Hotel Fauchere

Jerard and I had the good fortune to be invited to stay a night at one of our newest sponsors, The Hotel Fauchere in Milford, Pennsylvania by one of its owners Sean Strub. I was a huge fan of the hotel from a year back when we were passing through Milford and stopped in after admiring the striped awnings outside. Sean and his business partner Richard Snyder meticiously restored the hotel in recent years with careful attention to detail from the moment you enter the reception room. From the pink toned oriental rug, Murano chandelier, antique convex mirror above the sofa, leather and metal rocker, you feel like you could grab a drink and settle in right there!


But heading up to the guest room you can see why the hotel is so appealing. Wide, carefully restored plank floors, Hudson River Valley paitings hung on subtle striped wallpaper, and beautiful light steaming in the big windows make you anxious to see how much prettier the rooms could get. They do! I love the the color of the guest rooms (Lenox Tan Ben Moore) and the tone on tone window treatments. Gorgeous Frette linens on the beds and aren't Boston lights on the walls great?? And the bathroom houses a gorgeous nickel clad clawfoot tub on top of Pennsylvania bluestone floors.

Downstairs houses the Delmonico Room named after famed chef Louis Fauchere who worked at the legendary New York City eatery and then opened the Hotel in the mid 1800's, attracting many famous vistors over the years. Inside the Delmonico room is the gorgeous StudioPrinkworks wallpaper Pauline in Smoke and chocolate brown leather banquettes with salon style photos of the hotel's storied past on the walls. I love the vibe







But I've got to say the best part of our evening was heading down to the basement's Bar Louis, with much more of a casual vibe with a great menu and bar. We sat down to a huge photo of John Lennon getting a smooch from Andy Warhol. So engaging. But when Isabel Bogadtke from the hotel stopped by to check on us, we struck up a conversation that carried on the rest of the evening in between her doing a fabulous job overseeing both the hotel guests and the restaurant. Isabel hails from Germany and found herself at the hotel with her boyfriend Christopher Bates who happens to be the Executive Chef. Isabel has worked extensively in the hospitality industry as well as vineyards which I had NO idea what hard work that is. She spoke of how you basically are up round the clock for several months of the year for harvest time to get the job done. And now at the hotel Isabel is experimenting with vegetables grown at a near by farm to fuel the two restaurants and engaging the community to experience all the hotel has to offer. I love that she and Christopher were bringing in the local preschool kids the next week to offer them a free lesson in table manors and to sample different foods to broaden their horizons. So terrific. Later in the evening as we settled in for dinner, she then treated us to a few of the hotel's specialities as well as a cocktail consisting of jalepaneo infused tequila.agave nectar and passionfruit. Um yum. I cannot wait to try to recreate it this summer, wickedly good! She made our night so memorable, thanks Isabel!!

In the morning we woke up to French pressed coffee in the gorgeous sun room off of the Delmonico Room. Do we have to leave???




We headed out to quaint Milford to check out the local shops. My favorite shop when I'm in town Up River Home was closed for vacation. So mad! But we hit some of the local antique shops and wait till you see what we bought for James for his first birthday! I share that in a later post. If you have a chance to get to the Fauchere, I highly recommend it. It's such an easy drive just about anywhere in PA, NY, and NJ. Treat yourself!

Cool Cape May

Gigi danced the beach all week

Drinks at the Brown Room in Congress Hall




I loved the chandeliers in this bed and breakfast

Seating on the porch seemed always to draw a few cocktails and guests every night


It seems like just about every other blog writer is off to Paris for September. But with a toddler and a 4 1/2 month old, the Jersey shore looked like the perfect quick fix for this end of season. Mix in a couple of great friends from Scranton and it made the perfect getaway. Quaint Cape May, filled with old Victorian charm with a m infused hipper vibe thanks to the likes of the re-invented Congress Hall. Cue hotelier Curtis Banshaw along with his talented interior designer sister Colleen, whol took this enormous structure on and made it relevent again, creating a youthful vibe with the likes of the Brown Room Bar and Boiler Room restaurant housed inside the pretty yellow and black shuttered hotel. We joined our friends Bill and Jen Davis for drinks one chilly evening at the beach. The deep brown walls with blown up black and white photos of original Congress Hall photos gave a sophisticated vibe, while touches of zebra and ikat pillows added a youthful touch. Add a roaring fire and you get a perfect setting for a relaxing evening sans the children Loved the enormous faux palms that soared to the ceiling, the toparies that glistened against the enormous mirror about the fire, and the smart seating plan that made everyone that night settle in for great cocktails.

We always found it easy to dine, shop, and navigate the town with the kids, as strollers are parked along center city, with great little restaurants tucked in between your typical beach shops. The beaches shimmered with the September light each day. Ah, back to reality. Thanks Cape May!