Publisher’s Letter

It’s almost summer. Wow! Winter and spring went fast. And now County Lines is looking forward, especially to the Fourth of July!

Today’s ultimate wedding events consider everything, writes Emily Hart in “Dazzling Diamonds, Shining Rolls-Royces, Champagne Feasts.” Couples share. Welcome bags greet out-of-towners. Valet parking, culinary stations, butlered hors d’oeuvres, sit-down feasts with flowing champagne and dessert bars delight family and friends. Premier venues are de rigueur, so check our “Guide to Wedding Venues & Services.”

In “Final Fling, First Class,” Shannon Montgomery describes bachelor and bachelorette parties as more stylish than ever. They’ve evolved far beyond the traditional “last night of freedom.” Today’s celebrations are often overnight events, with many stretching into long weekends. As couples marry later in life, they’re bringing bigger budgets, more paid time off and a greater focus on their pre-wedding experiences.

It’s the county seat of Chester County, the county’s de facto restaurant capital, its bubble tea capital and, with six options in a roughly 1-mile radius, its fried chicken capital, too. From restaurants to retail to events and amazing people, West Chester undoubtedly has a lot going for it. Cara Corridoni writes, “What I Love About West Chester.”

As we mark America’s 250th, this event reawakens memories of our last national milestone — the Bicentennial. To showcase our state’s key role in our nation’s expansion westward, billed as a “replay of history in reverse,” consider the wagon train. Heather Reiffer of the Chester County Community Foundation’s America 250, writes “Wagons Ho!” and recreates the sense of shared celebration that made the Bicentennial feel close to home.

Shelley Laurence of Main Point Books says there is a lot of American history we don’t know, and might enjoy if we knew where to look. In “Celebrate Our Nation in Books,” she writes that there’s more to our story than we might think and directs us to seven books to teach us about the people and places that built America.

The athletic talent at our schools has been outstanding, obtaining titles in lacrosse, baseball and rowing. See what they’ve accomplished in “Independent Schools Vie for #1.”

Since the beginning, everything at Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens has been rooted in a mission to celebrate the wonder of plants and place as a destination for education, conservation and community connection. Stephanie Kuniholm writes, in “A Living Legacy,” that the arboretum is excited to continue growing alongside our community, inviting renewed support, shared purpose and collective care to sustain and shape the next 50 years.

Thinking of flowers, see the entries for our annual photo contest in “Chester County in Bloom.” And vote on social media for your favorite!

Liz Tarditi has declared that June is for ice cream, in “Adventures by the Scoop.” She points you to Hangry Bear Creamery in Kennett Square, saying it stands out as both a destination and an experience. Read this month’s Brandywine Table column for tasty recipes with ice cream. For more, “Summer Dining Guide.”

In this season of transition from spring to summer, Liz also suggests that we find balance within ourselves, tending to our own inner light as we celebrate the balance of the world around us. In “Sing in the Sunshine, Dance in the Moonlight,” she suggests several libations to facilitate our celebrations of the solstice and the seasons.

As always, we have the Best Local Events and plenty of ideas for family fun!

Perhaps you already have County Lines delivered to your mailbox. Lucky you! Save it for future reference. At CountyLinesMagazine.com, you can read the June issue online. At Issuu.com, you can read the digital issue. Or click “Get A Copy” on our website to find locations to pick up your own free print copy.

We hope you’d like to subscribe to County Lines. If you hurry, you can get a year’s worth of issues for $25. Do it on our website or call 610-918-9300. For single issues, try Baldwin’s Book Barn, Main Point Books, More than Books, Bookish Notions, Wellington Square Bookshop or Reads & Co. Bookstore. Visiting an advertiser is also a great — and free — way to find copies!

We hope you enjoy this issue.

Thank you for reading.

Ed Malet, Publisher

610-918-9300

Dazzling Diamonds, Shining Rolls-Royces, Champagne Feasts…

It’s was perfect match and perfect ceremony. The bride, in a luxurious gown, graced the St. Thomas of Villanova Church’s aisle. Organ music filled the space. Vows were exchanged. The newlyweds stepped out of a white Rolls-Royce into a stunning celebration of their marriage. With beautiful settings, services and every amenity possible, the sky’s the limit for the ultimate wedding. All else that’s needed for an unforgettable, lavish, incomparable celebration is imagination and you.

What I Love About West Chester

Score a last-minute dinner from an award-winning chef. Stroll down the middle of Gay Street. Tour the vibrant mural art scene. Throw frisbees with the next generation. Catch the view — and a drink — from the Más rooftop. Eat ice cream like an Italian. There’s also the historic West Chester Railroad, the Chester County Visitor’s Center, the Mather Planetarium on the WCU campus, Chester County History Center’s True Crime on Trial interactive event and the Turks Head Music Festival. Really, what’s not to love? Besides the parking? And even that’s got a new solution coming.

A Living Legacy: 50 Years of Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens

It was 50 years ago that a quiet woodland in Devon began its transformation into one of the region’s most beloved gardens. What started as a bequest from a man inspired by his late wife’s love for nature has flourished into a thriving botanical treasure. As Jenkins celebrates its 50th anniversary, its roots remain grounded in the values that have sustained it from the beginning — care for the land, connection with community, and a commitment to curiosity and wonder. For five decades, the generosity of friends and neighbors has allowed Jenkins to flourish as a free and welcoming public garden.