Hello Neighbor!
“Mommy, are you old or are you new?” “Are gloves the ones with separate rooms for fingers?” “I’m not biting her; I’m just being a wolf.”
My family calls them “Christmas Card Quotes” now, but back in 2010, these were samplings of lines my young daughters said throughout the year, ones I happened to write down. Because a friend had sent a clever, newsie poem in the shape of a tree, I decided to do the same with my version of Kids Say the Darndest Things, and a tradition was born.
Holiday cards can be just another item (and expense) for the checklist, but they’re my favorite things to give and receive this time of year. It’s part of the seasonal build-up: getting actual mail, studying pictures, marveling at how people have changed—and how organized the early-birds are. (I was at Valley Forge Park just yesterday, freezing my fingers off, trying to get a decent photo of my girls.) I especially love a personalized note, even if it’s a little smeared and scrawled on back of a glossy photocard.
Smithsonian gives us the History of the Christmas Card; and the Atlantic assures us that Millennials are Keeping Family Holiday Cards Alive.
My teenagers can be a bit snarkier now: “Mom, when you tell me to be in the moment, the more I get OUT of the moment.”
But, as long as they keep speaking to me, I’m gonna keep recording.
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| ENJOY,
Katie L.
P.S. - check out one of our family's Christmas Quote Cards from the past!
We are off next week and will return in December.
Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
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| CATCH THE SEASON'S SPIRIT
Holiday Toy Drive
November 29th - December 22nd
Eastern State Penitentiary
2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia
One in 28 American kids has a parent behind bars. In Pennsylvania alone, there are approximately 81,096 children with a parent incarcerated in a PA state prison. How can we come together as a community to support families experiencing incarceration during the holidays?
Eastern State Penitentiary partners with local organizations to collect gifts for children with incarcerated parents. From November 29 through December 22, any Eastern State visitor who donates a new toy or children's book, in its original packaging (but please no gift wrap), will be granted a second admission free of charge.
Details
Narberth Dickens Festival
Sunday, December 8th
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Downtown Narberth
In this Dickens-themed event, the town of Narberth is transformed into 1840's London, as Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and all the characters from A Christmas Carol roam the streets for an afternoon.
There is entertainment and activities for all ages, including horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday crafts, carolers, period vendors and food, dancers, musicians, ballet performances, puppet shows, magicians, puppeteers, ice sculptors, a free Dickens-themed scavenger hunt for children, and much more
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Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden – Home for the Holidays
Saturday, December 14th
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
1829 East County Line Road, Villanova
The gardens at Stoneleigh steal the show from spring to fall, but in wintertime the warmth of the Main House beckons. During this exclusive holiday “open house,” explore the spectacular Tudor Revival-style mansion that was the Haas family home for three generations.
Natural Lands’ staff and volunteers will be on hand to share the vibrant history of this grand, former estate. The halls will be decked with nature-inspired decorations… a festive setting for hot cocoa and cookies.
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Franklin Square Holiday Festival 2019
November 14th - December 31st
Franklin Square
6th and Race Streets, Philadelphia
It’s sparkle time at Franklin Square for the 2019 Franklin Square Holiday Festival, including a winter beer garden with fire pits for warmth and charm and Ben’s Sweets & Treats where guests can create and taste a variety of treats such as make-your-own s’mores, gourmet hot chocolate, and winter cocktails inside the heated tent with views of the Square. dazzle in the lights of the Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show presented by PECO.
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Enchanted Winter Day
Saturday, December 7th
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
515 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE
Holiday decorations will adorn Enchanted Woods, the Follies in the outdoor exhibition, and the greenhouses as you enjoy a magical winter walk through the woods or hop on the Garden Tram “sleigh ride,” complete with holiday music. There will be plenty to do in the warmth of the indoors as well, including making kids’ holiday crafts and learning adult holiday how-tos, and marveling at magician Magic Tad’s tricks!
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Garrett Hill Tree Lighting
Sunday, December 1st
5:30 PM
Clem Macrone Park
810 Conestoga Road, Bryn Mawr
Please bring an ornament to decorate the tree and your singing voice for carols. Please bring canned goods and winter jackets for Veterans collections. Hot chocolate after at All Seasons Produce and Flowers.
Details
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| SHOP OPS
CHOP Holiday Boutique
Thursday, December 5th
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Merion Cricket Club
325 Montgomery Avenue, Haverford
Browse luxury clothing, artisan jewelry and accessories, inspired home items, and so much more from exclusive vendors from around the world. Peruse holiday treasures created by our Women’s Committee members and available for purchase such as handmade wreaths, gingerbread houses and rum cakes. Lunch will be available in the Dining Room from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
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Magic of the Season Shopping Event
Saturday, November 23rd
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eagle Village Shops, Wayne
The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair welcomes the Magic of the Season with a shopping event, complete with local choirs, cooking demonstrations, children’s crafts, and a photo opportunity with a decorated antique carriage at Eagle Village Shops. Several merchants will also be offering in-store raffles.
Details
Christmas Village at Love Park
November 28th - December 24th
Love Park, Arch Street
Philadelphia
With a preview weekend on November 23rd and 24th, Christmas Village in Philadelphia will once again bring the charm of an authentic German Christmas market to Center City Philadelphia. It will be officially opened by the original Christkind from Nuremberg/ Germany on Sunday, December 1st. Christmas Village in Philadelphia is an outside Holiday market event in Center City Philadelphia, which is modeled after the traditional Christmas Markets in Germany. Vendors in more than 80 wooden booths will sell traditional European food, sweets and drinks. They will also offer a great shopping experience with international holiday gifts, ornaments, jewelry and high-quality arts and crafts.
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Havertown Open Studio Tour
Saturday, December 7th: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 8th: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
14 Area Locations
Experience the work of 32 local fine artists and artisans. HOST artists will be showing and selling their local artwork and fine crafts just in time for the Holiday season in this self-guided tour. Admission is free. There will be 14 locations with 32 artists all within Havertown. Parking will be available at each site. With the studios in close proximity, parts of the tour can even be walked. Maps will be provided at each of the Havertown locations. Give a unique gift that has a local story.
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| WINTER WORKOUTS
Jingle Bell Run
Saturday, December 14th
7:30 AM, registration opens
Marine Parade Park at The Navy Yard
4747 South Broad Street, Philadelphia
The Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run is the original festive race for charity. It’s where you can strut your stuff in your favorite holiday costume and FEEL GOOD about DOING GOOD. Together, we’ll jingle all the way to a cure – and have a fantastic time every step we take! Bring a team of friends, family and co-workers to run or walk. Get your jingle on and spread the Spirit of Yes: Yes to having fun and celebrating what you love. Yes to living life to the fullest. Yes to conquering arthritis for good. 100% of your registration fee and fundraising go to a great cause!
Details
Elves for the Shelves 5k & Fun Run
Saturday, December 7th
7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Radnor Memorial Library
114 West Wayne Ave., Wayne
A family-friendly 5K and Fun Run sponsored by Eagle Village Shops is a road race through beautiful Wayne!
The race takes place in conjunction with the WBA’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Santa Parade, has something fun for everyone, including a Fun Run with Santa, #elfies, and more. The 5k is professionally timed by Bryn Mawr Racing Co.
Details
Holiday Lights Ride with Narberth Cycling Club
Saturday, December 14th
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
101 Forrest Ave, Narberth
After a quick road safety review, the group will depart at 5:00. Following a 3-mile crowd-sourced route, riders will pedal past Narberth's most festive houses while jamming out to holiday tunes. After the ride, warm up at the Hot Chocolate Social at Great Expectations Together Café and chat with neighbors and friends.
Details
Rudolph Run
Saturday, December 14th
9:00 AM
4358 Main Street, Manayunk
Come for a fun 3-mile run along the Manayunk Canal. Holiday attire is encouraged – lights, reindeer antlers, red noses, sparkles, ugly Christmas sweaters, and whatever else you may have laying around. Manayunk.com will be handing out red noses and jingle bells to everyone feeling festive. To help spread some holiday cheer to those in need, we’ll be collecting canned goods and other necessities for North Light Community Center as donations/entry fee. Donation drop-off will be during runner check in at our shop on Main Street.
Details
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| FOOD AND DRINK
Pancakes with Santa
Saturday, December 7th
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Church of the Holy Apostles
1020 Remington Road, Wynnewood
After enjoying scrumptious pancakes, made by dedicated volunteers, kids can stop by the Crafts Table to make a unique memento while waiting for their turn to get their picture taken with Saint Nick. There will also be a Bake Table, where adults and children alike can indulge in the delicious items on offer. Everyone is welcome.
Details
JFCS - Eating Out: Healthy Style
Wednesday, December 4th
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Barbara and Harvey Brodsky Enrichment Center
345 Montgomery Ave., Bala Cynwyd
Do you enjoy eating out but are concerned about extra calories, hidden sugars, and fats? Join JFCS and Lankenau Medical Center for this chance to learn more about thoughtful eating practices and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This fun and informational session includes looking at menus from local popular restaurants and learning some simple tips to continue to enjoy eating out while still being healthy.
Presented by Maureen W. Krouse, MPH, Program Specialist – Community Health. Eating Out: Healthy Style is hosted by Circle of Wisdom.
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Coffee and Tea Festival
December 14th and 15th
10:00 AM
Greater Philadelphia Expo
100 Station Ave, Oaks
This international extravaganza celebrating all things coffee and tea will offer two days of seminars from well-known industry pros and pioneers, pairings, tastings and more! The exhibit hall will also feature some of the most delectable sweet and savory foods to compliment the spectacular collection of local and national coffees and teas.
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| LIBRARY LEARNING
How to Create a Home that Sparks Joy with Amanda Jefferson
Tuesday, December 10th
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Ludington Library, Large Meeting Room
5 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr
Come for a thought-provoking workshop on how to simplify and de-clutter your home and your life.
Amanda Jefferson is one of the world's first certified KonMari consultants. The KonMari Method is the revolutionary process of de-cluttering and organizing pioneered by Marie Kondo. Known internationally as an organizing guru, Kondo is the star of the hit Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
Details
Jane Austen Tea Party
Saturday, December 14th
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Belmont Hills Library
120 Mary Waters Ford Rd, Bala Cynwyd
Celebrate Ms. Austen’s 244th birthday with tea, sweets, a game of whist, and other parlor games. Adults and teens (16+) are invited to come in period dress or wear your “saving for a special event” outfit. A few readings by your favorite librarians will be presented throughout the afternoon. Please register so we know how much tea and crumpets to have on hand.
Details
Haverford Library Holiday Book Tree
1601 Darby Road, Havertown
Created entirely from books destined for the recycling bin, Haverford Township Free Library’s Holiday Book Tree is a wonderful new holiday tradition. We invite you to be a part of this Library fundraising project.
You can help decorate the tree by making a donation (minimum $10) to the Library in honor or recognition of an important person(s) in your life. The name or family name will be placed on the spine of a book. 100% of your donations will be used to support the Library’s mission and vision to provide the broadest possible range of resources, programs and services.
Details
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Discover Friends' Central - Wednesday, Dec. 4!
Get an inside look at the Friends' Central experience at our
December 4 Parent Information Session. Tours of our bucolic
23-acre Middle and Upper School campus begin at 8:30 am, and tours of our magical 18-acre Lower School campus begin at 9 am.
Register online here.
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We help make time to…
PLAY: 70+ Golf Courses and Games
LEARN: to play. Beginners Welcome!
PARTY: BYO Beer/Wine & Food!
Reserve times at PlayaRoundGolf.net
610-725-9155 (Malvern) &
610-228-2814 (Ardmore)
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Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus for the ultimate Holiday experience on the Main Line!
Kids Crafts, Carriage Rides
and MORE!
suburbansquare.com
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State-of-the-art pools, renovations, and complete backyard makeovers with inspired style and design features. Exclusive high-tech features that automate care, save time, money, water & energy, and purify with virtually no chlorine.
bluehaven.com
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Malvern Prep is an independent Augustinian school for young men in grades 6 through 12, defined by the Augustinian values of
Truth, Unity, and Love.
malvernprep.org
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Our mission is to create wholeness for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities through education, therapy, and a protective, socially and emotionally rich environment.
camphillschool.org
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Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs
610.265.9401
jkcp.com
Imagine@jkcp.com
Save 10% off Tuition with Early Registration Discount on all Day & Residential Summer Programs at Villanova University, must register before 12/31/19.
MainLine Neighbors get an additional $50 off with code "NEIGHBORS20".
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The Baldwin School develops bright, talented girls into confident, accomplished women with vision, global understanding and the determination to make enduring contributions to the world.
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Guided by Quaker principles since its founding in 1885, Friends School Haverford promotes academic scholarship, creativity, respect, integrity, and self-awareness with a commitment to creating a culture of stewardship and kindness.
friendshaverford.org
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Now Playing:
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
MARRIAGE STORY
THE IRISHMAN
JOJO RABBIT
PARASITE
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