Pay by Phone Parking Coming to Montclair

BY  |  Friday, Apr 29, 2011 8:58am  |  COMMENTS (17)

Something radical is happening to Montclair parking, effective Tuesday of next week. Parkmobile USA announced yesterday that folks will be able to conduct their parking transactions by mobile phone, using a new system that has been implemented in more than 100 cities worldwide. If you’re not tech-savvy, don’t worry — coins will still work too. Continue Reading

Snoop’s Big Party

BY ,  |  Friday, Apr 29, 2011 6:58am  |  COMMENTS (36)

Snoop Dogg fans had to wait a month for the concert, after it was rescheduled, but the diverse group of people that packed the house last night were clearly pumped when he finally opened the show with a bang. Snoop started with some of his new music, then moved back in time to the early days of his career. At this point, it might be safe to call them “oldies.”

“It was a journey through his music,” one long time fan told Baristanet. “It felt like I partied with him, it was epic”

The audience moved to Snoop’s beat, bobbing their heads and clearly familiar with the lyrics. Snoop played with his audience, dancing and waving, and giving his ego a workout. However, so as not to “let this “pimp” fool you,” Snoop also showed a sensitive side during the show. He even had a moment of silence dedicated to his close friend, Nate Dogg, who died last month at the age of 41 from stroke complications. For that, he remained perfectly still and serious.

Snoop also preformed songs of fellow friends in music business whom he has lost throughout the years including Tupac and Notrious B.I.G.
Overall, concert goers agreed that it was a night to remember.

As for us, we hope that there will be lots more music from the one, the only, Snoop D- O double G.

Photos by Rachel Kaplan

The Weekend

BY  |  Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 4:00pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

Despite spring starting over a month ago, it has just finally started to feel seasonal. The flowers are in bloom and Baristaville looks beautiful. The warm weather has had me itching to get out and there are some great events taking place this weekend to enjoy.

This weekend wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t include a Royal Wedding event and Halcyon in Montclair is the place to go.

On Friday, April 29, Halcyon will throw The Royal After’s Party, rebroadcasting the entire nuptials of William & Kate. Majestic cocktails, finger sandwiches, scones and, of course, wedding cake will be served. Competitions for the best wedding hat, bridesmaids’ dress, royal wave and top hat will take place.

The Royal After’s Party
Friday, April 29 from 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Halcyon, 114 Walnut Street, Montclair, NJ, 07042
Free to attend. Drinks and food for sale.

Continue Reading

Holocaust Remembrance Service, 5/1

BY  |  Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 2:30pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

Clergy from nearly 20 Jewish, Catholic and Protestant houses of worship will offer prayers and hymns at the 34th annual South Orange/Maplewood Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Service on Sunday, May 1, 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth-El, 222 Irvington Avenue, South Orange.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Harry Ettlinger, a German Jew who, with his immediate family, came to the U.S. in October 1938, only four weeks before Kristallnacht (“Night of the Broken Glass”). Ettlinger was then drafted into the American Army, returned to Europe as an Infantry replacement, and on his 19th birthday in January 1945, was pulled out from troops going to the front. Fluent in German and English, he had been reassigned as an interpreter, scheduled to participate in the Nuremberg trials. In the beginning of May 1945, however, he found himself in Munich, where he volunteered his services to the “Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, and is the last of the Monuments Men to speak in front of public audiences.

The program is open to the public, and is free of charge. It will be preceded at 6:15 PM by a Walk of Remembrance, this year from the central flagpole in South Orange Village to Congregation Beth-El. Continue Reading

Tea, Pie, Cookies and the Queen

BY  |  Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 1:00pm  |  COMMENTS (18)

You don’t have to be British to have caught a bit of the Royal Wedding fever. Around Baristaville, there are signs of celebration, in food, drink and gown wearing. Check out what we’ve assembled.

True story. “Hello sir, may I help you?’ “TURKEY PIE, PLEASE.” “Ok Sir, Large or small?” “LARGE TURKEY PIE PLEASE! ” This is all the man behind me, on line at the The Pie Store in Montclair seemed to be able to say. He had this rather hypnotized look over his eyes — a bit zombie-esque.  But I completely understood his single minded pie-speak. He needed one thing and one thing only. I too have been there, and have scorched the roof of my mouth after not being able to let my hot-out-of-the-oven dinner cool. I’m that girl and these are those kinda pies. Continue Reading

CCM: Montclair Must Rethink Government Structure

BY ,  |  Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 11:30am  |  COMMENTS (11)

This is the latest installment in a series of opinion-editorials about the Montclair budget, by the Concerned Citizens of Montclair.

Municipalities across the country, in all states, are struggling with exploding and unsustainable budgets. Some have begun to actively – and aggressively – reinvent their governments from the top-down. They see that they need substantive change if they are to reduce their costs to a sustainable level. And a sustainable cost structure is essential for future economic growth and development.

In 2000, the city of Baltimore commissioned a study to help reinvent itself; they needed to significantly decrease the cost of their government while improving services and public opinion. They hired the Institute of Policy Studies, part of The Johns Hopkins University, to work with the Baltimore Efficiency and Economy Foundation. The Institute of Policy Studies, or IPS, describes itself as ‘the nation’s oldest, progressive, multi-issue think tank’. Their finding: Baltimore needed to move to ‘performance-based government’.

The report studied five US cities that had moved to this model: Charlotte, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Diego. They describe performance-based government as the framework used by cities that have a market and customer-centered approach, with an emphasis on competition and innovation – rather than monopoly and bureaucracy – to drive the provision of public services. Baltimore was looking for innovation and change; they needed to adapt to economic difficulties while building a healthy foundation for future growth and economic development. That was in 2000. Baltimore developed a program called CitiStat in response. Since that time, at least 10 municipalities have studied Baltimore’s approach and have also implemented CitiStat programs. The Mayor jokes that the room where the CitiStat meetings are held is the city’s most popular tourist attraction. Continue Reading

Hello Again, Blockbuster

BY  |  Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 10:15am  |  COMMENTS (0)

Earlier in the month, we told you that Blockbuster’s Montclair store was closing, following an announcement in September that the company had declared bankruptcy.

However, if you’ve been by the supposedly defunct store in the CVS Plaza at Claremont Ave & Pine Street in the past week, you may have noticed a certain amount of activity now geared towards re-opening, clearly stated in a banner sign hanging in the window. At the moment, the store is in a state of flux, but Friday could bring the entertainment business back to Baristaville, though perhaps under a different name. Baristanet found store employees inside restocking shelves and giving out discount coupons for next week.

Blockbuster was bought by the satellite TV company, Dish Network in an auction last month for $228 million.

It is uncertain how the recent sale will affect customers, but Dish Network is guaranteeing an improved experience for both Blockbuster and Dish Network customers, according to their press materials. “While Blockbuster’s business faces significant challenges, we look forward to working with its employees to re-establish Blockbuster’s brand as a leader in video entertainment,” said Tom Cullen, executive vice president of Sales, Marketing and Programming for Dish Network on the company web site.

“Don’t believe the rumors,” one familiar faced Blockbuster employee jokingly told Baristanet when we stopped into the store this week. “Blockbuster in Montclair will remain open.”

Both Blockbuster Inc. and Dish Network, stated they could not respond to our inquiries until the sale is finalized at the end of this week.

Early Morning Birdsong

BY  |  Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 9:00am  |  COMMENTS (21)

By the time it was fully light, the Baristaville birds quieted down this morning — or perhaps the increase in human activity just drowned out their pre-dawn symphony. This week, starting at about 4 a.m. there has been a daily melodious racket, which has woken me up on several occasions. While I’ve always been an early riser, these little peeping alarm clocks are pushing my schedule to where I don’t want it to go. Montclair’s Second Ward Councilor Cary Africk has also heard the birds’ clarion call to get up and start the day, although his canines appear to be the one to have pulled him out of bed. Africk posted this on his facebook page yesterday:

Is there something going on I should know about? Woke up about 4 and went outside with the dogs, only to encounter an absolute symphony of birds singing I mean we’re talking Beethoven here. Maybe not 9, but certainly 3. What’s all this night time madness? Are bird bars open late on Tuesday? By the time it was light, they were all gone. Thoughts?

Continue Reading

Coffee with…Lora Urbanelli

BY  |  Wednesday, Apr 27, 2011 4:00pm  |  COMMENTS (1)

In 2009, Lora Urbanelli joined the Montclair Art Museum as director.  During her short tenure, Lora implemented a plan designed to cut costs while increasing the museum’s endowment, presented the blockbuster exhibition, Cézanne and American Modernism, and hired the museum’s first curator of contemporary art. 

Tara Williams sat down with Lora to discuss these activities and her plans for the organization as it approaches its centennial in 2014. Continue Reading

Toney’s Brook Clean Up, 4/30

BY  |  Wednesday, Apr 27, 2011 3:19pm  |  COMMENTS (0)

As part of Clean Ocean Action’s 26th year of semi-annual, state-wide cleans ups of NJ waterways, citizen work crews will be giving some love to Toney’s Brook in Montclair and Glen Ridge on Saturday, April 30th, 9:00-10 a.m.

Volunteers will work in teams of 2 or 3 people to both clean up the brook and document the types of debris found. This information will be put into a national database to help identify and eliminate the sources of water pollution.

Volunteers are asked to meet at either of two locations:

* Toney’s Brook in Glenfield Park-meeting at park entrance @ Woodland Ave & Pierson Place, follow signs to Toney’s Brook) our 6th year of clean-ups at this location, or

* The Glen, near the gazebo, our 3nd year of clean-ups at this location.

The event is rain or shine. Attendees are advised to bring work gloves, sunscreen and wear closed, hard-soled shoes.

Refreshments will be served.
For more info, call (973-680-8325) or click here. The event is sponsored by and Clean Ocean Action and the Glen Ridge Environmental Advisory Committee.

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Oh I get it now ....A meat and greet.
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