A Longwood Gardens Christmas runs through January 9, 2011.

A Christmas fantasy awaits guests to Longwood Gardens near Kennett Square, PA, November 25, 2010 through January 9, 2011. Dazzling floral displays, stunning trees, holiday music, 500,000 outdoor lights, and dancing fountains under the stars are just a few of the highlights of the popular display A Longwood Gardens Christmas. Timed tickets are advised, with tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed tickets are available now and can be purchased online at www.longwoodgardens.org, or in person at Longwood.

Inside Longwood’s 4.5-acre heated Conservatory thousands of poinsettias accented with amaryllis, Narcissus, begonias, cyclamen, lilies and hydrangea flourish. Elegantly decorated trees shimmer and sparkle with festive flair. In Longwood’s Exhibition Hall, an ornate art nouveau tapestry fashioned from live pink poinsettias and ferns surround a towering 25-foot Douglas fir adorned in raspberry and pink ornaments, preserved pink roses and gilded cones.

The Orangery’s center walkway is resplendent in pink poinsettias and blue coleus accented with paper whites, alyssum and bay laurel.

The East Conservatory hosts traditional red, green and silver Christmas hues, featuring red cyclamen, begonias, Artemisia, Serbian spruce, lilies and more. A towering 28-foot Douglas fir, the largest indoor tree in the display, draws all eyes to the Patio of Oranges where it is dressed with begonias and red glass ornaments.

More than 500,000 outdoor lights adorning 75 trees in classical and free-style form styles enchant both young and old.

More horticultural finery, including swags of exotic plants, Christmas cactus baskets, living wreaths, and decorated trees flourish throughout the Conservatory.

Longwood works its holiday magic outdoors, too. More than 500,000 outdoor lights adorning 75 trees in classical and free-style form styles enchant both young and old. The lighting extravaganza (the cords for which would span 39 miles) includes the illumination of two of Longwood’s Treehouses. Fountains dance day and night to holiday music in the Open Air Theatre (weather permitting) beneath glimmering starry snowflakes. Young and old will delight in Longwood’s outdoor train display nestled near the Idea Garden. Natural edible ornaments adorn the Wildlife Tree created especially for Longwood’s feathered and furry friends. The Gardener’s Tree features ornaments crafted from garden findings, including gourds, seedpods, and cones.

Longwood captures the magic of the season—and the music—with holiday concerts, organ sing-alongs and carillon performances. The ornate Ballroom is the setting for daily organ sing-alongs on Longwood’s renovated 10,010-pipe Aeolian organ. Evening choral and bell choir concerts at 7 pm and 8 pm feature favorite area groups, including:

Enjoy Breakfast with Santa on December 11, 12, 18 and 19 in Longwood’s Terrace Restaurant at 8:00 and 9:30 am.

Enjoy Breakfast with Santa on December 11, 12, 18 and 19 in Longwood’s Terrace Restaurant at 8:00 and 9:30 am. An array of breakfast items that are sure to please the entire family await Reservations are required and prices include Gardens admission. Ages 12 & over $40, ages 5-11 $22; Ages 4 and under, free. Pricing for Garden Pass Members are ages 12 and older: $32; ages 5-11: $18. On New Year’s Eve, Longwood will remain open until 10 pm with special festive activities for the entire family. Find fun around every corner with strolling performances by carolers, and a barbershop quartet. Families will enjoy a balloon artist, a kids’ craft station and more! A spectacular 5-minute fireworks display tops off the fun at 8:30 pm. Activities begin at 3 pm.

In anticipation of the popularity of A Longwood Gardens Christmas, admission will be by Timed Ticket, with tickets issued for specific dates and times.
A Longwood Gardens Christmas runs November 25–January 9, 9 am to 9 pm. Timed Tickets allow entry during half-hour intervals throughout the day, from 9 am to 8:30 pm Longwood will remain open until 10 pm on Saturdays and December 26-31. Timed Tickets are on sale now at www.longwoodgardens.org or in person at Longwood.
General Admission prices are $18 for adults; $15 for seniors (age 62+), $8 for students (ages 5-18) free age 4 and under. Complete information is available online at www.longwoodgardens.org.

A "must see" for visitors is the 30th Annual Gingerbread House Competition and Display, featuring more than 100 incredible creations of gingerbread and confection in the Village Gazebo.

Welcome the holidays and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus at the annual Peddler’s Village Christmas Festival on Saturday, December 4, 2010, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (shops open until 9 p.m.), and Sunday, December 5, 2010, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is free admission and parking.

Hot mulled cider, heated in an old fashioned kettle, will be sold on the Main Green, along with complimentary marshmallows for toasting. The Village will be festively decorated for the holidays with Victorian fruit wreaths and greenery. Strolling musicians entertain visitors with holiday favorites throughout the weekend. By evening, one million twinkling lights will transform the Village into a winter wonderland.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in a horse-drawn carriage as part of an old-fashioned parade through the Village. The Central Bucks East Marching Band will lead the parade accompanied by local Girl Scout Troops. Other parade participants and live festival entertainment will include the Season’s Greetings Eagles Pep Band, Spiced Punch Singers (Victorian carolers), and Stiltwalker. Following the parade, Santa will entertain children and their holiday wish lists at his indoor workshop, located in Giggleberry Fair.

A “must see” for visitors is the 30th Annual Gingerbread House Competition and Display, featuring more than 100 incredible creations of gingerbread and confection in the Village Gazebo. The spectacular display will be open through January 2, 2010. Admission is free for the display.

Peddler’s Village is located at Routes 202 and Street Road in Lahaska. Follow the winding brick pathways of the Village throughout 42 acres of lush landscaping and charming 18th century-style architecture for a unique shopping and dining experience. Peddler’s Village has something for everyone from 70 quality specialty shops and six restaurants to the 70-room Golden Plough Inn and Giggleberry Fair family entertainment center. Enjoy free seasonal festivals and year-round family events. For more information, please visit www.peddlersvillage.com or call 215-794-4000.

A beloved Bucks County holiday tradition returns as Gerald Charles Dickens, the great-great grandson of famed author Charles Dickens, performs his one-man show of “A Christmas Carol” at Byers’ Choice.

It will be a Dickens of a weekend at Byers’ Choice Ltd. when Gerald Charles Dickens, the great-great grandson of famed author Charles Dickens, captures audiences as he performs his one-man show of “A Christmas Carol” from December 11th and December 12th.

The fast-paced performance will take place inside the Byers’ Choice workshop at in Chalfont, Pa. Playing the roles of all 26 characters, Dickens will entertain the audience will his ancestor’s beloved holiday tale. This 75-minute show brings the original story to life and reminds us all of the true meaning of Christmas.

Show times at Byers’ Choice are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 12. Tickets are $18 each and can be purchased online at www.byerschoice.com or by calling 215-822-6700. Seating is limited and previous performances have sold out. Interested guests are encouraged to reserve seats early.

In addition to his visit to Byers’ Choice, Dickens will be touring the East Coast from Thanksgiving weekend through December 14, taking him from New England through Virginia. Other Philly-area stops include Bethlehem, Pa (Dec. 13) and Burlington, NJ (Dec. 14).

While attending “A Christmas Carol,” guests are welcome to explore the Byers’ Choice Visitor Center, which pays homage to Dickensian England as gas lanterns and cobblestone streets pave the way through a life-size recreation of an olde London street scene.

Visitors can try Victorian clothing on for size, write a letter to Santa and examine elaborate holiday displays and dioramas with hundreds of the famous Byers’ Choice Carolers and Kindles. A wide selection of Carolers and other Byers’ Choice Christmas items can also be purchased in the Gift Emporium.

“Hosting performances of “A Christmas Carol” is a natural fit for us as we gear up for the holiday season,” said Joyce Byers, Founder, Designer and Mom of Byers’ Choice. “Gerald’s performance truly brings each character to life and is entertaining for the entire family.”

About Byers Choice

Byers Choice LTD. Christmas Museum & Gift Emporium is located at: 4355 County Line Road in Chalfont, PA. Open Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.ml Sunday, Noon until 5:00 p.m.; Closed major holidays. FREE ADMISSION. For more information, please call 215-822-6700 or email Customer Service: support@byerschoice.com.

A cozy winery hidden on a hilltop in Bucks County has much to offer Main Liners looking for a pleasant daycation this summer.
Peace Valley Winery, Chalfont, PA

In 1967, Susan Gross was working as a chemist, rubbing elbows with horticulturists and thinking about her next career move. A country winery was not on her radar. But, before she knew it, Gross was a proud owner of a bare stretch of cornfield in quaint Chalfont, Pennsylvania. She had never been on a tractor in her life. As many first time entrepreneurs do, Gross went with a gut feeling-experimented with her new piece of property and planted three acres of wine grapes along with a large experimental plot of hybrids from France and Germany.

Seventeen years later, Peace Valley Winery opened (in 1984) with Robert Kolmus as a partner. Today, Peace Valley is a quaint, country winery in the heart of Bucks County farmland with over twenty acres dedicated to over two dozen varieties of grapes. “Our philosophy is one of a laidback approach. We are certainly not wine snobs out here at Peace Valley. We are a working farm and small town vineyard, and our loyal customers prefer us to the state store brands-because we have great wines and they can support a local business” Gross explained.

Each season there seems to be something on the harvest for wine lovers to enjoy at Peace Valley. In the spring, Peace Valley rolls out their well known Spring Fling, based on the German style of spring wines that have a secondary form of fermentation or additional ‘spritz.’ It’s flavored with an herb called woodruff, with its sprigs used to sweeten the batch. Gross serves Spring Fling in a punch bowl at the winery (for lucky guests) and adds frozen strawberries to the mix to keep the wine cold and refreshing-while allowing the strawberries to release their natural flavors.

Starting June 5th through the 7th, Peace Valley will release their Summer Solstice wine, one of their most popular in their selection. “It’s sweet and fruity and comes in a very attractive blue bottle. So many people anticipate the release of our Summer Solstice to put aside as a great holiday gift. It has wide appeal,” explained Gross. And, in the fall, Peace Valley offers a ‘pick your own’ event where visitors can select their own grapes in the sprawling fields. For families, the property is also home to several acres of dwarf apple trees which bring in large crowds come harvest time.

The ever illusive and legendary Moe has become part of the vineyard experience with regulars of Peace Valley.

Gross is proud of the selection and quality of her wines that keeps regulars coming back, part of a loyal family of local fans and vineyard enthusiasts. “We have a very interesting and wide selection of wines. Our chardonnay is one of our most popular, it’s a Chablis style that has been fermented in very cold temperatures and is very light with lots of fruit flavors and very little oak. It sets us apart from other chardonnays,” explained Gross.

The cozy winery sits high on a hidden hilltop overlooking Peace Valley Park. Besides a stop at Peace Valley, which offers a satisfying daycation for suburbanites, this pristine pocket of Bucks County countryside is packed with other must-sees. Down the road from the winery is a lush lavender farm, a bike trail, a 365-acre lake where people can sail or take an eight-mile hike, a quaint country farm market and the historic Pearl Buck House. “It’s really quite a day trip to come out this way! So many of our first time guests are so pleasantly surprised when they see what is here in this region of Chalfont-it really is ‘God’s country,’” said Gross.

Part of the great appeal of Peace Valley is the resident feline, Moe. Moe’s adventures in and around the winery are well-known by regulars and documented in monthly e-newsletters. Through the years, his squabbles with winery visitors (other cats, an opossum or two) have done their damage on his battle-worn ears. “Everyone always wants to know what Moe is up to! He is quite the cat and came to us with two brothers from a stray that was hanging around. Moe is a survivor-he had two brothers, Manny and Jack, who have since passed. Moe seems to have a certain je ne sais quoi that draws people in,” explained Gross.

Peace Valley is one of thirty-six wineries participating in the 19th annual Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine and Food Festival, June 13th and 14th at Split Rock Lodge in the Poconos. Visit splitrockresort.com for full details.

Peace Valley will also be one of the thirty plus Pennsylvania wineries participating in the 19th annual PA Wine and Food Festival coming up on June 13th and 14th at Split Rock Lodge in the Poconos. For wine lovers across the tri-state region, it’s a golden opportunity to conveniently sample some of the best wines the state has to offer. “We have been a loyal part of the festival since its inception and would not miss it for the world! There is nothing else like it for wine enthusiasts across the state of Pennsylvania. Instead of traveling hundreds of miles to visit and sample all of the amazing wines that these vineyards offer, wine lovers can spend the weekend at Split Rock and have them all in one convenient location. There’s a great sense of camaraderie among the industry as well, so for us as a small vineyard, it’s a reunion of sorts with all of our Pennsylvania vineyard friends,” enthused Gross.

Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine and Food Festival

When: Saturday & Sunday, June 13th & 14th 12pm-6pm

Event Details: Thirty-six wineries across the state will be on hand providing educational seminars throughout the weekend. The festival will feature continuous musical entertainment on three separate stages, Pennsylvania’s finest wineries and a wide selection of food vendors to tempt your taste buds. Split Rock also offers a weekend package for our overnight guests. Each Festival attendee will receive a commemorative wine tasting glass, and you must be over 21 to be served. Pets are not allowed on festival grounds.

Website: www.splitrockresort.com/wine-festival.php

Cost: Advance Tickets $25/Group (25+) $22/Day of Festival $29Attendees Under 21 $6/Children 2 and Under are Free

For more information on the festival or for reservations, call 800-255-7625 or log on to www.splitrockresort.com

Peace Valley Winery will be exhibiting at the 2009 PA Wine and Food Festival. Their winery is located at 300 Old Limekiln Road, in Chalfont, PA. If you are interested in tour information or contacting Peace Valley Winery, call 215-249-9058, email peacevalwinery@enter.net, or visit their website at: www.peacevalleywinery.com.

Peace Valley Winery is less than an hour drive from the heart of the Main Line, approximately sixteen miles off the 309 exit from the PA Turnpike.

Hours of operation are: Wed-Fri & Sun 12-6pm, Sat 10-6pm

Grand Opening: A Capacity Crowd Filled the Bakery Anxious to Test the Gluten-Free Treats.

Christine Ruggio had suffered for twenty-five years with debilitating stomach ailments, making hundreds of visits to her doctor complaining of severe pain and digestive issues. And, for twenty-five years, Ruggio was given the same diagnosis. “’You are hyper, you are in high school, so it’s stress-related. You are about to get married, you need to calm down, it is all about stress. You have IBS, you need to calm down and relax, look what you are doing to yourself! You have children now, you are getting too wound up,’” Ruggio explains. So, Ruggio’s doctor placed her on medication for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and strictly advised her to take it easy—ensuring her the symptoms would eventually subside if she followed her prescriptions and cut back on her busy lifestyle.

But Ruggio felt that there was something more to her body’s rejection of some of the food she consumed – and finally she confronted her doctor again. “I said to him, ‘Let’s get real here. Aren’t we masking the problem and not trying to solve it? This is not going away and I’m getting worse,’” she said.

But the doctor visits continued and Ruggio’s health continued to worsen. Then, a few years ago she took a family trip to Italy, where her Italian cousin happened to be on a gluten-free diet. Everywhere they went the whole family dined on gluten-free meals, and educated Ruggio about the intolerance to wheat that had made her cousin very ill. This was the first time she had heard about a medical condition called Celiac Disease, an autoimmune intestinal disorder that affects people for life.

Yes We Can!
At Sweet Christine’s, Celiacs can elect to choose from a variety of decadent desserts.

According to a local Ambler-based company, Gluten Free Works (www.glutenfreeworks.com), Celiac Disease is an inherited, lifelong sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in the grains of wheat, barley, rye and oats. When activated by gluten, Celiac Disease becomes a digestive disorder that results in poor absorption of food nutrients, with or without digestive symptoms like pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation.

In 2005, Ruggio hit a physical rock bottom. She even started to have neurological issues and one physician suggested it might be the early stages of Multiple Sclerosis. Then 46, Ruggio made a new appointment with a wellness doctor who had knowledge of Celiac Disease, suspecting that this might be the answer to her years of illness. “I said, ‘While we are at it, throw in a test for this condition I just learned about where your body rejects the protein in wheat–and see what happens.’” Her test came back positive. And, ever since that day, Ruggio has not touched a product containing wheat.

As a newly diagnosed celiac, Ruggio was relieved that her years of suffering with severe medical symptoms were now over, but as a food lover and cook, she found herself frustrated by the lack of great-tasting gluten-free food items on the market. Ruggio heard that most celiacs end up baking their own bread and preparing their own food at home. So, she went to work in her kitchen–experimenting with her family’s favorite recipes while attempting to keep the cookies, pizzelles and cupcakes delicious. After 110 attempts at a chocolate chip cookie recipe and hundreds of hours of taste-testing to perfect her desserts, Christine Ruggio had baked herself a business.

Fast forward three years later to the fall of 2008, and Christine Ruggio, mom to three, and a healthy and vibrant 39-year-old, is the proud owner of one of the Philadelphia region’s first gluten-free bakeries. Appropiately named Sweet Christine’s, it’s charming, quaint space is located in the heart of historic downtown Kennett Square. For the past year and a half, Ruggio had been a successful wholesaler of several gluten-free bakery items and decided that with her products gaining in popularity, it was time to open up her own retail location near her home in Bucks County.

Appealing to the growing number of children being diagnosed with food allergies was important to Ruggio as well. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released a new study entitled “Food Allergy Among U.S. Children.” This national study of 9,500 children revealed the following:

• In 2007, approximately 3 million children under 18 (3.9%) had a food allergy
• From 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of food allergies among children under 18 increased +18%
• Boys and girls have similar rates of food allergies–3.8% for boys and 4.1% for girls
• 4.7% of children under 5 reported a food allergy, versus 3.7% of children aged 5-18
• Children with food allergies are two to four times more likely to have other related conditions such as asthma and other allergies, compared with children without food allergies

That’s Amore
Owner Christine Ruggio prepares a delicious gluten-free pizza for her bakery.

The new corner bakery is kid-friendly, with a giant chalk board, tables, and a window seat to encourage families to stop by and hang out. Sweet Christine’s is in talks with Philadelphia and Delaware school districts to supply their cafeterias with gluten-free products for the children. “I came into this business because of my diagnosis, but the needs of the kids being diagnosed with allergies is increasing every day — so that is honestly where I think Sweet Christine’s can make a difference. I’m not just trying to turn a dime in a new retail location. This is an important health issue, obviously to me personally, and I think we can really make a difference.”

Ruggio, 39, is a Delaware native, University of Delaware grad and devoted mom to three young children—Giovanna,10, Sophia, 8 and Nicholas 4. “I always knew I wanted to do something to help children and I chose this spot in downtown Kennett Square because it’s a great area and I am honestly right around the corner from my kids’ school, so I can balance the work and the home life,” she said.

The bakery opened about a month ago in late October and hosted a grand opening, supported by an incredible crowd of hundreds, on November 7th. Guests noshed on cupcakes, cookies, pizza, pita wraps and bread—all gluten-free. Ruggio buzzed about the bakery, accepting high-fives and hugs, glowing with pride in her successful, creative business venture. Far behind her is the quarter century mystery about her deteriorating health. “I feel so much better it is incredible. My body was robbed of vitamins—wheat was poison to my body. I was facing a devastating diagnosis of MS, with fifteen MRI’s in just a couple of months in 2005 and a medical folder stuffed with files. And, yet, all along it was a pretty simple problem and diagnosis – if I had just been speaking with the right physician,” she lamented.

Sweet Christine’s Gluten-Free Bakery
Kennett Square, PA
www.sweetchristinesglutenfree.com

Over the next few weeks Ruggio will be busy filling and keeping up with her online business, making gluten-free breads and pumpkin pies for the busy holiday season (that can be shipped anywhere in the United States). After the New Year, Sweet Christine’s plans on expanding their menu and developing key gluten-free resources connected with the store. There seems no end in site for a small company on the gluten-free rise.

“The response has been overwhelming, it really has been. I just wanted to stick to wholesale but we couldn’t turn down the requests and the demand and so this has just evolved very rapidly. And, I think that’s because we make good, delicious, healthy products that most people who come here don’t even realize are gluten-free. It always makes me chuckle to myself when someone buys a bunch of cupcakes and breads and raves about them without even seeing our gluten-free signs in the store. And, they seem to come back just as much, if not more than the clients who have Celiac Disease. Maybe one of these days I’ll gently break it to them that they are devouring a ton of delicious gluten-free products!”

Sweet Christine’s Bakery is located at 132 West State Street in Kennett Square, PA. Christine Ruggio can be reached at: 610-444-5542 or email: cruggio@sweetchristinesglutenfree.com

Try this great Gluten-Free Recipe courtesy of Sweet Christine’s:

Pizzelles (Italian Cookie) 2 cups of Tapioca Flour
2 cups of Potato Flour
1 1/2 cups White Rice Flour
1 Cup Sorghum Flour
2 Cups of Organic Evaporated Cane Juice
2 Sticks of Organic Salted Butter
2 teaspoons of xanthan gum
2 tablespoons baking powder
6 Organic Eggs
4 tablespoons Organic Anise Oil

This can all be done by mixing with hand.

Melt butter and cool
Mix sugar with butter and eggs
Add anise oil
Gradually add dry ingredients
Mix completely

Spray Pizzelle Iron with cooking spray
Place a tablespoon size on each iron grill for about 30 sec.
Take out and sprinkle with powder sugar or roll up while still hot and dip in melted chocolate.

Bon Appetit!
Christine Ruggio
Owner, Sweet Christine’s Gluten-Free Bakery

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

Without further ado, sink your teeth into our inaugural travel feature. I would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and suggestions for future daycations.

Enjoy!
AML Publisher
info@aroundmainline.com

Peddler's Village Walk

And so there I was…with so many choices in front of me and the precious freedom of the last weekend of Summer 2008 ticking away as the morning approached noon. Where should I venture out to for my first AML Daycation? I had been considering the popular Peddler’s Village for a few weeks and after a quick glance at their website, decided it sounded like the perfect trip. So, a quick stop at the Wayne Starbucks for my usual iced grande mocha (with whip and an extra shot, thank you), a brief run into the bank for some cash for the tolls and perhaps a little spending money, and off I was on 476 heading north on the PA turnpike to beautiful Bucks County to explore what Peddler’s Village had to offer. The detailed directions online (www.peddlersvillage.com) were most helpful and accurate in helping me arrive at this 70 plus-store shopping paradise in just under an hour. It was not that exciting of a drive, I have to admit, but a gorgeous sunny day and some great music on the radio made it tolerable. Certainly, a little car company would have helped!

Peddler’s Village was booming with couples, babies, bikers and browsers when I arrived and I was pleased to find free, convenient parking in the first lot on the left. My first stop was in the Village Flower Shoppe, an enchanting and affordable home décor and accent boutique that had a full variety of Fall items beautifully displayed for under ten dollars. Many of the shoppers were scooping up the pumpkins, ceramic gourds and anything and everything in an autumnal shade. The woman behind the counter was sweet and immediately handed me a Where to Shop map so I could make my way around. Continuing down the brick sidewalk, I also came across some other great venues, namely an adorable baby shop, Periwinkle Place, and Skin ’n Tonic (www.skinntonic.com) a full service spa and salon.

Peddler's Village - Scarecrow Competition 2008

Across the street, I headed towards what seemed like the center of town and where a sizable group of visitors had gathered. The Cock and Bull Restaurant was bustling and the manager was hastily taking reservations for a crowd of diners. I glanced in but had just started my day so a bite to eat would have to wait. Moving on, I was greeted with beautiful hanging baskets at every lamppost, a crisp pond with goldfish and cool plantings and a center courtyard that had families eating picnic lunches and soaking in the sun. No wonder the website boasts Peddler’s Village as the “number one tourist destination in Bucks County!” Another store I found quite inviting was Season Gates, where I stopped and chatted with store owner Kate Zeiss. Kate reaffirmed my first impression of Peddler’s Village. “This really is a place everyone can come. It’s beautiful, so family friendly and the prices are affordable. We have a great local following in Bucks County but would welcome everyone to stop by.” Season Gates had a variety of inventory including a neat, one-of-a kind $6,000 walnut bar and stool set designed by local artist Chris Costner. Perhaps not along the lines of affordable options but a perfect purchase for the discriminating shopper and a masterpiece of workmanship I certainly appreciated! Kate said Costner is really making a name for himself in Bucks County (as my web research later affirmed) and I’d bet with football season in full swing the bar set will soon find a lucky home.

My next stop and my favorite store of the day caught the attention of my nose before my eyes even set on the whimsical, inviting window display. The Soap Opera Company (www.SoapOperaCompany.com) is run by twin sisters Karen Nocella and Sharon Viola, who opened it in November 2003. The shop is quaint and pristine and the soapy aromas draw you in from the sidewalk. I was one of about a dozen shoppers enjoying the homemade bath and beauty products and purchased a few bath toys and gels for a favorite 6 year-old friend of mine ($11). Karen was at the register and could not have been sweeter—and said her store will be expanding its gift options moving into the holiday season.

Ninety minutes into my leisurely stroll, it was finally time to eat and I had conveniently just landed in front of Earl’s Prime (www.earlsprime.com), a lucky find considering I was navigating almost blind (albeit with the Shopping Guide) around the 42 acres Peddler’s Village boasts. It was a little intimidating from the outside as it gave the look and feel of a high-end steakhouse. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find an affordable, tempting menu when I walked inside and two helpful hostesses who quickly made a table in the bar available. With ESPN Gameday on mute and a decent crowd that conversed in hushed tones, it was the perfect quiet lunch spot to catch up on some work. Earl’s Prime has quite the selection of draught beers including but not limited to: Guinness, Fullers London Pride, Anchor Steam, Hoegaarden, Sam Adams, Chimay White and more. My waiter quickly brought me an iced-cold Stella Artois and I spent a good 15 minutes deciding on an appetizer. (I surmised this would be a generous and sufficient lunch since all the diners around me were having ample-portion entrees delivered to their tables.) I was torn between the lobster spring rolls ($12) filled with bok choy, avocado, peppers and scallions, deep fried and served with a ginger sauce, and Earl’s crab cakes appetizer ($10) with angel hair pasta. My friendly server Kennedy suggests the Ahi Tuna ($10) with jicama slaw, chive oil and wasabi cream, insisting its’ a real crowd pleaser. I finally select the barbecued jumbo shrimp ($13) wrapped in prosciutto with barbeque sauce and smoked Guoda aoli. An awesome choice—the trio of shrimp were flavorful, tangy and satisfying–and the perfect complement to my icy Stella…yum!

After lunch, I browsed a few other boutiques and finally ended my day with a ‘dessert’ of sorts. Skip’s Candy Corner (www.skipscandycorner.com) was suggested by a handful of shop owners as a ‘must-see’ and so I stop in before I head back to Wayne. Shop #27 on the map is right in front of me as I walk back to the car and the simple candy shop is filled with a rich chocolate aroma. I snag a small bag of chocolate licorice (a childhood favorite), a fresh square of marbled fudge and a caramel-dipped apple for good ole Mom…all for about $12. The service in Skip’s is friendly and fast; even better, less than 24 hours after my visit Skip Pietrak himself leaves a message on my cell just checking in to see how my visit was—now that’s great service!

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of shops, the friendly sales people and the beautiful grounds of Peddler’s Village. There are plenty of sites and sounds for children including Giggleberry Fair, a family ‘edu-tainment’ center that boasts an indoor carousel and horse-drawn carriage rides on the grounds. And even after 40 years as a popular attraction, the Village hardly rests on its laurels, hosting 11 unique festivals and events peppered throughout the year. I can hardly wait to see the beautiful grounds come Christmas time! If you have a day to getaway with your girlfriends, spoil the grandkids or stroll through a nice setting hand in hand with your significant other, there’s no doubt in my mind Buck’s County’s Peddler’s Village is a daycation that delivers!

UPCOMING EVENTS AT PEDDLER’S VILLAGE FALL AND WINTER 2008
Free Admission and Parking with All Events

PEDDLER’S VILLAGE SCARECROW COMPETITION & DISPLAY
Monday, September 8- Sunday, October 26, 2008
Bigger than life scarecrow creations are displayed outdoors and compete for over $4900 in cash prizes. Be sure to vote for your favorites! These exceptional pieces of American Folkart are displayed in the following categories: The Keystone Krow, Traditional/Whirligig, Extraordinary Contemporary, Kids Only!, Quite The Character, and Group Crow. For more information call the Peddler’s Village Hospitality desk at 215-794-4000.

2008 APPLE FESTIVAL
Saturday, November 1 & Sunday, November 2, 2008
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Scrumptious apple treats including country apple butter, apple cider, apple dumplings, apple fritters and everyone’s favorite–apples dipped in caramel! Take home a bushel fresh from the orchard. Craftspeople show their wares and demonstrate their skills. Live entertainment and apple pie-eating contests add to the festivities of this traditional autumn celebration.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE
Construction Demonstration
Thursday, October 9, 2008
1:30 to 3:30 pm
Location to be announced
Participants see how to make, bake and decorate
a gingerbread house from the foundation up.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION & DISPLAY
Friday, November 21, 2008 through January 8, 2009
Same as Shop Hours
FREE
Gingerbread house competition for over $3,400 in cash prizes in such categories as : Traditional, Authentic Reproduction of a Significant Building, Amateur, Unusual 3-Dimensional Creation, and Children’s. A visual delight, the entries are displayed throughout the holiday season in the Village Gazebo.

GRAND ILLUMINATION CELEBRATION
Friday, November 21, 2008
6:00 pm -10:00 pm. Lights ‘switched on’ 6:15 pm
Santa switches on the Villages outdoor holiday light display on Friday at 6:15 pm to kick off the holiday season and his weekend visits with children at Giggleberry Fair through December. Join us for free cider and marshmallow toasting that evening. Visit our shops throughout the weekend and preview our merchants’ distinctive choices for holiday gift giving.

MERCHANTS’ OPEN HOUSE
Friday, November 21 – Sunday, November 23, 2008
On Friday at 6:15 p.m., the Village’s outdoor holiday lights display debuts. Join us for free cider and toasted marshmallows. Visit our shops and preview our merchants’; distinctive choices for holiday gift-giving.

FRUIT WREATH DEMONSTRATION
2008 date and location to be announced
Learn how easy it is make your own door or window decoration for the holidays from fruit in the traditional Williamsburg style (della robia). See models of different styles and observe step-by-step procedures to complete your own at home. Led by Ann McAloan, floral designer and owner of Annie’s Flower Farm in Jamison, PA.

2008 CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
Saturday, December 6 & Sunday, December 7, 2008
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Join us for our annual Christmas Parade at 1:30 sharp on Saturday. Santa arrives in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by local scout troops and heralded by the Central Bucks East marching band. The Village is beautifully decorated in Victorian-style, with fruit wreaths and greenery and provides live entertainment.