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This Weekend in Princeton: August 11-13

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Photo Credit: Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association

Friday, August 11

9 to 10 a.m.: Free, Baby Boot Camp stroller-based fitness program on Palmer Square Green (weather permitting). For more information and to register, visit www.babybootcamp.com.

5 to 8 p.m.: Sunset Sips and Sounds at Terhune Winery, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton.

5:30 p.m.: Playground Shabbat at The Jewish Center of Princeton followed by an Outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration at 6:30 p.m. Bring a dairy or vegetarian dish in a disposable container. Dessert and beverages provided by The Jewish Center.

Saturday, August 12

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Butterfly Festival at Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, 31 Titus Mill Road in Pennington. Includes educational children’s activities, live music in the beer garden with wine and cider, hay rides, dunk tank, and more.

Noon: Jersey Fresh Jam at Terra Cycle, 121 New York Avenue in Trenton. This showcase of hip hop art and culture is Free.

Noon to 7 p.m.: Sangria Weekends at Terhune Orchards (every Saturday and Sunday throughout August).

2 to 3 p.m.: Free, Highlights Tour at the Princeton University Art Museum (repeats every Saturday and Sunday).

2 to 4 p.m.: Free music concert in Palmer Square featuring contemporary jazz guitarist BD Lenz.

7 to 9 p.m.: Journey Dance Soul-Glo: A Journey Dance Party at Intergral Yoga Princeton Community Center at the Princeton Shopping Center. Admission is $20 per person. For more information, visit www.iyccprinceton.org.

Sunday, August 13

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Trenton Farmers Market at 960 Spruce Street in Lawrence Township (also Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the summer).

10 a.m. to noon: Bike a traffic-free Canal Road in Franklin Township, from Route 518 in Rocky Hill to the Griggstown Causeway on Canal Road. This free event is presented by the East Coast Greenway and RideWise.

2 to 4:30 p.m.: Historic Princeton Walking Tour of downtown Princeton and the University campus. Tickets are $7. Tour begins at the Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street. This event is presented by the Historical Society of Princeton.

2 to 5 p.m.: The Arts Council of Princeton’s offers a pop-up art class at 10 Hulfish Street on “Creative Card Making.” Create imaginative cards that can be used on any occasion.


In the Spirit

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Photo Credit: Asbury Park Distilling Co.

Craft Distilleries are Booming in New Jersey 

By Laurie Pellichero

From Jersey City to Cape May, craft distilleries have been quickly popping up and producing local spirits throughout the state. While craft beers and breweries have grown quite ubiquitous in New Jersey, it’s been in just the past few years that these small batch distilleries, which now number 16 and counting, have been able to produce and promote their wares.

New Jersey has a long history of distilling going back to Colonial times, but strict alcoholic beverage control laws in place during and after Prohibition prevented the industry from growing. It wasn’t until 2013 that the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control instituted its first distillery license since Prohibition—to Jersey Artisan Distilling in Fairfield. This was due to the efforts of its owner and distiller Brant Braue. Braue, an electrical engineer, wanted to follow his dream of making spirits in the classic style. “Nobody wanted to change the law until it applied to them,” he said. New Jersey craft distilleries can now produce 20,000 gallons a year, which translates to about 100,000 bottles.

A Great Change

Jersey Artisan Distilling, which opened in November of 2013, specializes in rums, including its Busted Barrel Silver and Busted Barrel Dark 80 proof rums, which have already won silver medals at the New York Wine and Spirits Competition. They also produce Morena Rum and 86 proof James F.C. Hyde Sorgho Whiskey, which has been on the market for just a year. They also make Hard Ice alcohol-infused sorbet, made with small batch rum and real fruit puree.

“This has been a great change for me,” said Braue. “You have to have passion and love for what you do every day.”

Braue said he puts in very long hours perfecting his spirits, but it’s worth it. “If I don’t like it, I won’t sell it,” he said. Braue sells his spirits on site and throughout the state, and is working with distributors to sell in other states as well.

He said that rum can be un-aged, but the barrel-aged minimum is two years. Some go to five years. What he is selling now was over two years in the barrel. He offers tastings and tours on Saturdays and Sundays, along with movie nights on Thursdays where they serve treats like kettle corn made with whiskey.

Capital of Distilling

Fairfield has turned out to be the current capital of distilling in New Jersey, with two other distilleries joining Jersey Artisan. Taking advantage of the area’s zoning laws, Claremont Distilled Spirits opened in May 2014, and specializes in vodka made from New Jersey potatoes, along with whiskey and NJD Moonshine. Jersey Spirits Distilling Co. opened in August of 2015, and features spirits named after New Jersey places and experiences that are close to the hearts of its co-owners.

Owned by Fairfield locals John Granata, Susan Lord, and Elizabeth MacDonald, Jersey Spirits creates its small batches with local and regional raw materials. Their 2,400-square-foot facility includes a 1,600-square-foot distillery and 800-square-foot tasting room. Their extensive product line has already won multiple awards and includes Main Street Vodka, Barnegat White Whiskey, Boardwalk Rum, Jersey Apple Hooch, Patriot’s Trail Bourbon, Jersey Pumpkin Hooch, and Hopmanics. Their Crossroads Bourbon was the first aged bourbon whiskey produced in New Jersey since prohibition. Their distinctive bottles all feature labels by New Jersey artist Brett Strothers. “We have a craft distilling license, and aren’t afraid to use it,” joked Granata about their varied offerings.

Jersey Spirits uses natural products, like real fruit, instead of chemical flavorings.

Granata is excited about five different single-malt whiskeys that will be released soon, including Cherry Wood Smoked, Apple Smoked, Chocolate, Caramel, and a Straight Up Barley Malt.

Both Granata and Lord agree that it is a good thing to have three distilleries all in one area. “Everyone has a different dynamic,” said Lord. “We encourage our customers to check everyone out. We all do our own thing with our own recipes. It’s all good and builds the business for everyone.”

Jersey Spirits offers a special barrel share program where participants can come to the facility on the day that a new spirit is being distilled, and then come back for tastes as it is aging to see how it evolves over time. “They get a lot out of it,” said Granata. “They can appreciate it at a different level, and see it nurtured along the way. It gets people in touch with all aspects of the process, to be able to understand what is happening and when it is happening.” Granata added that the participants also have a say in when they think it is has come of age, and can take some home when it’s ready.

Jersey Spirits also offers tours, tastings, craft cocktails, and bottle sales in its tasting room. There are also lots of classes, including an apprentice distiller workshop that gives participants a comprehensive experience of what it takes to make a spirit.

Photo Credit: Sourland Mountain Spirits

Local, Fresh, Handcrafted

Sourland Mountain Spirits in Hopewell was established in 2015 by Ray Disch, one of the founders of New Jersey’s original brewpub, Triumph Brewing in Princeton. After that success, Disch decided he was ready for a new challenge. So when craft distilling became legal again in New Jersey, he created a local distillery right in his hometown. New Jersey’s first farm distillery since Prohibition, Sourland Mountain Spirits now makes local, fresh, handcrafted, small batch spirits using the area’s many sustainable options from herbs to fruit to grain, supplied by local farmers. Already the producers of award-winning gin and vodka, Disch said that he is now aging four distillations of rum in 53-gallon American white oak barrels. “It should be ready in late November, right around Thanksgiving,” said Disch.

They are also working on a barrel-aged gin, and put up their first bourbon in August, which is made from ingredients from a local organic farmer. It will be aged for two years, with the first tasting after one year. In late October or early November they will be putting up a barrel-aged apple brandy to be ready in early 2018, just in time for the chilly months.

Sourland Mountain Spirits uses state-of-the art distillery equipment in a newly renovated barn behind the Brick Farm Tavern restaurant.  Unique in New Jersey, it is the only place that has a distillery, a restaurant, and brewery (Troon Brewing Company) on one site, all on the Double Brook Farm.

Disch said that Sourland Mountain Spirits are now available in 75 stores and restaurants across the state, from Morristown to Atlantic City. Tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays, and Disch looks forward to participating in this fall’s Central Jersey Beer Fest in Mercer County Park.

Photo Credit: Skunktown Distillery

“A Clean, Smooth Drink”

Skunktown Distillery in Hunterdon County prides itself on offering well-priced, chemical-free spirits made with local ingredients. It was founded by Caine Fowler and Paul Hyatt, who wanted to introduce unique craft liquors to the area “in the beauty and secrecy of Hunterdon County,” said Fowler. “We wanted to capture the essence of Hunterdon County in a distillery.”

Fowler, who has lived in the Sergeantsville area his whole life, said that their main focus is a “clean, smooth drink,” with products that include rum, vodka, and whiskey. “No. 1 is using basic and natural ingredients, and naturally-occurring enzymes and yeasts — all done old-school style. Everything we do is eco-conscious. Our liquor tastes really good straight.”

Fowler explained that they distill by process of cutting gallon by gallon to extract impurities for a totally different result than mass producers. The process takes about a month from start to finish, with everything done by hand. Skunktown now has three stills, one for rum and whiskey, one for vodka, and one for “research and development — the process is trial and error, it’s a step up from moonshining,” joked Fowler.

Fowler said his background in the pharmaceutical industry helps him in his new endeavor, and “I laugh a lot more these days,” he said. “I love my job.”

He also said that craft distilling could revitalize the farm industry in New Jersey, with the demand for local ingredients for their unique products. “You get from the craft world what you can’t get from anyone else.”

He noted that the New Jersey craft distillers all work together to promote the industry, and have even formed a guild to share ideas and address legislative concerns.

Skunktown spirits are available locally at bars, restaurants, and liquor stores, and the distillery is open on Fridays and Saturdays for tours and tastings. A portion of all proceeds goes to the Wounded Warriors Project.

An Exciting Time

One of the newest distilleries in the state is Asbury Park Distilling Co., which opened on Memorial Day weekend. Asbury Park’s first distillery since Prohibition, it is also the first in the state to be located in a commercial downtown area. It was founded by a group of six owners, including Zack Ohebshalom of Fort Lee, Rob Wile of Rumson, and Andrew Karas of Ridgewood.

Asbury Park Distilling Co. features a sleek, modern tasting room with views right into the distillery with a custom-made copper still from Germany. Patrons can purchase spirits by the bottle or enjoy them in an artisanal cocktail.

“It took three years to get going, but we have been given a warm reception,” said Ohebshalom. “This community is all about arts, music, and culture, and we are happy to be part of it.”

“It’s beautiful to see people come here and share it with their friends,” continued Ohebshalom. “We offer full tours, and our master distiller Bill Tambussi is very passionate about distilling. He traveled to Scotland to earn his master’s degree from Henriot Watt University, which offers one of the most well-respected distilling programs in the world.”

Ohebshalom said they currently feature gin and vodka, and will be releasing a bourbon in the fall, as well as a barrel-aged gin. He is not concerned about the seasonality of being located in a shore town, “It will be a destination spot in the winter, along with all the other great businesses that Asbury Park has to offer.”

“It’s an exciting time in the state,” he said. “We hope to grow in the same trajectory as the other distilleries.”

New Jersey distilleries to discover include:

Asbury Park Distilling Co.
527 Lake Avenue, Asbury Park
apdistilling.com

Cape May Distillery
371 NJ-47, Cape May Courthouse
capemay-distillery.com

Claremont Distillery
25 Commerce Road, Unit K, Fairfield
claremontdistillery.com

Cooper River Distillers
34 Fourth Street, Camden
cooperriverdistillers.com

Corgi Spirits
1 Distillery Drive, Jersey City
corgispirits.com

Jersey Artisan Distilling
32C Pier Lane West, Fairfield
jerseyartisandistilling.com

Jersey Cider Works
360 County Road 579, Asbury
(Tasting Room under construction)
jerseyciderworks.com

Jersey Shine Moonshine
20 Peterson Avenue, Millville
drinkjerseyshine.com

Jersey Spirits Distilling Co.
1275 Bloomfield Avenue, Building 7, 40B, Fairfield
jerseyspirits.com

Lazy Eye Distillery
1328 Harding Highway, Richand
135 East Spicer Avenue, Wildwood
www.lazyeyedistilling.com

Skunktown Distillery
12 Minneakoning Road, Suite 110B, Flemington
skunktowndistillery.com

Sourland Mountain Spirits
130 Hopewell-Rocky Hill Road, Hopewell
sourlandspirits.com

Fall Festivals

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Mercer County Italian American Festival

By Laurie Pellichero 

The leaves will soon be falling, the air is crisp…it’s time for fall festivals!

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

September 22-24

Mercer County Italian American Festival

Mercer County Park, West Windsor: Friday 3-11pm; Saturday Noon-11pm, Sunday Noon-9:30pm

italianamericanfestival.com

Named one of New Jersey’s Best Festivals by CBS News New York and now in its 18th year, this three-day festival features two stages of live entertainment plus lots of Italian American traditions and fun. Activities include a food piazza, Italian market tents, crafts, bocce, cultural theater, Italian Heritage Pavilion, puppet theater, dining and dance tents, amusement rides, Sunday Mass, and Saturday night fireworks.

Hopewell Harvest Fair

September 23

Hopewell Harvest Fair

Hopewell Elementary School, 35 Princeton Avenue, Hopewell

This annual festival brings together residents, businesses, and community organizations for a day of old-fashioned fun and entertainment. Features include hay rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, children’s games, food vendors, and a corn maze. There will also be plenty of contests like a bake-off, kids art, and photography. Funds raised from the fair are donated to local groups who provide important services to the community.

Apple Days Fall Harvest Festival at Terhune Orchards

September 23-24 (Recurring)

Apple Days Fall Harvest Festival

Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton; 10am-5pm

terhuneorchards.com

Celebrate fall with pick-your-own apples and pumpkins. Enjoy pony rides, wagon rides, a corn stalk maze, hay bale maze and a barnyard of farm animals. Children can enjoy face painting and pumpkin painting. There will also be lots of food and treats, apple cider, live music, a farm store and winery, and more. Every Saturday and Sunday until October 29.

September 23 & 24

Heritage Wine Festival

480 Mullica Hill Road, Mullica Hill; 1-5pm

heritagewinenj.com

Enjoy wine tastings from top-rated New Jersey wineries including Hopewell Valley Vineyards and Unionville Vineyards,  gourmet food truck fare for purchase, premium craft vending, all-day live music, and more. Rain or shine.

September 24

Oktoberfest

215 Uncle Pete’s Road, Trenton; Noon-7pm

gasociety.org

Hosted by the  German-American Society of Trenton & 94.5 PST, the 8th Annual Oktoberfest is billed as Mercer County’s largest German event. This traditional beer festival features German beer, food, and music as well as a pig roast, vendors, family fun, kid activities, crafts, games, and more. There will be music and entertainment by the Austrian Boys with traditional Schuhplattler dancing by the G.T.V. Almrausch. German attire is recommended. A portion of the proceeds will help benefit local charity The Jeremy Fund.

October 7 & 8

Bordentown Cranberry Festival

Farnsworth Avenue from Burlington Street to Park Street,
Bordentown City; 11am – 5pm

btowncranfest.com

Sponsored by the Downtown Bordentown Association and now in its 28th year, this two-day Cranberry Festival is one of the largest juried craft shows in New Jersey, featuring more than 150 artists, crafters, and vendors offering handmade, vintage, antique, and up-cycled items. There will also be live music throughout both days, an expanded kids’ zone, and delicious eats from both Bordentown City’s award-winning restaurants and select food trucks. New for 2017 is a craft beer garden, offering a curated selection of seasonally-appropriate
craft brews.

Collingswood Book Festival, featuring Liz Moore

October 7

Collingswood Book Festival

Haddon Avenue, Downtown Collingswood; 10am – 4pm

collingswoodbookfestival.com

Book lovers of all ages can stroll more than six blocks filled with authors/speakers for adults and children, as well as booksellers, storytellers, poetry readings, workshops, panel discussions, exhibitors, kid-friendly activities, and entertainment. Now in its 15th year, this award-winning festival is the longest-running, largest literary event in the Delaware Valley.

October 21 & 22

Chatsworth Cranberry Festival

Downtown Chatsworth; 9am – 4pm

cranfest.org

The Chatsworth Cranberry Festival is a celebration of New Jersey’s cranberry harvest, the third largest in the United States, and offers a tribute to the Pine Barrens and local culture.

There is a diverse showing of many artists and craftsmen, some of which will also be demonstrating their crafts as well as displaying them for sale. There will also be lots of food vendors and cranberry treats galore.

Fields of Dreams and Stars

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By Wendy Plump 

Photography Courtesy of Nomadic Expeditions

In a dramatic re-interpretation of the notion “If you build it, they will come,” New Jersey resident and contractor Jalsa Urubshurow built a base for his adventure expedition company in Mongolia. He chose the South Gobi Province on the edge of the Gobi Desert—where the Altai Mountains rim the horizon—and put up forty Ger, the traditional felt yurts of Mongolia’s indigenous nomadic tribes. He designed the main lodge in the style of an ancient temple. He quarried local stone and installed local staffers – herders, guides, cooks – because he wanted authenticity in a world greatly in need of it, and, if truth be told, because he demanded the most breathtaking gateway for those visiting his beloved Mongolia, the home of his Kalmyk ancestors.

Today, the Three Camel Lodge is one of the world’s top hotels, frequented by archaeologists, filmmakers, National Geographic photographers, Buddhist scholars, luxury travelers, and, Urubshurow is quick to add, “tech-free enthusiasts.” In the summer, 700 wild horses come to drink at the lake nearby. In the winter, an ice pack builds to 100 feet high within walking distance, and you can hike on it. At any time of year, the skies are smeared with more stars than human beings are likely to witness than at any other point on the planet.

“My goal was to create luxury travel to Mongolia,” says Urubshurow. “It’s more than a three-star hotel. It’s a five-billion-star hotel.”

It is also the base for his firm, Nomadic Expeditions, which runs guided luxury trips to Mongolia and eight other distant countries, including Myanmar and Bhutan. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Nomadic Expeditions has the distinction of taking clients to some of the world’s last truly wild spaces. Urubshurow describes Mongolia as having “more horses than people,” and a culture that has changed little since the last Ice Age.

“Mongolia encompasses a vast territory, with four major mountain ranges, some of them up to 15,000 feet high,” he says from an airport in Mongolia. “We can still drive 1,500 miles across this country and not see a fence. The eastern grasslands of Mongolia are nine times the size of the Serengeti. I like to tell Texans it’s twice the size of Texas, with just three million people. And 30 percent of them still live a nomadic existence. It’s probably the most sparsely populated country in the world.

“There is no land ownership out in the country,” Urubshurow adds. “It’s all free range. The families have been grazing the same valleys for five generations. We have an astrophysicist who comes in the summers and gives a 3-D presentation during the day, and then at night we’ll go out into the Gobi and look at some of the darkest skies in the world. I think people will see a code of hospitality in Mongolia unseen in any other place.”

Exotica seems to be all of a piece for Urubshurow, the founder of one of the region’s most successful construction businesses, All-Tech, based in Monroe Township. He was raised in a Howell Township community of Kalmyk Buddhist refugees who escaped Mongolia and its punishing Communist influences in the 1950s to set up an enclave here in New Jersey. Many of his neighbors were carpenters and builders, so the profession was a natural choice. Urubshurow grew up speaking Mongolian and hearing his father tell stories of his homeland. He founded Nomadic Expeditions to help open up Mongolia to travelers after its peaceful transition to democracy in 1990.

Urubshurow, who lives in Brielle, also stewards the country’s ancient sport of hunting with Golden Eagles. He founded the Golden Eagle Festival in Bayan-Ulgii Province in Western Mongolia in 1999, now a popular draw for travelers and indigenous peoples alike. The festival commences each October and draws Kazakh tribesmen who compete with their magnificent eagles in tests of speed, agility, and accuracy. And while Nomadic Expeditions kept its distance for the first few years, it now leads trips to the festival and the nearby Hatuugyn Mountain archaeological site, which has one of the country’s best collections of ancient petroglyphs.

“In 1998 I went to meet these Kazakhs. Eagle hunting had largely disappeared under the Communists. But for the Kazakhs here, it survived in the farthest-western part of the country. It almost touches Kazakhstan,” says Urubshurow. “We had a few vodkas sitting around with the three elders of the community and I had one of my guides with me. I came up with the idea of having a festival to celebrate this. We’ll be celebrating the 18th year of the festival in October.”

The beauty of the sport and the relationship between eagles and their handlers is celebrated in the lush documentary, The Eagle Huntress, about 13-year-old Aisholpan, a young Kazakh who trains as the first female in 12 generations to become an eagle huntress. Released in 2016, the film was nominated for a BAFTA Film Award. Urubshurow appears briefly in the film. “It was my four seconds of fame,” he says.

About 1,000 clients from all over the world sign on for Nomadic Expeditions trips each year.

“Our clients are sophisticated and well-traveled individuals of all ages who seek authentic adventures that offer a blend of history and cultural interaction,” says Nancy DePalma, Nomadic’s marketing and communications manager.

The company has 15 full-time staffers in Mongolia, and an additional 50 consultants in Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal, Myanmar, China, Siberia, Sri Lanka, and India. They are slotted in as need dictates. Simply reading the titles of the excursions can slake travel fantasies for months on end: “In Search of Dragons and Eagles,” “From Yak to Kayak,” “Ultimate Gobi,” “Adventure Trekking in the Altai Mountains,” and “Winter Festivals of Mongolia.” Clients visit the forests of the Maraat Valley, trek through the Tavan Belchir Gorge, visit Uuld and Kazakh families and the Turkic stone men, visit the Great White Lake of the Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park, and visit northern Jargalant to survey the ruins of the Ariin Huree Monastery.

Trips fall into several categories, including active adventures like trekking to Everest Base Camp or hiking through the habitat of the elusive Snow Leopard; cultural or archaeological journeys; tailored trips; quick escapes; and family travel, with trips to the Gobi Desert to see where dinosaur eggs were unearthed just a few decades ago, or to ride horses and camels across the grasslands.

One popular 12-day itinerary, for example, starts with clients spinning the prayer wheel at the Gandan Monastery, which Urubshurow calls the “seat of Buddhism”; extends into a national park that is the home of the last remaining species of wild horse; leads to an excursion investigating petroglyphs on a mountaintop in the Havsgait Valley; then hiking through the Gobi’s “singing sands” region; a visit to a local nomadic family’s Ger to help with chores, “if you wish”; and ends with a performance of Mongolian dance and traditional “throat singing” in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.

Urubshurow is quick to credit his staff for the success of the company. They truly know the region, he says, and have considerably more to offer than logistical management. For example, Undraa Buyannemekh, president of Nomadic Expeditions, earned her bachelor’s degree from Urals State University in Russia and holds a master’s in international relations from California State University, Sacramento. Director of Operations Sanjay Saxena is the son of a brigadier general in the Indian Army, has lived all over India, and traveled extensively in the Himalayas as a mountaineer and climber since the age of 15. One of the guides was born in Mongolia and is a former nomadic herder. Another has been working 15 years in the Mongolian tourism industry and leads trips focused on paleontology and archaeology.

Asked which of the varied trips he most prefers, Urubshurow says he simply likes “really getting out into nature,” and that any of the trips qualify as his favorite in that regard.

“You can’t avoid seeing the beauty here. You have an opportunity to go back in time. We tell people who maybe have read about Mongolia or heard things about it that it’s better to see it once than to hear about it a thousand times,” says Urubshurow. “Then, of course, once they come, they realize it’s better to see it 1,000 times than to see it once.”

For a brochure or more information on Nomadic Expeditions and its adventure excursions, contact the company at 800.998.6634 or visit the website at www.nomadicexpeditions.com.

Destination: Clinton

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Red Mill Museum Village

By William Uhl 

A symbol of early American industry, Clinton’s iconic Red Mill still sits aside the Raritan River. Since its construction two centuries ago, the mill’s sleepy water wheel has worked with cloth, minerals, food, and electricity. Now, the mill is home to an array of galleries. Some house historical reproductions, some display pieces from international artists, and others hold fragments of local Clinton history.

Furthermore, it stands as the centerpiece of the Red Mill Museum Village, which also includes the Mulligan Quarry and the Bunker Hill Schoolhouse, a one-room schoolhouse from 1860. The museum village hosts events like film festivals, blacksmithing exhibitions, and Peg Leg’s Paracon, which exhibits the historical and paranormal importance of the area.

Right across the Raritan is the Hunterdon Art Museum, similarly housed in a 19th-century stone gristmill. What it lacks in Red Mill’s vivid paint job and historical collections, it makes up for with art exhibitions that span forms and materials both conventional and eccentric. “The Art of Construction” uses drywall, PVC pipes, milk crates, and other construction site staples to challenge the viewer’s perceptions of common building materials. “Interconnections: The Language of Basketry” weaves materials like stapled paper and fabricated metal to expand the concept of basketry beyond a utilitarian folk craft. Just a bridge walk away from the Red Mill, each bank of the Raritan offers a different artistic experience – one looking back, and the other looking forward.

A bevy of culinary options complement Clinton’s rich cultural offerings, with just as much creativity and variety. Just a few blocks down from the Hunterdon Art Museum and still adjacent to the Raritan is The Clean Plate Kitchen. A local favorite, its menu is overflowing with treats like Yummus, Cut the Crab, and Not Your Grandma’s Meatloaf. A focus on healthy options, good service, and menu items off the beaten path makes The Clean Plate Kitchen a great choice for something new. If you’re lucky, a few ducks might visit while you dine.

If you’re just looking for a quick bite without compromising on the Clinton experience, the red neon rim of the Clinton Station Diner lights the way to a good meal all day and night. True to its name, diners can choose to eat in Biela, a train car from 1927, or simply watch model trains roll by on a ceiling-suspended track. The menu ranges from diner staples like burgers and omelets to lamb shanks with orzo, stuffed grape leaves, and cheesecake. And for the ambitious eater, the Mt. Olympus—a 50-pound burger—is nearly enough to stop a train.

View of Clinton along the Raritan River

For a more traditional dinner, Dora Restaurant provides a relaxing atmosphere to complement Clinton’s quaint charm. Italian classics like ravioli, puttanesca, and flounder fill the stomach and warm the heart. Pru Thai offers Thai treats like Crying Tiger with a slew of spices, sauces, and seasonings. Ye Olde Sub Base serves up hot subs, cold cuts, and the much-beloved Beer Cheese Soup, all in the heart of historic Clinton. Frank’s Pizza & Restaurant is more than a simple pizzeria, offering Veal Parmesan, Chicken with Capers and Mushrooms, and a wine garlic sauce over pasta. Towne Restaurant has all the charm of a small-town, family-owned diner loved by locals and visitors alike, serving gyros, omelets, Pesto Chicken Focaccia, and more. Finally, to top a day out with a treat, JJ Scoops gives a much-needed sugar dose in a variety of forms. Their cones, floats, and milkshakes are enough to sate any sweet tooth.

If you happen to be in Clinton in late October when the darkness falls, don’t drive home yet—head back to the Red Mill. Each year, the Red Mill Museum Village runs a Haunted Mill fundraiser. Spanning nine acres of the museum’s land, it features mazes, hayrides, and a terror trail. Dozens of live actors come together to transform living history into the living dead.

For what might seem like a sleepy little town, Clinton has variety in spades—historically, artistically, and gastronomically. The variety might be overwhelming, but there’s always time. Regardless of whether you visit a week, a month, or years from now, that water wheel will still be turning, pushed along by the gentle Raritan River.

The Wizard We Never Knew

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By William Uhl / Photographs Courtesy of Thomas Edison National Historic Park

Walking through the halls of Thomas Edison’s laboratory in Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, it’s easy to think history’s been frozen in time. From the chemical storage to his personal lounge, everything in the laboratory has been meticulously preserved and restored to look how Edison himself would have seen it. The material storage room still has everything ranging from iron bars to elephant hide, and the production floor has era-appropriate hats and jackets hanging on workers’ hooks.

In his office, a laminated photo on a table in the center of the room shows Edison, once called “The Wizard of Menlo Park,” standing in the right corner, glass specimen containers lined up on every shelf and surface. True to the photo, the right side of the room today has several glass containers side by side, recreating the almost century-old photo. The left side of the room, however, has a simple set of boxes, cabinets, and papers; nothing more. That photo of Edison standing in the corner is the only known photo of the office in Edison’s time – the emptiness around it is as close as historians have gotten to reconstructing what was once there. After speaking with historical author and park archivist Leonard DeGraaf, the divide between the historically-checked, tightly-packed, jar-laden shelves and the empty, unknown cabinets seems to illustrate the gaps in our understanding of Thomas Edison.

Thomas Edison is best remembered as the prolific inventor of the light bulb, along with many other creations such as the phonograph, electric generator, and alkaline battery. A 2012 poll from MIT of Americans ages 16-25 even ranked Edison as the greatest innovator of all time, coming out far above more timely figures like Steve Jobs. Yet despite being such a celebrated figure, elements of his life remain obscured.

The archives at the Thomas Edison National Historic Park are comprised of all kinds of documents, from Edison’s letters to and from presidents and the original sketches for many of his inventions, to his daily to-do lists and letters from children thanking him for their radio. The combination of Edison’s meticulous note-taking and the efforts to preserve relevant documents even when he was still alive has resulted in a tremendously large number of historical documents. “Nobody really knows how big the archives are because we haven’t completed the cataloguing yet,” said DeGraaf. “You’ll read somewhere where it will be three and a half million pages; it was up to five million, and now they’re talking about six million – we just don’t know.”

All those documents, major and minor, are crucial for creating a whole and truthful idea of who Thomas Edison was. “There’s a lot of mythology about Edison out there — either things that are untrue, or are distorted and based on things that were turned around,” DeGraaf said. In the distant past, scam artists would dishonestly use Edison’s world-renowned name on their products in order to apply a veneer of credibility. These days, viral myths, like the notion that Edison stole Nikola Tesla’s inventions, eat away at Edison’s image without historical fact to back them up. “It’s important to respect history, and it’s important to understand how the process of understanding historical knowledge is created and studied. […] In a lot of ways, it’s a misuse of history,” said DeGraaf. Among the millions of files in the archive are dozens, if not more, of pages of correspondence between Edison and Tesla — the preservative efforts of others, several decades ago, have meant that those letters are still present and legible.

More than just dispelling myths, there are important areas of Edison’s life that have gone without thorough analysis. Edison was a prolific inventor, but fewer people know of his history as a businessman. He was one of the leading figures in the early days of the music record industry, selling records that were cylindrical as opposed to disc-shaped. When the market moved away from his cylindrical record design, he stuck to it, pointing to the improved sound quality. His unyielding dedication to the cylinder-shaped record, as opposed to the now-familiar disc, ultimately contributed to the downfall of Edison’s business in that area.

Untold stories like this are important, not just for Edison’s history, but for our future. “I think that Edison’s experience is important because he allows us to talk about and appreciate bigger questions in American history,” said DeGraaf. “How does society develop and introduce new technologies? These technologies don’t just appear – they’re socially constructed. By thinking about Edison and looking at how he works, it’s one way of getting at those questions.” Understanding Edison as an inventor and a businessman beyond the pop-culture conception is important not just for Edison’s sake, but for what inventors and businesses can take away for the future.

Discovering the greater meaning among the millions of letters, notebooks, and pieces of parchment is no small goal. “We try to bring order out of chaos,” said DeGraaf. “We try to make accessible to researchers and other users quantities of historical documents, to help them understand what’s in the material, what kinds of information is there, and to help them answer their questions about those documents.”

There’s no way of knowing what exactly will emerge from that chaos – maybe a new way of thinking about innovation. Maybe a thorough understanding of Edison’s successes and failures as a businessman. Or maybe what sat on the other side of his office. Until then, the left side of Edison’s office is staying bare – a reminder of how much history we have yet to learn.

 

A Home Away From Home

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Photos Courtesy of Butler’s of Far Hills, Inc. Photography by Laura Moss

Vacation homes are a boon to New Jersey’s economy and beyond

By Wendy Greenberg

Second homes represent a lifestyle change, an investment, and sometimes several years of exploring myriad locations. But often, the second home becomes as beloved as the first home, and many times the homeowners don’t want to go home. They ARE home.

As Spring Lake realtor Cindy Napp says, “Life is short. Buy the beach house.”

Napp, a Jersey Shore expert with Diane Turton Realtors in Spring Lake, credits the convenience of
I-195 — stretching from Mercer County to Monmouth County — for the Jersey Shore’s ever-increasing popularity as a second home location. It is also convenient to reach from northern New Jersey.

“People coming here want to get here Thursday night, and get to work on Monday morning,”’ says Napp. “They want to be able to set up a situation that for the future will be a ‘grandchildren magnet.’ Beach homes are a permanent lure for the whole extended family, toddlers to teens and beyond,” says Napp, who specializes in Monmouth County shore properties. “A place in the suburbs, no matter how attractive, doesn’t tempt older children like a spot near the beach. Shore places quickly become multi-generational gathering spots.”

Why? “Well, there is only one Atlantic Ocean,” she says. “It’s a great quality of life, and the ride is easy.”

For the areas from around Long Branch down to Point Pleasant, the area is “completely built out,” according to Napp. There is little new construction, and it is mostly older homes. Many follow the pattern of starting with a small cottage, and remodeling to accommodate a larger family. And renting — for example in July when youngsters are in camps — can generate income.

Aside from the ocean as a draw, other factors influence a decision on whether to consider a second home, says Jeffrey Haines, owner of the interior design firm Butler’s of Far Hills, in Far Hills, N.J. “It’s good to have a destination spot for family and friends to come to other than their primary home,” says the nationally-recognized designer. “I find that people tend to extend invitations to their second home that are maybe different from their primary home — extended family, acquaintances, old friends from earlier phases of life — they like to share their special spot.”

Photos Courtesy of Butler’s of Far Hills, Inc. Photography by Laura Moss

Taking a Leap of Faith

Joan and Tim Reil‘s “first” home is in Princeton Junction and their second is in Spring Lake. When deciding on a location for their second home, they took a trip down the Eastern Seaboard, through the Carolinas and down to Florida. They settled on Spring Lake because their grown sons live in New York City, and it’s easier for the family to get together when they are geographically closer. 

“We experimented with different towns,” says Joan Reil. “It is important that the off-season be attractive to you, too.”

The empty nesters have one less bedroom in their second home than in their four-bedroom Princeton-area home. They built a swimming pool at their new home and remodeled the late 1970s ranch house to achieve an open look. The kitchen, dining room, and living rooms create a large space, and furniture can easily be rearranged there. A downstairs bedroom can transition to a study.  “It’s still in progress, it’s taken a good year,” says Joan Reil, a teacher in the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District.

For others considering a second home, she suggests first renting in the community they are most interested in. “Take the leap of faith — you never know,” she says. “Key is having a patient and personal realtor, and talking to a financial person. There are lots of ways to finance.”

State of the State

The second home or vacation home market in New Jersey “has been and continues to be an important part of the very important tourism industry,” says Peter S. Reinhart, an attorney who is director of the Kislak Real Estate Institute at Monmouth University. The Institute is a research center and database on real estate and economic development for the region.

There are challenges within the state, says Reinhart, who is Monmouth University’s   NJAR/Greenbaum/Ferguson Professor of Real Estate Policy. “Following Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the vacation home market took some time to recover as the repairs and rebuilding worked through the permitting process and financial recovery,” he says. “Production of new homes was severely hit during and following the economic recession.”

Although new home building has gradually increased since 2011, much as been in the state’s urban areas. “The Jersey Shore however will continue to be a major tourism and vacation destination,” says Reinhart.

The traditional shore areas, he says, have gradually picked up. And as baby boomers age, “a number of them are buying second homes in more urban areas rather than beach homes.”

One of the biggest concerns will be how changes in the federal tax laws adopted in late 2017 will impact the housing market in New Jersey, he points out, explaining that recent tax law changes lowered the amount of a mortgage deduction from $1 million to $750,000 for new mortgages for both primary and second homes. “The biggest concern is the $10,000 limit on state and local property and income taxes (SALT) that can be deducted. This will effectively increase the cost of owning second homes. New Jersey has also been in competition with southern states like Florida and the Carolinas for second homes, where taxes are lower,” he notes.

“As with all real estate markets, the one constant is change,” says Reinhart. “Sellers, buyers, and renters will adapt their behavior to these changing market conditions. One important constant is the wonderful vacations at the Jersey Shore. There will continue to be generations of families who create memories of their Jersey Shore vacations, no matter the type of dwelling.”

But those thinking about second homes are not limiting themselves to New Jersey, says Haines. The firm’s clients interested in second homes are attracted to Nantucket, Mass.; the East and West Coasts of Florida; and the Carolinas, particularly Charleston, N.C., or Palmetto Bluffs, S.C.  “Each of these places embodies such a unique character,” he explains. “Most recently I worked with a client on their new secondary home, which is an Upper West Side getaway apartment — so it isn’t always about the beach or warm locations. Sometimes it’s about having a place that gives them access to their cultural interests, city living, and extended circles of friends.”

Zillow, the online real estate database, in its May research, reported that Ocean City, N.J. has the largest share of second homes — half of all homes (more than other East Coast areas) are used for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. On the East Coast, the other areas with the most second or seasonal homes are Cape Cod, Mass.; Morehead City, N.C.; Salisbury, Md.; Naples, Fla.; Key West, Fla.; Fort Myers, Fla.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C. All make the top 10 list for most vacation homes.

Photos Courtesy of Butler’s of Far Hills, Inc. Photography by Laura Moss

What to think about

For those lucky enough to find a lot or a house, architect Kevin Wilkes of Princeton Design Guild has some ideas for building or remodeling.  

Wilkes, AIA, an award-winning Princeton architect, founded Princeton Design Guild in 1985 with the mission of connecting the architect and general contractor for an integrated design and build team approach.

With homeowners choosing between waterside or mountain ski retreats, “we see more oceanfront, for watersport vacations,” he notes. “The shoreline offers multiple price points, from high end to medium affordable.”

“In a town with a lot of available real estate, building a new home is feasible,” says Wilkes. “But in built-up towns, there are few available empty lots, so we look for existing structures. We always try to see if we can salvage some element because there are cost and permitting benefits to remodeling rather than building a brand-new building.”

Remodeling can make approvals easier. “You can capture the latent value of an existing building. Water and electrical utilities could already be run to an existing basement, so you have $10,000 of improvements in place,” he points out.

A vacation home needs storage — for sports equipment, a kayak, camping gear, tennis rackets, bikes, and so on. The storage should be at ground level so one doesn’t have to keep carrying equipment upstairs.

Think about your personal storage. “You may not need enormous walk-in closets because perhaps you are only taking weekend clothes,” says Wilkes. “You might be able to trim personal storage areas.” Bedrooms may not be as large. “Can the kids double up? They may not need desks for homework during the times you will be at the vacation house.”

Kitchens usually are the primary focus. “That doesn’t really change,” says Wilkes. “They can open out to the landscape for engaged outdoor entertaining or they can take advantage of dynamic views. For oceanfront clients, sometimes we invert tradition and move the main family living level, which includes the kitchen, to the top floor. If you raise your eye level from 10 to 30 feet, you can see an additional 2.7 miles out to sea. With options such as elevators and garbage chutes, top-floor living can be made convenient.”

“One thing we consider with clients,” he notes, “is the potential for renting out a vacation home to help defray the costs of maintaining them.  Many rent out their Jersey Shore homes for part of the summer, so it helps to make provisions to store their personal possessions and to have special storage for towels and linens for renters.” 

Codes have become stricter for good reason. For example, windows have to be able to survive wind impacts of flying objects; flood zone requirements are pushing homes higher up in elevation. “At the end of the day, the architect is primarily responsible for compliance,” Wilkes says.

“More and more people and agents come to us early during a real estate purchase process,” Wilkes says. “Approvals for land use are more difficult these days, and builders/architects are experts. There are more environmental and energy regulations, since the 1970s, when the building code was a modest paperback. Now, I have two three-foot-long bookshelves packed with code books.”

For interior design, dwellers in second homes, notes Haines, “want easy maintenance.  They won’t be there all the time and they don’t want to think too much about its care.  So this is considered in the material selections, finish selections, and fabric selections. I find the style is often the same or similar to the primary home, however maybe the color palette is different — more calming or maybe more bold — or the accessories and artwork are more specific to the locale. The décor often centers around the time of the year that they plan to use the home — geared towards a certain season.  For example, we wouldn’t want to use heavy fabric in hot or humid climates, the same with colors.

“For a secondary home, we can design more for a season rather than year-round, however, we have to remember than many clients will use their secondary homes for holiday celebrations so it has to also be comfortable year-round. “

In general, offers Haines, “be ready for spontaneous guests — sleeping, eating, entertaining.”

Photos Courtesy of Butler’s of Far Hills, Inc. Photography by Laura Moss

The Vacation Home as Home

When choosing a realtor, choose one who knows the community, suggests Napp. “You want someone who brings you into the community, someone local. We can all fall in love with a house, but you have to fall in love with a community, too. And renters turn into buyers.”

“Don’t forget costs such as homeowner’s association dues, cable TV and internet, and travel costs,” she says. “And some lender fine print prohibits rentals. Local real estate agents know the nuances of local regulations and costs.”

What the Reils like, says Joan, is that their town is not a one-season town. “There is something going on all year, an active community with a convenient train station — that was a real draw.”

“When we get there, we instantly feel like we are on vacation,” she says. “We feel like that IS our home.”

Bike, Hike, and Raft the Lehigh Gorge This Summer!

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Photo Courtesy of Poconowhitewater.com

By Taylor Smith

Five times larger than New York’s Central Park, Lehigh Gorge State Park in northeastern Pennsylvania is a 4,548-acre wilderness just 90 minutes from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City. The region is home to the Northeast’s most accessible and convenient whitewater rafting, family style rafting, hiking, and rail trail biking. This summer, encourage your kids to put down their screens and instead experience an action-packed Whitewater Dam Release weekend, biking, or hiking in the great outdoors.

Surrounded by state park-protected woodlands and mountains, visitors will enjoy 12 miles and four to five hours of active class III whitewater and breathtaking scenery. This type of trip is suitable for ages 8 and up. While paddling over rapids, you’ll have an active, unforgettable day outdoors. Although no experience is necessary, feeling comfortable in the water is a must. Highlights include over 17 sets of rapids and beautiful scenery in the Lehigh Gorge State Park.

Natural whitewater flow occurs from April 2 through mid-June, with Dam Release weekends scheduled from May through October. This year’s Dam Release dates offer an extra “boost” on those class III whitewater rapids that will really get your heart pounding.

Photo Courtesy of Poconowhitewater.com

DAM RELEASE DATES:

July: 7, 8, 21, 22, 28, 29

August: 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

September: 1, 2

October: Daily, plus a mega Dam Release on October 6 and 7.

Dam Release trips have limited availability, so reservations are strongly recommended. Visitors can book as soon as possible at poconowhitewater.com or whitewaterchallengers.com.

Photo Courtesy of Poconowhitewater.com

TRAIL BIKING IN LEHIGH GORGE STATE PARK

The Lehigh Gorge Bike Trail is one of the most scenic trail rides in the United States. Nestled in the Pocono Mountains, it winds through old growth forests overlooking the dramatic rapids of the Lehigh River in Lehigh Gorge State Park. Bikers will enjoy spectacular views of whitewater crests, slanting cliff faces, unmarked woodlands, and waterfalls. Whitewater Challengers (whitewaterchallengers.com) offers bikes for rent and shuttle services. Half Trail (1-1.5 hours on the trail) and Full Trail (2-2.5 hours on the trail) are available.

Another great biking source is Pocono Biking (poconobiking.com). They offer trail maps and the chance to test your endurance skills by biking the Upper or Lower Gorge at 10 or 15 miles, the Lehigh Gap Trail at 23 miles, the Full Lehigh Gorge at 25 miles, or the Full Monty at 36 miles.

Photo Courtesy of Poconowhitewater.com

HIKING TRAILS IN AND AROUND THE LEHIGH GORGE

Lehigh Gorge State Park is nestled between the historic town of Jim Thorpe, Pa., and the Francis E. Walter Dam in the Pocono Mountains. Rich in natural history and views, the park will keep you busy with hiking activities if you are looking for a day or weekend spent outside.

A system of extravagant locks and canals were built in the 1830s to support the logging and coal industries, which were once widespread across the region. The river was used as primary transportation for this material.

A severe storm swept through in 1862 destroying the canal system, and it was never rebuilt to its original capacity. Visitors can see remnants of the olds locks and dams as they hike and bike along the Lehigh Gorge Trail.

Eventually, new railroad technology replaced the canal system, and hikers will observe frequent passing trains. Many of these trains are now used for commercial transportation, as well as a scenic train ride for tourists visiting Jim Thorpe.

RUN & RAFT ON JULY 7

Have you heard the news?

This year Whitewater Challengers is offering a Raft & Run event on July 7, which includes a 7.5-mile jog along the scenic Lehigh Gorge Trail before transitioning into a three-hour whitewater adventure along the Lehigh River. On the morning of the event, participants are scheduled to meet at the Whitewater Challengers Rafting Center, located at 288 North Stagecoach Road in Weatherly, Pa. Racers will receive a commemorative Run & Raft T-shirt along with lunch on the river. Runners will enjoy the stretch of mostly gravel trail surrounded by lush foliage, shade, and pristine landscapes. Whitewater Challengers will have shuttle buses on hand at the finish line to provide runners and rafters with a short ride back to the rafting center. To register, visit whitewaterchallengers.com/run.


A Monument to Golf

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The USGA Museum as seen at the USGA Headquarters, Golf House on Thursday April 13, 2006 in Far Hills, NJ. (Copyright USGA)

The USGA Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History

By Bill Alden | Photographs Courtesy of the USGA Museum

The famed architect John Russell Pope designed some of the iconic structures in Washington, D.C., including the Jefferson Memorial, the National Archives, and the West Building of the National Gallery of Art.

But it is one of Pope’s lesser-known creations, a stately brick mansion nestled in the rolling countryside of Far Hills, built in 1919, that has been transformed into a monument to the history of golf.

The United State Golf Association (USGA) purchased the Pope-designed home in 1972 to serve as its headquarters and moved its collection of golf artifacts there from New York City as it formally created its museum.

It doesn’t take long to get immersed in golf history upon entering the museum, as turning left at the front door transports one into the oak-paneled Bob Jones room, which is filled with artifacts from his legendary 1930 Grand Slam. Winding through the museum, there are rooms dedicated to such icons of the game as Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, and Mickey Wright.

The Hall of Champions in the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History at the USGA Museum as seen on May 22, 2008 in Far Hills, New Jersey. (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

“We want to preserve golf history as a whole. Not just golf history in the U.S., but golf history throughout the world,” says Maggie Lagle, one of the museum historians.

To help accomplish that mission, the museum underwent a major renovation from 2005-2008, which added a 16,000-square-foot wing named the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History. It essentially doubled the size of the facility.

“We just wanted to expand, we value being the golf history epicenter of the U.S. and being the center point for people coming to learn golf history,” says Lagle, noting that the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and draws around 8,000 visitors a year. “The future of the game is obviously important, but we are very proud of our collections.”

The new section features the Hall of Champions with all of the original trophies from USGA events and plaques with names of the event winners. There is also a chronological timeline of golf featuring galleries starting with the “Dawn of American Golf” and going to the “Golden Age,” the “Depression and World War II,” the “Comeback Age,” the “Age of Superpowers,” and ending with the “Global Game.”

Those exhibits include display cases and multimedia presentations mixed with some of the treasured artifacts of the game. “We have some very famous clubs, we have Francis Ouimet’s club when he won the 1913 U.S. Open,” says Lagle, noting that visitors can try out replicas of late 19th and early 20th century clubs and balls by testing their skills on the 9-hole Pynes Putting Course adjacent to the museum.

“We have the ‘moon’ club, the club that they used on the Apollo mission,” continues Lagle. “We have the Calamity Jane putter used by Bobby Jones. We have Arnold Palmer’s visor that he wore during his 1960 U.S. Open win.”

In addition to the permanent collection, which includes more than 70,000 artifacts, the museum features special displays.

“We do rotating exhibits, we do one quarterly and one monthly; we try to tie that into topical events,” says Lagle, pointing out that there was a display on Amelia Earhart’s golf connection in May in conjunction with a focus on women in golf history stemming from the addition of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open as the USGA’s 14th championship event. Materials from Shinnecock Hills Golf Club were on display in June as it hosted the U.S. Open.

For those interested in digging deeper into golf lore, the new wing also includes a library and research center containing 40,000 cataloged items, including books, journals, scorecards, and championship records. The collection also includes more than 500,000 photographic images, and more than 9,000 hours of historic film and video footage.

The Superpowers Gallery in the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History at the USGA Museum as seen on May 22, 2008 in Far Hills, New Jersey. (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

“The library and research center is amazing,” asserts Lagle, noting that the center recently added the Colonel P. Otto Probst Library from the PGA, which includes 800 rare books and 1,400 periodicals with some documents dating back to the 1500s.

“It gets used pretty often. We do have a lot of independent researchers come in, and some college students. Some people come in just for their general research and some people are writing books.”

Mirroring the changes in the game which have seen upgrades in clubs, balls, technology, and training, the museum is constantly broadening its portfolio.

“We are hoping to do more offsite exhibits at other golf courses and expand other exhibits,” says Lagle. “We try to pair our exhibits and artifacts to what we have going on as a whole at the USGA.”

And spending a few hours taking in the sights augmenting Pope’s grand structure will certainly expand one’s understanding and appreciation of golf.

The Jack Nicklaus Room in the USGA’s Museum at United States Golf Association in Far Hills, N.J. as seen on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. (Copyright USGA/Jonathan Kolbe)

Into the Blue

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Audience members (opposite) explore the 2018 Power in the Pines Open House and Air Show May 6, 2018 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. U.S. Air Force photo by Brad Camara.

The U.S. Air Force Reserve Turns 70

By Donald H. Sanborn III

McGuire is a fantastic example of what the Air Force Reserve can, and should, be,” asserts Col. Robert Dunham, a graduate of Princeton University. “McGuire is an associate unit, meaning that reservists share the same hardware with their active-duty counterparts. That is a model that has worked very well.”

Now retired, Dunham is a former ops group commander at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (MDL), an Air Force base in Burlington County, N.J. In 2009 the McGuire Air Force Base was renamed after being consolidated with adjacent Army and Navy facilities, but it remains under the jurisdiction of the Air Mobility Command. In addition to the Air Force and the Air Force Reserve, the base is host to the Air National Guard. It also hosts a Marine Forces Reserve contingent, as well as the Naval Air Reserve’s Fleet Logistics Squadron VR-64.

“The Air Force Reserve was created as a separate component on April 14, 1948, when the Army Air Corps Reserve was transferredto the Air Force,” notes Lt. Col. Kimberly Lalley, the chief of public affairs for the 514th Air Mobility Wing. “The Air Force Reserve lineage dates back over 100 years to when Reserve Airpower was established in the National Defense Act of 1916. Today nearly 70,000 Reserve citizen airmen are stationed locally in communities throughout the United States and overseas and serving globally for every Combatant Command in air, space, and cyberspace.”

History of the Joint Base

“The roots of the Joint Base go back to World War I, when Camp Dix was established,” says aviation historian Dr. Richard Porcelli, author of Floyd Bennett Field and Naval Air Station Atlantic City. “Starting in 1917, it was the major mobilization point for forces headed for the European war. After the war, Camp Dix became a training base, and in the 1920s a primitive airfield was created on the site.

“In the 1930s, using federal funds, airport infrastructure was added including concrete runways. The airport was named Rudd Field in honor of Guy K. Rudd, a fallen aviator from Newark. In 1939 it became Fort Dix Army Air Field. In 1940 it became the home base of the 119th Observation Squadron, antecedents of today’s New Jersey Air National Guard’s 119th Fighter Squadron.”

“During WWII it was used mainly as a base for anti-submarine patrols, as well as a stopping point for aircraft flying to and from Europe,” Porcelli continues. “At the end of the war, it was the receiving airfield for returning war wounded. But in 1946 the base was closed, as part of the post-war [reduction in] forces. Its closure was short-lived, with reactivation in 1948 by the newly formed U.S. Air Force.’’

The base was named for New Jersey’s Medal of Honor recipient and second leading American fighter ace, Ridgewood-born Thomas McGuire, Jr. (1920-1945). “His first combat assignment was in Alaska flying P-39s with the 54th Fighter Group,” says Porcelli. “He returned to the U.S. in December 1942 and married Marilynn Geisler, whom he called ‘Pudgy.’ He named his assigned P-38 Pudgy, in her honor. A reproduction of Pudgy can be seen on the base.”

“In February 1943 he reported to Orange County Airport to learn how to fly the Lockheed P-38 Lightning,” Porcelli says. “He was posted to the South Pacific in March 1943 with the 49th Fighter Squadron, 5th Fighter Group. Then he was assigned to the 431st Fighter Squadron.” McGuire was killed when his P-38 Lightning crashed on Negros Island in the Philippines; he had been attempting to assist his wingman during a dogfight, a close-range form of aerial combat.

“The Air Force became an independent military service, separated from the U.S. Army, on September 18, 1947,” says Porcelli. “The Air Service tried to gain independence as early as 1920, but was denied. It did not happen until after the Second World War, partially after the War Department (later Department of Defense) recognized the role of air power in the winning of the war.”

The Air Force has two reserve components: the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard. “The mission of the 514th Air Mobility Wing is to recruit and sustain combat-ready Reserve citizen airmen to fly, fight, and win, while enhancing our nation’s air mobility capability,” says Lalley.

A “Typical Day” for a Reservist

“No day is typical,” asserts Lt. Col. Tamara Johnson, who has been in the Air Force since 1998, and at Joint Base MDL since 2009. Formerly a KC-10 pilot, she now is an executive officer. Her duties include drafting awards and decorations for the squadron. “I get to interact with our impressive airmen and learn about the amazing things they do on a daily basis. While they believe they’re ‘just doing their jobs,’ I’m in a position to recognize them for constantly going above and beyond.”

Col. Michael DeSantis, the operations group commander for the 514th Air Mobility Wing, attends “a lot of meetings. I’ll come in and prepare for a maintenance operation meeting, where we review the day prior’s flying. Thursday I’ll be flying all day in a C-17, refueling. A big part of my job is training other pilots how to fly; that’s probably about 10 percent of my job. The rest of it is being a commander. With a group of almost 600 people, it’s a big job for me.”

A Princeton resident, Major Sasha Heath is a KC-10 pilot with the 76th Air Refueling Squadron. “A typical day for me depends on what I have scheduled for that particular duty day,” Heath says. “When I come in to fly, for example, the day revolves around the mission. From preparing for the flight, completing the flight, and conducting any necessary debriefs or paperwork, it’s quite a process.”

“Your primary job in the Reserve is to be ready,” says Dunham. “I was the operations group commander. A wing has three different groups. There’s an operations group, consisting of the people who directly do operations; a maintenance group that works with operations to keep all the airplanes up in the air; and a mission support group.”

Col. Adrian Byers, the vice commander for the 514th Air Mobility Wing, agrees with Dunham that “We all have the same requirements of maintaining our readiness. We’re pilots, but we’re officers first. I assist the wing commander in running day-to-day operations. When he’s not here, I run the wing in his stead. One of the pilots in the squadron may come down and be flying a mission the next day. So they’ll plan for that mission.”

A “Three-Legged Stool”

For a reservist, juggling military duty with civilian life can be “very challenging,” says Johnson. “You just have to be organized, and you have to be efficient with your time.”

Heath agrees: “Juggling a full-time civilian job with being a reservist is definitely a challenge. I normally work my Reserve days into days off from my civilian job. As a pilot for the Reserves, one must make time for not just flying, but other duties required of all reservists. I make sure to set aside at least several days a month in order to keep up.”

“Reserve duty entails one weekend a month, with 14 or 15 days of active duty training per year,” says DeSantis. “But it is challenging for the families, a huge sacrifice. We constantly refer to that at retirement or award ceremonies. We have their families stand up, because we recognize what a sacrifice it is for them to work, raise a family, stay current and qualified in that reserve job, and pursue higher education — probably on weekends or during evening hours. We try to build a lot of family time activity when we can. During the holidays we’ll open up an airplane.”

Byers acknowledges the impact that military duty can have on a reservist’s employer. “Sometimes that can be a little challenging, because it always depends on how the employee and employer interact. I fly for American Airlines. There’s a requirement that any reservist must let their employer know that they’re going to do military duty. By law they have to allow you go; they understand and accept that. But what we don’t want to do is abuse that trust. Towards the end of the fiscal year, we typically do an employer appreciation flight. We bring the employers out, so they can see what their employees have been doing throughout the whole year.”

“For a pilot who works at the airlines it tends to be a little bit easier, as opposed to a small business owner,” adds Dunham. “It is the ‘three-legged stool.’ You’ve got your ‘military’ leg, you’ve got your ‘civilian career’ leg, and you’ve got your ‘family’ leg. If you take too much away from any one of those legs, the stool gets out of balance. As long as everyone’s talking it can work very well. When I say ‘everyone,’ it’s the reservist who’s in the middle; he’s got to talk to everyone. Usually when the reservist is open about expectations, he can make things work.”

The Trojan Thunder T-28 team performs aerial stunts during the 2018 Power in the Pines Open House and Air Show at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. U.S. Air Force photo by Brad Camara.

KC-46 Pegasus Tankers

Joint Base MDL has been chosen to receive 24 Boeing KC-46 Pegasus tankers. “This is incredible news for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the state of New Jersey, and the future of national security in the United States,” U.S. Rep. Tom McArthur tells David Levinsky of the Burlington County Times. “Over 42,000 New Jersey residents in my district who are employed at the base and…rely on its survival can breathe easy, knowing the joint base will remain our nation’s premier air mobility installation.”

“Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Travis AFB were chosen as the next two active-duty-led KC-46A bases because they meet all operational mission requirements at the best value for the Air Force and the American taxpayer and support our tanker recapitalization strategy,” former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James says in a statement.

“The need for a new tanker is strong, and it is the reason that the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is one of the Air Force’s highest priorities,” says Porcelli. “It was contracted as a KC-135 replacement, but it will also eventually replace the KC-10 as well. The choice of McGuire for the basing of the KC-46 Pegasus assures the future viability of the air base and all the employment and financial benefits it provides.”

“The huge thing is that we maintain a capability of force extension that the Air Force needs,” adds Byers. “As we start to have new fighter aircraft coming along, like the F-35, they need to have more capable tankers [such as] the KC-46. So as I take the KC-10 out of the picture, and replace it with the KC-46, McGuire gains a whole other capability to support the commanders down the road.”

“I’ve heard we’re going to start divesting the KC-10 next year, probably in September,” says DeSantis. “The first KC-46 is slated to arrive in 2021. We’ll start losing the KC-10 in September 2019.”

Last March, however, current Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson stated that the Air Force probably will need to keep the KC-10 in service longer than anticipated. According to Joe Gould and Valerie Insinna of Defense News, the KC-46 tanker program has been beset by delays, partially due to deficiencies in the high frequency radio, and the refueling boom.

Wilson has expressed concern that Boeing is prioritizing commercial projects over the tankers. In a statement, the manufacturer responded that “There is no greater priority…than the delivery of the KC-46. Boeing has continued to demonstrate its commitment to deliver the tankers as soon as possible and believes in our partnership with the U.S. Air Force.” Wilson has replied that “Boeing has been overly optimistic in all of their schedule reports,” adding, “My focus right now is to get the aircraft from Boeing and get them up there flying so we can modernize the fleet.”

Future Goals

“I would love to go back to the Pentagon,” says Byers.  “I’ve had two tours there, but I would love to go to headquarters and continue to serve in that capacity when my time at McGuire is done. Especially if that would lead me to a job that would positively affect the lives of airmen.”

Heath says, “As challenging as it is at times to keep up with reserve duties, I enjoy that I can continue to serve, and want to complete my 20 years. The Reserve presents a unique opportunity for citizens to give their experience and commitment to the military while still pursuing a full-time civilian career.”

“I enjoy being in the operation side of things, as opposed to a staff job at the headquarters,” says DeSantis. “Any time I’m in an operations command job, I feel like I’m doing the most good I can for my country. That’s tremendously rewarding. My aspiration would be to become a wing commander. A wing consists of two to three thousand people, so every time you move up an echelon, it’s an exponential change in responsibility. But that’s not an unusual advancement for a group commander.

Johnson, who has a new baby, plans to retire next year. “Until then I want to do the best I can to make sure the great people I work with are acknowledged for their continued commitment to excellence.”

“When I entered Princeton, my father, a Princeton grad of ’53, told me to get to know as many of my classmates as possible, as I’d never again be surrounded by as great a group,” remembers Dunham. “My dad was wrong, the greatest people I’ve ever been involved with are the reservists I’ve trained with, deployed with, and fought with. The honor of my life was serving with these great Americans.”

On May 5-6, Joint Base MDL presented the 2018 Power in the Pines air show. The event included the Air Combat Command F-22 Demonstration Team, the Canadian Forces CF-18 Team, and a U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights.

“It gets a lot of young folks interested in the military,” enthuses Byers. “You’re sparking an interest in someone at an early age, who later could be one of those guys who we could have here at McGuire, flying C-17s or KC-10s. Every two years we get air shows. We put it on, and we look for community support. Once the community gets involved, then the sky’s the limit — literally!”

Destination: New Brunswick

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By William Uhl

View of New Brunswick across the Raritan River, Shutterstock.com.

Nestled by the Raritan River in New Brunswick, Rutgers University is home to a diverse range of history and traditions. An intercollegiate rivalry with Princeton University, a real-life armored and mounted Scarlet Knight, and a romantic ritual connected to the legendary Passion Puddle are all classic traditions — and so is eating a Fat Sandwich, a sub roll packed with enough French fries, chicken fingers, and mozzarella sticks to earn the name. That mix of thoughtfulness and playfulness is everywhere in New Brunswick, and you can find plenty of both in just a day’s travel.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team, 1897, Wikipedia.

Starting the day at Rutgers’s New Brunswick campus offers a bevy of options. If you’re feeling quiet, the Zimmerli Art Museum hosts eight revolving exhibits at once, ranging from galleries of paintings commemorating the Russian Revolution, lithographs from 19th-century Paris, or photographs capturing everyday working life in 1970s America. The museum’s permanent collection contains over 60,000 works, ranging from 20th-century American sculptures and Italian Renaissance paintings to Soviet nonconformist art. The PaparazZi Café is also conveniently located nearby.

Venturing from the abstract to the concrete, the Rutgers Geology Museum houses a 2,400-year-old mummy, fluorescent minerals, and a mounted mastodon skeleton. Founded in 1872, the museum has kept its Victorian aesthetic intact as local geologists have donated more and more samples of fossils, rare minerals, and Native American artifacts.

Rutgers Geology Museum, Shutterstock.com

If you’re more interested in venturing outside and appreciating a beautiful day, grab a Fat Sandwich from a grease truck and walk it off in the Rutgers Gardens. Dozens of seasonal flowers are in bloom at a time, and over 20 specialty gardens like the Shade Tree Collection and the Bamboo Forest blanket the expansive garden grounds. Rutgers Gardens is open 365 days a year and is one of the few botanical gardens in the country that does not charge an admission fee. Heylar Woods, adjacent to the gardens, has winding trails through nearly 70 acres, along with features including a stream, an old quarry, and a labyrinth. Be sure to stop by Passion Puddle before you leave campus — old Rutgers legend has it that if student couples from Cook and Douglass dorms walk three times around the pond together, they’ll live happily ever after.

Rutgers Gardens, courtesy of Yelp.

For lunch, the options are similarly diverse. Hansel ‘n Griddle offers snappily-named wraps like the veggie-filled Crop Circle and the cheese-packed Mouse Trap, quesadilla-like crisps, fresh-pressed paninis, and the “Best Wings in Town” (“And we mean that!”, the menu adds). Open from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m., breakfast or lunch are ready whenever you need it. For a more formal sit-down meal, the highly acclaimed The Frog and the Peach is only a 15-minute walk away from Rutgers. For smaller meals, the restaurant offers fancy treats like Chicken Liver Pâté, Za’atar Spiced Flatbread, and Peekytoe Crab Salad; for larger appetites, there’s Black Truffle Ricotta Gnocci, Pork Loin Schnitzel, and Braised Spanish Rabbit. Between its high-class menu and relaxing atmosphere, The Frog and the Peach has a small-city sophistication to match the abundance of art and entertainment New Brunswick has to offer.

For evening entertainment, New Brunswick has year-round offerings in the many theaters in town. The Crossroads Theatre, “the nation’s premiere African American theater,” offers energetic performances, such as the off-beat comedy Back to the Real or the NAACP Image Award-winning musical Fly. Similarly, the George Street Playhouse’s 2018-2019 season is packed with both thoughtful plays, like the courtroom drama The Trial of Donna Caine and The Immigrant, and playful musicals like Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical, which weaves together jazz singing and civil rights activism. In addition to its theatrical seasons, the State Theatre New Jersey also hosts performances like classical violinist Itzhak Perlman, the Brooklyn Paramount Reunion Jubilee of Stars, eclectic performer Alan Cumming, and improv comedy duo Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood. Stepping out of the theaters, the streets of New Brunswick are lined with culture from the past and present. The New Brunswick Jazz Project organizes musical performances all throughout the year, with the Central Jersey Jazz Festival taking place mid-September and featuring musicians like Teri Lyne Carrington, Dave Stryker, and Carla Cook, with venues ranging from the Historic Court House to the open-air stage on George Street.

Before heading home, you can stop by one of the many eclectic restaurants for dinner. The Frog and the Peach’s dinner options are just as formidable as lunch, but KBG, the Korean barbeque and grill, poses a more casual alternative. Its menu combines Korean classics like kimchi and bulgogi (literally “fire meat”) with tacos and burritos, bringing an East-meets-West spin to its savory meals. And for $9.45, the I Want KBG Bowl has everything but the kitchen sink.

However, if you want to recapture that college night-on-the-town feel, Stuff Yer Face has the perfect combination of beer, burgers, and signature strombolis. Its menu boasts over 30 kinds of “bolis,” including the Meatball and Eggplant Boli, the Vegetaboli, Big Mac Boli, Barbecue Chicken Boli, and the build-it-yourself My Favorite Boli. What it lacks in high-class ritz, it makes up for in nostalgia — you can practically taste the youthful energy, looming exams, and camaraderie of college life.

A city shaped both by Rutgers’ students and scholarly educators, New Brunswick bridges the gap between exuberant adventure and thoughtful tradition in its art, entertainment, and food. While you might have missed the chance to meet a college sweetheart by Passion Puddle, there’s still time to take your love to see New Brunswick’s gardens and galleries — right after you get a Fat Sandwich.

Westfield Honors Native Son Charles Addams

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Charles Addams

By Taylor Smith

Westfield, New Jersey, transforms into all things Charles Addams this October for AddamsFest — a month-long, family-fun series of events including movie screenings, art exhibits, a masquerade ball, paranormal investigations, a costume contest, and a Halloween House Decorating Contest.

Charles Samuel Addams was born in 1912 in Westfield and lived on Summit Avenue and Elm Street. As a student, Addams drew cartoons for the Westfield High School literary magazine and was said to have a lifelong fascination with the macabre. After graduating from University of Pennsylvania, Addams moved to New York City to pursue further art study at Grand Central School of Art.

The New Yorker published Addams’ first drawing in 1932. Signing his work “Chas Addams,” he became a frequent cartoonist for The New Yorker in 1935. His subsequent drawing entitled ‘Downhill Skier’ was so popular that The New Yorker offered him a permanent staff position in 1940.

The ghoulish Addams Family cartoons were a major hit for the artist, garnering him fans like Alfred Hitchcock and resulting in a 1964 ABC television adaptation. The comedic show depicted the odd and creepy gags of the sinister Addams Family. The catchy theme song and scriptwriting led it to become a cult classic with multiple spinoffs.

Speaking about Addams’ appeal, Robert Mankoff, editor of The Complete Cartoons of The New Yorker,wrote, “He tapped into that vein of American gothic that has a touch of paranoia about it, seeing behind every comforting façade the uncomfortable truth about the duality of human nature. But where Gothic literature usually combined these themes with romance, Addams made the horror hilarious: disturbing, but at the same time friendly, identifiable, and acceptable.”

Addams received the Edgar Award (named after Edgar Allan Poe) in 1961. Although typically awarded for excellence in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television, film or theater, the Mystery Writers of America presented Addams with a Special Edgar Award for “Cartoonist of the Macabre.” Previous recognitions include the Yale Humor Award in 1954, presented by The Yale Record of Yale University.

University of Pennsylvania erected a Charles Addams Fine Arts Hall on its Philadelphia campus in 1959. The building houses student work and studios for fine art students. Addams continued drawing for The New Yorker until his death in 1988, and his influence and legacy lives on to this day. On January 7, 2012 (Addams 100th birthday), the artist was honored with a Google Doodle.

To learn more about AddamsFest 2019, visit https://www.addamsfest.com/.

Winter Wonderland Weekend at The Asbury, Dec. 7 and 8

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Images Courtesy of The Asbury 

By Taylor Smith

Learn what makes the vibrant shore town of Asbury Park unique at The Asbury’s Winter Wonderland Weekend, December 7 and 8.

The Asbury is situated just two blocks from Asbury Park’s famous beach and boardwalk and is easily accessible from several NJ Transit lines. Designed with a nod to the shore town’s rock n’ roll past and proximity to the seaside, The Asbury offers upscale lodging, dining, multiple vibrant bars, live music in the lobby, and more.

The Counter is the “hub of the hotel,” serving made-to-order sandwiches, pizzas, doughnuts, coffee, and fresh-pressed juice. Breakfast sandwiches are served on a fresh-baked Kaiser roll and offered throughout the day. The Classic NJ features pork roll, egg, cheese, and ketchup, while the Breakfast Melt combines egg whites, Swiss cheese, turkey sausage, and caramelized onions. Hot Sandwiches range from The Heat Burger (potato bun, cheddar, crispy jalapenos, bacon, and chipotle aioli) to Grilled Cheese and Tomato Bisque with Pepperoni Chips.

Soundbooth, The Asbury’s lobby bar, is the meeting place for guests and locals alike. While grabbing a drink at Winter Wonderland Weekend, enjoy a game of pool, some vintage pinball, your favorite board game and live music. One of Soundbooth’s most popular cocktails is The Prickly Pear (Blanco Tequila, prickly pear syrup, lime juice, and ginger beer). Other options are The Asbury No. 1 (Alto Silver Tequila, watermelon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and club soda) and Lavender Lemonade (Ketel One Vodka, lavender lemonade, fresh lavender sprig, and lemon).

Winter Wonderland Weekend will also entail a vendor market, pet and human photos with Santa, “Knit in the Pit” (a night of knitting winter wear in the hotel’s cozy living room area), carolers, cookie decorating, wreathmaking classes, and gingerbread house building. The most exciting event is sure to be the debut of The Asbury’s annual ice rink where all season-long, skaters can gaze upon the 30-foot high Convention Hall Christmas Tree adorned with more than 40,000 LED lights.

All proceeds from The Asbury’s Winter Wonderland Weekend will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County (bgcmonmouth.org). As of 2019, Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County has served more than 1,900 kids and teens from the greater Red Bank and Asbury Park regions. With a professionally licensed staff, youth are provided with life-enhancing relationships, character development experiences, and access to the Club’s swimming pools, computers, tutoring services, career development, music classes, and more.

The Asbury Hotel

210 5th Avenue

Asbury Park, NJ

 https://www.theasburyhotel.com

The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey’s High Mountain Challenge

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High Mountain Park

By Taylor Smith

The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey is encouraging Garden State residents to stay active this winter season with the introduction of the High Mountain Challenge, inspired by New Jersey native Jessica Bagley’s running achievements. The Nature Conservancy is also hoping to raise awareness of High Mountain Park Preserve, a protected 1,260-acre tract of forested land in New Jersey’s Piedmont region (near North Haledon and Wayne).

The High Mountain Challenge involves walking, jogging, running (or crawling) up High Mountain. The 1.5-mile route is a fairly steep and rigorous climb that will take travelers 880 feet above sea level. The summit offers sweeping views of New York City’s skyline and Northern New Jersey. Be sure to take a proud selfie at the top and post it to Instagram with your time and the hashtag #highmountainchallenge. The Nature Conservancy might re-post your image in their online photo gallery.

High Mountain falls within the Preakness Range of the Watchung Mountains. The collective 11.5 miles of hiking trails offers stunning views of Manhattan. High Mountain Park Preserve also serves as valuable open space in close range to the New York Metropolitan area, acting as a safe haven for birds, plant species, and general wildlife.

It is said that General George Washington’s troops used High Mountain’s summit as a lookout during the American Revolution, an attempt to monitor the British troop movement in and around New York Harbor. The Preserve is currently owned by Wayne Township, The Nature Conservancy, and the state of New Jersey.

Visitors should be sure to stop by the High Mountain entrance kiosk for details on how to get a free Nature Conservancy car magnet.

For directions and trail maps, visit https://bit.ly/2D4BFD8.

See you at the top!

New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show

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Photo by Robert Benson Photography 

By Taylor Smith

Experience the season at New York Botanical Garden’s (NYBG) Holiday Train Show, now through Sunday, January 6, 2020. Natural materials such as fruit, seeds, pine cones, twigs, bark, stems, fungus, acorns, lotus pods, and cinnamon recreate a sweeping metropolis designed by Paul Busse of Applied Imagination.

According to NYBG’s website, “replicas debuting this year include the Belvedere Castle, the Dairy, the Naumburg Bandshell, Bethesda Terrace, and two graceful pedestrian bridges. The new Central Park replicas will share the spotlight with old favorites, including the Statue of Liberty, the original Pennsylvania Station, and Radio City Music Hall.”

New York poet, NYBG Poet Laureate and former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins returns to NYBG for “The Poetry of Trains: Billy Collins and Young Poets” on Sunday, December 15 at 2 p.m. Part of the Young Poets Contest and in partnership with the Poetry Society of America, Collins will select 12 winning poems to be displayed at NYBG during the Holiday Train Show. The selected student authors will share their work on December 15 and deliver a live reading.

NYBG’s annual Holiday Tree and Menorah Lighting Ceremony, a high point of the winter season in New York, features a dramatic conifer display, carolers, and special guests on Sunday, December 8 from 4 to 5:15 p.m.

Finally, the lively Bar Car Nights return to NYBG on select Fridays and Saturdays. Exclusively for adults 21 and older, an after-dark viewing of the Holiday Train Show is complemented by artistic ice carving, contortionists and acrobats from American Circus Theatre, the Bronx Night Market Holiday Pop-up, spiked hot chocolate (or a specialty cocktail), dueling pianos, and handcrafted fire pits in the Leon Levy Visitor Center. Tickets are $38 for non-members and $28 for members. Advance purchase is recommended at nybg.org.

All-Garden Pass tickets start at $23 for adults and $10 for children (ages 2-12). Members and children under 2 are free. Advance timed tickets are strongly recommended and available at nybg.org. Discounts may be purchased for groups of 15 or more.

The New York Botanical Garden is a museum of plants located at Bronx River Parkway (Exit 7W) and Fordham Road. It is easily accessed by Metro-North Railroad, bus or subway.

Images courtesy of New York Botanical Garden

Scottish Burns Supper and Whisky Tasting at Brandywine River Museum of Art

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By Taylor Smith

Each year, Scots from around the world gather in the darkest days of winter for a traditional evening meal and celebration to commemorate the birthday of one of their favorite native sons, Robert Burns. Born on a tenant farm on January 25, 1759 in the village of Alloway, near Ayr, Burns’s early life was marked by back-breaking work on a succession of small family farms. With an ear for Scottish folk songs and traditional stories passed down by his mother, Burns grew to become a widely-respected poet and lyricist.

Dying an untimely death at the age of 37, Burns’ friends and countrymen began gathering for a meal on his birthday to toast to his “immortal memory.” The tradition has continued for over 200 years and has spread to every country where Scots have settled.

The Brandywine Burns Supper at Brandywine River Museum of Art on Friday, January 24 at 7 p.m. consists of a hearty meal of traditional Scottish fare, including haggis and a tasting of a Belhaven ale and three single malt whiskies. A bagpiper will perform stirring Scottish music to accompany the haggis as it is brought to the table, followed by an authentic Scottish rendition of “Address to a Haggis.” For the uninitiated, haggis is made of sheep heart, liver, and lungs that are cooked along with celery, beef fat, ground oats, and spices. Similar in flavor to a crumbly sausage, the dish is often served with neeps (mashed turnips) and tatties (mashed potatoes).

Brandywine Board Member Jack Hines will guide guests in single malt whiskey tastings carefully paired with each course. Traditionally, Burns suppers conclude with a singing of “Auld Lang Syne”:

For auld lang syne, my jo,

For auld lang syne,

We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet

For auld lang syne.

The Museum galleries will open an hour before dinner (at 6 p.m.) for guests to enjoy the collections and view three N.C. Wyeth paintings used to illustrate The Scottish Chiefs, a classic novel recounting the life of William Wallace, which was transformed into the Academy Award-winning Braveheart.

Tickets are $100 for members and $110 for non-members. To register, visit https://bit.ly/2OE8Vqg.

Alexander Nasmyth’s portrait of Robert Burns (1828)

 

Hop Over to Cape May’s Congress Hall This Easter

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Beautiful spring flowers in the Ballroom, Easter eggs laid out on the Grand Lawn — hop on over to Congress Hall in Cape May on Easter Sunday for a day filled with exciting holiday festivities. Grab an Easter basket and start the morning with a traditional egg hunt, as well as fun lawn games and rides on the Congress Hall Express. After you’ve worked up an appetite, head inside for a delicious buffet in the Ballroom. Be sure to bring a camera — the Easter Bunny will make rounds with Blue the Pig for perfect family photo-ops!

Easter Brunch in the Ballroom can be booked as a stay enhancement with room reservation at Congress Hall, the Sandpiper, the Congress Place Suites, and the Beach Shack. Served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Congress Hall’s Easter Brunch is $55 per adult and children ages 4-12 are $19 (children 3 and younger are free). Call the Concierge Desk to reserve your tickets: (609) 884-6542.

View the Easter Brunch Menu: https://bit.ly/2Q1YfDh

To book a reservation for an overnight stay, call 855.290.8467.

Spring Lake 2020 Beach Season

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Summer revelers rejoice!

Spring Lake Beach will re-open on Saturday, May 23, just in time for Memorial Day weekend and the official start of summer beach season. 

Visitors should be aware that for the safety of town residents, visitors, and staff, beach capacity will be limited. If conditions at the beachfront become unsafe, beach communities will be required to modify their plans. 

Most beaches require a badge to get onto the sand. There will be no badges sold at the oceanfront. Instead, badges may be purchased at the Borough website only. Daily badges will be available for purchase. Pickup of pre-purchased daily badges will be at the Spring Lake train station starting Friday, May 22 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The boardwalk is closed except for access at key entry points. Showers and public water fountains will remain closed. Beachgoers are asked to space themselves 6 feet apart from other visitors. These rules will be enforced by lifeguards and local officials. Lastly, capacity will be monitored daily and adjusted as needed. 

For continued updates related to Spring Lake Beach, visit https://www.springlakeboro.org/. 

South Cape May Meadows is a Birding Paradise

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Image Source: The Nature Conservancy

Situated at the southwest tip of the Cape May peninsula, the South Cape May Meadows Preserve includes more than 200 acres of critical habitat for nesting and migratory birds. The peninsula in Cape May acts as a funnel for birds traveling along the Atlantic Flyway. While the land protected here provides foraging and resting habitat for the birds, the preserve also supports a wide variety of wildlife year-round. 

South Cape May Meadows is replete with dunes, freshwater wetlands, meadows, ponds, and a full mile of protected beach. The trail system provides visitors with wildlife viewing opportunities through the preserve’s many habitats including the undeveloped waterfront. An estimated 90,000 visitors enjoy the preserve’s natural beauty each year. 

South Cape May was established in the 1840s as a popular Victorian resort town filled with modest beach cottages. The community was nearly washed away by a storm surge in the 1950s, resulting in the unification of the neighboring Borough of West Cape May and City of Cape May with the few remaining residents in South Cape May. 

In 2004, the Nature Conservancy of New Jersey joined forces with the Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to restore the area’s freshwater wetland and beach ecosystems. The goal was to combat the spread of highly invasive marsh reeds (Phragmites australis) and to return the degraded terrain to a more productive and natural state (this,  in turn, serves to protect local communities from coastal flooding and benefit wildlife). 

This ecosystem restoration project included: 

Rebuilding and nourishing an eroded beach

Recreating a stable dune system 

Reestablishing a pathway offlow of fresh water through the wetland

Restoring diverse native vegetation by controlling invasive plants 

Creating shorebird foraging and resting areas within the wetland

Installing water control structures which allow management of water levels in the wetland to reduce flooding of communities and optimize conditions for wildlife seasonally. 

Visitors should be aware that May, June, and July are the best times to catch a glimpse of American oystercatchers, least terns, piping plovers, and black skimmers which nest on the beach during the summer. September and October are also great times to view migrating songbirds, waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors, along with monarch butterflies. 

Note: Stopping, standing, or sitting on the beach, even when viewing nature or taking photographs, can be disruptive to nesting and feeding birds. All beach visitors are asked to keep moving and stay outside of the roped off nesting area.

To learn more, visit https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/south-cape-may-meadows/.  

MarketFair Curbside Offering No/Low Touch Dining and Shopping Options

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With the health and safety of the greater community in mind, MarketFair Mall is currently offering no/low-touch dining and shopping options. 

FREE PEOPLE

Open for curbside delivery, Monday-Friday 10am-5 pm. Order via  https://www.freepeople.com/stores/princeton/ or call the store direct at 609.275.2861.

ANTHROPOLOGIE

Open for curbside delivery, Monday-Friday 10am-5pm. Order via the app or website:  https://www.anthropologie.com/stores/market-fair-princeton. Notify them upon arrival via the app or call the store direct at 609.452.0550. The staff is happy to place your order in the trunk or backseat for a no-touch option.

BARNES & NOBLE

Open for curbside delivery daily, 9am to 6pm. Order online at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/.

WILLIAMS SONOMA

Open for curbside pickup, Monday-Saturday 10:30am-5:30pm; Sunday 11:30am-5:30pm. Order online at and pickup in store.  Upon arrival, call 609.419.1390 to let them know you’ve arrived. Please be prepared to tell them the make and model of your car and have your receipt ready.

WEST ELM

Open for curbside pickup daily, 11am-3pm. Buy online at http://www.westelm.com or call the store direct at 609.799.8010. Upon arrival, call 609.799.8010. Please be prepared to let them know the make and model of your car and have your receipt ready.

POTTERY BARN

Open for curbside pickup daily, 11am-3pm. Buy online at https://www.potterybarn.com/stores/us/nj/princeton-market-fair/ and pick up in store. Upon arrival, call 609.419.0099.

POTTERY BARN KIDS

Open for curbside pickup daily, 11am-3pm. Buy online at https://www.potterybarnkids.com/stores/us/nj/princeton-market-fair/ and pick up in store. Upon arrival, call 609.919.1720.

LENSCRAFTERS

Beginning, June 1 open for curbside, Monday-Saturday 12-6pm.

Starbucks

Open daily, 6am-6pm for takeout. Order on the app and Grab N’ Go!

Seasons 52:

Open daily, 12-8pm for takeout and delivery. Call 609.799.2152. View menu options here:https://www.marketfairmall.com/store/Seasons-52-Fresh-Grill/2138878701/deal/Your-Favorites-To-Go/2138425536/.

TGIFriday’s:

Open daily, 11am-11pm. Delivery through Door Dash, Uber Eats, and Grub Hub. Order on the Fridays App or by calling 609.520.0378.

FREE kids’ entree with online orders of $20 or more! For more info:

https://www.tgifridays.com/?ch=sem&cid=google:2019:1&2cid=bra&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo9OZ3pLZ6AIVGpSzCh0HwgVBEAAYASAAEgIDnfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Qdoba:

Open daily, 11am-8pm. Delivery through Door Dash, Uber Eats, and Grub Hub. Order on the Qdoba app or by calling 609.378.3109.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro:

Packed for pickup or delivered right to your door. Open daily, 11am-8pm.  Call 609.799.5163 or visit https://www.pfchangs.com/locations/us/nj/princeton/3545-us-highway-1/9984-princeton.html for menu options.

Bahama Breeze:

Open daily, 11am-8pm. Takeout and delivery available. Order online at http://www.bahamabreeze.com or call 609.799.3808.

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