Friday, March 12, 2010
Local couple's line of organic yoga clothes and activewear can be worn by anyone, anywhere, anytime.
It's hard to tell that Sevda and Bert Holland might be dressed for yoga class. Sevda wears a one-sleeved shirt under a pink gathered hoodie with thumbholes, a heavy beaded necklace and an oversized pink ring. More understated, Bert wears a gray fitted shirt. A simple black blazer overtop is "the only thing that isn't Prancing Leopard," he says of their clothes. The Ridgewood couple's young company, Prancing Leopard Organics, is ostensibly a yoga clothing line, but it doesn't look like activewear. As Sevda says, "It's about joy. How much joy—and how much quality—can I get in my clothes?" And indeed, the couple won't go to a yoga class, but they continue the logistics of running their busy and growing business based out of their Ridgewood …
Monday, March 8, 2010
Dr. Michael Duong returns to Ridgewood with own orthodontic practice.
You couldn't keep Dr. Michael Duong away from Ridgewood that long. After a stint as an associate orthodontist from 2004 to 2008, Duong left Ridgewood to work in Clifton. However, Duong returned to the village a few weeks ago with his own practice—Precision Orthodontics. "I felt like Ridgewood could use a young orthodontist with a lot of energy," he said. Since Duong graduated from Columbia, he's looked for that perfect place to call his own. "When I left here, I kept an eye out for where I fit in, and I've found a strong connection to the people here," Duong said. "Ridgewood residents are educated and nice. I'm from New York—people aren't always nice." Village officials and Chamber of Commerce members welcomed Duong back in a ribbon …
40.977022
-74.118188
Precision Orthodontics
139 Prospect St
/articles/with-returning-orthodontist-its-all-precision
222589
/locations/303723
Jodi Picoult answers readers' questions in event co-sponsored by Bookends.
WYCKOFF—More than 700 people crowded the Wyckoff Family YMCA Sunday to hear accomplished author Jodi Picoult speak in a program sponsored by the Y and Bookends. All attendees received a signed copy of Picoult's latest novel, House Rules, which arrived in stores on March 2. Readers sat engaged as Picoult read a few parts of the book in different narratives; afterwards, there was a question-and-answer period during which she covered topics such as the inspiration for her books, what research goes into a novel, how she develops characters, and how long it takes to write each book. Picoult studied creative writing while at Princeton and later received her master's degree in education from Harvard. Her background as an educator helps form her …
41.01434
-74.17173
691 Wyckoff Ave, Wyckoff, NJ
Wyckoff Family YMCA
/articles/bookends-author-talk-draws-hundreds-to-ymca
/locations/303281
Pizzeria A Mano of Franklin Avenue hosts well known Italian restaurateurs March 6.
In a culinary world increasingly focused on modern and fusion cuisines, a village restaurant exposed patrons to an old world dining experience Saturday. Ridgewood's A Mano held two demonstrations March 6 on the time-tested techniques of classic Neapolitan pizza makers, leaving seminar attendees better educated, and of course, well fed. Saturday's sessions were a celebration Naples's food and history, with A Mano restaurant owner Fred Mortati hosting fourth-generation Italian pizza maker Antonio Starita and, Antonino Esposito, also of Naples. Mortati, also a food importer with Italian connections, said it was his emotional connection to the food and culture of Naples that drove him to open a pizza restaurant in Ridgewood. "The way this …
40.980587
-74.119171
/articles/a-mano-demo-offers-slice-of-naples
12921
/locations/302722
Monday, March 1, 2010
Shopper finds secret heart pendant in Town and Country.
BUSINESS|Monday, March 1
A local jewelry designer has been hearing from the winners of her Valentine's Day contest, with men across the area happy for their good luck in being able to give their sweethearts unique jewelry found at area stores. Lorraine Baratta of Upper Saddle River held a Secret Jewelry Giveaway in 14 stores in 14 towns across New Jersey, including Ridgewood, Wyckoff and Paramus. Hints on the locations of the Valentine's necklaces she designed were posted on her Web site, as well as in advertisements in area newspapers. Those who figured the direction the hint was pointing them toward needed only to mouth the words "I am the secret Valentine" at the establishment in question. Baratta reports that all 14 pieces of jewelry were found, with several …
40.979658
-74.11948
Town & Country Apothecary
60 E Ridgewood Ave
/articles/secret-valentines-enjoy-their-good-luck-2
11427
/locations/298382
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Geological expert details perils of increased underground parking: additional year, 10,000 more truckloads, blasting, and higher cost.
More meetings, more plans. Last night, consultants presented the Planning Board with three more modified schemes to solve parking and massing problems for the Valley Hospital expansion project. Essentially, the proposed plans were broken down into two categories: those that favor underground parking and those that don't. The board said it may want something in between. Geotechnical expert Larry Keller estimated that adding two levels underground would require an additional 10,000 truckloads, take a year longer, and cost the hospital $3 to $5 million more. Medical planning consultant Ray Skorupa still favored the underground parking, because less hospital structure would be visible to the neighborhood. "In my view, after this is built, it …
40.98585
-74.101273
Benjamin Franklin Middle School
335 N Van Dien Ave
/articles/board-seeks-compromise-on-valley-parking-plans
55013
/locations/280372
40.98302
-74.10178
The Valley Hospital
223 N Van Dien Ave
/articles/board-seeks-compromise-on-valley-parking-plans
11448
/locations/280373
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Entrepreneur Daniel Rosen seeks to bring native energy alliance to next level.
When Dan Rosen was a junior at Ridgewood High School, he took off for the deserts of Arizona, where he met native youth and leaders and began working to build ideas into projects—involving anything from from media and art to food security. Six years later, Rosen is still working on incubating heartland-based ideas, but this time he has scaled his goal higher: to tackle the fossil fuel economy. The social entrepreneur is now at the helm of an ambitious fundraising project to begin a green energy alliance with Great Plains Indians, and he is seeking to bring his idea, Mosaic Ventures, to a Colorado-based social networking hub called the Unreasonable Institute. If given the funds to hatch, Mosaic Ventures would build alliances among native …
Friday, February 19, 2010
Third party energy suppliers—like Systrum—offer discounted rates to utility consumers.
Bagelicious owner Kim Fiske was skeptical initially when a representative from Systrum Energy told him his gas rates would go down if he enrolled in their program. "How often does someone come in and say, 'I can save you money,' and it works?" Fiske asked. Now as a customer of the third party gas supplier, Fiske is sold. "It's unbelievable. You sign up, and all of a sudden your rates go down. And you don't even have to enter into a contract." Fiske is just one of several Ridgewood businesses enrolled in New Jersey Energy Choice. Since the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act was passed in 1999 all energy consumers—industrial, residential and commercial—can shop among providers to find the best rates. The problem, said Systrum's …
40.980283
-74.120079
Bagelicious
19 N Broad St
/articles/same-gas-lower-rates-3rd-party-companies-say
11431
/locations/277545
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Fun ways to spend your Valentine's weekend.
Valentine's Day is usually filled with chocolates, flowers, romance, and all the pressure to make sure that the day goes perfectly. Well, try something new when planning this year's Valentine's weekend extravaganza. Think outside the box when it comes to planning gifts and activities, and enjoy what Ridgewood has to offer. Whether you are aiming for a romantic evening with your loved one, or just trying to forget the cuddly holiday altogether, here are a few interesting ideas for this upcoming weekend. And with a little help, hopefully you won't feel frantic when getting that last-minute plan together. 1. Schoolhouse Museum—Start out the day with a little tour through history. Visit the Ridgewood Historical Society's collection of …
40.985694
-74.093333
Schoolhouse Museum
650 E Glen Ave
/articles/thinking-outside-of-the-chocolate-box-in-ridgewood
11657
/locations/272171
40.980042
-74.120369
Marcia's Attic
11 N Broad St
/articles/thinking-outside-of-the-chocolate-box-in-ridgewood
11578
/locations/272172
40.980052
-74.121869
The Wine Seller
6 W Ridgewood Ave
/articles/thinking-outside-of-the-chocolate-box-in-ridgewood
11733
/locations/272173
40.979715
-74.120415
Latour A French American Grill
6 E Ridgewood Ave
/articles/thinking-outside-of-the-chocolate-box-in-ridgewood
11900
/locations/272174
40.978998
-74.115249
Cupcakes by Carousel
192 E Ridgewood Ave
/articles/thinking-outside-of-the-chocolate-box-in-ridgewood
62155
/locations/272175
40.98042
-74.11922
The Office Beer Bar & Grill
32 Chestnut St
/articles/thinking-outside-of-the-chocolate-box-in-ridgewood
12225
/locations/272176
40.979933
-74.117728
Brooklyn's Brick Oven Pizzeria
15 Oak St
/articles/thinking-outside-of-the-chocolate-box-in-ridgewood
11452
/locations/272177
Monday, February 8, 2010
Oak Street restaurant offers Middle Eastern food with American touch.
Shish tawook and arayes are among the items on the menu at Grape Leaves, along with French fries, macaroni and cheese, hamburgers and a green apple salad. Mazen Alhusseini, who was born and raised in Damascus, opened his Oak Street restaurant last year as the recession deepened and job losses mounted. But the prices are very reasonable, and he has developed a steady clientele. Syrian food, he said, is like Lebanese food but with different spices. Grape Leaves' hummus, for example, is more lemony than the hummus I am used to, but I liked it. In fact, we've gone multiple times, and have always left pleased. When you first sit down, your server brings pickles and pickled turnips along with carrot sticks. I've never been fond of turnips, but …
40.980024
-74.117982
/articles/grape-leaves-shish-tawook-and-a-side-of-fries
12992
/locations/269618
