SAVVY MAINLINE

it's what you want to know

Wait ’til you see what just ‘Hatch’ed in Wayne; Saving Wynnewood, one mansion at a time; ‘Nova’s tiny Superfan; Paint the Town Red & more

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Pregnancy or new motherhood getting to you?

Join the club.

Literally.

Just open in Wayne: Hatch: A Sanctuary for Motherhood, an upscale, membership-based Mecca for expectant and new moms.

Because motherhood has its bumps – and they can’t all be covered in maternity tops.

Also because Dr. Spock and What to Expect When You’re Expecting are SO last century.

The Hatch method: an array of programs to help you “Grow, Glow and Know.” The goals: Get physically and mentally fit and get educated. Baby and hubby will thank you.

Read More See More

Undocumented on the Main Line; Louella heads east & lots of comings & goings around town

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

They live among us, hiding but in plain sight.
They mow our lawns, mind our kids, cook our food, clean our homes.
They are Mexicans, living and working on the Main Line.
Some, of course, work under the table.
Others receive paychecks, have payroll taxes withheld, and file yearly U.S. tax returns.
Just like us.
But in many ways, not like us at all.
Because they are here without papers and have little reason to believe they’ll ever get them.
One such family – living in a rented, single-family home on the western Main Line – asked us to share their story.
They wanted us to put a human face on the immigration crisis.
But, of course, we cannot.
At least, not literally.

Read More See More

ANEU Approach in Paoli; Haverford’s new Incline Running; Main Line at the Oscars; SAVVY swag; ‘Nova crosses; Paoli on track & more

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Wait ’til you see what Main Line culinary queen Meridith Coyle’s cooked up this time. The gal who brought us Meridith’s Market, Binnie & Flynn’s (Take 2), Fresh Ideas Market and Aneu Catering has come up with, yup, a fresher idea.

Call it “ANEU Approach” to eating, dining, and throwing parties. (She does.)

In expansion mode, she just bought a whole shopping center – near Del Chevrolet and the Van Cleve Pavilion in Paoli.

A scant three weeks later, she opened her re-tooled, three-pronged food biz.

Read More See More

Local beer boom; Stunning news @ aging skin; Academy Ball Ever After; Gucci crimes; Bridal tidings; Saluting newsman Tom Murray & more

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Suddenly, the Main Line is soaking in suds.

Sure, we have locally-owned brewpub faves like Ardmore’s Tired Hands, McKenzie Brewhouses in Berwyn and Malvern, newbie La Cabra Brewing and, slithering soon to Bryn Mawr, Tin Lizard.

And yes, we’ve got a few, but not nearly enough, cozy gastro-pubs like The Goat’s Beard and Teresa’s Next Door in Wayne.

And of course, restaurants far and nigh (Biga, Savona et. al.) have been beefing up their beer lists.

No, the BIG news in brews is this: a brand-new law permits PA peeps to take home beer by the bottle.

Holy Heineken!

Read More See More

Luxurious Life Time Athletic, DryBar coming to Ardmore; White Manor Country Club sold; local ‘FADD’ to fight ODs; a Broadway good-bye & more

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

The elite health & fitness company likes the Main Line so much, it’s putting not ONE, but TWO of its mega clubs here.

Our first Life Time – a scratch-built, 140,000 sq. ft. whopper with a “resort-like” outdoor pool and waterslides – will debut in June on Swedesford Rd. in Tredyffrin. (Life Time’s calling it King of Prussia, but the map says it’s Wayne, if only by a hair.)

And just announced: our second Life Time will be in Ardmore – an exclusive “diamond” level club (a notch above KOP’s “onyx premier”) in the former Macy’s building, one of two Grand Dames of Suburban Square. (The tall Times building is the other.)

Read More See More

More hazing fallout: Stoga accuser sues T/E Schools & football coaches; Bryn Mawr’s new Turning Point and Solidcore; Lost ladies of Lithe & more

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

The criminal case against Conestoga football players was settled last week, but the dispute is far from over.

SAVVY Main Line has learned that the alleged victim and his father have filed a federal civil lawsuit against the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, Conestoga High School, former head coach John Vogan and his five assistant coaches.

The 22-page lawsuit, obtained by us this week but filed Nov. 2, 2016, alleges that the plaintiff (aka the then-freshman football player) was subjected to a “hostile educational environment” where he suffered “sex-based harassment and sexual abuse” … “so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive” that it denied him the educational opportunity or benefit provided by the school.”

According to the suit, the plaintiff suffered “severe and permanent injuries” and his civil rights were violated. He and his father are asking for compensatory and punitive damages, court costs and attorneys’ fees.

Read More See More

Stoga hazing update: Father of accused player speaks out; Berwyn’s big facelift & assorted SAVVY shorts

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

The father of one of the three Conestoga football players charged in the broomstick sodomy scandal has broken his silence. He’s publicly calling on Chester County DA Tom Hogan to take action: either set a court date or drop the charges.

“Enough is enough,“ Dorian Ross tells SAVVY. “It’s been five months. We want closure.” His son heads off to college in a few weeks and deserves to have this “dark cloud” resolved, he says.

Claiming he needed more time, Hogan postponed a pretrial conference set for May 12 until further notice. But since then, Ross says neither he nor his attorney has heard boo from the DA.

Read More See More

KOP’s newest meat market – Fogo de Chao; Paoli’s first blowout bar; Saluting two lost too soon; Kendall’s Crusade & more

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Calling all carnivores! The southern Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao, is now open, the first in a wave of chain restaurants coming to the new King of Prussia Town Center near Wegmans.

Just don’t count on snagging a table this weekend.

Fogo’s GM tells SAVVY he’s already flooded with reservations.

We scoped out the place at Tuesday’s preview dinner; here’s what you need to know:

Read More See More

Murder in Berwyn; Another life lost to addiction; Radnor’s new Harvest Seasonal Grill & more

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

It’s not often that violent crime comes knocking on the Main Line’s door.

But last week’s brutal murder in Berwyn reminds us that evil can strike anywhere, anytime.

Police are investigating the homicide of a 62-year-old woman in Daylesford Estates, an upscale Toll Brothers’ development that sits between Routes 252 and Route 202 in Tredyffrin.

On June 17, a relative came to check on Denise McDonald Barger and found her beaten to death inside her home.

Read More See More

La Colombe is here! More hip spots to follow in suddenly chic Bryn Mawr; A lupus miracle & Dad’s Day ideas

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Coffee geeks are bouncing off the walls this week.
And not just from caffeine.
They’re jazzed because the Main Line’s first La Colombe Café has opened.
At last.

The place is a knockout – a hip makeover of the old Bryn Mawr Garage with soaring ceilings, skylights, original brick and handcrafted wood seating.
Industrial chic done right.

Read More See More