Sooner or Later, But Mostly Sooner
When we were little, stores and families started getting ready for the Christmas holidays in December, often in the double digits of December, in fact, but those days are long gone. Now Halloween preparation kicks in when the kids go back to school, Thanksgiving starts the day after Halloween, and Christmas noses in about a week after that. At least it feels that way, and we’re finally getting used to it. Accordingly, Lansdowne’s Holiday Tree Lighting is happening this Friday, November 20, at 6:30 pm, and it’s going to be a grand entrance to the holiday season -- cold or no, snow or no, December or no. Santa will be there (naturally), free hot chocolate and warm cider will be served, and both the Penn Wood High School Brass Ensemble and dancers from Don's Dance World will be performing. It all happens in the Lansdowne Avenue parking lot and is sponsored by the Lansdowne Business Association. Kickstart your holiday spirit at this fun and free family event.

That's Special
We’re almost there: our bonus pre-Thanksgiving Farmers Market! Saturday is sure to be a bit bittersweet as we head to the parking lot one last time this year for shopping for local goods, dining al fresco, and socializing. But swallow that lump in your throat and resolve to just enjoy the heck out of this final Market opportunity since it’s going to be extra-special.

First off, come directly to the Market Manager booth for a free cup of warm mulled cider to take the chill off. Then head down the midway to gather the goods you’ll need for the upcoming holidays and to get you through the winter. Farm Fresh Express is pulling out all the stops, offering local heirloom cranberries, pie-making supplies (apples, butter, eggs, vanilla, and frozen crust dough), root vegetables, greens, sausage and corn bread mix for stuffing, and holiday cheeses. If you ordered a turkey from FFE, it will still be alive and kicking this Saturday (little do they know . . .), so remember to pick it up at their storefront on Tuesday or Wednesday. But turkeys ordered from Natural Meadows will be ready to go, plus Mark’s also likely to have luxury holiday fare like smoked game birds and rabbit. Wildflour Bakery will be bringing mostly items geared toward Thanksgiving, like pies, cranberry cornbread, and dinner rolls. Their holiday menu is here, so consider calling and ordering now for pickup on Saturday. The big guys (ie, Fruitwood and Shober) will have apples and cider and spreads and honey and whatever cold weather vegetables they can get together. If we’re lucky, John’s Minicakes will have vats of chili, macaroni and cheese, and mushroom soup, which will give you a break from all the cooking that’s coming up in a few days. (Hey, how much better would green bean casserole be if you used fresh green beans and John’s mushroom soup? Your family will carry you around the dining room on their shoulders.) Bonnie will be bringing seasonal centerpieces and arrangements, plus taking orders for pickup or free delivery later in the week. Even Mission Burrito will be getting into the act, offering mole sauce, a traditional Mexican-American gravy, for the turkey. They’ll also have frozen chicken tamales by the dozen. Order them now and pick them up the 21st. Your pet will have something to be thankful for when you bring home sugar-, salt-, and preservative-free treats from Bone Appetite Barkery, which freeze well. (Don’t forget to take one of Mary Lou’s cards and call her for a personalized cake when your dog’s birthday rolls around!)

Finally, in a super-extra-special move, the Regency Cafe is playing host to a fundraiser pie sale to benefit a Lansdowne institution. Local baker Debbie Keeler will be making the pies (pumpkin, coconut, or apple), which can be ordered and prepaid in person at the Regency Cafe, at their booth at the FM, or by calling 610-622-1234 for pickup on November 24 or 25. A few pies will also be available for purchase at the Market this Saturday in case you want to try them out before committing for Thanksgiving. The pies are $12 each, which is a bargain, and proceeds go to restoration of the Lansdowne Theater. Sweet!

Just Do It
Whatcha doing tonight? How about heading to the Twentieth Century Club, where the Lansdowne Folk Club will be host to The Angel Band and guest Brian Ashley Jones. That’s two acts for one admission. Live music, local venue, familiar faces – you’ll love it. Doors open at 6:30 pm for the 7:30 show, so you’ll have plenty of time to socialize. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door, which is at 84 S. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne.

Cinema 16:9 will be screening the provocative film Food, Inc. for the next few weeks, which could easily be subtitled “An Inconvenient Truth About What You’re Eating.” It’ll raise your awareness, your blood pressure, and your hackles. This Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21, the Cinema has invited some special guests to speak briefly before the 7:00 showing and to answer questions afterward. Look for representatives from Farm Fresh Express and the Lansdowne Farmers Market among others.

Openings
Even without the heavy equipment and dumpsters at the borough’s main intersection, it’s clear that Lansdowne Avenue is in flux. Some businesses have closed, but new ones are coming in, and things are getting interesting. The newest addition to the Avenue, Paddington Station, will open this Saturday, November 21, at 12 S. Lansdowne Avenue, right beside Sycamore. Owned by the Carpenters (think realtors, not 70s musical group), Paddington Station is an antiques and consignment shop that will offer home furnishings and eclectic, mostly handmade gifts, woven goods, and stained glass, among other things. They’ll be adding items weekly and are open to suggestions. Stick your head in on Saturday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm and let them know what you’d like to see there. For now, the shop will be open Tuesday to Thursday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Friday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. To be safe, give them a call: 484-461-7770.

Coming soon: Provisions Market at 7 S. Lansdowne Avenue (previous home of Nature’s Isle). More next time!

More Than a Bit
This time next week, immediately after Thanksgiving, dozens of artists and craftspeople will be loading into the Twentieth Century Club for the LEDC’s Second Annual Bit of the Arts Holiday Show. This event features scads of goods from more than 20 vendors selling items they’ve created themselves – paintings, glass pieces, jewelry, quilts, photographs, you name it. A student art show will be in place on the lower level featuring works by kids from a whole bunch of area schools. There’s live music throughout the two-day affair, refreshments from Mission Burrito will be available, and admission is free. The show is Friday, November 27, 3:00 to 8:30 pm, and Saturday, November 28, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and the Twentieth Century Club (and you really should know this by now) is at 84 S. Lansdowne Avenue, catty corner form the library.

Tea Party
If you’ve ever been to a proper holiday tea, you know that it is an hour or two of calm and dignity in the midst of the seasonal hubbub that’s worth every penny. Moms and grandmoms, it’s an especially lovely thing to do with the little girls in your life. Dress em up, take em out, sit em down, and have some tea. Quality girl time indeed. It’ll create a tradition and a lasting memory. Secret Garden's Christmas Tea will be held Saturday, December 5, at 1:00 pm and will feature a full English-style tea, complete with delicious finger sandwiches, breads, scones with Devon cream and jam, cookies, and, of course, an assortment of fine teas. It will be held at Simpson Gardens, 84 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for cherubic little children 10 and under. Make your reservations (payment required at that time) no later than Monday, November 30, by calling 610-623-1514, or stopping in at the gift shop Tuesday to Saturday between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm.

A Passing
In September the Farmers Market was dazzled when Lansdowne resident and Sycamore chef Meg Votta went from stand to stand handpicking ingredients and then, right before our eyes, whipped up a knockout gazpacho. There wasn’t a measuring cup or recipe in sight; just Meg, her blender, and a pile of fresh vegetables. It was as impressive as anything to onlookers but clearly no big deal to Meg, who made batch after batch as the crowd clamored for more. Only two months later, we are deeply saddened to tell you of Meg’s death. She passed away November 10 after a 3-year fight with cancer.

Sycamore, which opened in June, was a dream come true for Meg. She started the restaurant, with partners Steve and Jennifer Wagner, knowing full well that her time might be limited. That did not deter her from developing the restaurant, working 12-hour days, and planning for the future. To that end, and if there is any joy to this story, she left her kitchen in the very capable hands of Sam Jacobson, who, after working for years next to Meg, now carries on her culinary vision. Meg was a talented chef, a good soul, and the kind of person you want in your community. She will be sadly missed.

The borough’s website has been completely revamped and, boy, is it pretty! Also easier to navigate and read, which is really more important. Check out that event calendar on the left side plus the highlighted events in the center column. You’ll find even more information about what’s happening around town there than you do here (it’s where we get lots of the info for here, in fact), so bookmark it and go back regularly.

In case you didn’t follow the link to the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation’s website that was provided above, here’s another chance. The site has been revised, expanded, updated, improved, enhanced, and generally cranked up a notch, and is now loaded with information about the theater’s past, present, and future. Plus lots of photos of the interior. Now you’re interested, huh.

Local gal Maria Atanacio of To You, From Me Soaps had one of her whipped body butters recently featured in a funky blog, Rockin’ That Bling. It usually focuses on jewelry, but the writer was so taken with Maria’s product that she gave it some space toward the bottom of this page. Congrats on the coverage, Maria. It couldn’t happen to a nicer person.

In addition to the wonderful goings-on listed in the column at left, don't miss these upcoming events:

The Angel Band with guest Brian Ashley Jones at the Lansdowne Folk Club
Thursday, November 19, 7:30 pm; $15 to $18
Twentieth Century Club, 84 S. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne
lfc.org@rcn.com or 610-622-7250

Movies at Cinema 16:9
November 5 to 19, various times
Food, Inc., The Giant Claw
35 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne

Annual Fall Spaghetti Dinner sponsored by Lansdowne Boy Scout Troop 63
Saturday, November 21, 4:00 to 7:00 pm
$5 for children (12 & under); $7 for adults
The First Presbyterian Church, Lansdowne and Greenwood Avenues, Lansdowne

A Bit of the Arts Holiday Sale at the Twentieth Century Club
Friday, November 27, 3:00 to 8:30 pm, and Saturday, November 28, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; Free
84 S. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne

Mason Porter at Concerts at the Beach House
Sunday, November 29, 6:00 pm; $15, BYOB
bob@bobbeach.net or 610-626-0012

Christmas Fair at Lansdowne Baptist Church
Saturday, December 5, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm; Free
17 E. LaCrosse Avenue, Lansdowne

Lansdowne Games Day at The Garden Church
Saturday, December 5, 11:15 am to 9:00 pm; Free
82 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne

Christmas Tea at Simpson Gardens
Saturday, December 5, 1:00pm; $10 to $15
Reserve by Monday, November 30
84 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne; 610-623-1514

Greg Klyma CD Release Party at Concerts at the Beach House
Sunday, December 13, 5:00 pm; $15, BYOB
bob@bobbeach.net or 610-626-0012

Do you have an event to announce?
Send your upcoming events to events@lansdownesfuture.org to have them included in this space!

View the complete listing of local events

Special Bonus Market Day, Saturday, November 21, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Lansdowne Avenue parking lot. It's your last chance to get the goods before Thanksgiving and the long, cold winter.

Free vegetarian cooking class tonight, November 19, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, at Life More Abundant 25 N. Lansdowne Avenue, 610-259-0101. Chef Johnetta Frazier shows you how to eat well easily. Also, 25% off selected merchandise!

Liz Steele Coats creates handcrafted necklaces and other jewelry in preparation for the upcoming Bit of the Arts Holiday Art Show and Sale. The event takes place November 27 and 28 at the Twentieth Century Club.