By: Jackie Brigante

February is a unique month. Not only is Valentine’s Day celebrated; but it is the shortest month of the year (and a leap year!) which gives hope to a quick end of the winter and a foreseeable spring. The Nassau Inn is celebrating February in style this year with a very special Valentine’s Day overnight package, a succulent special menu and a wedding sale for the economically savvy husband and wife to be.

With February 14th on the mind, a romantic weekend getaway is the perfect way to curb those apprehensive thoughts of how to spend your day. The glorified Escape to Romance Package is a fun destination idea for any couple to enjoy some alone time and relax in the lap of luxury. With a complimentary late check-out and turndown service, gourmet chocolates and breakfast and a four-course dinner for two, a Princeton escape is ideal. This package offers all of the glorified Valentine’s Day norms with the exciting flair of an elegant escape.

Escape to Romance today; and share this intriguing venture with our guests!

If an overnight stay is not in your budget this year; have no fear! The Yankee Doodle Tap Room is offering a delectable Valentine’s Day menu; complete with fares for any palate. With a first course of soup and a palatable second course of salad, get your taste buds tantalized for a mouth-watering main course: Filet Mignon, Pan Seared Tilapia or juicy Pecan Crusted Chicken. No Valentine’s Day would be complete without a sweet way to end a romantic meal. The choice of Chocolate Cake with a Bittersweet Fudge Filling or Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake will make any sweet tooth blissful.

See the complete Valentine’s Day menu here – and share with family, friends and guests!

If February has wedding bells chiming in your heart from post-holiday engagements; you have come to the right place! Brides and grooms are in a post-engagement paradise, and Nassau Inn can fulfill those wedding dreams. By booking your wedding between February 1st through 29th you can receive a 15% discount off of the Gold or Romance packages with weddings booked in the lavish Palmer Room.

For details on booking a wedding; click here!
See all of the details of the Gold and Romance wedding packages!

February is a time for love, and opening up your heart to all Princeton has to offer will not cease to amaze even the toughest of Valentine’s Day critics. Enjoy this holiday and be sure to keep all of the people that are important close to you.

By: Keir DeFonzo

Growing up in Concord, Massachusetts; I have vivid memories of being part of a community that took pride in its role of American history. Concord is a town known the start of the American Revolution and the “shot heard round the world”. Its landmarks are what make the town what it is today with the Old

North Bridge, Louisa May Alcott’s House, Walden Pond and of course the old Colonial Inn; which is located in the heart of Concord. The Colonial Inn was and still is a place for locals and visitors to gather socially or a base to find out the things to do in the area. Since I have been living close to Princeton and working at the Nassau Inn, I can relate to the significance it holds for the town and our guests.

Nassau Inn has planned events for decades with people whom have fond memories of out establishment from their childhood. Mothers have come with their daughters whose dream was to have a Nassau Inn wedding. One woman planned her mother’s 90th birthday party here. The Inn was a residence for their family back in the 1960’s as their home was being built in Princeton. The most recent event that that touched me greatly was a daughter whom planned her mother’s memorial service in our Palmer room. She felt this was the best place to celebrate her parent’s life since they were married here back in 1941.

There are so many comforts the Inn provides that make people feel at home. Whether it’s a quiet, comfortable spot in the Lobby to read a book, grab a hot cup of coffee and a homemade cookie at the end of the day, meet a friend in the Tap Room for a drink, grab information on local events at the front desk or even stop in to use the restrooms after a rigorous day of shopping on Nassau Street. The Nassau Inn is woven into the fabric of Princeton’s past, present and future.

Generations come here year after year because it is a place which remains constant in a society that is

rapidly changing. With the advancement of technology, communication is driven more through a computer screen. One thing, however, remains constant: our desire for face to face hospitality and the need for human relationships. People still enjoy a couch by the fireplace to read. People still love to receive a warm greeting and smile when entering the establishment. People still fantasize about big family celebrations happening in the Prince William ballroom. All the modern day advancements that make life more convenient will never replace the feeling you get from having a place to go where you are made to feel you belong. The Nassau Inn serves as this place for everyone; the door is always open, season after season, year after year. Just as I reminisce about the Colonial Inn and Concord as always being the original place I called home, this is where memories are made, dreams come true and a place to call your home away from home.

Natural Leaders: Leaders influence, mold, and encourage others. For my years working for and along side Lori Rabon it is no wonder she is the 2011 Business Leader of the Year by the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce. This is a well-deserved award for a person regarded as a natural, dedicated and hard working leader. I am honored and very proud to know and support Lori Rabon: a natural leader.

Congratulations, Lori!

Frank A. O’Reilly; Director of Operations

I was hired in the early 90’s as the manager for Palmer’s Restaurant. Since I was new to the area and having experience only in a full service restaurant, I was most fortunate to meet Lori when she was the Assistant Controller. I knew then that she had a wealth of knowledge and great leadership skills and was willing to share her experiences with me.

Lori was a great leader back then and showed she was capable of much more. It was a great day when Lori became our General Manager: the hotel and employees have never been in better hands. It will always be my pleasure to serve her and watch this great establishment grow under the leadership and passion Lori has for this property.

Jim Byrnes; Director of Food and Beverage

I have had the great honor of working with Lori Rabon for the past 18 years. She has been an incredible mentor to me both professionally and personally. The passion that Lori has for her “home”, the Nassau Inn, is contagious and unmeasured.

Lori has managed to raise a family of five children while simultaneously increasing the success of the Inn. This effortless focus and constant energy in the community has earned her this great honor of a true business leader.

Congratulations, Lori!

Mariela Blanco; Director of Sales and Revenue

Leadership personified: This is the first phrase that comes to mind when asked to describe Lori Rabon.
It is truly a rare blessing that someone will come into your life and have a truly profound effect on the rest of it. Yet when I met Lori Rabon six years ago, that is exactly what happened. There is no measure to all that I have learned in her presence, there is no way to quantify my gratitude or put into words all that I have personally and professionally gained in my time with Lori.

It is no surprise that the one I have learned so much from, stood in admiration of and am forever appreciative to, has been named Business Leader of the Year. Lori Rabon is most deserving and I hope that our tireless leader will take a moment to reflect on all of her great many accomplishments. It has been a true honor and pleasure to work for and alongside Lori Rabon.

Congratulations to you Lori, it is well earned and I am proud to be a part of your team.

Nick Ballas; Director of Rooms

By: Greg Bressler

This is Bressler: beer aficionado, bartender extraordinaire and just all around good guy. I’m coming to you this month with a very tasty addition to our 16 draft beers. This month’s addition is a seasonal beer from the Easton, PA brewery; Weyerbacher. Weyerbacher has blessed the Tap Room with maybe the King of all Pumpkin beers, their Imperial Pumpkin Ale!

This 8.0% ABV (alcohol by volume) pumpkin ale is the mother of all pumpkin ales. It is heartier, spicier, and more “caramelly” and “pumpkiny” than its faint brethren. Weyerbacher has added a ton of pumpkin, about 380 pounds of real pumpkin in every batch of beer, along with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of cardamom and clove giving this beer a spicy, full-bodied flavor. This truly is an Imperial Pumpkin Ale!

Weyerbacher’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale is the ideal fall weather beer. Perfect finisher on a cool autumn night, or match it up with a slice of pumpkin pie and fresh whipped cream, or just throw a few back in the company of some good mates. The Imperial Pumpkin Ale will never leave you disappointed. So come on into the Tap Room and enjoy one; and tell them Bressler sent you.

Cheers!

By: Jackie Brigante

I am a last minute holiday executer. I scrupulously plan out my entire life, but I tend to procrastinate on the actual executions. Halloween costumes get thrown together the day before Halloween, presents get purchased within days of events and my Thanksgiving Day desserts get (literally) put on the back burner. As an avid consumer – or shopping obsessed as some are so inclined to refer to me – it would make sense that I would completely be all over the retail holiday magic. Not so much.

By the end of October, stores are chock full of holiday…well, crap. Decorations are not only already being sold in department stores pharmacies and the grocery store, but aforementioned stores have decorated themselves to the T! As I have never been a retail employee myself, it is hard for me to understand this phenomenon. Does this drive holiday sales? Do kids really already know what they want? Am I already supposed to know what I want?! Am I supposed to want things?

This is all extremely overwhelming – I haven’t even cracked open the bags of my leftover Halloween candy or savored enough pumpkin lattes!

The holiday spirit is wonderful; and I absolutely adore the smell of freshly baked sugar cookies and cinnamon Yankee Candles – I am not completely cynical – I just want the spirit to still feel whole when the holidays do finally approach and the sounds of the season are fresh.

By: Stephanie Piccarillo

Fall is finally upon us, my favorite season of the year. To me, fall is all about pumpkins, admiring the foliage while you walk and chat with friends, and ghost stories. And there is so much of that around Princeton!

Every year, we here at the Nassau Inn hold our annual Pumpkin Carving Contest. Boy, what a competition! It is a chance for our employees to come together while showing their talents and carving skills. We have had scary pumpkins, funny pumpkins, those showcasing an employee’s favorite sports team and even an exact replica of our Food and Beverage manager! I have entered almost every year since I started working here and, while I have not won yet, I enjoy looking at the showcase of creativity and imagination. Our pumpkins are displayed in our Tap Room Restaurant the day of the contest. You should come on over and see them! This year, they will be displayed on Friday, October 28th, starting at 11:00 am.

While in the area, don’t forget to stop by Halo Pub and grab a cup of hot Caramel Apple Cider. While they sell it all year long, I always wait for the fall as it always seems to taste the best when mixed with the cool, crispness of the air. It is even better when shared with a loved one as you walk down Nassau Street to window shop. If you are not the shopping type, but you still want to get out and about, why not check out some of the tours offered by Princeton Tour Company?

There are so many walking tours offered with Princeton Tour Company, from Pub Crawls, the Albert Einstein Walking Tour, and even…oooooo…Ghost Tours! Now we’re talking. The Cemetery Visit and Ghost Tour is offered during the day and, for the brave of heart, at night as well. According the Princeton Tour Company’s website, you get to handle “EMF Meters, Therma-meters, Dowsing Rods and Night Vision flashlights” as you are taken on a tour through the local “battlegrounds, gravestones, neighborhoods and squares where unexplained apparitions or paranormal activity have been reported. Routes include stops inside the Princeton University campus and Princeton Cemetery.” I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it!

So come on down to the area and enjoy all the Fall season has to offer around here. I promise you won’t regret it. Hope to see you around!