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| First car crosses the new Ferry Street Bridge in New Hope (Photo: John Sikora) |
Friday, August 24, 2012
First vehicle crosses new Ferry Street Bridge
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Logan Inn in New Hope shifts restaurant focus toward the Mediterranean with introduction of ‘Nikolas’
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| Nikolas restaurant at the Logan Inn, New Hope, PA (Photo: Charlie Sahner) |
By Charlie Sahner
The Logan Inn at 10 W. Ferry St. in New Hope has renamed its indoor/outdoor dining space “Nikolas”, and the new menu is impressive. Prices are not bargain basement, but owner Nick Gialias says that he “seeks out the finest, freshest ingredients, and then we go from there.
“The restaurant is named after my grandfather Nikolas to highlight our Mediterranean roots and our emphasis on good, natural food,” added Gialias.
The menu is presented in four prix fixe sections ranging from $35 to $75, with optional bottles of wine specially paired with each entre. A seven-course tasting menu is also available. Dishes like seared octopus, clams casino, Greek salad, grilled whole fish, prime rib, Kobe strip steak, filet mignon, and crab strudel with seared scallops underscore the surf and turf emphasis.
“We amped up the wine selection quite a bit,” said Gialias. “We brought in several new wines.” Not that a selection of more than 150 wasn’t enough, but Gialias’ latest additions reflect his love and knowledge of the grape, and also his disdain for mass produced wine products with numerous artificial additives.
Gialias says he’s adding wines from small family-owned vineyards, many of which specialize in organic production methods. White and red varieties from the United States, France and Italy are well represented, but the selections from Spain, Portugal, and Greece are standouts.
All in all, Nikolas adds an interesting, fresh take on Mediterranean-inspired cuisine to the downtown scene.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Bucks County Playhouse restoration reflects vision of New Hope and Lambertville as entertainment hub
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| Promenade at New Hope, PA (Photo: Charlie Sahner) |
By Charlie Sahner
Sherri and Kevin Daugherty are quite busy these days. It’s well known that the Doylestown couple and their Bridge Street Foundation are primarily responsible for saving and renovating the Bucks County Playhouse after it faced extinction near the end of 2010. The revived Playhouse is already offering theater performances and events, and it’s apparent that no expense was spared in the restoration of the historic structure — $3 million in improvements on a $1.8 million building, to be exact.
The result is nothing short of spectacular: the building has been dramatically and tastefully upgraded inside and out. The parking lot and sidewalk leading to the theater finally make sense from a traffic flow point of view, and a fenced off section of waterfront adjacent to the defunct Club Zadar next door has been transformed into a public riverside walkway reminiscent of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
Providing greater public access to the Delaware River has long been a dream of many local planners. Although the scenic waterway is vital to the town’s identity, it is largely inaccessible to many visitors, save for a couple of “pocket parks”, riverside restaurants, or a stroll along the bridge to Lambertville. Could the Playhouse and former Club Zadar (also purchased by the Daughertys) with their adjoining promenade and large parking area become another Pike Place Market, the highly successful produce, fish, and crafts center on Seattle’s waterfront?
“There’s a lot of potential,” replied Kevin Daugherty. “You could do an Oktoberfest or a Christmas market, for example. Our view on the promenade is to continue it around the back of the Playhouse, where we’ve designed a series of cascading decks that lead you up to the level where the deck is currently, put a bar out there for patrons and others, and provide a place to sit and enjoy the views — again creating another revenue stream to support the non-profit theater, with the idea that if we do enough of these things, we don’t have to pass the hat as much and we can be true to the community.
“We wanted to create an outdoor space, so once we get the promenade approved and the former Zadar’s property concepts started, we can build a more permanent, inviting pathway down to the promenade, and we also hope to continue the gas lanterns down there, as well,” added Daugherty.
In terms of the former Zadar space, Daugherty indicated that plans have not been finalized yet for its future use, but the ultimate entity will be for-profit and remain publicly accessible, possibly including a bar and art production space. The “publicly accessible” aspect here is key, as many residents have long hoped to avoid the construction of view-blocking private townhouses at the Zadar site. As a for-profit business, the former Club Zadar fits in with the portion of the Daugherty’s ventures not under the Bridge Street Foundation umbrella.
Aside from the Bucks County Playhouse and Zadar site, the Daughertys have also purchased the twin buildings located at 6 East Mechanic St., among the Borough’s oldest, although they haven’t yet decided what do with them. Sherri Daugherty relocated her successful retail fashion store Angel Hearts from Newtown to 12 W. Bridge St., where it provides an upscale anchor on a block reeling from the canal bridge repair of recent years and tough economy. And then there’s the Lambertville Music Hall, an ambitious project embodying the Daugherty’s business model, and potentially putting Lambertville on the live music map.
The proposed Lambertville Music Hall at 57 Bridge St. will be more akin to the Bucks County Playhouse in its non-profit status, with funding by the Daughertys and their Bridge Street Foundation, along with its historical tie-in and self-funding mechanism. Located in the former First Baptist Church, the Music Hall harkens back to its spiritual predecessor, the Lambertville Music Circus, says Bridge Street Foundation President Tanya Cooper. St. John Terrell created the “music circus” form of theater in Lambertville around 1949, and it involved a summer stock theater-in-the-round housed under a circus-style big top on a hill above the town.
A 400-seat music hall with a first-floor restaurant/bar is now envisioned in downtown Lambertville, and again no expense will be spared in its restoration. “We have a commitment to doing things the right way,” observed Cooper.
Taken in toto, the series of real estate ventures undertaken by the Daughertys and the Bridge Street Foundation seem to largely involve saving and restoring neglected landmarks and converting them into self-sustaining organizations. But the moves also provide a glimpse into a future scenario for the economies of New Hope and Lambertville — that of a major entertainment hub located midway between two great cities.
Kevin Daugherty sees things more pragmatically. “These have been a series of happy accidents,” he explained. “We stumbled upon the church when I was looking for office space, and thought it was a great old historic building. We believed that if we gave it a purpose and tried to create a self-sustaining entity, then we could preserve the historical significance of the building for the community. We’re trying to make the church a performing arts space, and that makes a lot of sense given what it had been. That lead us to look around, and we stumbled upon the Playhouse, and realized that it needed some attention, and then it’s been just a sequence of events from there,” continued Daugherty.
But can the up-scaled venues remain accessible to the community in terms of ticket prices?
“It’s a definite focus and a must,” he said. “These are not-for-profit buildings, so the one thing that lets us keep the price down is that we’re not trying to make an enormous profit here, we generate funds that are self-sustaining for the business.
“Frequently non-profits have to do lots of fundraising,” added Dougherty. “But it’s our view that we can improve the performance quality at certain times, like what we’re doing this summer with Jed Bernstein’s performance group, then maybe the ticket prices are higher for some of those kinds of things. Other times of the year, there will be more community involvement-type aspects — kids’ programs, educational programs and more regional type activities — that’s where maybe you’ll see something that’s a little more discounted and accessible,” he said.
Dougherty is also quick to point out that the Playhouse has a large parking lot that provides an additional source of revenue. “The same concept applies to the Lambertville Music Hall, ” he said. “Assuming it follows the same pattern as the theater, we’re going to need additional revenue sources to help support it. We don’t have a parking lot, but we do have a first floor that would make a great restaurant/bar area that people can enjoy at any time and also around the shows, and that can help support the non-profit performing space.”
A business model that could indeed prove
successful, if not yet universally accepted. This much is for sure:
Sherri and Kevin Daugherty are restoring local landmark structures that
have often fallen into neglect, and are doing so without public funds.
These projects tie together history, art, entertainment and commercial
components, and their growing presence may have a profound effect on the
identity and economy of New Hope and Lambertville for years to come.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
New Hope to Bucks County Health Department: You're the Threat
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| Sign in reaction to Bucks County Health Department's threat to close any restaurant that allows dogs outside |
Friday, July 6, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
New Hope business scene: more new players gear up for the high season
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| Angel Hearts in New Hope, PA (Photo: Charlie Sahner) |
By Charlie Sahner
Commercial occupancy rates seem to be creeping up in New Hope, and even accounting for seasonal factors, it seems that cautious optimism at least partially rooted in the Bucks County Playhouse renovation has taken hold in local business circles. Three cases in point:
Newtown women’s clothing and accessory boutique Angel Hearts apparently had a change of heart about their retail location and switched to 12 W. Bridge St. in New Hope last month. Specializing in high-end jewelry, handbags, scarves, shoes and imported women's couture, what's also interesting about Angel Hearts is that owner Sherri Daugherty and her husband Kevin are the locally famous couple who funded the purchase and refurbishment of the Bucks County Playhouse re-opening next month.
Grabbing the empty storefront at 48 W. Ferry St. is the Stephen Clark Design Group, which intends to use the space "as an office for design projects as well as a retail store with furniture and doodads," according to the company. Ferry Street has been under some pressure in recent years as New Hope's commercial district has contracted, and the avenue once known as "antiques row" is also home to an important local bridge currently under construction. Nonetheless, an interior design business seems a logical choice for this particular location, especially given the borough's tendency toward business category redundancy.
And speaking of redundancy, another intriguing newcomer is a yet unnamed frozen yogurt store opening soon at 88 S. Main St. While New Hope has never experienced a dearth of frozen confection outlets, don't bet against this one. It's owned by Han Pan, and if you don't know who he is, you soon will. Currently executive director at the Asian Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia and board member at the National Council of Chinese Americans, Han has also served as an officer at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and been deputy executive director of the Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian American Affairs.
Bottom line: Don't expect this former community organizer and Main Street Manager to stick with the status quo when it comes to fulfilling his goal of making New Hope an international tourist destination.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Soap Opera Company of Lahaska expands into New Hope
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| The Soap Opera Company in New Hope, PA (Photo: Charlie Sahner) |
Betting on a retail rebound inspired by renovation of the landmark Bucks County Playhouse, the Soap Opera Company of Peddler’s Village in Lahaska has opened a second location in the heart of New Hope, steps away from the theater in the former Strawberry Jam space.
Owner Kristen Maldonado purchased the original Soap Opera Company in 2010 so that “as a single parent I could reinvent my professional life,” she said. “I wanted to be able to work at home with my daughter Bella after school, and that was the driving force behind the decision to buy the business and overhaul it.”
During the last two years, the Peddler’s Village retail location has undergone a merchandising facelift. Known for handcrafted soaps, bath salts, and bath bombs, the Soap Opera now features a broader variety of bath, body and linen products, including bubble baths, liquid soaps, organic lines, seasonal soaps, linens, and a kids’ section.
Speaking of her newly opened New Hope location, Maldonado said, “We are humbled and honored to be in the spot formerly occupied by Strawberry Jam, and we’re grateful for the welcome shown to us by the community.
“We've already started customizing our inventory to reflect New Hope customer preferences versus those of Peddler’s Village,” she added.
Two standouts in the new store were the “Morning Mint” line by Archipelago Botanicals, and the large olive-based block soap from Marseilles (also great for cleaning artists’ brushes).
There will certainly be enough local competition but, says Maldonado, “Don't let the big rubber ducks in the window fool you. The Soap Opera staff is serious about soaps, showers, all things bath.”
The Soap Opera Company is located at 44 S. Main St.; (215) 693-1774.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art in New Hope explores the art of booze
By Charlie Sahner
Oil painter Steve Messenger is best known for his realistic depictions of horses, but the works comprising his latest exhibit "represent a painted pub crawl through the bars, taverns, and dives I frequent in Philadelphia, Bucks County, and New Jersey," according to the artist.
"After long work hours at my Philadelphia studio and elsewhere, I spend many late nights in bars to unwind and catch up with my artist friends," explained Messenger. The painting style in this latest work is engaging and well executed, reflecting an expressiveness and use of light not seen in his earlier work.
Said gallery owner Howard Cooperman, "Steve's subject matter has changed drastically from equestrian portraiture to interior bar and tavern scenes sometimes referred to 'Ash Can Art'. The style emerged at the start of the last century, and is similar to that of Bob Beck."
Establishments depicted include the Logan Inn, Jack's Firehouse, and the Inn at Lambertville Station. There will be a cocktail-infused opening reception on Saturday June 2, from 2 to 5 p.m., and the exhibit runs through June.
Bucks County Gallery is located at 77 W. Bridge St. Phone 215-862-5272 with questions or for directions.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
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