You can hear the deep-throated whistles from far up the path leading down to Morris Arboretum’s Holiday Garden Railway, a quarter mile’s worth of scale-model steam and electric trains, trolleys, a miniature ski lift, bridges, houses and other buildings, all decorated with twinkling Christmas lights. Just inside the narrow winding path leading into the breathtaking…… Continue reading The Train Master Who Engineers Happiness at Morris Arboretum
Giving Up His Career in Finance, Chestnut Hill Man Takes a Leadership Role in Guatemala Nonprofit
Brendan Dwyer took his first trip to Guatemala in 2009, as part of Teens, Inc., the Chestnut Hill youth service organization founded by Jane and Dick Becker and directed by Dwyer’s mother Marianne. That first journey was suggested by his older sister Meghan and inspired by another sister Caitlin, who had traveled to Guatemala with…… Continue reading Giving Up His Career in Finance, Chestnut Hill Man Takes a Leadership Role in Guatemala Nonprofit
Free Ice Cream, Nature Activities and Art at Friends of the Wissahickon’s 15th Ice Cream Social
Maybe the only thing better than ice cream on a steamy day in August is free ice cream. If you’re interested—and who wouldn’t be—join Friends of the Wissahickon Wednesday, August 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. at FOW’s 15th Annual Ice Cream Social, on the grounds of partner organization Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Avenue, with…… Continue reading Free Ice Cream, Nature Activities and Art at Friends of the Wissahickon’s 15th Ice Cream Social
Visiting Wissahickon Valley Park? Leave No Trace
There are two things you can do right now to make the Wissahickon Valley Park a better place: don’t litter and stick to designated trails. It might sound like a little, but, according to Friends of the Wissahickon Executive Director Ruffian Tittmann, it can all add up to quite a lot. Reducing trash and keeping…… Continue reading Visiting Wissahickon Valley Park? Leave No Trace
How the Ball Bounces: Kids Take the Court at the Water Tower
They might lack the grace, skill, and height of LeBron, but they more than make up for it in keen enthusiasm and infinite energy. And on this steamy Wednesday night at the Water Tower Recreation Center, one of the not yet very tall fourth and fifth graders playing half-court basketball gets lucky, successfully lofting a…… Continue reading How the Ball Bounces: Kids Take the Court at the Water Tower
Minas: Bringing the Romance of Brazilian Music to Pastorius
One aspect of a successful marriage is the ability to live together in harmony. When it comes to pianist Patricia and jazz guitarist Orlando Haddad—who form the core of the acclaimed local Brazilian sextet known as Minas—living together and playing music together has been about harmony right from the beginning. You’ll get the benefit of that harmonious…… Continue reading Minas: Bringing the Romance of Brazilian Music to Pastorius
The Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge, to Perform at St. Paul’s
The University of Cambridge goes back a very long time indeed, founded in 1209. The choir of Christ’s College Cambridge isn’t quite that old, first breaking out in song in the early 1500s. But compared to musical ensembles in the United States, Christ’s College choir has centuries of tradition behind it—and you can hear this highly experienced…… Continue reading The Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge, to Perform at St. Paul’s
RUNA in Pastorius: On the Road Again
When the pandemic hit, the Irish supergroup RUNA found itself off the road for about a year and a half. Now, they’re back, touring the country, playing a wide variety of outdoor festivals and indoor venues, and making up for lost time. You’ll see them Wednesday, July 6, in Pastorius Park, another stellar offering as…… Continue reading RUNA in Pastorius: On the Road Again
Celebrating Ups and Downs at Morris Arboretum: The Summer of Swings
Cling, swing, Spring, sing, Swing up into the apple tree. ~ T.S. Eliot Visit Morris Arboretum, the University of Pennsylvania-owned preserve at Stenton and East Northwestern Avenues, and you’ll take in a verdant 92-acre vista of trees of all varieties. Ah … but do you really see them in all their glory? The arboretum’s education…… Continue reading Celebrating Ups and Downs at Morris Arboretum: The Summer of Swings
Snacktime Philly, Joy-Filled Band Formed in Response to the Pandemic, Brings the Party to Pastorius
Most of the musicians I know found their incomes slashed, if not eliminated, when the pandemic hit home in 2020. Some were able to cobble together some semblance of a normal career by hosting concerts live on Facebook, but others found themselves in desperate straits. That was the case for the seven professional musicians who…… Continue reading Snacktime Philly, Joy-Filled Band Formed in Response to the Pandemic, Brings the Party to Pastorius