photos by ann coen photography How we Met During the summer of 2011, Billy and I started dating in a place that is dear to both our hearts and is where we call home: Long Beach Island. Coincidentally, it’s also the place both our sets of parents met! After courting for that magical summer into fall, we were quickly approaching our first holidays together. Since I was a little girl, I have been traveling to Kauai with my family to spend Christmas and New Year’s. Billy had already started to fit in as part of the family, so he joined in on the fun that year and the following years. Then, in 2014, our Hawaii trip turned out to be extra special because he popped the big question! How he Proposed
photos by ann coen Devon Karvan, owner of Black Sheep Studios, takes classic moves to the next level by incorporating full engagement of the core muscles. Check it out! Spiderman Plank Crunch -Stand with your feet hip distance apart. -Hinge forward at the waist and touch the floor with your palms. -Next, walk your hands forward into a plank position making sure that your core is engaged and spine is long. DO NOT let your lower back or hips sink in. -Draw your right knee to the outside of your right shoulder. Repeat for your left side and return to a plank position when finished. -Do 10 reps two to three times. Plank to pike -Start in a plank position with your hands directly under your shoul
Written By Chris Gaydos @searchingforamerica Photos By Chris Gaydos How did a remote, sandy island off the coast of NJ, primarily known for fishing and hunting, become a Victorian playground for the rich in the 19th century? To answer this question you would have to look back to the mid-1800s, when Long Beach Island, then known as Long Beach, was a sparsely populated island of sand dunes and small ponds. Long Beach still had its share of men who participated in whaling, but wealthy sportsmen seeking adventure came to Long Beach for duck hunting, gunning, and fishing. The Bond’s Hotel at the south end of the island was one of a few hotels catering to these ambitious men, several of whom would
Written by emily warne From the dock of the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club in Beach Haven, Linda Colgan is gesturing out onto Barnegat Bay at the coastal wetlands in front of her—45 acres of rapidly eroding salt marsh called Mordecai Island. Colgan is President of the Mordecai Island Land Trust, a Long Beach Island-based nonprofit that has devoted itself to bringing awareness to the marsh and raising funds to lead restoration efforts designed to stymie the effects of erosion. And they have their work cut out for them—the Army Corps of Engineers, which works closely with the Mordecai Land Trust on a number of projects, estimates that nearly half of the island has been lost to erosion over the p
When it comes to coastal interiors, there are several mainstays of design that have continued to be relevant for many years. Weathered woods, durable fabrics, and natural materials remain at the heart of coastal style. Color palettes often pull from sand, shells, sea, and sky with a myriad of cool blues and greens. Drawing from the simplicity of the ocean, white is often the key to a beach palette. But Bobby Huber, Jr. of Oskar Huber Furniture & Design believes there may be more exciting design elements to explore. “Coastal interiors are about evoking a feeling of carefree relaxation, comfort, and, most importantly, having fun. So why not have fun while decorating your seaside home?” says Bo
Written by Matt Burton “Let’s see your work!” I say with anticipation. Annie Machotka, of Manahawkin, is walking in the gallery with a box of her handcrafted glass and metal work. This is our first introduction. (As it turns out, we live in the same neighborhood of Ocean Acres.) Annie carefully removes the bubble wrap from her work. I am able to hold and inspect it. I am looking carefully at the quality of the craftsmanship, and I’m impressed. Clean and well done. Annie is visibly nervous. She confesses she waited a while before calling me for an appointment. The fear of the unknown or worse—rejection—was most likely the reason for her hesitation. As LBI Arts Council president, it is my job
Photo by patti kelly There is something about fall…Maybe it’s just that old back-to-school feeling, but to me fall signifies a fresh start. It is time to clear out all of the spent annuals and get ready to plant. Mums, cabbage, kale, asters, and pansies are just a few favorites. So many of the perennials are at their prime, and are highlighted by the fresh plants that surround them. Fall is also the time to plant your spring-blooming bulbs. Crocus, iris, hyacinth, daffodils, tulips, and allium will be ready for their spring show. Meanwhile, harvest season makes every home feel warm and cozy. Swap your planters for some pumpkins and gourds, stand up a cornstalk, and you’re all set. Winter gar
PHOTOS BY John Martinelli Finding undeveloped oceanfront property on Long Beach Island is a rarity. So, when a narrow plot of land tucked tightly between existing homes in Surf City went up for auction, Michael Pagnotta jumped at the chance to design and build a unique new house for a long-time client who was seeking a new project to develop on LBI. Pagnotta runs the architect-led design/build firm Michael Pagnotta Architecture + Construction based in Ship Bottom, and now looks back with pride at the home he and his team have created. Pagnotta calls this home an “oceanfront jewel box,” because he was able to take a very small, empty lot with limited access and transform it into a striking, c
Photos by Dianne Ahto Graphicus 14 Simplicity and attention to detail make for the successful design of this family beach house in Surf City. The homeowners enlisted the help of Ann and Sara at The Red Chair in Harvey Cedars, who worked closely with the builder Kevin Engelken of KHE Construction to create a home where the elements of nature serve as the inspiration and create beautiful focal points. When the homeowners asked for a home that “felt like summer,” designers Ann and Sara were instantly flooded with ideas. In the master retreat, raffia wall-covering mimics the texture of sand dunes and colors of the sea. The white bed connotes a crisp, sunny day. Both boys’ rooms come to life with
Photo By Eric Hance Photography Photo By johnmartinelliphotography.com Privacy and shade are in short supply at most properties on Long Beach Island. To counter these adverse conditions, the pergola provides a solution, and an alternative to traditional planting screens. Pergolas are not only low-maintenance and highly functional, but also aesthetically unifying to the entire outdoor living area. A fixture of al fresco living for over 3000 years, the first pergola design was discovered in Egypt, dating back to 1400BCE. Originally used as a support for hanging vines and sustainable food crops, pergolas served both an aesthetic and functional purpose to beautify the landscape and provide shade
This home—drawn by Jay Madden, built by Skip Toole, and decorated by Wyndecrest Home—was inspired by the historic Seven Sisters houses of Beach Haven. The first of the Seven Sisters homes was designed by architect Henry Reed in the 1920s with six more structures to follow throughout that decade and into the1930s. This residence reflects the timelessness of these homes and even mirrors the gables of one of the historic homes across the street. The homeowners set out to create an updated classic and chose a palette of royal, navy, and white punctuated with orange. Driftwood accents and printed “rope” grasscloth are offset by lacquer tables and custom China Seas fabric printed on Sunbrella™. In
wirtten by Angela C. Andersen Producer/Environmental Consultant with Jennifer Begonia Just as every thumbprint is uniquely spiraled, layered with swirling lines that tell the identity of the person it belongs to, each oyster shell displays a mystique all its own. Sure, other lines swirl and layer over other shells, trees, and rocks, but oyster personality is so strong that very few shells closely resemble each other. Oysters display layers upon layers of growth, starting when their microscopic seed emerges from the free-swimming larval stage and lands erratically as spat on a hard substrate. Once attached at about three weeks of life, oysters make feisty survivors. They are a tight-lipped cr
Let’s face it: you have a beach house and everyone loves to visit. It’s a place to gather with friends and family to enjoy the sun, surf, and togetherness. With that being the case, bathrooms are often on the small side. To accommodate as many guests as possible, space usually goes to more bedrooms and living space as well as the kitchen. Even in new construction, the master bath is the largest with the guest bathrooms staying minimal. So what can you do to help your guests enjoy a larger feel in the bathroom and provide that beachy vibe? Let’s start with the shower. Open up your space by getting rid of the old fashioned shower curtain and fiberglass shower insert. Use a frameless clear glas
Photos by Ann Coen Recipe By Crystal Dawn Froberg Baking is my heart, my passion, my love. I got it from my sweet Gram. I remember the sound of her hand mixer whipping up the most decadent icing for the gorgeous cakes she always made for us kids. Her staple cake was a “doll cake.” Each year she would bake a whimsical cake in the shape of a dome, stick a plastic Barbie® in the top and decorate the cake (and the Barbie) until the frosting was transformed into a stunning ball gown of colors and flowers, bows and ribbons. What sweetness that was. And so, as her inspired little granddaughter, I was the kid in the back yard with my mom’s old pie plates, making mud pies and decorating them with col
The Arlington, located at 1302 Long Beach Boulevard in Ship Bottom, offers lunch on weekdays, brunch on weekends, and dinner seven nights per week. With a fabulous array of craft beers and a full bar, drinkers can always find the perfect accompaniment to the New American and internationally-inspired fare produced by Chef Brian Sabarese. Read on for a Q & A with Chef Sabarese, then visit the restaurant to try delights such as the Mexican street corn, bourbon maple lamb ribs, housemade pappardelle, tamarind glazed pork chop, potato-crusted tuna, and more. Bay: When did you realize you wanted to be a chef? Chef: Ever since I was a child, I had a love for food. By the time I was 12, I was taking
Serves 4 with leftovers This is a recipe for the consummate late-summer dessert, but you can substitute other fruits (apples, blueberries) and nuts (pecans, hazelnuts) to delight guests at any time of year. Soft fruit and rich, chewy-crispy crumb topping offer a decadent and satisfying finish to your meal. Ingredients: 8 large peaches ¾ cup flour plus 2 Tbsp. ½ tsp. cinnamon ¼ cup sugar and ½ cup sugar, separated ½ cup (8 oz.) butter, softened ½ cup oats ½ cup chopped raw nut meats (such as walnuts or almonds), optional To Make: For filling, get peaches enough days ahead of serving that they have time to ripen. For a truly simple crumble, do not peel the peaches. Wash peaches and cut them in
Serves 4 with leftover dressing Enjoy the brilliant colors of summer with this classic salad featuring some fresh NJ favorites. You can prepare the corn, slice the tomatoes, and make the dressing a day ahead, storing them seperately. Ingredients: About 30 cherry tomatoes 4 ears of corn, husked, silk removed 1 cup extra virgin olive oil ¼ cup white Balsamic or white wine vinegar 1 clove garlic Squeeze of fresh lemon juice ¼ tsp. dried mustard powder or ½ tsp. prepared mustard 1 dash Worcestershire sauce Pepper Salt Garnishes (optional): chives, parsley, scallions To Make: Clean the cherry tomatoes, dry, slice in half across the stem, and set aside. Place ears of corn in a large saucepan an
Serves 4 This is a basic preparation (more of a technique than a recipe) for first blanching and later sautéing string beans. The method results in perfect, bright green, tender-crisp beans, and lends itself to many tasty finishes—see the box for ideas. Ingredients: 1 lb. fresh string beans, washed and trimmed 2 Tbsp. butter or oil Salt and pepper, to taste To Make: Fill a large soup or pasta pot with water and set to boil, adding a tablespoon or so of salt once it simmers. When the water comes up to a full boil, toss in the trimmed beans and stir gently. Stir again after a minute. Cook for three minutes total, then empty into a colander and refresh under cold running water until no beans re
Serves 4 It’s bold to break out a baked flounder dish on an island with more per-capita flounder fishing and consumption than most places worldwide. But with great “bay taste” as the bottom line, we’re going for it. And we think you’ll be “hooked.” Ingredients: 1 large or 2 medium onions, diced 2 Tbsp. butter or vegetable oil ½ cup mayo ¾ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, lightly packed Juice of one-half fresh lemon 2 lbs. fresh flounder (or fluke) filets Cooking spray Salt and pepper To Make: Sauté onion in butter or vegetable oil until lightly browned. Remove from heat to a small bowl. Mix in mayo, lemon juice, and parmesan. Season mixture with freshly ground pepper. Use a sharp knife
