Monday, December 24, 2012
The Seven Fishes Dinner says Christmas Eve, thanks to tradition and the Jersey Shore
Whether it represents the hills of Rome, the Catholic sacraments, or, as veteran home cook Rosella Vitale suggests, "lucky lottery numbers," the Seven Fishes dinner is synonymous with Christmas Eve for countless Italian-Americans, especially those with roots in New Jersey and Philadelphia. "Squid, smelts," says Reggie Delphin, owner of Freeman's Fish Market and purveyor of Eden Gourmet's fish, "clams, mussels, sardines, maybe they serve a seafood salad." He and fellow fishmonger Shawn McClure agree that, while every family's order is a little different, the Seven Fishes dinner makes for the busiest time of the year. It also means that the gleaming fish heaped on mounds of ice at the Eden Gourmet fish counter aren't the usual fare. "We get …
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Looking back, often way back, at South Orange
'Tis the season for looking back and looking forward. This postcard retrospective takes us back, decades back, to South Orange's past. The undated and often unlabeled postcards are from a collection at the South Orange Public Library. The identifications are either from the postcard or the errors are my own. Feel free to make corrections or add information in the comment area below.
A look back at the year in Columbia High sports
The Cougar athletic family had a year to celebrate in 2010. The girls track team shattered multiple records, the football team won its first championship of any kind since 1982 and won more games than any other CHS team in history. Coach Maggie Singler led the field hockey team back to the postseason for the first time since her playing days in the late 90s, five wrestlers qualified for the regional championships, Kayann Richards became the first Cougar to win an individual state championship since 1998 and the baseball team developed a flair for the dramatic. Here are the top 10 sports moments of 2010: Honorable Mentions:
Friday, December 31, 2010
A look back at memorable stories of the year
As South Orange turns the corner on 2010, I look back at memorable stories of the past year. I became editor in June, following the trail blazed by Cotton Delo. Thus many of the stories I remember best from the first half of the year are those favorite assignments that I took on as a freelancer. During those months, I had the privilege of going inside closed doors, and seeing behind the scenes. I watched the cast of CHS's Big grow in confidence, and saw the "A Night on the Towns" adult performers sweat it out. I lunched at the senior housing center at 110 Vose Ave., and celebrated the Savoia Club's anniversary. That story, in particular, led to coverage of South Orange's Special Olympics athletes, and the New Jersey Italian-American …
Thursday, December 30, 2010
A look back at restaurants we reviewed in 2010 inspires plans for meals in 2011
From zesty Lalibela to spicy tuna rolls, South Orange has a lot on the menu. What follows is a look back at restaurants we visited in the past year. We'd like to hear what you think, though. Tell us if you agree or disagree, and please send your suggestions for 2011 reviews. Bon appetit! We were drawn to the Gaslight by burgers, and stayed for the Bavarian menu. Lalibela delighted us with veggies and homey service. Munchies has crunch and another homey vibe. Yum, yum we said to Yama Sushi. Take us to the river, no, make that the Reservoir. How about cold octopus on the next warm day? Portuguese BBQ , just over the border. A view of Above with Chef Fred Moro
A look back at the gardening news of the past year
2010 has proven to be quite an exciting year, from the ghastly drought over the summer to the historic blizzard that we are all still reeling from. So if you're looking for some reading material while you're snowed in, here is a look back at some of my favorite columns of the past year. In July 13th's column, I explored the growing problem of non-native invasive species that are disturbing the natural order of our woodlands and other ecosystems. This is sure to be a hot topic in the year to come as more people come to grips with just how destructive invasives can be. Native species are just as beautiful as the exotics we've all come to know and love, and they will thrive in your garden because they have evolved as part of the local …
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
A team of SHU students turn a class project into a volunteer calling
Alina Bykovtseva-Mora, Michael Seeback, Yolesda Masse, Matthew Ashare, and Nicholas Girault were grouped together in a business management class and told to analyze a non-profit organization, determine that organization's needs, and plan and implement a project that will satisfy that need. What started as a group project for a 2000 level course turned into a genuine interest in the well-being of the non-profit they selected: the Jersey Animal Coalition, operating out of South Orange. "Our team started to work with the JAC as part of the class, but now we really feel for the organization and want to do as much as we can to improve its operations," says Bykovtseva-Mora. In the process of their research for this project, the students found …
Saturday, December 25, 2010
The community decked the halls this month: a photo gallery.
From Santa hats to a portable ice rink, from the town tree lighting to a Hanukkah parade, South Orange celebrated December's holidays. We visited local historic homes and learned how to make and bake festive treats. We bring you the best of December in a the gallery of photos below. We'd love to add your images to ours: please feel free to add photos or tell us about your South Orange holidays.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Books by local authors, profiled in Patch
Read 'em and weep or laugh or learn. The following are writers and books we've covered this year, and we gather them in a reading list just in time for winter. If we've forgotten someone, or there's a writer you know who should be profiled or mentioned here, add it to the comments. Josh Braff writes books, and his latest, Peep Show, brings him home. The Arbus family lives in Newstead in the mid-1970s, when the times they were a'changin' in the country and in South Orange. Main character David Arbus is caught between his mother, whose Hasidic faith becomes central, and his father, who runs a Times Square adult theatre. Braff, himself, who lived in Newstead and married his seventh grade girlfriend, has family in the area, and brother Zach …
Carol Selman
11:08 am on Saturday, January 1, 2011
Wonderful, thank you Marcia. There are many in South Orange who could comment on these shots either from memory or research. A wonderful feature, knowing where any village or town comes from is important as towns move forward. more ›