Email
Print
FeedBest of the Main Line & Western Suburbs 2010
Our readers and critics pick their favorites.
(page 16 of 17)
Media, Sports, Culture, Trends, Etc.
Artists’ Alcove: Burlap and Bean Coffee
Get swept away by arresting vocals, the rhythms of a solo guitarist, or the wholly unique vibe of the Hang drum. The live music lineup at Burlap and Bean features folk, blues-rock, reggae, open-mic nights and more. Mounted photography and other works spotlight an artist of the month, and alcohol-free First Fridays welcome art lovers of every age. The Shops at Springton Pointe, 204 S. Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square; (484) 427-4547, burlapandbean.com.
*College Athlete (Readers’ Pick): Villanova Men’s Basketball’s Scottie Reynolds
Villanova.com.
*College Coach (Readers’ Pick): Villanova Men’s Basketball’s Jay Wright
Villanova.com.
*College Sports Team (Readers’ Pick): Villanova Men’s Basketball
Villanova.com.
Do-Gooder: Father John Deegan
When Villanova resident and Augustinian priest Father John Deegan set out to help the poor and powerless in our society, he did so in a way that is not only efficient but also effective. By bridging already existing resources with those in society who’ve fallen between the cracks, he’s set up an impressive model for systemic societal betterment dubbed Augustinian Defenders of the Rights of the Poor. From health and law clinics to after-school tutoring and a companionship program for the elderly—wherever Father Deegan sees a need, he quickly addresses it. Thanks to him, we all benefit. Rightsofthepoor.org.
*High School Athlete (Readers’ Pick): Harriton Senior High School Girls’ Golfer Savannah Williams
Lmsd.org.
*High School Coach (Readers’ Pick): Bishop Shanahan High School Varsity Hockey’s Jim McHugh
Shanahan.org.
*High School Sports Team (Readers’ Pick): Radnor High School Football
Rtsd.org.
Kid-Friendly Online Start-Up: PrintArtKids
A refrigerator door can only hold so many masterpieces until the milk and eggs are no longer accessible. Enter the Media-based PrintArtKids, an innovative solution for budding Picassos and their endless creativity. A quick scan or upload of the admired artwork can be made instantly into greeting cards, gift labels and note pads (to name just a few options). For a small fee, pictures can even be retouched—that is, if smudgy fingerprints weren’t part of your child’s design concept. Printartkids.com.
Local Blog for Active Families: DelawareCountyKids.blogspot.com
Want to know which summer camp to check out? Or where can kids eat free? What about fun activities during a road trip or vacation? Answers to these and other questions can be found at this family-friendly local resource. Complete with a calendar of events and a playground finder, this blog arms parents with plenty of feasible options to cure the inevitable summer blahs. DelawareCountyKids.blogspot.com.
*Local Sports Celebrity (Readers’ Pick): The Phillies’ Raul Ibanez
Phillies.com.
Local Video Destined to Go Viral: Soup Boots
Like the fictional product it promotes, Soup Boots is an acquired taste. This TV commercial parody brought to you by Narberth’s David Metter and Matthew Isenberg is goofy, clever, sophomoric, mildly nauseating and largely hilarious. Good luck getting the jingle out of your head. Youtube.com/watch?v=G7NztgwB1Pg.
Locally Made Green Product: Last Call Bags
Estimates put the number of plastic bags consumed worldwide each year at somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion. With such staggering numbers, all the more reason to bypass the plastic and paper and go with a reusable tote. Last Call Bags let you do that in style. These recycled, locally made gems are made from the beer grain sacks that deliver wheat and barley malts to local brewpubs. Lastcallbags.com.
New Addition to Chester’s Waterfront: PPL Park
Pro soccer’s Philadelphia Union finally has a place to call home—and what a home it is. The 18,500-seat PPL Park welcomed Major League Soccer fans for the first time this summer. And the state-of-the-art, open-air stadium should also be a hot ticket for concert-goers, with a 26,000-person capacity and spacious surroundings for tailgating and other event-related outdoor fun. For a stunning bird’s-eye view of this diamond in the rough, drive east in the far right lane of the Commodore Barry Bridge. Philadelphiaunion.com.
New Addition to Newtown Square: The Phillies’ Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay and his wife, Brandy, purchased a home on 1.66 acres in Newtown Square earlier this year—and we sure hope the neighbors made them feel welcome. And why wouldn’t they? Traded from the Toronto Blue Jays, the Cy Young Award winner and six-time all-star is now the Philadelphia Phillies’ certified ace. Phillies.com.
Out-There Fundraiser: Brandywine Polar Plunge
No black ties here. The Brandywine Valley Association forgoes the conventional for something that is anything but—a mid-February dip in the Brandywine River. For the past three years, hundreds of intrepid souls have braved the bitter Brandywine not only for bragging rights, but for the chance to support the BVA’s efforts to protect and conserve the natural resources of the Brandywine Valley. Not for the faint of heart (the fact that your John Hancock is required on a waiver of liability form should tell you as much), this fundraiser guarantees to be a hair-raiser, too. Brandywinewatershed.org.
Painter (for Faces): Peanutbutter
Gone are the days of soccer balls and unicorns adorning the cheeks of party-going tykes around these parts. Peanutbutter, a Philadelphia-based artist specializing in face painting, is putting the amateurs to shame with his vibrant color palette and incredible knack for blending each brush stroke for a truly magnificent final result. He is available for parties and special events—just make sure the kids bring more of a challenge for the artist than their sports equipment. (215) 235-5030, peanutbutterpeanutbutter.com.
Place to Catch a Foreign Flick: Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Bryn Mawr Film Institute offers its moviegoers a full itinerary of trips around the world from the comfort of their seats. The theater aims to show the best in international, independent and art-house cinema as main attractions and through special screenings. BMFI believes cinematic excellence knows no borders—and that great films transcend differences in language and culture to speak to viewers. 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898, brynmawrfilm.org.
