Millburn & Short Hills
MULTIDISCIPLINARY
Pituitary TUMOR CARE
Neurosurgery + ENT expertise for complex pituitary tumors and skull base conditions.
What makes our approach different?
Collaborative neurosurgery and ENT care
Extensive pituitary and skull base experience
Advanced endoscopic endonasal techniques
Personalized treatment planning
At Atlantic Brain and Spine, our highly specialized skull base team combines advanced neurosurgical and ENT expertise to treat pituitary tumors using minimally invasive endoscopic techniques, without external incisions.
2026
16 There’s No Place Like Home
Over the past seven years, The Warehouse NJ has provided new beginnings to 2,500 families in need.
20 Wit Happens
Funny lady Holly Rizzuto Palker takes to the stage where motherhood meets the mic.
24 Bridging the Gap
After spending over a decade behind the scenes of the fashion industry, Tanya Nachbar steps into the retail spotlight with Sestra.
IN EVERY ISSUE
4 PUBLISHER’S NOTE In Good Company
6 AROUND TOWN Saturday Snapshot
8 Q&A Julie Nettune
10 LOCAL TASTES Mangia, My Dear!
30 GATHERINGS Summer Soiree
32 PHOTO OP Preserving Our Past
COVER
Kim Sleeman (right) with children Will, Sophie, Caitlyn, and Chloe, and dogs Kaia and Rosie
Photograph by Antonietta Henry
IN GOOD COMPANY
SSOME STORIES stop you in your tracks. The image of a woman named Sherry, who had been living outside a train station for 26 years, walking into her own furnished apartment for the first time and being moved to happy tears is one of them. It’s the kind of moment that reminds you what community is actually for, and it’s exactly why Kim Sleeman gets up every morning and does what she does.
Since founding The Warehouse NJ in 2019, Sleeman has grown a deeply personal commitment to service into an organization that has helped more than 2,500 individuals and
families turn an empty room into a place to call home. This year alone, the nonprofit is on pace to serve 530 people. The numbers are remarkable, the stories behind them are even more so, and we’re honored to feature Kim on this month’s cover.
Also inside this issue, you’ll meet Tanya Nachbar, whose career in fashion wholesale took her around the world before bringing her back to town. Her boutique, Sestra, on upper Millburn Avenue, is everything she spent years learning distilled into one beautifully considered space; a place where getting dressed feels like a conversation. If you’ve driven past the shop without stopping in, consider this your invitation.
And if you’ve ever laughed through something that probably should have made you cry, you’ll immediately feel at ease with comedian Holly Rizzuto Palker. The founder of The Mom Coms has built something genuinely special: a comedy troupe with soldout shows rooted in the messy, hilarious, very human experience of motherhood.
At the heart of this issue are three women who each looked around their corner of the world and decided to make it better. We hope these stories stay with you.
Please share your thoughts on this month’s stories and send your ideas for future articles to marylima@millburnandshorthills.com or editor@millburnandshorthills.com.
Warm regards,
Mary Lima Publisher
millburnandshorthills.com @millburnshorthills_magazine
Millburn & Short
Hills
MAGAZINE
Publisher Mary Lima
marylima@millburnandshorthills.com
Editor and Lead Writer
Eve Golden
editor@millburnandshorthills.com
Writers
Antonietta Henry
Corinne Mahoney
Photographer Antonietta Henry
WAINSCOT MEDIA
Chairman Carroll V. Dowden
President and CEO
Mark Dowden
SVP, Group Publisher, Regional Thomas Flannery
VP, Content Strategy
Maria Regan
Creative Director
Kijoo Kim
Art Director
Rosemary O’Connell
Executive Editor Elaine Quilici
Associate Editor
Sophia Carlisle
Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer
Operations Director
Catherine Rosario
Production Designer Chris Ferrante
Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam
Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden
Have a story idea?
Email the editor: editor@millburnandshorthills.com
Millburn & Short Hills magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Millburn and Short Hills, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Copyright 2026 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.
Saturday Snapshot
Looking for the perfect way to spend a leisurely summer day? Millburn offers everything you need for a memorable experience.
BY CORINNE MAHONEY
FROM BRUNCH and boutique shopping to outdoor spaces, live music, and local dining, here’s an ideal Saturday itinerary for exploring all the wonderful things Millburn has to offer.
1. Brunch at Willow & Whisk
Relatively new to Millburn’s dining scene, Willow & Whisk has quickly become a community staple. With a bright, inviting atmosphere, welcoming staff, and a thoughtful menu, you really can’t go wrong. Be sure to sample a dish from their summer specials and one of their creative signature mocktails.
2. Stroll Through Taylor Park
After brunch, take in the beauty of Taylor Park. This peaceful oasis boasts 13.9 acres of lush greenery and winding pathways, ideal for walkers, runners, and hikers. With a baseball/ softball diamond, basketball court, fitness court, playground, pond, tennis court, walking paths, and ample open space to relax, it’s the perfect place to slow down and enjoy the outdoors.
3. Shop Downtown Millburn
Spend the afternoon browsing Millburn’s impressive collection of standout stores and boutiques: Discover trendy footwear at Roxy Shoes, curated finds at Gather, Italian chic at Shala’s, party gifts at Paper Ribbon & Wrap,
stylish clothing at Jia Boutique, handcrafted jewelry at Elements for Style, and plenty more.
4. Take an Art Class at ArteVino
Looking to try something new? Explore your creative side at ArteVino. Sign up for a Paint and Sip session or try your hand at pottery. All materials are supplied, and classes are BYOB.
5. Pick Up Dinner and Drinks
As the day winds down, grab takeout from one of Millburn’s many local restaurants and enjoy an easy evening outdoors. Some local favorites include Thai House Tokyo Sushi, La Strada, Saigon Café, Cara Mia, Joey’s, MoonShine, Umi Sushi, EVOO & Lemon, and Guacamole (among many others). Pair your meal with a bottle of wine from The Wine Shop for the perfect summer evening.
Top: Explore Taylor Park.
Middle: Create some art at ArteVino. COURTESY OF ARTEVINO STUDIO
Bottom: Enjoy brunch at Willow & Whisk. COURTESY OF WILLOW & WHISK
6. Enjoy Live Music in the Courtyard
Bring your dinner to the Millburn Courtyard (41 Main St.) and settle in for live music under the lights. Enjoy jazz on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m. through Aug. 29. You’ll also find lawn games, twinkle lights, and the company of friends in a community atmosphere. The space is open to the public 24/7 and BYOB on weekend evenings.
7. End the Day on a Sweet Note
There’s no better way to end a summer Saturday than with a sweet treat. To cool off with some ice cream, head to Van Leeuwen, grab a classic flavor from Häagen-Dazs, or try something different at I-Scream House.
Whether you stop into one establishment or check off this full list, you’re bound to discover a new favorite. There’s no better way to spend a free day than by exploring and supporting the local businesses that make Millburn-Short Hills such a vibrant community.
Corinne Mahoney is a marketing professional who previously served as the marketing and events director for Explore Millburn-Short Hills. She dabbles in writing, loves travel, and is passionate about working to help create community.
ABOUT EXPLORE MILLBURN-SHORT HILLS
Explore Millburn-Short Hills is the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created to support and promote the businesses throughout the five areas of the Special Improvement District that was established in 2020. Explore organizes numerous events, musical performances, educational programs, and networking events. The organization is also responsible for various public art and streetscaping projects in town, including the Millburn Art Alley and Town Hall Plaza.
Refined by Design
With an interior designer’s eye, Julieanne Nettune elevates the closet from functional afterthought to intentional, indulgent space.
BY STAFF WRITER
THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL interiors are defined by how seamlessly everything functions behind the scenes. For Short Hillsbased interior designer and Closet Factory design consultant Julieanne Nettune, that idea is the foundation of everything she designs. Here, she shares the philosophy behind spaces that are as beautiful as they are organized.
How did your background in interior design shape your approach to custom closet design, and what makes a closet feel like a true extension of a room rather than a hidden space?
My background in interior design has taught me that every space deserves thoughtful design— including the closet. Whether it’s a luxury walk-in, a simple reach-in, a pantry, a home office, an entertainment center, or a classic white everyday closet, I approach each project with the same attention to function, proportion, and style. No space is too small to make an impact. Even a simple reach-in can become a beautiful design statement when it’s tailored to the way someone lives.
Could you walk us through your design process, from intake to installation, and how you tailor solutions to different client lifestyles?
Every project begins with listening. I take the time to understand how my clients live, what isn’t working in their current space, and what they want to achieve. From there, I create a custom design that balances organization, functionality, and aesthetics while reflecting their own lifestyle and the style of their home.
One of the things that truly sets Closet Factory apart is that
our showroom, offices, and manufacturing facility are all under one roof. Because we design, manufacture, and install everything ourselves, there’s seamless communication throughout the entire process. Many of our team members have been with the company for years, and that experience and craftsmanship are reflected in every installation. It’s a customized, collaborative process from the initial consultation to the final installation, ensuring every detail is executed exactly as it was designed.
What are the top closet design trends you’re seeing right now, and how do you balance trendy features with timeless functionality in a space that’s meant to endure daily use?
I’m seeing clients embrace closets that feel less like storage and more like beautifully curated living spaces. Integrated lighting, glass display cabinets, islands, elegant hardware, and warm wood finishes are all increasingly popular. At the same time, many homeowners still prefer the timeless appeal of a classic white closet. The best spaces are designed around how a client lives today while remaining flexible enough to adapt as their needs change over time.
INTERVIEW WITH JULIEANNE NETTUNE
Julieanne Nettune creates custom closets that are both functional and aesthetic.
What are your best tips for maximizing storage in compact spaces without sacrificing style?
Small spaces often require the most creativity. My goal is to maximize every inch with thoughtful planning, vertical storage, and customized solutions that fit both my clients’ needs and their budget. With the right layout and finishes, even the smallest closet can feel spacious, organized, and beautifully integrated into the home.
Can you share a memorable project where you designed a closet around a client’s unique habits or collection?
One project that stands out was designing a custom display for a client with an extensive collection of vintage Matchbox cars and classic Dukes of Hazzard memorabilia. The collection included thousands of pieces, so the challenge was creating a space that felt more like a gallery than a storage unit. We incorporated illuminated shelving to showcase the collection while keeping it organized and protected. It was incredibly rewarding to transform something so personal into a feature the client could enjoy every day.
How do you approach color, materials, and lighting in a closet to create a space that feels calm and inspires?
Whether the home is warm and traditional, clean and modern, or
somewhere in between, the closet should feel like a natural extension of that style. Thoughtful color selections, quality materials, and well-planned lighting all work together to create a space that feels inviting and organized. For clients who want to take it a step further, I love helping them create a truly personalized space with decorative lighting, wallpaper on the walls or even the ceiling, and carefully selected finishes. My background in interior design allows me to guide clients through those decisions, creating a closet that not only functions beautifully but also reflects their personal style.
What maintenance tips or small upgrades do you recommend to keep a custom closet looking fresh and functioning well for years?
A well-designed custom closet should provide years of everyday use with very little maintenance. I recommend periodically decluttering, adjusting shelves as storage needs change, and keeping surfaces clean with nonabrasive products. Small updates, such as new decorative hardware or lighting, can also refresh the space without a complete redesign.
One of the advantages of working with Closet Factory is our lifetime warranty, which gives clients added peace of mind knowing their investment is built to last and supported long after the installation is complete.
One of Julieanne Nettune’s closet projects, before and after
Mangia, My Dear!
Sadije Barca welcomes guests to Cara Mia in Millburn.
After 16 years in business, Cara Mia remains a local favorite with its viral chicken parmigiana.
BY ANTONIETTA HENRY
WITH AN ITALIAN name that translates to “my dear,” Cara Mia welcomes guests with familial energy. “We chose the name because we wanted the restaurant to feel warm, inviting, and full of love—almost like you’re walking into someone’s home for dinner,” co-owner Sadije Barca says.
The restaurant is owned and operated by Barca; her mother, Xhane Husenaj; and brother Nazmi Husenaj. “Our mother has always been the heart of the restaurant and our inspiration behind so many of the dishes and traditions we carry on today,” Barca explains.
The close-knit ties don’t end there. Chef Miguel Roberto Fahsen has been working for the family for 16 years. His
experience with Barca’s late father, Xheme “Jimmy” Husenaj, dates back to the 1990s at La Catena in Roselle Park.
Barca remembers that time fondly. “Some of my earliest memories are in my father’s restaurant,” she says. “It’s where I learned the value of hard work and treating every guest like family.”
TALK OF THE TOWN
Barca’s beaming smile and kind disposition make guests feel at home, and the warm décor and twinkling lights help set the mood. But the real star is the food. The
Above: The Italian flag on a plate: Gnocchi 3 Ways (pomodoro, quattro formaggi, and pesto)
Below: The viral tableside chicken parmigiana at Cara Mia
eatery’s comforting Italian cuisine hits the spot, with its twists on the classics, including tableside chicken parmigiana, garnering the most attention.
“The viral chicken parm was inspired by classic tableside preparations we grew up around in our family’s restaurant, like strawberry zabaglione or Caesar salad, prepared right in front of the guests,” Barca says. “We loved the idea of taking something as comforting and traditional as chicken parm and turning it into a fun, interactive experience for guests.”
Instagram and TikTok gave life to the chicken parm videos. “Between the generous cutlet, melted mozzarella, and dramatic presentation, people became instantly drawn to it,” she adds. “It’s classic Italian American comfort food presented in a way that creates a real experience at the table, both nostalgic and exciting.”
Cara Mia diners also enjoy Fettuccine Cara Mia with shrimp and jumbo lump crab meat, French onion soup, steak au poivre, and homemade ricotta cheesecake. The restaurant offers specials each day, adding seasonal and creative choices to their classic Italian menu. The tuna tartare is a fresh and light option, and the rich Gnocchi 3 Ways creates an Italian flag on the plate.
Cara Mia is BYOB, a welcome option among diners. “Our guests really enjoy
Top: Chef Miguel Roberto Fahsen
Bottom: Mother and daughter owners, Xhane Husenaj (right) and Sadije Barca, enjoy lunch together.
Right: One of the cozy dining rooms at Cara Mia
BYOB as it allows them to bring their favorite wine and make the experience feel even more personal,” Barca says.
FOOD AND FAMILY
The owners are grateful to be part of the Millburn community. “It means everything to us,” Barca says. “Over the years, so many guests have become like extended family. We’ve watched people celebrate birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, graduations, and now even bring their children back years later. There’s something incredibly special about being woven into people’s traditions and memories, and we never take that for granted.”
Cara Mia serves up more than just
food, and that’s been the goal from the beginning. “We always wanted Cara Mia to feel like more than just a restaurant,” she adds. “We wanted it to feel warm, comforting, and memorable—the kind of place where people come together over great food and leave feeling like family.”
Cara Mia is located at 194 Essex St. in Millburn and is open seven days a week. For reservations, call 973-379-8989.
Antonietta Henry is a wife, mother of four, and owner of Antonietta Henry Photography in Pompton Plains. She enjoys exploring and learning more about towns throughout her home state of New Jersey.
Top left: Tuna tartare
Bottom left: Chicken parmigiana served with spaghetti
Above: Owners and siblings, Nazmi Husenaj and Sadije Barca
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CARA MIA
RECENT
Agents
#1 Agents at Weichert Realtors for 19 years, including 2024!
Millburn / Short Hills for 19 years, including 2024! #1 Agents at Weichert Realtors for 19 years, including 2024! #1 Agents in Essex County for 14 years!
#1 Aggents in Essex County for 14 years! #1 Agents in Millburn / Short Hills for 19 years, including 2024! #1 Agents Nationally at Weichert Realtors for 19 years,
Millburn and Short Hills
14 years!
Agents at Weichert Realtors for 14 years!
#1 Agents in Essex County for 19 years, including 2024!
8 Sherwood Road, Short Hills. Asking $4,288,000.
Highland Avenue, Short Hills. Asking $3,750,000.
At a Fork in the Road?
Complex, high-net-worth divorce cases can get messy. You need an attorney with the national firm resources and legal know-how it takes to solve the toughest family law challenges.
Dedicated. Driven. Committed to helping you achieve a fresh start.*
Client First, Client Focused
Providing exceptional legal services in areas of family law and matrimonial law, including but not limited to: divorce, custody, equitable distribution, parental alienation, prenuptual agreements, high net worth matters, domestic violence, Appellate Court and Supreme Court, case second opinions, and Co-Counsel for out of state matters. Steven Resnick
Eisenhower Parkway 3rd Floor, Suite 310 973.671.5859 www.stevenresnick.com steven@lawyerres.com
There’s No Place Like HOME
Over the past seven years, The Warehouse NJ has provided new beginnings to 2,500 families in need.
fBY EVE GOLDEN
FOR MOST PEOPLE, a bed is simply a place to sleep. For Sherry, a woman who had spent 26 years living outside a train station, walking into a furnished apartment of her own was almost too much to take in. “The day we moved in her furniture, she was overwhelmed and in tears,” recalls Kim Sleeman, founder and director of The Warehouse NJ. It is a moment that has stayed with Sleeman, and one that continues to drive her work forward.
The 4th Annual H.O.M.E. Tour, held on June 5, raised $117,000.
ROOTED IN SERVICE
Sleeman’s path to founding The Warehouse NJ, which helps people transition out of homelessness by providing items donated by the community, was shaped long before she even imagined running a nonprofit.
A Short Hills resident since 2004, she spent two years in the Peace Corps and devoted years to community outreach through Millburn schools and the Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills. “I have spent the better part of my adult life trying to help people on a grassroots level,” she says.
In June 2019, Sleeman channeled that experience into something of her own, The Warehouse NJ. “I wanted to get up every day and know that I could make a difference and help people when they needed it the most,” she says.
She built the organization around an incredible board of women from Short Hills—Margaret Santana, Kara Lawler, Ali Seeger, Robin Grapkowski, and Tracy Goldenberg—whose guidance and inspiration, Sleeman says, have helped The Warehouse NJ reach a wider network of clients and volunteers each year.
DIGNITY BY DESIGN
Clients of the nonprofit arrive through one of more than 50 social service
agency partners, among them Bridges Outreach, Newark Housing Authority, Catholic Charities, Covenant House, and Family Promise, each navigating their own story of displacement or homelessness. “Though the stories differ greatly, the outcome is the same,” Sleeman says. “These clients are starting over with little more than a few bags of clothes.”
Rather than assigning items, The Warehouse NJ invites each client
to walk the space and choose what they want for their new home. “It is important to us that the client feels ownership in their choices,” Sleeman explains. “Giving our clients a sense of dignity is the first step in making them feel hopeful for their new beginning.”
In seven years, The Warehouse NJ has served more than 2,500 individuals and families—a milestone the group recently celebrated. The people behind that number include a woman who survived domestic violence and had been living in her car for two years; clients who lost everything to fire or flood; and a couple who fled Hurricane Maria and came to the United States only to spend three years sleeping in parks, taking turns staying awake to protect each other. “Their journey was difficult, but they had an opportunity to start over and we were glad to be a part of it,” Sleeman says.
Beyond the numbers, it is the response from partner agencies that
Top right: Kim Sleeman (left center), founder and director of The Warehouse NJ, with her daughters, Sophie, Caitlyn, and Chloe Bottom left: Lauren Lischer, Gwen Lischer, David Lischer, and clients
Sleeman points to as her most meaningful measure of progress.
“When these agencies first reach out, they can’t believe we exist,” she says. “I’m told repeatedly by our partners, if it wasn’t for the help from The Warehouse NJ, their clients would have nothing to make their space a home.”
THE H.O.M.E. TOUR
Each June, The Warehouse NJ’s signature fundraiser draws the community together in a distinctly personal format. The H.O.M.E. Tour— Helping Others to Move Equitably—is a curated tour of five Short Hills homes, each chosen for its own story, whether grounded in architectural history, a recent renovation, or something more personal. The 4th Annual H.O.M.E. Tour, which was held on June 5, raised $117,000, with every dollar directed toward the organization’s work. “Each year this event has grown in size,” Sleeman says. “We are so grateful to all the homeowners, sponsors, and attendees that have supported us throughout the past four years.”
The Warehouse NJ operates entirely on donated furniture, household goods, and volunteer hours. Among the most needed items right now are brand-new mattresses and platform frames, which the organization works to provide to every client. Welcome baskets stocked with cleaning supplies and essential moving-day items are equally valued. “Funds, donated furniture, or time are all appreciated,” Sleeman says.
Top left: Robin Grapkowski, Kim Sleeman, Kara Lawler, Tracy Goldenberg, Ali Seeger, and Margaret Santana
Top right: Maria Power, Kim Sleeman, Kristen Ebner, and Lea Cruz
Bottom left: (back row) Ali Seeger, Lea Cruz, Emily Meyerowitz, (front row)
Kim Sleeman, Gregg Edell, Jasmine Chay, Kristen Ebner, Hannah Meyerowitz, Devon Mulvaney, Grant McBoyle, Brendan Nettune, and Arita Hirji
Top
Bottom: Visiting a home on the 4th Annual H.O.M.E. Tour
Seven years ago, the organization served 35 clients. This year, it is on pace to support 530. “As much as we have grown, we are always having to tell our story,” Sleeman says. “It is my hope that in five years, The Warehouse NJ will be more established and more widely supported.”
Until then, the mission remains
exactly what it has always been. “We have a simple model,” she says. “The icing on the cake is the connections we make with each client and the support we can provide.”
Sleeman encourages anyone curious about the mission to stop by, see the space, and get involved. For more information visit thewarehousenj.org.
Top left: Kim Sleeman, Emily Meyerowitz, Lea Cruz, and Sue Bean
right: Hannah Meyerowitz, Ali Seeger, Kristen Ebner, Gregg Edell, Emily Meyerowitz, and Kim Sleeman
Wit Happens
BY EVE GOLDEN
Funny lady Holly Rizzuto Palker takes to the stage where motherhood meets the mic.
Top: Holly Rizzuto Palker onstage at the College of Staten Island Center for the Arts
PHOTOGRAPH BY WILL GECSI
Bottom: Holly Rizzuto Palker performs at Sunny Scrambled.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY HOLLY RIZZUTO PALKER
CCOMEDIAN AND producer Holly Rizzuto Palker calls being a mom her superpower. “You can’t take a break or stop being Mom, ever,” she says. “You’re Mom even when you experience your worst moments.” It’s precisely that nodays-off reality that fuels everything Rizzuto Palker does, including The Mom Coms, the comedy troupe she founded on the premise of raw, unfiltered honesty.
MEET THE MOM COMS
After performing standup at the Erma Bombeck Comedy Festival and then at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) for Ladies of Laughter, Rizzuto Palker was hooked. She recruited her friend Stephanie Silberstein, a Short Hills resident, acting coach, and teaching artist at Paper Mill Playhouse, to take a standup workshop with her in South Orange, led by Rita Desnoyers-Garcia. They performed together at The Fox & Falcon at the culmination of the workshop, and the chemistry was undeniable.
The idea of Rizzuto Palker producing her own show started to take shape, and when the first opportunity arose—a performance at The Vintage Tea on Staten Island—the first call she made was to Silberstein. Silberstein not only encouraged the venture but suggested bringing in Liz Glazer, wife of Temple B’nai Jeshurun Rabbi Karen Perolman, to headline.
Liz Glazer, who has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and has her own show at SOPAC on Sept. 19, was essential to getting The Mom Coms off the ground. Her profile drew crowds in the beginning, and Glazer has since
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY HOLLY RIZZUTO
Left: Stephanie Silberstein and Holly Rizzuto Palker host The Mom Coms Standup and Stories Podcast. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY HOLLY RIZZUTO PALKER
Top: The Mom Coms founding members (clockwise from top left): Stephanie Silberstein, Becky Veduccio, Holly Rizzuto Palker, Liz Alterman, and Liz Glazer
PALKER
grown into the creative director of The Mom Coms. “I don’t think we would be where we are currently without her expertise,” Rizzuto Palker says.
From there, momentum took over. Rizzuto Palker reached out to Jay Kim, owner of Sunny Scrambled, and a residency was born. Throughout the past year and a half, The Mom Coms have performed five shows at the beloved spot, with another performance scheduled for Oct. 1. Their first event there, “Mama Said: Mom’s Night Out,” sold out for two nights near Mother’s Day. “There is something magical about the space at night,” Rizzuto Palker says of the venue. Although Sunny Scrambled has become a home base, The Mom Coms
are hardly staying put. On July 16, they took the stage at the College of Staten Island Center for the Arts, their first performance in a big theater.
FUNNY BUSINESS
Running a comedy ensemble is its own kind of performance that happens entirely offstage. Rizzuto Palker gives founding members first access to shows and new roles like podcast host or editor. She also makes a point of meeting everyone where they are along their journeys. “We’re all at different places in our careers and as mothers,” she explains.
Once The Mom Coms established itself with the help of Glazer, Rizzuto Palker began elevating other members
within the troupe. Becky Veduccio has stepped into headliner status, and GL Douglas will headline the Oct. 1 show. “It provides our local audience with new and old blood, and it provides the talent with the flexibility to pursue other work,” she says. “It’s a win for everyone.”
LABOR OF LAUGHS
As for the stuff that actually makes audiences laugh, Rizzuto Palker ensures she’s always the target of her own jokes, hard-won comedy mined from her own life. “Most of the comedy that I write comes from a place of difficulty, trauma, and stress,” she says. “What makes it funny is seeing the upsetting moments in retrospect, after
Holly Rizzuto Palker and family PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN BACOLO OF GABELLI STUDIOS
having developed hindsight.”
She performs a bit about being a “pop up” doomsday prepper, sharpened by COVID-era grocery shortages. She jokes about whiteknuckling her way through the college application process—“I was beside myself, verklempt!”—and tackles the delightfully specific territory of being an Italian-Catholic woman from Staten Island who married a Jewish man and is raising her children in the Jewish faith. “Basically, if it kept me awake at the time it happened, I know making a joke about it will resonate,” she says.
The comedian even wrote a Substack post about it called “The Serious Process of Being Funny.”
It starts with recording kernels of ideas, fleshing them out into jokes, and road-testing them on her family. “Once I see what resonates, I fluff the jokes even more and create transitions and a flow for a 10-minute set,” she says. “I shop the set at open-mic nights and refine it after I gauge the audiences.” From there, she brings it to Silberstein and writer Liz Alterman for
rehearsals the week before a show.
“I do it because I love it,” she says, which is fortunate, because she admits the process takes way too many hours.
“When someone, who isn’t my mom, goes out of their way to congratulate me after the show, that makes it all worthwhile.”
COMIC RELIEF
Although she seems to connect with all mothers, Rizzuto Palker has a particular interest in reaching empty nesters and grandmothers. “I love that we provide a space for mothers of any age to come together and feel seen,” she says. “Just as we needed playgroups when we had toddlers, we need outlets for menopause and college talk, too.”
The comedian hopes to expand the troupe’s monthly shows, grow the video podcast, land Sebastian Maniscalco for an “interfaith off,” publish books, and one day have her own dedicated space with a stage where moms at any point in life can gather, perform, and connect.
To catch Rizzuto Palker in the act of doing what she loves, check out one of her upcoming shows. The Mom Coms perform next on Oct. 1 at Sunny Scrambled. For more information, visit themomcoms.com.
Top right: Holly Rizzuto Palker and Stephanie Silberstein at The Fox & Falcon PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN BACOLO OF GABELLI STUDIOS
Bottom left: Stephanie Silberstein and Holly Rizzuto Palker promote their show.
PHOTOGRAPH BY WILL GECSI
Bridging the Gap
After spending over a decade behind the scenes of the fashion industry, Tanya Nachbar steps into the retail spotlight with Sestra.
BY EVE GOLDEN
AASK ANYONE outside the industry to picture a career in fashion wholesale and they’ll likely envision front-row runway seats and effortless glamour— and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong. But for Tanya Nachbar, the magic lives in the details. “When my daughter was little, someone asked her what her parents do for a living, and she said, ‘They sell boxes,’” Nachbar shares. “Which, fair, a lot of wholesale really is logistics, invoices, and shipments, but people imagine glamour. Mostly it’s not that.”
THE EFFORTLESS EDIT
For more than a decade, Nachbar and her husband, Ken, have run Bridge Showroom, a highly successful wholesale agency that introduces European brands to the U.S. market. After years of traveling the world, advising designers on fit, and watching collections perform across hundreds of stores, Nachbar felt the pull toward something more personal. In July 2025, she unveiled Sestra, her carefully curated retail space on upper Millburn Avenue.
Opening a brick-and-mortar boutique might seem bold, but for Nachbar, it was simply the next logical step. Living in town, she knew exactly what was missing from the local shopping scene. “We sit minutes
Top right: Tanya Nachbar with Bridge Showroom wholesale customers from Houston
from the Short Hills Mall, one of the best malls in the country, and that proximity is exactly the point,” she says. “Sestra is everything that the mall is not: curated instead of overwhelming; a relationship instead of a transaction; a place where the person helping you actually knows your name, your size, what you wore last time and loved.”
Sestra solves the daily puzzle of getting dressed. Aesthetics might get a customer through the door, but Nachbar is more interested in whether a garment works for three different occasions in a woman’s life or makes her feel confident on an off
day. “Sometimes I strongly believe that not selling something is more important than selling it,” she says. “We only want our customers to carry the items from Sestra that they will wear, enjoy, and go back to time after time.”
EUROPEAN SENSIBILITIES
Nachbar stocks the floor with European labels she has spent years nurturing, like Maison Hotel, Indi & Cold, and Summum. “What feels fresh about the European perspective right now is that these brands aren’t chasing trends,” Nachbar says. “They’re designing for a real woman
with a real life—the woman who chooses better, has her own sense of style, and doesn’t need to be told what’s hot or trendy this season.”
Long before conscious consumption became a popular talking point, longevity was Nachbar’s baseline. She looks for brands that build a consistent design language rather than reacting to the internet’s mood board of the week. “I can pull a piece from Bitte Kai Rand from 2013 and wear it today and feel completely current,” she adds. “When something is built like that, it doesn’t become disposable—it becomes part of your story.”
Bridge Showroom staff and European sales representatives at Coterie trade show, where Bridge Showroom is one of the largest booths
INSTINCT MEETS INVENTORY
Nachbar’s sharp perspective comes from an unexpected place. With an MBA, a stint in pharmaceuticals, and experience running international development projects under her belt, she treats retail like the business it actually is. “A lot of people in the fashion industry think with their eye first and numbers come second, if at all,” she shares. “I came in the other way around, and I think that’s exactly why Bridge works—and why Sestra does, too.”
While Nachbar constantly trains her eye by studying runways and stylists, she lets the data keep her grounded. “Every time I’ve assumed I know what a woman wants because it’s what I want, I’ve been wrong,” she says. “There’s a quote I love: ‘When your whole worldview becomes one point, you call it a point of view.’ How limiting is that? So I stay genuinely
curious about the women who aren’t me, and I let the numbers, what’s actually selling, what’s coming back, what customers ask for, correct me when my taste gets too narrow. Instinct opens the door. Data tells you whether you walked through the right one.”
CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY
As Sestra celebrates its first anniversary, Nachbar is enjoying the community she has built right in her own backyard. She changes the boutique’s front windows every week, creating a visual dialogue with the women she sees at the local coffee shop or school drop-off.
While she has ambitions to
eventually grow Sestra into a small chain, her current focus is on the women walking through her door today and the ones who haven’t quite made it inside yet. “A lot of people drive past Sestra every week and then tell me they’ve never actually come in,” she says. “If you’re one of those people, this is your sign. I promise I won’t try to sell you anything you don’t actually need— but I will probably try to convince you that you need a really good white shirt, because apparently that’s my m.o. Bring a friend, your sister, your daughter. We’ll probably end up laughing more than shopping, and honestly, that’s kind of the whole point.”
Tanya Nachbar with daughter, Sasha, and husband and business partner, Ken
With more than a century of combined legal experience, the attorneys at Cipriano Law Offices, P.C. provide sophisticated counsel to high-net-worth individuals navigating complex family law matters. From intricate business holdings to thoughtfully structured custodial arrangements, our team delivers strategic, tailored solutions designed to protect what matters most.
We recognize that effective advocacy begins with skilled negotiation, guided at every stage by our clients’ best interests. Our distinguished team includes five seasoned litigators, four court-qualified mediators, two statewide-approved parenting coordinators, and a court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem and arbitrator—each bringing depth, discretion, and precision to every case.
Contact Cipriano Law Offices, P.C. today to secure experienced, strategic guidance and take the first step toward resolving your matter with confidence.
Karen T. Willitts, Esq., Elsie Gonzalez, Esq., Melissa Cipriano, Esq., Rachel L. Isaacs, Esq., and Bart W. Lombardo, Esq.
Summer Soiree
CHEERS TO MILLBURN & Short Hills
magazine! In June, the magazine team hosted a fun evening at the new dining destination Blu Liv in Livingston. The indoor/outdoor patio space was a perfect venue to host a summer soiree with friends of the magazine, including many members of the growing Millburn-Short Hills Chamber of Commerce.
Above: Mary Lima, publisher of Millburn & Short Hills magazine (center), with Dr. John Paul Tutela and his wife, Nicole Tutela
Below: Angela Kubisky, executive director of Millburn-Short Hills Chamber of Commerce
Above: Michael Efrus, owner of Décor Kings; Victoria Szanmeta of Pilates Addiction; Molly Delessio, owner of Pure Barre Millburn; Rachel Andrews of Pilates Addiction; and Sutton Patricia of Highmark Charter Group
So many appreciated nice touches from the Blu Liv team, including a display of our drink menu for the evening
Thomas Flannery, group publisher of Wainscot Media; Jennifer Dowden of PR Week; and Mark Dowden, president and CEO of Wainscot Media
The Blu Liv team serving a medley of crowd-pleasing passed light bites
PRESERVING OUR PAST
BY STAFF WRITER
THE MILLBURN-SHORT HILLS Historical Society is a familiar view for travelers at Station Plaza in Short Hills.
Since 1975, the organization has been connecting our community to its extraordinary past. Born from a group of passionate locals fascinated by the architecture, genealogy, and unique history surrounding them, the society has grown into a dynamic force for community engagement and cultural awareness. Its work encompasses engaging public programs, hands-on experiences for students and scout groups, and compelling oral history recordings that capture the real voices of our town.
As a member-supported nonprofit, the society is actively building an archive that catalogs photographs, documents, and memorabilia that might otherwise be lost forever. Its mission covers everything that makes Millburn Township and Short Hills distinct—the people, the buildings, the businesses, the schools, and the landscape itself. In a world that moves fast, this dedicated organization reminds us that understanding where we come from makes all the difference in shaping where we’re headed.
To learn more about the nonprofit historical society, visit mshhistsoc.org.
Submit your high-resolution shot to editor@ millburnandshorthills.com PHOTO
Have a great image for Photo Op?
