Baby Matters

There has been a veritable Matters Magazine Month of May Baby Boom.

Adorable baby gifts available at Hopscotch

 On May 2nd, Sydney Jane Salmon came into this world at 9:39pm, at a very respectable 7 lbs., 13 oz., & 19 3/4" long.  Sydney is the daughter of South Orange's own Ben Salmon, proprietor of Kitchen a la Mode & his amazing wife, Emily Cooper.  Sydney joins big brother, Caleb Cooper Salmon, 27 months.  Ben jokes that the first question Sydney asked when she was born was whether everyone had bought their Mother's Day gifts at Kitchen a la Mode yet?!  We think it was pretty great that Sydney arrived in the evening as not to disturb regular business hours. 

A display at Hopscotch

 Jason Levesque, of Levesque Homes, LLC and his wife Kim, who recently relocated to South Orange from Maplewood, gave birth to their first child, Jake Bernard Levesque.  Jake, a boy who carries hints of his father's French lineage, was born on Cinco de Mayo, May 5th, weighed in at 6 lbs., 10oz. & was 19" long.  Many of you may know Jason's dog Baene (pronounced: Bane) from their wonderful ads in Matter's Magazine; what you may not know is that Baene's name is Gaelic and means strength, something he is going to need now that he has to compete for Jason's attention!  Baene will be returning to South Orange soon as he has been with this grandparents in Connecticut while the new family gets oriented.

mudpie socks available at Hopscotch

The latest baby to be born is Sadie Hana Gonzalez, granddaughter of Matter's own Graphic Designer Joy Markel.  Sadie was born to Joy's daughter Sara and her husband at 7:46 pm on Friday, May 13th, weighing in at 7 lbs. 10 oz., 19 1/2" long and is (in Grandma's words), "of course, gorgeous."  The Gonzalez family resides in Brooklyn and Joy hasn't been seen in New Jersey since Sadie made her appearance! 

Jared Gilman to Star in Feature Film Directed by Wes Anderson

Leslie & Jared Gilman

A few weeks ago we told you about South Orange's own Jared Gilman being cast in a MAJOR feature film that would begin filming soon....we can now tell you even more.

 

Focus Features International released the following statement to the press this week:

Focus Features will distribute Wes Anderson's new movie, "Moonrise Kingdom"

13 hours ago | IndieWIRE | See recent indieWIRE news »
Focus Features has bought worldwide distribution rights to Wes Anderson's next movie, "Moonrise Kingdom." It's begun production in Rhode Island and its stars include Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray and Frances McDormand, with newcomers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. Anderson directs "Moonrise Kingdom" from a screenplay he wrote with Roman Coppola. Focus Features International will start international sales on the title at this month’s Cannes International Film Festival. 
 » 

Moonrise Kingdom:  Directed by:  Wes Anderson (left).  Starring:  Ed Norton, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis.  Not picture:  Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman.  Introducing:  Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward.

Yes, Jared has one of the lead roles in the film, he'll be acting side-by-side with multiple Oscar nominee and award winners!  The plot synopsis was recently blogged about by industry insiders Deadline New York and  Finding Out About:

                    Moonrise Kingdom is set on an island off the coast of New England in the

                    1960s. A young boy and girl fall in love and when they try to run away 

                    together, factions of the town mobilize to search for them and the town is   

                   turned upside down. Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward play the young boy 

                   and girl.

Jared is the son of Matters Magazine's own Leslie Gilman and Rick Gilman who reside in South Orange.  Jared has been taking acting classes with Acting With Emily since she opened her studio 3 years ago, in fact he was one of her original students!  This is his first role in a major feature film, actually, it's his first role in anything other than a school play.  Industry insider and blogger, Dan Ferguson, recently wrote:  

                 The casting of Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward in the roles of the two young 

                 lovers whose disappearing act motivates the plot is new info, too. Not much info 

                 is available on either of those actors, so if they turn out to be significant new 

                 discoveries, that’ll be one more reason to check out the film.

  

Moonrise Kingdom is currently filming in Rhode Island.  We look forward to releasing more information as it become available.  We will continue to update you throughout the production right up through the film's premier (fingers crossed that one of our local theaters hosts it's own premier).