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  • 20 holiday events in Lower Merion you won’t want to miss this season

    20 holiday events in Lower Merion you won’t want to miss this season

    The holiday season is officially upon us and with it, a slew of festive events. From Santa sightings to a menorah lighting, here’s how and where to celebrate around Lower Merion.

    Schauffele Plaza Holiday Tree Lighting

    Santa will come to town on a fire truck for the tree lighting at Schauffele Plaza, where there will also be hot chocolate, cookies, and photo ops with St. Nick.

    ⏰ Friday, Nov. 28, 6 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Schauffele Plaza, Lancaster and Cricket Avenues, Ardmore

    Suburban Square Christmas Tree Lighting

    Santa will light the tree at Suburban Square, where there will also be festive music, carolers, and other family-friendly activities.

    ⏰ Saturday, Nov. 29, 4-7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Suburban Square, Anderson and Coulter Avenues, Ardmore

    Ludington Library Holiday Craft Fair

    Shop an array of goods from local small businesses and artisans at this one-day event.

    ⏰ Sunday, Nov. 30, noon-4 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Ludington Library, 5 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr

    “It’s a Wonderful Life“

    Catch a screening of the 1946 holiday classic starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. A cocktail is included with the ticket purchase for those 21 and over.

    ⏰ Thursday, Dec. 4, 7:15 p.m. 💵 $17.75 📍Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr

    Gladwyne Library Holiday Craft Fair Markets

    Shop local vendors selling everything from crocheted and knitted items to ceramics and jewelry. There will also be crafts and seasonal treats.

    ⏰ Friday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Gladwyne Library, 362 Righters Mill Rd., Gladwyne

    Rankin/Bass Holiday Specials

    Catch screenings of your favorite animated holiday classics The Year Without a Santa Claus, Frosty’s Winter Wonderland, and ’Twas the Night Before Christmas during two matinee showings.

    ⏰ Saturdays, Dec. 6 and 20, 11 a.m. 💵 $6.75-$7.75 📍Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr

    Santa will be at Suburban Square on select days this season.

    Saturdays with Santa

    Santa will be visiting Suburban Square and posing for photos three days in December, when there will also be carolers and live music. Little ones can also drop off letters to Santa.

    ⏰ Saturdays, Dec. 6, 13, and 20, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Suburban Square, Anderson and Coulter Avenues, Ardmore

    Ardmore Holiday Market

    Over 20 vendors will be selling handcrafted goods at this inaugural event.

    ⏰ Saturdays, Dec. 6 and 13, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Schauffele Plaza, Lancaster and Cricket Avenues, Ardmore

    Riverbend Makers Market

    Shop an array of vendors selling things like coffee, jewelry, florals, skincare, pottery, and food. You can also try your hand at wreath-making and roast s’mores over a fire. Advanced registration is encouraged.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Riverbend Environmental Education Center, 1950 Spring Mill Rd., Gladwyne

    Belmont Hills Library Holiday Markets

    Shop a selection of vendors offering items like ceramics, candles, jewelry, fine art, and sweet treats.

    ⏰ Saturdays, Dec. 6 and 13, 2-7 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Belmont Hills Library, 120 Mary Waters Ford Rd., Bala Cynwyd

    PSCHS Holiday Show

    Watch as favorite holiday toys come to life on the ice.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m. 💵 $10 📍Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society, 220 Holland Ave., Ardmore

    Victorian carolers set the mood for the annual Narberth Dickens Festival.

    Narberth Dickens Festival

    Wander around Narberth as it’s transformed into an 1840s Charles Dickens-themed London, complete with characters from A Christmas Carol. Period vendors, carolers, crafts, food, drinks, and a scavenger hunt round out the event.

    ⏰ Sunday, Dec. 7, noon-4 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Downtown Narberth

    The Landing Kitchen Christmas Tree Lighting

    See the Christmas tree at The Landing Kitchen light up for the season, with help from Santa, who will arrive by way of a fire truck.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13, 5-7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍The Landing Kitchen, 617 Righters Ferry Rd., Bala Cynwyd

    The home at Stoneleigh is decked out for the holidays.

    Home for the Holidays

    Take a look inside the main house at Stoneleigh as it’s decked out for the holidays.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13-Sunday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 20-Sunday, Dec. 21, times vary 💵 $15 for Natural Lands members and $20 for nonmembers 📍 Stoneleigh, 1829 County Line Rd., Villanova

    Funky Brunch: Holiday Edition

    Shop local vendors while sipping beer and enjoying brunch at this family-friendly event.

    ⏰ Sunday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E Lancaster Ave., Ardmore

    Suburban Square Menorah Lighting

    Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with a lighting of the giant menorah at Suburban Square. There will also be food, drinks, and activities like donut decorating.

    ⏰ Sunday, Dec. 14, 5 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Suburban Square, Anderson and Coulter Avenues, Ardmore

    Hanukkah Brunch and Sing Along

    Enjoy a kosher brunch and live entertainment from The Singulars: Ron Schaumburg, Rusty Forman, Bob Tinsman, and Paul Mamolou.

    ⏰ Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1:30-3 p.m. 💵 $18 📍Kaiserman JCC, 45 Haverford Rd., Penn Wynne

    Cirque du Chanukah

    Celebrate Hanukkah by watching an acrobatic performance and enjoying dinner at this all-ages event.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 20, 5:45-9:30 p.m. 💵 $10-$60 📍Kaiserman JCC, 45 Haverford Rd., Penn Wynne

    Klezmer Jam

    Listen or play along with this fusion of Ashkenazi Jewish and Eastern European folk music.

    ⏰ Sunday, Dec. 21, 4-6 p.m. 💵 $10 📍Kaiserman JCC, 45 Haverford Rd., Penn Wynne

    Catch one of two movies at this year’s Laughter and Lo Mein event.

    Laughter and Lo Mein

    Enjoy a meal and a movie during this longtime tradition. There will be a family-friendly movie option (Happy Feet) as well as a dark comedy for adults (Bad Shabbos).

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 24, 3-6 p.m. 💵 $10-$18 📍Kaiserman JCC, 45 Haverford Rd., Penn Wynne

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Philly radio shuffle: Paul Kelly takes over Matt Cord’s WMGK slot

    Philly radio shuffle: Paul Kelly takes over Matt Cord’s WMGK slot

    The sudden death of Pierre Robert has forced a Philly radio shuffle, with veteran host and Sixers PA announcer Matt Cord returning to 93.3 WMMR to take over the midday show, which Robert hosted for 44 years.

    Taking over Cord’s morning show at 102.9 WMGK will be another radio veteran — the versatile Paul Kelly, who’s been a utility infielder at the station since 2019, hosting just about every shift.

    Now Kelly will take over WMGK’s morning show, the former home of famed Philly radio host John DeBella, who retired in 2023.

    Both Cord and Kelly will begin their new hosting gigs Monday.

    “This has been a dream come true — rocking in the same building I visited on my bike as a kid,” Kelly said in a statement. “It’s been amazing working alongside the personalities I grew up listening to — Matt Cord, Tony Harris, John DeBella, Debbi Calton, and Andre Gardner!”

    Kelly, a Philadelphia native, has been working on the air since 1989, hosting shows in Atlantic City, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He also runs his own radio consultancy firm and is a founding member of Kelly Music For Life, a nonprofit that turned an old retail store in Havertown into the Kelly Center, a home for concerts, festivals, and shows.

    “Paul’s deep Philadelphia roots, his lifelong love of classic rock, and the genuine connection he’s built with our listeners over the years make him the ideal choice for mornings on WMGK,” said program director Chuck Damico. “He understands this city, he understands this music, and he brings an energy and authenticity that resonate with our audience every time he cracks the mic.”

    Pierre Robert, seen here broadcasting on WMMR in 2017.

    Robert, 70, was found dead in his Gladwyne home on Oct. 29 after failing to show up for his midday show. The cause of Robert’s death was not disclosed and officials don’t plan to release additional information. Caroline Beasley, the CEO of WMMR’s parent company, Beasley Media Group, said foul play was not suspected.

    “Everything seemed to be natural,” Preston Elliot said on air following Robert’s death. “It just appears he passed overnight.”

    Robert was beloved by musicians, who are hosting a memorial concert in his honor at the Fillmore on Dec. 17, with a portion of the proceeds going to MANNA, the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance.

    The show will feature bands and musicians near and dear to the former WMMR host’s heart, including the Hooters, Brent Smith and Zach Meyers of Shinedown, Lizzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of Halestorm, and Ed Roland of Collective Soul.

    “Nobody replaces Pierre — let’s make that clear,” Cord said in a statement. “I promise to carry his amazing spirit into the studio bearing his name and do my best to make him proud.”

  • Matt Cord to take over Pierre Robert’s midday slot at WMMR

    Matt Cord to take over Pierre Robert’s midday slot at WMMR

    Longtime Philly radio host Matt Cord will serve as the late Pierre Robert’s successor for WMMR’s midday slot starting next month, the station’s parent company, Beasley Media Group, announced Monday.

    “Nobody replaces Pierre — let’s make that clear,” Cord said in a statement. “I promise to carry his amazing spirit into the studio bearing his name and do my best to make him proud.”

    Cord will take on Robert’s former time slot starting Dec. 1, and leaves behind the morning slot at WMGK he took on in 2023 following fellow radio veteran John DeBella’s retirement. Cord previously helmed the midday time slot at WMMR briefly in the 1990s, when Robert switched to mornings, and his return to the rock station marks his third run there.

    A replacement for Cord at WMGK is expected to be announced “in the coming weeks,” Beasley said.

    A longtime friend of Robert’s, Cord has been appearing on the air in Philadelphia for about 40 years, and, in addition to stints at WMMR and WMGK, previously hosted mornings at BEN-FM and helmed the afternoon drive slot at Y-100. In addition to his radio work, Cord has served as the Sixers’ in-arena announcer for more than 20 years.

    Despite his Philly radio pedigree, Cord, a Glen Mills native, noted that “no one can step into [Robert’s] sparkling high-top Converse and fill them.” Instead, he said, he hopes to “carry on” Robert’s role in tribute.

    “Everyone at the station is so grateful that our longtime friend and radio family member Matt Cord is willing to take that on,” WMMR program director Chuck Damico said. “No one can replace Pierre, but I know that Matt can do him proud and Pierre would absolutely 100% approve of this. We will all continue to honor Pierre in everything we do forever.”

    Robert, 70, was found dead in is home in Gladwyne on Oct. 29, prompting an outpouring of grief from friends and fans. A Northern California native, Robert joined WMMR as an on-air host in 1981, and quickly became one of Philadelphia’s most distinctive and well-liked radio personalities.

    Following Robert’s death, hundreds of fans and friends flooded Rittenhouse Square, one of the late radio host’s favorite spots in Philadelphia. Among those who showed up to honor him were WXPN host Jim McGuinn, B101 host and former Preston & Steve cohost Kathy Romano, a slew of WMMR staffers, and Cord himself, The Inquirer previously reported.

    Next month, WMMR plans to host a tribute concert for Robert dubbed Pierre Robert: A Show of Life. Set to take place at the Fillmore on Dec. 17, the show will feature appearances from the Hooters, Brent Smith and Zach Meyers of Shinedown, Lizzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of Halestorm, and Ed Roland of Collective Soul.

    “We will sing, dance, and celebrate in the way Pierre would have wanted us to,” Damico said of the concert.

  • Lower Merion may raise parking meter rates for the first time since 1999

    Lower Merion may raise parking meter rates for the first time since 1999

    Lower Merion’s board of commissioners is set to put multiple new ordinances on the books next month, including policies raising parking meter rates for the first time since 1999, lowering the speed limit on parts of Lancaster Avenue, and regulating where smoke and vape shops can open in the township.

    The smoke and vape shop regulation moved ahead last month, and the commissioners advanced the parking meter and speed limit changes Wednesday evening. Lower Merion’s assistant township manager, Brandon Ford, said the commissioners are poised to formally vote on all three proposals in December. Here’s everything you need to know.

    Parking meter rate may go up

    Commissioners on Wednesday moved forward an ordinance that would raise parking meter rates across Lower Merion for the first time in more than 25 years.

    Under the proposed ordinance, parking would increase from 50 cents per hour to $1 per hour across the township, with the exception of six locations in Ardmore. Parking would go up to $1.50 per hour at Rittenhouse Place, Cricket Avenue, Cricket Terrace, and township-owned parking lots five (Cricket Terrace) and six (Schauffele Plaza). The Cricket Avenue Parking Garage would stay at 50 cents per hour.

    Township staff say the proposed meter rate increase would generate around $900,000 annually and would likely drive quicker turnover in Lower Merion’s commercial corridor, generating more economic activity for local businesses.

    “The rates that we are charging have not kept up with the overall cost for maintaining those parking meters, as well as our overall parking services program,” Ford said during a Nov. 5 meeting.

    The ordinance, if passed, would not change how parking meter fees are collected. The township collects parking fees through meters, kiosks, and a mobile app.

    Commissioner Scott Zelov, who represents Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Gladwyne, said: “It certainly is time to do this.”

    Anderson Avenue near Suburban Square on June 8. A proposed Lower Merion ordinance would increase parking meter rates across the township in hopes of raising revenue and spurring economic activity in places like downtown Ardmore.

    Lancaster Avenue speed limit reduction

    Lower Merion is set to reduce the speed limit on parts of Lancaster Avenue from 40 mph to 35 mph, bringing township code in compliance with an earlier speed limit change by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

    PennDot has already placed 35-mph speed limit signs on the selected strip of Lancaster Avenue. The board’s approval will bring the township in line with the state and allow township police to start enforcing the reduced speed limit. The speed limit change is the latest development in a major redesign of Lancaster Avenue by the state and the township.

    A study conducted by PennDot earlier this year found that, out of nearly 20,000 vehicles traveling on Lancaster Avenue between Wynnewood Road and City Avenue during a 24-hour period, only 57% were driving at or below the 40-mph speed limit. PennDot considers the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and Remington Road to be a “high crash location.”

    The ordinance, approved for advertisement on Wednesday, also bans right turns on red at three intersections: Lancaster Avenue and Remington Road for eastbound traffic, Lancaster Avenue and Haverford Station Road for westbound traffic, and Montgomery Avenue and Airdale Road for east-west traffic.

    The township aims to place automated red-light cameras at all three intersections. The first red-light camera, at Remington Road and Lancaster Avenue, is in the process of being installed. Andy Block, Lower Merion’s superintendent of police, said the camera should be up and running by the end of the year.

    Red-light enforcement cameras set to come to Lower Merion

    Smoke and vape shop zoning

    Following a lengthy discussion that stretched across two meetings, the board of commissioners on Oct. 22 moved forward an ordinance that would decide where tobacco and vape shops can operate in Lower Merion.

    Under the proposed ordinance, if a tobacco or vape shop wanted to open in Lower Merion, it would have to be situated at least 1,000 feet from any other tobacco or vape shop and 1,000 feet from any public or private school. The rule would also apply to hookah lounges.

    Township staff said the 1,000-foot buffer would dramatically decrease the opportunity for smoke shops to operate in Lower Merion. Ford said there are currently around 1,000 properties in Lower Merion where smoke shops could operate. If the buffer ordinance were to be implemented, that number would drop to 300.

    While some commissioners inquired about creating a larger buffer, officials said doing so would likely zone smoke shops out of Lower Merion entirely, which would give smoke shop owners the legal claim to build anywhere in the community.

    During an Oct. 17 discussion of the ordinance, Commissioner Anthony Stevenson, who represents Ardmore and Haverford, said: “We need to avoid the continuation of making our township, and particularly in the Ardmore area, a vape central.”

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Musicians will honor beloved WMMR host Pierre Robert in memorial concert

    Musicians will honor beloved WMMR host Pierre Robert in memorial concert

    What better way to remember Pierre Robert than to hold a concert in his honor?

    93.3 WMMR announced on Wednesday the Pierre Robert: A Show of Life, a celebration of the memory of the beloved Philly radio host, whose unexpected death last month shocked the music world.

    “We will sing, dance, and celebrate in the way Pierre would have wanted us to,” said Chuck Damico, WMMR’s program director.

    The concert will take place at the Fillmore on Dec. 17. Tickets will cost $50 and go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster on the Fillmore’s website. A portion of the proceeds will go to MANNA, the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance.

    The show will feature bands and musicians near and dear to the former WMMR host’s heart, including The Hooters, Brent Smith and Zach Meyers of Shinedown, Lizzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of Halestorm, and Ed Roland of Collective Soul.

    “He was a beautiful man who meant so much to so many people,” an emotional Roland said on social media.

    A poster for a concert honoring former WMMR host Pierre Robert, who died unexpectedly last month.

    Robert, 70, was found dead in his Gladwyne home on Oct. 29 after failing to show up for his midday show. The cause of Robert’s death was not disclosed and officials don’t plan to release additional information. Caroline Beasley, the CEO of WMMR’s parent company, Beasley Media Group, said foul play was not suspected.

    “Everything seemed to be natural,” Preston Elliot said on air following Robert’s death. “It just appears he passed overnight.”

    Robert was a musical institution in Philadelphia, where he spent 44 years on the air sharing his deep love of classic rock and expressing a humanity that touched musicians and listeners across the county.

    Earlier this month, hundreds of fans and friends flooded Rittenhouse Square, where Robert enjoyed a book and a cup of La Colombe coffee just days before his death.

    “He was truly irreplaceable and his passing will leave a big hole especially in the local music community,” Hooters singer and cofounder Rob Hyman said. “Pierre was that ‘good citizen’ who will be missed by all.”

    Pierre Robert’s annual Thanksgiving Day show will continue this year, hosted by his former producers.

    With Thanksgiving approaching, WMMR plans to keep Robert’s annual Turkey Day show alive with a midday show anchored by Ryan Shuttleworth and featuring a collection of the rock host’s former producers — Kevin Gunn, Michael Anthony Thompson, Nick McIlwain, Jason Fehon, and Chris “Pancake” Ashcraft.

    And yes, that means a heaping spoonful of Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” the folk singer’s 18-minute opus. Expect to hear three versions of the song, including the even-longer 25th anniversary edition, which will be played at noon.

    These locals once restored Pierre Robert’s VW van, Minerva. Now, they want it to serve as a tribute to the late DJ.