Kevin Kelly opened his first salon when he was only 18 years old. Now, at 25, the Keyport salon owner and celebrity hairstylist has a mission of making people feel beautiful and empowered, in and out of the styling chair. That’s why Kevin Kelly Salon began its charitable fashion shows four years ago, where local boutiques and designers are celebrated while local non-profit organizations are supported. This year’s show was an all-white, Vegas-themed brunch at Piazza di Roma in Aberdeen, packing in more than 150 guests. It was hosted by Real Housewives of New Jersey star Danielle Cabral, who joined the cast in season 13. This year’s beneficiary was Hazlet’s Hope Network, a peer-based non-profit organization that lends support to those struggling with substance abuse. “One of the reasons I chose this charity was that I did have a father who struggled with alcohol and substance abuse, so it just touched home,” Kelly says. “Hazlet Hope actually helped one of my really good friends, too, so they’re near and dear.” The organization, in short, provides hope to the Bayshore area. Those in crisis or looking to live a sober life can call Hazlet’s Hope Network any hour of the day and be connected with a certified coach to seek help. The coaches’ part of the peer-based program have first-hand experience with addiction and recovery. More than $5,000 was raised for Hazlet’s Hope Network, from ticket sales, raffle tickets, casino games and donations. Phil O’Hara, a representative from the organization, says the money will go toward providing financial support for patients who may be in need of housing, treatment, and other costs that are difficult to cover during recovery. The highlight of the event, of course, was the spectacular outfits. Nearly everyone was draped in white head to toe, including the guests; glitzy Vegas show girls; NJ-based drag queen Jolina Jasmine; Cabral (who was in a lacy white jumpsuit with a tulle skirt from Monmouth County-based Pretty Chaos Boutique); and Kelly (who rocked a solid white suit, then a white suit with abstract faces painted on by his grandmother). The only people not in white—but just as chic—were the runway models, showing off pieces from Bijoux Boutique in Middletown, Jenna Rose’s Boutique in Old Bridge, Ronny Kobo, Zemer Jewelers and The Shoe Fairy. On the back of each program was a QR code for a look book of all the runway looks. There will be more fashionable, charitable fun this Friday night, April 26, when another New Jersey salon and housewife will hit the runway for a good cause. Melissa Gorga, veteran RHONJ cast member, will host the 9th Annual Renaissance Runs the Runway, a charitable fashion show by celebrity hairstylist Jennifer Korab’s Renaissance Salon in Hillsborough. Proceeds benefit Steps Together, a Hillsborough-based non-profit that supports families enduring medical crises. The event is already sold out, but keep an eye on their social media for the looks of the evening. No one knows New Jersey like we do. Sign up for one of our free newsletters here. Want a print magazine mailed to you? Purchase an issue from our online store. The post ‘RHONJ’ Star and Celebrity Hairstylist Host Charitable Fashion Show appeared first on New Jersey Monthly.

Nestled in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Rancocas Woods offers a unique experience for those seeking handmade crafts, vintage treasures, and The post Discover the Magic of Rancocas Woods: A Haven Where Community and Creativity Flourish appeared first on New Jersey Isn't Boring.

All of my three children have gone through a train-loving phase around 2 years old, and while we are lucky enough to live on a train line where we can watch the trains zoom by all day long, I've been known to go out of my way to feed our kids’ love of choo-choos. From local train rides to seasonal Polar Express train rides, train museums, and model train displays, families in the tri-state area have plenty of options to entertain pint-sized train lovers. Read on for our top picks for train-inspired day trips, including all the best things to do with train-obsessed kids in NYC and beyond. Read more.

One of the few late round Devils selections to pan out. | Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images Both the New Jersey Devils and Utica Comets have concluded unsuccessful seasons having missed the playoffs. This has made me wonder if the team has a player development problem. The New Jersey Devils spent the 2023-24 season navigating a variety of issues, eventually leading to them being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs earlier this month. Just a few days ago, their AHL club, the Utica Comets, suffered the same fate. Seeing both an NHL team and their top affiliate miss the playoffs in the same season typically means the organization is in need of an infusion of talented youth...except in this case it shouldn’t. The Devils just spent most of the last decade drafting high and stocking up on players who could one day (or immediately) make an impact at the highest level. So what gives? Being fair here, the Devils weren’t expected to miss the playoffs this season; quite the opposite in fact, and not just according to Devils fans. Maybe that means that I’m looking just a bit too deeply into what I’m about to discuss today; maybe it means that I’m looking at this from a flawed perspective. From watching over all these years, and looking at roster construction, however, it seems as though the Devils Organization has problems with developing players. I’m not talking about the guys who appear to be sure things either, like Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier, I’m talking about players selected in later parts of the drafts, or even the ones who go undrafted (or stay in college long enough to go to free agency) that the team signs. Looking at the Devils’ current roster via CapFriendly, just eight of the 24 players listed between position players and the injured reserve sections are Devils draftees, and that’s with me including Nathan Bastian, who was left unprotected and snatched up by Seattle in an expansion draft. Now out of those eight, a mere three of them have spent any amount of time in the AHL, those being Alex Holtz, Simon Nemec and the aforementioned Bastian. I would argue three more (the Hughes brothers and Nico) were never going to spend time in the AHL, while Jesper Bratt spent and Dawson Mercer both kind of broke the mold as surprises making the team in the seasons that they each did. Outside of this though...where’s the development? The Devils have drafted way more than eight players since Bastian, the oldest draftee on this list, was selected. While there’s a few more floating around in Utica, few, if any of them are looking to be players that will make any sort of impact in the NHL. For a team that has drafted highly for many years, the Devils cupboards might not be fully stocked due to graduating prospects, but they shouldn’t be completely bereft of talent. We’ve spoken this season about coaches and how they have had an adverse impact on some players and/or positions on the team. What of the coaching and staff in the minors? Should they not be subject to the same scrutiny with players at that level not evolving to a point where they become NHL material? I know there is some onus on the players as well to get themselves to that point, but when a limited number of players are graduating to the big club, shouldn’t that be a point to focus on as well? Again, if the Devils were successful this season, maybe I’m not sitting here writing this today; maybe I’m scrutinizing the process less as a small part of a “Thursday Thoughts” article, if at all. I think, however, the Devils, and Tom Fitzgerald in particular, may need to be looking at the structures at all levels this offseason. The goal for Jersey’s Team is to be a long term success, not just a “small contention window then rebuild” team. If the systems and structures can be improved to strengthen every player who is willing to come in and do the work to try to become an NHLer, then maybe we won’t have to sit here and have another offseason like this one for a long time. I’m aware that this is more of a commentary today rather than the deep dive that some had hoped it would be. Perhaps in the next few weeks, if fans would like to see it, I’ll revisit this topic and dive into each Devils’ draft class (and possibly also their undrafted player signings if that data is readily available) to look over the exact statistics of what I wrote about today. What are your thoughts on the Devils and their development of players; do you think the situation is as dreary as I painted it to be? Are there examples of good player development from the team over the last decade that are still paying dividends that I missed? What would be your solution to this issue? Leave any and all comments below and thanks as always for reading!