Passed Up or Present?

Let me start off by saying I was wrong. (Amazing what you can learn in six months of marriage.) I was planning a jaunt to Skippack, in search of the perfect birthday gift for my BFP (Beloved Female Perspective) and when I found the village on the map, I had some serious doubts about how worthwhile this trip would be. I mean, the main part of town barely covered a few paltry miles of road— how interesting could it be? I figured that this would be a quick trip—an hour at most—followed by me running to the same old soulless mall stores, not to mention trying to find a way to fill up an entire article with something that would hold valued readers’ interest. 

Travel Tips for the Perfect Vacations

It was a travel nightmare. 

I’d flown to Rome with a dear friend. The plan was simple: Spend three weeks touring the Italian countryside. We were meeting her cousin—whom I imagined to be similar to my pal in temperament—and the three of us were going to have the time of our lives.

How Art Builds a Community and Increases Business in Your Town

Art galleries can be intimidating, and for some, down right scary. To an outsider, the mere sight of an art piece— be it a portrait or a landscape, hanging prominently against white space, or a sculpture isolated under deliberate light to expose each curve—can be simply overwhelming. 

Dynamic and Daring, Local Architects and Interior Designers Reveal Their Secrets to Success

There is no more tangible expression of your personality and lifestyle than your surroundings. Get to know six diverse and exceptional local design experts as they share their philosophies, design fantasies and tips to help you bring out your true colors. 

The Real Deal – Sincere Over Stylish

2008 brings more than just a new calendar to the look of your home – there’s a whole new attitude to go with it. If you have plans to update, innovate and renovate your home this year, there are a lot of new and exciting options available to you. Home design experts are predicting new trends, from simple and sincere looks with understated finishes and natural materials, to more formal with rich woods featuring intricate scrollwork, subtle prints, and warm finishes for metals. Other areas expected to come to the forefront include hidden functions – practical features that aren’t apparent until they are needed, such as pop-up televisions and hidden compartments that surprise and delight.

‘Tis the season to shop ‘till you drop, or at least, that’s what retailers are telling us. The truth of the matter is, it’s hard to find the time. Once again, LifeStyle Magazine is here to simplify your holiday shopping experience. This year, our gift guide highlights items for every person on your shopping list, from moms and dads to kids and colleagues. From high-style looks to high-end products to just plain fun books and games, these are the gifts that are sure to give joy for a long time to come.

Proposed new development at Valley Forge Park has supporters and critics debating how history should be remembered.

During the winter of 1777 - 1778, nearly 12,000 soldiers in the Continental Army occupied an encampment in a large stretch of wilderness called Valley Forge, about 22 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The stories of suffering at Valley Forge are legendary and evoke imagery of battle weary soldiers fighting against hunger, cold and disease - images that reverberate with reminders of the sacrifices made by early Americans seeking independence. 

The Pennsylvania Ballet’s Nutcracker Revamped for the Holidays

The music is timeless, the story, unforgettable. Since the 1890s, the music of Peter IIych Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker has enthralled audiences the world over as one of the most recognized and beloved ballets, and its performance has been a one of the Philadelphia region’s most popular holiday traditions for decades. 

This year is the first time that my Beloved Female Perspective (BFP) and I will celebrate the season as husband and wife, so we thought we’d take a day to make a special trip into the heart of the holiday. We’d heard amazing things about the way residents, business owners and local organizations make the season bright in downtown Doylestown, but neither of us had ever had the chance to see for ourselves. So we laced up our shopping shoes and jumped into the car, ready to experience an old fashioned winter celebration. 

Philadelphia is Ready for its Close Up

You don’t have to be a born and raised in Philadelphia to remember Rocky running up the Art Museum steps. But if you are, that moment likely resonates with you not only as the triumph of the beloved Balboa character, but as a testament of nostalgia and pride for the City of Brotherly Love.