Talk of the Town Spring 2013 by Bergen County the Magazine

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

At Hackensack University Medical Center we’ve designed an environment that allows medical innovation to flourish. By recruiting top doctors and giving them the freedom to push research and treatments beyond traditional thinking. And creating an entire campus of care with building after building to take on everything from cancer and heart disease to neurological disorders. This is a place where people turn when they need a physician who is driven to make the impossible, possible. Discover how one of the nation’s top 50 hospitals can help you at HackensackUMC.org. To find a doctor call 855-996-WELL (9355).

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The MAC6700 features 200 Watts per channel and is designed to meet the needs of the next generation of music lovers. The built in AM/FM tuner receives your favorite radio stations with clarity and realism that is free from noise and distortion. The tuner includes HD Radioâ&#x201E;˘ Technology to deliver the latest HD Radio signals for near CD quality sound. It features the same high performance as our stand alone tuners, along with 20 presets for each radio band, as well as a remote AM antenna. With its preamp section featuring 11 total inputs - including 3 digital inputs that will decode your digital music at up to 32 bits and 192kHz - the MAC6700 is sure to provide you with enough connections and modern technology to keep all your music sources connected and sounding great. Two dedicated phono sections (1 Moving Magnet and 1 Moving Coil) will bring new life to your record collection and deliver the best possible sound from your turntable. The Home Theater Pass Through feature will allow for seamless integration into your existing multi-channel theater system. At 200 Watts per channel, the amplifier section has enough power to properly drive virtually all loudspeakers. Utilizing the world famous McIntosh Auto-former guarantees your speakers will always receive the full 200 Watts regardless of their impedance, while Power GuardÂŽ will prevent clipping and keep your speakers safe from damage. Our new High Drive headphone amplifier features increased gain and output power, and is optimized for virtually all headphone types for the ultimate personal listening experience.

For more information contact your local authorized dealer Talk of the Town at 201-236-1006 or visit them on the web at www.talkofthetownvideo.com

CUSTOM.

With a 20-plus year history in custom theaters, Talk of the Town is prepared to turn your wildest home entertainment dreams into reality. Our new digital world has made just about anything possible. Whether it's networking, Automation, Lighting Control, or video and music storage solutions, Talk of the Town is at the forefront of new technology. As a specialist in design, installation and integration, we can help you create a system for today and tomorrow, and make it easy to operate and enjoy. Make sure Talk of the Town is first on your list to call when planning your next project.

TALK T WN of the

319 FRANKLIN TURNPIKE ALLENDALE, NJ 07401 201-236-1006 www.talkofthetownvideo.com

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

eighty6 Contributing Writers Julianne Cantarella Kate Cronauer Justin Davidson Shiv Desai Brandon Goldstein Cristin Pontillo Richard Posluszny Nick Poyner Sergio Rodrigues Nicole Russell Lyndsey Upcraft Ken Zelin

Find Us At www.talkofthetownmag.com Talk of the Town is published by

The Magazine www.BCTHEMAG.com For advertising and information, call 201-265-2286. Copyright 2013. All materials are the property of Bergen County the Magazine, LLC. and may not be copied or reproduced without written consent from the publishers.

SPRING 2013

Dear Readers, The sweet aroma of cigar smoke is once again permeating through the chilled air. It’s a sign more fitting than a ground hog that, in fact, Spring is coming. While we anxiously await the warmth of a Northeastern spring, I traveled west to Las Vegas to attend the Consumer Electronics Show this past January. This year’s CES was bigger than ever before, and set records for attendance. It is evident that the technology boom we are experiencing is nowhere near its end, and manufacturers are bringing to market the brightest, biggest, curviest, smartest TVs ever. You will soon build rooms around your 110” TV, instead of the other way around. Want to seamlessly and elegantly conceal that TV when it’s not in use? Look no further than our article about VisionArt. Of course, though, that is just scratching the surface of this new issue. Many of you may have heard about the recent sale of the Dodgers and all the different things they are doing to improve their ball club. Along with partners that include Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten is an integral piece of the reinvented Dodgers puzzle. Without question, he is the ultimate executive. He sat down with us to tell his triumphant story. Bringing baseball back to the East Coast, we preview what to expect with this year’s hometown ball clubs. For the first time in recent memory, even Yankee fans are nervous! Our cover belongs to a young and upcoming designer who created the Esposito Collection, a men’s clothing line exuding a mix of European luxury, colorful design and casual sensuality; it’s perfect for the upcoming season. As always, a staple of our magazine is Man Central. Here, we bring you some of the newest and coolest in gadgetry, and ultimately, the newest product that is bacon scented. We will then take you on the journey of transforming a dull home space from concept into a beautiful home theater. We detail the process from empty basement to a home theater the homeowners never want to leave. This, of course, is just a small preview. Turn this page and see the wide range of articles we’ve packed in here for your reading pleasure. I encourage you to visit our newly designed website, and more importantly, to stop in to our showroom to see our Experience Center, where we can show you the latest and greatest that will turn your home into an audio visual dreamland. I get the feeling the next few months will be filled with prosperity and fulfilled wishes. Maybe you will finally get that outdoor home theater you crave? Until then, we wish you a great Spring. Yours truly,

Bob Dodge

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CONTENTS

SPRING 2013 10

Auto: Revving Up for Action

The top 7 things you need to know about going to the track

The Future of Technology Talk of the Town takes you to the Consumer Electronics Show 2013

18 26

46 52

Netting a Fun Night The new Barclay’s Center is returning Brooklyn to its legendary sports past

Want More Sex? 5 secrets to guarantee your pleasure

Man Central

Reading Between the Pipes Why the NHL remains on thin ice

The Unreality of Reality TV

Easy Ways to Eat Right on a Busy Schedule Thanks to these tips, it’s never been simpler

Figuring out what’s real, what’s fake, and why my job is so boring

Cribs: The Path to a True Home Theater From basement conception to movie watching inception, it will lead you to design perfection

The Yankees & Mets Ultimate Preview

The newest Trends

Robotic Surgery Saves Lives and Quality of Life

Why the subway series might not be so exciting this year

Tube Amps or Solid State Amps: Which is Best? Musicians, audio enthusiasts and the obsession with tubes

Around the Horn with Stan Kasten

Urologists pave the way for robotic surgery

Ron Bienstock: Music’s Legal Eagle Musical notes and legal briefs go hand in hand for this multi-faceted man

Hospoda: A Flavorful Journey Through Bohemia

We chat with the LA Dodgers’ president and CEO about the future of this legendary franchise

This hip Upper East Side restaurant is the perfect spot for a novel culinary experience

The inventors of fine-art motorized TV concealment create the perfect balance of mystery and charm

A Look into Today’s Digital Audio What is computer audio?

Experiencing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

Style Guide

A Beer for All Seasons No matter the weather or the calendar, there’s an ale—or two or three or more—to match

Looks for the fashionable man

14 32

66 8

76 SPRING 2013

LIVE BEYOND DEFINITION Stop worrying about the details and start getting lost in them. Introducing the Sony 4K Ultra high definition TV with a 84” screen. Four times the detail of 1080p. 50 watts of cinematic sound. See the world in 4K Ultra high definition and never look back. Feel the beauty. Expect to see more from Sony about 4K. For more information visit your local authorized dealer Talk of the Town at www.talkofthetownvideo.com or call them at 201-236-1006. You can also find more product information by visiting www.sony.com/premiumhome. Designing Your Digital Lifestyle

TALK T WN of the

audio • video • automation • home theaters

Revving Up for Action The Top 7 Things You Need to Know About Going to the Track WRITTEN BY

RICHARD POSLUSZNY

ne of the things I love about my job is that I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to drive everything under the sun. For any gearhead, that in itself is a dream come true. But, to take it one step further, I also get the chance to experience the latest and greatest products at the limit. There’s only one place where you can take a vehicle to really understand its dynamics and how it performs at its absolute edge—the track. While the track used to be something that was hard to come by, there has been what I would consider an explosion of tarmac scattered across the country. Many of the courses are new, top-of-theline facilities that were constructed and opened in as many years as you have digits on one hand. The unique thing about a lot of these new facilities is that they’re

SPRING 2013

not crude. In fact, there has been a movement to provide a country club-like experience. If you so desire, you can become a member and keep a dedicated track car in your own garage space. For the ultimate track fiend, it doesn’t get much better than that. Of course, this all comes at a price with various hierarchies and track access. But before I get in too deep, I think I have to clarify a few things. If you’re a novice to the place where the smell of burnt rubber and pinging brakes is just another day, there are seven things you need to know.

1) You Have to Pick the Right Track

Right off the bat, this seems almost silly. I reassure you, it’s not. It’s critical to understand where you will be driving and how difficult the track is. It is essential that you do your research because if you want to experience eleva-

tion changes and you go to a track that’s been laid out on flat terrain, you will certainly be disappointed.

2) You Need the Right Car

While there are opportunities for owners to take their personal cars to club events, I would discourage this if you’re a novice. That’s because your daily driver is typically not an optimal track performer, so you’ll have to modify it appropriately. Unless you’re looking for a new, expensive hobby, I’d stray from using your commuter car. Just think: you have to pay for the initial modifications, addition-

al sets of tires, and the inevitable wear and tear you put on your vehicle from driving it at the limit. In addition, if you crash, you’re going to have to find an alternative method to get home unless you’re up for a very long walk. If you’re looking to have your first track experience, I would recommend you look into the programs offered by your favorite automaker. Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are a few marques that come to mind, as their events offer dedicated track vehicles and qualified instructors and you don’t have to worry about taking on risk.

3) You’ll Require the Proper Footwear

Though this may seem like a secondary point, it is much more critical than one would initially think. Whether the vehicles you drive will have two pedals or three, you’ll want to have an accurate feel for optimal pedal modulation. Remember, you’ll need to know exactly where the pedals are and you will be using them at their most extreme state for what may be your first time. I’d recommend something with a flat, thin sole and features padding on the heel. Need some more

help? Check out motor sports-oriented shoes by Piloti. However, if you want to avoid looking like a seasoned professional, I would recommend a pair of Puma Speed Cats or even a set of original Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars.

4) Listen to Your Instructor, Always If there is one piece of advice I would say is the most important, this would be it. The reasoning behind this is simple. Regardless of how advanced you are, your instructor at the track is a professional who has 1) more experience Continued on pg. 12

SPRING 2013

Revving Up for Action

Continued from pg. 11

than you, and 2) knows the circuit like the back of his or her hand. Since the instructor has more experience behind the wheel and on the course, he or she will understand exactly how vehicles will react when pushed to the ragged edge, and how to correct your error(s). This is not the ideal environment to horse around, especially if you haven’t been familiarized with the track layout. Remember, lives are at stake. To put it simply, walking into your first track experience is like going through your first day of preschool all over again. Prepare to be educated and remind yourself that the instructors are the ones with the PhD.

5) Get Comfortable

One of the most overlooked things about driving is that far too often, we’re not seated in the optimal driving position. While this may not be a problem on your daily commute, it is key on the track where you will be pushing your vehicle and yourself to the limit. Though some critics say driving

SPRING 2013

isn’t a sport, I would argue they haven’t spent eight hours on a difficult track experiencing G forces. First things first: make sure your seat bottom is pushed forward far enough so that your legs and arms have a slight bend in them and your feet can apply all pedals to the floor. A quick test to check if your arms are in the ideal position is to see if your wrists line up with the top of the steering wheel rim when your arms are stretched forward. If they don’t, you’re likely sitting too far away and your arms will get tired quickly. Next, make sure your seat back is at an appropriate angle so that you’re positioned upright.

6) Slow and Steady Wins the Race

One of the most common misconceptions of driving fast is that you have to “look like you’re driving fast.” This means quick steering inputs, many steering corrections, squealing tires and fast shifting. The funny thing is that this couldn’t be further from the truth. The smoother you drive and

the more relaxed you are behind the wheel, the faster you will be. Take, for example, holding the steering wheel. When many folks first get on the track they grip the steering wheel and hold on for life. This increased tension in your hands extends into your arm muscles and makes for a rigid driving experience that adds time to your laps. Most professional drivers avoid this by interacting with the steering wheel with their fingertips.

7) It’s Addicting

After an adrenaline-filled day at the track that combines learning and more confidence while behind the wheel, be prepared to experience what some call “the sickness.” That feeling of accomplishment plus the thought of improving your lap time will become an addiction. That’s because there are so many ways to make subtle, tiny improvements in your driving that will go a long way to making you a safer driver, as well as faster around a circuit. Every time you shave a second off, I bet you’ll want to go around again just to see if you can do better.

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The Future of

Technology Talk of the Town takes you to the Consumer Electronics Show 2013 WRITTEN BY

SERGIO RODRIGUES

he Consumer Electronics Show—better known as CES—held its 45th technology event this past January at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show, which continues to get better and better, has been attended by members of Talk of the Town for years. The 2013 show set a record in terms of exhibition space, covering 1.92 million square feet, and it attracted more than 150,000 visitors from 170 countries. This year’s biggest attraction category was TVs, specifically the new-generation 4K and OLED sets, which provide unprecedented resolution and realism. For us, CES is about knowing what the future of our industry holds, and gaining an understanding of how we can continue to serve our customers the latest and

greatest in audio and visual gadgetry. After spending a great deal of time getting a glimpse into the future of TVs, we turned our attention to all of the high-end audio components showcased at the convention center and at the Venetian. The industry’s top manufacturers offered earth-shattering and engaging demonstrations. We checked out high-end audio equipment from companies like McIntosh, Bowers & Wilkins, Meridian Audio and others. One clear trend was how many companies were incorporating new wireless technology into their products. Digital-to-analog converters (DACs) also seemed to be a hot commodity trend in the hi-fi world. Here are just a few of the products that caught our attention at this year’s show.

McIntosh MT5 Precision Turntable A modern classic, the MT5 turntable is engineered so that each part synergistically combines to produce superb record playback—tracking force, anti-skate force, cartridge overhang and arm height are all pre-set for maximum performance. While the construction of the MT5 is meticulous, the setup is simple. In a few easy steps, you’ll be ready to enjoy your favorite vinyl recordings. The MT5 maintains classic McIntosh styling by taking full advantage of the chassis materials used to suppress noise, resonance and coloration so the only sound produced is that which is on your records. Continued on pg. 16

SPRING 2013

Continued from pg. 14

Sonos playbar The Sonos Playbar complements HD television screens with richly textured hi-fi sound to wirelessly stream all the music on earth. Simple to set up, control and expand, it requires just two cords: one power cord and one optical cord (both included). Not only does it synch with other Sonos speakers wirelessly, it also understands and speaks with most IR remote’s language and can be controlled by free apps for your Android, iPhone or iPad. If it’s connected to your HDTV, Playbar will play it—cable/ SAT boxes, Blu-Ray players, and video game consoles.

Sony 4K XBR (55-inch & 65-inch LED TVs)

One of the trends of this year’s CES appears to be 4K TVs, and Sony kept that train rolling with the introduction of these two 4K TVs. Sony expanded its Bravia 4K UHD XBR LED TV lineup with a 65-inch and 55-inch version. Both are Wi-Fi-enabled and can tap into various Sony smart solutions, like linking up with mobile devices and sharing content via NFC. The X series of 4K LED TVs will be available in spring 2013.

Samsung F8500 Plasma TV Samsung launched its latest plasma TVs, the F8500 series, which the company claims “offers the ultimate in picture quality with the deepest blacks and the brightest picture available”. The Samsung F8500 LED is among the first Samsung Smart TVs to include a quad-core processor for responsive apps and online services. A completely redesigned Samsung Smart Hub takes center stage on the Samsung F8500 LED, with five panels that update with content personalized to the user’s viewing habits. An upgraded UI and preview thumbnails make the whole aesthetic of the 2013 Smart Hub much more user-friendly.

SPRING 2013

Easy Ways to Eat Right on a Busy ScheduleA LOOK Thanks to these tips, it’s never been simpler.

INTO TODAY’S

DIGITAL AUDIO WRITTEN BY

CRISTIN PONTILLO

Reprinted with permission from AudioQuest

Continued on pg. 20

SPRING 2013

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DIGITAL AUDIO Continued from pg. 20

Continued on pg. 24

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SPRING 2013

hospoda A Flavorful Journey Through Bohemia

This hip Upper East Side restaurant is the perfect spot for a novel culinary experience WRITTEN BY

JUSTIN DAVIDSON

hen choosing a place to do a semester abroad in college I came up with an exhaustive list of what would make or break my semester. OK, well, maybe not quite so exhaustive. It basically came down to: what city had the cheapest beer? I had options. There was London. A pint of London Pride would set me back about $7.58 on average. There was Dublin, where Guinness would be about the same price. Florence was still another choice. But the cost of Peroni wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pretty, either. Then I noticed a place called Prague in the Czech Republic. I remembered my grandmother telling me about how wonderful it was. Some good hockey players came out of the country as well. My parents told me the classic Jewish sto-

SPRING 2013

ry about the Golem of Prague. And I had heard the name Vaclav Havel bandied about my AP European History class back in high school. Aside from that, I didn’t know much about Prague. I looked up the address for my potential dorm. Twelve Machova Street. It was about a 15-minute subway ride from class, or a 30-minute walk. Machova Street was off of Francouzska Street, and there were lots of restaurants and pubs on Francouzska Street. But

food. I would learn to love goulash, dumplings and sausages. All perfect food for a college student on a budget. Goulash was my first dish. It’s a simple dish consisting of sautéed onions and spices mixed with minced beef, pork or veal. More or less, it resembles beef stew. The dumplings—made with potato— were a treat, as I used them to sop up any remaining sauce on my plate. Then there was the beer. Oh, boy, was there beer. Czechs drink

ately intrigued. I loved Czech food, but I couldn’t exactly picture how it could be done well in a Manhattan gastro pub environment. Dispelling all my doubts, Hospoda, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, really blew me away. My friend and I had a 7:30 reservation. It was a one of those brutal New York winter nights—cold, wind, rain, maybe a hailstone or two. We needed a beer and a damn good meal.

could a college student afford to have a good time there? I found a place: Café U Sta Ran, where a pint of Pilsner Urquell, the most popular Czech beer, would set me back about two bucks. So I chose Prague, and I soon fell in love. My bag got lost in transit, and I was one of the first people to arrive at my dorm. We immediately set out to explore all that our neighborhood had to offer. I had spoken with my grandmother about the

more beer per capita than any other nation on Earth. I knew the second that I sipped my first golden Pilsner Urquell that it was my favorite beer. That holds true to this day. It was a great time, and truth be told, I did get more out of the experience than a Pilsner- and goulash-induced gut. It was the perfect place to study. So when I found out that years after my study abroad experience, I would be eating at a Czech restaurant in Manhattan, I was immedi-

Located on the ground floor of the newly renovated Bohemian National Hall on 73rd Street, Hospoda was easy to miss at first, partly due to such crummy weather. Had it been daylight, the building would have been easy to spot. Hospoda is the caterer for all the events inside the Hall. The ballroom, which we had the privilege to see after dinner, features a stage, a beautiful bar, a balcony overlooking the action and enough room to Continued on pg. 28

SPRING 2013

Continued from pg. 27

large party or event. Other rooms in the sleek center can be used for events as well. Hospoda’s interior offered much to marvel over. As the hostess took us to our seats, my companion and I could see the beer cellar right below; they twinkled underneath us, much like tropical fish under a glass bottom boat. Designed by a Czech graffiti artist, a wood engraving surrounds the eating space, and its backlighting emits a chic, lively atmosphere. Our server brought us a small mug of Mliko, which is one of the four ways that Pilsner Urquell is served at Hospoda. It’s mostly foam, but it is poured in such a way that it is sweet. You can tell it’s beer, but think of it more as a cappuccino, albeit a cold one. I should also mention that if beer isn’t your beverage of choice, Hospoda boasts a formidable list of wines, chosen to

pair well with the menu offerings. Although I was now sufficiently warmed, my stomach still cried in agony, kind of like that girl whose boyfriend dumped her while she was abroad. Bread swiftly arrived—rye, my favorite—but it came with something that I associated mostly with octogenarians: cottage cheese. It didn’t look like the usual chunky cottage cheese, though, and it didn’t taste much like it either. It was delicate on the palate, more silk than curd, and it complemented the fresh rye nicely; a perfect start to the meal. The menu, divided into three different ordering sections, didn’t appear to offer the same dishes I had eaten in my study abroad days. For starters, we split the beef tartare. The tartare, drizzled with white truffle oil, was quite tasty, and a good way to ease us into what was

to come. After the tartare, I ordered the fried egg bread. The smoked Prague style ham inside the egg bread tasted vaguely familiar, but I had never had it plated so intricately before me. As you might expect from her name, Chef Katie Busch isn’t from the Czech Republic. However, she did work at one of Hospoda’s sister restaurants in Prague before taking the reins of this lovely place. So the dishes here are a sort of fusion of many different styles, with Bohemian themes echoing throughout the menu. The fried egg bread being one of them, I would say. With mustard, I instantly thought corn beef from Katz’s. Or maybe it was some variation of a Croque Monsieur, the classic French sandwich. Or maybe Moses and the story of Passover inspired it, with the bit of horseradish adding a nice kick. Then I recalled that I was eatContinued on pg. 30

SPRING 2013

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Continued from pg. 28

ing ham, and Moses went out the door. Either way, it’s a solid dish, and worth trying just to sample something innovative. The blending of all the sandwich ingredients, and the fact that it is, well, fried, makes this dish an excellent match for a Pilsner poured as a Slice, which is about two-thirds foam. This method of Pilsner is also meant to be drunk quickly while the foam is still fresh. If you’re following each bite of egg bread with a sip, the beer will be gone very, very quickly. The duck confit risotto is another great dish. The red walnuts, poppy seeds and dates mixed in with this novel creation offered a unique and unparalleled risotto. Off of the second portion of the menu, the grilled hen of the woods is also quite good. A Parmesan poached egg, as well as chicken jus and kale, make for a creamy yet

SPRING 2013

earthy mushroom-based dish. For our main courses, we had the veal schnitzel and the scallops. Now, scallops are not native to the Czech Republic. While the Vltava River separates Prague into two sections, the country is a ways away from the sea. Besides dessert, this dish looked to be the sweetest dish on the menu. The scallops were plated with a tangy parsnip puree, as well as a braised pork shank, and wait for it… pineapple. Yes, pineapple. When we ordered this, I was somewhat skeptical, but yet again, Hospoda proved this skeptic wrong. It’s fantastic, and a great seafood dish. If I had to pick a favorite plate, it would be the veal schnitzel. I have been a fan of schnitzel for as long as I can remember, but usually it’s just made with chicken. This was a step up. Plated with pureed Yukon gold potatoes and

a rainbow assortment of pickled beets, this was the perfect dish for me. I had come a long way from my early days of sitting in my high chair eating my great-grandmother’s schnitzel with my hands and dipping it in ketchup. I gently cut off a piece of the schnitzel, a beautiful golden brown, which was still crackling from the pan. To cool it, I dipped it in the puree, had a sip of my sparkling wine, paused, and bit. Snap, crackle, and pop in my mouth, and a magnificent culmination to this fantastic dining experience. As we wrapped up the meal, there was one thing missing—Becherovka. Becherovka is a sweet, somewhat cinnamon flavored digestif from the Czech Republic. We drank it down, took in the restaurant one last time, and set off into the cold New York winter, fortified with flavor and warmth.

Around the Horn with

STAN KASTEN We chat with the LA Dodgers’ president and CEO about the future of this legendary franchise. WRITTEN BY

JUSTIN DAVIDSON

ou have deep ties to the tri-state area, having been born in New Jersey and graduating from NYU and Columbia Law School. The Dodgers left for LA after the 1957 season. Does serving as the team’s president and CEO carry any extra meaning for you knowing the franchise originated in New York? Well that part of it doesn’t. It’s the whole Dodger history, and I think if they had done what they had done it would be probably as meaningful no matter where they come from, to be truthful. But there’s no taking away from the fact that so much of their history and so many of their accomplishments and innovations happened while they were in Brooklyn, from the breaking of the color barrier to the real creation of the minor league system, to the advent of international scouting. All those were innovations pioneered by the Dodgers, and obviously that all happened in Brooklyn. During law school you played baseball in the Jersey Shore Summer League. What were some of your career highlights? (laughs) I did not have a lot of career highlights. You know, we played

SPRING 2013

The new Dodgers owners have worked swiftly to restore the glory and prestige of this historic franchise. Stan Kasten, second from left, brings years of expertise to the plate.

three games each weekend and it was just something to do. I played one year for Freehold and two years for Manalapan. But … it was clear I had made a good decision to go to law school, and not get my hopes up of being a professional player. Your career officially started back in 1976 when Ted Turner hired you as a legal counsel for something like $200 a week. How did you convince him to give you a job? I was kind of unsure. Ted is a unique guy, and sometimes he gets inspiration that is hard to pinpoint. But we did start talking, we hit it off, I sent him a letter and he invited me down for a couple of days, and literally in two days he saw something that he thought could make a contribution to a very, very young sports business. It was an established advertising business, but the sports part of the business was just beginning and I can’t really tell you I know what it was that he saw, but obviously he saw it because he invited me down and he asked me to stay and I’ve lived in Atlanta ever since. How exactly did you meet him? I was at a game in St. Louis. After law school, before I started working as an antitrust lawyer in New York, I drove around the country. I

took a vacation for about ten days going to different ballgames, and I met Ted one night after a game. The Cardinals were playing the Braves. It was Ted’s first year owning the team, and after the game, I met him and we struck up a conversation, and it went from there.

those awards were voted on by other GMs. Other old-style, ex-player type GMs. To get their respect was very, very meaningful to me.

In 1979, you were named the GM of the Hawks and became, at age 27, the youngest GM in NBA history. Throughout the ’80s, the Hawks were perennial playoff contenders. What was that experience like, considering you were quite young at the time?

When you were named the president of the Atlanta Braves in 1986, the team wasn’t all that good. During your time at the helm, the Braves won 14 straight division titles—of course largely doing it based on stellar pitching with Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz, homegrown talent and really effective free-agent signings. Looking back on that, what would you say was the pivotal moment in turning that franchise around?

It was definitely an exciting time in my life, for sure, but we had great ownership and a great city, and they let us make some moves. We brought some interesting players in and we got very good kind of quickly. So I was just loving it. I did have some hurdles to climb, because I didn’t have the conventional resume of a GM. I wasn’t a former player, so I didn’t know people had come at it from a different way. Actually, more like so many modern GMs that have a different background—a non-playing background. I might have been one of the first of those kind of GMs. It was very rewarding for me, just a few years later, to get a couple of “Executive of the Year” awards because

There are two moments. First of all, when I took over, I resisted doing it because I thought doing two teams at once would not be possible. But Ted asked me to do it, and he said, “just do anything it takes. Do it right”. And that was really meaningful: to have an owner really give you the resources, and the time it took to execute a plan to win. That was very important. That really changed things. That allowed us to set our course for a winning team through scouting and player development. So that was a key thing. And then after we had gotten the scouting and player development basically established, convincing (then Royals GM) John Schuerholz to Continued on pg. 34

SPRING 2013

Around the Horn with

STAN KASTEN Continued from pg. 33

leave Kansas City and join us in Atlanta—that was the final piece that enabled us to take the pieces that we had developed and to put them together into a winning team. Atlanta eventually got a hockey team in the Thrashers, and naturally, you became its president. You talked about running two teams at a time, now you’re running three teams at once. Did you ever get any sleep? Well the hours—that’s overrated because the work is done by great staffs. There is kind of a pressure; you’re sweating about a score every night of the year. You never get an offseason, so that’s a little bit of a hurdle to deal with. But it’s not something I ever set out to do. You know, I don’t recommend doing more than one team to anyone. It can be done, but there are all kinds of difficulties. Ted was determined to have me do it. He had a lot of confidence in me, so I undertook that second team. And the third team, I had gotten the commitment that I would not have to run the third team, except the week before the first game of the inaugural season, the president of the team left to take another job and there was no one

left to do it but me and that’s how I wound up running three teams. It was not a goal I set for myself, nor was it something I set out to accomplish. You’re friends with Gary Bettman and apparently you took up ice skating when you became president of the Thrashers. Well, I wanted to do it right. I quickly had to learn everything I could. Now obviously you can be the president of a hockey team without knowing how to skate but I just thought it was a good thing for me to do. It was a fun thing for me to do. I had Dany Heatley, a Rookie of the Year, an MVP caliber NHL player; and Bob Hartley, a Stanley Cup winning coach, teaching me, so that made it a little easier for me. You were an instrumental figure in bringing baseball back to our nation’s capital. When you left, the club was certainly headed in the right direction. How do you look back on your impact on the Nationals? I had a great time there. I think they have a terrific front office now. They really do, and I’m proud of all

of them. They’re all my friends. Almost all of them came while I was there so I am very proud for all the success that they’re having. I do think they’re a terrific young team and a homegrown team, and that’s certainly what we set out to accomplish. That was one of our goals, and it’s very rewarding for me to see them achieving those goals today. The Dodgers ownership team is beautifully crafted. You have people like Mark Walter of Guggenheim Partners, Peter Guber of Mandalay Entertainment, and, of course, Magic Johnson making up this core ownership group. What has the experience been like so far? It’s been a dream come true. I tell people in my career I’ve been to the postseason 30 times and every single time is an unimaginable joy, and yet what I’m doing now is more fun than anything I’ve ever done in my career. To be able to help restore this brand to what it once was in the second-largest market in America, the media and entertainment capital of the world, with a fan base this dedicated, this loyal—every night to do all this at magnificent, iconic Dodger Stadium— it truly is literally a dream come true. You have a great deal of money at your disposal. What is it like knowing that your team isn’t strapped for cash? It’s a management challenge like everything else. You still want to make the right decisions because smart beats rich. I’ve always said that. The Yankees have always been rich, but until they also got really smart, they weren’t accomplishing all that they could. And we said we’re going to be rich by virtue of the market that we’re in, but unless we’re also smart, we’re not going to be successful, so that’s what we’re spending all our time on. The high-profile deals that

True Blue Gala 2012

Continued on pg. 36

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CP-800 STEREO PREAMP PROCESSOR

The CP-800 Stereo Preamp Processor combines the functionality of a conventional analog preamplifier with that of a multi-input DAC having digital processing features. This new preamp/processor architecture is supported by numerous proprietary Classé technologies. The highest performance is achieved via the CP-800’s USB inputs. Asynchronous techniques are used for both computer-based sources (rear panel USB Device connector) and Apple® portable devices (front panel USB Host connector). Galvanic isolation and a technique we call Single-Clock-Substrate extend the advantages of our Asynchronous USB solution, lowering noise and reducing digital jitter to the lowest possible levels. The result is a breathtakingly direct and immediate sound—a crystal clear view into the soundstage—as if you were in the recording studio with your amplifiers plugged into the mixing board. An entirely new design employs Zero Volt Switching in a Switch Mode Power Supply with Power Factor Correction to deliver performance and value on a scale never before offered in a high-end preamplifier. Visit Talk of The Town today, and experience Classé components first-hand.

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Around the Horn with

STAN KASTEN Continued from pg. 34

Continued on pg. 38

SPRING 2013

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Around the Horn with

STAN KASTEN

Jon SooHoo/© Los Angeles Dodgers, LLC 2012

Every Dodger fan in Tinseltown knows how to get in touch with Stan Kasten. Since Day One of the new regime, Kasten has listened to suggestions from fans and community leaders.

Continued from pg. 36

I read you were lowering the cost of parking from $15 to $10 too. We did that Day One. We wanted to do something tangible for the fans but also that was symbolic. We think parking prices had been a real source of controversy and so we announced at our opening press conference that we were doing that. In addition, this year—even with our payroll more than doubling—we announced that we were not going to raise ticket prices. We’re trying to do those kinds of things just to convince fans that we’re hard at work, that we don’t expect them to support us until we show them that we’re sincere about the promises that we’ve made, and we think we’re making progress there. Your parents were both Holocaust survivors and then became chicken farmers in New Jersey. What were some of the lessons you learned from them? The first thing I can recall from them from the youngest possible age was how lucky I was to be living in America. I heard the stories about life outside of America. It was unimaginable, unimaginable to me as a young child. But what was clear was that there was no place on earth better to be than here in America. And the second thing was just the importance of working hard all the time. Pursuing your goal. My parents, for all the people who talk about my running three teams, my parents worked harder than I did. My parents worked more hours than I do. That was always just a fact of life, but if you’re doing something that you enjoy, it’s never really a problem. What are some of the values that you try to instill in the Dodgers organization? We talk about a few things that we focus on, and that everyone here should focus on. First, is the team, which we build through an aggressive program of scouting and play-

SPRING 2013

er development. The second is the fan experience, and that goes to customer service, that goes to improving the facilities. It’s the reason we’re spending $100 million this offseason to make the stadium experience even better. And the third is our community relations, and the thousands of ways we touch fans away from the ballpark so much of the year. Are there any lucky charms you keep with you? No. In Atlanta, my lucky charms were Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz. Here, my lucky charms are Greinke and Kershaw and Gonzalez and Ramirez and Ethier and et cetera, et cetera. That’s the way I’m going to win. Those are the things most important to me. How do you like to start your day? I haven’t really thought about it. I get to the office, and I start my day every day with a smile because every day I’m pulling into the parking lot at Dodger Stadium and there’s no better place to be. Is the traffic worse in LA or in New York? In New York you can take buses and subways, and that’s not really that true in LA. So the LA traffic is quite, quite a problem. But for 50 years, more than 40,000 people a night find their way here so somehow, they’re all managing with it and still learning. LA hasn’t had a football team in years. Ever think about going down that avenue while you’re out in Hollywood? There is a lot of talk in the community about bringing a football team back, and I don’t know exactly where that stands. For now, I’m just focused on the Dodgers and rebuilding the franchise, and rebuilding the stadium, and that’s keeping me plenty busy.

EXPLORER MAKES ANY AUDIO FILE, FROM MP3 TO HIGH RESOLUTION, SOUND IT’S BEST

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LISTEN Encapsulating Meridian’s 30-year experience of digital audio reproduction in one compact, elegant yet robust high-performance USB DAC, you will discover more from your music with Explorer.

REDEFINE THE POSSIBLE Explorer replaces your computer’s sound card with a USB-powered DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) featuring Meridian’s high quality audio circuitry and design derived from Meridian’s award-winning Reference Series components, along with a powerful headphone amplifier with on-board analogue volume control. Whatever your choice of content – iTunes, Spotify®, YouTube® or a High Resolution downloaded file, Explorer makes it sound its best. Simply by plugging it in and listening with it, you’ll experience significantly higher sound quality.

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ROBOTIC SURGERY SAVES LIVES and QUALITY of LIFE urologists pave the way for robotic surgery

WRITTEN BY

NICOLE RUSSELL

Continued on pg. 42

SPRING 2013

ROBOTIC SURGERY SAVES LIVES and QUALITY of LIFE Continued from pg. 40

A Range of Treatment for Prostate Cancer Not all prostate cancers can be treated robotically, especially if they have metastasized beyond the gland itself. Your urologist may recommend one or a combination of the following treatment modalities: low-dose-rate brachytherapy (radiation therapy) with implantable seeds or high-dose-rate brachytherapy using temporary catheters external beam radiation therapy or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) hormonal therapy active surveillance (monitoring with regular PSA tests) cryosurgery Continued on pg. 44

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MX-890

PROGRAMMABLE COLOR LCD UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL

Everything you need in one amazing remote This powerful universal remote will change everything for you and your family from the moment it arrives. Employing the latest in technology and ergonomic design, the MX-890 is equipped to handle virtually any application. Easily control every Audio and Video product you own — lighting, too. One touch puts you in complete command of everything from watching your favorite movie to listening to the radio, regardless of the components. This beauty is strong enough to control the most robust theater room, and versatile enough to allow you to select other rooms in the house.

Customize to your heart’s content The MX-890 features a brilliant 2-inch color, high-resolution screen that can be fully personalized to suit the products you wish to control with exciting, custom graphics. Your installer can label every button and configure your system so that a single button press enables you power up the entertainment room, set a lighting level, or any combination of events you can dream up. The MX-890 also includes all of the hard button controls you’re accustomed to for fast access to every function.

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Feel free to move about the house Gone are the days of pointing the remote at the product you wish to turn on or turn up! When used with one of our award winning base stations — such as the MRX-1, MRF-350 or MRF-260 — the MX-890 remote can operate equipment through walls, cabinet doors or from outside. You don’t have to point or be in the same room as the music player or flat screen-you can still control them entirely. And, there’s no need to purchase batteries. The URC MX-890 sits in an attractive tabletop charging cradle, and is always ready for action the moment you pick it up.

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ROBOTIC SURGERY SAVES LIVES and QUALITY of LIFE Continued from pg. 42

PSA or Not? There has been significant debate among medical professionals and others after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended in 2012 against screening for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). â&#x20AC;&#x153;We who treat prostate cancer disagree with the data the task force used to come up with this decision, and strongly suggest that men over age 50 speak with their physician about having this potentially life-saving test in conjunction with a physical exam. A PSA is the only prostate cancer test we have,â&#x20AC;? says Michael P. Esposito, M.D., an attending urologist at Holy Name and clinical assistant professor of urology at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School.

Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer over age 65 African-American family history high-fat diet low in vegetables and fruits 44

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The Yankees & Mets Ultimate Preview Why the subway series might not be so exciting this year WRITTEN BY

JUSTIN DAVIDSON

I Continued on pg. 48

SPRING 2013

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Continued on pg. 50

DMI-40.4 Dock for ipad/iphone/ipad with Airplay

With the DMI-40.4, you can dock your iPod, iPhone, or iPad anytime for a recharge, or continue using it anywhere in the house while streaming your favorite music at the same time. Connecting the iOS Family with Integra Systems Linked to your Integra system, the DMI-40.4 allows you to play audio and video files from virtually all iPod®, iPhone®, and iPad® models. Now you can enjoy your musicthrough a high-fidelity sound system and share photos and videos on your living-room display. AirPlay Integrates Your Digital Life AirPlay lets you connect your iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad to your compatible Integra product with no wires, cable, or clutter. As well as streaming audio, from your portable iOS device over the home network, users can also play tracks from their PC or Mac-based iTunes library on their Integra sound system. Added Control Through RI Functionality The DMI-40.4 can also be connected through Integra’s proprietary RI (Remote Interactive) interface. This gives you access to a variety of useful functions, such as System On/Off, Auto Power On, Auto Selector (Direct Change), and Sleep Timer. To simplify things even further, the RI terminal also allows you to use your main Integra system remote to control the DMI-40.4 dock. For more information contact your local authorized dealer Talk of the Town at 201-236-1006 or visit us at www.integrahometheater.com

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The Yankees & Mets Ultimate Preview Continued from pg. 48

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Bacon Shaving Cream Bacon is no longer just America’s favorite breakfast meat. It has morphed into every possible thing bacon can be used for. Since we began this magazine, we have featured Bakon Vodka, as well as BaconLube and Bacon Lip Balm, not to mention the bacon-scented soap talked about in this very Man Central. Yet, here we are again: Bacon Shaving Cream. Lather up, shave it down and enjoy the scent of bacon on your face all day long. Let me know when this whole “bacon” thing has gone too far. Until then, check back next time for another bacon-scented item sure to surprise. Lather up at jdfoods.net.

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SoloShot Automated Filming Device You want to make your own movies but your friends are tired of carrying around the camera? Worry no more. The SoloShot is attached to a tripod on one side and your beautiful camera on the other. You wear a device on a small armband that allows the SoloShot to track and follow your movement. Originally made so that a few surfers could film themselves without needing someone to stand on the beach watching for hours, it has since become popular in many other ways, such as drag racing, snowboarding, skiing, etc. To be tactfully ambiguous, the SoloShot will give your home movies a whole new dimension. (You may not be able to see me, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m winking at you.) Press play at soloshot.com.

AbsinthExplore Absinthe Kit As snobby as many of us can be about our knowledge of wine and spirits, very few of us in America can say we know a lot about absinthe. The AbsinthExplore kit looks to change that. Rather than having you buy a whole bottle of absinthe without knowing what it will be like, AbsinthExplore affords you the option of ordering small, tasting tubes of several different absinthes, allowing you to explore, learn and determine which absinthe is right for you. After that, you can brag to all of your friends about knowing more about absinthe than they do. Of course, you would be right. Drink it down at absinthes.com.

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MANCENTRAL Safermoto Motorcycle Jacket My mother always told me that the day I bring home a motorcycle was the day I move out. Plain and simple: the thought of me riding one truly frightened her. I do enjoy two wheels, but she did have a point; motorcycles haven’t always had the best safety record. One of its issues? No airbags. The Safermoto jacket changes all of that. Produced by Hit-Air, the jacket or vest is airbag equipped. Connected to your motorcycle by tether, the airbags will release in .25 seconds, if the rider is ejected from his or her bike. It takes 66 pounds of pressure for the airbag to inflate, to ensure that it doesn’t inflate every time you forget to unhook the tether. The jacket has already proved itself time and time again, allowing riders to walk away from potentially gruesome accidents. There are several different styles to meet your individual preference, too. Mom, I’m coming home! It’s also great for protecting your kids who love their ATV. Ride to safety at safermoto.com.

Meridian Explorer High-resolution USB Digital Analogue Converter Meridian’s Explorer is a portable, compact and rugged USB Digital to Analog Converter designed to deliver best-in-class audio performance. Featuring premium audiophile-grade components throughout, a 6-layer circuit board and an elegant all-metal enclosure, the Explorer delivers the Meridian audio experience from virtually any computer. The Explorer features a range of connectivity and can be used in a variety of applications from private headphone listening to full system playback. Now you can take great sound anywhere! Available at Talk of the Town.

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MANCENTRAL AudioXperts 2112 Entertainment Console

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ManHands Soap We don’t often associate manliness with cleanliness. Those flowery fragrances radiating from your hands after leaving the bathroom really take away from that man musk you’ve worked so hard on keeping throughout your date. Luckily, Manhands has released a line of soaps that will forever change the soap game. With dating-approved scents such as cedar log cabin and bonfire, to the more extreme don’t leave the house scents of bacon or cannabis, Manhands finally offers men a chance to be clean, and still smell like a man, or a THC-laden plant. Too liberal for you? Perhaps the republican scented soap is the way to go. To trick your buddy into having his hands smell like urinal mint, check out manhandssoap.com.

McIntosh D100 Digital Stereo Preamplifier The D100 is a remote controlled digital stereo preamplifier with five digital inputs (2 Coaxial, 2 Optical and 1 USB), and both variable and fixed volume audio output. It is a simple solution to add digital music to an existing McIntosh system. Or you can simply add an amplifier, a pair of speakers and a digital source for a complete digital based stereo system. It shares the classic façade, knobs and handcrafted black-glass front panels as all other McIntosh components in a small form factor of just under 4 inches in height. Its powerful built-in headphone amplifier will elevate the sound of your favorite headphones so that you may enjoy the ultimate personal listening experience. The D100 utilizes an 8-channel, 32-bit, 192kHz D/A converter with wide dynamic range and extremely low distortion. Eight-channel D/A converter is used in stereo Quad Balanced mode. Music at all levels is reproduced with extreme precision and elegance. A 1/8-inch mini jack is provided for control data from the data output jack of a McIntosh preamp or A/V Control Center. Available at Talk of the Town.

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MANCENTRAL URC MX-890 Remote Control Everything you need in one amazing remote! This powerful universal remote control will change everything for you and your family from the moment it arrives. Employing the latest in technology and ergonomic design, the MX-890 is equipped to handle virtually any application. Easily control every audio and video product you own; lighting, too. One touch puts you in complete command of everything. This beauty is strong enough to control the most robust entertainment or theater room, and versatile enough to allow you to select other rooms in the house. The MX-890 remote can operate equipment through walls, cabinet doors or from outside. You don’t have to point or be in the same room as the music player or flat screen; you can still control them entirely. And, there’s no need to purchase batteries. The URC MX890 sits in an attractive tabletop-charging cradle, and is always ready for action the moment you pick it up. Available at Talk of the Town.

Sony XBR-84X900 84” 4K Ultra HD TV With four times more resolution than Full HD, the 84-inch (diag.) 4K screen contains no less than 8 million individual pixels (3,840 x 2,160). Advanced picture processing ensures that every one of those pixels displays images with superb quality. At a closer, more comfortable distance and a viewing angle widened to 60°, the TV screen fills your field of vision: it’s like experiencing the action in real life. There’s 3D, then there’s 3D with 4K. Larger-than-life images emerge from the massive 84inch screen with realism that makes your heart race. The level of detail is absolutely stunning—it’s the closest thing to a 3D theater in your living room. Light, comfortable, passive 3D glasses offer superb image quality and a noticeable step above anything you’ve ever experienced at home. Available at Talk of the Town.

Totem Element Metal High-fidelity Floor-standing Speakers The new Totem Element Series expresses perfect balance between form, function, art and technology. Streamlined for any musical genre, it conveys conviction, honesty and ease while offering enormous scale and presence. Revolutionary in its conception, the Element Series is a true evolutionary step in sound design. The new Element woofers used in the Metal series are not only built in-house but deviate substantially from any usual woofer manufacturing. Firstly, they have an extreme precision-machined chassis, rather than a molded or stamped one. Each driver actually requires 3 hours of machining and 4+ hours of assembly and testing. This allows for precision usually associated with watchmaking, not standard woofer manufacturing. Available at Talk of the Town.

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The Unreality of Reality TV Figuring out what’s real, what’s fake, and why my job is so boring. WRITTEN BY

NICK POYNER

eality television isn’t just for pregnant teens and island survivors anymore. Now, Joe Schmo can have a TV show about his daily routine. And in the past few years, all of Joe’s friends have joined him on TV because they, too, have jobs. Jobs like you and me? Jobs that we want as entertainment television? How did this happen? How can anyone get a show on TV? Personally, I blame Cops. Cops has been on television since 1989. Since then uniformed men and women have arrested endless drunks. Cops is something everyone can enjoy. Sure, if an officer of the law stops me, it is no laughing matter. But when it’s someone else being arrested on television for ruining a wife’s sister’s truck, well, that’s entertainment. Arguably, Cops may not be entertaining because people are interested in the daily lives of police officers. That probably involves a lot of deskwork and run of the mill check-ins. Cops focuses on what the people want: the action, the excitement, the stupidity. The focal point of the show became ridiculous people reacting to even crazier scenarios. But

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being a cop is an extremely important job. And it’s a job that plenty of people live out on a daily basis. “Jobs can be exciting,” says TV. They don’t have to involve a cubicle. If that’s what you’re looking for, there are plenty of seasons of The Office to catch up on. Reality TV now thrives on the thrill—how much wilder a TV job is than yours. Do you risk your life catching crabs for a living? Have you ever lost a hand in a logging accident? That’s what makes shows like Deadliest Catch and Ax Men such hits. For most of us, risky jobs are on par with an action movie. We will never have that experience, so watching it lived out on television is exciting. Ice Road Truckers scares me to death, but these guys make careers out of living life on the edge. And we’re scared and nervous for them any time they step into a truck. Yet it takes more than a cool job to make for good television. As an audience, we need to connect to these people. We need to share some common vein that makes these characters human. Mostly it involves family, friendship and competition. A perfect example of this is Deadliest Catch where multiple ship crews deal with the dynamics of being family. That’s why, when Captain Phil Harris died on the show, it was heartbreaking. We care for them like we’ve known them forever. We find a way to root for these people. Rooting for people is what’s kept shows such as Top Chef, American Idol and Storage Wars on the air. Cool jobs such as the entertainment industry or the high-end food industry have regular people competing

for the prize of a lifetime: a job in their area of expertise. And getting that all on television? What a treat! For the most part, each show has its own easily digestible premise: a dozen or so contestants, one eliminated each week and beautiful examples of excellent product. Then, of course, the panel of celebrity guest judges. (A personal aside: Padma Lakshmi sure knows what good food is, doesn’t she?) But, come on, our favorite part is picking favorites. As a viewer, we’re essentially rooting for which member of the show we feel is good enough to get to live his or her dream. Survivor and The Biggest Loser also have this aspect to their respective shows, but on shows like Last Comic Standing, someone is proving his or her self and getting an opportunity we may never have. Seeing someone succeed is emotional and leaves us with our own sense of accomplishment in supporting our favorites. Good job. You knew she had the talent all along. It is much more audience friendly than something like Ice Road Truckers, where we can only watch what’s going on. On some shows, we have the ability to directly contribute to the success of an individual. Hey, if I wanted to call in 40 times (and spend a ridiculous amount on my phone bill), I could have helped Jessica Sanchez beat Phillip Phillips on American Idol during season 11. I didn’t. So my apologies go out to Ms. Sanchez, but I could have. AI isn’t my personal favorite, but it is one of the most popular and successful career launchers. On the other end, a show like Hell’s Kitchen focuses more

on Gordon Ramsey insulting the chefs than it does on contributing to their success. He becomes the star, and the food and contestants are his pawns. Like any job, it is important to work hard and push yourself, but Ramsey is mean for the sake of entertainment… which is why the show is still on. There are plenty of jobs out there that I don’t need to see and there are plenty of TV shows that aren’t really about jobs (Dance Moms, for instance) that get plenty of viewers. I don’t think there is a need for multiple shows about bakeries but I love cake. I appreciate it very much. Too much really. If you walk down any street in Manhattan, you’ll probably find a bakery, two cupcake shops (one regular, one mini), and if you’re lucky, a macaroon shop as well. But Cake Boss is an excellent example of the necessity of job-based reality TV. When do reality jobs lose their touch? When do we draw a line between where our reality and theirs is different? Where is our threshold that tells us the difference between exciting and ordinary? There was a solid audience base for Cake Boss and the connection to New Jersey is clear. But does that make it better? Does a reality show in our backyard make it something we want to watch more because of the context or something we can shrug off and think, “Yeah, I know how that works”? Do other extreme fishers shrug off The Deadliest Catch because it’s a mundane attempt at capturing their lives? I’m pretty sure you would not want to watch 189 episodes about me writing this article… But, hey, maybe you would.

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STYLE GUIDE Designs: (Amanda Esposito) Esposito Collection Photographer: Vital Agibalow Makeup: Kate Ramonoff for MAC Hairstylist L’Oreal: Joseph DiMaggio All available at espositocollection.com. Elvis tees can be found at Suite 201 in Ridgewood. (left to right) Black tee, denim and Presley blazer by Esposito; leather biker jacket and Elvis “All Shook Up Tee” (available at Suite 201, Ridgewood) by Esposito; chambray button down shirt and denim by Esposito

“Elvis in Concert” Tee by Esposito (available at Suite 201)

Presley blazer and crown jewel solid logo V-neck tee by Esposito; Zip lapel blazer and solid black shirt with red trim by Esposito

Novelty button down and denim by Esposito; Antonio blazer and denim by Esposito (available at www.espositocollection.com)

Extraordinary Experiencing the

in the Ordinary

The inventors of fine-art motorized TV concealment create the perfect balance of mystery and charm. WRITTEN BY

“I

LYNDSEY UPCRAFT

always feel the desire to look for the extraordinary in ordinary things; to suggest, not to impose, to leave always a slight touch of mystery in my paintings.” —Balthus VisionArt Galleries founder, Terry Sheward, shares that same desire. This passion, joined with his appreciation for beautiful works of art, helped drive the creation of the first fine-art motorized TV concealment solution—VisionArt. Sheward believes that every interior, each piece of furniture, and any electronic begs the question of how to be extraordinary. Twelve years ago he sought out perhaps the most ordinary electronic item in any household—the TV—and made it exceptional by fusing art with technology. When Sheward established VisionArt after more than 30 years in the custom window treatment business, he envisioned a company that brought together beauty and function, quality service, craftsmanship, and diligent attention to detail.

How It Works

In a nutshell, VisionArt is a pristine, fine art print on a motorized canvas designed to elegantly conceal a

flat panel television when not in use. With the push of a button, you gain instant access to the television. VisionArt’s embodiment of balance and mystery, charm and intention, alters not only the way we experience TV but transforms the entire aesthetic of the home. Every home and every audio/video system is unique. So why let a one-size-fits-all TV take center stage? That’s where VisionArt comes in; it lets you hide the TV to allow your personal style to take center stage! Since 2001, VisionArt Galleries remains available exclusively through industry partners specializing in luxury custom home integration. The complete line of fine art TV Concealment Systems are custom designed and handcrafted in the USA, using state-of-the-art technology coupled with limitless fine art and custom framing options. VisionArt galleries are very dynamic and reflect a wide range of personalities, lifestyles and price points. Choose from an entry-level system (starting at $1,299) to an extreme luxury system finished with a 22k gold closed corner frame (starting at $12,725). Some like to live simply; some like to live playfully, and some like to live it up; whatever your personality, VisionArt has the options to suit it. After all, we spend a lot of time inside our homes. So, let’s make them extraordinary! Continued on pg. 68

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Continued on pg. 66

The French Connection Lakeside Penthouse Chicago, IL designed by Jean-Louis Deniot

Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna VisionArt assists in outfitting a handsome Chicago pre-war apartment by hiding technology and permitting neoclassic style, bespoken finishes and Gallic flair to take center stage. VisionArt worked closely with dealer Armand Lee to produce this conscientious centerpiece. The Premiere Gallerie painting (right) is Clocks by popular artist Jason Poteet. The custom frame was chosen to complement the French Deco style, creating the perfect dose of drama. The VisionArt unit is 42” x 30” with a 40” LED TV centered in the frame. VisionArt’s quiet motor was used to integrate with the clients’ sophisticated whole home automation system.

A Room with a View Lagrange Bedroom

VisionArt worked closely with the dealer and client, sharing ideas and offering expertise. The custom painting is a reproduction of the philanthropic owners’ original painting. The artist was commissioned to bring indoors the penthouse’s absolutely breathtaking views. The skyline in this painting is the actual view out the window of the master bedroom. The white gold metal leafed La Jolla frame was chosen to complement the Old World style of the fireplace, but the focus was on absolute luxury. The VisionArt unit is 55” x 65” with a 50” LED TV centered in the frame. The unused space between the inside dimension of the frame and the viewable area of the TV was masked off with a black AV mat. Custom Art/La Jolla Frame with white gold metal leaf from VisionArt’s Gallerie 23 frame collection.

Colorful and Fresh

VisionArt completely turned this room around. Working with the playful home owners and interior designer, VisionArt introduced this classically inspired Hudson River Valley house to a new point of view for a young couple with three children. There was a strong desire for the house to reflect a jolt of renewed youth and vitality. The house now feels contemporary and ready for a long and happy life. The oversized VisionArt unit measures 60” x 72” with a 55” Samsung 3D TV centered in the frame. The unused space between the inside dimension of the frame and the viewable area of the TV was masked with a black AV mat and houses the great rooms surround sound speakers. The custom Super Hero art was created in partnership with allPopArt. The artwork can be easily updated as the family grows or styles change. For more information about VisionArt products visit www.visionartgalleries.com or for a complete demonstration contact your local dealer, Talk of the Town, at 201-236-1006.

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Ron Bienstock Musicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Legal Eagle Musical notes and legal briefs go hand in hand for this multi-faceted man. WRITTEN BY

JUSTIN DAVIDSON

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Continued on pg. 72

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Continued on pg. 74

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Musicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Legal Eagle Continued from pg. 72

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Tube Amps or

Solid State Amps

Which is Best? Musicians, audio enthusiasts and the obsession with tubes WRITTEN BY

KEN ZELIN

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General Shot Tubes

Upclose Shot Tubes

Continued on pg. 78

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Tube Amps or

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2 1) The “before” was unappealing, uncomfortable, and felt cold and barren. 2) Once the design was approved, the wooden framework began to give this home theater its shape.

3) The finished product is a well-designed space that brings together form, fun and function.

The Path to a True Home Theater From basement conception to movie watching inception, it will lead you to design perfection WRITTEN BY

eautiful new homes are popping up all around our area these days. From the first floor to all the way up, their designs are meticulously planned to give homeowners exactly what they want. Typically, though, the basement is left as a large, empty room.

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BRANDON GOLDSTEIN

Sometimes even without walls to cover the beams. And even when the basements are finished, they tend not to be on the same design level as the décor of the rest of the house. Typically, they’re just plain white walls, simple carpet and a lackluster cream-colored drop ceiling. Not warm and homey at all.

Such was the case in a beautiful home in Upper Saddle River. Up until they contacted Talk of the Town, the tech-loving homeowners had just hung a simple projector on a wall and called their basement a home theater. Yet they knew they wanted more. Talk of the Town was there to help. Unfinished basements that

Talk of the Town brought in Marut to do all of the woodwork and paneling for the home theater. The result: truly unrivaled mastery.

Home theater system is composed of Bowers & Wilkins speakers, Rotel electronic components, Sony projector and VIP seats.

stand in sharp contrast to the rest of the house are actually great opportunities, as they allow for complete customization without the rules of compartmentalization. You do not need to have an office, a kitchen, bathroom, living room, etc., in your basement. It can be large and open, if you so desire. A space without rules, it allows homeowners and designers the freedom to create the area of their dreams. For this family, the vision was of a new home theater. As the pictures show, the home theater began with a clutter-filled space in the basement. Yet designers and Talk of the Town specialists soon transformed this place into an outstanding home theater, where the family gathers to watch sports and movies, or bring video games to life on the tremendous screen. In fact, on a recent visit we sat down and began watching Star Wars Episode Two: The Empire Strikes Back (for research, of course). Needless to say, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to leave. When we first walked in it was clear that a great deal of time had been devoted to making the space not only an audio/visual loverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream, but an aesthetically profound space as well. From the woodwork to the lighting, every single thing was simply beautiful.

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Netting a

Fun Night

The new Barclayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center is returning Brooklyn to its legendary sports past

WRITTEN BY

JUSTIN DAVIDSON

Mumford & Sons at the Barclays Center

Continued on pg. 84

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Netting a

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Continued from pg. 83

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Want More 5 Secrets to Guarantee Your Pleasure WRITTEN BY

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Sex?

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ulianne Cantarella, MSW, LSW is a therapist turned matchmaker/relationship expert. A native of Bergen County, she is dedicated to helping mature singles in the Garden State create the relationships they desire and deserve. She offers matchmaking and date/relationship coaching through her company, New Jerseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Matchmaker, LLC. Visit www.newjerseysmatchmaker.com for more details.

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Want More Sex? 5 Secrets to Guarantee Your Pleasure Continued from pg. 87

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THE SOUND TO MATCH ANY SPACE

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

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

Reading Between

the Pipes Why the NHL remains on thin ice WRITTEN BY

SPRING 2013

SHIV DESAI

Continued on pg. 92

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Continued from pg. 91

Continued on pg. 94

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A Beer for All Seasons No matter the weather or the calendar, there’s an ale—or two or three or more—to match. WRITTEN BY

KATE CRONAUER

s the seasons transition, so do many other things. You may notice these changes in a person’s wardrobe, the advertisements on TV or at the mall (back to school comes in July it seems, and Christmas ads start before Thanksgiving). One place you might not associate with this perpetual turnover, however, is your local beer store. While a large variety should always be available when shopping for beer, seasonal shifts do become more evident depending on the time of year. For instance, as the weather begins to warm, beer becomes lighter and we start to see more Brown Ales, Pale Ales and India Pale Ales. Other styles such as Marzens, Altbiers and Tripels are also becoming popular. Spring beers have a lighter mouthfeel and generous carbonation with alcohol content averaging about 5% (however some IPAs can be as high as 15%). Malts are less roasted so colors range from deep gold to ruby brown, and hops can pack a punch in certain styles. Hints of carmel, toffee, pine, biscuit, herbs and citrus can be tasted in any of these unique styles. Spring beers transition the drinker from heavy winter beers to the refreshing effervescent beers of summer. Light lagers, fruitful Hefeweizens and colorful Saisons are abundant in the summer. Lagers are balanced, bubbly, pale straw or golden beers delicately hopped with high carbonation and a clean refreshing finish. Hefeweizens are traditionally brewed with some quantity of wheat and are unfiltered, thus having a cloudy white to gold color. Unique profiles of banana, cloves, apple and bubblegum are generated by this beer’s unique yeast, and alcohol content is modest. Saisons, or Farmhouse Ales, are deep and complex with floral, fruity, earthy and herbal notes. Carbonation and ABV varies. One of my favorite home brews is a rosemary-ginger Saison that’s brewed with crystallized ginger and Belgian candy sugar. Autumn comes offering a plethora of pumpkin,

SPRING 2013

chocolate, coffee, rye, maple, spice and harvest ales. Harvest ales are wet hopped with fresh whole cone hops, which frequently have been picked only hours before being utilized in the brew process. Wet hops impart an amazing hop flavor and bouquet you can’t get any other time of year. Carbonation and ABV differ from beer to beer as does color; ranging from, but not limited to, gold, amber, red and black. One might also see more Witbiers, which are similar to Hefeweizens with distinct orange peel aromas and hints of coriander. In the winter you will find an influx of dark or opaque beers, mostly in the form of a Porter, Stout or Barley Wine. Christmas Ales, Strong Ales and Imperials will also make an appearance. Flavor profiles are rich and malty with hints of chocolate, espresso, licorice, nuts, cedar, smoke and toast, while hop presence is subtle. Some breweries may use adjuncts, such as oatmeal, to thicken a beer lending a heavy mouthfeel, which leaves the tongue coated and the belly full. Generally, carbonation is low and alcohol presence is high, so savor and sip slowly. Nothing beats indulging in a robust winter beer with friends by a fire while the snow falls outside. As I’ve always emphasized, there are endless combinations of beer ingredients. I’ve brewed beers with licorice root, dried chamomile flowers, herbs, honey and candy. Pretty much anything edible can be added to the wort kettle, even oysters! No matter what is happening outside your window, you are sure to find a beer to satisfy your craving.

AM-1

The AM-1 Architectural Monitor offers a unique combination of high-quality sound and supreme flexibility. Articulate, exciting and powerful, AM-1 avoids the compromises commonly associated with versatile, all-weather monitors, and delivers all the performance expected of a Bowers & Wilkins loudspeaker. Audition the newest member of the family at Talk of The Town. Listen and you’ll see.

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