Around Phoenixville

For those of you looking for an excuse to treat yourselves to dinner at some of the nicer restaurants in Chester County without needing to break the bank, next week is your chance. The Chester County Mid-Summer Restaurant Week takes place from Sunday, August 2nd through Sunday, August 9th. From the website: Restaurant Week is here! This is your chance to discover new restaurants and enjoy all your favorites at a special flat price with special 3-course dinner menus for $30.09 at the BEST Chester County restaurants. What's more, when you order from any participating restaurant's special "Restaurant Week" menu you will also receive a FREE $10 Restaurant Gift Certificate that's valid at ANY participating restaurant for an entire month after the event! ... There are no tickets or passes required for Restaurant Week. Simply show up and dine at as many restaurants as you like all week long. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the restaurants direct...

Happened upon a listing for the Pickering Creek Inn building which is apparently up for sale. Asking price is $1.7M .

From Regal Entertainment Group Promotions Coordinator Cameron Gray: To celebrate the release of G-Force in Disney Digital 3D on July 24th, the REG/UA King of Prussia Stadium 16 & IMAX is holding activities for families all weekend long! Be sure to sign up for or show your Regal Crown Club Card for a chance to win a Melting Pot gift certificate! While enjoying a variety of fun games, check out cool information and meet some new furry friends courtesy of Paws 2 Learn on Sunday, 7/26! We are also collecting supplies, such as aspen bedding, small animal food, & small animal cages to aid Paws 2 Learn in their rescue efforts. Call 610-337-0282 for showtimes or more information. Visit us at 300 Goddard Blvd. King of Prussia, PA 19406! Disney's G-Force Official Site

Fox 29 is once again holding a MyFoxPhilly's Hot List Award contest in which you can vote on your favorite businesses in the Delaware Valley. Phoenixville is once again well represented, with numerous businesses being nominated. They are, with the category they are nominated for in italics (click on the name to be taken to the voting page): Steel City Coffee House Best Coffee Shop Hipster Home Best Housewares The Colonial Theatre Best Indie Theater Molly Maguires Best Irish Pub Wolfgang Books Best Bookstore Black Lab Bistro Best New American Columbia Bar and Grille Best Romantic Restaurant Sly Fox Brewery Best Brewpub Majolica Best New American Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant Best Brewpub Great Valley Adventure Boot Camp Best Gym ocean earth wind fire Best Yoga Studio Forge Theatre Best Theatre Group Robert Ryan Catering Best Caterers Eliza's Bakery Best Cakes The Kimberton Inn Best Romantic Restaurant Griffin's Gallery Best Art Gallery Salon Fiber Best Hair Salon Ea...

Former Council president John Messina passed away last night. It was reported on Watching Phoenixville last week that he had been hospitalized. No word on the cause of death. My condolences to the Messina family.

I have had some requests over the past year or so to post yard sales here. While I didn't think it would be a good fit for this site, I have decided to start a new page on Bridge and Main where people can promote their yard sales. Visit the site here , it can also be found in The Area section above. If you want to promote a yard sale, please email me with the following information: Date, time (from-to), address and details. In the next couple of days I will have a form up on that page so that you can fill it out yourself but for now email is the way to go. Thanks.

From last week's Pottstown Mercury : Borough Manager E. Gene Krack told Borough Council Tuesday that Phoenixville is a classic. Well, maybe not quite yet, but at least it's on the short list. Krack informed the council that the borough has been nominated to be a part of the Classic Towns of Greater Philadelphia Program. Krack said Phoenixville would become one of 30 Classic Towns in the program. "I think this is a big deal," Krack said. "It is limited to 30 towns a year, and we are within the top 20. The county commissioners and those who nominated us believe we are a classic town. I think we raised the bar with what's going on here with entertainment, restaurants and events. We are a nice, walkable community." The program, developed by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, provides individual municipalities and neighborhoods as great places to live, work and play, with the tools they need to launch their own marketing campaigns. The program ...

The Forge Theatre Summer Youth Drama Program is proud to present: CHARLIE AND THE GREAT GLASS ELEVATOR Roald Dahl’s Fantasy Adventure for Children -- the Sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Performances will be at Forge Theater, 241-243 First Avenue, Phoenixville, PA. All tickets are $8.00. For information and reservations, call 610-935-1920. Performance dates and times: Thurs July 30 -- 7 pm Fri July 31 -- 7 pm Sat. August 1 – two performances: 2pm and 7 pm Sun August 2 -- 2pm

On Thursday, September 17, 2009, the Phoenixville Area Business Association (PABA) will host a Progressive Dinner featuring four local businesses. The Phoenixville Area Business Association (PABA) just recently opened ticket sales for their newest Progressive Dinner featuring four PABA member establishments all in easy walking distance in downtown Phoenixville. The dinner, scheduled for Thursday September 17, 2009 will include a four course menu starting with the aperitif at The Fenix (Phoenixville’s first and only upscale martini bar), followed by the appetizer course at the all new Bistro on Bridge (212 Bridge Street). The entrée will be served at the newly reopened Baxter’s @ 101 (formerly 101 Bridge) and will be served with a complimentary glass of wine. The final course will include an assortment of desserts at Artisan’s Gallery & Café. The event is the third such dining event organized by PABA, with the last being a very successful Historic Inns of Phoenixville Dinner and...

Rock & Roll After School , which recently opened in Franklin Commons, is hosting three events over the next two weeks. The first is their ribbon cutting ceremony, which will be held from 5-7:30pm on Thursday, the 23rd. Then, on Friday the 24th, they will be hosting a FREE concert featuring IKE & Jealousy Curve. The concert, which is being sponsored by WMMR-FM , starts at 7pm. Finally, of Friday, July 31, they will be hosting Round 1 of their Teen Battle of the Bands . For more information, please call 610-983-4650 or visit rockandrollafterschool.com . About Rock & Roll After School A new brand of music school where students, ages 8 - 18 learn the values of hard work and teamwork while having fun building their own rock band. Unlike traditional music lessons, Rock & Roll After School is formatted more as a club where students come to socialize and practice with other students in addition to their own lessons and performances. Students receive weekly 45 minute private...

The next Movie Night at Phoenixville Library is Thursday, August 13 at 7:00 PM. “The United States of Leland” (2003, rated R, running time 108 min.) will be shown. After 15-year-old Leland (Ryan Gosling) commits a chilling crime, he is sent to juvenile hall where he meets Pearl (Don Cheadle), a teacher and aspiring writer who dreams of making Leland's story into a book. As Pearl digs deeper into Leland's life and the people caught up in it, he uncovers Leland's disturbing motive. The tables soon turn when the enigmatic teen forces Pearl to examine his own morally questionable behavior. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Those who stay for an informal discussion following the screening may suggest a forthcoming movie. For more information, call 610-933-3013, Ext. 32. Phoenixville Public Library is located at 183 Second Avenue in Phoenixville.

From the Phoenixville Jaycees blog : Up next on our agenda is a beef and beer fundraiser at the Polish Club in Phoenixville on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will feature live music from The Tragics , a local rock band comprised of bass guitarist and singer Chris Bailey, guitar player and singer Adam Karros, drummer Ant Arra and keyboardist and saxophone player Mike Hoffman. I've been listening to these guys for a while and even coached one when he played ice hockey in high school (you know who you are!). Needless to say these guys are awesome and we really appreciate them coming out to do this for us. In addition to The Tragics, there will be 50/50s and raffles for prizes such as tickets to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs . Proceeds from the event will benefit the Jaycees, who will in turn find some way to put that money back into the community. Tickets for the event are $25 and will get you roast beef (obviously), side salads, beer, desserts, soda and water. Tickets ...

From the people over at Mill Grove: Join us at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove to wind down your day with Green Yoga in our new Pavilion. Practiced yoga instructors from Phoenixville's Ocean Earth Wind Fire will be leading sessions. Mondays, July 27 to August 31, 2009, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Pre-registration required by July 22. Contact Sue, starzwell@audubon.org , 610-666-5593 x101 to register. Cost: $90 ($15/session). Address is 1201 Pawlings Road, Audubon, PA.

Phoenixville resident Neil Sproul is participating in the first ever Brita Climate Ride in late September and is asking for donations. About the ride: Brita Climate Ride 2009 is the first multi-day bicycle ride where your pedal strokes help raise money and awareness for meaningful climate change and renewable energy legislation! This transformative event is ideal for anyone who believes that change is possible and that America can take the lead in a green economy. September 26–30th, 2009, the Climate Riders will pedal 300 miles from New York City to the nation’s Capitol in Washington D.C. in five days, departing from the heart of Manhattan and then meandering along country roads through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. On the fifth day, riders will cycle past the iconic Washington Monument to arrive near the marble steps of the Capitol building. Here we will celebrate the riders’ amazing accomplishment and valuable contribution to the advancement of climate change education an...

The 10th Annual BlobFest kicks off tomorrow night and it promises to be bigger and better than ever. Below is the schedule of events with links to more information. Friday, July 10th BlobFest Friday Night Running Out Re-Enactment Revelry . This is sold out but you can still watch the fun from outside the Colonial at approximately 9pm. Second Annual Blob Ball . Being held at Molly Maguires after the running out re-enactment, approximately 9:30pm. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Click here to order . Click here to view more information on all of Friday's events Saturday, July 11th Street Fair . Starts at 11am with fan favorites the Fire Extinguisher Parade set to start at 12pm and Costume Contest at 1pm. Double Feature: The Blob and Invasion of the Saucer Men . 11:30am and 3:15pm at the Colonial. Tickets are $6 if bought by 5pm today (Thursday) or $10 at the door. Click here to buy tickets . Blob Locations Self-Guided Tour Double Feature: The Blob and 13 Gho...

Another year has come and gone and Phoenixville residents thought they had rid themselves of The Blob, that pesky red bloated ball of goo that sent hundreds of actors running out of the Colonial Theatre back in the 1957 filming of The Blob, starring Steve McQueen (his first leading role- released in 1958). Phoenixville is gearing up for another crazy celebration of The Blob, science fiction, and all things 1950's. The weekend long event will feature the annual "running out" reenactment on Friday night, followed by the Blob Ball, a 1950's themed ball featuring The Rivers Rockabilly Trio , a specialty menu of delightful drinks, and alot of dancing. (see more on Blob Ball below). On Saturday the 200 block of Bridge Street will be shut down for a street fair, including appearances by The Neanderthals, a tin foil hat contest and a scary movie costume contest. Every year this event grows with approximately 6,000 people attending last year. Iron Town Productions and M...

Girls on the Run is coming to a school near you and we need Coaches! Girls on the Run is a 12 week character building fitness program for girls ages 8-11 that uses the power of running to help prepare them for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. The program focuses on building self-esteem and improving emotional and physical health. Along the way, the girls train together to run or walk in a 5K! The program meets immediately after school, two times per week. Coaches do not have to be elite runners. They just have to be women over the age of 18 who maintain a healthy lifestyle and are committed to improving the lives of girls! Coaches must attend one 6-hour GOTR training session and a 2-hour CPR certification if not already certified, both are free of charge. All curriculum and materials are supplied and coaches are provided with a support network and tips along the way. Coaching Girls on the Run is an extremely rewarding experience. It is amazing to see the transformat...

Phoenixville Public Library presents its next Author Night on Thursday, July 30 at 7:00 PM. Andrea Grannum-Mosley will distill advice from her recently published book, The Pink Slip: Human Resources Secrets for the Displaced Worker. A graduate of CUNY-Brooklyn College, Ms. Grannum-Mosley has a decade of experience as a career counselor and over 15 years experience as a Human Resources Director in the retail and manufacturing industries. Her book covers the most reoccurring or overlooked points of focus for individuals in career transition resulting from downsizing, termination, or career change. She touches upon resume enhancers, cover letters, networking dos and don’ts, key interviewing techniques, and dress code etiquette. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required. For more information or to reserve a seat, stop by the Reference Desk at the Library, call 610-933-3013, Ext. 32, or e-mail mpinto@ccls.org . Phoenixville Public Library is located at 183...

From the Camphill Village Kimberton Hills email list: Exploring New Forms of Living in Old Age – A Cultural Task for our Community A Public Lecture by Armgard Brunotte and Petra Wandelt from Southern Germany Friday, July 10th at 8 pm Rose Hall, Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, 1601 Pughtown Road, Kimberton, PA Contributions are welcome at the door. Friday night’s presentation in Kimberton by Armgard and Petra will start with a proverb pointing to the very essence of this conference and workshop — the notion that aging does not have to be burdensome or dreadful, as viewed by many, but can be pleasant, satisfactory, and rewarding. We can enjoy our lives and feel connected, useful, needed, and happy during the later stages of life. This is a cultural task for our community. Petra will give an overview of today’s elder situation in Germany with respect to the holistic approach of community living. Armgard will further explain this through story-telling and examples from her daily experie...

This year's July 4th celebrations will start a day early to coincide with First Friday and the Summer Street Music Festival . The music festival will kick off at 6pm tomorrow night with headliner The Left Edge taking the main stage at 7:30. At around 8pm, the 100 block of Bridge Street will close so that people can position themselves for the fireworks display which is set to start at approximately 9pm 9:45pm (see below). On Saturday, the music festival, as usual, kicks off at 2pm. At the same time, the first annual Phoenixville Idiotarod will begin. Rain date for the fireworks in Sunday, July 5th. For the first time in three years, it does not appear rain will be an issue but, as its also First Friday, one never knows. 7/3/09 Update Barry Cassidy just posted the following on Facebook Fireworks tonight at 9 45 downtown phonexville...music starts at 6...main stage at 7:30 have a really good cover band playing tonight...the left edge...closing down the 100 block of bridge at ...

Rumor has it that Baxter's will be opening tonight (7/2) in the old 101 Bridge space. 101 Bridge was run by the owners of the other Baxter's locations and thus I'd imagine the transition will be pretty smooth.

Come check out Joanna1 Jewelry this First Friday, July 3rd, on Bridge Street, starting @ 5:30PM, across from the Main Stage, corner of Bridge & Main. From the Joanna1 website : Joanna1 is the product of many years of education, hard work & life experience. Building upon an eclectic art-based background in illustration, computer art and art instruction, I have designed and created a unique line of jewelry. My interest in making usable, wearable art led me to explore the use of precious metal clay as a medium. Working primarily with silver PMC I produced a line of jewelry that is high quality yet casual. My work is inspired by our natural environment as well as human spirituality. In a fast-paced age where so much is mass produced, I want to stress the value in the sanctity of the original. Each piece of jewelry is designed and hand-crafted by me, so no two pieces are identical. I let what I would like to wear dictate my designs. I extend my love for the art-making process to ot...