NEWTOWN HOLIDAY PARADE Sunday Dec 2

ANOTHER holiday event this weekend!!

Fifteen years ago, Newtown's holiday parade was a modest, very small town event, held on the Friday before Thanksgiving.  Not anymore!!

Now the largest holiday parade in Bucks County, the 8th annual Newtown Holiday Parade is Sunday Dec 2th at 2 pm.  A popular family tradition, the parade provides a magical experience for the entire community. 

Over 5000 people are expected to come & watch the estimated 1200 participants, including the high school marching bands, Mummers Bands, horse-drawn carriages, floats, antique cars, color guard, fire trucks, Santa & much more!  (What can be "more" than Santa??)

Come early & bring your family, bundled up, with blankets and CHAIRS.  The entire route has sidewalks available for spectators to pick a spot & watch the entire parade marching by.

The parade begins on South State Street  (at the Stocking Works Building) at 2:00 p.m., continues north on State Street, turns left onto Washington Ave, then right onto Sycamore Street, coming to an end at the Durham Rd (at the Green Parrot - where Goodnoe's was located).

Be sure to linger after the parade ~ many Newtown businesses will feature special promotions, so don’t leave town before grabbing a bite to eat or stocking up for the holidays.  And you'd be hard pressed to find a prettier little town than Newtown decked out for the holidays.  

Take a leisurely meander on foot AND by car to see all the beautiful homes & buildings, many of historical significance.  Newtown was the the county seat when Pennsylvania was a colony and a state (from 1725-1813) and it was home to one of the young country's most famous painters, Edward Hicks (1780-1849).

GO!  ~ ~ Even if you can't make it to Sunday's parade, Newtown is always worth a visit.  Stroll State Street, enjoying a real honest-to-gosh hardware store like you don't see anymore (serving Newtown residents for over 100 years!);  stop into Pat's Colonial Kitchen for breakfast or lunch;  and townfolk are mega proud that their movie theatre is the nation's oldest (includes a balcony, open on weekends) - there is a special Saturday morning showing of The Polar Express, with a $2 donation admission *OR* 4 cans of food.  Motor west on Sycamore to the entirely new part of town, the phalanx of stores & restaurants gobbling up the space where Goodnoe's Ice Cream once stood.

ISAAC  NEWTOWN's ~ ~ Of course, I'm going to urge you to stop into Isaac Newtown's (behind Allegheny Art, which is also well worth a visit), a gathering place for old & young alike, even families.  John & I met there when the restaurant was called (not kidding) The Academy, and courted over their delicious Onion Nest.  

The name is different, but the menu's  just as droll & extensive as it was 24 years ago (Onion Nest is now $5.50, not much more than back when).  

Not so their beer selection, which would have left our younger, single selves agog - beers currently on tap include Founders Pale Ale, Belhaven Scottish Ale, Magic Hat #9, Goose Island Minx, Lavery Imp. French Ale, Delirium Tremens, Delirium Noel, Goose Island IPA, DuClaw Serum II IPA, Goose Island Matilda, Great Lakes Winter Ale, Goose Island Bourbon County, Left Hand Sawtooth Ale, Sierra Celebration, Avery Joes Pilsner and Allagash White.  Whew!  To think that when John caught my attention shouting out, “Hey, Bryn Athyn!” we thought a pub was top-of-the-line if it had Heineken, or Guiness on tap!

Peddler's Village CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

As you might have figured out if you read a couple of my recent postings, I did A LOT of delightful things over the years as part of the “Lockhart Ladies” – Mim, Mom et moi – and then with Mom riding shotgun on holiday jaunts. 

But one tradition started & continues with my Keet, my Hubster, the Love of My Life ~ ~ strolling around Peddler’s Village.  It’s something we never miss, never find old hat.  We'll have a drink at Hart's Tavern, spend more time than we'll admit at Canterbury Books, wander across the green to Journey's (where John is sure to find a wonderful, spirit-infused gift for his Keet - me), meander up to the kitchenware shop.  

It's a beautiful time for us, ripe with happiness & 23 years of memories.  

There are always more shops than time, especially as they each call out to be savored, not hurried.  We strongly recommend mapping out ahead of time where you want to go & you want to build in times to be on your own (easier to buy that special something - we'll never forget the year John meant to come back for a beyond-perfect book of squirrel paper cutouts & it was gone by the time he got back the next week).  

Planning ahead is especially wise if you have children, as there's less likely to be any disappointed young ones who didn't get to see this or that (especially Giggleberry Fair & the two toy stores, on located on the Main Green, the other across the street).  

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL,  Dec 1 & 2 ~ free

This weekend is when Peddler’s Village kicks off its holiday glory, with a free festival on Saturday & Sunday heralding the start of its holiday season.

Santa & his Mrs. arrive at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, a parade of live music & carolers following them as they wend their way through the village, transformed into a winter wonderland.  After the parade, he will be taking up residence at his workshop, situated in Giggleberry Fair.

Even the chilliest weather can’t stand up to a cup of warm mulled cider,  ladled out of an old-fashioned kettle.  Let your inner child come to the fore as you roast a complimentary marshmallow! 

All the buildings and grounds will be decked out in an extravaganza of  holiday lights & decorations.  Victorian fruit wreaths and greenery will decorate the space by day.   As the sun dips below the horizon, the village will sparkle with one million Christmas lights!

The long line waiting to enter the enclosed gazebo will be people eager to check out the entries for this year’s GingerbreadHouse Competition and Display!  The much-anticipated annual event showcases gingerbread houses of all sorts, from traditional gingerbread houses to recreations of significant buildings.  I like that there is a full range of talents, from barely beginners to professional bakers/decorators. 

When: Saturday, December 1, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday, December 2, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: Peddler’s Village, Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska
Cost: Free

 Dress warmly, preferably in layers

  

WEEKEND of WONDERS Bryn Athyn, Pa Dec 1 & 2

Scout Breakfast & Tree Sale

What better way to warm up for Star of Wonder than by going to the Annual Boys Scout Breakfast & Tree Sale, from 8-11 a.m.?!  Swing by the Bryn Athyn Society Building (600 Tomlinson, between Buck Road & Philmont Ave) for hot-off-the-grill pancakes and fresh-from-the-grower Christmas trees & poinsettas (you can order wreaths from individual scouts - sales help offset his summer camp costs).  

Star of Wonder

Many people - in the church & out - kick off their Christmas holiday with Star of Wonder, a delightful program at Bryn Athyn Cathedral featuring crafts & community.  Fun for all ages, families or old geezers like me!  Decorate cookies, make a star ornament, craft a holiday centerpiece.  Bask in the glow of good fellowship as you craft your way into Christmastime!   10:00 a.m. - noon; light refreshments;  a $2 donation/person is appreciated, but not required.  

Follow the Star

After enjoying Star of Wonder, roll next door to Glencairn Museum for a Christmas in the Castle guided tour (noon - 4:30 p.m.).  Better yet, make a return visit on Sunday, December 2 for Glad Tidings,  Glencairn’s annual Christmas open house, part of Follow the Star - Nativity Festival 2012.  Follow the Star nativities show how Christians around the world have adapted the Nativity scene to represent their own national, regional and local cultures.  

Enjoy holiday refreshments at the Castle Cafe, revel in live Christmas music, a special family activity, and a Christmas Quest of Nativity art in Glencairn.  Finish up your visit by getting some of your holiday shopping done at our Ten Thousand Villages sale and Glencairn's gift shop!  

Christmas in the Castle:  this year, Glencairn debuts a special 45-minute holiday tour that combine Nativity Festival 2012  with stops in the Great Hall, Upper Hall, Tower, Chapel & Medieval Treasury. Learn how Christmas was celebrated (1937-1980) in Raymond & Mildred Pitcairn's warm, welcoming home.  

Discover for yourself the answer to the question, “How do you celebrate Christmas in a 20th-century castle?” The whole family will enjoy this tour!

ALEXANDRIA CHRISTMAS SCOTTISH WALK

Okay, I have to admit - this one is sort of far, a bit of a drive.  But, oh how I love the thrills-me-to-the-very-fiber-of-my-being CHRISTMAS SCOTTISH  WALK, this Saturday  (Dec 1) in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Lockhart Lady Trio ~ Mim, Mom et moi ~ enjoyed its revelries on several occasions, and Mom & I went took them in a couple times on our own.  Totally well worth the gas!

We’d be up at the crack of dawn, picking up coffee and a smackeral at Wawa’s, stopping to refuel on Empire Biscuits & shortbread at the much-missed Bit o’ Scotland bakery in Newark (DE). 

Excitement mounted as we clicked off the different exits, finally hitting the Capital Beltway and – at long last – the Woodrow Wilson Bridge across the Potomac, connecting Maryland & Virginia.  Just a hop, skip & jump from Alexandria!

After our first visit down, we always tried to park close to the mega nice Holiday Inn *, the perfect place for a reviving cup of coffee & late breakfast, mapping out where we wanted to go, what we wanted to do, well-armed with material on what was happening in relation to the Walk & things that always beckoned us in that beautiful city.

Even over the years we attended, the Christmas Scottish Walk grew from basically a parade featuring thrilling bagpipers to a much more extensive array of related events.  Today, the Walk has events over both Friday & Saturday.  But the highlight is still the parade!

Picture hundreds of Scottish clansmen marching through Old Town Alexandria, bagpipes a-blazing, along with pipe & drum bands, Scottish dancers, re-enactment groups, Scottie dog groups, dignitaries and - ta da! - Santa Claus.

In its current guise, the weekend is consistently ranked by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top 20 Events in the South, drawing nearly 30,000 people.  It is immensely popular with families, and it’s not unusual to see three or more generations enjoying the festivities.  

Events are held rain or shine.  In the event of severe weather on the morning of the parade, you can call event sponsors, The Campagna Center, at (703) 549-0111 for a recorded message on any delays or cancellations.  But as they remind one & all – “We are a hardy folk and if the streets are open, we plan to march!”

PARADE – begins at 11:00 a.m., commencing at the intersection of Wilkes Street and South St. Asaph Street, then heading north on South St. Asaph Street to Queen Street, turn right on Queen Street to North Fairfax Street, turning right and heading south on North Fairfax Street. It  will then turn right on King Street, and pass the reviewing stand at King and Royal Streets (Market Square) to the ending point at the intersection of King and Pitt Streets.   

CHRISTMAS MARKETPLACE and Heather & Greens Sales - boutique style shopping offers unique holiday gifts and holiday decorations with a Scottish flair.  November 30, 2012, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DESIGNER HOME TOURS - This special annual event features a tour of historic Old Town Alexandria homes decorated for the holidays by acclaimed interior designers and local florists.  Saturday, December 1, 2012. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ; tickets are required - Advance Purchase is  $30, or $35 at the door.

Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend events will be held at the George Washington Masonic Memorial at 101 Callahan Drive in Alexandria.

There's more, much more to do in Alexandria, especially on December 1!!

ALEXANDRIA  HOLIDAY  BOAT  PARADE  OF  LIGHTS ~ ~ Alexandria offers an array of delights all year, but especially right now.  Be sure to stay in town through the early evening, since you will not want to miss the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights spectacular, as festively decorated pleasure boats light up the sky along the Potomac River.  (The District's fireboat, the John Glenn, spouts water 70 feet into the air!)  Over a mile of power and sail boats parade from the the Alexandria Harbor to the Washington Channel, captains & crews doing their best to out do each other, competing for prizes under categories including "Best in Show," "Best Thinking Outside the Christmas Box," and "Hardiest Souls."  

Everyone keeps an eye out for the arrival of Santa, arriving at the Alexandria marina docks, where he’ll disembark to visit children dockside at the marina’s gazebo (and, of course, be available for photos).  Santa is expected around 4:15 p.m.; the parade starts at 5:00 p.m., at the Alexandria Waterfront;  from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., travels up  Washington Channel, Water St. off of Maine Avenue, Washington, DC;  festivities at the Alexandria Waterfront continue from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.. 

The Alexandria waterfront is located behind the Torpedo Factory Art Center, which runs north along Union Street, between King and Cameron Streets.  

SHOPPING  &   DINING ~ ~  Am hesitant about making suggestions on dining & shopping, other than to say that Alexandria is world-renown for both its stores &restaurants.  (I haven’t been down to Alexandria, VA since Mom’s Summer 2001 fall & hospitalization at the awesome  INOVA Alexandria Hospital*.)  My suggestion - check out online sources for most up-to-date recommendations.

*I cannot mention the Old Town Holiday Inn and INOVA Alexandria Hospital without offering a moment of thanks & appreciation of both.  When Mom had her fall in the wee small hours of a Sunday morning, the Holiday Inn staff sprung into action.  For the next few weeks, they were a rock for a very shaky daughter, letting me use the office computer & fax to communicate back & forth with far-off family;  the restaurant staff practically took me under their wing, making me feel comforted & in the midst of friends.  The care Mom received from the doctors & nurses of INOVA Alexandria was the best she ever received.  And when I found myself unexpectedly without a place to stay one night, they let me bunk in with Mom (which was actually against hospital policy), which meant that I was there at 3:00 a.m. that morning, when she awakened me to see that she could raise her paralyzed arm & leg about a foot above the bed!!  Without INOVA Alexandria, I would have missed what would turn out to be the high water mark of Mom's condition.

PRINCETON

Ick!  What a messy weather day!  Praise be, am off to Princeton tomorrow, two grannies in tow.  I would NOT enjoy the drive ~  pass the tiny Churchville Reservoir & up to Newtown, over to Washington’s Crossing, then a nip across the verynarrow bridge to NJ, scoot over through Lawrenceville (blessings on Kennedy & Dickinson), then keep eyes peeled left for the stunning Greek Rival, Drumthwacket, our first stop (see 11/26 posting). 

By the time we're done our tour of the Governor's Mansion,  we'll be more than ready for lunch, so it's back to the car for a short mosey up the road to the heart of Princeton - the Nassau Inn.  

Can't remember how many years ago Mim introduced us to the joys of Princeton.  I know we were going there even before she discovered Main Street, up the road a piece in Kingston, THE favorite place for Lockhart Ladies Who Lunch (which we'll have to check out another day - no time).  Knowing Mim, she might have been taking a summer course at Princeton University (in addition to her Associates Degree from Bryn Athyn College, Mim attended classes at Berry College, Rome GA, the University of Houston, the University of Pennsylvania, almost Harvard & Penn State <she decided against both at the last minute>, before getting her undergrad from NYU <living in B.A & taking night classes!!> and her Masters from Rutgers – for all I know, she may be taking an online doctoral program from the Sorbonne!!).  Princeton was a treasured destination of the merry trio of Mim, Mom et moi since the 1960s, that I know for sure.  

The Princeton Inn waaaaay outdoes us when it comes to a history with Princeton.  Nestled into the heart of toney Palmer Square,  the hostelry (originally called College Inn)  first opened in 1759 and stayed more or less the same all the way to 1937.  That’s when owners realized it was too small to meet the needs of town & gown and significantly expanded the building.

The lobby, dating back to the original building, is beautiful, especially at Christmastime, its dark wood setting off the holiday decorations.  But off we will go downstairs, to the Yankee Doodle Tap Room,  Can't list all the friends we've introduced to the cozy tavern, but I know #1 would be Marcelite Kline, mom of our present bishop & a beloved cherished much-missed friend.  The sense of the tavern is best captured by the inscription carved in the lintel over the great hearth – Rest, Traveler, Rest, and Banish Thoughts of Care;  Drink to Thy Friends and Recommend Them Here.   Best of all - yes, there can be something even better than that wonderful sentiment - is the droll Norman Rockwell painting of Yankee Doodle himself, complete with feather in his cap, riding through a colonial town.  No better place to lunch & revive, running our fingers over the generations of initials carved into the booths by long ago Princeton students. 

Refreshed, we'll be off to sample the shopping joys of Palmer Square.  

There are a lot of tres toney shops, with famous names & chic fashions & other merchandise, but the only three that matter to me are JaZams,  Kitchen Kapers and Thomas Sweet.  

JAZAMS is a toy & book emporium that would make Mr. Magorium proud.  Their mission:  "It has been our hope that such a carefully selected array of creative, enriching and let's say it – fun! – toys and books will serve as a reminder to step away from the TV or computer screen. ~ As a local independent retail store, we have aimed to strengthen and sustain our community. We've always stressed the importance of shopping locally in order to preserve healthy and functional neighborhoods. In stark contrast to Internet discounters and big-box stores, we've built our business around human connection. We know many of our customers by name and take pride in the highly personal shopping experience that jaZams provides." To get a sense of JaZams, check out their website (but forget the bog - it was last updated in August 2011!!)

After dragging ourselves, kicking & screaming, out of the wonders of JaZams, we'll nipped up a couple doors to KITCHEN KAPERS.  Yes, it is a chain, but so is Paper Source (read on)  - if you have a beloved spot, you want to have as many of them as possible!!  My baker's soul revels in the kitchenware at Kitchen Kapers, entranced by the cook books, beckoned by the endlessly alluring gadgets & gizmos.  Will think of Margaret & Karen, Chara & Suzie, Laura & Carol and all my culinary wizard friends!

Then, we're off across the Square to THOMAS SWEET.   I remember when there were just the two shops - the one on the Square & the other on Nassau Street, next to the gone but NEVER forgotten Green Line Diner (blissful memories of its wondrous natural-foods delicacies, especially breakfasts).  Both are still there, along with three other locations, including one in D.C.  (I guess N.J. politicos can't wait to return to their home state for T.S. chocolate fix).  I don’t go for the coffee or even the ballyhooed ice cream (Nassau Street only), but for the marvelously fashioned chocolates.  Can always rely on T.S. to have a dark chocolate train engine for John's stocking, along with milk chocolate squirrels, mp3 players & golf bags, and lots of other shaped chocolates.  My all-time favorite Thomas Sweet delectable is sadly out of season at Christmastime - the dark chocolate raspberry bark. Absolute YUM!   <11/29 UPDATE - raspberry bark WAS available!!>

One last stop, and it's actually around the corner from Palmer Square, up on Nassau – PAPER SOURCE.  If I had enough spare cash to seriously indulge, would spend it all at Paper Source, the store above all stores that calls to my most easily-enticed soul.  There are LOTS of Paper Source stores around the country & their online site is rock'em sock'em, so lots of people can be as tempted to part with their hard-earned money as I am.  Can't describe it - go to the website & see for yourself.

If this was the 1980s, the three of us Lockhart Ladies would have continued browsing up & down Nassau Street.  It this was the 1990s, Mom & I would have ended our shopping foray with a visit to the Princeton Shopping Center, home to the flagship store of our beloved McCaffrey’s (a wonderful supermarket), Ten Thousand Villages, BonAppetit Fine Foods (so many gift possibilities!!), and – if we were in need of revival -  Main Street’s Princeton outpost, aka the Main StreetEuro-American Bistro & Bar. 

But, alas, we will have to get my grannies back to Bryn Athyn, so off we will trundle, possibly waiting until we get to Southampton & Kenny’s Spirited Eatery for a final nip & sip.  Then, it’s home to their own hearths, while I hie myself off to take another grannie off to dinner.  

Tired – oh, yes.  And sublimely happy & well shopped!  

DRUMTHWACKET

Recalling a former grannie client who balked at paying the relatively small rate I charged ($15 at that time) for my time and out & about expertise because, she reasoned, "You have far too much fun" on such jaunts.

Well, if that's true, I should charge my grannie client absolute zip na-da zilch this Wednesday, because I am going to have a blast showing off the shopping mecca aspects of Princeton, capped off with a visit to Drumthwacket.  

"What, pray tell," you may ask, "Is a Drumthwacket?"

Nothing less than the official home sweet home  of New Jersey governors. 

(Caveat:  Most NJ governors only live there part time,  if at all - the first governor with the option to live there, Tom Kean, thinking it way too pretentious for the governor of what was then a state with a struggling economy, opted to live in his private home;  Gov. Christie only uses it for Sunday dinners & official events, of which there are a lot in holiday season.)  

The first home known as Drumthwacket was built in 1835, on a piece of land originally owned by William Penn.  It was first used as a governor's mansion in 1860, when its owner was elected to that lofty office.  His original structure was greatly expanded & totally gussied up by its next owner, but the original 2 ¹⁄₂-story center section and impressive portico with six Ionic columns remains today.

When I first saw Drumthwacket, back in the late 1960s (my sister, Mim, occasionally visited a  prof from her University of Houston days, who lived in Princeton; she'd take me to keep her company - lucky me!), it had just been sold to New Jersey by the family of its third owner.  

Frankly, it didn't look like much back then.  The intent was to restore – okay, surpass – its glory days and use it as the governor's official residence, replacing the more modest (but historically far richer) Morven, which is well worth a visit, especially in springtime.  

Today, the magnificent Greek Revival, gleaming white amidst its garden setting, is a knockout, whether you just drive by (best viewed heading east from Princeton) or have the pleasure of wandering the mansion's public rooms.

It certainly was a joy to take Mom to bask in its splendors back when Christie Todd Whitman was governor - teddy bears played a major role in the decorations - and more recently with family-of-the-heart when Jon Corzine was gov.  

I look forward to showing off my special treasure - most folks don't seem to be aware of a) who "lives" at Drumthwacket  and  b) that it's open for tours Wednesdays (except Aug), unless an official event takes precedent (alas, there are many during the holiday season).  

Tours run for about 45 minutes;  tour hours are 11 a.m - 1:30 p.m, Wednesdays only (subject to being bumped by an official function).  Although technically free,  they "recommend" (aka expect) a $5 donation - a bargain.  

Be sure to pre-register & take photo id!!  

A VERY FURRY CHRISTMAS

It's easy to forget - even when I'm shopping as Langhorne's side-by-side Michael's & A.C. Moore art & crafts stores - that Sesame Place is right next to Oxford Valley Mall.  All the beloved Sesame Street characters, just waiting for meets & greets with kids of all ages.  And who knew that CHRISTMAS is an especially fabulous time to go!!

You can be sure that if we had little ones visiting us, John would be making sure they experienced the Furry Express.  Me?  I’d sit with them, entranced, enjoying a Christmas story with Zoe in Mr. Hooper’s Emporium.  We’d both head over with them to Trader Bert's, transformed into Santa's Workshop, and delight in the Holiday Light Spectacular.  Imagine what the family theme park looks like after dark, with over 300 Christmas trees, including a HUGE one decorated Sesame Street Style!  

Did I mention the illuminated Neighborhood Party Christmas Parade?

Sesame Place is practically a hop, skip & jump from Bryn Athyn – just take the Oxford Valley exit off Route 1.  Or savor a more leisurely ramble, going by way of Newtown, maybe stop into  Shady Brook Farm.  

Folks from far far away bring their kids to Sesame Place every year for holiday fun – sometimes happiness really is as close as our own back yard!

(If you’re partial to craft stores, be sure to take your A.C. Moore & Michael’s coupons – you’ll find them, side by side, located between Sesame Place & Business Rt 1)

SUMMIT~CHATHAM~MADISON, NJ

From a wee tadger to quite the adult, every Christmas season I headed down with my family, via train, to Philadelphia, to the glories of John Wanamaker's Grand Court & the pumpkin pie beckoning from Woolworth's lunch counter (a wonderful story in itself).  Throughout my 30s, you'd find me driving the back roads to & through Manhattan, always with Mom & Mim in tow, often with Margaret Gladish transforming our trio into a quartet.  

Didn't really do a holiday trip through most of my early married years - Margaret was married to Bob, Mim was living on the central Jersey shore, I was sort of preoccupied with John.  

Then, for about five years, from 1996-2000, Mom & I revived the annual Christmas jaunt, this time heading up New Jersey back roads to Bernardsville, then over to Basking Ridge, to Summit, Chatham & Madison.  It's a trip I still highly recommend for anyone looking for the feel of a charming small town Christmas.

There is no better way to end "Small Business" Saturday than by singing the praises of  Summit, Chatham & Madison, not-to-far destinations sure to delight anyone who enjoys small shops & surprising finds.  

Summit

I lost my heart to Summit, NJ the first time I drove through the streets of that deliciously & genuinely retro small city, back in the mid 1990s, when I occasionally worked not far, at Prudential Health System's Parsippany headquarters.  

Summit has the feel of the sort of Bedford Falls, slightly larger than a small town but too cozy to be called - at least by me - a city.  

If we'd gone this holiday season - usually today, the Saturday after Thanksgiving - we'd have parked in Lot 4 (although Lot 1, off DeForest, might be the more rational choice,  #1 would beckon, since it borders the railroad tracks).  Then, we'd walk along Springfield Ave (doesn't that just sound like a street in a Gary Cooper or Jimmy Steward movie?!), from Kent Place Boulevard to Summit Avenue.  

Always envisioned sumptuous bedrooms & master bathrooms that lured one into long lingering soaks whenever I wandered A Home at Plumquin.  I refuse to feel any sense of competition between The Papery, which I've been loyal to for many years, and the Paper Source, which I've never checked out in Summit (it's a new comer) but their Princeton store is delightful.  Would have been well neigh impossible to pry Mom out of  Penzey's Spices.  While it's the ONLY Penzey's in NJ, PA is blessed with two - in Pittsburgh & Philadelphia.  We're mega blessed that the Philadelphia store is in Chestnut Hill, an enjoyable 30-minute drive from Bryn Athyn.  When it comes to Zoom, Mom would be the one trying to drag me out;  totally entranced by its offbeat selection of zany toys for all ages.

About this time, we'd be feeling a bit peckish, in need of a late lunch.  

There is NO place better to quiet hunger pangs than at the vintage Summit Diner, which can best be described as a diner's diner. It's a mecca for those who appreciate all that is special about real diners & know the real deal when they see it.  Nothing glitzy, it's well preserved at what it is - a diner delivered back in 1939 to its site across from the train station.  If you're a diner fanatic like we are, it's worth the trip all by itself.  "Without question, the Summit Diner is what diners were, before too much in the diner world went terribly wrong. Warm from the food cooking on the grill, cheerful because skilled cooks produce food on a human scale, and a friendly island in a real town, this place is a lesson to the rest of the state and perhaps the rest of the world. "

Chatham

Fortified & refreshed, we'd make the hike back to the car, then be off to Chatham.  I don't have a lot to write about Chatham, a totally charming small town.  We'd just drive around until we found a spot we wanted to check out, then park & wander.  Worked every time!

Madison 

Then, it was back in the car for the mosey up to Madison.  Confession - we have never gotten out of the car in Madison, although I have no idea why.  It's about the same size as Summit &  every bit as charming & for much the same reasons - like a small city out of a favorite classic movie.  I loved the town center decorations, the feel of community that pervades Madison.  Has a stronger feel of Christmas than Summit, even just rambling around in a car.  So, why didn't we ever park & at least window shop?

One reason we didn't linger longer might have been due to the alluring call of Morristown's Madison House.  Oh my gosh - what's not to adore with Madison House!  Everything is elegant - the building, the  public spaces decorated for the season,  even the clientele.  But best of all are the two antique railroad parlor cars adjoining the main dining room, which first drew us to the Madison House. (Word is they were owned by department-store magnate John Wanamaker and legendary 19th-century financier Jay Gould.)  Naturally, Mom & I always had an early dinner there, wishing John was with us.  

Home again, home again

After that, it was back to hearth & home, taking the fastest routes since it was dark & not much to see on a back roads ramble.  

It's been eleven Christmases since I made that trip; not much fun by myself & John's time is often occupied in December (as it is now) with a commission from a commercial client.  And there are so many memories I haven't begun to share. 

Is this not-too-far Christmas Trip worth your precious time & gas?  Totally!!  Anyone up for ramble?

WANAMAKER LIGHT SHOW - a Christmas memory

The ultimate traditional Lockhart Christmas Trip was down to Philadelphia, to Wanamaker's, to see Santa & be awed by the annual Wanamaker Light Extravaganza.  Those were the glory days of family Christmas Trips.  

We would walk down to Bryn Athyn to get the train or hoof it all the way to Bethayres - Mom didn't drive.  (It was usually the much farther Bethayres, since there were way more trains no the West Trenton Local's schedule than on Newtown's.)  

The last Lockhart Christmas Trip to Wanamaker's (now Macy's) was in 1991.  Mom & I took John down to hear the magnificent Wanamaker Organ & be dazzled by the spectacular Light Display (still a store tradition). He'd never been!!  

We drove in, parking at The Bellevue, blocks away from the store, because it was December 8 and Center City was bustling.  

Or at least that was the story we told Mom. 

We nipped up to the hotel (which now takes up the top floors, not the entire building, as it did back when I was in college - another great story) for a reviving libation in the Library bar.  

Or at least that was the story we told Mom.  

As we sat in the big comfy chairs, I opened up my big handbag to get out something.  

Imagine my feigned "surprise" to "discover" that Sissy & elmo - two very small stuffed monkeys - had stowed away!!!  And, why look - as I drew they out from the bag, it appeared they were holding an even smaller wrapped package.  John took the teen package, looked at the teensy tag, and turned to Mom, saying, "It seems to be for you."

Mom thanked the two stuffies as - taken quite unawares - she carefully took off the ribbon & unwrapped the paper & opened the tiny box, lifting out a tiny rolled scroll of paper.

She carefully unwound it, to read, "Surprise!  We're staying here overnight!!"

What a delighted, amazed, thrilled face rewarded our careful planning & collusion with our willing accomplice, the doorman. And what a difference it made to the rest of the day, since we could take our time & be as leisurely as we liked - we were there overnight, not just from mid afternoon through evening!  

It was splendid & unforgettable - we have a picture featuring the backs of Sissy & elmo watching the extravaganza.  

We took a meander around City Hall - the interiors were all alight in one part of the building, where they were filming a courtroom scene from Philadelphia - before having a laughter-filled dinner at a no-longer-there restaurant. 

Turned out that our special weekend was also special to the service academies - it was the weekend of the Army-Navy Game, and The Bellevue served as the grand & glorious temporary billet for the top Navy brass & honored guests!  A bevvy of admirals & other dignitaries, all grinning & laughing, having a WONDERFUL time (Navy tromped Army).  

Could write on & on about what an incredible time we had at The Bellevue, how pampered & privileged we felt, but that's for another time & another blog.  

Please pardon this loving detour from my usual current day jaunts. Had intended to write about the final traditional Christmas Trip that I took with Mom - always on the Saturday after Thanksgiving - to Summit/Chatham/Madison, NJ.  Memory got the best of me.   But it's these memories of moments long gone by - of tea in Odessa & Christmas cocktails at the Algonquin, of Christmas bazaars in Philadelphia's Frankford section & down at Mitchellville, outside D.C. - that are what today's holiday experiences will become.  Treasure troves of memories.  

CHRISTMAS in ODESSA (Delaware)

Mom & I loved our experience at Christmas in Odessa, a self-guided walking tour of private homes and public buildings in this small town located about midway between Wilmington & Dover, Delaware.  It made me think of a small scale Williamsburg - many of its beautifully maintained houses & buildings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, all exquisitely decorated for the holidays. 

Mom first heard about Christmas in Odessa on a grandma visit to my nephew, who attended school in nearby Middleton.  The event seems to be a bit of a Delaware secret, which seems a pity - so worth the gas!

The ticket price includes the self-guided house tour and other special events - a Christmas Craft Show, an Antique Show & Sale, the Newark Fife & Drum Corp, tea, and Christmas concerts at Old St. Paul's Church, and a capella caroling are some of this year's special events. 

Tickets* are $20.00 if purchased on the day of the Tour. Children ages 6 to 12 are $5.00, and under 6 years old are free. Ticket sales are at the Old Academy at 4th and Main Street in Odessa. The location is well marked. Check or cash (no credit cards accepted).   Each ticket comes with a tour guide booklet with a map, a list of homes (with a descriptive paragraph for each house), and a complete list of special events.  Please note that it is one day only - Saturday, December 1.  

To soak in the full effect of the holiday decorations, Mom & I lingered until after dark and were a bit hungry by the time we headed back home.  

We took a lovely ramble home, up Kennett Pike, stopping at Buckley's Tavern in Centreville DE (just south of the PA border) for dinner;  Mom & I thoroughly enjoyed our meal (and the memories - took a grilling class at Buckley's back in the early 1980s) & loved the setting.  Other on-the-way-home picks include the iconic Charcoal Pit (North Wilmington, about 10 minutes off I-95, on Rt 202) or Hockessin's Back Burner, both favorite spots for totally different reasons. 

Although a long drive (about 90 minutes), this falls within my "near" category of holiday scampers ("far" is anything over two hours).  Worth the time & gas.  Take a camera!!  

*  Advance tickets - $15.00 – were available by mail  from November 1 through November 15th.  Check or cash (no credit cards accepted).

 

PHREE Saturday Parking in Philly!

Forget 11/24/12 being "Small Business Saturday" - thanks to the Philadelphia Parking Authority, it just got easier to make every holiday shopping day one to celebrate the small shops & boutiques that make holiday gift buying FUN instead of a chore.  

Just in time to frequent the kazillion wonderful small businesses found throughout our fair city, the Philadelphia Parking Authority has once again given shoppers & holiday  gawkers an early Christmas gift ~ meter parking will be FREE city-wide after 11 a.m. every Saturday through December 29.

The free parking offer applies to all of Philadelphia’s commercial business districts, including RittenhouseRow, Old City,  University City,  Chestnut Hill and East Passyunk, which means you can get your shop on throughout the entire city without the pain of parking tickets.

The PPA also announced DISCOUNTED parking every Saturday for $8 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the following Center City parking garages:

• Old City (2nd & Sansom Streets)
• Independence Mall (5th & Market Streets)
• 8th & Filbert Streets
• The Gallery (10th & Filbert Streets)
• Jefferson (10th & Ludlow Streets)
• JFK Plaza (underground garage at 16th & Ben Franklin Parkway)

Talk about a very merry Christmas.

Just to recap, meter parking will be FREE after 11 a.m. on the following Saturdays:

• November 24
• December 1
• December 8
• December 15
• December 22
• December 29

Questions about parking in Philadelphia? Visit Philly’s official parking guide has all the answers ~  Parking in Philadelphia [Visit Philly]

Philadelphia's CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

One of the ways you know it’s the most wonderful time of the year in Philadelphia?  The Christmas Village opens, welcoming shoppers & holiday merry makers to Love Park!

The annual Christmas Village of Philadelphia, modeled after Germany’s traditional open-air Christmas markets (Christkindlmarkt), is an outdoor holiday market located in Love Park, bringing old-world European Christmas charm to the heart of Center City.  It opens with a preview on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, followed on Saturday, November 24, by its glorious Grand Opening.  Christmas Eve is the last day of the market.  

Holiday Gift Shopping

From Thanksgiving all the way until Christmas Eve, more than 60 vendors in more than 90 wooden booths, along with two large tents, offer a wide range of international holiday gifts, ornaments, jewelry, toys and high-quality arts and crafts. 

Admission is totally free; just pay as you go for gifts.

Food and Drink

For all that holiday shopping, you’re going to need some fortification in the form of food and drink. 

This year, the Weihnachtshütte heated food tent will be located on the JFK Boulevard side of the park (map below). Enjoy traditional German and European food, sweets and drinks like bratwurst with sauerkraut, currywurst, strudels, pretzels, potato soup, landjager and more. 

You can also stay warm with a mug of hot gluhwine (mulled wine) and a cup of hot chocolate crowned with marshmallows.

In addition to the official food tent, Chaddsford Winery will sell mulled wine in Booth 51, German Grill will have more traditional German fare in Booth 46, Nuts About You will make fresh as-you-wait funnel cakes (Booth 6), and Helmut’s Original Austrian Food will be located at Booth 61. 

Check out Booth 13 for German Christmas foods like Lebkuchen (Gingerbread Cookies), Stollen (traditional German Holiday Cake), Cinnamon Stars and Spekulatius (traditional German spicy cookies). 

Cozy Atmosphere

The Christmas Village will transport you to a real German Christmas Market, decorated with thousands of lights, including a giant Christmas tree in the center, as well as festive booths and the aroma of sweets.

Grand Opening & Entertainment

Events include the Grand Opening Ceremony on Saturday, November 24 with the original Christkind from Nuremburg, Germany;  Meet Santa Day on Friday, November 30; German American Weekend on December 8-9 with singing, dancing and traditional German fare; plus live performances by local choirs and bands at the central stage. The full event schedule is available online.

Charity

Liberty USO is teaming up with the Christmas Village this year to help spread the Christmas spirit to our troops this holiday season. This year, the Christmas Village will be a drop-off location for items to be included in Operation Stocking Stuffers.

Map

Check out a detailed aerial view map of the 2012 Christmas Village and the numbered vendor list.

Where & When

Where: Love Park, 1500 Arch Street

When:  Nov 24  (sneak peak Nov 22);  closes on Christmas Eve (note early 12/24 closing)

Sunday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Christmas Eve (last day): 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

http://www.philachristmas.com/217-0-Vendors-2012.html