Undiscovered New York: New Jersey dreamin’

by Jeremy Kressmann on

This week, Undiscovered New York is going to tell you about something outrageous. A topic controversial enough to flare the passions of locals and visitors alike. That’s because we’ve decided to leave New York – we’re actually crossing over to – dare I say it? – New Jersey.

New Jersey is a place that has long aroused a strong reaction among New York and New Jersey residents alike. New Yorkers mock their nearby neighbors as the state of heavy industry, Tony Soprano and the “Jersey accent,” while New Jersey accuses New Yorkers of being snooty and de-fouling their beaches and sports stadiums.

Can’t we all just get along? If you really want to get down to it, New Jersey is actually the New York visitor’s best kept secret. Within spitting distance of New York City lies a state of scenic parks with skyline views, unspoiled summertime beaches, fascinating history and unique culture. Enough attractions in fact, that we’re willing to bet it will have even the most battle-hardened Jersey-haters singing its praises.

Ready to revisit the site of Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton’s famous duel to the death? Looking to get back to nature on a sandy beach or picturesque waterfront park? Perhaps a taste of some authentic and delicious Cuban and Japanese food is more your style? Leave your misconceptions at the door – this week, Undiscovered New York is dreaming about New Jersey. Click below to see why.
Outdoors on the Jersey Shore
Do you feel worn out by the hustle and bustle of New York City? Looking to escape to some uncluttered spaces? New Jersey’s got just the spot – and close enough to come back in time for dinner.

Just across New York Harbor, within 2,000 feet of the Statue of Liberty and a view of the New York City skyline sits Liberty State Park. In addition to some great views of New York, Liberty State Park is a great place to throw around a frisbee, have a barbecue or run around with the dog. And getting there, whether by public transportation or water taxi is pretty painless. Music fans take note, Liberty State Park is also the site of All Points West, one of New York’s biggest music festivals.

Come summertime, beach bums will want to check out Sandy Hook, one of the more beautiful (and easy to reach) beaches in all of New Jersey. It’s got all the trappings that make for a great east coast beach: wispy beach grasses, nice soft sand and good swimming. Before spending all day working on your tan though, make sure to check out the remains of Fort Hancock, a coastal artillery base that once protected New York Harbor from German U-boats during World War II.

New Jersey’s Fine Cuisine
Believe it or not, but New Jersey’s got a lot more to offer than pork sandwiches. Whatever your taste buds desire, you can bet it’s probably available (and just as good) as much of what you’ll get in that “town” across the river. In fact, if you’re looking for some of the most authentic Japanese food this side of the Pacfiic, you’ve come to the right place. Located in Edgewater, New Jersey is Mitsuwa, the regional Japanese clearinghouse for authentic Far East foodstuffs from sushi-grade tuna to delicious ramen. Gadling’s own Mike Barish stopped by for an in-depth visit last year. If you like what you read, grab a cheap shuttle bus from Manhattan and check it out for yourself.

If your tastes happen to run more “south of the border,” get thee to Union City, New Jersey. There you’ll find Bergenline Avenue, the city’s longest street and home to a diverse range of Latin cuisine ranging from Cuban Sandwiches to cheesy Pupusas to flaky empanadas. Whatever foodstuff you find in New Jersey, one thing’s for certain: you’re going to leave stuffed.

Years of History
Though it might seem as though partisan political conflict is a recent symptom of Washington, it’s nothing compared to the days of old. Just ask the once Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and sitting Vice President Aaron Burr. These two famous figures did not see eye to eye and decided to settle matters with pistols drawn in Weehawken, NJ in July, 1804. Hamilton was fatally wounded in the ensuing duel, dying the next day.

The Weehawken duel site is now a monument commemorating the infamous incident. Although long subjected to vandalism, the site was rehabbed in 2004 in honor of the 200th Anniversary of the event and is worth a visit for U.S. history buffs.

Those interested in the Revolutionary War will also find much to discover in New Jersey. The northern part of the state is home to a number of important Revolutionary-era battlefields, including those at Fort Lee and Monmouth.

Mezz vs. orchestra: It’s the people around you

by Tom Johansmeyer on

I settled into my seat at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in Manhattan on Saturday well in advance of the curtain’s rise. My wife and I were eager to see “God of Carnage,” which had received great reviews and featured a high-profile cast. For a change, we had seats in the mezzanine section – rather than our usual preference for orchestra. It wasn’t a big deal, and we were prepared to accept the greater distance from the stage. By the end of the show, however, we vowed never to sit in the mezzanine section again. The people around us made the difference.

I see it all the time, and I know I’m not alone. A busload of tourists stumbles onto the sidewalk and crowds around the theater‘s doors. Some push; others linger. Both fail to understand the concept of forming a line … or joining one that already exists. Or, a group of people who live a mere hour from the city spend six months planning their annual trip into the thrilling metropolis and can’t contain their excitement at being able to see an actual celebrity working. You are noticeable a mile away, and yes, you’re being judged.

So, if you are headed into Manhattan to enjoy a Broadway production, please heed the following advice. You’ll make the experience better for everyone. Most of it is common sense, but unfortunately, there are people out there who need a detailed list.

Don’t be loud; don’t linger
As I climbed the stairs, I was stuck in the middle of a crowd of nine people who made their annual trek from New Jersey into Manhattan to get a bit of “culcha [culture].” They screeched as they plodded about how they should be featured as the Real Housewives of New Jersey, poking each other about their respective shitty marriages. The conversation kept them from taking their seats efficiency, causing a logjam that stretched all the way back to the entrance. So, while we were treated to diatribes about their husbands, guests out of earshot were stuck in place without even knowing why.

Advice: Shut up, and get to your seat quickly. Talk when you’re settled in … and do so quietly.

Arrive on time
This seems as though it shouldn’t need to be said, and I’ve only rarely encountered it when sitting in the orchestra section. Yet, in mezzanine, it’s more common. A man arrived around five minutes after the production started, had trouble getting to his seat in the dark and tripped over my foot (okay, I’m not entirely innocent here). He was the punctual half, though. His companion arrived 15 minutes later and made an even bigger scene.

Advice: Do I have to spell it out? You know when the show starts: plan accordingly.

Don’t clap when the curtain comes up
Yes, when you see the likes of James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden on stage, it’s exciting. Your urge is to applaud, to slap your hands together as violently as possible. Meanwhile, what are James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden doing? They’re talking! And, we can’t hear them! Let the actors perform. That’s why they are on the damned stage.

Advice: If you just want to see celebrities, hang around outside the theater and wait for them to arrive or depart. Otherwise, watch and listen. That’s the whole reason you spent $70 a ticket.

Don’t talk during the show … duh
Again, does this really need to be explained? For some reason, the people down in the orchestra section have figured out that the actors do the talking; the audience does the listening. In the mezzanine section, however, the actors do the primary talking, and the spectators provide a running commentary. Guess what? Everyone knows that James Gandolfini played Tony Soprano. They don’t need to be reminded. And, it’s no better when you complain about the nine New Jersey housewives in front of you who have been talking through the entire play. Are you really any better?

Advice: Shut your mouth, and remember that the only people who should be talking are (a) paid to do so and (b) told what to say.

That’s all it takes – four simple rules. I know it seems unwelcoming of me to dump all this on you, but if you exercised even a shred of common sense this article would be unnecessary.

Now, if you live in New York – or did at one time – here’s the best advice of all: sit in the orchestra section. At the risk of being called a New York snob (as my wife and New York snob friends have done already), you’ll have a better time if you join the other New York snobs who … guess what? … are there to enjoy the production.

March “lion” slams east coast

by Tom Johansmeyer on

From New Hampshire to the Carolinas, March came in, as the saying goes, like a lion. Snow, sleet and wind gusts reaching 30 mph have lead to for motor vehicle deaths, school closings and chaos at airports.

More than 900 flights have been canceled at New York area airports (JFK, Newark and LaGuardia). Hundreds more at Logan International Airport in Boston never left the ground, where the airport closed for more than half an hour to clear a runway. In Philadelphia, more than 40 people were stranded overnight.

Even the bus operators got into the delay and cancellation game. Greyhound and Peter Pan scrapped trips into and out of New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

So, get comfortable. It’s going to take a while to sort this mess out.

Foreigner gambling in Atlantic City? Must bring passport

by Iva Skoch on

A friend was telling me last night that her French boyfriend, who lives in New York, got kicked out of the Borgata, a casino in Atlantic City. He wasn’t even gambling; he was just there with her. The reason? He didn’t bring his passport and his French driver’s license was not a sufficient form of ID. Only passports or IDs from the US are accepted.

That is so stupid. It is so easy to get a New York ID. You don’t even have to live in New York to get one. Why wouldn’t they accept a foreign ID? It’s not like we are talking about using it to get into the Pentagon. It is a casino.

Needless to say, he was not happy. They stayed in a $500/night suite at the Borgata, which apparently didn’t help them. Of course, to book that room, they didn’t need a passport. I don’t think they’ll be going back anytime soon. This is how the French boyfriend described Atlantic City: “You step outside the hotel and it’s like a third world country.” Couldn’t say it better myself.

Iconic Sopranos Building Selling its Bricks

by Neil Woodburn on

It’s always sad when a huge tourist magnet and cultural landmark is leveled. It means that a small piece of history is gone forever.

This, sadly, is the fate of Satriales Pork Store in Kearny, New Jersey.

Fans of the hit show The Sopranos will recognize this iconic location as the hangout for some of the unsavory characters who populated the series. The phenomenal success of the HBO show has virtually guaranteed that this otherwise unassuming building is a regular stop on the many Sopranos tours being run out of New York. Like so many characters on the show, however, Satriales Pork Store has simply run out of time. It is scheduled for demolition to make way for a condo building–naturally being called, the Soprano Luxury Condominium.

But don’t shed a tear quite yet. The owners of the pork store are now taking orders for Pork Store Bricks. Yep, for just $25-50 Sopranos fans can purchase a masonry piece of cinematic history. It’s not quite the Berlin Wall, but I suppose some fanatics out there will be scooping them up. Apparently the owner has already taken 3,000 orders. Man, talk about organized crime!