March 16, 2006 Issue                                               

©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local Life

Top prizes for Wyndmoor firm at Phila. Flower Show
by PETE BEISSER

Kevin Burke in the greenhouse inspecting the roses, with grape vines, that were used in the exhibit.

Sean Burke sat on a tall folding chair last Sunday, gladly answering the questions of the constant stream of attendees filing out of his “Earthly Delights” exhibit at the 2006 Philadelphia Flower Show, which featured hundreds of gardeners and more than 10,000 flowers and plants.

On this rainy afternoon, the last of the celebrated eight-day long show, the number one inquiry posed to the landscape contractor about the display revolved around the dark reflecting pool. It’s situated outside the wine cave Burke Brothers Landscape Contractors created toward the back of the Pennsylvania Convention Center main exhibit hall.

What a Girl Wants: chocolates and designer fashions
by PAULA M. RILEY

Susan Lynn is surrounded by fine chocolates in all shapes and sizes in her new shop, which also features reduced-price designer fashions. (Photo by Paula Riley)

There are plenty of good reasons to stroll down Germantown Avenue to Mt. Airy’s revitalized business district. Now Susan Lynn has brought you another – ‘What a Girl Wants and A Guy Needs’ is the newest store in this ever changing business area. Just a door down from Infusion Coffee Shop, her one-of-a-kind gift boutique combines the finer pleasures so many women enjoy: quality chocolates, beautiful artwork and relatively inexpensive designer clothing.

Eat Your Heart Out’ in Mt. Airy Saturday

Glenn Bergman, manager of Weavers Way Co-op and one of the “Eat Your Heart Out” volunteer chefs, with Diane Shropshire, who with her husband Ken is one of the event’s hosts.

“Eat Your Heart Out!” is what some Mt. Airy chefs will be saying when serving delicious meals at this unusual traveling dinner during the Book and the Cook week. Diners will have an opportunity to view some of West Mt. Airy’s most beautiful homes while enjoying dinner especially created by local and talented home chefs.

Mt. Airy actress is feeling effects of age discrimination
by Kristin Pazulski

Jennifer Childs (left) dances with Mt. Airy’s Grace Gonglewski in Dancing at Lughnasa

St. Patrick’s Day brings to mind images of shamrocks, ale, leprechauns and pots of gold. For some it’s a holiday of partying and bright green décor, but for others it is a reminder of the traditional heritage and culture from the lush Celtic isle of Ireland.

Meeting the tunnel rat who murdered an angel
by AL ERLICK

Al Erlick, of Mt. Airy, the retired editor of The Jewish Exponent, is seen at his part-time job behind the counter at Penguin Photo in Chestnut Hill. (Photo by Len Lear)

Edward the tunnel rat is afraid he might have murdered an angel. Accidentally, of course, but it still feels like murder, he says.

He has walked up to me from out of the darkness, clothes and skin as black as the night, moving soundlessly on child-like feet, body poised for action or flight and vibrating with energy. He’s carrying a knapsack stuffed to its limit.

Try as I might to be urbane in such situations, to handle contacts with strangers with equanimity, there seems always to be a moment when my stomach flips over and my urban antennae quiver. The meanness of the city streets takes its toll, whatever the politically correct response.

Le Jardin: Parisian bistro in an artistic setting
by LEN LEAR

Athmane Kabir, who also owns the acclaimed BYOB, La Bohème, relaxes in the dining room at Le Jardin, the city’s only upscale restaurant located in an art gallery. (Photo by Len Lear)

I have never been to La Bohème, a BYOB at 246 S. 11th St. (modern French with influences of North African cuisine), which was once just a neighborhood restaurant, but I have met foodies who have an almost religious allegiance to it. I have been told, for example, that their shrimp and crab galette with tomato and cucumber salsa is an other-worldly dish. Like so many successful businesspeople, La Bohème’s owner, Algerian native Athmane Kabir, used his first venture as a trampoline to bounce into an even bigger and more sophisticated enterprise.

Thus, a little more than a year ago Kabir opened Le Jardin Restaurant, located in the historic Philadelphia Art Alliance building, 251 S. 18th St. on Rittenhouse Square (formerly Opus 251), which serves fine French/Mediterranean cuisine in one of the Delaware Valley’s prettiest dining venues. (La Bohème is still in business as well.)