Meet Laurie Wightman
Laurie Wightman grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and went on to study at Penn State University, where she graduated with both a journalism and speech communications degree. For the last 20 years she built a career in advertising sales and marketing in San Francisco, New York City, and her native Philadelphia while working for publications including U.S. News and World Report and Martha Stewart Living and at Time, Inc. working for the Entertainment Group, which included selling for Entertainment Weekly, PEOPLE, InStyle, and Essence magazines. After moving back to Philadelphia, Laurie started a hyper-local publication called Wayne Magazine.
While running her own magazine Laurie became increasingly interested in The Scout Guide and what the brand was doing locally for the Main Line and Philadelphia. Laurie joined the TSG Philadelphia and Main Line team as Co-Editor in 2016 and was thrilled to be a part of something much larger doing incredible work on a local level for the Philadelphia area. Now, as Editor/Owner of TSG Main Line & Philadelphia, her favorite aspect of working on TSG is meeting so many different kinds of business owners who are making a change and paving the way for the area to be a better community for locals and visitors alike.
Laurie’s Favorite Reasons to Visit
Philadelphia’s Architecture. As a native to the Philadelphia suburbs, at times I take for granted the beauty that’s all around us. During the pandemic our city struggled, like so many other metropolitan cities across the country. But I made it a mission to seek out all the beauty Philadelphia embodies. One Philadelphia’s greatest strengths, that is often overlooked, is the incredible architecture around every corner. I have been exploring each neighborhood to learn and appreciate the variety of architecture that spans from traditional colonial over 250 years ago, all the way to the modern-day city skyline that continues to multiply with each year. Get out there and explore. It will only make your experience here better!
Longwood Gardens. I am in endless awe of the astonishing gardens and grounds at Longwood. I am transported to the feeling of being in any major city or country in Europe with every visit. I usually do one or two photoshoots every year for the guide at Longwood, and each time my appreciation grows. With over 200 acres of lush, formal gardens, meadows and winding paths to explore, along with annual events and classes, you will learn something new every single time you arrive at this magical oasis.
Our Restaurant Scene. Our epicurean footprint in Philadelphia, and now growing along the Main Line, has been amazing! We’ve been known as a food destination for quite some time, and there’s a solid reason for it. Philadelphia is increasingly becoming a more diverse city, providing a landscape for a variety of incredible restaurants with every type of ethnic food experience possible. Many of our major chefs and restaurateurs are now opening up restaurants along the Main Line, offering a more diverse mix of restaurants inside and outside of the city. A win/win for everyone!