Things to Do in West Orange

Friday, October 29

Kristin Hanson began her journey toward fine jewelry-making mastery by walking down a path less traveled. Raised in a home where expression was encouraged, she spread her roots to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Then she took a leap. She traveled to the wilds of Colorado to apprentice under master goldsmith Harold O'Connor, learning his nuanced, perfectionist techniques and method for training squirrels to be workshop assistants. Her studies then carried her to Florence and Tuscany before drawing her back to the East Coast.

Kristin's life-inspired works embody the contemporary with forms that highlight the innate beauty of her materials. Her trademark couture jewelry has caught the eye of such publications as Lucky and InStyle. In short courses and intensive programs, she hews to a teaching philosophy that fosters others' styles instead of encouraging copycats of her own. Except during special exhibits, Kristin handcrafts each piece in 60 Reade, her 6,000-square-foot Tribeca gallery, and specializes in conflict-free pink diamonds from an Australian mine.

Great New York Tours' guides with oodles of gossip, fact, and lore lead convoys past the mammoth skyscrapers of New York, sauntering by sites and venues important to culinary history and pop-cultural moments trapped in time. With eclectic tours to choose from—such as the New York Ghost Walk and Hipsters Food Tour of Williamsburg—visitors and locals indulge in both the mysterious and fantastical sides of one of the world's most storied cities. Great New York Tours also offers private tours, as well as chauffeured tours for an intimate way to encounter the city while avoiding running into King Kong on the street.

Seacoast Sailing presents sweeping skyline views to guests on New York Harbor tours aboard the spacious New Horizons, a 60-foot custom-designed and Coast Guard–certified Tortola motorsailer. During public voyages, the ocean craft ferries groups of up to 47 toward some of New York's most iconic landmarks. Passengers ogle at Manhattan's lively waterfront, and take in the twin grandeur of Governors and Ellis Islands.

Guests also sip on complimentary soft drinks and nibble on snacks as they marvel at the Statue of Liberty's majestic torch, and read the fine print on the "For Sale" sign hung atop the Brooklyn Bridge. Passengers aboard nighttime sails witness the dazzling lights of the New York skyline or fading amber glow of the sun as it sets or burns out.

Whether culled from California's Napa Valley region in the fall or from Chile and Argentina in the spring, every bundle of red and white grapes winds up beneath a patron's stomping feet. Eight months later—after a pressing session and half-hour racking—each red, white, or rosé batch makes the transition from barrel to bottle. Clients then fill, cork, seal, and adorn the bottle with their own label before gently kissing it to remove any curses. For visitors more eager to imbibe wine than concoct it, The WineMakers Cellar accommodates guests with dinners and wine and cheese pairings in its bistro. Handcrafted wine continues to flow at cooking demonstrations, courses, and private parties held within the facility.

Members of the Resnick clan have managed the family business for a century, growing the original hardware store into a garden center and party-rental warehouse. Always emphasizing customer service, three generations of Resnicks have built up a loyal clientele, learning the names and spirit animals of shop regulars. The rental side of the company provides clients with memorable props such as popcorn machines, frozen drink makers, a tiki bar, kids games, and mic-equipped podiums amplify wedding toasts and stump speeches for the office of city comptroller. For weddings and formal events, Resnick's can deliver upscale décor and furnishings, including romantic archways, white linens, and fountains for champagne or punch.