Where Is Elk City? In Montclair, Of Course

BY  |  Monday, Jul 26, 2010 2:43pm  |  COMMENTS (0)



Thank you. The free tickets have been awarded.

Musicians from the hippest neighborhoods in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Hoboken regularly find their way to the basement of a house on Orange Road in Montclair — all because of a wrong turn that drummer and record producer Ray Ketchem took five years ago.
Ketchem and his wife were actually on their way to a realtor open house on Harrison Avenue in West Orange, but when they instead ended up in front of the Montclair house, which had a toilet in the basement and just two steps up from the driveway (both important factors when bringing in heavy equipment and spending long hours rehearsing and recording), he was instantly sold. Now, the house’s living room is used as the “control room,” and the entire basement serves as the “live room” where Ketchem’s band Elk City plays. His 2-year-old son is like a cherubic presence amidst all the music, and he cries for more whenever the atmosphere goes quiet.
From this humble local space, Elk City, produced the bulk of their 2007 release, New Believers, and all of its latest album, House of Tongues , which is the buzz of indie music media across the country, including Magnet, Spinner and Blurt. The band introduced House of Tongues to the world when they played at SXSW for the first time in early 2010.

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Montclair: Sleeping Woman Gets Rude Awakening From Would-Be Burglar

BY  |  Monday, Jul 26, 2010 1:14pm  |  COMMENTS (14)

Police responded to a multi-family residence on Lexington Avenue on a report of a burglary. The victim was a twenty-three year old Montclair resident, who said she was in bed and woke up to find a male standing over her. The victim asked the male, “Who the f*** are you?” The male stated, “Oh, sh**,” and ran out of the bedroom. The victim chased the suspect out of the residence, and last saw him running north on Maple Avenue.
The suspect, who may have gained entry through an unsecured rear door, is described as a black male with a dark complexion and a crew cut, in his late twenties or early thirties. He was last seen wearing an athletic T-shirt with blue jean Capri pants and tan Timberland construction boots. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Charles Cunningham at 973-509-4716.
More from Lt. Scott Buehler, MPD, including a burglary attempt on Gordonhurst and more stolen flower pots

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Montclair To Kick Off Indie Retail Week

BY  |  Monday, Jul 26, 2010 11:30am  |  COMMENTS (1)

indie retail week.jpgNew York, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco …. and Montclair? Yes, Montclair is the first little town to be invited to participate in Independent Retail Week, a celebration of indie designers and retailers and an initiative of Nolcha.com. In Montclair, the week will take place Oct. 2 through 9, and will include lots of in-store events to draw shoppers back to downtown from the malls. Key forces behind the local campaign are Shop Local Montclair and the Montclair BID. Baristanet and Barista Kids have also signed up as media sponsors.
“This event will continue to spread the message state-wide that shopping locally is critical to the vitality of all New Jersey communities,” says Kelly DelRosso, owner of Semplice on Bloomfield Ave. and the founder of Shop Local Montclair.

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Another Sad Case: The Fatal Beating in Summit

BY  |  Monday, Jul 26, 2010 9:00am  |  COMMENTS (27)

downtown summit.jpgMaybe geography is destiny. Dean Gaymon, a 48-year-old Georgia CEO and father of four, came back to Montclair for a high school reunion a week ago on Friday, and wound up shot to death by an undercover detective in Branch Brook Park. The following night, last Saturday, Abelino Mazaniego, a 47-year-old Salvadoran immigrant and father of four, was resting on a park bench in downtown Summit when he was allegedly beaten to death by a group of teenagers.
While we were fixated on the shocking news about Gaymon, the story about Mazaniego came out in dribs and drabs. The beating, captured on video, happened on Saturday. Mazaniego died Tuesday afternoon. Two Summit teenagers were arrested on Wednesday and a third was arrested in Morristown on Friday. All have been charged with manslaughter.

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How Are You Doing the Mad Man Thing Tonight?

BY  |  Sunday, Jul 25, 2010 8:28pm  |  COMMENTS (5)

Don_Draper_Wiki.jpgWe can feel it. Maplewood and Montclair, Glen Ridge and Millburn, men are standing in front of the mirror, about to part their hair. Ice is clinking in glasses. Women are asking for help zipping dresses off or on. We have a feeling that whatever corner of Baristaville you reside in, it’s Don Draper country. But it’s just a hunch. Maybe you don’t even have a Season 4 Mad Men Wishlist. (Oh please oh please oh please, let Betty Draper have a bad hair day!)
Maplewood, here’s hoping you get your own “Mad Men” shout-out like Montclair did in 2008. And Sam Joseph, if you’re out there having a “Mad Men” party and you didn’t invite the Baristas, you’re in a heap of trouble. Meanwhile, we warn new fans of our site to consider anything after the jump with a certain degree of caution. Always good advice. But especially if you want to avoid spoilers.

The Grass Isn’t Greener In Our Towns

BY  |  Sunday, Jul 25, 2010 8:46am  |  COMMENTS (21)


It’s been one of the hottest and driest Julys in New Jersey history, and it shows. Mother Nature has been scorching the lawns at the public buildings in Glen Ridge, throwing a swath of burn across Bloomfield Center and brush stroking autumn hues upon the grassy fields of Brookdale Park.
How’s your little patch of green brown?

RIP, Dean Gaymon

BY  |  Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 12:20pm  |  COMMENTS (7)

dean_head.jpg The funeral of slain credit union executive Dean Gaymon, killed by an undercover detective last weekend in Branch Brook Park during his visit to attend the Montclair High School Reunion, is going on now in Columbia, South Carolina.
Baristanet extends its sympathy to Gaymon’s family and friends and invites other members of the community to do so as well. Inflammatory comments are not welcome in this thread.

Montclair’s Salvation Army Welcomes New Majors

BY  |  Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 12:00pm  |  COMMENTS (4)

majors2.JPGThe Salvation Army of Montclair recently welcomed Majors Larry and Janet Ashcraft, a husband and wife team who transferred from The Army’s Northeast Ohio Division in Cleveland. The Ashcrafts replace Majors Alastair and Carole Bate, who were transferred to Portland, Maine.

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“Wizard of Oz” – Let’s Try It Tonight Without a Tornado Warning!

BY  |  Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 10:38am  |  COMMENTS (2)


A wise call by Maplewood’s Rec Department and the Maplewood Village Alliance not to have last night’s planned outdoor screening of “Wizard of Oz” while actual twisters threatened Essex County. So if you want to see Dorothy, Toto and gang outdoors with friends and neighbors, just show up at the Memorial Park Amphitheater in Maplewood tonight (Saturday, July 24) at 8 pm. (Update from Maplewood Online)

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Moonstruck in Montclair

BY  |  Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 10:00am  |  COMMENTS (0)

moonstruckMIFF.jpg
Grab your folding chairs or festival blanket and get ready for another free outdoor movie night on Church Street brought to you by The Montclair International Film Festival. Their second summer 2010 event will feature Moonstruck, a charming romantic comedy set in Brooklyn Heights, starring Nicholas Cage, Cher,Vincent Gardenia and former Montclair home girl, Olympia Dukakis (whose Moonstruck performance won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress). If you missed the last event, make an effort to get to this one. It is absolutely one of the most lovely scenes in the neighborhood (and last time there was free popcorn!).
Thursday July 29th (raindate aug 5th)
8:30pm (film at 9:00pm sharp)
Church Street will be closed to traffic between S Fullerton and S Park

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