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!