Latest news with #Phoenixville
CBS News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Pennsylvania movie theater offers free tickets for classic films during holiday weekend
The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville is inviting movie lovers to enjoy classic films on the big screen at no cost this weekend, thanks to a national campaign supporting independent cinemas. The landmark venue, which opened in 1902, is one of five theatres nationwide participating in Pluto TV's Free Movie Weekend on Saturday and Sunday. "So if you want to come out and see 'Hook,' 'Labyrinth,' 'Jumanji,' or 'The Phoenician Scheme,' you get a free ticket courtesy of Pluto TV," Bob Trate, director of programming at the Colonial Theatre, said. The goal of the event is to bring people back to independent and family-run theaters that are still recovering from the pandemic. "What I find really refreshing and fascinating is that a streaming service like Pluto TV is actually pushing people to get away from the TV and go back to the theater to fall in love with movies," Trate said. Attendees will also receive free bags of popcorn — one to eat during the film and one to take home — and fireworks glasses. "What I love about coming to the movies is you're detached from the rest of the world," Trate said. "You have to give yourself over to the movie for 90 minutes to two hours, and you can actually be a part of the story." The free movie weekend also serves as a lead-up to Blobfest, the theater's signature festival that celebrates the 1958 sci-fi classic "The Blob," which was filmed at the Colonial. As part of the festivities, fans will reenact the famous scene where terrified moviegoers run out of the theatre. "This year we've expanded our kids' programming to introduce a new kids' zone, which was sponsored by PECO," Jennifer Carlson, executive director of the Colonial Theatre, said. PECO is also sponsoring screenings of "La Masa Devoradora," the Spanish version of "The Blob." Those interested in attending Pluto TV's Free Movie Weekend can reserve their tickets on the theater's website here or pick them up at the box office.
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Travel + Leisure
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
10 Best Small Towns to Live in the U.S., According to Real Estate Experts
The fictional small town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, may only exist in Gilmore Girls , but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of equally charming destinations within the U.S. that offer a similar setting and slower pace of life. Of course, real life requires more amenities than what appears in Amy Sherman-Palladino's hit series—although a local diner is certainly appreciated—and there are many factors that ensure a small town is a great place to live. The most livable small towns have access to health and educational facilities, green spaces, and cultural activities. Affordable housing is also critical. With those characteristics in mind, we asked a few real estate experts to share their picks for the best small towns to live in the U.S. right now. The Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images 'Phoenixville is a town that got knocked down—and then turned that comeback into a community-wide celebration,' says Casey Gaddy, realtor at The Gaddy Group, referencing the closure of the Phoenix Steel Company in the 1980s. 'What used to be steel and soot is now sidewalk cafés, murals, music, and pizzazz.' About an hour outside of Philadelphia, Phoenixville is a hub for those who want to experience culture without battling city traffic. 'Come First Friday, Bridge Street shuts down and becomes a block party, music spills out of storefronts, and families explore among art vendors,' he adds. Those hoping to buy a home in Phoenixville may also be able to find a good real estate deal. 'With home prices around $400,000, this is one of the last Philly-adjacent towns where you can still find magic, momentum, and a mortgage that doesn't break you or your wallet,' he says. Birds in a West Richland, Washington park. Now's the time to call West Richland home, at least according to Cary McGee, a realtor based in Tri-Cities. 'West Richland is growing faster than any of our local towns. New developments are going up, new schools are being built, and new shopping and restaurants are following.' She also adds that West Richland has been named one of the safest cities in Washington, and the weather and average home prices are significantly more appealing than what you'll experience in Seattle. 'People from the west side of the state sometimes move here for the weather—we get about 20 percent of the rain that Seattle gets—and because their dollar goes further, especially when it comes to real estate,' she explains. The median sale price for a home in West Richland is around $500,000, while the homes in Emerald City frequently rise above $900,000. City hall building in Belmont, North Carolina. Charlie Williams of the Williams Property Collective calls Belmont 'one of the best older smaller towns in the Charlotte metro area.' The cost of living is 10 percent lower than the national average, and Williams says its residents benefit from 'the proximity to the historic downtown shops, homes, and parks.' The downtown area is where you'll find that classic small-town feel—visit the Belmont Historical Society, take a class at Belmont Yoga, and discover stunning public art in the form of large-scale murals. Not to mention, you're just a 12-minute drive from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, so you'll also get some of the perks and convenience of city living. A person walking along The Delaware River in Lambertville, New Jersey. Though Lambertville, New Jersey, is classified as a city, its population was last recorded at just over 4,000 people—and Gaddy describes it as a destination that 'lives at the intersection of elegance and soul.' 'Explore and find quaint galleries, antique shops, and Lambertville Station, where dinner comes with a view and a little local history served on the side. Weekends mean wandering the stalls at the Golden Nugget Flea Market, where treasure hunting is practically a sport,' he says. Plus, he notes, that it's 'one of those rare places where people still say hello on the sidewalk and where every corner feels like it belongs on a postcard.' Given its proximity to two major cities, New York City and Philadelphia, real estate does tend to run on the higher side; according to Redfin, the median sale price for a home is around $617,500. For many, the cost of living is still worth it when you factor in the community atmosphere and relatively low crime rate. A museum in Frisco, Colorado. Anyone who loves the outdoors will likely have Colorado on their shortlist of places to move. But where, exactly, in the Centennial State should you move? Well, if you like the small-town feel of Breckenridge but don't want to pay the resort town prices, shift your search to nearby Frisco. While real estate is on the high end—the average home value is just over $970,000—you'll have a year-round outdoor playground right outside your door. In the winter, head over to Keystone, Copper Mountain, or Breckenridge slopes; in the summer, you've got both land and water-based activities. The Dillon Reservoir allows for boating and fishing, and you can camp, hike, and bike around the shoreline. 'Penngrove is a charming small town in Sonoma County that feels like stepping into a cozy TV re-run. Though it's just a one-light town tucked into the foothills, it offers easy access to modern conveniences while providing a peaceful escape from city life,' says Holly Schaefer, a West Coast-based realtor with Corcoran Icon Properties. 'The lifestyle blends country living with a touch of funk, with many homes on generous lots (averaging nearly three acres) and a community full of character—from working farms to unique and vibrant local businesses. Longstanding traditions like the Fourth of July parade and the beloved K–6 school give Penngrove its warm, tight-knit feel and make it a truly special place to call home,' she says. Real estate in Penngrove, however, doesn't come cheap. Zillow estimates the average home value in Penngrove is more than $1.2 million. If that's in your budget, and you appreciate a rural community with easy access to cities (including Petaluma and Santa Rosa), this may be your definition of the perfect small town. Recently named by GoBankingRates as the best small town to retire in, Maplewood, Missouri, bats above average in a few categories—namely, cost of living, livability, and crime rate. As a resident, your living expenses will be around 10 percent lower than the national average, and you'll have access to a variety of amenities that help increase the town's liveability score; there's a strong sense of community, a highly rated public school system, and top-tier healthcare facilities in nearby St. Louis. The harbor of Lewes, Delaware. DanaIf you're considering moving to Delaware for its tax advantages—like low property taxes and no tax on Social Security benefits—you may want to check out Lewes, a 3,604-person town located where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. 'Lewes has this way of slowing you down without asking. The town is walkable, historic, and close to the water, but what stands out most is that no one is performing here,' says Gaddy. 'You'll get a wave from the person across the street and maybe a tip on where to get the best crab roll without even asking.' Real estate is significantly more affordable in Lewes, as compared to the beach communities of Rehoboth and Dewey Beach to the south. 'Home prices hover around $500,000, and for that, you're getting more than just a beach town—you're buying into a community that still feels like itself. It's the kind of place where people come for the weekend and quietly start checking the real estate listings before they leave,' Gaddy adds. A church in Campton Hills, are three major reasons to move to Campton Hills, Illinois: safety, schools, and proximity to a major city. Safewise recently named the 10,731-person community the 'Safest City in America,' and the town's school districts continue to receive high ratings. While a good portion of Campton Hills is considered rural, keep in mind that the bustling city of Chicago is only 60 miles away; the commute is certainly doable, especially if you only plan on making the journey a couple of times a week. Bike path in downtown Dunedin, Florida. SR Productions/Adobe Stock Though it has a population of around 36,000 (the highest on this list), this Florida town offers plenty of quaint charm. 'Home to iconic Honeymoon Island State Park, Caladesi Island, and the recently restored Dunedin Golf Club, home buyers see Dunedin as one of the true small-town gems,' says real estate advisor Jim Henkel. He also credits its 'amazing, walkable downtown with many shops, restaurants, and breweries' for its livability. If you plan on living in this coastal town full-time, you'll reap the benefits of a decent cost of living (6 percent lower than the national average), a 52 percent lower crime rate than Florida as a whole, and the aforementioned scenic beauty and recreational opportunities. Spend your free time kayaking, swimming, and soaking up the Gulf Coast weather. Of course, no place is perfect; Dunedin is at risk for hurricane damage and was hit by Hurricane Helene in 2024.
The Independent
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Sean Baker reflects on becoming a 'weird spokesperson' for theatergoing
During his best director acceptance speech at this year's Academy Awards, Sean Baker zealously spoke about the importance of theatergoing, particularly the increasingly threatened independently-owned cinemas. Baker was accepting the award for ' Anora,' which won five of the six Oscars it was nominated for that night. On the other side of that awards campaign, the independent filmmaker is continuing his evangelism for seeing films on the big screen by teaming up with Pluto TV for 'Free Movie Weekend,' which highlights independent and family-owned theaters across the country throughout the summer, including the Music Box Theatre in Chicago this weekend. The initiative kicked off with Baker's pick near Los Angeles — the Gardena Cinema. Complimentary tickets will also be offered to the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, as well as Detroit's Redford Theater in the coming weeks. In an exclusive interview, Baker spoke with The Associated Press about why he feels like a 'weird spokesperson' for theatergoing and how he hopes his next film will differ from his previous work. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: You are an outspoken advocate for independent and family-owned movie theaters. Why are they so important to you? BAKER: I'm Gen X. Growing up, the theaters that we primarily went to were independently owned and usually family owned. Multiplexes kicked in in the late 80s. I love multiplexes. They're great, but there is something that's a little more intimate and has that family warmth. It's not a corporate environment. For a very long time, that's how I discovered and fell in love with the movies. And then I actually worked in an independently-owned theater. It was the craziest thing. It was called the Roberts Cinema in New Jersey, and I applied for a job as the ticket ripper. It was a small business, so next thing you know, they are training me on the projectors. Next thing, they're like, 'We need a manager.' So, at 17 years old, I was managing, projecting and ticket ripping at a theater in Manville, New Jersey, that's no longer there. They played mostly Disney films during the day and foreign films at night. It was my first real job and I look back fondly on that time. And then I went to film school and I started making movies. It's always been with the intention of making feature films for theaters. A dream of mine is to someday maybe even own a theater. AP: I think there are a lot of people who think big movies with big movie stars are the secret to getting people into theaters. BAKER: That's something that I've been personally battling with. I am preaching that this sort of entertainment is meant first and foremost for theaters, so come out and see them. And then at the same time, I make films that are a little bit difficult and not exactly friendly for a wide audience. But I hope that, since my films lean into a little more into that prestige world, maybe people will come out looking for that sort of thing. 'This film won the Palme d'Or and then eventually an Academy Award. Maybe this is something we should see in the theater, even though it doesn't fit the mold of what we normally are going to see, which are the blockbuster popcorn movies.' Those are the movies that keep cinemas alive, not my films. Maybe someday. But it's the 'Barbies' that are keeping the cinemas alive, not the 'Anoras,' even though 'Anora' did amazingly well in the hands of Neon. I do sometimes feel like a weird spokesperson for this because I'm not exactly delivering what I'm preaching on. AP: The Oscars this year were sort of like a PSA for theatergoing. I wonder if you subscribe to the idea that that message would be received better if the Academy recognized movies like 'Wicked' or 'Dune: Part Two' more. BAKER: They do. I mean, those films were nominated. But maybe. Maybe we do need that one extra category for box office success. Why not celebrate that too? I mean that's something that other awards shows around the world celebrate and there's no reason not to celebrate when a film hits the zeitgeist. That's an important cultural milestone. So why not celebrate that publicly? That's what the Oscars are for in many ways. AP: We've talked before about the success of 'Anora' and how you are thinking about how it will inform your next film. BAKER: I think the new thing that I'm dealing with is just the pressure of how do I follow up 'Anora?' I don't want to disappoint people, but I want to give something a little new and different. It's just scary. I don't know how else to say it. I just woke up. It's scary. But hopefully I'm working with the same people again, not only making the film, but also distributing the film. And hopefully we make another film that connects. My favorite filmmakers are filmmakers that do mix it up. They stay in their wheelhouse because that's their voice. But there's always a new thing. And hopefully my new thing is just leaning a little more into comedy. For a long time, I've made films that I would consider to be dramas or tragedies with comedic elements and I kind of want to push it into the comedy with dramatic or tragic elements. That might be my change.
Associated Press
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Sean Baker reflects on becoming a 'weird spokesperson' for theatergoing
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] LOS ANGELES (AP) — During his best director acceptance speech at this year's Academy Awards, Sean Baker zealously spoke about the importance of theatergoing, particularly the increasingly threatened independently-owned cinemas . Baker was accepting the award for 'Anora,' which won five of the six Oscars it was nominated for that night. On the other side of that awards campaign, the independent filmmaker is continuing his evangelism for seeing films on the big screen by teaming up with Pluto TV for 'Free Movie Weekend,' which highlights independent and family-owned theaters across the country throughout the summer, including the Music Box Theatre in Chicago this weekend. The initiative kicked off with Baker's pick near Los Angeles — the Gardena Cinema. Complimentary tickets will also be offered to the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, as well as Detroit's Redford Theater in the coming weeks. In an exclusive interview, Baker spoke with The Associated Press about why he feels like a 'weird spokesperson' for theatergoing and how he hopes his next film will differ from his previous work. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: You are an outspoken advocate for independent and family-owned movie theaters. Why are they so important to you? BAKER: I'm Gen X. Growing up, the theaters that we primarily went to were independently owned and usually family owned. Multiplexes kicked in in the late 80s. I love multiplexes. They're great, but there is something that's a little more intimate and has that family warmth. It's not a corporate environment. For a very long time, that's how I discovered and fell in love with the movies. And then I actually worked in an independently-owned theater. It was the craziest thing. It was called the Roberts Cinema in New Jersey, and I applied for a job as the ticket ripper. It was a small business, so next thing you know, they are training me on the projectors. Next thing, they're like, 'We need a manager.' So, at 17 years old, I was managing, projecting and ticket ripping at a theater in Manville, New Jersey, that's no longer there. They played mostly Disney films during the day and foreign films at night. It was my first real job and I look back fondly on that time. And then I went to film school and I started making movies. It's always been with the intention of making feature films for theaters. A dream of mine is to someday maybe even own a theater. AP: I think there are a lot of people who think big movies with big movie stars are the secret to getting people into theaters. BAKER: That's something that I've been personally battling with. I am preaching that this sort of entertainment is meant first and foremost for theaters, so come out and see them. And then at the same time, I make films that are a little bit difficult and not exactly friendly for a wide audience. But I hope that, since my films lean into a little more into that prestige world, maybe people will come out looking for that sort of thing. 'This film won the Palme d'Or and then eventually an Academy Award. Maybe this is something we should see in the theater, even though it doesn't fit the mold of what we normally are going to see, which are the blockbuster popcorn movies.' Those are the movies that keep cinemas alive, not my films. Maybe someday. But it's the 'Barbies' that are keeping the cinemas alive, not the 'Anoras,' even though 'Anora' did amazingly well in the hands of Neon. I do sometimes feel like a weird spokesperson for this because I'm not exactly delivering what I'm preaching on. AP: The Oscars this year were sort of like a PSA for theatergoing. I wonder if you subscribe to the idea that that message would be received better if the Academy recognized movies like 'Wicked' or 'Dune: Part Two' more. BAKER: They do. I mean, those films were nominated. But maybe. Maybe we do need that one extra category for box office success. Why not celebrate that too? I mean that's something that other awards shows around the world celebrate and there's no reason not to celebrate when a film hits the zeitgeist. That's an important cultural milestone. So why not celebrate that publicly? That's what the Oscars are for in many ways. AP: We've talked before about the success of 'Anora' and how you are thinking about how it will inform your next film. BAKER: I think the new thing that I'm dealing with is just the pressure of how do I follow up 'Anora?' I don't want to disappoint people, but I want to give something a little new and different. It's just scary. I don't know how else to say it. I just woke up. It's scary. But hopefully I'm working with the same people again, not only making the film, but also distributing the film. And hopefully we make another film that connects. My favorite filmmakers are filmmakers that do mix it up. They stay in their wheelhouse because that's their voice. But there's always a new thing. And hopefully my new thing is just leaning a little more into comedy. For a long time, I've made films that I would consider to be dramas or tragedies with comedic elements and I kind of want to push it into the comedy with dramatic or tragic elements. That might be my change.
CBS News
13-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
"Voracious" snakehead fish that can breathe on land found in Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania
After an invasive northern snakehead fish was found in the Schuylkill River in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, officials are spreading awareness to fishers about what they have to do: kill snakeheads on sight. Park rangers at Black Rock Sanctuary in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, found one of the fish last week, Chester County Parks and Preservation said on social media, sharing a photo of the rangers with the fish. Snakeheads are native to Russia, China and the Korean Peninsula but have been spotted around the United States, including waterways in Missouri and Maryland. The first confirmed snakehead catch in Pennsylvania occurred in July 2004 in Meadow Lake in Philadelphia's FDR Park, according to the state Fish and Boat Commission. Northern snakeheads are disruptive to local fish. Considered "voracious eaters," they will compete with native species and eat their food and occupy the habitat. Snakeheads can notably breathe air and move across land, and sometimes last for multiple days out of water, meaning they can travel between bodies of water. "Anglers in possession of snakeheads must immediately kill the fish onsite to prevent its spread," Chester County Parks and Preservation said. FBC says snakeheads may be confused for Pennsylvania native species like bowfin and burbot, but snakeheads stand out with their scaly heads that have a more interlocked pattern. You can also check out a diagram on the commission's website.
