Happy holidays, all! What a treat to see so many of you at our Client Appreciation Thanksgiving Pie Giveaway. So lovely to see friends and share our recent home renovation courtesy of our dear friend and brilliant interior designer, the Queens-born-and-raised and all-around-the-world fabulous Lorraine Liste.

We are officially in love with the work of Tara Kothari, a Jersey-City based artist who creates out of her studio at Mana Contemporary. A self-described botanical ceramicist and maker of whimsical pottery, we just adore her fun and clever themes.

This holiday season, we are committed to shopping small and local. This extends to online businesses too, where there are so many treasures to behold. LingChen Art, for one. The talented artist behind this Etsy shop makes gorgeous, detailed paintings recreating iconic images from NYC and Northern New Jersey.

Winter is around the corner and like many dogs we know, our Phoebe loves herself a good snowy frolic. But where this is snow, there is ice, and extreme cold temperatures can occur too. All pose a risk to our pooches’ optimal health and wellness.

Learning the craft of ceramics and pottery seemed to gain traction over relatively recent years. Perhaps as a reaction to so much screen time, there seemed to be a collective interest in getting crafty and hands on.

An awesome and informal group, Hudson Pickleball are informal ambassadors of the game and have set up game times at the courts at 64 Harrison St in Hoboken. There are organized games and tournaments, open times and lessons, and even mom pickleball sessions!

Acai Ya Later has a great selection of all things fruity and sweet for fruit lovers like us. Their acai bowls are very sweet and refreshing and their fruit looks and tastes fresh and cleansing. They also have great options and variety in their fruit, bowls, and drizzles.

So many great traditions abound. The NYC Halloween Parade, Pet and Kid Halloween Costume contests throughout JC…and one more tradition that is on its third year of being and already our favorite, for the sheer scope of the talent and creativity involved.

They serve Starbucks Coffee and make the range of barista-style drinks. They have a full range of healthy and freshly made juices, smoothies and bowls. They have paninis, salads, sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, omelets, and quesadillas, burritos and huevos rancheros.

Fall is here, finally! This season is all about wonderful weekend day trips to pumpkin patches and nice hikes and fresh apple cider and planting mums and all of that. All here for that but let us please big up our favorite weekend day trip in the fall, which is to the majestic Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton.

The team built out a beautiful airy space to encourage tranquility and calm for your pets when they visit, and that is well in line with their progressive style of veterinary care. The team focuses on diagnostic services, preventative care and integrative therapy including personalized treatment plans to help your furry pals live their best lives.

We have been patiently waiting for the second outpost of Brooklyn’s beloved Nurish to open in Bergen-Lafayette. Located on Communipaw Ave, it is now fully operational after a soft opening in August. Nurish is such a great addition to Jersey City – please check them out!

Cavany Foods and Market is now open! Located at 235 Grand St. in a coveted corner spot, the Café, Grocer, and meal delivery service is spacious and comfortable. The Café serves coffees, bubble teas, and breakfast treats from Balthazar Bakery.

We love the All-Day Brunch menu at Gussy’s which recently opened in the Village. We also love the space itself. It is sunny and spacious and includes a long window counter perfect for perching with your coffee and/or meal and looking out at all the action on Newark Ave.

One of the many things that make Jersey City so special is the number of family-owned and operated small businesses that are still here and are always such a pleasure to support. Flor y Café, the Puerto Rican mother-and-daughter-owned florist and café on Central Ave. in the Heights is one such business!