Chester, NJ Spring Craft Show - June 2-3, 2012

Gift giving has always created angst for me. I like to choose something unique and personal - the perfect item that cannot be obtained just anywhere. That's hard to do when time is limited, however this weekend, after the last breakfast dish is put away at the Whistling Swan Inn, I'll be making a beeline to Municipal Field in historic Chester, NJ. Touted as one of the top 60 craft shows in the country, the Spring Craft Show will feature more than 150 regional artists selling a wide variety of hand-made items, including traditional crafts, fine art, furniture and country crafts.

Tom and I will be saving some time to stroll through the town, one of our favorite places since we were married 30 years ago. Chester has always been somewhat of a quirky town filled with splendid antique shops, coffee bars and some of the best ice cream in New Jersey.

Rain or shine, the show will be held from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and I'll be there, Christmas list in hand.

... and so the adventures continue... join us.


Ros

Ros Bruno
Innkeeper
The Whistling Swan Inn
110 Main Street
Stanhope, NJ 07874
973-347-6369
www.whistlingswaninn.com
Check availability

Stanhope, NJ Spring Weekend

Stanhope Chamber of  Commerce
meet at the
Whistling Swan Inn
Paula Zeliff-Murphy
Rich Kuncken
Rosemarie Maio
Jack Leffingwell

Since March, the Stanhope, NJ Chamber of Commerce has been meeting monthly at the Whistling Swan Inn to plan its 17th annual Stanhope Spring Weekend. The three-day extravaganza will be held June 8, 9, and 10, 2012, and will kick off on Friday with a genuine pig roast - yes, outdoors, on a spit and everything - at Shakey Jakes, located on Route 183. Due to the overwhelming popularity of this event, admission is limited to 90, and tickets are going fast. Admission is $30 per person, with all proceeds donated to the Borough's fire department and ambulance squad.

For weeks now, I've been hauling out my unused stuff in preparation for the town-wide garage sale on Saturday. As they say, "one person's trash is another's treasure, so in between serving breakfast, checking in guests and baking cookies, I'll be trolling the neighborhood searching for bargains. Some of the items I'll be parting with are an antique hat stand, a pair of upholstered chairs and some knick-knacks.

Capping the celebration on Sunday, June 10th, is the Spring Festival, which is a blast for the whole family. Main Street will be blocked off to accommodate a variety of vendors selling food and handcrafted items. The kids will enjoy face painting, bounce rides and tons of giveaways. Musical entertainment will also be featured.

A silent auction is one of my all-time favorite activities, and even though I never win anything - ever - I'll be bidding with the best of them on some of the services and merchandise donated by more than one hundred individuals and businesses. Prizes will include: sports memorabilia, theater packages, weekend getaways, gift certificates to local eateries and baskets of assorted goodies. Sponsored by the Town With a Heart Fund, the auction is always a highlight of the festival. Profits from the annual fundraiser are distributed to area individuals or families who are in need of emergency financial assistance due to extraordinary circumstances.

So mark your calendars and come out to the Stanhope Spring Weekend. Don't forget your sunscreen.

... and so the adventures continue ... join us.


Ros 

Ros Bruno
Innkeeper
110 Main Street
Stanhope, NJ 07874
973-347-6369
The Whistling Swan Inn
Check availability

Spring at the Whistling Swan Inn, Stanhope, NJ

English boxwoods
flank the front walk

Spring has finally come to the Whistling Swan Inn, in Stanhope, NJ. Mother Nature teased us in March with balmy, 70-degree days; April brought a cold snap, but now I believe spring is here to stay. The garden foliage is abundantly green, with the tulips providing bright splashes of color.

Over the last two weeks, we've been sprucing up the landscaping in preparation for several outdoor events. The ancient rose bushes in the front have been replaced by English boxwoods, which are my all-time favorites. Dispersed among these beauties are pink and white impatiens.

The fine weather in the Skylands region of the state has brought our guests out of their rooms and onto the newly painted veranda. On Mother's Day, I had some downtime, and spent a delightful hour chatting with simply charming guests who were kind enough to show me their wedding album.

Tucked into a corner of the veranda is a comfy, two-person hammock. The quiet of this little northern NJ village was most conducive to an afternoon nap. While I couldn't spare the time for it, I caught my daughter, Nikki, taking a little siesta.

Sleeping Beauty

... and so the adventures continue ... join us.
Ros

Ros Bruno
Innkeeper
The Whistling Swan Inn
110 Main Street
Stanhope, NJ 07874
973-347-6369
www.whistlingswaninn.com
Check availability