Things That Matter To People Who Matter

The Noisettes | Baking from scratch | Biking in Gladwyne | Girard Avenue corridor

The Noisettes

Last April I attended Coachella primarily to see Brazilian Girls and was pleasantly surprised when on a whim (I liked their name and their set was starting shortly), I decided to go see The Noisettes, an indie rock band from the U.K. (who are playing Thursday, Sept. 13, at the North Star Bar). I was blown away by their performance, and I've been a fan ever since. Coming up with a description for the lead singer and bassist, Shingai Shoniwa, is difficult. I know nothing I write can do her justice. She is feminine and fierce. I want to raid her closet and be her best friend and listen to her sing all night long.

Baking from scratch

Things just aren't the way they used to be. What happened to the days of coming home to a house smelling of deliciously prepared baked goods? The fun in indulging in a sweet treat has become much less of an indulgence, and more of just eating something sweet. I love to prepare baked goods from scratch. I love everything about it. Cracking the eggs, measuring the ingredients, knowing that what will come out of the oven will be a delicious, homemade creation made with love. It's such a good feeling to finally eat it with my husband, Jamie, and to look at each other and smile, knowing that I made it from scratch and not from a mix.

Biking in Gladwyne

Tom McKean

As summer draws to a close, I'm trying to savor every last chance to take a long bike ride. One of my favorite places to get away from Philly traffic is Gladwyne. Bordered by the Schuylkill Expressway, Conshohocken State Road and Hollow Road, Gladwyne is a maze of shady, hilly roads dotted with beautiful old stone houses. Rose Glen Road is a particularly satisfying 1-mile-long hill that transports me in my imagination to the famous Cols and Alps ridden every July in the Tour de France. The best part of all that suffering? Getting to ride down!

Girard Avenue corridor

In the last week, two different people have asked my opinion of the Girard Avenue corridor. Well, it's not Society Hill, but we still get to see the horses and carriages come home to the stables. It's not Walnut Street, but we have great restaurants like Las Cazuelas and Tiffin. It's not Old City, but we have the Crane Building, Art Star and the Tower Gallery on Second Thursdays, not to mention art in nearly every business along Girard, particularly at my favorite, Quince Fine Foods. There are freshly planted trees up and down the avenue, and to really feel the flavor of the neighborhood you should see the newly painted mural on Second Street!