Four Places I Can’t Live Without: Andrew T. LeFever

In this series, we’re asking some of Lancaster’s latest and greatest what their favorite hot spots in the cities are, for food, for relaxation, and everything in-between.

Molly’s Pub, 253 East Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17602

Even if this spot was not half a block from my house, I would love it. However, the fact that I can see it from my front porch certainly does not hurt. Molly’s Pub is truly a neighborhood bar. Re-opened in spring of 2017, this is one of the few remaining haunts in Lancaster where you can grab a seat at the bar and have a conversation (there’s no TV!) and an excellent burger (I recommend the Mollywood). The people-watching is top notch and features a cast of regulars that really make Molly’s the quintessential neighborhood joint. This place is the real deal: the owner even helped clean my gutters one fall afternoon!

Limerick Deli, 601 N. Lime Street, Lancaster, PA 17602

I love sandwiches. A lot. And when this brand-new deli showed up on the scene, I made it a priority to get there and scope it out. I was definitely not disappointed. This unassuming shop serves a mean Rueben, the sandwich by which I measure the worth of any delicatessen. The excellent food, along with the friendly staff, make Limerick Deli an awesome new addition to the northeast. And they deliver!

Lancaster Public Library, 125 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602

At any given time, I am reading at least two books. As I finish one, I replace it with another. Our public library is just about halfway between the Courthouse, where I work as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office, and my home on the 200 block of East Chestnut Street, which makes my nearly weekly need to exchange books extremely easy. Convenience aside, if I had to buy all of these books, I would be broke and my house would not have a square foot of empty space. Libraries are one of the last places where there is no expectation that a person buy anything. This may seem like an odd point to make, but as someone who is an insatiable reader, this place is nothing short of a miracle. Sometimes I go there with a list of books that I want to find, and other times I just wander around the shelves aimlessly over my lunch break and leave empty-handed. The Lancaster Public Library also offers an array of amenities, including public computers, WiFi, and a business center. Our public library is an important public treasure and is one of my favorite places in Lancaster.   

Musser Park, 135 North Lime Street, Lancaster, PA 17602

I am fortunate enough to live across the street from Musser Park. Being this close to any open space in a city is a rarity, but Musser Park feels different. Known as “the green heart of Lancaster,” the park is perennially busy with dog-walkers, joggers, and depending on the time of year, kids sledding or playing soccer. During the hotter months, there is a huge fourth of July festival and on Sundays, there is a farmer’s market in the Park where I had Harvest Moon Bagel Co. bagels for the first time (they have opened a brick-and-mortar bagel shop at 47 North Queen Street. The Lox Sandwich is my go-to order. Trust me on this.) Come fall, the entire northeast converges there for trick-or-treat. It is a place where neighbors come together as neighbors, and in a world that feels increasingly divided, those hallowed places that unite people are more important than ever.