SAVVY MAINLINE

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‘Autograph’ to replace Wayne’s Peppercorn, Paoli’s soothing new Sanctuary, a Shark Tank success story & shortcuts around town

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

The lights are on again at the old Georges/Peppercorn in Eagle Village Shops – but only for the contractors. Main Line restaurateur Marty Grims is transforming the onetime French Country space into Autograph Brasserie, an all-new concept for the White Dog proprietor.

According to Marty’s marketing gal, we can expect “modern presentations of European classics” in a “modern American brasserie ” setting. Whatever that means.

When he bought Peppercorn last year, Marty was talking Italian. I’m guessing he switched gears when he heard about Marc Vetri’s twofer headed to Devon Yard. (And we ARE a tad overstuffed with pasta/pizza joints in these parts, don’t you think?)

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SAVVY shops! Nifty gifts with local ties: A Charmed Garden, Absolutely (easy) Lobster, Jeffrey Levinson bags, FOREVER photos

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Savvy, eh? Not about candles, apparently.

Until yesterday I had no idea that most scented candles are toxic. That the “petro-soot” given off by paraffin candles is as carcinogenic as diesel fumes or secondhand smoke. That the “natural fragrances” in most aromatherapy candles are synthetic and have no healing properties.

I saw the light after a chat with Berwyn gardener, Anglophile and home cook extraordinaire, Sandy Dalby, hands-on proprietor of A Charmed Garden, a line of organic candles, sprays, soaps and such.

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Taste of downtown Philly coming to “wave of the future” King of Prussia Town Center (near Wegmans)

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Bring it on! A hipper, more community-oriented cousin to our sprawling mall, the King of Prussia Town Center is finally beginning to take shape next to Wegmans.

When the construction dust settles next summer, get ready for a 21st-century dining, shopping and hangout hub unlike any the area has seen.

The idea is to bring a downtown experience – with lots of outdoor noshing, free entertainment and upscale retail – to the boring old burbs.

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SAVVY shorts: my big-screen debut at BMFI (?), a Suburban Square inspiration, Brave-ing Mojo Fitness & more

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Over the years I’ve bid on and “won” a fair share of charity auction prizes. Among the more memorable: a week on St. Martin, a finish-line box at the Preakness, and a cocktail party on a terrace overlooking Rittenhouse Square.

But nothing quite compares to the prize I won at WXPN’s spring fundraiser and claimed last weekend: a speaking part in a movie in New York City, all expenses paid.

(Little known fact about me: All things being equal, I’d rather be acting. I took acting lessons as a kid and have belted out show tunes for years – lustily, if not always tunefully. Another fun fact: Indiana Caroline is almost always game for adventure.)

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Haverford’s new brew, a thumbs up for Devon Yard, a fitness flameout, sexting in T/E & more

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

I’ve long contended that the eastern Main Line was ripe for new Coffee Shops Not Named Starbucks. So naturally, I’m pleased to report that after a string of “soft opening” days in low gear, .Green Engine Coffee Co. is going full throttle in Haverford.

The hip new coffee bar on Haverford Station Road should appeal to commuters, college students and coffee geeks alike.

I dropped by Green Engine this week and liked what I saw: sunny bay windows, a plush couch and fireplace, re-purposed church pews and a most unusual piece of hanging art – an 81 sq. ft. “living wall” of ferns.

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Dishing on Ardmore’s new Besito, a royal visitor in Malvern & designer duds at Waterloo in Devon

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Hola and Bienvenida to Besito! The long-awaited successor to Suburban’s Square’s Plate will make its public debut Monday night.

I checked it out with a few friends at a “pre-opening event” this week, and yes, Besito, “little kiss” in Spanish, is more than ready to plant one on the Main Line.

Like the new Xolo Tacos in Bryn Mawr, Besito aims for a refined, authentic Mexican experience and largely delivers. Thankfully, this not the kind of place that slops the inevitable rice and beans on a ho-hum Tex-Mex “combo” plate and calls itself traditional Mexican.

From aperitivos (starters) to postres (desserts), almost everything we sampled was delicioso.

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Cornerstone, Wayne’s new “interactive” BYOB/market, Greene Street & Fancy Camper debuts & tidbits around town

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Wayne’s new Cornerstone Cheese and Charcuterie may just have the corner on cool.

Apparently, there are places like this all over Europe, Northern California and hip downtowns across the country, but I can’t think of a spot quite like it on the Main Line. The concept – a gourmet shop/BYOB/chef’s table hybrid – taps into the tapas trend and then some.

A jewel-box of a spot at the corner of North Wayne and West Avenues, what Cornerstone lacks in square footage, it more than makes up for in ambition.

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A Pilgrim’s Progress (or lack thereof): my Papal (mis)adventures

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Let’s just say my pilgrimage to see Pope Francis in Philly last weekend began a whole lot better than it ended.

In truth, I probably wouldn’t have gone at all if I hadn’t won tickets in my church’s lottery. The spirit was willing but my 50-something flesh was weak (and skeeves porta-potties).

My initial plan – to watch Pope Francis on TV with my devoutly Catholic parents in the comfort of their shore home in Longport – sounded pretty darn appealing.

Still, something made me put my name in St. Norbert’s lottery.

And Someone allowed me to win. God wanted me there, I figured.

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SAVVY Shorts: Papal honor for Berwyn baker, Company C Main Line & the (Jay) Wright Stuff in Wayne

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Talk about your sweet assignments.

While the hordes (me among them – yes, I’m going) jostle for even a glimpse of the Pope on the Parkway this weekend, a Berwyn baker and her family will get up close and personal with the pontiff.

Sweet Jazmine’s chef/owner Kim Cuthbert, her 12-year-old son, Jordan, and her parents, Anna and Jerry Davis, have been tapped to bring up the offertory gifts when Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Basilica on Saturday.

For those not Catholic: The four, all parishioners at St. Isaac Jogues in Chesterbrook, will process up the center aisle carrying the bread, wine and other offerings and will hand them to the Holy Father.

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Celebrity Saturday: Bethenny in Ardmore! Manolo in K of Prussia! & other coming attractions

/ By Caroline O'Halloran / /

Good luck getting around Ardmore Saturday afternoon.

“Real Housewives” star Bethenny Frankel is coming to town to play bartender and – get this – more than 2,600 fans plan to show up, according to the event’s Facebook page. (Yeah, I know – Facebook RSVPs are notoriously unreliable, but still…)

Bethenny will be shaking up Skinnygirl cocktails and pouring samples at the Ardmore Fine Wine and Spirits store on Greenfield Ave. from 3 until 5. (Where everyone plans to park is beyond me.)

The Main Line, inexplicably, has been bonkers for Bethenny for years. Anyone else remember the crazy-long lines at Bryn Mawr’s Skirt when she did a book signing there back in 2009?  (And they weren’t even offering free booze that time.)

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