Princeton Democratic Headquarters for this year’s presidential election will open on or about September 1 at 217 Nassau Street, in the rear of a building just across the street from St. Paul’s Church.

“It’s a great, walkable location near the center of town,” enthused Princeton Democratic Community Organization (PCDO) President Dan Preston at a Sunday afternoon picnic sponsored by the organization at the Harrison Street Park.

Until a few weeks ago, the difficult real estate market made for some uncertainty about even having an office this year, Mr. Preston reported. Princeton resident Jan Weinberg came to the rescue by offering the Nassau Street site at a price that couldn’t be refused. Mr. Preston said that he paid the rent out of his own pocket using a single bill with George Washington’s picture on it.

In 2008, Princeton Democratic Headquarters were located on the second floor of 162 Nassau Street, above Nassau Interiors.

The Sunday event included what Mr. Preston described as “eating, drinking, juggling, game-playing, socializing, hearing from our candidates, and hootenannying.” Congressman Rush Holt (D-12) also made an appearance.

Committeewoman Sue Nemeth struck a gracious note as she introduced Marie Corfield, who defeated Ms. Nemeth in a bid for the Democratic nomination to represent the 16th district in the State Assembly. “Don’t feel disloyal,” Ms. Nemeth counseled her supporters as she urged them to get behind Ms. Corfield’s campaign.

Kids played with hula hoops, people refilled their plates, and enthusiasm ran high as Mr. Holt acknowledged the size of Sunday’s turnout in his comments.

Mercer County Freeholder Sam Frisby praised Princeton for voting to consolidate last November. “Princeton showed us how to do it,” he observed, describing other communities’ growing interest as a result.

Township Deputy Mayor Liz Lempert, the Democrats’ nominee for mayor of the consolidated municipality, who was a key local organizer for the 2008 Obama campaign, said that current obligations would keep her from participating as actively this time. She expressed optimism at the “good progress” being made toward consolidation, as staff “embrace it” and “long-standing issues are viewed with a new perspective.”