Issuu

Winter Delights

D E C E M B E R 2 022

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Hopewell Valley Real Estate Pulse from the Dave Marcolla Group at Keller Williams Real Estate Contact us to get your FREE home valuation today. Dave Marcolla is a Hopewell Township resident and top area Realtor. Dave has lived in the Township for over 10 years and specializes in Mercer and Bucks Counties. Last year he sold 60 homes for $30 million in closed sales. He and his team are experts in what they do. Dave is a graduate of the Princeton School of Real Estate and holds his MBA from La Salle University. Contact him today to find out why he and his team are known for delivering a better experience!

6 0 9. 42 3 . 9 147

Direct

21 5 . 86 0. 42 0 0

Of fice

DAV E @ DAV E M A R C O L L A .C O M DAV E M A R C O L L A .C O M

1 2 T E R R Y D R I V E | N E W T O W N , P E N N S Y L V A N I A | L I C E N S E D R E A LT O R S - PA A N D N J

NEIGHBORHOOD

LIST PRICE

BEDS

BATHS

DOM

CLOSE PRICE

%SOLD/ORIG

463 Federal City Rd

$1,995,000

178

$1,995,000

100%

7 Hallett Dr

$1,445,000

$1,150,000

80%

23 Willow Creek Dr

$988,000

$1,020,000

103%

2 Old Mill Rd

$899,000

$999,000

111%

4 Arvida Dr

$875,000

100%

124 Harbourton Woodsville Rd

$694,000

$680,000

98%

67 Lexington Dr

$585,000

$597,000

103%

5 Cleveland Rd W

$565,000

100%

125 Treymore Ct

$500,000

$551,000

110%

208 Hopewell Princeton Rd

$525,000

$550,000

105%

Source: Bright MLS 9/16/22 - 10/15/22

Whether you’re planning a move or planning to stay a while, we’re here to help. Our goal at the Bill Mervin Team is to not only assist clients with buying and financing homes, but to also help our clients own their homes at the highest level in order to maximize generational wealth through real estate. Let’s set up a free equity analysis to make sure you are utilizing your equity and mortgage indebtedness for their highest and best use today.

Bill Mervin Regional Manager

140 Terr y Drive, Suite 105 New town, PA 18940 NML S # 2884 • NML S #313 416 2 15 - 4 31-7429 | team@billmer vinteam.com

ANGELO LOURIDAS Senior Mortgage Banker 140 Terr y Drive, Suite 105 New town, PA 18940 NML S # 2884 • NML S #313 416 2 15 - 4 31-7429 | angelo@billmer vinteam.com

Apex Home Loans is a division of Celebrity Home Loans, LLC | NMLS # 227765 | For licensing information, go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org | www.celebrityhomeloans.com | Please review our Disclosures & Licensing information. | Celebrity Home Loans, LLC has no afﬁliation with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the US Department of Agriculture or any other government agency. Equal Housing Lender. For further information about Celebrity Home Loans, LLC, please visit our website at www.celebrityhomeloans.com. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for ﬁnancing or interest rate guarantee. Applicant subject to credit, acceptable appraisal, title, and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved. Other terms and conditions apply. Contact Celebrity Home Loans, LLC for more information and up-to-date rates.

LIFESTYLE LETTER

Holidays and Giving

December 2022 PUBLISHER

Rachel Schnure | rachel.schnure@citylifestyle.com EDITOR

Julie Brown Patton | julie.patton@citylifestyle.com

The holidays are here and as the spirit of the season is among us, we often try to replicate what made the season feel so magical to us in our youth. The traditions we set for our own families often mirror some of what we experienced as a child, whether it's the smells, the sounds, the lights, the holiday activities or a combination of it all that reflect that best. While this season can be beautiful for some, it can be painful and lonely for others, especially those who've recently lost a loved one. In the true spirit of the season, let’s reach out to those in our community who need assistance or who are alone. My hope for you this season is that you feel love and peace, and that we all remember to take care of each other by extending grace, empathy and love. Happy Holidays!

STAFF PHOTOGR APHER

Heather Raub AD DESIGNER

Mary Albers LAYOUT DESIGNER

Andi Foster CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Erica Brooke Gordon, Bennett Kelly CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Stephen Harris/RiverTown Creative, Bennett Kelly, Benoit Cortet

RACHEL SCHNURE, PUBLISHER @ H O P E W E L LV A L L E Y C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com//franchise

Scan QR code to visit our Instagram C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E .C O M / H O P E W E L LVA L L E Y |

Proverbs 3:5-6 Hopewell Valley City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Hopewell Valley area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Hopewell Valley City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources

L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

you’d go to the ends of the earth to be here for them.

MERCER MUSEUM & FONTHILL CASTLE

And so do we. You’d do anything to make sure they took care of themselves. Start by taking care of yourself — and be here for them. With complete physicals, screenings, health counselings and well visits. With specialists to address sleep, weight, appetite and mood. With appointments long enough that your doctor really gets to know you. With doctors who talk across specialties, for cross-discipline collaboration. With primary care offices from Princeton to Columbus and from Robbinsville to Newtown.

TWO TREASURED CASTLES IN THE HEART OF BUCKS COUNTY, PA

Because we know there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for them. And we feel the same way about you.

Become a part of it today at CapitalMedicalGroup.org D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/H OP E W E L LVA L L E Y

DECEMBER 2022

inside the issue The Holiday & Giving Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

12 Guitars Galore

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

Business Monthly

Back Stage

Kids Corner

Healthy Lifestyle

Trend Setter

ST Y LE + B EAU T Y

Giving Back

LO CA L S ERV I C ES

Events

J.B. Kline Extended Hours: Dec. 20-23, 10AM to 7PM, and Dec. 24, 10AM to 5PM

16 Secret Life Of A True Toy Story

Here’s A Local Destination For Unique, High Quality Youth Treasures

20 Repurposing Food Waste

Hopewell Valley School District And Local Business Partnership Handles Food Scraps In Eco-Friendly Manner

26 Fine Estate And Designer Jewelry One-Of-A-Kind Gems As Curated By Oakgem Professionals

O N T H E C OV E R

As winter approaches, it’s time for marshmallows to be reunited with their BFF, hot cocoa, to warm hearts and make tasty memories together.

A RTS + C U LT U R E S HO PPI NG LI FE + C U LTU R E

BIG GREEN EGG DAYS AT THE BUXTON COMPLEX Join EGGsperts Kristi and Marisa for different cooking techniques and amazing samples cooked on the Big Green Egg. Learn about the Big Green Egg, How to Cook fun recipes become an EGGhead!

1536 Lower Ferry Road Ewing, NJ 08618

609-771-0274 www.TheBuxtonComplex.com Celebrating 40 Years and 4 Generations

December 10th, 2022 3:00pm – 5:00pm Ribs, Corn Bread and More! This event is FREE, Registration is Required!

January 14th, 2023 3:00pm – 5:00pm Desserts on The Big Green Egg! This event is FREE, Registration is Required!

Dignified service to all families

R. Asher Wilson, Manager, NJ Lic. #3823 2560 Pennington Road Pennington, New Jersey 08534 (609) 737-1498 • WILSONAPPLE.COM

ROBERT A. WILSON, OWNER Wilson-Apple Funeral Home NJ Lic #2520

R. ASHER WILSON, MANAGER Wilson-Apple Funeral Home Cromwell Memorial Home

NJ Lic # 3823/Pa Lic # FD-000766

EXCEPTIONAL • AUTHENTIC • VINTAGE • MODERN • DESIGN (412) 996-6336

| 45 BRIDGE STREET LAMBERTVILLE, NEW JERSEY D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/H OP E W E L LVA L L E Y

DECEMBER 2022

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen. 1

7 5

1: Night Forms: Infinite Wave, a multi-sensory light and sound experience opened at Grounds For Sculpture. 2: Night Forms allows visitors to newly engage with Ground For Sculpture’s art and horticulture collection. 3: Creator Ricardo Rivera is a self-taught, site-specific media artist and pioneer of video projection mapping. 4: This audio and visual exhibition offers new perspectives on GFS works and multidimensional space. 5: Night Forms: Infinite Wave will be exhibiting through April 2, 2023. 6: Indie/electronic artists involved are Kurt Vile, Simian Mobile Disco, Mary Lattimore and Twin Shadow. 7: This experience presents evening landscapes of creative exploration through lighting, sound and video projection mapping. Photography by Grounds For Sculpture

C I T Y SC E N E

8: Pennington Business and Professionals Association hosted the 34th Annual Holiday Walk on Dec. 3, 2021. 9: The 2022 Pennington Holiday Walk is scheduled for Dec. 2, from 6-9 p.m. 10: This year’s free Holiday Walk includes tree lighting, hot cocoa, photos with Santa, live reindeer. Photography by Heather Raub

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @hopewellvalleycitylifestyle

A CURATION OF INDIE BEAUTY WITH A SOUL

M A K E U P · S K I N C A R E · B O DYC A R E · H A I R C A R E

www.shineapothecar y.com D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/H OP E W E L LVA L L E Y

DECEMBER 2022

business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Benoit Cortet

Friends Of Hopewell Valley Open Space Hold 35th Anniversary Gala Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space supporters and staff celebrated the group's 35th anniversary at Glenmoore Farm in Hopewell. The group partners with organizations and individuals across Hopewell Valley to conserve, enhance and improve the local environment, landscape and overall quality of life. "FoHVOS is the gold standard of a community coming together to protect the natural world around them," says Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli. To volunteer or to donate, call 609.730.1560 or email info@fohvos.org.

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/HopewellValley

SMALL BITES. BIG SMILES. Local Greek Seafood is your place to gather with family, friends and neighbors to share simple dishes, big flavors, and new-old traditions.

Now Open in the Heart of Hopewell // Traditional Greek Market Salads | Gyros | Bowls | Greek Entrees | and More

9 E Broad Street, Hopewell • 732.485.0324 www.eatlocalgreek.com • V @eatlocalgreek

www.eatgreekbites.com // 2 1 E Broad St H opewel l , N J Open 1 1am - 8pm // Ever yday 10

B USIN E SS M ON T H LY

BV Carpet · Hardwood · Vinyl · Window Treatments

Complete Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Tile · Stone · Countertops · Shower Doors

609-737-2466

#7 Route 31 North · Pennington, NJ 08534 regentfloorcovering.com D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/H OP E W E L LVA L L E Y

Guitars Galore J.B. Kline & Son Extended Holiday Hours: Dec. 20-23, 10AM to 7PM, and Dec. 24, 10AM to 5PM

And I see faces and traces of people who knew this town. ~ From “A Summer Night (In Old Lambertville)” by J.B. Kline

PROUD HISTORIC ROOTS J.B. Kline & Son has been a family affair since 1875, when the storefront sold tobacco and handmade cigars. Over the years, office items, art supplies, tools and paper goods were added to its inventory. When musician J.B. Kline (Jacob Barndt “J.B.” stage name but given name is Geoff) returned to his native Lambertville in the 1990s to raise his daughters and help his father run the family business, he sensed the industry was going south with the advent of the superstores. So, he pivoted the business to its present musical pursuits: instruments, repairs, lessons and more.

ARTICLE BY BENNETT KELLY PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHEN HARRIS/ RIVERTOWN CREATIVE AND BENNETT KELLY

B ACK STAGE | ARTS + CULTURE

J.B. KNOWS GUITARS He’s played with the likes of blues’ legends B.B. King and Bo Diddley, among others. The store carries legacy brands such as Fender and Gibson, ranging from starter-level Stratocasters ($150-$300) to a collector’s choice, original 1960 Stratocaster, priced around $25,000. Acoustic Seagull, Godin and Guild guitars are favored, and he had three Republic steel guitars in store in October. They also sell violins, mandolins, Gold Tone banjos and niche instruments, such as accordions and a didgeridoo.

FINEST REPAIRS, RECORDINGS

Photo by Stephen Harris/ RiverTown Creative

Instruments are repaired on location by Joe Hosey and Elaine Kline, J.B.’s daughter. Elaine displays a blue Stratocaster that she had buffed clean of smoke damage. It had been all black with soot, and still smelled like a campfire. The smoke had changed the color slightly, too. “How do you get that effect?” a customer asked. “You don’t wanna’ know…” J.B. gave guitar lessons for years, but has cut back. There’s also a recording studio in the basement, Riverdog Recording, where J.B. produced his last three albums. CONTINUED >

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SOME MUSICIANS ARE ON A MISSION FROM HIGHER POWERS

Photo by Bennett Kelly

Photo by Stephen Harris/ RiverTown Creative

J.B.’s mission was delivered by a King. In his twenties, J.B. was in Atlanta, playing with a “hair” band. He was more earth-oriented: blues, rock, soul. So he ditched the group and sought advice from B.B. King, sneaking backstage to meet the blues legend who he’d last seen at Lambertville’s fabled mid-century Music Circus. B.B. made two decrees: “Play music like you’re singing, and they’ll come out more natural. And when you get back to the New York area, move right into the city. You’ll get a lot of gigs and a lot of experience.” J.B. did, and went on to tour America and England with his own bands, and with many heroes, including B.B. Observing their twilight years was illuminating, he says. “The music business, it’s not out to give you anything.” Returning home to help with the family business, he had another realization: He didn’t need any place apart from Lambertville to receive musical communion. “Now I’ve got the best of everything; the business is music, I got it going on all the time. And, I’m always playing,” with weekly and monthly gigs here and in New Hope. More than that, he has one gig that brings it all home. “I come here at seven o’clock in the morning, I go out on the front step with a cup of tea. And I sit there, and I practice for a couple hours.” Those who pause to listen may yet receive the good word themselves. 609.397.7026 JBKline.com

B ACK STAGE | ARTS + CULTURE

Photo by Bennett Kelly

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Secret Life Of A True Toy Story ARTICLE BY JULIE BROWN PATTON

Here’s A Local Destination For Unique, High Quality Youth Treasures

K I D S COR N E R | SHOPPING

Lindsay Petropoulos, owner of Twirl Toy Shop

“The best toys are like unicorns. They include enough horse to seem real, but enough horn to become magical,” proclaim Amber and Andy Ankowski, parenting speakers and authors of child development books. Agreeing with the Ankowskis is Lindsay Petropoulos, owner of the Twirl Toy Shop in Pennington, who says the look of wonder in a child’s eyes when they see a new toy or the just-right game never gets old. She also believes in the power of community and in fostering creativity, sparking imagination while having some good ole’ fashioned fun. “We think with the right tools, children will be able to build a better world,” Lindsay says. To that end, this shop at 10 N. Main St., offers a thoughtfully curated selection of quality, unique toys and specialty gifts for children. “All of our treasures are kid-approved by our own resident toy testers,” adds Lindsay, a business professional and mother of three daughters. For those looking for challenging toys, the store has a STEM loft full of games, robotics and building sets. Lindsay says they even have items for hard-toplease tweens. “I love having a large selection of active toys, ones that have double purposes, such as kids being active with them and not realizing that they’re moving and getting some exercise.” She adds that many don’t realize she carries the ever-popular LEGO items and kits. “Our fidget toys, such as stress balls, spheres and spinners, make great stocking stuffers,” Lindsay shares. Giving back to the community, especially educational-driven groups, is an important component of

how Lindsay does business. She says she works with regional preschools and elementary schools in one of two ways. First, she hosts what she calls Shopping Days, during which people purchase in-store items with a percentage of the proceeds provided to the associated school. More recently, Lindsay started conducting pop-up Holiday Shops on-site at schools. She says people shop the products, and then a week later, she takes the selections back to the school, all wrapped and ready for gift giving. Again, Lindsay says she gives a percentage of the proceeds back to the school host. Additionally, for donation requests, she confirms a priority is given to organizations serving children, education and literacy. Music to shoppers’ ears at this time of year is that Twirl Toy Shop purchases also are gift wrapped for free. They have gift cards of any denomination, with no expiration dates.

TWIRL TOY HOLIDAY HOURS (OPEN EVERY DAY) • Monday through Friday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Sundays: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. info@twirltoyshop.com 609.737.4386 TwirlToyShop.com

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Christmas Eve hours at Twirl Toy Shop are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

K I D S COR N E R | SHOPPING

Turning your dreams into reality. Kitc he ns | Additions | De c ks Ne w Home s | And So Muc h Mor e Schedule a Free Initial Consultation Ask about our in your home cabinet design services. 917.282.1854 | m axim usc onst r uc t ionnj . c o m Our guiding values: God, Family, business

Pixie Salon is proud to introduce Chelsea, our new esthetician. She is a Dermalogica Certified Professional. She believes in providing her clients with the best service possible and educating them on how to care for their skin daily. Chelsea seeks out professional opportunities that will allow her to enhance her services. Whether it’s creating a glamorous makeup look, giving a relaxing facial, or waxing a client’s brows to give them the perfect shape, Chelsea’s goal is always to make her clients feel even more beautiful and confident in their own skin.

Treat yourself to our new services! Facials - Waxing Lash/Brow Tinting and Lamination Eyelash extensions and tinting

Shop Local this Holiday Season

It’s time for an All About Me Day!

M on - Fr i da y 1 1 -5 | S a tu rd a y 1 0 -5 | S u n d a y 1 1 -3 609.737.4386 | www.twirltoyshop.com 10 N Main St Pennington, NJ 08534

609-737-8700

pixiesalonNJ.com 21 W Delaware Ave Pennington, NJ D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/H OP E W E L LVA L L E Y

Re pu r p o s i ng Food Waste

ARTICLE BY JULIE BROWN PATTON

HOPEWELL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LOCAL BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP HANDLE FOOD SCRAPS IN ECO-FRIENDLY MANNER

Dolph Geurds (on left) and Don Farineau

H EA LT H Y LIF E ST Y LE | L I F E + CULTURE

Is food waste really waste if it’s given a secondary, beneficial purpose? Some local leaders would answer definitely no. Some would even call a “table to farm” approach the best way to go. To reduce the Hopewell Valley Regional School District’s impact on landfills, food waste is collected separately from the rest of the waste stream affiliated with the district. Even all-fiber lunch trays in the elementary and middle schools are compostable/ biodegradable ones. All food waste and biodegradable trays are collected in separate containers lined with special Bio-bags. Those bags are compostable as well, and keep the collection containers clean. Food waste is then collected by a Lambertville-based hauler, OneCompostCan by Terra Preta, LLC, and driven to a local composting operation. This overall effort pulls more than 20 cubic yards of food waste from the district’s trash every week, says Tom Quinn, HVRSD director of facilities. Before the new reclaiming setup, which started with OneCompostCan by Terra Preta in September 2021, Tom says the staff was composting food waste through trash hauling using their regular bin, however that became untenable when trash/compost services tapered and halted. “With OneCompostCan, we don’t have to use separate biodegradable bag liners, which are very expensive, and they will accept the lunch trays, which makes it easier,” Tom explains. “Composting food waste definitely saves on what’s going into the landfill and helps us with doing things by a more green method.”

He says the district uses both 45- and 60-gallon containers. “We have 5 to 10 containers or about 3 cubic yards per school per week. And they actually want the trays for composting, which works out much better,” he adds. “We were collecting so much food-related material we had to get more composting containers.” OneCompostCan provides both residential and commercial composting collection services, especially restaurants, generally within 30 miles of Lambertville in New Jersey’s Mercer, Hunterdon, Somerset, Southern Morris, Northern Burlington and Pennsylvania’s Bucks Counties. Company owner Rudolph “Dolph” Geurds composts the scraps at Don Farineau’s 100acre, Hopewell Township farm called Groundswell reFARMative. Dolph, a Pennington resident, and Don, an Asbury Park resident, see the collaboration as an immediate opportunity to aid environmental stability by reducing the effects of global warming. Don purchased the farm in May, and has been partnering with Dolph since then. Likewise, Tom says school students are encouraged by the overall initiative, and that it fits squarely into the objectives of the HVRSD Green Teams (organized, educational groups for sustainability goals and waste reduction), who make signs about the program’s progress and sometimes measure the output of recycling versus trash, he adds. “We just want people to adopt the simple habit of composting, which can have a huge planet-positive impact. If they want to do it at home, we

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Tom Quinn, Hopewell Valley Regional School District's director of facilities, says this customized, collaborative program for handling food-related scraps pulls more than 20 cubic yards of such waste from the district’s trash every week.

H EA LT H Y LIF E ST Y LE | L I F E + CULTURE

“A simple habit of being part of a circular food loop can make a huge, positive impact in sustainable living.” sell in-ground, worm-based composter models made from recyclable plastics for consumers’ yards and can help them install. Otherwise, we offer a simple and convenient pickup service where they fill the can and we do the rest,” Don says. “With any recycling service, we encourage everyone to ask where the materials actually end up. People think they’re doing the right thing, but some hauling services deliver to a burn facility in Trenton. Food waste should stay in the ground. Our related composting is handled by Mother Nature with help from our pigs and a few hundred laying hens,” says Dolph, who is a landscape architect. Indeed, Dolph’s 20-year-old son, Hayden, serves as the farm’s rancher, working to manage rotational grazing and other animal management eco-balancing factors. For residential customers, OneCompostCan offers plans between $18 and $36 per month. The company provides a container, and picks it up on schedule, leaving a clean and sanitized replacement bucket and lid to fill with more compost. Don says when a customer needs compost for their garden, the company provides it for no additional charge. Don, a risk manager, says they weigh each customer bucket/container to monitor how much waste is being diverted from landfills. “We plant one tree for every 10 residential cans that we collect, and provide personalized, year-end impact reports stating

the environment benefits from composting,” he adds. Don affirms they are working with more entities in the Pennington community and the Hopewell Borough farmers market to explore perhaps having a centralized drop-off container with a code lock as a way to collect and process a collective food waste stream for residents who would prefer a drop-off subscription versus a pickup service. He says because food waste is one of the heaviest components for hauling, this new effort could save money for the city while being good for the local ecosystem -- in other words, a win-win. Dolph and Don say they eventually want OneCompostCan and Groundswell reFARMative to become a full-circle, bio-diverse operation that produces vegetables, herbs, fruit, cut flowers, meat and eggs for sale. “We like to consider our planet-positive business as combining tried-andtrue, older farming concepts with modern technology,” Don says, with Dolph in full agreement. “We like to go with nature, rather than fighting it. Use nature to make sense. And we hope our farm can become a permaculture blueprint regarding how to work with long-established farms, green groups and conservation staffs to regenerate the soil and keep farms vibrant for generations to come.” OneCompostCan.com GroundswellReFARMative.com

D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/H OP E W E L LVA L L E Y

Celebrate the Season with us at the Lambertville House!

Book your next Employee Appreciation Extravaganza, End of Year Celebration, Corporate Retreat, or Holiday at the Lambertville House. VBA @LambertvilleHouse

| lambertvillehouse.com | 609.397.0200 | 32 Bridge St, Lambertville, NJ 08530

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Servicing the needs of central New Jersey and Bucks County Pennsylvania residents for over 65 years.

Because We Care

Lawn & Garden | All Natural Pet Food & Supplies Wild Bird | Fall Furniture, Decor & Plants

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D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/H OP E W E L LVA L L E Y

Fine Estate And Designer Jewelry One-Of-A-Kind Gems As Curated By Oakgem Professionals ARTICLE BY ERICA BROOKE GORDON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEATHER RAUB

Once a hidden gem in Lambertville, fine estate and designer jeweler Oakgem now offers its unique curation of items to the masses. With more than 3,000 pieces, Oakgem is the largest independent retailer of estate jewelry — pieces previously-owned, regardless of age. Oakgem was even one of the first estate jewelry companies to deal online, says store manager Sasha Krivitsky, daughter of Oakgem owner Vadim Krivitsky. The jeweler buys and sells a wide selection of fine jewelry from renowned brands, including Tiffany & Co., in the form of earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, cufflinks, pins, brooches and watches. Home

T R E N D SE T T E R | STY L E + BE AUTY

décor items, including glass bowls and vases as well as silverware, flatware, goblets and pitchers, many in sterling silver from designer Georg Jensen, also are bought and sold. While modern and vintage estate jewelry is still Oakgem’s top draw, the retailer has expanded to offer new pieces from recognizable brands that appeal to a wider clientele, says Sasha. Their most popular designers include David Webb, Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef and Arpels, Bulgari and Seaman Schepps. “Customers will come to us for those brands of designer jewelry. We specialize in pieces from the

Sasha Krivitsky, Oakgem store manager.

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1950s and newer and have all their signature collections,” she explains. While the majority of business is conducted online, Sasha says the Lambertville location, where most inventory is held, is open for walk-ins Thursday through Sunday, and by appointment for customers to bring in pieces to sell or browse their selection. A second retail location in Palm Beach, Florida, features a smaller assortment of high-end pieces. How might one decide whether they’re ready to part with a specific piece? “If you have not worn a piece of your jewelry in three years or more, it is most likely time to look into selling,” Vadim recommends. Sasha, who, since 2013, has handled everything at Oakgem from inventory and cataloging to representing new jewelry designers — her current role — especially enjoys connecting with customers, a perk of doing business this time of year. “Working with our retail clients is very rewarding,” she says. “Now that we have customers coming into the store, it’s great to meet them in person.” The holiday season is in full swing, says Sasha, with sales expected to stay steady through February, thanks to Valentine’s Day. Around the holidays, customers tend to purchase items they’ve eyed for a while, Sasha says. Popular holiday gifts include earrings, cufflinks and diamond-heavy pieces. “We have so many choices,” she adds. With the holidays being a time for celebration, engagement and wedding rings are popular this time of year, too. Oakgem offers custom bridal, allowing customers to design a ring based on their style, cut, color and clarity preferences and budget. From there, the jeweler sources the diamond and designs the setting. Altogether, the process takes approximately six to eight weeks. “What’s nice about the custom bridal process,” Sasha explains, “is you don’t

T R E N D SE T T E R | STY L E + BE AUTY

“Oakgem offers custom bridal, allowing customers to design a ring based on their style, cut, color and clarity preferences and budget.”

have to be limited to what a store has in their case. Whatever somebody would like can be made for them with any customization.” She adds, in terms of quality and selection, “sourcing a diamond from scratch is a much better process than getting what a store has in stock.” In fact, Oakgem’s customization and truly unique pieces have contributed to the jeweler’s three decades of success. “We have the most competitive pricing and unique curation of pieces,” Sasha says, “in addition to special one-of-a-kind pieces you can’t find anywhere else.” 39 Bridge St., Lambertville 609.300.6900 Oakgem.com

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Oakgem items carry customers nicely through the holidays into Valentine's Day.

“Around the holidays, customers tend to purchase items they’ve eyed for a while. Popular holiday gifts include earrings, cufflinks and diamondheavy pieces. We have so many choices” - Sasha Krivitsky, Oakgem store manager

T R E N D SE T T E R | STY L E + BE AUTY

I F YO U A R E READING THIS... S O I S YO U R B E S T C L I E N T.

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Holiday Open House Friday, December 30th from 2pm - 6pm Please join us for refreshments and tours! RSVP to pam@duncravenec.com

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The City Lifestyle

Giving Campaign Now in its third year, the City Lifestyle Giving Campaign will give away $300,000 this holiday season to help individual community members who would benefit from a helping hand during their time of need. But they need YOUR HELP to make it happen! Maybe you know of a single parent struggling to provide, an elderly person who has experienced loss, a child enduring a health issue, a co-worker suffering a sudden, unexpected tragedy or a neighbor with a financial hardship who has fallen between the cracks of getting assistance. Chances are you know someone with a specific need—even if nobody else does. To preserve and protect the dignity of every recipient, the City Lifestyle Giving Campaign is completely confidential. No identities will be revealed or publicized in ANY way. (Even those who nominate others may remain anonymous if they choose.) Last year, City Lifestyle was able to give to more than 70 recipients all over the country by sending checks in the mail through New Year’s Eve. (This year, the goal is to double that number with checks ranging in amount up to $3,000 each.) With nominations flooding in from community members and leaders such as judges, police officers, teachers, nurses, social workers, mentors and readers like you, we were able to reach people who might otherwise go unnoticed. “We believe in giving back and serving the communities where we live in a real and tangible way,” says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle. “This Giving Campaign is all about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.” Together with Matthew Perry, Chief Sales Officer, Steven adds that the outpouring and gratitude from the recipients was overwhelming and affirmed that this is a tradition they want to continue. “We believe God has blessed our company with continued success,” Matthew adds, “so we in turn want to be a blessing to others.” City Lifestyle has also enacted an internal giving program whereby every employee in the company receives $100 to give away to someone in the community. “The idea is to encourage our employees to keep doing it on their own,” Steven says. “Taking care of one another and blessing others is so rewarding that it perpetuates a cycle of giving. It’s extremely important to me as a person and as a company to foster that culture of generosity.”

G IV IN G BAC K | LOCA L SERVI CE S

“This Giving Campaign is all about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.”

W here ha s t he c a mpa ig n g i f t e d?

Scan Code to

Nominate between Dec. 1 – 15, 2022

Follow @citylifestyle on Instagram for reminders! To submit a nomination, follow @citylifestyle on Instagram and fill out the form found in the bio link. All entries will be read, and because this is not a raffle, there is no need to nominate someone more than once. The amount given to each recipient will be based on need. D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/H OP E W E L LVA L L E Y

DECEMBER 2022

events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

D ECE M BE R 1 ST

Art Show Hosted By Ernest Schwiebert Chapter Trout Unlimited

D&R G R EEN WAY TRUST BUILD I NG , 1 P R E S E RVAT I O N P L AC E , P R I NC E TO N | 1 0 :0 0 A M Hopewell Township residents Bob Bishop and Stuart von Oehsen share that the 360 members of the local Trout Unlimited Club are hosting a monthlong art show to sell 27 prints of fish taken by local artist/fly tyer/ architect/fly fisherman Ernie Schwiebert. This is the first time all the prints are available for the public to see and purchase online. Call 215.696.0476 or 609.915.6919. D EC E M BE R 1 0 T H

Christmas Bazaar

ST. MATTHEWS EPIS COPAL CHUR C H | 1 0 :0 0 A M A traditional Christmas Bazaar will be held in Pennington from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will feature homemade baked goods, jams and jellies, handcrafted crochet and knitted ware, handmade Norwegian crafts and cookies, hostess gifts, Christmas plants and decorations and an antiques extravaganza. Santa will welcome all to a luncheon at noon. Phone 609.737.0985 with questions. DE C E M BE R 1 1 T H

Artistic Mixed Media Partner Workshop

ART S PAR KS | 2:00 PM This workshop is designed for those 5-10 years old, with adult participation required. Students and their caregiver will explore a variety of media, such as acrylics, collage, watercolors, pastels, pen and ink, printmaking, sculpture and colored pencils. Both child and caregiver will each create their own pieces. Email info@ artsparksstudio.com or call 609.466.5437. D EC E M BE R 1 2 T H

Dinner With Santa

PEN N IN GTON BOR O RESTAUR A NT & B A R | 6 :0 0 P M Join a magical evening, including holiday music, as the staff transforms Boro into Santa’s Workshop. Adults are $54 per ticket, which includes a buffet meal and dessert plus one specialty cocktail; children are $48 per ticket, which includes a buffet dinner, hot cocoa station, meet with Santa and cookie decorating. Tax and gratuity is included in ticket price. D EC E M BE R 1 4 T H

Your Stage At Any Stage: Open Mic

H OPEW ELL THEATER | 7:00 PM Calling all singers, poets, storytellers, neighbors, anyone with obvious or unshowcased talents -- the stage is yours! This Open Mic evening will be hosted by songstress and storyteller, Michelle Klein, of the Peasant Grill. Order of performances will be random night of the show. Music: up to 10 minutes, comedy: up to 5 minutes; spoken word/storytelling/poetry: up to 7 minutes. D EC E M BE R 2 9 T H

Kwanzaa Celebration

GROUN DS FOR S CULPTUR E | 4 :0 0 P M Mercer County 'Nature For All' Outdoor Equity Alliance members will host a Kwanzaa Celebration until 6 p.m. To become a sponsor, contact coordinator Renata Barnes at RBarnes@njoea.org. For background information about this group, which is based out of Hopewell Valley, visit OutdoorEquityAlliance.org .

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/HopewellValley

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