More Travels With Allen
Linda and I attended the Warminster Symphony Orchestra at the William Tennent High School. I taught many years ago in a variety of different schools in the U.S. and overseas. This school is drop-dead magnificent.
The entrance, the foyer, the lobby, the whole place, it’s incredible! And their auditorium is spectacular! What a joy. The audience is blessed with large seats, great views and wonderful acoustics. This large auditorium must seat about two thousand people. I have no idea who designed it or approved this high school, but the school district definitely got its money’s worth
The Orchestra was an even greater surprise. To be honest, Linda and I were there because they’re advertisers and we thought it was time for us to visit. Under the direction of Conductor Joseph Lovecchio, they performed masterfully. Truly a talented group of over one hundred musicians. I am no expert on music but I have attended many performances of the Philadelphia Orchestra as well as Carnegie Hall and once at La Scala. And while I am not going to compare the different orchestras, these guys and gals were really enjoyable. AND I loved their selection of works celebrating the American music icon, Leonard Bernstein.
Another plus is that the many people who we met there agreed it was a most enjoyable evening. There is lots of parking, tickets are affordable and you will be supporting a wonderful local jewel when you go. They have two more winter concerts coming up in December and January and I urge you to attend. P.S. Special hello to Dr. Richard LaPat and his wife Cookie. It was terrific seeing them again as they beamed with pride…. their daughter-in law and granddaughter are members of this wonderful Orchestra….
Every so often I come across something so strange I feel compelled to share it. To make a very long story short, Linda has a relative who we are quite friendly with. She and her husband have a beautiful home in Washingtons Crossing with a huge amount of ground. Behind their home they have a scenic and restful area with many trees.
They had hung a hammock between two trees and, over the years, had spent many relaxing hours there. Sad to say, one of trees died. The firm that was hired to take the tree down left enough of the stump standing so the hammock could remain in place.
Now the weird part. They no longer found the spot restful. They felt it looked ridiculous. So they searched and searched and finally found a firm that came to the home and carved an owl out of the remaining stump that supports the hammock. Now, they are happy and don’t give a hoot if you like their creation or not.
Need a haircut? Looking for a Barber or Hair Stylist? You guys can now go to Bash’s Barber Shop for a terrific cut and the ladies can get the latest in styling and coloring at the same place. It’s a one-stop grooming center for men and women. The new owners are local and homegrown, and looking forward to turning heads in Bucks County. Located on 2nd Street Pike in Richboro, next to the Sunoco, stop in for your holiday tune-up.
Back to my favorite subject, food. While waiting for a traffic light to turn green on Huntingdon Pike and Red Lion Road I noticed a restaurant, Lemon Grass, tucked into a small shopping center. (For those who remember, Café Preeya was the former resident of this space.)The name intrigued me so that I returned the next day with Linda for an early dinner. Thumbs up!
The menu was creative Vietnamese, the prices were right, the food was very enjoyable and the quiet atmosphere was perfect for “Old Al” and his hearing aids. And as is always the case, a pleasant staff can only add to the enjoyment. Lemon Grass is worth a visit.
There’s a new movie theater in the Marketplace Shopping Center in Huntingdon Valley on County Line Road. The new Penn Cinema is incredible. It is the third location for this privately-owned central Pennsylvania company. It encompasses some twenty-two thousand square feet, has seven screening rooms of various sizes and has the largest, most comfortable seats my little rear end has ever experienced.
The Penn Cinema has a restaurant (You can take your food into the various screening rooms) and will have a bar (pending approval) operated in conjunction with their neighbor in the center, Mermaid Spirits. Good food, good booze, good movies, sign me up.
As you approach this new entertainment mecca you will spot a large screen outside of the entrance that constantly shows coming attractions for their current crop of “flicks.” Inside you will find a series of wide open, well-lit spaces and pleasing colors. The aisles and hallways are all extra wide and the screening rooms have huge screens. Trust me, this is one “goodie” you don’t want to skip. And once you have visited Penn Cinema I am certain you will return again.
Back to food, again! We also have enjoyed several meals at a restaurant called White Elephant on Huntingdon Pike in Hollywood. The place is top notch and is always, deservedly, crowded. The food is excellent, portions are more than adequate and the menu is unique. Linda and I can’t recommend this spot more highly.
One final “pitch”… La Strada on Huntingdon Pike in Huntingdon Valley is all set with a Christmas Eve Family Dinner and a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner. Can’t believe we’re talking about Christmas and New Year’s Eve! Check out La Strada for some great Italian food in a quaint, convenient spot, The Valley Court Yard. La Strada can help you make your holidays both memorable and delicious.
