Food + Beverage

Sprinkle Joy: Holiday Sugar Cookies to Share the Cheer

A sweet family recipe perfect for gifting, snacking, and spreading holiday magic! Article and Photography by Garden State City Lifestyle The holidays are all about togetherness, laughter and a little sugar-induced happiness. Few things capture that spirit better than baking cookies, filling the house with irresistible aromas and sharing sweet treats with neighbors, friends and family. These festive sugar cookies are soft, chewy and covered in colorful sprinkles — perfect for gift-giving or...

Travel

A Cape May Christmas

Spend a magical long weekend in one of America’s top Christmas towns, just two hours from Somerset County Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Cape May Tourism Outside of the North Pole, there is one destination that simply lives the Christmas Spirit — and it’s in New Jersey, just a little over two hours from where you live.  Anyone who has visited the Victorian wonderland that is Cape May can understand how beautiful the historic homes embellished with intricately carved “gingerbread”...

Life + Culture

When Holidays Feel Different

Supporting a Loved One with Memory Loss Article by Patti Zielinski Although the holiday season brings joy to many, it can add stress for families of people with memory loss. Shannon King, executive director of Arden Courts in West Orange, which provides specialized care for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, recommends that relatives research the disease before planning holiday visits. This is especially important for family members traveling to see a loved one whose changes they...

Event Planning + Services

Local Magic

What to do in December Article by Garden State City Lifestyle | Photography by Holiday Candlelight Tour, Turtle Back Zoo, Dickens Village December in the Oranges brings lights, concerts and after-hours tours—with most events walkable in town centers and close to transit. Here’s what’s on the calendar and where to check for updates. In West Orange, Essex County Turtle Back Zoo’s Holiday Lights Spectacular returns as a nightly draw. While the county posts full hours closer to the season...

Food + Beverage

Rigatoni Bolognese, the Comfort Classic

Chef Burke’s Kind of Cozy Article and Photography by David Burke When it comes to a pasta topping, Bolognese is high on my list. I’m not alone. The sauce has become such a staple on the American dining landscape that it appears on many non-Italian menus, including mine. Red Horse by David Burke in Bernardsville and Rumson offers rigatoni Bolognese. I use rigatoni because its ridges capture the sauce and its tubular shape coats inside and out. Considered a ragù—a hearty, slow-cooked...

Style + Beauty

Holiday Style Guide

What to Wear for Every Kind of Party This Season Article by Nicholas Xavier Hall | Photography by Prada, Aritzia, Vince, Stuart Weitzman, Massimo Dutti, Cult Gaia, Rachel Gilbert, Tory Burch, Retrofête, Larroudé, Kate, Gaurav Gupta, Oroton December marks the peak of the holiday season. Having already feasted our way through Thanksgiving, we now have Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve—and all their associated celebrations—to look forward to. With that comes the ever-recurring urge...

Entertainment

A Front Row Look at the Barefoot Country Music Fest

Wildwood, NJ Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by David Surks Garden State City Lifestyle was grateful to have a front-row view on Wildwood’s iconic beach at the 2025 Barefoot Country Music Fest — and it did not disappoint. Held June 19–22, the four-day celebration drew thousands of fans from across the nation to sing, dance and soak in coastal vibes. Headliners included Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Rascal Flatts and Jordan Davis, with more than 40 additional artists...

Local Services

Pantry With a Purpose

Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges Sees Record Need as It Continues Serving With Dignity Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges (IFPO) With grocery prices continuing to soar and economic strain persisting across many communities, the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges (IFPO) has become a lifeline for thousands of food-insecure residents in Orange, East Orange and West Orange. The volunteer-powered nonprofit distributes food and essential...

Health + Wellness

Care in Action

How the Healthcare Foundation of NJ turns equity into impact across Greater MetroWest. Article by Nicholas Xavier Hall | Photography by The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey Founded in 1996, the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey has been fervently dedicated to reducing the disparities found in access to quality healthcare for vulnerable populations in the greater Newark and Jewish community of the Greater MetroWest (this includes Newark, Millburn, South Orange, East Orange, West Orange...

Food + Beverage

Roast & Toast

A foolproof garlic–onion chicken to crown the table. Article and Photography by David Burke It’s what I call roast season, when colder weather and the holidays make the aroma and sizzle of a centerpiece roast feel almost primeval. As a chef, cooking a roast at home is extra appealing because restaurants keep me on single portions; chefs like to do at home what they don’t do at work. There’s a lot to like about roasts any time of year: the deep flavor from caramelization that creates an...