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SEASON O’ THE GREEN Can’t make it to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day this year? Being here in Bergen County—where about 107,000 residents claim Irish ancestry—is the next best thing. Here are a few ways you can unleash your inner Irish spirit around March 17: —Get your gear at Carrick Mor (212 Rock Rd., Glen Rock, 201.444.9230; carrickmor. com). The quaint shop offers “gifts from Ireland,” such as jewelry, home goods, caps and capes. Stop by the store or visit the website for details about a custom golf trip to Ireland. —Join the parade in Bergenfield. The Council of Irish Associations of Greater Bergen County will hold its 40th annual event on March 13, honoring Grand Marshal Kieran Lynch. (There’s another parade March 20 in nearby Pearl River in
Rockland County, N.Y.) —Raise a pint of Guinness at Blarney Station (258 Park Ave., Rutherford, 201.531.0001; blarneystation.com). Besides a cold one, guests can also feast on an Irish breakfast, shepherd’s pie and corned beef sandwiches. Five other Irish pubs to try: • Brady’s at the Station, 5 W. Main St., Ramsey, 201.327.9748; bradysramsey.com • Brady’s Fox Hunt Inn, 201 Livingston St., Northvale, 201.784.8047; bradysfoxhuntinn. com • Davey’s Irish Pub, 5 Park St., Montvale, 201.391.9356; daveyspub.com • P.J. Finnegan’s, 274 Fairview Ave., Westwood, 201.664.7576; pjfinnegans.com • Tommy Fox’s Public House, 32 S. Washington Ave., Bergenfield, 201.384.0900; tommyfoxs.com
‘SPRINGING FORWARD’: A HOW-TO “I’m ready to lose an hour of sleep!” said no one ever, which makes the adjustment to Daylight Saving Time all the more difficult. Ahead of changing the clocks on March 13, BERGEN asked Joshua Tal, Ph.D., a sleep psychologist in Englewood, to share tips on how to make this transition less terrible: • Make gradual adjustments. Preparation is key, both mentally and physically, says Tal. “There may be some sleep loss, but this is OK, and it’s temporary,” he says. He also suggests taking a few nights to go to sleep an hour later and wake up an hour later if your schedule permits. • Prepare for that afternoon slump. Though the “circadian dip” we feel between 1 and 3 p.m. as we metabolize our lunch can’t be prevented, it can be decreased, says Tal. “Eat breakfast and small, healthy snacks during the day and exercise daily,”
he says. “You can also plan your easiest tasks during this period, so the circadian dip doesn’t affect your productivity as much.” • Don’t take your work to bed. Working from home during the pandemic has blurred the lines of work/life balance; Tal says it’s imperative to keep physical work and business conversations out of the bedroom. He adds: “The sleep loss of Daylight Saving Time may prompt you to stay in bed an extra hour and start doing work there, but try to resist!” • Avoid distractions. Tal advises going to bed satiated but not too full to avoid waking up in the middle of the night due to hunger, and to cut off screen time 30 to 60 minutes before bed. One caveat on screen time? “If you can’t sleep due to anxiety around Daylight Saving Time, it’s better to watch something as a distraction rather than stay up all night worrying.”
CULINARY CORNER Good games, great grub Whether you’re looking to watch a game, join friends for happy hour or grab a casual dinner with the family, River & Henley checks all the boxes. This new New Milford spot boasts a cozy atmosphere with big-screen TVs, a lounge area and a menu with American specialties like salads, sandwiches, burgers and wings. P.S.: It’s familyrun, which often makes for a better customer experience. • River & Henley, 704 River Rd., New Milford, 201.262.0391; riverandhenley.com
Mex it up Want tacos to take out or eat in? Try Mi Ranchito, a new Mexican restaurant in Cliffside Park. The menu features your usual south-of-the-Rio options, from tacos to enchiladas, platillos to mariscos. If you’re extra hungry, there’s also an “extra portions” menu to add on another serving of rice, beans, salsa and chips or mole. • Mi Ranchito, 696 Anderson Ave., Cliffside Park, 201.942.6377; miranchitomexicanrestaurantnj.com
More options for hungry shoppers And because there isn’t already enough to do and to eat at American Dream, two more restaurants recently opened in the food court: 1st Rnd, the first U.S. location for a Canada-based chain of sports bars intended for a night of sports, beers and chicken wings; and House of ’Que, a must-try for barbecue aficionados. It’s where you’ll get Austin-style ribs, brisket, pork, wings and chicken fingers. And don’t skimp on the mac and cheese bites, made with pepper jack cheese and deep fried in ranch dressing. • 1st Rnd, 1 American Dream Way, Suite A370, East Rutherford, 551.217.7701; 1strndusa.com • House of ’Que, 1 American Dream Way, Level 2, Space A200, 201.402.4881; houseofque.com/ americandream
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