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When Joseph Kuzemka held his first punk-rock flea market in Trenton in 2013, he booked 40 vendor tables and two food trucks, expecting at most 100 attendees. Over 3,000 people showed up. This year, the weekend of April 12–13, the New Jersey Punk Rock Flea Market (formerly the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market) will host upwards of 10,000 people per day, with 12 food trucks, at CURE Insurance Arena. Among the interesting offerings from the 500 vendors will be vintage clothing and toys, artwork, v...

Set in Long Island and New York City, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a timeless tale of class, wealth and infidelity that’s been called the Great American Novel. New Jersey played a supporting role in Gatsby’s creation. Fitzgerald attended Princeton University from 1913 to 1917, where he wrote poems and prose for the Nassau Literary Magazine and lyrics for student shows presented by the Princeton Triangle Club. “Princeton was crucial in Fitzgerald’s development as a writer,�...

By day, soft-spoken plastic surgeon Arnold Breitbart nips and tucks. In his spare time, he tends to an elaborate winemaking endeavor in his backyard and basement. He grows grapes in his self-planted vineyard, then crushes, ferments, bottles, corks and labels. “It’s an amateur operation,” the self-proclaimed perfectionist explains, “but I try to do it professionally.” Though Breitbart is now based on Long Island, he was born and raised in Jersey, spent many summers in Bradley Beach an...

Openings Meximodo Cocina Mexicana & Tequila Bar, Jersey City The second location of this premiere Mexican restaurant will open in Jersey City in late spring or early summer. Meximodo already has a location in Metuchen, which broke the Guinness World Record for the largest tequila/mezcal selection in a bar/restaurant. The new spot will contain the same giant library of spirits, in addition to a regionally inspired menu of traditional and contemporary Mexican cuisine. Van Leeuwen Ice Cre...

Ready to roll up your sleeves and connect with your inner artist? Try your hand at any of these DIY artistic endeavors, no experience necessary. Bring your kids or a friend or two, and go home with a new skill and the beautiful product of your handiwork. [RELATED: 50 Fun Things to Do on a Rainy Day in New Jersey] Glass art Make a colorful, decorative object at GlassRoots in Newark or Hot Sand in Asbury Park by blowing your own glass. At Glassworks Studio in Morristown, create coasters, picture...

Vinyl is back with music lovers of all ages, and it’s not just a blast from the past. Across New Jersey, dozens of shops carry treasured LPs, both new and old. “It’s not a retro thing at all. They’re here to stay,” says music journalist Adam Budofsky, founder of Sweet Vinyl Café, a record shop and café in Denville. Customers can spend hours getting their hands dusty leafing through stacks of records. Whether chatting with fellow fans about some indie gem or exploring new genres, rec...

Look out your window and imagine the rainwater runoff from your home diverted to a flower-filled rain garden. Planted in a shallow depression in the ground, a rain garden collects, filters and absorbs rainwater from downspouts, lawns and driveways that would otherwise carry pollutants to waterways. Planning a rain garden involves calculating its size, siting it, and ensuring it drains before mosquitoes breed. “It’s not a weekend DIY project,” says Steven Yergeau, a Rutgers Cooperative Ext...

Hearing the word rain in the forecast might not be the weather report you were hoping for, but April showers bring New Jersey Monthly editors a lot of ideas for fun things to do on a rainy day! In this guide, we spotlight more than 50 indoor places to visit, across North, Central and South Jersey. There are a handful of brand-new places on our list, including the highly anticipated Edelman Fossil Park & Museum at Rowan University, as well as Blue Run, an indoor skiing and snowboarding...

Roughly 80 percent of American Jews are of Polish ancestry. Yet because the Jewish population in Poland was decimated during the Holocaust—2.7 out of 3 million Jews were killed—Americans rarely return to their ancestral homes there. Laura Morowitz, a Verona resident, is an exception. In 2022 she traveled to see the shtetls where her grandparents had lived. The documentary short Lilac/Bez, a series of evocative photographs of her visit, will be screened at the Garden State Film Festival on S...

Usually, people are less than thrilled to find a mint-green jury summons in their mailbox. But many Essex County residents who answer the call are pleasantly surprised to discover that jury duty can actually be enjoyable, thanks to jury wrangler Rachel Brooks. Every day for the last decade, Brooks, whose official title is Essex County Jury Manager, has shepherded hundreds of jurors through the selection process for all petit- and grand-jury cases—up to 6,000 a month. She answers questions in ...

A curved maple-and-walnut wooden chess set and its companion pieces put a new spin on keeping your eyes on the board; $300 at umbra.com.   In this Jersey-centric drinking board game, players pay tolls, take sobriety tests and make rules along the way; $29.99 at truejersey.com. Game night has never been prettier than when these William Morris wallpaper-inspired playing cards are in the mix; $16.91 at vam.ac.uk. This backgammon set is handsome enough for display. It features a zebra-s...

The bell will ring in championship boxing in Atlantic City this weekend with a card of local fighters, including local resident Justin Figueroa, for the main event at the Tropicana. Larry Goldberg, founder of the popular sports site boxinginsider.com, stepped out of the media ring and into another aspect of the boxing world when he became a promoter. Goldberg came out swinging in his new role, racking up more New York events in 2023 than any other promoter, all of them sellouts. After an absen...

Closings The Americana Diner, West Orange This was one of the last remaining 24-hour diners in New Jersey. It closed on March 3. Byrd, Hoboken After less than a year, this American restaurant has permanently closed its doors. Co-owned by chefs Ehren and Nadine Ryan, Byrd was the sister restaurant of Millburn’s popular Common Lot. The restaurant reportedly closed on March 15. Openings Steady Hand Café, Bradley Beach Steady Hand Cafe, a local pop-up known for its creative and nostalgic coffee ...

Bring your Hogwarts pride to a magical Harry Potter-themed getaway. Wizard Weekend at Cape May’s La Mer Beachfront Resort—happening Friday, March 21 through Sunday, March 23—will pay homage to the much-loved imaginary world created by author J.K. Rowling almost 30 years ago. Reserve your spot for any or all three events. There's the TriWizard Bar Trivia Tournament on Friday, the Screen to Table: Wizarding Dinner on Saturday, and a future-predicting Divinations Tea Leaf Reading Class on...

As the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament kicks off this week, Newark is welcoming March Madness with open arms. With the Prudential Center hosting the East Regional games March 27-29, establishments across the city are offering exclusive promotions and deals to accompany the big Sweet 16/Elite Eight weekend. To spread the word, the city launched “Newark Fan Fest,” a mobile passport which serves as a guide to the city during the Big Dance. This weekend, the program will give fans access to...

In the Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer, J. Robert Oppenheimer is seen wrestling with the deadly consequences of his team’s development of the atom bomb after hundreds of thousands of people are killed when it’s dropped on Japan during World War II. After Los Alamos, Oppenheimer went on to become director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. There, he tried to come to grips with his part in developing the technology that threatened the very survival of humanity. He used his 20 y...

When homeowners Hilary Hoover and Darren Vengroff contacted interior designer Sarah Storms of Maplewood to reimagine their home in the heart of South Orange’s fast-paced Academy Heights, they were ready to embark on a first-floor, open-concept renovation. The couple and their daughter had previously lived in a rustic loft in Tribeca and an Art Deco home in a nearby South Orange residential area. After experiencing both urban buzz and suburban serenity, they chose their new digs on a bustling ...

Angels Community Outreach, a nonprofit in Gloucester County that helps unsheltered and in-need families, was started by a 12-year-old girl who had once been homeless herself. When Katelyn Darrow was small, she fled her home with her sisters and mother to escape domestic violence. A few years later, a house fire left them homeless. Yet those bleak years, during which her family was supported by the local community, inspired Katelyn, at age 12, to start Angels Community Outreach, a Pitman-based n...

Openings Kura Sushi, Paramus This new revolving sushi bar at Westfield Garden State Plaza combines authentic Japanese cuisine with interactive dining. Via a two-layered conveyor-belt system, guests can choose their own dishes, while drink-delivery robots offer beverages. Kura Sushi also has locations in Cherry Hill Township, Edison, Fort Lee and Jersey City, with spots in Freehold and Lawrenceville coming soon. Namkeen, Lake Hiawatha Namkeen has opened its third Jersey location. The fast-casual...

The arrival of spring is always special at Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown, says staff horticulturist Katie Lepsis. The lush reds of the park’s parterre (rose garden), dense greens of its shrubs and bonsai trees, and striking shades of orchids make it easy to forget the property’s, er, colorful past. Later this month, an underworld figure from those bygone days is coming to a theater near you. Robert De Niro, star of legendary Mob movies Godfather II and Goodfellas, plays not one, but two le...

High season in Cape May has yet to begin, but on March 28 and 29, the streets of this Shore town will be abuzz with live music. More than 100 indie, folk, vocalists and experimental artists will converge for the Singer-Songwriter of Cape May Music Conference, returning after a five-year hiatus. The event will present artists with opportunities for professional development, networking and meeting with industry experts. After the panels, workshops and meet-and-greets, the music spreads out across...

In May 2022, Haddon Township’s Tom Turcich and his rescue dog, Savannah, became the 10th human and first canine to circle the globe on foot. Turcich, 35, has since written a memoir, The World Walk—7 Years, 28,000 Miles, 6 Continents: A Grand Meditation One Step at a Time (Skyhorse Publishing). He’s also self-published two children’s books about Savannah’s escapades on the walk, written in verse and illustrated by his mother, Catherine Turcich. The first, Savannah’s World of Adventu...

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This Tessa bar cart is at the ready for serving spirits. A sturdy frame and three glass-shelved tiers provide storage, and wheels make it mobile; $999 at ballarddesigns.com.   Innovative, teabag-inspired sachets are cold brewed for a low-cal, fruity, botanically delicious mixer. Add spirits or enjoy alone; $14.99 at drinksayso.com.   A debonair cast of characters joins the fun on these black-and-white, fired-porcelain coasters accented in gold; $75 at jonathanadler.com.  ...

Openings Palmetto Southern Kitchen + Bar Jersey hospitality company BarCo Brands is teaming up with Shore restaurateur James Avery—who recently appeared on the 23rd season of Hell's Kitchen—to bring a new spot to Asbury Park's boardwalk. Avery, who sold his Black Swan Public House to BarCo last month, will run the kitchen at Palmetto, serving such items as peel-and-eat shrimp, crab and collard dip, fried chicken, raw-bar offerings and handcrafted cocktails, according to the Asbury Park Pres...

In a world where the phrase “hidden gem” is tossed around freely, Sweet Amalia Market and Kitchen truly stands out as a local treasure. Tucked away on a quiet country road in Newfield, this unassuming former farmstand has become a dining destination known for its succulent oysters and innovative seafood dishes. What makes this restaurant even more special is its off-the-beaten-path Gloucester County location, about an hour’s drive from the Shore. What began as an unexpected pandemic pivo...

Deb Belfatto makes things happen. The New Jersey native is an unabashed doer who admits her best ideas tend to come during downtime, when she’s prone on the sofa. Case in point: While recovering from her second bout with breast cancer, she hatched a bold plan after nearly 35 years advocating for women’s health and wellness issues. “I had a brain burst while just lying there recovering,” Belfatto says now. “I told my husband, ‘We need a symposium, and I want every woman to be welcom...

While audience interest in the Oscars varies from year to year, the interest of Irv Slifkin, a renowned movie maven from Camden County, has held steady. At 7 pm on Sunday, March 2, he’ll be tuned into ABC, as usual, for the 97th annual Academy Awards. He’s never missed a show. He’ll be familiar with the statuette contenders, having watched more than 250 movies in 2024. Even after 30 years of teaching courses at Rowan College at Burlington County in Mount Laurel and Temple University in Ph...

As students struggle to learn the periodic table, one Hunterdon County educator aims to make the subject a little more digestible—in more ways than one.  Archeologist, educator and part-time chef Thor Giese began his YouTube series, Table for 92: Cooking Through the Periodic Table of Elements, roughly 2 1/2 years ago. With one episode for each of the 92 naturally occurring elements, Giese attempts to bridge the gap between culinary delights and science. “While Table for 92 is about the el...

Openings O’Bagel, Montclair Known for having some of the best bagels in the state, this popular spot is expanding to its sixth location: Montclair. O'Bagel offers classic and specialty bagels, sandwiches and other brunch/lunch options. Qahwah House, Montclair This Yemeni-style coffee spot has expanded its first Clifton location. Qahwah House's menu offers coffee, tea and pastries. Signature creations include Sana’ani coffee (made with cardamom) and Adeni Chai (a Yemeni black tea with cardam...

It’s a balmy July night. My Oak Knoll neighbors are having a party in the house you used to own, your ghostly voice dancing on the breeze. They’re playing “Saving All My Love,” paying homage beside the swimming pool that, I suspect, still shimmers with massive, curliqued initials WH, for Whitney Houston. I’m wrapped in bittersweet nostalgia. Damn, you were good. “I Want to Dance With Somebody” begins, and I yank my teenage daughter from her TikTok haze to dance down the street in...

Fathoming the tangle of liquor laws in New Jersey is a lot like navigating some of the trickiest circles and jughandles on the state’s roads. Frustrated operators in this industry segment often face challenging conditions and longer-than-expected time getting to their destinations. It can be more nerve-wracking than Route 22 at rush hour and far slower than the Parkway on a summer Saturday. Overseeing this flow of traffic is the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), under the auspices...

Whether your thing is cocktails or mocktails, dive bars or speakeasies, Jersey’s vibrant nightlife scene has something for everyone. Here are New Jersey Monthly's picks for the best bars and nightlife spots, by category, in the Garden State. Tequila selection Meximodo, Metuchen This vibrant Mexican restaurant and bar holds the Guinness World Record for the largest tequila and mezcal selection in the world. Meximodo, open since 2023, has more than 1,000 hand-selected bottles of agave spirits,...

When Melinda and Ryan Dawson moved into their Mendham Township home in 2019, the only things lacking were storage and entertainment spaces. “We love to host parties, and our previous home in Roxbury had a basement bar built by a carpenter friend,” says Melinda. “So we brought the bar to Mendham, but weren’t sure where to install it, because it was huge.” But a plan was hatched once they paid a visit to Amish Mike in Hackettstown, the state’s largest purveyor of prefab, Amish-built s...

Thanks to the lifting of Prohibition in 1933, you can legally hoist a glass in any town in the Garden State. In some of those towns, however, you still can’t buy the alcohol to fill that glass—and you may not be able to hoist it in public. Our pro-booze history is long: During Prohibition, New Jersey’s coastline formed part of the infamous Rum Line, along which bootleggers sold their wares, just beyond the limit of U.S. jurisdiction, to a fleet of local seamen. But our history of temperan...

Jackie Dubrovich made history last summer when she won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics as a member of the women’s foil fencing team. It was the first Olympic gold ever for a U.S. fencing team. For Dubrovich, it was the culmination of a lifetime of dedication to the sport. A native of Riverdale, she started parrying when she was eight; by age 11, she was competing at Gutkovskiy Fencing Academy in Fair Lawn and soon medaling at the Cadet and Junior World Fencing Championships. At Columbia U...

Though New Jersey is separated from Ireland by some 3,000 miles of ocean, you may just be able to hear pipes, flutes and fiddles ringing out late into the night across the Garden State, too. From the Hudson to the Delaware, handfuls of musicians regularly meet in pubs and gathering places to accompany each other in traditional Irish folk-music sessions. These sessions, or seisiúns in Irish Gaelic, are mostly free-form ensemble performances where anyone who shows up with an instrument can join ...

New Jersey is the fourth smallest state. Only Rhode Island, Delaware and Connecticut are smaller. Even Hawaii, with all its islands, is larger. Despite its size, of the 50 states, New Jersey has the most roads per square mile and the most cars per capita—as anyone who’s driven on the Turnpike probably could have guessed. Having many highways and drivers is understandable, given that our state is the most densely populated and suburban housing is so spread out. Given New Jersey’s car-domi...

Closings Scala del Nonna, Montclair After 11 years in business, Scala del Nonna—which had been one of NJM's favorite restaurants in Montclair—has closed. “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Scala del Nonna will be closing,” the owners wrote in a post. “This is not goodbye—just a change of scenery. Please visit our other locations for the same delicious food you’ve come to know and love.” The restaurant has three other locations—called Scalini Fedeli—in Chat...