two moms, one mission - Steve Greer Photography

EASY ITINERARY:
Stroll the Delaware
and Raritan Canal in
Lambertville, have
a bite in Frenchtown and cross the
Green Sergeant’s
covered bridge in
Sergeantsville.
TWO MOMS,
ONE MISSION
Strolling west on Bridge Street, we reach
the banks of the Delaware River and the two-lane
Enjoying the laid-back delights
of Lambertville and Frenchtown
It’s a gorgeous autumn day, and my friend Jen and I are psyched.
We’re about to drive to picturesque Lambertville and Frenchtown,
soak up the sights, check out as many antique stores and art galleries
as possible, and enjoy a relaxing lunch—all before
the school day ends back home in Essex County.
It’s a fun challenge—and we are looking forward to a break from our daily rituals as stay-home
moms to enjoy the beauty of the Delaware River
and the bucolic towns nestled along its banks.
We start early, dropping the kids at school and
driving straight to Lambertville, where we’ll begin
our excursion. For lunch, we’ll head 15 miles north
on scenic Route 29 to Frenchtown.
As we approach Lambertville, we seem to slip
back in time. Many of the stately Victorian and earnest colonial houses, as well as the egalitarian, federal-style row buildings, appear to have changed
little since they were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Thank goodness the main business area received historic-preservation status in 1983.
October 2012
N J M O N T H LY . C O M
OLD IS IN:
The attractive
antiques shops
on Bridge Street,
Lambertville,
top, include Jim’s
of Lambertville,
middle. Bottom,
the Inn at Lambertville Station.
bridge that connects Lambertville with New Hope,
Pennsylvania. New Hope preceded Lambertville
as a hot destination several decades ago. But there’s
more than enough to fill our morning in Lambertville. We’ll stay on this side of the river, thanks.
Just north of the bridge we spy a group of four
charming, brightly painted row houses, each the
site of an antiques store or gallery. We stop in at A
Stage in Time (9 Lambert Lane), which specializes
in Mission-style furniture, and admire the spare,
sturdy lines of the original Stickley wooden tables
and chairs. The owner, Peter Prorok, extols the joys
of living in Lambertville—including the gorgeous
view of the river from his patio above the shop. But
alas, Prorok’s prices are out of our reach; a large
Stickley couch with leather cushions is ticketed at
$5,000.
We break from browsing to enjoy the foliage
along the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park,
which runs alongside the river. The park follows
an old towpath on which mules once pulled barges
along the canal. At one time, the D&R was a major artery of commerce. Now cyclists, runners and
walkers frequent the well-maintained towpath,
which stretches 16 miles north to Frenchtown and
14 miles south to Trenton (then inland all the way
(Continued on page 68)
to New Brunswick).
GET YER FALL FESTIVALS HERE!
By JACQUELINE MROZ
54
Lambertville, settled in 1710, for a time was an
industrial town, its factories producing goods from
underwear to rubber bands. Now it’s most notable
as an artists’ colony and a magnet for antique-loving day-trippers.
Our first stop, the Lambertville Trading Company (43 Bridge Street), is a quirky but inviting
combination of coffee shop and candy-and-chocolate emporium that also sells kitchen knickknacks.
After a cup of strong java, we begin to explore.
Downtown is packed with art galleries, antique
stores, restaurants and other quaint establishments. Artful attention to detail is a hallmark of
Lambertville businesses; even the local bank pitches in, placing wicker furniture invitingly on the
front porch. A thrift shop, Mill Crest Vintage (72
Bridge Street), fills its windows with an enchanting
display of hanging ice skates and ornaments.
More enticing to us are the many art galleries
and antique shops, such as the Greene & Greene
Gallery (32 Bridge Street), brimming with unique
home-decorating items and jewelry, and Bridge
Street Antiques (21 Bridge Street), with its tasteful
assemblage of vintage collectibles.
Photos by STEVE GREER
PUMPKIN LAND
FESTIVAL
October 1-28
Vernon
Heaven Hill Farm,
every day 10 am to 6 pm.
Hayrides to the U-pick
patch and corn and hay
mazes. Dancing robots,
duck racing, pony
rides, magic shows,
balloon art, live music,
food. Admission $9 per
person. (973-764-5144;
heavenhillfarm.com)
HORSE SLEIGH FARM
All October weekends
Washington (Warren
County)
New Jersey State Botanical Garden in Ringwood
State Park, 10 am to 5 pm.
Free. (973-962-9534,
njbg.org)
Haunted attractions
at 7 pm. Saturdays and
Sundays, pie tastings,
1 pm. Pumpkin carving contest, Sunday,
October 21, 5 pm. Free.
(908-246-3044; horsesleighfarm.com)
23RD ANNUAL CRANBERRY FESTIVAL
October 6-7
Bordentown City
Juried craft show with
125 vendors, featuring painting, pottery,
pastry, wine, jewelry
and clothing. Vintage
car show Saturday, live
music all weekend. 10 am
to 5 pm. Free. (609-3249909; downtownbordentown.com)
CAPE MAY WINE
FESTIVAL
October 6-7
Cape May
Come to Lewes Ferry
Terminal to sample
wines from New Jersey
vineyards. Noon to 5
pm. Call for prices. (609588-0085; newjerseywines.com)
8TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL
IN THE BOROUGH
October 6-7
Washington (Warren
County)
Live music, 100 vendors, beer garden.
Saturday, 11 am to 10 pm;
Sunday, noon to 5 pm.
Free. (908-689-4800;
washingtonbid.org)
HARVEST FESTIVAL
October 6-7
Ringwood
21ST ANNUAL BLACKWOOD PUMPKIN
FESTIVAL
October 7
Blackwood
Blackwood Library, 15 S.
Black Horse Pike. Food,
games, four entertainment stages, 200 vendors. Pumpkin painting
and carving, hayrides
and costume contest.
11 am to 4 pm. (Rain date:
October 14) Free. (856227-3091; 609-4050306; mainstage.org/
pumpkin-festival)
SCARECROW
HOLLOW CORN MAZE
FALL FESTIVAL
October 7
Salem
(Continued on page 70)
N E W J E R S E Y M O N T H LY
October 2012
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