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.
