Tag Archives: victorian

Eco-Friendly Living at The Queen Anne Urban Bed and Breakfast

As the owner of The Queen Anne Urban Bed and Breakfast with a Picture 5background in both hospitality and sustainability, Milan Doshi has gone to great—make that green—lengths to make this pair of nineteenth-century Victorian houses a home for his guests.
Dotted with log fireplaces, bay windows, exquisite antiques, and even a turret as well as recycled materials galore, Doshi’s twinned inn also features woodworks, murals, and amenities courtesy of equally eco-minded area artisans—from your bath products to your morning coffee.

So before your very eyes, the historic turns progressive, the old-fashioned turns new wave—and you become an honorary local, whether over breakfast in the garden or during a happy hour that features Colorado wine and cheese.

A Victorian Christmas

http://www.visitphilly.com/events/philadelphia/victorian-christmas-open-house-at-pennypacker-mills/

Head out to Philadelphia’s beautiful countryside for a free guided tour of Pennypacker Mills, the 18th-century mansion used by General George Washington as temporary headquarters during the Revolutionary War. You will discover an old-fashioned Victorian Christmas as you’re guided through the beautifully decorated mansion, which was once the residence of Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker, the twenty-fifth Governor of Pennsylvania. Share in the holiday spirit with your family and friends as you enjoy the warm glow of oil lamps, festive decorations and a candy-making demonstration.And you should prepare your Christmas wish list beforehand — Santa will pay a visit to Pennypacker Mills to join in the holiday cheer!

Victorian_Christmas

Victorian Splendor at Castle Marne

Picture 38At nearly 125 years old, the huge stone mansion housing Castle Marne is listed on the National Register of Historic Places—and it’s as beautiful inside as it is outside. Each of this bed and breakfast’s nine rooms is a wonder, filled with antique furnishings of brass and iron and variously graced by cathedral ceilings, balconies, fireplaces, and even hot tubs. The piano parlor and frescoed dining room are equally sumptuous, and while breakfast and tea service are a given, guests can also arrange for private luncheons and six-course BYO dinners. Of course, a setting as grand as this is a natural for garden weddings—the proprietor is even licensed to officiate.

Quietude on Colfax: The Holiday Chalet

Picture 16Built in 1896 for a local jeweler, the brownstone mansion that now houses the Holiday Chalet is an oasis of gentility on raucous East Colfax. Though its nine rooms have been renovated to reflect the bed-and-breakfast’s Victorian origins, they’re also fully equipped with modern amenities (including Wifi and individual kitchens).

Still, the emphasis is on bygone civility, from full breakfast in the antique-filled tea room to ice cream socials in the flower-lined courtyard (which also contains a grill for barbecue-minded guests). And you can even dress for such occasions at She She, the on-site boutique of Chalet owner/fashion designer Crystal Sharp.

A Century of Music at This Great American Hall

The Great American Music Hall has been described many ways: opulent, warm, friendly, even sanctified.  Whatever your adjectives, this place is just plain fun, from the smiles at the red velvet-draped front door to the energy of the crowd buzzing off the ceiling frescoes.  Having hosted such diverse big names as Duke Ellington, Billy Joel, The Grateful Dead, and Van Morrison, this gracious Victorian hall has charmed San Francisco throughout the twentieth century.

MusicHall2This 5000 square foot concert hall has seen many changes since its opening in 1907. Constantly upgrading the sound system and restoring anything that begins to lose luster, the Great American Music Hall takes pride in providing you with the best intimate music experience.  You can even book the venue for private wedding receptions, product launches, holiday parties, and bar mitzvahs.

When spending the evening here you have no choice but to leave the hustle of the city behind, grab a drink at the restored Victorian bar, and let go of your troubles on the oak dance floor.  Why not enjoy one hundred years of history and modern entertainment all in one evening?