West Reading Avenues Winter 2017 - 6

GIFT BASKETS * STOCKING STUFFERS
TEACHER & HOSTESS GIFTS

* 2ND FRIDAY
NOV 10TH
OPEN TIL 8PM
* SMALL BUSINESS
SATURDAY
NOV 25TH

SHOP LOCAL
THIS HOLIDAY
SEASON!

EXTENDED HOURS THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS!
Hours: Sunday 11am-2pm, Monday Closed
Tuesday & Wednesday 11am-5pm * Thursday & Friday 10am-6pm
Every 2nd Friday, open until 8pm * Saturday 10am-5pm

Title Transfers * Notary
Drivers Licenses * Registrations
Duplicate Titles * Restorations

WE'VE MOVED!

734 Penn Avenue West Reading, PA 19611
610-372-9998
M-F 8:30am - 8pm * Sat 8am - 4:30pm
4

Avenues Winter 2017

University and was waiting tables while embarking on a teaching
career. Sparks flew and they were married in 1996 and enjoyed a onemonth honeymoon in Paris and Rome. Daughters Isabella ("Bella")
and Sydney came along in 1998 and 2001. Amy is the organizer of
the family (a "lister" as she says), and she provides a perfect balance
to Albert's free spirit. Albert credits Amy for always supporting his
interests, especially art. He jokes that she has graciously allotted
him one entire room in the house for his studio, but readily admits
he needs that type of a parameter or he tends to leave art-related
materials and instruments all over the house. With her encouragement,
he realized he needed to stop trying to please others and stop caring
what everyone thought to bloom creatively. She also made him stop
giving his work away and start SELLING it. He sells pieces through
social media and art shows, and does commissioned work. He also
works in Venetian plaster ("fresco style") in both his artwork and
home interior painting.
Several months ago
he painted a mural for
the West Reading Elm
Street Project - check
out this jazz-inspired
masterpiece on the
b a ck o f t h e We s t
Reading Tavern. Also
his painting "Jazz Jam"
received first place in
the 13th annual Frank
Scott Memorial Art
Show: The Art of Jazz,
a juried exhibition held
in April.
Albert says there is no
one secret to achieving
happiness, but for him it is simple things like family and friends and
FOOD. Yes, the man cooks, too. He grew up in an Italian home,
so you bet he can cook. It is an extension of art for him, and his
family's only complaint is they never get the same dish twice as his
creativity knows no bounds and is rarely duplicated. On Wednesdays
at the club you can sample his creations for yourself, as I did on the
night we met for this interview - homemade cannelloni stuffed with
Italian squash. Delicioso! Sprinkle in some Bikram hot yoga, which
Albert has practiced for about four years, and furry felines Ollie,
Flash, and Stella, and life is pretty darn good. He is very content
in the life he has built, and the only funks he gets in can usually
be chalked up to artistic blocks which will work themselves out
eventually. A life so simple and yet so colorful is a beautiful thing.
See you at the Club! And don't forget, yours truly is a member
now so you are golden.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of West Reading Avenues Winter 2017