SEEN IN NEW HOPE

I have always loved my get-a-ways to New Hope and mourn missing it a couple times a week after living there for 25 years, with it being a very liberal area. We had a getaway last weekend to New Hope and Doylestown. New Hope is so popular because it combines a extremely bohemian vibrant arts and LGBT culture with scenic Delaware River views, historic colonial charm, a colorful, racy and historical history, storied residents past and present. and a prime location, roughly perfectly positioned between Philly and New York. It has always been famous for an art and writer's colony and still draws creatives. Its inclusivity is very important in New Hope...has a long-standing reputation as a safe, welcoming and progressive haven for the LGBT, drag, and other minorities. The sheer natural beauty of the area was first seen and appreciated by the Lenni-Lenape people so many thousands of years ago. It's also what attracted the great Pennsylvania Impressionist school of artist like Daniel Garber and Edwin Redfield, writers from the Algonquin round table, Dorothy Parker and Oscar Hammerstein were longtime residents, furniture maker George Nakashhima created and has his studio in New Hope, now run by his daughter, and has hosted a long list of singer and actors at the Bucks County Playhouse...some notables, Geoge C Scott, Bea Arthur, Helen Hayes, Betty Buckly, Elaine Stritch, Robert Redford, Hugh Jackman and too many others to mention and still continues great talent. And then there is our distant relation on my mother's side, Aaron Burr, who was the sitting Vice President at the time, fled the scene and hid out in New Hope after he stabbed Hamiliton in a duel who later died.  Then there is the natural beauty...looks like a European countryside, and all the witches, and hauntings...yes, New Hope is one of the most haunted towns too. Some scenes this weekend...

Dinner at Zoubi's...always a favorite and what a courtyard to dine in.

My dinner that night, a crabcake with corn on top and two sauces on the side with coleslaw. And yes, edible flowers. I hated to eat it it was so pretty.

Our hotel, and my breakfast one morning at a vegan restaurant.

Fonthill Castle in Doylestown. 

Never tire of seeing this place. I used to live about 8 minutes from it.

An entrance to Fonthill Castle from the Woods.

The home of Bradley Cooper...minutes form my old place. To think we could have been neighbors!

And then there was our pool boy, and bartender Dan. 

He moved here from Russia 15 years ago. Me OH MY! So there was that.

COOKING WITH GAS

Houseboy Rene 

In my opinion what a "well-balanced" meal looks like.

MOOD BOARD

 

I think I recovered from the fact that it is Monday again. Maybe working 10 hour days and having a four-day work week is the ticket!? A option for me yes...but that's a long day. This weekend whiz by as they all do. I made quick escape to New Hope after work on Friday, for the weekend with the Capital Street Duo, to visit with some old friends and familiar town folk I knew. It was a glorious weekend filled with friends, a little shopping, too much food, and more than a few libations and one pool day. God do I miss that area. The Lumbersexual even met us one night. Of course, him living over in my old apartment, 15 minutes away... I thought it best he stayed at the hotel in my room since he'd had a few libations...better safe than sorry. Yes....it was the best decision for all involved, wink!

 

What I wouldn't give for a ride on that raft right now. Oh well... onward to Monday.

Let's all have a good week!

MONDAY!!!!!!!

 

Same.