The Spring Main Line Restaurant Week preview party, held on Thursday evening March 31st at Azie on Main in Villanova, offered AroundMainLine.com an exciting opportunity to welcome a new business partner to capture our events—Havertown’s New Pace Productions. New Pace did an outstanding job of capturing the essence of this special evening, as hundreds of Main Liners came out to Azie in support of the upcoming restaurant week.

New Pace Productions offers sophisticated cinematography services to businesses and people across the Main Line and Delaware Valley and are the new official video production company of AroundMainLine.com.

Born and raised in Delaware County, New Pace founders J.C. Costa and Bill Connell are 2007 graduates of Penn State University with respective degrees in Telecommunications and Film & Video.

New Pace has formed a great business partnership with Krista Patton Photography where the two creatively capture local events, weddings, family parties, proms, high school and college sports and more for their clients. Patton and New Pace combine their sophisticated video and photography services to deliver an exceptional product for their growing clientele across the Delaware Valley. “As a frequent collaborative partner, New Pace Productions not only consistently provides excellent results, but also the convenience of group meetings and the availability of savings through our competitively priced bundled packages,” enthused Patton.

Watch the video of the Main Line Restaurant Week preview party created by New Pace Productions in conjunction with Krista Patton Photography.

Main Line Restaurant Week Preview Party at Azie on Main from New Pace Productions on Vimeo.

New Pace Productions is located at 1615 East Darby Road in Havertown. Visit their website at newpaceproductions.com.

Toast to a successful Spring Main Line Restaurant Week on Thursday evening, March 31st at Azie on Main in Villanova!

Thursday evening, March 31st is shaping up to be a very special night indeed. Join us as we host our exciting Spring Main Line Restaurant Week Preview Party at Azie on Main in Villanova. Partygoers will walk into Azie (there is no cover charge) and gather in the central dining room area where delicious, complimentary food will be served all night long. In addition, Azie will have exciting drink specials at their cash bar.

Look for the Main Line’s top movers and shakers to attend (we already have several VIPs confirmed) along with dozens of local chefs and restaurant owners and managers who are all part of Spring Main Line Restaurant Week.

Men and women are encouraged to wear business casual and/or appropriate cocktail attire. No baseball caps or sweats permitted. In addition, this event is strictly 21 and over and no children are allowed.

We look forward to welcoming one and all to this exciting evening with our most gracious host, Azie on Main!

To RSVP for this event, kindly email us: rsvp@aroundmainline.com or click here to RSVP with hundreds of others on our Facebook event page.

Please note Azie is not taking RSVPs for the party directly—all RSVPs should be directed to Main Line Restaurant Week.

Spring Main Line Restaurant Week Preview Party

VIP Lounge
There will be a private reserved section outside of the main dining room for AroundMainLine.com VIPS and special guests.

When: Thursday, March 31st, 2011, 6pm-9pm

Where: Azie on Main in Villanova, 789 East Lancaster Avenue

Why: To kickoff the exciting Spring Main Line Restaurant Week in style and celebrate our amazing participant, Azie on Main.

Attire: Men and women are encouraged to wear business casual and/or appropriate cocktail attire. No baseball caps or sweats permitted.

VIP: There will be a private reserved section outside of the main dining room for AroundMainLine.com VIPs and special guests.

Cuisine and Cover: There is no cover charge and attendees will be treated to fabulous complimentary cuisine. Please be cognizant that our hard working servers need to cover a large room with hundreds of people in attendance when sampling the food and they should be tipped accordingly.

Attendees: This event is strictly 21 and over, no children are permitted.

RSVP: Please RSVP here on our Facebook event page so that we can plan accordingly. Also, we are accepting RSVPs via email to: rsvp@aroundmainline.com. RSVP is not required but is very helpful to assist us and Azie in planning accordingly. Thank you.

Mixx in Villanova is the perfect setting for our third annual sexy winter soiree welcoming the Main Line’s most eligible singles and beautiful people.
Photo courtesy of Belle Vie Photography

AroundMainLine.com’s sexiest winter soiree is back this February as the very fun and fabulous ‘Be Mine on the Main Line’ returns at Mixx in Villanova. Join hundreds of singles and beautiful couples and Main Liners for a Valentine’s-themed event on Thursday, February 17th from 6pm to 9pm.

‘Be Mine’ partygoers will be welcomed to Mixx in the bar area with no cover, free food and a night club atmosphere.

Mixx is a modern neighborhood hot spot. Mixx has a 40 seat modern bar with ten flat screen TVs and comfortable booths in a chandelier lit lounge.

One VERY lucky ‘Be Mine’ attendee will win a complimentary night out in a luxurious Secrets Limousine. The winner must be present to WIN!
Photo courtesy of Courtney Apple Photography

And, one lucky attendee of ‘Be Mine’ will walk away with a complimentary night in a luxurious Secrets Limousine! The winner must be present to win. Bring your business cards (with email address) to enter our raffle for a chance to win this incredible prize. Also, Secrets Limousine will have one of their incredible limos parked outside of Mixx for everyone to experience and see.

Be sure to invite your friends and coworkers to ‘Be Mine on the Main Line’ as AroundMainLine.com continues one of our most anticipated winter traditions at Mixx in Villanova!

Be Mine on the Main Line III

When: Thursday, February 17th 6pm-9pm

Where: Mixx Restaurant and Bar, 789 East Lancaster Avenue Villanova

Sponsors: Weyerbacher Brewery, Secrets Limousine, Rokk Vodka

Cover: There is no cover charge. Mixx will be offering specials on Weyerbacher bottles and fun Rokk Vodka cocktails!

What: The Main Line’s sexiest and chicest winter soiree is BACK! ‘Be Mine on the Main Line’ is a very sophisticated, Valentine’s-themed event that returns to the Main Line for the first time at Mixx in Villanova. And, all AroundMainLine.com events, it is free to attend! NO COVER, comp, delicious food and great drink specials await all. Plus a bevy of the most beautiful people around the Main Line.

Who: 21 and over. SINGLES, COUPLES and the SUBURBS’ CUTEST PEOPLE: JOIN US!

Facebook: Click here to view our full event listing on Facebook

RSVP: Kindly email rsvp@aroundmainline.com to help us plan accordingly or RSVP on our Facebook event page.

Grand Prize: A FREE night out to party in a luxurious Secrets Limousine will be awarded to one lucky attendee. Must be present to win so arrive at 6pm sharp!

Mixx is located conveniently near I-476 and near Villanova University. Mixx also features Live Music on the weekends and Happy Hour Monday thru Friday 5pm-7pm.

AroundMainLine.com checked out three of the Main Line’s and suburbs best restaurants for the yummiest fall cocktails of the season!

Du Jour’s Pumpkin Chai Martini

Du Jour
Haverford Square, PA
www.dujourmarket.com
Facebook: Du Jour
Twitter: DuJourMainLine

Du Jour’s Fall Specialty Cocktails

Cranberry Old Fashioned
Makers Mark bourbon, cranberry juice, bitters & a splash of fresh orange juice 10

Champagne & Saint Germain
sparkling wine and deliciously lush saint germain 11

Mango arnold palmer
Absolut mango, iced tea & lemonade 9

French Martini
Absolut mandarin, chambord, orange juice and mango juice 10

Raspberry Mocha Martini
Absolut raspberry, espresso, Kahua & Godiva liqueur 11

French 75
Bombay Sapphire gin, sparkling wine, fresh lemon juice & a touch of sugar 10

Pumpkin Chai Martini
Absolut vanilla, pumpkin chai tea, amaretto & a bit of cream 10

Gingerbread Dark & Stormy
Bacardi rum, gingerbread syrup, rootbeer & lime 9

Mixx’s Ginger Candy Apple Tini

Mixx Restaurant
Villanova, PA
www.mixxrestaurant.com
Facebook: Mixx Bar and Restaurant

Ginger Candy Apple Tini Recipe
3.5 oz Absoult Brooklyn Vodka( ginger apple flavor) brand new to the market
1.5 oz Dekuyper apple
.5 oz Dekuyper butterscotch schnapps
Line the inside of the martini glass with caramel syrup.
Garnished with a caramel apple slice

Mixx Happy Hour Specials
Monday – Friday 5pm – 7pm

Food Specials
Mini Nachos 5, MiniMame 3, Buffalo Wings 5, Mozzarella Spring Roll 3, Hand Cut Fries 3

Sushi Rolls
California 3, Vegetable 3, Spicy Tuna Crunch 4, Spicy Salmon 4, Spicy Yellow Tail 4, Spicy Shrimp Tempura 5, Soft Shell Crab 6

Drink Specials
Wells 3, Chardonnay 4, Merlot 4, Pinot Grigio 4, Cabernet 4, Bud Lite 2, Coors Lite 2, Yuengling 2, *Magic Hat 3, *Sierra Nevada 3, *Dogfish Head 3, Blue Moon 3, *Troegs 3,
*Slyfox Saison 3, Magners 4, *Victory 4, *Sam Adams 4

*Seasonal

Bar Savona
Gulph Mills, PA
www.barsavona.com
Facebook: Bar Savona
Twitter: BarSavona

Savona’s Fall Specialty Cocktails

Good Intentions
Old Grand Dad, Guava, Lemon & Lime, Rocks 11

Raspberry Fuego
Stoli Razberi, House Infused Chipotle Vodka, Raspberry Purée, Fresh Lime, Up 12

Apple Pie Martini
Apple & Cinnamon Infused Vodka, Granny Smith Apple Purée, Spices, Up 12

Bar Savona’s Raspberry Fuego: Stoli Razberi, House Infused Chipotle Vodka, Raspberry Purée, Fresh Lime, Up

Bon Vivant
Snap Liqueur, OJ, Orange Bitters, Vieux Carré Rinse, Crushed Ice 12

Zucca Forte
House Infused Maple Whiskey, Spiced Pumpkin,Vanilla Scented Foam, Up 12

Savona Bellini
Prosecco, Stoli Orange, Pama & Fresh Pomegranate 11

Pliny’s Pyrus
Milagro Reposado, Belle de Brillet Pear, Honey & Vanilla, Tall 12

That’s What She Said
Absolut Citron, Lemon Verbena Syrup, Fresh Squeezed Lemon, Up 11

Sangre
Dewars, Punt e Mes, Cherry Herring, Orange, Schlenkerla 11

Way to Victoria
Award Winning Cocktail!
Bombay Sapphire, Domaine de Canton Ginger, Fresh Lemon Juice, Cardamom, Coriander, Prosecco, Up 12

Mexican Mule
Siembra Azul Blanco Tequila, Fresh Lime, Ginger, Tall 11

Main Line Restaurant Week is Philadelphia’s largest suburban dining event!

It was most certainly a week of culinary delights to remember! 38 restaurants participated in the inaugural Main Line Restaurant Week, organized by AroundMainLine.com. This incredible celebration of the region’s finest chefs proved to be the most successful restaurant event to date in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Main Line Restaurant Week, which offered fixed price dinner menus for the entire week of September 27th through October 3rd, brought tens of thousands of locals out to support the western suburbs’ tastiest restaurants. “I’m so proud to have worked closely with so many of the area’s best restaurants. There has never been a dining event of this magnitude in the suburbs and I felt our area was long overdue. Many restaurants are reporting they had record weeks or were sold out several of the nights, so I know we have a good thing going here. I am thrilled everything turned out so well!” enthused Main Line Restaurant Week founder Sarah Lockard.

Main Line Restaurant Week’s official reservation partner, OpenTable, “was absolutely instrumental in the success of Main Line Restaurant Week. They are a wonderful event partner lending their marketing support and visibility to the participating OpenTable member restaurants. The Delaware Valley and Main Line have a strong dining culture and OpenTable allowed us to get in front of these diners to let them know Main Line Restaurant Week is here to stay,” said Lockard.

Plans for Main Line Restaurant Week Spring 2011 are underway!

Plans for Main Line Restaurant Week Spring 2011 are underway. “We’re looking forward to welcoming even more restaurants in 2011. I feel like this is one of those cases of ‘If you organize it, they will come.’”

Words from excited Main Line Restaurant Week Fans:

“Main Line Restaurant Week is an excellent idea. Dinner @ Legal Seafood was tremendous.” —Ed

“Thanks again to the Main Line Restaurant Week organizers and participating businesses. It’s certainly nice to have these community events.” —Joan

“I took my friend to Verdad last night for MLRW……..absolutely PHENOMENAL…..!” —Lauren

“Main Line Restaurant Week is a great idea. George’s was fabulous!” —Sue Thomulka

“Main Line Restaurant week was a great idea, It show cased some great restaurants with great deals.” —Katrin

Saffron Indian Kitchen, a popular BYOB with locations in both Bala Cynywd and Ambler, has received a tremendous response for reservations for Main Line Restaurant Week starting September 27th.

It is the Philadelphia suburb’s largest dining event ever—Main Line Restaurant Week! Created and organized by AroundMainLine.com, a week of culinary delights awaits thousands of foodies across the western suburbs starting tomorrow night, September 27th and running through October 3rd, 2010.

I have been a huge fan of the Main Line and western suburb dining scene having grown up here. And, we have some of the best chefs in the region and the most successful restaurants right in our own backyard. To me, it was due time to bring Main Line Restaurant Week to life this fall. When I announced the launch in early May, the immediate and enthusiastic response from our 2,200 AroundMainLine.com Facebook fans proved that we were on our way to a very successful event.

Here’s how it works. Our restaurants offer a prix fixe, three course dinner menu for one of the four tiers: dinner for $15, $20, $30 or $40. In addition, starting Monday night September 27th, we will kick off the first of eight special events that are a part of Main Line Restaurant Week with a ‘Monday Night Meetup’ at The Desmond in Malvern!

Main Line Restaurant Week, as you will notice with our website and list of 38 participating restaurants, is open to all surrounding towns who wanted to be a part of this inaugural event. Two of Manayunk’s top restaurants are participating—MangoMoon and Jake’s and Cooper’s Wine Bar—as well as two restaurants from the Northern Liberties’ neighborhood who saw the value of marketing to a broad suburban and city audience—Sonata BYOB and PYT Burger.

Chef Nicholas Farina’s Verdad is one of the Main Line’s hottest restaurants.

You will see some of the Main Line’s most popular dining spots on our list—as well as some new faces including A Taste of Britain. Located in Eagle Village Shops, the successful British tea shop is launching dinner for the very first time during Main Line Restaurant Week with a gorgeous new outdoor patio to boot!

In addition, Main Line Restaurant Week is an official OpenTable event. OpenTable is the world’s most successful online reservation website and has offered us tremendous marketing support for our 22 OpenTable restaurants who are participating.

So, if you have not made your reservations for Main Line Restaurant Week—DO NOT WAIT! Click here to view our list of participating restaurants and their menus and prices.

Thank you all for your awesome support of Main Line Restaurant Week!

Bon Appetit!
Sarah Lockard
Creator and Organizer, Main Line Restaurant Week

Main Line Restaurant Week Fans Speak Out!

Eight special events are on the agenda during the seven days of restaurant week, including Mussels Mania at Exton’s top restaurant: Brickside Grille, Saturday October 2nd from 12 to 4pm.

“Thanks for this website and the amazing job you guys are doing planning Main Line Restaurant Week!” —Sherri

“We can’t wait for Main Line Restaurant Week!!” —Nicole

“What a great way to bring the community together—we need more of this!” —Laura

“Great Idea…just what we need along the Main Line…the opportunity to introduce our great restaurants to our great family of residents & friends. Bravo!” —Al

“Woo hoo! Can’t wait for Restaurant Week!” —Andrea

Main Line Restaurant Week’s Eight Special Events

Monday, Sept. 27th: Monday Night Meetup: Desmond Hotel in Malvern, 6-8pm

Tuesday, Sept. 28th: Benefit Party for the PSPCA at PYT, starting at 6pm.

Weds., Sept. 29th: Weds. Night Whinos at Dettera Restaurant and Wine Bar, 6-8:30pm

Thurs., Sept. 30th: AroundMainLine.com’s 2nd Birthday Bash at Gullifty’s, 5-9pm

Friday, October 1st: Celebrate with Sarah at georges’ in Wayne, 5-7pm

Sat., October 2nd: Mussels Mania at Brickside Grille in Exton, Noon to 4pm
Du Jour After Dark!, 8pm to Midnight.

Sunday, October 3rd: Pigksin Party Fun Finale at Flanigan’s Boathouse in Wayne, 4pm-7pm.

Main Line Restaurant Week Grand Prize Giveaway

The Grand Prize giveaway for the inaugural Main Line Restaurant Week is a luxurious spa getaway at Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon valued over $1,000!

Click here to comment on MainLineRestaurantWeek.com for a chance to win! The contest runs Monday, September 27th through Sunday, October 3rd, 2010.

Main Line Restaurant Week Sponsors

BEN-FM

Secrets Limousine

Courtney Apple Photography

Belle Vie Photography

Mille Fleurs, Floral Design

OpenTable

Vance Bell, Web Design

Two Paperdolls

Main Line Restaurant Week’s 38 Participating Regional Restaurants

• A La Maison bistro
• A Taste of Britain
• alfredo byo
• Amani’s BYOB
• Azie On Main
• Bistro on the Brandywine
• Blackfish Restaurant
• Brandywine Prime Seafood and Chops at Chadds Ford Inn
• Brickside Grille
• Dettera Restaurant and Wine Bar
• Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House
• Du Jour
• Flanigan’s Boathouse – Conshohocken
• Flanigan’s Boathouse – Wayne
• Generations Restaurant
• georges’ Restaurant
• Great American Pub – Narberth
• Gullifty’s Pizza Bar and Grille
• Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar
• Jake’s & Cooper’s Wine Bar
• Legal Sea Foods
• MangoMoon
• Morton’s The Steakhouse
• Nectar
• PYT
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• Saffron Indian Kitchen – Ambler
• Saffron Indian Kitchen – Bala Cynwyd
• Sonata Restaurant BYOB
• Styer’s Garden Cafe at Terrain
• Sullivan’s Steakhouse
• Susanna Foo Gourmet Kitchen
• The Grille at Chesterbrook
• The Hunt Room at The Desmond Hotel
• The Paddock at Devon
• Uno Chicago Grill
• Verdad Restaurant and Tequila Bar
• Yangming

Main Line Restaurant Week starts Monday, September 27th and runs through Sunday, October 3rd, 2010. Visit MainLineRestaurantWeek.com for full details and menus.

MIXX’s whimsical interior plays off a Parisian influence with dramatic, dark red chandeliers, antiqued white wash brick walls, and damask print and butter-colored seating.

AroundMainLine.com’s second monthly get together on February 22nd, Monday Night Meetup at MIXX, offered more than 30 AML fans and Main Liners an opportunity to enjoy and dine at Villanova’s newest hotspot. MIXX is the eighth property of Win Signature Restaurants and owners Win and Sutida Somboonsong. Located in the downstairs space, formerly the home of “Maia Market,” to Main Line diners, this latest addition re-opens the 22,000 square foot space in its entirety. When Win Signature Restaurant Group took over the upstairs of the location (that formerly housed Maia) and converted it to Azie on Main, they were eyeing the vacant downstairs space for a different venue. “We weren’t exactly sure what we were going to do with this space at first. But, once we settled on the downstairs and the name, then the planning begin,” explained Christine Olmsted, company ombudswoman. “Comfort food with a twist was the concept that we settled on, and Win (the company) sticks to what we know. Most of our properties have a global influence, but we know that does not always translate in a suburban environment. MIXX is like the girl next door, she doesn’t always make your heart race but you always go back to her for comfort and a ‘safe place.’”

MIXX made for an outstanding locale for AML’s February Monday Night Meetup. Our guests enjoyed happy hour specials from 5 to 9pm (extended two hours to honor our special event) and one lucky attendee walked away with a gift card for dinner for two! One Monday each month, AML will be hosting Monday Night Meetup across the Main Line as a casual and fun way to catch up with our Facebook fans and Twitter followers and connect with the community at-large. Join our Facebook fan page to stay in touch and up to date with all our events and our full details on our next Monday Night Meetup! Local restaurants and businesses interested in hosting an event with AML can email us at: info@aroundmainline.com.

The staff of Bryn Mawr’s Vertex Fitness was part of the fun group of AML fans at our MIXX Monday Night Meetup. Pictured are Kelly Peters McCauley and Vertex owner Dwayne Wimmer.

More Info on MIXX: www.mixxrestaurant.com

Address: 789 East Lancaster Avenue, First Floor, Villanova, PA 19085

Owners: Win and Sutida Somboonsong

Restaurant Concept: The menu is based in updated comfort food offerings, with an average entrée around the $10 mark and nothing over $18 is designed to nurture the wallet as well as the soul. Whether in cocktail attire or a pair of jeans, MIXX is your “home away from home” with an urban vibe, comfort all the time, anytime and for any occasion.

Hours of Operation: MIXX is open Monday through Thursday, 11:30 am until Midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 am until 2 am; Sunday, 11am until 10 pm with brunch served from, 11am until 2:30 pm.

An urban vibe combined with casual, affordable comfort food is MIXX’s fresh signature style.

Décor: The dining room’s whimsical, rustic, yet refined elegance is echoed in the use of Parisian influences and industrial materials. The accents of French inspired chandeliers that dangle over head, antique whitewashed brick walls, floor to ceiling windows, massive stainless steel wrap around bar, 30 seat private dining room, glass-encased wine barrels, damask print and butter-colored seating along with mosaic tiled floors create an inviting, casual environment.

Menu: Crispy house-spiced buttermilk fried chicken, with mango coleslaw; Shrimp macaroni and cheese, studded with rock shrimp and laced with both cheddar and parmesan cheeses; Tender cornbread hush puppies, with a honey-chipolata dipping sauce; Mouthwatering BBQ baby back ribs, with a Cajun dry rub and pineapple glaze; The signature MIXX chopped salad, loaded with tomatoes, apples, avocados, cucumbers, red onions, bacon, walnuts, blue cheese, dressed in a honey Dijon dressing.

Reservations: All seating is first come; first serve, with no reservations required.

Phone: 1-610-527-0700

For more information, please call Christine Olmsted at 1-484-639-9744 or email christineolmsted@live.com

AML staffer K. Kittles is spearheading Main Line Meow, a new column bringing all the latest suburban business and people news to local desktops. Have a compelling tip for Kittles? Email him at: kittles@aroundmainline.com.

They say curiosity killed the cat. Well, not in my case. Let me introduce myself to the few of you (Main Liners most especially) who do not know me. My name is Kittles, K. Kittles, and I’ve been around these parts for the better half of eleven years. I’m a lucky little feline if you ask me. Besides my brilliant owners being hard core Villanova basketball fans (thus my clever moniker), they are pretty terrific people. Over a decade ago, I was hanging out at a local SPCA shelter waiting for someone to fall head over heels in love with me. At the time, I was still developing my looks and this handsome mug of mine—but I was pretty darn cute at five-months-old. So, a little coercing on my part behind the bars of my cage and a few coy little poses, and before I knew it I was whisked up, kissed an inordinate amount of times and on my way to my new forever and fabulous Main Line home.

Fast forward to today, May of 2009, and I guess you could say I’m a local celeb. There aren’t many people who don’t know me, or recognize my gorgeous green eyes, soft gray and black striped fur or sensational, confident strut. And, after ten years of hitting the streets (and I mean the streets), I pretty much have my paw on the pulse of what’s going on around these suburban Main Line parts.

A few weeks ago I humbly accepted my new position as a guest columnist for what I think is an ingenious new business. Since you’re here reading this column, it’s suffice to say you’ve heard about these guys. AroundMainLine.com, Inc. is an innovative, e-publishing company that’s been redefining the way the region celebrates its people, places and events. Let’s face it; nobody is reading newspapers or magazines anymore. Everyone is online ALL THE TIME, including yours truly. And, with the print industry (newspapers and magazines) becoming obsolete because of the exponential reach of the internet, these guys from AML saw an opportunity to celebrate, highlight and discuss the Main Line exclusively online. They say timing is everything and I think it’s a super cool…and timely idea.

With their company’s exciting growth, AML put a tweet out the other day looking for some new online contributors. Last Tuesday I was sunning on the back porch with my new Catberry by my side (eyeing up a fine-looking baby robin) when I got the news. So, I decided to shift my focus and send over my resume for consideration. I thought to myself ‘what the heck’? And, as luck would have it, the AML publisher emailed me back saying she was specifically seeking a male feline with stunning good looks and a lot of ‘street smarts.’ I nailed the interview despite my new boss having some hard feelings towards my peeps (she’s a UConn alum, has a thing for huskies I guess).

And, so here I am with my first column. If you are wondering what Main Line Meow will be all about–I’ve decided to keep a positive, timely and intriguing spin on what’s happening in and around the suburbs and even the city. We are not talking about parent meetings at the local library (which would bring on several catnaps and be uber-boring!) But, I will be pounding the pavement to find out what new businesses are opening, what events are coming up and what’s the hottest buzz that’s got everybody curious. (There’s that curious thing again-I guess it’s just natural for me.)

So, here I am–your personal go to Main Line man or feline, however you would prefer to perceive my gorgeous self. If you want to send me some hot info for consideration in my next column shoot me an email at: kittles@aroundmainline.com. That way my nosy boss can’t see what I am working on! As luck would have it, I’ve got some purr-fectly private scoop on Jay Wright to start out. There’s nothing like being a part of the Nova Nation.

Splish Splash!

Looks like the dog days of summer won’t be so darn hot for steamy Wildcat head hoopster Jay Wright and his family. The Wrights (wife Pat, their two teenage sons and ten-year-old daughter) will be breaking ground on a luxury pool soon at their Villanova mansion. A good feline friend of mine reported surveyors were at the property last week getting the project going. I have word that a major privacy fence will keep some pet-parazzi at a distance—who can blame them snooping for a snapshot of the fiercely good looking head Nova coach in his bathing suit!

I was curious to know what the bill might be on a ‘Final Four’ financed project of this scale. So, Main Line Meow consulted with a local pool company and was told you can’t break ground on a ‘backyard pond’ on the Main Line these days for under $50k. My pool buddies assured me that kind of dough is just a basic cost–a no thrills approach. Have a feeling the Wrights will be putting on the full court press on their new luxury investment. I’m not a big fan of water, but I’m sure it will be one lovely place to sun for a few of my furry Nova neighbors…poolside.

Bottoms up to a successful Main Line Jazz Fest 2009! Pictured are Teresa’s Next Door bartenders Katie Jones and Ryan Bloome, both of Wayne.

Main Line Beer Fest…I Mean ‘Jazz Fest’

I was prowling around North Wayne Avenue a few weeks ago and noticed all the restaurants (Teresa’s Next Door, Boathouse, Christopher’s and Great American Pub) had posted one day outdoor alcohol permits for Saturday June 13th. Hmm?? Then I put two-and-two together and realized this year’s Main Line Jazz Fest was setting the stage for every Wayne restaurant to serve brewskies outside. YUM!!! Even an eleven-year-old tee-totaling feline can appreciate that appeal and party atmosphere.

Organizers of the Main Line Jazz and Food Festival, now in its sixth year and traditionally held on a Sunday afternoon on a closed-off North Wayne Avenue (I refer to it as restaurant row), decided to shake it up this year. The 2009 Jazz Fest will start in the late afternoon (4 p.m.) and last into the early evening (9 p.m.) with great local performances (including Wayne’s Larry McKenna) slated throughout the night. North Wayne will be closed off starting at 7am that morning and there will be other activities and vendors exhibiting throughout the entire afternoon starting at 11am. A full schedule and vendor details are available on their website, mainlinejazz.com.

The Main Line Jazz and Food Festival is Saturday June 13th with performances slated from 4-9pm.

And, as I mentioned, most appealing to the five thousand attendees expected, all participating restaurants who reside on North Wayne will be serving alcohol outdoors, all day long. So, instead of the traditional beer tent offered the previous five years, Jazz Fest ’09 is looking more like a North Wayne Beer Garden. Main Line Meow, well I should say AroundMainLine.com, is the online media sponsor of the festivities. So stop by and visit my boss at our booth and say hi—cold beer or two in hand-on Saturday June 13th. And, make sure you mention you are a fan of Main Line Meow (I’m working on as many ‘brownie’ points as possible)!

Main Line Meow wants to hear from you! Have a great tip for our columnist K. Kittles? -We’d love to know–restaurant openings, hot chit chat, celebrity sightings, festivals, promotions and more. Send us an email with full details to: kittles@aroundmainline.com. Editorial tips and sources will remain strictly confidential.

The brains and beauty behind a brilliant business model are Main Line moms and Tymel co-principals Melissa Parker (left) and Tyra Hodges (right).

If there are two idioms that ring true when describing a successful entrepreneurial business model in 2009 it is the following: 1) Necessity is the mother of invention. 2) Timing is everything. With so many Americans astutely aware of reducing their carbon footprint, the green industry is thriving with creative concepts that speak to the nation’s environmentally-cautious consumer. Despite a down economy, all signs point positively towards a growing demand for socially responsible business models.

In the case of Main Line entrepreneurs Tyra Hodges, 45, and Melissa Parker, 40, their invention-fashion forward reusable bags made from recycled materials-was inspired by some timely conversations they had with their children. Hodges was unpacking her groceries one evening in her kitchen last spring when her (then 11-year-old) daughter, Natalie, commented on the amount of plastic and paper she was wasting. Parker had received similar feedback from one of her daughters a few weeks earlier after she completed a school project on the importance of recycling.

Eco-friendly, chic and functional, Tymel’s designs are destined to become the ‘Vera Bradley’ of high-style, reusable bags.

Fast forward a month later when the pair (best friends since 2000 when they met through a social organization) met up for lunch and, in a matter of minutes, a business was born. “There was this very palpable ‘aha’ moment for us for sure that afternoon. We have creative backgrounds and there was this synergy that happened in our conversation. It was almost as if our children had been giving us this innovative idea and it took a lunch date to talk it through. We are both very driven and after that, we were off and running,” explained Hodges.

So Hodges and Parker started ironing out the details of their business model-searching for eco-friendly, fashionable fabrics to use to design a line of hip, preppy reusable bags. And, thus, Tymel Style (a kitschy take on their first names) came to life in August of 2008. “Since ‘green’ does not always mean fashion forward, there were not a lot of attractive fabrics constructed from recycled materials available to make our handbags. It took us quite some time to find a fabric we could work with. But, it was important for us to start there before we ventured into making Tymel bags chic,” said Parker.

Before their roles as co-principals with Tymel Style, LLC, the duo boasted strong corporate backgrounds. Parker, a Duke grad, Manhattan native and mother of three to John William Parker II, 12, nine-year-old Avery and six-year-old Peyton, spearheaded a successful interior design business. While Hodges, originally from St. Louis, holds an accounting degree and an interior design certificate from Temple. The mother of three to 14-year old Danielle and twelve-year-old twins Natalie and Grant, Hodges previously worked as a top pharmaceutical sales rep and ran a prosperous custom invitation company out her home.

According to the EPA, 3.8 million tons of plastic bags and wrap and 720,000 tons of paper bags ended up as waste in 2007.

Tymel’s stylish reusable bags are environmentally friendly, durable, water-resistant and machine washable. “With our design experience, we appreciate texture, color and fabric. These bags offer Main Liners a way to ‘go green’ without sacrificing taste and budget which we carefully constructed based on our research,” explained Parker.

Part of that research included a number of female focus groups invited to their respective homes for an introduction to the line this fall. The participants, who were friendly acquaintances but not close friends, were asked to be frank about their feedback and first impressions. “That was a key part of our business and what we learned from those groups, among many things, is that they expected the size and style of our bags to mimic an actual grocery bag. Having that one-on-one feedback was essential to starting off on the right foot,” explained Hodges.

“Besides growing our business, we want to give back to the community. We feel very blessed for this opportunity,” said Tyra Hodges. Hodges currently serves on the board of Horsham’s Cradles to Crayons.

There are two divisions of Tymel Style—the designer line which will be sold in Main Line boutiques and specialty shops as ideal gifts for baby showers, fashion forward shopping bags or a reusable, pretty tailgating tote. And then there is the exciting corporate side of the business—which will focus on (wedding) hotel guests, fundraisers, trade shows, law firms, pharmaceutical companies and supermarkets. “We will continue to expand our designs and collection with seasonal designs. Children’s lunch bags are an area of growth we will be focusing on and feel that we can develop and really run with,” explained Parker.

Their designs (including a brown and green bamboo graphic and a bright paisley print) are fun, bold and fashionable-think Lilly Pulitzer meets Vera Bradley. And, Tymel’s custom, high quality and stylish reusable bags can carry up to fifty pounds of groceries or shopping items. “We constructed the main design to mimic an actual paper shopping bag-it made sense. So, it’s lean and easy to transport. We’ve put a tremendous amount of time and research into our business because it can’t just be a good-looking product, it has to do the job and hold up,” explained Hodges.

Hodges serves on the board of Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit based in Boston, with a local chapter in Horsham. The charity’s mission is to connect communities in need by providing basic essentials to disadvantaged children from birth to twelve years of age, filtered through social service agencies (shelters, hospitals). “We connected with Tyra last November with our fundraiser on National Family Philanthropy Day. We were looking to have in-kind donations for the 500 guests and Tyra and Melissa worked together for a generous donation. They are very giving with their time and resources–all donated items were packaged in beautiful Tymel bags,” Kelly Clarke, executive director of Cradles to Crayons, explained. Civic responsibility is a part of Tymel Style that both Parker and Hodges believe very strongly in. “This business is bigger than us and its very important for us to give back. So, a portion of the proceeds of each and every bag benefits Cradles to Crayons,” explained Hodges.

Tymel is in negotiations with a number of the country’s top grocery chains to carry their fashion-forward shopping bags that retail for $8. Pictured is Melissa Parker, a Duke University grad and former interior designer.

The duo has been busy networking not only with Philadelphia-based businesses and charities but also major environmental movers and shakers. Hodges and Parker attended the 2009 Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference in Washington, D.C. in February, where they met with New York Times best selling author Van Jones. Jones is best known for his book “The Green Collar Economy.” An activist and think tank fellow, Jones joined the Obama administration in March as a special adviser on green jobs. And, Tymel Style was recently accepted into the Green For All Business Protégé Program-an incubation program focused on mentoring start-up, minority owned businesses.

Close to nine months into their business venture and with a wave of socially conscious consumerism backing up their concept, Hodges and Parker are looking towards a greener future, in more ways than one. “There are so many creative, meaningful concepts Tymel Style can offer, especially within the supermarket industry. Reusable bags are not new, but what we are offering is an entire model based around a marketing philosophy. We can work with the grocery stores on individual campaigns in which, when they carry our bags, we will give back to a charity or cause of their choice. We’re a small company, so everything is customized to work with each project and goal that is suitable for Tymel and our business partners. And last but not least, in addition to reducing your carbon footprint, we are making ‘green’ stylish! Our prints are fashion-forward and attractive so you can certainly be proud to shop on the Main Line with a beautiful Tymel bag over your shoulder,” enthused Parker.

Tymel Style LLC is based in Villanova, PA. The company can be reached via email: info@tymelstyle.com; for order and product inquiries call: 215-653-7339. Check out their website at: www.tymelstyle.com.