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Explore With Cassie

Lifestyle & travel blog finding the unusual out of the ordinary.

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  • CassieHepler.com
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  • Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage

    Derby Day Watch Party Was on Track at Rosalie Restaurant in Wayne, PA

    May 20, 2024 /

    Saddle, equestrian helmet, award ribbons and flowers comprise a representative Kentucky Derby display. His body is a paradox of mass and lightness, crafted to slip through air with the ease of an arrow. His mind is impressed with a single command: run. He pursues speed with superlative courage, pushing beyond defeat, beyond exhaustion, sometimes beyond the structural limits of bone and sinew. In flight, he is nature’s ultimate wedding of form and purpose. — Laura Hillenbrand Story, photos by Sharon Kozden While I would never consider myself an equestrian—not by a long shot (pun!)—I have spent time horseback riding throughout the years. Not too often but off and on since…

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    Sharon Kozden

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    Hopping into Spring with Fishtown Hops at Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia, PA

    May 9, 2019

    Mixing and Mingling at the Philadelphia Wine and Cocktail Festival at Sugarhouse Casino

    September 15, 2017

    Take a Hike to Arathusa Falls & Explore Bethlehem and Littleton, New Hampshire

    October 14, 2024
  • Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage

    Fahoo Forays, Dahoo Dorays: Welcome U-ville, a Seussian Whoville at Philadelphia’s Uptown Beer Garden

    December 31, 2022 /

    Bright Lights, Big City:  Uptown Beer Garden presented its seasonal U-Ville in homage to the Seussian Whoville. Between the radiant white of a clear conscience and the coal black of a conscience sullied by sin lie many shades of gray – where most of us live our lives. Not perfect but not beyond redemption. ~~ Leslie Pinckney Hill “People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.” ~~ Audrey Hepburn Story, photos by Sharon Kozden On the evening of November 16th, I Ubered into the City to celebrate the unveiling of Uptown Beer Garden’s holiday creation, U-ville … a name whose…

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    Sharon Kozden

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    Feast Your Eyes and Soothe Your Spirit on the Fresh Foodie Trail in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona

    December 14, 2017

    Eighth Annual Audi Feastival Celebrates FringeArts 21st Birthday

    December 6, 2017

    Cultivating Leadership: Union League of Philadelpia Hosts The Germination Project’s 2017 Draft Day Gala

    December 7, 2017
  • Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Uptown Beer Garden Mutates Upside Down for Spooky Season with ‘Stranger Things’ Theme

    October 23, 2022 /

    “People don’t spend their lives trying to get a look at what’s behind the curtain. They like the curtain. It provides them stability, comfort, definition.” ~~~ Murray Bauman, Stranger Things   Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Actually, Murray, I beg to differ with your above-referenced statements about “the curtain.” I liked getting a look at what’s behind it … at least I did on the evening of September 28th … when Aversa PR and Craft Concepts Group welcomed media to a preview party like none other at Uptown Beer Garden‘s Stranger Things-themed pop-up bar. Greetings from Hawkins, Indiana. Wish you were here! Perhaps if I had watched Netflix TV’s Stranger…

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    Sharon Kozden

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    Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo on her Tropicana show: ‘I will guarantee that you will leave there feeling renewed, restored, positive’

    December 13, 2016

    Get Some Sweet Bay Views and Tasty Food, Brews at Tuckers Tavern in Long Beach Island, N.J.

    July 24, 2017

    Walk to the Beach at Daddy O’s Boutique Hotel in Long Beach Island, NJ

    July 10, 2017
  • Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Oscar Nominee Rian Johnson Cuts a Sharp Figure at Philadelphia Film Festival’s Knives Out Screening

    February 19, 2020 /

    Lights, Camera, Action … with a heavy on the lights! Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “We must look a little closer. And when we do, we see that the doughnut hole has a hole in its center. It is not a doughnut hole, but a smaller doughnut with its own hole, and our doughnut is not holed at all!” – Benoit Blanc (Knives Out) The 2019 Philadelphia Film Festival (PFF) wrapped with yet another successful year (its 28th!) in the can. Running 11-days through October, the festival showcased 110 films at the Philadelphia Film Center. I had the distinct honor of attending the red-carpet premiere of the critically acclaimed Knives Out…

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    Sharon Kozden

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    Visit the Eccentric Fonthill Castle Built Out of Cement and Trash in Bucks County, PA

    July 25, 2018

    Unique Things to Do in Montego Bay, Jamaica

    June 29, 2026

    Totally Awesome Holiday Gift Guide for People Who Have it All

    December 13, 2017
  • Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Cider Sparkles at Fairmount Park’s 3rd Annual CiderFest in Philadelphia, PA

    December 4, 2019 /

    Event signage hangs from fence posts at Cedar Grove. Photos, story by Sharon Kozden “It was a beautiful bright autumn day, with air like cider and a sky so blue you could drown in it.” – Diana Gabaldon It really was a day such as described in the above quote … uncannily so if you happened to be attending the third annual CiderFest at the Historic Houses of Fairmount Park. Having written about and photographed the inaugural event in 2017, I had missed 2018’s iteration but was glad to be back spending my Saturday afternoon between the hours of noon and 5 p.m. surrounded by folks ranging in interest level…

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    Sharon Kozden

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    Exploring The Sedona Film Festival for a Weekend in Sedona, Arizona

    March 23, 2026

    Brooklyn Based Indie Folk Band Alberta Cross Makes Two NJ Stops with Joe Walsh and Bad Company

    June 3, 2016

    Gladwyne Library League’s Arts and Crafts Show Preview is Picture Perfect

    June 29, 2022
  • Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Fall in Love with Whistler in British Columbia, Canada in Autumn

    August 15, 2019 /

    Story by Rachael Hopwood, photos courtesy of Tourism Whistler The Canadian resort of Whistler has a lofty reputation as a world-famous winter travel destination and thanks to warm days and an abundance of outdoor activities, summer proves pretty popular too. But what about fall?  Largely forgotten by many considering a trip north, the months of September through to mid-November are something of a hidden gem. Sitting perfectly between the crowds of summer hikers and hoards of winter skiers, pleasant temperatures and stunning scenery are just two reasons to consider an autumnal visit. Whistler is a resort community in the province of British Columbia, Canada, about 78 miles north of Vancouver…

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    Rachael Hopwood

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    Step Into Art Deco Opulence at Loews Philadelphia Hotel

    September 2, 2024

    Hurricane Irma Displaces Single Dad, Daughter to New Jersey

    September 25, 2017

    Exploring Overland Expo West as a Woman Who Wanders

    June 16, 2025
  • Destinations,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Piazza Pod Park Opens in Philly’s Northern Liberties, BEBOT Towers Over Fun-for-All Hot Spot

    June 19, 2019 /

    Piazza Pod Park in Northern Liberties is officially open. Robot Bebot looms large. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Remember when the now infamous Philadelphia Flyers’ mascot Gritty arrived on the scene in late 2018? Gritty, he of the bugged-out eyes and shaggy orange fur recently made room for the new kid on the block-one Bebot, an imposing but welcoming robot from Burning Man that towers over the Post Brothers’ latest creative use of community space (dubbed Piazza Pod Park) in Northern Liberties. The Mod Pod. I remember that television show. Tee. At 33 feet high and weighing in at 13,000 pounds, Bebot’s jolly wave greeted the public on June 8th’s grand…

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    Sharon Kozden

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    Explore One of the Most Magical Villages in France, Cotignac

    December 15, 2025

    Cruise Along the Pacific Beach on 17 Mile Drive in Monterey, California

    April 19, 2018
    St Joseph Catholic Church

    Rent a Car and Road Trip through Northwest Kansas

    January 15, 2024
  • Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Mayor’s Masked Ball at Philadelphia’s Convention Center Raises Over $760,000 for UNCF

    May 29, 2019 /

    Philadelphia’s Convention Center boasts escalators of amusement park-ride proportions. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Galas and balls may not be everyone’s (as the Brits say) cuppa char. I, however, would be hard pressed to decline an invite to either. That said, and while the prospect of a evening at home in my comfies, chowing Chinese takeaway and watching a flick in the cuddly company of my fur babies is a thoroughly enticing one, an occasional night on the town offers a desirable change of pace. I relish an opportunity to bust out the glam finery of cocktail dresses and gowns, wield a…

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    Sharon Kozden

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    Exploring Overland Expo West as a Woman Who Wanders

    June 16, 2025

    Explore the World’s Most Beautiful Waterfalls by Road Trip

    June 4, 2024

    Top 10 Locations for Alfresco Dining in America

    June 24, 2024
  • Destinations,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Lisbon, Portugal is the ‘Bestest’ Hip, Hilly, Coastal Capital City in Europe

    January 2, 2019 /

    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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    Kelly Kusumoto

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    Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee Shows the King’s Impressive Wealth

    July 11, 2019

    Round Up Your Squad, Ride Horses and Chill at Rancho de la Osa in Sasabe, Arizona

    March 2, 2022

    Chris’ Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia Serves Sexy Blues with a Side of Fine Dining

    September 9, 2024
  • Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage

    Membership Not Required at Springfield Country Club’s Tavola Restaurant

    September 12, 2018 /

    Enjoy the country club’s 6,000 square foot-expansion (all outdoors!) of Tavola. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” – James Beard Within the past year, I’ve become a country mouse, who doesn’t much get out and about to country clubs. I’m so country, in fact, that local honey is produced by honeybees on the property where I live. Hens lay eggs. Doves coo. Woodpeckers peck. Trees hang low with fruit. All number of critter sounds abound, while cars pass infrequently along a quiet, solitary road. I even have a screen door that can slam. Still, when my editor offers an assignment, I’m at the…

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    Sharon Kozden

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    Step Into Art Deco Opulence at Loews Philadelphia Hotel

    September 2, 2024
    Inn at Palm Springs

    Inn at Palm Springs, California is an Oasis in Coachella Valley

    November 1, 2020

    Philly Fashion Week’s Winter Wonderland Party Wears It Well at Fashion District Philadelphia

    December 22, 2023
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