NJ Lifestyle Magazine Fall 2016

LifeStyle NEW JERSEY

FALL 2016

Exquisite Autumn DETAILING FALL FASHION • THE MANY COLORS OF CONCORD UNDERSTANDING NAMASTE • TAILGATING TIME

What

shape summer will your take?

Call Today!

Ask About Our End of Season Special Offers

Swim-Mor Pools has been creating backyard family memories since 1967. Each pool we build is custom to your specifications. From pool size and shape to features like swim-up bars, waterfalls, diving boards, slides, etc... If you can dream it, Swim-Mor can build it. So this year, create the shape of your family’s summer fun for years to come.

NEW POOL CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE POOL RENOVATIONS

To start designing the pool of your dreams today call...

Northfield : 609-645-7171 > Mt. Ephraim : 856-456-3332 > Millstone Twp : 732-446-2211

CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXISTING POOL

www.swim-mor.com

BUILDING MEMORIES SINCE 1967 NJ LIC # : 13VH0015000000

THE • VIEW

“Tastykakes are just another of the many advantages of living in Jersey.”

—Janet Evanovich

Over the Bridge

T

here’s something I’ve been meaning to say. It concerns our summer visitors — you know, the ones with the Pennsylvania license plates?

At the first sign of beach weather, they travel over the bridge and head for the Jersey shore.

We blame them for the traffic on the Expressway, the crowds on the Boardwalk, and the long lines at our favorite restaurants. We affectionately call them “shoobies,” a throwback to the time when they brought their lunches in shoeboxes. Needless to say, we’re constantly drawing the line between “them” and “us.”

But I’m about to put forth a radical idea. I think that less separates us than you might think.

In fact, I might argue that there’s a special bond that South Jersey shares with Philly. Here’s why.

Let’s start with our sports teams. When you gather the crowd around the flat screen TV this fall, which team will you be cheering for? Chances are you said the Eagles. Like the rest of south Jersey, you’re probably an Eagles fan — and a Phillies, Flyers, and 76ers fan, too. We love that Phanatic! Enough said.

Then, there’s our cuisine. Who doesn’t love a nice Philly cheesesteak? My kids can’t get enough of soft Philly pretzels, Tastykakes and Rita’s Water Ice (started in a suburb of you guessed it, Philly). The funnel cake we buy at the boardwalk had its origins with the Pennsylvania Dutch. We may go to White House for our sandwiches but the fact we call them hoagies (and not subs) comes from Philly. Then, there’s Wawa, the convenience store phenomenon that came from Pennsylvania.

We watch Philly news. We’re tuned into the Philly radio stations. We hear about Philadelphia government officials as often as our own — and sometimes more.

If you’ve ever been out of state, or abroad, and tried to describe where you’re from, chances are you described it in terms of its location to Philadelphia. You might even have told people you’re from Philly. It was just easier.

We fly out of Philly. We go to concerts in Philly. We attend sports events in Philly. We may have our own local airport and concert venues and even sports facilities, but we still go across the bridge. We even have a single highway with a direct connection. In other words, South Jerseyeans are just closet Philadelphians.

But that’s okay. Because Philadelphians are honorary South Jerseyeans. They love to be here, as much as we love to be there. And some of us even have homes in both places!

So this fall, as we bid farewell to the shoobies, a.k.a. our Philadelphia counterparts, remember that we understand each other better than we think. And while they’ve gone over the bridge for now, we know they’ll be back. After all, September and October are some of the most beautiful months here at the shore. And needless to say, we’ll be doing our share of traveling over the bridge.

We dedicate this issue to our South Jersey family — the one that lives here and the one that visits. Safe travels to you all, in both directions over the bridge. And make sure to sneak in a little free time to read your favorite magazine.

how to reach us SUBSCRIPTIONS

For new subscriptions, changes of address or questions about an existing subscription, call 609.703.0787.

ADVERTISING

Want to advertise your business in "NJ Lifestyle Magazine"? Request a media kit by calling us at 609.703.0787.

NJLIFESTYLEONLINE.COM

Visiting our website is your connection to South Jersey’s Good Life.

Dar la Hendrick s

Publisher

WHERE TO FIND US

"NJ Lifestyle Magazine" is mailed to select households in Atlantic and Cape May Counties, and parts of South Jersey. We can be found at select retail locations, golf clubs, restaurants, doctor offices and more.

Divorce Law South Jersey 2016

Mark Biel

Biel & Stiles, P.A.

450 Tilton Road, Northfield bzs-law.com

(609) 344-1173

“Renowned for his experience, skill and personality ...

Universally regarded as one of the state’s premier matrimonial attorneys ... Considered a straightshooter ... effective, thorough and the keeper of exceptionally high standards.”

Michael Gill

Goldenberg, Mackler, Sayegh, Mintz, Pfeffer, Bonchi & Gill

660 New Road, Northfield gmslaw.com

(609) 646-0222

“One of the Atlantic City area’s best known ... and most accomplished ... divorce lawyers ... He possesses a unique and valuable personal background, which has attracted a stream of clients over the years.”

See all Members of Ten Leaders of Matrimonial & Divorce Law of Southern New Jersey at

www.TenLeaders.org

The Ten Leaders of Matrimonial & Divorce Law of Southern New Jersey is based on interviews and peer referrals originating in first quarter 2003 and continuing through 2016. Attorneys listed here were referred by at least three of their out-of-firm peers. Ten Leaders is a consensus presentation of experienced, accomplished professionals, based on independent surveys and peer referrals; it is administered by The Ten Leaders Cooperative, Reston, Va., and Fort Lee, NJ. This announcement complies with advertising guidelines set forth by The Supreme Court of The State of New Jersey. Ten Leaders professionals underwrite the distribution of their lists. To read Ten Leaders profiles in the law, medicine and finance, and for more information visit www.tenleaders.org. Copyright 2016, The Ten Leaders Cooperative, All Rights Reserved.

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

3

CONTENTS 48 Hone your culinary skills at the Atlantic City Country Club.

DEPARTMENTS

11 Essential additions to your Fall wardrobe.

Local Chatter.............................................. 6 The buzz on happenings in and around our area.

FEATURES The Many Colors of Concord................ 18 Explore where literary legends lives.

Cape May...And All that Jazz............... 22 Visit Exit Zero and experience the culture.

Precious Cargo Carriers...................... 24 Load your gear in these roomy and stylish SUVs.

Understanding Namaste...................... 32 Discover yoga through the eyes of the teachers.

24

If you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, two SUVs are worthy of consideration: The GMC Terrain and the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Lifestyle Fashion......................................... 8 Laid-back luxe.

Lifestyle Architecture.................................. 12 A sea of tranquility.

Money Watch............................................. 16 Income vs. spending.

Lifestyle Entertainment.............................. 28 A legacy of love.

Lifelines.................................................... 36 Giving from the heart can change a life.

First Person............................................... 38 The quest to save Ground Zero.

Lifestyle Opinion........................................ 40 Atlantic City vs. the state of New Jersey.

The Social Scene........................................ 42 Get the picture on the latest events and happenings.

Restaurant Report...................................... 48 Cooking, Country Club style.

Lifestyle Wine............................................ 52 Wonderful wining.

Lifestyle Cooking....................................... 55 Tailgating time.

Dining Gallery............................................ 56 All the details on the area’s great dining venues.

A Final Word.............................................. 60 These few precious days.

4

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Young’s Landscaping

EXTRAORDINARY Y-TURF

Enjoy year-round beauty with a Y-TURF installed SYNTHETIC SURFACE, offering a landscaped lawn with little or no maintenance.

IDEALLY PICTURESQUE Vibrant, manicured lawns amid natural plantings, hardscaping, lighting and water features.

SAFE & CLEAN Environmentally-friendly for children and pets, eliminates grass stains and muddy paws.

FUN & ENTERTAINING Authentic at-home putting greens with unparalleled quality, durability and performance.

REAL TO THE TOUCH Lush and lifelike with a fresh cut appearance and soft pleasing feel.

877-90-YTURF (877-909-8873)

609-654-5247 Y-Turf.com Serving the Delaware Valley to the Jersey Shore

©2016, Young’s Landscape Management, Inc. all rights reserved

NJCA #13VH01161400 & PA #022139

LifeStyle NEW JERSEY

MAGAZINE

Publisher / Creative Director

Darla Hendricks darlabh2@gmail.com Associate Publisher

Barbara Scarduzzio barbaras1@comcast.net

Lou Marchiano FOR MEN

Terra Mar Plaza | Tilton Road | Northfield, NJ | 609-641-2088

Editor

Bill Henry Copy Editor

Alyson Boxman Levine Contributing Writers

Molly Golubcow Harry Hurley Alyson Boxman Levine Michelle Dawn Mooney Felicia L. Niven Marjorie Preston Matt and Tom Reynolds Elaine Rose Will Savarese Phillip Silverstone David Spatz Robin Stoloff Travel Editor

Dan Schlossberg Photographers

Nick Valinote Eric Weeks Online Media Info.

www.njlifestyleonline.com Accounting

Michael I. Mann, CPA Zelnick, Mann and Winikur, P.C.

New Jersey Lifestyle is published by New Jersey Lifestyle, LLC. The entire contents of New Jersey Lifestyle are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the express written consent of the publisher. New Jersey Lifestyle, LLC assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. New Jersey Lifestyle, LLC reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse editorial material and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors or omissions. All correspondence should be sent to:

New Jersey Lifestyle Magazine, LLC 174 S. New York Road, P.O. Box 787 Oceanville, NJ 08231 Telephone: 609-703-0787 6

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Atlantic Medical Imaging...

The Breast Imaging Specialists Dr. Peggy Avagliano | Head of Women’s Imaging, Atlantic Medical Imaging

Each year, more than 200,000 women in the United States

Nationally Recognized.

are diagnosed with breast cancer. While breast cancer

AMI has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of

remains one of the leading causes of death in women,

Excellence by the American College of Radiology. The

there is good news. The survival rate for women who have

Breast Imaging Center of Excellence signifies that AMI

been diagnosed and treated early continues to improve.

provides services at the highest standards of the radiology

Mammography is the single most effective way to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. Early detection

education and certification, to perform and interpret

profession. AMI’s personnel are well qualified, through medical images. The advanced technology is appropriate

improves survival rates and increases treatment options.

for the tests and treatments patients receive, and

The American College of Radiology and the Society of

the facility meets or exceeds quality assurance and

Breast Imaging recommends routine screening mammography

safety guidelines.

begine at age 40. Some physicians advocate screening beginning at a younger age for women with certain risk factors.

Convenience.

Screening should continue throughout a woman’s lifetime.

Breast imaging services are available at all seven AMI locations in Atlantic and Cape May counties, as well as

Because screening mammography is so important

additional locations in Ocean and Monmouth counties.

Evening and weekend appointments are available for Atlantic Medical Imaging...

in identifying breast cancer at the earliest, most treatable stages, it is vital that women choose a

added convenience.

breast imaging center with the highest level of clinical expertise and access to advanced screening and

AMI offers a full range of breast imaging services,

diagnostic technologies.

including 3D digital mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI and breast biopsy.

WHAT SETS ATLANTIC MEDICAL IMAGING APART

HOW TO CONTACT AMI To make a breast imaging appointment with AMI, call (609) 677-XRAY (9729). Also, visit

Expertise.

Atlantic Medical Imaging’s (AMI) team of breast imaging

www.atlanticmedicalimaging.com.

specialists, led by Dr. Peggy Avagliano, are dedicated to providing the most accurate and timely diagnostics, in a comfortable and relaxing environment. AMI’s breast imaging specialists are all fellowship trained and understand the spectrum of breast imaging, from routine mammograms to breast biopsies.

Each year, AMI’s team of breast imaging specialists read over 50,000 mammograms and performs over 1,000 minimally invasive breast biopsies. When choosing a center for breast imaging, consider the team of breast imaging specialists who will be performing and interpreting your exam, as well as the equipment being used. Both can impact your outcome.

GALLOWAY

EGG HARBOR TWP.

MAYS LANDING

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE

For more facts & information, visit our website: www.atlanticmedicalimaging.com SOMERS POINT 30 East Maryland Ave.

GALLOWAY 44 E. Jimmie Leeds Rd.

EGG HARBOR TWP.

MAYS LANDING

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE

3100 Hingston Ave.

4450 Black Horse Pike

421 Rt. 9 North

Local

Chatter Eight Eerie Halloween Facts

AS HALLOWEEN APPROACHES, children and adults enthusiastically ready themselves for some spooky fun. Take a moment to enlighten yourself with some Halloween trivia to enjoy this mysterious holiday even more.

1. Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts.

2. Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green.

3. Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in the U.S. 4. Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness.

5. The ancient Celts believed spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night, so they began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.

6. Bobbing for apples originated from the roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees.

7. Black cats were once believed to be witch’s protectors who guarded their powers.

8. If you see a spider on Halloween, it’s the spirit of a loved one watching over you.

One Night Only

45 Million Ways to Celebrate

“MY BIG GAY ITALIAN MIDLIFE CRISIS” which officially opened in New York City on December 2015 under Bianco Productions at the Theater Center has recently been licensed by two-time Emmy winner Sonia Blangiardo for a one night only, one act version, at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City on October 23.

In the third chapter of the Big Gay Italian trilogy, playwright Anthony Wilkinson’s main character (Anthony Pinnunziato) is approaching his 40s and is faced with the challenges of balancing his now very successful weight loss company with past and present gay relationships. The setting of the show actually happens to be Atlantic City, as fun familiar characters and some new ones come together to join Anthony on his journey in another outrageous comedy of errors.

Critics are calling this the best of the three chapters.

THE CAPE MAY-LEWES FERRY celebrated a major milestone by welcoming its 45 millionth passenger.

This recent purchase marked the 45 millionth passenger ticket sold by the ferry since it began service on July 1, 1964, according to ferry officials.

The ferry currently operates three vessels on the 17-mile, 85-minute crossing of the Delaware Bay. In addition to the 45 million passengers, the ferry has transported 14 million vehicles over its lifetime.

8

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Local Farmers Market Launched THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED OPENING of the Linwood Farmers Market in September — held in the parking lot of the Central Square Shopping Center — was a tremendous success and will continue Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 11:30 AM throughout the fall.

Popular vendors included Hammerbacher, Honey and Hive, Johnny Ocean Enterprises, Brick House Pies, Kizbee’s Kitchen, Congregation Beth Israel, Ladle of Luv, Happy Valley Berry Farm, Upper Sandwiches, The Red Room Café, and many others.

T HE BUZ Z O N HA P P E N IN GS IN AN D A ROU N D O U R A R EA Can You Survive the Haunted Cornfield?

LOCAL LEGEND REVEALS that many years ago a local farmer from this area went into his cornfield to bring in the harvest and was never seen again. The only remaining evidence was the pool of blood in the dirt and scattered pieces of flesh. Every fall the blood curdling screams of the victim can be heard when the moon is awake during October. Experience the Cornfield of Terror if you dare.

Located in Galloway at R and J Farm, the sights and sounds of the Cornfield of Terror will leave you screaming for your life. For the less-courageous, the farm also has a non-scary corn maze for those that simply want to test their navigational skills in the dark with nothing but a flashlight to help guide your way through the corn.

Another Sour Brew

CONTINUING THEIR JOURNEY in their much-anticipated Barrel Aged Series of sour brews, Cape May Brewing Company announced the second limited release in the series; The Skeg. The brainchild of Head Brewer Brian Hink, the Barrel Aged Series allows him the chance to explore his sour side.

Aged in red wine barrels, the new brew is dry-hopped with a generous helping of Amarillo hops.

According to the brewery, the result is more woodsy notes and an incredible nose of mango and tropical fruits, with the tartness of the sour playing off the estery character.

Turkey Day Dinin

g

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS will dine out on Thanksgiving this year, and this growing trend is becoming increasing popular in Atlantic County.

Forgo the endless prep, hours of cooking, and exhausting clean-up. Instead visit one of the many local establishments catering to holiday guests.

Sit back, relax with your loved ones and be served a delicious holiday meal at one of these local gems; Steve and Cookie’s by the Bay in Margate, Ram’s Head Inn in Galloway, Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield, and Joseph’s Restaurant at the Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City, just to name a few.

A Famous Whodunit

WHO CAN BE TRUSTED? Who holds the truth? Who is a suspect? Find out when Aquila Theatre brings its innovative touch to Agatha Christie’s deliciously dangerous murder mystery, “Murder on the Nile” to the Stockton Performing Arts Center in October.

“Murder on the Nile” — Agatha Christie’s own staging of her famous novel, Death on the Nile — is set on a paddle steamer cruising the legendary Nile River in 1940s Egypt. The passengers aboard are abuzz when the famous heiress, Kay Ridgeway, and her penniless new husband, Simon Mostyn board the ship. Class, money, and reputation are all at stake in one way or another for the passengers and before they know it deceit, theft, and murder quickly make waves on the river. Spurned lover Jacqueline De Severac, protective uncle Canon Pennefather, a troubled German Doctor, and a host of colorful and mysterious characters add to the drama and suspense of this classic mystery. njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

9

Lifestyle Fashion

By Alyson Boxman Levine

Laid-back Luxe Looking good never felt so comfortable

L

et’s face it; comfort plays a big role in fashion choices, especially this time of year when the air turns brisk and fall sports begin again. From carpools to pep rallies and team fundraisers, there’s not a lot of time to spend choosing your ideal outfit. Too often comfort wins over style, as we succumb to our reliable, yet dull fashion habits.

Tan Trench, Comptoir des Cotonniers

Grey Poncho, Eileen Fisher

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Cross Country Style

Fall 2016 |

Plaid Wool Jacket, T by Alexander Wang

Fall Ball Beauty

Chic Soccer Mom

10

Ditch the hoodie and yoga pants this Autumn and cheer from the sidelines in style. Whether you rally for football or field hockey, pack the bleachers for Fall ball, support the cheer squad, cross country team, or hang with the field hockey moms, a great season of ideal outfits await.

nnn Chic Soccer Mom The embodiment of all sports moms is the quintessential soccer mom. Part cheerleader, part coach, with a dash of unbridled passion sprinkled in, these confident moms know how to get the job done.

Successful soccer-mom style mixes weekend comfort and sporty trends with the just right amount of flair.

Make this chic look your next sideline outfit. Featuring high style with a casual laid-back look, this ensemble from Comptoir des Cotonniers is perfect for the next game. The brand’s upscale layering will keep you warm and the sensible shoes will make you smile. Paired with one of this season’s must-haves, a tan trench coat, this outfit is an ideal blend of authenticity, uniqueness, and style.

French fashion brand Comptoir des Cotonniers was founded by Tony Elisha and his wife Georgette in 1995, offering a unique focus on

fabric and fit to create clothing that women want to wear every day.

Two years later, the couple had a revelation as they watched a mother and daughter, hand-in-hand, pass by their shop. They then began drawing on the mother/daughter relationship — the magical bond which endures through the years — and became the very essence of the brand’s philosophy, inspiration, and creativity. The concept of clean lines and high-quality materials makes this an excellent option if you’re looking for pieces that are classic but not stiff. Pippa Middleton and Emma Watson love the brand’s timeless pieces. nnnFall Ball Beauty Baseball is no longer just a Spring sport, as countless Fall leagues have attracted the more serious players. With this switch in seasons comes different clothing options for the dedicated spectators; as that

Rose Suit, Theory

Bomber Jacket, PAIGE

Plaid Parka, Victoria Beckham

Football Star Splendor

Field Hockey Haute

Posh Pep Rally

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

11

LIFEST YLE FASHION

Embrace all the comfortable and casual fashion of the upcoming season without sacrificing style.

sleeveless romper you wore to the games last June just doesn’t seem to make sense in November. This covered-up comfy style from Eileen Fisher will certainly keep you cozy as you cheer from the bleachers.

The on-trend neutral grey color and the overall monochromatic look of this outfit will make it a fast favorite you will wear again and again.

Eileen Fisher is recognized for her simplistic and minimalistic designing and the company has often used unconventional models for its print commercials. In fact, Fisher has personified her employees as models as well. Her company was established in 1984 with only $350 in her bank account and a fundamental idea: women want simple, yet chic, easy-to-wear clothes. By 2003, Eileen Fisher Inc. earned a revenue of $154 million. Fisher defends her simple clothing by saying that since she was an uncomfortable individual, she wanted comfortable outfits. nnnCross Country Style You will look super chic as you stand at the finish line in this current look from T by Alexander Wang. Combining ultra-modern sophistication with casual staples, this plaid jacket features clean cuts — infused with athletic appeal — for an offbeat, relaxed look. The detailing and lightly-structured tailoring evoking the urban polish of downtown Manhattan.

Highly-coveted fashion house T by Alexander Wang redefines casual cool for 2016. Leisure time never looked so stylish, as signature clean cuts are teamed with sultry detailing, like off-the-shoulder styles and lace-up accents. Dramatic fringing and plaid prints keep the collection in line with their coveted, elevated sporty feel. Launched in 2009, Alexander Wang’s diffusion line stays true to the main line’s design codes, boasting a distinctly sporty and urban feel. T by Alexander Wang fast became the ultimate go-to for the city-chic girl’s everyday uniform, with celebrity clients including Meghan Fox, Taylor Swift, and Kelly Ripa. nnnPosh Pep Rally Ready. Set. Let’s go! When it comes to supporting your cheerleader, all moms go that extra mile. Whether it be late-night gymnastic classes or making that last-minute CVS run for the perfect shade of sparkle, you make sure your pom-pom yielding star looks her best. For these detail-oriented ladies, this modern look from the PAIGE label is a fun throwback to the 1990s. This casual, yet polished style features a luxurious mix of quilted and solid leather.

Passionate about creating clothing that reflects and celebrates a life lived to the fullest, Paige Adams-Geller’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and convention-breaking ways continue to inspire and empower.

After graduating from USC, the former Miss California became a 12

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

fashion industry muse, transitioning from modeling to a career behind the seams. For over 10 years Adams-Geller was the denim industry’s most sought after fit model, working with the market’s top premium denim designers. As the only female founder in premium denim, Paige Adams-Geller shook up the industry when she launched her namesake collection PAIGE in 2004. The label is committed to quality and has a passion for creating pieces you will live in. According to the company, “every style we create is wear-tested, and tested again. We are completely obsessed with designing pieces you’ll live in; pieces to help you stand tall in what you’re wearing, and take you exactly where you want to go.” nnn Field Hockey Haute Rose is the hot hue this season and this modern pant suit from the Theory label will take you from the office to the field in style. Let the other team wonder who this fashion-savvy spectator is as your stickwielding star scores the winning goal.

New York-based Theory has soared to popularity with its simple, versatile designs that appeal to contemporary fashion enthusiasts.

Theory clothing is favored by fashion-conscious women for its luxurious fabrics, clean cuts, and superb fit. Founded in 1997 on the principle that women wanted to feel comfortable and sexy in modern clothing, Theory’s customers are intelligent, active, and fashionconscious women. Presently, the brand continues to evolve as more and more wearers fall in love with its style, including leading ladies Naomi Watts and Anne Hathaway. nnnFootball Star Splendor Friday night lights fill the sky as the whistle blows to start the game.

You cheer as your football star runs on the field. Prepare to stand out in the bleachers this season while you are simultaneously wrapped in warmth. This plaid parka from Victoria Beckham’s ready-to-wear line highlights the resurgence of plaid this season and expertly walks the line between masculine and feminine.

Hailing from England, Victoria Beckham is a singer, model, fashion designer, and wife of the famous soccer star David Beckham. In the 1990s, she became popular with her pop group, Spice Girls. Since the group’s split, Beckham has been busy with her haute fashion line and her own solo music career. Additionally, she has authored two books and has been a guest judge on American Idol, Germany’s Next Top Model, and Project Runway.

Embrace all the comfortable and casual fashion of the upcoming season without sacrificing style. Simplicity, when it comes to fashion, doesn’t mean dreary or lackluster. On-trend style can, and should, be comfortable while radiating confidence and exuberance. Go team! n

Ballerina Chic On the Fall 2016 runways, designers Valentino and Miu Miu embraced the emerging ballerina fashion trend with models in silk tulle and full skirts seemingly dancing down the catwalk. The new

footwear fell effortlessly in line with the ballet theme, ranging from classic flats to riffs on the ballet slipper with lace-up boots and feminine ankle wraps. This hot trend will surely make your feet want to dance.

Lace-Up Suede Ankle Boot, ChloĂŠ, $1,290

Lace-Up Ballerina Flat, Miu Miu, $620

Ballet Chain Ankle-Wrap Leather Flat, Valentino, $795

5 Essential Additions to Your Fall Wardrobe Ballerina Lace-Up Ankle Boot, Valentino, $995

Ballerina Strap Leather Heel, Mango, $100

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

13

Monochromatic kitchen

Sea of Tranquility A second homeowner departs from the traditional in this contemporary beach house.

I

t would be too easy to describe it as 50 shades of gray.

The interior of this townhouse on the Ventnor boardwalk is neutral, to be sure — a collage of basic black and white along with every gray tone on the color wheel, from pearl to putty, silver to slate, gull-wing to gunmetal to oyster. Yet the overall effect isn’t cool or detached, but warm and serene, like 14

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

an embrace. Almost everywhere you turn, the sharp, sometimes severe angles of the space are blurred and softened by texture.

The homeowner, who bought the fourstory townhouse last summer, was determined to maintain an uncluttered simplicity at the shore, though her primary home in Yardley, Bucks County is very traditional and perhaps over-furnished.

“In my other house, I have so much stuff!” she exclaims. “Here, I wanted to preserve as much of the space as possible. I wanted a clean look, very relaxing, very simple” — and, importantly for a vacation home where people come to play, very easy to keep clean.

She enlisted interior decorator Candice Adler of Candice Adler Design to strike the perfect balance of cool, contemporary, and

Living area

Modern bathroom

L

I

F

E

S

T

Y

L

E

ARCHITECTURE

By MARJORIE PRESTON Photos by ERIC WEEKS

Dining area njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

15

LIFEST YLE ARCHITECTURE

Kitchen

Master suite

Warm and serene bedroom

16

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

comfortable. Against the many uber-modern touches (like steel-cable stair railings), Adler superimposed layers and layers of texture: nubby pillows, framed woven wall art, and tall baskets filled with reeds.

She continued the approach with dense, fluffy, or richly patterned area rugs on the muted gray driftwood-style flooring, and occasional oddities: a whimsical footstool here, an inky black peacock chair there. The big sofa that dominates the living area is offset by a round, drum-like Moroccan coffee table, and piled with double-knit throws and pillows. And the soft-as-chinchilla upholstery invites you to sink in and snuggle.

“To me, it’s like a boho style — a lot of organic elements, natural tones and unique patterns, even though it’s very neutral,” says Adler. “It has a modern vibe with a warm, feminine feel to it to it, a lot of natural elements to mix in with the clean, modern look.”

Those industrial-style open-plan staircases (with no risers) add to the sense of spaciousness, and make for an easy flow from living area to kitchen to dining area and so on, “so you can appreciate the space as one, rather than seeing it as distinct, separate rooms,” Adler says.

The kitchen is the most monochromatic space of all, with white appliances, a gleaming dove-gray island counter, black cabinets with frosted-glass faces, and stainless steel fixtures. The look is leavened by low-backed swivel counter stools crafted from unstained recycled woods, and a trio of seeded glass pendant lamps in a warm, champagne color. The dining area, with its unusual carved wooden table and matching bench, is energized by chairs with bold, black-and-white striped upholstered backs.

The master suite with balcony is the homeowner’s favorite spot and a genuine retreat: “I just wake up, open the curtains, and I feel like I’m on a cruise ship,” she says. “All I can see is water.”

Adler made sure to choose washable fabrics and finishes that stand up to the elements and constant seasonal use (“I don’t want that house to be work,” she says.) And the simplicity of the home also lends itself to easy maintenance. With the exception of a few sculptures on display, there’s next-to-nothing that requires dusting.

Sometimes, the contemporary look of the shore house surprises even the homeowner. “I’m not modern at all, and I was worried about going against the grain,” she admits. “This place is very different from any I’ve ever had. But it had very modern bones to it, and I wanted to keep it that way, while also adding my own style.”

Adler agrees. “A lot of times, my clients have traditional homes they furnished years ago, and nowadays want to go for a less-is-more style. This is a place to come and relax. It should be amazing, but not overkill, especially at the shore.”

“It’s a beach house, and this is the beach me,” the homeowner says. “It feels like vacation.” n

LIGHTING

Create

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

ARTISTIC DECORATIVE HARDWARE 430 Tilton Road, Northfield, NJ 609-407-7200 www.artistichardware.net

Lighting n Shower Doors n

Plumbing Fixtures n Decorative Hardware n

Vanities n Ceiling Fans n

Medicine Cabinets n Accessories and More! n

LIFESTYLE

MONEYWATCH

Income Vs. Spending Getting Your Fiscal House in Order

BECAUSE IT IS ALWYAS A TIMELY TOPIC, we thought we would discuss household fiscal responsibility and try to provide readers with some tips for getting their fiscal house in order. As financial planners and CPA’s, we interact with people from all across the financial spectrum. Our experience has taught us that whether a household is in good financial condition or not has less to do with household income and more to do with household spending (Sound familiar, can you say federal government?). We see families who make more than $500,000 annually who can’t borrow a nickel because they are so maxed out with debt. We also see families who make $60,000 annually who have a house, two cars and no debt other than a mortgage. What it comes down to is simple math. You can’t spend more than you make indefinitely. You can do so in the short-term by borrowing to fund the difference, but at some point that option runs out. So, why do so many families find themselves in a financial mess? We believe there are three main reasons: 1. Inadequate Savings — Most families, even those in financial distress, can handle their regular monthly bills and expenses with the income they make. After all, many of the monthly expenses are based on factors we control (where you are going to live, what kind of car are you going to drive, where you are going to shop, etc.). Most families make these decisions based upon their current income. However, when the car unexpectedly breaks down or the roof on the house needs to be replaced and there is no safety net available, many households will put it on a credit card and worry about it later. The average U.S. household had $5,700 in credit card debt at the end of March 2016. What is an even scarier statistic is if you take out the number of households that have no credit card debt, the average credit card debt per household balloons to $16,048. Since the U.S. median household income in 2015 was $54,462, this means the average household that has credit card debt owes almost 30% of their gross annual income. Savings is a critical way to avoid letting these unplanned expenses ruin you. By spending less than you make, you can build up a reserve to cover you when the unexpected happens.

2. Lack of budgeting — You can’t possibly have a savings plan if you don’t take a hard look at what is coming in and what is going out. Invariably when we ask someone who is experiencing financial difficulties what their monthly budget is, they look at us like we have three heads. Balancing any budget requires knowledge of the revenue in and the expenses out. This is the only way to have a realistic vision of your financial situation. Budgeting is free and only requires time and discipline to achieve. We usually recommend starting with the easy side first, the revenue side. Figure out what your net pay is on a weekly or monthly basis. Next, tackle your fixed expenses: mortgage, real estate taxes, insurance, car payments and anything else that is a fixed amount every month. Subtract your fixed expenses from your net pay and that leaves you the balance for variable expenses. Variable expenses include everything else you spend money on including, but not limited to, food, clothing, gas, utilities, entertainment, and miscellaneous services. We advise all clients to assign an amount under variable for savings. It doesn’t have to be a lot, even $25 or $50 per week. The idea is to get used to saving consistently. If there is

18

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

nothing left for savings after your variable expenses or even worse if you are negative, then you have to reduce some expenses to bring your budget in line.

This brings us to our final point.

3) Understanding the Difference between Wants and Needs — We live in an entitlement society. Many households believe they are entitled to a certain standard of living whether they can afford it or not. The same person who says they cannot save $100 a month will spend $200 per month on their teenagers’ cell phones. We need to go back to the age where basic needs were food, clothing, and shelter. Basic needs do not include $200 per month for television, $75 per month for high speed internet, $200 per month for Smartphone service. These things are great if you can afford them but they are luxuries. If the only way you can afford these things is by charging them then you are in for financial ruin. Vacations are another big area we see households dooming themselves. Families used to save up for trips and then go. Now, many go away without $500 saved and charge $3,000-4,000 on the trip and worry about it later. Newsflash, if you don’t have the trip paid for before you leave, you shouldn’t be going.

It is easy to get yourself in a financial mess. It is much more difficult to be responsible, spend within your means, and choose only those things that you can truly afford. What the past twenty plus years dealing with peoples’ finances has taught us, is that in the long run, those that live within their means will be much happier than those that live extravagantly above their means because of the detrimental effects that financial stress can have on you physically as well as the health of your relationships. Money is still the leading cause of relationship failure … and unfortunately, always will be. n

Tom Reynolds, CPA & Matt Reynolds CPA, CFP® Co-Managing Partners, CRA Financial Francis C. Thomas CPA, PFS, Investment Advisor Robert T. Martin, CFA, CFP®, Investment Advisor This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as the basis for an investment decision. Consult your financial adviser, as well as your tax and/or legal advisers, regarding your personal circumstances before making investment decisions.

There’s building. Then there’s transforming.

Zuri® Premium Decking and Celect® Cellular Composite Siding were created for homeowners and building professionals who embrace and demand seamless beauty, effortless longevity and unlimited possibilities. Make your exterior project a great one.

Give your exterior an upgrade.

Explore Celect® and Zuri® at ExpressionOfWow.com. © 2016 Royal Building Products

Lifestyle Travel

The Many Colors of Concord Explore where literary legends lived and experience the inspiration for their masterpieces

By DAN SCHLOSSBERG Photos courtesy of BayColonyMedia.com

Hartwell Tavern

20

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

CONCORD’S HISTORY IS AS COLORFUL AS ITS FINEST FALL FOLIAGE. The Revolutionary War began there. Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women there. And Walden Pond, little more than a land-locked lake, won itself international acclaim after Henry David Thoreau, the 19th century writer and philosopher, lived in solitude there for two years, two months, and two days.

A colonial enclave that became a bastion for literary legends, Concord lies 19 miles west of Boston and 23 miles south of Nashua, New Hampshire. Although its resident population is 17,669, curious tourists fill the hotels, shops, and restaurants during the warm-weather months.

The most prominent, Concord’s Colonial Inn, is celebrating its 300th birthday this year. Once called the Thoreau House because the author’s relatives lived there, the inn served as a weapons depot, hospital, store, and boarding house before assuming its present function prior to the dawn of the 20th century. By then, Concord was known around the world as “the biggest little place in America” — a nickname Henry James applied.

The local literary lions played no small part.

In addition to Thoreau and Alcott, the town was home to Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and a host of other writers whose names have not been forgotten. Most lie on Author’s Ridge in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery — named after the town Washington Irving created in The Headless Horseman.

Emerson, whose grandfather witnessed the North Bridge skirmish that launched the Revolution, was born a year before Hawthorne and 14 years before Thoreau. But he influenced them all. He also influenced Concord city fathers to preserve the homes where all of them lived. It wasn’t that difficult, since Thoreau lived briefly in Emerson’s home and the Alcotts sold their Lexington Avenue home to Hawthorne, who nicknamed it “the Wayside.” Margaret Sidney, a children’s book author, lived there later.

Alcott wrote Little Women in The Orchard House, next door to The Wayside, while Hawthorne lived in The Old Manse before buying the Alcott residence. For readers who love old house tours, Emerson’s home has also been preserved for posterity. He lived there from 1835-1882.

Thoreau’s spirit still thrives in several spots around town. His farm, called “the birthplace of ideas,” features artifacts and explanations of thoughts considered controversial at the time. An outspoken advocate of communing with nature, he once went to prison for refusing to pay a tax because he opposed the Mexican-American war. He was also a staunch abolitionist who supported John Brown and the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves.

An ecologist more than a century before the word joined the lexicon, Thoreau was also a transcendentalist before anybody even dreamed of transcendental meditation. His other occupations ranged from naturalist and surveyor to historian, essayist, and poet. He once measured the depth of Walden Pond accurately — 103 feet — using only a primitive set of string and rocks. His writings included Civil Disobediance and Walden, a book about his two-year sojourn.

Fall Minute Man Park Battle Road

LIFEST YLE TRAVEL Rocks mark the spot where Thoreau’s cabin stood on the north shore of Walden Pond though a replica of his spartan cabin has also been erected on the opposite side. There was no heat, no air-conditioning, no electricity, no running water, no cell phones, no television, no radio, and no contact with the outside world. But he could swim in the pond — as many locals still do, even at sunrise. A few even wear bathing suits.

A bed, chair, and desk from the actual dwelling are on display in the Concord Museum.

Thoreau’s theory of nonviolent protest formed the foundation of philosophies shared by Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Among others enthralled with his writings were Ernest Hemingway, John F. Kennedy, John Muir, George Bernard Shaw, Upton Sinclair, Leo Tolstoy, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Influenced himself by Indian spiritual thought, Thoreau could not have imagined that his ideas would have such a global impact. Nor could anyone have guessed what would follow the sound of musket fire on a spring day 241 years ago.

The Road to Revolution, a free 30-minute show at the Minute Man Visitor Center, reveals how Paul Revere, alerted by two lanterns in Boston’s Old North Church, set out to spread the word that the British were coming. Colonists were eager to defend their stores of arms and provisions despite a lack of military training, uniforms, equipment, and

Colonial Inn Grave of a British Soldier

22

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

leadership.

Called Minute Men because they had to switch from farmers to fighters in 60 seconds, the colonial soldiers encountered the British in nearby Lexington, where the first shots were fired, and engaged the redcoats again at the North Bridge in Concord. Then they chased the highly-trained regulars back to Boston, where a long siege began.

The first shot fired by the Americans in the Battle of Lexington & Concord is known to this day as “the shot heard ‘round the world” — even though Bobby Thomson tried to usurp the saying after hitting a ninth-inning playoff home run that won the 1951 National League pennant for the New York Giants. The incident occurred on April 19, 1775, more than a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed, sealed, and delivered. Concord marks the anniversary every year with historical re-enactors on horseback, fife and drum corps, and shows in the local performing arts center.

In Concord, Patriots Day is like Memorial Day, Veterans Day, July 4, and Christmas all wrapped up in a neat little package.

Because of its small size plus its proximity to Boston, Concord often gets short shrift from tour groups. That’s unfair, according to Alida Orzechowski, owner-operator of Gatepost Tours. She says people want

Walden sunrise Soldiers

to spend more time in the authors’ homes or in the historical structures at Minute Man National Historic Park.

Her favorite spot is the cemetery. “It’s an incredibly special place and wonderfully photogenic and at the same time, usually overlooked as a major attraction,” she says. “Since there are no official tours there, a private guide is a must in order to understand the cemetery’s place in Concord’s history and the deep connection between our authors and the literary revolution of the 19th century. It’s by far my favorite place in Concord.”

Her clientele includes high school field trips, leisure travelers, and even international groups.

“It’s not the story that matters,” she says, “but how you tell it.”

Sean Smith, general manager of Concord’s Colonial Inn, doesn’t deny his place is haunted.

Room 24 was used as a colonial-era operating room during the American Revolution and Room 27 served as a morgue. Multiple reports, from both staff and guests, suggest three benign ghosts are still there.

For worldly creature comforts, Helen’s Café sits at the top of the can’t-miss list. A local landmark since 1936, the family-run restaurant is famous not only for breakfast, but for clam chowder, hamburgers, and ice cream. It’s a two-minute walk from Monument Square.

In addition to its all-star authors, Concord has also given the world actor Steve Carell, Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, and JFK speechwriter Richard N. Goodwin, among others.

Most Concord visitors come by car but there are good train connections from Boston and points south. The drive from New Jersey takes about three hours. Although there’s a steady flow of visitors during the spring and summer months, leaf-peeping season brings out legions of would-be photographers. The best advice is to plan ahead.

For further information, see Concord’s Colonial Inn, 48 Monument Square, tel. 978-3699200, www.concordscolonialinn.com; Gatepost Tours, P.O. Box 56, Concord, MA 01741, tel.

978-399-8229, info@gateposttours.com; or the Concord Chamber of Commerce, Suite 7, 15 Walden Street, tel. 978-369-3120, www. concordchamberofcommerce.org. n

Former AP newsman Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is travel editor of New Jersey Lifestyle and Sirius XM Radio’s Maggie Linton Show. He is also host and executive producer of the weekly Travel Itch Radio Show and president emeritus of the North American Travel Journalists Association.

Email ballauthor@gmail.com.

Exclusive offer from Pay just $75 for $100 worth of Phillips Seafood Gift Certificates!

They’re going fast, so

Call Now 609-703-0787 njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

23

CAPE MAY … And All that Jazz

Lifestyle Leisure By MOLLY GOLUBCOW

Visit Exit Zero and experience the legendary music, culture and energy of a fiery jazz festival .

T

The legendary Louis Armstrong once said, “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.” Although most of us will never become cool cats like Louie, Dizzy, or Duke, we still can appreciate and groove to the tunes of a smorgasbord of music at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival. Featuring greats like Winton Marsalis, the bi-annual event has put Cape May on the jazz festival map elbowing its way in between New Orleans and Newport.

Why Cape May, NJ? November marks the fifth year for Exit Zero.

So, how did a 3-day jazz festival end up in Cape May, NJ? The short answer — location and memories. Michael Kline, Exit Zero Jazz Festival producer, spent many a summer working in and enjoying shore life in Cape May. His love of music took him to New Orleans and when he returned to his Jersey roots in 2005, the idea of marrying jazz and the shore became a reality in 2012. And, like any good address in the Garden State, the festival was named after a play on the “What exit are you off of?” question — since Cape May is the very last exit on the Garden State Parkway going south.

Kline explains how Cape May and jazz suit each other, “That we are at the edge of the world vibe is prevalent in Cape May. You’re on an island; the road ends and the water begins.

That feeling of freedom and intimacy is special and it serves both the audience and musicians well.”

Ironically, the first Exit Zero took place in November 2012 — only 10 days after Hurricane Sandy. Kline thought about postponing to the spring because he thought the last thing people wanted to do was travel to Cape May. Despite 24-hour doom and gloom reports from CNN about the demise of the Jersey shore, Kline decided to “…forge ahead and let people know we were here.”

It worked, and continues to do so having established itself as a jazz festival viable venue.

Daunting is no doubt what it takes to put

on a show like Exit Zero, and Kline manages to pull that off twice a year, spring and fall, without hitting a sour note (pun intended).

Life is a learning experience and Exit Zero evolves each time — much like the music itself. If Kline had a crystal ball, he would like to see Exit Zero in five years celebrating its 10th Anniversary — bringing a jazz force to be reckoned with to the South Jersey shore.

Build It and They Shall Come Since its inception five years ago, the Exit Zero Jazz Festival transforms Cape May into a jazz mecca twice a year as fans and musicians make their pilgrimage to the sleepy town by the sea. This year, the Festival offers more than 30 sets of jazz, blues, and R&B acts.

To accommodate the music, Cape May goes from gingerbread Victorian to Bourbon Street cool, setting up venues on stages and clubs throughout the seaside resort.

With first-rate performances ranging from award winning and critically acclaimed to local favorites, the Festival has quickly become an attraction for world class musicians as well as jazz music mavens. Due to the festival’s popularity and the need for larger performance space, the Schmidtchen Theater in Cape May has been added as a venue along with the Cape May Convention Hall and a variety of local clubs and restaurants.

and a jazz icon — knowing it, living it, and giving it. According to Marsalis, “Jazz comes from our way of life, and because it’s our national art form, it helps us to understand who we are.”

Making her debut at the Exit Zero Festival this fall is Grammy winner, Cecile McLorin Salvant. Kline and his promoters are really excited to introduce her to the festival this year because “…she is a special human being and an incredibly talented artist.” The New York Times recently described her talents, “If anyone can extend the lineage of the Big Three — Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, it is this 23-year-old virtuoso.”

In addition to headliners, the festival offers more than 30 sets of critically acclaimed and talented artists in the jazz and R&B category including Omar Sosa JOG Trio, Pat Martino Organ Trio + Horns, Frank Bey Blues Revue, and Philadelphia Funk Authority.

Jim Tuohy, a Ventnor resident and lover of all things musical — including jazz — not only enjoys the talent at the Exit Zero festivals but has sponsored acts such as Amerouche — a flamenco, gypsy music, jazz blend for Exit Zero in the past. Tuohy feels that the bands “…love the Cape May festival because it not only gives them a gig, but in many cases they get a place to stay, a meal, and an opportunity to catch other acts.”

Sing Us a Song, You’re the Piano Man/ Woman Throughout the jazz weekend, music lovers take in the Cape May beachfront while coming and going between clubs and hall venues.

Headlining the festival this time is Winton Marsalis described as the most outstanding jazz musician and trumpeter of his generation, a brilliant composer, and an advocate for the arts and education. The nine-time Grammy winner and the recipient of the first jazz composition to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music is the icing on the Exit Zero festival cake. Marsalis is a performer extraordinaire

Take Five!

Composed by Paul Desmond and performed

by The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1959, the “Take Five” jazz piece became the biggestselling jazz single ever. It’s simple rhythm, cool beats, and instrumentals scream out, “I am jazz!” So, if you like “Take Five” and other jazz hits, the bi-annual Exit Zero Jazz Festivals and its strong and diverse lineups are for you.

As Kline predicts for the Fall 2016 show, “I told some of the club owners to order extra door hinges, the energy in the clubs is going to blow the doors off!”

Cool, man! Cool! n njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

25

On Wheels

Precious Cargo Carriers

By Elaine Rose

2017 GMC Terrain Nightfall Edition

Load your gear in these two roomy and stylish SUVs 26

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

FALL IS THE TIME FOR TAILGATE PARTIES, kids’ soccer games, and maybe a camping or fishing trip. Those activities require participants to haul around quite a bit of gear, and an SUV is usually the vehicle of choice. But which SUV? If you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, two SUVs are worthy of consideration: The GMC Terrain and the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The 2017 models are just hitting the showrooms, but you might have time to get a great bargain on the 2016 versions before they roll out the door. With both vehicles offering only minor changes for the 2017 model year, a clearance sale on a 2016 vehicle may be the better option.

You might call the GMC Terrain a typical soccer mom’s car. It’s GMC’s

Side view of the 2016 GMC Terrain SLT Interior view of the 2016 GMC Terrain SLT

Front view of the 2016 GMC Terrain SLT

2016 GMC Terrain SLT’s wheel

second most popular vehicle, and nearly half of its purchasers are women. But men should not be turned off, as they will also find plenty to like about the Terrain. Reviewers place it in the top half of offerings among compact SUVs. The GMC Terrain comes in four trim lines, SL, SLE (with two versions), SLT, and Denali.

The base trim starts at a very reasonable MSRP of about $24,000, and a fully-loaded Denali trim line can set you back more than $40,000.

All trim lines hold two rows of seats that comfortably seat five adults, even for longer trips. The rear seats can slide back-and-forth up to eight inches, which gives some extra leg room for taller passengers riding in the back or extra room for your stuff, as needed.

The cargo hold offers up to 31.6 cubic feet of space with the seats in use, and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. It’s not as generous as some other compact SUVs, but should be adequate for most people’s needs.

The standard engine is Ecotec 2.4-liter

direct-injection with 182 horsepower and gets an EPA estimated 21 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway. But most reviewers call this engine weak. It may be okay for puttering around town, but forget about passing other cars on the freeway. If that’s not enough juice for your needs, you should spring for the optional 3.6-liter, six-cylinder engine with 301 horsepower and the ability to tow 3,500 pounds. But you’ll pay for that extra oomph at the gas pump, as the V6 engine gets only 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

All models come with a six-speed automatic transmission, and the standard fourcylinder engine has an “Eco” mode for better fuel savings.

The Terrain’s strong points are its luxurious interior and quiet ride. Premium cloth seats are standard on all but the base trim line, and Saddle Up Leather is optional for the SLT version. The design of the dashboard

makes for easy use of the controls. A touch screen and ability to connect a smartphone come standard with all vehicles, with more IntelliLink infotainment bells and whistles optional.

“Compact SUVs generally aren’t lauded for their interior quality, but the Terrain may be an exception to that rule. Its attractive cabin features plenty of quality materials and feels like a nicer vehicle than the price would indicate,” US News & World Report wrote in its review of the 2017 model. “The material quality is higher than you’d expect for a car in this price range.”

It is in the handling of its 4,239-pound mass that the Terrain falls short, reviewers say. The six-cylinder engine, while powerful, delivers some jolts while shifting gears. One test saw it go from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.

“Our test vehicle’s performance at the track was respectable but not enjoyable,” Mike njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

27

ON WHEELS

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT in Billet Silver

28

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Interior views of the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Sutton wrote in his review of the 2016 model for Car and Driver. “The steering is lifeless, and rather heavy.”

But you needn’t fear transporting your most precious cargo — your family — in the Terrain. It received four out of five stars from the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration. A rear-view camera and tire-pressure monitor come standard on all models, and other safety features are optional.

Consumer Reports gives the Terrain an above-average rating in reliability. Translation: it won’t spend too much time in the shop for repairs.

If you need just a bit more space to stash your gear, or plan to do some serious driving away from paved roads, take a look at the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It’s Jeep’s largest offering, and reviewers say it can even navigate rocks and boulders smoothly — not that there are many places in South Jersey where you can verify that claim for yourself.

Launched for the 1993 model year, the Grand Cherokee is now in its fourth incarnation, which made its debut in 2011.

Some rumors in the automotive world say a fifth generation may be introduced in 2018 or 2019.

The Grand Cherokee comes in six trim lines, starting with the Laredo at about $30,000 to the Laredo-E, the mid-range Limited with a base price of about $37,600, and the higher-end Overland and Summit lines. The muscle-car-strength SRT trim starts at $65,700, but for that kind of cash you might be better off buying a sports car — unless you need a lot of storage space or like to drive off the paved path. The Trailhawk trim line, above the Summit, is new for 2017.

Like most other Jeeps, the Grand Cherokee comfortably seats five adults. It is a little more generous with cargo space than the GMC

Terrain, offering 36.3 cubic feet of storage with the seats in use, and 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

Except for the base Laredo model, the cabin of the Grand Cherokee is more like that of a luxury car. Reviewers say that both front- and rear-seat passengers will enjoy even long-distance rides.

“A tidy cabin with touch-screen infotainment and optional Wi-Fi make the Grand Cherokee a pleasant place to be whether fording rivers or running errands,” according to Car and Driver.

The Grand Cherokee’s base engine is a 3.6-liter, six-cylinder with 295 ponies at your disposal and rear-wheel drive. But almost all buyers opt for four-wheel drive, which is available in three different configurations: a 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter, six-cylinder engine; a 360-horsepower, eight-cylinder motor; or a 240-horsepower, turbo-diesel, six-cylinder.

The diesel engine offers the best fuel economy at 21 miles per gallon in town and 28 on the open road. There are also three different options for distributing power among the four wheels as needed.

“The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a benchmark SUV; it’s a luxury vehicle, a talented off-roader, a scalding-hot track runner, and a family wagon extraordinaire,” Marty Padgett wrote for The Car Connection.

Reviewers say the Grand Cherokee handles well, on the road or off.

“Grand Cherokee is one of the best handling, best steering SUVs in its class,” according to autoblog.com. “Road manners are smooth and crossover-like, without a bounding ride.”

Several experts say purchasers will get the best bang for their bucks by opting for the mid-range Limited trim line.

Upgrade to the Limited trim, and you get

leather seating, heated seats, a power tailgate, and remote starting capability. It also comes with an 8.4-inch touch screen with a ninespeaker sound system and the Uconnect infotainment, which some reviewers say is just about the best on the market.

The Quadra-Lift system is one feature you may want to add if you plan to do more than the usual street driving. It is optional on the Limited and standard on higher level trims.

This height-adjustment system automatically lowers the vehicle by 1.6 inches when the transmission is in park, allowing for easier entry and exit. It can also increase ground clearance from 8.4 to 10.4 inches for driving on rough terrain.

The base engine can tow 6,200 pounds.

Opt for the diesel V6 or the 5.7-liter eightcylinder motor, and the Grand Cherokee can pull up to 7,400 pounds. There is also an optional towing package.

Safety wise, the rear-wheel-drive version doesn’t do very well in crash tests, and the Grand Cherokee doesn’t have quite as many airbags as other SUVs in its price range. But the four-wheel-drive versions perform average for its class in federal safety tests. A rearview camera and parking assist are standard at all trim levels, but if you want more gizmos, it will set you back some more cash.

The Grand Cherokee’s main drawback is its reliability. Consumer Reports rates it well below average, which means you’ll probably establish a long-term relationship with your mechanic.

Whether you choose the Grand Cherokee or the Terrain, there’s one more advantage to having a new SUV. We hate to remind you, but after the glorious fall season comes the dreaded winter. Either one of these vehicles should help you maneuver the roads over any white stuff Mother Nature chooses to dump on us come December and January. n njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

29

Lifestyle Entertainment

A Legacy of Love

Lucie Arnaz

Destined to be a star, Lucie Arnaz defines success her way 30

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

By David J. Spatz

Growing up as the child of a famous entertainer certainly has its perks. But it can also be a daunting task for any kid, no matter how well-adjusted.

Even with parents who try not to spoil their children, they want for very little. Children born to privilege often attend the best schools. Some live in luxurious homes with custom swimming pools, private tennis courts, and their own playhouses that are larger and better appointed than the real homes in which some of their friends reside.

Now, imagine all of that times two. Imagine both your parents are so popular, and whose contributions to show business were so pioneering, that each is considered a living legend.

Lucie Arnaz knows that feeling all too well.

Her mother was comedy actress Lucille Ball, TV’s first sitcom queen. Her dad was Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz, who created Desilu Studios and was one of the innovators of the three-camera sitcom shooting style that’s still the industry standard more than 60 years later.

But with mom off making television history with her three comedy shows and her dad running the studio that produced his wife’s shows and other popular programs, Arnaz had a different take on growing up in a real-life version of the old Robin Leach TV show “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous.”

That’s why Lucie Arnaz put limits on what she wanted to achieve after she overcame her childhood shyness, began putting on shows with her friends in the family garage, and finally decided to go into a different end of the family business.

She wasn’t about to follow in her mother’s footsteps.

“I saw what (fame) did for my mother,” Arnaz says bluntly. “Being famous sucks.”

Back in the pre-cable television era, when most people only got three or four TV channels, Lucille Ball was more that just a TV star. She was an iconic, larger-than-life figure whose red hair and comedy acting chops were natural people lures when she stepped into the public. But all of that adulation came with a price, Arnaz remembers.

On the rare occasions when Ball wasn’t working, even the simplest task, like running out to pick up a loaf of bread, meant being mobbed by fans. And how about that timehonored ritual of shopping for school clothes with her mom?

Forget about it.

“I saw what ‘really famous’ was doing to (my parents) and it was horrible. (My mom) couldn’t even go to the market. So with (me), it was ‘let’s go into show business and have a lot of fun on Broadway and television and making movies. But let’s not get famous at all,’” Arnaz says with a big laugh.

Arnaz wanted to become a successful working actress. But she wasn’t interested in becoming famous or getting rich. With fame often comes fortune, but Arnaz makes that sound overrated, too. “(My parents) weren’t ever the kind of wealthy that we see today,” she says today, referring to the mega-rich.

Sure, her parents did “okay” financially, she says. But her family, which included her younger brother, Desi Jr., an actor and former teen rock star from the band Dino, Desi & Billy in the mid-‘60s, lived fairly simple lives.

“None of that (money) matters. Trust me. How many really, really wealthy people do you know who are absolutely happy?” she asks rhetorically.

Mom wasn’t home much when Arnaz was growing up. It seemed like she was always

Lucie Arnaz with her mother, Lucille Ball Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

31

L I F E ST Y L E E N T E R TA I N M E N T

working. Dad, too. For more than two decades Arnaz sitting on a piano with her beginning in the early 1950s, Lucille Ball was the longtime music director, Ron Abel face of television comedy. Desi Arnaz parlayed his popularity as a Latin bandleader into the head of the studios that produced his wife’s show. Desilu also produced the original “Star Trek” series and “The Untouchables.”

Arnaz, 65, concentrated on stage work during the early years of her career. Although she’d gotten plenty of experience doing walk-ons on “The Lucy Show” in the mid-1960s, and had a recurring role on her mother’s “Here’s Lucy” series from 1968 to 1974, Arnaz was captivated by the live stage.

“First I started out doing summer stock, from that I got my first national tour and then I got a Broadway show,” says Arnaz, who in August returned to the Boardwalk for the first time in years to perform at the annual Schultz-Hill Foundation’s summer gala at Resorts Casino Hotel. The non-profit group funds arts and history programs for everyone from children’s to senior groups in South Jersey.

Arnaz made her Broadway debut in 1979 in the musical “They’re Playing Our Song” and went on to star in the Broadway productions of Neil Simon’s “Lost In Yonkers” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”

In 2014, she returned to Broadway to star in the revival of “Pippin.”

Besides New York, she’s performed on some of the world’s great stages, including the Drury Lane Theatre in London, where she was featured in “The Witches of Eastwick.”

On the big screen, Arnaz has been in seven motion pictures including the 1980 remake of the 1927 classic “The Jazz Singer,” in which Arnaz played opposite singer Neil Diamond in his film debut and screen legend Sir Laurence Olivier.

Married since 1980 to actor, director, and playwright Laurence Luckinbill, Arnaz raised five children. She didn’t quit show business all together, but she did scale back her work dramatically so she could play the role of a lifetime that continues to pay dividends today.

She was a full-time mom.

Lucie Arnaz with her mother, Lucille Ball, and her brother, Desi Arnaz Jr. But she was determined not to get caught in the same trap that made it do a lot of American standards with that Latin feel,” she says. “I love that all but impossible for Ball and Arnaz to do typical mother-daughter things. stuff. The rest of it is some brand new stuff I wrote. It’s just very eclectic.”

“It was impossible to go shopping for school clothes with my mom,” Because she came from thick show business stock, Arnaz says both says Arnaz, who, along with her husband, is beginning to enjoy life as an her parents were supportive of she and her brother’s ambitions in the empty-nester. entertainment world, along with anything else they undertook.

“Growing up with my daughter (Katharine) was so wonderful. We had “They were always supportive of any passion that we had, whether it a real mom-daughter ‘friend’ relationship. We did things together, we went was horseback riding or playing the drums or piano lessons. When my places together,” Arnaz reminisces. “I never had that opportunity with my mother saw that I was already putting on little plays in the garage with my mother. Never. And that must have been really hard on her, not to mention girlfriends for one Christmas, she decided to build a little stage and put a hard on me, but really hard on her. Having been a mother now, I can’t pink light in front of it. It was like, ‘Oh, she’s having fun doing that, let me imagine not having that joy. It’s hard to be famous.” see how I can help that passion.’”

The show Arnaz brought to Atlantic City was titled “Just For Tonight.”

But her mom and dad never pushed her to do anything she didn’t like It truly was a one-off performance, because Arnaz has such a wealth of or wasn’t interested in. material she can customize virtually every show and not repeat anything.

“The support was there,” she says, “but they never pushed us because Fans who enjoyed her Broadway shows weren’t disappointed by her that’s a choice you have to make by yourself. I think (my mother) knew musical nod to her theatrical roots when they heard songs from those that we saw the business for what it really was. And that we wouldn’t productions. About 50% of her show was a big chunk she lifted from be going into it just to become famous or make a lot of money. Those “Latin Roots,” a program she created to pay tribute to the musical DNA she people who want do that get disillusioned very quickly end up having inherited from her famous father. disappointing careers.” n “It’s not all Spanish music, but it has that Latin beat. You know, you can 32

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Enhance Your Home for the Holidays...

Inside and Out!

S C H E D U L E YO U R A P P O I N T M E N T TO DAY

Creative designs and exciting possibilities to make your home the Great Outdoors.

LET US FINANCE YOUR DREAM LANDSCAPE.

n WALKWAYS n DRIVEWAYS n FIREPITS n OUTDOOR FIREPLACES n TRELLIS & ARBORS n OUTDOOR SHOWERS n LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

Providing every service to enhance the exterior beauty of residential or commercial property. From Concrete Pavers to Irrigation systems and even lawn maintenance, we provide quality professional service to Southern New Jersey.

Specializing in Pavers and Retaining walls, we can design and enhance the look of your driveway, walkway, pool surround and flowerbed enclosures.

n FLOWER POTS & DELIVERY n FENCING, ALUMINUM & VINYL n STONE VENEERS n VINYL RAILING n BARS n PERGOLAS n CHRISTMAS DECORATING

KELLY’S

ALL LANDSCAPING PRO

609-927-2989

kellysaplandscaping.com

Understanding

Namaste My Quest To Discover Yoga Through The Eyes of The Teachers

O

Okay, I will just come out and say it. When it comes to exercise and fitness, I have always pushed it to the max. My Type A personality has helped me to achieve certain goals in my life. On the other hand, in my younger days, it made me feel as if I needed to go faster, harder, and longer. I never believed in the saying “less is more.” I always felt as if “more was more.”

In my twenties and early thirties, I competed in body building and fitness competitions which are extreme by their very nature. I would run on the beach in the morning, go to work and then lift weights for a couple hours at night. After fracturing my hip in a bicycle accident, I slowed down a bit. I got regular massages and physical therapy, but as soon as I started to heal, I went back to my old habits. I taught workout classes, focused on cardio and weight training, and spent little time stretching or slowing down the pace.

Fast forward to today. Having a family and the hindsight of many years, I now understand that I was missing a critical piece in not only my fitness routine, but my life. I was always moving so fast, everything seemed like a blur.

When NBC 40 closed its doors in 2014, I was in a state of limbo. Even though I knew it was coming, it was harder than I expected to leave a job I loved and knew so well. I had been there almost 30 years, and I did not quite know what to do with myself. Yet, as much as I enjoyed it, I didn’t realize I was so stressed … until I wasn’t.

While I am fortunate to be working in the radio business, it is at a much more relaxed pace. I have had more time for my kids and my friends and I was able to join a tennis team, a sport I truly enjoy. But I am also suffering with the aches and pains that come with the remnants of years of hard training and that accident; along with fusion and a plate in my neck, a herniated disk and a touch of arthritis thrown in for good measure. While I no longer feel invincible, I still want to enjoy the many benefits of an active life. I just need to turn it down a notch or two.

So, in my search for a more balanced, less stressful existence, not to mention the physical rewards of reducing pain in my knees and back, I decided to research what many

Health Watch

By Robin Stoloff

people tout as a life-changing transformational endeavor — yoga. It has been around for thousands of years, so there must be something to it. Over the years, I have taken classes here and there, but I have never been consistent enough to reap the benefits of a true practice. I decided to talk with three local yoga instructors to get their thoughts on what yoga means to them and how it benefits their students. I found very different viewpoints, which I share with you now.

Laurie Greene Yoga Therapist Owner of Yoga Nine in Ventnor and Ship Bottom As a certified yoga therapist, Laurie owns Yoga Nine and has been teaching more than 35 years. She says, “Yoga is a technique by which you can better understand yourself through observing your breathing.” She believes that a good yoga practice will give someone the sense that there are no limitations. Laurie grew up in a yoga family and has experimented with different types and teachers, finally developing a style that combines the best of all she has learned. When I asked her if anything surprises her about people’s perception of yoga, she is amazed that people think yoga is all about flexibility, or they think they are too old for yoga, need a certain kind of body, and that it is only for women. Yet that could not be further from the truth.

“There are no shapes you have to do, no toes you have to touch.” She dismisses the stereotypes that yogis must be calm, kind animal-loving vegans. “It does not make you a nicer person. I am not patient, I am not calm … I am just trying my best like everyone else.”

In doing her best, Laurie is doing pretty well. She is committed to helping our local community. Her nonprofit, “Be Well Do Good”, runs wellness programs throughout the area.

Among their many community projects, they offer yoga at Atlantic City High to students who can take yoga as their gym requirement.

They work with teen girls in the foster care program and breast cancer survivors through Gilda’s Club.

As a yoga therapist, Laurie has been able to assist people to rehabilitate and recover from

injury and reduce chronic pain, often times helping them to delay or even prevent more invasive treatment options. She also gives people new tools to gain more confidence in their life.

“People come into the studio who don’t feel powerful, capable, they can’t stretch the limitations of what they think they can do.

When someone gets in their body, whether they can do a handstand or not, they have more control and they feel more empowered.

It forces you to take a look at yourself … yoga helps you see who you are, and seeing who you are can be very freeing, especially for women … I don’t have to please people and I don’t have to be everything to everybody. I am just me.” She notes, however, that yoga does not do that for everyone, and that is okay. For some people, it is just a workout. “You get out of it what you want to get out of it.”

Robyn Tiger Certified Yoga Therapist Owner of Yoga Heals 4 Life and former Radiologist Robyn’s story is truly unique. Imagine the time, money and effort to become a physician, only to leave your practice to work as a yoga instructor. At first, most of us would think it sounds crazy, but after talking with Robyn and getting to know her over the past couple of years, it makes perfect sense. Robyn spent 15 years in diagnostic radiology specializing in women’s imaging. While modern medical advancements made it easier to detect cancer, Robyn realized that it was only a piece of the puzzle. In her role as a doctor, the emphasis was on treating the disease, but not the whole patient. She was in disease management, not disease prevention. Medicine, she notes, sees people as just their symptoms but yoga sees them beyond their disease and ailments and helps them find balance physically as well as emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.

When Robyn got more involved with yoga about 15 years ago, she discovered a field called yoga therapy that can help patients heal in so many ways. This was what she had been looking for. She became certified in yoga therapy and now specializes in cancer recovery, trauma, anxiety, panic disorders, njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

35

H E A LT H W AT C H

and PTSD. She has worked with veterans and studied with “Warriors at Ease,” a program that teaches yoga and meditation for military population. Yoga postures are really only a portion of what yoga actually is. Breathing and meditation are very big components of yoga.

“I have been able to teach people they can take an active role in their own journey to healing. Instead of being passive and letting everything happen to them, people can be an active participant in how they are feeling.”

Her philosophy is that “Yoga is a companion for life. It makes me grounded in my body, calm in my mind and less reactive. Something I did not find in physical exercise alone.”

Teaching in studios throughout the area, Robyn encourages a non-competitive environment and calls her class “a space of non-judgement.” Nobody is comparing themselves to each other or even how they were yesterday. They are just focusing on how they are in that moment. She reminds her students that everyone looks different, so everyone will look different doing the postures and that is okay. “It is a huge burden off their shoulders.”

While she knew yoga was therapeutic, “the doctor side of her brain” still wanted to proof, and she found it. “Research shows stress hormones, in particular the hormone cortisol, are lower in people who do yoga. Stress is associated with a significant amount of disease in this country such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attacks, digestive disorders, and diabetes, and stress inhibits the immune system so we can’t fight off disease.

Yoga decreases the stress response.”

She observed people coming into class with dark circles, hunched over, and not making eye contact, barely sleeping, not eating. “Now they are the first people in my class. They plan their entire week around their yoga.” She says people thank her all the time but she tells them, “Thank yourself. I am just the instrument by which you are helping yourself.” The word Yoga means union — joining body and mind through breath. By combining her medical background with the healing strength of yoga, Robyn has certainly achieved her own type of union.

Halle Guldin Studio Operations Manager Grace and Glory Yoga and Instructor About a year before starting yoga, Halle suffered with a severe anxiety and panic disorder. It was so debilitating, she could not leave the house for a month. She is not opposed to medication, but she was searching 36

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

for holistic remedies to ease anxieties without side effects. Along with cognitive behavioral and psychiatric therapy, yoga, and walking, Halle was able to overcome her panic disorder.

She says, “Yoga helps me get through difficult poses and I use that to overcome difficult experiences outside of class. My favorite part is the breath work. Whenever I feel anxious symptoms, I am able to breathe through it … it is called breathing purposefully.”

Halle was introduced to yoga in high school when her parents practiced. She was interested but not ready to commit to regular practice. When her friend, Allie Nunzi, opened Grace and Glory in Northfield, she joined their program — 40 days to personal evolution. That was it for her. About a year ago, Halle became an instructor in Baptiste Power Yoga — a type of hot yoga named after its founder, Barron Baptiste. The room is kept at 90-95 degrees for several reasons.

The heat allows an inner fire to build and warms muscles so they can move more easily, extra sweating helps eliminate impurities and the warmer temperature gets participants out of their comfort zone, making them feel empowered in and out of class. Barron Baptiste travelled the world learning different techniques and created Babtiste yoga to help change the way we talk about yoga and demystify it. There is less talk about chakras, and it is more conceptual and more accessible to common people.

The biggest misconception about yoga, according to Halle, is that “people think they can’t do yoga unless they are already good at yoga.” They believe it is for the beautiful people in tight matching spandex outfits. The outlook at Grace and Glory is that it is for everyone of all body types and sizes and yoga can look different for each individual. They offer modification for everyone’s personal journey.

At first, this was tough for Halle to overcome, “It was hard for me looking at a person next to me with perfect practice. I felt I was not good enough because my yoga practice did not look like that, so why even try yoga. A lot of people shy away because they don’t want to look silly or they are not good at it right away. But, it is a stretching of the mind. You have to be open to looking silly or getting messy on your way up.”

Speaking of looking silly, I shared with Halle the time I took a yoga class and almost everyone, older, younger, thin and not-sothin was doing a headstand. I kept trying, head and hands on the floor, resting my

knees on my elbows and going for that final leg extension .. which never happened.

I would fall over, try again and fall over again. I imagined how ridiculous I must have looked to these people holding these balanced headstands and just started to laugh.

Halle told me it was good that I could laugh at myself. “Yoga helps you get out of your comfort zone and let yourself go.” I certainly let myself go, onto the floor, again and again!

As far as the benefits she has witnessed in her students, “Yoga shows you what is possible for you if you work at it and start from the bottom and work your way up.

Students strengthen and improve injuries, they have breakthroughs in their personal life.

It is a style of yoga that includes self-inquiry, meditation and physical elements.” Grace and Glory gets involved with service projects such as The Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City to empower children that are struggling.

They practice the Baptiste methodology — physicalness, possibility, and empowerment.

It has truly made a difference in Halle’s life.

It’s All Good These are just a few of many styles of yoga, but they are a good overview of some of the disciplines being offered in our area. While the three women I spoke with all had very different journeys that led them to yoga and a variety of viewpoints on their practice, they all had one common theme, yoga is empowering.

They also use that empowerment to impact the lives of others and help our local community. While I began this look at yoga as something that would help me to slow down my pace and reduce some aches and pains, I have discovered that, for many people committed to the practice of yoga, it is clearly so much more. It is called “practice” for a reason.

Our kids go to baseball practice and play practice to help them get better at what they do. The concept behind the word practice is that we are always becoming better. While the saying “practice makes perfect” may never apply to yoga, it can teach us to celebrate our differences and imperfections and continue to learn and improve. And that is something we all can do. n Former Television Health Reporter, Robin Stoloff, now hosts a radio program on Lite Rock 96.9 Sunday mornings from 9-11 AM and continues her Health Update tips on all five radio stations of Townsquare Media. She lives in Atlantic County with her husband, local attorney Richard Stoloff, and 16-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.

“We take Having Fun seriously!

Experience Smithville in this Mediterranean masterpiece Viewed from the street, this sparkling split rancher with separated sleeping areas is just one of many charming homes along the meandering lanes of Four Seasons in Smithville. Set halfway around a quiet circle in the 55-plus community, the house has a traditional pitched roof, sided walls and fieldstone face, plus artfully landscaped grounds complete with a picturesque birch tree.

An expanse of Florentine terracotta tile flooring leads to a sumptuous, single story living space that has 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. An unobstructed floor plan and 14-foot ceilings give the home quite a spacious feel. The spacious master bedroom has a high-soaring ceiling, large windows with multiple views, his-and-hers closets, and a master bath that recalls an Italian grotto in its cobblestone floors and tub surround.

The kitchen is set behind a 10-foot rough-cut stone partition that contrasts with the smooth granite counters and rich wood cabinets. There are contemporary touches that mix well with the more formal features – like a dining room. The sunroom boasts a splendid view of the sun-filled backyard, with pavers used for retaining walls, flowerbed enclosures, and walkways.

There’s a lot to love about the Four Seasons lifestyle. The K. Hovnanian master-planned community spans hundreds of verdant acres crisscrossed by lakes, walkways, and bike paths.

Developed in the 1990s, the neighborhood designed like a series of interlocking hamlets adjoins Historic Smithville, a small town that sprang up around a stagecoach route in the late 1700s.

Smithville and the Village Green are close by, with their rows of boutiques and restaurants. In the spring and summer, the ice cream parlor, amusement park, and boat rides are especially popular.

Call to see this home today.

Barbara Morgan Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore Office: 609.484.9890 • Cell: 609.432.9060 Web: BarbaraMorganSellsHomes.com Email: Barbaramorganrealestate@gmail.com

The Gift

Lifelines

Giving from the heart can change a life, one birthday at a time

By Michelle Dawn Mooney

H

appy October! Welcome to what may be my favorite month.

From pumpkins and pumpkin-spiced lattes to colorful leaves and crisp autumn air, there’s something about October that just makes me happy. My love of this time of year may have a little to do with the fact that it happens to be the month in which I was born. I guess most people have a special connection with their birthday month. After all, who doesn’t love their birthday? What’s better than birthday cake and blowing out candles, and knowing that you have 24 hours where any number of people will pass on warm wishes to make you feel like your king or queen for the day? When you think about birthdays, you often think about gifts. This article is about a very special gift from the heart that will keep on giving, with your help.

Many adults would agree that when it comes to birthdays, it’s more about the sentiment of knowing your friends and loved ones care rather than anything wrapped in pretty paper with bows. As a child however, it’s a little different. Aside from being able to indulge in two or three layers of frosted sugar, there is often huge curiosity and excitement to learn what presents may be waiting for you at the breakfast table, at dinner, or maybe even at your own party.

I can still remember the joy of finding out what my mom given me on my 9th birthday. It was a watch, and I loved it. Despite the stereotype that goes along with being an only child, I wasn’t spoiled and I wasn’t materialistic ... I was 9. Kids like presents and every kid should have a present on their birthday. But for some families it’s not that easy.

One big-hearted teenager recognized this and wanted to do something to help. She founded a project that would not only give underprivileged kids a present to open on their big day, it would provide them with something that would last a lifetime ... the gift of reading.

Arkansas high school student Cara McCollum had already been donating her time to charity for several years when she had the idea to start the Birthday Book Project. She had been involved with collecting and giving out toys to kids on special holidays for years, but she noticed that gifting books was an option often overlooked. She knew the joy that reading brought her and she wanted to share it with others. She enlisted the help of family and friends to collect and donate books to area classrooms where some students didn’t have one book to call their own due to financial circumstances. She thought if she could place a book in the hands and homes of kids on their birthdays, she could show them what a gift reading could be.

A lot has happened since the start of the Birthday Book Project in 2008. The years of reading helped the bright and ambitious Cara become valedictorian of her high school’s senior class before she went on to graduate from Princeton, and her intelligence, poise, and talent helped her capture the crown of Miss New Jersey. The title allowed Cara the opportunity to represent the Garden State at the Miss America

Pictured far left, McCollum reads to students as part of the Birthday Book Project. Photo by Donald Kravitz. Middle and right photo are from the very first SNJ Today wrapping party for Cara’s Birthday Book Project.

38

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Pageant, where her work with the Birthday Book Project helped her win the organization’s most coveted prize for community service, The Quality of Life Award. After graduation, Cara’s dream of working in television came true when she became the first lead news anchor for the newly established SNJ Today news. All the while, she was still hard at work at something she loved…putting books into the little hands of children who may not otherwise have them.

Today, that dream lives on, although Cara does not. While her bright light continues to shine on the lives of so many who have been touched by her kindness, generosity and warm spirit, tragically Cara left this world earlier this year, shortly after her 24th birthday, after she was involved in a car accident on her way home from a job and a group of co-workers that she loved. They loved her back, in a very big way. In fact, that love is the reason why I am writing this.

I didn’t know Cara well, only through correspondence, with hopes of maybe chatting over coffee one day. Our limited communication included some humor about the pageantry background we shared, but mostly dealt with some encouragement I was hoping to give her about getting involved with the SNJ group, which included a number of people from my former NBC 40 family. I never thought I would be doing news again, but so many never thought Cara would become an angel so soon.

So, here I am once again back behind the news desk, surrounded by so much love that can still be felt for the beautiful young lady who once sat in the anchor chair. Her smiling face adorns so many walls that continue to hear stories filled with anecdotes brimming with facets of her sparking sense of humor. One room pays tribute to Cara in quite a special way.

The SNJ Today building is now home to a new Cara McCollum Birthday Book Room. It’s freshly painted and decorated and has just started providing storage for the many books that have already been purchased through donations. The SNJ Today family is so honored to keep Cara’s giving spirit alive by helping to represent the local chapter of the Birthday Book Project, which is now credited with giving away some 25,000 books to kindergarten through 5th grade students in need in New Jersey and Arkansas.

Everyone should have a gift on his or her birthday. Some gifts are more precious than others. Cara saw books as one of the most valuable presents a child could receive, but the gift that she gave the world ... priceless.

For more information or to donate to Cara’s Birthday Book Project, please visit www.gofundme.com/BirthdayBook. n

Join the Club. Reap the RewaRds! A Golf outinG for 2 At renAult Winery & Golf Course!

SPECIAL BONUS: A $100 DINNER GIFT CERTIFICATE TO PHILLIPS SEAFOOD RESTAURANT* As a Chequemate Golf Club member, you will receive the following upon presentation of your membership card:

ORDER NOW!

75

n FREE

MEMBERSHIP IS ONLY

$

Valued at $ more than

Round of Golf

n FREE

plus S&H*

600 !

00

— Two Weekday Greens Fees with Cart n FREE — Two Weekend Greens Fees with Cart n Special Bonus - 10% Off Your Golf Shop Merchandise Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion.

Chequemate Golf Club Card is valid for 1 year from the date of activation.

HURRY... A limited amount of Chequemate Golf Club memberships will be issued on a first come, first serve basis during this special offer!

Live weLL.

Spend Smart.

For additional information and to place your order

CALL (609)652-3788 or visit

www.chequemateclub.com Chequemate Golf Club • P.O. Box 787 • Oceanville, NJ 08231-0787

* $100 certificate to Phillips Seafood Restaurant is valid at all of their restaurants including Atlantic City, NJ; Annapolis, MD; Baltimore, MD and Ocean City, MD. Phillips Airport or Roadway (Express) locations excluded.

First Person

By Felicia L. Niven

The Quest to Save Ground Zero

40

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

It took 15 years for Dominick Moretti to fully process the events surrounding the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. Maybe that’s because he lived and breathed it — every dust and ash-covered breath — for months following the attack.

Now he’s finally ready to tell his story.

DOMINICK WAS IN EARLY ON SEPT. 11TH, AS WAS HIS HABIT. AS Electrical Supervisor for the New York City Fire Department, he started his days at Building Facilities Headquarters in Queens. It was business as usual for the first couple of hours.

Then, around 8:45 AM, the computers and cell phones started going crazy.

We got an alert that there was a fire at the World Trade Center, but to stand down and wait for more information,” he remembers.

He and his coworkers headed up to the headquarters’ roof to see what they could see.

It was 30 feet high and had a good view of the Towers. That’s when they realized that this was no ordinary incident.

“They had already dispatched police and firefighters near the Towers,” he says. “We could hear the sirens. We saw the first building on fire and the second building catch fire. I noticed the Towers started to shift. At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Then they came down in a cloud of dust.”

Dominick was ready to go, but it would be hours before he’d get the go-ahead. “The streets were filled with bodies,” he explains.

“There was a massive cleanup under way so we could get our trucks in.” In the meantime, they readied generators, lighting, computer systems, and everything they might need to set up communications at the site. Then they waited — and waited.

The call came in at 1 AM that it was okay to proceed. The electrical team headed over at 6 AM to work in daylight. Dominick — and many of the others from IBEW Local Union 3 — hadn’t been home yet from the previous

day, and hadn’t slept. That would be the new normal for many of them in the coming days.

“They had set up a d-con (decontamination) unit a block long,” remembers Dominick. “They searched every truck going in, and washed and hosed every truck going out.” But it wasn’t until he got inside that he saw the extent of the damage.

“It was a war zone,” he says. “Where do you start? You’re in shock. You cry. You cry because of the devastation. You see body parts. There were just piles and piles of bodies. You see flames, constant flames, and firemen pumping water into the debris to help control the heat.

It was so hot on that mountain of debris that the boots were melting. There was this thick gray ash everywhere you looked; you couldn’t escape it. It coated you; it stuck to buildings.

We taped the cuffs of our pants so it wouldn’t creep under. We were told to wear our masks 24/7 so we wouldn’t breathe it in.”

Dominick and his team wired two command centers and set them up with surveillance, computers and telephones. He credits his boss, Joseph Mastropietro, Commissioner of Buildings and Trades, and second-in-command Daniel Wallen, Foreman of Mechanics, for keeping everyone focused, fed and safe.

It took a couple of days, but once the centers were set up, Dominick finally headed home for a much needed, if brief, break. Before he even entered the house, he stripped down and threw his clothes out. It was a habit he’d repeat for the next few weeks.

As the days went on, volunteers starting flocking to the site. “It didn’t matter who you were,” says Dominick. “Everyone pitched in

— senators, TV stars, Broadway actors. Susan Sarandon helped serve food. John Cusack was there, too.” Dominick and his team ended up setting up a temporary hotel for visiting dignitaries so they could stay close to the action.

After awhile, the unthinkable became routine.

Dominick would commute from his home in Staten Island to Ground Zero and back again. “My shift didn’t start until 7 AM, but I found myself going in even earlier than I used to — 3 or 4 AM or before just to get through the tunnels and bridges. There were alerts everywhere — amber, yellow, orange, red. We had to be very careful.”

Meanwhile, the fire department had its hands full controlling the fires, which burned nonstop for months. During the first week of December, Dominick witnessed crews pulling out red hot glowing steel. “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it,” he says.

He was reassigned after three months at Ground Zero, but the experience stayed with him, well past his retirement in March 2009 and his move to south Jersey. Sometimes the memories come pouring out, inspired by a scene in a movie, a ride through a tunnel, or a chat with a former coworker. “I found myself thinking I didn’t do enough,” he says, in typical Dominick Moretti style.

“Tragedy sometimes draws out the best in people,” notes Dominick. “The outpouring of love was so high, you couldn’t even measure it.

I became part of something very special, and I’m proud to have been a part of it.” n njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

41

Lifestyle Opinion

Atlantic City vs. the State of New Jersey: The Drama Reaches a Fever Pitch THE DIRE FINANCIAL SITUATION IN ATLANTIC CITY has hit a new level of crisis in confidence.

Most observers thought that the City Council would follow through and approve legislation that would sanction Governor Chris Christie’s Atlantic City financial bailout “with strings attached” plan. However, on September 7, 2016, Atlantic City Council voted 5-3-1 and defeated the measure on first reading. If they don’t agree to revisit this, the measure is dead. The consequences for these actions is also deadly.

Because the Governor trusted that Atlantic City would follow through on this measure, the state provided the city with an advance of millions of dollars, as part of the $72-plus million bailout package.

It gets worse.

Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian previously stated to me that he believed he had “further cover” to proceed with the state plan because of a March 2016 City Council resolution that gave him the power to negotiate a deal with the state. At this same Council Meeting of September 7th, Councilman Frank Gilliam, Jr. sponsored a measure to repeal this authority previously granted to the Mayor. It passed.

In gambling town, Mayor Guardian had just rolled snake eyes. Make no mistake about it, this is a major crisis

42

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

at so many levels.

First, it continues to perpetuate an aura of dysfunctionality. This is bad for business at all levels, i.e., casinos, tourism, etc. Second, should Atlantic City default on approaching bond payments, this will have a direct negative impact on financial markets beyond just Atlantic City.

Governor Christie is understandably very concerned and displeased because he had every assurance that the deal was done.

Christie has publicly stated his disgust with Atlantic City for running at a $100 million deficit for each of the past five years.

This latest controversy was completely unexpected. While all was not forgiven, mutual and substantial progress had been made since April 7, 2016 when Governor Christie came to Atlantic City and held an extraordinary press conference.

He called Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian “a liar.” Never before had a Governor traveled to The World’s Playground to so unambiguously lay such a vitriolic smack down on the Mayor and City Council.

Obviously, all had not been forgotten, because the disagreement between the city and the state was so intense. However, all parties continued to move towards a resolution in the best interest of the city and state. The situation could not

have be more dire. Atlantic City was quickly running out of money and would be literally broke before the end of the summer.

The next key date was May 24, 2016, when the New Jersey Legislature finally reached a deal to approved Governor Christie’s Atlantic City bailout accord. The General Assembly had long resisted coming on board. Christie and Senate President Steve Sweeney displayed relentless leadership to bring this to a positive outcome. Or, so they thought.

The only piece missing was Atlantic City Council approving the plan. In the end, they refused. It’s the “strings attached” part that they couldn’t get past. By agreeing to accept $72-plus million, the city also had to agree to put up all city assets as collateral.

This includes the valuable Municipal Utilities Authority. Atlantic City has some of the cleanest, awardwinning water anywhere to be found.

Bader Field (once worth more than a billion dollars) and every other asset would be directly on deposit with the state.

Council Members that I have interviewed all believe that the state is preparing to takeover Atlantic City regardless of their actions.

The state is presently awaiting a comprehensive written plan from the city, which must detail how they

By Harry Hurley Op-Ed Contributor

can fund city operations and pay down the more than $500 million in accumulated debt. It must be a balanced, five-year plan.

If the state does not approve the plan, then a certain full state takeover of Atlantic City will be announced as early as November, 2016. This would strip a Mayor and nine-member city council of all authority to manage Atlantic City. A Chief Executive Officer would be appointed under a potential state takeover. Under this scenario, which is very close to happening, the Mayor and Council would hold titles, but, have no real authority to govern. If there was any chance for Atlantic City to avoid a state takeover, it was lost when City Council voted against the state financial bailout plan.

The November 8, 2016 General Election ballot question regarding approving casino gaming outside of Atlantic City is fast approaching. This is a very ill-advised battle to take on the state.

A united effort in Southern New Jersey is integral towards defeating this ballot measure. Most experts agree, if this question is approved, you

can expect 3-4 additional Atlantic City casinos to close. This would result in a depression-like environment for Atlantic City and the Southern New Jersey region.

There is still certainly time for the Atlantic City Council to revisit the state financial bailout issue. But, they appear to be very dug-in and unwilling to cede control of city assets to the state.

The conundrum for them is that the state will achieve the exact same result in a takeover. Well-placed inside sources have confirmed to me that the

Governor made it clear that he will not approve Atlantic City to file for bankruptcy protection.

Atlantic City is strongly considering filing for bankruptcy, following the model set by Detroit which filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history.

No New Jersey city has filed for bankruptcy in more than 100 years.

For good reason. If Atlantic City defaults on bond payments, it would have a very debilitating impact on financial markets. It would negatively affect the entire state.

We should know the state’s full intention before election day, perhaps sooner due to city council’s renegade actions.

Don’t expect anything other than a full state takeover of Atlantic City. It’s a sure bet.

Governor Chris Christie will soon become the Governor of Atlantic City.

A job he never wanted. n

The only piece missing was Atlantic City Council approving the plan. In the end, they refused.

It’s the “strings attached” part that they couldn’t get past. city is seriously considering a federal lawsuit strategy against the state. They simply don’t believe that they can get a fair shake in the state, so they are looking for federal intervention.

It is also important to note that the state must approve for Atlantic City to file for bankruptcy protection. In an exclusive “Hurley in the Morning” WPG Talk Radio 104.1 FM/1450 AM interview with Governor Christie; the

Harry Hurley is the president of Harry Hurley Consulting and Communications, LLC. He hosts the daily talk radio program “Hurley in the Morning” AM weekdays on Townsquare Media, WPG Talk Radio 1450, where he also serves as the senior programming consultant, harryhurley.com.

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

43

The Social Scene

MBCA Beach Party Raises over $14,000 for Local Scholarships MBCA’s Annual White Hot Summer Beach Party, held on July 26 at the Bungalow Beach Bar on the beach in Atlantic City, was a success, raising over $14,000 for local scholarships. Over 600 attendees enjoyed the summer event,

which included a silent auction, salsa dancers, delicious food, and surprise celebrities. Attendees all dressed in summer white apparel. The event was sponsored by Fox Rothschild, CRDA, PNC Bank and AC WEEKLY.

From left to right, Mr. and Mrs. Randolph, Christine The staff of A-1 Plumbing Company, who was a Summer From left to right, Mr. and Mrs. Randolph, Mr. and D’Alesandro, Megan Brestle and Christina Event Sponsor Mrs. Bob Franklin, AC Fire Chief Scott Evans and Diamangis Mr. Billy Chang

29th Annual JFS House Tour Raises More Than $55,000 From new construction with spectacular views to a home featuring collectibles from all over the world, the 29th Annual House Tour offered nearly 800 attendees an exclusive look inside seven Downbeach homes on August 1. The annual event raised $55,500 for Village by the Shore, which provides a variety of concierge, volunteer and professional services and socialization for adults (50+) in our community.

Organized by co-chairs Stephanie Lutz-Koch and Johanna Perskie, the 2016 House Tour was a success, with generous sponsors and advertisers such as Burns Property Group, Harrison Beverage, ProSource of South Jersey, Ocean City Home Bank, and many more. Attendees received a complimentary lunch sponsored by Oasis Property Group in their stunning new home on Pembroke

Avenue in Margate.

The tour also included extra features including pretzels from Allstate/David Lieberman Financial Services and a great retail shopping experience from St. John Knits. Trade sponsors from LHR Designs, Surroundings Furniture & Design, Colmar Kitchen and Bath, TJC Architects, and Candice Adler Designs offered attendees creative insight, design concepts, and information about the homes.

Five lucky winners took home fabulous raffle prizes including a white and cognac pave diamond ring set in 18k white gold from Roberts Fine Jewelers, a 2-night stay with $300 food credit at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, a 2-night stay and $300 food credit at Caesars Atlantic City, a JCC 2017 Summer Membership, and a $100 Downbeach More than 90 guests purchased a VIP ticket, which provided doorExpress gift certificate. to-door transportation on a Jitney and fast entry into the homes.

House Tour Co-Chairs Stephanie Lutz-Koch (left) and Johanna Perskie.

Nearly 800 attendees enjoyed an exclusive tour through seven Downbeach homes during the JFS House Tour.

44

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Attendees received a complimentary lunch sponsored by Oasis Property Group.

The Social Scene

Schultz-Hill Foundation’s Lucie Arnaz Concert Raises over $100,000 for the Arts With a little bit of Broadway, some sultry jazz, and a tribute to her Latin roots, Lucie Arnaz entertained a crowd of over 600 at the Schultz-Hill Foundation’s annual fundraiser at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City on August 20. The event raised more than $100,000 for the Schultz-Hill Foundation, whose mission is to provide music and arts education programs for students and seniors in Atlantic City.

Ms. Arnaz, an Emmy Award winning actress, singer, producer, director and Broadway star, performed an eclectic show that featured music, memories and tributes to each of her famous parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The show was followed by a Meet-and-Greet and a VIP Dessert Reception.

The benefit concert was presented by the Schultz-Hill Foundation in association with Arluck Entertainment and music direction by Ron Abel. Resorts Casino Hotel was a presenting sponsor for the event. Honorary Chairs of From left to right, Harvey Kesselman, Stockton University the event’s “Celebrity Committee” were Resorts President President; Lynn Kesselman; Theresa De Franco; and Peter Mora, President Atlantic Cape Community College Mark Giannantonio and Mrs. Susan Giannantonio.

Atlantic City Ballet Company with Phyllis Papa, Artistic Director; Michael Hoebler; and Lucie Arnaz

Schultz Hill Foundation Co-Founder Gary Hill and friends attend the VIP Reception at Resorts Grand Ballroom

Photos by Nick Valinote

From left to right, Mark Gianantonio, Resorts President; Susan Gianantonio; and Mr. and Mrs. March Sachis, Vice President

L to R: John Schultz, Rita Stromfeld, Bernie Brownstein, Maxine Champion, Theresa Katz, Gary Hill, Susan Weiss and Rabbi David Weiss

AtlantiCare’s Lori Herndon (second from left) with AtlantiCare friends

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

45

The Social Scene Photos by Nick Valinote

Dancing With Dolphins Benefit Raises $45,000 for the Marine Mammal Stranding Center The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC), the only facility in New Jersey dedicated to the rescue of sick and injured marine mammals and sea turtles, hosted the fifth annual Dancing With Dolphins on August 11 raising $45,000.

The benefit was held at One Atlantic, which graciously sponsored the entire event. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean atop Atlantic City’s The Playground, over 200 guests attended the event, enjoying a gourmet dinner, complimentary beer and wine, a live jazz band, the Breckerville Group, and prize auctions.

Since its start in 1978, MMSC staff and volunteers have responded to over 4,700 calls for whales, dolphins, seals and Marine Mammal Stranding Center Interns sea turtles that washed ashore on New Jersey beaches.

Brian and Doug Heun, MMSC Board Members (father and son)

L to R: Ken Schaffer (MMSC Board Chairman), Jeff and Dana Denner, Lisa McClay and Tony Pullella 46

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

MMSC founder/director Bob Schoelkopf

MMSC Board Member Dr. Mark Logan and family

Chris and Angela Brindisi

Artist Susan Daly

From left to right, Peggy, Lauren and Jimmie Richards

The Social Scene

Local Adventures with Miss America 2017 Contestants Linwood Country Club hosted the Miss America 2017 Contestants on September 4 as the ladies split into groups of three and got lessons with the pros on the driving range, the putting green, and the chipping area. Both Linwood Country Club and Miss America are celebrating 95 years of tradition this year.

The contestants enjoyed visiting one of South Jersey’s oldest and most-respected private golf clubs, which offers stunning views of the Atlantic City skyline. After the ladies chipped, putted, and drove around the golf course, they mingled with club members and enjoyed a coast-to-coast barbecue featuring regionally inspired dishes like Southern Peach BBQ chicken, Pacific Coast Salmon, and of course, some Jersey

Miss America 2017 Contestants at Linwood Country Club

The Playground hosts the Miss America 2017 Contestants.

Miss America Contestants found some cute accessories at White Lotus.

Fresh favorites.

The Playground, Atlantic City, was also thrilled to host the Miss America 2017 Contestants as the ladies enjoyed stopping at The Playground’s fabulous stores, enjoying a complimentary shopping spree specially designed for the state representatives. From trying on cowboy hats at Zane’s Western Wear to sampling candy at IT’SUGAR and trying cute accessories at White Lotus, the ladies had a blast while shopping. The other stores that participated are Renee’s, Design Jewelry and Karina’s. After shopping, the ladies enjoyed a dessert reception at Phillip’s Seafood featuring delectable sweet treats — the perfect way to end the evening.

Miss Maine and Miss New Jersey take a drive around the golf course.

Miss Louisiana and Miss Kentucky take a golf cart ride.

A few of the ladies sample candy at IT’S SUGAR.

The ladies try on cowboy hats at Zane’s Western Wear.

Miss New Jersey Brenna Weick

The ladies enjoyed a complimentary shopping spree. njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

47

The Social Scene

Golfing Fore A Great Cause More than 200 golfers participated in the AtlantiCare Foundation’s 28th Annual Invitational Thomas L. Glenn, Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament on September 12 at Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township. The tournament was presented by Glenn Insurance, Inc. and the chairpersons were David M. Goddard, president and CEO of Ole Hansen and Sons, Inc., and Howard Axelrod, M.D., cardiac surgeon, and chairman, Department of Surgery, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.

Proceeds of the event will benefit AtlantiCare’s clinical and community programs that make a difference in the communities AtlantiCare serves.

From left to right, Edwina Hansen, Fran and Eric Goldstein, and Lori Scott

From left to right, Abdullah Anderson, Gregory Ingrum, Steve Smith and Michael Epps enjoy a day of golf.

Jessie Brudon of Roberts Fine Jewelers presented a From left to right, Lisa Bien, Julie Molinari, diamond ring to golf ball drop winner Gabe Staino.

Monica Titus and Cheryl Lambert

From left to right, Tim Glenn, Drew Siok, Todd Gordon and Casy Fraser enjoy a day of golf.

48

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

AtlantiCare president and CEO Lori Herndon joins Bob Mayer (left), Howard Axelrod, M.D., and Eugene Arnone on the golf course.

Tony Coppola, Jr hits the golf ball as Leon Costello, Nick Pantilione and Vincent Pollistina look on.

I want

We Carry High End Outdoor Furniture

n Lighting n Shower Doors n Fixtures n Decorative Hardware

n n n n

Vanities Ceiling Fans Medicine Cabinets Accessories and More!

Don’t trust your child’s imaging exam to just anyone.

Terra Mar Plaza | Tilton Road | Northfield, NJ | 609-641-2088

SHOES • SPORTSWEAR •

FOR MEN

430 Tilton Road •Northfield, NJ 609-407-7200 • www.artistichardware.net

CLOTHING

Lou Marchiano

331 Tilton Road • Northfield, NJ 609-646-6464 atlanticcitybarstoolbrothers.com

DESIGN WITH A CONSCIENCE

Trust the experts at Atlantic Medical Imaging.

At AMI, we understand the unique needs of children, parents and pediatricians in the diagnostic process. That’s why we ensure that your doctor receives your child’s exam results immediately.

We work together with your pediatrician to provide the best possible care for your child.

AMI is a proud supporter of the Image Gently™ Alliance, which promotes “child-size” radiation doses in pediatric imaging care.

To schedule a same day appointment,* please call (609) 677-XRAY or (609) 463-9500.

www.atlanticmedicalimaging.com amiradiology

GALLOWAY EGG HARBOR TWP. MAYS LANDING SOMERS POINT CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE HAMMONTON NORTHFIELD MANASQUAN BRICK TOMS RIVER

*Unless restricted by your insurance company.

LifeStyLe BiLLiardS

Serving Atlantic and Cape May Counties with affordable detailing for your automobile and boat

Circle Commons • Somers Point, NJ 609.653.1658

609.652.3788

Free Pick-up and Delivery

Now Available:

8 Willie Mosconi Cue Sticks Orig. $5600 On Sale $3500

Beauty is in the Detail

Join the club. Reap the RewaRds! A Golf Outing for 2 at Renault Winery & Golf Course!

SPECIAL BONUS: A $100 DINNER GIFT CERTIFICATE TO PHILLIPS SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

ORDER NOW!

75

$

.00

An incredible value of more than

$60000!

FREE Round of Golf FREE — Two Weekday Greens Fees with Cart n FREE — Two Weekend Greens Fees with Cart n Special Bonus — 10% Off Your Golf Shop Merchandise n n

(609)652-3788 • chequemateclub.com 49

Holiday 2015 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

THE GALLERY ADVERTISING RATES 1/8 Page $295.00 per insertion

All units in full color. Rates include all production.

All rates are based on 6 insertions within a 12-month period from the date of the first insertion.

NJ Lifestyle Magazine CALL 609-703-0787 FOR RESERVATIONS

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Shore 2016

49

Cooking, Country Club Style HONE YOUR CULINARY SKILLS AT THE ATLANTIC CITY COUNTRY CLUB Pan Seared Sea Scallops Provencal

50

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

RESTAURANT REPORT

By Alyson Boxman Levine

F

For over a year, food enthusiasts have gathered at the Atlantic City Country Club on the third Thursday of the month to experience a unique culinary event. This is the night Chef Ed Daggers offers his savory cooking classes and the audience couldn’t be happier. From preparing seasonal ingredients in unique and different ways, to how to properly debone a turkey, the engaging classes offer five to six courses of deliciousness.

The next class in the popular series is entitled, “Fall Harvest” and, according to Daggers, will focus on the upcoming holiday season. “I will demonstrate different ways to prepare side dishes and entrees for Thanksgiving and Christmas,” explains Daggers. “I usually experiment with seasonal ingredients like pumpkin, apple, cranberries, and acorn squash; and I will be demonstrating a green bean casserole with a bit of a twist.”

While tasting mouth-watering cuisine is certainly a temptation for many foodies, attendees also come to the classes for the expert culinary education. People take notes and ask a lot of welcomed questions, explains Daggers. “Mostly home cooks are in attendance; from individuals to couples and groups of friends. I also have a culinary teacher that comes to get ideas for her classes.”

“We usually do six different courses based on the monthly theme,” says Daggers. “We demonstrate each course and then serve a portion to each person. And I always do some kind of dessert so the class ends like a traditional dinner. Everyone always leaves stuffed.” They also covet their take-home recipe package.

When it comes to preparing a meal in your own home for the holidays, Daggers is very specific in his advice. “I always like to tell people to start a couple of days ahead so on the day of the event, they can spend more time with their family. I know just from doing enough holidays myself at home that if you wait until the last minute, you end up spending the whole day — from the time you get up to the time you are cleaning up after diner — in the kitchen. You rarely get to spend much time visiting or hanging out with your family and friends, which is the biggest reason of the day.”

“I like to get at least the prep work done two or three days ahead,” explains Daggers. “Cut vegetables and put casseroles together beforehand so you are able to just pull them out and put in the oven. Plan out the

Double Cut Pork Chop

Executive Chef Ed Daggers

Atlantic City Country Club

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

51

R E STAU R A N T R E P O R T entire meal so that on Thanksgiving, you just have to roast the turkey and make the pan gravy. Try to have as much stuff done beforehand as possible so you can enjoy the day.”

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Ed Daggers, Executive Chef of the Atlantic City Country Club, is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including several gold medals and “Best in Show” from the American Culinary Federation. Daggers began his career at the four star/four diamond Innisbrook Golf Resort in Florida, was the Executive Chef at Kingsmill Golf Resort and Conference Center in Virginia and The Memphis Country Club. He has been published in The Flavors of Kingsmill and The Burgermeisters, by noted culinarian/ author Marcel Desaulniers. Before joining the Atlantic City Country Club, Daggers was the owner of Austin Creek Grill and Austin Creek Baking Company in Hatteras, North Carolina.

Currently residing in Galloway with his family, Daggers is an accomplished artist displaying incredible talent with hand crafting detailed ice sculptures and a wide range of defining oil, acrylic, and water color paintings. He has also captured numerous gold medal awards in American Culinary Federation competitions for his salt dough and sugar paste masterpieces.

“Over the years, I have gotten to know a lot of people here, and I have a lot of good, solid customers and friendships with members,” reveals Daggers. “Families come here for the holidays year after year; it’s a big family tradition. I know many families and have watched their kids grow up over the years. It’s a nice environment.”

Cast Iron Skillet Creole BBQ Jumbo Shrimp

52

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Purchased by members of the Ottinger family in 2014 , the historic club is known for many “famous firsts” in golf history. In 1903, the term “birdie” was first used at the Atlantic City Country Club to represent a score of one under par; the term “eagle” was first used there to represent a score of two under par as a continuation of the “birdie” theme; and the first intercollegiate Ivy League Championship was held there in 1901, among others.

In addition to hosting major golf events through the years, the Atlantic City Country Club has welcomed many legendary golfers and celebrities as well. Entertainer Bob Hope was a club regular, first becoming acquainted with the renowned location when he worked on the vaudeville circuit, and legendary golfer Arnold Palmer perfected his skills on the course in the 1950s when he was relatively unknown.

The landmark club has undergone major renovations during the last two years, including updates to the clubhouse that include a makeover to the entryway and lobby, the John J. McDermott Room, the James “Sonny” Fraser Room, the Leo Fraser Library, the Grand Ballroom, and the two private dining rooms. Guests enjoy the breathtaking views of the Atlantic City skyline from the Taproom Bar and Grille, a place where lasting memories are made. From the vintage tin ceiling tiles to the multitude of golf memorabilia adorning the walls, each well-loved relic tells an incredible story of golfing days gone by.

With the extensive Taproom menu and the addition of monthly cooking classes, it appears as food is a major focus at the Atlantic City Country Club now. And visitors are reaping the delicious rewards. n

Dining Room

Grand Ballroom

Chef Daggers showcasing a dessert

Brazilian Grouper

Wood Fired Paella for One or Two

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

53

Wonderful Wining Seasonal predictions, and necessary additions to your bottle collection

54

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Lifestyle Wine

By Phillip Silverstone

I

am predicting a very mild winter with temperatures in the low 1970’s and not a rain or snow cloud to be seen the entire season. The south Jersey boardwalks will be full of people reveling in the awesome winter mildness and even the ice cream vendors will be ringing their bells up and down the beaches, where sun worshippers will be basking in the unusually balmy weather. I am also predicting SpongeBob SquarePants will be elected president of the United States of America. And his sidekick Patrick will be his VP. Hey, I can dream can’t I? So, okay, it’s Fall, or as it is known back in my homeland: Autumn. Fall, Autumn, whatever … they both precede the season of gluttony and black ice, panic gift buying, school cancellations, airport delays, and thermal underwear. But, Fall is also the buffer zone between summer and winter, so we are in that time of the year when we can enjoy wines that nudge us gently into the annual ice age. We can do a little heavy red and a little frivolous light pink, and each is guaranteed to make all of us very happy campers. So without any further ado, or adon’t, let’s get down to some wining.

Masciarelli Winery, led by the forward thinking and dynamic female owner Marina Cvetic, produces two distinctive Trebbiano wines. The wines have many terroir-driven traits and each tasting profile reflects the many microclimates of Abruzzo in Central Italy. The minerality of Masciarelli wines stems from the remarkable soil at varying levels of altitude and unique climate conditions, cultivated by close proximity to the Adriatic Sea and the Majella Massif, providing the salty notes of the warm sea breeze and the freshness and acidity of the cold mountain winds.

Villa Gemma Bianco Colline Teatine IGT (approx. $17.99). Still lingering summer freshness and flowers with hints of apple, jasmine, and white flower; made from 80% Trebbiano, 15% Cococcolia, and 5% Chardonnay. The wine features a pale yellow straw color with an intense aroma; great with fish, cheese, and veggies.

Marina Cvetic Trebbiano d’Aruzzo Riserva DOC (approx. $42.99). Full-bodied white wine with an exquisite floral bouquet and creamy mouthfeel, offering distinct flavors of peach, papaya, lavender, honey, and vanilla.

Fermented and aged in wood gives this wine the incredible complex notes you discover from the first sip; perfect with baked fish dishes, poultry, and seriously-rich cheeses.

Conundrum was born 25 years ago and, today, it still stands for doing things your own way and daring to explore. Its inspiration came from Charlie Wagner, Sr. — co-founder of Caymus Vineyards and father to winery owner Chuck Wagner — who would sit at the dining room table and mix wines to create the “perfect glass” to pair with his meal. At the time, blending wines was considered almost unthinkable, and even Charlie Sr. had no idea his bold experiment would help usher in a whole new trend.

Today, Conundrum is as original as ever.

They continue to source the fruit from some of the most sought-after California winegrowing regions to ensure both quality and diversity: Napa, Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Tulare Counties.

Winemakers Jon Bolta and Charlie Wagner preserve the individual characteristics of each varietal by taking great care to keep

separate lots of fruit throughout the entire winemaking process. Some lots are aged in chilled stainless steel tanks to maintain fresh, crisp aromas and fruit flavors, and some in a combination of aged and new French oak barrels for up to ten months. The intriguing result: a wine with multiple layers, subtle and complex, born of an adventurous spirit while inviting more adventures to come.

2014 Conundrum White Wine (approx. $25).

While the exact blend remains under wraps, with every vintage they include Chardonnay for its weight and complexity, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon for crisp acidity, Muscat Canelli for floral qualities, and Viognier for lush texture. Taken together, they add up to a wine that’s amazingly versatile, pairing well with everything from salmon to spicy food, or enjoyed on its own as an aperitif.

A beautiful light hue, this wine opens with the evocative scents of apricot, pear, and honeysuckle, as well as bright notes of orange and lemon meringue pie. The entry on the palate has a subtle sweetness immediately balanced by a natural acidity and pop of freshness. Flavors of peach, apple, and citrus are layered with a touch of oak that comes from the use of barrel fermentation for a portion of the wine. The finish is long, with distinctive hints of each varietal creating a final, lingering impression.

2013 Conundrum Red Wine (approx. $25).

A rich, dark red, this wine offers aromas of ripe berries and plums, warmed by a hint of cocoa. Dried fruit and the taste of chocolate-covered cherries come through on the palate, while a wisp of smokiness makes this wine — created from dark red varietals including Zinfandel and Petite Sirah — the njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

55

LIFEST YLE WINE

perfect complement to grilled meats and full-flavored dishes. Tannins are rounded out by the ripeness of the berries for a textured but smooth mouth feel. The finish makes you want to linger at the end of a long evening, not wanting to go home, with layers of rich flavor that teasingly trail off. By the way, chill this wine for 10 minutes and it will taste even better.

Miner Family Winery, Emily’s Cuvee 2013 (approx. $50). Miner is a dynamic familyowned winery tucked along the eastern hills of the Oakville appellation in the heart of Napa Valley. Founded in 1998 by Dave and Emily Miner, Miner Family Winery crafts reserve-style wines by sourcing fruit from Napa Valley and other specially selected California vineyards. Winemaker Stacy Vogel uses a combination of oldworld winemaking techniques and modern technology to make wines that reflect the unique characteristics of individual vineyards or “terroir” where specific varietals grow best. This fusion of superb vineyard sites and thoughtful winemaking allows Miner to deliver elegant, expressive wines. Emily’s Cuvee is in remembrance of Emily Miner, co-founder of Miner Family Winery. The wine is decadent and rich, layered with aromas of black fruit and hints of mocha, espresso, and toasted oak. It is made from a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc and aged for almost two years in New French Oak barrels. The result is a big, fruit-filled, multi-faceted, mesmerizing quaffer!

In the late 1800s, the first wine of CVNE was named after the company’s initials, but a simple orthographic mistake with the letter ‘V’ transformed the name CVNE to CUNE and so the name Cune (also pronounced Coo-nay) was adopted as both the name of the original winery and for the wines produced with the Cune label.

Cune Rosado 2015, Rioja, Spain (approx. $13) is made from a blend of 85% Viura, and 15% Tempranillo. Any time of year is the right time for rosé wines, especially

when they are as fruity and yummy as this one. And for the price, you won’t find a better example of year-round summer sunshine in a glass.

Cune Monopole 2015 Rioja, Spain (approx. $13). Made from 100% Viura grape, Monopole is the oldest white wine of Spain.

Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana (CVNE) has been producing Monopole since 1915. And what a fab wine it is too; a fresh crisp taste with an intriguing touch of lemons on the nose. White Rioja at its best.

I’m feeling inspired today, so I’m going to close with a very apt poem called; “To Autumn” by one of my favorite poets, William Blake. And as always my dear friends, Cheers!

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stain’d With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit Beneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest, And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe, And all the daughters of the year shall dance!

Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

‘The narrow bud opens her beauties to The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins; Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve, Till clust’ring Summer breaks forth into singing, And feather’d clouds strew flowers round her head.

‘The spirits of the air live in the smells Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.’

Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat, Then rose, girded himself, and o’er the bleak Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

“Time Out With Phillip Silverstone” is a weekly podcast heard exclusively on TuneIn radio either on the free TuneIn app for all smart phones and tablets (Search: Phillip Silverstone) or online at: http:// bit.ly/1gY2Ht4. “Follow” the show for weekly updates. You can also LIKE Phillip on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ Phillipsilverstone and follow him on Twitter: @wining. n

Lifestyle Cooking With Chef Will Savarese

Tailgating Time Autumn recipes to get you in the mood for family, friends, and football

S itting on my porch I knew something was stirring, but I didn’t

realize what it was until I looked out in the distance. What my eyes were seeing was that the swallows have begun their migration journey. With that, I also noticed a few leaves starting to change color as I walked my dog Milo. I can’t believe this is happening already; the telltale signs of Autumn.

Where did the summer go, you ask? Did I get enough sun, surf, and BBQs? Hopefully you said “yes”, and, hopefully, you found the time to enjoy yourself, family, and friends. The seasons go by faster and faster now, and all I can say is that with our busy, complicated lives, we really need to find time for ourselves and our loved ones.

One day will come when it will be less hectic and, hopefully, you will have more time and energy. When that time comes, enjoy the simpler things; relish in the memories you’ve made in the past.

As the seasons change, so should our cooking choices. With the fall season upon us, remember we still can use our grills. We can also use our ovens and gain a little extra heat and warmth for our homes. I, for one, will get in a few more grill sessions. The season is

a short one and I still like to enjoy the warm autumn days and those great sunsets. Some of the fall sunsets are quite unbelievable on the island of Brigantine, and this season I will strive to make the best of my time. Whether it’s with my spouse, family, or friends, we will be celebrating over good food and wine. It’s the perfect season for gatherings.

Open your home, invite some friends, and plan on making new memories this fall. Fire up the grill one last time, call it a tailgate of sorts. Do it on a Sunday, football on (sound turned down), music playing in the background, wine or a great cocktail punch pouring.

I would even have a pork shoulder/butt on the grill cooking low and slow for hours; it’s a great item for autumn days and gives you the freedom of not having to stay over the grill. Serve with some “housemade” peach & bacon jam; a great contrast to the sweet moist meat of the pork, with just the right amount of heat from the chilies in the jam. And, of course, it all gets washed down with a delicious seasonal cocktail.

Enjoy … and follow Chef Will on Instagram @chefwsavarese. n

Recipe Corner Coffee Crusted Pork Butt/ Shoulder • 1/2 c. ground coffee, fine • 1/2 c. ancho chili • 1 tbsp. paprika • 1 tbsp. smoked paprika • 2 tbsp. dark brown sugar • 2 tbsp. dry mustard • 1 tbsp. fresh cracked black pepper • 1 tbsp. coriander seed cracked • 2 tbsp. dry onion flakes • Fresh garlic, (based on taste) Stuff the pork with garlic cloves, I prefer a good amount.

Lightly oil (evoo), the pork. Mix all the ingredients and rub well into the meat. Let sit for one hour. Check the meat with the rub, if you have a couple of wet spots, apply a touch more of the rub then place on the grill over indirect heat. Cook low and slow, the longer the better, at 275-300 degrees for four hours.

Peach Bacon Jam • 2 lbs. peaches, diced small • 1/2 lb. double-smoked bacon • 1 red onion, diced • 1/2 tsp. pepper flakes • 1 jalapeño small, diced • 1 cinnamon stick • 1 c. white wine • 1/2 c. Mirin rice wine vinegar • 2 tbsp. mustard seeds • 2 tbsp. lemon juice • Salt and pepper to taste

Autumn Fall • 2 c. chilled pomegranate juice • 1 c. chilled cranberry juice • 1 c. vodka • 1 c. Cointreau • 1 c. club soda • 1/2 c. fresh lemon juice • 1/2 c. simple syrup Mix all the ingredients. Chill well and serve with garnished lemon, lime, and orange wedges.

Cook the bacon. Remove some of the fat. Add onion and cook for a few minutes. Then add diced peaches, cinnamon stick, add back the bacon. Add pepper flakes.

Deglaze with the liquids. Add the mustard seeds and cook down to almost dry. Take off the heat and fold in the jalapeño. Chill and serve.

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

57

dining gallery

Blue Water Grille

Ram’s Head Inn

9 W. White Horse Pike, Galloway, NJ 609-652-1700 ramsheadinn.com The Ram’s Head Inn continues the long-standing tradition of superior quality food and service that the Knowles family brought to Southern New Jersey in 1979. This started at the Manor in the 1950s, and also continues at the Highlawn Pavilion and Pleasantdale Chateau (all located in West Orange, NJ). Traditional food and beverage is served with a contemporary flair at various venues within this one-of-a-kind restaurant.

Executive chef Elio Gracia has provided outstanding culinary excellence for seventeen years, incorporating as many seasonal organic and locally-grown foods as possible. Walk-ins are always welcome.

60 N. Maine Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 609-343-7447 fantasearesorts.com Located on the 7th floor of FantaSea’s Flagship Resort, the Blue Water Grille is reinventing itself under Executive Chef A. Juliano Cannuscio. Amazing views abound as the well-trained servers offer American Mediterranean cuisine with Italian influences. Dine on their delicious selections as you enjoy the magnificent ambiance.

Crab Trap

2 Broadway, Somers Point, NJ 609-927-7377 thecrabtrap.com Overlooking the Great Egg Harbor Bay in Somers Point is the Crab Trap Restaurant. Flourishing as a 400-seat full service restaurant serving the finest seafood in South Jersey. As many businesses expand, they often lose touch with the quality and small personal touches that made them special. At the Crab Trap, they don’t believe that has happened, or ever will.

Joseph's Restaurant at Renault Winery A Touch of Italy Ventura's Offshore Cafe

2015 Shore Road, Northfield, NJ 609-641-5158 venturascafe.com Ventura's is a family restaurant and sportsman's bar with a cozy hometown atmosphere that makes you want to come back again and again.

From their famous mussels marinara to their award-winning filet mignon, to their simply delicious gourmet pan pizzas, they offer fresh homemade meals to please everyone's palate.

6629 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Twp. 609-641-1855 touchofitaly.net A Touch of Italy offers the finest quality of food and service. Each meal served is cooked to order. A friendly and pleasurable atmosphere will make your visit a memorable one. Established in 1981 with more than 31 years of experience, this restaurant, banquet facility, and lounge serves only the finest natural veal, steaks, poultry, pasta, seafood and brick-oven pizza.

72 Bremen Avenue, Egg Harbor City, NJ 609-965-2111 renaultwinery.com Open since 2001, Joseph's Restaurant at Renault Winery has become a local favorite of the Atlantic County area. The continued patronage speaks volumes to the flavors that Chef Joe DeGennaro creates, which combines his unique flair and traditions. The food quality and atmosphere are surpassed by none. The Milza family commits themselves to the highest level of service and customer satisfaction. Whether you choose Italian, seafood, premium steaks or a burger, you are sure to be pleased. Try their diverse flavors and experience their amazing ambiance in a unique setting.

Maplewood

470 White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ 6126 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing, NJ 609-561-9621, 609-625-1181 joesmaplewood.com For almost 70 years, Joe Italiano’s Maplewood has been known for its consistently great food! They believe that freshness and loving preparation are keys to satisfied customers. They have high standards for their food. Consistency can and should be expected. Food is fresh, salads are made to order, and pasta is boiled right before sauce is poured over it. “Gravy” or red sauce is made fresh daily and is loved by the locals in the area. They only use the finest ingredients at the Original Maplewood. Two locations — Same Great Food. Your Choice.

58

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Sofia

9314 Amherst Avenue, Margate, NJ 609-822-9111 sofiaofmargate.com Exhibiting classical Greco-Mediterranean design, Sofia invites you to enjoy her dinner table and share in a celebration of a wholesome cuisine built on homestyle cooking expressed by exceptional chefs and recipes acquired from past generations. Thus, making Sofia a truly extraordinary South Jersey Greek restaurant.

The Melting Pot

2112 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 609-441-1100 meltingpot.com At The Melting Pot, fondue truly becomes a memorable four-course dining experience.

Patrons can dip into something different — and discover all the ingredients for a unique dining experience, including a relaxed atmosphere, private tables, attentive service, fine wines and signature fondue dinners.

Barista’s Coffee House

199 New Road Ste. 10, Central Square, Linwood 609-904-2990 baristascoffeehouse.com Owners Mark and Debbie Becker have created the perfect “neighborhood” atmosphere coffee house. Brewing up more than just coffee, customers come back time and time again for Barista’s espresso, tea breakfast, Liege waffles, Brussels waffles, gourmet desserts, and Italian gelato. Once you walk through the doors, you instantly become part of the “Barista’s Family”. Open Mon. Fri., 7 AM-6 PM and Sat., 8 AM-6 PM.

Tomatoes

9300 Amherst Avenue, Margate, NJ 609-822-7535 tomatoesmargate.com A favorite of chefs and foodies who are impressed with the location, food, and view of the Margate Bay. The elegant and refined atmosphere includes a bar area, sushi bar, private meeting and dining rooms in addition to the main dining room. Trendy with a high-end, eclectic American fare and sushi, plus a happening bar scene. Excellent fresh fish, wonderful sauces and impressive desserts.

Angeloni’s II

HAPPY HOUR In our Tavern & Courtyard Tues - Fri & Sun, 5 - 7 p.m.

Drink Specials & Half-Price Appetizers, Sandwiches & Salads LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: The Bonnie Bennett Jazz Duo — Fridays 5:30p.m. - 6:30p.m.

Beth Tinnon ~ Wednesdays 5:30p.m. - 8:30p.m. & Saturdays 5:30p.m. - 9:30p.m.

2400 Arctic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 609-344-7875 angelonis.com Offering the finest Italian-American cuisine in the Atlantic City area. This family owned and operated business has been preparing the finest ItalianAmerican entrees in the greater NJ area for over 40 years. Angeloni’s II surrounds you in a warm and elegant ambiance fitting the fine dining you will be sure to enjoy.

.

.

At Barista’s Coffee House, “Great Coffee is what Life is All About” Bagels n Bagel Sandwiches

n

Brussels Waffles

n

Liege Waffles

Frappes n

Espresso Gelato

Brewed Coffee

n n

Lunch n

401 South New York Road, Galloway, NJ 609-652-1800 stocktonseaview.com When it comes to dining at Seaview, guests savor seasonal, locally-sourced cuisine. In the sophisticated Main Dining Room, enjoy breakfast daily and Sunday brunch in an elegant setting overlooking the historic Bay Golf Course.

Connect with family and friends in the rustic warmth of the historic Coastal Grille Pub, which stands ready with signature craft cocktails, a wide selection of beer and wine, and delicious pub fare served in a comfortable, convivial setting. Or, relax and unwind with signature cocktails in the luxurious Lobby Bar and Lounge. Stockton Seaview in Galloway, NJ, offers casual and fine dining expertly prepared by a world-class culinary team. From award-winning Champagne brunches and romantic dinners for two to post-golf parties or snacks during the big game, there’s something for every taste. From its award winning Champagne Sunday Brunch to casual fare in the historic Grill Room Pub, dining at Seaview is an experience not to be missed!

Breakfast

Seaview Dolce

n

n

Te a s

n

Cocoa Drinks

1205 Tilton Road, Northfield, NJ 609-677-0470 robertasbyjoemuldoon.com A young Joseph Muldoon found his passion for food early on; while still at a tender age he began to work in the kitchen of New Jersey country club, Scotland Run. It was through this experience that Chef Joseph knew he wanted to pursue a career in the culinary field, but wasn’t sure what institution would allow his creativity to flourish. Almost in time to celebrate his 28th birthday, Muldoon opened his first independent restaurant, Roberta’s, at the intersection of Tilton and New roads in Northfield. Named for his mother, a home economics teacher whom he credits for instilling in him a love of cooking.

n

n

Roberta’s by Joe Muldoon

n

Smoothies

n

Italian Sodas

n

Floats

n

Gourmet Desserts

Open Monday - Friday 7 AM - 5 PM, Saturday 8 AM - 5 PM, Sunday 8 AM - 2 PM

Barista’s Coffee House Central Square, 199 New Road, Linwood, NJ 08221 609-904-2990 baristascoffeehouse.com

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

59

casino dining

TROPICANA (THE QUARTER)

RESORTS

PLAYGROUND AT CAESARS

Broadway Burger Bar

Gallagher’s Steakhouse

Phillips Seafood

The Quarter at Tropicana, Atlantic City, NJ 609-317-4660 broadwayburgerbar.com Ark Restaurants introduces Broadway Burger Bar at the Quarter in Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City serving up fresh ground, grilled, prime beef burgers and a large selection of tapas style appetizers. Order from a full bar featuring 60 craft beers, specialty cocktails, adult milkshakes as well as your traditional favorites.

Live Acoustic acts every Friday and Saturday add to the vibrant and unique atmosphere. Fun for families, a quick lunch or an intimate dinner. At Broadway Burger Bar, they make burgers great.

Il Verdi

The Quarter at Tropicana, Atlantic City, NJ 800-345-8767 tropicana.net Specializing in Northern Italian cuisine, Il Verdi serves meticulously-prepared gourmet dishes in an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere. Dine on your choice of hot and cold antipasti, soups, salads, pastas, fish and meat entrees, and desserts. Il Verdi’s award-winning wine list features Italian wines selected to complement the food. Have a truly unique dining experience at the Chef’s Table, set amidst the action of the Il Verdi kitchen, where you can enjoy a customized menu of six or seven courses with wine pairings.

Resorts Casino, Atlantic City, NJ 609-340-6555 gallaghersresorts.com Gallaghers is located on the 2nd floor of Resorts Casino. A classic steakhouse serving hearty salads, dry-aged meats, wonderful fish and shellfish. Their glass-enclosed meat locker is in the front of the restaurant for all to view; and all of the beef is dry-aged for 21 days at a constant 36 degrees to insure tenderness. Offering the finest selections of seafood as well. An ambiance of warm woods and deep reds. Friendly, efficient and gracious service. Open for dinner Sunday thru Thursday 5-9:30 pm, Friday 5-10 pm, Saturday 5-11 pm.

Capriccio

Resorts Casino, Atlantic City, NJ 609-344-6000 resortsac.com No passport needed for this Italian experience.

Capriccio’s all new menu features gourmet Italian cuisine in an exquisitely comfortable Mediterranean atmosphere, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Capriccio’s has beautiful murals on the walls featuring Old World Italy. The food is as spectacular as the view.

BALLY’S

Playground at Caesars, Atlantic City, NJ 609-348-2273 phillipsseafood.com Phillips Seafood brings guests a classical American seafood menu boasting an array of fresh seasonal fish and Phillips’ famous jumbo lump crab cakes. Renowned chef Robbin Haas has designed a menu that offers guests the freshest, finest seafood available, complete with a rolling oyster cart where regional varietals are shucked tableside and a double-decker live lobster tank stocked with 3-10 pound lobsters.

Experience an upscale, interactive dining experience with their exhibition kitchen and sweeping ocean views.

Souzai Sushi & Saki

Playground at Caesars, Atlantic City, NJ 609-348-4443 souzaisushi.com.com Simple… seasonal… sensual… Souzai features a diverse menu of hand-rolled sushi, fresh sashimi and traditional Japanese dishes, as well as a wide range of innovative cocktails, Japanese sake and beer. Showcasing stunning views of the beach, ocean sunsets and the sparkling cityscape from its perch high above the famed Atlantic City boardwalk, Souzai has become one of the hottest spots in town to mix and mingle. Grab a seat and discover Souzai for yourself.

Guy Fieri’s Chophouse

Cuba Libre

The Quarter at Tropicana, Atlantic City, NJ 609-348-6700 cubalibrerestaurant.com Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is dedicated to a continued exploration of Cuban heritage, art, music, flavors and traditions. The open-air setting, tropical ambiance, vintage décor, upbeat Latin music and Concept Chef/Partner, Guillermo Pernot’s delectable menu of ‘Nuevo Cubano’ dishes and traditional favorites, make this restaurant a must-see, must-experience dining destination.

60

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

Bally’s Casino, Atlantic City, NJ 609-340-2350 caesars.com A mash up of flavors and classic styles, Guy’s new restaurant includes a bevy of steak and seafood options — all in a relaxed joint. A unique take on the classic steakhouse, the restaurant features a menu of popular signature dishes with New Jersey flare. You can indulge in Guy’s signature dishes, including a java rubbed ribeye chop, filet with roasted garlic and brown butter, spicy bloody mary jumbo shrimp cocktail, Jersey shore clams casino, and Cape May fried flounder.

Complement your meal with a glass of Californiasourced wine, a robust craft beer or spirits from a small batch distillery.

Buddakan

Playground at Caesars, Atlantic City, NJ 609-674-0100 buddakanac.com Buddakan's dreamlike ambiance makes an enchanting setting for hosting special events.

Guests are instantly transported to an ancient Chinese village complete with rock gardens, thatched roofs and a dramatic twilight sky. The menu portrays an innovative interpretation of Modern Asian cuisine that matches the decor in terms of creativity and inspiration. Guests will feel relaxed and indulged in this exotic and comfortable environment.

HARRAH'S Sammy D's Harrah's Resort, Atlantic City, NJ 609-441-5402 sammyds.com Sammy D’s is an all-you-could-ask-for eatery from culinary sensation Chef Sam DeMarco. At Sammy D’s, a retro restaurant, bar and lounge, Chef DeMarco takes East Coast favorites to the next level with his Philly Cheese Steak Dumplings, Lollipop Wings, SAM-'Whiches and Craft Drafts.

Before hitting the boardwalk, or the jackpot, pull up a chair or grab a stool and relax at Sammy D's in Harrah's Resort.

Award-Winning Seafood

BORGATA Wolfgang Puck American Grille Borgata Casino Atlantic City, NJ 609-317-1000 theborgata.com The man who revolutionized the culinary industry carries an undeniable cachet, synonymous with bold, innovative cooking and an unmistakable panache and passion that redefined dining in America. Offering contemporary American cuisine, the restaurant offers two distinctive dining areas ranging from casual and relaxed to elegant and upscale.

Old Homestead Steak House

Borgata Casino, Atlantic City, NJ 609-317-1000 theborgata.com Their domestically-raised, hand-massaged Kobe beef is not only the envy of the trade, it’s trademarked. But that isn’t the only reason the venerable Old Homestead has been a New York City landmark for 137 years. “It’s consistency on all fronts,” says Marc Sherry who, with brother Greg, opened their second location at Borgata.

The menu nearly mirrors New York’s — and for good reason.

PHILLIPSSEAFOOD.COM ATLANTIC CITY

609.348.2273

acebook.com/PhillipsSeafood

@PhillipsSeafood

DINING GALLERY ADVERTISING RATES $95.00 per month

Izakaya

Borgata Casino, Atlantic City, NJ 609-317-1000 theborgata.com A modern Japanese pub that defies comparison.

Extraordinary sushi, sake, and robatayaki served in a sensual, yet modern atmosphere. Izakaya’s tempting cocktails and sharable plates make it the premier spot for an after-hours nosh and drinks, or a delicious late-night meal.

All units in full color.

Rates include all production.

All rates are based on a 12-month period from the date of the first insertion.

NJ LifestyLe MagaziNe CALL 609-652-3788 FOR RESERVATIONS

njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Fall 2016

61

A Final Word

By Marjorie Preston

These Few Precious Days “When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame / One hasn’t got time for a waiting game…

Oh the days dwindle down to a precious few / September, November…”

“September Song” was written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson in the

1930s. I first heard it 40 years later, as an every-week devotee of Sid Mark’s “Sunday with Sinatra” radio program (even as a kid, I was fonder of Sinatra and Nat King Cole than rock and disco).

Though life seemed to stretch out immeasurably before me at that time, I found the lyrics almost unbearably poignant. They exhorted a coy lover to make haste, find joy while it’s at hand, because the world would turn, the sunlit days of summer would pass, and soon, the days would “dwindle down to a precious few.”

Another 40 years have passed since then. They say time goes more quickly as you age, and the pace certainly quickens after you have grandchildren. I don’t mean to be maudlin about it. I certainly don’t feel that way when I look at my own grandchild, who’s gone so quickly from chubby baby to huggy toddler to not-sohuggy preschooler with a bit of a big-girl attitude. But she — and the season she’s named for, Autumn — remind me every day that time is fleeting, and I’d better get on with it.

Out of habit, I still call her “the baby.” But Autumn is a growing girl who, God willing, will eventually transform into an adolescent, a teenager, a young woman, an old woman. She’s the same. She’s very different. It’s like a slide show that’s going much too fast. But in its way, it’s exciting and exhilarating.

For me, the point of the song is not to lament the passage of time — what good is that? — but to live it, as much as possible, to grab every hour and moment before the sun sinks too low. Of all the seasons of the year, it’s autumn that reminds us most vividly of life speeding along. The metaphors are everywhere: falling leaves and acorns and apples, animals scurrying around, stocking up for winter, and air that turns sweet and pungent as the weather cools.

There are other signs, too, among people of my age who are shedding old skins and inventing new lives. One dear friend is preparing to sell her shore home and move to Manhattan. “I don’t care if I have to live in a closet,” she declares. “I just want to be able to walk out the door and be in the middle of everything.” She also wants to be a jazz singer, and I suspect she’s going to make it happen.

Another friend, fed up with Hollywood and a showbiz career that never quite caught fire, is changing course, and relocating from Los Angeles to Louisiana. A third has left a long marriage and a lucrative medical career to become an artist. A very dear pal, touched too soon by grief, has sold his successful business to run a farm in the mountains of Vermont.

Everywhere I turn, someone I love is going through a door.

Me too. I’m getting ready to take a long-deferred cross-country road trip, a journey I’ve dreamed about since I was in my 20s. What am I waiting for? Time to make it happen.

So let’s celebrate autumn, and the moment at hand — this one, right now. It’s time to eat the apple. Take a big old bite. And live the rest of your delicious life. n 62

Fall 2016 |

LIFESTYLE

njlifestyleonline.com

When Selecting

your Advisory letters do matter.....

Firm

and we just happen to have them all.....

CFP®, CPA, CFA, PFS n As SEC REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISORS we adhere to a higher standard of fiduciary care. n As PRACTICING CPA’s we understand the complexities of the current tax system and work to maximize tax efficiencies.

609-380-3500 332 TILTON ROAD, NORTHFIELD, NJ www.crafinancial.com

We are CRA Financial.

Matthew J. Reynolds, CPA, CFP® Thomas E. Reynolds, CPA Francis C. Thomas, CPA, PFS Robert T. Martin, CFA, CFP®

n As INDEPENDENT ADVISORS, we remain product neutral, transparent, and answer only to you, the client. n With an emphasis placed on FUNDAMENTAL FINANCIAL PLANNING, we strive to help you achieve your long term investment goals. n With over $500 Million in assets under management, we have the RESOURCES, the EXPERIENCE and the KNOWLEDGE to help you achieve your financial goals. n THOMAS E. REYNOLDS, CPA is designated as a National Football League

Players Association Financial Advisor.

We believe

in personalized women’s healthcare – at any stage of life.

Whether you’re expecting a baby, seeking routine gynecological

Our Locations

care or dealing with a more serious health issue, look no further than

Egg Harbor Township 2500 English Creek Avenue Building 1000, Suite 1000

AtlantiCare Physician Group OB/GYN. We cover the full continuum of women’s health — offering everything from preventive care to minimally invasive surgery for gynecological needs. Additionally, when your child needs hospital care, you’ll have peace of mind knowing he or she will be treated by

CHOP pediatric hospitalists at AtlantiCare Regional

Medical Center Atlantic City Campus or neonatologists at our Mainland Campus’ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the only one in southeastern New Jersey. Every program and service we offer is designed to meet your unique health needs at every stage of life.

Linwood 2021 New Road, Suite 10 Cape May Court House 106 Court House South Dennis Road Building 200, 2nd Floor Hammonton 219 N. White Horse Pike Somers Point 443 Shore Road Manahawkin 712 East Bay Avenue

1-888-569-1000 Book online 24/7, view availability and receive reminders at www.atlanticaredoctors.org