Camera Masters: Five Important Film Directors

The director has the greatest influence over the trajectory of a film, more so than writer, actor, or editor. It is the director's vision that, in the end, makes it to the silver screen. It’s not surprising that the history of cinema has produced a number of auteurs that elevated the form. If you are interested in expanding your knowledge of movies, becoming familiar with the movies made by these groundbreaking directors is essential.

-          Alfred Hitchcock. The master of suspense is one of the most influential men to ever make a film. So much of the visual style and storytelling that we take for granted was innovated by Hitchcock in films like Psycho and Rear Window.

-          Orson Welles. If the only film Welles had ever made was Citizen Kane, he’d still be one of the most influential directors ever. Welles packed his frames with detail and potency, pushing the art of cinema forward in new ways.

-          Jean-Luc Godard. One of the leading lights of the French New Wave, Godard helped transform the way we think about movies, freeing them from commercial responsibility and opening the door to unique viewpoints.

-          Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick’s films range across a wide variety of genres, but they are united by the director’s keen sense of visual style. His films are among the most aesthetically beautiful ever made, even as they delve into the darker side of human emotions.

-          Steven Spielberg. Perhaps the director who epitomizes modern cinema more than any other, Spielberg ushered in the era of blockbuster filmmaking with Jaws in 1976 and hasn’t slowed down since.

Gratitude and Giving Improves your Health

“Learn how an attitude of gratitude can help you live a longer healthier life. Research has shown, whatever may be occurring in your life, that your overall health will only improve if you are thankful and grateful. A truly healthy long life includes positive outlook and gratitude for where you may be at each moment of your life.

There’s no doubt that mind and body are connected, and this link is specially apparent when it comes to gratitude.”…to read more from this article click here!

Rice in the Pan: Five Great Risottos

Risotto can be a daunting dish to make – the Italian rice dish is notoriously temperamental, and a ruined risotto can be pretty unappetizing! The most important element to cooking a good one is attention. The chef needs to stand over the pan, stirring the rice constantly while adding hot stock so the grains don’t stick together. Once you’ve mastered that, here are some ideas for creating great variations on the dish.

-        Mushrooms make an exceptional pairing for risotto. Their earthy flavor permeates the rice, adding worlds of dimension. Try using chanterelle mushrooms coupled with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

-        Lemon flavors are also great for risottos. Pair fresh-squeezed lemon juice with steamed asparagus for a light, refreshing dish that will have people raving.

-        In the autumn, turning to that season’s produce can be a great way to switch up your cooking. One very common pairing for risottos is butternut squash. The subtle, comfortable flavor of the vegetable makes a great base for a risotto.

-        Seafood risotto is a very popular preparation. Use clams, mussels, scallops, and shrimp to add a variety of tastes to the preparation, and season with saffron.

-        For a unique breakfast dish, prepare a traditional risotto and stir in cooked, crumbled bacon and a little sharp cheese. Top with a fried egg and enjoy!

Game On: Great Dishes For Tailgate Parties

With football season here, tailgate parties are a major event on your social calendar. There’s nothing better than getting hyped up for a game with friends and family while eating some food and enjoying a day off. If you’re invited to a tailgate and don’t know what to bring, here are five easy ideas that are always popular.

-        Hot wings are always a good choice. This delicious finger food is inexpensive, easy to prepare and disappears in an instant. The traditional Buffalo style is made with Frank’s Red Hot sauce as a base, but using a sweeter barbecue sauce is also fine. Serve with cut up sticks of fresh, crisp celery.

-        Ribs are also a very nice meat contribution. The best way to prepare them is to slow-cook them until they’re tender and then quickly reheat them at the party to caramelize the outside and bring out the flavor.

-        Fresh guacamole can be a good choice, especially if there are vegetarians present. Making this avocado-based dip from scratch is surprisingly easy, but make sure to use ripe avocados that are soft to the touch but not brown on the inside. Save the pits and place them in the bowl to keep it fresh until serving.

-        Deviled eggs also make a good tailgating snack. They’re easy to prepare in bulk and store well, so you can cook them well in advance. Make sure to top the yolks with lots of hot paprika.

-        Desserts are always a good choice. Bar cookies and brownies are easy to make and transport, and you don’t even have to take them out of the pan – just slice and let people serve themselves.

Fall Happenings in Delaware!

Looking for some fun things to do this fall? Then you might want to consider these Delaware events. From fun and artistic celebrations to great outdoor excursions, there’s plenty for you to enjoy. Here’s a sample:

The Delaware Wind & Ale Trail – The trail is a unique collection of thirteen locations that educate about the creation and production of their wines and brews. It offers several great tour and tasting experiences.

Bridgeville Apple Scrapple Festival – On October 15th and 16th Bridgeville celebrates a great combo of scrapple and apples. This 20 year tradition features street dances, carnivals, car shows, live entertainment, and more.

Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddler’s Festival –On October 28th through 30th Rehoboth Beach will be filled with the sights and sounds of its annual Sea Witch Halloween extravaganza. From the exciting Sea Witch Parade and costume contest to a 5k Run, the Sea Witch Skim Fest, Pirate’s Coast Haunted House, and more, it’s the ultimate beach-side Halloween destination.

Halloween Haunts – For classic Halloween thrills visit Frightland, Nightmare’s Haunted House, and All Hollow’s Revenge. There’s also plenty of documented locations that may be haunted!

World Championship Punkin Chunkin – Since 1986 people gathered at Nassau to find out how far someone was able to launch a Pumpkin into the sky with a machine. Now the event has over 20,000 attendees and is featured on the Science Channel. And on November 4th through 6th, contestants will meet to crown a new champion!

TRAFFIC ALERT!! (Route 29 Turnpike Interchange)

Turnpike traffic between Downingtown and Valley Forge will be stopped today for up to 15 minutes between 11:45 AM and 12:15 PM for blasting.

Test drilling has indicated that there is underground rock that is obstructing construction of the Route 29 Turnpike Interchange. The contractor will need to perform blasting to remove this underground rock. The blasting process is a generally accepted construction activity for removing underground rock. You may experience some vibration and/or noise associated with the blasting.

Get Crafty!

Crafting is becoming more and more popular in the modern world, as people turn away from the screen and towards the old ways. If you’re looking for a new hobby, check out this list of crafts that make great ways to spend your leisure time.

-        Knitting is one of the most popular craft hobbies, for a number of reasons. The supplies needed are inexpensive and very portable – you can carry your yarn and needles in your daily bag and take them out whenever you want. You can also work on projects in short periods of time, like during a commute.

-        Origami is a popular crafting choice. The Japanese art of folded paper can make some awesome shapes if you keep at it, and all you really need are square sheets and instructions.

-        Quilting is undergoing a resurgence of popularity in recent years, as people are recognizing the artistic expression possible in these traditional blankets. This is the least portable of the crafts on this list, but the end product can be really spectacular.

-        Screenprinting is now easier than ever to do at home, with one-piece kits letting you expose an image, burn a screen, and print on paper, fabric, or other materials quickly and easily. This classic method of printing is simple, fun, and great for making gifts.

Spicy Roots: Excellent Radish Recipes

The radish is one of the most difficult root vegetables to cook. It packs a seriously spicy flavor that can overpower a dish if not used correctly. These recipes will let you harness the radish's excellent flavor in some unusual ways. When buying radishes remember that the smaller the root, the spicier and more powerful the flavor! Larger radishes are more bland.

A great and simple way to enjoy radishes is in a simple European sandwich. Soak radishes in ice water for an hour then slice them as thinly as you can. Serve on dark rye bread with butter and coarse sea salt.

Radishes are also excellent in salads, of course. They add a little unexpected flavor to simple garden salads, but to get the best results you should craft a dish around the radish’s unique taste. A mixture of chopped fennel, supreme grapefruit, and diced radish is tantalizing and delicious.

If you want to snack on radishes on the go, a cool way to make them more portable is by quickly steaming them and mixing them in spices before baking them at 350 degrees for 10 minutes on each side.  

Radishes also provide a great way to add zest to sweet dishes, including pie fillings, and jellies. A cool condiment is a radish confit, which uses lemon and orange zest with sugar to add a spring of flavor to sandwiches, toast, and more!

Traffic Alert

Route 202 South is reduced to one lane TODAY for pavement repairs in Chester County.

Southbound Route 202 will be restricted to one lane today, (Aug. 30th,) until 3 p.m. between the Chesterbrook and Route 29 interchanges in Tredyffrin and  East Whiteland townships, Chester County, for pavement repairs.

Motorists are advised to use an alternate route or leave additional time to travel south on Route 202 during this daytime operation.

This work is associated with PennDOT’s $105.4 million project to add a third travel lane in each direction on Route 202 from just south of the Route 252 Interchange in Tredyffrin Township to just north of the Route 401 Interchange in East Whiteland Township.

Regional Rail Service to Resume

SEPTA's Paoli-Thorndale regional rail line will resume service tomorrow morning, August 30th. For the most current schedule information, visit http://www.septa.org/service/rail/http://www.septa.org/service/rail/. 

« Previous Page — Next Page »