Shopping: Finkles Hardware in Lambertville NJ -- "The World's Most Unusual Hardware Store"

What can be said? Finkles Hardware in Lambertville, NJ is too awesome for words.

I've bought all kinds of things there over the years: an unusual Mexican florescent bulb I couldn't find anywhere else, a neat four-head screwdriver, a can of acrylic white house paint I used for priming oil painting canvas.

The owners say they specialize in "decorative and industrial hardware, plumbing and heating, electrical and lighting, and structural steel," and that "no project is too kooky for our staff."

One's first impression on entering is of a 1950s-era appliance store stacked to the rafters with cans, boxes, coils and bins filled with every mechanism, tool and part devised by mankind over the last, say, 75 years.

As Finkles website points out, "We have so much inventory that we stack it from floor to ceiling. No item is too hard to find!"

And if they don't have it, they'll special order it. I've found the staff to be friendly and knowledgeable over the years.

Those in the plumbing, electrical and construction fields have kept Finkles a trade secret for quite some time, but if you own an old home or if you just want to catch a glimpse of "The World's Most Unusual Hardware Store", visit 7 Coryell Street in Lambertville NJ, Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., (609) 397 0914.

It's a Lambertville original!

Dining Out: Karla's Bar and Restaurant in New Hope PA

As I sat outside at Karla's Bar and Restaurant reading the lunch menu on a warm afternoon last weekend, I was happy to learn they'd won a Best of Bucks Award for 2009, and pleased to see a new, broader menu with more entres that looked intriguing. I was more surprised on closer inspection to see that they'd also lowered prices!

Let me get this straight: restaurant gets recognition, freshens up menu, and then lowers prices?

I asked manager Cynthia, "Is it me, or is this menu looking less expensive?"

"It's still tough out there," she said, referring to the overall economy. "We want to do our part for the customers."

Now, owner Louis is admittedly known more for being a shrewd, if not opportunistic businessman, than a philanthropist, but I was impressed to see this key downtown business doing something right and timely. Louis is smart, and he's a survivor.

I had a hot cider and cheddar burger, medium rare; my dining partner, the Greek salad with fresh bread. All solid. Nice view, attentive staff.

All you need at that point is Ricky behind the bar with fresh mint for Mojitos and an afternoon to kill.

Haven't seen the Locals Night menu yet; write in and let us know what you think!

Karla's is located at 5 West Mechanic Street in New Hope PA, 215-862-2612.

Superkind Woman and Parrot on West Mechanic Street, New Hope PA

Trap Rock Quarry Trapping Dust in Local Lungs?

For many residents of New Hope PA and Lambertville NJ, Route 29 represents a major portion of their daily commute. And for those passing the entrance to Trap Rock Industries on Route 29 just south of Lambertville in Hopewell Township on a regular basis, many is the morning when it seems like the roadway has gone suddenly foggy in what appears in this author's opinion to be massive clouds of stone dust.

Now I'm no scientist or doctor, but I remember reading somewhere that breathing stone dust can be carcinogenic, so I roll up the windows as I make my way through the haze just south of Traprock Quarry's entrance, often lasting a quarter of a mile or more. The roadside south in that zone is gray, and vegetation appears grayish-brown and unhealthy. Spilled gravel is visible alongside the road all the way down to Washington's Crossing.

I can't personally imagine being a neighbor of the Traprock Quarry. Maybe they employ a lot of local people, offsetting some of the environmental damage caused by tearing apart a mountain piece by piece so some people far away can have pretty rocks in their driveway.

Drivers of the trucks are generally courteous in my experience. And the company uses water trucks to spray down their driveway. But in this author's opinion, not often enough.

Anybody want to write in and offer an opinion on why Hopewell Township residents put up with the mess and potential danger?

New Dead Store on Ney Alley in New Hope PA?

This new store just popped up out of nowhere in New Hope PA, so if anyone has any idea what it is and what they plan to sell, please let us know.

"Enchanting Creations" says it's the home of the "Now & Then"? Does that mean somebody found Max's (may he rest in peace) stash of posters, buttons, and water pipes? A store that's "home" to another store?

Is it me?

Then again, this is New Hope, so well capitalized and planned businesses with clear and informative signage are not overly common.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Sunday, 4:05 p.m.: Traffic gate gets stuck again in down position at New Hope & Ivyland Railroad crossing, Stockton Ave. and W. Ferry St. after train passes.

Auto traffic backs up until a few more daring drivers move around the obstacle. Recent repairs to the track a few hundred feet down involved?

Upsurge in Bucks County UFO Sightings

A UFO sighting this past Saturday night in Buckingham was the latest in a purported upsurge in recent sightings in Bucks County PA.

A Buckingham man and his wife were walking their dogs in the area around Upper Mountain Road and Forest Grove Road at around 8:00 p.m. when "they looked up and saw a bright light in the sky. The light itself was emitting a conical-shaped beam of light toward the ground," reports the Bucks County Courier Times.

"This thing was stunning. It was scary. My wife wanted to get right in the house," said the Buckingham man.

Full Courier Times story: http://bit.ly/35pufn

Other UFO sources recently have said that the reported Saturday sighting in Buckingham was part of a luminary phenomenon witnessed by numerous individuals on the Eastern seaboard and was caused by a U.S. military missile test.

Another local rumor is that 5 individuals were recently smoking outside in Doylestown and witnessed a glowing rectangular object in the night sky.

Whatever the ultimate truth might be, one fact cannot be denied: reported sightings of UFOs are on the rise these days in Bucks County, PA.

Who's Your Sugar Daddy?

A smiley, bristly Jim mans the counter for a spell at Sugar Daddy's, a candy and ice cream emporium in the Four Seasons Mall, Main Street, New Hope PA.

On his breaks, Jim also runs the Affordable Art gallery just across way. This guy knows how to keep busy and has somehow managed to stay in business over many years....a rarity, especially these days!

Things Not to Do in Lenape ("The Quarry") Park in New Hope PA

An expensive-looking sign tells visitors what not to do in controversial Lenape Park on Ferry Street in New Hope PA.

Along with no pets, smoking, or evening strolls, the treeless, virtually grassless rock pile of a park provides little in the way of family fun. No swings for kids; this is a park made for speeches at the gazebo by local politicos, not recreation or communing with nature.

Estimated cost of this taxpayer-paid boondoggle? Rumor has it in excess of $600,000, but who knows? One local who saw the initial plans said the goldfish pond alone cost more than $32,000.

Money that could have been spent on strengthening the local economy, creating jobs, and helping support local art.

Any guesses on what that overbuilt, tax-wasting sign cost?

Is this Dragon Super Kind? Let's Hope So!

Creepy Cuties by Queen Morbid

Local gonzo artist and photographer Queen Morbid has her latest line of disturbing and twisted dolls currently on display at craft gallery Mechanic Street Mugs, 10 W. Mechanic St., New Hope PA.

They are well-made, original and decidedly creepy. Only in New Hope!

Ricky's Beautiful Garden Along the Canal

New Hope PA Recession Lunch Special

Click on the photo above to enlarge, and you'll see that at the low-end of the lunch price spectrum is a hamburger, sans cheese, for $13.50. There's also a "Kobe Burger" for $18...last I checked, those come from fatty, tortured Japanese calves, but what do I know?

With culinary bargains such as these, small wonder tourists are flocking to the nearby variable $5 -$20 per space parking lot (depends on owner's mood each day).

Think I'll go upriver to Dilly's Corner on Route 32.

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.

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!

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.