Zimmerli’s Art After Hours Spotlights Two Exhibitions

Photo Credit: McKay Imaging Photography Studio & Gallery

The Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers presents Art After Hours: First Tuesdays on March 3, from 5 to 9 p.m. The evening features curator-led tours of two exhibits, “’It makes me think of that awful day…’ The Natural World in the Anthropocene” and “A Celebration of the Children’s Books of Vladimir Radunsky,” as well as a performance by violinist Suliman Tekalli, the State Theatre New Jersey artist-in-residence, in partnership with the Center for Musical Excellence. In addition, Mason Gross jazz students Vaughn Stavropoulos (keyboard) and Ian Young (bass) perform throughout the evening. Art After Hours is free and open to the public, with complimentary refreshments. more

Oak Crest Day Camp Hosts Open House Feb. 23

By Taylor Smith

Oak Crest Day Camp in Somerset will host an Open House for prospective parents and families on Sunday, February 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the event, attendees will learn how to save up to $600 off tuition, and find out why the Oak Crest experience is so exceptional. more

Bowman’s Hill Winter Lecture Series: New Jersey Pine Barrens Plant Communities, Feb. 23

By Taylor Smith

Russell Juleg, a land steward and educator for the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, will explore the surprising diversity of plant communities in the Pine Barrens region of New Jersey, including historical and current attempts to categorize the various communities, at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve on Sunday, February 23 at 2 p.m. more

Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday at Washington Crossing Park

Bring the whole family to help George Washington celebrate his 288th birthday on Sunday, February 16 from noon to 4 p.m. at Washington Crossing Historic Park, located at 1112 River Road in Washington Crossing, Pa. more

Art Making Day at Artworks Trenton Welcomes Art Makers Of All Ages

Image Courtesy of Artworks Trenton

Trenton’s downtown art center and three partner organizations will open their doors to all for two days of free art activities on March 7 and 14. For toddlers, grandparents, and everyone in between, Art Making Day is a free event that promotes the idea that entire communities can be connected and uplifted through various forms of creative expression. more

A Tea Lover’s Dream

A Cup of Tea, painted by Lilian Westcott Hale for Collier’s magazine (1909)

February is the perfect excuse to slow down with a steaming cup of comforting tea. Shop these brews for instant satisfaction!

 more

Shop New Arrivals by J.McLaughlin

This season's true blues, botanical prints, bamboo bags, and wide-legs pants will add a punch of new to your current wardrobe. 

 more

Join Friends of Princeton Open Space for LOVE Your Park Day

On Saturday, February 15 from 9 a.m. to noon, Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) will celebrate LOVE Your Park Day at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve at Mountain Lakes House in Princeton.

During this volunteer session, attendees will join FOPOS members in identifying and removing target invasive species from the woodlands as well as free native trees and shrubs from encroaching vines. Come spring, the cleared area will be better able to host native wildflowers, birds, butterflies, and other wildlife that depend on the habitat with which they co-evolved.  more

Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 14-17

Northern Cardinal (male) by Michele Black  

Launched in 1988 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time.

Now, more than 160,000 people of all ages worldwide join the four-day count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds. more

Tabby’s Place Helps Save Cats from Desperate Situations

By Taylor Smith

Tabby’s Place is a cage-free adoption and clinical care center for cats that essentially have nowhere else to go.

Located at 1100 US Highway 202 in Ringoes, the organization was launched in April of 1999 by Jonathan Rosenberg and his wife, Sharon. Today, the nonprofit public charity is home to more than 100 cats. Its long-term vision is to accommodate 400 cats with the installation of several new buildings across the eight acre property. more

12th Annual Cupid’s Chase 5K on Feb. 8

By Taylor Smith

Community Options, Inc. invites runners, walkers, and rollers (baby strollers and wheelchairs) to help raise funds to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities at the annual Cupid’s Chase.

The Cupid’s Chase 5K on Saturday, February 8 at the Princeton Shopping Center will raise funds to support people with disabilities in Mercer County. To register, visit cupidschase.org. more

“First Fridays” at The Frick Collection Begin Feb. 7

Rembrandt - De Poolse ruiter, c.1655 (Frick Collection)

Enjoy free museum admission and gallery talks, music performances, and sketching, or simply find yourself walking among the Old Masters and art enthusiasts from around the world at the next First Friday at The Frick Collection in New York City on February 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. First Fridays occur on the First Friday of each month, except January and September, from 6 to 9 p.m. more

Wine and Chocolate Weekends at Alba Vineyard

By Taylor Smith

Located in the rolling hills of Warren County, two miles east of the Delaware River in Milford, N.J., Alba Vineyard is the perfect February getaway. The winery is hosting Wine and Chocolate Weekends on February 8, 9 and 15, 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tasting experiences are priced at $20 per person (21 and older) and include a flight of Alba’s estate wines paired with cheeses, flatbread, and a sampling of gourmet truffles, chocolate caramels, and a selection of French macarons. The price also includes an etched wine glass. more

Eno Terra features Tuesday Tastings Series, Valentine’s Day Menu

By Taylor Smith

Tuesday Tastings with Tony: An Education Series Featuring the Wines of France

January 28 through February 25, 6:30-8 p.m.

 more

Share a Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner at Bistro d’Azur

By Taylor Smith

Bistro d’Azur at 14 Academy Street in South Orange (www.bistrodazur.com) is offering a memorable and delectable Valentine’s Day 2020 prix-fixe menu, priced at $79 per person/$15 foie gras supplement. The 4-course event (https://www.bistrodazur.com/specialevents) includes your choice of amuse bouche, first course, main course, and dessert paired with BYOB or Unionville Vineyards wines (https://unionvillevineyards.com/). With choices like Oyster Mignonette, Tuna Cru, Butter Poached Maine Lobster, Butternut Squash Risotto, Lamb Rib Chops, and Warm Brie with Apple, how could you go wrong? more

Toni Morrison Tribute in Celebration of NYPL’s 125th Anniversary

By Taylor Smith

Produced in partnership with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the New York Public Library (NYPL) at 476 Fifth Avenue (at 42nd Street) presents an evening of performances and conversations centered around Toni Morrison, the American icon, writer, and intellectual, on Wednesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. more

The Summer Institute at Morristown-Beard School

By Taylor Smith

Images Courtesy of Morristown-Beard School

Morristown-Beard School (MBS) is an independent, coeducational day school serving nine counties and more than 85 communities in northern New Jersey. The school motto, Ad Astra Per Aspera, can be translated as “To the Stars Through Adversity,” a phrase that embodies the essence of the MBS experience. more

Sally B. Keidel Named Agnes Irwin School’s New Head of School

By Taylor Smith

Images courtesy of Agnes Irwin School

Following a nationwide search, the board of trustees of The Agnes Irwin School, a private girls school in Rosemont, Pa., recently announced the appointment of Sally B. Keidel as the school’s 14th head, effective July 1, 2020. more

PAFA Offers Training in the Arts to Medical Students and Physicians

Photo Credit: Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

By Taylor Smith

The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia, founded in 1805, is the first and oldest art museum and school in the United States. In a unique partnership with area medical schools, PAFA provides humanities-based training for medical students, nursing students, university faculty members, and practicing physicians. more

Philadelphia-Founded Two Robbers Hard Seltzer

By Taylor Smith

Looking for something fresh and new to serve at your next cocktail party? Two Robbers Hard Seltzer just announced the launch of its fourth flavor, Peach Berry, due to be released in January 2020. more

Delicious Hanukkah Gifts from See’s Candies

By Taylor Smith

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with Hanukkah candy and chocolates from See’s Candies. Like all of See’s products, the bite-size Toffee-ettes, Pecan Buds, Almond Royals, Café Latte Little Pops, and Peanut Brittle are made from scratch. See’s Toffee-ettes are, in fact, a year-round treat and one of the company’s very best sellers. And they still use Mary See’s original recipe! more

Camp Bow Wow is a Paw Above the Rest

By Taylor Smith

Located at 231 Bakers Basin Road in Lawrenceville, Camp Bow Wow is a doggy day care, boarding, and grooming facility that pet parents love. With over 160 locations, Camp Bow Wow has been providing reliable pet services since 2000. more

Art in a Bar: Southampton Soap Company

“Scent is mood. Scent is memory. Scent is magic.”

By Taylor Smith

Finding a unique and meaningful holiday gift for loved ones can be challenging.

“Like cooking, skincare is an art and ingredients matter. So, we use the simplest, most nourishing ingredients in all of our products. People see the difference in their skin. We’re promoting wellness and encouraging people to take advantage of that renewing experience that we get in the bath,” says Deborah Lukasik O’Shaughnessy, an art teacher, educator, and East End resident. more

New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show

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. more

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

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. more

The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey’s High Mountain Challenge

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). more

An Evening with Stephen Colbert and Julia Louis-Dreyfus at Montclair Film Festival

Image Credit: NJPAC 

By Taylor Smith

Experience two of the sharpest comedic minds onstage for one special evening as Stephen Colbert (a New Jersey resident) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus team up for the Ninth Annual Montclair Film Festival Benefit on Saturday, December 7 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Prudential Hall in Newark. The comedic festivities begin at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $79.50 and are available for purchase at www.njpac.org. more

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

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. more

Edible Ornaments for Birds

Image Source: https://wilderchild.com

By Taylor Smith

Winter often signifies a challenging time of year for birds to find adequate food and sustenance.  Decorating an outdoor tree with edible ornaments is a way to attract winter birds, providing them with shelter and a wide range of foods. more

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Names 2019 Honorees

Dana and Christopher Reeve (Image Source: https://www.christopherreeve.org/about-us/christopher-and-dana)

By Taylor Smith

This year’s gala benefit for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation took place on Thursday, November 14 at Cipriani South Street in New York City.

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation grew out of the community-driven Stifel Paralysis Research Foundation, which was founded in 1982 when Henry Stifel, a New Jersey high school student, was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed at age 17. The organization evolved into the American Paralysis Association (APA). When actor Christopher Reeve was injured in a horseback riding accident in 1995, the APA was one of the first places that Reeve and his wife, Dana, sought support. By 1999, the APA and Christopher’s foundation united as the Christopher Reeve Foundation (Dana’s name was added to the moniker after her death in 2006). more