By Ellen Gilbert
Designed by the Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the World Trade Center Transportation Hub is now the third largest transportation center in New York City. It serves 250,000 Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) daily commuters and millions of annual visitors from around the world. At approximately 800,000 square feet, the Hub's concourse will ultimately connect visitors to 11 different subway lines; the PATH rail system; the Battery Park City Ferry Terminal; the National September 11 Memorial & Museum; World Trade Center Towers 1, 2, 3, and 4; and Brookfield Place (formerly known as the World Financial Center), which houses the Winter Garden. more
With America and the world now facing what can only be described as a global exodus of people fleeing war, supporting refugees is more necessary than ever.” – David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee
By Ellen Gilbert
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) seeks to bring attention to forgotten or neglected crises, and to pressure governments and international organizations to take action to help and protect refugees, displaced people, and other victims of conflict. It began in 1933 at the suggestion of Albert Einstein, who foresaw a New York City-based committee, with counterparts in cities on the periphery of Nazi-occupied states. more
By Lynn Adams Smith
lan S. Blinder is the Gordon S. Rentschler Memorial Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University, now on leave as a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He served as the vice chairman of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors from 1994 to 1996, was a member of President Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisors, and is an informal policy adviser to the Hillary Clinton campaign. Dr. Blinder is a regular columnist for the Wall Street Journal and appears on PBS, CNBC, CNN, Bloomberg, and elsewhere. more
By Ilene Dube
If you missed the MetLife concert or any of his four-hour, sold-out stadium performances, there’s still a chance. If you were not among the thousands who waited all night to be in line for one of his recent book signings, you can see The Boss in Princeton. Morven Museum & Garden is now exhibiting Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey. more
SUMMER THEATER: French Woods is an individual choice performing arts summer camp for children from 7 to 17 years old in Hancock, NY. They offer programs in theater, dance, music, circus, magic, rock and roll, visual arts, film and video, sports, tennis, fitness, water sports, skate board, horseback riding and more. Younger campers have more guidance and supervision, while older campers are able to take on some responsibility and have a chance to work in the areas of their interest. French Woods is just one of the many sleep away camps that will be represented at the NJ Camp Fairs across NJ.
You might not think that the dead of winter is the perfect time to find a summer camp for your child, but indeed it is. NJ Camp Fairs will be hosting a series of events this January 2017 where parents will have the opportunity to meet camp directors from exceptional day and sleepaway camps from around the country. more
A Certified Etiquette Consultant helps us avoid holiday faux pas.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
The holiday season brings social gatherings, gift giving, and a myriad of questions regarding proper etiquette. Should the hairdresser get a tip? How many glasses of wine are appropriate at the office party? Can I regift? With all the stresses of the holiday season, it’s difficult to remember your Secret Santa gift, let alone mind your P’s and Q’s. more
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
“A touch of glitter works wonders. You will be spreading this sparkle for days…” – Egil Matiss, owner of Eggsotic Events.
How do you throw a party that’s larger-than-life? Larger-than-life decorations. Eggsotic Events based out of Hampton, New Jersey helps people in the New York/New Jersey area celebrate life’s greatest moments with their event décor and lighting design services. These party professionals can turn the seemingly craziest ideas into unforgettable events. Along with his team of experts, Eggsotic Events owner, Egil Matiss has created everything from a custom red carpet for the James A. Michener Art Museum to an oversized wall of live flowers for a wedding proposal at the Mondrian SoHo. more
Get energized with these easy-to-follow tips from a Feng Shui expert.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
Whenever I’m feeling rushed in the morning, my house is left in shambles. Clothes are strewn across the bedroom floor, dishes remain on the counter, and the bed stays unmade. Our living space is often a direct reflection of how we’re feeling, and similarly, our surroundings can effect how we feel. This is one of the principles of Feng Shui, a Chinese system of laws for positioning objects in a way that attracts fluidity and harmony in a home. While it is not a quick fix for a chaotic day, a Feng Shui home sets the stage for a calmer and happier you. more
Personal stylist Erica Ball shares her tips on how to tackle your closet.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
It’s that time of year where people are switching out their summer clothes for their fall and winter essentials. That means clean-out time. Deciding what stays and what goes can be an overwhelming task, so we enlisted the help of Erica Ball, a personal stylist working in New Jersey and New York. If anyone knows the importance of a well-equipped closet, it’s Erica. Before transplanting to Westfield, New Jersey, she worked in Los Angeles styling actors for Pepsi, Nike, and Victoria Secret commercials, along with feature films. Erica has also styled celebrities like Matthew McConaughey, Tim Burton, and Michelle Monaghan. more
Actor Tom Hardy
Facial hair is sexy, but facial hair for a cause is even sexier.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October brought swarms of pink and female unity, but now that it’s November, things are about to get hairy. This week starts a month-long campaign for both cancer awareness and men’s health by encouraging people to put down the razor. more
By Anne Levin
In a video that is part of a series on the New York City Ballet, dancers are asked to name their favorite foods.
“I want grease, and, like, salt,” says corps de ballet member Gretchen Smith, who munches on a chip. “I’ve gotta go with fried chicken, mac and cheese, and curry,” enthuses principal dancer Amar Ramasar. “Cookies, sugar, chocolate,” announces petite principal dancer Megan Fairchild. Retired dancer Jenifer Ringer, who documented her struggles with weight in her autobiography Dancing Through It: My Journey in the Ballet, confesses in the video to her passion for ice cream with peanut butter. more
By Ellen Gilbert
“Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it”
— HILLARY CLINTON TOLD SUPPORTERS WHEN SHE DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE FOR THE 2008 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, THOUGH, THAT OTHER WOMEN WERE STIRRING THINGS UP QUITE A LONG TIME AGO.
Perhaps nothing is more representative of interior designers than their homes and studios.
Photography by Andrew Wilkinson
In addition to being a personal haven, it acts as a blank canvas for creativity. For our interior designer photo series, Urban Agenda Magazine got the opportunity to peek inside the homes of some of the areas most respected interior designers. Here, they share their design aesthetic, personal mottos, career highlights, and more. more
Male-Friendly Spas in Northern NJ & NYC
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
Spa days shouldn’t be a female-only experience. Treatments like facials and pedicures often fall into the “female sphere,” but men deserve to be primped and primed just as much as women. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make men feel more comfortable about entering a spa that’s likely to be full of women and decidedly feminine in its décor and amenities. There are, however, spas that are taking the industry into a unisex arena with male-focused services. Below, we highlight salons and spas that are making massages macho and are putting the “man” in manicure. more
By Stuart Mitchner
Edmund De Waal’s The Pot Book is the most recent in a long marriage’s succession of birthday, Christmas, and anniversary gifts inspired by my wife’s fondness for all things Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Arts and Crafts, with ceramics at the top of the list. Another book I’ve got my eye on is related to the recent Princeton University Art Museum exhibit Women, Art, and Social Change: The Newcomb Pottery Enterprise, which my wife enthused about after a visit a few months back. more
Photo Credit: @marshthepup
North Jersey and NYC’s K9 companions preview their looks for Halloween
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
You might have seen our post, “Halloween Pet Parades in NJ.” To ensure your pooches are looking extra sharp for the festivities, we enlisted the help of northern NJ and NYC’s most fashionable four-legged companions. Aside from their uncanny ability to sleep all day, eat anything (edible or inedible), and receive endless belly rubs, these dogs know how to work it on Halloween. Although their loyal Instagram followings show that they’re adorable on a daily basis, when these dogs are dressed up…We’ll let the photos speak for themselves. Here, we preview the Halloween costumes for the fierce and fabulous dogs of NJ and NYC.
In addition to being a registered dietician, exercise psychologist, author of Skinny Living in Fat Genes™, and former host of TLC’s Honey We’re Killing the Kids, Dr. Felicia Stoler is a mom. Like the rest of us, she’s often bombarded with tips, tricks, warnings, and advice on how to keep her children healthy. However, unlike most of us, she’s had years of experience providing individual counseling and consulting in nutrition, and continues to do so from her private practice in New Jersey. As both a mother and a health professional, Dr. Stoler has learned to detect what’s worthy of a worry. Below, she makes sure parents aren’t tricked into futile concerns this Halloween.
What’s cuter than a puppy? A puppy dressed as a pumpkin.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
Many pet owners dress their canine companions in sweaters, tutus, and jackets on a regular basis, but Halloween is the time to take it to the next level. Trick-or-treaters shouldn’t be the only ones appreciating your Chihuahua Princess Leia or your Great Dane Harry Potter. This year, show your pet’s costumes off to the masses at one of New Jersey’s Halloween pet parades and other spooky events. more
Photo Credit: www.pinterest.com | Originally from: everythingjustpurelovely.tumblr.com
Functional can be fashion-forward.
Bathrooms may be tiny, but they can make a big impression. As one of the few spaces used everyday by everyone, it should represent a home’s overall aesthetic. Ditch the rules and gussy-up these utilitarian spaces with some bathroom inspiration provided below.
Starting tomorrow, the 8th Annual Architecture and Design Film Festival will be screening 33 fascinating films from around the world.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
The 8th Annual Architecture and Design Film Festival kicks off tomorrow, September 28 at Cinépolis Chelsea in NYC. Over the course of five days, 33 films from eight countries will screen at the festival along with a series of panel discussions, speakers, and director Q&As. Tickets are available online at www.adfilmfest.com. Here, we outlined a few of the fascinating films screening this year. more
Meet Marc Evan and Chris Soria, creators of museum-worthy pumpkin carvings
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory, Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, and Maniac Pumpkin Carver’s annual Halloween pumpkin carving. more