Maya Stein, one curator of the Tiny Book Show with her partner Amy Tingle, both of New Jersey, helps visitors to the Art Garden in Shelburne Falls make their own tiny books Sunday, June 12. Beginning on July 7, the Tiny Book Show is traveling from the east coast across the country with their 1965 RV called the Creativity Caravan, to as far west as the San Francisco bay area. Their final stop is August 20 in Newport, PA. (Photo by Matthew Burkhartt)
Maya Stein and Amy Tingle’s storefront might not have a set of wheels, but it drives home the same message as the original Creativity Caravan: to bring creative inspiration to everyone.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
Amy, Maya, and Maude: these are the names behind Montclair’s new storefront, The Creativity Caravan. Amy Tingle and Maya Stein are independent artists, writers, and owners of the shop, and M.A.U.D.E, a 1965 Covered Wagon, is the store’s namesake. more
Photos courtesy of Cranford Millburn Camera Club
Send us your best shots of NJ by January 20, 2017 for the chance to be in the next issue of Urban Agenda Magazine!
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
You might have photographed your favorite Jersey diner. Perhaps you’ve snapped a picture of a secret trail in the Garden State. Maybe, you’ve taken an image of a historical location in NJ, or better yet, a historic moment in your life. If you’ve shot a picture of New Jersey that represents your personal vision of the state, we want to see it! more
A curated marketplace for the most refined design, WallpaperSTORE* stocks, wraps & dispatches our pick of the finely formed & forward thinking.
Bring your boutique indoor spin class into the comfort and convenience of your own home with Peloton Cycle. Visit their showrooms in Paramus, Short Hills, Westchester, New York City, or East Hampton to try the bike for yourself! (Photo Credit: Peloton Cycle )
You’re not the only one suffering from weight-gain season.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
New Year’s resolutions might be cliché, but after three months of nonstop cookies, booze, and candies galore, we’re ready to jump onto the bandwagon. Stat.
Luckily, area gyms and studios are easing us into our “new year, new you” status with promotional offers and events for the start of 2017. Armed with these deals, you’ll be achieving all your fitness and financial goals in no time. Take that 2016! more
Like a Paris salon, this indie shop in Montclair, NJ is a hub for local artisans to discuss art and life.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
“What is this place?”
You’d think this reaction to a shop would insult its owners, but not Chris and Aimee Danchise of Basemeant WRX. In fact, it’s the couple’s favorite inquiry from first time clients who walk into their space in Montclair, New Jersey.
“We aren’t your typical shop. We are a retail/gallery/event space, so it takes a minute for people to ‘get us,’” Aimee, a former handbag and accessory developer, explains. “But once they do, I want them to feel welcome so that they end up sitting on our retro orange sofa with their coffee, meeting their neighbors, and supporting our amazing vendors.” more
By Ellen Gilbert
Designed by the Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the World Trade Center Transportation Hub is now the third largest transportation center in New York City. It serves 250,000 Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) daily commuters and millions of annual visitors from around the world. At approximately 800,000 square feet, the Hub’s concourse will ultimately connect visitors to 11 different subway lines; the PATH rail system; the Battery Park City Ferry Terminal; the National September 11 Memorial & Museum; World Trade Center Towers 1, 2, 3, and 4; and Brookfield Place (formerly known as the World Financial Center), which houses the Winter Garden. more
Acorn Hall
Birthplace of the telegraph and home to NJ’s best meatballs.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
Morristown, New Jersey has the conveniences of a city and the charm of suburbia. Along with access to mass transit and a walkable downtown, the Morris County town boasts Victorian-era homes, respected public schools, and historic sites. Among its estimated 18,594 residents are young professionals happy to find a culturally vibrant area where they can raise their families and arrive at Penn Station in an hour’s time. more
By Ilene Dube
If you missed the MetLife concert or any of his four-hour, sold-out stadium performances, there’s still a chance. If you were not among the thousands who waited all night to be in line for one of his recent book signings, you can see The Boss in Princeton. Morven Museum & Garden is now exhibiting Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey. more
SUMMER THEATER: French Woods is an individual choice performing arts summer camp for children from 7 to 17 years old in Hancock, NY. They offer programs in theater, dance, music, circus, magic, rock and roll, visual arts, film and video, sports, tennis, fitness, water sports, skate board, horseback riding and more. Younger campers have more guidance and supervision, while older campers are able to take on some responsibility and have a chance to work in the areas of their interest. French Woods is just one of the many sleep away camps that will be represented at the NJ Camp Fairs across NJ.
You might not think that the dead of winter is the perfect time to find a summer camp for your child, but indeed it is. NJ Camp Fairs will be hosting a series of events this January 2017 where parents will have the opportunity to meet camp directors from exceptional day and sleepaway camps from around the country. more
A Certified Etiquette Consultant helps us avoid holiday faux pas.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
The holiday season brings social gatherings, gift giving, and a myriad of questions regarding proper etiquette. Should the hairdresser get a tip? How many glasses of wine are appropriate at the office party? Can I regift? With all the stresses of the holiday season, it’s difficult to remember your Secret Santa gift, let alone mind your P’s and Q’s. more
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
“A touch of glitter works wonders. You will be spreading this sparkle for days…” – Egil Matiss, owner of Eggsotic Events.
How do you throw a party that’s larger-than-life? Larger-than-life decorations. Eggsotic Events based out of Hampton, New Jersey helps people in the New York/New Jersey area celebrate life’s greatest moments with their event décor and lighting design services. These party professionals can turn the seemingly craziest ideas into unforgettable events. Along with his team of experts, Eggsotic Events owner, Egil Matiss has created everything from a custom red carpet for the James A. Michener Art Museum to an oversized wall of live flowers for a wedding proposal at the Mondrian SoHo. more
Photo Credit: @shopterrain
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
There is one good thing about the sun setting at 4:30 p.m. in December: Christmas lights. A hitherto dark and dreary time, dusk becomes a period of holiday cheer as neighborhoods light up to showcase their Christmas trees, red ribbons, and wreaths. Here, we provide some outdoor decoration ideas to make the season even brighter. For more holiday inspiration, head to the Hopewell House Tour and Quilt Show on Sunday, December 18 from 1 – 4 p.m. more
Photo Credit: @dylanscandybar
Shop sweet Cyber Monday deals from Dylan’s Candy Bar. 11/28 ONLY: CYBER MONDAY SAVINGS! 25% OFF YOUR ORDER with code STOCKINGSTUFFER
Photo Credit: @howell_montclair
Look no further than Montclair, New Jersey for this year’s stocking stufffers!
Get energized with these easy-to-follow tips from a Feng Shui expert.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
Whenever I’m feeling rushed in the morning, my house is left in shambles. Clothes are strewn across the bedroom floor, dishes remain on the counter, and the bed stays unmade. Our living space is often a direct reflection of how we’re feeling, and similarly, our surroundings can effect how we feel. This is one of the principles of Feng Shui, a Chinese system of laws for positioning objects in a way that attracts fluidity and harmony in a home. While it is not a quick fix for a chaotic day, a Feng Shui home sets the stage for a calmer and happier you. more
Personal stylist Erica Ball shares her tips on how to tackle your closet.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
It’s that time of year where people are switching out their summer clothes for their fall and winter essentials. That means clean-out time. Deciding what stays and what goes can be an overwhelming task, so we enlisted the help of Erica Ball, a personal stylist working in New Jersey and New York. If anyone knows the importance of a well-equipped closet, it’s Erica. Before transplanting to Westfield, New Jersey, she worked in Los Angeles styling actors for Pepsi, Nike, and Victoria Secret commercials, along with feature films. Erica has also styled celebrities like Matthew McConaughey, Tim Burton, and Michelle Monaghan. more
Photo Credit: @thekitchenmccabe
Make your Thanksgiving gathering even more memorable with these special gifts.
Actor Tom Hardy
Facial hair is sexy, but facial hair for a cause is even sexier.
By Sarah Emily Gilbert
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October brought swarms of pink and female unity, but now that it’s November, things are about to get hairy. This week starts a month-long campaign for both cancer awareness and men’s health by encouraging people to put down the razor. more
Sebastian Clarke is a favorite appraiser on TV’s Antiques Roadshow, giving people the good, or bad, news about their treasures.
Sebastian Clarke is the Affable Auctioneer
By Anne Levin
If you attended a charity auction to benefit McCarter Theatre, Trinity Counseling Service, Princeton Charter School, or any number of other organizations in town last spring, you probably encountered Sebastian Clarke. He’s the lanky, personable guy who runs the show, rattling off the numbers and “filler words” to coax bidders higher and higher—but always with a light touch. more
“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” — George Eliot
By Ellen Gilbert
Reader advisory: This article will not provide the last word in what to wear, cook, or how to decorate your house this fall. It. turns out that there are many, many opinions about what is au courant for every aspect of our lives (all year round, actually). This may be a disappointment for those needing guidance, but free spirits may consider this conclusion a boon. more
Perhaps nothing is more representative of interior designers than their homes and studios.
Photography by Andrew Wilkinson
In addition to being a personal haven, it acts as a blank canvas for creativity. For our interior designer photo series, Urban Agenda Magazine got the opportunity to peek inside the homes of some of the areas most respected interior designers. Here, they share their design aesthetic, personal mottos, career highlights, and more. more