Around Phoenixville

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!

Pottstown, PA - Decemberber 11, 2013 - Have you ever asked yourself, “What if ?” That’s exactly what founding partners John Giannopoulos, Jeff Vaughan, Paul Czachor, Al Matarazzo and Derek Menaldino asked themselves when they first discussed opening a craft distillery in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Fast forward twelve months from that casual conversation and Manatawny Still Works - the first craft, small-batch distillery in Montgomery County since 1969 - will be opening to the public in February, 2014. The 7,500 square foot facility is located behind the Pottstown Municipal Airport in the Circle of Progress Industrial Park on the banks of Manatawny Creek. Manatawny Still Works (MSW) has entered into a working relationship with their neighbor on the Circle, award-winning craft brewery Sly Fox Brewing Company . The brewery will be producing the wash - the first step in whiskey production - from their state-of-the-art brewhouse. MSW distiller, Max Pfeffer, formerly lead brewer at Sly...

Looking for something a little more low key than the Firebird Festival (or something to do before heading up to watch it go up in flames)? The Schuylkill Canal Association has the answer. They are hosting their annual Holiday Luminaria from 6-9pm tomorrow night. Come see the most spectacular light show of the holiday season, hundreds of luminary candles lining the towpath up to the house. As if stepping back in time to a Dickens’ holiday scene, come inside to enjoy the beautifully decorated house, sing along with the joyful music played by Meadowlark and visit with Santa Claus between 6:30 & 7:30 PM with your little ones. Partake in holiday treats and hot cider and join in with SCA as we toast our friends with best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season. The Luminaria is cancelled only if there is a steady downpour of rain. The magnificent light display is even more mystical if there is a slight drizzle, misty fog or a few inches of snow truly creating a beautiful ...

The Annual Christmas Village at Westridge Estates opens this weekend. Started in 1990 by Brad Peck & his grandson Andy Bailey, this annual tradition includes over 160 lighted porcelain houses in a late 19th-century setting including a city, farmland, amusement park, ski mountain resort, New England country side and seaport and a Swiss village. The 300 square-foot display includes working trains and animation to thrill the Chrismas child in all of us. Admission is absolutely free and donations are NOT accepted! This year, the Christmas Village will be open from 2-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays between December 14th and January 5th. It is located in the basement of the Westridge Farmhouse (office), 970 Township Line Road, Phoenixville, PA. For more information, give Brad a call at (610)983-0129.

This Saturday, December 7th, stop out to East Pikeland Elemntary from 10am-2pm for their annual Holiday Shoppe. They will have vendor tables including Party Lite Candles, Thirty-One Gifts, Pampered Chef, Adorn Jewelry, Tupperware, Ernie’s Bird Houses and much more! Kids can also get in on the act at their Kids Holiday Gift Shop which provides an opportunity for children to buy holiday gifts for family and friends at a very affordable price! In addition, there will be a Basket Raffle and a Food & Bake Sale! East Pikeland Elementary is located at 1191 Hares Hill Road.

Animal Medical Center , 25 West Third Ave, Trappe, is holding a Pet Food/Pet Supply Drive to benefit Red Paw Emergency Relief Team . Red Paw is a non-profit organization that works in conjunction with the American Red Cross, SEPA Chapter and other public and private disaster relief, social service and animal welfare organizations to provide emergency transport, shelter and veterinary care to animals involved in residential fires and other disasters. Through the month of December, AMC will be collecting pet food and pet supplies for Red Paw. Teaming up with AMC is the Ambler Savings Bank, W. Ridge Pike, Limerick where donations can also be dropped off. Donations of the following items would be greatly appreciated! Canned and dry dog/cat food; kitten/puppy food; cat litter/litter scoops/litter boxes; cat carriers; blankets and towels; cat nip toys; kongs for dogs; pet treats dogs/cats; leashes and collars; flea treatment for dogs/cats. For more information call 610-489-8982.

Come out to Deuces Wild Comedy Club, located in the Valley Forge Casino, every Thursday night for great local and national stand-up acts. Coming up in November: 12/5: Geno Bisconte Tickets/Details 12/12: Jeff "The Fat Rat Bastard" Pirrami Tickets/Details 12/19: Mike Lemon Casting Showcase Tickets/Details 12/26: Round Boy Jimmy Graham Tickets/Details Tickets are only $10 if you buy them from one of the links above and enter promo code LOCAL.

"Children's clothing is billion-dollar business built on an expensive necessity---a necessity because children need clothing, and expensive because children grow quickly, often outgrowing their clothing at a rate that parents have a hard time keeping up with. " -eHow Tracy Tackett, founder of Phoenixville Kids’ Closet, has a solution: Recycled Clothing. Children tend to grow faster than parents can fill their closets, which can be challenging for any family on a budget, especially families with multiple children of different ages, sizes and styles. Tackett’s new shop, Phoenixville Kids’ Closet, is a recycled children’s clothing store providing a one-stop-shop for parents looking for in-style, in-season recycled children’s clothing at a great price to maximize their budget. "If parents are spending time running from one store to the next to find the best deals they aren’t making the most of their time and definitely not their budget,” Tackett explained. “By provid...

The Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Club is once again hosting its Model Railroad Open House. The Open House, started in 1975, will celebrate the SVMRC's 45 anniversary. From their press release: Our Model Railroad Open House is "fun for kids of all ages". SEE & HEAR freight & passenger trains pulled by steam or diesel engines over 700’ of track. Four different railroads are depicted on the 1,000+ square foot HO scale (1/87) model. Hundreds of buildings, vehicles, people and trees create realistic scenes. Numerous buttons allow visitors to bring scenes to life! See Thomas the Tank Engine & try your observation skills with our Scavenger Hunt. You could win a train set! Admission is free. Donations are gratefully accepted. The trains are running 1:00pm - 5:00pm on the following weekends: Sat & Sun: Nov. 30 - Dec 1, 2013 (Thanksgiving weekend) Sat & Sun: Dec. 7 - 8 Sat & Sun: Jan. 11 - 12 Sat & Sun: Jan. 18 - 19 Sat & Sun: J...

On Sunday, December 1st, the Phoenixville Area Time Bank is joining with friends to present the 'Tides of Hope' Benefit Concert. The event, which is being held downtown at the Helium Comedy Club , will benefit families effected by the typhoon in the Philippines. From their press release: Dear Friends, In light of the recent typhoon that devastated a large part of the Philippines, we are joining the Fil-American community and other concerned groups in helping the affected families regain hope and normalcy in their lives. To this end, Phoenixville Area Time Bank and friends will hold an unprecedented benefit concert titled “Tides of Hope,” on Sunday, December 1st, 7 p.m. at the Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom Street in Philadelphia.Catherine Ricafort The concert will feature some of the best musical talents from Broadway headlined by Catherine Ricafort from the musical, NERDS and Mamma Mia.

On Saturday, December 14th from 10am to 4pm, come out to the Kimberton Fairgrounds for the 7th Annual Winter Festival benefiting Toys for Tots! The Winter Festival is an annual Star Wars themed event to benefit Toys for Tots! This year we have so much fun in-store you will not want to miss this event! Star Wars 'Blast-a-Trooper', Star Wars Character Meet & Greet, Face Painting & Balloon Twisting, Complimentary Chair Massage, Raffles, Silent Auctions, Door Prizes, Music, Brick Oven Pizzeria, and SHOPPING with tons of local small businesses! Admission is FREE, bring a new unwrapped toy and be entered for a door prize! For more information, visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/t4tevent or check out their website http://www.tftwinterfestival.com .

Come out to Phoenixville Area High School on Sunday, December 1st to take part in the Phoenixville Race for the Cure 5K Walk/Run. Organized by PAHS student Hayley Riley as her senior project, the race kicks off at 8am and costs $20 which includes a t-shirt. All proceeds go to the fight to end Breast Cancer. To sign up, visit http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR/PassionatelyPink/HeadquartersSite?team_id=278309&pg=team&fr_id=3715 . A donation of $20 gets you into the race, once you've made the donation send Hayley an email with your shirt size and she will follow up with any other info.

The annual Phoenixville Jaycees Burn off the Bird 5K and 1 mile fun run returns on Saturday, November 30th. Brief Description 5K race & 1 mile fun walk through Phoenixville, PA, beginning and ending at Stepping Stone Educational Center. Water available midway in 5K Run. Timing is provided by The Athlete’s Closet. Strollers are allowed on the course. Register Online and Save $$. Get Long Sleeve Blended Shirt Register online up until the day before the race and pay only $25. Register by November 15th, 2013 and be guaranteed a LONG SLEEVE BLENDED SHIRT in the size you want! After November 15th, shirts will be first come / first served. Race Day Registration Yes, you can register for this event on race day at the event site, right up until the start of the race. Day-of registration price is $30. Remaining shirts are on a first come-first served basis. Vendor Fair Before and After Race Come in and meet some of the areas best vendors and take advantage of their race day disc...

Come out to Deuces Wild Comedy Club, located in the Valley Forge Casino, every Thursday night for great local and national stand-up acts. Coming up in November: 11/7: Kick-off Thursday featuring Pete Michaels, Chipps Cooney and Mike Bocchetti Tickets/Details 11/14: Chris Monty Tickets/Details 11/21: Mike Lemon Casting Showcase Tickets/Details 11/28: Thanksgiving Night with Maddog Mattern and Anthony DeVito Tickets/Details Tickets are only $10 if you buy them from one of the links above and enter promo code LOCAL.

Quest Diagnostics is hosting two craft fairs in November to benefit Quest for a Cure, their program to help raise money for the American Cancer Society . Craft Fair - Shop for a Cause! Saturday November 16, 2013 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Green Tree Church of the Brethren 1078 Egypt Road, Oaks PA 19456 Come join us for a great day of Holiday shopping! There will be a unique showcase of crafts, gifts, baked goods, food, raffles, holiday décor and lots more!! Vendors Wanted! Call 610-454-4419 for further info. Craft Fair - Holiday Bazaar! Saturday November 23, 2013 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Grace Lutheran Church 6th & Main Streets, Royersford PA 19468 Please join us for a fun day of Holiday Shopping! There will be handmade crafts, gifts, holiday décor, baked goods, food, raffles and lots lots more!! Vendors Wanted! Call 610-454-4257 for further info.

On Saturday, December 7th, local non-profit Horse Power for Life is hosting Jingle Fest to benefit local families battling cancer. This dog friendly event will be held rain or shine at the Kimberton Fire Company's flex building from 11am-4pm and will feature live music, face painting, holiday crafts, a moon bounce and much more. Santa will even be in attendance and kids will be able to get their picture taken with him. Cost is $10.00 per person, $5.00 for children under 12-yrs-old and children under 2 free. Admission includes lunch (hotdog, chips, apple & bottled water). All participants will receive pink horse shoe magnet and all dogs receive pink bandana. All dogs must be on leash and owners responsible for cleaning up after their dog. For more information, please visit horsepowerforlife.org .

Phoenixville's annual Halloween Parade returns next Tuesday, October 22nd. The parade, which runs the 100-300 blocks of Bridge Street, begins at 7pm w/ a costume contest at 6. For more information including parade route and how to sign up to be a part, please visit the Borough website .

The Schuylkill Canal Association (SCA) has a full day of activities planned for Saturday, October 19th, so get your friends together and head on over. Starting with an organized clean-up at 9 a.m., the day will continue with a guided BYOB (bring your own boat) paddle of “the loop” at 2 p.m. To cap things off, the SCA has once again assembled a brilliant lineup of musical talent for its Folk ‘n Fall fundraiser, which runs from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at St. Michael’s Park on Jacobs Street in Mont Clare, Pa. Tickets are $25 and includes music and a meal (roasted pig with sides or vegetarian lasagna with a vegetable medley). Children 14 years of age and younger get in FREE! Musical acts include The Mighty Manatees, DVD MUSICK, Holt 45 and Ted the Fiddler.

The Phoenixville Zombie Run will be held on Saturday, November 2nd 2013, at Reeves Park in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Runner check-in begins at 8:00 AM, and the first stage of the run begins promptly at 9:00am. There are 3 stages of the run - a 5K Traditional Run, a 1K Walk & Fun Run, and a 5K “Survivor Run”...complete with a horde of Zombies who will be trying to catch the "survivors"! A portion of the money raised through the Phoenixville Zombie Run will be donated directly to PACS (Phoenixville Area Community Services) to help support their mission of empowering people in the Phoenixville area to achieve self-sufficiency. While the run is taking place outside of Reeves Park... The Phoenixville Zombie Fun Day will be held on Saturday, November 2nd, from 9:00am – 12:00pm, within Reeves Park. It offers games and activities for family members of all ages, including: a 24' rock climbing wall, inflatable moon bouncers, "make your own" kids crafts, l...

Follow Your Nose Films is proud to present the U.S. national tour of La Camioneta , the acclaimed debut feature by Mark Kendall, “a name to watch” (Variety). Hailed as “an upbeat story of resilience, regeneration and artistic imagination” by the New York Times’ Stephen Holden, the surprising and unique documentary film traces the migration and transformative journey of a decommissioned American school bus to the streets of Guatemala. After successful theatrical engagements in New York City and Los Angeles, the film will travel across the U.S. in a national tour playing in over 40 North American cities, including some additional theatrical engagements at The Screen in Santa Fe, Big Picture Cinema in Toronto and the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. The film opens for a one-week exclusive run on Saturday, October 5 at the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Every day dozens of decommissioned school buses leave the United States on a southward migration that carries th...

On Saturday, October 19th, David Uosikkinen (famed drummer of The Hooters) brings his In the Pocket project to the Colonial Theatre . Press release below: PHOENIXVILLE, PA - (September 20, 2013) - Fresh off their rockin' performance at the Philadelphia Folk Festival (where they were joined onstage by Todd Rundgren and closed Saturday's show), David Uosikkinen's In The Pocket returns to The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, PA (227 Bridge Street; 610-917-1228). On Saturday, October 19th In The Pocket will celebrate the release of their new single and video short, I Saw The Light, originally recorded by Todd Rundgren in 1972. Showtime is 8pm. Tickets are $19.50 - $34.50 and are available at thecolonialtheatre.com. In The Pocket's live show is a rock n' roll revue with a revolving cast of Philadelphia's most celebrated musicians. I Saw The Light features Phoenixville's own Cliff Hillis on lead vocals and guitar, The Hooters' Fran Smith, Jr on bass; fr...

This weekend promises a little something for everyone (and a lot for those adventurous souls). Things kick off on Friday night with the final First Friday of the season. October is Fire Safety Awareness Month and to celebrate the 200 block of Bridge Street will be closed so that local fire departments can showcase their trucks and help educate everyone of fire safety. In addition, local businesses will be kicking off the second annual Paint the Town Pink campaign, raising money for the Phoenixville Healthcare Access Foundation who in turn will fund free mammograms for Phoenixville area residents, and For Pete’s Sake, a foundation which provides “respite vacations” for those with cancer and their families. For more on the Paint the Town Pink campaign and additional events that will be held over the month of October, please see the Pottstown Mercury article . Saturday sees even more to do, with TEDxPhoenixville returning to the Colonial Theatre, the first ever Phoenixville Food Fe...

Councilman Gautreau posted this on the facebook earlier today: Notice from Phoenixville borough manager: At our Streetscape construction meeting this morning, PennDOT, the contractor, and staff agreed that the best course of action for the intersection at Main Street and Bridge Street is to close it entirely on October 8 and 9. The grade changes needed to balance that intersection based on the new construction does not provide a safe vehicle environment. In addition, they have to install a new stormwater inlet, a new manhole and make the connections about ten feet down in the middle of Bridge. These dates may be pushed to October 9 and 10 due to possible inclement weather. The intent is for the intersection to remain closed the entire time. The goal always remains to open as soon as possible. Essentially Bridge Street will be closed to non-local traffic between Starr Street and Gay Street. Main Street will be closed between Church Street and Mill Street. We are notifying reside...

TEDxPhoenixville returns to the Colonial Theatre on Saturday, October 5th. From the Colonial website: From the unique perspectives of science, music, technology, visual arts, education and humor, a lively mixture of ideas and people will lead to inspiration and innovation that has yet to be determined today! TEDxPhoenixville is most determined that you takeaway a new energy and determination in your own life. What are you determined to do? What’s stopping you? We’re excited to share an eclectic program of interesting speakers and performers – most of whom you’ve probably not previously heard of, all of whom are determined to bring something unique and special to the stage. The program starts promptly at 10AM so please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early so you have ample time to check in, pick up your name badge & lunch voucher and settle in. We anticipate that things will wrap up at 4PM. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the Colonial Theatre's TEDxPhoen...

The Manifest Your Destiny Expo returns to Kimberton, PA for its third year with more demos, speakers, vendors AND a Meet & Greet party for spiritually minded singles. The 3rd Annual Manifest Your Destiny Expo will take place on October 12 & 13, 2013 in Kimberton, PA. Manifest Your Destiny is multicultural in nature and our main goals are to raise consciousness, create awareness about healthy lifestyles, to build community and to give back to charities in need. Speakers at this year’s event include: Jeff Carreira - Transformation Educator & Contemporary Spiritual Teacher; Rob Scott- Fundamental Life Shift Coach; Doreen Carrie - Creator of Social Magnetizing; Annmarie Butera - Culinary Wellness Chef; John Amoroso - Ph.D., Educator, Artist, Transpersonal Psychotherapist & Author of "Awakening Past Lives" and Charlene Briggs - Registered Bach Flower Essence Practitioner. Musical performances will be provided by: Spirit Wing, Bhakti Boys/Kirtan Music, Sharo...

On Friday, September 27th, the Phoenixville Area Senior Center will be hosting their annual Fall Gathering . This year's gathering, being presented by Fox Rothschild, LLC and held at the Covered Bridge Room at Kimberton Fire Company, will feature the entertaining style of the Dueling Pianists "Tony T" DeCarolis and "Wildman Joe" Marchetti. Come out for this fun filled night of music, comedy, food (Mooreheads/Collegville), drink (wine & beer open bar), dancing, and more. Doors open at 6:30pm with dinner being served from 7-8pm and entertainment from 8-10:30pm. All-inclusive tickets are $75/each and can be purchased by calling 484-955-0535 or 610-935-1515.

Popular demand and sold-out tour nights have convinced locally-owned Ghost Tours of Phoenixville to extend their fall schedule. The walking tour of the state’s “most haunted borough” has been extended and is now running from September 13th through November 5th. Owner and Phoenixville resident Andrea Berger is in the 10th year of entertaining tour-goers with collected stories and experiences of our town’s historical and paranormal events. “We are glad to have so much demand for the Ghost Tours,” said Andrea Berger, “so opening the dates up for extra weeks seemed like a great idea. We hated having to turn people away last year, when we operated only for the month of October.” “The fall is a perfect time to be out and about in Phoenixville,” added Andrea Berger. “We’ve had everyone from school groups, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and groups of couples ready for an entertaining evening sign up for our walking tours.” The guided, story-driven tour of the town’s historically haunted s...

Phoenixville is celebrating community and sustainability at the 4th Annual Green Earth Festival on the Schuylkill River Trail on September 21 from 9AM - 2PM. See Google map for location . The festival features exhibitors, food, music, and children's entertainment. Visit the Festival Exhibitors that specialize in eco-friendly products, renewable energy, earth-friendly services, environmental / trails / recycling advocacy, and organizations that are making a difference by protecting the environment and building a sustainable and maintainable local economy. The festival will feature local businesses and service groups that are working to make our region a more sustainable community.

Council last night voted to approve the new plans for the Firebird Festival, moving the event to Friendship Field on Phoenixville's north side. From firebirdfestival.com : The festival has been approved. We thank the Borough council. The festival date is December 14th 2013. We'll have our 100+ performers on Bridge street and in Friendship Field from 3-7:30 pm, with buses transporting people back and forth. We will have space for a large and interesting Craft vending area. For Food we have our good local vendors, and we have contact with several gourmet trailers from Philly. At 7:30 we'll have a long parade with lanterns, peace birds and other puppets, dancers and drummers, from Bridge up to Fillmore (3/4 of a mile up hill. I know I'm pushing it). If you have something you would like to contribute to the parade, or for any other add-on you think would be good, please let me know. We will light the bird 8:15

On Sunday, September 22nd, come out to the Colonial Theatre as the Theatre Organ Society of the Delaware Valley is presents “The Mask of Zorro” starring Douglas Fairbanks. This 1920 silent feature film introduced movie audiences to the swashbuckling romantic hero and was the first in a series of “Zorro” adventure films. Providing the live theatre organ accompaniment on the TOSDV Wurlitzer built in 1922 will be Christian Elliott of Santa Clara, CA, the 2009 ATOS “Organist of the Year” and the premier specialist in creating accurate re-creations of authentic silent film accompaniment. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and can be purchased at the Colonial Theatre website . For more information, please visit tosdv.org .

Come out to Valley Forge Casino this Thursday night for the Grand Opening of the Deuce's Wild Comedy Club . From montgomerynews.com : On the first anniversary of bringing talented comics to the Valley Forge Casino stage, OutFront Entertainment is introducing the Deuces Wild Comedy Club to the casino on Sept. 12. The very first show at the comedy club will feature comedians Joey Gay, Pat House and Patrick Dodd. A native of Brooklyn, Joey Gay has an impressive resume, including NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” He’s performed onstage at noteworthy clubs like New York’s Caroline’s on Broadway, Comedy Village, Laugh Factory and Catch a Rising Star. As an actor, he’s been seen on NBC’s “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Deadline,” as well as MTV’s “Damage Control.” The show starts at 8pm and tickets are $25 at the door. You can also buy tickets online at nightout.com , enter the promo code comedy to save $10! Doors open at 6 and there are food specials...

Phoenixville Blues Festival returns to Reeves Park for the fourth time this Saturday, September 7th. Things kick off at noon when Main Line School of Rock's Delta Squad will take the stage. In all, eleven bands will be performing , culminating with Allman Brothers tribute band Hotlanta playing from 8:50-10pm. For more info on the festival, visit their site at pvilleblues.org .

Phoenixville Area High School's Junior Class is holding a fundraiser to help them pay for Prom. Between now and the end of October, you can visit Flower Power Fundraising to purchase flowers with 50% of the proceeds going to the Junior Class.

The 7th Annual Camphill Challenge will be held on Sunday, October 20th. From their website: It is sure to be another great day of cycling on October 20 as our 7th annual Camphill Challenge bike ride rolls off! We are pleased to announce that we are adding a 100 mile route this year. As always, routes will feature the famed fall foliage of Chester County, as well as the area's hilly terrain, horse farms, historic homes, covered bridges, and tours of the Camphill Communities in Chester County. 50, 25, 10, and 2 mile routes will be offered in addition to our new 100 mile route. Kimberton Waldorf School (410 West Seven Stars Road, Phoenixville, PA 19460) will be our gracious hosts again this year and we expect quite a crowd of cyclists. Proceeds of the Camphill Challenge benefit Camphill Special School , Camphill Soltane , and Camphill Village Kimberton Hills : life sharing communities for children, youth, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For mo...

Owen J. Roberts High School Sophomore, Maddie Matarazzo, 16, is a real competitor. She's been riding, running and swimming competitively since an early age and is now giving a lot of older athletes a run for their money! It wasn't long ago that young Maddie started competing in regional competitions but she's rapidly advanced in the sport and is competing nationally now with an international triathlon coming up next year. On August 10 Maddie competed in the USAT National Triathlon Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The prestigious USAT race, an Olympic-Distance National Championship, is an Olympic-distance event of 51.5 total kilometers. The race featured a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run. The Olympic-distance race is acclaimed for featuring one the nation’s top age group fields and serves as a qualifier for Team USA. In the substantial field of athletes, Maddie came in 7th place in the 19 and under category. With an impressive total time...

Delaware County Community College recently announced they will be offering classes at the Pickering Campus of Technical College High School . From the Phoenix: Phoenixville residents looking for a close to home educational opportunity can now take advantage of the resources of Delaware County Community College (DCCC) in the borough. DCCC’s newest branch campus has opened at the Technical College High School, Pickering Campus at 1580 Charlestown Road in Phoenixville, and the college is currently registering students for its inaugural semester which begins in September. The first semester begins on Sept. 3 and will offer late afternoon and evening classes held Mondays through Thursdays for credit and non-credit/certification courses. The campus is currently open for walk-in advising and registration Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., now through Aug. 28, and then from 10 a. m - 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, starting September 3. Read the full article . For a list o...

This Friday night, stop by the Children's Plaza to check out Phoenixville's own Coco Butter Band . The Coco Butter Band is an original 2-man blues/funk/soul band based out of Phoenixville who perform all over the Philadelphia and surrounding areas. The band features Liam Bouterre on keyboards/vocals and his brother Nate "Coco" Maskeri on drums/vocals. After years of playing as "musicians for hire" in various bands, in April of 2013 Liam and Coco decided to form their own band with Liam playing bass lines and soloing on the organ and Coco holding down the groove, all while singing. They are currently in the process of taking over the Philly original music scene playing many popular music venues, local festivals, and bars. Their talent and infectious groove was noticed by internationally touring blues/rock band, Trampled Under Foot (TUF), who invited them to open for their CD release party in Kansas City for 1,200 fans and to sit in with them at The House ...

On Friday, August 2, beginning at 5 p.m., celebrate National IPA Day with Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant . IPA Day is officially celebrated on Thursday, August 1, but Iron Hill decided to extend the party into Friday to kick-off the weekend. The group will pour a different house-brewed IPA at each of their nine award-winning locations. “As American craft brewers, the IPA is a style very near and dear to us – because craft brewing in the country really took off when beer lovers discovered that there was more to beer than light pilsners and set out to investigate fuller flavored styles, many of them beginning with IPAs,” says Director of Brewing Operations Mark Edelson. Each location will pour a different IPA created by each Iron Hill brewer to celebrate IPA Day: at Phoenixville, PA, Simcoe IPA, an American IPA brewed with Simcoe hops for a distinct pinecone-like aroma and medium body. at Chestnut Hill, PA, Hop Addict IPA, a west coast style IPA brewed with a variety of hop...

They're back! The Colonial Theatre is Bringing Back the Bacons Saturday, Sep 28, 8PM. The concert, donated by the Bacon Brothers , will benefit both the Association for the Colonial Theatre (ACT) and the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust (FPCCT) . Tickets go on sale Aug 30. The first five rows are reserved for sponsors, so if you would like to be a sponsor, contact Mary Foote , Executive Director of the Colonial Theatre. For more information, visit the Colonial Theatre .

Elska , a new award-winning family music artist, will be performing in the Philadelphia area at The Colonial Theatre on Tuesday, August 13th at 10:30 AM for a special all-ages concert with songs about her life on her imaginary Arctic Island. Elska, played by NYC-based singer/actress Shelley Wollert, has been making waves since the release of her award-winning debut pop-electronic album Middle of Nowhere. Elska is backed by a spell-binding blend of metallophones, chimes, bells, and twinkling analog synthesizers that entrance children as they learn about Elska's beautiful island and her small group of quirky friends. Check out Elska's video for the song "Midnight Sun in the Arctic" to get a feel for the ambient, dreamy magic that is Elska. Tickets for the show are just $8.50 and can be purchased at the Colonial Theatre website .

The first ever Phoenixville Food Festival will be held downtown on Saturday, October 5th. Phoenixville First, the local organization of town leaders, has put together a food event that will include a Food Truck Festival on Saturday from 12-6pm, followed by a restaurant week Sunday - Thursday (10/6 - 10/10). Also on October 5th, the downtown will host two additional events, TEDx at the Colonial Theatre and a Pub Crawl with participating bars. The Food Festival will feature not only great food but also free parking, musical acts and a vendor area. For more information on the Festival, visit phoenixvillefoodfestival.com .

The September 21 ride along the trail incorporates a unique mix of cycling and history, with guided tours of two historic cemeteries where Civil War notables are buried. Take a ride along the Schuylkill River Trail and through the gates of two historic cemeteries where you can visit the gravesites of Civil War notables, including Gettysburg Generals Meade and Hancock. The Schuylkill River Heritage Area is hosting the second ride in the Schuylkill River Trail Bike Tour Series on Saturday, September 21. The Cycles & Cemeteries Ride will take cyclists along the Schuylkill River Trail from Norristown to East Falls, with visits to Montgomery Cemetery in West Norriton and Laurel Hill Cemetery in East Falls. Ride options include 14 and 28-mile distances, and all participants can take guided or self-guided tours of the cemeteries on foot. The Schuylkill River Trail Bike Tour Series is a three-year series of annual rides that was introduced by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area las...

Throughout the summer, beer lovers looking for the latest from local, award-winning craft brewery Sly Fox can visit the four regional locations of The Pub at Wegmans , in Allentown, PA (3900 West Tilghman Street, 610-336-7900), Collegeville, PA (600 Commerce Drive, 484-902-1560), King of Prussia, PA (1 Village Drive, 484-690-3560), and Malvern, PA (50 Foundry Way, 484-913-9660), for an exclusive taste of Tale Chaser IPA, the brewery’s latest collaborative beer with Wegmans. “Our winter collaborative beer with Sly Fox was such a rousing success that we knew we wanted to create a summer special, as well – and our Tale Chaser IPA has sold so well that we’ve already ordered a second batch brewed to keep up with demand!” says Kathy Haines, director of Wegmans in-store restaurants and Market Cafés. “At The Pub, we’re proud to keep it fresh and local, and this special beer is a critical part of that mission.” Tale Chaser IPA was created by Sly Fox brewers in collaboration with The Pub ba...

Pottstown, Pennsylvania, June 4, 2013— For the second straight year, Sly Fox Brewing Company is participating in Hops for Heroes, joining eight other breweries across the nation to brew Homefront IPA, a special beer which is brewed from the same recipe at all locations. Its unique characteristics are the addition of orange peel to the boil and a brief soaking in tank with maple Louisville Slugger bats. The proceeds from this combination of a classic American tradition, beer and baseball, will be donated to Operation Homefront, a national group that provides emergency financial assistance to military families. Homefront IPA is draught only and was released at both Sly Fox locations just in time for Memorial Day. Origlio Beverage and Galli Beer Distributors are distributing the beer to taverns and pubs in the company’s Southeastern Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh markets respectively (last year, when distribution was in the local area only, twenty-nine taverns and pubs in and around Philad...