12 minute read
Recent Happenings
RECENT HAPPENINGS Summer Wrap-Up
On a continuous quest to make the best lemonade out of the lemons we were handed this summer, Cape May MAC’s staff proved to be determined and creative. Led by Chief Operating Officer Melissa Payne, we were able to institute safety precautions, mobilizing staff and volunteers to assist with taking temperatures and monitoring social distancing regulations at our historic sites and on our trolleys. By and large, our visitors were cooperative and appreciative of our efforts. Ayeshah Dickerson, Manager of Volunteer Engagement, developed a volunteer-staffed crew of Ambassadors at the Physick Estate to welcome and answer visitors’ questions. While limiting Physick Estate Tours to small groups certainly impacted our bottom line, the upside was a distinctly intimate tour experience for Photo by Susan Krysiak visitors. Speaking of visitors’ experience, Officials from the New Jersey Historic Trust (NJHT) made a site visit to the Emlen Physick Estate Tom Carroll’s loyal crew of volunteers on Sept. 2 to inspect the Physick Estate outbuildings, restoration of which were part of Cape May kept the grounds of the Physick Estate in MAC’s 2020 capital grant application. Shown here, from left, Cape May MAC Director and CEO tiptop shape throughout the summer. The group gathered weekly, tackling the task of Jody Alessandrine, NJHT Historic Preservation Specialist Erin Frederickson, Cape May MAC COO Melissa Payne, and NJHT Executive Director Dorothy Guzzo. keeping our several acres manicured. In July, we sadly bid farewell to Denny Sweetman, who has been on the crew for several years. Innovation was pretty much a byword this summer. Thanks to Interpreter Janet Coupland, we launched a new tour, the Magic & Mystery House Tour in the Physick House. Visitors were treated to a look into magic, illusion, the mysterious and the odd, all things that fascinated our Victorian ancestors. We looked to new partners, Ken Bingham and the actors from Without a Cue, to provide staffing for the tour. In another partnership, we hosted jazz concerts on the outdoor stage produced by Michael Kline’s Spyboy Productions. The Physick Estate grounds also served as the main venue for Spyboy’s four-day Exit Zero Jazz Festival in early October, which brought Wynton Marsalis to the estate as headliner. We also opened the Physick House Museum to a taping of the play “Victoria’s Secrets” by Cape May Stage. In yet another successful partnership, Vintage BYOB rocked the Physick Estate this summer. Chef Niko and his crew created a wonderful dining experience and attracted a very loyal following in just a few weeks. Possibly top of the list in innovative projects this summer are the City Guide Golf Cart Tours we instituted this summer. The brainchild of Tour Manager Nanci Coughlin and Group Tour Manager Susan Gibson, these tours allowed visitors to tailor their own itineraries, pick their starting time, set the pace and enjoy Cape May up close and possibly off the beaten path. As the summer went on, we were granted permission by the state to expand capacity NEWSLETTER at the Cape May Lighthouse which helped the lines that formed most afternoons. Published by Cape May MAC, a not-for-profit corporation Attendance at the Lighthouse has remained P.O. Box 340, Cape May, NJ 08204 • Phone: 609-884-5404 strong through the Fall, possibly as a result New Jersey Relay Center for TTY Customers: 800-852-7899 of parents home-schooling their kids. We Web Site: www.capemaymac.org • E-Mail: info@capemaymac.org also increased capacity on our trolleys by installing Plexi-glass dividers between each Editor: Jody Alessandrine • Assistant Editor: Jean Barraclough row of seats. We again started to offer the Contributors: Sandra Adams, Susan Krysiak, popular Underground Railroad Trolley Anna Marie Leeper, Eliza Lotozo and Mary E. Stewart Tour in collaboration with our friends at the Center for Community Arts and combined OUR MISSION the Spirits & Oddities Trolley Tour with The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities is a multifaceted not-for-profit the Magic & Mystery House Tour for an organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. ---- v ---OUR VISION Preserving Cape May’s rich heritage and assuring its vitality uninterrupted hour of weirdness. As a kick-off to our Halloween Happenings, our IT Manager Cathy Baldacchini volunteered to take on the task of organizing through superior cultural programs and events (CONTINUED ON PAGE 12)
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Coming
Holiday Preview Weekend and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Nov. 20-22: Holiday Preview Weekend is special this year! The Atlantic Brass Band will be performing holiday classics on the outdoor stage at the Physick Estate as an extension of the 2020 Cape May Music Festival, with funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, launching six weeks of Christmas tours, activities and events in Cape May. Come to the Physick Estate Saturday, Nov. 21 at 5pm for this special concert of holiday joy! Then, at 7pm, see Santa flip the switch turning on hundreds of lights during the festive Tree-Lighting Ceremony, followed by a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Visit “An Old-fashioned Christmas” Exhibit in the Carroll Gallery from 10am8pm. Sponsored by Sturdy Savings Bank. Santa will be practicing proper social distancing as we usher in the season; letters are welcome. A limit of 500 guests on the
grounds. Registration is required this year with a $3 fee to help offset costs. Go to capemaymac.org or call 609-884-5404. Masks
are required on the grounds. We invite you to join us for this much-needed celebration of the season! Bring non-perishable food items, personal care items and paper goods for collection to donate to the Cape May Community Food Closet. Parking is limited on the estate grounds. Holiday Lights Trolley Rides, Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolley Rides, new Lamplighter Walking Tours, as well as Physick Family Christmas House Tours and the new “A Dickens of a Murder,” both in the Physick House Museum, all begin this weekend. Admission is limited for all holiday tours. Advance purchase recommended.
An Old-Fashioned Christmas Exhibit
Nov. 20-Jan. 2, 2021: Don’t miss this wondrous exhibit that delights the child in everyone! See a giant Christmas tree, an authentic Dept. 56 Dickens village, model trains and much more! At the Carroll Gallery at the Physick Estate. Open daily (except Thanksgiving and Christmas); hours vary. Free admission. Bring your letters to Santa for delivery to the North Pole. Visitation is limited and masks are required in the Carriage House and on the grounds.
Bring the Kids!
Children will love Breakfasts with Santa at Aleathea’s at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St. Santa and everyone in attendance will be wearing a mask and maintaining the proper social distancing, but the Christmas spirit will be abundant! Enjoy a family-friendly breakfast with table service. Adults $20 children (ages 3-12) $12 children under 3 who are dining $5. Saturday, Nov. 28, Saturdays & Sundays, Dec. 5 & 6, and 12 & 13, and Saturday, Dec. 19, at 10am. Santa’s Trolley Rides are hosted by Mrs. Claus and include a special greeting from Santa, in the Gazebo on the grounds of the Physick Estate – all with the proper social distancing, of course. Tours are Saturdays and Sundays at 10am and 11am, Nov. 28-Dec. 20. Masks are required. Trolleys are open-air with Plexiglass dividers in each row. Dress warmly! Cape May MAC blankets available for purchase. Adults $10 children (ages 3-12) $8. Advance reservations recommended!
LAMPLIGHTER CHRISTMAS WALKING TOURS New in 2020! Fridays, Nov. 20-Dec. 18; Saturdays, Nov. 28-Jan. 2; Thursdays, Dec.
3-17: 6pm, 7:15pm and 8pm: A man. A lamp. A mystery. As the holidays unfold in the seaside town of Cape May, so too does a mystery. Join the Lamplighter as he endeavors to solve it, and perhaps help him discover the clues along the way in this immersive experience along Cape May’s historic lamp-lit streets. Masks are required. Adults $35, children (ages 3-12) $28.
A DICKENS OF A MURDER New in 2020! Fridays, Nov. 20-Dec. 18; Tuesdays, Dec. 1-29; Thursdays, Dec. 3-17, Dec. 31; Hours
vary: Bah, humbug! Ebenezer Scrooge is known for his miserly, uncompassionate ways, but he’s a changed man; he’s been practically giving his money away! Scrooge’s nephew, Fred Sawyer, is throwing a Christmas party and everyone is delighted by Scrooge’s appearance! But when things go awry and murder is served for supper, the guests may just become detectives…or even suspects. This Christmas party’s a hoppin’, but there’s a murderer a knockin’ at the 1879 Physick Estate!
COMBINATION TROLLEY/PHYSICK FAMILY CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOURS Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Nov. 20-Dec. 20; Saturday, Dec. 26 and Sunday, Dec. 27. Hours
vary: Enjoy a guided trolley tour of Cape May’s festive Historic District followed by a guided tour of the 1879 Physick Estate, decorated in authentic Victorian fashion for Christmas, presented through the eyes of a member of the Physick family in the late 1800s. Masks are required. Trolleys are open-air. Blankets are recommended! Cape May MAC blankets are available for purchase. Adults $25 children (3-12) $14.
PHYSICK FAMILY CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOURS Friday, Nov. 20, Saturday, Nov. 21; Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Nov. 27-Dec. 20; Saturday,
Dec. 26 and Sunday, Dec. 27. Hours vary: Take a guided, daytime, living history tour of the 1879 Physick Estate, decorated in authentic Victorian fashion for Christmas, presented through the eyes of a member of the Physick family in the late 1800s. Masks required. Includes a visit to the Carriage House Carroll Gallery for “An Old-fashioned Christmas” exhibit. Adults $15 children (3-12) $8.
GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST TROLLEY RIDE Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Nov. 20-22, Nov. 27-29; Fridays, Dec. 4, 11 & 18; Sundays, Dec. 6, 13, 20 & 27 and Saturday, Dec. 26. Hours vary:
A member of East Lynne Theater Company regales you with a Victorian holiday ghost tale on a 30-minute ride through the Historic District at Christmas. Masks are required. Trolleys are open-air. Blankets are recommended! Cape May MAC blankets are available for purchase. Tour begins and ends at the trolley stop on Ocean Street. Accessible with advance notice. Adults $15 children (3-12) $8. Advance reservation strongly recommended.
Coming
A Virtual 47th Annual Christmas Candlelight House Tour
We are excited to announce that the Christmas Candlelight House Tour will be virtual in 2020! Of course, we look forward to when we can offer these self-guided tours in person once again, but we couldn’t have Christmas in Cape May without them. We are creating a video featuring nearly a dozen beautiful Cape May properties, all decorated for the holiday season, with interviews, and more! A keepsake that will bring the spirit of this beloved annual tradition into your home for you and yours to enjoy at Christmas for years to come. Sponsored by Sturdy Savings Bank and Brown & Brown Insurance.
Holiday Shopping at MAC’s Museum Shops
Stop in at Cape May MAC’s fully-accessible Museum Shops with free parking and find the perfect gift for Cape May lovers! (plus, Cape May MAC members receive a 10% discount). The Carriage House Museum Shop offers a variety of museum-quality gift ideas for women, men and children, including gorgeous teapots, fine teas, clothing, blankets, ornaments and accessories, Cape May books and memorabilia, jewelry, men’s accessories, sports-inspired gifts, and more. Of course, there are selections for youngsters, including children’s books, toys, tea sets, puzzles and games. Open daily (except Thanksgiving and Christmas). The Cape May Lighthouse Museum Shop contains gifts for the lighthouse lover with nautical, lighthouse, pirate and nature-inspired gifts, art, Cape May apparel, toys, books and other maritime items. Masks are required in our shops. The Carriage House Museum Shop is open seven days a week (except Thanksgiving and Christmas), visit https://capemaymac.org/experience/museumshops/ for shop hours. The Lighthouse Museum Shop is open 12pm-3pm on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 27 and daily Dec. 28 through Jan. 2.
HOLIDAY LUNCH & LEARNS Yuletide Authors: How Charles Dickens and Washington Irving Transformed Christmas
Wednesday, Dec. 9: 1pm via Zoom; Presented by Ben Ridings Please see the following for Zoom access information: https://capemaymac.org/plan/ cape-may-itineraries/history-buffs/lunch-learn/
Christmas Traditions: Decking the Halls
Wednesday, Dec. 16: 1pm via Zoom; Presented by Mary Stewart Please see the following for Zoom access information: https://capemaymac.org/plan/ cape-may-itineraries/history-buffs/lunch-learn/
Tours and events are limited. Mask required for all tours and activities. Tickets available at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, Washington Street Mall at Ocean Street, and the Hill House Office and Carriage House Visitor’s Center, at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. BRUNCH & BINGO AT THE BEACH
Saturday, Nov. 21: 9:30am: Grab your best girlfriends or guy friends and enjoy time away from the holiday to-do list as you enjoy brunch served at Aleathea’s at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St. Play a little bingo and enjoy a fashion show by Lace Silhouettes/Cotton Company with a chance to win some great prizes. Masks are required. $25.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS TROLLEY RIDES Saturday, Nov. 21 and nightly, Nov. 27-Dec. 31 (except Dec. 14, Christmas Eve and Christmas).
Hours vary: Who can resist the twinkle of Cape May’s beautiful Victorian homes decorated for Christmas? This trolley ride through the historic streets of Cape May is a delight. Listen to Christmas music and enjoy hearing about the history of many of our Christmas traditions today. Victorian Cape May is outstanding at Christmas and this is a ride to share with friends and family to revel in Cape May’s Christmas spirit. Masks are required. Trolleys are openair. Blankets are recommended! Cape May MAC blankets are available for purchase. Tour begins and ends at the trolley stop on Ocean Street. Accessible with advance notice. Adults $15 children (ages 3-12) $10.
A DR. PHYSICK CHRISTMAS New in 2020! Wednesdays, Nov. 25-Dec. 23 at
11am: Join Dr. Physick for a first-person tour of the 1879 Physick House in this interpretive step back into the Victorian era. Dr. Emlen Physick invites you into his stately home during the Victorian Christmas season as his personal guests for the holidays. Masks are required. Adults $15; Children (ages 3-12) $8.
EVENING YULETIDE HOUSE TOUR Mondays and Wednesdays, Nov. 30-Dec.
30 (except Dec. 14). Hours vary: Take this guided tour of the first-floor rooms of the 1879 Physick House Museum, authentically decorated for a Victorian Christmas. See and hear how the Physick family might have entertained and celebrated during the holidays. Afterwards, visit the Carriage House where a collectible, commemorative gift is yours to keep: a Christmas ornament designed in 2020 featuring the 1879 Physick House. Visit “An Old-fashioned Christmas” exhibit in the Carroll Gallery featuring a huge Christmas tree, model trains, and an elaborate Dept 56 Dickens village collection. Masks are required. Adults $20 children (ages 3-12) $18.
A VIRTUAL MUSICAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION: TRADITIONS FROM HOME AND ABROAD
New in 2020! Thursday, Dec. 3: Long-time friends and peers Bay Atlantic Symphony Musical Director Jed Gaylin and New York Chamber Ensemble Artistic Director Eliot Bailen will present a virtual holiday-themed concert featuring the music of France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, England and America, for classical music lovers to enjoy in the comfort of their own homes! Afterwards, join the Zoom Q&A session to talk to the artists. For information or to register, visit capemaymac.org or call 609884-5404. Donations are welcome.
