CHADDS FORD: Train display

The annual model train layout at the Brandywine River Museum will stay open for an extra few weeks, but it's leaving the station on Sunday, January 28. Some friends of ours went to see the huge display and couldn't wait to show us their photos and videos, one of which involved a UFO landing beside the track.

The Museum is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for senior citizens ages 65 and over, $6 for students and children ages 6 and up, and free for children 5 and younger and members.

 

COLD: Why people move South

How the senior Tally-hos would have enjoyed hearing about this cold snap -- from the comfort of their Gulf Coast condo, of course.
"It got HOW COLD?! Oh my goodness! Have to run, dear; the cocktail party by the pool is just starting. Stay warm!"

MISSING: Where are they?

Did anyone else have problems with the missing packages this Christmas? I didn't receive two parcels, one from England and one from Minnesota. Unfortunately, the one from England was a calendar. I'm hoping they both show up eventually.
A friend reports that he ordered some CDs, and even though he paid extra for two-day delivery, they never showed up. He called the company and they sent replacements, which arrived in the nick of time -- on Christmas Eve.

COLD: Single digits

It has been so cold this week that 15 degrees F. actually felt pretty darn comfortable today (Jan. 5) if you were well wrapped up and out in the sunshine.
According to Intellicast, the averages for January in Kennett Square are a low of 21 and a high of 39. The record low for January is minus 16, set on Jan. 22, 1984. And the record high for January (should you be interested) is 73, which was recorded on Jan. 25, 1967; Jan. 14, 1972; and Jan. 30, 2002.

KENNETT Y: The January effect

The parking lot at the Kennett Y was packed as I pulled in for my Friday-evening class. What's going on? I wondered
Then it struck me: Of course! It's the January effect.
It happens every year. People make well-meaning New Year's resolutions to lose weight and get in shape and join the Y. Unfortunately, a lot of them show up for only a few weeks and are never seen again, and the parking lot returns to its normal level of craziness.  
Come on: prove me wrong, newcomers!

KENNETT: Cold case

We were at the Giant at 8:30 p.m. on a Saturday night -- yes, this is kind of social life Tilda has when it's 10 degrees outside. The self-service registers were being a little finicky, possibly due to the cold, or maybe they were just toying with the amusingly laid-back attendant.
The man next to us was having trouble getting his register to work, when the attendant pointed out that the bottom edge of the shopper's coat was on the scale, impeding his check-out progress.
We pointed out that this could be useful if he wanted to know how much his coat weighed.
"I hope it's heavy," he said good-naturedly, "because it's really cold out."
In weather like this, I so appreciate having an inside job and indoor pets. The only reason I really need to go outside, in fact, is to fill the bird feeder each morning. You've probably heard the same stories I have about frozen pipes, heaters on the fritz, dead car batteries and overloaded circuit-breakers.
The Kennett Walmart earlier in the week was fully stocked with space heaters; on Saturday morning, though, only a few high-end models remained. Lowe's in Avondale still had a good supply of snow shovels and rock salt (and all the blends thereof).  

KENNETT SQUARE: Bistro closes

La Madera Bistro, 102 E. State St. in Kennett Square, has been sold, and another restaurant is expected to open there within weeks. I'm told that the new owners will honor all gift certificates. La Madera opened after Byrsa Bistro, which formerly occupied the space, moved to Glen Mills in spring 2016.
And less than a block away, at 120 E. State Street, the vacant brick building that used to house the Kennett Café is up for lease once again. Zommick McMahon has the listing, and they describe the partly renovated property as a "landmark downtown building" with "abundant public parking nearby." Back in 2010 or so, Jack McFadden started to redo the building with hopes of opening a tapas restaurant, but his plans fizzled.