The Dead Live On In New Hope PA

Hippie Don recently parked his awesome Deadmobile (quite appropriately) in front of New Hope PA tie dye studio "type b". Pictures speak louder than words.

type b is located at 110A South Main Street in New Hope PA, 215-693-1446, or www.typebnewhope.com.

Road to Nowhere? New Hope PA Spending $468,000 to Guide Visitors Away From Downtown

The Times of Trenton recently reported that Pennsylvania taxpayers will largely be paying for New Hope's $468,000 "Cultural Canal Walk."

According to the Times, "the new walkway would guide visitors from the borough's new parking lot, which accommodates motorists arriving via Route 202, away from the borough's heavily trafficked downtown, where even metered parking is scarce." Full story. http://bit.ly/2YpN0

Several recent trips down New Hope PA's Main Street, however, revealed a multitude of vacant parking spaces and shops as the Borough's economy erodes through non-benign neglect.

"Theoretically, the tourists would park their cars and follow the proposed landscaped 800-foot pathway on the western bank of the Delaware Canal," The Times continued. "It will conclude at the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad Station."

As is widely known, however, New Hope visitors mostly desire to be downtown, because that's where the "action" is. Developer George Michael's non-central, troubled Union Square corporate park does not seem of as much interest to tourists these days with the flight of key attractions Michener Museum, 5th Season, Blue Raccoon, and others.

Why are Borough officials so interested in sending tourists to the local version of Siberia?

The Times reports that "Borough Manager John Burke said, "We are overjoyed at receiving this additional grant. We had a project that was "shovel ready' (in qualifying for funding.)"

That rings true; the Borough seems to be shoveling it on pretty thick with this solution in search of a problem, in this author's opinion.

Maybe it's time Borough officials, three of whom are running for re-election this fall, to focus on bringing visitors back to New Hope's downtown, instead of pushing them away.

Supersize This....

Country Fair Chocolates on Main Street in New Hope PA is famous for its chocolate-covered strawberries, but these new offerings are getting mixed reviews, at least from pedestrians viewing the sign.

Delicious, gross, or simply coronary-inducing, everyone has an opinion. That's New Hope!

Has Third Federal Bank Woken Up & Smelled the Liability? Maybe.

Despite Third Federal Bank's denial of safety issues surrounding unfenced 12-15 foot deep foundations at George Michael's struggling Canal Street housing development in downtown New Hope PA, new fencing has miraculously appeared.

Guess Third Federal Bank finally figured out that the possibility of children plunging to their deaths might be bad for their corporate image, or maybe it was the sagging, shabby look it gave to their already cheesy sign. Could it be George Michael or the Borough realizing that deep unfenced foundations and drops around the site are a hazard to citizens and workers alike?

Meanwhile, despite claims to the contrary, work activity continues at the site. Below, two workers today on a moving platform two storeys up seem to say, "Look, ma! No hands or hardhats!"

Another One Bites the Dust: Bye Bye, Bois

Today's Times of Trenton asserts that "Lambertville [is] overtaking New Hope as an art center."

Says the Times: "Today, while New Hope has branded itself an entertainment and restaurant center for tourists, it is Lambertville -- with more than 35 galleries and art dealers -- that has become a destination for art collectors and patrons while the number of galleries in New Hope has dwindled. Twelve years ago, New Hope had 13; today, there are seven with two scheduled to close by fall."

Full story: http://bit.ly/yk3Wd

In reality, if one is only looking at the total number of galleries, Lambertville might "win" the contest. But usually "art center" implies more than that; it is a place where artists live and produce work.

So, the true art center will be the first town that builds affordable artists' studio spaces, encourages artists to live and work there, and offers classes and education in the arts.

Not just tired oil paintings of covered red bridges and barns, and winter impressionist landscapes in hues of lavender and mango. Fact is, New Hope has the edge when it comes to crafts, live music, tattoo art, and sculpture.

Bottom line, New Hope PA and Lambertville NJ don't need to compete, they need to cooperate.

New Hope and Lambertville: A River Runs Through It.

Think Ill trademark that.

Paul's Pretty Flowers on W. Mechanic St., New Hope PA

New Hope PA to Crack Down on Hordes of Terrifying Motorcycle Riders

Is cracking down on New Hope, PA visitors that ride motorcycles such a great idea?

Tourist traffic in the Borough is down more than 50%, and discriminating against all bikers, instead of the selfish few, does not seem helpful at first glance to visitors, merchants, or residents.

Many residents moved to New Hope knowing that it's a noisy place. Having more than 25 liquor licensed establishments, live music nearly every night, numerous street events, and summer tourist traffic is a plus to some people, a negative to others, and often a mixed experience for residents.

It's easy to sympathize with residents' noise sensitivities. Citizens certainly have the right to pursue their lives in peace. But so do those who choose to travel on a two-wheeled vehicle rather than a four-wheeled one.

And, frankly, the construction noise in recent years from unfettered real estate development in New Hope has easily exceeded the noise level from any motorcycle-related activities.

New Hope Borough Council has done enough already to harm the underlying economic base of the town. They tax businesses, employees, and residents at a high rate and in recent years went on a spending spree fueled by aggressive ticketing practices and parking meter revenue.

In fact, many parking meters do not appear to function well, and complaints of overcharging are rampant. Police have been known for ticketing vehicles for being merely an inch too far from a curb or over a fading line.

New Hope Borough Council might consider focusing on creating jobs and tolerance, instead of "cracking down" on anyone but themselves for not properly managing New Hope's economy and for making visitors feel unwelcome.

And if you're in New Hope PA and see a car, bike or truck making too much noise idling in traffic, snap a photo with their license plate and we'll post it on the Web and help you complain.

Running Uphill in 90-Degree Weather & Loving It!

Coach keeps a watchful eye on members of the New Hope - Solebury High School Soccer Team taking a break after a few sprints up steep Oscar Hammerstein Way in New Hope PA this morning.

Even by 11:00 a.m., temperatures and humidity were soaring in the Borough, but these spirited teens were undaunted, laughing, cheering and totally uber-stoked.

If I were playing for another soccer team, think I might take up another sport this fall.

Hussah!

Shopping: Only in New Hope

A typical display at Love Saves the Day on the corner of Main and Bridge streets in New Hope PA.

The store, one of two founded by now deceased retail genius Leslie Herson, still survives and flourishes with help from her husband and staff.

The shop continues Leslie's focus on ironic vintage clothing, games, toys and lunchboxes primarily from the 70s and some 80s and 60s. She was one of the first to see the marketing potential of diverse kitschy items like the Kojak board game, Pez dispensers, Elvis lamps, GI Joe, and Partridge Family lunchboxes.

Leslie also had an eye for vintage clothing, and later adopted much of the humorous Accoutrements novelty line, including the Albert Einstein action figure and the incredible Boxing Rabbi.

She was also influential in the evolution of the East Village/New York City retro idiom, and was an original, trippy, eccentric woman, probably 4'8" in heels, and kind to her workers, many of whom she helped to form their own spin-offs, like the popular "13" 80s-inspired fashion store on W. Mechanic Street, and new-comer God Save the Queens and its passion for punk. She was generous in sharing store fixtures, merchandise and connections, even with competitors, whom she also wouldn't hesitate to imitate.

A lot of us here in town and in the Village miss her.

Leslie Herson and Love Saves the Day. New Hope PA originals.

Rodney Miller Headlines Group Show at J&W Gallery

One of my favorite photographers, Rodney Miller, is part of a group show currently on display at New Hope PA art institution J&W Gallery. His work is quite unique, using vibrant, psychedelic colors and almost kaleidoscopic shapes to describe a rich, somewhat trippy worldview.

Original stuff, reasonably priced. Show runs through the end of the month.

J&W Gallery is located at 20 W. Bridge Street in the heart of downtown New Hope PA.

Quiet Weekdays of August

Empty parking spaces on Main Street in New Hope PA on weekdays have become commonplace, even on Fridays. Could it be zealous ticketing by traffic officers, or have local consumers tired of $10 cigars and $200 paperweights amidst the national economic downturn?

New Hope Runs on Dunkin'

For a few dollars, you can walk out of the Dunkin' Donuts at Main and Bridge Streets in New Hope PA with a big, delicious iced coffee and six donuts delivered by an eager and grateful staff.

You could also go across the street to Starbucks and pay all that for one cup of coffee, and be seen on the front porch by other people trying to be seen holding expensive cups of coffee, if you don't mind high prices and burnt coffee beans. All a matter of personal taste after all.

But if you're part of a household/family on a budget, Dunkin' beats Starbucks hands down.

Some Don't Like it Hot

Now you see him, now you don't!

Why switch out a male actor playing Florence Foster Jenkins for a female actor? This is New Hope PA, right?

Besides, Grant looks real.

Denying rights because of gender sounds like discrimination in this author's opinion.

At least Grant is still producing the play, and the proceeds benefit his dog rescue efforts in Thailand.

Playing now through September 6 at the New Hope Arts Center, 2 Stockton Street, New Hope PA.

Beautiful wildflowers dot the dried out Delaware Canal bed in New Hope PA.

Cracks and bulges continue to appear in a wall of the Delaware Canal adjacent to unfilled foundations at the struggling New Hope PA Canal Street housing development.

Fancy Wheels All Around Town

A Gorgeous Weekend in New Hope PA

Wow, as if the great weather wasn't enough, this weekend is packed with special events and fun, lead by the Fuzzstock Music and Arts Festival today at Union Square in New Hope PA, and the renowned and long running New Hope Automobile Show at the New Hope-Solebury High School all weekend long.

Add in the terrific dining, wining, shopping and gallery hopping, and it's not a bad weekend to visit before the summer begins to wind down!

2:30 p.m.: Car Accident at Entrance to Village 2

A single car accident occurred in New Hope PA today as a four door blue car struck the guardrail at the bottom of Oscar Hammerstein Way where it meets W. Mechanic Street. Some smoke emerged from the engine, so the Fire Department was called out. The female victim was the driver of the vehicle with no passengers present. She was 36, breathing, initially unconscious (author provided first aid and assessment at scene to EMS operator via mobile phone), no air bag was deployed, and the car had impacted frontally.

The driver regained consciousness after about two minutes, complaining of pain in her chest, shoulder, and sternum area, probably from the impact with the steering wheel. The police came and took over, the mustached officer in charge looking nervous. He wouldn't let me help get the driver's door open ("that's another department" he has to call) and kept asking me to step away from his glocky aura, although I was providing first aid at the time. Much more concerned with controlling the scene than comforting or attending to the victim. The Chief arrived, stoic and uncommunicative.

The local neighbors were great in directing traffic and keeping the victim calm. The Fire Department was terrific as always. Oh well, two out of three...

Local Color: Ha

Amiable and efficient USPS worker Ha delivers the mail on Main Street near Heart of the Home, a top New Hope PA craft store.

Gratz Gallery says Goodbye

Gratz Gallery at 30 W. Bridge St., New Hope PA is moving to Doylestown. The gallery had an impressive array of Bucks County impressionist paintings from the early 20th Century, and an active restoration business. It's disappointing to see them go now after surviving the canal bridge repair fiasco, but Union Square area businesses appear to be under some pressure of late with the departure of a several key players.

Local Color: Greg Conocchioli

Well known New Hope PA resident and renaissance man Greg Conocchioli is seen above taking a break to answer questions on a hot day last week while stripping, painting, and renovating the exterior of a lovely row house on Ferry Street.

Seems his talent for design and getting things done doesn't stop there. This man about town succeeds at landscape design, retail display and merchandising, and is renowned as a cook, gourmand and product creator.

Greg is also available as an "extra pair of hands" for getting one's home or office straightened up and organized. I know him personally, and find him to be trustworthy, perfectionistic, funny, and easy to communicate with.

So, if you want a reasonable stripper, painter, cook, designer or organizer, call Greg at (215) 862-4887 or write to variete34@verizon.net.

Ingham Creek Overflows Banks

As rainy weather persisted in the area, the Ingham or "Aquetong" Creek in New Hope, PA overflowed its banks today as local eyes began to turn toward the rising Delaware River. The perennially flooding and empty Historical Society retail space looked ready to go all squishy, but the mighty Bucks County Playhouse was holding its own. Unfinished foundations at the struggling Canal Street development appeared perilously close to the rushing currents.

Weekend Movies

Judd Apatow Continues to Bring Faith to Grown-Up Comedy with ‘Funny People’

By Michael Zema

‘Funny People’ is the latest from Judd Apatow, writer/director of ‘The 40-Year Old Virgin’ and ‘Knocked Up’ – two movies that others have tried hard to match the heart and humor of, but rarely come close.

Adam Sandler is George Simmons, a famous stand-up comedian who has just found out he has a blood disorder with little chance to make it through. Not having many people in his life, he makes a young comedian, Ira (Seth Rogen) his personal assistant and opening act, eventually letting him in on his secret. George begins to reevaluate what’s important to him, getting back in touch with the one who got away, Laura (Leslie Mann), who now has a life and family of her own.

‘Funny People’ walks the fine line of drama and comedy – no doubt due to Apatow’s witty writing style - never offering too much melodrama to bring the audience down, but enough to allow them to connect to the characters. The humor is definitely there, and makes this one of the most adult dirty-mouthed movies I’ve seen in recent memory.

Sandler does quite a good job and has several scenes where he can demonstrate that he has a good deal of range. Rogen does a fine job as well, and I found him to be more likeable in this movie than his past films -- maybe because I found his character relatable.

However, the standout to me was Leslie Mann, who was the leading lady here after many supporting roles in the past. She was funny, beautiful, and torn between the life she has now and the life she may have had with George.

Not everything about this movie was perfect. The second half of the movie feels much different than the first, making it seem like you’ve almost been dropped into a different film. However, because you care about the characters, you go with it, wondering where things might head.

Also, the movie is long, especially for a comedy, clocking in at approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. This normally wouldn’t be a problem if the movie tied everything up, but I felt George didn’t quite come full circle at the end while other characters did.

If you are a fan of Apatow, I would certainly suggest ‘Funny People’. It’s by far Apatow’s most mature film to date and has a lot of heart and humor. What more can you ask for in an adult comedy?