available, like this tomato and mozzarella salad with a blackberry balsamic reduction we had recently.

Tomato and mozzarella salad

Sandwiches and Pizza

Pizzas are hand-tossed and cooked in the Millworks’ brick oven. Available also with a gluten-free crust, toppings include truffled mushrooms and seasonal vegetables. Others are made with pulled pork and brisket that are prepared outside in the Millworks’ smoker. 

Seasonal vegetable pizza with spinach, pesto and shishito peppers.
Wild mushroom and truffle pizza with Kenneth Square shiitake, cremini and oyster mushrooms, cheese, white garlic sauce and truffle oil

This the burger I had on my birthday last year, made with local beef and sharp cheddar. No bun, because I try to only eat deep-fried carbs. Other favorites on the sandwiches menu include crispy fried chicken, fried catfish and smoked barbecue pulled pork.

Cheeseburger with sharp cheddar

There are entrees on the Millworks’ menu, beyond sandwiches and pizza. The latter, though, are just so good and hard to resist.

Dessert

For chocolate lovers, there is a gluten-free chocolate cake on the Millworks’ menu. Other desserts, though, will have a seasonal twist. There will be a seasonal fruit cobbler, as well as a vanilla bean custard with a seasonal fruit compote, including this blueberry one for summer.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been to the Millworks a lot recently—Sunday brunch, Saturday afternoon cocktail, lunch and dinner. I just had friends visiting from San Francisco and thought the Millworks would be a great place that they and their 2 1/2 year old would enjoy. After they returned home to California, my friend and I exchanged messages about the great time we had. She had been thinking about the amazing cocktails. I had been thinking about their adorable little boy who was quite content in his high chair with his new crayons and his personal cheese pizza from the kids’ menu. The bottom-line is that all of us were happy after dining at the Millworks in Harrisburg, PA and are already looking forward to the next time. 

The Millworks, 340 Verbeke Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102

Reservations via Open Table

Central Library in Copley Square, Boston

I spent more time in the Central Library than expected because it was so gorgeous at every turn—up, down, left, right.

During my last trip to Boston, I was staying conveniently across the street from the Central Public Library on Boylston Street in Copley Square. Completed in 1895, the Central Library Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a National Historic Landmark. 

The Central Public Library is also known as the McKim Building after the building’s architect, Charles Follen McKim. I, initially, only went to see the Bates Reading Room (above). However, I spent more time there than expected because it was so gorgeous at every turn—up, down, left, right.

Lobby

After walking through the main entrance, look up at the vaulted ceilings. They are clad in mosaic tiles and include the names of famous Massachusetts statesmen such as Franklin, Emerson and Adams. Italian immigrants living in the North End neighborhood of Boston performed this intricate and detailed work.

Central Library in Copley Square
Vaulted ceilings in the lobby of the Central Library , Boston

Grand Staircase

After passing through the lobby, walk up the grand staircase, constructed of Siena marble. Looking down the stairs, is the view of the lobby. Look up and see gorgeous chandeliers and a perfect coffered ceiling (#obsessed). Surrounding the second story of this area are murals by the French artist, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes.   

Grand Staircase of the Central Public Library
Grand Staircase of the Central Library, Boston
Central Library
Puvis de Chavannes Gallery in the Central Library, Boston

Since the library’s opening in 1895, two gigantic unpolished marble lions sit regally on either side of the Grand Staircase. One lion is a monument to the Second Volunteer Infantry of the Civil War and the other is a monument to the Twentieth. They were funded by surviving members of the regiments and created by Louis Saint-Gaudens.

Central Public Library
Marble Lions, monuments to the Second and Twentieth Volunteer Infantries of the Civil War
Central Public Library
Marble Lions, monuments to the Second and Twentieth Volunteer Infantries of the Civil War

Look Up

I spent a bit of time in the stairwell admiring the ceiling murals and lighting. In this small space, I appreciated the attention to detail of every single square inch of this building. The colors of the ceilings, the texture of the stone, the shape of the arches and vaulted ceilings, the dim of the lights—everything fit together perfectly.

Central Library in Copley Square
Central Library in Copley Square

Central Public LibraryCentral Public Library

Bates Hall

Bates Hall is the main reading room on the second floor of the Central Library. I had seen many photos of the space on-line and it was the catalyst for me coming here. It was as grand and as gorgeous as I expected it to be with its 50 foot tall barrel vault coffered ceiling. 

Bates Hall, Central Library in Copley Square, Boston

Sargent Gallery

I then stopped in the Sargent Gallery on the third floor, named after the artist John Singer Sargent. The theme of the work is Triumph of Religion, with one wall representing Synagogue and the other representing Church. Sargent spent 29 years working on it, but died in 1925 before completing the final panel.

Central Public Library
Sargent Hall, Central Library in Copley Square, Boston
Synagogue by John Singer Sargent, Central Library in Copley Square, Boston
Church by John Singer Sargent, Central Library in Copley Square, Boston

Courtyard

Before I left, I stepped outside to the courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard’s fountain is a bronze statue, Bacchante and Infant Faun, by Frederick MacMonnies. Unveiled in 1896, the statue of a nude woman celebrating drinking while holding a child caused quite the stir in Boston. I suppose it is an interesting choice for a library.

In 1897, responding to the uproar, the statue was given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. As with many things, the controversy drove sales of small replicas of the statue. Years later, the Boston Public Library commissioned a copy of the original which stands in the courtyard today.

Bacchante and Infant Faun by Frederick MacMonnies, Central Library in Copley Square, Boston

Final Thoughts

I thought the Central Library Building was incredible. I had the luxury of being there not because I was researching a paper, studying for finals or any other stress-inducing activity. For me, it was very peaceful and calm.

The building is open to the public and admission is free. Even if you’re not into libraries, just stop in to have a look. At the very least, just go rub a lion’s tail for good luck. Apparently, it’s a thing and we could all use a little luck sometimes.