By Zahra A.

With their sandals and drinks to the side and their beaming smiles on full display, a family of four sits in the middle row. The parents sit in camp chairs, enjoying live music as their two kids, one daughter and one son, read comics on a picnic blanket.

This is what a typical week-end afternoon at Palmer Square looks like during the Summer Music Series, which kicks off in June and continues through August. The small series began after the COVID-19 pandemic, when the larger festivals they used to host were no longer appropriate.

Palmer Square events are free and coordinated by Palmer Square Management LLC, a property management company that owns real estate in the heart of Princeton. Director of Marketing Elizabeth Egan organizes the events, which range from a tree lighting during Christmas time to movie nights to outdoor concerts and arts showcases. Along with all the fun, the main goal of the events is to promote a sense of togetherness.

“We’re looking to bring people to town and make things flourish, and there’s nothing better than seeing a packed square, of course,” Egan said. She saw how community members came together to shop at small stores during the COVID-19 pandemic. “What are we doing if not giving back to them?” she said. “And that’s our mentality as we move forward.”

Community mutual aid happens in many ways, but the promotion of local artists doesn’t normally get a lot of attention. Those artists include the Erik Daab Trio, a local band started after 2020 when Erik Daab, the lead guitarist, started making music with Wilbo Wright, the bassist, and Michael Castro, the drummer. The band has played at Palmer Square four times a year for the past three years, but it’s more than just a gig for them.

“It’s just rewarding to know that people like what we do and that we could give back to the community, because this is the community I grew up in,” Erik Daab said.

The Trio intentionally cultivates a relaxing and family friendly atmosphere, aiming for the audience to be able to make themselves part of the music. They avoid singing lyrics so no one has to worry about their kids hearing a bad word. 

“You can play the words on the guitar,” Daab likes to say. While Castro drums, he closes his eyes and in between every song, Daab tells a little joke. The calming nature of their music seems to come from their attitude towards it.

“There’s no wrong notes for us. If you play something that sounds crazy, you’ll think ‘Oh, was that crazy or was that cool?,” Daab said. “Also, if youdo it twice, it becomes a [thing],” said Castro.

But the compassion in Princeton goes far beyond Palmer Square. Another option to enjoy the summer fun is to go kayaking and canoeing. Owned by Stephen Androsko, Princeton Canoe & Kayak Rental has been around for 32 years and is the perfect way to disconnect and see some turtles, which many say are the stars of the canal.

However, it is important to note that once, just once, an otter jumped into a canoe and bit its

riders.”[It’s important to] disconnect from all the different types of media and all the different types of distractions that people have, whether it’s work or family, and just to be able to go out and see nature and look at turtles and get the joy out of that,” Androsoko said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Princeton Canoe & Kayak Rental became a big attraction,

as there were few options to maintain social-distancing during outdoor activities. For many, it’s a community staple because of Androsko’s care for his customers. 

One woman lives near a kayak rental, but comes to Princeton Canoe & Kayak Rental because of the amenities they offer, from free dry boxes for phones and keys to laminated maps and seat cushions.

So whether it is Danielle Daab swaying along to her husband’s music at Palmer Square, the rows of camp chairs, or the beaming smiles of children, summer in Princeton isn’t just summer. It’s a time of togetherness. But beware of the otters when canoeing, they might just bite.

By JaeHa (Justin) K.

Between the smiles of couples munching on The Bent Spoon’s vanilla ice cream and groups of children playing cornhole stand three men. Each is colorfully adorned with his instrument: Erik Daab, the main vocalist, with his dark red electric guitar; Willbo Wright, with his blue bass; and Michael Castro on his mustard yellow drum kit. This is the Erik Daab Trio, who claim to be “not your average jazz band.” Under the bright evening sun, the trio makes smiles larger and brings laughter to Palmer Square in Princeton. 

Upon hearing “Princeton,” most people are instantly reminded of the prestigious Princeton University. However, there is so much more to Princeton than just its university; in fact, it’s a town that boasts its own culture, traditions, and ventures.

Palmer Square is a public park-like space at the heart of Princeton, featuring multiple restaurants, luxury stores such as Hermès and Rolex, and the centuries-old Nassau Inn. It’s filled with a sense of community, unity—and most of all, love. A family of four hosts a picnic on a blue-striped blanket with strawberry patterns, while behind them lies an elderly couple sitting in their blue-and-green Coleman chairs, holding hands. “We just want to create a lively atmosphere, a really cool outdoor environment to be in,” says Elizabeth Egan, the director of marketing of Palmer Square.

Egan works alongside Melissa Thompson to plan events at Palmer Square, including movie nights, annual Christmas tree lightings, and the Summer Music Series. Most recently, they hosted a movie night showing “Ratatouille,” which was chosen by Palmer Square’s Instagram followers. “We want them to see something that they’ve chosen and make them feel special and heard,” Thompson says. They are planning to host their next movie nights on August 1 and August 15. 

Their Christmas tree lighting, annually on Black Friday, is also a big hit. According to both Egan and Thompson, the lighting celebrations are “always very successful,” with thousands of individuals attending. Egan emphasized her efforts to follow Palmer Square’s own motto—that in everything they pursue, they always keep in mind that “just because it’s always been done a certain way doesn’t necessarily mean that it needs to continue,” highlighting her desires to continuously bring change and progress. 

At this year’s Summer Music Series, the Erik Daab Trio, who have performed at Palmer Square for nearly a decade, returned. The band formed after the COVID-19 pandemic and have gradually evolved since releasing their first, eponymous album. They are planning to release their second album in 2026. Princeton is a special place to perform for Erik Daab, the trio’s vocalist and leader. “I spent most of my life here… for about 40 years, so to play right in the center of Princeton, is absolutely fantastic,” says Daab. “Especially when we have a great crowd, everybody’s listening; it’s great [and] very rewarding.” During their mini-concert, the band covered many well-known hits such as Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” and Santana’s “Maria Maria.” The trio performs at Palmer Square about three to four times annually. 

On a recent July afternoon, the crowd seemed pleased to listen to the band at Palmer Square. “I was really into rock-and-roll when I was younger,” says Barry Cron, 89. “I’m only a year away from being 90 years old … [and] it’s amazing to have this kind of music, even under the very hot weather.” 

A little more than a mile away from Palmer Square lies the Princeton Canoe & Kayak Rental, a long-standing shop where visitors can rent canoes and kayaks throughout the year to float on Carnegie Lake. It’s a perfect place to relax with family, friends, and Mother Nature for an hour or two (or more!). Stephen Rosko, the owner of the shop, has managed the site for the last 32 years, after being introduced to the location by the previous owner. “It wasn’t something that I was actively seeking,” says Rosko, who admits that he now loves being “his own boss.” Rosko listed many absurd memories from owning the shop, including a time when beavers jumped onto customers’ boats at the lake. 

But most of all, Rosko finds it very rewarding to host a service for the Princeton community. “I love it just because I just like seeing, you know, kids excited, and seeing people laughing or bonding with their town and kids,” Rosko says. He especially finds delight when kids ask him questions about nature, and hopes more adolescents will be drawn to the outdoors instead of technology. 

Although Princeton boasts a plethora of cultures and activities, it’s lamentable to hear that most people—even Princeton University students—are unaware of just how much they can do across the town. Just by looking around, you can find something for everyone.