Springtime Rambles

Green spaces to wander and roam during the warmer months

By Taylor Smith 

D&R Canal

Frenchtown along the Delaware River

The Delaware & Raritan Canal stretches more than 77 miles along the Delaware and Raritan Rivers.The park crosses Middlesex, Mercer, Burlington, Somerset, and Hunterdon counties within New Jersey. It is one of the state’s most popular avenues for kayaking, canoeing, running, walking, bicycling, and fishing. It is also a valuable wildlife corridor with recent bird surveys revealing more than 160 species of birds, almost 90 of which nest within its borders. The upper portion of the canal includes stops in charming Frenchtown, Stockton, and Lambertville, which are great weekend destinations for the arts, dining, and shopping.  more

The Science Behind Weighted Blankets

By Taylor Smith

Weighted blankets have been used in niche medical communities for many years, but only recently have the suggested health benefits taken off as a newfound trend. Without a prescription or dramatic changes in one’s routine, weighted blankets have allowed some people to fall asleep faster and to feel less general anxiety. more

The 2019 Architecture Digest Design Show

Design by Calligaris

March 21-24 at Piers 92 & 94

By Taylor Smith

The Architecture Digest Design Show, to be held March 21-24 at Piers 92 & 94 in New York City, is a four-day design destination peppered with special events and curated finds from over 400 brands in the luxury residential and hospitality worlds. Organized by sections (including Furnish, Refresh, Made, and Shops), special features are the AD Apartment and DIFFA’s Dining by Design. more

“T. rex: The Ultimate Predator” Now at American Museum of Natural History

Photo Source: American Museum of Natural History

By Taylor Smith

On view through August 9, 2020, “T. rex: The Ultimate Predator” is sure to ignite the imaginations of visitors at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

The new exhibit asks, “How did T. rex evolve to become the most fearsome carnivore of the Mesozoic?” Spectators can take in life-size models of the fearsome predator; fossils, casts, and interactive activities; and an immersive multiplayer virtual reality experience developed just for the exhibition. Children are sure to marvel at how this 12,000-plus-pound terror began as a tiny critter. They will also meet T. rex’s family members, some of whom are small and even have feathers! more

Probiotic-Rich Foods for Body-Wide Health

Kimchi ramen

By Taylor Smith 

In case you haven’t heard, your gut health has a dramatic impact on your overall brain and body-wide health. The “good” bacteria found in probiotic rich foods can actually help improve the microbiome of your digestive system. The following are some of the best good bacteria-fueled foods to include in your daily or weekly routine.  more

New L.L. Bean Boots Feature Sailcloth

Maine gear giant collaborates with small backpack brand for special-edition boots 

By Taylor Smith 

For outdoor enthusiasts, the Bean Boot is one of the most iconic pieces of active footwear. Leon Leonwood Bean created the leather and rubber boots in 1911 to combat the problem of cold, wet feet during Maine hunting trips. In 1912, the Bean Boot (originally called the Maine Hunting Shoe) went on sale under the new company name, L.L. Bean.  more

Michael Bloomberg Donates $1.8 Billion to Johns Hopkins University

By Taylor Smith 

Philanthropist and former Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg recently announced on his Twitter account: “I’m giving $1.8 billion to @JohnsHopkins for financial aid so admissions can be permanently need-blind. I want to open the same door of opportunity that I had for generations of talented students, regardless of financial aid.” 

The donation is the largest ever to a higher education institution. Bloomberg wrote in a following New York Times op-ed, “My Hopkins diploma opened up doors that otherwise would have been closed, and allowed me to live the American dream.” Bloomberg has stated that he was able to attend Johns Hopkins because of a National Defense student loan.  more

Seven Books that Inspired Oscar-Winning Films

By Taylor Smith 

Each year, thousands of new movies are produced and released, and only a few are nominated for Academy Awards. Many of these chosen films actually began as books, plays, and short stories. Here is a collection of seven written works that have gone on to become beloved Oscar-winning films.  more

Venus et Fleur’s Eternal Roses

By Taylor Smith 

In the late winter season, nothing beats a bouquet of freshly cut blooms to add some cheer to your home. Flowers have the ability to brighten anyone’s day, and science suggests that simply looking at flowers can improve your mood. What’s not so cheerful? Dealing with a bouquet of dead or dried-out flowers.  more

Marie Kondo’s “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”

How to clean up your home and work space once and for all

By Taylor Smith 

Organizing consultant Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” has sold over two million copies for good reason. 

In her native Japan, Kondo says that tidiness and simplicity are a matter of everyday living. She cleverly applies these feng shui principles to cleaning house, simultaneously challenging long-held beliefs in cleaning little-by-little every day, storing things for a different season, and/or discarding one item for every new item brought into your home.  more

Build Your Run Route with Strava’s New App

By Taylor Smith

A new Strava activity tracker feature called Route Builder for mobile can make planning the location and distance of your next run much easier. 

Andrew Vontz, Strava’s director of communications, says that the new mobile feature also makes exploring a new town or city much more safe and efficient. “You can land almost anywhere in the world, someplace you’ve never visited before, and, with a just a few swipes on a map, create the best possible route,” Vontz told Runner’s World Magazine.  more

2019 Summer at Stuart

By Taylor Smith 

June 11 – August 23, 2019

Register by March 1 for an early bird discount!

This summer, give Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart a try. Located at 1200 Stuart Road in Princeton, Stuart’s summer camps are open to children ages preschool through grade 12. Taught by Stuart Country Day School faculty, the offerings are fun, educational, rewarding, and diverse. Before/after camp can and lunch are also available.  more

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center Helps Patients Navigate Through Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery

Treatment and support under one roof

By Taylor Smith 

The Edward & Marie Matthews Center for Cancer Care at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center specializes in clinical services and rehabilitative care and support for a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment that encompasses the whole person.  more

Tammy Murphy’s “All In”

New Jersey’s Activist First Lady is also a Big Fan of Drumthwacket

By Wendy Greenberg | Photography by Tom Grimes

Tammy Snyder Murphy became aware of climate action some 24 years ago while living in Frankfurt, Germany, where her husband worked in financial services. “I was stunned,” she recalls. “People took cloth bags to grocery stores. They recycled trash, just as a matter of course. It opened my eyes.”

The personal commitment to sustainability was a lesson that is still with her today, as first lady of New Jersey. In fact, Tammy Murphy is a passionate advocate for several key issues,
the environment among them.

Since her husband, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, took office just over a year ago, Murphy has channeled a “can do” attitude, which she attributes to her parents, to support the agenda of her husband and Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver. She sees herself as a “convener,” and says, “There are four people in this office,” referring to three staff members and herself. “Tell us what you need. We’ll help get it done.”  more

An Uncredited Career

Fashion Designer Ann Lowe

By Anne Levin

In the annals of the accomplished whose work has gone largely unrecognized because of their race, Ann Lowe occupies a prominent spot. Lowe was an African American fashion designer whose lavish creations were coveted by the rich and socially prominent. While she earned such distinctions as Couturier of the Year and made the Who’s Who in American Women list, she rarely received the attention she deserved.

In 1953, Lowe designed the ivory silk taffeta gown that Jacqueline Bouvier wore for her wedding to John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The dress featured trapunto, a layering of fabrics to create a dimensional effect — a technique for which Lowe was known in fashion circles. But the future first lady is said to have credited “a colored woman” with creating the famous gown, neglecting to identify her by name.

Lowe’s designs made the pages of Vogue, Town & Country, and other popular fashion magazines. Her skill and artistry impressed French designer Christian Dior. At one point in her career, she had her own label and a store on New York’s Fifth Avenue. Her dresses were sold at Neiman Marcus, Henri Bendel, and Saks Fifth Avenue, where she was the head designer of a special boutique with a privileged clientele. Yet her genius was rarely recognized. more

All That Glitters

M.Rings, Orion Jewelry Studio

Engagement and Wedding Ring Design Trends

By Taylor Smith

Engagement and wedding ring influencers like Gurki Basra, senior buyer of jewelry and watches at Barneys New York, say that the top 2019 trends in engagement ring styles include colored stones, multiple bands, and a mix of metals. Gray diamonds in particular have begun to emerge as a style statement as younger brides become more adventurous in their choices.

If you’re drawn to an edgier look, but worry about your tastes changing down the road, jewelers advise that you can always reset your ring. Raw diamonds or uncut diamonds are another option for unique engagement rings. Raw diamond styles range from ultra-contemporary to minimal and organic in shape. They also tend to be slightly more affordable since they’re unpolished. In addition, no two raw diamonds are alike, fulfilling another engagement trend of one-of-a-kind pieces. The brilliance of a raw diamond is also something to behold, as they are warm in hue and contain a vast color spectrum, making the diamond look as though it is lit from within.

Emerald diamond ring,
Orion Jewelry Studio

The challenge of finding the right combination of metals, diamonds, gemstones, and setting is challenging for any bride or groom. Many jewelers recommend that buyers keep the metal and stone in the same color family. For example, yellow gold dramatically captures the luminescence of a yellow diamond. Similarly, a chocolate-colored diamond in a yellow gold setting generates a warm, luxurious feel. Complementary colors can also create an unexpected effect, such as a rose gold setting matched with a green gemstone. more

Fun in the Summertime

Photo courtesy of Arts Council of Princeton

From Nature to STEM, Area Camps Offer an Abundance of Options

By Laurie Pellichero

While it might still be cold and wintry outside, summer will be here before we know it. Now’s the time to start thinking about where to send the kids to camp – and make those reservations before they fill up. Here is just a sampling of the many options right here in our area, each unique in its own way.

ACTIVE

Camp Shriver – Special Olympics New Jersey
1 Eunice Kennedy Shriver Way, Lawrenceville
609.896.8000; www.sonj.org

What began as a fun backyard summer camp known as Camp Shriver has grown into Special Olympics, a global movement that has been changing lives and attitudes for more than 50 years. more

Q&A with Greson Torchio, Curriculum Innovator at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart

Interview by Laurie Pellichero

Describe the mission and campus of Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart

At Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, our mission is to inspire young men to become creative, compassionate, and courageous leaders of a just society. We strive to give them the skills, empathy, and knowledge needed to make a difference in our world today. Each day our boys come to a beautiful 50-acre campus to learn, explore, and grow. Our Princetonian stone buildings contain a vibrant community with students who bring their whole self to school. State-of-the-art science labs, athletic center, and MakerSpace are some of the many dynamic spaces at Princeton Academy. Our campus has both solar and geothermal powered systems which support our ongoing sustainable practices and initiatives. more

Fire & Enthusiasm

Photo by Frank Wojciechowski

PU Alum Bob Surace Guides the Tigers to a Perfect Season

By Bill Alden

The office of Princeton University football head coach Bob Surace on the second floor of Jadwin Gym is pleasantly cluttered, with a pile of football tomes on one table, motivational books spread out on another, and signed footballs throughout the room.

On the wall across from Surace’s desk is a framed No. 64 Princeton jersey, the number that he wore during his years as an All-Ivy League performer for the Tigers in the late 1980s.

This past fall, the number 64 took on a deeper significance as Surace guided the Princeton football squad to a 10-0 record, the program’s first perfect campaign since the legendary 1964 team went 9-0. more

Princeton Magazine Photo Contest: WILDLIFE AND NATURE

First Place
Life Lessons
Joanna Popinska

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mention Untitled, Mike Williams

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mention Snowy Owl, Barbara Frankenfield

 

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mention Dogwood Fog, Nick Hilton