Naturalizing New Hope one garden at a time
“Do you have a garden?” is the question ringing in Diana Williams’ and Pamm Kerr’s minds. As the two cofounders of Naturalizing New Hope, they are intent on making the gardens in New Hope a little wilder. And by “wild,” they mean habitats suitable for local wildlife. Gardens are a great setting for wildlife habitats, but Naturalizing…
“Cultivating flowers and community”
Bucks County Flower Collective elevates women growers At first glance, it appears to be just another picturesque farm in Bucks County. A long gravel driveway passes through a wide-open weathered wooden gate. To the right, stands a 1700s stone farmhouse, and to the left is a red wooden barn and an old silo. A pickup…
“The Alchemy of Blood” at ArtYard captures deep emotions of mother and daughter
Artist Suleika Jaouad throws her arms lovingly around guests at opening night of her first-ever art show. She claps her hands with uninhibited joy and pulls strangers to her until their foreheads touch. Jaouad is a picture of health and joy. This is true. And this is not true. It all depends on how you…
Ambitious incubator ArtYard anchors Frenchtown arts scene
For those looking to take in a first-rate show without the big city ticket prices and hassles, the McDonnell Theater in Frenchtown may fit the bill. Its fans say this small-town theater’s shows are anything but “small” in vision and scope. Housed in ArtYard, the popular interdisciplinary art center, the McDonnell Theater welcomes emerging and…
Local 23-year-old designer is headed to Fashion Week
Morgan Grabarz steps off a fashion runway in New York City and into a quiet coffee shop in New Hope. At least, it seems that way, as she brings an aura of glamour to an otherwise dreary afternoon. Grabarz looks dressed for an evening out. She wears a fitted sheer black shirt with sleeves ending…
Scrambled: A small art gallery with a big story in New Hope
In June 2021, an energetic and spirited 21-year-old Lambertville resident — Hope Gaburo — walked into Scrambled for the first time. Little did she know that meeting gallery owner Erin Simmons would change her life forever. Eight months later, under the weight of nearly unbearable grief, Gaburo opened the door to the gallery as its…
Songwriters find a warm, safe place to share their art
The door of the unmarked building sits at the end of a gravel driveway. It is haphazardly plastered with decals promoting local artists, musicians, and shops. The door opens directly into a dimly lit room with about 40 folding chairs facing a makeshift stage, which consists of a throw rug, a stool, a metal folding…
Lambertville, New Hope a vintage vinyl lover’s paradise
You might feel like you know New Hope and Lambertville. However, these river towns are full of surprises. Maybe you are already familiar with Lambertville’s antique shops, galleries, and historic buildings and New Hope’s bustling outside bars and riverside promenade. However, you may not know that the towns are jam-packed with one of the decade’s…
“Yes, and…” the magic of improv at Bucks County Playhouse
I am mooing like a cow and laughing as I stand in a circle with 13 other people. We were doing a warm-up activity in an improvisation class and someone just made a mistake. As per instructor Will Dennis’s rules, we all stepped forward and mooed before resuming our places and the activity. Dennis thinks…
An old-school barber shop for True Believers
Stepping into True Believers Barber Shop is like entering shop owner James Shields’ head, home, and heart. Shields surrounds himself with what he holds dear: from his best-friend barbers to his cherished art and antique collections. His customers travel from as far as an hour away not just for a haircut but because of how…
Bees and everyone else are busy at Eight Hands Farm
“Why not?” Dena and Scott Greenwood asked before purchasing a package of bees. They knew nothing about bees, so Scott promptly created his own crash course in beekeeping. That was three years ago. Today, Scott’s bees produce the honey Dena uses in her handcrafted small-batch goods, including candles, soaps, lotions, lip balms, face scrubs, and…
“Life on Delay” in Lambertville after Hurricane Ida
Jacqui Sornstein, Matt Shuster, Allison Farrell, and Nancy Bakewell all use the same word to describe how they feel after losing their homes to the devastating flood in Lambertville, “lucky”—lucky to have their lives, their families, and their beloved pets. Six months after the flood, they are still displaced. Their homes are in disrepair. They…
A little “magic” can go a long way
Who does not dream of a little magic to break up the muted landscape of another pandemic winter? Finding the motivation to get out for walks on bitterly cold days is challenging. Even the Delaware and Raritan Canal towpath in Lambertville, N.J., feels quiet and devoid of the beauty of spring and fall. But, those…
Leave a lock on this bridge for remembrance
As he approaches the Love Lock bridge in Lambertville, Chris Herncane noticeably struggles with his emotions. The idyllic setting on the Delaware and Raritan Canal towpath counters the heaviness in the air, and the moment feels sacred, even as bikers and walkers blithely pass by. The story that Herncane has come to tell me hovers…
New Hope shop owner packs a dream into a candle
“New Hope has a candle making shop” is about as descriptive as “New Hope has a river.” If you know New Hope, you know what I mean. And if you know Wax N Scent, you do, too. New Hope doesn’t just have a candle making shop: it has owner Moe Simmons’ unique vision of one.…
Scrambled!: The gallery is as unexpected as its name
Scrambled! is not the new breakfast joint in town, so don’t look for bacon and eggs there. Imagine instead an art gallery that is as unexpected as its name suggests. Just follow the large brightly colored arrows on the sidewalk that point visitors toward the New Hope shop’s propped-open door. Then pass under the eye-catching…
The Bottle Garden
I am winding my way this morning towards my favorite destination in New Hope: the partially-deteriorated silk mill that has been transformed into an enchanting modern-day home. Affectionately called the “Ruins” or the “Old Mill” by locals, it is a spot I delight in. But today there is something else. I stop, mesmerized. The curb…
Beth Zarret's Writing 