Photo Credit: @saltopiasalts
This NJ-based company is the salt of the earth.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
You won’t find any low-sodium items in the Santiago house, and trust us when we say you wouldn’t want it any other way. As the CEO and founder of SALTOPIA, Kimarie Santiago takes salt to a new level – one that is a far cry from the heavily processed table salt on kitchen tables across America. more
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
“What grows together goes together.” This adage guides wine rookies and sommeliers alike through the complex art of food and wine pairing. It’s true that foods from a certain area often complement wines from a similar place, but what happens on Thanksgiving when your menu includes edibles from practically everywhere? The rules of food and wine pairing mean nothing when it comes to the eclectic flavors of this holiday feast. To help with this annual conundrum, some of the leading voices from northern New Jersey’s wine scene share their wine selections for this Thanksgiving.
Before the ‘fest ends on October 3, make sure you get your chance to yell, “Prost!" at a local brewery
Saturday, September 17 marked the beginning of Oktoberfest, where millions of people flock to Munich, Germany to consume just about a million liters of beer. As the world’s largest festival of its kind, Oktoberfest is something to experience. While we can’t fund your ticket to Europe, we can provide you a list of seasonal brews in NJ ready to be consumed. Here, North Jersey brewers share their seasonal beers for this fall. more
North Jersey foodies Anne Constance & Natalie Lewis share their tips for taking a savory snapshot
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
In the age of Instagram, people are sharing “foodstagrams” with their social media networks in unprecedented numbers. Perfectly plated veggie dishes and artfully designed acai bowls seem to be taking over the Internet, and we’re not complaining about it. This is particularly true when a photo from Fish.Eye Design (@fisheyedesign) pops-up on our Instagram newsfeed. more
Photo Credit: @thefryecompany
Think: falling leaves, football games, and an arsenal of ankle boots to wear every single day.
Reserve a table at this celebrated Montclair restaurant
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
Modern American restaurant and gastro-lounge Pig & Prince takes the term “Jersey Fresh” to a whole other level. Co-owner and chef, Michael Carrino hails from Nutley and his Montclair restaurant features locally grown ingredients and humanely raised animals from Andover’s Pittenger Farm. more
Registered nutritionist and dietician Jane Schwartz eases you into school-lunch-packing season with her nutrition tips for parents and their kids
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
How many times have you looked into your child’s lunch bag to find a piece of fruit left behind? Most kids have no problem finishing their Dunkaroos or fruit snacks, but when it comes to eating health foods, they often transform into picky eaters. more
Photo Credit: Historic Hudson Valley
Friday, September 2
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Dino Dig at Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City. Dig for dinos at this special, limited-engagement event.
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.: New York Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo Park, NY. Partake in 16th century rides, games, arts, crafts, food, music, and dance (through October 2). more
Today marks day four of the US Open, where big-name celebrities and tennis fans alike flood to Queens, NY to watch some serious tennis before summer’s close. Here, we outline some interesting facts and figures about the highly anticipated USTA event.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey-approved baker shares her go-to dessert for your Labor Day BBQ.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
Katrina Villani of Trina’s Treats knows that chocolate makes everything better. That’s why her eponymous dessert shop in Lyndhurst, New Jersey offers chocolate covered Oreos, strawberries, rice crispy pops, apples, pretzel rods, and marshmallow pops. more
Photo Credit: @athleta
Friday, August 19
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Dino Dig at Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City. Families will experience a paleontological expedition, working alongside LSC’s Dino Dig Guide Team to discover replica fossils of prehistoric creatures from the late Cretaceous period, buried in 35 tons of sand (through the month of August)!
Saturday, August 20
9:15 a.m.: Back to School Bash at Athleta’s at Tice’s Corner in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. Join Sukha Arts for a hip hop class, get your hair braided, try some hair chalk, and more. more
Photo Credit: Sur la Table
What kitchen gift do you get the couple with impeccable taste? Try one of these.
Cancel your home rental at the Jersey shore and book a room at The Bungalow Hotel in Long Branch.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
The Bungalow Hotel located at Pier Village in Long Branch is the only Jersey shore getaway of its kind. Just steps away from the beach, the boutique hotel features 24 diverse guest rooms with personalized design touches and various accommodations. Bungalow guests have accessibility to some of the finest restaurants and entertainment in the area from the Stone Pony to the popular French restaurant Avenue that features a lounge, raw bar, and beachfront dining. more
Rosé - fabulous to wear, even more fabulous to drink. Shop one of this season’s hottest colors.
Friday, July 29
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Englewood Chamber of Commerce Sidewalk Sale in downtown Englewood (also on Saturday, July 30).
Saturday, July 30
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Butterfly Day at DeKorte Park, located at the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza in Lyndhurst. Enjoy butterfly walks and kids activities.
11 a.m.: Kiddie Academy Northvale’s Storytime LIVE where live characters jump off the page. Also, families will have the opportunity to meet Curious George! Kiddie Academy is located at 271 Livingston Street in Northvale. more
Take this weekend to new heights at the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
From female human cannonballs to 115-foot-tall balloons, the 34th annual QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning is going to be a sight to see. The three-day event will paint the Hunterdon County skies with 100 hot air balloons from around the world, including the UK, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Thailand. more
This summer, swap that vodka tonic for one of these unusual drinks created by the area’s best mixologists.
Chile peppers, ginger beer, and pickled peas aren’t necessarily the first things you think of when it comes to cocktails, but they are key ingredients in some of the Tri-state area’s trendiest drinks. As New York and New Jersey’s gastronomic landscape becomes more competitive, their mixologists get more creative, and their drinks, more delicious. more
Friday, July 22
ALL DAY Saint Ann’s Italian Festival, 704 Jefferson Street in Hoboken. Rides, entertainment, and zeppoles (through Sunday, July 24).
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secrets of the Sewer exhibit at Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd. in Jersey City. This is the exhibit’s first stop on a national tour (through September 5).
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Intrepid Museum The Star Trek Experience at Pier 86, W. 46th Street and 12th Avenue in New York City. Experience “trek tech” as you become a cadet at the Starlet Academy. Also, learn about the overnight programs (through October 31)! more
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
Thanks to Instagram, the gastronomic landscape of NYC has gotten a lot more colorful.
With over 400 million monthly active users sharing more than 80 million photos per day, Instagram is a social media force. Since Instagram’s advent in October 2010, we’ve been compelled to turn personal moments like watching a sunrise, opening a Birchbox, or getting engaged, into shared experiences. If there’s no photo of said horizon, makeup freebie, or ring uploaded to Instagram, is it as if the experience never happened? In a society that is increasingly turning to “virality” instead of reality, the answer is a resounding yes. more
By Anne Levin
One of the most breathtaking views of Manhattan can be had during a four-minute ride across the East River. In a red capsule suspended 250 feet above the water, a conveyance known as the tram transports passengers from the noise and congestion of the Upper East Side to Roosevelt Island, a surprisingly peaceful expanse less than a mile away. more
Interview by Lynn Adams Smith
Photos Courtesy of Fiddler's Elbow
This historic country club, located on 1,000 acres in Bedminster Township, was once a peach orchard, then a dairy farm. Built in the 1930s, the original stone manor now serves as the clubhouse. The name “Fiddler’s Elbow” originates from the bend in the middle of the Lamington River that runs through the property. more
Saturday, July 16
A Day Out With Thomas & Friends in Phillipsburg, NJ. Enjoy a train ride, meet Sir Topham Hat, music, jugglers, and more (also on July 17).
Tuesday, July 19
New York’s Public Theatre presents Troilus and Cressida as part of the free Shakespeare in the Park series in Central Park (through August 14).
Get out your finest red, white, & blue attire for these Independence Day activities in North Jersey.