Education | Urban Agenda Magazine

The Roots of Christmas Are In North Jersey’s Tree Farms

Photo Courtesy of Dixieland Farm in Chatham, NJ

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Nothing can replicate the scent of a freshly cut Christmas tree. Perhaps that’s because it is more a memory than a smell. With that sweet-piney aroma comes Dad’s slushy boots walking through the living room with the tree in tow, dust billowing off ornaments as they’re unwrapped for the season, and decorative lights waiting to guide Santa Claus. Our local tree farms help preserve these old-fashioned family traditions by providing the quintessential choose and cut Christmas tree experience. If you’re pining for the holidays, plan a trip to one of the North Jersey tree farms outlined in our directory. more

NJ Summer Camp Fairs Scheduled for January

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

Holiday Etiquette 101

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

Moving Forward/Looking Back at BergenPAC

Life Spring by Elizabeth Rundquist

A solo exhibition of mixed media paintings by Elizabeth Rundquist

The Sandy Bennett Art Gallery at the Bergen Performing Arts Center located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey hosts Moving Forward/ Looking Back: A solo exhibition of mixed media paintings by Elizabeth Rundquist. The art exhibit is in residence at The Sandy Bennett Art Gallery on the 2^nd floor of the bergenPAC now until December 29, 2016. The gallery is open to the general public during box office hours Monday – Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., and is available to patrons of scheduled performances. There is a free reception open to the public on Friday, December 9, 2016 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. more

Item of the Day: Michael Graves Witherspoon Watch

Michael Graves Black & Tan Witherspoon Watch | $140

Holistic Medicine is Going to the Dogs Thanks to Crown Vet in Lebanon, NJ.

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Many of us treat our pets like people, especially when it comes to their health. As integrative medicine becomes a routine practice, it’s beginning to infiltrate veterinary care. This is the case at Crown Veterinary Specialists & Associates, where Dr. Aleda Cheng offers human-grade acupuncture to animals. more

Tips to Feng Shui Your Home

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

“The People of Northern Papua New Guinea” – A New Exhibition at the Morris Museum

geomorrencourtesyjanetgardner

The Morris Museum presents an exhibition on the people of Northern Papua New Guinea from the research and collection of Dr. George E. B. Morren. Showcasing artifacts and natural specimens, the exhibition is on view now through February 12, 2017. more

Up Your Holiday Game with SALTOPIA

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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

Urban Insider: Stationary, Pens, and Notebooks

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Photo Credit: @papersource

Stationary, pens, and notebooks, oh my!

Photograph by © Nuno Lopes | Location: Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon, Portugal; January 17, 2014

Catch a glimpse of the Supermoon tonight, or you’ll have to wait 86 years to see it again.

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Most of us have heard of – and hopefully seen - the Supermoon that’s been illuminating the night sky. A Supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit. This usually happens every 14 months, but this month, the moon is the closest its been since 1948, making for a particularly spectacular sight. If you missed it this morning, you’ll still be able to see the awesome happening tonight and tomorrow morning, so keep your eyes to the skies! more

Far Brook School Open Houses and Admission Events

“A place where your child can be a small part of something big, and a big part of something small, all at the same time.” – Far Brook School, Short Hills, NJ

On nine acres of wooded property sits the Far Brook School in Short Hills, NJ. For close to thirty years, this small, child-centered community has been providing students with a quality, arts-infused education from preschool through the eighth grade. Fostering intelligence and creativity in its diverse student body, the Far Brook School has prepared its recent graduates for some of the most esteemed private high schools and universities in the nation. more

Urban Insider: Shop Thanksgiving

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Photo Credit: @thekitchenmccabe

Make your Thanksgiving gathering even more memorable with these special gifts.

Sebastian Clarke is a favorite appraiser on TV's Antiques Roadshow, giving people the good, or bad, news about their treasures.

Sebastian Clarke is the Affable Auctioneer

By Anne Levin

If you attended a charity auction to benefit McCarter Theatre, Trinity Counseling Service, Princeton Charter School, or any number of other organizations in town last spring, you probably encountered Sebastian Clarke. He’s the lanky, personable guy who runs the show, rattling off the numbers and “filler words” to coax bidders higher and higher—but always with a light touch. more

Ballet Bodies: Better Fed Than You Think

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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

Not So Unimaginable: Women and the White House

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.

Crazy for Ceramics: A Marriage Mission

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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

Recipes That Use Unwanted Halloween Candy

We’ll admit that any candy beats pencils or scarier yet, apples.

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

Trick-or-treating is the best, but there are certain candies that can make it the worst. It’s almost guaranteed that items like NECCO Wafers and Good & Plentys end up in the “go to Dad” pile, while Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Starburst are placed in the “hide from Dad” pile. This year, we decided to go Top Chef and find recipes that use unwanted Halloween candy in alternative ways.
more

Art Exhibits in Morris County, NJ

newcomb-pottery

Photo courtesy of stickleymuseum.org

Plan a trip to see these North Jersey exhibits before they close.

Gift your favorite geek these delightfully nerdy products from Uncommon Goods. Now please excuse us while we purchase that Bubble Wrap Calendar for all of our friends…

Themerrythought.com for the win with this black painted pumpkin and fresh flowers moon.

Put down the knife. These no-carve pumpkins are outshining the Jack-O-Lantern this Halloween.

Hey Moms: Be More Eco-Savvy This Halloween By Dr. Felicia Stoler

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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.

This Weekend in Bergen: Oct. 7-9

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Friday, October 7

10:30 a.m.: “Fly Guy and Other Stories” at the Shea Center for Performing Arts at William Patterson University in Wayne. This sensory-friendly, new musical revue is a compilation of popular children’s books and open only to classes and families with children with autism.

6:30 p.m.: Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music at NJPAC in Newark. Monsters make music? Yes, they do, and in wonderful ways, too. Children learn that everyone can make and enjoy beautiful music together! more

Urban Insider: Mad About Plaid

Photo Credit: @orvisdogs

Crisp fall days match perfectly with plaid prints.

Friday, September 30

6-10PM Nightmare on River Road in New Milford, NJ. A very scary indoor attraction – if you dare (through Sunday, October 2)!

8PM Dinosaurs After Dark at Field Station Dinosaurs in Leonia, NJ. Walk the park by lantern and search for escaped dinosaurs (through October 29). more

Architecture and Design Films Worth Seeing

Starting tomorrow, the 8^th Annual Architecture and Design Film Festival will be screening 33 fascinating films from around the world.

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

The 8^th 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

Urban Insider: Coffee Table Books

These gorgeous books are full of style and substance.

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

An Inside Look at Heather Ujiie’s Upcoming Exhibit at HAM

Artist Heather Ujiie’s upcoming exhibit at the Hunterdon Art Museum may be called Fairytales, Monsters, and Hybrid Creatures, but the issues behind it are very human.

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

“I’m very interested in the idea of a narrative having a symbolic allegory or story that resonates with some kind of mass human consciousness,” explains Ujiie, an adjunct professor at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia. “Fairytales, Greek mythology, and many of the world’s religions are all versions of these narratives that are embedded in each culture to unfold and communicate the psychological conflicts we all face. Whether it’s good and evil, a power struggle in politics, or coming to terms with subordinate and dominant issues with a mother and father.” more

Photo Courtesy of Dixieland Farm in Chatham, NJ

A Certified Etiquette Consultant helps us avoid holiday faux pas.

Life Spring by Elizabeth Rundquist

A solo exhibition of mixed media paintings by Elizabeth Rundquist

Holistic Medicine is Going to the Dogs Thanks to Crown Vet in Lebanon, NJ.

Get energized with these easy-to-follow tips from a Feng Shui expert.

Photo Credit: @saltopiasalts

This NJ-based company is the salt of the earth.

Photo Credit: @papersource

Stationary, pens, and notebooks, oh my!

Photograph by © Nuno Lopes | Location: Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon, Portugal; January 17, 2014

Catch a glimpse of the Supermoon tonight, or you’ll have to wait 86 years to see it again.

“A place where your child can be a small part of something big, and a big part of something small, all at the same time.” – Far Brook School, Short Hills, NJ

Photo Credit: @thekitchenmccabe

Make your Thanksgiving gathering even more memorable with these special gifts.

Sebastian Clarke is a favorite appraiser on TV's Antiques Roadshow, giving people the good, or bad, news about their treasures.

Sebastian Clarke is the Affable Auctioneer

In a video that is part of a series on the New York City Ballet, dancers are asked to name their favorite foods.

“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.

We’ll admit that any candy beats pencils or scarier yet, apples.

Photo courtesy of stickleymuseum.org

Plan a trip to see these North Jersey exhibits before they close.

Gift your favorite geek these delightfully nerdy products from Uncommon Goods. Now please excuse us while we purchase that Bubble Wrap Calendar for all of our friends…

Themerrythought.com for the win with this black painted pumpkin and fresh flowers moon.

Put down the knife. These no-carve pumpkins are outshining the Jack-O-Lantern this Halloween.

Friday, October 7

Photo Credit: @orvisdogs

Crisp fall days match perfectly with plaid prints.

Friday, September 30

Starting tomorrow, the 8th Annual Architecture and Design Film Festival will be screening 33 fascinating films from around the world.

These gorgeous books are full of style and substance.

North Jersey foodies Anne Constance & Natalie Lewis share their tips for taking a savory snapshot

Artist Heather Ujiie’s upcoming exhibit at the Hunterdon Art Museum may be called Fairytales, Monsters, and Hybrid Creatures, but the issues behind it are very human.

(Photo Credit: @topshop)

The retro bomber jacket has been revamped for Fall 2016 with luxurious fabrics and rich autumn tones.

Starting tomorrow, the 8^th Annual Architecture and Design Film Festival will be screening 33 fascinating films from around the world.