REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: Pennington Day's new location is perfect

Courtesy Hopewell Valley News

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: Pennington Day's new location is perfect
Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:05 AM EDT
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
 

   Pennington Day's new location was a very pleasant one.

   South Main Street between Academy Street and East Curlis Avenue is narrow, shady and lined with historic houses on both sides. This stretch has a very cozy, intimate, friendly feel that seems perfect for this kind of event. It certainly felt perfect to me Saturday.

   Another good move was selling food and beverages both at the north end, near Academy Street, and the south end, which this year was at Toll Gate Grammar School. That is such a lovely school, really, with its red brick and meticulous white trim and cupola and greenery, that including it as part of Pennington Day's territory was a great idea.

   To walk that stretch of South Main Street and then see that school was to know what a charming and beautiful town this is. And with no cars on the street, you could really enjoy it to the fullest. And no cars on the street, say hallelujah, of course is a big part of what Pennington Day is. Saturday, the weather was fine, and everyone seemed to be in a great mood. How much better can it get?

   Moving the event south may have meant some businesses got less traffic than they would have had Pennington Day included the downtown area as it did for many years. But some of the thousands of people who came Saturday must have gone downtown as well as visiting the Pennington Day booths and attractions.
   And as far as looks and personality go, the thinking here is the new location is a winner, much more so than the shadeless intersection of Main Street and Delaware Avenue and its expanses of much-used concrete and macadam.

   Thanks to all the Pennington Day volunteers for the hard work that produced such an enjoyable experience.