Food

November 28, 2021

Giving Tuesday in New Jersey

It is no surprise to anyone that COVID-19 has affected everyone in the Garden State. Some people lost their jobs. Some people lost their businesses. Some lost their lives. Many non-profits in the state lost important funding from private donors, as so many were barely able to feed their families and keep a roof over… Continue reading

Arts, Cape May County, Conservation, Food, History, Morris County, New Jersey, Non-Profits, Outdoors, Pine Barrens, Preservation, Sussex County

Charity Navigator, Community Foundation of New Jersey, Conserve Wildlife Foundation, Giving Tuesday, Italian American One Voice Coalition, JBWS, Jersey Battered Women's Shelter, Morristown, Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, New Jersey, Peters Valley, Salvation Army
August 1, 2021

The End of an Era: The Fireplace

Over the last year or so, New Jersey has seen many wonderful businesses close for good. Last year I shared my memories of Rosebud’s in Belleville, which closed forever. The independently-owned pharmacy I used for over a decade closed earlier this year. Now, I am sad to share the news of another closure; The Fireplace… Continue reading

Bergen County, Food, New Jersey

New Jersey, shop small, Small Business
March 22, 2021

Java Joe’s and Beanbury: Two Sides of the Same Coin

When we moved to Ledgewood a few years ago, we did what many other people do; look for new places like the nearby diner, church, and coffee shop to name a few. My new favorite coffee spot became Java Joe’s. Great bagels, awesome turkey chili, and iced coffee complete with coffee iced cubes. They were… Continue reading

Food, Morris County

Beanbury, Java Joe's
November 9, 2020

End of an Era: Rosebud’s

Being allowed to walk home from school by yourself if a big step when you are a kid. For me it was around fourth grade. After crossing Passaic Ave. from School 7, I would regularly stop at what was known as Rosebud’s Sweet Shop for penny candy and Swedish Fish (the big ones, separated by… Continue reading

Essex County, Food, History, Jersey Icon, New Jersey

Michael's Roscommon, Rosebud's, School 7
August 15, 2020

Gardens in the Garden State

It is safe to say this has been a tough year for everyone. Cut off from our families, friends, and our normal routines, many have decided to take on new challenges during this time. Many are turning to what I refer to as “analog hobbies;” meaning things we can do that do not involve technology.… Continue reading

Essex County, Food, Morris County, Outdoors

Community Gardens, Denville, Garden State, Newark
May 24, 2020

The Official Jersey Bucket List

As we all continue to wait to be paroled from Coronavirus jail, many of us are making plans of what we would like to do once we are free to go anywhere and do anything. Well, this had me start to make a “Jersey bucket list;” all the things Jersey-related someone should do at some… Continue reading

Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, Cape May County, Conservation, Cumberland County, Exploring, Food, History, Morris County, New Jersey, Ocean County, Outdoors, Pine Barrens, Preservation, Shopping, Sussex County

Appalachian Trail, Atlantic City, Brook Trout, Cape May, cape may diamond, Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, fly fishing, High Point, Hirams, Hot Grill, Morristown, Morristown National Historical Park, Rutts Hut, Seaside Heights, The Belmont, The Midway, The Pine Barrens
March 17, 2020

Five Tips to Surviving Coronavirus – Jersey Style

So we’ve all been hearing about the expansion of the Coronavirus around the world on a minute-by-minute basis. A lot of people are in quarantine – either by choice or government mandate; others are following curfews. We are all social distancing and every school in New Jersey has been switched to remote learning. For the… Continue reading

Exploring, Food, Jersey Icon, Morris County, New Jersey, Outdoors, Passaic County, Sussex County

Angry Erik, Cop Land, Eddie & the Cruisers, Garden State, Harold & Kumar, Jefferson Diner, Morris County Parks, Roxbury Diner, The Sopranos, Tick Tock
September 21, 2019

Fall Festivals: Jersey Style

Many people look forward to fall. The turning of the leaves. Picking pumpkins. Apple cider donuts. It helps make the thought of the cold winter on the way much more tolerable. As a child, I fondly remember going to Van Ryper Farms in Woodcliff Lake, carefully passing the scary witch, to pick the perfect family… Continue reading

Burlington County, Cape May County, Essex County, Exploring, Festivals, Food, Union County
August 10, 2018

Remembering the Haunts of my Youth

Don’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you’ve got til its gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot We all have favorite places from our youth. For me there were several. One favorite of mine was Mickey Music – a record store. One of my high school jobs… Continue reading

Essex County, Food, Jersey Icon, New Jersey

Belleville, Jackie’s Lemon Ice, Mickey Music, Muscara Music
November 24, 2016

New Jersey and the Cranberry

As I have always said, New Jersey has many things to offer. One wonderful taste of Jersey is the cranberry. New Jersey is the third largest cranberry producer in the nation, behind Wisconsin and Massachusetts. Agricultural cooperative, Ocean Spray, was founded by three growers in 1930, two from Massachusetts and one from New Jersey. Ocean… Continue reading

Food, History, Pine Barrens

cranberries, New Jersey, Ocean Spray, Pine Barrens, Thanksgiving