I heard about a great deal on the radio today, my friends!  Magic 98.3 is advertising their Magic Dining Deals.  Certain Central Jersey restaurants are offering two fifty dollar gift certificates for the price of one.  Yes, you read that correctly - one hundred dollars to spend at a local restaurant for only fifty big ones!

The deals changes periodically.  Magic is currently advertising deals for Ellington’s Restaurant in Piscataway, Indigo in North Brunswick, Noche Sur Latin Steakhouse and Bar in New Brunswick, Osteria Dante in Red Bank, Terrace on the Green in Manalapan and Trio of Martinsville.  There are only a certain number of certificates available so get them while they are hot!

Next on tap for the Magic Dining Deals: The Restaurant at Fox Hollow in Branchberg and Cervantes of Spain in Cranford.  The choices are constantly changing; just check the list of past deals on their website. Also, be sure to listen to Magic 98.3 for updates on these deals and to listen to their great selection of soft rock! 

Animal Friends for Education and Welfare will host its 4th Annual Wine and Food Pairing and Art Auction on Saturday, October 20th.  A.F.E.W. is a 501c3 organization which aims to raise public awareness of animal issues by promoting public education in fostering respect, understanding and care for all animals, as well as placing special emphasis on spaying and neutering to help stop pet overpopulation.  A.F.E.W. established a network of foster homes that provide housing and socialization for animals until a permanent home can be found.

The Wine and Food Pairing will take place on Saturday from 5 pm to 8 pm at Enterprise Firehouse on Klockner Road in Hamilton, NJ. Hor d’oeuvres by Chef Ken Martin of Wegman’s will be featured alongside wines from around the world. Tickets are $40 and are not sold at the door, so be sure to purchase them ahead of time. All proceeds will benefits A.F.E.W.’s furry friends.  Call (609) 448-5322 or go to http://www.afewpets.org/index.php for more details.  Join A.F.E.W. next weekend for a purrfectly good time! 

Big news, ladies!!  Forget Milan, Paris, or New York.  Fashion Week lands in Princeton this very week!

Head down to Palmer Square for trunk shows. giveaways, raffles and more.  The promotions will last through Sunday, October 14th, and the week culminates with a Fashion Show at the Nassau Inn on Sunday from 1-3 pm.  It’s free!!  Come and see the latest styles in Career, Weekend, and Evening Wear.

While you are there, support Dress for Success.  Bring gently used suits and business attire to the Fashion Show to be donated to those in need.  Strap on your Manolos - it’s time to get fabulous!

For more information about Fashion Week and Dress for Success, visit the Palmer Square website.  I will fill you in on all the juicy gossip after the show on Sunday!

Warm temperatures filled the Princeton University streets with people wearing shorts and flip-flops this past October Saturday night. And what better way to enjoy the oddly warm weather but to enjoy it at Thomas Sweets Ice Cream & Chocolate. As usual, there was a line outside the door as always right up until winter. But one of the great things about the line is that it moves rather quickly…it’s just scooping ice cream after all, isn’t it? Well…no, it’s not just about scooping ice cream. There’s more to it than that. Thomas Sweet offers perfect scoops of indulgence blending family and friends together and topping it all off with another delicious treat – music.

Right outside the side entrance to Thomas Sweet there’s a space reserved for musicians to play. One of Thomas Sweet’s regular musicians, BRIZ, played Saturday evening as he usually does on weekends. I happened to catch his performance while enjoying time with the family and a lip smacking “Blend-In” with vanilla ice cream, heath bar, m&ms, and kit kat (try it, it’s a MUST). We caught a good portion of Briz’s set, taking in every beat. He soulfully sang a string of rock covers, with just the right gravely touch in his voice and had laid-back edge. He paid homage to popular musicians by slightly changing his voice to sound like the artist he was playing. Strumming his guitar, sounding his harmonica, and keeping the rhythm with his left foot, Briz didn’t miss a beat with the audience who couldn’t help themselves but join in and sing with him. On this cozy October Saturday night, the air echoed with the blissful sounds of people singing together “..bye, bye Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry…”

You’ll find Briz is a lot more than just a one-man band. Check out his websites at www.brizsongs.com and www.myspace.com/brizsongs.

And of course, spoil yourself before winter spoils you! Visit Thomas Sweet today at:

Thomas Sweet
179 Nassau St.
Princeton, NJ 08542
Ice Cream, Chocolates, Ice Cream Cakes

Thomas Sweet
29 Palmer Square
Princeton, NJ 08542
Chocolates only

Thomas Sweet
55 Easton Ave.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Ice Cream, Ice Cream Cakes, Candy, Chocolates

Well my friends, the Tewksbury 5 Miler this morning was everything I thought it would be… and more!!  The small crowd was a good and generous crowd.  The morning started with a one-mile fun run, followed by the big show: five miles split between cross country terrain and country paved roads.

The first mile absolutely flew by, although it was nearly all uphill.  The second mile leveled out a bit and I was shocked when I turned the corner to mile three and saw seven or eight cows staring at me over a fence.  That wasn’t the only surprise mile three had to offer: this section was all uphill and it was a hard hill to climb.  I had to walk it, I’m too lazy!  Miles four and five were mostly downhill, however, we traversed two small pedestrian bridges and an area comprised of mostly tree roots and rocks.  Runners had to really watch where they were going!

Now, for the results:  The overall winner, Dominick Grillo, finished in 29 minutes and 25 seconds and actually returned and ran the last quarter mile alongside yours truly.  For the ladies, it was Heather Gracie-Petty that took home the gold with a time of 34 minutes and 4 seconds.  As for me, I finished second in my age group… but don’t be too proud: there were only two women in my age group!!  That’s a little secret we can keep amongst ourselves!

McCarter Theatre Center is one of my absolute favorite things about this area of New Jersey.  The folks over there know how to do it right.  With three performance spaces, McCarter can offer an eclectic array of the arts that is unsurpassed in this region.

The theatre is located in the heart of Princeton, at 91 University Place, just off Nassau Street.  A perfect evening would start off with dinner and drinks at one of the many lovely Princeton restaurants (my personal favorites include Teresa’s and Winberies), catching a great performance at McCarter and then ice cream at either Halo Pub or Thomas Sweets.  Sounds good, right? 

Below is a listing of what McCarter Theatre Center has cookin’ for the month of October. Visit their website for this information and much more!

Theater:

Stick Fly Sep 7 - Oct 14 2007 There may be skeletons in the closet of the LeVays’ genteel beach house. When the younger son’s fiancée, who has not had wealth to cushion her color, arrives at the family’s home in Martha’s Vineyard, it ignites a dance of class, territory and duty, and explosive family secrets.

Tartuffe or THE IMPOSTER Oct 7 - Oct 28 2007 Tartuffe is the epitome of a houseguest from hell. Under a cloak of piety, he works his way into Orgon’s household and tries to run off with the family’s fortune and beautiful daughter. Everyone but Orgon sees through Tartuffe’s pose, but is it too late to save them from ruin?

Music:

Joshua Redman Trio/Brad Mehldau Trio Oct 15 2007 For 15 years one of the most compelling and fearless saxophone voices in jazz, Joshua Redman returns to the classic sax/bass/drums acoustic trio format. Pianist Brad Mehldau has subsequently forged his own path which embodies the essence of jazz exploration and pop allure.

Richard Goode, piano Oct 16 2007 Richard Goode’s reputation as the “pianist’s pianist” is widely acknowledged, He has long been admired as one of today’s leading interpreters of the Baroque, Classic and Romantic repertoire.

Taylor Eigsti Trio Oct 19 2007 Another of the current crop of jazz wunderkinds, Taylor Eigsti just turned twenty-two - and already has two Grammy nominations! Like Eldar (who’s a year younger), he dazzles on the keys, offering a varied palette.

Itzak Perlman Oct 23 2007 Itzhak Perlman will return to McCarter for the first time since 1982 when he joins with twelve string players from the Perlman Music Program for an evening of chamber music, including Mozart’s String Quintet in g, K. 516 (two violas) and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence for String Sextet, Op. 70.

Andrew Manze, violin/Richard Egarr, piano Oct 29 2007 Two conductors lay down their batons and take up their instruments in this joint recital: violinist Andrew Manze, the renowed specialist in baroque music and his longtime collaborator, Richard Egarr.

Dance:

Tango Buenos Aires Oct 30 2007 Who can resist the tango? This troupe of 20 dancers and musicians from the dance form’s very cradle showcases its roots, richness and passion, from its early beginnings more than a century ago, to the social dance that has become a worldwide passion.

Georgian State Dance Company Oct 31 2007 A Russian cousin to the mighty Moiseyev, the Georgians are an 80-member troupe that has performed to over 50 million people in 87 countries. This enthralling company preserves all the ceremony, comedy and acrobatic feats of traditional Georgian folk dance.

I have recently created a message board for residents in the Greater Princeton area. It’s a great way to socialize, meet others, and talk about things that matter in the community! Even if your an outsider looking to move to the area you can register and ask questions. When you go to the forum make sure to register and go to the ‘introduce yourself’ section and let us know who you are. Afterwards you may go to the city you live in and create a topic or discussion. Be the first to post in your city. We are looking to grow out the forum quickly! Let everyone know that lives in the area about it. See you there!
Link to Forum-http://www.greaterprinceton.com/forum.php

Tomorrow morning is the Tewksbury 5 Miler race. Tewksbury is a bit of a drive to get to from the Greater Princeton area, but if you are a runner, it might just be worth the trip!

Why?

Two things – they give away long-sleeved cotton tee-shirts. Us runners LOVE tee-shirts and the thought of a long-sleeve one makes me giddy! Also, there is a good amount of participants but it’s not very competitive. If you are a decent runner, there is a chance you could place and win a prize!

The start of the race is at the Christie Hoffman Farm Park in Tewksbury (Route 512, Hunterdon County). Registration tomorrow morning, Sunday October 7th, starts at 8:30 am. The one-mile fun run will start at 9:30 am and is $20 for day of registration. The five-mile race is $25 to register and will begin at 10:00 am.

The Tewksbury 5 Miler is organized by the First Aid and Rescue Squad. Post-race festivities include food, drinks, music and the award ceremony. I plan on going, if I can wake myself up early enough! Get more info by checking out their website. Check back at the blog tomorrow to see how it went!!

In a slowing market, sellers can find it tempting to believe in magic solutions. With unsold inventories growing in most areas, some sellers resort to offering flashy incentives for buyers. Everything from big-screen TV’s to vacation packages are being tacked onto listings in the hope of luring in interested buyers.

In truth no amount of flash or gimmickry will change how buyers feel about your home’s core qualities, but incentives that appeal to a buyer’s wallet can be effective in certain situations. Below are some buyer’s incentives that may help set your home apart from the rest:

Paying Points - The current housing slump has placed mortgage concerns in the minds of many buyers. Sellers who offer to pay mortgage points for the buyer (sometimes referred to as “buying down the mortgage”) are more likely to attract buyers who are nervous about their monthly payments or interest rate. Each point you pay equals 1 percent of the loan amount, so mortgage buy downs lower both the interest rate and the monthly payment.

Down-Payment Aid - One of the biggest hurdles for many homebuyers, especially first-time homebuyers, is the down payment. Help with the down payment may in many cases be more important to the buyer than the actual asking price itself. This incentive works well for those selling “starter” homes that are more likely to draw first time homebuyers.

Closing Costs Help - Legal fees, title insurance, filing fees - closing costs can add up in a hurry for buyers, typically totaling somewhere between 2 and 7 percent of the total loan amount. Sellers who offer to assist with the closing costs will appeal to cash buyers short on cash

Home Warranty - Including a year (or two) of home warranty coverage serves as a peace of mind for the buyer that they won’t have to foot the bill for unexpected repairs in the first year or two of ownership. Most policies include service to the home’s HVAC, interior plumbing, appliances and major fixtures. The low cost of home warranties (typically a few hundred dollars) makes them a low risk-high reward incentive to offer.

Maintenance Fees - Some features of a home that you may consider “selling points” (pool, hot tub, sauna, gas fireplace, AC system, etc) can actually seem like detractions to buyers due to their related maintenance costs. You can assuage a buyer’s concerns by offering to pay for the first year’s worth of maintenance.

Landscaping - Offering to spring for a few additional landscape features can be a nice way to let buyers add personal touches to the property without taking on personal expense. Keep in mind that adding such touches on before putting the home on the market may have a greater impact (provided, of course that your landscaping choices aren’t woefully misguided).

Condo/Homeowner’s Association Fees - In a condominium complex or planned community, homeowner’s dues add to the monthly cost of ownership. If the first year’s worth of dues are taken care of by the seller, potential buyers have one less early-expense to worry about.

Price Reduction - Price reductions don’t usually come to mind when discussing incentive strategies, but really no single factor is more important than the asking price. A well-timed price reduction can indicate to buyers that you are flexible and serious about selling the home.

Upgrades - In most cases major home repairs and touch ups should be completed prior to putting the listing on the market. However, offering to finance certain aesthetic changes, such as new exterior or interior paint, can be marketed as a means for the buyer to add their own personal touch to the home.

Extras - If you’re going to offer a “throw-in” as an incentive, why not tailor the offer to the charms of your home? For example, the antique hutch that perfectly compliments your entryway might be included in the list price. If you’ve invested time and money in a prized back deck, including a premium gas grill could be a logical pairing. Buyers often view wild incentive offers with skepticism, but “thoughtful throw-ins” don’t carry the same air of desperation.

Down the street from Americana Diner towards City Streets Café is a yoga center, simply called One Yoga Center, in East Windsor. As I sit in the waiting room waiting for an appointment all is quite. But not for too long. Out of one of the rooms noise erupts. The door opens, a woman visibly shaking and crying walks out, turns down the hallway, and stops for a moment to regain her composure. It turns out the woman experienced something from a past life regression workshop that was in progress. She saw something that overwhelmed her and took her by surprise - she had a glimpse of something curious and powerful from a past life. The host of the workshop, Michele B. Engoran, is a Certified Past Life Therapist. Her designations include MA, CSW, CHT. Her workshops guide individual to discover things about themselves…more than they would ever hope to know.

I sat down and talked with Michele Engoran. Past Life Regression is to say at the very least a unique experience. In detail, Michele describes how her workshop works. She begins by leading her clients to a relaxed state through light hypnosis, a light meditative state, clearing out all the constant chatter that fills one’s head throughout the day, and directs her clients’ focus and energy deep within themselves. All that and still leaving the clients with total self-control and actually enabling them to a more heightened self-awareness and sharpened acuteness.

According to Michele, past life regression experience can be fully realized and even fulfilled within one hour. Discovering a past life typically comes only as a brief visit, a quick peek into a life once known. She explains that once someone catches a glimpse into a past life the person tends to moves on. She finds rarely is it where a client stays and roams about to find out more in that life. (But of course, if that’s what compels you, Michele is certainly the person to turn to.) Also rare was the experience by the woman who briefly stepped out of the workshop to regain her composure. Michele usually observes her clients in a calming state when they discover one of their lives. Yes…one of their lives. She explains that everyone has multitude of past lives. When Michele herself experienced past life regression for the first time she glimpsed into two past lives in one session - a life in India, another in Africa. She discovered several more lives since then.

For over six years Michele has helped clients discover their past lives. She is a Certified Past Life Therapist through the International Board of Regression Therapy. She trained under Dr. Brian Weiss, documented as the nation’s foremost expert in the field of past life therapy. She has her own practice in Plainsboro, NJ where she holds group workshops and private one-on-one consultations throughout the year. She has been invited to speak at many professional events and seminars, and even hosts workshops at her clients’ homes, for them and their guests.

Firm in her belief that life doesn’t begin at birth Michele doesn’t believe it stops at death either. She reflects on a powerful notion that “birth and death are merely parentheses of a much larger experience, leaving evidence of the larger experience within each and every one of us that can be realized through past life regression.”

For more details about past life regression and about Michele Engoran’s practice, visit www.MicheleBEngoran.com. Also check out One Yoga Center located on Route 130 North. They offer a varied array of classes and programs, more than just yoga!