Strength training helps not just muscles, but the whole musculoskeletal system.
If an individual has joint pain, he or she should do more, not less: more activity and especially more resistance training. Resistance training — strengthening exercises using weights, machines, an individual’s own body or other equipment — can bring many benefits beyond getting stronger. It also can help decrease joint pain and ease symptoms of arthritis.
Resistance training is often cited as causing joint pain, especially if an individual uses too much weight or performs exercises incorrectly. But when done properly, resistance training is an excellent tool in the joint health toolbox.
Strong Muscles, Strong Bones
Strength training helps not just muscles, but the whole musculoskeletal system. Resistance training causes the body to adapt to stress. Tiny tears form in the muscles exercised, which the body then repairs with protein and rest, making them bigger and stronger over time.
The same thing happens with bone. Individuals who engage in regular resistance training have better bone density and less risk for osteoporosis. This is particularly important in individuals who are over the age of 40, as they lose about 1 percent of bone mass per year. Postmenopausal women especially benefit from strengthening bone through resistance training, as the drop in estrogen after menopause increases the risk for osteoporosis.
When done properly, resistance training is an excellent tool in the joint health toolbox.
Protect the Joints
Individuals with arthritis — osteoarthritis and the inflammatory types such as rheumatoid arthritis — also benefit from resistance training. A 2010 review of clinical trials suggests that in older adults with osteoarthritis, resistance training was associated with a 35 percent reduction in joint pain and a similar increase in function.
Similarly, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) benefit greatly from regular resistance exercise. RA increases the risk of osteoporosis, but exercise slows the loss of bone mass. According to a 2011 review, regular resistance training strengthens the tendons and ligaments of individuals with RA, and helps keep the cartilage in their joints healthy.
Individuals who engage in regular resistance training have better bone density and less risk for osteoporosis.
Talk to Your Doctor
Resistance training can be of benefit to almost anyone, but it is important to talk to a medical professional before starting a fitness regimen. An orthopaedic specialist — a doctor who focuses on the musculoskeletal system — can help.
For those who have arthritis or osteoporosis, or for individuals who simply want to become healthier, request an appointment at University Orthopaedic Associates. With multiple locations and physicians who cover the full range of orthopaedic services, you’re sure to get the appointment you need with the doctor you want at the time and location that’s most convenient for you.
Too often, well-meaning sports enthusiasts will suffer from preventable injuries that can end up sidelining them from the activities they love. Play it safe with outdoor exercise tips from the experts at JAG-ONE Physical Therapy.
John Gallucci Jr., MS, ATC, PT, DPT and CEO of Woodbridge, N.J.-based JAG-ONE Physical Therapy, which has 49 locations throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
JAG-ONE Physical Therapy offers tips to keep you in the game of life and free of injuries so that you can enjoy the sports you love this summer.
With summer upon us, millions of Americans are taking to the great outdoors to engage in the many fun sports that warm weather promotes. But too often, many of these well-meaning sports enthusiasts will suffer from preventable injuries that can end up sidelining them from the activities they love.
“Like most health care professionals, we advise people to ‘move it or lose it,’ as exercise lubricates the joints, keeps joints and muscles flexible, and is great for the heart, lungs, and other organs,” said John Gallucci Jr., MS, ATC, PT, DPT and CEO of Woodbridge, NJ-based JAG-ONE Physical Therapy. “Unfortunately, however, a lot of people try to do too much too quickly and end up with a range of injuries — from back pain to muscle soreness, hamstring strains, and more — that end up forcing them off the playing field.”
This is especially true of many Northeast dwellers, who notoriously do less activity over the cold winter months and then go ‘all out’ at the first sign of spring. “To have a great and active spring, summer and fall, you need to move in the winter, focusing in particular on fine-tuning the upper and lower extremities and working to improve core strength, which can prevent a lot of injuries in the warmer months,” Gallucci said.
While golf may appear to be a game of leisure, it’s actually a sport of biomechanics that requires the player to swing a club indoors during the colder months to properly warm up the body for the demands of the sport in the spring, noted John Galluci Jr., MS, ATC, PT, DPT and CEO of JAG-ONE Physical Therapy.
Following, Gallucci discusses a range of popular summer sports and some of the most common injuries he and his experienced team at JAG-ONE Physical Therapy treat, as well as some tips for preventing them:
Running — Among other injuries, “a lot of runners experience plantar fasciitis from running on multiple surfaces and wearing shoes that offer poor support,” Gallucci said. “Runners need to make sure that their shoes can absorb the shock and that they’re properly stretching out their calves, Achilles tendons, and plantar fascii with a band or towel.” Gallucci said that runners can also incur soft tissue strains when they do too much too quickly. “We live in an often sedentary society today, but our bodies really need to be conditioned all year long to be able to handle the demands of the sports we want to engage in,” he said, noting that warm-weather runners should condition for running over time by first walking, then walking-jogging, running one mile, and ultimately running longer distances rather than immediately going all out.
Biking — Tens of millions of Americans will experience the joys of biking this summer, “but if people don’t fit their bike appropriately, they can end up with low back tightness, patella tendonitis and hip pain,” Gallucci said. He encourages people to work with experts at their local bike shops, which do a great job of ensuring that riders are properly fitted to their bikes and that their hip angle won’t cause undue strain on their lower back. Should an injury occur, however, “physical therapy can definitely help,” Gallucci said.
Golf — “As many golfers go from doing nothing all winter to hitting a ball 300 yards in the spring, they can end up straining their lower back, hamstrings or shoulders right out of the gate in March or April because they just weren’t ready,” Gallucci said. “While golf may appear to be a game of leisure, it’s actually a sport of biomechanics that requires the player to swing a club indoors during the colder months to properly warm up the body for the demands of the sport in the spring.” In treating golf-related injuries, he said, “we’ll follow the injury back to the affected soft tissue and provide the player with strengthening exercises to rehab the area and help prevent further injury.”
Tennis — Gallucci reiterated that common injuries stem from players being unprepared for the demands of this high-impact activity. “People will go out and hit 100 balls on the first day, which can lead to bicipital tendonitis, shoulder impingement or tennis elbow due to mismanagement of their grip,” he said, adding that “a good shoulder and core protocol beforehand can help prevent all of these injuries.” In the event of an injury, however, he advises players to treat it quickly to prevent it from getting worse.
Soccer, Baseball and Other Team Sports — Gallucci and his team are no strangers to the injuries incurred by adults who participate in the many pickup and work-related soccer, baseball, and softball games that pop up in warm-weather months. “We see a lot of soft-tissue injuries like hamstring and quadricep strains from these sports,” he said. “Players need to properly warm up the body beforehand.”
To avoid injuries, properly warming up the body before participating in team sports such as baseball is advised.
Overall, “it’s about engaging in a little jog and some of the functional movements of the game you’ll be participating in to ready your muscles for that sport,” Gallucci said. “If you take the time to prepare the body for the specific activity and keep it moving to its best capacity all year long, you’ll be able to enjoy that sport this season rather than sitting in the physical therapist’s office treating an injury.”
For More Information
JAG-ONE Physical Therapy is a comprehensive physical and occupational therapy company with 49 locations throughout Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, Westchester, Manhattan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The company’s multispecialty staff has been serving the tri-state area for more than 20 years and has developed a unique, care-first model of rehabilitation delivering high quality clinical outcomes for its patients. For more information, visit www.jagonept.com and visit on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
While the traditional drugs used to treat epilepsy were once limited and carried their share of side effects, the team at The Epilepsy Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital is extremely encouraged by the vast arsenal of effective medications and other treatments now available. Photo courtesy of Getty Images
On July 6, actor Cameron Boyce, 20, well known for his roles on the popular Disney Channel shows “Descendants” and “Jessie,” died in his sleep after suffering an epileptic seizure. Though additional tests remain ongoing, many medical experts speculate that his death was likely caused by a circumstance known as “SUDEP,” or “sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.”
While numerous relatives, friends, fans and celebrities, including his fellow cast members and former first lady Michelle Obama, expressed their heartbreak over Boyce’s loss, the young star’s passage also has left many clamoring for more information about epilepsy, a condition that’s been met with mystery, confusion and stigma for centuries.
Wenlang Xia, MD, medical director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital
A Neurological Condition
Affecting an estimated 1 to 2 percent of the general population but seen a bit more frequently in children, “epilepsy is a neurological condition manifested in repeated seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain,” said Wenlang Xia, MD, medical director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Paterson. “It can affect all age groups and tends to be most prevalent among very young children and the elderly, but the earlier in age the onset occurs, the worse the prognosis may be.”
While many people associate epilepsy with the most obvious form of seizures — known as grand mal seizures, during which patients experience a complete loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions — epileptic seizures can take many forms. These include everything from myoclonic seizures, or quick jerks of the body or arms or legs, and simple partial seizures, in which patients experience disturbances to their coordination, sensation, or motor activities but don’t lose awareness, to partial complex seizures, which impair awareness. Petit mal or absence seizures, which are often seen in children ages 5 to 12 as brief staring moments, also are possible.
According to Dr. Xia, “There are as many as 20 to 30 different types of seizures that can be experienced, including twitching/tics, staring, confusion and other behaviors that many kids or parents might not even be aware of.” Seizures can be of varying severity and duration, “but because they’re ultimately all controlled by electrical signal changes from neurons which we can actually see in the form of brain waves in our EEG lab, epilepsy used to be known as the ‘brain storm’ disease,” he said. “Because seizures can beget seizures, it’s important to catch and control them early, because they can get worse over time and increase one’s chance of dying from them if they remain uncontrolled.”
While most people with epilepsy don’t die from seizures, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that some 2,600 people die from SUDEP annually, though the circumstances of this condition remain largely unexplained. “We know that kids and particularly males who are having intractable or uncontrolled convulsive seizures are the most vulnerable to SUDEP,” noted Dr. Xia, who added that additional factors such as the presence of other neurological disorders, heart conditions, the use of drugs or alcohol, or sleep deprivation can heighten the risk of SUDEP among these patients.
The fallout of epilepsy can extend far beyond the physical, especially for pediatric patients desperate to fit in with their peers, Dr. Xia said. “Because they’re unpredictable and you don’t know when they’ll happen, epileptic seizures are socially embarrassing and can cause patients a lot of apprehension, which can lead to anxiety, depression and isolation,” he said. “There can be a huge stigma, even for kids who are doing well.”
At. St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, pediatric epilepsy experts have access to drug development, epilepsy care and resources more advanced than ever. Photo courtesy of Getty Images
An Arsenal of Effective Treatments
While the traditional drugs used to treat epilepsy (including Phenobarbital, Dilantin, or Tegretol) were once limited and carried their share of side effects, Dr. Xia is extremely encouraged by the vast arsenal of effective medications and other treatments now available.
“While we don’t have a perfect solution for this condition, we do have at least a dozen new medications for patients to choose from which have proven effective in controlling seizures in 65 to 70 percent of cases,” Dr. Xia said. “For those patients whose seizures remain uncontrolled or who can’t tolerate the side effects, we also have several non-pharmacological or alternative treatments to offer, including Vagal Nerve Stimulation, through which a small chip implanted in the left side of the chest massages the cranial (vagus) nerve to control seizures,” he said. “There’s also epilepsy surgery, through which we’ll identify where seizures are coming from and surgically remove the seizure-causing area. And adherence to a high-fat, low-sugar ketogenic diet has been found to help control seizures in a number of patients as well.”
Dr. Xia shared the following top tips for those with pediatric epilepsy:
Take it seriously – “Epileptic seizures can lead to falls, accidents and developmental delays/cognitive deficiencies if they’re uncontrolled/untreated,” he said. “And in extremely rare cases – an estimated one in 1,000 – seizures can lead to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).”
It can be well-managed – “The good news is, for the majority of pediatric cases, kids can do quite well,” Dr. Xia said. “If they take their medication as prescribed, engage in physical activity, sleep regular hours, control their diet and reduce stress, they can control their seizures, go on to perform extremely well in school and college and do all of the things normal kids do.” He also noted that SUDEP is occurring much less in children — in the range of two deaths per 10,00 children per year, and even less if they have fewer or shorter grand mal seizures.
Take a holistic approachto treatment – Dr. Xia recommends that pediatric epilepsy patients avail themselves of the benefits of the broad spectrum of care. “At the Pediatric Epilepsy Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, we have a full range of seasoned specialists available to treat this condition, from neurologists, epileptologists, psychiatrists, therapists/psychologists, neurosurgeons and dietitians,” he said. “Overall, we have a greater societal awareness of pediatric epilepsy today, and drug development, epilepsy care and resources are more advanced than ever before,” Dr. Xia concluded. “While it’s a neurological condition, epilepsy is fully manageable with the appropriate treatment and the vast majority of pediatric patients will be fine.”
For More Information:
St. Joseph’s Health, a world-class hospital and health care network supported by leading and renowned physicians, nurses and care teams, operates a full continuum of care, including a regional tertiary care medical center, a state-designated children’s hospital, an acute care hospital, rehabilitation and long-term facilities, and comprehensive home care. Providing advanced care for children from birth to 21 years old, The Epilepsy Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital specializes in the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of children and infants with seizures and epilepsy. Computer-assisted, long-term video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring and state-of-the-art technology allows accurate diagnosis of many types of epilepsy and related conditions in children. Depending on the frequency of seizure activity, adequate data can be obtained from recordings ranging from three hours to five days.
The center also performs Ambulatory EEG’s, which allows extended recording in a patient’s home, and its specially trained Pediatric Epileptologists offer the latest personalized, comprehensive medical and surgical treatment plans that best control seizures with the fewest possible side effects for each child with epilepsy. The center’s multidisciplinary team also offers Vagal Nerve Stimulation, epilepsy surgery and a Ketogenic Nutrition Treatment Program. For additional information or to make an appointment, call (973) 754-2528 or click here.
Ryan Trygar, clinical director of JAG-ONE Physical Therapy’s Woodbridge location, provides hands-on mobilization and stretching exercises to a patient dealing with musculoskeletal pain.
JAG-ONE Physical Therapy helps relieve the pain associated with a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions and restores patients to full functionality.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), one out of every two adults in America struggles with a musculoskeletal condition that impacts their ability to live productively, independently and free of pain. What many people don’t know, however, is that physical therapy can safely address many of these conditions without surgery or drugs and return them to the lives and activities they love, pain-free.
John Gallucci, Jr., MS, ATC, PT, DPT and CEO of Woodbridge, N.J.-based JAG-ONE Physical Therapy, which has 49 locations throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
“As we get older, many people fall into ‘compensatory patterns of convenience’ whereby our muscles tighten and then can easily strain when we exert ourselves,” shared John Gallucci Jr., MS, ATC, PT, DPT and CEO of JAG-ONE Physical Therapy, based in Woodbridge, N.J. “Through physical therapy, however, we’re able to not only do away with a great deal of musculoskeletal pain, but also reduce the need for potentially dangerous and addictive pain medications like opioids.”
Addressing Four Common Areas of Pain with PT
While the experienced team at JAG-ONE Physical Therapy regularly addresses a broad range of musculoskeletal and orthopaedic issues across its 49 locations throughout the tri-state area, Gallucci said that there are four common areas of pain that can most quickly benefit from physical therapy. These include:
Lower Back Pain – “This pain normally starts with tightness and subsequent numbness that radiates to the buttocks and legs and will continue to radiate and grow in intensity if you don’t deal with the tightness,” Gallucci said. Following a thorough assessment of a patient’s biomechanical functionality, strength and range of motion, the JAG-ONE team will put a personalized plan of care in place. “This can include a range of targeted low-back stretches, including knee-to-chest movements, hamstring and hamstring-glute stretches, and stretches for the piriformis muscle,” he said. According to Gallucci, “patients can see positive results after just two to three sessions and we’ve even seen significant improvements in patients with herniated discs such that they’re able to return to playing tennis, golfing, gardening, etc. pain-free within four weeks.”
Hip Pain – “People who sit for long periods at home and/or at work can develop a tight iliotibial (IT) band or psoas muscle and experience hip pain, but we can reduce these pain symptoms in as little as one to two visits,” Gallucci said. “We do this by utilizing a lot of hands-on mobilization and massage techniques as well as teaching patients flexibility and pelvic-neutral exercises to help get the body’s muscles as biomechanically sound as possible so that they’re working together rather than pulling on each other and working in opposition.”
Shoulder Pain – Often caused by overhead motions/activities, Gallucci said that shoulder pain symptoms are particularly prevalent at the beginning of golf and tennis season each year. “Due to the physiologically-rounded nature of our shoulders, our use of anterior muscles versus posterior muscles in our daily activities, and society’s increasing tendency to spend time hunched over computers and other electronic devices, people are often not ready for the demands of sports like golf and tennis and can experience an impingement,” Gallucci said. Among preventative strategies, he recommends that sports enthusiasts do one to two weeks of pre-season exercises such as stretching the shoulders in all planes and engaging in posterior capsule strengthening like rows/retractions to avoid injury in the first place. “If you incur shoulder pain, however, it’s best to address it early to prevent it from getting worse,” he said. “At JAG-ONE, we’ll employ any of a number of modalities to calm inflammation, introduce exercises and stretches for all planes of the shoulder, and will ultimately have the patient mimic the activity they’ll be going back to in order to ensure that they can safely return to play.”
Elbow/Forearm Pain – Gallucci said that tennis and golf players, people who type on computers a lot, lawyers, accountants and other professionals who routinely carry heavy briefcases, and tradespeople who use tools for extended periods of time can all suffer from this type of pain. “Most people limit the motion in their forearm and don’t stretch it properly; we do extensive stretching of the wrist, fingers and hand up to the elbow to address issues in this area and can get you back to a pain-free lifestyle in no time,” he said.
In addition to having certified physical and occupational therapists on staff, “many of our JAG-ONE facilities possess a Class 4 laser, which can offer more effective and accelerated healing than ultrasound, and we also offer the largest collection of athletic training services for student, professional and recreational athletes in the area,” Gallucci said of JAG-ONE’s unique specialties. “We’re also proud to offer highly-individualized plans of care for each patient based on their unique diagnosis and personal/professional goals.”
Overall, “you can walk into any JAG-ONE Physical Therapy facility based on the Direct Access Law and we’ll provide you with the utmost care, service and treatment,” Gallucci concluded. “We’re a vital health care resource for the communities we serve and are dedicated to getting our patients out of pain, back in the game of life and enjoying the pursuit of their goals and dreams.”
For More Information
JAG-ONE Physical Therapy is a comprehensive physical and occupational therapy company with 49 locations throughout Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, Westchester, Manhattan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The company’s multispecialty staff has been serving the tri-state area for more than 20 years and has developed a unique, care-first model of rehabilitation delivering high quality clinical outcomes for its patients. For more information, visit www.jagonept.com and visit on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Business District Alliance of Fort Lee (BDA) is delighted to announce it will be kicking off this summer season with its second annual Summer Happy Hour Specials. The event will take place in Fort Lee’s Town Center, exhibiting its full range of distinct shopping, services and dining options. The promotion will begin Mon., June 24 and run through Fri., Aug. 30.
More than 40 Fort Lee businesses are participating in Summer Happy Hour Specials with individualized promotions on a weekly basis. Types of businesses include restaurant, bakery, dog-grooming, nail salon, jewelry store, clothing shop, fitness and personal care, dance school, education and more.
“Summer Happy Hours Specials brings together a perfect mix of restaurants, salons, shopping boutiques and other businesses in our Town Center for people to enjoy. I’m thrilled to see so many businesses participating this year. The more stores that open their doors, the more people will come out and see what this beautiful town has to offer!”
— Romina Starace, Fort Lee BDA president
Stuart Koperweis, executive director of the BDA, said, “We really could not be more excited to kick off the summer with this event and support our wonderful businesses in Fort Lee Town Center. The variety of businesses participating gives everyone the opportunity to try things they never have before.”
Summer Happy Hour Specials is a time for people to stroll around and find new local businesses to support. While the days get longer, take the opportunity to explore Fort Lee Town Center in an exciting way.
For the full list of participating businesses and specials offered, click here.
The mission of ARC Property Management Inc. is to provide exceptional service for clients in the residential real estate industry while maintaining transparency and integrity.
ARC Property Management Inc. focuses its business on managing individual residences and townhouses. Our experience has enabled us to serve this market well by providing in-depth knowledge and handling the numerous challenges that are often faced by landlords and real estate owners. We have expanded our services to include all residential properties.
Based in Hudson County, ARC serves surrounding counties with customized options based on clients’ needs. Our team is committed to providing transparent service utilizing the latest technology combined with longstanding qualities of integrity and honesty.
ARC Property Management Inc. began in a specific, niche industry and utilized its experience to bring about the desired results for clients in that market. Since then, the company has recognized the need for our brand of property management in other industries in the residential market. Unlike many other property management companies, we offer our clients a unique perspective — a partnership.
By considering ourselves partners with the landlord/owner, brokers, and agents, we are invested in the success of the business and seek to establish a solid reputation for the company and its tenants.
The mission of ARC Property Management Inc. is to provide exceptional property management for clients in the residential real estate industry while maintaining transparency and integrity. ARC uses the latest property management software, which in many regards is technologically superior to our competitors. We also are developing an application for tenant and owner use. Numerous checks and balances have been put in place to prevent fraudulent activity and other issues that are often associated with property management companies.
A second benefit of working with ARC is that we can handle whatever issue you are having with your property, ensuring they are resolved promptly to meet regulations and maintain your tenants’ satisfaction. We have specialized programs that notify us about a violation before our clients receive written notice in the mail, allowing us to fix the breach sooner.
ARC Property Management Inc. services the northern New Jersey area. From managing multimillion-dollar condos to single/multifamily townhouses, ARC has the experience and expertise to translate that same meticulous, white-glove service to the northern New Jersey area.
ARC Property Management will strongly focus its attention on the Hudson and Bergen counties’ luxury real estate market. With the numerous developments happening in the Newark area, ARC also is extending service to limited areas in Essex County. CEO Cristo Hernandez believes the same resurgence that took place in Harlem several years ago can happen in New Jersey. Newark is an up-and-coming area with a lot of potential for commercial and residential investment opportunities.
The city is a great place for New York City-bound commuters to live because it has two train lines that can put them in New York City in 30 minutes. The best views from across the Hudson are not available in New York. In addition to quick commutes, individuals want great views. This is why Valentin also sees potential in Hudson County.
ARC Property Management facilitates landlords and unit owners who want to rent their property until the time is right to sell. ARC supports the Airbnb business in Jersey City and works with various unit owners in managing their short-term rentals. Since its legalization in 2015, Airbnb has increased the investment market and added additional tax revenue for the city. However, there is a debate on whether short-term rentals provide a better experience for the community or harm it. ARC believes it’s a no-brainer because of all of the benefits and revenue it brings landlords, unit owners, and the city.
Once the latest council meeting wrapped up in early May, there was talk of restricting Airbnb to a maximum of 28 rental days per calendar year, but no formal decision has been made. The city reportedly collected more than $4 million in taxes from Airbnb rentals; therefore, if this restriction is put into place it will cause a significant loss in tax revenue for the city. Jersey City is the No. 1 destination for New Jersey Airbnb customers, and ARC believes the market will continue to grow. At ARC, we love helping landlords in the long- or short-term holding of their property.
The popular Weiner Dog Derby returns to Meadowlands Racetrack June 22 for its second year, and there also will be live harness racing during the event. Photo courtesy of Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment
New Jersey is home to an array of outdoor options in the summer, but it can be difficult to find a place that the whole family can enjoy. Meadowlands Racetrack has a little bit of fun for everyone, from live harness racing to food competitions and everything in between. Following is the racetrack’s 2019 summer event lineup:
Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment’s Championship Meet runs through Hambletonian Day, Aug. 3. Live racing takes place every Friday and Saturday with a 7:15 p.m. post time. The Championship Meet features more than $8.5 million in stakes races as well as event-filled weekends.
Every live race night fans can enter Horseplay. Pick up a free toy horse at the promotions table, and throw the horse into the car for a chance to win $100 and an entry into the Aug. 2 drawing for a 2019 Toyota C-HR.
Country comes to the Meadowlands Racetrack on June 15 for Country Fest with Thompson Square. This country powerhouse duo will play their romantic No. 1 hits including “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” and “If I Didn’t Have You.” Doors for the show open at 2:30 p.m. as the Jason Wicks Band gets the party started at 4 p.m. The headliner, Thompson Square, will electrify the crowd beginning at 6 p.m. The party continues with live racing at 7:15 p.m. while Lauren Davidson is on the stage. Tickets are $20 in advance or $30 at the door and can be purchased here.
June 22 is the return of the wildly popular Wiener Dog Derby. Fans watch daschunds dash down the track’s stretch in between live harness racing. Daschunds can register here.
If wine and food is your perfect pairing, check out Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment’s Summer Wine Festival June 29. Photo courtesy of Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment
On June 29, the vino will flow at Meadowlands Racetrack for the Summer Wine Festival. Doors open for VIP Admission ($75) at 4:30 p.m. and General Admission ($35) at 5:30 p.m., and wine is poured until 9:30 p.m. Festival-goers will experience an evening of great wines from around the world, live harness racing, music and food. Tickets are available here.
July 6 marks Fan Appreciation Night & Fireworks Night with $1 hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn and soda and $2 draft beer from 7 to 11 p.m. Following live harness racing, an enthralling fireworks display will take place to honor Independence Day. The best place to be will be atop Victory Terrace Rooftop Bar with great views of the racing action, city skyline and fireworks along with a full-service bar and rooftop grill. All guests are in for an amazing show that will begin 10 minutes after the last race at approximately 11:10 p.m. Then, on July 13, the 4th annual BBQ Battle returns to the track on Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace Night. $2,000 is up for grabs in the BBQ Battle with $500 top prizes for the best brisket, chicken, pulled pork and ribs. There also will be live music and carnival rides for the kids while the top 3-year-old pacers compete for the $600,000 Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace title.
The always popular Seafood Festival is scheduled for its sixth year on July 27. The Pink Buffet, overlooking the live racing action, will feature a special seafood-themed spread including lobster, mussels and clams. There also will be a raw bar in the Backyard and a variety of food trucks serving up some of the best seafood in the Garden State. A new addition to the day is a chowder cook-off, and restaurants and home cooks can enter for a chance to win $500.
The Seafood Festival showcases the Garden State’s best spreads from the ocean year after year, drawing visitors from the tri-state area. Photo courtesy of Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment
The racing calendar wraps up on Aug. 3 with the greatest day in harness racing — $1 million Hambletonian Day. More than $3.5 million is on the line as the top trotters and pacers compete to be crowned champions. Doors open at 10 a.m. with first race at noon. Admission is $5 and includes a commemorative “Hambo” baseball cap for adults and a horse-themed gym bag for children. In addition to the great harness racing, fans can enjoy carnival rides and games, pony rides, face painters, live music and more.
For a complete list of nightly events, promotions and updated racing calendar, visit PlayMeadowlands.com. Dining reservations for the Pink Buffet or Victory Sports Bar, located in the FanDuel Sportsbook, can be made by calling (201) The-BigM (843-2446) or by visiting Playmeadowlands.com/dining.
Looking to book a corporate event or private party? Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment has an array of event possibilities – from a rooftop terrace with skyline views, to Trackside and private Skybox Suites. Book a party today by emailing catering@playmeadowlands.com.
Reminder, guests must be 18+ to wager; 21+ to gamble on sports. Have a gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
Asbury Park is filled with oceanside music venues, including Convention Hall.
Whether you grew up watching Bruce Springsteen move from Garden State venues to the national stage, or just heard your parents belt out “Baby I was born to run” on occasion, if you’re from New Jersey, you know that Asbury Park has long been top of the charts statewide when it comes to the summer music scene.
Head to Asbury Park’s revitalized boardwalk, where you can pop into unique shops, get your fortune told, and stroll past the iconic Paramount Theater and Convention Hall. Throughout the year, this seaside town hosts events like block parties, parades and the free summertime concert series Jams on the Sand. Visit Asbury Park Chamber for an updated events calendar. Don’t miss the annual Asbury Park Restaurant Tour, Fourth of July Fireworks, Oysterfest and the world record breaking NJ Zombie Walk.
A relative newcomer on the scene, the Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten opened four years ago on Lake Avenue, bringing a 250-seat indoor beer hall and 450-person-capacity open-air rooftop beer garden to the storied seashore town. More than 60 beers are available, from hard-to-find imports to local craft brews, as well as a German-inspired menu. Visit asburybiergarten.com for a list of upcoming events, which include concerts and film- and sport-watching events.
Perhaps the city’s most famous location, the Stone Pony on Ocean Avenue offers a jam-packed list of upcoming acts at its indoor and Summer Stage venues, including John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band on June 15, Rock to the Top Semifinals on June 16, Max Weinberg’s Jukebox on June 27, Gov’t Mule on Jun 28, Slightly Stoopid on June 29 and Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes on July 6.
For those seeking mementos of concerts as well as tickets, Blackbird Presents on Cookman Avenue offers music fans everything from live music recordings, concert films, apparel, limited-edition posters and jewelry to home goods, exclusive concert photos and a new line of Blackbird Presents branded products. The boutique also features photos of legendary musicians, and the retail boutique is the official satellite box office for all Stone Pony, Stone Pony Summer Stage, Wonder Bar, Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall concert events.
The Inn at Lambertville Station positively glows with riverfront elegance.
If you think New Jersey is all about boardwalks and Turnpike exits, consider the charming small towns of picturesque Hunterdon County, where you’ll discover lively culture, diverse recreation, fine dining and delightful B&Bs.
True to its name, Frenchtown celebrates its French roots along with its Delaware River location. The town welcomes visitors with events including Bastille Day (July 13), Riverfest and Zombie Crawl. Lambertville is prized as an antiquing destination. Among the more notable locations offering vintage treasures are People’s Store, Rago Arts and Auction Center and Golden Nugget Antique & Flea Market.
Hunterdon County’s small towns also are known for their cultural scenes. For live folk and bluegrass music in a small setting, head to the Birdhouse Center for the Arts in Lambertville. On stage at the Music Mountain Theatre is a year-round calendar of musicals, plays and children’s productions, including South Pacific (June 28-July 14) and The Will Rogers Follies (Aug. 2-18). Nearby in Frenchtown you’ll find the arts incubator ArtYard, which offers art exhibitions, film screenings and more. Don’t forget scenic biking along the Delaware and Raritan Canal towpath.
If all this activity has stirred your appetite, tempting fare abounds. French food, wood-fired pizza, small-batch artisanal coffee and locally sourced ice cream can be found in Lambertville. In Frenchtown, sample a scrumptious brunch at Lovin’ Oven or savor the historical charm (and delicious food) of the Frenchtown Inn. Not to be missed is The Bridge Café, a restaurant and bakery in the walls of a former train station, offering eye-catching views of the Delaware River and Frenchtown-Uhlerstown Bridge.
Don’t want to rush your visit? Consider one of the historic inns and charming B&Bs located in Hunterdon County. Frenchtown’s National Hotel, which dates back to 1833, is known today for luxuriously appointed rooms, dining and nightlife. The Inn at Lambertville Station offers riverside style, 46 rooms and suites, alfresco fine dining and Sunday brunch. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Lambertville House Hotel has delightful spaces, including its outdoor porch, the perfect spot to toast a memorable stay.
Just one of Cape May’s charms: Beaches that are among the world’s best.
Recipe for a memorable family vacation: Mix warm marine temperatures with your choices of fun kiddie rides, animal encounters and/or getting back to nature — enjoy and repeat. If that sounds like an appealing getaway for your brood, there’s a spot in New Jersey that’s not far away: Cape May County. Site of the city of Cape May, founded in 1690 and America’s oldest seaside resort, the county is located on the Cape May Peninsula, bordered by the Delaware Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east. In fact, the beaches of Wildwood Crest’s Sunset Lake and Cape May Point boast the most spectacular places to watch the sunset in New Jersey.
In a county where tourism is the single largest industry, there are plenty of things for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, Morey’s Piers and Water Parks offers rejuvenating facilities in Wildwood (Mariner’s Amusement Pier and Adventure Amusement Pier) and North Wildwood (Surfside Amusement Pier), as well as the Ocean Oasis and Raging Waters water parks, both in Wildwood. New for this season, the Runaway Tram ride, inspired by the famed Wildwood Sightseer Tramcar, is described as a family-friendly coaster.
Open to visitors year-round, the Cape May County Park & Zoo, located in Cape May Court House, is not only free to the general public, it also offers a range of events and hosts field trips, parties and summer camp. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums since 1989, the zoo is home to a range of creatures including African lions, alpacas, American bison, American black bears, a bald eagle, a cheetah, a dromedary camel, a giraffe, a zebra, a snow leopard, a red panda and much more. The facility also includes Tree-to-Tree Adventure Park — an aerial obstacle course that features a zipline, Tarzan swings and more — picnic pavilions, a fishing pond, a wedding gazebo, playgrounds and a photo booth.
The Cape May Bird Observatory, according to its website, is a leader in research, environmental education, bird conservation and recreational birding activities. The observatory fulfills New Jersey Audubon’s “twofold mission of connecting people to nature and stewarding the nature of today for the people of tomorrow.” Its Cape May School of Birding workshops are a fun way to visit this all-season birding destination. Wind and geography conspire to direct millions of migrating hawks, seabirds, shorebirds, songbirds, butterflies, and dragonflies here every autumn.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), one out of every two adults in America struggles with a musculoskeletal condition that impacts their ability to live productively, independently and free of pain. What many people don’t know, however, is that physical therapy can safely address many of these conditions without surgery or drugs and return them to the lives and activities they love, pain-free.
More than 40 Fort Lee businesses are participating in Summer Happy Hour Specials with individualized promotions on a weekly basis. Types of businesses include restaurant, bakery, dog-grooming, nail salon, jewelry store, clothing shop, fitness and personal care, dance school, education and more.
