dtown Magazine - October 2011
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HALLOWEEN ISSUE | OCTOBER 2011 FROM GALAXIES TO GHOULS: A SCARE FOR YOUR SEASON INSIDE…
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Transcript of dtown Magazine - October 2011
Halloween Issue | october 2011
From galaxies to ghouls: a scare For your season inside…
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Each artist influenced by personal backgrounds and nationalities.
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35 contemporary quilts crafted by members of Quilt Art, Europe’s leading advocacy group for innovative quilt making.
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Christopher Willett, born in 1959, is a Bucks County painter with a family lineage dating back to the Plymouth settlers who arrived in this country aboard the Mayflower. Willett’s fourth-great grandfather, Augustine Willett, was a captain under General Washington. Willett is also a descendant of Edward Hicks, known for his work titled Peaceable Kindom.In more recent history, Willett artisanswere renowned for their designs and beautiful works in stained glass that adorn the Bryn Athyn Cathedral onthe Pitcairn Estate.
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THERESA MAYS owner & trainercell 215.859.7902fax [email protected]
AT THE FARM302 Farm LaneDoylestown, PA 18901
Publisher: Pearson Publishing
Editor-In-Chief: Justin Elson
Managing Editor: Jack Firneno
Art Director: Paul Rowlands
Photography: Wendy McCardle, Nicole Cordisco
Contributing Writers: Jack Firneno, Scott Holloway, Justin Elson, Carla Merolla Odell, Adam Paulus, Caitlin Burns, Kyle Bagenstose, Cailen Ascher, Ingrid Weidman, Rochelle Craig, Anne Brenneman
Distribution Manager: Tom Cormican
To advertise, contact us at 215.896.2767 or via email at [email protected].
For all editorial content, contact us at [email protected]
THERESA MAYS owner & trainercell 215.859.7902fax [email protected]
AT THE FARM302 Farm LaneDoylestown, PA 18901
MusicLa Fiocco ................................................ 12
BusinessSew Designed and Unique Gifts .............. 18
HomeStone for Your Home ............................... 26
DaytripTerror Behind the Walls ........................... 30
SpotlightArtist Follows the Light to Third Career ... 36
Health + BeautyBack to the Front ..................................... 40
SpotlightHome Sweet Home ................................. 48
A Closer LookThe Closing of Borders Means Nothing…And Everything ........................ 50
A Closer LookHaunted History ....................................... 54
Food + DiningThe Piper Tavern ...................................... 58
ArtistSkuds McKinley … 22
Contents
8 Publisher’s Letter | October 2011
Uniting the CommunityPhoto Courtesy of Andrew Wilkinson
As a publisher, much of my day is spent communicating with editors and designers, clients and photographers. While I don’t often get out from behind my desk, I love the opportunity to address our readers.
It’s been a wild summer to say the least. The local media landscape is changing, but dtown is growing, challenging ourselves to move beyond what we’ve already accomplished. I’ve been quoted before, but I’ll say it again. I started this magazine with a doughnut on my Volkswagen, $10 in my pocket and two humble missions in mind. The first: give local artists a voice. While there’s hardly a shortage of galleries, exhibition spaces and creative energy around the region,
we wanted to bring it to the people. The second: bring our neighbors together. No politics, no religion, no insert- hotbutton-topic-here issue that only divides, never unites.
I consider myself lucky because of this publication. I am fortunate to have crossed paths with so many great small-business owners, talented artists and community organizers. To this day, if I see someone walking down the street carrying a copy,
I get goosebumps. I want to thank you, our readers, for allowing us to continue to enrich our community every month.
On a final note, I’d like to ask a favor of our readership. While Hurricane Irene might be remembered as an inconvenience for some, many in the communities along the Delaware are still reeling from its effects. They need us now. If you’re looking for a night out with family or friends, head there. Looking for a great meal? Visit an old
favorite or discover a new one. And as autumn prepares to bring its trademark colors, where else would you rather be?
Cheers,
David PearsonPublisher
9
Shoes are fun, but bones are better.Unique toys (including some for serious chewers AND the seriously bored), healthy treats, natural foods, supplies and more.
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Jakebreed: Schnoodleowner: Fran and Linda Fordage: 8 years old
By Scott Holloway
A writer far-more prolific and far-more proficient than I once asked, “What’s in a name?” It’s an especially relevant question when it comes to Jake. While you might assume – and perhaps rightfully so – that Jake is an adorable little guy, you’d be surprisingly wrong. You see, “he” is really a she. And even though Jake might defy gender conventions, it doesn’t change the adorable.
Nor does it change the fact that Jake is everything you’d want in a canine
companion: loving, faithful, and playful. She’s especially fond of traveling. All you need do is mention a car ride, and she’s ready and waiting.
But just how did Jake wind up with her unique moniker? After the Ford family lost their grandfather in 2003, they decided it was time for a new dog in their lives. After debating possible names, they settled on Linda Ford’s father’s nickname, a sort of canine tribute to a man who also held a special place in their hearts.
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12 Music | October 2011
La Fiocco Roll Over BeethovenBy Jack Firneno | Photos Courtesy of Lewis Baratz
At a time when technology allows virtually anyone to record and archive a musical performance, it’s easy to forget that centuries’ worth of music hasn’t been heard in its original form since it was first performed. Modern orchestras and ensembles may have the sheet music to a concerto or symphony by Mozart or Bach, but, like a story repeated only by word of mouth, today’s version can be very different from the original. “Baroque composers and performers approached music with different philosophies than those of today,” explains Lewis Baratz, director of the Bucks County-based ensemble La Fiocco. “And although we use many of the same instruments, they were constructed very differently than they are now.” By using only instruments that were made during that time or created by modern craftsman who specialize in recreating period instruments,
La Fiocco attempts to recast both obscure and well-known pieces as they were originally intended to be heard. “Stringed instruments at that time used gut rather than steel strings, and woodwinds were made of wood, not metal like today,” Baratz says. “Their tones are darker and rounder, and each note and key has a distinct color. This is opposed to modern instruments, which are built to provide brilliant tones and more consistency.” Employing their unique understanding of the composer’s intentions at the time the music was written as a guide, Baratz hopes that even casual listeners of classical and Baroque music will find La Fiocco’s performances much different – and hopefully just as enjoy-able – as those same pieces as played by modern orchestras. “Composers of that era understood that different keys, even if they were close to each other, represented different emotional
“ Many have said that hearing these pieces played this way has opened up a whole new dimension of the music.”
– Lewis Baratz
13
14 Music | October 2011
qualities,” Baratz says. “The instruments they used played to those qualities.” And just as composers wrote music which reflected this notion, many other ideas and themes used in the Baroque era are not present in the music written today or in the contemporary performances of earlier works. “Like jazz musicians, soloists at that time were expected to add improvisation and ornamentation to the written score, especially in slower passages,” Baratz explains. “There’s also a concept of speech in the compositions. A lot of it tells a story and goes through the emotional qualities of a narrative. Many of the melodic fragments relate directly to classical oration.” Understanding
these ideas, he says, greatly changes an ensemble’s interpretation of the written score. To ensure authentic recreations, La Fiocco works from facsimiles and mimeographs of the original scores rather than use modern recreations, which often modify and reinterpret the works. “It’s a part of why we chose to work so much out of Bucks County,” Baratz says. “It’s a very historic and culturally rich area, and a lot people are serious history buffs. It’s a great environment where people can appreciate what we’re doing. And so far, we’ve gotten a very warm reception.” And among their growing fans, Baratz is especially happy to see
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music students taking an interest in the performances: “Many have said that hearing these pieces played this way has opened up a whole new dimension of the music and helped them understand their own instruments much better.”
La Fiocco will be performing Oct. 16 at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, N.J.; Oct. 29 at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury; and Oct. 30 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Doylestown.
For more information, dates and tickets, go online at lafiocco.org.
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Sew Designed and Unique GiftsYour Home Décor HeadquartersBy Rochelle Craig | Photos by Wendy McCardle
18 Business | October 2011
In an area awash in a rich artistic legacy typically captured on canvas and displayed in nearly countless galleries, other creative and perhaps more-utilitarian pursuits sometimes take a backseat, regulated to craft fairs, flea markets or online outlets like Etsy. Of course, that all depends on your perspective. Just ask Nurit Bland When Bland, a fiber artist in her own right, opened the doors to Sew Designed and Unique Gifts, a shop specializing in handmade home décor in Doylestown this past June, she perhaps envisioned a permanent space for like-minded collectors independent of special events and where the wares were more tangible than mere pixels on a screen. “I was laid off from a corporate job and found myself with time on my hands,” Bland says. “I began making custom window treatments and handbags. I started selling them at craft shows in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Vermont. The shop is just a natural extension of that.” Featuring high-end crafts made by local artists, handpicked pieces on consignment and Bland’s own handiwork, her displays offer an opulent tapestry of colors and textures. From the late David Frame’s signed pen-and-ink portfolios to the jewelry designs of Sarah Cornwell, Sew Designed caters to nearly every taste. The store also features select vintage handkerchiefs, straw hats and glass-ware, as well as Bland’s signature pillows, table clothes and runners and baby bedding, among numerous other items. “Most of the artists go from craft show to craft show, but they can also leave their work here,” she says. “It helps to have a place they can refer their potential customers to when they’re out promoting their work. The artists often drop in to rearrange
19
their displays and show their newest creations. If you come in one time, it might be different on your next visit.” Bland also finds inspiration by way of her customers, who often make Sew Designed their first stop when searching for a piece for a specific space. Bland makes house calls to help her clientele select fabrics and styles for window treatments, measures the windows and, naturally, does all the sewing herself. Bland keeps up with current trends by attending trade shows, where she previews the latest designs in home décor and accessories. Bland also searches far and wide for unique fabrics. “I love to mix textures and find fabrics and trim that go well together,” she says. “And then there’s the thrill of people saying, ‘Your work is gorgeous.’” And while the stitches that bind Bland’s work together are evidenced in her wares, she’s also busy strengthening her ties within the artistic and business
communities. “She’s eclectic,” says Linda Gallagher, whose baby jumpers can be found at Sew Designed, of Bland’s style and sense. “She only takes what she thinks are high-quality products. It’s a nice opportunity for those of us who are local.” And keeping it local is another of Bland’s missions. “I invite everyone to stop in,” she says. “We even have free parking. When you shop here, the money stays in the community and that benefits everybody.”
Go online at sew-designed.com
“ I love to mix textures and find fabrics and trim that go well together.”
– Nurit Bland
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22 Artist | October 2011
23
s ome might describe the varying elements of Skuds McKinley’s work
as grotesque. Zombies with melting flesh, a woman chomped in half by a giant shark and the once-beautiful faces of people now distorted with boils and lesions doesn’t exactly bring to mind this area’s traditional pastoral scenes. But to McKinley, it’s simply the result of the macabre-colored through which he sees the world. “I’ve always been a little bit of a morbid guy,” admits the 22-year-old artist. “When I was younger, I used to just sketch stuff, and it would come out looking a little weird. I’d draw a person’s face and one eye would be bigger than the other. It’s easy to look at the world and see everything as normal. But in art, you can take the norm and put your little stamp on it.” And McKinley’s stamp is starting to garner him some attention. Heavily influenced by comic books, his black-
and-white sketching style is catching on in music circles, and the artist suddenly finds himself in demand. “A lot of hard-core bands have been hitting me up to do album artwork,” McKinley says, naming North Carolina’s Just Die and up-and-coming rapper Kap Kallous as two recent collaborations. “The punk rock scene likes it, the alternative comic scene loves it and the rap kids are starting to dig it. It’s all just been kind of happening.” McKinley’s newfound success comes after a good deal of traveling and finding his artistic muse. Born in Stafford, Va., – with a name he perhaps obviously prefers not to use professionally – he recently landed in Bucks County. “I’ve been up and down the East Coast the past couple of years, moving around a lot,” McKinley says. “I attempted to go school at Full Sail University down in Florida, but it wasn’t for me. I can’t learn like that.”
Skuds McKinleyPunk Art and Self-Discovered StyleBy Kyle Bagenstose | Photos Courtesy of Skuds McKinley
Instead, he’s predominately self-taught, capitalizing on the artistic abilities, he says, run in his family: His mother is a designer, his sister a painter and his half-brother a graphic designer. But even in his closest circles, McKinley says he’s always been the oddball, a perhaps fitting place for the offbeat artist. “I used to get in a lot of trouble for the stuff I drew. I had to go to therapy for a little bit, because they thought something was wrong,” McKinley says, laughing. “My teachers would call home with ‘concerns.’ But my step-dad says I’ve actually turned out to be the most normal of my five brothers and sisters.” After landing in Pipersville two years ago to be closer to his girlfriend, McKinley says he’s been teaching himself how to become more versatile as an artist and learning to market his work. “I’ve been trying to teach myself the professional way to draw a person rather than just going willy-nilly,” he explains. “I’ve learned how to paint and produce watercolors through Youtube. If I want to learn something new, I won’t just go at it. I’ll get a book or watch what I need to learn.” And so far his plan is working. With pieces already on display at the Cyborg
24 Artist | October 2011
“ It’s easy to look at the world and see everything as normal. But in art, you can take the norm and put your little stamp on it.”
– Skuds McKinley
25
One Comic Shop and Siren Records in Doylestown, his recent growth as an artist culminated in a watershed moment earlier this year. “At the Punk Rock Flea Market [held in Philadelphia last May], it started slow but then got to the point where we were selling out of pieces,” McKinley recalls. “That was a really amazing moment when I thought, ‘Wow, I can really do this.’” While artistic styles develop and grow, McKinley still thinks of himself as primarily a comic writer and illustrator and describes a fully realized book as the next project in line. “I want to get a nice-size compilation comic book done, but my lifetime goal is just to make it doing what I love to do,” he says. “I just want my work to go as long and as far as it can possibly go. I don’t want it to be a dream. I want it to be a reality.”
Go online at batshitart.com
26 Home | October 2011
Stone for Your HomeNavigating and Perfecting the RemodelBy Caitlin Burns | Photos by Wendy McCardle
Change is a good thing. Especially for your home. If a remodel is in your near future, don’t fear the seemingly endless options when it comes to choosing styles, themes and materials. There are experts out there to help you. And if you’re looking to add stonework to the new look of your kitchen, bathroom or wherever you’re planning your new dream room, Marble Source, a family-owned company based in Ottsville, can help. We sat down with president Kevin Givnin to get the hard facts on what will best suit your needs and how to make an informed choice. “Stone work has a certain class to it, and many people consider it when they want something much different than what they’ve had in their home for years,” Givnin says. “Each individual slab of stone is unique, so it can either stand out or blend into the design, depending on what the client wants.” Along with the stone in its company name, Marble Source also offers granite, limestone, onyx and soapstone, among others.
Function and Fashion Consider the location, use and traffic of the room when choosing a material. “An important part of our job is educating people on the different types of stone we offer, so they can make the best choice for their project,” Givnin explains. For instance, granite is often recommended for kitchens, because it’s durable enough to withstand heavy use. “Soapstone is another option for the same reason,” Givnin adds. “It also adds a certain ‘country-home’ effect that can be relaxing in what’s often the most hectic room in the house.” Conversely, marble, which can become stained from food splatter and other messes or may scratch under the heavy stress of a busy area, is a better option for bathrooms, fireplaces or tabletops. “Marble has a soft, flowing appearance that works well in these areas,” Givnin says.
Match Your PaletteGivnin says a common mistake many make is not bringing in a piece of flooring or cabinetry so a stone can
27
be matched to the overall design of their space. “Oftentimes, people think just knowing the basic color or design scheme of the room is all they need,” he explains. “But there are so many subtleties that we need to consider in order to find that perfect combination.” Along with color, pattern choice is important, too. “Any kind of stone will have a sense of flow or movement to it,” Givnin says. “Even after you’ve chosen the stone, it’s important to look at specific slabs when they come in to see what unique natural designs will best suit your room.” And while color and design is important, nothing trumps customer preference. “We’ll make our recom-mendations, but ultimately it’s what the client wants that’s most important,” Givnin notes. “We make sure we take the time to get to know the person, so we can best understand what’s truly right for them.”
Don’t Sacrifice for Price It can be tempting to try and save a few dollars on your stone selection
with all your other budgetary concerns, but it’s a tactic that Givnin strongly advises against. “We become just as invested in creating that dream room as our customers, and we want to see the finished product look great for years to come,” he says. Whiles he admits that some stones are more expensive than others, there are ways to work around the cost: “We’ll help a client prioritize, which stones they want the most. Customers often discover great options that aren’t as expensive as their first choices.” In other cases, Marble Source can identify places to use one slab in-stead of two, cutting costs while still delivering a dazzling finished piece. “If there’s a stone that works for the project, don’t give it up just because of a price difference,” Givnin advises. “If you’re working with someone who wants to make your dream room come true just as much as you do, there’s usually a way to make it work.”
For more information on Marble Source’s products and services, call 610-847-5694.
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Terror Behind the Walls The Horror of an After-Life SentenceBy Kyle Bagenstose | Photos Courtesy of Tom Bernard, Michael Cevoli and Jeff Fusco
30 Daytrip | October 2011
s ome believe in ghosts. Others need a little more evidence. But no
matter on which side of the spiritual fence you might land, the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia’s Fairmount neighborhood should be high on a short list of places to visit for good Halloween fright. Come each fall, the 184-year-old stone behemoth fills its 10 acres and 15 cell blocks with sets, lights, spooks and scares, inviting visitors to brave their way through an intense “haunted- house” tour that’s consistently named one of the top-10 haunted attractions in the country. But what separates Terror Behind the Walls from the average suburban haunted hayride is the chilling stories behind the creepy ambience and spooky costumes. Just ask Gary the Locksmith. “Back in the 1990s, we pulled some stone away from an old exercise yard and uncovered a padlocked doorway that
lead back into a cellblock,” says Sean Kelley, director of public programming for the penitentiary. “Gary was trying to pick the padlock, when he says he sensed an incredible evil from inside the cell. He went back into the cell block itself, and he had this amazing experience, where he believes he was physically attacked by ghosts inside of the prison.” But ghoulish tales from inside the prison go back much further than a decade or two. Employees at the penitentiary routinely reported hearing cries, whispers and giggles when no other people around. Even Al Capone, Eastern State’s most infamous inmate, insisted he was haunted by the spirit of a victim of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre while incarcerated. According to accounts, he would yell nightly for the ghost to leave him be. And while not all visitors will have the same kind of vivid, perhaps terrifying
Eastern State Penitentiary lends an ominous and spooky air to the Philadelphia night.
31
“ Terror Behind the Walls is one of the largest and most-ambitious haunted attractions in the U.S. It’s consistently named one of the top-10 haunted events in the country.”
– Sean Kelley
experience like Gary or Capone, the penitentiary spares no expense in creating equally terrifying encounters. “We have over 200 actors and Hollywood-quality special effects, including an animatronic dog that’s really startling,” Kelley says. He notes that many of the attractions incorporate aspects of the penitentiary to maximize the scare factor. “We have an attraction called Lockdown that’s in a historic corridor. When you look up, all you see is three stories of cellblocks and inmates staring down at you,” Kelley adds. “And we have a line of mannequins dressed like inmates that you must walk past as the hallway gets smaller and smaller.” But, he warns with a wry smile, some of those mannequins are real. And new for 2011 is the Gauntlet, a high-energy opening with overhead catwalks above an outdoor maze, and Breakout, an outdoor scare zone in the final courtyard before visitors leave the event.
But even without the added atmosphere, the prison alone can be enough to give you the chills. Originally opened in 1827, the jail was built with the Quaker belief that all people are inherently good in mind. In their view, criminals needed to be separated from the corrupt society that influenced them. This meant solitary confinement. “The building itself is one of the things that people really come away remembering. It was designed to be intimidating; it’s meant to be scary,” Kelley says. “Prisoners lived in almost total silence for a typical sentence of up to two years. But over time, there were concerns that prolonged isolation could drive people insane.” When a bit more modernity came to the prison in 1913, it transitioned to the more-recognizable group-living environment we know today. It was decades later that some of Eastern States’ more notorious prisoners did
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their hard time, including Slick Willie Sutton and Al Capone, whose cell is a top attraction. After the penitentiary was formally closed in 1971, the city weighed its options, including tearing the structure down, before allowing local historical societies to take over jurisdiction. The idea of holding a yearly haunted attraction came to fruition in 1991 and has since raised over $3.5 million used for the penitentiary’s annual operating costs. Besides its Terror Behind the Walls attraction, Eastern State also offers a wide array of tours for those with varied interests. “Visitors can take daytime prison tours anytime during the year to learn its history,” Kelley says. “We also host an after-hours VIP tour, where we give everyone a flashlight. An expert guide takes them through to learn about what actually happened in the building.”
For more information on schedules and ticket information, go online easternstate.org/halloween.
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Artist Follows the Light to Third CareerBy Anne Brenneman | Photo Courtesy of Christopher McCall
36 Spotlight | October 2011
A native New Yorker drawn first to the performing arts, Doylestown-based artist Christopher McCall didn’t come to painting or to Bucks County by any direct route. From a successful career as an actor, dancer and singer and then a second profession as the owner of a Manhattan retail business, McCall began dabbling in the fine arts. Developing his interest in painting while still in the city, he studied privately for three years before leaving retail behind and launching his third successful endeavor as a working artist.
McCall will have ample opportunity for other artists to admire his work when it is showcased at the 18th-Annual Galaxy Art Show and Sale, scheduled for the first weekend in November. Including the work of 75 regional painters, McCall is this year’s featured artist for the event,
which benefits the Network of Victim Assistance, a nonprofit organization that provides services to victims of crime.
McCall’s painting is characterized by textural variety in both elegant compositions and informal arrangements with an emphasis on the light and look of the 18th- and 19th-century masters. “I lay down my impression of the objects I’ve arranged to paint with a concept in mind, that being light, depth, intensity of color,” he explains. “I’m not a precisionist; I try to paint the light on the objects rather than painting the objects in detail.” McCall’s adopted home also both informs his work and inspires. “It seems to just be fate that I came to Bucks County,” he says. “Always having artists exhibiting somewhere in the region gives me ample access to study and admire other artists’ work.”
The Galaxy Art Show and Sale will be held Nov. 3 through Nov. 6 in the Bucks County Courthouse’s 3rd-floor rotunda in Doylestown. The four-day event begins with a preview reception with the artists on Thursday evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets for the opening reception are $35. The remaining days of the show are free and open to the public. The show will be open Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors to Galaxy will be able to meet Christopher McCall at two events: Thursday’s preview reception and Sunday’s Afternoon Tea with the Artist from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For reception tickets and a complete events schedule, call 215-343-6543 or contact Angela at [email protected].
Go online at novabucks.org
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Bring Your Appetite for Good Taste.
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Back to the FrontKeeping Your Torso in Tip-Top ShapeBy Cailen Ascher | Photos Courtesy of William Plon and John Augustine
40 Health + Beauty | October 2011
l et’s face it; many of us are stuck behind desks all day. And once
we’re off the clock and comfortably at home, we spend more than a few evenings no more than a stone’s throw from a computer or a TV. It’s no wonder than that back pain is a common ailment that leaves many of its sufferers wondering if there is a simple, easy or affordable remedy. We sat down Victoria and Annie Maxwell – ironically, no relation – co-owners of Powerhouse Pilates in Doylestown, to get a few straightforward tips that anybody – or should I say any body – can use to help alleviate chronic back pain. As devotees of Pilates, Victoria and Annie, who share over a decade of experience in the studio, both believe in body movements that support proper alignment and allow the muscles to function in their intended fashion. With just a little attention and effort, they’ve seen it work wonders for themselves and their clients alike. “Pilates has made me injury resistant,”
Annie says. “It teaches how to use your body without abusing your body.” Victoria adds, “Pilates makes the body more efficient. It makes and keeps you able-bodied.”
STAY FLexibLe One of the greatest defenses in fighting back pain is keeping your spine flexible, active and healthy. To increase the spine’s mobility and create space between the vertebrae, Victoria suggests a simple roll-down. “Allow the weight of your head to slowly guide your upper-body downward, curving the spine as you go and ultimately finishing in a forward-fold,” she explains. “Then reverse the motion, bringing the head up last.” Victoria emphasizes that the movement should feel rejuvenating, not painful. Rounded shoulders plague many who are seated throughout the majority of their day. “This rounding-in of the rib cage collapses the body at the heart and compacts your organs,” Annie
Annie (l) and Victoria (r) Maxwell help clients escape the clutches of chronic pain.
41
explains. “It often results in difficulty taking deep breaths.” As a counter-measure, she recommends standing with your back to a wall, your heels approximately a foot from the base. Hinge at your hips so that your lower back comes to rest against the wall followed by your rib cage, shoulders and head. Annie explains that this motion will naturally open up rounded shoulders and align the spine properly.
LeT’S Do The TwiST“The spine is not merely a rigid support pole. It’s meant to be moved, extended and twisted,” Annie says. “That’s why our core, which we call our powerhouse, is such a key area to address and protect.” She suggests incorporating gentle movements into your daily routine such as the simple seated twist. “Sitting with your back straight on the edge of a chair, place your right hand on the seat a few inches from the base of your spine,” Annie explains. “Take your left hand to the
outer edge of your right knee to help guide you deeper into the rotation.” Again, she stresses that this exercise should feel empowering, not painful.
A DeLiCATe bALAnCeWhile working the core properly will help one move more efficiently, the spine is also vital in stabilizing our bodies. “When we walk, we often allow our upper legs to tip the pelvis forward and back with every step we take,” Annie says. “This results in lower back pain.” Annie and Victoria propose trying a disassociation exercise to help the femur move independently from the pelvis. Stand with your side to a mirror and attempt to lift and bend your knee to a 90-degree angle without moving your pelvic bone. Disassociation is fundamental in protecting the lower back from misalignment.
For more information on classes and other services, go online at powerhpilates.com or call 215-348-2871.
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home Sweet homeBy Justin Elson | Photos Courtesy of Jonathan Hayward and Sharyl Volpe
48 Spotlight | October 2011
Human beings are inherently curious about just how other human beings live. It’s why reality TV is no longer a fad but the norm. It’s why Graceland continues to be one of the country’s biggest tourist destinations. It’s why the English language has a word for those among us who can’t help but take a gander in the lit windows of a house we’re passing: crytoscopophiliac. And it’s why local house tours always attract a strong crowd. But not all house tours were created equal.
On Oct. 22, the Trinity Episcopal Church of Solebury will hold its 21st-Annual House Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entitled Autumn in Bucks County, the event is a one-day-only celebration, featuring five distinctive homes nestled in and around scenic Solebury Township: the Edward Redfield Homestead in Center Bridge; the Mill House in Carversville; the Double Tree Farm in New Hope; Playwicky in
New Hope; and Ruinas in New Hope, an experiment in both luxury and environmentally responsible living. Each property offers a unique combination of architecture, setting, style and furnishings. But there’s an additional twist. “You get to tour the entire home – not just one room or the gardens – and learn their history in the process,” says Charlotte De Jesus, this year’s chairperson. “It really gives you a glimpse of living in Bucks County.”
And while the homes will take center stage, there’s some fun to be had as well. Raffle tickets for an array of items will be on sale the day of the tour. A silent auction will also be held for an original bronze sculpture by Ashby Saunders and an original Alan Fetterman painting. Home-baked cookies, coffee and tea will also be available along the way.
Tickets for the tour are $35 per person and may be purchased at the Trinity Church Office on weekdays between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. or online. Ticket sales are limited and children under 12 are not permitted. This year’s tour is not handicapped accessible. Proceeds from the house tour fund Trinity’s local, national and international mission efforts.
For more information or to purchase tickets, go online at trinitysolebury.org/housetour or call 215-297-5135.
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The Closing of Borders Means Nothing…And EverythingBy Adam Paulus
50 A Closer Look | October 2011
I was told to do hard journalism on this one. Get some facts, lay down
some analysis. Don’t just retread the same story. Or so I assumed I would when I read that Borders was closing its doors. I immediately thought of Harold Ramis’ character in Ghost-busters – Egon Spengler for you Eighties babies – who proclaimed “Print is dead” in a characteristic deadpan that underplayed the brilliant prescience of the line he had written. I was also reminded of my first interview, way back in the mid-1990s, with the owner of the Bookshop Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, Cal. about the nefarious effects of big-box stores and corporate monoliths, which were coming soon to a corner near you to homogenize the American landscape. No more mom-and-pops, no more funky local-only hangs. Soon the world would be littered far and wide with the Applebee’s, Home Depot’s, Walgreen’s and Wal-Mart’s of the world.
Essentially, that’s what happened in the 21st-century. But 16 years ago, Neil S. – his last name escapes me now – the independent bookstore owner, assured me he would outlast them all. He certainly seemed sincere. But sin-cerity and reality are often divergent crossroads having nothing to do with another. And yet somehow, someway, he has outlasted at least one of those monoliths. But I couldn’t figure out how. There must be some social trend behind this development? I was certain there was a story there, something to answer a lingering question about what this all said about technology, society, the economy and us, culturally, as we evolved in the Information Age. I reached out to an old friend who once covered economics for Dow Jones and the Associated Press. Surely he could explain to me what this mish-mash of mixed-messaged economic news all meant. All he had
was a term. He told me what I was pondering was social economics. I hadn’t known there was such a stratum. He rattled off information about commodities markets and what companies might rise and fall, but he couldn’t particularly understand what makes individuals buy from one place and not another. We were comparing apples to oranges. At least that’s what he thought. But back to the “facts” at hand. Borders was a leading book retailer that died from their inability to cope with changes in the market and technology, wherever those two ideas differ. Meanwhile, small independent bookstores like the Doylestown Bookshop or Farley’s Bookshop in New Hope are able to survive particularly because they don’t keep up with technological changes and market shifts. There’s something about being able to hold a book, the tactile feel of its pages and binding, that online shopping can’t replicate. And here’s where it gets interesting. If it’s indeed the browsing we crave, my children will likely show no inclination toward a hardbound first edition. Their information and access will all be contained on and come from the device of their choosing. You might argue it’s simply supporting local business or even American industry in the broader sense, but that didn’t save local hardware stores from being over run by Lowe’s and Home Depot or local eateries from being gobbled up by the likes of T.G.I. Friday’s and the Olive Garden. The answer to my query, I realized, wouldn’t be logical. And thus, writing an illogical piece defied the convictions of hard journalism. There is something within the nature of certain towns that allows for the success of certain local places like the Bookshop Santa Cruz, the
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Doylestown Bookshop and Farley’s. Maintaining these types of businesses speaks to a community’s individuality. If you travel enough outside the region, you realize how unique our area is. Out west, they build aimless communities in the desert without logical parameters: tract housing next to a Target or a Safeway, more houses and then a Ruby Tuesday with no concept of a downtown, no idea of heart. A good optometrist would recognize this suburban myopia instantly. Older towns always retain this innate sense of planning. But even then, many towns beset by changing market conditions or real estate meltdowns – like the myriad industrial towns of Pennsylvania – could not sustain themselves when manufacturing jobs shifted first to the South and then to Southeast Asia. Jobs left, people moved with them and businesses
shuttered. Some came back but never fully. Some towns escaped the vicious cycle through nothing more than benign serendipity. Our area benefits from two wonderful economic factors that can never be taken away. Firstly, it lies at a midpoint between two of the five largest cities in the U.S. and in the center of the great Eastern Megalopolis, an industrial and lifestyle experiment on a scale the world has never before seen. Secondly, it benefits from being a home to two businesses that are recession proof: health and law. The world will always need doctors and lawyers, whether you like it or not, and thus, Bucks, Mercer and Hunterdon Counties will always be economically vibrant. So as the market dips and dives, shucks and jives like a ham-and-egger pugilist, businesses such as Borders will find themselves on the chopping block, cultural and economic dodo birds. Local businesses will always remain, albeit perhaps more thinly disguised and the collapse of giants signals nothing. But in Naperville, Davenport or Fort Collins, Kan., will book-buyers still go online or drive to the nearest Barnes and Noble? Perhaps the austerity of the Midwest can better tolerate the cold, corporate calculus? Even if it’s a mindset hardly determined by geography alone. More troubling in the long run is this: booksellers control dissemination of information. Although the Internet provides you with unlimited reference material, too much information often is as useful as having none. Booksellers provide the majority of us with what we choose to know. Concentrating selling power into the hands of a minority dilutes our knowledge base. Information throughout history has always been the most powerful tool
societies can acquire. The ability to move that information is called technology and progress. Cultural homogenization can only occur when information is controlled by the few to be distributed as deemed necessary to the masses. Teddy Roosevelt broke up corporate monopolies for this exact reason. When we consolidate information, media and literature into the hands of a few – Comcast, Universal, Barnes and Noble – in the course of a few brief years, well, the outcome is hardly as stark as predicted in 1984 or Fahrenheit 451. But the beauty of great science fiction was never its realism or prescience, but that its exaggerations spoke to a much more plausible reality, a better understanding through metaphor. It’s the potential delicacy of the building wave that could conceivably crash over us that’s frightening. Removing local and used bookstores doesn’t make us physically throw Huckleberry Finn on a bonfire. They’ve already been there, done that, tried it. But, metaphorically, reducing distribution is a more-effective way of getting rid of books than merely burning them and more insidious in its subtlety. And as any history student knows, the lessons are in the repetition, the knowledge that all today’s problems are the same of yesterday’s rephrased. The death of Borders doesn’t mean in any way that Americans have shied away from the trend toward cold, corporate box-stores. But it does mean that in some places, sometimes, character means something more than the mere cost of an item or simple convenience. And it’s that character, the reason many of us remain here, that makes it necessary to balance the encroachment of corporate synergy and with what’s left of local and funky.
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Haunted HistoryWhere Spirits Rise and Ghosts SurpriseBy Justin Elson | Photos by Nicole Cordisco
54 A Closer Look | October 2011
C all it humankind’s predilection for inventing the supernatural, call it
our collective struggle to deal with the finality of death or call it what you will but tales of ghosts, hauntings, curses and otherworldly beings have held a place in nearly culture around the world since, well, ever. It’s no surprise than that an area as steeped in history as our own has its own share of paranormal stories. “A ghost is the disembodied spirit of a once-living human being but who is now deceased,” says Laurie Hull, director of the Tri-County Paranormal Research Society, settling on a definition for the often-overused word. “There are a few theories as to why, how or where they appear, but that’s essentially it.”
The Logan innEven a cursory glance at local ghostly hotspots would do well to start with perhaps one of the most notoriously
haunted sites in the area: the Logan Inn. Opened in 1722, the inn quickly grew in popularity, becoming a welcomed resting point for travelers along York Road. During George Washington’s encampment in the area – struggling against both a difficult military campaign and an unrelenting winter – he ordered his troops to leave the bodies of fallen soldiers in the Logan’s basement until the ground softened to dig a proper grave. According to lore, patrons have long claimed to see a ghostly spirit dressed in a Continental Army uniform enter the Logan Inn, move toward the bar and promptly vanish without a trace. Employees working in the basement have also reported seeing the mysterious apparition. But he might also get around. “I’ve never seen the soldier at the bar, but I stayed there on a bitterly cold night,” Hull says. “I saw someone outside and thought, ‘He must be freezing.’
The Logan Inn is one of our area’s haunted landmarks.
I could see him clearly even though it was dark. When I went to look, he was wearing Revolutionary War-era clothing and was carrying a gun. As soon as I really ‘saw’ him, he disappeared.” And while Hull certainly entertains the notion of the supernatural existing in our world, she and her colleagues research historical records to establish plausibility and debunk stories when they find no evidence to support claims. “I think what I saw was the spirit of someone enlisted in the militia,” Hull adds. “When we did our research, we found his style of dress and weapon closely matched those of that era.” And while one ghost is enough to spark the curiosity of many, the Logan boasts of perhaps even more super-natural “visitors.” An oil painting that still hangs in the lobby reportedly depicts two previous owners believed 68 S. Main St., Doylestown
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to still haunt their former environs. One was known to craft many items from lavender that she used about the inn. From time to time, guests claim to smell an aromatic lavender odor. “I certainly smelled it,” Hull says. “It’s very strong, like a perfume, but can disappear just as quickly.” And while the olfactory presence is a link to perhaps a supernatural influence, the painting itself has an eerie past. Many photographs of the canvas have reportedly produced unusual results. According to legend, faces that are not depicted in the original painting and even figures stepping out from the canvas have been seen once the film was processed.
bowman’s hill and buried TreasureFollowing the Delaware River south, Washington Crossing Historic Park might just contain pirate treasure. Known more as the strategic launching point in the Battle of Trenton, the park’s most notable landmark could take its name from something far more sinister. According to one story, Bowman’s Hill is named after Dr. John Bowman, a surgeon on board an English fleet charged with capturing the infamous pirate Captain Kidd. But fate had different plans. Somehow, Bowman – either through force, coercion or lured to the adventure and riches afforded by life on the high seas – switched allegiances and served under Kidd as his fleet’s surgeon. Upon the notorious pirate’s death, the story goes that his crew divided their treasure, and Bowman retired to the Pennsylvania countryside. According to legend, both Bowman and his treasure’s unmarked final resting place are still on the hill that possibly bears his name. It’s said that if one can find his grave, arrive at the stroke of midnight and inquire about
his treasure, the spirit of Bowman himself will reveal the location. “I spoke to a local police officer once who would patrol the hill from time to time,” Hull says. “He said he saw a figure on the hill, shined his light on it, saw nothing but it appeared as soon as he took his light away.” But treasure seekers beware. Legend has it that anyone who has attempted to find Bowman or his treasure has gone insane. More practically, the park is closed at night, and it’s illegal to dig for buried treasure on the grounds.
The Van Sant bridgeNear Bowman’s Hill, the Van Sant Covered Bridge is another local spot reportedly haunted by restless spirits. One of two popular stories is that the muffled cries of a baby whose mother committed suicide at the site can still be heard. The other revolves around two horse thieves reportedly hung from the bridge whose ghostly bodies can still be seen swinging from the rafters. But both stories seem suspect. “The story of the mother and her child comes up all over the country,” Hull says. “In our research, we also never found any evidence to corroborate that anyone was ever hung from the bridge. Sometimes people’s expectations bring them to a conclusion.” Still, while neither story seemingly has historical merit, Hull still thinks “something” is there. “The couple times I’ve been, I’ve certainly sensed some kind of presence at the site,” she continues. “Plus there are an overwhelming amount of accounts of strange noises and sights. It stands to reason there’s some kind of activity.”
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56 A Closer Look | October 2011
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The Piper TavernA Bucks County Culinary TraditionBy Ingrid Weidman | Photos by Wendy McCardle
58 Food + Dining | October 2011
I n the summer of 1759, at the corner of what was then the Philadelphia-
Easton Post and Durham Roads, a quaint tavern rose. Almost two decades later, George Piper, a colonel in the Continental Army, purchased the building and, from that moment, the tavern – and the little town that grew around it – had its name. And while a guestbook featuring everyone from Benjamin Franklin to Bucks- County outlaws the Doan Brothers, from James Michener to Pearl .S. Buck, have left an undeniable sense of importance, history is hardly the only thing the Piper is known for. With three fine-dining areas, two high-end banquet rooms and a casual pub, its not only one of Bucks County’s most recognized landmark and restaurants, it’s an institution. Following in the footsteps of tradition, the recipe for customer satisfaction is refreshingly simple. “We have
a wonderful staff, amazing customers and fantastic food,” says Alexis Banis, the Piper Tavern’s general manager. “People come happy but leave here happier.” And much of that happiness is, of course, a result of their culinary excellence, the key to their standing as both a destination point for celebrations and everyday dining alike. “We feature a lunch, dinner and pub menu,” Banis continues. “We have a huge selection; it’s very extensive. There is something for everyone.” For those on the go or enjoying a day in the Bucks’ countryside, the Piper’s lunch menu features a wide selection of entrée salads such as the Piper salad or the locally renowned Cobb. Several full-lunch dishes, like their famous burgers, are also are also available along with the drink that helped put the Piper on the map: the ¢75 martini available between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
The staff of the Piper Tavern ensure every guest has both an unforgettable night and a fantastic meal.
59
The Piper’s sunset menu features the perfect in-between plates at a great price. Choices include the blue-moon tenderloin and baked-salmon Michener adorned with a blended spinach, artichoke-and-cheese sauce and finished with a lemon-burre blanc. Looking to enjoy a drink? The pub menu, starting at 4:00 p.m., features burgers and light fare like salads, sandwiches and their trademark French-onion soup. The bar also features the only two-timing happy hour in town with reduced drink and appetizer
prices between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. and again between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. And while the lunch, sunset and pub offerings are sure to satisfy any palette, most eateries are judged by the most important meal in the restaurant world: dinner. The Piper Tavern doesn’t disappoint. Aiming to please almost any epicurean interest, the Piper’s dinner menu hits nearly every culinary outpost. Appetizer choices range from their famous snapper soup to the succulent crab-stuffed mushrooms. Dinner fare includes the Coquilles Saint Jacques Lafayette – a favorite of once-often guest General Marquis de Layette, a key figure in the Revolutionary War – which features deep-sea scallops with mushrooms, imported Swiss cheese and a wine Mornay sauce. The veal Felix introduces patrons to a quickly flashed Provimi white veal accented with jumbo-crab
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nuggets, grape tomatoes and aged Asiago cheese finished in a Béarnaise sauce. “We try to appeal to everyone’s tastes,” Banis says. “And if we don’t, we try to accommodate them in any way we can. We’ll prepare old favorites even if they’re no longer on our menu.” The Piper Tavern’s guests are also treated to the open European-style kitchen, where Tavern Master and owner Gregg Thomas and his team of chefs create the evening’s culinary masterpieces right in front of their eyes. “The best view of our kitchen is in the Franklin Dining Room, which can accommodate large parties of up to 50 every night but Saturday,” Banis says. Along with the Franklin Room, the Piper also houses an elegant two-room banquet facility on the second floor. “Our Lafayette Room seats up to 30 people, and the Gallery Room can hold upwards of 16.” Banis adds.
Thomas, who purchased the establishment in 1996, continues to enjoy the success of the restaurant you “celebrate at but still come to every week.” He’s well aware of the Piper’s reputation but doesn’t take it for granted. “A lot of my time is spent researching and finding quality products,” Thomas says. “We use quality ingredients and lots of TLC.” And with a recently updated appearance and a closer eye on the contemporary, Thomas, Banis and the staff hope to live up to their patrons’ expectations for many years to come. “We have such a huge variety of consistent menu items,” he continues. “Over the years our consistency has been one of our strongest points. The biggest compliment we receive is that our customers use our restaurant as the benchmark for all others.”
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