Dotty's Dimensions: The Column - Union County Issue #16

Issue #16

01. DR. ROBINSON PLANTATION, CLARK, NJ
02. CANNONBALL HOUSE, SPRINGFIELD, NJ
03. OSBORN-CANNONBALL HOUSE, SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ
04. WARINANCO PARK SPORTS CENTER, ROSELLE, NJ
05. CRANE-PHILLIPS HOUSE, CRANFORD, NJ
06. REEVES-REED ARBORETUM, SUMMIT, NJ
07. PHILCON 2019

Dotty's Dimensions: The Column - Union County Issue #15

Issue #15

01. TRAILSIDE NATURE & SCIENCE CENTER
02. LIBERTY HALL MUSEUM
03. MILLER-CORY HOUSE MUSEUM
04. MERCHANTS AND DROVERS TAVERN MUSEUM
05. WOODRUFF HOUSE/EATON STORE MUSEUM
06. DRAKE HOUSE MUSEUM
07. SHORE LEAVE 2019

BRISTOL AMISH MARKET, BRISTOL, PENNSYLVANIA

     Saturday, August 3, 2019: Once again, I learned that I didn’t have to go to Lancaster County, PA, or Philly’s Reading Terminal Market to eat and buy Pennsylvania “Dutch” foods because just north of Philadelphia has been the location of the Bristol Amish Market, 498 Green Lane, Bristol, PA (215-826-9971). As soon as I entered, I ordered lunch from the counter of a luncheonette that served hot and cold sandwiches. After this, I picked up my order, sat at one of the many tables near the front window, and ate my lunch. Later, I browsed and sometimes bought different food items from close to a dozen food vendors. Those merchants sold many kinds of foods: deli, kettle corn, bbq meats, as well as baked goods, produce, ice cream & pretzels, meats, donuts, seafood, bulk foods, fudge, etc.—all with that special PA “Dutch” touch to them! (Yes, most of the people working here are Amish.) Another part of the building sold furniture. Finally, outside, a vendor sold sheds. (At last, a house I can afford. HA! HA!) Anyway, between the browsing and some buying, it made for a relaxing few hours. If you don’t find something you like here, you didn’t browse very well.

SHADY BROOK FARM, YARDLEY, PENNSYLVANIA

 

     Sunday, June 30, 2019: A farm was a farm, was a farm, unless it was Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Brook Road, Yardley, PA (215-968-1670 or www.shadybrookfarm.com)! This Bucks County farm market and garden center sold a variety of foods in its main building: produce, baked goods, and deli foods, as well as cheeses, snack foods, and especially food in jars—many of them grown and preserved by Shady Brook. They also carried locally made Rose Bank Wine. At the deli, one could buy sandwiches for either take-away or to eat at the upper level dining room. After this, Uncle Dave’s Ice Cream, offered many flavors of their home-made ice cream in cup or cones. When I finished my lunch, I browsed (and sometimes bought) different foods on display as this building contained rows and rows of food. (I’m glad that I ate first before browsing here.) Adjoining this market was a tavern called “The Stone’s Throw.” Once, outside, I also browsed at the many bright-colored flowers at the garden center, and I saw more flowers, plants, and garden decorations in their green house. Other areas outside sold garden equipment, lawn furniture, tool sheds, etc. In addition, they offered a pick-your-own produce from their surrounding fields. Throughout the year, Shady Brook Farm played host to different seasonal events, holidays, and concerts—some of them especially for families. Nevertheless, no matter what time you visit, you will spend a fun time here.    

NEWTOWN FARMERS’ MARKET, NEWTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

       Saturday, June 15, 2019: You didn’t have to go to Pennsylvania Dutch Country, in or near Lancaster County, PA, or to the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia to try PA Dutch food. If you have been visiting the sights of Bucks County, PA, then visiting the Newtown Farmers’ Market, 2150 South Eagle Road, Newtown (www.newtownfarmersmarket.com) would be worth a detour for a meal, food shopping, or both. Located in a modern-looking strip mall, this market rented one whole wing of this complex. Among the 16 vendors, about a dozen sold PA Dutch foods, and the rest included seafood, the cuisines of the Middle East, Japan, and Mexico. My favorite was Zook’s BBQ Barn (215-504-9292). Here, I enjoyed a bbq pork sandwich. (They also sold other sandwiches and dinners, both bbq and others.) After lunch, I browsed and sometimes bought foods from the many merchants: fresh meats, deli meats, and fresh produce, as well as baked goods, dairy, preserved foods, etc. Of course, I had to buy some shoo-fly pie! Therefore, whether you want to have something to eat, do some food shopping, or both while in Bucks County, PA, then going to Newtown Farmers’ Market is a good way to spend an hour or two, or maybe more. Because everything is inside, weather is not an issue here, and nearby is the colorful downtown with its many shops. 

NEW HOPE, PENNSYLVANIA

     Saturday, May 11, 2019: Almost any day in New Hope, PA, was a good day, but when the weather was sunny, it proved better. After I had lunch, I had planned to tour the Parry Mansion and its 11 rooms of interiors decorated in styles from the 18th and 19th centuries. Nevertheless, as I approached this place, I saw swarms of yellow jackets in front of the mansion leading to the main doorway. So I changed my mind and took a few pictures of the exterior instead. (One can see pictures of the rooms on the website for the New Hope Historical Society.) Next, I headed to the New Hope Visitors Center, 1 W. Mechanic St. and Main St. (215-862-5030). Housed in an 1839 building that once served as the former town hall, the person at the counter was very helpful as she answered questions and pointed out the variety of literature about New Hope and nearby attractions in PA and New Jersey.  After this, I explored New Hope’s Main St. area and a few side streets of galleries, shops, and other businesses housed in buildings from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. This former mill town has been an artists’ community for most of the 20th century and currently. Between the mostly browsing and some shopping, I spent more than a few hours here. Anyway, there was more to do in this town than just browsing and shopping: The Bucks County Playhouse has been putting on quality plays since 1939; on the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, one can view the nearby countryside; and a stroll through the Delaware Canal State Park could put one in touch with nature. Meanwhile throughout the year, this town played host to many events. Overall, there is something for people with many tastes in New Hope!  

MICHENER ART MUSEUM

     Sunday, April 7, 2019: About 10 years ago, I visited the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. (I have a report about this place in My Blog under the year 2009.) Meanwhile, across the street has been the location of a smaller museum: the Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown (215-340-9800) in central Bucks County. Although this museum was smaller compared to the Mercer Museum, the Michener Art Museum was really a mid-sized art museum. Before entering here, I saw some pieces of modern art sculptures outside. Once inside, the museum honored its namesake by recreating James A. Michener’s Bucks County, PA, office. I learned that this Doylestown native was more than a writer. He also served as a public servant, art collector, and philanthropist, as well as a civil right supporter. Another interesting room honored a Bucks County woodworker, George Nakashima (1905-1990). Nakashima’s daughter, Mira Nakashima-Yarnall, designed this Japanese-styled room. As to the galleries of art themselves, the permanent collections included paintings, sculptures, and crafts done by Bucks County artists; these artists either were born in Bucks County, lived in Bucks County, or both. My favorite room displayed paintings of Bucks County landscapes—much of it in the Impressionists-style that started in France. Most of these paintings dated from the late-19th century and early-20th century. In addition to the permanent art, I noticed five temporary exhibit areas. When I was there, the museum presented the following subjects: Poetry of Light, murals, and the Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design, as well as studio furniture and photos of Bucks County. Anyway, no matter what temporary exhibits are shown here, between the temporary art and the permanent art, the museum will be worth a visit in this former prison that is now an art museum and a fitting memorial to James A. Michener (1907-1997)!

QUAKERTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

   

     Sunday, March 31, 2019: I haven’t been to the Quakertown Farmers Market, 201 Station Road, Quakertown, Pennsylvania (215-536-4115) since 1970 when my aunt & uncle who lived nearby, and my parents took me here. This farmers market has been around since 1932, and upon entering on the date above, I noticed that this place had shopping carts to use inside, and I got a good look at how big it is. The main building contained close to 150 vendors, and if you could wear it, use it, or eat it, they most likely had it—at a discount. Meanwhile, the merchandise looked very diverse and international. I saw items for sale from different parts of Europe, Asia, and Latin America, as well as the USA, including local stuff. If you got hungry, there were plenty of places to sit down or stand up and eat at from different ethnic cuisines from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and local stuff, including Pennsylvania Dutch food. The food prices here were also reasonable. If the main building at the Farmers Market wasn’t enough, then outside, there was the indoor/outdoor flea market! On over 225,000 square feet, this flea market could hold up to 120 indoor vendors and 400 outdoor vendors—depending on the weather. Those merchants sold new & used stuff, and from antiques to collectables to junk. You may have to take a second trip to see almost everything.