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History Meets Adventure at These National Parks Near New York City

January 15, 2015 by

Beyond the hustle and bustle of New York City lie two national parks that were built to commemorate unique moments in American history. One is the home of a beloved First Lady, and the other is a former haven for artists seeking refuge outside of the city.

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
Amidst the 180-acre rural sprawl lies "Val-Kill," the only property that Eleanor Roosevelt ever owned. She purchased this modest cottage with encouragement from her husband, Franklin, to use the home and land as a means to develop her numerous endeavors. During the Great Depression, she used the cottage as a furniture factory to teach young men the trade. The house and its surrounding units are now open year-round to visitors for walk-through tours. There are also trails throughout the land nearby.

Weir Farm National Historic Site
Weir Farm National Historic Site is located in Ridgefield, Connecticut, 60 miles northeast of New York City. This structure was once home to a legendary artist community started by famous impressionist painter J. Alden Weir. Take a guided tour through the house where Weir and other painters, like Childe Hassam, Albert Pinkham Ryder, and John Twachtman, developed the skills that would later define the period. There are even art supplies provided free of charge for guests to make paintings of their own, if the house and its history should inspire you.

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Veggie Heaven: Tasty Vegetarian Fare

January 8, 2015 by

Vegetarian food options can sometimes be lacking in our meat-centric society. That’s why places like Veggie Heaven are so vital. Here you can get food that rivals in flavor that of its carnivorous counterparts. What’s great about Veggie Heaven are the little surprises. Vegetarian green tea cake has a unique flavor, while the scallion pancakes are a bit of fried, doughy paradise.

Veggie Heaven’s menu is a bit large, so, it can be intimidating to new diners. Rest assured that no matter what you choose, whether it’s yam fries, steamed spinach dumpling, or sautéed snow peas and water chestnuts, you will leave satisfied. There is also a great selection of tofu dishes, including a mixed vegetable and curry tofu combo, tofu with ginger and scallion sauce, as well as Szechuan style. There is even a vegetarian pepper ‘steak’ for veggie lovers that miss the sizzle!

Veggie Heaven
473 Cedar Lane
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 836-0887
www.veggieheaventeaneck.com
www.yelp.com/biz/veggie-heaven-teaneck

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Fiesta Hut: The Real Thing

December 22, 2014 by

Fiesta Hut is the place to go to find terrific homemade Mexican fare in East Rutherford. Located across from Railroad Avenue Park, Fiesta Hut looks like a diner from the outside, because that’s what it used to be! But this family business does not serve diner food. It advertises that only “real” Mexican food is served, and after eating here, it’s hard to argue. First of all, unlike many BYOB establishments in the area, there’s a full bar. And the margaritas are a special favorite with the regulars. Everything on the menu, from the chips and salsa to the tacos, burritos and other entrees are made from scratch.

Fiesta Hut
227 Park Ave
East Rutherford, NJ 07073
(201) 939-4338
www.yelp.com/biz/fiesta-hut-east-rutherford

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How to Reduce Your Daily Caffeine Intake

December 18, 2014 by

You might feel like you simply can’t function without your morning coffee, but that boost of caffeine may be doing you more harm than good. Caffeine addiction causes you to rely on drinking coffee, soda, and energy drinks throughout the day, and it is also proven to contribute to stress and anxiety. If you want to cut back on the amount of caffeine you consume per day, these simple tips will make it easier.

  1. Examine your intake. Studies show that 200 milligrams of caffeine or less is a healthy amount for the average adult to consume per day. This translates to about two strong cups of coffee, so this is an easy way to decipher how much you need to limit yourself. If you can’t make it through the workday without that third cup in the afternoon, that’s a good place to start.
  2. Gradually cut back. Quitting caffeine cold turkey is just as painful as quitting any other bad habit. To prevent headaches, grogginess, and other signs of caffeine withdrawal, mix your usual coffee with a bit more decaf every day, or work your way down to just two cups of coffee instead of your usual amount.
  3. Be smart about caffeine. Once you know that you can only have two cups per day, you should choose when to drink them wisely. If you feel most tired early in the morning and around 2 p.m., plan on drinking your cup of joe about an hour before those times.

Easy Ways to Reduce Caffeine Intake [U.S. News]
How to Lower Your Caffeine Intake Without Headaches [Fitday]
10 Ways to Start Your Day Without Caffeine [Everyday Health]
Caffeine [McKinley Health Center]

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Puffin Cultural Forum: Celebrating the Arts in New Jersey

December 11, 2014 by

Puffin Cultural Forum focuses on people and the arts. That is, how can one enrich their lives by either creating or consuming art? Puffin puts on a variety of performances, everything from live musical acts to spoken word poetry.

In addition to being a performance space the Puffin Cultural Forum also features a great deal of art, from photography exhibits based in nature to an exhibit of art produced under Franklin Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration. The music performances range from classical to world music, and there are also occasional theater pieces and spoken word performances.

Want to see a schedule of upcoming events at this New Jersey performing arts space? Visit the Puffin Cultural Forum's website!

Puffin Cultural Forum
20 Puffin Way
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 836 3499
www.puffinculturalforum.org
www.yelp.com/biz/puffin-cultural-forum-teaneck

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How to Stick to a Healthy Diet During the Holiday Season

December 4, 2014 by

Your diet has been going well for months, but with the holidays coming up you may start to worry about overeating or consuming too many unhealthy, sugary sweets. With a bit of self-control and a few smart tips, you can navigate the holidays while still sticking to your diet. Here are some ways to do it.

  1. Eat healthy foods first. Fill your plate with a mixture of healthy vegetables and even a few not-so-healthy indulgences like carbs, starches and sweets. Eat the healthy foods first to prevent you from overeating afterward.
  2. Eat slowly. Many people get so excited about a delicious holiday meal that they stuff themselves before even realizing it. Cut your food into small pieces and eat slowly, stopping as soon as you’re full, to ensure that you fully enjoy your meal without overdoing it.
  3. Go easy on the toppings. If you’re already allowing yourself to cheat with a piece of pie, sacrifice the sugar-heavy whipped cream or ice cream topping to cut calories.
  4. Don’t skip your other meals. To avoid overeating at a holiday celebration, be sure to eat filling, nutritious meals throughout the day beforehand.
  5. Stick to your current weight. Instead of attempting to continue losing weight during the holidays, it’s more realistic to simply maintain your current weight.

Holiday Healthy Eating Guide [American Heart Association]
9 Healthy Holiday-Eating Strategies [Real Simple]
Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating [Sutter Health]
12 Ways to Survive a Holiday Eating Frenzy [Better Health USA]

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Tandoori Chef: Indian Buffet

November 24, 2014 by

Love the taste of authentic Indian food? Whet your appetite at Tandoori Chef with a savory meal crafted from authentic recipes. Stop by for the lunch buffet and take a culinary tour of the region with a wide variety of dishes, or order off the menu and delve deeply into one particular entree. Vegetarian dishes include Saag Paneer with homemade cheese and spinach simmered in curry sauce and Malai Kofta with potato and cheese dumplings in cream sauce. Chicken, lamb, and goat curries are also an option, as are a variety of meat and seafood dishes. Tandoori Chef is open every day for lunch and dinner.

260D Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 457-0057

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Photography 101: Basics a Beginner Photog Should Know

November 20, 2014 by

So you just purchased your first DSLR camera, and now it’s time to learn how to use it. Here are a few essential digital photography tips that every aspiring shutterbug should know.

  1. Hold your camera properly. In order to avoid shaky, blurry photographs, hold your camera with your left hand supporting the lens and your right hand around the body. For action photos, you might even want to use a tripod.
  2. Use the rule of thirds. Imagine a grid of nine equal sections (three horizontally, three vertically). Place the most important focal points of the photograph, such as a person’s face or a house in the distance, in the places where the grids intersect. It is believed that these types of photos are the most appealing to the human eye.
  3. Use linear shapes to direct the eye. To draw the viewer’s eye where you want it to look, place your subject between linear objects, such as at the end of a pier.
  4. Switch up your perspective. Instead of always photographing your subject straight on, try shooting from above, below or at an angle to create visual interest.
  5. Try the Sunny 16 rule. To shoot outdoors on a sunny day, set your camera at an aperture of f/16 and 1/100th of a second shutter speed to avoid over or underexposure.

Top 10 Digital Photography Tips [Exposure Guide]
Basics of Photography: Composition and Technique [Lifehacker]
How To Hold A Camera [About Home]

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Order the Lobster Pizza at Akai Lounge

November 13, 2014 by

When you go out for sushi, you expect a certain kind of experience, rife with minimal decor, a clean and modern presentation, and deliciously fresh flavors. Englewood’s Akai Lounge nails it, to the delight of local sushi lovers!

Start your meal with an order of succulent steamed shrimp dumplings, Prince Edward Island mussels sauteed in a sake butter sauce, or the beef negimaki. When it comes to sushi, the menu is extensive. The nigiri is expertly cut and presented, with beautifully fresh fish receiving the spotlight it deserves. In addition to the classics, Akai Lounge offers a number of innovative and unusual specialty rolls. The Bassterd Roll pairs spicy tuna with avocado and grilled Chilean sea bass, while the Devil’s Advocate is a monster with spicy yellowtail, shrimp, and cucumber topped with red and white tuna, chili sauce, and black tobiko. Akai Lounge also serves a number of cooked dishes and fusion items; try the lobster “pizza” for a unique treat!

Akai Lounge
11 N. Dean Street
Englewood, NJ 07631
(201) 541-0086
www.akailounge.com/englewood
www.yelp.com/biz/akai-lounge-englewood

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Ruyi Kitchen: Your Place for Chinese Food in Rutherford

November 6, 2014 by

Good-tasting Chinese cuisine is easy to find in Rutherford, at the Ruyi Kitchen. Located at the corner of Union and Santiago Avenues, Ruyi Kitchen is the place to go for classic cuisine to eat in or take out. The dining area is cozy and clean, a nice spot for lunch or a family dinner. This is what you should expect from a family owned and run business! All of your Chinese favorites are here, from the soups and appetizers to the fried rice, lo mein, entrees and diet selections. Everybody raves about the General Tzo’s chicken and the tofu, too! You can be sure that whether you stay or take your order home that everything will be made with the best ingredients, and to order.

Ruyi Kitchen
313 Union Avenue
Rutherford, NJ 07070
(201) 933-0727
www.yelp.com/biz/ruyi-kitchen-rutherford

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