Liberty Terrace

Cold Weather Blowouts

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:15:25 +0000

This is the time of year when we wind down from the holidays and start into the long haul of deep winter. A simple, low stress party can be just the thing to get us through the cold slog to spring. These party themes should inspire you to spend some time celebrating with friends and family.

Turn up the heat in your house, pick up some tropical and beach-themed decorations, and have a winter beach party. Serve tropical drinks and use a stovetop grill pan to make hamburgers and hot dogs or grilled fish for tacos.
Have a hot drink party – make several flavors of hot cocoa, mulled wine and cider, and hot teas. Accompany the drinks with all the fixings – flavored syrups, marshmallows, whipped cream, and sprinkles. Keep the theme going with sweet and savory fondues.
Celebrate February holidays and events – host a Super Bowl party with a football theme, have a sweetheart party for Valentine’s Day, or hold a movie-themed bash for Oscar night. You could even have a patriotic party for President’s Day.
Of course you can always have a plain old winter themed party. Decorate the house with snowflakes and white twinkle lights, and set out a hearty feast on a snow-white tablecloth. Encourage guests to bring a winter item, anything from a hat and scarf set to a winter mix CD, to swap!

Bien Hoa: The Best Pho in Town

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:19:03 +0000

Vietnamese food is one of the most popular options in Asian cuisine, with the simple, flavorful food winning new converts on a daily basis. Locals testify that the best place in central New Jersey for a bowl of pho—a beef soup made with a rich, aromatic broth and lots of skinny rice noodles, as well as Vietnam's most popular street food—is at Edison’s Bien Hoa. Massive bowls of flavorful broth play host to perfectly-cut meat that cooks at the table, and a wide variety of condiments let you spice the soup to your liking.The rest of the menu is also very strong, with the barbecued pork—another Vietnamese favorite—cooked perfectly tender in a delicious marinade. New management has recently taken over and done some much-needed updates to the restaurant’s décor, so you'll have a nicer ambience to go with your authentic and delicious meal.

Bien Hoa
2090 State Route 27
Edison, NJ 08817
(732) 287-9500
www.bienhoaedison.com

New York Knicks: A New Era Dawning

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:29:00 +0000

After entering the playoffs for the first time since 2004, the New York Knicks look to build on last season's successes. Under the leadership of head coach Mike D'Antoni, the Knicks have been steadily improving over the last several seasons, and that's not looking to change. The team truly is stronger than it's been in years. Implementing D'Antoni's keen and lightning fast offensive strategies, they'll bring a lot of action to the court and keep the future at Madison Square Garden bright. Amar'e Stoudemire is coming off one of his best seasons, and the arrival of Carmelo Anthony's crafty offensive game will continue to pay off in the clutch baskets that define his reputation. Add to that the defensive talents of Tyson Chandler, the arrival of veteran Mike Bibby, and a roster full of young, hungry players, and Knicks fans have a lot to be excited about. Coming off of their first winning season in over a decade, the Knicks look to push forward into an era of prosperity not seen since the days of Patrick Ewing. Pay attention, because there's excitement ahead!

Go to http://www.nba.com/knicks for all of your Knicks needs, including schedules, tickets, merchandise, and more!

Get Your Dose of Entertainment at the Bergen Performing Arts Center

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:19:37 +0000

New Jersey has a horrible reputation as a pretty lowbrow state, but institutions like Englewood’s Bergen Performing Arts Center buck that stereotype. Established in 2004 to rehabilitate the John Harms Center, which had been one of North Jersey’s most-respected arts venues until closing in 2003, the Performing Arts Center has grown to be a fantastic venue for performances of all types. The venue is now a primary location for the New Jersey Ballet, which performs there several times a year, as well as a wide variety of touring musicians from all genres of music. Attendees rave about the hall’s excellent acoustics and great sightlines. During intermission, walk over to the Intermezzo Art Gallery to take in great exhibitions by local artists. The Center also hosts a number of excellent educational programs for children in the community to learn about dance, theatre, and musical performance.

Bergen Performing Arts Center
30 N. Van Brunt Street
Englewood, NJ 07631
(201) 816-8160
www.bergenpac.org

New Jersey Nets: Ready to Surprise

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:23:31 +0000

The New Jersey Nets have one more year to make a splash in Newark before heading to Brooklyn. There's still plenty of time to say goodbye in style, though, and head coach Avery Johnson intends to put some excitement into the Prudential Center. Last season may have had its disappointments, but Johnson is more than capable of helping his team win, as his time with the Dallas Mavericks made abundantly clear. With the start of his sophomore season with the Nets, he's got talent to make that happen. Deron Williams is a two time all-star, and the recent acquisitions of veterans Shelden Williams and Mehmet Okur will add some serious and needed depth to the Nets' frontcourt game. This adds, of course, to a roster already featuring the skills of players like Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries, and Sundiata Gaines. A number of people will tell you that this is a year of rebuilding to get ready for the team's move into the Barclays Center for the 2012-13 season. Those folks, though, are ignoring a lot of talent already on the roster, and a coach well acquainted with success. With all of the strength in Jersey this season, the Nets may just surprise the naysayers who think that the team is only building for Brooklyn. Stick around, because these guys aren't done with Jersey just yet.

For all of your Nets needs, including schedules, merchandise, and tickets, visit http://www.nba.com/nets

Baumgart’s Cafe: 50′s Style Diner with International Appeal

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:19:46 +0000

Ever dined with a group of people who were all in the mood for something different? Chinese, Japanese, American, Italian, Mexican—all of these flavors and more can be found at Baumgart’s Café. Proudly touting its “multi-national menu,” Baumgart’s serves the best cuisine from many different lands, from Pad Thai and Sesame Chicken to Pastrami and BBQ Baby Back Ribs. The recently introduced Sushi Bar features reasonably priced maki alongside special rolls like The Jersey Roll and The No Name Roll. Sunday Brunch offers typical fare like pancakes and omelets, but goes one step further with options like wraps, salads, and burgers. Displaying neon lighting, red leather booths, and an old-fashioned soda fountain, the décor at Baumgart’s is a throwback to the 50s—the restaurant even offers homemade ice cream! With four north Jersey locations all serving varied and delicious meals, Baumgart’s Café makes for a great evening out.

Baumgart’s Café
www.baumgartscafe.com

45 E. Palisade Avenue
Englewood, NJ 07631
(201) 569-6267

Promenade Mall
225 River Road # 59
Edgewater, NJ 07020
(201) 313-3889

4175 Town Center Way
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 422-0955

158 Franklin Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 612-5688

New York at the Holidays

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:00:37 +0000

There’s nothing quite like New York City at the holidays – festive crowds, sparkling lights, and countless attractions that perfectly capture the season's spirit. Here are some must-visit New York sites for the holiday season:

Rockefeller Center
No holiday adventure in New York would be complete without a visit to this iconic location. Every year, thousands of people flock to see the dazzling Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Make sure you also check out the famous Rockefeller ice skating rink, where you can watch skaters in action or strap on a pair of skates and join the fun.

Holiday Windows
At Christmastime, New York’s most famous department stores unveil brilliantly artistic and elaborate holiday window displays. Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdales, and Barneys are just a few of the stores that attract awed window-gazing crowds every season.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular
If you want the ultimate New York City holiday experience, make sure to book tickets for the classic Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. The show features song and dance numbers that will truly dazzle you, as well as stunning sets and costumes. The iconic Rockettes steal the show, of course!

Holiday Train Show
Every year, the New York Botanical Garden hosts a holiday exhibit featuring model trains and replicas of New York City landmarks, popular with people of all ages. The exhibit is housed in Garden’s Conservatory, a lovely indoor space, so it’s an ideal holiday outing in any kind of weather.

New York City Pops
If you love holiday music, you won’t find a better concert that the annual New York City Pops holiday celebration at Carnegie Hall. This year the featured singers are John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, described by the New York Times as a “musical match made in heaven.”

Thielke Arboretum: Glen Rock’s Natural Treasure

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:10:49 +0000

This ‘garden of trees’ – the definition of an arboretum — is a serene spot to escape the hustle and bustle and bask in the wonder of nature. Hidden away right in the heart of Glen Rock, it’s a great place to take the kids to let them experience the natural world in all its glory. The arboretum’s walkway features small plaques indentifying many of the over 170 species of trees, bushes, and flowers in the park, so you can familiarize yourself with the region’s wide variety of native flora. Check their calendar for weekly events and seminars, where you can learn about things like the importance of natural wetlands and using rain barrels to water your garden.

Thielke Arboretum
460 Doremus Avenue
Glen Rock, NJ 07452
(201) 447-0452

Raise Your Voice: Becoming A Good Public Speaker

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:04:39 +0000

Making a speech is one of the most stressful things most people can imagine. Being the center of attention is nerve-wracking by itself, but having to remember a speech can make it even more difficult. If you find yourself in the position of having to speak to crowds but worry that your skills aren’t up to snuff, here are some helpful tips to aid you in improving your elocution.

- Practice. Some people think that rehearsing material beforehand will make their speech stiff. Nothing could be further from the truth. A couple passes through your speech will help make it more familiar and reduce the stress of misspeaking.

- Prepare. Make sure to arrive at the venue you will be speaking at early and take a look around. Check the microphone, if you are using one, and the view from the audience. Talk to audience members as they arrive, if you can. This will help you view them as people and connect better with the audience.

- Address the room. Before you start your speech, make a quick statement to address the room. This will give you a moment to calm your thoughts and transition into your speech.

- Don’t apologize. If you do make a mistake during your presentation, just move past it. It’s likely that the majority of the audience didn’t notice it anyway. Moving forward helps you focus on the positive.

- Be appreciated. If you’ve been asked to speak publicly, it means that your audience is interested in what you have to say. You wouldn’t have been given the opportunity otherwise. With that in mind, go forward with confidence.

Prime and Beyond: Steak and More

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:12:34 +0000

Prime your pump and get ready for a carnivore extravaganza at this family-run restaurant and butcher shop. If succulent meat gets you salivating, customers say Prime and Beyond is as good as any you’ll find in the tri-state area. In fact, it’s so good that the owners just opened a second location in NYC in the East Village. What’s so great about their meat? Q the butcher and owner selects only Prime USDA beef, then he ages it himself for up to eight weeks using his own tried-and-true process. That’s what inspires adjectives like ‘awesome’ and ‘perfection’ from customers! Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Mondays.

Prime and Beyond
501 Main Street
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
(201) 461-0033