Well, hello there! Happy new year! Long time, etc. This newsletter took a slightly longer than expected hiatus because, frankly, there wasn't much happening that needed coverage. We warned you to jump on the opportunities that December provided since January and February are a little on the slow side. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, since it gives us all an opportunity to refamiliarize ourselves with what Lansdowne has to offer in a more leisurely way. No need to rush out for an event that's happening for only a couple of hours (although there are a few of these coming up). Instead you can mosey in to some storefronts and poke around, relax for a spell in the town's new lounge (more on that in a moment), join a book group (new book starts tonight at the library), sign up for a no-stress class — whatever. This month is all about keeping warm while chilling out. Consider this issue a reminder about and an update on ways to do that.

Settled In
The deep freeze that has descended on the nation so far in 2010 has probably been a boon to those who traffic in hot drinks and warm food. Clutching a brimming, hot mug of whatever seems the only reasonable response when the wind chill factor brings the temperature down to 1. For three years now the Regency Café has been filling (and refilling) the mugs of Lansdowne, the steamed-up windows of 29 N. Lansdowne Avenue a daily testament to the warmth and friendly chatter to be found inside. The new location is feeling broken in and comfy by now, and the café's offerings have expanded with the space. The little blackboard just added to the wall lists up to three fresh soups daily, and the panini press will make any sandwich toasty in just a few minutes. Take the paper, a book, or your laptop and head over in the mid afternoon if you want the place to yourself, or go on a Saturday if the idea is to see and be seen.

Still Settling In
On the other side of Baltimore Pike, the newest foodie spot in Lansdowne, Provisions, is also entering the hot-beverage-to-go market. Right now, owners Marnie Miller and Susan Williams are offering taste tests of the Café Mam coffee that they will be brewing up (and selling by the pound). They want your input on what blends appeal most to their customers. You can sit at the little table they've just added and chat with them as you sample. We noticed that last week the prepared food had a Mexican bent (enchiladas, guacamole) and this week it leans toward the Italian (baked ziti, penne with Italian and peas, spinach and ricotta roll-ups). You can expect more of this approach of rotating cuisines supplemented with favorite standbys like Swiss steak, oven-fried chicken, and a variety of salads. Plus gourmet cheeses and pancetta cut to order. Starting next week, their website will have info for Super Bowl preorders for wings and nachos. Fresh bread from Le Bus is available Thursday to Saturday, and just-made baked goods show up daily. (Try the cornbread!) The shop's hours have changed to a more easily remembered schedule of 10 am to 7 pm Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm Saturday, and for that we are all grateful. It also has a phone number now (484-461-7077) and is this close to being able to accept credit and debit cards. Provisions is at 7 S. Lansdowne Avenue.

Right across the street from Provisions, at 12 S. Lansdowne Avenue, Paddington Station is a tiny gem of a shop, loaded with an ever-changing array of pretty things both new and gently used. Stained glass, furniture, art, rugs, and decorative pieces give shoppers a lot to choose from, and the small space is a cozy antidote to big box stores. The Carpenters have recently added hand-crafted jewelry and cards to their wares, and are having a blowout sale on Tolani scarves, a celebrity favorite. Valentine's Day is only a month away, and you're sure to find something at Paddington Station that the recipient will appreciate both for its beauty and because it kept the sale local. The store is open Wednesday to Saturday starting at 11 am and ending several hours later. Call them at 484-461-7770 if you need to know when the shop closes.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, if we wanted to eat at Sycamore that Sunday, or even that Saturday, we'd call (484-461-2867) or email and make a reservation now. The new chef, Sam Jacobson, has been announced and is doing a great job if our most recent visit is an indication. (For those of you who prefer a good meal to a football game, please note that Sycamore's Sunday hours have changed to 5 to 9 pm, so you can get a full night's sleep before the work week begins.)

Still Evolving
There was a time when Cinema 16:9 was content to be "only" a movie theater/DVD rental establishment. That was already pretty unusual and beyond the call. But now owners Dave and Phoebe Titus have upped the establishment's appeal even more by adding a lounge in which moviegoers are invited to linger and, well, lounge both between and during showings. In place of the floor-level rows of seats, the theater now has cushy chairs and round tables, the better to hold the bottles of beer, wine, or liquor you are allowed, even encouraged, to bring to the theater to enhance your movie-going experience. The theater offers coffee, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and sodas as mixers for your favorite movie-accompanying spirit. They've also added Mission Burrito enchiladas to their food selections, making it even easier to make an evening of a trip to the cinema. Dave says they'll soon have new, more inviting furniture in the outer DVD rental store as well, making 35 N. Lansdowne Avenue a great place to stop if you have nothing better to do. And even if you do. (By the way, their website has been revised and it's much easier to use now. Don't be afraid anymore. Go ahead, click on it. You know you want to.)

Still Learning
Earlier we mentioned that signing up for a class would be a good use of January's short, cold days. Plus, for what we're about to recommend, you sign up now and then you don't have to actually do anything till next month — all the better! Plus, this really does look like fun. The Playwrights' Workshop offers new and emerging playwrights opportunities to hone their craft in a 6-week playwriting class running 7 to 9 pm Thursday evenings from February 4 to March 11. Classes will offer practice in monologue and character construction, dialogue and conflict, and stagecraft for playwrights. Each class will include modeling peer interaction and focused craft writing. In addition, participants will have opportunities to share their class work each week. The goal of the course is to give writers the tools and confidence to begin their own one-act plays. Instructor Sharon Daly Sweeney has been a teacher of writing and theater for 25 years; she is currently the English Department Chair and Theater Coordinator at Penncrest High School as well as an instructor for the Pennsylvania Writing and Literature project at West Chester University. In short, she has cred.

Classes will take place in the second floor screening room of the Lansdowne Theater, which is a really cool little space that you don't get to see very often, so seize this opportunity. The class is $100 for Lansdowne residents and $105 for nonresidents (oh, the perks we enjoy). To register for the class, call the Lansdowne Recreation and Parks Department at 610-284-1493.

Still Clicking
After 3 years of candidly photographing practically every family, kid, dog, parade, farmers market, and arts festival in the borough, John Kelly Green has opened a photo studio catering to his favorite subject — the people of Lansdowne. His studio is open for family, child, and baby portraits, but he's also happy to go to your home or another location. John can take formal portraits or head shots, and is ready to record your special event. Don't forget the family pets, which deserve their own photos on the mantle. Call 610-724-6407 or visit johnkellygreen.com to set up a session.

Even with all the time he spent documenting events around town, John managed to take photos of the artier variety, both locally and abroad. He invites you to a solo exhibition of his photographs at the River Edge Gallery at the Bridgeton House, a B&B that puts the "upper" in Upper Black Eddy. Pretty swanky, this place, situated scenically on the Delaware River a short drive above New Hope. John's show runs from February 6 to April 30, and the gallery is open daily from noon to 3 pm. The opening reception for John's show is Sunday, February 7, from 1 to 3 pm. If you needed an excuse — and a locale — for a close-by winter getaway, you have both now.

Movies at Cinema 16:9
January 14 to 28, various times
Still Walking, The Horse Boy, Terrible Tuesday features
35 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne

Minas at Picanha Brazilian Grill
Friday, January 15, 7:00 pm; $22 includes dinner; BYOB
Reservations recommended: 215-743-4647
6501 Castor Avenue, Philadelphia

Minas at The Plaza of the Kimmel Center
Friday, January 22, 5:30 pm; Free
Broad and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia

Stephen DiJoseph and Deirdre Flint at the Lansdowne Folk Club
Thursday, January 28, 7:30 pm; $15 or $18
Twentieth Century Club, 84 S. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne

Minas in the Jazz Bridge Series
Wednesday, February 3, 7:30 pm; $5 to $10
Cheltenham Art Center, 439 Ashbourne Road, Cheltenham

Minas at Picanha Brazilian Grill
Friday, February 12, 7:00 pm; $22 includes dinner; BYOB
Reservations recommended: 215-743-4647
6501 Castor Avenue, Philadelphia

Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra at Upper Darby Performing Arts Center
Sunday, February 14, 3:00 pm; $5 to $15
Upper Darby High School, Lansdowne Avenue

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

On the Martin Luther King, Jr, Holiday on January 18, there will be a breakfast celebration hosted by the Community YMCA of Eastern Delaware County featuring author Lorene Cary as guest speaker. Held at the Corporate Events Center at Drexelbrook, the breakfast will conclude at 9:30 am, so that participants are then free to perform a volunteer Day of Service, such as at Penn Wood High School. For more information and to register for this event go to the Y's website at www.cyedc.org.

Raise your hand if you resolved to lose some weight this year, even if it was a silent resolution that you're not broadcasting in case it doesn't work. (It's hard to type with one hand, so we're putting our hand down now.) Holistic health counselor Alexandra DiFilippo will give a talk called "Lose Weight, Get Healthy!" this Sunday, January 17, at Life More Abundant to help you get inspired to make that resolution a reality. The lecture starts at 2 pm at 25 N. Lansdowne Avenue, and it's free!

Then at 7:00 pm on Thursday, January 28, Life More Abundant will have its monthly vegetarian cooking class, which is also free. Led by Chef Johnetta Frasier, these classes are very popular, so reserve yourself a seat by calling Carl at 610-259-0101.

Dunkin Donuts is closed temporarily because of a fire on December 19. A few more details are available at the Lansdowne Fire Department's website. Though the store is expected to reopen shortly, this break in donut slinging might just help with the resolutions mentioned above.

The new lounge at Cinema 16:9 offers the comforts of home minus the worries about dropped popcorn.