Life + Culture

High Bridge’s Creative Spark

Artist and “artrepreneur” Sam Matthews builds a community where everyone can explore their creative side. Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Propagate Studio If there is one thing Sam Matthews knows, it’s how to unlock the creativity inside everyone. Since childhood, the artist and educator has been creating with whatever materials were at hand. Through travels in the U.S. and abroad she discovered a passion for sharing her enthusiasm that everyone has a creative side that just needs...

Food + Beverage

Sugar, Spice & Small-Town Charm

How D’Serve turned a simple doughnut wall into Flemington’s most delicious day-to-night destination. Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Andrew and Shannon Mercado D’Serve is where sweet and savory meet. Launched last August by Andrew and Shannon Mercado, the concept—artisan doughnut shop by day and four-course, farm-to-table prix fixe by night—has quickly become a community hub amid downtown Flemington’s renaissance. The married owners bring complementary skills: Andrew is a chef...

Local Services

Charmed Encounters

How Two Local Moms Turned a Chance Meeting Into Hunterdon County’s Newest Romance Bookstore Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Jersey Sunshine Photography Once upon a time, two women met and forged an instant connection. It was as if they had known each other their entire lives—which they had, but not really. Charmed, they quickly formed a tight bond, making up for lost time. They found themselves bound by the parallels of their life arcs and by their mutual passions, especially the...

Beauty

Building Beauty

How AM Salon built a drama-free zone of creativity, connection and confidence—one client at a time. Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Christopher Sztybel - That Werks When you walk into AM Salon in Flemington, the first thing you notice isn’t the shimmer of blonding foils or the lineup of color bowls—it’s the sense of calm teamwork. Stylists move with an ease that feels rare in an industry often marked by competition. For salon owner Amanda Maddalena, that atmosphere is entirely...

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

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...

Food + Beverage

Harper’s Table

A community staple for the whole family Article by Jacklyn Pellegrino | Photography by Harpers Table Harper’s Table in Annandale, New Jersey isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a community living room, a local landmark, and a place where neighbors feel like family the moment they walk through the door. The restaurant is owned by Samantha Hansen and her mother, Norma, who purchased the business a little over three years ago. Samantha, who spent nearly a decade bartending and working in hospitality...

Travel

Fa La La in the Tropics

When the tree comes down, the celebration’s just beginning. Experience Puerto Rico’s unforgettable holiday season filled with color, culture, and coquito. Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Patti Zielinski, Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico The lights are packed away. The tree is down, the ornaments stored for next year. Sigh. How you wish you can extend the holiday season just a few more weeks. With a little planning you can. Next year, book a holiday escape for your family...

Health + Wellness

More Than Dance—It’s EPIC

EPIC Dance Company celebrates 14 years of movement, mindfulness, and mentorship Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Christopher Sztybel For 14 years, EPIC Dance Company has been more than a studio—it’s been a sanctuary. Founded by Shana Bonetti, the Flemington-based school blends movement and mindfulness to help young dancers grow into strong, confident individuals both inside and outside the studio. “I realized there was a void in the dance world where the focus was all on the...

Health + Wellness

Winter Wellness Toolkit

Simple ways to boost immunity Article and Photography by Cara Zamorski, HWC, HN The cold, dark days of a New Jersey winter bring more than snow—they also bring peak cold and flu season. While we can’t control every germ we encounter, we can strengthen the body’s natural defenses. Holistic wellness reminds us that prevention isn’t perfection; it’s about helping the body stay strong, resilient and balanced. Think of your health like a toolkit. The more supportive tools you keep inside, the...