Princeton Magazine, Fall/Winter, 2022

FALL/WINTER 2022

The Wonder of the Season

A “SWEET” HOLIDAY VILLAGE

BY DONALD H. SANBORN III

How Cameron Filepas creates Thomas Sweet’s window displays 12

A

CENTURY ON

ICE BY BILL ALDEN

Princeton University hockey coaches, players past and present celebrate Hobey Baker Memorial Rink 22

LET THEM

FLY

BY TAYLOR SMITH

How The Raptor Trust is aiding New Jersey’s wild birds 32

A CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES

BY MARY ABITANTO

From medieval times to today 42

ON THE COVER: Leo Manganaro gazes at the holiday village created by Cameron Filepas for Thomas Sweet Chocolate. Photo by Marzena Manganaro (@marzenka_ on Instagram).

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY CHAPEL BY ANNE LEVIN An inspiring structure open to all 54 SCHOLAR DAVID NIRENBERG HOPES TO FOSTER DISCOVERY BY WENDY GREENBERG As New Director of the Institute for Advanced Study 60

COZY INNS BY LAURIE PELLICHERO

For local winter retreats 68

BOOK

SCENE

BY STUART MITCHNER The gift of art 76

And so do we.

You’d do anything to make sure they took care of themselves. Start by taking care of yourself and be here for them.

With complete physicals, screenings, health counselings and well visits. With specialists to address sleep, weight, appetite and mood. With appointments long enough that your doctor really gets to know you. With doctors who talk across specialties, for cross-discipline collaboration. With primary care offices from Princeton to Columbus and from Robbinsville to Newtown.

Because we know there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for them. And we feel the same way about you.

Become a part of it today at CapitalMedicalGroup.org

you’d go to the ends of the earth to be here for them.

Dear Readers,

One of the many reasons why people are drawn to Princeton is because it is a vibrant multicultural community. It’s not uncommon to hear half a dozen different languages being spoken while walking down Nassau Street, and my daughter and I used to make a game out of trying to identify the various languages we heard.

It might seem like December is all about Christmas and Hanukkah, but there are many other religious and cultural holidays celebrated this time of year. It doesn’t matter if you celebrate Diwali, Ramadan, Las Posadas, Omisoka, or Kwanzaa — everyone enjoys seeing the fully lit 70-foot Norwegian spruce in Palmer Square.

The history of using evergreen trees to celebrate holidays dates back to ancient Egypt and Rome where it symbolized eternal life. The tradition of putting lights, sweets, and toys on the branches of evergreen trees placed in homes was brought to America by German immigrants in the 1700s.

Staying on the topic of culture and religion, David Nirenberg, the new director of the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), has focused much of his scholarly works on ways in which Jewish, Christian, and Islamic cultures interact. His books and articles provide insight into modern-day racism, antisemitism, and Christian-Muslim relations.

Our readers most likely know that Albert Einstein was the IAS’s first professor but might not be aware that he left Europe at a time when intellectuals were concerned about rising fascism.

During Wendy Greenberg’s interview with Nirenberg, he clears up some of the misconceptions about the IAS and explains that they provide a place for promising scholars to have “deep thought on difficult questions regardless of their race, religion, or sex.” He also reminds us that the IAS woods, lectures, and concerts are open to the Princeton community.

With the end of the pandemic in sight, many people are attending events this holiday season. Princeton University Chapel welcomes all faiths and is considered a bridge between town and gown.

Two decades ago, after a $10 million restoration, the Chapel was rededicated in an interfaith ceremony including Buddhist, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian prayers. Anne Levin interviews University Organist Eric Plutz and Choir Director Nicole Aldrich about the Chapel’s spirit, architecture, acoustics, and upcoming events that are open to the public.

displays have become a Palmer Square tradition and we are pleased to applaud Filepas’ windows by featuring one on the cover of this issue of Princeton Magazine

I have a personal interest in window displays stemming from many years ago when I worked in the field of interior design. The home decor buyer for Bergdorf Goodman purchased my custom designed crushed velvet pillows and throw blankets embroidered with Napoleonic bees. I was stunned and honored to discover that three of Bergdorf’s holiday windows at their Fifth Avenue store were devoted to my gilded bee home accessories.

Additionally, some of our readers might remember an early issue of Princeton Magazine with a Tiffany & Co. holiday window on the cover. I was given a memorable behind the scenes tour of the flagship store and learned how they create their iconic window displays.

While festive windows are a fun holiday tradition, so is baking cookies. Cookbook author Mary Abitanto provides an all-encompassing cookie article including historical origins, equipment, planning schedule, popular European varieties, and recipes.

If you aren’t inclined to bake your own cookies, you can purchase artisan cookies from a number of local shops such as LilLLiPiES Bakery, Chez Alice, The Gingered Peach, Milk & Cookies, WildFlour Bakery, Terra Momo Bread Company, Terhune Orchards Farm Store, Nino’s Pastry Shop, and Factory Girl Bake Shop.

Oversized art books make wonderful gifts, and you can trust Stuart Mitchner’s thoughtful selection in the Book Scene. The knowledgeable staff at Labyrinth Books can also make recommendations and your purchase will help support a local independent merchant.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

If it sounds appealing to take a relaxing getaway without traveling too far, then Laurie Pellichero’s article on historic cozy inns will be of interest. Stay warm by the fireplace in a restored manor home or private cottage and enjoy gourmet meals, hot stone massages, and views of grazing sheep or the Delaware River.

This time of year we typically feature a nonprofit in the magazine, and Taylor Smith has written an article on The Raptor Trust Bird Rehabilitation and Education Center. I first learned of The Raptor Trust when my son rescued an injured baby owl while running along the canal in Rocky Hill. It had a broken wing and we brought it to The Raptor Trust where they help to heal injured birds and then release them back into the wild. It is an incredible place to visit for bird lovers, wildlife photographers, and children.

With so many events happening now, it might be difficult to decide which ones to attend. I recommend that you make time for a Princeton University Tigers ice hockey game, but please do so after reading Bill Alden’s article on Hobey Baker and the 100th anniversary of Baker Memorial Rink.

Hockey fans will appreciate this story and those who know little of the sport will enjoy learning about the legendary Hobey Baker for his athletic skills, grace, and sportsmanship.

Thomas Sweet Chocolate is doing their part to spread holiday cheer with their festive window displays created by theatrical lighting designer Cameron Filepas. Donald Sanborn’s article explains how, when growing up, Filepas was an avid collector of models and created little villages. He studied lighting design in college and after graduating worked as the head chocolatier at Thomas Sweet between theater jobs. His magical window

Bob Hillier and I hope you enjoy the stories in this issue of Princeton Magazine and send heartfelt wishes to our staff, advertisers, and readers for a happy and healthy holiday.

Respectfully

yours,

Lynn Adams Smith Editor-In-Chief

or two years, chocolate vendor Thomas Sweet has dazzled Palmer Square visitors with a charming window display for the holidays. The diorama depicts a snowy, colorfully lit — and lavishly decorated — village.

If the elaborate display seems to resemble a stage set, there is a good reason: Cameron Filepas, the former head chocolatier who decorates the windows, happens to be a theatrical lighting designer. His clients include both regional and educational theaters such as Luna Stage, Axelrod Performing Arts Center, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and many more.

“Ever since I was young, I always loved lights,” Filepas says, “whether it was holiday lights, Halloween lights, or lights on houses.” He discovered theatrical lighting when, “My mom would bring me to children’s shows in town put on by the Hopewell Valley Children’s Theatre; that was my first glimpse of theater.”

“We also used to see A Christmas Carol at McCarter. That was a tradition for my family,” says Filepas, who recalls that he eagerly learned as much as he could about the production.

He participated in theatrical productions in middle school and high school, taking advantage of the opportunity to join stage crews. “I realized that this was something I really wanted as a career, so I went to college for it,” he says. Filepas holds a BFA in Lighting Design from Montclair State University.

As for his interest in miniature displays, Filepas recalls, “When I was 10 or 11, every year we would visit my grandmother in Pennsylvania. We would go to a store called Cathy’s Christmas Shop.” Filepas was impressed by the store’s displays for Halloween, as well as Christmas, and was excited to see them every year.

“I told my mom, ‘I want to have a little village!’” Filepas continues. “So we went

By Donald H. Sanborn III

to Michael’s and bought a house, snow, and some trees. I used to set up little tables, in my bedroom, of these villages. It started off with one house, with a single road, and two little light-up deer.”

Another source of models was Department 56. Filepas adds, “Slowly, over the years, I grew these villages to the point where they went out into a hallway upstairs, and then took up the entire wall!”

chocolate making was,” he says. “They trained me, and I ended up absolutely loving it. Then, a few months later I became their head chocolatier. I loved working there, especially during the holidays. It’s not the same as it was when I was a kid, but I was still able to create chocolate pumpkins, or chocolate Christmas trees.”

He says he saw the store’s window and thought, “This is a vintage, kind of old-fashioned window — I can build one of my villages and put it in here.” In a phone conversation, Filepas pitched the idea to Marco Cucchi, the owner of Thomas Sweet.

“I said, ‘Hey, look. I’ve had these villages for years. They’ve never been shown to the public; the only people who have seen them are my family, and some of my parents’ friends. I think this would be great to put right in Palmer Square — right outside of the Christmas tree.’ He said, ‘Yeah, let’s try it out!’”

He adds, “So I built up an entire new board. I took all of my houses from the old village, and then I just started placing them. That’s how that village came about, and now it’s become, I think, a Palmer Square tradition.”

THOMAS SWEET CHOCOLATE

Filepas says, “When I graduated from college, I started working at Thomas Sweet in between theater gigs. I was at the ice cream store first, in the summer of 2019. Then, in October of 2020, I started working at the chocolate store. I was there until this past February (Valentine’s Day).”

“Before I started, I had no idea what

Filepas’ miniature village for Thomas Sweet first appeared in 2020 — during the pandemic. “That really made me want to do the display,” Filepas recalls. “Everyone was going through so many things, and I was like, ‘You know what? Something about this holiday season just feels a little bit different.’ I thought, ‘OK, somehow, I still need to feel that Christmas spirit that I felt for so many years.’”

Since the miniature village’s debut, Filepas has also created Thomas Sweet window displays for each major holiday and season.

“A WHIMSICAL UTOPIA”

Filepas writes on his website, “Growing up having such a strong interest in lights, I was drawn to the idea of miniature scenes, whether

Cameron Filepas in front of the window display he created for Thomas Sweet Chocolate. (Photo by Kelly Filepas)

(Photo by Cameron Filepas)

that was model displays, seasonal villages, or theatrical models. What I find most captivating is the ability to downsize what we see on a day-today basis into a whimsical utopia, incorporating both real and unreal details.”

He elaborates, suggesting that theatrical lighting, and the designs of the window displays, are “almost the same thing. You’re re-creating something that you’ve seen; and then you’re adding parts here and there that are more theatrical. That’s what drives my passion each day: the ability to do that. I can see a sunset, focus on the colors and the way light hits a person or tree, and then re-create that on stage.”

Asked about the extent to which the process of building the window display resembles that of lighting a show, Filepas says, “The initial ideas apply. Every lighting design starts with research. With the village, I did have some research images — whether it was something that I just remembered, or something that I saw on the internet.”

“It’s kind of the same process for theater,” FIlepas continues. “The first thing I do is read the script, then find some visual research. That will then turn into some full ideas, which will be shared with the director and design team, and that kind of goes from there.”

Filepas points out, “Of course, theater is much larger.” He notes that, while some shows are compatible with the window display’s

whimsical aesthetic, in other cases, “You want to exactly replicate how the sun rises, and how it hits this house. Whereas the village is a little bit more … I guess the best way to describe it is ‘cartoonish.’ You can get away with more, without having to have a reason for it, and that’s what makes it fun. I can say, ‘Hey, let’s make this tree curved, and let’s put a face on it!’”

When lighting a show, Filepas has to accommodate movement, which is much less the case with the village. He says that when he lights the window display, “I’m not focusing on whether someone is in the dark or not. It’s all about placing stuff in a way that I think works well.”

When it came time to create the village, Filepas began by observing the space. “When I saw the Thomas Sweet window, I saw that there are two levels. So clearly there had to be some type of cliff or mountain,” he says.

In his basement he has a table that holds a white piece of plywood cut out exactly to the Thomas Sweet window space. “I start with all of the houses, because they are the bulkiest items,” he explains. “That will allow me to gauge where everything else will go. Once the houses are in, I can add the roads, fences, trees, and lampposts.”

Filepas emphasizes that the process is one of trial and error, rather than forethought. “I have all the accessories laying next to me — in tons of

boxes. I just take an accessory and start placing it, thinking ‘maybe this will look good here, or let me actually try it over here.’ I will be sitting there and think, ‘Maybe I should build a mountain here.’ Then, I’ll see where that idea goes.”

Filepas adds that his inspiration is derived from memories of “when I was growing up: all the Christmas shows, light shows, holiday walks, and amusement parks.”

This writer comments that the village represents an idealized Christmas — what Filepas would like the holidays to be. “Yes, exactly,” Filepas says. “The end product is what Christmas felt like to me when I was a kid. Whenever I look at that village, that is the way that young Cameron saw everything. That goes for both the Halloween and the Christmas displays. I want these villages to evoke memories of a magical time, when everything was glimmering and beautiful.”

“My Favorite Part”

Filepas’ favorite aspect of the holiday village is viewers’ reactions. He particularly likes when people would enter Thomas Sweet and say, “‘My favorite part was this…’ I loved hearing that from all the people that came and saw it.” Popular favorites include an ice-skating rink, and a couple sitting under a gazebo.

f ilepas at work on the window display for thomas Sweet Chocolate. (Photo by Kelly Filepas)

(Photo by Cameron Filepas)

(Photo by Cameron Filepas)

Asked about his own favorite parts of the village, Filepas says, “The Christmas tree farm. Right in front of that farm, I built a sign that says, ‘Thomas Sweet Chocolate.’ I’ve always loved that piece, because that was always a holiday tradition for my family: we’d go and find a Christmas tree, whether it was in a field or at a store. So when I found that the farm was an actual piece, I immediately bought it and put it in the village.”

He likes the way that the farm sat “behind a snowman house — there was a little path around it — and then a big mountain, with trees, that had Santa flying over it.” He also singles out a “sledding hill on the far left side, on the lower level. It had a nice white fence, with little Christmas lights going around it, and people sledding. It led into this gated path, with big Christmas trees lit up.”

With a bottom piece, which features a pathway that runs the length of the display, Filepas wanted to evoke an “evening in December when it had snowed. The kids are sledding — but in the distance you see all of the houses lit up with their Christmas lights.”

He also remembers adding bonfires with skiers, and a hot chocolate vendor. Of the latter he says, “We used to go to a place called Peddler’s Village in Lahaska (in Pennsylvania), and they always had hot chocolate. There were huge Christmas trees all around the area, along with the lights on all the houses. It was beautiful.”

“Color and Move M ent”

Filepas treasures the opportunity to add to the Palmer Square holiday decorations, because when he was younger, “The tree lighting ceremony was always the start of the season for me. It was a tradition for me to wake up on Black Friday, set up all of the Christmas lights on the house, and then the whole family would go into Palmer Square and watch the ceremony It was always the best day.”

He appreciatively reflects that he subsequently ended up working in Palmer Square and has added his village to it.

As of this interview, Filepas had not yet begun work on this year’s holiday display. “Every time the village gets moved, some stuff falls over, or something falls apart,” he says. “So I have to clean it up a little bit. In the middle of November I’ll probably spend a week to get everything back up and running.”

He emphasizes that, despite an increase in commitments to design lighting for shows, he wants to be the one to mount the window display, rather than training somebody else to do it.

“I want to make sure that it still has my original vision, so I’ll set it up myself,” he says. “I moved to Jersey City recently, so I’m not going to be around. But I told Marco, ‘I will make sure that I will be free to come back to Princeton and set up that village!’”

Filepas hopes that the holiday display will

become an annual fixture, not unlike McCarter Theatre’s A Christmas Carol.

“I hope that whatever I’m doing, I can dedicate time every year to come in and install that village,” he says. “It is just a three-piece thing; you set it up and plug everything in. But I also always want to change a little bit, so people can say, “Oh, this is new this year.’”

“I always try to bring color and movement to my work, and I want people to see that,” Filepas continues, adding that he hopes the display helps viewers meet hardships and challenges with a measure of optimism: “Everything in this village looks so lovely; maybe that’s how it could be in real life.”

“I’ve heard people say, ‘I just wish I could live in that village. Everything looks so calm and perfect,’ Filepas says. “If that’s what that village can do — bring people that comfort — then that’s why I want to keep doing it.”

The 2022 window display will be unveiled on November 25 (Black Friday).

“I set the village up the week before Thanksgiving,” Filepas says. “Then, I come in very early Friday morning to unveil it. After that, it’s lit up for everyone to see!”

To learn more about Filepas’ lighting designs and window displays, visit cameronfilepasdesign.com.

(Photo by Cameron Filepas)

MERCER COUNTY REACHES CRITICAL OVER-POPULATION IN ANIMAL SHELTER

MERCER COUNTY REACHES CRITICAL OVER-POPULATION IN ANIMAL SHELTER

Due to a nationwide decline of pet adoptions in 2022 – a stark contrast from the upsurge during the height of the pandemic – animal shelters are suffering tremendously with overcrowding, lack of funds, and limited resources.

from the upsurge during the height of the pandemic – animal shelters are suffering tremendously with overcrowding, lack of funds, and limited resources.

Due to a nationwide decline of pet adoptions in 2022 – a stark contrast from the upsurge during the height of the pandemic – animal shelters are suffering tremendously with overcrowding, lack of funds, and limited resources.

ADOPT!

ADOPT!

ADOPT!

Less expensive investment of adoption versus purchasing and you’re not supporting inhumane commercial breeding facilities.

Less expensive investment of adoption versus purchasing and you’re not supporting inhumane commercial breeding facilities.

Less expensive investment of adoption versus purchasing and you’re not supporting inhumane commercial breeding facilities.

Pets adopted from EASEL will have already been spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated; they often are already socialized and house trained.

Pets adopted from EASEL will have already been spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated; they often are already socialized and house trained.

Pets adopted from EASEL will have already been spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated; they often are already socialized and house trained.

FOSTER - VOLUNTEER - DONATE

FOSTER - VOLUNTEER - DONATE

FOSTER - VOLUNTEER - DONATE

For more information, please visit www.easelnj.org 609.883.0540

For more information, please visit www.easelnj.org 609.883.0540

For more information, please visit www.easelnj.org 609.883.0540

We’re New Jersey’s leading cancer program.

New Jersey’s only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center is now also New Jersey’s leading cancer program.

As the state’s leading cancer program and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey together with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and RWJBarnabas Health offers patients access to the most advanced treatment options including innovative clinical trials. We earned the state’s highest score in cancer specialty which demonstrates the high quality, multidisciplinary care we provide, informed by groundbreaking cancer research, scientific leadership and transformational discoveries alongside exceptional patient experience. Learn more at rwjbh.org/beatcancer

Let’s beat cancer together.

MARKETS FLUCTUATE.

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CLIENTS DOES NOT.

We understand the current economy can lead to uncertainty. At Bryn Mawr Trust, our collaborative team approach gives our clients all the help they need to reach their financial goals, regardless of market conditions. We’re always there to guide with advice and planning, so you can feel confident about your financial position, no matter what’s on the horizon.

To schedule a complimentary portfolio review, call 609-524-3500.

Brian J. Taylor, Senior Vice President, Wealth Director | 609-524-3500 | 47 Hulfish St Suite 320, Princeton, NJ 08542 YOUR CONNECTION

A Century Ice on

Princeton University Hockey Coaches, Players Past and Present Celebrate Hobey Baker Memorial Rink

By Bill Alden

Darting up the ice or dashing past tacklers on the gridiron in the early years of the 20th century, Hobey Baker established himself as a one-of-a-kind performer in the pantheon of Princeton University athletics.

The legendary Baker, Class of 1914, is the only athlete to have been enshrined in both the College Football and Hockey Halls of Fame.

Beyond his sporting exploits, Baker set a standard for sportsmanship, known for being gracious in victory or defeat, often going into opposing locker rooms after the final whistle to congratulate opponents for their efforts.

After graduating from Princeton, Baker enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Service, serving with distinction as a pilot in World War I. He died in December 1918 when he crashed a plane just before he was scheduled to leave France and return to the U.S.

In 1923, Princeton recognized Baker’s impact by opening a rink constructed in his honor. The slate gray Gothic gem was built in a golden age of iconic venues still in use today like Penn’s Palestra (1927), Boston’s Fenway Park (1912), Chicago’s Wrigley Field (1914), the Rose Bowl (1922) in Pasadena, Calif., and the Los Angeles Coliseum (1923).

Like its namesake, the Hobey Baker Memorial Rink exudes an excellence and character to this day. The 2,092-seat arena provides an intimate and historic setting for the Tiger men’s and women’s hockey teams.

The rink includes a display case with mementoes of Hobey Baker in one corner and another case honoring Patty Kazmaier, a Tigers women’s hockey star in the 1980s who died of a rare blood disease at age 26 and was

Hobey Baker, Princeton Football photo. (Wikipedia)

100th Anniversary puck. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn); Hobey Baker, Princeton University. (Wikipedia); Hockey team photo. (hobeybaker.com)

the daughter of Princeton football legend Dick Kazmaier, the 1951 Heisman Trophy winner. That section of the building also houses award plaques for both the men’s and women’s teams as well as the certificates of Princeton first-team All-Americans.

The lobby contains a photo montage of Princeton hockey stars of the past and many are honored with floor-to-ceiling portraits ringing the stands. The lower bowl is just six rows deep, and there is a balcony at the upper end of one side and a press box at the other end.

Banners reading “Make Hobey Proud” and “Make Patty Proud” hang on the stone wall behind the press box. The award for men’s college hockey player of the year is the Hobey Baker Award and the corresponding honor in women’s hockey is the Patty Kazmaier Award.

This January, Princeton will be celebrating the 100th birthday of the venerable structure with centennial festivities slated in conjunction with the men’s and women’s hockey teams hosting Dartmouth and Harvard over the weekend of January 6-7.

ICY IMPRESSIONS

For Princeton men’s hockey head coach Ron Fogarty, having Hobey Baker Rink as his workplace is a cause for daily celebration.

“It is a privilege, an honor,” says Fogarty, noting the recruits often pull out their phones to take pictures when they go on their first tour of the facility. “When we practice in the morning, you have the sunlight coming in and it is an unbelievable sight. It is a structure being around for 100 years with the original outside with the unique stone wall and the refurbished wood roof. You see the old wood doors and 1923 engraved in the stone. It is a unique facility, it is a historic facility, and it is a great place to call home.”

When Scott Bertoli first set foot in the building on a recruiting trip in the mid-1990s, he felt at home.

“I remember it reminding me a lot of the older rinks I played in back in southern Ontario with the wood ceilings,” says Bertoli ’99, a former Princeton standout who is currently the head coach of the Princeton Day School boys’ hockey program. “It definitely had the feeling of a lot of the rinks that I grew up in. It was intimate, that is the word you think of.”

The rink also evokes the lore of the Princeton program and the sport.

“As you walk around, you feel the history of the game that is in that building; it is understanding how long the rink has been there and how long the program has been around and how many great players have played, both for Princeton and against Princeton,” notes Bertoli.

“There are so many new rinks out there, they are newer versions of pro rinks,” he says. “They have all of the amenities, world class locker rooms, and facilities. They are obviously wonderful and comfortable in their own way. But there is something to be said for that old school, traditional wood rink that so many kids played on. It takes you back to your roots. It is where you learned to play the game, it is where you developed the passion for the game.”

Harry Rulon-Miller’s Baker roots run deep as he started skating at the rink in the late 1940s as a grade-schooler at nearby Princeton Country Day, the forerunner of PDS.

Sitting in the rink this fall, Rulon-Miller notes that things have changed since he hit the ice there.

“It was a little smaller, it had panels on the boards and there were no fences around,” recalls Rulon-Miller, 86, who went on to star for the Princeton men’s hockey team in the late 1950s. “The black railings in the lobby were there then. Because there was no checking in amateur sports, the boards were inlaid in cement.”

Long before she became the head coach of the Princeton women’s hockey team, Cara Morey was charmed by the building.

“It is unlike any other rink that I had ever seen,” said Morey, a 2001 grad of Brown who starred in ice hockey and field hockey for the Bears. “It has this barn feel, but it also has this stone walls and rafters. It is beautiful.”

The beauty and location of the rink drew in Mollie Marcoux Samaan when she visited Princeton as a recruit.

“It is hard not to be wowed when you walk in; it is so different and so original,” says Marcoux Samaan ’91, who ended up coming to Princeton and emerged as one of the greatest women’s hockey players ever for the Tigers, piling up 216 points (120 goals, 96 assists), the second highest total in program history.

“It is also customized to Princeton,” she says. “A lot of time you go into a rink and it feels like a lot of people play there and this just felt like it was very comfortable. The other thing that really blew me away was how close it was to the campus. It was integrated into the academics and the residential life of the school. That is what really struck me as a recruit, not only the beauty of the building but its location.”

Marcoux Samaan returned to her alma mater in 2014 to serve as director of athletics and helped enhance the beauty of rink as she oversaw some renovations during her seven-year tenure.

“I don’t think a lot had changed since I had left so there were some things that needed to be

(Photo by Charles R. Plohn)

(SKATE AND STICK COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK.COM)

done,” says Marcoux Samaan, who spearheaded the construction of a team video room with theater-style seating, a kitchenette, and a remodeling of the men’s and women’s locker rooms along with the addition of dry stalls and stick rooms.

“Our ideas were how do we take this historic building and maintain the charm and character of it but modernize it to the new needs of players,” she says. “We worked really hard on the renovation of the locker rooms and the whole downstairs area. It was renovating and changing the locker rooms, but also putting a lot of graphics on the wall and reflecting the cultures of each team. The coaches were really involved and that was fun. I love what we created down there.”

GROWING UP AT BAKER

It didn’t take long for Kate Monihan, a junior defenseman for the Princeton women’s team from Moorestown, to fall in love with Baker Rink as she first played there with her youth hockey teams.

“I couldn’t believe I was playing in a collegiate arena and how beautiful the building was,” says Monihan, who played her high school hockey down the road at the Lawrenceville School. “What rink has a stone wall behind the net? It is so unique and really special.”

It is hard for Monihan to believe that she now gets to skate there on a daily basis.

“It is surreal, every day I go to the rink I feel grateful to be there,” says Monihan. “I was on the team in 2020 when we won our first ECAC championship. Following that year, the entire team took the year off because we would have lost a season to COVID. I remember the first time I was back skating at practice at the rink and being really present in my mind, reminding myself how grateful I am to be in this rink every day; thinking what an incredible place it is with the beauty, the history, Hobey Baker and Patty Kazmaier playing here. I am doing laps in warm up and I see their names and banners draping over the rink. It is cool.”

It is a cool feeling for another local product, Tiger men’s senior defenseman and co-captain Pito Walton, a Peapack native who also starred at Lawrenceville, to be playing his college hockey at Baker Rink.

“As a kid, I was just so happy to be playing in a college hockey arena, I do remember loving the stone walls inside,” said Walton. “Coming to watch the games, I was just mesmerized by the college players, I thought it was the coolest thing. I think even as a kid in middle school, I sort of had that idea of playing in college in the back of my mind. It has been a dream come true.”

GAME TIME

Game day is special for Walton as fans create a din with their proximity to the action and the acoustics of the old building.

“The stone walls trap all the sound and it is pretty loud, which is awesome,” adds Walton. “The fans are basically right on top of you, it is a pretty cool feeling.”

Fogarty, for his part, savors the scene from his post during the action.

“My favorite spot is on the bench during games and just taking in the atmosphere, looking upstairs at the balcony seeing that full,” says Fogarty. “There is not a bad vantage point to take the game in.”

For Rulon-Miller, who has become a rink denizen over the years as a regular fan at both men’s and women’s games, being in the stands has been almost as much fun as being on the ice.

“I have really enjoyed that, I have had a ball watching the games,” says Rulon-Miller, noting with a chuckle that spectators have to bundle up in a building that has remained famously chilly inside over the years notwithstanding upgrades. “There is something special here. I have enjoyed talking to parents of our players, they love the place.”

COMMUNITY TIES

The rink is a place beloved by the town as it has been the home to youth hockey teams in addition to hosting college games.

“To me, the rink more than any other building, in my opinion, really unites the

Hobey Baker, Princeton Hockey. (Wikipedia)

community with the University,” maintains Morey, noting that her three daughters have all played youth hockey at Baker Rink. “There are a lot of buildings where the community is separate from the school. The rink is the one place in the community where when the athletes get done, the kids come in. It is growing up in town and being able to skate on the rink that your idols in hockey right now are skating on. A little kid gets get to skate on that rink and Sarah Fillier [current Tiger women’s hockey star and Olympic

gold medalist and world champion for Canada] is skating in that rink. It is one of our few facilities at Princeton where the town feels connected to it the same way the University does.”

Bertoli has come full circle, coaching his son’s youth hockey team which gets to play at Baker Rink.

“My little guy plays Princeton Youth Hockey and he gets to play there,” says Bertoli. “It is always a wonderful opportunity for kids to go in there and play in an old, historic college hockey rink. I said, ‘You kids are spoiled rotten, you don’t understand how good you have it to play at Baker.’”

During her tenure as AD, Marcoux Samaan worked to foster those ties to the community.

“There are only a few places on campus where the community really enjoys

and benefits from the campus facilities and that is one of them,” says Marcoux Samaan. “We wanted to do the same thing when we built the bubble in order to bring the community in to enjoy the facility. Baker Rink is really a place where people come together, not only to watch the games.”

The aura of Baker encourages the players to interact with the community.

“I think the charm goes along with the Princeton hockey culture of being true to your roots; it is very family and community oriented,” says Monihan, noting that on her first visit to the rink to watch a Tigers women’s game, she got to go in the locker room to meet the players and went home with a stick autographed by her new heroes.

“Being in Hobey Baker really fosters that culture by the nature of it being such a historic place and maintained really well. When you relate with other people in a space like that, you want to exude that same energy and charm.”

A SPAD XIII of the 141st Aero Squadron shows the prowling tiger emblem to honor Princeton graduate Hobey Baker. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force)

Hobey Baker’s grave at Laurel Hill West, Bala Cynwyd, Pa. (Wikipedia)

Hobey Baker pilot photo. (hobeybaker.com)

CELEBRATING HISTORY

The centennial celebration in January figures to generate a lot of energy around the rink.

“I think it is awesome, it is really cool that we are going to have a doubleheader for both programs to celebrate the history of the rink, and everything it stands for and all of the memories that people made there,” asserts Morey. “It is going to be an incredible event, we are hoping to have a lot of alumni coming back and paying their respects to the building itself, Hobey Baker and Patty Kazmaier, the programs, and everyone who has come before them.”

Fogarty is looking forward to the event. “Our throwback jerseys are unique — we will unveil those and only wear them for those two games,” says Fogarty. “It is a big weekend, 100 years of games being played at one facility. We are looking forward to the DartmouthHarvard weekend and celebrating with a lot of alumni coming back. There will be a lot of activities — it is going to be a tremendous celebration.”

For Walton, celebrating the centennial will also be a chance to get the next century at the rink off to a good start.

“It is pretty incredible that it is the 100th birthday,” says Walton. “Our goal is to try and create an even better version for Princeton hockey for the next couple of years. We are trying to create another legacy for the next 100 years and it really starts with this group we have in the locker room this year. It is pretty special that we have the opportunity.”

Recognizing the rink’s milestone helps Monihan put her hockey experience into perspective.

“It is really close to home, having grown up playing in Hobey Baker,” says Monihan. “It feels almost unimaginable that this place has been around for 100 years and the fact that I played in it as a child. It is grasping the magnitude of the rink being around for that many years. What pervades my mind when I think about the centennial is, as a program, it brings us back to our core value of gratitude. We are very lucky to be at a place that cares so deeply about maintaining the character while also allowing us to pursue high level hockey at the best facilities possible within the limits of the original building.”

Marcoux Samaan sees the celebration as a chance for generations of Princeton hockey

players to reflect on the values exemplified by the programs.

“It is blending history with the modern; you always have to celebrate where you have been, but also look forward to where you are going,” says Marcoux Samaan. “I think you build off the history, but you look towards the future. It will be a great celebration of programs that have had longstanding success, culture building, and relationship building. It is really the most important thing that we do.”

In addition, commemorating the rink also highlights Princeton’s overall impact on the history of the game.

“It is amazing to have the Hobey Baker name that is synonymous with excellence in hockey and that award at the end of the year and to have the Patty Kazmaier award and have them all emanating from Princeton hockey players,” says Marcoux Samaan. “I think that sets the program apart and says we have been part of history since the beginning. We have had excellence since the beginning and we care deeply about our alums and about those who have come before us. It is really meaningful to have the biggest name in college hockey be attached and associated with the program and the rink.”

One of those alums, Rulon-Miller, sees Baker Rink as place that holds a deep meaning in his life.

“For me, I call that home,” says Rulon-Miller. “It is the best rink I have seen or participated in or that I know of and that includes the arena at the Broadmoor (in Colorado Springs, Colo.)

and Madison Square Garden. There is something special about the rink at Princeton that makes it unique. It is just a terrific home for me.”

A home that has stood the test of time — and would certainly make Hobey proud.

(Photo by Charles R. Plohn)

(Photo by Charles R. Plohn)

Experience the 100% electric Polestar 2. Accelerating from 0-60 in less than 4.2 seconds, this is sustainable design meets superior performance. Book a test drive at polestarprinceton.com

Let Them Fly

HOW THE RAPTOR TRUST IS AIDING NEW JERSEY’S WILD BIRDS

BY TAYLOR SMITH | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE RAPTOR TRUST

The Raptor Trust is a leading bird rehabilitation and education center located in Millington, New Jersey, bordering the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Home to approximately 50 resident birds, the true goal of the nonprofit organization is to help heal injured birds and release them back into the wild where they can prosper and lead long, safe lives.

Executive Director Christopher D. Soucy, Ed.M., has been working at The Raptor Trust his whole life thanks to his parents, Len and Diane Soucy, who founded the center in their family’s own backyard. Soucy is quick to point out that he has participated in some form of wildlife conservation since he was 4 years old. While he spent time away in Colorado, the Garden State, and the dream of his parents rescue organization, called him back home.

The Raptor Trust receives daily calls from residents all over the state regarding the status and findings of injured wild birds. “All wild birds are treated and cared for at The Raptor Trust,” says Soucy. “This excludes any exotics, meaning birds that you can buy at a pet store.”

It’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to injure these majestic creatures. Maybe you saw an owl roosting in a barn in Bucks County or caught sight of a hawk circling Lake Carnegie. These birds naturally inspire awe in most who encounter them. So, how are these birds usually injured?

oucy says that rodent killers left around homes are a common problem, as are fast moving cars and general garbage. Since the arrival of the invasive spotted lantern fly, glue traps have become a terrible issue, killing many wild birds across the state. Specifically, a bird will land on one of these glue traps in someone’s backyard and become instantly stuck. If you find a bird trapped on a glue trap, bring it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

Owls have also been known to get stuck inside the soccer netting of a sports playing field or swoop into the windshield of a car. These are obstacles that birds can’t account for, so they can become severely injured. Owls may also ingest mice that have eaten poison and become terribly ill, so avoid using any rodent control poison around the house or yard.

Soucy recounts a very famous Raptor Trust medical case involving an American bald eagle that was found in Bergen County. The bird had been shot with a lead bullet. By the time that the veterinarians at The Raptor Trust got involved, lead was already leaching heavily into the bird’s system and the bird appeared to be near death. Not only could the bird not fly, it didn’t have the strength to roost on a tree branch and was found sitting in a field.

The only viable medical option was to remove one of the eagle’s eyes where the bullet was initially shot. After two months of rehabilitation and monitoring, the one-eyed bald

eagle was ready to return to its natural habitat.

“At first glance, this case was particularly disheartening because not only is shooting a protected animal a federal crime, but the eagle is also the ultimate symbol of liberty and democracy,” says Soucy. “Thankfully, we have a highly equipped medical team that works around the clock to service incoming injured birds. They are truly a great group of veterinarians , and they all care about the health of these animals.”

So, what should you do if you happen to find an injured bird? First, call a wildlife rehabilitation service with a valid New Jersey wildlife rehabilitation permit. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife (dep.nj.gov/njfw) is a reliable resource for anyone anywhere across the state. After an initial phone call, someone will be sent out to determine what the issue is. If a baby bird has fallen out of its nest, they may search the surrounding area for its mother. If the bird is suffering from an impact injury (like in the case of being struck by a car), they can take it to a veterinary center for medical treatment. This is how the majority of birds find their way to The Raptor Trust. According to its website, theraptortrust.org, “The Raptor Trust provides care for approximately 50 percent of all birds and 25 percen t of all wildlife admitted to rehabilitation centers in New Jersey.”

If you find an injured bird in your own backyard or neighborhood and want to make an appointment at The Raptor Trust, first call the infirmary between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 908.647.2353. Once you have made the appointment, fill out the online admittance form

on the organization’s website. Visitors must wear a mask when they arrive at The Raptor Trust and follow the instructions posted in the parking lot. There is no overnight or after-hours drop off at this time. The medical staff encourages all visitors delivering injured birds to be respectful of the rules and regulations for the safety of everyone involved. For further questions, email info@theraptortrust.org.

While the goal of The Raptor Trust is to release all birds back into the wild, some remain permanent residents , and these are the birds that visitors will be able to see at the facility. The birds live outdoors in high, spacious , and airy cages giving them plenty of room to fly, feed, and observe from a distance the march of passersby. The permanent residents, Soucy says, “are birds that have sustained injuries to the point that they would not be able to survive in the wild. For example, a bird with only one wing. These types of birds would quickly become prey animals. Another problematic situation is when people hand-raise birds. The result is that these birds don’t even know that they are birds , and they don’t know how to feed themselves.”

Speaking of diet, visitors may be surprised to learn that most of the larger birds are carnivorous. “The freezer is always full of mice and rats,” says Soucy. They will also prey on smaller birds, if given the chance , in the wild. People have also seen images of bald eagles catching a fish out of a river or lakebed. In this sense, they are a predatory variety of birds. Another fun fact that Soucy points out is that certain species of hawks migrate during the winter, while owls largely live and operate within a defined parameter. In fact, it is not unknown to spot Canadian species of hawks residing in New Jersey during the coldest winter months. When asked if he has a favorite bird, Soucy pauses before chuckling and saying that it changes by the week and the circumstance .

With education and advocacy being two of the leading tenants of The Raptor Trust’s ethos, Soucy elaborates on why it’s so important to protect wild birds in a high-density state like New Jersey: “I would say that wildlife, in general, is a good indicator of a healthy ecosystem and bird wildlife is a significant part of that. That being said, whether it’s the bobcats in northern New Jersey or the sandpipers in Cape May, it’s imperative that we protect these species as closely as possible now because things can change in an instant. At the end of the day, it’s all about protecting the health of our ecosystem and our state.”

Preventing New Jersey’s wild animals from suffering or disappearing completely is an important message for residents of plant Earth — including young children. Centering family activities around outdoor excursions with a walking stick and a wildlife guidebook will not only create lasting memories, it will also leave an impression on young children that nature is valuable.

The Raptor Trust itself is a great jumping off point for visits to environmental organizations and hiking trails in Somerset and Morris counties. After a free, self-guided tour at The Raptor Trust, take family and friends to the New Jersey Audubon’s Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, SCPC Environmental Education Center, MCPC Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, or GSNWR Wildlife Observation Center, to name a few. New Jersey Audubon maintains an excellent website with to up-to-date details of the latest events. Visit njaudubon.org to learn about birding activities, eco travel, and school events.

Another winter weather outdoor excursion is the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center at Tempe Wick Road in Morristown. The park grounds are open year-round, excluding Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. There are no admission fees. This park is a great place to spot hawks and owls during the winter months.

In terms of history, the park brochure provides a great deal of information on George Washington and the men of the American Revolution who spent two winters in this Morristown location. Site bulletins include a “Bird Checklist” where visitors can check off birds that they spot on each visit. Another way to conveniently log bird encounters is through ebird.org. Morristown National Historic Park is designated as a “hot spot” for local bird activity in eBird. By entering your checklist on their website, you’ll give the park a more complete picture of bird activity within its borders. In that sense, visitors contribute directly to New Jersey’s bird research, conservation, and understanding.

In fact, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation notes that owls are more visible in winter in the state than many other times of year. Some species of owls breed in the winter, and you can hear their “hoo-hoo-hoo” at night. Snowy owls are rare in New Jersey, but they have been sighted at Liberty State Park, Island Beach State Park , and Merrill Creek Reservoir in recent years ( njconservation.org/ owl-spotting-in-winter). Screech owls are also referred to as suburban owls and may nest in neighborhood areas during the winter months. Great horned owls feed on mice, moles, rats, rabbits , and squirrels, so look for their large feather tufts resembling ears on the sides of their head.

Another fun project is to create a bird habitat in your own backyard. Learn how to build barn owl nest boxes, barred owl nest boxes, and American kestrel and screech owl boxes at theraptortrust. org/bird-resources/bird-facts/nest-boxes. The instructions include a list of materials and tips on where to mount the boxes depending on the species of bird. Just imagine the entertainment that a roosting owl will provide in your own backyard!

The Raptor Trust is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for self-guided tours along the aviary trail. A private staff-led tour is limited to eight people and includes an avian demonstration showcasing a raptor feeding, training session, and toy/game enrichment. This tour takes 40 minutes, and an advance reservation is required by emailing education@theraptortrust. org or by visiting theraptortrust.org/visit/tours. Classroom tours can also be booked online using the same links. Prices for various guided group tours can be viewed on the website.

Follow The Raptor Trust on Instagram with the handle @theraptortrust. You will soon get to know the resident birds by name, watch videos at feeding time , and even see the medical staff aiding new, arriving birds.

As The Raptor Trust is a nonprofit, donations are always welcome and needed to provide the best medical and rehabilitative opportunities for the birds. A gift of $22 buys one bag of bird seed ; $50 pays for five days mixed birdseed, fruit, and mealworms ; while $75 covers antibiotics, fluids, and other medicines. It just goes to show that any amount counts! Visit theraptortrust.org to donate.

For more information, call 908.647.1091 or email Christopher Soucy at csoucy@ theraptortrust.org.

Set yourself free from addiction with the #1 Treatment Center in New Jersey. Freedom from dependency on alcohol. Freedom from dependency on drugs. New Jersey’s most comprehensive addiction treatment services and care for over 40 years, Blake Recovery Center is ready to begin your journey today in a safe and supportive environment. From medically-monitored inpatient detox and rehab, to outpatient services and support groups, we’re here to help you break free to live a better life. WE’RE READY. Visit us at CarrierClinic.org/BRC or call 800-933-3579.

Our dental implant expertise is the result of intensive, ongoing training with the world’s leading experts in implant research, materials and techniques. The result: You’ll experience more tissue preservation and less inflammation with our zirconia ceramic implants, and our immediate placement technique means fewer visits and faster healing. It’s a healthier approach with beautiful, long-lasting results. You’ll appreciate the natural white color matching of our biocompatible, metalfree materials. With our implants you’ll experience better integration for maximum stability, while eliminating dark edges sometimes seen with other types of implants.

Natural wear-and-tear of adult teeth often results in lost or broken teeth, so learning about the best treatment will serve you well. Please visit us for a complimentary implant consultation. We’ll show you the materials and results you can expect, and introduce you to the experts who make our practice the Princeton area’s first choice for quality care. Our best referral? Word of mouth. Don’t take our word for it. Google “Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics and Implants” and you’ll find hundreds of HHHHH reviews from patients who say things like “I wish I found this dental practice sooner” and “this was the best experience I’ve ever had with a dentist.”.

A Celebration of Christmas Cookies From

Medieval Times to Today

BY MARY ABITANTO

Christmas cookies are a symphony of vibrant colors and glorious smells that awaken our senses. From the fragrant smell of sugar cookies or the aromatic scent of gingerbreads wafting from the oven; to the cookies bejeweled with colorful sprinkles or shaped into meticulously crafted gingerbread houses; to the crunch of a chocolate chip; and of course, at last, that long-awaited scrumptious bite that melts in your mouth — they are simply irresistible.

You may wonder where the Christmas cookie tradition began. According to history.com, it dates to medieval times when farmers celebrated the winter solstice. They would gather and store their harvest and as a community come together to share food and celebrate. Think of it as a time of dormancy when you couldn’t farm, and the ground was frozen. You had time to enjoy the fruits of your labor, so to speak. Celebrating with cookies was a popular choice as refrigeration methods were limited, so cookies were made to last on the kitchen table for weeks at time to welcome visitors. Cookies — which were prepared more like a biscuit from harvested grain and water paste — were made on hot stovetops and the cookies we know today (now sweetened with sugar) are said to be descendants of these first cookies/biscuits.

By the 16th century with the spread of Christianity, the Christmas biscuits had become popular across Europe, with lebkuchen (gingerbread cookies) being favored in Germany and pepparkakor (spiced ginger cookies) in Sweden, while in

Norway krumkake (thin waffle cookies) were popular, using similar ingredients as their ancestors like cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, almonds, and dried fruit. By the 17th century Dutch immigrants, from a mostly Catholic-dominated country at the time, were said to have brought over Christmas cookies to America. The Dutch word koeptje (cookie) means small cake, and this was the start of the Christmas cookies we have come to know, love, (and eat!) today. And although things change, the more they stay the same in terms of spices used in modern-day Christmas

this we

Back in the day, my Italian aunts and grandmother, who were neighbors to one another, would bake cookies a few days leading up to Christmas. The Italians are known for making mounds of cookies for their large families. This was how we celebrated every Christmas Eve. As they say, many hands make light work. Most of us don’t live near one another, so family baking marathons aren’t always practical, and more planning is necessary. Of course, I know families who still gather to bake.

PLANNING YOUR COOKIE BAKING

Create a shopping list for essential baking ingredients like flour, sugar, flavoring, and spices.

Princeton is a cultural mecca (one of the things I love about this town), so although we have our own interpretation of Christmas cookies based on our family traditions and heritage, we can agree that these are some classic holiday cookies: sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, spritz cookies, gingerbread cookies, pizzelles, Linzer cookies, thumbprint cookies, soft chewy ginger cookies, chocolate crinkle cookies, peanut butter blossoms, pecan snowballs, chocolate chip cookies, coconut macaroon, meringues, and more.

Organize the pantry: Fill glass containers with flours, oats, sugars, nuts, raisins, chips, and cocoa for easy baking and accessibility.

Buy cookie cutters like reindeer, gingerbread men, snowmen, stars, angels, candy canes, bells, and Christmas trees.

Buy cookie tins (at the dollar store) and cookie boxes (available online) for gift giving. Also purchase decorative ribbon and string, along with cardstock to use as box dividers, cupcake holders as liners, and festive food safe paper sheets.

A stand mixer is a great investment for large batch cookie making, otherwise the hand mixer works fine.

Make a schedule: Work in batches — for instance, make a double batch of gingerbread cookies. While the dough is chilling, start another batch like chocolate chip and prepare

that dough. For each batch set out all the ingredients so you don’t forget an essential ingredient — we’ve all been there! The good news is that most cookies can be frozen (without icing or powdered sugar) for at least a month in advance.

SOME UNEXPECTED COOKIE COMBINATIONS

Try crushed potato chips mixed into the chocolate chip cookie dough and sprinkle some potato chips on right before baking. How about browning the butter before making the chocolate chip cookies? These are next-level chocolate chip cookies. If you like things savory, try adding tahini to your chocolate chip cookie dough. For a spin on a classic sugar cookie, try lavender or lemon-infused sugar cookies.

I have 10 Christmas cookie recipes in my cookbook, Gather For The Holidays, including Browned Butter Chocolate Chips and the most irresistible Santa & Mrs. Claus cookies. There is a delicious Raspberry Linzer Cookie on my blog at marioochskitchen.com.

My cookbooks are available on Amazon.com. Follow me on Instagram @marioochcooks where I share baking and cooking tips.

HOLIDAY COOKIE BOXES FOR GIFT GIVING

Whether you are baking homemade cookies, buying storebought, or using a combination of the two, choose a variety of shapes, sizes and flavors, about four to six different cookies. As they say, “Variety is the spice of life!” The more cookies the merrier. If shipping them, be sure to choose a sturdy cardboard box and cookies that will hold up well.

If you are pressed for time, check out Milk & Cookies located in the heart of Princeton. They have a variety of delicious sweet and savory cookies. For delicious Greek cookies, check out Ellinikon Agora & Coffee Delicatessen, also in Princeton.

ASSEMBLING THE COOKIE BOXES

Use colorful kitchen string to tie up four or five cookies and place them in a cupcake holder inside the box/tin. Add a variety of cookies that have difference textures and sizes. Add chocolates and mini candy canes. Use decorative ribbon to tie the box.

(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com)

(Photo by Mary Abitanto)

(Photo by Mary Abitanto)

Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Makes 16 cookies

Thumbprint cookies are well known for the indentation made by the thumb on the top of the cookie. These adorable cookies originated from Sweden where they are called Hallongrotta, which means raspberry cave. Raspberry thumbprint cookies, Hallongrotta, are the most popular in Sweden during Christmastime.

This recipe combines almond flour that is gently toasted until fragrant, along with all-purpose flour. The cookies are flavored with almond extract and crushed almonds. I used a French fruit spread that was filled with raspberries and had a thick consistency. Topping the cookie with almond slices is a nice decorative touch.

Ingredients:

1 cup almond flour, toasted (spooned and leveled) Bob’s Red Mill

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons flour (spooned and leveled) (or gluten-free flour)

1/2 cup granulated sugar plus more for dusting

1 stick salted butter, softened

2 tablespoons cream cheese

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 large egg

1/3 cup raspberry fruit spread or jam

1 tablespoon crushed almonds

1/4 cup sliced almonds

Powdered sugar

Small nonstick frying pan

Stand mixer with paddle attachment or hand mixer

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add the almond flour to a small frying pan. Toast the almond flour for about 6 minutes on low heat, until fragrant. Take it off the heat and set it aside.

Baker’s tip: Whisk the almond flour to break up any clumps and then measure.

In the bowl of stand mixer, cream the sugar and butter on medium speed. Add the almond extract and cream cheese and mix on medium. Add the premixed egg and continue to mix.

In a separate bowl, combine flours and baking soda and whisk.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the stand mixer. Mix until well combined. Last, add in the crushed almonds.

Baker’s tip: Cookie dough should not be sticky. If you find that yours turns out that way, just add 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until the dough is easier to work with. When you shape it into balls, add a little tiny bit of flour to your hands.

Chill the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes.

Prepare 1 large plus 1 small baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roll the cookie dough into 16 balls, slightly smaller than a golf ball size. Slightly flatten the cookie and add a little flour to your finger to make the tiny imprint in the center. It should be large enough for 1/2 teaspoon of jam. Using the end of the spoon — you read that right — scoop up the jam and pour it into the hole. (The spoon end is too wide.) Try to contain the jam in the hole or “cave” as it’s known in Sweden. Space cookies 2 inches apart. Any overflow can go onto the smaller baking sheet.

Sprinkle the cookie with a tiny pinch of granulated sugar. Then add 3-6 almond slivers to each cookie. You can add 3 right on top of the jam or create a flower pattern and add the almonds to the cookie, in this case use 6 slices.

Bake on middle rack for 22-24 minutes until edges slightly brown. Turn halfway through. Bake 1 cookie tray at a time.

Let the cookies remain on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Once completely cooled you may add powdered sugar.

These freeze well. Add to a baking tray and freeze for 1 hour. Then place them in a freezer bag and place parchment paper between the cookies so the rows do not stick.

(Photo by Mary Abitanto)

Peppermint Meringue Cookies

Makes 90 meringues

French meringue is simply a mixture of beaten egg whites whipped with sugar until the volume increases and stiff peaks form. I hope you have much success with this show-stopping French cookie that would have impressed Julia Child!

Watching your meringue develop is a great science lesson for the kids. My friend who has a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in synthetic organic chemistry discussed with me the chemistry/physics of this process: “The whipping of the egg whites denatures the egg proteins and generates micro air bubbles, creating a foaming effect. The cream of tartar stabilizes the bubbles that are formed by the egg maintaining the meringue structure.”

Ingredients:

1 cup granulated sugar

4 large eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon peppermint extract or clear vanilla extract (I like Casa Bella Vida Vanilla)

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/8 teaspoon table salt

2 silicone baking mats or parchment paper

2 medium-sized baking sheets

High-speed blender

Stand mixer with whisk attachment, preferred method

Green or red gel food dye

Food-safe paint brush

ATECO 866-star tip

Large piping bag

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees.

Set

Separate the eggs. Set aside the egg whites for about 1 hour at room temperature.

Note: Be very careful when separating the eggs. If you get any yolk in the egg whites, you’ll need to start over.

Add the granulated sugar to the blender and pulse on medium-high speed for 2 minutes. I like working with the sugar a little finer.

In the bowl of the stand mixer, add the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt and mix on low speed until it starts to foam. If the cream of tartar and salt clump, stop the mixer, break them up with the back of a spoon, and then proceed. Once it gets foamy, crank the speed up to high and add 1 teaspoon of sugar at a time, waiting 10-15 seconds between spoonfuls.

It’s a tedious process, but necessary to create beautiful meringue cookies. You can check for grittiness by stopping the mixer and rubbing some of the meringue between your fingers. Once you are completely done adding the sugar, you can add the flavoring. The meringue is done once it has formed a large stiff peak at the end of the whisk attachment and it is super glossy.

Pipping the Meringue:

Squeeze a little food dye onto a paper plate. Dab the paint brush into it, then inside the piping bag, paint 4 vertical stripes. Then quickly load the meringue into the bag. Be sure to get out all the air.

Start squeezing about 1/2-inch from the silicone-lined baking sheet. Pipe evenly and steadily, making a quarter-sized cookie. Do the first 2 on a plate as a test run, then go for it!

You will make enough to fill 2 baking sheets, with a little left over. If you want to use the remaining meringue keep piping!

Bake on the middle and bottom racks for 1 hour. Do not open the oven door. After 1 hour, turn the oven off and keep the meringues in the oven an additional 55 minutes to 1 hour or longer. This time may vary based on oven temperatures.

The meringue should be crispy and feel as light as air. Meringue does not like moisture, so do not refrigerate. And if it’s humid and you make these, they will stick together, so cool immediately and place in a container with a piece of parchment paper and secure with a lid and store on your counter.

Elegant Baby Fawn aviator hat; $30 hip-kid.com

Katsumi Komagata Birds In Harmony mobile; $34 store.moma.org

Flower pillow; $35 potterybarnkids.com

KidKraft deluxe wooden easel; $182 maisonette.com

Organic kids lace top knee high socks; $12 coloredorganics.com

Alimrose Missie Mouse Ballerina; $58 bluebellebaby.com

SoYoung Bunny Tile toddler backpack; $34 stylishhomeandgifts.com

Miffy LED lamp; $199 store.moma.org

One Hundred 80 Degrees beaded butterfly coin purse; $22; shopnurseryrhymes.com

Think Big, Little One book by Vashti Harrison; $9 potterybarnkids.com

Tutu Du Monde Camden skirt; $89 tutudumonde.com

Atsuyo Et Akiko horse necklace; $28 maisonette.com

Kata Golda wool felt hair clips; $6 katagolda.com

Djeco Puzz’Art Whale puzzle; $18 burkedecor.com

Raffia heart basket; $47 potterybarnkids.com

Blockitecture Garden City; $85 designpublic.com

Banwood scooter; $175 bugandbeankids.com

Laduree Paris Macrons; $28 merimeri.com

Minnetonka Moccasins Riley bootie; $32 minnetonkamoccasin.com

Donna Crain Home Bunny enamel mug; $16 etsy.com

Ligers Tamsin kids chair; $78 anthropologie.com

Walk to everything with this in-town location that includes a private elevator to all four levels!

Walk to everything with this in-town location that includes a private elevator to all four levels!

Three bedrooms, three full baths, totally renovated in 2015 by Princeton Design Guild and absolutely stunning!

Three bedrooms, three full baths, totally renovated in 2015 by Princeton Design Guild and absolutely stunning!

Walking distance to Littlebrook Elementary School!

Walking distance to Littlebrook Elementary School!

Expanded split-level offering five bedrooms, three full baths, two fireplaces, a saltwater pool and a two-story rear addition that extended the kitchen and primary bedroom.

Expanded split-level offering five bedrooms, three full baths, two fireplaces, a saltwater pool and a two-story rear addition that extended the kitchen and primary bedroom.

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY CHAPEL

BY ANNE LEVIN

Back when Princeton University Chapel opened its Collegiate Gothic-style doors in 1928, students were required to attend religious services on Sunday mornings. Christian iconography is on view throughout the cathedral in its decorative masonry, woodwork, tapestries, and stained glass, which makes it safe to assume that these Sunday services followed the tenets of the Christian faith.

Designed by architect Ralph Adams Cram to reflect the style of medieval English cathedrals, the imposing sandstone/limestone building is still the center of spiritual life on campus. But over the decades, the Chapel has evolved to reflect the diversity of the student body.

After a $10 million restoration two decades ago, the building was rededicated in an interfaith ceremony at which Buddhist, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian prayers were offered. Leading the service, then-Dean of Religious Life Thomas Breidenthal says, “This edifice is unmistakably Christian, but this chapel is meant to belong to all of us,” according to coverage in the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

The Chapel serves cultural as well as religious and academic purposes. Organ and choral music are a focus. University Organist Eric Plutz, the 65-member Chapel Choir, and soloists and ensembles from outside the campus perform throughout the year.

“The acoustics are fabulous for singing,” says Chapel Choir Director Nicole Aldrich. “There is a wonderful reverberation that carries voices out into the room and leaves them hanging there for a little while. Slow music is perfect in that space.”

Plutz, a Westminster Choir College graduate who has been at the Chapel since 2005, still marvels at the building’s architecture and the E.M. Skinner organ, described by the University’s website as “a magnificent instrument that uses the entirety of the nave as its sounding board.”

also designed the Graduate College. Building the new chapel cost $2 million (nearly $35 million in today’s dollars) and took four years once ground was broken. The completed cathedral, capable of seating 2,000, was second in size only to the chapel at King’s College, Cambridge University in England.

“It’s the height, and specificity of the proportions between the width and the height, that make it so special,” says Plutz. “This is the design patterned after cathedrals in Europe. The way the building is situated was inspired by Cambridge and Oxford.”

“I’ve been here for 18 years, and that newness has not worn off yet, for which I’m grateful,” Plutz says while seated at the instrument and demonstrating its magnificent sound. “This is my practice place. I’m often sitting here, and I observe the people who come in. The lines of the architecture draw your eye up. And nearly everyone is captured in a sense of awe. They become hushed. It’s something I think is inherent when people enter a religious space.”

It was soon after the University’s Marquand Chapel burned to the ground during House Party Weekend in 1920 that Cram was commissioned to come up with a replacement. Cram was the University’s supervising architect at the time; he

According to the Chapel website, the oak pews in the nave are made from wood originally intended for Civil War gun carriages. The pulpit, brought from France, probably dates to the mid-16th century and had been painted bright red prior to its installation in the Chapel. The wood for the pews in the chancel, where the choir and clergy are seated for services, came from Sherwood Forest in England, and took 100 people over a year to carve. The statues adorning these pews represent figures in the history of music, scholars, and teachers of the church.

“It is such a magnificent space. There is a grandeur there,” says Alison Boden, the University’s dean of Religious Life and the

(Princeton University, Denise Applewhite, 2013)

Eric Plutz, University organist. (Princeton University, Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy 2019)

“This is my practice place. I’m often sitting here, and I observe the people who come in. The lines of the architecture draw your eye up. And nearly everyone is captured in a sense of awe. They become hushed. It’s something I think is inherent when people enter a religious space.” —Eric Plutz

Chapel. “It was built back in the 1920s, before the crash. They were able to build something of their dreams that really hearkened back to the cathedrals of Europe. It was such a significant moment. If it had been a little later, it would probably have been Art Deco. It is just a beautiful testimony, in terms of ecclesiastical architecture, and in retrospect we realize it was built in such a particular moment with very particular yearnings. Princeton at that time was still looking to Europe for a kind of legitimacy.”

Aldrich loves the fact that the Chapel is open to all. “Think about how many people have crossed the threshold to see what’s inside, or sit in silence, or pray,” she says. “It’s amazing to me to think about that. My predecessor used to say the voices of everyone who have ever sung there are still in the stones.”

This fall, the Chapel hosted Hindu Diwali observances and a tribute to the life of the prophet Mohammed. Boden held a national conference there for Christian students, with 150 in attendance to hear panel discussions on theology. “We have had speakers in there not doing anything particularly religious, like Jimmy Carter and the Tibetan lama,” she says. “We invite a lot of different kinds of events to take place.”

The Chapel is staffed by student workers and open until 11:30 each night. “Students tell me that when they are studying in the library, they give themselves a page-reading goal, and then

take themselves to the chapel for a break before going back,” says Boden. “It’s quite a space — a space of peace.”

Many people with a Princeton affiliation are memorialized on the walls, in the stainedglass windows, in engravings on the pews, and elsewhere throughout the building. A random sampling: “Class of 1960 at its 60th Reunion, May 2020”; “President John Witherspoon, Signer of the Declaration of Independence”; “The Light in This Bay is in Memory of William Learned Aldrich, 458th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 13th Airborne Division U.S. Army, 1924-1946”; “Richard Rush, Statesman and Diplomat, Graduated 1797”; and “In Memory of William D. Sherrerd, Jr., Class of 1925, 1901-1976.”

“It is a long-held custom, at least in Europe, to carve people’s name on walls,” says Boden. “Princetonians have really wanted to remember their dear ones there. It’s a kind of testament to how important their alma mater was to them.

Relatives, classmates, and others will do it. So many different kinds of people are memorialized there, from an atheist philosophy professor to a beloved squash coach.”

A plaque commemorates the sermon delivered in the chapel by Martin Luther King Jr. on March 13, 1960, “Presented by the Undergraduate Student Government, 1990.”

As in many religious buildings, the stainedglass windows in the Chapel depict various religious stories and figures. “But here, some of the windows in the nave show familiar figures in academia,” says Plutz. “There are Pythagoras, Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson — not a typical thing you’d see in a Chapel like this.”

The Chapel is busy during the holiday season. The annual Thanksgiving Worship Service is on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. The Chapel Choir’s Advent concert, “Veni, Emmanuel,” is on December 4 from 2:304 p.m. Their Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols is on December 7 from 7:30-9 p.m., with Plutz accompanying on the organ. The community can join the Choir at the “Messiah Sing” on December 12, 7:30-8:45 p.m.

The choirs of Westminster Choir College perform “An Evening of Readings and Carols” December 9 and 10, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the event. A Christmas Eve worship service begins December 24 at 8 p.m.

Princeton University formally opens and closes each academic year with an interfaith service in the Chapel. The building is a kind of oasis in the middle of the campus, meant as a gathering place for students, alumni, and the community.

“It’s humbling to think of all the weddings, funerals, and students who just come and sit in the back of the Chapel, feeling very small,” says Plutz. “This is a place of sanctuary for everyone.”

One of the nation’s best hospitals for maternity services

Scholar David Nirenberg Hopes to Foster Discovery As New Director of the Institute for Advanced Study

By Wendy Greenberg

This past September, 281 new and returning scholars and faculty gathered for a new term welcome at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton. Among them were a new director of Women and Mathematics; a faculty appointee who is a leading figure in the in the field of p-adic geometry; and members whose fields range from transcultural medieval and pre-modern African and global history to the mathematical procedure harmonic analysis.

Among this diverse group of thinkers from 36 countries representing more than 100 academic institutions worldwide was another newcomer: David Nirenberg, who was named the Leon

Levy Professor, and the IAS’s 10th director, in February 2022.

While Nirenberg is new to the directorship, the IAS is not new to him. He visited as a youth, and in 1996-97 was an official Visitor in its School of Historical Studies. While he earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. at Princeton University from 1987 to 1992, he spent “many hours in West Building deep in conversations.”

Nirenberg has enjoyed an academic career that has taken him from professorships at Rice and Johns Hopkins universities to dean of the social sciences and executive vice provost at University of Chicago. But the IAS directorship intrigued him, as he put it, in ways no university could.

(Photo by Andrea Kane/Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ, USA)

Not being a college or university, the IAS is not concerned with its post-graduate outcomes; first-year class admissions yield; enrollment declines; student debt; and other challenges faced by institutions of higher learning. It enjoys a unique status as a place for pure “foundational discovery,” where the scholars are “waiting to be surprised by the direction in which our thoughts and our diversity of dialogues will take it,” according to Nirenberg in his academic year welcome.

“The place has always seemed precious to me, as one of the few spaces on Earth dedicated entirely to the possibilities of deep thought on difficult questions,” said Nirenberg recently in his office in Fuld Hall, where his

teak desk once belonged to another director, J. Robert Oppenheimer. “Who would not want to contribute to the mission of the place, if given the opportunity?”

IAS MISSION

The mission of the IAS “is remarkably straightforward,” he explained. It is “to enable scholars with the potential for foundational discovery to actualize that potential to their fullest ability, no matter where they come from.”

That mission, he added, “has been unwavering.” The founding documents stated that the Institute “should support promising scholars regardless of their race, religion, or sex: a very unusual position in the 1930s. And that mission remains critical, especially at a time

when barriers to the movement of scholars and the transmission of knowledge are on the rise across the globe, and when many research institutions are turning away from fundamental, curiosity-driven research in favor of more applied work with shorter-term horizons,” Nirenberg pointed out.

Welcoming this year’s group of faculty, members, and visitors to the schools of Historical Studies, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Science, he remarked that the goal of the IAS since its founding has been “to assemble a collection of thinkers capable of producing, through their talent, proximity, collaboration and conversation, and diversity of approaches, insights, and discoveries that could not otherwise

have been produced.”

Collaboration and discussion are encouraged, and serendipitous encounters can occur anywhere on the 600 acres or be facilitated by good food or teas (the IAS is known for both). The Rubenstein Commons building opened this fall, a space that will further foster collaboration and communications between the scholars in the IAS’s four schools.

The IAS is “one of the few spaces on Earth really dedicated to enabling the work of

Rubenstein Commons, Institute for Advanced Study. (Courtesy Steven Holl Architects; Photos by Paul Warchol)

IAS Rubenstein Commons Geothermal Heating and Cooling. (Steven Holl Architects)

scholarship. It is a precious mission. We are here to support the discoveries of each scholar.”

COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS

As a Princeton resident, Nirenberg is attentive to how residents perceive the IAS, which is in a residential neighborhood off Olden Road. He finds one misconception particularly widespread — that the IAS is part of Princeton University (it is not affiliated but is collaborative). He would also like to dispel the notion that it is insulated from the Princeton community. The IAS woods are open to the community, as are lectures and concerts, and a Friends group of supporters is open to community residents.

Some Princetonians know the IAS’s storied history, while others are unaware it brought the likes of Albert Einstein out of Europe at a time when intellectuals were concerned about rising fascism. (Einstein, the IAS’s first professor, had an office in Fuld Hall until 1955, and bequeathed his home at 112 Mercer Street to the IAS.) Among past and present faculty members there have been 35 Nobel laureates, 44 Fields

STORIED HISTORY

The IAS was founded May 20, 1930, when sibling philanthropists Louis Bamberger and Caroline Bamberger Fuld provided $5 million. The department store heirs originally wanted to fund a medical school in Newark, but Abraham Flexner, a Louisville, Ky., reformer of medical and higher education, persuaded them to go in a different direction. Flexner was the first director, from 1930 to 1939, and recruited several European scientists, including Einstein in 1933. Flexner’s vision was “a haven where scholars and scientists could regard the world and its phenomena as their laboratory,” according to the IAS website.

Flexner’s landmark piece in Harper’s Magazine in 1939, “The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge,” presented the case for theoretical research. He argued that “curiosity, which may or may not eventuate in something useful, is probably the outstanding characteristic of modern thinking. It is not new. It goes back to

Galileo, Bacon, and to Sir Isaac Newton, and it must be absolutely unhampered.”

The first school, the School of Mathematics, was started in 1932, with Einstein and Oswald Veblen as the first faculty. When the New York Times announced Einstein’s appointment, it used Flexner’s term, “scholar’s paradise.” That concept also was conveyed in a 1999 New York Times article which dubbed the IAS the “ultimate ivory tower,” and quoted a former ambassador calling it “the closest thing you can find to a paradise-on-earth.” The article states that “to almost everyone else it is a mystery hidden on a wooded square mile in central New Jersey.”

FOUNDATIONAL DISCOVERY

Flexner’s Harper’s piece explained that while some research may not seem significant in itself, it can be the basis for more significant research. The impact of scholarship, said Nirenberg, is not always felt immediately; chance encounters can kindle ideas that take years to evolve.

“It’s always too early to tell,” he said, when asked what current research looks promising. “You can’t predict the unknown. You are supporting work that is foundational discovery, not short-term discovery.”

One example he used was John von Neumann’s stored program computer architecture which formed the mathematical basis of computer software. Additionally, scholars at the School of Historical Studies developed ways to think about the past and interpret images. The foundation of a newer field, the theory of gaming, emerged at the IAS as well, as did the basis for modern theoretical meteorology; string theory and astrophysics; systems biology; theories of global development and international relations; and the deepening of art history as a discipline in the United States, to name a few.

Last spring the Sunday New York Times carried an interview with political theorist Wendy Brown, UPS Foundation Professor in the

Medalists, 22 Abel Prize laureates, and many Wolf Prize winners and MacArthur Fellows.

From left, Albert Einstein, Abraham Flexner, John R. Hardin, and Herbert Maass at the IAS on May 22, 1939. (Wikipedia)

Caroline Bamberger Fuld

Louis Bamberger

Abraham Flexner

Oswald Veblen

School of Social Science at IAS, that discusses the notion of free speech on college campuses.

WORLD-RENOWNED HISTORIAN

Nirenberg’s own scholarship is wellrespected. He has been quoted in the New York Times, New Yorker, and other publications as an expert on the balance between religious intolerance, and religious identity and traditions. When he was named director, the IAS announcement included a quote from Myles Jackson, a professor in the School of Historical Studies, in which he called Nirenberg “a worldrenowned historian, whose incredible range of expertise includes religions in medieval Europe, the history of race, and most recently the history of math and physics.”

He is the author of numerous books and articles on Christians, Jews, and Muslims of medieval Europe and the Mediterranean. His books include Communities of Violence: Persecution of Minorities in the Middle Ages ; Anti-Judaism: The Western Tradition ; and Neighboring Faiths: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, Medieval and Modern

On the University of Chicago website, he acknowledges that he has “spent most of my intellectual life shuttling between the micro and the macro, trying to understand how life and ideas shape and are shaped by each other. One stream of my work has approached these questions through religion, focusing on the ways in which Jewish, Christian, and Islamic cultures

constitute themselves by interrelating with or thinking about each other.” Much of his work offers an understanding of the role of violence in shaping coexistence.

His celebrated 2013 book, Anti-Judaism: The Western Tradition , is not a history of antisemitism, as it may sound, but a long view of how a system of thought has been used to make sense of events.

With his father, mathematician Ricardo Nirenberg, he co-authored Uncountable: A Philosophical History of Number and Humanity from Antiquity to the Present , that combines the case for the power of numbers and the power of humanities, “about how people learn to think with numbers and apply it to the world.”

Nirenberg said writing a book with his father was both “quite glorious” and stressful. “Often, we are learning from our parents at an age when we can’t appreciate it,” he said. “When you come together as adults, you bring different skills and perspective. You can relive the pedagogy that happens in a family without the hierarchy of the family.”

A YOUTHFUL “OUTSIDER”

His father and his mother, a computer programmer, started a webzine, Offcourse , in 1998, which might be the longest continuously published webzine. Nirenberg’s parents were immigrants from Argentina, and moved when he was 7 to upstate New York where his father was a mathematics professor in the State University

of New York. It was “interesting to be an outsider” he said of growing up in a Spanishspeaking family in a small town near Albany, N.Y. He said it made him “more conscious of the conditions of existence.”

Now living in Princeton, Nirenberg joked that, “the weekend can usually find me either standing in line at the bent spoon or on long runs on the trails around Princeton trying to compensate for having stood in line at the bent spoon.” An avid runner, he arranged an IAS team for the November 13 Princeton Half Marathon.

Taking the long view, he commented on what he hopes might be his legacy as IAS director.

“I imagine that every director hopes for future discoveries as significant as those that were made here under the stewardship of directors past. I certainly do,” he said. “So, I hope that when the time to select the next director comes, my colleagues will feel that during my time here they had access to the colleagues, tools, and resources they needed to do their very best work. That will require maintaining the institute’s many strengths, but also building upon them.”

In the meantime, he had, in his welcome address, this more immediate hope for his new community:

“May every instance of your coming year in this extraordinary space of research and learning, the space dedicated to the dialogue of ideas, even at their most difficult, bring you a renewed sense of the possibilities for your own thought and your own discovery.”

(Photo by Andrea Kane/Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ, USA)

Aly Cohen, MD Rheumatology Integrative Medicine

Board certified- Rheumatology & Integrative Medicine Jones/Lovell Fellow, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine Faculty, Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) Winner - 2015 NJ Healthcare Heroes Award for Education Top Docs New York Magazine & Philadelphia Magazine 2020-2022 Voted Top Docs NJ 2016-2022 - Rheumatology Founder, The Smart Human LLC.

St. Mary’s

When you just need to get away for a couple of days to refresh and recharge during the cold winter months, a stay at lovely historic inn, close to home, can provide the perfect respite. The Princeton and Bucks County, Pa., areas boast some of the finest small inns and bed and breakfasts in the country. Here is just a sampling…

Woolverton Inn 6 Woolverton Road, Stockton 609.397.0802; woolvertoninn.com

Perched high above the Delaware River and surrounded by 300 acres of farmland and forest, the Woolverton Inn bed and breakfast in Stockton provides a tranquil escape with highend amenities. The inn, owned by Mary and Mario Passalacqua, offers 14 cottages and guest rooms, all styled with relaxation in mind. All

COZY INNS for local winter retreats

BY LAURIE PELLICHERO

are unique and luxuriously appointed, and many have amazing views, gas fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, and private outdoor seating areas. All include a delicious three-course gourmet country breakfast to be enjoyed in the elegant dining room, on the expansive front porch, or in the privacy of your own room.

The Woolverton Inn’s award-winning cottages, just a few steps from the main house, include The Hunterdon, The Cotswold, The Audubon, and the two-story Sojourn Loft that also features an indoor hammock. The Garden Cottage, located along with Carolyn’s Overlook in the 1850s Carriage House, is pet friendly, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your furry friend behind. Eight romantic rooms and suites are situated in the inn’s historic 1792 Manor House.

The inn, named a Top 10 B&B in the U.S. by bnb.com, features 10 park-like acres to explore and is also home to sheep that love to graze on

The Inn at Bowman’s Hill

the grounds. The sheep also provide wool which is cleaned and then spun to create different textures, and is available in the inn’s gift cabinet.

The Peacock Inn 20 Bayard Lane, Princeton 609.924.1707; peacockinn.com

The Peacock Inn provides an elegant respite right in downtown Princeton. The historic colonial-style mansion features 16 rooms, all designed with modern luxury in mind.

The AAA Four Diamond Award-winning boutique hotel dates to the 1700s, when it was built on the corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue, now known as Nassau Street and University Place. Its website notes that John Deare, a member of the Continental Congress, purchased the property from Thomas Stockton in 1779. It moved to current location on Bayard Lane in 1875, when it was purchased by the Princeton Hotel Company. Mr. Libbey, president

Woolverton Inn

Woolverton Inn

of the Princeton Hotel Company, was a Princeton University graduate and professor, and was also the person who established orange and black as the University’s colors.

It opened as The Peacock Inn in 1911 after it was purchased by Joseph and Helen O’Conner, who named it after an inn in England. The peacock, a symbol of royalty, good food, and good luck was adopted by the couple as the emblem for the hotel. The inn has had many famous guests, including Albert Einstein and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and was reportedly used as a speakeasy during Prohibition.

In 2006, The Peacock Inn was purchased by Barry and Elaine Sussman and underwent a full renovation. It had a grand reopening in 2010 but closed its doors in early 2018. The inn was purchased by Genesis Hospitality in May of 2018, and now, along with its luxurious accommodations, features an upscale fine dining restaurant, The Perch at the Peacock Inn, that is open for brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner.

Black Bass Hotel 3774 River Road, Lumberville, Pa. 215.297.9260; blackbasshotel.com

Built in 1745, the Black Bass Hotel in Lumberville, Pa., is one of the oldest inns in the county and is included in the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel is situated right along the Delaware River and provides incredible views and an ambience that takes you back to another time.

The hotel features nine perfectly appointed suites including the two-story Suite Loraine, River Suite, Tinsman Suite, Raven Rock Suite, Baxter Suite, and the Grover Cleveland Suite, named for President Cleveland, who was an avid fisherman and often stayed at the hotel. Many of the restored furnishings in the room are the same as when the president slept there.

According to its website, the Black Bass Hotel originally served as a haven for travelers, traders, and sportsmen. Its famous tavern had many names through the years including Wall’s Tavern, Lumberville Hotel, Temple Bar, The Rising Sun, and finally the Black Bass Hotel. In the late 19th century, it fell into decline and passed through several owners until it was bought by Herbie Ward in 1949. Ward revived the Black Bass and ran it until just before his death 54 years later. He was passionate about history and was a devoted Anglophile. His expansive collection of British memorabilia, antiques, and notable artwork have been restored under the guidance of the Thompson family, the current owners. All can be seen throughout the property.

During your stay, be sure to dine in the Black Bass Restaurant, which offers fine dining, seasonal menus, and picturesque river views. It is open for lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, and light afternoon refreshments. The Tavern features pub fare and libations.

The Inn at Bowman’s Hill 518 Lurgan Road, New Hope, Pa. 215.862.8090; theinnatbowmanshill.com

A five-acre gated estate, The Inn at Bowman’s Hill is a AAA Four Diamond Awardwinning retreat known as the ultimate romantic getaway in Buck’s County. It features four rooms and four suites including the Penthouse Suite with a starlight ceiling and the Regal Tower Suite. Amenities include king-sized beds, gas fireplaces, two-person whirlpool tubs, separate showers, heated towel racks, and microfiber robes. Two of the suites can accommodate up to four people.

The perfectly manicured grounds include an outdoor hot tub, heated pool (open during summer months), a koi pond, gazebo, and gardens.

All stays include a multi-course breakfast served in the rustic breakfast room with open hearth log fireplace or in the orchid conservatory.

The Peacock Inn

The Inn at Bowman’s Hill

Black Bass Hotel

The breakfast menu changes daily and includes a variety of à la carte gourmet choices including the inn’s famous soufflé omelets. Guests can also order breakfast in bed in the privacy of their room.

The tranquil ambience at The Inn at Bowman’s Hill makes it a great place to relax and unwind. They also retain certified massage therapists who offer several types of in-suite massages including Swedish, Hot Stone, Deep Tissue, and Couples Massage.

Special occasion packages include those for romance, engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, honeymoons, and girlfriends’ getaways. Check the website for current specials, including lastminute booking opportunities.

Inn at Glencairn

3301 Lawrenceville Road, Princeton 609.497.1737; innatglencairn.com

Rated in the top 10 for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions by Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, the Inn at Glencairn is set back on Route 206 between Lawrenceville and Princeton in a renovated 1736 Georgian manor that offers the best in modern amenities.

The intimate inn features five individually appointed guest rooms with en-suite baths including the Opdyke Room, Gulick Room, Hunt Room, Connah Room, and two-room Baldwin Suite. Common areas include a spacious Great Room with a 12-foot-wide original cooking fireplace and beamed ceiling, and the Parlor. The inn is decorated with a variety of antiques throughout, an eclectic mix of furniture from many different time periods, a revolving art collection, and lovely carpets over the pine floors.

Guests can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine in the 19th-century barn, or enjoy some peace and quiet time exploring the nearly three acres of grounds.

Inn a Glencairn is known for its amazing breakfast, and each ever-changing seasonal feast includes a hot entrée along with a fresh fruit and yogurt parfait made with homemade Glencairn Granola. Breakfast is often accompanied by a baked treat, and always ends with innkeeper and chef Lydia Oakes’ special Java Truffle.

The inn also has a fascinating history. According to its website, it dates to 1697 with the Opdykes, a Dutch family from New York who were the first recorded settlers of the site. The present stone wing of the manor house was probably built in the 1700s. The property was in the Opdyke family until 1762, when it was sold to Daniel Hunt. During this period, the center hall frame was built and was considered an excellent example of Georgian architecture.

In 1776, while the British Army was in Princeton, Glencairn was believed to have been confiscated as British quarters, and also served as a Hessian hospital during the Revolutionary War.

Long a private residence, it became a bed and breakfast in 2005 following a renovation led by its current owner, Janet Pressel, and Ford3 Architects.

Those who book a stay at the Inn at Glencairn will find that it is definitely a departure from the average hotel.

Pineapple Hill Inn Bed & Breakfast

1324 River Road, New Hope, Pa. 888.866.8404; pineapplehill.com

In the 1700s, it was customary to place a pineapple on your front porch to let friends and neighbors know you were welcoming guests, and such is the philosophy at Pineapple Hill Inn Bed & Breakfast, where its proprietors Scott Stern and Roy Scott hope you’ll always feel welcome.

Located in a beautifully restored colonial manor house built in 1790, Pineapple Hill Inn, rated five stars by Tripadvisor, is set on almost six acres. It was once part of an original 100-acre farm set in the heart of Bucks County, and its 18-inch-thick walls and wide plank pumpkin pine floors hearken to its original craftsmanship.

The inn has been in operation as a bed and breakfast since 1984, with many updates since that time. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and feature perennial beds and a pond with a fountain and waterfall. There is a large wraparound deck in front for lounging, and guests can also enjoy making s’mores at the wood fire pit.

Guest accommodations include three suites and six rooms with private baths, each individually decorated and furnished with period antiques, family collectibles, and artwork. Eight have gas fireplaces for cozy evenings. All have charming bird names including Goldfinch, Hummingbird, Sandpiper, Scarlet Tanager, Meadowlark, Blue Heron, Purple Martin, White Dove, and the largest suite, the Baltimore Oriole.

Enjoy your stay!

Check websites for pricing and availability.

Inn at Glencairn

Pineapple Hill Inn Bed & Breakfast

CABIN RUN FARM

The genesis of Cabin Run Farm was 1785 in the original keeping room and throughout the years, this formidable homestead has grown to 37 plus acres and has become one of the most prestigious compounds in this area of Bucks County. The main house is sited on the precipice of a hillside overlooking Cabin Run Creek and the distant farms. The current stewards have spent endless time restoring the home to its pristine condition. The additions, constructed over the century, move seamlessly from one room to another. Architectural woodworking, hardwood floors, chef’s kitchen and a grand library are only a few of the amenities that dazzle. New slate roof, copper gutters and leaders, refreshed stone walls and landscaping, all contribute to this Currier and Ives canvas. The adjacent barn has been thoughtfully transformed into an office/game room with ample space for an exercise area, home theater, or place for the children to entertain friends. A large apartment over the garage is ideal for weekend guests or a caretaker. The pool area is serene and inviting without being intrusive. The original property was approximately 12.5 acres and the current owner purchased an additional 25 acres over the years. The entire 37+ acres are perfect for an equestrian enthusiast or there is ample room for a barn and or indoor arena. None of the acreage is in conservancy. Cabin Run Farm is a home that grew through the years into an architectural illusion – an illusion that was unobtainable…until now. Call Stephanie Garomon at 215.595.7402 or Art Mazzei at 610.428.4885 for more information. $4,375,000

ur sales professionals understand what makes your property unique—and what makes Princeton so extraordinary.

And as the regional leader in luxury real estate, we always make time to support the community that makes Princeton such a special place to live.

Stop by to see our collection of works by local artists and to learn more about our Luxury Collection.

Princeton Home Marketing Center 253 Nassau Street | Princeton, NJ O: 609-924-1600 | foxroach.com

THE GIFT OF ART

BY STUART MITCHNER

A BEAUTIFUL SURVIVOR

Cézanne: The Rock and Quarry Paintings (Princeton University Art Museum $45), edited by John Elderfeld, is the beautiful survivor of an art event that was shut down by the pandemic less than a week after it opened. All those who missed the exhibit will experience the next best thing with this book. The email invitation from the Princeton University Art Museum offering “great art” as “a source of solace” came with the proviso to keep your social distance and the assurance that “new disinfection protocols are in place,” which sounded clinically antithetical to the enjoyment of art. The upside was that because of the virus, there were no crowds bustling between you and two galleries of work by the “wonder, wonder painter,” as Ernest Hemingway called him. Museum Director James Steward’s introduction gets at the essence of the wonder when he refers to “something alchemical” happening to Cézanne “when he depicted these forms.” The museum has put the magic between covers, the sense of Cézanne painting “it as it is.”

TWO VISIONS OF TOLKIEN

aint it, live it, or dream it, sculpt it, or mold it, whether the world going by is Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Tudor England, the rocky landscape of Cézanne’s Provence or the grottoes of Courbet’s Franche-Comté. Put Cézanne’s hypothetical minute between covers, and there’s room for the Night Kitchen visions of Maurice Sendak, and the pottery of Old Edgefield’s enslaved artisan David Drake.

Two distinct sightings of the world of Middle-earth can be found in Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien (William Morrow $35), with commentary by Tolkien’s son Christopher, and John Garth’s The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien: The Places that Inspired Middle-earth (Princeton University Press $29.95). Either book would make a stunning gift for fans of the Amazon Prime series The Lord of the Rings: The

Rings of Power, which has broken records, with the two-episode premiere attracting a worldwide audience of 25 million.

Pictures reveals images of the characters, places, and events in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion envisioned by Tolkien in the moment of creation. Examples range from watercolors depicting Rivendell, the Forest of Lothlorien, Smaug, and Old Man Willow to drawings and sketches of Moria Gate and Minas Tirith. Also included are many of the author’s unique designs showing patterns of flowers and trees, friezes, tapestries, and heraldic devices associated with the world of Middle-earth.

The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien benefits from the knowledge and expertise of journalist and Tolkien scholar John Garth, as well as the high standards and production values associated with Princeton University Press. Garth begins his introduction by quoting Tolkien’s comment about reviewers who “seem to assume that Middle-earth is another planet,” when in fact, as Garth points out, the planet “is our own” since Middle-earth “takes its name from the Anglo-Saxon term for the known world. It has sun and moon, oak and elm, water and stone. As we travel with Tolkien’s characters, we visit places that seem compellingly real.”

The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England

The Washington Post’s Elizabeth Hand calls The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien a “fascinating, gorgeously illustrated and thought-provoking examination of the landscapes, cities and architecture that inspired Tolkien during his lifelong creation of Middle-earth.”

THE LIFE OF THE TUDORS

The challenge of painting minutes of life in the Tudor world is explored in The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England (Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press $63.95). Edited by Elizabeth Cleland, curator in the Met’s Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, and Adam Eaker, associate curator in the Department of European Paintings, The Tudors shows why the challenge attracted artists and artisans from across Europe, including Hans Holbein the Younger, Jean Clouet, and Benedetto da Rovezzano. The Tudors also nurtured local talent such as Isaac Oliver and Nicholas Hilliard, giving rise to the visual legacy of the dynasty discussed in the chapter, “Honing the Tudor Aesthetic.” The New Yorker’s “This Week” preview of the exhibit, which opened at the Met on October 10, features a photograph showing the installation of Hans Holbein the Younger’s 1532 portrait thought to depict Hermann von Wedigh III, “a London-based German merchant.”

DRAKE SIGNED HIS MOMENTS

Cézanne was 19 around the time enslaved potter and poet David Drake was signing and dating his earthly moments in the form of jars made for the ages, many of which were carved with his verses at a time when literacy among enslaved people was considered a crime. You can see works like Drake’s storage jar (1858), made at the Stony Bluff Manufactory, in Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina (Metropolitan Museum of Art/distributed by Yale University Press $45). Edited by Adrienne Spinozzi, the book includes an interview with African American sculptor Simone Leigh and essays by Michael J. Bramwell, Vincent Brown, Ethan W. Lasser, and Jason R. Young on the production, collection, dispersal, and reception of stoneware by Black potters, both enslaved and free, working in and around Edgefield, South Carolina. Spinozzi is associate curator in the American Wing at The Met. Inspired by the Edgefield potters, Leigh’s first work in bronze, Brick House, the 16-foot-high bust of a Black woman, can be seen towering over a section of Manhattan’s High Line.

SENDAK’S DREAM CITY

Born in Brooklyn to Jewish immigrant parents from Poland, Maurice Sendak (1928–2012) grew up in the New York he would later reimagine as the dream city of the Night Kitchen. Published in conjunction with the eponymous Sendak retrospective touring museums in the United States and Europe in 2022–24, Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak (DelMonico Books/The Columbus Museum of Art $55) focuses on the artist’s relationship to the history of art and the influence the art he collected had on his work. Featured are previously unpublished sketches, storyboards, and paintings that emphasize Sendak’s creative processes, as well as interviews and appreciations by some of his key collaborators, including Carroll Ballard, Michael Di Capua, John Dugdale, Spike Jonze, Twyla Tharp, and Arthur Yorinks.

To that list of collaborators, Sendak might add Herman Melville, Emily Dickinson, and Mozart, along with the “wild things” he sees during “a walk in the woods.... The purpose of my life was to see that animal. I can recollect it, I can notice it, I’m here to take note of it.”

COURBET’S MONUMENTAL WORLD

In Courbet’s Landscapes: The Origins of Modern Painting (Yale University Press $50), Paul Galvez emphasizes the dimensions of Courbet’s first landscape, The Stream, which was over a meter wide when displayed at the 1855 Universal exhibition in Paris. Reviewing a 2006 Courbet exhibit in the New York Times, Roberta Smith refers to a “burly, coarsegrained” painter who believed “that artists could give justice to landscapes that they were deeply familiar with,” and whose “greatest landscapes were undoubtedly those he made in the rugged France-Comté, with its jutting buttes and rock-strewn slopes.” If at this point you’re thinking of Cézanne, “perhaps the greatest student of Courbet’s

work,” you may be struck by Smith’s phrasing (“Everything works double time as topographical fact and paint”) as she describes “stony carapaces and ridges” rising against “bright blue skies, casting green valleys and hills into big angular shadows of unyielding black.”

In terms of Cézanne’s “one-minute-in-the-lifeof-the-world paint-it-as-it-is” credo, there’s nothing “unyielding” in colors and forms caught in the flux of the existential minute in his Rock and Quarry paintings. At the same time, Galvez feels that Courbet achieves “something roiled and wild, like nature itself, only in molecular form.”

HEMINGWAY’S HUNGRY EYE

Looking back to his twenties in Paris in A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway writes, “I learned to understand Cézanne much better and to see truly how he made landscapes when I was hungry. I used to wonder if he were hungry too when he painted; but I thought possibly it was only that he had forgotten to eat. It was one of those unsound but illuminating thoughts you have when you have been sleepless or hungry. Later I thought Cézanne was probably hungry in a different way.”

The combination of art and hunger jars my memory of the great central image of Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen — pajama-clad Mickey hovering in his little plane above the milk bottle skyscraper in a kitchen counter reinvention of the Manhattan skyline with its pot and canister, colander, nutcracker, egg-beater, mix-master towers, the jolly bakers way below, and the edible-looking yellow moon and stars in the deep blue sky. Sendak must have been listening to Mozart as he conceived that image, having once said, “When Mozart is playing in my room, I’m in conjunction with something I can’t explain. I don’t need to.” Cézanne might have said the “something” was art — the sound of “the life of the world going by.”

Simply called “The Arc”, this visionary modern residence on almost 7 acres was brought to life by Princeton-schooled architect Phil Holt and the master builders of Lasley Brahaney. The striking primary spaces of the home lined with floor-to-ceiling glass walls make up a 90 degree curve that doesn’t fully reveal itself until you are invited inside. Maple flooring, cherry cabinetry and rolling barn doors bring warmth and movement to the expansive spaces, which include a 20-foot high family room with a spiral staircase and views of the pool. The main suite is in a wing of its own where corner windows light up the bedroom and the spa-like bath wrapped in clerestory windows, as well as your choice of an office or gym. An open-air loft study is upstairs along with 3 generously sized bedrooms with access to a long, curving balcony. The basement is finished and ready for casual entertaining and hours of play.

In a Transitioning Real Estate Environment, Marketing Matters

Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty is the only local firm with the power of a global network that offers professional photography, video, floor plans, 3D tours, copywriting, and drone imaging, as well as exclusive PR, advertising, and social media opportunities—for all listings. And our top-producing, expert agents are truly the best in the business.

Thinking of selling? It’s not too late. Contrary to the headlines, our local market remains very active in many segments and inventory is critically needed.

DON’T JUST GET YOUR HOME ON THE MARKET. GET IT THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES.