Prudential Center has never needed Manhattan's mythology to make an impression; some of my most…read morememorable nights in an arena have happened across the Hudson in Newark. The location does not have the gravitational pull of Madison Square Garden, but once you get there, the building is excellent: modern, well-maintained, and easy to navigate. Newark Penn Station is only a short walk away, and NJ Transit is usually a very workable option from Manhattan. You do have to respect weekday commuter traffic, because Penn Station at rush hour can become overwhelming remarkably quickly. Bruce Springsteen gave me perhaps the most quintessential New Jersey experience I have ever had. I was gifted a ticket way up in the nosebleeds with an obstructed view literally behind the stage, and I could not have cared less once the show started. I am definitely a fan, and seeing this New Jersey legend perform in the motherland, surrounded by all that loyalty, pride, and unmistakable Jersey energy, was genuinely magical and inspiring. As a non native, that night brought me closer to a state that can sometimes be misunderstood or lazily judged from the outside, but whose identity and loyalty are a huge part of what makes New Jersey so charming to me. Nothing, however, compares with seeing the Rolling Stones here on back-to-back nights. The Stones are absolute royalty to me, and I spent several hundred dollars per ticket to see them twice, which probably says more than anything about how meaningful those shows were. Watching Mick Jagger command an arena with that level of charisma, physical energy, and presence was one of the great live entertainment experiences of my life. I felt genuinely blessed to be there. Unfortunately, the first Stones night became chaotic before we even left Manhattan. When we reached Penn Station, NJ Transit service toward Newark was already stopped because of an accident on the tracks, so we scrambled downtown and took the PATH instead. We missed the first song or 2, which was painful after spending that much on the tickets, but once we got inside, the stress disappeared. Thankfully, night 2 was far easier and gave me the chance to absorb the entire show from beginning to end. Hockey gives me another reason to have a soft spot for this building because I have always respected the Devils as a franchise. Scott Stevens, Martin Brodeur, Patrik Elias, Scott Niedermayer, Claude Lemieux (RIP), and Ken Daneyko are among the players I have revered over the years, along with Zach Parise, Scott Gomez, and Jason Arnott. That history gives attending a Devils game more meaning to me than simply dropping into another NHL arena. The sightlines are strong, the food is solid, and the crowd has a grounded local personality that fits the franchise perfectly. Operationally, Prudential Center gets a lot right. The building feels cared for, getting around inside is straightforward, and public transit is the obvious choice when service is behaving normally. A cab or Uber from Manhattan works too, although the tunnel costs and pricing premium show up immediately. The people and overall vibe also feel more down-to-earth, which I have always appreciated about coming here. Living in Philadelphia now has given me a wider appreciation for the outstanding collection of city arenas across New York, North Jersey, and Philadelphia. MSG, Barclays Center, Prudential Center, and Philadelphia's arena are all excellent in different ways, with access, pricing, and surrounding environment creating most of the separation between them, and I would love to experience UBS Arena someday too. Prudential Center has given me the Devils, an unforgettable night with The Boss, and 2 extraordinary nights with the Rolling Stones. I am deeply grateful that a building I once thought of primarily as the Devils' home became the setting for some of the most meaningful live music experiences of my life.

GRADUATION CEREMONY VENUE REVIEW:…read more With it being graduation season, this is a review of Prudential Center as a commencement ceremony venue. Because of preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026, many schools that would have held their graduation ceremonies at MetLife Stadium have changed locations this year. I attended a commencement at Prudential Center last week. Here are my pros, cons, and heads-ups for anyone going to 'The Rock' for a graduation ceremony for the first time. Pros: - it's an indoor arena, so inclement weather be damned - it's climate controlled, so take that summer heat and humidity! - high resolution projection screens; real-time video projection images are so sharp and clear - audio is great inside Prudential Center, so you can actually hear speakers clearly and graduates' name - comfortable seats imo - good concession stands - cute photo ops inside the arena Cons: - traffic getting into downtown Newark can be horrendous; that's just how it is so allot extra time for travel Heads-up: - If you are driving to Prudential Center, know you will be spending money to park if you want to be close to the venue. - Make sure to read Prudential Center's bag policy so you won't be stopped at security and told to use a locker if your bag is too big.

So this is a hidden gem that i almost dont want to review; almost dont want people to know about…read moreit. As a trye yelper however i have to share this find! Competitive swimming pool open daily free of charge to all. When was the last time you had a nice swim for as long as you wanted for free? Like try never! Pool is clean, yes slightly dated but so well maintained. Went there today from 11am to 12, guess how many people there were on all 6 lanes? 4people! By the time i was done: there were 2 left. Yes, location sucks and really this is for people from Newark, Harrison and perhaps Karney to enjoy. Showers are dated and not all work; bring your own hair dryer. But all that doesn't bother me since i can just go home and be there in 5min. Also excellent for kids since they do have baby and toddler depths available. They plan to close it for 15 days renovation but will reopen in Nov. Also i am looking forward to their ice rink hours. Will be available later in fall. Again kids classes avaible for free (from what i hear). All in all i am impressed and will come back!

Great facility . 3 floors, 2 pools, 2 diving boards, a hockey/ ice skating rink, a recreation room…read moreand workout rooms on the top floor. This is the best rec center in Newark . They have a host of free classes and things for the children to do in the summer . Come on by to receive info on this wonderful facility .

Find your way through the maze of fencing, and you'll be rewarded with an adventure-laden…read moreplayground beside an artificial turf field, which is designed for baseball but also works for soccer games. No food or drink is allowed, in order to keep the turf in good shape, so please heed the signs. The playground offers some vertical excitement by way of its tall slides that are exciting but still within the scope of safe play for kids. There's a restroom next to it, and it's all protected from wayward baseballs and wild soccer ball kicks by a tall fence. There are no bleachers, so bring a picnic blanket, a folding chair, or get ready to stand for the duration of the game. Play ball!

First off, Horrible team and bad food. Can't get even 1 meal without having horrible service and…read morefood. Would not recommend!

Perfect golf simulator experience - especially if you're looking to improve your game. The…read moresimulator didn't have a single glitch, gives you very detailed information on your swing and there are many features - whether you're looking to use it as a driving range, target practice, or play a course.

From the owner: Play a round on an iconic course, practice your swing in a variety of different driving and short…read moregame ranges, challenge your friends in closest to the pin or longest drive. Not a golfer, we've got plenty of multi sport activities for you from running two minute drills on the football field, having a home run derby contest, testing your soccer skills with set pieces to zombie dodgeball and bocce. We're BYO, but know nobody likes a room-temp drink so we'll have ice filled beverage buckets ready for you at your bay.

I may be biased but I have a bad history with this place including being a victim of the well known…read more"RU screw". I could go on with my grievances all day but I'll contain myself. The Newark campus is somewhat sparse with construction constantly going on just like in New Brunswick to beautify the school. Unfortunately it doesn't look like any of that is happening and after being here for a few years it barely looks like anything has changed. It's a headache coming down here in the morning and afternoon so unless you live near campus, which also not very inviting, it's just a hassle coming here, parking is a trap if you chance it parking on the street or you pay for a parking pass which still require $5 a pop after the $30+ subscription. Bursar, admissions, administration and everything else you have to deal with all bring on migraines and while I know this could be said for any University this one is especially so. I know Rutgers is held in high regard but personally my experience has been most unpleasant and coming to Newark for class is convenient but only a lesser of 2-3 evils.

The Newark campus is nice. With the exception of the Business School, the campus is clustered…read morewithin two/three blocks. The administrative building (Blumenthal) is found on University (between Warren and Raymond). You go here for all your registration and bursar needs. The health center is also found there. Most of the buildings where you take classes are contained in the block created by University, Warren, MLK, and Bleeker. Within that square, it's convenient to go to classes. Plus, in this square block are the Dana Library and the Paul Robeson Student Center. The dorms are between Bleeker and Central. Then there are the buildings between University and Washington - Center got Law and Justice (law school and some criminal justice classes there), the parking Deck, Golden Dome Athletic Center, and other classroom buildings. There is also another Parking Deck on Washington between Raymond and Warren. If you don't have a car, there are many public transportation options. The campus is located close to the Washington Street stop on the light rail, and there are also a number of buses that will bring you close to campus. There is a lot more passive green areas and places to sit outside, than when I went to school here many moons ago. It used to be just concrete and red outdoor tables that were bolted to the ground (not as picturesque as today). I am a fan of the Rutgers-Newark Campus. Plus it's close to the Newark Museum and the Main Newark Public Library, as well as the Haynes & Co. building and other nice spots in Halsey Village.

Adam and Clerida performed as a cello and guitar duo at our wedding this past February and I can't…read moresay enough about them. We selected them at the recommendation of our wedding planner who had numerous positive experiences with them in the past, and right from the beginning we were grateful for our pick. Adam worked with us ahead of time to make sure that the they were in lockstep with our vision. The day of, they showed up early, were professional, and truly set the mood with their beautiful performances (lots of Beatles!). We had them for both the ceremony and the cocktail hour and I'm still receiving comments of praise from our guests. I would hire them again in a heartbeat!

Hire. Adam. Now. We had our wedding in Mystic, CT and Adam performed for the intimate reception…read moredinner. He was patient and got every detail from me about how we wanted our evening to go and sound. He was flexible and adjusted when the restaurant set some unexpected guidelines. He learned a song we requested last-minute and completely ROCKED it. He set the perfect mood and our guests still rave about him almost one year later. The whole thing was effortless and perfect thanks to him!

I have seen the Devils play here and now a country concert very cool. The food here is ok, the food…read moreat a Yankee stadium is better. Seats make the venue and crown volume.