Around Phoenixville

The You Are Worth It Foundation is a grassroots homeless and in-need outreach group from Phoenixville, PA. Around Phoenixville recently asked Chris Brickhouse for some more information about the Foundation and how you can help: Tell us a little about You Are Worth It and how it got started: We are a homeless outreach organizations serving Phoenixville, Pottstown, Norristown, Center City and Kensington in Philly and constantly expanding. We were formed in early 2018 by Dina Rowan and I came on board last June. We have roughly 15 volunteers so far and would like to expand that to expand our reach. We take donated items directly to the people. We provide them with a hot meal and new or lightly used clothing and self-care products. We have long term goals of a mobile shower center, vocational training and assisting with housing in any way possible. What kind of items do you need? We take a wide array of items - individually packaged food, canned goods, ramen, protein bars, water, s...

Forever Changes , a pop-up vinyl record store, recently opened inside Heart Stone Coffee in Franklin Commons. The store, owned by Shawn Cephas, is open every Saturday from 10am-2pm and features not only new and vintage vinyl records but also music inspired gifts and art made by locals, including Rich's Really Cool Notebooks, Livnsol by Brian Hearns, and Kate's Creations. "Forever Changes is not just a place for the vinyl record fan, it's a place where our friends, family, and lovers can shop and support local merchants," he said. "It's more than records" Cephas traces his love of music to the day he was born above a record store: King James Records, one of the first African-American owned record stores in Philadelphia. Read more on the Phoenixville Patch . Voxipop was also there for the grand opening, watch the video here . Visit Forever Changes on Facebook to keep up to date.

Come and join the festivities at Camphill Kimberton ! On Saturday, July 13th they are once again hosting their beloved annual Hootenanny Festival. Enjoy local organic food as well as live music outside in their biodynamic agricultural community. Additionally, there will be Vendors, Contra Dancing, Face Painting, Hayrides and a Bubble man! You might even spot some cows and chicken at their local dairy and see where your food was grown at their very own vegetable farm. All Proceeds will go to Camphill Kimberton, a non-profit farming and handcrafting community that includes people with and without special needs. To find out more about us please visit camphillkimberton.org . Tickets $8 in advance, $10 at Door. They can be purchased at http://www.camphillkimberton.org/hootenanny/ . For more information or Vendor opportunities, please contact hootenanny@camphillkimberton.org .

The G Lodge Restaurant is our most recent Local Business Spotlight. Located just a couple of miles from downtown to Phoenixville, the G Lodge has been a go to spot for breakfast and lunch for over 34 years. It was even featured in M.Night Shyamalan's 'The Happening'. The following is from RetroRoadmap.com: If you’ve just visited Valley Forge National Park you may still be in the Colonial-era headspace, so why not continue in that vein by breakfast/lunching at the G Lodge? The inside of this unassuming roadside eatery (attached to an auto repair shop) echoes the log cabin structures of adjacent national park...just not as drafty. Daily specials are listed above the counter, and there’s a lot on the menu as well. My eyes to always be bigger than my stomach here, though I’ve never sprung for the G-Buster special. Unlike many diner fans I am not a fan of breakfast homefries so I love that they have potato patties (deep fried!) as an option. To read the full review, visi...

People looking for something fun to do outdoors with friends and family don’t have to search very far with the new Go Schuylkill Greenways website. The next adventure is just a click away. Whether it’s borrowing a bike for an enjoyable ride on the Schuylkill River Trail, renting a kayak for a paddle on the Schuylkill River or finding time for a do-it-yourself excursion; Go Schuylkill Greenways is the place to visit to learn about all these opportunities. “The Greater Philadelphia Region is rediscovering how beautiful and clean the Schuylkill River has become. There are so many ways for just about anyone to enjoy this incredible natural resource and the trail that runs alongside it,” said Schuylkill River Greenways NHA Executive Director Elaine Paul Schaefer. “This new website will help residents and visitors to the area navigate how to get on the river or trail and take full advantage of both!” Those that visit GoSchuylkillGreenways.com are first asked to choose their activity...

Celebrate the last Saturday of the Summer with Patrice & The Show at the Reeves Park Bandshell! Led by front woman Patrice Hawthorne of Peaches and Herb fame, this ten-piece band with its multi-talented musicians and vocalists has more than 70 years of combined experience! In addition to the live music, the event will also feature food trucks and family friendly activities. For more information, please visit Phoenixville First or the Facebook Event page .

Peri Anderson, owner of Brooklyn Girl Bakery , was part of a team that won the most recent episode of Sugar Rush on Netflix. I reached out to Peri to learn a little more about her bakery: I started out taking a recreational cake decorating class with my mom when I was still living in NY. I loved it and moved to PA to be with my boyfriend (now husband), where I began interning for a bakery in Chestnut Hill. Over the course of 7 years I worked my way up from intern to pastry chef until I decided to leave in 2012. I do all of my baking in our home kitchen which is licensed and insured by the Dept. of Agriculture. Initially, I wanted to focus on wedding cakes so I immediately started contacting wedding venues in the area to see if they would include me a wedding cake vendor in their packages. I currently work with over 10 venues and several caterers in the area. While wedding cakes are my main focus, I also make cakes and cookie favors for all occasions. While I don’t have a retail loca...

Schuylkill River Greenways is celebrating two decades of paddling along the river with the upcoming Schuylkill River Sojourn. The annual recreational experience encompasses five Pennsylvania counties (Berks, Chester, Montgomery, Schuylkill and Philadelphia) and is just a couple of days away with a kickoff celebration on June 1 and the first boat launch on June 2. Two of their full-trip paddlers have done the sojourn every year since 1999, the first year the sojourn was launched. They also have several individuals doing the sojourn for their very first time this year including a group of students from Reading Area Community College. Schuylkill River Greenways NHA invites you to this historical recreational activity. For more information and to register, visit http://www.schuylkillriver.org/sojourn.aspx .

2018 marks the second year for the Phoenixville Girls Basketball Camps. Head Coach AJ Thompson, the girls basketball staff, and current members of the PAHS girls basketball team will work with campers to develop solid fundamental basketball skills, good sportsmanship, and most importantly have fun. The campers will participate in skill competitions, 3 vs. 3 or 5 vs. 5 games, guest speakers, & skill stations. Camp will be conducted to ensure your camper is learning and having fun in a safe structured atmosphere. The camp offers two sessions. The first session, for students entering grades 3-6 and is for learning and having fun. The afternoon session is for students entering grades 7-9 and is geared towards players looking for a serious 2hr/day workout with high school staff and players. For more information and to register, visit http://www.oasyssports.com/PhoenixvilleSummer/content/athletic-camps/athletics_girls-basketball-camp .

The 7th Annual Boys Basketball Camp promises to be the best yet! Head Coach Eric Burnett, the Phoenixville boys basketball staff, and current members of the PAHS boys basketball team will teach the boys fundamental skills and drills used in the game of basketball. Each day will consist of skill competitions, 5v5 games, professional guest speakers, and skill stations. Campers are encouraged to bring a lunch and beverage each day, but there will be snacks available for purchase. Above all, you can be sure that your camper is having fun and learning in a structured and safe environment. The youth camp is geared more for fun and learning while the middle school skills camp is geared more for players looking for a serious 3 hour/day workout with the high school players and staff. For more information including dates and times and to register please visit http://www.oasyssports.com/PhoenixvilleSummer/content/athletics_athletic-camps/athletics_boys-basketball .

Art collectors, enthusiasts and novices will have two full days in May to meet some of the best artists in their Phoenixville studios. Studio 3 is part of the Chester County Studio Tour which will be held on May 19th and 20th . Studio 3 consist of sculptor Tom Ransom, painter Michael Hill, painter Lee Pohlsander, a jeweler Maryann Worrell. Studio 3 is located at 84 Washington Ave Phoenixville PA. The Chester County Studio Tour is free and open to the public on Saturday May 19, from 10:00am until 6:00pm and Sunday, May 20, from 11:00am until 5:00pm. Some other great studios on the Tour are Teresa Haag at Studio 2. The famous Phoenixville artist will be hosting painter Lisa Muller and encaustic painter Sandra Engle. Teresa’s studio is located at 26 Gay Street. Studio 7 is hosted by painter Gretchen McGinnis. Participants of Studio 7 include painter Lisa Ford, Painter Maryanne Buschini, painter Daphne Longo-Okcuoglu, and ceramist Bonnie Ann Burnett. Studio 7 is located at 115 Bobtail D...

Phoenixville Area Time Bank (PATB) has booked a special performance of the Forge Theatre production of Christopher Durang’s hilarious 2013 Tony Award-winning play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike on Sunday, April 15th. Proceeds will benefit PATB and their newest partner, Phoenixville Area Refugee Initiative (PARI). Playbill’s synopsis of the play reads as follows: Vanya and Sonia have never left the confines of their childhood home in Bucks County, PA, while their sister Masha has been gallivanting around the world as a successful actress. A surprise visit from Masha and her 20-something boy toy, Spike, throws the normally quiet household into utter upheaval as its residents and visitors get swept up in an intoxicating mixture of lust, rivalry, regret, and the sudden possibility of escape. Phoenixville's Forge Theatre, located at 241 1st Ave, is a wonderful live-performance venue presenting local talent in an intimate setting. Prior to the 2 p.m. performance, doors wil...

Tonight, join the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area for their Quarterly Meeting at 7:30pm at the Phoenixville Bank and Trust Company , 564 Nutt Street in Phoenixville, as Aaron Heckler, historian and author, presents, "The Schuylkill Navigation (Canal): A Picture Postcard Journey Downriver." This is a fully illustrated presentation about the Schuylkill Navigation, often also called the Schuylkill Canal. Utilizing photographic picture postcards, mostly dating from 1905-1920, attendees will see and learn about the numerous locks, canal sections, dams and other features constructed along the Schuylkill River for the primary purpose of shipping coal from Schuylkill County to Philadelphia. Light refreshments will be served following the presentation. The meeting is FREE and is open to Society members and the general public. Note: This was originally scheduled for last Wednesday but the snow caused it to be pushed back a week. Please disregard the date in the fly...

On Sunday, March 18, St. Basil's the Great Parish is hosting a concert to benefit Phoenixville Area Community Services . From the Facebook Event : Please join us as our parish choirs present a wonderful program of spiritual music, including popular favorites and classical masterpieces. Admission is free. We will, however, gratefully accept good will donations for Phoenixville Area Community Services. PACS has been helping needy families in the Phoenixville area for over 45 years. Since 1972, PACS has worked tirelessly to end poverty and hunger in our community by connecting people in need with resources for food security, financial stability, and better health. In addition to providing ongoing case management analysis, support, and education, PACS provides emergency financial assistance for essential needs such as food, heat, utilities, and housing. For more information about PACS and the amazing work it does, please visit http://www.pacsphx.org/ We hope you join us for this ...

To Love a Canine Rescue is hosting the following events over the next few months: Yoga fundraiser at Phileo Method - March 17 5th Birthday Yappy Hour at the Rec Room - May 3 Raffles for Ruffs at Twenty9 - May 19 Cuts For A Cause at Prestige Salon - June 10 To Love a Canine Rescue, Inc. (TLC) is a non-profit, all breed, foster based, no-kill rescue operating in Chester County, PA. Their mission is to rescue and find permanent homes for abandoned, stray and surrendered dogs in order to minimize the needless euthanizing of animals. For more information and for a list of available dogs, visit them at tlcrescuepa.com .

The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area will be hosting their Winter Flea Market on Saturday, January 27th. The annual fundraiser will be held from 8am-1pm and all proceeds go to the Society to help them continue perserving Phoenixville's history and culture. The flea market features lots of vintage, antiques and useful items! The flea market will be held at the HSPA building, 204 Church St. For more information, visit their event page on Facebook .

Richard Carlton London , a Chester County photographic artist is exhibiting his works at Phoenix Village in downtown Phoenixville for the first quarter of 2018. The exhibit of modern photography is titled “Window Reflections”. Ever walked down the street and observe for a brief moment an amazing reflection in the window of a building here in Phoenixville? Of course you have. We all do! Richard Carlton London captures that moment in his unusual photographic moments of reflection. He observes, studies and deconstruct the moment most of us see in a brief glance in our hurried days. London calls his work “pedestrian” because he takes photographs from a pedestrian’s point of view. However the results are unique, colorful, often abstract and above all contemporary. “They are intended for interior spaces where color and conversation are sought. I price it affordably and prefer to print on metal - art should be temporary and recyclable.” The Window Reflections exhibit at Phoenix Village b...

On Friday, December 29 at 7:30 the Pennsylvania Philharmonic will present “American Roots: New Orleans, New York, Chicago, and more!” at the Phoenixville Area Middle School. The concert will celebrate original American Music: from Broadway Musicals of NYC and Jazz clubs of Chicago, to brass bands of New Orleans and soundtracks of Hollywood. With selection from Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Leonard Bernstein, John Williams (and more), there will be something for everyone to enjoy. There are multiple tiers of tickets available for this performance, including: $10 child/student, $28 general admission, $42 prime center orchestra, and $100 VIP experience with a pre-concert dinner, a chance to mingle with members of the orchestra, and the best seats in the house. Tickets are available online at www.paphilharmonic.org/american-roots or by calling 610.401.3650

Come out this Saturday evening to An Evening of Hope, a benefit to raise funds for Manor of Hope . Manor of Hope, a long-term therapeutic community for young men battling the disease of addiction in our surrounding communities, sets itself apart from traditional drug rehabilitation programs because its long-term curriculum provides individuals with the opportunity to re-wire their minds, rejuvenate their bodies and refresh their spirits. The event, which will be held from 6-10pm at Franklin Commons , will feature appetizers and dinner followed by a silent auction, music and dancing. Complimentary beer and wine served throughout the evening and attire for the event is Smart Casual. For more information or for tickets, visit friendsofthemanor.org/an-evening-of-hope .

Manor of Hope is a long term residential addiction rehab support program for young men. Located in a beautifully renovated farmhouse on Egypt Road in Phoenixville, Manor of Hope is a state of the art drug and alcohol recovery community that offers long term treatment and continuing care for young men with substance abuse issues. The owner/mastermind of the Manor of Hope, Steve Killelea, dealt with his own son's addiction problem for over 10 years. Steve tried to help his son and sent him to many places, only to have him relapse - until he decided to look outside the US and in Canada found a "therapeutic community" where his son John found sobriety. Their program model inspired both Steve and John to create their own version right here in Phoenixville. They also have created the "Building Futures" program which partners with small local businesses to help mentor and teach the young men vocational skills. One of the current residents named Steve has been work...