July 12, 2007 Issue
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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Online Editor Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or Winner of Two |
Local LifeLove conquers all for Hill couple
Every now and again one catches a glimpse of it: love. It is most often seen in the eyes of a woman looking up at the one she loves. Or the way a child stares at her mother. But sometimes it is the way a woman throws her arm in front of her child as she is braking suddenly in her car or the way a man gently kisses a woman on the forehead as he passes her. Unfortunately for most of us, these moments pass too quickly and are just as soon forgotten in our cynical world. But after spending an afternoon in the presence of two individuals so in love, this writer’s faith — that sometimes things really do happen for a reason — is fully restored. Kathy Kordelski, 53, grew up in Bucks County. She met and married her first husband, Steve Fendelman, before she turned 20 years old. The couple moved to Oreland and raised two daughters, Sara and Melissa, who are now 28 and 25, respectively.
An Apple (iPhone) a day keeps common sense away
After waiting in line for 3 days last week (the guy in front of me looked a lot like Mayor Street), I finally got my new Apple iPhone. I have no idea what it does or why I need it, but I wanted to make sure I got one before they sold out. I have a sneaking suspicion it may be merely another fashion accouterment, but I can’t take a chance on being without at least one. You never know in today’s world what you might need in order to survive. A possible scenario might go like this; “Hello, 911. Help! A strange animal has got me trapped in a cave. I’m calling on my iPhone. See? Can you tell me what it is? A wolverine? Ok, let me Google that and see if they eat people.” That alone would be worth the $600 price tag.
Theatrical Mt. Airy couple pens new play about deaf community
What would life be like in a world without labels? Lines between what is “normal” and what is “different” would be blurred, or even nonexistent. Once these lines are blurred, members of the community must all seem equal. Undoubtedly, there would be a pervasive sense of peace. For over 200 years, Chilmark, a community in Martha’s Vineyard (the very upscale resort island in Massachusetts), managed to blur the lines between deaf and hearing, and Mt. Airy residents Adrian Blue and Catherine Rush have written a play, This Island Alone, about the significance of this period of history. Blue and Rush, a husband and wife team, have been immersed in the theater world for over 30 years. “We think of ourselves as theater artists,” they insist, though Blue would say he is a director/writer, and Rush would tend towards writer/actor. The two met when Rush was costume designing for a show Blue was directing. From there, the couple has directed, taught and acted on stages around the world. Blue recently returned from directing in Mexico City, and both have taught workshops in New Zealand.
Both the food and the prices are Prime at Barclay
The great Samuel Johnson once wrote, “When a man is tired of London, he’s tired of life.” I would paraphrase the legendary 18th century British essayist and critic by adding that when a man (or woman) is tired of great food, he’s tired of life. This thought came to mind after a dinner in late June at Barclay Prime, the Stephen Starr steakhouse which opened about two-and-a-half years ago at 237 S. 18th St. in what used to be the Barclay Hotel. (It’s now apartments.) The restaurant, though elegant, does not really look like either a Stephen Starr restaurant or a traditional steakhouse. There is no immediately visible gimmick like the huge Buddha statue at Buddakan or the motorcycle hanging over the bar at El Vez. Even the obnoxious techno music at other Starr locations is pretty much missing in action, although the high noise level is present. And the clubby dark mahogany ambience at other steakhouses has been replaced by light-colored woods (yes, the cutout walnut bookshelves are there) and white and blue contemporary leather chairs, some that swivel and some with arms; marble tables and crystal chandeliers.
Unless you’re a masochist, no reason to visit L.A.
Los Angeles is the end point for those traveling Route 66, but because I started my road trip in San Francisco, I’ll be traveling the Mother Road backwards. In the six years I’ve traveled the road, I never made it past Kingman, Arizona. In the past I’d been side-tracked by Las Vegas, Nevada and the Grand Canyon. And one year, 2005, when I almost made it past Kingman, I was stopped from traveling 66 because of wildfires and mild earth tremors. But this year I am going to make it. I just have to live through a visit to L.A. My travel partner, Dan, and I need a rest, so we stop for the night in San Luis Obispo, California. The Madonna Inn is a must-visit for any road-tripper. Why? Imagine your grandma decorating an entire motel with all the extra stuff she has stored in her garage, attic and basement. You know, the things you just might have needed for the last 30 years. And this is the charm of the place.
Volunteer for homeless becomes homeless herself Part two of a two-part series Click Here for Part 1 Kate, whose name has been changed for this article, knows all too well the results of wearing out a welcome. Less than two years ago, Kate found herself and two daughters, now 14 and 18, without a home. Her sister, who owned the apartment they rented, needed to raise the monthly rent from $500 to $800-900 to afford her growing family.
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