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Christmas Pop-up Bar Tinsel Brings Season’s Gleam to Philadelphia
Tinsel is lit for Christmas 2023! “Oh, heart, let’s never grow too old To smile anew, when Christmas comes, At tassels red and tinsel thread …” ~ Nancy Byrd Turner Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Philadelphia’s beloved and popular Christmas pop-up bar is back! Tinsel came to sleigh on November 24th with its 2023 “Christmas Comedy” theme. In addition to lights galore and always outre displays and decorations, Tinsel is highlighting decades of tee-hees from fan-fav funny movies. Something I really look forward to at Tinsel each season is the specificity to detail in its overall production, decor and presentation. Be on the lookout for the little things. Check every…
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Foodie and Mizzou Fan’s Guide to Exploring Columbia, Missouri
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler It was bound to happen someday… the dreaded almost spending an overnight at the airport debacle. In my over almost 30 years of flying on airplanes, I had the worst and slimiest experience ever though American Airlines. I had a very slim window to make a layover and when I got an email the night before asking if I wanted to get paid (up to $700!) to switch my flight date and times, I had a feeling this wasn’t going to end well. Then at the gate at Phoenix airport, they pushed back the flight time a half hour making it near impossible. More than…
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PNC’s ‘LumiNature’ Winter Light Show Illuminates Philadelphia Zoo
“You have to find what sparks a light in you so that you in your own way can illuminate the world.” ~ Oprah Winfrey Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Watts up, Philadelphia Zoo? A hellota (it’s a word, according to Urban Dictionary!) twinkling and sparkling that runs until Saturday, January 6 is watts up! Know this: If you’re planning to check out PNC’s return of LumiNature, a wintertime light show featuring more than a million lights across 16 illuminated zones, it is presented “with timed entrance tickets available every half hour from 5:00pm to 8:00pm with the experience closing at 9:00pm or 10:00pm depending on visit date. Pre-purchase your timed…
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The Dazzling World of Diamonds: Unearth Their Charm and Value
For centuries, humans have been mesmerized by their sparkling beauty – diamonds being one of them! But beyond their alluring shine lies another truth about these gems that makes them such coveted pieces to add to collections: what makes these gemstones such a show-stopper? Photo by Edgar Soto on Unsplash Forever’s Best Friend Diamonds have long been considered one of the ultimate symbols of love and devotion – both girl’s and world alike. Forming deep within Earth’s surface at least 150 km below, these gems take millions of years to form under intense heat and pressure conditions. Unlike other gemstones they only contain one element – carbon. Their resilience combined…
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Stay and Play on North Mountain with Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort
Photo, story by Cassie Hepler (unless noted otherwise) Just 10 minutes from my house in North Phoenix sits Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort, nestled back onto North Mountain and tucked away where no one would know just how massive this place truly is… 450 acres of desert! Now that I’m dealing with an elderly cat, I have to constantly think about giving her medication every 8-10 hours and with this staycation it was easy to swing home, dose her and leave again (even if she left me a how she feels about me being gone present on the door mat). Built in 1982, the Spanish Mediterranean architecture is flanked by…
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Philadelphia Flower Show’s The Garden Electric Shines at Pennsylvania Convention Center
The 2023 Philadelphia Flower Show returned to the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the first time since 2020. “Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” — Luther Burbank Story, photos by Sharon Kozden It was 72 degrees in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania today! That declarative statement warrants an exclamation point because I’m writing on a November day. I’ll take it. Not a cold-weather fan. The temperate temp has perfectly set the scene for my scribbling, as I’m recapping the 2023 Philadelphia Flower Show on the eve of the 2024 Show theme’s announcement. The Philadelphia Flower Show a.k.a. “America’s oldest and finest exhibit…
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Explore Islas Marías, Former Prison Islands in Nayarit, Mexico
Story, photos, videos by Cassie Hepler If you have a dark edge to your soul like me, this all-the-feels Islas Marías (Mary Islands) will resonate well. I have this new thing I do, where I say yes to everything and figure it out later. This trip was one of those yes moments while I was still on a private press trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I had no clue what I was agreeing to but I’m always up for an adventure, twice if I like it. Here’s the thing about Mexico: it’s got a bad rap in the United States even though honestly, the United States is starting to…
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Breaking Into Acting With Anxiety, A Practical Guide
Pexels – CC0 License In life, there are many habits and hobbies we’d like to explore but may feel barred from due to our personal lifestyle or sense of self not being compatible. These limits are often self-imposed and can only be overcome by pushing past those false impressions. For example, it may be that a tough, strong guy on a construction site has dreams of learning to dance ballet, but is worried about what others in his field may think of that. Of course, he has nothing to prove to those detractors, and shouldn’t feel bad about chasing his vision. You may also worry about not being skilled or…
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Outdoor Adventure Comes To Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is seeing an influx of interest from people seeking outdoor adventure. The state is becoming so popular that the government is looking for ways to facilitate the tourist boom, encouraging adventurers to arrive in droves. The state is becoming popular because of its extensive natural environment and numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation. Happy campers are heading to the cool green forests of the north, the rolling hills of the south, and everything in between. Unlike Moab or Joshua Tree, Pennsylvania is not a one-trick pony. According to the government and local businesses, there’s plenty for people to enjoy here. Camping Unsplash – CC0 License Pennsylvania is becoming a destination…
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Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation Centennial Art Ball was Stunning
“Nude with Coral Necklace” by Amedeo Modigliani, 1917. “Modigliani Morning” her external motor, brash, she was more New York than Paris, but then, Rome was inside her speaking words passionately like Modigliani — LadyLabyrinth Story, photos by Sharon Kozden On Friday, October 20th, the Barnes Foundation will present its 2023 Art Ball, an annual event that more than lives up to its billing as the art party in Philadelphia. This I know because I’ve twice been fortunate to attend, hosted on assignment for ExplorewithCassie. Most recently I made the scene in 2022, when the Barnes Foundation marked both their centennial and a ten-year anniversary on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Last year, a…
