Chatham & Short Hills, NJ February 2023

Love Local

Love Local

February 2023 - Love Local

I don’t know about you, but this time of year I am always torn. I find myself torn between staying on track with my January’s commitment for a new healthy eating plan and indulging in all the sweet excuses to enjoy the season.

Valentine’s Day for us, is an at-home celebration with our kids! Do your Valentine’s Day plans include a date out or enjoying a cozy night at home? We’ll each arrive at different answers based on our preferences and personalities, but what we hold in common is an opportunity to make sure those around us know we love them. And regardless of how you choose to celebrate, we hope the pages of this month’s magazine will help you just that as we celebrate and highlight what’s to love in our local communities and beyond!

In this issue, you will find a great local Valentines’ Day getaway at The Lodge at Woodloch in Pennsylvania, discover our very own local chocolatiers, and learn about what wines pair well with your favorite chocolates!

While we teeter between the chill of January winter and the excitement of spring, we hope you’ll be inspired to take a moment to come together with the people in your life. The ones in your home and on your street. In your neighborhood and your community.

“Love local” means your local businesses, those in your community - but it also means loving what is near. Those under your own roof included. So grab a cup of coffee and plan for a game night around the fire with the family, or snag a bottle of your favorite wine and indulge on a movie night in.

We’ve always believed what we can do together is so much more than what we can do apart. And we continue to see that demonstrated through the many stories told in these pages month after month. Thank you for letting us be a part of the life you’re building, whatever that may look like. Our hope is that we inspire you to love it just a bit more than you did before.

If you are looking to grow your business and advertise with us, or have local stories to share, reach out to John.Meyer@citylifestyle.com or call us at 973-944-1440. We look forward to seeing you around town. Happy February!

ANA AND JOHN MEYER, PUBLISHERS @CHATHAMSHORTHILLS

February 2023

PUBLISHERS

Ana Meyer | ana.meyer@citylifetyle.com

John Meyer | john.meyer@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Ana Meyer | ana.meyer@citylifestyle.com

PUBLISHER ASSISTANT

Clara Wang

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Ben Meyer

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Sue Baldani

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Chris Jorda Photography

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

1-3: The Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills (JLOSH) annual holiday party. 4-5: Newly formed Chatham Chamber of Commerce first meeting. 6-7: Millburn Short Hills Chamber of Commerce Holiday party at Industrious Short Hills

8: David Leigh, ESQ, Millburn Short Hills Chamber of Commerce Holiday party at Industrious Short Hills 9-13: Paul Stanley (KISS) art event with his collectors at the Short Hills Wentworth Gallery.

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @chathamshorthills

14: VIP dinner Paul Stanley (KISS) with his collectors at the Short Hills Wentworth Gallery. 15-17: Paul Stanley (KISS) art event with his collectors at the Short Hills Wentworth Gallery.

WHEN IS THE PERFECT TIME TO CONSIDER EYELID REJUVENATION?

When you see something that bothers you-wrinkles, creases, folds, sagging skin or heavy bags

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST FASCINATING THING ABOUT THE EYES?

How subtle changes of the eyelids can change how your face appears

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION?

Oculoplastic surgeons are specially trained in the delicate surgery of eyelids. Being able to concentrate surgically on the individual nuances of eyelid anatomy allows me to appreciate that everyone’s eyelid fold, crease and relationship to the eyebrow is different.

Screening With Same Day Results and Walk-In Appointments

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC), offers Same Day Breast Results Program. Following your screening mammogram, a breast radiologist will interpret your mammogram and determine if you need additional imaging while you wait. Walk-In Wednesdays from 6:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., patients can walk in to have a screening mammogram at the ACC without an appointment. The Center also has a dedicated breast MRI magnet exclusively for breast patients. Schedule a mammogram rwjbh.org/ mammo or call 973.322.7888.

Welcome the New Chatham Chamber of Commerce!

The newly formed Chatham Chamber of Commerce held its first member get-together at the Chatham Blue Foundry Bank. Join the chamber for their next event and visit their website at chathamchambernj.org .

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle. com/ChathamandShortHills

Come Stay at the Lodge

An all-inclusive spa that provides the best in beauty, relaxation, and wellness

ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

An extraordinary experience awaits guests at The Lodge at Woodloch. Located in Hawley, Pennsylvania, it’s a place to refresh and rejuvenate bodies and minds. While there, you’ll feel like you traveled into a whole other world even though it’s a short two-hour car ride away.

“It’s a beautiful area that is so close to major metropolitan areas but where you’re able to really enjoy true nature,” says Brooke Jennings, its director of marketing communications. “There are  stunning waterfalls and lakes because of our location  in the lake district of the Pocono Mountains.”

The Lodge at Woodloch is a sister property of Woodloch Family Resort, which opened over 60 years ago. There’s also Woodloch Springs, which has a golf course and guest homes. While the other properties are open to guests of all ages, The Lodge, which is just two miles down the road, is a destination spa that welcomes guests 16 and older.

“Many people often think of spas as being frilly, but because we are a destination spa,

we really put a lot of thought into designing the building to appeal to everyone,” she says. “It features a lot of Pennsylvania bluestone, rocks and indigenous wood, and really blends in with the surroundings of our over 500 acres of woodlands. It feels really cozy and welcoming.”

Many luxurious treatments are offered at this 40,000-square-foot spa. “Our signature service is called the Rosemary Awakening body treatment, which is amazing and always the most popular,” says Brooke. “It features our signature scent, Rosemary Mint, and combines a body scrub and a massage. Another treatment that’s really popular is our Blues Be Gone massage. This really helps the adrenal system by flushing out toxins. It’s great after a long flight or to get rid of the doldrums to energize you.”

There are also Swedish massages, body wraps, facials, float therapy, romantic spa treatments for two, a hair and nail salon, and much more. “We also have our aqua

garden, which is an indoor pool that features a Hydromassage Water Wall you can stand underneath,” she says. “When the water falls, that pressure relieves tension in your shoulders. We have an outdoor whirlpool as well, which has views of beautiful fern-carpeted woods.”

Last year the Lodge also unveiled its snow room. “This form of contrast therapy allows guests to spend time in the salt sauna, and then afterward they can cool down in the snow room. Cultures from around the world have done this for centuries and it’s extremely good for your heart health and for reducing stress.” Fresh snow is blown in every evening, so it’s always pristine.

Spa treatments are available for people who aren’t overnight guests as well (although guests do get priority scheduling). They are able to use the spa facility which includes the pool and Hydro massage, Water Walls and sauna. “It’s so nice to get your hair done and also have

“EACH GUEST ROOM HAS ITS OWN PRIVATE VERANDA, WHICH IS ALSO REALLY UNIQUE.”

a bit of a spa day,” says Brooke. There’s also a state-of-the-art fitness center and individualized fitness and wellness classes.

In warmer months, guests love kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing on the lake, and bike riding and hikes. “We have over seven miles of nature trails around our property, in addition, we have outdoor adventures where a guide will take our guests off property to do longer hikes. In colder weather, we still do a lot of hikes, and if it snows, we’ll transition over to snowshoeing,” she says.

“We love that there’s something different every season. People always ask when the best time is to come. I honestly couldn’t say because there’s something new and amazing each season.” Over 35 classes are also offered daily, and guests can choose from a variety of interests such as art, cooking, and wine. There are special presenters every weekend too. It may be a guest author, a wellness expert, an organizational expert, or a career expert.

Since The Lodge at Woodloch is all-inclusive, guests receive three meals per day at its Tree Restaurant. “Our spa cuisine is farm-to-table,” says Brooke. “Our chef team really highlights our own garden on property, and also partners very closely with local farmers to get hyperlocal ingredients because the flavor is just so much better. They’ll also take some traditional favorites and, with a few slight ingredient tweaks, make them a lot healthier, while still tasting delicious.”

There are 59 guest rooms, all of which have been completely renovated in the past year. “There are very few properties that have such a small amount of guest rooms, so guests never feel like they’re on top of each other,” she says. “Each guest room has its own private veranda, which is also really unique.”

There are gorgeous views of either its five-acre lake, or the woodlands; there is also a waterfall on the front side of the building. There’s free Wi-Fi, but the public areas of the Lodge are cell phone free. Of course, guests can use them in their own rooms.

People typically stay for a long weekend, and most travel from the tri-state area, although some come from much farther away. “We were doing a photo shoot a few months ago and somebody had just flown in from the Bahamas,” says Brooke. “We also have a good number of people from California, Texas, Chicago, and Illinois.”

Guests at The Lodge at Woodloch can also take advantage of offerings at the Family Resort. “During the holidays, they have a beautiful horse-drawn carriage that takes people through the woods where there are holiday lights all throughout - it’s so beautiful. Guests are welcome to go back and forth between resorts and enjoy the amenities.”

To book a stay, which is best booked in advance, go to thelodgeatwoodloch.com

Destination Chocolate

ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS JORDA PHOTOGRAPHY

ADD SOME SWEETNESS AND DELIGHT TO ANY DAY

If you’re not a big fan of alcohol, you can still go bar hopping – chocolate bar hopping, that is. And not just bars, but all sorts of delicious and creamy chocolate concoctions.

While many people think of Switzerland and Belgium when it comes to places to find premium chocolates, some of the best of these delicacies can be found right here in New Jersey.

ENJOU CHOCOLAT  - MORRISTOWN

“We’re using the same recipes that we’ve been using for 40 years,” says owner Wendy Taffett. “We use the best ingredients, everything is made in-house and is fresh. The fresher the chocolate is, the better it tastes.”

While there’s always a great assortment of chocolates available on display, including truffles, almond buttercrunch and chocolate caramel apples, special orders are also welcome for everything from Rubik’s Cubes and chocolate giraffes to baby shower favors, birthday gift bags, and anniversary presents. Or, if customers want to make sure they can get a particular favorite, they can order those as well.

Its biggest sellers are chocolate-covered Oreos, chocolate-covered pretzels, and sea salt caramels. “What we do and have been doing for a number of years is making edible containers,” she says. “Those are then filled with other chocolates, which are really, really special. Nothing is left but lots of smiles.”

For Valentine’s Day, Enjou Chocolat will have chocolate champagne glasses filled with truffles and heart-shaped chocolate boxes. And of course, chocolate-covered strawberries. “We’re a

Enjou Chocolat

Enjou Chocolat

tradition in people’s families for all the different holidays,” says Wendy.

She adds, “When people come here, I want them to feel very happy and forget everything that may be wrong. This is what we try to do for everybody every day and what I’ve been trying to do since I started out in 1986. Sweetness and chocolate make everybody feel better.”

ZIGARELLI CHOCOLATES –EAST HANOVER

Rosalie Genarelli, nee Zigarelli, and husband Al bought the business in 2002 from her uncle who had purchased it from a little old German woman in 1965. She made him promise to carry on her chocolate recipe, which he did with some tweaks here and there.

There are many different assortments of chocolates including raspberry creams, dark chocolate with sea salt caramel, and almond bark. “We also offer a lot of unique items,” says Rosalie. “For Valentine’s Day, we make a little heart dish out of chocolate and in those we put our handmade nonpareils, so you can eat the whole thing.” The shop usually has three or four different colored nonpareils for every season.

For Christmas, she says, they use Christmas tree molds and fill these with eight or nine truffles so that they look like balls on the tree. “At Easter, we use antique molds that have been passed down from generation to generation. They’re metal and very heavy. One of them is an egg mold and we roast and chop up hazelnuts to make hazelnut eggs. Nobody really has these and people come from all over to get them.” These eggs are wrapped in various pastel-colored foils and people love to put them on their tables and in Easter baskets.

Rosalie calls Zigarelli Chocolates a hidden gem. “We’re kind of hard to find, but when you do find us, you always come back.”

“We use the best ingredients. The fresher the chocolate is, the better it tastes.”

Zigarelli Chocolates

Zigarelli Chocolates

Zigarelli Chocolates

FROM

When high-end designer Sareh Nouri took a trip to Italy this past summer, she found incredible inspiration for her new spring collection in many of the towns she visited. “I was really inspired by the travel, the food and the culture,” she says. “It was my first time going there, and I named my new dresses for most of the cities that I traveled to, especially in Sicily.”

Many of her fabrics, beads, laces and some of her silks are actually produced in Lake Como. “These are vendors I’ve worked with for many years, so there was already a nice connection with Italy for me,” says Sareh.

While Sareh Nouri gowns are known for their clean lines and bows, for this new collection, she changed things up by adding some elaborate laces and beading. At her recent trunk shows, she says people were surprised by all the new designs, and she received wonderful feedback.

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baby blue color is what I tend to use every season in some of my gowns because there’s something blue right in the dress, plus it’s one of my favorite colors.” Forza D’agro is also available in ivory.

She also introduced a couple of short bridal dresses. “One is like a high-low dress called Roma, since I also visited Rome,” says Sareh. “It has this beading on the top that is just so beautiful. Another, called Noto, is a really short puffy dress that has gorgeous organza work on it.”

Her Palermo dress, with its overskirt and a look that is in high demand, actually made the cover of Women’s Wear Daily this past fall. “The magazine interviewed me, so I knew they were doing a piece on me for October, but actually making the cover was such a great surprise and honor; because of that, we went to market with a really strong confidence,” she says.

Sareh also recently launched a new evening collection as well, which she does once a year (bridal is twice a year). “There are 12 to 14 new gowns,” she says. “Again, I used some really beautiful intricate beading and some prints. There’s a dress named Anita and it’s got a baby blue top and the bottom is a pleated print, and it’s so flowy and whimsical. It has a very different feel from my previous designs. I’ve also added some colors that have been requested.”

Her new spring collection will be available in her Flagship Salon at the Short Hills Mall, and at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Kleinfeld and other select stores across the country.

Another reason Sareh wanted to visit Sicily had to do with one of her favorite movies - The Godfather. The town where many of the scenes were filmed, Savoca, was five miles from her hotel. She and her husband went to Bar Vitelli  and the church where characters Michael Corleone and Apollonia were married . “It was just amazing to be in that town where they filmed many iconic scenes, and so I named my favorite dress from the past collection after that town. It’s a really beautiful highneck lace dress.”

To see her spring and other collections, go to SarehNouri.com and follow on Instagram.

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Finding The

Perfect Match

Enhance the delectable flavors of chocolate and wine

If you want to delight your loved ones this Valentine’s Day, give them a gift of premium chocolates. To really make an impression, pair those with the right bottle of wine.

As with savory foods, certain wines can bring out the flavors of chocolate in a most extraordinary way. Since there are many different varieties of chocolate – milk, dark, and white – and many types of wines, there are certain important criteria to follow to ensure that you enhance both flavors, and not overwhelm or dilute them. To save you the time of taste testing and matching on your own (although that would be enjoyable), wine and chocolate experts have already done the work for you.

For instance, they have found that for a delicately flavored milk chocolate, a heavy full-bodied red will eradicate its subtle flavors. Or, for an intensely flavored chocolate, such as bitter dark chocolate, the delicate flavors of a light white wine will be overshadowed.

It’s also important to match the sweetness of the wine with the sugar content of the chocolate. Dark chocolate is best paired with drier wines, while white and milk chocolate should be served with sweeter wines. These will enhance the flavors of both instead of competing against each other. And it’s always better to go a step up in sweetness than a level down.

While Valentine’s Day often calls for Champagne, it’s best to abstain while consuming chocolate. Although delicious, its dry and astringent nature doesn’t pair well with the confection.

Dark Chocolate

There are many varieties of dark chocolate from slightly bitter to very bitter. That has to be taken into account when selecting the best pairing since both dark chocolate and wine contain tannins, and the intense concentration of these on the palate would not be favorable. So, be sure to pair a high-percentage cocoa chocolate with a more full-bodied wine such as a Merlot, Shiraz, Zinfandel, Cabernet, Grenache or Malbec. A nice vintage port would also work well.

Milk Chocolate

Made from less cacao but with a high amount of sugar, milk chocolate is a favorite among many chocolate aficionados and much easier to pair with a wide variety of wines since the milk content makes it milder.

Lighter, fruitier wines and reds with a lower alcohol content pair well, as do fortified wines like Muscat or Tokay. A Lambrusco, Riesling, Moscato Noir, and other aged reds also work. A ruby port would be a nice complement too.

White Chocolate Flavored Chocolate

While not technically a “true chocolate,” it’s still a favorite of many. Made from cocoa butter, a high concentration of sugar and cream, white chocolate is delectably sweet and due to the cream, high in fat. It’s this fat that brings out the flavors and notes of a sweet wine.

Wines such as a Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Beaujolais and a Moscato d’Asti pair nicely. A rosé port is also a nice accompaniment to this type of chocolate.

When choosing the best pairings, it’s important to factor in what other ingredients are in the chocolate, such as nuts, fruit and caramels. Most aged sparkling reds pair very well with flavored chocolates. For a dark raspberry, a good choice would be a Cabernet, while a dark orange would be nice with a Botrytis Semillon. Pair a citrus-infused white chocolate with a Sauvignon Blanc and a hazelnut chocolate with a Brachetto d'Acqui for a flavorful and delicious combination.

FOSTERING TODAY success for and tomorrow

THIS SCHOOL GETS AN A+ IN EVERY AREA OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS JORDA AND PROVIDED

At the prestigious Morristown Beard School (MBS) in Morristown, academic excellence is a huge focus for its 6th through 12th-grade students, but that’s only part of its mission. A place of possibilities, MBS strives to give students a sense of community and belonging with an emphasis on balance between academic goals and personal achievement.

Tahj Valentine, a 2018 graduate of MBS who grew up in Morristown, is now the Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at the school. He has had the unique opportunity of experiencing all that MBS has to offer from both sides of the desk.

As an elementary school student, Tahj would often accompany his brother to campus for football and basketball practice. From the very beginning, he was always made to feel a part of the school community. “I didn’t know it, but I was already being brought into the family.” (His father also attended MBS). As a faculty member since this past fall, he now has a chance to foster this feeling of belonging in others.

Senior Skylar Reale appreciates this welcoming culture. “Coming into the school [as a freshman], I was shy, but all the kids here, no matter what grade, were very welcoming,” she says.

An athlete, Skylar also enjoys the sports opportunities offered by the private school, which also facilitates friendships. “When I started field hockey, all the new kids came together, and the upperclassmen made sure they introduced themselves to us no matter if we were on varsity or junior varsity,” she says.

Skylar also plays basketball and lacrosse, and was already an elite gymnast prior to enrollment. Being able to participate in different sports at MBS helped her discover that she loved playing team sports as well.

This year, she’s also taking a class in criminology. “I just love this topic and learning all the details about it,” says Skylar. “Having these types of classes, just like sports, is going to help me in my future.”

Having a good balance is very important at MBS. “It has been at the heart of our philosophy for decades,” says Liz. “Alumni still credit the school for allowing them the time and support to find and pursue their individual passions — to try new things in addition to focusing on academics.”

When Tahj started at Morristown Beard School as a freshman, he had a free period and the ability to go outside and walk around the

“MBS encourages students to try new things and not be afraid to fail. The school believes this is true learning, builds character, and helps them develop skills for life,” says Head of School, Liz Morrison. “Students succeed because they are supported – there is always someone beside them on their journey who will give them the guidance and encouragement they need to succeed.”

Something else Skylar loves is the availability of interesting and unique elective classes. “I don’t know if Glass Design is offered anywhere else,” she says. “I’ve taken it for two years in our Center for Innovation & Design and this is going to be my third year. When the projects are done, they’re just so pretty to have at home.”

This free time also allows students who need help with study skills to take advantage of the Center for Teacher & Learning.  “It’s a quiet place to go with knowledgeable teachers where you can have a one-on-one conversation,” says Skylar. “The support is great and I like that we get to really know each other.”

She adds, “I love MBS because it helped me break out of my shell, become social, and try new things.

To learn more about Morristown Beard School and how it can help your children succeed, go to mbs.net .

School’s 22-acre campus. “It teaches you how to manage your free time,” he says. “You have that freedom of being able to either socialize with your friends or the ability to go see teachers for extra help or collaborate with classmates on a group project—just like college.

“When I first got to MBS, I probably didn’t manage my free time so well, but come sophomore year, that’s when I started to understand the importance of time management and how you have to balance things in life.”