August 25, 2008

How illuminating!

Ocean Grove’s Centennial Cottage, built in 1879, operates as the town’s “living history museum.” The rooms inside have been painstakingly restored to replicate life at the turn of the century, complete with kitchen gadgets and clothing hanging in wardrobes. Rotating exhibits throughout the summer offer glimpses into seaside life back in the day.

The Victorian home was donated by its last residents in 1969 and moved (!) to its current location in the middle of town, in the shadows of The Great Auditorium. Once a year, the old gem gets gussied up with mini lights and candle-lit lanterns for the annual Illumination Garden Party at dusk. Friday night I took a walk to have a peek at the soiree, and was greeted by silk and paper lanterns swinging (thanks to the breezy weather!) in the trees throughout the garden.





And what’s the around the corner?

A tent filled with beautiful desserts and flowers, right beside the rose garden.

The garden is next to one of my favorite houses in town, so it was fun to that all lit up in the background, seemingly joining in on the fun. For $10, the event seems a bargain as far as fundraiser parties go. Count me in next year.

17 comments:

Blogger said...

How pretty!!! :)

Bella

please sir said...

Very lovely - sounds like a great time too!

Freckles Chick said...

Absolutely magical. Wish we lived in the area!!

Anonymous said...

wow it certainly does look magical

you know I was only thinking the other day I must get some fairy lights out on the deck, just makes it all look so special

oh and of course, you will be first on my list for the screen fabric when it comes off...

Sarah

beachy in the burbs said...

Hi, Laura! There's a company I wanted to ask you about in NJ, but I don't want to post it online. I'm not sure how to email you through the blog... would you mind emailing me at jerseygirl UNDERSCORE in UNDERSCORE dc AT yahoo DOT com so that I can write you back? - Jennifer

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Thanks everyone! It was super cute...I was sort of bummed I didn't go (I just stalked, hahaha!)

Oh Sarah...that screen fabric would be put to good use, I promise! :-)

jennifer -- done! I just emailed you.

Rue said...

Hi Laura :)

You should have gone! Although sometimes lurking is more fun ;)

rue

please sir said...

Thanks for your living comment - your advice means so much! Glad to hear you are happy where you are!

Fifi Flowers said...

$10 for a fundraiser is AMAZING! Looks like an illuminating event!

Thrifty Cents said...

Wow! That's beautiful! Looks kinda like a fairytale.

Ms. Tee said...

Oh, I love to see lanterns lighting up a summer night. :)

Courtney said...

Oh my...oh my. Count me in next year too!! (I'd love to see the inside someday too Laura! hint...hint...)

cherry said...

That is sooo sweet lit up at night. I love Chinese lanterns. It reminds me of the Blue Bayou in Disneyland. cherry

Free Art Printables said...

This is awesome! Jen R

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

rue...lurking *is* so much fun! But my mom -- after reading my blog -- has informed me we will be going next year. ;-)

please sir...I'd like to say all of my decisions have been easy...but...alas. I'm still trying to figure out what i want to be when I grow up!

fifi...I know, right?! My mom will take care of next year.

thrifty cottage…it *did* look like a fairytale!

ms. tee…I totally realized that I bought strung lanterns in, like, March. That I forgot to use! Maybe this weekend…

courtney…ahhhhh…inside! There’s an idea (thanks for the hot tip…and welcome back!). I wonder if they’re open in the “off season.”…Hmmm…

cherry’s…I’ve never been to Disney but I’m just loving the name “Blue Bayou!”

jen r…it was! They could have used you to paint a couple of chairs for the garden party. :-)

rivergardenstudio said...

I love these night shots, the color and the feeling of a party!! Roxanne

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

This looks so pretty! It reminds me again of Martha's Vineyard Oak Bluff neighborhood when they hang lanterns along the camp grounds on illumination night. So magical!