REALITY BITES DON’T BUG OUT THIS SUMMER BACKYARD BLISS 2 POOLS MAKE A SPLASH LIFE’S A BEACH WHAT’S NEW ALONG THE SHORE?
Managing your health isn’t a one-and-done deal – you need a team of doctors and services to meet your changing needs. From routine wellness, to mother-baby care, to services that ensure you age with grace, Valley’s multifaceted programs offer care for every woman, at every stage of her life.
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Wise words for women who devote themselves to the health of another: Don’t neglect you.
Menopause was once discussed only in hushed tones, but it’s been different lately—especially at a recent BERGEN health event, where attendees heard all about it.
In Tenafly, empty nesters wanted a backyard they could swim in— and it quickly became a complete three-season outdoor retreat. p.
Insects have a hunch they can make you their lunch. Here’s how to take youself off the menu—or heal once you’ve been chomped on.
Pack a picnic, grab a book and your kids, and read on for our 2023 guide to the Jersey beaches.
For a social family with four girls, the backyard has become an irresistible hangout haven.
It’s not entirely clear why our county is the state’s longevity champ, but apparently its residents are doing several things right.
Our guide to new ideas, tips, trends and things we love in the county.
You have the right to remain silent. But when you hear lawyer-comedian Vince Sicari, you’re liable to laugh out loud.
This blue hue, chambray, is reminiscent of long days spent relaxing down the Shore.
Outdoor entertaining gets an upgrade with these larger-than-life backyard sets.
Even if you have a major trip on the agenda this summer, why not enjoy a quick visit to one (or more) of five family-friendly North Jersey destinations?
Boring burgers are so last summer. Heat up the grill and layer on the toppings for these unexpected twists on the BBQ classic.
You’ll feel like you’re on a tropical escape with a taste of this berry and citrus cocktail.
In Ridgefield, a town full of dining options, Karden delivers a great K-food flavor punch.
Bergenites always show up to support their friends and neighbors—especially when help is needed most.
The color of the evening sky and a jockey riding ‘toward’ the rainbow make for a perfect photo op at Meadowlands Racetrack.
Every so often some poet or philosopher insists that it’s the quality of one’s days, not the quantity, that really counts. One golden summer of youth recalled in the mind, this theory says, can outweigh decades of simply watching old movies with friends. (What summer would that be for you?) True in some ways, maybe, but that’s where I get fidgety. I want my days to be golden, yes. But I also want a lot of them, if you please.
That spirit animates our annual Summer Health Issue. Here at BERGEN we’re greedy for long life, and we think you are too. What good news, then, to see on page 46 that ours is the longestlived county in New Jersey! In our Special Report, you’ll read about the factors pro and con (COVID was a bump in the road, of course), and you’ll learn of one population group that seems to have found—comparatively speaking—a fountain of youth.
Helping you protect your health (an obvious key to long life) is part of our mission all year long, and it’s especially evident in this issue. Here we present timely advice on how to keep mosquitoes and other bugs from feasting on you (page 30), how to deal with menopause (page 28), how to keep your kids safe in outdoor summer sports (page 14) and how, if you’re a caregiver for a loved one, to serve that loved one best by also taking care of you (page 26).
Swimming vigorously in your backyard pool, of course, is great exercise as well as great fun, helping add years to your life and vice versa. Thus we showcase swimming pools in Wyckoff (page 43) and Tenafly (page 36), each of which became the centerpiece of a beautifully redesigned backyard. Pool-less today but thinking of plunging into pool ownership in time for next July? Come on in—the water’s fine! And on page 17 you’ll meet eight qualified vendor companies ready to help you start dreaming your beautiful, chlorinated dream.
The stimulation of travel is good for us all—not to mention fun. But if there’s no place on the schedule for a major, long-distance journey just now, don’t despair. You and the kids can make trip memories at “daycation” destinations so near that you needn’t even plan an overnight stay. From zoos to mini golf to an indoor water park, the possibilities are plentiful—you’ll find several described on page 50.
Our hope is for you to have a happy, healthy summer—and for this to be one of a great many such summers in your life. Live long, live well, keep reading BERGEN, remember that sunscreen, and we’ll see you again next month.
Rita Guarna Editor in Chief rita.guarna@wainscotmedia.com
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Currently at war with a groundhog or other unwanted creatures that are ruining the garden? You don’t need to succumb entirely to the idea that your hard-earned flowers will become somebody else’s afternoon snack. There are plenty of plants that you can plant that your uninvited backyard guests won’t be as inclined to munch on. Below are some tips—which were recently shared in our weekly e-newsletter Bergen Buzz—to help keep the critters away.
Deer and Rabbits
These cute but hungry creatures tend to stay away from plants that are too fragrant, so bushes and plants such as butterfly bushes, lavender, yarrows, salvias, thyme and boxwoods (a type of evergreen) are safe in your yard, according to Almost Perfect Landscaping in Paramus, as are shrubs like forsythia and spirea.
Squirrels
These critters find white pepper, black pepper, garlic and mint naturally unpleasant. You can buy or (DIY) a pepper spray and apply it to your plants to keep them away, or plant certain flowers that will repel them naturally, such as daffodils, fritillaries, Galanthus, geraniums, hyacinths and lily of the valley.
Groundhogs
These little guys also dislike the aroma of onion and garlic, herbs such as chive, basil, thyme, rosemary and oregano, as well as lavender-colored or scented flowers, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
Bugs
Mosquitos are not attracted to smelly flowers such as marigold and catmint, which typically bloom in late spring and last through the summer. Remember to keep any standing water sources clean or empty them completely. These include bird baths, buckets and puddles around drains.
Read our full story at bergenmag.com/these-plants-will-repelbackyard-critters.
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OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTY.
Is there a better time than summer to enjoy a cup or a cone of the cold stuff? Don’t be ridiculous. And since summer ’22, three new frozen-treat spots opened or expanded locations in our county:
• Sweets shop Surreal Creamery (57 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, 973.330.0960; surrealcreamery.com), debuted in March and is known for Insta-worthy mason-jar smoothies and bubble tea topped with ice cream.
• Candy shop Trina’s Treats (296 Stuyvesant Ave., Lyndhurst, 201.804.7659; trinastreatsxo.com) recently expanded its business into an ice cream parlor next door, which offers milkshakes, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cannolis, ice cream waffles and more.
• The iconic Bischoff’s (468 Cedar Ln., Teaneck, 201.836.0333; bischoffsicecream.com) closed its doors in December after 89 years in business, but now operates a pop-up shop (till Labor Day) with Bergenfield’s Rony’s Rockin’ Grill. If all goes well, it will renovate and reopen for good next spring.
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? Pistachio is the most popular ice cream flavor in New Jersey, according to personal grocery shopping service Instacart. It must be an tri-state area thing: Connecticut and New York also favors pistachio among all others, the survey says.
For serious young athletes, sports don’t cool off in the summer. And even those who aren’t in organized sports but attend a day camp are likely to be hitting, kicking or punting a ball quite often this season. With these tips from Kathleen Greaney, M.D., a pediatrician at Maple Avenue Pediatrics in Fair Lawn, you can keep your son or daughter healthy on the field or court:
—Hydrate often. Kids should drink lots of water not just during sports, says Dr. Greaney, but before and after too—even if they’re not thirsty. She recommends between 5 and 10 ounces of water every 20 minutes during activity. Sports and electrolyte drinks, the doc says, “should only be used during extended and heavy exercise that lasts more than one hour.”
—Apply SPF. Put on sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher 15 to 30 minutes before hitting the field, and then reapply every two hours.
Dr. Greaney says to use 1 ounce of sunscreen each on arms, shoulders, legs and face, as well as the back of the neck and ears, which can burn easily if exposed. —Dress for the weather. Your child may have to wear a uniform on the field or court, but also consider UV-protectant clothing, which can block the sun’s harmful rays. Additionally, says the doctor, “hats will protect your child’s face, head and eyes from the sun—and don’t forget sunglasses!”
—Seek shade. “Frequent breaks to sit in the shade and hydrate are important,” says Dr. Greaney. Sitting in the shade can make a child feel 10 to 15 degrees cooler. If you have control over the timing of sporting activities, try to hold practices and games before noon or after 4 p.m. avoiding the time when the sun is at its peak.
—Know the signs of distress. If your child appears pale or weak and experiences a headache, nausea, muscle cramps or fainting, it could signal heat exhaustion, says Dr. Greaney. Let your child cool off and hydrate. Heat stroke—high fever, flushed skin, confusion or loss of consciousness—is more serious and requires a visit to the emergency room.
Dog: Pearl, 6-yearold Maltese and Pekinese mix Owners: The Rothbein family of Tenafly
The Rothbeins were devastated when their beloved Shih Tzu, Sofie, passed away, and mother
Sylvia knew they needed another “furbaby” to fill the void in their lives. After a long search online, Sylvia found Pearl earlier this spring and “knew she was the one with her tiny face and stick legs,” she says of the 6-pound pup, who came to New Jersey from Korea. Pearl has since settled into her knew home and is a relaxed, quiet girl—that is until she has gets her paws on her favorite bone.
“Then she turns into Cujo and snarls,” Mom jokes. “OK, she’s not perfect, but she’s perfect for me. She has helped me through the grieving process.”
When Pearl isn’t playing with her toys or lounging in the house, she’s probably taking road trips with her humans.
“She is a very good traveler in the car and enjoys rides to the Hamptons,” Sylvia says. “But her favorite activity is relaxing in her bed because she gets tired from being so cute!”
Want to see your furry, scaly or feathered friend in an upcoming issue? Email a brief description of your pet along with his or her photo to editor Rita Guarna at rita.guarna@wainscotmedia.com.
The national pastime on this side of the Hudson? That’s right. The Bergen-based Metropolitan Baseball League has a full slate of games this season featuring eight local teams with some of the best adult amateur players in the region.
Take Matt Lalomia of the Bergen Mets, who had two hits and four RBIs in his team’s season opener this spring. Then there’s Lou Cautero of the Rutherford Rays. In a game against the Mets in June, Cautero surrendered six hits over seven innings while striking out 10 batters en route to the 3-1 win. There’s some serious star power. The teams compete in games throughout the week at such venues as Dumont Memorial Field, Rutherford Memorial Park, Hackensack’s Foschini Park and Westwood’s Westvale Park. The seven-inning games are free to watch, relatively quick (no commercials—but then no pitch clocks either) and packed with excitement. Check out the full schedule and more details at leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=majorsmetleague.
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If you don’t yet have a pool in your backyard, this is clearly the peak season for wishing you did. But it’s also the perfect time to check out possibilities for making ’24 your debut summer for refreshing laps and splashings. The talented pool contractors below can help you make your vision a cool reality next year—and their Instagram handles let you check out their work. (Also see pages 36 and 42).
• Borst Landscape & Design, Allendale, @borst_landscape
• CLC Landscape Design, Ringwood, @clclandscapedesign
• Lehmann Pools & Spas, Mahwah, @lehmannpoolsspasnj
• Matthews Pool and Spa, Oakland, @njpools
• Mufson Pools, Norwood, @mufsonpools
• Oasis Pool Service, Mahwah, @oasispoolservice
• The Pool Boss, Wayne, @thepoolbossnj
• Thomas Flint Landscaping, Waldwick, @thomasflintlandscape
Beyoncé, The Boss and Metallica each have performances scheduled at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford this summer, but the most surprising outdoor concerts may be happening at the gazebo down the street from your home. These local shows offer great tunes with free admission—plus, they’re free of the worries associated with excessive traffic and crowds. And because you set up your own blanket or lawn chair wherever you please, there’s never a bad seat in the house. Upcoming shows worth checking out:
July 14 , Spare Roots (rock, folk, Americana), 7 p.m., Spring Lake Park, Wyckoff YMCA, Wyckoff, wyckoffymca.org
—July 20
BRO (Grateful Dead cover band), 7:30 p.m., Kasschau Shell, Ridgewood; kasschaumemorial shell.com
—July 20
These Bergen County students are making the grade—and headlines—at their schools and beyond:
Ethan Diamond, a rising senior at Glen Rock High School, lived up to his surname by initiating the Challenger program, a Little League for kids with special needs. Throughout the season, Glen Rock kids between ages 8 and 14 met at Glen Rock Elementary School on Sunday mornings to play a simulated game of baseball. Diamond and his volunteers hope to continue this initiative beyond its 2023 inaugural season.
Carmen Cardozo, a recent graduate of Henry Becton High School in East Rutherford, won first place in Bergen County’s StigmaFree Sticker Design Contest. Her animated drawing features two people hugging with the words “You’re not alone” above them. The contest was run by the Bergen County Health Department. Cardozo and representatives from her school accepted the award during the Health Department’s Mental Health Awareness Month event in May.
Zachary Berde, Sean Bramley, William Bramley, Julian Guggino and Emily Konstantinova, members of Pascack Valley High School’s Computer Club, were named Scholars by the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation. Each student has been awarded free access to this summer’s Cyber Foundation Academy, worth more than $3,000, and a digital Scholar badge. And Benjamin Topolosky was named the school’s Scholar With Honors and given a training scholarship to cover the $9,000 cost of higher-level SANS (SysAdmin, Audit, Network & Security) courses.
Thought July was just about shooting off fireworks and flipping burgers in the backyard? Don’t forget to celebrate our great state! July 27 is National New Jersey Day, when the entire nation honors us as the third state to join the Union. And the best way to commemorate the occasion is to do Jerseycentric activities:
Chow down on a Taylor ham, egg and cheese at Goldberg’s Bagels in Wyckoff (327 Franklin Ave., 201.847.9199) or Rivervale Bagels in River Vale (216 Rivervale Rd., 201.358.9116).
Pick “Jersey fresh” tomatoes at Stokes Farm in Old Tappan (23 Dewolf Rd., 201.768.3931; stokesfarm.com) or Demarest Farms in Hillsdale (244 Wierimus Rd., 201.666.0472; demarestfarms.com).
Enjoy a slice of the best pizza in the U.S. at Corleone’s in Hasbrouck Heights (205 Williams Ave., 201.426.5656; corleonespizzeriamenu.com) or Kinchley’s Tavern in Ramsey (586 Franklin Tpke., 201.934.7777; kinchleyspizza.com).
Take a hike at Ramapo Valley County Reservation in Mahwah (608 Ramapo Valley Rd.) or Palisades Interstate Park in Alpine.
52nd Street Band (Billy Joel tribute), 8 p.m., Veterans Park, Westwood; westwoodnj.gov
—July 21
Trio (oldies night), 7 p.m., Atlantic Street Park, Hackensack; hacpac.org
—July 25
Jets (Elton John tribute), Borough Field band shell, Elmwood Park; elmwoodparknj.us
—July 27 or Reason (rock, dance, funk), 6:30 p.m., Davies Field Pavilion, Park Ridge; parkridge boro.com
—July 30
The Non-Stop Band (rock, pop), 8 p.m., Memorial Park, Fair Lawn; fairlawn.org
Blood donations decline in summertime, partly because schools that hold blood drives aren’t in session. But the need doesn’t take a holiday. So Bergen’s blood banks are putting out the call for help to replenish their supplies. “Every donation saves lives, and it will take all of us working together to make sure we have sufficient supplies for those in need,” says Deborah Visconi, president of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, which held a presummer blood drive with Vitalant Blood Donation, a national nonprofit.
Want to help? Potential donors must be at least 16 years old (those under 18 require parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. To donate, enter your ZIP code at redcrossblood.org for a list of available times and locations or contact organizations such as Vitalant in Montvale and Paramus (877.258.4825) or New Jersey Blood Services in Paramus (800.933.2566) for blood drives and appointments.
Our county is constantly under construction, and despite the resulting detours and traffic, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. When all the work is complete, Bergenites will have even more shopping, dining and housing options. Here’s a look at some of the ongoing projects you may have encountered, wondering, “What’s being built here?”
Pascack Valley motorists won’t have to circumvent construction to travel from River Vale to Old Tappan much longer. Construction on and replacement of the Old Tappan Road Bridge, which spans the Hackensack River, will be completed by the end of summer. The portion of Old Tappan Road near the intersection of Rivervale Road has been closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic since November.
Work to improve the Kinderkamack Road corridor around the Emerson train station continues, as construction on a 147-unit luxury apartment building is well underway. The building, when complete, will include roughly 15,000 square feet of retail space. Across the street from that building, where a gas station was once located, construction on additional housing and retail is also nearing completion. It’s not yet known when the entire redevelopment plan will be finished, but we can’t wait to see it when it’s done.
Construction continues in the Wesmont neighborhood in Wood-Ridge, as work on a 295-unit luxury multifamily community is now underway. The site will include studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units with a swimming pool, a fitness center, meeting rooms and nearly 2,800 square feet of retail space. It’s the last phase of the 150-acre Wesmont Station Redevelopment, which will be completed in early 2024.
Hooray for Hackensack
P.D.’s Frank Scarpa, recently named the American Legion’s Bergen County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. The honor is bestowed annually on a local police officer who goes above and beyond the call of duty. Scarpa was noted for his work with Operation BBQ Relief,
an initiative that feeds first responders and communities affected by natural disasters.
A round of applause for Steven Jacoby, M.D., medical director of Critical Care at The Valley Hospital, who was named Physician of the Year by the statewide business journal NJBIZ. Among Dr. Jacoby’s recent accomplishments are the launches of a
North Jersey native Wé Ani narrowly missed a spot in the top three of American Idol in a controversial elimination. But don’t feel too bad for her—on May 19, the 24-yearold released her debut single, “175 Lbs.” and, as of presstime, had amassed more than 280K followers on Instagram and 837K on TikTok. Keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for this young talent, folks.
neurocritical care unit and a Critical Care Advanced Practice Provider program at Valley.
And congratulations to Deborah Visconi, president and CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, who was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s annual list of “2023 Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know.”
heritage, being Italian and Christian. People are like, “How can you joke about religion?” But I’m assuming Christ had a sense of humor.
You’ve opened for Stephen Colbert, Adam Corolla and Sarah Silverman. What’s been the biggest pinch-me moment?
It’s one thing to get a good response from a crowd, but [even better] when someone in your profession says, “Wow, that guy’s great, but he’s never opening for me again because he did it too well.”
Which career has been more lucrative?
Law, without a doubt, sustained me. I couldn’t have had a comedy career without law. The comedy clubs closed during the pandemic, so comedians were starving. And I’m out of work now because of the writers strike.
So you’re currently a full-time lawyer?
I’m at my desk right now working on a divorce case.
Do most of your clients know about Vince August?
I would say 90 percent of them do. But until 2013, when my choosing comedy over being a judge became an international story, the vast majority had no clue.
Has the balance gotten easier over the years? The balance has; the workload hasn’t. At 53 years old I should be working less.
What’s next for you?
In 2013, Vince Sicari of Hackensack made national news when he chose his stand-up comedy career over being a part-time judge after the New Jersey Supreme Court gave him an ultimatum. Known in comedy as Vince August, he’s been the warm-up comic on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, appeared on the ABC hiddencamera series Primetime: What Would You Do? and opened for comics John Oliver and Jon Stewart. Today, the 53-year-old resides in River Edge, where, having resigned from the bench, he still practices law and does stand-up, without having to hide one persona from the other.
How did you get into comedy?
I wanted to do comedy since I was a kid, but growing up in Hackensack with Italian immigrant parents, entertainment as a profession wasn’t a thing. They dissuaded me. I finished law school in New York City and was working a miserable law job but moonlighting as a comedian. It was like Clark Kent and Superman. So on a Sony Walkman cassette, I recorded an hour of social commentary and gave it to a friend who
stocked shelves at ShopRite Paramus. He’d play it over the loudspeakers after the store closed, and he paged me at 3 a.m. and was like, “We’re dying laughing here. You gotta give this a shot.”
So that’s when your stage name, Vince August, was born?
Right. I couldn’t use my real name because I was working as a lawyer, so I used my middle name. Around 1997, I started performing at clubs like Caroline’s on Broadway, and it took off.
Is Vince August anything like Vince Sicari?
They’re hugely different. I was never a class clown. I was a wallflower and still am. After I do a set or a show, I have to be forced to go out and talk to people.
How would you describe your stand-up?
When I warm up at The Daily Show, it’s always 100 percent improvisation. I’ll ask people in the crowd about their relationships, where they’re from. But a lot of my material is from my life experience, navigating relationships, being an animal lover and a gun owner—yet I hate hunting because I’m a pescetarian. I just like shooting at pieces of paper. I make jokes about my
I’ve been trying to sell a concept for a TV show, and a few production companies are interested. I have a meeting about it this afternoon. It’s designed to bring people back together and teach people that we can come in a room and have conversations about things we disagree on and learn and laugh about them.
Your ultimate dream?
A year from now, I’d love to turn to films or TV, maybe write a book or headline Madison Square Garden myself rather than open for somebody. Favorite things to do around Bergen County? I love my dog, so I take my dog everywhere. I love to people-watch, walking up and down East Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood, and I love downtown Westwood.
Do you get recognized a lot around here?
In the most bizarre places, like supermarkets. Some people will be like, “Didn’t I see you open for Trevor?” But most people go, “You look familiar.” I say, “Yeah, I get that a lot. I was a judge and a comedian, so this could go either good or bad.”
—Haley Longman
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we’re thrilled to announce that For the third year in a row, M. Sanzari Children’s
For the third year in a row, we’re thrilled to announce that Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center have been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 children’s hospitals in New Jersey. We’re also honored to receive national recognition in Pediatric Cancer, Urology, Nephrology, and Neurology & Neurosurgery – the most ranked specialties ever for a New Jersey children’s hospital. It’s proof that at Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health, we’re ready with the expert, compassionate care kids need.
To receive the best in pediatric care, visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org/Kids.
diet of fruits, veggies and whole grains were less likely to develop moderate to severe COVID infections compared with people who ate a low-carb, high-protein diet.
What’s the optimum number of hours of slumber to stay sharp? Researchers have found that seven hours is best for memory and cognition.
—Cambridge University
BLUES suggest a link between and experiencing depresbelieved that highly psychological woes.
—Public Health Nutrition
Sleeping fewer than six hours nightly has been linked to four times the risk of catching a cold compared with seven or more hours of shut eye.
—Sleep
150
The minimum number of minutes per week of moderate exercise needed to benefit your immune system.
—The BMJ
Consuming fermented foods such as kefir, yogurt, kimchi and kombucha boosts microbial diversity and keeps inflammatory proteins at bay, according to recent research.
—Stanford University
Researchers have that as people age, lose up to 5 percent their IQ. However, engaged in physical tivity and brain were able to combat that decline.
—Massachusetts General Hospital
ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING INDEPENDENT medical groups in New Jersey, Heritage Surgical Group was established by Dr. Stavros Christoudias and Dr. Farshad Mansouri to honor and uphold the highest standards in medical care taught to them by their respective fathers, both dedicated surgeons. “We answer to our patients first, not to corporate interest,” says Dr. Christoudias, who adds that Heritage’s mission is to keep the practice of medicine separate from big business. “Our patients never doubt that they’re our only priority.”
Heritage Surgical Group diagnoses, treats and manages patients with a broad spectrum of surgical conditions with health and safety as their driving force. With over 35 years of combined experience practicing medicine, their board-certified Top Doctors perform surgeries involving complex abdominal reconstruction procedures, hernia, gallbladder and appendix removal, and skin and soft tissue masses. Dr. Mansouri has additional training in colon and rectal surgery. The group is at the forefront of advanced technologies including robotic assisted surgery for hernias, gallbladders and colorectal surgeries.
Drs. Christoudias, Mansouri, Marta and Radvinsky are considered four of the region’s most highly respected general surgeons and share a similar philosophy in treating patients and family members with sensitivity and empathy while nurturing their well-being. “We take pride in practicing medicine the way it should be; where the best interest of patients is a doctor’s first and foremost order of business,” added Dr. David Radvinsky. “In keeping our doors open throughout the entire pandemic to attend to the needs of our patients safely and with our usual devotion, our unwavering dedication has never been more clearly demonstrated.”
The surgeons are affiliated with The Valley Hospital, Holy Name Medical Center, Pascack Valley Medical Center and Chilton Medical Center; smaller hospitals with shared philosophies of performing the greatest good for the people who need them the most. “At Heritage, patients are not just a number or a face, but real human beings,” says Dr. Christoudias. The surgeons look forward to a future of carrying on the time-honored doctorpatient practices of the past.
Wise words for women who devote themselves to the health of another: Don’t neglect you.
Individuals who care for elderly parents, ill family members or children with disabilities may be of either gender, but we all know on which sex this burden falls more heavily. That’s why advice for caretakers was on the agenda at BERGEN’s Spring Women’s Health & Wellness Event, held in May at Edgewood Country Club in River Vale. “Women who care for elderly relatives spend an average of 20 hours a week doing so—unpaid,” says Monica Dhingra, M.D., director of the psychiatry residency program at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus.
Dr. Dhingra shared tips—and some staggering stats—with an audience of 140 women at the BERGEN event. Since the pandemic began, she reported, three million women have left the workforce to become caretakers. Female caretakers—in many cases, the family’s eldest daughter—are two-and-a-half times more likely than average to experience poverty later in life, whether it’s because they retire early or because they cut their hours to care for their relative. That equates to about $324,000 in lost wages for women who leave their jobs at age 50 or sooner. Finances aside, there are emotional consequences too, says Dr. Dhingra. “There’s the stress caregivers feel if they can’t meet the expectations of their multiple roles,” she says. “Which ‘job’ takes precedence, and how do you balance that?” Nagging guilt can result from missing out on social events or children’s school events because they conflict with the needs of a family member. Being tugged at from different directions like this can also make women feel trapped, hopeless and even resentful toward, say, their elderly parent, who may not say thanks or show appreciation. Physically, female caretakers are more than
normally susceptible to aches and pains, as well as burnout and lethargy, despite a good night’s sleep. “Our hormones are changing, life is changing and demands are increasing,” Dr. Dhingra says. “Insomnia is very common.”
So how can you prioritize your mental well-being while meeting competing responsibilities? Dr. Dhingra suggests:
• Ask for and accept help. “If we break down, our whole unit breaks down because we’re at the center of it,” says the doctor. The embarrassment of asking for a bit of relief is nothing next to the distress that awaits if someone’s vital needs go unmet.
• Focus on what you can reasonably do. Set limits and boundaries so you don’t feel so overwhelmed with your day-to-day burden.
• Set personal health goals for yourself and your caregivers. Whether you want to exercise more or eat healthier, even small changes can help you move toward feeling and being your best.
• Join a support group. “It’s humbling and eye-opening to see there are other people in the same boat as you, also juggling five different jobs,” says Dr. Dhingra. But comrades in a support group can offer valuable advice, knowing empathy—and reassuring evidence that your situation is not unique.
• Get professional help. For some, seeking therapy for help in dealing with mental or emotional issues still carries a stigma—even among health-savvy caretakers who in their hearts know better. Reaching out in this way can seem to conflict with the implicit “I can handle it” superwoman mentality that caretaking appears to require. But it can promote a more clear-eyed view, helping you make better choices, find time to enjoy things and feel less isolated.
“The goal in all of this is to be aware that you’re not alone and there’s help if you ask for and accept it,” says Dr. Dhingra. “If we’re strong, everybody around us is going to be stronger too.”
Physical well-being is important, and if you feel your best, other things have a better chance of falling into place. Below are a half-dozen tips for caregivers on how to prioritize your physical health from Karen Collins, a nurse practitioner at CareRite Now in Wallington and New Bridge Medical Center, who also spoke at BERGEN’s recent Spring Women’s Health & Wellness panel:
• Eat properly. This includes being mindful of what you eat, as well as consuming foods that provide nutrients and are anti-inflammatory. Think along the lines of the Mediterranean diet: vegetables, nuts, beans, seafood, dairy and olive oil.
• Stay active. Easier said than done, sure, but start slow. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests we get 30 to 40 minutes of continuous exercise per day. “Take a walk around the neighborhood three times a week,” Collins says. “Exercise stimulates endorphins in the brain, so it makes you feel good.”
• Stay hydrated. The benchmark is to consume eight ounces of liquid per meal. Ideally you’ll drink water, but other drinks low in calories and sugar such as coconut juice, almond milk and fresh juice count toward the quota too. And be sure to limit caffeine and alcohol intake.
• Get enough sleep. Sleep hygiene, practices we can adopt before bed to improve our sleep naturally, is imperative to well-being. This includes limiting sugar and caffeine, unplugging our devices and decreasing water intake so we don’t interrupt sleep to get up to go to the bathroom.
• Manage stress. “Statistics show that stress is one of the reasons we get sick,” says Collins. De-stress in a way that works for you, whether that’s through therapy, meditation, going for a walk outside or giving social media a rest.
• Stay on top of your doctors’ appointments. In addition to yearly checkups, flu shots and bivalent COVID vaccines, Collins reminds women over 40 to get an annual mammogram, and women 50 and over to get a bone density test, a colonoscopy and the shingles vaccine. Women, as well as boys and girls ages 8 and up, should also get their pneumococcal vaccination. And ask your provider about the TDAP (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine if you’re going to be around a newborn baby.
“Women tend to internalize our stress, sadness and anger more than men do,” says Lara Addesso, M.D., general psychiatrist at Christian Health in Wyckoff. This is in part due to hormonal changes throughout the lifespan, from puberty through pregnancies to menopause and beyond. The tips from Dr. Addesso below may help women caregivers—and women in general—adjust their thought processes to keep from stressing out.
• Resist perfectionism. There’s an expectation for women that Dr. Addesso calls the Goldilocks effect—we must be “just right,” not too thin or too heavy, too timid or too outspoken. But insisting on the perfect balance of all things at all times is way too much pressure, and we don’t need to live our lives that way.
• Watch your language. Kids are sponges. If you complain that you’re too fat, too wrinkly or too gray, they’re going to take note and eventually may see themselves the same way. “What we say, what we do and how we carry ourselves affects younger minds and how they view themselves,” says the doc. She also suggests changing our language around eating, not denigrating certain foods as “fattening” or “terrible” but praising others as “healthy” and “nutritious.”
• Understand that social media isn’t reality. Instagram is the highlight reel of life, and much of it is filtered. Plus, celebrities and influencers have personal chefs, trainers and hair and makeup crews to help them look good, so measuring yourself against them is foolish. “Remember that we’re not all coming from a 3D printer or a printing press,” says Dr. Addesso. “We’re each a work of art. Everyone has their own nuisances and differences.”
• Make time for female friendships. Rather than making fun of other women, we need to support each other. “Women’s friendships span a lifetime; some may even last longer than a marriage or a job,” says Dr. Addesso. “Female friends are a vital source of support.”
Menopause was once discussed only in hushed tones, but it’s been different lately—especially at a recent BERGEN health event, where attendees heard all about it.
When we feel that something about the human body needs a euphemism (“my time of the month,” “your manhood”), ignorance may be hiding beneath our uptightness like wriggling worms under a rock. It was that way until a few decades ago with women’s menopause, known to the genteel as “the change of life.” But “the change” has changed—menopause is now commonly and frankly discussed, and wags have observed that if it happened to men instead of women, prestigious medals would be given for it.
Still, menopause is a complex phenomenon that often affects different women differently, and there’s always more to learn. That’s why attendees were appreciative when, at the BERGEN Spring Women’s Health & Wellness Event in May at River Vale’s Edgewood Country Club, Tracy Verrico, D.O., enlightened a roomful of women (and a handful of men) on the topic. Dr. Verrico is a gynecologist at Bona Dea Gynecology in Oradell who has the gift of talking sensibly and comprehensibly about everything from “Hormones 101” to the uncomfortable symptoms that can accompany this period of life.
(Sorry, there are a lot of them.)
Some nuggets from the doctor’s presentation:
• Menopause is the biological process that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years, when her ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone. A woman is diagnosed as menopausal once she goes 12 months without a menstrual cycle.
(No more, no less.) Perimenopause is the period beforehand, when one’s hormones gradually stop working and one’s cycles become irregular.
• Dr. Verrico says that age 51 is the “bell curve average” for women to become menopausal, but many factors such as genetics, lifestyle choices including diet and smoking, medical conditions and treatments such as chemotherapy can trigger earlyonset menopause.
• The list of symptoms that can (but don’t always) come with menopause reads like an infomercial for medication. Side effects may include—ready?—hot flashes and night sweats; fatigue; sleep disturbances; vaginal dryness; urinary tract infections; weight loss or gain; brain fog; anxiety; depression; loss of libido; generalized joint pain; dry eye; tingling and numbness in joints, hands and feet; rashes, vertigo; tingling and even gum problems, says the doc.
• There are three types of estrogen: estradiol, which we have during our reproductive years; estrone, which takes over after menopause as the ovary loses its ability to create estradiol; and estriol, which is linked to pregnancy but is still present throughout a woman’s lifespan. A woman can blame lower levels of estrogen for most menopausal symptoms she may be experiencing.
• Progesterone, another hormone, has important reproductive and menstrual functions. “Progesterone affects mood, sleep, libido, sugar balance, thyroid function and adrenal gland health,” says Dr. Verrico. Fun fact: Progesterone levels are high during pregnancy, which is why women are
so sleepy during those nine months.
• Testosterone is a sex hormone responsible, among other factors, for “libido, muscle mass and weight loss,” says Dr. Verrico. Low levels correlate with anxiety and cognitive difficulties; high levels can manifest in acne, obesity and endocrine disorders such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
• DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), another hormone produced by the adrenal gland, affects ovarian and brain function. These levels peak around age 25 and decline with age.
• Hormone levels can be tested three different ways: by serum (blood) testing, salivary testing (which Dr. Verrico says is more “indicative of one’s hormonal activity”), or urinary testing, which can be done in conjunction with salivary tests.
If your symptoms are moderate to severe, Dr. Verrico suggests that you discuss treatment options with your health care provider. “I talk with my patients about hormonal treatment options, synthetic treatments, herbal remedies and supplements, meditation, yoga and even massage therapy, which can lower cortisol levels,” Dr. Verrico says. Lifestyle changes such as more time for sleep and more exercise can help too.
Hormonal estrogen treatment can also alleviate the symptoms of menopause, says the doctor. “Hormones are right for certain patients, but it depends on your health history, your family history, risk factors and your risk tolerance,” she says. “You need to have these discussions with your physician.”
Insects have a hunch they can make you their lunch. Here’s how to take yourself off the menu—or heal once you’ve been chomped on.
Summer’s here, and so are ticks, fleas and mosquitoes. Bites from these insects have soared in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and “New Jersey is considered a highrisk state for Lyme disease,” says Margaret Fonder, M.D., a dermatologist at Bergen Dermatology Specialists in Ridgewood and Oakland. Together with Rebecca Baxt, M.D., a dermatologist at Baxt CosMedical in Paramus, she offers timely tips to BERGEN readers here.
• Repel right: You slather on sunscreen before going outdoors (we hope!). So don’t forget the insect repellent too. The gold standard, Dr. Fonder says, is over-the-counter repellent containing about 10 to 30 percent DEET (diethyltoluamide). After sunscreen is absorbed into your skin, apply the repellent on exposed areas of your skin or clothing in one light spritz, avoiding the eyes, nose and mouth. This approach differs from the one used for sunscreen, which should be applied generously and about every two hours. Most people don’t experience skin irritation after applying products containing DEET, but if you do, both docs recommend 20 percent picaridin as an alternative. “It’s widely available, colorless and cosmetically elegant to apply,” says Dr. Fonder. “I personally love the 20 percent picaridin lotion made by the brand Sawyer.” If you’d prefer a plantderived repellent, says the derm, try oil of lemon eucalyptus or its active compound P-menthane-3, 8-diol, or PMD, which she says has an effectiveness similar to that of lower concentrations of DEET.
• Dress to unimpress the bugs, that is. If you’re especially concerned about bites or are going hiking or camping where you may encounter lots of insects, dress appropriately.
“The best clothes for preventing insect bites and exposures are light-colored long sleeves and pants,” Dr. Fonder suggests. For even better protection, she says, tuck your pants into socks and your shirts into pants. A permethrin repellent
spray, says Dr. Baxt, treats your clothing in advance of going outside. “Clothing can be treated, washed and then worn safely for a number of washings while repelling bugs,” she notes.
• Take charge of your yard: A local mosquito or tick pro can spray a pesticide treatment on your yard to keep these pests at bay, but that’s not always sufficient. Dr. Fonder says not to bother with citronella candles, which won’t deter mosquitoes enough or ticks at all. What will work? She says to “remove sources of stagnant water and clear brush and debris” from your yard. Place a net over a baby carrier or stroller to protect your little one, and invest in an insecticide-treated bed net to prevent bites if you’ll be sleeping outside. Also, says Dr. Baxt, try to avoid the outdoors during peak bug times, which are dawn and dusk.
• Heal at home: No matter how hard you try to prevent bites, a nip here or there is inevitable. “Most painful bites can be managed at home with ice packs and overthe-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen,” says Dr. Fonder. She recommends applying over-the-counter antihistamines and hydrocortisone cream if a bite is particularly itchy (see “Bitten or Stung? Here’s What To Do,” at right). And it’s easier said than done, we know, but try not to scratch!
• Get help: Seek medical attention after a bite if you feel symptoms such as difficulty breathing; lip, tongue, throat or face swelling; lightheadedness; chest pain; racing heart; or vomiting, the doc warns. “Fevers, rashes, headaches, fatigue and body aches following a tick bite also warrant prompt attention by a medical professional,” Dr. Baxt says.
• Check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks upon coming inside from a potential exposure, Dr. Fonder cautions. Ticks can spread Zika virus, malaria and Lyme disease. “Ticks like warm, moist areas, so don’t forget the scalp, in and around the ears, the belly button, armpits and groin.”
HERE’S WHAT TO DO
• If you’re bitten by a tick: Ixodes (blacklegged) ticks are the ones that transmit Lyme disease, says Dr. Fonder, and one needs to be attached to your skin for more than 24 hours for there to be real risk of transmission.
“Use clean tweezers to grasp the tick near its attachment to the skin and pull slowly and firmly upward,” says Dr. Fonder. “Then wash the site with soap and water.” Next, put the tick in a sealed bag or other container so that your doctor can look at it and let you know if you’re at risk. Dr. Baxt says to seek medical attention after a tick bite if you “have a bull’s-eye rash or are generally not feeling well.”
• If you’re stung by a bee: Remove the stinger that remains after a sting by “gently scraping with your fingernail or a piece of gauze,” Dr. Fonder says. “Avoid using tweezers here, as this can cause more venom to be released into your skin.” Next, wash the site with soap and water, and use ice packs and over-the-counter pain relievers to treat swelling.
• For either type of bite as well as for a spider or wasp bite—or if you’re bitten numerous times, have swelling in the throat or face or dizziness or vomiting, seek medical attention, Dr. Fonder urges. If you experience a total body reaction called anaphylaxis, which is most common with bee stings, “that can be lifethreatening,” Dr. Baxt warns. Head for an emergency room immediately. (Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction in which the body goes into shock— “blood pressure drops suddenly and the airways narrow, blocking breathing,” the Mayo Clinic explains. Signs can include a weak or rapid pulse, vomiting and/or a skin rash.)
Description: This beach club has perks for members (pool access, cabanas etc.); nonmembers are given access to the beach itself with the purchase of a daily pass. It’s a serene beach quieter than some of its neighbors, and also has an ocean-view restaurant.
FYI: Book your stay now in advance of Labor Day weekend when this borough dyes the ocean green for good luck, an annual tradition since 1943.
Beach fees: For non-members, club fees are $10 daily for adults; children ages 12 and under are free.
Beach parking: Free street parking
Pets: No pets allowed.
For more information, call 732.531.2700.
Description: Baby, we were born to run (on the beach). Come play on the beach with family and stroll down the streets that inspired The Boss himself. With iconic music venues, art galleries and buildings in Victorian, Gothic, Federal Revival and other styles, Asbury Park has something for everyone.
FYI: Park at a lot a few blocks back from the boardwalk for a better deal.
Beach fees: $6 daily for adults (Monday to Friday), $9 weekends and holidays, FREE for 13 and under as well as active military members and veterans with military ID.
Beach parking: Payable at kiosk or via ParkMobile app
Pets: Dogs are allowed on the 8th Avenue Dog Beach through September, 6 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. only. For more information, call 732.502.8863.
Description: This family-oriented town has a little bit of everything, from quaint, Victorian-esque bed and breakfasts to a boardwalk with live music and street fairs.
FYI: Want to do more than just sit and tan? You can surf or boat at Woodland Avenue and East End Avenue beaches.
Beach fees: $12 per person for ages 11 and older. Passes must be purchased through the Viply app. Beach parking: Free street parking
Pets: Pets are only allowed in the off-season, October through May. For more information, call 732.502.4510.
Description: This family-friendly beach stretches
1.2 miles and features a small boardwalk with food and refreshment vendors. Additional eateries and taverns are located less than a mile away on Main Street. Want a cute date idea or something for the kids? Check out 9th Ave. Pier for mini golf.
FYI: Belmar has ADA-accessible beaches equipped with blue mobility mats for wheelchairs, canes, strollers, wagons and beach carts.
Beach fees: $10 daily for adults, free for 13 and under, active military members and veterans. Passes must be purchased in advance, either at Borough Hall or online at belmarbeachbadges.com. Beach parking: Payable via ParkMobile app for beachfront; FREE on side streets.
Pets: Prohibited on the beach until October. For more information, call 732.681.3700.
Description: Those looking to escape the Jersey Shore crowds will find solace at Bradley Beach, which has a serene boardwalk with shops and restaurants. Patrons can also walk, bike ride or jog along the boardwalk, and fishing is permitted at certain spots along the water. Meanwhile, tots will enjoy the amenities here too, including a bevy of playgrounds set up for the 4-and-younger set.
FYI: For 2023 and 2024, Bradley Beach is improving its accessibility with disability-friendly lockers, AccessMat mats and wheelchairs available for rent. Beach fees: $12 for adults; kids 11 and under are free. Admission is free for active military members and their spouses, as well as for veterans with proper ID. Beach parking: Parking pay stations are located throughout the town; it’s $1.50 an hour from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Pets: Dogs are only permitted on the beach, boardwalk or promenade from Oct. 1 through May 15. For more information, call 732.776.2999, ext. 3310.
Description: There are two options for beachgoers in Deal; Conover Pavilion, the main public beach, or Deal Casino Beach Club, which is a private club with pool and beach access. There’s no boardwalk in town, but it’s perfect for a relaxing day at the shore if you won’t miss all the hustle and bustle.
FYI: Lifeguards are on duty weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Beach fees: For Conover Pavilion, fees are $10 for weekday admission or $12 for weekends and holidays; children under 12 and vets are free.
Beach parking: Free street parking
Pets: No pets allowed. For more information, call 732.531.0404.
Now that warm weather is here, you bet we’ll be taking full advantage. Our area is lined with dozens of gorgeous beaches, some with boardwalks bustling with games, rides and food, while others are more equipped for a quiet day of contemplation. Pack a picnic, grab a book and your kids, and read on for your guide to some of the best spots in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Description: Loch Arbour is small, spanning just two long blocks and one-tenth of a square mile. But this quaint Jersey beach, arguably the tiniest in Monmouth County, is small but mighty and offers great views of Asbury Park without the traffic and crowds. Stop by the Village Beach Club for refreshments, a snack and a bathroom break.
FYI: This beach posts daily weather updates on Instagram @locharbourbeach, including the sun’s UV levels and ocean temps. Beach fees: $10 per person Monday to Thursday; $12 on Friday to Sunday and holidays.
Beach parking: Most streets offer free parking, but there are a few streets near Ocean Place that require meters.
Pets: 8th Avenue Dog Beach in Asbury Park is at the border of Loch Arbour, at which dogs are allowed through September. For more information, call 732.531.4740
Description: Long Branch is a bustling shore town with a lot to offer, including the Pier Village promenade, tons of beachfront restaurants and shops and two miles of boardwalk starting at Seven Presidents Beach, a 38-acre beach park for sand and surf.
FYI: Celebrate July 4 at Oceanfest 2023 at Pier Village, the state’s longest fireworks show. Beach fees: $6 on weekdays, $9 for weekends and holidays. Teens ages 14–17 are $3 every day, and kids under 13, seniors over age 62, military members, veterans and disabled individuals are always free.
Beach parking: You may luck out and find free parking on a side street, but the parking lot where most beachgoers park is $10 for the day on weekends. Pier Village has free but limited parking too.
Pets: No pets permitted. For more information, call 732.222.7000.
Description: Mile-long Manasquan Beach is a clean, well-maintained beach for the whole family. Main Beach has food and an arcade, while active types will find plenty to do (like surf or fish) at Manasquan Inlet.
FYI: In addition to surfing at the Inlet, you can also canoe, kayak or use a paddleboard; rent your equipment at any of the nearby shops.
Beach fees: $10 for everyone ages 12 and over; veterans and active military personnel and their families are free.
Beach parking: Manasquan Beach offers free on-street parking. Alternatively, there are five municipal lots that, if you’re not a season pass holder, require a fee of $10 on weekdays or $15 for weekends and holidays.
Pets: Leashed dogs are only permitted on the beach (but not on the boardwalk) in the offseason of October to April. You can, however, bring your furry friend to Fisherman’s Cove Conservation, a riverfront park with a small dog-friendly beach area.
For more information, call 732.223.2514.
Description: You’ll find plenty of space to spread out at Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion, an immaculate and well-kept beach.
FYI: The beach doesn’t have a boardwalk nor are there many eateries, so you’ll have to travel to find a bite.
Beach fees: $10 for adults 18 and over.
Beach parking: Street parking is free but limited; otherwise, try the free municipal lot located near the pavilion.
Pets: Pets are not permitted during summer. For more information, call 732.229.2204.
Description: A half-mile promenade alongside Ocean Grove’s quaint beach is a nice respite from the Jersey Shore madness. Two blocks away from the boardwalk is the charming downtown, where you can grab a bite or indulge in some retail therapy.
FYI: Ocean Grove is a dry town, so you’ll have to bring (and buy) your beach beer elsewhere. Beach fees: $12 per person; children 11 and under are free. Note that for the 2023 season, the beach won’t open until 12 p.m. on Sundays. Beach parking: You can park for free on the street or in a lot if you purchase a beach badge.
Pets: Leashed dogs are only allowed in the offseason, October through May.
For more information, call 732.988.5533.
Description: This 7-mile-long barrier beach peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean and Sandy Hook Bay is part of the National Park Services’ Gateway National Recreation Area, which encompasses 26,000 acres of parklands in parts of New Jersey and New York. It features public beaches, salt marshes, a holly forest and numerous historical landmarks.
FYI: There are no trash receptacles in Sandy Hook’s beaches and parks, so bring your own garbage bag from home.
Beach fees: FREE with vehicle parking.
Beach parking: $20 per day
Pets: Prohibited on the beach until fall. For more information, call 732.872.5970.
Description: The borough of Sea Bright has seven free public beaches along Ocean Avenue. There’s also Sea Bright Municipal Beach in the center of town, which has more bells and whistles, including lifeguards, parking, restrooms and locker rentals. Municipal Beach is also walking distance to Sea Bright’s downtown area, but there’s no boardwalk—it’s more like a sitting area, with no activities or concessions.
FYI: There’s a playground here right on the beach. Beach fees: $8 for ages 12 and over; kids under 12 and military personnel and family members are free. Beach parking: $2 per hour every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Pets: Prohibited on the beach until Labor Day. For more information, call 732.842.0099.
Description: Sea Girt has a white-sand beach with one mile of a boardwalk with gazebos and seating areas. It spans from the Historic Sea Girt Lighthouse to the southern end of town, which features turn-ofthe-century architecture and charming restaurants and shops.
FYI: Some say this beach is one of the cleanest on the Jersey Shore, as well as among the most quiet. Beach fees: $11.98 daily; children 11 and under are free. Admission is free after 4:30 p.m. Beach parking: Parking is free, if you’re lucky enough to snag a spot along the four-block stretch of parking along the boardwalk.
Pets: Prohibited on the beach until Sept. 30. For more information, call 732.449.9335.
Description: Two miles of oceanfront and pristine waters await you at Spring Lake. It’s a modest beach (and boardwalk), ideal for those seeking some peace and quiet. The beaches at the North End Pavilion and South End Pavilion have restrooms, outdoor showers and food concessions available to all visitors.
FYI: Food and coolers aren’t allowed on the beach, but you can enjoy a snack or meal at the benches and picnic tables near the Pavilion. Beach fees: $12 for a daily pass; kids 12 and under are free. Beach parking: Free along Ocean Avenue
Pets: Prohibited on the beach until Sept. 30 except in the fenced area near Pitney Avenue. For more information, call 732.449.0800
Top: Manasquan Beach is perfect and picturesque any time of day. Right: There are plenty of waves and open water for surfers in Spring Lake.
In Tenafly, empty nesters wanted a backyard they could swim in—and it quickly became a complete three-season outdoor retreat.
Norwood-based Mufson Pools fulfilled its clients’ wish to turn their Tenafly backyard into an almost year-round retreat. “It’s modern, but also contemporary and classic,” says designer Pamela Mufson of the setup comprising the pool and the hangout zones that accompany it.
With their two kids grown, out of the house and starting families of their own, Tenafly homeowners decided it was time for a swimming pool in their backyard. But why stop there? They hired Mufson Pools in Norwood to complete an entire recreation area, including a pool, an outdoor kitchen and the pièce de résistance: a custom pergola that would allow them to make use of their yard in any season but winter.
Before the team got started, the clients had “a composite deck with a firepit and a small patio,” Pamela Mufson, designer at Mufson Pools, tells BERGEN. So a transformation was in order—and no detail would be spared.
The fact the clients wanted the pool to have an automatic safety cover determined that the hot tub would be built into the pool, rather than raised to another level or left entirely separate. That type of cover not only looks prettier, says Mufson, because the track is concealed and it’s in place of a
mesh fence, but also excludes debris and keeps the pool and spa securely closed when they’re not in use. On the pool deck, the team chose light-gray porcelain in a three-piece modular pattern. That material retains less heat than natural stone would, and that color less than a darker one. With a pair of umbrellas and a half-dozen lounge chairs, there’s plenty of room for the whole family to spread out in the sunshine. The coping around the pool is made of natural bluestone, which was also used to accent the patios, frame out the pergola and provide the steps leading to it. “The patio underneath the pergola is raised on one side to work with the natural topography of the property,” says Mufson, who explains that the yard’s unevenness was the main physical obstacle in the construction of this project.
The pergola was a major component in the design process rather than an afterthought, a nice touch that provided the clients with the nearly year-round retreat they were seeking.
The Mufson team collaborated with Breslow Home Design in Springfield to create this custom-built, motorized pergola. “It’s completely automated so that when a raindrop hits it, it knows to close so that the homeowners aren’t running outside to get their cushions,” says the designer. For threeseason comfort, the pergola is complete with infrared heaters, ceiling fans and even curtains, which can amp up the privacy and protect from less-than-ideal weather.
In the seating area under the pergola and next to a dining table are a TV and a ventless gas fireplace, for which each stone was laid individually by hand. “We wanted it to look really luxe, so we built out a frame and veneered it in the stone,” says Mufson. The outdoor kitchen is an entertainer’s dream, featuring a grill, a trash drawer, a refrigerator and even a luxe attachment for the Ooni pizza oven the family already owned. “We ran a gas line for the pizza oven, so when they want more counter space, they can remove the oven and
unscrew it and the gas line is concealed,” says the designer. Mufson says the most painstaking part of dealing with this space was getting all the posts and fireplace to align perfectly and “make sure a column wasn’t going through an appliance.” But it all worked out.
The finishing touches on this project were the meticulously selected plants and trees. The green giant arborvitae surrounding the property provide privacy, a popular choice in New Jersey since they thrive in our climate and are deer-resistant. They’re accompanied by spruces, hydrangea, cherry trees, boxwoods and six hills giant catmint (the last of which is a bunny and deer deterrent. Sorry, fellas).
Now the homeowners are thrilled with their new and improved backyard, which took three to four months to complete. “It really is an extension of their home,” Mufson says. “It’s now a three-season spot where they can hang out, swim and watch sports. They really love this new space.”
For a social family with four girls, the backyard has become an irresistible hangout haven.
Angel Mendez is a “girl dad” times four. At his home in Wyckoff, Mendez and his wife Madeline host occasions often for their four daughters, from school parties to sports team events to graduation gatherings. Theirs was already the home where hangouts happened for their social circle and those of their kids, but they wanted to build a backyard space that made it even more inviting. A haven, if you will, for their girls, ages 11, 9, 7 and 2. And the quarantine accelerated that plan.
After checking out a few different designers in the summer of 2020, Mendez hired Pool Boss, based in Wayne, to make the transformation. A sloped backyard family members had used for sledding allowed for a multitiered design: one tier with a kitchen and dining area, another for the pool and the highest one for a grassy area for the existing swing set—which the mom of four insisted on keeping—along with a playhouse and a shed that Mendez and his father-in-law refurbished. The center of the design, literally and figuratively, is the pool, with a custom bench built into the six-foot-deep end so that guests aren’t treading water and swimmers of all levels and ages can feel comfortable. “We didn’t want everyone hanging out on just one side of the pool,” Mendez tells BERGEN.
This three-tier Wyckoff yard resembles an openconcept home, perfect for a family with kids of all ages. “We’re all outside together but we’re not on top of each other,” Angel Mendez says. Pool Boss worked with the family to make room in the design for the family’s existing swing set, a prized purchase from NJ Swingsets in Midland Park.
but I wanted it,” Mendez says with a laugh. “Same for the kitchen appliances!”
Up one level is said kitchen, designed by Wayne’s Lopes & Sons, who also executed all the Techo Bloc pavers and the hardscaping. The kitchen is galley-style rather than L-shaped and features Lynx Grills appliances. Next to the kitchen is a gas firepit, which Mendez says was preferable so that the family doesn’t have to lug firewood around the yard. “We use this firepit year-round; I smoke cigars with the guys or the kids make s’mores,” he says. “It’s become a big hangout area.”
About a year of execution and five months of labor—not to mention dealing with some pandemic-induced material shortages—was all worth it for this complete backyard overhaul, which was finished by the summer of 2022. “This space has made it easier to host family and friends,” Mendez says proudly. “We planned this for so many years, and we’re so happy we made it happen at home in Wyckoff.”
Three waterfalls disguise a necessary retaining wall and add visual interest with lights that change colors. To the right of the pool is a custom pavilion with a retractable hammock and a drop-down projector screen, complete with a surround-sound system by Sonos that plays across the property. “My wife thought the pavilion was over the top,
He adds that the backyard requires only typical lawn maintenance (for which they’ll be helped by Hapa Landscaping, which placed the sod and planted the trees) but he’s still adding to the fun. For summer ’23, Mendez purchased a giant Connect 4 game, a ping-pong table, a beer-pong table and a life-sized Jenga. “Most of my family lives in New York City, but they don’t mind making the trek out here, and a lot of the people in our community know about our yard. They’re like, ‘Can we come over? We hear you have a pool.’” Yeah, and a playground, a firepit, a barbecue and a soon-to-come gaming center too.
Patricia Holtz tells me she can’t talk at the moment, as she’s out on an extended walk with her dogs. She can’t talk Wednesday or Thursday either; she’ll be volunteering at the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, and she may be doing that on Friday too. But Tuesday should work; she’s reserved that day for “gardening frantically,” and she’ll probably want a break.
Holtz, 79, says she’s “active, within reason.” She runs up and down the stairs multiple times in her two-story Bergen County condo, and just last summer she went camping along the Oronoco River in Colombia. True, she’s had a couple of serious recent health scares—a bout with kidney cancer and heart problems that necessitated a bypass operation—but she hasn’t let them stop her from forging ahead. “I love my doctors—I run to them,” she says. “I believe that you don’t go around problems—you go through them.”
River camping in South America aside, Holtz is like many older Bergen residents, living an active, fulfilling life and looking forward to more of it. That’s not an unreasonable expectation for her here. According to the New Jersey Population Health Cohort Study, launched at Rutgers in 2022, Bergen County boasts the longest life expectancy in the state, at 83.2 years (significantly higher than the nation’s average of 77.5 and the state’s 77.7). That’s up from 82.47 in 2017 and 80 in 2006, when a Harvard study determined that Bergen was the longest-lived county in the Northeast. The same research showed that Asian American women living in Bergen County had the longest life expectancy of any racial group in the nation, at 91 years—an exceptional number even when compared with generally long-lived Asian American women elsewhere in the country.
It should be noted that COVID has had a measurable effect on longevity, thus numbers in Bergen and elsewhere are likely to be affected by it, at least in the short run. Still, Bergen residents as a whole are living significantly longer than the average, in spite of two factors
that can militate against longevity: air pollution (our air is the most polluted in the state) and high population density. Clearly, something is happening in the county that essentially nullifies both of these obstacles to living a long life.
A look at one of Bergen’s other stats offers a hint. While New Jersey’s per capita income—$35,938—is the second-highest in the country, Bergen’s is even higher, at $42,006—the state’s fourthhighest, behind only Somerset, Morris and Hunterdon. That doesn’t explain why Bergen beats even the other three in longevity, but it does point to a favorable factor.
“The greatest influence on longevity, unfortunately, is often socioeconomic status,” says Laurie Jacobs, M.D., a specialist in geriatric medicine and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “It enables you to have time and resources and education to pursue exercise and a healthy diet”—two of the most significant contributors to longevity. More than 36 percent of Americans are obese—meaning they have a body mass index over 30—versus only 21.6 percent of Bergen residents. Jacobs notes that many obese Americans have neither the time nor the finances to pursue a healthy lifestyle.
If, say, you’re working two jobs to get by, you may lack not just the money but also the time and energy to work out in a gym. You may not be able to afford healthier foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, or you may live in a food desert where those foods aren’t readily available.
Bergen is one of just four New Jersey counties in whom a majority of the over-25 population has a bachelor’s degree or better. (Here again it trails the three high-income counties mentioned above.) People with a higher level of education are also more likely to be aware of the dangers of behaviors that can shorten lifespan, such as smoking and excess
It’s not entirely clear why our county is the state’s longevity champ, but apparently its residents are doing several things right.
By Leslie Garisto Pfaff
alcohol consumption. While 20 percent of Americans smoke cigarettes, less than 13 percent of Bergenites do.
Just as wealthier people reap the health benefits of their income, so too do wealthier communities, which tend to have a greater concentration of excellent physicians and healthcare facilities. For Americans as a whole, per-capita spending on health is $358; in Bergen County it’s $478 (some of which, of course, reflects the area’s higher cost of living in general). And while Bergen doesn’t boast the wide-open spaces of more rural counties, it has a plethora of parks and green spaces that encourage walking and other forms of exercise. In fact, 50 percent of Bergen’s population lives within a half-mile of a park, versus the national average of 18 percent.
Research has repeatedly documented the importance of social networks to longevity and overall health. Lynne Katzmann, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Juniper Communities, which manages the assisted-living community Juniper Village in Paramus, has observed firsthand how that works. “People who connect to others in their community tend to thrive,” she says. Living in Bergen fosters a sense of community in a number of ways, one of which is related to its population density—often, as noted previously, a detriment to longevity. Katzmann observes that Bergen is rich in so-called naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs), which she defines as “buildings or small areas where many of the people are at a similar stage of life,” that stage being retirement. “While a NORC isn’t an organized residential community for seniors,” she explains, “it ends up being one de facto.” It’s an opportunity to socialize congenially with contemporaries.
Strong social networks—the kind fostered by NORCs—help to increase longevity by buffering stress and, in doing so, lowering blood pressure, fighting depression and boosting immunity. They also offer practical support—everything from help with transportation to shared cooking.
(Katzmann notes that as many older people stop cooking for themselves the healthiness of their diets suffers.)
In Bergen, community support for seniors is a countywide imperative. Kerri Sherer, Bergen’s deputy director of Senior Services, says the county’s programs for seniors are, in part, a result of the large percentage of
the population over 60—close to 20 percent. The county funds 10 senior activity centers, which encourage both socialization and physical activity, as well as a variety of nutrition and wellness programs.
There’s no doubt that genetics influences longevity, but its influence isn’t as significant as many people believe.
“About a quarter of the relationship to longevity relates to genetics,” says Jacobs. Research indicates that certain genes confer resistance to serious illness such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, while others likely predispose a person to specific diseases. But the way we live and the lifestyle choices we make can sometimes override our genetic makeup—for good or ill.
There are few available statistics on the overall health of Bergen’s seniors, but there’s some reason to believe that, as a group, they’re relatively healthy. Many of the habits that contribute to our general longevity also predispose us to better health as we age. Diseases of the elderly are less prevalent here than in the state and the nation as a whole: Three percent of Bergenites suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseasae (COPD), compared with 4.6 percent of both New Jersey residents and Americans. Fewer of us have hypertension: 25.2 percent versus 29 percent for New Jersey and nearly 50 percent for the U.S. Invasive cancer rates are also lower here: 420 out of 100,000 residents versus 442 in New Jersey and 438 across the U.S.
Still, there’s one disease of old age we suffer in the same proportion as the rest of America, and that’s dementia. Roughly 10 percent of Americans and Bergen residents alike suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. In response, the county recently launched a Dementia Friendly Initiative, which will provide education, assistance and resources to residents with dementia and their caregivers.
The secret to a long life? No one has found that yet, despite all the study and all the numbers. Living actively and fully, keeping current with medical care, cultivating friendships and choosing healthy behaviors—all of these seem to be big contributors (which is not to say that they work for everyone). A statistician might suggest that living in the right place is another key. Happily, we seem to be doing that already.
Want to live long? You’d do well to study Bergen’s longestlived residents, Asian American women. Most are Korean immigrants who arrived here in middle age or slightly younger starting in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. “They were born and raised in Korea and lived the Korean lifestyle,” explains Hee Yang, M.D., medical director of Asian Health Services at Holy Name Medical Center. And that lifestyle, which they brought with them to the U.S., may well hold keys to a chance at greater longevity.
• Don’t smoke. In traditional Korean culture, most women don’t smoke, though the habit is common among Korean men. Research by the nonprofit Action on Smoking and Health determined that a 30-year-old smoker can expect to live some 35 additional years, while a nonsmoker of the same age is looking at 53 years.
• Don’t drink, or drink in moderation. While Korean men tend to drink heavily, Korean women generally eschew alcohol. According to the CDC, excessive drinking can shorten one’s lifespan by an average of 26 years. The CDC defines excessive drinking as eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more drinks per week for men. Moderate drinking, on the other hand— one drink a day for women and two for men—may be associated with a longer lifespan, though researchers aren’t sure if the alcohol has an active effect on longevity or is simply common among many longer-lived people who practice other healthy habits. (The CDC defines one drink as 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or oneand-a-half ounces of liquor or distilled spirits.)
• Eat fruits, vegetables and legumes. “The Korean diet was mostly vegetables because meat was very difficult to get, especially in the ’70s and ’80s,” says Dr. Yang. That diet continued to prevail among Korean women when they immigrated to America, and
it’s highly protective against cardiovascular disease.
• Be active. Until recently, many Koreans didn’t own a car, so they walked and relied on public transportation. Activity was built into their daily life in the form of walking to shops, playing with children and and doing heavy housework. A study from the National Cancer Institute and Harvard University found that adults who exercised 20 minutes a day lowered their chances of dying over the next decade and a half by 31 percent; those who performed similar exercise for over an hour a day cut their risk by 39 percent.
• Build a (nonvirtual) social network. “Older Korean women haven’t fully assimilated into American life,” notes Dr. Yang, so they depend upon one another for friendship and support. Numerous studies have suggested that people with strong emotional connections live longer, healthier lives.
• Have a purpose. With their strong sense of community and involvement within the Protestant church, Bergen’s Korean American women tend to wake up each day with a sense of purpose. You can derive purpose from religion, a job or a passion like music or history. And a recent study out of Boston University’s School of Public Health found that living a purpose-driven life reduced the risk of all causes of mortality—a finding that was particularly strong in women.
Nowhere is it written that family travel fun requires a week-long visit to Rome, Yellowstone or even Disney World. If a major journey is several weeks away or isn’t in the cards just now, take heart: There are delightful places to go on day trips right here in our own region that don’t even require an overnight stay. For instance, you can...
By Emily SchopferDive in and meet your friends at American Dream, East Rutherford. Favorites Shrek, SpongeBob and the gang from PAW Patrol are all under one climate-controlled roof at American Dream, the 3 million-square-foot shopping and entertainment center that’s a perfect summertime destination. Beat the heat at DreamWorks Water Park, North America’s largest indoor water park, home to record-breaking slides, luxury cabanas and, of course, Shrek and company. For more thrills, ride the roller coasters, try the ropes adventure and snap photos with Dora the Explorer and other lovable characters at Nickelodeon Universe.
Pro tip: Pack bathing suits and towels for the water park. But don’t fret if you forgot something—everything you need is available for purchase. To avoid disappointment, check the park alerts for updated ride closures and maintenance before you go to Nickelodeon.
Parks admission: DreamWorks, 1-day allaccess pass, $79–$99. Nickelodeon, 1-day all access pass, $69–$79. Info: americandream.com
Take it inside at The Flavor Labs and Monster Mini Golf, Paramus, and Urban Air Adventure Park, South Hackensack. Up for trying a trio of new activities in Bergen? Let your kids get their hands dirty at Flavor Labs’ fun and relaxing cooking classes (available as private or group sessions) for everyone from toddlers through teens. The kitchen is nut-free, so those with that allergy need not worry. For a little action and a bit of adventure, head next to Monster Mini Golf for a monsterthemed round of putt-putt. The indoor course is darkened and illuminated with blacklights, adding a touch of spookiness to your session. And to really let out kids’ energy (and yours), take them to Urban Air, where they’ll be “bouncing off the walls”—almost literally. Kids of all ages can reach new heights on a series of trampolines, climbing walls, indoor playgrounds and warrior courses. Pro tip: After your golf session ends, you can squeeze in another hour of fun at the facility’s mini bowling alley and arcade. (Who doesn’t love the claw machine?) And don’t worry about refueling at Urban Air. Its café has plenty of food and drink to keep everyone energized and hydrated.
Admission: The Flavor Labs, $39 for a single session. Monster Mini Golf, adults, $14; children, $13: seniors, military and first responders, $11. Urban Air, $25.99 for trampolines only, additional activities are extra.
Info: theflavorlabs.com; monsterminigolf.com/ paramus; urbanair.com/new-jersey-southhackensack
Even if you have a major trip on the agenda this summer, why not enjoy a quick visit to one (or more)
of five family-friendly north Jersey destinations?
By Emily Schopfer
Experience the great outdoors at Van Saun Park, Paramus. The beauty of the Garden State is on full display at Bergen’s crown jewel of parks. Within its more than 130 acres are plenty of grounds for picnics and play, pony rides, the Bergen County Zoo and, of course, the famous train and carousel. For those visiting on a warm summer day, the park also features the ADA-accessible Harmony Playground, which features a water sprinkler that was undergoing renovation at press time. Need a break from the crowds? With more than three miles of walking trails, the park is a perfect place for a couples’ hike or a solo trek in nature.
Pro tip: Before, during or after your trip around the zoo, be sure to stop by the general store. The zoo doesn’t have a restaurant, but you can buy snacks and beverages for your hungry crew here.
Zoo admission: Adults, $4 ($8 for non-Bergen residents); children, $2 ($5 for non-Bergen residents); seniors, $1 ($2 for non-Bergen residents). Pony rides, $3. Train and carousel, $2. Info: co.bergen.nj.us/parks-recreation-areas/ van-saun-county-park
Find your wild side at Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange. Whether you prefer animals in the sea or in a tree—or housed in spacious enclosures—this zoo just 30 minutes from Bergen County is where your family can commune with more than 200 species. Grab a free map and be sure to head to the revamped Wild America exhibit (formerly known as Wild New Jersey), featuring bald eagles, hawks and ravens. Of course, there are plenty more interactive displays and things to see, including gift shops and the Savannah Café for those who work up an appetite. And each section of the zoo is easily accessible: Outside strollers are permitted (they’re also available for rent), and the facility is ADA-compliant and friendly to service animals.
Pro tip: The zoo permits outside snacks, so pack sandwiches, pretzels and popcorn to nosh throughout the day (or to cater to the fussy eaters in your group). Just don’t share your food with the animals!
Admission: Adults, $19; children and seniors, $16.
Info: turtlebackzoo.com
‘Sea’ the world at SeaQuest, Woodbridge. SeaQuest brings the animal kingdom from five continents to Jersey, with a lineup that includes more than 300 species of fish (including stingrays and sharks), turtles, lizards, otters, sloths and flying squirrels. For an up-closeand-personal experience, visitors have the chance to touch and pet specific animals, and special food is available for purchase so that you can feed animals “dessert.”
Pro tip: Dress informally, as fish can splash and some birds may drop remembrances. SeaQuest is located in the Woodbridge Center mall, about 45 minutes from Bergen County, so there’s more family fun and food at your fingertips (Dave & Busters, for instance) when your adventure here ends.
Admission: Adults, $24.99; seniors, $21.99; children, $18.99.
Info: visitseaquest.com/woodbridge
Boring burgers are so last summer. Heat up the grill and layer on the toppings for these unexpected twists on the backyard BBQ classic.
Yields 2 servings
INGREDIENTS:
n 4 Tbs. butter
n 4 cups red onions, thinly sliced
n 8 oz. ground beef
n 1 oz. French onion soup mix
n 3 oz. sliced Gruyere cheese
n 2 oz. Gruyere cheese, shredded
n 2 hamburger buns
DIRECTIONS:
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and swirl until melted.
Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized. Add a few tablespoons of water as needed to keep the onions from getting dry.
Fold the French onion soup mix into the ground beef. Form 4 thin patties out of the ground beef.
Place 1 tablespoon of the onions in the center of one of the patties and top with half of the shredded Gruyere cheese.
Carefully place another patty on top and press the edges together to seal the burger.
Repeat with the remaining 2 patties.
Preheat a griddle pan (or grill) to medium-high heat. Cook the burgers 5 to 7 minutes and then turn the burgers over.
Top with the sliced Gruyere cheese and cook an additional 6 to 8 minutes or until the burger is cooked to your liking.
Toast the buns and place on patty on each of the bottom buns. Top with the remaining caramelized onions and serve.
For a healthy update to this recipe, opt for 90 percent lean ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken or a veggie option like a portobello mushroom (add seasonings on top). Make your own French onion soup mix with 3 Tbs. minced onion flakes, 2 Tbs. beef bouillon powder, ½ tsp. onion powder, ¼ tsp. parsley flakes, 1⁄₈ tsp. ground celery seeds and a pinch of black pepper, sweet paprika and salt.”
—Janet Brancato, registered dietitian nutritionist, Valley Dining, Valley Health System
Yields 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
Spicy Mayo and Slaw
n 1 garlic clove, finely grated
n 1/2 cup mayonnaise
n 1 Tbs. Louisiana-style hot pepper sauce
n 1/2 small red onion,
thinly sliced
n 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
n 4 cups thinly sliced cabbage
n 1/2 cup bread-and-butter
pickle slices, plus 1/4 cup pickle juice
Fried Chicken and Assembly
n 2 cups all-purpose flour
n 1 Tbs. ground
black pepper
n 1/2 tsp. kosher
salt plus more
n 1 cup buttermilk
n 2 8-oz. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, halved crosswise
n peanut or vegetable oil (for frying)
n 4 white sandwich rolls
n 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, room temperature
DIRECTIONS:
To make the mayo and slaw, mix garlic, mayonnaise and hot pepper sauce in a small bowl; cover and chill. Toss onion, jalapeño, cabbage, pickles, and pickle juice in a large bowl to combine; cover and chill.
To make and assemble the fried chicken, whisk flour, pepper and 1/2 teaspoons salt in a shallow bowl. Pour buttermilk into another shallow bowl. Working with 1 piece at a time, dredge chicken in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Dip in buttermilk, allowing excess to drip back into bowl. Dredge again in flour mixture, shaking off excess.
Pour oil into a large heavy skillet to a depth of 1/2-inch. Prop deep-fry thermometer in oil so bulb is submerged. Heat over medium heat until thermometer registers 350°.
Fry chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a wire rack set inside a baking sheet; season with salt.
Spread cut sides of rolls with butter. Heat another large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, cook rolls buttered side down until browned and crisp, about 1 minute. Spread with spicy mayo. Build sandwiches with rolls, chicken and cabbage slaw.
“After shaking off the excess flour, lightly spray the chicken with cooking spray and bake in an air fryer at 400°F for 15-18 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. This is a great way to lighten up this dish.”
—Barbara Stavrou, registered dietitian, ShopRite of Hillsdale
THE AREA’S LEADING WOMEN IN HEALTHCARE
230 East Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652
www.newbridgehealth.org
CURRENT POSITION: President and CEO since 2017
Masters of Science ~ Health Care Administration
Bachelors of Arts ~ Health Services Administration
New School for Social Research, New York, NY
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Felician University
My family has always been and continues to be my source of strength, encouraging and supporting me every day as I work to further healthcare equity and accessibility. Coming from an underserved community, I was inspired from an early age to make a difference to enhance access to care. I knew the only way to truly make that happen was to work in healthcare and keep pushing, working every day to my North Star which was to be in a position where I could affect change, combat healthcare inequities, address social determinants of health and bring equitable access to quality healthcare to those most in need.
I will continue to lead the transformational journey of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center as we reimagine healthcare delivery and increase healthcare access for the diverse communities we serve.
Taking what we have learned from the pandemic regarding the importance of healthcare affordability and accessibility, we will focus on addressing the social determinants of health and reducing healthcare disparities. This work is particularly important for those communities who have been traditionally underserved or marginalized. The feedback from our Community Health Needs Assessment has led us to create or enhance much needed programs like eating disorder treatment, youth mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, bariatric services, women’s health and wellness, LGBTQ+ health and wellness and elder care.
We will offer care when and where our communities need it, including at our new CareRite Now express care locations at select Inserra ShopRite Supermarkets throughout Bergen County. We will continue to focus on quality. In 2022, BNBMC was again recognized as a ‘Top Hospital’ and earned the highest ‘Grade A’ safety rating from the Leapfrog Group. Newsweek selected BNBMC as a Best Nursing Home for 2022 and 2023 and the Medical Center, for the second year in a row has been named a Top Hospital in the state by Jersey’s Best Magazine.
This is just a preview of what our future holds and some of the many reasons I am proud to be the President and CEO of Bergen New Bridge. I am honored to lead the dedicated professionals at the Medical Center as we deliver the best possible care and outcomes to the diverse communities we serve.
As a Latine hospital CEO, I understand first-hand and therefore am deeply committed to the needs of traditionally underserved communities and prioritize greater access to preventive care for LGBTQ+, The Lenape Ramapough Nation, Black and Brown communities, veterans, the elderly, those with autism and the differently abled. The diversity of Bergen New Bridge and our ability to bring specialized care directly into the communities that need it most is one of our many unique qualities.
Agresta Psychotherapy Group
60 Grand Ave., Englewood, NJ 07631 201.567.3117 | agrestapsychotherapy.com
CURRENT POSITION: Psychotherapist/Co-Founder
YEARS IN PRACTICE: 30
EDUCATIONAL BACKROUND:
Masters in Social Work (MSW), New York University, Silver School of Social Work
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Villanova University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
INSPIRATION TO BECOME A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER: I was initially inspired to go into this field because of experience with two important therapists in my life. In addition, my mother, Nancé Agresta, is the co-owner of Agresta Psychotherapy Group, and I am proud to work alongside her.
MOST PROUD OF: Running a successful practice in New York and New Jersey for over 30 years, in addition to contributing to news and media magazines and appearing on Chanel 2’s “The Early Show”, all while watching my daughter grow into an extremely capable and kind human being.
GOALS FOR THE FUTURE: To continue to grow my practice and allow for those in need to have access to quality mental healthcare, as well as continuing to dismantle the mental health stigma that plagues our society.
WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE: At Agresta Psychotherapy Group, we provide support and treatment in a safe and caring environment that is tailored specifically to each individual’s needs. We have several therapists on staff who each specialize in specific areas, allowing for various issues to be treated with the best expertise.
FAMILY/PASSIONS: I enjoy working with charities such as the Lustgarten Foundation, ALS Association, Alzheimer’s Association, and St. Judes. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family while playing pickleball, biking, and frequenting the Jersey Shore.
WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? We work with individuals, families, couples and children of all ages. We treat anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, grief, eating disorders, addictions, sexual abuse, gender identity, trauma, and PMADS and utilize various methods for treatment including EMDR, CBT, DBT, ACT and Mindfulness.
351 Evelyn St., Paramus, NJ 07652 201.261.7645 | www.cosmeticdentistofparamus.com
CURRENT POSITION: Practice owner of DCCD, focusing on Advanced Restorative Dentistry
YEARS IN PRACTICE: 22
EDUCATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: I graduated with honors from University of Maryland and completed a General Practice Residency at Newark Beth Israel, followed by years of study at the world renowned Pankey Institute. Today I continue my education as a faculty club elite member of Spear Education and share my knowledge as part time faculty in the esthetics program, at NYU’s Center for Continuing Dental Education.
INSPIRATION TO BECOME A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER: My inspiration comes from many places, early on from family of course and my early experiences as a patient at dental school. Working side by side with dentists and physicians that are committed to excellence and are dedicated to taking great care of their patients is a continuous inspiration. Furthermore, I’m inspired by my own patients, of all ages, also my staff members, and others that push themselves out of their comfort zones, overcome obstacles and maintain a growth mindset in both personal and professional lives.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS: From the start of my career, I had a vision of excellence when it comes to my profession and the work I do. I stayed true to that vision despite numerous challenges while building and growing a practice centered on core values such as integrity, authenticity, trustworthiness and responsibility.
GOALS FOR THE FUTURE: My hope is to continue to bridge the gap between medicine and dentistry, focusing on total health and wellness. I also enjoy providing dental care to underprivileged individuals living right in Bergen County and hope to provide more opportunity for those in need.
CHARACTERISTICS
PRACTICE UNIQUE: As a dentist, I’m in a position that allows me the opportunity to examine my patients in a holistic way, that many physicians are not trained to do. My advanced training helps me identify signs that may indicate areas of weakness, that if treated can lead to better overall health and an improved quality of life of my patients.
OUR PHILOSOPHY: Compassion and Connection. We are devoted to treating the whole person, not just their legs.
YEARS IN PRACTICE: 21
EDUCATIONAL BACKROUND:
We strongly promote and encourage education. Knowledge and expertise make up the fabric of our team. Our extraordinary group of women have earned valuable credentials such as specialty certifications in Surgical Coordinating, Medical Assisting and Billing. Additionally, we have Registered Nurses with Bachelor’s and Doctoral degrees. We are also proud to have an executive leadership team with one PhD and two MBAs.
OUR INSPIRATION: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mahatma Ghandi. Growing personally and professionally is the gratifying by-product of serving the needs of others.
MOST PROUD OF: Our patient loyalty and over 500 Five-Star reviews! Every patient’s experience from the first phone call to their last vein treatment is what they will remember. It’s about how they were treated. At Chuback Vein center we have created “A Tradition of Excellence” and strive to maintain it every day.
WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE: As a private Vein Care practice, we hold fast to the traditional way medicine should be practiced – by putting the patient first and honoring the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship. As women administrators and caregivers, we also foster an environment of belonging and respect that is felt by both our team and our patients.
CARING AND EDUCATING: Our patients come to us at a time when they are vulnerable and experiencing great discomfort from their vein disease. Tired, swollen legs with prominent varicose or spider veins are often the signs and symptoms of a significant problem. Throughout their treatment journey, we get to know each individual and their families. We educate and inform them about their medical condition, the treatment options, helpful lifestyle changes, and any insurance related questions.
GIVING BACK: Our Compassion and Connection philosophy extends to the community through our ongoing support of Table to Table. Feeding the hungry of New Jersey has been our passion for over a decade, and we come up with fun and creative ways to raise money to help this very important cause.
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: Dr. Michael Brook, Ester Perel
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.
Bona Dea Gynecology LLC
481 Kinderkamack Rd., Oradell, NJ 07649 551.578.5898 | www.bonadeagynecology.com
CURRENT POSITION: Physician, Medical Director
YEARS IN PRACTICE: 20
EDUCATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: Masters from UMDNJ, Doctorate from UMDNJ, Board Certified OB/GYN
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS: One of my primary accomplishments is advocating for women’s health and consistently delivering excellent patient care. This includes performing surgeries with precision, and ensuring the well-being and comfort of patients throughout their treatment journey.
FUTURE GOALS: I am developing a unique financial literacy course and philanthropy for women to enhance their financial knowledge, empowering women, and promote economic independence.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKE YOU AND YOUR PRACTICE UNIQUE: We offer compassionate and comprehensive gynecological care by dedicating time with each patient so Dr. Verrico can learn about your unique needs and design a personalized plan for your gynecological wellbeing.
FAVORITE HOBBIES AND PASTIMES: Dr. Verrico enjoys spending time growing her organic garden, cooking, baking, and traveling with her family. She is also passionate about teaching women how to grow wealth through real estate to achieve financial freedom.
Dr. Juliet D. Caldwell
Tri America Health & Wellness LLC
38 Summit Ave., Hackensack NJ 07601 201.552.4391
CURRENT POSITION: Internist and Addiction Medicine
Specialist
EDUCATIONAL BACKROUND:
American Board of Preventive Medicine: Addiction Medicine
American Board of Emergency Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Director of Addiction Medicine, HUMC.
Director of Addiction Medicine & Withdrawal Management Unit, CareWell Health; Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, New York-Presbyterian, Weill-Cornell.
BEST DECISION/GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT:
“First find, then follow your passion”—this is what I teach my son. In this case, I did heed my advice! Medicine is my calling, not just my career.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKE YOU UNIQUE:
Because I specialize in three fields of medicine, my practice is naturally more versatile. From disease prevention to complex hospitalization; from minor discretionary procedures to flexible addiction treatment tailored at each transition of recovery—I am able. Safe, efficient, and emergency trained.
You’ll feel like you’re on a tropical escape with a taste of this berry and citrus cocktail.
Yields: 2 servings
INGREDIENTS
n 4 oz. tequila
n 2 oz. lime juice
n 2 oz. cointreau
n 12 blackberries, muddled
n Topo Chico, to finish
n limes, to garnish
n aggressively salted rim
Run a wedge of lime across the top of 2 glasses. Once damp, coat the rim in salt. Muddle the blackberries. Add the other liquids and strain to remove most of the seeds. Serve over ice in a salted rimmed glass.
“You can literally spice up this margarita recipe by muddling two small slices of jalapeño pepper with the blackberries. Remember to strain to remove the seeds from both the peppers and berries!”
—Peter Moorhead, mixologist, Recipe courtesy of liquor.com
67 Summit Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601 | 201.343.5111
www.inessaslavindds.com
With summertime – the season for smiles – here, Dr. Inessa Slavin ensures that her patients are ready to celebrate the glories of the season with confidence and poise.
Dr. Slavin intentionally keeps her practice small and personalized so she can give each patient the time they deserve and address any smile wishes or concerns. Dr. Slavin works hand in hand with her patients to offer simple smile solutions like teeth whitening options or more complex procedures like crowns to restore decayed, broken or chipped teeth.
The small communities of New Jersey were always endearing to Dr. Slavin and, in 2006, she chose to open her practice in the close-knit city of Hackensack where she could offer her patients an environment that is gentle and caring. A first-generation dentist, Dr. Slavin takes pride in teaching her student interns that a healthy mouth and a beautiful, bright smile are the surest ways to delight in all the wonders of summer.
Andrew Spector, D.M.D., FAGD, FICOI
173 Terrace St., Haworth, NJ 07641
201.384.1611 | www.gentledentistry.com | www.bergenhybridge.com
Nationally renowned speaker, Dr. Andrew Spector of Gentle Dentistry has committed to providing minimally invasive comprehensive care with the most advanced technology available.
Excellence in aesthetic dentistry is Dr. Spector’s deepest passion, which comes from understanding a patient’s desires and delivering the perfect aesthetic outcome. Dr. Spector’s vision, and his 26-year relationship with one of the nation’s most distinguished dental laboratories, ensures impeccable results. Assisted by the use of today’s most advanced technologies, including 3D imaging, CAD/CAM technology and advanced laser care, you can be assured of an exceptional experience
As a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and past Clinical Associate Professor of Implantology at NYU, his work has been featured on television networks ABC, NBC, CBS, NJ12 and in the New York Times.
Anthony Caramico, DMD
Bjorn Thorsen, DDS
Michael Russo, DMD
MIDLAND PARK FAMILY DENTISTRY
662 Godwin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432 | 201.447.5555 | www.midlandparkfamilydentistry.com
Now that the winter months are behind us, it’s time to get outside and embark on some summertime fun and laughter with family and friends.
Plunge into the spirit of summer with a smile that awakens your senses to the beauty of the season, bringing joy and radiating confidence. An infectious smile has the power to lift your mood, reduce stress and spread good cheer to everyone around you.
Dentistry and its advancements make it possible to predictably enhance and improve your smile and overall dental health. Offering a wide range of cosmetic and restorative services from teeth whitening to Invisalign or even aesthetic crowns and veneers, we here at Midland Park Family Dentistry would love to talk with you about your smile options.
Dr. Tony, Dr. Bjorn, Dr. Mike and the entire team are committed to making this summer your best one yet with the simple touch of a natural and brilliant smile!
THE CENTER FOR IMPLANTS AND AESTHETICS AT ENGLEWOOD DENTAL
370 Grand Ave., Suite 200, Englewood, NJ 07631 | 201.871.3555 | www.englewooddental.com
Dr. John Minichetti, who has been improving smiles for over 30 years with cosmetic and implant dentistry, recommends summer as the ideal time to plan your smile makeover.
With summer’s slower pace and increased leisure time, Dr. Minichetti encourages his patients to use the summer months to plan and schedule long-term surgical/smile makeovers that will have you picture-perfect in time for the holidays. If you’re celebrating a graduation, wedding or long- awaited summer vacation and simply want a quick fix, Dr. Minichetti also offers the latest facial and dental cosmetic procedures including teeth whitening, bonding, Botox and Juvederm to have you looking and feeling your best. Summer is also the time to get your beloved high school seniors ready for college. Come September, college freshmen are busy acclimating to a new way of life. Use the summer months to get them in for a checkup, fitted for an extra retainer or to finally have those nagging wisdom teeth removed.
Dr. Minichetti provides comprehensive dental care in a cutting-edge facility with an in-house lab, a board-certified anesthesiologist, a surgical suite and an elite team of specialists. So, what are you waiting for? Stop by and talk to us about your concerns, wishes and dream smile and let’s get started today!
Without a doubt, summertime gives us lots to smile about. So now is the time to let your smile shine!
The first and most important step to an aesthetically pleasing smile is optimal oral health. Healthy gums supported by firm, dense bone levels and a functional bite are imperative in working toward a balanced, bright and glossy smile. To ensure a healthy mouth, Dr. FarinasHan recommends that her patients schedule regular visits for periodic cleanings and early diagnosis of decay and bone loss by using the latest digital technologies. This is also a good time to discuss tooth straightening options like Invisalign. Once healthy teeth and gums are established, only then does the real magic begin. With gifted hands and a creative vision, Dr. Farinas-Han partners with her patients to create balanced, unique and artistic smiles that build confidence, boost self-esteem and are showcased throughout life with pride.
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 DELVINA RESTAURANT 172 Piermont Rd. 201.816.0239 delvinarestaurant.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 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
IL MULINO 132 Veterans Plz. 201.384.7767 ilmulinodumont.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
EMMA BISTRO 2 Hilliard Ave. 201.402.7719 emmabistronj.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
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
BENNIE’S 54 E. Palisade Ave. 201.894.5700 benniesofenglewood.com
BLUE MOON CAFÉ
23 E. Palisade Ave. 201.541.0600 bluemoonmexican café.com
CASSIE’S
18 S. Dean St. 201.541.6760 cassiespizzeria.com
CHAT KAEW THAI CUISINE
4 E. Palisade Ave. 201.894.0343
HUMMUS ELITE 39 E. Palisade Ave. 201.569.5600 hummuselite.com
LA FONDA PAISA
95 W. Palisade Ave. 201.871.3544 lafondapaisausa.com
LA’MEZZA
63 Nathaniel Pl. 201.569.2662 lamezzarestaurant.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 THE CHEF’S 754 Franklin 201.891.6644 tctnj.com
SUSHI COCORO 856 Franklin 201.560.1333 sushicocoro.com
GARFIELD
THE FIREHOUSE 42 Plauderville 973.478.2226 firehouse-restaurant.com
GOODFELLAS 661 Midland 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
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
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
TERRACE STREET CAFÉ 149 Terrace St. 201.338.4720 terracestreetcafe.com
HILLSDALE THE CORNERSTONE 84 Broadway 201.666.8688 thecornerstonenj.com
DELLA CUCINA 100 Park Ave. 201.722.8880 dellacucinanj.com
DOMANI 387 Washington Ave. 201.722.8881 domanirestaurants.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
88 RICE SHOP 88 Rte. 46 W. 201.840.8688 88riceshop.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
BV 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 CASA DEL SOLE 115 Broadway 201.391.5671 casadelsole.biz
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 BIDDY O’MALLEY’S 36 N. Van Brunt St. 201.608.5545 biddyomalleys.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
THE PARK STEAKHOUSE 151 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.930.1300 theparksteakhouse.com
PEPPERCORNS
176 Colony Ave. 201.391.2818 peppercornsparkridge.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
SOL MEXICAN & LATIN RESTAURANT 42 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.746.9363 solrestaurantnj.com
WYCKOFF THE BARN ORIGINAL 359 Sicomac Ave. 201.848.0108 thebarnoriginal.com
CAFÉ AMICI 315 Franklin Ave. 201.848.0198 cafeamiciwyckoff.com
Locating a Korean restaurant in the Ridgefield/Palisades Park area is like finding a pizzeria in New York City—there are seemingly dozens of options on every block. K-food connoisseurs have their favorites, but even they look forward to trying a new eatery when it opens in town. That’s the scene at upscale Karden, where devotees of Korean cuisine—as well as newbies—have been gathering since its opening this spring. A friend and I sat for dinner on a busy Saturday evening, surrounded by both a boisterous group in celebratory mode and a quiet couple who appeared to be overwhelmed by the large number of offerings on the menu. We understood the latter’s predicament, as we were indecisive about choosing the right drink.
But we quickly learned there’s no wrong selection at Karden. My starter cocktail, dubbed “Power of Innocence,” came from the bar’s specialty list. Made with hibiscus-infused soju (one of the most popular Korean spirits) and lemon simple syrup, the drink is an ideal warmweather sip thanks to a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. My friend, meanwhile, isn’t too keen on alcoholic beverages, so she found the list of mocktails quite refreshing. Even I was enamored with her choice, berry lime smash, made with strawberry purée, lime, honey and a sprig of mint. It’s a flavor anyone can enjoy, whether you’re seated at a fancy restaurant or lounging in a backyard hammock. Already feeling the vibe and drinks, we had wide eyes for nearly every plate on the food menu. We split two appetizers to start: mushroom tangsoo and K-beef striploin tartare. The mushroom dish is a well-known (and loved) treat in Korean kitchens. It combines assorted deep-fried mushroom caps, including the oh-so-delish shiitake variety, mixed with veggies and a memorable sweetand-sour sauce. The crispiness of every bite complemented the soft and tender taste of the tartare, a ball of raw premium beef topped with sesame seeds and served with an egg yolk and a bed of green. Each scoop of tartare seemed better than the previous one, especially after I drizzled the egg on top and took a
forkful of lettuce and cucumber with it. We could have had more tartare to accompany one of our two main courses, but we elected to go the all-vegetable route for the hot stone bowl bibimbap. This traditional Korean bowl includes an assortment of sauteed veggies and a raw egg served over a bed of rice. The sizzling stone bowl keeps the ingredients warm from start to finish, even when you combine any of the cooler sides that come with it—kimchi and salad. Any order of bibimbap also comes with dongchimi, a style of kimchi with pickled radish, cabbage and scallion in a briny water. I was pleasantly surprised to see dongchimi available this time of year (it’s typically offered during colder months)—and just as pleased that it was fresh and delicious.
Our second entree was “Smoked 7th Galbi Gui,” the enormous, fatty and flavorful seventh beef rib. The presentation was impeccable: The meat was thinly sliced and served on top of the rib bone, making for easy sharing and picking, while the chewy fat and cartilage pieces were separated and plated to the side in case we wished to avoid (or seek out) those parts. Despite the name, the rib meat didn’t have an overwhelming smokiness to it, and it picked up more flavor from the bed of sautéed onions and other veggies. The dish also came with steamy white rice and a hot stone bowl filled with one of the best-tasting kimchi stews I’ve ever tried. Seeing my face light up when I tried the stew (my friend had a similar reaction) prompted Karden’s owner to visit us and explain the recipe, the process, the use of meat and the unique stewing method.
We joked afterward that we’d return and become regulars just for the kimchi stew, but we agreed that there’s much more to try. In addition to its à la carte la carte menu, Karden offers traditional Korean barbecue, in which assorted meats (including the aforementioned seventh beef rib) are grilled to the customer’s liking at the table. There’s also an assortment of desserts (Korean zeppole and cheesecake, among other options) that we’ll be back to enjoy. It’s safe to say that we’ve become part of the flock of followers here.
4
cultural side at ART held the first Fridays August at Ridgewood’s Van Neste Square. picturesque park check out art of from 6:30 until 9 p.m. 201.389.8676 or visit
10
Indulge in a sampling of best food and drink
Bergen County has to offer at the DINING OUT NJ FOOD EXPO, scheduled for The Terrace at Biagio’s in Paramus. From 6 to 10 p.m., walk around and enjoy tastings from local restaurants and chefs across all types of cuisine. Tickets are $65 in advance or $75 at the door; note there’s a cash bar, but there will be beer. DiningoutNJ.com has more details.
JULY 10, 17, 24, 31
you’re a bona never even downward dog, you’ll YOGA at the Performing Arts Center. p.m. and Monday throughout Hackensack’s Street Park for have you Best yet: more info hacpac.org.
20, 27
of live music to summer, including at SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 2023 On Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m., take in the sounds of music across a variety of genres the covered pavilion at Davies Memorial Field. Bring your own chairs or blankets. Admission is free! For the full concert lineup, out parkridgeboro.com.
JULY 14–16
Can’t decide which cuisine you’re in the mood for? No need to choose at the AMERICAN DREAM FOOD
FEST in East Rutherford, featuring more than 100 ethnic food vendors, including Chinese barbecue, Filipino food and more from across the globe. The event will also have a live DJ and local artists, and is held outside at Lot 26 from noon to 10 p.m.— order lunch, dinner and some snacks in between! For pricing info and more up-to-theminute info, follow them on Instagram @dreamfoodfest.
JULY 21–23
Comedy Central, The Tonight Show Starring
Jimmy Fallon, Vh1’s Best Week Ever—these are just a few career highlights of comedian PETE LEE, who will be performing five standup shows over three days at Bananas Comedy Club in Rutherford. Lee currently has his own segments on TruTV and Nickelodeon—basically, he’s all over the place, and if you haven’t heard of him yet, you will soon! Tickets for the 16+ crowd are $24 for general admission. For showtimes and Lee’s full bio and resume, visit bananascomedyclub.com.
JULY 30
Enjoy a special summer evening on the water when Tenafly Nature Center hosts the TAVERN NIGHT ON THE RIVER
SAIL Enjoy beautiful vistas of the Hudson Valley and New York City skyline as you listen to live music (and sing along!), as well as hear commentary from a Palisades
Fort Lee will be transformed into an epic for CONCOURS ON THE PALISADES, second annual car show featuring luxury and automobiles. Peruse more than 100 cars countries of origin. year’s show will also special recognition Corvette’s 70th anniversary. Check out bdaftlee.com/car-show/ details, how to register your car and how to become a sponsor.
JULY 18
Nothing says team building like running a 5K with your co-workers. Register your company or team for the CORPORATE FUN RUN 5K at Overpeck County Park in Ridgefield Park. Run or walk two loops around the scenic park, starting and ending at the amphitheater. Free beer and pizza are included in the $44 ticket price and await you at the finish line—well deserved after that hard work with your work friends! Corporatefunrun.com has more info.
Interstate Park historian. The boat docks at the Alpine Boat Basin. The excursion is from 5 to 7:45 p.m. and is limited to 45 participants. Tickets are $100 each. BYO drinks and food. Find out more at tenaflynaturecenter.org.
JULY 29 & 30
Say “Heyyyy, Mrs. Carter” when BEYONCE herself performs a two-night stint at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. “The Renaissance World Tour” is B’s ninth concert tour, and perhaps the biggest spectacle yet. She’ll perform a bevy of her hits, kicking off with “Dangerously In Love” and wrapping up the 40-song setlist with “Summer Renaissance.” A summer renaissance indeed! Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com starting at $220 each for seats in the 300 section.
markets and monster trucks to live bands watching—there’s something for everyone this month in Bergen.
Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey held its annual beefsteak and silent auction to raise money for Ironmen programs and events. Dozens of parents, alumni, faculty, staff, family and friends attended and enjoyed the dinner and festivities.
More than 1,040 undergraduates received diplomas from Ramapo College in Mahwah this spring, including the largest nursing class in the school's history. Leslie T. Fenwick, one of the country's leading education equity advocates, was the commencement speaker and received an honorary degree at the ceremony. 5 Leslie T. Fenwick, center, receives an honorary degree from Ramapo College. 6 Members of the 2023 nursing class
Ridgewood-based Family Promise of Bergen County held its annual Hike for Hope.
More than 220 participants laced up their sneakers and walked in support of working families experiencing homelessness, raising more than $52,000 for the shelter, support, and meal programs. 1 Walkers take a well-deserved break after walking in Family Promise’s Hike for Hope.
1
The Allendale Woman’s Club held its annual fashion show at Seasons in Washington Township. Money rasied from the event supports Best Buddies New Jersey, which works to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 2 Barbra Murtha, Laura Dinoia
3 Members of the 2023 Fashion Show Committee
The Community Chest in Englewood hosted a Girls Night Out event this spring at Dimora Ristorante in Norwood. Funds rasied from the program support the Young Women’s Leadership Awards and grant awards to the West Side Infant and Teen Program and the Women’s Rights Information Center. 8 Andrea Klein, Ellen Skowronski, Amie AbuRustum, Emily Yang 9 Shelly Wimpfheimer, Franci Steinberg, Ava Rattigan
Dozens of volunteers from the American Eagle Outfitters Foundation raised money to support The Food Brigade. The Dumont-based organization provides homecooked meals to residents in need. 7 American Eagle staff present their donation to The Food Brigade.
Bergenites always show up to support their friends and neighbors—especially when help is needed most.
“This photo was taken at the Weiner Dog Derby at Meadowlands Racetrack. Some of my friends brought their kids, and it was a fun evening. The color of the evening sky and the jockey riding ‘toward’ the rainbow caught my eye. I love the timing of this photo and being able to capture a gorgeous rainbow on a beautiful, memorable night.”
—Emilia Trasatti, Rutherford
