BETHLEHEM, Pa. — It was as an evening filled with hometown pride, evident by the friendly crowd who hugged one another and clapped as community leaders appeared on the big screen.
"Love Letters to Bethlehem," an 11-minute film that features the stories of 10 prominent leaders and business owners, made its debut Tuesday in the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at ArtsQuest Center.
Directed by Brian Rashid, "Love Letters to Bethlehem," showcases the city's culture and diversity.
Its subjects are Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds; Guillermo Lopez Jr., founder of the Guillermo Lopez DEI Institute; and ArtsQuest President Kassie Hilgert.
Also, Neville Gardner, owner of Donegal Square and McCarthy's Red Stag Pub; Ann Marie Supinski, owner of AM Luxe Apparel; and Veronica and Quartz Moore, owner of the Taste Smokers.
Also, George and Crystal Wacker, owners of Lehigh Valley with Love Media; and Derek Wallen, owner of Roasted, Lehigh Valley Printing and Country Club Brewing.
Thank you to customers
After the short made its debut, Rashid and the film's subjects participated in a question-and-answer session inside the packed movie theater.
One-by-one, they shared what they loved about owning and operating a business in Bethlehem, known as the Christmas City.
Gardner, co-founder of Celtic Classic and co-chairman of the Downtown Bethlehem Association, will celebrate 40 years as a restaurateur next year.
His establishments are along Main Street, in the historic downtown.
"I think the thing about Bethlehem is that when you come here, it doesn't feel like you're in America," said Gardner, who was born in Ireland.
"Now, for those of you who are American, that's not an insult. That just means that there's a level of the architecture — the feeling for me reminds me a lot of being somewhere else, being in Europe, being in Ireland.
"That's the first part that strikes me. And I think we're a small business community who are very helpful to each other. And as Brian [Rashid] said in the film, the theory that the rising tide lifts all boats makes it a pleasure to be a part of the community.
"As a business owner, it's a pleasure to be able to help people who need help. And I think our community is very willing to do that."
Gardner said people flocking to festivals including Musikfest, Celtic Classic and Christkindlmarkt continue to increase business.
'Perseverance, faith got us through'
Veronica Moore said she moved to Bethlehem with her family from Chicago, in 2007. She and her husband, Quartz, in 2018 opened Taste Smokers, a barbecue eatery where they also house art made by local creatives.
This year, Taste Smokers will make its vendor debut at Musikfest, next to AwShucks!, one of the festival's longest and most recognizable food stands.
She credited Taste Smokers' customers for success and asked the crowd to continue supporting local shops and stores, year-round.
"During the [coronavirus] pandemic, people in the Lehigh Valley saved small businesses, specifically those who were in the restaurant industry," she said.
"Because of the stipulations that were put into place, there were many times that we were, like, 'What are we going to do? How are we going to make it right?'
"Perseverance, faith, all those things got us through.
"But it was the real serious nature of the consumer. And those who were being able to use power with their dollars to make sure that they said, we're going to sustain our community."
'Access to each other'
Lopez works with businesses and law enforcement agencies to encourage diversity and to build equity in the workplace.
He said his father worked at Bethlehem Steel for nearly 40 years.
"My dad was an operator of probably the largest machine there," she said. "He said to me, 'Junior, just remember that the machines don't break by themselves, that it's broken people who break the machines.'
"That was just so deep and prophetic for me that it's carried me into the work that I do as a DEI practitioner. It's hurt people, who hurt people.
"And I believe the city of Bethlehem has embraced that philosophy as we move forward to build a better community."
During the Q&A, Lopez said the city and its residents are welcoming.
"One thing that I think that's beautiful about the city of Bethlehem is that we have access to each other," he said.
"I can call Mayor [J. William] Reynolds, I actually have his cell [number]. Whoever heard that you have the mayor's cellphone? It's that kind of access. People get back to you right away. And we can have difficult conversations.
"I think that this is a community that actually practices interrupting harm and treats people better than they expect.
"That's how I see this city. It's how we operate. We may not put in those kind of words, but I believe that is now the vibe of this city.
"When you think about the whole Valley, when you think about the state, I believe this is one of the cities that throughout the country people want to move to. That says something."
From one Moravian community to another
Hilgert, who became ArtsQuest chief executive officer in 2014, said she moved to Bethlehem when she was 11.
"I grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina," she said. "For anyone who knows, it is the only other Moravian settlement in the country.
"So when I moved here at 11, [I thought] every city has a Moravian settlement. This is the greatest place in the world.
"A thing that has always stuck with me for a long time and I hope it doesn't sound morbid. I think a lot about God's Acre (a cemetery). God's Acre is where we were all buried next to each other, regardless of where we were in our station in life.
"I think today's Bethlehem is living next to each other in our stations in life, regardless of where we come from.
"I think that's the thing we've got to keep remembering is that when we stand next to each other and we talk to each other, we get together communally to experience anything.
"Our amazing small businesses, our arts and culture, our entrepreneurs. When we stand next to each other, we are literally stronger together."
'Love Letters to Allentown'
In February, Rashid debuted a similarly themed tribute, "Love Letters to Allentown," in partnership with Civic Theatre.
Rashid's first 'Love Letter," or "Carta de Amor," went viral after he was (happily) stranded in Uruguay during the pandemic lockdown in 2020.
The post garnered media attention worldwide.
"I was getting thousands of messages from people around the world and I thought to myself, 'What would it look like if we turned this into something real?'"
Since then he has documented similar heartfelt stories in cities, including New York City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and in Guatemala.
Rashid said his fondness for the Valley started two decades ago, after his friend, attorney Fred Rooney, invited him to the region.
He now owns a home in Bethlehem, where he lives live part-time.
"Every single person on this stage is doing something that they're excited about doing," he said.
"And I think that in a world where you are constantly bombarded with bad news and every time you turn on a TV or open a phone, you are at risk of going into a depression, but to see that there are people that look and come from different places and look differently and have different motivations and dreams and they can all find a place to live, be excited about that place they live, but also what they give to that place, it's very special.
"The thing that blew me away about this film was that everybody is trying to help everybody else out. And we live in New York most of the year, and I don't know if I can say the same thing there.
"You know, now it's a different speed and a certain thing, but New York is very, you know, it's very much like, 'Go and get yours.'
"And in Bethlehem, people actually look out for each other, businesses come together to create together."
