August 3, 2006 Issue
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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Online Editor Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or ©2006 Chestnut Hill Local Winner of One |
Local Life...New
Sanctuary on Hill lives up to its name
It was a steamy Mad Dogs and Englishmen day when we visited Sanctuary, the Hill’s newest store, at 8611 Germantown Ave. Chris Aibel, the shop’s charming and energetic owner, gave us real sanctuary, and not simply from the ghastly weather. Her spirit was pleasantly infectious; she radiates the inner joy that comes from following your heart’s desire. Chris, who looks a good decade younger than 53, opened Sanctuary in the former Rug Maven location on July 11, after a year of planning. The plan was to create a shop that is also a personal oasis, a place where a customer can receive replenishment and rejuvenation as well as jewelry, music, books and clothing — all with a spiritual connection.
Miles
of great photos at local Art Ryan exhibit
Imagine, lying on the ground, Pentax K1000 in hand. You’re on the last roll of film … borrowed from a fellow photographer because you got carried away earlier in the performance, and Miles Davis is looking down, playing straight into the lens of your camera as you snap the monumental photos that will take you from amateur hobbyist to professional artist. Arthur Ryan, 43, started tinkling with photography his senior year in George Washington High School in Northeast Philadelphia. Back then, he said, he was “still playing around,” his interest in photography developing into what he described as “more than casual” after he graduated from high school. A family friend, “like an uncle almost,” became his photographic mentor. Arthur Hill, currently residing in Bellmawr, N.J., was a professional photographer who allowed Ryan to use the darkroom in his basement.
Fashionable,
peaceful Sanctuary
It was a steamy Mad Dogs and Englishmen day when we visited Sanctuary, the Hill’s newest store, at 8611 Germantown Ave. Chris Aibel, the shop’s charming and energetic owner, gave us real sanctuary, and not simply from the ghastly weather. Her spirit was pleasantly infectious; she radiates the inner joy that comes from following your heart’s desire. Chris, who looks a good decade younger than 53, opened Sanctuary in the former Rug Maven location on July 11, after a year of planning. The plan was to create a shop that is also a personal oasis, a place where a customer can receive replenishment and rejuvenation as well as jewelry, music, books and clothing — all with a spiritual connection.
This is the 15th in an ongoing series of articles by Paula M. Riley on Chestnut Hill volunteers. Volunteers are motivated by many different objectives. For Chestnut Hill’s Len Caldwell, his is quite clear – to alleviate poverty. For the past 30 years, Caldwell has focused his volunteer efforts, first in Philadelphia and then in South Africa, working towards this goal.
No doubt some readers will say, “Enough already,” about Rich McIlhenny, the Mt. Airy resident and Remax realtor who was the subject of a few recent articles in the Local. (He was an “extra” in the new M. Night Shyamalan movie, Lady in the Water, and we followed the month-long saga of his lost-and-found dog, Matty.) However, although Rich has already used up his 15 minutes of fame, I cannot in good conscience ignore the fact that last Saturday, July 29, was the fifth anniversary of the wedding whose post-event notice was by far the most memorable wedding announcement ever to appear in the Local.
At Congress Hall in Cape May last week, I met a guest from New York named Tom who said that after years of saving money, he finally bought a 32-foot boat. In honor of his wife, he named it “Ruth.” On her first boat ride, Ruth, who is definitely no sailor, became violently seasick and threw up twice. She demanded to return to shore and has refused to get on the boat since then. Tom, recognizing the futility of trying to persuade her to change her mind, has renamed the boat “Ruthless.”
If their motto is true, that “with bleeping cable and internet, your world is always on,” then I guess my cable situation is worse than I thought, because I’ve been cut off from the world for quite some time. No one told me that by growing up and getting my own apartment, I also had to deal with the incompetence we’ll call utility service companies. Some of the experiences I have had with one particular company make the anticipation and expectation originally felt over having my own apartment mere dreams of a Friends-induced fantasy. And luckily, when problems arise, each of these companies has customer service lines to call. Customer service? Ha. They do serve their customers … serve them a whole bunch of problems. Good one, I know. But it’s true. I have a whole new level of appreciation for my all-utility encompassing monthly rent after the debacle with the cable service. |
