The very popular Devon Hat Parade, with Horse Show enthusiast and celebrity Caron Kressley as emcee, is on Wednesday, June 2, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Registration begins at 12:30.

Two top notch exhibitions will add even greater variety to the Devon Horse Show, which already has a huge variety of horses competing, from hunters and jumpers to four-in-hand carriages, Saddlebreds, roadsters and Friesans among others. There will be a reining exhibition by Stacy Westfall on May 28-30, and the beloved Budweiser Clydesdales will perform in exhibition the last four evenings, Wednesday through Saturday, June 2nd through June 5th.

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair has donated almost $14 million to Bryn Mawr Hospital over the nine decades of their association. It takes the efforts of over 2,000 volunteers, many of whom work year-round and all of whom work hours at the show, to keep the Country Fair ticking along. The Horse Show also has its volunteers, first and foremost Leonard A. King, chairman, and Wade McDevitt, president. But, it also has two professional horse show managers, David Distler and Peter Doubleday, as well as professional judges for its myriad divisions and a very competent office staff, including Amy Davis and Meg Wiederseim, who works year-round, and Kathy Gillmer who works from January through June.

There are 30 sky box holders and 436 box holders, some of whom share a box, and boxes are so prized that they are often handed down, generation to generation. An average of about 100,000 paying spectators attend the show annually, swelling the crowds of owners, riders, trainers and grooms that care for the approximately 1,500 horses that compete at Devon.

DHS opens with Junior weekend, including three days of equitation, hunters, jumpers, ponies and pony breeding classes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

A number of champions from previous years will be at Devon again this year, including Laura Chapot, who has ridden the Open Jumper Champions and has been Leading Open Jumper Rider for three of the past five years; Scott Stewart, who has had a strangle hold on Leading Hunter Rider for the past six years; Philip Richter, last year’s Amateur Owner Jumper Champion; Reed Kessler, Leading Junior Jumper Rider; and Jessica Springsteen, last year’s Junior Hunter Champion who will show in Junior Jumpers this year.

Preceded by their familiar music, the Clydesdale eight-horse hitch will enter the Dixon Oval for the final four evenings of the horse show, accompanied by their Dalmation dog mascot. The driver will demonstrate how a Budweiser delivery wagon would maneuver in congested streets of old, and back the conveyance up to a loading dock. The docking procedure is followed by the hitch pivoting 180 degrees to pull away from the dock and continuing with its demonstration. The Budweiser Clydesdales will be stabled at the Devon show grounds, and spectators are welcome to visit these gentle giants.

This is the 77th Anniversary of the Budweiser Clydesdales, which were formally introduced to August A. Busch, Sr., and Anheuser-Busch on April 7, 1933 by August A. Busch, Jr., to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. The first Clydesdales were brought to the United States by Canadians of Scottish descent that used the draft horses on their farms. To qualify for one of the five traveling hitches, a Budweiser Clydesdale must be a gelding at least 3-years-old, standing 18-hands, or six-feet, weighing between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds and be bay in color with four white stockings, a white blaze and a black mane and tail. Each harness and collar weighs 130 pounds, and an entire set is valued at over $54,000.

A blue ribbon at Devon…

Additional Special Events Calendar Devon Horse Show 2010

Family Day, Thursday, May 27th

This is the first of two Family Days for Devon, sponsored by Hartstrings. Children 12 and under will be admitted free and there will be free children’s raffle with drawings throughout the day.

Children’s Day, Saturday, May 29th

A variety of activities are planned in the Pavilion from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Devon Doggie Parade, Monday, May 31st

Children's Day is Saturday, May 29th, with a variety of activities in the Pavilion from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The Devon Doggie Parade will be on Monday, May 31 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. It is sponsored by Braxton’s and Wagsworth Manor, and there will be three categories; Look-a-Like, Devon Style, and Doggie Fashionista. A pre-registration event is at Braxton’s on May 22 from 12 to 3 p.m., with pre-registration continuing through May 26.

Family Day and Back Barn Tour, Tuesday, June 1st

The second Family Day is Tuesday, June 1st, featuring reduced prices on certain items.
The Back Barn Tour will be led on Tuesday, June 1, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Join in for a very fun “behind-the-scenes” look at Devon!

Devon Hat Parade with Carson Kressley, Wednesday, June 2nd

The very popular Devon Hat Parade, with Devon enthusiast and television personality Carson Kressley as emcee, is on Wednesday, June 2nd, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Registration begins at 12:30.

FUN FACTS ABOUT DEVON!
DEVON HORSE SHOW AND COUNTRY FAIR 2010

1896: First Devon Horse Show, a one-day show with 30 classes and prize money of $10, $5 and a ribbon

1919: First Country Fair, Devon Horse Show and Country Fair was incorporated, Bryn Mawr Hospital became the beneficiary

1923: Main grandstand built

2009: Paid attendance – 95,134

2009: $320,000 donated to Bryn Mawr Hospital

1919 – 2009: Over $13.8 million donated to Bryn Mawr Hospital

2009 prize money: $400,990

2009: 2,500 horses entered, only those qualifying will show

COUNTRY FAIR FOOD, 2009: 47,557 tea sandwiches, 1,600 pounds of fudge, 11,640 hamburgers sold, 21,600 pounds of potatoes for fries, 9,600 hotdogs

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, May 27th to June 6th on Route 30 in Devon, PA benefits the Bryn Mawr Hospital. For additional information, kindly visit their website: www.devonhorseshow.org. For more information on these events, please call 610-525-2533. For ticket information, call 610-688-2554. The ticket office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon. Devon is also selling tickets through TicketLeap, but ticket packages and seats for the Grand Prix Thursday evening will not be sold over the internet in 2010.

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is one of the largest and most prestigious outdoor equestrian events in the country.

The Devon Horse Show has been honored with the United States Equestrian Federation’s designation as a USEF Heritage Competition. A historic Pennsylvania equestrian event that has become a part of the fabric of the American horse show scene and a Main Line family tradition, Devon is only the fourth show to receive this honor. Devon opens Thursday, May 27 with a full day of equitation in the Dixon Oval and pony breeding in the Gold Ring. Children 12 and under will be admitted free on opening day, courtesy of Hartstrings, a locally headquartered children’s clothing company.

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, May 27th to June 6th, benefits the Bryn Mawr Hospital, to which it has donated almost $14 million. New footing in the Dixon Oval at Devon has been installed by Equestrian Services International, which has provided the footing for the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, and jumper riders are thrilled with it. A Devon favorite is Laura Chapot, who has ridden the Open Jumper Champion for three of the past five years and has also been Leading Open Jumper Rider three of the past five years. Chapot is bringing a new grand prix horse to Devon this year, Tsarin, a mare she got only recently in Europe. Chapot is bringing three additional horses, Bradbury, Valentia and Chili Pepper as well as a couple of young horses for the Five-Year Old, Six-Year-Old and Seven/Eight-Year-Old sections which will compete Tuesday and Wednesday, June 1st and June 2nd. Open Jumpers compete Tuesday May 31 through Saturday, June 5.

The Country Fair offers boutique shopping, great food and fun for the whole family-including the famous Devon Ferris wheel. Proceeds of the Devon Horse Show benefit Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Philip Richter returns to the Devon Horse Show to defend his championship on Glasgow in Amateur Owner Jumpers on Friday and Saturday, June 4 and 5. Richter qualified two horses to show in the Amateur Owner section, the returning champion Glasgow and Ray Ray. Glasgow is a former grand prix jumper who was campaigned very successfully by Norman Dello Joio that Richter has been riding for three years. “Riding Glasgow in High Amateurs is like taking a machine gun to a quail hunt,” said Richter. “He knows he’s so talented. He’s a real athlete and a real competitor, but he’s always a gentleman. He always tries to win.”

DHS opens with Junior weekend, including three days of equitation, hunters, jumpers, ponies and pony breeding classes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Junior hunters and jumpers and ponies compete Friday and Saturday, May 28th and May 29th, and the Carriage Pleasure Drive opens a week of adult competition on Sunday May 30th, arriving at the Dixon Oval at 2 p.m., followed by Pony Jumpers Sunday evening. Hunters compete Monday through Wednesday, June 1st through June 3rd, with Side Saddle featured Wednesday afternoon, and Saddlebreds, harness ponies, fine harness, Friesians, roadsters and coaching begin Wednesday, June 2nd. Breeding classes take over Thursday, June 3rd followed by “Devon at Sunset” at 4:30, featuring the piece de resistance of the Devon Horse Show, the $100,000 Grand Prix at 8 p.m. on Thursday night.

The beloved Budweiser Clydesdales will perform in exhibition the last four evenings of the Devon Horse Show, Wednesday through Saturday, June 2th through June 5th.

The Open Jumper’s Gambler’s Choice is Friday evening, June 4th, at 7:30 p.m., and the $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake, followed by the awarding of the Championship and the Leading Rider title are the last classes Saturday evening, June 5th. The $25,000 Hunter Derby, competed for in a two round format, begins at 10 a.m., Sunday, June 6th. There will be a reining exhibition by Stacy Westfall on May 28-30, and the beloved Budweiser Clydesdales will perform in exhibition the last four evenings, Wednesday through Saturday, June 2nd through June 5th .

For the first time, fans of the Devon Horse Show & Country Fair will be able to purchase tickets online. TicketLeap, the nation’s fastest growing online ticketing company, has partnered with Devon to power their ticketing for the 2010 show, which begins on May 27th and runs through June 6th. Meg Wiederseim, Ticket Chairman of the Devon Horse Show & Country Fair, shared her thoughts about the partnership. “We are very excited to be offering customers an online ticket purchasing option this year. TicketLeap, a local Philadelphia company, has provided us excellent customer support, and we look forward to a long relationship with them.”

Tickets can be purchased online at www.thedevonhorseshow.org or by visiting devonhorseshow.ticketleap.com. All major credit cards are accepted for online transactions from both sites. Fans that purchase tickets online for any event over the course of the horse show will benefit from the opportunity to bypass the lines at the Gate.

Fashion at Devon is such a big part of the horse show culture. The Devon Hat Day continues, with emcee Carson Kressley, on Wednesday, June 2, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Registration begins at 12:30.

The Country Fair has redesigned and rebuilt some of its most public spaces, including the Garden Café Pavilion, the Souvenir and the Candy booths, expanded the picnic grove and renovated the interior of the Art Gallery. The Country Fair offers boutique shopping for sportswear, often appliquéd with a horse, dog or fox design, gorgeous hats, boots, beautiful gold and silver jewelry, again often with an equestrian design, paintings and prints, leather goods, collectibles and souvenirs.

Food to tempt any and all palates ranges from gourmet dining in the Garden Cafe to hot dogs and hamburgers and the famous Devon tea sandwiches, Devon fudge and lemon sticks.
Rides and games line the west end of the Fair and include the Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and all kinds of fun games with prizes. For ticket information, call 610-688-2554. The ticket office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon. General admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over. Ticket packages and seats for the Grand Prix Thursday evening will not be sold over the internet in 2010.

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is one of the largest and most prestigious outdoor equestrian events in the country. The Country Fair offers boutique shopping, great food and fun for the whole family. Proceeds of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair benefit Bryn Mawr Hospital. For information please call 610-688-2554 or visit www.devonhorseshow.org. Join the Devon Horse Show Facebook page for daily updates.

Temple Cats founder Alanna Burke

I saw a tweet in early February that Alanna Burke’s rescued city cat was expecting a litter of kittens any day. Burke’s Twitter account was updating everyone daily on ‘Momma Holly’s’ pending status-and also mentioning her new rescue initiative called Temple Cats. As an animal lover, Burke had caught my attention-it was a chance for me to see, hold and experience a newborn litter of kittens while learning about this young woman’s mission to control Temple University’s feral cat population.

Burke was well aware of the noticeable cat population that surrounds the university’s neighborhood in North Philadelphia as a Temple student. Now, as a university employee, the 23-year-old Upper Darby native is doing something to alter the cycle-and prevent the cats from entering a very crowded city shelter system.

Temple Cats, thanks to her work with coworker Terri Martin, launched in January (temple-cats.org) and boasts a growing Twitter following (templecats). “Our goal with Temple Cats is to help the stray and abandoned cat population around the university’s neighborhood. Spaying and returning the unadoptable cats is part of the process but many of these cats can be adopted and fostered. Fostering is a very big need we have. But, ultimately, the outreach and education will be the most important part because many of these cats we are rescuing were family pets who were let go. And, they are not neutered so that is feeding into the cycle,” explained Burke.

On February 4th, Burke’s foster Holly gave birth to six kittens. All the kittens have been adopted thanks to Alanna’s efforts-which include daily education to the Temple students and staff she comes into contact with. “We are constantly keeping an eye out to assess the situation in the neighborhood-and we have connected with so many people who want to help out-they just don’t know how. The good news is I thought (when we started Temple Cats) that we were going to be dealing with a majority of feral cats that were not adoptable. But, that has not been the case. These are wonderful cats that need care, need fostering and need homes,” explained Burke.

The mission of Temple Cats is to rescue as many of the cats that roam the areas around Temple University as possible. Burke, along with her coworker Terri Martin and volunteers, aim to place all adoptable cats and find a humane solution for caring for any feral cats.

This weekend Burke will be among dozens of animal advocacy groups, pet professionals, and hundreds of adoptable animals who will come together for With Love Super Adoption Day, May 22, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Piazza at Schmidts (2nd and Germantown Avenue). Hosted by Citizens for a No-Kill Philadelphia (CNKP), this fundraising and awareness event will bring together several animal welfare and rescue groups in the Philadelphia area along with live music, food, and vendors selling unique products for people and pets. With Love Super Adoption Day will be one of the largest adoption events nationwide. “This is already the largest adoption event in Philadelphia history and we are excited and honored to be working with so many other groups in making this day possible,” enthused Garrett Elwood, founder of CNKP.

Participants and sponsors include the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA), Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Pinups for Pitbulls, Philadoptables, Rat Chick Rat Rescue, Blind Dog Rescue, The Monster Minders, Greater Philly Tails, Morris Animal Refuge, The Philadelphia Greyhound Connection, Opportunity Barks, Big Green Earth Store, and Radio 104.5 FM. The event will be emceed by 104.5 FM’s Wendy Rollins. Mayor Michael Nutter is also expected to make an appearance.

Every year, more than 30,000 animals turn up at city shelters, and more than one third don’t make it out alive. Citizens for a No-Kill Philadelphia arose in 2008 out of a frustration with the way the city cares for its homeless animals. The group seeks to spread awareness about the problems in the system and propose common sense solutions. It aims to form a coalition of animal groups in Philadelphia modeled after the Mayor’s Alliance for New York City’s Animals.

Animal advocacy groups, pet professionals, and hundreds of adoptable animals will come together for ‘With Love Super Adoption Day,’ May 22nd at the Piazza at Schmidts.

Elwood, who has been appointed to the Animal Control Advisory Committee chaired by the Deputy Mayor, said the first step is educating the public that there is even a problem. “People are unaware about how bad things actually are,” Elwood says. “Some are even surprised when I tell them Philadelphia isn’t already ‘No-Kill.’ When I tell them that more than 70% of the cats and 50% of dogs entering Philadelphia’s shelter system are killed they are appalled.” CNKP hopes to mend the organizational and personal rifts in the animal welfare community.

The group focuses on prevention measures such as high-volume spay/neuter. Once animal control is less burdened and more cost-efficient, it will free up more resources for humane care. With a new citizen-based No-Kill model, they aim to tap into the estimated $5 million funneled out of Philadelphia each year to national animal welfare agencies. “We are hoping to find homes for as many animals as we can on May 22nd, but it also about spreading awareness and letting people know about the importance of adopting rescue animals. We also hope to talk about our humane education program to attendees,” explained Elwood.

For more information on Super Adoption Day, visit phillynokill.com.

The Camphill ProAm Tennis Ball is the kick-off party for the school’s Sharing Life and Learning: A Campaign for Camphill Special School’s Transition Program.

Main Line tennis enthusiasts can look forward to a competitive spring ProAm for a great cause. Camphill Special School and Tennis Addiction Sports Club will host the Camphill ProAm Tennis Ball and Tennis Tournament on May 7th and 8th , respectively, benefiting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Camphill Special School. Camphill Special School is a community and school for children and youth ages four to twenty-one with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Tennis Ball will take place on Friday, May 7th at the historic Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown. Greg Ambrose, along with his wife Annie of Warwick Township, is one of the event chairs and a recent addition to the school’s board of directors. The Ambrose’s son Joey is a current Camphill student. “The live auction the night before is really fun because we actually auction off eight tennis teams, paired with a great trip as a prize. The ProAm is a great way to gain awareness for our important Transition Program because it fills a gap in students’ education. It was developed to be a bridge for students from that high school age-18 to 21-through to adult placement. So, the goal is to continue to teach life skills and have these children be as independent as possible, get them acquainted to community living on the farm. It’s been a very positive and successful part of Camphill,” explained Ambrose.

The Camphill ProAm Tennis Ball is the kick-off party for the school’s Sharing Life and Learning: A Campaign for Camphill Special School’s Transition Program. Beaver Farm is a fifty-six acre farm run by students and staff. It is home to the Transition Program where students, ages eighteen to twenty-one, learn skills to become contributing members of society while continuing their academic and therapeutic work. Robin Young, host of NPR’s Here and Now, will serve as emcee for the Tennis Ball for the second year. Guests will be treated to a fabulous dinner, dancing on the largest wooden dance floor this side of the Mississippi to the swinging sounds of Jump City Jazz Orchestra, live and silent auctions, and a performance by Camphill Special School students.

Camphill has launched a $3 million Capital Campaign to improve and grow the Transition Program at Beaver Farm so that more students might benefit from it. This includes the construction of a new student residence and an education and resource center. A portion of this year’s ProAm proceeds will benefit this exciting project.

Tennis Tournament founder Anthony DeCecco has recruited eight athletically talented mixed doubles ProAm tennis teams who will compete for the coveted title of ProAm Champions on Saturday, May 8, at DeCecco’s club Tennis Addiction in Exton. Local television personality Elizabeth “Bitsy” Jennings will serve as commentator for this high-energy sporting event.

Admission to both the Tennis Ball on May 7th and ProAm Tennis Tournament on May 8th is $125 each or $200 per couple. Raffle tickets for the chance to win a seven night Alaskan cruise, including airfare also are available at $50 each or three for $100. Contact Courtney Coffman at 610.469.9236 x132 or ccoffman@camphillspecialschool.org or visit the school’s website, www.camphillspecialschool.org, for more information, to reserve admission to the event or to purchase raffle tickets.

Click here to view a slideshow of the Ball on Facebook.

Download an invitation to the Black Tie and Boots Ball.

Carson Kressley, who starred in “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”, has ridden his gaited horses in the Saddlebred divisions at Devon for about twenty years. He will emcee the live auction at the ball again this year.

The fifth Black Tie and Boots Ball, featuring cocktails, dinner, dancing and a live auction, will be held Saturday, May 8 at Bryn Clovis, Brushwood Farm in Malvern. The Ball benefits the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair Foundation, and limited tickets are available. Guest will spend a truly magical evening in a one of a kind setting. Enjoy cocktails and tasty nibbles under the centuries old oak trees overlooking the rolling paddocks at dusk. A buffet dinner, courtesy of Jimmy Duffy Catering, and dancing under a sparkling tent will follow.

For the second time, there will be a live auction with television star and long time Devon Saddlebred exhibitor Carson Kressley acting as emcee. Kressley, who starred in “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”, has ridden his gaited horses in the Saddlebred divisions at Devon for about 20 years.

There are some fabulous trips and tours going under the gavel. Some of the exciting prizes being offered this year are limousine transportation and a behind-the-scene tour of the Cartier Mansion in New York City; a trip to San Francisco with an insider tour of the Museum of Modern Art; a trip to Lexington to visit some of the famed stud farms; a tour of the Eagle Rare Bourbon distillery and a week in Boca Grande, Florida. The Ball features cocktails, dinner and dancing from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Enjoying last year’s Boots Ball at Bryn Clovis L to R: Nikki and Steve Maloney of Villanova; Claire Bailey Johnson of Wayne; Nicole Falcone of Newtown Square; and Steven and Liz Kania of Villanova

During the cocktail hour, the traditional Champion of the Year Award for service to the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair Foundation will be given to one person from the Horse Show and one from the Country Fair. “The Black Tie and Boots Ball started because we were celebrating our 110th anniversary and wanted something special to acknowledge it. It’s quite a cultural event. We call it Black Tie and Boots because people love to come and sport creative cowboy boots,” explained Devon Country Fair co-chair Mimi Killian.

Bryn Clovis is the thoroughbred breeding farm owned by Betty Moran, who has campaigned such champion race horses as Belmont Stakes winner Crème Fraiche, Aintree Grand National winner Papillon and I’m Sweets. In 2004, Brushwood Stable bred Hard Spun, who, in the colors of Rick Porter of Wilmington, Delaware, went on to finish second in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Preakness and fourth in the Belmont Stakes.

Only in its fifth year, BTBB (as many Devon supporters refer to it) has become one of the most highly anticipated late spring social events on the Main Line. The lead sponsor of this year’s event is once again Pepsi Bottling Group.

Kressley, who gained national fame with the popular BRAVO series, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and currently represents a clothing line on QVC, has been a Saddlebred competitor for more than twenty years. “I grew up in Pennsylvania, outside of Allentown and my grandparents were horse and pony breeders. It was always a dream of mine to show at Devon. And finally, when I was about 15 or 16 years old, we started showing. I show horses all over the country and world, including. Devon is not a horse show, it’s a lifestyle. It’s a great American tradition. And, I am very much vested in preserving it,” explained Kressley.

Stylish Devon supporters Michael and Jeanne Dechiario enjoy the backdrop of Bryn Clovis at last year’s Black Tie and Boots Ball.

Guests of BTBB are highly encouraged to incorporate boots into their black tie-optional attire-whether that is with a gentleman’s tuxedo and jeans or a formal ball gown-to play up the backdrop of Bryn Clovis. “Black Tie and Boots really opens itself up to being a whole lot of fun and not fussy, but a great celebration of the upcoming Horse Show,” added Ball Committee member Janet Heaton. “Fashion at the Devon Horse Show, and BTBB, is a key part of the culture and great celebration. People come out to celebrate, just like the Head of the Charles. It’s a great part of the tradition.”

Proceeds of the ball benefit the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization that’s funds the maintenance and improvement of the historic Devon Horse Show and Country Fair property. “The Devon Horse Show is one of the preeminent equestrian events in the United States,” explained President Wade McDevitt. McDevitt is actively involved in the fundraising efforts of Devon and the evolution of a show that is over one hundred years old. “We have to constantly challenge ourselves to keep the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair a world class event while honoring traditions that have been part of our history for over a century. The Black Tie and Boots Ball is not only an opportunity to celebrate Bryn Mawr Hospital and the fundraising efforts of the Devon Horse Show, but also to reinforce Devon as a preeminent equestrian event.”

Download an invitation to the Black Tie and Boots Ball.

The 114th Devon Horse Show and Country Fair runs May 27th through June 6th. It is one of the largest and most prestigious outdoor equestrian events in the country, proceeds benefit Bryn Mawr Hospital. For more information, call 610-688-2554 or visit devonhorseshow.org.

Let Them Eat Cake is Philadelphia’s popular wedding cake design competition for professionals, students and those who love to bake to create.

Cake bosses and cake lovers mark your calendars for the city’s sweetest spring fundraiser! City of Hope will hold its annual wedding cake competition, Let Them Eat Cake, on Monday, April 12th. Let Them Eat Cake is Philadelphia’s popular wedding cake design competition for professionals, students and those who love to bake to create. Brides-to-be and fondant foodies will converge for the sixth annual competition featuring the best of the best. Proceeds benefit City of Hope, a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

More than 700 people are expected to attend the highly anticipated event, to be held at the Loews Hotel. Guests will be wowed by the skills of over 35 of the best professional pastry artists from the Tri-State area entered, as well as 15 up and coming student pastry chefs. “We started out with ten bakers the first year at The Park Hyatt and this just has grown and grown. Now, we have expanded to max out at fifty in our sixth year. And, this event is really all about the cakes and the great pastry chefs. There are other cake contests across the country but nothing like this in Philadelphia,” enthused Harry Giordano Senior Director of Development for City of Hope’s Northeast territory.

Participants are requested to provide one totally edible creation, after a blind tasting and judging we will allow participants to re-enter the room to add signage and business cards to their tables. Participants will demonstrate their creativity by displaying what they feel is their single best design, be it traditional, non-traditional, ethnic, fantasy or seasonal… the sky is the limit! Cakes will be judged in nine categories like Most Artistic, Best Tasting and Best Overall – Professional, College and High School Vocational. VIP judges from the culinary arts and wedding industries, as well as local celebrities, will be on hand.

Proceeds of the sixth annual event will benefit City of Hope, a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

The doors open at 6 p.m. sharp to the the public-advance tickets are $40, $50 at the door. Attendees will be welcomed with a complimentary glass of champagne courtesy of sponsor Korbel. As they enter the grand ballroom at The Loews, live music from Brandywine Valley Talent will create a vibrant, festive setting. The circumference of the room will be filled with extravagantly designed cakes for tasting. Since enjoying a tasting of fifty cakes may be a feat even for those with a strong sweet tooth, City of Hope provides take out containers and also sends the remaining cakes to St. John’s Hospice, so nothing goes to waste.

This year the annual event’s theme will be “A Wedding Through a Child’s Eyes.” The theme gives the talented chefs the opportunity to embrace their creative genius and showcase their individual designs and wow the judges-consisting of pastry and Philly’s top food professionals. “People are going nuts for the theme this year. Expect to see a lot of nursery rhymes, Disney princesses, and very fairy tale-what a little girl imagines her wedding cake to be. I think there will be a lot of pastels and playful designs. Last year our theme was ‘Ethnic Weddings’ and Slum Dog Millionaire was all the Oscar talk so we saw a lot of Indian-themed designs. It’s always part of the fun, to walk into the ballroom and see what incredible designs the chefs have come up with,” said Giordano.

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

City of Hope is a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope’s research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer and urology by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org.

Special thanks to Eli Allen of Majestic Images for the fantastic photos of Let Them Eat Cake. Majestic Images is an award-winning group of photographers located in Old City, Philadelphia. Majestic Images specializes in weddings, corporate events, headshots, special events and more across the Delaware Valley. Visit their website at www.majesticimages.net, or call 215-923-5200 or 609-605-5456 to speak with the talented group of Majestic photographers.

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.

The show’s preview party on Friday, March 19th is a perfect opportunity for the public to get a first look at the exciting collections.

Josh Barker, CCHS’s Special Events Coordinator, explained the meaning behind this year’s equestrian theme. “Every year we base our theme on a current exhibit at the historical society. Since we currently have an exhibit on Barbaro, a very famous horse who hails from Chester County, we felt that the equestrian theme would fit very well with our audience. And, Chester County has such a strong equestrian culture and tradition. The collections should be very exciting, the dealers have all been encouraged to showcase their best equestrian collections-from antique weathervanes to oil paintings, furniture and more,” enthused Barker.

The preview party on March 19th, which will be catered by Carlinos Market, is an exciting opportunity for the public to get a first peek at the fantastic antiques the show has to offer and peruse the aisles and meet with the dealers. On Saturday, there will be two free lectures regarding caring for furniture at 1pm and caring for artwork is at 3pm. In addition, there is a guided show tour available at the beginning of the day on Saturday and Sunday so shoppers can learn about each vendor and their exciting collections at the show. “On Sunday, we will have expert appraisers on hand which is really exciting. From 11-1pm on Sunday with paid admission, it is $5 for each item appraised which is a fantastic deal. If you sought out a local appraiser or auction house, it would be considerably more expensive,” explained Barker. Local experts from the Philadelphia area will be available for the appraisals.

Whether you are interested in purchasing or simply exploring a truly outstanding collection of antiques, the 2010 Chester County Antique Show is a must-see. The show runs all weekend from 10am – 7pm on Saturday and from 11am – 5pm on Sunday. General admission is only $15 and $12 for CCHS members. The money raised from the antiques show goes to the educational programming at CCHS.

The theme for this year’s show is Equestrian Traditions of Chester County. Rarely seen trophies from the Devon Horse Show will be on display.

The 28th Annual Chester County Antiques Show

When: Friday March 19th through Sunday March 21st

Show Hours: Saturday March 20th 10am to 7pm; Sunday March 21st 11am to 5pm

Where: The Westtown School

Website: ChesterCoHistorical.org

AroundMainLine.com: AroundMainLine.com is a proud signature sponsor of this year’s show.

Free Lectures: On Saturday, March 20th attendees can enjoy two free show lectures: ‘Caring for furniture’ at 1pm & ‘Caring for artwork’ at 3pm.

Expert Appraisals: On Sunday, March 21st from 11a.m. to 1p.m. with paid admission and $5 per item appraised.

Cost: $15.00 General Admission (Includes Show Catalog & Free Parking)

Preview Party: Friday, March 19th 6-9pm $130 admission, 5pm early admission $200

2010 Theme: Equestrian Traditions of Chester County

Why: The annual benefit for the Chester County Historical Society

For more information on the show or the Preview Party, please contact the Chester County Historical Society at 610-692-4800 or visit their website at ChesterCoHistorical.org.

CCHS is a not-for-profit educational institution whose mission is to promote an understanding of the history of Chester County and southeastern Pennsylvania by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting that history and its relationship to the region, and nation beyond, to audiences of all ages and interests.

By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Courtney Apple

Otto’s BMW general manager Michael Vadasz with his guest Ashleigh Wilson. Otto’s was the corporate sponsor of Be Mine on the Main Line II.

Be Mine on the Main Line II, AML’s second annual winter fundraiser which aims to raise funds and awareness for a local animal charity brought out over 200 partygoers for a fantastic night of fundraising for Philadoptables. The festive night, on Thursday February 4th, hosted by the popular bar and nightclub Spamps in Conshohocken, was sponsored by AroundMainLine.com client Otto’s BMW. “Be Mine on the Main Line was a very successful event with great food, drinks, and conversation. Otto’s BMW is proud to have been part of such a great event that supports such a wonderful cause – Philadoptables,” said Otto’s general manager Michael Vadasz.

Spamps, Conshohocken’s most popular nightclub, was transformed into a festive and fun Valentine’s-themed space thanks to major Be Mine sponsors Beautiful Blooms boutique and Eclatante Event Design—both of Northern Liberties. In addition, Blue Bell’s Secrets Limousine provided transportation for the AroundMainLine.com staff and family in the form of an elegant Asanti Charger limo.

The friendly and talented staff at Spamps made Be Mine a great success for all the partygoers!

The most important focus of the night was for the chosen local animal charity, Philadoptables. Profits raised at Be Mine will support this new local nonprofit, which was formed to assist in alleviating the overwhelming needs of Philadelphia Animal Control. Also known as ACCT, the West Philadelphia headquarters sees over 34,000 animals a year-from stray and abandoned animals to ones that have been surrendered by their owners for personal or financial reasons.

Formed in January of 2010, Philadoptables is an independent non-profit corporation that promotes and provides support for adoption, welfare, and outreach programs that benefit the 30,000+ animals received each year by the Philadelphia animal control shelter, the Delaware Valley Region’s largest open-door municipal animal shelter. By working with volunteers, animal welfare groups, organizations outside the animal network, and communities throughout the Delaware Valley Region, Philadoptables’ goal is to save lives and to build a better community for people and animals alike by increasing the number of adoptions, fosters, and rescues from the Philadelphia animal control shelter; improving conditions at the shelter by supporting essential services not funded by the city’s animal control budget; and educating the public and generating community involvement with the shelter and the animals in its care.

Special thanks to our premium sponsors below who generously contributed to the success of Be Mine on the Main Line II.

Beautiful Blooms boutique
www.beautifulblooms.com
Beautiful Blooms is a full service floral and décor design company based in Northern Liberties. Donna O’Brien and her team at Beautiful Blooms create events ranging from dream weddings, stylish large scale corporate events, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, corporate décor, intimate dinner parties and more. Beautiful Blooms accented the focal point of the restaurant, the main bar at Spamps, with two beautiful, dramatic centerpieces.

Maryellen Bowers, West Chester’s renowned cupcake queen, and official ‘rock star’ of every AML event, wowed the guests again with her delicious display of over 600 mini gourmet cupcakes.

Cakes and Candies by Maryellen
www.cakesandcandiesbymaryellen.com
West Chester chocolatier and baker Maryellen Bowers wowed our guests once again with her delicious, gourmet mini cupcakes.

Eclatante Event Design
www.eclatantedesign.com
Eclatante Event Design is an event design and coordination firm dedicated to providing highly personalized service with matchless grace and panache. Owner Kendall Brown has been involved in creating some of the Philadelphia region’s most renowned social events.

Secrets Limousine
www.secretslimo.com
Secrets Limousine company is the official limo company of AroundMainLine.com. Look for the fantastic limos and staff at our upcoming parties and events across the Main Line and beyond.

Two Paperdolls
www.twopaperdolls.com
Wayne’s Two Paperdolls designed the fantastic logo for Be Mine on the Main Line and assisted with postcard and poster promotions around the region. Two Paperdolls, founded by owner Vanessa Kreckel, has a booming letterpress, stationery and design business catering to the region’s most discriminating brides and local businesses.

Verdi Spumante Champagne
www.chibrands.com/verdi_spumante.php
The fine folks and awesome AML friends from Verdi Spumante provided delicious sparkling beverages for Be Mine on the Main Line II. In keeping with the Valentine-themed annual event, guests were served fun cocktails with the brand’s Raspberry Sparkletini. As one of America’s most recognized names in the champagne industry, Verdi Spumante is the official sparkling beverage brand of AroundMainLine.com.

Weyerbacher Brewery
www.weyerbacherbrewery.com
Weyerbacher Brewery is the official craft brewery of AroundMainLine.com. Attendees of Be Mine on the Main Line II at Spamps were treated to $2 bottles of Merry Monks’ and Hops Infusion. Weyerbacher, based out of Easton, PA, has worked with AML from our inception-helping us serve delicious craft beer to our loyal fans.

AML would like to offer a very special thank you to Philadoptables board member Kim Wolf for her awesome friendship and tireless efforts on behalf of the region’s most deserving furry friends. Kim has been an instrumental part of Be Mine’s success the past two years. Thank you Kim Wolf!

The Big Deal Casino Night-Unmask the Possibilities is the Philadelphia Junior League’s fourth annual gala.

When you think of Philadelphia’s most esteemed service organizations, undoubtedly the Junior League comes to mind. For almost a century, the Junior League has been making a positive impact in the Greater Philadelphia area. Over 950 volunteers have contributed more than 75,000 service hours annually.

To celebrate this female organization’s commitment to promoting voluntarism, the League is gearing up for its fourth annual winter gala. This year’s theme is The Big Deal Casino Night—Unmask the Possibilities. The evening is black tie optional, and the hundreds of anticipated party-goers are encouraged to accessorize in keeping with the Mardi Gras theme.

The Casino Night Committee has been hard at work planning an evening of excitement that includes a fabulous cocktail hour and gourmet dinner buffet, Las Vegas-style gambling, live and silent auctions, as well as plenty of drinks and fun to go around. Kerri Neil Storm, a committee co-chair, is carrying on a family legacy as her grandmother, Carolyn Sumner, was an original founder of a league chapter located outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. “Upholding the tradition of being a part of such a great organization, that does so much for women, is truly an honor. Our community outreach is so important to us and the gala really allows us to celebrate all the work of our volunteers and really have a wonderful, meaningful night. And, the Mardi-Gras theme is really fun to play up with the attire and masks and the swag bags,” enthused Storm.

The Junior League of Philadelphia is one of the leading community service organizations in the Greater Philadelphia area, with a diverse membership contributing a range of personal and professional experiences.

The night will include an impressive assortment of silent and live auction items and prizes for the lucky casino winners, including restaurant gift certificates, personal training sessions, wine tasting classes, overnight trips, and much more. Fellow co-chair Jackie Strzepek has organized the exciting live auction items, which will be auctioned off with the help of emcee (and former Philadelphia Eagle) Ike Reese. The larger ticket items include a piece of Judith Ripka jewelry, a golf vacation at Pinecrest Golf Club in North Carolina, an ABC news experience with WPVI’S Ali Gorman, and more. “I love the Mardi Gras theme, we really want everyone to embrace the attire and set the tone for one incredible night. From the craps and roulette table to the dining and dance floor, we are really excited for our guests to have an incredible time this year,” said Strzepek.

Big Deal Casino Night 2010: Unmask the Possibilities

What: The fourth annual gala for the Junior League of Philadelphia

When: Saturday, February 20th, 7 p.m.

Where: The Sheraton Society Hill Hotel, Philadelphia 1 Dock Street (2nd and Walnut Streets)

Special Rates: The Sheraton Society Hill is offering a special for gala attendees for only $129 for the night. Be sure to mention JLP when making your reservations.

Cost: Tickets are $125 and $175 (VIP)/available online and at the door

Attire: Black-tie optional, Mardi Gras-themed attire is strongly encouraged.

Emcee: Former Philadelphia Eagle and 610 WIP radio host Ike Reese

Event Details: Casino Night 2010 will feature live and silent auctions, a buffet dinner and dancing. The cocktail hour will run from 7-8 p.m.

Proceeds: A portion of the proceeds of the event will benefit the Junior League of Philadelphia’s Project Green: Using Nature to Nurture community projects, which focus on environmental health and wellness including: Campus Community Gardens, Green Volunteer Corps, and RESPECT Nature Club.

The Junior League of Philadelphia is one of the leading community service organizations in the Greater Philadelphia area, with a diverse membership contributing a range of personal and professional experiences. It offers tested and groundbreaking programs that focus on the intersection of wellness and the natural environment. Programs are developed to have maximum impact, using experts in the field and innovative partnerships.For more information, visit their website at www.jlphiladelphia.org

Lovely ladies from 6ABC dressed the part for the Red Ball last year. L to R: producers Mara Webb and Kristie Gonzalez, health reporter Ali Gorman and anchor Monica Malpass.

Main Liners can eat, drink, and be charitable at the Red Cross’ annual red-tie celebration featuring dozens of Philly’s top chefs! The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) Chapter will host the 11th Annual Red Ball on Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight at the Please Touch Museum at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. One of Philadelphia’s most popular winter galas is in its second year at the children’s museum, which makes for a lively setting. Julie Appolloni, Red Cross senior director of financial development, oversees every aspect of the event each year with her organization’s team. “It is like no other event in the city. The Please Touch is such a perfect backdrop too. It keeps the event light and festive and gives everyone the chance to dictate their night since it is not a structured party. And, undoubtedly, we always attract Philadelphia’s finest so expect the gala to sell out again—which it inevitably does each year,” enthused Appolloni.

VIP ticket holders will enjoy one amazing all-access evening, beginning at 8 p.m. in the exclusive VIP Lounge, featuring renowned caterer Max & Me Catering. Other amenities include VIP express entry, private top-shelf open bar, cigar bar, separate coat check and a special VIP gift.

Up to forty restaurants from across the Delaware Valley will be sampling their fine faire for the hundreds of guests to enjoy.

But, hands down The Red Ball’s biggest draw is the amazing sampling of culinary delights prepared by Philadelphia’s hottest chefs assembled through out the main museum hall. Each attendee will have a chance this year to vote for their favorite cuisine, a new, fun twist on the event. “We are bringing in some local celebrities, like sports radio personality Mike Missanelli, to be part of a celebrity panel of judges for the restaurant contest. The chefs take the gala very seriously too, so expect Philly’s top restaurants to pull out all the stops to make quite an impression on the guests,” explained Appolloni.

Red Cross volunteers with their emergency vehicles are positioned outside the steps of the museum to greet the attendees and drive home the purpose of the night’s festivities. At the culmination of the night’s festivities, the attendees are served hot chocolate as they descend the museum steps to emulate the services the Red Cross offers in their relief missions.

AML is proud to be a presenting sponsor of The Red Ball 2010. The Red Cross hopes to raise $250,000 from the eleventh annual gala.

Guests at this red-tie event will sample culinary delights prepared by Philadelphia’s hottest chefs, dance the night away with entertainment provided by CTO World Entertainment Productions, enjoy access to the museum’s exhibits, mingle with Philadelphia’s social and business leaders, test their luck in the raffle and learn more about the mission of the organization and the everyday work of its volunteers. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free of charge and made possible thanks to the generosity of people throughout the Philadelphia region who donate their time, money and blood. The CEO of the Philadelphia Red Cross, Tom Foley, addressed that mission and the important goals of the Red Cross’s relief efforts. “We pulled the data on the average stay (of the people in Philadelphia) that ended up in a homeless shelter after a disaster, like a house fire, and it was more than six months. When the Red Cross is involved, that disaster recovery timeline is three weeks. And, that is not a criticism of the city’s shelter system. It is just an example that the Red Cross is set up to assist families with those comprehensive needs they experience during a disaster—get the kids back to school as soon as possible, help the parents return to work in a timely fashion. These are the challenges that our organization can handle and that is really what the Red Ball is all about. We all have a great time that night but know that the proceeds of the night are making an enormous difference for our neighbors across Philadelphia,” said Foley.

The Please Touch Museum makes for a fun setting for guests to explore the museum’s exhibits while partying the night away!

The Red Ball 2010

When: Saturday, March 6, 2010 8 p.m. to 12 p.m.

Where: The Please Touch Museum

Cost: VIP Tickets are $275, Main Event Tickets are $175

VIP Room Exclusive Sponsor: Max and Me Catering

Details: Silent auction, carousel rides and more

Fundraising Goals: $250,000

Proceeds: All proceeds from The Red Ball benefit the Red Cross House, a one-of-a-kind short-term housing facility in West Philadelphia where hundreds of local families every year begin their recovery from fires, floods, and other disasters affecting their lives.

Music: Live band courtesy of CTO World Entertainment Productions

Entertainment and Amenities: Roving magicians, tarot card reader, red carpet photos, black and white photo booth, makeup station, fresh-rolled cigars

Attire: “Red-tie”

Chef Contest: Attendees are encouraged to visit as many of the chefs’ tables as possible as they will be voting on their favorite restaurant of the night as they tour the party. The winning restaurant will be announced around 11 p.m.

Celebrity Attendees Expected: Local television personalities and anchors, 97.5’s Mike Missanelli, Katie Cavuto from The Food Network, Philadelphia athletes and others. The celebrities will be judging the chefs as well—voting with their ‘celebrity chips.’

AroundMainLine.com: AML is proud to be a presenting sponsor of The Red Ball 2010.

Online Access: Attendees will be able to access Twitter and Facebook from a special area at the ball, via provided computers, to discuss the event live with their Facebook friends and Twitter followers!

Liquor Sponsor: Tommy Bahama Rum

Wine Sponsor: Barefoot Wine

Beer Sponsors: Blue Moon, Guinness

Some of the Participating Restaurants: Alfa American Tavern, Bistro St. Troupes, Bourbon Blue, Café Spice, Cantina Doe Segundos, Desserts by Dana, Devon Seafood Grill, Doug’s Cakes, Eatible Delights, Joseph Poon Kitchen, Mercato Restaurant and BYOB, Mission Grill, Night Kitchen Bakery, Ortliebs Jazzhaus, Peace a Pizza, Prestige Chocolates, Philadelphia OIC, Resurrection Ale House, Ristorante Panorama, Roy’s Restaurant, R2L, Rum Bar, Sang Kee Peking Duck House, Terra Restaurant

The Red Ball is one of Philadelphia’s hottest events and sells out every year. The Red Ball tickets are on sale now. Main even tickets are $175 and VIP tickets are $275. For more information about The Red Ball or to purchase tickets, visit www.theredball.org or call 215-299-5491. Sponsorships, restaurants and auction items are also still being accepted. If interested, please email redball@redcross-philly.org.

Special thanks to official Red Ball photographer Paul Loftland. Interested in hiring Paul for your upcoming community event? Contact Paul at 856-229-5380 or email paul@paulloftland.com. Visit his website at paulloftland.com.