Around Phoenixville

On Saturday, June 30th, the Chesco Grand Prix comes to town with their Phoenixville Criterium. From chescograndprix.com : 2012 marks the launch of this high quality series of criteriums (spectator-friendly competitive cycling events) and cycling road races in towns, villages and the rural countryside of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Each event will feature exciting races for amateurs, elite women and professionals, mostly held on downtown circuits of one mile or less. Designed to bring people into town on a summer evening, the entertaining 4 to 5 hour criteriums will include music, professional announcing, celebrity appearances, youth races and more. Chester County horse country will be the backdrop for the Chesco Time Trial, Road Race and July 4th Holiday Barbeque. The Chesco Grand Prix will be an annual week-long festival that celebrates cycling, showcases Chester County and promotes the National Velodrome being planned for Coatesville. The Phoenixville event, the third of the s...

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Karen Johns, Phoenixville will once again host a fireworks display to celebrate the 4th of July. From today's Phoenixville Patch : Michael Maurice O'Shaughnessy has the Golden Gate Bridge. Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower. Karen Johns has the Phoenixville Fourth of July Fireworks Show. For the second-consecutive year since the borough pulled funding, the former council member has raised the $14,000 necessary to finance the annual pyrotechnic spectacle the downtown has hosted since 1999. Though it hasn’t always been easy–the 2012 show wasn’t clinched until Johns was presented with a $2,500 check by Susquehanna Bank during the June 12 meeting of the borough council–Johns has ensured the tradition lives on. ... Phoenixville's Annual Fourth of July Fireworks event will be held on Wednesday July 04, 2012 at Friendship Field, located at the corner of Fillmore Street and Franklin Avenue, from 9 p.m. to 9:15. Visitors may park in ...

This Sunday, June 24th, the Schuylkill Canal Association will be hosting its 30th annual Canal Day celebration. The event, being held from 9am-4pm, features live music, a river trail run, horseshoe tournament, 5 mile canoe/kayak race and the ever popular Canal Jousting. For more information, visit the SCA's Canal Day page .

On Thursday, June 21st, Raymond the Amish Comic will be performing live as part of PJ Ryan's Thursday Night Comedy Series. Tickets are only $10.00 to see Raymond in this very intimate setting. Email: pjscomedy@gmail.com to make reservations. Visit Raymond's YouTube page for some sample of his show.

This month join Camphill Village Kimberton Hills in celebrating National Pollinator Week: June 18-24, 2012. This week is intended to create awareness about pollinators and their importance to the environment and to the food supply. Pollinating animals, including bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles and others, are vital to our delicate ecosystem, supporting terrestrial wildlife, providing healthy watershed, and more. The work of pollinators ensures full harvests of crops and contributes to healthy plants everywhere. Foods grown in Pennsylvania that need honeybees (more than other pollinators) are very diverse and include apples, berries, broccoli, cucumbers, peaches and watermelon.

The quiet atmosphere of rural downtown Kimberton, Pa., will change dramatically on July 7, as live bands, including the Llama Dalis , Tin Bird Choir and Mostly Maybe , take the stage during the first annual Kimberton Community Block Party. The free event will also include a beginner’s square dance called by WXPN Radio Host Keith Brand, food, beer and beverages for sale, and children’s activities. The event will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. across from Kimberton Whole Foods at 2140 Kimberton Rd., Kimberton, PA 19442. Presented by the Kimberton Village Business Association (KVBA), sponsored by Kimberton Whole Foods , and produced by Seven Stars Music and Arts, the block party is the kickoff event of the new Kimberton Summer Arts Series, which will feature live theater and music events throughout the summer.

Still looking for a gift for dad this Father's Day? Well, if he is a golfer, Beauty Art, Antiques & Gifts gallery in Newtown Square has the answer. Paul MacWilliams, an artist affiliated with Beauty Art, Antiques & Gifts gallery, also paints golf course paintings for an outfit that prints and produces prints. Over the past 5 years, MacWilliams has accumulated 4 dozen or more "Sketch Paintings." These are done from a photograph supplied by the course's pro. Once approved, a final, larger, more detailed painting is done for the club. Then limited edition prints are sold to members. Paul has teamed up with Beauty to sell these 11 x 14 sketch paintings. They are all in Beauty gallery and would be of interest to golfers who have played the various clubs, or those who just appreciate a scenic golf vista. With Father's Day on June 17, this would make a unique and artful gift. Beauty is located at 3857 Providence Rd., Suite 200, Newtown Square, PA 19073. F...

Cliff Hillis is known for putting the “power” into “power pop.” The Phoenixville, PA-based singer and songwriter will celebrate the release of his new album Dream Good with these June shows in Phoenixville, PA, Wilmington, DE and Easton, MD. All will feature his full band The Forward Thinkers (unless otherwise noted): Friday, June 15: CD Release Show at Steel City Coffeehouse , 203 Bridge St Phoenixville, PA 19460 (610-933-4043). Special guest Scot Sax opens with a solo set starting at 8pm. Tickets: $10 adv/$12 day of show. Sunday, June 17: CD Release Show at Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats , 320 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 (302-226-2739). CD listening party at 8pm; two shows starting at 9pm. Free. Thursday, June 28: World Cafe Live at The Queen (upstairs), 500 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 (302-994-1400). 8pm. Tickets and special guest: TBA Friday, June 29: Night Cat, 5 Goldsborough Street, Easton, MD 21601 (410-690-4544). Solo set opening for Jim Boggia...

Every Friday this summer, the Columbia Bar and Grille will be hosting a Party on the Patio. The party goes from 5-9pm with Resident DJ beginning at 6pm and happy hour prices until 7. In addition, you can enter to win your own Party on the Patio if you bring four or more friends with you and fill out a ballot.