Talk of the Town - Spring 2014 by Bergen County the Magazine

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

eighty6 Contributing Writers Christopher Blake Julianne Cantarella Jennifer Davis Jay Eagleson Jake Gallagher Joseph Gratkowski Donald J. Levine Christine Modica Cristin Pontillo Richard Posluszny Nick Poyner

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Gentlemen, Welcome to 2014! I know it has been a while since you’ve heard from me last. Please forgive me. We merrily strolled right through the holidays and then that polar vortex kept me hibernating ever since! Luckily, I have begun to thaw. Thank you for your patience. Just last week, we saw temperatures climb into the 60s, only to plummet to the 20s the next day. Mother Nature has played a cruel, cruel joke on us so far this year. Of course, we remain optimistic. After all, we did get to spend a great deal of time in the home theater watching “Frozen.” I admit Disney movies are my guilty pleasure. Those luxurious theater seats and big screens can make for an amazing snow day, but I’m ready to venture outside again. Speaking of great TV, have you all seen “True Detective” on HBO? Incredible! We chatted with actor and Tenafly native Jay Huguley, who has been on a roll as of late, appearing in both “True Detective” and the Academy Award-winning film “12 Years a Slave.” With even more of his work coming out later in 2014, his star is truly on the rise. Also, baseball has finally returned—well, almost. At least in Florida and Arizona they’re getting warmed up for the season ahead! We take a look back at some of the fashion choices in our favorite baseball films, and recall all of those classic moments that make us think of Americana. The upcoming season wouldn’t be complete without some fantasy baseball tips. We go around the horn with Larry Schechter, author of Winning Fantasy Baseball, to see what it will take for us to climb to the top of our league this year. Play Ball! We have promised you the best since day one. In putting together each Gentlemen’s Guide, we have taken a macro approach to understanding the essence of what it means to be a gentleman. From grooming, style, automobiles, and restaurants, to the best damn technology and gadgets out there, we have you covered. Of course, we enjoy hearing your feedback as well. Maybe we missed a thing or two. Maybe there are extraordinary men doing extraordinary things out there and it has passed us right by. We never claimed to be perfect men. At the end of the day, we’re just the men we always aspired to be: Gentlemen.

For advertising and information, call 201-265-2286. Copyright 2014. All materials are the property of Bergen County the Magazine, LLC. and may not be copied or reproduced without written consent from the publishers.

SPRING 2014

Yours truly, Bob Dodge

SPRING 2014 8

110 Years and Counting

CONTENTS 58

Rolls-Royce continues to build the finest automobiles known to man

22 Questions for Jay Huguley From Tenafly to True Detective

Planar Systems and Runco 30 years of display innovation

Grooming 101

Fantasy Baseball is Here at Last!

Five Yoga Poses for the Business Man

Rx Strength Training Feel the steel, and experience the benefits

What is High-Definition Audio? The difference between hearing and listening

Why We Love It The Gentlemen’s Guide to Eating & Drinking Man needs sustenance to survive. A gentleman requires much more…

The Brick House Cigar Shop For superb smokes and local flavors, head to this new shop in Wyckoff

Suffering from Peripheral Arterial Disease?

Spring Fever Four ways to turn up the heat in your relationship

Meridian Loudspeakers

The DSP Path

Grass Stains and Dungarees

Get the kick back in your step!

Exploring the All-American style of baseball films

Get Google Now

Late-night talk shows and New York Post front page headlines

Man Central The newest trends

Sony Boutique Opens in Allendale

It’s that time of year again, folks

Looks for the fashionable man

Money Sense

The cutting-edge company opened a brand-new showroom at Talk of the Town

Style Guide

With these simple and effective moves, a busy work schedule won’t keep you from enjoying the many benefits of a regular yoga practice

Talking to parents about money

The tech giant’s personal assistant will change your life How to choose the right products

Dream Theater When Luiz moved into his new home in Tenafly, he finally made his vision a reality

March Madness? I’d say...

Ulysse Nardin Sailing ahead, steering timepiece technology into new territory

58 74 6

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110 Years and

Counting Rolls-Royce Continues to Build the Finest Automobiles Known to Man WRITTEN BY

RICHARD POSLUSZNY

f I were to show you two interlocking capital Rs, or better yet, the iconic flying lady statuette known as the Spirit of Ecstasy, it wouldn’t take you long to associate the images with Rolls-Royce. Other companies or celebrities may have more clout in modern pop culture, but when it comes down to it, there’s only one brand that sits atop the throne of luxury. Think about it: What other brand has attained the status of being top-notch and can have its name applied to any object? How many times have you heard someone say, “It’s the Rolls-Royce of…” when talking about the best restaurant, laptop, or smartphone? The flying lady wasn’t always flying as high as it is today. Before Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was sold

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to BMW in 1998, its products were known for being fragile, and frankly, stale. Take the Corniche convertible that was built from the early 1970s until the 1990s for example. When you build the same product for 20 years, that’s not exactly pushing the boundaries of innovation. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Eric Shepherd, president of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North America, to discuss the latest happenings at the English based company. From an outsider’s perspective, Rolls-Royce may seem like just another storied brand that’s simply celebrating 110 years, but in chatting with Shepherd, it became clear that just because there’s some snow on the roof, doesn’t mean there isn’t any fire in the oven. If you observe Rolls-Royce’s

product portfolio, you’ll notice several options which you can choose from if you want to reward yourself with simply the best. The Phantom is the company’s flagship nameplate. It now features a standard wheelbase sedan, an extended wheelbase sedan, a convertible, and the rarely seen coupe. It was the first new Rolls-Royce vehicle produced under the BMW umbrella, and was launched in the early 2000s. The Phantom would set the tone for an exciting, successful era for the brand. The Ghost was the second vehicle to make its way to the market, and it shows where the company is headed in the future. A smaller, more modern take on the Rolls-Royce brand, the Ghost is available as both a standard and extended wheelbase sedan. According to Shepherd,

the Ghost has been one of the major drivers of the company’s growth because it has helped attract a more youthful demographic. In addition, because of its more manageable size, approximately 10 percent of Ghost buyers are members of the fairer sex. Last, but certainly not least, is the all-new Wraith. Introduced in 2013 at the Geneva Motor Show, the Wraith is the most powerful, and most sporting Rolls-Royce ever to be produced. I don’t doubt that, as it boasts a 624-horsepower engine. Some members of the motoring press have criticized it for its forward-thinking fastback design, but I personally love it with a two-tone paint job. Shepherd says it has garnered an overwhelmingly positive reception. How has Rolls-Royce been so successful as of late? It’s simple, re-

ally. Rolls-Royce builds very close relationships with its customers. As a result, Rolls-Royce builds vehicles that its customers already want. According to Shepherd, “Growth will come from cars that customers ask for,” and considering how all of its products start at a base price of over a quarter of a million dollars, this is a different ballgame that requires smart planning and a lot of positive customer interaction. Rolls-Royce just celebrated its fourth consecutive year of record sales, so Shepherd must be onto something. Though the U.S. market is the volume leader at the moment, Rolls-Royce has been expanding its clientele to all parts of the world, including the BRIC countries, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East. With a growing client roster and

a more diverse set of buyers, RollsRoyce has become renowned for its efforts to personalize its products. According to Shepherd, almost 100 percent of new Rolls-Royce vehicles come with some element that has been customized. While some buyers request initials etched onto doors, or special embroidery on the seats, there are also some more proper customized cars. One example I saw on the internet was built for a New Jersey-based collector who wanted a yellow exterior and a yellow interior for his Phantom convertible. Shepherd told me about one customer who requested a humidor in lieu of a glove compartment, and another customer who asked for his vehicle’s door panels to support thermoses for picnics that were upholstered with the Continued on pg. 10

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110 Counting

Years and

Continued from pg. 9

same material as the car’s interior. So, what exactly makes a RollsRoyce so special? Having never driven one for myself, I recently had the opportunity to spend some time in a Phantom. I’ve driven just about everything under the sun, but there’s really no other way to put it: Nothing compares to the Phantom. The Phantom is so far removed from even the best large luxury sedans. You feel like this is what it feels like to really drive a car. Everything else is a mere go-kart. The motor is eerily quiet, and will never come remotely

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close to disturbing an in-cabin conversation. Even when you really put the pedal to the metal, the Phantom doesn’t lurch forward with rude manners; it elegantly wafts along. I’ve never been on a magic carpet, but the Phantom is as close as I’ll probably come in this lifetime. You can tell that the smoothness of the ride is one of Rolls-Royce’s highest priorities in research and development, and that nothing is allowed to compromise it. Even when driving over railroad tracks there are no noticeable bumps. Riding in a Phantom is more like

riding in a living room than a mere automobile, except it’s probably built better and is more comfortable than any living room you’ve been in. While Rolls-Royce is a company that has expanded into a variety of new models, and offers more sporty and tech-enabled vehicles, it remains true to its heritage of building the best luxury automobile around. There’s a reason why those interlocking Rs are so iconic: They earned it. Richard Posluszny is a freelance writer based in Bergen County.

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Questions for

JAY HUGULEY T INTERVIEW BY

JUSTIN HENRY DAVIDSON

his Tenafly native is one of the lucky few. Huguley dreamed of becoming an actor, and he made it happen. He’s been out in Los Angeles for the past 13 years, and though he misses the bagels, the pizza, and the people, the self-proclaimed Jersey Boy has been on a roll recently, having appeared in Steve McQueen’s critically-acclaimed film “12 Years a Slave,” and HBO’s latest hit, “True Detective.” We chatted with him about how he got started, his latest projects, and what he has planned down the road. You grew up in close proximity to Manhattan. Did your parents take you to Broadway shows as a young kid? They sure did. We’d go for my birthday every year, and usually once during the holidays we’d go. That’s where I saw the first plays. I think the first one I saw was “They’re Playing Our Song,” a musical. Then I saw “Mack & Mabel,” and “Evita” and all those first Broadway plays made a huge impression on me. What were some of your favorite plays and films? That’s a really good question. There are so many, but let me think. I was mesmerized by “The Wizard of Oz” as a kid. I just remember waiting for that to come on TV every year. I think, in terms of plays, I think the first one that really blew my mind was “Evita” with Patti LuPone when that opened. I was just completely, completely enthralled. Did you act in any local New Jersey productions? I did all the school plays, you know, since I was a kid in elementary school. Then I went to a boarding school. I was always doing school plays. [In college] I started to get to know professional actors, and I could kind of see a professional career down the road for myself. I saw that you double majored in Political Science and Communications at American University. Did you take acting

classes there as well? I was taking lots of theater classes and directing classes. The first play I auditioned for at American University was “The Glass Menagerie,” and the only reason I auditioned for it was because I was taking a directing class, and one of the assignments was to audition for the school play and to just get an idea of what an actor’s experience is. And I got it, and I think “The Glass Menagerie” was the first time I thought, ‘Wow, this is incredibly thrilling, and I think I really want to be an actor.’ When did you first catch the acting bug? There’s a moment in the second act of that play “The Glass Menagerie” where a very, very important piece of information is revealed, and I remember there was a few gasps in the audience. I remember that being an incredible rush—that we were telling the story, and that they were with us, and that they were following it and that was my first taste of real storytelling. That was it. What was your welcome to showbiz moment? Well, I mean my first job in Los Angeles was a recurring role in “General Hospital” and I think that was the first time. Showing up on set having to create a character, having other professional actors supporting me, and you know,

being part of a story being told—I knew that was my first job. It was a very popular show and it was thrilling. That was when I first moved to Los Angeles, so sometime in the late ‘90s. Who are your mentors? I had an acting teacher named Milton Katselas, and he died in 2008, but he was the first person that really saw me as an artist and treated me like an artist, and pushed me hard, believed in me. I think we have those people that believe we can do even more than we think we can, and I think those people are incredibly important. He pushed me very hard, and was very, very tough on me, but really believed that I could make a career. How did he push you? When you come to Los Angeles especially, you get typecast. People immediately want to make money off of you, so they want to sort of cast you in a certain way that they think is appropriate. Milton saw sort of a much wider range of parts for me, and thought I was capable of a lot more, and not just one thing. So he really encouraged me to work in class on Shakespeare, and Tennessee Williams—some more complicated parts that required more of me because he really felt that I should not be just playing the boyfriend, or the husband, or the friend my whole life.

This year has been huge for you. But let’s start by talking about “12 Years a Slave.” Directed by the British director Steve McQueen, this film has drawn universal acclaim, and has won numerous awards. What was it like auditioning for that role, and how did you feel about landing the part as the Sherriff ? (Laughs). I have a huge smile on my face just hearing the question. I was completely over the moon. I was telling somebody this last night, but in this business, you get very used to not getting the exact thing that you want, and you’re taught to be OK with it because there’s so much competition. But this part I wanted really, really badly and I admitted it, and I worked very, very hard on the audition. I auditioned once, and then they called. I remember walking out of the audition and thinking ‘That went really, really well I think.’ They called again, and they brought me back in and asked me to make some more adjustments to my audition, and then the director met with me via Skype, and asked me some more questions, and had me try a few other things. Then about two weeks after that, I think when I had finally let it go, that maybe it wasn’t going to happen, and the audition process in itself was exciting, they called and said that I had gotten it. The next day I was on a plane for New Orleans. How do you prepare for a role such as that? Is there any research that you need Continued on pg. 14

Continued from pg. 13

to do beforehand? Most of the times with auditions you have very little time. You get the call maybe the afternoon before, or the night before, so you just need to learn things very, very quickly…With “12 Years a Slave,” I actually had a couple of days before the audition so I quickly read the book which I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of before. It’s a completely astounding work. And then I just made some choices about who this guy was, and how he got where he was. I worked a little bit on the accent, which was rural Louisiana. So I just did as much as I possibly could. Once I was cast, I did a lot more research. What was it like working with actors such as Brad Pitt, and Michael Fassbender? Brad Pitt was a producer on the movie, so he was my boss. But Michael Fassbender and Chiwetel Ejiofor are the ones that I mostly worked with. You know, when actors are that good, half your work is done. It’s that old adage of hitting a tennis ball back. If you play tennis with someone who is much better than you are, it just makes you better immediately, and that’s what it

felt like. On that set, there wasn’t a lot of chatting, so much as people there to do a job and they’re so good at it. When you’re working with someone that good, you really just have to listen and show up and just be in the moment.

truth. I just think it’s extraordinary, and will for sure stand the test of time.

What about Steve McQueen as a director? He’s one of the best modern directors, I would say. What was it like working under his direction?

I’ve always been a huge fan of David Simon ever since “The Wire” was on, and I just think he creates incredible stories—some of the best television ever. When that audition came up, again, I really wanted it, and I worked very, very hard on it. I think for an actor, someone who makes television like that, where it’s about real people, and real situations, you know, it’s an incredible experience. You have great directors, great writers, and you sort of feel—it’s about post-Katrina New Orleans—and you feel like you’re sort of making something really important.

You never know what you’re going to get before you meet a director, and for me, Steve worked exactly the way I love to work. He creates a very, very loose atmosphere and he trusts actors. He gives the actors a lot of room to try things and to fail, and to mess it up. There’s a lot of freedom in that. He’s really an actor’s director. Where do you think “12 Years a Slave” will rank in cinematic history? I think it’s going to be one of those AFI 100 Greatest Films. I think it’s extraordinary. I really think it’s a masterpiece. You know, I think it’s an important film. You watch it, and you really get the sense that a director is finally coming along and telling the

“When you’re working with someone that good, you really just have to listen and show up and just be in the moment.”

You’ve also appeared in HBO’s “Treme” for the show’s third and fourth seasons. Could you tell me about that?

You will appear in “True Detective,” a new show starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. From what I’ve gathered, this has the potential to be the next big HBO hit. Personally, I’m really looking forward to it. Without giving too much away, what can you tell me about the show, and what audiences can expect? Well, OK, without giving too much away. I mean, I think it’s the kind of story where just when you think you have it figured out, you realize you don’t. It’s a surprise at every turn. You know, that was an incredible project to work on because—I just did one episode—but it’s a really, really great character part. My stuff was with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. When an actor goes to work on a set, you have a call sheet waiting in your trailer, and it lists the actors working that day. So, to see Harrelson, McConaughey, Huguley, on the call sheet—it was only three days, you know, I took a picture on my phone. It was pretty exciting. All of my stuff is literally just three of us. So, it was really, really cool. They’re both just amazing actors. And the story is written by Nic Pizzolatto, who is a great mystery, thriller, crime novelist, and it is as twisting, and turning as you could possibly imagine—and dark. Continued on pg. 16

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ucts st prod t e u q o i d au are available a

Designing Your Digital Lifestyle

TALK T WN of the

audio • video • automation • home theaters

www.talkofthetownvideo.com

Continued from pg. 14

Your career has really taken off as of late. In addition to “Treme,” “True Detective,” and “12 Years a Slave,” you will be appearing in a few film parts next year including “When the Game Stands Tall,” alongside Laura Dern and Jim Caviezel, and Alexander Ludwig, and then Helen Hunt’s new film, called “Ride.” Can you tell us about those projects, and what it means for you to be in roles such as those? [“Ride”] was actually one of the most beautiful scripts I’ve ever read. [Helen Hunt] wrote it, and it’s a stunning story. I got to work with her, and Richard Kind, and it was just totally thrilling. For “When the Game Stands Tall,” I actually just had one day on that movie, but that’s again a great script, and it’s about football, and that also shot in New Orleans, so I was back in New Orleans with all my old friends. I’m really excited about it. What would you say your favorite role has been up to this point? I would say the character I got to play

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on “Treme.” For an actor, the most exciting thing is when the person you’re playing—at least for me—the person you’re playing doesn’t turn out to quite to be who they seem to be. That’s always a really fascinating thing to play. The part of Will Branson on “Treme,” David Simon is such a smart writer that it’s so ambiguous who this guy is, so it gives an actor the opportunity to very, very subtly peel back the layers of the onion, as to what this guy’s deal is, and what his intentions are. I think on a day-to-day basis, that was my favorite part.

that away. I’ll always be a Jersey Boy. How are the pizza and bagels out in Los Angeles? (Laughs). Nowhere near where they are in New Jersey. One of the many things I miss. How do you start your day?

I would say probably I’ve been here 13 years.

The great thing about California is you wake up and it’s always great weather. I usually start with a run or a surf, or a hike. Then I sit down at my desk with a big cup of coffee and I get to work. If I have an audition that day, I start memorizing lines or if I need to be on a set, I get to where I need to be. I’m an early riser.

Do you ever miss New Jersey, and the East Coast?

Do you have any words of wisdom for young, aspiring actors?

I always miss Jersey. I’m a Jersey Boy through and through. A lot of my friends out here are from Jersey. I think when you’re born in New Jersey, you’re born in New Jersey. Nobody can take

If you want a career as an actor, just do as much as you can early on. If you really want it, you can make it happen. And don’t get discouraged. You have to be prepared for a bumpy ride.

How long have you been in Los Angeles?

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PLANAR SYSTEMS AND RUNCO 30 Years of Display Innovation WRITTEN BY

JENNIFER DAVIS

ou may not realize it, but chances are you encounter Planar or Runco displays every day. All around the world, you’ll find our video wall displays, interactive touchscreen monitors, and other display solutions not only in home theaters but also on desktops, in airports, at universities, in sports arenas, hospitals and retail stores. Headquartered in Beaverton, Ore., Planar Systems, Inc. was the brainchild of three men—Jim Hurd, Chris King, and John Laney—who spun off from Tektronix to form their own company in 1983. Planar was the first U.S. manufacturer of commercial electroluminescent (EL) displays, which it initially manufactured for the military and other demanding segments. Eventually, Planar expanded to include commercial markets. By 1999, Planar had become the largest and most-diversified custom display systems company in North America. Acquired by Planar in 2007,

Runco has been a leading brand in the high-end, custom home theater market for the past two decades. Known worldwide for producing the world’s finest home theater products, Runco products such as CineWide and Video Xtreme™ have been some of the industry’s most advanced home theater solutions.

A Global Leader in Display Innovation Over the past three decades, there has been a tremendous amount of innovation in display technology and Planar has been at the forefront every step of the way. From advanced performance LED backlighting and ultra-high resolution display technology, to vibrant multi-touch screen displays, Planar has consistently been a global leader in display innovation. As we celebrate our thirtieth year, it’s amazing to think how far display technology has come. For the first decade of the company’s existence, the dominant display technology in the industry was bulky

CRT displays in small diagonals and poor resolution. Today, Planar Systems employs over 300 people worldwide, and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Our motto is “When image experience matters,” and frankly, it almost always does. In a world filled with a never-ending array of visual imagery, outstanding display performance is a requirement. We believe it’s important to design displays to accommodate the specific ways in which they will be used. That’s why we focus on developing high-quality products for display markets where requirements are stringent, worldclass architecture is a must, innovation is valued, and customers are underserved by mass-market, commodity display providers.

Inspiring Audiences through Digital Signage Each year, a growing number of organizations turn to Planar digital signage solutions to communicate with their customers in powerful, Continued on pg. 20

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PLANAR SYSTEMS AND RUNCO Continued from pg. 19

eye-catching ways. Our complete portfolio of high-quality video walls and large format LCD displays designed for digital signage encompasses a wide range of sizes, resolutions, and technologies. Display experts with decades of experience in display technology design every product. That expertise is evident in the design and features of the products we produce. Today, you can find Planar video walls in retail stores, hotels, airports, sports arenas, quick-serve restaurants, and corporate and higher education arenas. For example, Gucci has installed the Clarity™ Matrix LCD Video Wall System in five of its flagship stores to create lifesize, interactive images showcasing the latest fashions. The National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. has incorporated Clarity™ Matrix video walls into an exhibit showcasing 125 years of National Geographic photography. The Port-

land Trail Blazers, the local NBA franchise out here in Oregon, use Clarity™ Matrix video walls to show high-definition video of game highlights and upcoming events.

Creating an Interactive, Touch Experience Planar has also been a leader in touch interactivity. With the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, more and more people expect the same touch-screen experience everywhere from their desktop, to stores and public venue displays. Planar has responded to this need with a wide range of award-winning products. From point-of-sale monitors, to multi-user video walls, we offer touch-screen display solutions to suit a broad spectrum of needs. Touch provides a fast and intuitive interface that can greatly simplify customer interactions and transactions. Users aren’t required to know how to use a computer or manipulate a mouse; they can simply touch the display to make selections. What’s more, no keyboard is required, which saves additional space and complexity. Like our video wall displays,

our touch-screen displays are everywhere. Take the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), for example. An award-winning science museum, OMSI used Planar’s EP-Series™ LCD displays to create an interactive exhibit called “Brain Storm,” which explores the genesis of innovation with eight of the region’s most original thinkers. Using Planar’s precise dual-touch technology to offer museumgoers an interactive experience, OMSI is improving public understanding of science and technology. Another example of the versatile and creative ways customers and resellers are using displays is the new Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Okla. With a steady stream and growing base of visitors, the center addresses the challenge of attracting visitors while offsetting operating costs through an investment in technology, including several arrays of advanced displays from Planar. From the entrance’s interactive map, to the unique digital map of the U.S., featuring interactive icons representing locations where Guthrie lived, visitors enter the world of Woody Guthrie and explore his writing, art, and music in exquisite detail. Planar will continue to lead the way as new markets for display technology evolve. We look forward to a bright future where we continue to provide cutting-edge solutions that delight our customers and increase productivity. Jennifer Davis is Vice President of Marketing at Planar Systems, Inc. Talk of the Town is your local authorized Planar dealer. For more information, call (201) 236-1006, or visit Talk of the Town online at www.talkofthetownvideo.com.

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GROOMING 101 How to Choose the Right Products WRITTEN BY

CHRISTINE MODICA

ouldn’t it be great if supermarkets and pharmacies provided shopping assistants? We have all been there. You have your list in hand—you know, the one that makes sense at home, but when you walk into the store it makes less sense than the reasoning behind Bridgegate. You need yogurt, but are presented with a slew of options. Greek? Organic? You’re feeling Danimals, but weren’t you supposed to get the kind with the strawberries in it? Whatever, Danimals it is. You need cereal too. You know better than to start your day off on the wrong foot, so you bypass the Lucky Charms and pick up a box of Special K. Yum. For men, buying the right groceries is a chore, but picking the right grooming products is far trickier. Where do you even begin? Now, you all know what gel is—or at least I hope you do. It’s a gamble if nothing else. You have to trust your styling techniques in the wee hours of the morning, running on nothing but groggy hope. You toss some firm hold in there, it dries, and you’re stuck with that style for the entire day. Don’t even think about fixing it now; it’s too late. Today, you’re rocking this powdery, half-styled hairdo that bears a striking resemblance to Marv after he got floured in “Home Alone 2.” So what should you use? Pomade? Clay? Paste? Axe? If you’re over the age of 16, don’t you dare use Axe. What you need to do is simply ask your barber what he or she thinks is best. Continued on pg. 24

SPRING 2014

Christine Modica, of Chateau Gentleman’s Quarters in Franklin Lakes, is a leading barberess and stylist.

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Continued from pg. 22

Just like with hairdressing, your stylists and barbers want to know what you use to maintain your style. Stop guessing. There is no need to self-diagnose, as it tends to be a crapshoot. Shelves are infested with product— some good, and some bad. I’m not blaming you for using the wrong one. Trying new ones is risky and tends to end up getting pretty expensive. I admit that like many other women, I have become a serial hoarder. For as many products as I have strewn across my vanity, I try to keep a limited inshop inventory. Any respectable shop would do the same. Barbers should be highly educated in a limited stock, as opposed to slightly educated in multiple brands. Let’s face it men: You have bigger fish to fry. Experimenting with products shouldn’t be near the top of your to-do list. As I mentioned last time, the retro, clean side part has made a glorious comeback. In most cases of this incredible cut, shine would be your choice. If you’re looking for something less slick, like a disconnect—regrettably the newly exiled Justin Bieber is a perfect example—then you would use something without shine, like a clay. If you’re looking for texture, but with form, I’d send you off with a cream. Recently, Leo DiCaprio has been rocking a side-swept, tossed look that says, “Neat, styled, yet badass.” If you are dealing with thinning hair and aren’t ready to rock the Jason Statham, you would want a lowshine, high-hold paste or clay. Did I lose you? There are so many awesome styles out there, and choosing the one for you should be your only worry. I like American Crew’s products, and for a low-hold, high-shine, I would recommend American Crew’s Pomade. If you need a higher hold, you should try either American Crew’s Grooming Cream, or Manipulator by Bed Head. If you are trying to achieve a low-hold without shine, but plenty of texture, use Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree Shaping Cream, American Crew’s Defining Paste, or Redken for Men’s Maneuver. For more muscle, American Crew’s Fiber is great. Guys, while we’re at it, stop using those 3-in-1 shampoo, condition-

SPRING 2014

THE ESSENTIALS Gentlemen generally don’t need a lot of products, but be sure to keep the essentials on hand:

SHAMPOO

On its own, depending on your hair type. A daily shampoo should do the job.

CONDITIONER

A nice, non-committal bottle for when you’re feeling slightly dry or want some softness. Chicks dig it.

BODY WASH

Not a bar of soap. Get some real body wash gel. Bar soaps tend to attract some bacteria and create soap scum. Yuck.

PRE-SHAVE

Moisturize! Keep your face soft, clean, and healthy! Your faces go through a lot. Be kind to your cheeks, boys!

SHAVING CREAM

When given the option, shoot for one with aloe or designed for sensitive skin. Gliding blades across your skin tends to take its toll!

A STYLING PRODUCT OF YOUR CHOOSING Whatever floats your boat. If you’re a versatile guy, you may have more than one, and that’s just fine.

POWDER OR MOISTURIZER

If you get oily, a good powder can go a long way. On the flip side, if your face gets dry, moisturizer is a solid investment.

DEODORANT

I know what you’re thinking: “I don’t even know this girl and she’s taking over my bathroom!” You’ll thank me later.

er, and body wash products. It’s not the same stuff. I can’t say I agree with the 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, but it’s not as bad as a hybrid of all three. Shampoo and conditioner is essentially a moisturizing shampoo. The real point of shampoo is to clean, and conditioner replaces any lost moisture to your hair and scalp.

The bottom line is each product performs a different function. Find yourself a great barber, and they’ll be ready to guide you through any and every hair dilemma. Don’t be afraid to ask about your hair—you can still keep your Man Card. If you’re not afraid to ask, then you’ll be looking even better in no time.

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MONEY SENSE

Talking to Parents

About Money WRITTEN BY

Donald J. Levine, Senior Vice President, Wealth Structuring Group at Merrill Lynch

or parents and their children, aging presents a host of financial issues—on everything from managing finances to preparing for medical costs. Given the emotionally charged nature of the topic, adult children understandably shy away from the dialogue. However, the right and welltimed conversation between children and parents helps everyone think through their options. It’s a tough conversation but an important conversation, since ultimately, if a longterm health care challenge is not planned for, that burden is likely to fall on the next generation. That’s typically not what parents want. For those having trouble figuring out how to have the discussion, the best way to avoid conversational gridlock is to broach the topic with empathy. Many parents are motivated by a desire to maintain independence and control over their lives. The good news is that advance plan-

ning will help parents to stay in control, particularly financially. To that end, here are some questions you should consider asking your parents:

Are your documents up to date? Having documentation that will guide health and financial decisions is crucial. According to a 2012 survey by online legal service Rocket Lawyer, 41% of baby boomers don’t have wills. But this checklist item is a must. A medical power of attorney names who will oversee health care and make medical decisions in the event of an incapacitating crisis, and a financial power of attorney appoints an agent to manage finances during that period. A Financial Advisor can help both parents and children identify individuals capable of filling these roles.

Are you prepared for long-termcare costs? Whether a parent needs in-home

care or a nursing home, Medicare likely will not cover these costs, so it’s critical to have a plan for financing them. In most cases, those who don’t expect to have the money to pay expenses out of pocket may want to consider purchasing a longterm-care (LTC) insurance policy. (Medicaid will fund coverage only after a parent has become “impoverished,” and it offers limited choices with respect to facilities and care.) Consumers have a greater variety of LTC insurance options than they did in years past. The traditional stand-alone LTC product is more straightforward in comparison to other LTC options: In exchange for annual premiums, you’ll only get a payout if you need care. In contrast, newer, hybrid LTC products fuse long-term care insurance with a death benefit. These policies entail paying a lump sum up front to purchase a specified amount of coverage to help pay for long-term

care expenses. If the policyholder doesn’t need the coverage but does need the money, he can surrender the policy in return for the principal that was paid in. Alternatively, if the policyholder dies before needing the payout, the policy pays a death benefit to their beneficiaries.

If you have a medical setback and need a rehabilitation facility for an extended period, how will you pay for it? Medicare typically covers a large portion of the tab for physical rehab, but it’s important to determine how other out-of-pocket expenses will be covered. Additional issues may come up for parents who live alone such as who will watch the house and pay the bills while they’re away.

How can I help? It’s important to respect the wishes of your parents if they prefer to work on the solutions alone. If, on the other hand, your parents find the potential challenges overwhelming

and are amenable to help, you and your siblings should review with them the important choices that need to be made. If the conversation is too emotionally fraught, consider meeting with your Financial Advisor. The important thing is to communicate that you respect what your parents are going through and send out a clear signal that you want them to have the highest quality of life they can get. For more information, contact Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor, Craig D. Grant, in the Florham Park office at 973-301-7739 or craig.d.grant@ml.com. Long-term care insurance coverage contains benefits, exclusions, limitations, eligibility requirements and specific terms and conditions under which the insurance coverage may be continued in force or discontinued. Not all insurance policies and types of coverage may be available in your state. All guarantees and benefits of an insurance policy are backed by

the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. They are not backed by Merrill Lynch, nor by any of their affiliates, and none of them makes any representations or guarantees regarding the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”), a registered broker-dealer and member SIPC, and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”). Investment products offered through MLPF&S and insurance and annuity products offered through Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc.: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Deposits

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

May Lose Value

Are Not Insured by Are Not a Condition Any Federal to Any Banking Government Agency Service or Activity

Merrill Lynch Life Agency Inc. is a licensed insurance agency and a wholly owned subsidiary of BAC.

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SONY Boutique Opens in Allendale S

ony recently opened a brand-new showroom at Talk of the Town in Allendale that displays the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest cutting edge technologies. The 4K Ultra HD Video Camera steals the show, as Sony shows off the most advanced consumer camcorder out there, and links it right up to the brand-new 4K TVs, making for the brightest, clearest images youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever seen.

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Lexus of Englewood is proud to be honored as the #1 Volume Retail Sales Leader in the Eastern Region for 2013. This means that Lexus of Englewood has sold more vehicles than any other Lexus dealer in our defined market.

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Unlike other dealerships, Lexus of Englewood prides itself in being exclusively Lexus and therefore puts all of our focus on sales and service of Lexus vehicles. Your perfect Lexus experience is our top priority.

“Our team at Lexus of Englewood takes pride in having achieved this important milestone. We have grown from being ranked 23rd in our market to number one in a little over ten years,” said Carmine REVISED 1 DeMaio, President of Lexus of Englewood. “When it comes to the pursuit of perfection, Lexus of Englewood gives 100% undivided attention. We sell and service no other brand. All we are and all we do is Lexus and that has helped us earn this number one ranking for Lexus Sales for all of 2013.”

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Fantasy Baseball IS HERE AT LAST! It’s that time of year again, folks WRITTEN BY

JUSTIN HENRY DAVIDSON

t might be hard to believe, but baseball is back. It’s going to be an interesting year to say the least. Jeter is retiring and A-Rod is out. Just when you thought the Yankees were going to start exercising a little fiscal restraint, they proved once more that their checkbooks have no limits. It looks like the Mets might be heading in the right direction, but with a stacked NL East, and an injured Matt Harvey, they’re still probably a few years away from really competing. But if the 2013 season taught us anything, it’s that anything can happen. Who honestly thought the Red Sox would follow up a 93-loss season in 2012 with a World Series title? Did anyone outside of Pittsburgh think the Pirates would break their 21-year postseason drought? Could this finally be the Cubs’ year? I doubt it, but you really never know, and that’s one of the many beauties of baseball. Spring doesn’t just mean the dramatic return of that wonderful smell of fresh-cut grass, peanuts, and overpriced beer; it also means the return of fantasy baseball. I’ve been an avid player for several years, and in my keeper league, I’m thrilled to have arguably the best offensive player in the game on my roster: Mike Trout. If you’re lucky enough to land Mr. Trout, and can build a decent team around him, then you have a good chance of finishing in the money come September. I probably just jinxed myself. Darn. Everyone has their own way of preparing for a fantasy draft, but one person probably does it better than anyone. His name is Larry Schechter, and over the years, he’s won thousands of dollars, and defeated thousands of competitors in various fantasy leagues. With all of his success, it only seemed natural that Schechter would write a book. Earlier this year, Schechter’s book, Winning Fantasy Baseball: Secret Strategies of a Nine-Time National Champion, was published by Emerald Book Company. Talk of the Town spoke with him about his book, the preparation that goes into a fantasy draft, and the season that follows. Read on. You might just win a few bucks this year. Continued on pg. 32

SPRING 2014

Around the Horn with Larry Schechter You have quite the track record when it comes to winning fantasy baseball. What was your first league, and how did you get hooked? I was living in Boston and driving around one day, and I heard an ad on the radio for something called “World of Sports,” which was a fantasy baseball league. I had never heard of it before, and I called and I joined this league. Basically, just some random guy started a company offering fantasy baseball leagues, and this was back when not a lot of people knew about fantasy baseball. He was probably one of the first people to start organizing leagues, and to have people pay for it and stuff. He actually did the draft on a conference call, because that was before the internet and everything. That’s how I found out about it, which is kind of unusual. That’s not how most people have found out about it, when people back in the ‘90s or ‘80s learned about it. I was definitely hooked with that first league. I think after one year, or maybe two years,

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that guy went out of business, and I had to like search for another league, and I found another league to get in, and I also found out about CDM Sports. You’re also the founder and president of a financial services company. How would you say your background in finance has helped you conquer the fantasy baseball world? According to one of my managers at that financial services company—he actually mentioned this recently—he thinks the connection is just that I’m very good at organization and structure. I refer to it as common sense and logic, but he said, ‘Well not everybody has that kind of common sense and logic.’ What do you think is the most critical error that some players make over the course of a fantasy season? I guess I’d say the top two would be just not being prepared enough for the auction or draft, and the second one would be just using theories and ideas, and conventional wisdom, that are just flat-out not correct, like for example, position scarcity. I read that you’re a Red Sox fan. Does it ever bother you when you have someone in pinstripes on one of your teams? Ever have A-Rod on your roster? I have had A-Rod in the past back when he used to be good, and it has been a while. I always have some pinstripes. I keep that separate. I don’t try to avoid Yankees or target Red Sox. If everything was the same, sure I’d take a Red Sox instead of a Yankee, but everything is almost never the same. Baseball has so many variables that need to be accounted for. Take foreign imports, for example. Yasiel Puig must have delighted some owners last season. Then this season, the big name is of course Masahiro Tanaka. How can a fantasy player properly value these types of players? Well, those are the hardest. It’s obviously a lot easier to forecast somebody who has been in the big leagues for two or three years or more, and they have a little track record. People coming from the minor leagues, com-

SPRING 2014

ing from Japan, or if they defected from Cuba—it’s a lot harder to forecast obviously. Players from Japan you kind of got to treat it like they’re coming from AAA, or a fictional quad-A. The level of play there is kind of like a good AAA, or something between AAA and the majors. But it’s really hard to forecast. Now that Tanaka is going to Yankee Stadium, his ERA is probably going to be a little bit higher than obviously if he had signed with the Dodgers or somebody. Speaking of Yankee Stadium, do you take stadium dimensions into account when doing your forecasts? Well, sure because people are going to hit—like Robinson Cano is going to hit a lot more home runs, you know, a left-handed hitter in Yankee Stadium with a short porch. His home

runs are obviously going to go down going to Seattle. Where can players find some of the greatest bargains? In general, you never know. I always compare what I think a player’s value is going to be before auctions and drafts. I will look at other sources, like I will look at the Baseball HQ website, or rotoworld.com. There are some other places that are popular. I’ll see what values they have listed. Let’s say I have Brandon Moss at $17, and everywhere else I look, the highest I see him is at $14, then I’ll target him and say, ‘OK, you know he’s probably somebody I’m going to be able to get for what I think is a good price.’ In general, you never know. The one thing I would say is some of the really hyped people are less likely to be Continued on pg. 34

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Fantasy Baseball IS HERE AT LAST!

Continued from pg. 32

a good deal because there’s always one or two people that are just projecting them really optimistically. I’m just taking a guess, but this year somebody like Tanaka, there will probably be somebody, one or two people in every draft, that just think he’s going to be this incredible superstar right off the bat, but a more reasonable projection is he’s probably going to be very good, but he’s not going to be like as good—he’s probably not going to be one of the top few pitchers this year. Last year, I completely punted on saves to beef up some other categories. It almost worked. For a rotisserie style league, is there any stat that is particularly annoying for you? Well the answer is no. I suppose if I had to pick one, I’d probably go with wins because wins are kind of a crapshoot, and you get games where your starter leaves with a 4-2 lead, and then the closer comes in and blows

it, and it’s just really aggravating. How much time would you say you put into fantasy baseball each year? I have no idea, but it’s a lot. From about now until the end of March, I spend a lot of time preparing. During the season, I spend some time working on the team and making moves, but most of it is just like watching games. It blends together, where I’m rooting for my fantasy players, but also watching games. So most of the prep happens before the season starts, and then maybe a few things here and there, but most of it is just feeling confident with the team going into Opening Day? I mean, during the season, you obviously need to make the weekly moves and look for what free agents are available. Once in a while you’re talking to somebody about a trade, so it’s a fair

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amount of time during the season, but for me the biggest is the preseason. The reason is because I like to look at all the players and make my own projections and not everybody does that obviously. How does your wife feel about fantasy baseball? It seems like it’s more than just a hobby. She’s good with it. If I wasn’t doing that I’d be doing something else. Finally, a lot of people get a kick out of team names. What’s the best team name you’ve ever heard? Oh boy, that I’ve ever heard? I have no idea, but in Matthew Berry’s book, Fantasy Life, he’s got a section in there with team names, and he’s got a lot of good team names listed in there. For my CDM teams, I’ve always named them “Air Lar.” “Air Lar” is actually a better name for a football team or a basketball team, but I’ve kept it.

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The DHC-60.5 preamplifier/processor features HDBaseT to transmit A/V signals, including 3D and Ultra HD 4K, up to 325 feet over a single Cat5e/Cat-6 cable. The DHC-60.5 pre/pro includes nine HDMI inputs and a single output, XLR (balanced) pre-outs and XLR inputs, and Marvel’s QDEO processing for the up-conversion of SD and HD video to UltraHD levels. The DHC-60.5 also supports high-resolution FLAC, DSD, ALAC, HD24/96, HD24/192 digital audio formats, multi-zone capabilities, control apps for the Apple iOS and Android platforms, TuneIn Radio, Spotify, Pandora, Rhapsody, Slacker and Sirius XM satellite radio. Lets not forget built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, unparalleled streaming options, THX certified sound quality, ISF Certified Calibration Control and ongoing support upgrades. the DHC-60.5 more than delivers on the promise of reference-level THX® entertainment, with flawless audio and video reproduction in the theater room and beyond. To learn more visit our website WWW.integrahometheater.com or contact your local authorized dealer - Talk of the Town at 201-236-1006

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Darbee Edition - Universal Audiophile 3D Blu-ray Disc Player The OPPO BDP-105D brings Darbee Visual Presence video enhancement to our flagship product family. The Darbee Edition is based on the award-winning BDP-105 model known for its audiophile-grade sound fidelity. Darbee Visual Presence adds enhanced depth and realism to the visual experience. Excelling in both audio and video performance, the BDP-105D Darbee Edition is the ideal digital source for the perfect home theater and sound room. This is a must have for any audiophile or videophile. Available at Talk of the Town.

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McIntosh MA8000 Integrated Amplifier

A monumental performance. That’s what you can expect from the MA8000 Integrated Amplifier. It combines a powerful 300-watt per channel amplifier with a full-functioned preamp into one space-saving unit. That’s enough power to virtually drive any loudspeaker. The MA8000 has a ton of unbalanced, balanced, and digital inputs—ensuring it has enough connections and modern technology to keep all your music sources connected and sounding great well into the future. The digital inputs can decode your digital music up to 32 bits and 192kHz for high-resolution audio playback. Its Moving Magnet and Moving Coil phono sections can be adjusted to completely match your turntable and phono cartridge, allowing your prized record collection to shine like never before. Don’t forget the Home Theater Pass Through feature—which allows for seamless integration into your existing multi-channel theater system. Lastly, the entire unit is housed in a beautiful polished stainless steel chassis that not only complements the classic glass front panel, knobs and brushed aluminum handles, but also your room decor. Available at Talk of the Town.

Meridian DSP Speakers 25th Anniversary Speakers

Meridian is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the launch of its first digital speaker, and to mark the occasion it has unveiled a Special Edition series of DSP digital active models. It was back in 1989 that Meridian introduced the world’s first digital speaker in the shape of the legendary D600. Now it has developed a trio of SE models which feature a beryllium domed tweeter, new electronics, and driver clamp rings to deliver the “highest-performing Meridian DSP speaker yet.” There are three Special Edition models available: The DSP8000, DSP7200, and DSP5200. Standard finishes are gloss black and white, but bespoke colors are also available. Available at Talk of the Town.

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MANCENTRAL Sony VPL-VW600ES 4K Projector

The VPL-VW600ES home theater projector, offers Full Digital Cinema 4096 x 2160 resolution, delivering a cinematic 4K experience. The VPL-VW600ES projector boasts 1,700 ANSI-lumens of brightness and a 200,000:1 contrast ratio. The projector has rich color reproduction thanks to TRILUMINOS™ display, an enhanced optical engine design, and auto-calibration and manual color correction features to allow installers to adjust the hue, saturation and brightness to obtain and maintain a customized picture quality. It also supports 4K native resolution at 60 frames per second. Dramatically improving the viewers’ experience, the Reality Creation engine for 4K upscaling enhances both the “Mastered in 4K” Blu-ray Discs and high-definition 1080p content including 3D video. Available in November at Talk of the Town.

The Doettling Fortress Deemed the safest luxury safe in the world, the Fortress is also possibly one of the most beautiful. You’ve spent incredible amounts of time and resources creating your collections. It would be foolish not to put that same effort into keeping them safe. The Fortress starts out with eight watch winders, which are individually controlled to properly protect the movements of each of your incredible timepieces. Furthermore, your cigar stash will maintain its perfect moisture level in the safe’s beautifully crafted humidor. Jewelry and your stacks of cash can also sit comfortably, and uncompromised. Keep your valuables safe today at doettling.com.

Sasquatch Soap The Sasquatch Soap Co. started as an idea to create a simple, natural, and manly soap. What’s left in that idea’s clean wake is the perfect embodiment of this stripped and rooted spirit. It is made with simple ingredients from Mother Earth, chosen deliberately for your body. Sasquatch soap has ingredients you can pronounce and it serves a purpose. The natural elements work interdependently to clean, nourish, and rejuvenate the largest organ of your body, your beautiful epidermis. Suds up at sasquatchsoap.com.

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

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110” Ultra High-Definition TV Samsung just released its 110-inch massive TV model UN110S9, for 2014. The most striking thing about the S9 is the design: this is a floor-standing television mounted on what looks like an artist’s easel, and the TV is designed to tilt up and down. The S9 offers a number of connectivity options, including Samsung Smart View, which streams content between the TV and a Samsung mobile device, and AllShare has now been extended to incorporate Samsung’s “smart” appliances, enabling monitoring of air conditioners and washing machines from the TV screen. Under the hood, the S9 also differentiates itself from other 4K TVs, offering the rare full-array local dimming backlight, which improves its picture quality compared to edge-lit local dimming configurations. Its resolution is 3,820 x 2,160 making it one of the best Ultra HighDefinition televisions on the market today. Available at Talk of the Town.

White Whale Bold Mixers White Whale Bold Mixers blend exotic juices and garden-fresh herbs to create strong, spirit-forward cocktails that delight the palate and conjure Prohibition-era sophistication without any of the pretension. Making a unique and delicious cocktail is simple. Mix White Whale with the recommended spirit, garnish as instructed, and your place just became the hottest speakeasy in town. There are three distinctly crafted flavors: Auntie’s Old Fashioned, for your bourbon; The Filthy Liar, the perfect companion for your gin; and Your Older Brother, which finally makes vodka taste decent. Drink it up at drinkwhitewhale.com.

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he snow is beginning to melt, football season has come to a close, and it seems like sunny days are just around the corner. This can only mean that, in just a handful of weeks, we’ll all be hearing that welcome crack of the bat heralding the opening day of the 2014 baseball season. For now, however, the morning commute certainly still feels a bit too chilly, so I can understand if we all aren’t completely in the mood to be thinking about evergreen grass patches and worn-out sandlots. Don’t fret, though. I’m here to nudge everyone into the baseball spirit with a rundown of the most stylish baseball films of all time. Let’s begin with a classic from the 1970s, The Bad News Bears. Telling the story of a ragtag bunch of Southern California kids and their down-on-his-luck manager, this movie is the quintessential baseball comedy, filled with slapstick, one-liners and the inimitable Walter Matthau. Most of the film’s costumes consist of the Bears’ little league uniforms, and with their bright yellow piping, lettering and hats, they’re tough to ignore. Yet, the real star of the show is jaded, ole Walter Matthau, with a

SPRING 2014

face as leathered as a baseball mitt, a perpetual hangover and an extensive wardrobe of short-sleeved shirts. From Madras to Hawaiian to Guayaberas, Matthau’s shirt collection runs the gamut. In the end when he finally gets it together and leads his team to victory, Matthau throws on a bright yellow coach’s jacket that proudly shows off the “Bears” name. Next up is The Natural, which features the legendary style icon Robert Redford. Based on a novel by Bernard Malamud, The Natural is about the career of Roy Hobbs (played by Robert Redford), a pitcher with an innate talent for baseball. The story itself is great in its own right, but it’s Redford’s wardrobe that takes home the title for me. Throughout the film Redford can be seen wearing various costumes—a leather jacket paired with a beat-up fedora and tie, a freshly pressed white shirt tucked into some corduroys, and a club-collared shirt under an argyle vest topped off with a pair of suspenders. It all looks a bit like a sketchbook from Ralph Lauren’s early days. Of course, it’s not all about his off-field persona, as Redford’s strong look carries through onto the field. Interestingly enough, the logo of Redford’s fictional team, “The Knights,” is so iconic that you

JAKE GALLAGHER

now can actually purchase a hat with the orange and white “NY” at any J. Crew store. Just about five years after the debut of The Natural, the cinematic world saw the release of arguably the three finest baseball movies produced in succession. First up, in 1988, was the mighty Bull Durham, a love story set against the backdrop of minor league baseball. Throughout the film, Kevin Costner embodies the aging ballplayer role to a T, with his stark white polo shirts, pleated high-rise trousers and worn-out flight jacket. Costner is the All-American boy that wakes up one day and realizes he’s become a man, and his clothes reflect this perfectly. A few months later came Eight Men Out, a dramatization of the 1919 Black Sox scandal, starring Charlie Sheen and John Cusack. Per the era, the film has an expectedly dated look to it, but that’s what makes this movie’s costumes so interesting. The character’s neatly pinstriped uniforms with massive “Sox” logos printed on the left side harken back to a bygone era of baseball when the sport was at its purest, a time period that these men ironically brought to an end. For me, though, the most interesting articles of clothing in the movie are the hats. You simply cannot

find the team’s stubby, short-brimmed caps these days and that’s a shame because, in my opinion, they’re far more flattering than what players pull on for games today. Less than a year after he starred in Bull Durham, Kevin Costner stepped up to the plate once again for Field of Dreams, a film that coincidentally blends the themes of both Eight Men Out and Bull Durham. Costner plays Ray Kinsella, an Iowa farmer who decides to build a baseball field in place of his crops due to a prophecy suggesting that “If you build it, he will come.” Of course, Ray builds the field and legendary players, such as Shoeless Joe Jackson and the rest of the 1919 Black Sox, start showing up from across the ages. In the film, Costner once again steps into the classic American look, wearing faded blue jeans, white tees and his trusty leather jacket as he greets the

scores of bygone players who arrive on his field in their pinstriped shirts and brilliant white socks. A few years after Field of Dreams came the release of my personal favorite baseball movie—The Sandlot. A reminder of what it’s like to just be a kid, running around your neighborhood and scraping together enough of your friends to play a pickup game, The Sandlot is a great celebration of life and baseball. The characters’ outfits—sun-faded striped shirts, cuffedup dark jeans, grass-stained sneakers, oversized shirts and sweat-soaked caps—fully embody this organic aesthetic. The characters all looked ripped right from a suburban street corner, and the look fits the film perfectly. And, of course, who could ever forget that final scene with the all-black PF Flyers? Looking back on all of these classic baseball films, it’s interest-

ing to note that the recent styles of players on the diamond have begun to inspire designers on the runway. The use of jersey-style shirts—with piping around the placket, large buttons and baseball-like collars— has become prevalent throughout many menswear collections over the past year or so. Another interesting crossover is in the recent application of jersey numbers onto the back of dress shirts. It’s certainly not a look for everyone, but it is a fascinating intersection between the individuality that your own “number” can give you and the formality of a button-down. So be on the lookout for your own instances of sports-influenced style and vice-versa. If you haven’t seen any of these films, do yourself a favor and watch them. It might not impact your style, but I can guarantee that it will tide you over until opening day.

Suffering from Peripheral Arterial Disease? Get the Kick Back in Your Step!

eripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects approximately 8 to 12 million individuals. Most commonly, PAD is caused by a hardening of the arteries, which causes dangerous blockages that obstruct oxygen-rich blood flow to the legs, hands, and feet. “Symptoms vary depending on the location of the blockage,” explains Angel J. Mulkay, MD, FACC, cardiac and peripheral interventionist and founder of the Hackensack Interventional Institute. “In most cases individuals suffering from PAD ex-

perience leg pain and in severe cases ulcers, sores and pain in the legs while at rest.” There is no exact cause for PAD, but there are some risk factors that may increase your risk for developing the disease.

RISK FACTORS Age

1 in 20 people over the age of 50 and 1 in 5 over age 70 are diagnosed with PAD

Smoking

People who smoke or have a history of smoking

Diabetes

PAD affects an estimated 1 out of 3 people with diabetes over the age of 50

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure increases the risk of developing plaque in the arteries

High Cholesterol

Excess cholesterol and fat in the Continued on pg. 46

THE SOUND TO MATCH ANY SPACE

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Living Space Theater by Leon. You’ve meticulously designed the perfect living space. The fixtures, the textures and the tones all resonate with your style. What resonates with the soul? Music, movies and art – entertainment to share with family and friends. At Leon, we create custom-tailored speakers that virtually disappear into the fabric of the home, providing a refined listening experience in any environment. Our passion is to design a sound system that you can live with and performance you will love. For more information, or for a sales consultation, visit Talk of the Town, Allendale, NJ. Ultra-thin 5.1 Living Space Theater system

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Continued from pg. 44

blood contributes to plaque formation, which can reduce or block blood flow to the heart, brain, or limbs

Heart Disease

People with heart disease have a 1 in 3 chance of having PAD

Obesity

People with a body mass index over 30 are at a greater risk for PAD

PREVENTION

Dr. Mulkay explains that there are preventive steps you can take if you are at risk for PAD. “By simply changing lifestyle habits, individuals at risk or at the early onset of PAD may be able to reduce symptoms of the disease or in some instances head it off,” states Dr. Mulkay. At Hackensack Interventional Institute we not only treat PAD through minimally invasive procedures, but we can help patients reduce their risk or keep symptoms at bay. Mulkay Cardiology Consultants can assist patients suffering from heart disease and high blood pressure and offer nutrition tips for a healthier diet. “When patients walk through the door of the Heart and Vascular Institute they are treated as a whole,” Dr. Mulkay explains. “Our new stateof-the-art facility allows us the opportunity to offer patients not only intervention but prevention.”

SYMPTOMS

Only 50% of individuals with PAD present symptoms. These symptoms may vary depending on the location of the blockage. Signs of PAD may include: Buttock, thigh and leg pain Sores on the leg or foot that will not heal Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs Burning or aching pain in the feet or toes while at rest One or both legs or feet feel cold or change color

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Hair loss or slower hair growth on the legs or feet Shiny skin on the legs or feet No pulse or weak pulse in the legs or feet

SCREENING and TREATMENT

At the initial consultation for suspected PAD, Dr. Mulkay will interview the patient to obtain their medical history and a physical exam will be performed. A Doppler ultrasound may be used to further diagnose PAD. This type of ultrasound measures blood flow. A lack of blood flow may be indicative of a blockage. Treatment options depend on a patient’s symptoms and physical exam findings. Options may include medical therapy, lipid management, diet and exercise. In some cases, a patient may require angiography. During the procedure, Dr. Mulkay inserts a small catheter through an artery in the wrist or groin. He then guides the catheter to the affected area and

injects a dye to locate the blocked artery. If a blockage is found, there are three main ways it can be treated— atherectomy, balloon angioplasty, or stenting. In some cases, Dr. Mulkay may treat the blockage immediately using a “balloon” to open up the clogged artery. In more complicated cases, a stent may also be inserted to keep the artery open. Each individual case will determine the course of treatment, however, most patients are able to walk 3 to 6 hours post-procedure and resume normal activities within 24 hours. “The advancements of modern medicine have allowed us to treat many patients with severe PAD through interventional procedure,” explains Dr. Mulkay. “The Heart and Vascular Institute strives to bring patients all of the latest prevention and treatment options available for cardiac, venous, and vascular diseases.” This article is for educational purposes only. If you or someone you know are at risk or are symptomatic for peripheral arterial disease, call (201) 996-9244 to schedule a consultation.

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Designing Your Digital Lifestyle

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

©2014 Samsung Electronics America, Inc. All rights reserved. Samsung, Samsung SMART TV, Micro-Dimming Ultimate, SMART Hub, SMART Interaction and Samsung Apps are trademarks or registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. All other product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Performance and specifi cations may vary subject to hardware limitations. Voice and gesture commands may vary. Available Apps may vary by product/model and may require fees. Internet service required. Specifi cations and product information are subject to change.

MERIDIAN LOUDSPEAKERS THE DSP PATH

Continued on pg. 50

MERIDIAN LOUDSPEAKERS THE DSP PATH

Continued from pg. 49

Continued on pg. 52

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Freak Phantom

Sailing Ahead, Steering Timepiece Technology into New Territory WRITTEN BY

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F Continued on pg. 56

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Continued from pg. 54

The Jade

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When it comes to heart health...

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Trust the experts at Mulkay Cardiology Consultants to take care of all of your heart health needs including prevention, treatment, and intervention. Our team of board certified physicians specialize in general cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology, and interventional cardiology. We are here for you when it matters most. Our new state of the art office located in the Heart and Vascular Institute, Hackensack, NJ, offers an array of services including on site echocardiography, vascular diagnostics, nuclear stress testing, lipidology, nutrition and wellness counseling.

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www.mulkaycardiology.com 493 Essex Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 T 201-996-9244 F 201-996-9243 529 39th Street, Union City, NJ 07087 T 201-601-0900 F 201-601-0995 15 Ver Valen Street, Closter, NJ 07624 201-996-9244 F 201-996-9243

Angel J. Mulkay, MD, FACC Scott D. Ruffo, MD, FACC

Soo Mi Park, MD, FACC

Michael B. Cohen, MD

Luis Febus, APN

INTERVENTIONAL

CARDIAC

CARDIOLOGIST

INTERVENTIONAL

CARDIAC NURSE

CARDIOLOGIST

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIST

CARDIOLOGIST

PRACTITONER

Dream Theater

When Luiz moved into his new home in Tenafly, he finally made his vision a reality

uiz has always been passionate about the movies. In fact, he watches no TV at all. Instead, he spends his free evenings in front of his large projector screen watching action movies, and a lot of different documentaries. His latest favorite is “The Other Shore,” a documentary that follows Diana Nyad, a world-record holding swimmer, as she comes out of retirement in an attempt to swim 103 miles from Cuba to Florida without even a shark cage. Now, his whole family loves coming in to watch movies together. His oldest daughter even decided to host a movie night for her birthday, inviting ten of her close friends over to watch the latest Disney films. Luiz first got in touch with Talk of the Town when he purchased his home. The previous owner, who kept the house in pristine shape according to Luiz, used Talk of the Town to wire much of his house. “I saw how great of a job [Talk of the Town] had done, and how much attention to detail the previous owner demanded, and I knew they were up for the task.” After a consultation, Luiz took his family to the Talk of the Town showroom in Allendale. It was there when they first fell in love with the fiber optic ceiling paneling of twinkling stars and shooting comets. The Talk of the Town team worked closely with Luiz’s home decorator, and the proof is in the quality and beauty that his new home theater exudes. With a little bit of time, your dream, much like Luiz’s, can come true with the help of Talk of the Town.

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Projector

JVC DLA-X90 (3D THX Front Projector)

Projector Screen

Da-Lite 39087 (110” Cinema Contour)

Remote Control System URC MX-6000 (4.3” Touch-Screen Controller), URC MRF-260 (RF Base Station)

Equipment Cabinet

Middle Atlantic Slim 5 Series (Equipment rack with custom fascias, shelves, and drawers)

7.2 Speakers Setup

Bowers & Wilkins CM9 (2 Front Channel Speakers), Bowers & Wilkins CMC2 (1 Center Channel Speaker), Bowers & Wilkins CWM7.4 (4 In-Wall Rear and Surround Sound Speakers), Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 (2 Active/Powered Subwoofers)

Blu-ray Disc Player

Oppo BDP-95 (Universal Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Player)

Home Theater Receiver

Anthem MRX 700 (7-Channel Home Theater Receiver with 3D Pass-through)

Fiber Optic Ceiling

FOSI (Custom-built 8’ x 9’ Fiber Optic Star Ceiling)

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Numinus (Custom iFlex-Amber Colored Strip Accent Lighting), Numinus (Complete cabling, connections, and power supply by Numinus)

SPRING 2014 59

DESIGNING YOUR

MEDIA ROOMS

Since opening our doors, we’ve created unique home entertainment experiences for our customers. Whether

you’re looking to upgrade your media center or create a whole new integrated home theater environment, we have the latest in premium A/V equipment and advanced accessories to bring you the best experience possible. Talk of The Town has been the area’s leader in home theater and audio systems for over two decades. Let one of our sales/design experts create a home entertainment system that will enhance your lifestyle. Our team can design and install your system to ensure ease of use and maximum performance. Our theaters and media rooms are creatively designed to fit both the purpose and style that you want - and best of all we work with-in your budget. From LED and LCD TV’s to fully integrated media rooms and audio systems, Talk of The Town can make your house the only place you’ll want to be.

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STYLE GUIDE All Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Styles: Esposito, www.espositocollection.com Hair: Sam Alter Makeup Artist: Steve Manchester Photographer: David Massa All Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Styles: Jovani, www.jovani.com Models Men: Christian Scott, Kristian Becker, David Homyk Women: Adrienne Dzema, Leah Lamarr, Rozy Akther, Lauren Celenza David: Antonio blazer, red signature button-down shirt, Skull leather bow tie

Kristian: Presley herringbone blazer and pink dip dye button-down

Christian: Watercolor button-down

David: Presley herringbone blazer and Chambray novelty button-down

WRITTEN BY

SPRING 2014

JAY EAGLESON

Complete Control Mobile App for iDevices and Android!

Transform your iDevices into your favorite controller

also design the graphic portion of the screen to suit you with the buttons and functions you want most. And, for one setup fee, unlimited iOS devices can be activated on your system.

CC Control App, the all new MX-iOS app, enables control of your entertainment directly over the local area network (LAN) using an iPad®, iPhone® or iPod® touch. Aided by dazzling, intuitive interfaces, you can do everything from setting a DVR and navigating your favorite channels to controlling music, volume, URC lighting and countless other devices. With the CC Con trol App from URC you gain all that’s needed to use your own iPads and iPhones to securely control things most important to you from anywhere within your home or commercial building.

Easy, powerful and as modern as tomorrow While there are places in your home that it’s ideal to have a URC remote or URC control device that will remain in a room, we recognize there are times when you want

Harnessing convenience and custom graphics

providing the MRX-1. At any time in the future, you can download the CC Control iOS App. Then, for a nominal one-time setup fee, your integration specialist will establish communication between your own iDevices and the controller. It’s a solution that’s easy, powerful, and as modern as tomorrow! Stop by Talk of the Town today and see how easy life can be with a URC product.

The CC Control App works in conjunction with URC’s MRX-1 and your iDevices. You can DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP! download the app for free from the Apple iTunes® store. Your custom integration professional will properly pair your iDevices with the MRX-1 in your system. With a customizable graphical interface, your installer can

Designing Your Digital Lifestyle

TALK T WN of the

audio • video • automation • home theaters

319 Franklin Turnpike, Allendale, NJ 07401 / tel. 201.236.1006 / www.talkofthetownvideo.com

Yoga Poses for the Business Man

With these simple and effective moves, a busy work schedule wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep you from enjoying the many benefits of a regular yoga practice WRITTEN BY

CRISTIN PONTILLO

he health and wellness benefits of yoga are particularly useful to counteract the negative effects that sitting at a desk for long periods of time have on the body. Besides the physical aspects, yoga also provides mental clarity and focus. Your body and your business will thank you. The following simple yoga poses, which can be perFor more on Cristin Pontillo, visit formed either on your mat or in your office, are specifically designed www.CristinPontillo.com or to empower, provide mental acuity and relieve muscles stressed from www.CristinPontillo.zumba.com prolonged seated posture. Remember to always consult your physician before starting any new physical activity or exercise routine.

1. Warrior 2 Set-up: Begin in downward dog (or standing, if you’re at the office) and bring the right leg in front of you between hands. Align the front heel with the inner arch of the back foot at a 90-degree angle. In the wide stance create a 90-degree angle in your front leg but keep the knee behind the toes and directly over the ankle. Windmill the arms up and open in a “T” shape. Take your gaze over in front of the fingertips of the front hand and allow your body to open to the sidewall. Focus on sinking deeper into the front leg while pulling up in the back thigh and scissoring the hips towards one another. Keep the chest up and open, with the neck relaxed. Repeat on the left. Benefits: A fierce pose creating a sense of power, it can relieve backaches and increase stamina.

2. Triangle Pose Set-up: Stand as though you were in Warrior 2, but shorten your stance and keep the front leg straight. Keeping the arms open (in the same “T” shape) and upper body straight, slowly begin to reach your front arm forward; hinge from the hips until you can’t go further. From here, allow your front hand to drop to the inside of your front leg at calf or foot height (never on the knee). If this is doable for you, use a block under your hand to bridge the distance between your hand and the floor. Focus on rotating your torso and chest up towards the ceiling and your back arms reaching straight up to the sky. Take your gaze either up towards your hand or directly out to the sidewall; the focus here is to keep the head and neck relaxed. Repeat on both sides. Benefits: This pose stretches and opens the hamstrings and hips, as well as the chest and spine, all of which are compressed when seated at a desk or computer. It can also relieve anxiety and build confidence. Continued on pg. 70

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Yoga Poses for the Business Man

Continued from pg. 69

3. Eagle Pose Set-up: From a standing position come to the ball of your right foot and find your balance on the left leg. Deeply bend the left and right leg, and cross the right thigh on top of the left thigh. You can remain here with the ball of your right foot on the floor or tuck your right foot behind your left ankle to come into a full double bind. Next take your left arm across your body and place your right arm on top (making an â&#x20AC;&#x153;Xâ&#x20AC;?). Then bend both elbows and touch the back of the hands together so that the palms face out in opposite directions. You can remain here or take a full double bind in the arms by wrapping once more at the wrists so that the palms face one another and touch together. Sit deeply into this pose while keeping the chest lifted and bring the elbows up and hands away from the face to open the chest. Remember to keep your gaze on a still focal point for balance. In yoga this is called your dristi. Repeat on the right leg. Benefits: Great for improving concentration, it helps focus your mind to be still while also providing a challenge. Additionally, it improves balance, which is an integral skill for daily life and for aging. The legs are being compressed to allow for deeper feeling of opening upon releasing the pose; the back and chest are strengthened and stretched.

4. Half Lord of the Fishes Pose Set-up: This pose can be done seated in an office chair or on the ground. For the chair variation, simply keep both feet on the floor and follow the cues for the upper part of the body. Start in a seated position and rock side to side to find your sit bones. Sit tall and keep one leg straight while bending the other knee in towards the chest and crossing it over the straight leg. Make sure that the foot of the top leg is able to rest flat on the floor. Either stay here, or to deepen the stretch, bend the straight leg in towards you so that the heel comes to the opposite buttock. In this variation make sure both sit bones are still firmly rooted into the floor and you are able to sit tall. Take the same arm as the bent top leg and bring in directly behind you close to your body. Keep that arm straight and allow it to assist you in sitting even taller. With the opposite arm, reach up and across your body until your bent elbow bends your bent knee. Rotating from your core, push your elbow against your leg and begin to rotate your body towards your back arm. Take your gaze behind you. Inhale to sit taller and exhale to twist even deeper. Benefits: Twisting creates a wringing out of the organs to promote better digestion. It relieves back tension and energizes the spine. In some yoga traditions this pose is said to awaken the Kundalini, which resides at the base of the spine, and allows it to travel up to the head where it is united with its counterpart leading to ultimate enlightenment.

5. Upward Facing Dog Set-up: Begin on your belly with your arms bent slightly lower than chest level at your sides, palms flat on the floor and legs straight. Keep your forehead on the floor to lengthen the back of the neck. Slowly press into your palms and raise your head, chest, hips and thighs off the floor. Press down firmly with the tops of the feet, making sure there is no pressure or discomfort in the lower back. Also check to make sure your shoulders are directly over your wrists, and that your wrist creases are parallel to the front of your mat. Roll the shoulder blades down the back and away from the ears, and engage the abdominals and fire up the legs. Benefits: The perfect opposition to desk slouching, this pose greatly improves posture and tones muscles as it allows for a deep chest opening and offers lower back relief. Upward facing dog can also relieve fatigue and depression by opening the heart.

SPRING 2014

The MVPs of robotic prostate surgery. The experts at the New Jersey Center for Prostate Cancer & Urology have performed more than 4,000 successful surgeries for prostate cancer. For 11 years, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve used the latest minimally invasive procedures to reduce pain, scarring and blood loss. Because these new techniques require smaller incisions, our physicians can also treat kidney cancer without damaging the kidneys. Patients can get back to their lives faster than ever before. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been diagnosed with bladder, prostate or kidney cancer, we can help.

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Strength

Training Feel the Steel, and Experience the Benefits WRITTEN BY

hen it comes down to it, medicine is about promoting health, preserving physical and psychological functioning, and expanding the realm of human potential. I am not referring to the antidepressants, sedatives, statins, painkillers, blood pressure medications, and oral hypoglycemics that are often over-prescribed in this day and age. I am referring to another form of medicine—a medicine that has the potential to improve the quality and quantity of your life, that can help revive your youthful vigor, and that can reverse the atrophy and degeneration of the aging process. It is a medicine that can expand the functional years spent in our bodies by compressing the morbidity of aging into a tiny sliver at the end of the timeline that is our life. It is a medicine that is underrated and under-prescribed that can alter your future and change your life. I’m talking about strength training.

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Properly programmed and conducted strength training is indeed medicine, and it is unlike pharmaceutical drugs in many ways. This type of medicine is available in a broader range of “doses” than any pharmaceutical drug; it can be more carefully titrated to the needs of the patient. This is beneficial because the “dose” is constantly changing over time as the patient progresses. In strength training, the “dose” goes up, not down, as the patient gets healthier, and can often decrease the need for other medicines. Strength training is most effective when it safely begins in the early teenage years, and it can be shared with friends, family, and other members of the community. It is self-administered, and thus requires commitment, responsibility, and ownership of a patient’s health and fitness. But what is strength training? Generally speaking, it is a structured and progressive form of physical activity that is designed to continually improve

CHRISTOPHER BLAKE

our body’s ability to generate force against an external resistance. Think about it as construction work, and architectural remodeling. You are literally breaking apart walls, rebuilding them, and then doing a structural re-novation of your body. The benefits, however, go far beyond mere physical strength. It is well documented that on the biological level, strength training increases muscle fiber size, and the muscle cross-sectional area that directly relates to force production. In addition, strength training increases the motor unit recruitment and firing rate, and increases the levels of myosin heavy chain proteins that keep your muscles stretchy. All of these are very helpful benefits, and can help combat sarcopenia and muscular atrophy as you age. Think of it as banking away tissue into your physiological 401(k) for retirement. Strength training also increases creatine phosphate and ATP. Every time you train, you

are self-administering powerful hormones such as growth hormone and IGF-1, which tells your body to continue growing. This also increases your tendon density and relieves ligament stiffness. There are also positive osteogenic adaptations relating to bone matrix and bone mineral density, which are important in combating osteoporosis. There are cardio-pulmonary adaptations, although not nearly as profound as aerobic training, that can be seen by a trend of decreases in blood pressure and resting heart rate, increases in cardiac output and stroke volume, and increases in tidal volume and ventilatory efficiency—essentially how much oxygen you can extract and utilize after inhaling. In addition, there are positive neurological adaptations with regards to balance, coordination, and stability, as well as cognitive decline. Finally, based on anecdotal and personal evidence, there are psychosocial adaptations; you strengthen your mind as well as your body by building confidence, courage, and resilience. You develop thicker skin, figuratively and literally in the form of calluses. What does this all actually mean to you? It means independence; strength training allows you to remain free of physical aid and assistance as you age. It means having an active lifestyle well into the advanced decades of life. You not only maintain, but also improve your ability to move, stand, sit, squat, bend, and reach. Mundane tasks feel like less of a chore. You become fit and are able to continue pursuing your favorite hobbies. You can play, lift, and move with your children and grandchildren. You decrease the need for hospitalization by adding more functional years to your life. Not only will you decrease the likelihood of unintended falls, but you will also decrease the chance of fractures and sprains if you do happen to fall. You will develop a new perspective on the inevitable challenges that will arise during your lifetime. Strength training can give the deconditioned 65-year-old arthritic woman with chronic pain the power to say to herself “I’m still in this.” When I say strength training can give you your life back, I’m not talking in hyperbole. That sounds like medicine to me. Christopher Blake is a personal trainer at HNH Fitness, located at 514 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell. If you are a member at HNH who is interested in beginning a strength training program, please call (888) 236-4236, and leave your name with the front desk and he will contact you as soon as possible.

The squat is the key to a successful strength training program. A correctly performed squat strengthens your back, abs, legs, and hip musculature, and improves your balance and coordination.

The overhead press is the best exercise for strengthening your shoulders. In addition to your shoulders and arms, a correctly performed press works your back, abs, legs, and hip musculature.

The deadlift is one of the most useful and effective strength exercises, as it trains nearly every muscle of your body while also greatly improving bone density.

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f you go to sleep happy, chances are you’ll wake up happy too. Jimmy Fallon, the new host of “The Tonight Show,” alluded to it a few weeks ago when the show finally moved back to New York where it belongs. This might be pure conjecture without scientific evidence to back it up, but it certainly seems plausible. As the dust from the latest late-night TV shuffle settles, there is a growing optimism that late-night can be great night once again. We can finally go to sleep happy, just as the doctor ordered. When Jimmy Fallon relieved Jay Leno of his post at NBC this past February, he brought with him a comedic formula far different than that of his predecessors. Fallon, only 39, was borne out of a different breed of comics than his big-chinned predecessor. When he first arrived at “Saturday Night Live” some 15 years ago, Fallon was already showing us glimpses of exactly what America needed on late-night TV not just on Saturdays, but all week long. Fallon, neither the best actor, nor the funniest man in the room, made us smile and laugh because no one was more aware of that fact than him. He was sincere, and couldn’t help laughing during sketches. We could relate to him more than someone like Will Ferrell. To this day, as he rolls on successfully as host of “The Tonight Show,” he still maintains

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that charming humanity that got him to the big stage. Now, he will rely on the relationships he’s made over the past 15 years to keep him on top. If you haven’t seen Paul Rudd’s lip-syncing battle with Jimmy Fallon, then you should probably stop reading right now and watch it. The segment speaks volumes for Fallon’s brilliance. He has the rare, uncanny ability to make the world’s biggest stars join him in unabashed tomfallonery. Whether it’s the First Lady appearing in a sketch with Will Ferrell, or Justin Timberlake and Brian Williams rapping, Fallon will continue to reinvigorate and reinvent “The Tonight Show” for a long time. Fallon isn’t alone in his quest to recapture the late-night magic. “Jimmy Kimmel Live” has been on ABC since 2003, and Kimmel has continually found unique ways to keep his

viewers engaged. Whether it’s a feud with Kanye West, or a feisty relationship with Matt Damon, Kimmel has been pivotal in bringing about a new golden age of late-night television. Seth Meyers, the new host of “Late Night” on NBC rounds out the list of relative newcomers. Although it seems expectations lower as it gets later, Meyers will have none of it. As the former host of “Weekend Update” and a longtime head writer at “SNL,” Seth has a few kinks to work out with a show of his own. Slowly but surely he will get there. As the full slate of late-night talk shows compete against more and more nightly programming, the new kings of late-night must endure a long, hard battle to keep the crown. After years of stale performances, it’s great to see the young guys giving it their all. Sleep happy, folks.

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New York Post Front Page Headlines WRITTEN BY

BRANDON GOLDSTEIN

uggedabout who owns it, and its legendary political bias, because at the New York Post, nobody is spared the relentless front page shaming. Books have even been written about this timeless journalistic tradition. In many ways, the New York Post has been perfecting the craft that social media is so lauded for today: Telling millions of people exactly what’s on your mind. Many would want to be the fly on the wall when scandals unfold, but here at Talk of the Town, we would much rather be the fly on the wall in the New York Post conference rooms where writers and editors toss around zany headlines like a frisbee at a Grateful Dead concert. Obviously we’d love to get a behindthe-scenes peek at the tabloid’s take on the latest 21st century political and sex scandals. The New York Post doesn’t get many points in the class department, and if I had a son in kindergarten, I wouldn’t want him reading it, but much like the millions who watch The Bachelor, sometimes you just can’t turn away. Murdoch’s legions of headline writers are well aware of this phenomenon, and have created art that often offends, but rarely disappoints. As for our favorites, it all starts with the infamous “Headless Body in Topless Bar” headline that ran back in 1983. After all, what better way to approach murder than with a laugh? Much like a nameless and faceless blog commenter, the New York Post isn’t afraid to speak its mind, but unlike an internet troll, the New York Post puts a name on its fearless, hilarious, and integrity-lacking journalism. And that, my friends, is why we love it.

SPRING 2014

Modern Classics “Obama Beats Weiner” Obama’s comments on Anthony Weiner

“Weiner’s Second Coming” Anthony Weiner decides to run for Mayor

“Weiner: I’ll Stick it Out” Anthony Weiner refuses to resign (at the time)

“Spitz Eatin’ Grin” Eliot Spitzer denies having a girlfriend

“Tiger Pulls Out” Tiger Woods sex scandal

“Drug Pedaler” Lance Armstrong drug scandal

“Cloak and Shag Her” General David Petraeus sex scandal

“Yankee Doodle Poodle” Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka rents a jet to transport his dog

“Wise Pies” Alleged mob history of Ray’s Pizza

“Raj Mahal” Raj Rajaratnam and his lavish prison ways

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A Cut Above

Eat Like a Champion at Marc Forgione’s American Cut WRITTEN BY

JUSTIN HENRY DAVIDSON

y mother used to tell me not to fill up on the bread. At American Cut, the swankiest new steakhouse this side of Las Vegas, the bread, in this case everything biscuits with cream cheese butter, is too damn good to just nibble on. You enter another world when you set foot inside American Cut. Immediately, the sleekness of the bar and art deco flourishes made me forget about the slop and slush that was corroding a typically pristine Greenwich Street and the entire East Coast. It was like being in the lobby of Rockefeller Center, or the Chrysler Building, except every man and woman inside was feasting, not working. Chef Marc Forgione makes it no secret that eating at American Cut is more a celebration than just a simple steak dinner. Forgione sports a Mohawk. He’s a culinary badass, and American Cut is a badass place. It’s one of the most buzzed-about restaurants in New York for a reason. The staff exudes a unique confidence befitting such a decadent dining palace. Upon being seated, we confided in our waiter our love for whiskey. Moments later, two “plank smoked” old-fashioneds appeared. It was a perfect balance of smoky Woodford Reserve, sugar, and bitters. After splitting a carrot-glazed carrot (that’s cor-

SPRING 2014

rect, a carrot-glazed carrot), the “OG 1924 Hotel Caesar Salad,” which was mixed and mashed by the wait staff right in front of us, and the Hiramasa tartare, we were ready for our second round—and of course, steak. With so many tempting and creative items on the menu, from bone marrow to latkes, you could easily forget the point of your culinary pilgrimage. But alas, the point of going to a steakhouse is to eat steak. And eat it we did. We saw our New York City Cut floating over to our table from across the bustling room. Dry-aged for 28 days, the 20 oz. bone-in rib-eye rubbed with pastrami spices looked almost too good to eat. We took a moment to admire it when it was so gently set down in front of us. Then we dug in. I’ll always have a place in my heart for all-things pastrami. When Chef Forgione boldly decided to season his incredible 20 oz. cut with pastrami spices, he created a complexity of flavors unique to American Cut. To create a dish others have not is a crowning achievement in the culinary world. Forgione has done it effortlessly. As the first tender slice melted away, I realized that steak and pastrami are a heavenly match. The steak was a wonderful medium-rare. For-

gione’s special steak sauce is a solid complement. If you really want to go all-out, then you can top your steak with bone marrow, foie gras, or chili lobster. Why not, right? Slowly but surely, the steak disappeared from the plate. As the evening wore on, the action around us never ceased. Tables filled with young, beautiful women out for a night on the town, and other groups of men and women reliving the moments of boardroom bliss from the past day. In American Cut style, we soon learned, the dessert was just as grand as the meal that preceded it. A Cracker Jack sundae, oozing with all things sweet and delicious, would mark the final chapter of our indulgent dinner. I told the waiter I would like an espresso, but the man to my left who had embarked on this lavish culinary journey with me insisted that espresso would not do. Slightly befuddled, I looked at him, and he told the waiter what he had in mind. We needed espresso martinis. Again, why not? The waiter smiled, and brought them out. After we slowly reached the bottom of our martini glasses, we knew the meal had finally reached its dramatic dénouement. I didn’t have much of an appetite the next day. American Cut—what a place.

Dopo East

High Romance on the East Side of Town

ew York is filled with an endless number of restaurants where you could impress the woman dining across from you. In this day and age however, few spots are truly romantic. Dopo East, a charming and quaint new Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side, is a rare exception to the modern dining landscape. Located in a townhouse on a pleasantly sleepy section of 62nd street, just northeast of the hustle and bustle of Midtown, Dopo East is a wonderful place to enjoy delicious, locally sourced food in an intimate environment. Beautiful artwork lines the walls, and candles provide all the lighting you need to see across the table. In the warmer months, Dopo East opens the back to a beautiful garden. My guest and I determined that had it been about 30 degrees warmer, we would have loved to enjoy each other’s company outside. It’s nice and quiet inside, with classic romantic music providing a backdrop for your evening. The staff

SPRING 2014

respects the intimacy of the restaurant, but don’t be afraid to ask them for a wine recommendation. The owners plan on expanding the wine list to nearly 600 bottles, but currently, Dopo East boasts a formidable selection of Italian reds and whites. Executive Chef Patrizio D’Andrea made perhaps one of the finest caprese salads I have ever tasted. The heaping portion of buffalo mozzarella, basil sprouts, balsamic, and peeled tomatoes set the tone for the rest of the meal. You can taste the freshness in every dish at Dopo East. I tend to shy away from octopus, but my guest coaxed me into trying it. The Piovra alla griglia—grilled octopus on a bed of baby artichokes, cherry tomatoes, new potatoes, and a lemon garlic vinaigrette, was a nice surprise. You can tell that Chef D’Andrea meticulously selects each vegetable, and each ingredient that he uses. The Ravioli di mais was another favorite of mine. These raviolis, stuffed with sheep’s milk ricotta and corn, and then topped with a black

truffle sauce, were fantastic. Truffles are generally reserved for special occasions, and Dopo East is a special place. There is a palpable romantic flair flowing through the restaurant, and this pasta dish is a perfect reflection of that. Lamb, of course, is a very tender meat. The delicacy with which it was prepared was evident with every bite. Just as he had done with the rest of the menu items, Chef D’Andrea plated his grilled lamb tenderloin very gently with a selection of fresh chanterelle mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and new potatoes. By this point, we were more or less full, but how can you go to an Italian restaurant and not order the tiramisu? The middle was filled with dark chocolate powder, which was a pleasant surprise. Topped with raspberries, it was a fitting conclusion to a romantic dinner that you probably can’t experience at many other places. Dopo East is located at 345 E. 62nd Street between First and Second Avenue. For reservations, call (646) 484-6548.

PIPPALI

An Innovative Take on Indian Cuisine

’m not a picky eater—believe me. With the exception of ranch dressing, I will eat anything within reason. Still, I have my go-to cuisines. Indian food remains a mystery to me. That is why I walked into Pippali with wide eyes, an empty stomach, and no true expectations. I convinced my friend Erica, a notoriously picky eater—quite possibly the opposite of me, when it comes to eating—to give Pippali a try. She consented, though she told me numerous times that she disliked Indian food. For her, it was all too spicy. Just far too spicy—a sentiment she surely shares with many. I don’t have to remind you of the frigid cold of this past winter, but this day was particularly freezing. If there was ever a time to set one’s mouth ablaze, this was it. Pippali is the most pleasant, comforting Indian restaurant that I’ve been to, and I’ve gone to ones as far away as London’s famed Brick

Lane. It’s a dimly lit, charming spot, and even with the bone-rattling temperatures, the place was packed on a weeknight. We tried several different items on the menu. With each bite that my dining companion took, I waited for the bad news. However, everything that the gracious staff brought out of Chef Peter Beck’s kitchen satisfied her tastes. And mine. I was blown away. Some dishes were spicy, but nothing was overwhelming. Prior to dining at Pippali, I was unaware that crab could be flavored so magnificently with South Asian spices. For an appetizer, we split the Kekada Thokku, which I would describe as an Indian crab cake. The crabmeat was perfectly seasoned with mustard seeds, curry leaves, ginger and garlic. My sinuses had begun to clear up. I would have eaten three more platefuls of this dish, but alas, there was more to eat. Pompano is a type of fish I don’t see on menus too frequently. Sure enough, there it was on Pippali’s.

Pippali, in fact, has an expansive menu, with everything from quail and squid to okra and green pumpkin making an appearance. But the pompano dish, Tamatar Machli, was excellent. Seasoned and crisped in the pan, and then topped with a creamy plum tomato sauce, it was a wonderfully refreshing dish. With a side of snap peas and grape tomatoes, it served as a pleasant assurance that spring would be on its way in just a few short months. Everything that we ate was fantastic. The chicken dishes were great, but it was the seafood that stood out the most to me. Even the naan bread at Pippali is better. If you find yourself on the east side of town below Grand Central, and you want a great gourmet Indian meal, you can’t go wrong with Pippali. Erica, the self-proclaimed hater of Indian food, has been back twice. Pippali is located at 129 E. 27th Street between Park and Lexington Avenue. For reservations, call (212) 689-1999.

SPRING 2014 85

APANESE WHISKY Flavors from the East New takes on English bottles Sip, relax, enjoy ( Yes, that was a Haiku)

WRITTEN BY

JOSEPH “WHISKY JOE” GRATKOWSKI

Continued on pg. 88

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JAPANESE WHISKY Continued from pg. 88

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The Brick House Cigar Shop For Superb Smokes and Local Flavors, Head to this New Shop in Wyckoff

F Aldo Cascio, Wyckoff Mayor Douglas Christie, Michael Duch

or years, many men— and the occasional woman—have been flocking to the cigar bar below The Brick House in Wyckoff. After a delicious meal upstairs, patrons often head downstairs to relax and enjoy a post-dinner smoke. In Bergen County, a luxury like this is a true rarity. Aldo, the owner of The Brick House, always allowed people to bring their own smokes, even though the cigar bar offered a limited selection. When retail space opened up across the street, Aldo saw an opportunity to provide his customers at the cigar bar the wide selection they deserved, and The Brick House Cigar Shop was born. The shop boasts over 250 different cigars in its newly built humidor. It’s the perfect place to just hang out, or swing by and pick up your cigars before you head across the street to the cigar bar. Manager Mike Duch won’t have it any other way. Mike and Aldo met at the cigar bar. As a young man, Mike would head to the depths of The Brick House because he simply loved to smoke cigars. It didn’t hurt that Mike’s brother was Aldo’s son’s good friend, but

after knowing him all those years, Aldo knew Mike was perfectly capable of running the new shop. The shop has been open for only two months, but it’s already a hit. Unlike other local smoke shops, The Brick House Cigar Shop offers a more personal and comfortable setting meant to create conversation in a “Members Only” atmosphere. It might be your first time in the shop,

or your first time even buying cigars, but Mike and his team will treat you like you’re part of the family. Aside from its selection of cigars from many well-known and notable brands, Mike has stocked the shop with some unique, lesser-known options. One such example is Boss Cigars—a brand created by a few local guys from New Jersey who are passionate about cigars. Always sup-

portive of the community, The Brick House Cigar Shop was one of the first to carry Boss Cigars. Just like kids in a candy store, men—and the occasional woman— are now heading to The Brick House Cigar Shop to experience incredible selections and first class service, just like they do at Aldo’s restaurant. As spring blooms, don’t be the guy without the great cigars.

SPRING 2014 95

Spring Fever

Four Ways to Turn Up the Heat in Your Relationship JULIANNE CANTARELLA

A WRITTEN BY

fter this winter, I am sure you are ready to welcome spring. I bet many of you have already packed up those heavy sweaters, long pants and boots and have made room for a more carefree time. It’s easy to notice the difference in each of us as spring approaches. Many of us experience restlessness or an excitement as temperatures begin to climb and we welcome longer days filled with sunshine and cool breezes. There is a newfound freedom that we are eager to embrace. As we shake off the sluggishness of winter, we look to become active, and to reconnect and strengthen our intimate relationships in spring. Without further ado, here are four ways to further connect with your significant other this spring.

Plan a Picnic

Spring is the best time to check out your neighborhood farmers market. Bring a wicker basket and a blanket,

and load up on locally grown fruit, cheese, and baked goods. Go find an inviting location and remember that all-important bottle of wine! Spending some alone time with no distractions except good food and good company will allow you the chance to grow communication with your honey. If you’re looking for a great picnic spot in Bergen County, look no further than Wood Dale County Park. This 118-acre gem spans parts of Hillsdale, Park Ridge, and Woodcliff Lake.

Stop and Smell the Roses

Well, any flowers will do, but Valentine’s Day has long passed by now. Nothing says romance more than spending quality time together walking hand-in-hand through a beautiful garden teeming with vibrant colors and pleasant fragrances. With the sun caressing your faces, and that loving feeling washing over you, it’s sure to bring you closer. Not sure where to take your lover to enjoy the beautiful buds? Take her to the New Jersey Botanical Garden at Skylands. Nestled in the heart of Ringwood, this is a date destination I always recommend.

Go Stargazing

Is there anything more romantic than a starfilled sky? According to astronomers, spring is the best time to take in the night

sky. Cuddle up under a blanket and discuss what you see. Having a new topic to speak about will infuse joy into your relationship and continue to increase intimacy. You can take a peek at the stars in your own backyard, or you can get in touch with the North Jersey Astronomical Group (NJAG).

Go Dancing

Or take dance lessons. This activity is more likely to take place indoors, but it’s a surefire way to bring you closer. Any activity that can increase your heart rate and in turn increase those feelings of attraction is one worth trying. You will be sure to laugh together as you learn more about each other’s bodies. Lucky for you, there are many dance studios in New Jersey. Do a quick search online to find one that fits your needs. As a relationship expert, I believe every day is a chance to grow intimacy between you and your partner. However, springtime can be the motivating factor to help you renew your relationship. Spring is about new beginnings, and fresh perspectives. Take this opportunity to grow intimacy within your relationship. Have fun, laugh and just enjoy yourself. Spring fever only lasts so long. Take advantage of it. Julianne Cantarella, MSW, LSW is New Jersey’s premier relationship expert. She is a former therapist turned matchmaker and dating/relationship expert. A Bergen County native, Julianne is dedicated to helping mature singles in New Jersey & Rockland County find love. She offers matchmaking and date/relationship coaching through her company, New Jersey’s Matchmaker, LLC. Find out more at www.newjerseysmatchmaker.com.

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March Madness?

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NICK POYNER

nly three months into 2014 and this is where we find ourselves? Oh boy. But I get it: March is a crazy month. There’s no shortage of ways to get into trouble. The madness all starts with St. Patrick’s Day. Warning: Hide your kids. Hide your dogs. Motley crews are out all day and night, and they’re more wrecked than Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx circa 1984. They’re drinking and drinking…now they’re drunk. Like, really drunk. If you leave the cozy confines of your home on St. Patrick’s Day, then you’re aware of this. You’ve likely seen the St. Patrick’s Day pattern: Drink, fight, puke, repeat. For example, you’re at a bar and the gentleman to your right gets a bit rowdy as a result of, you know, the 17 beers he drank. Maybe he spills some green suds on your wingtips. You turn to him, calm and collected, and wave a “No problem.” Rather than apologizing, your new drunk friend taps you on your shoulder and engages. Again, you

offer a kind, “Don’t worry; it’s fine.” Then come the threats. You try to move to the other end of the bar, but it’s St. Patrick’s Day, and alas, it’s too packed to move. It’s madness. Sheer, drunken madness. Lucky for you, your new buddy coughs up a little green vomit into his hand and turns back around, embarrassed. Defeated by St. Patrick. Hypothetical victory! I know the image is gross, but that’s St. Patrick’s Day. Pure madness. If you’re lucky, and chances are you won’t be, you’ll only high-five three aggressive bros on your way home. All this because good ole St. Patrick ran the snakes out of Ireland? Fine by me! I’ll drink too much to that! Then, BOOM! Before you know it, we’re at the spring solstice. Personally, it’s my favorite of the solstices. Winter turns to spring in front of our very eyes. Well, over many months, actually. It’s like they say: March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers. Heavy coats are replaced with slightly less heavy coats. Back then?

Freezing. Right now? Slightly less freezing. You’ll start hearing, “I need to get ready for summer,” but as we all know, it’s an empty threat. While we’re at it, let’s rattle off a few other things that make March so mad: Easter. Do we eat peeps in March or April? A new surprise every year. Pi day. Not March 14th. 3.14! Well, technically 3.14159, and so on and so forth. You’re probably thinking, “What about the NCAA basketball tournament called March Madness? Mention that.” In short, I don’t want to talk about it. Last year was very difficult on my wallet and legs and it’s still a sensitive subject. In short, tip your bartender on this, the first day of t-shirt weather. But wait, did Punxsutawney Phil see his fat little shadow this year? I can’t keep up with him anymore. I blame St. Patrick. What a crazy month we’ve gotten ourselves into.

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