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December 15 - 24
Deck the Halls!
'Zat you Santa Claus?
Morristown's
Macculloch Hall Museum
is the repository of much of Nast's work.
For a number of years,
Thomas Nast’s studio overlooked the Morristown Green, and his bountiful output of nationally published Christmas drawings that often included images of his children and his home on Macculloch Avenue established the image of Santa Claus that we know today. Nast embellished the merry elf's legend by adding the ideas of Santa keeping lists of the good little boys and girls, and of a workshop at the North Pole. Today, Santa's proliferation confirms tenacious grips on traditions that glue Americans together, regardless of religious beliefs or political party affiliation. So get ready! You’ve got your lists, you’ve got your Christmas music on the radio… and Santa’s just about ready to fly!
All Spruced Up
Cutting your own Christmas tree can be a memorable event for your family. Find a beauty at
Evergreen Valley Tree Farm,
open from 9am to 4pm Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays) until December 23rd.
Thousands of trees
stand at attention, awaiting your review. Walk through the fields, breathe the fresh air, choose and cut! The farm is located at 71 Jackson Valley Road
in Washington Township, just off of Route 31.
Click
or call 908/835-0557.
Or create a beautiful Holiday Centerpiece using fresh greens and floral that will be the star of your table at this Sunday's (Dec. 18, 1pm) workshop at Donaldson's Greenhouse and Nursery in Hackettstown (148 Airport Road.)
Local Flavor
A selection from any of the
Vintage North Jersey wineries will go well on your holiday table or under the tree.
Winning Ways
Avoid messy mall parking and that faceless big-box MaulMart syndrome, and get yourself some real service! Pick from hundreds of handmade, original items from any number of gift shops and galleries on the Main Streets of Northwest New Jersey.
Do we have some recommendations? Does Santa have little elves?
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Decoys and Wildlife Gallery. Gifts for a lifetime! This wildlife art gallery contains an extensive collection of original paintings by some of the nation's most renowned artists as well as the area’s largest selection of hand carved decoys, representing carvers across the US. 55 Bridge St., Frenchtown. 908/996-6501
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Made To Order. This distinctive jewelry and gift shop offers a wide selection of gold and platinum jewelry, including the popular Pandora system. Also wildlife photos by Dan Bacon, fine art glass and crystal, Peggy Karr glass... 44 Main St., Clinton 908/735-4244
- The shops of
Historic Chester continue this year's exciting mix of Holiday merriments, including in-store events, holiday sales, and complimentary holiday treats through December 18th.
You can still win
during the
Twelve Days of Giveaways, as special "holiday helpers" stroll throughout Chester, randomly giving away HCBA member-affiliated gift certificates and other prizes to unsuspecting shoppers.
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Gallery 23. Hand-crafted fine art, sculpture, designer jewelry, art glass, pottery, photography and more, by talented local artists. 23 Main Street, Blairstown, 908/362-6865
- Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse. Perfect for the foodie, a gift basket includes their finest, most sought after cheese and bread selections packaged with a re-usable bread basket and colorful kitchen towel. Order
online or pick them up at the farm with a three day lead time.
369 Stamets Rd, Milford (Hunterdon County) 08848, 908/86GRASS
- Wilbur's Country Store. British foods and candy, Yankee candles, wind chimes, pet-themed gifts, preserves, much more. Charming location in barn complex between Newton and Blairstown.
735 Route 94, Newton 07860, 908/362-8833
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The Buck Stop Gift Shop.
The expanded gift shop at Camp Taylor Campground offers gifts from nature, fine crafts, and an imaginative line-up of things hard to find anywhere else! 85 Mt. Pleasant Road, Columbia 908/496-4333
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Lafayette Clayworks. Primarily original, functional stoneware for sale by multiple ceramic artists. Sculptural vessels and wall mounted art works are also available. Individual orders are also accepted. 22 Wantage Ave, Branchville 07826 973/948-3987
Season's Greetings!
Winter solstice: For a special treat, on the first day
of winter, pull over into the grassy overflow parking area on Route 80 just across
Dunnfield Creek. Look back, and, if you are here early enough, you will
see the sun rise out of the middle of the Water Gap.
The winter solstice will officially greet the new season on Wednesday, December 21. The celestial event seems to have inspired ancient people to observe the year's shortest day with carefully aligned markers on a sight-line that points to the sun's low point in the sky. The most famous of these is Stonehenge in England, and there are local monuments that may have had a similar function. On the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, overhanging rocks form a shelter perfectly placed to observe the sun rise out of the center of the Water Gap on the winter solstice. A large obelisk protruding from the earth near Haynesville in Sussex County might have been similarly used. And three “sighting stones” near Mt. Bethel in Warren County seem to align with the winter solstice sunrise. Along the shore of Mountain Lake in White Township is a large flat rock outcropping on which legend claims the Lenape stood in ceremony to “bring up the sun”.
And Morris County’s 170-ton Tripod Rock resting on top of Pyramid Mountain suggests use as a "calendar site" long ago.
Fa la la la la la la la la!
Think Skylands for the Holidays and all 2017! Sign up here for a year-round supply of great things to see and do in Northwest New Jersey!
(Or send a gift that keeps on giving!)
Meanwhile, tap our calendar for the best events for you and your family, or check our current stories. Stay tuned to our Day Trip Map for good ideas for a scenic drive! The more aerobically inclined can choose among dozens of natural attractions or outdoor activities suggested on our website. Northwest New Jersey and destinations just beyond those borders, in Pennsylvania and New York, offer brilliant ways to get out and enjoy the pleasures of the season.
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