Champagne, hors d'oeuvres and music at Longwood Gardens? The Kennett Symphony is speaking my language! The fundraiser starts at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17, in the Conservatory, with a "musical showcase" at 8 p.m. The event honors Music Director and Conductor Mary Woodmansee Green, who is celebrating her 25th year with the symphony.
Tickets are $75; you can buy them by phone (610-444-6363) or at the symphony's website (www.kennettsymphony.org).
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Parseltongue
While out walking on this glorious warm Saturday, I came upon a little garter snake, maybe 16 inches long. I gently picked him up and stroked his little head while his red forked tongue fluttered in and out and his body wrapped around my hand. My city-boy walking partner was deeply uncomfortable: he was sure I'd get bitten and he'd have to summon help, but fortunately the little guy yawned and even City Boy could see he didn't have fangs in his pink mouth. I put him back under some dead leaves, and as we speak, the little fellow is probably regaling his snaky friends with his adventure.
Motion carried
Now here's a tennis group I would like to join.
I was waiting for a friend near the courts at Anson Nixon Park on Saturday afternoon, and three ladies were warming up. Their friend was late, and they were talking about what penalties should be imposed for tardiness during the upcoming season. One suggested that the latecomer should have to buy the first round at Happy Hour after the match. The others immediately agreed.
By the way, if you stop by the park, check out the beautiful display of snowdrops. They are all over the place!
I was waiting for a friend near the courts at Anson Nixon Park on Saturday afternoon, and three ladies were warming up. Their friend was late, and they were talking about what penalties should be imposed for tardiness during the upcoming season. One suggested that the latecomer should have to buy the first round at Happy Hour after the match. The others immediately agreed.
By the way, if you stop by the park, check out the beautiful display of snowdrops. They are all over the place!
Friday, March 8, 2013
High School Musical
"Boo the Nazis! Hiss the Baroness!"
The kids at Octorara Area High School have chosen "The Sound of Music" as their spring play, and in additional to the traditional show they're also performing a sing-along version with audience participation.
The traditional show will be at 7:30 p.m. March 15 and 16, and the sing-along version will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, at the high school auditorium at Route 41 and Highland Road. (And by the way, I'm not sure we should be hissing the Baroness: I thought she bowed out rather gracefully when she saw that the Captain was smitten by that perky governess. Too bad Bertha Rochester wasn't so accommodating.)
I didn't get to see "Guys and Dolls," which was Unionville High School's choice for the spring show, but I warn everyone involved in the production, and I speak from personal experience: every song in that show has already planted itself firmly in your brain. In 30 years, you will STILL remember every word of "Luck Be a Lady" and "Adelaide's Lament" and "Marry the Man Today" and "I've Never Been in Love Before" and "Follow the Fold" and ... I could go on, and on, and on.
The kids at Octorara Area High School have chosen "The Sound of Music" as their spring play, and in additional to the traditional show they're also performing a sing-along version with audience participation.
The traditional show will be at 7:30 p.m. March 15 and 16, and the sing-along version will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, at the high school auditorium at Route 41 and Highland Road. (And by the way, I'm not sure we should be hissing the Baroness: I thought she bowed out rather gracefully when she saw that the Captain was smitten by that perky governess. Too bad Bertha Rochester wasn't so accommodating.)
I didn't get to see "Guys and Dolls," which was Unionville High School's choice for the spring show, but I warn everyone involved in the production, and I speak from personal experience: every song in that show has already planted itself firmly in your brain. In 30 years, you will STILL remember every word of "Luck Be a Lady" and "Adelaide's Lament" and "Marry the Man Today" and "I've Never Been in Love Before" and "Follow the Fold" and ... I could go on, and on, and on.
Sushi pizza
"Sushi pizza" -- sounds like a disagreement over what to have for dinner in our global society, doesn't it?
But it's one of the recent additions to the menu at Lily Asian Cuisine on State Street in Kennett, and from the description it sounded so intriguing that I decided to go for it. It comes in the shape of a small pizza, cut into wedges, with a crispy sushi rice patty as the crust. On top of the crust is a layer of avocado, which is then covered with pieces of sushi.
It was so delicious I totally failed to keep up my end of the conversation. Not that my dinner partner noticed: he was blissed out himself with the blisteringly hot Tom Yum seafood soup.
But it's one of the recent additions to the menu at Lily Asian Cuisine on State Street in Kennett, and from the description it sounded so intriguing that I decided to go for it. It comes in the shape of a small pizza, cut into wedges, with a crispy sushi rice patty as the crust. On top of the crust is a layer of avocado, which is then covered with pieces of sushi.
It was so delicious I totally failed to keep up my end of the conversation. Not that my dinner partner noticed: he was blissed out himself with the blisteringly hot Tom Yum seafood soup.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Overblown
The meteorologists get me every single darn time.
Days in advance they start making ominous predictions about snow. The total snowfall expected increases with each update, and little red icons warning about "SEVERE WEATHER" pop up on my Droid.
And because I love big snowstorms, I get all excited, make sure there's plenty of seed in the bird feeders, check the weather map every hour to see if the blue area is swirling any closer, and open every conversation with an eager "Well, what do you hear?!"
And then: the storm shifts, or things don't play out as dramatically as predicted, and once again it's a total fizzle.
Here in southern Chester County on Wednesday, we were supposed to be on the line between getting 6 to 10 inches of snow and 3 to 5 inches. What we ended up getting was a little bit of rain and some gusty winds. I saw maybe three snowflakes.
But as a result of the inaccurate forecasts, "The Hot Club of Philadelphia," the Gypsy jazz concert scheduled at the Kennett Flash, was postponed "just to be on the safe side." (The organizer said she wasn't happy about having to cancel, but "the history of jazz is full of musicians crashing on their way to and from gigs!")
Sure, meteorology is not an exact science, and I can understand that some storms don't behave as predicted. But just for a change, I'd love to see the weather people acknowledge that fact instead of inevitably predicting the worse-case scenario as a certainty. Wouldn't that be a pleasant novelty?
Days in advance they start making ominous predictions about snow. The total snowfall expected increases with each update, and little red icons warning about "SEVERE WEATHER" pop up on my Droid.
And because I love big snowstorms, I get all excited, make sure there's plenty of seed in the bird feeders, check the weather map every hour to see if the blue area is swirling any closer, and open every conversation with an eager "Well, what do you hear?!"
And then: the storm shifts, or things don't play out as dramatically as predicted, and once again it's a total fizzle.
Here in southern Chester County on Wednesday, we were supposed to be on the line between getting 6 to 10 inches of snow and 3 to 5 inches. What we ended up getting was a little bit of rain and some gusty winds. I saw maybe three snowflakes.
But as a result of the inaccurate forecasts, "The Hot Club of Philadelphia," the Gypsy jazz concert scheduled at the Kennett Flash, was postponed "just to be on the safe side." (The organizer said she wasn't happy about having to cancel, but "the history of jazz is full of musicians crashing on their way to and from gigs!")
Sure, meteorology is not an exact science, and I can understand that some storms don't behave as predicted. But just for a change, I'd love to see the weather people acknowledge that fact instead of inevitably predicting the worse-case scenario as a certainty. Wouldn't that be a pleasant novelty?
Stimulating the economy
A friend upon whom Fortune, and a wealthy husband, have smiled reports that she is back from West Palm Beach and just replaced her aging Porsche with a silver Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet. "My spouse is awesome!" she says. "Ok, yeah, it's my money too. He's just agreed to let me spend more than the portion I earned. Plus I do have the whole horse thing."
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Just so they don't frighten the horses
At their March 5 meeting, the West Marlborough Township supervisors heard a request from a West Chester man who wants to cap off his daughter's Sept. 7 wedding reception at the Stone Barn with a 15-minute professional fireworks display.
The board's concern was that the noise might frighten the horses at nearby farms.
"There's some fairly expensive horseflesh of one type or another" near there, said Supervisor Bill Wylie, as he and fellow Supervisor Mike Ledyard listed the prominent farms within earshot of the Stone Barn. "I would hate for a horse to run through a fence."
The father agreed to e-mail the board more information about the proposed display and would give them the contact information for his pyrotechnics expert so that the board could talk to the neighbors, who might want to keep their horses inside for the evening.
The board's concern was that the noise might frighten the horses at nearby farms.
"There's some fairly expensive horseflesh of one type or another" near there, said Supervisor Bill Wylie, as he and fellow Supervisor Mike Ledyard listed the prominent farms within earshot of the Stone Barn. "I would hate for a horse to run through a fence."
The father agreed to e-mail the board more information about the proposed display and would give them the contact information for his pyrotechnics expert so that the board could talk to the neighbors, who might want to keep their horses inside for the evening.
Compost coda
Will Russell Jones get his $2,500 conditional-use application fee back?
No, he won't, the West Marlborough Township supervisors decided at their March 5 meeting. They said that even though he withdrew his zoning request, the township still incurred costs related to the case: they had to pay the court stenographer's fees -- Bill Handy showed up for both of the hearings that were scheduled but not held -- as well as for the time of the township engineer and the township solicitor.
"I think we've used his money up," said Supervisors' Chairman Michael Ledyard.
For those of you unfamiliar with this story, Mr. Jones ran into opposition -- from the Brandywine Conservancy, from neighbors, and even from some landowners who aren't neighbors -- when he decided to allow, for a fee, spent mushroom soil to be trucked onto his Hood Road property, piled into mounds and left to decompose into potting soil, which would be removed, bagged and sold. The township pointed out that he needed to apply for conditional use permission, and he did so.
A hearing was set for Jan. 17, but it was postponed because Mr. Jones was in the process of hammering out an agreement with the Conservancy (which has an easement on the property).
Then, just before the second hearing on Feb. 21, Mr. Jones and his attorney reached an agreement with the township in which he promised to remove the compost by Nov. 1. That meant that the need for conditional use permission was moot, and Mr. Jones's attorney withdrew the application. Case closed.
One resident at the meeting suggested that the township put in writing that application fees are nonrefundable if the township does incur costs, just so applicants are aware of the situation upfront.
No, he won't, the West Marlborough Township supervisors decided at their March 5 meeting. They said that even though he withdrew his zoning request, the township still incurred costs related to the case: they had to pay the court stenographer's fees -- Bill Handy showed up for both of the hearings that were scheduled but not held -- as well as for the time of the township engineer and the township solicitor.
"I think we've used his money up," said Supervisors' Chairman Michael Ledyard.
For those of you unfamiliar with this story, Mr. Jones ran into opposition -- from the Brandywine Conservancy, from neighbors, and even from some landowners who aren't neighbors -- when he decided to allow, for a fee, spent mushroom soil to be trucked onto his Hood Road property, piled into mounds and left to decompose into potting soil, which would be removed, bagged and sold. The township pointed out that he needed to apply for conditional use permission, and he did so.
A hearing was set for Jan. 17, but it was postponed because Mr. Jones was in the process of hammering out an agreement with the Conservancy (which has an easement on the property).
Then, just before the second hearing on Feb. 21, Mr. Jones and his attorney reached an agreement with the township in which he promised to remove the compost by Nov. 1. That meant that the need for conditional use permission was moot, and Mr. Jones's attorney withdrew the application. Case closed.
One resident at the meeting suggested that the township put in writing that application fees are nonrefundable if the township does incur costs, just so applicants are aware of the situation upfront.
Eating my words
A visitor the other day took seriously my suggestion that he make himself at home and put a dent in my supply of carrots and walnuts. But when he picked up my last box of Girl Scout cookies, the shortbread variety, I immediately recanted.
"NO!" I cried. "Cookie season's over, I won't be able to get those til next year. Put them down NOW!"
He did so, realizing I meant business, and said it sounded like I was giving orders to a mischievous dog.
"NO!" I cried. "Cookie season's over, I won't be able to get those til next year. Put them down NOW!"
He did so, realizing I meant business, and said it sounded like I was giving orders to a mischievous dog.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Hood's revisited
Hood's has reopened after a week of renovations and the place looks great! The owners took out a couple of walls, and it really opens up the place. The main counter has been shifted ninety degrees to the east, so ordering felt slightly out of kilter at first. The TV screen is now wall-mounted. But still the same are the friendly staff (Dawn was asking everyone what they thought of the new look), the camaraderie among the customers and the yummy comfort food: oh! that meatloaf sandwich on Texas toast with cheese!
Cheep!
A break between sets
As part of its ongoing renovations, the free weight and Nautilus rooms at the Kennett Y will be shut down from March 8 through March 22. In its Facebook announcement the Y, looking on the bright side, says the planned improvements to be made during the two-week hiatus will include "
Nice people
A Facebook friend reports that on March 3 -- maybe you'll remember how cold and blustery it was -- she and her daughter set up their Girl Scout cookie table in front of the Bite of Italy
restaurant in the Shoppes at Longwood. A man parked in front of the restaurant, took in some supplies, and noticed the two. A few minutes later, he sent two cups of coffee, creamers
and sugar out to them. Then a little later he came out ask if it was all good and told them, "You need more coffee or anything, you come in and we will take
care of you!"
She said that when it was time for them to leave, her daughter took in a box of cookies to thank him and he asked, "How much?"
"She said no charge but he started to go get money so she left! ... Truly kind people!! What a wonderful example of the great people in our area!"
My reader also complimented the new GNC store in the same shopping center for letting the Scouts set up a cookie table indoors.
And in another example of great service, three friends of mine stopped in on Tuesday evening, March 5, at La Verona, the Italian place on State Street in Kennett. They took one look at their menus and realized that it was the kind of place that serves a full meal rather than just light fare. The staff, however, were extremely accommodating, offered them the bar menu and made sure they had a great experience. When I talked to my pals the next day, they said the food was excellent and they'd definitely return, this time with bigger appetites!
Speaking of Kennett restaurants: Is Jack McFadden's proposed wine bar and tapas restaurant at the former Kennett Cafe on State Street, next to La Verona, ever going to open? I walked by the place this afternoon, and and it looks like no work has been done in quite some time. That's too bad.
Mr. McFadden's most recent venture is Jack's Steaks and Shakes, housed in a nineteenth-century building that he completely renovated on Gay Street in downtown West Chester. That restaurant opened in August 2012.
She said that when it was time for them to leave, her daughter took in a box of cookies to thank him and he asked, "How much?"
"She said no charge but he started to go get money so she left! ... Truly kind people!! What a wonderful example of the great people in our area!"
My reader also complimented the new GNC store in the same shopping center for letting the Scouts set up a cookie table indoors.
And in another example of great service, three friends of mine stopped in on Tuesday evening, March 5, at La Verona, the Italian place on State Street in Kennett. They took one look at their menus and realized that it was the kind of place that serves a full meal rather than just light fare. The staff, however, were extremely accommodating, offered them the bar menu and made sure they had a great experience. When I talked to my pals the next day, they said the food was excellent and they'd definitely return, this time with bigger appetites!
Speaking of Kennett restaurants: Is Jack McFadden's proposed wine bar and tapas restaurant at the former Kennett Cafe on State Street, next to La Verona, ever going to open? I walked by the place this afternoon, and and it looks like no work has been done in quite some time. That's too bad.
Mr. McFadden's most recent venture is Jack's Steaks and Shakes, housed in a nineteenth-century building that he completely renovated on Gay Street in downtown West Chester. That restaurant opened in August 2012.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Warm hospitality
Loyal "Unionville in the News" reader Lydia Bartholomew asked me to share this kind invitation to her annual Irish Coffee party: "Irish Coffee, to thank landowners of the Cheshire Hunt Country, Plumsted
Farm, 555 W. Street Road (Route 926) in Unionville on Saturday, March 9, at 10:30
a.m. Hounds will depart at 11 a.m. sharp. Family and guests welcome. Weather hotline is 610-347-2308. For info,
contact Lydia Bartholomew, 610-692-3075."
Plumsted Farm is on the north side of Route 926, west of the Newark Road intersection.
By the way, it was great to hear the Cheshire Beauties this past Saturday morning! The members of the Hunt met at Doe Run after a long layoff due to the terrible footing.
Plumsted Farm is on the north side of Route 926, west of the Newark Road intersection.
By the way, it was great to hear the Cheshire Beauties this past Saturday morning! The members of the Hunt met at Doe Run after a long layoff due to the terrible footing.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Here's an idea
Last week, in my item about the Unionville High School's annual used book sale, I said that I no longer go on Friday nights because of the large contingent of book dealers. I used the euphemism "motivated" to describe their behavior.
One of my readers agrees: "The “motivated dealer” problem has gotten worse. I do not cast aspersions on all the dealers, but the sight of one who just tossed all of her “rejects” onto a pile, rendering the neat rows a complete mess, was just sickening. And, as you said, it is difficult to casually browse when great swaths of books are blocked by the dealer, his or her helper, and all of the boxes used to carry the books out. They are intent, on a mission, and could care less about we mere book seekers."
Nonetheless, he and his wife go on Friday anyway because "I guess we are afraid that someone will snatch that one (actually many) volume(s) that just must be added to the library. In my case books about Jack the Ripper (a fascinating factual recounting), Stonehenge, and nature essays among others."
He asked: "Has any thought been given to giving dealers their own time slot?"
This seems to be to be an excellent idea. The dealers, and any other dedicated collectors like my friend, could be charged a premium to come in early for their own "golden hour." Then they, with their boxes and carts, could be shooed out and we regular, not-in-it-for-a-profit folk could take over.
Then again, the book sale is always run by pretty smart people; perhaps they've thought of this, discussed it and decided it wouldn't work logistically.
One of my readers agrees: "The “motivated dealer” problem has gotten worse. I do not cast aspersions on all the dealers, but the sight of one who just tossed all of her “rejects” onto a pile, rendering the neat rows a complete mess, was just sickening. And, as you said, it is difficult to casually browse when great swaths of books are blocked by the dealer, his or her helper, and all of the boxes used to carry the books out. They are intent, on a mission, and could care less about we mere book seekers."
Nonetheless, he and his wife go on Friday anyway because "I guess we are afraid that someone will snatch that one (actually many) volume(s) that just must be added to the library. In my case books about Jack the Ripper (a fascinating factual recounting), Stonehenge, and nature essays among others."
He asked: "Has any thought been given to giving dealers their own time slot?"
This seems to be to be an excellent idea. The dealers, and any other dedicated collectors like my friend, could be charged a premium to come in early for their own "golden hour." Then they, with their boxes and carts, could be shooed out and we regular, not-in-it-for-a-profit folk could take over.
Then again, the book sale is always run by pretty smart people; perhaps they've thought of this, discussed it and decided it wouldn't work logistically.
Party time!
I'm trying to describe how much I enjoyed the Longwood Rotary Gala at Longwood Gardens last night, and I think the best way to do it would be to just list some of the features at random while they're still fresh in my memory:
Oh, and in the spirit of learning something new every day, I learned that it's really tough to pump gas at Landhope while wrapped in a voluminous full-length evening cloak. Fastening your seat belt isn't real easy, either.
- Champagne and plenty of it
- Blackjack ("Wow, you really need to be able to add quickly!" exclaimed a friend, a gambling newbie who almost "stuck" on a 12, to the amusement of the patient croupier)
- Delicious food: Mini-crab cakes, a terrific assortment of Mexican food, roasted vegetables, tomato cakes and lemon risotto cakes with lobster bisque sauce. And I don't think I even made it to all the food stations! Cannolis, little tarts and chocolate hazelnut creme brulee for dessert.
- The magical, dimly lit and divinely warm conservatory filled with the marvelous scent of orange jessamine.
- I exchanged my uniform of jeans, boots and fleece for a cream-colored, fringed dress that I wore to my high-school prom; talk about vintage! (A few of my friends demanded photographic proof that I was actually not wearing my day-in, day-out fleece.) The ladies were very glamorous -- one woman rocked a red ballgown with a full skirt worthy of Scarlett O'Hara, and there was some big hair going on -- and the gentlemen donned everything from magnificent full Scottish regalia to "creative" black tie.
- I caught up with friends I hadn't seen for a while and met some fun new ones (including a woman who shares my "real" name -- which as her practical husband pointed out could have posed problems had we gotten our silent-auction bids mixed up!).
Oh, and in the spirit of learning something new every day, I learned that it's really tough to pump gas at Landhope while wrapped in a voluminous full-length evening cloak. Fastening your seat belt isn't real easy, either.
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