By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Belle Vie Photography
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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. Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Featured photography courtesy of Belle Vie Photography

Chesapeake City, Maryland oozes with old world charm, quaint shops, gorgeous gardens and great dining. It’s a great daycation spot with mom and less than a 90 minute drive from the heart of the Main Line. Photo courtesy of Jubilee Photography

1) Chesapeake City, Maryland
www.chesapeakecity.com
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Quaint, historic and charming Chesapeake City, Maryland-located in Cecil County-is a short and beautiful drive from Philly’s western suburbs. It is one wonderful daycation for a very deserving mom in your life! Chesapeake City’s historic area is on the National Historic Registry, as well as Maryland’s Historic Registry. The town has many restored historic homes, shops and galleries, featuring hand-painted originals and prints, antiques, collectibles, clothing, gifts and crafts.

Boasting a bevy of B&Bs, it’s a perfect getaway for mom and daughters or sisters for the holiday weekend. The town’s holiday dining spot for Mom’s Day is, without doubt, the Bayard House.The restaurant serves award-winning crab soup, tournedos Baltimore, and a breathtaking tableside view of the famous Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (C&D Canal), one of only two vital sea-level canals in the United States.

Additional sites include the Canal Museum, art galleries, summer concerts, boat tours, and tours of the nearby horse country. Convenient to several large cities on the east coast, this historic village on the banks of the C&D Canal is a favorite spot for those seeking a weekend getaway or a vacation retreat.
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By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Belle Vie Photography

Bucks County native and children’s author Kristie Finnan at a recent book signing for Mommy’s High Heel Shoes.

In 2007, Kristie Finnan’s one-year-old daughter would start crying every morning when she watched her mom slipping on her high heel shoes-heading out the door as a pharmaceutical sales rep. “She knew that meant I was off to work and she wasn’t going to see me the rest of the day. She would say, ‘No shoes mommy!’” explained Finnan. Some quick research looking around for a picture book online that explained to children why their mom had to leave for work each day turned up some interesting stats-but no book. “What I found was approximately seventy percent of moms work in some capacity and sixty-two percent have children under six. There are a lot of moms across America who are probably facing that same dreaded morning scenario. But, everything I was coming across with children’s literature talked about daddy coming home or leaving for work, but no mention of mom. It started me thinking,” said Finnan.

A few chats with her husband and the 37-year old Bucks County native, and current mom to three children five years of age and younger, decided she would start pondering penning her own. Two years passed, she gave birth to a son and continued with her career. Then came her daughter’s third birthday in September of 2007-and a life changing moment. “My daughter got a frou-frou princess outfit and some plastic matching shoes for her birthday and she put everything on. She started walking around the house and came around the corner, looked up at me and said ‘Bye mom, I’m going to work!’ My husband turned to me and said, ‘That’s it, you have to write your book.’ Then I just got this one track mind about it and refocused on the idea of writing a children’s book,” explained Kristie. Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photography provided by April Ziegler Photography, Bernadette Uzcategui and Stacey Granger/Life Art Imaging

My beautiful mother, Lisa Lockard, at a recent family wedding, dancing the night away. Photo courtesy of Joe Craig Photography www.joecraigphoto.com

It is one of the best holidays and a personal favorite—Mother’s Day! This year, the city and suburbs abound with so many great selections—classic and new—to consider for your special family celebration. Whether you are headed downtown, eyeing up the Main Line, or venturing out to the countryside, AML has done our due diligence to highlight thirteen terrific selections to choose from for Mother’s Day 2009. These are in no particular order…so sit back, grab your favorite beverage, and enjoy our suggestions for your important and fun celebration of the great women in your life. Whether you will be toasting with your own mom, an aunt, sister or dear friend, we wish you a meaningful and wonderful day filled with great memories and a whole lotta love.

Love You Mom!
Sarah Lockard
AML Publisher
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By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy April Ziegler Photography

Henry Mercer’s eccentric and comprehensive collection of artifacts from around the globe is showcased throughout the massive structure known as the Mercer Museum. The museum’s annual Folk Fest, held each year on Mother’s Day weekend, celebrates traditions of the past, including a popular sheep shearing contest.

Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930) was a pack rat, in the best sense of the word. At the turn of the century, Mercer, a leader in the arts and crafts movement and a wealthy renaissance man who wore many hats (architect, academic, archaeologist and writer just to name a few) constructed two massive concrete castles in Bucks County to showcase a breathtaking and massive collection of American and ancient artifacts. Today, these architectural masterpieces still stand in Doylestown and are home to two of the country’s most breathtaking museums, The Mercer Museum and Fonthill, Mercer’s former home. Thanks to Mercer’s vision, preserving the past for future generations with tens of thousands of unusual artifacts from around the globe, there exists a Main Line daycation unlike any other.
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By AML Publisher

AroundMainLine.com presents the first of a three-part series highlighting a special group of local families who have lost a child and created charities in their honor. AML sat down with Janet and Tom Manion of Doylestown to learn of their work in continuing the legacy of their son, 1st Lieutenant Travis Manion. Travis Manion was serving his second tour in Iraq in a reconnaissance battalion during the spring of 2007 when he died in a sniper attack. The Bucks County family, along with the support of hundreds of friends, has created a successful foundation in Travis’ honor. On Friday December 5th, 1st Lt. Travis L. Manion, USMC was awarded posthumously with the military’s third highest award, the Silver Star, at a ceremony at the Doylestown Courthouse in Doylestown, PA. Lieutenant General John Allen, USMC, presented the Silver Star and the Bronze Star with Valor awards to Travis’ parents, Colonel Tom Manion and Janet Manion.

The All-American Boy

1st Lt. Travis Manion was awarded with the military’s third highest award, The Silver Star, at the Doylestown Courthouse on December 5th.