hello from Bob Zuckerman

new year + new you is more meaningful while supporting local Happy New Year! I hope your 2021 has gotten off to a great start.   If there is one lesson we've learned looking back at 2020, it is the importance of supporting each other—including the local businesses in our community. As you know, last year was an incredibly trying time for so many, but our greater Westfield community really came through for our local merchants. You came through by shopping locally, and that meant the world to the small business owners in our community, many of whom are our friends and neighbors.   Now that January is here, I imagine you've resolved to do a few things a little differently this year. In this spirit, we're offering you some ideas that can help you keep your New Year's resolutions while making a serious effort to continue to regularly support our local businesses in downtown Westfield.    Additionally, we encourage you to participate in our "Resolution Love Local Swag Bag Give Away" contest on Instagram, where you can win great prizes from some of our wonderful merchants. The details of that contest are below.

Bob Zuckerman Executive Director of the Downtown Westfield Corporation

follow local businesses on Instagram

resolution love local swag bag give away  We are kicking off a weekly giveaway contest from downtown Westfield businesses throughout the month of January. Follow @Downtown_Westfield on Instagram and look for our Friday contests. To enter you must 1) follow @Downtown_Westfield on Instagram, 2) follow each of the businesses’ Instagram accounts on the weekly post, and 3) tag a friend. You will be entered into a weekly random drawing for a $50 gift card to one of the featured businesses. Each week five winners will be announced on Sunday night. Each of the weekly winners will also be entered into a grand prize random drawing for $250 worth of swag from downtown Westfield businesses—to be announced on January 31.  check it out on Instagram

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find inspiration downtown

1 cook one new thing each week Patricia and Paul, Savory Spice Shop, and Williams Sonoma are brimming with recipes, compelling high-quality ingredients — like Patricia & Paul's Truffle Pesto, and Savory Spice Shop's Whiskey Barrel & Hickory Smoked Salt with smoky with notes of wood and whiskey — and cookware, like the WS Mercato Square Ravioli mold. Elevate your meals and get pumped to stretch your culinary dexterity. It's gonna be good.

2 read more books, maybe one a month? The Town Book Store is renowned for their personal recommendations, and will even customize a "book club" for you with a new book each month based on your reading preferences.

3 kick toxins to the curb The Oils Room Essential Oils 4-Week Bootcamp, starting at the end of January, teaches you how to reduce the number of chemicals in your home and live a healthier lifestyle using natural oils.    Get started on a mineral, nutrient, and food makeover with Via Nutrition's 50-minute consultation.

4 drink less alcohol Is #DryJanuary on your to-do list? You won't miss the booze with alcohol-free craft spirits and mocktails from RoosterSpin, like their signature Bruce Lee Chi and Thyme To Smoke.    Get juiced for getting your health on track at Ono Bowls, Fresh Bui, Juice Junky & King's Bowl Café — they have what you need to detox and depuff.

5 live a greener lifestyle  Walk and bike to town where shopping local is greener, with less shipping and packaging than large e-commerce sites. While you're here, pick up your reusable downtown Westfield canvas bag, soon to be available at retailers throughout downtown.

6 eat more veggies  Discover Bareburger's healthier side, vegan Sweet Dreams Burger with sweet potato, kale & wild rice, organic alfalfa, avocado, organic baby spinach, organic cucumber, organic red onions, organic tomatoes, green goddess, sprout bun, and organic sweet potato fries on the side. Just yum.  It's never been easier to order a killer salad — The Salad House launched their new app this week, making it a snap to order your healthy favorites.   Most of the restaurants in downtown Westfield will cater to your dietary desires — ask them to swap ingredients to your liking. Click here for a list of downtown Westfield eateries.

7 try new experiences AR Workshop lets you get your craft on with a socially distanced group or in the comfort of home with their DIY kits. So go ahead and make that chunky blanket.  Are you missing travel adventures? We are too. Luckily we have Farinolio Cucina’s socially distanced events and meals that blend authentic food culture with Italy’s convivial character. Next up: an Italian vegan Valentine's Day event. Seeking some zen? Find tranquility with guided meditation led by Harmony Meditation.

8 spend less time with the kids (and support local restaurants) Oh, how things have changed in 2021. We know you're craving quality grown-up time.* Don your après ski gear, BYOB — bring your own blanket — and dine under the heat lamps at The Addams Tavern, Limani, 1958 Cuban Cuisine, Sweet Waters Steakhouse (pictured to the left), and Ferraros. Or check into your private tent at Xocolatz. Not into the great outdoors? All of the restaurants in downtown Westfield have indoor socially distanced dining at 25% capacity. Click here for the complete list of restaurants. After your meal, make your way to Yestercades for an old school video game throwdown. It isn't just for kids — from 8 to 10 PM Yestercades has a BYOB beer and wine policy. Make plans at the meticulously cleaned, 25% capacity retro arcade, and see if you've still got the touch. * The “we have no sitter” option: take out from your favorite downtown Westfield restaurant, click here for the complete list. Vino from NosVino or Liquor Basket and a mean game of Bounce Battle or Cube Duel from Learning Express.

9 achieve wellness goals without breaking a sweat Create transformation without perspiration — here are your new secret weapons.   OsteoStrong builds bone density in quick 10-minute sessions.  Chill Cryotherapy generates work out-free weight loss with infrared sauna and 3-minute full-body cryotherapy. Kika Stretch breaks up tension and builds flexibility with gentle assisted stretches.

10 and the most popular resolution is… (drum roll) to exercise more  With the variety of high-quality fitness that can be found downtown, you just need to find your workout style and take action. Discover cross-training at 908 Athletics, online barre classes with Bar Method Westfield, kettlebell specialists and individual training at Westfield Fitness Studio, balance and strength at Club Pilates Westfield, movement classes at Raritan Valley GYROTONIC, and yoga with the specialists at Satsang Yoga Studio. While you're at it, check out Rowdell's Fitness's new space next to the Fire House.

new program helps small businesses

Westfield on CBS NY news: NJ Economic Recovery Act Westfield’s Burim Regjaj, owner of Outta Hand Pizza, and Bob Zuckerman, Executive Director of Downtown Westfield, comment on the newly signed Main Street Recovery Finance Program, providing needed resources to bolster New Jersey's small business economy.