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Grotto Pizza is determined to show its Harveys Lake location is a desirable place to spend a summer weekend.
The lakeside restaurant will launch an entertainment series beginning Memorial Day weekend, Friday through Sunday, and continuing throughout the late spring and summer, that will feature live music, unique beer offers, a new Grotto mascot, and a Friday night shuttle between Pittston and Harveys Lake.
On Friday, a shuttle will begin transporting people from Susquehanna Brewing Company in Pittston to Grotto Harveys at 5 p.m. and will continue making round trips until 11 p.m. The service will run every Friday through June at least.
An exclusive firkin of SBC Blueberry IPA will be tapped at 7 p.m. Grotto Director of Marketing Tony DeCosmo said the “one-off” firkins will be tapped three times throughout the summer.
“The firkins are low volume, so it’s going to be a unique flavor blend that will only be available that Friday at Grotto Haveys Lake,” DeCosmo said. “We’ll be selling growlers. We sell out quickly, so you’ll want to get out there and try it.”
Live music will begin at 8:30 p.m. when Strawberry Jam brings their classic rock stylings to the restaurant.
Saturday will keep the tunes rolling with Stingray Delpriore’s Whiskey Hill Project, which goes on at 5 p.m.
“It’s an all original project,” Delpriore said. “We just finished a six-song EP we did over the winter. That’s going to be there with us. We’ll be doing Whiskey Hill Project songs and some cover stuff.”
Delpriore, a known blues man and jazz performer, said his latest work touches on a several genres that cater to each specific song.
“I wrote a song in 2016 called ‘2016,’” Delpriore said. “It was about the state of affairs at the time. It’s not too different than what Neil Young did on ‘Rockin’ in the Free World.’ I did a song called ‘Any Day Now,’ and it’s kind of ballady.”
Delpriore said one of his projects was first to play at the Grotto “back when they started doing music,” and that he’s looking forward to returning.
“It’s a really nicely run operation,” Delpriore said. “The hospitality is second to none. They’re super fair about everything.”
While Whiskey Hill entertains inside, patrons can enjoy a party on the deck, hosted by Grotto’s new pirate mascot, Captain G.
“He’ll be doing a lot of improvising, and entertaining with little contests and jokes,” DeCosmo said of the mascot. You’ll be able to get your picture taken with Captain G. against a backdrop for selfies.”
Actor John Beppler, of Larksville, has previous experience as a mascot and has been hired to portray the swashbuckling deck host, who’ll be awarding prizes and handing out giveaways at each outdoor party.
“In a way, I’m emceeing, being everywhere at once,” Beppler said. “As an actor, I’m a high energy guy. I plan on taking all of that energy and focusing it on this Captain G. character and making it fun for everyone else so they can relax, have some drinks and have some fun they might not be used to.
We want to make each deck party different than the previous one. I’m going to try to keep everything off the cuff. Who knows what will happen.”
Saturdays will also feature beer varieties from Heavy Seas Beer, of Baltimore.
BNC DJ will keep patrons dancing from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 8 p.m. will be the start time for musical entertainment on Saturdays throughout June.
Grotto will welcome Outta the Blue for a 3 p.m. performance on Sunday, which will close the book on the opening weekend.
DeCosmo said he has a “nice mix” of local favorites and acts from outside the area planned for coming months.
“Every week, we’re going to have somebody who’s a little different and brings their own playlist,” he said. “It’s never going to be the same thing twice. That’s particularly on Saturday nights.”
DeCosmo said the coming summer’s full schedule of live music and deck parties is a way of reminding patrons how much fun Grotto Harveys Lake can be.
“Grotto Pizza at Harveys Lake has been a summer destination for generations, and this year, we’re trying to re-emphasize that Grotto Harveys Lake is like a little resort in your own backyard,” DeCosmo said. “You can do fun, exciting, unique things with great entertainment without having to get in your car and drive a couple hours.”
DeCosmo noted that Grotto’s new beer, a reworked version of SBC’s Sunset on the Lake is only available at the three Grotto locations in Pennsylvania (Harvey’s Lake, Edwardsville and Wilkes-Barre).
“The recipe was tweaked a little bit for 2017, and we think it’s better than ever,” he said. “The other thing we have that’s unique is that you can’t get Grotto pizza anywhere except Grotto Pizza.”
For a comprehensive schedule of future entertainment at Grotto Harveys Lake, visit grottopizzapa.com.
