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. 

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

A whole lot of very cool stuff in a very tiny space—that’s Skippack in a nutshell. It’s an English muffin of a village, full of nooks and crannies hiding delightful little boutiques and surprisingly sophisticated dining. What you may think is just a driveway is actually a path to one of the little conglomerations of intriguing shops that spring up throughout the area like wildflowers. Grand old Victorian houses now hold places to procure elegant home décor, clothing and accessories, and old barns have become galleries and workshops, or homes to quirky and casual anti-couture. If you’re looking for a day trip or an evening out, the charming Skippack Village is worth a visit.

Up the Creek

Even before you get to the town proper, you can enjoy a lovely drive through the countryside up Skippack Pike (Route 73). Bridges, trees, farms, horses—you can actually feel the stress leaving your body as you drive along. The trip wasn’t quite so relaxing for the original settlers. The area was first inhabited by German immigrants who had come to Philadelphia in such great numbers that—spurred by an editorial by Benjamin Franklin—the city government asked them to move along in fear that the city’s primary language would become German. They moved down the Schuylkill River and established Germantown, but as that area became more crowded, later immigrants continued up what is now known as Skippack Creek until it became too shallow to navigate.

During the Revolutionary War, George Washington led the Continental Army through Skippack on the way to the Battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777. Unfortunately, he soon had to retreat the same way after the British won a decisive victory, allowing them to retain possession of the city of Philadelphia. (Without going into the whole history of the Revolutionary War, allow me to put your mind at ease—we did eventually get Philly back.)

The town enjoyed steady growth for about a century and a half, and in the early 1900s a trolley track was built to connect several of the small towns in the area, including Skippack. Two trolley cars—known locally as “Wogglebugs”—made regular trips back and forth along the same track.

Two cars. One track. You see where this is going, don’t you?

For various reasons, the trolley line was not a financial success, and the service was scheduled to be discontinued on June 7, 1925. On that very day, the wrong switch was left open, and both cars ended up heading toward each other, with predictable—but fortunately not tragic—results. The cars were rendered inoperable, trolley service was never replaced and the concrete piers that once supported the tracks are all that remain.

Where to Stop When You Go…

Since the Skippack “Wogglebugs” have gone the way of the dodo, you should plan to drive into town. When you do, you’ll find parking is readily available. Most of the restaurants and little shopping centers have available lots that are surprisingly roomy, and for the most part it’s OK to leave your car in one while exploring the rest of the village.

Wet Your Whistle, Whet Your Appetite…

Skippack has many places to dine—and dine well; everything from Mal’s American Diner, to Asian Fusion at Black Dog Café to fine dining at the Roadhouse Steakhouse to Grandma Brenna’s Restaurant and Bakery, featuring homemade tomato pie, baked goods and more. If you want to experience top-notch cuisine and musical entertainment, check out the Hotel Fiesole. Located in the village’s center, it offers two separate restaurants featuring continental European cuisine, not to mention Bella Rossa, the top-shelf, Ferrari-themed bar. And if you need to stay for more than a day, Hotel Fiesole has 16 luxurious rooms, each uniquely decorated and luxuriously furnished with a full compliment of amenities.

Now We’re Cooking…

Skippack Village wasn’t always a vibrant community with a thriving business district. According to Charlie Schaffer, longtime resident and owner of Le Butler’s Pantry, it has only been during the past 10 to 12 years that savvy investors discovered the village’s potential. Before that, it had a few buildings of some historical significance and a collection of antique stores. Suddenly, Grand Victorian houses were bought up, opening three or four months later as new and exciting craft and specialty shops, art galleries and fine restaurants.

Talking to Charlie is a good way to spend some time—he’s been a shop owner in Skippack Village for more than 15 years, and he knows how to tell a story. Charlie’s store, Le Butler’s Pantry (4033 Skippack Pike) may well be my new favorite place. This is heaven for the serious food lover— if there is something you need for the kitchen, he’s got it. The first thing you notice upon entering the store is the aroma, a blend of freshly ground coffee beans and a cornucopia of spices. Once your sense of smell recovers from the initial bliss, you need a moment to take it all in. Every inch of wall, every rack, every counter is filled with the most wonderful culinary tools, cookware and gadgets that you’ve ever seen. The staff members are knowledgeable, friendly and obviously love what they do. When it comes to running Le Butler’s Pantry, Charlie has a motto that he follows closely, “Super service, do it right, keep it simple.” Just take a step through the door, and that’s exactly what you’ll experience.

But the while the BFP is many things—all of them delightful—a chef she ain’t. I’d have to return to this culinary paradise and do a little browsing for myself later. That’s alright—there was still an awful lot packed into this humble stretch of road. I turned my sights on an entirely newtarget—it was time to explore that alien world called “fashion”.

Eavesshopping

I haven’t done the research, but Skippack Village may well be the fashion accessory capital of the world. Every few steps brings you to another boutique that offers a tremendous range of scarves, bags, wallets, jewelry, hats and gloves in all different styles and brands. The first place I entered was called “Adornment Expressive Accessories” (4002 Skippack Pike). Looking at the selection of bright, feminine things, I realized at once that I was completely out of my depth. I wasn’t the only hapless male in the store that day, and I was able to conceal my ignorance by casually browsing next to another gentleman of good intent but poor comprehension and eavesdropping on the tips and tricks that the ever-patient, allknowing sales clerk was happy to provide him. I learned more about handbags in fifteen minutes than I had learned in my previous 35 and a half years. There were many other fashionable stops along the way—accessory stores such as Le Bon Sac, Bella’s Boutique and The Wooden Duck, whose humble name conceals a tremendous selection of fashionably sophisticated ladies' apparel.

One store in particular stood out. I was walking down the street, my mind awash with images of scarves, purses and earrings, when I came across a tiny cottage-style building topped with a weathervane shaped like a pig. Ivy covered and weatherworn, it looked like the kind of place in which a hobbit’s grandmother might live. Out front was a sign.

The sign had a flaming skull on it. With an eyebrow ring.

This puzzled me, because despite my limited understanding of anatomy and body piercing, I was pretty sure that skulls don’t have eyebrows. The name on the sign was “Louna C.”

I have a niece who, at the age of 10, is showing the early signs of developing into a Goth chick. This place would make her a very happy little punk rocker. Inside, I found the coolest, quirkiest casual clothing; brands like Sailor Jerry, featuring tattoo-inspired designs, the dark imagery of Affliction and Sinful, and fitted jeans by Antik Denim. I also found statues of Buddah and lots of attitude—in the clothing, not the sales staff. I definitely recommend stopping in if you have to shop for a young individualist.

What Manly Men Do

After my adventuresome foray into all things fashionable and feminine, I felt the need to recharge my manliness, and found quite a few places to do so. Skippack Sportsabilia, offering sports cards, autographed collectables, photographs and plaques. Centerfield Collectables had sports cards too, as well as a decent selection of comic books crammed into a remarkably tiny area. Top Shelf Cigar offers a selection of premium tobaccos, cigars and smoking paraphernalia, and the Southwest Trading Post styles itself as the area’s largest purveyor of Native American gifts, pottery, music and leather goods. So with my testosterone levels topped off, it was once more into the fray.

Stuff

There are a number of stores in Skippack Village that sell what I can only describe as “stuff”. You walk in and see home décor next to jewelry next to gourmet candy next to local-designer scarves, which are behind a display of scented candles and fancy bookmarks. Many times these stores can be overwhelming to the uninitiated, but the sheer quality and selection available at these stores make them a good bet for the gift-seeking hubby. I visited several.

Urban Fusion is located at the Top of Rodeo (as in high-end shopping, not bull riding), in a miniature shopping center that looks like it belongs on the front of a “Candy Land” box. The store features decadent spa-style robes and products, contemporary home décor and clothing for the fashionably minded infant. The second boutique I discovered, although it fell within the same category of “stuff shops”, was all the way on the opposite side of the spectrum. Where Urban Fusion was at the top of a hill, Amelia’s Accents for Home and Self was at the bottom on the opposite side of the street. Where Urban Fusion was cool and classy, Amelia’s vibe was warm and happy, offering everything from home accessories to seasonal décor, gourmet nibbles to jewelry, all tossed together in glorious anarchy. In fact, my immediate impression was that Amelia’s was the happiest store I’ve ever visited. Check it out—I guarantee you’ll be smiling thirty seconds after you walk through the door.

Past for Present?

Worn and weary, I manfully continued on my quest. Now, if there’s one thing I know that the BFP likes, it’s antiques. Intricately carved furniture, oak and mahogany, odd and interesting relics from years gone by have all been known to make her swoon. I found two antique shops that caught my interest—one smack in the middle of town, the other requiring a bit more searching. Thorpe Antiques is a huge house that you can’t miss— it’s brightly painted and has the name right on the side. In addition to a variety of collectable dolls, clocks, furniture and estate jewelry, they also offer expert clock repair and a genuine doll hospital. Their hours are a bit odd—they recommend calling before you stop by.

The other shop I found was smaller, but since they specialized in smaller items, it seemed like a fair trade. Cedar’s Antiques offers collectables and retro items, such as replacement china, silver and crystal, not to mention quilts and linens too.

Not the Same Old Grind

I’m not afraid to admit it—I am a caffeine addict. And it had been hours since my last fix. Fortunately, Skippack Village has a couple of great coffee houses where I could re-energize my weakening spirit. My first stop was at the Village Coffee Haus and Books, where I fueled up on Tanzanian Peaberry and picked up a paperback. Later in the day, when the monkey on my back was clamoring for more, I stopped by the Claddagh Coffee Company, where they roast their own beans, for a little “Erin G oBrew.” I enjoyed my first ever cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain. Then I checked out my back—that was one happy monkey. The two of us picked up a half pound of freshly roasted beans to go.

The Wondrous Things That Spring Will Bring!

Although the Village of Skippack is a pretty happening place even in the heart of winter, the place really blossoms when the weather turns warm. For a quiet little town, these people really know how to have a good time! According to the community map and calendar that is available in most of the shops, there is a full slate of outdoor events that the BFP and I will definitely be back to enjoy. From the May Spring Fest to the Continental Car Show, there are events all spring and summer long—and even into the holidays—for the whole family. We’ll probably pack up the little Goth niece and her younger sister and bring them to the Summertime Concert Series or the Village Carnival. But of course, all of this is beside the point—I still had a birthday gift to procure!

Today’s Lesson:

So Dan, what have we learned today? Well, first, I really am not very good at reading maps or picking out a fashionable gift. Second, just because a place is tiny, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a lot to offer. Third, it is possible to walk 20 miles while traveling down about three miles of road. Finally, I really need to cut down on my caffeine intake, but I probably won’t, because coffee is aromatic, delicious and addictive. All of that aside, as I made my footsore way back to my humble vehicle, my heart was light, for I had indeed found the perfect gift for my Beloved Female Perspective. Guaranteed to delight, intrigue and astound her, while causing the flame of our love to burn ever brighter. And so our hero triumphantly returned home from the beautiful Village of Skippack, to seek the perfect hiding place for the perfect birthday gift. And they lived Happily Ever After.

Oh—what did I end up getting her? Well, since the BFP reads my articles (even if everyone else skips to the restaurant reviews), I ain’t telling. Ask me again next month!