ALMOST DECEMBER...

It feels as if once we get to the end of November, the days just fly by.  This week we had such a great time at our annual Pre-Thanksgiving Celebration featuring The Bad Hands, who entertained us through the midnight hour, helping us all get into the right frame of mind as we said goodnight and went home to prepare for Thanksgiving.  Pete and I are so grateful to our wonderful staff who are keen to please our patrons and make sure each and every single one has a terrific experience at The National Hotel.  A well-deserved day off was quite welcome to us all the day before yesterday.  Re-energized, we returned to work yesterday, and today, we join our local merchants in supporting the annual Shop Small initiative.  This "fits" Frenchtown, NJ exquisitely.  It's as if it was made with Frenchtown in mind.

Just take a stroll around the main streets, Race Street and Bridge Street--and continue to explore Trenton Avenue and Harrison Street--and you'll see the unique shops and galleries, each one with owners who are passionate about what they do and what they offer their customers.  There are artisans carving one-of-a-kind wood accessories and furniture pieces, there are jewelers with hand-crafted items, home accessory stores that each are different and will transform your home into a completely unique environment, clothing boutiques, and much more.  It just never ceases to amaze me, that I am this close to so much talent.

I am truly blessed and fortunate to be part of this diverse and creative community, and I hope that as you do your holiday shopping, you remember to visit and support these local shops.  As a small "plug" for us:  Why not give the gift of a great meal or an overnight stay to your loved ones, by purchasing a gift certificate.  That is one gift that you can rest assured will create fond memories far into the future, because nothing can replace the wonderful experience of dining together, sharing a memorable conversation, and letting the time slip away as you are transported to a bygone era sitting in the historic ambiance of The National Hotel.

Historic and creative are the right words to describe our artistic community, that shares its talent at The National Hotel week in and week out.  We have terrific talent from both sides of the Delaware River that perform at our establishment:

• weekly Thursday Open Mic Night; 
• bi-weekly Tuesday Trivia hosted by Russ Coen and our General Manager, Marlon Aranha; 
• weekly Saturday Night Live Music series (don't miss tonight's foot-stomping, crowd-pleasing band, the Eastern Hellbenders);
   
• weekly Sunday Afternoon Music series (and tomorrow is NOT TO BE MISSED:  Carol Thompson and Friends Holiday Special);
   
• monthly Saturday Night Music Themed Night, featuring Mike Pfeiffer.

Pete and I hope that you are all enjoying the start to the holiday season--and what a way to kick it off, having Thanksgiving and Hanukkah take place at the same time.  For those already getting ready for Christmas, we send you our best wishes for a terrific holiday season, as we finish off the month of November today and jump right into December.  We are so grateful to you for your tireless commitment to and patronage of The National Hotel.  Your feedback is always so encouraging and helpful.  Please continue to email us, write in our hotel guest book, and fill out our restaurant cards.  It is because of you that this chapter in our lives is such a joyous one, every single day filling us with a sense of accomplishment, and the feeling that we are at the right place at the right time, with the best people on this planet.

I always take this season to heart, and take the opportunity to reflect on the importance of how much my family means to me, and my extended family of friends and neighbors--each of you matter--and how grateful Pete and I are for all that you do to support us and all of the small shops around Frenchtown and our neighboring areas.  The Frenchtown community continues to go out of its way to help the less fortunate, including one today, by Bill Brokaw Photography, where $20 gets you a family portrait to benefit the Frenchtown Food Bank.  Get more information on the Frenchtown fb Group page, including information on the Menorah Lighting ceremony that happened a few days ago, Yoga Loka's fundraiser, the annual Christmas Tree lighting on December 7th starting at 5 p.m., and more.  The Frenchtown Fire Department will also host a special meet-Santa day on December 14th at 7:30 p.m., with goodies given away to kids. 

Pete and I look forward to welcoming you to The National Hotel soon.  We thank you again for your support and patronage, and wish you a wonderful weekend and holiday season.  Please do email me with any feedback or questions, or leave a comment on this blog.  You can also reach us at 908.996.3200, or fill out our guest inquiry page on our website.  Stay up-to-date with all of the activities and programs we have planned for this special season:

      

Thank you again.

AN EMOTIONAL MONTH

I've always found writing to be cathartic.  However, I've been unable to put pen to paper (as I often write longhand before "translating" the written word to keyboard strokes), for well over a month.  Only recently, have my thoughts which seemed like wisps of vapor before, become concrete words with images I can thoughtfully describe.

I find myself "jumping in," inspired by so many of our friends and patrons who take it upon themselves to plan great programs for the entire community to enjoy.  Take, for example, tonight's Open Mic Night session, where Alex Wolfson's weekly program 3 years ago has just blossomed into a sustainable and enjoyable night of music and artistic talent.  He just shared on our facebook page, that Mike Pfeiffer will host tonight's program, and that Carol Thompson, who has a Grammy-winning album, will make an appearance tonight accompanied by other harpists.  She is an amazing professional musician who has performed other times, but it's always been a surprise.  We have a little advance notice today and we can't wait for tonight!

We've been busy these last few weeks, between planning the Valentine's Day menu and special hotel packages to enhance our guests' experience, to hosting a Fat Tuesday party (with beads and all!!), to now planning our upcoming 150th evening of our weekly Open Mic Night on March 14th!!!  Mark your calendars to be there for this special night...and don't take too long to come back, because on March 17th, we'll have another special St. Patrick's Day celebration planned, including live music featuring the Clan Suibhine Band.  We've also posted an entire roster of nights filled with music on our website, to help you plan your nights out at The National Hotel, all the way through May.  And, we're getting ready to plan our inaugural wine tasting event for our monthly National Wine Club members.  It's going to be a busy time of the year--no hibernating for us!!

Frenchtown has been a busy little town too, even in the middle of all this wintry weather.  Between the winter goodies in town, Pop-Up Stores that have made shopping so much fun, an old-fashioned ice-skating rink right in the local park with the help of the Frenchtown Fire Department, Borough Hall and Mayor Warren Cooper, to even a flash mob on Valentine's Day hitting Bridge Street, it truly is a hidden gem of a town.  Brokaw Photography captured quite a few pictures that are posted on the Frenchtown facebook page, including:

Photo courtesy of Brokaw Photography

This weekend there's even an invitation by the Hunterdon Land Trust, to join them for a hike at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 2nd, at Horseshoe Bend Park, which has more than 300 acres of preserved land with some of the most spectacular views of the Delaware River.  Our little corner of the world just keeps getting more and more beautiful and enjoyable.  There's something for everyone here!

With all this going on, it's a good thing Pete and I closed The National Hotel for only one week in January to paint and renovate the floors of the kitchen and The Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a. The Rat),

and we took advantage of that time to travel and visit family, a connection that, although sometimes challenging for many, often restores true balance to the soul, helping reinforce the values with which one has grown up, and brings to the forefront just how small daily challenges truly are compared to how good life is.

We returned to our home on the Monday after the horrific and tragic news of the death of Joey Karabin.  The shock is still with me.  The tears that flowed down my face as a mother, followed by the viewing and funeral services we attended, continue to haunt my thoughts.  What that poor family has gone through is not unimaginable.  In fact, in my opinion, it is completely and vibrantly imaginable--their faces are etched in my memory forever.  Their pain, the speechlessness of some of Joey's family members and the kind words of comfort by others in his family (those in the most pain!) to those of us extending our condolences made all of us touched by this, hug our children just a little tighter, just a little longer.  Our oldest daughter, Shiara, who went through a local religious education program with Joey since Kindergarten, was grief-stricken, as were all of her friends and classmates--many of whom knew him and knew his family intimately and were virtually inconsolable.  Shiara's fondest memory of Joey was that he was the first classmate when she started in her middle school, to be nice to her and make her feel welcome there, even though she was the "new kid," the outsider who hadn't attended the same elementary school.

Today, more than 4 weeks after his death, Joey continues to touch our small community.  The fundraisers for his family grow, including:

 

Even his local high school, DVRHS, has created a way to honor his legacy and love of sports through numerous ways to contribute.  And then there are the small acts of kindness by neighbors and friends.  Take, for example, the contributions of food and dinners that were delivered to the family's home by neighbors, the small businesses in Kingwood Township and Frenchtown, that have helped collect funds from their customers, as well as have made donations of their own.  A tree was even planted Hill Landscaping in front of the school as a living memory of Joey.

We gathered our strength and resolve, and as a community raised our spirits in his honor, determined to move forward while not forgetting.  As life would have it, we were dealt another sad blow with the death of a much-loved local bartender, Sarah Majoras from New Hope, within one week of receiving the news about Joey.  Her smile is still an image that will remain with many of us.  Sarah's tragic death along the Delaware River Canal on a cold Saturday night, made headlines in local papers, as the search ensued for days.  The news that her body had been found only brought closure, but did not lessen the sadness that so many felt.

After all this, one's life is never the same.  The overwhelming feeling of impotence in situations such as these is immense.  I give thanks to my family and all the friends in our community, because together, we bear the emotional weight of these recent events.  Listening to my mother and Pete's mother, I always feel that as dark as that moment might feel, they are in fact moments.  Remembering the lives of those we've lost and how they impacted the community and us personally, is one advice these two wonderful mothers have given me, that I will put to good use.  Processing that, knowing that we are not alone and that there is no one who can answer, "Why him?" or "Why did that happen to her?" is powerful.  Our two mothers have lived through so much, dealt with the death of their spouses, through difficult and challenging moments--and yet, they continue to love life, continue to push forward, continue to share their experiences that helps put much into perspective.  They are inspiration personified.

As I thought about these events, I couldn't help but recall so many conversations I've had recently with our patrons about these tragedies.  Each one of these individuals has helped me sort through so many of my feelings.  I can only hope that what I shared with them, also helped them find solace.  I am so grateful to this beautiful community, this gathering space that The National Hotel invites, that inspires us to be even more dedicated.  Pete and I continue to be in awe of the community of friends that The National Hotel has created, independent of us, but so connected to our establishment.  Each day our doors are open, is one more day that the community helps breathe life into this grand old building, whose legacy I'm sure will be felt for generations to come.  Thank you for your continued patronage, and for helping us in so many ways.

We hope you'll join us for dinner, drinks, come for our bi-weekly Tuesday Trivia, Open Mic Night, and/or our weekend musical programs, become a member of our monthly National Wine Club, or prolong your visit and make it an overnight trip.  For information, please continue to leave comments here, email me, visit our website, call us at 908.996.3200, or:

      

Thank you for your continued support and patronage.

MOVING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BUT REMEMBERING THE LAST MONTH

It's December 1st already!  I know the holiday season was upon us even before we put the turkey on the table, with all the shops everywhere promoting holiday gift ideas.  For us, at The National Hotel, we spent the last month trying to catch our breath after Superstorm Sandy hit our area.  But tonight, we're in a celebratory mood, bringing  back Mike Pfeiffer, who has surprised us even further by announcing that he will perform tonight with his wife, Donna, and brother, Wex, with their own mix of great music (original songs and some classic), that will follow a performance by Rich Cashman starting at 8:30 p.m.  We've never had a night like this, so you can imagine our excitement.

To top off an already exciting music extravaganza, we have Carol Thompson and Friends performing tomorrow afternoon, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. in our Restaurant and Bar.  If you were here when she last performed, you know why she is a Grammy Award-winning musician for her work with Paul Winter on Celtic Solstice.  

Together with all of the celebrations, holiday parades in our area, and holiday events, it brings me back to the absolute humanity that I witnessed first-hand right here, in Frenchtown, NJ, following the catastrophic events that Sandy brought to our are.  There's been so much press on this though, on the wonderful humanitarian efforts by so many, that I won't repeat what has already been said so often.  The only things that I would like to highlight, actually take me from the moment that we realized just how horrible the aftermath of Sandy was to present day.  Not only have I witnessed incredible volunteer efforts by individuals, but also tremendous conviction by those affected by the storm who were left with little--and some without homes.  

Photo Credit:  Renée Kiriluk-Hill, Hunterdon Democrat

It goes without saying that even in our own backyard, we witnessed people coming together to help, right here in Frenchtown, NJ.  Even yesterday in the news, there was an article about how, while working to restore a damaged creek after Sandy, the crew helped rescue a threatened species, the reclusive wood turtle.  As it turns out, it was reported today that it was a snapping turtle after all--but how wonderful that the crew erred on the side of caution and tried to help.  Even the littlest beings matter!

And others helped rescue other animals in our area and in the more affected areas.  What impressed me the most, was the impromptu group, led by Dawn Taylor, the owner of a Frenchtown shop, Country Chic, that formed what is now known as the Frenchtown Angels, collecting clothes, food, cleaning supplies, and more, from local residents.  They've taken truck loads to Staten Island, NY and more recently, to Toms River, NJ.  The devastation that they saw inspired them to continue this effort.  And, people have continued to donate goods.  Thank you to all of these wonderful volunteers, who spent countless hours collecting donations, sorting the different goods, and then delivering them to those in need.

Photo Credit:  Rick Epstein, Hunterdon County Democrat

We were so lucky to be able to count on Dawn for organizing this, and just be able to drop off some goods, while we, at The National Hotel, took care of so many people in our area who had no electricity and came in for a little respite from the cold.  We blocked one of our hotel guest suites and kept it open for many in our area who needed a warm shower, or a warm room in which to change, or even something as simple as a flushing toilet, not to mention charging the electronic devices that are now very much a part of all of our lives.  The gratitude these local residents expressed to us is still a vivid memory.  I've been reminded of the good in people here at home, as well as while wearing my other hat working for a not-for-profit in NYC.  I have seen the remarkable hands-on work that the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) has done.  We had 5,000 nurses visiting their patients after the storm hit.  Someone I know personally, was unable to return to her home in the Far Rockaways, but continued to care for her patients, and put her own personal situation to the side, in order to make sure that no one went without care.  And like her, there are countless others who lost their homes and still continued to care for their patients.  Even Diane Sawyer accompanied one of our nurses climbing 17 flights of stairs to visit a home-bound patient.  

New York City saw many of those stories, because without electricity, there was no way for these individuals to climb down to pick up groceries or fill prescriptions.  Thank goodness for the great relief work of so many not-for-profits, but on a personal note, thank goodness for VNSNY--I mean that from the bottom of my heart...it's not a plug for this wonderful, nearly 120-year old not-for-profit community-based and home health care organization.  I am grateful to be associated with this organization, just as I am grateful to be part of this wonderful Hunterdon County community that is blessed with its own non-profits doing great work in our area, and individuals lifting others' spirits by visiting those who are home-bound, those who were without power for so long, and even our local churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions providing food and other goods to those who were in need.  

Frenchtown is truly a magnificent part of our country.  It encompasses all the natural beauty of the Delaware River area, the individual unique styles of artists who have flocked here, and the historic beauty and charm of a quaint and hidden country town.  Some of the individuals who are making this town so special are also the shop and gallery owners, who continue to strive to showcase hand-crafted or one-of-a-kind goods.  The town has put together quite a winter shopping experience, featuring prizes and special in-store events that truly live up to the name "Shopping Just Got Better."  Pete and I hope you'll continue to support these local merchants who put their heart and soul into everything that fills their shops.

It is our fondest wish that you will make Frenchtown, NJ one of your favorite spots to frequent.  There is truly something for everyone here, and at The National Hotel, we certainly hope to be able to welcome you to the town soon.  We hope you'll join us for dinner, drinks, come for our bi-weekly Tuesday Trivia, Open Mic Night, and/or our weekend musical programs, become a member of our monthly National Wine Club, or prolong your visit and make it an overnight trip.  For information, please continue to leave comments here, email me, visit our website, call us at 908.996.3200, or:

      

Thank you for your continued support and patronage.

2011 IS ALMOST OVER...SO MUCH TO REMEMBER & SO MUCH AHEAD!

Is it possible that 2011 is actually coming to an end?  Is it possible that in just 13 days, we'll be saying "good-bye" to a tumultuous year?  It's been a year where locally we shared so many good moments, warm toasty nights in our cellar pub, The Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a., The Rat), listening to night after night of great music, where we were entertained by wonderful musicians who perform during our weekly Sunday musical afternoon series, including our most recent performer, Carol Thompson, who played the harp and wowed everyone present, and absolutely got us all into the holiday spirit early in December.  What a treat to know that when she has time, she has even made a surprise appearance during our weekly Thursday Open Mic Night, packing in the local residents as well as as our hotel overnight guests.  

And there's so much more in store.  Today there was People's Poetry in The Rat, where local poets and those who like to listen to poetry, came out to support each other and enjoy an afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping or weekend catch-up agendas.  Next Friday we'll feature Mike Pfeiffer's monthly theme music nights, where he'll kick off the night after 9 p.m. performing Christmas songs that will help us all unwind and get us in the right frame of mind to welcome in the holidays.  And this will follow (and coincide with) the celebration of Hanukkah, where we'll light the candles and rejoice during these 8 days and Festival of Lights beginning on the even of the 20th.  Our Frenchtown community is always so supportive of our programs and always help us come up with new ideas.  We even started a bi-weekly Friday night dance series, where our wonderful Rathskeller bartender, Donna Jane Sampler, has created terrific dance tracks for all to enjoy.  And don't forget about our bi-weekly Tuesday Trivia too.  That night never disappoints, thanks to Russ Coen and our General Manager, Marlon Aranha's continued dedication to coming up with incredible questions that truly challenge and entertain us.

We hope you'll make the time to enjoy these days with us.  We've even come up with a special Christmas Eve menu for the weekend, where we'll have items such as Seven Fish dinner for two, Lobster Risotto, and more.  Check our menu page for the Additions to the Menu later this week to see the full menu.

2011 has been a year where worldwide events brought us closer to neighbors thousands of miles away; where we learned of the passing of icons such as Steve Jobs, who helped make music more accessible and instantaneously attainable for millions; where we witnessed the attempted assassination of

Photo by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' office via Getty Images

Congresswoman Giffords; where we learned about the last day of Osama Bin Laden's life; where we witnessed in real time the protests in the Middle East and the awakening of the Arab Spring; where we learned that our troops would soon come home (and in fact, early this Sunday morning we saw that the last American convoy left Iraq) and made its way down the highway in what the Army called its last "tactical road march" according to CNN;

Courtesy of CNN

Photo courtesy bbc.co.uk

where we mourned the death of hundreds that quickly rose to the thousands with so many missing, in Japan after the March tsunami and 8.9-magnitude earthquake; where we saw the suffering through piercing images in the media after the earthquake in Turkey; where our hearts poured out for all of our neighbors in the Southern states that suffered through the devastating tornadoes;

Photo courtesy of abcnews.go.com

where we celebrated the fairytale marriage of a Prince and a commoner--and couldn't stop watching the ceremony that went off without one hiccup...even the rain held off for the open horse carriage to deliver the newlywed royal couple to Buckingham Palace; and let's not forget, it's the year where thousands of fans of reality TV watched glued to the television the marriage that was to outdo the royal wedding:  Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries marriage that lasted only 72 days.  Will we ever recover?

But as close as we felt to these moments of suffering, of sadness, of joy, of pure comic relief, we also experienced similar moments right here in our own backyard.  Let's not forget that Hunterdon County, NJ and Bucks County, PA suffered through the flooding and loss of power following Hurricane Irene's short visit to the US.  And, in recent memory is the snow and ice storm of October 29th, that in one night forced residents to stay home, make alternate Halloween plans (or cancel them altogether), try to stay warm with the loss of electricity, and forced neighbors out of their homes to take refuge with friends and family.  Many were without power for more than a week.  But from this tragedy, and from that from across the globe, we've seen proof of our capacity to help those around us, we've seen true humanity coming out without asking.

Non-profits from around the world have done what they could to help those most affected.  Those on the ground already in place, have been the most effective, but there are those "random acts of kindness" that I have personally seen that have impressed me more than any other year.  I've seen strangers helping others--I've even seen a New York City parking officer NOT give out a ticket to a taxi driver who had gotten out of his cab to get a street cup of coffee.  He explained what happened & the officer put away the pad and walked on.  Amazing!  Pete and I also saw the creation of a fantastic new park that preserves land forever, right here in our own backyard.  300+ acres were officially preserved this year, abutting 200 acres of preserved open space to the south and 300+ acres of preserved farmland and open space to the north, ensuring green space for generations to come, with some of the best vistas of the Delaware River, nature, and wildlife.  It took years to create, but boy, is it worth it!  Thank you to the people involved with the Hunterdon Land Trust Association for all their hard work.  I've also seen community get together and plan on the best way to create a dog park in Frenchtown, rallying support, raising funds, and motivating neighbors to get involved.

How appropriate to continue to learn of stories like these during this holiday time.  As we approach the holidays, whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, or other holidays, we wish you much happiness, health, and prosperity, along with much joy during the approaching start of 2012.  As you plan ahead for the month of December, please remember that although the hotel is open for overnight accommodations, the Restaurant & Bar and the Rat are closed on Christmas Day.  Do continue to email us your comments and feedback...they are truly helpful...or just leave a comment on this page.  Stay up-to-date with everything being planned, by:

      

You've made such a tremendous difference in our lives, and from all of us at The National Hotel, Pete and I want to extend to you our most sincere wishes for many days of happiness and wonderful experiences that will create many memories for years to come.