Happy spring, peeps! Lots on the menu this month, including a must-see movie, a new Ardmore bakery (and Center City flagship!) for Insomnia Cookies, and a returns concierge. Enjoy XOXO!

• Cabrini Namesake Gets Star Turn

Just weeks before Cabrini University closes its doors forever, a new film delves into the school’s namesake. “Cabrini” dramatizes the remarkable life of Frances Cabrini, an Italian immigrant and missionary. When Cabrini arrived in New York City in March 1889, she was horrified by the poverty, squalor and sickness she encountered and devoted her life to securing housing and health care for society’s most vulnerable—refusing to take no for an answer. Despite battling a host of health issues, she helped establish over 67 institutions for the impoverished during her lifetime, including orphanages, schools and hospitals. She crossed the Atlantic Ocean 23 times to support her mission, braving a lifelong fear of water after almost drowning as a child (she even had a ticket to sail on the Titanic, but her plans changed at the last minute).

Cabrini was the first U.S. citizen to be named a saint by the Catholic Church—an honor bestowed by Pope Pius XII in 1946, nearly 30 years after her death.

Bryn Mawr businessman J. Eustace Wolfington raised over $50 million to finance the movie, which stars John Lithgow as the mayor of New York City and Cristiana Dell’Anna as Cabrini. All proceeds benefit the missionaries and charities Cabrini supported. 

You can catch Cabrini locally at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute and Regal UA King of Prussia.

• Radnor Crafts Compromise for Dog Owners

Radnor Township issued an ordinance last month regarding off-leash dogs at popular Skunk Hollow Park and Trails. The ordinance follows three years of contentious debate, during which the township fielded complaints about aggressive, unleashed dogs both in the park and around the Willows Mansion. Local dog owners countered that their pets benefited from the ability to run free through the park and cool off in its refreshing creek.

So the township crafted a compromise—off-leash dogs are now allowed in the park on weekdays and before noon on weekends and holidays. They must be leashed at all other times. The Willows Mansion remains dog-free.

The township must revisit the ordinance within two years, or earlier if circumstances require urgent action.

• Got Returns?

Raise your hand if you’ve ever kept an online order you didn’t love because you simply couldn’t summon the energy to return it. You’re not alone; over 65 percent of Americans cite returns as the worst part of the online shopping experience. Many shoppers don’t bother.

Good news! There’s now a Main Line business that will handle those pesky returns for you. Founded by Berwyn mom and online shopping enthusiast Laura Yancoskie, Simply Returns will pick up and package your returns and deliver them to the correct drop-off point (UPS, FedEx, etc.). Each return costs $8; additional returns are $4. Payment is by Venmo or PayPal, and items can be picked up at your doorstep or even your workplace.

Simply Returns’ service area currently includes Wayne, Radnor, Devon, Berwyn, Paoli and Malvern, but Yancoskie hopes to expand once word spreads.

• Spring Into Wynnewood’s Newest Sports Bar

Looking for a new Main Line spot to pop in and catch the Phillies this spring? PJ Whelihan’s just opened a location in Wynnewood Shopping Center with dozens of high-def TVs for your viewing pleasure. Though the venue is BYOB for now as it awaits a liquor license, there’s plenty to savor food-wise, starting with the chain’s popular chicken wings, which patrons can customize with over ten different sauces. There’s also a decent selection of burgers, sandwiches and salads.

Once a liquor license is secured, the sports bar will offer Happy Hour specials Monday through Friday from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM and night owl deals on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM p.m. PJ Whelihan’s also sponsors a Dine & Donate Program, which allows local organizations to host events and earn back 15 percent of all proceeds.

PJ Whelihan’s is located at 50 E Wynnewood Road. Hours are 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Monday – Thursday & Sunday, and 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM Friday & Saturday.

• Riding the Cookie Craze

Insomnia Cookies is on a roll! The fast-growing franchise just took over the old 1-(900) Ice Cream in downtown Ardmore AND opened a flagship store in Center City where patrons can customize their own cookie toppings (and order warm cookies to their doorstep as late as 3:00 AM, of course!).

Founded in 2003 by Penn student Seth Berkowitz after experiencing a late-night cookie craving with no place to satisfy it, Insomnia Cookies now boasts 270 U.S. locations plus bakeries in Canada and the United Kingdom. The brand plans to open over 70 additional stores this year. Yum!

• Testa Rossa to Open in Wayne

Fearless Restaurants plans to repurpose the old Bertucci’s in Wayne into an Italian eatery called Testa Rossa, which means “redhead” in Italian. This will be the second Testa Rossa; the first will open this summer in Glen Mills , serving up classic Italian-American fare like pasta, wood-fired pizzas and authentic gelati in a fun and festive atmosphere.

The restaurant group has been busyyyyy lately, preparing to open its fifth White Dog (in Chester Springs’ historic Vicker’s Tavern) and making massive dining and event space renovations to the Radnor Hotel. No doubt Fearless is up to the challenge.

• Introducing BOTLD in the burbs

Started in Philly, they have opened the ultimate destination for mainliners looking to elevate their spirits game, now open in King of Prussia.  The new bottle shop, which doubles as a tasting room and event space, is open Wednesday – Saturday and located in the adjacent space to BOTLD’s headquarters – a Mid-Century, bi-level brick and block former Post Office. This location also houses BOTLD’s production facility. BOTLD works directly with innovative distillers around the country and the world to offer Pennsylvania a wider, deeper, more adventurous selection of spirits.

BOTLD King of Prussia Retail Shop, 190 Town Center Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406.

• 40 Years of Healthy Living

Reinvesting in La Maison Health and Fitness has always been a top priority, doing business on the main line for forty years. Lately, there have been some big changes happening in the fitness world, especially with the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, the owners have decided to pass the torch to Atlantic Coast Athletic Club (ACAC). We wish them well!

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