Brighten up your next get-together with Kim Seybert’s Caviar placemats, $225, set of four; Tile napkins, $112, set of four; and Pop Rock rings, $100, set of four; from Neiman Marcus in Short Hills and neimanmarcus.com.

Summer Soirée

Catch a buzz with Kaleidobug cotton cocktail napkins, $24, set of four, from Anthropologie in Short Hills or anthropologie.com.

Lilly’s Breakers barstool in sunshine yellow makes the party more fun; $870 from Fun House Furnishings (973-543-6429; funhousefurnishings.com) or lillypulitzerhome.com.

Put your best fête forward with Jonathan Adler’s new Positano melamine tableware. Bowls, plates, glasses, trays and more; available from SEED387 in Millburn (973-564-5070; seed387.com) or jonathanadler.com.

Pour on the style with Julia Knight’s Argento glassware in saffron. Glasses, $35 each; pitcher, $150 from CBL Fine Art in West Orange (973-736-7776; cblfineart.com).

The handmade MacKenzie-Childs Parchment Check canape knife set is a whimsical addition to any buffet; $58 from Fancy That in Montclair (973-744-6800; fancythatmontclair.com).

Cozy up to Kim Seybert’s cheery Ikat pillows. Small, $145; medium, $233; and large, $300; from Neiman Marcus in Short Hills or kimseybert.com.

Celebrate in supreme style with the handcrafted Hostess bar cart, made of plantation wood and available in 11 groovy high-gloss colors; $549 from shopsocietysocial.com.

This vintage-inspired ice bucket with Trina Turk signature print packs plenty of punch. Made in sunny California; $58 at trinaturk.com.

It’s that time of year, girlfriends. When, before we even think about burying our pedicured toes in the sand, we conduct our excruciatingly honest, head-to-toe body triage. Prepare yourself for the annual unveiling.

What surprises await as we bravely step in front of a full-length mirror bathed in the glow of a 75-watt bulb? Pasty skin that needs to be toned, tightened and resurfaced? Garden-variety blemishes, cellulite and spider veins? Or—horrors!—unwelcome hair skulking in our canyons and valleys? Welcome to the month of June.

Savvy chicks already have their go-to providers for regular body work. But for beginning-of-swimsuit-season emergencies, a serious plan must be hatched. The magical evolution from busy wife, mom, professional, community volunteer, all-around do-everything-for-everybody-but-myself woman to beach-ready diva is about to commence.

The good news is that area health and beauty experts offer a bevvy of innovative treatments to help us make the smooth and sexy transformation from winter to WOW.

1. Best face forward

Step one is to care for the face, neck and decolletage since those areas are first noticed and most exposed to the ravaging effects of sunlight. You know the drill: apply moisturizer and SPF-30 sunscreen liberally before you head out in the morning and, if you plan to spend time outdoors, reapply a shotglass-full of sun protection every two hours.

Next, banish fine facial lines with injectable dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm; rid yourself of deep marionette wrinkles and regain the “apples” in your cheeks with thicker injectables like Radiesse and Juvederm Ultra Plus; and relieve forehead furrows and crow’s feet with a little Botox for a refreshed, relaxed new you. These and other fast and simple procedures, many of which can be done during your lunch hour, are available through Reflections Center for Skin & Body in Livingston and Martinsville (732-356-1666; reflectionscenter.com).

Reflections medical director, Dr. Mitchell Chasin, reports that patients enjoy the instant gratification of experiencing these and other innovative, FDA-approved services.

“The first thing I ask a woman is ‘What bothers you most when you look in the mirror?’” says Chasin. “Their responses are often surprising because what they dislike isn’t necessarily something that other people would immediately notice. Together, we discuss the possibilities and arrive at a customized plan.”

Chasin, who is steadily building a national reputation with regular television appearances on Today, the Doctors and Good Morning America, says that the state of the art has moved well beyond dermal fillers and Botox and is expanding to other areas. For example, to stimulate a healthy glow and promote skin regeneration, Reflections uses Fraxil, a resurfacing laser treatment that optimizes patented, microscopic laser columns to target and penetrate surface as well as deeper layers of skin.

“Fraxil is amazing technology that helps improve tone and texture, reduce fine lines, erase brown spots, improve the appearance of scars, treat pre-cancerous lesions and generally lessen the effects of everyday sun, pollution, stress and fatigue,” says Chasin. “Patients really like it because results are immediate and, over the subsequent three to six months, additional improvement will be noticeable as the deeper layers of skin continue to create new skin-plumping collagen.”

2. HITTING BELOW THE BELT

Recently, on an episode of Today, Chasin described new Ultherapy technology that

helps restore elasticity to brow, cheek, jowl, neck and chest areas with a one-time office visit.

“Ultherapy is a non-invasive procedure that uses safe ultrasound technology to tighten the innermost structures of the skin, leaving the treated area lifted and looking more youthful,” he says.

Some women start shying away from shorts and swimwear in their 40s and 50s when the knees begin to droop as skin from the thighs loses elasticity and acquiesces to gravity. Chasin says help is coming next year, when the FDA is expected to approve the Ultherapy skin-tightening technique for thighs and tummies.

If you can’t wait that long because, despite a healthy diet and regular exercise, loose skin is plaguing your upper legs or abdomen, several popular, non-invasive body contouring therapies are making headlines, says Chasin. “Our patients are very excited about the results they can achieve with our Liposonix treatment that involves high-intensity ultrasound energy—with no incisions, anesthesia or downtime. It’s brand new, and we’re the first in the state to introduce it.”

Other innovative treatments include CoolSculpting, a body-contouring procedure that uses an advanced cooling technology to reduce fat, and Thermage, considered by Chasin to be the gold standard to ameliorate cellulite in thighs and buttocks. To banish nasties such as unsightly spider veins and unwanted hair, Reflections also specializes in laser therapy that can be performed in as little as 15 to 30 minutes.

“This is an amazing time to work in our field because safe and effective technology is continually evolving and improving,” Chasin says.

Whether you try something simple such as basic dermal fillers or opt for more sophisticated resurfacing, contouring or laser procedures, experts agree that, by doing a little tweaking once or twice a year as part of a planned regimen, overall results will be far superior to waiting until everything is sagging from head to toe and then trying to play catch up.

Chasin says, “Gravity is best fought every six months. It’s like owning a home and making regular updates and repairs. It will require less time and less money if you don’t try to undertake everything in one fell swoop.”

3. LET YOUR HAIR DOWN

For gorgeous, healthy tresses, one of the best things you can do for your hair is to infuse it with keratin. If the only hairstyle you can muster during humid months is a dandelion-do, consider the magic of a keratin treatment.

“Our clients love it, especially in humid months when they want to jump out of the shower and touch up their hair quickly and easily,” says Miriam Liberman, director of the Eforea Spa at the Hilton in Short Hills (973-379-0100).

While U.S. salons now offer various keratin treatments such as the Brazilian blowout and Japanese straightening, Eforea Spa specializes only in the patented Coppola keratin technique, regarded by many as the crème de la crème because only the Coppola formula is made in the U.S. and contains very little formaldehyde, an essential ingredient in any keratin formula.

“There is a misconception that keratin changes the character of your hair,” says Eva Simon, one of Eforea’s certified Coppola stylists. “If you have curly hair, it will remain curly even with keratin. You will still be able to wash, dry and style it, or let it go natural. The main benefit of keratin is that it dramatically protects against frizz, and enables you to dry your hair much faster.”

During the three-hour keratin process, Coppola solution is combed through freshly shampooed hair and remains in place while the hair is blown dry, and then flat ironed in small sections.

Coppola clients leave the salon with perfectly straight hair that must remain dry and flat for the first 72 hours. Then the hair can be washed and styled as usual, or allowed to dry naturally for a fun summer look. Imagine being able to enjoy a week at the beach without feeling the need to hide under a scarf or beach hat!

One caveat—to prolong the benefits of keratin for at least three months, avoid chlorine and salt. That means no pools, ocean water or shampooing with water that has been treated with sulfates or salt-based water softener.

“Teens, moms and grandmothers are trying keratin, loving it and eagerly booking their next appointments,” says Liberman. “It’s definitely addicting.”

4. FINISHING TOUCHES

For a healthy, beach-worthy glow, load up on fresh fruits and veggies, drink plenty of water and treat yourself to

a skin and body analysis at Bellezza Si Esthetica in Morristown (973-540-0764; bellezzasi.com). Relax and dream of your summer getaway plans as owner and master esthetician Caterina Castaldo prepares a custom-tailored skin-care regimen or formulates an individualized bodywork plan that nurtures your soul.

After being couped up indoors all winter, consider a therapeutic facial treatment to exfoliate dead skin cells and deeply cleanse skin and pores. Castaldo will incorporate elements of hydration, lymphatic drainage and relaxation techniques and then will apply a luxurious, professional-quality moisturizer that she imports exclusively from Italy.

Remove superfluous hair with Bellezza Si Esthetica’s gentle body and facial waxing with organic Italian fruit- and vegetable-based depilatory wax imported from Sicily. Then indulge in state-of-the-art permanent makeup application, brow waxing and contouring, followed by eyelash extensions that are individually applied to real lashes. This quick and easy technique means glamorous, water-resistant lashes for about one to three months—perfect for a beach babe on the go!

When you hit the sand looking and feeling your best, you’ll be confident enough to leave the house without makeup, let your locks dry in the sunshine and stroll the beach in a bikini, sans cover-up. And everyone will wonder how you manage to exude such natural style and grace.

Recipe courtesy of Avenue executive chef Dominique Filoni

Greek Salad

Ingredients:

3 plum tomatoes, tops removed and diced into 1/4-inch cubes
3 red bell peppers, seeded and diced into 1/4-inch cubes or bite size
3 yellow bell peppers seeded, diced into 1/4-inch cubes or bite size
2 seedless European cucumbers, peeled, diced into 1/4 inch cubes
½ cup red onions, sliced thinly
½ cup of Kalamata olives, halved
4 to 6 slices of feta cheese
Salt, pepper, dry oregano to taste

Greek Salad Dressing:

1 cup red-wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
5 tbsp dry oregano
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients.
In another salad bowl, combine all the vegetables, olives and oregano. Season with salt and pepper and the dressing. Place the feta cheese on top. Let marinate a few minutes before serving.

TABOR ROAD TAVERN

Jill Stabile, manager
“A perennial favorite with guests is the pineapple martini, a mixture of pineapple-infused vodka with a splash of pineapple juice. It’s light on the palate without being too sweet. We infuse the vodka ourselves and it’s easy to make at home.”

PINEAPPLE-INFUSED VODKA

One 750 ml bottle of Absolut Vodka
One pineapple, rind removed, cut into chunks

Place pineapple chunks in large glass jar with tight-fitting lid. Add vodka. Secure lid and refrigerate for three days. Strain and serve on the rocks or with a splash of pineapple juice in a chilled martini glass.

URSINO

Richard Spaulding, general manager

“The drinks at Ursino reflect what’s ripe and ready on our farm. When fruit and herbs are picked at their peak, you don’t need to add a lot of ingredients. The perfect cocktail is simple and not overthought. Two great examples of uncomplicated yet flavorful drinks are the strawberry Pimm’s Cup and the Mint Blossom (recipe at parkplacemagazine.com) cocktail.”

STRAWBERRY PIMM’S CUP

2 strawberries
1 ½ ounces Pimm’s No. 1 Cup
2 ounces ginger ale
2 ounces club soda

Muddle two strawberries in the bottom of a Collins glass. Fill the glass with ice, add Pimm’s, top with ginger ale and club soda.

The Bernards inn

Diane M. Carr, general manager
“Our specialty drink list is changed seasonally and the standout for summer is the garden cucumber-mint cocktail. The mint and cucumber come directly from our chef’s garden. For a cosmo with a twist, we add pomegranate liqueur and orange-flavored vodka to our Pom-Orange Cosmo (recipe at parkplacemagazine.com).”

Garden Cucumber-Mint Cocktail

GARDEN CUCUMBER MINT
COCKTAIL

1 ounce citrus vodka
1 whole cucumber (do not peel), pureed
½ ounce Midori Melon Liqueur
½ ounce Domaine De Canton Ginger Liqueur
6 fresh mint leaves
Club soda

Crush the mint in the bottom of a martini shaker. Add ice, cucumber puree and the two liqueurs. Shake until cold; pour over ice into a Collins glass. Top off with club soda.

Additional:

Mint Blossom

1½ ounce Breukelen gin
3 to 5 sprigs of fresh mint
2 orange slices
Club soda
Lemon zest (optional)

In a tall glass, muddle gin, 1 orange slice and mint. Add ice, and then top with club soda. Garnish with orange slice and fresh mint. Sprinkle lightly with lemon zest for a pleasant burst of citrus on the nose!

Pom-Orange Cosmo
1½ ounces Grey Goose L’Orange vodka
½ ounce Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
Splash of Cointreau
Splash of cranberry juice
Squeeze of lime
Burnt orange peel and pomegranate seeds (optional)

Fill martini shaker with ice. Add all ingredients. Pour into chilled martini glass.
Garnish with burnt orange peel and pomegranate seeds.

Asian Pear Martini

3 ounces Absolut Pear
3 ounces pear Puree
½ ounce Domaine de Canton Ginger

Tools:
16-ounce glass shaker
Stainless steel shaker
Strainer
7½ ounce martini glass chilled with ice and water

Pack glass shaker with ice. In an upright circular motion, add ingredients to glass shaker. Cover with stainless steel shaker and shake vigorously until a light frost forms on the steel shaker (8 to 12 seconds). Place steel side down and remove glass shaker. Pour the ice and water from the chilled martini glass. Cover the glass with the strainer and fill from the chilled stainless steel shaker

South Orange’s Wellness Lounge offers a host of healthy living classes and workshops for adults and children. Left, the activity room is used for hands-on projects and roundtable discussions.

A Step Further, the Wellness Lounge in South Orange’s five-week summer enrichment program for children and teens, takes day camp to a new level. Designed to bolster self esteem and self awareness, the creative offerings include: fashioning a personal blueprint to help evaluate college options; creating a comic book in which participants star as their own superheroes; and learning techniques such as visualization, meditation and relaxation.

The Wellness Lounge (14 South Orange Avenue; 973-275-3868), which opened last November, has an ongoing roster of seminars and workshops that promote healthy lifestyles. Treatments and workshops, presented by independent practitioners, range from reflexology and life coaching to feng shui, financial wellness and nutrition. The lounge’s educational programming promotes sustainability and green living practices. The retail store, located within the center, sells gifts, apparel and Something Healthy, the Lounge’s brand of eco-friendly products.

Summer vacation is the warm-weather version of the winter holidays—a much-anticipated, long-planned-for highlight of the year.

Here’s how it goes:

Saturday:

Let’s face it, last summer’s vacation was the worst ever. The motel room was cramped, the beach was overcrowded, the whole family was stressed and came home more exhausted than rested. So this year’s formula for success is: Do the exact opposite of what you did last year.

Online, find the perfect lakeside cottage in the woods. Trees instead of a forest of oiled bodies!  Peace rather than pandemonium! Everyone even has their own room.

It takes one full day to pack gear and car for one week in the woods. And that’s without the groceries, the inflatable boat, and the 11-year-old, whom you totally didn’t mean to leave standing in the driveway.

It’s nearly dark by the time you reach the lake, or maybe that’s just the shade from the dense canopy of pine trees. But feel how cool the air is here! How fresh the breeze! How quiet, except for….

Is that hammering you hear? And a chainsaw? Are they actually putting a new roof on the house next door while simultaneously cutting down all the trees on the property?  This was not in the rental description.

The good news: The cottage is charming, with a big, stone fireplace and a glider on the screened-in porch overlooking the lake.

The bad news: Are those mouse droppings on the mattress?

Sunday:

Sleep soundly only to be awakened at dawn by the sound of, not hammering or chainsaws as feared, but a small plane flying so low you think it might be making an emergency landing on your roof.

But hey, it can still be the best summer vacation ever! Waking up early means better fishing! And heading out in the boat will get you away from all the hammering that’s started up.

The good news: The kids are thrilled to catch six bass each. The bad news: Now you’ll have to clean, filet, cook and, worst of all, eat them.

There is a golden moment at high noon, when the roofers stop for lunch and there is a sliver of sunlight on the corner of the dock, when you actually feel like you’re on vacation. Otherwise you feel like you’re a short-order cook on a construction site.

The bad news: Make emergency run to the nearest store for something you forgot and desperately need, and discover it takes you 45 minutes to get there. The good news: They have gin.

Martinis mixed? Check. Gliding on porch to sight of gorgeous sunset as children play old-school boardgame at your feet? Check. Roofers killed? Only kidding!

Mom, mom, baaaaaaaaaats!

No, you did not run into the cottage and slam the door, leaving your husband and kids outside on the porch to deal with the bats. And so, okay, what if you did?  You left them the broom and tennis rackets to use as weapons.

Bats vanquished, fish eaten, mice out of sight, chomping on a snack, you light a fire in that big, stone fireplace, only to get driven out into the night by plumes of noxious smoke.

While cottage airs out, head to the waterfront with marshmallows and build a campfire. Make s’mores. Teach the kids your old Girl Scout songs. Feel as if the Xbox and the laptop had never been invented.

Monday:

The good news: No roofers! The bad news: That’s because it’s raining. And raining. And raining.

After two days of sharing your food with the resident mice and beating the kids at Monopoly, find yourself longing for sun and Netflix. Besides, you’re out of gin.

Repack the car and head to that scuzzy beach motel you hated so much last year.  Still scuzzy, but no mice or bats! Someone else mixes the drinks and cooks the fish!  Nothing to do but lie on your sliver of beach and listen to the sound of the waves!

This really is the best summer vacation ever.

In the master suite, two funky faux zebra-hide stools play counterpoint to laidback tones of camel and seafoam.

Upholstered chairs and a leather bench by Hickory Chair provide flexible seating. The fireplace, a juxtaposition of rustic wood beams and cool quartz tiles, is gas lit, a time-saving convenience for a busy executive. A Karen Sanders area rug, custom-created by Fun House Furnishings & Design, anchors all the colors of the room and marries the dining and lounging spaces.

From left, two hassocks tuck neatly under a library table that displays personal artifacts and doubles as a buffet for parties. A zebra-wood occasional chair cozies up to medallion-patterned draperies. The original craftsman-style front door was freshened with several coats of pristine white paint. Faux-snakeskin fabric by Kravet is an indestructible choice for this custom-designed Hickory Chair bar stool. The bar area features natural stone atop a specially created walnut cabinet.

Steve Colson’s repurposed family room is now a comfortable spot for watching football and entertaining. Its new wet bar was formerly an alcove for house plants. Overlooking the area is a window with geometric fretwork, constructed to add more light to the balcony-style master bedroom.

When sisters-in-law Jennifer Connell and Jane Connell of Fun House Furnishings & Design in Mendham first laid eyes on Steve Colson’s off-the-beaten-path residence in the woods of Warren Township, they thought they had walked into the wrong house.

Colson, who grew up in Summit, built his contemporary ranch 20 years ago on the 4.5-acre private lot. Last fall, when the never-married entrepreneur and philanthropist
commissioned the interior designers to update his primary living areas, they presumed that his space needed just a little tweaking.

“Boy, were we surprised,” Jennifer says. “Steve’s house wasn’t at all what we expected. Here was this very cool, sociable, successful guy occupying a big space that was basically unusable.”

“I admit it. I had been living like a college undergraduate,” Colson says with a smile. “My bed used to be full of books and business files, and I had to move them to one side to sleep. Even my dresser was loaded with books instead of clothes. That’s when Jennifer and Jane suggested that I turn my third bedroom into an office, and I’m so glad they did.”

“Many of Steve’s rooms were basically storage areas for mismatched furniture and accessories from previous decorating projects that never quite came together,” adds Jane.

On day one, it became all too apparent that this project would require decorating as well as organizing.

“There was so much unnecessary clutter in every area of the home. In the kitchen alone, we found an assortment of smoothie machines, ice cream makers, and lean mean grilling machines in every size, many left by former girlfriends,” reports Jane.

Colson and his brother own muliple New Jersey companies, including Somerset County-based Huston Lumber. An astute businessman, this homeowner wisely entrusted several main areas of his home to the Fun House designers, and he wasn’t interested in seeing the transformation until it was finished. To be sure, he was a decorator’s dream client.

Fun House worked closely with Nick Migliaccio, owner of Sovereign Contracting in Peapack. They knocked down walls, ripped up floors, dug trenches, replaced beams and even built the second-floor geometic-style master bedroom window that overlooks the family room area. Then Affordable Closets of Bangor, Pennsylvania, installed high-end built-in cabinetry in the office, laundry room and garage.

After six months of top-secret renovations, Colson finally entered his revamped space. “I walked into the dining and lounging area and thought, Is this really my house?  I don’t have any artistic sense, and I didn’t pick out any of the furnishings. I just trusted my designers and they nailed it.”

To ensure a big reveal for his family and friends, Colson didn’t tell anyone about the project until it was entirely finished. “Once each of the spaces was completed, Steve invited his parents over and they just about fainted,” confirms Jennifer.

To infuse the home with a welcoming vibe, Jennifer and Jane selected a sophisticated palette of camel, chocolate, navy and seafoam, and chose comfortable, masculine furnishings with clean lines and an organic feeling.

In fact, the family room, revamped as a cozy spot for Colson to grab a weekend nap or watch a football game with his pals, now sports Nobilis woodgrain-look wallpaper that was run horizontally rather than vertically to lend texture and unity to the space.

In the dining room, a huge table and an adjacent lounge area is perfect for entertaining friends, family and business colleagues. These days, it’s not unusual for this busy bachelor to host intimate groups for cocktails and dinner. “I actually have matching dishes, glasses, placemats and napkins, thanks to my decorators,” notes the homeowner.

An ocean-view room in the hotel

If you love the wind in your face: You’ll love the Ocean Course. And if you don’t, you’ll still marvel at Pete Dye’s true links-style design.

Cape Cod: Making Memories by the Bay

If Cape Cod National Golf Club seems more the private retreat than a typical resort course, that’s because it is, in fact, a private club. The course is open only to members—and to guests at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club. As a result, the ambience is decidedly warm and chummy, a place that serves as a second home for golf-loving Cape Cod residents, but is welcoming to visitors from the resort.

Like most courses on Cape Cod, this one is relatively flat. But what Cape Cod National lacks in contours, it makes up for in strategically placed bunkers and water hazards. This is a layout that requires a high degree of accuracy with pretty much every club in your bag. Yet the course is not likely to intimidate even the occasional golfer, perhaps because of its calming, woodsy setting and the soothing breezes from the nearby bay.

The club is about a 15-minute shuttle ride from Wequassett, an intimate resort tucked away on Pleasant Bay in the village of Chatham. The resort has just 120 guest rooms and suites in 22 low-rise buildings on 28 meticulously landscaped acres.

Wequassett—the Wampanoag Indian word for crescent on the bay—first opened as a three-bedroom boarding house in 1944. It became a full-fledged resort in 1977; a recent $40 million renovation and expansion resulted in additional luxury accommodations and amenities. Still, Wequassett has not sacrificed its New England cedar-shingled charm and it has only stepped up its commitment to service. Indeed, this is a place with a full-time “Memory Maker,” an employee whose job is to learn the interests of individual guests so the resort can best cater to their needs.

The resort’s heart is the large, waterfront pool, set on a terrace overlooking Pleasant Bay and Round Cove. Guests can lounge by the pool or indulge in a cabana for the day or half-day. (Spa services are available in the cabanas.) A fitness center and well-equipped changing rooms are located just steps away.

For more active guests, Wequassett also has an adults-only lap pool and a tennis center with four Har-Tru courts, each lit for night-time play. Another favorite Cape Cod activity is bicycling. Wequassett guests can rent bikes in nearby Orleans and enjoy hours of scenic cycling on the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

Wequassett offers three levels of accommodations, starting with the Garden Villas. The larger cottage-style rooms feature custom linens, water views and working fireplaces. The all-new Signature Suites are unusually spacious and beautifully appointed. Each has digital controls for all lighting, cooling and audio/video systems. Some add private outdoor hot tubs.

The dining experience at Wequassett is headlined by Twenty-Eight Atlantic, where chef James Hackney’s menu emphasizes local seafood. Other dining options include the pub-like Thoreau’s and the poolside Outer Bar for more casual meals. The appetizers at the Outer Bar are especially diverse and palate-pleasing.

Wequassett is located at the edge of Chatham, the Cape’s loveliest resort village. The resort shuttle can take you into Chatham, with its ample eateries and endless browsing at the boutiques, galleries and gift shops along Main Street. Downtown dining options include the upscale Impudent Oyster; the fun and funky Chatham Squire; and the Wild Goose Tavern, where outdoor tables give you a front-row seat to Chatham’s passing parade.

Dining choices abound throughout the Cape. Some easily accessible favorites: Campari’s for family-style Italian; Orleans Lobster Pound for pocket-pleasing casual seafood; Joe’s Bar in East Orleans for its fun tavern atmosphere and huge menu. Or head 45 minutes further out the Cape to Wellfleet and check out long-time casual favorites like Mac’s Shack and Moby Dick’s.
—Ken Schlager

Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, 800-225-7125; wequassett.com. Villas in peak season from $550 per night, cottage-style rooms from $735, suites from $1,100. 

Kiawah Island: High Life in the Low Country

At the Sanctuary Hotel on Kiawah Island, off Charleston, South Carolina, the floorboards in the vast, high-ceilinged lobby and adjoining sitting rooms are designed to squeak. Not all the time, just every so often, wistfully evoking the floors presumed in Low Country mansions of centuries past. The Sanctuary, the centerpiece of Kiawah Island Golf Resort, is only eight years old, but it’s built to look and feel like a grand old bastion of Southern hospitality, which it is—yet equipped with state-of-the-art spa, WiFi, upscale restaurants, multiple swimming pools, tennis and oodles of awesome golf.

The squeaking planks are walnut, hand-planed and cut to irregular lengths and widths. Instead of being laid over concrete, the planks were set on spaced risers, ensuring a slight amount of give and the occasional “What was that?”

For its part, Kiawah Island doesn’t have to strain for authenticity. Roughly half the barrier island’s 10,000 acres are protected salt marsh, tidal creeks, ponds, lakes and lagoons, and half the high ground has been set aside for conservation, parks or recreational uses. Kiawah (KEE-a-wah) has only about 1,200 year-round residents, who are joined by innumerable bobcats, alligators, otters, loggerhead turtles and more than 200 species of birds and waterfowl.

From spring to fall, birds aren’t the only things flying through the air. Lots of little white balls soar over Kiawah Resort’s five beautifully situated golf courses, including the famed Ocean Course, where the PGA Championship, the last major of the year, will be held in August. Designed by the masterful (some would say diabolical) Pete Dye, the Ocean Course is wild and windswept, with sea views and mind-bending challenges. Resort guests also may tee it up at Turtle Point, its subtle contours designed by Jack Nicklaus; Osprey Point, a sweeping Tom Fazio layout that winds through lakes, marsh and century-old stands of palmetto palms and magnolia; the Gary Player-designed Cougar Point, which sidles up to the Kiawah River and ends with a dramatic par-four 18th hole; and Oak Point, designed by Clyde Johnston, built on an old indigo and cotton plantation and perhaps the most fun to play of the bunch.

In addition to the hotel, Kiawah Resort offers accommodations at hundreds of privately owned villas and single-family homes. You may want to rent a car to get to Kiawah from Charleston (about 21 miles) and to get around the island if you don’t feel like waiting for the Resort shuttle. For those who fall in love with Kiawah, which is not hard to do, luxurious single-family homes as well as undeveloped home sites are for sale. Some of those homes and lots come with membership in the exclusive Kiawah Island Club, which has its own private beach club and pool, restaurants, classes, tennis, events and two world-class golf courses of its own—Tom Fazio’s River Course, and Cassique, a linksy layout by five-time British Open champion Tom Watson.

—Eric Levin

The Sanctuary Hotel, 800-576-1570; kiawahresort.com. Rooms in peak season from $270 per night, villas from $205, homes from $530. For information on residential properties, Kiawah Island Real Estate, kiawahisland.com. For information on the Kiawah Island Club, kiawahislandclub.com.

Sun Goddess

Whether you relax down the Shore or vacation in tropical Tahiti, try fun looks that juxtapose casual, organic elements with glammy gold and stunning stones.

Until 2010, I had only read about the legendary Albert Hadley, his 33-year heyday with the renowned Parish-Hadley firm, and his work with the Astors, Paleys, Rockefellers and Gettys.

The first time I chatted with the patriarch of American design—who died in March at the age of 91—was during a Park Place telephone interview about Bunny Lane, a Bernardsville residence that Hadley helped design (read it at parkplacemag.com). A few weeks later, he surprised me, calling simply to say that he enjoyed the article. That was Hadley’s style: he eschewed e-mail and preferred to pick up the phone.

Shortly after, we met in person at a Schumacher “Celebration of Chintz” fabric introduction in New York. At the end of the evening, he invited me to visit his office sometime to continue our conversation. Of course, I was delighted. Like everyone else, I was in awe of Hadley, but his easy-going, Southern-gentleman manner put me at ease.

Preparing for my trip to his townhouse office on that warm June day, I wondered, What does one wear to visit Albert Hadley?  This iconic, always-relevant designer loved bold color, so I chose a whimsical Kate Spade dress covered with pink and orange polka dots—and gold strappy cork platforms, just for fun.

Arriving at the uptown world headquarters of Albert Hadley Incorporated, I was struck by the simple, comfortable surroundings. Not too much, just enough, as was his mantra. Sitting across from Hadley, I hung on his every word and especially enjoyed his observations about the changing landscape of interior design and his classic anecdote about long-time friend Diana Vreeland of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, and arguably the 20th century’s greatest arbiter of style and elegance.

“Today there is more awareness and understanding of the decorating profession. If a client is knowledgeable and involved, it can be a better situation because it makes the final result perhaps more personal instead of letting me do what I want to do,” Hadley said. “As Diana Vreeland once told me on our way home from a Sister Parish party, ‘Just give them what they never knew they wanted.’ And that’s our role in decorating—to interpret.“

After our meeting, Hadley rose from his desk, shook my hand, eyed me from head to toe and said, “I like your costume very much.” His use of the word “costume” intrigued me—but since he offered his opinion warmly, I took it as a compliment.

It was time for Hadley’s afternoon smoke. He accompanied me downstairs on the rickety elevator and we parted on East 64th Street as he gave me a smile, lit up a Camel and turned his face toward the sunshine.

Just as the design world will always hold Albert Hadley’s body of work in tremendous esteem, I will fondly recall my conversations with the late, great master.

English Chintz, Fit for a Princess

Princess Pyne, surrounded by Schumacher’s Pyne Hollyhock chintz.

There was no one like Albert Hadley,” says philanthropist Nancy Buck “Princess” Pyne of Far Hills. “God, he had taste. Sister Parish said he had the greatest color sense of anyone she knew.” In 1962, at the start of their 50-year friendship, Hadley decorated Pyne’s former country home in Peapack, dubbed Cherryfields (now owned by stylemakers John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross). Hadley used a simple, elegant English chintz in the livingroom upholstery and, several years ago, Pyne found vintage remnants which she lent to Susan North of F. Schumacher & Co. to reinterpret. Pyne Hollyhock print was reproduced in its original scale and detail on fine cotton in shades of charcoal, pale grey and ivory, as well as in tobacco and indigo blue colorways (fschumacher.com). The original fabric appeared in the July 2009 issue of House Beautiful, and the new pattern was featured by North’s husband, Tewksbury designer Joel Woodard, in his 2010 Mansion in May bedroom. When Schumacher named the collection for Princess Pyne, no one was surprised. At 80-something, Pyne continues to reign supreme with her signature wit, high-handed style and outrageous collection of chunky, funky jewelry that delights and inspires.

In my family, making food is a way of showing your love,” says Heather Barranco, owner of Dreamcakes, whose decorative desserts earn as many accolades for their fanciful appearance as they do from their creative flavors and fillings.

Barranco grew up on Staten Island, where her father was a chef—specializing in ice and fruit sculptures—and her grandparents owned a bakery and catering company. “We never ate fast food or anything that wasn’t made from someone’s hands,” she says.

When she began baking as a teen, Barranco carried that handmade philosophy into the kitchen. Now, 37, she maintains the credo at her burgeoning South Orange business.

True flights of fancy, Barranco’s confections are intricately detailed, fashioned from flour and fondant, some enhanced with edible hand-painted decorations, all crafted from scratch. Design inspiration for these treats can be far flung (a ceremonially dressed Indian elephant or a Japanese pagoda on a hillside) or as deceptively simple as a stack of gifts with three-dimensional ribbons, bows and patterns. Dreamcakes’ highly sculptural and often multitiered baked goods can require upwards of 60 hours and four or five decorators. Barranco, who studied at the French Culinary Institute and apprenticed under iconic Manhattan cake designer Colette Peters of Colette’s Cakes, offers more than 42 combinations of fillings and cakes, such as chai latte, mango coconut, tiramisu, and raspberry red velvet—as well as custom flavors.

Artistic by nature, Barranco earned her college degree at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. In 1996, while freelancing for one of her professors, she met Jason Machado. Three years later, while Barranco was working as a product designer for New Jersey-based Insync Design, the couple married. Eventually, the pair settled in South Orange after starting a family. “I love it here because it’s a great community and there’s lots of space,” she says.

Barranco would need the space to raise three children, Ariana, 10, James, 7, and Daniel, 4. When her kids were toddlers, Barranco was a stay-at-home mom, taking on freelance design work when she could. She also dabbled in furniture making, illustrating children’s books and, doing what would soon take centerstage in her life, making elaborate cakes.

In March 2011, Barranco followed her passion for family and food by launching Dreamcakes. Within months, she gained a large and loyal clientele, creating occasional and novelty cakes for high-profile clients, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and reality-TV star Ramona Singer of the Real Housewives of New York City.

“As much as I loved product design, I missed the fact that I couldn’t design for a client and witness their emotional reaction afterward,” says Barranco. While freelancing, she helped create products such as L’Oreal lipstick and AT&T’s first personal digital assistant, which evolved into today’s smart phone. “I would walk around and tell people ‘I helped design that phone!’ and people would look at me like I was nuts. The most rewarding experience in designing anything is seeing and hearing someone love what you do.”

She got that chance with the cake she baked for a State House event. The confection—which took 72 hours to complete—honored Secretary Clinton, as well as former Secretaries of State, who helped raise $20 million to preserve the diplomatic reception rooms at the State Department. Barranco, with her children by her side, presented a bananas Foster chocolate cake to the former First Lady. “It was a lot of fun and a great learning experience taking the kids to Washington, D.C., to shake hands with Hillary Clinton,” she says. “It was an amazing opportunity that most kids will never have.”

Barranco admits that launching a successful business while raising three young children initially was a struggle. “The most important thing is having a supportive husband who helps you with everything that you do,” Barranco shares. “I don’t think I could have done it without his support.”

To manage it all, she emphasizes the importance of prioritizing. For example, she believes religion and family should come first, so she makes time to teach religious education classes on Monday afternoons.

Working locally—her baked goods are available through Eden Marketplace in South Orange, as well as at the chain’s other locations—has also helped her stay close to her family. “The kids were so used to me being home,” she says. “They had to get used to the fact that mommy had to go to work, even on the weekends.”

Barranco’s transition from stay-at-home mom to working mom has given the family a new perspective. “We took it for granted when they were younger,” Barranco says. “Now, [the kids and I] value the time we share and appreciate one another, which has definitely been positive.”

Like mother, like son.

Just as Heather Barranco grew up surrounded by entrepreneurial family members, her children have gleaned valuable experience about business from their parents. In fact, the couple’s son James, inspired by conversations at home, started his own small business in the first grade. During his lunch break, he began creating and selling his drawings to classmates for a small fee.

“My son is quite a talented artist for his age,” says Barranco. “But it came as a surprise when one child’s parent came to me and asked if it was okay for her son to buy artwork from mine. My husband and I teach our kids about percentages, prices and money and how you really need math in life. We use our life experiences to help them learn and do their school work,” she says.

Her kids have also benefitted from lessons in responsibilty. “They know that they’re responsible for keeping their rooms neat on Fridays in order to be rewarded and do something fun on Saturdays,” she says. “These are little life lessons, but they have to learn.” —DO

Ingredients

(Yields one)

2 ounces Ciroc Peach
½ ounce passion fruit, puréed
1 ounce peach, puréed
Champagne

Add ingredients to a blender filled with 8 ounces of ice. Blend for one minute. Pour into a glass and top with champagne. Garnish with strawberry.

With the backdrop of the sparkling Atlantic, tony boutiques, the chic Bungalow Hotel and the Parisian-inspired Avenue restaurant and nightclub, Long Branch is an ideal destination for a ladies’ weekend getaway.

That’s what Jen Jacobs, a three-year resident of the seaside town, was thinking when she invited her friends and former castmates of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, Hannah Curlee and Olivia Ward, for a reunion weekend. Jacobs knew they’d have plenty to do while catching up on each other’s lives since the show wrapped.

The girls spent their first morning scouting at Pier Village, where 100,000 square feet of upscale shops and restaurants offer a bevy of unique goods. The Bee, a female fashion boutique, boasts styles from French Connection, Juicy Couture, Trina Turk and more, ranging from edgy to elegant. The Stone Hut offers handcrafted pieces from artisans around the world, including Native American jewelry, sterling silver and semi-precious stones. Nirvana, a denim emporium that carries contemporary brands like True Religion, Rock & Republic, Citizens of Humanity and LaCoste, is a top stop for Jacobs. “It’s hip, it’s young, it’s fun,” she raves. “They always have the trendiest clothing.” For Curlee, the Pier Village one-stop-shopping experience was a thrill. “I was able to buy my new favorite pair of jeans, a formal pair of heels to go with a gown and a beautiful bottle of olive oil all in the same day,” she says.

With some fashionable finds in hand, the ladies headed over to Avenue for drinks and a light lunch. A Parisian brasserie with dramatic high ceilings and classic banquettes in ocean hues, Avenue was a smart choice for the newly trimmed trio.

Jacobs, who was coupled with her father, West Orange resident Jay Jacobs, lost 114 pounds during her 20-week stint at the Biggest Loser weight-loss ranch in Calabasas, California. Her girlfriends, Ward and Curlee, who are sisters, lost 129 and 120 pounds respectively and took first and second place that season.

At lunch, the slim sisters noshed on Greek salads. “I always say you eat with your eyes first,” says Ward. “It’s nice to look at a plate that has lots of different colors.” The salad’s presentation—deconstructed rather than chopped and mixed, and topped with a large wedge of feta—was pleasing for the weight-conscious pair. “It makes you feel very extravagant, having this big, beautiful piece of cheese, but still it’s not busting your calorie budget,” she says.

Jacobs tried the Avenue salad (mesclun tossed with shaved vegetables, fennel, grilled shrimp, avocado and lemon vinaigrette). “It was light and incredibly colorful, and we all know the more colorful the food is, the more nutritious it is,” she says. “And the shrimp was a great protein addition to the salad.”

Avenue’s general manager Thierry Carrier is proud of Avenue’s light classic French fare. “I wanted this to be a place where people could eat three or even five times a week,” he says. “We use a little bit of butter here and there, but most of our dishes are very light.” Carrier and executive chef Dominique Filoni are mindful when adding dishes to the menu—if they wouldn’t feed it to their children, they won’t serve it at Avenue, says Carrier.

Chef Filoni, a native of St. Tropez, France, learned the importance of using fresh, seasonal ingredients from his stints at well-regarded restaurants in the French Alps, French Riviera and Paris.

By nightfall, the group was ready for a taste of Southern France’s party scene, Jersey Shore style, at Avenue Nuit. Designed by renowned London architect David Collins, the nightclub boasts a rooftop pool, outdoor fireplace, oversized seating and VIP tables. Entertainment is provided by well-known deejays, some of whom hail straight from St. Tropez.

After a long day of deals, dining and dancing, the trio retired to a private oasis in one of Bungalow’s comfy quarters. While all 24 rooms/suites boast a fireplace, flat-screen TV, iPod-docking station, kitchenette and café table (some with ocean views), each has a unique theme and displays mixed-media art handcrafted by British artist Ann Carrington. Bungalow’s summer guests can access Le Club, Avenue’s private beach, and mingle with members at the rooftop pool and lounge.

A rejuvenating visit to Long Branch is the perfect summer treat—sans the calories!

Tucked in a convenient downtown location at the Pine Street shopping center in Morristown, Interiors at 40 Main has become a destination for customers throughout New York and New Jersey, says co-owner Nancy Casse. In 2002, Casse, an interior designer, and partners Marilyn DiColo and Julie Koza, who specialize in custom window treatments, opened their first location at 40 Main Street in Succasunna. A decade later, the trio has retained the name for their newly renovated 2,800-square-foot space, where furniture was recently added to the mix of fabrics, rugs, drapery hardware and other samples.

What makes Interiors at 40 Main different from other design firms in the area? “We’re fabulous,” says Casse. “And fun,” adds DiColo.

“We are user friendly. We listen to our clients’ needs,” says Casse. With a workroom on site, clients can view the progress of custom products throughout the design process. “Our industry is known for being pushy and not listening to the homeowner,” she says. “That’s the biggest complaint when we get a job from someone who has worked with a designer.”

The first appointment, explains Koza, takes place in the client’s home. That’s where the most important question is asked: What has to stay? Answers have ranged from rugs to plates. In fact, this team has designed a room around a single plate.

At the time of our interview, the designers were busy completing a renovation for a long-time client. After the loss of a family member, he wanted to surprise his wife with a unique gift when she returned from a two-week respite—a home makeover. The project included new draperies, blinds, painting, millwork, custom furniture and flooring. Despite the deadline, the partners were undaunted by the scope of the work. “We are good under stress,” Koza says.

COMFORTABLE AND STYLISH: The Above dining room is decorated with warm woods and mosaic tilework.

It’s likely that South Orange is the tastiest stop on North Jersey’s Morris/Essex rail line. Exiting the train, commuters are often greeted by mouth-watering scents and, during good weather, the inviting sounds of a good time flowing freely from the open-air seating areas. The revelry is as near as it sounds (and smells), thanks to Above restaurant and bar, which is located adjacent to the station on the upper level of Eden Marketplace in the hub of South Orange Village.

Inside the restaurant, ornate mosaic designs, open brickwork and a trickling fountain lend a decidedly European ambiance. The main dining room’s spacious seating area leads to a lively bar space with counter seating, as well as tables. But, on summer nights (and days), patrons flock to Above’s two rooftop patios—both are great for people watching; there’s a view of disembarking commuters and of the village bustling below.

The restaurant, opened in 2008, has a well-rounded menu—supplemented by daily specials—and takes full advantage of the bountiful goods available from the specialty market below. There are lots of shareable small-plates/appetizers, seafood, meat selections, pasta and sushi.

The well-stocked bar offers an extensive wine list, hard-to-find beers and a cocktail menu with nearly a dozen inventive martinis.

Appetizer selections include traditional dishes, creatively reimagined. The fried calamari comes with a fresh, chunky relish of zucchini and tomato, pesto aioli and lemon remoulade for dipping. Spicy creamed corn makes a tasty sauce for the crab cakes, which are served with mango salsa and micro greens. The popular mac and cheese is offered in two varieties: pulled pork and lobster. Main course standouts include a simple and tasteful preparation of branzino, grilled whole with fresh, herbed oil, and served with jasmine rice and asparagus. For a heartier dish, try the short-rib ragu, the 22-ounce Porterhouse pork chop or steak options. Sushi fans will be pleased with the à-la-carte offerings, menu of signature rolls and hand rolls.

For dessert, the creamy fried cheese cake is a decadent meal ender. It is coconut crusted and swirled with strawberry and chocolate sauces. On the lighter side, there’s port-poached pears in mascarpone and gelato and sorbet in refreshing flavors such as lemon, cran-orange, pomegranate and pear.

Above hosts monthly pairing menus—recent events included a black-truffle dinner with wine selections and a beef-and-beer dinner. Follow the restaurant on Twitter or join its Facebook page to get the inside scoop on happy-hour promotions and fun deals like the recent commuter special—offering rail riders $5 martinis with a train ticket or receipt.

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 am to 10 pm; Friday and Saturday until 11 pm; and Sunday, 11 am until 8 pm. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 3 pm. A third-floor event space is available for private parties. There is also free parking and weekend valet service.

Azure by Allegretti has ocean views.

Azure by Allegretti has ocean views.

Not since the Borgata opened in 2003 has an Atlantic City casino/hotel thrown down such a gauntlet, promising services and amenities to match its gleaming presence. But the new Revel Resort does just that, and in fact raises the ante. For one thing, Revel has the more desirable location, right on the ocean at the northern end of the Boardwalk, compared to the Borgata’s encampment about a mile away in the marina district. But Revel doesn’t turn a more or less blind eye on the Boardwalk, the beach and the ocean, in the manner of most Boardwalk casinos. It openly embraces all three.

Revel’s wide, circular driveway brings you right to the edge of the newly renovated Boardwalk. Its curving glass walls rise from the Boardwalk, flooding the multi-story atrium, the broad perimeter hallways and some of the restaurants with daylight and affording sweeping views of the seaside splendor. Revel thinks of itself as a resort first and a casino second. Breathtaking in scale and ambition, it is imaginatively designed, lavishly outfitted and smoke-free throughout. An indoor-outdoor pool and an elevated garden with lounge chairs and bar service, among other amenities such as a full-service spa and a beach club, are reserved for guests of its attractive high-rise hotel. Revel’s theaters will slug it out with the competition for A-list bands and entertainers.

In its restaurants, Revel is clearly taking aim at Borgata, the first Atlantic City property to boast a murderer’s row of celebrity chefs. Revel’s all-star lineup includes three restaurants by acclaimed Philadelphia-based Iron Chef Jose Garces, two of them celebrating his Latin roots. Washington-based chef Robert Wiedmaier has the Mussel Bar, an enticing take on a Belgian pub. Marc Forgione, a Next Iron Chef winner, has American Cut, a neo-retro steakhouse. Alain Allegretti is serving suave Mediterranean cuisine at Azure by Allegretti. James Beard Award-winner Michel Richard has three restaurants, including Central Michel Richard, a showcase for his French-California fusions. There will be 14 restaurants in all, and when you just can’t take another bite, all you have to do is roll out the front door and you’re on the beach.

NOTHING UP HIS SLEEVE: Will Fern regularly performs at the Stage House Tavern restaurants in Somerset (pictured) and Scotch Plains.

Why Somerset?  I spent a few years living and performing in the Caribbean. When I came back, my Mom was getting older, and I didn’t want to be too far away. I found the best value in Somerset. I’ve been here for six years and enjoy that the town is small enough there’s no traffic, but with amenities and easy access to big cities and the beach. That’s Central Jersey in a nutshell.

Favorite local spots? Bagel Peddler has the best fresh bagels and pork roll, egg and cheese sandwiches in Jersey—very important for a single guy who can’t cook. The Stage House Tavern is a nice, big family restaurant and bar that has great food and is really the only place
to be in town. It’s always a fun scene and the best burger I’ve ever had! I also love Colonial Park, a sprawling park with lots to do, from rose gardens to paddle boats and mini golf.

Tell us more about your work: It’s always different. Last week, I did two corporate dinners, a sweet 16 in Brooklyn, and two upscale private parties in Manhattan. This week, I’m at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood and, in two weeks, I’m working on a cruise ship through Spain and France. It’s the best job. Everywhere I go, there is some kind of a party at some kind of cool place.

A miracle happened last summer in Bay Head. Max, the 14-year-old son of actor John C. McGinley, grabbed a boogie board and headed into the pounding surf to join his cousins in catching a wave. What sounds typical for a teenage boy is a feat for Max, who was born with Down syndrome and had never before ventured into the ocean, much less attempted to navigate a curl.

“For his whole life, Max squatted on beaches around the planet, clocking the ocean,” says McGinley, an avid surfer who negotiated his first waves on the Jersey Shore. “He’s a terrific swimmer—in heated pools. But, he decided it was time to go into the ocean. It was astonishing to see him bodysurfing like he had been doing it all his life.”

It’s impossible to talk about McGinley without mentioning Max. A longtime advocate for people with Down syndrome, McGinley received the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award last fall for his efforts in promoting the rights of individuals with special needs. “He’s an amazing spokesperson for the cause because as a parent of a child with Down syndrome, he can speak of it in a loving, authentic way,” says Michelle Sie Whitten, director of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, which presented the award. “To see John and Max together is to understand the depth of his fathering, and to see how this child balances, brightens and enlightens John every moment is palpable.”

Those who know McGinley from his childhood in Short Hills understand that his sense of integrity and love of family was nurtured around a cozy kitchen table in the house his parents still own. Growing up as one of five siblings—three boys and two girls—McGinley is the first to tell you his was a childhood straight from a Norman Rockwell painting. “It was really pretty great. After school, we either had an activity or we rode our bikes back home,” he says. “My mother was a second-grade teacher at Pingry for about 25 years, and she wasn’t always available to cater to everybody in the house—and she didn’t want to cater to everybody in the house. We weren’t allowed back until dark. We were to be engaged in something, whether it was football or tag or hide-and-seek or baseball or mowing lawns or shoveling snow.”

His favorite haunt remains his mother’s kitchen table, and he journeys from his home in Malibu to gather around it as often as he can with his own family— wife, Nichole; Max; Billie Grace, 4; and Kate, 1. Besides coming home for Thanksgiving—“It’s a luxury to go back to the house you grew up in,” he says—he tries to rent a house in Bay Head for a family reunion every summer. “I get one of the big, old dinosaurs that has 11 bedrooms so all the cousins can come and stay with us,” he says. “You know, one of those homes at the Shore with the great porches where everyone sits with a beverage and stays up talking all night about how great everything used to be.”

For McGinley, things have continued to turn out rather great since he graduated from Millburn High School in 1978. He got his big break in 1983, when he landed the understudy role for John Turturro’s character in writer-director John Patrick Shanley’s two-person play, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. Auspiciously, McGinley stepped in on the night that a casting agent for Oliver Stone was in the audience. This led to the audition that gave McGinley his breakthrough role in Platoon—and catapulted him to national recognition. Stone went on to cast him in a total of six films, including Wall Street. Other memorable roles include Bob Slydell in the cult classic, Office Space.

McGinley’s favorite part, though, happens to be his most iconic: Dr. Perry Cox on the TV sitcom Scrubs, whose quick-witted tongue filleted fellow Jerseyan Zach Braff’s character in every episode while offering up a strong dose of no-nonsense life lessons. McGinley played Dr. Cox as though the role was made for him—and in a way it was. “The funniest thing on the outline of the casting invitation was, in parentheses: ‘Looking for a John McGinley type,’” he says. “And I still had to audition six times. ‘But,’ I said, ‘I’m the guy in the parentheses!’

“At the time, I had a Mustang—a real Jersey muscle car—and when I left my last audition, I put the top down, blared Bruce and thought, My God, this was the best audition! I was thrilled to get this role,” McGinley says. “Scrubs allowed me to be a working actor in Los Angeles doing something I was proud of and spend the maximum amount of time with my son.”

McGinley’s most exciting role may be yet to come. This year, he’ll star as Richard Brookwell, the ambitious chief of police in Alex Cross, the latest movie based on James Patterson’s beloved detective, played in the upcoming rendition by Tyler Perry. “The director, Rob Cohen, is a family friend,” McGinley says. “We’ve wanted to do a film together for a while, and he asked my input on creating this character. For an actor, this is a very rare opportunity and as good as it gets.” Describing the film as “really brutal and fantastic, with a tone like Silence of the Lambs,” he says that he tried to instill in Brookwell a sense of leadership and integrity.

McGinley brings that sensibility to everything he does, whether it’s a role that is fictional or within his family. “I consider myself a guy with no small amount of integrity,” he says. “It’s what I trade on.”

Pledge with John

During the 2009 Winter Special Olympics in Boise, John C. McGinley attended a youth leadership conference comprised of participating athletes who gathered to address their most pressing issues. Their number-one concern: The cavalier use of “the R-word”—retard or retarded—in the media and in everyday language. Their resulting campaign, Spread the Word to End the Word, seeks to promote the acceptance and inclusion of those with intellectual disabilities and encourage people to take a pledge to support the elimination of these words from everyday speech. To date, more than 200,000 have pledged. “An individual’s dignity is not only an entitlement; it is a fundamental quality that distinguishes each of us and lends an informed significance to everything that we do,” McGinley says. “And anytime a person’s dignity is stomped on, it is wrong. Make no mistake about it: Words do hurt. And when we pepper our speech with retard and retarded, we are spreading hurt. So stop it.” Read more about McGinley’s cause and take the pledge at r-word.org.