Many homeowners who are trying to sell are also renting out their properties. Many are single family and town homes that can offer you more square footage and garage space!

Search here: http://www.GreaterPrinceton.com/realestate.php make sure to use the rental check box

Tune in to WWFN, 89.1, this Sunday, December 9th at 2 pm.  “The Classical Network” wil be broadcasting their popular show, Sounds Choral featuring Princeton’s Own Westminster Choir College!

The one hour show, called “The Westminster Legacy” will be hosted by Marjorie Herman and feature interviews with Westminster Director of Choral Activities, Joe Miller.  For more information, view WWFN’s website.

‘Tis the season to visit Princeton!  Along with great holiday shopping and plenty of places to refuel with food and drinks amisdt your elf-like errands, Palmer Square will be that much more festive. 

The tree on the green is lit and the menorah will be lit on Thursday, December 6th at the Hulfish Street North Plaza.  Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, you can enjoy musical entertainment and Santa as they stroll through Palmer Square.  Also, Old Fashioned Horse and Carriage rides are available for all to enjoy, whether you are naughty or nice!

So, get out to Princeton to enjoy the season and also check out the new stores Chelsea and Stephen Seos Men’s Clothing!

Happy Holidays!

Some might consider it a landmark in Princeton.  I just consider it delicious.

For years, Princeton University students and local residents have been stopping by Hoagie Haven on Nassau Street for a quick, delicious and cheap meal.  Hoagie Haven serves both hot and cold sandwiches, including their famous “heart stop” varieties that are loaded with flavor and goodness. 

The place is not glamourous but it is historic.  The shop underwent renovations in 2003, but still looks like the classic sandwich shop we all love.  And the sign? Well, that stayed the same… the classic wooden sign reading “Hoagie Haven” is over thirty years old.

To ensure that trick-or-treaters, you, and your house stay safe, remember the following tips.

• Clear your yard and sidewalk of any obstacles or decorations that may be hard to see in the dark, lest someone go bump in the night.
• Keep your house well lighted, both inside and out; you wouldn’t want to miss any particularly good costumes, would you?
• Ask your Neighborhood Watch or local citizen’s group to haunt (patrol) your community.
• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to your police or sheriff’s department.

To make sure even the scariest costumes are safe, keep the following in mind when buying or designing one.

• Try makeup instead of masks; it’s more comfortable and doesn’t obstruct vision the way masks can.
• Check to ensure that costumes are flame-retardant so that young ones are safe around jack-o’-lanterns, candles, and other flames.
• Keep costumes short to ensure that the only trip taken is the one around the neighborhood.
• Look for brightly colored costumes, attach reflector strips to costumes and bags, and remind trick-or-treaters to carry glow sticks and flashlights.
• If a costume involves any sort of fake weapon, make sure that it is made of a flexible material such as cardboard or foam. Or, avoid the whole problem of weapons by challenging your child to design a costume that is scary without one.

Keep in mind the next few tips to make sure your trick-or-treater’s night in the neighborhood will be safe and fun.

• Older kids should trick-or-treat in groups; kids walking around alone are never as safe as those in groups, and especially not at night. Younger kids should be accompanied by a parent or trusted neighbor.
• Review the route for trick-or-treating beforehand and set a time set when kids should be home. Also, have a plan if your child gets separated from his or her friends or from you.
• Remind your children not to enter strange houses or cars.

After a successful and safe night around the neighborhood, remember that the treats still need scrutiny before anyone eats them.

• Remind your children not to eat treats until they’ve come home. To help ensure this, feed them a meal or a substantial snack before they go out.
• Check all treats at home in a well-lighted place. Be especially wary of anything that is not wrapped by the factory or that is no longer sealed.
• Remind kids not to eat everything at once, lest they be green even without the makeup.

Hey all!!  That haunted time is upon us and I am sure you are wondering what to do and where to go for Halloween this year!  There are haunted houses and hayrides all around New Jersey, here are a few in our area. 

Windsor Farms Haunted Hey Ride
1202 Windsor Road, West Windsor
609-443-9379
Friday and Saturday evenings in October starting at 7pm.  Excellent Haunted Hayrides with great special effects. Apple cider, funnel cakes, etc. Rides leave every 10 minutes from dusk (7pm). 

Hamilton Hauntings - Terror on Route 33
Route 33, Hamilton
609-689-1454
Over 25 new scenes and scares. The first part of your journey will be in the darkness ride to terror. The fear level is raised and the lights dimmer as the DARKNESS will take you to a new dimension in horror. The dark dreaded path in the woods will be the next part of your journey.  Next you will be headed to the land of Castle Fear and the legend of Prince Xavier III.  You wont beleive your eyes as the Price tranforms to a blood sucking monster. . When the prince is looking for blood only fresh mortal souls are what he seeks. 

Looking for more frightfully good times?  Check out the complete list! 

Located in a strip mall of Route 31 in Pennington, Za Restaurant has quickly become a local favorite.  The narrow, cheery space seats 32, but the garden patio seating is favorable for a mild fall like the one we are having.  Chef Mark Valenza has created a diverse and exciting menu that keeps diners on their toes, and Za has been credited with many excellent reviews.  I hope to head over there very soon to taste it for myself - if you get there first, please let us know what you think!

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! 

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!

Driving down Washington Road from Route One I see the sidewalks occupied with the ever-visiting clique of parents and grandparents strolling through the University to take in the pride and glory of where their kids are going to school. The speed limit is like 10 mph so I have no choice but to take in the scenery with them. I slowly reach Nassau and turn left where the road opens up to what Princeton is all about. It’s almost like turning onto a road where the skies are bluer and the air a little crisper. But maybe it’s just me.

The streets and sidewalks are filled with couples sauntering hand in hand, parents pushing strollers, and meandering tourists (those that have to look up at the not-so-tall buildings, and ever so slowly walk by each and every single shop). PJ’s Pancake House has its usual line of hungry eager customers waiting outside, anxious to begin their day, but took a chance that maybe, just maybe, there wouldn’t be a line. Their lanky posture says it all ‘…but since we’re here, might as well…’ Taking in the scenery has caused me to miss two awesome parking spots on Witherspoon Street. I was caught off guard by the brightly yellow-colored parking meters. I wasn’t sure if they were for regular parking people, or were specially reserved parking meters. They seemed new to me, but I guess I just never paid attention to them. I resorted to park where I always end up parking, the Hulfish parking garage.

As I take the brief walk through the shadowy garage towards the sidewalk that leads outside to the early afternoon sun I couldn’t help but be excited about the potential of the day. About discovering what Princeton had to offer me on this Saturday Fall afternoon.

As soon as this thought came to mind a gathering of sorts caught my eye. I stopped and stared to see that across the street at the Princeton Library courtyard there was a crowd standing and hunching over, like bending slightly downward to look at something. So of course I looked both ways before crossing the street and gingerly approached the crowd. At first I thought maybe it was disaster of some sort. I don’t know why, but sometimes crowds from far away look scary. As I got closer, I realized I stumbled upon one of the many reasons why Princeton is Princeton. There in the middle of the courtyard was a champion chess match. Twenty-five challengers were playing against one chess master. Intellects, amateurs, all makes and kinds were gathered in this crowd, enjoying the backdrop of a beautiful day in a beautiful town. There were photographers clicking away, a young man sitting on a nearby bench by the chess table talking away about bonds and futures, random supporters looking onto the tables of competitors assessing who might make it the farthest, a wife offering a tall cool bottle of water to her husband who was deeply focused on his game. The game boards didn’t look nearly finishable that day so I thought to go about my way and wander onward to Nassau Square. As I turn around I noticed a man standing on the corner of Witherspoon and Hulfish fully dressed in Irish regalia, he might have been even carrying bagpipes. He was presumably waiting for his wife-apparantly he was the one assigned to be in charge of the baby stroller. I needed to satisfy my cravings for Theresa’s Pizza so there I left him, on the corner, rocking the baby to sleep, waiting for his wife, dressed in a kilt, possibly with bagpipes.

I enter Theresa’s and at first didn’t see a host. It was rather late in the afternoon for lunch, I thought, and I was getting a little dizzy from an empty stomach. The host approaches and gives me a quizzical look..’may I help you?’ I blame it on my empty stomach as I looked at him like a deer in headlights. I stammered out ‘I’m here for a late lunch.” He responds, ‘Oh, you mean table for one?” Yes, table for one..in fact please announce it a little louder so everyone in Winnberries can hear you too. Ok, maybe I didn’t say that last part, out loud. I enjoyed a margarita personal pizza with a really nice glass of red wine. I text my husband to see if he’s enjoying being at the RU game with his buddies. Yes..but unfortunately they’re losing. Oh well. Called my little one who was at grandma’s house. She’s not missing me so much. Oh well, again. As I finish up my late lunch at a table for one, I noticed something that made me crack a smile. The lady next to me is also at a table for one. I decide to look around some more and discovered that at least three more tables were seated just like me. So I ended up completely enjoying my late lunch, leaving the restaurant a little more confident, and ready to take on what’s waiting for me next.

My next stop - East Windsor, a neighboring town of Princeton. What waits for me there is something more than I ever expected….

Check out Part II…soon to be posted…. Annie