The Chart House

Yet another fine dining experience in New Jersey, with great food and spectacular views of manhattan. I have been fortunate enough to experience The Chart House several times in the last year, and it is an experience that everyone should have at least once in their lives.

The Chart House sits on a pier in Weehawkin directly across from midtown Manhattan. Be sure to ask for a table near the window so you can enjoy the views. The service is spectacular and the food is great. I have had the fillet mignon, a chicken dish and the Goldiva dessert, and they all rocked!

The Chart House is a little pricey, but worth the experience.

Morristown Nightlife

With the summer in full swing, I thought it would be fun to relive my youthful days and head out to Morristown on a Friday night. Without old staples such as Jimmy's and The Funky Monkey, we weren't exactly sure where to go so we tried a few hotspots.

First up was The Palm Bar, a summery outdoor bar that I had heard of often from younger acquaintances. Thus, I should have known better. The Palm Bar was cool and fun, but mostly filled with 21 year olds. No one was dancing, and it seemed like people were really just there to talk to the same people they arrived with, with the occassional dude in an Affliction t-shirt hitting on a table of young girls.

From there we drove over to Sona 13. This was much more my speed with a great mix of people and a good band that kept the atmosphere light and fun. There was no cover, parking nearby and a fun crowd to mingle with.

So if you're hanging around in North Jersey this summer and are looking for some fun at night, check out Sona 13 in Morristown for a fun night out.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Morton's Steakhouse

For those who are certified foodies and the large number of us who enjoy a night out on the town, it is common to speak of eating out. Sometimes we even get a little dressier than usual and opt to spend a few extra dollars for a fancier dining experience. I've had such dinners before, but I recently had the opportunity to enjoy one of the best dining experiences to date.

The locale was Morton's Steakhouse in Atlantic City and the occasion was the celebration of my boyfriend's completion of his Master's degree. Without knowing much about Morton's, I began the night with pleasant but average expectations. Boy, was I surprised!

The entrance to Morton's Steakhouse was a simple solid wood door in Caesar's Palace. Upon entering and giving the name for the reservation, my boyfriend was immediately congratulated for his recent accomplishment. We were seated in a booth, where the table was moved to allow us to sit instead of having us squeeze in around the table. Napkins were placed in the laps of the ladies, photos were taken, and we were given customized menus with names and congratulatory messages. We were then given a live presentation of the menu (that was a first for me) and a delicious meal with portions too big for any one human to eat.

While the food was fabulous, it was the overall experience that made the meal enjoyable. If you have a few extra dollars to spend, I highly recommend a lovely meal at Morton's Steakhouse in Atlantic City. Just be sure to make reservations in advance, and let them know when you're there for a super special occasion.

Stress Factory

Comedy clubs are always an iffy bet. Go to a comedy club in New York City, and you'll pay $40 + just to get in plus a two drink minimum. Go to a comedy club in New Jersey on the other hand, and you'll pay much less but you have to hope you actually get a good comedian.

I decided to go to the Stress Factory in New Brunswick on Saturday night even though I didn't know the name of the big act, and guess what..?? I had an awesome time!

The good? The comedians were funny! With the opening act of Chips Cooney, best known for his current stint on America's Got Talent, the main act of Joe DeVito and the MC Vinny Brand, I was laughing all night long.

The better? Tickets only cost $15 each. They even have specials including a Friday Night Date Night package that includes tickets and dinner for two for just $50.

The best? We were upgraded to front row seats! OK, OK. Upgraded might be a bit of an overstatement, but we were sitting at a table and were offered two empty seats front and center when they opened up. Thankfully the comedians were all friendly,and we weren't mocked, although mocking was still a regular occurance for those who truly deserved it.

Active NJ recommendation: Check out The Stress Factory for a fun night out when you're in the mood for a little bit of fun when you can't make it out to the city.

Monmouth Park

As a Northern New Jersey gal, whenever I hear of horse races I always think of the track at the Meadowlands. I know, I know, there's a track in Monmouth too. Wait, a track in Monmouth? Yes! And it is beautiful and has talented horses. Better yet, I actually won money there! I only made three bets, each of which were exacta bets, and I won all three of them!

Monmouth Park, for those of you who may not know, is a beautiful race track situated in Oceanport, NJ just a few minutes off of exit 105 on the Garden State Parkway. After a big budget overhaul of the venue and a significant schedule change, Monmouth Park is quite a popular place to be.

Why would schedule changes make a difference? With fewer races during the week, the purses (aka sum of money for winning horses) are even bigger, thus drawing some very good talent to Monmouth. Case in point, Super Saver, a Kentucky Derby winner, will be racing at the Monmouth Park track in the Haskell Invitational on August 1st.

The Haskell Invitational is considered to be biggest race of the summer and is unarguably the most anticipated day of Thoroughbred racing in New Jersey. Spectators can watch as a field of the nation's best three-year-olds battle for the richest invitational prize in the nation.

So if you're looking for something to do on a nice weekend afternoon, check out the Monmouth Park Race Track for some fairly inexpensive (as long as you keep your bets low) fun.

NJ Nets Help Prepare Your Taxes

The NJ Nets aren't known for being the best basketball team this year, but they are known for their wacky promotions.

This time, fans who attend Friday's game against the Orlando Magic, and who are 18 or older will get a coupon from Roni Deutch Tax Center to get their state income tax done free. Roni Deutch representatives will also be at the game to answer questions. Roni Deutch services for state income tax usually run around $29.

NJ Nets promotions from earlier in the year included a reversible jersey (one side with a Nets logo and the other side with a competitive team's logo) for fans who purchased 10 game ticket packages.

Starland Ballroom

I've said it before, but it's time to say it again. The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville New Jersey rocks!

On Friday night we were able to see Theory of a Deadman with opening act Halestorm for just $18 each. Parking alone for events at The Rock is $20, so that's a win right there!

In addition, the Starland Ballroom allows you to get up front and close during each act.

Looking for fun concerts? Upcoming shows include:

• We the Kings
• Anti-Flag
• Brandi Carlile
• Sebastian Bach
• E.Town Concrete
• The Used (with one of my favs Atreyu opening)
• Cold Nonpoint
• Comedy - "Dr. Dirty" John Valby
• New Found Glory
• George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
• Big D & The Kid's Table
• God Forbid • Kittie
• Soulfly
• WASP
• Alkaline Trio
• Dashboard Confessional
• A Day To Remember

New Jersey Nightlife

Out and about and in the mood for a little bit of the fun New Jersey nightlife that this great state has to offer? Let the recommendations begin!

On Thanksgiving Eve I found myself at Sona 13 in Morristown, NJ. The establishment, which is in the former location of the Funky Monkey, is clearly the hotspot of Morristown these days. By 11:00, the line was down the block. Once inside, the crowd of festive friends and trendy 20 something year olds crammed into the semi-small space to socialize and enjoy the music.

Speaking of music, the tunes were courtesy of a dj (or sound system of some sort) and consisted of shorter snippets of popular music. While there was limited room for dancing, a few daring souls cut a rug and showed their moves to the world.

I definitely recommend Sona 13 because:
- Sona 13 is the "it" place to be
- Fun atmosphere with a great crowd
- Decent prices and specials throughout the week

Hoboken Waterfront

Hoboken is known for many things. A rockin' nightlife, good restaurants, the birth place of legendary Frank Sinatra, and awesome views of New York City.

And this is where I come in with yet another idea of things to do in New Jersey. Aren't there times when you aren't interested going to bars or parties, yet you still want to be active? Hoboken has some fabulous piers with grassy areas designed for lounging, playing frisbee, and chilling with your puppy. Not your style? Try the benches along the brick waterfront paths.

An added benefit, this fun little activity is appropriate during the day or night! That's right. Enjoy the fascinating view of the NYC skyline with some of the most amazing structures of our time in the brightest sunlight. Or, watch the cruise ships and small boats as they lazily coast down the shoreline. Yet, my favorite is the view at night, with the Empire State Building lit with different shades of light and the beautiful twinkle of lights that emerge from building to building.

If you haven't already, I highly recommend a trip to Hoboken just to relax on the fringe while watching the city that never sleeps do its thang.

Bingo in New Jersey

Love the thrill of gambling but don't feel like going all the way down to Atlantic City? Try bingo!

I know, I know. Bingo is for old people, right? WRONG! There are plenty of bingo halls all over New Jersey, and they aren't all at churches. Some even have jackpots that reach 4 digits!

Over the weekend, we went to the Wayne PAL (1 PAL Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470, USA. Phone: 973-696-2896) and we had a blast! While we didn't win, we had three full hours of entertainment for the bargain price of $17 each! Most games had a payout of $100 with an additional game that accumulates from week to week (until someone wins) that is currently over $3,000.

Apple Picking in New Jersey

It seems to be a tradition in the Northeast - as soon as a chill hits the air, we go apple picking! The Northeast has no shortage of farms with acres of fields filled with varieties of apple to choose from, but I like to stay right in the area and pick my apples from a regional farm.

OK, when I say 'right in the area', I really mean a good half an hour West at a farm that isn't too far off of Rt 80 called Longmeadow Farms. It isn't necessarily the coolest of the apple orchards that I've ever been to, but it's fun, fresh, and most importantly homegrown right in our great state.

In addition to a large variety of apples, the farm has pumpkins, berries, flowers, and honey that comes straight from the beehives that are cultured right on the property.

PS Even better than apple picking was the opportunity to take some awesome pictures. Check out some cool shots below such as the daytime moon, apple in the dew, and the fly apple. Enjoy!

Starland Ballroom

Concerts. Music. Shows. Performances. Entertainment. I love it all.

High ticket prices. $12 for parking. An idiot behind you kicking your seat. I dislike it all.

You with me? Read on, cause there's a place right in Sayreville with great music and low ticket prices. I know what you're probably thinking. "They can't have good bands", but you're wrong! Starland Ballroom has awesome bands, most of which you can see for less than $30. In the next month alone they have shows featuring Boys Like Girls, Cobra Starship, and Saving Abel. Over the past few years I've seen Papa Roach, 10 Years, Blue October, Yellow Card, and Jonny Lang.

What's the catch? There really isn't any. The shows are standing room only (with a few couches to lounge on and seating in the bar area) so it's really first come first serve for the best view. Shows are small with a few thousand in the crowd. Don't get me wrong, you probably aren't going to see Beyonce and Jay Z at Starland, but you will have a great variety to choose from including musical acts and comedy shows for entertainment.

Don't believe me? Check it out at Starland Ballroom.

New Jersey Devils

One of my all-time favorite things is the vast world of sports. And, while it isn't a sport that I can actively partake in, I am a huge fan of NHL hockey. I'm sure you can imagine my excitement as the 2009 - 2010 season began last week, even if my team hasn't had a stellar beginning (let's just say that my fingers are crossed that things will get better).

To add to the excitement of a brand new season, the second game of the year included one of the biggest rivalries in the tri-state area - the New Jersey Devils vs. The New York Rangers. The game was held at The Rock in Newark, which is ridiculously easy to get to via mass transportation. I will refrain from discussing the final outcome of the game, but all of they hype leading into the night created an awesome atmosphere and great pride for Jersey's Team. The pre-game festivities included balloons in fun twisty shapes, street hockey, promotions and radio stations. All of this in addition to an awesome new hockey statue that was designed by a New Jersey native that lives in the Champion Plaza in front of the arena.

Even more amazing? You can get tickets to any New Jersey Devils home game for as low as $35! Top tier not your style? Plenty of seats are still available for home games. Better yet, the Devils have several packages - guys night, college night, mini game plans, and a Family Four Pack that includes 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas for an insanely low price. For more ticket information check out http://devils.nhl.com/.

Fright Fest

October signifies many things. The official end of summer, an extra chill in the air, not to mention the darker skies on your nightly commute home. If there is one thing that helps to distract from the depressing wave of winter, it's the scary tales of ghosts and goblins and all that Halloween cheer.

This weekend I was fortunate enough to go to Fright Fest at 6 Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ. Tickets, which are originally $49 at the door, can be purchased ahead of time online for just $39. We were lucky enough to have a discount code that reduced the price to $15 per ticket! You can't beat that. All of the rides were in full operation with the exception of the water rides, and lines were minimal for the early afternoon.

As the sun went down, the crowds picked up and the zombies started to come out of the woodwork along with clouds of fog and scary noises. Kids seemed to enjoy the creatures that perused through the park, and all children under the age of 10 were given a whistle they could blow to keep the creatures at bay in case they were scared.

Live performances with music and dancers rounded out the night. My only disappointment was the lack of the haunted hayride, which I had been fortunate to experience in previous years and was really looking forward to this year. Maybe it'll be a consideration for Halloween 2010.

Active NJ

Welcome to Active NJ, a resource for fun things that active adults can do in (and surrounding) the great state of New Jersey. This site is a result of too many conversations with friends that have started with the classic "I'm bored" and ended with "there's nothing to do around here" when there is, in fact, plenty to do, see, and explore all around us. I invite you to join me on this journey as we take a walk on the fun side.