Looking to wow your friends and family with a simple, yet festive dish this holiday season? The crew at Radicchio – General Manager Vivek Deora and Head Chef Felix (Danny) Montoya – showcased a delicious stuffed poussin dish you can make at home. Poussin is just another name for Rock Cornish Game Hen and you can grab the baby chickens at Goffle Brook Poultry Farm. When stuffed with chopped asparagus and brie cheese, immersed in an orange and sherry glaze, this moist but crispy dish delivers. Make sure to top it with a side of sauteed spinach and roasted Yukon potatoes. Time Prep time: 2 hours…
In 1944, a teacher named Donald Gardner had observed that many of his second-grade music students lisped when they talked because they were, like most 7-and 8-year olds, missing their front teeth. So Gardner wrote a song entitled, "All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth," which was recorded four years later by Spike Jones and his City Slickers, with a guy named George Rock singing the lead in a child's voice. It's one of those novelty songs that remained a classic of sorts all these years. (At least for those of us who grew up listening to it every holiday season.) Fast forward to …
Every year around this time people dust off their plastic mistletoe balls and hang them in doorways in the hopes of soliciting a smooch. I remember many holiday parties in which the mistletoe was the source of much squealing and giggling as couples kissed under the green boughs. It never occurred to me to wonder what mistletoe is and why it is a symbol of Christmas. In fact, I'm not even sure I knew it was a real plant considering the only mistletoe I've ever seen has been constructed of waxy plastic with dusty ribbons and berries with seams. American mistletoe (Phoradendron) is one of 2 …
We took to the street to ask people about their favorite holiday traditions. Some answers were obvious — some, not so much. For example, what do you know about Elf on a Shelf? Well, apparently he knows a lot about you. According to Audrey,"[The Elf] goes back to Santa Claus and reports how you're behaving." Here's what some others had to say:
Maybe they're thinking green (or maybe they're just thinking about saving some green), but more than a third of New Jersey residents admit to "regifting" in the latest Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind Poll. "The popularity of regifting is driven by many things for different people," said Burçak Ertimur, a professor of marketing at FDU's Silberman College of Business. "For some, it's thrift in difficult economic times, or it's a way to get around annoyingly high expectations about gift-giving. It's also awareness of, or guilt over, how much stuff goes into the landfill. But the main…
Who wants to deal with the tumult the parking, the crowds, the security and the overall chaos that is the mall around the holiday season? Downtown Ridgewood offers its residents and surrounding community members a number of specialty shops ranging from clothing to shoes to jewelry to home furnishings to gift shops. Add to that an eclectic mix of fine restaurants and a movie theatre and you don't have to trek to the mall. New life has been breathed into a downtown that just a year ago was struggling with a record-high number of vacancies, increased taxes and fees, and the coup de ta that …
As my kids get older, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to come up with original gift ideas for the holidays. My five year old is still thrilled with new markers and an Ugli doll but pleasing my seven and ten year olds is more of a challenge. As I've said before, they don't need much but we always have to come up with a long list to satisfy the relatives. While parents can sometimes get away with new sneakers or books, grandparents want that "WOW!" reaction when the darlings break into their booty. It's hard to find WOW presents year after year—especially with three boys, as …
Looking to volunteer this holiday season? Don't know where to lend a hand? Here are ten village agencies and nonprofits in need of volunteers this holiday season and the whole year 'round. Click on the links to find out how to help. 1) YMCA/YWCA. If you're looking for a good place to donate your time, few are better than the YMCA. The staff at the Y say they're looking for help assisting instructors in swim, sports, fitness and family classes. There are many other programs available, including leading support groups for children of divorced and separated parents and becoming a mentor to at…
Are you going away for the holidays and looking for a place to leave your pet for a little while? Below are some guidelines that will help you pick a reputable location to board your cats and dogs. First, understand the pros and cons to a boarding kennel. Pros include aiding the pet in avoiding the stress of a long car or airplane ride, allowing him to stay where he is welcome, monitored by staff to ensure health and to receive more attention than he would home alone with a drop-in pet sitter. The cons include the stress of staying in an unfamiliar place, trouble finding a kennel that is …
Ridgewood Irish Dance put on quite a performance of the critically-acclaimed "Christmas in Killarney" for the Borough of Fair Lawn on Sunday. Give it a look, lads and lasses.
I don't like making physical lists- not sure why. I like to have it all in my very active brain. Unfortunately it never works out too well and I always forget something. It is holiday time already and I have a huge list of gifts to buy for family and friends – in my mind, of course. I am mostly done and my brain feels a lot lighter than it has in weeks. Besides buying gifts, I also like to make some at home to give to friends and neighbors. I feel making/cooking something yourself is a great expression of warmth and generosity. People appreciate the time someone takes to hand make cookies or…
We are a mere two weeks away from Christmas. Have you started your holiday shopping yet? Here is a recap of what you may have missed this past week at the malls. Next week, I will take a break from the warmth of the malls and brave the cold as I visit the downtowns of Westwood and Ridgewood. Westfield Garden State Plaza: Hours: The hours for this coming week are 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturday. Now Open: Cookie Party, new kiosk selling cupcakes and cookies on level two by Forever 21 and The Children's Place and a newly renovated Everything But Water on…
The Village streets and stores are decked out with decorations and bright, inviting signs announcing "holiday sales." The town Christmas trees are standing tall, throwing their light and color. Santa Claus himself has taken up temporary digs in the center of Van Neste Square. It is Christmas time in Ridgewood. And this Saturday, Ridgewood's Santa is going to have some extra company around his Van Nest perch. That's where The Ridgewood Guild will be presenting what it hopes will become an enduring tradition – an event called Winterfest. The 3-hour, holiday-themed carnival begins at 1 p.m. on …
As we come to a close on holiday shopping week one, we realize that we are only a mere three weeks away from Christmas. Below is the wrap-up of what you may have missed from this past week. On Monday, I will be back with a new week's worth of holiday insider information for all you shoppers out there. Westfield Garden State Plaza: Hours: Next week's hours are; 9 a.m. – 11 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturday. Just Opened: Affliction carries clothing for men and women. This is the first store for the state of New Jersey. Affliction is located on level 2 between Neiman …
After a year of careful planning, and a return to tradition, the 25th anniversary of the Downtown for the Holidays is finally upon the village. With magnificent performances by some of the best singers, dancers and actors in the area and a breathtaking tree lighting in honor of late Councilwoman Anne Zusy, expectations are as tall as the freshly-planted Evergreen tree beside the train station. Afterall, the tree has taken quite a journey to get from where it was (Linden Street) to where it is and that's a testament to the wide range of support that has come from across the community – both …
It's Friday, and that means I'm going "out of my element" and leaving the malls to focus on larger lifestyle and shopping centers in the county. The first that I will be taking you to is located in Woodcliff Lake. Tice's Corner, which sits on the site of the old Tice's Farm on Chestnut Ridge Road, has been open since 2001. The outdoor center has a collection of stores that you may find under the roofs at the local mall, but steps it up a notch by offering parking close to the stores and a nice variety of what you are looking for, whether it be women's, men's or children's clothing, beauty and…
Thursdays mean we step inside The Shops at Riverside. If I missed something please let me know at MallCrawler@patch.com. And please subscribe to my Twitter feed @TheMallCrawler. Hours: Hours for this week are 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Starting on Monday, hours will be from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Coming Soon: Omega Boutique, located on level 1, next to Hermes and near Bloomingdale's. Just Opened: Brighton, located on level 1, across from Tiffany's and next to Bloomingdale's. H &M, located on level 2, across from Banana Republic and between Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's. …
It's Wednesday, dear shoppers, and that means it's Bergen Mall, er, Bergen Town Center day. If I missed something please let me know at MallCrawler@patch.com. And please subscribe to my Twitter feed @TheMallCrawler. Hours for this week are 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturday.Just Opened: Last Call Studio by Neiman Marcus.Coming Soon: Blink Fitness and Lowe's Home Improvement.Best Time to Go: While at the mall on Monday, it was busy, but not packed like on Black Friday. The best time to avoid the crowds is early in the morning until late in the afternoon …
Starting this week and continuing until Christmas, I will be bringing you mall coverage six days a week (in keeping with Bergen County tradition). Mondays are Garden State Plaza day, Tuesdays feature Paramus Park, Wednesday belong to Bergen Town Center, and Thursdays step inside The Shops at Riverside. On Fridays, I'll be focusing on smaller shopping centers. Then, every Saturday, look for a retail round-up from the week in case you missed something. Of course, if I missed something please let me know at MallCrawler@patch.com. And please subscribe to my Twitter feed @TheMallCrawler. Paramus …
Hello and Happy Monday! I hope you had a relaxing Sunday after hitting the malls on Friday and Saturday. I know I did. Starting this week and continuing until Christmas, I will be bringing you mall coverage six-days-a-week (in keeping with Bergen County tradition). Mondays are Garden State Plaza day, Tuesdays feature Paramus Park, Wednesday belong to Bergen Town Center, and Thursdays step inside The Shops at Riverside. On Fridays, I'll be focusing on smaller shopping centers. Then, every Saturday, look for a retail round-up from the week in case you missed something. Of course, if I missed …
