spring 2024 staying in west chester
our team
PUBLISHER
Dan Mathers dan@thewcpress.com
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
Nick Vecchio nick@thewcpress.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Cara Corridoni cara@thewcpress.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Kevin Assam @kevinassam
Mathers Productions 1271 Phoenixville Pk West Chester, PA 19380 mathersproductions.com
For a free subscription, visit thewcpress.com/subscribe
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Adam Jones @toloveanddancing
SOCIAL MEDIA
Valentina Aizpun valen@thewcpress.com
COLUMNISTS
Becca Boyd bboyd@thewcpress.com
Andrea Mason amason@thewcpress.com
Clare Quinn cquinn@ccls.org
The WC Press is a monthly magazine mailed to more than 3,000 homes throughout West Chester, and dropped off to about 100 locations in and around the borough.
inside this issue
9. LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Dan Mathers shares some personal insight into this month’s magazine
11. @TASTEWC
Tag our sister publication’s instagram account with your favorite food photos
13. STAY A WHILE
Hotel Indigo is the hottest reservation in West Chester, and we’re staying for a few days
25. HOME BECCANOMICS
Becca Boyd shares tips on life and cooking, plus a recipe to help with both
27. STORYBOOK ENDINGS
The newly renovated Bookhouse at Faunbrook is open for wedding season
35. ON THE SHELF
A list of picks for all ages from the staff at the West Chester Public Library
35. ACTS OF SERVICE
Safe Harbor is expanding their services and providing support for those in need
41. DESIGNS OF THE TIMES
Andrea Mason is a professional interior designer helping you upgrade your space
43. TWO DECADES IN THE SADDLE
West Chester Cycling Club celebrates 20 years of camaraderie and good works
47. PHOTO HUNT
Find the five differences between the two photos and email us your answers for a chance to win
a letter from the editor
It’s good to be back at the helm. There was always a solid chance it was just my ego speaking, but I felt like it had become noticeable to advertisers and readers alike that I had taken a step back from the magazine over the last few years. Well, to be fair, it was more like I took a step back every year for several years. By the end of 2024 I was pretty disconnected from the product I had created, and unfortunately I think it showed.
The WC Press has a special place in my heart. I was just 24 years old when I started working on this project in 2011, and it was my first effort in entrepreneurship. The fact it succeeded in the first place was mostly just good luck, but the fact it’s still around today is more a testament to the connection we’ve fostered with this community than anything else.
I’ve founded several new enterprises in the intervening years. In fact, my uncle recently referred to me as a “serial entrepreneur.” While his intention was to build me up, the phrase felt a bit more like a diagnosis than a compliment. It forced some self reflection that led to me paring down my various endeavors and focusing on the things that mattered most — things like this magazine.
So this year I set out to make some changes to reinvigorate the old rag. Some of those changes you’ll see in the pages themselves, some you’ll find in our masthead, but others may go unnoticed entirely... if we’re doing them right.
One of the biggest changes came when I offered the role of managing editor to Cara Corridoni, who many of you will know as the founder and publisher of Hello, West Chester. In our meeting she was very frank with me, saying she felt the magazine had grown stale. To her it might have seemed a risk, speaking so critically, but it was exactly what I needed to hear: someone else had noticed the magazine was sort of limping along, and it wasn’t just my ego telling me, “Nobody can do it like you, Dan!” Ok, so maybe there was still a bit of ego involved, but the point is that Cara was interested in teaming up to bring new life to the product, and while her influence in this magazine will likely grow in time, her input and approach are already revamping our vibe.
It’s my hope that The WC Press will continue to thrive for years to come, and that the changes we’re implementing this year will feel fresh while remaining consistent with the product we’ve published for going on 14 years. I hope you enjoy reading it, and please feel free to reach out to let me know what you think: dan@thewcpress.com
Dan Mathers, publisher
Like and follow us on social media, then tag us in your posts for a chance get your work published here. Our favorite image each month () will earn its photographer a gift card to @saloon151. @3.girls.1.plate
@ler.eats
Early Spring
Town comes alive as the weather warms, and we’re featuring the can’t-miss events & entertainment.
Ad Deadline is 3/7
Late Spring
We’re all excited for spring greens and exciting lighter fare that’s hitting tables around town this season.
Ad Deadline is 4/11
Summer
Summers in WC are full of excitement, from festivals to fairs there are always better options than the beach.
Ad Deadline is 5/9
Early Autumn
Crisp air comes to town, and we start craving soups, hearty meals, and rich, dark drinks. We profile the best.
Ad Deadline is 8/22
Mid Fall
The weather starts cooling, but the borough’s entertainment is heating up, with parades and plenty to do.
Ad Deadline is 9/19
5,000
Holidays
We’ve got Christmas cocktails and cakes plusf hearty meals to pack on the pounds for the chilly winter ahead.
Ad Deadline is 10/24
6
3,500+
Stay A While
Hotel Indigo is the hottest reservation in town
story Dan Mathers | photos Adam Jones
Hotel Indigo has a serious problem: it’s too cool. The hotel, which just opened at the start of the year, is undoubtedly the talk of the town; the restaurant that occupies most of its first floor, West Chester Seafood Kitchen, is the hottest reservation around; and simply getting into their “secret” speakeasy in the basement, Room 109, often requires an hour-plus wait, which means securing a cocktail in this tiny club now comes with bragging rights.
Hotel Indigo is the long-standing vision of a man who could arguably be called the architect of modern West Chester, Stan Zukin, and it’s a testament to the way he shepherded growth in our community. He always fostered businesses and enterprises focused on bettering the town, while always making sure those improvements maintained our character. “The Zukin family is so excited to see the hotel become a reality,” says Stan’s son Scott, who now runs the family business. “My father’s legacy teaches all of us that dreams can become a reality with hard work, persistence — lots of persistence — discipline and a positive attitude. We just wish he were here to see it.”
And just why is the hotel so popular? Because Hotel Indigo has succeeded in bringing big-city sophistication to West Chester, while maintaining the heart of what makes this town unique, just as Stan would have wanted it. Stepping into the lobby feels like walking through the doors of a boutique hotel in New York City, while simultaneously keeping your feet fully grounded in our borough. And none of that is an accident.
Let me explain...
STAY
I had grown pretty accustomed to the West Chester skyline driving into the borough along East Gay, because for decades of my life it remained unchanged, so it is going to take me ages to get used to the way Hotel Indigo rears up at Walnut and Gay. A chunk of what used to be sky is now a six-story building, standing tall where — for most of my life — there was an empty former pharmacy and a half-empty parking lot.
But if you didn’t grow up here, if you didn’t once rip the sideview mirror off your car on an unpainted bollard in that parking
Stepping into Hotel Indigo’s lobby feels a bit like leaving the borough behind, until you notice the details.
lot, you’d have no idea this building hasn’t stood at this corner since last century. That’s because great pains were taken during construction to preserve the facade of the historic Spence Building along Gay Street, and the rest of the hotel is built of the same iconic red bricks lining the more scenic sidewalks of the borough. It’s a seamless fit into the landscape of our downtown.
The single sliding door along North Walnut is unassuming; it’s just any other entry along what is still a rather underwhelming block of the borough, but that unassuming entry is less a door and more a portal. That’s not hyperbole. On the one side of the glass you’re in the West Chester of my childhood: a quiet suburb of Philadelphia where there is not much going on. This block of the borough is still pretty underwhelming — it’s the backside of the post office, a corner of the parking garage and a small office building. But on the other side of the glass, you get a glimpse of West Chester a decade from now,
THE DEVIL is in the details
Small touches and large accents throughout the hotel pay homage to the history of our town.
Here’s some you may notice...
IN PUBLIC AREAS
Clock replica on the lobby floor as a nod to the borough’s 18th century clockmaking industry
Poem behind the front desk to honor the poetry conference held annually in West Chester
Thomas U. Walter portrait by elevator for the architect who designed the West Chester Court House and also the US Capitol
Authentic Books — every old book in the entire hotel and restaurant is from Baldwins Book Barn
The Eagle Hotel sign commemorating Indigo’s predecessor that sat on the exact same site from 1803–1900
Corridor carpet in elevator lobby to represent brick sidewalks
Anna Jarvis portrait for the inventor of Mothers Day who died in a West Chester sanitarium
William Darlington portrait of the physician, congressman, president of the Bank of Chester County who was also a botanist of reknown
IN HOTEL ROOMS
Frederick Douglas Portrait because he gave his final speech in West Chester
Railroad artwork as a nod to the early pioneers of railroad, the West Chester Railroad Company
Ram knocker on armoire to represent West Chester University
a West Chester that’s less a sleepy suburb and more a hub in its own right, a place that lures visitors from farther afield than East Goshen.
The hotel lobby immediately opens up before you, with ceilings a story and a half high, and comfortable seating areas tucked in either side of the main entry. It’s fancy, but approachable, and the high-end vibe is amplified by the staff manning the front desk. I’ve stayed in several of the other accommodations that pop up in your search results when Googling “hotel in West Chester” and the experience at Hotel Indigo — being greeted the moment you enter — is a far cry from my usual experience elsewhere: standing in an empty lobby, ringing the bell and hoping someone is available to get me a room key. Despite showing up late at night, Clarifer was awaiting my arrival with a smile.
...the shower is lined by large rectangular blue tiles.. that evoke a bookshelf... the vanity [has] enough space to carelessly spill your toiletry bag across its surface...
That kind of service is the standard here. In a chat with Mike Moskowitz, general manager at the hotel, he explained that they’re just following best practices that he would expect to see in any service environment. “The 10-5 rule should always be applied in hospitality,” he said. “Within 10 feet, make eye contact and smile; within five feet engage in conver-
sation with a warm greeting.” It seems like simple advice, but it’s all too rarely applied, so the conversation I had about the hotel amenities while checking in was a pleasant surprise.
If you’ve ever stayed at a nice Kimpton, you can likely conjure up a vision of the vibes in the room. It’s immediately obvious that design was paramount when building, and each room is outfitted with a series of little details that elevate your stay.
First up, the standard by which I judge every hotel room: the shower. If you’ve ever been unlucky enough to have a hotel with a bad shower, you know how much it can make or break your stay, even more so, I’d argue, than the mattress. Hotel Indigo invested heavily here. The shower is lined by large rectangular blue tiles alternating between horizontal and vertical rows that evoke a bookshelf, and it’s tucked behind a sliding glass door that feels sturdy and moves easily, plus a shower head with actual pressure that puts out water hot enough to steam the whole bathroom in minutes.
Each room is also appointed with a unique wardrobe equipped with a coffee station and space for a week or two’s worth of clothes, plus a desk large enough to double as work
Every hotel bed should have independent lamps, built in outlets, and the option for soft lighting.
space and designated dumping grounds for all the stuff I take out of my luggage, use once, and won’t put away again until I’m repacking to leave.
I know I’m not alone in having a bedtime routine that’s borderline religious. I follow each step as I slowly settle into a drowsy stupor. The two most central parts of my routine are that I need to have my phone plugged in within reach, and I need to have a dim, soft light I can read by but which I can easily shut off without moving from my designated side-sleeping position. If I don’t have those two things, I’m guaranteed to be anxious and awake, creating this self-fulfilling prophecy for myself where I’m afraid I won’t get good sleep, so I don’t get good sleep.
But I slept like a baby at Hotel Indigo, all thanks to an absolutely brilliant bed design.
The headboard runs to several feet beyond either side of the king bed and has nightstands on either end. Both sides are equipped with built-in outlets and USB ports
plus independent lamps that are easily controlled by an easy-to-find switch at the base of the lamp. But best of all? There’s an LED strip running the length of that headboard, tucked neatly behind, that emits a soft yellow light that can ease you into sleep, and the switch is right beside your head as you’re resting on the pillow, no which side you choose.
I could go on about all these little details, but suffice it to say this just felt like a hotel room designed by someone who had stayed in a lot of hotel rooms and found solutions to everything that had aggravated them: the simple coffee machine that still produces a decent brew; the integrated outlets on the desk; the marble countertop of the bathroom vanity with enough space to carelessly spill your toiletry bag across its surface and leave room to spare. It all adds up to an accommodation where you’re comfortable, and that’s something new to town.
Yet, the room is still very much West Chester. On the walls there’s a picture and quote from Frederick Douglas, the abolitionist who gave his final speech here in town. On each of the wardrobes the handle is a ram’s head door knocker... it’s golden. In the morning, as I headed downstairs for coffee from the hotel’s cafe, I read a long quote
from William Darlington that was affixed to the wall of the fifth-floor elevator lobby. The name Darlington should certainly ring a bell for our readers.
The tie to our community was very much intentional. “Our goal was always to create something that stayed true to the character of the town,” says Jonathan Silver, one of the owners of the hotel and vice president of Onix Group, which owns and operates nine hotels in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida. “We interviewed a number of hotel franchises and one of the main reasons we went with Hotel Indigo was we loved the fact that it’s ‘The World’s Neighborhood Hotel.’ It was important to bring an elevated feel, while still being deeply rooted in everything that makes West Chester unique and special.” They’ve certainly succeeded on that front.
SAVOR
According to Silver, the hotel was always going to have a restaurant; it was one of the brand requirements of Hotel Indigo. To him, the choice of who would run it was obvious. “We knew immediately we needed to bring in Eric Sugrue. Eric is the owner and managing partner of Big Fish Restaurant Group,” he said. The restaurant group came up with the concept for what is now known as West Chester Seafood Kitchen, and since it opened in the beginning of February, it’s been consistently packed, no matter the day.
My first night staying at the hotel was a Wednesday, and I assumed that on a weeknight I’d be able to saunter up and get a seat no problem. Boy was I wrong. Not only were no tables currently available, but the hostess politely informed me that they were no longer taking any reservations for the rest of the night... it was 6:15pm. So, first piece of advice: plan ahead.
I was better prepared the following day and snagged a reservation for myself and a friend for right when they opened at 4pm. We planned to meet in the hotel, since you can reach the restaurant by ascending a half flight of stairs from the lobby, in addition to its main access off Gay Street. As I awaited my friend, I watched people “sneak in” through the hotel up into the restaurant in an effort to secure a seat at the bar before they even opened. Kudos to the bartenders for the polite way in which they handled these over-eager guests, because it was probably
The mussels are ostensibly an appetizer portion, and — like everything from the menu design to the furniture and decor — they’re perfectly executed.
the nicest I’ve ever seen someone treated when seating themselves, period, let alone before the manager has even unlocked the front door.
I want to be clear that I am not encouraging this behaviour. You absolutely should not do it, and I promise you the serving staff
hate it if you do (even if they’re too polite and well-trained to show it). I’m merely using this anecdote to illustrate that the place is so highly hyped on the word of mouth wagon that it’s got grown adults acting like over-excited teens.
And it turns out, the hype is right.
I have lived in several seaside towns with a solid food scene, places like Cape May, Key West and Charleston, SC. The meal I had at West Chester Seafood Kitchen rivals any I’ve had in those coastal communities, and it came at a fraction of the price.
Thomas U. Walter’s portrait hangs in the first floor elevator lobby
The Bouchot Mussels Diavolo I started with from the apps menu were absolutely an entree-sized portion. The large plate came piled with perfectly steamed mussels, drenched in a slightly spicy red sauce full of crushed tomato pieces, alongside fresno peppers and shallots. I used the toasted focaccia to shovel sauce into my face between mouthfuls of mollusk.
Not expecting the mussels to be so massive, I had also ordered a second app, one I expected my dining partner and I to peck at as the meal went on. Instead, we devoured it entirely within minutes of it hitting our table. It was a dish delicious in its own right, but it also evoked a Ratatouille moment, as my first bite sent me down memory lane.
I was indoctrinated into Eagles fandom through snacks. On game days, Dad pulled out the dips, the chips, the pretzels and the sauces, and I could have as much as I wanted. Long before I could comprehend the difference between offsides and a false start, I knew I loved French onion dip. So, since early childhood the snack has been a favorite, and it’s one I make at home most every Sunday from September through February. But the
Everything about the poorly kept secret in the basement is meant to evoke the feeling of an upsacle Roaring Twenties speakeasy
mush I make at home is just a pale imitation of the House Cut Fresh Potato Chips & Dip. The chips themselves were still warm, and of the perfect thickness, leading to a satisfying crunch without being dense or overly hard, but the dip... oh my, the dip. It was essentially a full cup of beautiful caramelized Vidalia onions, lightly coated with just enough seasoning and what I assume is sour cream to adhere the thin slices of onion into little lumps as you scoop. My usual pint of Daisy and packet of soup mix will no longer suffice.
The extensive menu here is built around regional standards. “We felt the community needed an approachable East Coast seafood eatery with recognizable items that are simply prepared with the freshest ingredients available,” says Jason Asher, general manager of West Chester Seafood Kitchen.
Those “freshest ingredients available” shine on the daily specials insert, which features the chef’s takes on fresh catches and
a rotating list of fishes. Because that insert changes based on availability, you probably won’t be able to order the same dish I had, the barramundi, but let me describe it in detail anyway just to highlight the level of execution. The fish was served skin-on, and that skin was crispy while the meat was tender and juicy. The warm filet was served over a bed of chilled couscous and heirloom cherry tomatoes, making each bite a symphony of textures and flavors: salty and sweet, warm and cold, savory yet light.
West Chester was ripe for the concept, and folks spoiled by summers at the shore were clambering for high-quality, approachable dishes at home. “We felt with our long standing success with seafood restaurants, the community in West Chester was the perfect fit,” says Asher. They were right.
SIP
Arguably the only seat in town tougher to secure than a table upstairs is a stool in the basement at Hotel Indigo’s speakeasy, Room 109. The bar is a poorly kept secret, and it would’ve been raided by Elliott Ness a dozen
times in the two weeks it had been operating by the time of my visit — it was the talk of the town.
On Thursday night I used the hotel gym, also located in the basement, and I entered the facility at 4:30pm, 30 minutes before the bar opened. Yet I was already joined in the elevator on my way down by a cutely dressed couple planning to line up and await entry to the speakeasy everyone was talking about. By the time I’d finished shoulder day an hour later, the bar was at capacity and there was a line of other cutely dressed couples 20-deep, chatting and leaning up against the walls, biding their time until the doorman allowed entry.
The bar itself is dimly lit and feels straight out of the 1920s. The furniture speaks of opulence, with ornate arm rests and leather upholstery. There are wingback chairs, and dark wooden tables with brass accents on much of the Art Deco-inspired furniture. The walls are all of exposed brick, plus an extensive built-in book shelf, lined with leather-bound volumes and Gilded Age ornamentation. The wall to the right of the bar shows an “exposed” plaster section, with a painted sign for the Eagle Hotel which stood in West Chester for most of the 19th century. So while the environment might make you
The Eagle Hotel occupied this space for nearly 100 years; it’s not hard to imagine you’re at the end of that era.
imagine you’re in an exclusive NYC locale, the design is made to ensure you remember you’re firmly in the borough. The only other space in town with this type of vibe is a members-only club with a price tag that puts entry beyond the budget for many residents, so it’s no wonder Room 109 is packed to capacity every night.
The cocktail menu is currently limited, and the liquor list is small but well-curated. I ordered their take on an old fashioned — expecting to settle in and relax — while my partner in crime ordered the espresso martini. Clearly he was expecting our night to escalate quickly from here, but he was wrong, since that would’ve interfered with my bedtime routine. We snagged a deep green, velour sofa seat in the corner where we could quietly chat as we sipped.
If you’re tired of having to shout to be heard at happy hour, if you’re of an age where you’d rather communicate than consume, or if you’re just looking for a place to relax after a long day of work or travel before heading up to your room, I don’t know if I can think
of a better venue than the basement of Hotel Indigo... assuming you can get in. Now, if you want to make sure you’re able to snag a spot, there is a workaround: book a room at the hotel and make sure to select the speakeasy package. The hotel will automatically hold a place for you, giving you VIP treatment and easy access to the most coveted reservation in town. I highly suggest going for the full experience.
When I checked out Saturday morning, I was already planning my return visit to Hotel Indigo. As someone who grew up in West Chester, and who will always think of the area as home — even if life has momentarily taken me elsewhere — Hotel Indigo is going to be my new base of operations each time I return to the borough. The rooms are comfortable, well-appointed and sizable. There’s a passable gym, a first-floor cafe with quick breakfasts or pastries and well-executed coffees. The restaurant is one of the best this borough has ever experienced, and the basement bar is already one of the coolest in town. You could happily spend two or three days in the building without ever leaving the premises, and there is an easy argument to be made for booking a stay at the hotel even if you live in West Chester: it’s like a big-city getaway without ever having to leave home.
home beccanomics
Becca Boyd shares tips on life and cooking from her blog at homebeccanomics.com
There are countless reasons to make these cookies, but I’ll share just three: First, a grab-and-go breakfast/snack full of healthy fats, decent on protein and low in sugar is exactly what I want to be feeding my busy kids as they bop in and out of activities this spring. Secondly, these get mixed in one bowl and create zero crumbs, so they’re portable and a cinch to make. Thirdly, since they’re dairy-, gluten-, and sugar-free they work on most diets. (The fact that they’re delicious goes without saying and doesn’t count as one of my three.)
If you haven’t tried baking with a sugar alternative yet, I’ve been surprised to find that in the right recipe, I don’t notice the difference. Though these taste very much like a treat, they won’t spike your blood sugar and/or hang you out to dry by midmorning. They’re made on rotation in my home, and I hope they become a favorite in yours.
Breakfast Cookies
• Makes about 20 cookies
• 6 overripe bananas, peeled and mashed
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 c. Whole Earth Sugar alternative, or brown sugar
• 1 c. Peanut butter
• 1 tbsp. Vanilla extract
• 4 1/2 c. Almond flour
• 1/4 c. Ground flaxseed
• 1 tbsp. Cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp. Baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
• 1 c. Roughly chopped walnuts
• 1 1/2 c. Bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In large mixing bowl, whisk banana, eggs, sugar, peanut butter and vanilla together until smoothly combined.
4. Add almond flour, flax, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt and still until evenly combined.
5. Add nuts and chocolate and stir until combined.
6. Scoop into 1/4 c. mounds onto baking sheet, spacing two inches apart. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown and set. Sprinkle with a bit of sea salt if you like.
7. Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely, and store refrigerated or freezon.
Storybook Endings
The Bookhouse at Faunbrook Welcomes Guests to a New Age of Weddings story by Cara
Corridoni
As the clock ticks toward full darkness on July 4, 1867, the residents of West Chester in their Sunday finest have turned their attention to the charming Italianate-style mansion at the far end of Rosedale Avenue. Located in East Bradford, just beyond the Borough of West Chester’s border, is the home of U.S. Congressman Smedley Darlington and his family. With its fountains, and pond, and manmade waterfall, the home serves as the showcase for the town’s yearly Fourth of July fireworks celebration.
Now, nearly 160 years later, the home on the hill, known today as the Bookhouse at Faunbrook, is ready to celebrate again.
Last year, Stephanie Olenik and her husband Matt, owners of the boutique Bookhouse Hotel in Kennett Square, purchased the Rosedale property at a sheriff’s auction. The seven-bedroom Victorian had fallen
onto hard times after the previous owner, Lori Zytkowicz died of cancer. Lori loved that house, was a friend of this magazine, and will be sorely missed. Sadly, her unexpected illness left the property unattended for a significant period, and it fell into disrepair.
“It’s nice to see new life breathed into it by Stephanie,” said Olivia Matos, co-owner and lead event planner for Catalina Weddings and Events. Catalina Weddings has partnered with the Bookhouse to offer wedding planning services up to 12 weeks before the big event.
Brides-to-be Leah Boyle and Emily McCausland were also eager to see what Stephanie and Matt would do. “We followed along every step of the way with the renovations on social media,” said Leah. “It was so special watching our wedding venue come to life.”
Setting The Scene
On May 30, 2026, four years after they met at a campus bar — “The very romantic and intimate Chickie’s and Pete’s in Glassboro, New Jersey,” said Leah — she and Emily are getting married.
While their meeting may have been routine, the couple has more than made up for it with a fairytale proposal and storybook wedding in the works. “Our story with the Bookhouse starts in 2023,” said Leah. “Emily found a video of the Bookhouse [Hotel] in Kennett Square on social media and decided to work it into her proposal plan. I was over the moon about staying in a hotel surrounded by books with my favorite person.”
When Emily proposed in Longwood Gardens, the Bookhouse became more than a weekend getaway, it became part of their fairytale. “When Stephanie announced she
was opening the [Bookhouse at] Faunbrook, we were sold! We are envisioning a spring weekend with our favorite people. Emily and I love nothing more than a crowded table with friends,” she said.
Room by room, Stephanie and Matt have worked their magic. They refreshed each floor and added their signature Bookhouse style, taking care to consider each detail. Now complete, the beloved mansion once again begs to be occupied. “We wanted to create a space that was more intimate for more memories,” said Stephanie.
The home can accommodate up to 16 overnight guests, and all are welcome during a Wedding Weekend. “Waking up with your wedding party is a lot of fun,” said Stephanie.
There’s one room in pink and green dedicated to the Great Gatsby’s Daisy Buchanan, another to the romantic works of Jane Austen,
We wanted to create a space that was more intimate for more memories
and another in a regal lilac to Frances Hodgson Burnett’s Secret Garden. All are well-appointed with velvet curtains, plush bedding, and a wide selection of reading materials.
Everywhere little details linger to flirt with the guests, like in the hallway where a brass rabbit extends a basket of mints, where a hand reaches out from a bookshelf for a shake and — if pulled hard enough — reveals a hidden room equipped with an (operational) oldschool photobooth and record player.
“People come in and their jaws just drop,” said Meg Matos, hotel manager and co-owner of Catalina Weddings.
Making Memories
“Your dream wedding weekend starts here,” reads the headline of the Bookhouse at Faunbrook wedding weekend brochure, and that is the difference Stephanie, Olivia, and Meg hope couples will embrace.
Instead of one big day, Faunbrook promises a weekend of togetherness. It is three days — Friday through Sunday — where couples can forget all the details, and the schedules, and how all of it will look on social media and instead enjoy morning, noon, and night surrounded by their nearest and dearest.
Imagine a welcome party, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception all in one place. “Kind of like a big house party is what we are selling,” said Stephanie... although the best, most elegant house party you’ve ever attended.
With seven rooms to work with, the couple can invite their favorite people to stay with
them throughout the weekend. Upstairs, there’s a vanity with seats and mirrors and enough room for the bridal party to get ready. When the time comes, the bride just needs to descend that graceful staircase as if she owns it, and for the moment, she does.
“We will be staying on the property from Friday night to Sunday morning,” said Leah. “All of our wonderful bridesmaids will be staying on-site with us. We love that each room has its own coffee bar and private bathroom, so everyone has their own space when needed.”
There is no need to coordinate transportation to and from locations. For guests that won’t be staying, there is valet parking.
The ceremony can be arranged on the brick patio just outside the parlor, where a violinist can stand ready to play the bride down the pathway. On nice nights, the doors are thrown open, and bars are set up inside and outside so guests can sip and mingle through the lush grounds while snacking on passed hors d’oeuvers.
When the clear tent is pitched on the newly laid stone patio, the house can provide dinner service for up to 100 people. Elegant options like herb-roasted chicken, Cape May scallops, or grilled filet mignon are available through house caterer John Serock Catering.
After dinner, the furniture is pulled from the parlor, the rugs are rolled up, and the band begins to play. In a throwback to another era, guests can dance as the sun sets over the hill. Due to East Bradford township ordinances, all amplified music will need to wrap by 9 p.m. and non-staying guests will have to gather their belongings and head to the exits by 10 p.m. Guests with rooms are welcome to stay, lounging on the returned furniture, recanting the magic they have just witnessed, and knowing in the morning they will be greeted with fresh coffee and pastries.
“We want everyone who steps through the door to say, ‘That’s the best wedding ever,”’ said Meg.
Bringing it Home
Over the last 15 years or so, weddings have become something of a competition, an unintentional game of one-upmanship fueled by unattainable Instagram expectations and a post-COVID-era desire to flee the country. When ceremonies in a French vineyard or an Italian villa become the norm, you know a wedding correction is looming.
We wanted to have a big fancy house party, and this was the perfect fit. I know it’s cliché to say everything is perfect, but we really mean it.
“Whether the setting is their private residence or a smattering of venues steeped with meaning, creating a wedding narrative around a place with significance tracing back to childhood provides inspiration and immediate storytelling,” reports Vogue Magazine in a 2025 Wedding trends article.
It is a shift that doesn’t surprise Stephanie. After watching so many couples chase details that can upend the budget and get lost on the day, it was a feeling she had dialed into for her Wedding Weekends. “It’s about the moments, not the flowers on the table,” she said. (Although I am sure those are lovely too.)
Instead, she said, it’s about your support system and forgetting everything so you can
enjoy your day. “Basically, we are putting a bubble around [the couples],” she said. “They are going to show up, and their fun weekend with family and friends is just going to start.”
To ensure that happens, every wedding booked at Faunbrook comes with a wedding coordination package that includes venue walkthrough, layout planning, timeline expertise, and vendor management. “On the day of the wedding, no one but the guests should be talking to the bride and groom,” said Olivia.
Whether it’s your backyard or someone else’s, the idea is that the location is a place with meaning, a place you can return to in the future. If it has a love story built in, all the better.
“We wanted to lean away from big prom mansions, and the Bookhouse at Faunbrook has such charm. We wanted to have a big fancy house party, and this was the perfect fit. I know it’s cliché to say everything is perfect, but we really mean it,” said Leah.
Actually, maybe, not entirely perfect.
“The only thing is I wish we were staying longer,” she added.
on the shelf
A list of picks for all ages from the staff at the West Chester Public Library
NON-FICTION
Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While Also in an Actual Cult!)
Bethany Joy Lenz
In often funny prose, Lenz, who starred for nine seasons in the hit TV show One Tree Hill, describes her decade-long submission to a small Idaho religious cult. As she finds success on the show, the cult’s leader takes over her life: her income funds his ministry and businesses, and she marries his son. The birth of her daughter and conflicts within the group finally lead her to reclaim her life and faith.
Lorne: The Men Who Invented Saturday Night Live
Susan Morrison
The definitive biography of the enigma who helms the 50-year-old comedy show, Lorne draws from hundreds of interviews— with Michaels and many of SNL’s stars and writers. Morrison uses her unprecedented access behind the scenes to excellent effect, producing a deeply researched and entertaining portrait of the Canadian who has had a lasting effect on American culture.
FICTION
The
Future
Naomi Alderman
A dystopian techno thriller, The Future explores what happens when all power, including the power to survive world destruction, rests with a few billionaires. The biblical story of Lot, who escaped the destruction of Sodom, is a central motif, being an obsession of Martha Einkorn, the daughter of a doomsday cult leader. Martha, the assistant to the enormously wealthy head of tech giant Fantail, and Lai Zhen, an internet-famous survivalist, eventually intersect in what is ultimately a hopeful story about the possibility of averting the end of the world.
The God of the Woods
Liz Moore
In August 1975, 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar vanishes from her camp bunk. She is no ordinary camper but rather the child of the wealthy family that owns the camp and employs many of the area’s residents. Adding to the horror is the fact her older brother vanished in a similar way 14 years earlier. A thriller that unpacks years of family and community
secrets, The God of the Woods explores the relationships between parents and children and those who have and those who do not.
YOUNG ADULT
The Thirteenth Child
Erin A. Craig
Hazel is the unwanted thirteenth child of parents who sell her to Merrick, the god of Death, before she is born. Years later, Merrick gives her the gift of healing, with a horrific catch: when she can’t cure a patient a deathshead appears, signaling her to take the patient’s life. Eventually the king is the patient, and Hazel, already burdened by guilt, is catapulted into an impossible dilemma. Craig has crafted a dark fantasy that asks a real-life question: how do we justify the impossible choices we make for people we love?
CHILDREN
Soy Sauce (ages 4 to 8)
Laura G. Lee
Beautifully illustrated by the author’s watercolors, this is an informative celebration of the making and enjoying the quintessential condiment in China, Japan, and Korea.
In 1952, a meteoroid falls from the sky in Texas, bringing a blue-gray skinned, six-toed alien girl with it. When Pineda, a Cuban-American boy, finds her hiding in a barn, he vows to keep her safe.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 17
Look for the library porch during West Chester Porchfest
May 30
Join us for the first Trivia on the Terrace of the season! Test your knowledge, compete for prizes, and enjoy free apps and a cash beer and wine bar. Reserve at bit.ly/wcpltrivia
What Fell from the Sky (ages 8-12) Adrianna Cuevas
Acts of Service
Safe Harbor Steps Up with More Services and Support
story Kevin Assam | photos Adam Jones
While many shelters are understandably grappling with the immediacy of just providing temporary housing, one group is trying to prepare its users for the long run. Safe Harbor of Chester County is ensuring that, in addition to residents having a safe place to stay, they can utilize job and life skills training, counseling, medical access, and transportation, among other services that increase the odds of individuals eventually securing more permanent housing. All this is being spearheaded by the shelter’s new executive director, Jessica Chappell, and her team.
Chappell previously worked in behavioral healthcare for two decades. She dealt with victims of serious injuries who required therapy and skills-training in the wake of residual effects. This deepened her understanding of how important it was to meet people where they were at that moment in life and rehabilitate them to once again function at home,
When Safe Harbor’s new executive director, Jessica Chappell, came on board, the nonprofit was strictly “heads and beds” — meaning, basically, just temporary shelter. But under her directorship, it has grown to provide so much more for its residents.
school, or work in environments that may have seemed out of reach. Following the pandemic, Chappell answered an ad, and after several rounds of interviews, started her new role at Safe Harbor.
The only shelter in the county to serve single women originally began as a men’s shelter but has since grown to include 20 female beds on the second floor plus the 20 male beds on the first. That means that this organization has almost half of all the available beds in Chester County.
Chappell joining the organization resulted in what she describes as the most fulfilling two years of professional and community service. An alum of West Chester University, whose own daughter now attends her alma mater, this “clinician at heart” considers her role at the nearby Safe Harbor to be a full circle moment.
“With what we’re doing here, I’m able to build my community. I’m able to bring even my family, my kids, my staff,” Chappell said of the area. “It’s very much a community affair here. So, it’s a wonderful place to live and be.”
The county is considered one of the most affluent in Pennsylvania, abundant in healthcare, schooling, and even other nonprofit resources. But as Chappell pointed out, when she started directing the operations that provide emergency housing, she encountered locals who were not aware of existing homelessness. This during a time that she felt was
indicative of a wider housing crisis across the country.
Safe Harbor’s mission is to ultimately make an impact on the cycle of homelessness and stabilize challenging situations for people who can go on to be permanently housed. Something that is becoming harder and harder to do, partly because it affects a variety of locals, not just preconceived groups.
“I have a sister-in-law who was unable to find an apartment that she could afford,” Chappell recalled. “We have college students that struggle because there is no housing. It’s a hard place to afford to live.”
Those who benefit from the organization’s services further include people coming out of hospitalization, people who lost their home to fire, and people who lost their livelihood after life-altering injuries and the pandemic. And sure, housing is likely an issue no matter where you go, but as a single person in Ches-
ter County, you might find yourself especially hard pressed to access affordable options.
When Chappell came on board, the nonprofit was described as strictly “heads and beds.” Those staying would have to exit the facility at 7:30am each morning and not return until later in the evening. It was an emergency homeless shelter, which meant temporary sheltering off the streets and not much else.
However, this felt confining and one of the things the Chappell pinpointed early on was a need to pursue increased structured programming and staff to facilitate this. “So, for the first year, I focused on funding programs because I wanted to really change the way that we talked about the residents.”
There was also a renewed focus on humanizing the people that Safe Harbor served, ensuring they continued to be treated with dignity and respect, and also as a member of the community with full potential.
Safe Harbor maintains a large food pantry, some of it donated, some sercured with their own funding.
This involves having a member from the care management team look at the “whole” person who walks in and getting to the root of any issues. Something that could be as straightforward as connecting someone to a podiatrist, as Chappell recounted in one instance of getting residents proper medical access.
The nonprofit has consequentially begun offering expanded services, including therapeutic day programming, a wraparound program, case management, and of course life skills training, that all aim to ensure that members can retain future housing once it has been secured. “Because,” Chappell explained, “oftentimes with homelessness, you think it’s going to be a big celebration,
Regina White is the kitchen manager at Safe Harbor, which is no small task: she prepares roughly 43,000 meals a year for the facility’s 40 residents.
‘Yay, you got the unit, you’re getting out the door!’ And what I have found is that it’s very scary.”
She added that when it comes time for individuals who have experienced significant trauma to seal the deal and move out on their own, it can feel overwhelming. As a result, there has been a significant amount of pivoting to what was described as a whole-person, trauma-informed model.
Such a repositioning naturally requires more resources. Chappell was initially surprised to learn that Safe Harbor did not receive government funding. She and the board set about changing this by hiring a senior director of finance & growth, Ruby Abouraya, and working for a year to diversify areas of support. This resulted in tapping into sources that the nonprofit had never accessed in its almost three decades of operations.
It’s very much a community affair here. So, it’s a wonderful place to live and be.
Funding now includes some money from the county along with federal grants that go towards practical acquisitions like laptops for a computer literacy program. The organization was also selected for the True Inspiration Award from Chick-fil-A that amounts to $75,000.
Despite carving out these additional funds, Chappell is proceeding through this next year expecting a far more competitive field for federal and state funding. All the while it is predicted that the need for services like Safe Harbor’s will only grow.
This outlook, however, will not redirect goals. Chappell hopes that within a year, Safe Harbor can become more full-service and partner with other agencies and members from the public to steer some of its programming. She maintains that nonprofits
do their best work when they team up. This was a point she reiterated at a big community round table dinner last summer that gathered key stakeholders from housing and homelessness initiatives to discuss moving forward both with each other and the county government.
In the end, Chappell is willing to do things differently and with more innovation. An approach that she believes will pay off.
“Nobody’s really doing what we’re doing right now, particularly with our therapeutic
day programming and our wraparound program.”
Armed with a group of volunteers who are always looking to grow, ownership of the North Matlack Street building, and keen attention to the changing fiscal environment, the new Executive Director is ready to keep this vital service going and reaffirm more collaborative methods of tackling existing issues in the area. But as with any nonprofit trying to preempt challenges ahead, the need for support is ever greater.
designs of the times
Andrea Mason is a professional interior designer who wants to help you upgrade your space
The kitchen is the heart of the home, so it’s extra important to make the space fit your lifestyle
I had the pleasure of working with an active family of four to design a kitchen that complements their day-to-day life, making it a space in which they can create memories for years to come.
With two kids, a dog and cats, they wanted plenty of clearances for lots of paws and feet. They also have a passion for cooking and entertaining in the kitchen.
Working with Architect Andy Buck, we created more space by removing the adjoining dining room wall to make one large kitchen. A charming eat-in kitchen table now acts as a gathering spot for guests and family meals.
There is now a considerable amount of cabinetry storage and prep space. Their large island with stools serves multiple functions, with plenty of room for cooking, a great spot for a quick bite to eat, and also display area for appetizers and socializing. The owners
enjoy nature and the outdoors, so by adding a bank of windows along the kitchen sink wall, we brightened the room with natural light and brought in the beauty of their backyard. There is a nice transition to their back deck with built-in bench seating where you can store shoes, umbrellas, and coats, helping to keep their busy lives tidy.
The materials include a lot of wood tones, natural grasses, and neutral colors, keeping this space calm and bright. Komorowski Construction built their custom cabinetry with a timeless shaker design and creamy warm, white color. It paired nicely with their handmade dining table and floating walnut shelves. For their backsplash, we selected a textural subway tile that varied in different shades of white.
Looking up, the walnut beams constructed by the project builder, Remedy Home Remodeling, add personality and warmth. They also constructed a custom white plaster hood above the stove to add another unique statement.
Architect: Andy Buck
Builder: Remedy Home Remodeling Cabinetry: Komorowski Construction
Creating opportunities for different lighting makes the space more interesting and also optimizes the functions of the room. The sconces near the windows are perfect task lights for late nights, while the island and dining table lighting highlights the main gathering spaces. All of the lights are different, but they flow interchangeably.
For finishing touches we adorned the floors with washable persian rugs and the walls with local artists and art the client has collected over the years. We decorated their shelves with wicker baskets and greenery.
The entire kitchen gives a cohesive colonial and farmhouse feel that really fits into our historic town. Ultimately, we made a space for the whole family to enjoy and grow in!
Need help with your next project? Please contact us at andrea@andeamasondesign.com for more information about our design services.
West Chester Kitchen Renovation
Heather S. Curran Photography
TWO DECADES in the Saddle
West Chester Cycling Club Celebrates 20 Years
You’ve seen the jerseys — you must have seen them — pedaling along the shoulder or padding down the sidewalk. Vibrant yellow at the shoulders blending into bright orange, or magenta, or sometimes even blue at the waist, emblazoned with an Iron Hill Restaurant & Brewery logo across the chest, the West Chester Cycling Club shirt is iconic.
With the club hosting more rides per month throughout the region than there are days on the calendar, their kits have become an inescapable sight, especially for those of us who wake up early to seize the day on Saturday or Sunday. And for many, like Chris Linzey, the sight serves as a gateway. “Even 10 years ago I saw the logo everywhere I ran into cyclists,” he says. “I looked up WCCC online after repeatedly seeing people in the jerseys while I was out riding solo.” A decade later, Chris is the outgoing club president, and he’s supplanted some of those solo rides with WCCC jaunts at least once a week, weather permitting.
In its more than 20 years of existence, the club has grown immensely, bringing in hundreds of enthusiasts from throughout the greater West Chester area. “The WCCC was incorporated in 2004 after Iron Hill’s then Master Brewer Chris LaPierre and local business woman Sarah Toms founded the club about two years prior and decided it was time to make it a proper IRS-recognized group,” says club treasurer Viktor Ohnjec, who’s been with the club since the beginning. “The first ride was discussed in a spin class at the local YMCA and word then spread from friend to friend such that the second ride literally doubled the size to about 20 people and within a few months, the concept of Ride Leadership and numerous concurrent rides helped accommodate the growth.” While exact figures aren’t available, Viktor estimates that more than 100 people were regularly riding with the club by the end of the first summer.
That membership has continued to blossom over the last two decades, and at any given time, the club boasts somewhere between 500 and 700 members. “Our membership renews yearly so there’s always a dip in the winter months as not everyone immediately renews,” says Ohnjec. “We have hovered in the 600-ish range for many years now.”
While the club doesn’t keep personal data about its members, Ohnjec was able to provide some anecdotal insights about who is showing up for rides. “Our oldest member is in their 80s,” he says, “and our youngest member was
16 — we know this because a parent/guardian has to sign for anyone who is under 18.” For the most part, members are of middle age, between 35 and 60, but the club has a wealth of diversity in its membership. “We are proud that we see growth at all levels — age group, ride levels (aka the average speed a group tends to ride at) and distances,” Ohnjec says.
For most members, cycling is clearly at the core of the group, but it’s not the only thing that brings them back over and over again. With anywhere from just a handful of people showing for a given ride up to 100 riders at the Fall Classic, there are always both new and familiar faces showing up to rides. The club posts their rides on its website and social media pages, and members can choose the level of ride they want, or with whom they want to ride. On weekends there are often five or more options with the club, offering members an opportunity to find the group that works best for them, often leading to close bonds with fellow riders. When asked about friendships he’d made through the
Kevin Finn enjoys a post-ride quaff with another of the club’s originals, Frank Dulin, at Iron Hill.
club, Linzey replied, “This club has helped me feel a true connection to West Chester. This cycling community is the reason I will be staying in the area permanently. I’ve met so many great people through the club.”
Kevin Finn, the founder of Iron Hill, was also a founding member of WCCC, so it’s no surprise that Iron Hill is a central hub for the organization, serving as both sponsor and a kind of club house where members regularly congregate after rides. Kevin had a passion for cycling before the club’s founding, “When I was younger I did triathlons,” he says. “I competed in about 20 events over a few years so that started my love for cycling. The reality is that I never really ‘competed’ and was happy to finish and get to the beer truck after the race so it was more of a way for me to be motivated and stay in shape and keep from getting a beer belly.”
The club was sort of a byproduct of the Iron Hill brand. Finn’s neighbor, Dailey Tipton, was an avid cyclist who helped found the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium race, but even before that got off the ground he floated the idea of starting a club. LaPierre — Iron Hill’s aforementioned master brewer who was affectionately known as Lappy by friends — was also an avid cyclist, riding his bike to work from Philadelphia on a daily basis. “I thought that was crazy at the time, but it worked for him and he was passionate about cycling,” recalls Finn. “Now I cycle into the city a couple of times a year.”
Sadly, LaPierre passed away this summer, but his legacy lives on through the club, and through one of his award-winning brews called The Cannibal, which recently received a revamped label in honor of him.
When pressed about the connection between craft beer and cycling Finn was uncertain of a response, but took his best
Presenting a donation from the club to Partners Creating Community are (L toR) Jack Kramer, Jenn Gemmell, Carol Kramer, Chris Linzey and Jim McDonald
guess. “I think it goes to the social aspect of cycling and beer drinking,” he said. “Both can be social endeavors and, in my opinion, riding with a group and drinking beer with friends is better than doing either alone.”
But biking and imbibing are just part of what the club is known for — they’re also avid philanthropists. “The social aspects of this club are fantastic, but I’m also proud of the fact that we consistently support several local charities,” said Linzey.
Incoming president Jenn Gemmell elaborated. “[We are] committed to finding ways to make a positive impact through the WCCC Cares program, established in 2024,” she says. “This initiative serves as the club’s
philanthropic and community service program, enabling active members to introduce and support meaningful causes. So far, we’ve contributed to local organizations such as the West Chester Food Cupboard, Giving Bikes Back, Partners Creating Community, and the Community Warehouse Project of Chester County.”
For those interested in joining the club, Linzey has one message: give it a shot. “Just join and sign up for a ride,” he says, “We have a free trial membership!” And, with membership coming at a cost of just $35, or through the purchase of $65 WORTH of club kit, it seems like a no-brainer. Worst case scenario you end up with a cool new shirt; best case scenario you end up like Chris Linzey and find something that becomes an integral part of life: “I’m so grateful that Kevin and Viktor and Lappy started this club 21 years ago!”
Learn more about the club or sign up today on their website at wccyclingclub.com
