Came here a few times as they host a cheese festival where vendors and cheese makers from around NJ…read morecome to serve up cheesy bites and meals for sampling. Along with that breweries from around the area come by too, including Hoboken, Montclair and Ironbound. The back area where the festival takes place is a decent size holding a sizeable amount of people. This year they opened up some of the rooms to the historical society where I learned a bit more about it. The Montclair Historical Society is a museum of sorts that holds a lot of history of the early days of Montclair and many of the surrounding towns and cities in the county. Much of this includes old county maps and roads from circa 1800's, early contributors, the start of the YMCA and more. There are tours held here and even opportunities to have wedding receptions here. Aside from events like the festival, this is a cool little history held domain.

I recently had an appointment in this building and thought it was a very interesting place. When I…read morefirst saw it, I thought it was just someone's house. I drove into the driveway and into the back, which is a parking lot with many spaces. It is nice that there are so many places to park because I know they give tours and have many events here. I entered through the back of the house and that is when I really felt like I was inside someone's house! I went up the large staircase to the second floor where my appointment was and the upstairs consists of a few rooms where people rent space. The woman I had my appointment with said there are historical maps in the closet of the room where she rents from the 1700's! I thought that was very interesting. I'm going to have to come to one of the tours or events here so I can learn more.

Nice theatre in Morristown. We parked by the Morristown train station, which is a short walk away…read more The theatre is nice and cozy. We sat in the front row of the balcony, and it was nice. If any more events come up that look decent, I might go back. The sound was good for this event also. It's nice to see big names like David Foster and Kristine McPhee play here.

Arts & culture abound in the Garden State, particularly in the state's rare gem of Morris County…read more Nestled on South Street in the heart of Morristown, the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) stands as a beacon for art lovers and music enthusiasts alike. With its rich history dating back to 1937, this establishment has transformed from a movie theater into a vibrant hub for performing arts boasting an assortment of exciting events year-round that features everything from in-person concerts and comedy shows to livestreams and virtual events. Walking through its doors feels like stepping into another world--one filled with anticipation and excitement. My partner and I were lucky to obtain tickets via an online market reseller (the Tickets Center) at Left Orchestra, row P, for last night's performance of Riverdance 30. Upon entering this warm and inviting venue as first-timers with an orchestra and the balcony section, we were greeted by the staff and waited for the doors to open 30 minutes before the start of the show. The bar on the main floor had alcohol, soda, chips, and other light snacks. Our cushiony seats were comfortable, providing a clear view of the stage and a great sound system. The show was a fusion of traditional and contemporary Irish as well as international dance. The music is choreographed with stunning costumes and cutting-edge visuals, bringing its magic to audiences. Prices were comparable to the area and artist. Parking was offered via the online market reseller, and I purchased it. The location was a 15 min walk, and we were okay with that. It was so easy to enter and exit without the congestion. However, the QR scan ticket provided by them was not able to be scanned at the destined location machine. As a result, I had to pay twice. When communicating with this reseller, they refused to refund, as it was a final sale. We had an amazing time and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great night out by contacting directly the Mayo PAC and not Tickets-Center.

This is not really a space for the public to visit, though weblinks and other search engines seem…read moreto think that it is worth visiting. The area consists of a former missile defense base (?) recently (or not so recently) converted into a working artist colony. At fault is the County government: it needs to create more signs saying what it is (a working colony) and what it isn't (a museum or open park for visitors). The grass is growing everywhere, the buildings don't look like they're in good shape. They basically need to congregate wealthy donors who are willing to hire a staff to maintain the space, and then perhaps visitors can come by every so often for an 'open house' (which the government could require of its resident artists). There is a lot of potential here, but as such it is not a place amenable for visits. But maybe young teenagers in love lookin' for a quick snoggin' in a somewhat elevated area could check it out.

so, I punch "local attractions" into my GPS while killing a few hours in North Jersey and find this…read moreplace. I drove into what seemed to be a small private community...and up some desolate roads...and saw a small clump of steel structures which apparently count as "art". this is depressing. what a waste of gas! driving down was slightly more enjoyable, as I rolled down my windows, cursing and blasting metal, and also didn't need to use any precious gas.

The Newark Museum is a good regional museum, which has this misfortune to be located next to NYC…read more But it's really worth a visit. Whenever I go, I run into European, especially German, tourists. They are there to see the Tibetan art, which is considered one of the best in the world. Started by purchasing from Christian missionaries in the early twentieth century. The Tibetan galleries have a Buddhist altar that the Dalai Lama has consecrated in 1990. There's strong American art exhibits with paintings by many including Mary Cassett, John Singer Sargent, Tony Smith and Frank Stella. In addition, there's Ballentine House, from the Ballentine beer family, which houses a fine decorative arts collection and period rooms. The Dreyfuss plantetarium is great to round out your visit, especially with kids. Highly recommended for a day trip.

I took my daughter here, and we went right when they opened. Luckily, they open at a reasonable…read moretime, so I was able to find a great parking spot. We grabbed some drinks and spent the day walking through the museum and exploring everything it had to offer. We even had a funny little interaction while getting our tickets. The man asked my daughter and me if we were paying separately, and I couldn't help but laugh because she's only 11 but already taller than me! I could see the moment of confusion and his embarrassment when he realized she was my daughter. Aside from that, this was a wonderful museum experience. I really enjoyed the interactive exhibits and the variety of artwork throughout the space. The different art pieces gave the museum such a unique style and character. My favorite part was the house itself. I absolutely love historic homes--they are truly beautiful and full of so much craftsmanship. You can see the incredible attention to detail throughout the entire house, from the staircase to the walls and the hand-printed designs. Every little detail tells a story, and it was amazing to see how much care and artistry went into creating such a beautiful space.

Did you know that George Washington spent more time in New Jersey during the American Revolutionary…read moreWar than anywhere else? Morris County is often called the Crossroads of the Revolution, with more Revolutionary War battles and encampments. Morristown was the market center at the time for area farmers and iron miners. It was surrounded by dense forests that supported one of the era's key resources--lumber. Washington's Headquarters Museum, located in Morristown National Historical Park, is an excellent museum for those interested in American history, where my partner, his family, and I came for a visit today to end this historic weekend celebrating 250 years of America. This multi-floored museum is free to enter, self-guided, and has detailed exhibits on Washington and his troops' experiences while staying in the area. General Washington and his wife, Martha, set up headquarters at the nearby three-story Ford Mansion, a Georgian-style mansion built in 1774 in Morristown. It was owned by Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., and his wife, Theodosia, where free tickets were distributed for the tour at the museum. Our guide Jason was wonderful, knowledgeable, and welcoming to questions. We are officially in the thick of the nation's 250th birthday (the Semiquincentennial) and a great place to visit.

4/3/26: The Ford Mansion tour begins at Washington's Headquarters Museum…read more My recommendation is to view the museum first, before going on the tour of the mansion. The museum has an excellent video of Washington's stay during the winter of 1779 to 1780 with 96 inches of snow. In addition, you'll see soldier's uniforms, muskets, other weapons, furniture and a lot of very interesting facts of that time. Interesting fact: During the first encampment in 1777, Washington knew he couldn't beat the British without conquering smallpox first. He ordered his soldiers be inoculated against smallpox. This actually saved thousands of lives. The museum does have interesting interactive displays of how one would solve dilemmas during war time. So much to see at Washington's Headquarters Museum. Restrooms are located on the lower level. The museum does have an elevator. A wonderful gift shop is located on the first level of the museum.

It's an awesome place to see things invented in Paterson! They have a steam engine outside that…read morewas used to build The Panama Canal!

On 7/18/23, we visited the Paterson Museum for the 2nd time…read more This museum is truly a hidden gem filled with so much history. Outside the museum, you'll see a train at least a century old. In addition, some interesting modern sculptures surround the building. Inside the museum, you'll see the history of the Leni Lenape Indians. The museum has a wonderful display of minerals from NJ. Over a century ago, Paterson was known as t "Silk City of the World". You'l see the old loom machines from yesteryear. One very large display case has many of the old "Colt" revolvers manufactured in the city Paterson. The museum has a section dedicated to John P. Holland. Mr. Holland designed and built the first underwater vessel accepted by the U.S. Navy. On a lighter note, you'll see many pictures of Paterson's own beloved comedian, Lou Costello ("Hey Abbott!" ) of the comedy duo Abbott and Costello. Admission is free. The museum does welcome donations.

12/7/25: We visited Thomas Edison's Glenmont Estate at Lewellyn Park in West Orange, New Jersey…read more We made our reservations online. The cost is $15 plus a $2 fee. If you have a national park visitors pass it's free. However, you'll only have to pay the $2 fee. Before the tour, you'll have to stop at the visitors center at the National Historic Park for a pass to enter Llewelyn Park. The park is located less than half mile from the estate. Ron was our guide. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures inside the house. The Edison's had six children. Thomas had three children with his first wife. After the death of his first wife, he remarried a 20 year-old young woman named Mina. She raised those children along with their three children. The interior of the home has beautifully dark carved columns. Also, the house is beautifully furnished in a classy elegant manner. Our guide told us that Mr. Edison's wife Mina did a lot of entertaining in their beautiful dining room. During those dining times, Mr. Edison retreated to his bedroom because of his hearing loss. In addition, he wanted to work on his many projects. On the grounds of Glenmont, you'll find the gravesite of Thomas and Mina Edison. In addition, Mr. Edison had his antique car garage. The Glenmont Estate of Thomas Alva Edison is truly worthwhile visiting.

The Glenmont Estate was the home of Thomas Edison. Edison had the 29 room Queen Anne home built as…read morea wedding gift for his 20 year old second wife Mina Miller in 1887. Edison and Mina raised six children at Glenmont, three chilfren were with his first wife who passed away. During his time at Glenmont various high profile quests visited Glenmont including: Henry Ford and Helen Keller. Edison died in 1931 at Glenmont, as did his wife in 1947. Their gravesites are in the rear of the house and can be visited of your tour. Other structures on the property are a garage with antique autos, a greenhouse, a stable and gift shop. The home contains furnishings, lamps household items, a lot of taxidermy but little personal items that would indicate Edison lived there. Only the first floor was open for viewing. The few rooms open were roped off. Glenmont is operated by the National Park System. It is open for tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10-4 pm beginning in April. .Tickets for the car pass can be purchased at Edison's laboratory which is about a mile down the road. Although Edison had 1,093 patents, three stand out as prominent. His invention of the electric lighting system and phonograph were invented in Menlo Park N.J. while the motion picture industry was invented in West Orange, New Jersey. National Park Passes are honored. Only a handheld camera in the interior of the home can be used and photos are only for personal use. Posting on the internet is not allowed.

Excellent location in Monclair, NJ easy parking (either on the street or nearby parking garage)…read more Two blocks from the main drag with plenty of dining options. The old stone church/performance center holds a variety of music events. Lat nights performance with Steve Earle (recently inducted into the Grand Ole Opry) celebrating his 50 year career with Storyteller format. Opening was Zandi Holup an emerging artist with a bright future. The volunteers go out of their way to make the patrons feel comfortable always a pleasure to chat with. I look forward to a return visit.