Joe D.’s Spending Spree? Fox News Digs In

BY  |  Thursday, May 17, 2012 9:00am  |  COMMENTS (33)

A recent segment on Fox 5 News (watch it here) delves into the $23.5 that Essex County taxpayers have spent over the last ten years to fund improvements to the Turtle Back Zoo ($12.5 million alone), the new Mini Golf Course, McLoone’s Boathouse and other endeavors — all signature capital projects of Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

A sample quote from the piece: “In this tough economy, most governments are raising taxes or slashing their budgets.  But one local government is spending tens of millions of dollars on a zoo.” In an on-camera interview, the County Exec. defends the projects as much-needed economic development. He asks the reporter, “Why shouldn’t I have these dreams?” Continue Reading

Christie and Booker: Don’t Worry, They Got This

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:49am  |  COMMENTS (16)

Gov. Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker appear together in a parody video made for the New Jersey Press Association Legislative Correspondents Club Show. The video does a pretty clever job of playing off Christie’s supposed frustration with Booker’s super-hero image.  Watch it and let us know what you think.

 

Scenes from Election Night

BY  |  Wednesday, May 09, 2012 9:17am  |  COMMENTS (11)

The scenes from election night parties of Real Progress Montclair and Montclair 2012 last night couldn’t have been more different. As Karen Turner and her slate assembled outside of Tierney’s, getting ready to ascend the outside stairs to the party where their fans were waiting, they were tight-lipped and tense. I heard somebody on a cell phone say, “Are we still down by 1,000 votes?” and someone else shout, “Don’t ask how much we’re down by. Ask what the totals are.” At-large candidate LeeAnn Carlson, arriving, muttered the words a “hatchet job the New York Times” to a supporter. Meanwhile, manager Larry Kopp was so protective of his team he actually tried to body block me ascending the outside stairs as I followed the slate upstairs. Finally, he let me pass and go into the room. Continue Reading

RPM Complains About NYT Story “Fabrications”

BY ,  |  Tuesday, May 08, 2012 1:54pm  |  COMMENTS (56)

UPDATED: 3:45 p.m. with response from Kopp (see below)

Real Progress Montclair campaign manager Larry Kopp and candidate Chris Swenson today both charged New York Times writer Kate Zernike of writing outright fabrications regarding the Turner campaign in last night’s story about the Montclair campaign. “The article is just riddled with inaccuracies,” said Kopp, who accused the Times of “lazy reporting” and having an agenda against the RPM slate. Continue Reading

Jackson Using Paid Leafleteers from Newark

BY  |  Tuesday, May 08, 2012 11:45am  |  COMMENTS (46)

Are Robert Jackson and his Montclair 2012 slate connected to the Essex Count political machine? This worker, handing out campaign literature near the Dunkin’ Donuts on Bloomfield Ave., is from Newark. He said he was getting paid and knew nothing about Jackson or the campaign. Continue Reading

Thanks for the Memories, Montclair Film Festival

BY  |  Monday, May 07, 2012 1:45pm  |  COMMENTS (6)

It was a wonderful week for everybody who participated. Kudos to Montclair Film Festival founder Bob Feinberg, to general manager Meredith Ladov, co-directors Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers — and to all the volunteers, board members, filmmakers and audiences that made it such a special week.

David Bromberg Film Debuts in Montclair

BY  |  Sunday, May 06, 2012 1:19pm  |  COMMENTS (3)

Deep Throat famously said, “Follow the money.” But after seeing two documentaries at the Clairidge this week, one on Johnnie Carson, the other on David Bromberg, I would say, “Follow the young magicians.” Who knew that both the king of late night television and one of the most iconic and electrifying musicians of the 1970′s both followed the same path out of difficult family environments and onto the stage?

Until this week, I knew nothing about film festivals or David Bromberg, really. But I think I can safely say that a film festival works when you find yourself talking to a complete stranger while standing in line, and that stranger happens to be to the director of one of the hottest tickets at the festival, which is how I met Beth Toni Kruvant, director of “David Bromberg: Unsung Treasures,” which debuted Friday night to a sold-out audience. In the end, she took her own tickets to the show out of her wallet and gave them to me so I could see the show.

Continue Reading

A Gorgeous Oversimplification of Melodrama at The Montclair Film Festival

BY  |  Saturday, May 05, 2012 10:00am  |  COMMENTS (0)

Montclair Film Festival audiences saw an extended director’s cut of Terence Nance’s beautiful film, An Oversimplification of Her Beauty.  At least that’s what Nance, who scripted, directed, acted in, animated, and wrote music for the film, told those who attended the Friday night screening of this “one-sided non-fiction” documentary.  Future screenings at other festivals will have various scenes cut out, including references to Prince’s Purple Rain. If you want to see the extended cut, make sure to get tickets to Sunday’s screening of the film for the Montclair Film Festival. Continue Reading

MFF Day Four: It’s All Happening on Church Street

BY  |  Friday, May 04, 2012 6:30pm  |  COMMENTS (9)

It was all happening on Church Street this afternoon, where I caught up with Bob Feinberg, founder and chairman of the Montclair Film Festival, Beth Toni Kruvant, director of David Bromberg Unsung Treasure, and Terence Nance, director of Oversimplification of Her Beauty. Here’s how it felt to be sitting outside Raymond’s on a beautiful Friday in early May, on the fourth day of the first annual Montclair Film Festival.

Ticket Giveaway: Red Molly at Outpost in the Burbs

BY  |  Thursday, May 03, 2012 3:30pm  |  COMMENTS (3)

Tomorrow at 8 p.m., Outpost in the Burbs presents “Red Molly with Guest Carsie Blanton” at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Montclair (67 Church Street).

Baristanet is giving away two tickets to the concert, courtesy of Outpost.  Keep reading for details.

A folk music trio, Red Molly was formed late one night at the 2004 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Outpost writes on its website, “It seems the magic of Red Molly stems from the richness and diversity of each member’s “pre-Molly” experiences.”  Read more here.

To enter, watch the attached video and answer this question: Why is this the best time in your life?  Tell us in comments before 6:00 2:00 p.m. tonight  on Friday, and we’ll pick a winner randomly. Be sure to let us know whether you can indeed use the tickets for Friday night.

If you don’t win but you still want to see a great show, you can still buy tickets for $22 in advance or for $25 at the door. (Doors open at 7:30.)

Featured Comment

I'll be visiting two cemeteries to pay tribute to two men with whom I served in Nam, and I'm really surprised the Baristas didn't include such a visitation as something specific to do this coming weekend. Since such remembrance is traditionally the true purpose of Memorial (or "Decoration") Day.
Posted by
cathar

Tip, Follow, Friend, Subscribe

Links & Information

Baristanet on Flickr

Browse all photos...