Mira Nakashima Creates in the Present, While Preserving the Legacy of the Past

By Wendy Greenberg | Photographs courtesy of Mira Nakashima

Mira Nakashima

The Connaught Grill in London’s Mayfair neighborhood has been called legendary, known for its traditional British ambiance. After being closed for a decade, it reopened with some fanfare in early 2020, reimagined with resplendent wood wall panels, tables, and chairs, a new take on its old style.

It is unmistakably the work of George Nakashima Woodworkers, helmed now by George’s daughter Mira Nakashima. The craftsmanship is both a tribute to Mira’s father, and her personal artistry. She considers the work of George Nakashima Woodworkers not only a continuation of his legacy, but her own legacy as well.

Since her father’s death in 1990, Mira has been running the business, overseeing the designs and monitoring the upkeep of 15 buildings — residences and studios — off Aquetong Road in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and has gained her own international recognition. The Connaught is not the only recent significant project.

“The Connaught Hotel is probably the largest project we have completed in recent history,” said Mira, “although we also completed challenging projects for several boutiques with the architect Michael Gabellini; a large installation in Chicago for the Hyatt corporate headquarters; and a lounge area for the Gathering Place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by MSME Architects; each of which had a different aesthetic, initiated by the architect and modified to fit our capabilities.”

It took some time, however, after her father’s death, to show clients she was capable in the present, and at the same time loyal to the past. more

Professionals Share Their Insights on What Makes Working From Home Work

By Ilene Dube | Photography by Jeffrey E. Tryon and Charles R. Plohn

Zoom and other video chat services came along just in time for our work-from-home era. While many have called our electronic devices “home offices” for decades, attending meetings, in-person gatherings, and site visits without leaving home was the final frontier.

What will the post-pandemic future be for working from home? Netflix CEO Reed Hastings told The Wall Street Journal, “I don’t see any positives. Not being able to get together in person, particularly internationally, is a pure negative.” Others, including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, according to LinkedIn News, say the adaptation has changed office space needs and will ultimately lead to less in-office staff. And according to surveys on Axios, fewer than 10 percent of Americans want to work remotely all the time.

Let’s talk about stress: Working from home reduces the stress of commuting and negotiating child care arrangements, while, at the same time, child care arrangements and being in the same room(s) with family members for extended periods of time has greatly increased stress.

Certainly, the hybrid model is here to stay. Princeton Magazine spoke to several area professionals, some of whom have had to change the way they work, others who are working the way they always have, and others who flex as needed. more

Behind the Scenes of the Annual Palmer Square Tradition

By Anne Levin | Photos courtesy of Palmer Square Management

In a stretch of long tunnels that run underneath Palmer Square, an annual rite of the holiday season gets underway just after Halloween. In these catacombs (minus the tombs), the 3.5 miles of lights that adorn the massive Palmer Square Christmas tree are hung along the walls so that their multi-colored bulbs can be tested and replaced. It is an exacting process that takes about three weeks to complete.

By the day after Thanksgiving, the tree is ready. That evening — Black Friday — crowds of local residents and tourists gather on the green and around the Square, awaiting the moment when the switch is flipped and the 70-foot Norway Spruce bursts into light. It is an annual, much-anticipated tradition — in normal years. But 2020, of course, is not a normal year.

Hordes of people standing shoulder to shoulder are the last thing that Palmer Square Management, and the municipality of Princeton, want to encourage this season. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tree lighting is virtual this year, with no ceremony for people to attend.

But the management company was not about to let fans down. After much deliberation, the staff settled on a solution that they hope captures the holiday spirit while keeping people safe. Instead of an in-person event, the tree was lit ahead of time. The usual participants — dancers from American Repertory Ballet, singers from Princeton High School, musicians from School of Rock, and Santa Claus — took part in a video production that will be available to watch online throughout the season. more

Pairing Food, Wine, and Music for Entertaining

By Ilene Dube

At this writing, New Jersey restaurants can only operate at 25 percent capacity, and restaurateurs were vying for the few remaining heat lamps to prolong the outdoor dining season. For sure, the holidays will be different this year — with many unable to gather with the family and friends that make the holidays a true celebration.

Princeton Magazine spoke to area chefs to learn how they will celebrate this year, both at home and in their restaurants. And writers Lori Goldstein and Donald H. Sanborn III compiled playlists inspired by each restaurant to help readers create a similar ambience in their own homes.

Local Greek

For the man behind Local Greek on Leigh Avenue and Small Bites by Local Greek on Nassau Street, the holidays are one big fat Greek festival. Anthony Kanterakis — “Tony” — will be celebrating with his Greek fiancé and Greek mother, who lives in Monroe. Everybody eats when they come to Mama Kanterakis’ (Chrisanthe) house — his sister, aunts and uncles, and family friends. There will be turkey, as well as moussaka and pastitsio, all prepared by Chrisanthe, and guests are welcome to bring dessert.

While Kanterakis doesn’t do any of the cooking — “I’m a zombie after Thanksgiving” — as a restaurateur he never takes a day off, even when the restaurant is closed. “I would never open on Thanksgiving or Christmas because those days are dedicated to family (New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are open). But it never feels like work — I’d rather be here at the restaurant than anywhere else, and the employees feel that way too. There’s camaraderie, and it’s like home.” Kanterakis describes himself as the kind of boss who solicits ideas from his staff and puts them into practice. more

Mobile Food Pantry distribution.

Providing Help, Hope, and Healing in a Time of Pandemic

By Laurie Pellichero| Photos courtesy of JFCS

Based in Princeton, Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County (JFCS) is a nonprofit agency that serves the entire community — individuals of all backgrounds, faiths, and ages. JFCS offers a wide spectrum of social services including senior programs, mental health counseling, food pantry and food distribution services, and community and youth engagement, all of which work together to provide a broad network of support.

JFCS has been assisting individuals and families with many of life’s toughest challenges since 1937, but the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges in getting people the help they need. While the agency has closed its office on Alexander Road to clients, visitors, and most staff members, JFCS has successfully continued all its major programs and has expanded its offerings as well.

Michelle Napell

The Mobile Food Pantry, which delivers nutritious food directly to Mercer County residents vulnerable to food insecurity and hunger, is a prime example of this, said Michelle Napell, executive director of JFCS. “This is still our first year on the road, and it has become the largest program due to the drastic increase in need,” she said. “We launched in January and made three stops, which served about 350 individuals, by the end of February. Then March came, and with it the COVID-19 pandemic that changed the dynamic of our community. The mobile pantry became an incredibly valuable resource as demand for food increased as well as the obstacles in getting food to those with the greatest need.”

Napell said that sourcing food for the mobile pantry, as well as the on-site pantry at JFCS headquarters, was a challenge early in the crisis. “Wegmans was a regular provider of fresh produce and goods, but, like all grocery chains, they experienced challenges meeting the demand in the late spring.”

To keep their pantry supplies stocked, Napell said the JFCS staff reached out to new vendors. “We sought out providers beyond our immediate area and built new relationships in the community,” she said.

“Community supporters have been incredible throughout the pandemic,” continued Napell. “We’ve had local groups hold food drives and make donations directly to the pantry. Princeton Christian Church donated several boxes of food, Princeton Elks Lodge has collected food and personal items, West Windsor Plainsboro Education Association has provided non-perishable items and several donations of fresh fruit, and the Beth El Synagogue Community Garden has been providing weekly donations of vegetables since early September.”  more