Fork and plate in hand, the crowd at the Olde Mill Inn (www.oldemillinn.com) last week jostled for position like the Derby field on the back stretch. The state’s finest restaurants and wine distributors brought the food and libations, New Jersey foodies opened their wallets and their appetites.
At the risk of sounding too much like a women’s magazine, we suggest that every time you buy something new to wear, you remove one thing in your closet.
Since you are shopping for spring and summer, our guess is you’ll have a pile of castoffs very soon.
That’s where Dress For Success (www.dressforsuccess.org) comes in. The organization collects business clothing, accessories and slightly worn shoes for women who are getting back into the workforce. They’ll also take your jewelry and new pantyhose. Bring your clothing to their offices in Madison, Jersey City, Robbinsville and Newark. Plus size, bonus points!
Then, what to do about last year’s glasses when you just found a great pair of new frames? Donate them to New Eyes for the Needy (www.neweyesfortheneedy.org). They’ll also take watches, jewelry and giftware for the Trash Into Treasures shop in Short Hills.
Stepping up to a Blackberry? Give your old wireless phone back to Verizon (www.verizon.com ) for the company’s Hopeline Project. The phones are re-programmed and donated to groups like the Jersey Battered Women’s Services (www.jbws.org) for women and family members who are victims of domestic abuse.
Stepping out in a new BMW? Send your old wheels to Strengthen Our Sisters (www.strengthenoursisters.org). Its Cars for Success program is accepting car donations for women in need.
So there you have it. Recycling isn’t just about newspapers, glass and plastic. Just about everything has a second life—and a chance to give others a better life.
Note: Pamela J. Principe-Golgolab of PNA Associates, Inc. in Chester, guest authored this column.
If you are like us, you rushed out to see the latest epic Spiderman film along with gadzillions of other parents of pre-teen boys and tried not to snore very loudly.
But there was one thing that held our interest—the simple gold locket worn by actress Kirsten Dunst, who plays MJ, Spiderman’s girlfriend. It appears so often, you can’t help but notice. Turns out, there’s a history there.
The gold locket is designed by Jennifer Meyer (www.jennifermeyerjewelry.com), the real-life fiancé of Spiderman star Tobey McGuire. Meyer’s leaf pattern necklace and earrings got noticed after Jennifer Aniston wore them in the 2006 film, The Break Up.
Lockets are starting to get noticed in a big way. Go to www.heartsmith.com, the Dumont-based website, and you can lock onto some great necklaces.
Take the “Betsy.” According to Heartsmith’s owner Lauren, this swivel locket was featured on ABC’s “Lost”—and became a focal point of an entire episode. A white gold version is featured on the Heartsmith home page. It’s on sale, for $254.
There are also plenty of interesting, funky designer lockets for less than $100. Click the sterling designer tab, at the bottom of the first page.
Lauren points out gold lockets are costlier because they are so hard to make; they have to be lined up correctly to open and close and hold a photo, and gold is soft and difficult to work with. “If they don’t get it right, it looks terrible,” she says.
Jennifer Meyer clearly got it right. Kirsten Dunst (a Point Pleasant native) looks as wholesome as apple pie, in her $1,500 necklace. You can find similar lockets at Heartsmith, and elsewhere for less. No guarantee that they’ll snare you a Spiderman, but you’ll have fun spinning your web!
Haddonfield celebrates Mother’s Day with a weekend of sales, free roses and goodie bags for Moms and Mom-to-Be, plus specials on massages, skin care and a bra-fitting event. Read all about it, www.shophaddonfieldnj.com.
Go Fishing
No boat? No problem. Hook up with a fishing club like the Fish Hawks (www.fishhawksnj.com) and they’ll arrange a ride along with someone who has.
Go Golfing
Join the Executive Women’s Golfing Association (www.ewgannj.org) and polish up your strokes. What better way to crash the Boy’s Club?
Go for Brunch
Visit the Café at Grounds for Sculpture (www.groundsforsculpture.org) in Hamilton Township for a Mother’s Day Brunch, with music for brass composed by members of Northern New Jersey Camerata.
Go for Art
There’s a Mother’s Day sale at an exhibit of works by artists with disabilities, Saturday 12:30-5 p.m. at the studio-gallery of Arts Unbound in Orange; call (973) 675 2787 or check www.artsunbound.org.
Go Vegan
Buy Mom—or yourself—a great faux leather bag from Matt and Nat (www.mattandnat.com). There’s a nice selection at Tia’s Place (www.tiasplace.com) in Jersey City.
Go Rock
Tonight’s not the night, but Friday is…for ‘70s rocker Rod Stewart in concert at the Continental Arena. Eight p.m., $53–$125. (201) 935-3900, (866) 448-7849 or http://tinyurl.com/23cel8
Go Rutgers!
Rutgers celebrates its 122,000 graduates (or is it the other way around?) at Alumni Weekend. What a year for folks on the Raritan! There will be dinners, get-reacquainted campus tours, a golf tournament and the annual parade down College Ave. www.rutgersalumni.org or (732) 932-1766.
Happy reunion to Calista Flockhart ’88 and James Gandolfini ’83…and don’t forget to stop for a beer at Olde Queens, a young 74 years old in ‘07. If you’re a Rutgers grad, you don’t need the address! But here’s their MySpace, profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=48318013
We’ve written about some places that made our list for great meals without a lot of fanfare. We also took you along to our favorite Ladies-Who-Lunch spots. Not to mention some rooms with great views.
We asked that you pick your favorite restaurants, and share them with us.
You wrote us about lunch at The Dining Room in Montclair… (www.thedining-room.com). The restaurant is offering a special $35 all inclusive Mother’s Day Menu. We also love the Early Bird menu—is this Florida or what? They’ve got fondue, too.
We heard from Philip Privitera, executive chef at the CSide Restaurant in Jersey City (www.csiderestaurant.com). He has plenty to brag about when it comes to food and views. Check out Cside, for Mother’s Day and everyday, now that the weather is on our side.
Friends suggested Rosemary and Sage (www.rosemaryandsage.com) in Riverdale. This boxy, quirky restaurant has a creative menu, but the real show is the service, with every member of the Farber family – from 10 year old Hannah on up, on the floor, taking orders and ferrying food. And despite what the website says, they’ll be open on Sunday for Mother’s Day.
Our final pick: if Mom likes flamenco, reserve a spot Sunday at Sabor Bistro (www.saborlatinbistro.com) in North Bergen (there’s a second Sabor in Hawthorne). They’ve got dancers, but the food is the real show. Try the nueva paella or the roast pork and you must (Doctor’s orders) leave room for the mango cheesecake.
There’s a nice list of restaurants with Mother’s Day specials at www.njmonthly.com/rosie/rnews.html, thanks to our favorite, most famous New Jersey foodie Rosie Saferstein. Better reserve today…your mom will thank you.
Keep giving us your restaurant picks; when you speak, we listen!
Give us a great spa package… like the chocolate rub-down: Go to @ease spa in Hillsdale (www.at-easespa.com) where they brush us, oil us, and slather on rich chocolate.
We are wrapped in golden foil like a Godiva… After our shower, we feel cocoa buffed all over!
Speaking of dipped in chocolate, have you seen these chocolate banana bouquets from the folks at www.ediblearrangements.com? Or the citrus blossom? Send them our way, please!
Or gift us a day at Dieci Spa (www.diecispa.com) in Livingston, where they’ve perfected the Essence Of Italy; a succulent honeysuckle and lemon treatment that brings out the fruit and flower of our special self.
We love our exercise, at home-- and at the gym. When we can’t get to the gym, bring the gym to us. Book personal trainer Christine Conti, (www.contifitness.com) who helps every woman bring their sexy back. Or sign us up for Christine’s Cardio Tease classes in Brick or Manasquan, and you may just see another side of your mother!
Surfing is so hot—and Mom just may be a surfer girl at heart. Find a listing for classes at www.surfline.com/surfology/schoolsearch.cfm?searchbox=NJ and get us a package of lessons. Throw in the wet suit and the board from LBI’s Ron Jon (www.ronjons.com) and we’re ready take the plunge. Next step, go to www.surfdiva.com and send us on the week out… a Costa Rican surfing vacation!
If your Mom is truly the head of the family, get her a gift card from Cache (www.cache.com) because that’s where Carmella buys her clothes. How do we know?
Finally, Moms are the chauffeurs. But what about getting a private chauffeur for us? We know a great guy with a shiny black Lincoln Navigator-- relax Dad, he’s a professional driver-- who’d tote us around for a day or a week or two. You can reach Ron at 917-696-0918. Tell him we sent you and enjoy the ride!
If you are like us, you rushed out to see the latest epic Spiderman film along with gadzillions of other parents of pre-teen boys and tried not to snore very loudly.
