Life + Culture

Date Night With a Twist

Active and Healthy Local Ideas Article by Cara Zamorski, HWC, HN | Photography by Cara Zamorski, HWC, HN, The Salty Moon Spa Valentine’s Day often brings to mind candlelit dinners, roses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate—but celebrating love doesn’t have to follow the usual script. For many couples, the most memorable moments come from shared experiences, laughter and trying something new together. This year, consider swapping the traditional dinner-and-a-movie for wellness-inspired, active...

Food + Beverage

Sugar, Spice & Small-Town Charm

How D’Serve turned a simple doughnut wall into Flemington’s most delicious day-to-night destination. Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Andrew and Shannon Mercado D’Serve is where sweet and savory meet. Launched last August by Andrew and Shannon Mercado, the concept—artisan doughnut shop by day and four-course, farm-to-table prix fixe by night—has quickly become a community hub amid downtown Flemington’s renaissance. The married owners bring complementary skills: Andrew is a chef...

Sports + Recreation

The Road to Cooperstown

How Bridgewater Baseball’s 12U team is bringing the community together to make a dream season come true. Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Bill Pascuzzo The Bridgewater Baseball 12U Cooperstown Team is stepping up to the plate—not just on the field, but throughout the community—as it prepares for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Cooperstown, New York, in the summer of 2026. For these young athletes, playing in the birthplace of baseball represents a dream years in the making. From...

Beauty

Love Local, Live Beautifully

How Opalescence Salon Builds Community, Confidence and Conscious Care in Somerville Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Jeff Mondlock - Mondlock Moments Media For Kristina Centino, owner of Opalescence Salon, “love local” isn’t a marketing theme—it’s the foundation of her business. From its inclusive pricing model to its community-first culture, the Somerville salon continues to distinguish itself as a creative, welcoming space where every client is treated as an individual. Centino...

Education

Young Innovators Take Flight

With curiosity, code and a little help from AI, a group of Bridgewater students spent their time programming a NASA robot. Article by Sadie Brown | Photography by Zero Robotic Galactic Team While many kids spend their summer swimming or playing video games, a small group of Bridgewater middle schoolers spends its time programming Astrobee, a real NASA robot used aboard the International Space Station. Through Zero Robotics, a national STEM program created by MIT and NASA, these students join...

Education

Saint James Girls Crack Top 5 at Nationals; Boys Take 7th

The Sole Representative From New Jersey Makes History Article and Photography by The Saint James School The Saint James School cross-country team, a small parochial school from Basking Ridge, went head-to-head with some of the biggest and most storied running programs in the country—and made history. The school became the first middle school from New Jersey to crack the top five at the Middle School National XC Championships. In recent years, Saint James has earned local recognition for its...

Life + Culture

Spread the Love (Locally)

Small Acts of Wellness That Strengthen Community Article and Photography by Cara Zamorski, HWC, HN Love comes in many forms. Sometimes it looks like a warm hug, a handwritten note or a moment of heartfelt connection. Other times, love shows up through everyday kindness—supporting a neighbor, showing up for your community or offering compassion when someone needs it most. As we step into February, a month that celebrates both Valentine’s Day and heart health awareness, it is a fitting time to...

Life + Culture

Raise the Runway

Inside Basking Ridge’s Most Powerful Night in Fashion Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Raquel Brennan On an ordinary evening, the Basking Ridge Country Club became something entirely unexpected: a full-scale fashion arena pulsing with spotlights, anticipation and the unmistakable energy of a runway moment that means something. This wasn’t New York Fashion Week—yet it felt like it. It was Raise the Runway, the debut fashion showcase created by Raise the Volume, a local nonprofit...

Local Services

Editor's Picks

Love Local — February 2026 Article by Bridgewater City Lifestyle There’s something special about a community that shows up for its own. Love Local Editors’ Picks is based entirely on reader votes, highlighting the businesses, professionals and organizations our community trusts and supports most. These are real recommendations from real locals. Each month, we introduce new categories to spotlight different parts of the Bridgewater community. To see the latest categories and voting...

Fitness

Hometown Game Day

Garden State City Lifestyle Brings Community Spirit to Rutgers–Penn State Season Finale Tailgate Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Tom Solymosi There’s nothing quite like Big Ten football—the roar of the crowd, the river of school colors, the crackle of energy that builds long before kickoff. On a freezing November afternoon, Garden State City Lifestyle turns the Rutgers vs. Penn State tailgate into one of the warmest, loudest and most memorable spots in the Scarlet Lot. Call it...