CAPE MAY — Cape May in spring offers a wide variety of delicious tours and activities that celebrate food and wine, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). Come to Cape May to delve into some exciting new events along with some Cape May favorites.
Visitors to Cape May’s Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., can enjoy a delicious lunch or afternoon tea when the Carriage House Café & Tearoom reopens for the season Friday, April 28. Gracious, yet casual, dining awaits with a café menu that includes signature sandwiches, salads and tea sandwiches, as well as homemade soups and quiche, plus the popular Classic Tea Luncheon and Afternoon Tea featuring loose tea service and specialty teas from the House of Tea in Philadelphia. The Carriage House Café & Tearoom is open noon to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays, from April 28 through June 15. (Open daily beginning June 16).
New in 2017! Embark on a dinner and full moon extravaganza during a new event for the 2017 season: the Dinner & Full Moon Climb. Step on board a MAC trolley at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth and head to The Red Store in Cape May Point, where you’ll savor the Tasting Menu presented by award-winning Chef Lucas Manteca. Then you’ll be transported for the short ride to the Cape May Lighthouse, where you’ll experience an exclusive night climb to see the shoreline and waters of the ocean and bay, beneath the light of the full moon, weather permitting. Relax on the evening trolley ride back after this magical evening. Offered Thursday, June 8 at 6:15 p.m. Reservations are required; limited to 22 people. Admission is $85.
Bingo during breakfast? Absolutely! On Saturdays, April 8 and May 13 at 9:30 a.m., during Brunch, Bingo & Lace, you’ll laugh along with your girlfriends as you play a little bingo, enjoy a fashion show by Lace Silhouettes/Cotton Company and compete for prizes, all during a delicious brunch at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean St. Admission is $25.
Have you sampled the lush variety of wines flourishing in the Cape May area? Join the Cape May Wine Trail on Saturday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and you’ll discover local vineyards and wineries via transport on one of MAC’s delightful red trolleys. First enjoy lunch at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom at the Emlen Physick Estate. Then the trolley will take you to Willow Creek Winery, Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery and Natali Vineyards for tastings and tours. Admission is $75 and includes lunch and wine tastings at each vineyard. Parking is free at the Physick Estate. This is a limited event, so please reserve early.
It’s a bountiful feast for chocolate lovers! Enjoy seven plated courses of delicious chocolate desserts and hear how each was created from the chef who prepared it, during the popular Chocolate Lovers Feast at The Blue Rose Inn. This is a limited event so reserve early. The Blue Rose Inn, 653 Washington St. Offered on Saturday, April 29 at 1 p.m. Admission is $40.
Stroll Dr. Physick’s neighborhood on tree-lined Washington Street and hear about the families who lived there and the architecture of the homes during Dr. Physick’s Neighborhood Walking Tour & Café Combo. Explore one of Cape May’s great mysteries — why the Doctor chose to live in this area of Cape May. Enjoy lunch or afternoon tea at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom at the Emlen Physick Estate to top off your walking tour. Offered on Saturdays, April 29 and May 6 at 11:15 a.m. Admission includes voucher for lunch or afternoon tea between noon and 4 p.m. Admission is $20 adults, $17 children (ages 3-12).
If you delight over a good whodunit, you’ll enjoy Murder Mystery Dinners at Aleathea’s Restaurant at the Inn of Cape May. Enjoy a delicious four-course dinner as you contemplate the clues, interact with the cast and help solve the mystery as it unfolds around you in the dining room of the historic Inn of Cape May! Offered Saturdays, April 29 and May 6 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person.
Celebrate Mother’s Day with brunch under the tent at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom at the Emlen Physick Estate, and enjoy live jazz with The Herb Moore Duo during Jazz Brunch at the Estate for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 14, at 10 a.m. Admission is $30 and parking is free at the Physick Estate. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
What was under all those layers of Victorian garments? Discover what proper ladies and gentlemen wore in this overview (or underview?) of Victorian undergarments during Show Us Your Undies Brunch & Fashion Show at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom on the grounds of the Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Grand Oak Plantation will show you what shaped the fashionable Victorian lady; you’ll even see what the proper gentleman had to cope with to dress for the day. Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. Admission is $30, which includes fashion show and brunch.
Enjoy mini-concerts by members of the Bay Atlantic Symphony accompanying a delicious Tea Luncheon during Bach’s Lunches at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom, on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate. Offered Wednesdays, May 31, June 7 and June 14 at 12:30 p.m. Admission is $30 per person. Advance reservations are suggested. Parking is free at the Emlen Physick Estate. This event is part of the 28th annual Cape May Music Festival.
Come to the Champagne Jazz Brunch at Aleathea’s and linger over a Sunday morning champagne brunch buffet at the Inn of Cape May, while enjoying live jazz featuring The Herb Moore Duo. Offered Sunday, June 4 at 10 a.m. Admission is $35. This event is part of the 28th annual Cape May Music Festival.
To purchase tickets or for more information about these events, call (609) 884-5404 or (800) 275-4278. Tickets may also be purchased for many of these events online at MAC’s website at www.capemaymac.org. Purchase tickets in person by visiting the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or during hours of operation at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth, Washington Street Mall at Ocean St., Cape May.