An historic occasion: First meeting of the Perkiomen Valley Blogger's Society at Mal's American Diner in Skippack. From left to right: Brad DeForest, Michael Shaw AKA the Skippack Blogger, Jon Stolpe.

The first ever meeting of the Perkiomen Valley Blogger’s Society took place at Mal’s American Diner yesterday, starting promptly at 6:30 a.m., at a table by the window. In attendance were  the Skippack Blogger (me), Brad DeForest, web designer and social media consultant for the I love Skippack website, and honored guest Jon Stolpe, resident of neighboring Schwenskville and writer of the Stretched Blog.

The first thing I did at the meeting was elect myself president of this newly established society. I figured there were only two people who could object to this bold move, and both of them, Brad and Jon, were preoccupied with what to order for breakfast when I announced my decision. I am not sure they heard me. So you, dear reader, may be the first person who knows I am President of the Perkiomen Valley Blogger’s Society. Oh, thank you for the congratulations and good wishes. Will Brad and Jon mind? No worries. What’s a coup d’état between friends?

Mal's American Diner, a great place to meet up with friends in Skippack.

Of course, the Skippack Blogger is always willing to share the glory, so I am thinking of titles for my fellow members. I am going to make Brad “Vice President in Charge of Returning Menus to the Server.” Jon will be “Executive Director in Charge of Making Sure the Coffee Creamer Bin is Filled.”

To be honest, I don’t think the Perkiomen Valley Blogger’s Society accomplished a great deal during the first meeting, except for that I ate a wonderful bagel, egg and cheese sandwich, shot the breeze with friends, talking about blogging, Facebook, family, careers, social issues and other such matters and had a great time. Yet for me this will be marked down as the most important meeting of the decade.

Why? Four years ago this July I moved to Skippack, not knowing anyone who lived in town or the immediate area: A stranger and sojourner among you. At the first meeting of the Perkiomen Valley Blogger’s Society, I came to appreciate that I now enjoy the blessing of friends near my home. Brad and Jon are great guys and great examples of the people you get to know when you move to Skippack. Yes, Skippack has beautifully restored buildings, wonderful shops and restaurants and great events, but the real reason I love this town are the great people.

Speaking Through Action

Brad explaining the subtleties of new media to the Skippack Blogger: Thanks, Professor.

Brad has been working with me for more than a year on I Love Skippack, helping out with design, our Facebook page, and now our first efforts at selling ads. My friend and fellow local blogger Coreen Tossona just sent me a message on Twitter saying, “every time I go to your site, I just love the design over & over again.”  That’s thanks to Brad.

Aside from his remarkable talents (take a look at our home page), his love of Skippack and understanding of new media are guiding me as I struggle for my place as a writer in the new digital age, just as he is guiding many Skippack shop owners in a new era of digital marketing. During our strategy sessions for this and other projects, I become a student again, listening to Professor Brad, and concentrating on soaking up knowledge. I appreciate that he is sticking by me, listening to my ideas, and patiently steering me back if I veer off course. A loyal guy, offering knowledge and wisdom, speaking through his actions.

Walking the Walk

Author of the Stretched blog Jon Stolpe: Always willing to share his journey

Jon has become my partner in an online interfaith dialogue, as he and I are of different religious backgrounds but enjoy sharing ideas and observations on matters spiritual. Jon prays in a church and I pray in a synagogue. Through online comments on each other’s blogs, we are building a bridge between our prayers as they ascend to heaven.

When taking stock of any creed, I think people look for sincerity and authenticity demonstrated by action. Does the self-proclaimed believer walk the walk as well as talk the talk?  Jon is a great example of what I respect most; a man who lives by his beliefs. He is open and honest about who he is and uses his blog to share from his heart, soul, and guts.

Meet Me in the Real World

The Mal's American Diner Egg and Cheese Sandwich

Brad, Jon and I first met online, exchanging comments and messages on each other’s respective blogs. Thankfully, Skippack gives us places like Mal’s American Diner, places to meet and talk, great places to step out of the virtual world into the real world and partake of the pleasures and challenges of relating to flesh-and-blood human beings, as well as to sip hot coffee and consume a delicious egg and cheese sandwich.

However busy I become in this crazy world, I will always have time for early morning breakfast at an American diner and the blessing of friendship. Without this blessing, Skippack would be a lonely town, this universe a lonely universe, this life a bitter journey. Indeed, I have been on that journey, though I will not look back. With the blessing of friendship, Skippack is a great town, the universe is filled with possibilities, and life becomes a wonderful adventure. Hey, Brad, Jon: Are we gonna split the check?

Links

Jon Stolpe’s blog, Stretched

Brad DeForest Web Design Facebook Page

Coreen Tossona’s blog In The Crowds

The Skippack Blogger's Mom

The Skippack Blogger has a confession to make: This weekend is one of Skippack’s biggest events, Spring Fest, with wonderful craftspeople, shops and restaurants staying open, and delicious treats. I am not going. In fact, I have never been. The reason? Spring Fest always falls on Mother’s Day and I go visit my mom who lives out of town.

From my mother I received many things, aside from the gift of life itself: A deep sensitivity and sense of humanity, an appreciation for art and beauty, creativity, and an understanding of the gifts women bring to this world and how they complete the lives of men. Thanks, Mom!

Last summer, my mom was very sick. Sitting in her hospital room while she was unconscious and on a ventilator brought home the truth that the opportunity to say “I love you, Mom” is a gift more precious than all the gold in the world. I must appreciate it while I have it. No guarantee is given for tomorrow. Kind words are a gift not unto the receiver but unto ourselves, for the happiness and joy they generate bounces right back.

A rose from the garden of the Victorian Carriage Homes, LLC, a group of shops in Skippack Village.

Thank you mom for pulling through. Thank you for coming back to us.

I find it a little troubling, however, that we have a holiday called Mother’s Day. We are commanded in the Bible to honor our father and mother. We should love and appreciate them as a matter of course. Are we so caught up in pursuit of materialistic goals that we need a holiday to be reminded to honor and cherish our own moms?

Every day should be Mother’s Day. Every day should also be Father’s Day, Children’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Aunt’s Day, Uncle’s Day, Brother’s Day, Sister’s Day, and Friend’s Day. Each person who enters our lives and touches us is a walking miracle.

And maybe one day we will have a holiday even more special called Stranger’s Day. It will be a special day to acknowledge the lost and forsaken in this world. Those individuals who never had a mom who loved them or, if they did, never found their way in this harsh and cold world of ours. We will send cards and give presents to people we don’t even know. On this day we will acknowledge that every man and woman is a walking miracle, a soul sent down to earth, created in the image of God.

Scroll Down for More Skippack Flowers

Outdoors at Mal's American Diner in Skippack

By Green Wolf's Village Barn Shoppes

From the porch of An Enchanted Florist in Skippack Village (where the Skippack Blogger buys many flowers)

From the gardens of the Victorian Carriage Shops, LLC, in Skippack Village

An Enchanted Florist in Skippack Village

Azaleas in front of Liberty Tattoo in Skippack Village

More flowers from the gardens of the Victorian Carriage Shops, LLC in Skippack Village

The Skippack Blogger with his Mom and Dad; see you guys tomorrow.

Opening Scene from the 2012 production of An Ideal Husband by Playcrafters of Skippack, from left to right: Ken Uller, Mare Mikalic, Mark Ayers, Christine Martuscello, Anthony Marsala, Liz McDonald.

If one night among all others proves living in Skippack is as close as we come in this life to living in paradise, it is theater night. My wife Debby and I have been subscribers to Playcrafters of Skippack, our local community theater, for three years. Our tickets are always for a Saturday evening performance. We get a chance to rest during the day and come evening, dressed in fine but casual clothes, we take our long-anticipated stroll through Skippack Village to the Barn theater.

Find Your Seat and Enter a New World

We ascend a narrow staircase, find our seats, the lights go down and we are transported to a new world. Why is this moment of theater becoming more special to me as the years go by?

The home of Playcrafters of Skippack, the Barn Theater, located in the heart of Skippack Village, 100 feet West of Route 73 on Store Road.

As a blogger at night and web content manager for a large company 9-to-5, I spend long hours in front of electronic screens: The computer both connects me to people and distances me from these same people. Flesh and blood actors with their presence and immediacy, their ability to bring words to life, and their ability to confront emotion are a refreshing jolt of energy to a soul benumbed by digital waves.

Playcrafters of Skippack gains even greater power through its willingness to stage less-well-known and more thought-provoking productions when compared to many other community theaters. Indeed, Playcrafters seems to embody many characteristics that go to the core of what makes Skippack special; small town intimacy and warmth blended with a touch of big city sophistication.

A Stellar Season Ahead for Skippack

If the opening production of the 2012 season, An Ideal Husband by Victorian playwright Oscar Wilde, is any indication, this is going to be a stellar theater season in Skippack. An Ideal Husband has finished it’s run and, if you missed it dear reader, you missed an amazing night of theater. Fortunately, there are six more productions remaining in the Playcrafters of Skippack season.

Mark Ayers as himself. He played Lord Robert Chiltern in Playcrafters of Skippack production of An Ideal Husband. I have also seen Mark at Playcrafters in Cabaret and Doubt. In each role he was completely different and completely believable.

As lovers of Skippack, we support Playcrafters as a community. However, as members of an audience we experience each play as an individual. It is the province of the live actor to touch our inner consciousness in a unique way. We each have freedom to see and interpret the play in our own way; freedom of thought is, of course, the greatest freedom of all.

The Biggest Comedy of the Season

Wilde wrote An Ideal Husband, a comedy of manners with both glittering wit and a serious moral center, in 1895, the twilight years of the late Victorian era. Director Margo Weishar O’Moore made a brave decision to set the play into a time closer to our own, around the middle of the 20th century. In my opinion, this bold move made the dramatic conflict in the play more relevant.

An Ideal Husband opens during a dinner party at the home of Sir Robert and Lady Gertrude Chiltern (played by Mark Ayers and  Mare Mikalic). Robert Chiltern is a prestigious member of the House of Commons. His wife, Gertrude Chiltern, is a woman with strong moral convictions. She believes she has an “ideal husband”—that is, a man who is unblemished in both private and public life and whom she can worship.

During the party, an acquaintance of Gertrude Chiltern’s named Mrs. Cheveley (played by Christine Martuscello) attempts to blackmail Robert Chiltern.

Lord Goring (played by Anthony Marsala), a friend to Lord Robert Chiltern, tests his wit against the scheming Mrs. Cheveley (played by Christine Martuscello) in Playcrafters of Skippack 2012 production of An Ideal Husband.

Many years earlier, Robert Chiltern had sold a Cabinet secret. Truth be told, he made his fortune and built his political career with dirty money from this deal. Mrs. Cheveley has a letter which proves his guilt and threatens to destroy both his marriage and career, unless he is willing to give his support to a highly-questionable foreign investment scheme she favors in an upcoming vote in the House of Commons.

I cannot help but think that it was a telling choice to stage this comedy in an election year in which the cost for running for president is expected to be hundreds of millions or even a billion dollars or more. Whatever side of the aisle you sit on, dear reader, do not be a Gertrude Chiltern; do not idolize the candidate of your choice as an “ideal president” in the mold of George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. A political candidate does not raise this kind of money using the qualities of a boy scout. Indeed, let us see our trip to the voting booth this November as the biggest comedy of the season.

The Only Answer Is to Laugh

Playwright Oscar Wilde uses his urbane wit, keen sense of pleasure in pointing out social hypocrisy, and love for the clever flow of words to resolve the questions he raises in An Ideal Husband. Here are a few of many great lines from the play:

• “The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast.”
• “Life is never fair…And perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.”
• “No man is rich enough to buy back his past.”

Up next at Playcrafters: The Children’s Hour a hard-hitting drama by playwright Lillian Hellman which opens May 31. The Skippack Blogger is looking forward to it. I love having my guts ripped out at the Barn Theater.

Links

Playcrafters of Skippack Website

Playcrafters of Skippack Facebook Group

Skippack 2012 Theater Dates and Other Events

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The cast of An Ideal Husband: Front - Mark Ayers, Mare Mikalic. Back from left - Ken Uller, Judy Van Buskirk, Christine Martuscello, Anthony Marsala, Kristen Riley, Rich Geller, Janene Gibbons, Christopher Applegate.

Ken Uller played the role of Mason (a butler) in the Playcrafter's 2012 production of An Ideal Husband and also served as stage manager. I have known Ken for about a year; he is a modest gentleman who volunteers much of his time at Playcrafters, helping to make Skippack a better place to live.

Next up at Playcrafters of Skippack: The Children's Hour, a hard-hitting drama by Lillian Hellman.

My leading lady, photographed at the Barn Theater in Skippack: Keep laughing at life, baby, and we'll make it.

After the show: The Skippack Blogger and his leading lady at Hotel Fiesole. A perfect Skippack evening.

Members of the Skippack MOMS enjoy a book club meeting. Back- Kelly Miller, Front - Heather Wilson, Stefania Revelli, Meg Riefer

If you are a fairly new mom then you’ve probably already figured out that simply reading titles like Naptimes are the New Happy Hour does little to prepare you emotionally, mentally or physically for the challenges that come with motherhood. And by challenges I mean things like savoring a showering alone or loading the dishwasher with one hand (yes, we’ve all been there and if you are like me, still are).

Stefania Revelli, editor, mom and the first guest author on I Love Skippack. We are honored.

When I casually joined the Skippack MOMS Club nearly seven years ago I was new to the area, was the only mom I knew and could have never imagined the role the club or its members would have in my life—as mom and as a woman.   Turns out these were not just a bunch of moms who wanted to meet up in the comfort of their sweats and let their kids play while they vented to one another about the trials and tribulations of motherhood – they  were all that and so much more. Among them were vets, nutritionists and chemists; writers, nurses, teachers and lawyers.  And beyond mommy talk, they made for good friends and great casual conversations.

A Skippack MOMS club get together: left to right: Amanda Denner, Leah Pro, Robin Reed, Amy O'Sullivan, Stefania Revelli, Marla Levin

Six years and three kids later I am saddened to hear some troubling news: Membership is thin and getting thinner.  Veteran moms like me have older school kids and are less active or are aging out, while new membership has been slow.

Wait, what IS the Skippack MOMS Club about? The club offers plentiful opportunities to share quality time with your kids through local events, playgroups and get-togethers, but it’s also a chance to make new friends, engage in some adventure (stroller walks, park outings, hay rides!), glamour (Moms Nights Out are a great opportunity to slap on some lip gloss and high heels), literature (book club), philanthropy, education, culinary arts (homemade meal delivery for new moms) and even politics (we have a board with a president and a VP).

MOMS keeps me active in the community; helps me share special time with the kids; provides opportunities to give back to charitable causes, helps me laugh every day, and above all helps me to keep my sanity.

If you are a new mom and reading this… wait, if you are a new mom you probably don’t have time be reading this. Scratch that. If you know a new mom or a mom with young kids, give them some sound parental advice and encourage them to check out the Skippack MOMS Club today!

MOMS Club of Skippack meets monthly at The Sinful Cupcake & Cafe every third Tuesday of each month at 10 am. Learn more about the Skippack MOMS Club.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: Stefania Revelli, our first guest author, is an editor, mom, the Skippack Blogger’s neighbor and friend and a wonderful young woman. 

Skippack Blogger and Web Designer unite in creativity and build an amazing new Skippack Village website

Today is a special day. I have lived in Skippack for almost 4 years. But as of today, my words too have a new Skippack home; My thoughts, my ideas, and my sentences have taken up a new residence. You are looking at it. The new, redesigned I Love Skippack website is the new home for the Skippack Blogger’s words. Check it out:

• New home page that feels more like a family photo album than a blog.
• Separate sections dedicated to Skippack shops, restaurants and events: Eat, Shop, Visit
• A new section, Life, for exploring the world of Skippack and world inside all of us.

And much more.

How My Words Found their New Home

Michael Shaw, Skippack Blogger; click on my shirt to read an important message.

Let me, dear reader, tell you the story of my words. When I was a boy, my words were alive, gushing, eager to spill out onto a page of notebook paper. My teachers praised my writing, I went to creative writing programs, and won essay contests. Everything seemed possible. I needed only to study and work hard, and my words would become my livelihood and my joy.

But then, real life laughed at the foolish, dreaming boy. Needing to make a living, I took a job as an editor, moving to the area to edit nursing and medical books. The slow-drain of working life took hold. Long hours at the office, hundreds and hundreds of pages to edit, the routine of working life, personal disappointments, and lost opportunities slowly but surely stifled my words.

My words became like ragged, abandoned children, left in a cellar with only a pail of water and a loaf of bread. They became sickly and weak and deformed. With few invigorating experiences to nourish them, my words gave in to their weariness and went to sleep.

Then a miracle happened: A lively, spirited, brilliant woman came into my life. We married and moved to Skippack. I started to become strong again. Suddenly, the words inside me to started to wake up and gasp for air. They opened their eyes and saw Skippack; the beautiful main street, the free, open spaces between beautifully-restored buildings. “We’re still here,” they cried, pounding at the side of my brain. “Let us out. We want to work again. We love Skippack.”

Thus my blog, I Love Skippack, was born.

Meet the Architect of My New Home

I LOVE SKIPPACK under construction

Now, each free moment I can steal, I spend walking in Skippack looking for something to capture in words: A new store opening, an upcoming event, a new acquaintance, or just a beautiful moment in this beautiful town.

But the world I write in today is much different from the world when I was a kid. Now words are carried on digital waves through the Internet to the hearts and minds of readers. The home for my words is more like a space station, carrying my observations about Skippack and ideas farther than I ever imagined they could travel, reaching more people than I thought possible.

A friend, Brad DeForest, is the architect of this digital home for my words, In plainer terms, Brad, a Skippack-based web designer with a long history of dedication to this town, built the new I Love Skippack website.

Demolition of old I LOVE SKIPPACK Blog

Brad and I have been working together for more than a year on I Love Skippack. I am proud to work with this guy: He is a man of his word, clear-thinking, innovative and resourceful, with a straightforward approach to meeting challenges. His even-tempered perspective is a helpful balance to the flights of enthusiasm that carry me from one blog post to the next, as I fire myself up for long nights at the computer keyboard. Brad honors both the beautiful town of Skippack and the hard work of creative expression.

Recently, I had the honor of locking horns with Brad in a fine rumble on the I Love Skippack Facebook page. A week before the launch of the new I Love Skippack website, Brad wrested control of my Facebook page from me, while I took my best shots at him by posting comments in protest of his unlawful takeover. Read some of the banter here. At its best, work is a path toward brotherhood.

Flipping the Switch

Brad DeForest, Neighborhood Web Guy

As I write this post, it is the moment when Brad is about to flip the switch that will turn off the old I Love Skippack blog and turn on the new I Love Skippack website that you see now. We are sitting at the bar in the Hotel Fiesole in Skippack. Brad is drinking a Dogfish Head IPA Beer. What a beer geek. I have never even heard of it. I am drinking a Michelob Ultra (the Skippack Blogger is concerned about his weight). Brad says that my beer is lame. I value his opinion on website development and social media, but not on such issues.

I will be a poet wannabe until they bury me. I want depth and meaning. The blog I have worked on for close to two years is entering its next phase. I want the moment to be meaningful. I turn to my neighborhood web guy.

“Turn the key brother; the home for my words that you built is a home for my soul.”

Brad looks at me like I am nuts. I have seen this look before. “Michael, it’s a website.”

“OK, OK, flip the switch.”

Welcome to the new I Love Skippack.

The I Love Skippack Team: Blogger Michael Shaw and Web Designer Brad DeForest enjoying beers at the Hotel Fiesole in Skippack. Brad appears to be ready for round two.

The Perkiomen Valley High School Jazz Band: Teacher and band director David Overholtzer is fourth from right.

Until now, my exploration of Skippack has focused mostly on the center of the village along Skippack Pike, the location of most of our shops and restaurants, where shopping, dining and entertainment provide ample material to keep me writing.

But there are many aspects of Skippack life unknown to me and, until now, unexplored. Today, I boldly go where no Skippack Blogger has gone before.

I am on my way to a rehearsal of the jazz band at Perkiomen Valley High School, the high school which serves Skippack and surrounding communities: Collegeville, Lower Frederick, Perkiomen, Schwenksville, and Trappe.

Accompanying me on my journey is Barbara Schang, owner of Schang-Hai Gallerie, in neighboring Creamery, Pennsylvania, and mom to two kids, both of them participants in the Perkiomen Valley High School music program; her son, now graduated, was a member of the jazz band.

Let’s listen to some jazz.

Skippack Blogger Goes Back to High School

The school’s music facilities are impressive: Large rooms with high ceilings for teaching, practice and rehearsing, shiny brass instruments, a xylophone, a gong, timpani drums, and walls decorated with trophies, plaques and banners from past music competitions.

The horns stand up: Students at Perkiomen Valley High School carry on America's greatest musical tradition, jazz.

The moment Barbara and I walk into the jazz band rehearsal, a horn line is blowing Woodchopper’s Ball. Man, they sound good. Barbara explains that all the kids are accomplished music students who must audition to participate in the band.

The band is led by David Overholtzer, director of the band programs at Perkiomen Valley High School. David teaches music full throttle: He gets everyone’s attention; conducts a music selection; scats out the melody; tries out different sections — the horns, the rhythm; provides an analysis of the students’ playing; instructs individuals on how to improve; adds a few words of friendly encouragement; tells a joke; keeps the pace of the class lively; and returns to conducting. The young horn players stand up: Out comes the jazz. Swing it, Mr. Overholtzer.

The lesson in the music: David Overholtzer teaching and leading the Perkiomen Valley High School Jazz Band.

The students are attentive, occasionally laughing or indulging in short, private conversations while waiting for their parts. The rehearsal is demanding, both for the students and for Mr. Overholtzer, who is musician, teacher, guidance counselor, music critic and performer all at once.

Sitting in my metal chair in the back of the room, however, no demands are made on my ability to concentrate.  As an observer, I am allowed the privilege of letting my thoughts wander, just as they did when I was a student sitting in class during my own high school days. My thoughts wander back to the time when I was the same age as these students, back to the time when I made that great discovery: Jazz music.

The Skippack Blogger’s Jazz Memories

I was in high school when I saw Earl "Fatha" Hines, an innovator on the jazz piano, play. Although he was past age seventy, the jazz legend still put on a great show.

I never studied a musical instrument. My jazz memories have nothing to do with school. I discovered jazz on the weekends. Living in the suburbs of Baltimore, my older brother would sometimes take me to a place downtown called the Famous Ballroom where we would see jazz shows put on by a group called the Left Bank Jazz Society.

Most audience members were well-dressed, middle-aged African-American men and women. How goofy I must have looked in my jeans and t-shirt. But it was my first taste, without parental supervision, of adult sophistication, the good life that comes with achieving independence and learning to appreciate finer things.

An Etta Jones album cover: Many people today confuse her with rhythm and blues singer Etta James. Etta Jones was a subtle jazz vocalist.

I saw piano great Earl “Fatha” Hines, who had played with Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and the All Stars. Past age seventy but still vibrant, he and his back up musicians put on a great show.

I saw Houston Person, a tenor sax player who blew soulful, thick tones, play alongside vocalist Etta Jones. Check out her rendition of Don’t Go to Strangers, a great song for a town like Skippack. Houston Person is still living and playing music.

At venues other than the Famous Ballroom but around the same time, I saw more jazz greats who have since passed on: Stan Kenton, Count Basie and Sarah Vaughan come to mind.

My greatest jazz memory, indeed my greatest music memory of all time, was when I saw Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady of Song, grace the stage at the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore.

Ella Makes Her Entrance

Ella and her fellas: They called Ella Fitzgerald the First Lady of Song. It wasn't hype. So I learned when, during high school, I saw her in concert.

Never will I forget; the entire audience got to their feet when Ella made her way to the microphone, a plain woman with thick glasses in her late-middle years, wearing a simple gown. No video or laser show announced her presence, just Ella and her fellas — four incredible jazz musicians.

When Ella hit her last note of St. Louis Blues, the sound was so beautiful, so perfect, that an elegantly-dressed woman sitting near me screamed.

But it is a not a scream from thirty-five years ago I am hearing now. A horn line from the Perkiomen Valley High School Jazz Band wakes me from my reverie; the clean, resonating sound betokening hours of practice by the students and the strength and optimism of their youth: The joy that comes from within our own heart and lungs.

More Than Just Music

The Perkiomen Valley High School Jazz Band in rehearsal: My friend Barbara Schang, a mom to two children, emphasizes the positive impact of the music program on the lives of students.

The rehearsal ends, the students file out, and I leave with Barbara Schang, pleased that the program at the high school is focused on traditional jazz, music I associate with the happiest memories of my youth. I feel great having heard jazz played in a high school in my town.

Back in the car, Barbara turns toward me. ”The music program is about more than just the music,” she says. “Some of these kids struggle. They may be dealing with peer pressure, troubles at home or simply inner conflicts and plain old insecurity. There is always the fear that a kid will turn to drugs or crime. When a student takes up a musical instrument, it is a wonderful, positive step.”

Barbara continues, “David Overholtzer is not only a teacher and band director, he is a mentor to many of these kids. A teacher like David can completely turn a kid around.”

Come Out and Listen

On the wall of the rehearsal room is a sign which reads “Objective: Develop musical independence.” That pleases me. It summarizes the goal of all education: To enable kids to become independent. I think of the lyrics to one of my favorite jazz standards Summertime:

One of these mornings
You’re going to rise up singing
Then you’ll spread your wings
And take the sky

(Music by George Gershwin, lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin)

Playing the sax at Perkiomen Valley High

Before they take the solo flight described in this beautiful lyric, most kids do better if the people around them encourage their early, fledgling attempts at take off. And that is where we come in, dear reader.

The Perkiomen Valley High School Jazz Band performs at many competitions and community events from December through June. When student musicians take the stage, let us take our place in the audience, as parents, grandparents, friends, and, most importantly, as citizens of Skippack, the greatest small town in Pennsylvania, and her neighbor communities.

Thousands of people in small towns like Skippack across America come out for Friday night lights football, but how many in comparison come out to hear the high school jazz band? Nothing against high school football, but the skills students learn in music class will serve them for a lifetime.

David Overholtzer, director of the band prgrams, at right, with some of his students: Thanks for allowing me to listen to your wonderful music and for bringing back some great memories.

Performances are open to all: People are welcome to attend regardless of whether they have children participating in the music program or attending high school. Public performances give residents of Skippack an opportunity to tell these fine young people that their early attempts at finesse and creative expression are worthwhile. We speak encouragement through our applause.

And the self-discipline and grace students learn through music will help them in whatever career they pursue, whatever twists and turns their road takes. Listen to our kids.

Related Links

Perkiomen Valley High School Jazz Band

Perkiomen Valley High School Viking Band

Note: The Weekly Bulletin, found in the right column of the Viking Band web page, includes information on jazz band performances and rehearsals.

Schang-Hai Gallerie Facebook Page

Thank you Barbara Schang, owner of Schang-Hai Gallerie, for the idea for this post and for helping me out.

Today is the first day of spring. Please, my friend, join me for a quick walk in Skippack this morning. Sharing an experience makes each moment much more meaningful.

Scroll Down to Join Our First Spring Morning Walk

Fog covers Skippack on the first day of Spring. Even when she wears gray, my village is so beautiful, loveliness beyond words.

A foggy day in Skippack town

Lest this heritage be forgot: An American Flag with an image of a Native American warrior flies outside the Southwest Trading Post, a wonderful shop in Skippack.

Making Skippack even more beautiful: Restoration work on the building which houses Skippack Pizza, 4038 Skippack Pike.

Good people everywhere: I stopped to talk to these two men from Hunsberger Builders, who are restoring a building in Skippack, at 4038 Skippack Pike.

Restoration Work at Skippack Pizza. For an actual pizza, call 610.584.4998. Tell owners Vince and Rosie hello from Michael and Debby.

The newly restored exterior of Black Sheep Pottery in Skippack, also at 4038 Skippack Pike, directly across from Skippack Pizza, foreshadows the beauty of the completed restoration. Nicole Dubrow, owner of Black Sheep Pottery, is a lovely woman and I am looking forward to speaking with her and learning more about the potter's craft.

Beautiful Skippack, a foggy first morning of spring

Lifting the fog: The Skippack Blogger, like many local working people, gets his morning coffee at the WaWa, corner of routes 73 and 113.

The time in between is holy: Late winter/early spring sunrise in Skippack.

People who spend their spare time in creative pursuits like writing are very sensitive, and the Skippack Blogger is no exception. It is a curse; a price extracted for the creative gift. Yesterday was a frustrating, aggravating work day. Nothing in the world seemed kind or meaningful. It doesn’t take much to push me to the edge. I don’t know why my beautiful, brilliant wife puts up with me. God bless her.

I awoke to a spectacular morning in Skippack Village, and took a walk through town. I saw so much meaning at every turn. Please join me for a brief moment on this walk. Let the Skippack morning refresh you for a moment, dear reader.

There are no Skippack Events in this blog post. No highlighted key words and it will not get many “hits,” meaning you are one of a few people who will read it. Men wiser in making their way in the virtual world will scoff. Nor will a simple moment of feeling joy at being alive ever be sufficient to qualify as success in this world or as an achievement. But I will love this blog post, just as I love this beautiful Skippack morning.

Dear God: I will accept my lot in life, whatever it may be, if you promise there will always be mornings like this to revive me, until my time here comes to an end. Skippack mornings.

Scroll Down to Enjoy a Morning Stroll Through Skippack

The source of life: Water Fountain outside Justin's Carriage House in Skippack.

Last night, my angel, you held me: Sunrise over the sign for Blush Lingerie in Skippack.

A flower is the heart of spring: Flowers outside the Parc Bistro, a restaurant in Skippack.

Make time for fun: A wooden bunny outside the Copper Partridge, a shop in Skippack.

Anticipation: A sign outside the Southwest Trading Post, a shop in Skippack, promotes Skippack Events for the seasons ahead: Spring, summer and fall.

The Skippack Blogger: I celebrate myself and the joy of owning an iPhone.

Freedom from pain: Old Glory flies by Skippack Acupuncture. The artwork on the sign is based on a design by Pinkie Out, a graphic design and small business branding firm out of Royersford (good people).

The Outside View: Dave's Garage in Skippack houses a private collection of classic and antique cars. I hope one day I will get a peak inside.

Cars line up for gas at the WaWa in Skippack before work: We must all bow to the idol of making a living.

Two different types of residences: A graveyard by a church in Skippack. You can also see the back of a housing development.

God exists, whether or not we stop in: A church in Skippack reminds us of who to thank for spectacular mornings such as this.

Dedicated to the one I love: This blog post is for the angel who puts up with me. Let no man or woman be alone.

Skippack Village 2012: A season of great events and activities in a great town.

Skippack residents and visitors can look forward to a wonderful variety of events and activities in 2012; for the Skippack Blogger, there will be a lot to write about. Scroll down to see the list of events for Spring, Summer and Fall 2012. This list is a testament to the vitality and diversity of Skippack life.

Please bookmark this Skippack Events listing and check back. I will be updating and adding to this list throughout the Skippack events season. You can also receive timely announcements of Skippack events on Facebook by Liking the I Love Skippack Facebook Page.

Tickets for Playcrafters of Skippack, our community theater, are sold at very reasonable prices. Other events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

March 2012 Skippack Events

Fashion Show to Benefit Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center

March 5, Monday
Skippack StyleKrafters, a hair and nail salon, hosts a fashion show at Playcrafters of Skippack Barn Theatre at 2011 Store Road. All proceeds will be donated to the Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Doors open at 6 pm for food, beverages and a chance to buy a raffle for your favorite basket donated by the Merchants of Skippack. Tickets are $25.00 and available at StyleKrafters, 4019 Skippack Pike. For more information, contact the salon at 610-584-7840.

St. Patrick´s Day Beef and Beer to Benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

March 17, Saturday
Team Ryan Fights Cancer will host a beef and beer at Parc Bistro, 4067 Skippack Pike, in the barn, beginning at 6 p.m. Cost is $50 per person or $75 per couple and includes food and beer with cocktails available at cash bar, live music entertainment and a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). All net proceeds will go to the LLS, on behalf of cancer survivor Ryan Clark, age 15. Ryan hopes to raise $20,000 by April. More information.

Benjamin Webb, president of the Skippack Historical Society, takes a trip back to a simpler time. I am hoping to see Ben at the Skippack Historical Society Show and Tell to take place on March 22.

Skippack History Show and Tell

March 22, Thursday
Join us 7:30 pm at the Skippack Township Building, 4089 Heckler Road, and see old photos, postcards, bottles, antiques, past business ads and more. Bring your own local pieces of history to share. Sponsored by the Skippack Historical Society.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: This sounds like a cool event; one that will inspire the Skippack Blogger to write. I am also looking forward to getting back in touch with my friend, Benjamin Webb, president of the Skippack Historical Society. Read about my friend Benjamin Webb and the Skippack Historical Society.

Spring Fling 2012

March 23, 24, and 25; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
The fun starts: This year’s kick off event for the Skippack events season. Participating shops and restaurants offer special savings, refreshments, drawings and events. A document shredding truck will be in Skippack on Saturday, March 24th from 9 am to 11 am, available to the public for free. Call 610-584-0797 for more information.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: This is an event organized by the Merchants of Skippack, who work hard to make our village a special place. A tip of the hat to Lowell Steinberg, owner of Floral and Hardy, for leading the effort to organize this event.

April 2012 Skippack Events

Easter Bunny Workshop

April 5, Thursday
VIsit the Easter Bunny and participate in his workshop from 6 pm to 8 pm at Mal’s American Diner, 4006 Skippack Pike, phone 610. 584. 0900.

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

April 8, Sunday
The Easter Bunny will be at Mal’s American Diner,  Easter Day, from 10 am to 12 pm. Mal’s Diner is located at 4006 Skippack Pike, phone 610. 584. 0900.

Trout Season, Skippack Creek

Official opening day, April 14, Saturday; Trout stocking April 3 and April 23, Tuesday and Monday
Skippack Creek is stocked with brown trout and rainbow trout; a portion of the creek flows through Evansburg State Park. Pennsylvania trout stocking schedules are available online from the website of state representative Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery). The official opening day for trout season is currently April 14.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: I am hoping my web design and social media guide Brad DeForest will take me trout fishing in Skippack Creek. Life can’t be all work, Bro. Afterward, I may blog about it.

The Skippack Blogger at the Playcrafters of Skippack theater in the heart of Skippack Village, 100 feet West of Route 73 on Store Road. I feel lucky that my wife and I can walk here and enjoy a night of great theater close to home.

Playcrafters of Skippack: An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde

April 19, Thursday (opening night); April 20, 21, 27, 28, 29 and May 3, 4, 5
Politics. Blackmail. Infidelity. What’s not to laugh about? A witty comedy by Victorian poet, novelist and playwrite Oscar Wilde. More information. Also, check out my blog post from last year’s Playcrafters of Skippack season.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: I am looking forward to seeing Playcrafters of Skippack take on the challenge of an Oscar Wilde comedy. So much depends on the timing of line delivery when presenting his work on stage. We are lucky to live in a community which offers such fine community theater.

Titanic: 100 Years Ago

April 26, Thursday
Local Skippack resident Ned Schillow shares his interest in the great disaster. Some maritime artwork also to be on display. Event goes from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the Skippack Township Building, 4089 Heckler Road in Skippack. Sponsored by the Skippack Historical Society (exceptionally nice people).

April Trash to Treasure Sale

April 28, Saturday
Rain Date: April 29, Sunday
Sell it in Skippack: Multi-vendor yard sale held in the heart of Skippack Village, 4059 Skippack Pike, across from Basta Pasta. Fee is $10 for a 10 by 10 spot for displaying and selling your items. Registration is day of show from 7 am  to 8:30 am. The event goes from 9 am to 3 pm. For more info, please call 610-584-6004.

May 2012 Skippack Events

First Friday in Skippack: A musical group from the Central Schwenkfelder Church in Worcester, Pennsylvania.

First Friday in May

May 4
The second year of a great new Skippack tradition: First Friday. This is the first First Friday of 2012 and goes from 5 pm to 9 pm. Shops stay open late and musicians, artists and family entertainers enliven sidewalks, porches, shops and restaurants throughout the village. Plenty of free parking, just come to town. This year the musical entertainment is being coordinated by a really cool guy, Frank Raffa, who owns Sound Sensations DJs in Skippack. Read a blog post about the origins of First Friday. Get an idea what it’s like: Check out images from First Friday.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: First Friday, a huge success for the village last year, is organized by the Merchants of Skippack. Props to Art Berger of the Wooden Duck for his leadership in organizing First Fridays in Skippack.

Skippack Spring Fest

May 12 and 13, Saturday and Sunday
Craft show with family entertainment, food, crafts, and much more. Begins at 10 am and ends at 5 pm. Sponsored by Henning’s Market.

The audience at a summertime concert in Skippack. The first free concert of the season is May 16. Concerts are held each month in spring and summer.

May Summertime Concert

May 16, Wednesday
Rain date May 23, Wednesday
Free concert for all ages, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, across the street from Basta Pasta: Features Joe Arminio and the Family, who perform music of Broadway & 40′s and 50′s. Bring your blanket and picnic basket and enjoy the music and life in Skippack. Sponsored by TD Bank.

May Trash to Treasure Sale

May 19, Saturday
Rain Date: May 20, Sunday
Sell it in Skippack: Multi-vendor yard sale held in the heart of Skippack Village, 4059 Skippack Pike, across from Basta Pasta. Fee is $10 for a 10 by 10 spot for displaying and selling your items. Registration is day of show from 7 am  to 8:30 am. The event goes from 9 am to 3 pm. For more info, please call 610-584-6004.

Revolutionary War Campsites of Montgomery County

May 24, Thursday
Historian Lee Hallman shares locally found artifacts from Revolutionary War campsites and explains their meaning to history. Event goes from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the Skippack Township Building, 4089 Heckler Road in Skippack. Sponsored by the Skippack Historical Society.

Playcrafters of Skippack: The Children’s Hour, by Lillian Hellman

May 31, Thursday (opening night); June 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16
Classic 1934 drama about a devastating lie, exploring the culture of fear in society. Originally banned when written. More information. Also, check out my blog post from last year about Playcrafters of Skippack.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: I love seeing a solid, hard-hitting drama by a great playwrite such as Lillian Hellman. More of this fare, please, Playcrafters.

June 2012 Skippack Events

First Friday in June

June 1
The second First Friday of 2012 goes from 5 pm – 9 pm. Shops stay open late and musicians, artists and family entertainers enliven sidewalks, porches, shops and restaurants throughout the village. Plenty of free parking, just come to town. Read a blog post about the origins of First Friday.  Get an idea what it’s like: See images from First Friday.

Take in the beauty of classic cars at the Skippack Continental Car Show, June 3rd, 2012 (rain date June 10th)

Skippack Village Continental Car Show

June 3, Sunday
Rain Date: June 10
Car Show featuring American Made Cars. Activities include: car corral, food, music, face painting, kids cartoon character visit, plus much more. Blog post about the Continental Car Show, which includes a slide show.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: If you attend just one Skippack event this year, make it a Skippack car show. They are great.

Antique Tractor & Farm Machinery Show and Barn Tour: Allebach-Cholet Farm

June 9, Saturday
Antique tractors and other historic farm equipment come back to life at a little-known historic treausre of our community, the Allebach-Cholet Farm. Event goes from 10 am to 3 pm and takes place at 4109 Creamery Road. Sponsored by the Skippack Historical Society.

The beautiful Allebach-Cholet Farm in Skippack, site of an antique tractor & farm machinery show and barn tour, Saturday, June 9.

Summertyme Festival

June 9, Saturday
Great craft show & kids event with character visit, moonbounce, magic, face painting, caricature, games and much more

June Summertime Concert

June 20, Wednesday
Rain date June 27, Wednesday
Free concert for all ages, 6:30 pm – 8:30  pm, across the street from Basta Pasta: Featuring 52nd Street Trio, a Billy Joel tribute band. Bring your blanket and picnic basket and enjoy the music. Music is life. Sponsored by TD Bank.

June Trash to Treasure Sale

June 23, Saturday
Rain Date: June 24, Sunday
Sell it in Skippack: Multi-vendor yard sale held in the heart of Skippack Village, 4059 Skippack Pike, across from Basta Pasta. Fee is $10 for a 10 by 10 spot for displaying and selling your items. Registration is day of show from 7 am  to 8:30 am. The event goes from 9 am to 3 pm. For more info, please call 610-584-6004.

July 2012 Skippack Events

Fourth of July in Skippack

4th of July Parade and Fireworks

July 4, Wednesday
Yankee Doodle goes to town, Skippack town. Fabulous small town parade travels down Route 73, Free concert in the park across the street from Basta Pasta featuring Reilly Raiders. BBQ at Parc Bistro and fireworks at dusk.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: Fourth of July in Skippack captures just the right spirit. It is a traditional, neighborhood fourth of July with a touch of Skippack flair. The parade is fantastic.

First Friday in July

July 6
Fun begins at 5 pm and lasts until 9 pm. Shops stay open late and musicians, artists and family entertainers enliven sidewalks, porches, shops and restaurants throughout the village. Plenty of free parking, just come to town. Blog post about the origins of First Friday.  Get an idea what it’s like: Check out images from a past First Friday.

Playcrafters of Skippack: The Wedding Singer by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy, Music by Matthew Sklar

July 12, Thursday (opening night); July 13, 14. 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28
Musical comedy: Can the wedding singer find a true love of his own? More information. Also, check out my blog post from last year’s Playcrafters of Skippack season.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: My wife Debby is going to love this musical comedy. She loves anything to do with a wedding.

A carousel pony at the Skippack Village Carnival awaits a child.

Skippack Village Carnival

July 18 thru 21, Wednesday thru Saturday
Amusement, games and family fun: An old-fashioned carnival. Read my blog post about the Skippack Village Carnival: Every Bowl Is a Winner.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: This is one of my favorite Skippack events. I love writing about it. Here is what I wrote last year: “Everyone should know the happiness of living in a town like Skippack, where an old-fashioned carnival, with gaudy lights, over-salted popcorn and festive noise, sprouts for a short few days in summer. It reminds us that life is not all about work, decorum and responsibility.”

July Summertime Concert

July 25, Wednesday
Rain date August 3, Friday
Free concert for all ages, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, across the street from Basta Pasta, featuring U2Nation, a U2 tribute band. Bring your blanket and picnic basket and enjoy the music. I can’t live with or without you. Sponsored by TD Bank.

July Trash to Treasure Sale

July 28, Saturday
Rain Date: July 29, Sunday
Sell it in Skippack: Multi-vendor yard sale held in the heart of Skippack Village, 4059 Skippack Pike, across from Basta Pasta. Fee is $10 for a 10 by 10 spot for displaying and selling your items. Registration is day of show from 7 am  to 8:30 am. The event goes from 9 am to 3 pm. For more info, please call 610-584-6004.

August 2012 Skippack Events

Many Skippack Events such as Skippack Days, First Fridays, July the 4th and the Skippack Auto Show feature live entertainment. Here Don Butler on Lead Guitar rocks out with the band Lenny G and the Soulsenders during Skippack Days.

First Friday in August

August 3
Fun begins at 5 pm and lasts until 9 pm. Shops stay open late and musicians, artists and family entertainers enliven sidewalks, porches, shops and restaurants throughout the village. Plenty of free parking, just come to town. Blog post about the origins of First Friday. Get an idea what it’s like: Check out images from First Friday.

August Summertime Concert

August 15, Wednesday
Rain date to be determined
Free concert for all ages, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, across the street from Basta Pasta, featuring The Mango Men, a popular  area band that takes pride in energetic, interactive performances. Their music features original songs plus popular cover tunes, spanning rock, pop and today’s country. Bring your blanket and picnic basket and enjoy the music and the Mangos. Sponsored by TD Bank.

Playcrafters of Skippack: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams

August 16, Thursday (opening night); August 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 and September 1
Dramatic portrait of a family in the American South, with unforgettable characters: Brick, Big Daddy and Maggie the Cat. More information. Also, check out my blog post from last year about Playcrafters of Skippack.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: One of many great lines from the play:  ”What is the victory of a cat on a hot tin roof?—I wish I knew… Just staying on it, I guess, as long as she can…”

August Trash to Treasure Sale

August 25, Saturday
Rain Date: August 26, Sunday
Sell it in Skippack: Multi-vendor yard sale held in the heart of Skippack Village, 4059 Skippack Pike, across from Basta Pasta. Fee is $10 for a 10 by 10 spot for displaying and selling your items. Registration is day of show from 7 am  to 8:30 am. The event goes from 9 am to 3 pm. For more info, please call 610-584-6004.

September 2012 Skippack Events

Free face painting for kids during First Friday

First Friday in September

September 7
Fun begins at 5 pm and lasts until 9 pm. Shops stay open late and musicians, artists and family entertainers enliven sidewalks, porches, shops and restaurants throughout the village. Plenty of free parking, just come to town. Read my blog post about the origins of First Friday. Get an idea what it’s like: See pictures from a past First Friday.

September Trash to Treasure Sale

September 8, Saturday
Rain Date: September 9, Sunday
Sell it in Skippack: Multi-vendor yard sale held in the heart of Skippack Village, 4059 Skippack Pike, across from Basta Pasta. Fee is $10 for a 10 by 10 spot for displaying and selling your items. Registration is day of show from 7 am  to 8:30 am. The event goes from 9 am to 3 pm. For more info, please call 610-584-6004.

Skippack Village Sidewalk Sale

September 8 and 9, Saturday and Sunday
Vendors and shops open to the outdoors with sale items.

Playcrafters of Skippack: ‘Allo ‘Allo by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft

September 20, Thursday (opening night); September 21, 22, 28, 29, 30 and October 4, 5, 6.
Zany comedy set in France during World War II. More information. Also, check out my blog post from last year about Playcrafters of Skippack.

October and November 2012 Skippack Events

First Friday in October

October 5
Fun begins at 5 pm and lasts until 9 pm. Shops stay open late and musicians, artists and family entertainers enliven sidewalks, porches, shops and restaurants throughout the village. Plenty of free parking, just come to town. Read my blog post  about the origin of First Friday. Get an idea what it’s like: See pictures from a past First Friday.

A parking lot in the village comes to life during Skippack Days.

Skippack Days

October 6 and 7, Saturday and Sunday
Crafts, food, and family fun. Blog Post about Skippack Days: Why Skippack is the Luckiest Town in the World. See what it’s like: Images from Skippack Days. Sponsored by Henning’s Market.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: In terms of attendance, this is probably Skippack’s biggest event. Don’t miss the section dedicated to craftwork, near the Southwest Trading Post.

Winetober Fest

October 13, Saturday
Second year of Skippack’s fall wine festival. Multiple covered venues throughout Skippack Village will host Pennsylvania Wineries along with food samples, live music and art exhibits. Admission is by ticket only.  Contact Tara from After 5 Gifts, 4038 Skippack Pike (In front of Skippack Pizza) at 610.584.1155 for more information.

Children’s Halloween Parade

October 20, Saturday
Parade begins at 10 a.m. at Hotel Fiesole and ends at Mal’s Diner with a treat and craft. Cuteness is guaranteed.

Classic beauty on exhibit at the Skippack International Car show.

International Car Show

October 21, Sunday
Rain Date: October 28, Sunday
Activities include: car corral, car rally, junior auto show, food and beer, cartoon character, face painting for the kids, vendors, prizes and much more. Read my blog post about last year’s International Car Show.

Playcrafters of Skippack: Zombie Prom by John Dempsey, Music by Dana P. Rowe

October 26, Friday (opening night); October 27, 28 and November 2, 3, 4
Halloween Musical about a girl named Toffee who wants to take her Zombie to the prom. More information. Also, check out my blog post from last year about Playcrafters of Skippack.

And when there are no scheduled events, hanging out in Skippack Village is always a great activity.

October Trash to Treasure Sale

October 27, Saturday
Rain Date: October 28, Sunday
Sell it in Skippack: Multi-vendor yard sale held in the heart of Skippack Village, 4059 Skippack Pike, across from Basta Pasta. Fee is $10 for a 10 by 10 spot for displaying and selling your items. Registration is day of show from 7 am  to 8:30 am. The event goes from 9 am to 3 pm. For more info, please call 610-584-6004.

First Friday in November

November 2
Fun begins at 5 pm and lasts until 9 pm. Shops stay open late and musicians, artists and family entertainers enliven sidewalks, porches, shops and restaurants throughout the village. Plenty of free parking, just come to town. Read my blog post about the origins of First Friday. Get an idea what it’s like: See pictures from a past First Friday.

Annual Holiday Tree Lighting

November 23, Friday
Lighting of the village tree. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. in the Floral and Hardy Parking Lot. The Tree Lighting is at 7 pm.

Note from the Skippack Blogger: How time flies. One season following another.

Skippack Blogger and Debby AKA Mrs. Skippack Blogger (at right) with friends at La Villa Mexican Grille in Skippack: Brad DeForest, Web Design and SEO, and Kate DeForest.

The Skippack Blogger is working hard, both at this blog you are reading and his day job. The Skippack Blogger’s wife is working hard too, at her job and at keeping me organized and out of trouble. So Sunday evening it was time for a break. My Web hosting, Design and SEO Go-To-Guy Brad DeForest and his wife Kate invited us out to dinner at La Villa Mexican Grille, which recently opened in Skippack and is becoming increasingly popular.

Our host was the restaurant’s owner and executive chef Rene Zepeda. My role as the Skippack Blogger gives me an excuse to observe life around me; I get a view behind the scenes. I sense how hard Rene works to make the dining experience at La Villa special and how much pride he takes in owning his own restaurant.

La Villa Mexican Grille Owner and Executive Chef Rene Zepeda: A warm welcome and a sophisticated meal, that perfect Skippack combo.

Rene put much effort into, and succeeded at, creating an environment that lends itself to relaxing, conversing and celebrating the moment at hand. The interior walls are bright orange, decorated with Mexican artwork, the tablecloths provide a contrasting white, and the overall effect is cheerful and pleasing.

Rene is a gourmet chief who won top honors in a cooking competition sponsored by Philadelphia Magazine. The menu is creative, and highlights the sophisticated side of Mexican fare, offering a fusion of the contemporary Mediterranean cuisine and savory Mexican flavors.

Brad and I work together on a lot of projects. It is time at last to clink wine glasses in a toast and talk of other things. Kate tells us a bit about their children’s experience at Perkiomen Valley High School, and then we move on to discuss church, synagogue, fishing, investing, eBay shopping, winter driving, Debby’s experiences learning to drive in New York, my travels in Japan and on and on. It is as if the conversation travels around the globe and then finds itself happy to be back in Skippack again, realizing how special the happiness is here that we have in our own backyard.

The Good Life: The Skippack Blogger and his Wife at La Villa Mexican Grille in Skippack.

I can’t let the evening go by without mentioning my beloved Skippack blog; let every man have his passion. Earlier in the afternoon, I was in a nearby supermarket and a woman I never met before walked up to me and said, “You’re the Skippack Blogger.” Wow. That is an experience that must be told to friends so that the memory, a few passing words in a supermarket aisle, will take on a more substantial significance and reality. I relish having an audience. If Debby, who witnessed the event, was not sitting beside me, I might have told Brad that the woman asked me for my autograph to see if I could get away with it.

Good company: Friends Brad and Kate DeForest at La Villa Mexican Grille in Skippack.

Too quickly the evening hour grows late; we are the only customers left, lingering over dessert and coffee. Time to go. Rene bids us a warm farewell and we promise to come back. I take a few more pictures for the blog, which provides an excuse to make the moment last a bit longer.

How many gifts are compressed into a single evening out in Skippack Village? Wine, great food, hospitality, a young restaurant owner making his dreams come true, the weekend respite from work, friendship, generosity, graciousness, laughter — all topped off by chocolate soufflé.

The Skippack Blogger can only say thanks to our host Rene and to my friends Kate and Brad, and to Debby for always being by my side. “Thanks”— a simple, common, ordinary word that must carry the weight of so much meaning. Then I awaken at 3 a.m., tiptoe down to the computer, and try to capture the moment in words and pictures, so it can be shared with you dear reader and so it is not lost forever.

Quick Facts

La Villa Mexican Grille
4101 Skippack Pike
PO Box 120
Skippack, PA 19474
(484) 991-8085
Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Delicacies and Delights from La Villa Mexican Grille in Skippack

The Appetizer: La Villa Salad, comprised of avocados, tomatoes, queso fresco, and bell peppers, in a vinaigrette dressing.

The Skippack Blogger's salmon dinner at La Villa Mexican Grille in Skippack, right before I devoured it.

My friend Brad who, when he is not indulging in gourmet Mexican food, helps market businesses online, from Skippack shops to Fortune 500 companies, had poblano, a boneless chicken in a house mole sauce with a side of rice and beans.

My friend Kate DeForest ordered chiles rellenos, comprised of poblano peppers stuffed with cheese and boneless short ribs served in a tomato coulis.

For dessert, a tres leches cake, a sponge cake in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream.

The irresistible finishing touch; a chocolate soufflé from La Villa Mexican Grille in Skippack.

The Skippack Blogger with Rene Zepeda, owner and executive chef at La Villa Mexican Grille in Skippack. Thanks Rene for your hospitality and the great food and especially for coming here to Skippack.

I wouldn't try this right after eating: A painting depicting a bullfighter which hangs at La Villa Mexican Grille in Skippack.

Web Links

La Villa Mexican Grille Website

La Villa Mexican Grille Facebook Page

Brad DeForest Web Design and Social Media Facebook Page

A Blog Post about Brad’s Work in Skippack