Several weeks ago, I headed back down to New Hope for an overnight stay before heading into Philadelphia for their gay pride festivities. It was good to get back down there, and I know it will be a matter of time before I will mostly likely end up there again. I got together with friends and the Lumbersexual, it was so good to be back, and visit with good friends and be in an area not filled with conservative residents, but be in a town filled with quirks and camp and others, who just don't plain give a shit for what should be normal. One certainly sees everything in New Hope, and if you can't be opened minded, well then, this would not be the place for that person. And the Lumbersexual didn't have on a ballcap for once. It's almost his trademark to wear one, or a knit beanie. Here are some snaps from that day from my favorite little slice of heaven.
Oh dear...these will never cut it.
One of my most favorite establishments, Netar. Excellent menu. We started with the charcuterie and cheese board and a whiskey flight, and I ended with dessert of a tangerine gin fiz. Mind altering.
New Hope is famous for their signs in shops and they have no qualms about making them visible either, like this one in one of the book shops.
Good friend and fellow queen, New Hope's Grande Drunkin Dame, Miss Pumpkin, kicking things off at the Luau to kick off pride. She can put the hootch away.
Afternoon refreshments at another favorite haunt...Karla's.
Lumbersexual, not looking very lumbersexual...no ballcap! Or skinny jeans, or flannel! See what happens when I move away? But he still "HAD IT" if you KNOW what I'm saying, wink.
This shop never disappoints in the windows.
A beautiful river shot. I didn't even see the bumble till I looked at the picture...so this one is for Debs.
Now if fellow bloggers Rj and Sassy Bear were here at Phantasm Comics, they would have been overjoyed at this comic sale....the $1 Sale!!! Each of those comics in those boxes were a dollar each. In the afternoon later the place was jammed.
Meanwhile at the Logan Inn...
Yes, three grown men just randomly wearing Star Wars costumes. THIS is what New Hope is about. One never knows what or who you will see. Is it any wonder I miss this town???
The Mistress spent a few hours at the Outfest today in Philadelphia but only a few hours for brunch and to explore the festival. I quite frankly was emotionally wiped out from Saturday night. Last night was the final night, after 45 years of my home away from home, The Raven Resort. I can't think of another place that held a candle to this place. Over the years I spent much time their dinning, drinking, soaking up rays at the pool, performing in shows, and have met a lot of swell people. Over the years it has been a safe haven for the LGBTQ community, their have been many colorful characters, campy moments, outrageous pool parties, late night dancing, slumber parties....friendships forged, many even met their life partners there, and we have this year lost some good friends and queens. It was a place where all of us in the community could come and get along, old and young, bears, twinks, queens, the trans community, gays, dikes...everybody. The local Grande dame, Pumpkin, twisted my arm to do a number for the final night, one of the numbers I did for lipstick Monday. I also felt it was time to finally hang up the Mistress, with the Raven's closing so it also served as my final performance. It was Dolly Patron's Hard Candy Christmas, so it took lots of padding and hair and make up. Most of the clan came to see me. The whole night was rather filled with fun and tears. The Mistress actually called it quits after the number. I went to the legendary Oak Room to listen to a few song tunes with the boys then left. I wanted to remember the place full and vibrant.
Some of the clan this summer
Miss Pumpkin
One never knew who you might see. Over the years, Betty Buckley, Linda Lavin, Sally Kellerman, and Sally Struthers, Nick Adams, Steve Grand, Hope Springs all stopped in when preforming at the playhouse, and no one will forget when Elaine Strich stopped by one night and sang with the guys in the Oak Room. This year saw Alan Cummings popping in one night.
Boy's of summer
Miss Samantha at one of the Trans events.
The wall of the Raven's past.
The beautiful vintage restaurant.
And yes, a portrait of Queen Victoria hangs in the oak room.
After my number I ventured into the Oak Room to listen to a few show tune numbers. The room was packed to the gills. It is also where I started to get torn up, watching all the happy and sad faces at once, all the comradery and sense of community. I wondered where all these older guys will now go and have their night out, as many look forward to this every week. One old gent leaned in to me, in his 80's and said to me, "It's sad isn't? I got choked up. We sat for some time talking, and he regaled his randy youth and time in New York, before retiring here. I have learned a lot from listening to the stories of these older queens...of Fire Island, Stonewall, and Studio 54, and what life was like for us then. After three more numbers, I decided to retire to my room across the street, with a few close friends for drinks at the room, I don't generally like others seeing me getting upset. It's unusual the Mistress not close down a place!!!
On my way out, more hugs and good show comments and don't hang it ups....as I went out through the dance floor where the last dancing was commencing.
I could have hung out all night, but I wanted to remember the place still bumpin and jumpin and full of life and vibrancy. I was happy how I left, and with fond memories over the years. Today the stained glass doors are closed.
Thanks old gal for such good times over the years.
Well, the weekend flew by yet again...as I suspect the week will also. The Mistress spent Saturday out and about in New Hope's sister river town, Lambertville, for their annual Shad fest. While the festival draws its name and honors the fish from the saltwater fish that returns to the Delaware River every April to spawn, the festival offers way more than just the fish the weekend is named for. There are many fish fry and seafood stands, and many other food vendors making tasty morsels, local handi craft, art, and music to be heard. Since the day was so nice, but cool, I joined my friend Mr Frank to take in the shad fest. I though of wearing a Shad gown, made entirely of shad, but I didn't want to show up the crowd in such finery and didn't care to be chased by every cat in town!!! This Monday I share a collection of photos from the last two weeks from my fair hamlet. Is it any wonder I love this area so?
Along the canal.
The incredible Mercer Museum in Doylestown
Miss Pumpkin in her Easter finery
This is a water pump house I believe?
Mr Frank with his new rescue Murphy
This long fish sculpture/float like creation was carried all around town as is tradition by several of the royals in town.
Here is a farm up the road from the Casa. I like to think I'm being sneaky by taking apple slices to Ellie the horse...but the owners know I do it. It's like she knows me by scent and comes to get them. When I don't have them I would swear she looks disappointed.
Here was an evening shot at my friend Doug's place along the river. It was taken after one of my sill life sittings for him and his art. It was a stunning sunset that night.
I told you in yesterday's post I had a love affair with this place.
New Hope — an icon of openness, the most tolerant village between Provincetown and Key West ..... weirdly charming, bucolic, yet chic as can be. New Hope famously embraces everyone — but a certain quirkiness is expected, encouraged, demanded here. Camp characters, witches, and the gay community have made this town a great and interesting place to live. The town had in the pass welcomed sophisticated outsiders — artists, actors, poets, writers, composers — since the '30s, when Dorothy Parker and Moss Hart and their hyper-articulate friends used their Bucks County homes as Arcadian outposts of the Algonquin. Ever since, one never knows who may turn up, and has remained a colony for artist of all sorts. This month will bring about New Hope Celebrates, the town's pride festival of sorts, but also a celebration of the town diversity over all. I was with the town's grande dame last night and she had brought some fun pictures from the vintages days on New Hope's past characters, like Mother, New Hope's legendary queen, Monica Ray, drag entertainer, and cool scenes from pass Raven days, then called Le Camp, plus long gone hotspots like the Prelude and the Cartwheel. Since I was not living in the area yet, I loved seeing the pictures, and they will be filling a wall of the Raven permanently, all in the form of polaroid's for all to enjoy. Some of my favorites....
Ken is a regular, and god love him ...every time he sees me still tries to get me to spend the night with him.
Mother was famous for her demure head pieces. I was sitting this very corner of the bar when viewing these pictures this week.
As a regular here, you'll know the pool is STILL legendary in the summers....for pick ups, camp, and a good ole lounging.
The hilarity of Tinsel can still be seen up at the Woods Campground in the summers.
And after all these years, they have been able to keep corporate stores and branches out of town, keeping it all locally owned shops and eateries. The trans, gay, drag queens, and witches have also helped keep this place odd, but quaint. The only branch business is Starbucks, and from what I understand this is the least profitable Starbucks in the company.
