Erie Reader

12/12/2025

For some people, the Erie Reader's album review section is the first page they flip to when a new issue drops. Our group of regular album reviewers represent a diverse range of tastes, genres, styles, and preferences and it's always fun to get their take on the best albums of the year. In 2025, their picks range from indie darlings, singer-songwriters, metal lords, super-hip hip-hop, and everything in between.

Top Five Favorite Albums of 2025 ⬇️

12/11/2025

Join the cast of the Erie Playhouse's production of Frozen, running now through the beginning of January. This is one of the first community theater productions in the country of this Disney musical, and the folks at the Playhouse are pulling out all the stops to make it as magical as possible.

More by Cara Suppa at the link below ⬇️

12/11/2025

The The 10/20 Collective will be hosting their third annual Holiday Bazaar during the upcoming Erie Art Museum Gallery Night, combining an art and shopping experience.

Full details by Erica Stewart below ⬇️

12/11/2025

From the Editors: December 2025
It's about time ⏰

It's about time

12/11/2025

The Erie Reader's Year in Review issue is out on select newsstands and online throughout the month!

Grab your FREE copy today. 📰

Cover illustration and layout: Nick Warren

12/11/2025

Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide 2025 🎁

The Impossible to Buy For 🛍️

There's always that one person… that person who has everything, wants for nothing, is happy just being around loved ones during the holiday season. But to give them nothing just seems wrong, especially as these folks tend to be among the most important in our lives. Consider donating to a local nonprofit in their honor, one that is especially meaningful to your giftee.

Booking a session for family photos at a local photography studio or on site with a local photographer will provide another opportunity to get all of the family together, with plenty of mementos to treasure.

Make them something! As a parent myself, I can say that my children will never be too old to give me something handmade that I will love forever. Look out for workshops and classes at Blasco Memorial Library's Idea Lab Erie County Public Library – whether it's 3D printing, laser cutting or engraving, button making, book binding, and more – to make something unique and from the heart. Additionally, art spaces like Erie ClaySpace, Grounded Print and Paper Shop, and the Erie Art Museum offer plenty of classes that will have you coming away with something tangible and creative to give that hard-to-buy-for person.

And, if I may be so bold, consider gifting a subscription to this very publication that is enriching your life right now. The Erie Reader is and always will be free to read, but it is definitely not free to make. If you know your loved one enjoys our publication and would like to see local print media continue to bolster our community, consider subscribing your loved one for $15 a month. Your giftee will then have the Reader sent to their door every month (along with other fun perks). Click the donate button at the top of our website to learn more!

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Reader to all of you! We couldn't do any of this without you!

12/11/2025

Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide 2025 🎁

The Teenager 😼

Coming from someone who has one of those newly formed teen-aged people, I can say with certainty that the best possible gift for any member of Gen Z is whatever will get them out of their rooms and experiencing the community!

Escape rooms! Erie has options like Escape Room Erie and Covert Escape Games Erie to get your teen together with friends, working as a team, and hanging out in a wholesome way.

Consider tickets: a pops concert with the Erie Philharmonic, a cool, all-ages local show at Centennial Hall Erie, or a big-name comedy act at the Warner Theatre or Kellar's Magic & Comedy Club.

For the sportier kiddos, consider a Peek'n Peak Resort ski pass or an afternoon of kayaking with Presque Isle Canoe & Boat Livery Boat Rental to get them outdoors, active, and enjoying Erie's natural resources. Or for the animal-loving teen, book them a snuggle session at Purrista Cat Cafe. Gift that kid an hour getting whimsical with some adoptable kitties. What teen among us couldn't use a bit more whimsy?

Full guide below ⬇️

12/11/2025

Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide 2025 🎁

The Green Thumb 🌱

Any real gardener will tell you that their season truly doesn't end. The winter months are spent dreaming and planning the eventual bounty of their spring and summer gardens. Facilitating their winter dreams by gifting them gardening gear will guarantee a healthy pile of homegrown zucchini on your doorstep come July. Good Ideas,Inc. is a locally owned manufacturer of high quality lawn and garden products. Nearly all of their goods are produced right here in Erie County, at their Lake City facility. Rain barrels, composters, planters, and raised beds are sure to please any green thumb.

For more indoor greenery, there are a number of small, independent plant propagators as alternatives to a trip to the greenhouse. Consider shopping super small and supporting Steph's Sprouts, Neon Plant Co. or Choppy Poppy's Plants & Propagations and bringing some of the outside in.

More by Erin Phillips below ⬇️

12/10/2025

Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide 2025 🎁

The Gym Rat! 💪

The holidays often come followed up by New Year's resolutions – if you know your loved one has set health goals for themselves in the new year, a gift gym membership or gift card to their gym of choice would be a welcome boost.

If your giftee is a runner, consider some new gear or gadgets from the Achilles Running Shop Erie – with quality products and experts who know all the challenges of the roads and trails, they're sure to get you set up with something that will be appreciated.

John Adams Cycling & Fitness carries top-of-the-line cycling gear, accessories, and bikes, but they also encourage fitness through cycling in all ways – and in Erie in the wintertime, that often means the stationary variety. Keep your cyclist fit all year round with an indoor trainer or a gift card towards one.

Full guide below ⬇️

12/10/2025

The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from November 20, 2025

Summary of public comments, ordinances, and Erie County's 2026 Budget

12/10/2025

Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide 2025 🎁

The Cinephile 🎬

During the wintertime in Erie it can be very easy to sink into that "Homebody" archetype, especially if you're the movie-watching sort. Getting the film buff on your list off the couch is the real gift. Consider scheduling them a screening of their favorite movie at the Erie Movie House – you can rent the space, bring your friends, and your favorite movie. They'll screen it, provide the popcorn, and access to arcade games. Seeing A Christmas Story or It's a Wonderful Life on the big screen? That's some holiday magic!

For more of an arthouse vibe, Film Erie, the newest incarnation of the Film Society of NWPA, is offering weekly screenings of indie films locally at the 1020 Collective in their Film1020 series. Tickets to a show or two is the perfect experience gift for the cinephile on your list.

Full gift guide below ⬇️