Banner Image

Month: August 2014

Last Chance for Some Summer Fun

With only a couple of weeks left before the kids get back to school and things get hectic, it’s your last chance to have some fun and show the family a good time. New Jersey is full of things to do and great places to take the family for a day of fun-filled activities.

Whether you prefer amusement parks, water parks, museums or just a day of mini golf or arcade games, there’s something for everyone.

boardwalk

 

The most obvious attraction would have to be heading down the shore to Seaside Heights for the boardwalk games, rides and the beach. If you’re thinking, “been there, done that,” then maybe a trip to the Land of Make Believe & Pirate’s Cove is more your speed. With rides and attractions for kids of all ages and adults to enjoy, it’s a great place to spend a few hours. Admission is affordable, you get to play and hang out all day and there are nine different food areas so even the pickiest of eaters will be happy.

Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari

In keeping with the theme of amusement parks, there’s always old reliable Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari. It’s the largest seasonal theme park in America, featuring 100s of rides, games, attractions and even shows. The Safari Adventure gives you a chance to encounter lots of animals up close and it is the largest drive-thru safari in the world outside of Africa. Six Flags also boasts a huge water park and the tallest roller coaster in the world. Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari has a little bit of everything to please the whole family.

If a fun day at the zoo sounds more interesting, the Bergen County Zoological Park is open daily year-round. For a small fee, the family can see live animal shows in the amphitheater (only in July and August), take pony rides (April to October), and see rare and unique species of wildlife from all over North, South and Central America, among other things.

See a 15-Foot T-Rex Puppet

Another interesting and unique experience available is the Field Station: Dinosaurs expedition in Secaucus. With more than 30 animatronic, life-size dinosaurs, puppets and an outdoor interactive adventure, it’s sure to be a fascinating afternoon for the kids. Scientists from the New Jersey State Museum came together to make sure the activities, games, workshops and all parts of the exhibition include the most up to date facts and theories in all areas related to dinosaurs to make this an enjoyable and educational experience for all.

camping

 

If spending a day at a park, zoo or exhibit is not for you and you’d rather have a relaxing day in the wilderness, New Jersey has plenty of campsites available for families to enjoy. Whether you set up tents, bring a trailer or rent a cabin, you can get your fill of the outdoors in various campsites throughout the state.

Keeping New Jersey Fresh

Though it may not seem like it, state-grown agriculture is important in New Jersey. With the launch of the Jersey Fresh program in 1984, which focuses on advertising, promoting and grading the quality of produce grown in New Jersey, consumer awareness about farming and agriculture in the state has grown. Bringing the consumers and farmers together through the distribution of information regarding availability and variety of fresh vegetables and fruits grown within the state, the program has even inspired other states to follow New Jersey’s lead.

The NJ Department of Agriculture works tirelessly with various local communities, large stores, schools, hotels, restaurants and many more to bring fresh state-grown produce to any and all consumers who want it.

Consumers can find everything from a list of organic farms in the state, roadside stands, farmers markets and even a list of fresh produce available at various supermarkets throughout New Jersey via the Jersey Fresh program. For those looking to pick their own items, there are even certain farms that encourage customers to visit and pick out what they plan to purchase. Consumers can handpick pumpkins, apples, peaches, raspberries and other various fruits and vegetables, for example.

Best Ways to Get Jersey Fresh Produce

Roadside Markets make it easier for consumers to find products year round based on availability. Farmers markets help New Jersey farmers sell their produce and other products directly to consumers seasonally. Anyone looking to purchase wholesale produce can always find a list of farms and distributors on the Jersey Fresh website.

Other Benefits of Jersey Fresh

The program also keeps a list of products that use New Jersey produce as ingredients so consumers interested in eating items made with state-grown produce can easily find them.

Another important aspect of state-grown agriculture is the support of the communities. Any consumers that wish to pledge their support to a certain farm prior to the growing season will receive shares of the farm’s products throughout the season. Members can pay a fee at sign up (depending on the farm and how they run their community support programs) and will have access to fresh, affordable products week to week. 

Family Fun on the Farms

Apart from the obvious importance of farms throughout the state, there are also plenty other things they offer for families.

In the fall, many farms offer events and activities for the whole family. Pumpkin and apple picking are staples of any family’s fall, but farms also hold festivals with live music, offer hayrides, corn mazes and tours. Some farms (depending on location) even have Pony rides and petting zoos. All of these activities are affordable and family-friendly so everyone is encouraged to make a day of it and have some fun on the farm every fall.

pumpkin

Something for the Adults

For the wine enthusiasts, New Jersey has plenty of licensed farm wineries with over 40 varieties of wines made from fresh New Jersey fruits. Many vineyards are open to visitors for events, tours and wine tastings. As of last year, New Jersey was ranked 9th in the country, with over 1.6 million gallons of wine produced in 2012.

Whether you’re looking for fresh state-grown produce, local wines or just a fun outing with the family, the over 9,000 farms in New Jersey are making it all possible.

 

New York’s Football Teams Poised to Have Big Seasons

The countdown to the start of the NFL season is in full effect with one week of preseason football already in the books. With all three New York teams winning their respective games last weekend, fans are probably hoping this is a sign of good things to come, but everyone knows it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

This Saturday all three teams will be away as the Giants take on Indianapolis, while the Jets play against Cincinnati and Buffalo faces the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Can the Giants Recover?

After an upsetting 7-9 season last year, the New York Giants are looking to turn things around and come back stronger. First and foremost, quarterback Eli Manning and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul will be a huge factor in the team’s success if they can overcome the difficulties they experienced last year. Manning had his worst season with a career high of 27 interceptions, while Pierre-Paul was only able to play in 11 games due to injuries and recorded a measly two sacks.

Along with a healthy Pierre-Paul and a revitalized Manning, the Giants are hoping their offseason additions in the cornerback group, such a Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (who played last season with the AFC champion Broncos), Zack Bowman and Walter Thurmond (who won the Super Bowl last season as a member of the Seattle Seahawks) will be a strength for the team as the season progresses.

The loss of Justin Tuck to the Oakland Raiders will be felt as he had 11 of the team’s 33 sacks last season and losing Chris Snee to retirement the day before camp will surely leave some question marks, but the Giants are optimistic about this upcoming season. It will be a challenge to bounce back from their mediocre 2013 campaign and with 12 new starters (6 on offense and 6 on defense, respectively), as well as a new offensive coordinator, the Giants have their work cut out for them.

Here Come the Jets

Let’s face it; the New York Jets talk A LOT. They seem to be back to their old ways, making them the team to watch for again this season, even if only for entertainment value.

Rex Ryan is as enthusiastic as ever and it’s catching on with the rest of the team. They’ve spent the majority of training camp boasting about one thing or another. Be it a confident self-declaration from Dee Milliner that he’s the best cornerback, a team-wide claim about their defense being the best or an optimistic outlook about having a future top-5 quarterback.

All this talk is not a good look for them, considering they’ve missed the playoffs the last three straight years, but it’s nothing new coming from the Jets. On paper however, they are a better team than last year that much is true. The additions of Chris Johnson and Eric Decker, who are proven offensive players has helped them add depth. If the Jets can come together like they were starting to at the end of last season, they have a chance to make an impact.

The positivity and continuity among staff and players this season will surely play a big role in their attempt to put up a good season and return to the playoffs.

new-york-jets

 

Can the Buffalo Bills Make the Playoffs?

It’s been 14 years since their last playoff berth, but the Bills look to be heading in that direction at full-speed this season.

After a disappointing 6-10 finish last season with a rookie quarterback and first-year coach, the Bills are pushing forward with their efforts to rebuild and shed their mediocre reputation.

With a draft-night trade for Sammy Watkins, the front office is excited to say the least. He was college football’s top receiver before being drafted and after only two weeks of camp, he seems poised to be a game-changer this season. Quarterback EJ Manuel can benefit greatly from having a talented receiver like Watkins after an uninspiring performance last year.

The hope is that Manuel will be more confident in his second season and won’t feel like all the pressure is on him to win games and having Watkins as his safety net to catch anything within his reach should bolster that confidence. Combine that with the NFL’s best defensive line – including Mario Williams, Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus who were all voted to last year’s Pro Bowl – and the Buffalo Bills may be a force to be reckoned with this season.

buffalo-bills

 

Local Nature Preserve Offers Sanctuary and Environmental Education

Nestled in the heart of Bergen County lies the Tenafly Nature Center. For over 50 years, Tenafly has been home to this sanctuary where visitors can enjoy comprehensive nature oriented classes, programs, and activities.

Need to Get Away?

Whether you’re an avid nature fan or just looking for a peaceful afternoon away from the stress of day-to-day life, Tenafly Nature Center is the place for you.

The non-profit independent member-supported nature preserve protects almost 400 wooded acres and all of its inhabitants. The nature preserve has been teaching an appreciation and understanding of nature since the 1960s with its education programs focused on nature, science and the environment.

Their programs reach over 20,000 people each year through over 1,000 on-site and outreach programs.

Trails are open from dawn to dusk every day for anyone to walk at their leisure and enjoy the sights and fresh air.

The Tenafly Nature Center hosts two ecosystems, boasting natural biodiversity as well as being actively managed with human effort too. With checklists of various plant and wildlife species, visitors and nature fans alike can learn more about the thriving greenery and animals.

Seasonal Wildlife and Plant Events

There are natural seasonal events that may be of interest to those visiting at a specific time of the year. Whether you want to hear bullfrogs at their loudest, listen for the calls of Wrens or the hoots of Owls or just look for the white blossoms of a tree along the boardwalk, every season holds a different experience.

Visitors are welcome to take a leisurely walk or enjoy a hike along the trails, but they can also join the educators monthly for guided nature walks and full moon hikes. There are seasonal StoryWalk exhibits that make reading into an adventure by walking in the woods while reading nature-themed stories. Trail running is also possible along the 7+ miles of trails. Weather permitting, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice-skating are also activities that can be enjoyed at the Tenafly Nature Center.

Want to learn more?

Visitors can enter the John A. Redfield Building, which is home to a small history museum with staff that can answer any questions about natural history, wildlife and plant species, the environment and the trails. A wide variety of programs are held in this building throughout the year and when the programs are not in progress, visitors can browse the Stephen Minkoff Memorial Natural History Library, explore many interactive exhibits, review educational brochures and look at the live education animals.

The nature center’s Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat is where visitors can relax and see the resident birds of prey at the aviary. Seasonally, the salamander and amphibian pond are also available for a closer look.

tenafly

As a non-profit organization, the Tenafly Nature Center relies on membership, donations and volunteers to help with their mission.

Please visit their website at www.tenaflynaturecenter.org for more information on how to help or planning a visit.

bergenPAC: Making the Arts Accessible to the Community

The Bergen Performing Arts Center (better known as bergenPAC) in Englewood, NJ is an events theater that serves all of northern New Jersey by making live performing arts accessible to all in the area. It is home to hundreds of performances throughout the year, reaching large audiences of over 250,000 fans of all ages.

Formerly known as the John Harms Center, one of the largest performing arts centers in northern New Jersey, there was a public outcry when it closed in 2003. Through the efforts and creation of bergenPAC, a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, a partnership was formed and the Bergen Performing Arts Center was reopened in the fall of 2004.

It includes a state-of-the-art recording studio, which is fiber-optically linked and has enabled the theater to be used by various television networks (HBO, PBS, A&E, and MTV to name a few) for international broadcasts.

The vintage acoustic hall has made it a favorite of many artists that have played there and one of the finest in the country.

Educational Services at bergenPAC

Apart from being a concert venue, The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC is an educational performing arts program that reaches tens of thousands of students annually. They provide “hands-on” training in dance, theater, and music by industry professionals to youth in the community ranging from age 2 months to 21 years of age.

Featuring a series of residencies, workshops, classes, student productions, and ensemble groups, this education program allows students to gain real world experiences and enhance their education through the various arts. These are all offered off-site at students’ schools or at the new Performing Arts School building located at 1 Depot Square in Englewood, NJ.

The Performing Arts School and bergenPAC are able to continue with their initiative to enrich our community thanks to the generosity of patrons, donors and sponsors.

Events in August

Upcoming bergenPAC events cover a broad range of styles and genres appealing to the masses. Rock to Classical, Comedy to Dance; with over 100 events each year, all of the arts are well represented at this local gem. Event prices vary, but with three different seating sections, there are affordable options for every event.

See below a list of upcoming events at bergenPAC:

Rock N’ Blues Fest 2014 – A Tribute to Johnny Winter – Aug 8, 2014

Kenny G – Aug 11, 2014

The Moody Blues – Aug 12, 2014 (sold out)

Yanni – Aug 13, 2014 (sold out)

Chris MacDonalds’ Memories of Elvis – Aug 14, 2014

Christopher Cross – Aug 20, 2014

dark-side

Classic Albums Live Presents Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon – Aug 21, 2014

Deep Purple – Aug 25, 2014

Please visit www.bergenpac.org for more events and purchase information, as well as parking and directions to the theater. The website also has information on The Performing Arts School and a link to donate and support bergenPAC. Gift Certificates are also available for those wishing to share the gift of live fun.

 

Manson in night view

Follow Us On Social

@NJLux Joshua Baris

15,000+

SUBSCRIBERS

Join me on exclusive tours of our incredible properties.

@NJLux Joshua Baris

124,000+

FOLLOWERS

A look at my day to day life as a real estate professional.

@NJLux Joshua Baris

5,000+

FOLLOWERS

Make your day by following me here