Tuesday February 09, 2010SUBSCRIBE
New Jersey Monthly Magazine
Schlager, Ken

Dessert? No Thanks, I'll Pass

As if a vigorous workout every other day isn’t challenge enough, this week I had to endure my first business lunch since starting the Get Fit program. I passed with flying colors.

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Off the Wall

I had been looking forward to trying the climbing wall at Life Time Fitness—but not with the cameras rolling and the entire Internet watching as I flailed away with hands and feet.

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No Kicks at Boot Camp

Is it true what they say about “no pain, no gain”? If so, I gained plenty at our boot-camp session.

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Food by the Cup

While I’ve tried working out and losing weight before, I’ve never had the discipline to count calories or time my workouts. Get Fit NJ is forcing me to do both.

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Off to a Flying Start

I’ve survived the first two “Get Fit” sessions. Only 70 to go. We’re practically home free.

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Getting Ready to 'Get Fit'

Starting this afternoon, I will be taking part in Get Fit New Jersey, a rigorous, 24-week fitness program at Life Time Athletic in Florham Park. Naturally, I spent the weekend stuffing my face with as much holiday chocolate and other goodies as possible.

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A Kink in Montclair

As a longtime resident of Montclair, I still have to pinch myself each time I see a show at the Wellmont, the gorgeously renovated theater that is bringing so much great music — like last night’s show by Ray Davies — into my hometown.

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The Forlorn Mower

Saying goodbye is never easy. Bidding adieu to my lawnmower this morning was particularly poignant.

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A Million And One Ways To Be One-In-A-Million

When it comes to careers, Steven J. Heaslip has seen it all. The New Jersey resident—who has 25 years of experience as a human relations professional—shares his insights about the workplace in his new book A Million and One Ways to be One-in-a-Million (AuthorHouse). more

Day Trip: Chester

This little Morris County town can teach the malls a thing or two about the shopping experience. more

He's No Angel

But rough-talking political boss Steve Adubato Sr. has become a legend by building valued social institutions in Newark’s North Ward. more

Falling for Paterson Falls

Sometimes it pays to heed your own advice. Such was the case on Sunday when I followed a recommendation in the current New Jersey Monthly and took a day trip to Paterson Falls.

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Golden Golf

Don’t even think of putting away your clubs this month. New Jersey courses beckon in their autumn finery. Here’s a loop of nine prime layouts around the state you won’t want to miss. more

The Mule Who Could Run Like A Deer

80 years ago, a young outfielder from New Jersey helped Philadelphia win the World Series. more

Meeting the Beatles, Yet Again

Back in the 1960s, my father was forever putting off the decision to buy our first color TV. He wanted to wait until they got it right. Perhaps I should have followed the same strategy with the Beatles.

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Geography for Golfers 101

We're thrilled that the world's top golfers are playing at Liberty National this weekend. But will someone please remind them they are in New Jersey—and not that other state across the Hudson?

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Welcome To My Nightmare

It is an editor's worst nightmare: The big glaring typo on the front page. You never expect it to happen, but there it is, all-too real, smack on the cover of the September issue of New Jersey Monthly.

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Open Wide

A candid conversation with six top New Jersey dentists. more

Down Yonder in New Orleans

I had to work last weekend, but don’t cry for me. The assignment was a magazine conference in New Orleans.

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A Bronx Tale

I finally made it up to the new ballpark in the Bronx this weekend. Naturally, my seats were in the front row. OK, front row of the bleachers, but front row, just the same.

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Hall of Fame Breathes Life into Ceremony

The organizers of the New Jersey Hall of Fame have an annual challenge: How do you build excitement into an induction ceremony when most of the honorees are dead?

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Color Me Confused

It's one of the toughest assignments I've ever had: deciding on a color scheme for my 14-year-old daughter's room. In theory, the choice was hers, and that's what made it so difficult.

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Where Have All The Record Stores Gone?

Mostly down the tubes, but Jersey still has some great places to shop for music. more

Once Again, Under the Hood

One of the lost pleasures in this modern world is the opportunity to work on your own car.

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My Stretch in License Limbo

It's been about 30 years since I had my last moving violation, so how was it that I came home Friday night to learn that my driver's license had been suspended?

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Words to Float By

The Springsteen Ticket Snafu

It's great that everyone's making such a fuss about Ticketmaster's handling of ticket sales for the upcoming Bruce Springsteen shows in the Meadowlands. Still, there's one key question no one seems to be asking.

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Training Day

It was 11:35 Thursday morning when the train pulled out of Newark's Penn Station. It was 11:55 when I was offered my first Bloody Mary.

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Walking The Walk, Talking The Talk

When I first learned I’d be going on the Walk to Washington, I figured: “Oh boy, time to get new shoes.”

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Obama's Big Day, By George!

Yesterday's handoff from George Bush to Barack Obama was really something to see. But it was an earlier George who deserves credit for drawing up the play.

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Alter Ego Trip

Good Morning, Mr. President-Elect

I'm one of those lucky folks who remember their dreams in the morning. Last night's was a doozy.

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Happy (Generic) Holidays

Did this really happen? Did I really get my first holiday greeting card in the mail yesterday?

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The Unkindest Cut

What better way to start a blog about suburban life than to talk about my lawnmower?

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What's Up, Doc?

When it comes to health, most of us want a second opinion. New Jersey Monthly wanted six. We selected a half-dozen of this year’s Top Doctors and peppered them with questions about the patient-doctor relationship, the health-care establishment, and their lives as physicians. The questions were e-mailed to the individual physicians, and their answers to each were compiled in alphabetical order. more

Stage Right

One month before its scheduled Oct. 27 opening, the Wellmont Theatre in Montclair was a hive of activity, with workers on scaffolding performing an elaborate ceiling restoration, while others manned power saws and paintbrushes. more

The Wrong Goodbye

It was not my intent to go to the final home game at Yankee Stadium. But in the end, I couldn’t resist.

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Antiquing

Where Washington Slept

The Daughter Also Rises

I woke my teenage daughter at 6:10 am Wednesday to watch the sun as it inched its way above the horizon off Bay Head. Such moments down the shore are too precious to sleep through.

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State Street Grill

Welcome Home, Bruce

At about 3:30 Sunday afternoon, Bruce Springsteen fans across New Jersey were digging out their rain ponchos as fierce thunderstorms smashed down on the Garden State. But by the time Bruce took the stage at Giants Stadium that evening, the rain had ceased and a cool breeze prevailed. Even the weather gods know who’s the boss.

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Two Rivers Away

Time is running out. There are just 20-something regular season games remaining at Yankee Stadium. Yes, the big ball yard is two rivers away from New Jersey, but the Yanks always have had deep roots in the Garden State.

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Rescue Me

Independence Day

We skipped Montclair’s Independence Day Parade this year for the first time since our kids were infants. But there was one July 4th ritual I would not pass up: Our annual parent-daughter softball game.

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Frankie's Bar & Grill