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PRINT + ONLINE content + SOCIAL MEDIA promotions = YOUR SUCCESS Reach over 90,000 Residences by Direct Mail 908-903-1799 THE CONNECTION Warren-Watchung Edition Warr n-Wa chu g Edition - Warren,Watchung,Martinsville, Stirling,Millington,Gillette, a GreenBrook,BaskingRidge,BerkeleyHeights,New Providence rk Watc u g rti ille, Stirling,Millington,Gillette, k r e H i , e i R B F Connectwithus forgreatLOCALdeals! Go to www.theconnectionsnj.com DEC 2017/JAN 2018 VOLUME LXVII THE CONNECTION C Bernards-Ridge Edition -Ridge Edi ion Bernardsville,BaskingRidge,Bedminster,Mendham, l as ngRidge,Bedminster,Mendham, FarHills, Peapack/Gladstone, Chester,Morristown P ac Gl e e DEC 2017/JAN 2018 R B F Connectwithus forgreatLOCALdeals! Go to www.theconnectionsnj.com VOLUME LXII DEC 2017/JAN 2018 THE CONNECTION Bridgewater-Somerville Edition o t o rv e E VOLUMEXXXVII R B F Connectwithus forgreatLOCALdeals! Go to www.theconnectionsnj.com Bridgewater, Branchburg, Hillsborough, n , i Martinsville, Raritan, Somerville i R S m R www.theconnectionsnj.com • Connectionsnj@gmail.com BACK TO THE MARKETS By: Linda Seigelman It’s the perfect time to make a trip into Manhattan because the Union Square and Columbus Circle Holiday Markets are back. There is nothing better than spend- ing a few hours outdoors browsing the markets, finding great gifts, and stopping for some delicious eats along the way. The Union Square Holiday Market is an internationally renowned holiday market located in Union Square Park. Hailed as a must-visit destination for unique gifts created by local craftsmen and artists, millions of people from the States and abroad browse the winding aisles each year enjoying this eclectic holiday experience. For 2017, the Market has exciting new sections like Little Brooklyn and Urbanspace Provisions, a warming station, a kid’s craft studio and live music. It marks the official start of the holiday shopping sea- son in New York City and is open from November 16th to December 24th. Favorite items such as candles, soaps, handmade jewelry and winter acces- sories will be featured along with exciting new products such as small batch jams and natural olive oils. As always, there is a large selection of organic, fair trade certified and made in the U.S. items. Grab a Persian soup or a cup of thick hot chocolate and take a break on a park bench for some great people-watching. The Columbus Circle Holiday Market, now in its 15th year, is the younger sibling to Union Square and opens a bit later – on November 28th. It is considered one of the most beautiful places for outdoor hol- iday shopping. Located at the entrance to Central Park, at 59th Street and Central Park West, the Columbus Circle Market also has many distinctive items for sale including old favorites such as handmade wooden puzzles and artisan chocolates as well as some new handcrafted jewelry and clothing items and fascinating gadg- ets and tools. Food vendors offering snacks and holiday treats from around the globe should not be missed. Both markets are open late every day. Be sure to leave time to explore the streets beyond the markets. Downtown, you can stroll through the Village or to Madison Square Park and Eataly. Uptown, the shops in the Time Warner Center and the pathways in Central Park beckon. These are also two great food neighborhoods, so take the opportunity to head to a café or restaurant for a com- fortable chair, a warm environment, and coffee or a good meal. SOME FAVORITE SPOTS NEAR COLUMBUS CIRCLE Blue Water Grill, 31 Union Square West (at 16th) – long-time favorite of the area, seafood specialties, always crowd- ed, great brunch and lunch choices, over- looks the square Cafeteria, 119 Seventh Avenue (at 17th) – you can’t go wrong here, consis- tently good and reasonably priced, burg- ers, chicken, meat loaf, salads, busy all day and night, open late Eataly, 200 Fifth Avenue (at 23rd) – a bit of heaven for Italian shopping and eating, from pizza to steak, take out or eat in, always crowded but worth a visit, great place for gifts too Le Pain Quotidien, 801 Broadway (at 11th) – a city staple, communal tables, good soup, salads, sandwiches, delicious freshly baked pastries and breads – take some home SOME FAVORITE SPOTS NEAR UNION SQUARE Arte Cafe, 106 West 73rd Street (bet/ Columbus & Amsterdam) – long-time casual Italian spot, prix fixe options for lunch, brunch and early dinner, good food at good prices Bouchon Bakery, 10 Columbus Circle (at 60th) – take-out bakery or sit-down café with great views of Columbus Circle, excellent soups, sandwiches and more, the pastries are a must, take home some bread and a treat or two Café Luxembourg, 200 West 70th Street (bet/ Amsterdam & West End) – French bistro, an Upper West Side fixture that is still great for lunch, brunch or pre/post-theater or a movie Nougatine, 1 Central Park West (at 60th) – Jean Georges Vongerichten’s more casual French spot, great food, prix fixe lunch a deal, an oasis of calm in the neighborhood