By AML Publisher
Photography courtesy of Mark Garvin Photography

Claire Inie-Richards as Primrose and Nathaniel Brastow as David in Y York’s EGGS based on the acclaimed novel by Jerry Spinelli. “I think Primrose just wants to be a kid and she doesn’t want to take care of anyone else, let alone her mother. Then, along comes David and the winds of change are put into motion,” said Inie-Richards.

In EGGS, People’s Light and Theatre company’s rendition of the popular book by Jerry Spinelli, which is enjoying an extended run through Sunday May 31st, 9-year-old David and 13-year-old Primrose are both pretty unhappy with life at home. David is sent to live with his grandmother after the death of his mother, and Primrose’s mom is a fortuneteller who barely notices when Primrose moves into the van parked outside their house. Nathaniel Brastow plays the role of David. “He is very sad that his mother has died and confused. The reason he is so mean to his grandmother in EGGS is that he feels like he has to save this space in his heart for his mother and without that space, the hope of his mother coming back is gone,” explained Brastow.
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By AML Publisher
Photography courtesy of Bernadette Uzcategui Photography

The brains and beauty behind a brilliant business model are Main Line moms and Tymel co-principals Melissa Parker (left) and Tyra Hodges (right).

If there are two idioms that ring true when describing a successful entrepreneurial business model in 2009 it is the following: 1) Necessity is the mother of invention. 2) Timing is everything. With so many Americans astutely aware of reducing their carbon footprint, the green industry is thriving with creative concepts that speak to the nation’s environmentally-cautious consumer. Despite a down economy, all signs point positively towards a growing demand for socially responsible business models.

In the case of Main Line entrepreneurs Tyra Hodges, 45, and Melissa Parker, 40, their invention-fashion forward reusable bags made from recycled materials-was inspired by some timely conversations they had with their children. Hodges was unpacking her groceries one evening in her kitchen last spring when her (then 11-year-old) daughter, Natalie, commented on the amount of plastic and paper she was wasting. Parker had received similar feedback from one of her daughters a few weeks earlier after she completed a school project on the importance of recycling.
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By AML Publisher
Photography provided by April Ziegler Photography, Bernadette Uzcategui and Stacey Granger/Life Art Imaging

My beautiful mother, Lisa Lockard, at a recent family wedding, dancing the night away. Photo courtesy of Joe Craig Photography www.joecraigphoto.com

It is one of the best holidays and a personal favorite—Mother’s Day! This year, the city and suburbs abound with so many great selections—classic and new—to consider for your special family celebration. Whether you are headed downtown, eyeing up the Main Line, or venturing out to the countryside, AML has done our due diligence to highlight thirteen terrific selections to choose from for Mother’s Day 2009. These are in no particular order…so sit back, grab your favorite beverage, and enjoy our suggestions for your important and fun celebration of the great women in your life. Whether you will be toasting with your own mom, an aunt, sister or dear friend, we wish you a meaningful and wonderful day filled with great memories and a whole lotta love.

Love You Mom!
Sarah Lockard
AML Publisher
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By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Bernadette Uzcategui

My Fair Lady
Owner and Milliner Jen McGowan of Jackie’s Hat Box

In the American classic Gone with The Wind, Scarlett O’Hara briskly tied the green ribbon of her oversized Parisian bonnet as she scurried off to the big summer picnic at the Wilkes plantation, Twelve Oaks, for her chance meeting with a dashing Rhett Butler. Former first lady and international style icon Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis made the pillbox hat one of the most fashionable style trends of the ‘60s. And, most recently, singer Aretha Franklin created a flurry of media attention when she wowed the nation with a customized grey felt hat, complete with Swarovski crystals, at the Obama inauguration. The running count on the Facebook fan page for Franklin’s hat is now over 100,000.

From first ladies to classic movie scenes to royal weddings, hats have been a key part of women’s fashion for hundreds of years. Now, a Main Line milliner is making a name for her stylish, custom-made hats. Jackie’s Hat Box is giving everyday social butterflies an opportunity to make a dramatic grand entrance at an upcoming cocktail party, spring fundraiser or, most importantly, the upcoming Devon Horse Show.
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By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Kevin E. McPherson
Drawings published with permission of The Rosenbach Museum, Philadelphia

A total of over 300 original watercolors, pen-and-ink sketches, doodles, manuscripts, books, and dummy books from the 1950s to today are displayed at The Rosenbach. Visitors can access new interviews with Maurice Sendak through digital touchscreens throughout the galleries.

Most people recognize famed illustrator and author Maurice Sendak for his work in Where the Wild Things Are, In The Night Kitchen and Chicken Soup. But Sendak’s amazing talents have graced the pages of 105 additional books besides the famed trio. This week the year long exhibit of Sendak’s work at Philly’s Rosenbach Museum has its final curtain call. There’s a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak is a retrospective that encompasses four comprehensive galleries in the museum. Director Spike Jonze will be releasing his version of Where the Wild Things Are in an upcoming 2009 fall film adaptation of the same name. The film is written by Jonze and Dave Eggers.

There’s a Mystery There focuses on Sendak’s personality as a storyteller engaging with difficult and mysterious themes and memories in his work. It explores Sendak’s prolific imagination through the characters, influences, and settings of his books, as well as Sendak’s quest to illustrate what he calls “the Other Story,” the hidden meanings of a text that haunt and enrich his illustrations.

Sendak selected the Rosenbach Museum & Library to be the repository for his work in the early 1970s thanks to shared literary and collecting interests. His collection of nearly 10,000 works of art, manuscripts, books and ephemera, has been the subject of many exhibitions at the Rosenbach, seen by visitors of all ages. The Rosenbach currently houses all of Sendak’s original illustrations for his books along with 3,500 works of art and an additional collection of 7,000 pieces of sketches and materials and manuscripts from the artist.

This week is also the inaugural Philadelphia Museum Week, with over fifty regional museums participating. There are a wide variety of discounts available on admission and museum store purchases- including at The Rosenbach-from now through Sunday, May 3rd. Patrick Rodgers is the traveling exhibitions coordinator at the museum and recently guided AML through the extraordinary Sendak exhibit and its fascinating galleries.

Gallery One: Sendak and His Kids

The Rosenbach has rotated the thousands of documents as part of the Sendak exhibit every four months since last May, making for a juggernaut of an exhibition. The fragile collection is particularly susceptible to light damage and the museum has to preserve the pieces forever. In addition, the exhibit is organized by four distinct rooms that cover Sendak’s main topics: kids, monsters, storytelling and settings. “We wanted to break down where Sendak finds mystery in his stories by themes that were as easy as possible because we know that there can be so many layered meanings in his children’s books, it can be a lot to chew on. Since we did rotate this exhibit, we also need to make it very flexible as well,” explained Rodgers.

Final drawing for Where the Wild Things Are, written by Maurice Sendak. Pen and ink, watercolor. © Maurice Sendak, 1963. All rights reserved.

In Gallery One, there’s the most recognizable of all of Sendak’s children-an original, vibrant watercolor of Max from his 1963 classic Where the Wild Things Are as well as early sketches of Mickey from In The Night Kitchen and Pierre from Sendak’s Pierre. The author, now 80 and residing in rural Connecticut, sourced his inspiration for his young subjects out of his childhood in Brooklyn during the ‘30s, where many of his playmates were immigrants. “These children were in a time period where they were fiercely independent-as was Sendak-so that’s acknowledged through many of his characters and the reality he was drawing from,” said Rodgers.

In the early version of Where the Wild Things Are, Max’s character was originally named Johnnie and the character cried a pool of tears that transported him out of the fantasy land. Sendak drew from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, explained Rodgers, as well from impressionists such as Rembrandt and his family members. “The monsters in ‘Wild Things’ are actually exaggerated portraits of Sendak’s aunts and uncles that he grew up with. When he was a boy, Maurice’s Polish relatives were Jews who had fled from Europe during the time of World War I. They spoke Yiddish; their customs were vastly different than what he had grown up with—even though Sendak’s parents were Polish. And, they handled Sendak very roughly. They were ravenous for his mother’s cooking and he described them as having strange hairs coming out of their ears and noses. Sendak grew up to love those relatives, yet he never lost the idea of their ghastliness when he was a kid. Later in his life, those memories translated to the inspiration for the monsters,” explained Rodgers.

“That’s the best fun in all of this-the layers of meaning, the layers of storytelling”
-Maurice Sendak, August 2007

The intense relationship between parent and child is a common thread woven throughout many of Sendak’s works and food also plays a huge role in many books, including, most apparent, In the Night Kitchen. Throughout the exhibit, there are monitors where visitors can stop and listen to taped segments from exclusive interviews with Sendak from his New England home where the author goes into further detail about the complexities of his writing. “The Rosenbach has a relationship with Maurice Sendak that goes back more than forty years. And because of that, in addition to the comprehensive collection, Sendak’s voice has become the centerpiece of this show. And so we were able to do these interviews with him and incorporate them into the exhibit to add another dimension and really bring it to life,” explained Rodgers.

Gallery Two: Sendak and His Monsters

Gallery Two highlights some of Maurice’s darker materials and fiendish characters. The Holocaust weighed particularly on the mind of Sendak as a subject matter, with his relatives talking frequently about the persecution they had faced in Europe. “An entire side of his father’s family perished during the Holocaust, and Sendak was acutely aware of this as a young child. So he had heard stories about their experience, viewed photographs and interacted with the Jewish community of Brooklyn. For Maurice, this was horrific,” said Rodgers.

The other sinister event that shaped Sendak’s career was the famed Lindbergh baby kidnapping and murder in May of 1932. Only four-years-old at the time, Sendak and his family were sent into a full panic, as was a large portion of the country, when famed aviator Charles Lindberg’s son was kidnapped and later found in a shallow grave. “One thing you will find in Maurice’s work is kidnapping characters. And, he is, in essence, exorcising the demons of these childhood memories through these personalities he has created,” explained Rodgers.

Final drawing for Outside Over There, by Maurice Sendak. Pencil, pen and ink, watercolor. Ridgefield, Connecticut, ca. 1978. © Maurice Sendak, 1978. All rights reserved. Maurice Sendak has a keen fascination with the Lindberg baby kidnapping, a childhood memory that brought much fear into the Sendak home. In his final drawing for Outside Over There, the grim reapers at the window are his nod to the famed murder mystery.

Sendak’s Outside Over There is part of what the author grouped as a trilogy (‘Wild Things’ and In The Night Kitchen are the first two parts) because he felt these books all related back to his childhood and upbringing. In ‘Outside’, the heroine, Ida, has a little sister who was kidnapped by goblins-and it is up to Ida to find her baby sister and keep her from becoming a goblin’s bride. The book has eerie scenes and a ghostlike quality. Outside Over There is illustrated in a style that is radically different than Sendak’s other works. “There is a Victorian room and soft, calming pastel colors but at the window are these faceless goblins waiting at the window on a ladder to steal the baby in the nursery. So, it’s working in his fascination with the Lindbergh kidnapping,” said Rodgers.

The character of Brundibar is Sendak’s most horrible monster, a not so subtle reference to Adolph Hitler. In the late ‘30s, just about the time Hitler was menacing Czechoslovakia, Jewish Czech composer Hans Krasa composed a children’s opera called Brundibar. Sendak illustrated the children’s book version of Brundibar that was written by Tony Kushner and published in 2003. The book was named one of the New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Illustrated Books of 2003.

The Rosenbach translates the character of Brundibar into a valuable lesson about bullying for young visitors to grasp, with creative and informative gallery cards that help explain Sendak’s work.“Initially Sendak went right for the heart of the topic-he wanted to make Hitler the bully. So, he produced this image of Brundibar as an organ grinder, thinking about how much he hates children. And Sendak found this really wasn’t him, it was not subtle enough. So, as an illustrator he was directly going to the source without making it his own, it was too literal of an interpretation and was never published in the final book. Instead, the Brundibar Sendak ended up sketching is completely different-he has these intense blue eyes of Hitler and the little mustache with a Napoleonic costume but he is all withered and shriveled underneath the outfit. He has this big, blustery persona but he is the scrawny little person underneath, like a coward. It’s not that Maurice thought kids could not handle it; he just realized that the original image of Brundibar was not mysterious enough so he changed his approach to fit the style that he (Sendak) was most comfortable with. The memories of the Holocaust are nothing something that Sendak ever felt he could resolve so this is his way of dealing with it,” explained Rodgers.

Gallery Three: Sendak and His Storytelling

Sendak’s favorite author is Herman Melville, who penned Moby-Dick, and in this room at the Rosenbach is (on loan) Melville’s stunning black walnut bookcase from his Berkshire estate Arrowhead. Inside, are pristine first editions of Moby-Dick, among other notable literary masterpieces. “Sendak wanted to include Melville in a very palpable way in the exhibit and having his bookcase in here does just that. And we filled it with Sendak’s favorite literature,” explained Rodgers. Maurice loves to collect books, and the touch screen monitor in this gallery has the author explaining how he enjoys smelling a book, feeling its surface and sketching his favorite characters from the authors he most admires.(As a young child, Sendak has also acknowledged he frequently sniffed at, bit or chewed on the books he read.) Sendak has illustrated some of most beloved favorite fairy tales with the pictures in this gallery, such as stories from the Brothers Grimm and Mother Goose.

Maurice Sendak in his Connecticut studio, March 2003. Photo courtesy of The Rosenbach Museum

Rodgers explained that Maurice Sendak has always enjoyed the process of storytelling, as Sendak’s father rarely read to him growing up but was known for his fantastical and wild tales. Sendak’s career has been the subject of some controversy as his attraction to the forbidden or nightmarish aspects of children’s fantasy is often portrayed in his books. In Sendak’s Pierre a little boy who behaves badly is eaten by a hungry lion. “Pierre is fantastically dark; it’s very theatrical and graceful. And, you can see the infusion of his love of Melville and (William) Blake. It’s a glimpse of his own personal favorites, and very much has an adult theme so it has been the source of literary discussion through the years. Sendak could not resist illustrating the authors he found so admirable,” said Rodgers.

Gallery Four: Sendak’s Settings

Sendak has very distinct backgrounds in his illustrations, as the final gallery room demonstrates, where he puts many of his mysteries and stories that support his interesting characters. The moon serves a variety of purposes in Sendak’s art. As his favorite source of lighting, the blue-white glow of moonlight adds mystery and depth to many of his picture books. The famous “wild rumpus” of Where the Wild Things Are takes places beneath a full moon. And, the image of Max in his wolf suit, surrounded by Wild Things howling at the moons, harkens back to the mythology of werewolves. “It is very hard to find a Sendak book that occurs in sunlight. The moon is so often present in his work. The moon is a mysterious element in itself, think ‘Man in the Moon,’ so Sendak takes advantage of that because there is a long line of children’s story tellers who have incorporate the moon in their work. He even makes the moon a character in some of his books-where the moon will transport characters from one scene to another, the moon will turn out to be another character in disguise. Sendak’s reoccurring use of the moon is almost as much of a character as it is a background element which is kind of fun,” noted Rodgers.

There’s a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak exhibition highlights:

• Original color artwork from books such as Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, The Nutshell Library, Outside Over There, and Brundibar.
• “Dummy” books filled with lively preliminary sketches for titles like The Sign on Rosie’s Door, Pierre, and Higglety, Pigglety, Pop!
• Never-before-seen working materials, such as newspaper clippings that inspired Sendak, family portraits, photographs of child models and other ephemera.
• Rare sketches for unpublished editions of stories such as Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, and other illustrating projects.
• Unique materials from the Rosenbach collection that relate to Sendak’s work, including an 1853 edition of the tales of the Brothers Grimm, sketches by William Blake, and Herman Melville’s bookcase.
• Stories told by the illustrator himself on topics like Alice in Wonderland, his struggle to illustrate his favorite novels, hilarious stories of Brooklyn, and the way his work helps him exorcise childhood traumas.

For more information on Museum Week, which runs April 27th to May 3rd, visit PhillyFunGuide.com/Museum Week.

The movie adaptation of Spike Jonze’s Where The Wild Things Are is scheduled for release in October of 2009.

There’s A Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak will be on display at the Rosenbach Museum & Library from May 6, 2008 to May 3, 2009, with new works on view every four months. A total of over 300 original watercolors, pen-and-ink sketches, doodles, manuscripts, books, and dummy books from the 1950s to today will be on display. Visitors can access new interviews with Sendak through digital touch screens throughout the galleries. This exhibition will begin a national tour in the summer of 2009.

Sendak chose the Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia, PA to be the repository for his work in the early 1970s thanks to shared literary and collecting interests. His collection of nearly 10,000 works of art, manuscripts, books and ephemera, has been the subject of many exhibitions at the Rosenbach, seen by visitors of all ages. The Rosenbach Museum & Library seeks to inspire curiosity, inquiry, and creativity by engaging broad audiences in exhibitions, programs and research based on its remarkable and expanding collections. The museum was founded by legendary book dealer A.S.W. Rosenbach and his brother and business partner Philip. With an outstanding collection of rare books, manuscripts, furniture, and art, the Rosenbach is a museum and world-renowned research library, set within two historic 1865 townhouses, that reflects an age when great collectors lived among their treasures. For more information about the Rosenbach Museum & Library, visit www.rosenbach.org.

Hands-On tours are approximately one hour in length. All hands-On tours are free with museum admission. Tours are limited to six guests, ages 8 and up. No RSVP is required. Gallery talks are free with museum admission. To RSVP for gallery talks, email fdawson@rosenbach.org.

The Rosenbach Museum & Library is located at 2008-2010 Delancey Place and is open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for children under 5. For more information, please call (215) 732-1600.

By AML Publisher

Blushing bride Vicki Pettinaro at her spring 2008 wedding

AroundMainLine.com recently celebrated our six month anniversary in March, popping the champagne as we look back on this exciting and rewarding adventure we embarked on in September 2008. It’s been a fantastic experience to publish Philadelphia’s first e-magazine, bringing the best of the Main Line and western suburbs to life online, like never before, and delivered directly to the desktops of our loyal readers across the region. Now, its time to look ahead at a great future!

As our tagline communicates, AML’s goal is to consistently honor this area’s culture by ‘Living and Loving Philly’s Main Line.’ And, that philosophy will continue to be woven throughout everything we do—from features and parties to events and exciting new corporate partnerships with some of the region’s most prestigious companies and business owners. As the weather warms, the crocuses bloom and we embark on a spring season that offers renewal and hope, AML will be blossoming as well.
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By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy April Ziegler Photography

Henry Mercer’s eccentric and comprehensive collection of artifacts from around the globe is showcased throughout the massive structure known as the Mercer Museum. The museum’s annual Folk Fest, held each year on Mother’s Day weekend, celebrates traditions of the past, including a popular sheep shearing contest.

Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930) was a pack rat, in the best sense of the word. At the turn of the century, Mercer, a leader in the arts and crafts movement and a wealthy renaissance man who wore many hats (architect, academic, archaeologist and writer just to name a few) constructed two massive concrete castles in Bucks County to showcase a breathtaking and massive collection of American and ancient artifacts. Today, these architectural masterpieces still stand in Doylestown and are home to two of the country’s most breathtaking museums, The Mercer Museum and Fonthill, Mercer’s former home. Thanks to Mercer’s vision, preserving the past for future generations with tens of thousands of unusual artifacts from around the globe, there exists a Main Line daycation unlike any other.

The six-story building leads to a breathtaking atrium where large objects are suspended for visitors to appreciate as part of the 50,000 artifacts the Mercer houses.

Henry Mercer was born in Doylestown in 1856. Educated at Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Mercer was appointed Curator of American and Prehistoric Archeology by the University of Pennsylvania Museum in the early 1890’s. His time there convinced Mercer that American society was being destroyed by industrialism, leading him to vacate his position in the late 1890’s so he could devote himself to finding old American artifacts and study German pottery.

Mercer became very involved in acquiring materials and hand-crafted tools from early nineteenth century America. Later in his life, he decided to expand his vast Euro-centric collection and arranged trips to gather objects from West Africa and Asia. Mercer had a special affinity for ceramics and print making and was also particularly fond of earthenware pottery metal works and decorative Pennsylvania–German stove plates.

To serve as a comfortable home base, Mercer began construction on his home, Fonthill, in 1908 when he was 51. The reinforced concrete building, boasting forty-four rooms, ten bathrooms, at least thirty-two stairwells, an Otis elevator and two dumbwaiters, was completed in 1912. Mercer incorporated his own tiles into Fonthill’s architecture as well as tiles he had collected during his travels. Supporting a voracious reading habit, Fonthill’s built-in bookcases hold over 6,000 books. After Mercer’s death in 1930 at his home, the castle was operated by a trust and eventually merged into the hands of the Bucks County Historical Society. Today, over 40 volunteers run the guided tours of Fonthill, which welcomes over 30,000 visitors each year from all around the world.

Mercer’s tiles can be found in buildings across the globe including the Capitol Building in Harrisburg and the Casino in Monte Carlo.

The Mercer Museum was completed in June of 1916, and was inspired by the amazing collection Mercer was successful in amassing. Thanks to eight day laborers and a horse named “Lucy”, the 6500 tons of concrete stand an impressive six stories high on a 40 acre stretch of land, also in Doylestown. The building is an awesome castle and poses an exciting adventure for all visitors. “It is spatially mysterious and intriguing for everyone, young and old. With the Mercer, you never know what will greet you on the next turn—you could very well find yourself standing under a gallows! From a Conestoga wagon to a stage coach to a whale oil lamp that is over 2,000 years old, it is quite a diverse and most intriguing collection,” explained Cory Amsler, Vice President for Collections and Interpretations of the Mercer Museum.

On the third level of the Mercer is the Spruance Library, a research library open to the public and devoted to the collection and preservation of historic and genealogical documents. Bucks County natives can trace their family history through the comprehensive records and research their Doylestown ancestors. The Library houses over 15,000 volumes of books; periodicals, newspapers, pamphlets, maps, and prints; over 12,000 photographs and postcards, and a wide variety of ephemera such as trade and greeting cards as well as social invitations.

Neiman Marcus once used Fonthill, Henry Mercer’s home, as a backdrop for their annual, and boldly extravagant, Christmas catalog. The reinforced concrete structure, completed in 1912, has 44 rooms and 18 fireplaces.

The Mercer Museum offers a variety of programs for all ages including an audio guide of the collections, grade-specific school programs, family craft activities, craft demonstrations and classes, and a summer craft camp. There are also scavenger hunts of sorts to keep younger visitors entertained and learning. Gayle Shupack is the Mercer Museum’s Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator. “Here we have these great, amazing castles in the middle of Bucks County. When people come here for the first time, they always comment that they feel like they are in the European countryside,” said Shupack. “And, the great thing is, we are so affordable and still have so much to offer. A ticket to the museums is less than the price of going to a movie…and they are one mile away. Fonthill’s forty-four rooms offer an intriguing and educational guided tour for visitors. While with Mercer, you are free to roam the entire castle and discover the variety of objects and history it has to offer. The Mercer experience ticket is a great value—it offers a combination entrance fee for both museums, and beautiful downtown Doylestown, with its restaurant row, is within walking distance of the Mercer,” said Shupack.

Every day objects from early America (including those used in trades such as blacksmithing, shoemaking and printing) spark the imagination of what our forefathers’ lives were like. “We have so many curious pieces that you would never have the chance to see up close anywhere else. One of the most interesting objects that I am personally intrigued with is our stage coach. It draws a lot of attention and questions because it is very tiny—it makes you wonder how people even sat in there,” said Shupack. There are also unique things that you will probably never see elsewhere, including Native American implements dating to 6,000-8,000 B.C.

“One of Mercer’s goals was to collect objects that he knew eventually would be obsolete. He was a true visionary and a very wealthy man who had the resources to put this collection into motion,” said Shupack. The collection started as an acquisition from the Bucks County Historical Society and was expanded by Mercer from there. The museum showcases 60% of its 50,000 plus artifacts.

Each May brings the annual folk fest, which celebrates a simpler time and transports visitors back in time as many hobbies and crafts of a time gone by are celebrated in demonstrations across the grounds. This is the 36th year for the festival, always held on Mother’s Day Weekend. It offers an affordable afternoon with something for everyone with more than 80 crafters from nine states participating. “It is an amazing weekend with a tremendous amount of history and education for the families and visitors. We have live entertainment all day, a quilt raffle, puppetry for the kids, you name it. People tell me they come for the whole experience because it takes them back to another era, a time that is hard to conceptualize now with all our modern amenities. There are some great activities on the grounds that are always huge crowd favorites—particularly the glass blowing and sheep shearing demonstrations which the children fully enjoy. Its nine dollars for adults and children under 12 get in free, so it is very affordable! Plus, you receive a complimentary pass to the museum with a ticket to the folk fest. You can’t beat it for the value and fun,” said Shupack.

The sprawling grounds of both estates have become very popular venues for weddings and corporate events. The Mercer’s Elkins Gallery, a stately Georgian room that displays the museum’s collection of Bucks County paintings, can be booked for gatherings for up to 150 people. In addition, Fonthill’s Terrace Pavilion offers an intimate setting for rehearsal dinners or surprise parties. Combined with a tent on the picturesque 60 acres that reflects the rich heritage of Bucks County, Fonthill can serve as the breathtaking setting for a lawn party or wedding of up to 200 people.

In addition to the Mercer Museum and Fonthill, Mercer also designed and constructed The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works which is now owned and operated by the Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation. Mercer was well known for his research and appreciation of ceramic tiles. His tiles can be seen on the floor of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, among other notable buildings across the globe. The series of four hundred mosaics at the Capitol trace the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from prehistoric times. These three buildings, all closely make up Doylestown’s “Mercer Mile,” the stretch that connects the monstrous, medieval castles.

Both of Mercer’s concrete masterpieces have been recognized nationally and internationally by prestigious media outlets. Over 80,000 people visit the Mercer Museum each year. Martha Stewart Magazine editors toured Fonthill in September of 2007 as part of a cultural treasure series. “Fonthill has been featured on the A&E show America’s Great Castles. The Mercer Museum has been highlighted on the History Channel several times. Both of these great pieces of Mercer’s life are regularly, nationally and internationally, recognized for their incredible collections. Both museums are National Historic Landmarks. But, it is always the people in our own backyard, in the Delaware Valley, who don’t know what great cultural treasures and rich experiences are just a short drive away here in beautiful Bucks County,” said Shupack.

SAVE THE DATE!
36th Annual Mercer Museum Folk Fest (Rain or Shine)
Saturday & Sunday, May 9-10, 2009
10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mercer Museum

Traditional artisans make the skills and trades of early America come to life. Enjoy a fun-filled day for the entire family, with all-day live entertainment, costumed craft demonstrations, militia encampment, quilt raffle, shopping, picnic foods and more. More than 80 crafters come from 9 states to participate.

Entertainment:

Folk Fest offers a variety of family entertainment. The Children’s Stage features puppetry, storytelling and music. The Main Stage offers jugglers and blue grass music. In addition, there is a Children’s Craft Tent where youngsters make a craft to take home. Visitors can also ride a horse-drawn hay wagon or take a unique horse-powered carousel ride.

New prices for savings in 2009!

Admission is $9 for adults, ages 12 and under FREE, BCHS members with membership card $4. Includes admission to the Mercer Museum. Call for group rates (10 or more paying as a group); 215-345-0210 ext. 123.

The Mercer Museum is located at 845 Pine Street, Doylestown, PA and is a short walk from the Doylestown R5, so it is easily accessible for Main Liners traveling the train. The Museum hours are Monday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, Tuesday 10am to 9pm and Sunday Noon to 5pm. The Spruance Library is open Tuesday 1-9pm, Wednesday-Friday 1-5pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm.

Fonthill, Henry Mercer’s home, is located at East Court Street & Route 313 in Doylestown, PA. It is open for tours Monday-Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday noon to 5pm. Reservations are strongly advised.

For more information contact 215-345-0210 or visit www.mercermuseum.org.

By AML Publisher
Photos Courtesy of Mark Garvin, Mark Garvin Photography

Kim Carson and Christopher Patrick Mullen star in People’s Light and Theatre Company’s CINDERELLA

Malvern’s People’s Light and Theatre delivers another entertaining and unpredictable holiday performance with this year’s production of Cinderella. The American classic, by Kathryn Petersen, is being produced in the English tradition of Pantomime, a theatrical approach that dates back over 100 years. Pantomimes almost always take place around the holiday season and are usually based around traditional children’s fairytales and stories. This is People’s Light and Theatre’s fifth consecutive holiday ‘Panto’ style show.

Director Pete Pryor, a veteran of two previous People’s Light and Theatre holiday performances (Treasure Island ’07 and Sleeping Beauty ’04), makes his PL&T directorial debut with Cinderella. “We are doing a pantos for the holidays, which People’s Light has done very successfully for each of the last five or six years. A pantomime takes a story that is very well-known and skewers it, turning it on its’ ear and making it into a fractured fairytale. Things are very silly, things are anachronistic and things are not what you expect to happen,” Pryor explained. “It very loosely adheres with some plot line but the main idea is that it is a time to have fun. So, you go to the theater with the family, and you just have a lot of fun with the music, topical references and twists and turns.”

Audience participation and a dame, who is the MC of the play and the audience’s guide, help to engage the audience from the start in an unpredictable and interactive experience. Children love that they get to boo the villains and argue with or cheer on the characters.

Pillow Fight!
A Panto is a comical interpretation of a popular fairytale that encourages audience participation and promises unpredictable twists and turns.

Kim Carson stars as Cinderella and says director Kathryn Petersen took life lessons from the American classic and brought them to the forefront in this version. “Kathryn has written just a fantastic script. It’s a little bit more about figuring out what you want in life and going for it! One of my favorite lines in the play is ’Being good isn’t about being a doormat and trying to please everybody all the time. Being good means bringing yourself to the party.’” Carson said. “In the older versions of Cinderella, the fairy godmother has control of everything that is happening and it is all because of her magical powers that things happen. In this version, Cinderella has a say, and so does the fairy godtree and the animals as well. So, it’s more of a modern interpretation.”

Chris P. Mullen stars as the prince’s valet. “My character is the trusted valet and in the play he actually makes a bet with the prince that he could find his girl if he switches roles with him. And, so the valet pretends to be the prince at the ball so there is a bit of an identity-switch going on with the prince and myself which makes for an interesting scenario,” Mullen explained.

A stellar cast will wow family and friends alike.
(Clockwise from left) Chris Faith as Big Gus, Andrew Kane as Tom Cat, Elena Bossler as Sudsy Squirrel, and Maggie Fitzgerald as Flea in Kathryn Petersen's CINDERELLA: A MUSICAL PANTO, with music and lyrics by Michael Ogborn.

Mullen, 45, a Malvern native and Great Valley grad, loves to perform for his hometown crowd — he has performed in dozens of productions at the theater over the years. He enjoys the pantos approach and the uniqueness of each and every performance. “It can be a righteous amount of fun because there is a keen awareness of the audience. It is not a wink to the audience, as much as it is a complete integration of the audience at every single moment. To the point where us, as actors, get a response from the audience in places you would never imagine. It’s unpredictable and just a lot of fun,” Mullen added.

Some regular Panto cast members return this year in key roles. Erin Weaver and company member Susan McKey are the evil stepsisters, Tom Teti plays the father, and Mark Lazar is the “Grand Dame/MC” in the role of the fairy godmother. Michael Ogborn returns as composer and lyricist and has written nine original songs. Whatever performance you choose, director Pryor promises a fantastic family experience. “It is going to be a total hoot; the play will be fantastic for everyone who comes to enjoy it. The music is incredible and all the people who come to the show will have a unique and memorable experience,” enthused Pryor.

Other pantomimes successfully produced by People’s Light and Theater include Sleeping Beauty, Robin Hood, and Treasure Island.

People’s Light & Theatre Company presents CINDERELLA, by Kathryn Petersen, with music and lyrics written by Michael Ogborn, from November 19, 2008 – January 4, 2009 on the Main Stage. Pete Pryor directs. People’s Light & Theatre is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern. Tickets are $29-$48, with special discounts available for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. For tickets call 610.644.3500 or visit www.peopleslight.org.

By AML Staff Writer
Photos courtesy of Kevin E. McPherson

Main Line Mom, Minority Business Entrepreneur and QVC Model Monica Walker Miraglilo Talks Business, Babies and Beyond.

Fill-a-Pillow CEO Monica Walker Miraglilo

I am flying down Route 30 in Bryn Mawr at 6pm on a Friday evening in mid-September, hastily buckling my seatbelt in the passenger seat of Monica Miraglilo’s sleek SUV. It’s a great night, about 70 degrees, sunny with the perfect hint of fall in the air and every Mercedes, Lexus and BMW on Lancaster Avenue has somewhere fabulous to be. So we are weaving and moving and Monica is being Monica as I will soon learn: the multitasking machine is shifting into high gear as Miraglilo answers text messages and makes phone calls simultaneously. I’m trying to figure out when exactly in my sudden adventure we will find a good time to talk.

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Weekends are certainly the time we treasure with family and friends but finding the financial resources in this day and age to plan full blown getaways can be difficult. So, a daycation (a day trip that doesn’t exceed a full tank of gas and is a reasonable distance from your home) is a great, affordable, satisfying alternative and a travel concept steadily gaining in popularity. Since the Main Line and surrounding suburbs are so rich with activity, events and interesting people and places, I’m excited to begin what I believe will be a valuable resource for our readers, Main Line Daycations!

So, this is the first in AroundMainLine.com’s special travel series, and I hope you find it useful, interesting and educating. For those of you new to the Main Line area, welcome, and we hope that you will find some inspirational ideas here for exploring and experiencing this great area. Our travel section you should be of great help navigating around this area you now call home, welcome! And for ML vets such as myself, I hope to remind you of some great, affordable afternoon options that fill your weekends with fun and rich memories without breaking the bank—and I’m sure you’ll see some new ideas too!
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