Wow, Cape May has most certainly come to life in the last few weeks. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear it was summer. The beautiful weather, perfectly timed to coincide with the various Spring & Easter breaks, has had people flocking to The Queen Victoria. I imagine the fantastic “222” discount package that we are still offering for mid-week stays has been an incentive too!
Though our discount packages will be ending in a couple of weeks, I’m confident (hopeful) that the beautiful weather will continue, giving you the perfect excuse to return to Cape May for a late Spring getaway.
Though Spring is really just kicking in, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that it is probably high time to make reservations for your Summer visit to The Queen Victoria (you are planning on a Summer visit, right?!). Yes, we have been taking a lot of Summer reservations in the past few weeks, but there is still plenty of availability left for you. The most serious downside to procrastinating is that the room/date selections are dwindling with each passing day. If you know when you’d like to visit for the Summer, I recommend you click HEREto see if your favorite room(s) are still available.
We’re always happy to assist you
find the best possible room for the dates you want to visit, or the best dates for the room you want to stay in. Call us at (609) 884-8702 to get started.
Room of The Month
Hampton Court
Hampton Court has long been one of my favorite rooms. In fact, it is the first room that Anna Marie and I completely redecorated after purchasing The Queen Victoria.
The first word that comes to my mind when I consider Hampton Court is “Elegant”. The rich Victorian reproduction decor, with its soothing green colors truly brings the beautiful bed to life. This photo was recently taken by our photographers, and I think it truly captures the elegance and style of the room. The bold frieze (large border), with the color coordinated crown molding really finish it. Though you can’t see it here, there is also a fireplace, which is located just about where the camera was set up for this picture, in the corner near the foot of the bed. The coming summer months may not afford you much opportunity to enjoy the fireplace, but it is never too early to book your reservations for a winter getaway!
One of the reasons I wanted to feature this room, besides this beautiful new photo, is the comfortable new loveseat, which you can see in the background of this photo. I’m also still very excited about the beautiful new(ish) bathroom, which we renovated about a year ago. It is every bit as rich and elegant as the rest of the room, with a coordinating color scheme, magnificent tile work in the tub/shower surround, and a very luxurious faux wood porcelain tile floor. It might sound a little crazy, but I also love the custom shelving unit that we built next to the tub, which provides tons of set-down space for your toiletries and and an outlet with a USB station for charging your phone (I’m sure you’ll need to charge at least once during any visit!).
222 Discount Package Through April 30 we are still offering two nights in a standard room for $222 (plus tax), for reservations Sunday through Thursday evenings. The “222 Discount” can be expanded to a 333, 444 or even 555 for 3,4 or 5 night reservations. Upgrades to larger rooms are also possible with similar savings. If you’re able to travel mid-week, this is a fantastic deal!
I haven’t mentioned it before, but our recently installed “booking engine” for online reservations now allows you to book a room with this discount package yourself. That may explain why it is so popular this year! Click here to try it now.
For those of you who like to take advantage of this discount program every year (November through April), I’d like to mention that after 10 years we’ve decided it is time to raise the price a little bit. I know it is shocking, but for 2017-18 we are renaming the package to the “234” discount. Yes, we are raising the rate for the 2 night package from $222 to $234 (or from $111/night to $117/night … a $6/night increase). We wanted to keep it kind of catchy and easy to remember, so this made sense. Unfortunately, extending from a two night stay to a three or four night stay isn’t quite as catchy and easy as it used to be, but it is still extendible, as it always has been. Upgrades to larger rooms will still be possible at similar savings as well.
(Not So) Fine Print
This discount package cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions. Third Party gift certificates (like bedandbreakfast.com) cannot be used for payment.
There is no bad time to visit The Queen Victoria, and when you consider these great discounts, the cooler months of the year become very attractive. I hope you’ll be saving lots of money on your next reservation at The Queen Victoria.
Upcoming (and current) Special Events
Our Final Birthday Weekend
April 22
Next weekend we will be holding our last “Birthday Celebration Weekend” of the year (we do one each month, January through April). That means, of course, that you’ve got one last chance to celebrate a birthday in style at The Queen Victoria, with all the traditional birthday fun.
It is always a fun occasion that we celebrate during Afternoon Tea. We bake a big birthday cake, we have gifts for everybody, we sing Happy Birthday to anyone that it applies to, and a good time is had by all. We won’t be checking IDs, so you’re welcome to participate and join in the fun even if you aren’t celebrating a birthday this month.
Keeping on the “Last Chance” theme, at the time of this writing we only have 3 rooms left for the weekend. That means that it really is your last chance to book a room and celebrate that birthday at The Queen Victoria.
Tip: This weekend, April 21-22, is also the date of the Exit Zero Jazz Festival!
Exit Zero Jazz Festival
April 21-23
Twice each year The Exit Zero Jazz Festival brings world class jazz to Cape May. This year’s spring event has been moved up a month or two, giving you another great excuse to visit The Queen Victoria at a really beautiful time of the year.
Spring will be in full swing by then, of course, with blooms abounding everywhere. The weather will most certainly be turning in our favor by then, and all your favorite shops and restaurants will be anxiously looking forward to your return.
But let’s get back to the music. This 3 day festival featuring 45 shows in venues all over town is truly becoming world renowned. There are several different ticketing options for admission to the various shows, ranging from $30 for the Sunday Pass to $195 for the VIP Pass, with several options in between.
As I mentioned in the previous segment, with only 3 rooms left for the weekend, this is your “Last Chance” to book a room and experience this wonderful musical event. Book your room now!
Remember this photo? If you read our March newsletter, you would have seen it featured in the “Singer Songwriter Cape May” segment. So what gives? Why are you looking at it again now?
This year our friend Avi Wisnia is making his debut performance in the Cape May Music Festival. Anna Marie and I have always been generous supporters of the festival, which allows us to choose which of the concerts that we want our donation to sponsor. With Avi’s participation, our decision this year was an easy one. We’re pretty excited about his upcoming concert; not only because of our personal connection with Avi, but because we’ve never seen him perform with a band before (We don’t really have room for a band in our parlor).
Beyond “Our” concert, as you can see from the listing below, the Cape May Music Festival offers many other concerts over a 3 week period.
May 28 Atlantic Brass Band (Rotary Park 7 pm)
May 30 New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players (Episcopal Church 8 pm)
May 31 Bach’s Lunch (Carriage House Cafe & Tea Room 12:30 pm)
June 1 New York Chamber Ensemble (Episcopal Church 8 pm)
June 4 Champagne Jazz Brunch (Aleathea’s restaurant 10 am)
June 4 Avi Wisnia (Bossa Nova/Jazz/Folk/Pop, First Presbyterian Church 8 pm)
June 6 New York Chamber Ensemble (Episcopal Church 8 pm)
June 7 Bach’s Lunch (Carriage House Cafe & Tea Room 12:30 pm)
June 8 Bay Atlantic Symphony (First Presbyterian Church 8 pm)
June 11 6th Annual George Mesterhazy Tribute Concert (Convention Hall, 8 pm)
June 13 New York Chamber Ensemble (“Mostly Italia” Episcopal Church 8 pm)
June 14 Bach’s Lunch (Carriage House Cafe & Tea Room 12:30 pm)
June 15 Charlie Zahm (Celtic Music, Convention Hall 8 pm)
The Queen Victoria has long been a proud sponsor of the Cape May Music Festival, and as such we are always thrilled to offer free tickets to any concert to our guests staying with us for 2 nights.
Cape May Summer Concert Series
Summer 2017
The City of Cape May just released their summer 2017 concert series schedule and it looks to be another great summer of entertainment. As in past years, I’ve heard of every single performer on this list of big stars. While most of them were big stars before my time, their music still resonates today.
Here’s who will be performing at Convention Hall nearly every Wednesday (yep, they switched from a Monday schedule) this summer:
July 5: Herman’s Hermits, starring Peter Noone
July 12: Tommy James & The Shondells
July 15: The British Invasion Years (a Saturday concert!)
July 19: Arlo Guthrie (with Special guest Sarah Lee Guthrie)
July 26: Jay & The Americans
July 31: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas (this one is on a Monday!)
August 9: Aaron Neville
August 16: Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals
August 23: Mary Wilson of the Supremes (pictured above)
The shows all start at 8pm at the Cape May Convention Center.
Yes, we’re at it again. I suppose that we enjoyed the process of replacing 3 sets of outdoor porch steps around the inn so much last year that we couldn’t wait to do it again.
If you’ve ever taken our bikes out for a spin during your visit to The Queen Victoria, then perhaps you recall the steps and small deck that led up to our back office. In the past they were very utilitarian, made from pressure treated lumber and looking much like a deck you might see in your neighbor’s yard. We decided that when we replaced these stairs this Spring we would upgrade them a bit. You might not have noticed, but we upgraded from straight spindles to “turned”, spindles, and painted all the surfaces to match our color scheme.
Not only are we thrilled with the facelift that these stairs got, we love the seriously rock solid feeling of the new construction. Though these steps are only used by staff, they are obviously quite visible in a very active and busy area within The Queen Victoria. We wanted them to look as good as possible.
Favorite Photo
Blooms on the Beach
The dunes and beaches of Cape May are not a place I would typically go in search of beautiful blooms. That is why Anna Marie and I simply HAD to stop on our first beach stroll of the season the other day to take this picture.
To be honest, I have no idea what type of tree/bush this is. I’m guessing it is either a beach plum, which I thought had white blooms, or maybe a red bud. I’m sure that at least one of you will know and inform me.
Whatever it might be, it is certainly beautiful, and a slightly different look at Cape May’s beach.
If you have stayed with us at The Queen Victoria before, then you probably recall seeing one of these beautiful tapestry afghans in your room. In our guest rooms we make sure to fold it so that the building which the room is in is displayed. I had to enlist the assistance of my beautiful model Anna Marie to hold this up so that you could see all four buildings that are featured on it (she declined to actually appear in this photo). In addition to an image of each of our four buildings we also have our crown and the Scottish thistle, which you might recognize from our dining room wallpaper, as well as the iconic Cape May Lighthouse.
Not only is this afghan attractive and a fun reminder of your time at The Queen Victoria, it is cozy and warm. Anna Marie regularly curls up underneath ours at home to take the chill off of a cool evening.
If you’re looking for the ultimate souvenir to remind you of your time(s) at The Queen Victoria, you couldn’t do much better than our afghan. It also makes a great gift for that lady that has everything and loves The Queen Victoria. It isn’t the cheapest item in our gift shop, but it is certainly the nicest.
Yours for $59.95
Fun Things to do in Cape May
Designer Show House
Late July through November 19
It’s back!
After a year without a Designer Show House, and two years without a Summer season house, the Mid Atlantic Center for the Arts is bringing you the biggest and most impressive show house to date. The show house isn’t scheduled to open until late June, but I didn’t think you would mind a little advance notice.
The historic 1911 John P. Forsythe House, located on Cape May’s beach front at 1601 Beach Avenue, is undergoing a magnificent, multi-million dollar transformation. The three-floor mansion will feature 8 bedrooms including a large master suite, 6 full and 2 half baths, exercise room, office, spa, kitchen, living room, parlor and three porch areas, plus a spiral staircase and dry sauna … all completely new. Already impressive prior to this designer inspired renovation, I’m sure that the completed project will knock your socks off.
There are a few different ways to tour the house, including:
self guided tours, daily 1pm to 4pm
guided tours Sunday through Thursday at 7pm
Tea Luncheon Tour package, daily 12 noon to 4pm
Dinner & Tour packages Sunday through Thursday with partnering restaurants
Mansions Trolley Show House Combination tours
Click Here to check it out (and see the “before” photos).
Restaurant Pick of the Month
Tishas Fine Dining
If this picture of the Ravioli & Shrimp (with lump crab) dinner at Tishas doesn’t make you hungry, I’m not sure what will.
Tishas Fine Dining, which some of you might remember was once on the beachfront, is located in the heart of town in the Washington Street Mall. It has always been one of the most popular restaurants among our guests and a favorite of ours.
Anna Marie and I dined there with our family the other night and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We took advantage of the $35 3-course Prix Fixe offering, available Wed-Fri & Sun-Mon, all night long until April 30 (dare I say “Last Chance”?), which was terrific. We all started off with the Kale Caesar salad, which I found to be surprisingly delicious. Anna Marie enjoyed Chicken Piccata for her entree, while I tried Flat Iron Steak for the first time ever. Both of us loved our dinner and barely had room for the incredible Flourless Chocolate Cake, which should probably be illegal it is so sinfully good.
Tishas is a BYOB restaurant, which qualifies it for inclusion in my list of favorite restaurants in Cape May. It’s convenient location, just steps from Collier’s liquor store, means that you can quickly recover from forgetting to bring a bottle with you for dinner.
Everybody loves Tishas. I know you will too.
Great Reasons to Visit The Queen Victoria
Upcoming Queen Victoria & Cape May Events
Exit Zero Jazz Festival
April 21-23
April Birthdays Party
The Queen Victoria, April 22
Cape May Spring Festival
April 28 through May 7
Spring Birding Festival
May 19-21
Cape May Music Festival
May 28 through June 15
Cape May Restaurant Week
($25 & $35 three course dinners!)
June 4-11
Cape May Designer Show House
Late July through November, 2017
Secret Garden Tour
June 17
Cape May Hops Festival
June 24
Craft Beer & Crab Fest
August 5
Cape May Food & Wine Celebration
September 15-24
Harvest Brew Fest
September 16
Victorian Weekend
October 6-9
2017 Summer Concert Series
Herman’s Hermits (Peter Noone)
July 5
Tommy James & The Shondells
July 12
The British Invasion Years
July 15
Arlo Guthrie (with Lee Guthrie)
July 19
Jay & The Americans
July 26
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
July 31
Aaron Neville
August 9
Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals
August 16
Mary Wilson (of the Supremes)
August 23
Make your reservations today for a romantic getaway at The Queen Victoria Bed and Breakfast. We are looking forward to helping you plan your next visit!
