The WC Press Holiday Shopping Guide - December 2016

VOICE OF THE BOROUGH  DECEMBER 2016

H O L I DAY

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The

Press

“I could lie and pretend that I hunt and camp, but that wouldn’t be me. Clothes?

Shopping? That’s stuff I like!”

–Ryan Seacrest

PUBLISHER Dan Mathers dan@thewcpress.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Nick Vecchio nick@thewcpress.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Julie Ryan jryan@mathersproductions.com COPY EDITOR Jon Roth jroth@thewcpress.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jesse Piersol jpiersol@thewcpress.com Kate Chadwick kchadwick@thewcpress.com STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Sabina Sister ssister@thewcpress.com Andrew Hutchins hutch@thewcpress.com

Worth

COLUMNISTS Becca Boyd bboyd@thewcpress.com Diane LeBold dlebold@thewcpress.com Andrea Mason amason@thewcpress.com DJ Romeo romeo@thewcpress.com Dr Geoff Winkley drwinkley@thewcpress.com Published By...

Mathers Productions 13 South Church Street West Chester, PA 19382 mathersproductions.com 610-344-3463 The WC Press is a monthly magazine distributed free of charge to more than 250 businesses. For a free digital subscription, visit thewcpress.com.

For more information about specific distribution locations, visit thewcpress.com/distribution.

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Our no-nonsense table of contents

BARTENDER OF THE MONTH Pat Kelly’s been at Ryan’s Pub for more than a decade SHOPPING WITH THE SHERIFF The Sheriff’s Office is building bridges with little shoppers LOCAL TALENT Susan Sluk brings wellness to all abilities at Eat. Drink. Om. THE MAKEOVER Velvet Hair Studio brings out a lucky client’s natural beauty HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE Suggestions for shopping locally this holiday season PHOTO HUNT Can you spot the five differences in these two photos?

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From the

Editor

“I don’t shop because I need something, I just shop for shopping’s sake.”

—Cat Deeley

I am a new-age consumer, conditioned

by Amazon to expect instant gratification. They recently rolled out a series of branded push-buttons. One has the Tide logo on it. You put this above the washing machine. Running low on laundry detergent on Monday? Just push the button and your order will arrive no later than Wednesday at 8pm. Need soap? Push the Mrs. Meyer’s icon above your sink. Need paper towels, soda or cat food? Press Bounty, Diet Coke or Meow Mix. There’s even a button for Nerf, in case you run out of foam darts.

Besides the obvious waste inherent in the excessive cardboard they use for shipping—my micro-SD card shipped in a box large enough for the camera it was meant for—these buttons seem like a great solution. I’m the guy who squeezes every drop of toothpaste out of the tube and thinks, “Gotta swing by CVS today.” The next morning I’m still wringing that same tube for more Colgate because CVS just slipped my mind. I’ve gone so far as to grab a razor knife and cut the top off to shove my brush inside and scrape out every remaining smear of paste. I need the convenience of one-touch ordering on-demand.

But not all experiences are made better by efficiency. I once bought a futon on Amazon and shipped it to my friend’s house in Key West. The pictures looked great, but if they’d shown a single image of a person sitting on this futon, I’d have known it’s better suited for a child’s playhouse. I’ve slept on that futon the last three times I’ve visited, and my toes hang a good two feet off the bottom. I wake up with aches in my back from rolling atop the two-by-four you can acutely feel running down the middle. Still, it beats getting a hotel in Key West—the room rates are robbery.

My point is that not all shopping can or should be a point-andclick experience. I’m never again buying furniture without sitting on it first, and I don’t plan to buy Christmas gifts on the internet for the people I love… except my Uncle Chris, who just emails me a link to what he wants as soon as the Mathers Family Pollyanna is released. But the people on my list who haven’t made explicit requests will be getting gifts that come with a lot more thought than, “What’s the cheapest shipping option?”

That’s why I love this issue. Every year I find ideas in our shopping guide that translate into gifts. Last year my sister got handmade earrings from Kaly, my mom got a serving dish from The 5 Senses, and my step-dad got a shirt from Mainline Custom Clothiers. Right now I’ve got some people in mind who’d love the necklace Old Soul Decor is showcasing (p. 57), and while my dad’s got his heart set on some $800 tile saw, what he’s actually getting is a quarter-zip sweater from Phineas Gage (p. 59).

Maybe one day the internet will know all our secrets. Facebook will have absorbed your every personal detail, Google will know everywhere you’ve ever been, every question you’ve ever asked, and Amazon will tell your friends what they should buy you for Christmas. But until that day comes, I’ll be strolling the streets of West Chester in search of inspiration, because there’s no magic button to press for “Gift that Makes Nana Smile.”

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Design

Dilemmas

Andrea Mason is an interior designer who wants to help you upgrade your space

The holidays are here and gift-giving season is in full swing. For those who are wondering what to get that special home décor fan in your life (or anyone who appreciates good design), I've put together the following gift guide!

Local Artwork: Support a local artist while making a beautiful home. Visual Expansion Gallery (32 N High St. | visualexpansiongallery.com) sells every type of medium from mosaics to acrylics, all from local artists. Their vintage maps of West Chester would complement any household. Take a look for yourself!

Local Furniture and Accessories: West Chester has many antique furniture shops, which makes for easy holiday shopping.

For that person who appreciates iconic pieces, make sure to visit Walnut + West (325 Westtown Rd. | walnutandwest.com).

They are open by appointment only. Old Soul Décor (119 W. Market St. | oldsouldecor.com) is a great source for someone who favors a vintage design feel. Their constant new arrivals mean it's worth stopping back over and over again.

Blankets: Who doesn’t love a cozy blanket when they're cuddled up on the sofa? The buffalo check wool throw from Faribault Woolen Mill Co. (faribaultmill.com) is a great wool blanket that will stay soft forever. They have dozens of designs that will keep you warm and look fabulous. Prices range from $65 to $190.

Candles: For a home that smells as good as it looks, you've got to check out the Rescued Wine Candles from The 5 Senses (133 W Market St | the5senses.com) These candles are 100% soy, smell like different wines, have no carcinogens and the company donates 10% of their profits to animal rescue groups.

Wreaths: This gift is perfect for someone who likes bringing the outdoors inside. It is the perfect way to make a statement at your home before you even walk in. West Chester is full of florists, but Matlack Florist (210 N Chester Rd | matlackflorist.com) is one of the biggest around, and their selection of wreaths is worth the trip down West Chester Pike.

Pottery: What better way to spice up an empty shelf than to adorn it with a beautiful piece of handmade pottery? Whether it's a bowl, vase, or decorative plate, you will be able to find a thoughtful piece from Clay Born Pottery (claybornpottery.com).

Artist Nancy Salamon's studio is on Barnard Street, and some pieces are available at Kaly (37 W Gay St | kalyclothing.com).

Books: Do you know someone in need of design inspiration?

Styled by Emily Henderson is a great guide for those afflicted with "style paralysis." The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith is targeted at women, from single renters to mothers with a mortgage. The Inspired Room: Simple Ideas to Love the Home You Have by Melissa Michaels is full of gorgeous photos and helpful tips. You may have to turn to Amazon to track these titles down.

Hopefully with this gift guide you'll knock out your to-do list with enough time left to enjoy the season! –amason@thewcpress.com

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Bartender of the

Month

PHOTO Sabina Sister

INTERVIEW Dan Mathers

Pat Kelly's been behind the bar at Ryan's Pub for more than a decade, and he still loves the job.

How long have you been at Ryan’s?

About 10 years.

What got you started here? When I turned 18 a neighbor of mine bartended at Maddie’s, so I got involved too. When I turned 21 I was hanging out at Ryan’s, and I got offered a job bar-backing. I barbacked for about one-and-a-half years, then a spot as a bartender opened up.

With a name like Pat Kelly, I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise you were hanging out at an Irish pub. Well, I’m definitely American, although my grandfather is from Ireland. It just happened to be where all my friends were hanging

out, so I hung out here a bunch. I think we all congregated at Ryan’s because of the bartenders. They were really down to earth and treated everyone who came into the bar like a person. I always felt like when I came in, I’d be welcome and I’d probably know somebody.

So you left Maddie’s to come work where you were hanging out. I had stopped working at Maddie’s some time before that. I was actually doing a regular job at the time, and I picked up a couple nights at Ryan’s for extra cash.

What was the regular job? At the time, I was at a medical supply company in Malvern. So, bar-backing was always sort of a second job. But, when I started bartending, Ryan’s became the primary job, and the other jobs were part-time.

What’s the situation now? Now I work the bar on weekends and am fulltime at Market Street Print.

Wait, you choose to work weekends when you’ve already got a nine-tofive? I enjoy it. I like being here. If I need to take off, I can, but I usually don’t—I’m here Friday and Saturday night. And the money definitely doesn’t hurt; I like hav-

ing the extra money in my pocket. Plus, on weekends my friends end up here anyway, so I figure if my friends are gonna be here, I might as well make some money at it.

Is it kind of a young crowd those nights? Not until pretty late. For the dinner hour, there’s a family crowd—people eating in the booths, or maybe having a drink and some food at the bar. Around 10:30pm, it turns into a younger crowd.

What enables you to have both audiences? I think it helps that we’ve been here for a while. We got established in this town at the right time, right as the town was growing. Today we have our regulars, and the nightlife kinda comes.

A lot of bar owners work really hard to have that nightlife. I think all the people that owner Pat Ryan hires are good people, and I think customers appreciate that. Plus, Saturday nights we have really good late-night specials from 10pm to midnight: $3 flavored vodka drinks, $3 Miller Lite bottles, and $5 energy bombs.

I imagine that gets the crowd turned up a bit. Yeah, a little bit...

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Ask your

Doctor

Dr. Geoff Winkley is a board-certified emergency medicine physician who operates Doctor's Best Immediate Medical Care

Looking for ways to “get in the spirit” and feel great about improving the health and well-being of others? Consider making some donations this holiday season.

Donating to the organizations that fund research to eradicate disease, or advocate for common sense safety requirements, or provide patient services is a great way to make an immediate impact. Maybe consider some of the following worthy organizations who are raising awareness for their causes this month: Safe Toys and Gifts Month: During a season where new toys are everywhere, it makes sense to keep these things in mind: Pay attention to safety labels, warnings and age recommendations. Choose toys appropriate for the child’s age, interest and skill level. Don't give toys with small parts, or toys with strings, cords or ribbons to small children. Avoid toys with sharp points, edges made from metal or glass, or with wires that could stab, cut or shock if exposed. Also, remind older children to keep toys or other things that are not age appropriate for younger siblings out of their reach. Finally, immediately discard plastic wrapping or other toy packaging before the wrapping and packaging become dangerous play things.

World AIDS Day, December 1: This global event recognizes those who have died from AIDs and seeks to raise awareness, fight prejudice, and improve education about HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Until a cure is found, follow the current NIH guidelines to protect yourself from getting or transmitting the virus.

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week, December 1-7: Crohn’s disease and colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that primarily affect the digestive system, or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Symptoms of IBD include persistent diarrhea, loose and more urgent bowel movements, abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, constipation and bowel obstruction, and fever. The causes of Crohn’s disease and colitis are not known, but research suggests that both are the result of hereditary factors, an overactive immune system, and environmental factors such as bacterial or viral infections, or other factors that trigger an abnormal immune response.

National Influenza Vaccination Week, first full week of December: In last month’s article, we made the case for avoiding the flu and its severe symptoms. Flu season has not taken hold in our region yet, so it’s not too late to get vaccinated.

National Handwashing Awareness Week, December 4-10: At all times of year, and especially in flu and cold season, frequent handwashing is the best way to avoid getting sick and preventing the spread of infection within your family and community. Wash your hands often, using alcohol-based sanitizer,or warm soapy water. –drwinkley@thewcpress.com

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The Chester County Sheriff 's Office is building bridges with the community, one little Christmas shopper at a time. story Tara Bosler photos David Aloisio

A

s an adult, holiday shopping is part nostalgia and part stress.

Luckily, kids are mostly immune to the holiday stress, like they are with most of life’s big worries. But when their families are short on funds come Christmas time, much of the magic of the holiday season escapes them, too.

While Toys for Tots and a wide variety of gift drives do a great job making sure there are presents under the tree for these children come Christmas morning, receiving gifts is only half the equation. Kids want to contribute to holiday gift-giving as much as anyone else. And, luckily for children in West Chester, Chester County law enforcement is stepping up to help make that dream come true through their partnership with Chester County Family Academy called Shop with the Sheriff.

We’ll come back to the idea of Shop with the Sheriff in a minute, but to really appreciate what this program does, you need to understand the organizations involved. Chester County Family Academy, or CCFA, provides quality education and childcare services for families struggling with financial challenges. Their vision is, “To provide private schoolstyle education to students with limited resources.” They prepare a family-style breakfast and a warm lunch for students, and, through its partnership with the Chester County Food Bank, CCFA students benefit from a Weekend Backpack Food Program, which sees all children sent home each Friday with a backpack full of healthy food to keep them fed through the weekend. The charter school offers both a school day that’s longer than that of public school, as well as a longer school year, one that extends into months typically reserved for summer vaca-

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Commit to your 2017 advertising before the end of 2016 to lock in the best rates.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SAVINGS UP TO 44% JANUARY: The Multicultural Issue

West Chester represents a wide range of cultures, creeds and ethnic backgrounds, all contributing to the culture of our town, a culture worth celebrating.

FEBRUARY: Hearts

Love is in the air, and we’ll be exploring all things heart-related, from cupid's arrows to cardiac care.

MARCH: West Chester's Parks

We’re willing to bet there are about a dozen more parks in West Chester than you think, and we’ll be exploring all of them and the benefits they bring our town.

APRIL: Handcrafted

Profiling the artisans and industries dedicated to crafting the old-fashioned way.

MAY: The Bride Guide to West Chester

Everything you need to know to plan the perfect West Chester wedding.

JUNE: The Summer Fun Guide

Follow our summer fun guide to see what exciting things the warmer months have in store for you (and search for some ideas to keep the kids out of your hair).

JULY: First Responders

Honoring local heroes and showcasing the work they do to keep West Chester the safe and secure place we all love.

AUGUST: The Style Guide

We’re combining the Fashion Issue and the Beauty Issue for one big blowout Style Guide.

SEPTEMBER: Edible West Chester

It’s no secret: West Chester loves food. And, while we’ve all got our favorite restaurants, we hope to introduce you to some meals and mixes you might not yet know.

OCTOBER: Sweet Tooth

Sure, Halloween is there to load our youth on sugar, but what about the adults of West Chester?

We’ve got you covered with the best cakes, cookies and chocolates in town.

NOVEMBER: Fresh Brew

When we say “brew” do you think beer, coffee or tea? We’re thinking all three, and we’re planning to introduce you to your next favorite local beverage.

DECEMBER: Holiday Shopping Guide

It's the most wonderful time of the year! We want you to support local business this holiday season, so we’re giving you some great ideas to get started.

CONTACT NICK VECCHIO: NICK@THEWCPRESS.COM | 610.299.1100 22

THE WC PRESS | VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

tion. These extra days and hours help relieve parents of the financial burdens of childcare and offer added enrichment.

Along with offering a valuable academic curriculum, CCFA offers its students the opportunity to engage with the community through partner programs like the YMCA, Darlington Arts Center, West Chester Area Senior Center and both local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts programs. Of particular relevance this time of year is the aforementioned Shop with the Sheriff, derived from CCFA’s partnership with the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. Now in its third year, Shop with the Sheriff brings local law enforcement together with children from the CCFA for a day of gift shopping and community building.

Shop with the Sheriff is an annual, one-day event in which each student from CCFA is paired up with a uniformed deputy from the sheriff’s office and given a $100 Walmart gift card to purchase holiday gifts for their family

and themselves. Children wander the aisles of Walmart with their personal deputy in tow. The officers work with the kids to help them make gift choices and locate items they’re looking for, all while cracking smiles and bonding with the children.

Shop with the Sheriff brings local law enforcement together with children for a day of gift shopping and community building.

After completing their holiday shopping, the kids are taken by bus—still while being escorted by their personal deputies—back to Providence Church on Hannum Avenue where they are served lunch. The children and families are entertained with games, music and a visit from Santa!

The program began because Sheriff Bunny Welsh was on the board of CCFA, along with CCFA CEO Sue Flynn.

Inspired by another local event—Shop with a Cop, which is held in Coatesville— they worked together with the board of the academy to bring this wonderful program to our county. Through partnerships within the community, Shop with the Sheriff was born three years ago.

The program relies on donations from local businesses and individuals, as well as a long list of volunteers who dedicate their time to making the event a success. Walmart is a major sponsor of the program, matching Shop with the Sheriff’s monetary donations dollarfor-dollar, and enabling them to double their budget. Krapf School Bus supplies the transportation free of charge, and many other local businesses, like Dave’s Automotive Repair Enterprises, make contributions as well. Laura Aloisio of DARE calls it a heartwarming event. “It’s adorable to see these little kids—who want to be able to give to

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THE WC PRESS | VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

their families but otherwise wouldn’t be able to—teamed up with these big, uniformed deputies.” She’s also struck by just how conscious the children are about the opportunity that’s being presented to them. “The kids know it’s about giving, and they pick almost nothing out for themselves,” she says.

The success of the event and the incredible charity of our community have allowed the program to continue to grow...

But the contributions don’t end with charitable donations. At the lunch party, there are volunteers on hand who help get all the gifts wrapped and tagged by the end of the day. According to Sheriff Welsh, everyone pulls together to make the day a truly memorable one. “Without the generous sponsors, we couldn’t do the program at all,” she says. The success of the event and the incredible charity of our community have allowed the program to continue to grow and include more children every year.

The immediate benefits to the kids and their families are obvious, but the positive implications of this program go past the pretty boxes with ribbons. Participating officers benefit by getting to know more people in the neighborhoods they serve,

leading to an environment where law enforcement feels more like part of the populace than an outside force imposed upon it. And, on the other side of the coin, the children and families involved get to see members of law enforcement, not just as members of the authority, but also as members of the community.

With today’s ever-connected youth constantly exposed to news and digital videos, there is plenty for them to be suspicious of—or even downright scared of—when it comes to law enforcement. Coverage of police brutality is all over the media. Sure, every now and then a video of an officer playing basketball or dancing with local kids goes viral, but that may not be enough to erase the negative stereotypes.

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What can counter that ugly news better than a catchy YouTube video is a real, live person, standing in front of these kids, taking the time to connect and get to know them. That’s exactly what these deputies do. They spend the day talking, joking and building relationships with these kids. The program is admittedly partly about gifts, but it is also profoundly about building trust and community. That’s a lesson that may not be visible to these kids today, but it’s something that will pay dividends in the years to come. Susan Flynn agrees and see the benefits in the program. “During a time when community and police relationships are tense, the Sheriff’s Department is building a relationship with children and families,” she says.

One officer who participated in last year’s event—an officer just like any other in West Chester—responded to a call about a domestic disturbance the evening of the Shop with the Sheriff event. Sheriff Welsh doesn’t go into the details of the encounter but refers to it as, “A terrible circumstance between a father and son.” What she does go into detail about is the positives in the situation. “When the officer opened the door, there was this little kid standing there

with his yellow ‘Shop with the Sheriff’ shirt on, and the boy smiled and waved.

He knew the officer was a friend.”

Seeing an officer as a friend is not necessarily the norm for some of these kids.

In many cases, the only times they've interacted with law enforcement is through a Protection from Abuser order, or perhaps a warrant. These situations are unnerving for adults and can often lead to negative outcomes for small kids.

They want the kids in the neighborhoods they serve to know that, while they need to respect officers, they can also rely on them to keep the community safe.

The members of Chester County law enforcement want children and families to know that they are there to help and protect them. They want the kids in the neighborhoods they serve to know that,

while they need to respect officers, they can also rely on them to keep the community safe. Programs like Shop with the Sheriff go a long way in building that relationship.

The power of one-on-one connection cannot be overstated. Jennifer Jefferson is a teacher at CCFA and recalls a powerful interaction she witnessed at last year’s event that makes it clear what an impact Shop with the Sheriff is making. “I remember walking around Walmart and listening to the conversations taking place between the sheriffs and the students. From one pair, I heard a sheriff asking what type of blanket the child thought their mom would like and if she liked ‘fancy patterns’ or had a favorite color. I saw them go through every pattern together and I thought of what an impact this would have on this child. Every time that student sees that blanket at home, they will be reminded of not only the kindness and patience the sheriff showed them, but also pride in the choice that they made and the smile it brought to their mother's face. These students aren't given many opportunities to give gifts or to receive such individualized attention, so this experience is truly magical for them.”

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Owner

Month of the

PHOTO Sabina Sister

INTERVIEW Dan Mathers

Susan Sluk brings wellness and balance to all ages and abilities at Eat. Drink. Om. Yoga Cafe How’d you get into yoga? I got into yoga after I had my kids. It helped calm me down and get my body back in shape.

So, it’s not just about the physical. It helps keep me grounded, it relieves stress, and it helps me because I’ve had a lot of major surgeries. I had breast surgery and it helped me recover.

What kind of breast surgery? I had 23 biopsies and lumpectomies. I recovered very quickly—my doctor was blown away.

When she saw that the aerial yoga was draining my lymphatic system—she said it was part of why I recovered so quickly.

Hold on. Aerial yoga was draining your lymphatic system? The aerial silks hold at

the groin area and under your armpits— two of the major areas of lymphatic drainage. Those areas were being stimulated, and my body was draining itself. Reducing that swelling helped my body recover.

Okay, so the obvious next question is, “What’s aerial yoga?” It’s where we do yoga while hanging from silks. We also offer barre classes in addition to traditional mat yoga classes. Each form benefits the other. Most people are used to traditional mat classes, but aerial yoga allows people to do stuff in the air that they might not be able to do on the ground.

What do you mean? Well, my manifesto is, “Yoga is for everyone: every size, every age, every mood, every degree of flexibility.

Special needs, the blind, amputees, wheelchairs, walkers… all are welcome.” If someone comes in with a special need, we find a way for them to get the most out of the class. I’ll watch how their body moves, and I’ll try to find a way to help them get into the right pose. Sometimes that involves use of the aerial silks. I wanted to offer things that help them on their yoga path but don’t involve traditional yoga. That’s why we have things like kids yoga, family

yoga, and—my favorite—happy hour yoga.

Yes, we drink while doing mat yoga.

When did you start your business? It was right around the same time as us, right? Yup. I’ve been in town for five years now. I remember when you were first running around town looking for people to take ads, and I said, “I’ll buy one.”

Ah, yes, the good old days of begging door to door. What’s the biggest change for you since then? In terms of the classes, the biggest change was probably the addition of the aerial silks and the barre classes.

I realized that I wanted to help people with more of a rounded body experience. The newest change is that I’ll have food at the studio from Cuisine de Sylvie. People can order their food for the week, or really good lunches. I’m always trying to get more involved with the other businesses in town.

How does that benefit you? I don’t look at it as, “How does this benefit me?” It’s, “How will this help the town?” I want our town to grow and to thrive and have more people come into town, and I think it’s really important to do that together. That’s part of a yogic philosophy, and I try to keep my practice both on and off the mat.

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Home

Diane LeBold and the West Chester Food Co-Op examine local food production and bring eaters closer to the source of their food.

Grown

French towns hold an annual holiday celebration, a Marché de Nöel or Christmas Market, that runs from the end of November until Christmas Eve. These outdoor markets, usually in the center of town, are where young and old come together in the spirit of the holidays.They are rich with regional traditions and each town competes to be the best.

West Chester has begun its own Marché de Nöel tradition, and this year the celebration takes place on December 3 at Walnut and Gay Streets (the old Rite Aid parking lot). Open from noon to dusk, the Marché is hosted by West Chester Food Co-op and features local food producers and artisans along with holiday music and roasted chestnuts. There are special treats from French bakery La Baguette Magique, and hot food prepared on site by French chef Sylvie Ashby of Cuisine de Sylvie.

In the spirit of the Co-op, the Marché helps build awareness of local food producers and encourages mindful food choices that support a more localized food system. Among the participants in this year’s Marché are Wyebrook Farm, Birchrun Hills Farm, Deer Creek Malt House, Cave Bird Coffee, Pete’s Produce, Crawford Organics, and Mary Jane candles. The Marché provides an opportunity to talk with local food producers and learn about their process and products. Local ingredients are featured in all the prepared food, and tasting and discussion are encouraged.

Marché participant Deer Creek Malt House has revived a process that has been extinct in Pennsylvania since prohibition—malting grains for craft brewers, distillers and bakers. The grains are germinated by soaking in water, then stopped from further germination by drying with hot air. This develops various enzymes that change the grain's starches into sugars and break down proteins in the grain into forms that can be used by yeast.

Malted grains have a toasty, crunchy, aromatic character.

Chester County is also developing a robust community of cheese makers, many of whom use raw milk products. Without exposure to the high temperatures of pasteurization, the subtlety and flavor in raw-milk cheese is greatly expanded. Marché participant Birchrun Hills Farm is exclusively a raw milk resource, known for Birchrun Blue, a natural-rind, semi-soft cheese, Highland Alpine, a washed rind traditional mountain-style cheese, and Fat Cat, their own earthy, tangy cheese with a grassy finish.

Locally roasted coffee is another expanding food business.

Marché participant Cave Bird Coffee goes beyond Fair Trade and buys beans directly from farmers, eliminating the importer, and thus can pay farmers better-than-Fair-Trade prices. Cave Bird buys much of its coffee from Uganda, where village economies depend on the proceeds from coffee. Through its non-profit Cave Bird Cup of Life, 100% of retail net is returned to the villages to build clean water wells. —dlebold@thewcpress.com West Chester Food Co-op promotes access to, healthy, fresh, local food for everyone in our community. We are working to build a community-owned, full-service grocery store in West Chester. Learn more at www.wcfood.coop/join-us/

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West Chester's newest salon, Velvet Hair Studio, brings out a lucky client's natural beauty

photo Sabina Sister Tisha is a mother of three with a superbusy lifestyle. So the main priority was for her hairstyle to coincide with her lifestyle.

Tisha has naturally curly hair, so when we started in with the scissors, we knew we want to give her a Deva Cut, a haircut specifically for curly hair types. This style of cutting involves cutting the hair dry so that the stylist can personalize the haircut according to how each curl drops, springs up, or sticks out.

Tisha's hair has a few grays coming through, but we didn't necessarily want to cover her grays. The goal isn't to

completely color her hair—the objective was to enhance her natural features. So we shadowed—but didn't completely cover—some of her grays with a cool chestnut brown to complement her skin tone and give dimension to her curls.

Keeping her balayage highlights soft and warm makes her eyes pop and accentuates her natural curl pattern. We also shared easy styling tips and tricks with Tisha to help her maintain this look even with her busy schedule!

Hair and Makeup by Annie Mac

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Home

Becca Boyd has a passion for good food

Beccanomics

The holiday season is upon us, along with its numerous social gatherings.

I find that with one or two consistently delicious dishes on standby, I search the Internet for “quick, easy appetizer” a lot less. The two I’m sharing with you were made several times last December. (There’s brie in my fridge right now, ready for any impromptu guests.) bboyd@thewcpress.com

Baked Brie with Thyme Mushrooms Serves 8-10 1 tbsp. olive oil 16 oz. white button mushrooms, stems removed and thinly sliced 1 tbsp. dry sherry 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves 1 (16 oz) wheel brie 1 crusty French baguette, crackers or crudite

1. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add olive oil.

Once hot, add mushrooms. 2. Stir occasionally as mushrooms

cook. Cook until mushrooms release liquid and then the liquid evaporates. Reduce heat to medium low and cook further until mushrooms turn golden brown throughout. 3. Add sherry, salt, pepper and thyme and stir, cooking, for about 1 minute or until liquid evaporates. Mushrooms can be cooled and refrigerated in tupperware for several days. 4. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray an ovenproof skillet with nonstick spray. Sprinkle some mushrooms on the bottom of the pan and place brie on top. Spread the rest of the mushrooms on top of the cheese and around the sides. 5. Place in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until brie is melted through and beginning to bubble/brown. Remove from oven and serve within 30 minutes with sliced bread or crackers.

Bittersweet Bark with Toasted Almonds and Dried Cherries Makes 2lbs 2 c. sliced almonds, toasted 2 (10 oz) bags Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips 1 c. dried cherries Pinch sea salt

1. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper, waxed paper or aluminum foil. 2. Place chocolate in a glass mixing bowl

and microwave for 1 minute. Stir well and repeat. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well each time, until smoothly melted. 3. Reserve 1/4 c. dried cherries and 1/2 c. almonds in a small bowl, and mix the remaining cherries and almonds into the chocolate until well coated. 4. Pour mixture onto lined cookie sheet and, using a spatula, smooth and flatten chocolate until it’s covering the parchment/liner. 5. Top with reserved nuts and cherries, as well as a sprinkle of salt. 6. Let chocolate harden in fridge or at room temperature until set. 7. Break into pieces. Store at room temperature—best served within several days of making.

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EQUANIMITY HATHA YOGA 323 EAST GAY STREET, UNIT B7 WEST CHESTER, PA 19380 215.666.2653

www.equanimityhathayoga.com

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HOLIDAY Suggestions for shopping locally this holiday season

by Ayla Karim DECEMBER 2016 THEWCPRESS.COM

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AMERICAN HELICOPTER MUSEUM 1220 American Blvd 610.436.9600 americanhelicopter.museum Illustrated Children's Book

$15

Cheerful Chopper to the Rescue Local author Linda Milanese Kerschner’s newest book tells the story of how a helicopter at the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center saves three children stranded on an island. It includes fun games, helicopter facts, and some science. Kerschner’s mother, Jaqueline Milanese, illustrated the colorful book and gave unique personalities to each helicopter.

ARTISTIC EYEWEAR 127 N High St 610.738.7150 artisticeyewear.com

Handmade Designer Sunglasses

$495

Thierry Lasry Sexxxy Frames Designer Thierry Lasry's eyewear is entirely handmade in France, using traditional techniques more akin to sculpting than typical cutting. His styles blend vintage inspiration with an updated, modern touch.

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BLINK 136 W Gay St 610.431.2212 shopblink.com

Silky Tank Top

$120

Cooper & Ella Star Dust Tank Top Hello holiday parties! Here is your perfect, silky tank. Wear with your favorite distressed denim or dressed up with black skinnies.

Makes for a great gift to yourself or a fashionable family member.

CAKES & CANDIES

BY MARYELLEN 1332 West Chester Pk 484.266.0710 cakesandcandiesbymaryellen.com

Reindeer Cake Pop

$5

Chocolate-Dipped, Marble Cake Pops Adorable and delicious, these cake pops serve as both decoration and dessert.

Choose from a variety of holiday themes, and package these moist and easy-to-eat cake pops together into a gift set for $23.

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CHRISTINE'S UPSCALE RESALE 105 Westtown Rd 610.692.9375 christinesupscaleresale.com

Leather Designer Handbag

$59

Aimee Kestenberg Galaxy Bag Imagine the look on her face when she sees this out-of-this-world purse under the tree!

Why pay retail (over $200!) when you can get the designer look for less at Christine's Upscale Resale? They offer shipping and layaway to make your holiday shopping as easy as possible.

DISC HOUNDS 323 E Gay St 610.696.8668 dischounds.com

Digital Transfer Kit

$49

Your Memories, Preserved The perfect gift for every family. Bring us three tapes, three small reels of film or three sets of 35 photos or slides (or mix and match), and we'll digitize and preserve them for future generations.

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THE 5 SENSES 133 W Market St 610.719.0170 the5senses.com

Handmade Wine Glass

$27

Ngwenya Glass Ngwenya Glass, based in Swaziland, produce one-of-a-kind glasses, made from recycled wine bottles. Ngwenya Glass are a Fair Trade company, and every bottle is made by hand.

GEMELLI 12 W Market St 484.557.8482 gemelligelato.com

Holiday Mason Jar

$15

Gourmet Hot Chocolate Gemelli’s gourmet hot chocolate jar is all you need to make their signature French hot chocolate at home. It includes the jar, hot chocolate mix (8 servings), semisweet chocolate chips, mini marshmallows and even instructions.

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GIUNTA'S FURNITURE 513 E. Gay St 484.887.8271 giuntasfurniture.com

Stylish Khaki Sofa

$550

Laryn Sofa The Laryn sofa is a comfortable and stylish sofa at a great price. Its color is a neutral khaki, yet it makes a great statement and also comes in slate gray.

Other pieces in the collection include a loveseat and a chaise, or accessorize with artwork, mirrors, lamps, candles, vases, and other items to make your home unique.

H. ROSE KIDDOS 141 W Gay St 484.887.0085 hrosekiddos.com

Open Oversized Cardigan

$102

Zoe Hunter Cardigan This hunter green, open, oversized cardigan has us gaga for the holiday season. Faux leather, lacey detailing down the front and center-back adds a little sass to this super-chic piece.

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JANE CHALFANT 123 N High St 610.696.0290 janechalfant.com

Handmade Pendant Necklace

$98

Anna Vaughan Designs This stunning crystal and stone combination pendant can be worn as a regular necklace or can be doubled to wear as a choker.

JOHN L. SMITH 550 Hannum Avenue 610.436.4909 smithusedcars.com

$18,790 2016 Toyota Camry You can never go wrong with a Camry, and definitely not at this price.

They've got a 2016 on the lot that has only 5,000 miles and includes theit 90-Day/3000-mile comprehensive guarantee, plus four free oil changes and a free lifetime PA state inspection.

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KALY 37 W Gay St 610.436.8272 kalyclothing.com

Sterling Silver Necklace

$64 b.u. Jewelry

At KALY, you'll find a large selection of handcrafted sterling silver jewelry by b.u. that's made in the USA. This particular necklace includes the stones prehnite and apatite, which bring protection and inner peace. Each b.u. piece comes packed with a wonderful item description and message specific to the piece.

KREUTZ CREEK 44 E Gay St 610.436.5006 kreutzcreekvineyards.com

Local Spice Wine

$18

Holiday Wassail Made from Vidal Blanc grapes and pumpkins with additions of cinnamon and cloves for a little spice. It can be served warm or chilled, perfect for any holiday gathering.

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MAINLINE CUSTOM CLOTHIERS 129 W Market St 484.905.7098 mainlinecustomclothiers.com

Versatile Sport Coat

$295

Ibiza Hybrid Jacket The hybrid jacket is the hottest item of the season A sport coat and outer coat all in one with a liner that zips out and a variety of styles. This item is made in Italy and exclusively sold at Mainline Men's.

MALENA'S VINTAGE 101 W Gay St 610.738.9952 malenasboutique.com

Embellished Sphere Purse

$62

1960s-Era Purse This colorful, embellished purse features a silver-tone, pierced frame. Incredibly it's about 50 years old but still in amazing condition. Malena's Vintage selects trend-conscious, conversationstarting pieces made from 1870-1970.

The inventory is updated daily, so it's always worth popping in to see what "new."

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MOONFLOWER 130 W Gay St 610.431.6607

Sterling Silver Pendant

$66

Rainbow Moonstone with Sterling Silver Chain Add some natural sparkle with sterling silver pendants this holiday. This necklace features a rainbow moonstone, which is a calming stone known for new beginnings, but they're available with other stones, like turquoise, onyx, rose quartz, tigers eye, labradorite, jasper, agate, larimar, tourmaline, garnet, emerald, lapis, topaz, ruby, peridot, opal, moldavite plus many others.

OLD SOUL DECOR 119 W Market St 484.983.7311 oldsouldecor.com

Lariat Handmade Necklace

$95

SOKO Necklace This adjustable, lariat-style, brass cylinder pendants necklace was handmade with reclaimed materials. It can be worn open long or tied together, even backwards as a choker with an open or closed back! Play with different lengths to fit your individual style.

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THE PAINTED PLATE 104 W Market St 610.738.0603 paintedplatepottery.com

SelfPainted Ornaments

$9-15

Paint-Your-Own Decorations Personalize and decorate ceramic Christmas trees, ornaments, holiday serving dishes and more. You can give the gift of a finished product, or treat a loved one to some quality time together making your own ornaments.

PHINEAS GAGE 29 S High St 484.266.7344 phineas-gage.com

QuarterZip Pullover

$125

Johnnie-O Devon Quarter-Zip Sweater This classic quarter-zip style can be worn casually or dressed up with a woven shirt for a night out on the town.

With three different colors to choose from, this is a great gift for any guy on your holiday list!

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SPAZ BEVERAGE 1015 W Chester Pk 610.696.6320 spazbeverage.com Samuel Adams 12-Pack

$21

Winter Classics Variety Pack This variety pack delivers on holiday flavors to complement many different holiday activities. Included in the wintry mix are: Boston Lager, Old Fezziwig, Ginger Beer, Hopflake White IPA, and Chocolate Bock. It's the perfect treat for any beer-lover on your list.

STERLING OPTICAL 40 E Gay St 610.692.9289 sterlingoptical.com

Prescription Designer Eyeglasses

$269

John Varvatos V153 John Varvatos V153 is a nod to brand history and old-world craftsmanship.

The horn-rim style is an unabashed dedication to high-quality design. With a guitar hinge detail on the temples, this pair of glasses is tailored, polished and innovative.

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THORNBURY FARM 1256 Thornbury Rd 610.793.2933 thornburyfarmcsa.com

Fraser Fir Trees

$50-70

Live Christmas Trees Things slow down at Thornbury Farms after their CSA shuts down for the season, but you still have the opportunity to support local agriculture by purchasing your family's Christmas tree at Thornbury this December. None of their trees are chopped down until after Thanksgiving, so the selection are all fresh-cut.

TISH 138 E Gay St 610.692.7500 tishstyle.com

Hot & Cold Water Bottle

$35

S'well Water Bottle S'well makes a beautifully crafted water bottle that is non-toxic, and keeps drinks hot or cold for 24 hours. S'well water bottles have become a premier fashionable and reusable water bottle.

A perfect gift or stocking stuffer this holiday season!

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VISUAL EXPANSION GALLERY 132 N High St 484.436.8697 visualexpansiongallery.com

West Chester Map

$95

1912 Atlas Reproduction This map of the borough's east ward is a reproduction of a map found in an atlas published in 1912 titled “Mainline Pennsylvania Railroad from Devon to Dowingtown and West Chester.” The prints themselves make great gifts, but if you really want to "wow" with your gift-giving, get your map custom framed.

YORI'S CHURCH STREET BAKERY 15 N Church St 610.344.9674 yorisbakery.com

8-inch Cherry Pie

$12

Lattice Top Cherry Pie All of Yori's pies are made fresh from scratch, right down to the tart cherry filling, which is made in-house. Pies are made fresh daily, available in lattice top or crumb top, but you can also order ahead to make sure your flavor is avaible. Pies come in 8-inch or 10-inch.

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Can you find the five differences between these photos of people decked out in some amazingly bad Christmas gear?

Email your answer to contests@thewcpress.com for your chance to win.

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Holiday

DJ Romeo curates a list of the best new Christmas releases

Hit List

This year, I thought I’d switch things up. Rather than spouting off another list of holiday classics, I want to introduce you to five newly released Christmas albums. I am usually sick of Christmas music a couple weeks into the season, but thanks to these artists we now have some “new” tunes to enjoy. Happy Holidays Everyone!

djromeo@thewcpress.com | www.djromeo.fm | @DJRomeo24

Jimmy Buffet ‘Tis the Season Born on Christmas, it seems appropriate that Jimmy Buffett would be the perfect person to perform your holiday favorites.

20 years after his platinum-plus selling holiday album, Jimmy returns with a new installment, soon to be a classic.

Pentatonix A Pentatonix Christmas This album is probably my favorite of all the Christams albums from this top-selling vocal group. It’s quirky and has great classics with their usual Pentatonix twist. Don’t even waste time thinking about whether or not a capella is for you—just listen it.

Chris Young It Must Be Christmas This album is destined to be a classic. Chris Young’s voice will melt your socks off. I am not a hardcore country music lover, but I do like to visit twangy tunes from time to time. I believe that almost everyone would enjoy Chris Young, and particularly this Christmas album.

Kacey Musgraves A Very Kacey Christmas Kacey is a quality recording artist, and this is a must-have if you like to have a well-rounded Christmas music collection. Inspired

by Bing Crosby, the Andrew Sisters, Nat King Cole and the classic sounds of the 40s, 50s and 60s, A Very Kacey Christmas features the Grammy Award-winner’s charming take on classic standards, as well as four original tracks to put her personal perspective on the holidays (some of which are depressing).

Jennifer Nettles To Celebrate Christmas Fantastic Christmas album from one of the best voices in music today. Jennifer’s amazing vocals and the arrangements work to make each song her own. This album is fantastic, start to finish, but her version of Little Drummer Boy is amazing; it’s definitely worth a listen … Pa rum pum pum pum!

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