Talk of the Town Spring 2013

Proving every day that impossible is just an opinion.

At Hackensack University Medical Center weve

designed an environment that allows medical

innovation to flourish. By recruiting top doctors

and giving them the freedom to push research

and treatments beyond traditional thinking.

And creating an entire campus of care with

building after building to take on everything

from cancer and heart disease to neurological

disorders. This is a place where people turn

when they need a physician who is driven to

make the impossible, possible.

Discover how one of the nations top 50 hospitals

can help you at HackensackUMC.org. To find a

doctor call 855-996-WELL (9355).

2011 Hackensack University Medical Center

L A B O R A T O R Y , I N C .

For more information contact your local authorized dealer Talk of the Town at 201-236-1006 or visit them on the web at www.talkofthetownvideo.com

O U R F I R S TR E C E I V E RS I N C E 1 9 9 3

I N T R O D U C I N G T H E M A C 6 7 0 0

The MAC6700 features 200 Watts per channel and is designed to meet the needs of the next generation of music lovers.

The built in AM/FM tuner receives your favorite radio stations with clarity and realism that is free from noise and distor-tion. The tuner includes HD Radio Technology to deliver the latest HD Radio signals for near CD quality sound. It features the same high performance as our stand alone tuners, along with 20 presets for each radio band, as well as a remote AM antenna.

With its preamp section featuring 11 total inputs - including 3 digital inputs that will decode your digital music at up to 32 bits and 192kHz - the MAC6700 is sure to provide you with enough connections and modern technology to keep all your music sources connected and sounding great. Two dedicated phono sections (1 Moving Magnet and 1 Moving Coil) will bring new life to your record collection and deliver the best possible sound from your turntable. The Home Theater Pass Through feature will allow for seamless integration into your existing multi-channel theater system.

At 200 Watts per channel, the amplifier section has enough power to properly drive virtually all loudspeakers. Utilizing the world famous McIntosh Auto-former guarantees your speakers will always receive the full 200 Watts regardless of their impedance, while Power Guard will prevent clipping and keep your speakers safe from damage. Our new High Drive headphone amplifier features increased gain and output power, and is optimized for virtually all headphone types for the ultimate personal listening experience.

With a 20-plus year history in custom theaters, Talk of the Town is prepared to turn your wildest home entertainment dreams into reality. Our new digital world has made just about anything possible. Whether it's networking, Automa-tion, Lighting Control, or video and music storage solutions, Talk of the Town is at the forefront of new technology. As a special-ist in design, installation and integration, we can help you create a system for today and tomorrow, and make it easy to operate and enjoy. Make sure Talk of the Town is first on your list to call when planning your next project.

CUSTOM.

www.talkofthetownvideo.com

TALK T WNofthe319 FRANKLIN TURNPIKE ALLENDALE, NJ 07401

201-236-1006

Design DirectorEvan Eagleson

eighty6

Dear Readers,

The sweet aroma of cigar smoke is once again permeating through the chilled air. Its a sign more fitting than a ground hog that, in fact, Spring is coming.

While we anxiously await the warmth of a Northeastern spring, I trav-eled west to Las Vegas to attend the Consumer Electronics Show this past January. This years CES was bigger than ever before, and set records for attendance. It is evident that the technology boom we are experiencing is nowhere near its end, and manufacturers are bringing to market the bright-est, biggest, curviest, smartest TVs ever. You will soon build rooms around your 110 TV, instead of the other way around. Want to seamlessly and ele-gantly conceal that TV when its not in use? Look no further than our article about VisionArt.

Of course, though, that is just scratching the surface of this new issue. Many of you may have heard about the recent sale of the Dodgers and all the different things they are doing to improve their ball club. Along with partners that include Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten is an integral piece of the reinvented Dodgers puzzle. Without question, he is the ultimate executive. He sat down with us to tell his triumphant story.

Bringing baseball back to the East Coast, we preview what to expect with this years hometown ball clubs. For the first time in recent memory, even Yankee fans are nervous!

Our cover belongs to a young and upcoming designer who created the Esposito Collection, a mens clothing line exuding a mix of European luxury, colorful design and casual sensuality; its perfect for the upcoming season.

As always, a staple of our magazine is Man Central. Here, we bring you some of the newest and coolest in gadgetry, and ultimately, the newest product that is bacon scented.

We will then take you on the journey of transforming a dull home space from concept into a beautiful home theater. We detail the process from empty basement to a home theater the homeowners never want to leave.

This, of course, is just a small preview. Turn this page and see the wide range of articles weve packed in here for your reading pleasure.

I encourage you to visit our newly designed website, and more impor-tantly, to stop in to our showroom to see our Experience Center, where we can show you the latest and greatest that will turn your home into an audio visual dreamland.

I get the feeling the next few months will be filled with prosperity and fulfilled wishes. Maybe you will finally get that outdoor home theater you crave?

Until then, we wish you a great Spring.

Yours truly,

Bob Dodge

INTRODUCTIONDirector of Operations

Bob Dodge

PublishersSharon & Steven Goldstein

Executive EditorNayda Rondon

Director of MarketingSergio Rodrigues

Associate PublisherBrandon Goldstein

Contributing EditorJustin Davidson

Contributing WritersJulianne Cantarella

Kate CronauerJustin Davidson

Shiv DesaiBrandon Goldstein

Cristin PontilloRichard Posluszny

Nick PoynerSergio Rodrigues

Nicole RussellLyndsey Upcraft

Ken Zelin

Talk of the Town is published by

www.BCTHEMAG.com

For advertising and information, call 201-265-2286.

Copyright 2013. All materials are the property of Bergen County the

Magazine, LLC. and may not be copied or reproduced without written consent

from the publishers.

The Magazine

SPRING 20136

Find Us Atwww.talkofthetownmag.com

Sonata StreamlineSelf-winding. Patented manufacture movement with

Silicium technology and 24 hour alarm and countdown.

Titanium case with ceramic bezel.

Also available with 18ct gold bezel.

WWW.U LY S S E - NA R D I N . COM

18981_Timepiece Collection Talk of The Town 675-00-4 Page 5 March/April 2013.indd 1 2/14/13 2:06 PM

Sonata StreamlineSelf-winding. Patented manufacture movement with

Silicium technology and 24 hour alarm and countdown.

Titanium case with ceramic bezel.

Also available with 18ct gold bezel.

WWW.U LY S S E - NA R D I N . COM

18981_Timepiece Collection Talk of The Town 675-00-4 Page 5 March/April 2013.indd 1 2/14/13 2:06 PM

10 Auto: Revving Up for Action The top 7 things you need to know about going to the track

14 The Future of Technology Talk of the Town takes you to the Consumer Electronics Show 2013

18 A Look into Todays Digital Audio What is computer audio?

26 Hospoda: A Flavorful Journey Through Bohemia This hip Upper East Side restaurant is the perfect spot for a novel

culinary experience

32 Around the Horn with Stan Kasten We chat with the LA Dodgers president and CEO about the

future of this legendary franchise

40 Robotic Surgery Saves Lives and Quality of Life Urologists pave the way for robotic surgery

46 The Yankees & Mets Ultimate Preview Why the subway series might not be so exciting this year

52 Man Central The newest Trends

60 The Unreality of Reality TVFiguring out whats real, whats fake, and why my job is so boring

62 Style Guide Looks for the fashionable man

CONTENTS66 Experiencing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary The inventors of fine-art motorized TV concealment create the

perfect balance of mystery and charm

70 Ron Bienstock: Musics Legal EagleMusical notes and legal briefs go hand in hand for this multi-faceted man

76 Tube Amps or Solid State Amps: Which is Best?Musicians, audio enthusiasts and the obsession with tubes

80 Cribs: The Path to a True Home TheaterFrom basement conception to movie watching inception, it will lead you to design perfection

82 Netting a Fun Night The new Barclays Center is returning Brooklyn to its legendary

sports past

86 Want More Sex? 5 secrets to guarantee your pleasure

90 Reading Between the Pipes Why the NHL remains on thin ice

96 Easy Ways to Eat Right on a Busy Schedule Thanks to these tips, its never been simpler

98 A Beer for All Seasons No matter the weather or the calendar, theres an aleor two or

three or moreto match

32

10 14

SPRING 2013

SPRING 20138

76 8266

TALK T WNofthea u d i o v i d e o a u t o m a t i o n h o m e t h e a t e r s

Designing Your Digital Lifestyle

LIVE BEYOND DEFINITIONStop worrying about the details and start getting lost in them. Introducing the Sony 4K Ultra high definition TV with a 84 screen. Four times the detail of 1080p. 50 watts of cinematic sound. See the world in 4K Ultra high definition and never look back. Feel the beauty.

Expect to see more from Sony about 4K. For more information visit your local authorized dealer Talk of the Town at www.talkofthetownvideo.comor call them at 201-236-1006. You can also find more product information by visiting www.sony.com/premiumhome.

tion changes and you go to a track thats been laid out on flat terrain, you will certainly be disappointed.

2) You Need the Right CarWhile there are opportunities

for owners to take their personal cars to club events, I would dis-courage this if youre a novice. Thats because your daily driver is typically not an optimal track per-former, so youll have to modify it appropriately. Unless youre look-ing for a new, expensive hobby, Id stray from using your commuter car. Just think: you have to pay for the initial modifications, addition-

ne of the things I love about my job is that I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to drive everything under the sun. For any gearhead, that in itself is a dream come

true. But, to take it one step further, I also get the chance to experience the latest and greatest products at the limit.

Theres only one place where you can take a vehicle to really un-derstand its dynamics and how it performs at its absolute edgethe track.

While the track used to be something that was hard to come by, there has been what I would consider an explosion of tarmac scattered across the country. Many of the courses are new, top-of-the-line facilities that were construct-ed and opened in as many years as you have digits on one hand.

The unique thing about a lot of these new facilities is that theyre

not crude. In fact, there has been a movement to provide a country club-like experience. If you so de-sire, you can become a member and keep a dedicated track car in your own garage space. For the ultimate track fiend, it doesnt get much better than that. Of course, this all comes at a price with var-ious hierarchies and track access.

But before I get in too deep, I think I have to clarify a few things. If youre a novice to the place where the smell of burnt rubber and pinging brakes is just anoth-er day, there are seven things you need to know.

1) You Have to Pick the Right Track

Right off the bat, this seems al-most silly. I reassure you, its not. Its critical to understand where you will be driving and how dif-ficult the track is. It is essential that you do your research because if you want to experience eleva-

SPRING 201310

OThe Top 7 Things You Need to Know About Going to the TrackWRITTEN BY RICHARD POSLUSZNY

Revving Up for Action

al sets of tires, and the inevitable wear and tear you put on your ve-hicle from driving it at the limit. In addition, if you crash, youre going to have to find an alternative meth-od to get home unless youre up for a very long walk.

If youre looking to have your first track experience, I would recommend you look into the programs offered by your favor-ite automaker. Audi, BMW, Mer-cedes-Benz and Porsche are a few marques that come to mind, as their events offer dedicated track vehicles and qualified instructors and you dont have to worry about taking on risk.

SPRING 2013 11

help? Check out motor sports-ori-ented shoes by Piloti. However, if you want to avoid looking like a seasoned professional, I would recommend a pair of Puma Speed Cats or even a set of original Con-verse Chuck Taylor All Stars.

4) Listen to Your Instructor, Always

If there is one piece of advice I would say is the most important, this would be it. The reasoning behind this is simple. Regardless of how advanced you are, your instructor at the track is a profes-sional who has 1) more experience

3) Youll Require the Proper Footwear

Though this may seem like a secondary point, it is much more critical than one would initially think. Whether the vehicles you drive will have two pedals or three, youll want to have an accurate feel for optimal pedal modulation. Re-member, youll need to know ex-actly where the pedals are and you will be using them at their most ex-treme state for what may be your first time.

Id recommend something with a flat, thin sole and features pad-ding on the heel. Need some more Continued on pg. 12

than you, and 2) knows the circuit like the back of his or her hand.

Since the instructor has more experience behind the wheel and on the course, he or she will un-derstand exactly how vehicles will react when pushed to the ragged edge, and how to correct your er-ror(s). This is not the ideal environ-ment to horse around, especially if you havent been familiarized with the track layout. Remember, lives are at stake.

To put it simply, walking into your first track experience is like going through your first day of pre-school all over again. Prepare to be educated and remind yourself that the instructors are the ones with the PhD.

5) Get ComfortableOne of the most overlooked

things about driving is that far too often, were not seated in the op-timal driving position. While this may not be a problem on your dai-ly commute, it is key on the track where you will be pushing your vehicle and yourself to the limit. Though some critics say driving

isnt a sport, I would argue they havent spent eight hours on a dif-ficult track experiencing G forces.

First things first: make sure your seat bottom is pushed forward far enough so that your legs and arms have a slight bend in them and your feet can apply all pedals to the floor. A quick test to check if your arms are in the ideal posi-tion is to see if your wrists line up with the top of the steering wheel rim when your arms are stretched forward. If they dont, youre likely sitting too far away and your arms will get tired quickly.

Next, make sure your seat back is at an appropriate angle so that youre positioned upright.

6) Slow and Steady Wins the Race

One of the most common mis-conceptions of driving fast is that you have to look like youre driv-ing fast. This means quick steering inputs, many steering corrections, squealing tires and fast shifting. The funny thing is that this couldnt be further from the truth.

The smoother you drive and

Continued from pg. 11

SPRING 201312

the more relaxed you are behind the wheel, the faster you will be. Take, for example, holding the steering wheel. When many folks first get on the track they grip the steering wheel and hold on for life. This increased tension in your hands extends into your arm mus-cles and makes for a rigid driving experience that adds time to your laps. Most professional drivers avoid this by interacting with the steering wheel with their fingertips.

7) Its AddictingAfter an adrenaline-filled day

at the track that combines learning and more confidence while behind the wheel, be prepared to experi-ence what some call the sickness. That feeling of accomplishment plus the thought of improving your lap time will become an addiction.

Thats because there are so many ways to make subtle, tiny im-provements in your driving that will go a long way to making you a safer driver, as well as faster around a cir-cuit. Every time you shave a second off, I bet youll want to go around again just to see if you can do better.

Revving Up for Action VENTURE REALTORS

marketers first, realtors second

89 US Highway 46 Elmwood Park, NJ 201.773.9500

VENTURE REALTORSmarketers first, realtors second

89 US Highway 46 Elmwood Park, NJ 201.773.9500

www.venturerealtors.com

state of the art offices

unique selling techniques

virtual tours /extreme selling strategies

ask about Venture Solutions- a special opportunities division

he Consumer Electronics Showbetter known as CESheld its 45th technology event this past January at the Las Vegas Con-vention Center. The show, which continues to get better and better, has been attended by members of Talk of the Town for years.

The 2013 show set a record in terms of exhibition space, covering 1.92 million square feet, and it attract-ed more than 150,000 visitors from 170 countries.

This years biggest attraction category was TVs, spe-cifically the new-generation 4K and OLED sets, which provide unprecedented resolution and realism.

For us, CES is about knowing what the future of our industry holds, and gaining an understanding of how we can continue to serve our customers the latest and

SPRING 201314

T

Talk of the Town takes you to the Consumer Electronics Show 2013

WRITTEN BY SERGIO RODRIGUES

The Future of

Technology

greatest in audio and visual gadgetry. After spending a great deal of time getting a glimpse

into the future of TVs, we turned our attention to all of the high-end audio components showcased at the con-vention center and at the Venetian.

The industrys top manufacturers offered earth-shat-tering and engaging demonstrations. We checked out high-end audio equipment from companies like McIn-tosh, Bowers & Wilkins, Meridian Audio and others.

One clear trend was how many companies were incorporating new wireless technology into their products. Digital-to-analog converters (DACs) also seemed to be a hot commodity trend in the hi-fi world.

Here are just a few of the products that caught our attention at this years show.

McIntosh MT5 Precision Turntable A modern classic, the MT5 turntable is engineered so that each part synergistically combines to produce superb record playbacktrack-ing force, anti-skate force, cartridge overhang and arm height are all pre-set for maximum performance. While the construction of the MT5 is meticulous, the setup is simple. In a few easy steps, youll be ready to enjoy your favorite vinyl recordings. The MT5 maintains classic McIntosh styling by taking full advantage of the chassis ma-terials used to suppress noise, resonance and coloration so the only sound produced is that which is on your records.

Continued on pg. 16

Hartzband_TalkoftheTown_Mar13.indd 1 1/15/13 3:24 PM

Sonos playbar The Sonos Playbar complements HD television screens with richly textured hi-fi sound to wirelessly stream all the music on earth. Simple to set up, control and ex-pand, it requires just two cords: one power cord and one optical cord (both included). Not only does it synch with other Sonos speakers wirelessly, it also understands and speaks with most IR remotes language and can be con-trolled by free apps for your Android, iPhone or iPad. If its connected to your HDTV, Playbar will play itcable/SAT boxes, Blu-Ray players, and video game consoles.

Samsung F8500 Plasma TVSamsung launched its latest plasma TVs, the F8500 series, which the company claims offers the ultimate in picture qual-ity with the deepest blacks and the brightest picture available.

The Samsung F8500 LED is among the first Samsung Smart TVs to include a quad-core processor for responsive apps and online services. A completely redesigned Samsung Smart Hub takes center stage on the Samsung F8500 LED, with five panels that update with content personalized to the users viewing habits. An upgraded UI and preview thumb-nails make the whole aesthetic of the 2013 Smart Hub much more user-friendly.

Sony 4K XBR (55-inch & 65-inch LED TVs)One of the trends of this years CES appears to be 4K TVs, and

Sony kept that train rolling with the introduction of these two 4K TVs. Sony expanded its Bravia 4K UHD XBR LED TV lineup

with a 65-inch and 55-inch version. Both are Wi-Fi-enabled and can tap into various Sony smart solutions, like linking up with

mobile devices and sharing content via NFC. The X series of 4K LED TVs will be available in spring 2013.

SPRING 201316


SPRING 201318

Easy Ways to Eat Right on a Busy ScheduleThanks to these tips, its never been simpler.

W

WRITTEN BY CRISTIN PONTILLO

Reprinted with permission from AudioQuest

A LOOKINTO TODAYS

DIGITAL AUDIO

Continued on pg. 20

The Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery

Affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center

ExperienceValleyWeightLoss.com

I said, Thank you for saving my life.They said, No, you saved your own life.

Frank, North Haledon, NJ

See how everything changed for Frank.


Continued on pg. 22

53 ENGLE STREET, ENGLEWOODMinutes from The Meadowlands and G.W. Bridge

1-800-NEW-LEXUS or (201) 568-3900Sales Hours: MON-THURS 9:00 am-8:00 pm FRI-SAT 9:00 am-6:00 pm

2009

2011

Multiple Time Elite of Lexus Award

Winner

VISIT OUR NEW LEXUS SERVICE COMPLEX:

136 Engle Street

SERVICE HOURSMON-THUR 7:30 am-7pm

FRI 7:30 am-6pm SAT 8:00 am-5:00 pm

SERVICE: 201.568.6970

O R I G I N A L

of ENGLEWOODLEXUSR E V I S E D 1

R E V I S E D 2

.COM

LEXUSOF ENGLEWOOD.COMWhere We Defi ne Value and Exceed Your Expectations

Available in All Wheel Drive Up to 19 MPG 386 Horsepower 4.6 Liter V8 Eco/Comfort mode Climate Concierge Available Exclusive Shimamoku Wood Trim Craftsmanship in Every Corner Advanced Interior Illumination System

Available 19-speaker, 450-watt Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System Rear Cross-Traffi c Alert SiriusXM Satellite Radio Gracenote HD Radio With iTunes Tagging Advanced Pre-Collision System Blind Spot Monitor Adaptive Front Lighting System

Available in All Wheel Drive Available 19-speaker, 450-watt Mark Levinson

INTRODUCINGALL NEW FOR 2013The Redesigned Lexus LS


A LOOK INTO TODAYS

DIGITAL AUDIO

Continued on pg. 24

?? ?? ??

Don't let varicose veins slow you down!

The specialists at

Hackensack Vein Center can help.

Our expert team of board-certified physicians and vascularspecialists treat the most severe cases of varicose and spider veins using the latest in state-of-the-art laser technology to improve the overall patient outcome and experience. All procedures are performed in the comfort of our outpatient centers including our new office in theHeart andVascular Institute at 493 Essex Street,Hackensack.

HACKENSACKVEIN CENTER

Vein treatments are covered by most insurance plans.

For more information or to schedule an appointment

please call 201-996-9244 or visit us on the web at

www.hackensackvein.com.

Scott D. Ruffo, MD, FACC

VEIN SPECIALIST

Angel J. Mulkay, MD, FACC

VEIN SPECIALIST

www.hackensackvein.com

493 Essex Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601

T 201-996-9244 F 201-996-9243

529 39th Street, Union City, NJ 07087

T 201-601-0900 F 201-601-0995

Runningfrom your legs?

HVC Ad Generic 8.375x10.875:Layout 1 1/15/13 12:51 PM Page 1

?? ?? ??

Don't let varicose veins slow you down!

The specialists at

Hackensack Vein Center can help.

Our expert team of board-certified physicians and vascularspecialists treat the most severe cases of varicose and spider veins using the latest in state-of-the-art laser technology to improve the overall patient outcome and experience. All procedures are performed in the comfort of our outpatient centers including our new office in theHeart andVascular Institute at 493 Essex Street,Hackensack.

HACKENSACKVEIN CENTER

Vein treatments are covered by most insurance plans.

For more information or to schedule an appointment

please call 201-996-9244 or visit us on the web at

www.hackensackvein.com.

Scott D. Ruffo, MD, FACC

VEIN SPECIALIST

Angel J. Mulkay, MD, FACC

VEIN SPECIALIST

www.hackensackvein.com

493 Essex Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601

T 201-996-9244 F 201-996-9243

529 39th Street, Union City, NJ 07087

T 201-601-0900 F 201-601-0995

Runningfrom your legs?

HVC Ad Generic 8.375x10.875:Layout 1 1/15/13 12:51 PM Page 1

SPRING 201324

A LOOK INTO TODAYS

DIGITAL AUDIOContinued from pg. 22

hen choosing a place to do a se-mester abroad in college I came up with an exhaustive list of what would make or break my

semester. OK, well, maybe not quite so exhaustive. It basically came down to: what city had the cheap-est beer?

I had options. There was Lon-don. A pint of London Pride would set me back about $7.58 on average. There was Dublin, where Guinness would be about the same price.

Florence was still another choice. But the cost of Peroni wasnt pretty, either.

Then I noticed a place called Prague in the Czech Republic. I re-membered my grandmother telling me about how wonderful it was. Some good hockey players came out of the country as well. My par-ents told me the classic Jewish sto-

SPRING 201326

W

This hip Upper East Side restaurant is the perfect spot for a novel culinary experience

WRITTEN BY JUSTIN DAVIDSON

hospoda A Flavorful JourneyThrough Bohemia

ry about the Golem of Prague. And I had heard the name Vaclav Havel bandied about my AP European History class back in high school.

Aside from that, I didnt know much about Prague.

I looked up the address for my potential dorm. Twelve Macho-va Street. It was about a 15-min-ute subway ride from class, or a 30-minute walk. Machova Street was off of Francouzska Street, and there were lots of restaurants and pubs on Francouzska Street. But

could a college student afford to have a good time there?

I found a place: Caf U Sta Ran, where a pint of Pilsner Urquell, the most popular Czech beer, would set me back about two bucks.

So I chose Prague, and I soon fell in love.

My bag got lost in transit, and I was one of the first people to arrive at my dorm. We immediately set out to explore all that our neigh-borhood had to offer. I had spoken with my grandmother about the

SPRING 2013 27

ately intrigued.I loved Czech food, but I

couldnt exactly picture how it could be done well in a Manhattan gastro pub environment.

Dispelling all my doubts, Hos-poda, on Manhattans Upper East Side, really blew me away.

My friend and I had a 7:30 res-ervation. It was a one of those bru-tal New York winter nightscold, wind, rain, maybe a hailstone or two. We needed a beer and a damn good meal.

Located on the ground floor of the newly renovated Bohemi-an National Hall on 73rd Street, Hospoda was easy to miss at first, partly due to such crummy weath-er. Had it been daylight, the build-ing would have been easy to spot. Hospoda is the caterer for all the events inside the Hall. The ball-room, which we had the privilege to see after dinner, features a stage, a beautiful bar, a balcony overlook-ing the action and enough room to

food. I would learn to love gou-lash, dumplings and sausages. All perfect food for a college student on a budget.

Goulash was my first dish. Its a simple dish consisting of sau-ted onions and spices mixed with minced beef, pork or veal. More or less, it resembles beef stew. The dumplingsmade with potatowere a treat, as I used them to sop up any remaining sauce on my plate.

Then there was the beer. Oh, boy, was there beer. Czechs drink

more beer per capita than any other nation on Earth. I knew the second that I sipped my first golden Pil-sner Urquell that it was my favorite beer. That holds true to this day.

It was a great time, and truth be told, I did get more out of the experience than a Pilsner- and gou-lash-induced gut. It was the perfect place to study.

So when I found out that years after my study abroad experience, I would be eating at a Czech restau-rant in Manhattan, I was immedi- Continued on pg. 28

large party or event. Other rooms in the sleek center can be used for events as well.

Hospodas interior offered much to marvel over. As the hostess took us to our seats, my companion and I could see the beer cellar right below; they twinkled underneath us, much like tropical fish under a glass bottom boat. Designed by a Czech graffiti artist, a wood en-graving surrounds the eating space, and its backlighting emits a chic, lively atmosphere.

Our server brought us a small mug of Mliko, which is one of the four ways that Pilsner Urquell is served at Hospoda. Its mostly foam, but it is poured in such a way that it is sweet. You can tell its beer, but think of it more as a cappucci-no, albeit a cold one. I should also mention that if beer isnt your bev-erage of choice, Hospoda boasts a formidable list of wines, chosen to

pair well with the menu offerings. Although I was now sufficient-

ly warmed, my stomach still cried in agony, kind of like that girl whose boyfriend dumped her while she was abroad.

Bread swiftly arrivedrye, my favoritebut it came with some-thing that I associated mostly with octogenarians: cottage cheese. It didnt look like the usual chunky cottage cheese, though, and it didnt taste much like it either. It was delicate on the palate, more silk than curd, and it complement-ed the fresh rye nicely; a perfect start to the meal.

The menu, divided into three different ordering sections, didnt appear to offer the same dishes I had eaten in my study abroad days. For starters, we split the beef tartare. The tartare, drizzled with white truffle oil, was quite tasty, and a good way to ease us into what was


SPRING 201328

to come.After the tartare, I ordered the

fried egg bread. The smoked Prague style ham inside the egg bread tast-ed vaguely familiar, but I had never had it plated so intricately before me. As you might expect from her name, Chef Katie Busch isnt from the Czech Republic. However, she did work at one of Hospodas sister restaurants in Prague before taking the reins of this lovely place. So the dishes here are a sort of fusion of many different styles, with Bohe-mian themes echoing throughout the menu. The fried egg bread be-ing one of them, I would say.

With mustard, I instantly thought corn beef from Katzs. Or maybe it was some variation of a Croque Monsieur, the classic French sandwich. Or maybe Moses and the story of Passover inspired it, with the bit of horseradish adding a nice kick. Then I recalled that I was eat-

Continued on pg. 30




319 Franklin Turnpike Allendale, NJ 07401 201-236-1006

S A M S U N G L E D F 8 0 0 0S I Z E S : 4 6 / 5 5 / 6 0 / 6 5 / 7 5 C L A S S

Discover More of theTV You Love

2013 Samsung Electronics America, Inc. All rights reserved. Samsung, Samsung SMART TV, Micro-Dimming Ultimate, SMART Hub, SMART Interaction and Samsung Apps are trademarks or registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. All other product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Evolution Kit sold separately. Not available for all TV models. Available in 2013. Performance and specications may vary subject to hardware limitations. Voice and gesture commands may vary. Available Apps may vary by product/model and may require fees. Internet service required. Specications and product information are subject to change. Screen images are simulated.

LED TV The Brightest Picture Available

Samsung continues its leadership in the LED Smart TV market by integrating new hardware with spectacularly designed televisions to provide the nest viewing experience available. The F8000 oers more vibrant and richer colors, higher contrasts and a brighter picture quality than ever before. With proprietary Micro Dimming Ultimate technology, the F8000 series TV brings greater contrast, deeper black levels and maximum brightness of 3D images, allowing for an amazing image. The F8000 is the worlds rst Smart LED TV with a quad-core processor, allowing you to toggle between apps, online services and on-air TV quickly and easily without missing a moment of your favorite entertainment. The F8000 is available in 46, 55, 60, 65 and 75 class screen sizes. Contact your authorized Samsung dealer today at 201-236-1006.

contrast with MICRO-DIMMING ULTIMATE.

Explore and multitask faster than ever before with the powerful QUAD CORE PROCESSOR.

Spend less time searching and more time watching with the NEW SMART HUB.

SMART EVOLUTION PORT new software and technology is released, so that you never get left behind.

ing ham, and Moses went out the door.

Either way, its a solid dish, and worth trying just to sample some-thing innovative. The blending of all the sandwich ingredients, and the fact that it is, well, fried, makes this dish an excellent match for a Pilsner poured as a Slice, which is about two-thirds foam. This meth-od of Pilsner is also meant to be drunk quickly while the foam is still fresh. If youre following each bite of egg bread with a sip, the beer will be gone very, very quickly.

The duck confit risotto is an-other great dish. The red walnuts, poppy seeds and dates mixed in with this novel creation offered a unique and unparalleled risotto.

Off of the second portion of the menu, the grilled hen of the woods is also quite good. A Parme-san poached egg, as well as chicken jus and kale, make for a creamy yet

earthy mushroom-based dish. For our main courses, we had

the veal schnitzel and the scallops. Now, scallops are not native

to the Czech Republic. While the Vltava River separates Prague into two sections, the country is a ways away from the sea. Besides dessert, this dish looked to be the sweetest dish on the menu. The scallops were plated with a tangy parsnip puree, as well as a braised pork shank, and wait for it pineapple.

Yes, pineapple. When we or-dered this, I was somewhat skepti-cal, but yet again, Hospoda proved this skeptic wrong. Its fantastic, and a great seafood dish.

If I had to pick a favorite plate, it would be the veal schnitzel. I have been a fan of schnitzel for as long as I can remember, but usually its just made with chicken.

This was a step up. Plated with pureed Yukon gold potatoes and

a rainbow assortment of pickled beets, this was the perfect dish for me. I had come a long way from my early days of sitting in my high chair eating my great-grand-mothers schnitzel with my hands and dipping it in ketchup.

I gently cut off a piece of the schnitzel, a beautiful golden brown, which was still crackling from the pan. To cool it, I dipped it in the puree, had a sip of my spar-kling wine, paused, and bit. Snap, crackle, and pop in my mouth, and a magnificent culmination to this fantastic dining experience.

As we wrapped up the meal, there was one thing missingBe-cherovka. Becherovka is a sweet, somewhat cinnamon flavored di-gestif from the Czech Republic. We drank it down, took in the restau-rant one last time, and set off into the cold New York winter, fortified with flavor and warmth.


SPRING 201330

ou have deep ties to the tri-state area, having been born in New Jersey and grad-uating from NYU and

Columbia Law School. The Dodg-ers left for LA after the 1957 sea-son. Does serving as the teams president and CEO carry any extra meaning for you knowing the fran-chise originated in New York?

Well that part of it doesnt. Its the whole Dodger history, and I think if they had done what they had done it would be probably as mean-ingful no matter where they come from, to be truthful. But theres no taking away from the fact that so much of their history and so many of their accomplishments and inno-vations happened while they were in Brooklyn, from the breaking of the color barrier to the real creation of the minor league system, to the ad-vent of international scouting. All those were innovations pioneered by the Dodgers, and obviously that all happened in Brooklyn.

During law school you played base-ball in the Jersey Shore Summer League. What were some of your career highlights?

(laughs) I did not have a lot of ca-reer highlights. You know, we played

SPRING 201332

Y

We chat with the LA Dodgers president and CEO about the future of this legendary franchise.


Around the Horn with STAN KASTEN

three games each weekend and it was just something to do. I played one year for Freehold and two years for Manalapan. But it was clear I had made a good decision to go to law school, and not get my hopes up of being a professional player.

Your career officially started back in 1976 when Ted Turner hired you as a legal counsel for something like $200 a week. How did you convince him to give you a job?

I was kind of unsure. Ted is a unique guy, and sometimes he gets inspiration that is hard to pinpoint. But we did start talking, we hit it off, I sent him a letter and he invited me down for a couple of days, and lit-erally in two days he saw something that he thought could make a contri-bution to a very, very young sports business. It was an established adver-tising business, but the sports part of the business was just beginning and I cant really tell you I know what it was that he saw, but obviously he saw it because he invited me down and he asked me to stay and Ive lived in At-lanta ever since.

How exactly did you meet him? I was at a game in St. Louis. Af-

ter law school, before I started work-ing as an antitrust lawyer in New York, I drove around the country. I

SPRING 2013 33

those awards were voted on by other GMs. Other old-style, ex-player type GMs. To get their respect was very, very meaningful to me.

When you were named the president of the Atlanta Braves in 1986, the team wasnt all that good. During your time at the helm, the Braves won 14 straight division titlesof course largely doing it based on stel-lar pitching with Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz, homegrown talent and really effective free-agent signings. Looking back on that, what would you say was the pivotal moment in turning that franchise around?

There are two moments. First of all, when I took over, I resisted do-ing it because I thought doing two teams at once would not be possible. But Ted asked me to do it, and he said, just do anything it takes. Do it right. And that was really meaning-ful: to have an owner really give you the resources, and the time it took to execute a plan to win. That was very important. That really changed things. That allowed us to set our course for a winning team through scouting and player development. So that was a key thing.

And then after we had gotten the scouting and player development ba-sically established, convincing (then Royals GM) John Schuerholz to

took a vacation for about ten days going to different ballgames, and I met Ted one night after a game. The Cardinals were playing the Braves. It was Teds first year owning the team, and after the game, I met him and we struck up a conversation, and it went from there.

In 1979, you were named the GM of the Hawks and became, at age 27, the youngest GM in NBA histo-ry. Throughout the 80s, the Hawks were perennial playoff contenders. What was that experience like, con-sidering you were quite young at the time?

It was definitely an exciting time in my life, for sure, but we had great ownership and a great city, and they let us make some moves. We brought some interesting players in and we got very good kind of quickly. So I was just loving it. I did have some hurdles to climb, because I didnt have the conventional resume of a GM. I wasnt a former player, so I didnt know people had come at it from a different way. Actually, more like so many modern GMs that have a different backgrounda non-playing background. I might have been one of the first of those kind of GMs. It was very rewarding for me, just a few years later, to get a couple of Ex-ecutive of the Year awards because

Continued on pg. 34

The new Dodgers owners have worked swiftly to restore the glory and prestige of this historic franchise. Stan Kasten, second from left, brings years of expertise to the plate.

leave Kansas City and join us in At-lantathat was the final piece that enabled us to take the pieces that we had developed and to put them to-gether into a winning team.

Atlanta eventually got a hockey team in the Thrashers, and naturally, you became its president. You talked about running two teams at a time, now youre running three teams at once. Did you ever get any sleep?

Well the hoursthats overrat-ed because the work is done by great staffs. There is kind of a pressure; youre sweating about a score every night of the year. You never get an offseason, so thats a little bit of a hurdle to deal with. But its not some-thing I ever set out to do. You know, I dont recommend doing more than one team to anyone. It can be done, but there are all kinds of difficulties. Ted was determined to have me do it. He had a lot of confidence in me, so I undertook that second team. And the third team, I had gotten the commit-ment that I would not have to run the third team, except the week before the first game of the inaugural sea-son, the president of the team left to take another job and there was no one

left to do it but me and thats how I wound up running three teams. It was not a goal I set for myself, nor was it something I set out to accomplish.

Youre friends with Gary Bettman and apparently you took up ice skat-ing when you became president of the Thrashers.

Well, I wanted to do it right. I quickly had to learn everything I could. Now obviously you can be the president of a hockey team with-out knowing how to skate but I just thought it was a good thing for me to do. It was a fun thing for me to do. I had Dany Heatley, a Rookie of the Year, an MVP caliber NHL play-er; and Bob Hartley, a Stanley Cup winning coach, teaching me, so that made it a little easier for me.

You were an instrumental figure in bringing baseball back to our na-tions capital. When you left, the club was certainly headed in the right direction. How do you look back on your impact on the Nationals?

I had a great time there. I think they have a terrific front office now. They really do, and Im proud of all


SPRING 201334

of them. Theyre all my friends. Al-most all of them came while I was there so I am very proud for all the success that theyre having. I do think theyre a terrific young team and a homegrown team, and thats certainly what we set out to accom-plish. That was one of our goals, and its very rewarding for me to see them achieving those goals today.

The Dodgers ownership team is beautifully crafted. You have people like Mark Walter of Guggenheim Partners, Peter Guber of Manda-lay Entertainment, and, of course, Magic Johnson making up this core ownership group. What has the ex-perience been like so far?

Its been a dream come true. I tell people in my career Ive been to the postseason 30 times and every single time is an unimaginable joy, and yet what Im doing now is more fun than anything Ive ever done in my career. To be able to help restore this brand to what it once was in the second-larg-est market in America, the media and entertainment capital of the world, with a fan base this dedicated, this loyalevery night to do all this at magnificent, iconic Dodger Stadiumit truly is literally a dream come true.

You have a great deal of money at your disposal. What is it like know-ing that your team isnt strapped for cash?

Its a management challenge like everything else. You still want to make the right decisions because smart beats rich. Ive always said that. The Yankees have always been rich, but until they also got really smart, they werent accomplishing all that they could. And we said were going to be rich by virtue of the market that were in, but unless were also smart, were not going to be successful, so thats what were spending all our time on. The high-profile deals that


True Blue Gala 2012

Continued on pg. 36




STEREO PREAMP PROCESSOR

CP-800

The CP-800 Stereo Preamp Processor combines the functionality of a conventional analog preamplier with that of a multi-input DAC having digital processing features. This new preamp/processor architecture is supported by numerous proprietary Class technologies. The highest performance is achieved via the CP-800s USB inputs.

Asynchronous techniques are used for both computer-based sources (rear panel USB Device connector) and Apple portable devices (front panel USB Host connector). Galvanic isolation and a technique we call Single-Clock-Substrate extend the advantages of our Asynchronous USB solution, lowering noise and reducing digital jitter to the lowest possible levels. The result is a breathtakingly direct and immediate sounda crystal clear view into the soundstageas if you were in the recording studio with your ampliers plugged into the mixing board.

An entirely new design employs Zero Volt Switching in a Switch Mode Power Supply with Power Factor Correction to deliver performance and value on a scale never before offered in a high-end preamplier. Visit Talk of The Town today, and experience Class components rst-hand.


Continued on pg. 38

SPRING 201336


www.talkofthetownvideo.com319 Franklin TurnpikeAllendale, NJ 07401

201-236-1006



COMMERCIALAUDIO&VIDEOEXPERTS

The best in Commercial Audio/Video

Services / Capabilities

Talk of the Town has been designing and installing state-of-the-art systems for over twenty years in both residential and commercial applications. We have completed fully integrated systems for Country Clubs, Hospitals, Conference Rooms, MDU Buildings and many other commercial establishments. Below are some of our commercial capabilities.

System design, installation and salesProfessional-grade flat-panel TVs and projectorsWireless and wired sound systemsAudio/Video networkingConferencingLighting controlOn-site service and support contractsTurnkey solutionsCustom automation programmingCall us today for a no obligation consultation

I read you were lowering the cost of parking from $15 to $10 too.

We did that Day One. We wanted to do something tangible for the fans but also that was symbolic. We think parking prices had been a real source of controversy and so we announced at our opening press conference that we were doing that. In addition, this yeareven with our payroll more than doublingwe announced that we were not going to raise ticket prices. Were trying to do those kinds of things just to convince fans that were hard at work, that we dont expect them to support us until we show them that were sincere about the promises that weve made, and we think were making progress there.

Your parents were both Holocaust survivors and then be-came chicken farmers in New Jersey. What were some of the lessons you learned from them?

The first thing I can recall from them from the young-est possible age was how lucky I was to be living in Ameri-ca. I heard the stories about life outside of America. It was unimaginable, unimaginable to me as a young child. But what was clear was that there was no place on earth bet-ter to be than here in America. And the second thing was just the importance of working hard all the time. Pursuing your goal. My parents, for all the people who talk about my running three teams, my parents worked harder than I did. My parents worked more hours than I do. That was always just a fact of life, but if youre doing something that you enjoy, its never really a problem.

What are some of the values that you try to instill in the Dodgers organization?

We talk about a few things that we focus on, and that everyone here should focus on. First, is the team, which we build through an aggressive program of scouting and play-

er development. The second is the fan experience, and that goes to customer service, that goes to improving the facili-ties. Its the reason were spending $100 million this offsea-son to make the stadium experience even better. And the third is our community relations, and the thousands of ways we touch fans away from the ballpark so much of the year.

Are there any lucky charms you keep with you?

No. In Atlanta, my lucky charms were Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz. Here, my lucky charms are Greinke and Kershaw and Gonzalez and Ramirez and Ethier and et cetera, et cetera. Thats the way Im going to win. Those are the things most important to me.

How do you like to start your day?

I havent really thought about it. I get to the office, and I start my day every day with a smile because every day Im pulling into the parking lot at Dodger Stadium and theres no better place to be.

Is the traffic worse in LA or in New York?

In New York you can take buses and subways, and thats not really that true in LA. So the LA traffic is quite, quite a problem. But for 50 years, more than 40,000 people a night find their way here so somehow, theyre all manag-ing with it and still learning.

LA hasnt had a football team in years. Ever think about going down that avenue while youre out in Hollywood?

There is a lot of talk in the community about bring-ing a football team back, and I dont know exactly where that stands. For now, Im just focused on the Dodgers and rebuilding the franchise, and rebuilding the stadium, and thats keeping me plenty busy.

SPRING 201338



Jon SooHoo/ Los Angeles Dodgers, LLC 2012Jon SooHoo/ Los Angeles Dodgers, LLC 2012Jon SooHoo/ Los Angeles Dodgers, LLC 2012

Every Dodger fan in Tinseltown knows how to get in touch with Stan Kasten. Since Day One of the new regime, Kasten has listened to suggestions from fans and community leaders.

EXPLORER MAKES ANY AUDIO FILE,FROM MP3 TO HIGH RESOLUTION,SOUND ITS BEST

MERIDIAN EXPLORERExplorer connects to your computer to transform the sound of the music you play. Just plug Explorer into your Macintosh, Linux or Windows computer and experience quality far beyond that of any PC sound card.

Digital media form an increasingly popular source of entertainment, with superb ease of access. Now theres no need to compromise quality to achieve that convenience. Explorer is the size of a USB stick, yet embodies the same style and performance as any other Meridian product.

LISTENEncapsulating Meridians 30-year experience of digital audio reproduction in one compact, elegant yet robust high-performance USB DAC, you will discover more from your music with Explorer.

REDEFINE THE POSSIBLEExplorer replaces your computers sound card with a USB-powered DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) featuring Meridians high quality audio circuitry and design derived from Meridians award-winning Reference Series components, along with a powerful headphone amplifier with on-board analogue volume control. Whatever your choice of content iTunes, Spotify, YouTube or a High Resolution downloaded file, Explorer makes it sound its best. Simply by plugging it in and listening with it, youll experience significantly higher sound quality.



319 Franklin Turnpike Allendale, NJ 07401201.236.1006

SPRING 201340

Murologists pave the way

for robotic surgeryWRITTEN BY NICOLE RUSSELL

ROBOTIC SURGERY SAVES LIVES and QUALITY of LIFE

Continued on pg. 42


SPRING 201342


A Range of Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Not all prostate cancers can be treated robotically, espe-cially if they have metastasized beyond the gland itself. Your urologist may recommend one or a combination of the fol-lowing treatment modalities:

low-dose-rate brachytherapy (radiation therapy) with implantable seeds or high-dose-rate brachytherapy using temporary cathetersexternal beam radiation therapy or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)hormonal therapyactive surveillance (monitoring with regular PSA tests)cryosurgery

Continued on pg. 44

MX-890PROGRAMMABLE COLOR LCD UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL

MRF-260

Feel free to move about the houseGone are the days of pointing the remote at the product you wish to turn on or turn up! When used with one of our award winning base stations such as the MRX-1, MRF-350 or

the MX-890 remote can operate equipment through walls, cabinet doors or from outside. You dont have to point or be in the same room as the music

still control them entirely. And, theres no need to purchase batteries. The URC MX-890 sits in an attractive tabletop charging cradle, and is always ready for action the moment you pick it up.

player or at screen-you can

Everything you need in one amazing remoteThis powerful universal remote will change everything for you and your family from the moment it arrives. Employing the latest in technology and ergonomic design, the MX-890 is equipped to handle virtually any application. Easily control every Audio and Video product you own lighting, too. One touch puts you in complete command of everything from watching your favorite movie to listening to the radio, regardless of the components. This beauty is strong enough to control the most robust theater room, and versatile enough to allow you to select other rooms in the house.

Customize to your hearts contentThe MX-890 features a brilliant 2-inch color, high-resolution screen that can be fully personalized to suit the products you wish to control with exciting, custom graphics. Your installer can label every button

enables you power up the entertainment room, set a lighting level, or any combination of events you can dream up. The MX-890 also includes all of the hard button controls youre accustomed to for fast access to every function.

and congure your system so that a single button press



Come and experience URC products for yourself at Talk of the Town319 Franklin Turnpike, Allendale, NJ 07401 / tel. 201.236.1006 / www.talkofthetownvideo.com


PSA or Not?There has been significant debate among medical pro-

fessionals and others after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended in 2012 against screening for pros-tate-specific antigen (PSA).

We who treat prostate cancer disagree with the data the task force used to come up with this decision, and strong-ly suggest that men over age 50 speak with their physician about having this potentially life-saving test in conjunction with a physical exam. A PSA is the only prostate cancer test we have, says Michael P. Esposito, M.D., an attending urol-ogist at Holy Name and clinical assistant professor of urolo-gy at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School.

Risk Factors for Prostate Cancerover age 65African-Americanfamily historyhigh-fat diet low in vegetables and fruits

SPRING 201344


Discover yours.

Discover the burning hot ELEMENT EMBERDiscover the burning hot ELEMENT EMBERDiscover the burning hot ELEMENT

THE SOUND OF A NEW ERAD

isco

ver y

ours

at totem

acou

stic.com

Come and hear for yourself at TALK of the TOWN - 319 Franklin Turnpike, Allendale, NJ 07401 / tel. 201 236-1006 / www.talkofthetownvideo.com

Totem_TalkTown_Nov_2012.indd 1 12-11-06 11:49 AM

SPRING 201346

The Yankees & Mets Ultimate PreviewWhy the subway series might not be so exciting this year

IWRITTEN BY JUSTIN DAVIDSON

Continued on pg. 48

The experts at the New Jersey Center for Prostate Cancer & Urology have performed more than 4,000 successful surgeries for prostate cancer. For 11 years, weve used the latest minimally invasive procedures to reduce pain, scarring and blood loss. Because these new techniques require smaller incisions, our physicians can also treat kidney cancer without damaging the kidneys. Patients can get back to their lives faster than ever before. If youve been diagnosed with bladder, prostate or kidney cancer, we can help.

To make an appointment call 201-487-8866 or visit roboticurology.com to learn more.

255 W. Spring Valley Avenue | Maywood, New Jersey

The leaders in robotic prostate surgery.

HOLY13717 Lanteri_adapted 8.375x10.875.indd 1 2/15/13 2:02 PM

Continued on pg. 50





DMI-40.4

Dock for ipad/iphone/ipad with Airplay

With the DMI-40.4, you can dock your iPod, iPhone, or iPad anytime for a recharge, or continue using it anywhere in the house while streaming your favorite music at the same time.

Connecting the iOS Family with Integra SystemsLinked to your Integra system, the DMI-40.4 allows you to play audio and video les from virtually all iPod, iPhone, and iPad models. Now you can enjoy your musicthrough a high-delity sound system and share photos and videos on your living-room display.

AirPlay Integrates Your Digital LifeAirPlay lets you connect your iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad to your compatible Integra product with no wires, cable, or clutter. As well as streaming audio, from your portable iOS device over the home network, users can also play tracks from their PC or Mac-based iTunes library on their Integra sound system.

Added Control Through RI FunctionalityThe DMI-40.4 can also be connected through Integras proprietary RI (Remote Interactive) interface. This gives you access to a variety of useful functions, such as System On/O, Auto Power On, Auto Selector (Direct Change), and Sleep Timer. To simplify things even further, the RI terminal also allows you to use your main Integra system remote to control the DMI-40.4 dock.

For more information contact your local authorized dealer Talk of the Town at 201-236-1006 or visit us at www.integrahometheater.com

The Yankees & Mets Ultimate Preview


visionartgalleries.com866-432-4353

Bacon Shaving CreamBacon is no longer just Americas favorite breakfast meat. It has mor-phed into every possible thing bacon can be used for. Since we began this magazine, we have featured Bakon Vodka, as well as BaconLube and Bacon Lip Balm, not to mention the bacon-scented soap talked about in this very Man Central. Yet, here we are again: Bacon Shaving Cream. Lather up, shave it down and enjoy the scent of bacon on your face all day long. Let me know when this whole bacon thing has gone too far. Until then, check back next time for another bacon-scented item sure to surprise. Lather up at jdfoods.net.

MANCENTRALTHENEWESTTRENDS

SPRING 201352

DeWulf Pool TablesIts only recently that the world has realized concrete can actually be

beautiful. Artist James DeWulf has set about making sure people realize just how beautiful concreteoften misconstrued as ugly, brawny and cold

construction materialcan be. Just another example of this is his Pool Table. Simple and minimal, it will fit perfectly in a contemporary-style

man cave or even outside near the pool, as it has been created to be weath-er resistant and built to pool regulation size. Cue it up at jamesdwulf.com.

SoloShot Automated Filming DeviceYou want to make your own movies but your friends are tired of carrying around the camera? Worry no more. The SoloShot is attached to a tripod on one side and

your beautiful camera on the other. You wear a device on a small armband that allows the SoloShot to track and follow your movement. Originally made so that a few surfers could film themselves without needing someone to stand on the beach watching for hours, it has since become popular in many other ways, such as drag

racing, snowboarding, skiing, etc. To be tactfully ambiguous, the SoloShot will give your home movies a whole new dimension. (You may not be able to see me, but Im

winking at you.) Press play at soloshot.com.

Man RingA comb, a straight blade, a bottle opener, a serrated blade and a saw, all in a sleek aerospace-grade titanium ring. Combining design and functionality, the Man Ring is distinctively unique. Custom-made to exactly fit your finger, it adds a fun and cool factor to a typically boring piece of jewelry. Size it up at boonerings.com.

AbsinthExplore Absinthe KitAs snobby as many of us can be about our knowledge of wine and spirits,

very few of us in America can say we know a lot about absinthe. The AbsinthExplore kit looks to change that. Rather than having you buy a

whole bottle of absinthe without knowing what it will be like, AbsinthExplore affords you the option of ordering small, tasting tubes of

several different absinthes, allowing you to explore, learn and determine which absinthe is right for you. After that, you can brag to all of your

friends about knowing more about absinthe than they do. Of course, you would be right. Drink it down at absinthes.com.

-Experienced Real Estate Professionals-Homes purchased ANY size, any condition-IMMEDIATE Response -SAME DAY Offers

-Close in DAYS-ESTATE SALES are our SPECIALITY-


Safermoto Motorcycle JacketMy mother always told me that the day I bring home a motor-cycle was the day I move out. Plain and simple: the thought of me riding one truly frightened her. I do enjoy two wheels, but she did have a point; motorcycles havent always had the best safety record. One of its issues? No airbags. The Safermoto jacket changes all of that. Produced by Hit-Air, the jacket or vest is airbag equipped. Connected to your motorcycle by teth-er, the airbags will release in .25 seconds, if the rider is ejected from his or her bike. It takes 66 pounds of pressure for the airbag to inflate, to ensure that it doesnt inflate every time you forget to unhook the tether. The jacket has already proved itself time and time again, allowing riders to walk away from poten-tially gruesome accidents. There are several different styles to meet your individual preference, too. Mom, Im coming home! Its also great for protecting your kids who love their ATV. Ride to safety at safermoto.com.

Meridian Explorer High-resolution USB Digital Analogue ConverterMeridians Explorer is a portable, compact and rugged USB Digital to Analog Converter designed to deliver best-in-class audio performance. Featuring premium audiophile-grade components throughout, a 6-layer circuit board and an elegant all-metal enclosure, the Explorer delivers the Meridian audio experience from virtually any computer. The Explorer fea-tures a range of connectivity and can be used in a variety of applications from private headphone listening to full system playback. Now you can take great sound anywhere! Available at Talk of the Town.

Munitio PRO40 High Performance HeadphonesMunitio is shaking up the headphone market once again with the announcement of its new PRO40 High Performance Headphones. As the first over-ear model from the brand renowned for its legendary NINES tactical earphones, these headphones are meeting expectations with its rock solid construction and genre re-defining audio. The PRO40s low-distortion 40mm titanium-coated dynamic drivers and custom tuned Bass Enhancing Chamber give them enough head-room to deliver accurate and expressive performance for industry professionals seeking multi-purpose headphones or for the serious music aficionado in search of the ultimate immersive experience from a smart phone or tablet.

We have the Solution!

WE BUY HOMES CASH

-Experienced Real Estate Professionals-Homes purchased ANY size, any condition-IMMEDIATE Response -SAME DAY Offers

-Close in DAYS-ESTATE SALES are our SPECIALITY-

CALL TODAY!Toll Free

(855)-GO2-SELL (462-7355)

Trouble selling? Facing foreclosure? Need to sell FAST?


AudioXperts 2112 Entertainment ConsoleThis 2.1 Channel 4TV 2112 Audio Entertainment Console provides amaz-

ing component-level audio performance and is designed to fit directly under the TV or on top of a furniture cabinet below a wall-mounted TV set. The systems stunning smoked glass and an aluminum ultra-low profile enclo-

sure integrate perfectly with todays televisions (it looks sexy). The 2112 features virtual surround sound with Dolby Digital and DTS decoding and

a built-in subwoofer for powerful authoritative bass. For music stream-ing, there is Bluetooth wireless and an instant connection for an optional

Apple Airport Express. The system also learns your TV remote control and includes a host of connection and control options, making the 4TV 2112

simple to set up and use. Available at Talk of the Town.

ManHands SoapWe dont often associate manliness with cleanliness. Those flowery fra-grances radiating from your hands after leaving the bathroom really take away from that man musk youve worked so hard on keeping throughout your date. Luckily, Manhands has released a line of soaps that will forever change the soap game. With dating-approved scents such as cedar log cabin and bonfire, to the more extreme dont leave the house scents of bacon or cannabis, Manhands finally offers men a chance to be clean, and still smell like a man, or a THC-laden plant. Too liberal for you? Perhaps the republican scented soap is the way to go. To trick your buddy into having his hands smell like urinal mint, check out manhandssoap.com.

McIntosh D100 Digital Stereo PreamplifierThe D100 is a remote controlled digital stereo preamplifier

with five digital inputs (2 Coaxial, 2 Optical and 1 USB), and both variable and fixed volume audio output. It is a simple solution to add digital music to an existing McIntosh system. Or you can simply add an amplifier, a pair of speakers and a digital source for a complete digital based stereo system. It shares the classic faade, knobs and handcrafted black-glass front panels as all other McIntosh components in a small form factor of just under 4 inches in height. Its powerful built-in headphone amplifier will elevate the sound of your favorite headphones so that you may enjoy the ultimate personal listening experience. The D100 utilizes an 8-channel, 32-bit, 192kHz D/A converter with wide dynamic range and extremely low distortion. Eight-channel D/A converter is used in stereo Quad Balanced mode. Music at all levels is reproduced with extreme precision and elegance. A 1/8-inch mini jack is provided for control data from the data output jack of a McIntosh preamp or A/V Control Center. Available at Talk of the Town.

SPRING 201356

The best care, from our family to yours.

We could tell you about our award-winning centers, our state-of-the-art programs and our 9 convenient locations

throughout Bergen and Passaic counties. But at CareOne, we know what really matters:

compassionate people delivering the best care.

To find a location near you, call toll-free 877-99-CARE1 visit www.care-one.com

Short-Stay Rehabilitation

Long-Term Care

Assisted Living

Memory Care

Respite Care

Hospice Care

Featuring:

318780


SPRING 201358

Sony XBR-84X900 84 4K Ultra HD TVWith four times more resolution than Full HD, the 84-inch (diag.) 4K screen contains no less than 8 million individual pixels (3,840 x 2,160). Advanced picture processing ensures that every one of those pixels displays images with superb quality. At a closer, more comfortable distance and a viewing angle widened to 60, the TV screen fills your field of vision: its like experiencing the action in real life. Theres 3D, then theres 3D with 4K. Larger-than-life images emerge from the massive 84-inch screen with realism that makes your heart race. The level of detail is absolutely stunningits the closest thing to a 3D theater in your living room. Light, comfortable, passive 3D glasses offer superb image quality and a noticeable step above anything youve ever experienced at home. Available at Talk of the Town.

URC MX-890 Remote ControlEverything you need in one amazing remote! This powerful universal remote control will change everything for you and your family from the moment it arrives. Employing the latest in technology and ergonomic design, the MX-890 is equipped to handle virtually any application. Easily control every audio and video product you own; lighting, too. One touch puts you in complete command of everything. This beauty is strong enough to control the most robust entertainment or theater room, and versatile enough to allow you to select other rooms in the house. The MX-890 remote can operate equipment through walls, cabinet doors or from outside. You dont have to point or be in the same room as the music player or flat screen; you can still control them entirely. And, theres no need to purchase batteries. The URC MX-890 sits in an attractive tabletop-charging cradle, and is always ready for action the moment you pick it up. Available at Talk of the Town.

Totem Element Metal High-fidelity Floor-standing SpeakersThe new Totem Element Series expresses perfect balance between form, function, art and technology. Streamlined for any musical genre, it conveys conviction, honesty and ease while offering enormous scale and presence. Revolutionary in its conception, the Element Series is a true evolutionary step in sound design. The new Element woofers used in the Metal series are not only built in-house but deviate substantially from any usual woofer manufacturing. Firstly, they have an extreme precision-machined chassis, rather than a molded or stamped one. Each driver actually requires 3 hours of machining and 4+ hours of assembly and testing. This allows for precision usually associated with watchmaking, not standard woofer manufacturing. Available at Talk of the Town.

T WNTALK ofthea u d i o v i d e o a u t o m a t i o n h o m e t h e a t e r s


319 FRANKLIN TURNPIKE, ALLENDALE, NJ 07401 201.236.1006 www.talkofthetownvideo.com/ /

NowistheperfecttimetostepintotheSmartElectronicsRevolution

Turnyourusedunwantedelectronicsintoinstanttrade-incredittowardanyitemthatwesell.Callustodayformoreinformation.

eality television isnt just for pregnant teens and island survivors anymore. Now, Joe Schmo can have a TV show about his daily routine. And in the past few years, all of Joes friends have joined him on TV because they, too, have jobs. Jobs like you and me? Jobs that we want as entertainment television?

How did this happen? How can anyone get a show on TV? Personally, I blame Cops. Cops has been on television since 1989. Since then uniformed men and women have arrested endless

drunks. Cops is something everyone can enjoy. Sure, if an officer of the law stops me, it is no laughing mat-ter. But when its someone else being arrested on television for ruining a wifes sisters truck, well, thats entertainment.

Arguably, Cops may not be entertaining because people are interested in the daily lives of police officers. That probably involves a lot of deskwork and run of the mill check-ins. Cops focuses on what the people want: the action, the excitement, the stupidity. The focal point of the show became ridiculous people reacting to even crazier scenarios. But

SPRING 201360

The Unreality of Reality TVFiguring out whats real, whats fake, and why my job is so boring.

RWRITTEN BY NICK POYNER

being a cop is an extremely import-ant job. And its a job that plenty of people live out on a daily basis.

Jobs can be exciting, says TV. They dont have to involve a cubicle. If thats what youre look-ing for, there are plenty of seasons of The Office to catch up on. Reality TV now thrives on the thrillhow much wilder a TV job is than yours. Do you risk your life catching crabs for a living? Have you ever lost a hand in a logging accident? Thats what makes shows like Deadliest Catch and Ax Men such hits.

For most of us, risky jobs are on par with an action movie. We will never have that experience, so watching it lived out on television is exciting. Ice Road Truckers scares me to death, but these guys make careers out of living life on the edge. And were scared and ner-vous for them any time they step into a truck.

Yet it takes more than a cool job to make for good television. As an audience, we need to connect to these people. We need to share some common vein that makes these characters human. Mostly it involves family, friendship and competition. A perfect example of this is Deadliest Catch where mul-tiple ship crews deal with the dy-namics of being family. Thats why, when Captain Phil Harris died on the show, it was heartbreaking. We care for them like weve known them forever. We find a way to root for these people.

Rooting for people is whats kept shows such as Top Chef, Ameri-can Idol and Storage Wars on the air. Cool jobs such as the entertainment industry or the high-end food indus-try have regular people competing

SPRING 2013 61

on Gordon Ramsey insulting the chefs than it does on contributing to their success. He becomes the star, and the food and contestants are his pawns. Like any job, it is important to work hard and push yourself, but Ramsey is mean for the sake of entertainment which is why the show is still on.

There are plenty of jobs out there that I dont need to see and there are plenty of TV shows that arent really about jobs (Dance Moms, for instance) that get plenty of viewers. I dont think there is a need for multiple shows about bak-eries but I love cake. I appreciate it very much. Too much really. If you walk down any street in Manhat-tan, youll probably find a bakery, two cupcake shops (one regular, one mini), and if youre lucky, a macaroon shop as well. But Cake Boss is an excellent example of the necessity of job-based reality TV.

When do reality jobs lose their touch? When do we draw a line be-tween where our reality and theirs is different? Where is our threshold that tells us the difference between exciting and ordinary? There was a solid audience base for Cake Boss and the connection to New Jer-sey is clear. But does that make it better? Does a reality show in our backyard make it something we want to watch more because of the context or something we can shrug off and think, Yeah, I know how that works? Do other extreme fishers shrug off The Deadliest Catch because its a mundane attempt at capturing their lives? Im pretty sure you would not want to watch 189 episodes about me writing this article

But, hey, maybe you would.

for the prize of a lifetime: a job in their area of expertise. And getting that all on television? What a treat!

For the most part, each show has its own easily digestible prem-ise: a dozen or so contestants, one eliminated each week and beauti-ful examples of excellent product. Then, of course, the panel of ce-lebrity guest judges. (A personal aside: Padma Lakshmi sure knows what good food is, doesnt she?)

But, come on, our favorite part is picking favorites. As a viewer, were essentially rooting for which member of the show we feel is good enough to get to live his or her dream. Survivor and The Biggest Loser also have this aspect to their respective shows, but on shows like Last Comic Standing, someone is proving his or her self and getting an opportunity we may never have. Seeing someone succeed is emo-tional and leaves us with our own sense of accomplishment in sup-porting our favorites. Good job. You knew she had the talent all along.

It is much more audience friendly than something like Ice Road Truckers, where we can only watch whats going on. On some shows, we have the ability to di-rectly contribute to the success of an individual. Hey, if I wanted to call in 40 times (and spend a ridic-ulous amount on my phone bill), I could have helped Jessica Sanchez beat Phillip Phillips on American Idol during season 11. I didnt. So my apologies go out to Ms. San-chez, but I could have. AI isnt my personal favorite, but it is one of the most popular and successful career launchers.

On the other end, a show like Hells Kitchen focuses more

(left to right) Black tee, denim and Presley blazer by Esposito; leather biker jacket and Elvis All Shook Up Tee (available at Suite 201, Ridgewood) by Esposito; chambray button down shirt and denim by Esposito

Designs: (Amanda Esposito) Esposito CollectionPhotographer: Vital Agibalow Makeup: Kate Ramonoff for MACHairstylist LOreal: Joseph DiMaggio

All available at espositocollection.com. Elvis tees can be found at Suite 201 in Ridgewood.

(left to right) Black tee, denim and Presley blazer by Esposito; leather biker jacket and Elvis All Shook Up Tee (available at Suite 201, Ridgewood) by Esposito; chambray button down shirt and denim by Esposito

Designs: (Amanda Esposito) Esposito CollectionPhotographer: Vital Agibalow Makeup: Kate Ramonoff for MACHairstylist LOreal: Joseph DiMaggio

All available at espositocollection.com. Elvis tees can be found at Suite 201 in Ridgewood.

ST

YLE

GU

IDE

Elvis in Concert Tee by Esposito (available at Suite 201)Elvis in Concert Tee by Esposito (available at Suite 201)

Presley blazer and crown jewel solid logo V-neck tee by Esposito; Zip lapel blazer and solid black shirt with red trim by Esposito

Presley blazer and crown jewel solid logo V-neck tee by Esposito; Zip lapel blazer and solid black shirt with red trim by Esposito

Novelty button down and denim by Esposito; Antonio blazer and denim by Esposito (available at www.espositocollection.com)

Novelty button down and denim by Esposito; Antonio blazer and denim by Esposito (available at www.espositocollection.com)

always feel the desire to look for the extraordinary in ordinary things; to suggest, not to impose, to leave always a slight touch of mystery in my

paintings. BalthusVisionArt Galleries founder, Terry Sheward, shares

that same desire. This passion, joined with his apprecia-tion for beautiful works of art, helped drive the creation of the first fine-art motorized TV concealment solu-tionVisionArt.

Sheward believes that every interior, each piece of furniture, and any electronic begs the question of how to be extraordinary. Twelve years ago he sought out per-haps the most ordinary electronic item in any house-holdthe TVand made it exceptional by fusing art with technology.

When Sheward established VisionArt after more than 30 years in the custom window treatment business, he envisioned a company that brought together beauty and function, quality service, craftsmanship, and dili-gent attention to detail.

How It Works In a nutshell, VisionArt is a pristine, fine art print

on a motorized canvas designed to elegantly conceal a

SPRING 201366

I

The inventors of fine-art motorized TV concealment create the perfect balance

of mystery and charm.

WRITTEN BY LYNDSEY UPCRAFT

Experiencing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

flat panel television when not in use. With the push of a button, you gain instant access to the television. Vi-sionArts embodiment of balance and mystery, charm and intention, alters not only the way we experience TV but transforms the entire aesthetic of the home. Every home and every audio/video system is unique. So why let a one-size-fits-all TV take center stage? Thats where VisionArt comes in; it lets you hide the TV to allow your personal style to take center stage!

Since 2001, VisionArt Galleries remains available exclusively through industry partners specializing in luxury custom home integration. The complete line of fine art TV Concealment Systems are custom designed and handcrafted in the USA, using state-of-the-art tech-nology coupled with limitless fine art and custom fram-ing options.

VisionArt galleries are very dynamic and reflect a wide range of personalities, lifestyles and price points. Choose from an entry-level system (starting at $1,299) to an extreme luxury system finished with a 22k gold closed corner frame (starting at $12,725). Some like to live simply; some like to live playfully, and some like to live it up; whatever your personality, VisionArt has the options to suit it. After all, we spend a lot of time inside our homes. So, lets make them extraordinary!

Continued on pg. 68

The French ConnectionLakeside Penthouse Chicago, IL

designed by Jean-Louis DeniotPhotography by Miguel Flores-Vianna

VisionArt assists in outfitting a handsome Chicago pre-war apartment by hiding technology and permitting neoclassic style, bespoken finishes

and Gallic flair to take center stage. VisionArt worked closely with deal-er Armand Lee to produce this conscientious centerpiece. The Premiere

Gallerie painting (right) is Clocks by popular artist Jason Poteet. The custom frame was chosen to complement the French Deco style, creat-

ing the perfect dose of drama.

The VisionArt unit is 42 x 30 with a 40 LED TV centered in the frame. VisionArts quiet motor was used to integrate with the clients

sophisticated whole home automation system.

Colorful and FreshVisionArt completely turned this room around. Working with the

playful home owners and interior designer, VisionArt introduced this classically inspired Hudson River Valley house to a new point of view

for a young couple with three children. There was a strong desire for the house to reflect a jolt of renewed youth and vitality. The house now

feels contemporary and ready for a long and happy life.

The oversized VisionArt unit measures 60 x 72 with a 55 Samsung 3D TV centered in the frame. The unused space between the inside di-

mension of the frame and the viewable area of the TV was masked with a black AV mat and houses the great rooms surround sound speakers.

The custom Super Hero art was created in partnership with allPopArt. The artwork can be easily updated as the family grows or styles change.

For more information about VisionArt products visit www.visionartgalleries.com or for a complete demonstration contact your local dealer, Talk of the Town,

at 201-236-1006.

A Room with a View Lagrange Bedroom

VisionArt worked closely with the dealer and client, sharing ideas and offering expertise. The custom painting is a reproduction of the philan-thropic owners original painting. The artist was commissioned to bring indoors the penthouses absolutely breathtaking views. The skyline in this painting is the actual view out the window of the master bedroom. The white gold metal leafed La Jolla frame was chosen to complement the Old World style of the fireplace, but the focus was on absolute luxury.

The VisionArt unit is 55 x 65 with a 50 LED TV centered in the frame. The unused space between the inside dimension of the frame and the viewable area of the TV was masked off with a black AV mat. Cus-tom Art/La Jolla Frame with white gold metal leaf from VisionArts Gallerie 23 frame collection.

SPRING 201368

Continued on pg. 66


SPRING 201370

Musics Legal EagleMusical notes and legal briefs go hand in hand for this multi-faceted man.

Ron Bienstock

Continued on pg. 72




FEEL THE MUSIC LIKE NEVER BEFORE

GLOBE CRUISERLuxury travelers headphones

MUSIC MANIACAccoustically transparent headphones

Talk of the Town Spring 2013

Documents

Transcript of Talk of the Town Spring 2013