Around Phoenixville

The 2011 Philadelphia Area Idiotarod , originally scheduled for August 13th, has been postponed until September (exact date TBD). We will post the make up date once it's been announced.

Phoenixville is going green at the second annual Green Earth Festival on the Schuylkill River Trail on August 6 from 9AM – 2PM. The festival will celebrate area businesses and service groups that are working to make Phoenixville a sustainable community. Organized by the Phoenixville Green Team , in association with the Farmer’s Market , the market and festival will stretch along the creek side trail from Taylor Ave to the Foundry. The event features exhibitors, food, music, children’s entertainment and a Speaker Forum. Our first GoodGreenWorks project invites everyone to bring good clothing and shoes to the Clothing Swap and Shoe Drop. Participation art projects will encourage everyone to craft several public art creations with clay and chalk. The festival will host exhibitors that specialize in eco-friendly products, renewable energy, earth-friendly services, environmental advocacy, and organizations that are making a difference by protecting the environment and building a sustain

The 83rd Annual Kimberton Fair begins today. It’s that time of year again for a longtime summer tradition: The Kimberton Fair is coming to town from July 25 to 30 at the Kimberton Volunteer Fire Co. fairgrounds, off of Route 113. (Use 752 Pike Springs Road, Phoenixville, if using GPS.) In its 83rd year, the fair will offer a plethora of activities including viewing livestock, home arts, an appearance by the Phillie Phanatic, rides and contests. Contests this year include old fashioned log sawing, pie eating and the Baby Contest. Returning this year is Hogway Speedway’s racing pigs. A fireworks display will be shown at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 29. And of course, the famous doughnuts will be sold. Kimberton Fair Secretary Karen Dobson said money raised during the volunteer-run fair is used for next year’s event and the rest is donated to the Kimberton Volunteer Fire Co. Read the full article at The Phoenix or visit kimbertonfair.org for more information.

Tomorrow, July 25th, O'Grady's Family Restaurant, 273 Schuylkill Road, will be donating a portion of all proceeds to the Get Well Gabby fund . From 4-9pm, they will also be hosting a Pirates and Princesses party: Children can come dressed as a princess or a pirate to the party. During the time of the event, a buffet including crab cakes, roast beef, pasta with Alfredo sauce, macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, vegetables, fresh fruit, puddings, two homemade soups, entire salad and bread bar and more will be offered. For each buffet meal purchased, extra funds will be donated to Get Well Gabby, Vontor said. Characters including Captain Hook, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty will also be appearing at the party. A basket raffle will be held. Games will be offered throughout the day. All of the proceeds from the raffle and games will benefit Get Well Gabby, Vontor said. Some of the baskets being raffled feature toolboxes, Eagles and Phillies gear, kids' toys and wine. O

This October 15th and 16th, Manifest Your Destiny is hosting a Holistic and Healing Expo at Kimberton Fire Company, 61 Firehouse Lane, Phoenixville, PA. On October 15th and 16th in Kimberton, PA our planning team is hosting a Holistic Fair that we would like for you to be a part of. The theme of our event is “Manifest Your Destiny” and it is our mission to bring like minded community together and also introduce Holistic and Metaphysical products and practices to the general public. Because our panel consists of practitioners and healers, we understand the importance of creating a relaxed environment that provides unique opportunities for all participants to manifest their destiny by receiving the highest level of care for Mind Body and Spirit. We are focusing on raising the vibration in our community so that we As a community are empowered to live our life purpose. This event will be huge and advertising has already begun. We have magazine advertisements, a facebook page, a website

The Columbia Bar & Grille recently introduced two new features, 'Pooches on the Patio' and a 'Beat the Recession' menu. Pooches on the Patio Every Tuesday from 6:00-10:00pm enjoy food and drink at the bar, a quiet evening in the Dining Room, or bring your four legged friends for some Summer fun on the Patio! Beat the Recession Menu Your Choice of: 1/2 Rack of Our Famous BBQ Ribs with French Fries 6 Jumbo Fried Shrimp with Fries 1lb of Columbia Hot Wings BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich with French Fries and a Pint of Beer for only $12.95! Available Monday thru Thursday Open til Close.

Beat the heat with some cool foreign films during the month of August at Phoenixville Public Library . Coinciding with the Library’s internationally-themed Adult Summer Reading Program, “Novel Destinations”, the Library will screen four critically acclaimed foreign films in August on Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM. The schedule is as follows: August 4: Babette’s Feast (1987, Rated G, 103 min., Danish and French); August 11: Life is Beautiful (1997, Rated PG-13, 116 min., Italian); August 18: Like Water for Chocolate (1993, Rated R, 105 min., Spanish); August 25: Amélie (2001, Rated R, 122 min.; French). All films will be shown with English subtitles on the big screen in the Library’s Community Room. Those who attend the August 4 or August 11 screenings and are registered in the Library’s Adult Summer Reading Program will receive one stamp in their Passport. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 610-933-3013 x

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer? See a live musical production, right here in Phoenixville. The brand-new Firebird Children’s Theatre is proud to present its premiere live Broadway musical series on July 29th and 30th at Phoenixville’s Colonial Theatre ! Adults and children of all ages are invited to purchase tickets to the double feature of “Bugsy Malone,” and “America’s Tallest Tales.” The Friday, July 29th show is at 7:00 pm, while the Saturday matinee is at 2:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased through the Colonial Theatre’s box office at www.thecolonialtheatre.com . Firebird Children’s Theatre’s Firefly group features actors ages 9-12 in “America's Tallest Tales.” Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and many of your favorite American Folk tale heroes take the audience on a wild ride across the country in search of Babe the Blue Ox. Meet Johnny Appleseed, Bess Call, John Henry and many more hilarious characters who set out to solve this musical mystery. L

The Mind Body Spirit Expo, now in its 14th year, will be coming this Oct. 28-30 to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA, with an incredible line-up of noted speakers. Don Miguel Ruiz is one of the titans of the human potential movement, his Four Agreement books classics in the field. Don Miguel received a heart transplant last year and rarely travels, so this will be a unique opportunity to see this respected author and thinker. Michael Bernard Beckwith , noted spiritual leader who was one of the participants in “The Secret”, will be appearing with his wife, singer Rickie Byars Beckwith, for a Friday evening event of inspirational talk and music that promises to be transformational. By popular demand Doreen Virtue , the premier angel therapist and authority in the world, is returning to the Mind Body Spirit Expo for a dynamic and fascinating lecture that shouldn’t be missed. Also on hand is Deborah King , shaman and NY Times best-selling author. The MBS Expo als

The Iditarod is the famous 1,150 mile race in which sled dogs pull a sled across Alaska. The Philadelphia Area Idiotarod is pretty much the same thing, except that instead of dogs pulling a sled across Alaska it’s five “idiots” pulling a shopping cart around Phoenixville.The Idiotarod features people in costumes and themed carts. The race, though fun, is competitive and teams have been known to sabotage each other in an effort to win. After the race is over join us for the awards ceremony and afterparty at Molly Maguire's Irish Restaurant and Pub, located at 197 Bridge Street. There will be a free buffet for all Idiotarod team members, and free parking is available in the lot behind Molly's on Main Street. This year's race will be held on Saturday, August 13th beginning at 1pm. For more information and to register your team, visit the Idiotarod website at phillyidiotarod.weebly.com .

On Tuesday, August 2nd, The Colonial Theatre will play host to Gustafer Yellowgold's Infinite Summer 2011 Tour: Gustafer Yellowgold's Infinite Summer '11 Tour Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 10:30 AM The Colonial Theatre 227 Bridge Street Phoenixville, PA 19460 (610) 917-1228 http://www.thecolonialtheatre.com/ $7 in advance and $8 for phone sales or tickets bought at the door “Star of Kindie Rock” – Time Magazine “The show is a cross between ‘Yellow Submarine’ and Dr. Seuss.” - The New York Times Groovy Gustafer Yellowgold is a small, yellow, cone-headed fellow, who came to Earth from the Sun and has a knack for finding himself neck-deep in absurd situations as he explores his new life in the Minnesota woods. Equal parts pop rock concert and animated storybook, Gustafer Yellowgold concerts are a truly different multimedia experience that entrances children and adults alike. Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock follows our hero as he embarks upon an hilarious,

The Second Annual Phoenixville Blues Festival is set for Saturday, September 10th from 12-10pm. The free, daylong family event will benefit local Give the Gift of Music Foundation . PHOENIXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA – For the second year in a row, the Steel City Blues Society will present the free, daylong Phoenixville Blues Festival in Reeves Park, Phoenixville, PA on Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 12pm to 10pm. The family-friendly day of free blues music performed by nine area bands and musicians will take place rain or shine, and will again feature many local food vendors and a Kids Sing-Along. All proceeds from donations will benefit the Give the Gift of Music Foundation, the nonprofit organization that assists underprivileged children in the Phoenixville area with access to music lessons, instruments and after school music programs.

Local band Silent Reunion is playing two shows in the area over the next month and a half. The first will be played at Steel City Coffee House on Saturday, July 30th. The second will be held on August 20th at the newly opened Frank's Bar & Grill, 1193 Valley Forge Rd. For those of you unfamiliar with Silent Reunion, bassist Bob Kerr writes: If you’ve been out and about in Phoenixville over the last couple of months than you’ve probably been hearing about a local musical act named Silent Reunion. A four-piece consisting of singer/guitarist Pete Benes, drummer Billy Mosteller, guitarist Zak Theis, and bassist Bob Kerr. These individuals come together to form an experience that transcends the traditional and current modes of musical genres and gels together into something they can call their own. Albeit somewhere in between rock, jazz, funk, reggae, blues, and soul there rarely seems a moment when anyone could say “oh they’re a “this” band, or they are a “that” band”. They h

Area residents have the chance to enjoy an array of local music on a beautiful Chester County farm at the upcoming Hootenanny at Camphill Kimberton . The Hootenanny, a festival of local music and food, will be held July 16 from 3-10 p.m. at 1601 Pughtown Road, Kimberton, Pa. Musicians scheduled to perform on the hay wagon stage include: Cowmuddy, Elisha Kane, Mostly Maybe, Dirk Quinn, Tara and Friends, Aimee Wilson and the Factorye, and The Turnips. The Hootenanny has been organized to celebrate the joy of local culture. In addition to the music, the Camphill Café will be serving food made with local, organic ingredients. Patrons who bring their own reusable plates and utensils will receive a reduced meal price. There will also be local food and craft vendors, games, raffles, and a contra dance. Children will have the chance to spot cows, chickens, sheep and more on the working dairy and vegetable farm. The admission fee is $10, $8 in advance. Advance tickets can be purchase

The Columbia Bar & Grille has recently introduced a Prix Fixe Dinner Menu. The menu, which costs $23.95, is served from 5-6:30pm, seven nights a week and will be changed every Tuesday.

The Jameson Sisters (harp, mandolin, and vocals) lead an Irish session every Sunday 3 - 7 PM at Molly Maguire's Restaurant. This is an open session for any musicians playing Irish music. Molly's will provide drinks for musicians. We are trying to promote families dining together and learning about Irish culture. There are $15.95 3 course dinner specials during the session and children 12 and under can choose from a $1.00 menu. Irish dancing is encouraged. For more information call 215-651-8538.