Summer School (at the Grape Escape in Dayton)

Snack time at winemaking school.

This week brought me back to school for workshops, and getting organized and prepared for school to start up again in September.  But that’s it.  Everything is finished and now, my vacation can really begin.

Though the school year has ended, I won’t be entirely without some kind of school this summer.  I’m attending Winemaking School at the Grape Escape in Dayton with friends from work.  We’re learning how to make a Syrah from Chile, but there is actually a whole lot more “friends” to this experience than there is “school.”  The guides are a ton of fun and full of great information, but when we’re not working with them on the wine we get to hang out and socialize a bit.  There are tables and couches set up for groups to bring their own snacks and drinks.  In between the “lessons” this is a great place to catch up with friends – or to come on your own to make some new ones.

Crushed

Stirring the mixture after the grapes were first crushed.

Checking the sugar content.

We’ve had two classes so far.  The first day, we crushed the grapes.  The tiny, dark grapes were dumped – stems and all – into a machine that separated them, began to crush them, and got rid of any material we didn’t need.  Our wine was pumped into the storage vat, and we checked the sugar levels.

Everything checked out nicely and our wine was left to begin fermenting.  I was surprised to learn that the wine is drinkable at every stage of the process – I’m not sure why I didn’t think that would be the case, but it is.  We got to taste our wine that we had just crushed, and it was a sweet, fresh juice.  We were told that from the taste of this initial juice, we would get a good sense of what the final wine will taste like.  We’ll see!

And Pressed

It's a group effort!

On our second day of class, a few weeks after the crushing – when most of the fermentation that will happen has already taken place – we pressed the grapes.  This process promised to be just as messy, if not messier, than the first day so I came prepared in dark colors.  We pressed the wine – extracting the juice from the “must” and sent it into the oak barrels for another few weeks or so.  The remaining solid parts of the grapes were collected to be used for agricultural purposes – nothing was wasted.

Our freshly pressed wine on its way to the oak barrel.

We have two more sessions of Winemaking School to go: racking and bottling.  This is a really fun process and definitely something I would consider doing again in the future.  It makes for a great family activity – the kids can come and be a part of the entire process – and gives everyone a fun reason to get together.

I’m thinking I might even try to persuade some family members in the area to go in on a barrel with me.  Maybe I can get a few family stories out of them for the genealogy project while we’re there…

~Melissa
The Jersey Girl

Rutgers Day 2011

Trying a Tornado Potato at Rutgers Day!

Saturday’s weather was absolutely perfect for a fun Rutgers Day!

Though there were countless things to see and do on several RU campuses, we chose the Cook/Douglass campus so that my nephews could see the animals.  The boys had a blast with the animals, playing basketball games, jumping in giant bouncy objects, getting their faces painted, and eating fun food.  I have to say, I enjoyed the food too!

Healthy diets were put on hold on Saturday while we ate things like Tornado Potatoes and frozen limeade.  Yum.

My main course: Crab cake sandwich from Sherri's Crab Cakes.

Once the boys had enough fun for the day and went home to take their naps, I stayed with friends to enjoy the NJ Folk Festival for a while.  Artists and vendors showcased handcrafted items and each booth was more interesting than the last.

After walking around for a while, we sat on the lawn among many other groups and families to enjoy the warm sun and a cool breeze. It was the perfect spot for a mid-afternoon doze!

Though I didn’t get to try any liquid nitrogen ice cream (or any ice cream at all) this year, it was still an amazing time.  Next year, I’m planning to try another campus and see about that ice cream!

~Melissa
The Jersey Girl

Rutgers Day is almost here!

Spring break is over.  We’re back to school.  But this time, we’re revived and refreshed, and now the light at the end of the tunnel, the countdown to the summer, has officially begun.  (There are 39 days for me.)

Warmer weather events are in full swing, like this weekend’s Rutgers Day.  On Saturday, on three RU campuses (Busch, College Ave, and Cook/Douglass) there will be hundreds of different things to do and see: we’ll be able to see solar power displays, learn about faith traditions from around the world, build and fly kites, and make liquid nitrogen ice cream.  (You know that last one definitely caught my attention!)

I'm going to check out how to make liquid nitrogen ice cream at Rutgers Day this year! (photo from the Rutgers Day blog)

There is literally something for every age and every interest at Rutgers Day.  Check out the main Rutgers Day website and the special Rutgers Day blog for more information.

My RU t-shirt, comfy sneakers, and sunscreen are all ready to go for Saturday.  Hope to see you there!

~Melissa
The Jersey Girl

Milltown Mel and His Shadow

February 2, 2011 – Groundhog Day

by Jeffrey Morris

Jerry Guthlein and Milltown Mel (photo by Jeffrey Morris)

MILLTOWN, NJ – Milltown businessman, Jerry Guthlein, was surrounded by his team of groundhog wranglers this morning, attempting to coach Milltown Mel out of his den and predict the weather.  Mayor Gloria Bradford read a proclamation declaring that Milltown Mel would be the official weather forecaster for Milltown. Guthlein, sponsored the event to benefit  Elijah’s Promise, a food bank located in nearby New Brunswick, and attendees were asked to bring a canned food item for donation.

A brightly dressed crowd looks on while Milltown Mel determines when spring will arrive. (photo by Jeffrey Morris)

Despite the icy weather, many Milltowners showed up for the event and were treated to hot coffee and donuts at the American Legion hall.  This is the third year that Guthlein has put on this event, and everyone seems to enjoy it, as well as the star of the show, Milltown Mel.

Oh! by the way, Mel’s prediction was for an early and warm spring. Let’s hope he’s right.

Milltown's groundhog wranglers included Ralph Jasionowski and Anthony Fama (photo by Jeffrey Morris)

Hooked on New Jersey

Top Row Left to Right: Melissa Morris, Ilse Vliet, Lydia Lewis, Kathy Donovan, Janet Keller Laughlin, and Linda Rae Coughlin (curator) Bottom Row Left to Right, Janet Santaniello (curator), Susan Johnson, Dee Rosebrock, and Debbie Walsh

To show their appreciation for the Garden State, many talented women from New Jersey, and the surrounding area, have displayed their New Jersey-themed artwork in a special exhibit at The Barron Arts Center in Woodbridge, NJ.  This exhibit, Hooked on New Jersey, is unique because each piece of art is a handcrafted, hooked rug.

Yes, rug.  A rug like the ones you are familiar with on the floors in your homes.  However, these particular rugs have been specially designed and carefully crafted to celebrate the fabulous state of New Jersey.  They truly are works of art and collectively make up one of the more enjoyable shows I’ve been to in a while.

Kathleen Donovan and The Jersey Devil

Kathleen Donovan’s rug called THE JERSEY DEVIL was selected to appear on the promotional materials for the exhibit.   The Watchung, NJ resident says, “I have always had an interest and love of animals.  That interest crosses over to include animals in mythology and folklore.  We in New Jersey are lucky to have one well-known creature of folklore (or maybe not) the Jersey Devil.”   I was lucky enough to meet Donovan, who has been hooking rugs for 10 years, and chat with her a little bit about her artwork.  She hopes that her portrayal of the Jersey Devil will make people think of him as a graphic novel hero.  I can certainly see it!

Linda Woodbury's Lucy.

LUCY the elephant is a Jersey girl with whom many of us are familiar, but here, depicted by Linda Woodbury of Glen Ridge, NJ, we see her in a brand-new way.  Woodbury says, “Lucy has been an iconic symbol of the Jersey Shore throughout my life.  When I signed up for a class hooking ‘Women with Attitudes’ Lucy was a natural choice for a rug.  She does project great attitude, where she stands at the edge of the sand looking out over the Atlantic Ocean.  Lucy is visible from 8 miles out at sea, making New Jersey the only coastline in the world marked by a six-story high elephant shaped navigational aid.”

Cynthia Boult's New Jersey Vanity Plates

Cynthia Boults of Annandale, NJ designed her rug VANITY PLATE (along with the help of the NJ DOT!) after NJ’s license plate that reminds everyone – just in case they forget – that we are the Garden State.  Boults shares a little about why she was inspired to hook a rug with this design, “I moved to New Jersey in 2004…proudly put a Garden State license plate on my fire engine red farm truck!  This truly is the Garden State.”

Janet Keller Laughlin and symbols of New Jersey

Some of the artists have been hooking rugs for years, and others like Janet Keller Laughlin from Hopewell, NJ, have just gotten started.  Laughlin’s first rug design, HARMONY ALONG the DELAWARE, was adapted from her own original black and white illustration.  It took her over a year to complete, but the result is simply beautiful.  Of her rug, Laughlin says, “My rug design depicts the harmonious coexistence of New Jersey’s flora and fauna.  The “Trenton Makes the World Takes” bridge is the backdrop for the bucolic spring garden that features our state symbols…the red oak tree, the violet, the goldfinch, and the honeybee.  This illustration was the logo for the 2008 Garden Club of America Zone IV flower show held in Trenton, NJ.”

There are dozens of other beautiful rugs that I’d love to share with you, but you’re going to have to head over to Woodbridge and see them for yourself!  The Hooked on New Jersey exhibition, co-curated by Linda Rae Coughlin and Janet Santaniello, will run until October 24th.  Exhibit hours are 11am to 4pm Monday through Friday and 2pm to 4pm on the weekends.

Go check it out and (if you aren’t already) get hooked on NJ too!

~Melissa
The Jersey Girl

LEGOs & Blocks Program at the Milltown Public Library

A table covered with LEGOs at the Milltown Public Library.

Books about LEGOs are extremely popular among kids of all ages at the Milltown Public Library.  Looking to find a way for their young patrons to have the chance to play with one of their favorite toys and socialize with others at the same time, the LEGOs & Blocks program was established.

“Kids came in and built houses, airplanes, and Star Wars ships out of LEGOs.  Babies and toddlers built towers and played with each other in the block area,” says Katie Llera, the youth services library intern at the Milltown Public Library.

The LEGOs & Blocks program is for children up to 6 years old.  “We have big chunky blocks on one side for babies and toddlers and then LEGOs on the other side for bigger kids,” says Llera.  Parents can be as involved with their child’s play as they would like to be.  Parents can help build LEGOs at the table or on the floor, or they can sit off to the side of the room to spend time chatting with other parents, reading magazines provided by the library, or enjoying light refreshments.

My adorable nephew having fun building with LEGOs.

My nephew (who loves to build with LEGOs) is going to start preschool this year, so when I told my sister about the LEGOs & Blocks program she thought it would be a great opportunity for him to socialize with children his own age before starting school in a few weeks.  He felt right at home and immediately began playing with the LEGOs and making friends with the other kids.  He had a blast!

Trying to better understand the fascination that kids have with LEGOs (though I have to admit they are a lot of fun to play with), I did a little reading online.  The company has a very long history and has been around since the early 1930s.  Something that I didn’t know before about LEGOs is that the company actually formed its name from the Danish words “LEg GOdt” meaning “play well.”  And what’s even more interesting about the LEGO name, is that though they didn’t know it at the time, the word also means “I put together” in Latin.

A LEGO fan shows off his airplane creation.

The LEGO & Blocks program is offered twice a month and at this time, no pre-registration is necessary.  In September, the LEGO events will take place on the 15th and 29th at 11:00am.  Children can bring their own LEGOs and blocks if they would like to.  Though, Llera reminds us, “We have lots of LEGOs and blocks for everyone!”

You can find out more information about this and other programs offered at the Milltown Library via the links below.

Here’s hoping you have fun and “play well” at the LEGO & Blocks event and can say “I put together” lots of fun creations!

~Melissa
The Jersey Girl

Sources and Related Links:
The Official  LEGO Website
The Milltown Public Library Website
Milltown Public Library Kids’ Page

Rutgers Gardens Farm Market ~ Something for Every Taste

Flowers from Chickadee Creek Farm of Pennington, NJ

Despite living here in New Jersey most of my life, as I travel through the state now, I’m finding places that I never visited (or even knew existed) before.  It’s very exciting!

A perfect example of this occurrence for me is the Rutgers Gardens Farm Market – it’s actually walking distance from where I grew up, but this week was the very first time that I’ve been there.

“The mission of the Rutgers Gardens Farmers Market is to provide the local community, including residents, students, university faculty and staff, University Dining, and restaurants the opportunity to experience and purchase fresh, locally grown and/or prepared food products.”

The Rutgers Gardens Farm Market is conveniently located just a few yards off of Ryders Lane in New Brunswick, NJ and is open on Fridays from noon to 5pm during May through October.    There’s plenty of parking available – and something fresh and fantastic for every taste…

Amy Giovanelli from Stults Farm

Stults Farm – This is the first year that Stults Farm, a family operated farm that began back in 1915, is participating in the Rutgers Gardens Farm Market.  They bring plenty of fresh produce including blueberries, raspberries, basil, and honey from their Cranbury, NJ farm.

Daughter, Amy Giovanelli enjoys working at the farm market on Fridays.  She says, “I think it is great.  It’s very popular.  There are people constantly coming in.”

Cooperative Kitchen – At the tent for the Cooperative Kitchen (5 independent businesses sharing kitchen space in Princeton, NJ), you’ll find a number of different tasty treats.

• From Ladydbug Luggage Gourmet Cookies & Cakes, owned by Annette Villaverde, I picked up a couple of buckles.  These small, moist cakes with a sugary crumb topping (just in case you don’t know what a buckle is – because I sure didn’t!) are a fabulous companion to a morning cup of coffee.  I tried both the cherry (which offers a tangy contrast to the sweetness of the cake) and the apricot (which provides a fun, chewy texture).  Ladybug Luggage provides custom cookies for any occasion and also specializes in decadent wedding cakes.
• From Jen’s Cakes & Pastries, I tried a granola bar.  It doesn’t sound too exotic, but it wasn’t your average granola bar!  The granola mixed with dried fruits, puffed cereal, and seeds covered delicately in a sweet glaze makes for a delightful afternoon snack!  Owner of Jen’s Cakes & Pastries, Jen Carson, understands that quality ingredients are important and uses organic and locally grown ingredients whenever possible.  They will bake-to-order and deliver their personalized treats and beautiful cupcake towers (a fun alternative to a traditional cake) free of charge to the greater Princeton, NJ area.
  

  Annette Villaverde and Jen Carson, representing two of the Princeton, NJ Cooperative Kitchen businesses

• Other Cooperative Kitchen companies include Wooden Spoon Catering Company, The Moonlight Bakers, and Simply Nic’s Specialty Foods.  From Nic’s Specialty Foods, I tried the Espresso-Cacao Nib.  This artisanal shortbread is cool and refreshing, just like a cold espresso drink, but subtle and sweet at the same time.  (The shortbread come two in a package, so make sure you share; it’s very tempting to eat them both at once!)

Enjoying the scented soaps from WoodsEdge Wools Farm (photo by Joan Morris)

WoodsEdge Wools Farm, LLC – Since 1976, Alpacas and Llamas are the stars of the show over at WoodsEdge Farm.  Representing the farm’s dedication to both beauty and value, manager, Brent Walker, brought beautiful scarves (which you know I love and had to try on despite the summer heat!), shawls, socks, and yarn to use for your own creations.  This tent is probably the most luxurious at the farm market and smells that way due to handmade, scented soaps for sale – soap scents include Rosemary Mint, and Oatmeal Lavender.  (Scented soaps are another weakness of mine!)

Varun and Naveen Jayaraman of Grab 'Em Snacks

Grab ‘Em Snacks – Mom and CEO of Grab ‘Em Snacks, Geetha Jayaraman, has done a great job with her business and raising her sons Varun and Naveen.  These polite and friendly salesmen really know the Hillborough, NJ company’s line of gourmet plantain chips!  The chips (that are gluten-free, rich in potassium and beta carotene, and contain no preservatives or artificial colors) come in flavors such as Salt Goodness, Cinful Cinnamon, and Fire-Me-Up Red Chili.  (By the way, when you visit the farm market and get to sample the chips for yourself and the guys warn you that a chip is going to be spicy, they’re really not kidding!)

Jonathan Lea having some Good Times with his kettle corn.

Good Times Kettle Corn – Summer is a great time for kettle corn.  (Actually, so is fall, winter, and spring when you think about it!)  Owner of Good Times Kettle Corn and Princeton University graduate, Jonathan Lea, couldn’t agree more.  The new business owner enjoys coming to the Rutgers Gardens Farm Market and enjoys working alongside the other regular venders.  “I do several markets with several of the other venders.  It’s a cohesive group of people,” Lea says.

When I first saw the tent for the kettle corn, I’ll be honest, my teeth began to hurt in anticipation of the sugar.  But since Lea was so friendly, and seemed to really enjoy himself as he bagged the kettle corn, I tasted some when he offered a sample…and I was delightfully surprised!  This corn was light, and fluffy and the sweetness was very subtle.  The coating is a nice balance of salty and sweet and covers the popcorn just enough so that it stays fluffy.  The bag that I took home with me (and shared just a little bit) was completely gone the next day!  Right now, Good Times is only available at on-site events and markets.  Keep an eye out though, because Lea is looking to branch out into local stores in the near future.

Benjamin Schellack, owner of OQ Coffee Co.

OQ Coffee – The New Brunswick, NJ based coffee company, founded by Evan Gentry and Benjamin Schellack, emphasizes quality and sustainability.  Coffee connoisseurs will appreciate that they use micro-lots, new crop, and specialty coffees (scoring 82+ on the international scale).  Eco-friendly consumers will appreciate that they meet or exceed Fair Trade standards, support shade-grown, organic, and bird-friendly coffees, and are always looking for ways to be more sustainable.  After speaking with Schellack, you’ll want to try some OQ coffee for yourself to see if it has anything to do with his lively and energetic personality.

FunniBonz getting us all ready for some serious summer BBQs!

Additional venders for the 2010 season include: Fruitwood Farms, Inc. from Monroeville, NJ, FunniBonz Barbeque Sauce from West Windsor, NJ, Picklelicious from Teaneck, NJ, Valley Shepherd Creamery from Long Valley, NJ, Chicakdee Creek Farm from Pennington, NJ, Ducky Life Tea from Asbury Park, NJ, Davidson Exotic Mushrooms, Stephan and Son’s Meat Store, The Village Bakery, and Yona’s Delights.

Mike from Picklelicious sets out some samples.

Rutgers Gardens – Volunteers from the gardens are at the farm market each Friday selling beautiful plants.  The day I was there, the lovely volunteers were also handing out red, white, or blue plants to celebrate the 4th of July holiday.

Beginning in August, they sell cut flower arrangements as well – the arrangements are usually around $5 each.  Plant sales are the majority of the Rutgers Gardens’ income, so the next time you are near New Brunswick on a Friday, take a drive down Ryders Lane, pick up some beautiful plants, and support the Rutgers Gardens.

~Melissa
The Jersey Girl

Milltown Historical Society ~ June 19, 2010 Open House

Saturday, June 19^th

^{1:00-3:00 p.m.}

Come visit the newly restored Milltown Museum*

See eight rooms depicting the late 1800s in Milltown!
Answer Milltown trivia questions and get a souvenir!

116 South Main Street (adjacent to the Firehouse)
Milltown, NJ 08850

*For more about the Milltown Historical Society, click here.

Milltown Historical Society

“You must always know the past, for there is no real Was, there is only Is.” -William Faulkner

Please don’t tell any of my old teachers, but history used to simply bore me to tears.  Though I made a legitimate effort to study and do the work required of me, I never really enjoyed the subject; the wars, laws, and government we studied seemed so far away and so long ago – they were of very little interest to me.

Over the years however, this relationship between history and me has changed.  Now, I can’t get enough of it.  Maybe traveling has helped me to realize how interconnected we all are, maybe researching my own family genealogy has sparked the interest, or maybe I’ve just “grown up a little” and can now appreciate the impact we, as individuals and as societies, have on history.  I am honestly not sure what the reason is, but I’m hooked.

Milltown Historical Society Museum on South Main Street

In my quest for all-things-history, I’ve joined the historical society from my hometown, Milltown, NJ.  The Milltown Historical Society was founded on May 9, 1968.  Through the years, the society has acquired two old houses for use as museum and meeting spaces.  Items donated from local residents, as well as people with Milltown roots living as far away as France, have filled the buildings and museum displays.

Today, the Milltown Historical Society is as busy as ever restoring their historic buildings, archiving museum artifacts, updating displays, and raising funds for these endeavors.  Present-day technology makes it possible for the Milltown Historical Society’s busy members to share and receive new information via an interactive website, http://milltownhs.ning.com.  On this site, people interested in Milltown history can find out about upcoming events, view archived photographs, and leave messages for one another.

Always happy to have new members with an interest in Milltown history, the Historical Society meets on the third Tuesday of the month in the Annex Building behind the Museum located at 116 South Main Street. For more information about visiting the museum, becoming a member, or making a donation, contact Society President Kathy Heilman at 732-227-1480 or Bruce Schwendeman at 732-828-0249.

~Melissa 🙂
The Jersey Girl

Those Mockingbirds @ the Court Tavern

Those Mockingbirds before their performance at the Court Tavern (and me)

Those Mockingbirds
In the mood to hear some live music the other night, I ventured over to New Brunswick to find out what was happening at the Court Tavern.  Four local acts played the night I was there, and my favorite discovery was the band, Those Mockingbirds.  New Jersey based (well, one member is originally from Connecticut, but shhh, we’ll let that go), Those Mockingbirds are energetic, professional, and best of all, their music is really good.

I met Addam Bird, the band’s lead singer who plays guitar and piano, while hanging out in the main room of the Court Tavern where on the walls there is an eclectic mix of decor including Christmas cards, baby pictures, and a gold record from The Smithereens.  Next to the bar there is a foosball table, a couple of pinball machines, and plenty of people singing along to old songs played on a jukebox.  One small TV sits at the end of the bar, but the focus here is obviously on the music.  Bird ordered a pitcher of beer for his band and we chatted for awhile about the band’s history, the new single they are releasing, and how fabulous New Jersey is.

Downstairs, bands were beginning to play so our conversation ended and I went to see the show.  The first two bands were a lot of fun to watch because they both seemed so excited to be on stage and have the opportunity to play their music for a crowd.  Those Mockingbirds played third and I was expecting that the band’s performance would match Bird’s charisma and energy, and of course, it did.  The previously sleepy crowd came alive when the band smoothly took over the stage to play their songs.  I instantly liked the catchy rhythms and was drawn in by their lyrics that were insightful and self-reflective, wanting to sing along even though I had never heard the music before.   Towards the end of their set, Those Mockingbirds performed an awesome cover of a Fleetwood Mac classic, “Never Break the Chain” (and I sang my little heart out with them for that song).

Addam Bird, of Those Mockingbirds, (possibly writing the lyrics for a new single?) at the Court Tavern

This performance at the Court Tavern kicked off a two month tour for Those Mockingbirds that will take them through seven states including Massachusetts and North Carolina and will end in Jamaica at the Rock Saga Fest.  Lucky for us, the tour will bring them back through New Jersey on May 8th when they play in Hoboken, so check out their website for details:  http://thosemockingbirds.com.  You can visit their MySpace page to listen to Those Mockingbirds music as well as subscribe to their humorous blog:  http://www.myspace.com/thosemockingbirds.

Court Tavern
The gritty and moody, yet homey Court Tavern with its scuffed tile, red paneled walls, and a black bar stretching through two rooms on the ground floor level, is the only remaining music venue of its kind in New Brunswick.  The Court Tavern has an interesting history and right now, an uncertain future.

Bob Albert and his wife, Eileen, are the owners of the Court Tavern.  Albert’s father opened the bar on Church Street back in 1961 and shortly after, in the 70s, the area became known as somewhat dangerous and was a place most people wouldn’t visit after dark.  Businesses in that area had a high turnover rate and it was simply not a place where people came to hang out for any length of time.  In those days, the Court Tavern found its success as a daytime bar serving lunch to local judges and lawyers and because they loved the place so much, the judges and lawyers themselves advertised the Court Tavern to the jurors as a great place to eat.  Albert, who grew up in New Brunswick, had no intentions of getting involved with his father’s business, and had instead planned on becoming a reading and writing teacher.  However, Albert explains he didn’t have much of a choice when, “My dad begged me to come back and help him.”  So in the early 80s when the location of the Court Tavern was moved from one side of Church Street to the other, where it stands today, Albert began working in his father’s bar during the day and in another New Brunswick bar at night.  It was at this second bar where Albert met a lot of local musicians who shared with him their frustrations in finding a place play their music.  Though he admits he “can barely play a record” himself, Albert loves music and opened up the Court Tavern to the local musicians, providing a place for them to perform and rehearse.

A Court Tavern performance by Those Mockingbirds

For a while, the music scene in New Brunswick was really strong and you could find several bars like the Court Tavern where live bands would play on a regular basis, but today those other bars have all closed or left the area.  Albert says that his bar is the “last man standing” and while many people might expect that would be good for business, he explains that it is actually the opposite, “We don’t really have that music scene in New Brunswick anymore.  One bar certainly doesn’t make a scene.”

The changes in New Brunswick haven’t been the only struggle for the Court Tavern.  In 1997 Albert’s father passed away and Albert officially took over the business.  Along with the bar, his father left Albert tremendous amounts of debts that he wasn’t prepared for.  In recent years Albert has struggled to make ends meet, and a few times the Court Tavern looked like it would be closing its doors for good. “Every time it seemed like the place would go under, there was a public outcry to keep it open,” Albert says.  In fact, when they had trouble paying their city taxes, Albert’s wife sent out an email to friends and patrons explaining the situation and within a few hours, people came by the Court Tavern to bring the owners money.  Albert was astounded by this support, insisting that they he and his wife would pay everyone back.  The public support that the Court Tavern receives has forced Albert to change his own approach towards his dad’s old bar and see it for the historical music landmark that it has become.  He is determined to keep the Court Tavern open. “This town needs a place like this where creative musicians can get together,” he says.

Albert and New Brunswick residents are not the only ones interested in the Court Tavern’s future.  Patti Smith, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, learned about the bar’s financial struggles from her current bass guitar player and a longtime friend of Albert’s, Tony Shanahan.  Smith, who is known by many for the song “Because the Night” which she co-wrote with Bruce Springsteen, suggested that she participate in some way to help the Court Tavern stay open and the idea for a benefit concert was born.  A benefit concert for the Court Tavern will be hosted by Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fran at The State Theater on April 30th.  In addition to Patti Smith, The Smithereens (who I’m sure would like to see their gold record hanging on the wall at the Court Tavern for a long time), and the Slaves of New Brunswick, with Glen Burtnik, will play.  Tickets can be ordered through the State Theater here.  Following the concert on Saturday night, 30 bands will continue to play through Sunday evening at the Court Tavern, honoring its history and hoping to save its future.

Rock on and save the Court Tavern!

~Melissa 🙂
The Jersey Girl

Court Tavern INFORMATION:
124 Church Street, New Brunswick, NJ
732-545-7265
Cover charges for shows are $10 and under.  The Court Tavern only takes cash, but there is an ATM located inside.
The Court Tavern is open for lunch and holds shows featuring the work of local artists about twice a month.
http://www.myspace.com/thecourttavernnj