Paul got married!

This item has little to do with Unionville, or Chester County at all, unless you saw me grinning ear to ear and floating about two feet off the ground all day Saturday as I ran errands around town.
Why was I so happy? That morning my friend Paul had announced to his friends and family on Facebook that, secretly, he had gone and tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Janet, in the Seychelles Islands. He posted a photo of the two of them beaming on the beach, Paul in a sport jacket and non-jeans and Janet in a lovely white strapless dress.
May the two of them enjoy many years of happiness, health and prosperity together, on the road and at home.

Double date

Court reporters are going to be busy next week! Tony Young's sentencing for his money-laundering conviction is scheduled for Wednesday, March 23, in federal court in Philadelphia. Aggie O'Brien's trial on extortion charges was scheduled to start Tuesday, March 22 (also in federal court), but it's unclear whether that will actually happen.
UPDATE: The O'Brien trial has been postponed for 45 days.

The Whip South

If all goes as planned, a southern branch of The Whip is going to open this summer in Odessa, Del.
The new restaurant, to be called Cantwell's Tavern Restaurant, will be located in the former Brick Hotel (circa 1822).
K.C. Culp, the operating partner of the popular Springdell tavern, told me that he is involved in the new venture thanks to a Whip patron, Donnan Sharp Jones of West Marlborough, who is vice president of the Historic Odessa Foundation. The Foundation, dedicated to preserving the small town's 18th- and 19th-century buildings, was considering opening a restaurant to raise money and attract visitors, and Donnan asked K.C. if he'd be interested in running it.
K.C. said he has been assured that there will be ample parking for patrons.
Here's what the site at Second and Main Streets looked like back in February when I took a little road trip south of the C&D Canal (love the magnificent Senator William V. Roth Jr. Bridge!). That's the future kitchen that is being built behind the Brick Hotel.
According to Historic Odessa's website: "Cantwell’s Tavern will offer lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday, and will be open on Sundays for brunch and dinner. Furnishings will reflect an early 19th century American Tavern including six rooms with fireplaces and a reproduction of a period bar in the tavern room. Menus will reflect the culinary history of the region and change seasonally to feature traditional American tavern fare and locally grown and organic produce, meat, and seafood."

In bad shape

The vacant Red Rose Inn continues to deteriorate at Baltimore Pike and Route 796. As I was driving by on Wednesday I noticed that a second-floor window on the south side of the historic structure is broken, which means creatures and the weather can now get in and wreak further havoc. I know a group of public-spirited citizens got together last fall to try to "do something" about preserving the inn, but I haven't heard anything from them recently.

Brunch

Lynn Sinclair's Sunrise Cafe & Tearoom, 127 East State Street, is featured in the March issue of "County Lines" magazine. "The way Sunrise Café devotees devour Sinclair’s poached egg dishes, sandwiches and gourmet whole grain pancakes shows just how much this small town loves her back," says the writer, Laura Muzzi Brennan.
In the magazine piece Lynn shares her recipes for Ham, Asparagus and Asiago Quicha-dilla; the Bayard Taylor Hunt Sandwich; Huevos Ranchero Sauce; and Rosemary Polenta.
The website is http://www.countylinesmagazine.com/; click on "Articles." Or, for that matter, you can just go to the cafe's website: www.sunrisecafe-tearoom.com/

Goodbye to Ted

Family and friends gathered at the Chapel of the Christ Child at Christ Church Christiana Hundred on March 5 to celebrate the life of Ted Marvin, who died unexpectedly at Dunleigh, his beloved East Marlborough home. After the service, which featured a moving tribute by his sister, Ann, we shared Ted stories and watched a video of him playing Ravel on the piano for his mother and his cat. Rest in peace, Theo.

Milk

This is welcome news for folks who love Baily's locally produced milk. It's available at three new locations: (1) the Triple Fresh Market in Ercildoun; (2) Spring Run Natural Foods on Route 1 between Bayard Road and Route 52; and (3) the Westtown Meat Market on Route 202, just south of where High Street and Route 202 meet outside West Chester. In addition, of course, to the dairy itself at Pocopson Meadow Farm, 1821 Lenape Unionville Road; Archie's on Newark Road south of London Grove village; and the Northbrook Marketplace on Route 842 at Northbrook Road.
You can find out more about Baily's, its products and its people (and animals) at http://www.bailysdairy.com/.