Beach Plum Farm Honors the Farming Heritage of the Garden State

By Taylor Smith 

Tucked away in West Cape May, Beach Plum Farm is a 62-acre working farm that produces over 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables, as well as chickens, eggs, and Berkshire hogs. Produce from Beach Plum Farms is used by a number of popular Cape May restaurants including Blue Pig Tavern, The Ebbitt Room, Louisa’s Cafe, the Boiler Room, and the Rusty Nail. The Farm is also home to a large market, farm kitchen, fine dining, and cottages. Visitors can easily spend an afternoon shopping, eating, and wandering the grounds, or even an entire weekend, to disconnect from the rushed pace of everyday life. Beach Plum also welcomes weddings and private events.  more

Lake Bryn Mawr Camp for Girls Forges Spirit, Tradition, and Sisterhood

By Taylor Smith

Located in Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Wayne County, Lake Bryn Mawr Camp for Girls is a rural summer haven that prides itself on building “summer sisters” among girls ages 7 to 15.  more

A Foodie’s Dream: Blue Morel Restaurant and Wine Bar in Morristown

By Taylor Smith 

Blue Morel Restaurant and Wine Bar, located at 2 Whippany Road in Morristown, offers New American cuisine, a sushi and raw bar, and more than 70 wines by the glass. The culinary farm-to-table experience is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with an extended breakfast on Sundays until 1 p.m. more

Drew Theological School Encourages Impactful Action

By Taylor Smith 

Grounded in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition, Drew Theological School is a leading seminary in Madison, N.J., offering four unique master’s programs and two doctoral programs.  more

Brant Lake Camp for Boys in the Adirondacks

By Taylor Smith 

Brant Lake Camp, founded in 1916, is one of the oldest single-family owned camps in the United States. Situated in the Adirondack Mountains, 3.5 hours from New York City, Brant Lake serves as a summer “home away from home” for boys ages 7 to 15. With the motto of “Where sports are done right,” Brant’s facilities include 15 tennis courts, three baseball fields, two soccer fields, eight basketball courts, a roller hockey rink, two volleyball courts, a climbing wall, an archery range, a putting green, and a large multi-sport stadium.  more

MSK Bergen: Superior Cancer Care in Bergen County

By Taylor Smith 

Memorial Sloan Kettering, known for superior cancer care, has a new location. Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (MSK Bergen), at 225 Summit Avenue in Montvale, N.J., is situated an hour and 30 minutes from Princeton and less than 60 minutes from New York City. The Bergen County community borders six neighboring municipalities: Woodcliff Lake, Upper Saddle River, Park Ridge, and River Vale in Bergen County; and both Pearl River and Chestnut Ridge in Rockland County, N.Y. Montvale is easily accessed by the Garden State Parkway, along with the New York State Thruway.  more

Timeless Hoffman’s Ice Cream & Yogurt at the Shore

By Taylor Smith 

Hoffman’s Ice Cream & Yogurt — with branches in Spring Lake Heights, Point Pleasant Beach, Little Silver, and Long Branch — seems to scream summer at the Shore. 

Beginning in 1955, Hoffman’s Ice Cream operated as one of the first Carvel Ice Cream stores in New Jersey. When the franchise expired in 1976, the owners changed the name to Hoffman’s and grew a reputation of their own. The store’s original location was, and still is, in Point Pleasant Beach. more

Inductees Announced for the 2019 New Jersey Hall of Fame

By Taylor Smith 

Governor Phil Murphy held a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday, June 10 to reveal the 2019 inductees to the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Among this year’s class are Game of Thrones author and Bayonne native George R.R. Martin. Born in 1948, Martin’s father was a longshoreman. Now residing primarily in Santa Fe, N.M., Martin claims to still be a huge fan of the New York Jets, New York Giants, and New York Mets.  more

Slamwich Scratch Kitchen: Locally Sourced, Crafted with Passion

By Taylor Smith 

Slamwich Scratch Kitchen at 143 Main Street in Madison, N.J., was founded by Sam Freund and George Braun IV with the intent of perfecting the American craft of a handmade sandwich. Armed with the passion and understanding of what a delicatessen should be, the two founders pride themselves on making everything from scratch, including the cured pastrami, house bread, pickles, and condiments. The sandwiches are elevated enough, in terms of quality and taste profile, that Slamwich is actually a fantastic spot for a night out.  more

Glow Meditation and Yoga Studio in Basking Ridge

By Taylor Smith 

A comfy studio located at 580 Allen Road in Basking Ridge, Glow offers yoga and Pilates classes for all levels, plus special wall-suspension therapeutics.  more

Early Bird Espresso: Beloved Coffee Stop in Frenchtown

By Taylor Smith 

Located at 33 Bridge Street in historic Frenchtown, Early Bird Espresso has grown into a beloved coffee stop, particularly among the cycling community. With long daily hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Early Bird is seemingly always open for a quick pick-me-up. Early Bird’s roaster, Counter Culture (a very chocolate-driven, nutty brew), is complemented by Trickling Springs Creamery, a premium organic and non-GMO dairy in Chambersburg, Pa. more

Be Wary of Ticks as Temperatures Rise

By Taylor Smith 

Summertime in New Jersey is cause for celebration, and the warmer temperatures and bucolic surroundings encourage many residents to venture outdoors. The Mercer and Hunterdon county areas are home to state parks, meadows, fields, untouched forests, and a vast trail system tracing the Delaware River. However, one thing to be conscious of is the plethora of ticks.  more

Wave Resort Now Open in Long Branch

By Taylor Smith 

Located on the Jersey Shore, Long Branch is a happening place with close proximity to New York City, NJ Transit trains, and Northern New Jersey. New to the area is Wave Resort, an extension of the recently-built Pier Village, which has become a shopping and dining hub for day trippers. Located at 110 Ocean Avenue, Wave Resort is a hotel and upscale spa. Visitors can lounge on the pool deck and take in expansive views of the Atlantic. There is also a swim-up bar and an upscale Mediterranean-inspired restaurant known as 1000 Ocean.  more

David Gray at Count Basie Center June 5

By Taylor Smith 

David Gray’s Gold in a Brass Age tour will come to Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on Wednesday, June 5 at 8 p.m.  more

Lego Introduces Braille Bricks

By Taylor Smith 

Lego, the classic children’s brick-building company, has announced the release of customized bricks designed to help children who are blind or visually impaired to learn to read Braille.  more

2019 Spring Lake Irish Festival

By Taylor Smith 

The celebrated 2019 Spring Lake Irish Festival will take place on Saturday, June 15 from noon to 5 p.m. Affectionately dubbed the “Jersey Shore’s Irish Riviera” for its history of Irish culture and immigration, Spring Lake is the spot for this annual event featuring live music, dancing, food, children’s activities, and shopping. Traditions like the Irish Soda Bread Contest, beer and wine garden, and Irish step dancers are favorites. This year’s musical acts are The Snakes and Doubting Toms.  more

Vaccines for Adults – What You Need to Know

By Taylor Smith 

The recent measles outbreak has sparked much discussion over vaccinations, particularly as they apply to children. What some people may not realize is that there are a variety of vaccines recommended for adults as well. Childhood vaccines wear off over time and factors like your age, job, lifestyle, and degree of travel can indicate an increased risk for certain preventable diseases. And the CDC states that older, hospitalized adults have immune systems similar to newborn babies, making them particularly vulnerable to infections.  more

The BirthPlace at Holy Name Medical Center: This Place is Different

By Taylor Smith 

The BirthPlace at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck is designed to help expectant families feel safe, informed, and comforted about their birth experience. Moms are welcome to bring their doulas, and certified nurse-midwives are on staff. Holy Name’s board-certified obstetricians/gynecologists, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, perinatologists, and neonatologists are available on-site 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Birthing partners are also welcome to spend the night and flexible visiting hours include family and friends.  more

Academic Summer Camps at Rutgers Prep

By Taylor Smith 

Rutgers Preparatory School is a distinguished private school in Somerset, N.J. Each summer, the school offers a series of academic camps. The International Ivy Summer Programs for ages 5-14 will take place July 8-August 16. Half-day offerings are available from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 to 5 p.m. A full-day option takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  more

Vegan Cinnamon Roll Bakery Opens in Westfield

By Taylor Smith 

With over 20 unique frosting flavors and a variety of fresh and decadent toppings, Cinnaholic is not your average cinnamon roll dessert shop. As seen on ABC’s hit TV show Shark Tank, all of Cinnaholic’s products are made with 100 percent plant-based ingredients and are dairy and lactose free, egg free, and cholesterol free.  more

Plan a Family Day Trip to Crayola Experience

By Taylor Smith 

Crayola Experience, located at 30 Centre Square in Easton, Pa., is dedicated to fostering creativity in children (and adults) of all ages. Crayons, markers, and chalk in every hue can be used to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Coloring life-size pages and molding clay are also part of the interactive craft room experience.  more

Stagedoor Manor: Camp for Aspiring Young Actors

By Taylor Smith 

Stagedoor Manor in Loch Sheldrake, N.Y., offers total theater immersion for campers ages 10-18. It’s the only performing arts camp of its type, whether your child envisions themselves on the television screen or in the movies. Its noteworthy alumni include Jon Cryer, Mandy Moore, Natalie Portman, and Zach Braff.  more

Pingry School Introduces its Next Head of School

By Taylor Smith 

Pingry School in Short Hills and Basking Ridge, N.J., has announced the selection of Matt Levinson as its 16th head of school. Levinson began his career in education at Princeton Day School and was active in summer programs at New Jersey SEEDS and Prep for Prep. Most recently, Levinson served as head of school at University Prep in Seattle, Washington, and held senior leadership positions at Marin Country Day School and The Nueva School, both in the San Francisco Bay Area. Within the classroom, Levinson has taught middle and upper school history, coached upper school varsity soccer, and served as department chair and grade level dean.  more

Central New Jersey Brain Tumor Walk, May 11

By Taylor Smith

The Central New Jersey Brain Tumor Walk on Saturday, May 11 at Bradley Park in Asbury Park is an event to raise awareness and resources to fund critical brain tumor-specific programs to improve the lives of all those affected by brain tumors.  more

Seton Hall University to Offer M.S. in Data Science

By Taylor Smith

Launching in the fall of 2019, Seton Hall University’s College of Arts and Sciences will offer a Master of Science in data science. The data science program encompasses coursework in statistics, computer science, and applied mathematics. Data scientists are currently in high demand for their knowledge and understanding of business needs, analytics, computer science, and systems engineering. more

76th Annual Tour of Somerville

By Taylor Smith 

On May 27, more than 500 professional and amateur cyclists will gather to compete in the 76th Annual Tour of Somerville at Davenport and Main streets in Somerville, N.J. Held rain or shine, the historic event is the oldest bike race in the country. Over 50 U.S. Cycling Hall of Fame inductees have participated in the race, along with Tour de France champion Greg LeMond.  more

Peloton Tread: A High-End Treadmill with Bells and Whistles

By Taylor Smith 

The makers of the Peloton indoor cycling bike have a new model on the market — the Peloton Tread. Unlike the bike, the Tread is a hulking piece of fitness equipment with a hefty price tag of $179 per month for 24 months or a one-time payment of $4,295. More than just a standard treadmill, the engineers behind the Peloton brand are hoping that users of the bike will opt in to purchasing the Tread because of the personalized coaching and virtual reality community experience.  more

Sports-Related Concussions in Children and Youths

By Taylor Smith 

Summertime means more outdoor time for children and teens, and sports camps are a popular way to fill that free time. While exercise and play are an important part of every child’s development, it’s important for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of sports-related concussions.  more

The Best Bagel in Chatham Township

By Taylor Smith 

Chatham Bagels at 260 Main Street in charming Chatham, N.J., has many things going for it. 

In terms of quality, area residents state that the bagel shop rivals the best bagels in New York City. The shop is known for its huge bagels and chewy, satisfying texture. All bagels are made fresh in-house daily, so there is never a question of whether or not you will be able to purchase a hot bagel early in the morning. The gluten-free bagels have also won over fans, with many people stopping at the shop from neighboring towns to get their favorite wheat-free bagel fix.  more

Industry Salon in the Heart of Red Bank

By Taylor Smith 

Industry Salon, located at 20 Broad Street in Red Bank, NJ, is making a name for itself in the fashion and beauty worlds. 

Owner and master colorist Giana Martino grew up in Monmouth County’s Marlboro, NJ and dreamed of entering into the family business of one day owning her own salon. Specializing in bridal looks, Martino’s work has been featured in Vogue Magazine, London Sunday Times, looks by Yves St Laurent, and the talent and modeling agency, Wilhelmina Models.  more