It all began in Hoboken

By Doug Wallack

In October of 1845—though historians will disagree on precisely when—the first game of baseball under the modern rules took place on the Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey. The New York Base Ball Club (later known as the Knickerbockers) faced off against the Brooklyn Club, and beat them handily. It was there that the 90-foot distance between bases was established—a rule that was to be practically as fundamental to the sport as gravity itself. Today, those particular bases are long gone, as are the Elysian Fields themselves—swallowed up by the urban landscape, with only a bronze plaque to mark where they once were.

So now it may seem like the Garden State’s connection to America’s national pastime is fainter and more tenuous. And indeed, New Jersey residents so often find themselves pulled toward either the Mets or Yankees across the Hudson, or to the Phillies across the Delaware. It is a conflict as deep-seated as whether we root for the Eagles or the Jets or Giants, as regionally divisive as whether it’s called “Taylor Ham” or “Pork Roll.” Is our great state really a house so divided?

Well, at some level, yes—clearly and perhaps indelibly. But New Jersey baseball is very much alive and well. It thrives in the state’s minor league teams.

In fact, New Jersey minor league ball has a long and distinguished history. In his book Baseball in New Jersey: The Game of History, which accompanied a 1995 exhibit at the New Jersey State Museum, John T. Cunningham argues that the 1937 Newark Bears were among the greatest minor league teams ever assembled. He is far from alone in thinking this, and for good reason: the Bears, then minor league affiliates of the Yankees, rounded out the regular season with 109 wins and 43 losses—an incredible 25½ games ahead of the next best team. They went on to edge the Columbus Red Birds to claim the Little World title in a championship series that stretched to seven games after the Bears lost the first three. The team’s roster included luminaries such as Tommy Henrich, Spud Chandler, Joe Gordon, and Charlie “King Kong” Keller, and the overwhelming majority of that 1937 lineup would go on to play major league ball.

Viewed from a present that is so saturated with sports media (instantly updated online box scores, games streaming on smart phones, dozens of sports channels on television) it’s easy to forget how comparatively limited Bears fans’ access was to their team. Most fans followed the Bears’ season through radio broadcasts—which certainly remain an element of the current baseball universe—but those broadcasts were constrained in ways that are hard to imagine now. WNEW’s Earl Harper was the voice of the Bears in those days, but when the team was on the road, he stayed in his Newark studio, essentially spinning broadcasts from thin air as he dramatized the telegraph messages he received. As Cunningham writes, “There was usually one word, ‘ball’ or ‘strike,’ or perhaps a few words, ‘popup 2B’ or ‘fly, left.’ Harper filled in the blanks as he imagined the action that might be taking place on the distant field. ‘Ball,’ for example, became ‘inside, close to Rolfe’s chest. Red steps out, glowers at the pitcher, then steps back in,’ and so on until the next telegraphed word was received.” And according to an account in the WNEW archives, Harper would also enliven his broadcasts with sound effects, snapping a matchstick in front on his microphone to the crack of a wooden bat making contact with the ball. By all accounts, he was hugely popular with his audience.

Times have changed. Though a team of the same name later played in Newark from 1998 to 2013, The Bears left the state in 1950, the same year the New Jersey minor leagues played host to a 19-year-old Willie Mays for a brief one-season stint with the Trenton Giants on his rapid ascent to major league superstardom. There are now five minor league teams in New Jersey: The Trenton Thunder, established in 1980; the Somerset Patriots, established in 1997; the New Jersey Jackals in Upper Montclair, established in 1998; the Lakewood BlueClaws, established in 2001; and the newest addition, the Sussex County Miners in Augusta, established in 2015. The Thunder and the BlueClaws are so-called “farm teams,” meaning they have an affiliation with a major league team (the Yankees in the case of the Thunder, and the Phillies in the case of the BlueClaws) for which they develop new players rising up through the ranks. The other teams are unaffiliated.

For fans, part of the fun of a minor league game is the ever-present hope that they’ll get to discover a future star before he gets his big break in the majors. Sometimes, this hope is rewarded. Thunder fans could lay claim to infielder Nomar Garciaparra before he embarked on a wildly successful career between the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, LA Dodgers, and Oakland Athletics that saw him win All-Star accolades six times. Similarly, BlueClaws fans could follow pitcher Cole Hamels’s 2008 World Series win with the Phillies, his 2015 no-hitter against the Cubs, and look back fondly to his brief 2003 stint in Ocean County.

Farm teams will also sometimes host major leaguers as they rehab from injury. Former Yankees superstar Derek Jeter played two rehab assignments with the Thunder, in 2003 and later in 2011, and fans went wild. On the second night of his 2011 stint, a record crowd of 9,212 packed the Thunder’s riverside stadium—a venue that officially seats 6,150.

For young players, moving up to the majors is, of course, a huge marker of athletic success, but the way financial considerations key into all the striving can hardly be overstated. Top MLB players famously enjoy outrageous salaries. Hamels, for instance, is currently nearing the end of a six-year, $144 million contract. Not bad. But in addition to the pull of major league wages, there’s also the significant push of very modest salaries in the minor leagues. Most minor league players don’t belong to a union, and according to a CNN report, higher salaries ring in at $2150 per month—just over minimum wage. Understandably, most athletes don’t linger for very long in the minor leagues—maybe a few seasons and then it’s up or out.

While these teams don’t present great long-term career prospects for athletes, they are very accessible for the communities in which they operate and they offer a fun and affordable option for family outings. Their calendars are filled with weeknight promotions, post-game fireworks, and merchandise giveaways. Last year, for instance, the Miners held a pregame “Grand Slam Beer Fest” featuring beer and cider from local breweries. And in the same season, the Jackals played host to both the Japanese Shikoku Island All Stars and the Cuban National team.

So, as the weather warms, remember that all over the state, players will be returning from spring training, managers will be shuffling and tweaking their rosters, and maybe announcers will even be stocking up on matchsticks. Because soon enough it will be opening day, and then it’s time to play ball.

Photography by Robert Manella, Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty

The First in an Occasional Series

by Anne Levin

Back in the late eighteenth century when the Rev. John Witherspoon was the sixth president of Princeton University, he was known to end his work day at Nassau Hall when he saw a light in a front window of Tusculum, his 
country house and tenant farm located just a mile to the north. According to a local legend, one of Witherspoon’s daughters would light a candle in that window, letting her father know it was time to close up shop and head home.

It’s a charming story. Whether or not it is true, it is hard to imagine Witherspoon being able to see clear from Nassau Hall all the way to what is now Cherry Valley Road. But Princeton was rural and open when Tusculum was built back in 1773 (Witherspoon lived there from 1779 until his death in 1794). Thanks to dedicated custodians and substantial investment by its owners over the years, most recently in the mid-1990s, Tusculum still exists as a private home.

The estate is among several historically significant properties nestled in and around Princeton. Thanks to sensitive preservation and, in some cases, adaptive reuse, once-grand estates like Tusculum, Maybury Hill, Drumthwacket, Edgerstoune, and Constitution Hill survive today.

In this initial installment of an occasional series exploring these unique properties, we visit Tusculum and Constitution Hill, a distinctively different estate built just over a century later.

Photography by Robert Manella, Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty

Constitution Hill

Considered an outstanding example of the work of the Philadelphia firm of Cope & Stewardson in the Tudor Revival Style, Constitution Hill stands on what is considered Princeton’s highest point. Cope & Stewardson are known for their design of Blair Hall on the Princeton University campus, as well as 19th century Collegiate Gothic buildings at the University of Pennsylvania and Bryn Mawr College.

The architects were commissioned in 1897 by New York banker Junius Spencer Morgan, a nephew of the financier J.P. Morgan, to build a mansion with accompanying stables/coach house and elaborate gardens. Morgan knew and loved Princeton because he graduated from the University in 1888. He became a generous donor to his alma mater as well as an important art collector.

His estate was built on land originally owned by William Penn. Called Constitution Hill because New Jersey’s first state constitution was signed in a former farmhouse on the site that had been owned by the Stockton family, the house was designed in Jacobean style. Morgan and his young wife, Josephine, were known for their extravagant style of entertaining. They had three daughters.

The property was handed down through generations and ultimately converted to a condominium. Its elaborate detailing has been preserved. While modern houses have been built surrounding the original mansion, the ambiance of the turn of the century estate has survived.

Photograph Courtesy of T. Jeffrey Clarke and Michael Slack

Tusculum

The Rev. John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, is said to have entertained George and Martha Washington and other notables of the time at Tusculum. Witherspoon named the estate after a villa outside ancient Rome owned by the orator, Cicero. Occupants in ensuing years included well-known Princeton families named Stockton, Pardoe, and Pardee, who between them added three wings to enlarge the original, stone Colonial Revival dwelling.

When Princeton University graduates Tom and Avril Moore bought Tusculum in 1996, they hired Princeton architect T. Jeffery Clarke to renovate and enlarge the house. Clarke replaced some additions and added others, finishing with a grand total of 8,000 square feet and 24 rooms.

In 2006, the Moores sold 35 of Tusculum’s 82 acres to what was then Princeton Township for $2.9 million, said to be just under half its market value. Aid also came from Mercer County, New Jersey’s Green Acres program, Friends of Princeton Open Space and D&R Greenway Land Trust. No development can take place on the preserved, historic grounds. The remainder of the property was placed on the market and finally sold at auction to another private owner in 2013.

Twenty acres surrounding the house are listed on The National Register of Historic Places. The Tusculum estate boasts a building considered to be one of the best examples of early-19th-century barns in New Jersey.

The cherry blossoms in Washington D.C. have reached their peak around the Tidal Basin, so why not plan a weekend getaway?

Grand Hyatt Washington, $169 per night

Hampton Inn Washington, D.C./White House, $155 per night

Washington Monument Print, $20.99

Bloomingdales | Elizabeth and James Mirrored Square Sunglasses, 50mm, $225

Converse Custom Chuck Taylor All Star Low Top, $75

Tea Forte Kati Loose Tea Cup – Cherry Blossom – 12 oz Kati Cup, $23.36

Anne Klein Aurora 3 Piece Hardside Spinner Luggage Set, $299.95

Photo Credit: @piervillagelongbranch

Get ready for a sun-fueled summer at the Jersey Shore with these fun and stylish products. 

Uncommon Goods, Sea Glass Soap, $30

This set of handmade soaps has the frosted look of sea glass interspersed with carved soap seashells.

Princeton Magazine Online Store, Hamilton Jewelers 18k Gold New Jersey State Charm, $395

Available exclusively at Hamilton Jewelers, this 18k gold charm represents the state of New Jersey, the home of the first Hamilton Jewelers store in Princeton. This charm reflects the elegance and sophistication of the town and University. Suitable to add to your charm collection or to be worn as a pendant.

Uncommon Goods, Personalized Beach Family Art, $75 – $145

This personalized art is illustrated with the details that define your coast-craving tribe.

Princeton Magazine Online Store, New Jersey Hand Embroidered Pillow, $169.99

The Garden State. Very few know the whole beauty of New Jersey. This original design celebrates the beauty from Cape May to the Delaware Gap to Princeton to Hoboken to the five-story tall Lucy the Elephant!!!

This pillow is entirely HAND embroidered on light tea-colored 100% organic cotton. Amazingly it can take up to one week to embroider one pillow! It is also unique in nature since each artisan incorporates a certain flair and signature to his/her work. Accented with black velvet piping.

Uncommon Goods, Bluetooth Droplet Speaker, $75.00

Listen to your favorite tunes by the pool or at the beach with this wireless speaker.

Backcountry, Patagonia Wavefarer 19in Board Shorts, Men’s, $69.00

These classic trunks for meant for beach days. They’re quick drying and they include a zippered hip pocket that doubles as a storage sack.

Uncommon Goods, Picnic Backpack, $48.00

A more durable and ergonomic update to the classic picnic basket, this picnic backpack holds everything you’ll need for a seaside meal for two.

Uncommon Goods, Kinetic Sand, $15-$45

It may look like just a pile of common sand, but dig in and you?ll discover an addictive, 3D building toy!

Uncommon Goods, Tidal Shift Print in Emerald Ink, $35-$120

Jen Rork creates her evocative seascape on a small scale by mixing drops of alcohol inks.

The Arts Council of Princeton’s Communiversity ArtsFest draws over 40,000 art lovers and fun seekers to downtown Princeton, making it Central New Jersey’s largest and longest running cultural event. (Photo Credit: Emily Reeves, Town Topics Newspaper)

Friday, April 28 

11 a.m.: Free, Tiger Tales for children ages 3-5 at Cotsen Children’s Library (repeats weekly).

Noon: Princeton University Men’s Baseball vs. Cornell at Clarke Field.

4:30 p.m.: Princeton University’s Fund for Irish Studies welcomes writer Kevin Barry for a reading from his novel Beatlebone at the James M. Stewart ’32 Theater at 185 Nassau Street. Free.

6 p.m.: C.K. Williams Reading Series for Emerging Writers at Labyrinth Books welcomes Saeed Jones and Princeton University students.

7:30 p.m.: Princeton University Orchestra (PUO) Season Finale at Richardson Auditorium. PUO will perform works by Mahler and Hindemith (also on Saturday, April 29).

Saturday, April 29 

7 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Spring Bird Walk at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve in New Hope, Pa. A $3 donation is suggested for The Preserve’s non-members.

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Princeton University Men’s Heavyweight Crew vs. Brown at Shea Rowing Center at Carnegie Lake.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Mercer County residents are encouraged to dispose of unused and expired prescription pills by bringing them to the parking lot across from the Mercer County Administration Building at 640 South Broad Street in Trenton. This event is conducted by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with the US Department of Justice.

Noon to 5 p.m.: Uncork Spring Wine Festival at Mercer County Park in West Windsor Township. Wine sampling from 15 New Jersey wineries, food trucks, and live music. For tickets, visit newjerseywineevents.com (also on Sunday, April 30).

1 to 5 p.m.: Princeton Truck Fest 2017 along Prospect Avenue. Food trucks, musical performances, raffles, and games. Proceeds from this family-friendly event will benefit Send Hunger Packing and Meals on Wheels. Attendees can purchase meal tickets at the event.

1 p.m.: Princeton University Women’s Lacrosse vs. Columbia at Princeton’s 1952 Stadium.

2 p.m.: Spring Handbell Concert at Miller Chapel on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary. Free.

2 to 4 p.m.: “Dos Amigos” paintings by Jim Buchanan and Bill Griffith now on view at the Winery Tasting Room at Terhune Orchards.

3 p.m.: Princeton University Men’s Tennis vs. Penn at the Lenz Tennis Center.

7 p.m.: The Princeton Singers in Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil under the direction of Steven Sametz at Trinity Church of Princeton. Admission is $25 adults and $10 students.

Sunday, April 30 

1 to 4 p.m.: The Millstone River Morris Dancers of Princeton perform at Terhune Orchards as part of their May Day celebration.

1 to 6 p.m.: Communiversity ArtsFest 2017 produced by the Arts Council of Princeton features over 200 booths showcasing original art and contemporary crafts, unique merchandise, and cuisine from local chefs. Also, six stages of live entertainment. The event typically draws over 40,000 visitors to downtown Princeton.

Jana Mars is Making Some Waves with Her Stand Up Paddle Company, Aqua Vida

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

At the end of her emails, Jana Mars signs off with “make some waves.” It’s a fitting valediction for a woman whose career – and name are centered on water.

“I was born and raised in Brazil, in a large metropolitan city hundreds of miles from the coast,” says Mars. “Named after Janaina, the Goddess of the Ocean, I was destined to become a lover of all things deep and beautiful. As a child, I dreamed of mermaids, the waves, the beach, and the sand. The first time my feet touched the ocean, a love affair began.”

In 2014, Mars’ love affair with the sea culminated into her business, Aqua Vida. The northern New Jersey-based company is dedicated to wellness, environmental efforts, and conservation initiatives, all of which are rooted in their Stand Up Paddle classes throughout NJ, Philadelphia, and NYC.

Stand up paddle boarding (referred to by the acronym SUP) is an offshoot of surfing where an individual stands on a wide, long, and stable board as they propel themselves through the water with a tall paddle. Although ancient cultures from Africa to South America have done the activity for thousands of years, its modern resurgence has made it the fastest growing watersport in the world. In fact, Mars wasn’t exposed to the sport until 2009, when she spotted someone “walking on water” and quickly fell in love with the idea of SUP.

“At the time, the modern iteration of SUP was only a few years old, and there were no online how-to videos or information on how to hold the paddle and stand on the board,” Mars explains. “So, in many ways, you can say I’m a self-taught stand up paddle boarder. Because of this, I’ve been able to approach Aqua Vida from a place of personal experience as a true beginner, and that has translated into a successful run of teaching hundreds of first-time paddlers how to stand up and experience the magic.”

Since discovering SUP, Mars has become a Master SUP instructor with expertise in enclosed and open bodies of water, river paddling, downwind and distance paddling, floating classes, and SUP surfing. She’s also a certified SUP yoga instructor. In addition to offering HIIT workouts, floating meditation, SUP tours, and kids’ clinics, Mars’ company offers AquaFLOW™ where participants practice yoga while floating on their paddle boards.

To someone new to SUP, it might seem like an impossible task to combine balancing on a board while doing yoga, but Mars assures us that it’s easily learned. Aqua Vida has designed their classes to accommodate all levels and encourage participants to go at their own pace, following their intuition and using modifications. “Most of our clients are brand new to either yoga or SUP, and sometimes both,” says Mars. “Our bodies are masters at adapting, and just a few minutes into class you can feel your secondary balancing muscles activate to support your larger muscles, and your balance on the board becomes second nature.” She also notes the countless health benefits of the classes such as stabilization of both sides of the body as weight is distributed properly to maintain balance. It also strengthens the core and encourages a deeper level of focus and mindfulness.

Aqua Vida has instructed on waterways throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and in the summer, they run a full program on Farrington Lake in East Brunswick, Allamuchy State Park in Stanhope, and Philadelphia. The company also has a growing base at the Jersey Shore and recently purchased a 30-foot sailboat that will serve as their headquarters as they travel to new waterfronts along the Northeast. From October to April, Aqua Vida holds classes in the indoor pools at Forrestal Village Fitness in Princeton, Drexel University, and Asphalt Green in New York City. Although the indoor facilities don’t allow participants to connect with nature in the same way as the outdoors, Mars has noticed that people often feel more comfortable challenging themselves and falling into a pool rather than a lake or river.

While Aqua Vida is rooted in SUP, Mars is quick to point out that it is a lifestyle more than anything else. In addition to offering fitness classes, teacher trainings, affiliate programs, and workshops, the company holds retreats and cleanup initiatives. After noticing the large amount of trash in the water they frequented, Mars’ mission for Aqua Vida became clear: to enjoy the beauty of the waterways and preserve them for generations to come. “The fabric of our company lies in our Seva mission,” explains Mars. “Seva is a yogic term for ‘selfless service’ and flows through every aspect of Aqua Vida.”

In 2015, Mars hosted Seva Nights, a floating class followed by a SUP cleanup of the Harbor at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia. It quickly became the company’s most popular event and has helped Aqua Vida remove over 2,000 pounds of trash from the water to date. The Seva mission continues during their yoga/SUP/surf retreats to tropical places like the Dominican Republic. The brand is also designing a line of sustainable and responsibly made SUP boards, accessories, and apparel. Additionally, Mars is launching an affiliate program aimed at helping women build their own business with the support of her company. As Mars explains, “Aqua Vida is moving to make impactful changes not only in individual lives, but the community we serve and the environment.”

It’s clear that Mars is, indeed, making waves; and they’re coming to our area. Aqua Vida’s exclusive floating classes and stand up paddle boarding tours for all skill levels in the Princeton area launch on Memorial Day weekend at Farrington Lake in East Brunswick. Classes and tours book quickly, so sign up soon to join Jana Mars and her Aqua Vida tribe at www.aquavida.com.

Pops of Color and Whirls of Music

Photography by Erica Cardenas

Communiversity 2017 took place on Sunday, April 30. The streets of downtown Princeton swelled with visitors who enjoyed non-stop entertainment, food, and vendors from 1 to 6 p.m. Various stages were erected around town and performances ranged from alternative rock concerts to flamenco. Witherspoon Media Group was there, handing out the latest editions of Town Topics Newspaper, Princeton Magazine, and Urban Agenda Magazine. Witherspoon Media Group photographer Erica Cardenas made sure to capture all of the action. Check out this week’s edition of the Town Topics Newspaper (May 3, 2017) for a special Communiversity-themed “Town Talk” for additional perspectives and photographs of this iconic Princeton event. Established by the Arts Council of Princeton, Communiversity typically draws over 40,000 visitors.

A Night in Old Havana 

Photography by Erica Cardenas

On Saturday, May 6, McCarter Theatre Center welcomed Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to “A Night in Old Havana” Gala 2017. The evening began with a cocktail reception and dinner on McCarter’s back lawn, which was tented and decorated with 1940’s-era old Havana flare. The musical performance was held at McCarter’s Matthews Theater. The electric after-party included more food, entertainment, and dance. All proceeds benefit McCarter’s Artistic, Education, and Engagement Programs.

Check out some creative party venues for kids in the greater Princeton area

“You’re invited!”

By Sarah Emily Gilbert 

It’s the sentence that makes children shriek with excitement. Full of presents, treats, and entertainment, birthday parties are the height of childhood fun. But as parents keep upping the birthday party anti, the yearly celebration can leave families at a loss for new and creative ideas. Alas, the days of Pin the Tail on the Donkey and ice cream cake might be ending, but luckily, our area is filled with unique birthday venues to keep you up with the Joneses. From arty parties to farm fetes, we outline party venues that will make all of your child’s birthday wishes come true.

Imagine That! Children’s Museum

4 Vreeland Road, Florham Park

Imagine That! is a 16,000 square foot children’s museum with over 50 kid-friendly exhibits and five party rooms. They offer 11 party packages with themes such as Pampered Pooch, Deluxe Princess Party, Sports Star, and Jungle Jamboree, as well as a Create Your Own Party option. Most packages include themed paper products, favors, a puppet show, a slice of pizza, and an unlimited amount of time to explore the museum. Party packages range from $289.99 – $599.99.

Ahoy Mate! Time to Play Pirates. Our pirates climb aboard and pretend to navigate the salty seas in search of hidden treasure. (Photo courtesy of Imagine That!!!)

Princeton Play Space

745 Alexander Road, Princeton Junction

Founded by speech-language pathologist Alpin Rezvani, M.A. CCC-SLP, every event at Princeton Play Space has a fun, educational undertone. As is evident on their active Instagram page, they host parties with a variety of kid-friendly themes like Star Wars, Pirates, and The Lion King. Four primary party packages are offered: Basic Princeton, Classic Genius, Custom Albert Einstein, and Party at Home, which will bring the party to you. Each option offers add-ons such as a petting zoo, face painter, and ice cream truck. Party packages start at $425.

A mermaid and under the sea themed birthday party for a three year-old at Princeton Play Space. (Photo courtesy of @princetonplayspace on Instagram)

 PEACTurf

1440 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing

This indoor sports and recreation center allows kids to have their cake and burn it off, too! The Ewing-based athletic center recently added an indoor turf field and party center, where kids can run around, grab a freshly made smoothie, or hang out in a party room, which can be decorated however you prefer. There are three party packages: Amazing, Awesome, and Ultimate. Each includes 60 minutes of play on the turf field and 45 minutes of fun in the party room. Prices range from $257 – $450, with a discount for PEAC members.

This photo from the @peacturf Instagram account shows Red Bulls training at KidsKamp, one of several events held on the turf in addition to their birthday parties.

 Fulper Family Farmstead

281 Rocktown Lambertville Road, Lambertville

From March through December, children of all ages can be a farmer for a day at Fulper Family Farmstead in Lambertville. They offer two two-hour party packages that can include a visit to the maternity barn and milking parlor, a play date with baby calves, line dancing, treasure hunts, homemade ice cream making, and a fairytale tea party. If you’re having a lucky birthday, you might even witness the birth of a cow! Party packages range from $329 – $529.

Pictured here are children, clad in face paint, frolicking on the farm during a birthday. (Photo courtesy of Fulper Farms website)

GameTruck Princeton

Trenton, Princeton, Lawrence, and the surrounding areas

How about a party that involves climbing into a giant blow-up bubble while playing soccer in your backyard? GameTruck Princeton comes to your house and sets-up a 25×50 BubbleSoccer arena, complete with eight balls in three sizes, in less than 45 minutes. This portable party service can also bring you outdoor laser tag or over 80 video game titles that can be played on the high-definition televisions right inside the truck. Price quotes for Video Game Parties, GameTruck Powered LaserTag, and GameTruck Powered BubbleSoccer are available upon request.

Who’s up for some BubbleSoccer? (Photo courtesy of the @gametruck_hq Instagram page)

 STEAM Works Studio

135 Village Boulevard, Princeton

 The STEAM works academy develops science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics skills in children through hands-on activity. In addition to classes, programs, and camps, they offer birthday parties that fuse learning and entertainment. They have nine party packages that invite kids to make active volcanoes, learn about the solar system through jewelry making, become forensic scientists, or make a Disney Frozen troll slime. Party pricing upon request.

Pictured here are two boys making their own circuit boards at a birthday party at STEAM Works Studio. (Photo courtesy of the STEAM Works Studio Facebook page)

Art Sparks Studio

33 Railroad Place, Hopewell

At Art Sparks Studio, children create art using a myriad of media ranging from chalk pastels to Styrofoam. The studio is run by two certified teachers, a Yale graduate, and a surface designer for an agency in New York City. In short, their facility is full of artistic creativity and kid-savvy individuals that make it an ideal spot for a birthday party. The studio’s 1.5 hour Arty Parties provide material and instruction for a themed art project, time for cake and presents, and a birthday canvas memento painted by the party guests. The birthday boy or girl can choose one of several themes such as Rainbow, Sparkles, and Unicorns for toddlers or It’s Your Bag: A Purse Party for ages 8 and up. Parties start at $385.

Diggerland

100 Pinedge Drive, West Berlin

We promise that this venue is worth a trip to South Jersey. The 14-acre construction themed park allows anyone 36” and up to operate real machinery that’s been modified to allow everyone – including children – to safely operate them. Birthday boys and girls have “buckets of fun” as they enjoy two hours of ride time on all the park attractions. They can also enjoy reserved time in the Party Pavilion along with pizza, soda, and gem stone mining bags for the guests. Party packages range from $99.95 – $369, with add-ons available.

Friday, May 12

6:30 to 8 p.m.: Damsel Duo, an indie-neo-folk group featuring Beth Meyers and Monica Mugan, presents a Mother’s Day concert with acoustic-based duo Helen and Molly. Molly Trueman of Helen and Molly is Mugan’s daughter; Hinds Plaza.

Saturday, May 13

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center hosts its annual Bike Safety Rodeo and Safe Kids Day. Children ages 3-12 and their families are invited to learn about safety and prevention when participating in sports and other recreational activities. Children will receive free bike helmets, have their bikes inspected, and ride a safety course. RSVP by emailing bikerodeo@slrc.org.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Capital City Farm Opening Day and Spring Plant Sale at 301 N. Clinton Avenue between Southard Street and Olden Avenue, Trenton.

11 a.m.: Shabbat Katan at The Jewish Center of Princeton, 435 Nassau Street. This monthly program is designed for preschool and kindergarten-aged children and their families.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: May Faire at the Waldorf School of Princeton. Maypole dance, craft and food vendors, live music, and children’s activities. Rain or shine.

Noon to 5 p.m.: Mother’s Day Wine Trail event at Terhune Orchards. Mothers that visit the winery tasting room can enjoy a complimentary tasting flight of five of Terhune Orchards Vineyard’s fruit based wines (also on Sunday, May 14).

1 p.m.: Historic Stony Brook: Gateway to Princeton History Tour at Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road.

7 to 9 p.m.: JourneyDance “Move Into the Manifestation Energy” at Princeton Integral Yoga Community Center at the Princeton Shopping Center. Register at www.iyccprinceton.org.

8 p.m.: PBSN (Professional and Business Social Network) Dance Party and Social at Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village. Mix, mingle, and dance in the Nassau Ballroom. Singles and couples are welcome. Membership not required. For more information, call (610) 348-5544 or visit www.PBSNinfo.com.

Sunday, May 14 

Mother’s Day

2 to 4 p.m.: Mother’s Day at Mountain Lakes Preserve. Take a Mother’s Day trail walk with friends and family. Tea and cookies will be offered at the Stone Terrace overlooking the Lake. Also, a special treat for visiting Moms; 57 Mountain Avenue, Princeton.

4 to 5 p.m.: Stories and songs in Italian for children over the age of 2 at Princeton Public Library.

Illustration Courtesy of the Historical Society of Princeton

Friday, May 19 

6 to 9 p.m.: Opening reception for ArtJam at 19 Hulfish Street in Princeton’s Palmer Square. The exhibit features national and local artists. Proceeds benefit HomeFront’s ArtSpace (the exhibit will be on view through June 6).

6:30 p.m.: Award-winning author and professor Eddie Glaude Jr. speaks at One Table Café at Trinity Church, Princeton. Reservations are required by May 17. RSVP by calling (609) 216-7770.

7 to 9 p.m.: Opening Night, Dancing Under the Stars at Hinds Plaza co-sponsored by Princeton Public Library and Central Jersey Dance.

Saturday, May 20 

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Annual Miki & Friends 5K Walk and Run for Attitudes in Reverse, a Princeton-based nonprofit whose mission is to save lives through mental-health and suicide-prevention education; Mercer County Park, East Picnic Area, West Windsor.

8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Rummage and Bake Sale at Trinity Church, 1 Park Avenue in Rocky Hill. Rain or shine.

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: West Windsor Community Farmers Market at the Vaughn Drive Parking Lot of the Princeton Junction Train Station (repeats weekly).

9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Princeton Pong hosts the 2017 May OPEN Table Tennis Tournament. This is a 2-Star USATT-Sanctioned Tournament open to groups of all ages and skill levels. Entry deadline is May 19. Register by calling (609) 987-8500 or by visiting princetonpong.com.

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Princeton’s 7th Annual Wheels Rodeo at 400 Witherspoon Street. This event is designed for riders of bicycles, skateboards, and skates. Includes free helmets, bike safety checks, and raffles.

1 to 2:30 p.m.: Members of Princeton University’s chemistry department conduct hands-on experiments for budding scientists 5 and older. Co-sponsored by the library and the Princeton Chemistry Graduate Student Organization; Princeton Public Library.

7 to 9 p.m.: All-level Glowga at Intergral Yoga Community Center (IYCC) at Princeton Shopping Center. This upbeat flow class will involve back bends, arm balance, and inversions all set to glowing lights and great music. Register at www.iyccprinceton.org.

8:30 p.m.: The Rick Fiori Jazz Trio performs at Small World Coffee’s Witherspoon Street location.

Sunday, May 21

8:30 a.m.: The Princeton 5K in and around the Princeton High School neighborhood. Proceeds benefit the PHS cross country and track teams. Register at www.princeton5k.com.

8:30 a.m.: Bucks County 10-Miler through New Hope, Pa. and Delaware Canal State Park. For more information, visit www.runbucks.com.

12:30 to 4 p.m.: The Historical Society of Princeton’s “Chasing George” 10-mile bike ride joins PBAC’s Ciclovia at Quaker Road, which will be closed to cars. Feet and people-powered wheels are welcome.

1 to 4 p.m.: Spring Music Series at Terhune Orchards. Come enjoy live music and wine tastings on the farm.

2 to 5 p.m.: Coming Home: An Embodiment Workshop with Joy Okoye at Integral Yoga Community Center (IYCC) at Princeton Shopping Center. The workshop will use yoga, JourneyDance, and other expressive arts for self-inquiry. Register at www.iyccprinceton.org.

3 p.m.: Sharim v’Sharot (People of Song), a choral foundation under the leadership of Dr. Elayne Robinson Grossman, will perform songs of peace in Jewish perspectives at 101 Scotch Road in Ewing.

3 p.m.: Special Exhibition Tour: “The Berlin Painter and His World: Athenian Vase-Painting in the Early Fifth Century B.C.” at Princeton University Art Museum.

3 p.m.: The English-Speaking Union presents John Burkhalter and Sheldon Eldridge in “Unheard Musick and Eighteenth Century British Literature” at The Kirby Arts Center at The Lawrenceville School.

4 to 6 p.m.: Princeton Pro Musica performs at Richardson Auditorium.

The Tradition Continues

Photography by Charles R. Plohn 

By Doug Wallack 

On Saturday, June 10, the Chatham Borough Department of Community Services will hold the annual Fishawack Festival in downtown Chatham. Inaugurated in 1971, the festival — which takes its name from the Lenni-Lenape term for the Passaic River — is a day-long celebration of the region’s culture and history. The festivities will include local art exhibits, live music and dance performances, a car and truck show, a petting zoo, a climbing wall, an exhibition on Lenni-Lenape history, and more.

This year, the beloved Strawberry Shortcake festival will return to Fishawack after an absence of over a decade. With support from Kings Food Markets, volunteers from Ogden Presbyterian Church will prepare the desserts completely from scratch with fresh strawberries, and sell them on the church lawn along Main Street. Also new to this year’s Fishawack Festival: the event will also play host to the 2017 Tri-County Firematics Firefighting Skills Competition at the Chatham Middle School.

Janice Piccolo, the festival manager, says Fishawack is about “trying to showcase what Chatham has to offer.” And it is indeed a rich and varied showcase, but the event also serves to kick off the summer and fall season for the Chatham Borough Farmers’ Market, which runs this year on Saturdays from June 17 to November 18 in the Chatham Railroad Plaza South. The farmers’ market, which sells certified New Jersey produce, in addition to prepared foods and a variety of handicrafts, is adding two new farms to its roster for the coming season: Central Valley Farm from Asbury, and Brown Leaves Farm from Bedminster. Now entering its eleventh season, the farmers’ market acts as a community hub for Chatham’s population of 9,000, with weekly special programs that will include dance, music, yoga on the lawn, and more.

For more information on both the Fishawack Festival and the Chatham Borough Farmers’ Market, visit http://bit.ly/2sXDriv.

Simon the Illusionist dazzles the audience with his magic tricks. 

Every year, in observance of Independence Day, Morven Museum and Garden at 55 Stockton Street in Princeton hosts a FREE event celebrating America’s heritage at the home-turned-museum of Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The festivities take place on Tuesday, July 4, from noon to 3 p.m. No registration is necessary.

Perfect for the entire family, the fun-filled afternoon will feature live bluegrass music on the front porch by Ocean Country Band; an All-American BBQ with refreshments by Oink & Moo BBQ, Tower Dogs and Halo Pub; an opportunity for children of all ages to “sign” the Declaration of Independence; and a meet and greet with General George Washington portrayed by renowned reenactor Bill Agress.

Stacy Flora Roth will perform “Over Here, Molly Pitcher!” a dramatic presentation highlighting the lives of women who “belonged to the army” during the American Revolution. “Molly” reminisces about the days when she accompanied her husband through summer battles and winter encampments from Valley Forge to Monmouth to Morristown. Relating her tales of firing cannon in the heat of battle to trudging “behind the baggage,” she provides a glimpse into what it was like to be a “camp follower” in the days when American Independence was a dream rather than a certainty.

There will also be a various demonstrations of early American domestic life including ice cream making, papermaking, music, gunsmithing and more, with plenty of opportunities for guest participation.

Inside the Museum, the new exhibition “Newark and the Culture of Art: 1900-1960” will be open in the second floor galleries.

Visitors are invited to use the Princeton Theological Seminary or Monument Hall parking lots, or park on the street as there will be no parking at Morven due to the many children who are expected to on the grounds.

This event is SHINE only due to the outdoor activities. It will be cancelled if there is prolonged rain.

July 4^th Jubilee is supported in part by a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel & Tourism.

About Morven Museum & Garden: 

Situated on five pristine acres in this university town, Morven is a short walk from the Princeton Campus.  The museum boasts a growing collection of fine and decorative arts, including loans from the Boudinot Collection at the Princeton University Art Museum. Morven’s second floor galleries serve as a changing exhibit space with new shows opening every few months that celebrates the cultural heritage of New Jersey.

 For more than 200 years Morven has played a role in the history of New Jersey and the nation. Originally part of a 5,500-acre tract purchased from William Penn in 1701 by the Stockton family, it became the site of the home of Richard Stockton, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence. As well as serving as a Stockton homestead into the 20^th century, Morven was also home to Robert Wood Johnson and his family, and eventually five New Jersey governors.  In 1982, the New Jersey Governor’s Mansion was relocated to nearby Drumthwacket and Morven began its conversion to a museum and opened to the public in 2004.

Friday, June 23

10 a.m. to noon: The Friends of the Princeton Public Library Preview Sale (regular sale begins at noon and continues through Saturday, June 24 at 5:30 p.m.).

12 to 8:30 p.m.: The annual Friends of Princeton Public Library Book Sale. The sale features special collections and rare books as well as books in all genres and for all ages. Princeton Public Library.

12:30 p.m.: Meeting, Gotham Networking at Eno Terra in Kingston. The cost to attend is $38 per person. For more information, visit www.gothamnetworking.com.

7 to 10 p.m.: The Trinity Counseling Service Junior Board presents The Summer Soiree, A Taste of Hope at D&R Greenway in Princeton. Tastings of food, wine, and brews. For tickets, visit www.tcssummersoiree.org.

7 to 10 p.m.: Dancing Under the Stars. Members of Central Jersey Dance give demonstrations and lead others in an evening of dancing to recorded music of all kinds. Hinds Plaza.

8 p.m.: Princeton Summer Theater presents “Pippin” at Hamilton Murray Theater on Princeton University’s campus (through July 9).

8:30 p.m.: Celebrating the diversity of the arts in Princeton, the Princeton YMCA Dance Department brings the Summer Dance Project to Palmer Square. Showcasing various choreographers, dancers and styles including Ballet, Contemporary, Flamenco, and Salsa. Free. Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets.

Saturday, June 24

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: West Windsor Community Farmers Market at the Vaughn Drive Parking Lot of the Princeton Junction Train Station (repeats weekly).

9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: The annual Friends of Princeton Public Library Book Sale. The sale features special collections and rare books as well as books in all genres and for all ages. Princeton Public Library.

2 to 6 p.m.: LuLaRoe Pop Up and Snow Cones at Pottery Barn Kids at MarketFair Mall in Princeton.

3 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Freedom Festival at Mercer County Park hosted by the County of Mercer and the radio station 94.5 WPST. Enjoy beer and wine gardens, craft vendors, food trucks, carnival rides, games, and much more. Free.

7 to 10 p.m.: Learn about trends in the world of wines and the molten metal sculpture process at “The Art of the Pour” at West Windsor Arts Council. Sculptor Kate Graves will deliver a talk, along with wine tastings by CoolVines and appetizers by Tre Piani. Must be 21 and older to attend. To register, visit westwindsorarts.org.

Sunday, June 25 

12 to 5 p.m.: Celebrate Jersey blueberries at Duke Farms Market’s Blueberry Celebration in Hillsborough. Blueberry pairings will be featured throughout the market such as a blueberry dessert with Unionville Vineyard’s Cool Foxy Lady dessert wine. Win blueberry prizes, participate in a blueberry triviahunt, or do a blueberry craft with the kids.

1 to 3 p.m.: Last day of the “5 Star Shameless Name Dropping Tour of Princeton”. You’ll see the homes and hangouts of Albert Einstein, F Scott Fitzgerald, Woodrow Wilson, and more. Public tour begins inside the Princeton University Store. $25 for adults.

3 to 9 p.m.: Firefly Festival at Terhune Orchards. Firefly crafts for children, The Circus Place youth performance, Pam’s Firefly Food Tent, and more.

By Sarah Emily Gilbert 

In the early 1800s, the southern banks of the Navesink River bustled with steamboats, sailboats, and commercial fishermen transporting shellfish and local crops to New York City. In 1908, the area was incorporated into the town of Red Bank, whose name is attributed to the clay found along its coast. Come 2017, you’ll still find sailors and fisherman along these red banks, but you’ll also find young professionals on their way to stand-up paddle yoga. Indeed, some of Red Bank’s 12,200 residents start their day floating on the Navesink River with Flow Paddle Yoga. Others grab a Rook Coffee before walking their dogs past the shops on Broad Street. Many drive fifteen minutes to the Atlantic Highlands to catch the Seastreak Ferry to Wall Street. Only five miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean and a 40-minute cruise to New York City, the 1.7-square-mile town of Red Bank offers urban amenities with Jersey Shore sensibilities. This “city-lite” atmosphere attracts its affluent neighbors from Fair Haven; Shrewsbury; Little Silver; Tinton Falls; and Middletown, along with tourists and young people.

Come summertime, the brick streets of Red Bank are alive with people exploring its art scene. On Front Street and West Front Street, you’ll find several antique shops including the Antique Center of Red Bank, which houses over 100 dealers in two warehouses. StreetLife music and entertainment take place in the business district on Saturdays and select Thursdays in June as couples walk to nearby art galleries. An eclectic array of international artwork can be found at the Beacon Fine Arts Gallery and Chetkin Gallery, but strictly local art inhabits the walls at the non-profit Art Alliance of Monmouth County. At Gotham, a speakeasy-style lounge and gallery, fine art can be savored with a martini until 2 a.m. That allows plenty of time to see a classic or contemporary play at the Two River Theatre that opened in 1994, 68 years after the historic Count Basie Theatre. Named after Red Bank native and jazz great William James “Count” Basie, the theatre brings over 130,000 people to town annually to see big name performers. Along with musicians like Art Garfunkel, Tony Bennett, and Sheryl Crow, the Count Basie hosts locals Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi.

If you miss one of Bon Jovi’s performances, you might find him at his community kitchen, JBJ Soul Kitchen, where diners pay a cash-only donation for a meal. Casual dining options continue at Mr. Pizza Slice, Juanito’s, and Good Karma Vegan Café.For hip eateries, look for the one-word restaurants in town. For happy hour and sushi, it’s Teak; for authentic Italian, it’s Taste; for brunch, it’s Toast; for seafood, it’s Catch; and for seasonal plates, it’s Dish. For a quality beer list, head to The Dublin House or Red Rock Tap + Grill, which has outdoor rooftop dining. For a glass of wine, or sips of many, there’s Faustini Tasting Room and Wine Shop.

The Molly Pitcher Inn offers a taste of history. Along with a dining room overlooking the Navesink River, the 1928 Colonial Revival style hotel has stunning rooms for weddings and other events. The same goes for its luxurious sister hotel, The Oyster Point. The lavishness continues at Garmany, a 40,000-square-foot department store complete with a tailor shop, bar and lounge, and movie theatre. A 50-foot wall of Valentino, Christian Louboutin, and Jimmy Choo shoes awaits discerning shoppers at CoCo Pari. Equally impressive are the jewels and gems at Tiffany & Co., Leonardo Jewelers, and Goldtinker. Fashion girls head to Dor L’Dor, Cabana 19, Sorella Bella, and Madison to capture that urban-beach look, while their male counterparts shop Carbone’s Clothing Co., Castello, and Urban Outfitters. Little cuties are welcomed at Lil’ Cutie Pops for all things sweet, including a kids baking club, and furry cuties are embraced at Paws for a Cause. This unique pet shop sells organic treats and toys made out of recycled materials. They only carry products made by small, American businesses, and a portion of their sales go to those who cannot afford pet care.

During the warm weather months, the Jersey Shore takes the stage. Residents can reach the charming beach town of Sea Bright in twenty minutes, or go ten minutes further north to catch some rays at Sandy Hook, which is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. If they’re looking to stay local, they can rent a rowboat from the Red Bank Marina or drop a line off of Chris’s River Plaza to catch some Navesink Blue Claws. The River Plaza neighbors The Galleria, a 1917 uniform factory that now houses boutiques, restaurants, offices, and over 30 vendors every Sunday at the Red Bank Farmers Market. There’s also the two-acre Riverside Garden Park that won several design awards since its creation in 2000. Every Thursday night in July and August, crowds are beckoned to Riverside’s Jazz in the Park by the syncopated rhythms of saxophones. On Wednesday evenings, the sounds are more peaceful as yoga or Pilates is taught on the Park’s outdoor stage during Fitness in the Park. 

The town keeps the energy alive with events held throughout the summer and into the fall. The five-day Indie Street Festivalreturns to venues across Red Bank from July 26-30 to provide emerging independent filmmakers industry opportunities, regardless of their budget size. At last year’s inaugural festival, over 75 films were screened, and the winners from each category received a minimum one-week release in New York City. Also in July is the Red Bank Sidewalk Sale, which is followed by the Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival on September 24, marking summer’s end. As its name suggests, the annual event brings a healthy supply of oysters and beer to the town’s streets, along with music and food from local restaurants.

On rainy days, the Red Bank Armory Ice Complex is available for open skating. Built in 1914, the armory originally held the National Guard’s Red Bank Calvary, but it’s now home to an ice rink and several local hockey leagues. Pac-Man and Space Invaders are ready to be played at the classic video game arcade, YESTERcades, while adventure awaits at The Trap Door Escape Room. This real-life, interactive game locks a team of people into a room and challenges them to complete a scavenger hunt that uncovers the key to the door.

Luckily, the door is always open in Red Bank. Named the third-best small town in the U.S. by Smithsonian Magazine and “Best Downtown Arts District” by Discover Jersey Arts People’s Choice Awards, it’s clear that this little borough packs a big punch. Located at the intersection of New York City and the Jersey Shore, Red Bank, New Jersey is the summer destination for 2017.

By Doug Wallack

I turned off Route 206 and wound my way southeast toward Chatsworth, in the heart of cranberry country. Within a few miles, the farmland—acre upon acre of wheat and corn—was swallowed up by thick forest. A few miles further, the maples, oaks, and sassafras trees that form so much of the state’s deciduous canopy yielded almost entirely to pitch pines and shortleaf pines. The road became an evergreen-lined alley stretching out into the flat distance, where heat waves shimmered above the asphalt — looking for all the world as though the Atlantic had crept some twenty miles inland of its usual home along the Jersey Shore. The drive continued this way for some time, punctuated by the the occasional bog, until I arrived — almost without warning — in the middle of Chatsworth.

At the end of the Gilded Age, Chatsworth enjoyed a brief heyday as a retreat for country’s upper crust. The short-lived Chatsworth Club, established in 1904 by the Italian prince and diplomat Mario Ruspoli, included among its roster members of the Drexel, Astor, Vanderbilt, and Gould families. The town was well-connected by train, with lines leading west to Philadelphia, east to Atlantic City, and north to Red Bank and New York City. Beginning in 1929, the Blue Comet passed through Chatsworth each day on its route between Jersey City and Atlantic City, its riders lounging on the deck of its observation car or enjoying a steak dinner in its wood-paneled dining car.

But I hadn’t come to Chatsworth to track down traces of that genteel past. I was there because, just over 50 years earlier, John McPhee had used the town as a sort of base of operations as he researched the region for a pair of New Yorker articles that would eventually become his beloved 1968 book The Pine Barrens.

What is now officially designated as the Pinelands National Reserve is comprised of 1.1 million acres—fully a fifth of the state’s land area, and the first National Reserve in the country. Within that region is the largest surviving forest on the East Coast between Maine and Florida, and below it lies the 17-trillion-gallon Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer. The “Pine Barrens” are so called because early European settlers found the region’s sandy acidic soil unsuitable for the vegetables and cereals they wanted to cultivate, but in terms of ecology, the Pinelands are hardly barren. According to the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, the area’s forests and wetlands are home to 1,000 species of native flowering plants, 280 mosses, 34 mammal species (including black bears and bobcats), 24 amphibian species, 30 reptile species, and 144 bird species.

“I was in the pines because I found it hard to believe that so much wilderness could still exist so near the big Eastern cities,” McPhee writes in his book. And indeed, even for many Garden State natives, the Pine Barrens are now what they were initially for McPhee then: an enormous blank spot on the map of the state, passed over as the eye is drawn almost inexorably toward New York or Philadelphia — or perhaps to the shore, depending on the season. When the idea of writing on the Pines struck, McPhee was 33 and had lived nearly his entire life in New Jersey. After publishing a breakout New Yorker profile on Bill Bradley (then a star basketball player at Princeton University), McPhee, then nominally a staff writer for the magazine, was camped out in his garage in Princeton, wracking his brain for his next story. Then, as he related by phone, “When a high school friend of mine said, ‘You ought to write about the Pine Barrens,’ I said, ‘The what?’” His friend relayed fantastic rumors about the region, including word of a mile-deep hole in the ground there. His interest piqued, McPhee drove his Peugeot (“which the sand roads destroyed”) down to the Pines, often hanging around Buzby’s General Store in Chatsworth, talking with the townspeople and the cranberry growers and fire watchers who filtered through, tagging along with them when he could to see their view of the Pines.

What he ultimately wrote was a rich portrait of the region that followed a small cast of characters, exploring the culture, history, and ecology of the Pines. In the book, McPhee passes time with “pineys” — as Pine Barrens natives call themselves — who work the cranberry bogs and blueberry fields, trading the security of year-round work for the peace of living in the woods. He delves into the history of the iron industry that came and went in the Pines, visiting the remnants of the towns that disappeared along with the forges. Guided by botanists, naturalists, and locals, he meditates on the diversity of the region’s fauna and flora, the centrality of forest fires (both man-made and natural) to the pace of life there and to the woods’ ecosystems, and the threat mankind poses to wilderness there.

McPhee reports that there were plans afoot to build a new city in the heart of the Pines, along with a supersonic jetport that would be, by far, the largest airport on earth. The Pine Barrens concludes on a grim note: “Given the great numbers and the crossed purposes of all the big and little powers that would have to work together to accomplish anything on a major scale in the pines, it would appear that the Pine Barrens are not very likely to be the subject of dramatic decrees or acts of legislation. They seem to be headed slowly toward extinction,” McPhee writes.

But as it turned out, a decade after the book’s publication, New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne began a push for exactly that sort of major legislation, which resulted in the state’s adoption of the Pinelands Protection Act in 1979. Fittingly, it was McPhee’s book that—at least in part—inspired Governor Byrne to pursue to the legislation. Now, as a result of the Pinelands Preservation Act and the accompanying Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, roughly two-thirds of the Pinelands are protected from intensive development, with one-third designated for closely-monitored suburban and urban development, and a sliver zoned for agriculture. The airport jetport and the new city never materialized. McPhee now marvels that “not a great deal has changed” since he first went down to the Pines.

Even with these laws on the books, he is clear in his conviction that the Pines are still “forever threatened.” According to Carleton Montgomery, executive director of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, the region is made vulnerable by the possibility that the Pinelands Commission—the state agency established to enforce the Pinelands legislation—will fail to do its job. One of Montgomery’s chief concerns is aquifer overuse. The state is required to update the Water Supply Master Plan every five years, but the last revision was released in 1996—a failure that Montgomery says makes it impossible to draft appropriate regulations for water extraction, given the population changes over the last two decades.

The Pines also face the construction of natural gas pipelines running through conservation zones. Part of the concern, of course, is of contamination in the event of pipeline leakage or rupture. But the larger concern, Montgomery explains, is that the pipelines would serve as a foot in the door for developers. “Where you build infrastructure, people come,” he says, “And then it becomes a reason to change the rules and expand development opportunities in those conservation zones.” In February, despite the efforts of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and many other environmental groups and concerned citizens, the Pinelands Commission approved the construction of a 22-mile South Jersey gas pipeline through the Pinelands.

In recent years, the Pines have also contended with increasing damage to conservation lands from off-road vehicles. “We attribute this to YouTube,” Montgomery says. GoPro footage of wild rides through the forests has popularized the practice, even as riders tear up the very terrain they’re so enamored of.

Still, the Pines are more than the sum of their worries. Both the beauty of the region and the rumors that cling to it continue to draw people in. David Scott Kessler, a Philadelphia-based artist and filmmaker, is one of the latest to fall under their spell. Kessler has been working on an experimental documentary entitled The Pine Barrens since 2011. Though film is not yet finalized, over the past few years, Kessler has screened versions of it accompanied by live music from the Ruins of Friendship orchestra (a group that came together to support the film). The shared name with McPhee’s book is apt. Both works are essentially exploratory in character, investigations by New Jersey natives (Kessler is originally from Union) who were drawn to learn something more about their home state, to prod at the sense of mystery that surrounds the Pines—home of the Jersey Devil and reclusive pineys. Kessler says he was keen to bring to the screen the sense of wonder that comes with the “naïve explorer sensibility” he had from the outset of his project. The story he tells—which is far more a subjective portrait of a time and place than it is an environmental documentary—developed as he worked on it. His work continues, and so too does the story of the Pines itself continue to unfold.

Today, Chatsworth is in many ways much like it was when McPhee first visited it in 1966: a sleepy village in the Pines, home to a few hundred families, and a hub of regional cranberry growing activity. Buzby’s General Store still stands where it has for over 150 years, but it has been closed for about a year now due to the poor health of current owner R. Marilyn Schmidt. A real estate agent’s sign sits in the window — a melancholy frame to the books, maps, and jars of jam still sitting inside. As I was about to leave town, my phone — and with it Google Maps — died suddenly and would not be revived. So I drove home through the Pines as McPhee had when he was first exploring the area: overshooting a turn here and there, retracing my route, meandering, but sure to return.

Liberty State Park

By Wendy Plump

On a recent train ride home from Boston, surrounded by people tapping at computers and staring into cell phones, as well as my own pile of devices, the meaning of serenity asserted itself. It wasn’t gained by answering emails or texts or squinting through news feeds, but by looking out the window at miles and miles of wild coastline and coves, a great gray ocean, and a marbled sky. Every seabird scratching in the sand or stand of evergreens leaning out of the wind served to remind me that this is what saves.

New Jersey is a populous state: people, cities, turnpikes, superfund sites. Mercifully, there is remedy in the form of stunning natural beauty to restore equanimity. To be specific, 12 remedies. Parks, trails, or sites overseen by or considered part of the National Park Service grace the Garden State from stem to stern. You own these places by virtue of your tax dollars and those forward-thinking souls who packaged the parks up neatly for us after the Organic Act—which created the National Park Service—passed in 1916. Given the political climate, it seems as good a time as any to remind us what that Act sought to do:  “… to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

Here is the list of New Jersey’s 12 National Park Service gems. It’s summer. Get out there. Check them all off your list. And while I’m not suggesting you actually do this, imagine how emancipating it would be to throw your cell phones out the car window on the way to the Pine Barrens. They would be covered with sand in under a week.

Appalachian Trail National Scenic Trail

The 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail, also known as the Footpath of the People, passes through New Jersey for 72 miles from the Delaware Water Gap to High Point State Park, and on into New York. Elevation ranges from 350 feet to 1,685 feet in a series of short, steep, rocky pitches alternating with bogs and wetlands. Rated easy to moderate within the Garden State, the AT enters New Jersey at the Delaware Water Gap, heads north along the Kittatinny Ridge to High Point, then east through Pochuck Valley. It would take an estimated five to six days to walk the New Jersey section. Wildlife is abundant with hawks and eagles, bears, rattlesnakes, and passerines galore.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

This National Park Service distinction is shared with Pennsylvania, which borders the other side of the Delaware River. It seems silly to list the outdoor activities you can undertake in the Water Gap: what can’t you do with 70,000 acres of breathtaking scenery, 40 miles of river, and 100 miles of scenic roadway? One of the most popular hikes in New Jersey is the divine slog up Mt. Tammany, 1,527 feet high, about a mile to the top on one of two trails. And when you get up there, you have views of Arrowhead Island and Mt. Minsi on the Pennsylvania side and a reminder that, as primates, we were born to climb.

Ellis Island, Part of the Statute of Liberty National Monument

More than 12 million steerage and third-class steamship passengers who came to the United States through the New York port were legally and medically inspected here between 1892 and 1954. The National Park Service estimates that some 40 percent of America’s population can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island. Walk around the park and imagine what it was like to land here, the welcoming portal to a (hopefully) kinder nation. The Ellis Island Museum of Immigration has three floors of history, and photographs that will make you yearn for your forebears.

Sandy Hook/Gateway National Recreation Area

With 27,000 acres along the ocean, including bays in New Jersey, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, the Gateway allows New Jersey to lay claim to just a small piece of this national recreation area: Sandy Hook in Monmouth County. A 2,044-acre barrier beach peninsula at the northern tip of the Jersey Shore, Sandy Hook offers seven miles of beaches, salt marshes, hiking trails, a maritime holly forest, and Sandy Hook Lighthouse. In comparison with the rest of the Gateway, it’s vest-pocket small. But we’ll take it.

Great Egg Harbor River

This 129-mile river system in the Pinelands starts from a trickle in Berlin and blossoms and blooms all the way down to the Atlantic Ocean. The system pulls water from 17 tributaries along its length, and nearly all of it lies within the Pinelands National Reserve. Local jurisdictions continue to administer the lands, a unique feature of this wet and wild place. With an abundance of waterfowl nesting groups, the river system is one of the great birdwatching sites on the East Coast. Backpacking and hiking, boating, camping, and kayaking are also rewarding. The NPS website points out that there are two components to the river system: sand and water. The sand was deposited by an ancient river 20 million years ago. The water seeps through the sand to form one of North America’s largest underground reservoirs.

Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River

The Lower “D” became part of the park service in 2000. From the headwaters in Hancock, N.Y. down to Delaware Bay, the Delaware is the largest free-flowing river in the eastern United States, although just the Water Gap to Washington Crossing has been designated New Jersey’s portion of the wild and scenic river. After the hiking and the boating and the walks along the Delaware and Raritan Canal, the river towns along its banks prove that river residents in Milford, Frenchtown, Stockton, and Lambertville are a thriving breed apart, and just may deserve a wild and scenic designation of their own.

Morristown National Historical Park

This is the nation’s first National Historic Park and commemorates the encampment of General George Washington and the Continental Army from December 1779 to June of 1780, one of the coldest, most brutal winters on record. Four historical sites comprise the park: Jockey Hollow, the Ford Mansion, Fort Nonsense, and the New Jersey Brigade Encampment site. The park hosts an annual encampment weekend each spring. A museum and library collection round out the offerings.

New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail

This is a part-and-parcel trail stretching 300 miles through the shore with historic villages, boardwalks, and lighthouses scattered along the way. From Raritan Bay in Perth Amboy to Deepwater near the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the heritage trail runs through five regions and includes one of the nation’s oldest operating lighthouses, the state’s official tall ship, and the town where revolutionaries burned British tea.

Pinelands National Reserve

More than a million acres of forests, wetlands, and farms span seven southern counties to form the Pinelands. The area has been classified as a biosphere reserve (there are under 50 in the United States) and, in 1978, was named the country’s first National Reserve. While it contains 56 communities, from hamlets to suburbs, with 700,000 permanent residents, the Pinelands also enclose some of southern New Jersey’s wildest environs.

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

The newest national park for New Jersey—and slightly at-odds with the others’ emphasis on natural beauty—this park commemorates an industrial historic district, once called the Cradle of American Industry. Everything from cotton and silk, to locomotives, to paper, airplanes, and all manner of widgets were produced here. Paterson was America’s first planned industrial city, centered around and in part fueled by the Great Falls of the Passaic River, standing at 77 feet high. A lovely footbridge spans the Passaic. Walk over it for a good misting.

Thomas Edison National Historic Park

This is the West Orange home of America’s greatest inventor, where the machines and pulleys of his laboratory, once active for 40 years, are still on view. Edison earned 1,093 patents, but his three most famous inventions were the electric light system, the phonograph, and motion pictures. While it is not quite true that he invented the lightbulb, it is true that he perfected the first practical incandescent lightbulb; his applied invention enabled it to burn for hours and hours. His home, Glenmont, which he purchased in 1886 with his wife Mina for their family, is huge and every bit as whimsical-looking as we could wish.

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail

General George Washington and General Rochambeau joined the fighting men of the Continental Army and the French expeditionary force in 1781 to defeat the British, marching from New York to Virginia where they trapped the British Army under the command of General Cornwallis. Their famous collaboration resulted in the victory at Yorktown in the largest troop movement of the Revolutionary War. In 2009, their route was designated a National Historic Trail. As it runs through New Jersey, the route takes in the Thomas Clarke House in Princeton Battlefield State Park.

Emilie Brzezinski, Lintel, 1993, bronze. Photo by David Howarth for dmhphotographer.com

By Laurie Pellichero

Founded by artist and philanthropist J. Seward Johnson, Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) has welcomed more than two million guests since it opened to the public in 1992. The 42-acre sculpture park, museum, and arboretum features a unique collection of contemporary sculpture, special programs, and seasonally-rotating exhibitions in six indoor galleries.

In honor of its 25th anniversary, GFS has opened five new exhibitions for its Spring/Summer Exhibition Season including two site-specific interior glass sculpture installations by Daniel Clayman, titled Daniel Clayman: Radiant Landscape and an exploration of space and sky with photographic collages and pastels by Elyn Zimmerman in Elyn Zimmerman: Sensitive Chaos.

GFS also features “Grounds For Sculpture: 25 Years,” which celebrates the people, spaces, and things that are uniquely GFS. Through never-before-seen images, insider tales, and hands-on interaction, guests will discover more about the collections, the evolution of the grounds, and the people who have contributed to its success.

In the Cecelia Joyce and Seward Johnson Gallery, “That’s Worth Celebrating: The Life and Work of the Johnson Family” focuses on the Johnson family’s passions, their belief in the spirit of innovation and the power of community, and how the founder’s vision for The Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture shaped Grounds For Sculpture’s early years.

Two new sculptures have been installed on the grounds. Seward Johnson’s newest work, Mystical Treasure Trip, is installed in the harbor near Rat’s Restaurant and the Monet Bridge. Barton Rubenstein’s Harmonize is 16-foot-tall stainless steel kinetic sculpture which is set in motion by the lightest breeze.

The Typewriter Project. Photo by Zach Teris for dmhphotographer.com

Also part of its 25th anniversary, GFS celebrates the power of the written word with The Typewriter Project, an interactive installation sited in the garden through September 28. “We’re inviting people to add their own voice, and enjoy typing on a vintage typewriter,” said GFS Executive Director Gary Schneider.

“We focus on innovative programming, with many programs and events to extend your day into the evening,” added Schneider. “It’s great to come to the park and relax after work.” Schneider is also excited about First Fridays at GFS, held the first Friday of each month starting July 7 and running through October 6, from 5-9pm. “Visitors can enjoy our open-air beer garden, listen to music, wander the grounds, see the art, meet artists, and take special tours of the on-site sculpture studio, The Seward Johnson Atelier.”

Another reason to visit GFS at night is the Plein Air Cinema Series, with outdoor showings on select Thursday nights of family and cult favorites from 1992 including  FernGully: The Last Rainforest (August 10) and Army of Darkness (September 7).

Moonlight tour and dinner packages are available through Rat’s Restaurant, with guests enjoying the grounds by flashlight. “It’s quite dramatic and theatrical,” said Schneider. September 24 brings Epicurean Palette, the annual gala celebration of food and wine that helps support the exhibitions and educational initiatives at GFS.

“We’re here with great events all year round,” said Schneider.

Grounds For Sculpture is located at 80 Sculptors Way in Hamilton. Summer hours are Tuesday through Thursday 10am to 6pm, Friday and Saturday 10am to 9pm, and Sunday 10am to 6pm. For more information, call 609.586.0616 or visit groundsforsculpture.org.

Daniel Clayman, Radiant Landscape, 2017. Photo by Zach Teris for dmhphotographer.com

TRIUMPHANT AT THE FINISH: A team celebrates completing the R2C relay just beyond the finish line in Manasquan. (Photo by Paul Mecca: PaulMecca.com)

By Doug Wallack

Early on Saturday morning, 44 teams comprising over 300 runners will gather in Lambertville, on the banks on the Delaware River, and head east across the Garden State, winding 72 miles through Mercer and Monmouth counties before arriving at the beach in Manasquan late in the day. This year will mark the 22nd running of the River 2 Sea Relay, an event that for many participants has become a beloved annual tradition. Each team of seven divides the course’s nine stages between its members in an event that embodies teamwork to an extent that is rare in the world of distance running. The teams are required to have two support vehicles both to ferry the runners along to their next stage, but, crucially, also to bring cold drinks and energy bars to the runners along the route, towels and sunscreen for those between stages. 

Running all day under the New Jersey summer sun is punishing, but the balancing act of being part of a rotating crew of runners, drivers, and navigators gives rise to a lively, enthralling camaraderie that tends to counter the energy-sapping effects of the run itself. “Despite the fact that they’re tired and many times are running in very difficult conditions … there’s elation,” says Robert Barwick, the new race director.

The idea for River 2 Sea (stylized as R2C) came about in April of 1996, when Mark Zenobia and Dan Brannen went to see the Olympic flame pass through Livingston on its way to the Atlanta Summer Olympics. The torch came and went. “It was very boring,” Mr. Zenobia says. And yet, something about the idea of a relay spoke to them.

In short order, the two — who were both already involved in race and event planning — were charting courses for a relay route across their home state. They spent about a week, Mr. Zenobia says, driving all day back and forth across New Jersey, looking for a way to navigate the width of the state while avoiding any major highways. Eventually, the latter-day Lewis and Clark found their northwest passage: a 92-mile route stretching from Milford to Manasquan. The same route was used until last year, when the shorter course was introduced.

The event has changed and evolved over time. For the first decade, Mr. Brannen says, most of the teams were very competitive. They wanted to not only run across the state, but to do it fast. Gradually, this dynamic eased as more and more strictly recreational teams joined the event. At this point, he says, only maybe half a dozen teams are truly running to race. It’s a figure that throws into sharp relief how, apart from its changes in scale, the event has changed considerably in scale. In its inaugural running, there were only half a dozen teams. With each successive year, though, the number of teams grew, eventually peaking at 152. At that point, Mr. Zenobia recalls, “we realized that we had more than saturated the event and the patience of local people.”

Exchange zones were overcrowded with support vehicles, and congestion impinged on the essential simplicity of the race. The organizers capped the event at 120 teams, but after a few years of that realized they needed to make further changes. The shortened route introduced last year drew a smaller number of teams, pushing the event into a new stage in its life.

It also nudged Mr. Zenobia, who says he is “gradually retiring” to North Carolina from New Jersey, toward a new stage in life. Pleased with last year’s event, Mr. Zenobia stepped down from his position as race director, passing the baton to Mr. Barwick, who has worked on R2C for over 15 years. “It was a great run for me, and Robert and Dan will do very well, and I know it will go well [this weekend],” he says.

For his part, Mr. Barwick is looking to carry on the legacy of Mr. Zenobia’s work with as few changes as possible; this year’s event introduced updated online registration procedures, and on race day, runners will be able to track their teammates via a mobile app. Any major future changes will take place gradually over a number of years. As the event’s new race director, Mr. Barwick says, “I want to keep delivering good experiences …. My first goal was to make sure that Mark’s child was treated with respect and dignity.”

This weekend, as hundreds of runners head “down the shore,” he’ll be trying his level best to do just that.