BY SCOTT HOLLOWAY

Now that the calendar has finally caught up with the weather, the swath of land the Delaware River has carved over eons has once again come alive. With a dazzling display of radiant splendor, what better way to enjoy nature’s finest blooms by seeking out the most colorful displays of seasonal rebirth? And for flower fans everywhere – bees excluded – the New Hope Historical Society has just the ticket.

On June 2, nearly 1,000 horticulture enthusiasts are expected to stroll six exquisite gardens as part of the 19th- Annual New Hope Historical Society Garden Tour. “Ticket-bearers are invited to experience the self-guided tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” says Susan Sandor, an organizer of the event. “I’m certain anyone who takes the time to explore these private gardens will be more than pleased by what they discover.”

As a special lure, the day ends with a “talk and walk” through the gardens of honorary chairperson Ridge Goodwin, Bucks County’s preeminent conifer expert. “Garden enthusiasts will find the time with Ridge [Goodwin] worth the price of admission alone,” Sandor says. “His wealth of knowledge and experience is a rare opportunity for anyone looking to turn their thumb a deeper shade of green.”

Beyond the blooms growing from fertile soil, there’s at least one other treat for tour-goers. Courtesy of local artist Pearl Mintzer, 100 crystal-daisy rings will be offered on the day of the tour at the garden gates and the Parry Mansion for only $20. “The limited-edition rings are dazzling and a ‘must-have’ for your fingers,” Sandor says. “Proceeds from their sale, as well as tickets, benefit the historical society and their goals for the New Hope community.”

Tickets for the 19th-Annual New Hope Historical Society Garden Tour are $30. To order, go online at newhopehs.org or call 215-862-5652.

BY OLIVER WHITE

When Hurricane Irene swept through our area last August, many were left with only with a little extra clean up and perhaps an extended power outage. But not everyone was so fortunate. And for Mark Holbrow and Lisa Martini, co-owners of the Bucks County Academy of Fencing in Lambertville, the unthinkable happened. “The Coryell Creek overflowed its banks and basically destroyed everything in our building,” Martini says. “The damage was beyond devastating.”

But after nearly a year of hard work, setbacks, a community outpouring of assistance and a temporary move across the river, the fencers are back. On April 4, the academy welcomed back its students to the refurbished facility complete with a new fencing floor, bathrooms, armory bench and spectator area. “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated time, money and materials,” Holbrow says. “We could not have made it through this without the support of our fencers, families, friends and community.”

For more information on the Bucks County Academy of Fencing and a complete list of events and courses, go online at bcaf.com.

BY JACK FIRNENO

It’s late April, and summer is already in the air on South Street. The line outside the Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA) stretches down the block, almost around the corner. As the crowd filters in, the usual rituals commence. Some visit the merch tables early, picking up T-shirts or vinyl records. Others head straight toward the stage, staking out their spot on the sloped former movietheater floor long before the first band begins. The stage itself is crowded with six bands’ worth of drumsets and amplifiers. With tonight’s crowded lineup, the curtains won’t even close for the five-minute breaks between sets.

In 2012, the only difference between the scene here today and 15 years ago is that some of the people standing against the wall or sitting cross-legged on the floor are engrossed in textmessage conversations. Technology and bands may change, but the attitude at a punk show never will. Tonight’s main attraction is the Wonder Years, who hail from nearby Landsdale. With fast, occasionally chunky rhythms, bright melodies and heart-on-their sleeves vocals, they’ve perfected the pop-punk formula.

The show will be the second time bassist Josh Martin and his bandmates – vocalist Dan Campbell, drummer Mike Kennedy, keyboardist Nick Steinborn and guitarists Matt Brasch and Casey Cavaliere – are playing the TLA. The Wonder Years had a quick opening slot here a few years ago but are now headlining a sold-out two-night stand. “I remember coming here when I was younger and seeing bands like Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer and Reel Big Fish,” Martin recalls, fondly. “I stepped out on the stage today during soundcheck and visualized 900 people here. I felt completely blown away.”

The band’s managed to stay so busy over the past few years that it’s quite possible this is the first time their success has sunk in. “Ever since The Upsides came out, it’s been a roller coaster,” Martin says, referring to the group’s 2010 album, their third release. “Ultimately, we just try to tour hard, write honestly and hope people notice and come out to shows.”

“ Ultimately, we just try to tour hard, write honestly and hope people notice and come out to shows.” – Josh Martin

And so far, the simple strategy is working. The Wonders Years went from playing smaller venues like Siren Records in Doylestown to the First Unitarian Church and then Union Transfer in Philadelphia. They toured with Streetlight Manifesto and traveled as far as England and Australia. They spent a summer on the Warped Tour. Tonight is the dénouement of their first solo headlining trek. As a fitting culmination, they’ll play their latest album, Suburbia I’ve Given You Everything and Now I’m Nothing, in its entirety.

Next up is a tour with the Early November. “I’m really excited about this one,” Martin says. “I listen to them a lot, so it’ll be great to be out with them. It’s a really great package.” After that, the Wonder Years will hit the studio and begin work on their fourth full-length record. Martin says there’s no telling what it will sound like until they start writing, but he expects it’ll be another statement on where they are and what they think. “I don’t think a lot of people realize how dynamic this band is,” he explains. “In between albums, you grow as people and as a band. Even for all the time we spend together, we all have different experiences and sets of emotions.” These perspectives, he says, get thrown in the mix when the writing begins. “There’s no one songwriter for us; everyone has their say,” Martin continues. “Sometimes there’s a bit of push and pull with six of us in the band. But even if one part seems wrong, putting it with another can yield a great third. That’s how some of our best songs come about. Sometimes you feel like you’re taking a step backwards to go forward.”

Back at the TLA, even after five acts, the crowd’s enthusiasm hasn’t waned. It begins to reach fever pitch as the Wonder Years take the stage. They open with the aptly titled Came Out Swinging, its opening siren-like guitar riff revving up the already electric atmosphere. They break into the verse; the crowd explodes. A mosh pit forms. People start jumping in place. Crowd-surfers make their way toward the stage.

“I came out swinging from a South Philly basement,” Campbell sings, softly during the song’s lowkey bridge. It’s a line loaded with meaning for anyone who’s been to a cheap punk show. When he sings the line again at full throttle and the band comes crashing back in, the crowd screams it with him. And for all the bands in all the basements, right now, the one that matters is the Wonder Years.

Go online at thewonderyearsband.com.

BY LAUREN GREAVES

Imagine a sprawling 50-acre estate on the outskirts of Doylestown Borough with a full-service resort nestled in a renovated 1800s-era stone barn. The space offers its guests a myriad of perks during their stay from outdoor activities and nature walks to yoga sessions and homemade organic treats. There is plenty of time to bond with other vacationers and staff members alike. Now imagine this getaway, rather than the perfect weekend escape for you, is actually a haven for your pets.

When envisioning the Holiday House Pet Resort, forget everything you thought you knew about kennels and boarding facilities. Instead, coowner Dr. Laura Weis, DVM, and her staff strive to create a new paradigm for caring for your family’s beloved companions while you’re out of town. By providing an enjoyable, enriching and active environment for dogs, cats and the occasional guinea pig or bird, your pet can be having the time of its life while you’re off having yours, too. “Holiday House exists to provide superior services for pets during their stay,” Weis says. “We have created a place where our animal companions simply love to come and play.”

When Weis and her husband, Ransome, also a veterinarian, took ownership of the business in 2004, both hoped to continue Holiday House’s long history of providing upscale care for our four legged friends. Originally opened in 1950 as a breeding kennel for poodles, the property was soon converted to a luxury lodging facility by the original owner, who renovated the existing stone barn to include tiled, heated floors, automatically refilling water bowls and indoor-outdoor spaces for each pet. These days, feline guests lounge in multi-level kitty condos. And their canine compadres can run to their heart’s content outside with other playful pups.

“Through our play activities, we get to know each pet as an individual.” – Laura Weis, DVM

But it’s not just the physical accommodations that set Holiday House apart. “Now, when people are looking for a place for their pets, they’re hoping for something as close as they can find to their home environment,” Weis says. “For starters, that means lots of companionship with staff members and individualized vacation plans for each animal that comes through the door. Through our play activities, we get to know each pet as an individual.” These activities include nature walks, playtimes, massages, cuddles sessions, nighttime tuck-ins, story time and cat laser tag, just to name a few. And as unorthodox as it might sound, Weis explains that there are plenty of current studies, including her own, that show just how vital this type of interaction is for a pet’s happiness, health and wellbeing. “Pets’ lives have evolved,” she says. “These animals live in our houses, sleep in our beds, grow up with our children and receive constant attention in their home environments. Why should a vacation be any different?”

In addition to selecting from the varied menu of daily activities, pet owners can opt to have their animals enrolled in training classes or groomed to perfection during their stay. Holiday House also offers a doggie daycare with a daily calendar of activities, art projects and fun events to occupy your dog while you’re at work. And with full-care veterinary services available on-site, your pet will also be well cared for medically. Weis says that all staff members are professionally trained and receive continuing education on a variety of animal-related issues every month.

And while animals will always remain the sole focus of Holiday House, the loving attention from their uniquely qualified staff also makes a huge difference. Some resort staff members come from veterinary or animal-related fields while others embrace the position as a second career or an escape from the corporate world. And, like any local business, Weis says that the success of Holiday House derives in large part from the community: ”We are lucky to live and work in Bucks County, where pets are beloved members of our families.”

For more information on Holiday House lodging or monthly events, go online at holidayhousepetresort.com.

BY OLIVER WHITE

On May 11, the Traditional Artists of Bucks County at Rolling Green Farm will open their third-annual invitational art exhibition and sale. Held over the course of three days, proceeds from the sale will benefit the Bucks County SPCA and their dedication to employing all available means to prevent and alleviate the suffering of animals. “Most people might not know the Bucks County SPCA is an independent nonprofit organization,” explains John Chapman, one of the show’s organizers. “It’s not a branch of any other organization and is not supported by tax dollars.”

The event is also a showcase for local artists. Representing a cross section of two-dimensional, traditional themes, the rich artistic legacy of the area is celebrated in concert with helping those without a voice.

The show will be hosted at the Rolling Green Farm, located at Route 202 and Aquetong Road in Solebury. It is open to the public May 11 from 5:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m. and May 12 and 13 from 11:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call John Chapman at 215-348-2011.

BY CORINNE PULSINELLE

“The weather, the light and the sky are always different. I strive for the movement of energy within my painting.” – Jennifer Hansen Rolli

To find yourself in a world of emotionally charged brushstrokes, kinetic skies forged from paint and moments where shadows reflect from the sides of stately buildings like echoes, you needn’t look any further than a canvas prepared by Jennifer Hansen Rolli. The Impressionist painter is entranced by both the physical beauty and temperament of Bucks County landscapes, which always seem to be in flux. “You are always chasing the seasons. The weather, the light and the sky are always different,” she explains, encapsulating her muse. “I strive for the movement of energy within my painting. Sometimes it’s light and sometimes it’s emotion.”

With a vaunted history of capturing the area on canvas, Hansen Rolli and other Bucks’ Impressionists have longheld a national reputation. “There is something special about this area that attracted the Impressionists,” she says. “We have the mountains, the river, great towns, yet it is still cosmopolitan. I like being in a place where the heart beats more contemporary.”

And while Hansen Rolli’s loaded brush hits her canvas with rhythm and fluidity, she is no stranger to the concept of structure. Her first painting teacher as a child was her father, an engineer by trade who could map out a schematic drawing and also mix oil paint. With an appreciation for quiet study, he took his youngest daughter outside to paint. Years later, Hansen Rolli continued her artistic studies at Kutztown University, majoring in communication arts. Her degree eventually led to the launch of her own design firm. “I learned where to place text and image, so that it makes sense. My design background is there when I lay out a painting,” she says, noting that her strong foundational skills are tools she uses carefully. “My struggle as an artist is to keep the work from becoming mechanical. I can render whatever is sitting in front of me, but I’m always pushing myself away from that, so that I can abstract what I am seeing.”

But despite the success of her design career, Hansen Rolli, like many artists, also sought change and new challenges. “I basically had designed everything under the sun,” she says. “I just exhausted it, and I didn’t want to get into web design. I decided to give painting a year, and I haven’t looked back.”

After four years of representation by another area gallery, Hansen Rolli decided to strike out on her own. And in 2008, she orchestrated her own show, an exhibition entitled New Light. Set in an uninhabited farmhouse in New Hope, the vacant walls proved to be the ideal vertical platforms for her energetic paintings. But the event proved to be short-lived: “I had to take everything down fairly quickly, because the show was contingent on the house being sold. The show sold quite a few paintings, but I wish it had been up for a month to get more mileage out of the advertising and hard work.”

But all dark clouds have a proverbial silver lining. Drawing from her experience, Hansen Rolli’s 2010 show, New Ground, in Newtown, caught the attention of Herman Silverman, the man behind the Silverman Gallery in Buckingham, the Michener Museum and other local artistic institutions. “He [Silverman] came along at the absolute perfect time,” she says. “It’s exciting to create your own show from scratch, but they take a lot of work. I’m able to package myself very well, but it’s too much time away from the painting.”

Now, as part of Silverman’s “Core Four,” along with fellow Impressionists Joseph Barrett, Myles Cavanaugh and Alan Fetterman, the striking images Hansen Rolli captures are given the permanent spotlight they deserve. “He [Silverman] had a vision of putting four artists together to paint in the Impressionist style and exhibit work in this space,” she explains. “This way, people could come in and just focus on us.” Of course, it’s also afforded the painter another unique experience. “It’s the first time in my life I’ve had a boss,” she adds, laughing.

With 100 years of Bucks County Impressionism and more to come, the local art community finds themselves deeply invested in Hansen Rolli’s work. Perhaps it’s the rare opportunity to save a moment of dramatic sunlight bathing a rolling hill as we drive past it. Or maybe it’s the chance to savor the delicate wisps of green in a slumbering forest, forecasting the return of early spring buds. Whatever the case, Hansen Rolli continues to offer us a fresh lens through which to view our surroundings: “The world I paint gives back to me even more than I am putting in.”

Jennifer Hansen Rolli’s latest show, Moving Skies, will open this month at the Silverman Gallery, 4920 York Rd. in Buckingham. An opening reception will be held May 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and May 6 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit will run through June 9. For more information, go online at thesilvermangallery.com or call 215-794-4300.

BY SCOTT HOLLOWAY

Ask any area artisan about the first name in local crafting and one choice is sure to come to mind: Byers’ Choice. Known both the region and the nation over for their signature holiday-themed Caroler® figurines, the Chalfont-based company is looking beyond Christmas and toward Mother’s Day as a way to support others in the field.

On May 12 and 13, Byers’ Choice will host their inaugural craft show, featuring 70 artisans and premiere craftsmen at the company’s Bucks County workshop. Highlighting a variety of handmade items from traditional crafts to modern creations, the event holds a special place in Joyce Byers’ heart, founder and head designer of the company, who got her start at similar venues. “As a company based on the values of handcrafted items, we couldn’t be more excited to host this one-of-a-kind show,” she says. “We know the love and dedication that goes into the pieces that will be on display, and we’re eager to highlight some of the best area artisans.”

For more information on the show, go online at byerschoicecraftshow.com.

BY JACK FIRNENO

“When I’m looking at a property with a client, I want to be sure that I can sell this house for them later.” – Todd McCarty

Whether you’re excited about buying your first home or bracing yourself for the process of purchasing again, knowing what you’re looking for means much more than the number of bathrooms or whether or not there’s a swimming pool. “The first thing I think about is resale,” says Todd McCarty, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Hearthside in Doylestown. “Today, the average homeowner will sell the house they just bought in seven years. When I’m looking at a property with a client, I want to be sure that I can sell this house for them later.”

According to McCarty, thinking about your new home’s future value is just as important as what you’re buying now. We sat down with McCarty to get a few tips on what to look for and what to consider when weighing your options.

Don’t Buy What You Can’t Change

A homeowner can make many cosmetic or structural improvements during the time they own their home. But, cautions McCarty, a buyer needs to be aware of what they can’t change and how that may affect their attempt to sell down the line. “If, say, there are power lines in the backyard or the house is on a major road, there’s nothing you can do about it,” he explains. “Even though you may be able to get it for well-below market value, it will still be there when you’re ready to sell.”

McCarty urges clients to take unchangeable factors into account even if they plan on staying in their new house for a long time. “Unfortunately, things can happen that are out of your control, which force you to sell your house,” he says. “Someone may lose their job or have to relocate for work. And if you need to sell quickly, you have to know what might make that a difficult process.”

A Little Work Can Go a Long Way

With a background in the trades, improving a property is McCarty’s favorite part of real estate. “I have a great network of contractors. When a buyer has an idea, I love to be able to tell them, ‘Let’s get someone out here today to give you a quote,” he says.

And if you’ve got a vision for your new home, the right work can turn a modest purchase now into a big-ticket item later. “I had house with an old kitchen go for $350,000 in a neighborhood where sales are regularly between $450,000 to $500,000,” McCarty recalls. “But my buyer planned to knock out walls and install new floors, cabinets and appliances. His $300,000 investment turned the house into one that will now sell for much more.”

Whether you can do the work or will be hiring contractors, proper planning is key. “Make a list of what you need to do in the first few months and then what you’d like to conquer each year,” McCarty suggests. “Price as many projects as you can before buying. You don’t want to end up house-poor or unable to afford your improvements.”

Short Sales Aren’t Quick Sales

As another real-estate strategy, McCarty recommends steering clear of distress sales, short sales or bank owned homes. When a homeowner owes more money than a house is worth, they may make short-sale arrangements with the bank that holds their mortgage in order to sell below what they owe. “Logic would have you think the lenders would want to make a quick sale and take the loss rather than end up owning the property themselves,” he says. However, only about a third of short sales under contract lead to a closing. “The bank still has to approve a short sale even though they haven’t actually bought the property,” McCarty continues. “That approval process can take much longer than the average 60 to 90 days for closing. If you’re working within a specific time frame, that can throw a major wrench in the works.”

And while using a Realtor with experience in short sales can improve those odds, McCarty says, bank-owned properties are usually a safer bet. “In those cases, the lender has a clear idea of the loss and is ready to sell.

BY KYLE BAGENSTOSE

 Over the past eight months, volunteers with the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown (VIA) have been planning and preparing for their largest fundraiser of the year. And for the past eight weeks, dozens of the region’s best designers and landscapers have been pouring their creativity and elbow grease into reinventing the historic Spring Valley Farm in Furlong. And as the calendar turns to May, the culmination of all that hard work will be on display for thousands to see as the 37th Bucks County Designer House and Gardens opens its doors to the public.

Open daily from May 6 to June 3, each room of the featured house offers the work of a creative mind, transforming a property into a de facto “who’s who” of the local design community. The yearly event finds both prominent area designers and contractors donating their time to convert a chosen property into an aesthetic showcase. “They’re pretty much given free reign and conceive of everything from traditional to contemporary looks,” says Joy Levy, publicity chair for the VIA’s Designer House Committee. “There’s something that will attract everybody.”

But the renovations are not only for the enjoyment of the home enthusiast, but also benefit the VIA Health System, which owns and operates the Doylestown Hospital and Pine Run Retirement Community. “Much of the money we raise goes to the hospital. This is the second year of a multi-year commitment to the new birthing center,” explains Debbie Camiolo, the committee chairperson of the event. “Last year, we donated $200,000. We’re also able to direct money toward community grants and scholarships for women.”

This year, the VIA invited over 100 designers and landscapers from  around the region to attend an open house and submit proposals for particular rooms or spaces on the property. From there, the group handpicked 24 designers and 14 landscapers to transform their segment over the span of two months. “A lot happens in that short period of time,” Levy says. Some rooms get only a minimal makeover such as the addition of a few pieces of furniture while others are redone from floor to ceiling.

And while the creative teams took careful note in how to breathe new life into an old property, the VIA is just as thoughtful in choosing which homes to renovate, often finding houses that highlight the rich history of Bucks County. In choosing Spring Valley Farm, a property with roots dating back to 1854, the committee has once again found a home that has witnessed the changes to our region while still retaining the feel of its times. The Dutch colonial house, along with its 11 acres, was the family home of Dr. Nelson Reavey-Cantwell, a former member of the medical staff at the Doylestown Hospital.

Still owned by the family, Joe Reavey- Cantwell says his mother, Marion, always hoped that the property would be selected as a Designer Home. With her wishes now a reality, visitors from as far as New York and Delaware will enjoy the first-rate design in what was already considered a beautiful space. “It takes about two hours to tour the house and gardens,” Levy says. “We also have several boutiques and lunch items available. It’s a great way to spend a nice day with a group of friends.”

In addition to the daily tours, the Designer House programming also includes a fashion show and brunch on May 11 and 12, an opportunity to meet with the design and landscaping teams on May 17 and a series of free seminars throughout the event. The 13 seminars, held in the La Maison Café area at the farm, offer instruction in everything from home organization and low-budget redesigns to yoga and gardening.

But after the cutting-edge design work is complete, the laborious landscaping is perfected and the last visitor has passed through the home, it all comes back to the fundraising. “This is money going back to the people in need in the community,” Camiolo explains “It’s our mission to improve the health and beauty of the Bucks County area.”

The Bucks County Designer House and Gardens is open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 at the door. For more details and a complete schedule of events, go online at buckscountydesignerhouse.org.

BY JUSTIN ELSON

Athens is the birthplace of Western culture, then ancient Rome refined it into what we recognize today. And while the Eternal City’s contributions can’t be understated, it’s Rome’s smaller neighbor to the north that added true modernity to our collective social experience. In the midst of Europe’s darkest period, the Renaissance swept through the stone streets of Florence, ushering in an era of enlightened views on both the arts and science. And while the city on the Arno River is still grounded in its medieval roots, if a European trek isn’t in your summer plans, fear not. A little slice of Tuscany is coming to Bucks County.

Now through August 10 at the James A. Michener Art Museum, Offering of the Angels: Treasures from the Uffizi offers both the casual observer and art aficionado alike the rare opportunity to see 45 priceless paintings and tapestries from the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery in Florence, curated by its director Antonio Natale. But it’s more than just their mere presence that has the Michener team excited. “Besides the fact that the works have never left European soil before, many haven’t been seen by the public in decades,” says Diane Ahl, one of two consulting curators on the exhibit and a professor of art history at Lafayette College. “They’re part of the Uffizi’s ‘secret collections.’ Typically, the displays in Florentine museums remain unchanged. The Uffizi gets over1.5 million visitors a year and those guests come with certain expectations: The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo, Leonardo [da Vinci]. But there are many significant works that remain behind closed doors simply because there is not enough wall space to display them. You could be in Florence all your life, visit the Uffizi every day and still never see these works.”

“It allows viewers to really see the colors, the brushstrokes, the techniques and the various media the Renaissance artists worked with.” – Diane Ahl

And the Michener is offering one more advantage that can’t be found at the collection’s permanent home. “Many paintings at the Uffizi are displayed under protective glass,” Ahl explains. “There’s nothing covering most of the works at the Michener, so you can really get close. It allows viewers to really see the colors, the brushstrokes, the techniques and the various media the Renaissance artists worked with.”

Embodying the diversity, stylistic evolution, scale and technical mastery of art from Italy and Northern Europe over nearly 400 years, the worksrepresent a survey of European art at an important moment in its history. Highlights of the exhibit include works from Renaissance masters such as Sandro Botticelli, Tintoretto and Titian. And while their collective resumes are, in a word, iconic, their output, commissioned primarily by church officials and the powerful Medici family, suggests how visual communication portrayed the most important social influence of the time. The exhibit provides an opportunity for dialogue about the nature, history and practice of art. It also serves as a starting point for a dialogue between different faith traditions.

In conjunction with the religious subjects of the Florentine masterpieces, the Michener Museum received commitments from 17 regional religious leaders, representing the Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, and Quaker faiths, to serve on an interfaith council. The museum will serve as neutral space where faith communities can come together to learn about each other and find common ground.

With these themes in mind, Ahl paid careful attention to how the Uffizi’s work is presented. “I chose to arrange the pieces both by their order of appearance in the Bible and chronologically by the date they were created,” she says. “In choosing their placement, the development of style, technique and subject becomes evident. Informative labels, audio-guides and tours by specially trained docents also will enlighten visitors.”

But whether it’s the art, the history or the message that draws you to the show, the event is sure to be a landmark moment in the Michener’s history. “I have colleagues from all over the country coming just to see this exhibit,” Ahl says. “It’s certain to elevate the Michener’s profile, as well. And since so many visitors will be coming in from out of state, it’s also a wonderful opportunity for Doylestown and Bucks County to really show what they have to offer.”

Admission to Offering of the Angels: Treasures from the Uffizi Gallery is included with general museum admission. However, due to the anticipated popularity of the exhibition, there will be a timed entry system. As such, general museum tickets will be sold for specific dates and times during the run of the exhibition. Advance purchase of timed tickets is highly recommended. Day-of tickets are also available at the museum but will subject to availability. For tickets, hours and a complete schedule of events, go online at michenermuseum.org.