Princeton's European Flair
Dutch Revival Building on Nassau Street – Photo – Credit: R. Birkel
There are so many things about Princeton, NJ that makes it unique (you can read about those things here), but it is its continental panache that residents and visitors appreciate. Along Nassau and Witherspoon Streets, there is a central business district with unique buildings and bustling sidewalks. The architecture of downtown Princeton is a conglomeration of old world styles, but a number of other factors give this town a European flair. Let me count the ways…
Hamilton Jewelers – Photo Credit: R.Birkel
Downtown – Princeton has a central business district. This focal point attracts residents and visitors from near and far for shopping, dining, activities, the arts, parades, street fairs, festivals, and other entertainment.
Palmer Square – This was designed as a smaller scale of Rockefeller Center, with shopping, dining, offices, a park (The Green) with the town's Christmas tree, and the Nassau Inn as the centerpiece. Each building on Palmer Square West has been individually constructed with different roof lines and facades of various materials (brick, stucco, stone, cedar shingles, etc.). Some architectural designs lean British, while others are colonial in style. However, it's very organic for a planned development. The permanent walk-in Palmer Square News Kiosk is styled after European models.
Pedestrian Zones – Hinds Plaza is a small area offering dining (Witherspoon Grill, Sakura Express), shopping, seating, and the library surrounding it. Within Palmer Square is a small plaza flanked by retail stores, offices, services, a restaurant (Mediterra), and a fountain that is operational in warmer weather. Further north there is the Princeton Shopping Center (Harrison Street North), offering the largest pedestrian zone in town. It is a planned development, but the green courtyard is a wonderful place to enjoy with or without kids, and its host to a number of family friendly events.
Nassau Presbyterian Church Photo – Credit: R. Birkel
Architecture – The older buildings of Princeton University are designed similar to those of Oxford and Cambridge Universities in collegiate Gothic and Tudor Gothic architecture, the old Princeton Bank & Trust building at 12 – 14 Nassau Street is a Dutch revival (top photo), the Lower Pyne Building is a classic English Tudor (second from the top), Nassau Presbyterian Church is a Greek revival (above), Princeton United Methodist Church is Gothic, Trinity Episcopal Church is Gothic, and other areas in town you can find Queen Anne, Victorian, Italianate, and Georgian designed homes and buildings.
Culture – An art museum, a performing arts theatre, opera, ballet, a symphony orchestra, and movie theater for independent films are all here – the classics are well represented in Princeton.
Outdoor Dining – Cafés, restaurants and even ice cream parlors offer outdoor seating. Some have sidewalk tables to see and be seen, and others have areas tucked away for a more private courtyard atmosphere.
Princeton Farmers' Market – The weekly market takes place as an indoor pop-up market in the Community Room of the library in winter, and an outdoor market at Hinds Plaza in warmer weather.
Nassau Street Seafood & Produce Co. – Photo Credit: R. Birkel
Local Grocers and Markets – There are a number of independent grocers and markets unique to Princeton. Bon Appetit, D'Angelo's, Despaña, La Mexicana, Lucy's Ravioli, Nassau Seafood, Olsson's, and Olive's are some of the locally owned establishments offering fresh produce, fish, cheeses, etc. to the community.
Sustainability – Recycling, compost, re-usable shopping bags, increasing bicycle use, growing number of electric/hybrid car owners, and consignment shops to repurpose are finally catching up to European standards set over three decades ahead.
Pedestrians – There are sidewalks on both sides of the streets, and limited parking. Therefore, people walk a lot downtown.
Hiking – Princetonians have plenty of places to hike in the woods due to the many conservation areas.
Dining Attire – The abundance of fine dining restaurants in Princeton call for at least business casual attire when eating out.
Parks and Playgrounds – Plenty are dispersed around town.
Sharrow on Nassau Street – Photo Credit: R. Birkel
Cycling – There is room for improvement here, but downtown has become a little more bicycle-friendly thanks to the sharrows on the roads, which are shared-lane markings. Early morning Sunday cyclists are seen on hilly roads in fair weather.
Details – Gas lamp-style street lights in parts of downtown, storefronts with awnings, some wrought iron garbage bins downtown, sidewalk benches, a column kiosk in front of the Garden Theatre for posting info, and Belgian block curbs in some parts of town all add an old world touch to Princeton.
Filed Under: Lifestyle, Travel Tagged With: Princeton NJ European Architecture
Khürt Williams says
From my perspective it feels *very* European.
* Dining Attire/Outdoor Dining — Recently we dined at Mistral recently with a businessman from California and others who had come in to attend a play at McCarter that a mutual friend was performing in. The gentleman from California commented that diners in P'town were dressed a bit "tight". We agreed with the gent from Cali and wished we could have relaxed more. That's why I wish P'town had more outdoor spring/summer dining options. I would feel more comfortable in wearing my chappals, jeans and t-shirts.
* Pedestrian Zones — I love walking Palmer Square and hanging out in Hinds Plaza. I would love it if the roads in that section of Witherspoon Street and Palmer Square were shut off to vehicular traffic, cobbled and the sidewalk was used as outdoor seating.