The State of Baristaville

Get your abortions while they last.

For the second time in three days, a mugging has taken place in downtown Montclair. Last night, about 11 pm, a couple walking south on South Fullerton were robbed by a man who demanded their wallet, purse and cell phones at gunpoint, and then instructed them to turn around and walk back toward Bloomfield Ave. The incident took place at the corner of Hawthorne.

Nobody was hurt. Nobody was apprehended.

Montclair police say the victims described their mugger as a heavyset black male between 28 and 30, wearing jeans and a hooded sweatshirt that mostly obscured his face. Police don't think the perpetrator was the same one involved in Saturday's night's pedestrian attack on Crescent, but they are stepping up patrols in the area and warn residents to avoid dark areas at night.

Anyone with a tip should contact the Montclair Police at tips@montclairpolice.org.

  Congressman Bill Pascrell plans to introduce legislation today to designate the 9/11 war memorial in Eagle Rock part of the National Park System. "It rises above a regional monument," Pascrell said, according to the Star Ledger, and Joey D. is all for it too.

"Hundreds of years from now, it won't be developed," DiVincenzo said. "It will put us on the historic list throughout the country."

Maybe so. But the winged memorial to 9/11 has long had its share of local detractors, the latest of whom have mocked it on the front of their new record album.

We feel that aside from being aesthetically grotesque, something akin to a war memorial is an unfit tribute to the thousands of people who were murdered that day, and it is representative of America's endemic xenophobia, nationalism, and aggressiveness.

Continue reading "Love It, or Lampoon It" »

And the nominees are:

• Brokeback Mountain
• Capote
• Crash
• Goodnight, and Good Luck
• Munich

Ready. Set. Chat.

Joey D has staked his entire political career on a strategy of improving parks in Essex County. (And having the press show up and snap pictures.) So when the Friends of Anderson Park (FAP) shot him a message that something had gone wrong, drastically wrong, it was a little like Oprah asking James Frey for a sitdown.  Essex County Executive Joseph Di Vincenzo made an appearance at the park today with an entourage of county officials and contractors to observe first hand the wacky "improvements" that have taken place. Twenty-two FAP supporters, many of them arms crossed in the official "show me" stance, accompanied the county executive as he toured the park, recently overpopulated with garbage cans and park benches.  DiVincenzo admitted there were far too many cans (ya think?), and that benches facing homes and the street would have to be taken out.

Continue reading "A Walk In The Park With Joey D" »

Mount Hebron students were shocked to learn today that one of their favorite teachers, Stephanie Ferrara, had resigned. A Mount Hebron mom writes in...

There was no notice of this whatsoever. She gave homework on Friday and the kids showed up today to be told that she had "resigned" and that they must not ask her what happened (except that they were told that "she's fine.").

When the mom called Mt. Hebron to ask what happened, she was told she could find out more by attending a meeting tomorrow at 8 a.m. at Mt. Hebron. Apparently, the only folks finding about the meeting are those who call the school asking after the teacher. Consider this a heads up for parents who may not have heard about the meeting. We hear kids were crying over the news; Ferrara started the Pizza and Poetry Club, a monthly get-together for students to share their own poems or favorite poems over their lunch hour.

Got something else to share; feel free to chat here, now...

Glen Ridge-bred saxaphonist follows in his parents' footsteps. Story on our Happenings page. Photos (from Niewood's website, by Tracy Allan.)

A little press can be a dangerous thing. Sure, we wrote about Amazing Hot Dog in Verona. Then, Eyewitness News' Lauren Glassberg followed the trail, sampling the shop's yummy Caped Crusader. The Star Ledger's Peter Genovese picked up the scent, chiming in with this review. The result -- customers came in droves forcing the store to close up early this past Saturday night. The owners apparently ran with their tails between their legs, rather than deal with an angry dog-loving mob who would arrive only to discover the doors locked and a sign explaining how the shop ran out of hot dogs.

How do you run out of hot dogs when your main product for sale is...hot dogs? Kind of reminds us of this story. Meanwhile, if all this hot dog talk has got you hot hungry, go on over today for lunch. Then, tell them how you came Saturday night. We bet you get a free dog.

Steps away from the frustrating parking chaos at the Crescent Deck, a more frightening scenario played out on Saturday night. The flyer (already being distributed downtown), alerts residents and visitors to the area near Crescent and Trinity about a mugging at gun point that occured on Saturday night.

Deputy Police Chief Perry Mayers confirmed additional details this morning. According to police reports, the victim was attacked while walking east on the Crescent. The attacker, accompanied by a driver, got out of a car (described as a Pontiac), and  accosted the victim, demanding his wallet. When the victim refused, the mugger pulled out a gun and hit the victim twice in the head. The victim fell to the ground; the mugger took the cash out of the victim's wallet and threw the wallet to the ground. He then returned to the car, which then sped away in the direction of Harrison Ave.

Are folks trying to distance themselves from the Marlboro Inn's unpopular 10 new mega homes? Sure seems that way. We've received tips that now after all the variance issues have been resolved, Plofker is no longer involved in the development. The Star Ledger article seems to suggest it, when it says...

"Before turning things over to American Properties, Steven Plofker, the Montclair developer who demolished the Marlboro Inn, advanced the streetscape as an example of "new urbanism" preferable to a more traditional development of 12 homes requiring no variances.

Meanwhile, if you missed it in the comments, Mayor Ed Remsen is going on record with his disdain for the structures...

Fort the record, I HATE the McMansions being built on the old Marlboro Inn site; I tried to convince Plofker to build something more in the footprint of the Inn, somthing that at least mimicked the Inn and created smaller units; he opted not to; as unahppy as we may all be with his decision, he built what the laws allowed and what the PLANNING BOARD, not the Council approved. Frankly a lot of people would like to have seen the Inn preserved but NO ONE came forward with a proposal that made sense; the closest idea was from someone who wanted to triple the scale of the business with a seven-day a week restaurant/catering business and room for 100+ cars. Even if the Inn was desgnated a local landmarked, Plofker or anyone else who owned it could and likely would have petitioned (succesfully) to demolish it.

Wondering about the pricetag for the homes on steroids being built at the old Marlboro Inn site? Seems an even million a piece isn't quite enough for these mega-luxury estates (they look so much smaller in these artist renderings) expected to sell like hot cakes (or so goes the buzz machine). From the Star Ledger...

Out at the construction trailer for the 10-house division called "Hempstead at Montclair," Greg Paoli, the job supervisor for American Properties Realty Inc. of Iselin, wasn't sounding apologetic. "Good buzz. Good buzz on the street," he said of the 5,000-square-foot estates, all 10 of them priced at $1.7 million a pop for five bedrooms, the attic ones having 10-foot ceilings. Elevators optional.

Sales are to begin in mid-March. "No one in the company feels we're going to be here long after that," he said.

All the buzz isn't good of course. Folks on the Montclair Watercooler have dubbed the development, the Marlboro Monstrosities (well, it is more alliterative than Hempstead at Montclair...). Meanwhile, Read talks to the owners of the mega home being built at Watchung and Upper Mountain Aves, first documented here. Now, there's a definitive answer to just how big it will get...

Continue reading "Marlboro McMansions In Miniature" »

The Baristanet staff did try to eat at Blu a few months ago. We'd heard it was open for lunch, went there, and then found that it wasn't.

Now New York Times Jersey section food critic David Corcoran gives Blu a rare "excellent" rating in his restaurant column today.

Blu, a tiny new restaurant in a narrow storefront that used to be Mango's Reggae Cafe, has the dim, retro-noir look of an early-60's basement rec room. On a ferocious night in early winter, its blue three-letter sign, etched into frosted glass in the front window, was wreathed in vapor. The place looked faintly, pleasurably disreputable, as if we'd been transported from the suburbs to some shady deserted neighborhood under the Brooklyn Bridge.

Pleasurably Disreputable. We like that. Thinking about making it our new slogan. Corcoran goes on to describe Blu's atmosphere as "disarmingly down-market: a narrow storefront with furnishings out of 'Twin Peaks'" and recommends the sake-marinated salmon, seafood dumplings, smoked trout, sweetbreads, among other dishes.

The Year of the Dog starts today. How do you plan to celebrate?

In case Baristanet is your only source of news, this just in from the AP: ABC co-anchor Bob Woodruff and his cameraman have been seriously injured by a bomb blast while filming in Iraq.

Must say, after last night, flying looks a lot better than driving. Andy Foster, owner of Gallery 51 on Church Street, threw a party to mark the end of his exhibit of "Window Seat Photography," photographs all taken by Foster from the window seats of Continental planes. The extraordinary large-format photographs of clouds (some in color, some in black and white), wheat fields (which look just like quilts) and airplane engines (seen from inside) will soon come down off the walls. But if you missed it, we bet Foster will be happy to show the pictures on his own wheat-field size computer monitor, or you might be able to buy one of the 20 catalogues he ordered that didn't come in on time, but which will probably arrive Monday. Gallery 51 is located at 51 Church St., Montclair.

Meanwhile, does anybody know a macher at Continental or the Port Authority who might be able to to take a look at these amazing photos? That's where this display really belongs.

One pay station worked. The other was broken. Tempers flared. Horns honked. And nobody cared if we took their picture. Click here to see the movie.

It's got a new name, some new menu items, but we hear most remains the same at Montclair's French-Thai Deja Vu, now renamed Sri Thai.

In other food changes, talk about your extended coffee breaks. A cryptic message on the answering machine for now-closed Remedy Cafe states..."As of January 24th, the Remedy Cafe will be closed until Spring. Sorry for the inconvenience."

What's eating you? Chat about it now...

Garbage cans got you down? Come tell Joey D. all about it. Reminder: this Monday, at 11.30am, The Friends of Anderson Park invites you to meet with county executive DiVincenzo at the corner of Parkside & North Mountain Ave in Montclair. Official topics to be discussed: lack of tree replacements. (Unofficial topics: whassup with all those freaking cans?).

The Friends of Anderson Park is composed of area residents interested in maintaining and restoring the 100-year-old park, originally designed by Olmsted.

You have to hand it to the folks at Glen Ridge Taekwon-do. They've moved from Glen Ridge to Montclair, but there's really no need for a name change because of their new address: 133B Glenridge Ave., Montclair (across from The Little Gym). To celebrate reopening in their new location, there's a party today and you are invited. Come for children's activities at 2 pm, an open class and demo at 3 pm, and a reception at 3:30. For more information, go here.

In other moves, Sharon Miller Academy for the Performing Arts is scheduled to relocate next month from its current Bloomfield Avenue location to bigger digs at the corner of Park Street and Bloomfield Ave.

Good bye frump, hello funk. The window dressing at Montclair's Saint Barnabas Thrift Shop has gotten a make-over since the new manager, Dawn Candy, arrived last October. Her Valentine's day display of black leather-clad mannequins has been stopping motorists, pedestrians, even bikers dead in their tracks. "Almost everything in the window is sold," Dawn told Baristanet, (and that would be the gently used red cha-cha heels, red lingerie, and pointy black boots). "But you can still get the black leather lace up vest for just $20." Luckily, it didn't fit. (51 North Fullerton. 973-509-2060)

Some Soprano fans may already know, but Baristanet was surprised that Sir Ben Kingsley will be starring "as himself" (who ever that is) in the final series of The Sopranos this season.  Bringing a bit of polish to the New Jersey mob family from across the pond? Nobody knows - there is a veil of secrecy on the show, and the whole cast is very hush-hush about the plot line, including James Gandolfini, who told reporters: "I don't know what's going to happen and I don't want to know." Although Michael Imperioli admitted "Lots of rituals revolve around food, as you saw. When you're asked to dinner, it's not such a good thing. Remember that."

Did anyone see Oprah yesterday when she summoned ambushed invited author James Frey to an Inquisition the principal's office  her show for sweet revenge a public flogging  a final showdown? Haven't read the book yet, but like thousands of others whose interest has been peaked piqued -- causing a spike in book sales -- it's on my list...which is exactly what Oprah didn't want.  Your Daily Chat starts NOW:

Montclair resident Lisa Williamson Rosenberg, a Montclair therapist specializing in issues of identity, will lead a discussion tonight at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield about what it's like to be both black and Jewish. The event, which is free and open to the public, includes services and a potluck supper. 6:30 pm. More information here.

It's a mess at the intersection of Claremont and Pine, in Montclair today.  At 8:16 a.m., a tipster reported a garbage truck collided into two utility poles at this location. A police officer on the scene could not confirm details,[Update from Deputy Chief Mayers: garbage truck snagged low hanging wires, causing the top of two brittle poles to snap, and loosening the foundation of a third. Two, maybe three poles will be replaced.]   but said he expected streets to be closed off for at least eight hours [and maybe until tomorrow morning]. Police barricades are on Grove, Walnut, Glenridge Avenue, and George Street, safeguarding the area. Barista saw that the tops of two poles had snapped off falling into a private yard, and several live wires down on the ground.  Several PSE&G trucks were  on the scene [by 8:34 a.m.] working on repairs.  Stay clear...

The debate about economic diversity and affordable housing in Montclair is raging. To recap, both the Town and the Housing Commission agree that builders should provide low cost housing units.  But how many and for whom? Tony Schuman will present the side of the Montclair Housing Commission this Sunday: " Housing Costs, Town Character and Inclusionary Zoning" at the Unitarian Church, 67 Church Street, at 12:30 p.m. But before you go, you may wanna read just how unaffordable the Garden State really is for low income tenants.

Continue reading "More On "The Izo Factor"" »

With the threat of Montclair’s Glen Ridge's Mountainside Hospital closing,  questions and rumors surrounding its future have the public, patients, physicians, and hospital staff buzzing.  Will Mountainside continue to function as a vital community resource under new ownership, be converted to a sub-acute facility – or worse yet – be sold to developers?  After enduring months of uncertainty, Baristanet hears that staff morale is at an all time low.  Yesterday’s Montclair Times reported closed door sessions between the current owner, Atlantic Health System, and St. Barnabas Health Care System were continuing in a positive direction, but that St Barnabas was asking for more time to complete due diligence before announcing their intent.

Richard F. Harries, a board member of the Mountainside Hospital Foundation, who is fighting to maintain the hospital’s long term viability, denied that the hospital would close or be converted to an extended care facility.

“That’s a horrible rumor,” said Harries, who has created a Web site, savemountainsidehospital.org. The most recent posting states:

“It is now public knowledge that Mountainside Hospital is experiencing a state of transition and may be subject to be assumed by another hospital system. History tells us that when hospitals are taken over, assumed, or bought, the buyer can choose to close the facility in order to drive patient volume to its other locations, leaving a vast gap in healthcare services in the community.”

The Montclair Times updates its website tonight with news of an arrest in Wednesday's bomb scare at Montclair High School. The suspect is a teenager living in Newark.

“He agreed to come up and give a video statement,” said Lavery. “And, within that statement, he admitted to having his phone used for the call into Montclair High School, and he admitted to being present when the calls were made, which was enough for us.”

Detectives are investigating Venezia’s claim that another caller was present when the bomb threat was made.

Next question: why is a teenager in Newark calling bomb scares into Montclair High School? And question after that: how did all inmates manage to escape?

Would the sounds, smells and tastes of Jamaica lure you out of your winter doldrums?  Whole Foods in Montclair won't fly you there, but TODAY, it's "TRY THIS THURSDAY". Between 4 and 7pm, Reggae music can get you jivin' through the aisles while sampling island delicacies like Jerk Chicken, Rice and Peas, Busha Browne's Red Snapper, Carrot Cake, Ginger Beer,Tropical Fruit and more. It's fun, it's yummy, and this Barista has the kids partake, so they can give the thumbs up to some burger alternatives.

Last night, after describing New Jersey as the home of sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Robert Blake, Comedy Central’s Steve Colbert spent a moment with our five-term congressman to share the 8th district’s profile with the rest of   America.  Bill described Jersey’s 8th (“Jersey” sounds hip, cool, Bill reported) as more diverse (he’s using the “D”word) than New York City. Commenting on Bush’s decision to invade Iraq, he said the president “has screwed up royally”.   Colbert also brought up Pascrell’s suppport of legislation introduced to counter the negative Italian stereotypes which are reinforced by…The Sopranos! Although Colbert cast doubts on the Congressman’s own Italian heritage (Pascrell doesn’t “end in a vowel”) he was quick to defend his ethnic roots. And when asked “Did you take money from Jack Abramoff?” we noticed his quick Soprano-esque Jersey reply…”I dunno him, I don’t wanna know him.”

To see a replay of last night's segment, tune in today to Comedy Central's, "The Colbert Report" at 2:30pm, and 8:30pm.

There's someone looking for you on Craigslist, in their Missed Connection personals...but if you are expecting a hook-up with a MILF, or hair challenged guy, you might be a little disappointed.

It all started out so promising, maybe even a little kinky:

"You were in your little SUV, the SUV you must have bought so you could tackle all those HUGE snow covered mountains in Montclair, NJ.  My boyfriend and I were behind you".

But it wasn't a threesome Cupid calling:

"But in case you didn't hear me through our two cars, I wanted you to know what I said: there is no room for us to back up, you crazy stupid bitch".

Ouch!

That's not our line; it's the title of a blog by downtown Bloomfield merchant Guido Alexander. We came across it accidentally recently and think it's worth sharing with the whole Baristaville community.

Ever since the Supreme Court's decision in Kelo v. New London last year, there's been a huge backlash against the use of eminent domain for the purpose of downtown redevelopment. Schools? Highways? Hospitals? Yes. But, tearing down one business to make way for another business -- and often one from out of town -- while legal, is turning out to be politically unpalatable.

There are lots of places to read about eminent domain on the internet: NJ Eminent Domain Blog, NJ Law Blog, and this Star-Ledger's special report. But nobody tells the story as personally as Guido.

Continue reading "How to Kill (redevelop) a Community for Profit" »

The Montclair Co-Op School is looking for new digs after abandoning plans to relocate to a residential estate (pictured) on Llewellyn Road.

The school’s decision followed hours of heated debate a public hearing Tuesday, over the Montclair Co-Op school’s proposed move, reports today’s Star Ledger.

A proposed ordinance including new restrictions for schools located in residential zones was “enough to stop us dead in out tracks” said school headmaster, Bruce Kanze.

The decision to sell the Llewellyn estate  - which the Co-Op bought a year ago for $1.8 million -- was revealed during the packed public hearing.

Yesterday, Kanze said the co-op, now housed on Chestnut Street, is in serious discussions to purchase another Montclair property, and he expected the Llewellyn Road estate to be listed for sale by week's end.
"We want to make sure we cover the expenses," he said when asked about an asking price.

Kanze said the buyer could “conceivably” be another school…
"Or, God forbid, a developer…It will be interesting to see if the buyer is a private family."

Any guesses where the Co-Op is headed next?

Photo by Warren Levinson.

Residents who live on Montclair"s North Mountain Avenue -- the scene of two multi car crashes today  --  had been promised traffic calming. Instead, the  town is only giving them Belgian block curbs, driveway aprons, and new drains.

After two years of meetings, letters, petitions, and protests against reckless speeding along the kid-filled blocks between Van Vleck and Watchung Ave., residents say the town has stalled on its promise to provide a traffic calming solution.

"We're all going to be together at a funeral before the town decides to take us seriously," one irate resident told Town Engineer Kimberli Craft at a meeting Tuesday, at Edgemont Park Shelter.

The town called the meeting so residents could review plans for the "North Mountain Avenue Improvements".  A year ago, Craft had promised that street calming measures would take place at the same time as street improvements.  Well, apparently the town just gave up forgot that part of the plan, but it is going ahead with the beautification program, which also involves the removal of several trees.  So where are the stops signs, speed humps and chicanes?

Continue reading "Town to Residents: Curb Your Enthusiasm" »

Two locals of the New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters have been out picketing in Glen Ridge this week, protesting the construction job going on at The Reserve, a new condo/townhouse complex being built on the site of the old Verizon building at the intersection of Hillside and Bloomfield Aves.

"It's an informational picket to let the public know that Taas Construction is not employing people from the local affiliates" said union council rep Mike Travostino, who also accused Taas of exploiting Hispanic workers by paying them as 1099 subcontractors and not as full employees. The union is not trying to prevent workers from crossing the picket line.

Taas has not yet returned our request for an interview. Thanks to two tipsters who alerted us to the strike.

Baristanet's official cybrarian Arnie Korotkin sends us word that they're getting ready to muster the troops in Delaware just in case there's a war against New Jersey.

Seems those wooses in Delaware don't like NJ's plans to let BP build a liquified natural gas plant on our side of the Delaware River. Now what could be wrong with that?

This morning, in the midst of heavy school busing and the daily commute, there were two collisions within  minutes of each other at one of Baristaville's most dangerous intersections: Watchung Ave. and North Mountain.  Barista saw a side slam involving two vehicles around 8:00 a.m., and at 8:47 a.m. a second collision occurred involving damage to three vehicles. Fortunately, none of the passengers appeared to be hurt. This is an all too familiar occurrence to residents of North Mountain, who were told by town engineer Kimberli Craft  just yesterday, at a neighborhood meeting that a new traffic light had been approved for the intersection. However Craft said it would take about a year to be installed.

Continue reading "Watchung and North Mountain: Another Year of Accidents" »

Ok, a bunch of kids are going to graduate high school this spring. Ok, we don't want them to go out, get drunk and kill themselves the very night they get their diplomas. Ok, we need to raise a gazillion dollars to throw them the biggest party ever. Ok, enough already.

The Project Graduation mommies are out in full force. Last Friday night, Montclair's Project Graduation held its "biggest event of the [Project Graduation fundraising] season" -- Copacabana night at the Montclair Art Museum. Next: on Thursday, Feb. 8, a bunch of restaurants* will donate between 10 and 20 percent of their revenues for lunch or dinners to the cause. Last fall, they were selling mums. And in Glen Ridge, the Project Graduation moms are perpetually chopping onions making Project Graduation chili dinners.

Now, here comes Project Graduation for the Glen Ridge Class of 2014. Yes, 2014. Laura Buchmann, mother of a Glen Ridge fourth grader, has circulated a letter looking to get a head start on fundraising for the special night. And that, apparently, comes on the heels of the fifth-grade moms' successful fundraiser for the class of 2013.

Typically the Project Graduation committee fundraise a lot of money in a short period of time as I’m sure many of you know. In order to avoid this flurry of fundraising I thought maybe we could get a head start and host some type of annual event for the class and start up an account for the benefit of the Class of 2014. The class of 2013 has begun fundraising for their Project Graduation and has raised over $2,500 with their 1st fundraiser, a parent social.

But why stop there? Where are the mothers of the class of 2019? Busy looking around for their children's mittens? Ha! Think of it as an opportunity. It's never too early to plan for Project Graduation.

Continue reading "Project Graduation Overload" »

We went down to Brookdale Park today on a tip that the county sheriff is handing out citations for unleashed dogs. We didn't see any dogs get ticketed, but we did get confirmation from dog owners that people have been getting warning tickets for having their dogs off-leash.

While we were there, we took in the sights. The pond is back.

Continue reading "Run, Spot, Run!" »

Uncomfirmed tip just in that Montclair High School has been evacuated for a bomb scare.

UPDATE: Apparently kids spread hither and yon following the bomb scare. From the Watercooler:

Apparently there is a bomb scare and LOTS of the high school kids [I've seen about 40] are running thru all the yards in my neighborhood- near the high school and Woodman field. These are not houses where they live, at least I have seen lots of kids in yards where no kids live. I know they don't have anywhere specific to go, but there have been a lot of bomb scares at the HS and I have not seen this behavior before. I called the police, but they know it is probably just mischief and they are busy with the bomb scare. Just a heads up!

And this response:

I actually just got a call from my daughter letting me know that she and some friends came to our house during the bomb scare. Apparently they were told not to be back at school until 1:00. So I guess there will be kids hanging around town until then. I think its sort of a natural reaction to cut loose when unexpectedly given some free time.

Whatever happened to orderly lines? Is it possible that the principal just says, "Bomb scare, kids. See ya back here at 1"?

What do you see in this picture? The newly-crowned Miss America or ....?

Continue reading "New Jersey Vision Test" »

Go ahead and buy that hunk of artisinal cheese, those Marconi almonds or a slab of Callebaut chocolate. If you do it today, you'll help cows, sheep and other farm animals as part of Global 5% day for the Animal Compassion Foundation. Shop at any Whole Foods today and 5% of sales will be be donated to help producers evolve their practices for raising farm animals naturally and humanely.

Christopher Greene, the Montclair man arrested last summer for allegedly planning a highway shooting spree in Vermont, who was turned in by his mother, whom he allegedly also had plans to kill, pleaded not guilty in superior court yesterday. The Ledger's Phil Read reports:

"Christopher Greene is a man of high moral character. He has never harmed anyone in his life," his attorney, Alan Krauss of Montclair, said in a statement. "His mother is shocked at the outrageous charges against him, and she fully supports him."

And...

Just before the 6-foot-2, 130-pound Greene stated his date of birth and other particulars for the record, he turned to his 78-year-old mother, wearing a red beret and tinted tortoise-shell glasses, and gave her a warm smile. His mother had waited more than three hours, at times reading a magazine, as defendants accused of parole violations took their turns before the judge.

As Greene was escorted out of the courtroom, he turned again to his mother.

"Take care, Mom," he said.

"Call me later, call me," she replied.

[W + (D-d)] x TQ
      M x NA

Continue reading "Can't Argue With Science" »

Police were called to the corner of Cooper Ave and Valley Road on Friday afternoon, in response to an anonymous report of suspicious activity and possible drug use. According to Deputy Chief of Police Perry Mayers, when police arrived, a large group of juveniles, congregating by a gas station at that corner, quickly dispersed. Police questioned a few of the teens that remained; no one was arrested. Officers searching the area found a glass vial containing a white powdery substance hidden in a planter, which was later found to be cocaine. The vial was taken in as evidence. Mayers says the area, which is a popular spot for kids to congregate after school, will be given special attention by police.

Before there were McMansions, there were these mansions. For the location and pricetag, go to Real Estate.

Sure Baristaville's got oodles of restaurants, but did you ever wonder how the other half eats? Next week, you can test-eat on the cheap at a slew of Hudson eateries (Hoboken, Jersey City, Bayonne) participating in Hudson Restaurant Week...

Enjoy 10 weekdays (Jan 23 - Feb 3, 2006) of fine dining throughout Hudson County (NJ). Participating restaurants will offer tasty prix-fixe meals at great prices: $15 for lunch, $30 for dinner (some even lower; excludes tip, tax & drinks)!

Peruse the list and let us know where you've eaten...

Click on over to Happenings and check out Glen Ridge's Eddie Skuller, who performs tomorrow night at the Living Room and has garnered this evocative description...

"the best macabre standards-crooner without a washed-up rock career to make it necessary." -- Village Voice

Enough of being the liberal whipping boy for the Fox News Network (picture from Sunday, where Pascrell was supposed to be discussing "ethics reform and the culture of corruption in Washington, DC.")

Now Bill Pascrell's going to be a whipping boy for Stephen Colbert, who's already recorded an interview with our (and his) representative of the fighting eighth for his "Better Know a District" segment. No word as to when it will run, so we'd better watch Colbert every night this week, just in case.

While you're waiting, here's a podcast of a recent interview with Stephen Colbert by the San Francisco Chronicle before a live audience.

The Devil not only wears Prada, she likes to burn it, too. A fire burned through Prada's flagship store which is also home to the Soho headquarters of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt, and Brown herself was on the scene, flashlight in hand, to see what could be salvaged. From the New York Times...

"The first 'Brown' lipstick is saved," Ms. Brown said with relief, referring to her only sample of the first piece of cosmetic she created in 1991, when she began the makeup line.

Little else in her offices was left undamaged by the blaze, which started at 10 p.m. on Saturday in the building, at 575 Broadway near Prince Street, and quickly traveled through ducts to five of its six floors, fire officials said. About 200 firefighters worked for three hours to extinguish the flames. Six firefighters received minor injuries.

Between hunting for partially charred cosmetics, Brown described the scene...

"It looks horrible inside. It looks like a war zone," Brown told the Daily News.

Go read Jonathan Miller's story in today's New York Times Jersey section about the strange tale of assistant prosecutor turned blogger David B. Lat, whose wickedly insolent writing at the blog Underneath Their Robes lost him a job at the US Attorney's Office in Newark but won him a writing spot at Wonkette (starting Jan. 30).

Frankly, this just adds to our perpetual state of jealousy. First there was the photogenic Ana Marie Cox with her (sort-of) bestselling Dog Days and her own Wikipedia entry. Now there's Lat, who's not only been on Charlie Rose, but has coined such terms as "litigatrix" and "benchslap."

Continue reading "Article III Groupie" »

Touchy, touchy. Threatened with painful and prolonged legal action, Paramount has promised to never ever again air the now infamous South Park episode in which Tom Cruise refuses to come out of the closet. But of course you can still see it on the Internet.

Ever since we first reported on the weird signs springing up near Montclair schools, it seems like our little sticker posting prankster's work is proliferating...T-Rex Heads and a gun-toting kid have joined the bong and booze carrying walkers that appeared in earlier works. When Baristanet checked in with Montclair's Deputy Chief of Police Perry Mayers to see if the cops had noticed, it was in fact, the first they'd heard about it.  Now the artist's days may be numbered. The Department of Public Works will be asked to remove the artistic alterations. Patrol units and school resource officers have been notified to be on the lookout... And if the culprit is caught, he or she could be charged with criminal mischief, which carries a penalty of a fine or up to one year in prison. 

Yes galas are expensive... but how often do you get to see your mayor in all kinds of unmayorly positions? Left, Glen Ridge's current mayor Carl Bergmanson. Right, former mayor Steve Plate. The sold-out Glen Ridge Gala raised money for the library's children room, which was flooded in 2004. And...

Continue reading "$100 a Plate" »

The low carb label is plastered on hundreds of items at the grocery store. But Watchung Plaza framer, Pat Gail, created her own way of using the diet fad to advertise her slim prices for gallery framing. Seems we're not the only ones who notice this arcane stuff -- the attention-getting signage made it into Weird NJ's last issue.

Anything new to report? Share it here.

Don't blow away this afternoon and watch for falling branches. From the National Weather Service...

STRONG WINDS LIKELY LATER TODAY INTO THIS EVENING.

A COLD FRONT ALONG THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE APPALACHIANS THIS
MORNING IS MOVING EASTWARD & WILL CROSS THE TRI-STATE REGION
LATER IN THE DAY. SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS AHEAD OF THIS FRONT WILL
BECOME GUSTY LATER THIS MORNING.BUT IT WILL BE THE NORTHWESTERLY
WINDS IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT THAT WILL BE THE STRONGEST.

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM EST
THIS EVENING.

Calling Baristaville's Liberal Elite  -- wanna piece of Fox News chief mud wrestler commentator Bill O'Reilly? The network is sponsoring "Bloviate With Bill", giving six insane lucky viewers the chance to go one on one with the Big Guy on the Big Issues. But debating brilliance alone doesn't guarantee getting your mug on TV...

Judging: All entries will be judged by members of the Fox News staff, who will cull the entries and make contact with a limited number of entries. Those contacted will be asked to submit a picture of themselves. After submission of a picture and a final determination of suitability (in Sponsor’s sole discretion), a number of entries will be determined the winners. Sponsor’s decisions in all matters relating to this Contest are final.

Parents, you'll have to divide and conquer, or decide between these two kiddie events -- both happening tomorrow, Saturday, at 1pm:

Amber Brown Is Not A Crayon, a family musical brought to you by Arts Power, will be presented in the Auditorium at Montclair High School - 140 Park Street. Tickets are $15 in advance/$17 at the door. Call 1-888-278-7769

Kid's book author, illustrator, and singer Daniel Kirk will be performing his hilarious tunes with the Glen Ridge Porch Daddies for a sing-along at Watchung Booksellers. Kirk is promoting his new CD, Daniel Kirk and The Chowhounds, a blend of toe-tapping rock/folk/reggae music.  The general public is invited to this free event. For more to do this weekend, check Happenings.

Montclair attorney Mitch Dinnerstein found himself in the middle of a Brooklyn courthouse melee yesterday when he was stabbed with a plastic shank. From the New York Daily News:

Suspect Kayson Pearson, 23, a converted Jew wearing a white yarmulke, had created an instant's diversion by pulling out a shank of his own and stabbing attorney Mitch Dinnerstein under the chin.

Dinnerstein's stabblng allowed another defendant, Troy Hendrix, to try to grab at a court officer's gun, but both attacker were successfully subdued. The suspects are on trial for the 2003 rape and murder of a Hunter College student.

Dinnerstein, reported to be shaken but not badly injured, is recovering today at home.

Dave Marash, a longtime correspondent at ABC's "Nightline," and a former resident of both Glen Ridge and Montclair, will take a co-anchor position at Al-Jazeera's English-language network this spring. His wife Amy has also been hired by the network's Washington office. Both of the Marashes are Jewish, but in an interview with NJ Jewish News, Dave Marash defended his decision to join the Arab-owned news service.

“I don’t believe Al Jazeera is anti-Semitic,” Marash said. “I don’t believe we are anti-Israeli. I don’t believe we are anti-American. I don’t believe we are anti-Western.”

“I am very, very comfortable that I am not betraying my Jewish heritage or my American citizenship. But in this job, I think I am going to be able to express the best sides of my religious, cultural, social, and political background. It is what makes this such an attractive job.”

There's a new dog in Verona. Find out more at Food.

We’re calling it the IZO factor…(Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance), and it’s meant to preserve Montclair’s character and economic diversity. The Montclair Housing Commission (MHC) and the Town Council agree that developers need to build more affordable housing or cough up a hefty cash payment, reports the Montclair Times.  The IZO initiative, to be voted on January 31, would take effect February 22, not affecting the 321 building permits that have already been approved.

What the town and MHC can’t agree on is exactly how high the price of admission will be. The MHC favors the requirement to provide one unit of income-controlled housing for every seven built.  The town thinks it's too tough on developers, and favors a ratio of one in nine. (That’s a little bit less diversity.)

“There is a concern that coming up with something so draconian to developers would deter construction here, which is what lowered our taxes last year,” said Freier. “I entirely support the IZO, but it is hard to mark judgement of if it should be one in 10, one in nine, or one in eight.”

And what if the builders don’t can’t comply with the housing requirement?  They’ll be slapped with a $350,000, no $250,00, well – some kind of a payment to the town. (Hey, where’s that money goin', to pay the water bill?)

Continue reading "Attention Developers: Montclair Is Charging Admission" »

It's really freakin’ weird walking around Montclair’s Anderson Park these days. Last week, as part of the $900K demolition renovation, the Essex County Parks Commission planted installed about 50, count 'em 50 new trees trash cans (ok, they're green). We measured some as close as 35 feet apart.  Was anyone What were they thinking? Baristanet contacted Scott Kevelson, park neighbor, advocate, and founder of "Friends of Anderson Park", a group committed to restoring the park to a natural haven. "We are talking to the County Parks Commission, asking them to remove some of the garbage cans and use them in another park. There are just too many, and garbage has never been a problem here,” Kevelson said. He hopes that may free up funds to pay for some tree and shrub plantings. At present, the county plan calls for adding only 9 trees to the entire park. Looks like a horrible design mistake.  And that's not the only one.

Continue reading "The Cans Go Marching One By One" »

Two troubling incidents occurred last Tuesday on Walnut Street. The Star Ledger reported:

At 2pm, an 18 year old man was mugged by four thugs, who punched him in the head and face demanding cash but got away with only his jacket. The victim was taken to Mountainside Hospital.

At about the same time, police saved the life of an 80 year old choking victim found on the bathroom floor of Egan's Pub.  They administered the Heimlich Maneuver to revive the woman, and took her to Mountainside Hospital for observation.

The parents of Jill Carroll, the 28 year old American journalist held captive in Iraq, are pleading for her life...CNN reports that Al-Jazeera has a new audio tape of Bin Laden warning Americans that more attacks in the US are just a matter of time. Our daily chat begins now...

A Montclair man -- charged in a bizarre plot to shoot at drivers on Vermont highways --  is now accused of attempting to kill his mother. Christopher Greene, 41, was turned in to Montclair Police by his mother, Kathleen, last July, when she discovered a .223 caliber rifle and a notebook outlining his Vermont shooting plan, with a reference to killing her, reports today's Star Ledger:

In July, Greene's 78-year-old mother, Kathleen, told officers she also found a receipt for the weapon, purchased at a New Haven, Vt., gun shop, as well as a phone book with what appeared to be a bullet hole and a written reference to killing his mother, authorities said at the time.

According to an affidavit in the case, Greene's notes suggesting sniper locations in Vermont also states, "Because my mother is now deceased, thanks to me, I need to know about informing her employer."

Greene will be formally arraigned on Monday. He is being represented by Alan Krauss, of Montclair.

Forgotten in the newly signed smoking ban is the impact on Baristaville's own hookah cafes. While a Hookah bar owner in Morristown plans to fight the new smoking ban, Montclair’s Diva Lounge will not be offering the fruity scented tobacco come April. Manager Erin Taggert tells Baristanet the ban is “bittersweet”;  a better environment for her employees, but not good for her smoking patrons.  However, rest assured:

“…we will be taking measures to ensure that patrons may easily excuse themselves to enjoy a cigarette outdoors and will be assured a speedy re-entry into the establishment”.

Continue reading "Hookah's Your Daddy?" »

Crime maybe down in Baristaville, but mild mannered commuters would be felons are riding causing havoc riding on DeCamp buses. A tipster tells the tale:

My son had to come home from school sick on Tuesday, so I took the 12:35 pm NY bound DeCamp bus from Watchung Plaza, a rare event as I'm a happy train rider. Moments after taking my seat, my cell phone rings  -- once. It's my wife with an update on my son. That's when the bus driver starts yelling at me to turn it off. "Sorry, my son's at home sick and it's my wife calling. This is my first offense," I pleaded, as I ended the call. "Sir, your gonna have to hang up."  So, I inquired: "And If I didn't hang up, what would happen?". "I would stop the bus, radio the base, they would dispatch the police and you would be taken off the bus. "And what would I be charged with?" Driver: "I don't make the rules. If you gotta problem, call the office." At which time a chorus of riders chimed in: "His kid is sick, for God's sake, let him talk". "The rule is so arbitrary." "People having conversations are louder than most cell phone calls." "Cell phone are bad for people with pacemakers."

The reader's kid is fine, but he tells us he's in no great hurry to hop on the DeCamp bus again...

Continue reading "One Adam 12 - We Have A Cell Phone User" »

Yes indeed, as rumored, Bangz is planning a move to the Masonic Temple, just a little up the street from its current location at the tip of the pie wedge where Church, Fullerton and Bloomfield all meet.

Bangz confirmed the news for us today (while we were in their making an appointment). The renovation is expected to take until the summer of 2007.

The move will give the hair cuttery an extra 4,000 square feet of space (they have 6,000 now), which will allow them to expand spa services. They also plan to offer valet parking in the new location.

Sounds like the vacancy will make room for Ricky's Candy, Cones and Chaos, which is what Dick Grabowsky wanted there all along. But a year and a half? That's a long time to wait for a cone.

To win four free tickets to this, correctly answer the following question. (Don't guess unless you want to dance, buster.)

Who was Ira Gershwin speaking of when he made the comment: "I never knew how good our songs were until I heard _______ sing them."

Judith Felber, owner of Barbara Eclectic clothing boutique in Upper Montclair through 2005, died Monday at her home at the age ot 68.

A mass for her will take place at 10 am Friday in St. Cassian Church, Upper Montclair.

(Photo of the boutique's store-window memorial courtesy Roberta Baldwin.)

A very large limb fell on a car at Linden Ave. in Glen Ridge this morning between 7:30 and 8 am, but reports from the scene indicate that there was only one minor injury. One adult and two children were in the car when it was struck. Witnesses say that the outcome could have been much worse if the car had traveled just a few inches further before the limb fell.

The incident caused shudders in bystanders who remembered the 1999 death of two-year-old Jesse Constantino [Times Select required] of Glen Ridge, killed when a tree fell on his mother's parked minivan on Midland Ave.

Liz calls in on her way to the city: Upper Montclair once again hit by a widespread power outage. Traffic lights out, and cops directing traffic on some of the major thoroughfares. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say it's wind related ... and not ... ahem. Photo, corner of Valley and Watchung, by Scot Surbeck.

Oddly, it's 61 degrees at 8:15 am. But there's no sun in sight, and the wind is gusting. From the latest National Weather Service alert:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST TODAY.

SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WILL INCREASE TO 30 TO 40 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH TOWARDS DAYBREAK. THESE DAMAGING WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE UNTIL AROUND NOON TODAY...AHEAD OF A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE EXPERIENCED ACROSS THE HIGHER EXPOSED TERRAIN...TALLER BUILDINGS AND BRIDGES...AND ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COASTLINE.

And somewhat ominously...

BE AWARE THAT POWER OUTAGES COULD OCCUR AS STRONG WINDS KNOCK DOWN POWER LINES. TREES MAY ALSO BE DOWNED AS WELL.

PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS WHILE TRAVELING ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

As always, send us your tips and pictures.

Sure, Liz found a venerable old apothecary going out of business in Montclair, selling off one-of-a-kind cash registers and cool urine signs. Well, the Barista's going to go out on a limb and tell you about another drugstore going out of business, the Rite-Aid in Glen Ridge (next to Bottle King), where everything in the store is marked down 40 to 60 percent off. Yes, ladies, if you go all Pavlovian at the makeup section of CVS, you'll be drooling at this. True, the stock is a little thin, but how does this sound -- $31.32 for lip gloss, eye shadow, eye liner, bubble bath, foundation, mascara, more eye shadow, curl & twirl smoothing balm and a pound of hazlenut coffee? We thought so.

  Anyone for a wacky local mayoral race? This one--as chronicled in the indie documentary "Anytown, USA"--takes place a little outside Baristaville. Sixteen miles away in Bogota, NJ, to be exact. But we're sure that our readers would recognize what the Hudson Reporter calls the "almost burlesque-like" antics of a three-way run for mayor in a small New Jersey town. After picking up a number of film festival awards, the makers of "Anytown, USA" decided to try a limited theatrical release. Carl, Ed and Ray: we think you guys should get in a car and take a little field trip to North Bergen, where this comedy is playing through Thursday.

It's so much fun to play matchmaker. And we do feel that we had our own little role in this. Some of you may recall a feature we ran about Spamalot star Michael McGrath (pronounced McGraw) last September. In the conversation we had at Willie's Diner (since demolished, but starting to look a little closer to completion), he suggested this:

There's so much Broadway talent in Bloomfield, McGrath says, that 12 Miles West ought to take advantage of it for some kind of big fundraiser. And (are you listening, Lenny Bart?) he says he'd be delighted to come on and sing "Bright Side of Life."

If you want to see what those two crazy guys cooked up, with a little help from Beth Bauer of the New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts, check out our thrills page.

Not that you care, but the Barista's been to a locksmith, the car parts dealer and Home Depot today--and that's just so far. We've had not one, but two calls from the nurse's office at school. One kid's home sick, the other one wants to come home. Not everything's fixed, but the good news is that the wallet that was locked in the glove compartment has been rescued.

Ever have days like this? We're sure you have. Tell us about it.

 

At the corner of Park and Clarewill, a really big tree is gone, leaving a tremendous root base and a small dent on the home's third floor...

Continue reading "Big Tree Down" »

Today's Jon Corzine's inauguration and tonight's his new girlfriend's public debut as main squeeze. Sharon Elghanayan (pronounced: el-GA-na-yen) will take to the dance floor tonight at Corzine's inaugural ball.

A self-proclaimed "ultimate Jewish mother," according to the Star Ledger, Elghanayan is the ex-wife of a real estate developer, a Manhattan psychotherapist and kickboxer. And, Google leads us to her career as an alto in the Workman's Circle Chorus, whose voices graced "In Love and In Struggle: The Musical Legacy of the Jewish Labor Bund."

Can't find pictures of the new girlfriend online, but we think that will change after tonight. Picture courtesy NJ.com. Meanwhile, we wonder where the ex missus Corzine will be seething? And whatever happened to that other Jewish girlfriend, Carla Katz?

Folks who wondered about the price of the Walnut Lofts might be interested to read this article yesterday's New York Times, detailing luxury condos being built in East Orange. While small studios are starting at $119,000, the price for penthouse digs with NYC views are from $400K to $600K.

The units at the Empire View Luxury Condos, which will open in the fall, are equipped with what is becoming a standard array of upscale amenities in New Jersey, but at prices virtually unheard of in the northern part of the state.

The units are not particularly spacious: studios are 600 square feet; two-bedroom units, 1,300 square feet; and penthouses, 2,700 square feet. But amenities will include a 24-hour concierge, a fitness center, a community room and electronic gated entry to both indoor and outdoor parking. In the lobby, sleek appurtenances are already in place, including maple-paneled walls, granite floors, a fireplace and plasma television.

With very little advertising, but with model apartments to show on lower floors, 45 units have already been sold, Mr. Williams said. The building will not be open for occupancy until mid-November, he said.

Yes, brutal, biting winds howled this weekend all over Baristaville...

The forces of nature had a party down at the Sienna building site, where the surrounding wooden barricades came tumbling down.

A Montclair policeman was stationed by the perimeter of the newly exposed massive pit, and told Baristanet "that's why I'm here, to make sure no one falls in".

The mystery that has shrouded Bradner Pharmacy, Watchung Plaza's perpetually dark, Miss Havisham kind of place with its gorgeous fixtures and antique beauty products, has lifted. The Bradner Pharmacy is officially closed (as opposed to those months where it just appeared to be closed) and everything inside is being sold off. The store will be open every day (with the exception of tomorrow, Tuesday) from 9 am to 6 pm, until everything is sold out. Already sold: an antique fudge machine, various mortar and pestle sets, old soda fountain glasses and the penny scale. Still for sale: some nifty prescription file holders (they can hold 90 cds), a 1921 cash register, retro bottles and apothecary jars, and, it goes without saying, bottles of Tabu and other fragrances of another era. The owner's daughter tells us the space is for rent, with the following condition: the store's historic floor to ceiling fixtures must remain in tact (hooray!!!!!). Send serious inquiries for renting the space here. Meanwhile, the new renters will not be required to keep this sign up...

Continue reading "Say Goodbye to Bradner" »

The powerful message of Martin Luther King, Jr. endures. In addition to other area events celebrating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., students from The Rand Elementary School will join together to cook and to deliver meals to over 50 homebound Montclair residents. Students and parents will welcome Charmian Reading to Rand, a nationally known photographer who chronicled the civil rights movement during her travels in the south. Also planned, a day of live music, art and educational projects culminating with a drumming performance by students of Maya and Reggie Workman. Renaissance students are joining Rand; Renaissance teacher Rodney Jackson will facilitate a mini "Conversation on Race" for interested parents.

Launching today, is an eight-part exhibit, The Black Montclair Series: Celebrating the Life and Times of A People from the Montclair Historical Society. Experience the exhibit (described here in detail) from 1-4 pm at the Crane House. Admission today is free.

Season 5 of "24" starts tonight and we are so there. A tiny cell of Baristaville operatives are watching the first two hours of the season premier at Agent Galant's house tonight. Anybody else celebrating?

We were so excited about those suburban turncoats last week that we missed this column in the New York Times, "How We Took the Child Out of Childhood," in which Peter Applebome asked:

How did we get to the point where few kids ever get to play with friends outside of a play date, to walk to a neighbor's house without parental escort or to have free, unsupervised time in which they're not tethered to a television set, computer or Xbox?

It turns out, however, that other people in Baristaville were reading. From Montclair, two very different responses, both published in Saturday's Times.

[From Michael Garrett] When i was a kid you could count on every block having at least one house with somebody's mom in it, with a cookie, a glass of water, or a clean bathroom. Kids won't get to free-range again until enough parents manage to be at home, creating a real "neighborhood."

[But Tina Kolomatsky reports that the old-fashioned American childhood is alive and well and living in Montclair] Good old-fashioned childhood still exists here on my street in Montclair, New Jersey. Children run free, sometimes barefoot, sometimes not over the lawns that connect our middle class homes. My seven year old son Max runs to his best friend Jake's house every day after school. Jake lives a couple of houses down from us. I leave my door unlocked.

Tina, please go lock your door. Everyone else, here's your opening.

We'll start. How come, when we were in high school, they always said that SAT's reflected your natural ability and you couldn't study for them? And now everybody has to take SAT prep classes?

Baristaville lensman Paul Zalewski got to hold an 8-week-old tiger cub this week while on assignment in Florida. Very cute. We just hope the critter stayed in Florida.

Here's an interesting little social experiment. Take a brand new $8.6 million parking deck, install just two pay stations, and see what happens when the 7:30 Friday or Saturday shows at the Clairidge get out.

The wait Friday night after "Match Point" -- about 10 minutes. But it went even slower than the movie.

What would it take to brings Jews and Palestinians together? Apparently, some homeless folks to help and a large pie. From the Albany-Democrat Herald, an interesting icebreaker took place courtesy of "Project Provide A Home,’’ launched by Palisades Emergency Residence Corp. of Union City...

The shelter hosted a group of Jewish volunteers one week, and another group of Muslims shortly afterward. The symbolism — and the possibilities — were not lost on the executive director, Matt Kamin, a Jew, and Amal Abdallah, a Palestinian who helps line up volunteers to serve meals. “We were trying to figure out why our communities didn’t get along,’’ Kamin said. “We started talking and said, ‘Why can’t we get these two groups together and do something?’ It was that easy.’’ The first meeting was somewhat awkward, with all the Jewish girls sitting on one side, and all the Muslim girls sitting on the other — each side eyeing the other curiously, if not warily.

“One of the girls asked me, ‘How do you pray?’ and I was so surprised at the question,’’ said Aviva Bannerman, a 17-year-old from Montclair. “I thought everybody knew that Jews pray in groups and we sing our songs aloud, but no one had ever taught her that. I asked her how she prayed, and they use a prayer mat and it’s more subdued and quiet. I go to a Jewish school and I’m surrounded by Jews 24/7, so I was delighted to be able to share about my religion and share in theirs.’’

Continue reading "If Only It Was This Easy..." »

Come with me, and you'll see...

Remember the ice cream fantasies of Dick Grabowsky? The one that involved opening a Ricky's Candy, Cones & Chaos outpost in the Hinck building. A place where folks could build their own skyscraper sundaes and overdose on candy. Is Grabowsky's Wonkaville materializing?

Now listed on Ricky's "coming soon" store locations, is Montclair, NJ. Might the rumors of Bangz moving into the Masonic Temple be true? After all, the prime street front corner spot that it occupies is the place Dick had designs on his ice cream parlor of choice. (Or did someone trump Dick and land Ricky's at another location...hmmm). The only frozen confectionary competition for Ricky's in the area? The Soda Pop Shop and TCBY's, but it seems another may be also be heading downtown. A tipster writes...

Continue reading "Have We Got A Scoop For You" »

Verbal sparring or emotional distress? From Yahoo News & Court TV, a cyberbully gets sued for what he calls "razzing" in an AOL chatroom and what the plaintiff describes as "a humiliation beyond what 'no man could endure' "

A generation ago, such petty personal beefs might have been settled with fists outside the corner bar, but now it's the Internet age — and Ohio resident George Gillespie instead filed a $25,000 lawsuit against two erstwhile cyber chums he met in the sprawling 900-room, mostly anonymous society that makes up AOL's chat universe.

Gillespie, 53, claims that Marlowe and Bob Charpentier, a 52-year-old Oregon resident, insulted him and harassed him in the AOL chatroom called "Romance — Older Men" to the point where it inflicted "severe emotional distress and physical injury that is of a nature no reasonable man could be expected to endure it."

If anyone should be upset, offended, embarassed, it's the state of Ohio...

Continue reading "No Lawsuits, Please" »

Glen Ridge's Chief of Police, John Magnier updates us on last night's bizarre accident:

The accident is being investigated, per department protocol, by our certified investigators trained in accident reconstruction.  The officer was treated and released from University Hospital last evening, there were no major injuries.

Born and raised in Glen Ridge, Nicole Romano works in film production at Protozoa Pictures and has taught scriptwriting at the Adult School in Montclair. Now, she is producing her first theatrical piece in New York -- with a characteristically outspoken Baristaville political bent....

Teen rappers, lyricists, poets (and any other teens) who are craving self expression, can come hang out at tonight's Bloomfield Poetry Slam. Sponsored by the Bloomfield Municipal Youth Guidance Council with the Bloomfield High School Class of 2006, admission for the event is $5. Pizza and soft drinks are for sale -- and proceeds will benefit BHS's 2006 graduating class.  Check it out tonight, from 7-10 pm at: Little Theatre, 90 Broad Street, Bloomfield. For more information, contact Gary Iacobacci at  garyiaco@aol.com or (973)743-5971.

This was The Week That Was... Silly State Slogans...Supreme Court Slur Slinging...So Long, Second Hand Smoke...Superstitious? It's Friday the 13th -- and time for your Daily Chat:

Some people go to great lengths to insure their privacy. "Do not disturb", "No Solicitors", and "No Trespassing" just doesn't cut it anymore. We spotted weird signage in front of a home on Upper Mountain in Montclair that would make us think twice before knocking. 

Continue reading "Danger: Desperate Housewife" »

The headline in today's Star Ledger, "Montclair is Getting Safer"  seems to contradict what we've been hearing here at Baristanet over the last year. There was that rash of home burglaries over the holidays. Then, multiple break-ins on Christopher Street, as recently as this week. Baristanet is also still waiting for a call back from police departments for confirmation of an alleged car theft on Valley Road, and two alleged muggings near Bloomfield High. But if we believe the lies, damn lies and  statistics for 2005, the overall crime rate has fallen 8%.

"Burglaries .......fell from 250 to 214, a 14 percent reduction. Yet it's the second year of decline from 2003's break-in count of 282.  That represents a 24 percent decline in two years."

Well that's a relief....

This week's Montclair Times reports on the speedway like conditions experienced by pedestrians trying to cross Grove and McDonough Streets. Here at the Baristanet, we were working on our own story about the Most Dangerous Intersections in Baristaville. Last week we called the Montclair Police Department for comment, and are still awaiting their response. In the meantime, we turn it over to you: Nominations please, for the Most Scariest, Harrowing, and Dangerous Intersection in Baristaville, besides Watchung Plaza...

Montclair tipster, SK, who doesn't live in outtage area, has his own PSE&G pet peeve -- the street lights are out all over Baristaville. Who is responsible getting the guys out to relight the dark, dangerous, stretches of road?  Is it the Town? Nope. Traffic Police? Try again. PSE&G? Hah! It's YOU!  According to our tipster, who called PSE&G, residents are expected to report bulbs on the blink. But WAIT, an address isn't enough, you have to stop, stumble around in the dark, search the pole for an identification number, call it in and wait.  And waiting is what SK has been doing for months, after reporting about a dozen street lights being out... Ok everyone, grab your flashlights and let's start pole dancing...

of our new State Slogan: "Come See For Yourself".   Governor Codey said he was proud of a state "whose residents came forward with thousands of ways to tell the world that New Jersey is a wonderful place to live, work and play." Apparently he must not have seen the suggestions of our own Baristareaders.  There was a large audience at the State House -- who did come to see for themselves -- not Codey, but rather the prospect of seeing more than 100 strippers  protesting the new smoking ban. The crowd, of about 500 mostly male onlookers, got to see only a dozen fully clothed exotic dancers, exposing little more than belly buttons. Is it too late for New Jersey: The Bait and Switch State?

A Glen Ridge police car careened into an unoccupied Saturn station wagon on Clark Street this afternoon, apparently after losing an axle. No civilians were hurt, but rescue units seemed to have a difficult time pulling the officer from the car. He was finally removed, alive, but his condition is not known.

Meet  Jared Molton   better known as the magic guy at Montclair  High School where he performs card and coin tricks in the halls like any other senior. Jared, an entrepreneur and party entertainer, loved magic tricks as a kid, and decided to take his hobby to a new level after seeing Lance Burton in Las Vegas.  His favorite crowd wower? Taking a watch from the audience and then returning it INSIDE a sealed can of soup (intact in a baggie). So what does he think of Montclair's own Kreskin, who is 71 today? " He's one of the best mentalists around today. Something I've been advised not to try until I have some grey hair". (Wise move!)

Judging by the late date the town of Montclair is willing to pick up your dead Christmas tree, they must be on to the holiday tree hoarders. Scheduled curbside pickups continue through February 2, just in time for you to switch to your Valentine's Day decor. (Don't forget those wreaths!) Pick ups are Monday (Area A), Tuesday (Area D), Wednesday (Area B), Thursday (Area C). Trees in Baristaville end up as eco-friendly mulch, unlike Christmas trees in Northern Arizona that are becoming part of the food chain.

How much better are the kids gonna bowl now? Well, Bloomfield High's  bowling teams have really been smokin' down at the lanes. The girls' Division A team are in second place, and the boys' Division A team is in first place, ranking 13th in the state. Hope they don't need an exemption for all that smoke!

These soon-to-be Baristaville digs have the added cache (or liability?) of being thisclose to a pub. For the deal, go to Real Estate.

Two more restaurants join Montclair's growing "For Sale" club. On the market, and steps away from each other, are Royal India ($210,000) and Cafe Sultan ($150,000).

Meanwhile, on Grove Street storefront, north of Walnut, we spied the sign...

"Coming Soon: Gourmet Products"

As reported on the Montclair website, an "update" from PSE&G. It seems pretty truthy to us. It just needed a little tweaking.

JANUARY 8th UPDATE FROM PSE&G

PSE&G replaced all of the faulty underground cable on the circuit. [Anybody want to take bets?]

After a power outage on Thursday [and um, the Tuesday before that and the Friday before that and oh, we kind of lost track] impacted wisdom teeth service to some 1,920 Montclair residents - many of whom had suffered multiple problems [some of which even had to do with electricity] in the past few weeks - PSE&G quickly took a number of steps to communicate with residents [but not until we kind of busted their balls] .

Utility officials met with town officials Friday to outline the things being done to restore reliable electric service. [Can they restore something they haven't had? Define reliable.] The utility also reached out to each of the impacted wisdom teeth customers in Montclair and surrounding towns with personal phone calls.[Flowers would have been nice, though.]

Rest assured: PSE&G is doing everything in its power to ensure that area residents have their power. [That's a lot of power.] The utility asks that residents be patient while they work to find a solution.[We thought they had a solution: replacing all the faulty underground cable].

PSE&G crews finished replacing all of the problematic underground cable Friday night, and tested the remaining 1,000 feet [Emphasis ours: If they replace all of it, why was there 1,000 feet left?] to ensure its integrity. This should minimize underground cable problems, a main culprit in the %)(*$*&! repeat outages.

PSE&G will continue to provide the town's webmaster with regular updates, until the issue is resolved.[But if you really want to know what's going on, read Baristanet.]

Montclair residents with questions about their bills or reports of emergencies should continue to call [if you can get through]the utility's 24-hour customer service center at 1-800-436-7734, [in other words, we didn't get any deal for them to pay for all that spoiled ice cream] but those with concerns about electric reliability in the area are encouraged to call (973) 365-5287.[Not Mr. Ed]

Meanwhile, as for those two electrical fires last January caused by downed power lines and the one on Christmas Eve, we'll just pretend they didn't happen.

And all it took was one meeting with our town officials? Or maybe it was the wake up call from Mayor Ed that finally got them out of the dark and got them dialing 1,920 angry customers...and there's still that problem of restitution....

A couple of events in the Baristaville area that might be of interest:

• Tomorrow night (Thursday, Jan. 12), George Witte, editor in chief of St. Martin's Press will read from his new poetry collection,The Apparitioners, at Watchung Booksellers. Witte will also field questions about publishing in both small and large presses.
• On Monday, Jan. 30, author Caridad Pineiro will lead the latest in a continuing series for aspiring writers at Barnes and Noble, Clifton Commons. This month's installment: how to write a compelling plot.

Both events are at 7:30 pm. And then, for those who might like an alternate route...

Continue reading "So You Want to Be an Author..." »

Here's where to find them.

We're hoping this Craigslist "missed connection" isn't for real ... or at least that it's an MSU student, and not an MHS student, being lusted after. (Click ad for larger image.)

Residents of Montclair Ave. in Montclair are jittery these days because of a recent rash of break-ins and attempted break-ins, which started around New Year's Eve. A tipster writes:

i think it's seven break-ins/attemps in 8 days. three last night and then four right around nyeve. it's like we're sitting ducks. do any of these burglars ever get caught?

No return call yet from the Montclair Police Department, but we'll let you know if they illuminate the story.

A nice write-up in today's Star Ledger for 12 Miles West's hip-hop dance class, offered by the NJ School of Dramatic Arts. The class, taught by Carrie Nagy of Clifton, merges street dance with acting, and the students are told constantly to "fight for your objective." (Thanks to John Shabe at nj.com for sending over the picture, which features Carolyn Meyer of Glen Ridge, front left.)

The Baristas annoy people under our own names. But all you trolls out there who do it anonymously are apparently breaking the law. C-Net says the prohibition is part of the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act.

It's no joke. Last Thursday, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity.

In other words, it's OK to flame someone on a mailing list or in a blog as long as you do it under your real name. Thank Congress for small favors, I guess.

(Hat tip to Buzzmachine.) The flame-throwing and annoyingness may commence.

Now that the NJ Assembly has approved an indoor smoking ban, the only stinky thing left will be the shoes. Also included in the ban: restaurants, bars, private clubs, bingo halls and enclosed shopping malls.

When the Barista was a teenager (yes she was, once), the thing that used to spring us from afternoon algebra class was the called-in bomb threat. At Bloomfield High School, the semi-regular event that gives the kids a little fresh air is the dust-and-fume evacuation. We hear there was one today. From a tipster:

Can you even stand it? They evacuated again today. Friend just called. Heard the building had evacuated. She got hold of one of the secretaries. Apparently "construction dust" got into the alarm system. I mean - comeon! How many times can the same crew screw up? :-) (That's like asking how many angels can dance on the head of a pin... you have to be a true believer, and I truly believe this construction project has an infinite number of screw ups yet to come.)

This one goes out to the canine-kissin' Miss Martta and all the other dog lovers in Baristaville. Not to take you away from our page, but there's a new website and blog devoted to dog devotees in Montclair. Click here to read and comment on issues ranging from doggy day cares to flying disks that aren't worth the slobber. (Thanks to Adriana for the heads up.)

Former Glen RIdge mayor Steve Plate, who lost the last election to Carl Bergmanson, has been tapped for an even bigger job: heading up the redevelopment of the World Trade Center for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Plate, who worked in the trade center, survived the attack because he went to work late that day.

The Port Authority plans to build a PATH transportation hub on the site.

In other Steve Plate and Port Authority-related news, we hear that former GR councilwoman Nancy Olson, often a controversial figure around town, has moved to Manhattan.

This touching note arrived in our mailbox last night from Kimberly Cicala, daughter of Glen Ridge murder victim Joan Galligan.

It has been just over one month since my mother, Joan Galligan, was murdered. Since the horrible day that I went to her home, worried after she uncharacteristically did not show up for work, our emotions have ranged from numbness, to frustration, to despair. It is the anger, though, that helps us through each day, allowing us to remain focused on reaching resolution for my mother. She lived her life with dignity and integrity, and I will not allow for the questions surrounding her death to go unresolved.

A great source of comfort during this most difficult time has been the support of the Glen Ridge and surrounding communities. It is the kindness of family and friends, neighbors and strangers, that has carried us through these dark days. Out of respect for the innocence and spirit of our two children, we celebrated Christmas, giving them the gifts that my mother had bought for them before her death. We have received countless cards, gifts and visits - and I thank you for each and every one.

I can only imagine the continued concern that must exist throughout the Glen Ridge and surrounding communities, knowing that the person responsible for her death has not yet been apprehended. Please continue to keep my mother in your thoughts and prayers.

Best, Kimberly Cicala

Well it's official: the former Ford dealership on Bloomfield Ave. is intended for condos -- 110 of them -- this time by Sterling Properties, the same folks who brought you the Belleclair, on the site of the old Belleclair bowling alley. Does anybody else besides us see the poetic justice of having a Ford dealership turn into a showcase for the mass production of housing units?

Of course it's not a done deal yet, as the Star Ledger points out today.

The Montclair location is zoned commercial. "So they'll have to get a variance," Remsen said.

Sounds like something you could just run out to the Home Depot and pick up. Anyone have any doubts they'll get one?

Next time you're at Fivebucks Starbucks, fly your sneak flag and order a short cappuccino. That's what folks are doing to land a bargain and a better java drink at the same time, according to Slate. The strategy is a smart one, especially for those "price-blind customers...the ones buying enough latte to bathe Cleopatra." Here's the skinny on the secret, cheaper cappuccino and why less is actually more...

The short cappuccino has the same amount of espresso as the 12-ounce tall, meaning a bolder coffee taste, and also a better one. The World Barista Championship rules, for example, define a traditional cappuccino as a "five- to six-ounce beverage." This is also the size of cappuccino served by many continental cafés. Within reason, the shorter the cappuccino, the better.

Besides home, where do you get your plain cup of joe, or fancy java drink, in Baristaville? And of course, talk amongst yourselves...