Valley Health System’s new campus in Paramus will be a thriving healthcare destination for New Jersey residents for generations to come. The 40-acre health and wellness campus, anchored by a new hospital, will offer inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and surgical care. Adjacent to the new hospital is Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care at the Luckow Pavilion, and the opportunity to see many Valley doctors at 140 East Ridgewood Avenue. Building upon Valley’s longstanding commitment to give back to the community, the new campus will also deliver health education classes, free preventive screenings, community outreach programs, and support groups.
ValleyHealth.com/NewHospital
The Robert & Audrey Luckow Pavilion
140 East Ridgewood Avenue
C ar e L ike No O ther ® is Coming to Paramus!
Parents can breathe a sigh of relief because Babies”R”Us is back with beloved brands and expert guidance!
Featuring beloved, trusted brands like:
Cool It! 10 Ways
To Beat The Heat | 26
Don’t let the dog days of summer dissuade you from having fun without overheating.
A new academic year is almost here. Consider five wellness basics to make sure he or she is prepared for success.
Teens Have Their Say | 30
In a candid conversation, a dozen rishing high school seniors talk about socializing, ceahting, vaping, playing sports—and much, much more.
Now a lifetime’s treasures help make a Fort Lee condo a comfortable, satisfying home.
The Din We’re In | 50
Noise has become Bergenites’ almost constant companion, affecting our quality of life and the state of our health. Do we have to live with it?.
5 FASHION TRENDS TO KEEP YOU LOOKING SMART
This season’s study dubs are guaranteed to keep you at the head of the class. p.38
Bergen Buzz | 17
Our guide to new ideas, tips, trends and things we love in the county.
Your Friends & Neighbors | 20
Rising high school seniors Cora and Ava Patelsky of Woodcliff Lake hope to take the world by storm with their original pop music.
Style Watch | 21
Get the blue in the best way possible with chambray, a comfortable, versatile fabric.
Home Front | 22
Keep the summer vibes going all year round with a pop of this cheery hue.
College Bound | 23
Let your college kid’s personality shine in their new home away from home.
Escapes | 54
School’s out, but history’s very much “in” this summer at five fun travel destinations.
Tastes | 56
These healthy sides are crowd pleasers that are quick to prep once you fire up the grill. They might even steal the show.
Restaurant Review | 74
Cuban Around the Corner brings a taste of Havana to Bergenfield.
Gatherings | 79
Bergenites always show up to support their friends and neighbors—especially when help is needed most.
A Bergen Moment | 80
A Paramus mother captures a cute photo of her son playing at the beach in Darlington County Park. It was the perfect end to the perfect summer day—and a memory forever etched in Mom’s mind.
Don’t mind us—magazines must always think a little ahead; it’s part of our DNA. That’s why you’ll see so much “back-to-school” material in publications these days, including this issue. We want you to be prepared for what’s coming, and what’s coming is Labor Day and the busy new season it will usher in. For example, is your child medically ready for a new school year? (Page 24.) Are you on top of the fashion trends that will dominate this fall? (Page 38). And do you really know what’s on the minds of today’s rising 12th graders as they prepare for the final year of high school—and college ahead? (A dozen of them sound off candidly about a number of hot topics starting on page 30.)
Still, it’s August. If you’re just heading off for a long-awaited week or two at the Shore or some other vacation spot, near or far, you’re apt to find all this focus on September and beyond a bit disconcerting. We don’t blame you. So let’s pause for a moment and concentrate on where we are right now—in summer’s glorious final weeks. There’s no better time of year to kick back, relax and make ourselves a present of the present.
In that spirit, we offer 10 ways to keep cool (page 26), tips on staying healthy during these warm, muggy days (page 15) and five nearby destinations where you and your kids can soak up a little history and spell it F-U-N (page 54). We tell you when and where you can catch the music of the Nerds, the Sandy Stones Trio or Epic Soul (page 17), or see a movie under the stars—a recent hit such as Top Gun: Maverick, for instance, or a classic like Sunset Boulevard Having a hard time finding peace and quiet for this month of relaxation? You’re not alone—see our Special Report on page 50 to learn why Bergen County, for all its pluses, is actually a pretty noisy place.
August is summer’s crowning achievement, and we’d never want to overlook or dis a month in which Congress ratified the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote (hooray!); The Wizard of Oz was released; and champagne was invented, courtesy of Dom Perignon (cheers!).
So close your eyes for a moment, letting the future fend for itself. Take a deep breath. Savor that breeze. Feel that sun on your sunscreened skin, and soak up that vitamin D. Aaahhhhh.
Now, about creating the perfect jack-o’-lantern…(only kidding)!
Enjoy.
Rita Guarna Editor in Chief rita.guarna@wainscotmedia.com
Editor in Chief RITA GUARNA
Creative Director
STEPHEN M. VITARBO
Senior Associate Editor DARIUS AMOS
Lifestyle Editor HALEY LONGMAN
Contributing Editors LESLIE GARISTO PFAFF PAUL RANCE JR. DONNA ROLANDO
Contributing Photographer DAVID NELSON PHOTOGRAPHY Editorial
PRODUCTION Production Manager FERN E. MESHULAM
Publisher THOMAS FLANNERY
Associate Publisher
MARY MASCIALE
ADVERTISING
Senior Account Executive MARY LIMA
Account Executives
CHRISTIE COLVILLE, PEARL LISS
Director, Special Programs
LAURA A. DOWDEN
MARKETING, DIGITAL & OPERATIONS
Director of Marketing and Digital Media NIGEL EDELSHAIN
Director of Operations
CATHERINE ROSARIO
Director of Advertising Services
JACQUELYNN FISCHER
Chief Finance Officer STEVEN RESNICK
Assistant Controller URSZULA JANECZKO
Registration is open for Fairleigh Dickinson University Fall Open House! Find out why 95% of students say they made the right choice with FDU.* With an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, our students benefit from our personal approach in over 100 majors that offer interdisciplinary learning. And with our generous financial aid, a private FDU education can be within reach.
Accounts Receivable Manager KASIE CARLETON
Accounts Receivable Specialist BRUCE LIBERMAN
Office Manager PENNY GLASS BOAG
PUBLISHED BY WAINSCOT MEDIA Chairman
CARROLL V. DOWDEN
President & CEO MARK DOWDEN
Senior Vice President RITA GUARNA
Vice Presidents
LIZETTE CHIN
NIGEL EDELSHAIN
THOMAS FLANNERY
COLEMAN MCCARTAN
FLORHAM CAMPUS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2023
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2023
METROPOLITAN CAMPUS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2023
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2023
BELINDA PINA
MARIA REGAN
STEVEN RESNICK ADVERTISING
Six nationally recognized orthopedic surgeons, Drs. Bassora, Klein, Koerner, Levine, Seidenstein and Seigerman, are bringing their expertise to Hackensack Meridian Orthopedic Specialists of New Jersey. It’s a new practice, but with all the same renowned treatments, personalized care and convenience they’ve brought to this community for years.
For the highest level of orthopedic care, call 201-639-6620 or scan the QR code for more information.
PARAMUS • FRANKLIN LAKES • NORTH BERGEN
Bergen Catholic is an independent, four-year college preparatory school where young boys, guided by the Essential Elements of an Edmund Rice Christian Brother Education, become Christian gentlemen and leaders who discover a devotion for helping others. The curriculum is rigorous. Students enjoy rewarding clubs, enriching programs in art, music, theater, championship athletics, and an unmatched brotherhood, where Brothers-Help-Brothers. The Crusader College Counseling Experience begins freshman year, providing support and results as evidenced by the fact that the Class of 2023 achieved acceptances to many top tier schools, including Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Boston College, and NYU. Enrollment is selective. For more information, call the Admissions Department at (201) 634-2205.
91% OF THE CLASS OF 2023 RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
$38.2 MILLION DOLLARS IN MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS 100%
140 CREDITS ARE REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION
CATHOLIC. GENTLEMEN. LEADERS.
Enrollment is selective. For more information, call the Admissions Department at (201) 634-2205.
We all love the tried-and-true when it comes to ice cream; you can’t go wrong with a chocolate or vanilla cone with rainbow sprinkles. But sometimes, your summer sweet tooth craves just a little bit more. Treat yourself to any of these out-of-the-box flavors, available at some of Bergen’s hottest (er, coldest?) ice cream shops. To read more about some of our favorite flavors, visit bergenmag.com/ 11-unique-ice-cream-flavors-to-try-in-bergen.
• Apricot Pistachio at Daniela’s, 234 Closter Dock Rd., Closter, 201.428.9600, danielasicecream.com
• Banana Pudding at Cranberry Junction, 19 Temple Ave., Hackensack, 201.546.8966, cranberryjunctionicecream.com
• Matcha (Green Tea) at Ice Cream on Grand, 523 Grand Ave., Englewood, 201.569.5346, icecreamongrand.com
• Peanut Butter Caramel Cookie Dough at Ernie’s Ice Cream, 78 Franklin Tpke., Mahwah, 201.252.8373, erniesicecream. wixsite.com/ernies
• Thai Tea at New Territories, 13-24 River Rd., Fair Lawn, 201.574.9263, newterritoriesnyc.com
What do you do if you’re craving live music and your favorite entertainer isn’t scheduled to appear at MetLife Stadium? Just head to one of Bergen’s many restaurants that feature live shows with local bands and singers. Below are five of our favorites spots for live music (and the food is good too). Visit bergenmag.com/ where-to-hear-live-music-in-bergen to read more of our picks.
• Dog House Saloon, 270 Pascack Rd., Washington Township, 201.722.1820, thedoghousesaloonandgrill.com
• Midland Brew House, 374 N. Midland Ave., Saddle Brook, 201.797.0070, midlandbrewhouse.com
• The Orange Lantern, 15 E. Firehouse Ln., Paramus, 201.652.4443, orangelantern.com
• Steel Wheel Tavern, 51 N. Broad St., Ridgewood, 201.882.1800, steelwheeltavern.com
• Twin Door Tavern, 122 W. Pleasant Ave., Maywood, 201.843.8022, twindoortavern.com
Follow us: BERGENMAG.C0M
OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTY.
Now that the “dog days” of August are here, remember a timely health tip too many people neglect: Keep hydrated. Your body needs a lot of water on these hot, humid days; drink plenty of glasses of cool, refreshing H20. A few tips:
• Watch for signs of dehydration. Act immediately if you’re experiencing symptoms of dehydration. They include dizziness and confusion, dark-colored urine, lack of sweat or muscle cramps; be alert for them whether or not you’re feeling thirsty. If you suspect dehydration, it’s a good idea to consume fluids containing electrolytes such as a sports drink or coconut water. Fruits like watermelon and oranges aid with hydration as well.
• Try small but frequent sips. Instead of downing an entire liter of water in one sitting, space out your consumption of water or 100 percent fruit juice by drinking small amounts frequently. Working out or doing outdoor chores in warm weather? Refresh with 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
• Choose water over booze. An ice-cold brew— beer or coffee—as well as soda may feel refreshing, but overindulging in such drinks can lead to dehydration. Beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine, both diuretics, will increase the need to urinate, meaning a net loss of water for your body despite their water content. Celebrate with natural fruit juices, sports drinks and mocktails. (The mojito mocktail at right is one of our favorites.)
• Taste the flavors. Using a water cooler or a plastic bottle is good for hydration, but there are easy ways to add flair and flavor too. Make your backyard get-together feel like spa day by serving water with a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice, thinly cut cucumber slices or muddled mint leaves. Not only will these refreshing beverages taste good; the extra fruit and veggie juice helps with hydration too.
Servings: 1 drink
INGREDIENTS:
n 10 fresh mint leaves plus more for garnish n 1/2 lime cut into 4 wedges, divided n 2 Tbs. granulated sugar or to taste
n 1 cup ice cubes
n 1/2 cup club soda
DIRECTIONS:
In a medium sturdy glass, add mint leaves and 1 lime wedge. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime, releasing the mint oils and lime juice.
Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Add club soda and more sugar to taste if desired. Garnish with mint leaves and remaining lime wedge.
DID YOU KNOW? More than 141 million cards are sent for Mother’s Day in the U.S., according to the folks at Hallmark. But the holiday only ranks third on the list of top greeting card holidays. Christmas tops the list with 1.6 billion cards, followed by Valentine’s Day (151 million).
DID YOU KNOW? Cucumbers are made up of approximately 96 percent water, giving them the highest water content of any food. The veggie is currently in season, and fresh cukes can be found at any Bergen County farmers’ market.
Gone are the days of only being able to get Shirley Temples or a can of soda behind the bar. Customers want a variety of drinks and mocktails that are both refreshing and delicious.”
—Jed Kessler, mixologist, Jed’s Party Services, Fair Lawn
Can’t get your kids to complete their summer reading assignments? Maybe the local libraries can help. Many libraries within the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS) have summer reading programs that offer incentives for kids to read in exchange for cool prizes. For example, Ridgefield Park Public Library (ridgefieldpark publiclibrary.org/kids)
offers one prize for kids entering kindergarten (or younger) who read 20 books over the summer and for first through sixth graders who log 180 minutes of reading—just log your reading online until Aug.
11. Leonia Public Library (leonialibrary. org/summerreading-2023)
If these late summer days seem hot to you, they’re even hotter for your dog. Extreme heat can cause a variety of issues for canines, from dehydration to burns—and even heat stroke. A few reminders to keep Fido safe and happy:
• Make plenty of fluids available. Keep pets in shade when it’s warm and keep them indoors when it’s humid. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), dogs can easily overheat in humid conditions. If you notice your pup panting excessively—or if he or she is lethargic and has a dry nose—it could be a sign of dehydration. To treat mild dehydration, provide cool (not cold) drinking water to gradually lower your pet’s body temperature. Severe dehydration cases will require intravenous fluid under the skin.
• Know the warning signs. Heat exhaustion occurs when body temps hit between 102.5 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Take note if your dog is “panting, warm to the touch, has red mucus membranes in its mouth or is collapsing and stumbling,” says Marisa Herzog, D.V.M., of The Venturing Vet, a Teaneck-based mobile vet clinic. “If a pet shows signs of heat exhaustion, the owner should stop all physical activities, move the pet into an area of shade or air conditioning, aim a fan at the animal and allow him or her to drink small amounts of cool water—but only if the pet is conscious,” Herzog advises. She also warns that once body temp cools to 103 degrees, “the owner should discontinue active cooling in order to avoid hypothermia.”
Heat stroke, which our vet says is a more severe form of exhaustion, happens when your pet’s temp exceeds 104 degrees. Symptoms of heat stroke in pets include rapid heart rate, drooling, unconsciousness, mild responsiveness, vomiting, seizures or muscle tremors. Seek immediate veterinary treatment if your pet exhibits these signs.
• Keep your pet off the pavement. Heat can also cause problems externally, especially on paw pads. Herzog says that even air temperatures in the 70s can heat pavement to 125 degrees “A pet’s pads can burn when walking on pavement that is 125 degrees or greater for more than a minute,” she says. “If the owner cannot hold the back of his or her hand on the pavement for at least seven seconds, then the surface is too hot for the pet.”
encourages readers to download the Reader Zone app to log hours read; one hour gets you one raffle ticket. Raffle winners will be picked in person at the library Aug. 16. P.S.: Audio books, comic books and magazines count! Or join an end-of-summer reading party; Midland Park Public Library (midlandparklibrary.org) is having its bash on Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon, with yard games, tug of war, snacks and more. Finally, say goodbye to summer reading at the Glen Rock Library (glenrocklibrary. org/glen-rock-libraryevents) on Aug. 14 from 6 to 6:45 p.m. with a special guest: a live penguin from Jenkinson’s Aquarium. Find more summer programming at bccls.org.
Nothing says summer like a movie on a big screen under the stars. It’s a perfect way to get in last licks of relaxation before our busy September schedules kick in. A roundup of free outdoor movies to check out this month:
• Jack Alter Fort Lee Community Center, Fort Lee. Thursdays, 8:30 p.m.: Aug. 17, Top Gun: Maverick; Aug. 24, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Aug. 31, Finding Nemo
• Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, Ridgewood: Wednesday, Aug. 16, Sunset Boulevard, 8:15 p.m. Arrive 30 minutes early to get a good spot on the lawn. Free ice cream will be provided by Ben & Jerry’s.
• Veterans Memorial Park, Westwood. Thursdays, 8 p.m.: Aug. 17, Beauty & the Beast; Aug. 24, The Rookie
The dining scene in Bergen is becoming more like Manhattan’s by the day—and that’s not a bad thing. Check out three new lounges before summer’s end:
The color of royalty
Le Purple is a brand-new bar and lounge in Palisades Park, offering a romantic ambience, food cooked by an executive chef (you’ll find Italian-, Korean- and French-inspired dishes here) and signature cocktails such as the Smoked Old-Fashioned, its most popular drink. The purple-themed atmosphere makes for a great date night—and even better Instagram selfies.
• LE PURPLE, 7 BROAD AVE., 4TH FLOOR, PALISADES PARK, 201.366.4237;
INSTAGRAM: @LE_PURPLE_NJ
New hangout
Recently opened at the Holiday Inn
Hasbrouck Heights–Meadowlands, The Hangar Lounge is more than just a stopin spot for business folks staying at the hotel. The interior features rustic chic décor, and the American-style menu includes sandwiches, salads and pasta. Ask about the family discount: Up to two kids 11 and under eat free per an adult ordering from the main menu.
• THE HANGAR LOUNGE, 283 RTE. 17, HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, 201.288.9600;
INSTAGRAM:
@HOLIDAYINNHASBROUCKHEIGHTS
Sitting pretty
If you’re a fan of Cork & Crust (Harrington Park), Fig & Tomato (Hillsdale) or Augie’s (Harrington Park), know that the owners of those restaurants just opened Bonita by the River, a Spanish restaurant and lounge featuring tapas, steaks, seafood and salads. Try to book a table at the outdoor bar on the deck, a great spot to enjoy a sip from the expansive wine list or cocktail menu (the Mediterranean Blues is a customer favorite).
• 190 RIVER RD., EDGEWATER, 201.699.0977; BONITABYTHERIVER.COM
Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora are great, but these days more and more people are listening to music on vinyl. On Aug. 12, National Vinyl Record Day (or any day when the mood strikes), why not visit a Bergen record store? We bet there are more of them than you thought (see list at right), all chock-full of used and new records to add to your collection—or help you start a new one.
“Collecting an actual item as opposed to collecting songs on your phone is more fun,” says Craig Stepneski, owner of The Record King in Saddle Brook. “You can hold the liner notes in your hand and read along as you listen.” He’s noticed that the audience for records is getting younger and younger as vinyl comes back into the spotlight. “Young people are driving the market,” he adds. “Bottom line, collecting vinyl is cool!”
• 21st Century Music, 174 Rte. 17 N., Rochelle Park, 201.343.4886; 21centurymusic.com
• BB’s Records, 24 S. Front St., Bergenfield, 315.677.1849; bbsrecordsnj.com
• Ez 2 Collect, 133 Broadway, Elmwood Park, 201.791.3833; ez2collect.com
• Music Connection, Summit Ave., Elmwood 201.797.5212
• Music Merchants, 157 Westwood Ave., Westwood, 201.666.7777; musicmerchant.com
• The Record King, 238 Brook, 201.488.4232
• Vintage Vibe, 47 Prospect Midland Park, 201.452.5774; VintageVibeMidlandPark/
• Vinyl Addiction Records, Arlington, 201.957.3484;
Before you send your little one back to class this fall, give her or him The Loud Librarian by Mahwah author Jenna Beatrice. The children’s book follows the main character, student librarian Penelope, as she lives her LOL life while celebrating other people’s different personalities, abilities and cultures. There’s just one classic librarian quality Penelope lacks, and if you’ve guessed what that is, Shhhhhhhh!
As you read this book out loud to your child, admiring the colorful illustrations by Erika Lynne Jones, don’t be surprised if both you and your child are giggling.
The Loud Librarian is available at Barnes & Noble and amazon.com.
Taylor Swift set all sorts of attendance records during her three-night stint at MetLife Stadium—kudos to her and all the Swifties! But sometimes the place to see a show isn’t a billiondollar stadium with an attendance capacity larger than many municipalities. Check out these outdoor venues in Bergen:
• Kasschau Memorial Bandshell, Ridgewood. This year marks the 65th anniversary of this outdoor venue, located at Veterans Field. The spot is a memorial to Frank and Howard Kasschau, two notable Ridgewood residents who were heavily involved in the village’s music scene. The Bandshell has a BYOC (bring your own chairs) seating situation on the lawn of the park. The 2023 summer concert series here wraps on Aug. 10 with The Nerds at 7:30 p.m.
• Memorial Park Amphitheater, Lodi. Lodi’s annual summer concert here concluded in July, but note this facility for next year. From magic shows to live music performances, it’s a landmark for residents. Unlike other outdoor venues with lawn seating, it’s covered, so festivities can go on rain or shine. It also has tiered seating, so that every seat in the house is a good one.
• Overpeck Amphitheater, Ridgefield Park. Within one of Bergen County’s premier recreation destinations is this expansive amphitheater, which opened in 2010 and has space for roughly 3,000 lawn seats. The county often hosts its summer concert series here (Here’s Elton performs Aug. 10), while community organizations also use the space for festivals and events—the annual Filipino American Festival is happening Sept. 3.
We wouldn’t be the Garden State without our official state insect, the honeybee. That’s because bees as master pollinators are vital to farmers; they’re responsible for nearly a third of crop pollination. So don’t bug out when you see them. BERGEN chatted with three bee experts, who offered tips on how to bee-have around these buzzers:
• Remain calm and avoid sudden movements if you find a hive near your home, says Christopher Madden of Uncle Gordon’s Honey in North Bergen. “Bees are sensitive to vibrations and can interpret sudden movements as a threat, potentially leading to defensive behavior, including stinging,” he says. “Remember, bees are generally docile unless they perceive a threat to their colony or themselves. By staying calm and respecting their space, you can minimize the chances of encountering any issues.”
• Cohabit with honeybees, if possible. Though the National Wildlife Federation doesn’t consider them endangered, North American honeybees’ populations are on the decline because of pesticides, habitat loss and climate change. You can create a habitat by “planting pollinatorfriendly plants in 3-foot clusters to create targets that are easy for bees to
Dog: Bree, 12-year-old half beagle, half English bulldog Owners: Heather Colacurcio and Mattie Rosen of Hackensack
This pooch previously lived at the Bergen County Animal Shelter, where she was returned twice from temporary owners. But at 6-and-a-half, this creature found her forever home.
“Mattie was instantly drawn to a quiet, gentle dog,” says Colacurcio. “We knew then that Bree was meant to be!”
Her owners say Bree’s the watchdog of their block, guarding the neighborhood from squirrels and delivery trucks. She loves visits to parks and Grandma’s house, and eats lots of carrots, peas and string beans. Snorting is her preferred mode of communication, and she has a talent for interior design. “She likes to rearrange our bathroom rugs every night,” says Colacurcio. “We have no idea why she does this, but we guess she just likes to redecorate.”
locate,” says Frank “The Beeman” Mortimer (pictured), a Ridgewood resident and adjunct instructor at Cornell University’s Master Beekeeping Program. Honeybees are also attracted to dandelions, clover and milkweed. Mortimer suggests adding small stones or marbles in bird baths or bowls to give honeybees a spot on which to stand when they need water.
• Contact a professional if you want to remove a honeybee hive from your property. Antonio Quinlan, executive director of the Hudson River Apiary in North Bergen, says it’s best to call a beekeeper—do not experiment with home strategies for bee removal. Because honeybees are protected by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, a beekeeper is preferred over an exterminator, who would likely kill the insects. Exterminators should be called to handle infestations of wasps such as yellowjackets. If you have trouble differentiating between a honeybee and a wasp, Mortimer says: “Yellowjackets (and all hornets and wasps) are smooth and look like they are made of plastic. Honeybees are fuzzy, as they have hair all over their bodies, including their eyes! So just remember: Fuzzy is good, plastic is bad.”
We love our county’s plethora of BYOB restaurants, but sometimes it’s nice not to worry about picking out and transporting our own vino when we dine out. The good news is Bergen is home to amazing eateries with even more amazing wine menus, including 10 that have some of the best wine programs in the country. Wine Spectator magazine honored establishments at its 2023 Restaurant Awards, noting innovative and customer-focused wine lists:
• Bacari Grill, 800 Ridgewood Rd., Washington Township, 201.358.6330, bacarigrill.com
• The Capital Grille, 1 Garden State Plaza Blvd., Paramus, 201.845.7040, thecapitalgrille.com
• Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, 1 Garden State Plaza Blvd., Paramus, 201.518.1558, eddiev.com
• Esty Street, 86 Spring Valley Rd., Park Ridge, 201.307.1515, estystreet.com
• Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern, 1 E. Franklin Tpke., Ho-Ho-Kus, 201.445.4115, hohokusinn.com
• Morton’s The Steakhouse, 1 Riverside Square Mall, Hackensack, 201.487.1303, mortons.com
• The Oceanaire Seafood Room, 175 Riverside Square Mall, Hackensack, 201.343.8862, theoceanaire.com
• Oceanos Oyster Bar & Grill, 2-27 Saddle River Fair Lawn, 201.796.0546, oceanosrestaurant.com
• The River Palm Terrace, 1416 River Rd., Edgewater, 201.224.2013, riverpalm.com
• Seasons 52, 1 Garden State Plaza Blvd., Paramus, 201.518.1074, seasons52.com
BeWELL Psychotherapy and Wellness
36-42 Newark St., Suite 201, Hoboken, NJ 07030 646.585.3579 | bewellpsychotherapy.com
CURRENT POSITION: CEO
YEARS IN PRACTICE: 22
EDUCATION: NYU School of Social Work, Center for Modern Psychoanalysis, Center for Group Work
INSPIRATIONS FOR YOU CAREER:
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
I’m proud of leading the way in psychotherapy towards integrative care by adding modalities like mindfulness, yoga and EMDR to BeWELL. My mission is to bring holistic mental healthcare to as many people as possible because mental health is just as important as physical health for your overall wellbeing.
FUTURE GOALS:
Our most recent initiative, BeWell at Work, brings integrative mental healthcare into the workplace. It has sparked a personal goal of mine to expand into executive coaching and communication skills.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKE YOU AND YOUR PRACTICE UNIQUE: BeWELL is an all-women integrative psychotherapy and wellness practice. Our care providers have a wide variety of methods, lived experiences and areas of expertise.
with a sound engineer. I pick out the drums, bass, guitar, but the engineer does the electronic work.
Ava: Yes, I’ll write how I’m feeling in a song with verses and choruses and then go to the studio and mix it all together. We record at Jambox Studios in Manhattan.
Do you play any instruments?
Cora: I’m learning the guitar, I play the ukulele and I can play chords on piano.
Ava: I’m self-taught on piano so I can’t play Mozart, but I also can play chords.
In June, you played your first live show at Debonair Music Hall before 200 people.
Cora: It was the experience of a lifetime. We had at least two rehearsals a week with our band and working on choreography.
Ava: First we made the set list, then we had to find the band and they had to learn the songs. We also had to promote the show, which took a lot of work. It was the best night of my life.
What do you two fight over?
Cora: We’re definitely a little competitive. All siblings are. But we’re in different sports; I’m the captain of the cross-country team and run track, and Ava plays varsity tennis. During the concert prep there was a lot of sisterly angst, but it was worth it.
Cora and Ava Patelsky, and you’ll find lots of hits for two singers who are barely 17. These fraternal twin sisters—Cora older by seven minutes—are star athletes at Pascack Hills High School and excellent students as well as aspiring musicians. In June, the Patelskys (whose older brother, Luke, is studying at NYU) performed their first concert at Debonair Music Hall in Teaneck, with proceeds going toward Peace4Paws animal rescue in Westwood.
How did you get started in the music industry?
Cora: When we were 4 or 5, our dad put us in vocal lessons with our amazing teacher, Jennifer Cece. Then, in elementary and middle school, we started getting the leads in school plays.
Ava: We also sang at senior citizen homes. Their smiles made us really happy, and we wanted to keep doing that. So we started writing songs. How did the songwriting come about?
Cora: My freshman year, I joined a theater group called Porch Light Studio in Glen Rock.
It’s super-competitive and everyone wants the lead. The first couple of days, the whole vibe didn’t make me feel good. I went home and told my dad, and he was like, “Why don’t you write a song about it?”
Ava: A couple months later, I started getting inspiration for songwriting because of a failed relationship. Now, I have five songs out on Spotify and Cora has seven.
How do you decide which songs will be solos and which you’ll perform or record together?
Cora: When I write I just put a melody to my words. But then we go through it and figure out if it’ll be a good duet or solo. Ava wrote our first duet, “Dry to Me.” We were going through the same situation with boys, so we could relate. Do you ever hear from these guys you’re writing songs about?
Ava: [Laughs.] I get texts from one. We’re good now, I hope. It’s not my intention to hurt anyone’s feelings!
What’s the songwriting process like?
Cora: We start at home with simple chords and lyrics, then take it into the studio and work
Ava: We bicker sometimes. But honestly, we’re supportive of each other. We respect each other’s music. Hers is slower ballads and mine is more upbeat.
How do you differ?
Ava: I’m more outgoing and spontaneous, but Cora’s more heartfelt and nicer.
Cora: If we’re out with friends, I would rather have a nice conversation and get to know someone. Ava would hit the dance floor.
Will you attend the same college?
Cora: I’m not opposed to it, but we’ll see where our aspirations are.
Ava: We’re probably going to different schools, but I need her! She helps me with everything. The longest we’ve been apart was five days. What’s up next for this summer, senior year and beyond?
Ava: We’re mostly in Long Beach Island in the summer, so we’re going to try to perform some gigs around the island. My ultimate goal is to promote my music and make it big.
Cora: And we’re going to make a joint TikTok account. To get famous you really have to keep up with it.
—Haley Longman
BRUCK LIGHTING RENATA PENDANT Diversified Lighting Associates, Fairfield, 973.439.1524
QUINN LOW COFFEE TABLE scandinaviandesigns.com
Keep the summer vibes going all year round with a pop of this cheery hue.
MERCER41 KEUNG UPHOLSTERED OTTOMAN wayfair.com
MANHATTAN COMFORT ROSEBUD ACCENT CHAIR Ashley Store, Paramus, 732.548.1200
XAVIER NIGHTSTAND Raymour & Flanigan Furniture, Paramus, 201.649.9941
BOOMER TABLE LAMP burkedecor.com
CHELSEA LOVESEAT joybird.com
BEAUTY 12-LITER MINI SKINCARE FRIDGE Pottery Barn Teen,
ROUND SHERPA STORAGE OTTOMAN dormify.com
CHARGING ROUNDED HEADBOARD dormify.com
Let your college kid’s personality shine in their new home away from home.
PERSONALIZED EMBROIDERED PILLOW COVER markandgraham.com
Pottery Barn Teen, Hackensack
DUAL-SIDED MULTIFUNCTIONAL DESK PAD amazon.com
Regular internet use of two hours or less daily could lower dementia risk among adults, according to a study of 18,000 people ages 50 to 65.
—Journal of the American Geriatrics Society TO
reduces percent older
—International Journal Nutrition Activity
Research has shown that taking even a short walk can trigger ideas and boost “creative output” by as much as 60 percent.
—Stanford University
Researchers report that COVID-19 reinfections negatively affect overall health. People who had more than one infection were three times more likely to die than those who had only one.
In addition, those people were 3.5 times more likely to develop lung problems, 3 times more likely to develop heart conditions and 1.6 times more likely to see brain changes.
—Nature Medicine production untrue,
Ds vitamin health. A postmenopausal spine surgery showed that those with severe deficiencies had more severe disc degeneration and back pain.
—Menopause
Five to 10 minutes of running daily could reduce early death from any cause, according to research.
—Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Don’t let the dog days of summer dissuade you from having fun without overheating.
To heck with it—sit square in front of the air conditioner. Stroll the aisles of the chilly grocery store looking at things you don’t even need to buy. Submerge in a backyard pool till you’re way past pruny and smell chloriney even to yourself. These are tried-and-true ways to find relief when August’s heat and humidity get oppressive, and there’s no knocking them. But when you’re ready for variety, here are 10 other summertime salvations:
Enjoy a rooftop sip… at The Concourse Club, Wood-Ridge. There’s no better time to grab a cocktail at this swanky, nearly two-year-old lounge in southern Bergen County. Sitting atop the Element by Westin Hotel, the rooftop bar has unobstructed views of Teterboro Airport, so you can guess which celebs are coming and going. Of course, you’ll feel like an A-lister yourself thanks to the club’s VIP service and its seemingly endless list of creative drinks and light bites.
379 ROUTE 17 S., WOOD-RIDGE, 201.710.6459; CONCOURSECLUBNJ.COM
Get into the swing of things… at Golfzon Range by Leadbetter, Little Ferry. This indoor golf simulator is less than a year old, so the high-tech equipment at the immaculate facility is almost brand-new and in tip-top shape. This means all your drives, chips and putts from the range will be precisely measured and accurate no matter which simulated course you play. Stop in to perfect your game on your own or sign up for one-on-one lessons with on-site pros.
260 BERGEN TPKE., LITTLE FERRY, 201.983.0215; GOLFZONRANGE.COM
Paddle at your own pace… at Overpeck Park, Ridgefield Park. Don’t worry about tides and currents when you take a kayak, canoe or standup paddleboard onto Overpeck Creek—the water is usually calm.
(True, it can be choppy on windy days.) Launch your own craft using the public dock or rent one on-site and enjoy a self-guided paddle tour of the park’s central waterway. Pro tip: If you forget a hat and sunscreen, you can paddle along the shady, tree-lined shore—just be cautious in shallow water.
54 FORT LEE RD., RIDGEFIELD PARK, 201.968.0808; HACKENSACK RIVERKEEPER.ORG
Bury your feet in the sand… at Darlington County Park, Mahwah. With open lawns, dozens of wooded trails and sports facilities, this
park is one of Bergen’s crown jewels. Set up your chairs and blanket on the beach along Darlington Lake, the perfect spot to cool off, catch some rays and build sand castles. The park also features a Splash Zone for little ones, which includes a Wibit brand floating obstacle course. Just leave Fido at home, as pets are not permitted on the beach.
660 DARLINGTON AVE., MAHWAH, 201.327.3500; CO.BERGEN.NJ.US
Thai one on… at Pimaan Thai in Emerson. Science tells us that perspiration cools off the body, but sweating needn’t mean “working up” a sweat. Instead, enjoy some spicy food to get your sweat glands going. Salmon green curry or fiery drunken noodles from Pimaan Thai—a former BERGEN Readers’ Choice winner for “best Thai restaurant”—are treats to your taste buds, but the spice will certainly boost your heart rate. If you’re unsure about the heat level, you can request that the chef reduce the spiciness of your order.
79 KINDERKAMACK RD., EMERSON, 201.967.0440; PIMAANTHAI.COM
Duck into a movie… at Teaneck Cinemas, Teaneck. What could be cooler than sitting in a dark, air-conditioned room while watching a popular flick on the big screen? Head to this neighborhood movie house to catch the latest Hollywood blockbusters—and don’t forget to grab fresh popcorn and candy for the entire family. The best part? Before 6 p.m., when the day is hottest, tickets are extra cheap.
503 CEDAR LANE, TEANECK, 201.530.7409; TEANECKCINEMAS.COM
Roll a strike… at Bowlero, Fair Lawn and Wallington. With 32 lanes in Fair Lawn and 48 in Wallington, bowlers of all ages and skill levels have plenty of opportunities to achieve new high scores. In between rolls and frames, visitors at either facility can check out the arcade and pool tables and grab a bite to eat at the on-site restaurant. Be sure to check both bowling alleys’ specific locations online for bowling specials and deals.
22-22 MAPLE AVE., FAIR LAWN, 201.797.5400; 299 PATERSON AVE., WALLINGTON, 973.773.9100; BOWLERO.COM
Go on a clay-date…at Mudspinners: Pottery Studio & Gallery, Ridgewood. You’re probably familiar with paint-and-sip studios, where you and your friends create masterpieces while enjoying a glass or two of wine. Now you can get down and dirty with your crew while making a ceramic bowl or vase. This Ridgewood studio offers special “Mud & Merlot Nights” as well as sessions for kids, private and large groups and parties.
580 N. MAPLE AVE., RIDGEWOOD, 201.981.2792; MUDSPINNERS.COM
Take the kids to an indoor playground… at Catch Air in Hasbrouck Heights and Paramus. Let your little ones burn off some energy, get some exercise and make new friends at this safe, exciting, air-conditioned indoor play facility. The new and modern centers in Hasbrouck Heights and Paramus feature soft, three-story play castles, slides, tunnels, interactive toys and much more. They’re both ideal spots for kids’ parties or if you just want to let your child run around on a summer day.
69 ROUTE 17, HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, 201.713.2156; 224 ROUTE 4, PARAMUS, 201.620.2125; CATCHAIRPARTY.COM
Get some summer ice time… at The Rink at American Dream, East Rutherford. From a massive water park to indoor skiing, there’s so much to do at the mega mall and entertainment center. With its mass appeal, ice skating is the ideal summer escape, and there’s open ice time at The Rink for everyone. The ice meets all National Hockey League regulations, making it the perfect surface for experienced skaters and novices alike. (Ice “buddies” in a variety of fun shapes are available for those just starting out.)
1 AMERICAN DREAM WAY, EAST RUTHERFORD, 833.263.7326; AMERICANDREAM.COM
A new academic year is almost here. Consider five wellness basics to make sure he or she is prepared for success.
It’s a fact: Healthy kids are better learners. Studies show that children who suffer from poor vision, mental health issues, obesity, substance abuse or an array of other health disorders don’t perform as well in school as their peers. “If anything is bothering them—if their stomach is upset or their throat is sore—it’s harder for kids to concentrate and learn properly,” says Mary Wolf, M.D., a pediatrician at North Jersey Pediatrics in Fair Lawn. She shares tips on what you can do to help make this year your kid’s healthiest and most successful yet:
• Prioritize hygiene. If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s the importance of washing our hands regularly and covering our mouths when sick to avoid spreading or receiving germs. The common cold, the stomach flu, strep throat and other illnesses are common in schools, so Dr. Wolf advises making sure your child washes his or her hands during three “built-in times” during the school day: on arrival at school, before eating and after each bathroom visit. Of course, she notes, kids should wash (or sanitize) more frequently if they’re blowing their noses, sneezing or coughing a lot.
• Establish healthy eating and exercise habits. Kids ages 5 and up should get at least an hour of physical activity a day that’ll get their heart rates up, notes the doc. This can be through organized sports, or simply “going to the playground or running around in your own backyard,” which is easier to do in the summer and should be continued once the school year begins. Also make sure your child’s diet is rich in fiber, fruits and vegetables, and that any fruit juice and sugary drinks and snacks are consumed as treats, just one or two times a week. Easier said than done, sure, but “kids eat what’s in the house, so bring in healthy options,” says Dr. Wolf. “Place a fruit bowl on the counter and put the cookies where kids can’t help themselves.” Have a picky eater who only consumes nuggets and pasta? Our doc notes it takes 15 exposures to a food for a kid to like it, so keep introducing that broccoli, and pair it with foods they already love. “Eventually, their taste buds will change.”
• Check in on mental health. Children’s mental state is just as important as their physical wellbeing. Dr. Wolf says to keep an open line of communication and encourage your child to discuss her or his feelings. “This won’t come easily to teens because they’re developmentally more likely to talk to peers,”
she says, “but being a nonjudgmental adult they feel safe talking to is important. Or, if that’s not you, let them know they can speak to teachers, counselors or other trusted adults.” If you sense your child is struggling but won’t open up, make it clear that many people go through stages of feeling sad. And if it’s a persistent issue of emotional health, the youngster isn’t alone there either. “Just find a place where the child feels comfortable opening up and make sure that line of communication is strong.”
• Establish good sleep hygiene. “Everything kids learn during the day is processed during sleep, so if their sleep is disrupted, they don’t have adequate overnight time to process the learning,” Dr. Wolf explains. Parents of elementary school kids should aim for their youngsters to get eight to 10 hours of sleep a night; high schoolers do best on eight-and-ahalf to nine-and-a-half hours. “A recent study found that kids who sleep a consistent 10 hours a night have better outcomes as far as learning and response to testing,” Dr. Wolf says. But the biggest factor in good sleep hygiene is avoiding screen time an hour before bed; if kids’ eyes are exposed to blue light, their bodies won’t produce melatonin, which helps the body wind down. And she suggests getting your child back on a school sleep schedule about four weeks before the first day of school. “Scooch bedtime back by 15 minutes every few days for a month to get back in a routine,” she advises.
• Encourage sensible limits with extracurricular activities. Children should have outlets for activity and enjoyment outside the classroom, but there is such a thing as being too well-rounded. Dr. Wolf notes that some children thrive in structured activities and look forward to their after-school plans; others could be struggling to finish their homework because their schedule is too packed. “You have to know your kid,” she says. “Prioritize time for sleep, fun and unstructured play, and fill up the remaining hours with extracurricular activities.” If your child seems stressed out by too many to-dos, encourage him or her to choose their top two activities and stick with those.
Yes, they’re disparate—like apples, oranges and pears. But the three problems below can affect even healthy kids in elementary, middle and high schools. So here’s your primer:
• Head lice: The bad news is lice is they’re contagious with head-tohead contact. The good news: After treatment (usually with topical creams and shampoo), she or he can go back to school the next day.
• Scoliosis: This is a horizontal curvature of the spine, usually in adolescents, that in mild cases often needs only careful monitoring, but that can occasionally require corrective surgery. Schools these days screen for scoliosis, as do pediatricians during annual well visits, especially when kids are going through growth spurts. “But if your child is experiencing back pain, get them screened as soon as possible,” says Fair Lawn pediatrician Mary Wolf, M.D.
• Bullying: Sometimes, says Dr. Wolf, a child’s vague comments about stomach aches or headaches can be a clue that something (or someone) at school is upsetting them. “Bring up the possibility of bullying so that your child can feel comfortable speaking about it with you if needed,” she says.
What if a computer catches you for plagiarism but it’s wrong? Should school safety officers be armed? And your chosen ways to relax after the pressures of studying, playing sports and worrying about college—would fighting fires with a volunteer fire department be among them?
These issues all came up recently when BERGEN, observing a yearly tradition, gathered a dozen rising high school seniors from around the county and asked them questions. Our annual purpose: to find out what the kids are experiencing—and thinking.
A scientific sample of typical kids? We claim no such thing. Truly typical kids are much too swift to be lured into a protracted sit-down for a magazine’s “third degree.” No, this group skews toward the achieving—not to say overachieving. But they’re articulate, and they’re keen observers in a position to observe.
We all think we know teenagers, and we’re partly right. They are impatient with the imperfection of adult authority, and they do sprinkle their sentences with unnecessary “like”s. But BERGEN found out once again this year that high schoolers can’t be comfortably pigeonholed. They’re individuals, and they sometimes surprise.
In a candid conversation, a dozen rising high school seniors talk about socializing, cheating, vaping, playing sports, worrying about college—and much, much more.
By Rita Guarna
Rita: What stresses you guys out?
Kayla: I’m a big softball person, and from late February to early June is all softball. Like, I don’t get to see a lot of my friends, and I kind of feel bad. Because my friends will be like, “Oh, hey, do you want to go out Friday night?” “No, sorry, I can’t. I have softball.”
Rita: Do a lot of you play sports, by a show of hands?
[Several hands go up.]
Rita: OK, a lot of you. Are you playing sports because you love the sport or because you think that’s going to help you get into college?
Shahd: So I first started doing track and field last year, my sophomore year. I first did it because I knew it was going to look somewhat good in college. But over time I started actually falling in love with the sport.
Eleeza: I play softball too, and I agree that it’s a really big time commitment. But I really love doing this sport. Hanging out with the team and team bonding and stuff— that’s a big part of my life during softball season. But balancing that with schoolwork toward the end of the year, especially in the time of AP exams—I feel like that’s sometimes a struggle.
Rita: I imagine time management really comes into play with all of this. Anything else that you guys are feeling stressed about? A couple of you mentioned the college application process in the mini survey we sent you (see sidebar).
Sasha: That process as a whole is really stressful. Because for me it’s like there’s a lot of pressure to decide exactly what you want your future to be. And rather than looking at it as a way to explore and discover what you love and want to do, in my school or, like, the community that I’m around, it’s like you should know exactly what you want to do in college, and then you should pursue that and be successful.
Asli: I just wanted to add to what Sasha said. The college application process is scary for me because of the uncertainty. You really don’t know what’s going to happen after that application is sent.
Rita: Do you feel there is pressure not only to tell people where you want to go, but also the path you’re going to take in college?
Max: When I say I don’t know what I want to do, I feel like people will judge me.
Rita: But it’s hard to know. Some people know
at a young age, and some have no idea and want to see what’s out there.
Graicen: I definitely feel the pressure of trying to put your best foot forward, especially to prestigious colleges. But you have your teachers, friends and college counselors
me? I think that’s something a lot of people at my school think about.
Rita: While we’re talking about worrying if we’re good enough, do you feel your school community is accepting of people with different backgrounds, gender identities, religions and the like?
Jack: I find at my school everyone is pretty accepting. I do ballet, and you don’t see many guys who dance, and my friends respect that. It may not be their thing, but they respect that it’s my thing. Nobody judges you.
Graicen: At AHA we promote diversity and embrace everyone’s different religions or ethnic cultures.
Rita: That’s excellent. Anyone else?
Matt: I feel like my school is also accepting. We have a lot of kids from other states and transfer kids from other countries. They aren’t treated any differently than any other students there.
Rita: What kind of support do your schools provide if you’re struggling academically or with emotions, feeling depressed?
Ethan: At our school we have the Wellness Center, where kids can go if they’re stressed about tests or life in general. They can talk to someone there. The guidance counselors are readily available, and there’s help for specific areas of studies, the Math Center and the Writing Center. The school provides opportunities to make sure everyone is heard and is not super-stressed.
Rita: Do you mean your guidance counselors?
Ethan: Well, not only the guidance counselors. I don’t know if they’re psychologists, but they’re there to counsel. There are two or three people in there available to talk. You can sign up for an appointment on a Google form.
there to support you.
Jack: It’s a big decision for an 18-year-old: “This is the path I’m going on for the rest of my life.” And there’s a lot of money at play.
Shahd: With the college applications as a whole, I fear comparing myself with other people. I want to go to this school and that school, and they’re prestigious, and what if they get in and I don’t? Are they better than
Sasha: At my school the general consensus is there’s not enough done for mental health. We have one or two mental health days, where teachers aren’t supposed to assign graded assignments and they bring in comfort puppies. But a lot of students I’ve talked to don’t see this as solving the issues. The administration says there are guidance counselors to go to, but there’s only so many for so many students and that’s not the one-to-one attention that people need or don’t receive at home. So I think implementing programs like the Wellness Center is really great.
Rita: Do your peers relay this to the administration? Do you think you’re being heard?
“Are they better than me? I think that’s something a lot of people at my school think about.”
Sasha: Part of the problem is that students aren’t bringing that to administrators as much as they should. They’ll complain about it on the side or maybe to teachers. But ultimately that’s not going to have a successful outcome unless they’re communicating it. I do think there’s two sides to the problem.
Eleeza: Despite being very small, my school does a good job of supporting the stresses that come along with high school. We have this Cavo Strong program [Cavo is the school’s team name] and it’s implemented every two weeks. It’s a 40-minute period where each teacher is assigned a group of 10 students, and we talk and play games. That’s a good way to give us a break in the day, especially for those who are struggling with being stressed and overwhelmed with the workload.
Shahd: At my school this year we started the Drop Counseling program. During lunch, three times a week during lunch students can go to the counselor or a little office at any time and talk to someone about their struggle. One thing I’ve noticed is that a lot of students don’t want to talk to people. Either they don’t know them that well or they don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.
Rita: What do you mean, “what’s going to happen in the future?”
Shahd: Some students might feel like they’re going to be judged for their issues.
Graicen: One thing that drew me to Holy Angels is Wellness Wednesdays. We have community time, an hour and ten minutes kids take to study or go to teachers for extra help. We have different activities offered by different teachers. There’s bracelet making or ping-pong. I usually go to the open studio one with my art teacher so I can practice oil painting or water coloring. This is just a time to take a step back and reset our minds.
Rita: What about safety? Do you feel safe? Do you worry about gun violence— or any violence?
Ethan: I definitely feel safe in my school. There are at least three or four police officers, retired officers in the school. They’re present in all corners of the building so there’s always one walking around, or in the front or by entrances. Rita: Are they armed?
Ethan: Yes. I believe so.
Marisa: I feel like IHA [Immaculate Heart Academy] does a good job of making us feel safe. The doors have scan-and-access with our IDs, and after 8 a.m. they don’t open unless you buzz into the office. We also have police officers who walk around our school at random times of the day. They’re friendly and do a good job of making us feel we’re in a safe environment.
Sasha: Yeah, I think it was an issue. People were nervous about gun violence, and my school has risen to the occasion. We all wear student IDs on designated lanyards every day. At my school we also have retired officers and guards. But we decided they shouldn’t be
armed, and I feel like that makes students feel safer when they’re not armed.
Kayla: My school is really safe. In the middle school I think all our security guards are retired police officers; I don’t know about the high school. Some of them are armed. That doesn’t bother me. I always feel safe in school.
Gabby: Our school does a good job. We do emergency drills at least once a month so we know what to do if there’s an emergency. And we have an officer who walks around and he’s also armed.
Rita: What’s involved with these drills?
Gabby: Once a month, our teachers tell us where to go if there’s a lockdown, and for fire drills we have set exits depending on the classroom you’re in. Once a month, without the students knowing, they’ll come on the loud speaker and say, “O.K., we’re practicing our lockdown drill.”
Shahd: I do feel safe, but I wish they had more of the drills, especially the lockdown drills. Rita: What about bullying? Does it happen at your school? And are there cliques?
Max: At Mahwah everyone has their own friends but as a whole, we’re all very close and have each other’s back at the end of the day. I wouldn’t say we’re all friends, but we’re all respectful to each other.
Rita: Obviously people gravitate to some people more than others, that’s just human nature. I think you hit on a word that’s important, and that’s respect.
Eleeza: Emerson helps foster that sense of community because our high school is a few hundred people. Not everyone is super-close friends, but we do a good job of uniting and coming together, especially when it involves the whole school—at sporting events, at pep rallies.
Jack: At River Dell, everyone has their own friend groups, not cliques but friend groups. Like Max said, everyone respects each other. If you saw someone in your grade outside of school, even if they’re not in your friend group, you’d definitely say hi.
Rita: We’ve read the sad stories about young people thinking about suicide. Comments?
Matt: In the hallway at my school there’s the word “brotherhood” written so we’re seen as brothers since it’s an all-boys school. It’s very inclusive; I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone get bullied at my school.
Rita: What about competition? Maybe your schools don’t do class rank, but are people vying to be valedictorian? Are you judged if you don’t want to go to a prestigious college? Are you vying for a school position?
Marisa: Going to an all-girls school normally you would think there’s a lot of competition. But for three years at IHA we’ve grown so much closer that instead of seeing each other’s wins as a loss for ourselves, it’s a win for our school. It’s really empowering. We know not everyone is good at everything, but we do support each other and lift each other up.
Ethan: It’s like what Marisa said, but there’s also some competition. I think it depends kind of on who you’re surrounded by. One group may compete for a spot on the basketball team and another may be the president of the National Honor Society. But competition also brings out the best in people and that spurs accomplishment. There’s a good balance of both at Pascack Valley.
Jack: Unfortunately at River Dell we don’t do class rank. I wish we did because it would create a sense of healthy competition between students—pushing each other to be better academically. As far as colleges go, like Marisa said, it’s a win for everyone. Some people are applying to Ivies—they’re obviously doing well academically—but we’ve also had students who’ve gone to RISD [Rhode Island School of Design], Cooper Union for art or engineering and a few students in the military and service academies.
Matt: Bergen Catholic is definitely a competitive environment for academics and athletics, but it’s more of a good thing because it motivates students to push each other. Even after a test kids will be comparing groups and stuff, but it’s more congratulating people. It’s not seen as a negative thing.
Shahd: We do do class rank and the higher you are, if you’re top 10, it’s more competitive because everyone wants a spot in the top three, especially valedictorian. But also, like Jack said, it’s a form of healthy competition because it’s motivation. We encourage each other to be the best we can be and we help each other out, so if someone is struggling with something, we help. It sort of creates a connection and brings us closer together.
Rita: What about social media? What role does it play in your high school experience and among your peers?
Kayla: Social media, at least in my school, is a really big deal. There was a video of a girl from a party. She had a little too much to drink. Somebody had their phone out and was videoing her, and it spread around the school like wildfire. I felt really bad for her. Social media at Bergenfield is a big factor and sometimes people post a lot, so it feels like everybody knows everything about everybody.
Rita: The way you’re describing it, it’s a bit of a negative.
Asli: Social media really helps information spread, like Kayla said, like wildfire, But at my school it’s to promote community and inclusivity. We do Olympics, which is our version of Field Day, and social media helps us hype up the event and encourages everybody to participate.
Graicen: It’s more to spread school spirit. For us recently, the big thing is the Holy Angels TikTok page, where our teaches promote sustainable living, with recycling being important, and upcoming events, whether it’s an open house or Field Day.
Rita: Has anyone had an experience similar to what Kayla was describing, where at times it can be a negative?
Shahd: It’s definitely a mix of what Kayla and Asli said. Social media can cause a lot of drama. Someone can post, like, “Hey, look what this person did!” But it also helps spread news. We have a student council Instagram page, and whenever they have pep rallies or Spirit Week they make a post about it and everybody reposts it on their stories to promote it and it helps build school spirit. It has its pros and cons. Rita: I’m gratified to hear what you said about bullying and that you’re not experiencing it. What about these other issues—drugs, alcohol, cheating and gambling? I see smiles and hands going up.
Asli: At my school, vaping is an incredibly big problem. We actually just implemented a new system called Smart Pass, where the students sign out and the teachers can track how long the students have been in the bathroom and how many are going at once. Back then it was cigarettes and now it’s vaping, and at my school weed is another problem. The bathroom is the place they all do it. For gambling, two weeks ago there were these boys who were running this gambling operation in the library [laughs]. It really takes a toll on the administration and teachers. We’re a small school but we also don’t have that many teachers, so it takes a while for the teachers to find out about these things. Social media is the place where our students group together and share our activities but the teachers aren’t aware. I think that lack of staff has to do with that, and also secrecy and privacy of all of it.
Rita: You would think with the changes in the marijuana laws that it would cut down on it, but it seems perhaps that’s not so.
Kayla: We also implemented a system we call E Hall Pass, so we have to go on our phones and get our passes. But the teachers don’t really know how to use it, so everybody kind of bypasses it. We don’t have a gambling problem in our school that I know of, but vaping is a big problem and the drug use is, I want to say, a problem. I do think the use of drugs, weed and vaping is still a big problem in the schools. We have assemblies every so often where it’s like, “Hey guys, vaping’s bad!” but the kids are still going to do it anyway.
Eleeza: I agree that vaping is a big issue. We have this new system where you have to sign in to go to the bathroom so they can track how many people are there. There are vape detectors in the bathroom, but half the time there’s no teacher in the hallway running the system where you have to check in, and unfortunately it still happens a lot. Maybe the measures that were implemented weren’t as effective.
Gabby: Like Eleeza said, we have a system to scan into the bathroom. There is a teacher there so it tracks how many times and how long you
were there for. Vaping is a big issue, but that helps whittle it down because the teacher is standing there. I think if you scanned in a very high numbers of times your parents can see it, so I think that helps.
Shahd: Vaping is a big issue, and it honestly shocks me how bold people are, that they bring their pens to school and vape in the bathroom. A few weeks ago there was a group of girls in the bathroom, two of them had vapes with them and it shocked me how the teacher didn’t notice it at all because there was a lot of smoke in the bathroom—I won’t lie.
Rita: One word I mentioned that was a big issue with the students we spoke to last year is cheating.
Matt: I feel like cheating was definitely a huge issue during the pandemic at my school. It
fight against it the worse it’ll be. We want it to be more of a tool that students can use rather than a weapon to cheat.
Sasha: At my school the student body does cheat a lot on tests, and I think it’s accepted. People are eager to get into prestigious colleges and Ivies, and a lot of people can’t risk a bad grade—or see it that way—so it’s accepted to cheat. Not among teachers. When people are caught it’s a big deal, but it does happen a lot. Rita: So it’s accepted among the student body?
Sasha: I know people help each other cheat sometimes. It’s not super common, but there are a few classes where people think the teachers are neglectful and don’t notice. So in those classes it’s known that everyone has an A+. Maybe they’ll cheat on tests or copy each other’s work, but it’s common.
Gabby: At Mahwah it’s hard to cheat because we use this program called “Turn It In.” You have to upload your essays and lab reports, and it tracks how similar they are to other people’s papers as well as AI-generated work, so it would come up as plagiarized. So the teachers definitely don’t tolerate it.
was so easy to do. Once everyone started going back in person it wasn’t as much of an issue, but now with AI and ChatGPT, a lot of kids are using that to do their assignments for them. AI definitely can be used positively for education, but a lot of kids are using it to do their work for them instead.
Rita: I know certain districts were trying to block AI at school, and there are programs that pick up plagiarizing. Are your schools doing that? How are they trying to mitigate the AI issue?
Matt: Some teachers have been using AI detectors online, but the issue is, a lot of the time they’ll falsely accuse kids of cheating when they weren’t. The teacher put in a zero because it detected it as AI even though it wasn’t. So that tech needs to be improved a lot before it’s more widely used.
Ethan: I remember in eighth grade before the pandemic a scandal in my school of kids sharing Google documents—one teacher uncovered the entire thing. The school shut down and then everyone forgot about it. But there’s always going to be cheating; the teachers are choosing their battles. They’re looking for cheating during the test, but people definitely use AI and ChatGPT. There’s definitely cheating going on.
Rita: Are you all basically concurring with what’s been said?
Jack: I’m part of the Human Rights Club, and one of the big issues we talk about is ChatGPT and the use of AI. We’ve met with our principal and the board about how to implement AI in a positive sense. There’s never going to be a way around it. It’s out there, and the more we try to
Marisa: IHA does the same thing. We have Turn It In as well, so any assignments run through that. Also, our teachers use the programs that sense the AI generators. It’s not that common because we know you’ll get caught if you do cheat.
Asli: At my school we use Google Classroom, and on Google Classroom the teachers can choose to see if any plagiarizing is going on. When you’re about to turn in an assignment it allows you to scan your work, and it’ll tell you if there are online matches so you yourself can check if your work is similar. At my school during Covid, because we were all virtual, it was easy to cheat and cheating helped a lot of people get into higher classes. But when we all came back in person it wasn’t the same education. They no longer could cheat so it hurt them. But it’s a big problem at my school.
Shahd: Yeah, they cheat. They use ChatGPT, but they also use paraphrasing tools like ToolBot. That’s a common website. They either pay someone to do their essay and Toolbot it completely or they’ll use ChatGPT and paraphrase it using a paraphrasing tool and submit it. Some of our teachers also have that tool where they can check for plagiarizing on Classroom. I like that for myself because—I don’t use it a lot because it doesn’t sound like me, but whenever I do I find it’s somewhat similar to a lot of websites. It could also have some cons because they could use ChatGPT to make an essay and edit it to sound like themselves.
Rita: What do you guys do for fun?
Max: I definitely enjoy sports because it’s the two to three hours a day where I’m zoned out of life and just playing the sport I love for all my
“People are eager to get into prestigious colleges and Ivies, and a lot of people can’t risk a bad grade—or see it that way—so it’s accepted to cheat.”
life. It’s nice to have, knowing that for two or three hours a day there’s not a care in the world and I’m just having fun.
Shahd: I agree about sports, but when I’m not doing sports I like extracurriculars. I’m in the Debate Club. That’s one of my favorite clubs. It’s a good way to forget about school, but you’re also learning because we’re debating current events. When I’m not in school, if I’m not on my phone on social media—it’s not what I’m proud about, but some people go on social media to forget about school— what I recently started doing, especially with the pandemic, I started getting into reading. A lot of students should start doing it because it’s a good way to forget about the world.
Sasha: A lot of people I’ve talked to, and myself, are very serious about getting a lot of sleep. People try to prioritize sleep and balance that with academics, which makes people feel good and relaxed.
Marisa: Sports, extracurricular activities—we have great clubs and emphasize service. We have a service club and do volunteer hours. It’s a great way to give back to our community and have fun with the girls and teachers without worrying about homework.
Matt: Sports and hanging out with friends are good ways to relieve stress from school. Playing video games can help take your mind off things.
Gabby: I do sports, and every weekend my friends and I try to hang out. We do a movie or we do food nights and bring something to try. We did a board night and brought different boards. Someone will bring sushi, someone will bring a dessert.
Eleeza: With my softball team we do a lot of dinners and we hang out outside of sports. We also do board night and different dinners—that happens a lot.
Ethan: I play sports too, but outside of school I play basketball with my friends. I also write for the school paper, so that’s a nice break. We all write a lot of essays, but that’s pretty monotone. I write all articles but mainly sports, so it’s nice to write about something you find interesting. When I’m writing a game story I can add a little creativity.
Kayla: I’m in the French Club; I enjoy learning French. Outside of extracurriculars I like to—this sounds nerdy, but I like to reread my notes and make sure I understand them. Or
I go and organize things in my room to make sure everything is neat. Listening to music helps a lot too.
Asli: I feel like some people don’t look for the activities and don’t get involved. Sometimes we tend to overlook just how crucial they can be,
ing. But I’m part of my volunteer fire department and I find that to be—it’s a high-stress environment, but being there is a lot better.
Rita: So getting called to a fire— that relaxes you?
Jack: ’Cause you’re with people you trust. I trust my life with these people. They know what they’re doing,
Graicen: I’m part of the school’s varsity volleyball team, and I sail outside of school. I find it very therapeutic to get exercise and be out on the water, something very relaxing about that. Being in nature really helps recenter you. Also I enjoy the other clubs at school. Next year I’ll be editor of the Blueprint literary magazine and the president of the Balkan Slavic Cultural Society. Getting together with peers and doing something I’m passionate about helps relax me. Outside of school I also enjoy going to the mall, especially Riverside, maybe grab an iced coffee and catch a movie. Being with friends.
Rita: Where do you sail?
Graicen: I started sailing at my summer camp, and now I’m sailing with Roger Williams Camp this summer. Let’s hope it goes well [laughs].
Rita: Let’s talk about college. Do you worry about the cost, not getting into the school you hoped to get into? And what are you most looking forward to in terms of your college experience that you expect won’t be anything like high school?
especially ones that you love and fully invest yourself in. I love playing tennis, I love going on walks with my mom and spending time in nature—getting that Vitamin D really helps. My school has a Mock Trial team. Just finding activities that correlate with your passions is also important.
Jack: Sports are a big stressor for me, actually. I wrestle and play lacrosse, and I get stressed from my coaches. I don’t think it’s really relax-
Shahd: Comparing yourself with other students and not getting into the college you want to get into. There’s a lot of good colleges in New Jersey. I’m planning to stay in-state; the farthest I would probably go is New York City, because I’m not really big on dorming and neither are my parents, but I want to get into a good school. I feel like at my school they don’t teach us much about the application process. For juniors we used to have a class called Junior Seminar once a week. In the middle of the school year they shut it down because they didn’t think it was useful, but we were just starting to get into colleges. It really upset me that they took down the class because a bunch of upperclassmen thought it was perfect for applications and job résumés. I think schools should teach kids about college and things we may or may not expect. It’ll ease our worries as we become seniors and begin the application process.
Sasha: I feel very prepared for the college
“Social media can cause a lot of drama. Someone can post, ‘Hey, look what this person did!’”
process. A lot of my teachers go over what we need to do, and we started preparing for common applications. But the most daunting thing is rejection. I think it’s very human to fear rejection, and I think that’s nerve-racking. But also in my school, a lot of my teachers in AP classes teach to the curriculum, but they say in college it won’t be as strict to the curriculum. So I’m really excited, I guess, for that exploration, and to go beyond what my teachers are confined to because of curriculum. It’s nerve-racking but exciting.
Graicen: I feel AHA has prepared me for the college app process. You can’t remove the stress from it; it’s like a package deal. But throughout the year we’ve had meetings with our OACC counselors—Office of Academics and College Counseling. And they’re there to help us navigate through the application process. But the biggest stressor of the process itself is feeling like all the hard work you put into your grades and extra-curriculars is enough to get into the school that you want. Like Sasha said, rejection is a hard thing. But it can help you grow, and in the end you’re going to go where you’re meant to be. I think the objective is to find the college that is the best fit for you and not the other way around.
Rita: That’s a good point. Are you guys going to be heartbroken if you don’t get into a particular school? Have you already made decisions about where you really want to go?
Ethan: I completely agree with Graicen, There are schools I like more than others, but I know it’s what you make of the school. It’s what you do at the school that will determine if it’s right for you.
Marisa: At IHA, we have a good college counseling program. For me personally, the process has been different, because I wanted to get recruited to play sports. So I started June 15 of my sophomore year, and I toured schools all summer and my counselor was emailing me back and forth throughout the summer making sure I had all the requirements—which is not a part of her job at all, and she took the time out to help me and have my college résumé ready before I was even a junior. And then I was able to commit in November, so it all fell into place. Rita: So you already know where you’re going to be?
Marisa: Yes, I’m playing Division 1 golf at Quinnipiac, so I’m pretty excited. [Laughs, everyone claps.]
Rita: Congratulations! So what are you excited about that goes beyond your experience in high school?
Marisa: Ever since I started playing golf my dream was to play in college and seeing the years of hard work paying off. I think just being on the team will be really rewarding and fulfilling. Also, it has one of the best programs for the major I want to be in, so I’m excited to do all of that and the campus is beautiful and I’m just excited, not to be away from home [laughs] but to experience new things and new people but not be super far away.
Eleeza: It’s a combination of stress and excitement. I feel like my school doesn’t do that much of a great job preparing me for college. From hearing from seniors’ experience they were kind of on their own, and it stresses me out knowing I’ll be on my own too, figuring it out with my parents instead of my school. But once the stressful part is over and I’m committed, I’m excited to go to college.
Jack: As you said, I’m dead set on a school, so it would be disappointing if I don’t get in. But as far as college goes, I’ve always been very independent. A lot of the schools I’m looking at are in cities, so just having more independence and exploring a different place is what I’m excited for. The majority of the schools I’m looking for are in the Northeast, but most of them are out of New Jersey.
Kayla: I think Bergenfield does a pretty good job with the college process. I could probably go to my guidance counselor more often than I do to get help with it. But every year they have a mandatory meeting with your counselor to discuss your schedule next year, and when I had mine we discussed a lot about college. We got this little piece of paper—they called it a brag sheet— with everything you’ve ever gotten or won, leadership positions or sports you’ve played. She was explaining how that looks good for college.
Rita: Are you zeroed in on where you want to go and what you want to do?
Max: Obviously our country is huge and
there’s so many options, but I’m actually only applying to two schools. And it’s scary, but I want to major in aviation, and only a select few schools have it; there’s only 20 in the whole country, and I’m not allowed to go so far.
Rita: Aviation as in becoming a flier?
Max: Yeah, a pilot.
Rita: What about joining the military?
Max: I was not allowed. [Laughs.] So Kent State in Ohio, they have their own airport on campus. And certain hours a day you go out and fly with your teacher.
Graicen: I’m looking to major in biology or environmental science, a combination of both maybe, and probably minor in studio art. But I’m looking at colleges along the Northeast, maybe some by water if I get recruited for sailing. That will help with the environmental science side. But somewhere not in New Jersey but local to the Northeast.
Rita: You all sound very focused and have some exciting plans. Any closing comments?
Shahd: Just for everyone to do their best. Obviously, applying is stressful, but once you hit that final “submit” button, whatever happens happens. Just be proud of yourself for making it this far.
Rita: Exactly. Someone mentioned earlier ending up at the place where you’re meant to be. Focus on making the best of it and getting the most out of wherever you end up. You’re all going to do great. Thanks so much for joining us.
Editor’s note: Special thanks to Haley Longman and Darius Amos.
BERGEN asked members of its sixth High School Forum two questions for anonymous tallying rather than verbal responses:
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CONCERN AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT? Balancing academics with your social life: 6
The college application process as a whole: 4
Studying for and doing well on your SATs/ACTs: 2
DO YOU FEEL ACCEPTED BY YOUR PEERS?
Yes: 11
No: 0
Sometimes: 1
(Given the opportunity to elaborate, the “sometimes” respondent wrote—anonymously: “Although rarely, there are a few times when I feel a little excluded. However, it’s never that bad and it’s never intentional.”)
This season’s study dubs are guaranteed to keep you at the head of the class.
Whether you’re the one hitting the books this fall or you’re helping to dress a student in your life, your assignment is to find fresh-as-today garb that whispers, “I’m looking good without looking like I’m trying.” Catch the thread?
While others roam the halls in jeans, rock a denim skirt or dress, the perfect nod to the verymuch-in Y2K aesthetic. Head-to-toe denim is a major trend for the season, and a dress in the fabric is its perfect incarnation. Pair the dress with your favorite white sneakers, and keep boots in your backpack to dress it up after the bell rings. Denim TRF dress, Zara, Paramus, 833.247.2473.
Sure, this trend depends on your school’s dress code, but showing a little bit of torso never hurts. Though the cutout dress is a nod to the ’90s, modern silhouettes and styles make it a triumph for today’s fashion elite. Prefer to keep it covered in the classroom?
Top the mini dress with a cropped leather or denim jacket, and wear the look with sneakers to avoid too much leg. Cross of sunlight mini dress, Free People, Woodcliff Lake, 201.573.8212.
This basic is synonymous with fall, but it needn’t feel so basic. Try a sweater dress with horizontal stripes and style it with a belt or layer it under a button-up shirt. It’s a wise way to look put-together with minimal effort, which is ideal for those busy, sleepy school mornings.
Stripe mini sweater dress, Gap, Paramus, 201.843.5101.
Your strategy for looking chic and feeling comfortable—and vice versa? Cool cargos! Gen Z is gravitating toward this early-aughts look, but today’s utilitarian pants are chic-er, prettier and more practical. (Pssst—no generation actually has a monopoly on them!) Pair these pants with a simple tee or a blazer. And oh, the pocket possibilities! Nylon parachute pants, H&M, Paramus, 855.466.7467.
Since the pandemic, loungewear has become appropriate for everyday attire, and a matching set is an essential piece of one’s back-to-school wardrobe. Somehow these sets look smart and thoughtful, rather than like you just rolled out of bed. Neutrals take the chic factor up a notch, and elongate your body too. Alo Muse hoodie and Muse sweatpant, Alo, Paramus, 551.280.9022.
Even world travelers need a place to call home, a place to reflect on the treasures gathered along the journey of life. For a couple of Florida snowbirds, those treasures consisted of bright, engaging artwork—such as sentiment-infused postcards from their trips—and the real jewels, three grown children settled in the tri-state area. After deciding to shed their longtime home in Central Jersey and downsize, these empty nesters let the New York City skyline view steal their heart and help motivate their move to a high-
rise condo in Fort Lee, where an elevated floor optimizes the vista.
“They wanted a place convenient to Manhattan so they could go and see their adult children and have them stay with them,” says designer Susan Barbieri of the eponymous Hawthorne firm. “And they wanted an easier lifestyle.” She cites the 24hour doorman and the swimming pool among the ample amenities.
But with ’80s décor, the two-bedroom condo in the clouds needed an expert touch to reflect a transitional style, serve as a gallery for beloved paintings and accommodate the whole gang, including grandchildren, for good times at Grandma’s.
“We started with a clean slate,” Barbieri says of the project planned and executed over nearly a year starting in summer 2021.
To enhance the artwork, Barbieri relied on a neutral palette of primarily taupe, which found its complement in rich-maple-stained floors in most of the living space. Pops of color in blues, greens and, on occasion, the homeowner’s beloved red add interest. As accents, Barbieri introduced silver or nickel for a softer touch.
“We’re kind of moving away from gray as a design trend lately and more into taupe colors,” Barbieri says. The choice proved to be a hit with the homeowners.
On a shopping mission to source furniture that would be “easy to live with” and let the art shine, Barbieri and the homeowner
met their mark at Safavieh and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, as seen throughout the condo, while Capitol supplied most lighting.
The homeowners “have traveled extensively all over the world, and each place they went they picked up art, which has a lot of meaning to them personally, so it was very important to work that into the design scheme,” says Barbieri. Designing around art has its challenges, but she proved skillful at blending to keep traditional art from derailing a more modern motif.
Besides store picks, Barbieri tapped into the versatility of custom built-ins, each with its own job, such as a custom bar and living-room entertainment center. Creating a carefree lifestyle included remote-controlled fabric shades by Hunter Douglas throughout and dramatic kitchen countertops that look like granite but clean with quartz simplicity. But style is nothing without someone to share it with, and the dining room is more than ready to share with its expandable, stained natural-wood table and matching console teamed up with metal-studded chairs in a charming wood-leather-fabric combo. A crystal-accented chandelier and metallic, geometric-patterned Thibaut grass cloth (also in the foyer) add a touch of elegance around a table fit for a king and queen.
Situated party-perfect close to the dining area is the kitchen, designed by Barbieri according to a floor plan by contractor
This page: With vintage books and other clever finds, this shelving unit contributes color and character to the bedroom. Opposite: Carved out of the terrace, this seating area—made dramatic with abstract pops of blue—maximizes the breathtaking skyline view.
Rosolino Vilardi. Originally a wall blocked the flow between the two rooms, but Barbieri called for knocking it down for an effect that’s light and airy with a peninsula divider.
With no visual competition from soft white cabinets (upsized for extra storage) or stainless-steel appliances, a glass brick backsplash complements the cream, taupe and gray tones of the granite-like countertops for a wow factor. The pecan-based island with leather-look swivel chairs welcomes a quick cup of joe or an entire meal illuminated by crackled glass pendants. Spill that cola, no problem! Like the quartz, it gets clean with soap and water in a snap. “They wanted their family to feel comfortable here,” the designer explains.
The living room tells the same story, with easy-care fabrics on the neutral taupe sectional decked with paisley pillows for just the right degree of color. The understated wool rug and twin textured armchairs draw on blues and greens in hue harmony with the rest of the home. For entertaining ease, the taupe built-in is home base for TV and music needs. “A lot of the accessories, too, are from their world travels,” adds Barbieri, who flanked the built-in with metal wall art for a “modern edge” against more traditional paintings. A
drum shade fixture brings diffused light to the scene, where convenient tables introduce a variety of elements such as charcoal-toned wood and quartz.
Not paying the same homage to neutral as the rest of the rooms, the bedroom goes big with blue from the accent wall to the Bloomingdale’s bedding, which is vibrant against the gray velvet (washable, of course) headboard by Arhaus. Enclosing the terrace for two abstract-patterned twin chairs gave the couple an area “where they like to sit and have coffee and look out on the skyline,” Barbieri says. An aluminum ceiling fan and an open metal bookshelf deliver a touch of silver, while swing-arm nickel sconces over cream-colored nightstands illuminate a good read and a soft beige carpet beckons bare feet.
Barbieri did more than create a gallery for world travelers to showcase art. This is a home—even if it’s one for only six months of the year—and one designed always to be inviting for family and friends. It’s where spills can be overlooked, there’s always room for one more at the table and even the fabric shades work on command.
“It’s a really comfortable, easy-to-live in home, which is exactly what they wanted,” says the designer.
For the past few years, living in Woodcliff Lake has felt a lot like residing full time at the airport. “It’s like the planes are landing on the runway—and the runway is my house,” says Carlos Rendo, a resident of the borough and its mayor, who estimates that, during the day, those planes come roaring over his house every two to three minutes. Most of them are headed for Teterboro Airport, the 827-acre facility owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and they’ve become an increasing source of noise pollution for the Bergen County towns that surround the airport or sit beneath its flight paths.
With its abundant green spaces and a wealth of mature shade trees, Bergen is one of New Jersey’s most idyllic suburban spaces—if you’re wearing noise-canceling headphones. Blame it on population density or proximity to New York City, but whatever the cause, in 2017 the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics named Bergen
one of the seven noisiest spots in New Jersey. (The bureau based its conclusions on the amount and type of transportation and aviation that occurs in specific areas and the typical noise that arises from those two sources. ) And New Jersey is one of the loudest areas on the East Coast, so it’s easy to understand why many Bergen residents consider noise pollution a serious detriment to their quality of life—a detriment that became even more apparent during the pandemic, when so many of us were working from home.
Excessively loud noise is more than a nuisance; it can actually make you sick. Chinwe Idigo, M.D., a psychiatrist practicing in Teaneck, explains that, from an evolutionary perspective, our bodies are designed to be hyper-alert to noise, which can often signal danger (a tiger in the underbrush, for instance, or a herd of
marauding wildebeests). “It’s a survival function,” she says, “and when there’s constant noise, that process is always happening. We’re never truly able to be at peace when we’re surrounded by excessive noise.” That’s because noise pollution increases the production of the stress hormone cortisol, which plays a significant role in regulating sleep, blood pressure and energy levels. When cortisol levels are too high, they can lead to problems such as anxiety, depression, weight gain and sleep disturbances. They can also be a harbinger for serious physical problems, including stroke and heart attack. In fact, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital recently found that people who were exposed to constant transportation noise were more likely to suffer arterial inflammation and, within five years, major cardiac events.
The source of the noise is less important than its loudness and duration, though scientists have found that sudden bursts
Noise has become Bergenites’ almost constant companion, affecting our quality of life and the state of our health. Do we have to live with it?
of noise—an aircraft passing overhead, the intermittent pounding of construction machinery, repeated blasts from a leaf blower—can be even more detrimental to health than steady noise if they occur throughout the day. That on-and-off quality is typical of three of the most common sources of noise pollution in Bergen County: construction, leaf blowers and air traffic.
Anshuman Jain and his wife, Bharti, are painfully aware of the negative effects of noise pollution. The Glen Rock residents live less than 25 feet from the old Nabisco factory in Fair Lawn, which has been under demolition since January, and the construction (or, in this case, destruction) noise that begins at 7 a.m. and continues until 5:30 or 6 in the evening has seriously disrupted their day-to-day lives. “Every few seconds there is banging,” Jain says, “sometimes so bad that the whole house shakes. A couple of days back, my daughter’s toys fell from the shelf.” Jain says he complained to the authorities in Glen Rock, who directed him to the authorities in Fair Lawn, who told him that no work was being done near their house. (“Clearly indicating that the Fair Lawn Building Department is far from reality,” Jain says.) He’s reached out to both the developer and the contractor, to no avail. The couple work at home, so there’s no escape from the constant racket, which often wakes them in the morning—a grim reminder of what the rest of the day holds for them. They haven’t opened their windows in the past six months and can only use their backyard on Sundays, when the demolition pauses. The stress, Jain says, is making them sick.
Unlike airport noise, construction noise is, in theory, finite in duration. But that’s meager comfort when projects can go on for months and even years. As of this writing, the Nabisco demolition was slated to wrap up by the end of the summer, but after that, construction of a sprawling new warehouse is expected to be under way for close to two years.
In densely populated Bergen County, the likelihood that you’re going to be exposed, at some point, to construction noise is fairly high. If that happens, you can begin by determining what your local noise ordinance permits in terms of decibels, the standard measure of loudness. Mobile and computer apps will give you an approximation of decibel levels, or you can invest in a professional decibel meter for a more accurate reading. (Those decibels should be measured from your home, not from the source of the noise.) Most local ordinances prohibit noise above 50 decibels from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and above 65 during the day. (The noise from a jackhammer, for comparison, is 128 decibels; a leaf blower is 110 decibels.) If you find that you’re consistently being
exposed to noise above permitted levels, start by contacting local authorities. If that doesn’t yield satisfactory results, you can contact the Bergen County Department of Health Services, which provides support for local enforcement of noise ordinances.
Like a swarm of angry hornets, the leaf blowers descend on Bergen every spring and don’t recede until autumn fades into winter. Making things worse is the fact that most landscapers use gas-powered blowers, which aren’t just noisier than electric models but also more polluting. Three years ago, those facts spurred Westfield resident Lois Kraus to cofound Advocates for Transforming Landscaping in New Jersey (ATL-NJ), an advocacy organization working to phase out gas-powered blowers in the state. “It’s a quality-of-life problem, a public health problem, an environmental problem and a social justice problem,” she says, the last referring to the low-wage workers who man the equipment and often aren’t sufficiently protected against it. Over the past several years, three New Jersey lawmakers have introduced bills designed to require the state’s landscapers to switch to electric blowers, but none of the bills have made it out of committee. On the other hand, a few individual Jersey towns have banned leaf blowers either seasonally (Montclair, South Orange) or year-round (Maplewood, Princeton), and Kraus says that 10 towns in Bergen, including Glen Rock, “are exploring how to reduce noise pollution and the health, environmental and quality-of-life issues attributed to gas leaf blowers.”
If the blare of blowers in your neighborhood has become intolerable, Julie Kolehouse, a cofounder of ATL-NJ, advises advocating for change. As a start, she says, “reach out to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmentally Preferable Products Division.” Your message? “Demand,” suggests Kolehouse, “that they begin to offer battery/electric procurement specifications that landscape associations, municipalities, school districts and other entities can access to find guidance on the most cost-effective, quality battery/electric equipment platforms.” Until that happens, convincing landscapers and other entities to switch to electric could be well-nigh impossible. You can also express your concern about leaf-blower noise to New Jersey’s Noise Control Council. Try asking your landscaping service folk if they’d be willing to switch to electric or, if it’s feasible, hire an all-electric landscaping service such Outdoor Digs or D&R Landscaping. And, to make your views heard over the din, you can join ATL-NJ and/or Quiet Communities, a national anti-noise advocacy organization.
Audrey Herget has lived in the same house in Park Ridge for more than 25 years, and, she says, “I’ve never experienced air traffic like I’ve seen over the past year or two.” Other Bergen residents living in the 20-plus towns near the airport or along its flight paths have similar complaints. It could be, of course, that the increase in remote work has made people more aware of the traffic overhead. But it’s also true that the use of private jets has soared, thanks, in part, to the pandemic. In any case, Herget found the situation sufficiently intolerable that she and other Pascack Valley residents formed Taxpayers for Aircraft Noise Solutions (TANS), whose mission is to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and elected officials to find “reasonable solutions” to the growing problem. (A similar group, Teterboro Aircraft Noise Abatement Advisory Committee, or TANAAC, comprises the 15 towns within a 5-mile radius of Teterboro and operates under the aegis of the Port Authority.)
One of TANS’s first efforts has been to ask the FAA why a new approach to the airport, proposed by Hackensack officials a decade ago and approved by the FAA in 2021, is rarely being used. At the moment, Herget says, most flights to Teterboro fly up to the Pascack Valley, circle around to descend over the valley’s communities, and then land at Teterboro; the alternate path would take them over Route 17, a less populated area. Pilots have the option of taking the new path, but few have embraced it.
Bergenites aren’t alone in their frustration at aircraft noise. In 2021, the FAA released results from its first noise survey in three decades, which revealed that more people nationwide are bothered by aircraft noise than ever before. That’s likely because, cutbacks in travel during the pandemic notwithstanding, air traffic increased consistently from 2010 to 2019 and has been recovering strongly since 2021. Unfortunately, there’s little residents can do about the overall number of flights, and planes—along with fire signals, trains, road noise and church bells during services—are exempt from local noise ordinances. The best option for effecting meaningful change is to join with others lobbying for a change in regulations via organizations like TANS.
The one thing you can’t do about excessive noise is learn to live with it. Research has shown that people exposed to a perpetual din don’t habituate to noise; instead, their bodies become primed to react even more negatively to each succeeding onslaught of sound. Which means that taking action to reduce the constant cacophony of 21st-century life isn’t just a good idea; it’s a way to achieve better health and a better quality of life. Maybe even a longer life.
To
By Haley LongmanHistory tells us that this is where General George Washington set up a winter encampment in 1779–80. Known as “the military capital of the American Revolution,” Morristown was a strategic location for the Continental Army, which sought shelter here and created a farming and mining business. Today many historical landmarks remain in Morris County’s county seat, including Historic Speedwell, where the telegraph was born, and the Schuyler-Hamilton House (yes, named after that Hamilton). Get tickets at any of the museums including Washington’s Headquarters (near the Mayo Performing Arts Center), MacCulloch Hall Historical Museum and the Morris Museum, which has a hands-on, STEM-inspired exhibit called Spark!Lab that creative kids will love (not so historical, but educational nonetheless).
Historic Eats: Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen, an American-style pub whose historic décor pays homage to its location; the restaurant 1776 by David Burke, located in the heart of the Morristown Green with a name that celebrates—well, you know More info: morristourism.org
Back in the 17th century, Cape May was a hunting ground for the Lenape Indians. By the 18th, it was a budding shore resort for visitors coming north from Philadelphia, and as a result it’s been called the oldest seaside town in the United States. Now the hot, family-friendly attractions at this beach town include the Cape May Lighthouse, the nearby Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum (your aspiring pilots will love it!) and the Cape May Historic District, featuring more than 600 Victorian-era buildings, museums and quaint shops where you’ll undoubtedly be guilted into buying souvenirs.
Historic eats: Blue Pig Tavern, an American pub located within the iconic Congress Hall; The Magnolia Room at The Chalfonte Hotel, a multi-generational family business that has served Southern-style cooking since the hotel’s inception in 1876
More info: capemay.com
School’s out, but history’s very much “in” this summer at five fun travel destinations.
appreciate bygone eras, there’s nothing quite so dramatic as being in the actual places where key events occurred. Happily, there are several such locations in our area.
Historical landmarks and natural beauty combine in this quiet Hudson Valley town, immortalized in Washington Irving’s famous story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Literature aside, the town was an early resting spot for Dutch colonists in the 17th century. Flash-forward to the early 20th century, when John D. Rockefeller and other titans built mansions in the burgeoning town. Today, tourist highlights include Kykuit, aka the Rockefeller mansion, the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and Sunnyside, the estate (technically in nearby Irvington) that pays homage to Irving’s literary characters. And kids will get a kick out of the Headless Horseman Bridge and statue.
Historic Eats: Bridge View Tavern, with views of the Hudson and a beer garden; Hudson Farmer & Fish, for a New England-esque vibe and delectable seafood
More info: visitsleepyhollow.com
Civil War battlefields are scattered all over the South, but the most famous one is right here in the North—at Gettysburg. This is where Confederate General George Pickett led his 15,000 men on a charge that might have changed our continent forever (or so Dixie writers have long claimed) had it succeeded. Of course, the town— which today exudes 19th century charm along with a bit of hucksterism—was also the site of U.S. history’s most-remembered speech, Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. A must-see here is Gettysburg National Military Park, which includes the cemetery where the battle’s dead are buried, the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center and the actual battlefield—dotted with monuments erected in decades after the war that are themselves historically interesting. Go downtown for shopping and schmoozing (and selfie-taking at the Lincoln statue), and book a Gettysburg “Living History” tour on select days to watch as actors in costume reenact events of 1863, bringing the past to life.
Historic Eats: Dobbin House Tavern, a pub that’s as old as the United States; Farnsworth House Inn, a bed-and-breakfast offering a Civil War-era menu
More info: destinationgettysburg.com
It’s no surprise that one of the East Coast’s best aquariums is found in this seaside town, known as a shipbuilding center during the 18th and 19th centuries and still full of New England charm. Check out the Olde Mistick Village, an outdoor shopping mecca that recreates the 18th century, and see the works on exhibit at the Mystic Museum of Art. A visit to the famous Mystic Aquarium is a must, and nautical newbies and veterans alike will enjoy Mystic Seaport Museum, featuring a collection of sailing ships and boats.
Historic Eats: Captain Daniel Packer Inne, built more than 250 years ago; Engine Room, built in the Lathrop Marine Engine building with pub grub and views of the Mystic River. You can recall more recent movie history by getting a slice at Mystic Pizza, made famous by the 1988 film, but Julia Roberts won’t necessarily be there.
More info: thisismystic.com
These healthy sides are crowd pleasers that are quick to prep once you fire up the grill. They might even steal the show.
Yields 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
n 2 large artichokes
n 2 lemons
n 2 cloves of garlic minced
n cracked black pepper
n 1/4 cup olive oil
n 1/4 cup plain
Greek yogurt
n 1/4 cup mayo
n 1 Tbs. lemon juice
n 1 clove garlic minced
n kosher salt, to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Halve the artichokes. Using a tablespoon or other large metal spoon, scrape the fuzzy choke and purple leaves out and carefully shave the tough outer layer of the stem off.
Lay the artichoke halves on a baking sheet, cut side up. Rub them with a bit of the olive oil and press the two cloves of the minced garlic between the leaves. Squeeze the juice of both lemons, reserving one tablespoon for the sauce, into a bowl (save the lemon rinds) with the rest of the olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss the halves in the olive oil/lemon mixture.
Meanwhile, place the ingredients for the sauce in a food processor and blend until smooth. Remove to a small bowl and place in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld.
Preheat your grill to medium heat.
Place a large pot of water on the stove to boil. Once it boils add salt and the lemon rinds. Place the artichoke halves into the pot and boil for 20 minutes. Remove from the water, drain, and place back on the baking sheet.
Place the artichoke halves on the grill cut side down and grill, basting with the remaining olive oil mixture. Turn artichoke halves every five minutes until they begin to char. Remove from the grill. Top with the sauce.
To reduce the fat, sub in 4 Tbs. olive oil and 4 tsp. water for the ¼ cup of oil—this stretches the oil and still gives the flavor without the excess fat. You can also substitute ½ cup of plain Greek yogurt instead of the mayo, which boosts the probiotics and protein and reduces the fat content of the dish.”
—Stacey Antine, registered dietitian nutritionist, Healthbarn USA, Ridgewood
Yields 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
n 4 ears corn
n 2 Tbs. reducedfat mayonnaise
n 1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
n ¹/₈ tsp. chili powder
n 2 oz. crumbled cotija cheese
DIRECTIONS:
Heat grill to high. Soak corn in cold water, turning occasionally, 10 minutes. Transfer to grill. Cover; cook, turning, until husks are charred, 10 minutes. Remove.
Using a kitchen towel, pull back husks; remove and discard corn silks. Return corn to grill (with husks pulled back and off heat). Cover; cook, turning until kernels are charred in spots, 10 to 15 minutes.
Combine reduced-fat mayonnaise, lime juice and chili powder; brush on cooked corn. Dust with crumbled cotija cheese. Season.
Corn contains lutein, a carotenoid similar to vitamin A. Lutein is known for lowering the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. It’s also high in dietary fiber, which helps digestion and manages blood sugar levels.”
—Helen Sperber, registered dietitian nutritionist, Englewood
Will they enter a national mathematics competition? Lead the debate team to nationals? Discover their passion through the Gateway Honors Diploma program? An SRDS graduate is someone who’s had hands-on experiences. Who’s tried it all and found their niche. Who’s ready to take on the world.
Pre-K 3 to Grade 12
Saddle River, NJ • 201-327-4050
Ability School
Ability School of Englewood has been educating children in Pre-K through 8th Grade for nearly 40 years! Our 100% proficiency-based curriculum focuses on students as individuals and empowers them with the study tools they need for success. With small classes and a true sense of community, students enjoy hands-on, self-paced learning that allows them to achieve full mastery of their basics so they can apply what they’ve learned to real life. The school has rolling enrollment.
www.abilityschoolnj.org
Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels welcomes girls in Grades 6-12. Many AHA graduates go on to study at some of the nation’s best universities, earning high-ranking positions in medicine, government, law, education, public service, business, arts, and athletics. Students from various religious traditions enjoy this private Catholic school’s top-flight education, which emphasizes scholarship, character, leadership, and service.
315 Hillside Ave., Demarest, NJ | 201.768.7161 | www.holyangels.org
Bergen Catholic High School 1040 Oradell Ave., Oradell, NJ | 201.261.1844 | www.bergencatholic.org
Bergen Catholic is an independent four-year college preparatory school founded by Edmund Rice Christian Brothers, where boys become Christian gentlemen. BC provides rigorous academics, rewarding clubs, and championship athletics. In addition, The Brotherhood provides an unmatched network of support. BC is proud of our four-year, results-driven college counseling program. 91% of the Class of 2023 received a college scholarship, and the total scholarship amounted to $37.2 mm. Enrollment is selective.
Don Bosco
Don Bosco is a top-tier Catholic high school that offers a traditional college-preparatory liberal arts curriculum. We are a lifelong brotherhood led by Salesian values: a Home that welcomes; a School that prepares for life; a Parish where our values shape character; and a Playground where lasting friendships are formed. Our Excellence in the arts, athletics, business and engineering helped the Class of 2023 receive over $46.5 million in college scholarships.
492 N. Franklin Tpke., Ramsey, NJ | 201.327.8003 | www.donboscoprep.org
Dwight-Englewood
315 E. Palisade Ave., Englewood NJ | 201.227.3102 | www.d-e.org
Fairleigh Dickinson University
As a US News & World Report Regional Best and Best Value University, FDU is committed to affordability and a personal approach to learning. Through innovative and interdisciplinary programs including a resort-based Hospitality degree, an exclusive partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company, renowned FDU Health programs, Silberman College of Business, and accelerated credit programs for high school students, FDU prepares students for success. FDU is NJ’s largest private university with four campuses, 100+ majors, combined degree options, and D1 & D3 NCAA athletics.
www.fdu.edu
The Forum School is non-profit, state approved specialized school serving children with autism and related learning, language, behavioral, and social challenges who have not been successful in a public school setting. Our supportive approach to the challenges our students face provides opportunities for success. Here, children and young adults thrive in our atmosphere of care and dedication. Most students are placed by their school district and attend at no cost to parents.
Ave., Waldwick, NJ | 201.444.5882 | www.TheForumSchool.com
Immaculate Heart Academy
Immaculate Heart Academy, founded in 1960 as the first regional high school for girls in the Archdiocese of Newark, has as its mission to provide quality Catholic education to young women. As a college preparatory school, a strong theme throughout the curriculum and extracurricular activities is the development of the special gifts that our young women have to offer. IHA enjoys a reputation as an academic, artistic, and athletic powerhouse with one outstanding characteristic: the loving and supportive atmosphere that cultivates students’ growth.
500 Van Emburgh Ave., Township of Washington, NJ | 201.445.6800 | www.ihanj.com
A leader in N–8 education, The Elisabeth Morrow School personalizes learning for each child, cultivating their unique spark and innate creativity. Through an engaging project-based and inquiry-driven curriculum, our students connect their learning across subjects.
Contact our admissions team to learn how we inspire students to become curious scholars, ethical leaders, and global citizens and why our graduates are sought after by the most prestigious secondary day and boarding schools.
Est. 1930 | Serving students age 2–grade 8 elisabethmorrow.org | 201-568-5566 ext. 7212 435 Lydecker St., Englewood, NJ 07631
A weekly e-newsletter from the editors of BERGEN magazine!
An exclusive weekly peek into the people who are helping to shape the county, the places that are generating the most excitement (including restaurants, shops and hangouts) and the things that people from Allendale to Alpine are talking about.
Sign up now for your free weekly subscription at bergenmag.com bergenmag.com.
For sponsorship information, contact Tom Flannery at 201.571.2252 or thomas.flannery@wainscotmedia.com .
Mary Help of Christians Academy is a private, all-girls, Catholic preparatory school where students realize their potential and watch their passions come alive in a community committed to faith, Salesian tradition and excellence. Situated on over 16 acres, we offer dual enrollment with FDU and Seton Hall and comprehensive Athletics and Arts programs. Come see MHC Academy for yourself at our Fall Open House, Sunday, October 23. To register: www.maryhelp.org/ohreg/
659 Belmont Ave., North Haledon, NJ 973.850.7445 | www.maryhelp.org
Inspiring the Innovators, Thinkers and Leaders of Tomorrow. Under the leadership of Head of School Jalaj Desai, Saddle River Day School provides a robust curriculum and inspires students to achieve personal and academic excellence. The Lower School (Pre-K3 to grade 4) engages in yearlong project-based learning programs. The Middle School (grades 5–8) undertakes a yearlong Capstone Research project that is student directed with the guidance of a faculty advisor. The Honors Diploma Program is an elective program that is offered to Upper School students (grades 9–12) that combines independent study with a rigorous academic program and leadership/ internship positions. Saddle River Day also offers 24 advanced placement courses. “We provide the type of curriculum that sets our students apart when applying to colleges,” says Director of Admissions Geoff Bowman.
147 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Saddle River, NJ 201.327.4050, ext. 1108 gbowman@saddleriverday.org | www.saddleriverday.org
Sunday, Oct. 15 – 11 a.m.
Thursday, Oct. 19 – 6:30 p.m.
At IHA, girls learn in an atmosphere of academic excellence, athletic competition, artistic immersion, and Christian Service. The bonds they form here last a lifetime. Do you belong @theheart?
A leader in early education since 1930, The Elisabeth Morrow School personalizes learning for each child, cultivating their unique spark and innate creativity. Through an engaging project-based curriculum, students connect learning across subjects. Contact us to find out how — through initiatives in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM), including design studios and eighth-grade capstone projects — we prepare children to lead the way with innovative thinking, ready to make a difference in their world.
435 Lydecker St., Englewood, NJ 201.568.5566, ext. 7212 | www.elisabethmorrow.org
For 50 years, we’ve provided a safe, nurturing environment for children age 2 to grade 6 to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Our experienced staff utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to learning using individualized instruction, cooperative learning, and small group instruction. We offer traditional or Montessori preschool. Our elementary school covers TK/Kindergarten through grade 6 in small, mixed-age classrooms where students learn at a rate appropriate to their ability.
Challenging…Enriching…Engaging. Motivating your child to achieve his personal best.
Ave.,Mahwah, NJ | 201.327.3888 info@ywdschool.org | www.youngworlddayschool.org
•
•
IL VILLAGGIO 651 Rte. 17 N. 201.935.7733 ilvillaggio.com
CLIFFSIDE PARK 354 STEAKHOUSE 354 Lawton Ave. 201.941.0499
AVO’S GRILL
720 Anderson Ave. 201.945.9038 orderavos.com
RUDY’S RESTAURANT
591 Anderson Ave. 201.943.9252
SEDONA TAPHOUSE 679 Anderson Ave. 201.943.2300 sedonataphouse.com
VILLA AMALFI 793 Palisade Ave. 201.886.8626 villaamalfi.com
CLOSTER BRASSERIE MEMERE 107 Vervalen St. 201.660.8822 brasserie-memere.com
THE HILL 252 Schraalenburgh Rd. 201.899.4700 thehillcloster.com
*Editor’s note—Patrons are encouraged to confirm individual restaurant hours as well as policies regarding reservations and curbside service.
ALLENDALE
ALLENDALE BAR & GRILL
67 W. Allendale Ave. 201.327.3197 allendalebarandgrill.com
ALLENDALE
STEAKHOUSE 95 W. Allendale Ave. 201.962.9797 allendalesteakhousenj.com
MEZZA LUNA
96 W. Allendale Ave. 201.327.6556 mezzalunabistro.com
NIRVANA INDIAN KITCHEN
29 W. Allendale Ave. 201.818.2300 nirvanaindiankitchen.com
SAVINI 168 W. Crescent Ave. 201.760.3700 savinirestaurant.com
ALPINE KIKU 385 Rte. 9 W. 201.767.6322
BERGENFIELD
CHAPALA GRILL 52 S. Washington Ave. 201.387.2107
chapalamexican grill.com
NIHON KAI
41 S. Washington Ave. 201.384.3000 nihonkaijapanese.com
TOMMY FOX’S PUBLIC HOUSE 32 S. Washington Ave. 201.384.0900 tommyfoxs.com
BOGOTA
LUKA’S ITALIAN CUISINE
10 River Rd. 201.440.2996 lukasitaliancuisine.com
CARLSTADT BIGGIE’S
430 Rte. 17 S. 201.933.4000 biggies.com
LOCALE CAFÉ AND BAR 208 Piermont Rd. 201.750.3233 locale208closter.com
SEAR HOUSE 411 Piermont Rd. 201.292.4612 searhouse.com
STERN AND BOW 171 Schraalenburgh Rd. 201.750.3350 sternandbowrestaurant .com
CRESSKILL FARMHOUSE CAFE 15 E. Madison Ave. 201.266.8931 farmhousecafenj.com
HANAMI 41 Union Ave. 201.567.8508 hanamirestaurant.com
SAMDAN 178 Piermont Rd. 201.816.7343 samdanrestaurant.com
DEMAREST YASOU MYKONOS
134 Hardenburgh Ave. 201.768.8500 yasoumykonos.com
DUMONT DA MIMMO 132 Veterans Plz. 201.367.9648 damimmonj.com
FINK’S BBQ SMOKEHOUSE 26 W. Madison Ave. 201.384.3210 finksbbqsmokehouse.com
FOSCHINI’S 21 E. Madison Ave. 201.387.9998 foschinis.com
GRANT STREET CAFÉ 25 Grant Ave. 201.385.1705 thegrantstreetcafe.com
EAST RUTHERFORD AL DI LA 1 Hoboken Rd. 201.939.1128 aldilaitalianbistro.com
ANNABELLA’S HOUSE OF MOZZARELLA 900 Paterson Plank Rd. 201.804.0303 annabellasmozz.com
BLARNEY STATION PUB 258 Park Ave. 201.531.0001 blarneystation.com
CAFFÉ CAPRI 119 Park Ave. 201.460.1039 caffecaprirestaurant.com
EDGEWATER BAUMGART’S CAFÉ 59 The Promenade 201.313.3889 baumgartscafe.com
BROWNSTONE PANCAKE FACTORY 860 River Rd. 201.945.4800 brownstonepancake factory.com
DE NOVO EUROPEAN PUB 1257 River Rd. 201.496.6161 denovoeuropeanpub.com
FLEMING’S STEAKHOUSE 90 The Promenade 201.313.9463 flemingssteakhouse.com
GREEK TAVERNA 55 The Promenade 201.945.8998 greektavernausa.com
HAVEN 2 Main St. 201.943.1900 havenedgewater.com
ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE 15 The Promenade 201.366.4065 ophedgewater.com
PIER 115 115 River Rd. 201.313.2155 pier115barandgrill.com
REBECCA’S 236 Old River Rd. 201.943.8808 rebeccasedgewater.com
RIVER PALM TERRACE 1416 River Rd. 201.224.2013 riverpalm.com
ROBERTO’S II 936 River Rd. 201.224.2524 robertosii.com
SEAK 725 River Rd., #30 201.402.3400 seaknj.com
VIVA MARGARITA 163 Old Edgewater Rd. 201.917.5432 vivamargarita.com
Getting three squares a day has never been easier—Bergen County is home to a selection of restaurants diverse enough to satisfy all of your cravings.
ELMWOOD PARK
TAVERNA MYKONOS
238 Broadway 201.703.9200 tavernamykonos.com
ROYAL WARSAW 871 River Dr. 201.794.9277 royalwarsaw.com
EMERSON PIMAAN THAI 79 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.967.0440 pimaanthai.com
ENGLEWOOD AKAI LOUNGE 11 N. Dean St. 201.541.0086 akailounge.com
BAUMGART’S CAFÉ 45 E. Palisade Ave. 201.569.6267 baumgartscafe.com
BENNIE’S 54 E. Palisade Ave. 201.894.5700 benniesofenglewood.com
CASSIE’S 18 S. Dean St. 201.541.6760 cassiespizzeria.com
CZEN 36 N. Van Brunt St. 201.431.9199 czenrestaurant.com
HUMMUS ELITE 39 E. Palisade Ave. 201.569.5600 hummuselite.com
KHAO THAI CUISINE 4 E. Palisade Ave. 201.894.0344 khaothainj.com
LA FONDA PAISA 95 W. Palisade Ave. 201.871.3544 lafondapaisausa.com
LAS MARAVILLAS DE TULCINGO 84 W. Palisade Ave. 201.568.1980
NOCHES DE COLOMBIA 90 W. Palisade Ave. 201.567.4950 nochesdecolombia.com
PINTXO Y TAPAS 47 N. Dean St. 201.569.9999 englewoodtapas.com
ROSE’S OF ENGLEWOOD 126 Engle St. 201.541.0020 rosesplacenj.com
SOFIA 36 Engle St. 201.541.8530 sofiaenglewood.com
TANI SUSHI & ASIAN GRILL 44 E. Palisade Ave. 201.567.7888 taniofenglewood.com
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS BROWNSTONE PANCAKE FACTORY 717 E. Palisade Ave. 201.945.4800 brownstonepancake factory.com
CAFÉ ITALIANO 14 Sylvan Ave. 201.461.5041 cafeitaliano.net
CLIFFS STEAKHOUSE 18 Sylvan Ave. 201.944.0233 cliffssteakhouse.com
LEFKES ESTIATORIO 495 Sylvan Ave. 201.408.4444 lefkesnj.com
GRISSINI 484 Sylvan Ave. 201.568.3535 grissinirestaurant.com
FAIR LAWN ANTHONY’S COAL FIRED PIZZA 2101 Promenade Blvd. 201.796.2625 acfp.com
EMPRESS DINER 13-48 River Rd. 201.791.2895 empressdinernj.com
KIMCHI MAMA 7-09 Fair Lawn Ave. 201.703.2905 kimchimamafairlawn.com
OCEANOS OYSTER BAR & SEA GRILL 2-27 Saddle River Rd. 201.796.0546 oceanosrestaurant.com
RIVER PALM TERRACE 41-11 Rte. 4 W. 201.703.3500 riverpalm.com
ROSE’S PLACE 32-01 Broadway 201.475.8800 rosesplacenj.com
SAGE RESTAURANT 17-15 Broadway 201.797.0500 sagefairlawn.com
FAIRVIEW NOCHES DE COLOMBIA
172 Broad Ave. 201.840.8428 nochesdecolombia.com
PATSY’S 344 Old Bergen Blvd. 201.943.0627 patsysbistro.com
FORT LEE AQUARIUS 230-234 Main St. 201.592.8338 aquariusrestaurant nj.com
BAGGIOS 212 Main St. 201.585.7979 baggiospizzarestaurant. com
BIG RED TOMATO 1205 Anderson Ave. 201.224.6500 brtnj.com
CAP’T LOUI 210 Main St. 201.461.7080 captloui.com
CHILLERS GRILL 2191 Fletcher Ave. 201.461.0075 chillersgrill.com
IN NAPOLI 116 Main St. 201.947.2500 inapoli.com
KUBA RESTAURANT 2139 Hudson Ter. 201.585.1601 kubarestaurant.com
PHO TODAY
2151 Lemoine Ave. 201.585.8818
POMODORO 795 Abbott Blvd. 201.224.0800 pomodoro1.com
PRIME & BEYOND 501 Main St. 201.461.0033 primeandbeyond.com
PUNTA CANA 2151 Lemoine Ave. 201.849.5556 puntacanarestaurante.com
VENTANA’S 200 Park Ave. 201.583.4777 ventanasatthemodern.com
FRANKLIN LAKES
PAZZA 794 Franklin Ave. 201.848.5050 pazzanj.com
SUSHI COCORO 856 Franklin Ave. 201.560.1333 sushicocoro.com
GARFIELD THE FIREHOUSE 42 Plauderville Ave. 973.478.2226 firehouse-restaurant. com
GOODFELLAS 661 Midland Ave. 973.478.4000 goodfellasristorante.com
LA CAMBUSA 517 River Dr. 973.272.8739 cambusanj.com
LA FORTALEZA 361 Midland Ave. 973.928.4470 lafortalezamexrestaurant .com
GLEN ROCK
GLEN ROCK INN 222 Rock Rd. 201.445.2362 glenrockinn.com
STONE & RAIL 175 Rock Rd. 201.345.0709 stoneandrail.com
TANI SUSHI & ASIAN GRILL 206 Rock Rd. 201.612.1188 taniofglenrock.com
HACKENSACK CASUAL HABANA CAFÉ 125 Main St. 201.880.9844 casualhabanacafe.com
THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY
390 Hackensack Ave. 201.488.0330 thecheesecakefactory.com
THE CROW’S NEST 309 Vincent Ave. 201.342.5445 crowsnest.com
HOT FISH
450 Hackensack Ave. 201.881.0180 hotfishhackensack.com
HOUSTON’S 1 Riverside Sq. 201.488.5667 houstons.com
thelidorestaurant.com
LT BAR & GRILL 390 Hackensack Ave. 551.287.6333 ltbarandgrill.com
MAGGIANO’S LITTLE ITALY 70 Riverside Sq. 201.221.2030 maggianos.com
MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE 1 Riverside Sq. 201.487.1303 mortons.com
THE OCEANAIRE 175 Riverside Sq. 201.343.8862 theoceanaire.com
P.F. CHANG’S 390 Hackensack Ave. 201.646.1565 pfchangs.com
THE PICCO TAVERN 160 Prospect Ave. 201.880.8750 piccotavern.com
ROSA MEXICANO 60 Riverside Sq. 201.489.9100 rosamexicano.com
HARRINGTON PARK DONATELLA RISTORANTE 12 Tappan Rd. 201.767.4245 donatellasitalian. restaurant
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS BENSI 459 Rte. 17 S. 201.727.9525 bensihh.co
201.288.9338
IVY INN 268 Terrace Ave. 201.393.7699 ivyinn.com
SOFIA’S 220 Boulevard 201.462.0123 sofiasmediterranean grill.com
TOM YUM KOONG 305 Boulevard 201.288.3840 tomyumkoong.net
HAWORTH ALESSANDRO’S 157 Terrace St. 201.385.8544 alessandrosnj.com
ANDIAMO 23 Hardenburgh Ave. 201.384.1551 andiamorestaurant.net
NATUROLL SUSHI 165 Terrace St. 201.387.7655 naturollsushi.com
HILLSDALE THE CORNERSTONE 84 Broadway 201.666.8688 thecornerstonenj.com
DOMANI 387 Washington Ave. 201.722.8881 domanirestaurants.com
FIG & TOMATO 100 Park Ave. 201.722.8880 figandtomatoeatery.com
MATSU SUSHI & GRILL 140 Broadway 201.722.9388
OSSO BUCO
343 Broadway 201.664.1600 ossobucogrill.com
HO-HO-KUS
ALT EATS 622 N. Maple Ave. 201.444.1300 alteatscafe.com
CATCHY CAFÉ 614 N. Maple Ave. 201.445.6400 thecatchycaterer.com
HO-HO-KUS INN
1 E. Franklin Tpke. 201.445.4115 hohokusinn.com
HO-HO-KUS SUSHI CAFÉ 29 Sheridan Ave. 201.670.7677 hohokussushicafe.com
ST. EVE’S 611 N. Maple Ave. 201.857.4717 stevesnj.com
LEONIA CAFÉ MIGNON 332 Broad Ave. 201.292.1992
DANTE’S PLACE 373 Broad Ave. 201.592.9071 dantesplace.com
FONTANA TRITONE 248 Fort Lee Rd. 201.242.9040
LITTLE FERRY SEGOVIA STEAKHOUSE 217 Main St. 201.814.1100 segoviasteakhouse.com
LODI KAYA 334 N. Main St. 973.779.1128 kayalodi.com
REBAR & KITCHEN 132 Essex St. 201.368.8181 rebarkitchen.com
MAHWAH BAR & GRILL 2 Island Rd. 201.529.8056 allendalebarandgrill.com
NAGOYA 1007 MacArthur Blvd. 201.818.9933 nagoyacuisine.com
NONNA’S 11 Franklin Tpke. 201.529.1151 nonnasmahwah.com
ROXANNE’S 150 Franklin Tpke. 201.529.0007 roxannes restaurant.com
SANGRIA 1033 MacArthur Blvd. 201.962.3310 sangriamahwah.com
STATE LINE DINER 375 Rte. 17 N. 201.529.3353 statelinediner.com
MAYWOOD ANGELO’S GREEK TAVERNA 245 Maywood Ave. 201.845.4278 angelosgreektavernanj. com
MAYWOOD INN’S TWIN DOOR TAVERN 122 W. Pleasant Ave. 201.843.8022 twindoortavern.com
MONTVALE
DELPINO RESTAURANT 108 Chestnut Ridge Rd. 201.391.6866 delpinorestaurant.com
BELLISSIMO 12 S. Kinderkamack Rd. 201.746.6669 bellissimonj.com
FIRE & OAK 100 Chestnut Ridge Rd. 201.307.1100 fireandoak.com
GEN SUSHI & HIBACHI 14B Chestnut Ridge Rd. 201.930.9188 gensushimontvale.com
HEARTH & TAP CO. 125 N. Kinderkamack Rd. 201.307.6300 hearthandtap.com
YUKI 2 S. Kinderkamack Rd. 201.391.9877 yukimontvale.com
MOONACHIE BAZZARELLI 117 Moonachie Rd. 201.641.4010 bazzarellirestaurant.com
BISTRO 107 107 Moonachie Rd. 201.440.3339 bistro107nj.com
SEGOVIA 150 Moonachie Rd. 201.641.4266 segoviarestaurant.com
MADELEINE’S PETIT PARIS 416 Tappan Rd. 201.767.0063 madeleinespetit paris.com
OLAR NOSO 493 Tappan Rd. 201.402.9355
OAKLAND CENZINO 589 Ramapo Valley Rd. 201.337.6693 cenzinos.com
TROVATO’S DUE 4 Barbara Ln. 201.337.0813 trovatosduenj.com
YUKI 350 Ramapo Valley Rd. 201.337.8889 yuki-oakland.com
OLD TAPPAN BOSFA ITALIAN RESTAURANT 183 Old Tappan Rd. 201.649.8730 bosfaitalianrestaurant.com
PALISADES PARK SO MOON NAN JIP 238 Broad Ave. 201.944.3998 so-moon-nan-jip.com
PARAMUS BIAGIO’S RISTORANTE 299 Paramus Rd. 201.652.0201 biagios.com
SERGIO’S MISSIONE 2 Mercer St. 973.778.4545 sergiosmissione.com
LYNDHURST ANGELO’S 263 Ridge Rd. 201.939.1922
FOSCHINI’S BRICK OVEN PIZZA 298 Ridge Rd. 201.460.7600 foschinis.com
MICHAEL’S RIVERSIDE 528 Riverside Ave. 201.939.6333 michaelsriverside.com
MAHWAH JUN LUNG 180 Franklin Tpke. 201.529.9898 junlungnj.com
MAYWOOD PANCAKE HOUSE
92 W. Pleasant Ave. 201.880.7842 maywoodpancake house.com
THE SEAFOOD GOURMET 103 W. Pleasant Ave. 201.843.8558 seafood-gourmet.com
MIDLAND PARK ARTURO’S 41 Central Ave. 201.444.2466 arturos.co
FIONA’S RISTORANTE 118 Godwin Ave. 201.857.5800 fionasristorante.com
ROSARIO’S TRATTORIA 29 Central Ave. 201.445.3335 rosariostrattoriamenu.com
NEW MILFORD BARREL & BREW 872 River Rd. 201.483.3329 barrelandbrews.com
CASUAL HABANA CAFÉ 200 Main St. 201.576.0400 casualhabanacafe.com
SANZARI’S NEW BRIDGE INN 105 Old New Bridge Rd. 201.692.7700 sanzaris.com
NORTHVALE BIDDY O’MALLEY’S 191 Paris Ave. 201.564.7893 biddyomalleys.com
THE GREEK VILLAGE 254 Livingston St. 201.750.8570 greekvillagenj.com
THE CAPITAL GRILLE 1 Garden State Plz. 201.845.7040 thecapitalgrille.com
GRAND LUX CAFE 1 Garden State Plz. 201.909.0399 grandluxcafe.com
KIKU 365 Rte. 17 S. 201.265.7200
MANTRA 275 Rte. 4 W. 201.342.8868 mantranj.com
SUBURBAN DINER 172 Rte. 17 N. 201.261.2605 suburbandiner17.com
PARK RIDGE 103 PRIME AT VALENTINO’S 103 Spring Valley Rd. 201.391.2220 103prime.com
ESTY STREET
86 Spring Valley Rd. 201.307.1515 estystreet.com
THE PARK STEAKHOUSE 151 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.930.1300 theparksteakhouse.com
PEPPERCORNS
176 Colony Ave. 201.391.2818 peppercorns176.com
RIDGE DINER 125 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.391.4242 ridgediner.com
RAMSEY ANTHONY FRANCO’S 128 E. Main St. 201.236.8000 afpizza.com
BRADY’S AT THE STATION
5-7 W. Main St. 201.327.9748 bradysatthestation.net
CAFÉ PANACHE 130 E. Main St. 201.934.0030 cafepanachenj.com
KINCHLEY’S TAVERN
586 N. Franklin Tpke. 201.934.7777 kinchleyspizza.com
THE SHANNON ROSE 1200 Rte. 17 201.962.7602 theshannonrose.com
SMYRNA 21 E. Main St. Ramsey 201.934.7990
TAWARA 53 W. Main St. 201.825.8712
VARKA ESTIATORIO 30 N. Spruce St. 201.995.9333 varkarestaurant.com
RIDGEFIELD CAFÉ TIVOLI 533 Shaler Blvd. 201.941.5561 cafetivoli.com
KARDEN 630 Broad St. 201.699.0988 karden630.com
RIDGEFIELD PARK MK VALENCIA 228 Main St. 201.373.0228 mkvalenciarestaurant.com
THAI PALACE 218 E. Main St. 201.441.9119 thaipalacenj.com
RIDGEWOOD CAFE 37
37 S. Broad Ave. 201.857.0437 cafe-37.com
CRAVINGS TAPAS BISTRO
8 Wilsey Sq. 201.857.8533 cravingstapas.com
DELHI ACCENT 37 Chestnut St. 201.444.4910 delhiaccentnj.com
FELINA 54 E. Ridgewood Ave. 551.276.5454 felinarestaurant.com
GREEN FUSION 22 Oak St. 201.670.7502 greenfusionnj.com
IT’S GREEK TO ME 21 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.612.2600 itsgreektome.com
LA LANTERNA 29 W. Ridgewood Ave. 201.444.5520 lalanternaof ridgewood.com
LATOUR 6 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.445.5056 latourridgewood.com
LISA’S MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE 28 Oak St. 201.251.8686 lisasmediterranean cuisine.net
PARK WEST TAVERN 30 Oak St. 201.445.5400 parkwesttavern.com
PEARL 17 S. Broad St. 201.857.5100 pearlridgewood.com
RAYMOND’S 101 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.445.5125 raymondsnj.com
ROOTS 17 Chestnut St. 201.444.1922 rootssteakhouse.com
S. EGIDIO 17 N. Broad St. 201.389.3525 segidiopizza.com
STEEL WHEEL TAVERN 51 N. Broad St. 201.882.1800 steelwheeltavern.com
VILLAGE GREEN
36 Prospect St. 201.445.2914 villagegreenrestaurant.com
WHITE MAPLE CAFÉ 47 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.447.1953 whitemaplecafe.com
RIVER EDGE MADO RESTAURANT 570 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.265.3629 madorestaurant.business. site
SANDUCCI’S 620 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.599.0600 sanduccis.com
RIVER VALE AMMATA THAI KITCHEN 184 Rivervale Rd. 201.664.2299 ammata.com
ARMANDO’S GRILL 688 Westwood Ave. 201.722.5820 armandostuscangrill.com
LET’S MEAT STEAKHOUSE 625 Rivervale Rd. 201.660.7960 letsmeatsteakhouse.com
ROCHELLE PARK NANNI 53 W. Passaic St. 201.843.1250 nanni.com
RUTHERFORD CAFÉ MATISSE 167 Park Ave. 201.935.2995 cafematisse.com
FINCH’S 801 Rutherford Ave. 201.231.3141 finchsdining.com
PAISANO’S 132 Park Ave. 201.935.5755 paisanos.com
THE RISOTTO HOUSE 88 Park Ave. 201.438.5344 therisottohouse.com
VOLARE’S 7 Station Sq. 201.935.6606 volaresrestaurant.com
SADDLE BROOK
MIDLAND BREW HOUSE 374 N. Midland Ave. 201.797.0070 midlandbrewhouse.com
QUE PASTA 326 Market St. 201.712.1900 qpitalian.com
THE PLANK PIZZA CO. BEER PARLOR 383 Market St. 201.843.2426
SADDLE RIVER
THE SADDLE RIVER INN 2 Barnstable Ct. 201.825.4016 saddleriverinn.com
TEANECK AMARONE 63 Cedar Ln. 201.833.1897 amaroneristorante.net
B V TUSCANY 368 Cedar Ln. 201.287.0404 bvtuscany.com
ETC. STEAKHOUSE 1409 Palisade Ave. 201.357.5677 etcsteakhouse.com
NOAH’S ARK 493 Cedar Ln. 201.692.1200 noahsark.net
REGINA’S 827 Teaneck Rd. 201.862.1996 reginassteakhouse andgrill.com
TENAFLY AXIA TAVERNA 18 Piermont Rd. 201.569.5999 axiataverna.com
BRASSERIE 4 Washington St. 201.266.6400 tenaflybrasserie.com
SAYOLA
50 Prospect Ter. 201.871.2182 sayolarestaurantnj.com
TPR RESTAURANT
38 W. Railroad Ave. 201.871.0444 tprrest.com
WALDWICK ANDREA’S RISTORANTE
20 E. Prospect St. 201.670.0275 andreasrestaurant nj.com
LIMONCELLO 32 Franklin Tpke. 201.652.5577 limoncellonj.com
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP BACARI GRILL 800 Ridgewood Rd. 201.358.6330 bacarigrill.com
WESTWOOD CAFFÉ ANELLO 11 Madison Ave. 201.786.8137 caffeanello.com
DOWNTOWN DHABA 266 Center Ave. 201.664.0123 dhabadowntown.com
THE IRON HORSE 20 Washington Ave. 201.666.9682 theironhorse.com
KIMCHI SMOKE 301 Center Ave. 201.497.6333 kimchismoke.com
OSTERIA CRESCENDO 36 Jefferson Ave. 201.722.1900 osteriacrescendo.com
PHOENICIAN LOUNGE 284 Center Ave. 201.722.8600 phoenicianlounge.com
WOODCLIFF LAKE BAREBURGER 455 Chestnut Ridge Rd. 201.746.9275 bareburger.com
WOOD-RIDGE AL TORO 187 Hackensack St. 862.243.3850 al-toro-restaurant-bar. negocio.site
WYCKOFF ALDO’S 640 Wyckoff Ave. 201.891.2618 aldosofwyckoff.com
BENARES 327 Franklin Ave. 201.904.2222 benaresnj.com
BLUE MOON CAFÉ 327 Franklin Ave. 201.891.1331 bluemoonmexicancafé.com
T.S. MA CHINESE CUISINE 637 Wyckoff Ave. 201.891.8878 tsmachinesecuisine.com
WYCKOFF THAI 314 Franklin Ave. 201.485.8855 wyckoffthai.com
EMERSON EMERSON HOTEL 31 Emerson Plaza E. 201.262.7557 emersonhotelrestaurant. com
ENGLEWOOD CZEN 36 N. Van Brunt St. 201.431.9199 czenrestaurant.com
PLAYA BOWLS 38 E. Palisade Ave 201.928.7788
SOFIA 36 Engle St. 201.541.8530 sofiaenglewood.com
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS
CAFÉ ITALIANO 14 Sylvan Ave. 201.461.5041 cafeitaliano.net
ALLENDALE
ALLENDALE BAR & GRILL 67 W. Allendale Ave. 201.327.3197 allendalebarandgrill.com
FINO 114 W. Allendale Ave. 201.995.1100 fnoristorantenj.com
SAVINI RESTAURANT 168 W. Crescent Ave. 201.760.3700 savinirestaurant.com
BERGENFIELD
TOMMY FOX’S PUBLIC HOUSE 32 W. Washington Ave. 201.384.0900 tommyfoxs.com
CARLSTADT
SEGOVIA MESON 645 Washington Ave. 201.896.3260 segoviameson.com
BIGGIE’S 430 Rte. 17 201.933.4000 biggies.com
CLIFFSIDE PARK
VILLA AMALFI 793 Palisades Ave. 201.886.8626 villaamalfinj.com
354 STEAKHOUSE 354 Lawton Ave. 201.941.0499 354steakhouse.com
CLOSTER BRASSERIE MEMERE 107 Vervalen St. 201.660.8822 brasserie-memere.com
THE HILL 252 Schraalenburgh Rd. 201.899.4700 thehillcloster.com
STERN & BOW 171 Schraalenburgh Rd. 201.750.3350 sternandbowrestaurant.com
LOCALE RESTAURANT & BAR 208 Piermont Rd. 201.750.3233 locale208closter.com
SEAR HOUSE 411 Piermont Rd. 201.292.4612 searhouse.com
CRESSKILL JACK’S LOBSTER SHACK 38 Union Ave. 201.266.6575 jackslobstershack.com
DEMAREST YASOU MYKONOS 134 Hardenburgh Ave. 201.768.8500 yasoumykonos.com
DUMONT TRI-VALLEY RESTAURANT 366 Knickerbocker Dr. 201.384.5044 trivalleyfamilyrestaurant. com
EAST RUTHERFORD CANDLEWYCK DINER 179 Paterson Ave. 201.933.4446 candlewyckdiner.com
ELIA MEDITERRANEAN 240 Hackensack St. 201.939.9292 elianj.com
VESTA WOOD FIRED 64 Hoboken Rd. 201.939.6012 vestawoodfired.com
EDGEWATER
BAUMGART’S CAFÉ 59 The Promenade 201.313.3889 baumgartsedgewater.com
JACK’S LOBSTER SHACK 1040 River Rd. 201.233.2808 jackslobstershack.com
FLEMING’S STEAKHOUSE 90 The Promenade 201.313.9463 flemingssteakhouse.com
DE NOVO EUROPEAN PUB 1257 River Rd. 201.496.6161 denovoeuropeanpub.com
GREEK TAVERNA 55 The Promenade 201.945.8998 greektavernausa.com
HAVEN RIVERFRONT RESTAURANT & BAR 45 River Rd. 201.943.1900 havenedgewater.com
PIER 115 BAR & GRILL 115 River Rd. 201.313.2155 pier115barandgrill.com
REBECCA’S 236 Old River Rd. 201.943.8808 new.rebeccasedgewater. com
RIVER PALM TERRACE 1416 River Rd. 201.224.2013 riverpalm.com
SEAK 725 River Rd., #30 201.402.3400 seaknj.com
ELMWOOD PARK
BLUE 42 RESTAURANT & BAR 158 Market St. 201.773.0970 blue42bar.com
FRANKLIN LAKES PAZZA 794 Franklin Ave. 201.848.5050 pazzanj.com
GARFIELD THE HEARTH TAVERN 791 Midland Ave. 201.402.0155 thehearthtavern.com
GLEN ROCK THE GLEN ROCK INN 222 Rock Rd. 201.445.2362 glenrockinn.com
STONE & RAIL 175 Rock Rd. 201.345.0709 stoneandrail.com
LEFKES 495 Sylvan Ave. 201.408.4444 lefkesnj.com
FAIR LAWN ADA MEDITERRANEAN BRASSERIE 14-25 Plaza Rd. 201.791.2222 adamedigrill.com
DUTCH HOUSE TAVERN 24-07 Fair Lawn Ave. 201.796.5342 dutchousetavern.com
JUANY’S CAFE & GRILL 12-56 River Rd. 551.224.8030 orderjuanys.com
OCEANOS OYSTER BAR & SEA GRILL 2-27 Saddle River Rd. 201.796.0546 oceanosrestaurant.com
THE RAILYARD TAVERN 14-26 Plaza Rd. 201.773.3372 therailyardtavern.com
FORT LEE
BAGGIOS 212 Main St. 201.585.7979
CHILLERS GRILL 2191 Fletcher Ave. 201.461.0075 chillersgrill.com
VENTANAS AT THE MODERN 200 Park Ave. 201.583.4777 ventanasatthemodern.com
HACKENSACK ALEMENTARY BREWING CO. 58 Voorhis Ln. 201.968.1290 alementary.com
CASUAL HABANA CAFÉ 125 Main St. 201.880.9844 casualhabanacafe.com
THE PICCO TAVERN 160 Prospect Ave. 201.880.8750 piccotavern.com
TRUE FOOD KITCHEN 390 Hackensack Ave. 201.489.2212 truefoodkitchen.com
HARRINGTON PARK CORK & CRUST 90 La Roche Ave. 201.367.1550 corkandcrustrestaurant.com
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS IVY INN 268 Terrace Ave. 201.393.7699 Ivyinn.com
THE HEIGHTS BAR & GRILL 163 Blvd. 201.288.9338 heightsbarandgrill.com
HAWORTH ANDIAMO 23 Hardenburgh Ave. 201.384.1551 andiamorestaurant.net
HILLSDALE THE CORNERSTONE 84 Broadway 201.666.8688 thecornerstonenj.com
HO-HO-KUS
ALBERT’S CAFE AMICI 4 Sycamore Ave. 201.389.6377 albertscafeamici.com
ALT EATS CAFÉ 622 N. Maple Ave. 201.444.1300 alteatscafe.com
HO-HO-KUS INN & TAVERN
1 E. Franklin Tpk. 201.445.4115 hohokusinn.com
ST. EVE’S 611 N. Maple Ave. 201.857.4717 stevesnj.com
LEONIA
DANTE’S PLACE 373 Broad Ave. 201.592.9071 dantesplace.com
LITTLE FERRY
SEGOVIA STEAKHOUSE 217 Main St. 201.814.1100 segoviasteakhouse.com
LODI
REBAR AND KITCHEN 132 Essex St. 201.368.8181 rebarkitchen.com
LYNDHURST
MICHAEL’S RIVERSIDE 201.939.6333 michaelsriverside.com
MAHWAH
ROXANNE’S RESTAURANT 150 Franklin Tpke. 201.529.0007 roxannesrestaurant.com
SANGRIA 1033 Macarthur Blvd. 201.962.3310 sangriamahwah.com
MAYWOOD
ANGELO’S GREEK
TAVERNA 245 Maywood Ave. 201.845.4278 angelosgreektaverna.com
TWIN DOOR TAVERN
122 W. Pleasant Ave. 201.843.8022 twindoortavern.com
MIDLAND PARK
FIONA’S RISTORANTE
118 Godwin Ave. 201.857.5800 fionasristorante.com
MONTVALE BELLISSIMO
12 S. Kinderkamack Rd. 201.746.6669 bellissimonj.com
HEARTH & TAP CO.
125 N. Kinderkamack Rd. 201.307.6300 hearthandtap.com
MOONACHIE BAZZARELLI 117 Moonachie Rd. 201.641.4010 bazarellirestaurant.com
NEW MILFORD
BARREL & BREW 872 River Rd. 201.483.3329 barrelandbrews.com
PANCHO’S BURRITOS 214 Main Street 201.225.2554 panchosburritostogo.com
SANZARI’S NEW BRIDGE INN 105 Old New Bridge Rd. 201.692.7700 sanzaris.com
NORTHVALE BIDDY O’MALLEY’S 191 Paris Ave. 201.564.7893 biddyomalleys.com
MADELEINE’S PETITE PARIS 416 Tappan Rd. 201.767.0063 madeleinespetitparis.com
OAKLAND PORTOBELLO’S 175 Ramapo Valley Rd. 201.337.8990, ext. 1 portobellonj.com
SEGOVIA TAVERN 110 W. Oakland Ave. 201.644.0003 segoviatavern.com
ORADELL CALABRIA PIZZA
239 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.523.9228 calabriapizzaoradell.com
PARK RIDGE 103 PRIME AT VALENTINO’S 103 Spring Valley Rd. 201.391.2220 103prime.com
ESTY STREET 86 Spring Valley Rd. 201.307.1515 estystreet.com
PEPPERCORNS 176 Colony Ave. 201.391.2818 peppercornsparkridge.com
THE PARK STEAKHOUSE
151 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.930.1300 theparksteakhouse.com
PARAMUS BIAGIO’S
299 Paramus Rd. 201.652.0201 biagios.com
MILLER’S ALE HOUSE
270 Rte. 4 201.342.4800 millersalehouse.com
THE ORANGE LANTERN 15 E. Firehouse Ln. 201.652.4443 orangelantern.com
RAMSEY BICI
61 E. Main St. 201.962.9015 biciramsey.com
BRADY’S AT THE STATION
5-7 W. Main St. 201.327.9748 bradysatthestation.net
CAFÉ PANACHE
130 E. Main St. 201.934.0030 cafepanachenj.com
LAKESIDE GRILLE & BAR 105 Lakeside Dr. 201.327.0009 ramseycountryclub.com
THE SHANNON ROSE IRISH PUB
1200 Rte. 17 North 201.962.7602 theshannonrose.com
VARKA ESTIATORIO
30 N. Spruce St. 201.995.9333 varkarestaurant.com
RIDGEWOOD BAREBURGER
15 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.345.4207 bareburger.com
CRAVINGS TAPAS
8 Wilsey Sq. 201.857.8533 cravingstapas.com
IT’S GREEK TO ME 21 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.612.2600 Itsgreektome.com
FELINA
54 E. Ridgewood Ave. 551.276.5454 felinarestaurant.com
LA LANTERNA CAFE & GRILL
29 W. Ridgewood Ave. 201.444.5520 lalanternaofridgewood.com
PARK WEST TAVERN 30 Oak St. 201.445.5400 parkwesttavern.com
PEARL 17 S. Broad St. 201.857.5100 pearlridgewood.com
S. EGIDIO 17 N. Broad Street 201.389.3525 segidio.pizza
STEEL WHEEL TAVERN 51 N. Broad St 201.882.1800 steelwheeltavern.com
TITOS’S BURRITOS AND WINGS 166 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.857.4619 titosburritos.com
WHITE MAPLE CAFÉ 47 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.447.1953 whitemaplecafe.com
RIVER EDGE
SANDUCCI’S TRATTORIA 620 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.599.0600 sanduccis.com
RIVER VALE CHERRY BROOK
RESTAURANT & BAR 660 Rivervale Rd. 201.391.2300 rivervalecc. com
CRECCO’S CAFÉ
649 Westwood Ave. 201.664.7200 creccoscafe.com
LET’S MEAT STEAKHOUSE 625 Rivervale Rd. 201.660.7960 letsmeatsteakhouse.com
RUTHERFORD CAFÉ MATISSE 167 Park Ave. 201.935.2995 cafematisse.com
MAMBO EMPANADAS 313 Union Ave. 201.933.3888 mamboempanadas.com
SADDLE BROOK THE PLANK PIZZA PARLOR 383 Market St. 201.843.2426 ppcbp.com
MIDLAND BREW HOUSE 374 N. Midland Ave 201.767.0070 midlandbrewhouse.com
TEANECK AMARONE 63 Cedar Ln. 201.833.1897 amaroneristorante.net
LA CUCINA DI NAVA 192 A. W. Englewood Ave. 201.326.8102
TENAFLY AXIA TAVERNA 18 Piermont Rd. 201.569.5999 axiataverna.com
SAYOLA RESTAURANT 50 Prospect Ter. 201.871.2182 sayolarestaurant.com
WALDWICK W’S VILLAGE GRILLE 71 Crescent Ave. 201.670.8200 villagegrillewaldwick.com
WALLINGTON AGAVE COCINA MEXICANA 32 Locust Ave. 973.246.8531 agavecocina.com
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP DOG HOUSE SALOON & GRILL 270 Pascack Rd. 201.722.1820 thedoghouse saloonandgrill.com
WESTWOOD PHOENICIAN LOUNGE 284 Center Ave. 201.722.8600 bibizlounge.com
CAFFE ANELLLO 11 Madison Ave. 201.786.8137 caffeanello.com
HANAMI RESTAURANT 301 Center Ave. 201.666.8508 hanamirestaurant.com
OSTERIA CRESCENDO 36 Jefferson Ave. 201.722.1900 osteriacrescendo.com
THE IRON HOUSE 20 Washington Ave. 201.666.9682 theironhorse.com
FARMHOUSE CAFE 301 Center Avenue 201.664.8424 farmhousecafenj.com
WESTWOOD PRIME MEATS 190 Westwood Ave. 201.664.0069 westwoodprimemeats.com
WOODCLIFF LAKE BAREBURGER 455 Chestnut Ridge Rd. 201.746.9275 bareburger.com
WYCKOFF THE BARN ORIGINAL 359 Sicomac Ave. 201.848.0108 thebarnoriginal.com
CAFÉ AMICI 315 Franklin Ave. 201.848.0198 cafeamiciwyckoff.com
Downtown Bergenfield is lined with an assortment of mom-andpop retailers, tech shops, chain pharmacies and grocers along with ethnically diverse bakeries and eateries. It’s certainly walkable, but unless you’re up for trekking two miles to get from one end of Washington Avenue to the other, the main drag is better experienced by car.
It was a steamy afternoon when a friend and I visited The Cuban Around the Corner, which recently opened a few blocks from the busiest part of town. The restaurant has its own parking lot; thus there was no need to parallel park or fumble with parking apps.
The trip got even better inside, where our wonderful host welcomed us into an expansive and ornately decorated dining room. As our eyes shifted back and forth from the display of blue-and-white ceramics in the middle of the room to the menu, our server recommended his favorite appetizers.
We started with tostones rellenos, fried plantain cups topped with the restaurant’s signature ropa vieja. The shredded beef had plenty of flavor thanks to the sofrito sauce and peppers. It wasn’t too runny, either, making each bite easy, clean and delicious. Our second app was chicharrones—Cuban-style, deepfried pork belly. Different cultures serve their own versions of this plate, but the Cuban iteration is top-notch. The meaty bits were juicy, while the fatty parts had the ideal melt-in-your-mouth quality.
I toyed with the idea of steak for my main course, but ultimately turned my attention to the pork dishes. Cubans are highly regarded for their kitchen creativity with pork, so I knew I was in for a treat. After a long discussion with our server about the Lacón entrée (smoked ham shoulder with cho -
rizo) and its high level of saltiness, I ordered pernil. Cuban Around The Corner’s iteration of this classic dish comes with a sizable portion of slow-roasted pork shoulder with garlic mojo sauce. The meat was tender and juicy, while the crispy skin had just enough fat underneath to create a flavor party in my mouth.
My friend, meanwhile, went with the churrasco, the steak dish I’d considered. The traditional Cuban skirt steak was marinated thoroughly in garlic mojo sauce, had wonderful pan-searing marks and came with a generous amount of congri rice. These factors scored major points, but the dish had a few demerits. My friend requested medium-rare for her steak, but the portion as served was rare. Also, a steak knife wasn’t available, so she was forced to cut pieces using a mildly serrated spreading knife. A third misfire was the slow delivery of her fried plantain side dish, which she received as we were midway through our meal and only after reminding our server.
There were no hiccups with dessert. My arroz con leche, a Cubanstyle bread-and-rice pudding, had just the right amount of sweetness to tame my palate after a savory, pork-filled dinner. My friend equally enjoyed the Cuban flan, a modestsized slice of crème caramel pudding. She noted that Cuban Around the Corner’s flan was firmer than others she’d tried, but that did not detract from the taste.
In a town filled with pub grub, Asian cuisine and American classics, finding an authentic Cuban restaurant was a delight. As it’s not in the main part of downtown, Cuban Around the Corner may be a driving, rather than a strolling, destination, but the food is worth the trip.
—Darius Amos
BluePearl Pet Hospital - Paramus offers you and your family veterinarian peace of mind knowing that exceptional 24/7 emergency pet care is close to home. We also provide a variety of specialty care services by appointment.
We are a team of certified, veterinarian-recommended, POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, dog trainers and behavior consultants who welcome all breeds, ages, and behavior issues. We help you achieve your training & behavior goals with kind, practical, fully-customized programs designed around your dog’s unique nature. Our mission is helping you and your dog live a happier life together.
Instinct Englewood • 240 Humphrey St., Englewood, NJ 07631 • 201-627-0066
Instinct Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA 19102 • 215-375-7755
Instinct Jersey Shore • South Jersey, NJ 07719 • 732-387-5880
www.instinctdogtraining.com
SAILING CLASSROOM Center!
children ages 9 and morning (10 afternoon (5–7 the Hudson learn about sailing fishing. Attendees their own beverages. Admission $75 for and $125 for an adult/child combo. Learn more and register now at tenaflynature center.org.
AUG. 9 & 16
Bergen County has its own Shakespeare in the Park that rivals Manhattan’s annual New York City event. Our version is hosted by the Hackensack Department of Cultural Arts at Atlantic Street Park, where actors will perform SHAKESPEARE’S CLASSIC TRAGEDY
OTHELLO There are two showtimes: Aug.
AUG. 19
Getting some exercise in with gorgeous views of the Hudson?
The INTERSTATE
17 TRAIL RUN really
Participants will be running a 4-mile loop four times at the State Line Lookout in Closter from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be four aid stations throughout the course featuring water, sports drinks and snacks to get you through to the finish line. Runners will pay $17 each—$1 per mile. Get more details at runsignup.com.
AUG. 19
Whether you’re Filipino yourself or simply enjoy the cuisine or culture, everyone will have fun at FIESTA IN AMERICA, the largest annual indoor Filipino East Coast. American Dream in East Rutherford festivities, which run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. food, music, live performances and more. free. Get the scoop at fiestainamerica.com.
Westwood is hosting its annual CRAFTS & ANTIQUES IN THE PARK, where exhibitors will take over Veterans Park from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and sell jewelry, pottery, woodwork, apparel and much more. you energized, treats including popcorn, Italian ices, baked pretzels and much more will be available for purchase. Admission is free! Pjspromotions.com has more info.
AUG. 28
Bring your kiddo to Teaneck Public Library to enjoy stories and
to birches, both gardening walk away from this knowledge. For exact gardenconservancy.org.
From 1 to 4 p.m., for its Summertime fly your kite Revolutionary War attractions. Tickets otherwise, admission adults. Register bergencountyhistory.org/event-details/ festival AND CRAFT vendors sell their goods. food, beverages too at this more details streetfairs.org.
On the trail, in the garden or along the water— there’s something for everyone happening this Bergen.
Gatherings
THE VALLEY HOSPITAL AUXILIARY
ELISABETH MORROW SCHOOL
1 Darryl Galitzin, Alicia Galitzin, Mary Ix, Phyllis Gettenberg, Alisa Lessing
2 Lillian Pien, Lauren Apgar, Catherine Ferreira, Candace Gonzalez 3 Angela Zenon, Megan Morgan, Jennifer Dixon Bethea
THE COMMUNITY CHEST
8
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
The Wyckoff-based health organization held a special recognition luncheon to commemorate Volunteer Appreciation Week. Two junior volunteers, Sofia Gutierrez and James Sabino, received the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Elisabeth Morrow School (1–3), BVMI (4), Valley Hospital Auxiliary (5), Chris Marsbury (6–7), Christian Health (8), Habitat for Humanity (9-10) 5 1 2 3
BERGEN VOLUNTEER MEDICAL INITIATIVE
You want the very best for your child. So do we. That’s why Valley’s pediatric specialists deliver experienced care, tailored to the needs of young patients. Our team takes the time to understand their patients’ concerns, answer questions, and reassure parents in a child-friendly environment.
Our team of pediatric providers specializes in:
Pediatric Primary Care*
Pediatric Surgery*
Developmental Pediatrics
Endocrinology
Food Allergy*
Gastroenterology & Nutrition*
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Pulmonology
Sleep Medicine
Weight Management
* In alliance with Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital
CALL 201-447-8151 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. Telemedicine appointments also available.
ValleyHealth.com/ChildrensHealth