Calendar of Events, Brandywine Valley, Southeastern, PA

Brandywine River Museum
US Rt. 1
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
610-388-8337
Visit Website For more information, please call 610-388-2700

Victoria Wyeth, daughter of Nicholas Wyeth, guides public tours of art by her grandfather, Andrew Wyeth, and by her uncle, Jamie Wyeth. The tours include a discussion of the artists' media, techniques, subject matter and models. Tours at 2 p.m. will focus on Jamie Wyeth. Tours at 1 and 3 p.m. will focus on Andrew Wyeth. Free with regular museum admission.

Tour capacity is limited to 35 people. Tickets are required and must be picked up in person on the day of the tour at the Brandywine River Museum Shop. Tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Individual reservations for tours are not taken in advance. Please call 610-388-8326 on the morning of your visit as Ms. Wyeth's schedule is subject to change. Private tours are available for an additional fee; for information, please send an e-mail to specialevents@brandywine.org.

This exhibition of more than 300 stunning objects - from drinking glassesand cellarettes to hotel menus and song sheets -- traces the evolution of wine in the Western world from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

Experience a glorious day on the beautiful Winterthur estate - from the steeplechase races and antique carriage parade to tailgate picnics and family fun.

FEBRUARY 2012

February 4, 11, 18, 25 - Saturdays - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Dollar Days
Admission to Hagley is only one dollar every Saturday in February. Free for members. Use Hagley’s main entrance off Route 141 in Wilmington, Delaware.

February 12 - Sunday - 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Victorine’s Valentine’s Day
Families will love this afternoon of crafts and activities. Visitors taste gingerbread, make a Victorian Valentine using the “scrap” method, write Valentine verses with a quill pen, and design a candy bar wrapper. A special exhibit featuring antique Valentine cards and candy packaging will be on display. Activities are included in regular admission. Use Hagley’s main entrance off Route 141 in Wilmington, Delaware.

March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 - Saturdays - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Dollar Days
Admission to Hagley is only one dollar every Saturday in March. Free for members. Use Hagley’s main entrance off Route 141 in Wilmington, Delaware.

March 10 - Saturday
Exhibit in Eleutherian Mills Opens
"The American Eagle: Symbol of Freedom and Enterprise to the du Pont Family"
The image of the eagle has been an important icon in the history of the du Pont family. The du Pont family came to America on the ship “American Eagle," the DuPont Company's first product was Eagle Gun Powder, and decorative arts collected by Mrs. Louise du Pont Crowninshield were adorned with eagles, a common symbolic element in Federal-style furnishings. This exhibit is on display in the du Pont family ancestral home, Eleutherian Mills. Open through December 31, 2012. Included in regular admission and tour. Free for members. Use Hagley’s main entrance off Route 141 in Wilmington, Delaware.

June 15 and 22 - Friday - gates open at 5 p.m.
Wilmington Trust Presents Fireworks at Hagley
Hagley presents a pyrotechnic masterpiece that weaves together a story illustrated through music, narration, aerial shells, and intricate set pieces. Must be a member of Hagley to purchase tickets. Rain dates June 16 or 17 and June 23 or 24. Use Hagley’s Buck Road East entrance off Route 100 in Wilmington, Delaware.

September 16 - Sunday - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hagley Car Show
Browse through more than 500 antique and restored cars that date from the early 1900s-1980s. The show features vehicle parades, motoring music, video and go-kart racing, and a festival food court. Activities are on Hagley’s upper property. Admission charged. Advanced ticket sales begin August 15. Free for Hagley members and children five and under. Use Hagley’s main entrance off Route 141 in Wilmington, Delaware.

Philadelphia will be the only place in the United States to see the incredible collection of works by Vincent van Gogh that helped change the course of modern painting. Created between 1886-1890, these paintings captured the final tumultuous years of van Gogh’s life and his feverish artistic experimentation up until his death.

Hours & Tickets

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Weekend: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(Extended weekend hours until 6 p.m. from April 7 – May 6, 2012)

The museum is closed on Mondays except for the dates below:
Monday, February 20, 2012: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, April 30, 2012: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Winter Fun in the Brandywine Valley

101 THINGS TO DO IN THE BRANDYWINE VALLEY IN THE WINTER.

I’ve just started compiling this list so it is no where near complete. We’ll see if I can get to the 101st item by the end of winter. Point is, the Brandywine Valley has lots to do in the winter months and you won’t have to contend with all the crowds.

Think there is nothing to do in January, February, and March in southeast Pennsylvania? Well, think again. Here are just a few of the fun things going on and I’ll add more during the coming weeks.

1. February 11-18 - National Curling Championships at IceWorks Skating Complex. For tickets: 610-497-2200

2. January and February Winter bird walks held every Wednesday at Tyler Arboretum 8:15 - 10:15 a.m. 610-566-9134x212.

3. March 11 - Brandywine Battlefield Charter Day: honors charter between King Charles II and William Penn.

4. Jan., Feb., and March - Media Arts Council Sponsors a fabulous fun shopping day every 2nd Saturday - 6-9pm. Over 40 businesses on and around State Street in Media stay open late as part of a free arts event.

5. Want to brave the outdoors? How about horse back riding on the magnificent Icelandic horses at Viking Horse Stables in West Chester, Pa. They offer a variety of year round treks through the country side of Chester County, Pa. Each guided trek is customized for you and is offered for as few as one person or up to four people at a time. For more information 610-517-7980 or click here.

Enjoy the bucolic countryside of Chester County on an Icelandic horse at Viking Stables.

6. If horseback riding isn’t for you, there are plenty of trails nearby for hiking and cross country skiing. Enjoy going over the hills and through the woods not to grandmother’s house but past historic buildings in Ridley Creek State Park and Tyler Arboretum which are only a 10 minute drive from Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast. For more information on Tyler Arboretum click here or call 610-566-9134. And for more information on Ridley Creek State park click here.

Ridley Creek Park

7. For a slower pace grab your binoculars and head over to John Heinz Wildlife Refuge at the Tinicum Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is about a 15-20 minutes from us. For more info click here.

Bird watching at John Heinz Wildlife Refuge.

8. You can still enjoy visiting Longwood Gardens. Even though the outside gardens are resting for the winter there is the spectacular indoor gardens in the conservatory. Did you know it is 4 1/2 acres under glass and includes 20 indoor gardens and 5500 varieties of plants? It takes about an hour and a half to stroll through the entire conservatory. The Orchid Extravaganza begins January 20, 2012 and runs through March 25. For more information

Orchids at Longwood Gardens

9. The always popular and satisfying wine tastings of the Brandywine River Wineries. Each winery has special events throughout the year so check their individual web sites for details.

10. International Orchid Show & Sale, March 23-25

Experience the American Orchid Society-judged show, take a tour, hear a talk, and find the
perfect orchid to take home. Show and sale are in collaboration with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Orchid Society.

Friday, March 23, Show: 1-6 pm, Sale: 9 am-6 pm

Saturday, March 24 & Sunday, March 25, Show & Sale: 9 am-6 pm

Sale is located in the main parking lot near The Gardens Shop

11. Enjoy a host of specialty teas and other goodies at our two local tea rooms.

12. Brandywine River Museum

Masterpieces by Andrew Wyeth from the Collections
through January 29, 2012
Comic Catharsis: A Gift of Cartoons by William Stei
January 21, 2012 through March 31, 2012
13. CommunityArts CenterExhibitions
Spring Juried Exhibit- February 12, 2012 through March 16, 2012

Friday Night Live - where art and music collide. Call or visit website for performance schedule.

The Community Arts Center
414 Plush Mill Road,
Wallingford, PA 19086
610-566-1713

14. 2nd Saturday Arts Stroll 6:00 - 9:00 pm

The Media Arts Council: Free arts events in downtown Media including live musical performances, art exhibits by local artists, book signings, poetry readings, dancing, jewelry displays, childrens’ craft activities, and more. All shops are open during these evening hours and there are a host of fine restaurants for cuisine of many nations.
www.mediaartscouncil.org

15. Let the Good Times Roll! And that isn't just in New Orleans. Get out to Sproul Lanes and enjoy a few games. Let your inner child or your cave man out and do something different at Sproul Lanes in Broomall.
www.sproullanes.com

Experience the sights and smells of harvest and have a grape stompin’ good time as the eight wineries of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail celebrate the 2010 vintage! You’ll find grapes galore as the vineyards commence harvest activities. Enjoy pastoral settings for picnicking, live music to "sit n’ sip" or dance by, grape stomping competitions, hayrides through the vineyards, BBQs, wine tastings, tours, and the opportunity to learn about the region where Pennsylvania’s most stellar wines are being grown. Purchase a Passport from Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast. Passports allow for tastings at all 8 member wineries.

Come stay anytime at Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast! We offer wine trail passports for $20.00 each which allows you wine tastings at the following wineries. The passport is good through the end of the year and you receive a souvenir wine class to take home. Times may change so we suggest you check with each winery for their hours of operation.

Notice: Members pour controlled amounts of their wines for tasting. However, tasting at several wineries, in close succession, can cause one to unwittingly consume alcohol above the legal limit. If you intend to visit more than one winery in a day, we recommend you employ a designated driver or limit your wine consumption accordingly.

So many people coming to the Brandywine Valley ask about Kennett Square and West Chester. I say it is time for people to learn about the charming burrough of Media which is the County Seat of Delaware County. There are lots of wonderful
shops and restaurants in Media which is a short 10 minute drive from Hamaassett.

Ridley Creek State Park is a short 10 minute drive from Hamanassett and has many activities from which to choose.
With more than 2600 acres of woodlands and meadows, youwill want to visit many times. Next door to the park is Tyler Arboretum. You will find cross country skiing, picnicing, bicycling, dog walking, horseback riding, trout fishing (catch and release), sledding and tobogganing. The park is recognized by the Audubon Society as a significant birding site. Below are some of the activities you will find at the park:

Twelve miles of walking trails pass through a variety of habitats throughout the central portion of the park. Bikes are not permitted on unpaved hiking trails, but the five-mile, paved Multi-use Trail along Sycamore Mills and Forge roads is designated for bicycles, joggers, walkers and cross-country skiers. (Park in lots #7, #11, #15 and # 17.) A 4.7-mile trail begins in Picnic Area #8.

When the snow flies, cross-country skiers may use the hiking and multi-use trails when snow cover permits (and a large grassy slope by the park office is popular for sledding). For more information call 610-566-1725.

Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation - Ridley Creek State Park - Media
112 acre living history site located in the heart of Ridley Creek State Park, 10 minutes from Hamanassett. It authentically represents life on a farm in southeastern Pa. between 1760 and 1790.

The Plantation has been a working farm for over 300 years. It is restored to a late 18th century appearance complete with animals typical of the period and authentically clothed historical interpreters. On weekends from April to November, visitors can observe the farm family cooking over the open hearth, preserving foods, processing textiles, tending field crops and performing other chores necessary to survival in the 18th century world.

FEBRUARY 2012

March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 - Saturdays - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dollar Days Admission to Hagley is only one dollar every Saturday in March. Free for members. Use Hagley’s main entrance off Route 141 in Wilmington, Delaware.

Hours & Tickets

Winter Fun in the Brandywine Valley

March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 - Saturdays - 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Dollar Days
Admission to Hagley is only one dollar every Saturday in March. Free for members. Use Hagley’s main entrance off Route 141 in Wilmington, Delaware.