By AnnaBelle Boone / The Jambar
Despite the chill outside, Penguin City Brewery Co. held its first night market of 2025 from 5-9 p.m. Feb. 20, with several local vendors in attendance.
Each market spotlights a different nonprofit, with this month’s being the Austintown-based Gateway to Better Living. According to its website, the foundation helps those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Along with the featured nonprofit, the market showcased an artist workshop. Michelle Hillier, an abstract artist from Boardman, creates pieces by mixing mediums like paints, wood and plaster. Hillier returns to the market after representing artist of the month in June 2024.
Abstract Sip n Paint with Brianna was the featured workshop. An instructor guided those who attended through an abstract-painting lesson, paired with Penguin City drinks.
Some of the market vendors in attendance included Amelia’s Crystal Place, Food 4 Your Soul, LL Arts and No Double Dippin.
Christopher Lesko also attended as one of the vendors. Lesko, an author from northeast Ohio, has written 10 books and designed the covers.
“That’s what’s been fun with having creative control over the covers and whatever else,” Lesko said. “Yeah, you can get a book submitted somewhere and then you don’t like the cover … then you don’t feel as good about the book anymore. That’s another reason why I was like, ‘I’ll just do it myself.’”
Lesko said all of his books are self-published under his banner, Leskocrazy Press.
“‘The Locals Are Watching You’ seems to be a fun one. I was finally getting into a groove of being able to tell a longer story, and I was really quite proud of that one when I finished,” Lesko said.
Audrey Smith, a Youngstown State University student studying forensic science, attended the night market.
“The night market was amazing. It’s great for students to see what’s available locally, and to have something so close to campus,” Smith said.
Smith said she frequently attends the weekly events held at Penguin City, from the night market to karaoke 9 p.m. to close every Thursday.
“The night market is a great thing for the community and small businesses of the area. It brings people together and lets them see vendors and food trucks they might not have known about before,” Smith said.
Penguin City keeps an updated list of its weekly events on Instagram, @penguincitybeer. The next night market is planned for 5-9 p.m. March 20.