By Jennifer Oehme Knepper, RN

Founder of Lancaster Gifts That Give Hope Alternative Gift Fair

Years ago at a farmers market, I asked a candlemaker which scent was his favorite. He paused and told me that my question was akin to asking which of his children was his favorite – impossible. 

This was the exact sentiment that I was flooded with when asked to narrow down my three favorite things in Lancaster. To choose favorites, for me, is always a tricky business because I tend to be that person that says, “THIS is my favorite Beatles’ song” about nearly all of their catalog. 

I can say with certainty, however, that my top three favorite things in life center around coffee, plants, and books – and any iterations of such. (And if you tell me that a place exists where all three of these items are in plentiful supply, I will make my way there promptly!) 

All of this being said, my absolute favorite thing is to connect with friends old and new, building bridges in our community. So reach out anytime to grab coffee, discuss books, or propagate some plants together!

  1. I spent my childhood immersed in the smells, tastes, and sounds of the clanking machinery of my family’s pie bakery, which was started in 1947 upon my Grandfather’s and Great Uncle’s returns from WWII. Because of my nostalgia for all things related to pie, my first favorite is Lancaster Pie and Coffee, where I’ve come to love their hand-held triple berry pie, as well as the ambience of the shop which harkens back to my childhood.
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    lancasterpieandcoffee.com

  2. I love stopping into Frey’s Greenhouse on Columbia Avenue to peruse their seasonal greenhouse offerings. My house is filled with a variety of plants, and taking care of them and seeing the greenery during the bleak winter season helps buoy my spirits and stave off the winter blues. And I always make a trip to Frey’s when they open for spring planting!
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    freysgreenhouse.com/lancaster-pa

  3. I’ve come to love the Nooks, a bookstore just a few stops down from Lancaster Pie and Coffee. The shop is owned by Maile and Shawn Smucker who offer such a warm and inviting atmosphere to shop for books. Maile even assisted with curating a thoughtful list of books for the annual Gifts That Give Hope Alternative Gift Fair, where we host a Human Rights Day scavenger hunt; upon completion, each participant can earn a free book on a variety of topics, such as access to clean water, disability rights, welcoming refugees and immigrants, affordable housing, and more!
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    nooks.gallery