In the Midwest, in the vast open space called the great plains, there is a city, a "Magic City", a prairie gem with all the culture & society of a coastal metropolis, yet retaining the neighborly charm of a frontier settlement. The family down the road is truly your neighbor & random acts of kindness are commonplace/part of everyday life. Here you can ask a neighbor how he is without being thought nosey. Where everyone feels like a big, happy family even if they are not related.

The road narrows as it leads out of town; the rows of houses give way to a checkerboard of crops & fallow. The droning, mechanical pace of the city gives way to gentle breezes and songs of the Meadowlark. At the heart of this quaint corner of heaven is a special community known to ALL the region as Atherton.

True to its name, a spring in the farmyard creates a ribbon which encircles the park & it's inhabitants. This haven is fortified against the travails of the world by a gateway. There is no wall or fence to obstruct the view of the by-passer, rather a stream that twines about the park, carrying serenity to all who sojourn here. As visitors traverse the entrance they are transported to another way of life.

This Eden has become the social center for the meek of the city, an oasis for the soul. Visitors come to retreat & inevitably take a piece of paradise home with them. Righteous families find Atherton a refreshing alternative to Malls filled w/Name Brand commercialism, Theatres dedicated to R-rated movies [theaters relying on social degradation to increase their profit], expensive restaurants dimmed by smoke, Night Clubs crowded with intoxicated mate seekers,... This is a place made for families. Wholesome, enriching activities abound. The focus is on family pastimes likely to induce memorable shared experiences. Enjoy homemade apple pie made from fruit organically grown under the supervision of the resident gardener. Purchase a future heirloom for a sister starting a new family handmade by a rising artisan.

This is the place where dreams and traditions are made.


Watch this space for future installments from Atherton.