Education

A Fiery Start to the Lunar New Year

Welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse with tradition, food and fortune Article and Photography by Allison K. Lim Bergen County comes alive with Lunar New Year celebrations, ranging from family dinners at local Chinese restaurants to community festivals honoring centuries-old traditions. The festivities begin Feb. 17, 2026, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse, one of the most dynamic signs in the Chinese zodiac. Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important holiday in...

Local Services

Love, Actually—By Design

Michelle Frankel’s NYCity Matchmaking is redefining modern romance with a personal touch that apps can’t match. Article by Lauren Lovallo | Photography by Brielle Latona, Blaine Pennington Michelle Frankel didn’t plan to become a business owner—let alone a successful matchmaker. The Miami native started on a different path. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, she worked for the Japanese government, then took the LSAT and built a career as a corporate...

Local Services

Table to Table

Delivering Fresh Food, Hope and Humanity Across North Jersey Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Table to Table In northern New Jersey, where food insecurity touches every community and billions of pounds of edible food go to waste each year, Table to Table has built a mission rooted in compassion and efficiency. The nonprofit rescues fresh, perishable food and delivers it—free of charge—to neighbors who need it most. For Executive Director Heather Thompson, the work is both urgent...

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...

Food + Beverage

Sundays in Season

Ramsey Farmers Market Marks 16 Years of Community, Fresh Food and Local Giving Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Nancy Boone What began as a small community initiative has grown into one of northern New Jersey’s most celebrated year-round farmers markets. Now in its 16th season, the Ramsey Farmers Market continues to serve as a vibrant hub for local food, small businesses and neighborhood connection — even through the winter months. The award-winning, nonprofit market is powered by...

Life + Culture

The Resilience Revolution

Bergen County Educator Josephine Hunt Helps Families Build Strength, Confidence and Calm Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Josephine Hunt When longtime educator and parent coach Josephine Hunt talks about children, she doesn’t start with academics or achievements. She starts with humanity. “I genuinely just want to get the message out to help people,” Hunt says. “People don’t realize how much of this isn’t instinctive—it’s learned. If parents can walk away with even one tool that...

Food + Beverage

Friendship Bread, Reimagined

A Beloved Girl Scout Recipe to Share This Valentine’s Season Article by Carly Mac Manus There are some recipes that stay with you—handwritten on index cards, tucked inside family cookbooks, or passed between friends at school or troop meetings. For me, one of those treasured heirlooms is Friendship Bread , a sweet, comforting loaf I first made in Girl Scouts and somehow still have the original recipe for today. This month, as we celebrate love in all its forms—romantic, neighborly, and the...

Local Services

February Fun in Bergen County

Galentine’s outings, kid-friendly activities and cozy winter moments Article by Staff Report February in Bergen County proves winter can be social, creative and fun. From Galentine’s Day plans with friends to family activities that keep kids engaged and warm, the month offers plenty of local options worth exploring. Galentine’s Day: Celebrate Friendship Kick off Galentine’s with dinner and drinks at local favorites. Roots Steakhouse in Ridgewood serves classic steakhouse fare with a lively...

Health + Wellness

The Hormone Plot Twist

Are You Ignoring Your Hormone Health After Menopause? Article and Photography by Town & Country Compounding Pharmacy Many women assume that once menopause ends, the conversation about hormones ends with it. In reality, hormone health continues to play an important role well into post-menopause. These chemical messengers influence everything from metabolism and mood to cardiovascular health, bone strength and cognitive function. When they fall out of balance, the effects can be felt throughout...

Food + Beverage

Kitchen Cure-Alls

Herbs, spices and everyday ingredients that pack powerful therapeutic energy. Article and Photography by Allison K. Lim Cold and flu season hits hard in Bergen County, where school drop-offs, packed grocery stores and chilly commutes make it all too easy for sniffles to spread. But staying healthy doesn’t always start at the pharmacy — often, it begins right in your own kitchen. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) teaches that everyday ingredients have medicinal properties. These foods carry...