Chester County PA and Beyond » Shopping

Day 137: East Goshen Farmer’s Market

John Lauber — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 01:49:52 +0000

Today we head back to one of our favorites, the farmer’s market. In particular, a new one on the scene, the East Goshen Farmer’s Market in West Chester. Held in East Goshen Park every Thursday from 3-7pm, this market has grown as a mixture of multiple markets we’ve visited, like the West Chester Grower’s Market and the Anselma Farmer’s Market. Located near the Veteran’s Pavilion section of East Goshen Park along Paoli Pike, there is plenty of parking here. They continue to add vendors, as well, and they have the space for many.

This could be one of the largest markets in the area. It certainly has a great mix of vendors from other markets, and even the Stadium Grille from West Chester is cooking dinners there. I hope this one sticks around for a while, as I’m sure to be there on Thursdays now.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Day 133: Wegman’s

Kim Wood — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:42:10 +0000

I know, is Wegman’s Grocery Store really a “Thing to do in Chester County” ? Well, yeah, I think so. If you haven’t visited yet – you should. Now, I’m not one who likes to shop my whole big shopping list at Wegman’s, I find it a little pricey for the staples in my kitchen. But for the special items or when I need meal ideas – it’s the place I like to go !

I had some other errands in the Downingtown Quarry Shopping center at Petsmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods, so when Girl7 needed lunch, we hopped over to the Wegman’s Cafe. My two older daughters love the cafe; I can’t say it’s my favorite but the choices are endless ! There are buffets with hot items like Vegetarian, Asian, and Indian; cold items like salads and fruits; pizza stand with chicken fingers and cheese sticks; sushi; coffee shop; soups; hoagies made to order; burrito station; and so much more. I couldn’t believe the changes since I’d been before. Talk about something for everyone’s particular taste!

The Wegman’s in Downingtown also offers a great health food section, tons of specialty cheeses & olives, ethnic foods, kosher foods, bulk candy, bakery with breads and pastries, beer, catering, and even special character events. The Easter Bunny is next to arrive !

Malvern has a Wegman’s too in Great Valley – they even have a Pub, but I can’t talk about that cause I haven’t visited there. If you have – please share in the comment section what you think.

Hmmm, the popular super grocery store has also been listed on the Fortune 100′s “Best Companies to Work For” quite a few times, so how about working for something to do in Chester County?

OK, maybe a stretch for a “thing to do” in Chester County – but it sure makes grocery shopping a lot more fun – and we all have to do that !

Just Mom’s in Glenmoore, PA A Yummy 365 Thing to Do Chester County has a...
Day 132: No Bull! It’s Bull Durham’s in West Chester For today’s 365 Things to Do in Chester County...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Day 119: WaWa (location everywhere)

John Lauber — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:52:28 +0000

If you live in Chester County, or you’ve passed through the surrounding area, there is one constant, with a funny name, that almost everyone will stop at during the day, Wawa. Started as a dairy farm in neighboring Delaware County, the first store opened in 1964 and they’ve since spread around the tri-state area and as far south as Virginia.

“The store with the funny name”, is often heard when speaking with people who have visited the area or moved away (and now miss them). With everything from coffee, gas, custom hoagies and ice cream, this is a go to store for many in the area when they need just an item or two. It’s a quintessential part of the Chester County (and surrounding area) culture and it’s just fun to say. Go ahead, “Wawa”.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Day 118 : Chester County Art Association in West Chester and Exton, PA

SandyShealy — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 23:36:44 +0000

How about taking an art class for $1? Chester County Art Association (CCAA) offers classes in drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, stone and clay sculpture, jewelry and printmaking. Classes are offered year round for adults and/or children. West Chester fall classes are just finishing up so keep watch on their website for the winter schedule or give them a call. Click here for Exton class schedule and studio hours. Consider the summer camp two-week sessions or mini-workshops for a week.

“The Chester County Art Association is a non-profit, cultural organization that promotes participation in the arts through quality instruction, exhibitions and community outreach. CCAA believes that art does make a difference and has enhanced the community by involving people of all ages and aspirations in the arts since 1931.” –CCAA Mission

Support local artists by giving a unique piece of art for that special holiday gift. The Exton Studio located in Exton Square Mall is open 7 days a week for your holiday shopping. The large studio and classroom is located on the first floor between Boscov’s and H & M.

Chester County Art Association is located at 100 North Bradford Ave in West Chester, PA. 610-696-5600

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Day 114: Olde Peddler Wools in Morgantown, PA

SandyShealy — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:23:51 +0000

Today we cross the county border to Morgantown, PA to find yarns, wool fabric and other fiber arts as well as the tools you may need. As a knitter, I was thrilled to find Olde Peddler Wools. I long to touch and feel yarns, so shopping online does not hack it unless I have the label with the color number. If anyone knows of a yarn shop in Chester County, PA, please let us know.

Downstairs are rows and rows of beautiful yarns of various fibers. There is a sitting area where you may see knitters gathered with their needles moving at full speed. On the second floor is the hand dyed beautiful wool fabrics for rug hooking and another area with felt and spinning. I was amazed to find rug hooking since I honestly thought it was a lost art. I grew up with hooked rugs. My Mom hooked our rugs using strips cut from old wool clothing in burlap. The art is quite sophisticated these days.

Classes are offered at various times. The staff is friendly and willing to help.

The store is located at 2827 Main St, Morgantown, PA.

Nurture your creative self…

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Day 107: Village Hardware in Downingtown

Kim Wood — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 14:19:52 +0000

Remember the ‘ole time stores where you were greeted by name and people were willing to help you find that out-of-the-normal item you were looking for ? Village Hardware is one of those businesses – that has rocked Gutheriesville for the last few years. They have that personal, small business feel that I love to support.

If you get lost and out of breath in those large super stores in Chester County – come by Village Hardware right on Rt. 322 in East Brandywine.

I told them I wanted to feature them on 365 Things to Do in Chester County and right away – the focus was turned on the community they serve – not them. “If you have a chance, can you mention a thank you to the community for donating stockings for the troops?” Village Hardware with East Brandywine played an active role in collecting donations to fill 470 stockings to send overseas.

Tell the Kilgarifs hello when you stop by ….. you can find Village Hardware of Gutheriesville at 1155 Horseshoe Pike; Downingtown, PA. Phone: 610-269-4200.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Day 90: Wineries in Chester County, PA

Kim Wood — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:20:30 +0000

How about a Winery Tour in Chester County?

Looking for something to do in Chester County? How about wine ! I was surprised once I started research for this article how many wineries are located in our area – check out the map below:

View Chester County Wineries in a larger map

As you can see, we have quite a few Vineyards and Tasting Rooms to choose from. If you are a wine lover – how about making your own tour for a weekend ? Of course you don’t have to be an experienced wine lover who can pick out each flavor …. according to PennsylvaniaWine.com, “It doesn’t matter if you’re a wine expert or a novice, a winery tour is about having fun and enjoying the experience. There are no pop quizzes and no one will fault you for not knowing how to pronounce “Chambourcin.’ “

Directory of Wineries in Chester County, PA

I wish I could say I toured all of the vineyards listed below before sharing with you – but alas, I haven’t…. so please check with each place before you visit – some are private and only are open to the public with an appointment.
Here is a list of the wineries in Chester County (you can also click through on the map and get information) :

Black Walnut Winery
3000 Lincoln Hwy
Sadsburyville, PA
610-857-5566

Blue Mountain Vineyards
351 W Schuylkill Rd #1000
Pottstown, PA
610-323-5969

Chaddsford Winery
632 Baltimore Pike
Chadds Ford, PA
610-388-6221

Olde Mill Race Wines
1439 Clover Mill Rd
Chester Springs, PA
1-888-655-9463

Flickerwood Wine Cellars
116 West State St
Kennett Square, PA
610-444-8341

Galer Estate/Folly Hill Vineyards
700 Folly Hill Rd
Kennett Square, PA

J Maki Winery
200 Grove Rd
Elverson, PA
610-286-7754

Kreutz Creek Vineyards
553 S Guernsey Rd
West Grove, PA
610-869-4412

Paradocx Vineyards
1833 Flint Hill Rd
Landenburg, PA
610-255-5684

Penns Woods Winery
124 Beaver Valley Rd
Chadds Ford, PA
610-872-5320

Stargazers Vineyard
1024 Wheatland Dr
Coatesville, PA
610-486-0422

Twin Brook Winery
5697 Strasburg Rd
Gap, PA
717-442-4912

Va La Vineyards
8820 Rt 41
Avondale, PA
610-268-2702

West Hanover Winery Inc
3416 Saint Peters Rd
Pottstown, PA
610-469-9540

Have fun ! Cheers…..

psst I took that picture at Chester County Day a couple of years ago – that’s happening this weekend !

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Day 89: Chester County Running Store in West Chester and Pottstown

SandyShealy — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:07:56 +0000

Attention runners and walkers, Chester County Running Store is the place for you! CCRS is more than a running store, they have a racing team, weekly training runs and co-owner Kevin Kelly shares an informative weekly email with local events and news.

For years, we have purchased our running shoes online. I stopped in Chester County Running Store to check it out a while back and was so impressed with the knowledge of the staff and the time they spent fitting my problem feet, I am now a loyal customer. And… the shoes they selected for me were much cheaper than the ones I’ve worn for so many years.

Stop in and check it out. Running apparel, shoes, books, magazines… it’s a great place!

Happy Trails,

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Day 84: Baldwin’s Book Barn in West Chester, PA

SandyShealy — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:56:03 +0000

Baldwin’s Book Barn is more than a bookstore. It is a distinctive, antiquarian bookstore with over 300,000 used and rare books, manuscripts, maps, paintings, prints, antiques and other collectibles. It is known far and wide. When I pulled in the parking lot, I was amazed to see license plates from Arizona, New Jersey, and Maryland! I walked in and heard a couple from out of state voicing their pleasure to finally visit the store and making plans to come back.

The Book Barn is a five-story bookstore in a dairy barn built in 1822 by Quakers Brinton and Sarah Darlington. William and Lilla Baldwin established their used book and collectible business nearby in 1934 and then moved to the diary barn in 1946.

This place is a book lover’s paradise but even if you are not in the market, wandering through the shelves and up the staircases is an experience in itself. All types of books at great prices. On the first floor there are children’s books both historical and modern at affordable prices.

We are indeed fortunate to have one of America’s distinctive bookstore right here in the heart of historical Brandywine Valley in Chester County, PA.

Address: 865 Lenape Road (Route 52), West Chester, PA Phone: 610.696.0816

Enjoy!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Day 79: PA Renaissance Faire in Manheim, PA

John Lauber — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:04:52 +0000

Today we travel outside of Chester County (but not far, about 45 minutes), to the PA Renaissance Faire in Manheim, PA. For 30 years, the Faire has been held on the Mount Hope Estate & Winery grounds. They have jousting, sword fights, knife throwing and many other terrific medieval sights to see. Many people attend in period dress, which makes it hard to tell who’s acting and who’s visiting sometimes.

That’s the fun of it for them (and there’s a discount if you do), but just because you’re wearing 21th century clothes, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun too. There’s turkey legs, great beer and wine for the adults, sword “fights with friends” and if you want to, you can pick up some period pieces yourself. Of course, the biggest show of the day is in the jousting arena which draws a very large crowd. There’s plenty of other entertainment, as well, throughout the day on various stages.

There’s so much more we could write about, but it’s better to experience it for yourself. So grab your friends and family, pick a weekend between August and October 31, and head to the PA Renaissance Faire.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.