Driving through West Orange several times, I've noticed some interesting looking stores that I'd been meaning to check out. Lo, and behold, at the catchily named CBL Fine Art, the glassware of which had initially caught my [...]
Driving through West Orange several times, I've noticed some interesting looking stores that I'd been meaning to check out. Lo, and behold, at the catchily named CBL Fine Art, the glassware of which had initially caught my [...]
Glen Ridge's Thomas Borgers has been appointed as a senior investigator to the FInancial Crisis Inquiry Commission.
Borgers, a certified fraud examiner with broad experience in financial services, recently developed recovery strategies for victims of Bernard Madoff. He was previously a manager and consultant for KPMG [...] 
Wondering about the $3.5 million senior center that town manager Joe Hartnett has proposed purchasing? Find out more in a 20-page opus on the subject, recently uploaded to the town website and available here. The Cliffs Notes version? The building would become the Montclair Community [...] 
We told you about Plainfield's March Dashield replacing Joe Hartnett next year as Montclair town manager. The move has been the talk of Plainfield blogs, Plainfield Today and Plainfield Plaintalker. The latter reports on the salary increase and perks Dashield will realize in [...] 
What does a newspaper reporter do when his newsroom staffs down by 40 percent? If you're Brad Parks, who took the Star-Ledger buyout last year, you move to Virginia and write mystery novels celebrating the heyday of gumshoe journalism.
Actually, "Faces of the Gone,"' [...] 
Thanks to Kyle Martinowich for sending this picture of Lake Godfrey (otherwise known as Godfrey Road) during this morning's torrents. And here's what it looked like a few hours later. [...] 
(Adds comment by MFD chief)
This came in early this afternoon, Dec. 9, from a resident who could see the action from her apartment. As of 4pm, MFD Chief Kevin Allen had not heard the details of the emergency, save to say it was nowhere near as [...] 
Firefighters are working to put out a fire at the top of 5 Roosevelt Place (directly across the Montclair Library). We'll update when we know more.
UPDATE: The Rev. John A. Mennell of St. Luke's Episcopal Church sends this (and above photo) in:
Fire at Apartments corner of S.' [...] 
A lot of people are missing John Lennon today. I remember what I was doing that night. I was at Rolling Stone Magazine, where, as assistant photo editor, I was helping to put the magazine to bed. So the office was full of what a [...] 
Outpost in the Burbs is giving away two pairs of tickets to see the Kennedys this Friday night (12/11) at the Unitarian Universalist church in Montclair. Just be one of the first two people to send us a note asking [...] 
The Dr. Phil Foundation, a nonprofit that helps children and families at risk, has donated $500,000 to Little Kids Rock, to help a nationwide program for children to develop music education.
Full story on Barista Kids. [...] 
Montclair's Town Council will decide tonight (Tuesday, 11/8) whether to let manager Joe Hartnett enter into negotiations to buy a building currently used as a private senior center, listed at $3.5 million, to create a public-run senior center for Montclair
In a public statement issued last night, [...] 
Congrats to us! Some time last night, somebody, somewhere, logged onto Baristanet, becoming the 10 millionth visitor to the site. It must be our special sauce. Or maybe the fact that shirts and shoes are not required. Thanks for your patronage and remember the bathrooms [...] 
The Montclair Board of Education has voted 6 to 1 to go with the school district's original plan to move Rand Elementary School into the new Washington Street School and to move Renaissance into Rand.
That decision apparently scuttles a controversial recommendation of a' [...] 
Arnie Korotkin, a former 23-year resident of Montclair who has lived in Little Falls for the past three years, was recently given his own blog called the Gadfly on northjersey.com.
Korotkin, who is also Barista's own cybrarian, was contacted a couple of months ago by [...] 
A birthday party at a bowling alley, and 25 cents promised for losing gracefully, lead to a vending machine and a love affair between a 7 year old and a tiny koala bear.
Read about it on Barista Kids. [...] 
Montclair State University junior Michael Rusiniak recently pleaded guilty to swimming illegally in Wawayanda State Park -- despite the fact that the Eagle Scout saved someone from drowning while he was swimming there.
Rusiniak was charged after saving an 18-year-old Clifton resident from drowning in Terrace Pond [...] 
The winter snow has covered the iris beds but there is still lots to do. Next Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12 and 13, Presby will be participating in the Historic Holiday House Tour. This is the first time that the Essex County Presby Memorial Iris [...] 
Anderson Park, appr. 4:00 pm, Saturday, December 5, 2009. [...] 
Wade Rathke, founder of the much besieged and scandal-plagued activist group ACORN, will be speaking at a Blue Wave NJ event this Saturday (12/5) in Montclair. From Blue Wave's website:
Learn about the history of the organization and its massive voter registration drives and why [...] 
Thanksgiving dinner for my family was a £9.99-a-plate turkey dinner at an American-style diner in Islington with a bunch of U.S. expatriates from the Associated Press's London bureau. It wasn't exactly how I'd expected to spend my Thanksgiving. But then, last July, an email landed [...] 
Local kids will be competing in the 4th Annual Lego League Competition tomorrow night (12/4) sponsored by The Montclair Society of Engineers. Find out on Barista Kids. [...] 
This Monday, Dec. 7, a special meeting of the Board of Education to discuss the best use of the new school is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the George Inness Annex atrium. You'll recall there was a meeting back in November where parents turned out in' [...] 
And here's one more great choice for your local holiday shopping: Where can you find authentic stoneware mugs with irises on them, garden themed holiday ornaments, elegant floral stationery, folding umbrellas that open to display bright pink gerbera daisies, and more? That would be the Bloom [...] 
Studio R, located at the beautifully renovated Brassworks building on Grove St, is having a holiday sale with a difference on Thursday, Dec 3rd - it will donate all the net proceeds to Montclair High School's Project Graduation 2010. Funds raised will help graduating seniors celebrate their [...] 
Shop at your local museum and get holiday gifts while supporting art closer to home. Those who join up as members of MAM will get a double discount (20% instead of 10%) as the first perk at a members-only preview party, where there will be wine and [...] 
Elizabeth Powell, 73, was in the care of Chestnut Hill Assisted Living in Passaic on Nov 12, when she was struck fatally by an NJ Transit train on a rail track in Clifton, 1 1/2 miles from the facility. Barron Bazemore, Powell's son, received a [...] 
Some doctors' offices have received supplies of H1N1 vaccines, which are available by appointment for the target groups, including children. Continue reading on Barista Kids.' [...] 
If you enjoy creative holiday decorating with friends, then you'll love the wreath-making workshop this Saturday at the Van Vleck House & Gradens. In seasons past, I've plunged in with pliers, branch cutters and friends - enjoying [...] 
It's baaa-ack! This time around, I'm going to be making reservations way in advance for tables during Montclair's Restaurant Week. Last year, we enjoyed delicious prix fixe menus, and left with a few extra dollars in our pockets.
January 25 - February 7, 2010 are the dates' [...] 
Count down to New Year's Eve! Montclair Township is ready for First Night 2010 with a full-on schedule of class acts for kids, teens, and adults. There's music, magic, theater, dance...and Bubblemania. Headliners are Fantasy on Ice and chanteuse Phoebe Snow. Special ticket purchases are required [...] 
In addition to vaccinating the at-risk campus population, Montclair State University will be providing the H1N1 vaccine to family members of students and staff this week.
H1N1 flu is now widespread in New Jersey and approximately 200 cases of ILI (Influenza Like Illness) have occurred on campus.
The [...] 
If you need to rationalize your cyber shopping today, just think about the gas you're saving by shopping from the screen - and no parking hassles! Since we're online anyway, I thought I'd share a few deals in Baristaville that you can click to.
Bobbi Brown "LET'S GO" [...] 
County Executive Joe Di Vincenzo, who has made it his mission to beautify Essex County and improve its financial health, will announce his candidacy for a third term on December 11 from a former gritty parking deck in Newark - which under his oversight was transformed into [...] 
I know, because my neighbor Deb Ellis and I have been doing it for several years. Sometimes we make huge kettles of tomato sauce, using extra end-of-season produce from the Farmers' Market. Other times we make lemon verbena bread, with herbs we grow in our gardens.' [...] 
"Roots:Unknown" is an award-winning 30-minute documentary produced and directed by Montclair resident Zara Phillips examining the lifelong emtional impact adoption has on the adoptee and their families. A free screening of the film will be presented as part of Adoption Awareness Month - Monday Nov. 30 [...] 
Glen Ridge artist Lori Loebelsohn, who designed this year's event logo, was running around Glen Ridge with a camera during the Ashenfelter 8K. Yesterday's race had a great turnout - over 2,000 runners, she says. The annual run, organized by Dan Murphy, [...] 
To the tune of Frere Jacques...
Are You Shopping, Spending Money?
Early Call, To The Malls?
Maybe Staying Local,
Shopping On Your Laptop,
Kerching! Kerching! Kerching!
Hey Baristaville, how are you spending (pun intended) your day after Thanksgiving? (Personally, I prefer to boycott the call to shopping and enjoy my turkey left-overs.)
Several [...] 
Essex County folks can expect some sunshine on Thanksgiving Day, with a chance of rain in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature is set to be mild, in the mid-50s. Rainfall is likely after midnight, continuing into Friday morning. Indeed, Black [...] 
NJ voters, by a slim 49-46 percent margin, oppose a law that would allow same-sex marriages, according to a survey released today by Quinnipiac University. Democrats supported same-sex unions by 60-34 percent, independents supported it by 49-45 percent, and Republicans opposed it 69-25 percent.
The result is [...] 
Reeled you in with those sweet puppydog eyes and winsome smile! But focus, instead, on his deftly-knitted outfit. The community service committee of the West Essex Board of Realtors needs your gently worn or new sweaters and sweatshirts for its annual Just Sweaters® Project.
WEBOR, which [...] 
The Operations Director at the Clifton Promenade, who wished to be anonymous, said that an LA Fitness will be coming to the Promenade.
The major construction that our readers have been noticing and sending tips and pictures about will also be the new home to a [...]
Baristaville
(Updates to add comments from Saul Hansell)
Saul Hansell, a Montclair resident and veteran NYT reporter of 17 years, has left the paper to join
We're giving away two pairs of tickets to see Manhattan Transfer on Sunday night at 
Barista Kids is giving away 4 tickets to see this cool light show by 
