4 SUBURBAN ESSEX MAGAZINE Winter 2008

My first ferry ride to Manhattan was on a bleak, drizzly after-noon, and I was as jittery as a gerbil on my way to a new job. But as the boat set off from Weehawken and began to glide across the water, I was suddenly mesmerized, staring like a wide-eyed Texan at a city that appeared as glamorous as a Tiffany’s window. For eight spellbinding minutes, I was transformed from a harried commuter to a love-struck tourist. Of course, half an hour later I was Cin-derella again, desperately fighting to open my junky old umbrella without jabbing out anyone’s eyes.

But I’ve never forgotten that ferry ride. And it’s that magic that our “See New York Like a Tourist” story is all about: Rediscov-ering New York, from the elegant Lincoln Center theaters to the funky East Village galleries, from the pricey “store museums” on Madison Avenue to 14th Street’s sidewalk bargains.

So if a pricey vacation isn’t in the cards for your family this sea-son, don’t settle for second-best. Visit Manhattan! Just remember to put on your tourist blinders (the ones that block out stinky subway air, rude waiters, and bumper-car walks along jammed streets). I’m betting that your family will have the time of their lives, and so will you.

If you need a getaway with the emphasis on “away”, travel agents agree that cruises are the best deals going. See our guide to figure out which ship is right for you—so you won’t end up taking your 10-year-old triplets on a ship that requires jackets and gowns for dinner, or bring fussy Aunt Marie on a boatful of cannonball-plunging 20-somethings. No matter which cruise you choose, it’ll be a surefire hit for everyone.

Still haven’t finished (or started...?) your gift-buying? Peruse our spectacular Holiday Showcase, with fabulous items from local shops. From stunning diamond necklaces to practical but good-looking boots, you’ll find the ideal present for ev-eryone on your list. Then get soemthing for yourself!

All that shopping can work up an ap-petite, and our restaurant critic has a great suggestion: Montclair’s Fascino, with its creative dishes and superb atmosphere. Or for a cozy meal at home, try one of the “comfort food” casseroles on our recipe page.

The holidays can be exhilarating—but they can also be stress-ful. Our health writer reveals that the simplest, most effective rem-edy is as easy as breathing. In fact, it IS breathing. But most of us need a little guidance to breathe correctly, so try our quick and simple techniques. Stress, however, can also challenge us in all the right ways, as Barry Farber reveals in a column that may give you a new perspective on tough times.

See your neighbors decked out for two wonderful benefit events, choose a concert (or a million other activities) from our Calendar of Events, or mull over your astrological guide. Whatever your interest, you’ll find it here—or in Manhattan. It looks like Dorothy was right after all. There’s no place like home.

Wishing all of our Suburban Essex friends a wonderful holiday season—and an even better start to the New Year!

— Naomi Kenan Editor-in-Chief

Letter from the Editor

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