The first time we met AnnMarie, THEA's founder and chef, we exchanged hugs before the conversation was finished. She said, "I'm a hugger . . . I'm from a Greek family, we hug!" to which Dean replied, "Me too. I'm from an Italian family, and we hug. In fact, you could be one of my cousins!" From then on, we have felt the family and community connection that is cultivated at her restaurant. Family is literally built into the restaurant's name: according to AnnMarie, thea is Greek for aunt, and the excitement of stepping into your relative's home for a meal is the feeling she creates.
Sharing live music at THEA has been a joy for us over the years. When we play, at some point in the evening, we will see AnnMarie come out to walk around the tables and make a personal connection with her guests, asking if everything is okay. The sense of community there is in the air, and we love to be there and add to the atmosphere with our appreciation for music and good food. We have many wonderful memories of events at THEA, from the Arcona Fire and Ice Festival to the ABBA themed party hosted by the Harrisburg Symphony Society.
The community care at THEA was especially evident during the pandemic, and in the summer of 2020, we played there weekly to help out, while AnnMarie served the neighborhood by making family meals to go. Community was built on the outdoor patio that year, with people's intensified need for interaction and the heightened emotions that came with the loss of connection with others. One night, after dining with family members, a woman approached us and asked us to play at her mother's funeral; she was visiting from the West Coast, but their family home was nearby, and she told us that her mother would have enjoyed the evening at THEA and the music. We also remember Dean's best friend (and our bandmate), Graham, dancing to the music on the patio with his wife, Priscila, on her birthday. Tragically, we lost Graham to covid a few months later, and we hold this memory dear to our hearts. Another night, we were scheduled to play, and Dean's father was in hospice care. Our kids joined us for dinner on the patio, and we were all ministered to with extra TLC from AnnMarie.
There are many other stories about AnnMarie's energetic care for her community, like the time she drove out to meet people who were lost and the special dishes she makes for customers, and we are sure there will be many more. This is just a small sampling of what AnnMarie provides using her talent for creating unique dishes and for building connections. Our experience at THEA encompasses the best of music, community, and love, and we are glad to share in it!
Love, The Villones
