Talk of the Town Summer 2012

SUMMER

BERNIE WILLIAMS

STYLE OLYMPIC A Musician of a Different Stripe

From shorts to suits, you’ll have the looks

GAMES GOING FOR THE CA$H?

Proving every day that “impossible” is just an opinion.

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And creating an entire campus of care with building after building to take on everything from cancer and heart disease to neurological disorders. This is a place where people turn when they need a physician who is driven to make the impossible, possible.

Discover how one of the nation’s top 50 hospitals can help you at HackensackUMC.org. To find a doctor call 855-996-WELL (9355).

® 2011 Hackensack University Medical Center

DISCOVER MCINTOSH

Handcrafted in America since 1949, McIntosh’s unwaverling commitment to performance, innovation and quality brings an elevated music and film experience.

A new McIntosh requires one or more years to design, test and develop to the point where it meets performance expectations. History has shown that the average life of a McIntosh may well turn out to be one’s lifetime. Our new high end audio products range from home theater components to loudspeaker systems. To check out our newest products visit us on the web www.mcintoshlabs.com For more information call Talk of The Town (Platinum Dealers) or visit www.talkofthetownvideo.com

NEW PRODUCTS

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SHARPER, SMOOTHER IMMERSIVE ACTION When you're viewing your favorite film, or even trialing the latest release - you want to know that you are watching the action the way it was meant to be seen. Sony’s SXRD panel technology minimizes the gaps between pixels for sharper, stunning image quality.

Motion-flow automatically inserts extra frames between the images to improve the smoothness of the film, and makes action scenes and character movements flawless.

HUGE RANGE OF USER ENHANCEMENTS You can now pre-select separate parameters for 2D and 3D content for Dynamic, Standard, Photo, Game and Cinema modes, as well as automatically recognize 2D or 3D input. You can customize your viewing, to match the room specifications, along with the content type. The VPL-HW30ES has integrated 3D with frame-sequential 3D USB-chargeable glasses and a transmitter. This transmitter will activate the 3D mode – and bring your content to life.

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LOCAL ACTION, GLOBAL SOLUTIONS

THE TONDA HEMISPHERES COLLECTION Entirely manufactured in Les Ateliers Parmigiani in Switzerland.

Exclusively available through The Timepiece Collection in support of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation速. Limited edition of 10 pieces.

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INTRODUCTION Director of Operations Bob Dodge Publishers Sharon & Steven Goldstein Associate Publisher Brandon Goldstein Executive Editor Nayda Rondon Contributing Editor Justin Davidson Director of Marketing Sergio Rodrigues Marketing Manager Bobby Dodge Design Director Evan Eagleson

eighty6 Contributing Writers Elizabeth Bacharach Jonathan Derda Shiv Desai Nick Poyner Karen Sumner Jonathan Williamson Find Us At www.talkofthetownmag.com

Talk of the Town is published by

The Magazine www.BCTHEMAG.com For advertising and information, call 201-265-2286.

Copyright 2012. All materials are the property of Bergen County the Magazine, LLC. and may not be copied or reproduced without written consent from the publishers.

6

SUMMER 2012

As a culture, we spend a lot of time these days trying to classify every short span of time into some category, with some bold name—the Wired Age, the Great Recession, the Digital Age, the Wireless Revolution, the list goes on and on. What “Age” we are in at this moment, I am none too sure.

One thing I do know with absolute certainty is what we can call the next few months: Summer.

If your grass isn’t green and your grill doesn’t have the char of past BBQ days on it, then you’re doing something wrong.

There is a lot to celebrate this summer. The 2012 Olympics kick off in late July, and the U.S. is always a medal-producing powerhouse. The economic outlook continually looks less bleak. More people are finding jobs, going out and spending money, purchasing homes, and getting the country back on track. Although conflicts overseas continue, more and more troops will be returning home to watch this year’s 4th of July fireworks with their friends and families. If that news isn’t enough to put a smile on your face, then let us also send a shout-out cheer to this magazine, which celebrates its one-year anniversary with this very issue.

In this issue, we got to sit down with Yankee great Bernie Williams and discuss his years under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium and his transition to the bright lights of the stage, where his musical career continues to thrive.

In other news, we consider the fact that we may have eaten our last Twinkie, as we look inside the demise of Hostess, and reflect on what the brand has meant to us, and our bellies, for quite some time now. We then turn our attention to the upcoming Olympics, where we try to figure out if Olympians deserve to be paid for their efforts, a controversy indeed.

Our fashion pages are chock full of this summer’s best styles while Man Central showcases some of this summer’s coolest trends. We take a trip to the Pound Ridge Golf course, where terrific beauty and fierce challenge collide to make for a great—or extremely frustrating—day of golf.

Of course, all this is just a taste. To find out more, just keep on turnin’ the pages.

The past year—should we call it the beginning of The Talk of the Town Era?—has been exciting, as we continue to grow as a magazine. A strong stable of great advertisers and continuously growing support from our readers have made creating every issue an absolute pleasure. We look forward to another great year. So, with my beer raised to the sky, I wish you a very happy summer.

Bob Dodge

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CONTENTS

SUMMER 2012 10

Putting a Price on Patriotism

62

14

Pete Dye’s Par Excellence Modern Classic

20

Man Central: The Newest Trends

66 Meet Mike Maron: President and CEO of Holy Name Medical Center

28

Bernie Williams: A Musician of a Different Stripe

36

Meridian: 40 Years of Best-in-Class Excellence

40 Talk of the Town Stays: The Empire Hotel 46 Stream of Music Consciousness 52 The Boys of Summer... Sporting the Season’s Coolest Styles

14

62 8

SUMMER 2012

Breckenridge Distillery: Tops in Taste

72

Bob and Sal’s Excellent Adventure on Route 66

74 Cables: Out of Sight, But Not Out of Mind 80

Top of the Apps

84

Twinkie, Twinkie, Fading Star

90

The Songs of Summer

92 Summer Sizzle: Hot Girls in Bikinis

28

72

40

92

An amazing meal in dramatic surroundings is always on the menu at the historic Brick House Restaurant, northern New Jersey’s distinctive restaurant for discriminating diners.

Our gorgeous main dining room has been completely renovated and serves up a memorable lunch or dinner experience. Our handsome main bar upstairs and clubby cigar bar downstairs offer our customers some very different kinds of places to relax and entertain. And our extensive wine list features selections from around the world to enhance any meal.

If you want to enjoy a memorable steak and continental cuisine, come and visit us at The Brick House.

Cigar Bar

- Wine Room for Small Parties - Delicious Steaks and Seafood THE BRICK HOUSE 179 Godwin Ave. Wyckoff, NJ 07481 201.848.1211 www.thebrickhousewyckoff.com

Photo by Pete Niesen

PUTTING A

PRICE ON

PATRIOTISM WRITTEN BY

Since their inception, the Olympic Games have been a symbolic tradition for the world. They are a showcase for celebrating sports, for honoring champions, and above all, for the coexistence of national pride and international unity. Unfortunately, this ageold tradition has undergone a series of questionable changes over the past three decades. A noticeable shift towards profits has occurred, and regardless of their rich history, the Olympics have become just as commercialized as any other sporting event.

For the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, broadcasters, sponsors and licensors all desperately rushed to cash in on an investment opportunity that comes, for their purposes, all too infrequently.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the group responsible for organizing the Games, earned nearly $900 million alone from NBC’s winning bid to provide programming.

And that was just in the United States.

Another $866 million came from the 12 companies that sponsored the event and more than $185 million in royalties was contributed from licensing the Beijing Olympic brand and logos. As much as NBC spent on its broadcasting rights, its advertisers set aside hefty sums for a single 30-second commercial. Media analysts estimate a cost of $600,000 per slot, or four to five times the rate of an average prime-time slot that year. Even members of the reces-

SHIV DESAI

sion-hit, penny-pinching public were willing to splurge on flights and hotels for the show and possibly a mobile upload of Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt.

Due to low purchasing power in China, ticket prices averaged $23, but the sheer volume of attendees still allowed the IOC to reel in $275 million over a three-week span. After the closing ceremonies in Beijing, the IOC had generated revenues of close to $2.5 billion and done it in the midst of a global financial crisis.

Of course, when the outcome is income, you can’t help but wonder what the IOC does with this newfound fortune. While it is a feasible option, the committee certainly doesn’t spend it on brand new Aston Martins for the entire country of Liechtenstein.

In fact, 90% of the earnings are doled out to the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and various National Olympic Committees to fund the event and countries’ training and development of the world’s future Olympians. The remainder is distributed amongst IOC employees, executives and various other event-organizers, who conveniently require six-figure paychecks plus bonuses. It seems like nearly everyone who helps make the Olympics happen also makes a nice cash return… keyword: nearly. One party has recently become the center of debate due to its lack of monetary compensation, and it’s the group most Continued on pg. 12

SUMMER 2012

11

PUTTING A PRICE

ON PATRIOTISM Continued from pg. 11

central to the event—the athletes.

The athletes have always competed without expectations for contractual wages or financial rewards.

Their gravy has always been an intangible, immaterial sensation expressed verbally by words such as “pride” and “honor.” But considering the time and effort they dedicate to these games and the vast amount of money generated by the IOC, critics have begun to voice challenges.

One such voice is that of Mark Cuban, American business mogul and team owner of the National Basketball Association’s Dallas Mavericks. Cuban recently proclaimed that Olympians are short-changed by the IOC in a business context. Specifically in the case of Olympic basketball, he argued that players are not just employees but assets of NBA owners, and for the league to just “give away” this human capital to the IOC so they can make billions while the NBA gets nothing but the risk of a few injured stars is “stupid.”

It’s hard not to label Cuban’s view as purely capitalistic, arrogant and unpatriotic, especially when the NBA players on the US Olympic team all already have lucrative contracts and endorsement deals from their

COUNTRY

PRIZE ($USD) PER GOLD MEDAL

GOLD MEDALS SINCE 1984

USA

25,000

308

China

51,000

163

Germany

24,000

95

Singapore

709,000

0

Thailand

300,000

7

UAE

272,000

1

Australia

20,000

70

Malaysia

307,000

0

Figure 1: National prize money per Gold Medal ($USD)

12

regular-season performances. But it does raise some valid questions. Particularly, why is it okay for Olympic committees to profit from the event but not athletes? Or put differently, if Olympians are expected to compete for patriotic reasons, shouldn’t eventorganizers also be staging the Games out of good faith?

The answer to the latter is a resounding yes. After the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, where the IOC executed its first extremely profitable marketing campaign through broadcasting and sponsorships, Olympic organizers have continued down an avaricious path. Instead of televising the games under public domain, they choose to engage networks in a bidding war for broadcasting rights. Instead of distributing free tickets for all through a lottery system, they choose to monetize attendance and limit it to those who can afford seats. Instead of utilizing a Creative Commons license, they choose to charge royalties on a logo and branding scheme that is meant to represent healthy, public competition.

While the IOC has clearly lost its moral compass, the athletes seem to have maintained a more virtuous attitude even in the face of commercial

SUMMER 2012

temptations. The most renowned athletes are usually offered performancebased bonuses during the Olympic Games. For example, Michael Phelps was given a $1 million bonus by Speedo for breaking the world-record of seven gold medals in 2008. Unlike the IOC, however, Phelps donated the income to charity.

Nations desperate for raising their medal count are also trying to incentivize athletes with financial rewards. Many countries have begun offering bonuses for medals earned as indicated in Figure 1, but athletes insist that the glory of earning a medal outweighs any monetary benefits.

A closer look indicates that the countries with the lowest medal counts tend to offer the greatest sums of prize money, yet their medal counts have not increased drastically from this.

Take Singapore, for instance, which despite its long-running 1 million Singapore-dollar enticement, still has failed to win any gold medals.

From interviews and speeches, it is evident that most athletes seem content without Olympic paychecks and display a true passion for their countries and their sport. While critics will undoubtedly argue that they deserve salaries, the truth of the matter is that we need to minimize the commercial aspects of the event. Paying the athletes would be a step backwards and furthers a business agenda that threatens to dismantle the true Olympic ideal. Instead, the IOC needs to return to its core mission of enhancing and unifying the world through sporting. Like the light of the Olympic torch, we need to keep the Olympic spirit upon which the Games were originally founded burning as bright and pure as when the first modern Olympiad was held hundreds of years ago in Greece.

Designing Your Digital Lifestyle

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319 Franklin Turnpike Allendale, NJ 07401 201.236.1006

Pete Dye’s Par Excellence Modern Classic Westchester County’s Pound Ridge Golf Club is heralded course architect’s only New York design WRITTEN BY

14

SUMMER 2012

JONATHAN WILLIAMSON

T

he work of Pete Dye, one of golf ’s most celebrated course architects, includes cathedrals of the game like TPC Sawgrass, Harbour Town Golf Links and Whistling Straits.

Dye venues host major championships, Ryder Cups, and countless PGA TOUR events, as well as golf pilgrims who travel hundreds of miles to experience them.

With a resume as lengthy as a three-shot par 5, it’s surprising Dye didn’t have a design credit in New York until 2008. When he brought his signature style to the Empire State, he delivered Pound Ridge Golf Club. Just four years after its opening, the Westchester County course is being hailed as a modern classic, and placed alongside Bethpage Black as one of the tri-state area’s premier dailyfee layouts.

Like the course itself, the story of Pound Ridge is unique. The project took a $40 million investment from owner Ken Wang. The M.I.T. graduate and brother of fashion designer Vera Wang specifically sought out Dye for his reputation as the “mad scientist” of golf course design.

Wang compares playing a Dye course to “standing in the middle of a giant math problem conjured up by a master of geometry.”

With the help of his wife, Alice, (known as “The First Lady of Golf Course Architecture”) and son, Perry, Dye spent 10 years transforming 172 acres of cliffs, streams and wooded hills into Pound Ridge Golf Club. The result is contoured fairways winding through hardwood forests and fescue mounds leading to open meadows with picturesque green complexes. The property feaContinued on pg. 16

Continued from pg. 15

tures some of the highest points in Westchester County, with a number of tee boxes offering expansive vistas of the surrounding countryside.

Dye left dramatic rock formations and boulders on-site, creating one of the most visually stunning settings for golf in the United States. More than 14,000 linear feet of rock wall surrounds trees, wetlands and water hazards. The craggy obstacles have become a calling card for two of the course’s signature holes.

The par-5, 13th hole is known as Pete’s Rock for the giant boulder in the middle of the fairway. A drive that flies right over the top of the rock is a

good line on this hole, which places a premium on accuracy.

Two holes later, golfers encounter Headstone, one of the region’s most challenging par-3s. A rock wall in front and a large rock outcropping protruding into the elongated putting surface serve as par’s guardians.

Playing 7,165 yards from the back tees with a par of 72 and a slope of 146, tee selection is vital at Pound Ridge. As she has done for Dye courses across the world, Alice made sure this course included fair, yet challenging, options for people playing from the front tees.

Pound Ridge has caught the at-

tention of not just nearby golfers, but players from around the country. The course shot into the top five of Golfweek magazine’s “state-by-state” rankings this year, putting it in elite company alongside PGA TOUR venues and world famous courses like Bethpage Black and Saratoga National.

“We are honored to be recognized by one of golf ’s most prestigious publications and excited to climb the list again in 2012,” says Wang. “The playing surface and surrounding landscape has matured, and the course is coming into its own in terms of pliability.

Pound Ridge has truly emerged as one of the true modern marvels of Dye’s Continued on pg. 18

16

SUMMER 2012

Continued from pg. 16

legendary portfolio, and the Golfweek ranking is incredibly rewarding.”

Rates for 18 holes at Pound Ridge begin at $105, seven days a week. The course also offers nine-hole rates of $80 (before 8:30 a.m.) and $60 (after 4:30 p.m.). All rounds include a golf cart or pull cart, yardage book, bottled water, player’s towel and use of the driving range, newly designed sunken chipping area and other practice facilities.

Pound Ridge provides seasonal plans, serving as an alternative to private club memberships. Individual plans start at $4,000 and include playing options and an assortment of

18

SUMMER 2012

benefits. Plan holders are eligible to compete in the inaugural club championship and monthly golf tournaments.

The corporate plans also feature rounds at lower advanced reservation rates for unlimited designated individuals from a business. Plans start at $16,000 and include a complimentary foursome voucher.

“Our corporate plans are designed for ease-of-access and entertaining clients on a world-class, resort level course,” Wang notes.

While many classic courses don’t send out messages beckoning golfers to return, Dye’s layouts have the opposite effect, and Pound Ridge Golf

Club may be the most magnetic of the bunch. After playing it once, golfers want to go right back out and tackle its myriad strategic puzzles.

Dye disciples who have sojourned to PGA West, TPC Sawgrass, Harbour Town, Kiawah Island Resort and the American Club take notice— Pound Ridge Golf Club is an essential part of any golfer’s collection of Dyedesigned courses.

For more information visit www.poundridgegolf.com or call 914-764-5771.

Commercial? Yes,we also do that!

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System design, installation and sales Professional-grade flat-panel TV’s and projectors Wireless and wired sound systems Audio/Video networking Conferencing Lighting control On-site service and support contracts Turnkey solutions Custom automation programming Call us today for a no obligation consultation Designing Your Digital Lifestyle

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THE NEWEST TRENDS

MANCENTRAL Sinuous Guitars Created by a man who has played guitar since he was a tot, and then went on to study design in order to make modern furniture, the Sinuous Guitar is, simply, a thing of beauty. Through the use of innovative design and manufacturing techniques, the guitars’ bodies are constructed from poplar, which allows for shaping that perfectly suits their owners. Each guitar is custom made with the customer’s preferences; the result is a masterpiece for the guitarist who demands authenticity, craftsmanship and an instrument that is truly special.

Klipsch S4i (In-Ear Headphones) Klipsch’s Image S4i earbuds are a dramatic sound quality upgrade for your iPhone, iPod, iPad or any portable music player.

These convenient in-ear headphones offer full control of the music loaded on your favorite Apple device. The tiny wide-range speakers in each earbud deliver dynamic detail and punchy bass.

Your music will sound clear and natural, whether you’re rocking out to a killer guitar riff or relaxing to a smooth jazz beat. Available at Talk of the Town in Allendale.

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SUMMER 2012

Everything Matters...

Transparent has offered a full line-up of upgradeable audio, video, and digital cables and power conditioning products since 1993. Designed from the perspective of performance, build quality, and value, Transparent’s linking solutions cover the integrating needs of all types of audio and video systems — from the most basic to ultimate.

For more information about Transparent products and technology, please consult with your Talk of The Town sales associate, or call Transparent at (207) 284-1100, or visit www.transparentcable.com

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Designing Your Digital Lifestyle

TALK T WN of the

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www.talkofthetownvideo.com

Talk of The Town • 319 Franklin Turnpike • Allendale, NJ 07401 • 201-236-1006

THE NEWEST TRENDS

MANCENTRAL Universal’s 100th Year Anniversary Release of Speculation has it that the inspiration for JAWS, the book that later spawned the movie by the same name, came from the 1916 shark attacks in the waters of our own Jersey Shore. Now, 96 years later, the re-release of one of America’s favorite films has emerged with all the fancy technology every moviegoer craves. Featuring an all-new, digitally remastered and fully restored picture, as well as 7.1 surround sound, the JAWS Blu-ray Combo Pack with DVD, Digital Copy and UltraViolet™ gives fans the ultimate way to watch the breathtaking and terrifying action-thriller.

QlockTwo W One of the most unique watches we’ve ever seen, the QlockTwo W is hard to explain yet so simple in its design. In a square there is a grid of 110 letters.

When the stainless steel button is pressed, words light up in unexpected places that describe the time. Whenever you look at your QlockTwo W, it’s a new experience. The high-quality brushed stainless steel case measures 35 x 35 mm.

The watch is available with a 24 mm rubber or leather strap. The QlockTwo W can also show the calendar date or seconds. QlockTwo W is available in a polished version, brushed or black stainless steel, and will be released by Fall 2012.

Available at Qlocktwo.com.

Brew Cave Your summer parties are filling up your house’s fridges. The beer has to be cold or the party can’t go on, but strangely, you need your fridge for things other than the beer. Well, the Brew Cave is here to save you. A walk-in beer cooler and keggerator, the Brew Cave promises you will never have refrigeration issues again. With room for more than 30 cases of beer and 4 kegs, the Brew Cave assures that the party can go on all summer long. As always, if you need any help emptying that fridge, we are here for you. Available at Kegworks.com.

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SUMMER 2012

MANCENTRAL

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Madison Fielding Terra Cotta (Planter Speakers) From the unique Terra Cotta Planter Speaker with 360-degree music to the symphony orchestra outdoor sound of the magnificent Flagstone speaker that rivals the finest indoor speakers, Madison Fielding offers top-notch construction and quality sound second to none. The Planter Speakers and architectural designs integrate beautifully into their surroundings, serving as a focal point in any design scheme or décor. All models may be used with live flowers or plants; for indoor use, certain models can be ordered with a special removable planter pot. All models come with an extended warranty from two to five years.

Available at Talk of the Town in Allendale.

Carbon Fiber Daggers

Some of the coolest-looking knives we’ve seen in a while, the Carbon Fiber Daggers come in three different shapes. More collector’s items than everyday utility tools, these knives are constructed without blades that are super sharp. Made in the USA with 100% carbon fiber, these knives will surely turn heads. Isn’t carbon fiber the new stainless steel, anyway? Available at carbonfibergear.com.

Universal Remote MXW-920 (Water-resistant Remote Control) There are few things worse than having to get out of the pool to change the channel on your outdoor TV. But don’t sweat it. The splash proof MXW-920 remote control has the ability to operate equipment that is not even in direct line-of-sight. It does this via RF communication to a URC base station. Although it’s not intended for underwater use, its durable design enables it to withstand moisture, dust and splashing thanks to a JIS Class 4 water resistance rating. This makes it the perfect poolside companion, as well as the ideal choice for a kitchen or bath controller. Available at Talk of the Town in Allendale.

SUMMER 2012

23

THE NEWEST TRENDS

MANCENTRAL Klipsch G-17 Air (AirPlay Speakers) Imagine walking into your home after a long day, pulling your iPhone® out of your pocket, selecting your favorite song, and hearing it fill the room. It’s possible with the Klipsch Gallery G-17 Air powered speaker system. The compact G-17 Air delivers a full-bodied sound that belies its small size. Klipsch built amazingly efficient and highly responsive speakers that reproduce sound with minimal distortion. The built-in speakers include a pair of ¾-inch aluminum tweeters with Klipsch’s famous Tractrix® horn technology for highs that are clear, detailed and dynamic. Two 2-1/2-inch long throw woofers provide solid mids and surprisingly punchy bass, thanks in part to a precisely tuned, flared port. Each driver is powered by its own amp, so the sound stays crisp and clean when you crank it up. And you’ll want to, once you hear this system in action. Available at Talk of the Town in Allendale.

Marshall Fridge For those of us who have no need for an entire walk-in refrigerator (or the space) yet would love a small icebox next to the recliner in their man-cave, the Marshall Fridge is perfect. Made with classic Marshall parts to resemble their famous amps, the fridge’s door has authentic Marshall knobs, logos and Jim Marshall’s signature. As far as a fridge goes, its 4.4 cubic feet of space and high-efficiency freezer promise to have your beer chilled and the ice cream you hide from the rest of your family frozen to perfection. Available at Marshallfridge.com.

James Loudspeaker Landscape System (Outdoor Speaker System) The 129GS70 is a complete 70V outdoor landscape system, which includes everything you need to fill a large outdoor area with fabulous sound. It includes 8 satellite speakers, 1 subwoofer, a 70V amp and DSP processor. The system is recommended for background and foreground music and will cover up to 3500-4000 square feet.

Ambient surrounding levels will also play a factor in the selection of the correct system. The DSP processor allows numerous configurations. With one amplifier, the system can be run in full-range stereo or bi-amp mono. Adding an additional amplifier will allow bi-amp stereo operation. To sum all that up: It will make your backyard sound way better than the neighbors’ place. Available at Talk of the Town in Allendale.

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SUMMER 2012

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Bernie Williams:

A Musician OF A DIFFERENT STRIPE WRITTEN BY

T

he capacity crowd at Yankee Stadium rose to their feet and stood cheering for several minutes. Number 51 in pinstripes was back in center field for the first time since the team let him go in 2006 after a 16-year career. It was September 28, 2008—the last game ever at The House that Ruth Built, where many men like him helped build a stronger foundation.

Ber-nie Will-iams! Clap clap, clap clap clap. Ber-nie Will-iams! Clap clap, clap clap clap.

“I didn’t even play the game, and I got introduced after Yogi Berra,” Williams told Talk of the Town.

It was a homecoming of sorts, according to Williams, the four-time Gold Glover and five-time all-star.

Williams had one of the most prolific postseason careers of any player in baseball history. His 80 postseason runs batted in remain a record to this day. Who can forget the eleventh inning walk-off homer in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS against the Orioles, or the batting title in 1998, or just that smooth, cool aura he exuded in center

JUSTIN DAVIDSON

field for all those years?

Soft-spoken and a self-described loner during his first years in the Yankee clubhouse in the early ’90s, Williams worked hard to earn his right to stay while the Yankees were comprised mostly of veterans who were on their way out. Gradually as the likes of O’Neill, Posada, Rivera, Pettitte, Jeter and many more came together to form a cohesive unit, the Yankees formed a new dynasty.

When it was all said and done, New York would be the only team that Williams ever played for. During his years playing for the Yankees he would grow into an icon himself. However, it would be far from an easy journey, especially arriving on the scene when he did.

“I think I kind of caught the team in a little bit of a valley so to speak which in essence gave me a great opportunity to flourish as a baseball player within the context of the team because they were so concerned about other stuff,” he explained.

Williams, a quieter leader, let his bat and glove–his guitar, too—do the

talking for him.

As a kid growing up in Puerto Rico, Williams’ parents emphasized education, athletics and music. One day, his dad, a merchant marine, brought home a guitar and it immediately struck a chord with a young Bernie. His dad taught him the basics, and eventually Bernie would attend a performing arts high school. Soon, his dad bought him his own guitar— nothing fancy, but it got the job done.

“I remember playing the living daylight out of that guitar all through my high school years,” said Williams.

Williams had two loves in his life—music and baseball—and eventually the latter came wooing in the form of the Yankees. They signed him when he was just 17 years old. Although his parents actually met in the South Bronx while Williams’ mother was working as an educator in an exchange program, New York still seemed like a distant land to Bernie. Unlike, say the Pirates with Roberto Clemente, or the Astros with Jose Cruz, the Yankees had no real Puerto Rican icons in their history.

Continued on pg. 32

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SUMMER 2012

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“I didn’t really know too much about the Yankees when I signed,” confessed Williams, who suddenly faced a big learning curve now that he had arrived in the high-scrutiny Big Time. The team had fans in every city, and reporters covering each player’s every blink. It was quite an adjustment, coming from a more tranquil environment.

“We could be playing in Detroit, Seattle or Anaheim—anywhere, and we always had people following us,”

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SUMMER 2012

said Williams. “It was like the Grateful Dead.”

Williams became a switch hitter, and when the time was right, he found his niche in the lineup. The team gelled under Joe Torre, and they just couldn’t stop winning. “[Torre] was the right man for the right job at the time and he kind of let us play and do our thing,” Williams explained.

And the players did their thing.

Four titles in five years ain’t too bad.

Now, Williams gets to relive his past glory during Old Timers Day. “It’s amazing how time flies,” Williams reflected. “I thought it was like yesterday that I played those games those years.”

The Yankees tend to show a certain sternness to them when they take the field and in interviews. But it is not always business. Williams kept a guitar in the clubhouse and practiced scales in the back of the plane where the veterans sat on road trips. He’d

NOW BATTING, NUMBER 51…

Puerto Rico… My homeland New York… My second home Center Field… That was a great gig Flamenco… Part of my heritage The Boss (Steinbrenner)… Grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to play with the Yankees

The Boss (Springsteen)… Great honor to share the

same stage with him to play “Glory Days”

Pinstripes… Excellence, tradition, World Series titles Eleventh Inning… I’m tired. Let’s go home!

Jeter… The Captain Posada… My fellow Puerto Rican friend on the team Mo… The best closer that ever lived Pettitte… Solid, and the one pitcher that I would like to

give the ball when it’s crunch time

Torre… The right man for the right job, and the Godfather Yanks-Sox… One of the greatest rivalries in sports The Stadium… It’s where I spent most of my adult life.

It was home, and it was an honor to hold center field for them for as long as I did. strum away, keeping those around him calm, cool and collected with his flamenco rhythms.

Jeter would like to put on MTV in the clubhouse after practice. Sometimes, teammates made requests to the guitarist so they could sing along.

“If I knew a song, I would try to play it for them and they would do their karaoke thing,” Williams recalled.

Back in the 1970s, Ron Guidry kept a drum set in the stadium. Years

The Flip… It just shows [Jeter’s] great instinct for the game The Studio… A lot of pressure but it’s rewarding when it

comes out right

The Fans… New York fans are the greatest in the world Jazz… One of the great expressions of freedom Jamming… It’s one of the best things that I’m doing right

now, in every sense of the word

Continued on pg. 34

SUMMER 2012

33

Bernie Williams:

A Musician OF A DIFFERENT STRIPE

Continued from pg. 33

later, Paul O’Neill would jam with Williams during rain delays or after practice. Before the YES Network came to be, MSG ran a promo spot of a bespectacled Williams on guitar, and O’Neill on drums playing a crunchy blue riff. (If you want to check it out, it’s on YouTube.) O’Neill’s classic rock, Mellencamp-y vibe contrasted with Williams’ style.

“Coming from playing blues and my Latin roots, it was a very interesting combination of flavor,” Williams noted.

But Williams has always been about learning. In school, he studied Bach, Haydn, Mozart. It prepared him well for his post-baseball life.

Now fully retired, Williams has time to focus on music. For the last two or three years, he has played consis-

34

SUMMER 2012

tently and has jammed with everyone from The Allman Brothers Band and Bruce Springsteen to James Taylor and Garth Brooks. Williams has two albums under his belt; the latest, Moving Forward, was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2009.

Yet the 43-year-old Williams is still relatively new to the music game.

“I definitely consider myself a rookie in this business, but I’m serious enough to make it a full-time affair,” said Williams.

One time, Paul Simon was with Williams in the green room before a taping of CenterStage, and the two had their guitars handy. Williams played Simon his beautiful arrangement of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” “(Simon) said that he loved it,”

said Williams. “And then he was showing me some of the new stuff that he was working on.”

The artists are always thrilled when they meet Williams. He feels the same way about meeting them.

“They all want to be baseball players, and all baseball players want to be rock stars.”

Williams is more of a jazz guy than a rocker, but he’s done both. His baseball days may be over, but his beautiful guitar still echoes at sporting events, whether it’s at Knicks and Nets games or at the inauguration of the new Yankee Stadium. Oftentimes athletes struggle when they’re finally forced to make way for a new rookie or stud free agent. Music has kept Williams at peace: “I wouldn’t know what I would be without music in my life.”

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40 Years of Best-in-Class Excellence

t the heart of every Meridian product is a passion for quality, exquisitely detailed through exceptional craftsmanship. From twochannel audio systems to bespoke home theater installations, Meridian offers award-winning systems that are perfectly suited for a wide variety of environments. As it has been from the company’s modest beginnings, every Meridian product is still conceived, engineered and hand-built to the highest standards to deliver an extraordinary experience of music and movies: the life, the vibrancy, and the sense of being there.

Founded in 1977 by audio engineer Bob Stuart and industrial designer Allen Boothroyd, Meridian Audio designs and manufactures from its headquarters outside Cambridge, England. Brought together by a shared love of music, Bob and Allen would say their professional partnership was born out of their desire to better listen to it. Both remain active at the heart of their respective disciplines: Bob heads all technological developments while Allen leads

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the design team.

Interestingly enough, this enduring partnership began three years before the formal launch of Meridian when Bob and Allen collaborated on the Lecson Audio system, which is widely regarded as one of the most innovative products of the 1970s in any field. The Lecson reinvented the relationship between design and function.

Selected in 1976 for the New York Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection, it is this iconic piece for which Bob Stuart and Allen Boothroyd won the first of their three British Design Council Awards.

The driving force behind Meridian’s pursuit of perfection is the desire to lose as little as possible of the original source material when it is reproduced. Every link in the chain, from recording to reproduction, represents an opportunity for information to be lost and quality to be compromised.

By seeking to address this problem, Meridian Audio has invented many unique technologies and set some of the highest benchmarks in performance standards.

And while these advances have been the result of some extremely clever technological thinking, what is truly important is the experience it enables for the listener. A richer, deeper, more detailed experience. Reproduction so pure you’ll find yourself at the heart of the performance, perceiving undiscovered nuances, no matter how subtle.

The essence of the Meridian philosophy is that the company believes in the complete, integrated system, and that a system should be judged on how well the entire package performs in the real world.

This is why all Meridian components explicitly speak the same electric and acoustic language. While their performance with other manufacturers’ equipment is exemplary, they positively sing when placed in chorus with equipment of their own pedigree.

Meridian’s focus on complete systems over individual products has included the world’s first audiophile CD player, the world’s first consumer digital surround controller and the Meridian Lossless Packing system, now employed worldwide as the technology that underpins high-resolution audio on DVD-Audio and Blu-ray Continued on pg. 38

Meridian founders Allen Boothroyd and Bob Stuart met in the early 1970s, launching Meridian on 7/7/77.

Meridian’s name came from its first factory, which was situated at zero degrees longitude, the Greenwich “Meridian” line.

SUMMER 2012

37

40 Years of Best-in-Class Excellence Continued from pg. 37

Discs as part of Dolby TrueHD. The number of unique technologies that have been developed by Meridian over the course of the company’s history is substantially impressive and have set standards for the rest of the industry, further solidifying the company’s reputation for innovation and the pursuit of perfection. For example, DSP Loudspeakers, with powerful Digital Signal Processing (DSP) crossovers and built-in power amp and converters deliver as much performance as a conventional speaker eight times the physical volume.

Beginning with the first commercial product, the M1 Loudspeaker, Meridian has broken convention and continued to develop products that provide benchmark performance while integrating perfectly into any home decor. Today, the latest DSP loudspeaker, the M6, embodies this philosophy.

Over the last decade, Meridian unveiled the globally renowned Reference Series, which includes 861 Surround Controller, 800 DVD Player, 808 CD Player, 818 Pre-Amplifier, 810 Video Projection System—the world’s only 10-mega pixel video system. This range of exceptionalperformance products has redefined expectations within each category, establishing the benchmark for which all other products are measured.

In late 2008, Meridian acquired Sooloos, an incredibly intuitive system for managing digital media.

Nearly four years in the making, the system today has evolved to the Meridian Digital Media System. Quickly becoming the standard for reference class digital media management, the system features its multi-award winning interface, with unique features such as SWIM and FOCUS, and high performance audio, allowing access never before realized for one’s

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SUMMER 2012

Celebrating the Ruby Anniversary of Allen and Bob’s creative partnership, Meridian has created 40 limited edition 40th Anniversary Systems, in an exclusive Ruby Red finish.

music library. The Meridian Digital Media System also provides a portal to seemingly endless music offerings from all over world with Rhapsody and Internet Radio.

Today, the 40th Anniversary system celebrates the Ruby Anniversary of Allen and Bob’s creative partnership. Meridian has created only 40 systems worldwide consisting of a special version of the 808.3 Reference CD Player with a pair of DSP8000 Digital Active Loudspeakers.

Built from hand-selected components and including numerous spe-

cial individually adjusted performance enhancements, the anniversary system delivers unmatched performance, ease of use and a stunning exclusive Ruby finish.

Brought together by a simple concept, Bob and Allen continue to redefine best-in-class luxury entertainment with inspiration and dedication. They began a tradition and established their legacy—British-made entertainment systems that embody unique technological innovations, stylish design and exceptional performance.

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TALK OF THE TOWN STAYS

THE

EMPIRE HOTEL WRITTEN BY

T

here is no place quite like New York City in the summer. The brutal heat produces two types of people—the young, hip crowd wearing nearly nothing, walking dogs for a living or lying out in a park without a worry. Then there is the working man, sweating through his dress shirt as his commute drags him in and out of air conditioning, and occasionally worse, through the grimy blistering heat of the subway, on his way to the office. Refuge is minimal, as is shade. The best feeling is the blast of A/C you get as you walk past a large department store whose door happens to be open at just the right moment. It is at this instant, as the sun beats down and you wipe off the beads of sweat, that jealousy of that responsibility-free dog walker flares. Ah, if only there was a pool to dive into.

The Empire Hotel, located steps from Lincoln Center and just west of Central Park, may be the answer to all of your summer in the city cares.

Originally constructed as a sevenstory building in 1889, the hotel was leveled and rebuilt as a 12-story hotel in 1923, when its now iconic neon red “Empire Hotel” sign, located on the roof, was also erected. Around that time, a room with a private lavatory ran a guest about $2 per night. Today, it is a four-star hotel offering exceptional accommodations, including a rooftop lounge, and its best summer asset—a rooftop pool overlooking the rest of

BRANDON GOLDSTEIN

envious Manhattan.

In 2008, a total renovation of the hotel took place. The pool deck was added and a luxurious redesign of all the rooms and suites went underway, which has now been completed. The accommodations are modern and refined yet comfortable, with tasteful accents such as faux-crocodile covered side tables, and splashes of tiger and zebra print on cushions and wingbacked chairs. Personally, the less zebra print the better; however, the Empire didn’t overdo it, and kept it limited to a discerning degree.

As I entered the Empire’s lobby, a cozy seating area awaited, welcoming me with oversized chairs and couches that are great for reading the morning paper. The lobby flows into a personal favorite, a lobby bar. The mojito was perfectly muddled and not too sweet, a perfect summer beverage.

Upon heading to my junior suite on the 9th floor, I began my “hotel test,” plopping my large frame down on the bed. After sinking into the sumptuous down comforter (not sure I have ever called a comforter sumptuous before), I gladly lay motionless in absolute comfort for a few minutes. The king-size bed passed the test with flying colors.

Next I had to examine every aspect of the hotel room. I had much more space than I had anticipated. A “junior suite” in Manhattan usually just means the hotel packed a king-size bed and some additional seating in there, with no room to move around. My Continued on pg. 42

SUMMER 2012

41

TALK OF THE TOWN STAYS Continued from pg. 41

suite, however, had the king-size bed, a pullout couch, two additional armchairs, a large desk and a comfortable leather office chair. The 32”-flatscreen mounted on the wall was what every man’s hotel room needs. The more I looked around, the more treats I discovered, and the more reluctant I became of ever actually leaving this oasis of air-conditioned comfort.

The bathroom was full of enticements. The teak floors and large allglass, stand-up shower with an oversized rainfall showerhead made for quite a relaxing cleansing experience.

Typically all I ask for in a shower is water pressure. Once again, the test was not merely passed, but surpassed.

The room also comes equipped with today’s latest necessities—WiFi Internet access, an iPod docking station with speakers, a full mini bar (necessity), and many other amenities that make your summer stay, be it for business or pleasure, much more enjoyable.

With dinner approaching, I was

lucky enough to have Ed’s Chowder House situated on the second floor of the hotel. The eatery, decorated with a casually chic sea shack concept, was packed, regardless of my late 9:30pm reservation. Apart from the fabulous raw bar, the tuna steak frites and lobster rolls were exquisite.

The service was impeccable, turning the casually delicious eatery into a fine dining experience. Of course, I couldn’t leave without trying the chowder. Up to this point I had never been a big chowder fan. Dining at a place with chowder in the title, however, was compelling enough of an argument for me to give it another try.

I’m now a huge fan, and I challenge any restaurant to serve me as delicious a bowl of New England’s best.

After a few glasses of wine from Ed’s limited yet worthy selection, I made my way up to the 12th floor to see if restauranteur Jeffrey Chodorow’s rooftop lounge lived up to the hype.

The 8,000-square-foot lounge comprises the entire floor. The ambience

was, as expected, modern with plush couches and candlelit tables. The bar was packed, yet plenty of space remained to move around and dance.

The DJ played such great tunes that I soon found myself dancing. Do your best to remove the image of me cavorting on the dance floor from your head; it isn’t pretty. But the rooftop bar, with choice views of Lincoln Center and Manhattan streets, truly is.

Following some refreshing shuteye on my (sumptuous) bed, I went to Ed’s for a simple continental breakfast. Nothing too crazy; a small buffet was all I was looking for. Then it was time to do what I had never done in New York City before—jump into a pool.

The pool deck, located on the 13th floor, opened on May 25th after a complete deck renovation earlier this year. From 10am to 10pm the pool deck is open exclusively to guests of the hotel. By sunset, the bright neon lights of the Empire Hotel sign cast a cool glow over the whole pool Continued on pg. 44

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SUMMER 2012

Designing Your Digital Lifestyle

TALK T WN of the

audio • video • automation • home theaters

319 Franklin Turnpike Allendale, NJ 07401 201-236-1006 www.talkofthetownvideo.com

TALK OF THE TOWN STAYS Continued from pg. 42

area. Sun beds line the pool, as do a few cabanas, which offer all the luxuries you would expect. Food and cocktail service, a must as far as I’m concerned, are also provided. The pool deck was the place to relax and forget about the brutal summer heat, while still being surrounded by all New York City has to offer.

The Empire Hotel has completed a lavish renovation that will keep it a great place to stay, in any season, well into the future. Its rooftop lounge and pool make it the ideal spot to escape this summer’s blistering heat, without having to travel too far from home.

A quick walk from Central Park and Columbus Circle, and a stone’s throw from Lincoln Center, the location is prime real estate for enjoying summer in New York City. Don’t be the man in the well-tailored suit sweating his ass off, or that guy who sacrifices his pride by wearing something ridiculously overexposed. Take your heat wave woes to the Empire Hotel, and let them take care of the rest.

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SUMMER 2012

STREAM OF

MUSIC CONSCIOUSNESS WRITTEN BY

46

JONATHAN DERDA

SUMMER 2012

S

potify, MOG, Rdio, Grooveshark… using any one of these services will make you feel like a mystical wizard with the power to grab songs from the cloud— on demand, anytime, anywhere. The real trick, though, isn’t streaming music from the cloud; it’s making it sound good.

Highest Bit-rate

Streaming audio can range from good to downright bad. Most services stream from a bit-rate range of 64 kbps to 256 kbps. If we use CD as a reference point, its native bit-rate is 1411 kbps, so these services can offer as little as 1/22nd the bit-rate of CD. At 64 kbps to 128 kbps, the sound quality takes a big hit. Instruments sound flat and dull, vocals lose life and size; everything sounds artificial. You’re going to want to turn it off pretty soon after you’ve started listening. When you get to 256 kbps, things start to get better. At 320 kbps, the music starts to sound, well, more like actual music.

Best Sounds

There are many great streaming music services. There are also many articles comparing these services to one another. Instead of writing another one of those, we’ll just cut right to the chase.

MOG is the go-to music service for anyone who cares about sound

quality. MOG has a deep music catalog of over 11 millions tracks, all of which stream at 320 kbps. MOG subscription options range from free to $9.99 per month.

Music selection is impressive. It’s not impossible to stump MOG, but I’ve found its selection of music to be more complete and comprehensive than any other service. Unlike the case with its main competitor Spotify, MOG won’t disappoint when it comes to finding an album for which you can play all of its tracks.

I had a brief email exchange with MOG co-founder David Hyman. It was very apparent talking to Hyman that sound quality is very important to this guy. He is former CEO of Gracenote, the music-identification service, and senior vice president of marketing at MTV. He’s also a vinyl junkie and audiophile. From the MOG knowledge base, “At MOG we think high fidelity is a critical component to your music service, so we would never skimp on the bit rate streaming to our customers!”

That means everyone, whether using MOG for free or paying the $9.99 monthly subscription, gets the highest bit-rate that MOG offers.

In an industry where quality of digital delivery has been neglected to the lowest common denominator, it’s refreshing to see a company where high quality and affordable prices can co-exist.

Get Digitally Connected

To get the most out of the higher bit-rate offered by MOG we need to use the right kind of hardware to process the digital bit-stream.

Digital audio is just a sampled representation of an analog signal. If we were to play back a digital signal without converting it to analog, all we would hear is noise. As a result, all digital music players have built-in digital-to-analog converters (DAC).

Some of these built-in DACs are pretty good, but most of them do the bare minimum job of converting digital signals into sound. At most, they are good enough for low-fidelity playback in the car or for cheap headphones. In order to transform digital bits into music to be played back on our high-resolution audio systems we need to bypass the built-in DAC and feed the digital audio stream to a high-performance digital converting machine.

Peachtree Audio manufactures these high-performance machines— external DACs, as well as preamps and integrated amplifiers with built-in DACs. Most preamps and integrated amps are analog only and don’t have digital connectivity or DACs inside.

Peachtree components have multiple kinds of inputs, analog and digital, so you can connect digital sources (e.g., computer, CD player, Sonos, AppleContinued on pg. 48

SUMMER 2012 47

STREAM OF

MUSIC CONSCIOUSNESS

PEACHTREE components use ESS Sabre DACs, powerful chips capable of making ordinary electronics sound EXTRAORDINARY. Continued from pg. 47

TV) digitally and analog sources (e.g., turntable, radio, tape deck) analog.

Peachtree components use ESS Sabre DACs, powerful chips capable of making ordinary electronics sound extraordinary. Sabre DACs use cutting edge tech and complex algorithms in order for your computer, smart phone and streamer to have sonic performance equal to the world’s best CD players.

Depending on your needs, here are two ways to upgrade your digital music experience.

The Peachtree Audio DAC•iT is a great solution if you already have a system you love but want to juice up your digital audio quality. At $449, it has three digital inputs, Toslink, USB and Coax. The combination of a DAC•iT and an Apple TV is a great way to AirPlay your music wirelessly from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

If you are starting from scratch and want a simple system solution,

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SUMMER 2012

pair the decco65 integrated amp with speakers and a source for a very high performance and affordable Hi Fi. Simply plug your computer into the USB input and you’re ready to go.

Proof is in the Sound

To really appreciate any of what you’re reading, it takes actually hearing it in person. Numbers and measurements can give us an idea of one sound over the other, but it all means nothing if it doesn’t create a more enjoyable listening experience.

A great track to hear firsthand the difference of higher bit-rates and what a DAC does is Elvis Presley’s rendition of “Fever” on Elvis Is Back (1960 RCA Records version). Go to your local Hi Fi shop and have them queue it up on MOG to do a comparison with and without a DAC. Elvis’ voice should sound full, warm and smooth, and project into the room as if it’s emerging from a black back-

ground. It shouldn’t sound flat and sterile. Listen to the finger snaps.

Those snaps should sound like they trail off into space, not start and stop on a dime. The difference with and without a good DAC is not subtle; it goes from a nice-sounding record to an “it sounds like he’s in the room singing and snapping his fingers” listening experience.

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Breckenridge

Distillery Tops in Taste WRITTEN BY

62

SUMMER 2012

BRANDON GOLDSTEIN

our years ago Bryan Nolt sat near a creek in Breckenridge, Colorado, fly fishing with his buddy.

A successful doctor and happily married man, he was missing just one love from his life.

“I love being a doctor, but my entrepreneurial spirit was suppressed,” he recalled. As the fresh water flowed in Breckenridge’s altitude of 9600 feet, Bryan and his buddy started joking about starting a distillery. Turns out the lofty surroundings gave birth to loftier ambitions, and even more rarefied success. Fast-forward to the present, where Breckenridge Distillery is one of the largest independent distillers of bourbon in the country.

Bryan’s infatuation with whiskey began as many do—in college with the cheap stuff. He soon graduated to higher quality whiskeys, becoming a big fan of single malts. That love for whiskey culminated in a two-week distillery tour in Scotland, where he became even more convinced that opening a distillery was absolutely for him. His pursuit of that passion soon followed.

“I realized it was a great opportunity to do something fun,” Bryan said. “It could be a game changer. An astronomical 20,000 cases of bourbon will leave the distillery this year.”

As Bryan and his partner, Jordan Via, who already had a background in Napa Valley Wineries, began crunching the numbers and formulating their business plan, they realized that the distillery had to serve two purposes in order to sustain itself. Bryan’s love for single malts had him wanting to produce only that.

However, while the whiskey ages in American oak barrels for the next 15 years, they were going to have to find other ways of turning a profit.

Bryan already was familiar with the distilling process from his days studying chemistry, but

F

it was Jordan who helped him understand exactly how to distill spirits. The two began the arduous process of creating the perfect recipe, and following its two-year aging process, Breckenridge Bourbon was born.

In 2011, Breckenridge Bourbon received one of only three gold medals awarded at the International Wine and Spirits Competition. One of the top three bourbons in the world? You bet.

When Jordan came up with the idea to create a bourbon, Bryan was initially opposed. He was a fan of rye whiskey and single malts, but Jordan’s compromise was simple: create a bourbon, and “go all out on the rye.” The result is a bourbon with almost 40% rye, which helps makes it stand out over those of the competition.

Upon uncorking and taking a sniff, I didn’t get that pungent smell of whiskey I’ve come to expect (from my days in college sipping the cheap stuff). Instead, I was greeted by a flowery, pleasant aroma with a faint smell of whiskey. As I did this, my associate, by no means a drinker, specifically of whiskey, came over and smelled it as well, and even she enjoyed the aroma.

I’m often a proponent of drinking my whiskey on the rocks. However, with Breckenridge’s Best this was not the case. The bourbon had a very strong range of flavors, and you’re left with a semi-sweet, caramel and vanilla flavor after each sip. Along with the many notes of spices, the flavor doesn’t die in your mouth or produce that bitter taste whiskey often does. Instead, minutes later, I was still left with the faint taste of that vanilla and caramel flavor.

That Rocky Mountain snowmelt water really does work wonders to produce a brilliant bourbon.

If Breckenridge’s 43% alcohol by volume bourbon Continued on pg. 64

SUMMER 2012

63

Breckenridge

Distillery Tops in Taste

Continued from pg. 63

isn’t really your thing, Bryan has an answer for you. He has also started mass producing vodka and bitters.

I’m no fan of vodka, but Bryan assured me that his vodka is not boring and neutrally flavored like many of the others. I tried some (because he made me) and it was great. Not only is Bryan a man of his word, but his bourbon and vodka will soon be household names. They are too good for it to be otherwise.

My next question: “Why the bitters?” Bryan answered with a question of his own, asking me if I had ever mixed bitters and an IPA. Upon answering no, he told me, first, that I needed to, because it is incredible.

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He claimed it to be the world’s secret from America.

“For some reason, it is big overseas, and it truly is delicious. Yet, nobody here is drinking it. It could be—should be—the next big thing,” he said, asserting that it is Breckenridge Distillery’s formulation, made with secret local ingredients from the Rocky’s, that will place his bitters a step above the rest.

With his astounding repertoire of bourbon and vodka already, who am I to disagree?

Bryan Nolt and Jordan Via clearly know what they are doing. In only four years, they have produced a bourbon that continuously places in the top

three at competitions. Their vodka will soon follow with accolades of its own.

Of course, with fame comes the puns. With catchy names like the Ball Brecker (from David Burke, a close friend of Bryan’s), the HeartBrecker, Breckfast and Snowbrero, Breckenridge Distillery-inspired libations are sure to be on discerning drinkers’ lips at bars everywhere.

As the passionate man sitting at the helm of a passionate brand, Bryan Nolt and Breckenridge Distillery seem destined to attain heights far beyond the Rocky’s tallest summit. So with Breckenridge Distillery’s single malt still years away, is it too early to place the first order?

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MIKE MARON

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER WRITTEN BY

JUSTIN DAVIDSON

TOTT: Holy Name Medical Center has been serving Bergen County since 1925. How has this institution evolved over the years, and what is your vision when it comes to delivering top-notch patient care?

Maron: The hospital for many of those years was content to operate classified as a small community hospital caring for the local neighborhood. In the 1980s it became apparent that was no longer a viable strategy and the hospital had to grow, and so we’ve been doing that, and strengthening the high-tech capabilities of the services we offer, diversifying and treating more patients on a volume basis.

We have managed to retain all the traditions and principles that were here when the hospital was founded in 1925. So what you’ll find here is a blend of high tech, very innovative from both an operational and a clinical delivery system, but very high touch. To us, the patient experience that our patients have should be as if their own family members were treating them. The staff here rallies around that. Everybody that comes in, you treat them as if they were your own family so they have an incredible experience in some very trying times.

TOTT: What is it like being in charge of so many talented, intelligent people, and how do you connect with everyone?

Maron: To me, that is one of the most rewarding components of this job. I never, ever take it in the realm of ‘I’m in charge.’ I work with you. You work with me. They are some of the most talented, dedicated, committed individuals. The blending of intelligence and compassion is just so rewarding at the end of the day. And so I just treat them with respect. I keep an open mind. I never go in thinking I know everything, and I learn from them and hopefully they learn from me, and we’ve established a very respectful, mutual partnership.

TOTT: A trip to the hospital often proves to be stressful for patients and their families. How does Holy Name alleviate the difficulties?

Maron: Two ways. In the physical structure of the facility, we do everything we can to make it as calm, soothing and non-institutional as possible, so there’s all warm colors and rich woods, waterfalls throughout the property as you’re driving up, background music playing all to create

an atmosphere that is calming and soothing. And then the staff, all to again treat you like you’re family, so you’re greeted pleasantly. Everyone is there with a smile. Everyone is there to help you answer your questions, and to let you know that you have that support in an atmosphere that’s not cold and institutional.

TOTT: Has there been a patient who gave you a compliment that you’ve never forgotten?

Maron: One patient was a very good friend of mine who actually died in his mid-fifties from cancer here. The day before he died he said that if there was any place he needContinued on pg. 68

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ed to spend the last days of his life in, it was here surrounded by his family and all the wonderful people here who understood the circumstances and made him feel so comfortable and so at home.

TOTT: I read that Holy Name developed an app called MicroHIS that helps deliver test results to physicians. Could you talk about that app and other ways that Holy Name uses new forms of technology?

Maron: One of the things we do that is unique in the New York metropolitan area is that we write our own software. We deliver very unique, very user-friendly applications to all of our physicians, nurses and caregivers. MicroHIS is the ability to access our electronic medical record that we developed on a mobile platform, so any smart phone, iPad you can log in.

It’s all-secure and you have access to a graphical user interface for all test results, charting, notes. You can see all the recent activity, all your patient’s vital signs from anywhere in the world.

TOTT: What sets Holy Name above other hospitals?

Maron: The services here that we think are leading the way today are cancer care—the way that we do treatment planning from the initial diagnosis of cancer all the way through surgical radiation, chemotherapy types of interventions. The coordination of that care amongst all the disciplines, and then the precision in which that care is delivered is beyond what anyone else does in the area.

The second area is in cardiology.

While we’re not an open-heart based surgical hospital, we have a very advanced interventional cardiology, and interventional medicine, so we have interventional radiologists, interventional cardiologists who have a skill set way above the local market in their ability to use catheter interventions for both diagnostics and treatment. We’re the only hospital that’s doing radial, which is cardiac caths, where they stick the catheter in through your wrist instead of all the way up through your leg. And that promotes faster recovery time, fewer complications.

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SUMMER 2012

TOTT: Holy Name has received recognition from several institutions for its excellent care.

As its president and CEO, how does this make you feel?

Maron: Extremely proud. It’s the work of all the people here on the front lines. The people who are day-in and day-out at the bedside taking care of the people who seek our services.

It’s something that we are proud of.

It’s something that we started applying more for; something not typical for us in our 85-year history because we were never big into the publicity. But a whole bunch of very important people in the state, commissioners of health, several of them over the last decade had come here because they heard of our innovation, mostly our information technology and some of our clinical advancements. And as they toured the hospital, these are physicians who practiced medicine in New Jersey most of their lives, said, ‘You know, I had no idea. This has got to be the bestkept secret in all of New Jersey.’ One commissioner of health, as he was leaving, asked, ‘Do you want it that way?

Can I tell people about this?’ I said, ‘No; you can tell people about it.’ And that’s when we started applying for these awards more frequently and publicizing it just to affirm that it’s true; the things that we do here are real.

Personal Favorites Healthy snack: tangerines Exercise: arc trainer, a combination of an elliptical trainer and a stair machine

Movie: Lord of the Rings Actor: Liam Neeson Book: Constantine’s Sword by James Carroll

Song: “Not Broken,” by the Goo Goo Dolls

Quote: Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our children for the future.”

Vacation spot: LBI Sports teams: Devils, Giants, Yankees

TOTT: What Holy Name achievement you are most proud of?

Maron: Overall I am most proud of the ‘Best Places to Work’ consistently, where we rank number four in the country. Number one in New Jersey, for consistently the last five, six years from a hospital standpoint. We have been the number one hospital in all the surveys as the best places to work because that work environment then carContinued on pg. 70

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PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER

Continued from pg. 68

ries over into the care that we deliver, the patient experience, so our patient satisfaction scores are very, very high.

We were the first hospital in the country to receive the J.D. Power Award for service excellence in the ER, not an area that most hospitals traditionally would want to survey. It’s a pretty gruesome experience; it’s very difficult to deliver a high patient satisfaction in that environment with all the variables and the circumstances that are going on. We were able, and have been able, to do that consistently. And so the ER for us is one of our treasured services, not something that we look at just as a cost of doing business. And then our information technology. Our ability to innovate, and then to apply that innovation both in information management and clinical delivery systems. Of all of them, I remind the employees that that would be the most dominant, most proud accomplishment.

TOTT: What are some challenges that you face, and how do you address them?

Maron: The industry is changing.

There is incredible pressure on pricing and cost management. That’s another award that we win. We get what they call the ‘Value’ award every year. The

ability to produce high-quality outcomes and we lead the state in our quality outcomes and out quality measures, but at a more efficient cost level.

We’re one of the lowest cost hospitals in the state of New Jersey. So the ability to produce those outcomes without spending bundles of money equals value, and we score very well on that.

The financial pressures to us are great.

And then staying abreast of evolving medicine, and evolving information technology, that gets expensive, so the capital constraints and the ability to keep ourselves at the cutting-edge is very difficult when the financial system is in a constriction mode.

the entire continuum of health and wellness. Hopefully you never come here, but treating you when you do come here, and leveraging what we know from you from that health and wellness experience, and then keeping you engaged post-acute, right through.

If it means end of life and palliative services and hospice services, it’s why we opened the Villa Marie Claire— the one-of-a-kind, in-patient hospice in Saddle River—so that we can flow that continuum using our home care services from prevention and wellness through dying with dignity and the focus on living those last days not sitting in an ICU hooked up to machinery.

TOTT: Holy Name offers several programs, such as a book club and smoking cessation activities. What’s the concept behind them, and what feedback have they received?

Maron: The concept is that our role in the community is not just to treat you when you have an acute event where you end up in the ER or you’re hospitalized. We want to engage you while you’re healthy. We want to engage you through that acute event, and then we want to keep you engaged post-acute. So all our focus is along

TOTT: In 2012 and beyond, where do hope to lead Holy Name Medical Center?

Maron: I hope that we can finally break through and continue to grow, be a larger institution, have the innovations that we’re so proud of. I think if and when health reform and all the changes do occur—and macroeconomics are driving it; this isn’t just about one piece of legislation—the industry is going to have to change, and I think we are positioned better than any in the entire New York metropolitan area to adapt to that change successfully. That will be our telling moment, because many hospitals, many organizations are not going to be able to survive that transition.

TOTT: What do you love most about your job?

Maron: The ability to work with so many intelligent, dedicated professionals. And then getting to see the fruits of their labors in how families respond with getting well and healing; healing the whole person, not just the biological side. It’s the physical, the mental, the spiritual that all applies here in its totality. And the fact that we are different. People come in and they think they’re going to insult me when they say this place is different, but I say it’s the greatest compliment we could ever receive.

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SUMMER 2012

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BOB AND SAL’S

EXCELLENT ADVENTURE ON WRITTEN BY

JUSTIN DAVIDSON

W

e all dream about driving coast to coast in a shiny red convertible at some point in our lives. There’s something that’s 100% American, and a little badass about hopping in a car and heading west out to California without a care in the world about the time, the cleanliness of your motel, or the calories in your cheeseburger or frozen custard.

Few men actually have this privilege nowadays in the era of four-dollar gas. However, some are bold and fortunate enough to enjoy the thrill.

Bob Walton, a retired schoolteacher from Wyckoff, and his friend Sal Santoro, also retired and from Rockaway,

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SUMMER 2012

did just that in May and June 2009.

The two had become good friends in the early nineties when they helped found the Cadillac Club of North Jersey. As their friendship developed, they started attending Cadillac conventions. In 2009 there was a convention out in Vegas. Bob and Sal decided that this was the right time to make that crazy trip out west. They would ride in Bob’s 1968 red Deville convertible.

It was a 7,200-mile journey roundtrip. It took them three days to get to Chicago, and then from there, they saw every single mile of historic Route 66. All 2,448. It was a threeweek journey from Chicago to Santa

Monica, the beginning and ending points of the famous road. Everywhere along the way, people wanted to talk about the 19-foot cruiser with Jersey tags.

“We considered the trip our retirement gift to ourselves, and so did our wives. They said, ‘These guys each worked 37 years, they deserve something,” Bob told me when I caught up with him about the trip.

Bob drove, while Sal navigated and took pictures. They each kept a log of who and what they saw, and took 8,300 photos between them with simple point-and-shoots. No, they did not kill each other.

“We knew that we respected each

other’s idiosyncrasies,” said Bob. “I mean, Sal had to have like ten cups of coffee a day and I had to eat about four or five times a day.”

They ate all kinds of delicious food, from a $16.95 filet mignon at a chain restaurant in Oklahoma, to famous custard at Ted Drewes in St. Louis, where they actually met Ted. The trip along Route 66—passing through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and finally, California—could have taken five days, but the two retirees were fascinated by everything from abandoned gas stations and motels to art exhibitions and the largest totem pole in Oklahoma.

“We didn’t want to miss anything,” Bob said.

When they came back, they realized that they had so many photos, and so many stories, that they could write a book. Some friends gradually convinced them, and now Bob and Sal will release a full-color, 248-page book that captures the essence of their journey.

They had no idea a book was in their future when they left Jersey back on May 19, 2009, but now Bob and Sal are thrilled to have completed the last journey: “Route 66: The People, The Places, The Dream.” Enjoy reading the excerpt.

The Route 66 Cadillac Guys will be doing a slide presentation and book signing in Bergen County in July. Please check the website, Route66cadillacguys.com for the date, time and place. Bob and Sal can also be reached at info@route66cadillacguys.com.

ROUTE 66 EXCERPT After several more photos in Sayre we headed toward the town of Erick. We thought the Roger Miller Museum was going to be the town highlight, but down the block we found out quite differently. At the corner of Roger Miller Boulevard and Sheb Wooley Avenue, Sal got out to take some photos of the Roger Miller Museum. Bob remained in the car plotting our next moves. Suddenly, an old red pickup truck with a noisy muffler pulled up next to the Caddy. A wild-looking man with a long beard and overalls said, “If you guys are looking for places to photograph be sure to see the City Meat Market one block down Sheb Wooley.” A few minutes later we pulled up to a building marked “City Meat Market,” but covered with signs of all types on all sides. Suddenly, we were greeted by a couple in blue denim overalls (the male being the gent from the noisy pickup truck) who must be seen and heard to be believed. We were about to experience “Harley and Annabelle,” otherwise known as “The Mediocre Music Makers.” This sixtyish couple is a cross between Haight Ashbury and the Beverly Hillbillies.

One of the craziest hours of our lives was about to begin.

They invited us inside and entertained us with stories, fast and furious banter about themselves, about us and about the state of the world of Route 66 and beyond. Many of Harley’s remarks were of the provocative and suggestive type. Bob sat almost motionless, without saying a word for what seemed like an hour. He was totally baffled trying to figure out exactly what was happening. Eventually, we came to realize it is all a unique entertainment experience.

As far as the store is concerned, it is really not a store. Nothing is for sale. Instead, it is a collection of Route 66 “stuff ” and much more, something the likes of which you’ve never seen before. It was like a psychedelic time capsule, with things everywhere, floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall. We seemingly had just stepped back in time into an altogether different universe!

After an hour or so of “getting to know” each other and taking lots of photos, Harley asked if we had a video camera.

We did, and within minutes he and Annabelle were strumming their guitars and belting out their unique rendition of “Get Your Kicks on Route 66!” What an entertaining visit! Sal spotted a brandy snifter with some $10 and $20 bills in it and made a contribution. One of Bob’s questions, “How do they make a living doing this?” was answered.

Finally, Harley and Annabelle put their arms around us and escorted us back outside to the Caddy as though the four of us had known each other for decades, and it was hugs all around!

“We love you guys,” they shouted as we pulled away shaking our heads in amazement, not really certain exactly what we had just experienced.

We drove the ’68 back to reality and back onto Route 66 westbound. As we recovered from Harley and Annabelle, we spotted more signs at remains of several motels (West Winds, Elk and others too rusty to read) before we saw a green rectangular sign, which clearly read “Texas State Line.”

SUMMER 2012

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TOP OF THE

APPS WRITTEN BY

ELIZABETH BACHARACH

H

ow did we ever survive without the iPhone and apps? Luckily, we need never know. Life is sweeter, easier, more organized and accurate, and just plain better thanks to the many user-friendly applications, which range in price, accessibility and theme so that there’s at least one for our every need and whim.

After several days of interviewing users, reading articles and trying potential apps first-hand, I have condensed my findings into the top eight apps for the summer.

MINT (Free)

While its name might conjure images of the popular herb, this app is far from anything culinary. Mint allows you to make financial decisions instantly by viewing your up-to-date information about accounts, budgets, and all monetary ebb and flow. The app is also a simple, free and safe—using the same security system that banks use and protecting your information with a four-digit pin—way for you to track and manage your money all in one place. Mint automatically categorizes your transactions, so there is no need for you to waste time organizing. The app also creates a customized budget based on your actual purchases and provides you with reminders for bills, alerts and advice related to your spending. For the man with monetary concerns, this is the perfect on-the-go spending app.

LinkedIn (Free)

The LinkedIn app is a must for any businessman.

The world today has become dependent on online resources for networking, hiring and constructing a business. Therefore, if you have a LinkedIn account this app must be your best friend. LinkedIn joins users to their professional network, enabling them to find and connect with millions of members across the world. The app also functions as a mini industry newsfeed, allowing users to read the latest news. Like any other social app, LinkedIn allows you to share content with your groups and connections from anywhere.

Named Best Finance App by 1st Annual App Awards and TIME magazine’s 50 Best iPhone Apps of 2011

The Next Move by Urban Daddy (Free)

Have you ever been out on the town looking for the best place to see a movie, grab a round of drinks or feast on a three-course meal? Let The Next Move be your guide. The Next Move is the perfect connection for finding the coolest, closest and right answer to your needs.

The app allows you to select where you are and what you want to do, and then provides you with a list of the nearest spots that fit your selection, even supplying venue descriptions, photos and directions. The Next Move has been described as a digital on-the-go concierge, and it is exactly that.

Named Best Mobile Applications by the Mobi Awards, Best Local Entertainment App by Laptop magazine, winner of Mobile Marketing Award by OMMA and of the W3 Award from International Academy of Visual Arts

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SUMMER 2012

My Disk (2.99)

What would life be like if you had access to all files—for work, medical, life, etc.—all in the palm of your hand no matter your location? Meet My Disk, a file cabinet for your phone. Protected by a password, My Disk allows you, the “administrator,” to collect pictures, videos, audio files and basic documents all behind a created password. My Disk allows users to organize files into several different folders, which can be encrypted, hidden or sectioned by date, time, size, name, etc. The app has different modes: grid and table, both sleek, accessible and easy to follow. My Disk also enables you to import and export files via iTunes to and from your computer.

With My Disk, your files are further protected by the creation of a decoy user, hiding what is most important even further.

Continued on pg. 82

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Continued from pg. 80

ESPN ScoreCenter (Free)

Like basic ESPN, this app provides you scores, news and standings from hundreds of sports leagues around the world. So, what makes it so different? Say you’re out to dinner, have no access to TV, and desperately need to know the Giants and Jets score. Quickly tap on the ScoreCenter app and find out. The app is incredibly easy to use—especially under the table in such moments—and even allows users to follow their favorite teams under the “myTeams” category, create personalized scoreboards and tune in for live converge. Feel your phone buzz in your jean pocket as your first course comes? Quickly tap your iPhone to see your ScoreCenter highlights, big plays and final score alerts. In the blink of an eye, you are in the know without your partner even noticing. Great app and a great meal. Touchdown!

Nike+GPS ($1.99)

If you’re a man who likes to run, challenge and document, Nike+GPS is your app-come-true.

Nike+GPS maps your runs, tracks your progress and provides you the motivation you need to go even further. Even without a sensor, this app can track every indoor and outdoor workout. It can also record your pace, distance and run route using GPS and accelerometer technology, making it simple for you to see your progress over time. Nike+GPS enables you to brag to your friends via Facebook, Twitter and messaging. The app also activates personalized PowerSongs to help you run through your goals and records. Way more than a pedometer, an iPod or a map, Nike+GPS is a friendly motivator, a competitor and trainer all in one. Next time you slip into your running gear be sure you don’t forget this app!

Mixologist ($0.99)

Forget bartending classes, recipe memorization and practice all together. Instead, press install for the Mixologist app, the ultimate bartending guide and drink recipe creator. Including thousands of recipes and ingredients, Mixologist works with what you have; the “Liquor Cabinet” tab lets you enter all of the supplies and ingredients you have on hand and the app then helps you search the entire database for all the possible cocktail creations you can make. Mixologist is also a reliable source for bartending terminology and techniques, so you never need to feel like a novice again, especially as summer celebrations are coming into full swing. Easy, inexpensive and knowledgeable, this app can make you into a full-fledged bartender come July 4th weekend.

Weber’s On the Grill ($4.99)

Warm weather, long nights and grilled meals, please let me introduce you to your match—Weber’s On the Grill app. Perfect for what lies ahead, this app features 280 classic Weber recipes plus 40 more for rubs, marinades and sauces, all of which can be tagged as favorites and added to a master grocery list—organized by category to facilitate shopping—for your next trip to the supermarket. The app also includes a timer so you know exactly when to take your food off the grill. Weber’s On the Grill allows users to share recipes and shopping lists with friends via email, reference instructional videos and learn essential grilling techniques all in one easy-to-use app.

Weber’s On the Grill is also sleek and enticing to the eye: videos are crystal clear and images practically mirror reality. Say goodbye to neophyte grilling and hello to Iron Chef Weber.

TIMELESS, NECESSARY AND FREE Shazam (Free)

Know that song? But what is it called? Shazam to the rescue. This app is perfect for the tip-of-the-tongue situation. Just open the app, allow it to listen, and shazam, you have your answer.

Find iPhone (Free)

No owner of the iPhone should be without the Find iPhone app. This app enables users to find their phones when lost and protect their data by remotely locking their device and wiping it of personal data.

Tie-A-Tie (Free)

Tying a tie could be difficult, especially when in a rush. Perfect for the confused male, this app provides users with step-by-step instructions, emphasized by clear pictures, of how to create that black-tie look.

Open Table (Free)

Forget that awkward conversation with a hostess and arguments over reservation times. Rely on the Open Table app to make free restaurant reservations at thousands of restaurants.

Kayak (Free)

The best travel search engine now goes everywhere you go! The app includes flight and car search, hotel search and booking and Flight Tracker and My Trips, making every minute of your vacation easy to manage.

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SUMMER 2012

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Twinkie, Twinkie,

Fading Star Ladies and gentlemen, the rumors are true—our cream-filled piece of Americana is under attack.

WRITTEN BY

JUSTIN DAVIDSON

T

his time around, the Ding Dong might go the way of the Dodo.

Back in January, Hostess Brands Inc., the maker of Twinkies, Ho Hos, Zingers, Suzy Qs, Sno Balls, Wonder Bread, Ding Dongs and other sugary, saturated fat-filled snacks filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This was the second time the company filed for Chapter 11 in less than a decade, the first being in 2004 when the manufacturer was called Interstate Bakeries. The producer of our beloved childhood lunch snack has struggled since 2009 after emerging from bankruptcy proceedings and relocating its headquarters from Kansas City to Irving, Texas.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Hostess sold 36 million packages in 2011, which was a 2% decrease from the previous year. Still, it wasn’t enough to satisfy creditors. Hostess simply isn’t the best-run company from a financial standpoint. The New York Times reported in January that the company has no treasury department. In early May, Hostess notified its workers—18,400 of them—that they could receive a dreaded pink slip in the coming months. Hostess might shut down for good this time. For Continued on pg. 86

84

SUMMER 2012

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anyone who ever had a Twinkie in their Star Wars lunchbox or who remembers Twinkie the Kid, the Opossum, and Fruit Pie the Magician (the Hostess Pie Technician) that day will truly be a sad one.

Hostess is a purely American brand. The Twinkie’s 99.99% inorganic, yellow cake and cream filling is about as American as baseball and homemade apple pie. At one point or another, our parents fed us some kind of Hostess snack. We’ve eaten them after soccer games and Little League, and washed them down with delicious Capri Sun or Sunny D. But the company has lost its way.

For many years, Hostess produced great commercials, effectively marketing to kids and dads who loved to indulge in their yummy treats. In one commercial for Hostess Bake Shop Donuts, we see a boy racing to the school bus: “Breakfast? Who’s

86

SUMMER 2012

got time for breakfast?,” he yelps back to his mom. Dad is on his way to work and halfway out the door. He doesn’t have time to sit down, either: “No time, hun! I’ll eat with the guys,” he tells his wife. So the kid can’t sit at the table because if he does, he’ll be late for school. Dad could be late for work. Breakfast takes too much time out of the morning routine, but with Hostess Donuts, it’s possible to eat at the table, and save time and money since Dad won’t need to waste money on food at work. Now mom is happy, too, because as the family says altogether at the end: “Keep ’em home for breakfast with Hostess and save.”

For one promotion, Hostess offered free orange juice to customers for proof of purchase of four boxes of Hostess Breakfast Bake Shop Donuts. All of their animated characters kept us glued to the screen, even afContinued on pg. 88

Facts 25 Days: Actual shelf life for a Twinkie, though some say that the tasty treat can survive a nuclear blast

150: Calories in a Twinkie; the snack also has 18 grams of sugar

420: Approximate amount of calories in a deep-fried Twinkie; it also has a whopping 34 grams of fat 1930: The year in which James A. Dewar invented the Twinkie Over a billion: Amount of Twinkies sold each year when Dewar passed away in 1985

36 million: Packages of Twinkies sold in 2011

37: Ingredients in a Twinkie 22,000+: Rough estimate of the

number of Twinkies consumed by Lewis Browning, a retired milk truck driver who ate one or two a day since 1941

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Twinkie, Twinkie,

Fading Star Continued from pg. 86

ter our favorite cartoons had to go to commercial break. Twinkie the Kid asked kids on the playground how they got the creamy filling into the cake. Two kids give their assessment, before cutting to a girl coming down a slide who says, “It’s just born there!”

As grownups, the answer is simple, but as kids, Hostess hit the nail right on the head. How does the Twinkie get its creamy center?

It has become entrenched in pop culture, drawing the satiric charm from The Simpsons, while also appearing in Die Hard and, of course, Ghostbusters. Who can forget the scene when Harold Ramis uses a Twinkie to explain the extreme amount of paranormal activity in New York to Dan Ackroyd and Ernie Hudson?

Ramis holds up a Twinkie and tells two of his fellow Ghostbusters that the Twinkie would measure 35 feet long and would weigh approximate-

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SUMMER 2012

ly 600 pounds if it represented that morning’s sample of psychokinetic energy. Hudson, comprehending the enormity of the situation and the impending challenge ahead, utters the famous line: “That’s a big Twinkie.”

Hostess never tried to win any awards for making us a healthier class of citizens, but still, we loved their products. In one 1970 Ho Ho commercial, the narrator tells us that the cakes have iron and vitamins. That may be, but they certainly weren’t making us fitter. However, one person lost weight—a lot of it—from eating a steady diet that consisted mostly of these delicious snacks.

In 2010, Mark Haub, a nutrition professor at Kansas State University, lost a whopping 27 pounds from his renowned “convenience store diet.”

Every three hours, Haub would eat a Hostess product (or Little Debbie snack). Haub would also eat Doritos

and, in order to ensure he was getting his proper nutrients, he drank a protein shake and took a multivitamin pill. The weight loss was there, but still, the diet was too bizarre to make any meaningful conclusions. Haub was not pigging out; he would eat 1,800 calories per day and only twothirds came from processed snacks.

As our society has become more health-conscious, these snacks often come under fire. A Suzy Q is not good for you. Even though the Wonder Bread emblem was on the hood of Will Ferrell’s car in Talladega Nights, too much white bread can make you fat. The key is moderation, as Haub demonstrated. Still, I lament the day when we might not be able to have a choice at our local supermarket. If I’m craving a package of Twinkies for some reason, I might not have the opportunity to put it in my cart next to the broccoli, brown rice and 12-grain bread.

A few years ago, I was in the Windy City for the annual Taste of Chicago. It was a fatty-food lover’s dream, and a nutritionist’s worst nightmare. After indulging in turkey legs and fried calamari, I came to one stand that offered deep-fried Twinkies. Uh, oh. How could I resist? The delicacy came on a stick, much like a corndog. As if by magic, the treat was delicious—perhaps even better than a normal Twinkie. Something about the softness of the cake and the creaminess of the center combined with hot oil produces a totally new Twinkie experience. I could hardly move afterward, and sat by a fountain for several minutes, reflecting on what I had just done to my arteries. As I look back now, and on the dozens of Hostess cakes I’ve consumed in my day, I just hope that future generations will have the same opportunity that I’ve had—once in a while.

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the songs of

summer WRITTEN BY

School’s Out

Alice Cooper No more school, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks. It’s a saying as old as time, and there’s no other song that clearly expresses that first day of summer freedom.

Boys of Summer

Don Henley Did Don Henley see the prettiest girl of all time?

Maybe. But his documentation of the girl he’ll wait for forever is a classic.

forget. Whether that means you boys were racing muscle cars or you ladies were partaking in the always enjoyable sleepover, those summer nights were some of the best times of our lives.

Born to Run

Bruce Springsteen You’re driving down the highway. Windows rolled down. That cool beach breeze blowing through your hair. We all know you’re singing this at top volume. Especially the person sitting next to you.

Summer of ’69

Summer in the City

(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)

Under the Boardwalk

Bryan Adams The best summer of all time, am I right? Some of us learned to play the guitar, some of us lived at the drive-in, and some of us weren’t even born yet. Regardless, no one will ever forget what it was like to be young in 1969.

The Beastie Boys Three bratty kids from NYC make a name for themselves by partying. In years to come, the Beasties proved they were much more than a one trick pony, but this track still captures that youth-ful summer mentality. RIP MCA.

California Girls

Katy Perry Beaches + Bikinis + Snoop Dogg. The perfect equation for a perfect summer song.

Any Beach Boys Song From “Surfin’ Safari” to the recent reunion, it’s impossible to find one song in their entire catalogue that doesn’t make you wish you were soaking up that sweet summer sunshine. Go on, I dare you.

Summer Nights

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John Oh, those summer nights. Memories we’ll never

The Lovin’ Spoonful Let’s all head into Manhattan. It’s hot, sweaty and dirty. But the nightlife. Oh, yeah! “Summer in the City” gives you the good with the bad.

But don’t forget the groovy times. Never forget the groovy times.

The Drifters Done in the city? Head back to the beach. The Drifters’ soulful harmony is the beauty here.

But, hey, if this version isn’t for you, check out others by the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones or Bruce Willis. Yup, that Bruce Willis.

Rockaway Beach

The Ramones Three chords and the summer. Dee Dee and company had only one thing on their minds— the edge of Queens, where rock and roll would live forever during that three-month stretch.

I Want to Hold Your Hand

The Beatles A Beatles song that is as simple as it is sweet.

Young love never sounded so fresh, so pop and so revolutionary.

Get It On

T. Rex Possibly the sexiest song on the list, it shows

NICK POYNER

Marc Bolan knows what he wants. Everyone knows what he wants. He’s not very subtle.

That crunchy guitar riff just makes it nastier.

Foxy Lady

The Jimi Hendrix Experience Classic band. Classic song. Want to rock out this summer? I know a guy who has a way with a guitar. You may have heard of him. This summer all you need is a special foxy lady.

Maggie May

Rod Stewart Summer romances are for everyone, young and old. Throw in some finger picking and brutally earnest lyrics about what happens come September, and you have a song to add to both the happiest and saddest summer mix tapes.

2012 Summer Essentials We Are Young

Fun This may very well be the song of 2012. Its simple declaration of “Tonight we are young, and we’ll set this world on fire,” ignites a youthful vigor in all of us.

Springsteen

Eric Church Oh, you were looking for a little country this summer? Church is the hottest thing going right now and his love for the Boss in those key summer months resonates in all seasons.

Rumor Has It

Adele Maybe you remember “Rolling in the Deep.”

Maybe you’ve heard “Someone Like You.” Her next big single is in, and expect to hear much more of it this summer.

Urology Center of Englewood The Urology Center of Englewood is a group of board certified urologists with expertise in all aspects of male and female urologic disorders. We are committed to excellence by pledging to provide the highest quality of care possible in a modern, comfortable environment, with respect for the unique issues of all our patients.

Specific goals of our practice include: - Readily accessible appointments and same day availability for emergent add-ons.

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- Along with the treatment of immediate or chronic problems, we strive to integrate the doctrine of prevention in all our treatment plans as a way to alleviate possible future difficulties. Special emphasis on patient involvement and education including preventative and nutritional strategies for urologic diseases such as prostate, bladder and kidney cancer, stones, erectile dysfunction and male infertility.

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The leader in through-the-wrist cardiac catheterization.

Angel Mulkay, MD, FACC, Interventional Cardiologist Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Holy Name Medical Center

Angel Mulkay, MD, FACC, is one of a few select physicians in northern New Jersey performing transradial catheterization. The procedure involves accessing the heart through an artery in the wrist to diagnose cardiovascular disease and treat blockages with angioplasty. The result? A significantly reduced complication rate and improved patient outcomes. And because the procedure doesn’t require immobilization—unlike conventional catheterizations that access the heart through the groin—patients are back on their feet faster. It’s just one of the important cardiovascular innovations available to patients at Holy Name.

Visit holyname.org/heart to find a Holy Name cardiologist near you or call 1-877-HOLY-NAME (1-877-465-9626).

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