Neighborhood Spotlight - Ambler, Pa.

The iconic Ambler Movie Theater

Another one of Montgomery County’s little gems sits along the banks of the Wissahickon, an old “picnic” destination for the city folks, back in the day.  The Wissahickon Train stop (now Ambler) opened in 1855, and when it did, a town was born.  Strolling along Butler Pike, Main Street, and a handful of other avenues a feeling of nostalgia comes over you.  Beautiful architectural buildings are still the focal points along the way.  The town is rich in the arts, the old Ambler Theater looks over the borough proudly and an active live theater (Act II) is just down the block.  In Ambler the cuisine is as diverse as it is divine.  It is literally a melting pot of fare, your tastebuds will never be bored in this town.  And the variety doesn’t end, BYOB’s are numerous, there is an upscale steakhouse, a critically acclaimed indian restaurant, authentic italian, a microbrewery, BBQ, mediterranean, mexican, and a wine bar, to name a few. See a full list of Ambler's dining.

Quite a few retailers are scattered among the salons, coffee and pastry shops.  The unified Ambler Main Street organizes many events through the year: Make it Thursdays (shops and restaurant stay open late), First Friday’s, Oktoberfest, Farmer’s Market, a bi-annual Restaurant Week, 1^st Annual Bike Race, Holiday and Halloween Parades and the list goes on.  I guess you could say there is something for everyone in Ambler.  A full list of Ambler's events can be seen on it's website.

Deck's Hardware on Main Street - Est. 1908

And the community spirit spreads beyond the main drag.  Ambler can boast that its' Wissahickon High School was just ranked 15^th in the state positioning itself above the famous Lower Merion School District in the affluent Main Line.  The passion for neighborhood and quality of life are reflected in the thriving academics.  Obviously the focus is on the next generation’s success which, in turn, will benefit Ambler. With all this success you would think the taxes would be high, but not the case. A proposal for building a new high school was declined a few years ago, furthering the "little town that could" attitude.  A down home approach to community, education, and lifestyle makes Ambler, Pa. a nice place to stop and stay. 

• More info on Ambler's Business District - http://amblermainstreet.org/
• Wissahickon School District - http://www.wsdweb.org/
• More about Ambler's community- including homes for sale http://www.classictowns.org/ambler/#business-economy
• And always stay up to date by liking them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ambler.main.street

Nook and Cranny, Nik and Nak, This and That - Antiquing in Glenside, Pa.

SAMPLINGS FROM ANTIQUING IN GLENSIDE, PA

Today, while strolling along Glenside Ave. and Keswick Village, I found treasures galore…people, places, and pieces.  Glenside Avenue has a wonderful collection of quaint Antique Shops clustered within walking distance which makes it easy to bop into each for a quick fix late in the week or weekend. CJ’s, The Nest, and Not Just Antiques Boutique were the three shops that I had the pleasure of conversing with each owner and getting to know their passions and niche in vintage resale.  They all coexist and promote each others’ strengths along the strip, creating a most pleasant place to peruse.  CJ’s has a utilitarian flare, with kitchen must haves, old fans, and a stunning typewriter, along side tables, chairs, old benches, cupboards etc…each item keeping it’s original integrity. The Nest was a "world of wonder" for me with its’ creative charm spilling over, the Halloween theme strongly influenced many of the clever displays, making me want to scoop up most collected and cultivated items.  Not to mention, I was invited to the owners, twice a year, Carriage House Sale which I wouldn't dream of missing.  The humorous and curious vignettes kept me looking all over this shop!  Mirrors, mirrors, and more mirrors, home decor, hats, jewelry, vintage clothing were abundant at Not Just Antiques Boutique. Everywhere I turned another collection popped out at me, this shop definitely provides. Hopping back in the car, I took a quick ride up to Ludwigs-and all I have to say is “Clocks.” There was an amazing collection of grandfather, mantel, and hanging clocks. Ludwigs is a large space divided into rooms where vast collections of old tools, kitchen wares and linens are neatly separated, making it a breeze for collectors to focus.  Back in the car—realizing that I was getting short on time, I drove down Easton Road to where it intersects with Keswick Avenue and the Keswick Village is nestled.  I chose two stores to explore and I was pleasantly surprised, Keane Vintage combines the old and the new – but really the old outshines the new!  The vast collections of bling - pins, earrings, bracelets were quite impressive and lured me in.  Vintage furs, hats, bags, and shoes have been carefully chosen to meet the standards of this discerning shop owner.  Complete collections flourish in Keane, making it a one stop shop. A couple store fronts down was Rustic and Refined, they had more furniture than smaller items which makes finding a great piece or two easy here. Scattered among the furniture were curios, special finds, and bits and pieces of jewelry, something for everyone. 

I am now out of time and wishing that I had carved out a whole day or  two to research these antiquing avenues.  I plan to return for Part Two with many more stores to visit.  When leaving, I felt a common thread woven through each establishment... pride in their community with many proprietors living in Glenside, Pa, as well.  I enjoyed each and everyone of these fascinating collectors and story tellers, I will be returning for more.

See you soon, Glenside!

A couple important things to note – Glenside has a “First Friday” with shops staying open late and presenting special offerings for shoppers the first Friday of every month.  

Keswick Village has their Fall Fest on October 10^th-12:00-6:00pm.  

The village of Keswick is currently undergoing a major reinvention with new establishments opening soon.

Check out the shops mentioned on Facebook

The Nest:

https://www.facebook.com/The-Nest-545800278776836/timeline/

CJ’s Vintage:

https://www.facebook.com/CJs-Vintage-731990653517192/timeline/

Not Just Antiques Boutique: https://www.facebook.com/NotJustAntiquesBoutique?fref=ts

Keane Vintage:

 https://www.facebook.com/Keane-Vintage-116764871694728/timeline/

Rustic and Refine:

https://www.facebook.com/Rustic-Refined-367592466676516/timeline/

More info. on Keswick Village - http://keswickvillage.org/

"Conshy" just gets better and better.

This little town just keeps getting better, where I am talking about? Conshohocken, Pa., of course…a quaint old borough just outside Philadelphia’s city limits.  The location couldn’t be any better, and the accessibility to the major roadways, is prime.  It is a closely knit community that cradles the Schuylkill River and hosts major players in the business world.  It has a laid back no fuss feel, where neighbors meet and greet in the many establishments, parks, community centers, and playing fields.   Savy young professionals have noticed the un-ending benefits of this borough and have invested in its’ future. “Conshy” as the locals affectionately call it, always seems to have an event going on to lure the outside public to its’ fun loving feel and warm welcome.   Currently the bevy of restaurants have teamed up for Restaurant Week (Sept. 14-20) and to wash down all the good grub, the 2^nd annual Conshohocken Beer Fest is right around the corner on October 17^th.  No matter what event you participate in,  all proceeds will give back to the community and local charities.  There are many establishments who have always believed in Conshy and will never budge and many newcomers have noticed its’ convenience, charm and appeal.  It is easy to see why so many are relocating to Conshohocken, it just keeps getting better and better.

The Lucky Dog Restaurant recently relocated to Conshohocken

More info on The Lucky Dog

More info on RESTAURANT WEEK

More info on the Conshohocken Beer Fest

More info on Conshy - More than the Curve