It may be, in these stressful times, that you need someone else to make your Thanksgiving meal. Consider turning the job over to a pro!

At the beautifully renovated Bernards Inn (www.bernardsinn.com) you can enjoy a holiday feast with organic oven roasted Griggstown turkey. There is a buffet option, along with a seated dinner. Prices start at $65 for adults, $35 for children.

Perona Farms (www.peronafarms.com) in Andover is taking reservations for its huge turkey day spread. The feast will run you $37.95.

Arthur’s Landing (www.arthurslanding.com) in Weehawken gives you a choice of traditional turkey, or a seafood feast for a price of $55 per person.

The Crystal Springs Resort has five different options for Thanksgiving meals, at its restaurants. Here’s a link to all: http://www.crystalgolfresort.com/content/categories.asp?SID=10&CID=224
We vote you cash in that CD and splurge at Restaurant Latour. Book a room so you won’t have to drive down the winding mountain roads afterwards!

Speaking of staying over, The Grand Hotel (www.grandcapemay.com) in Cape May has a three night Thanksgiving package, including your turkey dinner, two additional dinners, and breakfast each morning for as little as $483.

Lambertville’s Martin Coryell House (www.martincoryellhouse.com) has a stay over special for Wednesday and Thursday beginning at $140 per night. There are plenty of great places nearby—on both sides of the river-- for your Thanksgiving dinner. The Chamber of Commerce has a list at www.lambertville.org.

Don’t forget the less fortunate and be sure to donate to your local food drives. The Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair (www.humanneedsfoodpantry.org)
is a worthy choice.

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s website (www.njfoodbank.org) is listing all the points in northern New Jersey where you can drop off food during a Turkey Drive on Sunday, November 22.

Reserve early, donate freely, and help everyone enjoy the holiday!

Are you a Boho girl?

You are, if you can a mix thrift store tunic with a designer handbag, your cosmetics are earth friendly, and your food is always organic.

Then you’ll be reading Boho Magazine, (www.bohomag.com) the eco-fashionista-friendly book based in Montclair that strikes the right balance between stylish consumption and social responsibility.

Boho, which debuted in August, features pages of attractive recycled clothing, jewelry, and organic cosmetics, proving that style is not always directly related to the cost of an item, or a label. It is printed on recycled paper, using natural soy ink and no glossy finishes.

Gina LaMorte, of Bloomfield, is founder and Editor-In-Chief. The Boho, or bohemian credo is that “there is no such thing as imperfection, just originality.”

Recycled brooches, designer shoes made from old quilts, layers of textured sweaters, Schmatas turned chic, define the Boho girl. LaMorte calls it a “new American spirit” to promote social consciousness.

LaMorte, who describes herself as a celebrity stylist, grew up at the shore, and found that nature was always an important part of her life. She founded the Style Doctor (www.thestyledoctor.com), but insists “you can still love fashion and beauty and make a difference in the environment.”

Boho Magazine is a quarterly, but LaMorte hopes it will be monthly next year. She may have captured just the right mood at just the right moment.

“This generation, they want to change the world,” says LaMorte. Boho may be an attitude, but it’s this Jersey girl’s way of transforming the planet.

When the big banks fail, we remember the days when a bank was a local institution. And your banker was often regarded as a family friend.

Just when we thought those days were gone forever, into our mailbox pops notice of the little Cross River Bank (www.crossriverbank.com ) of Teaneck’s grand opening.  And, when we show up, so does, it seems, half the town.

In this heavily Jewish Orthodox community, it’s apparent that the bankers are well known. Still, it’s a bit of a risk to be opening in such a gloomy economic time.

But Cross River is pushing the concept of keeping your money close to home;  “a bank that is small enough to know them, but big enough to provide them with world-class banking services” says the press release.

CEO Gilles Gade  is optimistic. “There are tons of very healthy loans out there and tons of very healthy borrowers who unfortunately do not have a home for their loans. “

The Cross River website, still under development, will offer customers additional on-line services, and the bank is pushing an introductory CD with “an attractive 4% over nine months.”

The project has been underway for four years—it began when the economy was relatively healthy and no-one imagined the financial storm clouds gathering would have such a devastating impact.

But Gade even finds the silver lining in these clouds for Cross River. “I believe there is a huge place for us here because obviously we have a clean balance sheet—we just opened—so it’s very difficult to mess it up.”

“Are you a good witch or a bad witch?”  Glinda, The Wizard of Oz

Halloween may be over, but real En Jay witches - nothing like Hollywood’s green faced, evil doers – dispelled some myths for us.

“A witch is someone who practices the craft,” Davis Aistars, owner of Mystic Spirit Metaphysical Shoppe in Montclair, told us.  He and his wife, Karen, have been practicing for more than three years.

Most witches follow Wicca, a neo-pagan, nature-based religion that stems as far back as the ancient Egyptians and Celtic lore.  It was popularized by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s and again in the 1970s in The Witch’s Bible and The Good Witch’s Bible by Gavin and Yvonne Frost.

“Witches believe there is a divine force that we are part of,” Davis explained. “All is one.  Each individual has a play in the force that is out there.”

Witches follow a simple rule – “If it harm none, do what you will.” – this contradicts the wicked witch casting evil spells.

Do spells exist?  “Yes,” acknowledged Davis. But for good, not evil.  Spells harness and redirect natural energy to affect change. For example, herbs and stones vibrate with energy.  “Rose quartz can bring about love,” he told us. And money?  He said there are herbs for that – contact him for details.

“We don’t spend our entire day casting spells,” added Elena Pugh, Wiccan for more than 25 years and co-owner of Off the Beaten Path in Butler, a diverse shop that caters to all religions.  “We approach our craft just like any other religion.  And we are tolerant of all beliefs.”

We also found the Witching Hour Radio Show out of Blairstown which features an eclectic mix of music and discussions including Witchcraft. 

For those who want to explore paganism in relation to modern culture, Thorn Magazine, will make its debut this month.  Editor Chip O’Brien said it’s the only one of its kind in the northeast.  He hopes this Matawan-based publication and website will “illuminate the joys and complications of living ancient paths in the wired era.”

How do you know if you’re a witch?  “That’s a personal decision,” said Steven Repko, (www.gemnaries.com) who has been practicing for more than 40 years.  He recommended starting with Witchvox.  He also suggested joining a Yahoo group in your area to “feel it out.”

 “Beware of what you wish for,” warned Repko. Wiccans believe what you give, you shall receive – threefold.  “People always ask about the treasure they will receive, rather than looking at the magic in their lives.”

Guest contributor Pamela J. Principe-Golgolab of PNA Associates Inc.

Bet you didn’t know it was Newark Restaurant Week (www.gonewarkrestaurantweek.com). You can save big through the weekend at thirty downtown eateries. Check out the website to see which of your favorite restaurants are participating.

The beloved Masterwork Chorus (www.masterwork.org)  launches its season on Sunday singing pieces from Romantic composers like Brahms, Bruckner, and Mendelssohn. The concert is at the Dorothy Young Center at Drew University.

The Cheetah Girls bring their One World Tour to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall (www.boardwalkhall.com) this Saturday night. Hellogoodbye headlines at The Stone Pony (www.stoneponyonline.com).  Get a taste of Dinner With Diamond—all Neil, all the time,  at McCloone’s Supper Club (www.timmcloonessupperclub.com) tomorrow night. The Bacon Brothers are at the Mayo Center (www.mayoarts.org) in Morristown.

Get your hiking boots on and hit the trails at the Sussex Swamp Preserve (www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newjersey/work/art8499.html) You’ll learn how the geologic formations in the area are so important to the biodiversity of the site. And it’s good exercise!  

It may be the last weekend this season to go apple picking. Here are a few farms that are still offering you a chance to pick your own, although we suggest you call first: www.wightmansfarms.com, www.hillviewfarmsnj.com, www.melickstownfarm.com. 

Want to learn to weave a basket from the real artisans? This Sunday, basket maker Mary May of Forked River is leading a workshop at the Lily Lake studio in the Noyes Museum of Art (www.noyesmuseum.org). You’ll learn to make a shaker-style table basket with a carved handle.

Tomorrow at Saks (www.saksfifthavenue.com) at Riverside Square Mall in Hackensack, you can preview the St. John Resort Collection with a representative from the line.

It’s the Second Saturday in downtown Collingswood, (www.collingswood.com/arts/second-saturday) with dozens of  merchants and  restaurants participating. Everything stays open late, and the streets are alive with shoppers. Here’s a story we published last March that brings it home: www.njmyway.com/content/view/379/101/