FROM THE DESK OF
contents
Features
Party Time
BIG TOP
BIRTHDAY p.34
Circus-themed
celebration brings
together lions,
tigers and treats
GOD BLESS
GRACE p.36
Baptism celebrates
baby’s religious
welcoming
TIME FOR TEA p.38
Alice in Wonderland-
inspired party
takes guests on
an adventure
FLOWERS
FOR HER FIRST p.40
Little girl celebrates
birthday with a
bounty of blooms
Departments
BULLETIN BOARD p.6
FUN FOOD p.8
SOCIAL SCENE p.42
New and noteworthy Easy cake batter fudge Recent community events
CRAFTS p.7 HEALTH p.10 SPORTS p.14
DINING GUIDE p.44 HOME p.12 Wyckoff native and
New England Patriots’
Chris Hogan
LISTS p.16 THE SPECIAL
PARENT p.17
Pom-pom decoration
Best party places in
Bergen
DO-GOODER p.9
Ethan Sandlofer of
Saddle River
Milk donation program
Stylish kids’ sanctuaries
Tips for creating an event
your kids will love
MOM TO MOM p.48
Guide for families with
special-needs children
Planning a first
birthday party
I
still remember one of my favorite birthday
parties. It was at Chuck E. Cheese’s. Having a
party there was a huge deal (it was the ’80s)!
As a new parent, I believe that planning
a party is as much
about us as it is
about our child. My
daughter is turning 1
in a few months and I
write about my adven-
tures in planning her
party in “Mom to Mom.”
We have a plethora
of parties featured in
this issue – from a big-
top birthday and Alice
in Wonderland-themed
communion party to a
floral fantasy for a little
girl’s first. There are
Check out the photos from
also helpful tips through
her big day on page 36.
these pages – to make
party planning easier.
Speaking of making life easier, event planners
Gabrielle and Lorraine Wile of Wile Events give
readers five planning know-how to tips create a
special event your kids will love – and you’ll love
organizing.
Our Fun Food writer Kate Morgan Jackson
supplies us with a sweet treat – cake batter
fudge!
A stylish sanctuary in Tenafly is showcased in
our Home department. The little boy’s room has
a surfer dude vibe while the girl’s room is pretty
in pink. Their study is more of a tropical retreat
– tent included. And the gray and yellow nursery
was designed for easy transition for when the
baby grows older.
Do-Gooder Ethan Sandlofer of Saddle River
honors his late mother by creating the nonprofit
E’s Battle Buddies to help raise money for rare
cancer research and assist families dealing with
the disease. Read more about him on page 9.
Our cover subject, Chris Hogan, New England
Patriots wide receiver, speaks to us about his
journey in the NFL (helping his team and quar-
terback Tom Brady make it to Super Bowl LI)
and his most-recent adventure into fatherhood.
And, finally, turn to page 44 and find the best
places to throw a party in Bergen. It’s time to
start planning! ●
My daughter was
recently baptized.
ON THE COVER: New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan relaxes in
his Port Washington, N.Y. home with his 6-month-old twins Parker and Chase.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MITSU YASUKAWA
2
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 | (201) FAMILY
LAURA ADAMS STIANSEN
PHOTOGRAPHY;
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017
THE CELEBRATIONS ISSUE