Lark Hotels’ Wine Weekend Getaways Feature Premier New England Sommelier

Wommelier Erica Archer of Wine Wise Events of Portland, Maine will lead Wine Weekend Getaways at The Attwater in Newport, RI and Whitehall in Camden, ME.

NEWPORT, RI –Lark Hotels, a collection of distinctive properties, is launching a series of Wine Getaway Weekends in partnership with sommelier Erica Archer of Wine Wise Events of Portland, Maine.

The first Wine Getaway Weekend will be held at The Attwater in Newport, RI on March 20-22, 2015. The weekend will focus on French wines and will include a tasting and spirited discussion of of dozens of wines presented in a series of regionally-focused classes. With each sip, participants will explore how grape varieties, climate, soils, viticulture, and vinification techniques influence different region’s wine quality and style. A selection of curated small plates will be paired with the wines, making for an experience that is equal parts educational and luxurious.

This all-inclusive weekend includes a two-night stay at the Condé Nast Traveler award-winning Attwater and all hotel taxes, daily breakfast, Bordeaux wine class, dinner at French-inspired Stoneacre Pantry, Burgundy wine lunch at the Attwater, and all meal taxes and gratuity. The weekend prices are from $770-$834 for one person and $1,241-$1,692 for two people depending on room type.

From June 12-14, Archer will host a sailing, wining, and dining adventure at one of Lark Hotel’s newest properties, Whitehall, in Camden, Maine.  Guests will be immersed in the world of fine wines while exploring this quintessential harbor town. Highlights include a wine sail on Schooner Surprise with refreshing summer whites, and an exclusive wine pairing dinner at the hotel’s new restaurant, Pig + Poet, with founding executive chef Sam Talbot (of Top Chef fame). The weekend will include a two-night stay at Whitehall and all hotel taxes, daily breakfast, a wine sail, wine pairing dinner at Pig + Poet, a wine and food walk around Camden, optional excursion to Cellardoor Winery, and all meal taxes and gratuities. Packages for the weekend range from $790 to $985 for one person and $1,237 to $1,626 for two people depending on type of room.

Archer is a true oenophile, having obtained high levels of certification in her field. In 2010, she was awarded the Wine Spirit and Education Trust Level Three Advanced Certification in Wines and Spirits (with merit), became a Sommelier in the American Court of Master Sommeliers, and received her Certified Wine Professional award from the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California. Erica will take guests beyond a typical tasting with her intimate understanding of what makes each wine unique. And she’ll do it with her trademark sense of humor.

Lark Hotels is a collection of boutique hotels located in sought-after spots. Lark Hotels include Whitehall, Camden, ME; Captain Fairfield Inn, Kennebunkport, ME; 76 Main, Nantucket, MA; 21 Broad, Nantucket, MA; The Attwater, Newport, RI; Gilded, Newport, RI; Pomegranate Inn, Portland, ME; Ale House Inn, Portsmouth, NH; and The Break, Narragansett, RI.

Lark Hotels embrace the locations they are in, but in playful, unexpected ways. Think “sense of place” with imagination and a touch of mischief. Each Lark Hotel invites guests to experience modern luxury in the heart of an iconic destination, to feel the pull of a nostalgic getaway while surrounded by today’s amenities and to find attentive service when they want it and privacy when they don’t.

For information on Lark Hotels, the “On a Lark Club,” and the hotel collection visit www.larkhotels.com.

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Hyatt Regency San Francisco Invites Guests to Extend the Weekend, Explore City

The Hyatt Regency San Francisco is offering its popular Explore Package in conjunction with a series of free walking tours, especially designed for those who want to take a long weekend getaway to discover San Francisco’s many outdoor attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Hyatt Regency San Francisco, a luxury property on the city’s waterfront, is offering its popular Explore Package in conjunction with a series of free walking tours, especially designed for those who want to take a long weekend getaway to discover San Francisco’s many outdoor assets. 

The Hyatt Regency San Francisco’s Explore Package includes overnight accommodations in newly renovated guestrooms, 15% off food and beverage at Eclipse Restaurant located in the Guinness Book of World Records largest atrium lobby and two San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) passes, which provide unlimited daily use on the iconic cable cars, historic street cars, busses and trolleys.  Rates start at $229 with further discounts available for those that extend their weekend into Sunday and Monday nights.

And, for those who want to extend their stay in San Francisco through Sunday and Monday nights, there are many diversions, including free concerts at Sigmund Stern Grove, better ticket availability for such popular attractions as Beach Blanket Babylon, better chance of snagging last-minute passes for the Alcatrz Cruises’ prison tour, fewer crowds at some of the city’s most popular attractions, like for such museums/attractions as Academy of Sciences; ExplOratorium; Hyde Street Pier; PIER 39; Cable Cars; walking or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge; Japanese Tea Garden; and greater access to some of the most celebrated restaurants, such as restaurants, including:  Boulevard, La Mar, Water Bar, Plouf, Butterfly, Chaya Brasserie, Piperade and Slanted Door.

Walking San Francisco’s Most Beloved Destinations

The Hyatt Regency San Francisco is ideally situated to explore the City-by-the-Bay. with free, self-guided walking tours:

Lands End: Sometimes considered the wildest, rockiest corner of San Francisco, Land’s End is a historical hike that begins at Point Lobos and is an ideal location to watch the spectacular sea lions bark on the rocks below.  This is a nice retreat from the busy city life where outdoor enthusiast can get lost in the dramatic cliffs, open terrain and 30-mile, panoramic views of the California coast. While here, hikers can also visit the ruins of Sutro Baths, a large public bathhouse that was constructed in 1896. There is also a Labyrinth, shipwreck remains and the Palace of the Legion of Honor to round out the adventure. This relatively easy hike is roughly 3.4 miles long and normally takes 1-3 hours. For more information, check out http://www.everytrail.com/guide/lands-end-san-francisco.

Golden Gate Bridge Walk: The Golden Gate Bridge is the icon of San Francisco and is considered to be one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. Luckily, visitors have the opportunity to walk across the 1.7 miles span of this bridge, which opened to the public on May 28, 1937 at a cost $35 million dollars. For those that want a longer walk, there is a trail up to Hendrik Point, which features a phenomenal view of the bridge and the San Francisco skyline. For more information, check out http://www.everytrail.com/guide/walking-the-golden-gate-bridge.

One Perfect Day in San Francisco: San Francisco may be as diverse a city as they come. The city boasts vast culture, art and history. For one perfect day, enjoy this 7.1 mile tour that will highlight  the locals’ favorite diversions. It begins at Tartine Bakery, which is one of the best bakeries-cafés in town. Next, Stow Lake, where adventurers can rent rowboats and paddle boats. For lunch, walk a short few blocks to check out the vicinity surrounding UCSF at Irving Street & 9^th Ave where there’s a diverse group of several ethnic restaurants. Then, return to Golden Gate Park for a visit to The Academy of Sciences Museum, a world-class science museum that has visitors lost for hours. Finally, finish at Haight-Ashbury, which takes visitors back in time to the hippie culture of the 60s. For more information, check out http://www.everytrail.com/guide/one-perfect-day-in-san-francisco.

Downtown Architecture Walk: For those interested in a walking tour through the heart of downtown San Francisco, check out Crocker Galleria, Hallidi Building on 150 Sutter St, Wells Fargo Banking Hall, 111 Sutter St, City Group Center Greenhouse, The Crown Zellerbach Paper Co. Building and Shell Building. These buildings offer unique architecture that are not found anywhere else, and are considered to be some of the most important buildings in the world. Even though it’s only a half a mile walk, architecture buffs can get lost here for hours just admiring the beauty this historic area. For more information, check out http://www.everytrail.com/guide/san-francisco-downtown-architecture-walk.

Touring Chinatown: Tourists and locals alike are drawn to the irresistible charm that Chinatown has to offer. The entryway to this historic neighborhood features a green-tiled gate at the intersection of Grant and Bush streets at which point visitors are drawn into one of North America’s most populated Asian communities with the authentic ambiance of shops, restaurants, grocery stores, delis, bakeries, fortune cookie factory, tea and herbal shops, galleries, souvenir haunts and more. At 1.2 miles long, it’s the largest Chinatown outside of Asia. For more information, check out http://www.everytrail.com/guide/chinatown-san-francisco-walk.

Union Square and SoMa: Built in 1850, with a history from the Union troops of the Civil War, Union Square is the place to gravitate to for shopaholics, theater enthusiasts and people watching addicts. Some of the most reputable retailers include Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany’s, Williams-Sonoma, Nike and Neiman Marcus. Or, for those that enjoy the more exclusive boutiques, head to Maiden Lane for the more intimate, chic boutiques and cafes. Before or after shopping, take the cable car or head to south of Market Street (SOMA) to enjoy museums, park life, a great variety of food and drinks and several family-friends sites. To properly prepare for this outing, prepare for a half-day with a 1.6 mile long journey. For more information, check out http://www.everytrail.com/guide/san-francisco-s-union-square-amp-soma.

The Explore Package is available through December 30, 2014 (with the exception of blackout dates) and is based on availability.  Rates vary according to dates of reservations (best rates available on Sunday and Monday nights). For reservations and additional information, visit www.sanfranciscoregency.hyatt.com or call (800) 233-1234.

About Hyatt Regency San Francisco

Situated on the Embarcadero Waterfront, across from the iconic Ferry Building Marketplace, with ferries to Sausalito, Tiburon and Alameda, Hyatt Regency San Francisco is the city’s most accessible hotel.  The hotel is at the beginning of the California Street Cable Car line and is also in close proximity to the Embarcadero Center’s shops and restaurants, Financial District, Downtown, Chinatown, North Beach, Union Square, South of Market, AT&T Park (home of the SF Giants) and Embarcadero’s waterfront walking and jogging trail.

The city’s largest luxury waterfront hotel, the Hyatt Regency San Francisco boasts 804 newly refreshed rooms and suites. Guest services and amenities include Wi-Fi service throughout the hotel, 24-hour automated business center and 24-hour StayFit @ Hyatt Fitness Center. Situated in the soaring atrium lobby of the hotel, amidst magnificent trees and trellises that create a serene and relaxing environment, Eclipse Restaurant and Lounge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring classic interpretations of local cuisine. In addition to the physical attributes of the hotel, Hyatt Regency San Francisco has also been distinguished as one of The Best Places to Work in the Bay Area, according to the San Francisco Business Times.

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Celebrate the Holiday Season with Woodstock’s Winter Wassail Weekend, Dec. 9-11

Woodstock, Vermont celebrates the holiday season with its annual town-wide Wassail Weekend held December 9-11, 2011. The Woodstock Inn & Resort is offering a special package for guests to enjoy this enchanting holiday celebration including tickets to see the highly acclaimed Vienna Boys’ Choir.

Woodstock, Vermont celebrates the holiday season with its annual town-wide Wassail Weekend held December 9-11, 2011. The Woodstock Inn & Resort is offering a special package for guests to enjoy this enchanting holiday celebration including tickets to see the highly acclaimed Vienna Boys’ Choir in one of their only New England performances this year, indulge in a traditional holiday feast celebrating Charles Dickens and enjoy a performance of the play Scrooge! based on Charles Dickens’s, A Christmas Carol.

The resort’s Wassail Weekend package is available December 9-11, starting at $940 per couple for a two-night stay based on double occupancy. The package includes:

• Accommodations (two night minimum stay required; tax and gratuities extra; other restrictins may apply).
• Admission to Vienna Boys’ Choir at The Town Hall on Friday night
• Wassail Feast on Saturday night at The Woodstock Inn & Resort
• Tickets to Scrooge!, a play to be held at The Yoh Theater (follows the feast)
• The Holiday Homes Tour on Saturday sponsored by Pentangle

The Woodstock Inn & Resort will be hosting a Charles Dickens-themed Wassail Feast Saturday evening followed by a play called Scrooge! by Leslie Bricusse based on Charles Dickens’s, A Christmas Carol. The Wassail Feast will feature traditional English fare with a local Vermont flavoring including Roasted Mutton (garlic studded leg of lamb with rosemary and caper sauce), Dicken’s Chicken (curry chicken and rice casserole), Tatties & Neeps (mashed turnips and potatoes with ginger) and Chocolate Bread Pudding.

With a history spanning over 500 years, the Vienna Boys’ Choir is one of the oldest and most renowned boys’ choirs in the world. On Friday, December 9, they will be performing contemporary and classic holiday favorites. Billings Farm & Museum, which is free to guests of The Woodstock Inn & Resort, will be showcasing Vermont life as it was during the 19^th Century including an authentically decorated 1890 Farm House tour, traditional music and sleigh or wagon rides. Festival highlights also include a town-wide Wassail Parade on Saturday with more than fifty horses and riders dressed in holiday costumes and period dress from the early 19^th Century. Woodstock’s most charming and historic houses open their doors for guests to experience their New England hospitality and holiday decorations during the Holiday Homes Tour on Saturday. Shops in the Village of Woodstock are often open late, providing guests’ ample opportunity to wrap up any last-minute holiday shopping.

Along with the Wassail Weekend activities, The Woodstock Inn & Resort provides guests with a number of recreational and dining options to enhance their stay. The Woodstock Inn & Resort is now home to a new 10,000 square-foot LEED-designed spa, offering a nature-inspired ambiance and featuring nourishing treatments and organic products. In celebration of Winter, guests can experience the 100-minute Deep Forest treatment which begins with an exfoliating body scrub and hydrating wrap and ends with a full-body massage. Guests can dine at The Red Rooster, the resort’s award-winning fine dining restaurant which emphasizes fresh, local ingredients sourced from the best purveyors in New England. Guests can also enjoy downtown Woodstock filled with antique shops, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, specialty food markets and more.

Located in idyllic Woodstock, Vermont, The Woodstock Inn & Resort defines country sophistication in one of New England’s most charming and popular year-round vacation destinations. The 142-room, AAA Four Diamond Resort and member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, offers award-winning dining in three restaurants, ranked among the finest in New England. The Woodstock Inn & Resort is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation, Inc. Proceeds from Resort operations support The Woodstock Foundation and Billings Farm & Museum education and conservation programs.

For more information, visit www.woodstockinn.com or call (888) 481-8802.

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Cape May holds 39th annual Victorian Weekend Oct. 7-11

During Cape May's 39th annual Victorian Weekend, visit Cape May’s original haunted house, the Emlen Physick Estate, for a guided tour with a discussion of Victorian spiritualism and today’s paranormal investigators © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Become Immersed in Victoriana this fall during Cape May’s 39th annual Victorian Weekend, Oct. 7-11. Tour historic homes, taste the local flavors and celebrate Cape May’s special history as the nation’s first seaside resort.

Sponsored by Cape May’s leader in historic preservation,the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC),  the event captures the feeling of the City’s “gilded age” with charming tree-lined and gas-lit streets, hundreds of Victorian era landmarks, and a week of special events and tours including historic house tours, ghost tours, food and wine events, living history programs and more from Friday, Oct. 7 through Tuesday, Oct. 11.

The Chocolate Championship Tour & Tasting. Saturday, Oct. 8 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., will have you sampling the best chocolate desserts from Cape May’s historic properties, Inns and B&Bs. Taste, tour and vote! Will it be the chocolate torte, fudge bars or mousse? Only you can decide! Those who turn in completed evaluation cards will get recipes by email. Limited to 200 tickets. Admission is $25 and $15 for children (ages 3-12).

Many of Cape May’s regal Victorian residences are reputed to host more than the living. Experience the “other side” of Cape May on the Historic Haunts Combo Tour on Friday, Oct. 7, Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9 at 7:15 p.m. Get into the spirit of things on a trolley tour down Cape May’s gas-lit streets, past some of Cape May’s haunted Victorian homes and then visit Cape May’s original haunted house, the Emlen Physick Estate, for a guided tour with a discussion of Victorian spiritualism and today’s paranormal investigators. Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for children (ages 3-12). The Historic Haunts House Tour portion of the tour can be purchased separately from the Combo tour. The house tour is offered on Friday, Oct. 7, Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9 at 7:45 p.m. and costs $10 for adults and $7 for children (ages 3-12).

Waltz your way back in time during the Vintage Dance Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9. Vintage Dance Instructor Martha Griffith will have you kicking-up your heels like they did in Cape May’s Victorian heyday as she teaches you the popular ballroom dances of the mid- and late-19th Century at a Vintage Dance Workshop at the Franklin Street School, Franklin and Lafayette Streets, on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Then, put your newfound expertise to good use at a costumed Vintage Ball at the Cape May Elementary School, Lafayette Street at Madison Avenue, with live music of the period by Spare Parts on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. enjoy an elegant Tea Dance, also with live music by Spare Parts, at Cape Island Baptist Church Hall, 115 Gurney St. Refreshments are included at the Ball and Tea Dance and Victorian costume is highly encouraged (but not required). An all-inclusive package is available or you can purchase events individually. Dance Weekend Package $95; Ball $35; Tea Dance $25; three Workshops $45.

New this year is the Fudge Fantasy with the famous Fudge Kitchen. On Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 p.m., the original Fudge Kitchen will be displaying its hand-whipped creamy fudge in an array of flavors at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St. Sample the famous fudge flavors, learn how they make the fudge and much more. Admission is $15 per person.

Discover  Cape May’s seventh annual Designer Show House, a harbor-side homeowner’s dream. This $2.2 million four-story luxury townhome at Osprey Landing at Cape May Marine, overlooks the harbor and wetlands and is open daily for tours through Oct. 30. Self-guided tours are offered daily from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and guided evening tours are offered at 7 p.m. every Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday. Each visitor receives a full-color program book with information about the designers, products and vendors. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children (ages 3-12). Osprey Landing is conveniently located at 109 Rosemans Lane at the end of the Garden State Parkway. There is free off-street parking available and an elevator with access to all four floors. Tours of the Designer Show House can also be combined with daily luncheon, dinner (Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays) and Happy Hour packages (Mondays through Fridays).

New in 2011! Murder at the Physick Estate presents “Doorway to Darkness,” a newplayby John K. Alvarez. Is there life after death? Do spirits wander on an ethereal plane? Are there ghosts roaming Cape May? Tonight, with the Physick Estate as a backdrop, a psychic and a scientist plan to address these questions once and for all. Plans go awry when a seemingly innocent children’s nursery rhyme turns the evening upside down. A visit to the Physick Estate becomes much more than a look into the past for one of them. Afterwards, meet your evening’s performers over coffee and dessert in the Carriage House Tearoom & Café. Performances are offered on Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8 at 6:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Admission is $25 for adults and $20 for children (ages 3-12).

Celebrate Oktoberfest at the Mad Batter Beer Dinner on Friday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. The famous Mad Batter restaurant, 19 Jackson St., is serving a four course Oktoberfest dinner featuring German beers. Admission is $65 and seating is limited to 60.

Celebrate the fall season at the Scarecrow Workshop on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gather your scarecrow-making materials and visit the Emlen Physick Estate with friends, family and co-workers where you and your team can receive straw and stakes to create a scarecrow for the Estate’s Scarecrow Alley, a highlight of the Estate’s Halloween decorations. All creations will be entered into the Scarecrow Alley competition. Registration is required. Please call 609-884-5404 ext. 111 to register. Rain date is Sunday, Oct. 9.

Go beyond the doors of a selection of charming private cottages in the Cape May area that are not normally open to the public during the Private Homes Tour on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The tour is limited to 300 tickets. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children (ages 3-12).

Discover the fun and follies of Cape May’s history on the Cape MayUnzipped Trolley Ride. Cape May celebrity Tom Carroll takes you on a narrated ride through the streets of Cape May, giving a “tongue in cheek” look at the fun and follies of life in a resort town. Tours are offered on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 2:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children (ages 3-12).

On Saturday, Oct. 8 at 3 p.m., spend the afternoon touring the award-winning Cape May Winery in North Cape May. The Winery Cellar Tour & Tasting features a tour of the vineyard to see how the grapes are grown and then a visit to the winery, where you’ll be introduced to the winemaker’s art and enjoy a barrel tasting accompanied by cheese and fruit. Admission is $20 and includes a complimentary tasting glass.

Did you know there was once a “South Cape May?” On Saturday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, Washington and Franklin streets, co-authors of “Remembering South Cape May: The Jersey Shore Town That Vanished Into the Sea,” Robert Kenselaar and Joseph Bucher will present a free lecture. Kenselaar is the guest curator of this new exhibit at the Carriage House Gallery that examines the rise and fall of the community that once stood west of Cape May’s beachfront on land that today is the Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. In its heyday, the town of South Cape May had more than 40 homes and hundreds of summer residents. The exhibit in the Carriage House Gallery located on the grounds of the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., is open daily through Nov. 6. Admission is free. This exhibition was made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

Murder is on the menu during the Murder Mystery Dinners. The Impromptu Players invade the dining room at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St., where they set the scene for a new mystery that will surely be a barrel of fun. The new mystery, “A Very Noir Pinot,” creates an atmosphere of foul bouquet, intrigue and deceit. Interact with the cast of likely suspects and try to solve the mystery as you enjoy a three-course dinner or luncheon. Dinners are offered on Saturday, Oct. 8, Sunday, Oct. 9 and Monday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. and admission is $45. Limited event; reservations are necessary.

If you have a taste for history, take the Champagne Brunch Walk on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. First, build up your appetite with a walking tour of Cape May’s Historic District, and then enjoy a Southern-style breakfast buffet with mimosas at the historic Chalfonte Hotel, 301 Howard St. Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for children (ages 3-12).

Open daily from 11:30 a.m., the Carriage House Tearoom & Café located on the beautiful grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St, is a great way to enjoy an English tradition in Victorian Cape May. The Tea Luncheon features sandwiches, salads, soups, breads, pastries and beverages, and the Elegant Afternoon Tea includes finger sandwiches, pastries, scones and beverages. The café menu also offers heartier fare with a selection of entrée salads, soups, sandwiches and wraps. To make reservations call 609-884-5111.

 “The Doctor is in”on Sunday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meet Dr. Emlen Physick as he greets and banters with visitors on his Estate’s grounds at 1048 Washington St. Enjoy an Emlen Physick Estate tour with its new theme in 2011: “Victorian Health & Fitness.” As your tour guide leads you through each room in the Estate, you’ll hear about Victorian exercises, diets, food preservation methods, medical beliefs and practices, fitness attire and much more. The Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May’s only Victorian House Museum, is open daily. Tours of the Estate cost $10 for adults and $5 for children (ages 3-12).

On Sunday, Oct. 9, the Victorian Weekend Crafts & Antiques Show sets up on the lawn of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Crafters and antiques dealers from throughout the region will display and sell their unique and hand-made wares from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

To drink or not to drink, that is the question at the Tea Luncheon & Temperance Debate on Tuesday, October 11 at 12:30 p.m. at the Carriage House Tearoom & Café located on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Saloonkeeper Patrick Collins and Jennie Wales, staunch advocate of the temperance movement, debate this most important topic. Join Dr. Physick as he attempts to maintain decorum during this spirited debate. Admission is $25 and includes an Elegant Tea Luncheon. The event is limited to 50 guests. Advance reservations are highly recommended.

The Cherry House, a beautiful private home built in 1849 in the Federal style, situated on one of Cape May’s oldest residential streets, Hughes Street, will opens its doors for tours daily at 2 p.m. during Victorian Weekend. Tickets cost $10 per person ($8 for children ages 3-12) and are available at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.

Spend an afternoon during Victorian Weekend touring the wineries of Cape May County at your own pace during the Self-Guided Wine Trail. Visit Natali Vineyards and Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery and taste wines at each. Admission is $8 and includes a map with the wineries listed, tastings at both wineries and a complimentary tasting glass. The Self-Guided Wine Trail is offered daily from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Attend world-class theater productions in Cape May with Cape May Stage and East Lynne Theater Company or check out a film at the Cape May Film Society.

Cape MayStage presents “The Woolgatherer” on Friday, Oct. 7, Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. Rose, a shy cashier prone to daydreaming, and Cliff, a rough-edge trucker with a solitary life, are an unlikely couple both looking for love in a world gone mad. Despite their mutual fear of commitment, these two lonely souls are drawn to each other and somehow manage to find comfort in each others’ uniqueness. Can a candy counter girl and foul-mouthed truck driver find love in South Philly? Funny and poignant, this gripping play answers the question with humor, humanity, and just a touch of crazy. Performances take place at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse, corner of Bank & Lafayette streets. General admission is $35, $30 for seniors (62+) and $15 for students.

East Lynne Theater Company presents “Dulcy” on Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Dulcy is a comedy by Pulitzer Prize-winners George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly. In trying to help her husband, Dulcy alienates his boss and complicates matters with her other weekend guests. The original 1921 production not only established the reputations of Kaufman and Connelly but made a star of Lynn Fontanne who played Dulcy. Performances take place at the First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St. General admission is $30, $25 for seniors, $15 for students and ages 12 and under are free.

The Cape May Film Society presents “Tospy-Turvy” on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. In this zany 1999 comedy set during the Victorian Era, Gilbert and Sullivan threaten to disband after their latest play is critically panned—that is until the two are inspired to write the masterpiece “The Mikado.” Location TBA. Tickets are $10.

Cape May’s Victorian Weekend is sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), a multifaceted not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. MAC membership is open to all. For information about MAC’s year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit MAC’s Web site at http://www.capemaymac.org. For information about restaurants, accommodations and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-5508.

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