{ BUZZ }
TREAT MOM ON HER DAY
OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTIES.
Breakfast in bed is always a hit, but spilled coffee and burnt pancakes aren’t—so why take the risk? This Mother’s Day, treat the lady in your life to a special brunch at one of many restaurants in Monmouth County. Our local eateries are open and are following all safety guidelines (and the meals are expertly prepared), so a midday meal with Mom will go exactly as you planned—and will be exactly what she deserves. These five places go out of their way to make every mom feel special:
WHAT’S COOKING WITH KITCHENS Before you tear down cabinets and put a sledgehammer to the wall, you should know that upgrading a kitchen takes plenty of thought and planning. Colors or neutrals? Traditional or “smart” appliances? Monmouth Health & Life asked Valerie Sayler, showroom manager at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery in nearby Lakewood, for some insider info on the latest in kitchen design. Experiment with color. White is still the it choice for kitchens, but a number of homeowners are adding accent colors. “Many are going the two-tone route with their cabinets, often installing white upper cabinetry with colored bottom cabinetry,” Sayler says. “The most popular colors we’re seeing right now are navy blue, hunter green and gray.” She adds that accent lights in bright colors or those with natural elements like rattan or crystal are also trending. Smarter kitchens. Many vendors are syncing their appliances with smartphone apps, with ovens—used so often during the quarantine—leading the way. “And to extend the life of appliances, many manufacturers are including technology that alerts homeowners when it is time for routine maintenance or when there is a potential problem,” Sayler notes. “And some appliances can communicate directly with the manufacturer to help diagnose performance issues,” which can spare a costly visit from a repair person. Water…from above. Another growing trend is a suspended faucet in lieu of countertop- or wall-mounted fixtures. “Why not free up some space and install a ceilingmount faucet?” says Sayler. “A suspended faucet can be adjusted to any preferred ceiling and hanging height. It’s a great option for those homeowners looking for a sleek, modern and smart kitchen faucet.” See it in person. While consumers may shop for items such as faucets online, Sayler recommends that many customers visit a showroom first. “Online shopping may be a good option for small items or to replace a similar item, but when purchasing large items online, such as an appliance or new bathtub, many consumers don’t purchase all of the additional parts needed to complete the installation,” she says. “They may not know what they are missing until it’s too late and, in the end, they spend more money and time correcting problems.”
MONMOUTHHEALTHANDLIFE.COM
MON.0421.buzz.indd 14
14
• Beach Tavern, 33 West St., Monmouth Beach, 732.870.8999; beachtavern.net • Hudson Café, 25 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands, 732.872.2300; thehudsoncafe.com • Meemom’s, 1383 Rte. 35, Middletown, 732.856.9499; 1825 Rte. 35, Wall, 732.359.8544; meemoms.com • Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant, 100 Ocean Ave. N., Long Branch, 732.870.1200; rooneysocean.com • Toast, 516 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park, 732.776.5900; 45 Monmouth St., Red Bank, 732.224.1234; toastcitydiner.com
CHEER UP, IT’S NO CAT-ASTROPHE! Nearly a year since COVID temporarily shut the doors of Asbury Park’s famed cat café, the owners of Catsbury Park have decided to close their small Cookman Avenue storefront for good. No more gluten-free baked goods there, no more steaming hot lattes, no more quality cuddle time with the homeless kitties. But there’s good news: The nonprofit hasn’t gone out of business, and it’ll continue its mission of helping find adoptive families for felines in need and providing trap-neuter-release (TNR) services for the local feral cat community. “The reality is we have not had a storefront or café for 12 months now and, in that time, we have been able to increase our rescue efforts,” says café founder D.J. Bornschein. “Not having the burden of supporting a sizable rental space in downtown Asbury over the next couple of months will only help us save more cats and plan for the future.” If you’ve successfully read into that, you’ve figured out that the Catsbury team will eventually reopen a new café. Where and when still remains to be seen. Meanwhile, you can view all the cats available for adoption on Catsbury’s Facebook and Instagram @catsburypark.
APRIL/MAY 2021
4/1/21 10:00 AM
