Happy Halloween from Einstein and the rest of Princeton

Rather than sitting at home and waiting for the few children who come to our front door on Halloween, Don and I have taken to going out on Halloween. This year we decided to walk around Princeton, and have dinner at Tiger Noodle.

Right after parking our car, we saw this Barbie Photo Box. It is silly, but we asked the mom of a trick or treater to take our picture.

We then continued to Jefferson which has turned into THE Trick or Treating scene in Princeton. The police block the road to cars so everyone stays safe. I asked one of them why this street (after all it wasn't decked out like Thompson Street in Bordentown, or Union Street in Lambertville), and the best answer he could come up with was because it is in the center of town and it organically turned into the street (not to say trick or treating cannot happen in other neighborhoods). I should have taken a picture of the crowded street, instead this is just a duplex in Princeton. Note: Thompson Street did not decorate this year.

 

The real story about Halloween in Princeton dates back to 1933, two weeks after Albert Einstein moved from Germany to Princeton, NJ to join the faculty at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). Local legend has it when children knocked on his door saying "trick or treat," Einstein, unfamiliar with the tradition, opted for a treat: he played his violin.

This Halloween the IAS decided to recreate the tradition by having Adrienne Walsh dress up as Einstein and play the violin from 5:30-7:30 pm. Ms. Walsh played music that Einstein is known to have played while standing just inside the front door of 112 Mercer Street. It was a little nippy that night, so she moved inside to keep warm and dry. May the tradition continue.

To be more historically accurate, this should have taken place at his first home at 2 Library Place, but let's not be spoil sports.

Happy Halloween!