Talk of the Town Holiday 2018 by Bergen County the Magazine

Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

HOLIDAY 2018 • Complimentary Issue

www.talkofthetownmag.com

Shop Until You Drop Add these gifts to your holiday wish list

A Legacy Is Built Tenafly’s Panepinto Revitalizes Jersey City

Show-Stopping Side Dishes Recipes to accompany your holiday roast

INTRODUCTION

HOLIDAY 2018 Publishers Steven & Sharon Goldstein

Account Executive Linda Barba

Associate Publisher Brandon Goldstein

Contributing Writers Julianne Cantarella Kevin Czerwinski Brandon Goldstein Tara Ippolito-Lafontant Richard Posluszny Edward Rifkin

Editorial Director Jessica Humphrey-Cintineo Design Director Jessica LaPlaca-Bruno Fashion Director Candace Kristin

Find us at www.talkofthetownmag.com. Talk of the Town is published two times a year by BC The Magazine. Mail all editorial and advertising materials to 297101 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 135, Oradell, NJ 07649 or email materials to steven@bcthemag.com. For advertising and information, call (201) 694-5197 or (201) 694-5196. For subscription information or to contact us, go to www.bcthemag.com. Copyright 2018. All materials are the property of Bergen County The Magazine, LLC. and may not be copied or reproduced without written consent from the publishers.

G,

typically use this spot to share with you my excitement for all of the amazing things going on in this magazine. This isn’t to say that this issue isn’t great. Don’t worry, it is. Today, I wanted to write something different. I choose this:

ﬂt. Reflect on the year that passed. Analyze it. Think about the ups and downs. Reflect on your mistakes, your failures, and your successes. If everything happens for a reason, what is it?

Lrn. Learn what you could have done differently. Learn how you can become better at something. Learn to become a better person.

Drm. Dream for tomorrow and for the fortunes that await. Dream that next year will be better than the last.

Le. Love now and not later. Love the people who make you happy and the people who don’t. Each person has their own battles. Love them for it.

W u a ppy d y y , Brandon Goldstein Associate Publisher

@bcthemag

TABLE OF CONTENTS 8

A Legacy Is Built Tenafly’s Panepinto Responsible For Jersey City Revitalization, and Much More

Number 3073 Bergen County’s Bernard Gola

ESCAPES For the W An Escape to W Punta de Mita, Mexico

Talk of the Town Giving Guide

2018 Talk of the Town Ultimate Gift Guide

AUTO Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster Different From The Rest

Talking Watches Tips and Tricks For Your First High-End Purchase

AL DENTE DIVA Al Dente Diva’s Show-Stopping Sides To Accompany Your Holiday Roast

When It’s Chilly, We Make Chili

Another Year, Another Dollar Sticking With Your Financial Resolutions

THE DATING GUIDE Dating Someone New This Holiday Season?

Working Off Holiday Pounds

DEEP THOUGHTS America the Beautiful

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A LEGACY IS BUILT

By Kevin Czerwinski

oseph A. Panepinto Sr. grew up in Jersey City at a time when neighborhoods were the lifeblood of cities throughout the Northeast, a time before a mass exodus to suburbia took its toll on the waterfront towns of North Jersey and the boroughs of Manhattan. Panepinto, who was born as World War II was drawing to a close, lived in Jersey City where residents were mostly immigrants who helped make it a manufacturing hub and crucial dock town in the shadow of New York City. It was a bustling metropolis, one that left such a mark on Panepinto that when urban decay began to take hold in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he decided that he could help return Jersey City to its former glory. That was more than 50 years ago. Today, Jersey Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s renaissance contin-

Tenaflyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Panepinto Responsible For Jersey City Revitalization, and Much More

8 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

“It [Jersey City] is like something in your DNA,” Joseph A. Panepinto Sr. said. “We were an immigrant Italian family living in mixed ethnic neighborhoods. We all played ball together, worked after school and either went to church or a synagogue. I just felt that you had to have commitment to community.” ues and Panepinto, 74, now of Tenafly for the last 30 years, remains one of its chief architects. Panepinto Properties, of which he is president and CEO, recently celebrated its 40th anniversary as one of North Jersey’s premier development corporations. So, whether you’re talking about Maher Terminals corporate headquarters in Journal Square, Exchange Place or residential buildings like 3 Journal Square and The Gotham or The Residence Inn, Panepinto was a driving force, helping to reshape the city that helped shape him. Panepinto’s most recent project, in partnership with Ironstate Development, is 90 Columbus, in the historic downtown area just above the Grove Street Path station. The 51-story building is the newest tower in the Columbus collection, offering 539 residential studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury rental residences. “It [Jersey City] is like something in your DNA,” Panepinto said. “We were an immigrant Italian family living in mixed ethnic neighborhoods. We all played ball together, worked after school and either went to church or a synagogue. I just felt that you had to have commitment to community.” Panepinto, who went to St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, graduated from Seton Hall Law School and began working for $115 a week at a local methadone clinic. His work with those in need reinforced his belief that he needed to help the community. He was hired as the Jersey City Planning Board attorney in 1971, a position he held for two years before becoming the city’s Redevelopment attorney. Panepinto stayed in that role through 1977 and was an integral part of the team that drafted the plans to reshape Jersey City. “Growing up I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” said Panepinto, a trustee and Governing Board member at St. Peter’s who recently pledged $10 million to the school, the largest donation in the institution’s history. “I thought law would be a good profession and when I was a senior in college I decided to attend law school. Law would be a good basis for whatever I wanted to pursue. Practicing law is nothing like what you learn in law school. The good think about law school, though, is that it teaches you to think. “At St. Peter’s, part of the core curriculum was philosophy,” he continued. “Those courses were the biggest help to me in analyzing legal issues. Philosophy teaches you how to think. It’s one of the best benefits of attending a school staffed Jesuits [who run

St. Peter’s]. That’s why I have been so supportive of St. Peter’s.” Panepinto’s work with the planning board allowed him to deal with and get to know many of the local developers in and around Jersey City. He would go on to work with and represent many of these developers after he left politics in 1977. Panepinto’s deep belief continues to be that a developer’s role is not just to create buildings, but also to support the community around them. “I think they respected that I always had the best interest of the city at heart,” he said. While Panepinto’s vision can be seen throughout Jersey City he is quick to admit that his success hasn’t been the result of a solo effort. His family, particularly Stefania, his wife of 48 years, has played an integral role in his success. Stefania came to the United States as a refugee following the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. The pair met when she was working at brokerage firm. She didn’t speak any English but when Panepinto saw her, he was smitten. He approached her to talk politics and about her role in protests back in Czechoslovakia and learned that she escaped with her parents. Two years later, they were married. “I would not have been successful without the help and efforts of my wife,” Panepinto said. “We were raising four children and with the demands on my time, it was very difficult. She was always a big, big help. It’s important for anyone’s success to have a stable home life and in my case, it was an important part of my success.” Panepinto’s daughter, also named Stefania, and his son, Joseph Jr., are also part of his firm, helping it grow and thrive. His son oversees the company’s global efforts, which includes developing coastal South Korea, while his daughter handles marketing, public relations and interior building design. Panepinto has two other daughters, Gabrielle and Rosanne. While Gabrielle and Rosanne do not work for the firm, their husbands, Gerald Taufield and Daniel Reiser, along with Stefania’s husband, Joe Rodrigues, are also vital members of the company. “The kids are involved and we’re a very close family,” said Panepinto. “I have 11 grandkids and some of them come into the office now and then when they are off from school. Hopefully they get the bug and if not, that’s okay. Everyone has to pursue their own goals and have their own sense of accomplishment.” Panepinto has no immediate plans to retire, either. Rather, he says he’s just going to cut back and take some more time off with his wife. 10 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

Number

3073: By Brandon Goldstein

veryone has a story to tell. It usually shares how we got from Point A to Point B, who we met along the way, what experiences changed us. The story always ends in the present – where we are now, and how that story has made us who we are today. Bernard Gola is no exception. Gola is a Jewish, 92-year-old Bergen County resident who has lived a long and exceptional life. His pride and joy is his family and he cherishes every moment of every day. He has defied the odds and stared death straight in the face. Once a prisoner in one of the world’s most infamous death camps, he wears his prisoner’s mark still. This is his story. On Sept. 5, 1939, Nazis took over the Polish city of Kielce. The Nazi movement across Europe had already begun a year earlier, and a 13-year-old Gola had been hearing rumblings from his aunt and uncle in Vienna, Austria, that the Nazis were persecuting Jews – revoking their businesses, depriving them of education, enforcing curfews, etc. So by the time the Nazis invaded Kielce, Gola knew that there would be trouble, but to what extent he was undoubtedly not prepared for. When the Nazis began beating Jews, cutting off their beards in the street and publicly humiliating them, Gola was still absolutely surprised. “How could man do this to man?,” he asked his uneasy family. There were no answers, and no escape. Upon punishment of death, radios were outlawed. No Jewish business could remain open, and all able Jews had to go and work for the Nazis. After his family’s clothing business was ransacked and closed, Gola was put to work for the next year and a half by cleaning barracks, digging ditches, working on the railroad and in the mines. This was only the beginning. In the spring of 1941, the Nazis rounded up the Jews and forced them into a large ghetto, confined by barbed wire fences and guards at every gate. Attempted escape was a death warrant. Gola lived in a crammed single-room with eight or nine family members. Food was sparse and the forced labor was exhausting. Even more horrifying was the fact that through his labor – building railroad lines, doing factory work and mining, he was unknowingly helping to manufacture his own nightmare and

12 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

Bergen County’s

Bernard Gola that of millions of fellow Jews. By 1942, Nazi Germans looked to be the likely victors of World War II. Their spoils: all of Europe. Of course, Gola and his family were unaware of this at the time. However, that was not all they did not know. There were now Nazi camps specifically designated for the efficient liquidation of mass amounts of human beings all over Europe, with a goal in mind of the complete extermination of all Jewish people. In 1942, the Nazis, with assistance from Ukrainian soldiers, began removing people from this ghetto. It was a simple process: divide all the ghetto’s inhabitants into two lines. Gola and his younger brother were selected to be in the line to the right (with only about 20 percent of the entire ghetto); their mother and the rest of the family were selected to be in the line to the left. As the lines started to move in their separate directions, Gola’s younger brother panicked and ran to his mother. He, along with the rest of Gola’s family, boarded a cattle train and headed to the death camp of Treblinka. That was the last Gola ever saw of his family. Gola and others put in the line to the

‘How could man do this to man?,’

Holocaust survivor Bernard Gola, 92, asked. right were selected to work in nearby factories, before being moved to a new camp for unknown reasons. His responsibility then became loading wooden wagons onto trains or unloading traincars of coal in a day. At 15-and-half years old, Gola first had thoughts of making a run for it. He was granted some freedom to do his task, and there were opportunities. He came to one stark realization, though – there was nowhere to go. By 1944, the tide of war had changed. The Russians were approaching Poland. Although a bright end was in sight for the Allied forces, it was still a dark road for Gola. He was loaded on a cattle train headed for Auschwitz-Birkenau. Upon arrival, Gola was stripped of every last possession. His clothing was

removed and he was told he was being “sent for a shower” by the Nazi officers within the camp. Once again, two lines were created, yet both were supposedly headed for the showers. Gola took his shower. A quick dash of cold water, and then he was handed his new attire: a striped prisoner uniform with a yellow patch on the right side, signaling he was Jewish. The line Gola was not in also went straight to “the showers,” and perished. Gola was then given his new identity: 3073. He had lost his family, his possessions, and now, his name. Wooden bunks lined every available space in the barracks Gola now called home. Gola recalls living in Birkenau for about five weeks, with 10-12 bunkmates huddling just to keep warm and very litTalk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 13

tle food. From his barrack he could see the gas chambers and crematorium. He could hear the screams. Smell the ash rising from the brick crematorium chimneys. His diet was one small piece of bread and a watery slush no Jewish grandmother would ever call soup. His daily tasks consisted of moving corpses from the gas chamber to the crematorium. Gola was then moved to yet another camp that was part of Auschwitz concentration camp. Here, he was enrolled in a brick laying school and then helped build an X-ray building for the Nazi officials. Death was always an option, but Gola never lost hope; he never thought he wouldn’t make it out. He was going to do what was asked of him, even if it meant aiding the people he now despised most. He was going to make it out alive. Gola and another prisoner had even devised a plan to steal extra food. They had noticed there was only one chef in the kitchen and there were doors to the right and left of the kitchen. One boy would come in and cause a ruckus, getting chased off by the chef while the other boy would go and take all the bread he could handle. They knew death was the punishment. They didn’t care. As the Russians approached the camp, the prisoners set out on a three-day “death march” to Glewitz, Germany. Gola had to walk through frozen terrain, eating snow just to stay alive. Once in Glewitz, Gola was quickly shoved onto a cattle car with 119 other passengers heading toward Czechoslovakia. Czech people were throwing bread into the cattle car, not realizing that the many passengers were trampling each other to death just to reach the bread. Victims who were trampled were then simply thrown off the wagon, as there was no space for them. The minute the train pulled into Mauthausen Concentration Camp, it was turned away. There was not space for more prisoners. After a brief stay at a camp outside of Berlin named Oranienburg (where Gola’s shoes were stolen), he was loaded onto yet another cattle wagon on its way to Bavaria. After a quick trip, Gola and the other 14 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

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prisoners had to walk through the mountains towards their new barracks. While walking, Gola reached down to grab some snow and was instantly disciplined. A Nazi guard hit Gola with his rifle so hard it broke in half. The new camp was no better than any other. It was more cramped, had less food and was just as cold. His cotton-striped uniform did nothing to keep him warm. By April 18, 1945, Americans were approaching this camp. The war was at a near end, but Gola’s future was still completely uncertain. His faith in himself could only carry him so far. As the Americans neared, Gola was once again loaded into cattle cars. But when the train began to move, American planes started bombing the train and the tracks ahead. Gola said the planes flew so low he could almost touch them. The Americans had no idea there were prisoners in these trains. With the train destroyed, Gola and the other prisoners had no other recourse but to walk. No one – even the

Nazi soldiers guarding them – seemed to know where they were headed. Prisoners who slowed down were shot to death. The rest trudged through the muddy forest and ate grass. They could hear shots being fired off in the distance, freedom so close yet no hope in sight. As darkness fell, they finally were allowed to sleep in an abandoned barn. As morning light streamed through the cracks in the barn, Gola woke. He climbed out of his sleeping area and soon realized the Nazi guards had abandoned them. He was free. He was hungry, exhausted and battered, but free. As Gola tells it, it was “the day he was reborn.” American soldiers soon approached the prisoners. They were well aware of the situation and cared for the prisoners, feeding them, treating the ill. However, Gola no longer had a home or a family. He was still unsure what would come next. He was then moved to a displaced persons camp, where he stayed for eight months before coming to the United States in May of 1946. He

was now a 19-year-old man. Gola has spent each day since The Holocaust cherishing life. He worked hard, and now lives the American Dream. He knows what could have been taken away from him in the face of evil. If the Nazis had their way, there would be no story to tell, nor this writer to tell it. His strength got him through, and he prevailed. What’s great about telling your story is that although everyone goes from A to B, everyone’s journey is entirely different. Gola continues to share his story, to remind younger generations of the evil that once consumed this world, and to warn them that it is our duty to prevent it. His 3073 tattoo has faded, but it still remains. While it no longer carries any literal meaning, its symbolic value serves as a strong message of what the world had almost become. Gola tells his story not for a profit, not for sympathy or attention, but for awareness. It is his goal that we will never have to recite stories of such evil in all of our lives.

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W For the W

An Escape to W Punta de Mita, Mexico By Brandon Goldstein

here’s no doubt choosing a vacation destination isn’t easy. For those planning to travel with kids, you can turn the page now. For those looking for a relaxing beachside vacation with amazing food and drinks, modern amenities and sunsets our East Coast just can’t compete with, look no further than The W Punta de Mita. Centrally located on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, the W Punta de Mita provides the quintessential escape from North Jersey. Following a nonstop flight no longer than that to California, you arrive in Puerto Vallarta. A quick drive later and you’re in the lush hills of Punta de Mita, and your getaway begins.

Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 19

Once you’ve arrived at the W’s entry gate you hop on a golf cart that takes you along a winding road surrounded by tall walls which are further dwarfed by the dense trees lining the pathway to the hotel’s lobby. It’s simple to see why celebrities covet this property – the privacy is second to none. Built into a beachside hill, the W Punta de Mita’s expansive property, along with its clever design, seamlessly blends the entire property into the surrounding nature. With only 119 guest rooms, including villas and suites, you’ll often feel like the property is your own private oasis, complete with a beautiful pool, incredible restaurants and a 700,000-plus tile mosaic walkway hundreds of feet long leading you out to views of the Pacific’s blue waters and wild sunsets. Like most W properties, W Punta de Mita’s contemporary design gives it a youthful vibe while also celebrating the area’s cultural roots – whether it be the 20 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

surfboard bed-headboards paying homage to this surfer’s haven or the abundance of luchador wrestling masks and candy skulls found throughout the property. In many ways, the property is a contemporary American hotel with open room concepts and modern amenities, but with fun reminders that you’re actually in a Mexican paradise. The W has found the perfect formula mixing both fun and relaxation. While there’s no shortage of hidden spots to tuck yourself away and quietly read a book, there are also great spots to socialize with other guests. Whether you start your day at the W’s state of the art fitness facility, get a massage at AWAY Spa or enjoy a surf lesson, the spot you’ll find the most guests at once is the incredible pool. Overlooking the beach and central to the property, the large pool, dotted with cabanas and an abundance of lounges, is an Instagrammer’s dream. On certain days the pool transforms into a day

club, complete with a DJ and endlessly flowing bottles of champagne. Even on quiet days though, the pool is always buzzing. It doesn’t hurt that there’s always an attentive attendant waiting to deliver you a drink without ever having to leave the pool. If that Tequila Sunrise cocktail has your stomach growling though, just hop out of the pool and head over to Chevycheria, a 1950’s 3800 Chevy truck converted into a beachside ceviche bar. If you prefer some fresh guacamole poolside, the Wet Deck (and their “adult ice cream”) is a must. Laying in the pool and watching the sun disappear behind the western horizon, what could be better? If just lounging poolside isn’t your thing, than the W Punta de Mita still has plenty to offer. Besides those surf lessons, you can also rent stand up paddle boards, surfboards or boogie boards, and the hotel has partners that will help you plan activities and excursions, such as sunset sails, dolphin or whale watching expeditions, scuba and hookah diving, snorkeling tours and luxury yacht charters. If you’re looking to keep it on land though, a short drive to the neighboring city of Sayulita is perfect for a day of shopping or a night out to experience authentic local culture. After a quick taxi ride you’ll be fully immersed in a buzzing beachside town. They beach is a bit swarmed, but watching hundreds of locals surfing at the same time is a unique sight. Local artisanal boutiques specializing in clothing and local art line the streets, and delicious tacos costing less than a U.S. dollar are everywhere. At night, the streets come alive with nightclubs and corner bars. If that’s your cup of cerveza (beer), it is quite a scene. Back at the W though there’s still plenty of relaxation and eating to be had. First, the AWAY spa, another of the hotel’s gems seemingly built into Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 21

the hillside, offers up plenty of services that allow you to detox before you retox. Whether you indulge in one of AWAY’s signature pampering treatments utilizing local ingredients such as cactus and agave, take in an after-sun body wrap or just simply want to channel your zen in the resort’s “Meditation Labyrinth,” you’ll be well suited for the day’s retox, and by that I mean a Mezcal tasting curated by the property’s knowledgeable mixologists. Between the sun and the surfing, you’ll find yourself undoubtedly hungry. If you’re feeling some casual Mexican cuisine, Venazu is where you’ll head for a bountiful breakfast buffet with local staples such as mini quesadillas or chilaquiles (essentially breakfast nachos). Open for lunch and dinner as well, Venazu’s more casual and local fare utilizes many local fresh ingredients. 22 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

For another option, head just across from Venazu to Spice Market. Inspired by the street markets and food stalls famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten came across while traveling in Southeast Asia, Spice Market’s family style cuisine and relaxed and sexy atmosphere will definitely hit the spot. Looking to have the only table at the restaurant? Mesa1 is an individual table on its own private island with sweeping oceanfront views offering just one daily seating for an ultra-intimate chef’s dinner. As the temperatures of northern New Jersey continue to sink lower and lower, now’s the perfect time to plan an escape. Nestled in the hills of Mexico’s west coast, the W Punta de Mita is the hidden gem offering everything you could need.

Share your generosity with worthy area charities. This year join forces with other like-minded individuals and organizations, such as the ones that follow, to continue Bergen Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-standingspirit of caring commitment to improving our communities and all of those who call it home.

24 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

Urology Care Foundation

1000 Corporate Boulevard, Linthicum, MD 21090

www.urologyhealth.org

Mission: The Urology Care Foundation is the nation’s leading urologic health charity, promoting research, advocacy and education in an effort to ultimately cure urologic diseases. The Urology Care Foundation is a premier and mainstream organization involved across the whole spectrum of urology advocacy. One of its key areas of advocacy is expressed in its “Let Your Voice Be Heard” campaign, which urges the public to press Congress to support the Training and Research in Urology (TRU) Act.

Homes Fit For Heroes

500 N. Franklin Turnpike, Ramsey, NJ 07446

www.homesfitforheroes.net

Mission: The group was founded on the following principles: that as Americans we have a duty to support those that fight with honor and make sacrifices to protect the freedoms that we so often take for granted; that there is no greater honor than to extend a hand to a wounded solider and his or her family; and that if we want the United States of America to be the greatest country in the world we too need to sacrifice and be custodians of freedom. Accordingly, the Homes Fit For Heroes Foundation was established to provide wounded Special Operations warriors with shelter from the storm allowing them to recover from their injuries with the comfort, dignity and respect they deserve.

Center For Food Action of New Jersey

192 West Demarest Ave., Englewood, NJ 07631 Contact: Director of Communications & Community Relations Jennifer Johnson

Phone: (201) 569-1804, ext. 28 Email: jenniferjohnson@cfanj.org Web: www.cfanj.org

Mission: The organization’s goal is to prevent hunger and homelessness and to improve the lives of individuals and families. It provides emergency food, utility and housing assistance, advocacy, counseling services and access to other community resources. CFA helps clients find solutions to problems, achieve financial stability and create a brighter future.

Habitat For Humanity of Bergen County

121 Carver Ave., Westwood, NJ 07675 Contact: Executive Director Jacey Raimondo

Phone: (201) 457-1020 Email: jaceyr@habitatbergen.org Web: www.habitatbergen.org

Mission: Habitat For Humanity of Bergen County was established in 1994 as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Its mission is to provide decent, affordable homes for hardworking Bergen County families.

Sean Kimerling Testicular Cancer Foundation (SKTCF)

150 Broadway, Suite 1105, New York, NY 10038

www.seankimerling.org

Mission: Established in the memory of Sean Kimerling, an Emmy Award-winning anchor of CW11 sports and pregame announcer for the New York Mets whose life was cut stark short in his prime, SKTCF is dedicated to raising awareness of testicular cancer and highlighting the importance of self-examination. The message is clear and simple: No man should die from testicular cancer.

ZERO

515 King St., Suite 420, Alexandria, VA 22314

“Generosity consists not in the sum given, but the manner in which it is bestowed.” – Author Unknown

www.zerocancer.org

Mission: ZERO, The Project to End Prostate Cancer, takes a hard stance on prostate cancer – hence the name. The idea: ZERO means zero prostate cancer deaths, zero prostate cancer cases and for those with the disease, a zero PSA. With its hard line message comes aggressive campaigning, which includes ZERO’s Drive Against Prostate Cancer campaign, the only national mobile screening program for prostate cancer. Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 25

New Concepts For Living

68A West Passaic St., Rochelle Park, NJ 07662 Contact: Associate Executive Director Adam Fishman

Phone: (201) 843-3427 Email: info@ncfl.net Web: www.ncfl.net

Mission: New Concepts For Living is a community nonprofit organization committed to people with disabilities and their families. Inspired by the vision of families and consumers, New Concepts enables people to realize their dreams and achieve their individual potential through quality community program supports and services.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

1 Bergen County Plaza, Suite 440, Hackensack, NJ 07601 Contact: Executive Director Ellen Davis

Phone: (201) 336-7520 Email: ellendavis@bergencasa.org Web: www.bergencasa.org

Mission: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) For Children of Bergen County is an independent, non-profit organization of professionals and trained volunteers who have been appointed by the NJ Family Court to advocate for children removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. CASA works to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to these children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes.

Multiple Sclerosis Care Center Holy Name Hospital

718 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666 Contact: Development Officer Lisa Futterman

Phone: (201) 833-3000, ext. 3899 Email: futterman@holyname.org Web: www.holyname.org/mscenter

Mission: The Multiple Sclerosis Care Center is New Jersey’s only non-profit licensed facility providing healthcare and related services to patients with MS regardless of their ability to pay.

Hope For Children Research Foundation

700D Lake St., Ramsey, NJ 07446 Contact: Executive Director Meg Minassian

Phone: (201) 962-8686 Email: cgf01@aol.com Web: www.hopeforchildrenresearch.org Mission: The hope of the foundation is finding new treatments and cures for children with neurological diseases. The foundation hopes a doctor will never again have to say to a mother or father, “Take your child home; there’s nothing we can do.”

Pet ResQ, Inc.

24 West Railroad Ave., Suite 172, Tenafly, NJ 07670 Contact: Founder Robyn Urman

Phone: (201) 450-5992 Email: petresqinc123@gmail.com Web: www.petresqinc.org

Mission: Pet ResQ, Inc. is a small group of volunteers who believe that all living creatures deserve a change. They exist solely on donations and the efforts of volunteers and foster homes. They tend to rescue the elderly and handicapped pets that otherwise would not stand a chance at life.

Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation P.O. Box 547, Tenafly, NJ 07670 Contact: Founding President & Executive Director Lisa Yue

Phone: (866) 808-2873 Email: info@childrenscardiomyopathy.org Web: www.childrenscardiomyopathy.org Mission: The Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation is dedicated to finding the cause and cure for pediatric cardiomyopathy, a chronic and potentially life-threatening disease of the heart muscle, through the support of research, education and increased awareness and advocacy.

Pony Power Therapies

1170 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430 Contact: Founder & Executive Director Donna Spett

Phone: (201) 934-1001 Email: dana@ponypowernj.org Web: www.ponypowernj.org

Multiple Sclerosis Patient at Care Center Holy Name Hospital 26 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

Mission: Pony Power Therapies is a non-profit organization giving special needs and at-risk children and adults a unique opportunity to ride, care for and interact with horses. The riding and non-riding activities enhance individuals’ physical, social and emotional wellbeing in a safe, nurturing farm environment.

200 Club of Bergen County

560 Hudson St., Hackensack, NJ 07601 Contact: Executive Director Andrea Betancourt

Phone: (201) 229-0600 Email: info@200club.org Web: www.200club.org

Mission: To benefit law enforcement, fire or emergency personnel who die or are seriously injured in the line of duty. Their motto is “serving our servants.”

Heightened Independence & Progress (hip)

Recipients of the Valor Awards 2018 200 Club of Bergen County

131 Main St., Suite 120, Hackensack, NJ 07601 Contact: President/CEO Eileen Goff

Julia’s Butterfly Foundation

Phone: (201) 996-9100 Email: ber@hipcil.org Web: www.hipcil.org

637 Wyckoff Ave., Suite 285, Wyckoff, NJ 07481 Contact: President Christine Callahan

Mission: Heightened Independence & Progress is a nonprofit agency run by and for people with disabilities. With Centers For Independent Living in Bergen and Hudson counties, hip’s mission is to empower people with disabilities to achieve independent living through outreach, advocacy and education. hip offers wide-ranging programs and services to people with disabilities of all ages.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund’s New Jersey Metro and Rockland County Chapter (JDRF) 1480 U.S. Highway 9 North, Suite 306, Woodbridge, NJ 07095 Contact: Executive Director Jess Backofen

Phone: (732) 219-6654 • Email: jbackofen@jdrf.org Web: www.jdrf.org/newjerseymetro

Phone: (201) 675-9961 Email: Christine@juliasbutterflyfoundation.org Web: www.juliasbutterflyfoundation.org

Mission: Julia’s Butterfly Foundation is a volunteer, nonprofit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of terminally and chronically ill children and their families. The foundation honors the memory of 6-year-old Julia Marie Bommer, who passed away in 2005 following her brave battle against a rare kidney disorder. It is the foundation’s goal to pay tribute to Julia’s life by helping other children and their families struggling with the demands of their unique circumstances. The foundation is humbled by the courage and dedication of the children and caregivers they support, and consider it a privilege to provide financial aid, physical assistance and services to those who need it most.

Mission: To find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research while providing support for those living with Type 1 Diabetes and their families in the community.

“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity and the responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” – Anthony Robbins

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Tomorrows Children’s Fund (TCF)

30 Prospect Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601 Contact: Administrative Director Susan Garbe

Phone: (551) 996-5504 Email: sgarbe@tcfkid.org Web: www.tcfkid.org

Mission: The Tomorrows Children’s Fund was founded by a group of committed parents to help their children and others like them with cancer and serious blood disorders. With the help of friends and supporters, today, TCF provides a warm, healthy and loving environment for children in treatment, a full scope of services to relieve families’ emotional and financial stress and the very best possible medical care – all of which confirms TCF’s belief that through hope, hard work and heartfelt generosity, extraordinary things are possible.

bergenPAC (Performing Arts Center)

30 North Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ 07631 Contact: President & CEO Dominic Roncace

Phone: (201) 816-8160 Email: droncace@bergenpac.org Web: www.bergenpac.org

Mission: To make the live performing arts accessible, and to speak to the lives of its diverse community. bergenPAC builds a creative home for artists of excellence and relevance, who entertain and enlighten, inspire and inform audiences.

“We must give more in order to get more. It is the generous giving of ourselvesthat produces the generous harvest.” – Orison Swett Marden

Foundation for Autism Training and Education (FATE)

P.O. Box 1157, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Contact: Director of Development Sheilagh Cirillo

Phone: (201) 541-9833 Email: info@thefate.org Web: www.thefate.org

Mission: FATE strives to help individuals with autism achieve their highest level of independence within their home, school and community.

West Bergen Mental Health

120 Chestnut St., Ridgewood, NJ 07450 Contact: Chief Development Officer Barbara Krusko

Phone: (201) 444-3550 Email: bkrusko@westbergen.org Web: www.westbergen.org

Mission: The agency’s mission is to treat severe mental illness in children and adults and promote psychological health and personal growth. It provides comprehensive treatment and supportive services for clients and the surrounding community.

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County

64 Passaic St., Hackensack, NJ 07601 Contact: CEO Lynne Algrant

Phone: (201) 489-9454, ext. 201 Email: lalgrant@bergenvolunteers.org Web: www.bergenvolunteers.org Mission: The Volunteer Center of Bergen County strengthens the community by connecting people with opportunities to serve, operating model volunteer programs, building capacity for effective volunteering and participating in strategic partnerships that meet community needs.

The Community Chest

122 S. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ 07631 Contact: Executive Director Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer

Phone: (201) 568-7474 Email: shelly@communitychestofenglewood.org Web: www.communitychestofenglewood.org Mission: The Community Chest raises funds and allocates them to agencies demonstrating the capacity to provide services to residents and provides coordinating and planning services in Englewood, Englewood Cliffs and Tenafly to support a range of needs, including hunger, afterschool programming, elderly care, career counseling for women, mental health services, environmental education and medical care to low-income pregnant women.

The Comedy Cures Foundation

North Jersey Friendship Home

122 East Clinton Ave., Tenafly, NJ 07670 Contact: Founder Saranne Rothberg

125 Atlantic St., Hackensack, NJ 07601 Contact: Director of Operations John Alecci

Mission: The Comedy Cures Foundation is a national nonprofit organization bringing joy, laughter and therapeutic humor programs to kids and grown-ups living with illness, depression, trauma and disabilities.

Mission: To maximize the independence and community living skills of persons experiencing severe and persistent mental illness, in order to reduce unnecessary hospitalization, secure other health and welfare services, as required by each individual referred to Friendship House for treatment, and to render assistance voluntarily in a safe, comfortable environment. Friendship House is a non-profit rehabilitation center offering comprehensive behavioral health services, vocational training and employment support for adults with all types of disabilities. Services are designed to address the unique needs and goals of every individual.

Phone: (201) 227-8410 Email: info@comedycures.org Web: www.comedycures.org

Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. (RBARI) 2 Shelter Lane, Oakland, NJ 07436 Contact: Executive Director Megan Boyle

Phone: (201) 337-5180 Email: adoptlove@rbari.org Web: www.rbari.org

Phone: (201) 488-2121 Email: jalecci@njfriendshiphouse.org Web: www.njfriendshiphouse.org

Mission: RBARI believes that all animals have a natural right to humane treatment, including proper care, respect and safe shelter. Their primary mission is to provide sanctuary while finding permanent, loving homes for the many animals that arrive in their shelter, including feral, elderly, handicapped and formerly abused animals. Animals in their care receive lots of love, shelter, food and medical care. RBARI adheres to a “no-kill” policy, giving animals an open-ended stay at a warm, safe place until loving homes can be found.

Youth Consultation Services (YCS) Foundation

235 Main St., Third Floor, Hackensack, NJ 07601 Contact: President & CEO Richard Mingoia

Phone: (201) 678-1312 Email: rmingoia@ycs.org Web: www.ycs.org

Mission: AT YCS, the mission is to advocate, educate, shelter and care for children in need and their families so that each can further develop the skills, self-worth and hope necessary for success within their communities.

Family Promise of Bergen County 100 Dayton St., Ridgewood, NJ 07450 Contact: Executive Director Kate Duggan Phone: (201) 833-8009 Email: kduggan@bergenfamilypromise.org Web: www.bergenfamilypromise.org

Mission: To provide hospitality to the homeless and to keep families together in times of crisis, guiding them through temporary periods of homelessness by helping them create an achievable vision and develop a strong foundation for self-sufficiency.

PUCCINI'S TOSCA Presented by New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera

New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera

P.O. Box 3024, Fort Lee, NJ 07024 Contact: Chorus Coordinator Mary Ellen Rohon

Phone: (201) 886-0561 Email: info@verismoopera.org Web: www.verismoopera.org

Mission: New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera’s mission is: 1) to enhance the cultural life of the community by providing a complete range of fine musical programming; 2) to educate the community about the uplifting benefits of music and, in particular, grand opera; 3) to educate and introduce youth to the joy of fine music; and 4) to provide performance opportunities to musicians and offer study grants to young performing artists. Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 29

Alzheimer’s New Jersey Northern Regional Office

690 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 300, Oradell, NJ 07649 Contact: Executive Director Elaine Winter

Phone: (201) 261-6009 Email: ewinter@alznj.org Web: www.alznj.org

Participants Walk to End Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s New Jersey Northern Regional Office

The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation

1701 Tower Drive, Edgewater, NJ 07020 Contact: Fred Fiddle

Phone: (877) 444-1149 Email: info@djfiddlefoundation.org Web: www.djfiddlefoundation.org

Mission: The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, the first not-for-profit and only all-volunteer-run organization in the United States to focus on adult autism has been blazing trails since 2002. It creates paths leading to fulfilling and potential driven lives. The endowed programs at America’s leading universities, resources, and public policy/awareness initiatives are person-centered and derive from the needs and hopes of the diverse population of adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families.

Jewish Home Foundation of North Jersey, Inc. (JHF)

10 Link Drive, Rockleigh, NJ 07647 Contact: Executive Director Melanie S. Cohen Phone: (201) 750-4231 Email: info@jewishhomefamily.org Web: www.jewishhomefamily.org Mission: The mission of the Jewish Home Foundation of North Jersey, Inc. is to provide aid and support to the notfor-profit organizations of the Jewish Home Family, Jewish Home at Rockleigh, Jewish Home Assisted Living, Jewish Home at Home and Jewish Home and Rehabilitation Center. The purpose is to make healthcare, education, life enrichment, scientific and other charitable efforts available to the seniors, the elderly and infirm in the community, without regard to the individuals’ ability to pay.

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Mission: Alzheimer’s New Jersey, formerly known as Alzheimer’s Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter, provides programs and services to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and caregivers who live in Bergen County and the 13 other New Jersey counties. Association programs and services include education and training, support groups, respite assistance and a toll-free telephone, HelpLine.

Adler Aphasia Center

60 West Hunter Ave., Maywood, NJ 07607 Contact: Director of Development and Communications Elissa Goldstein

Phone: (201) 368-8585 Email: egoldstein@AdlerAphasiaCenter.org Web: www.adleraphasiacenter.org Mission: The Adler Aphasia Center’s mission is to be a vital resource to anyone whose life or profession is touched by aphasia. Aphasia is a language disorder that impairs the expression and understanding of spoken language, reading and writing. It occurs most often form a stroke or brain injury. This condition affects a person’s ability to communicate, but does not affect their intellect. Adler Aphasia Center provides people with aphasia the assistance they need in regaining basic communication skills, as well as their self-esteem and self-confidence, often lost as a result of their disability.

The Office of Concern Food Pantry

55 West Demarest Ave., Englewood, NJ 07631 Contact: Director George McKenna

Phone: (201) 568-1465 Email: GMcK1230@optonline.net Web: www.officeofconcern.com

Mission: The Office of Concern Food Pantry serves “the poorest of the poor” in northern New Jersey by supplementing their food and other basic needs with bags of food each week. Food packages contain canned goods and other non-perishables, as well as fresh poultry, fruit and vegetables and dairy products. St. Cecilia’s Church in Englewood sponsors The Office of Concern Food Pantry, but the pantry is independent functionally and financially. It serves all regardless of religion, race or culture. They are open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each week, they move 4.5 tons of food from their warehouse to their front office for distribution to 750 needy

families. The 501 (c)(3) organization is staffed by dedicated, unpaid volunteers, who operate through the generosity of foundations, businesses, churches, schools, community organizations and individuals.

The Friends of the Hermitage, Inc.

335 North Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423 Contact: Visitor Services Manager Leslie Naghshineh

Phone: (201) 445-8311, ext. 102 Email: lnaghshineh@thehermitage.org Web: www.thehermitage.org

Mission: The Friends of the Hermitage, Inc. was established to restore, maintain and interpret The Hermitage, along with its grounds and outbuildings. Their mission is not only to provide these services, but also to communicate to a diverse audience of students, scholars and the general public, the site, its archives and its collections as they relate to local, regional and national history beginning in 1740.

Giants of Generosity, Inc.

201 Piermont Road, Suite 16, Cresskill, NJ 07626 Contact: President & CEO D. Jane Chagaris Albanese

Phone: (201) 567-2622 Email: jane@giantsofgenerosity.org Web: www.giantsofgenerosity.org

Mission: Giants of Generosity’s mission is to quickly respond to the urgent needs of people in the community who are experiencing critical, life-altering situations. It does this by providing financial relief, connections to valuable resources and service providers. Its goals are achieved with much greater impact by leveraging resources, expertise and relationships with other, likeminded organizations whenever possible. Giants of Generosity is fully funded by the generous donations of area residents and by corporate grants.

Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF)

1 Grand Ave. Suite 3, Englewood, NJ 07631 Contact: Associate Director Danielle De Laurentis

Phone: (201) 568-5608 Email: nnjcf@nnjcf.org Web: www.nnjcf.org

Mission: NNJCF focuses on civic engagement, education, public health and the arts by working with local governments, school districts, businesses, non-profits and citizen groups to improve community life. Foundation partners identify and resolve regional problems and opportunities by sharing ideas, services and resources. The ArtsBergen initiative supports and encourages creative place making, the integration of arts and culture into an area to build community and boost the local economy.

Advance Housing, Inc.

100 Hollister Road, Teterboro, NJ 07608 Contact: President & CEO Carolyn Jaime

Phone: (201) 498-9140 Email: cjaime@advancehousing.org Web: www.advancehousing.org

Mission: The mission of Advance Housing, Inc. is to expand the range and scope of supportive housing opportunities available to persons with psychiatric disabilities. In addition, Advance Housing, Inc. seeks to make similar options and services available to other individuals who are in need of supportive housing. The array of outreach services, designed to help people live independently and productively in the community, will exceed the highest standards of professional practice.

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” – John Bunyon

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Tom Dixon Rock Weight Yes, having a gym at home is cool – until you realize gym equipment is not only ugly, but you also never use it. The Tom Dixon Rock Weight changes things up. Made from a solid piece of marble and of course, in a variety of weights, these dumbbells might not transform your “Dad-bod” physique into that of a caveman but you’ll at least feel way cooler doing those bicep curls. 32 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

Chanel No. 5 Limited Edition This one is for the special lady in your life. The iconic fragrance might remain the same, but with the dark red collector’s edition package she’ll be feeling, and smelling, like a million bucks.

Norlan Whisky Glass

Lexar Jumpdrive Fingerprint Flash Drive Twenty-five gigs of data secured with your fingerprint. Need I say more?

We are certainly fans of our scotch, and pouring a glass of $300 Macallan Rare Cask into a cheap rocks glass just feels blasphemous. Luckily, after pouring said scotch into a Norlan whisky glass, we can in fact have our scotch and drink it, too.

LG 4K Cinebeam Projector Bring the movie theater to your home without having a dedicated room for it with the LG Cinebeam Projector. Literally plop this down wherever and enjoy crisp, clear quality up to 150 inches in size. With built in Smart TV wireless streaming coupled with two speakers, this portable box has everything you’d need for the ultimate movie night. Popcorn not included.

Plum Wine Preserver I like red. She likes white. We usually start with a few cocktails before we head to wine, but hate to have the rest of those bottles sitting, oxidizing and, ultimately, tasting weird the next time we partake. A culmination of everything you’d ever need to serve wine properly, the Plum wine preserver solves all of our problems. Simply insert your bottle into Plum, where internal cameras will scan the label and determine how it is best served. A needle will puncture the bottle and as wine is released, fill the bottle with argon gas to prevent oxidation – keeping your bottle fresh for up to 90 days and delivering the perfect glass on demand at any given time.

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Wolf Axis Watch Winder If the toughest decision of the day is whether to put on the Rollie or the Audemars Piguet, than the Wolf Axis watch winder is probably right up your alley. With models built to accommodate one to three watches, these sleek cases allow for custom rotation settings individually set for each watch, as well as additional storage compartments for the watches just not worth winding.

Midnight Oil LED Lamp While “burning the midnight oil” may still go on, it rarely involves any oil. With the Midnight Oil lamp, you can at least get the feeling that you’re about to design a new luxury railcar circa the Industrial Revolution, without you know, getting your hands oily.

Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin 1 Chair Constructed from a single piece of folded plywood, this collaboration between the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and manufacturer Cassina, who built the original Taliesin 1 Chair more than 30 years ago, pays homage to FLW while also instantly starting a conversation with whoever may walk into your living room. 34 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

Evolve Carbon GT All-Terrain Skateboard Not quite the skateboard of Tony Hawk, this all-terrain model utilizes twin brushless motors to propel you up to 25mph and can go up to 18.5 miles per charge including up a hill that has a 25 degree gradient. It’s not quite Marty McFly’s board, but it’s close.

Astro Elroy Passenger Drone While we here at Talk of the Town don’t totally get this whole “drone commuting” thing, there are so many tech companies creating their own designs meant to transform the way we travel locally. While we don’t believe anyone has the answers to how all of this drone transportation will work, we can still admire the many beautiful designs, such as this from Astro Elroy. Passengers input their destination into a touchscreen, 4G interface and the 17 rotor drone capabler of speeds reaching 43mph takes you and one passenger from there.

Harley-Davidson Livewire Electric Motorcycle Vroom, vroom. While motorcycle enthusiasts of old might take offense to an electric powered bike, we are almost in 2019. Designed and built by HarleyDavidson, these two-wheeled wonders are meant to take riders into the 21st Century with a color touchscreen bringing an array of information to your fingertips, and a magnetic electric motor more capable than any gas competitor.

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2019 Sea-Doo Fish Pro Watercraft Although we always found people fishing off of their jet skis odd, it must actually work. Finally, Sea-Doo decided it’s time to accommodate that type of fisherman, modifying their traditional models to include a host of amenities meant to help the fisherman fish. A Garmin navigation and fish finder system, as well as four rod holders and a more suitable seat, combined with a 51 liter cooler lets you fish when you want to and cruise home when the sun sets.

Hyper-Sub Multipurpose Aquatic Vessel I could give you all the specifications of why this personal submarine is awesome but what’s the point? It’s a submarine, and it could be yours.

Stahl X Firepit

Fire is cool. Why isn’t your firepit?

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Warhol Author Klaus Honnef honors the iconic artist’s career through 96 pages of Warhol’s work. Way cheaper than an original Warhol, it also fits better on your coffee table. Though it might incite debates about materialism and consumerism, at the very least people might think you’re “cultured.” We know better.

Scrabble Space Edition While it’s less likely that you’ll be playing Scrabble in space, and more likely that someone will bump into your kitchen table knocking your tiles all over the place, the Scrabble Space Edition has solved the problem either way. Although at the moment this is more art exhibit than for-sale-product, a limited edition run for purchase is possible. With a metallic board imbued with meteorite dust and of course, magnetic tiles, it’s nice to see technology finally invade our snow-day board games.

Toylander 1 Kid’s Electric Car While we might not fit inside of it, we will appreciate it far more than our toddler as it winds its way down the driveway and ultimately crashes into our actual, grown-up car. This kid-sized electric car is ready to roll with two electric motors capable of jetting the Toylander to 5mph – only slightly slower than the original version.

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You’ll feel it the moment you meet us. Dr. James McGinty, chief of surgery at Englewood Health, believes that great surgeons are great listeners. It’s why he always takes the time to let patients tell their story, explain what’s going on with their health—and with their lives. He knows from deep experience that listening helps a physician make the proper diagnosis, and it always leads to the best possible treatment. Experience the feeling of belonging that can only come from a healthcare team who really knows you, and knows how to care for you.

Experience Englewood Health. englewoodhealth.org

Marshmallow Crossbow While technology has seamlessly injected itself into every little aspect of our lives, we do appreciate that systems built to launch marshmallows are as prominent as ever.

Mujjo Touchscreen Gloves The weather outside is frightful, but I still have to send that text. Made from fine Ethiopian Lambskin leather and with available tops of Egyptian cotton, these gloves are warm, stylish and practical.

Polaroid Onestep Plus Camera It’s hard to let the past go – just ask anyone with a vinyl collection in milk crates still sitting in their mom’s garage. Polaroid has come back with a vengeance, this time creating a seamless blend of old and new. This camera has interchangeable lenses, a vast array of technology to help get the perfect shot, a Bluetooth accessible app, and of course, the ability to instantly print that embarrassing photo and pass it around for all to see. 40 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

Lighter Cufflinks Whether you're James Bond or just want to smoke a cigar at your 2nd cousin’s wedding, these cufflinks bring the fire to your French cuff. A flint igniter and a refillable reservoir that holds up to 50 lights – we only suggest you take it off your shirt before you light yourself on fire.

North Focals Augmented Reality Eyeglasses

We are the first to admit we don’t love virtual reality. However, augmented reality has piqued our interest. As a way of seamlessly blending technology into real life through our very own eyes, part of the problem has been that the technology hasn’t come far enough to let us enjoy its potential without feeling like we are wearing computers on our heads from a low-budget sci-fi movie. The North Focals change that. They’re sleek and look like glasses, but utilize a holographic projector that transmits relevant information right in front of us. Of course, it’s Amazon Alexa capable, so we can look at any given object and Prime will soon deliver it with free two-day shipping.

Aemyrie Wood Fired Oven Whether you’re going for low and slow or a 650-degree sear, this oven can do it all, complete with an intelligent temperature control system to ensure your brisket comes out just as intended. It’s also huge. Weighing half a ton, this monstrosity puts all other grills to shame.

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Hoversurf Hoverbike Just don’t fall off.

Woolsey Ping Pong Table The perfect combination of stylish furnishings and ultimate fun, the Woolsey Ping Pong Table has a solid black walnut top and solid walnut legs. The powder-coated steel net is removable, transforming this from a Ping Pong table to a dining table. Covered with a natural hand rubbed oil and wax finish just in case you planned a game of beer pong or ten.

Whisky Vault You’ve spent all that money amassing a fine whisky collection but it just sits unguarded on your shelves, waiting for your drunk uncle to pop a cork on that 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle. In comes the whisky vault. Solid steel plate construction and a bullet-proof front window ensures your uncle’s wandering hands can’t get near your liquid gold.

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Mercedes AMG GT C Roadster: Different From The Rest

By Richard Posluszny

n the modern motoring world, the past 24 months have been eye opening. With a greater emphasis on technology – both for safety and convenience – and the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) actually taking hold, it seems we’re not in Kansas anymore. Simply put, the old way of doing things is going the way of the dodo bird. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just, every now and then, you want to remember the good ol’ days. Of course, without any of the drawbacks.

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While cars like the Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911 still exist, which improve upon a formulaic approach with each generation, sometimes you need to step out of the box and try something different. And that’s where the Mercedes-AMG GT comes into the picture. Released in the past couple of years, it’s the threepointed star’s approach to a sports car that can double as a grand tourer. While the SL-Class has been around since the 1950s, this AMG model is something completely different. That’s because the GT was engineered from the ground up by the company’s hardcore AMG team. To be candid, this isn’t a boulevard cruiser. Testing the Roadster version of the AMG GT C, I noticed that there wasn’t much about this vehicle that was sedate. Parked in my driveway, this Mercedes looked menacing.

That’s because Mercedes recently decided to alter the front grilles of its AMG vehicles. Now they feature vertical slats and, I can’t quite explain it, but the latest AMGs with this treatment look ferocious. Low, wide and carrying itself with an attitude, it definitely commands a presence. It’s kind of like Joe Pesci in Goodfellas. Observing the GT C Roadster’s side profile, you’ll note that it takes a vintage approach. It sports a long front nose, a compact cockpit and a short trunk lid. Just look at how much space there is between the front wheel well and the seam for the doors, which is where the motor sits – more on that later. Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 45

Sliding into the sport seats that are tastefully executed with a diamondpattern stitch, you’re confronted with a thick, DINAMICA-laden steering wheel. Clearly, Mercedes is sending us a message: While the interior is pretty to look at with Nappa leather covering…everything, this vehicle is meant to be driven. Although this cockpit is adorned with a massively wide center console that eats up space, it doesn’t feel claustrophobic with the top up. The welcoming aroma of hide has stuck with me but the interior is not without fault. The armrest seems a bit chintzy, and there’s a creak here and there elsewhere inside. That wide center console is home to several things of importance. First, there’s the rotary dial that selects the GT C’s driving modes, second you have the vehicle’s suspension settings and on the other side you have your volume adjustment for the infotainment, the button to switch on manual mode full time and, the button to dial up the exhaust note. The rest of the buttons aren’t so critical, honestly. In addition, the console is home to the gear shifter, which is very tiny, and sits behind the dial and trackpad that controls your infotainment screen mounted high atop the dashboard. This is all pretty standard Mercedes fare it’s just wrapped in much nicer packaging. Although the sport seats are thin and heavily bolstered for track use, they’re actually quite comfortable. This is likely due to the fact they’re not carbon fiberbacked, which typically results in an unforgiving experience. Armed with heating and cooling features, it’s pretty difficult not to dig these chairs. As with just about all Mercedes convertibles, these seats also integrate AIRSCARF. Just to bring those up to speed who are not looped in, AIRSCARF

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blows warm air onto the neck of occupants to give passengers a more comfortable top down experience in cooler temperatures. It’s my favorite feature. But, nothing compares to firing up the beast. Pushing the start button, you awaken the biturbo, 4.0-liter V8 engine. Good for 550 horsepower and 502 lb.-ft. of torque, this burly V8 is coupled with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That translates into super fast gear changes and a zero to 60 time of about 3.7 seconds. And as the GT C sends power exclusively to its rear wheels, you better know what you’re doing when you drop the hammer. There can be some drama as the V8 symphony crescendos and the GT C wiggles its hips. While launching it from a light is impressive, that’s nothing compared to where the GT C shines: On winding country roads. When you pop this Roadster’s hood, you’ll note

its engine is tucked deep into the car. It’s pushed way back against the firewall. This was done on purpose to balance the vehicle as much as possible and keep its center of gravity low. This is something you typically see in a front-engine Ferrari and, boy, it pays dividends when you’re carving corners. What blew my mind about the Roadster was how light and direct this car’s steering rack is. It feels more Italian and less German with its ability to change direction. Although this three-pointed star tips the scales at just under 3,700 pounds, which is not exactly heavy nor particularly Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 47

lightweight, it feels far more nimble than any serious Mercedes sports car previously offered. The SLS is put to shame. Though I wish this AMG had more communicative steering feel where I could read the road, this is something that’s gone extinct in just about all of today’s vehicles – the exception being some sports cars and other highend, exotic vehicles. Even though this GT C is open to the elements, there’s no peculiar vibrations or scuttle shake. Body roll is minimal through the switchbacks. When the suspension is dialed up to its most firm setting, it works exquisitely on country roads. In Sport +, the Roadster felt like it was on rails and planted. As I pushed the Roadster in corners, it didn’t feel like it was going to step out on me. It gives you, the driver, a tremendous amount of confidence when exploring the limits. Overall, I found myself exceedingly impressed with the AMG GT C’s handling. I think it’s probably one of the best — if not the best — frontengine sports cars I’ve driven. That’s because it feels better when pushed than the Ferrari California T, which sets a high benchmark. Where it does fall short though is trying to daily drive the GT C to my office in Manhattan. While it certainly is possible, I don’t think I’d want to do it more than a couple times a week at most. Its suspension is just not ideal for the

“While it may not be set up to handle New York [or New Jersey]'s craters, it is a refined sports car that can tackle touring duty with ease.”

48 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

pockmarked city streets. Definitely keep it in Comfort mode when dealing with rough roads but prepare to feel the pain, regardless. Aside from that though, there’s plenty of laughs to be had as the AMG is an entertainer. If there’s one takeaway from the GT C Roadster, it’s this: While it may not be set up to handle New York [or New Jersey]'s craters, it is a refined sports car that can tackle touring duty with ease.

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Talking Watches:

Tips and Tricks For Your First High-End Purchase

By Richard Posluszny

n recent years, I’ve been fortunate that my investment into better understanding the areas of automotive, finance and technology have paid off. But, like any person trying to stay on top of their “A” game, I am always seeking another thing to learn more about. I guess you could say I am a bit like Johnny 5 in Short Circuit, constantly seeking input. That led me to watches or as horologists would say, timepieces. As I’ve started to gain enough knowledge to become dangerous, I’ve realized how little I actually know. This is a subject that has many different rabbit holes. And as I look at starter watches – like the IWC Portugieser, Omega Speedmaster and Rolex GMT-Master II, it was patently obvious that I needed a bit of a primer to provide a more robust framework

50 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

RP: If I am buying a high-end watch, which is better: new or used?

into the wonderful world of watches. I turned to the one person that I’ve come to consider the encyclopedia of all things time related. Rick Marciano is the assistant manager at Lee Perla at Hackensack’s The Shops at Riverside with an undying passion for all types of timepieces. After learning a lesson or two from Marciano, I knew that I had to share this important knowledge with all of you. Here’s just some snippets from a recent exchange.

RM: It all really depends on what you’re buying and what your experience is with watches. You can certainly get great deals on pre-owned watches, but it’s also easy to get burned too. For a first-time watch buyer, I generally recommend buying new as you dip your feet into the world of watches. It helps you develop a relationship with a salesperson and a particular shop, which can help in the long run for harder to get pieces. Once you get more comfortable with what to look for in a watch, then it never hurts to venture out into the secondary market to see what’s out there.

Following up on that point, some brands like Rolex – particularly its stainless steel sports models – don’t have much of a price difference between new and used, especially now that the supply of Submariners, GMT Masters, etc. has tightened up. If you’re searching for a timepiece that uses precious metals, or looking at brands that may be a bit past their prime (e.g., Hublot, Breitling, Panerai, etc.) pre-owned is certainly a good way to go as someone already took the resale hit and you won’t have to. RP: With any high-end product, resale value is critical: Are there particular brands that hold value better than others? If so, which? RM: Absolutely! Patek Philippe and Rolex tend to hold their values best. That said, don’t expect to be able to make money if you decide to sell it a week after you buy it. The longer you wear and enjoy them, the better you’ll do. Patek’s success lies in the prestige and small quantities of watches produced. The Nautilus is currently one of its best-selling watches and it’s nearly impossible to get. In addition, its value retention is astoundingly good. This is currently one of the few watches that you can buy today and sell tomorrow at a profit. With Rolex, strong value retention is found across the line in Men’s watches but especially the stainless steel sports models. Another factor are highly complicated watches that are produced in extremely limited batches for a very short period of time. Those do quite well in the long run and generally find themselves on the auction block, but that’s an entirely different beast that I could talk about all day. All this said, one should never look at a watch as an investment. RP: What’s the thinking around complications and what does that do to the price/value of a watch? RM: The more complications a watch has, the higher its price will be (e.g., date, chronograph, moon phase, tourbillon, etc.). That’s the simple answer. It’s also good to keep in mind that if a timepiece has more complications, not only is the initial cost high, but also it will be more costly to service down the road. RP: What are the things to look for in a high-end watch – certain finishes, details, straps, etc.? RM: There’s no right answer here. The best advice I can offer is to buy what speaks to Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 51

you. You’re the one who will be wearing it and, assuming you like it, that’s the only thing that matters. No matter what you buy, it’s going to get dirty, it will get scratched but it will be entirely your own. Watches are made to be worn just like cars are built to be driven. RP: Are there any telltale signs that a high-end watch is not the one to buy? RM: There are a couple things: 1.) If a seller says it’s new but it looks less than fresh, I’d walk away from it; and 2.) If the price seems too good to be true on a private sale/pre-owned sale and they can’t provide any documentation or packaging, I’d probably walk away from that too. RP: When shopping for a watch is there any particular tips or etiquette that should be known? RM: Do your research. It makes a big difference when you know a few timepieces that you want to see versus walking into a store cold, and staring at hundreds of options and looking through each one. It saves your time

52 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

and the salesperson’s time. As far as etiquette goes, I always suggest that you follow the golden rule, much like anywhere else. Whether you have a custom-built vault in your home that’s brimming with the finest pieces, or you’re buying your first watch, treat your salesperson with respect. This can help when the time comes to purchase or source a hard to find piece. One thing that’s worth mentioning too: If you’re not shopping at a retail chain, it never hurts to ask if the price is negotiable. There may be certain watches that are non-negotiable but if you keep your request reasonable, you may save some money. RP: Are there any tells that you should not work with a particular retailer or seller? RM: This has been a big one as of late. I don’t think you should work with

a shop that’s charging over MSRP for a hard to find piece, especially if they’re an official retailer. In addition, if you’re looking for “X,” but they’re really selling you on “Y,” it’s simply not worth it. A good salesperson will want to see you leave with what you want. You’re spending a lot of money, so it’s not worth settling on something that won’t make you completely happy – and it’s not worth spending it with someone who doesn’t care what your heart is set on. RP: Any other essential tips/tricks? RM: Be patient. Depending on the specific watch you’re shopping for, it can take a while to source certain pieces. Make sure to do your homework. There are plenty of retailers out there and it never hurts to shop around. At the end of the day, we want to see you walk away happy.

Al Dente Divaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

SHOW-STOPPING SIDES To Accompany Your Holiday Roast What to bring to a dinner party can be a tough decision. Add the stress of making a good impression on potential future in-laws and the pressureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on! Not to worry. Here are some impressive side dishes that are also easy to make. Any one of these would be a great complement to any dinner table you may find yourself invited to.

Garlic Butter Baby Bella Mushrooms Trim the stems off about 20 Baby Bella mushrooms. Place them cap side down in a cast iron skillet (A baking dish would also work). In the microwave, melt 1/4 cup of butter and four minced garlic cloves. Pour the butter mixture over the mushrooms. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.

Italian Roasted Red Potatoes Slice potatoes into one-quarter sized pieces and place them in a large bowl. Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, 1/2 tsp. paprika and 1 tsp. Italian seasoning. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.Transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, cut side down for 25 minutes. Flip them to the other cut side and bake for an additional 25 minutes, until the potatoes have a crispy outside and are fork tender.

Creamed Spinach Drain and dry (very well) three packages of frozen spinach. In a large sauté pan, melt 2 Tbsp. of butter. Add 1/2 of a minced onion and three chopped cloves of garlic. If you like some heat, add some hot pepper flakes. Sauté until the onion is soft. Add one package of room temperature cream cheese and the spinach. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Stir to combine all ingredients. Transfer to a baking dish and top with sprinkled Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 minutes.

Asparagus and Blistered Tomatoes Trim the asparagus and place them in a large sauté pan with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the asparagus is soft. Remove and transfer to a serving platter.Add about 10 grape tomatoes and sauté until they have begun to blister. Add the tomatoes to the asparagus and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Tara Ippolito-Lafontant is a long-time Bergen County resident and local foodie. This stay-at-home mom is the creator of Al Dente Diva, a page where she shares recipes, entertaining tips andcooking hacks with her followers. Visit her on Instagram (@AlDenteDiva) for a peek into her everyday culinary adventures.

s there a more comforting cold weather meal than chili? This steamy concoction of meat, beans and veggies is a fantastic way to fill up your belly on a weeknight, or on weekends as we watch the N.Y. Jets and Giants falter yet again. Chili is coziness in a cup or bowl, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so simple to make. You can freeze it to enjoy later, or bring some in to work the next day. No two pots of chili are the same. The ingredients are endless, and some guys even add beer to the pot. Some of us serve it up with warm rice, tortilla chips or cornbread and, of course, some of us are purists and enjoy it plain. Chopped chives, green onions, sour cream, specialty cheeses and other goodies are great ways to add texture and taste to this hearty meal. Looking to whip up a pot of something special this winter? Check out these recipes!

Smoky Chipotle Chili Serves 6 to 8 Time: 2 ½ hours

Ingredients: 2 ½ pounds beef shoulder, arm or blade roast boneless, cut into ½ inch pieces 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil, divided 1 teaspoon salt 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 cans (14 ½ ounces each) diced tomatoes with green peppers and onions, undrained 1 bottle (12 ounces) beer 2 Tablespoons adobo sauce from chipotle peppers 1 Tablespoon minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed, drained

Directions: 1. Cut beef roast into ½-inch pieces. Heat 1 Tablespoon oil in stockpot over medium heat until hot; brown beef in batches and remove from stockpot. Season with salt. 2. Heat remaining 1 Tablespoon oil in same stockpot over medium heat. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Add beef, tomatoes, beer, adobo sauce and chipotle peppers; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover tightly and simmer 1 ½ to 1 ¾ hours or until beef is fork-tender. 3. Stir in beans and masa harina; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 1-2 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Serve with sour cream, as desired.

3 Tablespoons masa harina Dairy sour cream Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 57

Beef and Chorizo Chili Serves 4 to 6 Time: 45-50 minutes

Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef (95% lean) 7 to 8 ounces beef chorizo 1 ½ cups chopped white onions 2 to 4 medium serrano peppers, chopped 2 Tablespoons ground ancho chili powder or regular chili powder 2 Tablespoons masa harina or cornmeal 1 Tablespoon dried Mexican or regular oregano leaves, crushed 1 teaspoon salt 2 cans (15 to 16 ounces each) garbanzo beans or pinto beans, rinsed and drained 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained Hot cooked rice (optional)

Dressing: 1 medium ripe avocado ¾ cup water ¼ cup fresh lime juice 1 garlic clove, peeled ½ teaspoon salt

Optional toppings: Sliced radishes Crumbled queso fresco Dairy sour cream Sliced green onions 58 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

Directions: 1. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add beef, chorizo, onions and peppers; cook 8-10 minutes, breaking into ¾-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet with slotted spoon; pour off drippings. Return beef to skillet. 2. Add chili powder, masa harina, oregano and salt; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in beans and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes before serving. 3. To make dressing, cut avocado into chunks. Place avocado, water, lime juice, garlic and salt in blender container. Cover; process until smooth. May be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. 4. Serve chili over rice with toppings and dressing, if desired. Note: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Color is not reliable indicator of doneness.

Chilly Day Beef Chili in the Slow Cooker Serves 6 to 8 • Total time: 5 ½-6 hours on high, 8-9 hours on low

Ingredients: 2 ½ pounds boneless beef chuck or round, cut into ½ inch pieces 2 cans (15 ½ ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained 1 can (15 ½ ounces) chili-style tomato sauce with diced tomatoes 1 medium onion, chopped 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon pepper 1 cup prepared thick-and-chunky salsa

Optional toppings: Shredded cheddar cheese Diced red onion Diced green onion

Directions: 1. Combine all ingredients except salsa and toppings in 4 ½ to 5 ½ quart slow cooker; mix well. Cover and cook on high 5 ½-6 hours, or on low 8-9 hours, or until beef is tender. (No stirring is necessary during cooking.) 2. Just before serving, stir in salsa; cook 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Serve with toppings, as desired.

Diced avocado Dairy sour cream

Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 59

Anher Year, Anher Dlar

Sticking With Your Financial Resolutions

t’s hard to keep up with our New Year’s resolutions, and with 2019 rapidly approaching, a lot of us are reminded that we didn’t follow through with them yet again. A recent survey from Bank of America found that 49 percent of respondents don’t even make New Year’s resolutions because they prefer to set goals throughout the year. Regardless of whether you decide to make life changes after you’ve cracked open that second bottle of Dom Perignon after the ball drops, or sometime in March or February, it’s important to stick with your choices. As we all know, there are many different types of resolutions. Many of us want to lose weight. Some of us use Jan. 1 as a launch pad to quitting smoking or saving money. Accord-

By Edward Rifkin

ing to that same survey, 81 percent of resolutions involve health and fitness, 45 percent involve personal finances and 30 percent are targeted toward making changes in social life and relationships. For the purpose of this article, let’s focus on finances. “I’ll be the first to admit keeping

to a financial resolution takes a lot of hard work. It takes good behavior and good habits,” said Farnoosh Torabi, a consumer finance expert. “With life being so complicated, stressful and complex, we often abandon them. Get the systems in place – the small steps you need to take now – to help you get on the right track.” Research shows that consumers who understand their behaviors and motivations are more likely to build and keep positive habits for a longer period of time. That’s why it’s so important to have strategies to keep those financial resolutions throughout the year. Really commit to your financial resolutions this year, and follow these pointers. Let’s make 2019 a great year!

Prepare Before Your

Resolution Begins Putting thought into your resolutions before you spring into action can put you on the path to prosperity. Starting early with a few small changes can also improve your odds of staying the course to achieve your goals. For example, if you’re looking to improve your financial health, begin by imagining a debtfree life. Visualizing how things may change can provide that additional motivation you may need to move forward. Think about having more money available each month and how it would change your stress levels. Imagine what it would be like to not worry about meeting your payments, or saving more for retirement, education or emergencies. Thirty percent of survey respondents said they identify their New Year’s resolutions early as a way to stick with them throughout the year.

Develop An Action Plan It’s fine to make a resolution, but the odds of sticking with it improve dramatically if you create an action plan of smaller steps to support your goals. If your number one resolution is to lose weight, your plan might include budgeting money for a gym membership and cleaning out any junk food from your pantry. Creating a budget? Start by tracking your spending to see where the money is going. Then create a budget that’s tight but workable to give you more flexibility to pay down debt, increase savings, or invest for retirement. If you have to carry a balance, but want to manage your credit card responsibly, consider a card that helps build positive habits.

According to a recent survey from Bank of America,

45 %

of New Year's resolutions invovle personal finances.

Write It Down

Forty percent of survey respondents say they use written reminders to help stay on track with their resolutions. Try writing down your resolutions on Post-it notes, in your smartphone, or in calendar reminders. Just make sure it’s something you will look at regularly to keep yourself committed and on track. Research shows that you’re more likely to achieve a goal if you write it down. If your goal is to manage your finances better, write a reminder on your daily calendar to check your credit card statements as they come in. This is the best way to spot transactions you don’t recognize.

Get A Little Help From Your friends Sometimes a gentle reminder from a family member or friend can work wonders. Share your resolutions with a trusted person and ask for occasional reminders. Some 23 percent of survey respondents plan to enlist help this way. A friend may be able to talk you out of buying that handbag you’ve been eyeing that is out of your budget. The key to cutting debt is to stop adding to it. If you’re in a hole, stop digging.

Partner Up Find a friend or loved one with the same resolution and agree to motivate and support one another to stick to your goals. It’s easier to manage a budget if you have support. Twenty percent of respondents plan to partner up to keep to their resolutions. Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 61

Dating Someone New This Holiday Season? It can be tricky to navigate your way through the holidays if you’re in the early stages of dating.

Check out these guidelines.

There’s no need to make things awkward! By Julianne Cantarella

efining the relationship is a big step in the dating process and the holiday season can get a little more complicated if you haven’t had “the talk.” Typically, this conversation about exclusivity comes a few months into the relationship. Regardless of whether you’ve had this chat or not, you must avoid making any critical mistakes around this time of year. I would caution you not to rush or force a relationship. Let it unfold naturally while enjoying the company of your date. The last thing you want to do is to scare her off and ruin the chance of your relationship advancing naturally. If you’re looking to enjoy the season and start 2019 on the right foot, look no further. 62 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

Appropriate Gift Giving

First and foremost, it’s important not to go overboard. Making a grandiose gesture can make you appear too serious, and you could run the risk of scaring her off. On the other hand, ignoring the holidays could disappoint her and put a damper on the whole burgeoning relationship. Be thoughtful. Pay attention to what she likes and dislikes. Does she have a hobby? Is there a particular artist or musician she really enjoys? A book by her favorite author is another great present. I would suggest starting there when you’re looking for a gift.

Managing Relationship Expectations

The holidays can make us feel all warm and fuzzy and the eggnog isn’t always behind it. Be careful. That warm and fuzzy feeling can cloud your judgment and inflate your expectations. I’ve seen more relationships implode when one of the players assumes the relationship is more than it is. Enjoy that feeling and your date, but don’t let it influence your expectations and push you to define a relationship that is just getting started.

Holiday Invitations and Attendance

Don’t expect to get an invite to all the holiday festivities. Meeting her family, friends or coworkers during this time can be a bit awkward, or it can put stress on a new relationship. Expectations should be kept real during this time. Don’t assume that because you have had several dates that she is ready to incorporate you into her life. If you are interested in bringing her along to a holiday event of yours, be sure to discuss it with her. She might not be ready to meet Aunt Clara or Uncle Joe just yet.

Julianne Cantarella, MSW, LSW is New Jersey’s premier relationship expert. She is a former therapist turned matchmaker and dating/relationship expert. You can find out more at www.newjerseysmatchmaker.com. Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018 63

Wkg Oﬀ Holiday Pounds

en like to eat. We do not try to hide it. It would be a foolish undertaking from the start. Our ability to devour seemingly monstrous portions is often a source of pride, not embarrassment. That said, as gentlemen, we also must care for our physique. During the upcoming holidays, the average man gains around 5-7 pounds. But you, gentlemen, are not “average.” To make sure you avoid the common holiday weight gain trap, follow our workout by personal trainer Michele Foster, who is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE).

Here are th

e rules:

• Rest no long one minut er than e. • Repeat at least 3 times. • Use mo dera heavy weig te to hts. • Comple te 8-12 rep s. • Proper form quality ove is key; r quantity.

Wm-up 5 minutes brisk walk or jog 25 jumping jacks 10 alternating front lunges 15 arm circles (clockwise and counterclockwise)

Pow Pushups

Pu-ups Walkg Lung (wh dumes) Make sure you keep your upper body straight and that your back knee almost touches the floor.

Perform a pushup; at the bottom of the rep, explode off the ground (hands should leave the floor) landing with soft elbows.

Mice Ba Ce Twts

Dume Squs

Sit on the floor with a medicine ball, legs in front of you with knees slightly bent. Lean back to engage your core; touch the floor with the ball (side to side).

Hold dumbbells at your side, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Return to start position.

Jump Squs

Plks

Lower into a squat, jump up and land with soft knees; repeat for 30-40 seconds.

For 30-90 seconds, lie flat on the floor (face down) with elbows underneath your shoulders. Lift your body off the floor so that your hips are the same height as your shoulders. Hold the position.

Now, Fl  Burn Choose a favorite type of cardio machine — bike, treadmill, elliptical, etc. Do intervals of 20-40 seconds at a high intensity, followed by a recovery time of at least 40-60 seconds. Do this for at least 10 minutes and gradually work up to doing for 20 minutes. Perform this workout 2-3 days per week on non-consecutive days. Stay well hydrated before, during and after. Have an easily digestible snack about an hour before your workout.

America

the Beautiful

By Brandon Goldstein

I’m

a proud American. Growing up, I can recall reading my social studies or history textbooks and thinking how America is the best. Every time there was a problem, we faced it. Every time we faced it, we came away better. We believed in freedom over an oppressive British rule? Yeah, we crushed ‘em. Nazis were bad? Crushed ‘em. Russia was a bully? Crushed ‘em. Slavery was bad? We ended it. Women didn’t have rights? Susan B. Anthony changed that. The fight for Civil Rights? Martin Luther King Jr. led us from the darkness. It was the 1990s, and for a school kid in New Jersey who didn’t know what “American Exceptionalism” was, I fully believed that America was the greatest place on Earth for every single reason. Slavery was bad; we abolished it. We led the Industrial Revolution on the backs of some of the most brilliant and revered business minds, whose names still adorn skyscrapers, museums, concert halls and institutions throughout the world. Yet, here we stand, in 2018, a country seemingly once again divided, and struggling to progress forward on any given problem – some of which

66 Talk of the Town HOLIDAY 2018

seemed so certainly solved in my nineties textbook. I write this following a week where bombs were sent to political leaders and tragic gun violence stole the lives of 11 innocent people in Pittsburgh, Pa. Regardless of your political viewpoint, you undoubtedly recognize that the actions stated in the previous sentence were wrong and horrid. Democrat or Republican, Jew, Muslim or Christian, I would’ve thought that 100 percent of people in America would think these acts are wrong. Carried out by mad people with mad ideals that don’t live up to our American values. That’s what my textbook would’ve said. America is better than that, or so I thought. What will the textbook say about us in 100 years? Granted, there might not be textbooks. The truth though is that if we continue on this path, if we continue to treat each other without love, compassion or an ounce of respect, there might not be an America, either. This isn’t a political plea. American Exceptionalism wasn’t invented; the American people coming together to do the right thing proved it time and time again. Children were working 14hour days in factories? Let’s stop that. Ninety-nine percent of the time what is

right and what is wrong is clear. It just might not always be what you want to hear. Of course, the hardest part of putting America first is putting us second. If our general population had just a smidge of the compassion that our veterans do, or our police and firefighters do, we can once again be the place we are so proud of. The selflessness they demonstrate daily leads them into situations where they must put others before themselves. On 9/11, those people rushed into a burning building to save people they never met, and sacrificed everything because in their hearts, they knew it was what was right. They are our heroes and we must never forget them. Instead, we must act more like them. We might no longer be the “smartest” country in the world, or the most eco-friendly, or the fasting growing industrial nation. The dollar might not be the strongest amongst other currencies or our air the freshest to breathe. Our lifespan may not be the longest or our streets the safest. We do, however, have the unwavering American spirit – the feeling that because of where we were born we can achieve our wildest dreams and overcome any obstacle.

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