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.

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.

"NO FOOD HERE - BRING YOUR OWN FOOD"…read more Found this from Google Maps and tried this brewery . Google had good reviews and yeah . This was lived upto expectations . Nice location. Close to other restaurants. Parking can be challenging . I had to pay and park few minutes walk . Ambience is good . They had live bands some days . Lots of seats to sit and drink. There are both indoor and outdoor seating . In summer outdoor seating could have insects / mosquitoes and hence we had to move to inside seating . IPA was too good ! Love the fresh taste of hazy IPA. Service can be better . IPA closer about 10$ which is slightly expensive than other sports bars . First time . I didn't know we can bring our own food. . Went there and had nothing to eat and ordered a peanut packet . Lots of others got pizzas and other food from neighborhood, which is a great option. Good experience overall . 4 stars

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.

10/3/26: "Prost y'all" It was our first visit to the…read moreDeutscher Club. We came for Octoberfest!!' Cost $10 admission Non members $ 5 admission members. All the food and drink lines were very long. Think the fest could've used a lot more servers. However, once you were waited on, the food was served up quickly. In fact, my bf literally waited 30 minutes in one line just to get drinks. We shared a Bratwurst platter w/Spaetzel & German Potato salad $12 + Potato pancakes, & applesauce $8.00. The Bratwurst with mustard was super tasty! The Potato salad was EXCELLENT!!! Pancakes were somewhat greasy. Someone in the food line said that the pancakes were much better last year. By the time we finished eating, we noticed the dessert line was gone. Went up and spoke with someone and they told me that the desserts go very quickly. (It's something we have to remember for next year to order dessert first). A Big Shout out goes to Don Bittlerich & Die Heimatklänge who performed wonderful German Polka music. There's parking on the premises. However, the club has a wonderful shuttle from a local Acme mall parking lot. You don't even have to wait long for the shuttle coming or going. Already looking forward to 2027 Oktoberfest!

My husband just became a member so we went for a Friday night dinner after a long work week. We…read morewent early because I was starving and got a seat at the bar. The friendly bartender got us our drinks and the young waitress gave us a chance to get settled before taking our orders. I had the DC Burger, a tasty patty cooked medium rare with sauteed onions, mushrooms, and Swiss. Hubby had the wurst platter with mashed potatoes and gravy and cabbage. We both cleaned our plates. The other folks at the bar were friendly and happy to swap stories. I was even reunited with a family friend I hadn't seen since my wedding! I'm looking forward to many more lovely nights!

We had a great time! I was super excited for this yield event. We were making totes. I made mine…read moreflowers. All the supplies were staged perfectly. The host was Alot of fun. I would definitely do another event with her. The place was big enough to fit all of us. 4+ tables were full. I enjoyed it alot.

It's a celebration every time I go to Canvas & Grapes regardless if Im celebrating something or…read morenot. It is such a vibe! The staff are so friendly and helpful. I have been multiple times and every single time I leave feeling like an artist but also like I've had a blast with everyone there. The parking lot is a little bit of a pain since there are so many other businesses. You do not need to be a talented artist to come and paint. Everyone helps and no one makes fun of what you decide to create. Adding karoke to a sip and paint was such a good idea. You are welcome to bring food but not full meals. Small snacks and bites while you sip. I will be back!

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.

This venue was awesome! We saw Catch22 live at crossroads and it was very good! The Food and drinks…read morewere fantastic (You have to try the wings!) The place was nice and clean with the stage being very nice and clean also. The service was great too and very fast with drinks and food. The floor of the place is a very tight squeeze. I get why they say 300 people max. -Just a warning! Mosh pits and skanking are active when going to punk/ska concerts at this venue.- I would recommend the back or the very front if you don't want to be in mosh pit action. This venue is one of the best and would love to come again for another concert!

Have you ever seen the movie "Almost Famous?" Remember when Russell quits the band, and goes to a…read morehouse party in Topeka, Kansas....only looking for something "REAL".....well, "Real" is what you get at Butch Kowals! Real people, no pretense, excellent drinks that are actually poured, not measured - by bartenders that are friendly, with wicked senses of humor. The bar's mascot is a hammerhead shark that hangs from the ceiling, and on a Friday or Saturday night it is wall to wall Real Fun in a Real environment with live entertainment for the hometown crowd whose energy is just contagious! I love Butch Kowals!!

Service was great. Bar was pretty cool. The cornhole was where this place really falls short. The…read moreboards were not even regulation distance (27 feet, from one board's front edge to the other's front edge). The cornhole bags are grey and purple, good luck trying to find the difference at night. Also, half the bags are ripped and leaking beads, not a good cornhole experience. Lastly, Jeff smells, he will rue the day he met me.

What a great venue for live entertainment. Was there to see the Van Halen Tribute Band on May 9th …read more The band was amazing and the venue is huge and the band was amazing . My only issue is that even tho it is a historic venue I think it could be a little more well preserved. And there is no parking so that was a bummer .

Stunning historic venue! Always something exciting happening at Brook, either a musical, an…read moreorchestra performance, or a traditional concert, there are events here for everyone of all ages! It is a very well kept, clean, and comfortable theater. They always have a great variety of snacks and drinks during performances which is great. The staff always has the theater decorated for the holidays, special occasions, and just in general. Definitely worth stopping by for an upcoming event!