Friday Finds: News, views and tips...from you!

By Kathy Shaskan

Two of our favorite Jersey Guys, Jason Cameron (left) and Tony Siragusa, contacted us and reported that they have new episodes of their show "Man Caves" coming up on the DIY Network. If you haven't seen the show, this dynamic duo creates rooms where guys can "live out their king-of-the-hill fantasies," with toys like putting greens, private humidors, and saunas. The first one airs January 9 at 9:30 and the guys will be creating a hockey heaven for a New Jersey Devils fan. We asked Siragusa (former NFL star and portrayer of bodyguard Frankie Cortese on The Sopranos) about the appeal of "Man Caves." His reply: "Men need their own space, a place where the kids and the wife - nobody comes in - but the man and his boys."

Book Beat: The Lost Ravioli Recipes

By Jenniah Caldwell

Long before it became a night for cocktails and kisses at midnight, New Year's Eve meant only one thing for my Italian family: Pasta. After hours of hearing the rhythmic thumping of dough from the kitchen, we would all sit down to a venerable feast of Grandma Anna’s home made pasta. Plates of ravioli, gnocchi, and tortellini made their way around the table and we would all eat until we thought we would burst.

James Beard Award-winning author Laura Schenone understands the strong links between the past, pasta, and family. In her newest book, The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken: A Search for Food and Family, Schenone takes her readers from urban New Jersey to the Italian coast of Liguria, while on a search for the roots of her great-grandmother's ravioli recipe, connecting with lost relatives and places in her five-year journey. Along the way, she learns that tradition, recipes, and family dynamics evolve into their own complex flavor over time. Not just a memoir, the book also offers over 50 pages of authentic Genoese recipes.

The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken: A Search for Food and Family by Laura Schenone is available at all major bookstores. For an author autographed copy, order directly from Watchung Booksellers (973.744.7177), watchungbooksellers.com. Copies are limited.

Fashion Forward: Step Into Sales

By Leigh Boriskin

On December 26th, savvy shoppers can count on one thing: Sales! From the gifts that you just had to snag for your loved ones to the dress you bought for Christmas Eve, now is the time for the discounts to begin.

With New Year’s Eve sneaking up on us in less than one week, the accessory that will make you shine (and also the most expensive) has been kicked down a few notches just for you.

To complete your outfits for this final bash of the year, hop on over to Georgio in Englewood for a pair of stylish Jimmy Choo’s or hip Miu Miu’s. In Haddonfield, Benjamin Lovell Shoes will fit your foot with fabulous Sam Edelman’s, or for a snowy evening, a coveted pair of Uggs. Finally, Blueberry Lane in Upper Montclair will have you looking effortlessly chic in flats or knee-high boots by Delman, or charming ballet’s by London-based French Sole.

The Monday Muse: It's Winter Break. Now what?!

By Kimberly Baldwin

Looking for some fun yet educational ways to occupy the kids this winter break? A trip to one of the state's great art spaces might just be the answer.

The Newark Museum is hosting "Holiday Fun Week" from Wednesday, December 26 through Sunday, December 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. Besides offering daily holiday-themed tours, the week will be filled with music, dance, theater, art activities, and scientific explorations. The planetarium even gets into the spirit with daily laser holiday shows, featuring kid-approved gems from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman to White Christmas and Winter Wonderland.

Gather the children and head to the Morris Museum December 27 through 29 for a variety of fun and educational activities, including interactive workshops, like making unity dolls, learning the art of dance, and creating colorful New Year's Eve party hats. Entertaining theater performances will also be offered daily, such as the top kid-pick Rick Adam's Holiday Parade.

Treat bigger kids to Reflecting Culture: The Evolution of Comic Book Superheroes at the Montclair Art Museum, up through January 13. The museum is closed Christmas day, but otherwise open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A Sense of Place: Children's Book Illustrations by Catherine Stock are on view at the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick through January 28. The lyrical watercolors will fascinate children and adults alike, and hands-on activities are also available for visitors in the gallery.