PHOENIXVILLE: A walk on the wild side

The dining establishments we frequent are pretty tame institutions. Not so much this past Saturday night, though, when we stopped into what turned out to be a fairly rowdy spot in Phoenixville for dinner before the Al Stewart concert at the Colonial Theater. The restaurant was busy -- it was 7 p.m. -- and we stood in the lobby waiting for a table as waitresses scurried by carrying trays of food and drink (this place had several dining nooks and crannies scattered around). The couple waiting ahead of us declined, with ill grace, to take the table they were offered -- there was a family with young kids at the next table -- so we took it, gratefully.
As we ordered, the scene got even more amusing: a half-dozen revelers entered and crowded around the bar. They had reached that boisterous stage of intoxication when they were singing (badly), gesturing wildly and howling with laughter -- in other words, sloppy drunk. They were such an assorted bunch that we had fun speculating how they knew each other and what they were doing out on a Saturday evening pub crawl: a tall woman in a black leather jacket, high-heeled black boots and a punk hairdo drinking a Heineken; a suburban-looking woman; some middle-aged guys you'd see in any office. We were a little disappointed when they left after only a few minutes -- apparently the place wasn't to their liking or they weren't getting served.
Our dinners arrived and we ate with pleasure. Meanwhile, the ornery guy, who'd finally gotten an acceptable table, went up to the beleaguered hostess with what appeared to be another complaint before he and his wife left the restaurant. The waitress (we'd told her we were in a hurry) dropped off our check, and just as we were about to leave the ornery guy walked back in complain some more!
The whole episode was like pre-show entertainment for us, but certainly not for the staff. I've said it before: Every kid should have to work in a restaurant and in a blue-collar job for part of their life.

CENTERPIECE: Holiday workshop and greens sale

My friend Linda Southerling from the Four Seasons Garden Club asked me to publicize the club's annual "Make-It-Yourself Holiday Centerpiece Workshop" on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Kennett Square. The $35 fee includes all the materials needed to create the centerpiece, as well as lunch. E-mail lsfleur1@hotmail.com to register. There will also be fresh greens and "assorted embellishments" on sale even if you're not taking part in the workshop.
(Good Lord. I haven't put away my pumpkin display yet and still haven't gotten around to cutting bittersweet and rose hips for my fall wreath!)

 

 

GOOD CONSUMERS: It never hurts to ask

My parents passed along to all of us kids a strong sense of self-agency. I can remember my mother urging me to write a letter to the editor when the school board wanted to squeeze more lockers into the corridors of my middle school (I urged the school board members to visit and see how impossibly crowded the hallways already were between classes).
So when my electric toothbrush died last week, I was just about ready to order a new one, because I didn't feel like digging through dusty files to find the date I'd bought it and so forth. But my training held good: I called the 1-800 number anyway, talked to a customer service guy named Lloyd and much to my surprise, no questions asked, they are sending me a brand-new one!
Thank you, Philips. As a wise friend said, "Never underestimate the power of asking."

ELECTIONS: Results from five local townships

Tuesday, Nov. 3, was election day, and a few municipalities in the Unionville area had some contested races. I'm sure you'll read much more about the results elsewhere in this week's paper, but here are the stats from five townships. For complete information, you can go to Chester County's election results page.
In my township, West Marlborough, turnout was 28% (167/592). We re-elected Jake Chalfin and Hugh Lofting Sr. to their seats on the Board of Supervisors.
In Newlin Township, turnout was 33% (324/973). Voters there returned William Kelsall to his chair at the supervisors' table.
In Pocopson Township, turnout was  25% (645/2,597) (this was a surprise to me, given all of the controversy that's been going on at township meetings over the Barnard House renovations). Elaine DiMonte and Alice Balsana were elected as supervisors.
In East Marlborough, turnout was 28% (1,553/5,469). Republican Christine Kimmel beat Democrat Richard Hicks in all three precincts, 939-593, to win the seat on the township Board of Supervisors that Cuyler Walker is leaving.
In Kennett Township, turnout varied from 30% in the second precinct (the polling place was Church of the Advent) to 56% at Kendal at Longwood, the Quaker retirement community, where half the residents voted straight-party Democrat. Democrat Whitney Hoffman beat Republican Ted Moxon, 1,054 to 908, for a seat on the township Board of Supervisors. By precinct, the results were Hoffman 235, Moxon 217 in the first precinct (the polling place was at the township building); Hoffman 242, Moxon 261 in the second precinct; Hoffman 316, Moxon 155 in the third precinct (at Kendal); and Hoffman 261, Moxon 275 in the fourth precinct (at Greenwood Elementary).

UNIONVILLE: Open house at Kinloch Woodworking

While I was getting my coffee at Foxy Loxy in Unionville on Saturday morning, I ran into Doug Mooberry and he reminded me about the open house he's hosting at Kinloch Woodworking from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. He told me they took a year off from the annual event in 2014, but so many people told him they missed the show that it's back. Kinloch is at 1721 West Doe Run Road (Route 82) in the heart of Unionville.

Doug wrote to me that the folks at Kinloch "have been working on a really neat Wharton Esherick inspired desk,  a shark wall hanging (it’s wood but I still wouldn’t stick my fingers in its mouth), some Chinese sideboards and an inlaid sea chest made from wood salvaged from the USS CONSTITUTION. A couple new coffee tables and 2 secretary desks."

I've been to the Kinloch show many times over the years and it's always a lovely event, with beautiful pieces of furniture to marvel over and lots of local folks to chat with. Plus you get to walk through the wood shop where the pieces are created.

Pat Mooberry, Doug's wife, will also be showing her pottery.

Before or after the show, you can stay in "downtown" Unionville and get something to eat. Doug says, "Foxy Loxy will be open for coffee, ice cream, breakfast, and lunch and Hood’s invites everyone to have lunch or dinner after attending the show. Catherine’s Restaurant and they would welcome any Fall Show attendees and will waive the BYOB charge.  Hood’s and Catherine’s both recommend reservations."

Doug Mooberry is the owner of Kinloch Woodworking.

Pat Mooberry's pottery will be on display.

A beautiful piece of craftsmanship from Kinloch Woodworking.

Kinloch Woodworking's open house will be Nov. 13 and 14.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Routine township business

Just a few items to report from the West Marlborough Township supervisors' November meeting:
1. Gus Brown resigned from the township Planning Commission.
2. George and Gretchen Wintersteen were granted zoning permission and a building permit to build a solarium over an existing porch at their Ryan Road house.
3. Police Chief Robert Clarke reported that he issued eight speeding tickets and three parking tickets in the township in October.
4. The township road crew completed a project to install pipes along Thouron and Hicks Roads. They received a state grant (administered through the county) for $25,000 but had a $10,000 cost overrun due to unexpected problems that they encountered.

HUNT CUP: A beautiful afternoon in Unionville

Every year, my friends and I remember the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup for one particular reason. In 2014 it was the strong wind that felled a port-a-potty. The year before, our dogs didn't get along, in somewhat spectacular fashion. And the year before that, the freezing temperatures sent one of us home on a rescue mission to bring back warm socks and Irish coffee for everyone.
This year the weather was warm and sunny and we brought only one dog, so I suspect we'll remember the event for the absence of a well-loved member of our party, who had a death in the family the day before and had to help sort out the myriad of funeral details.
Although it just wasn't the same without him (he would have loved seeing the tiny Papillon and the gigantic but gentle deerhound), we still had a great time watching the horse races, especially when we knew the jockeys, and socializing with friends in between.
It was fun to see Ivan Dowling and Kelly Merette bring out the "Cheshire Beauties," the foxhounds of the Cheshire Hunt.
Food is always an important component of the event. I baked two kinds of cookies, and the other members of our merry band brought caprese salad and turkey meatballs (which turned out to be a wonderful and not-too-unnutritious combination). At other people's tailgate parties I enjoyed marvelous chili, marinated asparagus, and smoked salmon.
Hats off to the members of the Hunt Cup committee, who work long and hard to organize this yearly tradition, and thanks to the landowners who let us invade their lovely property.