Princeton WannaBe Blog
I'm not a real historian. I didn't grow up in Princeton. I don't have an Ivy League education.
I'm a total Princeton WannaBe.
Still, I gush about loving the heart of Princeton as much as I can!
Princeton Gets the Whole Royal Thing ...
At 5:00am in the morning, all types of Princetonians dressed up to share tea and scones at Princeton Public Library while watching Kate and William tie the not!
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This guy, Peter Ludlow, is RELATED to KATE! I KNOW! (He was calling the wedding a Royal Upgrade ...... he's a distant 3rd cousin and, yes, it's enough for me!)
Like the Royals, Princeton gets a wrap for being pretty stuffy but the truth is it's a dandy group that knows how to come together for a good time.
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Town & Gown Public Displays of Affections EXCITE & AMAZE New Jersey Tourists!
Here’s Bob Durkee of Princeton University! We bumped into him on a tour and then escorted my guests to the next stop!
He told jokes to the customers and thanked them for dropping by for a day trip to Princeton!
I entertain visitors to Princeton 24/7. It’s these types of Town & Gown Public Displays of Affection that make tourists fall in love! What happens when you fall in love? You EAT! You SHOP! You SPEND MONEY in our shops!
(Yes, That really IS Bob Durkee, Vice President and Secretary of the Princeton University and Yes, I got so excited my dumb thumb got in the way of the shot. )
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If I Haven't SPAMMED You Yet About This, Here You Go!
COMMUNIVERSITY IS THIS SATURDAY
12 - NOON
COME TO THE PRINCETON BLACK SQUIRREL BOOTH IN FRONT OF RALPH LAUREN AND GET THIS FREE GIFT WITH EVERY PURCHASE!
(These bags are gifts from Princeton Shopping Center. I KNOW!)
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Princeton's Town & Gown ..... Lookin' Good!
Come to Princeton this weekend!
You can wander around campus and see GORGEOUS trees like this, duck into the Princeton Art Museum to see INCREDIBLE art on display then head to Palmer Square for some shopping and fun.
(This photo was taken by a customer who rented a bike during the weekend. You would not BELIEVE how perfect Princeton is looking right now.)
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Happy Birthday William Shakespeare!
Happy B-Day Bill!
As far as folks can tell, William Shakespeare was born today in 1564. William was the son of a leather trader and the town bailiff.
He probably attended the grammar school in his hometown of Stratford, then at age 18, he married Anne Hathaway. (She was eight years older and pregnant at the time of the marriage. Their first daughter, Susanna, was born six months later, and a bit later, William and Anne had twins. Clearly, it's a full time job being Mrs. Shakespeare ..... Anyhoo .....)
William would emerge as a playwright in the 1590's but there's not much out there about what he was doing. (There are unfounded stories about him stealing deer, joining a group of traveling players, becoming a schoolteacher, and serving as a soldier in the Low Countries.)
Did you know you can see Shakespeare plays all the time in Princeton? Yep, here you go:
http://www.princeton.edu/~psc/
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Watch Out World ... Stosh Has Discovered Scrabble ...
Stosh is on Spring Break and, as you can see in the background, his Grandmother, Bella, is THRILLED he is interested in SCRABBLE!
Stosh can ROCK anything he gets a hankerin' to understand and for all you SCRABBLE people out there .... you are on notice!
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Today in History, Lincoln's Ghost Train Left DC .... in Three Days He'll Haunt Princeton ...
TRUE! On April 24th,, the Lincoln Ghost Train has been spotted by students at the base of Blair Arch
They swear they see an outline of a looooooong train, a faint whistle in the background ..... two caskets ....... one long ..... one short.
The tall casket is Abraham Lincoln. The smaller is his son.
We'll be there this year to take photographs and have electronic voice recorders to see if we can get some proof.
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Wanna See the Guy Who Stole Einstein's Brain? Here You Go:
This was too good to paraphrase:
http://www.citysap.com:8080/showItem/showDetail/12813693.html
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Really? Women Couldn't Run in the Boston Marathon Until 1972? TRUE!
Today in History, in1897, the first Boston Marathon was held. Women were not allowed to enter the Boston race until 1972, the SAME year Princeton University would issue it’s first undergraduate degrees to women.
One good thing about history is it's long gone.
The good thing about today is that we're making tomorrow's history!
On April 28h - 30th, Princeton University will be celebrating its 50 year anniversary of co-education with the SHE ROARS conference.
Champion female graduates like Sonia Sotomayer, Andrea Jung (CEO of Avon) and Wendy Kopp (Teach for America) will be in town to create the PURRRRRfect celebration to honor the achievements of women graduates of Princeton University!
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Today, Only FOREVER Ago, Paul Revere Made His First Ride ...
TRUE!
Did you know Paul rode down Nassau Street during the Revolutionary War? HE DID! That's why there's a mural in the Nassau Inn Tap Room about Paul Revere!
Y'know that kiosk in front of JCREW? Look at the top of it. There's a little Paul Revere weather vane up on the roof. I KNOW!
(Y'know the yellow house across from the kiosk? The two white Sycamore trees in front of it were planted in to celebrate the repeal of the Stamp Act but now I'm just showing off ....)
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OMG! Triumph Brewing Company LOVES Us!
TRIUMPH BREWING COMPANY IS OFFERING $1 OFF THE FIRST PINT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS!
(All you do is take in your ticket from the tour! We end our tours there so it's SUPER easy to find!)
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For My Princeton Time Travelers ...
So, this day in history, Charlie Chaplin was born. If we could go back in time, we could let Charlie know he would marry Oona O'Neill, the daughter of Eugene O'Neill.
(O'Neill studied at Princeton University but got suspended over a HUGE misunderstanding ..... he went on to win a Nobel in Literature ..... anyhoo ....)
We could tell Charlie his future father in law would DISOWN Oona for marrying him.
(Eugene was pretty angry Chaplin was 54 and Oona was 18 when they tied the knot!)
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Today, Only Not Too Long Ago, Something Big Happened in History ....
Today in history, Jackie Robinson broke the race barrier and became the first African American in professional baseball.
Jackie Robinson's jersey number was 42 ....
...... the same number as Princeton University superstar Bill Bradley who fought for human rights as a Senator for the United States!
(Think it's a stretch but coincidence? I think not. Nothing is in our book!)
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THIS JUST IN! BROOKE SHIELDS IS HEADED TO PRINCETON!
TRUE! BROOKE WILL BE THE 2011 CLASS DAY SPEAKER FOR PRINCETON UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2011!
(She actually follows me on Twitter! I KNOW!)
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Corporate Events Are a No Brainer in Princeton
Just ask Tyco International, Johnson & Johnson, Prudential, Bank of America, American Standard, Munich Re, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk and all the corporations that trust us to entertain their most valued resources - their people!
Our corporate events get rave reviews because we believe a two hour investment in teambuilding should translate into thousands of hours of inspired vision.
Princeton Tour Company has access to private venues and collections. If you are looking for a "only in Princeton" event, we've got the access and affordability you're looking for!
Got a smaller group you need to reward? No problem. We perform at the same level for 20 people to 20,000!
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Today, Only in 1861, the Civil War Began ....
Princeton University's role in the Civil War is fascinating to read. Rather than over simplifying this complex situation, I'll let the experts handle the description:
http://paw.princeton.edu/issues/2011/03/23/pages/4092/index.xml?page=2&
Did you know there was a student who was awarded TWO pistols by his classmates for ripping the Confederate flag down from Old Nassau? He's buried in Princeton Cemetery. When our ghost guides ask him about the flag pole that was bent ominously north after he ripped down the flag, orb shots can be seen all around his grave. TRUE!
Princeton's commitment to diversity is the hallmark to her current reputation. The Civil War was a chapter in her book but NOT the story!
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Today, Only FOREVER Ago, Henry Ford Got Married! Here's Why Princeton Cares:
Okay, so in 1814, Henry married Clara. They had a son named Edzel. Edzel married Eleanor and had William Clay Ford who went on and married Martha Firestone. I KNOW! That's how the Ford and Firestone empires go together! Anyhoo ....
They had Henry's great-great grandson William Clay Ford Jr. who graduated from Princeton University and currently serves as the CEO of Ford Motor Company.
Think the heir to the Ford/Firestone fortune is all about the silver spoon?
Think again!
In 1999, a Ford Powerhouse had an explosion that killed several Ford employees,. Bill wanted to rush to the scene but one of his staff cautioned, "Generals don't go out to the front lines."
Bill said: "Then bust me down to private."
(He studied history at Princeton and he donates his CEO salary to charities so we TOTALLY dig this guy!)
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Reason Number 65,788 I LOVE Living in Genius Country!
I get to hang out with Ivy Leaguers!
Here's Andrew and Jack helping with my booth at Princyclapedia. (Yes, Andrew is that chemical engineering genius you've heard about and Jack was the editor for the Daily Princetonian! I KNOW!)
These undergrads are BIG into promoting literacy for kids!
Events like Princyclopedia, Communiversity, Jazz Feast and Pi Day Princeton make Princeton feel like no other place on earth!
Here's my son Stosh getting to hang out with smartypants too! Our children having access to this kind of brain trust is a priceless gift to our community!
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Shirley Has a BAND? Apparently so ....
I knew Princeton University President Shirley Tighlman is a woman of many talents but a band?
If you see A TON of visitors in town this weekend (and next) .... be especially friendly. These are the top highschool scholars deciding if Princeton will be the school of their choice.
Who knows? You may see a future Nobel Prize Winner, business tycoon or famous researcher!
(I don't think Shirley is in a band but I think it's wonderful the students have such a fun banter with their leader!)
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Today, Only FOREVER Ago, These Princetonians Changed the World ...
Today is the anniversary of the first modern Olympic Games ......
What's the Princeton connection to the first Olympic Games?
William Milligan Sloane, a popular history professor at Princeton University was the founder and first president of the US Olympic Committee. (He escorted the first American Olympic team to the 1896 Olympic Games! He went on to teach history at Columbia but his heart never left Princeton. He's buried in our Princeton Cemetery.)
The remarkable, “Princeton Boys” (pictured from left to right) Francis Lane, Herbert Jamison, Robert Garrett, and Albert Tyler competed in the first Games.
Did you know KOPP'S Cycle Shop on Spring Street donated the equipment for the boys to compete in 1896? TRUE! (It's getting to be bike season. Maybe you could go by and drop your bike off and ask Charlie all about it!)
Photo'd above is Robert Garret - He brought home the GOLD in the Discus AND Shot Put in 1896.
Rumor has it that the "Princeton Boys" return to campus every once in awhile. Here's a student's ghost story of seeing them on the Dinky Train!:
http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/columns/inky/inky_15.html
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I Think John Witherspoon Would Smile At This ...
This weekend, Bill Stephenson escorted the TOP BRASS of the New Jersey Daughters of the American Revolution to the essential sites in Princeton.
As they heard the chronological story of battles fought in our town, they saw the Princeton Cemetery, Morven, Princeton Battlefield. Beatty House, Bainbridge House, Morven and, of course, the first capital of the United States – Nassau Hall! TRUE!
Yep, in 1783, the Continental Congress met at Nassau Hall and received the Treaty of Paris. The treaty, simply put, meant the world recognized us as a free nation.
Technically, Nassau Hall is the first Capital and, technically, Morven is the first White House! TRUE!
(WAIT! WHY? Because Elias Boudinot, the President of the Continental Congress, was staying at his sister’s house when it all went down, silly.)
Headed to see Independence Hall? Liberty Bell? You gotta put Princeton on your list of Heritage tourism destinations!
Anyhoo, the Daughters of the American Revolution have an annual national meeting, called the Continental Congress and it is named after the original Continental Congress! Since the DAR Continental Congress attracts thousands of members to Washington, D.C., each year and Bill and I are betting they might plan a day trip to the original capital in future years! WHY NOT!
(Wanna know the BIG SHOCKER? I am a member of the Princeton Chapter DAR and you can be too! Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.
For more information on DAR Membership, click here. )
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In 1859, naturalist Charles Darwin sent his publishers the first three chapters of Origin of Species, which became one of the most influential books ever published.
Did you know Princeton University was the first American college to teach Darwinism? TRUE! PU Prez James McCosh insisted on its inclusion in the curriculum. If you do your homework on James McCosh, you'll fall in love with wht he did for education.
Did you know James McCosh was the first Princeton University President to have his tombstone inscription NOT in Latin? TRUE! Wait ...... WHY? His family wanted everyone to know his hard work set the the college up to become a true University.
ALL TRUE AND THAT'S NOT THE GOOD STUFF!
(Next time you're walking through East Pyne, look up and give a quick wink to Jimmy and see if his statue doesn't wink back! He was a charming Scottish man with so much love for Princeton, we think he never left! Many ghost guides believe he haunts the archway!)
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Want to Be an Ivy Leaguer Without Taking the SAT's? Here you go!
AUDIT A CLASS AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY FOR $125 A SEMESTER!
I KNOW!
http://www.princeton.edu/community/learning/auditing/
(I started with a class from Dr. Miles and, I swear, I never looked at history the same way again. His lecture style inspired the "vibe" of our tours!)
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High Stakes Gambles Going On in Princeton!
PRINCETON HAS HIGH STAKES HISTORY WITH HOME TOWN CHARM!
Here's Scott Sipprelle, owner of Grover Cleveland's House. I KNOW!
As our tour group was on the sidewalk, Mr. Sipprelle yelled, "Mimi! Bring your tour group up here!" Yes, I acted like it wasn't my first time in the end zone and walked right up and gave Scott a big 'ol hug! Then the group was treated to a FULL ON description of the famous property and sneak peeks of the interior.
If you want a sure bet for the perfect day trip in the Tri-State area, come to the town that adores her history and is generous in sharing it!
(Thanks again to Scott Sipprelle for a priceless experience!)
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Today in history, Marvin Gaye wrote, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" ....
I called my dad to find out his favorite Marvin Gaye hit.
I should have guessed this one because it's his theme song when it comes to bein' the best grandfather on the planet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Os2eUa6NU
WE LOVE YOU SHUG!
(Yes, that is my baby bear Stosh and, yes, he was really that adorable ... Still is!)
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