Lauren's Legacy Lives On

And so we come to one of the sweetest, most love-filled stories we've ever had the pleasure to report. It's the story of the Lauren Rose Albert Foundation and its annual effort to deliver thousands of baskets of personal care cheer to needy moms in the area. These baskets are presented by children on Mother's Day - often to mom's who are living in shelters or homes for battered women.

Susan Rose with a completed "Mothers Matter" basket.

The ribbon cutting that opened the basket center.

The program is called Mothers Matter. How does it work?

Schools, businesses, organizations and individuals hold collection drives. Participants receive a list of permissible items for collection, Mothers Matter collection bins and any other required support materials. Mothers Matter volunteers coordinate school and business collections and pick up items from participants. Collections are brought to central locations where volunteers help assemble and decorate baskets and then deliver them; or baskets are assembled at Mothers Matter school locations. Manufacturers and retailers also donate items for this project. This year the folks at Dollar Tree stores proved to be particularly generous.

Baskets are delivered to women’s shelters, day care centers, children’s pediatric hospital wards and day care facilities, women’s agencies and residential facilities, Ronald McDonald House, Robins Nest, Cooper House, Samaritan Hospice, Matriark House, Providence House and to special moms within participating Mothers Matter school communities or businesses.

Last year more than 2,000 baskets were delivered.

Since the project began in 2001 more than 10,000 baskets have been distributed.

Since its inception in 2000, the Lauren Rose Albert Foundation has focused on helping women in areas of need in which there is no government or agency assistance; providing programs that fill women’s unmet needs. Susan Rose is the driving force behind the Foundation that she founded in memory of her daughter, Lauren Rose Albert.

This year baskets are being are currently being assembled at the Grenloch Community Center on Hurfville-Grenloch Road in Washington Township.

If you'd like to get involved in this effort click here for more information.

Nordstrom Cherry Hill: WOW!

Nordstrom at the Cherry Hill Mall doesn't officially open till Friday at 10 AM but on Wednesday evening the store welcomed a huge number of notables for a gala benefit that aided Symphony In C, The Links, Inc. and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The fortunate guests were among the first to celebrate the opening of Nordstrom during an elegant evening devoted to all things fashionable. We all enjoyed live entertainment, cocktails, dinner and dessert buffets, and of course, incredible shopping. Food and beverage service and party production were provided by Peter Callahan and featured an array of goodies.
We saw so many friends and many, many newcomers to the Cherry Hill scene.
What struck us about Nordstrom was the knockout presentation of so many distinctive lines and unique pieces of merchandise (things you won't find anywhere else) as well as the brilliant panoply of color at every turn.
We were dazzled by the entire environment and the brilliant new colors of spring.
Nordstrom has brought the "WOW!" factor to South Jersey. And it's all just a mile or so away from downtown Philadelphia
We hope you enjoy the scenes that follow and we urge you to head on over to Nordstrom ASAP.
Ready, set, SHOP!

Dream Cuisine Come True

Nothing delights quite as much as an unexpected dining discovery: a place that you find almost by accident and wonder how you could have missed it in the first place when it was there right under your nose all along.

Such a place is Dream Cuisine, where restaurant managers Elizabeth and Melissa Malesich and chef extraordinaire (and owner) Vincent Fanari have brought a touch of the South of France to South Jersey.

We dined at Dream Cuisine on Route 70 in the Village Walk Shopping Center on Saturday evening and found this intimate eatery to be enchanting, dreamy and romantic.

At this low-key, 40-seat restaurant the focus is on civilized dining, fine food, enjoyable conversation and personal service. And you'll be pleasantly surprised at the entree prices which range from $19.00 to $28.00 with a wonderful four-course, prix-fixe dinner available from $30.00 to $40.00.

This is rustic Provencal cooking at its best with all the delights and fragrances of an open kitchen. We enjoyed roast chicken breast, broiled scallops, shrimp scampi and beef Burgoyne. We also added fresh, tasty salads (with cranberries, apples, pears and goat cheese, depending on the choice) and warm apple pie with French vanilla ice cream for dessert. And by the way, the coffee was excellent as well.

This is a BYOB and you will have to make reservations.

What a delight it is to have a cozy French bistro in the middle of Cherry Hill! And the friendly managers and personable chef-owner are on hand to guarantee your complete satisfaction.

Dream Cuisine is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 11 PM. Lunch is served on Saturday from 11:30 till 2 PM with Sunday brunch from 11 AM till 3 PM.

Make a reservation (856-751-2800) pronto!