September 7, 2006 Issue                                       

©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local Life

Writer amazed, humbled by selfless Hill volunteers
by PAULA M. RILEY

Teenagers Inc. board members Tyler (TJ) Perry, Mary Dwyer, Anne Dwyer and Todd L. Perry, II were some of the wonderful volunteers featured in the series.

This is the 20th in an ongoing series of articles by Paula M. Riley on Chestnut Hill area volunteers.

For the last five months, I have met local volunteers and shared their stories of service. We held interviews “on location” — on the arboretum grounds, at the library, in their homes and anywhere else their volunteer service was performed. I have been amazed and humbled by what I learned.

Locallites tribute to sister, world-renowned musician
by BEVERLY SHAFFER GAST

This photo with flutist Elaine Shaffer, pianist Hepzibah Menuhin and conductor Efrem Kurtz, Elaine’s husband, was taken during a rehearsal for a concert in Williamsport, PA, Elaine’s hometown, in January of 1971. Lycoming College gave her an honorary doctorate during that visit.

Beverly Shaffer Gast is a resident of Ambler and regular reader of the Local.

“You must tell that story! I now have goose bumps,” is a common response to bits and pieces I share of my sister Elaine Shaffer’s musical career. Her life is told in hundreds of long, beautifully written letters she wrote; many words with one obsession: to be a concert flutist. 

The first letter was addressed to the renowned Philadelphia Orchestra’s one-time flutist, William Kincaid (first flutist for almost 40 years), asking if he would be her teacher. Her only previous music teacher taught clarinet at Williamsport (Pennsylvania) High School. At graduation, without financial means or a musical background in our family, Elaine had her own plan to further her ambition. 

Hideaway has new home, is no longer hidden away
by PAT STOKES

Brian Reisman, in a candid moment after moving into his new location at 8612 Germantown Ave. (Photo by Pat Stokes)

Hideaway Music did indeed start its life hidden away from the Avenue, with an entrance on the parking lot (number 2) and its doorway next to the Hill Company’s back door on the east side of the 8600 block of Germantown Avenue.

It didn’t remain hidden for long, however. News of its sought-after records, albums and posters spread fast, and in a couple of years it peeked out a bit to settle at 8428 Germantown Ave. in “the little house with the porch.” Owner Brian Reisman liked it there a lot, especially the occasional mini-concerts on the porch in warm weather.

But life moves on, and suddenly, just a few months ago, space at 8612 Germantown Ave. became available. That space is next to the Chestnut Hill Camera Shop and just a few doors away from the Chestnut Hill Coffee Company, another fairly new arrival that’s leaped to popularity.

Local lawyer guilty of producing great furniture
by VIVIENNE McCARTHY

Alan Turner (left) and Mario Rodriguez in their furniture workshop.

While furniture making is an ancient tradition, with its roots going back to early civilization, woodworker Alan Turner is taking that tradition to the Avenue on September 9, where he will demonstrate basic woodworking skills outside Kilian’s Hardware Store, 8450 Germantown Ave., from 1 to 3 p.m.

Turner, who has a law practice in Center City, admits that his avocation, woodworking, fine furniture making and teaching, is something that has always been a dream.

Ex-Hillers Red Sky soars to culinary stratosphere
by LEN LEAR

You can make the savory signature Red Sky cocktail yourself at home. Just combine raspberry vodka, strawberry liqueur, triple sec and watermelon pucker with a fresh fruit puree. To make puree, blend various fruits of your choice. (They recommend strawberries, passion fruit and cranberries.) To rim the glass, dip rim of glass in lime juice; then dip rim of glass in red sugar until rim is fully coated. Serve in a martini glass.

As Little Richard might say, when I tasted the pan-seared Chilean sea bass in a Chinese black bean garlic sauce at Red Sky, 224 Market St., it may my toe shoot up in my boot. (And I wasn’t even wearing boots.) If they give a Nobel Prize for the best seafood dish, executive chef Michael Salvitti, who established a major reputation in his former job at Audrey Clare, would definitely be in the running.

For those not familiar with it, Red Sky opened in December, 2003, in the restaurant-rich Old City with food that might be called New American, but a recently introduced menu includes much more of an Asian influence. (Despite his impressive culinary accomplishments, Chef Salvitti is a very modest gentleman who will never be turning in an expense voucher for an ego trip.)

A great way to start dinner at Red Sky is with the dim sum for two ($22). It includes coconut shrimp skewers, barbecued ribs, tuna tartare, crab and shrimp spring rolls and chicken bites. The coconut shrimp skewers and barbecued ribs were both ambrosial, pure heaven. The chicken bites were just so-so. The only joker in the deck was the ginger/soy sauce that accompanied the crab and shrimp spring roll. It was way too salty.