South Jersey's Sober Party Girl

  As predicted, the snowstorm officially canceled our big, glamorous plans of parties, shows, five-star dining, and obviously walking out of the casino as millionaires. (A girl can dream, right?) Well we didn’t become millionaires, but we did find the perfect snow day vibe. After being snowed in for a few days, we needed to get out of the house. Not for an over-the-top hootenanny… just somewhere with good energy, good food, and zero pressure. Sometimes, like a wave, you just wanna catch a vibe. So we headed to Hangtime Bar and Grille on the White Horse Pike in Absecon for Happy Hour and DJ Bingo. And honestly? It was exactly what we needed. The Vibe When you walk into Hangtime, it almost feels like two different spots in one. On one side: the lively, loud bar area. On the other: a quieter restaurant space that’s perfect if you’re not feeling the chaos. Since it was Happy Hour, we grabbed seats at the bar. It wasn’t packed yet, but word on the street is that by 7 p.m., DJ Bingo b...

If your Galentine’s didn’t include historic charm, life-changing mac and cheese, and bread pudding that altered your brain chemistry… did you even Galentine? The last time I was in Smithville it was 78 degrees, the sun was shining, and we were living our best summer lives at the Heart of Surfing Fundraiser at Fred and Ethels . Now? We’re tracking a blizzard and panic-buying salt like it’s a competitive sport. South Jersey really keeps us humble. But before the snowpocalypse threatens our weekend plans (I hope it doesn't make next week’s blog awkward 🙃), let’s talk about the absolute dream that was my Galentine’s weekend. Galentine’s at the Smithville Inn Valentine’s Day was reserved for my forever gal: my mom. We treated ourselves to lunch at the iconic Smithville Inn , located in the heart of the Towne of Historic Smithville. A little history moment (because we love a place with character): originally built in 1787 by James Baremore as a one-room stop along a stagecoach route, t...

Queen Jayne’s has been making a big splash in the area, and somehow… I missed the memo. I always assumed it was just a tasting room for their main store, Passion Vines, so I never bothered to venture over. But then someone said the magic words: “They have mocktails.” Say. No. More. We parked in the strip mall lot and headed toward the bright, glowing Passion Vines sign thinking that had to be the entrance. Nope. Queen Jayne’s is actually the dark, unassuming door nearby . No neon. No flashy sign. Just a small little entrance hiding a whole vibe behind it. The second we walked in, we were met with a hostess podium… and curtains. Behind those curtains? Loud laughter, chatter, and the unmistakable sound of a place that is fully booked and thriving. “Reservations?” Reader, I did not even think to make a reservation. The place was PACKED. And I was standing there wondering: How long has this place been poppin’ without me!? Thankfully, we snagged a tiny table (and I mean tiny —like an 18-...