Green Redevelopment Plans, Hotel For Montclair’s Vacant DCH Prop?

BY  |  Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 12:00pm  |  COMMENTS (110)

Wondering what’s coming to Orange Road? The Montclair Township Redevelopment Subcommittee is hosting a second community meeting to gather public input for the preparation of the Montclair Center Gateway Redevelopment Plan – Phase 1, this Tuesday, March 1.

The Redevelopment Plan includes the vacant DCH auto facility located at the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Valley Road and the Orange Road parking deck. Mayor Jerry Fried talks to Comcast Newsmakers about an ambitious concept for the property as the “premiere green building project on the east coast” that would include a residential component, retail component, senior living as well as a hotel. Continue Reading

Paper Mill Playhouse Amuses the Shopping Public

BY  |  Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 10:00am  |  COMMENTS (1)

Shoppers at Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth recently became part of Paper Mill Playhouse‘s promotion of their new show — A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum — which opens on March 16. It’s pretty funny.

If you want to catch the next public performance art, check them out at the Rockaway Mall on Saturday, 3/5 from 12-2p, and at the Garden State Plaza on Monday 3/7, 12-2pm.

How do you react when drawn into this type of public performance? Do you ham it up or cringe with embarrassment?

For more information on A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum or to purchase tickets, click here.

The Real Jersey Shore Deal

BY  |  Sunday, Feb 27, 2011 9:00am  |  COMMENTS (3)

While at times during last night’s 2 1/2 hour set, John Lyon sounded like he was from the Mississippi Delta — or maybe an early twentieth century Chicago street corner — what the Ocean Grove-born musician known as Southside Johnny brought to the Wellmont stage was none other than the authentic sound of the Jersey Shore (back in the days before Snookie and The Situation took the moniker). Continue Reading

Baristaville Open Houses: Sunday, Feb. 27

BY  |  Saturday, Feb 26, 2011 1:00pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

Almost 90 properties are showing this weekend, the highest level in some time. The lower end of the market continues to dominate, with more than half of the listings at or under $500,000. Only a handful of condos are showing and just six homes are over the $1 million mark. Reductions are not trumpeted nearly as loudly as they have been in recent weeks. Could the market be stabilizing, or even recovering? Time will tell.

290 Hoover Ave., Unit 12, Bloomfield
List Price: $159,000
Taxes: $4,266/
association fee $335
Lot Size: n/a
1BR/1BA

This four-room Condo, a second floor unit, has a deck, an updated kitchen with a counter breakfast bar and two closets in the bedroom. The one-floor unit, built in approximately 1971, was recently painted and comes with a parking spot. It’s the least expensive property showing this week. Open house 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

191 Christopher St., Montclair
List Price: $1,299,999
Taxes: $23,993
Lot Size: 0.46 Acres
6BR/4.1BA

Built around 1902, this 4,500-sq. ft. 11-room Center Hall Colonial is among the most expensive homes showing this week. Nicely maintained and expansive, the house has a bedroom and bathroom on the third floor, a large deck, enclosed porch, updated bathrooms and kitchen and central air. There is a full, partially-finished basement and two-car detached garage. Open house 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Continue Reading

South Park Facelift: Lose The Rowdy Drunks First

Saturday, Feb 26, 2011 12:00pm  |  COMMENTS (15)

The Montclair Times reported on local merchants fearing the loss of parking as a result of the proposed South Park revamp. Siena resident Nancy LeRoy has another fear — and it starts with a V. She sent us this letter, also published in the Montclair Times, and asked us to share here.

Regarding last week’s article, “South Park’s facelift draws cheers, one fear,” there’s more to fear than just lack of parking in the neighborhood. What is promoted as an upscale area with the Siena condo, the supposed “jewel in the crown,” the South Park and Church Street intersection is plagued by the large groups of drunken crowds that gather outside the corner V Bar.

My apartment in the Siena overlooks this corner and evenings often begin with the heart-pounding beat of the “music” that resembles a pile driver directly beneath my bed and ends at 2 a.m. closing time with groups of 20 to 30 people partying on the corner.

Montclair patrol cars often line up on Church and around the corner on South Park and watch in order to “make sure nothing happens,” I was told by one police officer when I went down in my PJs and coat one night to ask why the noise continued. Continue Reading

There’s A Situation in West Orange Tonight

BY  |  Saturday, Feb 26, 2011 9:41am  |  COMMENTS (2)

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino is making a guest appearance tonight at 4Sixty6 in West Orange. The Situation” will be hosting tonight’s event with music by Guest DJ Griffel playing a mix of house, hip hop and mashups. Doors open at 9 p.m. Ladies are free until 11 p.m., gentlemen are $15 at the door. Full event information located at 4sixty6.com and facebook.com/4sixty6.

Looking for something completely different? Today, AMC Theatres nationwide are showing some of the best movies of the year on the big screen. Spend $35 and experience five of the Best Picture nominees, plus get a $10 AMC Gift Card and a commemorative lanyard and event poster, for only $35. Theaters in NYC are in on it; info at AMCTheatres.com/BPS .

Cerf Consulting Work Conflict Continues

BY  |  Friday, Feb 25, 2011 4:53pm  |  COMMENTS (11)

More questions for acting education commissioner Christopher Cerf, who has distanced himself from a group called Global Education Advisors that produced a report recommending that some of Newark’s low-performing public schools be replaced with charter schools.

In an interview with the Star Ledger’s Bob Braun, Cerf said his involvement with the group, which was founded by Cerf and lists his Montclair home as its NJ address, was short and took place when he was “a civilian.” Earlier this week, Cerf said he did little more than allow his address to be used for incorporation papers. According to the Ledger, Cerf also asked the paper not to publish the story because he didn’t think it was important. Conflict of interest was an issue for Cerf in New York.

Now Politicker NJ has an interview with Christopher Cerf’s brother Randy Cerf saying he never heard of Global Education Advisors. Before his appointment as acting education commissioner, Chris Cerf was chief operating officer of Sangari Global Education. Rajeev Bajaj, listed as company president of Sangari Global Education, is now operating Global Education Advisors.

Montclair Blotter: Theft, Vandalism…and a Reminder

Friday, Feb 25, 2011 3:15pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

Today’s blotter (scroll down below) involves two thefts and vandalism. Yesterday’s police blotter detailed a significant heroin trafficking bust on North Mountain Ave. — we draw your attention to this note from Montclair police:

Though the detectives were able to identify and arrest two males involved in this drug distribution ring, it is concerning that their apprehension was made in an area where we do not typically receive reports associated with heroin trafficking. Perhaps these two men chose this location because they mistakenly believed that their criminal activity would go unnoticed. These arrests show that drug trafficking can occur virtually anywhere, and I ask that residents report any suspicious behavior that they see to assist in identifying and investigating possible crimes occurring. It is disturbing that these men had ammunition in the residence without explanation, and I am hopeful that the continuing investigation will perhaps remove another gun from the streets.”

Theft Continue Reading

Vote for Jesse and Dana

BY  |  Friday, Feb 25, 2011 2:00pm  |  COMMENTS (5)

Jesse Good and Dana Barry were vacationing separately in Amsterdam in May 2009, meeting for the first time when he spilled a drink on her in the Leidseplein. They had a nice, but short, conversation, and that might have been that, except for the fact that fate seated them side by side on their flight home.
Continue Reading

Paying at the Pump

BY  |  Friday, Feb 25, 2011 12:00pm  |  COMMENTS (17)

Wall Street is betting that turmoil in Libya will result in $120/barrel petroleum by April, and higher prices are already showing up in New Jersey, including Baristaville.

Continue Reading

Featured Comment

Oh I get it now ....A meat and greet.
Posted by
johnqp

Tip, Follow, Friend, Subscribe

Links & Information

Baristanet on Flickr

Browse all photos...