Hoboken Italian Festival

Summer is drawing to a close and it's time to find some local things to do in NJ (yes, the Benny's have left the shore). Thankfully, it's time for the annual Hoboken Italian Festival!

The schedule is already set for next week's activities, so check it out and let us know what your favorite part of the Hoboken Italian Festival is!:

The schedule for the Feast.

MC: Johhny Maggio

THURSDAY 9/9

5:00 – 7:00:
Garden State Radio
www.myspace.com/ gardenstateradio/

7:00 – 10:00:
Johnny Drama
www.johnnydramanj.com

8:30-9:00:
Annual Pizza-Eating Contest

10:00 – 11:00
Live DJ

FRIDAY 9/10

5:30 – 7:30:
Monte’s Pythons – Great cover band opens the night…back by popular demand.www.myspace.com/montespython

8:00 – 11:00:
Asbury Fever
www.asburyfever.com
SATURDAY 9/11

12:30 – 1:15
Johnny Maggio sings Sinatra, Bennett, Martin

1:30 – 3:15
Alfio – The Voice of Passion
www.alfiomusic.com

3:30 – 4:15
Iliana Incandela
www.myspace.com/Ilianai

4:30 – 6:30:
R3 Bros. – The area’s Newest Italian American sensation
www.r3brosmusic.com

7:00 – 11:00
Opera 3000
www.webisto.com/opera3000/

8:30-9:00
Annual Cannoli-Eating Contest

SUNDAY 9/12

Sunday, 12 Noon – 12:30
Garden State Jazz Orchestra
www.gardenstatejazzorchestra.com

12:30 – 2:30:
Longtooth

3:00 – 4:45
“Krystal – Hoboken’s Own Rock Band”
www.myspace.com/krystalreturns

5:00 – 7:00:
Chiclettes
www.chiclettes.com/

7:00 – 7:30:
Annual Grape Stomp Contest:

8:00 – 9:00:
Jersey Sound
www.jerseysound.com/

9:00 – 9:25
Fireworks Extravaganza
Fireworks (Click image to view fireworks video)

9:25 - 10:00:
Jersey Sound

Labor Day Weekend | Boonton Carnival

Labor Day Weekend can pretty much be summed up in one of two ways: the beach, or some good old fashioned fun.

BBQs, backyard fun and carnivals provide a great deal of fun things to do in NJ for families that want to stay local and may not have a lot of money to spend. One prime example is the Boonton Carnival, which is run by the Boonton Fire Department.

On Monday, September 6, the carnival will be open from 3pm - 10pm and you can expect:

-	Pay-One-Price, unlimited rides (bracelets sold until 8pm only).
-	Super 50/50 Drawing at 9pm.
-	Live Band at 7pm - Fly By Night

Jersey Shore

New Jersey is known for the Jersey Shore. Miles and miles of beaches, gorgeous houses, seedy nightclubs, and of course the MTV show that has made Seaside Heights a household name. We have Seaside, Pt. Pleasant, Belmar, Sandy Hook, Spring Lake, Asbury Park, Wildwood, Cape May, and my favorite Long Beach Island.

With each beach comes a unique set of pros and cons. Pt. Pleasant has a great boardwalk, but parking can be difficult and uber expensive depending on whether you park on in a lot ($20 - $50) or at a meter (just a couple of bucks an hour). Beach access on the weekends will run you about $8 per person too. If you're into the boardwalk and people watching, and you have some cash to spend, Pt. Pleasant is the beach for you.

Sandy Hook, a beach I experienced for the first time this summer, was a surprise favorite for me. Without a boardwalk, Sandy Hook will only cost you $10 per car. The beaches are big and clean, the walk from the car to beach access is pretty short, and the facilities are big and clean. If you're looking for an inexpensive trip to lounge on a sandy beach and swim in the ocean, Sandy Hook is the beach for you.

By far, my favorite beach in New Jersey is in Long Beach Island. LBI is an 18 mile island with a variety of neighborhoods, shops, stores, historical sites and miles and miles of beaches and bays. What I love about LBI is the fact that it is more of a mature setting, but it still has fun youthful activities. The beaches are clean and fun. While there isn't a boardwalk, there are still boardwalk type areas off shore. Good restaurants and areas for nightlife, and The Chicken or the Egg (Chegg) as the local hangout for a bite to eat after hours. If you're looking for a family beach and plan to stay for longer than one night, check out Beach Haven in LBI.

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.