Food + Beverage

Spring Blossom Fizz

Floral and Refreshing Cocktail to Welcome Spring Article by Chloe Anderson Celebrate the arrival of spring with a refreshing Spring Blossom Fizz! This cocktail blends floral gin, elderflower liqueur, and citrus for a light, bubbly drink that’s perfect for April’s warmer days. Cheers! Spring Blossom Fizz Ingredients: 1.5 oz Gin (a floral gin like Hendrick’s works great) 0.75 oz Elderflower liqueur (St-Germain is a popular choice) 0.5 oz Fresh lemon juice 0.25 oz Simple syrup...

Shopping

A Timeless Investment

Exploring the Value and Potential of Lab-Grown and Natural Diamonds in Today's Market Article by Bernie Augustine | Photography by Nicole Pane - The Social Butterfly Cory Schifter remembers traveling to the Victor Diamond Mine, a remote facility in northern Ontario, about 250 miles from the nearest road, and seeing the precious stones pulled “right from the earth” in their natural form. They’d be polished, finished, and set in a ring, eventually making their way to a jeweler’s storefront...

Local Services

The Power of Investing in the Community

The Long Branch Free Public Library Carnegie Wing Reimagined for the Future Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Long Branch Free Public Library The Long Branch Free Public Library has undergone a remarkable transformation, blending its historic Carnegie roots with modern upgrades to create a vibrant space for the community. Originally built over 100 years ago, the library has faced significant flooding in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for waterproofing and system...

Health + Wellness

Invest in Your Health

An Interview with Adam Nelson, FNP at Monmouth Family Health Center Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Monmouth Family Health Center At Monmouth Family Health Center, delivering high-quality care is at the heart of their mission. Adam Nelson, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), is one of the many healthcare providers contributing to this mission, ensuring each patient receives compassionate and personalized care. Commitment to Patient-Centered Care Adam Nelson plays an integral...

Life + Culture

Poetry, Plates, and Passion

The Mad Art Supper Club Article by Bernie Augustine | Photography by Robert Goodman Once a month, in a room that has become more crowded than Robert Goodman ever could have imagined, more than two dozen people gather around a table, share a meal and, in some cases, bare their souls. “I think there is something special that happens when a bunch of people get around a table together and speak and eat together,” Goodman shares. “There is already a sense of openness and freedom.” The event is...

Home + Design

Pop of Color

Explore the 'quietly colorful' shades of Benjamin Moore's 'Color of the Year' & Color Trends Article by Bernie Augustine | Photography by Courtesy of Benjamin Moore Paints There are few things that can freshen up a space like a new coat of paint. Whether the color is bold or muted, it always brings a new energy into a space.  If you’re eager to change things up, but are still looking for a little inspiration or guidance, look no further. We had the opportunity to connect with the experts at...

Home + Design

Raising The Bar

Personal bartender Jared Gonsalves, @ThisIsMyBartender on Instagram, shares his tips on stocking your bar cart Article by Bernie Augustine The Tools “Shaker, pour spouts, jigger, muddler. First and foremost, have the tools, that’s what you want to have,” Gonsalves says. “You don’t want to have to go anywhere for anything other than your ice. So when I see a nice bar cart, it’ll have an ice tin with tongs.” Gonsalves recommends checking out the bartender kits from Bare Barrel.   The Spirits ...

Life + Culture

A Way With Words

Robert Pinsky's love of language has taken the Long Branch native to literary heights Article by Lauren Lovallo | Photography by Eric Antoniou & Gabriela Hasbun He’s the only person in history to serve three terms as U.S. poet laureate. Bruce Springsteen called him the “voice of the Jersey Shore.” But ask Robert Pinsky about his prolific career, and he’ll say he’s just a guy who happens to be good with words. In fact, words have always been his thing. “It’s like the kid who just picks up a...

Arts + Culture

Labor of Love

For Maggie Fischer, home - the Jersey Shore - is where the art is Article by Bernie Augustine | Photography by Andrea Phox On a bitingly cold December morning, with sun shining through the two-story windows of the old bank on Broadway, the warmth radiated from the walls of the Long Branch Arts and Cultural Center in the form of winter scenes created by local kids from pre-K through elementary school. There were snowmen, Santas, evergreens and more. “It looks like a refrigerator,” Maggie...

Arts + Culture

Her Own Sound

Singer-songwriter Carlotta Schmidt is manifesting her dreams, and winning over new fans Article by Lauren Lovallo | Photography by Tom Baldino & Denton Schmidt Imagine sitting in a theater, all of 7-years-old, and having an experience that was so visceral that you knew right then and there what it was you wanted to do for the rest of your life. It’s probably a familiar feeling. Plenty of us thought we had it all figured out in the first grade. We’d be teachers or doctors, football players or...