Stage Fright

Your house has been on the market for 6 months. You lowered the price by $40,000 and are considering dropping it even further. Your home is priced to sell for the current market, so why won't it sell? The problem: Your house may not be staged to sell. You need to see Vicky Salazar of Lawrenceville, who conquers all stage fright with functional and practical solutions. Vicky’s Salazar Redesign, LLC (http://www.salazarredesign.com/) is a home staging service for homeowners who are looking to sell or de-clutter. “It gets them unstuck in a very stuck real estate market,” says Vicky. Vicky uses the owner’s own furnishings and accessories to accent the homes' features and minimize flaws. She claims her proven techniques will attract a buyer within minutes of walking in the door. The pictures here tell the story; the slightly cluttered and busy bedroom was transformed into a hotel style retreat with neutral colors and a welcoming bottle of wine. Simple and relatively inexpensive changes can make the difference between getting the price you want – as opposed to what you settle for. “I … like to see peoples’ reactions to the transformation of the home they have lived in for so long with just some simple and inexpensive ideas. Many never thought their homes can look as good,” Vicky says. If you think your home may qualify for some home staging expertise, but you're not ready to hire a professional, here are some quick tips from Vicky to get started: De-clutter Inside and Outside: Remove any excess tools/toys etc in front and back yards. Remove excess inside off of counters, cabinets and furniture. Clean: Sweep and mop all floors for showings. Steam clean carpets before open house. Clear cobwebs from front and back doors. Repair: Patch holes, repair broken screens and anything that needs fixing. Neutralize: Remove collectibles, personal pictures and paint over any bold colors. Enhance: Show off the space in the room or fireplace and architecture. Already exhausted reading this? Call a pro like Vicky to take charge. Then watch what happens to buyers when the house lights come on, and your home takes center stage. NJ My Way contributor Hilary Morris authored this article. You can find more of her work on http://www.mrsmonj.com/ .

Zipped and Pumped

TREND WATCH: The exposed zipper is one of Fall's hottest looks from tip to toe. The Lola Peep-toe booties ($360) and Jacky pumps ($325) from Elizabeth and James are ruffled and ready for a fashion rendezvous.

You'll find more great zipper looks in NJSL's upcoming October issue-

bloomingdales.com

Cell Support

 

If you’re one of the estimated 130 million Americans getting a new cell phone, why not put your old phone to good use instead of squirreling it away in a drawer? The non-profit group, Cell Phones for Soldiers, uses your donation to provide pre-paid talk time for our troops overseas to call home. At the website you can print a postage-free shipping label, find a drop-off location and even get directions on erasing the memory from your cell. 

www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com

Tools Of The Trades

The cooler weather makes us think of feathering our nests for the winter; getting to that indoor decorating project that we've put off for the past months. or buying some new furniture or appliances. For inspiration, we recommend a visit to a place where simplicity rules. The Museum of Early Trades and Crafts (www.metc.org) is a fun way to get some ideas. Housed in Madison's historic James Library building, the museum is dedicated to preserving the art of making things before there were machines and factories for mass production. Before everything said Made In China. It is full of tools and artifacts used by the earliest makers and merchants. Wood, metal, leather and textiles; the basics you find in your home and furniture, were created by New Jersey's original artisans. You'll find crates and barrels made the old fashioned way. Trunks that were used for luggage and not ornament. Urns and churns that held kitchen staples and produced butter that would make Julia Child proud. A zoetrope for viewing pictures was the entertainment center. Afterwards, when you look for ways to feather your nest, remember the carefully made, sturdy and long lasting chatzkas of days past. You might even pick up a hand tool, and carve out a niche for yourself!

Pizza Plus

A Mano: whispers and purrs from Naples By Joel Levin Strategically sited on Ridgewood's Restaurant Row, A Mano is one of only three American restaurants with certification for authenticity from both Neapolitan rating agencies, such a big deal that their PR folk treated us to dinner to learn what it's all about. Two eight-foot-diameter igloo-red-tiled ovens dominate the handsome, clean open space seating 120 on two levels. 22-foot ceilings and clerestory windows complete this culinary cure for claustrophobia. In this pizza-plus place, discard any ideas you've had about pizzas and southern Italian cuisine; there's no gloppy red sauce. The motif here is subtlety -- seasonings that whisper and tastes that purr. A Mano means "by hand." It's comforting to know and taste that the mozzarella, the pies, and everything on the menu is made from scratch as you watch. The fruitwood-fueled 1000-degree ovens produce 20+ varieties of pizza in 60-90 seconds. Imported 00 Caputo flour, water, yeast, salt, incendiary heat, and careful attention are the sole ingredients in the heavenly crust. Start with mozzarella/grilled vegetables/prosciutto pinwheels and the best-ever arancia (fried riceballs), crispy greaseless wonders stuffed with pasta and squash. Can't decide? Choose a hot sampler. Then devour a pie fragrant with smoke and order a special like chicken cacciatore or tilapia/tomato/onions en papillote. Mama mia, the meatballs are a must! Until the fall menu, content yourself with a meatball pizza. Beef, eggs, Parmiggiano, and garlic combine for an Olympian "10" score. Our only questions about our experience are: how can foods as minimalist as grilled artichokes with Parmiggiano shaved over arugula, and gnocchi in marinara taste so good? Of the homemade gelati, our favorites were coconut and amarena (cherry). Nutella pizza (the nutty chocolate topping on sugar-dusted dough) was elemental and fabulous, just one of many house-baked desserts. Those serious about casual dining (including us) will make return visits to try more of old Napoli from the more than 50 menu entries. Autentico is the reason A Mano was built. Autentico is why you'll be back. A Mano 24 Franklin Avenue, Ridgewood 201.493.2000 amanopizza.com lunch and dinner served seven days.

JOEL LEVIN's reviews of food and wine, entertainment, automobiles, and travel are distributed through New Jersey Newspaper Group. He can be reached at JL@NJNewsGroup.com.

Giant Taste with Giants Players

Mix and mingle with current and former Giants players as you munch, crunch and savor delicous offerings from some of the metropolitan area's favorite restaurants. Chefs from TAO, Blue Smoke, STK Steakhouse, Patsy's and Sushi Samba (to name a few) are joining forces with

General admission tickets are $250 each, with a limited number of VIP tickets available for $400 each. To purchase tickets, please visit www.giants.com or www.ticketmaster.com. WHO: Current and former Giants players WHEN: Monday, October 19, 2009 Taste-Around: 7:00-9:30 pm VIP Hour: 6:00-7:00 pm WHERE: Stadium Club at Giants Stadium 50 Route 120 East Rutherford, NJ 07073 WHY: Hunger is a growing concern in our local communities and in America today, there are more than 36 million people suffering from food insecurity. All proceeds from this event will benefit the ShopRite Partners In Caring fund, a year-round community-based program that fights hunger in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut and Maryland.

Dog Day Afternoon

I read Suzanne Zimmer Lowery's article, "Get Your Hot Dogs Here," (NJSL JUNE, 08 ) last summer with great relish (yeah, I know its a lame pun) and it got me salivating to try one of NJ's most revered hot dogs. Yet somehow a year slipped by with nary a bite. So on a recent Saturday I finally dragged (actually he was happy to go) hubby with me to Hot Dog Johnny's in Buttzville.

Being neophytes, we looked for a menu (non-existent) and then asked what to order. The offerings are limited, hot dogs, french fries (served in a brown paper bag), soda (birch beer for the regulars) and buttermilk. Yes, buttermilk, it seemed a little odd to me but they've been in business since 1944 so they must know what they're doing.

The signature dog was served on a roll with mustard under a snow cap of chopped raw onions and topped with a pickle spear. It was great!

Hot dog nirvana!

Thanks, Suzanne- Rutt's Hut is next!

Hot Dog Johnny's

Buttzville, NJ

Route 80 to Exit 12 and drive south Route 519 towards Hope, left on Route 46.

Note: You will pass right by the Four Sister's Winery on Route 519 if you're interested in a little wine tasting too!

www.hotdogjohnny.com

www.foursisterswinery.com