Long Branch, NJ August 2023

Cabana Life

Stunning Ocean Views!

365 Ocean Blvd. Unit 408 Long Branch, NJ 07740

2 bed I 2 bath I $1,495,000

Residence 408 is a 2 bed, 2 bath, with North and East exposures. From the balcony you will enjoy unobstructed ocean views. There are 10 foot ceilings with recessed lighting, open kitchen with center island, Jenn-Air appliances, custom cabinets, Xenon task lighting, walk-in closets and private balcony with gas grill hookup. The unit comes with 2 assigned parking spaces, a private cabana, access to the club room, bike room, heated infinity pool, 2 outdoor showers and fire pit.

Kids & Pets

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits.

This issue is one of my favorites. I suppose because of the immense joy that children bring to their families and the significant impact they make on their communities.

Children are not merely the hope for a brighter tomorrow; they are the foundation upon which our society stands. Their innocence, curiosity and boundless potential have the power to shape the world in ways we can only imagine. Kids represent our hardest work and greatest investment, which is why we're happy to highlight some impressive achievements of Long Branch's kids in this issue.

Secondarily, who could forget pets? The special kind of companionship can be a transformative experience for children and adults alike. Pets provide us with unconditional love, the opportunity to learn, grow and develop essential life skills in a nurturing environment. And who could ignore the bond between kids and their furry or feathery friends? The bond is often deep and meaningful, fostering qualities like empathy, responsibility and companionship. We're lucky to live in such a pet-friendly town, where dogs are welcome in restaurants and local businesses.

My dog Allie was the best golden retriever ever known!! She was the sweetest, kindest soul, always wagging her tail and looking for belly rubs. My fondest memories of her are taking her for walks around the neighborhood and hanging out in the pool.

What children and pets share in common is that they need us. Our care, attention and intention shapes how they are raised and who they become. We hope this issue inspires you to pour a little extra into the children and pets in your life this month.

Cheers!

AMY DIMES, PUBLISHER @LONGBRANCHCITYLIFESTYLE

August 2023

PUBLISHER

Amy Dimes | amy.dimes@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Molly Gregor | molly.gregor@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Vivian Pisano

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

CONTROLLER Gary Johnson

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Rhiannon Coffman

city scene

Where

neighbors can see and be seen.

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

1: Breakfast and tour at Spa Da Meggy on Brighton Avenue. 2: Senior athlete award winners at the senior breakfast at Long Branch High School. 3: Congratulations to the scholarship recipients at Long Branch High School. 4: Ribbon cutting with Mayor Pallone at Sundae Donuts in Pier Village. 5: At-home mozzarella making party with personal cooking and catering by Zazz. 6: West Long Branch Goddard School graduate Cameron and mom Alicia. 7: West Long Branch Goddard School owners received the Emerging Leader Award at Goddard annual convention.

@SPADAMEGGY

@JOEYZAZZ

@SUNDAEDONUTS

Yappy Hour:

Calling All Dogs! The Doggie Sweets Cafe at Pier Village (across from the Carousel) is hosting Yappy Hours on Fridays at 6 pm throughout the year, with each night dedicated to a specific breed. Don't miss the chance for your pups to come socialize with other furry friends and enjoy free soft-serve dog ice cream and barkuterie board treats. August 4: Chihuahua. August 11: Mixed breed. August 18: Shih Tzu. August 25: Portuguese Water Dog.

Scan

Pediatric House Calls

Dr. Rice of VIP Concierge Pediatrics helps busy parents manage

Photography Julia Leschinsky

unforeseen illnesses, accidents or last-minute sports/camp physicals. Many illnesses can be handled via telemedicine, but if not, a house call can be arranged. Your time is valuable, and putting all the children in the car and sitting in a sick waiting room can be stressful. With VIP Concierge Pediatrics, you wait in your house for the doctor to come to you.

Yoga Workshop with a Cause

On Saturday, September 2, Kur Wellness Studios in Asbury Park is hosting an inspiring yoga workshop fundraiser, uniting people for a noble cause to support for One Life 2 Love. They seek to harness the power of yoga to make a positive impact for the participants as well as a great cause. Since the gathering will be small, Kur will double the proceeds. One Life 2 Love supports children that are abandoned with special needs.

Want to be featured?

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

FIXING A STUFFY NOSE AND SNORING

QUESTION: My nose is always stuffy, worse on one side. And not only that...I am told by my spouse that I snore loud! What can I do?

ANSWER: Your best bet is a full evaluation by an ENT specialist who can determine what is causing your nasal obstruction and the most effective treatment. Often, once the nasal breathing is restored, the loud snoring is then diminished or even eliminated. There are several steps necessary for a thorough exam:

HISTORY: Questioning the patient about previous trauma to the nose and also anything that may cause chronic swelling inside the nasal cavity like recurrent sinus infections, allergies and overuse of intranasal sprays such as Afrin.

EXAM: Fiberoptic scope of the nose and throat to look for septal deviations, polyps, abnormal enlargements of other intranasal structures, and draining secretions which can be cultured. Check the external nasal structure for cartilage collapse that can result in a valve obstruction. Also allergy tests, home sleep studies and CT scans if indicated.

TREATMENT: Customized to the patient’s cause of obstruction. Can be as simple as a regimen of intranasal and oral medications or more complex involving surgical procedures.

ADVANCED SURGICAL TREATMENT: The latest techniques allow for quick recovery, no bruising, more precise repairs and open breathing immediately after surgery. Technology has improved with the use of 4K camera/monitors and microscopic visualization, laser guided infrared navigation and new methods and instrumentation for septum repair, turbinate reduction, valve collapse reconstruction and sinus blockage. Rhinoplasty techniques have also advanced and can often be performed at the same time if there are external nasal cosmetic concerns.

American Board of Otolaryngology (ENT)

•

American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery

•

Top NYC Metro Doctor 2006-2023

•

In-office NJ state licensed accredited Ambulatory Surgery Center

Jack Anderson

•

70 E Front St. 3rd Floor | Red Bank, NJ 732-747-5300

www.riversideface.com

Frank J Scaccia, MD FACS

Prize award for highest score in board certifying exam.

These pictures are actual patients of Dr. Scaccia who underwent septal and nasal reconstruction.

Cabana Life

EVERY INCH OF THIS DETACHED GARAGE WAS TRANSFORMED INTO CALI COOL

ARTICLE BY MOLLY GREGOR | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAQUEL LANGWORTHY

To say that Christina Kim of Christina Kim Designs in Manasquan aced this Jersey Shore small-space challenge is an understatement.

Every inch of this old garage and storage area—at a mere 400-square feet—was reimagined and transformed for a couple and their teenage daughters into the cutest backyard cabana, complete with office, outdoor bar and the most fabulous bunk area.

“They initially asked for a bar and desk so that the client could work from home in a relaxed setting and have friends over to watch the game,” Kim explains. “What we delivered was a pass-through bar, custom office and built-in bunk beds in the dreamiest of color palettes. Family and friends could nap after a swim in the pool, sit outside (or in!) for cocktails at

the bar, and our client could work from home in the most pleasant way possible.”

A giant painted surfboard, a mix of ocean-inspired colors, and rustic ceiling beams, original to the structure, infuse a surfer vibe into the cozy easy-to-care-for cabana. Walls are wrapped in wide horizontal shiplap to make the limited footprint feel as expansive and airy as possible, and luxury vinyl planks on the floor ensure that no one will be worried about wet feet from the pool.

“Get your ideas on paper before you swing a hammer!” advises Kim. “Even if you don’t have an interior designer, figure out the feeling you want to achieve from the space, draw a floor plan, and collect images of things you like. Then let yourself dream a little.”

What is Long Branch’s bestkept secret?

ARTICLE BY MOLLY GREGOR

We asked members of our community to answer this question and here’s what they had to say.

Long Branch Gourmet. The food is delicious, the owner is a cool dude, and it’s sort of off the beaten path on Brighton Avenue.

NJ Repertory Theater on Broadway where you’ll find quality live theater without the trip into New York City.

Located in the parking lot next to Richard’s Deli is Chucalabara, where you’ll find the best tacos and spicy margaritas. They have tables set up outside, and you can even bring your dog!

Long Branch Poultry Farm. They have the best chicken and chicken salads along with homemade mac and cheese and coleslaw.

DARLENE B.

Long Branch resident

Mar Belo Portuguese restaurant on Broadway. Excellent service from long-time staff. When we first went years ago they offered half-portion dinners that were so filling you had leftovers. They still have lobster night and steak night specials.

The most amazing ice-cream sandwiches at The Baked Bear in Pier Village. You get to choose your cookie and ice-cream flavors—and they have vegan and gluten-free options as well. Chocolate-chip with mud-pie ice cream was incredible!

NICK P. Long Branch resident

CONNOR T. Long Branch vacationer

EMILY M. Long Branch resident

CAROL H. Long Branch resident

EILEEN G. Long Branch

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

ARTICLE BY MOLLY GREGOR

LOCAL ARTISTS CREATE BEAUTIFUL WORKS OF ART

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR JEWELRY?

I create one-of-a-kind jewelry that cannot be duplicated—unusual and organic-looking. I use everything from real flowers and leaves to sparkly druzy stones that you can spot from across a room. My jewelry is different because the method I use called electroforming is not well-known, resulting in eye-catching pieces. I love taking a concept and having the freedom to push the boundaries.

WHAT IS ELECTROFORMING?

It’s a process where you create the metal with electricity in a bath of acidic solution. I’m a mad scientist basically. The forming allows me to control how I want the piece to look. It creates a melty, organic appearance. No piece is ever the same. I can electroform a real flower or take an incredible mineral and turn it into a wearable piece of art. I can make crystals into everyday pieces. I can take a sentimental figurine and turn it into jewelry. There are no limits. Copper is the base metal, but I mostly plate the pieces thickly in fine silver, 18K rose gold or 24K gold.

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR WORK?

On Instagram and Facebook @pawstonecreations; at http://www.pawstonecreations.com; and Etsy.

Robin Hajdu

Jewelry designer and owner of Pawstone Creations

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK:

Summer Deaver

Artist, yogi, activist and mom

I make paintings and one-of-a-kind prints about the experiences I have in nature and with meditation. I use symbols and colors inspired by the tantric art of India and Tibet along with the folk art of the Southern US. The privilege of creating is a meditation for me.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

I come from a family of Southern folk and crafts artists. From a young age, I knew I wanted to be an artist and I started private oil painting lessons at 15 years old. I went to art school at the University of Georgia, which in the late 90’s was full of neo-psychedelic music and artists. Creating felt endless and wildly exploratory. I moved to NYC after

graduating and lived in Brooklyn, surrounded by a rich thriving art scene. September 11th shifted my goals and intentions around art. I started to ask bigger philosophical questions and turned to yoga and Buddhism. I became a full-time yoga teacher in NYC and dedicated my life to the path of awakening. As I was diving deeper into Tibetan Tantra, the images flooded my meditation and began to creep into my paintings and printmaking.

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR WORK?

I have a mural up at Whitechapel Projects in Long Branch. Private studio visits are always welcome. And my website http://www.summerdeaver.com has some work available.

Penelope El-Dalati

Oil painter and the original goldfish artist of the Jersey Shore

YOU’RE FAMOUS FOR YOUR GOLDFISH PAINTINGS. HOW DID THIS GET STARTED?

The goldfish paintings emerged while I was in college at School of Visual Arts, as I used my fear of water for my thesis. It began with more confrontational paintings, invoking a frightened view of anything water-related. It evolved into a more beautiful collection using “controlled spaces of water” like a child’s goldfish bowl. My junior year of college I debuted in the Wooster Street Gallery in Manhattan and sold every single goldfish painting. It was the most rewarding feeling to know someone was going to hang this painting in their home—imagery I used to battle my fears would now bring happiness into a home. The local gallery took on my goldfish paintings when I was 20 years old. The response was so strong, I was dubbed the “Goldfish Girl.” I have a few larger-than-life goldfish hanging in my home, as a gentle reminder there are things we cannot control in life.

WHAT OTHER SUBJECTS DO YOU PAINT?

The remainder of my works are primarily waterthemed but not limited to fish. I love painting the landscapes of Provincetown, MA; plein-air painting in Sea Bright; and local scenes in my hometown of Colts Neck. The current collection is of waves, using the local shorelines from Sandy Hook down to Long Branch.

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR WORK?

Main Street Gallery, 131 Main Street, Manasquan, http://www.mainstreetgallery.com. For daily updates and views into the studio, follow @penelope_eldalati on Instagram.

Feeding the Soul

The Whitechapel Projects offers more than just great food

ARTICLE BY MOLLY GREGOR

Officially opened in 2018 as a restaurant, brewery and creative venue, Whitechapel Projects  continues to evolve and grow, giving back more than just great food to the Long Branch area.

“It’s not just a restaurant, it’s not just a wedding venue. It is community,” says co-owner Marilyn Schlossbach, the executive chef and restaurateur behind this unique venture. “It is art, music, brewery, pizza. We have so many different things happening here, that it’s hard to say that we’re one thing.”

This 120-year-old warehouse building was brought back to life by Schlossbach’s partner, Preston Casertano, using an environmentally friendly construction process and repurposing as many materials as possible. He named it the Whitechapel Projects, inspired by his view of the Tate Modern Museum while working at a former job in the Whitechapel District of London.

“The physical space is so unique that it warrants having a different type of event here, Schlossbach

says. “Whitechapel Projects is named that for a reason. ‘Projects’ lends itself to collaboration and multiuse—we’re not just one singular thing.”

Local brewery events, film premieres, movie-themed dinners, surf events, vegan cooking classes, art shows, wine walk-arounds, wellness expos, yoga classes, weddings, and private get-togethers are just a sampling of the wide array of events happening here. “We’re trying to connect these different groups of people to see all the wonderful ways to experience life,” Schlossbach adds.

Whitechapel’s latest addition is The Side Piece, an elevated concept in pizza that just opened on July 19.  “We’ve taken a traditional pizza concept and added our values and vision for local, sustainable, seasonal products,” Schlossbach says. “The smaller menu is more focused on where the ingredients are coming from and how they’re prepared.”

The sourcing of the product is well thoughtout and always local when possible: Jersey fresh tomatoes for the sauce, Italian cheeses from a distributor in Normandy Beach, and seasonally driven toppings such as Sungold cherry tomatoes grown in the back. “We’re all about bringing local into our community,” she says. “We live in the Garden State. The opportunities are endless in the place that we live and work.”

They’re also all about giving back to the community. “We do collaborative classes with the Boys and Girls Club through our nonprofit Food For Thought by the Sea, taking kids in the area and giving them opportunity,” Schlossbach adds. “Not just in hospitality but in surfing, in art, in making themselves feel important and

thriving in where they live. We want to give people a leg up, make them feel good about themselves, make them feel like they can take on the world.”

Specialty pizzas, named after their travels and inspirations, include The Maimou (little monkey in Greek), which is a plain pie named after Schlossbach’s daughter. The Verde is a white pie made with locally grown greens, garlic and roasted garlic. There’s a seasonal Sungold tomato and burrata pie, along with the Ivan, a pastore pineapple pork pizza inspired by a taco stand in Mexico.

And for dessert, they now offer soft-serve ice cream with—you guessed it—seasonal locally sourced toppings such as strawberry compote made from strawberries picked in South Jersey, and blueberries grown on the property.

Open from Wednesday through Sunday, the Side Piece offers takeout when Whitechapel is closed for private events, along with a more expanded, creatively driven menu when the restaurant is open. “We are open in different ways, at different times,“ Schlossbach explains. Check their Instagram stories (@whitechapelprojects) and Facebook for their most current weekly schedule, along with their website for the calendar of upcoming events.

“We’re dog-friendly, kid-friendly, all-kindsof-people-friendly,” Schlossbach adds. “We’ve always been driven by our community. We’re concerned about the future of the planet, as well as what we put in our bodies and what we put in minds. It all is connected. We’re trying to think outside the box and connect people to different experiences.”

“We want everybody to come. All walks of life, diverse people from different cultures, different places, different races. Whatever you’ve got, bring it here. We want to embrace it together and create more magic.”

Back into the Kitchen

Bringing Joy

Chef Dennis Prescott Talks Falling in Love with Feeding People and the Connection Food Creates

Find the things that you love. Take the stress out of food. Feed people because all they really care about is spending time with you. Bring joy back into the kitchen.”

Whether you know him from the Netflix hit Restaurants on the Edge or from his absolutely mouth-watering food photos as @ dennistheprescott on the ‘gram, this former-musician turned internationally-renowned Chef is an amazingly talented, thoughtful, and globe-trotting force to be reckoned with. When it comes to inspiration for creating experiences around food and your community, as well as creating travel bucket lists to some of the world’s most unique and delicious destinations off the beaten path, Chef ‘Dennis The Prescott’ is a culinary change maker whose feed you’ll want to feast on

Originally an aspiring musician, Canadian-born Dennis Prescott’s journey began while in university with a single invitation from another solo musician who asked him to tour with them around the US. This eventually took him to Nashville where they began making records and pursuing their musical dreams.

Yet, in the midst of all of this, Dennis was not taking care of himself — eating take out, dollar menus, etc, had become a way of life. A friend had a “come to Jesus” moment with him and stressed that he needed to start taking care of himself. Having no idea exactly what that meant or how to do so, the advice was simple: “You need to start eating better.”

The Start

“Go to the library and borrow some cookbooks,” his friend suggested. Dennis went to a nearby library and borrowed three books only to have his friend ask why he chose those in particular. Dennis remembers saying verbatim, “I don’t know? The guy on the cover looks kinda good looking, and I feel like I could probably pull these recipes off, and he seems really happy too!” As it turned out they were three books by Jamie Oliver; it’s just that he had no idea who Jamie Oliver was at the time.

Flash forward and Dennis’ first dinner-hosting experiment was made up of twenty people from the music studio, all sitting in camping chairs with beer koozies and makeshift tables in his apartment.

“I remember at the time this moment of, okay, the food is on the table, it’s a stressful thing, and then everybody tucks in and they take their first bite, and there’s a moment of hush that kind of came over everyone; it got really quiet just for a second, and then everyone started talking and getting into it and I fell in love with food right there at that moment.

What eventually followed were 13 episodes over nine months where the Restaurants on the Edge team traveled to and filmed restaurant revivals that included three in Canada, one in the continental US, one in Hawaii, and others outside of North America, including Hong Kong, Slovenia, Austria, Malta, St. Lucia and Finland.

“When

Travel Recommendations for Foodies

“Slovenia borders Italy and Croatia, which is to say there are a lot of shared values in and around food; they have really great cheese, dairy, beef, pasta, but very few tourists, hardly any. So if you love Italy, that kind of specific travel and food experience, particularly Northern Italy, because you can see the Alps from where they are. It’s picture perfect, a beautiful place, and also where orange wine is from.”

Dennis also highly recommends Costa Rica, Hawaii and Finland.

“Most people love the idea of travel, but we tend to pick the same places when we travel, and there is nothing wrong with that, they are amazing for a reason, but when you get off the beaten path a little bit, you learn the difference between vacation and travel.”

Restaurants on the Edge is important and meaningful to Chef Prescott because it tells stories of hope and joy and redemption around the kitchen. Oftentimes the food space can be very stressful, but he believes that at the end of the day, people just want to spend time with other people that they love.

One of the most common fears Dennis hears from people cooking and/or grilling at home is, ‘where do I start? I don’t know how to get going, so I just don’t.’

Rather than overcomplicating it, Dennis recommends cooking the things that bring you joy — things that are on a restaurant menu you can’t NOT order because you’re so pumped that those dishes are on there.

“Find the things that you love. Take the stress out of food. Feed people because all they really care about is spending time with you. Bring joy back into the kitchen.”

you get off the beaten path a little bit, you learn the difference between vacation and travel.

events

A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

Fun Day

BRANCHPORT PARK, BRANCHPORT AVENUE | 3:00 PM

City of Long Branch and Long Branch Recreation offer a day of free fun with food and boat rides.

Thursdays by the Sea

PIER VILLAGE | 7:00 PM

August 3: After the Reign

August 10: Eddie Testa Band

August 17: Get Down Committee

August 24: Pat Roddy Band

August 21: Brian Kirk & the Jirks with fireworks

Bands by the Beach

WEST END PARK | 7:00 PM

August 6: Robert Hill Band

August 13: Gumbo Gumbas on West End Beach

August 27: The Voodudes

Tuesdays on Broadway

BROADWAY BAND SHELL | 7:00 PM

August 8: XOL Azul

August 15: David Cedeno & Orchestra

August 22: Jersey Dirt

August 29: Esteem Latin Jazz Band

Long Branch Ocean Mile Swim | 8:00 AM

Start at Pier Village. Be sure to register in advance at www.runsignup.com/race/NJ/LongBranch/LongBranchOceanMileSwim . $30 before August 1.

West End Cruise Night and Classic Car Show

BRIGHTON AVENUE | 6:00 PM

Deejay music will be provided by Lee Greenwood and JJ Murphy of the Kruisin' DJs. The Association will perform from 7:30 to 8:45 pm.

Want to be featured?

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