Showing posts with label Newtown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Newtown. Show all posts

Monday, March 24, 2014

Fine Dining in Bucks County

If you are looking for a fancy night out for a romantic dinner for two, take a look at some of the Bucks County fine dining suggestions in this blog post that will leave you wanting to have date nights every weekend.  These restaurants are on the high-end, but they offer high quality food and service that sets them apart from others.  Also, don't forget about Bucks County restaurant weeks.

La Stalla

Address:

18 Swamp Road
Newtown, PA 18940

Hours:

Monday - Friday: 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Saturday - Sunday: 12:00pm - 10:30pm


La Stalla 
If you are craving authentic Italian cuisine, then La Stalla is the place for you. Located in a renovated historic barn built in 1929, the cozy atmosphere matches perfectly with the homemade family-style Italian dishes served here.  The building use to be filled with dairy stalls housing many horses and other farm animals. The restaurant even gave homage to the barn by naming it La Stalla, which is Italian for stables.

Feeling sporty during dinner? Try Bocce, which is the Italian version of bowling, in the restaurant's Bocce court.  So, you can try a new sport while enjoying a high quality meal.  What can beat that?

If you are Italian, then you know how important Sunday dinner is. At La Stalla, they want to provide you and your family with a traditional Italian style Sunday dinner.  Check out their special Sunday dinner menu here.

Before you go to La Stalla, look over their lunch and dinner menus to get even more excited for the great food you are about to try.

Do you love wine? To be more specific, do you love Italian wine? Well, if you answered yes to both questions, stop in during La Stalla's Italian Wine Dinner.  During this dinner, each course will be served with a different pairing of wine.  This is a wine lovers dream come true.

The Brick Hotel

Address:

1 Washington Ave
Newtown, PA 18940

Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 7:30am - 9:30pm
Friday - Saturday: 7:30am-11:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am - 9:00pm

The Brick Hotel
The Brick Hotel is a restaurant/hotel that has been providing fine dining and overnight accommodations to the Bucks County area for over 250 years.  Back in the day, many wealthy Philadelphians would boat to Bristol, PA, and they would take their coach up to Newtown to stay at The Brick Hotel.  It even housed George Washington and his officers during their time in Newtown.

Today, visitors can enjoy a great meal in their dining room area and can still stay over in the historic hotel that has a wide variety of room layouts, prices and a multitude of hotel accommodations.

The beautiful ambiance of this historic hotel paired with the delightful food served from breakfast to lunch on a daily basis provides all of The Brick Hotel's restaurant and hotel guests with a five-star experience.

The Buck Hotel

Address:

1200 Buck Road
Feasterville, PA 19053

Hours:

Monday - Sunday: 11:00am - 12:00am

The Bucks Hotel

The Buck Hotel


The Buck Hotel is a can't miss social hot spot in Bucks County.  Many events such as business meetings, weddings and other celebrations take place here at "The Buck".  The restaurant/tavern is open seven days a week with live entertainment the majority of the nights. In the warmer months, stop in and take a seat on the second floor deck while enjoying a tropical drink and entertainment.

Are you in the mood for some great food? Take a look at The Buck Hotel's full menu to see whether you are in the mood for a fine dining, a tavern or a deck dining experience.

Check out the special events page as well for events such as Easter Brunch, Passover Dinner and much more.

Restaurant Weeks

If you love restaurant week, then you must visit New Hope and Lahaska.  New Hope's restaurant week begins in March of each year and offers great deals on drinks and food.

In Lahaska, Peddler's Village also has their very own restaurant week in March.  Many options are offered, so it may be difficult to choose where to go and what to try. It is guaranteed that no matter where you go, you will have a great time.

Bucks County Inexpensive, Yet Charming Restaurants

Some of my favorite places to eat in Bucks County are little restaurants that only locals really know about.  These restaurants are unique in their own way and offer great food for low prices along with a unique atmosphere.

Pat's Colonial Kitchen 

Address:

127 South State Street
Newtown, PA 18940

Hours:

Monday - Sunday: 7:00am - 2:00pm

Pat's Colonial Kitchen
Pat's Colonial Kitchen is a cozy restaurant tucked away on State Street in Newtown. This family-oriented restaurant has a homey feel to it from its decor to its homemade breakfast and lunch options. 

Pat's Colonial Kitchen Unique Mugs and Homemade Jam
Many unique features will be found throughout your experience dining in what is locally referred to as Pat's Kitchen. Where else will you find a UPS cup in a restaurant? That is what makes Pat's so special. Each visitors experience is unique from the food they order to the cup they are given.  This is a place where no two mugs are the same.  

As for the strawberry jam pictured above, Pat's has mastered the art of jam making.  If you fall in love with the strawberry jam that accents each table, don't worry because you can own your very own jar. Located next to the cash register is their wall of jam.  Choose from a variety of different flavors to take home to enjoy whenever you like.  

Pat's offers a variety of fresh, homemade breakfast and lunch options. However, my favorite dish to order when I go is the three-egg omelette with cheddar cheese and pork roll inside with a side of hash brown and toast.  You must get some toast while you are at Pat's so you can try the jam.

Another favorite item to order is french toast.  Words cannot describe how heavenly their french toast is. If only I knew their secret recipe. 

Here is a more detailed view of the menu and their specials.   

State Street Kitchen

Address:

24 South State Street 
Newtown, PA 18940

Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 7:00am - 4:30pm
Friday: 7:00am-7:30pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am - 2:30pm

State Street Kitchen Exterior
Who loves Korean food? Who loves breakfast food? Well, now you can enjoy two for the price of one at State Street Kitchen.  Conveniently located in the hustle and bustle of Newtown borough's main area, this dining location offers uniqueness and comfortability.

 What's so unique about State Street Kitchen is that they combine American classics with Korean classics that really can't be found anywhere else.

State Street Kitchen Specials
Tip: The hot ticket seat in State Street Kitchen are the tables next to the big window next to State Street. Enjoy some people watching while chowing down on homemade delicious food.  

Recommendations: If you are going for breakfast, any egg platter is recommended.  For lunch, the kimchi cheesesteak is beyond addicting. Finally, for the take-out dinners they offer, enjoy some shepherd's pie or hot roast beef platters. 

Erwin's Country Kitchen

Address:

4059 Brownsville Road
Trevose, PA 19053

Hours:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Sunday: 7:00am - 9:00pm

Erwin's Country Kitchen Exterior
Erwin's Country Kitchen is another quirky, small restaurant that offers exceptional food and service in Bucks County.  Just like Pat's Kitchen, you will notice that no two coffee mugs are alike.  You never know what kind of mug you will get.  You may get a Fourth of July mug in the dead of winter, or you may get a flower mug (both of which they do have).  

The first aspect of the restaurant that you will notice as soon as you walk in is the mural on the wall. This painting was done by hand and is meticulously crafted. Every time you walk in, you will notice something different on the mural because it is so detailed.  

Don't forget the piano in the corner.  You never know when someone will have the urge to play.  Also, make sure to take a look at the old time movie actor's pictures displayed along the walls.  How many of them can you name? 

Now, to the food. Erwin's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.  A recommendation for the big eaters in the family is the "big breakfast". This comes with two pancakes, two eggs, meat and toast.  Good luck finishing that one. 

Don't worry little eaters, Erwin's also offers a "little breakfast," which includes one pancake, one egg, meat and toast.

On the other hand, if you are looking for another type of breakfast dish, the breakfast wrap is always a great choice.  This is a wrap with eggs, cheese and your choice of meat mixed in along with a side of hash brown, which is my personal favorite.  

For dinner, Erwin's offers a great selection of choices ranging from traditional dinner entrees to seafood to German specialty dishes, since the owner and cook (Erwin) is German.

However, the best aspect of all about Erwin's are the cheese fries.  You will never be able to find cheese fries as delicious as Erwin's secret cheese sauce recipe.  When you order the cheese fries, you must indicate that you would specifically like Erwin's cheese sauce.  Trust me, you will not be disappointed. 

Take a look at Erwin's menu here. 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The Haunting of...Bucks County Community College and The Logan Inn

The hauntings never stop in Bucks County.  No matter what part of the county you are in, you are never too far away from a haunted location.  Even some schools and hotels are haunted in Bucks County, so don't be fooled because you're never too far away from the supernatural.

Bucks County Community College - Tyler Hall

Address:

275 Swamp Road
Newtown, PA 18940

Bucks County Community College - Tyler Hall
Bucks County Community College, which was founded in 1964, is a two-year institution for residents of Bucks County to obtain higher education.  One of the buildings on the campus today is called Tyler Hall.  Tyler Hall, which is also known as Tyler Estate, was once the summer home of the Tyler family.

The Tyler family was wealthy and mainly lived on the Main Line in Chestnut Hill. However, they decided they wanted a summer home in Bucks County. The patriarch of the family was George Frederick Tyler. He was a prominent banker and farmer.  His wife's name was Stella Elkins Tyler. She was the granddaughter of William L. Elkins in which Elkins Park, PA is named after today.

Stella loved art and was a talented sculptress.  Stella Tyler also endowed the Tyler Art School of Temple University.  After World War I, the Tyler family began to buy some plots of land around the Newtown, PA area, and eventually, they decided on a location for their house, which is now Tyler Hall.

The house is 300 feet long and consists of 60 different rooms.  It even has towers and balconies. They wanted their house to be strong, so the exterior walls were built 2 feet thick. The rest of the house was custom-made and built to sustain any type of weather.  The mansion also consists of 20 fireplaces, a ten-car turntable garage and gold in each of the many bathrooms.  The Tyler's hired forty servants to keep the mansion running. In 1932, the Tyler family permanently moved into the mansion.

Once George and Stella Tyler died, their will stated that their Newtown property, including their mansion, would be donated to Temple University.  The rest of their property was sold to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to become Tyler State Park.  In 1965, the Bucks County Authority bought the 200-acre land from Temple to create Bucks County Community College.

Now, Tyler Hall is an administrative building for the community college.  However, the administrative assistants have an extra worker lurking around the building.  Rumor has it that Stella Tyler still roams around her house, especially at nighttime.  It seems as though Stella likes to make her presence known through sounding alarms, turning appliances on and off and baking in the kitchen.  Her spirit is said to be in the house because it is where she was the happiest during her lifetime.

The question is, are you brave enough to encounter Stella face-to-face alone in Tyler Hall? If you dare, here is a map of Bucks County Community College so you can find Tyler Hall and see a ghost for yourself.

The Logan Inn

Address:

10 West Ferry Street
New Hope, PA 18938

The Logan Inn

One of the most notoriously haunted locations in all of Bucks County is The Logan Inn of New Hope, PA.  Many paranormal investigators stay the night in many of the supposed haunted rooms within the inn.  The Logan Inn is close to 300 years old, so if anywhere was to have ghosts, it would be this place.

It is considered one of the most haunted destinations in America, and many different television channel crews have staked out late at night to try to capture some paranormal activity with their ghost hunting equipment.

Many investigators have captured ghost orbs roaming around most parts of the Logan Inn, but especially in the lobby.  One of the most "popular" ghosts is a Revolutionary War soldier that has been seen around the inn.

However, the most sought-after room for investigation is room 6, which is also known as Emily's Room.  Emily was apparently the mother of one of the previous owners and liked it there so much she never left. Her new job now, whether she is aware of it or not, is scaring the guests who sleep in the room.

Guests who have slept in room 6 have experienced the aroma of lavender, which seems to come out of no where.  However, it is documented that lavender was Emily's favorite perfume. You can put two and two together with this one.

She also has been known to be a trickster.  Emily often moves around guest's items either because she likes playing tricks or because she wants them placed in the way she wants them in the room.

Some have reportedly heard crying in the room, and others have had the pillows pulled from under their heads in the dead of night.  What a rude awakening!

However, the scariest story in my opinion is the face in the mirror. Guests have stated that in room 6 when they look in the mirror, they see a man's reflection staring back at them.  If that doesn't scare you, I don't know what will.

I think i'll enjoy The Logan Inn from outside of the building from now on.  Are you bold enough to investigate the supernatural inside The Logan Inn?

Monday, March 17, 2014

The Haunting of...Fonthill Museum, New Hope and The George School

It doesn't have to be October to experience some haunting activity around Bucks County.  Bucks County has alleged ghost activities in the most expected and unexpected places.  Let's begin with a story about a castle and its housekeeper.  If you are a ghost lover, you must read on.

Fonthill Museum

Fonthill Castle
Fonthill Museum may look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside, a ghost is lurking through the halls.  As my previous blog post stated, once Henry Mercer passed on, he gave his entire estate to his housekeeper and her husband who lived in the castle.

Eye witnesses have described seeing an apparition walking through the halls that is believed to be Laura Swain, the old housekeeper who is now deceased. As the legend goes, Laura still goes about her daily housekeeping duties as if she is still alive.

Many workers and tour visitors throughout the years have seen Laura Swain walking along the barely lit hallways of the century-old castle.

Unfortunately, due to the delicacy of the castle, paranormal investigators are not allowed inside to do research.

So, if you want to experience a ghost, take one of the many daily tours offered at Fonthill. Maybe you will get lucky enough to see her doing her housekeeping duties.

Here is a video of the spooky exterior and some shots of the inside of the castle. Enter if you dare.

New Hope Ghost Tours

New Hope Ghost Tour Street
During the warmer months in New Hope, Bucks County, enjoy some haunted tales of historic New Hope.  Enjoy the cool September and October nights by participating in the lantern-led ghost tours. Walk along the streets at night while listening to ghastly tales about the phantom hitchhiker and the haunted Logan Inn.

Where does the tour begin? Intersection of Main Street and Ferry Street
When? June to the third weekend of November - tours meet every Saturday night
September and October only - tours meet every Friday and Saturday night as well as Halloween night
Time? All tours begin at 8:00pm
How much per person? $10.00
*All tours run rain or shine

The George School - Tate House

View picture here.

The George School is located in Newtown, Bucks County, and it is a prestigious day and boarding school.  The school is situated on a beautiful patch of land. However, with every patch of land comes its history, and not all of it is happy.

The Tate House is a building that is part of the school's campus, which now houses the teaching staff. This particular building was built in 1756 by a man named Anthony Tate.  Anthony had a son, James Tate, who eventually became a doctor.  James Tate inherited the house in 1781.

While the Revolutionary War was going on, legend has it that James Tate dug up the body of a Hessian soldier who was buried near his house (The Tate House). He had heard that the soldier died of a disease, and he wanted to get a closer look at his body. Not only did he get a closer look at his body, but he also dissected it.

Once he dug up the body, he carried it to his laboratory.  Once the dissection was complete, he buried the remaining parts. No, he didn't bury them back in the original grave. He dug a shallow grave in his own basement of the Tate House and buried the remains.

As the legend goes, whenever someone walks over the grave in the basement with a lighted candle, the flame will go out.  This even includes flashlights.

If you dare go to the basement in the dark, you may hear footsteps running up the basement stairs. Apparently, these are the footsteps of the soldier trying to escape the house.

Pretty spooky stories! If you must venture to these haunted places, I would suggest going with a group and not alone. You never know what you may or may not see.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Where To Go For Some Fresh Air and Outdoor Fun All Year Long

Here are some great outdoor destinations that are must-sees no matter what month you visit Bucks County.

Tyler State Park

Address:
101 Swamp Road
Newtown, PA 18940

Hours: 
Dawn - Dusk every day
Open all year round

Tyler State Park Neshaminy Creek
Tyler Park Creek Bridge
Tyler State Park is located in Newtown, PA, and is roughly 1,711 acres with many fun activities.  While traveling through the park, you will encounter the Neshaminy Creek that adds natural beauty to this state gem.

A multitude of picnic areas are scattered around the park. Bring your own food and drinks and have a nice barbecue with the family.  Barbecue pits are located in the dam area as well as the picnic/playground area in the park.  Restrooms are conveniently located near all picnic areas. This is a pet-friendly park, so bring your dogs as well.

Tyler Park Fire Pit/Picnic Area 

One of my favorite aspects of Tyler Park is the fire pit.  It is great all year round to enjoy.  In the summer you can roast marshmallows while watching kayaks and canoes ride by on the Neshaminy Creek.

Another one of my favorite activities is boating.  Canoe rental and kayak rental are available from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day.  It is one of the most relaxing and fun boat rides you will ever experience gliding down the creek.

Tyler Park is a fishing-friendly area.  The main pavilion (follow signs through park) is where most of the fishing occurs. Not everyone may be fish lovers, so keep in mind that the canoe/kayak rental is in the same area as the fishing if some want to boat instead. More importantly for the kids, the main pavilion area is where the Ice Cream Man makes a stop usually everyday during the hazy, hot days of summer. Who doesn't love ice cream?

If you visit Tyler Park during the winter, you may think there is nothing to do. Not true.  Many winter activities to get involved in such a cross-country skiing, ice fishing, ice skating and sledding. Of course, these activities require the proper weather.  Check the winter report before you venture out.

So, who loves disc golfing? Tyler Park is the perfect location to hone your disc golfing skills to perfection.  The park offers a 27-hole course with the objective of the game being to get the frisbee into the net with as few tries as possible.

Of course, there is also horseback riding that is available for kids, beginners and advanced riders. Before you plan your visit to Tyler Park, take a look at the Things to Do page and the Calendar of Events so you do not miss out on any activities.

Map of Tyler Park

Core Creek Park

Address:
901 Bridgetown Pike
Langhorne, PA 19047

Hours:
8am - sunset
Open all year round

Core Creek Park Entrance
Core Creek Park is also located in Lower Bucks County along with Tyler State Park, but it offers very different activities.  Core Creek Park is approximately 1,200 acres and offers fun activities to enjoy in Lake Luxembourg located in the heart of the park.

Core Creek Lake Luxembourg
Many locations for grilling and picnicking are available throughout the park. As for kid's activities, Core Creek has great playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer fields and water-fun to explore.

One of the most fun warm-weather activities at Core Creek is the paddle boat rentals (Open May - September). The park also offers kayak, canoe, paddleboat and rowboat rentals, and you can also bring your own small boat for the lake. Take the family for a scenic paddle boat ride while getting some exercise at the same time.

Core Creek Boat Rental Building
If boating is not your forte, take a walk, a bike ride and/or a horseback ride through one of the many nature trails offered. While on the trails, keep an eye out for wildlife and see how many different species you can spot in the park.

In the winter, the lake is open (depending on the lake conditions) for ice skating and ice fishing.

Core Creek Dog Park and Bench Area
Now to my favorite aspect of Core Creek Park, which is the dog park. (All of Core Creek is pet-friendly)

The dog park is an enclosed off-leash dog park for registered members of the only.  The park provides a section for small dogs, and a separate section for large dogs.  Not a member of the dog park? You can still enjoy the sites by relaxing on one of the benches next to the gate and watch the dogs frolic without a care in the world.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Newtown, PA - Not Just One of M. Night Shyamalan's Filming Locations

Newtown, PA is a borough in Bucks County, which is situated just north of Philadelphia and west of Trenton, New Jersey.  Not only does the character of this tiny borough radiate in the streets, but it is filled with history from its cobblestones to its beautifully restored historical homes.

So, how did Newtown, PA originate? It all started way back when in the 1600's when William Penn bought roughly 5,000 acres of land from the Native Americans.  Originally, the area was called
"New Town", which over the years morphed into the present spelling of Newtown.

Fast forward another 100 years, and we are in the middle of the Revolutionary War.  So, what was Newtown's role in the battle? As it turns out, George Washington himself made Newtown his home shortly after the Battle of Trenton and the infamous crossing of the Delaware River.

The history doesn't stop there for this little town. All throughout Newtown you will find Newtown Heritage Walk signs posted. Keep an eye out for the signs (34 in total), and take a look at the complete historic list here.

Let's begin with Newtown State Street.

Newtown State Street


Newtown Starbucks
Here on Newtown State Street, you can find any type of store your heart desires. Need a coffee break? Stop by Starbucks located on the corner of State Street and Centre Avenue.

Need a good book to read?  After your coffee break, take a right out of the store and two stores down is a unique one of a kind book store called Newtown Book and Record Exchange. In this bookstore, you can find an old book while at the same time sifting through old records. Have some old vinyl records lying around? Bring them in to Newtown Book and Record Exchange to earn a few bucks.

Are you a handyman or are you working on a weekend project and need some tools? State Street has you covered.  In between the Starbucks and the book store is Newtown Hardware House. This hardware store has its own history behind it, and it really adds to the hometown feel of Newtown. You can find tools and supplies that big chain stores do not carry. The supplies at Newtown Hardware House are top notch.

Sounds like a great place right? Let's take a closer look now at what historic Newtown has to offer.

Newtown Movie Theater:

Address:
120 N. State Street
Newtown, PA 18940

Newtown Movie Theater
So, your walking down State Street enjoying the beautiful day when suddenly, you get the urge to see a movie.  Well, you've come to the right place. The Newtown Movie Theater is the oldest United States theater still in operation. It was built in 1831, and it originally was strictly used for plays and town hall meetings. The first movie played here was in 1906.

What really sets this movie theater apart from any other, besides the obvious age difference, is the interior design.  As you step in, it's as though you are stepping back in time.  The theater has a main floor as well as a balcony level (my favorite place to sit).  Experiencing a movie at the Newtown Movie Theater is like no other.

Most importantly, when you do attend a movie screening at the theater, do not forget to buy the amazing popcorn at the concession stand. Not only are tickets much cheaper here than at the modern movie theaters, but the concession prices are great too.

Newtown Library

Address:
114 W. Centre Ave
Newtown, PA 18940


Newtown Library

Now that you have gotten your coffee fix from Starbucks, relaxed at the movie theater and took a leisurely stroll down State Street, meander up Centre Avenue (at the corner of Starbucks) to visit the historic Newtown Library Company. Established in 1760, this neighborhood library has served as an educational and relaxing environment for many locals through the years.

Newtown Library Company's Children's Reading Area

Do you have young children who love to read or be read to? Don't forget to stop by the children's nook located on the left-hand side of the library.


Newtown Library Company Heritage Walk Sign


Also, do not forget to read the Newtown Library Company's Heritage Walk sign right outside the library to learn even more history facts.  

Fun fact: Who knows what the title of this blog post is referencing? If you guessed the movie Signs, you are correct. M. Night Shyamalan is notoriously known for shooting his films in Philadelphia, and yes, Bucks County as well. Many scenes were filmed in and around Newtown, and even on State Street itself. Next time you watch Signs, keep an eye out for State Street in the background. 

Interesting Fact:

For the Bucks County locals, ever wonder why a random house is next to the Wells Fargo in the Village at Newtown Shopping Center. For years, I have been passing by and always thought it was a peculiar site for a house.  Well, now I know the history behind it and thought I would pass it along. 

In the 1800's, residents petitioned to create a turnpike road from the Anchor Tavern in Wrightstown, PA to Newtown, PA.  Long story short, the house was the tollbooth. The toll keeper lived inside and collected the one to two cent fair when passengers arrived. Interesting right? I never would have guessed the history behind this mysterious house.   

ATTENTION: Keep up-to-date on what's happening in Newtown, PA 365 days of the year by checking out newtownalive.com