Cocktail Hour | Princeton Magazine

Surf & Turf Seafood Festival at Monmouth Park

The 2022 Surf & Turf Seafood Festival at Monmouth Park will take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 13 and 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Presented by 107.1 The Boss, Thunder 106, and Kona Brewing, the Jersey Shore’s freshest seafood festival features lobster rolls, crab cakes, calamari, and more. Expect live music from 12 to 4 p.m. and lots of family friendly activities and entertainment. Participating food vendors include Cousins Maine Lobster, Four Boys Concessions, Kiersten’s Creations, Highway Ohana, Sherri’s Crab Cakes, Point Lobster, Green Dog Mobile, Playa Bowls, Star of the Sea Seafood, Sweetpepper Venezuelan Specialties, L’Acquario Seafood Italiano, and Wild Bill’s Old Fashioned Soda. more

Park Chateau Estate & Gardens Will Wow Your Wedding Guests

Nestled midway between Manhattan and Philadelphia at 678 Cranberry Road in East Brunswick, Park Chateau Estate & Gardens is quickly becoming the noteworthy wedding venue in New Jersey.

Spanning 15 rolling and manicured acres, visitors will be struck first by the 17th century classical French architecture and garden designs. This setting provides the bride and groom with a range of locations to move their wedding party through; from the chapel to the outdoor gardens and sparkling ballroom, every site is picture perfect. more

Pairing Wine, Cheese, and Charcuterie, June 2

Enjoy the ambience of Crossing Vineyards and Winery on Thursday, June 2 at 7 p.m. while you are guided through a tasting of 10 wines. At the same time, guests will be able to feast on artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and more. After the tasting, stay a while at McAvoy’s Bar and order a glass of wine from your favorite selection. This is a great introductory class on wine and cheese pairings for anyone who has ever been interested in assembling their very own charcuterie boards for family gatherings, events, and holidays. more

Food for Thought: “Julia” Film Screening and Supper Club

Photo Credit: Julia Child in her kitchen as photographed ©Lynn Gilbert, 1978, Cambridge, Mass. (wikipedia.org)

On Tuesday, May 24 at 6 p.m., Hopewell Theater presents never-before-seen archival footage, personal photos, first-person narratives, and cutting-edge food cinematography that traces Julia Child’s 12-year struggle to create and publish the revolutionary Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1961), which has sold more than 2.5 million copies to date, and her rapid ascent to becoming the country’s most unlikely television star. It’s the empowering story of a woman who found her purpose — and her fame — at the age of 50 and took America along for the whole delicious journey. more

Rock for Greenwood House: Battle of the Bands

Rock out to a good cause on Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Princeton Airport Hangar, 41 Airpark Road in Princeton, in a benefit for Greenwood House. Live music will be accompanied by dinners prepared by award-winning chef Max Hansen and desserts from featured food trucks, Glazed & Confused Fresh Mini Donuts and Rita’s Italian Ice. Guests will also be able to eat, drink, and bid on auction items such as rock star-autographed guitars and world-class vacations. more

Serenity Among the Vines

Spring is a great time to get outside and visit the many area wineries. Mark your calendar for these upcoming happenings…

By Laurie Pellichero

Hopewell Valley Vineyards
46 Yard Road, Pennington
609.737.4465
hopewellvalleyvineyards.com

Hopewell Valley Vineyards, led by proprietors Sergio and Violetta Neri, is dedicated to the creation of handcrafted wines by blending Old World flair with New World style. The vineyards, first planted in 2001, now include 25 acres of grapes under cultivation. Their mission is to provide a relaxing, quaint, and beautiful environment where one can experience award-winning wines and enjoy the company of friends.

Events at Hopewell Valley Vineyards include Music & Vino every Friday evening from 5 to 8pm, and every Saturday from 1-4pm and 5-8pm with a variety of live music to enjoy along with artisan brick oven pizza and a light fare menu. Wines are available by the glass or bottle. Upcoming Friday acts include Catmoondaddy on April 15, Deb & Mike on April 22, and Karen Payne on April 29. The Saturday 1-4pm concerts include Winery Catz on April 16, Mixtape Mojo on April 22, and Silent Q on April 30. The Saturday evening concerts will feature Mike Herz Duo on April 16, Rainbow Fresh on April 23, and Craig Leach Group on April 30. Live music is also presented on Sundays from 1:30-4:30pm, including Blue Jersey Band on April 17, HVV Jazz Band on April 24, and Mark Feingold Group on May 1. See the website for other upcoming acts and events.

Winery hours are Monday through Thursday 11am to 3pm, Friday and Saturday 12 to 8:30pm, and Sunday 12 to 5pm. more

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas for 2022

Heated rooftop igloos at Asbury Biergarten

By the time February rolls around in the Northeast, many residents may be experiencing a little bit of cabin fever. Thankfully, Valentine’s Day shines a bright spot on an otherwise wintery month with dating, dining, and travel options for you and your significant other. more

Maker’s Mark Pairing Dinner at Scarborough Fair in Sea Girt

Scarborough Fair Restaurant, located at 1414 Meetinghouse Road in Sea Girt, invites the community to a unique Maker’s Mark pairing dinner on Sunday, January 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. Door open at 3:30 p.m. The event will begin with a welcome cocktail and hors d’oeuvres followed by a four-course pairing dinner, and raffle prizes. Tickets are $110 per person and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/3ncKDpd. more

Pop-Up Beer Garden at ACP on Saturday, October 23

The Arts Council of Princeton has partnered with Old Hights Brewing Company to bring a pop-up beer garden to downtown Princeton. Old Hights’ balanced, hand-crafted beers are derived from the finest, locally sourced ingredients. Sip unlimited brews from a custom handmade ceramic beer stein, enjoy live local tunes by Dan Kassel, and spend an afternoon in celebration of community. more

Taste of the Seaport in Downtown Manhattan

Downtown’s premier food festival, Taste of the Seaport, will return for its 11th year on October 16 at Pier 16 and 17 in the Seaport District of Manhattan.

Over 40 of the best restaurants in Lower New York City will come together to highlight one of the city’s fastest growing neighborhoods and its vibrant food and social scene. Culinary lovers are invited to explore a variety of food options that the Seaport and Financial Districts have to offer. Delicious dishes will be available for purchase from Eataly Downtown, Brooklyn Chop House, Industry Kitchen, Watermark Bar, Beatnic, Fresh Salt, Stout FiDi, Route 66 Smokehouse, and Mac Daddy’s, to name a few. Proceeds from the festival support enrichment programs for children at both Spruce Street School PS 397 and the Peck Slip School PS 343. more

Celebrate Oktoberfest with FOPOS

It’s been quite a year and Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) is ready to celebrate their dedicated crew of volunteers and the amazing accomplishments of 2020-21 with the festive Oktoberfest on Sunday, October 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mountain Lakes House, located at 57 Mountain Road in Princeton.

This rain or shine event will ring in the autumn spirit with local craft beers, hard cider, festive fare, and live music by the country sounds of Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves — all in the beautiful setting of Mountain Lakes House overlooking the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. more

Landmark Hospitality Relaunches Iconic Logan Inn

The company revives the centuries-old property through history, delectable cuisine, and style.

Landmark Hospitality announces the reopening of the Logan Inn in New Hope, Pa. Established in 1727 and steeped in tradition, the Logan Inn stands as the oldest operating inn in America. After two years of construction, Landmark Hospitality completed an expansion and renovation of the property, transforming it into a boutique hotel experience and curated entertainment for travelers and locals. The revitalized inn joins Landmark Hospitality’s diverse portfolio of adaptive reuse projects across the tri-state area. more

New York City Wine and Food Festival is Back

The Food Network and Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF), presented by Capital One, will be held this year on October 14-17. The four-day annual event showcases the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs, culinary personalities, and America’s most beloved television chefs while raising critical funds to support New Yorkers affected by severe illness and food poverty. Proceeds will benefit Food Bank for New York City and God’s Love We Deliver. more

LBI ChowderMonth 2021

Typically, the annual Long Beach Island (LBI) Chowderfest signifies the end of the summer season on the Jersey Shore. To extend the festivities this year, Chowderfest is becoming ChowderMonth, a month-long celebration of delicious chowders and seafood stews in Ocean County, New Jersey. Dine at participating restaurants from September 4 through October 2, then vote online for your favorite chowder dish and restaurant!

To participate, first go to chowderfest.com to download a pass. You will instantly receive your pass via text and email. Your pass can also be saved to your home screen on your smartphone for easy, one-tap access. When you arrive at your destination, simply click “check in,” then allow GPS to validate your current location. The final step is to vote for your favorite chowder in Red, White, and Creative categories at any participating restaurant. Voting closes at 11:55 p.m. on October 2. more

Wonder Bar Yappy Hour in Asbury Park

Image Credit: https://wonderbarasburypark.com

Open seven days a week from noon to 8 p.m., Asbury Park’s famous Wonder Bar at 1213 Ocean Avenue hosts “Yappy Hour” where owners can mix and mingle while their dogs run free. Yappy Hour was founded 12 years ago by Debbie DeLisa, a former Eastern Airlines flight attendant and current manager of the Wonder Bar.

DeLisa wanted to recreate a “Cheers” feeling, where “everybody knows your name and everybody knows your dog’s name,” says DeLisa. Asbury Park has already earned the moniker of one of the most pet-friendly towns on the Jersey Shore, and this summer event seems to confirm it. more

Hunterdon County’s 579 Trail in Rural NJ — A ‘Must Visit’ for Garden State Travelers

Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/Hunterdon579Trail

Did you know you can experience goat yoga, learn about cheese making, and sample award-winning local wine all in the same region of Central New Jersey? The 579 Trail, a historic agricultural corridor running through Hunterdon County begins its peak season for visitors this month as Jersey harvests begin to yield fruits and vegetables and the summer weather leads to a bounty of outdoor recreational activities. more

Harlem Hops Celebrates 3rd Year with Black-Owned Brewery Collaboration

Beer and Bites at Harlem Hops: Bourbon aged Execution Rock Imperial Porter 8.1% accompanied by Maroons Jerk Chicken Sausage served on a pretzel bun with a bed of cilantro lime slaw topped with pineapple pepper relish and a drizzle of the in-house execution Rock Imperial Porter BBQ sauce and plantain chips (Image Source: www.facebook.com/harlemhops).

To celebrate the third anniversary of their acclaimed craft beer bar, the only Black-owned bar of its kind in Harlem, the HBCU-educated partners of Harlem Hops (Kim Harris, Stacey Lee, and Kevin Bradford) are celebrating with the drop of a special beer brewed in collaboration with Black-owned Montclair Brewery: JUBILEE – a Hibiscus Red Ale, whose name also celebrates Juneteenth 2021. It’s been a challenging year of bringing exceptional beer from local craft brewers to Harlem (often by bicycle) and continuing to bring diversity to the world of craft beer. more

The Art of Wine Tasting with Kevin Zraly

On Saturday, May 22 from 5 to 6 p.m., join the Arts Council of Princeton and Kevin Zraly for “The Art of Wine Tasting.”

Zraly has been called “the most charismatic wine educator in the world.” He is the recipient of a James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award and his Windows on the World Complete Wine Course is the world’s best-selling wine guide. Zraly’s accessible approach emphasizes personal preference, enjoyment, and knowledge. more

Spring Classes at The Farm Cooking School

Ian Knauer Aad Shelley Wiseman (PhotoCredit: Guy Ambrosi)

The Farm Cooking School in Titusville has reopened classes at 50 percent capacity (eight students per class). A lineup of spring classes is the perfect excuse to sharpen your skills in the kitchen while meeting new people and enjoying delicious, farm-to-table cuisine. more

Warm Up with Sourland Mountain Happy Hours

The public is invited to celebrate local music and nature at the virtual “Sourland Mountain Happy Hour.” The first is event is on Thursday, March 4 from 6-7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $10 at www.sourland.org.

Sourland Mountain Spirits will create a bespoke cocktail for the occasion and offer a 20 percent special for Happy Hour participants on all March 3 and March 4 purchases. Founder and CEO Ray Disch says, “The Sourland Mountain has the largest uninterrupted forest in central Jersey. Between the forest, the fields, and the watershed, it provides us with magnificent well water that is the heart and base of all the spirits we make here.” more