MONROE UNFILTERED: THE DAILY BUZZ | August 28
Monroe's Sweetest Five and a Celebrity Alum Gives Back
Friday, August 28, 2026
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DAILY WEATHER
Friday stays mostly dry, just a 20 percent chance of a stray afternoon shower, with a high near 82°F. The weekend looks great: Saturday, expect a high somewhere in the high 70s to low 80s and plenty of sun, good timing if you're headed to one of the Farmers Markets in Stroudsburg (or any of the others; check out our list of Farmers Markets from a couple weeks back). Sunday holds in the low to mid 80s with a mostly sunny sky and just a slim chance of an afternoon sprinkle. Monday closes things out similarly, a high near 82°F, mostly cloudy, with a modest chance of showers creeping in by afternoon.
FIVE BEST OF MONROE: CANDY STORES
Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop (4.8 ★, 400 reviews). A Main Street institution that's part candy shop, part Hershey's ice cream counter. Walk in for the classic candy wall and stay for the sundaes.
639 Main St, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Callie's Candy Kitchen (4.7 ★, 820 reviews). Family-owned since 1952, with observation windows so you can watch the chocolate and candy get made right in front of you.
1111 PA-390, Mountainhome, PA 18342
Country Kettle (4.6 ★, 1,390 reviews). A gift shop turned bulk-candy destination since 1986, with barrels of old-fashioned favorites alongside its country-store gifts.
2523 Milford Rd, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Gertrude Hawk Chocolates (4.3 ★, 35 reviews). The outlet location of the Scranton-based chocolate maker, a reliable pick for gift boxes and seasonal favorites.
1000 Premium Outlets Dr, Suite H-02, Tannersville, PA 18372
Chocolate Works (3.9 ★, 147 reviews). Gourmet molded chocolates and dipped treats at the outlets, a solid stop if you're already shopping Tannersville.
1000 Premium Outlets Dr, Suite C-05, Tannersville, PA 18372
Plus One: A New Name Worth Watching. Gris Dubai Chocolate Delight is a one-woman operation out of a self-serve cart in Tobyhanna, and it's worth knowing about early. Gris is a college student building this whole thing as a side hustle, turning out Dubai-chocolate-inspired bars and cake pops loaded with pistachio cream and crispy kunafa. Cart hours run 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends at 313 Memorial Blvd in Tobyhanna, with new flavors and events posted regularly on her Facebook page. Full disclosure: Gris has promised me some of her chocolates if this feature sends some orders or follows her way, so do yourself (and me!) a favor and head over to her Facebook page or place an order.
THE DAILY RUNDOWN
Steelers' Own Gives Back to Stroudsburg. Stroudsburg High School alum and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day is kicking off the new school year at his alma mater with a Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway. Through his Joseph-Day Family Foundation, 250 backpacks and school supply kits, stocked with notebooks, folders, pencils and more, will go to local K-6 kids on a first-come, first-served basis. The giveaway runs alongside Stroudsburg football's home opener against George Washington, doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the event kicking off at 7 p.m. at Ross-Stulgaitis Stadium. Joseph-Day himself will miss the event due to Steelers commitments, but his parents will be there representing the foundation, which is also getting support this year from 2Moda and Vessel Golf. “Stroudsburg will always be home,” Joseph-Day said. “I'm grateful to be in a position where my family and I can give back to the community that supported me growing up.”
Route 209 Corridor Gets a New Mission Statement. Middle Smithfield Township's Revitalize 209 Committee has sent a revised mission statement to the board of supervisors, aiming to broaden its matching-grant program beyond building facades, curb appeal and safety upgrades. The committee, launched in 2023 with $375K in funding matched dollar for dollar by applicants, could soon add categories like roadway signage grants to the mix. Township officials hope to finalize the new scope by year's end, with new projects to pursue starting January 2027.
GET OUT: THE WEEKEND ITINERARY
Thank you to the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau for sourcing our weekend lineups. Their events calendar did the legwork so you don't have to. Here are our picks:
Eight Foot Manchild at Sherman Theater (Sherman Showcase Room), Stroudsburg. A one-night show from the genre-bending funk and hip-hop outfit. Fri 8/28, doors 7 p.m., showtime 8 p.m. $15 to $21.10.
Jason Bishop: Straight Up Magic at Camelback Resort, Valley View Room, Tannersville. Closing weekend for this touring magic and comedy show. Fri 8/28 and Sat 8/29, 8 to 9:30 p.m. $45 general admission, $65 reserved (rows 1 to 3).
Farmers Markets at Courthouse Square and Ann Street in Stroudsburg. A weekend favorite returns Saturday with local produce, baked goods and more, 8 a.m. to noon, free to attend.
Have a great weekend, Monroe County.