Cape May’s Designer Show House Highlights Best of Victorian Seaside City

Victorian Cape May, New Jersey © 2014 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Cape May’s Designer Show House returns for its 9th year with an exciting project in 2014-15 that highlights the best of Cape May: the city’s Victorian architecture beautifully preserved, the creativity of those who come here, and the joy of celebrating holidays here.

The Ocean Victorian, 25 Ocean St., opens its doors to the public on Friday, Oct. 10 as the 2014-15 Cape May Designer Show House, with the theme “Celebrating Holidays,” presented by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) and sponsored by DesignNJ magazine.

Visitors will discover the joy of celebrating holidays in Cape May inside this seaside retreat with tours from Oct. 10 through June 14, 2015. Tours can also be combined with dining packages and special events.

This year’s Designer Show House is located within steps of Cape May’s beaches in a majestic row alongside some of Cape May’s most recognized historic structures. This 5,000 square foot home is being transformed with significant upgrades to the interior. Visitors will see how the region’s top designers creatively portray a different holiday in each of 12 rooms in this circa 1880 Cape May landmark, making the 2014-15 Designer Show House a must-see in Cape May.

This classic Mansard-style home was built soon after the great fire of 1878. The Mansard roof is crowned by ornamental wrought ironwork, and the house offers breathtaking ocean views. A private home before and after the great fire for nearly 100 years, the building was restored and operated as an award-winning bed and breakfast inn known as The Inn on Ocean for more than 25 years, before being converted as a retreat for family vacations for the past 10 years.

Visitors will discover the joy of celebrating holidays in Cape May inside this seaside retreat with tours from Oct. 10 through June 14, 2015. Tours can also be combined with dining packages and special events.

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Victorian Cape May NJ Sparkles During 40th Annual Christmas Candlelight House Tours

Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May’s only Victorian House Museum © 2013 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Cape May’s historic homes sparkle and shine for the holidays during the 40th annual Christmas Candlelight House Tours, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC).

Tour-goers board heated trolleys and visit as many as 15 homes, inns, hotels and churches, beautifully decorated for the holiday season. Along the way, carolers and strolling musicians impart good old-fashioned Christmas cheer, and hospitality centers offer warm beverages and traditional holiday treats.

The 40th Annual Christmas Candlelight House Tours are Saturdays, Dec. 7, 14, and 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $25 for adults and $20 for children (ages 3-12) and includes entry to the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May’s only Victorian House Museum at 1048 Washington St., authentically decorated for a Victorian Christmas and to “An Old-fashioned Christmas” exhibit in the Carriage House Gallery on the grounds of the Estate, as well as continuous shuttle service on heated trolleys.

Christmas Candlelight House Tours are limited; advance reservations are strongly recommended. MAC sponsors six weeks of special holiday tours and events from Nov. 22 through Jan. 1, 2014.

The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) is 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 www.capemaymac.org.

For information about restaurants, accommodations and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-5508.

For information about historic accommodations, contact Cape May Historic Accommodations at www.capemaylodging.com.

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Mystics, mediums, murder and mayhem abound during Cape May’s Sherlock Holmes Weekend, March 18-20

Cape May's bi-annual Sherlock Holmes Weekend, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), returns with a new mystery for 2011: The Case of the Surreptitious Ghoul. The first weekend will take place from March 18-20 and the next weekend will be in November (photo by: Joe Evangelista). Cape May’s bi-annual Sherlock Holmes Weekend, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), returns with a new mystery for 2011: The Case of the Surreptitious Ghoul. The first weekend will take place from March 18-20 and the next weekend will be in November (photo by: Joe Evangelista). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s master sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, ponders the evidence to a baffling new mystery for 2011, “The Case of the Surreptitious Ghoul,” during Cape May’s Sherlock Holmes Weekend, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC), Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20 (the next opportunity will be in November). Join the famous detective and his partner, Dr. Watson, as they explore the Gothic Habitants of Underground London Society, or G.H.O.U.L.S. for short. Mystics, mediums, murder and mayhem abound in this bleak world. The duo will need your help as they peer deep into the darkness and face the fears that lie within. Thoughout the weekend, participants will get in on the chase during the Search for Clues Tour, vie for prizes, and enjoy performances, lunch and an optional theatrical production. Full weekend packages are available at $180 per couple or $95 per person. Overnight packages with accommodations are also available. Call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, ext. 185 for more information or to reserve your overnight package. The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) is 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 www.capemaymac.org. For information about restaurants, accommodations and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-55

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