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Day Three Hundred and Sixty-Seven Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. “Sounds and Subs” Restaurant Concept December 10th, 2025

The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Executive Paramus, NJ Team December 10th, 2025

My Executive Team for ‘Sounds and Subs”

Every semester for my Business Marketing, Management and Communications classes, I create one big Team assignment for my students. In a Commuter College, it is a lot tougher for students to get to know one another between their studies and their jobs, so I create these projects to foster learning, creativity and especially Teamwork.

This semester I taught three sections of Business 101-Introduction to Business, which is the entry level course to the Business/Hotel Management School. This is a tough course to teach as you always have students of various age groups and various levels of industry experience. The Fall semester was no different. This makes the class more interesting yet more challenging to teach. I still challenge them and test them to see what type of future executives they will become.

This semester I created three restaurant concept projects for my students, “Sounds and Subs”, a music store and sub/sandwich shop concept based on Mike’s Sub Shop in Boonton, NJ, “Farmer’s Market”, a farm to table concept based on The Corner Counter in Red Hook, NY and then “Pasta and Pies”, a sweet and savory pie concept with pasta dishes based on Nobel Pies out of Beacon, NY.

My morning Business 101 class worked on the “Sounds and Subs” concept where they were challenged to create a music based restaurant concept with a menu of creative sub and sandwiches, interesting salads, a mocktail menu, an opening party, social media and a gift shop selling items from their menu plus records, CDs and musical products. They also had to pick the location and figure out all the budgets.

They also had to create a stage area for bands and local performers for ‘Open Mic nights’. The results were amazing to see and what students with a little creativity, a lot of time (six weeks) and a little push can accomplish. I also liked the bands they chose to perform at their restaurants,

In the past, I have created these projects under the Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. banner, the main consulting company, the Orion Malls banner, a Mall design company and the Buscomonzefi.com banner, my Tech Division. Each business does its best to be creative, forward thinking and have a thought producing presentations. I also challenge the students to top on another in their presentations and build on what they have seen others do in the past.

The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. concept is an acronym for Bergen Community College Paramus campus where I work.

Professor Justin Watrel, CEO Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.

Our Corporate site (created my one of my former President’s:

This class created menus with creative subs and sandwiches, salads, soups and unique signature desserts. They had to also create a mocktail menu. Some students kept the menus safe while others really put their heart and sole into it and showed how creative they were with their menus.

Each project had to include the location of where the restaurant would in what town in Bergen County, the social media, the menu, the opening party and what would be featured in their gift shop. They had a to figure out the budget for everything as well.

The Project Proposal:

The Proposal for Sounds and Subs:

Before we did the formal presentation, I had the students create the ‘Holiday Presentation’ where corporate requested that our Teams represent the company in creating the invitation, menu and holiday greeting for the Corporate party in the New Brunswick headquarters. This is the presentations:

The Holiday Project Proposal:

The Holiday Project PowerPoint:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1KIhtOxsZc_ZBI2tliNecVSuMCaPpvCH418k3tjOP0b8/edit?slide=id.p1#slide=id.p1

The Holiday Project Video:

The Holiday Project

One Wednesday morning, December 10th, the class presented their ideas to me and these are the results of the individual Teams. Each Team came up with different and unique concepts.

The PowerPoint of the Presentation:

The Website of the Presentation:

https://icuffaro.wixsite.com/my-site-6

The YouTube Video of the Presentation:

The video on the Presentation

The day of the project, I have the students dress in professional dress to present their ideas to the clients. The student executives presented their ideas on location, design, menus, social media and creating an opening party for the restaurant. They also came up with ideas for local musicians who could entertain on a nightly basis. The client was looking for a concept that would attract music lovers not just from the suburbs but from Manhattan, Brooklyn and Newark.

Here are examples of ideas of what the Student Consultants would work in the town that they chose:

Team Three making their initial pitch to the client

Team Three explaining their proposal for the floor plan of their restaurant

Team Five starting their presentation

What I found interesting what the musicians who the Student Consultants chose for both their Opening Parties to promote the restaurant and to play at the restaurant on a circulating schedule. They were some pretty sophisticated musical groups which showed me the tastes of these students in their music selections.

After the presentations were over, we had a Q & A and then we had a light reception. For each of my classes, I baked cookies, brownies and rice crispy treats along with a variety of chips, sodas and waters for all of my students to show my appreciation for their hard work.

It really was an interesting presentation and I was very proud of my students.

Best of luck in the future to all my executives.

Day Three Hundred and Sixty-Eight Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. presents “Farm to Table” Restaurant Concept December 10th, 2025

My Executive Team from the ‘Farm to Table’ Restaurant concept in our Corporate picture

Every semester for my Business Marketing, Management and Communications classes, I create one big Team assignment for my students. In a Commuter College, it is a lot tougher for students to get to know one another between their studies and their jobs, so I create these projects to foster learning, creativity and especially Teamwork.

This semester I taught three sections of Business 101-Introduction to Business, which is the entry level course to the Business/Hotel Management School. This is a tough course to teach as you always have students of various age groups and various levels of industry experience. The Fall semester was no different.

This makes the class more interesting yet more challenging to teach. I still challenge them and test them to see what type of future executives they will become.

This semester I created three restaurant concept projects for my students, “Sounds and Subs”, a music store and sub/sandwich shop concept based on Mike’s Sub Shop in Boonton, NJ, “Farmer’s Market”, a farm to table concept based on The Corner Counter in Red Hook, NY and then “Pasta and Pies”, a sweet and savory pie concept with pasta dishes based on Nobel Pies out of Beacon, NY.

My morning Business 101 class worked on the “Farmer’s Market” concept where they were challenged to create a restaurant with a menu of creative sandwiches, soups, interesting salads, a mocktail menu and a gift shop selling items from their menu plus homemade jams, jellies.

They also were tasked in finding local farms to supply the restaurant concept with fresh produce and meats. The results were amazing to see and what students with a little creativity, a lot of time (six weeks) and a little push can accomplish.

In the past, I have created these projects under the Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. banner, the main consulting company, the Orion Malls banner, a Mall design company and the Buscomonzefi.com banner, my Tech Division. Each business does its best to be creative, forward thinking and have a thought producing presentations. I also challenge the students to top on another in their presentations and build on what they have seen others do in the past.

The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. concept is an acronym for Bergen Community College Paramus Campus where I work.

Professor Justin Watrel, CEO Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.

Our Corporate site (created my one of my former President’s:

This class created menus which reflected the seasons and had to choose one season to feature. The menu had to reflex fresh ingredients from that period with a selection of soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. Some students kept the menus safe while others really put their heart and sole into it and showed how creative they were with their menus.

The students also had to create a gift shop concept with items from the menu, items like fresh jellies and jams, a variety of baked goods and then novelty items such as shirts, bags and aprons. For extra credit, I asked them to source the items for menus. I saw the most interesting results that afternoon.

The Project Proposal:

The Proposal for Farmer’s Market:

The Holiday Project Proposal:

The Holiday Project Presentation:

The Holiday project normally serves as Quiz Four for my class but I wanted the students to concentrate on their Academics this semester so I used this as an extra credit project.

Each Team has been requested by corporate in New Brunswick, to create a proposal for the Corporate Holiday Party that includes a invitation with a Christmas themed logo, a menu proposal with an appetizer, entree, and a dessert along with a signature holiday drink.

Then the Team had to film a video greeting in English and Spanish wishing everyone a Happy Holiday season. They had forty-five minutes to pull it off and these were the result of that project.

The PowerPoint of the Presentation:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1raYNRfdEKhcioW0Mu71mvbQcTBcfx-uFSFPicdq9HYE/edit?slide=id.g39f9fe40fbd_0_1#slide=id.g39f9fe40fbd_0_1

The Website of the Presentation:

https://ckramer169801.wixsite.com/bergecco-parc-farm-t/group-one

The YouTube Video of the Presentation:

One Wednesday morning, December 10th, the class presented their ideas to me and these are the results of the individual Teams. Each project was so different for the same concept.

Team Two’s diorama of their restaurant concept

Team Four presenting their project presentation

Team Three starting their presentation

Each Team had to present their ideas on their location for the restaurant, budget, layout, menu, gift shop ideas and advertising. Each Team had their own unique way of interpreting the restaurant concept and bring their fresh ideas to their Presentation.

Of my three classes in the Fall 2025 semester, this class came up with some of the most clever ideas and all five Teams seemed the most competitive of all the classes.

After the presentations were over, we had a Q & A and then we had a light reception. For each of my classes, I baked cookies, brownies and rice crispy treats along with a variety of chips, sodas and waters for all of my students to show my appreciation for their hard work.

It really was an interesting presentation and I was very proud of my students.

Best of luck in the future to all my executives.

Day Three Hundred and Sixty-Nine Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. presents the “Pasta and Pies” Restaurant concept December 10th, 2025

The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Executive Paramus, NJ Team December 10th, 2025

My Executive Team Team picture

Every semester for my Business Marketing, Management and Communications classes, I create one big Team assignment for my students. In a Commuter College, it is a lot tougher for students to get to know one another between their studies and their jobs, so I create these projects to foster learning, creativity and especially Teamwork.

This semester I taught three sections of Business 101-Introduction to Business, which is the entry level course to the Business/Hotel Management School. This is a tough course to teach as you always have students of various age groups and various levels of industry experience.

The Fall semester was no different. This makes the class more interesting yet more challenging to teach. I still challenge them and test them to see what type of future executives they will become.

This semester I created three restaurant concept projects for my students, “Sounds and Subs”, a music store and sub/sandwich shop concept based on Mike’s Sub Shop in Boonton, NJ, “Farmer’s Market”, a farm to table concept based on The Corner Counter in Red Hook, NY and then “Pasta and Pies”, a sweet and savory pie concept with pasta dishes based on Nobel Pies out of Beacon, NY.

My evening Business 101 class worked on the “Pasta and Pies” concept where they were challenged to create a restaurant with a menu of sweet and savory pies, creative pasta dishes, a mocktail menu and a gift shop selling items from their menu plus clothing and gifts. The results were amazing to see and what students with a little creativity, a lot of time (six weeks) and a little push can accomplish.

In the past, I have created these projects under the Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. banner, the main consulting company, the Orion Malls banner, a Mall design company and the Buscomonzefi.com banner, my Tech Division. Each business does its best to be creative, forward thinking and have a thought producing presentations. I also challenge the students to top on another in their presentations and build on what they have seen others do in the past.

The Bergecco-Parc Banner is an acronym for Bergen Community College Paramus Campus where I work. I use this concept to teach the lessons in the book.

Professor Justin Watrel, CEO Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.

Our Corporate site (created my one of my former President’s:

This class created menus with creative pies and what delicious ingredients that can be tucked into them, selective pasta dishes with side salads and unique signature desserts. Some students kept the menus safe while others really put their heart and sole into it and showed how creative they were with their menus.

One Wednesday night, December 10th, 2025, the class presented their ideas to me and these are the results of the individual Teams.

The Project Concept:

The Proposal for Pasta and Pies:

The PowerPoint Presentation of the Project:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1G9MngEpc0Jzxa-jsUcfCI-R9eSd-pBG1PAhMsOYflCY/edit?slide=id.g3aaba619d79_4_162#slide=id.g3aaba619d79_4_162

The YouTube Presentation:

Part One: Opening Team Four and Team One

https://www.youtubeeducation.com/watch?v=FeXYdhTMG8c

Part Two: Team Two and Team Three

Part Three: Team Five and the Conclusion

https://www.youtubeeducation.com/watch?v=vV-C8kg5jbI

The Company Website:

The Team Presentation pictures from that evening:

Each of the Team members are required to be in Professional dress when presenting their project to the fictional client as they would in task life.

Team Four starting their presentation

Team One presenting their presentation

Team Two’s winning presentation and I wanted to add the best dressed Team

Some of the creative Gift Shop ideas from Team Two

Team Four presenting their project featuring their logo

Team Five making their presentation of their Team

Some very creative advertising from Team Five

At the end of the presentation and after the Q& A, we take the Corporate picture, which I do to show feature recruiters what these students are made of and what seasoned executives they will make in the future. I really am proud of the students that accomplish this project.

Our Corporate picture at the end of the evening

At the end of the evening, I always have a small reception after the presentation. Many of the groups brought samples of their pies for extra credit and our President was the manager of a bakery and brought this beautiful sheet cake with the company logo on it. I thought this was very clever.

The President’s Cake at our reception after the presentation

I bake a variety of cookies, brownies and rice crispy treats along with providing a variety of chips, sodas and waters for the reception. It is my way of recognizing a job well done.

The students did a nice job interpreting what the ideas and theme of the project was and what the client might be expecting.

It was a very interesting evening of which I hope the students carry with them in the future not just to other classes but into the workplace as well.

Best of luck to my future executives.

Aux Merveilleux de Fred Midtown 1001 Sixth Avenue New York, NY 10018

-Aux Merveilleux de Fred

1001 Sixth Avenue

New York, NY 10018

(646) 590-0263

Open: Sunday-Saturday 7:00am-9:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60763-d23759815-r1042403197-Aux_Merveilleux_De_Fred-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

The inside of the bakery

I came across the branch of Aux Merveilleux de Fred (I discovered there are three other branches in New York City) when I was exploring the Garment District for my blog MywalkinManhattan.com. I spied the delicious pastries in the window and this the last part of my trip that day. I saw items being made in front of me and a new batch of brioche just coming into the window.

The wonderful selection of sandwiches and brioche

The delicious pastries and meringues

I fell in love with the sugary brioche and the delicious meringues. The pastries here are such high quality and the selection of delicious treats is so different from other pastry shops in the City.

The store was beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays. A little bit of Paris transported to New York City.

The delicious Sugar Brioche and the Cherry Merveilleux

The Cherry Merveilleux is a light meringue with a sugary Cherry topping. These delightful treats are sweet and whimsical to look at and more fun to eat. The sugary brioche have a chewy and crunchy consistency to them and are the perfect afternoon treat.

The Sugar Brioche

Inside the layers of brioche dough are the sugar crystals that give the pastry its extra sweetness.

The brioche pulls apart so nicely

The are so buttery and rich. These were warm just out of the oven.

The Cherry Mini Merveilleux are wonderful

This simple Meringue is delicious

The baked goods here are high quality and delicious. The service was excellent as well, very friendly and personal. It like visiting Paris in Manhattan. You can not pass by this bakery without stopping in to try something.

The history of Aux Merveilleux de Fred:

(from the Aux Merveilleux de Fred website)

About Chef Frederic Vaucamps:

Frédéric Vaucamps is a pastry chef from the North of France. During the 1980s, his career in pastry took him back to a cake dear to his heart: The Merveilleux. He adapted the recipe to make it extremely lightweight. In 1997, he decided to name his Lille store after his flagship cake, and so “Aux Merveilleux de Fred” was born.  His version of The Merveilleux has quickly become a must-have, just like the cramiques and his Belgian waffles.  Frédéric combines know-how and tradition to offer high-quality products in stores that are the epitome of French elegance.

Artisan pastry chef Frédéric Vaucamps utilizes his unique know-how to create his recipes whilst remaining true to his signature style: lightness and deliciousness. Each cake and pastry requires artisan know-how, a mastery of the craft that imbues them with a flavor that is instantly recognizable amongst thousands of others.  

About the Company:

We love to share and showcase our artisan know-how. Our specialties are created in front of our customers, in each of our store’s ateliers. Every day we pledge our commitment to offering high-quality products, created before your eyes and baked all day long. We make our specialties using ingredients that have been selected for their quality.

These tiny and delicate meringue treats evoke a specific period in French history: high society life during the Directory regime. The aristocratic Incroyables and Merveilleuses, as they were known at the time, would gather in salons to discuss politics and economics. But their main objective there was to see and be seen, to drink tea and eat cakes. The “Aux Merveilleux de Fred” stores with their refined, baroque decor, are generously adorned with mirrors and gilding and take inspiration from this historical period.

Frédéric Vaucamps transmits his passion for the French art of living through his cakes and pastries: the art of taking your time and appreciating good and beautiful things.

Day Three-Hundred and Sixty-Six Attending the Macy’s Day Parade. November 27th, 2025

It has been almost a decade since I attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. The last time I attended the parade, it was when my best friend came in from the Midwest as part of a four day band trip that the local high school sponsored as they were performing in the parade. We had a really nice time.

My blog on Thanksgiving in NYC in 2015:

https://mywalkinmanhattan.com/tag/macys-parade/

For the next several years it was either spending time with a friend out on the island or family commitments or the weather that kept me away. Last year it down poured on the parade. This year it would be hit or miss with the weather but the rainstorm the day before went out to sea and it ended up being a sunny cool day.

My spot on the corner West 46th street and Sixth Avenue for the start of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

https://www.macys.com/s/parade/lineup/

I got there early leaving the house at 7:00am to a packed bus. I was lucky to get a seat and I am at the beginning of the route into the City. We just passed all the stops on the way into the City as we zoomed through the Lincoln Tunnel, a first in a long time.

The crowds at 8:00am on Sixth Avenue

I had read that the route had moved from Broadway to Sixth Avenue, so I walked a couple of blocks uptown to get away from the Times Square crowds. I figured that was where all the tourists were headed. I settled on West 46th Street, which has an incline near one of the office buildings and offered a better view.

The crowd just kept growing around me at the start of the parade.

The parade started uptown at 8:30am and made its way down Broadway until 59th Street and turn on Sixth Avenue and made its way down Sixth Avenue to Macy’s on West 34th Street. I was around the halfway point. Around 9:15am, we heard the first band coming down the Avenue and Tom Turkey, one of the oldest floats in the parade that I could remember from my years in the parade.

The Tom Turkey float used to house the grand marshal of the parade. My first year with the parade in 1988 it was a freezing cold Clint Black, the country singer.

Tom Turkey passing West 46th Street

As the float passed by there was no one on top. Maybe it was too cold or maybe they were on a different part of the float. That height can freak people out.

The start of the parade passing all of us on West 46th Street. The crowds and the excitement started to build. We could see Tom Turkey coming down Sixth Avenue to start the parade. People started to cheer as the parade passed us by.

The start of the parade with the Macy’s logoed gold balloons, which have been part of the parade since I volunteered in the early 1990’s.

The Macy’s balloons at the start of the parade

After this, it was a series of balloons and floats that passed by. The funny part was I thought there were more marching bands in the past.

The Super Mario balloon passing by

The Super Mario passing by

Doria the Explorer balloon

Doria the Explorer passing by our spot

The SpongeBob SquarePants balloon

The Sesame Street float passing by

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid balloon

The Green Giant float passing by

The Disney Float passing by with Micky Mouse

The Spiderman float makes an impact on the parade

The Spider-Man float passes by

The Minon passing us and looking everyone over

The Stuart the Minon balloon passes by

The Golden Turkey float passes by with rapper Busta Rhyms

The balloons Gabby and Panda Paw balloon pass by

Cool & the Gang on the Bronx Zoo float

The Smokey the Bear balloon

The Snoopy float, one of the many that have graced the parade for years

Snoopy passing by

Snoopy has been part of the parade in different forms since the early 1990’s. This is the latest version of the balloon.

The Pac Man Balloon passing by

The Marshall from Paw Control balloon passes

The Buzz Lightyear balloon passes by

The Silver Macy’s Balloon

The parade passed by in intervals as the parade had to stop for performances further down the route.

The Jolly Polly Pirate Ship passes by with Mr. Fantasy. I did not know who he was.

The balloons moved down Sixth Avenue

Here comes the Shrek Onion Carriage balloon in the distance

The Shrek Onion Carriage balloon

The Goldbear balloon

The Bluey the Dog balloon

The Counting Sheep Dream float passing by with performer Debbie Gibson, a singer from the 1980’s.

The Noorah balloon

The Palace of Sweets float

The Pillsbury Doughboy then passed us

The Pillsbury Doughboy passing us in the parade

The Deck the Halls float passed us with Ms. Christmas herself, Darlene Love, whose Christmas song, ‘Nobody aught to be alone on Christmas’ is played every year in the movie, ‘Home Alone II’.

Darlene Love on the Christmas float as it passed by

Then Minnie Mouse made her appearance towards the end of the parade

Then the ‘Believe’ balloons came down Sixth Avenue to announce the arrival of Santa

Here comes Santa, which basically opens the shopping season snd Christmas

Santa waving at the crowds

Santa waving to us as he passed by

Santa saved my way as we all waved to him

Santa on his sleigh marking the end of the parade as it passed West 46th Street

Then the parade ended by us as it made its way to West 34th Street to join the crowds at Macy’s. There all the performers would perform clips from their shows.

Sixth Avenue at the end of the parade

After the parade was over, I spent some time in Midtown getting some work on previous blogs and creating new ones.

After work was over at the club, I headed down to Chinatown for my Thanksgiving dinner. I had been feeling the sniffles trying to come in, so I had my dinner at Wonton Noodle Garden for an early dinner.

I felt I needed the excise and the fresh air to fight this thing so I walked from East 44th Street to Chinatown. I figured a several mile walk would get rid of this thing. I got some great pictures in along the way. All the parks on the way to Chinatown still had foliage left on the trees and the parks were also decorated for the upcoming Christmas holiday season. This is when you get to see the City at its best.

Herald Square Park decorated for the holidays

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/herald-square

Madison Square Park in the late Fall

https://madisonsquarepark.org/

Washington Square Park by NYU decorated for the holidays

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/washington-square-park

The park looked so festive in the late Fall

I loved the decorations on the gate

When I was attending NYU, I never realized how close Chinatown was to campus and I made my dumpling runs as many times as I could. I wanted to be supportive to Chinatown businesses. I decided earlier I would go to Wonton Noodle Garden (Mei Lai Wah) on Bayard Street for Thanksgiving.

Wonton Noodle on 62 Bayard Street

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d26997229-Reviews-Mei_Lai_Wah-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=69573

My review on LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com:

I thought Chinatown and Little Italy would be closed down for Thanksgiving and I would not have much of a choice of places to eat. Wrong! Chinatown was mobbed with both locals and tourists and all the restaurants would be packed until 6:00pm.

When I got to the restaurant, it was packed with diners. I sat in the counter area by the kitchen, which I enjoy. You get quicker service and I like talking to the staff.

My Thanksgiving dinner, Cantonese Wonton Soup with Roast Pork, Egg Noodles and Pork Wontons and a order of Fried Wontons

This is the best dinner and the cure all when you have a cold. It cleans out all the cold in your system. The food and the service here are excellent. I have coming here since the original restaurant opened on Mott Street back when I was in Junior high.

The Cantonese Wonton Soup chicken broth is so rich in flavor

The Fried Wontons are the perfect accompaniment to the soup, crisp and served with a sweet sauce

The Wontons are so good

The staff is so funny here. They can never believe my appetite. I had had only a quick breakfast and no lunch so this served as both lunch and dinner. I was still hungry after lunch. I knew where to walk for dessert.

I stopped down at Great Taste Bakery on 53 Catherine Street for dessert.

https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/402220001/great-taste-bakery-inc/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d26903712-Reviews-Great_Taste_Bakery-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=69573

My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:

Not only were they open but still baking. I got two egg custards that were still hot out of the oven. The tables were filled with local residents talking with their neighbors in Chinese.

The egg custards at Great Taste Bakery

This is one of the last reasonable holdouts in Chinatown for excellent desserts and cheap prices. It caters to the older locals and the hipsters who are flooding the neighborhood.

After dinner, I decided to walk back to Port Authority since it was such a nice night. Most people think I am crazy when I do this but it really is a nice walk.

Walking through Chinatown around 5:30pm Thanksgiving night

Chinatown at night near East Broadway

https://welcometochinatown.com/

Midtown with the Empire State Building lit for Thanksgiving

The Empire State Building in all its glory

It really was a great afternoon and a wonderful Thanksgiving. This was fun just seeing the parade on a sunny afternoon and the perfect dinner in Chinatown.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The complete Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade 2025:

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in 2025

Beach Haven Library & Museum 219 North Beach Avenue Beach Haven, NJ 08008

The library at 219 North Beach Haven Avenue

https://www.beachhavenlibrary.org/

https://www.instagram.com/bhpl1924/

My review on TripAdvisor:

The front of the library and museum in the Fall of 2025

The historic sign

I recently visited the Beach Haven Library and Museum in Beach Haven during the holiday season and discovered a historical library with a rich history in both the community and on Long Beach Island.

The museum on the second floor

On the second floor of the library is the history room of the Beach Haven Library that contains a collection of historic artifacts and ledgers from hotels and businesses on the island. Each of the case lines tells a different story of the community from the grand hotels that once lined the shore and have since disappeared to the lives of the families that once called the island home. When I talked with one of the librarians, she told me that estates from the area donate these items to the library and this has established their collection.

The second floor fireplace

The antique kitchen equipment

The second floor of the library has another fireplace where vintage pottery and kitchen items are on display. There are also decorative pieces of pottery lining the shelves.

Historic China inside the Emily Lloyd Wilson Secretarial desk. Her father designed the Baldwin Hotel in Beach Haven.

The historic ledger from the Parry Hotel

The library has another fireplace where extensive collection of hotel ledgers and artifacts.

Letters from Elizabeth Pharo proposing the Library in 1923

Short History of the Library:

(From the library pamphlet)

Mrs. Pharo presented to the library board a proposal to build the library entirely at her own expense. She contacted Philadelphia architect, R. Brognard Okie to design the library. He chose the model of a Pennsylvania Farmhouse. The library was completed in the Fall of 1924. The museum is now over a hundred years old.

The dedication to Elizabeth Pharo, who dedicated the museum.

The Long Beach Island House Guest Ledger and historic items from the historic Bond Hotel

The records of the past resort town Long Beach Island used to be with guests coming from New York City, Philadelphia and beyond.

Historic items from the Tuckerton & Long Beach Building Land and Improvement Association

The Engleside Hotel ledger and items from the hotel

The New Jersey Declaration towards the Declaration of Independence

Historic books and periodicals

The library has an interesting collection of vintage and antique books that have been donated to the collection.

Photo display on historic sites in Beach Haven and pictures of the original library

Some of the pictures are from the old library and the artifacts come from ships ground ashore. The library has a diverse collection of items to view.

The Compass from the historic shipwreck ‘Fortuna’ that wrecked off Ship Bottom in 1910 and historic boat

The second floor museum gallery holds the diverse collection of artifacts

The second floor of the 1928 building

The first floor of the library has all sorts of historical artifacts along the walls

The Holiday Kickoff in 2025:

I visited during the library’s Holiday Open House with games, trivia and activities. There was also live music in the afternoon. It was a way that the library gives back to the community. It was a nice family event with good food and nice conversation with people from the community.

The Holiday Open House

The fireplace was going when I was talking to the librarians

It was a very nice family event where patrons families could relax, have something to eat and play games with their children. The Liberians could not have been more friendly and engaging with the public.

The Children’s Room had a holiday challenge

The museum is a rare gem tucked not just on the second floor but along the shelves and tables of the entire historic library giving visitors a chance to see all these historic artifacts mixed in with the library book collection.

The History of the Beach Haven Library:

(from the library website)

Attempts to establish a library in Beach Haven had begun as early as the 1880’s with a gift of books for the town’s children by Dr. Edward Williams. Williams, along with Charles Parry of the Parry House and the Baldwin Hotel, was a partner in the Baldwin Locomotive Works. The library collection was first housed in the home of Samuel Copperthwaite on Engleside Avenue. It was later moved into one of the Sunday School rooms of the Kynett Methodist Church, which had been built in 1890.

After the old Quaker Meeting House was donated to the town by Walter Pharo, the Reverend Alexander Corson of the Methodist Church began work, with the help of his wife, to turn the former Meeting House into a viable library. By the time they left in 1908, it was well on its way.

In 1923, Walter’s widow, Elizabeth Pharo, presented the library’s board of trustees with a proposal to build, entirely at her own expense, a new library for the town. It would be sited two blocks away from the Methodist church on a corner lot which she owned at Third Street and Beach Avenue. The library would be dedicated to the memory of her husband’s parents, Archelaus Ridgway Pharo and Louisa Willits Pharo–the founders of Beach Haven–as well as to her late husband Walter. 

Mrs. Pharo contracted R. Brognard Okie, one of Philadelphia’s finest architects, to design the new library. He chose as his model a Pennsylvania farmhouse–not an early lifesaving station, as some believed. Unlike a traditional farmhouse, however, it would be constructed entirely of brick and steel and include several stunning features: three working fireplaces, a vaulted ceiling, and an interior balcony encircling the first floor.

Tons of concrete were poured and steel girders for the new, two-story structure were already up by the spring of 1924 on the southeast corner of Beach Avenue at Third Street. Okie moved to Beach Haven to supervise every step of the construction, which was all done by local builder Floyd Cranmer. Ten railcar loads of bricks were used to build the solid outer walls and it was soon evident that the town was to have the finest library on the New Jersey coast.

As the library neared completion in the late fall of 1924, its beauty was already drawing praise. Every window in the structure was framed with long shutters of pale green, which gleamed against the white brick exterior. A sweeping, multi-dormered black roof added a grace seldom seen in a public building. Surrounded by a low, white picket fence and later, a well-kept green lawn, it added an incomparable dignity to what, in that time period, was the town’s main street, Beach Avenue.

There are two large colonial-style working fireplaces on the first floor. One is in the main room and the other is behind it in the long back room on the ocean side of the library. Today this room houses the Mystery collection and its solid, ten-foot table makes it useful as a meeting room. In the early years, however, it served a different function–it was designated as the men’s reading room, and there male patrons could sit in large comfortable chairs to read magazines and newspapers. It was well lit by two tall French windows and it opened out onto the screened porch on the north side.

The main reading room with its vaulted ceiling is encircled with a balcony reached by a spiral stone staircase, its steps topped with thick slabs of slate. The balcony flooring is of oak, as are all of the spindles in the railings. The upstairs walls are lined with books. One great window on the west side rises ten feet to the ceiling. The rest are all set into dormers. On the east wall behind the upstairs balcony there is a door where one may step down into a well-furnished little museum with high, beamed ceilings and a huge stone fireplace. It is filled with old hotel registers, deeds, diaries, photographs and other mementos of Beach Haven’s vibrant history.

The Beach Haven Public Library is a prime architectural treasure on Long Beach Island and a direct link to a colorful past that is the town’s most precious heritage. Mrs. Elizabeth Pharo’s gift to the town, itself now almost 100 years old, is as stunning as the day it was built. The taxpayers who support it are proud of its status as the only independent library in Ocean County and have chosen to keep it that way.

Schneider’s Bakery 157 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326

Schneider’s Bakery

157 Main Street

Cooperstown, NY. 13326

(607) 547-9631

https://www.facebook.com/Schneidersbakery#

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g47529-d3562916-Reviews-Schneider_s_Bakery-Cooperstown_Otsego_Otsego_County_New_York.html?m=69573

Schneider’s Bakery at 157 Main Street in Cooperstown, NY

The front window of Schneider’s Bakery

I have only visited Cooperstown, NY twice but I have made my annual visit to Schneider’s Bakery part of my annual visit. The doughnuts, danishes, twist and croissants here are excellent. I stop in for breakfast, desserts and snacks there when I am in town. It is not just the taste of the pastries, it is the way the store is displayed too.

The inside counter for coffee and drinks

The only problem with the store is that there is no place to sit down to enjoy all these delicious treats. You have to take your pastry to go. The other problem is the choices. There are so many yummy things to choose from it is hard not to walk out with a bag full of goodies.

The cases of cookies

I loved the creativity of the designs of the cakes and cookies in the store. I thought the Fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas themed cookies looked like little pieces of art. They really put you on the holiday spirit.

The delicious selection of doughnuts

The history of Schneider’s Bakery:

(From the Cooperstown’s Downtown website)

Since 1887, Schneider’s Bakery has been serving Cooperstown residents and visitors alike some of the tastiest baked goods around! Everything from moon pies and cupcakes, to chocolate chip cookies and homemade donuts, can be found at Schneider’s.

The doughnuts and croissant’s were really good and very fairly priced. That was the one thing about Schneider’s Bakery, their prices are very reasonable.

The fantastic Apple filled jelly doughnut

On my first day in town, I stopped for a quick snack of one of their Apple filled doughnuts and these are just mindblowingly good. I was impressed by the fresh apple filling and it almost tasted like a cross between an apple pie and apple turnover.

The lemon zested Glazed Doughnut

It was so good, I had to go back and get another treat to take back to my room at the hotel. I took one of their Glazed Doughnuts back with me and it had a unique taste. It tasted like there was lemon zest in the dough. It had a very unique and sweet flavor to it.

On my last day at the resort, I stopped in for some breakfast items to take back to the room with me. I did not want a big breakfast for the three hour trip home and just something light to tide me over until I got on the road.

The Ham and Cheese Croissant

I started with one of their Ham and Cheese Croissants for breakfast and it was delicious. Filled with sharp Cheddar Cheese and sweet ham, it was the perfect savory item. They should think about putting eggs in it.

Yum!

The Raspberry Long John

This was excellent and tastes even better than it looks

I finished breakfast with one of their glazed Raspberry Long John’s, which is an elongated doughnut with a thick, sugary glaze. I swear I saw stars when I bit into it. The Raspberry jam tasted like it was freshly made and the dough was so soft and sweet. It was excellent.

Afterwards, you can walk these off with a tour of picturesque downtown Cooperstown. It was all decorated for the upcoming Christmas Parade. I am sure that Santa would link to get his treats from here as well.

Walking in Downtown Cooperstown, NY Thanksgiving week in 2025

Downtown Cooperstown, NY decorated for the holidays

The festive decorations outside the store

Waiting for the arrival from Santa

RH Farm 500 US 46 Hackettstown, NJ 07840

RH Farm

500 US 46

Hackettstown, NJ 07840

(908) 414-5662

https://www.facebook.com/serendipity665/

https://www.instagram.com/rhfarms_/?hl=en

Open: Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm/Monday-Saturday 10:00am-6:00pm (Seasonal)

My review on TripAdvisor:

RH Farm at 500 US 46

The front of the farm right before Halloween

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The sign welcoming you to the farm

I was out exploring the Route 46 corridor several years ago from Budd Lake to the Delaware Water Gap and I visited a series of small farm stands along the way. RH Farm at 590 US 46 was one of the standouts that I visited .

It was not just the selection of fresh produce I saw on each of my visits in both in the Spring and Fall, but it was the selection of the variety of goods there was to purchase and the way they were displayed.

There was also a nice selection of freshly baked goods, arts and crafts items and plants and flowers all beautifully displayed like a boutique.

The inside of the farm

The selection of pumpkins in the Fall

I love the way they decorate the farm for each holiday. They decorated not just the selling space but other parts of the farm as well like the grounds and the barn area.

The display of holiday crafts and pumpkins

The holiday display of pumpkins and flowers

The Halloween decorations

They have a wonderful selection of pumpkins and gourds for the Halloween and Thanksgiving season.

The pumpkin display

Even their barn which looks like it is falling down looks picturesque. The property has such a unique feel to it.

The outside grounds

Both in the Spring and the Fall, the trip to both Budd Lake and the Delaware Water Gap are a real treat. What beautiful views.

The beautiful foliage in the Fall of 2025 by Budd Lake

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The sun blazing in the Fall of 2025

The sun simmering on the lake at Budd Lake

The foliage by the lake

The views of the surrounding community in the Fall of 2025

Visiting the farm in the Spring:

Before I left Budd Lake I stopped at RH Farm stand, a small farmstand at 500 Route 46 West. I would spend most of my day exploring various farmstands along to way to see the selection and prices of the items. For the most part, everyone was charging New York City farmers market prices for produce. Some stand were charging $6.99 a pound for peaches and $12.00 for a small pie. I guess many of these people were hoping people from Manhattan were coming out for the day. I did find some decent prices but for the most part most of the stands were pretty expensive.

The entrance of RH Farms

RH Farm Farm Stand at 500 Route 46 West

This picturesque little farm stand has been in business since 2012 (I would have thought much longer) and offers an array of produce, gourmet products and flowers. I just thought it looked really nice. The prices are a little high though. Still quality does have a price tag to it.

The entrance of RH Farm Stand

The inside of RH Farms Farm Stand

The inside of RH Farms

The beautiful flower arrangement at RH Farms

The peaches and produce at RH Farms

4th of July display in Summer of 2024

4th of July display in the Summer of 2024. Uncle Sam looks on

Christmas display in the Summer of 2024

The plant display in the Summer of 2024

Their little cat welcome me with a couple of charming rubs to my legs.

History of the Farm:

(from the farm website)

RH Farms LLC is a local family-run Farm that has been producing delicious fresh products since 2012. We strive to make the most of everything the great outdoors has to offer. Our products are fresh from the field, so you can be sure you are buying the best quality produce. Come visit us with your family for a day of fun at RH Farms LLC.

We’re dedicated to providing a traditional farm experience to everyone in The Northern New Jersey area. Our crops, flowers and home furnishings bring visitors closer to nature while providing a memorable experience. We pride ourselves on our advanced farming methods so we can protect the environment while providing the community with only the freshest food. Contact us to learn more about our goals and missions.

My Life as a Firemen: The Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association: October Meeting and Entertainment October 19th, 2025

The membership arrived at the NJ State Firemen’s Home to find the home decorated for the upcoming Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays. It seemed like yesterday we were up here for the Summer Barbecues.

The outside grounds of the NJ State Firemen’s Home

We had a lot to talk about at our October meeting with the Annual Convention behind us. There had been discussions on the Home and its expansion, renovations going on and the upcoming holiday season. I thought it was one of the best meetings we had in a long time.

The outside of the home decorated for the upcoming holiday season

Our fundraising has been coming along really well and we have exceeded our drive from last year. I think the word getting out about what we do and the Social media has been a huge help. We not only want to show our fellow fire companies where their money is being spent but how it is being spent.

We discussed also our upcoming reorganization breakfast at the Wyckoff Fire Department in November and the Annual Christmas party in December. Our Secretary, Tom Simpson discussed the gift this year and a planned lunch for both the staff and the membership. Everything is underway and planned for a great holiday season.

After the meeting was over, we joined the residents in the main meeting room where refreshments were being served and the entertainment had started.

Gigi entertained the residents on a stage decorated for the upcoming Halloween season

Gigi performed a series of Classic rock and Country music

Gigi performing Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore”

Gigi performing the song “That’s Amore”

Gigi performing the Patsy Kline hit “Crazy for you”

After ending her performance with ‘God Bless America’, we got up and introduced ourselves to the residents. We let everyone know about our upcoming Christmas party, which is always a huge hit with the residents and staff alike. We also we wished them well and for their years of service to the fire service, which they seemed touched by. Then we took our group picture.

The members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association

We ended the program with one of the employees of the home, Eleanor, singing with Gigi a heartfelt song., “I Believe”.

Eleanor singing “I Believe”

What I thought was interesting was one of the guys told me she had once been a backup singer to Michael Jackson. I thought that was really gift that this woman shared her voice and love for these guys.

It really was a wonderful afternoon and I want to thank everyone who made it possible. This is our gift to our fellow firefighters.

Cinnamom Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls/Cinnamom Bakery 5015 South Saginaw Street Flint, MI 48507

Cinnamom Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls/ Cinnamom Bakery

5015 South Saginaw Street

Flint, MI 48507

(810) 866-4342

The Cinnamom logo

I was at the NYC Fancy Food Show in 2025 and this is one of the vendors that stood out to me. Cinnamom produces some of the most delicious baked goods I have tasted. The giant Cinnamon buns are ooey and gooey and topped with thick icings and then more toppings. They are a Cinnamon bun on over-drive and produces the best rush of sweetness. I had to go back three times to try all the samples and indulge in these delectable treats. It is a small company that is just starting their global shipping but watch out when they do. Everyone will want to sample these delicious treats.

The products being offered at the Fsncy Food Show

The regular Cinnamon bun with white icing on it was my favorite but the one with Chocolate and White icing was another. All the products I tried were wonderful and the owner and her daughter could not have been nicer. They let me try all the samples with a big smile on their faces. They seemed happy that I was so happy!

The History of Cinnamom:

(from the company website)

The Journey started 50 years ago:

When Shirley Welch came up with the ultimate recipe for a household favorite, cinnamon rolls. For holidays and special occasions, she would roll out these one-of-kind treats for family and friends to enjoy. Early on she had a little helper in the kitchen by her side, assisting with the baking process. This little helper would grow up to be the founder and owner of CinnaMom, Rebecca Nagy.

For years people would come up to Rebecca telling her she needed to start a cinnamon roll business, as hers were the best in the world. After happily retiring from her nursing career, in 2013 she finally listened to everybody’s encouragement and officially opened the first CinnaMom location in Lapeer, Michigan. Since then, the business has grown in size and popularity, both locally and nationally.

Over the last few years CinnaMom has doubled the size of its main bakery in Grand Blanc, Michigan and is featured on QVC. CinnaMom ships to anywhere in the United States and wholesales these CinnAmazing (TM)  rolls to over 40 locations in the U.S.  CinnaMom has been featured on ABC’s Good Morning America and The View, along with several other TV networks.  What’s next?

Soon, CinnaMom will be exporting to other countries so that more customers have the opportunity to taste these delicious, ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls. CinnaMom is still on a Roll!