NJ Lifestyle Magazine Holiday 2015

LifeStyle NEW JERSEY

HOLIDAY 2015

All That Glitters

HISTORIC HOLIDAYS • THE AMAZING ALEXANDER FESTIVE HOLIDAY FASHION • CAPTURED YOUTH

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THE • VIEW

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.” —Bob Hope

Beloved Holiday Traditions at the Jersey Shore

H

ave you noticed? There are giant red bows here and there, and colorful candy canes and menorahs making appearances at light poles along main streets in our shore towns.

The holiday season is upon us. And as much as I love summer here, the holidays bring a special magic. Here are some of my most beloved holiday traditions at the Jersey shore; perhaps they’re yours as well.

Divorce Law South Jersey 2015-2016

Mark Biel

• The transition from turkey to Santa is seamless in Stone Harbor, which holds its Christmas celebration on Thanksgiving weekend. There are kid’s activities, carolers, a downtown dash, shopping specials, a festive Christmas parade, and often a dramatic arrival of Santa himself. (Last year, he came by helicopter.)

• Enjoy a free horse-drawn buggy ride in Ocean City. The buggy picks up and drops off in front of City Hall, conveniently near the small shops throughout town. While you’re there, make a reservation for First Night, Ocean City’s non-alcoholic New Year’s celebration that’s filled with family fun.

• The holiday season is the perfect time to enjoy the arts, and what better than the holiday classic, The Nutcracker? Feel the holiday stress melt away as you relax to the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy.

• Ice skating is a wonderful holiday activity, but Chanukah on Ice at Flyers Skate Zone takes it to a new level. This family-friendly event features a center rink 6-foot tall menorah lighting ceremony, holiday food, and guest appearances by biblical heroes.

• Holiday lights and a Magical Talking Tree are two of the attractions in Historic Smithville.

Don’t forget to make time for a train ride, and enjoy this beautiful historic village.

• With its magnificent Victorian homes decorated for the holidays, Cape May is a mustsee during the holiday season. Stop by for a Christmas sing-along, tour of the Victorian Inns, or hop on a Ghost of Christmas Past Trolley.

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

Universally regarded as one of the region’s premier matrimonial attorneys.”

Biel, Zlotnick & Stiles, P.A.

450 Tilton Road, Northfield • bzs-law.com

(609) 344-1173

Michael Gill

“One of the Atlantic City area’s best known ... and most accomplished ... divorce lawyers.”

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

660 New Road, Northfield • gmslaw.com

(609) 646-0222

• The Running of the Santas in Atlantic City is an annual pub crawl that raises money for local charities. It’s also fun to see so many Santas in one place!

No matter which holiday you celebrate, I hope you’ll join me in one of my favorite traditions this season. Grab a cup of cocoa and the latest issue of New Jersey Lifestyle. Curl up in front of the fire and take a blissful moment or two to simply relax.

Charles Matison

“High-energy, personable and tenacious ... some of the strongest courtroom skills in the state.”

Happy holidays!

Law Offices of Charles A. Matison, Esq., P.C. 1640 Tilton Road, Northfield • cmatison.com

(609) 407-1100

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LIFESTYLE | Holiday 2015

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CONTENTS

HOLIDAY 2015

DEPARTMENTS

12

Ring in the New Year with stunning jewelry.

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

36

Lifestyle Fashion......................................... 8 Sparkle this season with over-the-top glamour.

Experience affordable luxury inside the 2016 Buick LaCrosse.

Lifestyle Opinion........................................ 18

FEATURES

Hurley’s official holiday gift wish list.

Home & Design Spotlight............................ 21

Starring Artistic Hardware...................14

Just a shade better at Berges Trenton Awning Inc.

The “go to” place for hardware for movies and TV shows.

Money Watch............................................. 22

Captured Youth................................... 16

Understanding investment fees.

Sinatra fans rejoice as a new photo book enters the marketplace.

Lifelines.................................................... 30

Historic Holidays................................ 24

Gift-wrapped stress.

Escape to the luxury and history of these properties.

Lifestyle Entertainment.............................. 32 The amazing Alexander.

Lifestyle Q&A.....................................28 Confessions of a professional perfume spritzer.

On Wheels................................................. 36

Restaurant Report.............................. 56

Health Watch............................................. 40

Experience affordable luxury in the Buick LaCrosse.

A visit to two Atlantic City seafood restaurants.

Humbug gets turned into happiness.

Lifestyle Legends....................................... 44 1920s in Atlantic City.

The Social Scene........................................ 48 Get the picture on the latest events and happenings.

Lifestyle Wine............................................ 52 A toast to the holiday season.

Lifestyle Cooking........................................ 59 Live to the fullest this scrumptious season.

56

Seafood at its finest, served with spectacular ocean views.

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Dining Gallery............................................ 60 All the details on the area’s great dining venues.

A Final Word.............................................. 64 Slow down the holidays.

Y-TURF When Artificial is

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877-90-YTURF ( 87 7 -9 09-88 73)

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

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

Young’s complements synthetic turf with a full range of services: Landscaping & Hardscaping, Architectural Landscape Lighting, Water Features, Lawn, Tree & Shrub Care and Traditional & Organic Maintenance Programs

Barbara’s A Fashion Experience

14 Central Square Linwood • 609.601.0035 johnny was nydj n comfy n elliott lauren n white & warren n nally & millie n alison sheri n cartise n ag jeans n allen allen n equestrian n zoe couture n 525 america n lisa todd n 360 sweater n lilla p n annabel ingall n lyssé n luc fontaine n elena wang n hanky panky n TEES by TINA

LifeStyLe NEW JERSEY

MAGAZINE

n n

Image is important.

This is ours.

Furnishing the Jersey Shore for over 20 Years

PUBLISHER / CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Darla Hendricks darlabh2@gmail.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Barbara Scarduzzio barbaras1@comcast.net EDITOR

Bill Henry COPY EDITOR

Alyson Boxman Levine CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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

BARSTOOLS • DINING SETS • BARS • LIVING ROOMS BEDROOMS • INTERIOR DESIGN • UPHOLSTERY SHOP

Dan Schlossberg

Commercial Accounts and Designers Welcome n See our commercial on Shark Tank (CNBC) M-W-Th, 8-10pm n The largest selection of American and Amish Furniture on the East Coast

Nick Valinote Eric Weeks

n

TRAVEL EDITOR

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Charles Epstein ONLINE MEDIA INFO.

www.njlifestyleonline.com ACCOUNTING

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

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

New Jersey Lifestyle Magazine, LLC

331 Tilton Road • Northfield, NJ • 609-646-6464 • atlanticcitybarstoolbrothers.com 6

Holiday 2015 | LIFESTYLE

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P.O. Box 787, 174 S. New York Road Oceanville, NJ 08231 Telephone: 609-404-4611

Local

Chatter Toast the New Year

Whether you’re planning to attend a big holiday bash or, instead, an intimate get-together, say goodbye to 2015 and welcome the New Year in style with a fabulous toast. You will always know what to say when you have the perfect toast handy as the clock strikes midnight.

• “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt • “Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.” — Oprah Winfrey • “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson • “May you live to be 100 and may the last voice you hear be mine.” — Frank Sinatra • “May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.” — Traditional Irish toast • “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.” — Dr. Suess

-Style Music, Holiday

The Bay-Atlantic Symphony

Elevate your holiday celebration this year with the magic of music. The Bay-Atlantic Symphony is lighting up the holidays in a beautiful way — with music that brings out the inner warmth of the season! Entitled Holiday Cheer, the performance will feature favorite carols, Hanukah tunes, Bach’s resplendent Third Suite, Pachelbel, and even Johann Strauss — everything you could want for the season. Reserve your seat at the Stockton Campus Center Theatre, December 12-13.

Food Network Sighting The buzz began when celebrity chef Guy Fieri was rumored to be around Ocean City in the region of 13th street. Fieri’s trademark red convertible Camaro was spotted in the parking of local favorite Piccini restaurant.

Yes, another area restaurant will be featured on the Food Network's popular show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” as crews from the show recently finished two days of filming at the Ocean City restaurant. Apparently, a bacon-cheeseburger pizza is what caught the attention of Fieri and his researchers, and the show — expected to air this winter — will Piccini in Ocean City, NJ also feature a vodka chicken entree.

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Advance Tickets = Gala Savings The early bird certainly will catch the worm, as a first-time, “advance ticket” special is available for purchase until Dec. 31, for those interested in attending South Jersey’s premier food and beverage event, the 33rd Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala. Individual tickets are available for $200 each, a $25 savings; and tables of 12 are $2,400, a $300 savings. The gala will take place March 24 in the Avalon Ballroom of Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center. Will Morey and his brother, Jack, of Morey’s Piers, a family-owned entertainment, amusement, hotel and dining enterprise in Wildwood and a South Jersey landmark, have accepted the recognition of being honorees.

The gala showcases food by serving thousands of hors d’oeuvres prepared by students from the Academy of Culinary Arts and features the culinary specialties of 40 of the region’s best restaurants at a progressive dining experience. This year’s theme is “Mission Possible,” a play on the famous Mission Impossible, with a focus on making scholarships possible for Academy of Culinary Arts students through the proceeds.

T HE BUZ Z O N HA P P EN IN GS IN A N D AROU N D OU R A R EA OC Honored for Safe Roads According to city officials, Ocean City was recently recognized as one of six communities in New Jersey to be awarded the state’s “Complete Streets Excellence Award.” The city was commended for instituting an all-encompassing program to provide a safe, multi-modal transportation system that is accessible to all.

This prestigious award is not easy to receive. The transportation system of “honoree communities” must accommodate transit-riders, pedestrians, and cyclists, as well as drivers. Roads must be safe for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, as well as able-bodied adults.

h the Get Excited wit Pointer Sisters

The Pointer Sisters

Good times will be “automatic” when the legendary Pointer Sisters take the stage at Tropicana Atlantic City for a special New Year’s Eve concert, December 31, 2015.

These talented ladies have won three Grammy Awards and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Hailing from Oakland, California, the Pointer Sisters began their formal vocal training in their father’s church.

The family R&B group quickly reached mainstream success, charting 13 Top 20 hits between 1973 and 1985, including “Neutron Dance,” “Jump (For my Love),” “Automatic,” “He’s So Shy,” “I’m So Excited,” and “Slow Hand.” Over their celebrated career in the music industry, the Pointer Sisters have lent their vocal talents to just about every musical genre — including pop, disco, jazz, electronic music, bebop, blues, soul, funk, dance, country, and rock — and have five gold albums, one platinum and one multiplatinum album.

New Faces in AC Preceded by its official takeover by billionaire Carl Icahn, Trump Entertainment Resorts recently named three executives to lead the company. Mike Mellon was named general manager of the Trump Taj Mahal, and will assume the duties of CEO of the company. Mellon, who succeeds Robert Griffin, is a veteran casino executive who has been with the Taj Mahal since 2010.

The company also appointed two existing members of its board of directors — David Licht and Michael Elkins — as co-chairmen of the board. The struggling Taj Mahal was nearly shut down last year before Icahn agreed to acquire it from bankruptcy.

Stockton Professor Pens New Book Stockton University professor Kate Ogden’s new book veers from her normal specialization of 19th century landscape painting and photography. Published in time for the 125th anniversary of Yosemite National Park, Ogden’s Yosemite offers a comprehensive look at both the scientific and cultural history of this remarkable place, exploring everything from its geological origins to the political will it took to preserve it.

Known for its unusual and dramatic rock formations, breathtaking vistas, and treasure trove of waterfalls, Yosemite receives nearly four million visitors a year. The book contains images of more than 200 works of art, and includes essays that explore the intersections of art, nature, and commerce in the Sierra Nevada region. njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Holiday 2015

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Lifestyle Fashion By Alyson Boxman Levine

Festive Holiday Fashion Sparkle this season with over-the-top glamour

A

s Thanksgiving comes to a close and holiday party invitations begin to invade your mailbox — along with the bevy of adorable holiday cards — it’s time to face the facts. You cannot wear that same old black number you’ve had on standby for the last year.

It’s time to confidently step away from your all-to-familiar LBD (Little Black Dress), and aspire to enter your next holiday event in style.

This season, sparkle and shine are big trends on the catwalk.

Beading, metallic, and shimmer are all ideal for the holidays. Glitz, done properly, illuminates your face and graciously highlights your Gold dress, Reem Acra

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Holiday 2015 | LIFESTYLE

Tuxedo jumpsuit, Rachel Zoe

njlifestyleonline.com

best assets. Keep in mind that sometimes the best glitz appears in make-up and accessories; like glitter eye shadow, a chic beaded clutch, or oh-so sparkly heels.

You will certainly sparkle brightest in this magnificent gold cocktail dress, perfect for New Year’s Eve and beyond. From Lebanon-born designer Reem Acra, this dress features a standout metallic shine, sheer shoulder overlay, and a shiny gold belt; making this holiday look pure liquid gold.

Reem Acra’s designs epitomize global glamour by offering women Red gown, Badgley Mischka

her innate fashion sense, European style, and understanding of what looks and feels beautiful. Interlaced with her sense of luxury, her regal designs are developed with a modern aesthetic. Her ready-towear and bridal collections evoke an ethereal quality, which appeals to a discerning clientele from all over the world. Celebrated for her ability to match a look to a woman’s personality, Acra has dressed global icons of style for weddings, red carpet appearances, and awards ceremonies. Her following includes: Angelina Jolie, Beyonce Knowles, Eva Longoria, Jane Fonda, and Olivia Munn; as well as royal families around the world.

Are you invited to a fabulous party and having nothing to wear?

Keep a few dressy basics in your closet so you’re always prepared for last-minute invitations. Skip the dress for your next holiday event White fringed dress, Carmen Marc Valvo

and let this Rachel Zoe tuxedo jumpsuit jump-start your style. The sleek design combines the classic menswear tuxedo into one piece for an impeccably-chic feel that promises to turn heads. As a modern take on the LBD, this black wool suiting jersey with satin tuxedo stripe on pant legs, features a notched collar, zip front, and buttons on cuffs.

Raised in New Jersey, designer Rachel Zoe began her career as a fashion editor in NYC, but her passion for all things glamour soon took her to Los Angeles. She quickly became known for her ability to create unexpected red-carpet moments by combining haute couture with avant-garde trends. Her brand is recognized for its vintageinspired sophistication and bohemian aesthetic, with celebrity clients including Cameron Diaz, Lindsay Lohan, and Jessica Simpson. Her Lace cocktail dress, Marchesa Notte

Sequin gown, Donna Karan

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LIFESTYLE | Holiday 2015

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LIFEST YLE FASHION

successful reality show, The Rachel Zoe Project, premiered in 2008 and features her style team as they navigate the crazy world of Los Angeles celebrity styling.

As a consistently-trendy color of the holiday season, red certainly has its place reserved at the party. Cascading romantic ruffles add instant allure — and on-trend status — to this red carpet-ready gown from design label Badgley Mischka. Flaunting an expertly-ruched silhouette, the gown is finished with a thigh-grazing side slit, crossover bodice, and a flattering pleated left waist.

The design duo of Mark Badgley and James Mischka have been hailed as one of the “Top 10 American Designers” and has made their mark over the past two decades with glamorous, stylish, and wearable evening wear and accessories.

Since joining forces in 1988, Badgley Mischka has captivated both the fashion press and prominent retailers around the world with a sophisticated style that caters to a young, modern couture customer, without forsaking women of any age. The Badgley Mischka signature style is simple, streamlined, and thoroughly elegant, constructed of the finest fabrics and superior craftsmanship. Clients ranging from presidential daughters to Hollywood award-winners to society brides have chosen Badgley Mischka to ensure they look their best during some of the most memorable and stylish events of their lives.

Their timeless designs appeal to a range of fashionable women, including celebrities such as Madonna, Catherine Zeta Jones, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Carrie Underwood.

Stand out in white at your next event and have all the LBD-wearing ladies cringing with regret. Combining both comfort and style, this super-chic white cocktail dress from designer Carmen Marc Valvo features a fringe trim, toga-style neckline, cascading ruffled front, and a cutaway hem.

Since 1989, American designer Carmen Marc Valvo has been searching his soul’s desire to breathe glamorous garments to every woman’s life. Although his magnificent creations have made him a favorite among Hollywood’s top leading ladies, it’s his devotion to his non-celebrity clients that has made him a star. An incurable traveler, Valvo roams the far corners of the world at every opportunity, seeking objects that fire 12

Holiday 2015 | LIFESTYLE

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his design imagination.

If you’re concerned about body image, keep in mind that any shape looks its best in a wrap-style dress. Simple, yet oh-so fashionable, this short-sleeve belted lace cocktail dress is by coveted designer Marchesa Notte. This vintage-inspired dress, with contrast underlay, features a faux-leather belt, scalloped V-neckline and back, and a faux-wrap skirt with a cascading drape.

A great partnership was born when best friends Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig met in college. A few years after graduating and working in separate fashion fields, they created Notte by Marchesa — named after the eccentric 1920s society icon Marchesa Luis Casati. Their vintage-inspired designs make the line a celebrity and socialite favorite. Red-carpet stunners and paparazzifriendly cocktail attire are Marchesa’s stock in trade, with intricate craftsmanship and whimsical flourishes quickly becoming house signatures.

Make an elegant and mesmerizing statement this year in a shimmery floorlength gown. Try well-known designer Donna Karan’s; its dark metallic sequins casts hypnotic shine over a slinky strapless column gown designed to catch every eye in the room. Intricate ruching perfects the stretchy curve-hugging fit, while full-length back seams visually slim and lengthen your figure.

Dubbed the queen of American fashion, Donna Karan has earned a reputation as a world-class designer, as well as a strong business woman. As the daughter of a tailor and a model, fashion designing was in Karan’s blood. This one-woman powerhouse has made New York uptown dressing her signature, dressing women in liberating comfort. Today, Karan's company is a lifestyle brand producing menswear, jeans, accessories, hosiery, fragrance, and cosmetics. Her loyal celebrity followers include Kate Winslet, Taylor Swift, and Jennifer Hudson.

As you carefully choose your festive party outfits, remember the holiday season is the perfect time to glam it up. A little splash of bling instantly boosts holiday cheer and unleashes your inner sparkle child. Let your glamourous side show as you celebrate the conclusion of another wonderful year. n

Lou Marchiano FOR MEN

CLOTHING • SPORTSWEAR • SHOES Terra Mar Plaza | Tilton Road | Northfield, NJ | 609-641-2088

Ring in the New Year

LIFEST YLE FASHION

Stand out from the crowd with one or more of these stunning jewelry additions This new Molly adjustable ring will enhance any outfit.

Colorful rocks surround pavé faux diamonds to create an ultrafeminine and sleek silhouette. Each stone is unique, Baublebar, $36.

Make a statement with this effortlesslychic Rock Candy ring.

Handcrafted in sterling silver, with faceted clear quartz and cherry mother-ofpearl doublet center, the design is uniquely modern, Ippolita, $750.

Make a bold style choice when you don this powerful 3D wing-shaped ring, adorned with pavé white diamonds and featuring a double wing, Mizuki, $4,400.

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Have three times the fun with this on-trend set of stacked rings.

Featuring 14k gold-plated brass/ agate, Mother of Pearl, or pyrite, all the gemstones and diamonds have been specially treated to enhance their beauty, Kendra Scott, $85.

This oh-sosparkly doublewrap diamond ring — featuring 18-karat white gold and almost a carat of pavé white diamonds — will make you feel fabulous, Penny Preville, $4,500.

Construct a modern look with this unique Caviar black and white diamond ring. The openwork design flaunts round-cut black and white diamonds, and is crafted in 14k white gold, EFFY, $2,400.

WHO IS THE

fairest OF THEM ALL

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

Lighting n Shower Doors n

Plumbing Fixtures n Decorative Hardware n

Vanities n Ceiling Fans n

Medicine Cabinets n Accessories and More! n

Starring Artistic Hardware

Pat McCarthy, left, and Tom Vassallo of Artistic Hardware in Northfield, NJ

Artistic Hardware has become the "go to" place for hardware for movies and TV shows filming in the Northeast. Pictured below is the collection of movie posters displayed in their store, depicting a bevy of their well-known Hollywood credits.

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Lifestyle Spotlight

By Felicia Lowenstein Niven Photos by Eric Weeks

WHEN SNAKE EYES STARRING NICHOLAS Cage premiered back in 1998, Pat McCarthy had more than a passing interest. After all, his hardware was making its movie debut.

“We got a phone call from a set decorator named Chuck Potter,” remembers Pat. “They were filming in Atlantic City and had set up a sound stage at Egg Harbor Twp. High School.

They wanted to match the hardware from the shoot on location. They sent us pictures and we ordered what they needed.”

It was the start of Artistic Hardware’s foray into movies and television. That set decorator shared Pat’s contact information with other set decorators, and Artistic Hardware became the “go to” place for hardware for movies and TV shows filming in the Northeast. They now have dozens of movies and TV shows to their credit. Movies include Ricki and the Flash, The Intern, Sex and the City, The Bourne Ultimatum, Cold Mountain, Meet the Parents and School of Rock. TV series range from “Boardwalk Empire” and “Gossip Girl” to more recent ventures such as “Under the Dome,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “The Mysteries of Laura,” “Mr. Robot” and “Blue Bloods.”

“I do look for my hardware in the movies and on TV,” says Pat. “For example, my son Luke and I enjoy watching “Blue Bloods” with Tom Selleck. It’s a great show and always cool to see our products on screen. I like to point out our door handles or whatever they’re featuring and it drives my family crazy!”

They’re constantly approached for new shows, and they just finished up a new series on the Starz Network called “Flesh and Bone.” They worked on the steamy new NBC drama, “Shades of Blue” starring Jennifer Lopez, as well as the new NBC crime drama, “Allegiance.” They’ve also been working for the last year on Martin Scorcese’s and Mick Jagger’s

series “Vinyl” on HBO, about the 1970’s rockand-roll scene in New York City. “We supplied a lot of product to that show,” says Pat. “It’s always interesting working on a project with someone like Mick Jagger as a producer,” he added.

Artistic Hardware supplies everything from doorknobs and cabinetry handles to light fixtures, mirrors, ceiling fans, and furnishings — anything customers might find in the retail store and of course anything available through through thier extensive product network resources. Operations Manager Tom Vassallo handles much of the movie and TV business.

“Typically, the set designer will send us a picture of the ‘on location’ set,” says Pat. “It

might be a restaurant, a train station, an office, or even a bathroom. We will help them to reproduce that exact location on the sound stage. It’s a pretty quick turn-around; often we have to track it down and get it to them overnight.”

Sometimes when they’re done with the products, the set designer will ship them back to Artistic Hardware. “We had the sink console that was used in Meet the Parents on display in the store,” says Pat. “One of our customers bought it for their powder room. We also have

Samantha’s bathroom from Sex and the City in our warehouse. One of these days, we’ll display that in the store.”

Customers will find movie posters and autographed pictures at the store. Pat McCarthy says they have been invited to the sets to watch filming. “I haven’t gone yet. Aside from when they were filming in Atlantic City, it’s always been too far.”

The movie business is just a normal part of this unique store, begun by Pat McCarthy with a goal of carrying the more interesting pieces in high-end hardware, plumbing, lighting, and home accessories. That means that you’ll not only have access to the traditional style cabinet knobs, but ones in different patinas and sculpted designs. Sinks, bathtubs, showers, mirrors, ceiling fans, and more offer plenty of artistic options.

Pat McCarthy and his staff work with homeowners as well as builders, architects, designers, and kitchen and bath professionals.

Showroom manager, Carol Kelly says “we work with both new construction and remodeling, and regularly perform glass shower installations for a variety of contractors and homeowners.”

Artistic Hardware’s reputation has earned them clients up and down the Jersey shore, from Cape May to Long Beach Island. Pat also has helped design spaces for customers in the Bahamas, St. John’s, Bermuda, Key West, California, Colorado, Canada, England, Belgium, and Morocco. Even Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin have fixtures from Artistic Hardware in their Long Island home.

“We’re very customer-service driven,” says Pat, “which is why we work well with the movie and TV business. We get them what they need, when they need it, and we do the same for our local clientele.” n

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By Alyson Boxman Levine

Captured Youth

Sinatra fans rejoice as a new photo book enters the marketplace

Pictured far left, Sinatra & Jan Savitt Orchestra, Strand Theater, NYC, 1945. Pictured left, Frank is crowned “King of Singers” at the famous Copacabana, NYC.

H itting the shelves just in time for the holiday season, a Sinatra & Pied Pipers, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Paramount, NYC, 1940

Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, NYC, 1940 -1942 Sinatra Paramount reunion with Tommy Dorsey, NYC, 1956

At the famous NYC Club, Toots Shor's, with Toots and Jackie Gleason

new book featuring countless never-before-seen photographs of Ol’ Blue Eyes has arrived. Entitled “Frank Sinatra, New York, NY 1939-1956, Intimate Portraits of a Young Frank Sinatra,” the photo book highlights the stunning photographs of William “PoPsie” Randolph and promises to be a fast favorite among Sinatra fans.

From his early days on Broadway in 1939 to his Big Band entrance, the collection expertly captures a wide-eyed youthful Sinatra at the beginning of his illustrious career. Illustrated by PoPsie’s son Mike Randolph, the new book tells the less-told tale of Sinatra’s early career through magnificent photographs. From his on-stage performances with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, to his friendly antics signing autographs with fans, Sinatra’s personality shines through these loved photographs.

Big Apple native Randolph’s career as a photographer began by chance with a fated meeting with Benny Goodman in his youth. Clad with his camera and love for the New York City music scene, Randolph soon became the manager of the legendary Benny Goodman, and documented the rising NYC music industry with newfound style. According to reports, Randolph loved to follow Sinatra around, and, from the get go, Sinatra may have been his favorite camera subject. As a result, “PoPsie” was in the right place at the right time — as he would be again and again in a photo-taking career that would ultimately encompass four decades and every important personality, from swing to rock and roll.

As you leaf through the glossy black and white pages, you are immediately transformed back in time to a place that holds fond memories for many. From moody stage shots to the lively candid occasions, all the moments expertly-captured by PoPsie Randolph seem to literally jump off the pages. Enjoy this remarkable book; you won’t be disappointed.

Lifestyle Opinion

NAUGHTY OR NICE?

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Ho Ho Ho, Hurley's holiday gifts for NJ’s elected and appointed officials

By Harry Hurley Op-Ed Contributor

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, it is with great pleasure that I distribute my “Official Christmas Gifts” for various elected and appointed officials throughout the state of New Jersey. In most cases, a nice gift awaits our various recipients. But there are a few lumps of coal for those little boys and girls who have been bad this year.

For Governor Chris Christie: I wish for you, a huge comeback in the rough and tumble Republican Presidential Primary Election season. You deserve much better.

For my former Boss Donald Trump: To pursue your unconventional “take no political prisoners” approach as you continue your 120-plus day reign as the front-runner for the Republican Nomination for President of The United States. It's already been an amazing feat that few will ever achieve.

For United States Congressman Frank LoBiondo, R-2, another two year term in The People's House in 2016. LoBiondo is poised to add to his record of more than 20 years of service as Congressman from New Jersey's second congressional district.

For State Senate Steve Sweeney, strength and focus as he charts his course towards the Democratic Nomination for Governor over this upcoming year and next. Sweeney has typically been very supportive of Atlantic County and Atlantic City. Many in southern New Jersey fear his apparent change in philosophy regarding casinos outside of Atlantic City. I sincerely wish for the Senate President to demonstrate the political strength and courage to do the right thing (keeping casino gambling in Atlantic City only) while still pursuing his dreams to become the next Governor. These do not have to be mutually exclusive propositions.

I don't want to leave Jersey City Mayor Steve Fullop out. I have known him since his first campaign for Councilman. Either Sweeney or Fullop will be the next Democratic Nominee for Governor of New Jersey. That's right. The next Democratic Nominee will be named “Steve.” You read it here first!

For Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno: A great lady who has been an excellent and fiercely loyal two-term Lt. Governor and Secretary of State. I wish her the clarity of purpose as she decides whether or not she will seek the Republican Nomination for Governor of New Jersey.

For New Jersey Assemblyman Chris Brown, R-2: At least two weeks in Disney World (his favorite Happy Place, like it is mine) as a reward for his enduring and winning one of the most filthy, intellectually-dishonest campaigns ever waged in Atlantic County history.

For New Jersey Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-2, please throw away all “White Out” within arm's reach, never to be seen again. Also, while Mazzeo is a likeable, good and decent man, he needs to kneel before the altar of the Electoral Confessional in order to cleanse his political soul for waging a very dishonorable campaign against Brown. It was beneath Mazzeo in every way. I sincerely wish for Assemblyman Mazzeo to reclaim his overall goodness, which I know is still there intact. He was co-opted by outsiders and their millions of dollars of “silver pieces.”

But, in the end, the candidate is still responsible for the tenor of his campaign.

Mazzeo cannot escape this, but he can, and should, repent for it.

For State Senator Jim Whelan, D-2: I wish him a very happy retirement from electoral politics in two years. While this has not yet been officially announced, njlifestyleonline.com

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LIFEST YLE OPINION it looks more and more likely that he will call it quits after his current term ends. This will then set the stage for Brown versus Mazzeo for the top state legislative seat in Atlantic County in 2017.

I wish for Whelan to go out with class. He will never apologize for the $17-plus million that has funneled into Atlantic County from outside special interests during his decade in the state legislature. But, it is within Whelan's direct control to leave with dignity and respect.

The nasty campaigns from 2005 through 2015 (led by Whelan) have deeply hurt many innocent people. It could have been a career of distinguished accomplishment but, sadly and avoidably, this will be Whelan's legacy.

For Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson: I wish him a successful next four years. Because as Atlantic City goes; so goes Atlantic County and the state of New Jersey. Levinson's leadership has never been more important.

For Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian: I wish him a highly successful next two years. These are the most crucial years in Atlantic City since the 1970s, when the City was in deep financial decay. Guardian's leadership and ambassadorial style has served the city very well, as it (and Atlantic County) rebounds from the highest unemployment and home foreclosure rates in America. It remains to be seen if Guardian will seek another term in two years. This will be a tough feat, in light of a 10-1 disadvantage in party registration affiliation (Democrats in favor of Republicans). However, Guardian has already miraculously done it once before.

For Jim Wood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Meet AC: I wish Jim continued success as his Convention and Visitor's Company has been setting records in pursuit of selling Atlantic City to prominent conventions and other tour and travel industries.

For John Palmieri, Executive Director of The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority: I wish him continued relevance, should some of the pieces of the state legislation known as the PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) become state law and diminish the CRDA's overall role.

Palmieri has done a tremendous job leading the effort of procuring responsible investment and development in Atlantic City.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our readers for a great 2015, and I sincerely wish you and yours a very blessed and happy Holiday Season. Let's make it a Ho-Ho-Ho, Hurley Christmas! n Harry Hurley is the president of Harry Hurley Consulting and Communications, LLC. He hosts the daily talk radio program "Hurley in the Morning" 6 AM-10 AM weekdays on Townsquare Media, WPG Talk Radio 1450, where he also serves as the senior programming consultant, www.harryhurley.com.

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HOME & DESIGN SPOTLIGHT

By Felicia Lowenstein Niven

Just a Shade Better…

IF THERE’S A WORD THAT DEFINES BERGES TRENTON AWNING, it's family. This business is a labor of love for Richard Berges, his son Nate, and sister LuAnn. You can see it in every fiber of their being — and consequently in every fiber of the awnings they craft. And if there’s a phrase that defines Berges Trenton Awning, it’s master craftsmanship. Because at Berges, technology doesn’t always trump the personal touch — and there’s an elegance in this hands-on Old World approach that elevates awnings to an art form.

Nate’s great grandparents Louis and Mary Berges founded the business in 1927 in Atlantic City. (The business name pays homage to Louis’ first hometown in America, but for the record, the business has never been located in Trenton.) By the time the casinos came to town, there was another generation of leadership, and a move to larger space along Main Street in Pleasantville. That’s where you’ll find them today. The business resembles a tailor shop and features the largest rectangle tables you are likely to see anywhere.

“You can’t buy that kind of table, so we built it,” said Rick. “Each table has a purpose from shaping awnings, to sewing, then final assembly.” The tables have been the resting place for miles of material, but have also played a central role in birthday celebrations and family gatherings.

Practically in the next room, you’ll find a welding shop, then a warehouse where awnings are assembled, and there’s storage lofts for seasonal services. “We do everything in-house,” said Rick. “This way, we have full control of the finished

product.”

L to R; Lou LoPorto, LuAnn Berges-Halpin, Richard Berges and Nate Berges Custom designs are the norm rather than the exception for the Bergeses. They sit with customers and visualize the space together.

Then they create the right shading solution, whether it’s a traditional patio canopy, a motorized retractable awning, or solar shades. They’ll even take down the awnings at the end of the season and reinstall them at the beginning of the next. When their widely-known red trucks enter the barrier islands in early spring customers can breath a sigh of relief as they say, “Here comes summer,” said Nate.

Their business has had positive growth for decades, and with the addition of Lou LoPorto, their sales have been driven to new heights. They are currently building a new facility in Somers Point to which Nate shared, “we’re proud to be expanding along the Jersey Shore, this will put us closer to great new clients.” n

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Photo by Eric Weeks

Berges Trenton Awning Inc.

LIFESTYLE

MONEYWATCH

Understanding Investment Fees Do you know what you are paying?

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WHEN WE ASK A POTENTIAL CLIENT WHAT THEY ARE currently paying in investment fees, we receive one of two answers: 1. I don't know.

2. I don't pay anything.

The first answer is understandable, as the transparency of investment fees leaves a lot to be desired, and the second answer is just wrong. Fees come in various forms; including commissions, portfolio management, operating expenses, and 12-b1 fees. Although you may not see the fee, it does not mean you are not paying it.

Commissions are a type of fee charged by a broker or advisor for handling the purchase or sale of a security. If you have ever sold a house, you know that commissions can eat up a substantial portion of profits or even principal. The same holds true for stock and bond trades. Commissions can vary widely from $4.95 and below per trade offered by online sites, to a few hundred dollars for transactions at a full-service brokerage firm. Commissions also come in the form of sales loads on mutual funds, which can be as high as 5.25% upfront. Variable annuities introduce deferred sales loads (surrender charges) to clients, which means if you sell your investment before a specified time, a percentage charge is levied on your assets. This type of charge is imposed in order to recoup the large commissions that were paid out to advisors, which can be as high as 8% for annuity sales. If your advisor is a commission-based advisor, it is important for you to ask the questions and understand what the commission rate is and how it is calculated. Commissions can quickly add up and lower the overall performance of an account.

Rather than charging commissions on transactions, other advisors charge a flat percentage fee on the assets under management. This fee is often termed an investment advisory fee, portfolio management fee, or an asset management fee.

Services included under a fee-based arrangement differ from advisor to advisor.

It is important for you to understand what your fee entitles you to: financial planning, portfolio review meetings, investment research, access to institutional share classes, etc.

Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have an underlying annual operating expense. These investment products are pools of assets managed by investment professionals, and therefore have management and marketing fees. These fees, known as the expense ratio, are stated as a percentage and are deducted directly from the fund’s assets. ETFs tend to have lower expense ratios as many of the portfolios are passively managed and structured to track a particular index. Mutual funds can carry much higher expense ratios as the majority of funds are actively managed strategies, with the portfolio manager looking to beat a particular index or reduce risk exposures. When purchasing either a mutual fund or ETF, you should know ahead of time the underlying costs, 24

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as higher fees can have a negative impact on performance.

When we have a potential client ask their current advisor how the advisor is compensated, one of our favorite responses from the advisor is; “You don’t pay me an advisory fee. I am compensated directly from the mutual fund companies.” This statement is technically true; however it is the client who pays the mutual fund company, which in turn pays the advisor’s firm. So in the end, it is the client who pays the advisor a fee. This type of fee is known as the 12b-1 fee.

A 12b-1 fee, or distribution/service fee, is a fee that is charged on top of the fund’s existing operating expenses. It will usually range from 0.25% - 1% depending on the fund share class, and this is the fee that the advisor collects as compensation for managing your assets. 12b-1 fees go unnoticed and are deducted by the fund company, rather than being deducted directly from a client’s account. This lack of transparency is why some investors believe they are not paying investment fees. There are some advisors who feel uncomfortable talking about fees, and will attempt to hide their compensation in the form of 12b-1 fees. While we are sure this is the exception rather than the norm, fees should be an open and honest conversation that every investor should be having with their advisors.

At CRA Financial, we are fee only advisors. We do not earn commissions.

Our clients pay a percentage of their assets under management, and receive complete, comprehensive financial planning and investment advice. We believe in full transparency as a means of building deeper relationships. We understand that investment fees can be detrimental to long-term performance, so each of our portfolios are structured to reduce the impact of fees through the use of low cost ETFs, mutual funds, and other investments. From a tax perspective, it is important to note that commissions and 12b-1 fees are not tax deductible, whereas investment advisory fees can be, subject to adjusted gross income limits. Overall, clients and advisors shouldn’t view fees as a taboo discussion.

The fee discussion should be a primary conversation before selecting the right financial advisor to help you obtain your investment and financial goals. n

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

I believe AtlantiCare and Geisinger fit together well.

Learning from each other and sharing ideas will make healthcare better for our region.

By Rosalie Lopez, Atlantic City resident and member of the AtlantiCare Patient/Family Advisory Committee

R

osalie and her family have had their share of healthcare challenges. Her parents and her husband passed after lengthy illnesses. During those times, she gained a deep understanding of how things work in hospitals and health systems. Rosalie is also a student of healthcare reform and a big believer in collaboration. She believes the collaborative cultures of AtlantiCare and Geisinger make them the perfect fit for each other.

What did you know previously about the Geisinger Health System?

I knew a little about them through my volunteerism for Gift of Life. My first reaction was, “Why Geisinger?” But the more I thought about it, their demographics and culture are much more similar to AtlantiCare’s as opposed to a big-city hospital.

Geisinger has suburban and urban populations. They also believe teamwork is crucial to innovation. The more I looked at, the more I thought Geisinger was a better fit.

Are you concerned about how your AtlantiCare provider might change?

No! I was surprised how many people thought their providers would change. People will keep their AtlantiCare providers and can stay here in our community.

What is the biggest advantage you see in the AtlantiCare Geisinger partnership?

I looked at the ProvenCare® program; I see that AtlantiCare is going to benefit from it — using specific processes for procedures and treatments that have been proven to work for patients. That ability to learn from each other is crucial. AtlantiCare and Geisinger can exchange thinking and improve healthcare for the communities they each serve. AtlantiCare does a lot of things wonderfully well that Geisinger can learn from, too.

How do you expect this coming together to change the way your healthcare is delivered in the future in your community?

I’m excited about the future, because sharing innovations and ideas will benefit all of us. It will make AtlantiCare a stronger, more important source for healthcare for everyone who lives here.

To learn more about AtlantiCare’s new role as a member of Geisinger Health System and what it means to you, call 1-888-569-1000. Or visit www.atlanticare.org/geisinger for updates.

ADVERTORIAL

Christmas Tree at the Palmer House Hilton. Photo courtesy of Palmer House.

Atrium at West Baden Springs Hotel. Photo by Dan Schlossberg.

Historic Holidays

By DAN SCHLOSSBERG

M ost Americans spend winter holidays

sipping cider, opening gifts, and sharing time with friends and family. While there’s much to be said for keeping the home fires burning, holiday occasions are often more memorable on the road. At a time of year when tradition rules, the best place to celebrate is a hotel that is steeped in history.

Historic Hotels of America — with more than 260 members — offers a myriad of choices, from the snowy northeast to the sunny southwest. To belong, properties must be at least 50 years old and meet exacting standards of excellence. Virtually all of them pose homes-away-from-home perfect for the

French Lick Arch Trolley. Photo by Dan Schlossberg.

holidays: great escapes from cooking, cleaning, or other chores that never seem to end.

Anyone dreaming of a white Christmas would do well to consider the Palmer House Hilton, a palatial property directly on Chicago’s Loop. Its colorful holiday tree features 7,000 lights, 15,000 boughs, and a lighting tradition that began shortly after the first version of the massive structure went up in 1871.

While other hotels have holiday trees, only the Palmer House offers a tuba concert — 400 tuba players will play holiday music December 19 in the same State Ballroom where Frank Sinatra and Liberace launched their

careers. Also on the holiday menu is Big Night Chicago, a gala New Year’s Eve party with food, festivities, and frenetic frolicking at the stroke of midnight. Brownies are almost certain to be served; the common dessert staple was created by the Palmer House pastry chef for the Columbian Exposition World’s Fair in 1893.

A visit to the Palmer House would not be complete without a ride on the El, the maze of subway lines famous for criss-crossing tracks that were tough to build and tougher to navigate. If all 1,641 Palmer House guests were to survey the rails simultaneously, they would have just as many different opinions as to what goes where.

Skytop Lodge. Photo courtesy of Skytop Lodge.

Grab your loved ones and escape to the luxury and history only a property steeped in tradition can offer.

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Lifestyle Travel

The hotel, which lasted just 13 days before burning in the Great Chicago Fire, is now in its third incarnation. It has a spa, pool, fitness center, and more chandeliers than guests.

The intricate artwork on the lobby ceiling is a highlight of a three-hour tour that starts at the Palmer House museum. The longest continually operating hotel in the United States, it has hosted a long list of Hollywood and political personalities — all of whom enjoyed an express elevator system designed to avoid stops on all of the 25 floors.

History also comes to life at Nashville’s Union Station, an ornate railroad depot that morphed into a boutique hotel. Built in 1900 but converted in 1986, the 125-room property is famous for its stained glass windows, barrelvaulted ceilings, and plush public places that suggest a British gentleman’s club. Two alligator ponds reside on the former track level.

Union Station’s “Under the Mistletoe” holiday package includes tickets to the Nashville Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker Suite, limousine service to the venue, peppermint holiday cocktails, dinner for two at the signature Prime 108 restaurant, an in-suite, after-theater dessert buffet, and of course mistletoe. Eggnog and hot chocolate will be served during pop-up performances of the ballet in the hotel lobby.

A still-operating trolley car links two historic hotels in French Lick, Indiana, 90 minutes from Louisville. The 1902 Portuguese streetcar traverses 1.3 miles of track between the West Baden Springs Hotel, an architectural marvel featuring a domed atrium once called “the Eighth Wonder of the World,” and the French Lick Resort, where golf is king in summer but casino gambling rules when temperatures fall. There are more than 700 rooms between the two hotels.

Few National Historic Landmarks also include a world-class spa, but the West Baden Springs Hotel is a notable exception. Circular in construction, its 243 guest rooms are divided among six stories.

When the calendar turns to December, there’s no better-named property than the Historic Hotel Bethlehem, built by Charles

Dogsledding at Skytop Lodge. Photo by Ben Birk (Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau).

Tobaggan run at Skytop Lodge. Photo by Regina Nicolardi. njlifestyleonline.com

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The Chicago Loop

M. Schwab in 1922 on land once occupied by Moravian missionaries in a log cabin. Built for clients of Bethlehem Steel, it even included such modern amenities as a fitness center and barber shop. Visitors can learn about its early days in a Hall of History in the hotel’s lobby.

It’s quiet in summer, pastoral each autumn, and peaceful in the winter, when Silent Night is a most appropriate carol.

Unlike the Bethlehem property, which is sandwiched into a corner of a former industrial town, Skytop Lodge relishes its location in the rural hills of the Poconos. It not only offers a Winter Fun Package, which includes everything from snow shoes to ice skates, but another called “I Wish to Have a Christmas Tree.”

After taking a hayride to a local tree farm, guests get to cut their own Christmas tree, later delivered to the guest and secured to the guest’s car for the trip home. Patrons also receive a picture of their tree-cutting adventure and a wood-burned ornament to hang on the tree.

Every Saturday in December will include ice-skating with Santa Claus, a Yule Log ceremony, story time in front of the lobby’s stone fireplace, and a re-enactment of the Skytop tree-lighting slated for late afternoon on Dec. 5. Holiday fun starts early at the resort, which has its annual Dining & Decorating Weekend scheduled for Dec. 18-19. Experts will help guests make their own wreaths, table centerpieces, and table-top boxwood trees.

The holidays take on a completely different look at the Boston Park Plaza, a Beaux Arts building just 200 yards from Boston Common and the Public Garden. The Back Bay 28

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structure, which resembles New York’s Flatiron Building, has been a historical landmark since its opening in 1927. But its interior is above and beyond 21st century standards. Once called “A City Within a City,” the hotel has 1,054 rooms, eight restaurants, numerous shops, plus proximity to Newbury Street, Faneuil Hall, and the historic landmarks of the Freedom Trail. It is also just three miles from Logan Airport.

Although the fabled swan boats hibernate in winter, there’s nothing like taking a stroll or building a snowman on Boston Common.

There’s plenty of walking right on site too: the sidewalk that surrounds the hotel stretches 1,380 feet.

The first American hotel to equip guest rooms with phones, closets, radios, and private bathrooms, the Boston Park Plaza was also the first to deliver morning newspapers — and to cut room doors one inch short so that papers could be slipped inside without awakening guests. No wonder the guest list reads like a Who’s Who of the 20th Century — everyone from Winston Churchill to a little-known U.S. Senator named Barack Obama.

When it opened in 1927, rates at the hotel — then called the Boston Statler — were $3.50 to $5, tip money today, but better than the deal legendary hotelier E.M. Statler offered at his earlier Buffalo property; “A room and a bath for a buck-and-a-half.”

To avoid a repeat of the winter wallop Mother Nature handed Boston last season, Historic Hotels of America also has a myriad of members far from the traditional snow belt.

Only artificial snow can create a white Christmas in San Diego, home of the Sofia

Hotel since 1926. First called the Pickwick because it was built to serve a touring car company based in Southern California, the hotel remains a short walk from the spot where trains and trolleys converge — and a short hop to both the harbor and the airport.

Staying at the Sofia also means guests can walk to the Gaslamp Quarter, Horton Plaza, the convention center, and Petco Field, home of the San Diego Padres and the 2016 All-Star Game. Californians may not have snow but still produce plenty of holiday spirit; the city even has a pair of outdoor ice-skating rinks — one of them near the Sofia.

As a special holiday bonus, guests who book their stays on HistoricHotels.org

by December 31 will receive a one-year complimentary family membership in the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

That means savings of up to 30% off best available rates at participating historic hotels, discounted admissions to more than 600 historic places worldwide, and a subscription to Preservation magazine. The site offers more than 3,000 hotel packages, historic experiences, and special deals.

Tevye sang about tradition in Fiddler on the Roof, but Historic Hotels of America offers a real-life way to enjoy it. It may be time for New Jersey Lifestyle readers to start a tradition of their own. n Former AP newsman Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is travel editor of New Jersey Lifestyle and Sirius XM Radio’s Maggie Linton Show. He is also host and executive producer of the weekly Travel Itch Radio Show and president emeritus of the North American Travel Journalists Association.

A one-of-a-kind shopping experience...

• No waiting in checkout lines • Many store owners present • Locally owned businesses • Convenient parking

• Celebrating forty years of exceptional shops • An array of unprecedented dining options from Chaba Thai to Luke Palladino’s to The Cheese Board to Barista’s Coffee House

...A unique blend of specialty shops & services.

■ Linwood Custom Jewelers

■ The Cigar House

■ The Secret Garden

■ The Cheese Board

■ Talbots

■ Dress 2 Impress Bridal & Formal Boutique

■ That’s So Rich

■ Sandra & Roy’s Boutique

■ Baristas Coffee House

■ The British Connection

■ CVL Designs, Kitchens, and Baths

■ Diamond Salon

■ Linwood Silver Company

■ Pon’s Beauty Salon

■ Fischer Shoes

■ Renu Massage & Skin Care

■ Barbara’s Boutique

■ ProDance Academy

■ Breathe Studio Pilates & BARRE

■ Linwood Custom Cabinetry

■ Joelle’s Card & Gift Boutique

■ Luke Palladino

■ P.Weee’s Fine Children’s Boutique

■ Freund Brothers Optician/Ocularist

■ Hummingbird Yoga

■ Chaba Thai & Sushi

Central Square ■ 199 New Road ■ Linwood, NJ ■ shopcentralsquare.com ■ (609) 926-1000

Confessions of a Professional Perfume Spritzer Inside the marketing world of fragrance

By Molly Golubcow 30

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Lifestyle Q&A

“A woman who does not wear perfume has no future.”

— Coco Chanel

They wander about the mall or hover near the cosmetic counters in department stores like Bloomindale's and Nordstrom. They are usually young and attractive (females mostly, but some men as well), friendly, stylish, and eager to share a scent or two. Whether it’s Estee Lauder’s White Linen, Ralph Lauren’s Romance, or Hermès 24 Faubourg (at a mere $1,500 per ounce), there is someone who is able and willing to chat and spritz you, if you are open to the experience.

Who are these friendly and sweet smelling individuals? Unofficially, you may refer to them as perfume spritzers. Officially, they are called fragrance models, perfume models, or seasonal fragrance associates.

Using fragrance models to be a brand advocate smells (pun intended) of capitalism at its best — if there is a market, then there must be a marketer and a marketing approach. In big name department stores like Nordstrom and Macy’s, cosmetic companies eagerly employ a bullpen of workers to share their wares with mall customers. Chatting up a customer who would have normally passed by your perfume for a competitor’s is a brilliant idea.

Considering that U.S. department stores carry over 1,000 perfume brands, getting out there and spritzing your stuff may give your cosmetic counter the edge.

As a result, the perfume business in the United States, a $5.2 billion dollar a year business, employs hundreds of fragrance models on a yearly and seasonal basis. When you take into consideration that over 80% of women in the U.S. wear perfume, targeting these shoppers makes a lot of sense (as well as scents). In addition, perfume industry research statistics show that over 75% of the $5 billion sales happen around the holidays. Based on those figures, you will see more fragrance models strutting about during the holidays. Like Santa and his elves, Lancome, Donna Karan, and Chanel have their spritzers ready for action by the time holiday season arrives in December.

So, how does one become a fragrance model? Interestingly enough, the internet can answer many of your questions. A simple Google search on “fragrance models” gives you over 5,000 hits.

For example, the eHow website details how you can become a professional perfume spritzer.

According to eHow, fragrance modeling “focuses on selling a fragrance and can offer decent money and a great way to meet people.” They offer several ways to break into the business — especially if you are interested in seasonal or part-time gigs that pay between $10 and $20 per hour. One way to find fragrance model jobs is to contact department stores directly to find out if their fragrance counters have knowledge of specific job openings or upcoming promotions. If the fragrance company uses independent contractors (fragrance model agencies, if you will), the department store may be able to give you the phone numbers and email addresses of people in the business.

Case in point, Christian Dior Perfumes currently is in search

of fragrance models. According to their job description, they are looking for “… highly motivated and energetic sales professionals to join our team.” In addition, Christian Dior, as well as other perfumers, expect their models to: 1. Become a brand advocate and fragrance expert; and 2. Create an unforgettable shopping experience for their clients by offering luxury service.

So, now you know what a fragrance model is and how to become one. Let’s take moment to meet one who has been greeting and spritzing people for a living. Iris Cooper, from the Philadelphia area, has been a fragrance model for almost six years at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Lord & Taylor, and Neiman Marcus. She worked for numerous fragrance companies, but her longest stint was with International Cosmetics Perfume (ICP) — an exclusive creator, marketer, and distributor of luxury fragrance and skincare products including Hanae Mori men's and women's cologne and parfum.

New Jersey Lifestyle: What appeals to you most about being a fragrance model?

Cooper: What I like most is dealing with the public. I'm a people person and enjoy meeting people and talking to them about the different scents that may work for them.

New Jersey Lifestyle: Are most people approachable when you try chatting to them about your product?

Cooper: Some people back away when I approach them, but other people are interested in smelling a great new fragrance — especially if the fragrance is exclusive to Nordstrom or other stores. The ones that back away usually are people with allergies. They avoid being approached.

New Jersey Lifestyle: What kind of training did you need?

Cooper: In addition to having people skills, the fragrance company taught us very detailed aspects of perfumes — like the different scents in the makeup of a perfume, like amber. It’s very detailed and most people are not aware of the notes associated with scents. Notes are descriptors of scents that can be detected when applied on an individual, making a scent unique for each person.

New Jersey Lifestyle: What is a fun or funny spritzing adventure you want to share?

Cooper: A funny spraying adventure I had was when a woman asked me to spray her husband's arm with the fragrance I was showing.

After I did that, he rubbed some on his neck. She said he smelled delicious, and then started to nibble at his neck. Needless to say, they bought the bottle! And then a customer nearby heard my spiel about the men's parfum and then she also purchased a bottle of the same fragrance for her husband. It was a When Harry Met Sally moment, if you know what I mean. n njlifestyleonline.com

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Lifelines

By Michelle Dawn Mooney

Gift-Wrapped Stress My Personal Battle With My Body

W

hen I thought about what I wanted to write about for the holidays, at first visions of sugar plums (or something like that) were dancing in my head, but then I did what you might consider an about-face. I want to preface what I’m about to tell you by saying it’s not my intention to be the holiday season’s Debbie Downer, but just the opposite. It’s my hope that by sharing some very personal insight into my past experiences, you’ll be able to give yourself the gift of a healthier and happier holiday.

If you're like me, you, unfortunately, know all too well how the daily stressors of life can often manifest themselves into something so big that once we realize we should have probably cut a few things out of our calendar, it's too late. We’re already over-tired, over-worked, over-shopped, and basically over it. There’s even a “Stressed Out” song on the radio right now. It seems as though Christmas — and stress — is all around us.

The year was 2011, and it was a busy one.

Work was good and my personal life was great.

I started dating my high school crush (now my husband), officially started my own band, and landed a bit part in a Hollywood film. Oh yeah ... and I feared my life was over when an EMT stood over me in the back of an ambulance and said, “Stay with me Michelle,” as we raced to the hospital. It was the scariest moment of my life, which at the time started flashing before me.

Looking back, there were definitely signs. I had always been running non-stop ever since I was a teenager, with 2-3 jobs at any given time, school, pageants, performing, volunteering, and then the all-important social life. I became so accustomed

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to having minutes to spare between deadlines, meetings, and appearances, it became “ordinary” to have some sort of stress (good or bad) related to practically everything I was doing. Family, friends, and co-workers were telling me I needed to slow down ... but I didn’t have time. Without even realizing it, my lifestyle had started to take its toll and some of my actions weren’t helping.

Prior to learning I needed sinus surgery, I was always getting sick. On days I had to choose between extra sleep or the gym, I figured sleep would be best. In one aspect, it was. On the other hand, eliminating my workout routine after years of kicking and punching away at my stress, was also taking a toll on my body’s ability to manage that stress. In addition to working out less, I started finding myself a little too comfortable with some comfort foods.

Over the course of a few months, I started having issues with concentrating, breathing, sleeping, eating, my heart raced, I constantly felt like I was going to pass out, and my anxiety began to get the best of me. I didn’t understand it and I was afraid to tell anyone. I was embarrassed and scared. I knew something was wrong, but I just didn’t know what. Then one night it happened.

I was on the NBC 40 anchor desk, just a few minutes into the news when I started to feel light-headed. I couldn’t catch my breath, my heart was heavy, my hands were shaking and I thought I was going down. It became harder and harder to read my script. Thankfully, video was playing on screen so I could motion to the floor director to toss to weather or go to commercial. I can’t even describe the fear of thinking I might collapse as tens of thousands of people were watching. What was happening?

Why is this happening? Sheer panic set in … and that’s exactly what it was. Unbeknownst to me, I was having a panic attack. It was my first, but unfortunately, it wouldn’t be my last.

Fast forward to that fateful day in the ambulance — where all those years of running non-stop had finally taken their toll. The oxygen wasn't working. I couldn’t breathe. My chest felt as if ten bricks were on top and my heart and lungs were being crushed. I made it to the hospital and was surprised to learn that everything was fine. After a series of tests the following week, results showed I was a picture of health. I didn't understand it. I KNEW something was wrong.

While my body was doing ok, my doctor told me what I was doing to it was not. It had given me warning signs, but I chose not to listen. Turns out all of those very real physical manifestations were a result of stress. While everyone deals with stress in their own way, if not dealt with properly, it can lead to potentially life threatening circumstances down the road. I was determined to not let that happen.

In the years since, I have worked dramatically to thin my calendar, prioritize, and realize that oftentimes things we think are so important to others, aren’t nearly as important as we may think. Please remember when you’re trying to tackle that holiday to-do list that your name needs to be right at the top. Taking care of yourself is the ultimate gift you can give the people you love. Trust me. I’m pretty sure if you take a survey, you’re friends and loved ones would all agree that all of the presents, cookies, and holiday parties are meaningless if you’re not around to enjoy them.

Here’s to a very happy and healthy holiday season! n

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LIFESTYLE | Holiday 2015

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Lifestyle Entertainment

The Amazing Alexander

By David J. Spatz

From an iconic TV program to a traveling one-man show, Jason Alexander embodies impeccably-timed talent.

DESPITE STARRING ON WHAT MANY CONSIDER the most popular sitcom in television history, Jason Alexander knows he’s a tough sell to a theater audience — especially when he’s playing himself, even more so when he’s doing a fictitious character nobody’s heard of.

Even with a Tony Award, six Emmy nominations, and a Screen Actors Guild honor in his career trophy case, talent buyers were on the fence about booking the actor who spent nine seasons playing George Costanza on “Seinfeld.” It became even trickier when they saw the name of his oneman show: “An Evening with Jason Alexander and his Hair.”

No doubt about it: The man who played Jerry Seinfeld’s nebbishy best friend was something of an enigma wrapped in an identity crisis.

“Actually, it wasn’t me with the identity crisis. It was (the audience),” Alexander says, “and some producers, too.”

But he admits that his latest act, which he brought to Harrah’s Resort this fall, was probably easier for the casino to market than when he made his debut there five years ago with another one-man show, “Jason Alexander as Donny Clay.”

“Donny Clay shows you the way,” Alexander says with a laugh during a phone call from his California home.

For those who saw that show and walked out more confused than when they walked into the theater, “Donny Clay” was a character of his own invention, a Tony Robbins-like person who billed himself as the country’s fourth-leading motivational speaker. The joke, Alexander says, is that the character was anything but motivational, which became apparent as the show progressed. People seemed to like the show, but …

“I had people leave and like the show and still not know what the hell they had just seen,” he says.

Alexander, a Jersey boy who grew up in Livingston just 20 miles from Broadway, initially developed “Donny Clay” as a piece of corporate entertainment. Major companies hosting management retreats booked the show for their conferences.

The show tended to fly under the public radar, because it wasn’t advertised or made available to the masses. It was strictly an undercover gig, a private show.

But then Alexander’s agents began offering it to theaters and casinos, which only created more confusion when the title “Jason Alexander as Donny Clay” went up on a theater marquee and began appearing in newspaper ads.

People recognized Alexander’s name, but they didn’t get the whole “Donny Clay” thing. Some came expecting to see glimpses of George Costanza, but Alexander never came close to giving them even a hint of George. In the world of theatrical fantasy, it’s safe to conclude that Donny Clay and George Costanza never met one another and probably never will.

Because his signature acting role was in a TV comedy, audiences who saw “Donny Clay” or “An Evening with Jason Alexander and his Hair” likely expected the shows to be a form of stand-up comedy. And while there were laughs in both shows, Alexander doesn’t consider either to be a form of stand-up.

“It was completely comedic and yes, I was alone on stage, like you’d be doing standup,” he explains. “But it never struck me as stand-up comedy. It struck me as theater. It was an on-going monologue that had some connective tissue and had a point and was

funny throughout.”

Despite being very friendly with Seinfeld, who’s a gifted stand-up comic, Alexander says performing a comedy set and playing comedy characters are vastly different. He may be a terrific actor, but there’s a big difference between acting and stand-up comedy.

So when it was suggested that Alexander develop a conventional comedy act, “I froze in terror. That’s not my background, although God knows with my association with (Seinfeld), I’ve met some of the best stand-ups in the world,” he says. “I know what a crazy and hard and unique kind of performing that is. And I just didn’t think I could do it.”

Alexander put “Donny Clay” out to pasture in 2010 and later began developing the show that would eventually become “An Evening with Jason Alexander and his Hair.” Still, he needed a way to make sure audiences didn’t think he was bringing George along for the ride, which many expected during “Donny Clay.”

“My one hesitance was that people know George better than they know Jason,” he says.

“Which is fine, except I’m not giving them George, I’m giving them something else. So the notion became how do I make them not think they’re going to see George? And that’s where the hair came in.”

Alexander decided he’d perform the show wearing a toupee not very different that the one he wore in a classic “Seinfeld” episode, in which George tried for a new look by donning a hair piece. The wig was so bad that Elaine finally ripped the rug off George’s head and threw it out the window of Jerry’s apartment.

The toupee wasn’t a completely foreign concept to Alexander. He began wearing one several years ago, but it was more of a protest njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Holiday 2015

35

Pictured clockwise from above; the cast of Seinfeld, Alexander as Donny Clay, the cast of Merrily We Roll Along. than a way of covering his baldness.

He was trying to prove a point to producers who had denied him acting roles simply because they couldn’t see him as any other character but George Costanza.

Quite simply, Alexander — whose real love is musical theater, and who is an excellent song-and-dance man — had been unfairly typecast.

“I thought about (doing) the show with the toupee. And we recognized that it was strange, for a guy that everyone knows is bald, to be wearing a toupee,” he says with a chuckle. “So we actually begin the (stage) show with material about the hair, and all the crazy things that people do to try and make an impression. It became a way to dispel the image of George and have a kind of a hook for the show. But let me make this clear — as much as the hair is the star, it does not dominate the evening.”

Alexander did try and make the show a little easier for the audience to understand than Donny Clay by adding some biographical material. There’s also little observational comedy element — again, not stand-up a la Seinfeld, but still funny stuff — along with some audience interaction.

“It’s more of a variety show,” he says.

Because of his theatrical background, there’s even a little music in the show. Again, though, he won’t be reprising anything musical he’s ever done in the theater.

“I’m not up there singing ‘Impossible Dream,’” Alexander says with a laugh. “The music is there for comedic value.”

Alexander always dreamed of a career 36

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in the theater. After graduating Livingston High School in 1977, he attended Boston University for three years but dropped out before the beginning of his senior year when he began getting acting gigs in New York.

In the early 1980s, he landed a featured part in one of Stephen Sondheim’s best flops, “Merrily We Roll Along.” That led to appearances in shows like “The Rink,” “Broadway Bound,” “Accomplice” and “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway,” for which he won the 1989 Tony Award for best featured actor in a musical.

Not long after the Tony, he won the role that would change his life when he was cast as George in “Seinfeld.” At the same time, he decided to put his theater career on hold for nearly 15 years for two of the best reasons in the world: his two young sons.

But the kids are grown now and on their own, and Alexander is looking to get back on Broadway in a major way. Earlier this year, he replaced “Seinfeld” co-creator Larry David in David’s Broadway comedy “Fish in the Dark.”

He’s hoping that will lead to more projects, and says one is in the works now that he hopes to develop and star in next year.

“I love the (live) stage because you can make an instant connection with the audience,” he says. “That’s what was so great about doing (‘Seinfeld’) for all those years. We

did it in front of a live audience.”

But he knows Broadway has changed dramatically since he last bounced the boards on a full-time basis more than 25 years ago.

There’s intense competition among producers looking to install shows in theaters.

“There’s a limited number of theaters now, about 12 of them have shows that are never going to leave and there’s a huge (waiting list) for every available theater,” he says. “So it’s hard to get in there unless you have five gigantic movie stars that are ready to step into the piece. It’s very tricky to cut into the head of the line.”

Although overcoming the George typecasting has been one of his biggest career challenges, Alexander refuses to say it’s part of the so-called “Seinfeld curse,” an urban acting myth that says other than Jerry Seinfeld, the other three stars of the show have had trouble finding success during the 18 years since “Seinfeld” aired its final episode on NBC. “There’s no curse,” he says. “‘Seinfeld’ was a gift. There’s no telling what would have happened with my career had ‘Seinfeld’ not come along.” n

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On Wheels By Elaine Rose

Change Is Good

2016 Buick LaCrosse

Experience affordable luxury inside the 2016 Buick LaCrosse 38

Holiday 2015 | LIFESTYLE

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UNLESS YOU’VE BEEN LIVING AMONG the Amish in Lancaster County or some other community without access to television, you’ve seen the numerous commercials about how much Buick has changed. The unwieldy tanks your parents drove are history.

General Motors has designed the brand to be sleek, comfortable, and with enough bells and whistles to impress the most tech-savvy teen in your family.

The LaCrosse is considered to be Buick’s flagship sedan, and it is quite affordable considering the luxury it delivers. Coming in six different trim lines starting with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $31,990 — and you may be able to haggle to get it for a bit less — the LaCrosse is a solid mid-size to large car offering plenty of creature comforts. It is expected to appear in showrooms shortly.

The 2016 LaCrosse is similar to last year’s model, but has an updated IntelliLink

infotainment system, three additional color choices, and an option for 20-inch aluminum wheels on the higher trim lines. All will be assembled at the General Motors plant in Fairfax, Kansas.

Consumer Reports listed the 2015 Buick LaCrosse as a recommended brand, citing its roomy interior, smooth ride, and responsive handling. Reliability (translation: how many trips an owner can expect to make to the repair shop) is about average. The magazine’s 2016 ratings won’t be out until early spring.

One of the highlights of the LaCrosse is its advanced safety features. The 2015 model earned a five-star overall vehicle safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which should put your mind at ease while ferrying children or grandchildren to their numerous activities. It comes with eight airbags, including thorax airbags for the rear seats. GM’s OnStar package — with crash notification, the ability to call for roadside assistance, and stolen-vehicle tracking — comes standard with all trim lines.

Two optional “driver confidence” packages add even more security.

If you’re looking for a performance car, in which a trip up the Garden State Parkway makes you feel like a NASCAR driver, the Buick LaCrosse is not for you. It has adequate power, to be sure, but faster acceleration and more ponies under the hood are plentiful elsewhere.

The LaCrosse is built more for quiet and comfort. Or as a Car and Driver review put it, the vehicle “combines a pillowsoft ride, hushed operation, and a roomy cabin — perfect for getting comfy.” The car is popular among “Americans planning long interstate excursions and Chinese executives aiming to relax behind their chauffeurs,” the review concludes.

The LaCrosse allows driver and passengers to ride in pampered comfort, hearing little road noise, except perhaps from the engine as the car picks up speed. Buick’s signature QuietTuning, that blocks and absorbs unnecessary noise, is standard on all trim levels. An optional moon roof opens over both front and rear seats for even better views in good weather.

The interior comes with a choice of four color combinations, which include cloth at the lower trim lines and leather in the higher versions. The cabin is roomy, holding three adults in the rear seat, though a couple of reviewers said it’s best to limit that to two for optimum comfort. It provides 41.7 inches of legroom for front-seat passengers and 40.5 inches for those in the back seat. “The rear legroom is enough that even NBA forwards could comfortably sit back there without complaint,” stated an Edmunds review.

Driving the LaCrosse is also a pleasure. Standard features include a steering wheel wrapped in leather, eightway adjustments for positioning the driver’s seat, and an eight-inch touch screen for safety and entertainment. The IntelliLink infotainment system is standard in all versions, and there are two USB ports which allow hook-ups to various devices. Drivers with the proper smartphones and Bluetooth equipment can listen to incoming text messages

2016 Buick LaCrosse light neutral leather interior

Apple CarPlay is standard in the 2016 Buick LaCrosse

Heads Up Display (HUD) technology

ON WHEELS

Driver's seat with Safety Alert vibration

2016 Buick LaCrosse in Graphite Gray Metallic

2016 Buick LaCrosse in Deep Garnet Metallic

on the speakers and respond with voice commands, leaving the hands free for driving.

Buick offers two engine options for the 2016 LaCrosse, both with a six-speed automatic transmission. The standard is a 3.6-liter, V-6 gasoline engine with about 304 horsepower.

It has front-wheel drive with an all-wheel drive option, and delivers an estimated 18 mpg for city driving and about 28 mpg on the highway.

The second engine option is a pseudo-hybrid with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine and eAssist electronic technology, using battery power during deceleration and while stopped in traffic. It has 182 horsepower and is available on the 1SB and 1SL models, but is more fuel-economical with an estimated 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the open road.

Several reviewers preferred the standard gasoline engine for its stronger performance, especially when carrying several passengers and a load of luggage or groceries. On Edmunds’ track testing of both engine types, the traditional gasoline V6 engine went from a standstill to 60 mph in a respectable 6.8 seconds, but the eAssist engine took a leisurely 9.2 seconds to reach that typical highway speed. Either version handles well on the road, taking curves smoothly and offering passengers and driver a cushy ride.

The LaCrosse’s major drawback is its parsimonious cargo space. The V6 model has only 13.3 cubic feet of capacity, and the eAssist version is smaller, with only 10.8 feet. This is a low capacity for a car in the price range, and can be impractical when packing for an extended vacation or hauling around sports equipment for two or three offspring. Some reviewers also mentioned another detriment, in that the driver has a limited view of traffic coming from behind.

Although the LaCrosse is best-known for its spacious cabin and quiet ride, the sedate exterior is also sure to impress.

The website newcartestdrive.com, described the LaCrosse as “handsome and elegant,” with a graceful shape, especially at the top. The bulkier form near the chassis helps “provide a notable presence.” But a couple of reviewers said they would ditch the fake portholes on the hood, a post- World War II Buick addition that doesn’t fit the twenty-first century.

Light-emitting diode elements make the car look ultramodern and high-tech. The headlights are angular with LED accents, and positioned outward to give the car a more commanding appearance. Wrap-around LED taillights illuminate more quickly than conventional bulbs when the driver steps on the brake pedal, creating an extra margin of safety.

The LaCrosse takes up its share of space on the road and in the parking lot, being 197 inches (16.4 feet) long and 73.1 inches (6.1 feet) wide. It stands nearly 5 feet high. It comes in a choice of eight colors, including Dark Sapphire Blue Metallic, Sapphire Gray Metallic, and Ebony Twilight Metallic, all new for the 2016 model year. Wheels range from standard 17-inch machined alloy on the basic model to 20-inch aluminum at the top of the trim line.

So, if you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, hold on to your year-end bonus or any extra cash that Santa Claus may bring, and head on over to your Buick dealer. The LaCrosse might be just what you’re looking for to kick off 2016 in style and comfort. n

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Tis The Season To Be Jolly, Stressed, Overwhelmed, Anxious How I Turned Humbug Into Happiness

Robin Stoloff with husband Richard, their two children, and two nephews (in red) at Christmastime.

Health Watch

By Robin Stoloff

I stood there, helplessly staring at the eleven plastic storage bins and wondered how long it would take to lug them up the basement steps, unwrap all the ornaments and holiday décor, and spread the cheer throughout my home.

Then there was my holiday shopping list … my family, friends, co-workers, hairstylist — can’t forget the hair stylist. Of course I needed to bake cookies again for the neighbors. How could I let them down? Plus, had to make that deadline to create my photo holiday cards, decide what dish to make to bring to my parents, buy the toys for the Salvation Army, and replace the broken string lights for the tree.

Meantime, there was work, bills to pay, kids to take care of, dinners to cook, and I still needed to squeeze in my workouts (or I would really be stressed). Regular life does not stop for the holiday season and it can be overwhelming.

The truth is, I like giving gifts, making cards, baking and decorating, just not all at once. I was drowning in festivities overload. I was suffocating in yuletide over-achievement. Holiday happiness became holiday humbug.

Then suddenly it hit me. I had a revelation. “You don’t have to do it all,” a tiny voice of reason spoke to me.

It was buried deep inside the recesses of my mind, under the tinsel and holly and sparkly ornaments. A feeling of freedom and elation overtook me. I wanted to dance like Scrooge when he realizes he hasn’t missed Christmas. Will I be less

of a person if my stairway isn’t wrapped in holiday greens? Will the Christmas police arrest me if I don’t set up my holiday town and train?

“So, what do you cherish most about the holidays,” that tiny voice continued, “and what could you live without?”

Here is how I saved my Christmas. I reflected on what brought me and my family the most joy. Decorating the tree with my kids has always been a wonderful family ritual. We put on Christmas music, sip hot chocolate, and delight in unwrapping the ornaments and placing them in just the right spot on the tree. Yes, we are keeping the tree-trimming tradition. We switched from a live tree to a faux tree years ago. Although I had felt I was “cheating,” my kids never really cared and it saved us the entire mess, expense and time of hauling a tree into our home and then hauling it back out again. Not to mention, it also saved a tree. I thought about gifts I gave and received, and I honestly could not remember one of them. Then I recalled the times I spent laughing at the dinner table with my family, watching the black and white version of Scrooge with my husband as we wrapped gifts, and chuckling at A Christmas Story with my kids. As corny as this sounds, it was not the “stuff” that made the holidays. It was the memories. It was the time spent with people I love. I was Cindy Lou Who, holding hands with her family and singing, even after the Grinch had stolen her toys.

Since I enjoy sorting through the year’s photos of my kids, I still make cards, but start earlier and cut way down on how many I send. If I don’t have time to bake, I buy the cookies. I decorate with just a few of my favorite holiday items — maybe two or three plastic bins now. My family jumped on the holiday de-stressing band wagon as well. We stopped getting gifts for the adults and now only buy for the kids. Do I need another pair of slippers? Does my dad need another tie? Watching our children’s faces light up as they open their presents is the best gift any parent can get anyway.

Yet, it is still important for me to teach my kids that the holidays are not only about getting, they are about giving. We continue the annual tradition of bringing my son and daughter to the Salvation Army Angel Tree at Boscov’s, where we all pick out a gift for a child in need. Standing in the middle of the toy section, it was almost impossible for them to resist asking for a gift for themselves. After years of mom saying “no”, they learned the valuable lesson of generosity and giving.

While I cannot claim that the holiday season is stress-free, I can say that I enjoy the holidays much more now. I have reduced my to-do list and chosen to continue the traditions that bring me and my family the most happiness. The first step was realizing that I had a choice. We often get so wrapped up in what we need to do, we forget to appreciate what we actually want to do. I paid attention to that little voice of reason that spoke to me in a moment of clarity. If you feel overwhelmed and anxious over the holiday season, you might have heard that little voice struggling to breakthrough. The question is, when it speaks to you, will you listen?

On a personal note, I am so thrilled to continue to do what I love. After almost 30 years with NBC 40, I was not sure what path I would follow when they closed their doors last year. The good folks at njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Holiday 2015

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H E A LT H W AT C H Townsquare Media (Lite Rock, Cat Country, SOJO, ESPN radio and WPG Talk 1450) invited me to do my own radio program to bring you important information from local medical experts and tips to encourage you live a healthier and better life. I am also very grateful to the publishers of New Jersey Lifestyle who have allowed me to write this column for more than ten years. To the viewers, listeners, and readers, thank you for allowing me into your hearts and homes to pursue my passion of improving the health of our local community. I wish you joy, love, peace and most of all, good health for the holidays and always. n Listen to Living Well with Robin Stoloff every Sunday morning from 9-11AM on Lite Rock 96.9, WFPG FM Atlantic City and literock969.com and catch her Health Update features on the five Atlantic City radio stations of Townsquare Media. Robin talks with local professionals and gives practical tips on how to live a longer, happier and healthier life. Join Robin’s Facebook page — Health Update with Robin Stoloff for more great tips.

WE’VE GOT CONNECTIONS at njlifestyleonline.com Log on to our website for all the great stories, archives and expanded listings. With our interactive web addition, you can read the entire issue online. fashion WHAT’S CHIC ON THE STREETS AND TRENDS TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS SEASON. We offer fashion advice on highstreet and designer trends and buys. View the latest fashion trends for the current season, and highlights brought to you by NJ Lifestyle.

10 Ways To Beat Holiday Stress For many people the holidays can be a big humbug. There’s so much to do in so little time, it can be overwhelming. Here are some ways to reduce your stress and bring joy back to the holiday season from lifescript.com.

1. Simplify — Cut back on holiday events, activities and obligations. Just say no to what you don’t truly want to do. Choose to do what brings you the most enjoyment.

2. Focus on One Thing at a Time — Prioritize your tasks, be organized and work ahead.

3. Plan a Budget — Decide how much to spend on each person and stick to it. As you shop, keep track of what you spend.

4. Watch What You Eat and Drink — For some, overindulgence is as much of a holiday tradition as opening gifts. Enjoy, but don’t overdo it. Avoid using alcohol to deal with holiday depression.

Alcohol can intensify your emotions and leave you feeling worse afterward.

5. Break a Sweat — Don’t allow the holidays to interfere with your workouts. Schedule them on your calendar like any other appointment. Even if you have to shorten the duration, keep your body moving. Exercise is one of the best ways to release stress and it will help to burn off those holiday treats.

6. Set Aside Some “Me” Time — Do something you enjoy for at least 15 minutes each day. Read a book, listen to music, take a walk. The rejuvenating effects make it easier to cope with holiday obligations.

dining

7. Give Back — Remember the true meaning of the holiday. Volunteer your time, donate a toy or food item. Helping others gives you a great sense of community spirit and joy.

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8. Keep Expectations Realistic — We are not living in a Norman Rockwell painting. Turkeys will burn, traffic will be slow, kids will have tantrums. Life does not always follow our script. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

9. Get Help — Sometimes the holidays bring sadness over the loss of a loved one or other traumatic event. Share your feeling with a friend or loved one. Join a support group or get professional counseling if you need it. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength.

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Lifestyle Legends

By Sherry Hoffman

1920s Atlantic City

A glimpse into the exciting and oh-so-criminal history of an alluring town THE SLEEK BLACK LUXURY SEDAN GLIDED to a stop at the bustling entrance to the busy hotel.

As the well-dressed young couple stepped out, the driver handed the uniformed parking attendant a generous tip. Uniformed porters grabbed their fancy luggage and followed them to the front desk, where they were assigned an oversized, well-appointed suite overlooking the sweeping expanse of Boardwalk, beach, and ocean.

After enjoying a couple of cocktails in the lounge, they were escorted to an intimate banquette in the formal dining room, where servers offered them starter courses of fois gras and caviar, followed by filet mignon and lobster, and ending with baked Alaska delivered from the kitchen with a flaming flourish.

They would have lingered over after-dinner drinks, but it was just minutes before show time. After a short walk from the restaurant to the theater, the maitre d’ recognized the couple, immediately motioned them to the head of the 46

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line and personally escorted them to the best seats in the house.

Afterwards, it was time to try their luck.

They entered the casino, where the man pulled a thick wad of cash from his pocket. He found room at the rails of a craps table and plunked his money down on the green felt, where it was exchanged for chips.

His companion, meanwhile, chose a slightly more refined game and began betting small amounts on her favorite color (red) and favorite number (7) at a roulette wheel.

Evening gave way to early morning, and the young lady was ready for sleep. She found her man, kissed him goodnight, went to their suite and crawled into bed. The distant rhythm of the surf rocked her to sleep.

Meanwhile, her guy was on a roll. He was now the shooter, and he kept tossing the bones, making his numbers and watching the chips form small towers on the table in front of him. His good luck attracted the attention of a beautiful young woman in a slinky black

dress, who casually sidled up to him and began making small talk.

Soon, he cashed in his chips, found seats at the bar for himself and his new friend and ordered a nightcap. He suspected she was a “working” girl, and his hunch proved correct.

The pair finished off the evening; he left the woman a sizable “tip” and then quietly slipped into his own room, careful not to awaken his sleeping lady.

Was it just the beginning of another decadent weekend in Atlantic City for a couple of swells?

Absolutely. Except these swells weren’t part of the current millennium. They were from the last one, and their Atlantic City escapade took place nearly a century ago during the Roaring ‘20s, considered by many to be the coming-ofage decade for the seashore resort.

A 1929 article in The New York Times captured the essence of Atlantic City.

“Mankind is blessed with but five senses.

Atlantic City tickles them all. The Boardwalk is

“If the people who came to town had wanted Bible readings, we’d have given ’em that. But nobody asked for Bible readings. They wanted booze, broads and gambling, so that’s what we gave ’em.”

—Atlantic City Solicitor Murray Fredericks, as quoted in Nelson Johnson’s “Boardwalk Empire”

Pictured left to right, opposite page, the money Nucky Johnson had printed, El Kadia Egyptian Garden, and the Hotel Jerome.

This page, New Year's Eve drink list.

a magnificent proof of America’s newly-found wealth and leisure. It is an iridescent bubble on the surface of our fabulous prosperity.”

Little about Atlantic City has changed since the Art Deco era. Oh, the architecture is different, and modern transportation has made the resort more accessible to the world compared to the 1920s, when its visitor base consisted mostly of people from Philadelphia and New York. But the allure — the bait that’s always hooked them — essentially remains the same.

People come to Atlantic City today for the same reasons they came when Enoch L. “Nucky” Johnson was Atlantic County’s benevolent and generous dictator. It’s an escape from the grind, a place to relax and enjoy a few nights without the distractions of work and the daily routine of family life. It was a place to drink and eat and see shows and gamble and — for the men — be entertained by “ladies of the night.”

The Atlantic City of today offers some of the world’s top entertainers, just as it did in the 1920s, when young vaudevillians like Milton Berle, Sophie Tucker, Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, and Harry Houdini had people hopping from one nightclub to another. The city also was the jumping off point for shows hoping to make it to Broadway.

Dining? Atlantic City today boasts one of the best and biggest concentrations of celebrity chefs of any city in the country, whose restaurants routinely serve up four-star meals.

There were no celebrity chefs when Nucky was showing off Atlantic City to his gangster friends like Al Capone, Dutch Schultz, Lucky Luciano, and Meyer Lansky. But there were dining rooms that could still match up dish for dish with Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck, Guy Fieri, and Gordon Ramsey and places now relegated to the history books, like Hackney’s, Capt.

Starn’s, Babette’s, and Abe’s.

And there are at least two legendary local

restaurants where Nucky and the boys broke bread that remain as popular today as they were in the 1920s — Dock’s Oyster House, which opened in 1897, and the Knife & Fork Inn, which debuted in 1912 as an exclusive menonly drinking club.

During the early years of the legal gambling era, a couple of casinos experimented with dinner shows: A meal and a show without leaving your seat. Dinner shows were de rigueur during the ‘20s: The Ritz-Carlton Terrace offered dinner shows nightly. So did the El Kadia Egyptian Garden at the stately Hotel Jerome, which once sat where Trump Taj Mahal now stands, and were owned and operated by the family of Lifestyle contributor David Spatz.

Anecdotally, the 1,500 seat venue was said to have had the first indoor ice rink built into the stage.

Although it was never publicly acknowledged, Atlantic City’s reputation as a town wide open for sin and vice and lawlessness was cemented in 1920, when the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution took effect and made the sale, manufacturing and consumption of alcoholic beverages illegal.

Fearful of losing its status as an adult playground, Atlantic City simply pretended it had never heard of the Volstead Act, the popular name for the National Prohibition Act. Not only did Atlantic City have a speakeasy on every corner, but booze was served openly in restaurants and lounges. Liquor bottles wrapped in straw were smuggled into the joints in crates marked “tomatoes” and “lettuce.” The demand was there and the city complied.

Atlantic City was more than simply a place to get a drink in a teacup. Anyone who wanted to buy alcohol in distribution-sized quantities needed only ask a couple of well-connected people before finding a source.

In 1925, the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines carried 43 million tons of revenue freight, but booze wasn’t on the manifest. The rum

runners were smarter than that. Atlantic City became a major port of entry for bootleggers in fast boats powered by converted airplane engines, which picked up their liquid gold from mother ships anchored in federal waters just a few miles offshore. Then — based on land-based signal lights that told them where the Coast Guard was patrolling in their slower boats — the racketeers ran through either the Absecon or the Great Egg Harbor inlets to offload their cargo onto waiting trucks that would pull up to makeshift docks in the maze of tidal creeks in the bay behind Absecon Island.

When the stock market crashed in the late 1920s and plunged America into an economic depression, Atlantic City seemed to withstand the effects better than most places. And when times got really tough in the early 1930s, just before the repeal of Prohibition, Nucky Johnson — in his political role as Atlantic County treasurer — simply printed up his own money: scrip, as it was called back in the day.

Atlantic City’s reputation for lawlessness has been part of its municipal DNA for decades. For a time, the city was more crooked than Lombard Street in San Francisco.

Some got away with breaking the law, but many others did not. Politicians went to jail – Nucky Johnson among them. He was convicted of income tax evasion and spent four years in the slammer. Johnson, always the finagler, was paroled on August 15, 1945, after four years in prison, and took a pauper’s oath to avoid paying the $20,000 fine.

In spite of occasional political corruption that's been part of every era, AC has always found ways to rebound from cyclical, rollercoaster-like rises and falls in popularity and has continuously reinvented itself enough to maintain its reputation as the World's Playground.

Atlantic City has seen the best of times, the worst of times, the best of times. It’s the circle of life. n njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Holiday 2015

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The Social Scene

Annual Girls Night Out a Success Most women probably don't associate mammograms with fun, but Atlantic Medical Imaging's Girls Night Out, held on October 6th at the Galloway office and October 22nd at the Brick Women’s Imaging Center, may have changed all that. These breast health events, held in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, incorporates the things women love: pampering, food and drink, and spending quality time with friends. Women were able to schedule screening mammograms, receive free chair massages, nail polish changes, light hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, as well as the opportunity to meet AMI's female physicians, technologists, and staff.

These women were happy to attend Girls Night Out in the Galloway office.

Guests at the Galloway office enjoying their pink inspired cocktails.

Guests happy to receive their pink door prizes.

Friends gathering over girl talk and hors d’oeuvres.

Santoro Chiropractic, located in Linwood, Manicurists from Elizabeth Arden Red was on site to give chair massages.

Door Spa, located in Galloway.

AtlantiCare Diversity and Inclusion Event Offers Inspiration Nearly 200 students, healthcare workers, and community members attended AtlantiCare’s fourth annual Diversity and Inclusion Event on October 26 at Stockton University. Physician, author and speaker Sampson Davis, M.D., shared his inspirational story of growing up in Newark, NJ and his journey to becoming an Emergency Medicine physician. Davis discussed the importance of community and of setting positive examples for young people, and encouraged his audience to embrace education.

The event was hosted by AtlantiCare’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which help support the mission of the Diversity & Inclusion Council by educating staff about the culture/community; celebrating community/ cultural holidays and events; representing AtlantiCare at community/cultural events; enhancing recruitment efforts; and identifying top health concerns and developing ideas for addressing these concerns. Together, AtlantiCare’s ERGs made donations totaling more than $3,000 to community groups that further the goals of AtlantiCare’s Diversity and Disparities Council. Christine Guzman, health educator with AtlantiCare Heathy Schools, Healthy Children, was recognized as the third annual AtlantiCare Diversity Award recipient for Dr. Sampson Davis shares his inspirational message. bridging the gap in diversity through her outstanding work in the community.

David Tilton, president and CEO, AtlantiCare, shares a smile with keynote speaker Dr. Sampson Davis.

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Denisse Villa and Bob Ortiz presented a $500 scholarship to ACCC student Giana Gensollen.

Guests visit an information table staffed by AtlantiCare’s PRIDE Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

The Social Scene

MBCA Celebrates 25th Annual Installation/Award Gala

Photos by Nick Valinote

The Metropolitan Business & Citizens Association (MBCA) held its 25th Annual Installation/Awards Gala Reception in November at Caesars Casino & Hotel. Over 800 people were in attendance, including leading community/business and union leaders, as well as political and social dignitaries. A surprise appearance from Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell wowed the audience with a live vocal performance.

Lloyd Levenson, Esq. was Master of Ceremonies and AC Mayor Don Guardian was the Installing Officer of the 2016 MBCA Board.

Chairman/President Hon. John Schultz presented the 2015 MBCA Community Spirit Award to Pinky Kravitz, Mr. Atlantic City, for his commitment to the community and legacy in the radio business and region in memoriam. Pinky passed away on Oct. 31st and Dave Coskey of Longport Media accepted on the family’s behalf.

From left to right, Rummy Pandit, Matt Levinson, Josh Randle, John Schultz and Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Cassiello

From left to right, MBCA Treasurer Mike Goloff, Congressman and Mrs. Frank Lobiondo and Sherriff Frank Balles

Mrs. Janet Kravitz with her family and friends

Miss America Betty L to R: Gary Hill, Bill Hughes Jr., Ambassador William Hughes, Cantrell sings at the Gala Special Guest Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell and Phil Elmore

From left to right, Freeholder Ernest Coursey with Board Member George Siganos and friends njlifestyleonline.com

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The Social Scene

AtlantiCare Joins Geisinger Health System AtlantiCare and Geisinger Health System, based in Danville, Pennsylvania, have received final approval — from the New Jersey Attorney General's office and the New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division — for AtlantiCare to become a member of Geisinger Health System. Representatives from AtlantiCare, Geisinger, and invited guests gathered at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City Campus, in November for a joining ceremony to commemorate the union.

“Our membership in Geisinger Health System is tremendous news for AtlantiCare and the people we serve who will benefit from our efforts to provide collaborative, innovative health care,” said AtlantiCare President and Chief Executive Officer David P. Tilton. “We thank those in both organizations who demonstrated vision, courage and effort in bringing these great organizations together.”

“When you get to the heart of it, we are two organizations focused on taking care of patients,” said Geisinger President and Chief Executive Officer David Feinberg, M.D., MBA. “We can now move forward together to advance population health, improve quality, and enhance care for the patients and communities in southern New Jersey.”

AtlantiCare will continue to benefit from its strong brand name, local autonomy, and the expertise of its board of directors and leadership, as well as from Geisinger’s nationally acclaimed innovations in providing quality and value.

David Feinberg, M.D., MBA, president and CEO, Geisinger Health System and David P. Tilton, MBA, president and CEO, AtlantiCare sign the agreement.

From left to right, William Alexander, chairman, Geisinger Foundation Board; David Feinberg, M.D., MBA, president and CEO, Geisinger Health System; David Tilton, MBA, president and CEO, AtlantiCare; and Eugene Arnone, chairman, AtlantiCare Board of Trustees

It will be known as AtlantiCare, a member of Geisinger Health System. Representatives of each organization will sit on the AtlantiCare and Geisinger Health System Foundation boards of directors.

David Feinberg, M.D. and David P. Tilton after signing the agreement.

Women’s Golf Association Donates $32,500 to Mammography Van Atlantic Medical Imaging’s (AMI) Dr. Jan Astin Mobile Digital Mammography Van received a $32,500 donation from the Greate Bay Women’s Golf Association. The donation represents proceeds from the group’s Swing For a Cure golf tournament, held in September at the Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point.

“This is a very generous contribution by a remarkable group of women who are obviously very dedicated to this very worthy cause,” said AMI Foundation Board President Robert M. Glassberg, M.D. “We are very grateful for their extraordinary commitment.”

From left to right, Marilouise Berdow, Marge Levine, Sue Webb, Carla Wyatt, Jane Davis, Liz Mead and Ron Ralston 52

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David Feinberg, M.D., MBA, president and CEO, Geisinger Health System delivers remarks during the joining ceremony.

Stockton University Honors Eight Alumni Eight alumni were honored with Professional Achievement in October as part of Stockton University’s Homecoming Weekend. The award is presented to alumni of Stockton in recognition of significant professional achievement in a specific field of endeavor.

Pictured, front row, left to right: Mary Ann Lee; Dr. L. Scott Larsen; Chandra Anaya; Interim President Harvey Kesselman; Peter Murphy ; Carlotta Marini ; Atlantic City Council President Frank Gilliam; Rick Ricciardi; Dean Jenny Wagner, School of Business. Back row, left to right: Dean Theresa Bartolotta, School of Health Sciences; Dean Robert Gregg, School of General Studies; Dean Lew Leitner, School of Graduate & Continuing Studies; Interim Provost & Executive Vice President Susan Davenport; Dean Lisa Honaker, School of Arts & Humanities; Dean Claudine Keenan, School of Education; Dean Cheryl Kaus, School of Social & Behavioral Sciences; Interim Dean Peter Straub, School of Natural Sciences & Mathematics; and James Connelly.

Photo by Nick Valinote

The Social Scene

Blue Water Grille Hosts Wine Dinner On November 19th, guests enjoyed some of the finest Shannon Ridge wines paired alongside a savory 5-course meal at the Blue Water Grille at Flagship Resort in Atlantic City. Chef Juliano Cannuscio and Chef Brian Valois prepared a delicious variety; including tuna tartare, a poached pear salad, pappardelle, a 10-ounce prime ribeye steak, and finally, a chocolate tasting for dessert. The delicious meal was perfectly paired with a fantastic selection of wines, including Chardonnay, Wrangler/Playtime, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel.

Photos by Eric Weeks

From left to right: Ray Goldstein, Sam Giunta, Mark Callazzo, and restaurant GM Yianni Papaspanos

From left to right: Mary Siracusa, Gene Siracusa, Graig Glick, Joan Fried Glick, and John Devlin

From left to right: Paul D'Amico, Chef Juliano Cannuscio, Yianni Papaspanos, Chef Brian Valois, Ken Shulsky, and Billy Shulsky

From left to right: Kevin Scull, Salvatore Spena, and Carmen Giannuario

From left to right: Kevin Scull, Carmen Giannuario, Rich Boaggio, Donna Boaggio, Kevin Scanlon, Joe Grillo, Wilbur Fields, and Dominic Cordivari

L to R: Katherine Pouleres, John Pouleres, Coby Frier, John Devlin, Mark Mancuso, Yianni Papaspanos, Mercedes Logan, Nancy Mancuso, Bill Logan, and Amanda Cannuscio njlifestyleonline.com

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A Toast to the Holiday Season Some tasteful suggestions to make your season shine

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Lifestyle Wine

By Phillip Silverstone

W

hen I first jumped head first into the wine world in these United States, it was, as many of you know, in a town called Lawnside, NJ, where my late father-inlaw Victor Gerber reigned supreme in his wine and spirits, and beer and cigarettes, emporium … otherwise known as a liquor store. I worked from 6:30 AM until 10 PM, 6 days a week, piling up cases of Budweiser and Miller and Gallo Pink Chablis 3 liters in the warehouse and then spending endless hours loading the floorto-ceiling wall of skids with about 100 beer selections. I was 24, so it was terrific training (both physical and educational) working all those hours and devoting my time to all manner of alcoholic beverages.

And occasionally learning some nuggets of useful information about the brands along the way.

I learned one of the most successful lines of wine were also the most fragile. They were the long necked, fat bottomed wicker encased wines from Chianti — the wicker is known as a fiasco. Coincidentally, it is the same name I use to describe a certain alcoholic state monopoly in an east coast location in this country, not too far from New Jersey ... but I digress.

It took a few years until I realized that the grapes used to produce Chianti were Sangiovese. And, in later years, that single grape variety would become a megastar in its own right as wineries around the world would start producing wines from that grape and calling them by its own name.

Sangiovese, like most grapes, produces an instantly-recognizable bouquet and taste in Tuscany, Italy where Chianti is made.

But in other parts of the globe, it can be directed by the wine maker to offer up many other characteristics which might not be as familiar on first sniff and quaff.

But the Old World isn’t as stodgy as it was back in my early days in the wine world, and Italian producer Avignonesi

has spearheaded a new age of Sangiovese wines.

I recently tasted three Sangiovesedominant wines. And they proved one point very clearly to me. The New World can still learn plenty from the Old World, because the Old World has some brilliant young talent now making the wines, especially at Avignonesi.

The Avignonesi family’s winery was acquired in 2009 by retired Belgian lawyer Virginie Saverys, who has since introduced organic and biodynamic farming methods to the winery, located in the Montepulciano appellation of Italy. Like so many modern wineries, the winemaking team maintains the individual characteristics of each vineyard producing their grapes, and also keeps the grapes natural flavors intact.

2011 Grifi Toscana IGT (approx. $60).

Harvested from several vineyards, the Grifi is a blend of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Each grape variety is confident enough to stand up to its partner and neither overwhelms the other. It features fabulous red berry fruit flavors with some herbal notes and is surprisingly soft and quaffable. Yes, it will marry with winter stews and heavy meat dishes superbly, but don’t dismiss enjoying on its own in front of a crackling fire. This is a big, bold warrior of a wine and, despite its high price tag, it is the equivalent of a bespoke suit, tastefully tailored and beautifully designed.

2012 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG (approx. $29). Harvested from the winery’s eight vineyards, this 100% Sangiovese has tons of fruit flavor with ample character from the long aging in wood barrels. It is possibly the best Sangiovese on the market given its pedigree, the winemaker’s attention to detail, and it’s stunningly delicious flavor for under $30.

2013 Rosso di Montepulciano DOC (approx. $19). The winery presents this wine as its “entry level” Sangiovese. I tend to disagree, unless one thinks of a BMW Mini Roadster as an “entry level” car. Methinks not. But for less than 20 bucks, I would say the pricing is most definitely akin to a VW Bug (may it rest in peace). This wine has a total cherry presence in its sumptuous flavor. It is soft and relatively light, and I am quite happy chucking it in the fridge for 10 minutes. Some 94% of this wine comes from Sangiovese, and to my mind it is fully entitled to take a lap of honor.

I have avoided the very expensive French chateaux wines for my entire wine career because they are indeed expensive and, I believe, overhyped. But, I was recently reminded of the Cru Bourgeois wines, which are a less expensive category and are produced with the same grapes, predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Cru Bourgeois classification is made up of eight Left Bank appellations in Bordeaux: Médoc, Haut-Médoc, ListracMédoc, Moulis, Margaux, Saint Julien, Pauillac, and Saint-Estèphe. And most important to me, is the cost. The average price for Cru Bourgeois wines is between $20 - 40. Here are two perfect examples of the affordable wines from Bordeaux: Château Greysac Médoc Cru Bourgeois (approx. $18). Located in the Médoc hamlet of Begadan, north of St. Estèphe, it features 173 acres of vineyards. For this wine, the chateaux uses grapes from vines which are around 20 years old, adding a rich complexity to the juice squeezed from them. It’s a blend of 65% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot. The wine is aged in oak for one year. Greysac tends to have a typical dark ruby color, hinting at an intense tasting experience. The wine has a rich dark berry flavor with a hint njlifestyleonline.com

LIFESTYLE | Holiday 2015

55

LIFEST YLE WINE

"If you’re looking for a beautiful gift with alcohol content, along with an amazing recipe, boy did you come to the right column. Two of my loves (excluding my wife and Charlize Theron) are drinks with alcohol and Italian fashion designers." of chocolate, leather, and spice. And what an awesome price!

Château Tour Seran Médoc Cru Bourgeois (approx. $40). The Marquis de Ségur was called the “Prince des Vignes” since he owned Château Latour, Mouton & Calon Segur, and the Château Tour Seran during the 17th century. This was probably because the Tour Seran was situated on similar clay and gravel soil as the other chateaux he owned. The vines at this property average 25 years, so again, older vines equals more structure to the wine. The blend used in this wine is: 65% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. The wine is aged for 18 months in 100% new oak barrels (90% French oak and 10% American oak). This mix of wood adds so much more depth and complexity to the juice, yet it is still sold at a fraction of the price of the chateaux in higher classification categories. Again, we have a very dark ruby color with much more prominent ripe red berry fruit flavors, with a hint of chocolate, cedar, leather, and delicious fruit forward fullness in the mouth. To discover everything you need to know about this classification of wines and the many chateaux within the category, visit www.crus-bourgeois.com.

And now let’s try something completely different. Phooey to rosé wines being relegated to summer quaffing. If Coke and Pepsi can be enjoyed in winter, then so too can pink wines. Like this one: SAVED “Magic Maker” Rosé (approx. $15) is the perfect example, a bone-dry Provencal-style wine from California.

According to the winery; “The wine is the result of a project from famous tattoo artist Scott Campbell and legendary winemaker Clay Brock. Although best known for his work on skin, Scott founded SAVED Wines, in part to make his ideal pink wine, a rosé for tough guys. This wine is a blend of some scrumptious grapes: Grenache, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese with a drizzling of a couple of other grapes for some additional flavor. The design reflects Scott’s interest in symbolism and superstition. The wine is fresh, packed 56

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DISARONNO wears CAVALLI

collaboration, DiSaronno’s U.S. Director of Brand Ambassadors Paul Sevigny and DiSaronno’s UK Brand Ambassador Rod Eslamieh have proven yet again that the “special relationship” is alive and well.

The US/UK duo have crafted a “DiSaronno wears Cavalli” cocktail, a unique twist on the DiSaronno Sour.

DiSaronno wears Cavalli Sour 1 ½ ounces DiSaronno 1 ounces lemon juice ½ ounces simple syrup 1 ½ ounces Prosecco 10 dashes Angostura bitters

with an abundance of summer fruits, in particular strawberries and Granny Smith.”

In a mixing glass with ice, shake DiSaronno, lemon, and simple syrup. Strain into wine glass. Top with prosecco and stir. Float 10 dashes of Angostura bitters on top. Garnish with an orange slice.

If you’re looking for a beautiful gift with alcohol content, along with an amazing recipe, boy did you come to the right column. Two of my loves (excluding my wife and Charlize Theron) are drinks with alcohol and Italian fashion designers. Roberto Cavalli makes some nifty threads that exceed my credit card limit, and DiSaronno is one of the most exquisite liqueurs I’ve had a love affair with forever. DiSaronno and Cavalli have come together for one heck of a package: The “DISARONNO wears CAVALLI” (approx. $24.99) partnership is so brilliant that I couldn’t resist taking the photo accompanying this column to prove it!

There are six designs, but probably the most recognizable is the one I received, adorned with a leopard print. This design is super amazing and gets my design of the year award, if such an award existed. It is awesome. It is a perfectly packaged libation for holiday gifting, and because it’s a limited edition, better grab a bottle sooner rather than later. But wait. There’s more — as they say in those wretchedly camp infomercials.

Not only do you get Signor Cavalli’s label, but you also get the elixir that’s in the bottle.

To celebrate the designer and liqueur

A Seasonal Toast When I was quite young back in the United Kingdom, my holiday time treat was a small glass of Cherry Heering cherry brandy mixed with some Warninks Advokaat, a yellow drink terribly thick and rich made from eggs, sugar, and brandy. Quite a concoction, but totally yummy, I enjoyed the drink in a country where I began drinking legally at 17 and was, like most kids in Europe, given a taste of things to come at half that age.

With those memories still fondly etched in the cobwebs of mental snapshots from the halcyon days of my life, I was thrilled to discover the following: Berentzen Cherry Liqueur (approx. $20). It’s quite light, delightfully fruity and with enough fresh, sweet cherry flavor to elevate it from the medicinal taste some cherry-flavored liqueurs might bring to mind. Frankly, I tried it on the rocks and I was a very happy bunny. But, I also tried the recipe that Berentzen provided to me. You need a bottle of stout or porter beer and Bitter Truth Chocolate Bitters (approx. $16.99). If you like the taste of bitter chocolate with a touch of herbs and spices, you have a delicious treat in this bottle. And here’s the perfect recipe for the Holiday Season:

LIFEST YLE WINE Berentzen Oktoberfest 1 ounce Berentzen Cherry Liqueur 2 dashes Bitter Truth Chocolate bitters Stout/porter Add ingredients to beer-filled glass; light stir and enjoy!

A Toast to 2016 Do not read on if you have a low threshold for fun tippling with champagne. Moët & Chandon, the 100% French champagne fizz maker, have been offering the Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial (approx. $60) since the summer. It’s the first sparkler made to be served with ice cubes. Finally bubbly we can enjoy on the rocks. Some people call this wine sweet, I tend to describe it as heavily fruity with some lovely exotic fruit coming through all those bubbles, which do tend to dissipate when the ice is added but the drink isn’t in your glass long enough to notice. It’s a very clever modern spin on a traditional drink and gets my highest praise for total quaffability and sheer drinking pleasure. To buy online where permitted, check ReserveBar. com.

Season’s greetings, and a very happy New Year to you all. Cheers! n

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

Drink Specials & Half-Price Appetizers, Sandwiches & Salads

“Time Out With Phillip Silverstone” is a weekly podcast heard exclusively on TuneIn radio on the free TuneIn app for all smart phones and tablets. “Follow” the show for weekly updates. You can also LIKE Phillip on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Phillipsilverstone and follow him on Twitter: @wining.

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A (Temporarily) Non-Alcoholic Gift Suggestion Govino has produced some seriously nifty wine glasses; a brilliant alternative to breakable glassware and glassware too expensive for the dishwasher (especially if the dish washer’s name is Phillip Silverstone). The Govino Dishwasher-Safe wine glass is the ideal way to enjoy all types of wine if more ornate stemware isn’t available or in settings where breakable glass is simply not feasible Made from a lightweight, food-safe, BPA-free polymer, Govino’s wine glass showcases a wine’s color and projects its aromatics in much the same way as crystal. The glass is also reusable and recyclable, and features Govino’s patented thumbnotch for a firmer grip on your libation. There are various shapes and sizes, including the 16-ounce and 12-ounce wine glass, 8-ounce flute and 16-ounce beer glass. They all sell for $19.95 for a set of 4. For more information, visit govinowine.

At Barista’s Coffee House “Great Coffee is what Life is All About”

Bagels Bagel Sandwiches n Brussels Waffles n Liege Waffles

Espresso Gelato n Cocoa Drinks n Breakfast

Brunch Specials Teas n Brewed Coffee n Frappes

Smoothies Italian Sodas n Floats n Gourmet Desserts

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Open Monday - Friday 7 AM - 6 PM, Saturday 8 AM - 6 PM, Sunday 8 AM - 2 PM

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

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Sushi Crunch

The Fabulous Fin

RESTAURANT REPORT

By Alyson Boxman Levine

F

SEAFOOD AT ITS FINEST, SERVED WITH SPECTACULAR OCEAN VIEWS

For those who know good seafood and demand it when dining out, Fin The deliciousness continues at the restaurant’s lively bar, where cold at the Tropicana is a welcoming sight. Serving the freshest, highest-quality appetizers are served with Fin’s delectable housemade cocktail sauces. ingredients from New Jersey, along with its outdoor, oceanfront seating In addition to classic sushi and sashimi selections, the bar at Fin offers and unobstructed ocean views, your dining experience is destined to be as impressive chef’s platters, maki rolls, specialty rolls, cold seafood appetizers, breathtaking as your view. Every seat in the relaxing “sea chic” dining room and freshly shucked oysters. Spectacular two- and three-tiered shellfish has an ideal view of the ocean. For a more intimate experience, a glasstowers are also available. Wash down these morsels with a tasty local wine or enclosed Captain’s Table offers private dining for up to 10 guests. a specialty cocktail infused with freshly squeezed juices. From WednesdayFeaturing locally-grown food and wine from New Jersey fishermen, Sunday, specials like Wasabi Wednesdays, offering 1/2 price sushi, Sake, and farmers, and vintners, Fin is rated one of the best seafood restaurants in New Saketini; and R & R Sundays, with 1/2 price Raw Bar and wine from 5-8 PM, Jersey by ZAGAT. Along with other numerous awards and honors for FIN’s add to the welcoming atmosphere. creative cuisine, they are also a winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, or simply dinner with indicating a true dedication to wine. friends, Fin is the ideal location to relish fine food and conservation. Fresh Cleverly labeled With Fins or Without Fins,, the delicious dinner entrees seafood and sprawling ocean views; who could ask for anything more. on their extensive menu will not disappoint. Chef Demetrios Haronis’ inspired specialty dishes include “Chef D’s Dancing Shrimp,” “Crabcicles,” and grilled tuna ribs. He draws upon his Mediterranean heritage in executing his vision for FIN, which is “to offer the freshest seafood available from our own shores, paired with locally-grown produce, and served in a relaxing yet refined atmosphere.”

Try the Seared Cape May Day Boat Scallops, with kennett square mushroom and asparagus risotto, truffle butter; or the Double Cut Superior Farms Rib Lamb Chops, paired with charred red onion, fennel, yellow tomato, and natural jus. If you’re in the mood for poultry, the Griggstown Farms Frenched Chicken Breast is pan roasted with fresh thyme, kennett square mushrooms, red pearl onions, broccolini, and natural jus.

Chef Demetrios Haronis was born into the restaurant industry.

He grew up at the Jersey Shore and, at 10 years old, began working in his parents’ restaurant in Wildwood. The hospitality industry runs in the family, starting with his grandfather, to his father and mother and uncles, all successful operators. He learned to cook from his dad and the chefs that worked for his parents, Fin interior booth and finally got his chance to work the line.

He continued his culinary education, working in notable restaurants up and down the Jersey coast from Cape May to Dancing Shrimp Longport, learning from everyone he encountered. Along the way, Demetrios developed a respect for using the highest quality locally-sourced ingredients available. A graduate of the Academy of Culinary Arts in Mays Landing, Demetrios learned the foundation that he still uses today to build upon. Through the chefs at Culinary Arts and exposure to other chefs in culinary competitions and events, he learned to trust himself to create his own dishes instead of just following recipes, combining his Mediterranean background and the freshest seafood and produce available right here in the Garden State.

He joined Tropicana in 1994 as a sous-chef and eventually worked his way through all of Tropicana's restaurants, being promoted to Restaurant Chef, then Executive Chef at Fin. “I love problem-solving, the large volume we do, and the diverse nationalities we come in contact with,” reveals Demetrios. “Every day is something new to see and learn.” Along with Tropicana, he has adopted a philosophy to strive to be green, sustainable, and local. njlifestyleonline.com

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R E STAU R A N T R E P O R T

Creating Classic Traditions MAKE DELICIOUS MEMORIES AT PHILLIPS SEAFOOD

Phillips Seafood in Atlantic City

Chef Paul Drew

Phillips famous jumbo lump crab cakes

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CONSISTENTLY GREAT FOOD is not always easy to find, especially in a resort town. Chefs come and go and exquisite meals can turn into bad experiences faster than the spin of a roulette wheel. Knowing that a great meal awaits you time and time again is one of the driving forces behind the success of Phillips Seafood. For over 50 years, Phillips has been offering guests a classic American seafood menu, serving the freshest, finest seafood available, including Phillips famous jumbo lump crab cakes and live Maine lobsters. The company attributes their success to these simple principles: serve the freshest, finest seafood available, provide outstanding service, and create a memorable dining experience.

Perched atop a pier on the Atlantic Ocean, Phillips Seafood AC offers guests a classic American seafood menu, boasting an array of fresh seafood and Phillips’ famous Maryland-style crab cakes. Located on Level 3 of The Playground, guests are welcomed into an upscale, interactive dining experience.

Their exhibition kitchen will inspire you as you relax and unwind in the beautiful dining rooms. Sit in a romantic booth and let the extraordinary service and sweeping ocean views surround you.

Their ample menu is jam-packed with delicious offerings from the land and sea. Popular appetizers include Hoopers Island Crab Dip, which features warm seasoned breadsticks and a Portabella & Filet Mignon Spring Roll, served with bourbon barbeque sauce. Looking for a fun meal to share? Look no further than the Clam Bake for Two; a Phillips classic featuring a family-style feast — complete with lobster bibs and hot drawn butter — uniquely served tableside in a lobster pot.

Taking on the additional role of General Manager in May, seasoned Executive Chef Paul Drew has expertly risen to the occasion. A graduate of England’s Crawley College and Penn State University, Chef Drew was appointed Executive Chef of Phillips Seafood’s Atlantic City location in December 2006. Chef Drew is highly regarded in the Atlantic City culinary community, holding the position of Director of Foodservice Operations at Atlantic City’s Sands Hotel & Casino.

Prior to his move to Atlantic City he also served as Executive Chef, opening Philadelphia’s acclaimed Dickens Inn and Hershey Hotel.

Some of the recent trends in cooking include serving smaller portions of hearty food prepared in different styles, revealed Chef Drew. And on Saturday, December 12, visitors can experience this trend firsthand. The restaurant is continuing their Cook, Crack and Eat series with a seven-course meal. Entitled Holidays with the Drews, the event menu will include some of Chef Drew’s new creations, along with perfectly-paired wine to accompany each dish.

Hoping to teach attendees lasting holiday cooking wisdom, Chef Drew explains, “It’s not about the fancy chef’s equipment; it’s about the passion of cooking.” With courses ranging from lobster bisque to crab cake lasagna, guests will receive a tasting plate of each mouthwatering course.

With its roots on Hoopers Island, Maryland, the Phillips seafood tradition began at the A.E. Phillips & Son processing plant, which sourced wild crabs, fish, and oysters from the Chesapeake Bay. Looking for a solution to their surplus crabs, in 1956 the family opened the first Phillips Seafood Restaurant in the seaside town of Ocean City, Maryland. They became instantly successful and expanded to new locations and markets. From the start, the company has focused on bringing the culinary traditions and welcoming hospitality of Maryland’s Eastern Shore to each and every guest. Phillips knows there is no replacing authenticity and many of their recipes are generations old, lovingly passed down.

Treat yourself and your loved ones to a memory-making meal at Phillips Seafood this holiday season. Your taste buds will surely thank you. n

Lifestyle Cooking With Chef Will Savarese

Holiday Reflections Live to the fullest this scrumptious season A

s the leaves fall all around, yet another season is upon us. Where does the time go?

It just seemed like yesterday we were talking about our summer plans. How much of us accomplished what we planned? I, for one, feel like a lot has been planned and conquered.

Now with shorter days ahead, we really have to use our daylight hours wisely. I will still strive to make the best of each day, and if that means on some days getting an early start, then so be it. There will still be a few unexpected warm sunny days, and when they are here, we need to grab them. It won’t be too long until the cold Brigantine wind is knocking at our door.

As we enter the Holiday season, we should take some time out of our busy lives and make an effort to do something different for someone. From just checking in on someone, to seeing if a friend or neighbor needs something from the store. This week, pick up something for them. Do something out of the ordinary.

It will surprise some people. Who knows, one day someone may do something surprisingly nice for you.

In this time of holiday giving, we should look at ourselves and ask, what kind of person are we? I feel it's a time to reflect. We should treat people the way we would like to be treated. If we did the little things in life, it would be a nicer environment for everyone. So, as we

sit down for our holiday meal, take some time to remember others who may not be with us any longer, or those that simply couldn't make the celebration. Also, remember those that are less fortunate. We are all truly blessed, and if we really slow down and look around us, it becomes more and more visible.

On a Holiday culinary note, keep it simple over the holidays. This will also help in reducing the stress. It's a perfect time to celebrate the spirit of togetherness. Dinner with loved ones, lots of catch-ups, and, of course, time spent sharing and enjoying amazing food. All that's left to do is keep the drinks topped and settle in to share an enjoyable feast. Happy Holidays to you and all your loved ones. Wishing you all the best for the New Year. n

Recipe Corner Sweet Potatoes, with orange and banana 4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks 2 cinnamon sticks 2 ripe bananas, cut into pieces 1 cup orange juice 1 cup cream 1 cup milk Bring to boil sweet potatoes with 1 cinnamon stick and 1/2 cup milk. Cook until soft. Add bananas, orange juice, cream, remaining milk, and 1 cinnamon stick in pot and bring to boil, then simmer. Place potatoes in bowl and mix on slow speed. Remember to take cinnamon stick out first. Slowly pour in orange/cream mixture.

Mix until smooth. Adjust seasoning. Can be made ahead of time and just warmed in the oven.

Enjoy!

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dining gallery

Blue Water Grille

Ram’s Head Inn

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

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

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

Crab Trap

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maplewood

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

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Sofia

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

The Melting Pot

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

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

Barista’s Coffee House

199 New Road Ste. 10, Central Square, Linwood 609-904-2990 baristascoffeehouse.com Owners Mark and Debbie Becker have created the perfect “neighborhood” atmosphere coffee house.

Brewing up more than just coffee, customers come back time and time again for Barista’s espresso, tea breakfast, Liege waffles, Brussels waffles, gourmet desserts, and Italian gelato. Once you walk through the doors, you instantly become part of the “Barista’s Family”. Open Mon. - Fri., 7 AM-6 PM and Sat., 8 AM-6 PM.

We’ll be the first to admit our name doesn’t tell the whole story.

Bountiful Seafood.

Succulent Steaks.

Perfect Pastas.

And yes, Award-Winning Crab Cakes.

2015 Best of Press Awards: “Best Seafood Restaurant”

Gift Ce

tes rtifica

Avail

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Tomatoes

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

Somers Point 609-927-7737 www.thecrabtrap.com Serving from 11am Children’s Menu Available Lunch • Dinner • Cocktails Live Music • Deck Bar

“Home of The World’s Best Spaghetti for over 70 years, and so much More!”

Angeloni’s II

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

Joe Italiano

Jimmy Italiano

Roberta’s by Joe Muldoon

1205 Tilton Road, Northfield, NJ 609-677-0470 robertasbyjoemuldoon.com A young Joseph Muldoon found his passion for food early on; while still at a tender age he began to work in the kitchen of New Jersey country club, Scotland Run. It was through this experience that Chef Joseph knew he wanted to pursue a career in the culinary field, but wasn’t sure what institution would allow his creativity to flourish.

Almost in time to celebrate his 28th birthday, Muldoon opened his first independent restaurant, Roberta’s, at the intersection of Tilton and New roads in Northfield. Named for his mother, a home economics teacher whom he credits for instilling in him a love of cooking.

For almost 70 years Joe Italiano’s Maplewood has been known for its consistently Good, GOOD Food! We believe that freshness and loving preparation are keys to satisfied customers! We have high standards for our food.

Consistency can and should be expected. Our food is fresh, salads are made to order, and pasta is boiled right before sauce is poured over it. Our “Gravy” or red sauce is made fresh daily and is loved by the people in the area.

We only use the finest ingredients. The Original Maplewood. Two locations — Same Great Food. Your Choice.

470 White Horse Pike Hammonton, NJ 609-561-9621

6126 Black Horse Pike Mays Landing, NJ 609-625-1181

www.joesmaplewood.com njlifestyleonline.com

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casino dining

TROPICANA (THE QUARTER) Il Verdi

Broadway Burger Bar

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

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

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

Cuba Libre

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

RESORTS Gallagher’s Steakhouse

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

PLAYGROUND AT CAESARS Phillips Seafood

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

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

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HARRAH'S Sammy D's Harrah's Resort, 777 Harrah's Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 609-441-5402 sammyds.com Sammy D’s is an all-you-could-ask-for eatery from culinary sensation Chef Sam DeMarco. At Sammy D’s, a retro restaurant, bar and lounge, Chef DeMarco takes East Coast favorites to the next level with his Philly Cheese Steak Dumplings, Lollipop Wings, SAM-'Whiches and Craft Drafts.

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

Award-Winning Seafood

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

Old Homestead Steak House

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

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

phillipsseafood.com atlantic city

609.348.2273

$5 validation at caesars self-park acebook.com/PhillipsSeafood

@PhillipsSeafood

DINING GALLERY ADVERTISING RATES $95.00 per month

Izakaya

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

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

All units in full color.

Rates include all production.

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

NJ LifestyLe MagaziNe CALL 609-404-4611 FOR RESERVATIONS

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A Final Word By Marjorie Preston

Slow Down the Holidays Savor the season with these wonderful ideas

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t’s the most wonderful time of the year — a time of cold noses, warm hearts, and dashing through the snow. It’s also one of the most stressful seasons — of fighting store crowds, standing in lines, racking up credit card debt, and enduring family dinners by downing way too much egg nog (or the 80-proof equivalent).

When did it all get so crazy? In spite of many modern conveniences — e-cards, online shopping, artificial trees, and other “time-savers” — we can’t seem to slow down or catch up. The holidays simply accelerate the race we run each and every day: the race to do more, earn more, consume more, and of course, post it all on social media.

This year, consider pulling the plug on all those conveniences, and bring back old-fashioned ways of making merry: Hand-writing cards, and giving homemade gifts. Reading out loud to pajama-clad little ones, and never rushing to get to the end. Sharing time with the people you like and love, without feeling the compulsion to also share it on Facebook.

Here are some other ways to slow down the holiday season.

Get a real Christmas tree, and make a day of it. Most people I know have artificial trees — pre-lit and sometimes even pre-decorated, the kind that pop open like umbrellas. But there’s nothing like piling into the car, driving out to the country, and hunting down the perfect Norway spruce or Douglas-fir. Once you choose your tree, it’s tagged, cut, bagged and lashed to the top of the car. And when you get home, it fills your home with fragrance.

A real tree lends an old-fashioned, Currier-and-Ives air to a holiday season that often feels crassly commercialized. Find the perfect Christmas tree — from ceiling-scrapers to table-toppers — at one of many local farms (the Garden State lives up to its name with more than 230 Christmas tree farms). This is a delightful tradition worth preserving.

Bake home-made cookies — from scratch! Betty Crocker has made it way too easy to slice and bake — but it’s not half as much fun. I remember the last time my young nephew came to visit. He wouldn’t — or couldn’t — tear himself away from a handheld video game until I recruited him to help out in the kitchen. We made cookies. We made a mess. We made a happy memory. By the end of the afternoon, covered in flour and sugar, we had the best batch of chocolate chip cookies ever. Sure, they were a little lumpy, not the

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uniform spheres we could have had with a premade cookie roll. But they were the hit of the holiday table (people can always tell the real cookies). Cooking or baking side-by-side with someone you love is a bonding experience. Don’t rush through it. Besides, it’s a surefire way to pry your young person away from “Marvel Avengers.”

Watch a holiday movie — on the big screen. They’re sweet, heart-tugging and just a little hokey — old holiday movies like “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “Christmas in Connecticut,” and of course that favorite of baby boomers, “A Christmas Story.” Did you know you can actually see these films the way as they were meant to be viewed, on the big screen? Each year, a vintage holiday film comes to theatres around the country, thanks to Turner Classic Movies and Fathom Events. Last year, it was Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, singing and dancing in Technicolor splendor in “White Christmas.” This year, it’s “Miracle on 34th Street,” with the late Maureen O’Hara in all her beauty (one caveat: the 1947 film, also starring Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, and a young Natalie Wood, is in black and white, so you won’t get the full impact of O’Hara’s flaming red hair). It’s still a great movie. So pop the popcorn, grab the kids, and settle in for a holiday classic. For locations near you, visit fathomevents.com.

Carol singing (no kidding). I’ll never forget the winter’s day a few years back, when a ragtag band came marching through my neighborhood, armed with kazoos and one lone ukulele. They had clearly broken free from a local holiday party, and wonder of wonders, they were caroling! Really, who’s done that since Dickens’ day? They weren’t the Three Tenors by any stretch, and they may have wassailed just a bit too much before taking to the streets. But as they roved from door to door, muffled up to the eyes and regaling us with airs old and new, the singers caused quite a phenomenon. All along the way, doors opened, and people emerged. Neighbors who barely nod hello all year sang along with total strangers. And one or two even joined in the parade. This year, I dare you — I doubledog dare you — to be the pied piper in your neighborhood, and go caroling.

To enjoy your holidays more, paradoxically, don’t try to save time, but to spend it well. It’s your choice: a slice-and-bake holiday, or one that is hand-made and savored. And don’t forget, this approach works all year long! n

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n As INDEPENDENT ADVISORS, we remain product neutral, transparent, and answer only to you, the client. n With an emphasis placed on FUNDAMENTAL FINANCIAL PLANNING, we strive to help you achieve your long term investment goals. n With over $400 Million in assets under management, we have the RESOURCES, the EXPERIENCE and the KNOWLEDGE to help you achieve your financial goals. n THOMAS E. REYNOLDS, CPA is designated as a National Football League

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