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Lisbon, Portugal is the ‘Bestest’ Hip, Hilly, Coastal Capital City in Europe
Story, photos by Kelly Kusumoto My most recent trip to Lisbon, Portugal was my fourth in three years and, by far, the bestest. I guess before I go on, I should let you in on an inside joke. While attending college, I met a classmate from Lisbon. In our very first class, we hit it off and have been close ever since. We even started an indie game development company together, which is why I have been frequenting Lisbon so much. He loves his country and is proud of all its accomplishments. Jokingly, any time he brags about something Portuguese, he always tells me how they love to go big…
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Philadelphia’s 2018 Flower Show Just Adds Water
“Flowers rewrite soil, water and sunshine into petal’d poetry – Terri Guillemets Story, photos by Sharon Kozden There’s just something so wrong about attending the Philadelphia Flower Show on March 2nd, while the single most bad-ass storm of winter, 2018 had its ‘old man’ expressing rage like rarely before. A 30-year resident of Philadelphia stated it was the worst he’d seen in his entire time there. And that’s all I’m going to say about it because, let’s face it, we none of us want to recall its downright meanness. We’d much rather enter the Pennsylvania Convention Center and meander about, while waxing hopeful about spring being eminent. Agreed? Seems this…
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Fox 29’s Karen Hepp’s Tasty Talks Rocks at Yangming in Bryn Mawr, PA
Karen Hepp is on point with Yangming owner Michael Wei. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent.” -Barbara Bush “What preys on my mind is simply this one question: what am I good for, could I not be of service or use in some way?” – Vincent van Gogh Tasty Talks. Sounds, well, tasty. Tasty and talk-y. But what, really, is a Tasty Talk? I would soon find out…
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Tempting Tastes at 19 Bella Tapas Restaurant in Skippack Village, PA
Readers, get thee to Cedars, Pa. “Go out and see your friends and eat tapas and drink red wine and be in a beautiful place.” – Anthony Bourdain Story, photos by Sharon Kozden One doesn’t have to head to Spain for a first-rate, authentic tapas experience. Cedars, PA – just outside quaint Skippack Village – will do just fine. Grant Langdon Brown, owner and head chef at 19 Bella, has a top tapas spot worth the travel involved to enjoy extraordinary meals. I envy the locals’ proximity. I arrived one chilly evening to discover an understated, functional exterior with patio I imagine bustles with activity during more temperate climes. The contrast between outward appearance and color-blazing interior was a fun surprise.…
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Size Matters at Era Contemporary’s ‘Small Beauties’ Art Exhibit
The Cynwyd Club hosted “Small Beauties” art exhibit, providing a spacious setting and ample room for guests to mingle and study displayed works. “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh Story, photos by Sharon Kozden It really is about the little things, isn’t it? I used to wish that one – just one – gentleman caller would know me well enough to gift me with a blade of grass, a pine cone or even a dandelion – you get the idea. Don’t get me wrong: I’d never turn up my nose at any offered gemstones, swanky vacations or the like. It’s…
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Escape to Foodie Paradise at Bucks County Restaurant Week in Washington House Hotel
The Washington House Restaurant’s prix fixe menu tantalizes in its choices. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “Going to a restaurant is one of my keenest pleasures. Meeting someplace with old and new friends, ordering wine, eating food, surrounded by strangers, I think is the core of what it means to live a civilized life.” –Adam Gopnik I’m not sure why it took so long for Bucks County to establish a restaurant week comprising all of its towns. I’m just glad that 2018 was its inaugural year and that I was a part of it. Hopefully (and judging by what I tasted and witnessed), it’ll become a tradition for the ages.…
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Helpusadopt.org Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Making Family Miracles
Who wouldn’t be hard pressed to avert his or her eyes from this clearly radiant and innocent child? “However motherhood comes to you, it’s a miracle.” – Valerie Harper Story, photos by Sharon Kozden I’ll just come right out and say it: I can’t take much. In other words, I’m highly sensitive, which can be a double-edged sword of both blessing and curse. I’m told that I feel too much yet wouldn’t have it any other way. Surmising that the Helpusadopt.org 10th anniversary Family Building Benefit at the Overbrook Golf Club in Villanova might require less eye make-up for an evening out (lest the waterworks flow), I played it sparingly. And…
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Non-Profit Portraits for Good Inspires Pet Paintings With Proceeds to Charity
Photos by Alix Greenberg, story by Tiffany C. DuBois Explore friends, meet a remarkable lady named Alix Greenberg. She is the founder and president of Portraits for Good, a non-profit organization that allows people to pick a portrait that is already done, or commission a portrait and part of the proceeds benefits the charity of their choice. Below is my interview with Ms. Greenberg and I hope you enjoy it! Q: I know that you have a master in portraiture, do you occasionally mix your formal education with your painting? A: I have a Master of Arts in Modern Art, Connoisseurship, and the History of the Art Market – I received my…
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Exercise Like an Acrobat at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts
Story, photos by Dana J. Prophet From humble beginnings and moving to a brand new location in Mt. Airy, the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts held an open house to invite their new neighbors and curious onlookers to see the magic happen. Inside the church and school, 28,000 square feet will be available for classes, training space, performances, private sessions, rentals and weddings, special events, birthday parties, office space, staff lounge and kitchen, student lounge, storage and more. The 5,000-square-foot sanctuary features a 40 foot high ceiling, stained glass windows, a viewing gallery and additional space for new trampoline classes. Under the sanctuary rests a 5,000-square-foot gymnasium with a 17 foot…
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Travel to Hong Kong, Your Gateway to China
Story, photos by Kelly Kusumoto Have you ever thought about a trip to China but found yourself intimidated by the cultural differences or the language barrier? It can be daunting, but there are a few things you should know before skipping Hong Kong for Europe… again. Hong Kong is where East meets West. Only in Seoul and Tokyo will you find places in the Far East as open to us Westerners as Hong Kong. But unlike South Korea and Japan, Hong Kong was once under British rule. From 1842 to 1997 (with a Japanese WWII interruption), Hong Kong was a British colony. That means many of its inhabitants speak English.…
