Drifting Back to Lions Roar for Sure!…read more We ended the night at Lions Roar Brewing in Westfield and what a way to cap off an evening. The service was excellent -- friendly, attentive, and on point all night. The craft beer selection had some real creativity on tap. We were disappointed to hear the mango brew had run out -- that one sounded like a winner -- but the Mexican and lime brew more than made up for it. Bright, flavorful, and refreshing, it was a great pour that kept us coming back for more. But the real showstopper of the night? Drifting Back. This four-piece band was absolutely exceptional -- tight, talented, and packed with great tunes. They had the room in the palm of their hands all night. If you ever see them on the schedule here, don't miss it. A minor gripe about the sold-out mango brew aside, this was a fantastic night out at Lions Roar. We'll absolutely be back.

First time coming here and this is definitely a smaller brewery than I was expecting. Downside is…read morethere is paid parking or you can try to find parking in the residential area behind and walk the two blocks to the brewery The location itself has a small indoor area, this was taken by a private party. They also have a small covered beer garden out back. Prices on their beers were very reasonable and pours came in an assortment of sizes. We had two IPAs and both were different but good in their own way.

This FREE Fair is held every year, FREE parking, FREE admission, many FREE giveaways, tasty food in…read morethe food tent (that, you do pay for) many animals and exhibits. No rides for the kids, but what do you want for free? Fair Warning: If you're expecting rain, the fair might open but you might want to park elsewhere. The parking lot tends to get muddy and at least one year many cars got stuck deep in the mud.

This annual event, always on a W-Th-F in mid-August, is an area tradition. Unlike other county…read morefairs, there's never a charge to get in or park. The food tent is 100% local non-profits (fire departments, churches, Boy Scouts, etc.), so you know the "profit" is going to a good cause. A not-insignificant chunk of the food revenue goes to the 4-H and helps fund this very expensive event. There are no rides, but you can visit politicians at various tents and stands. The emphases are agriculture and education. You'll see cows, chickens, goats, cats, dogs, horses, and a host of other critters. There are also bands and stuff for the kids like operating a back-hoe (really); the Children's Museum exhibit; model trains, cars, and planes; the Rutgers Extension service; clubs; etc. There are commercial displays for mulch, basement waterproofing, etc., but you don't feel like it's a hard-sell trade show by any stretch. If the weather is dry, there is some parking at the site, though parking at Raritan Valley Community College (a few miles away, but with free bus shuttles) is recommended. If it rains, they quickly curtail or close on-site parking and it may take longer for the shuttle service (which is now air-conditioned buses!). The smart move is to take off a day from work if you can, and spend a few hours. Evenings are far more crowded, in addition to dealing with rush-hour traffic in general. FULL DISCLOSURE: My church operates a stand under the gigantic food tent, and I spend a lot of time there volunteering.

Come today their kriskrindlemarkt festival! Lots of great crafters with seasonal crafts, as well…read moreas carolers Santa and great German food. It is free to wander, and it has such a seasonal flare. Be sure to stay and listen to the music. The carolers were amazing in both German and English and get a free photo with Santa as well as enjoy the German food and have a beer. Desserts are on the inside building and are quite delicious as well.

It use be a great place but be fair warned if you are not well like by other crafters you will be…read morecussed of doing stuff you didnt do. One person was accused of destroying their property. Another was accused of stealing and these vendors are now not allowed back because another had a vendetta against them. It is a nice place other wise good music good food and some great vendors to bad there a few that ruin it for others

I'll reuse my old quip that 3 stars on Yelp isn't considered good, this isn't my company's work…read moreperformance review. And I'll defer to the town elders about whether if I'm being unfair to a place that might be the heir to Maxwell's because of a "me" problem. I expected more of a "standing bar" venue. There's a main seating area that seems designated for full service food and drinks. The smaller seating area on the right felt like more of a VIP area. There were no signs, fences or bouncers stopping me from sitting in these places. The unambiguous standing area was quite small. I'm unclear on the ethics of whether it's required to buy drinks considering the delightfully low $10 cover charge. But I did enjoy a Down East cider and more shockingly, a loganberry hard cider from Canisteo, NY's own Cross Creek. Still, the DIY vibe is more refreshing than City Winery charging more than Live Nation to get through the door, tacking on $25 minimums and seating you with strangers. The men's room is currently out of service so I used the modular set-up outside (flush, not porta, but my rating on this sub-section of the trip varies depending on whether the light is working!) On the bright side, there's a great assortment of cover bands and originals on the calendar. I was here for Ashtray Floors, who had a stellar homage to The Replacements. I never thought I'd hear Left Of The Dial live again. And REM tribute band The Ones You Love also rocked the joint. Crossroads deserves credit just for hosting these shows but also for good sound quality whether it was the haunting echoes of the late Bob Stinson or the mandolin in Losin' My Religion. And if I don't see ya, in a long, long while, I'll try to find you, left of the Garwood NJ Transit stop.

Great place to see a show. It's small and the parking lot is very limited, but there is parking on…read moreside streets in the neighborhood. We've been here many times and it's always fun. The staff is always friendly. The acoustics are good and it's overall just a nice, intimate setting to see a musician.

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.

Nicely managed country club with amenities for family such as the pool and playground. Staff are…read moresuper professional and friendly. Premesis are clean and well maintained. Food was decent and clubhouse has a nice bar. Total size is over a 100 acres so make sure to grab a cart before you start walking from one area to another.

I have played golf many times at fiddler's in the past and was always very pleased with the…read moreservice. But had never had the pleasure of attending a function there. This weekend I had the pleasure of attending a wedding there and all I can say is wow!!! The service was impeccable and impressive to say the least. Not just the food that was provided being amazing but the staff was just beyond extraordinaire.. Every single one of them was cheery and made you feel like a special guest! Unbelievable I have been to many weddings in my life and have never experienced anything like it !! I highly recommend this place and heck I'd even consider getting married again just to have a wedding there! Kudos to the staff and the management team!!!

great sound, people, and best for the outdoor fundraisers, events. Great vibe overall.read more

Great dive bar! It's pretty big with a nice large stage for bands. Plenty of tables for you to…read moresit at for when you want to see a band. The bar has a good variety of alcohol & is a great place to stop in for a drink. No idea if they serve food or not but definitely a great place to stop in for drinks or to see a great band!

A great dive bar. Cool tunes. Great bartender…read more Had a great time. As the night went on some fun people showed up. Good times.

Wait! Stop it! We didn't review this place yet? How did that happen? This is an awesome dive…read morewhere, yes, a movie was filmed. We just don't remember which one. Think a really long dimly lit bar with a pool table and juke box. $20 can go a long way with a friendly bartender. They have some food, hot dogs as I remember were ok. We will come in again for a "rest" real soon.