By AML Publisher
Photography by Heather Berkenstock

Hats by Katie's most famous hat is the Mini-Topper (tm). This style has been worn by Lisa Singer, Suzy Stafford, Sharon Chesson and Lana Wright in all the many combined driving World Championships they competed in, both here and overseas.

Twenty years ago, having a difficult time finding hats that were attractive and that fit well, Katie Whelan started making hats as a sideline. As her carriage driving career developed, so did the variety of hats she made for family and friends. Eventually the Long Island native, who grew up in Sugarloaf, New York, evolved the interest into a full-time occupation. Hats by Katie launched in 1990 with Whelan utilizing her arts minor from Boston’s Regis College as the basis for beginning a millinery business that is now world-renowned. That success has evolved, most recently, into an appointment-only shop in nearby Paris, Kentucky. “The main reason I started making the hats is because I have a big head and a lot of hair. I could not find any hats that fit me or that I particularly liked,” explained Whelan. A recent highlight of her career was winning the “Best Booth” award at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Windsor, England.

Katie has been driving for 30 years. She has been pinned Grand Champion at Devon and at Walnut Hill, she represented the US at the 2003 and 2005 Pony World Championships, and she has been both national four-in-hand champion and national single horse champion-so she is well aware of what hats work for the driving community, for both pleasure drivers and combined drivers. As for Devon, Whelan has been a beloved boutique and popular shopping destination for Main Line ladies for over a decade. Her works of art have been worn at the world’s most prestigious equestrian events including the Horse Show, Kentucky Derby, Royal Ascot (one of the world’s most famous race meetings dating back to 1711 and attended by the Queen of England), the Walnut Hill Farm driving show in Pittsford, New York-among others. Hats by Katie has been featured in Southern Living Magazine and O Magazine—in which, in 2006, she outfiitted Oprah and a group of Winfrey’s dearest girlfriends with hats for a garden party shoot, including Oprah’s lifelong friend Maria Shriver. Read the full story

Photos courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography
Click here for an online tour of the Little Apple on Facebook

A fresh face on Manayunk’s Main Street, Molly Cygan’s The Little Apple

A little piece of the O.C. has landed on Manayunk’s Main Street! Entrepreneur and Southern California native Molly Cygan opened The Little Apple boutique in February with an Etsy meets Anthropologie feel to the charming, and now popular, shop. Cygan, a 2006 Berkeley grad who boasts an art history degree, was inspired years ago by her boarding school days at Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. “The seeds were definitely planted when I was at boarding school at Exeter. Here we were-lots of young kids in a small town with disposable cash—but nowhere to spend it. I was determined when I went back for my five year reunion (at Exeter) to start looking into opening a little boutique. And, of course, when I returned the downtown was packed with great shops-so clearly a few other people had the same idea! So, I kind of gave it up at that time but still wanted to pursue opening my own shop when the time was just right,” explained Cygan.

That time came last fall. After Berkeley, Cygan lived in New York City briefly before moving to Philadelphia this past October with her fiancé, who is in medical school at Drexel. (They will be tying the knot at her parent’s house in Cal July 3rd.) It was then that she started to rethink the idea of her own storefront. “I started to check out some spaces around the city and nothing seemed to be a fit. Then, some of my fiancé’s friends suggested that I look into Manayunk and that’s when I found this space on Craig’s List. It needed some serious TLC but I could see the potential,” said Cygan. Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of the Chester County Historical Society

The 28th Annual Chester County Antiques Show features 18th and 19th Century American and Continental furniture, rugs, paintings, porcelain, glass, silver, jewelry, needlework and other decorative arts.

The 28th annual Chester County Antiques Show, benefiting the Chester County Historical Society (CCHS), is returning for its second year to the historic Westtown School near West Chester, PA the weekend of March 19 to 21, 2010. This year’s Honorary Show Chairs are Leonard A. King, President of the Devon Horse Show and his wife, Pat. In support of the Equestrian Traditions of Chester County theme, rarely seen trophies from the Devon Horse Show, including the Wanamaker trophy, will be showcased. Memorabilia from private collections in the Chester County equestrian community will complete this remarkable History of Champions loan exhibit. Kristine C. Lisi, one of the co-chairs of this year’s show and chair for the dealer’s luncheon, has been involved in the Chester County Antiques Show for three years. Lisi said that CCHS is excited to be partnering with the Devon Horse Show. “I think it’s a great marriage. And, anyone who is in the horse world knows and appreciate that Chester County is at the center of that culture. It’s a perfect fit.”

Described by Maine Antiques Digest as ‘the best venue for an antiques show in the Delaware Valley,’ Westtown School’s spacious new field house allows ample room for 59 dealers from eleven states to display their beautiful collections of antiques for purchase. With the winning combination of PECO as the renewed Presenting Sponsor, the 2010 Antiques Show is sure to be another winner. There is a Preview Party on Friday, March 19, to get an early viewing of this special loan exhibit and the wonderful array of beautiful antiques, as well as meeting the honorary show chairs, CCHS Board of Trustees, and fellow supporters.
Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photos by Belle Vie Photography

Local celiacs and vegans now have the first Philadelphia-area bakery to call their own with Lansdale’s Virago Baking Company.

Walk into Lansdale’s quaint corner Virago Baking Company and the cases are packed with one delicious treat after another: dozens of mouth-watering, generously iced cupcakes, hearty pies, breakfast breads, birthday cakes and more. Seems like any other small town bustling bakery business until you take a close look at the menu. Everything in Regina Mason‘s sensationally successful bakery is gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan. “I knew I wanted to open a bakery in Lansdale, but not your typical concept. There really is no way to compete with the local supermarkets in a traditional bakery model and there is very high demand now for what we offer with food allergies being so prevalent. A bakery for the Philadelphia region that prides itself in offering the same items but made for those dietary restrictions in mind are what we pride ourselves on-and, what can I say, it is working,” explained Mason.
Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Chestnut Hill photos courtesy of Vida Carson
Narberth Photos (including homepage featured shot) courtesy of Donald Groff
Photo of Finer Things courtesy of Mary Kate Burgess

Looking for a fun holiday guide for the next few weekends? We have got you covered with six super towns that are pulling out all the stops to entertain and delight the young and old.

The most cherished holiday tradition in Chestnut Hill is its Stag & Doe Nights which will be held on Wednesdays: December 9th, 16th and 23rd. Pictured is a holiday display in Robertson’s Florist.

Chestnut Hill
Holidays on the Hill
December 2nd through December 24th
www.chestnuthill.org

Discover wonderful holiday design ideas this weekend at the Chestnut Hill Holiday House Tour on Saturday, December 5th. Five magnificent homes, each with unique design and architectural styles, will be professionally decorated for the holidays and open from 10 am to 4 pm.

The most cherished holiday tradition in Chestnut Hill is its Stag & Doe Nights which will be held on Wednesdays, December 9th, 16th and 23rd, from 6 to 9 pm. Shops offer evening hours with wine and cheese or cocoa and cookies. Live music, roasting chestnuts, carolers and merriment make the nights come alive with joy and holiday spirit. And everyone looks forward to greeting Santa as he, too, enjoys the fun of Stag & Doe. New this year is Girls Night Out on Wednesday evening, December 2nd from 6 to 9 pm. Participating shops will offer lots of goodies and the ladies can get a head-start on their holiday revelry (and shopping, too).
Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photos Courtesy of Respective Vendors
Featured Homepage Photo Courtesy of Tuyet Wong

Shipley Shops is a popular tradition that brings together premier retailers and artists from throughout the United States and attracts customers from within and well beyond the Shipley community. Pictured are stockings from Shops’ vendor Boxwood Linens.

It’s shop till you drop at the Main Line’s premier holiday shopping event, nine weeks before the hectic holiday season descends upon us. And locals don’t have to brave the crowd at nearby malls to find a gift for every person on their list! Shipley Shops, now in its 49th year, kicks off next Wednesday evening with a preview party and runs through Saturday October 24th. The annual popular fundraiser for the school offers Main Liners one fantastic variety of beautiful retail products with vendors from across the Delaware Valley-and across the country.

Shipley Shops features perennial favorites like Bella Casa (fine home accessories), Jacques Ferber’s (luxurious furs and outerwear), Jane Roth (vintage jewelry), Occhio Bags (one-of-a-kind handbags), and Tuyet Jewelry (handcrafted custom jewelry). Some new vendors include The Belted Cow (handcrafted belts designed by artists), Boxwood Linen (fine linen home accessories), KEP Designs (fun and feminine jewelry), The Pink Mink (select collection of personal accessories and home goods), and Sea Bags (custom totes crafted from recycled sails, recently featured in Martha Stewart Living).
Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Pearl Stationery

Pearl Stationery’s charming line of trick or treat favor boxes, ideal for your chic Halloween party.

Philadelphia native Stephanie H. was invited to a card making class about a year ago with her cousin. It seemed to awaken her child within. Stephanie had a passion for scrapbooking, crafting and paper projects as a little girl—spending hours working her way through stationery kits and playing with stamps, construction paper and embellishments. And, thus, a few weeks after her class, Pearl Stationery-her popular line of high-end custom stationery-was born.

Now thriving on Etsy.com, an online store for artisans, collectors and hand crafters, Stephanie finds inspiration abounds from just her daily life. “I was riding the train into work one day this summer and noticed all the men in their business shirts that looked so crisp-white with the pinstripes. I thought the designs were very intricate and clean and summery, so my mind started thinking. A few weeks later, I put together a set of cards from that one thought. Inspiration can come from anywhere and with stationery, you can really go in so many directions-have fun, be creative,” enthused the young designer.
Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photos Courtesy of April Ziegler Photography

The Blue Horse Boutique has revitalized a part of Wayne’s bustling retail row, a popular stretch of stores along Lancaster Avenue.

Chicago has its Magnificent Mile-one of the most desirable mecccas of shopping real estate in the world. For the Main Line’s top shopping town, Wayne, the highly coveted strip of shops along East Lancaster Avenue is known as ‘Retail Row.’ The stretch of stores, packed daily with moms, couples and Radnor Middle school students, starts with the GAP and ends with Liz Ayerle’s popular women’s boutique, Fresh Ayer (freshayer.com). It is considered the hottest, and priciest, piece of retail property for local developers.

This summer Main Liners were abuzz when a colorful and chic new boutique opened its doors on the ‘Row.’ And, the name and royal blue horse logo had a very familiar look. The Blue Horse Boutique evolved from the success of the popular Devon Hill Boutique, located in the Devon Hill BMW dealership. The boutique resonated so well with customers who were waiting in the service department, or just stopping on through, that the owners felt it was due time for a retail space on the Main Line.
Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Krista Peel

Amber Resin and Glass Necklace, $55.
Peel’s pieces are all one-of-a-kind, handcrafted works of art using some of the earth’s most gorgeous gemstones.

Artist Krista Peel is a self-proclaimed “rock fanatic.” Peel grew up surrounded by the picturesque plains of Cheyenne, Wyoming where her childhood days were spent appreciating the undisturbed elements of nature. “It was very serene, and as a child in a rural area I was surrounded by these intricate rocks and stones. There were not the distractions children have today, so I developed a very keen sense of the land around me and nature,” explained Peel.

Fast forward to 2009 and Peel is one of the most successful Philadelphia-based jewelry lines showcased on Etsy.com, the world’s largest online marketplace for designers and artists. That’s quite an accomplishment considering the tens of thousands of designers from the Delaware Valley who showcase their wares on the site. “Etsy allows me to have an audience that I can interact with. It really is a friendly community, a positive environment of artists that all support each other. And, looking around at the company of awesome talent on Etsy is so inspiring for me to keep producing beautiful pieces. Whenever you are in a situation like that (as a designer) there is nowhere to go but up. Etsy has been just great.”
Read the full story

By Claire Harlin, AroundPhilly.com

When it comes to boozing it up at the airport, one is hard pressed to find a drink more exotic than Sam Adams or an atmosphere more appealing than a brightly lit bar fit with CNN-blaring TVs and a 70-year old bartender serving out of plastic cups. But Vino Volo has been changing all that. The airport wine bar chain debuted in 2005 at Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport and has since opened a number of locations around the country. Vino Volo (derived from “wine flight” in Italian) was so successful when it opened in the B/C Concourse of the Philadelphia International Airport in May 2008 that it opened a second Philly location at the D/E Connector.

[CLICK HERE TO READ MORE]