New and Noteworthy: Chef's Coffee Company

By Kimberly Baldwin

If you live in New Jersey and enjoy fine dining, then there's no doubt you are familiar with Chef Craig Shelton and his former venture, The Ryland Inn, the world famous top Zagat- and New York Times-rated restaurant featuring superb cuisine and an impressive 1,000-bottle wine list.

Ryland Inn customer's were quite passionate about food, and even more so about coffee -- so much, in fact, that there were so many requests to buy the coffee, Chef Shelton decided to launch the Chef's Coffee Company to market and sell this original blend. This effort has since expanded beyond his initial expectations and includes additional unique blends like the Yachtsman (a bold, robust blend that holds its flavors in outdoor marine environments) and the Mountain (a specially formulated blend suitable for higher elevations).

Using his culinary and biochemistry knowledge (he did, after all, graduate from Yale with degrees in molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry), Chef Shelton has created truly amazing taste combinations where the coffee blend reacts to different environments, tailoring the coffee taste to the lifestyles and surroundings of the coffee drinker. As the Chef says, "What makes us different is that we recognized long ago that the environment can dramatically change the taste of the coffee. The same cup of coffee will taste completely different on a beach, a mountain top, at a horse race, or at a restaurant. So we take that into account as we formulate proprietary blends and roasting techniques to create specific blends for various situations. Each blend we have created is designed to shine in a particular surrounding. This is an outgrowth of my 25 year passion for marrying food and wine".

The gourmet blends and perfectly paired chocolates and biscotti are available through chefscoffee.com or at fine retailers like Chef Central (Paramus) and Wine Library Springfield.

Monday Muse: The Aljira Fine Art Auction 2008

By Kimberly Baldwin

Aljira, the premier Center for Contemporary Art in Newark, is set to host its hugely popular annual Fine Art Auction on Thursday, April 3 at 5:30 p.m. in its Newark galleries.

This year’s auction will feature 120 works, including those by artists from New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, such as Willie Cole, Cindy Sherman, James Siena, and Catherine Opie.

As in previous years, the live portion will be under the rousing gavel of Harmer Johnson of the popular PBS series Antiques Roadshow. Master of Ceremonies will be Jeffrey Norman, Vice President, Public Affairs at Newark’s own New Jersey Performing Art Center.

The auction will take place via online, silent, and live platforms. The online auction will feature 40 works available exclusively through aljira.org. Additionally, all of the works featured in the live and silent portions of the auction will be on view and available for advance bids online.

On the evening of Thursday, April 3, the silent auction will begin at 5:30 p.m., 591 Broad Street in downtown Newark. The live auction will begin at 7 p.m. sharp. Tickets are $75, and can be purchased by calling Aljira at 973.622.1600 or e-mailing info@aljira.org.

All proceeds from the auction support Aljira’s exhibitions and public programs.

Book Beat: Book Signings at Bookends!

By Kimberly Baldwin

Bookends is a small bookstore in Ridgewood offering an impressive roster of author discussions and signings. Here is a sampling of their busy (and star-studded!) April line-up:

The former slugging outfielder with the Oakland A's and controversial author, Jose Canseco, will be on hand to sign his latest blockbuster, Vindicated, on Tuesday, April 1 at 3:30 p.m.

Hollywood icon Julie Andrews will sign Home: A Memoir Of My Early Years also on Tuesday, April 1 at 7 p.m. Take note: This is a ticketed "first come, first served" event.

Gene Wilder, star of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Blazing Saddles, and Young Frankenstein, will be signing The Woman Who Wouldn't, on Wednesday, April 2 at 7 p.m.

Linda Francis Lee, former Texas Junior Leaguer, debutante, and author of the wickedly funny, The Devil in the Junior League, will discuss and sign her newest release, The Ex-Debutante, on Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m.

The mother and daughter New York Times bestselling dynamic duo, Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark, will discuss and sign their latest thrillers: Where Are You Now? and Zapped.

Bookends is located at 232 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood. For more information, call 201.445.0726 or visit them online at book-ends.com.

New and Noteworthy: Sal Lauretta for Men

By Kathy Shaskan and Kimberly Baldwin

Sal Lauretta For Men, a high end clothing shop in Midland Park, has started carrying the "Whatever it Takes" line of t-shirts. The aim of the organization is to raise a minimum of $3 million over three years to fund charitable projects in developing countries, contribute to the protection of the environment, and other charitable causes. These products, designed by celebrities, statesmen, artists and more, have raised over 1 million dollars so far. Above: the design by Giorgio Armani.

The Monday Muse: Film Shorts to Benefit Hunterdon Museum of Art

By Kimberly Baldwin

Nicole Cattell is a 2003 Guggenheim Fellow, a 2004 NYFA Fellow, and an award-winning documentary producer/director. Named by Filmmaker Magazine as one of the "25 New Faces in Independent Film," she will be appearing at the Hunterdon Museum of Art for an evening of documentary shorts to benefit the museum's education programs and exhibitions.

Two of her films will be screened: Come Unto Me, a portrait of one artist who created a massive outdoor artscape in the heart of Detroit's blighted East Side, which received an Emmy and three Best Documentary awards at Sundance, and Revolucion: Five Visions. This film reframes the Cuban revolution through the art of photography, focusing on the personal stories of five Cuban photographers whose lives and work span nearly five decades of revolution in Cuba.

VIP reservation is $50 per person and includes a pre-screening reception with Ms. Cattell at 6 p.m., the film screenings at 7:30 p.m., and then a Q & A session with the documentarian. Call the museum at 908.735.8415 ext. 10 to RSVP, preferably by March 21.

Book Beat: Book Sale!

By Kimberly Baldwin

Thousands of book, DVD, CD, video, and video game bargains can be had at the regions largest and most popular event of its kind, the East Brunswick Friends of The Library's 34th Annual Bargain Book and Media Sale, opening Monday, March 31, at the Brunswick Square Mall in the court outside of JC Penney, 755 Route 18 South, East Brunswick.

This year’s sale marks two historic firsts: Opening day admission is now free. What’s more, there’s no waiting until nightfall: Shoppers eager to snap up those bargains can start doing so when the mall opens at 10 a.m.

The sale continues through April 6 during mall hours: weekdays and Saturday 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cash and checks are accepted for purchases; sorry, no credit cards. An ATM is located within the mall.

Proceeds benefit the Friends of The Library, a nonprofit organization that helps support The Library. For more information, call 732.390.6767 or go to The Library’s website at ebpl.org and click on “News & Events.”

The Monday Muse: Now is Then: Snapshots from the Maresca Collection

By Kimberly Baldwin

From now through May 11, 2008, view vintage images from America's golden age of snapshot photography at the Newark Museum. From early portraits to contemporary voyeurism, the 150 works in this exciting exhibition chart the evolution of snapshot art and form an extraordinary document of American life in the first half of the 20th century.

After viewing the exhibition, take notice of the flat-screen monitors on the museum's walls -- these are digital snapshots submitted by the public. Here you'll find present-day documents of our lives, as well as evidence that, while photographic technology changes continually, our needs for snapshots remains constant. Submit your own photograph, or view the current submissions at flickr.

The Newark Museum is located at 49 Washington Street, Newark, 973.596.6550. Suggested admission is $9 adults, $6 children, students with valid id, and seniors. Winter-spring gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Image above: Untitled (Dancing Couple), 1945 – 49, gelatin silver print, Gift of Frank Maresca, 2002

Book Beat: Ridgewood Library's 28th Annual Author Luncheon with Lisa See

By Kimberly Baldwin

Lisa See, journalist and author of the critically-acclaimed international bestseller Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, has seen her most recent release, Peony in Love -- a novel about the bonds of female friendship, the power of words, the desire that all women have to be heard, and those emotions that are so strong that they transcend time, place, and perhaps even death -- climb the New York Times bestseller list. (You can read the first chapter here.)

The author will be making a special appearance at the Friends of the Ridgewood Library's 28th Annual Author Luncheon on Wednesday, March 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Venetian, 546 River Dr., in Garfield. There will be a book signing and silent auction. Call 201.670.5600 ext. 180 for more information or directions, or visit the library online at ridgewoodlibrary.org.

Bonus: If you purchase Snow Flower and the Secret Fan or Peony in Love from Bookends (232 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood), be sure to mention the luncheon. Bookends will donate a portion of the proceeds to Friends.

New and Noteworthy: Fuzzy Nation Giveaway!

By Kathy Shaskan and Kimberly Baldwin

Jersey Girl Jennifer Liu, owner and founder of Fuzzy Nation, has provided two of her adorable "doggie bags" for two lucky New Jersey Life Blog readers. Fuzzy Nation is a hot new company whose handbags are really taking off nationally. The company recently opened its first retail store in NJ, at Olde Lafayette Village in Lafayette. Want a bag? Be the first to post the correct answer to one of these questions (you can only win one!) in the comment field below:

1. What famous lifestyle guru designed the Morris Plains home featured in the New Jersey Life March issue?

2. Which island, noted for giving the Garden State its name, was featured in our March issue?

Hint: Don't have the March issue? Check out the current issue online!

We'll let you know if you won, and will get the bag -- valued at $59 -- out to you faster than you can say "Lassie!"

The Monday Muse: Art Around the State

By Kimberly Baldwin

From classic to contemporary, New Jersey's art scene is as vibrant as ever. Here is a sampling of current and upcoming exhibitions worth checking out.

Proudly We Serve: Our African American Military Experience, From the Civil War Forward, 1/19-4/6
An exhibit that highlights the contributions of African-Americans in photographs and artifacts -- from military uniforms and American flags to photo albums and written accounts. $2 or free with any Physick Estate Tour. Call for gallery hours.
Mid-Atlantic Center For the Arts, Cape May, 609.884.5404, capemaymac.org

The Nature of W. Carl Burger, 2/1-5/9
Master of mixed media W. Carl Burger sticks to the basics and says, "You should never tire of some of the ordinary things, such as nature." His current exhibit features large scale paintings of Southern New Jersey. Admission $4, Seniors and Students with ID $3, Members and Children under 6 free. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Noyes Museum of Art, Oceanville, 609.652.8848, noyesmuseum.org

An Educated Eye, 2/23-6/15
The Princeton University Art Museum celebrates its 125th anniversary with an exhibition featuring many of its important works selected from among the museum's distinguished holdings. Free. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, 609.258.3788, princetonartmuseum.org

Gretchen Ney Laugier: A Retrospective, 3/1-31
Taking cues from her father, the modernist painter of the abstract, Lloyd "Bill" Raymond Ney (1893-1965), Gretchen Ney Laugier has avoided the pressures associated with being an occupational artist by simply choosing to not make it her profession. Here, her vibrant paintings are on display -- many for the first time. Free. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Riverrun Gallery, Lambertville, 609.397.3349

Kristin Lerner/Jules Shaeffer, 3/1-4/13
The contemporary figurative paintings of Kristin Lerner are paired with the surrealistic sculptures of Jules Schaeffer. Free. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Ellarslie Mansion at the Trenton City Museum, Trenton, 609.989.3632, ellarslie.org

Young at Art, 3/3-30
Perkins Center's Young at Art Annual Exhibition, one of the center's most popular exhibitions, gives young artists in grades K through 8 the chance to exhibit their work in a professional setting. Free. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, 856.235.6488, perkinscenter.org

An Italian Sense of Place II, 3/4-4/5
When shown together, the pivotal Italian color photography of Luigi Ghirri, painter Franco Guerzoni's collaborative photo-sculptural collage meditations, and the delicately apposite photo-projections of American Nancy Goldring create a rich understanding of the idea of Italian Landscape from within and without Italy and the Italian sensibility. Free. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
George Segal Gallery at Montclair State University, Montclair, 973.655.3382, montclair.edu/Arts/aec/art_galleries.html

Dreams, Fantasies and Wondrous Curiosities, 3/5-4/26
This exhibition, curated from the Rutgers-Camden Collection of Art, explores the artistic imagination in a selection of works that present elaborate visions, quixotic states of being, mysterious encounters, fantastical landscapes, among others – sharing in this pervasive urge to present an alternative to the natural world. Free. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts, Stedman Gallery, Camden, 856.225.2700, rutgerscamdenarts.org

Book Beat: Lisa Scottoline's Lady Killer

By Kimberly Baldwin

Between teaching Justice and Fiction at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, appearing in Court TV's crime series, Murder by the Book, and writing a weekly column called "Chick Wit" for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Lisa Scottoline has found time to be a New York Times bestselling author of fourteen novels.

Her latest, Lady Killer, features Philadelphia attorney Mary DiNunzio -- the trademark Lisa Scottoline heroine with strength, smarts, and plenty of attitude who first appeared in Killer Smile. In this novel, Mary is plunged into a nightmare -- one that threatens her job, her family, and even her life -- as she goes on a one-woman crusade to unmask the killer of her high school rival. Lady Killer can be best described as Grey's Anatomy for the page; a compelling story line laced over ever-evolving friendships, relationships, and coming to terms with one's self. Read an excerpt from Lady Killer here.

Meet the author at the Freehold Barnes & Noble (3981 US Highway 9) tonight at 7 p.m.

The Monday Muse: Frida Kahlo at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

By Kimberly Baldwin

Organized in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the artist's birth, Frida Kahlo is the first major Kahlo exhibition in the United States in nearly fifteen years. This exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art presents over 40 of the artist's most important self-portraits, still lifes, and portraits from the beginning of her career in 1926 until her death in 1954.

Rendered in vivid colors and realistic detail, Kahlo's jewel-like paintings are filled with complex symbolism, often relating to specific incidents in her life. In her iconic self-portraits the artist continually reinvented herself. Paintings like The Two Kahlos (1939, shown above) demonstrate her penchant for self-examination, and works like Henry Ford Hospital (1932) and The Broken Column (1944) express her struggles with illness throughout her life.

The exhibition opens February 20 and runs through May 18, 2008. Tickets for this exhibit are issued for a specific date and time, and include an audio tour. Buy online anytime or by phone 215.235.7469, 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m

Philadelphia Museum of Art
26th St. and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA
215.763.8100
www.philamuseum.org

Book Beat: Full Book Access Online ... and it's FREE

By Kimberly Baldwin

In hopes of boosting book sales, HarperCollins has started offering free electronic editions of some of its titles. Right now, and through the month, you can check out: Paulo Coelho’s The Witch of Portobello; I Dream in Blue: Life, Death, and the New York Giants by Roger Director; Mark Halperin’s The Undecided Voter's Guide to the Next President: Who the Candidates Are, Where They Come from, and How You Can Choose; Mission: Cook!: My Life, My Recipes, and Making the Impossible Easy by Robert Irvine; and Warriors: Into the Wild, the first volume of the bestselling children’s series by Erin Hunter. Did I mention that you can view these books in their entirety ... as in the same way you might flip through the pages at your favorite bookshop? Additionally, HarperCollins is helping create some pre-sale buzz by offering up to 20% of its many new titles online at least two weeks before the actual "on sale" date. No excuses, get reading!

The Monday Muse: (AUCTION) RED

By Kimberly Baldwin

An art auction to love -- about love -- takes place this Valentine's Day at Sotheby's. Hosted by (RED) co-founder Bono and artist Damien Hirst, the auction will feature donated works from more than 60 contemporary artists, including Hirst, Jasper Johns, Jeff Koons, Matthew Barney, Cecily Brown, Takashi Murakami, and Banksy (who thoughtfully defaced a Hirst piece just for this special sale).

Every penny of the estimated $21 million raised will go directly to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Damien Hirst said to the Independent newspaper, "Money is a key and what we raise from this auction will make a huge difference for a lot of people. For a relatively small amount of effort on each artist's part we can actually save many lives. It's great to be able to give something back and make a difference." I'd personally love to see auction sales go through the roof.

Wondering what's behind the parentheses or brackets used by (RED)? It's there to denote an embrace.

Pre-sale exhibition (through Feb. 13):
Gagosian Gallery
522 W. 21st St.
New York, NY
212.741.1717
gagosian.com

(Auction) RED (Feb. 14, 7 p.m.):
Sotheby's
1334 York Avenue
New York, NY
212.606.7414
sothebys.com

Book Beat: Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly

By Kimberly Baldwin

My daughter Storey thinks butterflies are simply exquisite. And so does Fancy Nancy -- as we learn in this magical new story from bestselling duo Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser.

Nancy, like her literary predecessors Eloise and Olivia, is a glamour queen dropped into a boring world, where nobody is "fancy" at all. In the newly-released Bonjour, Butterfly, our favorite princess gets a surprise lesson from her grandparents. (Looks like fancy runs in the family after all!)

Meet Fancy Nancy's posh creator Jane O'Connor on Sunday, February 10 at 1 p.m. at the Clinton Bookshop, 33 Main Street, Clinton. (Feathered boas not required.)

The Monday Muse: Paul Stanley

By Kimberly Baldwin

Who knew that KISS front man Paul Stanley had such a passion for painting? Certainly not me! Turns out "The Starchild" made his debut as a painter in 2005 and continues to create emotionally charged compositions, citing Kandinsky, Mondrian, Klee, and Rothko as influences. And collectors are gobbling his works up; Stanley's art sales exceeded $2 million for 2007.

Stanley will present his work at two special appearances at the Wentworth Galleries in Hackensack on Friday, February 8 and Short Hills on Saturday, February 9. Both events are free and open to the public, but require an RSVP.

Friday, February 8, 6 to 9 p.m.
Wentworth Gallery – Riverside Square Mall
171 Riverside Square
Hackensack
RSVP: 201.488.7661

Saturday February 9, 4 to 7 p.m.
Wentworth Gallery – Short Hills Mall
1200 Morris Turnpike
Short Hills
RSVP: 973.564.9776

Book Beat: Delightfully Unusual Fruits & Vegetables

By Kimberly Baldwin

Eminently beautiful fruits and vegetables are profiled in the charming book 75 Exciting Vegetables for Your Garden by expert gardener and garden designer Jack Staub. Discover produce you'll likely not see in your supermarket, including Asparagus Bean (a tropical cousin to the black-eyed pea), Green Zebra Tomato (a handsome yellow, amber, and deep green striped variety), Turkish Orange Eggplant (an ornamental heirloom), and many more. Staub seeks not only to infuse our backyard gardens with color and variety, but to enlighten and amuse with amiable text, surprising history, scraps of unexpected lore, and tidbits of culinary insight.

His stunning follow up, 75 Remarkable Fruits for Your Garden, provides a rich history of each plant, thoughts and tips on growing it, and ends with a simple recipe for serving up these mouth-watering fruits in salads, side dishes, breads, and desserts. Grab these books now -- it's the perfect time to start thinking about your summer garden!

The Monday Muse: Robert Mahon

By Kimberly Baldwin

Photographic artist Robert Mahon has spent nearly three decades incorporating chance into the process of creating conceptual multi-image portraits. When using even a single element of chance in or out of the darkroom -- from determining which lens is used, the shutter speed, or the printing techniques -- an apparently ordinary image is rendered into something unforseen. Mahon says, "I keep in mind Robert Frost's remarks about making poetry ... 'If there's no surprise for the writer, then there's no surprise for the reader.'"

Mahon's latest work -- Merce Cunningham at 88 -- combines photos of Merce Cunningham, moonflowers, and text fragments from the writings of John Cage, who was Cunningham's life partner and Musical Director of the Cunningham Dance Company for over 50 years until his death in 1992.

Mahon photographed Cunningham, who is often referred to as America's greatest living dancer and choreographer, in 2006 after a long morning of teaching. Shown in a wheelchair, Cunningham appears serious and introspective, and still very much a force of nature.

While watching Cunningham's dancers, Mahon was reminded of moonflowers he had photographed in his garden the previous year. "After a night of being in full bloom, the delicate white flower slowly contorts and folds in on itself under the morning light. The movement stops when the moonflower finally curls into a taut irregular sphere and falls from the vine." Paired with Cunningham, the association of movement is exquisitely conveyed.

Merce Cunningham at 88, photocollages by Robert Mahon, are on view in the gallery at Holsome Teas, 27 Witherspoon St., Princeton, through Feb. 29. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.

Monday Muse: Viva Art!

By Kimberly Baldwin

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey kicks off Viva Art!, the Art Center's 75th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday, January 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Trustees, members, staff, and volunteers will come together for the kick off party. Viva Art! will take place on April 4 at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, and will honor and celebrate those who have played a significant role in the development of the Art Center, as well as raise funds to support their community outreach programs.

The Art Center is located at 68 Elm Street in Summit and on the Web at njcva.org.

Book Beat: Gwendolen Gross' The Other Mother

By Kimberly Baldwin

I'm a mom. And I blog. So, how did I miss the release of Ridgewood resident Gwendolen Gross' third-novel, The Other Mother, last year? Booklist calls it " ... an electrifying complex and explosively gripping portrait of contemporary, have-it-all motherhood," and mom bloggers and online book clubs have been fiercely discussing its "mommy wars" since August.

In case you are also late in picking up on the buzz, the Teaneck-set novel documents the strife between stay-at-home moms (SAHMs) and moms who work outside the home (WOTHs). Wrestling with decisions, insecurities, jealousy, and competitions, this book has received much applause from both mom camps. And, though fictional, reviewers consistently praise the author for developing realistic dialogue and believable characters, and inspiring reflection.

I'll be picking up my copy of The Other Mother today; get yours from a favorite book shop or online retailer like Amazon.

And for moms wanting to tell their own stories, Gross welcomes them on her blog. So we're clear, this really isn't your typical blog. Gross posts writing assignments (this week, write for 11 minutes about planting, picking, or ruining -- yes, I said ruining -- flowers) and invites readers to post their work under "comments." Think of it as part writer's workshop, part therapy, and a unique way to connect with other moms around the world.