Hope you are enjoying December and all the holiday/year-end/semester-concluding/tax-lowering/winter-kicking-in/2010-around-the-corner events it offers. As we acknowledged last time, it can be a pretty hectic time, but January and February will afford much opportunity to recover, so jump in with both feet and take advantage of the Discover Discounts that are in effect all of December (and only December) at area businesses and through local organizations. Follow that link and be reminded that all you have to do is mention the Discover ad to get a large coffee for $1.50 weekdays at the Regency or 25% off drink mixers at Sycamore, plus lots of other good deals that you'd be silly not to take advantage of, since 40 cents here and two bucks there a few times a week adds up quickly. Buy yourself something nice in January with what you've saved.

New Providers
Stilton cheese with cranberries is available on Lansdowne Ave. You can wait for it, but there is no sarcastic "Not!" coming to follow that sentence, since Stilton with cranberries can indeed now be purchased on Lansdowne Avenue, along with Humbolt Fog, Piave, and — praises be — Prima Donna, the cheese that no one doesn't like. The introduction of fine cheeses by the pound (or sliver, however much you want) to our evolving main street is the undertaking of Marnie Miller and Susan Williams, owners of Provisions market at 7 S. Lansdowne Avenue, right next to Borough Hall. The store's goal is to bring Lansdowne fresh and freshly made seasonal foods that you can feel good about eating. Provisions opened only last Saturday and even though not yet fully stocked, the cozy little shop offers plenty of good stuff to make it worth a visit. You can build an entire meal from their rotating menu of homemade entrees and side dishes such as individual meatloaves, rustic vegetable tarts, lasagna, chicken cacciatore, roasted vegetables, curried chicken salad, soups, and quiche, with fresh bread from Le Bus on the side. They carry delicioso San Pellegrino Limonata (lemon) and Aranciata (orange) sparkling waters (a perfect party offering for guests who don't drink alcohol) and will soon carry small-batch sodas (probably from St Louis, Marnie's hometown, which is fine by us so long as she's not too ostentatious with the Cardinals support). Within a week or two, they should have freshly brewed coffee, tea (Steap tea from Philadelphia), and hot chocolate to take out with their homemade scones and cookies. (Eating in is in the future, don't worry.)

Until the cable company gets their line set up, Provisions won't be able to accept credit or debit cards (give that till January), so bring cash because you're not going to want to leave without some of that Stilton, which is fantastic but seasonal and so won't be available forever. Here are the store's hours for now, but they'll likely change as soon as they get more help, so sign up for their email list: Tuesday and Friday from 7 am to 6 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 7:30 am to 6 pm, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 1 to 4 pm; closed Monday. Welcome, Provisions, and best of luck to you! Wow, with this addition to Sycamore, the Regency Café, Doyle's Deli, and even Cinema 16:9, it's now as easy to get good food on Lansdowne Avenue as it is to get a manicure or pedicure.

Last Chance Crafts
You've almost run out of chances to pick up gifts handmade by local artists. There are only two more opportunities that we can think of and one is this close to being past. First, today only (Thursday, December 17), from 2:30 to 4:00 pm at the Penn Wood High School Green Avenue campus in Lansdowne, there will be a craft sale of works by members of Penn Wood's National Art Honor Society, including ceramic mugs, platters, and ornaments, as well as paintings. Stop reading immediately and hurry right over! (Then you can stay for the holiday concert too.) Second, the metal and glass ornaments adorning that hip industrial Christmas tree at the Regency Café have been selling like mad, so the pickings are slimming down. If you want one of metalworker Sandra Webberking's small pieces for your tree or to trim a package, don't put off getting it for long.

Hallelujah!
We've marveled about this before, but it bears repeating: It's nigh on remarkable that Lansdowne, a town of one square mile, has its very own symphony orchestra, one that's been in existence for more than 60 years no less. (Take that, Bryn Mawr!) It's especially convenient at holiday time when even the most devoted pop music fans often feel an urge to hear something a bit more established, a bit more meaningful than, say, "Jingle Bell Rock." Nothing fits this bill better than Handel's Messiah, and that's what the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra will be performing, along with the Upper Darby High School Concert Choir, this Saturday evening, December 19, at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $12 to $16 ($5 for students at the door) and can be purchased here.

There Will Be Cake
According to Wikipedia, there's some disagreement about whether Ludwig van Beethoven was born on December 16 or 17, 1770. Either way, it's pretty clear that he was approaching two weeks old (and probably thinking about his first concerto) by December 27, but that's the date that Celebration Theater is going to hold Beethoven's Birthday Bash regardless. Most folks don't even get a party to fete what would be their 239th birthday, so Beethoven probably wouldn't mind that it's technically a little late. And you shouldn't either because admission is free, champagne and cake will be served, and Dolores Ciavola will be playing some of the man's greatest hits, such as Moonlight Sonata and Für Elise, on the grand piano. The party starts at 7:00 pm Sunday the 27th at the Twentieth Century Club, 84 S. Lansdowne Avenue, and go here to RSVP and reserve your spot. Crazy windblown hair and wrap-necked blouses encouraged but not required.

See Ya Next Year
This is the last Discover Lansdowne of 2009. We'll be back in early January with at least one bell on to welcome the new year and see what's going on around town. Till then, most happy and safe holidays to you and yours!

Movies at Cinema 16:9
December 17 to 31, various times
The Nightmare Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol
35 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne

Penn Wood High School Holiday Craft Sale
Thursday, December 17, 2:30 - 4:00 pm
Penn Wood High School, Green Avenue Campus
100 Green Avenue, Lansdowne

Beethoven's Birthday Bash at Celebration Theater
An evening of champagne, sonatas, and cake; featuring Dolores Ciavola on piano
Sunday, December 27, 7:00 pm; Free but reservations suggested
Twentieth Century Club, 84 S. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne

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

Life More Abundant is offering two free presentations this week to help you eat and feel better. Tonight, December 17, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm is a free vegetarian cooking class led by chef Johnetta Frazier. Then on Sunday, December 19, Alexandra DiFilippo, HHC, will lead a talk on beating seasonal stress that will include tips on controlling the urge to overeat during the abundance of the holidays. That's at 2:00 pm at 25 N. Lansdowne Avenue, and it's always a good idea to call to save a seat: 610-259-0101

Make your New Years Eve something to talk about while keeping it close to home at Sycamore, which is offering two seatings, at 6:00 and 9:00 pm, for its special five-course meal on Thursday the 31st. The earlier seating is almost full, but we think the later one will be a touch more fun anyway. Make your reservation by calling 484-461-2867 soon. And, by all means, bring your own champagne!

A warm and inviting tableau greets winter diners at Sycamore.