SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 MARKS NEXT SECOND SATURDAY...WIN THE 9TH GOLDEN TICKET

The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce announces New Hope’s next “Second Saturday’s” celebration on Saturday, October 10, 2009 between 3:00 pm and 9:00 pm. More than 30 fine art galleries, arts and crafts galleries and specialty shops stay open until 9:00 p.m. or later for the monthly Second Saturday’s event. Visitors are invited to enjoy free hors d’oeuvres, special demonstrations, exhibitions and entertainment throughout town. Some of the galleries participating include: A Mano Galleries, BOI’s of New Hope, Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art, Image Makers, J&W Gallery, New Hope Arts Center, Gallery Piquel and Sidetrack’s Gallery.

During the evening, one lucky visitor will win the ninth of ten “Golden Tickets” that will secure them a spot in the contest drawing for a Year-Long Free Parking Space in Union Square, New Hope for 2010. September’s 8th Golden Ticket was awarded to Helena Till of Bangor, PA while making a purchase at Mystikal Thymes (127 South Main Street). The shop was packed with customers to meet author Dorothy Morrison who signed copies of her new books, “Lucinda’s Web” and “Utterly Wicked.”

PHOTO (L TO R): Laura Houston, Eric Lee (owner of Mystikal Thymes), Helena Till (winner) and Dorothy Morrison (author).

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Posted on 01 Oct 2009

CHAMBER AWARDS 13 PRIZES AT THE 16TH ANNUAL OUTDOOR ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL

The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce awarded 13 prizes during the 16th Annual New Hope Outdoor Arts & Crafts Festival, September 26-27, 2009. More than 150 artists and artisans from Maine to Florida exhibited in the festival displaying original, handcrafted work of exceptional artistry. The judges for this year’s event were Erika Jaeger-Smith of the James A. Michener Art Museum, Walter Hazzard of Topeo Gallery, Ana Leyland of A Mano Gallery and Robert Infarinato.

“This was by far our best year ever in terms of exhibitors, visitors and the numerous volunteers that made this weekend a huge success,” commented Sharon Flanagan, chairperson of the festival. “The Chamber thanks everyone who participated including the New Hope Police and Fire Departments and especially those who volunteered their time to make this weekend possible.”

Among the winners awarded this year:

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Posted on 29 Sep 2009

THE GREATER NEW HOPE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL 2009

Events Include Witches Pub Crawl, Masquerade Party,
Rocky Horror Picture Show, Street Fair, Trick or Treating
And The Annual High-Heeled Pumpkin Race!

New Hope, PA (September 21, 2009) – This year Halloween is New Hope! The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce announced its celebrations for Halloween Festival 2009 including the return of Trick or Treating with the New Hope merchants. From 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm, children are welcome to patronize the shops of downtown New Hope. Free trick or treat bags will be available at the Visitor’s Center. For complete schedule visit www.NewHopeHalloween.com and to order tickets, call the Chamber office at 215.862.9990. Highlights of Halloween Festival 2009 include:

Witches, Wenches & Vixens Pub Crawl
Saturday, October 24
6:00 pm
The Stephan House, 28 W. Bridge Street, New Hope, PA 18938 PH: 908.752.1174
$30/per person
Start the evening with witchingly hors d’oeuvres, ghoulish goodies and a spirited witches brew followed by a fireside drum circle led by Spirit in the Woods owner and master drum maker Conrad Kubiak. Then the delightful and devious witches, wenches and vixens will crawl into participating New Hope restaurants/bars to entertain patrons for 20 minutes of ghastly fun. Donations will be solicited for the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund. The evening will end with a midnight costume contest with prizes for: Best Dressed Witch, Best Dressed Wench, Best Dressed Vixen and the winner of the most collected donations for the Scholarship Fund.

The Time Warp Masquerade
Friday, October 30
8:00 pm – 11:30 pm (party)
The Stephan House, 28 W. Bridge Street, New Hope, PA 18938 PH: 908.752.1174
11:30 pm – 1:30 am (Rocky Horror Picture Show performance)
Bucks County Playhouse
$40/for party only
$50/for party and live performance
The Time Warp Masquerade kicks off with horrifying hors d’oeuvres and a harvest buffet sponsored by Jamie Hollander Catering. Special guest DJ will spin Halloween tunes. New Hope’s own treasure, “Miss Pumpkin” and “The Queen of Halloween” will make a special appearance. The party concludes with a Mischief March down Main Street to the renowned Bucks County Playhouse for a midnight performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Costume prizes will be awarded for Best Portrayal of Rocky Horror Character, Scariest Costume, Sexiest Costume, Funniest Costume and Most Creative Costume.

Halloween Street Fair and Trick or Treating
Saturday, October 31
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Mechanic Street, New Hope, PA
FREE
All ages are welcome to experience the Costume Contest & Photo Booth and a chance to win prizes for: Best Dressed Pet, Best Costume Kids under 12 years, Best Costume Adults, 12 years and older. Hosted by New Hope’s own Miss Pumpkin, the highly anticipated Annual High Heeled “Drag Race” will take place at 6:30 pm. Contestants must bring their own heels. Pumpkins will be supplied by Tear Drop Memories. Other Street Fair activities include Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest, Pumpkin bowling, Pumpkin Toss, Pumpkin Carving Contest, Candy Corn Catch and Face Painting.

Trick or treating will continue throughout the evening until 8:00 pm. Awards will be given for Best Decorated Shop and Best Employee Costume.

Situated along the banks of the Delaware River, the quaint village of New Hope provides the perfect getaway destination for all ages and interests. This sophisticated yet relaxed country town in scenic Bucks County, Pennsylvania offers unique shopping; live music and theatre; historic barge, train and horse-drawn carriage rides; museums, art galleries and antique shops; fine restaurants and casual fare; plus romantic bed & breakfasts and family-friendly hotels - all within one square-mile.

The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce is organized to promote the economic, civil, commercial, cultural, artistic, historical and educational interests of the area. For more information, visit www.NewHopeChamber.com or call 215.862.9990.

Posted on 23 Sep 2009

NEW HOPE, PA WILL BE THE HOT SPOT ON SEPTEMBER 26 & 27, 2009 CHECK OUT THE 16TH ANNUAL JURIED OUTDOOR ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL AND PARTICIPATE IN THE 10th ANNUAL NEW HOPE/LAMBERTVILLE AIDS WALK

New Hope, PA (September 8, 2009) – Save the date! On Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, 2009, New Hope, PA will be the hot spot of Bucks County. It’s the weekend of the 16th Annual Juried New Hope Outdoor Arts & Crafts Festival and the 10th Annual New Hope/Lambertville AIDS Walk.

Promoted by the New Hope Chamber of Commerce, The Arts & Crafts Festival is a celebrated event that highlights the work of over 125 gifted artists and artisans specializing in photography, watercolors, oils, pastels, pen and ink drawings, silver and gold jewelry, ceramics, wearable art, glass, wood, sculpture and furniture. Expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors over the two-day period, the festival takes place rain or shine on Saturday, September 26 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Sunday, September 27 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Exhibitors sell the works on display in booths lining North Main Street, East and West Randolph Streets and the PNC Bank parking lot overlooking the Delaware River. Admission is free.

Festival Co-Chair Sharon Flanagan, of Fred Eisen Leather on South Main Street, commented, “As with previous years, the New Hope Arts & Crafts committee will continue to maintain the highest standards for every exhibitor in the festival. We are excited to present over $2,000 in prizes this year.” A jury made up of arts and crafts professionals determines the exhibitors and prestigious judges select the winners in four categories – fine arts, fine crafts, jewelry, photography and Best in Show. “Because of our commitment, the festival’s reputation makes us one of the highest attended events in the region, “ said Flanagan.

Sponsored by FACT (Fighting AIDS Continuously Together), the New Hope/Lambertville AIDS Walk brings together over 500 participants of all ages. Registration begins at 9:00 am at the New Hope-Solebury High School on West Bridge Street in New Hope. These caring members of the community have raised more than $500,000 over the past nine years. FACT has set an ambitious goal of $100,000 for its 10th year Walk. All the proceeds raised will help individuals in Bucks, Hunterdon, and Mercer counties who are suffering from AIDS. Each and every dollar will provide essential funding for people who have nowhere else to turn for help in paying for medications, utility bills, rent or mortgage payments, transportation, funeral expenses and other basic personal needs. FACT is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization with a mission of helping those affected by HIV/AIDS to maintain some quality of life as well as to educate and promote awareness of this devastating disease. For more information on the Walk, please visit the FACT website at www.factbuckscounty.org.

Come out and enjoy the weekend. Browse the downtown shops of New Hope. View the exceptional artistry displayed at the Arts & Crafts Festival. On Sunday, start early by joining the Walk.

Situated along the banks of the Delaware River, the quaint village of New Hope provides the perfect getaway destination for all ages and interests. This sophisticated yet relaxed country town in scenic Bucks County, Pennsylvania offers unique shopping; live music and theatre; historic barge, train and horse-drawn carriage rides; museums, art galleries and antique shops; fine restaurants and casual fare; plus romantic bed & breakfasts and family-friendly hotels - all within one square-mile. The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce is organized to promote the economic, civil, commercial, cultural, artistic, historical and educational interests of the area. Visit the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce at www.NewHopeChamber.com or call 215.862.9990.

Posted on 08 Sep 2009

The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce Announces ChamberQUEST An Online and Interactive Contest at www.NewHopeChamber.com Launches Fall 2009

New Hope, PA (August 19, 2009) – The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce has announced a new online contest, ChamberQUEST premiering this Fall 2009. Open to registrants 18 years or older, players must first register online at the chamber’s website, www.NewHopeChamber.com and click on the ChamberQUEST icon to join e-News, the monthly newsletter distributed by the New Hope Chamber of Commerce. e-News is the online information source of what is happening in and around New Hope and Bucks County. Subscribers will also receive weekly reminders on art gallery openings, local entertainment and events in general.

How does ChamberQUEST work? Once registered with e-News, soon after registrants will receive the first set of questions including an entry code to answer the questions. Once the questions are successfully answered, players will receive the next set of questions. The QUEST will start out easy but will progress to more difficult questions. There will be 12 sets of questions spanning 12 weeks of the contest. Each week will have a “last day and time” to answer the questions, so players will need to respond quickly to avoid elimination. The remaining “players” at the end of the contest will receive an email directing them to the final drawing details and a numbered entry form, which will need to be submitted for the January drawing.

The drawing for CASH & PRIZES will take place during the Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival in January of 2010 at the New Hope Chamber’s annual Fire & Ice Dance Party (www.winterfestival.net). One lucky contestant will win cash! Other finalists will be awarded prizes and gift certificates by many of the Chamber’s participating business members.

The deadline to sign- up for ChamberQUEST is September 21, 2009. Join now, get ready to play and start receiving the monthly e-Newsletter on everything happening in New Hope.

Posted on 19 Aug 2009

NEW HOPE CHAMBER SEEKS VOLUNTEERS & MUSICIANS TO PARTICIPATE AT THE 16th ANNUAL ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 26 and 27, 2009

NEW HOPE, PA (August 17, 2009) — In preparation for the 16th Annual New Hope Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce seeks 20 or more volunteers to assist in various functions throughout the weekend event. No experience is needed. The Chamber is also looking for acoustic musicians to perform throughout the weekend. Those interested in volunteering and performing should call 215.862.9990.

"The Arts and Crafts Festival is the Chamber's largest, most ambitious annual event, and it wouldn't be possible without the help of dedicated volunteers," said Sharon Flanagan, Chair of the two-day, rain or shine event. "The Festival draws shoppers and art enthusiasts to New Hope from throughout Bucks County and the Greater Philadelphia region, as well as overnight and daytrip visitors from New York, New Jersey, Western Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and beyond. Volunteers are essential to running the event smoothly and for keeping our artists and visitors feeling welcome year after year."

Volunteers provide information, coordinate traffic, help with display set-up and break-down, deliver coffee and lunch to participants, empty trash, assist artists at their booths, pass out brochures, aid the entertainers and fulfill other myriad duties. Volunteers are also needed for the Kick-Off party for exhibitors, the committee, volunteers and North Main Street residents on the evening of Friday, September 25 from 7-9 pm.

The Festival would not be complete without the presence of musicians. Flanagan further commented, “The ambiance of acoustic performers has always complemented our Festival. Because of the large number of exhibitors this year, we need more acoustic musicians who will perform for passing the hat.”

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Posted on 17 Aug 2009

AUGUST 8, 2009 MARKS NEXT SECOND SATURDAY IN NEW HOPE

Bucks County Zoo Makes Special Appearance at Visitor’s Center

The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce announces New Hope’s next “Second Saturday’s” celebration on Saturday, August 8, 2009 between 3:00 pm and 9:00 pm. More than 30 fine art galleries, arts and crafts galleries and specialty shops stay open until 9:00 p.m. or later for the monthly Second Saturday’s event. Special visitors from the Bucks County Zoo will be making a guest appearance at the Visitor’s Center from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Joe Fortunato aka Jungle Joe and his staff will escort a baby wallaby and macaw to New Hope. Visitors are invited to enjoy free hors d’oeuvres, special demonstrations, exhibitions and entertainment throughout town. Some of the galleries participating include: A Mano Galleries, BOI’s of New Hope, Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art, Gratz Gallery, Image Makers, J&W Gallery, New Hope Arts Center, Gallery Piquel and Sidetrack’s Gallery.

Leona Kaplan of New York City became the sixth Golden Ticket winner during the July 11 Second Saturday. Upon making a purchase at Tear Drop Memories, owner Greg Cristiano awarded Ms. Kaplan with a Golden Ticket along with a roll of quarters and gift certificates to A Beautiful Life and 90 Main.

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Posted on 29 Jul 2009

JULY 11th MARKS NEXT "SECOND SATURDAY'S" IN NEW HOPE

The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce announces New Hope’s next “Second Saturday’s” celebration on Saturday, July 11, 2009 between 3:00 pm and 9:00 pm. More than 30 fine art galleries, arts and crafts galleries and specialty shops stay open until 9:00 p.m. or later for the monthly Second Saturday’s event. Visitors are invited to enjoy free hors d’oeuvres, special demonstrations, exhibitions and entertainment throughout town. Some of the galleries participating include: A Mano Galleries, BOI’s of New Hope, Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art, Gratz Gallery, Image Makers, J&W Gallery, New Hope Arts Center, Gallery Piquel and Sidetrack’s Gallery.

During the evening, one lucky visitor will win the sixth of ten “Golden Tickets” that will secure them a spot in the contest drawing for a Year-Long Free Parking Space in Union Square, New Hope for 2010. Each Golden Ticket winner will also receive a $10.00 roll of quarters from First National Bank & Trust Co. of Newtown, a complimentary dinner at a participating New Hope area restaurant and a gift card/certificate to a participating New Hope retail shop. The drawing for the grand-prize winner of the Free Parking Space takes place at the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce's Annual Holiday Kick-Off and Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 29, 2009 at The Logan Inn.

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Posted on 06 Jul 2009