“We ask only to be reassured about the noises in the cellar and the window that should not have been open.”- T.S. Eliot Guided by the light of the moon and a lantern, my friend and I joined the Ghost Tours of New Hope on a Saturday evening for an hour stroll in September. With a hint of Fall in the air, we followed our guides up Ferry Street. Now in its 41st.year, Ghost Tours of New Hope was…
FROM THE LOCALS BLOG

Author: Cora Berke
Cora Berke is a former writer for the Bucks County Herald and currently writes for New Hope Celebrates.
She has previously served on the Board of Fighting Aids Continuously Together (FACT) Bucks County and volunteered for Homefirst and Good Grief in New Jersey. Cora also writes poetry. A retired medical secretary, she loves traveling, knitting and reading. She lives in Lambertville, NJ and is the proud mom of a rescue cat and a Yorkshire Terrier.
Papa’s Cupcakes is Filled with Pride in Perkasie
by Cora Berke on May 9, 2022
Have you ever thought about when cupcakes came into existence? The first reference to “a cake to be baked in small cups” can be found in Amelia Simmons book American Cookery printed in 1796. It was not until 1828, that Eliza Leslie named them “cupcakes” in her cookbook Receipts. Centuries later, cupcakes with all their frostings and fillings still reign supreme. In upper Bucks County, John…
Decades of Decadence: Pick Pierre’s Chocolates for Your Valentine
by Cora Berke on February 9, 2022
“What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate.” - Katharine Hepburn Going into Pierre’s Chocolates in New Hope, Pennsylvania is a delight to the senses. But in February, when Valentine’s Day is around the corner, it is even more delightful. With the smell of chocolate wafting in the air, you see bins of red foil wrapped hearts and shelves with heart shaped boxes of…
10 Places for Pumpkin Spiced Lattes in Bucks County
by Cora Berke on October 17, 2021
‘Tis the season for pumpkins and Bucks County is the best place to be for all your pumpkin needs. After a chilly day in the pumpkin patch, what better way to warm up than with a pumpkin flavored hot beverage! Put on your favorite sweater and head over to one of these delightful coffee or tea shops to indulge in a pumpkin latte or chai. Savor every sip and remember all the things you love best…
Where to Watch Outdoor Movies This Summer
by Cora Berke on July 10, 2021
If you are old enough to remember drive-in movies (or wish you were), summer gives you a chance to experience a movie under the stars. Spend a hot summer night watching the big screen outdoors, either on a blanket, beach chair or from your car. Bucks County is the perfect place to bring back one of America’s favorite pastimes. So, pick your favorite movie, whether it is family, friends or date…
Food Truck Finds in Bucks County
by Cora Berke on April 5, 2021
For me, food trucks always conjure up my college days. I can still hear the buzz of truck motors parked along the avenue, offering a quick bite in between classes or a late-night snack. Believe it or not the first food truck dates back to 1691, when New Amsterdam (now New York City) licensed the first street vendors with pushcarts. Now an American staple, food trucks appear at street fairs and…
Spring Dining in New Hope
by Cora Berke on March 16, 2020
“Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!”- Robin Williams It doesn’t have to be spring to enjoy New Hope, PA., but when the weather starts to warm and the crocuses start to bloom, New Hope gets ready for its spring splendor. Take a spring break and enjoy some of my favorite restaurants in New Hope. Whether you dine inside or out, you’ll shake off the winter doldrums and have a new spring…
Spend a Winter's Day in New Hope
by Cora Berke on January 13, 2020
“Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration.”- Anamika Mishra Now that the holidays are over and the last Auld Lang Syne has been sung, it’s time to snuggle into winter. Having a January birthday, I have always been a “winter girl” and New Hope is the perfect place to be. Whether you are walking along the canal in the stillness that only winter can provide or warming up with a hot chocolate and a…
Fall Dining 2019: What's New in New Hope
by Cora Berke on November 11, 2019
“It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.”- Sarah Addison Adler If summer is barbecue, ice cream and lemonade; autumn is stew, apple crisp and cappuccino. With a bit of chill in the air, it’s time to come inside and enjoy a meal at one of the new restaurants in New Hope, PA. Whether you are seated by a fire or watching the leaves glistening on the river…
Off the Beaten Path: New Hope Hidden Gems
by Cora Berke on July 22, 2019
"Summer's lease hath all too short a date," William Shakespeare. Don’t let this summer pass you by without a trip to New Hope, PA. Whether you come for a day or two or more, you can find something for everyone. Meandering through New Hope’s quaint streets, there are hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. I have put together a list of my favorites and hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Happy…