By AML Publisher
Photography by Heather Berkenstock

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

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

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

By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Brenda Carpenter Photography

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. Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Brenda Carpenter Photography

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. Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Bernadette Uzcategui, BUP Photography

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. Read the full story

By Garrison Weaver
AML Guest Co-Ed Columnist
Photos courtesy of Garrison Weaver

Hitting the Books Early! Weaver, who was a star student at Devon Prep, studies Econ in his dorm room at Marsh Hall during his first week of classes.

It’s funny to think that only one year ago I was getting ready to start my senior year of high school. The only things I had to worry about were golf practice every day and trying to stay interested in my summer reading that was only about half done. I had almost no idea that I would be sitting in a dorm room in Richmond typing away about life. Now that it is here, the surreal feeling sets in. Last year I didn’t know where I was going to apply. It was almost a helpless feeling knowing that I would be judged by a group of institutions that had no idea who I was and convincing them that I would be a positive contribution to their group. Now that I am here, it is the greatest feeling in the world. All of my hard work over four years has landed me in Marsh Hall, Room 0132 as a student pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Economics.

I left my summer cottage in Mt. Gretna, a small town near Hershey, at around 9AM on August 16th to make the journey to Virginia, my home for the next four academic years. I drove a suburban filled to the brim with my clothes, books, personal items, basically my life packed into an 18 foot gas guzzler. With my mom in the passenger seat I wound down the Turnpike to US-15 and turned south to get to I-95 south, the straightaway that leads right into Richmond. We seldom stopped in order to get to the University by 2PM, my appointed check-in time, but did manage to get a “last-supper” at a Wawa somewhere in Virginia (I definitely recommend the pepperoni and provolone bagel melt). I think I should mention that I was involved in a pre-orientation program called the Outdoor Challenge. It was an excuse to move in early and avoid the sea of parents and tears that usually accompany move-ins, and get my foot in the door to both campus and a group of 15 other guys that would be some of my closest friends here.
Read the full story

By Garrison Weaver
AML Guest Co-Ed Columnist
Photos Courtesy of Bernadette Uzcategui

Weaver plans on majoring in economics with a minor in finance.

I met Garrison Weaver a month ago on Twitter. Weaver started following AroundMainLine.com and his profile photo caught my attention—which is saying a lot since we have close to 1,000 local followers with our growing Twitter group. Always in my publisher state of mind, I sent Garrison a personal message thanking him for following AML and asking about his obvious interest in photography-as his profile pictured showcased him with a camera. As it turned out, Garrison is not only a budding photo journalist but an established writer. And, as luck would have it, he was gearing up for his freshman year at one of America’s most prestigious universities (which has been a college of choice for thousands of Main Liners for decades), the great University of Richmond.

Weaver, a graduate of Devon Prep, was the chief editor and photographer for the Prep’s 2009 Yearbook—having processed thousands of photos from the high school’s sporting events and organized the content, layout and production almost singlehandedly himself. One brief phone chat and a subsequent cup of Joe with the 18-year-old Newtown Square native and I knew there was an awesome opportunity to follow the exciting journey and experience of his upcoming freshman year as a Richmond Spider.

Garrison is most excited about his role as a sports photographer for the university newspaper. He has the exciting task of capturing Spiders athletics, most importantly the defending 1-AA Defending National Champs, The Richmond Spiders Football Team.

Weaver plans on majoring in economics with a minor in finance. And, as a paid sports photographer for the university newspaper The Collegian, he will be shooting dozens of games within the Spiders’ athletic department. Most notably on his agenda this fall: November 7th when the Villanova Wildcats come to down for quite a pigskin showdown against the defending I-AA National Champs. Look for Garrison’s reports from campus right here on AML regularly as he ‘Weav-ers a Web’ and takes us along with him for one amazing freshman foray as a Richmond Spider.

Garrison, we are very proud to be your virtual ‘home away from home’ and we will all be rooting for you from our desktops! Go get ‘em…Spider!

Sarah Lockard
AroundMainLine.com Publisher

Early August 2009

So I can safely say that I never thought I would be doing something like this, and by this I mean writing down my experiences leading up to my freshman year in college as well as the events that take place during that time. I was asked by Sarah Lockard of AroundMainLine.com, to contribute to the site as a blogger about my first year the University of Richmond. I have always been a writer of sorts, writing editorial pieces for my high school newspaper and as the editor of the yearbook, but never that was as colloquial or frequent as I might have imagined. In short, I’m what some would call a newbie blogger, but here I go.

To be honest I haven’t really thought about going off to school until this weekend. Yesterday I went to a friend’s house for a party; a bit of a mini send-off for the Devon Prep Class of 2009. I saw people that I haven’t seen since June, but that was normal during high school because I have my group of friends and see who I want to see in the summer. But as I left I found myself saying, “If I don’t see you guys before school starts, good luck at college.” It doesn’t feel any different any other school year; I’m just going away to a new place with new people. Not that I don’t think about missing my family and friends, and of course my wonderful girlfriend (who is going to be a senior at Villa Maria), but I can’t predict the feelings I will have until I actually feel them.

I left last night to go to Avalon for the week, while Lauren (afore mentioned girlfriend) is on her Kairos retreat. I got down to the house that my family rented and elected to sleep in a bedroom on the second floor with two twin beds, the other bed being a resting place for all the junk I thought I might need at the beach. My mom came to me this morning and suggested I take the room opposite the master bedroom with a king size bed, for the sole reason that “[I'll] be sleeping on twins all school year” and I should “enjoy a large bed while [I] can.” Little things like that put the situation in perspective and makes me realize that in two weeks exactly I will move into Marsh Hall and live there until this coming May.

Garrison flanked by his proud parents, John and Caroline Weaver of Newtown Square, and family pet Harley (Davidson).

I’m writing this ‘virgin post’ in the living room of my shore house, watching the Phillies get romped by the Giants (ok fine it’s the top of the 8th and they have not been hitting well with runners in scoring position, but maybe there is something brewing). I envy the people in San Fran because it is 80 and sunny but in Avalon it has been a constant ride of thunderstorms and mixed clouds all day with little end in sight. The times I’ve been in Jersey this summer have all been different intolerable extremes, all of which combining to make coming down here a hit or miss. Early June was cold and rainy for a week and a couple weeks ago it was ridiculous hellish heat. Hopefully, I will have a normal beach day before this final week of freedom is over…before I have to nose-to-the-grindstone my way through my first semester at UR.

I elected to take economics, intensive French, calculus, and a CORE English class my first semester at school. I took French for three years in high school but not every day of college, not to mention twice on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It definitely seems that all the time that slid by during high school French will quickly catch up with me during first semester. Other than that, Econ seems to be fun. It’s something I am interested in, but everyone I have asked has said that it is basically supply and demand on steroids. So the comparison I make, as a baseball player, is going from facing mediocre high school pitching to facing Randy Johnson during his Diamondback days.

Well, it’s time for me to take a walk down to Circle Pizza to wolf down some green pepper and onion slices in an effort to nourish myself after a day of driving to find something fun to do in the rain. More to come.

Garrison

Stay tuned for Garrison’s first report from The Richmond Campus, as he gets acquainted with his new living quarters, his roommate, class schedule and campus life. And, follow him along here on AML regularly this fall as he documents his experiences during an exciting and challenging freshman year at one of America’s most prestigious universities, The University of Richmond. Spider Bites is just getting started!

By AML Publisher
Photos by Bernadette Uzcategui

Jen McGowan of Wayne’s Jackie’s Hat Box models one of her elegant creations. McGowan is spearheading the 2009 Ladies’ Day Hat Contest at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.

It’s one of the great traditions of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair—and now show organizers, with the assistance of AroundMainLine.com, are bringing the annual Ladies’ Day at Devon Hat Contest to another level!Lovely ladies (young, old and every age in between) can show off their fun, personable and eclectic style at the Main Line hat event of the year on Wednesday May 27th from 1-3pm on the Horse Show grounds. From Center City fashionistas (SJP fan alert!) to ‘rad’ Radnor Hunt fans, fashion forward Main Line moms and their teenage daughters, and everyone in between-all are encouraged to sashay out to Devon for some serious hat fashion competition.

Jen McGowan, CEO of Jackie’s Hat Box and PR director of this year’s hat contest, recommends bringing the ‘hat courage’ to all the ladies who will be showcasing their best. “Ladies’ Day at Devon is just great; I absolutely love this event and always thought it brought out part of the great intrigue and culture that just makes Devon so very special. Carson Kressley will be a judge, Dawn Timmeney from NBC10 and Caroline O’ Halloran from Main Line Suburban News. We’ve had the hat competition for over five years and I was so excited to spearhead it this year because I really feel it’s due time to take it up a notch,” enthused McGowan.
Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Bernadette Uzcategui

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

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

From first ladies to classic movie scenes to royal weddings, hats have been a key part of women’s fashion for hundreds of years. Now, a Main Line milliner is making a name for her stylish, custom-made hats. Jackie’s Hat Box is giving everyday social butterflies an opportunity to make a dramatic grand entrance at an upcoming cocktail party, spring fundraiser or, most importantly, the upcoming Devon Horse Show.
Read the full story

AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Kevin E. McPherson

Dozens of free samples of gluten-free products will be available for local celiacs who stop by the Whole Foods Market in Devon on March 21st.

AroundMainLine.com and the Whole Foods Market at Devon are pairing up to present to the Main Line a sensational Saturday event: A Gluten-Free Food Extravaganza! Saturday, March 21st from 1-4 p.m., local celiacs will have the opportunity to sample some of Whole Foods’ top selling gluten-free product lines. In addition, businesses from the tri-state region, who supply Devon’s Whole Foods Market with their growing and diverse gluten-free line of fresh and frozen foods, will be present to answer questions and meet one-on-one with their customers. Two of the most popular local companies who will be offering samples are Spice of Life Bakery from Lancaster (www.spiceoflifelancaster.com) and Cookies for Me! (www.cookiesforme.com) from Doylestown.

Courtney Mendillo, Devon’s bakery team leader, has seen a booming interest in the store’s gluten-free items with their Main Line clientele. Mendillo spearheads the selection of items brought in from Whole Foods’ corporate gluten-free bake house–which offers dozen of delicious frozen gluten-free items, from pizzas to bagels, pie crusts and more. Mendillo also regularly evaluates new products that Main Line and Philadelphia-area based businesses are producing to keep Whole Foods’ varied selection for celiacs growing. “The exciting thing I like about our variety with local vendors, like Spice of Life and Cookies for Me!, is that we are able to showcase the great, gluten-free companies from the Philadelphia region that bring fresh items to us. I can’t tell you how many requests we have had for fresh gluten-free bread. And, when we found the company Spice of Life from Lancaster, those customers were so pleased,” said Mendillo. Now, Spice of Life’s fresh rolls and breads have developed a strong following and are usually scooped up within twenty-four hours of their weekly Thursday afternoon drop-off!
Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photos Courtesy of Kevin E. McPherson

Over Three Million Dollars in Renovations have Revived the Former John Harvard’s with Its New, Lush Interior

In January 2008, St. David’s resident and restaurant owner Joe Carney was headed down Lancaster Avenue in Devon when he noticed a familiar name on a sign. His close friend and Main Line commercial realtor J.T. Wilkes was part of the realty group looking to sell the defunct John Harvard’s restaurant. Harvard’s had thrived in the spacious 13,000 square foot building since until the national chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy–leaving a prime piece of local dining real estate up for the taking. Philadelphia sports bar staples Chickie’s and Pete’s and McFadden’s Restaurant had been rumored to be in talks to move in. Carney, owner of Carney’s in Cape May and a 35-year veteran of his family’s restaurant business, made a quick call on his cell.

“I asked J.T. what was going on with this property and he said there had been a lot of interest, I had two weeks to act on it. With the scope of this project so great and time ticking, I reached out to Steve Finley of Finley Catering (Crystal Tea Room, Ballroom at the Ben). Steve came right out here and took one look at the property and said, ‘Let’s do it’,” explained Carney. Two weeks later Carney and Finley settled on the property and began a strategic but brisk three million dollar renovation of the building, gutting it to the studs and developing a name and image that would fit a fastidious and varied Main Line clientele.

The Area’s Strong Equestrian Culture, supported by the nearby Devon Horse Show grounds, inspired the name and theme of the Main Line’s newest dining hotspot.

The Paddock in Devon opened its doors on November 21st and has already seen strong holiday crowds. The restaurant promises classic, fresh American cuisine mixed with classic American fun: a slew of promotions that will appeal to a variety of groups, including families, sports fans and young Main Line social butterflies. Thursday evenings from 5-9 p.m. is family night, with magicians and entertainers roaming the restaurant. A portion of the proceeds, five percent of each dinner bill, is donated to the Radnor ABC Family House (http://www.radnorabc.org), one of the Carneys’ favorite Main Line charities. “It’s a very important part of our business to give back,” said Truda Carney, Joe’s wife and an integral part of The Paddock team. “This is something we initiated into our events, but really it is something that the community can take credit for. The more families and people who come and dine with us on Thursday evenings, the more significant of a donation we can contribute. Some of our customers, I am sure, will not even realize that, by choosing our restaurant on that particular evening, they are supporting a great cause!”

Saturday nights The Paddock has a strong group of local cover bands lined up and on Sundays customers can enjoy brunch from 10-2pm, Prime Rib night, or Karaoke from 8 to midnight. The bar boasts massive flat screens ideal for watching the Birds, Phils, Sixers or Flyers, and Paddock even plans to offer bus trips downtown to the games. “This is a huge sports area, and we want to appeal to the Main Line sports fans certainly and offer them something different,” said Carney. Monday Night Football fans will love five dollar hot carved pork and roast beef sandwiches and three dollar domestic drafts.

Paddock has a Packed Itinerary of Events and Specials Including Sunday Brunch and Saturday Night Cover Bands.

Establishing a strong presence on the thriving and competitive Main Line dining scene is of utmost importance to The Paddock at Devon owners. Simply deciding on the name took a great deal of thought. Carney and Finley kicked around over a hundred options before settling on The Paddock at Devon, influenced by the nearby Devon Horse Show Grounds and a strong equestrian culture in the area. “Since we are just down the street from Devon, a world-renowned horse show, it made sense. And, we liked the idea of the paddock because in riding it’s known as a staging area,” Carney explained. “It also allows us a level of sophistication to appeal to our parties and banquet rooms, our families and singles, really everyone. The name is very inclusive with broad appeal without sounding too formal and that sums up who we are and what we will be to the Main Line. This will be a great gathering place for everyone.”

The Paddock at Devon is open every day of the week and is located at 629 West Lancaster Avenue in Devon, PA 19087. For more information call 610-687-3533 or visit the website: www.devonpaddock.com

Monday thru Friday Happy Hour 5pm-7pm
$5 Martinis; $4 House wine

Sunday

Brunch 10am-2pm
$18.95 Adults &13.95 Children (14 and under)

Prime Rib Night- 4pm-9pm
$19.95 (includes 16oz king cut, potato, vegetable, salad complimentary glass of wine, draft beer or soft drink.)

Karaoke 8pm-12pm

Monday

Monday Night Football
$3 Domestic Drafts 9pm-2am
$5 Hot Hand Carved Sandwiches

Tuesday

Quizos with BIG DADDY GRAHAM WIP 610 TALK SHOW RADIO 8pm-12am
PRIZES & GIFT CERTIFICATES

Sushi Night

Wednesday

Live Mike LeCompt and Friends Unplugged 9pm-2am
$3 Bud and Bud Light Bottles 9pm-1am

Thursday

Family Night 5pm–9pm
Dinner Specials, Magicians & Balloon Creations.
5% of your dinner bill is donated to RADNOR A BETTER CHANCE HOUSE
$3 Miller Draft $3 Bottles 9pm-1am DJ Performer Sal Anthony 8pm-12pm

Friday

Performer Sal Anthony 5pm-9pm Happy Hour 5pm-7pm
South Jersey’s DJ Quick 10pm-2am

Saturday

LIVE Tri State Areas Finest Bands. NO COVER 10pm-2am