Is New Hope home to the world's creepiest shop?

by Charlie Sahner

"Creepy" really doesn't do the place justice.

Teardrop Memories, which has just moved into even larger, creepier quarters, houses what may be the world's largest collection of Victorian-era bird cages and mourning items, along with an array of eerie objects ranging from the merely disturbing and macabre all the way to grotesque and gruesome.

"It scares even me," says owner Greg Cristiano.

Popular store items include Victorian mourning jewelry, antique veterinary cures and pet supplies, and vintage funeral collectibles.
"We put the 'fun' back in 'funeral'," commented Cristiano.

Teardrop Memories, located at 12 W. Mechanic St., can now be seen from the bridge by the Bucks County Playhouse; 215-862-3401.

Stolen sculpture returned to New Hope gallery

By Charlie Sahner

A valuable sculpture missing from the New Hope Sidetracks Art Gallery was returned anonymously on February 23, almost two years ago to the day it was apparently stolen. The steatite stone artwork embedded with semi-precious gems is named “Dream World”, and was created by outsider artist André Gomes of Hillside, New Jersey.

"It arrived back home appropriately wrapped in penitential purple," according to the gallery owners.

“It seems someone gave up theft for Lent,” added co-owner Ricky Godinez, noting that the sculpture was returned on the day after Ash Wednesday. "Being one of Andre Gomés' strongest and most significant stone carvings to date, we were very pleased and relieved this intricate artwork was returned intact and in perfect condition," he continued.

New Hope Sidetracks Art Gallery is located next to the New Hope Arts Center at 2A Stockton Avenue; (215) 862-4586.