4th ANNIVERSARY AND HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION IN 1 WEEKEND!!

We had family from Chile who visited us last week, and I had the great pleasure of welcoming them to Frenchtown, NJ.  It was such a treat to be able to show them my little hidden gem of a town--from the natural beauty of the Delaware River, walking paths, and scenic country routes, to the splendor of the town's businesses all ablaze with fall colors and decorations.  I was inspired by the shops' variety of merchandise, but moreover, by the shop owners themselves.  The owners of each unique gallery, shop, and boutique, invited us into their space with warmth and genuine interest in learning about my family.  "Where did they come from?"  "How long will they be in town?"  "Is this their first visit to Frenchtown?"  "Have they already been here or there?"

There truly aren't too many places where one can be made to feel so special by complete strangers.  These inquiries were genuine and their interest in making sure that my relatives enjoy their visit, was authentic.  This was an unplanned acknowledgement of everything I had shared with my family all these years about Frenchtown and the joy it brought us after Pete and I took ownership of The National Hotel and became part of the community.

This coming Sunday, November 3rd, will mark FOUR years since we opened our doors in 2009.  With no advertising, just word of mouth, we quietly opened this grand old building and our first guest wandered into The Rathskeller Pub (a.k.a. The Rat).  With a look of true happiness, he had a drink and exclaimed, "Running across the street to vote.  I'll be back."  And when he came back, others had joined him...and others...and others...Today, we still enjoy the patronage of that very first guest, and so many of you.  Thank you for making the last four years an absolute adventure, that allowed Pete and me to build a new life among you.

Halloween 2012

I'm particularly pleased with the way the calendar worked out this year.  Our annual Halloween party landed on Saturday, November 2nd.  That means, we'll be celebrating our fourth anniversary that night right after midnight--costumes and all! Having booked Rainbow Fresh for the Halloween party, we are all sure to be in a festive mood all night, and I cannot wait to see what our patrons will wear this year!  Remember, prizes will be given out for best costumes (individual and couples).  Come early for a great time hosted by our bartender extraordinaire, Donna Jane Sampler.
Last year, she had a terrific mix of music that everyone enjoyed leading up to the live music performance by Rainbow Fresh.  Guests ordered micro brews and beers on tap, as well as other drinks.  I wonder what specialty shots Donna will create this year?

We'll need to keep up the good spirits on Sunday, because we'll be enjoying the first Additions to the Menu selections since launching our new Fall Menu last week.  Thank you to all of you who have already left us feedback on our facebook page or told us in person how much you enjoyed your dining experience.  We're so glad that you liked the new choices, like the Arugula & Pancetta Salad and the Lamb Shank.

Arugula Salad (Arugula, Pancetta Crisps, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Strawberry Honey Vinaigrette) 

16 oz. Lamb Shank (Slow-Roasted with Onions, Carrots, Celery, Garlic and Mediterranean Spices, Couscous with Currants and Dates) 

We also heard you loud and clear, and made sure to keep the favorites untouched (e.g., The National Burger, Fish and Chips, Spicy Tuna with Lotus Chips, and more).  You'll have a chance to try these dishes all week, and/or choose something from our Additions to the Menu all weekend.

There's a lot planned for November, so do check our music pages frequently for our calendar of musicians and special events.  We'll keep this tradition of music at The National Hotel going throughout the upcoming months, with our weekly Thursday Open Mic Night, our Saturday Night Live Music series, our Sunday Musical Afternoons, our Bi-Weekly Tuesday Trivia (next installment:  November 5th), and some special Wednesday events coming up next month and into the new year.

It's a privilege to be able to write this blog and know that the commitment we made four years ago, is part of the fabric of The National Hotel, with music and special events making it a community center of sorts, an inter-generational meeting spot, with something for everyone.  I just love that!

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 the fall:

      

Thank you.

A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL HOTEL & A GREAT BIG THANK YOU!

Just a little over a week ago, Pete and I were the guests of Chris Poh's weekly radio program, Bleeker Street Café on WDVR's 89.7 FM station (in Hunterdon County, NJ), where we were asked questions about reported friendly spirits at The National Hotel, sightings, etc.  Of course, "'tis the season," with Halloween just following the radio interview.  It was actually a lot of fun to sit in front of the microphone and recount the many stories that have been told to us, that have been written down by previous owners of The National Hotel, and which now make up the colorful past of Frenchtown.  As far as I'm concerned, the bottom line is that if in fact there is a ghost, it's a friendly ghost.  That's all I need to know.

Pete was recently contacted by a descendant of the "Apgar Sisters" and she was so generous that she has begun to send us original photos of her family when they owned The National Hotel.  Check out this photo montage of the flood of March 22, 1936:

But Halloween is over.  The costumes are back in the closet.  The temperatures have dropped and we are in the middle of November gearing up for the upcoming Holidays.  The National Hotel has been a fortunate recipient of the embrace that only artists can give.  We are in the middle of a fantastic holiday season filled with music, poetry, and new initiatives.  And this all comes from the heart and soul of town...as trite as that sounds.  It is the local artists that have chosen The National Hotel as their venue of choice to put the arts in the limelight.  It's not Pete; it's not me...it's the artists themselves.  And on top of that--our local patrons and arts enthusiasts continue to thank us!

The latter has never ceased. The thank you's from our patrons and from our Frenchtown neighbors continue to this day. It's truly unbelievable that one's customers (many of whom have truly become a member of The National Hotel family), demonstrate their gratitude for having this grand old lady of a building open again. Pete and I have many a conversation over how unusual an occurrence this is, having been business owners for many years. But that's the power of The National Hotel. The power of this historic establishment and what it means, deeply and profoundly, to our area neighbors. The power that it evokes to our patrons, but also to us, to Pete, to me, to Marlon, and to everyone who is involved with The National Hotel.

Pete and I have these conversations daily.  I'm being completely honest with this statement.  There has not been a day that Pete and I have not felt the warmth, the embrace, the grateful endorsement by local patrons, tourists, and neighbors alike.  All I can say is "Thank You," back to you.  There is absolutely no way, no possible way, that we could open our doors day after day, if it weren't for your patronage, your dedication to continue to keep the building alive and breathing. 

Our artists' listing keeps growing, our volunteer hosts and program developers continue to self-identify themselves, and you continue to support us.  What can we say other than "Thank YOU!  Please keep coming back!"

Check out our ever-expanding listing of performers, our special events and our weekly additions to our menu, not to mention our most recent seasonal menu launch.  Thank you for supporting us, and moreover, for welcoming us into your lives.  Pete and I are having a BLAST!  Did I say this already???

Please let us know if you want to recognize your server, our bartenders, or anyone on our staff.  They'll be pleased to know you remember them.  Follow us on Twitter, find us on facebook, check out our youtube channel, and sign up on our guest book to receive frequent updates of upcoming events.  Isn't it good to be the first to know?