Is there a Central Jersey?
This video from Montclair State University seems to have an answer… What do you think?
Posts in category Awesome Places
Top 10 Rappers Who Live in NJ
Being that NJ basically invented rap with The Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight”, it only seems right that so many rappers would live in NJ. Here it is, in no particular order, the top ten rappers who live in NJ…
- Jay-Z- If you have have watched Chris Rock’s “Kill the Messanger” special you would be surprised to find out the Jay-Z has a Garden State of Mind, and lives in Alpine, NJ… p.s. Chris Rock lives in NJ too… Check out the video below.
- P. Diddy (Sean Combs)- Owns a $7 million, 17,000-square-foot hilltop mansion with eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, indoor and outdoor pools, racquetball and basketball courts, a home theater, a wine cellar and a six-car garage.
- Fabolous (John David Jackson)- Although he reps NYC lives in Alpine, NJ… “It’s being able to get away from the whole hustle and bustle of the city”
- Russell Simmons- The co-founder of Def Jam resides in Saddle River close to his little brother Rev Run…source
- Rev Run (Joseph Simmons)- Decided to leave NYC after the death of Jam Master Jay “I had this intuition that told me to move close to my brother” … Check out his saddle river estate in the MTV show Run’s House. source
- DJ Eddie F. (Eddie Farrell) – The DJ of Heavy-D and the Boyz lives in a modest NJ mansion and claims, “I was one of the first out here in Alpine”
- Lil’ Kim – If you have ever heard the song “Aunt Dot,” Lil’ Kim says: “Come on Shanice, I’m takin’ you to my house in Alpine,” referring to her multi million dollar home in Alpine, NJ.
- Wyclef Jean – Born in Haiti, he moved to Brooklyn, and then NJ. He lived in South Orange but now lives in Saddle River.
- Ja Rule (Jeffery Atkins)- Although he reps NY in his song New York he actually lives in Saddle River, NJ.
- Red Man- Born and raised in Newark, Red Man is still an NJ resident. If you never saw his episode of cribs you would be amazed at his extremely, um… humble house.
Out of all the rappers that live in NJ, these seem to be the most notable. If you think that I should change the list, comment on who I should take out and who should be put up.
Silverball Pinball Museum
In today’s high tech world of video games, one can easily immerse
themselves in an entire fantasy world for hours and forget about their
real lives. It’s extremely common these days for that to happen…but
one wonders how those techie geeks passed their time way back when…
And the answer to that question is simple: pinball. Yes, those simple
little games that can eat up hours of your time are just as addictive
as any video game today. And there’s only one place in NJ where you
can fully experience pinball in all its glory.
Located directly on the boardwalk in Asbury Park is the Silverball Museum, an interactive museum that lets you play with its exhibits. Featuring over 75 different machines, this is truly a place that isn’t too be missed.
Silverball showcases pinball machines from as early as 1933 all the way to some current incarnations of the classic game. Every machine is painstakingly restored to its former glory so everyone can give it a try.
The place is laid out by different eras, allowing you to literally
follow pinball history from start to finish if you’d like. Try out
some of the earliest versions of the game, made entirely out of wood,
or test your skills on some of the nearly impossible takes of the game from the 1950s.
Almost every machine features a card above it, allowing you to learn
about the history of that particular machine: where it came from, how
many were produced, & and what the significance of that particular
machine are. Some of the machines are even part of a rotating stock,
so every time you go in, there may be something new for you to check
out.
Like I mentioned earlier, this is the type of museum that lets you
play with its exhibits. Each machine is set on “free play,” allowing
you to play every single one as much as you’d like. It’s a truly great experience, and definitely a lot of fun. The hour I was in there flew by, and I will definitely be visiting again to check out some of their
other machines.
Silverball Museum charges $10 for a 1 hour pass, $20 for an all day
pass, and $50 for a weekend pass. If you happen to be up on the Asbury
Park boardwalk, it’s definitely worth a look, and it’s truly worth
every penny.
Find out more about the Silverball Museum at http://silverballmuseum.com/
By Jeff Heimbuch
Drink With The Jersey Devil
Everyone from NJ knows the story of the Jersey Devil. It’s a local legend, and basically a requirement to know if you’ve lived in this state for any period of time. Legend has it that he still roams the area around Leeds Point, popping up every once and awhile to scare the tourists. But not the locals…they’re used to it by now.
If you happen to be brave enough to try to seek him out yourself, you may have more luck in the next town over, at JD’s Pub.
JD’s, located in historical Smithville, is a true treasure. Hidden away in Smithville Town Center, it’s definitely a place that you just happen to “stumble upon.” The pub takes its name from the legend himself, and truly lives up to that fact. Before you even step inside, you’re greeted at the door by a large caricature of the Jersey Devil, holding a mug full of beer and inviting you in for a good time.
The atmosphere inside is different, depending on when you show up. Some nights, it may be fairly low key, with people from the local senior communities popping in for a bite to eat. Other nights are a little more hectic, with live music and college students from Richard Stockton coming in for a night of fun. No matter which of these you encounter, though, you’re always in for a good time.
The pub is also decorated with tons of interesting things to look at. Wooden sailboats, mounted fish, and ads from the all over the state adorn the walls. And of course, what would a place called JD’s be without some Jersey Devil memorabilia? It’s almost like a museum of the Jersey Devil in there, with things ranging from old newspaper articles on the creature to vintage paintings of various sightings. There is also a pool table, jukebox, and several HD TVs for those sports nights.
If that’s not enough to pique your interest, it also features some of the best food in South Jersey. The chef, Rich Spurlock, has some impressive credentials including the Flanders Hotel in Ocean City and
Trump Marina in Atlantic City. He cooks things with a Cajun flare that adds just the right amount of deliciousness to any meal.
If you’re ever in the area, check them out. You won’t be disappointed.
And who knows, you may even run into the namesake of the pub himself!
Check them out online at: JD’s Pub in Smithville
By ANJ Writer Jeff Heimbuch
Allaire State Park
The clanging of metal begins to fill my ears as soon as I walk into
town. The blacksmith seems to be starting early today, busy making
nails for the nearby carpenter. After walking a few more feet, the
aroma of freshly baked bread fills my nose. It looks like the bakery
is at it, too. A few of the women from the village wave to me as I
walk by. Dressed appropriately for the 1850s; their hoop skirts go
down to their ankles and white bonnets keep their hair out of their
eyes while they work. Nearby, the church bell tolls to let us know it
is 9 a.m.
READ MORE »
The Urban Muse
Voted the best spa in NJ this year by NJ Life Magazine and and the best spa in Morris county last year, this holistic spa, gallery, and gift shop is definitly awesome.
In the spa, The Urban Muse uses all natural products on their clients. Treatments include massages, facials, mud treatments, hot stone, waxing, and even energy work. Clients include a variety of people that are eager to relax their bodies and minds. The Urban Muse offers more than just pampering, they take care of your body, their massages help with blood flow, muscle relief, stress, depression, etc. READ MORE »
Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionary
Although Holsten’s has been around for three decades, I’ll admit the first time I ever heard of the homemade ice cream and candy shop was after the series finale of the HBO hit-series, The Sopranos.
Soon after the finale aired in 2007, I, like dozens of other crazed Jersey fans headed over to Bloomfield to sit in the same booth that the Soprano family did and to order french fries and onion rings, just like Tony. READ MORE »
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