SEEN IN NEW HOPE

It was good being back in New Hope over the weekend. It never ceases to amaze me how popular this place is, especially for three seasons of the year. For a town over 300 years old, it certainly is colorful and vibrant. Since being put on the map the night George Washington lodged there over night before crossing the Delaware River, then destroyed the ferry so the British Army couldn't follow him, it has been full of colorful characters ever since. New Hope has a very colorful history and interesting history, and architecture for a small river town, and has a big reputation for it's very good, fine food and proper bars, live entertainment, famous antique shops and centers, eclectic boutiques, art galleries, adult shops and tattoo parlors, and its long history and haven for the LGBTQ, drag, artist circles and witchcraft communities. This visit the town grande dame Pumpkin informed me that Tina Fey and Leonardo Di Caparo were seen on the streets, and GiGi Hadid just bought a home there. I always enjoyed my 24 years living there and will most likely return there for another few chapters. Seen in New Hope this visit.

Love Saves the Day...Amy Winehouse inspo!

Brunch at the V-Spot. No meat, eggs...everything on the menu is made plant based and it was soooooo surprisingly good.

Cocks for all, in various sizes for all!

Delish app of Avocado Deviled eggs from Under the Moon.

Look at the gams on his gent!!!!

Even Sasquatch was seen in New Hope and apparently gay!

Some of the various homes right in New Hope. No cookie cutter. I have always loved the diversity in the styles.

I have long told friends, if I could have one house , anywhere, the above house would be it! I have long loved this bungalow sized home. And I wouldn't change a thing. It's so charming.

Our cock-a-tails one afternoon

Some pool time at the hotel

Tall glass of water our waiter was!

One of my favorite shops in Lambertville, Zinc. I love their selection of accessories, candle and home furnishings.

And I am thrilled and happy to introduce you all to my future ex husband.....

Just look at him reading, no doubt, one of my poetic text!!! 

Ohhhh lala!

HALLOWEEN TOWN

 

Halloween is by far my favorite holiday of the year. Always has been, not just because I should have been a Halloween baby. Yes...I arrived early...the only time in my life. There is just something about the feeling of this time of year, and I always enjoyed the decorations, the horror movie binge watching, and all the seasonal delights that come with the season. But not the pumpkin flavored crap. Way overboard. Pumpkin pie is it for me. And while here in Cumberland County many homes are decked for Hallow's eve, nothing compares to that of New Hope, with what, it's haunted and colorful history would be hard to compete with it. Halloween is big business in New Hope, and you'd be hard pressed to find a house not decked out with at least some form of autumnal delights, even if just pumpkins and gourds. Here are some of the sights we saw from my last trip there two weeks ago.

Even this block in Doylestown got into the spirit!!! But the big attraction every year and as is tradition on this blog is that of the home of Dolores Dragan in Lambertville. She goes out every year with her showing of Tim Burtonsque cast of characters, that she has created herself, of people around town and people she's known.  Passerby come from far and wide to see it and has even gotten nation attention for her yard exhibit. She adds a new one every year. I think she is well over 40 different ones now.

SEEN IN NEW HOPE

 

Bets are already circulating from my mother and friends here in the Burg, how long it will be till I return to Bucks County?!? With work being hectic, and the damn blogger hoopla...it was great to get away for a four-day weekend. My ever-faithful town of New Hope and Lambertville didn't disappoint. While the weather was refreshingly crisp already, we avoided rain till later in the day on Sunday. And it was great being back!!!!! The Lumbersexual put me up, in so many ways, at his place, which seemed odd to be catty corner from my old place...and then was joined by the Lad on Saturday along with the Capital Street Duo and good friends Rebeckah and her hubby, all from Harrisburg. We all had rooms in town. Of course, there was much eating... and drinking, and some shopping then more drinking. I found some great vintage clothes at excellent prices. Some of the first clothing I have bought since the pandemic started. It was also nice to see the town was in full swing of embracing it's Patron holiday...Halloween. How this Halloween will feel quite different in feeling with not being there. Monday was spent in Philadelphia. But the sights of New Hope certainly didn't disappoint and got me in the mood for fall finally.

A bit sad to see the Mansion Inn was closed. I can remember seeing Hugh Jackman dinning there once, in addition to the Mistress performing there with some up-do's on many occasions.

Always an interesting shop to go in and peruse their macabre and haunted items.

Oldestone. This place was long known as Marsha Browns...but she sold it and retuned back to New Orleans after 15 years. One of my favorite places. The above is the main dinning floor and I had a excellent gin cocktail called Bee-Kind. A variation of a Bee's Knees. Three went down quite nice.

If one is familiar with New Hope, then you know Loves Saves the Day never disappoints with their shop antics and their windows!!!! And contrary to popular belief that's NOT ME behind the carriage of ties hung over on Sunday. But look at this display in the store.

The Logan Inn has been a long time favorite of locals and it was nice to go in and finally see the new space. The Logan Inn is one of the five oldest inns in the US dating back to 1713, and the longest running inn in Bucks County... and it's well known it's haunted, and included on the ghost tour. But I was highly impressed with their renovations, while keeping much of the original structure intact. The old and new together married beautifully. And what a bar!!!!!! One of several I might add.

Poor Rebekah at the bar...waiting for us queens to get ready to meet for drinks... hey, all this magic just doesn't happen.

Some tags alongs!

Lovely local art at a gallery.

A lovely home, one of many in Lambertville.

One of the best kept secrets between the sister river towns...The Boat House. Hands down the best made cock-a-tails by extremely professional, old-world trained barkeeps. Mostly locals know about it. It's very small, quaint, and close quarters inside...but the damn best drinks I ever had. They are not much into the flashy drinks like hen parties would drink. And if you order a Cosmo, they'll make it, but I'm sure they'd appalled.

Like when my concubine, the Lad, ordered one against my telling him to get a Ginger Sidecar instead. Look at the deviant look. Yeah, I know, it's hard to not see the man spread. When we left, I think he was with us, but I may have left him there, or at the shop after that. I can't remember...too many drinks. I don't worry about it, I had him chipped after all.

And look at this lovely Zinnia Garden at another home- still flourishing.

So, there was all that.