Manayunk Magazine | Holiday 2018 2

MANAYUNK LIVE|SHOP|DINE|PLAY

HOLIDAY 2018

Dynamic Duo

How two sisters built their fashion empire from the ground up.

Bringing New Light to Main Street | A Millennial’s Cup of Tea Holidays in MNYK by the Numbers MNYK_Holiday2018-9.indd 1

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Place your Holiday Reservations Now!

A gift card from Winnie’s makes a great present for any occasion. Now receive an extra $10 with every $50 you spend on a Winnie’s Gift Card in store or online!

4266 Main Street Philadelphia, PA 19127 215.487.2663 www.winniesmanayunk.com

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Better Results than Mistletoe Holiday 2018 brought to you by LILA Fashion International x The Little Apple

LILA Fashion International Apparel & Accessories Boutique 4339 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127 lilafashioninternational.com

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The Little Apple Gift Boutique 4361 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127 thelittleapplestore.com

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MANAYUNK magazine

LIVE SHOP DINE PLAY

contents HOLIDAY 2018

06

Mark Your Calendar

What’s happening this winter in Manayunk.

08

In Case You Missed It

A recap of Manayunk’s fall events.

22

Cover Pr��

Building their fashion empire.

42

Now Open

Step inside Manayunk’s newest businesses.

LIVE.

10 Around Town Part of the pack.

12

Expert Advice

SHOP. 16 Glitz & Glam Bringing new light to Main Street.

20

Gift Guide

Holidays in Manayunk by the numbers.

DINE.

28

Taste This

A millennial’s cup of tea.

32

Night on the Town

Not your father’s Irish pub.

PLAY. 38

Local A & E

Wher�������������

Pointing in the right direction.

Editorial + Production

Manayunk Magazine

is published by the Editors Manayunk Development Corp.

Jane Lipton, Megan Douress, Leo Dillinger, Manayunk Development Corporation Leksey Maltzman and 4312 Main Street Caitlin Maloney Kuchemba.

Philadelphia, PA 19127 Design 215.482.9565 | info@manayunk.org Cantor Design, cantordesign.com Sales M7 Media • 610.417.9261; bauerjim7@gmail.com Photography JPG Photography (jpgphotography.com) Cover Alexa Nahas Photography (alexanahas.com) Photographed by Melissa Kelly Photography melissakellyphotography.com Melissa Kelly Photography (melissakellyphotography.com) 4

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VOTED BEST PLACE TO LIVE – MNYK 2017

4312 MAIN STREET MANAYUNK, PA 19127

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215.483.9990

WWW.CANALHOUSE.COM

10/26/2017 3/5/2018 11:06:44 2:58:03 PM 11/2/2018 2:43:02AM 8/24/2018 1:45:56 PM

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Although we always shop small, Small Business Saturday is the biggest shopping event of the year! Stay local this holiday season by shopping in Manayunk as many retailers will be offering special promotions for this one day only. But the fun doesn’t stop there — the annual tree lighting in Canal View Park will take place at sundown!

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jan 26 Founders Philly Freeze-Out Founders Brewing Company and Manayunk.com have teamed up to create a winter wonderland in Manayunk! Main Street will be lined with ice sculptures, and bars and restaurants will have exclusive Founders beers on tap. You won’t want to miss the ice beer garden, professional live ice carving, and more!

nov 24 - dec 23 Holidays in Manayunk

mar 2019 Best of Manayunk

With so much to do in Manayunk, no wonder the holiday season is the greatest time of year! Enjoy a variety of cuisines in our cozy restaurants, shop fabulous fashions and giftware, or bask in our events such as Style Me Manayunk and the Promenade of Trees on December 1 and Rudolph Run on December 8.

Shop, dine, and be merry in Manayunk!

Manayunk’s biggest party of the year is back! The fourth annual Best of Manayunk will celebrate our diverse business community, and all our vibrant, historic district has to offer! The competition awards the district under the live, shop, dine, play and reader’s choice categories, which are voted on by the community. The 2019 winners will be announced at the Best of Manayunk cocktail party. Go to Manayunk.com to vote for your favorite businesses and for more details on the cocktail party!

Photos courtesy of JPG Photography (jpgphotography.com) and Alexa Nahas Photography (alexanahas.com)

nov 24 Small Business Saturday + Tree Lighting

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VID8051 MNYK.F

Photos courtesy of JPG Photography (jpgphotography.com) and Alexa Nahas Photography (alexanahas.com)

WATER ON BOTH SIDES,

LIFE IN THE CENTER.

Wake up to shimmering water views of the Schuylkill River and Manayunk Canal just outside your windows.

Then, stroll across the bridge to Main Street’s specialty shops and delicious array of restaurants and bars.

Take in a music festival or art gallery before inviting friends back to your rooftop terrace to watch the sun set over the river. The Locks offers one-of-a-kind townhomes for a new lifestyle in Manayunk.

Riverfront Townhomes in Manayunk Now Selling | From the $600s to the $800s 267-606-3595 | TheLocksPhilly.com Rendering is for illustrative purposes only. Subject to change without notice. See a Sales Manager for details.

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Fall 2018 | manayunk.com

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7/24/18 8:58 11/2/2018 8/24/2018 1:46:22 2:47:17 PMAM

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

By Allison Altobelli

Dog Day of Summer August 28 was the National Day of the Dog — and ��������������������������� Venice Island, but our four-legged friends stayed cool with puppy pools, photo booths, pet-friendly activities, and, of course, plenty of treats for humans and their canine companions. So while we stay bundled up this winter, we’ll be counting down the days until the next Dog Day of Summer event in August!

Harvest Fest A day full of music, food, and beautiful weather made Harvest Fest a day to remember! On Septem��������������������������� air as people made their way through the streets for shopping, meeting up with friends, or just enjoying the fun. All of the music performances in Pretzel Park captivated the crowd as each group offered a unique sound for everyone to love. Kids had fun getting their faces painted or watching the pumpkin carver down in Canal View Park while munching on some delicious treats. Fall was in the air and smiles were shared on this beautiful day in Manayunk!

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Photos by JPG Photography (jpgphotography.com) and Alexa Nahas Photography (alexanahas.com)

Manayunk Community Carnival ���������������� nival from October 18 - 21! Guests were sure to hear tons of laughs and screams from Venice Island while getting whiffs of funnel cake, popcorn, and cotton candy in the air.

Families of all ages spent the nights laughing and smiling on the teacups, swinger, super slide, and more.

When they weren’t on the rides, they were trying to ���������������������������� �������������������������� Enterprises, Manayunk.com put on a show full of fun and excitement that magically transformed Manayunk into a colorful carnival scene for a great night!

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Photos by JPG Photography (jpgphotography.com) and Alexa Nahas Photography (alexanahas.com)

LIVE

PART OF THE ‘PACK’

Becoming part of Manayunk’s newest four-legged social club has one rule: Must love dogs.

By Megan Douress Photography By Alexa Nahas Photography (alexanahas.com) There’s never a dull moment at Scallywags Dog Daycare. On weekdays from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. anyone who enters 4367 Cresson Street is greeted by a very enthusiastic “pack.”

“Imagine what happens when someone rings your doorbell at home,” said co-owner, Lauren Bockmeyer. “Now, imagine having 30 dogs!”

Business partners Lauren and Jessica Rabenstine have been operating Manayunk’s only dog daycare since January 2018. The idea of this business venture was somewhat of a joke a few years ago.

While they both grew up as pet-lovers, Lauren started her career working at a dog daycare while studying ����and Jessica was a Pre-Veterinary Medicine major. As fate would have it, both transferred to Delaware Valley University to study Small Animal Sciences and wound up as veterinary technicians at Harleysville Veterinary Hospital.

The two became close friends after working side-by-side for many years. After eight years in veterinary medicine, they decided to part ways with the medical aspect of dogs and thought about opening their own business.

“We were both on the verge of wanting to do something else,” Lauren said. “We loved our jobs, but we wanted to do our own thing. We thought a doggy daycare in Manayunk would be great because it’s something that wasn’t here.”

Although Lauren had experience in the day-to-day operations of a dog daycare, the two former veterinary technicians faced many obstacles when it came to actually opening their own business. From zoning and neighborhood approval to building and electrical permits, the two business owners often contemplated whether they should move forward with their plan.

“We weren’t sure it was going to work, but we kept pushing through,” Jessica said.

“We were always freaking out at opposite times, which is very helpful!”

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Lauren added, laughing.

With some encouraging words from Lauren’s dad, who is also a small business owner, Lauren and Jessica moved forward with their business plan to make their dream come true. The two new business owners took over the lease of their building in March of 2017, conducted meet-andgreets with potential clients at the end of the year, and of���� opened for business in January of 2018.

Their business plan was simple — provide a more regulated, safe place for people to bring their dogs all day long. It’s a pretty popular idea, but in order to spend a day at Scallywags Dog Daycare, you have to follow one simple rule: get along with other dogs.

As with anything, word traveled fast among Manayunk’s dog owners — especially those who hang out at the Pretzel Park Dog Run. Nearly a year after opening, Lauren and Jessica still �� themselves taking in new clients multiple times a week. In order to become a client of Scallywags Dog Daycare, pet owners are asked a few simple questions through their online registration, including “Has your dog been to daycare before?” and “How is your dog around other dogs?” Updated vaccine records are required as well. Once your dog passes the questionnaire, your furry friend is invited to come in for a evaluation day.

“We bring them in when we ��� open at 7 a.m. so they’re one of the ��� dogs there,” Jessica explained. “We watch how they greet other dogs and make sure they aren’t showing any signs of aggression or other potential behavior problems.”

“Even if they’re not showing common signs of aggression, if a dog can’t read social cues from another dog, that’s a problem, too,” Lauren added.

“If a dog is too heavy-footed and they don’t understand that other dogs don’t want to play like that, it can become an issue. But we have a great group of dogs.”

And while playing with dogs all day seems like the ideal job, Lauren and Jessica describe themselves more as “referees.” Try watching Scallywags Dog Daycare’s Instagram stories with your morning coffee if you need proof.

“Mornings are crazy!” Lauren laughed. “They’re just very hyper and have the ‘zoomies,’ and run around like nutballs.”

“They’re like little kids!” she added. “But it’s great because we have a lot of repeaters and they like us and know us. When we say their name, they’ll perk up and stop doing whatever it is they’re doing, or they’ll look at us when they’re about to do something bad like, ‘Are they watching me?’”

When asked if Scallywags Dog Daycare is structured like a typical daycare, Jessica answered with a laugh, “We do have times where we wish they would settle down and take a nap but trying to make 30 dogs lay down is not an easy task, to say the least!”

Running a dog daycare sounds like a dream job, and there are many perks that come with it. According to Jessica, she loves being able to work with her best friend every day.

“We talked about it a lot – that this is something you can’t do with just anybody,” she explained.

Along with working with her business partner, she also loves the comradery of the other Manayunk business owners, who they often seek out for advice.

“They’re so welcoming,” Lauren said. “It’s nice to get feedback and talk about their experiences of having a business here. There really is no other place I would want to do this.”

Together, Lauren and Jessica agree their clients are truly the best part about owning and operating Scallywags Dog Daycare in Manayunk — both the two and four-legged kinds.

“We threw a yappy hour recently and it was a huge success,” Jessica said. “We loved seeing our clients socialize together and make connections because of the love they have for their dogs.”

“When we walk down the street and one of our dogs sees us, they go crazy!” Lauren added. “That makes us feel great. It’s nice to provide this service and the community is very appreciative.”

While Scallywags Dog Daycare has been a success from the start, Lauren and Jessica hinted at big plans for the future.

“We only want to get better, that’s for sure,” Lauren said.

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LIVE

Pointing in the Right Direction Dave Schiman’s journey from sales and marketing to ����������

By Brian Anderson Photography by Alexa Nahas Photography (alexanahas.com)

D

ave Schiman spent years in pursuit of a career centered around helping others. In Manayunk, he’s done just that through acupuncture.

His serpentine journey to acupuncture took him from sales and marketing to fundraising to ���� to ����t work. A white collar career didn’t suit Dave, and his career and own experiences pointed him toward acupuncture. He established Manayunk Roxborough Community Acupuncture in 2008.

“I always liked helping people,” Dave said. “It’s just part of my personality. When I started reading about acupuncture, it just made all the sense in the world to me.”

With roots in Eastern cultures, acupuncture began around modern-day China and Mongolia. The acupuncturists of hundreds of years ago pushed on different muscles in the body with tools — likely made of stone — and eventually evolved into a practice of inserting thin needles into the skin to stimulate muscles, nerves, and other tissues. Today, studies being done look at how acupuncture can assist in healing, pain relief, addiction, and more, Dave explained.

Born in Kentucky, Dave said he’s used alternative healing therapies since he was a kid. Plagued by stomach problems when he was about 10-years-old, Dave learned meditation and relaxation helped him listen to his entire whole body. This experience, coupled with his time traveling the world, made him rethink health and wellness.

After a decade bouncing between careers, Dave refocused on health and wellness. Instead of going to medical school, he embarked on a career as an acupuncturist, calling it, “a natural �t.” He earned a Master’s degree from Maryland University of the Healing Arts.

After years of practicing, he sees the human body differently.

“We’re not a compilation of replaceable parts, as humans,” Dave 12

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said. “We’re not like a car — we’re like a garden. You have to tend to it with diet and exercise, sleep, having fun. All those things that make a difference in our quality of life, and acupunc��� t that.”

Today, Dave and two other acupuncturists practice at Manayunk Roxborough Community Acupuncture. The condition he treats most often is a familiar one: stress.

“People are in this survival mode,” Dave said.

“It’s a heightened stress level, like the ��� or �������� ” Dave explained that acupuncture points in the ear, hands, and feet can help down-regulate the nervous system and lower the brain’s threshold for stress response. As he puts it, “It just resets the nervous system.”

Bringing the nervous system back to normal levels can cause a cascading effect, Dave further explained. When people are less stressed, they sleep better, eat better, and they regain perspective.

“It’s not going to �� the situation, but it helps people settle enough that they can deal with what they have control over,” he said. “Once one condition starts getting better, it all starts falling into place. Once their quality of life starts to improve, it gets better and better over time.”

Jess Weaver is another acupuncturist at Manayunk Roxborough Community Acupuncture.

The Manayunk resident is a former patient of Dave’s, and has found acupuncture to be a positive part of her health and wellness.

As an athlete, she relied on acupuncture to help her knees and hips. After her son was born, she found it added balance back to her daily routine.

“It helps you get your energy back and helps you sleep better,” Jess said.

Many patients come in for acupuncture to help ��that balance, she said, as not everyone uses acupuncture to recovery from an injury or to help manage their stress. From teenagers to young professionals to senior citizens, her patients are people of all ages and from all walks of life who use acupuncture to improve their wellness.

“Every patient is different and unique,” she said. “A really great thing about a community clinic is it serves a lot of different kinds of people. It’s one of the reasons we love the community.”

Not everyone comes in because they’re stressed; Dave sees athletes looking for another edge in competition, too. Dave, who himself is a cyclist, enjoys helping athletes of all skill levels achieve their goals.

“It’s so rewarding to work with someone and they come and say, ‘I set a personal record in

“What I’m passionate about is treating people. I like being there for people when they need help.”

the marathon,’ or ‘I won that race’ or even ‘I’m working out without pain,’” he recalled.

But regardless of who walks in that door, Dave and the other acupuncturists just want to help.

“What I’m passionate about is treating people,” he said. “I like being there for people when they need help.”

Why they settled in Manayunk is a familiar story, too. Dave’s wife, Liza, is from the Philadelphia area, and once they walked down Main Street, they both fell in love with the neighborhood. His business has bounced around, too, from up the hill to the other end of Main Street. Now, Manayunk Roxborough Community Acupuncture shares a space at 4414 Main Street, sitting just above River City Outpost.

“I didn’t want to go anywhere else. I wanted to work where I lived,” he said. “I just like being down in the heart of the business district in Manayunk. I just like all the activity.”

And in its own way, this journey is emblematic of Dave’s own life and his philosophy.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re at now, it’s the where you’re headed,” he said. “It’s the direction you’re pointed at that really matters.”

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unlimited co-working

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month FOR MORE INFORMATION BAUERJIM7@GMAIL.COM • 610.417.9261 4323 MAIN STREET • MANAYUNK, PA 19127 THENICKELSBUILDING.COM

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���� Join Pineapple on Main for a sweet lineup of festive events and promotions this holiday season! We have everything you and your home need to host and toast the holidays, including the perfect gifts for everyone on your list!

POM’s 2018 Holiday Event Calendar N O V.

POM’s Sweet Small Business Saturday Event

N O V.

MNYK Sweets & Spirits Night

DEC.

Style Me Manayunk/ Promenade of Trees/Santa Paws

DEC.

Secret Santa Night in POM

DEC.

POM’s Festive Bauble & Bubbly Bar

DEC.

M en’s Shopping Night in MNYK

DEC.

Dashing Through the Stores Night

DEC.

A Ver y Merr y Christmas Eve Morning in POM

WWW.PI N E APPLEON MAI N.C OM

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SHOP

Bringing New Light to Manayunk Iluminé Gallery owner, Lynda Berdin, has found a new home for her affordable jewelry store and gallery.

By Caitlin Maloney Kuchemba Photography By Melissa Kelly Photography (melissakellyphotography.com)

I

luminé Gallery appeared to have opened on Main Street in an instant. It might be because it wasn’t the ��� time owner Lynda Berdin opened a gallery, Iluminé is actually the seventh gallery she’s owned over the last 30 years.

It all started back in Albuquerque, New Mexico when after graduating with a degree in business management from the University of Phoenix, her husband at the time suggested she get a job working at an art gallery in Old Town Albuquerque. Lynda loved the idea of working in a gallery, but she didn’t just want to work at a gallery, she wanted to own one.

“I thought to myself, ‘I just went through business school, why on Earth would I work for someone else instead of starting my own business?’”

Lynda thought.

Lynda began talking with other gallery owners in Old Town and as luck would have it, a gallery called Papel was on the market. After some persuasion, Lynda convinced the owners to give her the ��� right of refusal on the gallery while she gathered up the funds she needed to purchase it.

“Luckily I was able to pull together enough money for a down payment and made a promissory note to pay back the owners within �e years,” Lynda said. “But, I actually ended up paying the owners back in just six months because the gallery was doing so well.”

Upon acquiring the gallery, Lynda immersed herself in the art world and into growing their higher price point collectable pieces and later expanded into her second gallery which offered framing services for

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posters, prints and lithographs. By this time, she had renamed Papel to Nizhoni Gallery.

While in Albuquerque, Lynda also acquired another gallery, Nizhoni Fine Arts, with work from the renowned Navajo artist RC Gorman and later opened Nizhoni Jewelry, which featured handmade Native American Jewelry. Her galleries were booming until 2008 when the recession hit the art and collectable industries hard.

“The year 2008 had put an end to that wonderful era of art and jewelry collecting by collectors from all over the country,” Lynda said. “I had to close all of the galleries one by one.”

After taking some time off to travel and enjoy the fruits of her many years working in the industry, Lynda kept coming back to her passion for jewelry. On her travels, she began picking up jewelry pieces and sourcing designers she hoped to sell in a new gallery in the future.

“Out of all of my businesses, I love selling jewelry the most,” Lynda said. “There’s just something magical about when a woman gets a new piece of jewelry. The smiles and the feeling of joy and happiness are just so real that it seems to come from the innermost recesses of her soul. I just love seeing that.”

Iluminé Gallery ���� came to fruition when Lynda decided to move east to be closer to her son and daughter-in-law, who currently live in New York City. Lynda knew New York City life wasn’t for her, so she came to Philadelphia on a whim and upon arriving, fell in love with the city and started looking for a retail space.

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“There’s just something magical about when a woman gets a new piece of jewelry.”

By the time she found 4386 Main Street, Lynda already had a collection of over 2,000 pieces of curated jewelry to sell in her new shop. The only other thing she needed was a name for her new business, so she turned to her Bahai faith for inspiration.

“One of my favorite prayers has the word ‘illumine’ over and over, so when I opened, I decided that jewelry is shiny and bright and illuminating — so it was a good �t,” Lynda recalled. “My mother, who was a very successful businesswoman in her time, once told me when you name a business it has to be an odd number, not even, so I dropped the one “l” and added an accent over the “e” to make Iluminé.”

In the 1980’s and 1990’s when Lynda ��� began selling jewelry, the trend was toward big, bulky statement pieces, but she’s noticed a change since then.

“This generation loves dainty and small jewelry so this is where Iluminé’s slogan, ‘affordable �� jewelry for everyday wear,’ comes from,” Lynda said.

Lynda carries everything from sterling silver to rose gold and 14 and 16 karat gold overlay jewelry in her affordable line and also carries higher end solid gold and small diamonds as well. Designers she carries include La Kaiser, Five and Two, Bopbe, Jaxkelly, Bu, Vera Wolf, Lanna, Jack and G, Anzie, Kozakh, Rachael Hatala, Alex Monroe, and Colleen Mauer.

Besides classic jewelry pieces, Lynda has also pulled inspiration from her past by offering work from Native American jewelers like Alex Sanchez, Fernando Bennaly, and Stella Naranjo.

“Our price points start at $25 with a few pieces retailing for up to $5,000, with the average price around $55,” Lynda said.

Iluminé’s price point and variety make it a great gift option for this holiday season.

“We offer a variety of jewelry designs and price points so that anyone and everyone can ��whatever they might be looking for at Iluminé,” Lynda said.

Besides jewelry, Iluminé also carries lines of candles, cards, Native American prints and other Southwestern inspired collectables in the shop.

“I’m really excited to be on Main Street during such a busy time of year because we have so many gift items — there are a lot of pieces here that are at price point where you can buy them for anyone and everyone on your holiday list,” Lynda said.

While Lynda comes with years of experience in gift suggesting, customers can also purchase gift cards this holiday season.

As far as expansion goes, Lynda would love to see another Iluminé Gallery one day, and has her eyes potentially on Brooklyn for a second location.

“When I was younger, it was easier for me to open one gallery after another and when something works for me I like to stay with it. So even though I’m getting older now, I would like to live to see another Iluminé,” she said.

For now, Lynda is loving calling Manayunk home and recently purchased a house here in the neighborhood too.

“The Manayunk community and fellow shop owners have been so welcoming and friendly,” Lynda said. “They’ve been visiting the store to check on me and see how the business is going. The community really cares and wants to see us be successful. I love calling Manayunk home.”

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events & programs cookie booths limited edition cookie dishes cookie inspired cocktails mentorship opportunities

10% of the proceeds will benefit Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania’s Girl Experience and Outreach Programming MNYK_Holiday2018-9_FNL.indd 18

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“Where you are treated better than family.”

Fine Homemade Pastries

    5 STA R R AT ED

At Manayunk Chambers you will... Rest Assured.

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215.482.4203 11/2/2018 2:50:10 PM

2

SHOP

Santa sightings

Holidays in Manayunk:

2.5

miles of small businesses

By the Numbers

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From lights to late-night hours and events every weekend, we’re counting the ways shoppers can celebrate the holiday season in Manayunk!

wreaths on the Green Lane Bridge

28

places to get holiday cheer

314

runners in the Rudolph Run

9,920

hours of shopping hours this holiday season 20

32

owneroperated shops

1,000

meals to be donated during Manayunk Meals & More

8

nights of Hannukah

11

Manayunk.com holiday events

467

yards of wrapping paper used

88,852 twinkle lights lining Main Street

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MNYK_S HomeSi

SILVERWOOD ULTRA LUXURIOUS, CONTEMPORARY TOWNHOUSES IN MANAYUNK FROM THE $1.1 MILLION

Welcome to Silver Hill — A very special collection of 7 high-end ultra luxurious contemporary townhouses in the heart of Manayunk only to be found in the city — Until now. These 4 BR/3.5 BA ultimate city homes with elevator have been thoughtfully designed by Canno Architecture for today's urban living. Entire facade is a very dramatic custom window wall. Enter into a 20+ foot wide living ��� with soaring 11 foot ceilings.

Open-concept dining room, fabulous chef's eat-in kitchen with sleek Thermador appliance package. Large living room with linear gas � eplace and custom built-in shelving and built-in cabinetry. Entire back wall of La Cantina Accordion style glass doors opens out to step-out deck with contemporary glass railings truly brings the outside in. 5-stop elevator. Easy access to Center City, transportation, highways and the suburbs. 10-year property tax abatement. Truly exceptional masterpieces with no expense spared for the most discerning buyer.

For more information please contact:

MICHELE COOLEY • TYLER BRADLEY 267.571.5511 info@cooleybradleygroup.com

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COVER PROFILE

Sisters in Style How Lisa and Laura Anne Lamprou built their fashion empire from the ground up.

By Megan Douress Photography by Melissa Kelly Photography (melissakellyphotography.com)

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I

f you took a brief glimpse into what life was like �e years ago for sisters and owners of LILA Fashion International, Lisa and Laura Anne Lamprou, it was a far cry from the world of fashion. Lisa was working in medical research at the University of Pennsylvania and Laura Anne was with a marketing and advertising agency that specializes in luxury hospitality. Both had a lifelong appreciation for fashion, at least as far as shopping for a new wardrobe goes, and on occasion, they even entertained the idea of one day owning their own fashion company.

“Laura Anne’s plan was to do it when she was 40,” Lisa said. “Back in 2013, she was only 25, so I told her, ‘That’s a long time to wait. We have to speed it up!’”

“I’ve always wanted to get more involved in fashion as a career because it’s always been a life-long passion of mine,” Laura Anne explained. “It’s always been the end goal. I felt like I needed a change in what I was doing, and when Lisa made the proposition of starting a fashion company, I thought, ‘I’m never going to get an offer like this again.’”

Lisa left the medical industry in 2014, and the two began building their fashion empire — slowly but surely. The sisters were heavily ����� by their upbringing in Greece and Saudi Arabia and wanted to focus on international fashion designers. So, the ��� step was to launch an online shop where they would sell items from a few of their favorite designers from overseas.

“At ��� we got ‘no’ a lot because designers would say, ‘We don’t know who you are and we don’t know how you’ll represent our product,’” Holiday 2018 | manayunk.com 23

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COVER PROFILE

Laura Anne remembered.

“We couldn’t have an e-commerce site without having product,” Lisa added. “We had to pitch who we were without a storefront, without a website, without a tangible business.”

After much negotiating and a handful of designers behind them, the sisters were able to build their brand over the course of nine months and with the launch of their online shop, LILA Fashion International was born.

Though they had a newly established online presence, Lisa and Laura Anne also wanted to connect with customers of��� to continue to build their brand in the Philadelphia region. The opportunity to do retail pop-up events throughout the area came up and they didn’t hesitate at the chance.

On Mother’s Day in 2016, LILA Fashion International held a pop-up at Pineapple on Main and the two fell in love with the immense energy of the Manayunk business community.

“I remember Lisa saying, ‘Manayunk is like Stars Hollow!’” Laura Anne laughed about the Gilmore Girls reference. “Everyone knows everyone!”

The charm and support of the district immediately drew the sisters in. On June 24, 2016, LILA Fashion International found a home in Manayunk at 4386 Main Street. The space was little and quaint, but perfect for their small start-up boutique.

Over the next 18 months, LILA Fashion International thrived in its tiny brick and mortar, but Lisa and Laura Anne’s dreams were much larger than a 300 square-foot storefront. So they thought about what made other Manayunk businesses successful — Jake’s and Cooper’s Wine Bar, 24

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“I feel like the LILA customer is speci��� an independent, free-thinking woman.”

Bendi Jewelers, Nicole Miller, and The Little Apple — all owned the real estate their businesses were in. If they were going to make their dreams into life-long careers, they would have to take a leap of faith and invest in the future of their business.

“It just seemed like people who stuck around were the people who invested in the buildings their businesses were in,” Lisa recalled. “Shortly after our ��� anniversary, I thought we should buy a building. I told Laura Anne we needed to do it because our customers knew us, because Manayunk knew us, and the time was now.”

The building that formerly housed The Bazemore Gallery seemed to be the perfect �t. It was more than twice the size of their current storefront, move-in ready, and the interior met their aesthetic — from the exposed brick, beautiful wooden accents, the opportunity to have large window displays, and the live green wall you can’t miss behind the register. By March 2018, LILA Fashion International found a permanent home at 4339 Main Street.

Since moving in earlier this year, Lisa and Laura Anne have been working to build upon their already successful business. Customers can still �� the designers they know and love, but with more space brings more opportunities to bring in additional designers and products.

“There is ����� a need to order more to accommodate a growing customer base, which we acquired when we expanded our retail space and changed our location,” Lisa said. “I think we’ve expanded our demographic, too. We’ve departed from some of the original lines we started with to bring in new lines that we felt were more representative of the LILA brand and the LILA customer.”

One being Greek designer, Karavan, who brings bolder prints and bohemian looks to the LILA shopper.

“We also brought in Anna Beck, whose entire line of jewelry is made by hand in Bali using traditional Balinese techniques.” Laura Anne explained. “Most of the designers we work with are small batch. There is ����� a revolution of moving away from fast fashion, and we want to embrace that.”

With the endless options in their new space, Lisa and Laura Anne are diving deep into this movement by creating a whole new experience for the LILA shopper.

“It’s a totally different mindset,” Lisa explained. “A slower, more methodical way to live is what we are trying to communicate. You don’t have to have a thousand pieces of clothing. You have to have a few good ones in your closet that you can restyle.”

“LILA really is a lifestyle,” Lisa continued. “You can’t always live it because life gets in the way, but it’s a lifestyle you should aspire to live because it’s healthier to move through life more consciously and slowly than it is to just stampede through life doing the bare minimum.”

In an effort to further cater to the customer experience, Lisa and Laura Anne decided to make Junebug Flowers and Design, a small �oral company that would frequently hold pop-ups in LILA’s former space, a permanent �ture as the shop’s �orist-in-residence. Owner, Lana Tang, has a romantic vision for fresh blooms that Lisa and Laura Anne saw as a must-have for their shoppers.

“We wanted a partnership where we could grow together — no pun intended,” Laura Anne laughed. “We want this to be a women’s boutique where you can come in and shop for all your needs, and that’s where Junebug �ts in. She adds another element that elevates the customer experience.”

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COVER PROFILE

“Everything we do in here, we are doing because we love our business,” Laura Anne added.

“We’re in it for the long run.”

“It’s all related to a very ���� lifestyle,” Lisa added. “If you come into LILA, we don’t just have soap. We have bath salts by Bathorium that are imported from Canada. We have luxury soap stones infused with Himalayan sea salt. Our konjac sponges are designed with pink clay from Paris.”

“We’re not trying to be everything to everyone — many stores have failed trying to do that,” Lisa continued. “I feel like the LILA customer is ������������� free-thinking woman. She is on the lookout for the unique and special, and she doesn’t wait for someone to buy her �owers — she buys them for herself. All of our products truly �� ect our vision of what LILA is.”

For Lisa, her vision for customer experience goes past the doorway to her business on Main Street. As the Vice President of the Manayunk Development Corporation’s Board of Directors, she’s hoping to put Manayunk on the map as a destination for visitors who come to Philadelphia. Just last year, she led the charge for new and improved holiday decorations on the commercial corridor, including lit poles and garland-wrapped parking meters — all in an effort to make the district more spirited for shoppers and diners.

“Manayunk should be on everyone’s radar,” Lisa said. “One day you should be visiting the Liberty Bell and the next day you should be visit26

ing districts like Manayunk.”

Lisa is also spearheading retail-centric initiatives, such as the second annual holiday edition of Style Me Manayunk. Manayunk’s key retailers will all be under one roof for this one-stop shopping experience at The Nickels Building on December 1. Visitors can expect grab-and-go gifts, food, and plenty of holiday spirit.

“We’re trying to focus on the retail aspect of Main Street — bring that to the forefront by creating an event that is focused on fashion,” Lisa explained. “It’ll be interesting to see how it develops over the years.”

As for the future of LILA Fashion International, Lisa and Laura Anne are hoping to host more workshops that focus on fashion and styling.

Adding an educational component to the experience will not only allow shoppers to refresh their wardrobes, but to also learn about their own personal style and how to successfully build a wardrobe. Laura Anne, who recently transitioned over to LILA Fashion International full time, is developing an initiative to build a community by hosting ����� events, panel discussions with stylists, and even book signings with fashion authors and photographers.

In addition, Lisa and Laura Anne would like to bring a more basic line to their shop for customers who are looking to add staple pieces to their

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closets. They’re even thinking of designing their own line of apparel and accessories, such as a sweater or hat, that is exclusive to LILA. In the short-term, the sisters are focusing on making the upcoming holiday season special for their shoppers. They will have holiday tunes on rotation, they will provide warm seasonal beverages and gift-wrapping services, and they will even have little goodies tied to each bag that walks out of the store for both new and returning customers. But what’s the most exciting part of celebrating the holidays in their new building?

“Our amazing window display, which is going to be the best we’ve ever had now that we have so much more space to work with!” Laura Anne laughed.

“The thing I love the most is the energy people have,” she continued.

“No matter what is going on, people are just so excited. It just puts you in this really positive mindset. People are always looking to get something special for the people in their lives, and it means so much when the��������� When it’s the holiday season, it’���� ed.”

“It’s the one time of year we get to catch up with our male customers!”

Lisa added, laughing.

All jokes aside, Lisa and Laura Anne look forward to a successful holiday season, thanks to the support of the community that they now call home both personally and professionally.

“You can’t do it yourself,” Lisa explained. “You need the support of a community — it’s a give and take. For Manayunk to be successful, we all need to work together.”

“Everything we do in here, we are doing because we love our business,” Laura Anne added. “We’re in it for the long run.”

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DINE

A Millennial’s Cup of Tea Throw out your preconceived notions and experience modern Persian cafe culture at Safa Persian Teahouse.

By Leksey Maltzman Photography by JPG Photography (jpgphotography.com)

W

hen you hear the words “Persian teahouse,” what images come to mind? You probably imagine rich and colorful décor, dim lighting, and an older crowd. However, when you walk into Safa Persian Teahouse at 4165 Main Street, you are greeted by a well-lit, modern space with young customers studying and chatting. In addition to the fresh design, you still get the sense of Iranian culture in the teahouse with thoughtful interior touches such as Persian rugs, a map of Tehran, and hints of brass in the space — transporting you to the modern and trendy teahouse culture you w������ Tehran, Iran today.

Amin Shirazi, whose parents previously owned and operated Persian restaurant, Ali Baba, in the same location, is the one behind the new teahouse concept and interior decorating. After watching his parents try to succeed in the restaurant industry with strictly Persian food, he decided he wanted to change the concept to welcome the people of Manayunk to Persian culture without stepping too far out of their comfort zone.

“Persian food and pastries have always been something I thought had a lot of potential,” Amin shared, “It just needed to be done in the correct way to make it approachable and not overwhelming.”

That’s how he decided a teahouse would be the perfect way to introduce a key aspect of Persian culture to Manayunk, all while keeping the concept and food menu simple. In addition to Persian teas, Safa’s extensive menu features tea blends from around the world.

“The idea is you can come in and get any �vor of tea because most people think of teas as just black or green tea,” Amin said. “But we have 28

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It’s not just the teas and food that have customers coming back for more; it’s also the atmosphere of the teahouse.

so many different �vors — people can come in and try something new that they wouldn’t expect from a tea.”

The traditional teas like black, green, and chamomile teas aren’t on Safa’s regular menu, but they still keep them on-hand for customers who aren’t feeling so adventurous.

Safa has 24 teas on the menu in addition to the 10 traditional teas they keep on hand. Before adding a tea to the menu, Amin does his own taste test and has his friends and family try them out, too.

“Not all the teas are to my taste,” Amin explained, “but when I’m tasting them, I have to put myself in the customer’s shoes to see if it’s a high-quality tea someone else will enjoy.”

Amin also shared where he gets his tea blends.

“We get most of our teas from our distributor in Los Angeles, where each blend is made to order,” Amin said. “We get some of our teas imported from Iran and we also work with a couple distributors to make our own blends.”

The Zafaran and Persian Rose teas are two of Safa’s custom-made teas.

They source each ingredient such as Spanish saffron, rose buds, rose petals, and cardamom, which are the three main ingredients in their Zafaron tea. They do trials and taste tests until they are ��� ed with the �vor ���� before it gets added to the menu. You can also purchase Safa brand tea blends to make at home.

Amin is very happy with how their Safa brand teas have been received by their customers.

“It seems to be working because the rose is our most popular tea by far,” he shared.

To keep his customers ��� ed, Amin takes feedback into account, especially when it comes to the tea menu.

“I think our tea menu is what’s changed the most since we’ve opened,” he said. “People come in and ask f������������� e don’t have it, we will add it to our menu.”

The food menu is kept clean and simple to keep the emphasis on the teas.

“We wanted to keep it short and focused because we are not a restaurant,” Amin explained. “Our permanent menu consists of two wraps, a hummus, and Dolmeh, which is rice wrapped in grape leaves.”

Their most popular menu item is their Persian Wrap, which is made with chicken and potato cakes — known as kotlets in Iran — and your choice of sauce.

“We get people who come by a couple times a week just for that wrap,” Amin said.

In addition to their permanent menu, Safa offers four to �e specials at a time to mix it up and introduce different Persian dishes to their customers.

To gain more exposure and to try something different, Safa has hosted a few events geared toward exposing their customers to Persian culture.

Some of the events included Persian fortunetelling — also known as Hafez — Kabab specials, and even a full four-course Persian dinner.

“When you go to a Persian restaurant, you have 30 to 40 different items on the menu that you’ve probably never heard of,” Amin explained. “By doing a four-course meal, we can curate it so you can taste multiple dishes, but you’re not overwhelmed by a huge menu.”

It’s not just the teas and food that have customers coming back for more; it’s also the atmosphere of the teahouse.

“It might be unique for Manayunk, but if you walk into a high-end tea houses in Iran, this is what it will look like,” Amin said. “You can still see traces of the P��������H but they will look very modern.”

To keep the space on the quieter side, Amin made the decision to give up some central table real estate to balance the maximum volume of the café and keep the vibe calm, but also comfortable and welcoming.

Even though Safa Persian Teahouse has only been open since July 2018, Amin has plans for more events, delivery options, expanding their food menu, and online sales for their Safa brand teas.

“What we strive to be is somewhere that is known for being more low-key,” said Amin. “It’s more for someone who wants to come to relax and study.”

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The Canal Lounge is Manayunk’s premier event space. We can accomidate groups of up to 125 people, for any and every event. For more information, contact our event coordinator, Melissa, at mgregory@bourbonblue.com.

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DINE

Not Your Father’s Irish Pub

By Leo Dillinger Photography by JPG Photography (jpgphotography.com)

D

amien Given has seen his share of pubs throughout his 20 years in the industry. When he opened Sona Pub and Kitchen in April 2017, Damien wanted to break away from the norms of traditional Irish bars and give Manayunk a modern spin on a classic concept.

“The new generation of bars in Ireland are brighter and fresher,” Damien said. “They’re building them like this because that generation coming up is more interested in advancing and not living in the past.“ Born and raised in Beragh in County Tyrone, Ireland, Damien ��� came to the United States during the summer of 1995 on a “working vacation” in Wildwood, NJ. Despite returning home after that summer, he ventured back to Wildwood in March 1996 and has resided in the U.S. ever since.

Damien spent those summers in Wildwood working any job he could ��H eventually becoming a manager of several boardwalk shops and a few parking lots. After a few months in the management position, he called it quits and went into his regular watering hole, The Harbor Inn, to ask for a bar-backing job. Within a month, he became a bartender there.

After moving to Philadelphia in 2000, Damien spent the following sixteen years working and managing bars all over the area. He worked at The Bards, Fado, and Moriarty’s in Center City and managed Kelly’s Taproom, Flip & Bailey’s, and Garrett Hill Ale House on the Main Line.

In July 2013, Damien got a job with the Dave Magrogan Group and spent three years working at their Kildare’s locations in Newark, DE and Manayunk as well as Red Star in Exton.

When Kildare’s Manayunk closed in September 2016, Damien and his business partners were ready to start a venture of their own. Being familiar with the neighborhood, Damien began negotiating on the property in the winter of 2016 and by January 11, 2017, the papers were signed and the group began renovating the space. On April 27, 2017, Sona of���� 32

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“I take pride in this place when I see people having a good time.”

opened for business.

With a gastro pub concept that would cater to a wide-ranging demographic, Damien wanted Sona to give the neighborhood a breath of fresh air. For many Manayunk regulars who remembered Kildare’s, it didn’t take long to notice the major changes being made from the refurbished walls and hardw���ooring to the ambient lighting and new tap system.

“We’re still the baby on the block, but we now have a regular clientele that’s slowly been growing since we opened a year and a half ago,” Damien said.

While you’ll certainly ��the Irish staples of Guinness, Harp, and Smithwick’s on tap, they only account for a portion of the bar’s offerings.

With 30 draught lines, Damien says Sona always maintains a wide selection from Philly-area breweries like Wissahickon, Levante and Sterling Pig to give visitors a taste of the city’s beer scene. And if beer’s not your thing, fear not. Sona also offers an extensive list of craft cocktails.

Sona’s food menu also gives slight nods to the old country, but primarily focuses on American pub fare with an Irish twist. Sure, you can get your Shepherd’s Pie or Fish and Chips for dinner or an Irish Breakfast during brunch. But don’t let that stop you from trying their Cheesesteak Egg Rolls or the Paddy Burger.

“The food here isn’t traditional Irish food,” Damien said. “Our Mac N’ Cheese is made with Irish cheddar, but there’s other stuff in there. We try to use a little bit of Irish ingredients in our food, but I’m not putting on Corned Beef and Cabbage because nobody is going to eat it. Instead, we make a burger with Irish cheddar and Irish bacon.”

Perhaps the biggest news out of Sona since its opening is the addition of a new 125-capacity concert space: The Locks. For months, Damien and his team went back and forth trying to reinvent the upstairs bar.

Earlier this summer, Damien and his business partner Brian reached an

agreement with their longtime friend and former owner of Tin Angel, Donal McCoy, to house a venue upstairs dedicated to singer-songwriters.

While Sona staffs and stocks the bar, the folks from Tin Angel and Point Entertainment handle all talent booking and ticket sales.

“It’s such an eclectic mix of people we would never get into this building. They’re coming in, having dinner, and some of them are already coming back,” Damien said. “The Locks is a bonus for us and it’s bringing a new market into the building.”

Aside from dining and live entertainment, Sona also hosts a variety of events and specials. With 12 HD TVs and a 96-inch projector screen surrounding the bar, it’s a perfect place to watch your favorite sports teams (especially for fans of Premier League soccer who get 20 percent off their food by wearing their jerseys during the game). They have 50 cent wings on Mondays, all you can eat crabs on Tuesdays, and burger/trivia nights on Wednesdays. Damien said they’ve also brought back their ticketed Irish-style carvery once a month, where guests can treat themselves to a hearty meal while listening to live Irish music.

The Irish word “sona” means “happy,” “lucky,” or “fortunate” depending on the context. For Damien, the pub’s name embodies what he wants his guests to experience when they step inside. Whether you’re posting up at the bar for a pint, indulging in a savory meal, or catching a show upstairs at the Locks, the team at Sona Pub and Kitchen want you to enjoy your time with them.

“I take pride in this place when I see people having a good time,” Damien said. “A band played here last Saturday and the whole building sang along to the songs they were playing. The atmosphere of positivity is really good for the building and the staff. When you see people walk in here and enjoy the food and drinks you’re making, they’re going to come back. That’s the big driving factor to keep doing this.”

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PLAY

Where Dance, Fitness, and Fun Merge Making dance accessible to all ages and experience levels, Merge Dance Studio helps dancers ignite or rediscover their passions.

By Ainsley Maloney

E

ver since the age of three, Jillian Scavone has been a dancer.

“My mom put me in dance because I was very clumsy, and she was hoping to give me some coordination,” she said, with a laugh.

“I fell in love with it.”

Jillian danced throughout high school and college. But by her mid 20’s, as she focused on obtaining a Ph.D. in neuroscience and landing her dream job at a ����t cancer center, “life got in the way,” she said, and dance disappeared from her routine entirely. Her passion for the sport, though, never went away.

“Dance is such mind-and-body therapy,” she said. “Learning the steps, you use your full concentration. It’s exercise but also artistic. A lot of science professionals come to dance to get a breath of fresh air. It’s a great outlet for the right side of your brain.”

Jillian searched online for adult classes but struggled to ��any that weren’t either beginner or professional. Then, she came across Merge Dance Studio, 4047 Cresson Street, and soon discovered this intimate and welcoming dance studio was exactly the place she’d been searching for.

“Merge offers this perfect balance of challenging classes without being this strict atmosphere where you’re going to get yelled at for not pointing right,” she said, with a laugh. “It’s great for working professionals looking to bring dance back into their lives.”

Jillian attributes the atmosphere of Merge to the heart and soul of the company, its owner and artistic director, Christa Campbell.

“Christa does a really good job of creating a welcoming environment,” Jillian said. “She’s accepting and patient, and yet she’ll push us and challenge us. It’s been that way for a lot of us who are rediscovering dance af��� e or 10 years away.”

Christa opened Merge in 2012. With a lifelong dream to dance professionally and supportive parents to encourage her, Christa went on 38

Photography by Alexa Nahas Photography (alexanahas.com), and Andrea Nunez to receive her B.A. in dance at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. She then built an extensive resume of dance accolades, which included touring Poland with a professional dance company. She soon found herself drawn to Philadelphia for its “more approachable” dance scene as compared to the hyper-competitive New York City vibe.

Now, as director of her own studio in Manayunk, Christa has created the welcoming dance environment she’d been seeking all along. As a result, she attracts like-minded instructors and dancers.

“Other studios have drama or competitiveness — that’s just not how Christa rolls,” Jillian said, while prepping her jazz shoes surrounded by the seven other women in her class. “I’ve developed strong friendships with the girls that extend beyond the studio.”

Christa, now in her seventh season, has grown her business from a nights-and-weekends side gig to a full-time profession, managing eight instructors and staff and offering classes seven days a week.

With the motto of “where dance and �tness merge,” the studio’s class schedule is packed with such diverse offerings as Jazz, Hip-Hop, Modern/Contemporary, Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Creative Movement, Acro, Musical Theatre, Zumba, Piloxing, and BARRE Fusion. She offers everything from Mommy/Daddy & Me for ages two to three to advanced classes for adults. Clients can also request to schedule private lessons, studio rentals, birthday parties, or events. With the goal of expanding the class repertoire, Christa sprinkles in guest workshops or master classes taught by experts in areas she does not typically offer, such as Ballroom, Swing, Lyrical, and AcroYoga.

Christa’s inspiration for her choreography sparks from the beat. ������������ then choreograph from there,” she said.

She rarely reuses songs and is currently using Walk the Moon’s “Kamikaze,” Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Cut to the Feeling,” and Janelle Monae’s “Make

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Me Feel,” among others for the studio’s performance group, Merge Dance Company. She also enjoys watching “So You Think You Can Dance,” and when she can, live performances at University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Center or of Cirque du Soleil.

One key feature that separates Merge from other dance studios is Christa’s focus on community outreach. Her dancers perform at various local events for the community, such as Manayunk’s StrEAT Festival and Harvest Fest as well as Pretzel Park’s Halloween event. In December, her dancers perform at the Manayunk Tree Lighting Ceremony where teen and adult dancers showcase group, duet, or solo performances.

“The holiday ones are a lot of fun and really festive, they get everyone in the mood for Christmas,” Christa said.

In addition, Christa offers dance storytime programs at many local libraries, and Merge dancers perform everywhere from North Light Community Center’s open house event, the Mount Airy Village Fair, the Travel & Adventure Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, to local retirement homes.

Looking to the future, Christa said the biggest change to her life has been her son Levi, now 13 months. Being a new mom has given her an entirely new meaning for the phrase “en pointe.”

“Time management is now about getting everything done in tiny windows. I didn’t think I had time before, well, I had a lot of time before,” she said with a laugh.

Living in Roxborough with her husband, she values having a career that allows her to spend mornings with her son, while teaching nights and weekends.

“You realize what’s important,” she said.

For Christa, what’s most important for her business is to create a welcoming place that ignites people’s passions.

“I love introducing kids to dance and seeing them get excited and grow to love it like I do,” she said. “It’s so fun seeing the wonder in their eyes — their eyes just light up! The adult dancers inspire me, too. I love being the place where that’s accessible and comfortable for them to get back

into dance. They make me push myself creatively.”

The appreciation goes both ways, Jillian said.

“I thought my dance career would be over. I thought I’d never be able to dance the way I once did,” she said. “Christa gave me an opportunity to bring dance back into my life, and keep it there. She’s done that for all of us. Merge feels like my little second home. I’m really grateful.”

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