What To Do: Despite many cancellations, Santa still coming to West Chester

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times  These crazy times just keep getting crazier – and scarier. COVID-19 infections and deaths are spiking in Pennsylvania and nearby New Jersey and Delaware. As a result, the states’ governors have been ramping up the restrictions and calling for shutdowns throughout the area. Philadelphia has been hit with the toughest restrictions but Pennsylvania in general...

On Stage: With live shows dwindling, Greg Sover adapts to new realities

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  The Greg Sover Band Live music in the area is still alive (barely) – not quite dead (completely). Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 restrictions have made it hard for live venues to keep presenting music on stage. It is much worse in Philadelphia where the city’s additional restrictions have closed things down entirely. Sellersville is 37.5 miles from...

What To Do: Holiday season roars in with new, family-safe events

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Thanksgiving has passed and Black Friday has arrived. That means the Christmas season has reached the top of the holiday rollercoaster and is now slamming downhill – full force at faster miles an hour. Even though COVID-19 restrictions have eliminated a lot – a whole lot – of traditional area holiday activities, there are still holiday events everywhere...

What To Do: A holiday season like no other gets under way

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times  Longwood Gardens The number of days left in the countdown to Thanksgiving 2020 is in single digits. We all know that Thanksgiving is the traditional “unofficial” start of the Christmas holiday season – even though the season commercially “started” when Christmas items were being stocked on stores’ shelves on Labor Day Weekend and “Black Friday”...

What To Do: Delaware Antiques Show goes virtual

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times One of the area’s longest-running traditional events is the Delaware Antiques Show (www.winterthur.org) which is presented by Winterthur. The event, which has been around for more than 50 years, will begin on November 7. Honored as one of the nation’s most highly acclaimed antiques shows, the annual event presents a large and diverse assemblage of...

What To Do: Even a scary time, it’s still Halloween

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  Longwood Gardens This weekend, there is a wide variety of activities that can keep people of all interests occupied. Not surprisingly, the schedule is top-heavy with Halloween-related attractions and events. Fortunately, for those who don’t care about Halloween – or have already reached a saturation point with the marketing for the holiday —...

What To Do: Tired of lockdown? Go visit a prison

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  Eastern State Penitentiary With COVID-19 still in full throttle attack mode, one of the last places you want to be is a prison. Actually, under any circumstances, one of the last places you want to be is a prison. But there are exceptions – such as Alcatraz Island and Eastern State Penitentiary. Alcatraz Island was a federal prison from 1934 until...

What To Do: Beat cabin fever, enjoy local outdoor attractions

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  Longwood Gardens With the easing up of COVID-19 restrictions in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey, more attractions are re-opening. For people who have been suffering from cabin fever, this is a good thing because it means there are more options for things to do. The weather even seems to be co-operating. After several weeks of temperatures...

What To Do: As area opens, a few more options for outings

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Car Concert: The Big Takeover As we head into July, many of the restrictions caused by COVID-19 have been removed or at least relaxed – just as the pandemic’s numbers are starting to surge in the wrong direction. Still, you people who have been waiting to get out for months can now get out. You can break the chains and finally get “out and go.” You...

What To Do: Yellow Status means get ‘out’ — but be smart about it

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Jenkins Arboretum “Yellow” is not the most positive word in the English language. Even though it is associated with sunshine, cheerfulness and warmth, yellow carries a surprising number of negative connotations. Psychologically, yellow means happiness and optimism. It is the color of sun shining, or bright light and creativity. It is believed...