Discover Lansdowne - LEDC Newsletter #20

We're on the cusp of a new season. Tomorrow is the first day of spring, aka the vernal equinox, a lovely term that connotes green, balance, and change. Hmm, it's hard to write "green, balance, and change" without thinking of the economy. Let's hope it will be entering a new season too.

Lend Them an Evening
In the last issue of Discover Lansdowne, we mentioned that Celebration Theater had a new show about to start, but now that we've seen this truly enjoyable production, it bears a bit more selling. We're a lucky little borough to have a community-run theater in our midst, and the people involved knock themselves out to put on clever, thoughtful entertainment, but they often play to very small audiences. If you saw The Laramie Project, you know they're capable of productions that are hard-hitting. The spring offering, Lend Me a Tenor, is much lighter, a comical farce that offers lots of laughs and a bit of escapism. There are evening shows tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday; a matinee on Sunday; and two more evening shows next Friday and Saturday. Consider that list six opportunities to get away from the TV, the computer, the snack cupboard -- whatever preoccupies you -- to take in a show, laugh out loud, and support the arts -- and your neighbors -- in Lansdowne. Tickets are $12 to $15 (roughly three cappuccinos), and all performances are at the Twentieth Century Club, 84 S. Lansdowne Avenue.

Fair Weather
Further art support can be extended this Saturday, March 21, by attending St Philomena's Arts and Crafts Fair between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. This new event benefits the art program at St Phil's and will feature a large display of student work, plus a whole bunch of more seasoned artists and crafters with items for sale, including favorites like Liz Steele Coats, Marty von Rosenstiel, and Grace Caputo with jewelry and decorative objects; Larry Smalley, Abdul Ahmad, and Marcus DiSciullo with paintings, illustrations, and prints; and Norma Bartram and Claire McShane with pickles, relish, candy and cookies. Bonnie's Wondergardens will be there with new spring wreaths, happy-faced pansies, curly and pussy willows, forsythia, and cut flowers to brighten your home and day. Whether you leave with a sofa-sized painting, a blown-glass ornament, or a box of handmade peanut butter eggs, it'll be time and money well spent. Marian Hall (St Philomena's gymnasium), 13 N. Highland Avenue.

Two News Items in One
Saturday night, March 21, at 7:15 pm, Lansdowne Sofa Cinema's second film of the season, Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story, will be shown at 35 N. Lansdowne Avenue. The movie is a biography of a successful journalist who changed her life to assist and advocate for the poor and homeless, and will be followed by a panel discussion with two local pastors and a social service worker, all of which is sure to be interesting. But it's okay to attend the movie just to check out that address, soon to be better known as Cinema 16:9, which will start showing films tomorrow, according to this schedule. (Bookmark it!) If you can find the Lansdowne Theater, you've found Cinema 16:9.

Looking Forward to Minas Looking Back
On Saturday, April 11, Lansdowne's -- heck, Philadelphia's -- favorite Brazilian band, Minas, will be celebrating its 25th anniversary with two shows at World Café Live. Patricia Haddad and Orlando King moved to Philadelphia from Rio de Janeiro in 1984 and have been influencing music and culture in the area ever since. The first show is a retrospective dinner concert featuring the best of their five CDs (doors open at 6:00 pm), and the second is a dance party (doors at 10:00 pm). Go here or contact Minas directly for more information about the shows. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia; 215-222-1400

Petty Crocker
To celebrate their fifth anniversary in 2009, Animal Friends of Lansdowne is putting together a cookbook. They're looking for submissions of up to three original recipes per person -- if not something you made up your own self or a family recipe, then something that you altered significantly from the original (ie, no Xeroxes out of Gourmet). All recipes that are used will be credited to the author, and then you can buy the book and see your name in print. Now, there's a thrill! Recipes for vegan and vegetarian foods or for your favorite homemade dog treats are welcome in addition to "regular" recipes. Send your contributions (including your name) to saburns712@yahoo.com as soon as you can get them together.

High Hoop Hopes
Lansdowne's own Penn Wood High School Patriots boys basketball team is advancing to the PIAA AAAA championship this Saturday at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. Ranked second in Southeastern Pennsylvania by the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Patriots are 27-4 for the 2008-09 season and beat Mount Lebanon (Pittsburgh) last night 79-58 in their semifinal game. Go Penn Wood!

Businesses Around Town
The next vegetarian cooking class at Life More Abundant is Thursday, March 26, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, when chef Johnetta Frazier will be presenting recipes and techniques for preparing "A Lively Lunch." Classes are free but seating is limited, so call, email, or stop by in advance to register. 25 N. Lansdowne Avenue; 610-259-0101; info@lifemoreabundantpa.com.

Adding a touch of glamour to our main street is Agustina's Dominica Salon and Spa at 24 N. Lansdowne Avenue, which has relocated from its old spot in the Lansdowne Theater. Offering hair cutting and styling, manicures, pedicures, waxing, and other spa services, Agustina's is ready to pretty you up. Call 610-251-1600 for an appointment or just poke your head in and be dazzled!

Hardly anything is more tantalizing or holds more promise than a storefront with its windows covered in craft paper but activity going on inside. Though we can't peek into the space, at least the paper on the windows of the new restaurant going in at 14 S. Lansdowne Avenue is offering a name, Sycamore, and a website to tide us over until suppertime. We're hungry!