Travel

A Mother-Daughter Getaway

Memory-making trip across New Jersey -- and generations. Article by Amy Dimes | Photography by Vivian Pisano, Amy Dimes I've always maintained that there's no better place to live than New Jersey. I feel lucky to reside in the same state as my mother, and to have my daughters still living at home with me. New Jersey truly offers so many beaches, ski resorts, luxury hotels and vibrant nightlife to experience. To celebrate our Women’s issue, I decided to take my mother to a luxurious getaway at...

April 2024

Life + Culture

Wonder Women

Unafraid, determined and resilient, these ladies make their own luck. Article by Bernie Augustine | Photography by Luke DiTella, Melissa DiTella When Denise Blaisdell interviewed for a job with Two Men and a Truck, the man she was speaking with asked her a pretty standard interview question: Where do you see yourself in five years? She did not hold back. “I said ‘your chair’,” Blaisdell said with a laugh. “And he said ‘No one is sitting in my chair’.” Fast forward six years and she was...

April 2024

Style + Beauty

Fashion. Forward.

Emerging entrepreneurs thread the cultural needle at fashion show. Article by Bernie Augustine | Photography by Jacob Rubinstien & Brandon Cabral When you see an old tablecloth at grandma's house, Jules Cataldo sees potential. Maybe it can become a dress, or part of a blouse. Just because it was one thing once, that doesn’t mean it can't be something different now. That kind of imaginative thinking was on full display at Space of Balance's Sustainable Fashion Show, which was staged recently...

April 2024

Arts + Culture

You Oughta Know

Turn up the volume on Long Branch-born singer-songwriter Carlotta Schmidt Article by Bernie Augustine | Photography by Denton Schmidt Q: How would you describe your musical style? CS: I play a lot of different kinds of music. I learned guitar by playing jazz, but I quickly moved into rock, blues and R&B. I’m really inspired by Brandi Carlile and the Indigo Girls. I love Emily Sailers’ guitar playing. Q: What can people expect at a Carlotta Schmidt show? CS: Most of the time, it’s a...

April 2024

Life + Culture

A Rich Life

Long Branch finance pro is helping people on both 'sides of the tracks' Article by Bernie Augustine Tony Frigoletto is something of a Jersey Shore boomerang. He grew up in Red Bank, moved to Pennsylvania with his family when he was in the fourth grade and returned to the area as an adult. "The Jersey Shore is an eclectic, interesting place," he said of what drew him back here. "It has old and new; it's constantly in a rotating shift of the past and what's next. It has access to all that's...

March 2024

Local Services

Spring Cleaning

Grab your bucket and help beautify our beaches Article by Bernie Augustine | Photography by Clean Ocean Action It may be dreary now, but before we know it, the umbrellas covering us from spring showers will be replaced by ones dotting the stand, giving us shade from the sun as we enjoy the beach. Really, it’s almost here. But before we get to those days, there is a bit of spring cleaning taking place at over 80 beaches up and down the New Jersey coastline this month, including plenty near...

March 2024

Food + Beverage

Taste of the World

From Mexico to Portugal, Long Branch is a culinary exploration Article and Photography by Alice Kessler Here are some of the most popular specialties that restaurants in Long Branch have to offer: 1. Seafood soup with lobster from Acapulco Mexican Grill  2. Pupuseria from Don Beto's 3. El Molcajete Oaxaqueno from El Oaxaqueno 4. Seafood Paelha Marinheira from Mar Belo 5. Shrimp Rancho from Los Papagallo's

March 2024

Life + Culture

Leaders Among Readers

Long Branch Free Public Library receives award at White House Article by Tonya Garcia The Long Branch Free Public Library has achieved numerous milestones under the guidance of director Tonya Garcia and her remarkable staff, however it reached a new height in 2023 by receiving the prestigious IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Services. This recognition marks a historic event in the library’s rich history, as director Garcia received the nation’s highest honor bestowed to libraries...

March 2024

Health + Wellness

Invest in Yourself

From yoga classes to college classes and life coaches, experts are here to help you reach your goals. Article by Bernie Augustine Before he became a fixture at conferences and a staple on finance-focused TV networks, Warren Buffett shelled out $100 to take a public speaking course to help get over his fear of talking in front of a crowd. It’s a decision that he said changed his life. "Generally speaking, investing in yourself is the best thing you can do," the billionaire famously told Good...

March 2024

Home + Design

Home Improvement

Invest in your yard with help from local pros Article by Bernie Augustine Everybody is looking for a little curb appeal or some wow factor in their yard. And to help you get there, local pros like Matt Lin from The Finish Guys and Jeff Wosleger of Budget Blinds can make a client's dreams come true. Whether it's a new deck or porch, Matt can help with that, or a screened-in pergola, Jeff has you covered.  What are the pros and cons of wood vs. a composite deck or porch? Matt: With wood...

March 2024