Sunday, January 31, 2016

Photo of the Day 1/31/16


This snow covered walkway is located at the Girl Scout camp at South Mountain Reservation in Maplewood.

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Saturday, January 30, 2016

Get $30 Off Tickets to the Taste of Montclair Event

Montclair, New Jersey: One of Essex County's largest food festivals is almost here, and as an Essex County Place reader, you can receive a discount when you purchase a ticket.

The annual Taste of Montclair event will be held on Monday, March 14th from 5:30pm to 9:30pm at The Manor in West Orange. There will be dozens of vendors giving out a variety of foods and drinks, from macarons to curry. 100% of ticket sales benefit the charities supported by the Montclair Rotary Club, including Toni's Kitchen, Human Needs Food Pantry, and The Salvation Army.


General admission costs $85.39, and a ticket to both the main event and the VIP Discovery Lounge special tasting session costs $106.49. However, Essex County Place readers can receive $30 off tickets to the 2016 Taste of Montclair event.


Click HERE to purchase tickets using Eventbrite. Use promotional code eatlocal to receive the discount, but hurry, because the event is next week.


Note: Essex County Place is a media partner of Taste of Montclair

Photo of the Day 1/30/16


This bridge over South Orange Avenue in Maplewood was recently completed.

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Friday, January 29, 2016

Photos: Next Level Conference Held in Newark


Newark, New Jersey: A conference was held in Downtown Newark on Friday regarding entrepreneurship. 

The Eighth Annual Next Level Conference took place at the Rutgers Business School Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development at One Washington Park. The Newark-based Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation presented the event.

Programs included a food expo, a best chef competition, the annual Business Plan and Pitch Competition, a power breakfast, speeches, panels, and workshops.









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Photo of the Day 1/29/16


This photo shows the Gregory School in West Orange.

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Thursday, January 28, 2016

Report: Trailer Leasing Company Moving Headquarters to Newark


Newark, New Jersey: A company currently based in suburban Bergen County will move to the City of Newark. 

The headquarters of MAC Trailer Leasing, Inc., which does business as PLM Trailer Leasing, will be located at 3 Gateway Center in Downtown Newark. The building is located at the corner of Market and Mulberry Streets. Public records show that 25 new full time jobs will be created at the new 11,457 square foot office space. 

According to documents from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the company's lease at their Montvale headquarters will expire at the end of February. When PLM moves to Newark, it will receive tax credits as part of the Grow New Jersey assistance program. 

There are 28 PLM retail locations across the country, according to the company website. The NJEDA report states that PLM chose to move to the Gateway Center over a larger space in Rockland County, New York.

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Photo of the Day 1/28/16


This photo shows a trail at South Mountain Reservation in Maplewood.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Children's Museum Planned for Downtown Newark


Newark, New Jersey: The City of Newark could finally have a children's museum. 

The New Jersey Youth Corps, which manages the Jersey Explorer Children's Museum in East Orange, Essex County's only children's museum, is planning to open another museum in Downtown Newark. 

According to Gary Patnosh, the co-director of the organization, which is sponsored by New Jersey City University, the museum would be called The Exploreon. 

"We strongly believe that The Exploreon will draw thousands of people downtown and will become a major tourist attraction", said Patnosh. 

Although there is currently no finalized location, Patnosh says that The Exploreon is expected to be located near the Prudential Center. 

Should the project be approved, The Exploreon would be developed in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Labor, the National Park Service, the New Jersey Society of Information Management, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. 

The Bridge of Books Foundation is proposing to operate a Big Free Bookstore within the museum should it open. The store would operate independently from the museum, and all items would be free to visiting children, according to Abigail Daly of the foundation. 

"By accessing the daily patronage of the Exploreon, the BFB will get more books to more children on a daily basis in one of our most needy urban areas", Daly told Essex County Place, adding that the organization "would also hope to attract author visits and other such events and, like the museum, provide additional job training opportunities".

The Jersey Explorer Children's Museum opened in 1992 adjacent to the Franklin Branch of the East Orange Public Library in the Doddtown neighborhood. 

Patnosh told Essex County Place that if The Exploreon opens in Newark, the East Orange location "will continue to serve the children of the city and the region and will probably focus more on the youngest children". 

For several years, the Children's Museum of New Jersey (CMNJ) had been slated to open on Market Street near Newark Penn Station. A CMNJ developer, Siobhan McDermott, told Essex County Place last month that the project was never finished due to a lack of funding. 

However, McDermott said that she hoped that a children's museum would still open in Newark at some point, stating that "the city is booming in many ways and it would be wonderful to have such an enormous attraction...in the heart of Downtown Newark". 

It appears that such an attraction may finally come to the Brick City.

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Fitness Club Opens in Short Hills


Short Hills, New Jersey: A new fitness club has opened in the Short Hills section of Millburn Township. 

POE Short Hills opened on Monday, January 11 at 531 Millburn Avenue, between Glenwood Drive and Baltusrol Way. The club, which takes up the entire 3,645 square foot space, offers hot yoga and boxing, in addition to cycling boxing classes and workshops.

This is POE's second location in New Jersey. Another location operated in Far Hills, Somerset County. 

Bernie Robbins Jewelers previously operated a location in the space, as did Ganek's Model Upholstery and Judith Ripka Jewelry.

Click here to learn more.

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Photo of the Day 1/27/16


This photo shows the snow covered Treetop Adventure Course at South Mountain Reservation in West Orange.

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Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Restaurant Opens in Newark's Ironbound Neighborhood


Newark, New Jersey: The Ironbound section of Newark's East Ward has a new place to eat and drink. 

Pour Abbey's Bar and Grill is located opposite the John W. Hyatt Court near the underpass below Routes 1 and 9 at 107 Hawkins Street, at the corner of Christie Street. The restaurant opened to customers in late December, and a grand opening celebration was held earlier this month. Burgers, fries, wine, and other items are served.

The storefront had been vacant for around a decade before being renovated for use as a restaurant again. Eddie's Long Bar operated in the space from 1944 to 2007. 

Click here to learn more.

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New Homes Planned For Lot in Newark's South Ward


Newark, New Jersey: New housing could soon be constructed in the South Ward of Newark. 

According to city records, Lusa Enterprises is planning to construct five new two-family houses at 25-45 Garibaldi Avenue, at the corner of McClellan Street. Two of the homes would be 4,485 square feet, two would be 4,555 square feet, and one would be 4,548 square feet. The lot is currently vacant and overgrown with weeds. 

Garibaldi Avenue is lined with other two-family homes, and is adjacent to five cemeteries. The neighborhood is in a part of the city near the Elizabeth border between the Amtrak tracks and Newark Liberty International Airport, and is unconnected with other city neighborhoods

Click here to learn more.

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Photo of the Day 1/26/16


This photo shows Turtle Back Rock at South Mountain Reservation in West Orange.

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Monday, January 25, 2016

Newark and West Orange Public Schools Closed on Tuesday


Newark, New Jersey: For the second day in a row, all public schools in Newark will be closed due to cleanup from the blizzard on Saturday. 

Newark Public Schools made the announcement on Monday afternoon that schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 26, as many streets throughout the city have not yet been plowed, and bus and train riders have faced significant delays. Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. tweeted that the State of New Jersey will assist the city with storm cleanup. 

The NPS Central Office will remain open, but the Family Support Center will be closed and the scheduled school board meeting at Central High School has been cancelled.

UPDATE: West Orange Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday as well, according to the Township. 

No other Essex County school districts have cancelled Tuesday classes.

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New Development to Rise in Irvington


Irvington, New Jersey: A new mixed use residential and retail development will rise in the Township of Irvington. 

The building will be located at 722 Chancellor Avenue, at the corner of Union Avenue. Construction on the project is expected to begin this spring, and the development will include 40 apartments, first floor retail space, and a parking garage for residents. The 0.47 acre lot has sat vacant for decades.

"Irvington is a community that needs investors and developers to settle for nothing less than excellence and that’s what we’re bringing", said developer Adenah Bayoh. Bayoh also owns the Irvington IHOP restaurant and will own the new Cornbread restaurant in Maplewood.

The township's population has dropped significantly in recent years, from over 60,000 in 2000 to under 54,000 in 2010. However, this development and the project to redevelop Irvington General Hospital into housing and stores could start to change that.

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Burnet BBQ Opens New East Orange Location


East Orange, New Jersey: An area barbecue restaurant chain has opened a new location in the City of East Orange. 

Burnet BBQ held a grand opening celebration with Mayor Lester E. Taylor III and city officials earlier this month for their fourth location at 51 Hoffman Boulevard, at the corner of Rutledge Avenue. The restaurant, which serves Portuguese-American barbecue foods, is located in the Ampere neighborhood. Other locations operate in Newark, Irvington, and Union and Clark in Union County.

Quiltz 1 Child Development Center operated in the space before closing several years ago. 

Click here to learn more. 

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Photo of the Day 1/25/16


This photo shows the Walsh Library at Seton Hall University in South Orange.

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Sunday, January 24, 2016

Most Public Schools Closed Monday Across Essex County


Newark, New Jersey: After Essex County was hit with over 25 inches of snow on Saturday, several local attractions and schools have already announced closures. 

The Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange will remain closed all week, according to County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. County officials say that it is expected to reopen on Saturday, January 30.

In addition, all public schools in East Orange will be closed "due to the aftermath of the storm and hazardous traveling conditions" on Monday, January 25th, according to the City. 

All Newark Public Schools will be closed on Monday, and the Central Office will not open until 10:00am.

Public schools in Bloomfield. Millburn, Irvington, Verona, South Orange/Maplewood, Montclair, Nutley, and Belleville will be closed as well. Newark City Hall will be closed all day.

This story will be updated. 

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Photo of the Day 1/24/16


This photo was taken on the Seton Hall University campus in South Orange.

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Saturday, January 23, 2016

Photo of the Day 1/23/16


This photo shows Seton Hall University in South Orange. 

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Friday, January 22, 2016

Pittsburgh Coffee Shop Chain to Open Montclair Location


Montclair, New Jersey: A Western Pennsylvania chain of coffee shops will open its first location outside of the Keystone State in Essex County. Crazy Mocha, which is based in Pittsburgh, will open a location in the Montclair Center Business District. 


The store will be located in the 92-year-old Vault491 Building at 491 Bloomfield Avenue, between North Fullerton Avenue and Park Street. 


The building, originally built for the Bank of Montclair, was previously used as the Montclair office of PNC Bank, but was recently renovated for new commercial and office use. 


Crazy Mocha, which started in 2000, has approximately 30 locations. Click here to learn more.


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Photo of the Day 1/22/16


This photo shows the new Glenwood Village in Bloomfield Center.

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Thursday, January 21, 2016

Photos: Ruby Bridges Speaks in Maplewood


Maplewood, New Jersey: Ruby Bridges, who in 1960 became the first African-American student to attend an all-white school in Louisiana, spoke to a group of approximately 1,000 teachers, students, parents, and community members on Thursday night at Columbia High School in Maplewood. The school's auditorium was filled to capacity to see Bridges speak. Following the speech, one student from each of the elementary schools in South Orange and Maplewood was given an opportunity to ask Bridges a question about her memories of going to the William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans 56 years ago. 


This is not the first time that Ruby Bridges has come to Maplewood. She spoke at Maplewood Middle School in 2001.










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Photo of the Day 1/21/16


This photo shows Bloomfield Avenue traffic in Bloomfield Center.

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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

New Restaurant Coming to Springfield Avenue in Maplewood


Maplewood, New Jersey: A new restaurant is coming to Springfield Avenue in Maplewood. The restaurant, called Cornbread, will be located at 1565 Springfield Avenue, between Burnett Avenue and Boyden Avenue. Adenah Bayoh, who owns Foya Hospitality Group and the IHOP locations in Irvington and Paterson, Passaic County, will own also own Cornbread. It will be a farm-to-table restaurant serving soul food, and it is expected to open this summer. The space, which is located in a former house next to Eridonn Mortgage, was previously occupied by the B. Hathaway's Meeting Place restaurant. Click here to learn more.

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Learn About Wellness in East Orange


East Orange, New Jersey: A program about wellness is coming to East Orange. The main branch of the East Orange Public Library will hold 'Fueling Movement Through the Ages' on Saturday, January 30th, from 1:00pm to 3:30pm. The program is designed for adults, and will be presented by the library, the North Jersey Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, and East Orange General Hospital. According to the library, attendees will see guest speakers, and can take part in free health screenings and exercise sessions. Refreshments will be served in the East Orange Room. The main East Orange Public Library is located at 21 South Arlington Avenue, at the corner of Freeway Drive East. Click here to learn more.


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Photo of the Day 1/20/16


This photo shows the abandoned part of the Bloomfield Train Station across from the brand new Avalon/Glenwood Village development.

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Tuesday, January 19, 2016

New Restaurant to Open in Bloomfield's Brookdale Section


Bloomfield, New Jersey: Recently, the Bloomfield Center Business District has been seeing an increase in new restaurants. However, new businesses are also opening in other parts of the township, including in the Brookdale neighborhood. 

William Ricigliano, who owned Ruppert's Restaurant in Riverdale, Morris County before it closed, will open the Brookdale Tavern & Kitchen at 1099 Broad Street, in the row of shops between Watchung Avenue and Winding Lane.

Ricigliano told Essex County Place that the restaurant "will be family oriented with a really great menu with Bloomfield prices". There will also be a banquet room inside, and lunch and dinner will be served. It is expected to open in the second week of March.

The space was previously occupied by the Yellow Plum and Bar Cara restaurants. 

Click here to learn more from Bloomfield Pulse.

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Deer Hunt Begins at South Mountain Reservation


West Orange, New Jersey: The annual Essex County Deer Management Program is beginning this morning at South Mountain Reservation. 

Most of the 2,100 park in Maplewood, Millburn, and West Orange will be closed today, January 21st, 26th, and 28th, and February 2nd and 4th as part of the hunt. South Orange Avenue, Brookside Drive, Cherry Lane, and most of the South Mountain Recreation Complex on Northfield Avenue in West Orange will remain open, though the loop around the Orange Reservoir, all hiking trails, Crest Drive, and all other areas will be closed off.

The deer hunt at South Mountain Reservation began in 2008, and has taken place each winter since. 

Hilltop Reservation in Cedar Grove, North Caldwell, and Verona will be closed for several days in February and March to make way for the program.

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Photo of the Day 1/19/16


This photo shows nightfall at Watsessing Park in Bloomfield.

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Monday, January 18, 2016

Cafe to Open in Maplewood Village


Maplewood, New Jersey: A new cafe is coming to Maplewood. 

Palmer's Sweetery & Cafe is slated to open by early February at 1 Highland Place in the Maplewood Village Business District, near the corner of Maplewood Avenue. Coffee, pudding, pies, baked goods, and other items will be sold. 

"We've always wanted to open our store in a great community", co-owner and former Maplewood resident Kia Palmer-Sherwood told Essex County Place. Palmer-Sherwood owns the business with her mother, and said that "it's a brick and mortar that allows us to share our sweet favorites with Maplewood and surrounding communities".

The space had been vacant for over two years. Little One & Company, a children's clothing store, and Maplewood Camera previously operated in the storefront. Palmer's will be one of five bakeries in Maplewood. The Able Baker, Gigi's Cupcakes, Edo's Cafe, and Cedar Ridge Cafe & Bakery also are located in the Township. 

Click here to learn more. 

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Photo of the Day 1/18/16


This photo shows the Westminster Arts Center at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield at night.

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