Stockton, NJ's PERFECT PAIR

Okay, so I'm predisposed to love the Stockton Farm Market - one of the first times we checked it out (on a Sat, the best of the three days to go), I overheard someone raving to a friend, the cheese monger, about cupcakes he'd just savored at a Lambertville gallery ~ ~ and realized with a shock he was talking about MINE.  

Have to love a place associated with such a WOW! memory.

HOWEVER - the Stockton Farm Market can totally stand on its own when it comes to raves.  Its website blurb says it all:  A unique indoor marketplace brimming with locally sourced fresh food, located in the beautiful riverside town of Stockton, NJ.  Shop local purveyors and artisans, find farm fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, savory fresh breads and pastries, organic beef, free-range chicken,  fish and seafood, organic coffee and teas, smokin’ good BBQ, a chocolatier, hand crafted jewlery and much more!   Stop in and meet the people who are passionate about what they do.

It’s not huge - its original space was seriously tiny - but that's part of the charm.  It's indoors, which makes it wonderful year 'round & open three (count 'em, 3) days a week - Friday thru Sunday! (caveat - limited vendors on Fridays)

Even with local produce as rare as hen’s teeth (organically raised, naturally) at this time of year, there’s plenty to lure me to cross the Delaware  – local meats, cheeses, breads, seafood, other delectables & budget-decimating crafts (as well as the almost-lost art of chair recaning!!) beckon. 

Beware the French macaroons at  The Painted Truffle                                                                           and                                                                                                                                                                  Half-Pint Kitchen’s full-fat temptations!!

A recent addition is a coffee bar serving La Colombe coffee. (Where else are you going to be able to shop for locally-produced food stuffs AND get a cuppa La Colombe??)

But, wait – before you order that cup of fabulous coffee, pause & look across the street.  There, on the corner, where the well-loved Meil’s once stood (until the owners broke countless locals’ hearts by retiring) is Lilly’s Meals - Farm to Table!.   

The first time I saw the sign, my heart almost stopped with sheer joy.  Another Lilly’s!!  I’ve loved the luscious sandwiches & awesome salads at Lilly’s Gourmet in the heart of Doylestown since it first opened – was it 13 years ago??  - and the Cuban pressed sandwiches & cinnamon-dusted sweet plantains at its through-the-door neighbor, Café America.   And Lilly’s on the Canal, in Lambertville, right next door to Artists’ Gallery (where my mini cupcakes are frequently featured at opening receptions), is a decadent - I mean excellent choice for byob dining.   

But I wondered – could two rights make a wrong?                                                                                                        In trying to satisfy Meil's loyal clientele,                                                                                                               would Lilly somehow be cast adrift?

How foolish of me to have worried.  Not only is the food, service & vibe everything I’ve come to expect at a restaurant run by Lilly Salvatore, she nabbed Meil’s recipes along with its location, so now I blissfully enjoy the best of both. 

The Stockton Farm Market & Lily’s Meals...                                                                                                                  a perfect pair, nestled in Stockton, NJ!

Stockton Farm Market – in the heart of Stockton, NJ  (19 BRIDGE STREET);  hours – Fridays (limited vendors) 3 – 7 p.m.,  Sats  9a.m. – 4 p.m.,  Suns 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Lilly's Meals - Farm to Table! ~ closed Tuesday; check website for hours

Winter Festival 2013

 This year's Lambertville-New Hope WinterFestival is at the top of  my "must do" list  -  for over a week, my two favorite river towns will rollick with frolic, family fun & awesomely great food!  

It all kicks off this Saturday, Jan. 19 & runs through Sunday, Jan. 27.

Saturday, Jan. 19 --  The Winter Festival makes its entrance with the Fire & Ice Ball, 7-11 p.m. at the New Hope Boro Community Room. Tickets $20 in advance/ $25 at the door.

Thursday, Jan. 24 -- Taste of WinterFest, 7 p.m., at Lambertville Station. An evening of fine food, wine and beer. Sample the finest from local area restaurants, breweries, farms & vineyards. Tickets $40

Friday, Jan. 26 -- National Act, Pure Prairie League with special guest Craig Bickhardt, 8 p.m., Stephen J. Buck Memorial Theatre at the high school. Tickets for Country Rock at its best are $45 in advance / $50 at the door.

Saturday, Jan. 25  puts the focus on family.  It's a sure thing you'll find me at....

Tucker's Tales Puppet Theater takes the stage at St. John's auditorium (44 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ) from 10:00 a.m. - 11 a.m. and it's a sure bet that I'll be in the audience, enjoying the tales of Mr. Wolf as he recalls his encounters with those Three Little Pigs, Brer Rabbit, Little Red Riding Hood & the Billy Goats Gruff.  I've been proud to count Tom & Marianne - wondrously gifted puppeteers - among my friends for almost 30 years.  Their shows are always well-produced & filled with whimsical fun.

Ballet Time takes over after the Tuckers take their well-deserved bows, students from the Mill Ballet & select dancers from the Roxey Ballet will perform "winter" inspired pieces, working with children from the audience to choreograph a "winter" dance.  At St. John's, from 11 - 11:45 a.m.

WinterFest Spectacular Parade ~ ~ After the ballet, everyone will pirouette out to Bridge Street for the WinterFest Spectacular Parade, which starts on the other side of the river, up the hill at New Hope-Solebury High (where I took my SATS back in ancient times!), and works its way down through New Hope - fond as I am of New Hope, the New Jersey side will provide the most dramatic experience.  

GleePAC ~ ~ Once the parade passes by, it's BACK to St. John's for me, for a concert by GleePAC from 1:45 - 2:15 p.m.  If you & yours like GLEE, you'll love this concert featuring the Glee choir from Downtown Performing Arts Center, performing a variety of show stoppers.

Theatre Arts Center (TAC) ~ ~ Following GleePAC's last song, it's time for the final special performance, by the Theatre Arts Center's Kidz, Junior and Senior Performance Companies perform a Broadway medley.   (TAC offers classes in musical theatre, dance, acting & vocal performance).  

All performances at St. John's are FREE!

While all this happens inside, outside ice sculptures will be created live at Lambertville House  (11:00 a.m.), Lambertville Station (1:30 p.m.), and the New Hope Visitors Center (3:00 p.m.).  

Rotary Beef ‘n Brew event, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., at Triumph Brewery. Tickets $40.  The Rotary Club of Lambertville/New Hope will be serving up hot roast beef sandwiches, Triumph brews & live music.  Eat, dance & be merry!

Tribute to Dora Kerr ~ ~  The marquis event of the festival finds New Hope honoring one of its most outstanding citizens, Doro Kerr.  Where does the woman get the energy?  She has served on the board & as treasurer of the Free Library of New Hope & Solebury and on the Borough Police Review Committee; helped raise funds for the Michener Museum; was an early supporter of the Riverside Symphonia, New Hope Performing Arts Festival, and the New Hope Arts;  serves on the New Hope Borough Conciliation Committee; and is a staunch supporter of the Eagle Fire Company, Lambertville Rescue Squad, and Planned Parenthood of Bucks County.  Phew!  Open bar, dinner, program & silent auction - $85.

On Sunday, the focus shifts to New Hope...

Pancake Breakfast, 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. sponsored by New Hope High School Girls Soccer, at the NHS Cafeteria. Tickets $6.50 adults; $5 seniors $3.50 children 3 to 12.

River Horse Brewery Presents the 16th Annual Chili Cook-Off, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., at Memorable Affairs-Occasions in New Hope. The festival’s most popular event, this year's competition will find 13 of the area’s finest restaurants vying to be champion.  To offsetting the heat from the chilis, quaff a beer from Lambertville’s award-winning River Horse Brewery.  Sample all, then vote for your favorite.  Trophy presentations will begin promptly at 3:45. 

Weekend Festival Tours will be available at the Marshall House Museum/Perry Mansion; Lambertville-New Hope Historic Walking Tour; and take a history and nature walk along the D&R Canal.

Food Drive throughout the weekend.  Fisherman’s Mark will collect non-perishable food items at locations throughout Lambertville and New Hope.

For a complete list of events, check  http://www.winterfestival.net/schedule.html.

Turtle Time at Adventure Aquarium!

Like so many humans, I have an inexplicable weakness for turtles.   Especially sea turtles (my favorite Finding Nemo character?  Dudes, it's Crush, of course!).   

Delighted to hear that a new exhibit is coming to Camden’s  Adventure Aquarium ~  Turtles:Journey of Survival, January 14-March 24.   The  limited-time (just over two months, then it's gone)  exhibit explores the astonishing survival of turtles & tortoises over millions & millions of years – outliving dinosaurs & cataclysmic natural disasters!

Attendees can view a range of land & aquatic turtles, from no bigger than a postage stamp to one weighing in at 450 pounds,  more than 20 in all.  Live shows & special appearances help guests learn how to help conserve vulnerable species of turtles.  

Guests will also learn about the more peculiar habits of certain species of turtles.  Who knew that one species uses a high-pitched screech to scare off predators & why the Painted Wood turtle dances for its food!

The Adventure Aquarium has paired up with Stone Harbor, NJ’s  Wetlands Institute  to help raise money & awareness for the Northern Diamondback Terrapins, a local turtle species that is at risk. And while you're at the aquarium be sure to check out two of the aquarium’s newest residents - two recently rescued Loggerhead Sea turtle.

The exhibit is only there until mid-March, so don't be a slow poke - get to the Adventure Aquarium quick like a bunny.  And tell 'em Crush sent you!

Turtles: Journey of Survival at Adventure Aquarium
When: January 14-March 24
Where: Adventure Aquarium, 1 Riverside Drive, Camden
Cost: Adults $24.95, Children $17.95
More info: www.adventureaquarium.com

Joan Shep's Famous Annual "Basement" Sale

Sigh...  So many pounds, so few weeks (months)....

Femmes with a smaller physique than mine can find some treasures at Joan Shep's Annual Basement Sale, Jan 16-19.  Gather up some gal pals for a trendy trip down to Walnut Street for shopping that will bring out your inner Carrie Bradshaw followed by lunch or whatever at any one of the happening restaurants on Walnut Street or bordering Rittenhouse Square.  

(You can wait until the 16th for mega bargains, but the savviest shoppers head to Joan Shep's now for seriously substantial 40% off savings.)

Although "NYC fashion" naturally pair with "NYC prices,"  were I even semi-svelte, would head down in a heartbeat, if only for a fab outing with my BFFs.  

01/14/13 - Sciemce On Tap: 3D Printing for the Sweet Tooth

Science on Tap  ~ A Philadelphia Science Café    

eat. drink. science.

01/14/13 ~ ~  What's On Tap?

 “3D Printing for the Sweet Tooth: Are Sugar Glass Vascular Networks the Future of Organ Regeneration”    Jordan Miller, PhD

The field of regenerative medicine attempts to replace organ donation with engineered tissues made from a patient’s own cells. Jordan Miller will talk about the development and details for 3D printing temporary templates of blood vessels made from sugar for this field, and how this technology impacts the future of organ regeneration research.

Jordan is a post-doctoral researcher in the Tissue Microfabrication Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania, a founding member of Hive 76 inPhiladelphia, and a RepRap coredeveloper. His research in the department of Bioengineering combines chemistry and rapid prototyping to direct cultured human cells to form more complex organizations of living vessels and tissues. Jordan has been in the 3D maker community since the beginning. He developed the first MakerBot heated build platform at Hive76 and is delighted to use his RepRap 3D printer every day in the lab for biomedical research and regenerative medicine.

Monday, January 14, 2013    6:00 p.m.

National Mechanics (a former bank now restaurant bar at 22 S. 3^rd Street Phila – Old City;  caution - it usually starts promptly at 6:00 p.m. ~and~ the room fills up FAST; I've bagged on-street parking several times <take quarters unless you're there after 6> or there's a parking lot directly opposite Nat'l Mechanics)

This month’s Science on Tap is presented by the AmericanPhilosophical Society Museum.

01/17/13 ~ PAFA After Dark -- ACTIVATE

PAFA After Dark (Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts) is baaaaack!  

First up in 2013, on January 17,  is ACTIVATE, an evening centered around the current exhibit, The Female Gaze:  Women Artists Making Their World. 

The event, which runs from 6-9 p.m., incorporates multiple activities: auditory ~ the  all-female group, DisBand, will be reuniting & performing just for this event; visual ~ check out the screenings of short films on the artists of The Female Gaze; and emotional ~ savor a discussion with local artist Sarah McEneaney.  

Throw in a "The Personal is Political" scavenger hunt, cocktails & a campaign button creation station and you're set for a mighty fine evening!

PAFA After Dark: Activate
Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

Where: Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts, 118 N. Broad Street
When: Thursday, January 17,  6-9 p.m.More info: www.pafa.org

Next PAFA Afta - Thursday, February 21, 6-9 p.m.

last two days - Bucks County TREEFEST 01/08-09/13

Less than 48 hours to see the Bucks County Visitor Center's (Bensalem, at the entrance to Parx Casino) TREEFEST, including one resplendent faux evergreen sponsored & decorated by the Bryn Athyn Historic District (hands down the classiest there).  

Awards are handed out tomorrow ~ 01/09/13 for the top three trees, determined by visitor votes.  Totally well worth the gas to nip up there last week with two of my grans.  

Among Street Road's many dining options (snack or a full meal) you'll find The Clubhouse diner, where we had a yum dinner, and Nifty Fifties , the eatery of choice for kids (both are a bit further east).

Winter Jam - Jan 26

Radio 104.5 popular Winter Jam is back for a third year in the City of Brotherly Fun, hitting the Piazza at Schmidt's with live music and winter sports for five hours of fun on Saturday, January 26, from noon-5 p.m.  

The Winter Jam draws together winter sports lovers & music mavens,  feeling the action of the Winter X Games while checking out the broadcast on the Piazza’s massive 40-foot screen. You can also visit any of the numerous winter sports-related booths that will be lined up all around the Piazza.

Kicking things up a spirited notch, Radio 104.5 will offer a brews & cocktail snow lodge for attendees who want to tipple. 

And, of course, there will be free concert with some great bands!

While you’re in Northern Liberties, be sure to check out some of the neighborhood’s rocking restaurants & shops.

Radio 104.5 Winter Jam
Where: The Piazza at Schmidts, 1050 N. Hancock Street, Phila PA
When: Saturday, January 26, noon-5 p.m.
Cost: Free
More info: www.radio1045.com

Food for Thought, a book club

Doylestown Bookshop (that rare treasure, an indie book store) has teamed with the Doylestown Co-op to present Food for Thought, a monthly book club focused on exploring food, health, what we eat, where it comes from, and how to eat consciously & locally. 

The club typically meets the first Tuesday of each month to discuss the book & share dishes inspired by that month’s book selection;  due to New Year’s, this month’s get together is this coming Monday, Jan 8, 6:30 – 8:00 pm. This month’s book is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle ~ a year of foodlife,  by Barbara Kingsolver.  

Membership is free!  If you'd like, you can bring a dish based on the month’s selection, but don't feel any obligation ~ ~ tasters- & talkers-only are welcome. 

Doylestown Bookshop is located at 16 S. Main Street; on-street parking or behind the book store.  If you have any questions, call them at 215.230.7610 during business hours (Mon-Thurs, Sat: 9 am–8 pm;  Fri: 9-9; Sun: 9-5 ).

A' Brunching We Shall Go!

Okay, if I was serious about this post, I would have shared it back in October, when you could still make holiday brunch reservations at my favorite places for Sunday celebrating.  But at least I get to savor the memory of each one.

The closest - The Waterwheel, off Doylestown's beaten track - is the oldest structure (the milll was constructed by 1722, but wasn't transformed into an inn until the 1930s.  But it LOOKS wondrously old.  And never more charming than at Christmastime!  It's famous brunch draws people from way past Bucks County's borders.  Looks splendid, everything tastes wonderful!  Best to make early reservations (go to an early church service);  sort of slows down near the end.  Cap off your festivities with a ramble around beautiful Bucks County!  

From heart of the country to downtown Wilmington...  THE brunch destination of Lockharts is The DuPont Hotel.  Although it hasn't been served as a buffet for many a decade (I think desserts are still laid out for you to pick & choose), the menu still delights & the setting is a stunner.  Expensive & worth every penny!  Cap off your festivities with a ramble around Wyeth Country.

Where The DuPont's Green Room is a stunner each & every time I see it, The Jefferson of Richmond will totally blow your socks off.  Seriously.  The hotel's Rotunda Lobby is transformed into a spectacular dining space.  It's a knock-out at any time of year, but at Christmas it will leave you slack-jawed in amazement.  

Sweet serendipity!  it not only was designed by the same firm that designed Cairnwood - Carrere & Hasting - it opened in 1895, the same year Cairnwood was completed.  The firm made elegant sense of the eclectic combination of styles popular at the turn of the 19th century.  Today, it’s considered one of the finest examples of Beaux Arts style in existence. It continues to serve the use for which it was designed – still welcoming devoted Richmond citizens & their guests.  

Full Disclosure:  The Jefferson is, hands down, my favorite hotel in the world !!  

Can never decide what blows me away more - the architecture, the brunch or the service.  Would happily spend years trying to decide their order. 

“The Jefferson’s Sunday ChampagneBrunch is a Richmond tradition, “ is no idle boast.  It absolutely is!!  Their chefs really & truly lovingly craft menus that feature the best in Virginia’s seasonal fare, which delights & tantalizes (the Christmas offerings are quite different at Easter).  I can’t describe how it feels to walk down the grand staircase (rumored to have inspired the design of the staircase Clark Gable’s Rhett carries up Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett) to the magnificent buffet spread.  You’ll wish you could clone yourself, seeing all the different offerings!  As much as I have enjoyed sitting amongst the marble columns, my favorite time was a summertime brunch, where a generous sampling of my family sat at a large table at a balcony overlooking the incredible scene below.  They are not kidding when they say, “Brunch at The Jefferson is a culinary dream, reminiscent of a bygone era of grand buffets and lavish feasts – music by a trio, beautiful ice carvings, and genuine, friendly service make this an event to remember.”  I could echo that…  No, I could shout that from the rooftops!  It is not total lunacy to drive down on a Saturday & back after Brunch – staying at The Jefferson, of course. (Or maybe meander eastward to Williamsburg, with perhaps a stay at The Williamsburg Inn or one of the many colonial houses available as lodgings.)   sigh......  It's wonderful to have such glorious memories of such an unforgettable place, but I long to have enough spare cash to head down again for a joyous reacquaintance!!

Stunning LAHASKA

Oh my gosh - the illuminated trees at Lahaska's Peddler's Village are even more GORGEOUS than ever before!! It is SO worth the drive at night, just to see them.  Pile the kids in the car, plan a date night for two, or just head up by your lonesome, but GO, before Christmas or the week after.

Our annual Christmas jaunt always includes stops at Pine Wreath & Candle, The Mole Hole, The Paper Chase, Journey's Spirited Gifts (all near each other), Town Crier Bakery, Truffles, Canterbury Tales, and Cookery Ware Shop. Whether you're stocking up on presents or simply browsing with dreams of Christmases to come, they are loads of fun.

Much as we are tempted to head across the road to even MORE great shops (caveat - -  Giggleberry Fair IS a must-do if you have kids for its amazing carousel & so much more), it sort of breaks the magic spun by being surrounded by the millions of little bitty lights covering all those great big trees.  Enchantment!

Dining options include Peddler's Pub (not to my liking - feels closed in), Hart's Tavern (casual, tasty) or the Cock n' Bull (colonial theme, more formal, $$, but charming).

Beyond well worth the gas!!

New Hope

Ah, New Hope.  In the 1920s & '30s, the country get-away for Broadway luminaries; in the 1960s & ;'70s, Pennsylvania's version of hippie dom.  

Today, yesteryear's hippies are in their 60s & 70s, some way more Tea Party than flower power.  But New Hope remains a magnet for artists & creatives of every sort, plus theatrical types, drawn by the newly restored & reopened Bucks County Playhouse, currently putting on the very well received It's A Wonderful Life, A Radio Play.  

The town is a far cry from the hip counter-establishment art colony of the last century, with a Dunkin' Donuts & a Starbucks anchoring the intersection of River Road & Bridge Street.  The way cool '60s shop with peace signs & tie dye that was just before the bridge closed a couple years ago - rumor is the couple that ran it retired to Florida - and my beloved Strawberry Jam closed last year when its owners retired.  

But New Hope endures, its charms still drawing folks from far & near.

Parking can be a pain & the meter maid is ever vigilant, so be sure to arrive with plenty of quarters. And double check how long you need to be feeding your meter.  Just because it's 6:00 p.m. doesn't always mean the meters retired for the night.

Luckily, the price of parking during the run up to Christmas is moot - parking is free (hence the red-hooded meters.)  There are great shops all over New Hope, but I'll limit myself to a favorite few.

And the town is still a shopping mecca for folks near & far.  

My meanderings would start at the New Hope outpost of A Mano gallery.  Oh, I long to have a lot of time & a massive bank account whenever I am in A Mano, whether in New Hope or across the river, in Lambertville.  I am totally loony about Sticks furniture & home accessories - some day!  It would take hours to explain why I love A Mano - just check out their website.  

Head north on the River Road, crossing the bridge, passing Bucks County Playhouse (which looks remarkably like it did in its previous golden age).  There, on your right, is the most beloved shop in all of New Hope - Farley's Books.  Countless people weep that Strawberry Jam is now longer right next door, but that doesn't lessen the joy they feel opening the door to Farley's. Keep an eye out for Butter, the bookshop's resident cat (Butter's book suggestions are always worth your consideration).   One of the infinite ways that Farley’s stands out is its partnership with several small, independent presses.  Ponder just a few of the names:  Black Widow Press, Raw Dog Screaming, and Winter Tribe Books.  Tantalizing!  (But then, everything about Farley’s is.)  

Head up the road a few stores, to  Heart of the Home/Hearts Afire.  So many beautiful things for the home, so little time!

Further up the road a piece is C'est La Vie, a  tres magnifique French patisserie.  But there's a reason it's one of New Hope's best kept secrets - the fabulous place is practically impossible to find!!  Keep your eyes peeled for the sign - it's located off the main road.  But so worth the effort!

Restored with a bracing cup of coffee & butter-laden pastries, take a brisk walk north, crossing Bridge Street, going past the bank parking lot, going past The Landing & Mother's.  Cross the street to Topeo, a gallery featuring stunning glass art.  Adore this place.  The glass work in incredible.  Could design an entire house around one of their pieces.

There are several choices for meals in New Hope.  If I was visiting New Hope & wanted a good breakfast, I'd head to C'est La Vie or head across the bridge to Lambertville, NJ's Bucks Ice Cream & Espresso Bar for a neighborly breakfast & Barbara's exceptional coffee - a home away from home.  (Heads up - parking meters start humming at 10:00 a.m. in New Hope, but at 9:00 a.m. in her sister city across the river.)  Lunch or dinner, I'd head to The Landing.  Consistently good food & a nice view of the water, even in cold weather.  (It's pleasant terrace is open in pleasant weather.)  

That's enough to get you started.  New Hope is perfect for browsing, check out this place or that. Head west on Bridge Street a couple blocks & you'll find Union Square, very much new kid on the block but already massively popular.  Triumph Brewing Company is a popular spot to meet & greet & eat & check out their brews.  I heard mixed reviews of Sprig & Vine's vegetarian fare -  sort of like the little girl with the little curl in that when it is good it is very very good & when it is bad it is horrid.  It's strange that Union Square's website includes Fred's Breakfast as a place to dine, as it's technically "for members only" (complete with key);  I suspect they listed it because they want people to check out the hilarious RULES.

My John would be horrified if I omitted the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad.  Its train station is right next to Union Square.  So, Keet, I’ll close with this - -  Relax as you travel through the rolling hills and valleys of historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and experience first hand the sights, sounds and romance of the Golden Era of Steam Railroading.  

Climb aboard the New Hope & Ivyland passenger train and travel into a scene from the past. Relax and leave your cares behind as you journey into history, learning what rail travel was like for your parents, grand parents and great-grand parents. Behold the continuously changing view as the train traverses through the rolling hills and valleys of historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Enjoy our restored 1920s vintage passenger coaches, antique bar car, the authentic steam locomotive or one of our historic diesel locomotives. The train will take you along the same historic route that was filmed in the 1914 movie series Perils of Pauline. 

At this special time of year, you can Ride the rails with Santa, Mrs. Claus and a host of holiday revelers for a truly unique holiday experience the whole family is sure to enjoy! Children and adults of all ages are invited to ride the special holiday train, sip hot cocoa and enjoy cookies while Santa visits with each child and presents them with a special gift. Also on board, local musicians play & sing Christmas carols for all to enjoy and participate in. Children are encouraged to come dressed in the pajama's as well 

Doylestown

A week to Christmas!  The closer it gets, the closer to home I like to stay with my shopping.  Doylestown keeps me close while providing a post card-perfect setting for some great browsing & buying.

There are so many wonderful little shops & cozy stores to choose from, way more than I can share.  Will keep my comments to the places I love the most.

First off, take quarters for parking.  This town is not the greatest when it comes to parking.  If you can't find anything, there's a parking lot way down past the Court House, on Broad Street.  Have parked there once or twice - all I can say is it was worth the walk,even though ALL of my fav shops are many blocks away.

Ideally, I'd bag a parking spot on Oakland Street (first main + intersection in D-town central;  one-way to your right).  Ideally, right outside Raymer's Candies.  

Raymer's Homemade Candies is dear to our heart for more than their caramel-covered marshmallows (a must-get in Murphart stockings), luscious chocolate hand-dipped on site & terrific cards.  For several years, Mark & Sue invited John to be their "in-residence" artist on First Fridays.  It was wonderful exposure for John & we always enjoyed their warm hospitality.  It made a difference, hearing all those wonderful comments about his artwork.  As for their chocolates - it's practically impossible to find such top-quality chocolates these days, and finding a place that actually makes them on site...  Incredible!  I swoon over their chocolate-covered orange peel, any of their luscious truffles, and both of us love their caramels.  So worth a visit, especially with kids  - the kitchen area is walled off with glass, so you can watch Mark making his delectables.

Turn left outside Raymer's, walk down to Pine, then up to State Street - turn left.  Voila!  You're at Busy Bee Toys!  Oh, calm my beating heart.  This is NOT a shop to take a doting grandma or grandpa, if you want to leave in under an hour.  Their website says it best ~ Bucks County's Busy Bee Toys is a European-inspired toy store, right in the heart of the Doylestown borough, specializing in Europe- and U.S-made toys with a focus on wooden, battery-free, hand-made, organic and natural playthings.  We are so much more than a toy store.  Come pay Busy Bee Toys a visit and explore a world of discovery, fun, learning, and special kid events - - through the eyes of a child.   Did I mention Busy Bee is home to Cyd Noble's exquisite Waldorf-style dolls?  That alone is worth a long linger.  

Turn left outside Busy Bee.  Shield your eyes from all the shops that will beckon you in.  Steer a clear course for Poor Richard's (there are two Poor Richard's in D-town, but this is the real deal, the original).  Hmmmm...  How to describe Poor Richard's?  It's a large gift shop with a lot of unusual & interesting items to entice.  First place I ever saw Jim Shore's work (still wish we'd bought his bird bath atop a three kitty pedestal).  Every Christmas, John or I or both are shore...  oops, I mean sure to receive a gift from Poor Richard's.  

Heading out from Poor Richard's, turn - you guessed it - LEFT.  Take a moment outside the County Theater to pay homage to a wonderful spot for art house movies, indies & AAA-list new releases.  Turn LEFT into Bucks County Dry Goods. According to no less a source than Fodor's, Bucks County Dry Goods has got the goods—a varied assortment or jewelry, mid-century furniture, house wares, design books, gifts, and hip clothing.

Out the door & turn (sigh...) LEFT.  Cross Main Street and turn...  left, into The Paper Unicorn.  The Paper Unicorn is the Tiffany's of gift stores.  I totally adore it.  It's small, but elegantly packed with treasures, plus the BEST single card selection around.  THE place to come for ultra chic or whimsical napkins & paper goods for that over-the-top elegant party.  Of course, they have an exceptional selection of invitations - ones you can customize on computer or special orders.  The Paper Unicorn defines the word swanky!  It has a large stock of Byer's Choice, Godiva Chocolates, and Crabtree & Evelyn.  The place to go if you're looking for that  "WHERE did you find it?" baby shower gift.  And could do all my stocking stuffer buying in just this one spot.  This place is for me as Busy Bee is to my grandparent friends - you practically have to pry me out.  Not so John, who knows to simply bend over to my ear & whisper two words - Doylestown Bookshop.

Works every time!  Carefully exit The Paper Unicorn (step combo can be a bit tricky), turn RIGHT!!, then RIGHT again.  Walk down a short bit to our dearly beloved independent book emporium - The Doylestown Bookshop (cultivate community, buy indie).  Did YOU know that April 23, 2013 is World Book Night?  You'd know that (and the fact that 04/23/13 is William Shakespeare's b-day) if you were a Doylestown Bookshop regular. Before John & I enter, we agree to how long we'll stay - and we usually only go over that by a mere hour.  Small but savvy selection of books, great cards, unusual calendars, children's toys, and our favorite magazine rack.  All this, plus knowledgeable staff who let me bring in coffee from Zen Den to sip in their small eating area.  About ten chairs - some downright comfy - dot the store, welcoming a long linger over a good book.  We love  you, Doylestown Bookshop!!

Out the door, turn right, walk a short ways down to the light, then back across Main & down Oakland. Think we're going to the car?  So WRONG!  Turn left directly after Raymer's & head up across the tiny parking lot to The Zen Den.  The Zen Den totally earns it's name.  Food is excellent, vibe is mellow, setting is comfy cozy, staff feel like they're your favorite cousins.  This place puts caring into their concept of community ~ ~  military personnel (with i.d.) get FREE coffee or tea; police, firefighters & EMTs get FREE coffee or tea beverages when they're on-duty - if they're off duty, they get a 50% discount;  D-town Hospital employees (with i.d.) get 20% off their entire order; and local D-town merchants get a 20% discount.  The Zen Den is THE best place to rest & restore before heading home.  (With one last stop at Herb's Hobby, if John is with me.)

There is so much more in Doylestown.  Will do a couple bloggy rambles in January to keep up spirits.  Which will mean I'll have to take at least one drive up to confirm winter hours.  Anyone want to ride shotgun?

Winterthur & Longwood Gardens

A perfect holiday pairing - Winterthur (at the far northern edge of Wilmington, DE) and Longwood Gardens (over the state line but not far away, in Kennett Square, PA).  

Winterthur (winter-tour)

Yuletide at Winterthur steps guests back through time, to American Christmases past.   Considered the premier museum of American decorative arts, Winterthur's Christmas displays reflect early American traditions, as well as some of the du Pont family's.   The exhibition Uncorked! Wine, Objects &Tradition takes a look at the evolution of the holiday meal, from the colonial period to the early national period.  

Winterthur was designed in the early 20th century by H. F. du Pont and his father, Henry Algernon du Pont, who looked to the spirit of 18th- and 19th-century European country houses for inspiration. The younger du Pont added to the home many times thereafter, increasing its number of rooms by nearly sixfold. After he established the main building as a public museum in 1951, he moved to a smaller building on the estate.

My guess is that Mr. du Pont would have been delighted that Winterthur has a delightful online presence.  I confess to being hooked on it's garden blog - it's spare narrative & generous number of photos leaves me feeling like I've just nipped down for a short visit.  And its online shopping site is treacherously beguiling!

Teeny bit of trivia:  a contemporary of Raymond Pitcairn, Henry Francis du Pont was born five years before R.P. & died three years after.  

Winterthur is a great place to visit in the late morning or early afternoon.  Once you can pull yourself away from its gracious allurements, get back in the car & head up the road a piece to.... 

Longwood Gardens

Longwood has a far longer history than it's cousin, Winterthur.  

History:   Although many generations helped create Longwood Gardens, it was Pierre S. du Pont (1870-1954) who made it what it is today.  Industrialist, conservationist, farmer, designer, impresario and philanthropist, Pierre du Pont was the great-grandson of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834), who arrived from France in 1800 and made a family fortune that continues to this day.  But it was his great-grandson who turned the family business from a gunpowder works into a corporate empire specializing in biotechnology.  Looking around at Longwood, you can see where a lot of his fortune was invested.  

The original inhabitants - the native Lenni Lenape tribe who hunted, fished, and farmed the productive wilderness - gave way in 1700 to a Quaker family who purchased the property from William Penn.  They first established a farm, then in the late 1700s started an arboretum.   

By 1850, the site was known as one of the finest collections of trees in the nation, and one of the first public parks, and its aesthetic qualities were as important as its botanical significance.

In 1906, Pierre du Pont purchased the farm with the intent of preserving the trees and building on its foundation as a public garden.  From then through the 1930s, he created most of what is enjoyed today. 

Today ~ forgive me for digressing into its history, but Longwood Gardens has such a rich, beguiling history, its hard to just stay focused on the here & now.  Be grateful I didn't prattle on, as I could have, about its background!

Onto today!  

Exquisite flowers, majestic trees, dazzling fountains, extravagant conservatory, starlit theatre, thunderous organ—all describe the magic of Longwood Gardens, a horticultural showstopper where the gardening arts are encased in classic forms and enhanced by modern technology.  The BEST time to visit over the holidays is from mid-afternoon through the evening, when it is filled with Christmas spectacle.   

There are sure to be stars in your eyes as you wander through half a million twinkling lights, thousands of poinsettias, and magnificent Christmas trees. Beautifully lit fountains dance in a starry holiday wonderland.

Longwood Gardens covers many acres. Walking or using a wheelchair orelectric scooter (see below) are the primary ways in which to experience it. There are no shuttles within the Gardens.

It takes about 1½ hours to walk the entire 20-room Conservatory, which covers ½ mile. To walk the 20 outdoor gardens (2¼-3¼ miles) takes two to three hours. The Heritage Exhibit in the Peirce-du Pont House takes ½ to one hour.

On crowded days there may be a farther walk from the parking lot to the Visitor Center. Our double traffic lane in front of the Visitor Center allows you to drop off passengers at the main entrance before parking. 

Tickets are issued for a specific date and time and tickets are available for advance purchase now. There is no admittance to the Gardens without a timed admission ticket if you are not a Member. Tickets are limited and sell out quickly!

Alice du Pont was famous for her parties & there was no time she loved to indulge her passion than at Christmas.  Childless, the du Ponts started a  tradition of hosting extravagant holiday parties for employees and their families, including spectacular Christmas trees, music, as well as presents.  That tradition continues today at Longwood in the guise of concerts & other special events.

Garden Railroad

Of course, I'm going to give the Garden Railroad top billing!  This is the 12th year the G-scale model trains, set in a whimsical display, is delighting kids of all ages, custom trains traveling in and out of bridges, tunnels, and (of course) special water features.  The Garden Railroad operates during regular Gardens hours, weather permitting, through January 6, 2013.

Organ Sing-Alongs & Concerts

You can bet that Alice would be pleased at the Organ Sing-Alongs & Concerts that play such a special role in Longwood Gardens' Christmas celebrations.  They take place in the Ballroom, through January 6, 2013.  Performances are free with Gardens admission BUT limited seating is 1st come, 1st served.  

Choir Concerts 

Listen as local choirs share the sounds of the season during select evening performances,  most Mondays-Thursdays these choirs give 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm performances.  The Ballroom performances are free with Gardens admission BUT limited seating is 1st come, 1st served.   

New Year's Eve

If Alice du Pont was 1/5 the party lover they say she was, my bet is she would have loved the New Year's celebration at Longwood, December 31 from 2:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m.!  Longwood Gardens will set up your farewell to the old year with a bouquet of musical treats & the gardens will be open until 10:00 p.m.

Tips

Every good host wants to ensure guests have the best possible time with least stress possible, so Longwood Gardens has put together a helpful list of tips for guests planning a Christmastime visit.