Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd. Buy me some Straw Hat and Bean Coffee — I don’t care if I ever come back!

This spring baseball season at UPMC Park may feel a little more like downtown North East. For the first time, more than a dozen local North East businesses are being showcased at every Erie SeaWolves home game through a “Make it a Grape Day in North East PA” billboard created by Downtown North East, Inc.

The banner highlights the incredible variety of businesses that make North East such a special destination — from overnight stays at Brickyard Inn, to dining at Skunk and Goat Tavern, relaxation at Bella Salon and Day Spa, and exciting entertainment at Lake Erie Speedway.

The North East presence doesn’t stop there. As fans walk through the ballpark, they can grab a sweet treat from The Straw Hat Creamery, fuel up with bottled iced coffee from The Bean, or unwind with a beverage from Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co.

So let’s root, root, root for these hometown businesses as they bring a taste of little North East to the heart of downtown Erie. Be sure to support these local treasures all summer long, and keep your eyes peeled for the grape billboard proudly displayed among Erie County’s most prominent businesses.