Portugal Day is the national holiday for the country of Portugal and is celebrated annually on June…read more10th. Throughout the world, Portuguese communities celebrate the day, as well. Portugal Day in the Ironbound is a big deal and takes over Ferry Street yearly for one weekend every June. Check it out at least once. It's pretty cool. There's so much to experience - music in the streets, a parade, costumes, delicious cuisine at food stands and served at many of the restaurants lining Ferry street, huge sangria drinks and Bacardi lemonade drinks. It's a big party. It's free to walk around, but some places have private celebrations that you can enter by paying an entrance fee. I know that Iberia charged $20 to enter their lot where they had their own food stands and entertainment. I didn't go inside, but my friends went and said it was pretty cool. You'll have fun either way - going the free route or paying for a more exclusive experience. Portugal Day is a fun time and something to check out in the Ironbound in June.

I have been coming here for years. I've come with friends, i've come with family. either way- its…read morefun. You have to get the big tub of Sangria at sol-mar tent . Its $15 but so worth it. Also, try sardines, fried eel, octopus, and the ribs. For the young people, theres drinking and dancing. Theres a parade for all those that like that. Yes, sometimes it gets a little crazy in the streets. Yes, there usually is trash everywhere b/c people dont use the trash cans. Yes, parking can be tough. Yes, you still should experience it!

(This is the one in Newark, NJ.)…read more As far as my fun meter goes, I'd give them a full FIVE STARS! It was set up like a carnival with carnival rides (the basics, the classics, the ones we know and love), carni' foods, and even a carni' freak show with deformed and giant animals. Further down, a stage was set up for live performances. There were performers from all age groups, singing, rapping, dancing, you name it. Definitely a family-friendly show with some pretty impressive acts (some more impressive than others). I had to drop a star for the lack of food variety. It may not sound like a big deal, but seriously, my choices were fried fish, fried chicken, or fried shrimp...or the other booth with fried fish, fried chicken, or fried shrimp...or the other booth with the same exact menu. There was one other booth with jerk chicken and that was pretty much it. I may not be African American, but I found this to be a little offensive. There is so much more to African American cuisine than fried foods and I didn't feel like any of that diversity was represented. I settled for a plate of fried fish with mac and cheese and greens...all mediocre.

Go to the flying pie guy! This place is so original and the pie ideas are ingenious. Pair that with…read morea beer and you're ready to go! Live music, stuff for kids, & pet friendly don't miss out!

The lines weren't crazy = winning. Nice variety of vendors,…read moremusic and beer - what more could you ask for? I will definitely be back next year with the fam!

I was at Met Life Stadium for this event a few weeks ago and witness alot of crazy. I got there a…read morebit late because I had a family function earlier that day but it rained so heavily I honestly did not miss much. The price of this event was very expensive, I mean seriously VIP tickets were $200 a day. I was lucky as can be that I won them from a twitter contest. I was shocked to be honest, both days of VIP, was very grateful. The main theme is a day time into night time RAVE, no other way to describe it. Maybe not like the ones in the Mojave desert or EDC Las Vegas but those are hard to duplicate. There was the EXPERIENCE OF 4 STAGES- 2 DAYS. 100,000 SUPPOSEDLY people there. So many smiling faces, so many women dressed very scandalous for this. There were litterally hundreds of artists there performing. Over 70 DJS in all. There were even Carnival Rides to go on for your entertainment, Interactive Art Installations and one GIGANTIC OWL. The day I was there was Saturday and there was a mess of people there. Martin Garrix was the first one I really saw I believe. He was definitely a fan favorite. He did a really long set. http://youtu.be/AmJLR_9ivqw Crazy live like in this video I was there really for the main artists like Krewella, and yes I got to see her, but was so far away. I left the VIP section early and wanted to really mingle with the people. http://youtu.be/JqVbVfhM2EY I was honestly even further back for this group, it was that packed. End of the night there was Carl Cox and Loco Dice playing together in the only inside venue. I was there for a bit and saw many pretty ladies. http://youtu.be/Q-FyhYdlcw8 I knew about Carl Cox for years so it was actually nice to finally see him. Ended up also catching about 30 minutes of AFROJACK set. He went on last and his particular stage. It was really good, and crowded so I didn;t stay whole time. http://youtu.be/5eNGO1PdxN0 This was AFROJACK in case you didn't know who he is. HARDWELL was also a main act and he did his thing too. *All in all, a great experience, and a really hot day of moving around here and there. I got some water and there were free refilling stations. I still almost felt like I was dehydrated. Had a monster drink and that helped too. I would come back again another year. Each stage was great.

I feel betrayed and lied to…read more When you purchase tickets to EDC, it says "rain or shine." It even says it on the shiny colorful tickets you get. THEY DON'T MEAN THAT, PEOPLE! On Saturday of this year, it started drizzling... raining... well, okay, fine, pouring buckets... and they made us all go inside the stadium for at least a whole hour! Liars! Can you imagine all those people huddled up in the parking lot making their way inside? Needless to say, it was a zoo. Otherwise, EDC was an incredible 2-day experience and I can't wait to go again. I didn't think I'd love it this much, especially having gone to Coachella last month and thinking this would pale in comparison. But it had the elements of Coachella that I loved while having its own qualities that made it unique. Obviously go if you're into the music (EDM, house, dance, electro house, D&B, techno, dance punk, hardstyle, dubstep), or if you just want to witness the atmosphere, I guess. Speaking of which, girls are all in crop tops, high waisted shorts, and floral headbands. Sounds cliche, but it was fun dressing up! I saw maybe 10 concerts within the 2 days, which I believe is worth the money. I also very much appreciated the real bathrooms available inside versus the standard portapotties. Beware: there is a very small variety of food (Papa John's, chicken fingers, and fries. That's it) and the prices are outrageous. $7 for French fries whatwhat! Also, security is over the top. They don't let you bring in makeup or water bottles (because apparently these things are made of ecstasy??...) Transportation that I took from NYC: metronorth from Penn Station to Secaucus, then bus from there to Metlife. $10.50 roundtrip and so easy a monkey could do it. In any case, go and dance like no one is watching!

I come from a land of plentiful free music festivals and street fairs (San Francisco, CA) and I…read moremoved out here in search of the same joyous activities to fill my evenings and weekends. NYC? Yeah, I know, they've got me covered, and I do partake...but I'm a Jersey Girl now and I want to play in my own city and state. Behold! Sounds of the City! Every Thursday of every summer, NJPAC holds this outdoor concert series. The event goes from 5:00-10:00pm. Just perfect for the after-work crowd. Yay! I get to play in my own city! The lineup is amazing. The event is free, and I've looked, there were no donation boxes or collectors in sight. Yes, I'd donate if they asked. (You can donate online though.) There were a few small grass patches, plenty of brick roads and a checkerboard dance floor set up in front of the stage. Bring your lawn chairs, picnic baskets, and whatever you wish to eat or drink. There were no rules against BYOB. And if you felt like keeping it light, just come with cash. There were a couple of food vendors set up...just a couple, so the lines can be long. There were also liquor vendors, but their system is a bit odd. You buy drink tickets in the same line you redeem the tickets. You can only buy tickets of $5 and $2 values, combine them as you wish for the price of your drink, then scoot two feet over to redeem. No Port-O-Potties, the restrooms are inside the NJPAC. How nice! A few vendors selling clothing, novelties, and incense and body oils were also there on the first day I went, but that might vary depending on the performer(s). I was there just yesterday to see The Wailers, enjoying the Bob Marley classics we all know and love. I plan to go every week, whether or not the performer(s) are familiar. Big Daddy Kane is coming up, but I'm most looking forward to seeing Rakim (still one of the greatest MCs of all time, just saying).

Good times! Good music! Good energy!…read more Saw Big Daddy Kane today and he rocked it! He's still got it! Brought me back to happier times. This is true hip-hop!

All I have to say is WoW!…read more This event was so much fun, all the fried food, caipirinhas, and exotic lovely ladies made this festival thee highlight of my labor day weekend. There were so many small groups of musicians each performing in little circles creating dancing, fun, and happiness amongst the thousands of people filling up 6th avenue. The local food and real culture could really be found on 46th st east of 6th ave. West of 6th was pretty lame. A few Brazilian restaurants and mexican bars too helped liven the experience. I really felt like I was at a carnival type of experience at this festival. It was awesome.

I don't know why this is listed as "Greenwich Village." It's on 46th St in Little Brazil in…read moremidtown... Anyway I had no idea there were this many Brazilians in NY! It was mindblowing! I arrived around 12:30 and left around 230. There were a ton of food stands with things like fried ice cream, chicken/beef/vegetable doughy things, mozzarella-stuffed pancakes, Brazilian crepes, smoothies, gyros, and more. There are also lots of stands with fake jewelry and cheap clothes. It was interesting to walk around and take in the culture and people's collective passion for their country. There was a concert going on with some singers that I presume are well-known among Brazilians. The music was fun to listen to! There was a long line to wait on if you wanted to enter the dance section of the concert but you could hear it all over the festival. Up 6th Ave, there were stands of companies whom I presume were the sponsors. There was a man walking around with a snake offering people to take photos with it for $10... there was a statue of Pele- awesome. The people were mostly Brazilian but there were definitely other kinds of people there so I didn't feel out of place at all. Overall, I really enjoyed exploring the culture and being a part of this. Think I'll stop by in the coming years!

There are a few things in life that are inherently good. In my opinion, those include: live music,…read morecarnival food, thrill rides, good weather, quality time with friends, and animal freak shows. The Union County Music Fest provides all of the above and more, and all at the super low price of ... well, NOTHING! Let's start with the logistics. First of all, it would be nearly impossible to get to Music Fest without a car, so I'm lucky my Jersey-dwelling pals offered to drive. Second, Music Fest is held in association with the county fair, which accounts for the rickety and slightly scary rides, the carnival food (funnel cake, anyone!?), and the Anibal freak show. Freaks on display included a zebra/donkey cross breed, sheep with five legs, and a midget bull. Awesome! Now on to the music. There was a great mix of styles on display, and the three bands I saw each provided a very different experience. First I saw The Zombies, a '60s psychedelic band that was popular with the older crowd, but still were pleasantly enjoyable. For me, the highlight of the evening was getting to see Robert Randolph and the Family Band, who were absolutely spectacular. His mix of rock, funk, rhythm and blues, and gospel is not to be missed and I was totally blown away by his incredible work on the pedal steel. In fact, I was so impressed that I weaseled my way backstage after his set so that I could tell him I was hooked and will definitely be seeing him again soon. See the attached picture for visual proof. Headlining Sunday night was Spoon, another band that I really like. They were better than when I first saw them a couple of years ago in NYC in a venue that I hate, and the crowd was very receptive. The threat of rain kept many people away, which was too bad for the bands but good for me and my friends. We were right up near the front for both Robert Randolph and Spoon. A few of my friends were there for the Saturday lineup as well, and they said it was much more crowded, which isn't a surprise since the weather was so much better. Saturday's performers included headliners Train (not my thing, but ok), OK Go, The Bravery, and several others. The festival also boasts a small stage for local bands, as well as a pop/dance area, which seemed popular with the tweens. I hear there was also a human freak show on Saturday, but unfortunately it was not open Sunday. I'm excited to see who will be back for Music Fest in 2011, but it will be hard to beat the experience I had there yesterday.

For Union County, this was a great festival. However, it was poorly put together also…read more First off, we did the smarter thing and used Uber to get to and from the event because I heard parking was a disaster. Also, there were very few signs. When you did park, you had a bit to walk but there were no signs that told you where to go. I think they need better signage and more lighting in the dark as I almost twisted my ankle walking over. The craft beer garden was $9 a drink, which was a bit high. And you didn't get to sample anything before you bought it (also note get your token beforehand) so careful how you spend it. Though, they had some great beers there. The waits weren't too long surprisingly. However, the lines for some of the food trucks were way more. Many food trucks already sold out of food when I got there Saturday night. Meh. But thankfully there were plenty that were more well prepared. The rides were a little pricey also at $1.50 a ticket and some of the rides at 5 tickets. Eek. I think I'd go again but they do need some improvement. Also, more lighting would be appreciated all around. This review doesn't include the concerts because I didn't bother with that. If you angled yourself properly in the food truck/carnival area, you got a GREAT view of the MainStage for FREE FYI.

This festival was awesome, off Palisades Ave in Washington Park (right on the boarder of JC). Not…read moresure how long it was around for, but I went the night of 9/14. There were lots of people enjoying the rides and food, and a good police presence as well. Rides: Farris Wheel, bumper cars, loop roller coaster, starship spiny ride, another spiny ride, a ride where you sit in a swing and fly in the air in a circle. There was also a little kid ride section with 3-4 different rides for toddlers. And a petting zoo with ponies and lamas. Food options were an Italian and fried food station, a Spanish food station, and an Asian meet on a stick station. I did not see any alcohol sold. There was also a candy apple and cotton candy station. Carney games were cool too, there was a rifle target game that was impossible to win, a water gun game, and 4 or 5 other booths. I rocked the shuffle board game on my first shot! Had such a good time at this festival, quality of rides and entertainment was better than similar fairs I have been to in Jersey City. Will definitely be looking out for this fair's return next September!

Well this was a really pleasant surprise…read more Just when you think you are going to another Italian Festival we came here to Casa Belvedere. It is located in the Grymes Hill Section of Staten Island. The mansion itself was built in 1908 and one of the few Italianate arts and crafts style mansions in the area. It is an historic landmark which is listed on the NY State and National register of historic places. When you turn the corner and enter the grounds of the mansion the views are absolutely breathtaking. The Verrazano Bridge and New York Harbor are laid out in front of you like a picture postcard. They had vintage cars, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and even a 1915 Lancia. Another point of interest was all the photos in the house called "The Greats". It is an exhibit of Italian American Sports legends from every sport imaginable. They also had food and drinks from local Italian merchants, activities for the kids and items for sale. The one thing I tried was a wheat beer from a local brewery called Flagship Brewery which opened in 2013 in the Tompkinsville section of Staten Island. It was named the Flagship American Wit with 5.75% ABV it is reminiscent of a Belgian Ale. It was very refreshing in an Indian Summer kind of day. It happens every September, the last weekend for the past 4 to 5 years.

Really beautiful location! You can see half of the north shore from the top of this hill. There's…read morealso a lot of lawn to just stroll on despite the compact neighborhood.

Oh swine, how I love thee…read more What a great event! First of all, so many people came by through out the day starting at noon and ending at 8 PM. This was a ommunity event at its finest. The music was on point and there were a variety of local vendors including MAE, Dinosaur BBQ, Jimmy's BBQ, Hamilton Inn serving up NJ Beer Co, Sophie Sophia, Fizzy Lizzy and a few others. The bbq was amazing. I had lamb ribs from MAE, some pulled pork (I think) from Dinosaur BBQ, and of course an amazing bite of cupcake from SS. Hot damn. Everything was fresh and delicious. The food was great, the proceeds was going to a great cause (Hamilton Park Conservancy), and the weather was perfect albeit a bit windy. There is nothing like eating bbq with the community filled with babies, dogs, hipsters, non hipsters, beer, laughs and live music. Win. I look forward to next year! Oh and for families: petting zoo in the house! Along with vendors selling crafts organized by Not Yo Momma's Craft Fair. Amaze.

Hamilton Park BBQ Festival was a wonderful community event which was a fund raiser for The Hamilton…read morePark Conservancy. The conservancy is dedicated to assisting the city in the maintenance and improvement of the park. What a great way to enjoy a beautiful sunny afternoon and raise some money for a good cause. Outstanding. The event featured: BBQ at Legal Beans, Dinosaur Bar-b-que, Jimmy's BBQ and Modern American Eatery. Beverages by New Jersey Beer Company, Lizzmonade and Fizzy Lizzy. They also had a petting zoo for the kids and assorted tables selling bake goods, treats and goodies. Yelp had a table and was represented by Stephanie Y who was full of enthusiasm. It was my first time meeting her and was wow by her energy and friendliness. Yay! I only had the opportunity to taste Dinosaur Bar-b-que and the ribs were delicious. The half rack I ordered was very good. It had all the characteristics of excellent barbecue ribs: ring around the rib, moist, tender, great flavor and meaty. The 2 pieces of 3 ribs each had good texture and just fell off the bone. It just had the right amount of pull and awesome flavor. The ribs had a good rub with a balance of traditional spices. Overall high B+, very high. The pull pork sandwich just did not cut it. It was a beautiful cut of pork shoulder with all the good characteristics of good tasting pull pork BBQ, but It failed. It was just cold and the flavors did not come out. While I did received a good amount of pull pork it was just not steaming with flavor. Overall, this was a wonderful event with lots of food and drink. To bad I had to leave after an hour. I was on a journey to visit my in-laws with Wifey. This was certainly a local event and supported by the local community. There was good food and drink. There was fun. There was community spirit. I can't wait to come back to this part of New Jersey and experience some great hospitality.