Lambertville, NJ

[Perknose]

I hang out there a lot, as I have a ton of friends who live there -- mostly musicians and artists. It's just across the Delaware River from the more famous New Hope, Pa., which is also a pretty cool place and has a long and distinguished history as an artist's colony.

But New Hope has become a bit too touristy, especially on the weekends, when busloads and Mercedes full of goombahs from the other parts of NJ descend on it like locusts.

Lambertville is like New Hope probably was 50 years ago -- full of neighborhood bars and small galleries, and full of working artists. It's also full of dogs!

Real estate has gotten more pricey as New Yawkers with money have discovered it.

Nevertheless, I was still surprised to see it made Forbes list of the 15 prettiest towns in America. I wouldn't necessarily call it super pretty, but it is friendly and cool.

^^^ Not even all that great a view. <shrug>

Bigots beware, though . . . both towns are shot full wit de gays!

 

[stargazr]

Lambertville's a nice little town. I used to cross the bridge occasionally when visiting New Hope. Surprised as well to see it on that list.

 

[Markbnj]

What do you mean, not a great view? Buildings like that have a lot of history, not to mention that the view out over the river is nice from the restaurant decks along the shore.

 

[Insomniator]

Have you ever been to Antons on the Swan? Cool ass place to chill out with a glass of whiskey :thumbsup:

 

[DrPizza]

Yep, nice place. And, my wife loves going over to New Hope. I avoid it.

 

[brianmanahan]

Bigots beware, though . . . both towns are shot full wit de gays!

kinda like lakewood aka "gaywood" ohio

 

[Mai72]

I have been to both Lambertville and New Hope.

Both are very beautiful areas.

 

[sa7an1]

i'll try to make it back for shad fest next year

 

[lupi]

it's still jersey.

 

[sa7an1]

go check out Marsha Brown's for a great martini or for a VERY nice dinner. If the owner stops by say a friend of Dan Espo sent you.

 

[Ahsan558]

It is located in far from the population.

 

[Perknose]

i'll try to make it back for shad fest next year

Too late! Happened a couple of weeks ago. Pro tip: the festival is great (although starting to get overrun by tourists now), but shad is NOT a particularly good tasting fish. :awe:

 

[Perknose]

it's still jersey.

Lol, it's not at all the New Jersey people think of when they say that.

I'd move there, because the town is a walkable and very friendly one full of cool and interesting people, but "it is NJ" in that the property taxes are ridiculously high and New Yawkers have more than doubled the house prices.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Great town. I like New hope too. Walking around with friends, eating, drinking, and gawking is always entertaining. I'm there fairly often, only 20 min away by car or 1 hour by bicycle on the excellent rail trails.

 

[Markbnj]

Lol, it's not at all the New Jersey people think of when they say that.

I'd move there, because the town is a walkable and very friendly one full of cool and interesting people, but "it is NJ" in that the property taxes are ridiculously high and New Yawkers have more than doubled the house prices.

Yeah well that whole area is not exactly tuned for the working class, economically. I don't know how people in the trades make it around here, but a lot of them do. New Jersey actually has quite a few towns with that walkable colonial charm that Lambertville has. Among my favorites: Mountainville, which is like a postcard out of time, Cape May Courthouse, Hope, and Oxford.

Edit: and I'd be remiss not to mention Easton, PA, right across the river from Phillpsburg. Easton has seen a major renaissance over the last few years.

 

[SP33Demon]

Lots of gays? I'd rather go to Rehobeth Beach DE in that case. You have ocean/beach, a boardwalk, and everything's cheaper.

 

[jaedaliu]

Lots of gays? I'd rather go to Rehobeth Beach DE in that case. You have ocean/beach, a boardwalk, and everything's cheaper.

Why? are there more homosexuals at Rehobeth Beach?

 

[Perknose]

Lots of gays? I'd rather go to Rehobeth Beach DE in that case. You have ocean/beach, a boardwalk, and everything's cheaper.

Afraid of catching de gay? How very asshole Christian fundy of you! ()

 

[Perknose]

Why? are there more homosexuals at Rehobeth Beach?

Maybe he just likes to make his own hole in the sand.

 

[Perknose]

Edit: and I'd be remiss not to mention Easton, PA, right across the river from Phillpsburg. Easton has seen a major renaissance over the last few years.

Easton? Really? Interesting.

Of course, if you're going to Easton, you'd be absolutely remiss not to try Bethlehem, Pa. Why that town didn't make Forbes list is beyond me. It's so cute it hurts, and their annual, week-long MusikFest positively RAWKS city-wide! There's tons of free music in multiple venues everywhere in addition to the ticketed events, TONS of good food available, and you buy a yearly mug (or bring your own) because there's tons of places to tank up and stroll with an adult bevy in your hand, hassle free.

Seriously, MusikFest rocks! And the town is as picturesque as they come. It was founded by the Moravian sect back in the day, hence its name.

 

[zinfamous]

i'll try to make it back for shad fest next year

they have a festival celebrating bait fish?

 

[Markbnj]

Easton? Really? Interesting.

Yeah I was pretty surprised too. I remembered it from like ten years ago as a gritty, post-industrial backwater. Then I had to go back again a few months ago to drop off and later pick up a guitar from a luthier that has a workshop in town. I was pretty impressed by the renovations and gentrification downtown. Lots of little restaurants around the square, people out walking, and just in general very appealing.

 

[SP33Demon]

Why? are there more homosexuals at Rehobeth Beach?

Yes, it's known for the gay. Hence it beats Perk's favorite gay place.

 

[nageov3t]

Bigots beware, though . . . both towns are shot full wit de gays!

indeed, I go there with the BF for a long weekend at least once/year (usually in the early spring). I'll only go down there in the off-season, though. heard it's a nightmare on weekends in the summer/fall.

 

[mugs]

Lol, it's not at all the New Jersey people think of when they say that.

Most of NJ is not what people think of when they think of New Jersey. Outside the immediate surroundings of New York and Philadelphia the state is very nice. Some of the immediate surroundings of the cities are nice too in a different way. Northwest and southeast NJ are both pretty rural.

When a friend from the Midwest came to visit (flying in to Philly then driving up to central NJ) the first thing he said was "there's a lot of trees here."