Bug Fest is Back!

As far as 200th birthdays go, Lorenzo Langstroth doesn’t usually spring to mind like, say, Charles Darwin does. But come August 14th and 15th, the Philadelphia native’s name will be rolling off the tongues of 10-year-olds as easily as T. rex. That’s because Langstroth’s beloved bees will be the center of attention at the Academy of Natural Sciences’ third annual Bug Fest. “It’s such a fun weekend to celebrate all things ‘buggy.’ And, it’s a great opportunity for the kids and the parents to connect with the experts and our Academy scientists. Its always fun to see a world expert at Bug Fest nose-to-nose with a young child having a great conversation,” enthused Barbara Ceiga, the Academy’s vice president for public operations.

“Bees” is the theme of this year’s popular festival, which also celebrates insects of all kinds—yes, even roaches. Langstroth (1810-1895), a clergyman and teacher dubbed the father of American beekeeping, revolutionized the beekeeping industry by determining the amount of space a bee needs to survive and then inventing the movable frame beehive. The Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild is raising funds to place a historical marker at his birthplace at 106 South Front St.

With colony collapse disorder and new uses of bees as biodetectives regularly in the news, the Academy will be buzzing with experts and activities during Bug Fest weekend. The festival is free with museum admission. Visitors can:

• Watch Steve “The Beeman” grow a beard of bees and describe how bees are important pollinators.
• Discover more than 50 species of live insects and their relatives, including stick insects, tarantulas and vinegaroons. Touch them if you dare!
• Cheer on a favorite roach in the Roach Race 500.
• Talk with Academy scientists and members of the American Entomological Society, whose headquarters is the Academy.
• See rarely seen displays of the Academy’s world-renowned entomology specimen collection.
• Sample exotic foods made with insects and prepared by Cajun chef Zack Lemann.
• Learn how to properly collect and pin insects.

The third annual Bug Fest at the Academy of Natural Sciences allows visitors to get up close and personal with a bunch of creepy crawlers!

Bug Fest 2010
Saturday and Sunday, August 14 and 15, 10 am – 5 pm
Free with general admission

Returning Favorites

Spineless Wonders
Examine live stick insects, tarantulas, vinegaroons, and more. Touch them if you dare.

Bug Walk
Go outside with an entomologist and collect wild insects.

Meet Real Entomologists
Talk with scientists from the Academy’s Entomology Department and members of the American Entomological Society.

Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run.

Got Bugs?
Learn how to collect and pin insects during this hands-on demonstration; insects, pins, and scientific labels are provided.

Museum Insects
Examine specimens from the collections from the Academy’s Entomology Department and the American
Entomological Society.

Anthropomorphic Arthropods of Henry McCook
The Academy Library is showcasing this classic by Henry McCook (1837-1911). Come see insects like you’ve never seen them before, alongside a few antique bug-collecting tools of trade.

Bug Ball
Join the activities, games, and fun for all at the Bug Ball.

Ask the Entomologist Booth
Ask an entomologist that question that’s been bugging you.

Creepy Crawly Crafts
Make a bug pooter (a bug collecting tool that vacuums) and a bug box to take home.

For more information, log on to www.ansp.org/bugfest.

Gorgeous table linens provided by our good friend Cindy Bene of Select Event Rentals. Beautiful floral arrangements courtesy of Paoli’s Flowers by Priscilla.

AroundMainLine.com welcomed over 300 Main Liners and local foodies at Susanna Foo’s Gourmet Kitchen in Radnor on Thursday evening July 22nd for the official launch party of Main Line Restaurant Week. Dozens of local restaurant owners and local chefs attended the magical evening—including many of our participating restaurants.

Special AML VIP guests included Michael Klein of the Philadelphia Inquirer and philly.com, Mickael Decoker, manager of Blackfish BYO in Conshohocken, Ronna Bonds of Chesterbrook’s popular EBar at the Embassy Suites, Prudential Fox Roach realtor Joan Hindin, CEO of Wayne’s popular women’s boutique Fresh Ayer Liz Ayerle, Brian Pieri of Conshohocken’s The Stone Rose, Dr. Catherine Foote of Foote Orthodontics, and AML photographers Heather Berkenstock and Courtney Apple.

The party included delicious free appetizers, great drink specials and a fantastic opportunity for local businesses and restaurants to network. Most importantly, the party allowed AML to connect with hundreds of new fans who will be dining out and participating in the inaugural Main Line Restaurant Week.

Incredible complimentary appetizers all night long really wowed the crowd!

The first ever Main Line Restaurant Week is launching this fall and promises to be the Philadelphia suburbs largest dining event ever! With dozens of the region’s finest restaurants participating in this weeklong event, Main Line Restaurant Week offers diners an exciting opportunity to dine all around the Main Line and surrounding suburbs for a great value. Main Line Restaurant Week begins Monday, September 27th through Sunday, October 3rd. Restaurants will be offering a special three-course, prix-fixe dinner at one of the four price points: $15, $20, $30 or $40. In addition, many of our participating restaurants will include cocktail specials and other exciting discounts. Lastly, all restaurants in the Philadelphia western suburbs are invited to participate in Main Line Restaurant Week.

What they are saying about the Main Line Restaurant Week Launch Party!

“Thank you to everyone who came to the MainLine Restaurant Week Launch Party last night. I hope everyone had a good time. We certainly enjoyed taking care of everyone! We are looking forward to the Mainline Restaurant Week!” —Susanna Foo, Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen

“What a fun party this was! Our meal there late night was superb…!” —Mary Katherine Schenkel

Be sure to visit us at mainlinerestaurantweek.com!

What did Cleopatra look like? After her death, the Roman emperor Octavian ordered all images of her destroyed. Of the countless images created of the queen during her lifetime, only a handful of coins and sculptures remain.

Main Liners can walk like an Egyptian with the world premiere of “Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt” at the Franklin Institute now through January 2, 2011.

The world of Cleopatra VII, which has been lost to the sea and sand for nearly 2,000 years, surfaced on June 5th when the incredible exhibit opened its doors to the world for the first time. The new exhibition features nearly 150 artifacts from Cleopatra’s time and takes visitors inside the present-day search for the elusive queen, which extends from the sands of Egypt to the depths of the Bay of Aboukir near Alexandria. The exhibition is organized by National Geographic and Arts and Exhibitions International, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities and the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM). It features statuary, jewelry, daily items, coins and religious tokens that archaeologists have uncovered from the time surrounding Cleopatra’s rule, all of which are visiting the U.S. for the first time.

Naos of the Decades (387-361 B.C.) This naos-the inner shrine that held the temple god-may be the world’s first astrological chart. The year is divided into 36 decades, or 10-day periods. It is the first U.S. tour of artifacts from two ongoing searches into the life and times of Egypt’s legendary Queen.

Also on display is an original papyrus document from Cleopatra’s time containing an inscription that scientists believe was written in Cleopatra’s own hand. After Egypt succumbed to Roman forces and Cleopatra famously took her own life following the suicide of her lover Mark Antony, the Romans attempted to wipe her legacy from the pages of history. Cleopatra thus has remained one of history’s greatest enigmas, and her final resting place is one of Egypt’s unsolved mysteries. The story of her life and time unfolds in a dramatic setting with high-definition multimedia, original soundscapes and a mobile-based social media experience. Additionally each guest receives an audio tour with admission that provides a rich background to the featured artifacts.

Visitors to the exhibition follow the modern-day parallel stories of two ongoing expeditions being led in Egypt by Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s pre-eminent archaeologist and secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Franck Goddio, French underwater archaeologist and director of IEASM. Goddio’s search has resulted in one of the most ambitious underwater expeditions ever undertaken, which has uncovered Cleopatra’s royal palace and the two ancient cities of Canopus and Heracleion, which had been lost beneath the sea after a series of earthquakes and tidal waves nearly 2,000 years ago.

The exhibition opens on the tenth anniversary of Heracleion’s discovery. On land, Hawass and a team of archaeologists are searching for the tomb of the ill-fated lovers Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Never-before-seen artifacts referencing Cleopatra, excavated by Hawass’ team at the temple of Taposiris Magna, about 30 miles west of Alexandria, are featured.

The nearly 150 artifacts in the exhibition – from the smallest gold pieces and coins to colossal statues – provide a window into Cleopatra’s story as well as the daily lives of her contemporaries, both powerful and humble.

The exhibition also showcases artifacts from Goddio’s continuing underwater search off the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, begun in 1992 and sponsored by the Hilti Foundation. Goddio’s remarkable finds bring visitors inside his search for the lost world of Cleopatra, including remnants from the grand palace where she ruled. “The aim of our work is to reveal traces of the past and bring history back to life. We are delighted to present our underwater archaeological achievements and discoveries off the coast of Egypt to the American public,” said Goddio. “Cleopatra is one of the most fascinating figures of ancient Egypt,” said Terry Garcia, National Geographic’s executive vice president for Mission Programs. “This exhibition tells her remarkable story through rare artifacts excavated from two ongoing archaeological projects in Egypt, bringing ancient Egypt’s famous last pharaoh back to life through modern-day exploration.”

The exhibition contains “social tags” displayed throughout the exhibit, which encourage and guide visitors in sharing their Cleopatra experience on Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and other social networks through their mobile devices. The tags also feature links to online videos and information, which take patrons deeper into the Cleopatra experience, enabling them to learn and enjoy the exhibition even more.

AML goes one on one with Mark Lach, exhibit creative director and Senior V.P. of Arts and Exhibitions of Programs for the Franklin Institute to learn more about the experience of bringing the world premiere of Cleopatra to Philadelphia.

AroundMainLine.com: Explain your role with the exhibit.

French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio’s search has uncovered Cleopatra’s royal palace and the two ancient cities of Canopus and Heracleion, which had been lost beneath the sea after a series of earthquakes and tidal waves nearly 2,000 years ago.

Mark Lach: It has been a privilege really starting with the King Tut exhibition and now we are revisiting ancient Egypt once again. It is my responsibility to oversee what you are seeing here; certainly the artifacts can stand alone. They are pieces of history, pieces of her world. But, if we can bring some sort of context and some sort of environment, theatrical touch to things, I think it puts people there. During the King Tut exhibition, people would say to me, “I probably will never get to Egypt so today is my trip to Egypt.” So, with that type of responsibility, our team has really brilliantly designed and presented this exhibition to deliver the same experience.

AML: What is the most fascinating thing you have learned about Cleopatra during this experience?

Mark: I am probably like everyone else, we know her name. We have Hollywood’s view of her—a take on Cleopatra as this beautiful and powerful woman and we have this incredible exhibition. But, most of us know very little. I am just amazed at how strong of a leader she was. We think of her as this sensual, influential and charismatic person that maybe used her beauty but this was a fiercely smart woman with a great deal of drive and passion. Cleopatra also had a great deal of pride. When she was defeated, she refused to be humiliated and she took her own life.

AML: This really presents such a rich, educational exhibit for young and old.

The exhibition contains "social tags" displayed throughout the exhibit, which encourage and guide visitors in sharing their Cleopatra experience on Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and other social networks through their mobile devices.

Mark: When we had our King Tut experience, the little boys who came through (who were grade school children)n would walk out puffing their chests saying, ‘I could be King.’ Now, the little girls can walk away from Cleopatra and think ‘I could have been queen.’ This is really such a powerful story about one of history’s strongest women.

AML: How do we know Cleopatra was beautiful?

Mark: I don’t think we really do know if she was beautiful. In fact, with some of the images on the coins—if our ideal of beautiful is somewhat the same as what it was at that time-indicate she may not have been classically beautiful—like Nefertiti. One of the exhibits is called “Her Beauty and Power.” What we can deduce is that she was probably quite charismatic, quite seductive and a very sensual and driven person. These two men, Cesar and Marc Anthony, were probably attracted to these qualities. All of these attributes combined made her stand very strong in her seat of power and are why we are here today celebrating Cleopatra.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for “Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt” range from $11 to $29.50, which includes an audio tour. Tickets are timed and dated, and admission is 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays (last entry at 3:30 p.m.); and 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays (last entry at 7 p.m.). There are discounts available for groups of 15 or more and for Franklin Institute Members. Due to high ticket demand, advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. Information and tickets are available at 1-877-TFI-TIXS, www.fi.edu and www.searchforcleopatra.com. Information about discounted tickets for groups of 15 or more is available at 1-800-285-0684.

Costume from the movie: Dr. Doolittle

Icons of Costume: Hollywood’s Golden Era and Beyond presents over 50 items selected from one of the most extensive collections of movie memorabilia, from Marlene Dietrich’s black velvet evening gown from Shanghai Express (1932) to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s black leather jacket from Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Rare studio publicity stills, lobby cards and film props augment the experience, and an interactive “Screen Test” area allows visitors to act out their favorite scenes to be uploaded to the museum’s channel on YouTube.com.

“Fabric is very fragile. It is a miracle that any of the early costumes survived at all. Also, showing costumes and dressing them, showing them on mannequins can stress the seams. Preservation is a very complicated process with these costumes-especially since many of these we are approaching almost a hundred years in age,” explained Erika Jaeger-Smith, the Museum’s Associate Curator of Exhibitions.

Icons of Costume is a celebration of the art of costume design in movies. The exhibit includes fashion and accessories worn by such well-known stars as Greta Garbo, Barbara Stanwyck, Elizabeth Taylor, Ryan O’Neal, Dietrich and others. The designs are the work of some of Hollywood’s most celebrated designers including Edith Head, Adrian and Walter Plunkett.

Edith Head (United States, 1907 – 1982) The Great Man’s Lady, 1942, Paramount Pictures Barbara Stanwyck as Hannah Sempler.
Black silk velvet dress with silvered glass beads.

The importance of a film’s costumes in setting the mood of the narrative was not well understood by the early film industry. But in the 1920s, as movie costumes started to attract interest from viewers, studios set up costume departments and the costume designer, previously unheralded, began to be listed among the film’s credits. In some cases (Adrian is an example) the costume designer became an important part of the publicity of the film. In the 1930s, period film costume achieved its greatest impact on the fashions worn by ordinary men and women. In the case of Adrian, over 50,000 copies of a dress he designed for Joan Crawford in Letty Lynton were shipped to the Macy’s New York City stores alone. The legendary designers of the golden age of Hollywood, many of whom are included in the exhibition, continue to be a dominant influence on today’s fashions.

Still, it was not until 1948 that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences created the category for Best Costume Design. Several of the costumes in the exhibition are from films that received Oscars for Best Costume Design, and others were nominated.

Research into the history of costume design presents a host of problems. As studios changed hands over the years, priceless records were often either lost or discarded. Sketches, film continuity photographs, and other items in the costume department vital to the film’s integrity during a shoot were sold as Hollywood memorabilia to auction houses or, in recent years, to Internet sites, once the movie was completed.

In the early days of filmmaking, if an important costume wasn’t simply discarded or sold, it was re-used in another film to save time and money. Such was the case, for example, with the suit worn by Warren Beatty in Reds (included in this exhibition), which was also worn by Maximilian Schell in Judgment at Nuremberg. Also, costumes from the 1920s through the 1940s that were acquired by collectors sometimes suffered due to the fragility of the fabrics.

Icons of Costume: Hollywood's Golden Era and Beyond presents over 50 items selected from one of the most extensive collections of movie memorabilia. The exhibit runs through September 5th.

To even further confound the historian, studios often made multiple copies of a given costume while shooting a movie, so if one was damaged another would be available. Thus it’s sometimes impossible to know which of these multiple versions was actually worn by the star in the movie, and would therefore be considered authentic. Finally, after the movie was finished, more or less exact replicas of the most memorable and beloved costumes were sometimes created, often by the same companies that made the original garments. There are a few such objects in this exhibition, and they are clearly labeled as replicas.

Given these many challenges, the fact that such a large number of original costumes has survived at all is a testament to those caring individuals working today in the field of Hollywood costume research and presentation. Though he never won an Academy Award, Adrian is perhaps the most famous costume designer in Hollywood history. During his tenure at MGM (1928 to 1942) he was treated like a star, and was so well known that press releases would often trumpet his work as a special—sometimes the most important—element in a film.

While Adrian never owned an Oscar with his name on it, Edith Head was the most decorated costume designer ever, with thirty-five nominations and eight Oscars. She has the unusual distinction of receiving two Academy Awards in the same year (1950), when the category for Best Costume was still divided between black-and-white and color. On the night when famed costume designer Walter Plunkett received his Oscar for An American in Paris (1951), he overheard a reporter backstage ask Edith Head how many she had received. Plunkett answered for her: “Don’t let her kid you. She owns a fifty-acre estate surrounded by a picket fence made of nothing but Oscars!”

Plunkett himself was nominated ten times and set records for grand period costumes in lavish Hollywood extravaganzas. When asked how many costumes he designed for Gone with the Wind, he replied, “The only thing I remember is that the laundry bill was more than $10,000.”

The James A. Michener Art Museum is an independent, non-profit institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting and exhibiting the art and cultural heritage of the Bucks County, Pennsylvania region. In addition to hosting a changing schedule of exhibitions from around the country, the Museum is home to the largest public collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings. The Museum offers a diverse program of educational activities that seek to develop a lifelong involvement in the arts. The Museum is located at 138 South Pine Street in Doylestown. For current Museum hours and admission information, visit our website at www.MichenerArtMuseum.org or call the main phone number: (215) 340-9800. Group Tours: extension 117 / School Tours: extension 124.

Nectar’s beautiful outdoor deck overlooks an Asian garden.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography

Ardmore

Plate
www.platerestaurant.com
Ever since Reese (Witherspoon) decided to dine frequently at Plate last summer while filming her movie with Paul Rudd, Plate has enjoyed a very sweet flurry of activity. For those wishing a meal outdoors, Plate offers a full-service outdoor dining area that seats 75. Their chic cedar pergola and café tables and chairs allow diners to savor a good meal while basking in the beautiful weather. Afterwards, take in all the great shopping Suburban Square (Lilly Pulitzer, Blue Mercury, and Ann Taylor) has to offer.

Berwyn

Nectar
www.tastenectar.com
Chef Patrick Feury’s fantastic menu is enough reason to experience one of the Main Line’s most popular restaurants. Add to that a back patio-that is in high demand-with a serene Asian garden and you are good to go.

Tango’s outdoor deck is located just off the train tracks in Bryn Mawr.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography

Bryn Mawr

Tango
www.tastetango.com
Tango’s menu offers contemporary American cuisine in a comfortable setting, located just off the train tracks in Bryn Mawr. A large wrap-around patio comfortably seats guests under a shaded canopy or along a fun and fabulous Cantina Bar. Visit Tango’s happening deck bar for happy hours, for a bite to eat or dine out under the stars. Main Liners can watch the trains roll by as others are wading their way home from their hectic day.

Chesapeake City, Maryland

The Bayard House
www.bayardhouse.com
If you are looking for a bit of a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Main Line, hop in your car and head to Cecil County, Maryland. A little over an hour from Wayne, Chesapeake City’s Bayard House Restaurant offers romantic dining along the C&D Canal. Enjoy lunch or dinner on their front lawn with spectacular views of a serene waterfront. The Tournedos Baltimore will not disappoint.

Chesapeake City’s charm includes outdoor dining on the C&D canal at The Bayard House.
Photo courtesy of Jubilee Photography

Downingtown

Firecreek Restaurant
www.firecreek-restaurant.com
Firecreek Restaurant and Bar is located on the bank of the Brandywine River in the center of Downingtown, PA. Firecreek offers an expansive outdoor dining area, all with panoramic views of the Brandywine. The Historic Paper Mill structure is a paradigm of vernacular architecture. Firecreek Restaurant preserves the building’s historical integrity and pairs it with modern decor, to create an exciting and eclectic dining destination.

Gulph Mills

Bar Savona
www.barsavona.com
Last summer, Savona Restaurant reinvented its upscale, popular dining experience into Bar Savona ($30 and under) in what has turned out to be a terrific business decision in an unknown economy. Part of the introduction of the more casual menu was the sexy outdoor patio-which is hopping seven nights a week with some of the Main Line’s most beautiful people-and biggest movers and shakers. If you want to dine outside to be ‘seen’, Bar Savona is your place.

Malvern

McKenzie’s Brew Pub
www.mckenziebrewhouse.com
With locales in Malvern and Chadds Ford, McKenzie’s offers fantastic beer and two outdoor patios. The Chadds Ford locale, on Route 202 and just five minutes north of the Delaware state line, just opened their new outdoor deck this summer.

Media

Dining Under the Stars
www.visitmediapa.com
Media boasts a warm weather outdoor dining event well known and loved called Dining Under the Stars: ‘Stroll, Shop, Dine!” Every Wednesday night now through mid-September from 5pm to 10pm, State Street in Media, PA is closed to traffic to provide ample space for outdoor dining at Margaret Kuo’s, Azie on Main, Sligo’s on State and more. Don’t forget to grab your honey’s hand once dinner is wrapped up and shop Media’s fantastic retail scene. Live entertainment rounds off the experience!

Plymouth Meeting

Redstone Grill
www.redstonegrill.com
Right off 476, Redstone American Grill is one of the burbs’ hottest up and coming al fresco dining destinations. Main Liners are flocking to their outdoor patio year round thanks to a fire pit that will make you think you are closer to a Rocky Mountain High than a major suburban roadway.

Radnor

Susanna Foo’s Gourmet Kitchen
www.susannafoos.com
Foo’s two outdoor patios are serene and simple-and are ideal for a business party or rehearsal dinner. Chic torches offer the perfect touch when the sun goes down and the party heats up. Foo’s main patio seats about 60. An adjacent patio which connects with a private room (good for about 75) seats another 40.

Gullifty’s Gaarden
Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography

333 Belrose
www.333Belrose.com
Available for private parties, Belrose’s elegant outdoor patio is ideal for baby and wedding showers, intimate family functions, rehearsal dinners and more. Chef Carlo DeMarco is considered one of the Main Line’s top chefs-and his seasonal cuisine never disappoints. Plus, it’s a hop, skip and jump from the Blue Route.

Rosemont

Gullifty’s
www.gulliftys.com
Gullifty’s Gaarden is one of the Main Line’s premier outside dining experiences. The Gaarden opened in July of 2004 and is truly a unique experience-with a fully functioning, self contained outside kitchen and bar. The menu is exclusive to outside customers and everything is prepared in an open kitchen behind the bar. The Gaarden seats 90 people and prices range from $8 to $22. This season Gullifty’s Gaarden, in cooperation with Lancaster fresh farms has introduced grass fed, pasture raised and grazed, and 100% organic beef burgers.

Wayne

Christopher’s
www.christophersaneighborhoodplace.com
Molly Todd and chef Chris Todd have a good thing going with Christopher’s right on restaurant row in the heart of downtown Wayne. Come spring and through the first week of October, Wayne restaurants open their sidewalks to their patrons-and Christopher’s is one of the great places to grab a bite al fresco. With six rotating draft beers and a friendly staff, almost any night there’s a good reason to choose Chris’s.

Great American Pub
www.greatamericanpub.com
Rare is a sunny afternoon or evening along the Main Line’s top dining scene (Wayne) that GAP’s outdoor seating area is not completely packed. Main Line singles, moms, shop owners and more make this the place to network and ‘be seen’ seven days a week. Thanks to a new fountain and growing greenery, diners experience a fun, more private ambience with just North Wayne Avenue traffic only a few feet away.

"Thank you for organizing such a wonderful event. We are excited to be part of the inaugural Main Line Restaurant Week." Susanna Foo, Susanna Foo's Gourmet Kitchen

AroundMainLine.com is throwing a fantastic launch party for the first ever Main Line Restaurant Week at Susanna Foo’s Gourmet Kitchen in Radnor July 22nd! In what promises to be one of the Main Line’s hottest summer events, guests will be treated to complimentary hors d’oeuvres, amazing drink specials and a festive atmosphere—with the suburbs top chefs and restaurant owners in attendance.

For more than 25 years, Susanna Foo has changed the paradigm of Chinese food melding traditional Chinese foods with classical French techniques. With two cookbooks and two internationally known restaurants, Chef Foo is a two-time James Beard Award winner and is widely recognized as one of America’s top Chinese chefs. Many Asian cuisine aficionados credit Foo with having brought Chinese food into the modern realm. In November 2006, she opened Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen in Radnor—now one of the Main Line’s most successful and respected restaurants.

Susanna Foo’s is one of dozens of local restaurants across the Main Line and suburban region who will be participating in the Philadelphia suburb’s largest dining event ever this fall. The inaugural Main Line Restaurant Week will run from Monday September 27th through Sunday October 3rd. MLRW is created and organized by AroundMainLine.com.

Susanna Foo is widely recognized as one of America’s top Chinese chefs.

Participating restaurants will offer special, prix-fixe menus showcasing their chefs’ greatest dishes. Menus will feature discounted, three-course dinners (e.g. appetizer, entrée and dessert) priced at $15, $20, $30 or $40 per person. The week also includes a special calendar of food-themed events, including AroundMainLine.com’s 2nd Anniversary Birthday Bash at Gullifty’s in Rosemont, a special Wednesday Night Whinos at Dettera Restaurant and Wine Bar in Ambler, and a fun Monday Night Meetup in Malvern—hosted by The Desmond—and more. To stay informed of developing party details, be sure to join us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest.

Our fun summer MLRW kickoff party at Susanna Foo’s will offer AML friends and fans and participating restaurants a chance to meet and mingle in anticipation of the fall dining event. The event is free and open to everyone 21 and over. It promises to be a night to remember—and the perfect celebration to set the tone for a very successful Main Line Restaurant Week fall 2010!

Main Line Restaurant Week Launch Party Details

When: July 22nd, 6pm-9pm

Where: Susanna Foo’s Gourmet Kitchen (Event will be held in the private dining room and outdoor patio in the rear of the restaurant)

Why: To celebrate the fantastic restaurants and chefs participating in Main Line Restaurant Week this fall!

RSVP: Please RSVP here on our Facebook evite or kindly email us your name and party number to: rsvp@aroundmainline.com

AML’s amazing Main Line Restaurant Week Launch party offers locals a chance to meet and mingle with the top chefs of the Main Line and surrounding burbs!

‘Entrance Fee’: Supply your email address at the door via a business card or one of our registration slips to enter. The event is free.

Food: Complimentary appetizers will be served to all attendees!

Radio Sponsor: 95.7 BEN-FM is our official radio sponsor for Main Line Restaurant Week fall 2010 and is supporting our exciting launch party as well!

Décor: Gorgeous table linens provided by Select Event Rentals (weparty.com)

Floral: Malvern’s Flowers by Priscilla (flowersbypriscilla.net) will provide the beautiful arrangements for the event.

Party Raffle: Bring business cards for networking but also for our party raffle. Drop a biz card at our registration table (or fill out a slip) for a chance to win dinner for two at Susanna Foo’s!

Website: Check out our prelaunch site: MainLineRestaurantWeek.com. The full site will be up in a few weeks with our growing list of awesome participating restaurants!

Facebook: Join our Main Line Restaurant Week Facebook fan page for updates and info all summer long!

Guidelines: This event is for attendees 21 and over. Children are not permitted. No cameras are allowed at AML events outside of working local media or approved food bloggers.

People’s Light and Theatre Company presents The Emperor’s New Clothes, through July 11, 2010. A world premiere production, with a script by Richard Hellesen, it is based on the children’s classic tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

People’s Light & Theatre Company presents The Emperor’s New Clothes, from June 16 – July 11, 2010, on the Main Stage. A world premiere production, with a script by Richard Hellesen, it is based on the children’s classic tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Abigail Adams directs.

The Emperor’s New Clothes is a slapstick, mad cap, puppet-romp version of the classic tale of an Emperor with a passion for fashion. In the Empire of Abalonia, the bratty new Royal demands a trendy new wardrobe. Enter two scamming rogues who are only too happy to help while trying to loot the royal treasury.

Artistic Director Abigail Adams says, “This script pays homage to the Marx Brothers and Abbott and Costello—it is wacky and zany and we’ve assembled a very talented cast and artistic team to help tell this familiar tale in a fresh and funny way.”

People’s Light Mary Elizabeth Scallen plays the Policeman in the play and is a puppeteer. “This production is pulling from a lot of classic comedy traditions from the past and, combined with the puppets, it really offers a unique spin on a classic fairytale. Because it’s a slapstick comedy, the play is very fun and surprising. The characters in the play create a lot of mayhem-sort of like rambunctious kids getting in a lot of trouble so the kids will really love it. And the parents will appreciate the quirky tone of the Marx Brothers. The only person in the town who ‘sees the truth’ in the end is the youngest person in the play and there is a neat message in that,” explained Scallen.

The Emperor’s New Clothes, part of the TARGET Family Discovery Series, features Resident Company Members Kevin Bergen, Alda Cortese, Marcia Saunders, Mary Elizabeth Scallen and Tom Teti, who join guest artists Pete Pryor, Andrew Kane and Claire Inie-Richards, in addition to over 50 handmade puppets by Martina Plag. Before each show, children are invited to D.Y.O.B. (Decorate Your Own Boxers) for free. The crafts will begin one hour before each performance in the upstairs lobby. Go to www.peopleslight.org for details.

The play opened on Friday, June 18th at 7pm and runs through July 11th. Audiences are encouraged to join the artists after each performance to discuss the production. People’s Light & Theatre Company is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern. For tickets call 610.644.3500 or visit PeoplesLight.org. This project is supported in part by TARGET.

Single tickets start at $20 for youth and $29 for adults, with special discounts available for students and groups of 10 or more. 10am student group performances, discount meal packages, and talk-backs with the artists are also available. For more information or to purchase group tickets, call 610.647.1900, ext. 134 or email group@peopleslight.org. Actors, prices, performances dates and times are subject to change. Additional service charges may apply.

About People’s Light

People’s Light, a professional theatre founded in 1974 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, makes plays drawn from many sources to entertain, inspire, and engage our community. We extend our mission of making and experiencing theatre through arts education programs that excite curiosity about, and deepen understanding of, the world around us. These plays and programs bring people together and provide opportunities for reflection, discovery, and celebration.

The Admiral Fell Inn is a renovated urban inn located on Baltimore’s celebrated waterfront.

AML sent the Berkenstock family of Lansdale for a fun three day summer vacation to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Thinking of taking the kiddos on the road? Don’t worry about figuring it all out—below is the perfect three day Baltimore family experience planned out for you. Want more information on planning a summer family vacation to Baltimore? Check out visitbaltimore.org for a complete guide and details for your Inner Harbor experience. Or, visit their new website—bmorehappy.com.

Safe travels!

Day 1

The Admiral Fell in What?
Admiral Fell Inn
www.admiral-fell-inn.com
888 South Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 522-7377

Located in Baltimore’s historic Fell’s Point, the Admiral Fell Inn is a renovated urban inn located on Baltimore’s celebrated waterfront. The Fell’s Point section of Baltimore is a jaunty water taxi ride across from the more famous section of Inner Harbor, but it’s not to be missed, especially if you prefer your lodging a little subdued. Fell’s Point itself is worth a trip, as its cobblestone streets are brimming with charming shops, boutiques, galleries, pubs, and restaurants.

With its spectacular setting on the Baltimore Harbor, the Inn is convenient to all of Baltimore’s major attractions. The lively and colorful district, founded in 1726 as the oldest waterfront community in Baltimore, is known for its old world charm and retains the feel of a European village with brick sidewalks and Belgian block streets. The historic Admiral Fell Inn has old world character and modern conveniences. The Admiral himself would surely have approved of air conditioning!

The kid in all of us will appreciate a pirate adventure aboard a real-looking pirate ship! Search for treasures and blast enemies with water cannons as you sail around the Inner Harbor!

Baltimore’s Booty
Urban Pirates
www.urbanpirates.com
410-327-8378

Johnny Depp and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies appear to have driven pirate popularity right off the big screen and into real life with the Urban Pirates. A pirate adventure aboard a real-looking pirate ship. Search for treasures and blast enemies with water cannons as you sail around Inner Harbor.

The crew of four salty dogs stays in character for the one-hour tour. All landlubbers are outfitted with pirate vests and waist sashes. The pirate crew then trains the new recruits in the ways of being pirate-y. And, the crew leads visitors in song and dance. When the ship comes under attack from a rival pirate, the new pirate recruits defend their ship with water cannons, soaking the attacking pirate and driving him off.

And if you think life at sea without toothpaste and teachers could rot a pirate’s teeth and brain, this crew will happily prove you wrong. They get all visitors involved in a challenging competition to build a boat out of a square of tinfoil, 4 popsicle sticks and a strip of duct tape. Teams have five minutes to build their best seafaring vessel. To win, it must not only float, but also hold cargo. The team with the boat that holds the most fishing weights before sinking is named champion (the record was an impressive 18 on this trip). Even better, Urban Pirates host adult only cruises in the evenings, which are BYOG (Bring Your Own Grog).

Dinner in a Ship-Shaped Restaurant
Captain James Landing
www.captainjameslanding.com

A ship-shaped restaurant, Captain James offers steamed crabs on the dock (in season) Baltimore-style, breakfast all day and every variety of food you can think of. Walk East on Boston Street or along the promenade to view new, urban redevelopment, The Can Company shops and eateries, boats and gorgeous views.

Monkey Bread at Miss Shirley’s is a must! www.misshirleys.com

Day 2

Breakfast in Wild Style
Miss Shirley’s
750 E. Pratt Street
www.missshirleys.com

Miss Shirley’s is a signature breakfast and lunch spot in downtown Baltimore—walkable from the Inner Harbor. You must try the Funky Monkey Bread! Located one block from the Port Discovery Children’s Museum.

Big Fins, Small Fish and a Missing Flipper
The National Aquarium
www.aqua.org

The National Aquarium venues together hold living collections that include more than 16,000 animals from more than 660 species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and marine mammals living in award-winning, naturalistic habitats.

The Baltimore Aquarium in the centerpiece of any visit to Inner Harbor. Home to more than 16,000 animals, the aquarium features the all-new 4-D Immersion Theater. Sharks, rays, clownfish (like Nemo!) and the giant sea turtle Calypso (pictured right) are just some of the wonders. Don’t miss the dolphin show. And jellyfish fans—you know who you are—must see the new exhibit.

Parents’ Choice
Maryland Science Center
www.mdsci.org

Named by Parents magazine as one of the country’s top 10 science museums, this is one of Baltimore’s premier locations. Enjoy three floors of hands-on exhibits, IMAX films, planetarium shows, kids’ room, observatory and more. Walkable from the National Aquarium—or take a water taxi to rest any weary legs.

Dinner with a View
The Rusty Scupper
www.selectrestaurants.com/rusty

Harborside Dining and Drink at Its Best...
The Rusty Skupper

The Rusty Scupper is an Inner Harbor institution and just a short stroll from the Maryland Science Center. Repeat visitors could no more skip the “skup” than avoid the aquarium. Renowned for their delicious Chesapeake Bay cuisine, The Scupper has been a popular dining experience since 1982—with romantic views of the Inner Harbor. If you’ve never had Baltimore crab cakes, this is the place to have your first.

Day 3

Funky French Toast
Blue Moon Café
1621 Aliceanna Street

Blue Moon is one of Fells Point’s most popular brunch spots. They say the captain crunch French toast tastes as unique as it sounds. You will enjoy fresh, flavorful food in a funky atmosphere at the Moon.

Stand in a Bubble
Port Discovery Children’s Museum
www.portdiscovery.org

Kids who groan at the sound of the word “museum” will love this place. You can touch everything. You can get wet. (Or stay dry, parents, with a little help.) The little ones will love the world of Curious George. The bigger kids can climb and slide. The museum offers three floors of educational and interactive exhibits, programs and activities for children ages 2 to 10 years old. And, everyone must try the bubble maker. Stand inside the circle, slowly raise the rope, and watch as a bubble rises up around you—amazing!

Inner Harbor Dragon Boats

Peddle Your Own Dragon Boat
Inner Harbor Dragon Boats

Take these dragon-inspired “Chessie” paddleboats out on the picturesque Inner Harbor, located just west of the Top Of The World building.

Top of the World Observation Level, World Trade Center
401 E. Pratt Street
www.baltimore.to/TopOfWorld/index.html

Baltimore’s World Trade Center is a must-see for anyone visiting Charm City. That’s because the 27th-floor observation deck—”Top of the World”—offers panoramic views of the Baltimore Inner Harbor and Downtown Baltimore. It is a great place to get a sense of the city. The observation level also contains exhibits about Baltimore and its economic renaissance. The World Trade Center is the tallest pentagonal building in the world offering breathtaking views of Baltimore from an elevation of 423 feet. It may be the best view of the Inner Harbor. It is certainly the highest!

With Conshohocken’s only open air dining setting, The Stone Rose Restaurant has become a popular neighborhood destination.

AML’s Monday Night Meetup, our fun, regular social get-together, returns this Monday evening, June 21st, at Conshohocken’s popular Stone Rose Restaurant. Stone Rose opened last October with owner Brian Pieri, a former executive in the financial industry, and executive chef Jason Mase spearheading one of the Philly’s burbs hottest new dining spots.

Stone Rose is tucked away off the main stream of restaurants in Conshohocken near the corner of 9th and Fayette—across from the Conshy Fire Department. The welcoming exterior with outdoor seating gives way to a cozy and sexy upscale neighborhood restaurant inside. The front room boasts a beautiful fifteen seat bar. The ‘Rose’ also has an intimate back room, rustic Italian accents and Conshy’s only open air dining setting.

Mase is a North Central, PA native who has been a chef for nineteen years. He joined The Stone Rose shortly after their opening last fall and boasts experience as the executive chef at The Guard House in Gladwyne and at The Four Seasons downtown. The cuisine is largely American continental with international influences. “We are fine dining with a comfort food spin. We try to use local, organic produce resourced from Southeastern PA,” explained Mase. His braised short ribs over homemade mac and cheese, a signature dish influenced by Jason’s mother’s recipe, is offered as an appetizer or entrée, a Rose customer favorite. In addition, pan seared diver scallops with prosciutto and pea risotto with roasted mushrooms in a mushroom cream sauce are a menu highlight. For a steady lunch crowd, Mase’s diners often order the seared burger, cooked in a cast iron pan on a bed of kosher salt—with Spanish onions, homemade French fries, and remoulade on a challah roll. And, beer geeks will be glad to know that Stone Rose only serves local beers on tap.

Crab and Avocado Salad

As for Pieri, a Conshohocken native, dashing entrepreneur and Penn State grad, the restaurant world is a new venture as he spent his first ten years out of college building a very successful career as a stock broker. Pieri met Mase through a friend and brought on lifelong friend Jim Maglio as general manager. Thanks to Pieri’s savvy marketing skills on their popular Twitter account (StoneRoseConshy), the restaurant has become the buzz of the burbs. “I was very aware of marketing strategies and client relations in my previous career. I kind of laugh when I see restaurants tweeting in all caps, or only using Twitter to talk about themselves and their daily menu ad naseum. It is a great connector and really a shared network—we have had dozens of customers walk through the door (from Twitter) and ask for me personally. That has been a large part of our early success,” said Pieri.

Stone Rose owner Brian Pieri will be our gracious host for AML’s next Monday Night Meetup.

As for the name, the restaurant is Pieri’s way of honoring his mother Rose, who he lost to cancer five years ago. “Everything here is personal—has personal meaning and is connected to my life. The pictures on the wall are my family and their vineyards from Italy. Jim came from a family of stone masons—so that’s how Stone Rose came about. This is my neighborhood, my customers are like family to me and it’s been a dream of mine,” explained Pieri.

AML Monday Night Meetup at Stone Rose Conshohocken

When: Monday June 21st 6-8pm

Where: Stone Rose Restaurant, 822 Fayette Street, Conshohocken

RSVP: Respond on our Facebook fan page.

Details: Monday Night Meetups are free and all are welcome to attend, 21 and over. No children permitted.

Phone: 484-532-7300

Website: www.thestoneroserestaurant.com

Facebook: StoneRose Conshohocken

Twitter: StoneRoseConshy

Nectar executive chef and partner Patrick Feury is hosting a beer dinner with his brother, chef Terence Feury, and Bill Covalescki of Victory Brewery.

The bad news? Philly Beer Week is coming to an end. The good news? If you have not had time to partake in the hundreds of events across the city and suburbs this week, a fantastic finale is planned this Sunday at Bryn Mawr’s popular pan-Asian restaurant, Nectar.

Executive chef and partner Patrick Feury has teamed up with Downingtown’s Victory Brewery and his brother, Fork executive chef Terence Feury, to launch Fists of Feury. Fists is an English pale ale created via the Victory collaboration. It is only available at Nectar, Old City’s Fork and Victory while the batches last. Sunday both Feury brothers and Victory’s Bill Covaleski will host a special four course beer dinner at Nectar, with one seating, starting at 5 p.m.

AroundMainLine.com: Chef Feury, I love that, as one of the Main Line’s most prestigious and respected chefs, you are vested in beer and food pairings. How did this event and relationship between Nectar and Victory come about?

Patrick Feury: I’ve known Bill (Covaleski) for many years and I’ve been home brewing since I was very young. So we decided to do a beer that was ‘chef driven’ and paired well with food. It’s the perfect marriage and it’s been a great learning experience for Terry and me.

AML: What inspired you to brew an English pale ale specifically?

PF: My mom was born in England and my dad is first generation Irish. We really wanted a brew that was similar to our heritage and so Terry and I took English hops and American hops and came up with Fists.

AML: I guess we can let everyone in on the ‘secret weapon’ in Fists of Feury-rosemary.

PF: I use rosemary a lot in my food at Nectar as a background accent that people may not realize is in their food. Even my citrus vinaigrette that I use for my salads has rosemary. I thought rosemary would be fun in the beer!

AML: Count me in for Sunday night! What can the diners expect with this event?

PF: We designed the dinner to be a loose, fun party atmosphere, with stellar food, for everyone on Sunday. Its not so structured as you would think for a four course dinner. We will also be serving Victory’s Summer Love ale-and Bill has never launched two ales at once which I think beer lovers will appreciate. Its really going to be fun.

Fists of Feury Beer Dinner at Nectar

When: Sunday June 13th 5 p.m. Please arrive by 5 p.m. as there is one seating.

Where: Nectar Restaurant, Bryn Mawr

What: A special four course dinner celebrating the release of Fists of Feury, a limited release English pale ale

Cost: $55 per person, beer included, gratuity is additional

Reservations: Call Nectar for reservations, seating is limited: 610-725-9000

Address: 1091 East Lancaster Avenue, Berwyn

Website: www.tastenectar.com

Facebook Fan Page: Nectar Restaurant and Lounge