Author: ftowner

Categories
New Jersey Websites

Monmouth County July 4th

Fireworks for the 4th

This is an archived page from our New Jersey website. Some of this information from 2015 might be useful to you. Today we are updating our Fourth of July fireworks feature for Monmouth County for 2015.


We’ve put more hours into our 4th of July pages this year than we ever have before and we’ve learned a lot. We never realized how many little towns in Monmouth County stage their own fireworks displays. We hope to get to as many fireworks displays in Monmouth County as we can this year so be on the lookout for us. Enjoy this feature devoted to One of the Best Places to Live in New Jersey: Monmouth County.

Asbury Park 4th of July Parade & Fireworks, Wednesday, July 4, 2015

Asbury Park will celebrate the 4th on the 4th! The day starts with a patriotic parade at 1:00 PM that starts on Grand Avenue and ends at the beach. After the parade, you can ride the rides at Bradley Park till 9:00 PM. The fireworks will start at 2nd and 4th Avenue at the beach at about 9:00 PM.
Fireworks & More in Asbury Park
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Atlantic Highlands Fireman’s Fair & Fireworks

The 2015 Atlantic Highlands Fireman’s Fair opens on June 30th and runs through July 4th. The fair, sponsored by the Atlantic Highlands Fire Department, is held at the Municipal Harbor on Simon Lake Drive. The fireworks will be staged on Friday, July 4, 2015, at dusk. If you are a photographer and you want to get good shots of the fireworks here, I suggest you contact the Harbor Office and make plans well ahead of the event or get in touch with someone that has a boat in the harbor. I was chased out of every good shot I had 3 times last year.
Families can pay one price for admission and enjoy all the fair rides and the concerts on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights. The fair features twelve games of chance and carnival rides. Tickets for the rides can be purchased separately. There will be concerts every night of the fair and local food vendors.
For more information, see the Fireman’s Fair & Fireworks info on our NJ Events Calendar Listing.
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Bradley Beach 4th of July Fireworks on the Beach, Friday, July 3, 2015:

Bradley Beach will celebrate Independence day on Friday, July 3rd with music and fireworks. The rain date is Sunday, July 5th. Earlier in the day you can check out the Jack Wright Ocean Mile Swim at 9:30 in the morning at Kent Avenue Beach.
For more information see the Bradley Beach web site.
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Colts Neck Country Fair, August 20 – August 23, 2015:

The Colts Neck Country Fair is a unique event that is held every year. There will be rides, games, and inflatables for the kids, an American Pie contest, crafts and food vendors. At the close of the fair on Sunday there will be a fireworks display at about 10:00 PM.
See the Colts Neck Fair web site.

Freehold Concert & Fireworks, Saturday, July 4, 2015:

The borough of Freehold will celebrate the 4th at Freehold Raceway on Park Avenue. The festivities begin on Saturday, July 4, 2015 at 5:30 PM with music that is yet to be announced. The event draws over 20,000 people each year. The event has a community picnic feel to it. The fireworks are scheduled to begin at dusk. The gates open at 5:30 for local families to get a good seat for the concert and the fireworks. The fair is held at Bucks Mill Park located at 105 Bucks Mill Road.
For more information on the event, see the Downtown Freehold website.
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Hazlet Township Fireworks: Sunday, July 5, 2015:

The Hazlet Township Fireworks will be held at Veterans Park at dusk. The rain date for the fireworks is Monday, July 6, 2015.
Get more information on Hazlet Township here.
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Keansburg Fireworks, Friday & Saturday, July 3 &  4, 2015:

Keansburg Amusement Park will stage fireworks displays on the 3rd and the 4th at dusk at the Fishing Pier and Boardwalk Avenue.
Get more information on the fireworks here.
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Lakewood Fireworks, Saturday, July 4, 2015:

The Lakewood BlueClaws will stage a fireworks display after their game on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The stadium is located at 2 Stadium Way in Lakewood.
Get more information on the Lakewood New Jersey fireworks here.
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Long Branch: Oceanfest, Saturday, July 4, 2015

This annual Fourth of July tradition is a free, family-oriented festival, which attracts both local residents and visitors from throughout the region. The event takes place along a half-mile stretch of the oceanfront promenade between Seven Presidents Park and the Ocean Place Resort and Spa. Activities will include master sand sculpting exhibits on the beach, strolling entertainers, live music of every imaginable type, food vendors, craft vendors, and lots of activities for children. The fun-filled daytime activities offer a great prelude to a spectacular fireworks display. You might want to consider staying at the marvelous modern Bungalow Hotel that’s a few steps away from the festivities. We were there this past month and it is a great destination! Also, be sure and grab a goodie at Cake Bake & Roll on the corner. [Long Branch-Monmouth County-Central Jersey]
More information @ BestofNJ.com’s Oceanfest page
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Manasquan Fourth of July Decorating Contest, Parade & Fireworks, Saturday, July 4, 2015:

Manasquan will hold its independence day celebration this year on July 4th. It all begins at 5:15 PM with a bicycle decorating contest at the Little League Field. At 6:30 PM there will be a 4th of July parade at the Manasquan Coast Guard Station. At 7:30 there will be a concert with Billy Lawlor at the Main Beach. The day concludes with a fireworks display at dusk. The festivities are sponsored by the Manasquan Tourism Commission.
More information @ the Manasquan website
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Ocean Grove Independence Day Concert, Saturday, July 4, 2015

The Ocean Grove Independence Day Concert will be held on, Saturday, July 4 from 8:00 to 9:30 PM at the Great Tabernacle in Ocean Grove at 22 Pilgrim Pathway. The Ocean Grover Summer Band directed by Harry Eichhorn will perform show tunes and patriotic songs.
Get more information on the concert on the band’s Facebook page.
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Ocean Township Fourth of July Celebration & Fireworks, Saturday, July 4, 2015

The Ocean Township 4th of July celebration will be held at Joe Palaia Park at Whalepond and Deal Roads in Oakhurst on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The park opens at 6:00 for the community to get together and have picnics and visit each other. The fireworks will start at dusk. .
Get more information on the township and the celebration here.
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Wall Township: Wall Fair, Firecracker Five Run & Fireworks,  July 4, 2015

 

Get more information on the community @ http://www.wallnj.com/
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West Long Branch Fireworks, Saturday, July 4, 2015:

West Long Branch is staging their fireworks display on the 4th. The celebration begins at 7:00 PM with a concert by Greaseband and the fireworks go off sometime after 9:00.
For more information, see the West Long Branch website here.

Categories
New Jersey Websites

LBI & Ocean County July 4th

For years, I created a guide to fireworks in my local area. That continues today. It is a lot of work but it draws a lot of traffic. Here is a feature that was written a few years back for Long Beach Island and Ocean County, New Jersey. Please note, the contact information and the dates shown in this story are not up to date.

Ocean County has more July 4th celebrations than any county in the state. I’ve updated all of the information, and I think I got everything right. If you see, I missed it or have something to add, please leave me a comment below.

Barnegat Light July 4th Concert, Awards Ceremony & Parade, Sunday, July 1, 2012:

The Barnegat Light Fourth of July Parade will take place on Sunday, July 1, 2012. It will begin at 6:30 pm, starting at 16th Street. There will be an awards ceremony and a concert to follow at the bay dock area between 9th & 10th Street. The show will feature the Liberty Band. The concert will be in the Firehouse Social Hall on 10th and Central Boulevard in case of rain. If you need more information, you can call 609-494-9196

More information about Barnegat Light activities here.

Barnegat Township Concert & Fireworks, Wednesday, July 4, 2012:

Barnegat Township will hold its Independence Day Concert and Fireworks on Wednesday, July 4, at the Municipal Dock on East Bay Avenue. The celebration and the concert will begin at 7:30 pm, and the Fireworks will start at dusk.

More information about Barnegat Township happenings here.

Beach Haven Fireworks over the Bay, 2012 Fireworks info not available yet:

Beach Haven will stage their fireworks display over Tuckerton Bay on Monday, July 4, 2011, at around 9:00 pm. The fireworks start at Taylor Avenue and the Bay. The rain date for the fireworks is Tuesday, July 5, 2011. On July 4, the community Concert on the Green will feature jazz music by Howard Isaacson at Veterans Bicentennial Park, located at Engleside and Beach Avenues.

More information about Beach Haven here.

Beachwood, Toms River & River Towns, Wednesday, July 4, 2012:

Beachwood is famous for its fireworks displays in South Jersey. This year they will be staging their extravaganza on July 4, 2012, at 8:00 pm at the Bayside Avenue beachfront. Their fireworks are seen for miles all along the river and the bay. For further information contact 732-286-6000, ext. 200

More information on Beachwood here.

Berkeley Concert & Fireworks, Wednesday, June 27, 2012:

Berkeley celebrates differently, as their big event falls a little before or after the main holiday. On Wednesday, June 27, at 6:00 pm, there’s a concert featuring Big Shot, a Billy Joel Tribute Band, and fireworks after the show.

Find out more about Berkeley and its celebration here.

Brick Township Summerfest & Fireworks, Thursday, July 5, 2012:

Brick will celebrate Summerfest on Thursday, June 30, 2011, with a concert by Separate Ways, The Ultimate Journey Show, at 7:00 pm. The fireworks extravaganza follows at 9:00 pm at Windward Beach Park.

Get more information on the Brick here.

Harvey Cedars Craft Day by the Bay, Saturday, July 7, 2012:

Harvey Cedars opens their 22nd annual craft show on July 7 at Sunset Park on West Salem Avenue on LBI. The show runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is free. This year there will be food available from the Barnegat Light First Aid Squad.

Get more information on Harvey Cedars here.

Lakehurst Independence Day Car Show, Parade & Fireworks, Monday, July 4, 2011:

Lakehurst’s fireworks were on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. There will also be a full day of activities in town. The top-rated car show will start at 9:00 am and run till 3:00 pm. There will be a patriotic parade at 11:00 am, and the fireworks will take place at dusk. You can get more info from the borough office @ 732-657-4141.

Get more information on Lakehurst here.

Lakewood Fireworks Extravaganza,  Sunday, July 3, 2011: 2012 Fireworks Information not available yet

Lakewood will hold its fireworks display on Sunday, July 3, 2011, at Lake Carasaljo. The fireworks will start at about 9:15 pm. You can view the fireworks from almost any place along the edge of the lake on North and South Lake Drive.

Get more information on Lakewood here.

Lavallette July 4th Concert & Fireworks, Sunday, July 1, 2012:

Lavalette will hold their annual concert and fireworks on Sunday, July 1, at the Centennial Gardens & Gazebo at Bay Boulevard and Philadelphia Avenue. The concert starts at 7:00 pm, and the fireworks go off at dusk (about 9:00 pm).

For more information on Lavallette, go here.

Manchester Township Independence Day Celebration, Saturday, June 30, 2012:

Manchester will hold its annual Independence Day concert on Saturday, June 30, 2012, beginning at 5:00 pm with Townsquare Media (WOBM). Free shuttle service will be available from the Municipal parking lot, Bowker Field parking lot, and senior villages (main clubhouse). Please call 657-8121, ext. 5102 or 5101 for bus schedule information.

Get more information on Manchester and their celebration here.

Fireworks Photo by John Stringfellow


Pine Beach Independence Day Parade: Date Unknown:

The Pine Beach parade information is not published yet on the town website. There is a notice that they require help getting things organized for the day.

Get more information on Pine Beach here.

Plumsted Township Rockin’ Fireworks Concert, Saturday, June 30, 2012:

Plumstead Township and the New Egypt Elks Lodge will present their 12th annual Rockin’ Fireworks Concert at the New Egypt Athletic Fields at 121 Evergreen Road. The celebration begins at 2:00 in the afternoon, and the fireworks go off at dusk. This event features professional entertainment, artists, and creative people from near and far and food, beverages, games, and other attractions in an open country setting. There will be multiple bands playing all day, carnival rides, crafts, and food vendors. For more information, you can call Al Hutchins at 609-758-3005. One of the events that I attended last year is one of my favorites. There are acres and acres of open land around the athletic fields. There’s lots of room for the kids to play and lots for the family to do.

For more information, see the Elks Lodge site here.

Point Pleasant Beach Fireworks, 2012 Fireworks information not available yet:

Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant ?? will present ?? fireworks display on the beach at dusk to celebrate Independence Day.

For more information, see Jenskinson’s website.

Seaside Heights July 4 Fireworks, Wednesday, July 4, 2012:

Seaside Heights will stage its fireworks on the oceanfront and boardwalk at 9:30 am. There are fireworks scheduled almost every Wednesday night from June 27 to August 29.

For more information, see the Seaside Heights site.

Tuckerton Borough 4th of July Parade & Fireworks, Wednesday, July 4, 2012:

The Borough of Tuckerton will present their annual 4th of July Parade at 10:00 am, starting at the Village Shops. There will be activities all day long at the Seaport and fireworks at Tip Seaman Park at dusk. Last year there was a Baby Parade, but I do not know if they are continuing that from last year. Tuckerton Seaport will host the Red, Wine, and Blues Festival on Saturday, June 30, from 3 to 8 pm. This year is the 10th year for the festival. Billed as the perfect afternoon of wine tasting from New Jersey’s finest wineries plus live blues music, it also features crafters, vendors, food, boat rides, a traditional pie bake-off contest, and more. With your ticket purchase, you get a complimentary souvenir Seaport wine glass.

For more information, see the Tuckerton website here.

Categories
Frenchtown Hunterdon County New Jersey Websites

Derewal: Poison & Treasure

A few steps south of Frenchtown in Kingwood Township is a new nature preserve located on the site of the former DeRewal Chemical Company. The site transformation came about in 1996 when the site was designated a Superfund Cleanup Site.


The story of this site is one of irony that seems too strange to be true. As excavation began to remove the toxic substances on the site, the treasure was found under the poison of corporate irresponsibility and maleficence. This treasure provided concrete evidence of the ancient Lenape history of Frenchtown and Kingwood Township NJ.

Frenchtown NJ Superfund Site Archaeology

Above, is pictured a path in Frenchtown NJ near the Delaware River near the site of our story.


It was quite by accident that Frenchtown and Kingwood Township NJ learned just how old they are. In 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency came to an old chemical company site in Kingwood Township, just one-fifth of a mile beyond the city limits of Frenchtown. They were here to instigate a Superfund Site toxic waste removal project. As part of standard EPA procedures, a cultural resources survey was done to insure that the excavation of the site would not harm any historical or archaeological artifacts.


It was discovered that indeed there was a site in this location near the creeks of substantial importance in New Jersey Archaeology. In 1996, a group of archaeologists and geologists came to Hunterdon County to begin their expedition to unearth this hidden history.


The expedition stretched out over a period of several years and by 1999, over 3,000 artifacts had been found, some dating back to 841 BC or earlier. They included ceramics, stone tools, and food remains. This site is now referred to as the DeRewal Prehistoric Site, named after the DeRewal Chemical Company. The land that is now Frenchtown NJ, Kingwood Township, and Alexandria Township has a history that stretches back over 2,800 years to when the Lenape and their ancestor tribes were making tools, hunting, using pottery, cooking, and living on this land next to the Delaware River.


The artifacts were originally turned over to the State of New Jersey and then passed along to Kingwood Township. This treasure of Lenape archaeology resides now in the offices of the Kingwood Township Building that are located a few miles west of Frenchtown NJ and just north of Baptistown NJ near the intersections of Route 12 and 519 in Hunterdon County.


A report of their findings on the site is available from the Archaeological Society of New Jersey, published in 1999, Bulletin #54, written by Ian Burrow, Donald Thieme, William Liebeknecht, and Joseph Schuldenrein.


Be sure and see our Main Frenchtown NJ Lenni-Lenape Page for information about this proud Native American tribe that loved this land. On that page, you will find links to Lenape/Delaware informational sites to learn more about their religion, creation myth, culture, dress, pow-wows, and history.

Categories
Frenchtown New Jersey

B.I.G. Comes Home

B.I.G. Comes Home: The Odd Fellows Field of Weeds and Dreams

B. I. G. Burgeoning Inevitable Gentrification

This story was written in 2010. The photo below shows a recently acquired property in Frenchtown NJ. This “spot of green” between the Odd Fellows Building and the Frenchtown Inn on Bridge Street, once housed a charming old Victorian Home that burned down sometime in the late 1950′s or 60′s. The lot has been sitting vacant and unused for decades. In a beautiful little community like ours, this field of weeds was a field of dreams to me. Somehow, I always wanted to see LIFE there in some form, whether that be cultural, business, or some attempt at cultivated nature. In the short article below I detail some of my ideas.

First idea: The Mallet-Prevost Memorial Park. If we the citizens of Frenchtown were going to have a big empty lot in the middle of the business district, why couldn’t it be purchased by the town and made into a proper park, unlike the poor excuse for a park that we have hidden off of Kingwood Avenue? At least it could become a wildflower preserve if nothing else with some great old tree plantings and walkways. Of course, it would be named after Mallet because his history is such a fascinating one, and one that is not memorialized anywhere but in our “misnamed” name.

Frenchtown New Jersey empty field that became the Field of Dreams (commercial and residential space in the years since this story was written.


Second idea: Borough of Frenchtown Parking Lot. In the late 1990′s I owned a store in town, and it was clearly evident every weekend that this little town had a huge parking problem. This problem has only gotten worse with the recent growth in the retail trade and with our popular new restaurants. It would truly be a sin however if this entire property became a huge expanse of ugly black tar. If some smart developer can work a paid parking lot into his or her plans, the town would benefit greatly.


Third idea: With the help of a major corporate sponsor, the site is large enough to become The Delaware River Museum of Art and History. I have thought for decades now that the area needs a good local repository for our history and our culture. Frenchtown in many ways needs an institution. This grand idea is one of my pie-in-the-sky dreams for my little town that I know will never come true.


According to town rumors, the property is sold, and plans are already in the works for a mixed commercial residential development that will greatly change the nature of the site and of French Town itself.


Another site and the plans of redevelopment for it dwarf this project to make it seem insignificant.

The Riegel Field of Metal, Asphalt, and Transformers


The former Riegel Paper Company property, located in Alexandria Township and Milford borough, just north of Frenchtown has been purchased by Oneill Properties of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.


Oneill properties have a history of transforming abandoned industrial money-pit properties into thriving residential and commercial pieces of real estate. I think that Frenchtown, Milford, and Alexandria Township are exceptionally lucky to have such a company willing to invest millions of dollars to remove an environmental and aesthetic monster from the landscape.


In their announced preliminary plans, they laid out a proposal for some 800 new homes on the property and an almost complete destruction of all the existing buildings. According to the Del-Val News, local officials were shocked and dismayed at what the corporation proposed.
My concern here is that if local officials give this well-respected company too much grief, they will just sell off the property to someone with less credibility and funding. I am not saying that this property could actually hold those 800 homes, and I know that the local roads and schools would be sorely taxed to handle this new influx of families, but some smaller but still ambitious plans should be possible for this site that sorely needs help. It is not like some of the developments popping up throughout Hunterdon County that are eating up precious green space and the open land that gives our county its charm and unique flavor. This plan would take a ghost factory and infuse it with life and if done correctly restore some of the natural beauty of this property that lies right along the Delaware River.

Categories
New Jersey

Thanksgiving in New Jersey

This story was originally published on our very popular New Jersey site. That site has changed tremendously and serves other functions today. These handcrafted stories still have value and we are publishing them on their new website home on Go2.guide.

My mother wasn’t much of a cook, so when Thanksgiving came around, we all looked forward to going to Grandma’s house for dinner. Mom would make a couple of her box-top recipe dishes she was famous for, the green bean casserole and her sweet potatoes with marshmallows and Karo Syrup. Every branch of the family would bring a few dishes, so by the time it was all assembled, we had about 10 times more than we needed. Mom’s dishes fit right in with this huge strange family feast. Today, I’d give anything to have Mom and her box-top recipes back for just one more Thanksgiving at Grandma’s.

Here are some events you might want to check out after you get back from your own Grandma’s house on this 48th weekend of the year. In North Jersey, there’s Cinematic Titanic in Newark on Saturday and Nunsense in Chester all weekend. In Central Jersey, the Nutcrackers in Manasquan, the Messiahs in Princeton, and a Santa’s Coming Out in Trenton. In South Jersey, The Pier Shops are open on Thanksgiving Day and the Little Prince opens on Friday at Cape May Stage.

In every region of the state, Christmas Tree Farms will be open for their first big weekend of the season starting on Friday morning. Be sure and check them out in our tree farm guide for Jersey.

Thanksgiving Weekend in North Jersey:

Christmas In The Ballantine House
NEWARK – Enliven the holiday spirit and step back in time to 1891 for a traditional Victorian Christmas at the Newark Museum’s annual exhibition, Christmas in the Ballantine House: Feasting with Family and Friends, on view from Friday, November 26 through January 2, 2011. Daily tours of the Ballantine House will run throughout December at 2 pm.

Cinematic Titanic
NEWARK – Cinematic Titanic will be performed on Saturday, November 27 at 6:30 & 9:30 at the Victoria Theater of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Remember television’s Mystery Science Theatre 3,000 (MST3K) with Crow, Dr. Forrester, and Tom Servo? Now, the creator and original cast of MST3K bring their masterful movie riffing LIVE to NJPAC, featuring the same team that first brought the cult classic to life: MST3K creators Joel Hodgson and more.

Gustav Stickley Exhibition
NEWARK – Gustav Stickley and the American Arts & Crafts Movement, the first nationally touring exhibition to offer a comprehensive examination of the work of Gustav Stickley, considered by many to be the patriarch of the movement, will have its premiere at the Newark Museum, September 15. Organized by the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA), the exhibition examines Stickley’s contributions to the American Arts and Crafts movement during the most productive time of his life.

Nunsense the Musical
CHESTER – A hilarious musical you won’t want to miss!  Nunsense begins when the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and they are in dire need of funds for the burials. The sisters decide that the best way to raise money is to put on a variety show, so they take over the school auditorium.

Thanksgiving Weekend in Central Jersey:

Focus On Fiber Art Holiday Reception
FRENCHTOWN – Focus On Fiber Art, a new gallery dedicated to promoting fiber and textile art and artists is ending the year with a holiday reception To Everything There Is A Season, on Saturday, November 27th between 4 and 8 pm. Owner and resident artist, Elena Stokes, a quilt artist as well as a fiber artist, opened the gallery in May of this year. The reception will celebrate the successful first year of the gallery as well as give thanks to all the loyal customers.

Santa is Coming Out
TRENTON – A Passage Theatre favorite, Jeffery Solomon (MotherSon) returns to Trenton’s Mill Hill Playhouse with his hilarious, clever, and endearing new one-man comedy Santa Claus is Coming Out, directed by Joe Brancato. This special event will be on stage for two performances only on Saturday, November 27 at 8 pm and Sunday, November 28 at 3 pm. Developed at Penguin Rep Theatre, Santa Claus is Coming Out, is a theatrical mock-u-mentary.

Festival of Trees
CLINTON – Begin a new family tradition by joining us for this year’s Festival of Trees with hot cider, music, lights, and ornaments galore! This event showcases a collection of beautifully decorated Christmas trees and wreaths and is a wonderful kick-off to the holiday season.  Trees and wreaths decorated by local individuals, organizations, and businesses will be on display and up for auction.

Celebrating Our Diversity
EAST BRUNSWICK – The East Brunswick Museum Corporation presents its 2010 Holiday Display – “Celebrating Our Diversity”.   Local organizations have been invited to participate in decorating a tree or Museum case.   The exhibit will open with a public reception on Sunday, November 28, 2010, from 1-4 pm and will remain on display through January 10, 2011.

Handel’s Messiah
PRINCETON – Nassau Presbyterian Church invites the public to hear some of the most beloved words and music from Part One of Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah, sung by a choir and soloist from Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church and Nassau Presbyterian Church, accompanied by a community orchestra of members and friends of both churches. The soloist will include Beverly Owens, soprano; Carlensha Bethea Grady, soprano; Carol Fagundus, mezzo-soprano; Nerissa Thompson, mezzo, and more.

Categories
New Jersey

Halloween Weekend Guide for Jersey

This story has moved to Go2! Originally published on our much acclaimed New Jersey site, it now lives here as a guide to the type of celebrations that you can enjoy in the garden state for Halloween. There are bound to be some of these events still going on strong after all these years and others that aren’t around anymore.

My friend Anne told me a ghost story this week. In Upper Black Eddy there used to be this woman named Witchy Walberg. She’d moved out here from the city and bought an old house on a mountaintop after she’d gotten rich selling a tool that made the perfect pie crust. She built a tower onto the house to look out over the valley and the river in the distance. On the weekends she’d invite friends out to take ghost tours of her haunted house. Her neighbors thought this was quite funny. They’d lived there their entire lives and never heard anything about any ghosts. They said that she must have brought the ghosts with her when she moved in. They loved to make fun of her and one night Charlie Potter decided to get these old ghost hunters good. He took some scissors, cut two holes in a sheet, threw it over his head and hopped on his motorcycle, and rode up and down the road in front of the crowd. The next day Charlie overheard somebody saying that the ghost hunters had thought that he was part of the show.


You too can be part of the show this weekend in a Halloween parade or costume contest near you. Here’s my bewitching forecast for the fifth weekend of October of 2010, the 44th weekend of the year. In North Jersey, there’s a Day of the Dead Party at the Newark Museum, a spooky celebration for the kids at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, and a wacky pumpkin catapult competition in Belvidere. In Central Jersey, there’s a $5,000.00 costume contest and Circus of Hell Party in Asbury Park, a walk through Riverside Cemetery in Clinton, and a Live Dead concert in Red Bank. In South Jersey, there’s a $20,000.00 costume contest at the Borgata, a War of the Worlds event in Cape May, and the second largest Halloween parade in the world is held in Toms River on Saturday night.


The events are listed below by region with a little more detail and a link to the main event listing page. You can now bookmark our This Weekend in New Jersey Page so that you can come back and get the updates for every weekend in the same place. 

Halloween Weekend in North Jersey:

Last Fling Pumpkin Sling – October 30 and 31, Belvidere, Warren County

BELVIDERE – Sponsored by the Highlands Tourism Partnership, the Last Fling Pumpkin Sling will encourage students in junior high, high school, or involved in civic groups to build a catapult or trebuchet that can sling a pumpkin. The project will be a collaboration of brain and brawn as students work together as a team. The teams will come together to compete on October 30 & 31, 2010 at Hensler Farms on Route 519 just outside of Belvidere, NJ.

Morris Museum, Halloween Family Festival, Saturday, Morristown, Morris County

MORRISTOWN – Enjoy a day of spooky fun for the entire family at the Morris Museum’s Halloween Family Festival on Saturday, October 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. The cost for the festival is $7/child, $10/adult (free for museum members), which includes admission to the museum and a 1 p.m. show of the …

Pumpkin Land Festival, Friday, Saturday, Vernon, Sussex County

VERNON – Ten acres of fun await you at the 2010 Pumpkin Land Festival in Vernon, New Jersey. The festival runs from September 18th to  October 31st,  including Columbus Day. The festival begins with a hayride to the pumpkin patch along the scenic countryside showcasing the rich history and the beautiful landscape of the Vernon Valley. After the hayride you …

Dia De Los Muertos, Day Of The Dead, Saturday, Newark, Essex County

NEWARK – Celebrate with friends and family the age-old customs of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at the Newark Museum on Saturday, October 30, from 12:30 pm -4:30 pm.  Be part of this exciting Latino Heritage Festival on a fun-filled day to honor the spirit and rich cultural heritage of generations gone before with live music and dance, gallery tours, and more

Chester Halloween Costume Contest and Parade, Sunday, Chester

CHESTER – Chester’s Annual Halloween Costume Contest and Parade will be held on Halloween, Sunday, October 31st, 2010 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Does your little monster have a fang-tastic costume?  If so, Historic Chester invites you to join their Annual Halloween Costume Contest and Parade. Trick or Treating throughout Downtown Chester will begin at 2:00 pm.  The parade line-up will begin at 4:30 pm at …

Haunted Acres Hayride, Friday, Saturday, Vernon, Sussex County

VERNON: At day’s end, the tormented spirits of forgotten villagers rise out of the darkness along the Haunted Acres Hayride every Friday and Saturday night. The horror-filled hayride travels through an abandoned village hidden along trails through overgrown cornfields and woods. The evil and troubled ghost of a young girl leads the hayride into the eerie and gruesome undertakings …

Spooktacular, Friday and Saturday, Halloween at the Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, Hudson County

JERSEY CITY – For a creepy Halloween treat, check out Liberty Science Center’s “Things That go Bump in the Night” Spooktacular, featuring classic monsters on October 29th and 30th from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Let your imagination run wild just before Halloween!  Teens and adults will thrill to the fearsome factors in a dark and dangerous maze where “things go bump in the night,” and then see hair-raising live science shows, electrifying entertainers, and creepy costumed …

Halloween Weekend in Central Jersey:

Halloween Pumpkin Path, Haunted House, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Warren Somerset County

WARREN – The Wagner Farm Arboretum will host a Brite Nites Halloween Event on two consecutive weekends: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 22, 23, 24, and 29, 30, and 31. The event will feature a Pumpkin Path and Haunted House Showcase.  This first-of-its-kind event, Brite Nites will consist of a pumpkin path that wanders through the fields and gardens …

$5,000.00 Halloween Costume Contest and Circus of Hell Party Saturday, Asbury Park, Monmouth County

ASBURY PARK – Pyramid Productions brings one of the biggest and scariest Halloween parties in Asbury Park every year with past parties including “the Halloween Block Party in 2008 and the Shining at the Berkeley in 2009. This year’s party titled the Circus of Hell is sure to be the biggest to date that the city has seen in decades. Hosted at the Convention Hall on October 30, this event will raise the deceased as it awards over $5000.00 in costume and cash prizes. “This year’s party is not your ordinary …

Halloween at the State Theatre Trick or Treat – Friday – New Brunswick – Middlesex County

NEW BRUNSWICK – On Halloween, the State Theatre presents Leo Lionni’s Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch performed by the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia on Sunday, October 31, 2010, at 11 am. Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia transforms three of Leo Lionni’s Caldecott Honor books into an enchanting theatrical experience for kids. Also, parents and kids can kick off …

Live Dead – Recreation of Grateful Dead Songs – Saturday – Red Bank – Monmouth County 

RED BANK – In just 9 months of 1970, the Grateful Dead recorded and released their 4th and 5th studio albums, Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. Featuring 18 songs like “Uncle John’s Band,” “Casey Jones” “Box of Rain,” “Friend of the Devil,” “Sugar Magnolia,” “Ripple,” “Brokedown Palace,” and “Truckin’,” they fused rock, blues, bluegrass, folk and especially country music, changing the direction of the band, and popular music overall away from psychedelia toward a traditional …

Riverside Cemetery Walk – Saturday – Clinton – Hunterdon County

The Silent City: A Walk Through The Riverside Cemetery will be presented on October the 30th, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Once again mayor and town historian extraordinaire Allie McGaheran lends her expertise for an informative walking tour of two of Clinton’s most interesting cemeteries, the Riverside Cemetery and Clinton Presbyterian Church Cemetery located on Center Street in Clinton. Mrs. McGaheran will discuss the history of several notable local residents and historical dignitaries who have been …

Corn Maze and Cider Making at Howell Living History Farm – Saturday, Sunday – Titusville – Mercer County

TITUSVILLE – The Howell Living History Farm in Titusville will host two events this weekend: a corn maze and an apple cider-making demonstration.  The events are part of the farm’s extensive education program. There’s always something happening there. The apple cider-making demonstration features all the tools and methods required to make apple cider as well as apple …

Haunted Mill – Friday – Clinton – Hunterdon County

CLINTON — Covering over nine acres of haunted terrain, this bone-chilling fund-raiser benefits both the Red Mill Museum Village and the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department. This year’s event will take place on Friday and Saturday nights October 15, 16, 22, 23, and 29, from 6:30 pm to midnight, and is seeking community and business support to make this our biggest Halloween extravaganza ever. Talented helpers with any and all skills are in demand. Produced by Jennifer Frick and Roy … 

Brew & Chocolate – Sunday – Flemington – Hunterdon County

FLEMINGTON – Spirits of Brew & Chocolate will abound at Main Street Manor in Flemington, New Jersey, on Sunday, October 31, 2010, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.. With Halloween just around the corner, if you’re seeking some grown-up temptations for the witching hour, join us here at the Inn! Heart-pounding appetizers, potions made with local wine, and our favorite palm reader Joan will be available for readings from 3 or 4 until 5 pm…then our Main event begins! 

Halloween Weekend in South Jersey:

Toms River Halloween Parade – Saturday – Toms River – Ocean County

TOMS RIVER – The Toms River Halloween Parade is the second-largest Halloween parade in the world. The 73rd annual parade will be held Saturday, October 30th on Main Street. The parade, sponsored by the Toms River Volunteer Fire Company #1  draws as many as 100,000 visitors and 6,000 participants from all over South Jersey. It’s such a big …

$20,000.00 Halloween Costume Contest – Saturday –  Atlantic City – Atlantic County

ATLANTIC CITY – Celebrate Halloween at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and dress to win over $20,000 in prizes awarded to the best costumes of the weekend! Kick-start the holiday on Saturday, October 30th with Twilight star Kellan Lutz and continue the party on Sunday, October 31st with True Blood’s Joe Manganiello before dancing the night away on Monday, November 1st with the …

Tunes from the Crypt – Spooky Organ Music and Walking Ghost Tour – Friday – Salem – Salem County

SALEM —With Halloween fast approaching, the Salem County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the Salem County Arts Alliance are presenting an appropriately bone-chilling evening of entertainment for the whole family on Friday evening, October 29, 2010. “Tunes from the Crypt” features Joanne Koerber Owen at the …

Not SoOo Scary Halloween – Friday – Chesterfield – Burlington County

CHESTERFIELD – Join the staff at Fernbrook Farms Education Center on Friday, October 22 and 29, 2010 from 6:30-8:30 pm for our annual Not SoOo Scary Halloween event in Chesterfield, New Jersey. This is Fernbrook’s alternative to the haunted hayride and it is geared toward ages 10 and under for an exciting event to help younger ones enjoy the holiday. Bring the whole family to play some fun Halloween games and join us on a wagon ride around the farm to meet and learn about some fun spirits from …

Ghost Tour of Ocean City – Saturday – Ocean City – Cape May County

OCEAN CITY – Do you believe in ghosts? Push aside the cobwebs of Ocean City’s buried past and unearth bone-chilling tales of real haunted houses, true ghost stories, and where they buried the bodies! Join us for a Candlelight Walking Tour every Saturday at 8:00 pm through Halloween. Tours depart from 9th Street and Asbury Avenue in front of …

Cape May Halloween – Murder Mystery Dinners – Haunted Houses – Ghost Tours – Friday, Saturday, Sunday – Cape May – Cape May County

CAPE MAY — Discover what makes Victorian Cape May a hotbed for paranormal activity from Friday, October 15th through Sunday, October 31st. Seaside spirits take up residence in their favorite historic haunts, spooky sights, and sounds surround the City, and things are going bump in the night for more than two weeks. Embrace the other side of Cape May and get in the spirit of the season with Halloween-themed tours and events including ghost trolley tours, and spooky tours of Cape May’s original haunted house.

Ocean City Halloween Parade – October 29 – Ocean City – Cape May County

OCEAN CITY –  The 63rd annual Halloween Parade will take place on Thursday, October 28th beginning at 7:15 pm. The Ocean City Exchange Club, in conjunction with the City of Ocean City, organizes and sponsors the event. The parade, one of the longest-running of its kind in New Jersey, will march along Asbury Avenue from 6th to …

War of the Worlds in Cape May – Friday, Saturday – Cape May – Cape May County

CAPE MAY—Relive the most famous Halloween in New Jersey history when the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities and Shadow Stalkers turn back the clock to October 30th, 1938 for “Cape May’s War of the Worlds” from Friday, October 29th through Saturday, October the 30th. New in 2010, the Looking Glass Mystery Adventure Weekends are a series of nonstop, think-on-your-feet investigations into some very unusual crimes. “Cape May’s War of the Worlds” is the theme for the weekend-long …

Haunted Prison – Friday, Saturday – Mount Holly – Burlington County

MOUNT HOLLY – The Haunted Prison is a haunted attraction that is built within the massive courtyard of the Burlington County Prison Museum in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Yes, It is very scary! One of the scariest in the tri-state area. Excerpt from The Burlington County Prison Museum Website: The “dungeon” or maximum-security cell, was in the center of the top floor. That location was carefully chosen to prevent escape by digging, to minimize communication with criminals in the cell blocks, and to ensure constant surveillance by guards making rounds. This was the only cell without a fireplace. It is flanked by niches for guards or …

Halloween in the Wildwoods – Halloween Parade – Fair – Haunted House – The Wildwoods – Cape May County

THE WILDWOODS – Halloween in the Wildwoods kicks off on Thursday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m. with the 5th Annual Centennial Trunk or Treat hosted by the Wildwood Crest Recreation Department. The event consists of adults bringing their Halloween-decorated vehicles to the Wildwood Crest Pier parking lot at Heather Road and Ocean Avenue, where they will distribute candy from the trunks of their vehicles to children outfitted for Halloween. The event includes other Halloween-related activities, a DJ …

 

Categories
New Jersey

Valentines Day 2014

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Updated January 10, 2015: Valentine’s Weekend in New Jersey. This article is republished here as a guide to fine dining in New Jersey. Some of these restaurants are open and going strong and others have closed since we first published this piece. Please check to see if the places are still open. We know the prices today would be very different.


The weekend of love is here and we are getting our listings ready. We’ve given a few awards for the most intriguing, original, and economical ways to spend Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s weekend in our great state.


We showcase the Best of Jersey chocolatiers, wineries, concerts, events, and restaurants in the state. If you see something we missed just drop us a line. 

Best Valentine’s Day & Valentine’s Weekend Events

Here are our choices for the best ways to say I Love You for Valentine’s Day in New Jersey.

St. Valentine’s Day @ Nunzio, (Update 2/15/14, still taking reservations), $60.00, Collingswood: Nunzio is one of the best-reviewed restaurants in South Jersey. Chef Nunzio Patruno is featuring a delectable 3-course dinner for Valentine’s Day. It features grilled scallops, a Gorgonzola and pomegranate salad, a portobello and red beet terrine, veal chop Milanese, herb-crusted branzino filet, eggplant Parmesan, blueberry almond tartan, tiramisu, and profiteroles. 

The Walpack Inn Dinner, update 2/15/2014: Reservations and open tables available, $19.99, Wallpack Center: The Walpack Inn is featuring their $19.00 prime rib special for Valentine’s Day and their regular menu. They start seating at 5:00 p.m. You get your choice of potato or rice and the salad bar for one low price. Other items on the menu include a double cheese and onion soup, a teriyaki rib eye, filet mignon, bbq ribs, and a black raspberry ice cream pie. For Exceptional Value, the Walpack Inn gets our Best Valentine’s Value Award. Reserve by calling 973-948-3890.

Big Brew Beer Festival, (Update 2/15/14, still selling tickets), $50.00, Morristown Armory, Morristown, Saturday, February 15: No, this is not your typical Valentine’s Day event, but for the right man or woman who loves their beer and great food, it is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Chef Eric Levine from Morris Tap & Grill has a great VIP beer festival buffet package that you might want to check out. Get More Info

Tim McLoone’s Supper Club Dinner, (Update 2/15/14, lots of reservations showing now when everything was booked yesterday) $59.95, Asbury Park: Owner Tim McLoone is famous for his food and his music, but more than that he is famous for the goodness of his heart. It’s only appropriate that he gets the Best of Jersey Big Heart Award for Valentine’s Day. Tim’s Supper Club restaurant is featuring dinner and a concert on February 14th. The concert features Tim McLoone & the Shirleys and the dinner features treats like a Mexican chocolate soup with pasilla brûléed banana, raw almond milk, and cilantro, a lobster enchilada with mole Oaxaca, pecan & coconut fried rice, pickled vegetable salad, and queso cotija, lamb with gratin de chevre, shaved fennel, bitter chocolate demi glaze and jalapeno gelee, filet mignon with coconut fried oysters and a triple cream cheesecake. All the McLoone restaurants are offering slightly different special dinners for Valentine’s Day. The Supper Club will be serving the special menu all weekend long. Enjoy! Get More Info

Wine & Chocolate Weekend @ Alba Vineyard, (Update 2/15/14, still selling tickets), $20.00, Milford, Saturday & Sunday, February 8, 9 & 15, 16: Alba is sponsoring two weekends of great tastings to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Their award-winning wines will be paired with local chocolates, artisan cheeses, and dishes from local caterers. Featured will be: Dishes from Country Picnic of Bedminster and Dish Catering of Frenchtown, chocolates from chocolatier Diane Pinder of Donna & Company from Cranford, and cheeses from Fourchette of Clinton. Alba is located in the village of Finesville in Warren County on the border of Hunterdon County with a Milford mailing address. Get More Info

Princeton Salt Creek Grill, (Update 2/15/14, still taking reservations), $95.00 per couple, Friday, February 14: Salt Creek Grill is one of our favorite restaurants from 2013. We love the atmosphere, the food, and the service. The menu is modern and creative but not so far out there that you couldn’t take your parents. Their incredible 4-course dinner bargain for Valentine’s Day features dishes like a hummus trio, soup or salad, filet mignon with grilled shrimp, lobster tail, mesquite grilled pork chop, Mahi Mahi, and a chocolate torte for dessert. Reserve Now

Valentine’s Chamber Music Concert, (Update 2/15/14, still selling tickets), $20.00, Lambertville, Saturday, February 15: Riverside Symphonia is producing a special concert featuring the Sweet Plantain chamber quartet in the beautiful chapel of St. John the Evangelist in Lambertville. The group blends Latin rhythms, jazz improvisation and classical music for a unique sound. They will be playing selections from Haydn, Ravel, Romero, Paquito de Rivera, and more. The concert begins at 8:00 p.m. and tickets run $20.00 to $55.00 each. Get More Info

Dream Cuisine Cafe, (Update 2/15/14, almost sold out, early tables available), $65.00, Cherry Hill, Friday, February 14: Dream is an award-winning BYOB French restaurant with a laid-back atmosphere located in a strip mall. It is owned by Chef Vincent Fanari who has won awards from New Jersey Monthly, LocalEats.com, Open Table, and the James Beard Foundation. For Valentine’s Day, Chef will have a special 6-course menu for $65 per person. Get More Info

Best of Jersey Picks for Valentine’s Day in 2015

IndieBlue, (Update 2/15/14, Saturday and Sunday tables open), $50.00, Collingswood, Friday, February 14: Indie has a great deal for Valentine’s Day. They are offering a 4-course dinner with a complimentary rose and wine or strawberry lassi for one low price. Highlights of the dinner include hot & sour shrimp soup, crab samosa, artichokes with lemon and dried red chili, barbeque tandoori lamb chops, lobster macher malai, paneer bhurjee, cinnamon ice cream, and house-made chocolate truffles. Reserve Now

Eno Terra 4 Course Farm to Table Dinner, (Update 2/15/14, Saturday & Sunday tables available), $79.00, Kingston (Princeton), Friday, February 14: Terra is one of our choices for the most innovative restaurant in New Jersey at the moment and they have an incredible dinner planned for St. Valentine’s Day. Some highlights from the menu include the first course – Tuscan onion soup with sourdough crostini and Parmesan cheese, a fried oyster salad with octopus carpaccio, grilled romaine, and a smoked pepper aioli, the second course – three cheese agnolotti with butternut squash, Brussel sprout leaves, brown butter and speck, garganelli and Nantucket Bay scallops (with chervil, spinach, and champagne), third course – butter braised “Deadliest Catch” red king crab (with black-eyed peas, baby carrots, mache, and winter black truffle), grass-fed beef duo (grilled tri-tip, sirloin bronchiole, smashed potatoes, root vegetables, and mustard greens), fourth course – spiced donuts with hot chocolate and blueberry crumble with cinnamon ice cream. Eno Terra gets our award for Best of Jersey Valentine’s Day Dinner for Innovative Cuisine

Avenue Valentine’s Day Dinner, (Update 2/15/14, good tables available on Saturday & Sunday) $42.00, Long Branch, Friday, February 14: The trendy and upscale restaurant on the boardwalk in Long Branch has an incredible meal planned for the night. They are offering a 4 course exotic and elegant dinner for $42.00 per person. Highlights from this menu include mini steak tartare, beet salad, Jerusalem artichoke soup, American caviar, seared octopus, foie gras terrine (add $8), Barnegat Bay scallops (add $8), branzino, tournedos with filet mignon, Dauphinoise potato, Bordelaise (add $10) and a chocolate sampler.

A Toute Heure Valentine’s Day Dinner, (Update 2/15/14, very limited availability tonight only), $75.00, Cranford, Friday, February 14: A Toute Heure is an award-winning and exceptionally reviewed restaurant that serves new American cuisine with a commitment to local seasonal ingredients. They are featuring a 4-course prix fixe dinner for a great price. Menu highlights include fried oysters, a delicious sounding roast carrot soup with mirepoix, cilantro, tuna crudo, and root vegetable chips, braised collard greens with littleneck clams and ham hock croutons, a braised eye of round with white beans, escarole and fennel bread crumbs, black bass, toffee apple cake, and chocolate ravioli. They are also offering an a la carte dinner menu at their sister restaurant the 100 Steps Supper Club.

Restaurant Lorena’s, (Update 2/15/14, some tables available on Sunday), $95.00, Maplewood, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, February 14, 15, 16: Lorena’s is a tiny restaurant with a loyal following. Chef Humberto Campos is well known for his impeccable meals prepared with great attention to detail. Think of a Parisian bistro with 36 seats, that’s Lorena’s. For St. Valentine’s Day, they are featuring a 3-course dinner with such treats as oysters in Champagne mignonette, crab crepe with mushrooms and beurre blanc, Scottish salmon with braised red cabbage, Maine lobster, Atlantic skate wing with fennel, honey glazed duck breast with lentils, braised short rib with truffled baby vegetables, a dessert tasting, and petit fours.

 

Categories
New Jersey NJ Travel

Best Jersey Bets for Valentine’s Day

Photo by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels.com

This archive page was updated on February 3, 2014, and republished here on Go2. Some of these restaurants are still in business and going strong.

Valentine’s Day in New Jersey.

With the holiday falling on Friday this year, Valentine’s Day will be more like Valentine’s Weekend with many restaurants and hotels offering specials on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We showcase the Best Jersey chocolatiers, wineries, concerts, events, and restaurants in the state.
Our N.J. Valentine’s Day Guide has gotten so large that we’ve made some changes. The events are now listed by region on individual pages as we expand our coverage. This page features our top 10 list of the best events in the state. If you see something we missed just drop us a line.

Best Valentine’s Day & Valentine’s Weekend Events

Here are our choices for the best ways to say I Love You for Valentine’s Day in New Jersey.


Eno Terra 4 Course Farm to Table Dinner, $79.00, Kingston (Princeton), Friday, February 14: Terra is one of our choices for the most innovative restaurant in New Jersey at the moment and they have an incredible dinner planned for St. Valentine’s Day. Some highlights from the menu include the first course – Tuscan onion soup with sourdough crostini and Parmesan cheese, a fried oyster salad with octopus carpaccio, grilled romaine and a smoked pepper aioli, second course – three cheese agnolotti with butternut squash, Brussel sprout leaves, brown butter and speck, garganelli and Nantucket Bay scallops (with chervil, spinach, and champagne), third course – butter braised “Deadliest Catch” red king crab (with black-eyed peas, baby carrots, mache, and winter black truffle), grass-fed beef duo (grilled tri-tip, sirloin bronchiole, smashed potatoes, root vegetables, and mustard greens), fourth course – spiced donuts with hot chocolate and blueberry crumble with cinnamon ice cream. Eno Terra gets our award for Best NJ Valentine’s Day Dinner for Innovative Cuisine

Big Brew Beer Festival, $50.00, Morristown Armory, Morristown, Saturday, February 15: No, this is not your typical Valentine’s Day event, but for the right man or woman who loves their beer and great food, it is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Chef Eric Levine from Morris Tap & Grill has a great VIP beer festival buffet package that you might want to check out. Get More Info

Restaurant Lorena’s Dinner, $95.00, Maplewood, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, February 14, 15, 16: Lorena’s is a tiny restaurant with a loyal following. Chef Humberto Campos is well known for his impeccable meals prepared with great attention to detail. Think of a Parisian bistro with 36 seats, that’s Lorena’s. For St. Valentine’s Day, they are featuring a 3-course dinner with such treats as oysters in Champagne mignonette, crab crepe with mushrooms and beure blanc, Scottish salmon with braised red cabbage, Maine lobster, Atlantic skate wing with fennel, honey glazed duck breast with lentils, braised short rib with truffled baby vegetables, a dessert tasting, and petit fours.

Wine & Chocolate Weekend @ Alba Vineyard, $20.00, Milford, Saturday & Sunday, February 8, 9 & 15, 16: Alba is sponsoring two weekends of great tastings to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Their award-winning wines will be paired with local chocolates, artisan cheeses, and dishes from local caterers. Featured will be Dishes from Country Picnic of Bedminster and Dish Catering of Frenchtown, chocolates from chocolatier Diane Pinder of Donna & Company from Cranford, and cheeses from Fourchette of Clinton. Alba is located in the village of Finesville in Warren County on the border of Hunterdon County with a Milford mailing address.

Tim McCloone’s Supper Club Dinner, $??.00, Asbury Park, Friday, February 14: Owner Tim McCloone is famous for his food and his music, but more than that he is famous for the goodness of his heart. It’s only appropriate that he get the Best of Jersey Big Heart Award for Valentine’s Day. Tim’s Supper Club restaurant is featuring dinner and a concert on February 14th. The concert features Tim McCloone & the Shirleys and the dinner features treats like a Mexican chocolate soup with pasilla brûléed banana, raw almond milk, and cilantro, a lobster enchilada with mole Oaxaca, pecan & coconut fried rice, pickled vegetable salad, and queso cotija, lamb with gratin de chevre, shaved fennel, bitter chocolate demi glaze and jalapeno gelee, filet mignon with coconut fried oysters and a triple cream cheesecake. All the McCloone restaurants are offering slightly different special dinners for Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Chamber Music Concert, $20.00, Lambertville, Saturday, February 15: Riverside Symphonia is producing a special concert featuring the Sweet Plantain chamber quartet in the beautiful chapel of St. John the Evangelist in Lambertville. The group blends Latin rhythms, jazz improvisation, and classical music for a unique sound. They will be playing selections from Haydn, Ravel, Romero, Paquito de Rivera, and more. The concert begins at 8:00 p.m. and tickets run $20.00 to $55.00 each

A Toute Heure Valentine’s Day Dinner, $75.00, Cranford, Friday, February 14: A Toute Heure is an award-winning and exceptionally reviewed restaurant that serves new American cuisine with a commitment to local seasonal ingredients. They are featuring a 4-course prix fixe dinner for a great price. Menu highlights include fried oysters, a delicious sounding roast carrot soup with mirepoix, cilantro, tuna crudo, and root vegetable chips, braised collard greens with littleneck clams and ham hock croutons, the braised eye of round with white beans, escarole and fennel bread crumbs, black bass, toffee apple cake, and chocolate ravioli. They are also offering an a la carte dinner menu at their sister restaurant the 100 Steps Supper Club.

Avenue Valentine’s Day Dinner, $42.00, Long Branch, Friday, February 14: The trendy and upscale restaurant on the boardwalk in Long Branch has an incredible meal planned for the night. They are offering a 4 course exotic and elegant dinner for $42.00 per person. Highlights from this menu include mini steak tartare, beet salad, Jerusalem artichoke soup, American caviar, seared octopus, foie gras terrine (add $8), Barnegat Bay scallops (add $8), branzino, tournedos with filet mignon, Dauphinoise potato, Bordelaise (add $10) and a chocolate sampler.

Dream Cuisine Cafe, $65.00, Cherry Hill, Friday, February 14: Dream is an award-winning BYOB French restaurant with a laid-back atmosphere located in a strip mall. It is owned by Chef Vincent Fanari who has won awards from New Jersey Monthly, LocalEats.com, Open Table, and the James Beard Foundation. For Valentine’s Day, Chef will have a special 6-course menu for $65 per person.

Categories
New Jersey Websites

Demographics of Frenchtown New Jersey

It was once said that Frenchtown has more artists per square inch than any place on the face of the earth. That’s not literally true, and can never be proven, but that is exactly how it feels.


Other things that make Frenchtown unique is that for a population of under 1,500 people, we have 17 different places to eat, and over 130 businesses packed into one charming small place we call home.


Frenchtown is a community that has never gotten too big, or too developed. It retains its rural character and has an aversion to too much change or too much development. The citizens of Frenchtown are proud of their little town and hope to retain its small and charming nature.
Even with large developments currently in the planning stages, Frenchtown will always be adamant to preserve its heritage and its funky character.

Frenchtown, Hunterdon County New Jersey


Frenchtown is in Hunterdon County in Western New Jersey, in the country halfway between New York City and Philadelphia PA, on the Delaware River across from Bucks County Pennsylvania, located at Longitude -75.06021 and Latitude 40.52652, and about 65 miles West of New York City.


This tiny town in the country had its beginnings in 1741 as a ferry crossing. Frenchtown over the centuries has been called by many different names from Sunbeam NJ, to Calvin’s Ferry to Prevost Ferry to Alexandria New Jersey. The name that stuck however was Frenchtown. This came about when a wealthy Swiss gentleman who everyone thought was French because he spoke French, bought a huge tract of land here in 1794. That man was Paul Henri Mallet.


Frenchtown NJ is also famous for being the home of the wearable art clothing company Bluefish Clothing, that now exist as a much smaller company with another name. Over the years Frenchtown has changed from being an agricultural trading market to being an arts and crafts and antiques community.

Frenchtown Demographics

(All figures from the 2000 United States Federal Census unless otherwise noted)
Population:
1,488
Land Area:
1.3 square miles
Median Age:
38
Median Household Income:
$52,109
Median House Value:
$165,900
Frenchtown NJ Artist Per Square Inch [APSI quotient]:
47*(otherwise noted!!!)

Categories
New Jersey Websites

2012 North Jersey Fireworks . Parades Archive

Today we’re updating our North Jersey Fireworks Guide for 2012. We’ll be adding more to the listings constantly from now until the 4th of July. This is one of our most popular features and we work all year getting ready for this big day.
We travel to fireworks displays all over the state and we’ve included some of our favorite photographs from our travels. We hope you enjoy them. If you have any that you’d like to share, let us know and we’ll post yours too. If you want to help us, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear your tips about fireworks and celebrations in your neck of the woods. If you have a question about a July 4th event, just ask it below. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll try and find out for you. Thanks for dropping by and have a Happy Fourth.

Also See our Easy to Read New Jersey Fireworks Calendar

NJ Fireworks

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NJ FIREWORKS: NORTH JERSEY, 4TH OF JULY

Bergen County NJ Fireworks and 4th of July Celebrations:

Hasbrouck Heights NJ Fireworks & Parade::
Fireworks: Monday, July 2, & Children’s Parade, Wednesday, July 4:The Hasbrouck Heights Lions Club present the 28th annual fireworks display at Depken Field on Monday, July 2 at sundown. Depken Field is located @ Route 17 & Franklin Avenue. The Children’s Parade is scheduled for 9:30 on Wednesday morning, July 4 at Woodland Park. There will be prizes for the most patriotic and the most creative entries.
See more info on the Gazette newspaper site for this month.
Also see some photos and movies from previous years here.

New Jersey Fireworks, © 2011 BestofNJ.com & John Stringfellow

Ridgewood NJ Fireworks & Fourth of July Celebration
Wednesday, July 4, 2012: This is one of our favorite fireworks displays in the entire state. It is a great little show put on by a warm and open community! The Fire Department is one of the main reasons that this celebration is so successful here. They show up with a giant rig and display one of the largest American Flags that I’ve ever seen. It must measure at least 50 feet tall. Ridgewood New Jersey is celebrating the 102nd anniversary of their July 4th festival and the theme this year is Born in New Jersey. The day begins at 9:00 AM with a flag raising, the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. At 10:00 there will be an Independence Day Parade featuring local rescue and emergency squads, antique cars, bands, The Orpheus Men’s Chorus of Ridgewood, the New York Scottish Pipes, the New Jersey Tea Party Coalition, Ridgewood Choral and the Heard’s Brigade of the New Jersey Militia. Later that day, at 6:30 the gates open at Veteran’s Field for performances by the Illumination Twirlers, The Manhattan Dolls and the Fallin’ Angels Skydivers. The festivities are introduced by mayor Killion. The grand finale is the fireworks show put on by Fireworks Extravaganza. The fireworks go off after the gates are closed at 9:00 PM. [Ridgewood-Bergen County-North Jersey]
Go to the Ridgewood July 4th Website for more information.
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Essex County NJ Fireworks and 4th of July Celebrations:

Branch Brook Park Concert with the NJ Symphony Orchestra & Fireworks
Friday, June 29, 2012: The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will present a concert at Branch Book Park in Newark at 7:30 on Friday, June 28th, 2012. The concert and fireworks are sponsored by the Essex County Parks Department. The fireworks will go off at sundown.
The New Jersey Symphony will present a program of music featuring music from E.T., The Carousel Waltz, H. M. Sk. Pinafore and patriotic standards. There will also be a salute to the Armed Forces. A trio of vocalists from Opera New Jersey will join the symphony. The festivities will begin at 6:00 with a program for kids that will allow them to play child sized instruments and performances by students from the Newark area.
Find out more on BestofNJ.com
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Brookdale Park Concert & Fireworks
Monday, July 2, 2012: Part of the Essex County Free Summer Concert Series, this free concert with fireworks will take place on Monday, July 2, 2012 at Brookdale Park in Bloomfield/Montclair. The concert featuring the Duprees and the Glen Miller Orchestra starts at 7:30 and the fireworks will be staged at sundown.
Find out more on BestofNJ.com
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Hudson County NJ Fireworks and 4th of July Celebrations:

Macy’s Fourth of July NY & NJ Fireworks
July 4, 2012: The biggest fireworks show in America is back on the Jersey side again for 2012. That makes the New Jersey communities of Weehawken and Hoboken very happy indeed. They will both be great spots to view Macy’s 4th of July fireworks spectacular. The staging area for the fireworks is directly across from Weehawken and in front of the Intrepid. The entire show is staged on barges that will be anchored from 24th Street to 50th Street in Manhattan.
To get more information, see our Fireworks Press Release from Macy’s Here.
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Morris County NJ Fireworks and 4th of July Celebrations:

Dover NJ Fireworks & Concert:
Tuesday, July 3, 2012: Dover celebrates Independence Day with a fireworks display and a concert sponsored the town of Dover. The festivities will take place on Tuesday at Hamilton Field on Highway 46 East at the Dover Elementary School campus. The concert will begin at 6:00 PM. Refreshments will be supplied by local non-profit and sports groups. Tickets are $3.00 each [$1.00 each for senior citizens] at the gate. All proceeds will go towards paying for the fireworks next year. The display is staged by D&M Fireworks. The rain date for the fireworks is Friday, July 6, 2012.
For more information on Dover’s Fireworks see the Town of Dover Website
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Florham Park NJ Fireworks & 4th of July Celebrations
Wednesday, July 4, 2012: Florham Park has been throwing a party for the 4th of July for over 50 years and it seems that everything is lined up for a repeat celebration this year. Here’s their extensive schedule of events for the day as it was listed last year:
9:00 AM Flag Raising Ceremony at Firehouse #1 on Brooklake Road
9:30 AM Parade begins (Rain or Shine) at Ridgedale Ave. and Brooklake Road Road
10:30–3:00 PM Family Picnic at the Borough Hall Lawn—Featuring Rides and Games Like:

  • 5-in-1 Patriotic Combo
  • Patriotic Thunder Obstacle Course
  • Velcro Wall
  • Rolling Thunder Water Slide
  • Medieval Joust
  • Tidal Dual Lane Water Slide
  • Giant Dual Lane Slide

11:45 AM Presentation of Parade Trophies by Mayor Eveland
12 PM–3:00 PM Social Garden (must be over 21 to enter, mug purchase (required to enter).

  • $6.00 mug purchase required to enter.
  • Music provided by a Mexican Mariachi Band and DJ Scott

9:00 PM Fireworks begin. Refreshments Available.

  • Hamburgers
  • Hot Dogs
  • Soda/ Water
  • Beer (certain restrictions apply)

Pizza, Popcorn, Cotton Candy, Ice Cream & Italian Ice are available as cash sales.
For more information on Florham Park’s Fourth see their website. It is one of the best 4th of July websites in the whole state. It is full of information and it includes a great collection of photos. Florham Park is east of Morristown near exit 37 on I 287.
See this great NJ community event website here.
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Mountain Lakes NJ Fireworks:
Wednesday, July 4, 2012 The fireworks in Mountain Lake New Jersey are staged over Mountain Lake. This year they will be shot from a barge in the middle of the lake so that there will be more room for people to watch the fireworks. The fireworks are free but the town is asking for donations to help pay for them.
Get more information on Mountain Lakes New Jersey here.
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Parsippany NJ Fireworks
Wednesday, July 4, 2012 Parsippany Mayor James R. Barberio invites you to attend the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills 4th of July Fireworks on Wednesday, July the 4th, 2012. The music for the festivities starts at 7:00. The fireworks go off at dark. The rain date is Thursday, July 5th, 2012. [Parsippany-Morris County-North Jersey]
Get more information on Parsippany New Jersey and the Independence Day Celebration here.
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Randolph New Jersey Freedom Festival:
2012 Freedom Festival: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, June 28 – 30, 2012 Randolph holds one of New Jersey’s biggest celebrations of the 4th. The festivities go on for three whole days. This year they begin on Thursday and continues through Saturday with the grand finale being the fireworks on Saturday night. [Randolph-Morris County-North Jersey]

  • Day 1: Freedom Fair is a carnival that features rides, games, crafts and food. Visitors can ride all the rides as many times as they want for $20.00. The fair is open from 7:00 to 11:00 PM.
  • Day 2: Freedom Fair is a carnival that features rides, games, crafts and food. The carnival and fair is open from 2:00 to 11:00 PM.
  • Day 3: Parade Day: The parade kicks off at noon at Dover Chester Avenue in front of Mt. Fern Church. It features bands, pipe and drum corps, bands, antique cars, horses and floats.

Freedom Fair is a carnival that features rides, games, crafts and food. The carnival and fair is open from 2:00 to 11:00 PM. This is the last day of the fair.
The Freedom Festival Fireworks Display begins at 9:45 and the promoters call it the best show in Morris County [and it does have quite a few competitors for that title] The event features paid parking which helps defer the cost of the fireworks. Parking is plentiful and inexpensive. There will be a DJ from 6:00 to 11:00. The rain date for the Randolph fireworks display is Sunday, July 1, 2012. [Randolph-Morris County-North Jersey]
Find out more about the celebration in Randolph and about the community.
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Washington Township, NJ Fireworks Festival —- (not a July 4th event):
Saturday, August 25, 2012: Washington Township does not stage their fireworks on the 4th. In years past the extravaganza was scheduled just before the holiday. Recently the township moved the event to late August. The Washington Township Community Events Organization or the WTCEO will present the Kevin M. Walsh Fireworks Festival and Long Valley Parade on Saturday, August 27th, 2011 at the Long Valley Middle School. The parade starts at 4:00PM and the fireworks festival goes from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The festival features live music, clowns, food and beer.
Music will be provided by the School of Rock performing at 5:00 and Scott Monetti and the Waffle Band at 7:30. Children can enjoy bounce houses, Fantastic Faces, Sprinkles the Clown and Gonzo. Food will be provided by local restaurants like Valley Restaurant and Long Valley Pizza Deli and Bagels. The Washington Township Fire Department will also be on hand to serve food and beer in the beer garden. Visitors are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets. This is one of the Don’t Miss Events of the year in Long Valley. [Washington Township-Morris County-North Jersey]
WTCEO Fireworks Festival
Time: 5:00pm – 11:00pm
Location: Long Valley Middle School
Get more information on the event here.
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Passaic County NJ Fireworks and 4th of July Celebrations:

Paterson NJ Fireworks Display:
Saturday, June 30, 2012 (Info Updated on June 29, 2012) Paterson will be hosting a viewing party with bands and entertainment on Saturday, June 30th, 2012 from 3:00 to 10:00 pm. A poster from Center City Mall notes that the celebration will feature cartoon characters for the kids, balloon artists, cotton candy, face painting, stilt walkers and more. The address is noted as 301 Main Street. [Paterson-Passaic County-North Jersey]
Get more info from the Downtown Paterson website here.
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Sussex County NJ Fireworks and 4th of July Celebrations:

Vernon NJ Fireworks:
Saturday, July 7, 2012 The Vernon Township Fire Department & the Highland Lakes Fire Department are sponsoring their annual fundraising fireworks display on July 7, 2012. The gates open at 5:30 PM. The fireworks will be staged on the fields between Lounsberry Hollow Middle School and Rolling Hills Primary School. This is a great event for the whole family that supports the local fire departments. The cost of admission if $15.00 per immediate family or a carload of 4 people. There is free parking available for the show. The rain date is yet to be determined.
Get more information on the Vernon Fireworks here.
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Crystal Springs Resort 4th of July Celebrations:
Saturday, June 30, 2012 Concert, Picnic and Fireworks Crystal Springs has a full weekend of festivities planned for their resort guests and homeowners. It all starts with a New Orleans inspired 4th of July Festival that features live music by Ted Hefko’s New Orleans Jazz Band, a picnic menu with pulled pork, fried chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, sangria and lemonade, horse and carriage rides, pie and hot dog eating contests, and a fireworks display at 8:30. Admission is $55.00.
Sunday, July 1, 2012: BBQ the resort will have a Chef’s Garden Barbeque with barbeque, brick oven pizza, micro brewed beers and sangria. There will be 2 seatings and live entertainment by the John Moultrie Duo. Admission is $45.00.
Find out more at Crystal Springs Resort
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Warren County NJ Fireworks and 4th of July Celebrations:

Blairstown Fourth of July Celebration: Monday:
Wednesday, July 4, 2012 Blairstown celebrates the 4th of July with an old fashioned Spirit of Americana Celebration at Footbridge Park. The festival will feature a craft and vendor show with exhibits by local craftsmen and craftswomen, vendors, local businesses, and non-profit organizations. There will be lots of activities for the whole family including: sack races, a watermelon seed spitting contest, brass band performances, a frog jumping contest, and old fashioned pie eating contests. Highlights for the day include the Warren County Bake Off, the Patriotic Dog Competition and the Miss Liberty Belle Pageant for girls between the ages of 14 to 18.
Get more information at the Blairstown 4th Website.

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