At their best, public libraries are not just places to find and borrow books. They are neighborhood gathering spaces, storehouses of public resources, and staging areas for community and educational outreach. Norristown Public Library offers locals and residents across Montgomery County access to a range of collections, services, resources, and programs. First and foremost, the building houses an impressive collection of books, magazines, newspapers, audio recordings, and films, as well as a highly-trained library staff who can help you navigate through the offerings.

Young kids can get involved in story hours, science and engineering activities, and arts and dance nights. Teenagers are welcome to participate in weekly game nights (video games, cards, or board games). Library patrons of all ages are welcome to sign up for basic computing skills classes or attend one of the library’s community days. The library can also assist you set up a public meeting, file your taxes, learn a new language, or research your family tree.

Norristown Public Library
1001 Powell Street
Norristown, PA 19401
(610) 278-5100
www.mnl.mclinc.org/main-library-info
www.facebook.com/mcnplonline

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/National Assembly for Wales

Chunks of cucumber tossed in scallion oil or marinated seaweed. Fish and shrimp swimming in home-style veggies or stir-fried lamb. Tea-smoked duck in an artful arrangement or beef in hot sauce. These are just a few of the spicy Szechuan-style dishes that garner acclaim at King of Prussia's Pin Wei restaurant.

Owned by the Kuo family, who immigrated from Taiwan, Pin Wei is a departure from your typical Chinese restaurant. Instead of snapping up food and taking it home, guests seem to want to sit and stay a while at this chic eatery, which several fans describe as higher-end than they expected. Leather banquettes and chairs, clean and simple place settings, and soft lighting all make Pin Wei a place where you really want to savor your food.

And that's exactly what the Kuo's wanted when they dreamed up their restaurant. In fact, cultivating a comfortable atmosphere was only secondary to crafting authentic Chinese food, which the Kuo's couldn't find anywhere in the area before opening Pin Wei. Regulars seem to agree that the couple has hit the mark, particularly praising the dan dan noodles.

Pin Wei
314C Henderson Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 768-5888
www.pinweikop.com
www.yelp.com/biz/pin-wei-king-of-prussia

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Quinn Dombrowski

The next time you host guests in your home, prepare in advance by setting a game plan well ahead of time. These smart and stress-free tips will show you exactly how to get your home ready for houseguests, even if you don’t exactly have a separate guest wing to work with.

1. Create a designated space. Everyone likes to have a feeling of privacy and a place to decompress, which you can easily create for your guests even if you don’t have a closed-off guestroom. Simply give them free run of a living room or den, or create your own guest quarters by investing in a room divider.
2. Test out the bed. Since you don’t normally sleep in the guest bed (or air mattress, or sofa…), it’s always smart to test it out first to ensure its comfort. If it’s not up to snuff, add a foam mattress topper, more blankets, or other affordable improvements.
3. Create an overnight kit. Stock a small caddy with shower supplies, water bottles, pain relievers, and snack bars, as well as anything else that your guests might ask for.
4. Change the linens. Be sure to put clean, fresh-smelling sheets on the bed and provide enough clean towels for all of your guests.
5. Feel out their schedules. Once they arrive, work around their schedules to prevent stepping on any toes.

Make Your Overnight Guests Feel at Home [Southern Living]
Hosting Overnight Guests [Life Your Way]
Real Life Advice: Hosting Guests Without a Guestroom [Apartment Therapy]
Getting Ready for Overnight Guests [Real Simple]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Rhian vK