Business Notebook: Bridal expo and first anniversaries

Warwick - On Sunday, Sept. 17, Warwick’s Chateau Hathorn Restaurant, located at the intersection of County 1 and Route 94, held a “Bridal Fair and Exposition” to feature its new outdoor facility, which is now available for alfresco parties of up to two hundred guests. Twenty-eight local merchants, offering services and products that cater to weddings, participated in the exposition. The event was open to the public and enjoyed near-perfect weather; owners Dolph and Helene Zueger served their guests a variety of gourmet appetizers and provided an open bar in a comfortable outdoor atmosphere. The natural setting featured a picturesque fountain in a pond spanned by a bridge that leads to a gazebo where a wedding photographer could capture the memorable event or where the actual ceremony could be performed. In the event of inclement weather, the inside of the Chateau boasts cathedral ceilings, winding staircases, wood carved interiors, a balcony and a new upstairs Victorian lounge. The lounge offers an attractive setting for private dinner or cocktail parties, and this new addition to the Chateau is designed to conform to the décor of the pre-existing historic building. Co-owner and chef Dolph Zueger, trained in Switzerland, and his wife, Helene, who serves as hostess, have successfully operated the Chateau Hathorn for the past 22 years. The menu is ambitious, as is the wine list, having received a Five-Star rating for its French-laced continental cuisine. “We have specials that change daily which include the fish of the market and other culinary delights,” said Helene Zueger. With over 800 varieties of wine to choose from, the Chateau Hathorn’s wine list has received the “Award of Excellence” from Wine Spectator Magazine consecutively for the past three years. “Weddings are our specialty,” said Zueger, “but we would also love to cater all your private parties and banquets.” For more information call 986-6099 or visit www.chateauhathorn.com BiNK’s first birthday For any business, the first anniversary is an important event. It usually means you’re doing something right. Rick and Maura Peddle, owners of BiNK, a fashionable baby boutique at 22 Railroad Avenue, celebrated the shop’s “first birthday” on the weekend of Sept. 15 - 17 with a storewide sale, raffle and a cocktail party held on Saturday evening, Sept. 16. “It was a very successful year,” said Maura Peddle. “It exceeded our expectations.” Last year, BiNK’s grand opening on September 17, included raising funds for the Kennedy Birthing Center at St. Anthony Community Hospital. A week before the celebration, BiNK sold raffle tickets for a Maclaren stroller and accessories, as well as prizes from photographer Lara Blair, Plain Jane, Baby Bjorn and J.J. Cole. The entire proceeds from the raffle, plus a percentage of sales during the grand opening party, were donated to the Kennedy Birthing Center. Time to plant According to Bill Korwan, owner of Mountain Pine Nursery, 117 Warwick Turnpike, fall is the best time to plant perennials in order to allow them time to establish their roots before the first frost. It’s also a good time to visit Mountain Pine, which has beautiful display gardens that are still in bloom and full of color. The nursery was established 20 years ago and carries more than 2,500 hard-to-find perennials including Asclepias Butterfly weed, Ceratostigna and Hellebores. Mountain Pine also offers a large selection of ornamental grasses, trees, shrubs, garden art and sculpture. Korwan has a degree in horticulture from Colorado State University. And he and his wife, Debbie, also offer custom design services. Mountain. Pine recently won the prestigious voters choice award for the 2006 Spring Garden Show at Sussex County Fair Ground in New Jersey. Call 986 7079 or visit www.mtnpinenursery.com.