December 31
...serving up your daily dish.
Ok, some of us are stuck on tradition, some of us follow the crowds, how do you like to bring in the New Year? Lookin' at the past, or toward the future? In small company, or surrounded by many? At home or on the road? Food or Frolic? A favorite cocktail? Tell us what will be rocking your evening tonight.
December 31, 2005 in The Daily Chat | Permalink | Comments (23)
Looking for something Bloomfield-centric to check out today before the ball drops tonight and the champagne pops? Well, check out News 12's New Jersey Challenge, where a team of Bloomfield High students face off against students from Ridgefield Park Senior High School. The show will be on at 6:30pm and 9:30pm today, and will also run tomorrow, January 1, at 6:30pm and 9:30pm again.
December 31, 2005 in Happenings | Permalink | Comments (2)
It's that old journalism standby, that once-a-year ritual for filling dull a news week: the top stories of the year about to end. Our addled brain came up with this list at 1:31 am. Doubtless, you could do better. Cast your vote, and use the comments to tell us what we missed.
December 31, 2005 in Civic Virtue | Permalink | Comments (6)
The Barista's goal for the new year: turn into a MILF by Mother's Day. Here are Ed Remsen's, snatched straight from one of our own threads.
My hopes for 2006:
1. The troops come home
2. We don't get anymore snow
3. The geese don't return to Edgemont Park
4. The leaves stay on the trees
4. The town gets $4.5 million from the McMullen Family to renovate the Clary Anderson Arena and Essex Pool complex so we can use them year-round
5. Miss Marta loses some of that cynicism and adopts a more positive and healthier attitude.Posted by: Ed Remsen | Dec 30, 2005 10:08:32 PM
Anyone remember this one from last year?
December 31, 2005 in Really Freaking Weird | Permalink | Comments (38)
December 30
...serving up your daily dish.
The excitement is building around Baristaville, as the kickoff for First Night Montclair 2006 approaches. Billed as one of New Jersey's premier arts festivals, anyone who has ever attended can vouch for the energy and excitement permeating the streets on New Year's Eve. Eileen Sheehan, of the First Night Comittee, tells Baristanet that sales have been brisk, with a lot of ticket requests coming from outlying towns, and Bergen County. "Montclair should easily expect to surpass the 5,000 tickets sold at last year's event," Sheehan said.
TICKETS are available at various locations around town. If you haven't snagged yours by Saturday, they'll be available until 10 p.m. at the First Night ticket office located at 544 Bloomfield Ave (it's the old Halloween Store). To catch the opening procession beginning after Mayor Ed Remson's opening address, meet at the Christmas Tree on Church Street by 7 pm. Dixieland masters Doctor Dubious and the Agnostics will lead the way, followed by Nickelodeon's Dora & Diego, and the bigger than life Celestial Puppet with its entourage of mini revelers from Montclair Community Pre-K. Then mingle among the dazzling street artists, grab a bodacious bite, and get a seat for some of the best family entertainment ever.
The legendary Ritchie Havens, classical pianist Robin Spielberg, kids folk favorite Tom Chapin and Japanese mime artist Yass Hakoshima are a few of the 20 plus acts. Have fun, spread the cheer, and have a safe and Happy New Year!
December 30, 2005 in Happenings | Permalink | Comments (1)
All things being paranormal, you might be shocked, surprised,and thrilled by the powers of mentalist extraordinaire, The Amazing Kreskin. This master of hypnosis, ESP, and mind expansion, will be performing at First Night Montclair on Saturday. He claims he's been banned from casinos because of his mind reading skills, and for more than 40 years, Kreskin has been entertaining crowds all over the world with his unusual powers. He developed his clairvoyant skills at an early age right here in Montclair with his neighborhood pals and by his teens, was called "The World's Youngest Hypnotist". He's known for his accurate predictions, prophecies, and warnings -- of political outcomes to winning lottery ticket numbers. Maybe he can predict when the town's massive debt will be paid off! Go see for yourself, and tell Barista about it. With only one show -- at 7:45 pm -- it's guaranteed to be an SRO event. At the First Congregational Church Sanctuary, 40 South Fullerton.
December 30, 2005 in Happenings | Permalink | Comments (4)
The town is jumpin' this Saturday night; here are a few more suggestions of where to celebrate, but reserve now:
Egan & Sons has a special New Year's Eve three course prix fixe for $47.50, including a champagne aperitif. Dinner seatings are at 5:30 pm and 8 pm. You even have an excuse to start celebrating early: New Year in Dublin starts six hours earlier.
Epernay is offering a three course prix fixe for $48.50, including noisemakers and party favors. Last dinner seating is at 11 pm. Bonne annee!
Orbis has a $55 prix fixe that includes appetizers, a glass of champagne, and a scrumptous three course menu with lots of choices, including rack of lamb, fresh scallops, and veal rack. Bon appetit!
South Park's party features prizes and give aways, dancing, food specials, hats and streamers (C'mon get crazy) even a continental breakfast until 1:30 a.m. Buy drinks by the glass or a bracelet for $50 for the night.
Get jazzy at Trumpets, with dinning and dancing 'til 2 am. Their $100 four course meal includes a champagne toast at midnight and a performance by the Enrico Granafei International Quintet, featuring guest musician Ted Carson on trumpet. Ted has played with legendary jazz icon Charlie Mingus.
December 30, 2005 in Happenings | Permalink | Comments (6)
What was the best story of 2005? We will putting up a poll tomorrow. Let us know which LOCAL stories we should include. Please leave suggestions in the comment section.
December 30, 2005 in Buzz | Permalink | Comments (19)
Start the New Year off with your first good deed. First Night Montclair organizers are putting out an SOS for anyone who would like to help out during the town's biggest party of the year. Assorted volunteers and friendly faces are needed all over town, helping out as venue supervisors, greeters, announcers, runners, and parking attendants. If you want to lend a hand during the extravaganza, call 973-509-4910.
December 30, 2005 in Civic Virtue | Permalink | Comments (2)
Montclair's own Little Rascals have reincarnated as The Radcats, a local group of twenty-something film makers. Take a dose of Wayne's World and a dash of Tarantino, and you've got a good idea of what the group, led by Jesse Good and David Jankowski, are all about. Camera, action! Run, fun, laugh, is their formula. Front row seats and free admission to about 12 short films can be viewed in your home; movies are produced right here in Baristaville. The 'Cats have their sights set on Sundance's short film section. "If we're succesful and make it big, we're never gonna leave New Jersey. Everything we want is right here," said Jankowski.
December 30, 2005 in Buzz | Permalink | Comments (3)
