‘New Jersey’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Visit: Cross Estate Gardens {Bernardsville, New Jersey}

February 2, 2021 · Narrative

Looking to do a bit of exploring while outside and getting some fresh air? Let’s visit the Cross Estate Gardens in Bernardsville!

I have a photo album on my phone titled “Things to Do” where I put screenshots of places I want to visit and things I want to do. That way, when we find ourselves with down time and are looking for something fun, I have a handy index of places to sift through to save time. And this is exactly how I found myself on the grounds of the Cross Estate Gardens in Bernardsville recently.

We’ve lived here for 19 years (the longest I’ve lived anywhere!), and we never knew this place existed … and it’s only 15 miles away! So many undiscovered treasures literally right in your own backyard, and it was the perfect afternoon escape when I found myself needing a little time outdoors.

Part of the Morristown National Park system, it’s super easy to find. I literally just put “Cross Estate Gardens” into Waze and found it with no issues.

The property boasts both formal and native gardens (although, of course, there isn’t much in the way of “gardens” in the winter) and is currently open from 8-5 (8-8 in the summer) and has free parking and no entrance fee.

Lovingly maintained by volunteers, this is one of those places that would be wonderful to visit every season so you can see the various scenes play out in the gardens.

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Weekend Photos in Review

January 18, 2021 · Photos

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Visit: Laurelwood Arboretum, Wayne, New Jersey

May 18, 2020 · Narrative

A quiet little oasis tucked away in Wayne, New Jersey, let’s visit the Laurelwood Arboretum.

Since the Coronavirus pandemic hit, and we’ve been quarantined, I’ve made an effort to get my kids out of the house for an hour or two of family time in the fresh air and sunshine. While the rest of the time they have been largely sequestered at home, I feel the shot of fresh air and sunshine is much needed for positive mental health. They don’t necessarily agree, but they humor me and we compromise and stick to destinations that are within a twenty minute drive and largely isolated, to keep everyone safe.

And that’s how we ended up at the Laurelwood Arboretum. I am a sucker for a peaceful place where I can listen to the water trickle in a stream and take a slew of floral and fauna photos, so you know this checked all my boxes.

We found it easily, and pulled into the small parking lot. Since the state is still largely on lockdown, the Visitor’s Center is closed (along with the restrooms), so if you visit before things open up, keep that in mind.

We wandered aimlessly, following the trails in a large loop, and the place is such a meditative and reflective spot, I could have happily stayed for hours. It’s quiet, with little benches and bursts of flowers tucked in here and there, along with a few sculptures, and babbling streams. I stopped at every one, as my kids made fun of me, because trickling water or the sounds of the beach are legit my favorite sounds ever.

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Visit: Bahr’s Landing {Highlands, New Jersey}

May 3, 2019 · Narrative, Restaurant Review

A landmark restaurant on the waters of the Jersey shore, let’s visit the historic Bahr’s Landing in Highlands.

My kids and I were down the shore last week for a few days, and we spent one of those days poking around Sandy Hook. On the way back, we were looking for a place to eat lunch on the water and we stumbled upon Bahr’s Landing in Highlands. I had read about it recently, but, surprisingly, despite the fact that it’s been around for ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE YEARS, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it until just a few weeks ago.

We popped in on a weekday for a late lunch, and there was no wait for a non-water-view table, but of course we wanted that precious water view! After just about fifteen minutes, we were seated and greeted by our waitress.

Being we were down the shore, I was focused on eating seafood. Since my kids don’t like any kind of fish whatsoever, I take advantage when we’re out and how could I not when we’re eating right on the water? I really debated about what to get because so many things were calling my name, like the whole belly clam sandwiches and the lobster roll, but I ended up going with the Oyster Po’ Boy Sandwich. Instead of a side of fries, I opted for vegetables, which were roasted sliced carrots that day (and a tad heavy on the butter). My daughter went with chicken fingers (natch!), and my son chose a Caesar Salad with Chicken. The food came relatively quickly and although our waitress was more than a little forgetful, the service was reasonable.

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Visit: Empty Sky Memorial {Jersey City, New Jersey}

January 8, 2019 · Narrative

The Empty Sky Memorial is the official New Jersey 9/11 memorial located at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Let’s take a look.

I had seen pictures of Empty Sky Memorial on Instagram over the past few years and made a mental note that I wanted to stop by and visit it with my kids. It’s different that any of the other memorials that we’ve seen, and despite the fact of the sober reminder of what it represents, it’s really beautiful. There was a design competition with 320 entries received, and this was chosen by unanimous vote from the Families and Survivors Memorial Committee, and it’s no wonder. Paying homage to victims of both the 1993 World Trade Center attack, and the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, its goal is to “reflect the legacies of those whose lives were lost, that their unfulfilled dreams and hopes may result in a better future for society. Their unique qualities and characteristics enriched our lives immeasurably and through this memorial, their stories live on.”

The memorial features twin walls with a path that leads towards a view of Ground Zero, and the walls are exactly 1,776 tall, a nod to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed. The two thirty-foot towers are the exact width of the World Trade Center Towers, and the names of the victims are etched into the stainless steel. The name, “Empty Sky” comes from a Springsteen song of the same name where he sang about the empty sky where the towers once stood.

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Visit: Lambert Castle {Paterson, New Jersey}

July 24, 2018 · Narrative

A beautiful architectural structure tucked away in the hills of Paterson, let’s visit the Lambert Castle.

I have a running list of “fun things to do” on my phone, so when we’re looking for something to do, we don’t have to search very long. As if! The Lambert Castle in Paterson has been on my list for awhile, and when Nick and his friend were making their Summer Bucket List a few weeks ago, they put it on.

And now, we can finally cross it off!

We stopped in for a self-guided tour this past weekend, and it’s worth a visit. It’s in a quiet section of Paterson, and had I not known about it before, I doubt I would have discovered it on my own. It’s easy to find, has ample free parking, and beautiful views of New York City.

It’s very inexpensive to tour (adults are $5 and kids are $3), and I love that it’s self-guided, so we could go at our own pace. They have a three-page scavenger hunt available for kids, and that kept them engaged and looking around longer than they would have without it.

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Explore: Gingerbread Castle {Hamburg, New Jersey}

November 17, 2017 · Narrative

Adventuring all over the great state of New Jersey, there are treasures and hidden mysteries down every road. Let’s visit the Gingerbread Castle in Hamburg.

When my sister and I were kids, our family often took Sunday adventures together, and we took turns choosing where we would go or what we would do. I loved those days, and try to do the same with my kids as well. We go monthly, and while we don’t necessarily take turns on choosing our adventure, I always try to do something that I know they will enjoy.

Both of my kids like exploring, and Nick particularly is always down for finding an abandoned property or graffiti, and we have found over the past few years that New Jersey has no shortage of abandoned properties. In August, we discovered an old amusement park in Hamburg, which is about a thirty minute, mostly scenic, drive from us.

This property operated as an amusement park for about 50 years, and it finally shut down in the 1970s, which is likely why I had never heard of it before. In the 1990s, it reopened as a Halloween attraction, but a fire ended up closing that down. In 2003, a husband and wife purchased the property and hoped to restore it. When that proved more costly than they anticipated, even after securing grants, they tried to sell it on eBay. That wasn’t successful, and it was eventually sold at a Sheriff’s sale in 2007 for $680,000 (that’s quite a hefty sum for property that is in such disrepair!). In 2008, it was listed as being owned by a property developer who vowed not to knock it down. Unfortunately he hasn’t done much else to it either.

(You can see some of the original pictures of the amusement park in its heyday here, as well as more history)

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Review: Taco Bao {Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey}

November 9, 2017 · Narrative

A new restaurant with Spanish Asian fusion street food and a casual vibe opened up nearby … one mention of Pork Belly Fries and I was there.

The kids are at this new stage in their life (read: growing up) where they can do fun things like offer to take me out for dinner for my birthday.

While them growing up is equal parts awesome and bittersweet, they’ll always be my babies.

When they let ME choose where we can go for a meal, I usually choose some place new and some place where they might possibly not like the food.

Because all the OTHER TIMES we go out, it’s to their favorite places.

If I can’t choose what I want on my birthday, there’s no hope!

A friend had mentioned a new restaurant, Taco Bao, had opened up nearby and that she and her family loved it. Once I heard her mention Pork Belly Fries, it was a done deal, so when the kids offered to treat me to dinner for my birthday at the end of the summer, I knew exactly where I wanted to go.

Being a good mom, I did scan the menu ahead of time, just to make sure they could find something they liked, because, after all, I wanted them to enjoy the meal just as much as I planned to.

Located in the quiet little suburb of Lake Hiawatha, the restaurant was easy to find, along with on-street parking. We grabbed a space right in front, but it was also a weeknight when we went, so on a busier weekend night, you might have to circle the block once or twice.

It’s a small, casual restaurant with just a few tables, and a steady take-out business. Any time you go to a new restaurant, the menu can be a little overwhelming, and this was no exception. The best way to alleviate that? Ask them what customers LOVE to order, and order that.

And so I did.

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Visit: Lakota Wolf Preserve {Columbia, New Jersey}

September 17, 2017 · Narrative

Looking for something unique to do for an afternoon of adventuring? A visit to the Lakota Wolf Preserve might be just the thing.

Surprisingly enough, visiting the Lakota Wolf Preserve has been on my list of “things to do” since at least 2013.

Or that’s the last time I have documented it.

Isn’t that always the way with things that are near you? You tend to keep putting them off, because it’s reasonably convenient to get to, and you take it for granted.

Well this is the year we finally crossed it off our list!

Summer was starting to wind down, yet we weren’t quite ready to give up on our quest for fun, and finally decided to go visit the preserve. Like, enough already, just DO IT.

The Lakota Wolf Preserve is located in Columbia, New Jersey, kind of in the middle of nowhere (so plan gas needs and bathroom stops accordingly), but it’s actually only about forty-five minutes from us. They run guided tours twice a day, at 10 am and 4 pm, and you need to make reservations ahead of time to go on a tour; you are also required to arrive thirty minutes before your tour starts.

On our way there, to be honest, I wasn’t quite sure I was in the right area. It looked like a residential area, and then, all of the sudden, we saw the sign and pulled into the lot.

We had to give our license plate number to the office staffer when we signed in, and then waited a few minutes to catch a shuttle bus to the main area where the wolves are kept. You can walk there, but it’s a bit of a hike through a twisty roadway through a campground that the preserve shares space with and … well … I just wasn’t sure I wouldn’t get lost along the way.

They have two older, slightly rickety shuttle buses to bring visitors up to the wolf den area, and once everyone is there, the owners start their tour.

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Visit: Luna Parc

July 27, 2017 · Narrative

A quirky, eccentric, amazing place that you should visit at least once. Let’s check out Luna Parc.

Writing about this place gets over 100 photos off my phone – phew! Luna Parc is the private residence of artist Ricky Boscarino, and he opens it up for public tours just two times a year. I’ve seen it written about in various magazines, and it’s been on my “things to do” list forever, and I finally visited this year. I had really hoped to visit with my kids, but it was only open until 4 pm on three school days, so it wasn’t really conducive to taking them (and that may be the point of the day and hours it’s open), but hopefully I’ll be able to go back with them.

Just a $5 donation gets you entry into the weird and wonderful world of this artist. You get a brief overview from a docent before you tour the interior of the home, and, other than that, it is a self-guided tour. The project started in 1989 when Ricky found a home that was private and that was a place where he could use his artistic creativity to slowly transform the property. Originally a hunting lodge that had been vacant for ten years before he bought it, this is what it looked like when he purchased it:

It’s changed just a tad. ;)

*if this reading nook was in my home, I would never see my nine-year-old

While Ricky is still the main artist that is constantly adding, moving, improving, and tweaking his residence, there are several artists in residence as well. Situated on five acres of remote property, there is plenty of room to create. Ricky has said that he plans to live there until he dies, and haunt the property after he’s gone.

Photos won’t do this place justice, because it’s one of those things that you really have to visit to appreciate, and as it’s continuing to evolve, there will be something new around every corner if you choose to come back regularly.

Whether he’s using traditional artist mediums like paint and canvas, or recycled materials like yardsticks, old Mrs Butterworth syrup bottles, or bowling balls, it truly is a sight to behold. Broken rubber bands became a small sculpture inside the home, and those plastic tags that seal loaves of bread closed are in tall vases. I noticed things my friend didn’t, and vice versa – there is no way you can take it all in.

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Visit: Krispy Kreme {Jersey City, New Jersey}

April 29, 2017 · Narrative

The flashing “hot donuts” sign beckons you. The taste keeps you. We finally have Krispy Kreme in New Jersey.

If I mention I’m excited about a Krispy Kreme donut location opening up, some parts of the country might roll their eyes.

But Krispy Kreme hasn’t really migrated into New Jersey until recently. They finally opened a flagship location in Jersey City a few months ago, and I was dying to go.

The first time we had Krispy Kreme donuts was on our trip to Tennessee a few years ago. We ordered a few donuts and my kids were not excited. Not at all.

Weirdos.

Flash forward a few years, and a few more attempts, and they’ve come around.

So when I announced an afternoon sojourn to check out the new Krispy Kreme donut shop, they weren’t exactly upset.

The location is easy to find, but parking is another story. There are a few spaces in front, and after three trips around the block on a Saturday afternoon, we got lucky enough that one opened up. I didn’t notice any parking lots or significant street parking in that area, so be forewarned.

When we walked in, the line wasn’t too bad, ten people deep. It snaked in front of large glass windows where you could see inside what appeared to be a factory setting. On a perfect day, I imagine there is staff behind the glass, making donuts in front of the happy waiting (and drooling) customers. On this Saturday afternoon, there was just one employee puttering around, but we were nonetheless mesmerized by the sheet of glaze that was pouring down over the (donut-less) belt. If you look at the below picture, the white you see in the exact center is the glaze pouring down. I wish there was more action going on, but alas, it was not meant to be.

There is a good selection of donuts available, and the, um, calorie count was displayed with each one. Sometimes it’s better not to know. YOLO and all that. My kids chose the original glazed, and I went with the jelly. So light, flaky, and soft, the donuts did not disappoint.

The cashiers were friendly and helpful, completely understanding our need to check out the donuts before making our choice. If you’re in line, you can’t really see the donut selection until you’re right at the register, so there isn’t really a good way to check out the varieties until it’s your turn (and unless you’re a regular who knows the menu already).

Four dollars later and we had the goods.

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Visit: Glaze Artisan Donuts {Wayne, New Jersey}

April 3, 2017 · Narrative

A new donut shop that is worth a visit, right in Wayne, New Jersey.

If you’ve been a reader here for awhile, you may remember that a friend and I did a Donut Crawl a few years ago. Something that we totally need to do again, because new donuts shops seem to be popping up all.the.time. Kind of like the cupcake craze from a few years ago, I guess donuts are the current (neverending?) trend. While I don’t have a huge sweet tooth, I do love the occasional specialty donut, so I can’t say I’m mad about this.

We discovered Glaze Artisan Donuts about 6 months ago, and we have been in love ever since. Luckily they’re about twenty minutes away from us, so we don’t indulge too often, but they’re about 4 miles away from one of my clients, so…

It’s a small place, with seating for about a dozen or so, and located in a strip mall. Easy to find, plenty of parking, and open until mid-evening. One note of caution though … when they sell out of donuts, they close up shop early. Luckily we haven’t had that happen to us (yet!), but I sent a friend down there last week and he arrived only to find a very sad note on the door.

Whomp whomp.

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