 LOCALLY OWNED BY COUNTY LINE PUBLISHING |
||
 |
||
|
On the Avenue(s) Pride Center a comfort zone for LGBT The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and intersexed community in Highland Park is a flourishing one. Gone are the days of segregation for living a life true to oneself, the days when two women couldnít walk down the street hand in hand. And gone are the days in which those that support this community couldnít speak up. The Pride Center of New Jersey, Inc. has resided in New Brunswick since 1994, offering an array of services for young and old, the meek and the merry. Their original location was 211 Livingston Avenue; from there they came a little bit closer into North Brunswick, and now they are found right next to PJís on Raritan Avenue. They are most noted with their assistance in the LGBTIQ community. Their website PrideCenter.org offers that this is ìa place to socialize and meet new friends, and a place to gain acceptance and understanding of your gender and sexual identity in an comfortable setting. And how does the organization make such an impact? Volunteers are what keeps such a safe-house running. From the board to the counselors, each participant is working hard to ensure the center can assist all walks of life. They are also supported by hard staff work, from their marketing team, ad sales, fundraisers, memberships and a newsletter. Jennifer Horsey, one of the members on the marketing team, also runs a monthly Women's Coffeehouse at the center. Admission is $5. On the third Friday of every month poet/performance artist Pandora Scooter can be found at the center hosting an "Out of The Box" night. Performers of any genre are welcome. The Pride Center hosts men's coming-out groups, women's social support groups, an Overeaters Anonymous chapter and many more. There is also a group on Sundays called Orthodykes, for those members of the Jewish community that are coming to terms with being lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender. Jennifer offers that the Pride Center is "excited to be in Highland Park. We are looking forward to seeing people coming out in support." They are opened in the evenings from 7 to 10 PM. Visit their website for the night that you would like to attend or feel free to just pop in and say hi. All are welcome. The Pride Center of New Jersey Inc. can be found at 321 Raritan Avenue; 732.846-2232; and www.pridecenter.org. Questions can be directed to info@pridecenter.org. - Melissa Fleming Me & my car, we don't need any other With the ever-changing redevelopment plans constantly in the works for Highland Park, it is always nice to know that there are companies that have made it through the muck for decades. This is especially warming to the heart when that company is responsible for your automobileís health, safety and extended life. P&K Auto Clinic has made the cut longevity-wise and continues to make happy customers in H.P. Brothers-in-law John Kanterakis and Lacky Plias started working in 1979, after completing the automotive training in their native Greece. Mechanic school in Greece is a four-year program. Once in America, they soon found work at the Cedar Avenue Shell station, where Raceway stands today; and shortly after, opened up their own business on Woodbridge Avenue. "Back in the day," Mr. Plias offers, "you could just look at a car and know what was wrong with it." However around the early 80s, manufacturers began creating cars with a new age in mind: the computer age. Apple not only changed the face of telecommunications, but it began a movement where everything we used in our daily lives would be controlled by an electronic mind, including our wheels. In order to know what was wrong with a car, it would often have to be hooked up to a sensor. With this change, the brothers began recreating their education. They took classes on the newer cars and the computers built into them. Often the classes they attended were taught by the very people that made the machines. Today P & K stands strong as one of the oldest, wisest mechanic shops in the area. They have mastered the art of car repair and can be trusted to do the job right, whether you own a foreign or domestic car. Mr. Kanterakis has since retired but the torch continues on by Mr. Plias, his wife Chrisoula, and their right-hand man Tim McCann. P&K Auto Clinicís hours of operation are Mon-Fri: 8-6 PM and Sat: 8-2 PM. They are located at 70 Woodbridge Ave (at Volkert Street) in Highland Park; the phone is 732.572-0466. - Melissa Fleming
St. Paul's slates sublime soup suppers Lent is known as a season of simplicity and reflection, as Catholics prepare for the celebration of Easter. In honor of this period, the Church of St. Paul the Apostle will be hosting two soup suppers during Lent. The dinners are open to all in the Highland Park community. These simple soup suppers have become a Lenten tradition at St. Paul's and are among the parish's most popular events, according to Debbie Hehir, one of the organizers. There will be several delicious non-meat soups, with breads, and an array of fruits for dessert. Group activities and board games will be available for children and families to have some fun together. The cost is $6 per person, collected at the door, with a reduced price for children under the age of twelve. The dinners will be held on Friday, Feb. 22 and Friday, March 7, from 5 PM to 7 PM in the wheelchair accessible Parish Hall, 23 South Fifth Avenue. Call the parish office at 732.572-0977 for more information.
Comedy Wednesdays at Bagel Dish The Bagel Dish, 68-70 Raritan Ave, hosts weekly comedy nights presented by Matt Bridgestone, who claims guest appearances on Howard Stern, Opie & Anthony, Comedy Central, Caroline's, and many more. 16 to enter, 21 with ID to BYOB. $5 Cover. Doors open 7:30, show begins at 8 PM. For reservations and information call 908.670-0012. An open & shut case Unless our crack investigative staff has missed something, downtown occupancy was unchanged through December and January. The resulting white space presents a chance to review the rules of our game, errr, criteria of our analysis.
Change of owners, Cleveland Ave and River Road, and all those sublet offices are not included in the stats. But we would be happy to run a news-brief to announce your ch-ch-ch-changes. Hey, like this one:
Mr Potter... our new celebrity IM art center has been hosting pottery classes for a few months. Classes are for both beginners and advanced levels . Children's classes are very affordable. There are no sign-up fees, and the first class is always free with no pressure to join! They have Daniel Lipper a studio potter who makes good sturdy pots, he teaches every Tuesday. Shirley Bhatnagar an accomplished ceramic artist takes care of handbuilding, stamp and mold making. We are currently also are inviting Gloria Singer a talented artist who makes interesting works using both Handbuilding and throwing techniques.
The play's the thing The Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission has awarded a grant of $2,136 to the Highland Park-based community agency Who Is My Neighbor? Inc. to present three performances of the play "Whale Nation" in places where the audience does not often get to enjoy live theatre. The play will be performed at Sunrise Assisted Living in East Brunswick on Feb. 20, at Roosevelt Care Center in Edison on March 5, and at the NJ Veterans Memorial Home in Menlo Park on March 20. All three venues are long-term care facilities. Last spring, Who Is My Neighbor produced "Whale Nation" as part of its Global Heart cultural series. The production featured Highland Park resident Donavon Dietz, a professional actor with 30 years experience in film, television, and live theatre. Dietz has since performed the play in various East Coast locations, including a January run at Actorís Movement Studio in Manhattan, and will play in the grant-funded shows. "Whale Nation," a classic of the Green Theatre movement, is an uplifting and surprising meditation on humansí relationship to the planet, through the eyes of a whale. The script has won awards on two continents. This program has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through a grant provided by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission/Board of Chosen Freeholders. Members of the public may volunteer to attend any of the free productions and interact with the nursing home residents before and after the play. Please contact Who Is My Neighbor at (732) 247-3700 if you would like to participate in this effort to offer some creative energy and attention to people who may not often get visitors. What's not to love? There are the lights of Paris. There are the canals of Venice. And now Raritan Avenue will come alive with strolling musicians, Valentine's-themed decorations and various discounts, giveaways and promotions. Lovebirds, families, friends and anyone else who wants to share the love are invited to come take advantage of downtown Highland Park at "Hearts in the Park," a seasonal promotion running Feb. 11th through Feb. 17th. "Highland Park is the perfect destination for those celebrating Valentine's Day because it's a one-stop place for so many things," says Main Street H.P. promotions chair Rachel Ruggieri. "You can do your shopping for gifts, buy flowers, grab a bottle of wine and have dinner. It's a good time of the year to take advantage of all our downtown has to offer." What's not to love? A list of all the promotions being offered during Hearts in the Park can be found on the Main Street Highland Park website, www.mainstreethp.org. The end of seeking Photos of weddings are cool. You can see the completeness, the calm, the end of seeking. When they're good, they're kind of eerie, as if the world is ending in the background, as if all the people smiling don't know something the bride and the groom do. I stopped by the new Lifetyme Photo and Video location on 408 Raritan Avenue and could smell all the new beginnings in the pink walls and the framed photos. I did not know shooting weddings and Bar Mitzvahs is such an art form. There's a gigantic one of a beautiful wild-eyed girl at a Bat Mitzvah visible as soon as one walks through the door, but the one next to it, a bride lit naturally by a window, truly takes the breath away. They also do a black and white thing where the flowers are the only thing in color which I would normally think is a kitschy gimmick, but was very well executed indeed. The clincher, however, I noticed on my way out. A groom wades through the water on a beach, holding the bride in his arms with his pants rolled below his knees. Behind him a vast expanse of ocean, the seascape making the two of them look tiny. It is both beautiful and ominous. The head photographer at Lifetyme is Victor Fernandez - kudos to him and his crew, as well as to Diane Cuccolo, the office manager, for maintaining the professional yet welcoming atmosphere. "We like to think of ourselves as your personal event consultant," said Jay Groshoaz, who along with his wife Jan is a proprietor of Lifetyme Photo. "We are there as you plan your big day, we are there capturing the once-in-a-lifetime event. We specialize in Weddings, civil unions, Bar/Bat mitzvahs, family portraits, executive portraits." They also excel with invitations, offer video services, Dee Jay services, sweet 16s, corporate events, and of course passports. -- S.G. Main Pain leads a quantum rebellion I heard this once: Western medicine that does not incorporate holistic knowledge has not changed since its inception in the Middle Ages. Curing symptoms promotes healing just as much as taking blood with leeches does. Although its practitioners take the Hippocratic Oath, which says a doctor "must come for the benefit of the sick," those western doctors who exclusively follow the western way of treating symptoms are ultimately following a business model. A business needs return clientele; hence symptoms are the focus, not healing. Barbara and Cheryl Salerno, respectively a licensed acupuncturist and a certified quantum-touch practitioner, say that the body is configured to self-heal. When one or more of its internal communication systems has broken down, there is delayed healing. Restoring the natural channels of self-healing helps the body regain its natural wholeness. At the Main Pain Center on 24 North Third (downstairs), they will take care of your pain, much of which actually results from curing symptoms, with methods at the forefront of holistic medicine. I've heard of medical massage, foot reflexology and Chinese acupuncture. I've even heard of sound therapy, known as accutonics. I've always found Quantum Physics extremely fascinating, but I had never heard of quantum subtle energy treatment. "Quantum Plus subtle energy treatment modality combines several energy protocols to relieve the causes of pain," says Cheryl Salerno. I think I really want to be a patient even though there is nothing wrong with me. -- S.G. Who the shoe fit, let them wear it Highland Parkers that have been in the area for some time are no strangers to G&S Custom Molded Shoes. Sixteen years ago they opened up on First Avenue, then moved eight years ago to 50 Woodbridge Avenue, near the corner of Woodbridge and South Eighth. They offer a plethora of services for those in need of fashion upkeep or filling an orthopedic prescription. It is Wilson Mora you'll see when you become a regular for their stellar services. He has been the store manager since it opened -- a master of everything orthopedic and everything leather. Nancy Tapia is the owner of G&S, as well as other businesses in the New Jersey/New York area. Mr. Mora offers that people come in for anything and everything; for example, "Some people may add extra material to a shoe to even out the stance." Many times he will be the saving grace for a vast range of customers in need of orthopedic attention. Orthopedic shoes can be ordered, or G&S can make a custom fit as well. For the flat footed, arch support can also be custom-made, by taking a mold of the foot. Leather lovers will fall hard for this guy too. He can make a $300 handbag last the test of time for a mere fraction of the cost to buy a new one. Those that have grown partial to a worn in pair of shoes can extend the life by having it completely re-soled. G&S also offers various retail products such as shoe polish, shoestrings, socks, etc. They have been here for such a long time for one reason, they know what they are doing and they are good at it. Stop in and give your old wears a new life. - M.F. Parker Home to offer adult day program Starting in early spring, the Francis E. Parker Memorial Home facility on River Road announces a new venture: Parker at The Pavilion, Adult Day Health Services Program. The program aims to promote the optimal well-being of participants by providing health-related services in a safe, warm, social and structured environment. The day program will include intergenerational opportunities, access to a tranquil outdoor setting, an individualized plan of care and supportive services for participants and caregivers. Participants will have access to on-site geriatric specialists at the Center for Healthy Aging at Parker, salon/spa services, state-of-the-art fitness center, heated indoor pool, bocce court, putting green, country store and movie theater. The Pavilion program is adjacent to the Parker at Stonegate assisted living community and the Parker at River Road, nursing home residence. Adult day program participants will be able to attend one or more days during the week on a full or half day basis. Participants will receive "the highest quality of service, a tradition of all Parker Home endeavors for over 100 years" said Parker Memorial Home president Roberto Muñiz. For more information on the adult day health services program, contact Destiny Suggs at 732-565-2440. The joy of family music
Music Together of Highland Park/Edison invites families with young children to experience firsthand - and for free - the joy of making music as a family. Classes are 45-minutes long and meet weekly in mornings, afternoons, and weekends at 231B Raritan Avenue (second floor, behind Jerusalem Pizza). Music Together is a nationally recognized early-childhood music program that helps children achieve basic music competence by encouraging actual music experience rather than learning information about music. Classes engage newborns through kindergarteners and their parents or other caregivers in informal singing, chanting, moving, listening, and instrument-playing activities that are developmentally appropriate. All classes are mixed-age classes, allowing families with children of different ages and developmental stages to attend class together. Visit www.MusicTogetherHP.com for more information, or call director Jessica Kligman at 732-729-9033. THIS JUST IN.... Shanghai Park Restaurant has recently finished some renovations in the dining room. The new lights on the counter set a lounge atmosphere, and the service is as hospitable as ever. I saw some vegetarian duck on the menu, and wandered how many carnivore duck encounters Iíve unknowingly survived in the past. Dave, our publisher, said it was bean-curd. What I did order was black mushrooms and rice cakes, where the rice cakes looked like white mushrooms and were delicious. I highly recommend it. In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, James Gin the owner, stated "We have new counters for soft drinks, slushies, milk shakes, soda, tea and ice cream." The Tapioca Bubble Drink is another new item, and I'm sure it is as delicious as it sounds. "We also have a TV and the Dish Network," Gin concluded. -- S.G. CH-CH-CH-CHANGES A very good couple of months for the downtown occupancy rate, stemming a small rash of closings as summer wound down. Opened in October/November: Closed in October/November: A MEDITERRANEAN DELIGHT AT SEVEN HILLS OF ISTANBUL A traditional Turkish breakfast is neither entirely breakfast, nor entirely Turkish. Discuss. Mr. Cuneyt Gultekinoglu, Captain Chef Server at Highland Parkís own Seven Hills of Istanbul, told The Mirror about their recently implemented Sunday brunch buffet. Four cheeses -- baklava -- Turkish kielbasa -- sausage and salami -- shepherd's salad -- influences from the many cultures that comprise the Turkish national identity, including -- hmmm, let me stop before I get into hot political waters. Perhaps it is too late for that. Backspace, backspace... Just the choices of cheese are worth the price of $21.95, half price for children under 12. Cheese, at least according to this writer, is one of the basic sources of intelligent life. Feta, Kashar, Rockport, and Swiss, cheese heaven. But never mind that. Turkish cuisine, for those who do not know, is renowned for its accommodation to the extremely sweet tooth. Rice Pudding, Halva, Honey, Cherry Marmalade, Strawberry Marmalade. Let me stop before I start smoking cigarettes again. -- S.G. WHERE'S WALDO? The November zoning board meeting even included a detective mystery: who took down the old Dunkiní Donuts sign at 65 Raritan? While the free-standing D/D sign was still in place, new tenant Papa Johnís Pizza could replace it with a Papa John's sign -- without violating the zoning ordinance on signage, which generally disapproves the 1960s turnpike look of such billboards. With the D/D sign gone, Papa John's will need to apply for a new variance. According to Papa Johnís owner and attorney, Papa John's, nor Dunkin' Donuts, nor the property owner are responsible for the signís removal. It seems to have gone walkabout sometime between July 30 and September 7. Do you know where it went? -- J.H. ERRATA Due to a typographical error, Sebouh Gemdjian's byline was omitted from the Redevelopment Agency article on page 1 of the December 6th issue. We continue to delude ourselves that was the only typo in the whole paper. -- D.Y. WALK ON THE MILD SIDE
Vibrant, edgy arts haven? Or the drowsy commuter suburb, lights out at nine? Downtown tells the schizophrenic tale with two steps forward, one step back. And just a jump to the left and then a step to the right. The Dish Cafe is again open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday nights, with dinner interpretations of their Greek and American classics. The new Midori Sushi at 237 Raritan promises 'French fusion sushi,' bringing a little Soho to the site of two or three failed breakfast-only bagel places. Meanwhile, though, the lights of PJ's Coffeehouse are dimming at a frighteningly sedate 6 PM on Fridays. Apparently the wi-fi-and-couches crowd is happier with Sunday afternoon jazz jams, and already hit the road for brighter lights by Friday evening. Farther up at 439 Raritan, Seven Hills of Istanbul, rolled out Sunday brunch in mid-November.... servicing that weekend recuperation market is an essential support service for the dolce vita... And keeping the lights on in the 100 block is the new Park Place at 120 Raritan. With a very attractive remodel of the previous La Fonda, they offer glatt kosher lunch and dinner in a family atmosphere. Park Place is taking much better advantage of a large banquet area upstairs, which the previous tenants never made much use of. Now where, oh where has that liquor license gone? - D.Y. DON'T CALL US, WE'LL CALL YOU Acting on advice from borough attorney Diane Nabulus, Main Street Highland Park now asserts that their meetings are private affairs, to be announced only at the board's discretion. The open meetings law "applies specifically to public bodies," director Graham Copeland wrote to The Mirror. "It does not apply to private nonprofit corporations [such as] Main Street Highland Park." Main Street's budget of $225,000. is approved yearly by borough council, in a municipal action that includes a 30-day public comment period. The money is raised in part from residents' property taxes, and mostly from a 'business improvement assessment' on Raritan and Woodbridge Avenue commercial buildings. Main Street staff report its actual spending back to its board and borough council once a year, during the next budget submission. MSHP went unchallenged in 2005 when it declared its invoices and purchasing policies as private trade information, exempt from the New Jersey open public records act (OPRA). While reserving the right to operate in secret, the downtown improvement group has generally welcomed public attendance and provided board minutes on request. - D.Y. The author was board secretary of MSHP from 2003 through 2006. 'OVER THE MOON' IS, WELL, ECSTATIC Over The Moon Toys is the best toy store ever, anywhere, hands down: the toys are safe, it's in Highland Park, and the only store that charted better on the Home News Readers' Choice pullout (Best of Everything in Central Jersey) is Toys R' Us. And they have to win, or weíll all get hurt.... [If TR'U didnít win, the Universe would begin to shrink and time would crawl backwards to before anyone ever invented toys, and none of us would ever imagine or see another toy again. Thatís the kind of juice Toys R' Us has.] Why best anywhere? Because of the word ìCentralî in Central Jersey, and the generally agreed fact that Highland Park is the only place that truly matters in the universe. Obviously, the moon people got something right. Their *other* store, Through The Moongate, next door at 425 Raritan, is like the best at home decor in all directions and across all eleven dimensions. The same HNT readers rated it right after Fortunoff with one other local non-megachain. And you know what would happen if Fortunoff didn't win...I'm not even going to talk about it. That's the kind of juice they've got. What do the moon people have to say for themselves? This is from proprietor Jenni Chapman: "How can you have fun with an unsafe toy? You can't!" "Your local specialty toy store brings you toys and games made from safe materials, from companies and toy crafters that hold high standards for their products...." Now let's just watch the rest of the Universe, or at least Middlesex County, pile onto Raritan Ave. and check these places out. - S.G. This just in.... Shanghai Park Restaurant has just finished some renovations in the dining room. The new lights on the counter set a lounge atmosphere, and the service is as hospitable as ever. I saw some vegetarian duck on the menu, and wandered how many carnivore duck encounters Iíve unknowingly survived in the past. Dave, our publisher, said it was bean-curd. What I did order was black mushrooms and rice cakes, where the rice cakes looked like white mushrooms and were delicious. I highly recommend it. In an exclusive interview with the Mirror, James Gin the owner, stated "We have new counters for soft drinks, slushies, milk shakes, soda, tea and ice cream." The Tapioca Bubble Drink is another new item, and I'm sure it is as delicious as it sounds. "We also have a TV and the Dish Network," Gin concluded. Art space succeeds in provoking thought Two months prior to September's "Arts in the Park" event, a Main Street Highland Park staffer stopped by Space 234 with some "concerns" about potentially offensive art appearing there. Curator Sarah Wellington assured him that her idea for the event was to show some new paintings of her recently deceased grandmotherís living room. But then... "A day before the event some things were happening politically... [Congress] passed an amendment permitting the US military to use force against Iran," said Wellington. "I think that is a huge problem and I will do anything to stop that." Wellington felt a responsibility to display a banner: Your Money Is Being Used For Genocide in Iraq. "If you look at the definition of genocide," she said, "that has occurred already in Iraq, with the money of the American people." The banner did evoke democratic participation by at least one festival attendee and a gallery representative. The banner is featured as part of Wellington's work on her website, which was jury-vetted as part of the criteria for participating in Arts in the Park. And for you who picked up the paper yourselves On Saturday November 3, 9am to 4:30 PM, the Reformed Church is convening a free conference about young people who are aging out of foster care. Breakfast and lunch are provided, but please register in advance so we know how many people to arrange for! To RSVP call 732-249-7349 or email rchpoffice@juno.com. Apologia Several photo credits were inadvertently omitted from the October 16th issue: thanks to Jane Rein for the pictures of Coach Keith Roig and HPHS boys soccer team; and also to Jane Rein for the photo of poet Wanda Praisner addressing the Friends of the Library poetry night. Apparently she forgave us, we have her to thank again on page 14 with Joel Levy's new safety column. This time with a credit. WEST MEETS EAST AT SABRINA'S BROOKLYN IS IN THE HOUSE FONDUE FOR YOU
|
|
copyright 2008 county line publishing |