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.

St. Patrick's Day in Hoboken is one of the biggest events in New Jersey each year, and this year's bash will be sure to follow in the tradition of the Irish spirit that has taken over the city for the last 24 years. While the St. Patty's Day parade isn't set to start until 1:00 pm, several bars are set to open their doors to the early rising party people at 9:00 am.


Yup, we're talking about 9 o'clock in the morning!So what can you expect to enjoy during St. Patrick's Day in Hoboken? A parade that starts on 14th and Washington at 1:00. Bars that open early and serve green beer, and lots of great friends.

Beware though, the police are out in full force and fines are as high as $2,000. So don't drink and drive, and behave yourself in public.

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.

SHU Basketball

March Madness is right around the corner, but we have a few college hoops games to get through first!

The Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball team has one final home game before the end of the season, which will be played at The Rock in Newark. If you're interested, support those SHU Pirates check it out as they go up against Marquette on Sunday, February 28th at noon.

Medieval Times

Medieval Times. Ever heard of it? That's right, I'm talking about knights, swords, a suit of armor, horses and castles. No, no - I'm not talking about history books, but rather the Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament. There are only 9 locations in North America, and one is right in our back yard!

Located amidst the chaos of Lyndhurst, the Medieval Times castle, which is visible from Rt. 3 if you know where to look, offers a great escape to the 11th century. While King Philippe and Princess Leonore offer a glimpse into their world, guests feast on a four course meal sans utensils. That's right folks, if they didn't have forks and knives in the 11th century, you don't get to use them in 2010 either!

Yet they they did have knights and battles to the death, all of which you get to enjoy! The arena is divided into 6 sections, each of which is represented by a knight who engages in different stunts and ultimately in battle. Only one knight will win - hopefully it's yours!

With a full service bar, full meal and great entertainment, Medieval Times is a great experience for all ages. The only drawback is pricing. At the most basic level, tickets cost $57 per person, although group discounts are easily available.