As summer begins to dwindle down I desperately grasp onto final warm-weather memories as much as possible. If you pick and choose the right moments, there are a few that stand out, hit all the right notes, and last through the colder days as a sign of light at the end of the tunnel.
A perfect summer memory such as that occurred on Saturday, September 15th in West Chester as a jolly crowd gathered for the Bordley House Grille’s End of Summer Bash. The weather was like a particular dish you order at a restaurant that strays from the menu but the cooks still nails it. It wasn’t standard but all the specifics were met. Every requirement was perfect. The sun was shining and there was a light breeze with just a few clouds in the sky.
Like any appropriate summer gathering the grill was serving up a selection of everyone’s favorite barbecue dishes. There was chicken hot off the grill, hot dogs with sizzle marks, fresh juicy burgers and tender pork bbq. The buns were crisp and toasty on the outside but soft, ready to cushion your meat of choice on the inside. A large bowl of colorful salad and cole slaw were awaiting the all-you-can-eat diners at the end of the pleasant picnic-like table. Potato salad, burger fixings, chocolate chip cookies and warm brownies rounded off the items for the cookout and seconds, or even thirds, were definitely encouraged.
Beautiful rolling hills and an orange setting sun provided the picturesque backdrop for young kids who ran through the grassy knoll and attendees who snacked on their favorite seasonal munchies. Many sipped their way through delicious beverage selections including Victory Beer and various sangrias created by Malibu Rum.
The crowd possessed a laid-back and relaxed attitude, in part because the live musical performers were covering soothing tunes from bands like Sublime. The Thorndale Rotary Club was also present to greet everyone with smiles. They offered a light dessert option of old fashioned popcorn for those who didn’t fancy chocolate chip cookies or warm brownies. Mommy’s Light, the event’s benefactor, had a table surrounded by children giddy about face painting.
I was just as guilty as the person sitting beside me. I was caught red handed like the guest sitting two tables over, the large crowd on the outdoor patio, and the families and friends gathered under the white tent. We were all soaking in the last bits of Summer in hopes that we could remember the moment for months to come. We wanted to hold onto the delicious scents of barbecue seasoning and never forget the sight of the children playing in their shorts, t-shirts and summer dresses.
It was a bittersweet moment but then I remembered one very important factor. The Bordley House Grille does not close in winter like the Broad Run Golf Course it sits on. It’s not solely an End of Summer Bash location where event attendees gather, eat and listen to live music. There is another side – the inside actually – to The Bordley House Grill that will be there when the next season rolls around. It will be there for einter and it will be there for the next spring and it will certainly be waiting for you when summer comes around again.
While I wanted to hang on to this most recent Summer moment as long as possible I can’t wait to move inside and observe The Bordley House Grille’s other inviting elements. A cozy bar, fireplace, and hearty seasonal dishes that fill your belly while the snow falls outside. Yes, it was the perfect setting for an End of Summer Bash but the promises that this restaurant holds for the future are just as exciting as the memories I made that evening.
