Clinton Falls

 

This weekend I visited Clinton Falls. It is the most photographed spot in New Jersey; so I was curious to see its well-known red mill. I enjoyed taking pictures of this landmark and the museum next to it. The entire town of Clinton had an old, charming, feel that I liked. Most of the buildings there where built in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries adding character to the town. There were many restaurants and art galleries to see. As I walked around the town I felt like I was not only walking through a town with buildings, but a community. I saw different store owners talking together, and residents stopping each other on the street to chat. I feel like this sense of community is found in many suburban areas of New Jersey. Even in Millburn there is a feeling of being connected that we all share due to our similar styles of living and our town's culture. Clinton had its own unique town culture, and inspired me to visit more towns in this state to see and feel the difference in communities.

The Livingston Mall

I too went to the Livingston Mall this weekend, however when I went it was really busy. There were tons of people in the food court, and many groups of teenagers wandering around the mall. I also saw some kids who were doing a mall scavenger hunt, which was kinda strange.

I did a little bit of research on the mall's history and found out that it was originally planned for building in the late 1960's and opening was planned for 1971. The mall started with the opening of Bamberger's, a large department store and then in 1972 anchor stores such as Sears, Hahne and Company, and M. Epstein were added. The mall was very close to Newark, which was once considered one of the premiere shopping areas in New Jersey, however that reputation declined after the riots of July 1967. Bamberger's department store and M. Epstein were later converted to Macy's and Lord and Taylor respectively. Today, Sears is the only remaining original anchor store in the Livingston Mall. In my last photo you can see the mall floor plan, and it shows all of the present day anchor stores. The Livingston mall now appeals more to the middle class. This is because The Mall at Short Hills is such a short distance away.

When I went to the mall this weekend I kept thinking about when we talked about the different uses for the mall. I noticed that I went to the mall because I had nothing better to do, and I needed some food (also went so I could complete this assignment). But as I was wandering around in and out of stores, I noticed that some people came to the mall for birthday parties, food, or because they actually had to make a trip to the mall to go shopping for new clothes. I also noticed that the mall was really busy, probably because of the time that I went. I went at around 2pm on a Saturday, which I am guessing is one of the most popular times to visit the mall. Usually I go later in the evening or I go on Sunday, so there are never any crowds. I also took note of where the sources of food were. I noticed that there was a wide selection of food in the food court, but also noticed that there were stands separate from the food court that sold mostly deserts or snacks. Most of the food that could make a meal was located in the food court (this also reminded me of the food court argument that we saw during Mallrats).

These three pictures represent all my meals for the day. I started my day off with a classic Taylor Ham from bagel chat (middle picture for those of you who can't see). As we've learned in class Taylor Ham sandwiches are only made in New Jersey. Then I had an amazing sandwich from the deli. I had a buffalo Big Bird which consists of buffalo chicken blue cheese and some other stuff. New Jersey is filled with delis. Then to finish the day off I had a chicken parm sub from la strada. New Jersey is known to have a lot of Italian influence and we see this through all the pizzerias and straight Italian restaurants.

Hemlock Falls

One of my favorite New Jersey locations is South Mountain Reservation right in our own back yard. It is truly an amazing place, one of the largest reservations in NJ with spectacular views of Millburn, Short Hills, Newark, and NYC. For this blog post I walked my dog to one of the lesser known parts of the reservation - Hemlock Falls. The falls are located on the far north east side of the reservation in South Orange. If you are ever driving along South Orange avenue just look at the side that slopes down hill you can see the falls through the trees. Hemlock falls is not only amazing because of the natural beauty of the falls, but also the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Can be seen all around the falls. The steps cut into the sheer rock face in the side of the falls are truly impressive as are the foot bridges crossing the falls downstream. If anyone is ever in the area I highly recommend visiting the falls. If you don't like walking crazy distances like me, all you have to do is park in the small lot just off South Orange avenue immediately after the green deer bridge, then follow the stairs down to the falls.

 I recently went to Ninety Acres at Natirar in Peapack Gladstone. My mother was celebrating her birthday with all of her friends and I decided to go and celebrate with them. It is a really nice restaurant. First, there was a wine tasting and appetizers for about an hour and a half then everybody went to a separate room to eat dinner and make toasts. I suggest you try this restaurant because it was very good. There are so many different kinds of food on the menu. For example, there is steak, hamburgers, different kinds of seafood, and many more. They also have salads and very good little portions for appetizers. Even though this restaurant is far away, about forty minutes,  it is easy to get to because the drive is so easy. Also, the restaurant is on top of a hill and driving up to the actual restaurant is beautiful with all of the trees and plants around it. I suggest everybody try this restaurant because the food is very good and around the restaurant is also beautiful!

The Livingston Mall

I recently went to the Livingston Mall with my mom to buy a new dryer at Sears. As I was there, I realized that I had stumbled upon a typical New Jersey mall. It fits into the demographic that it is located in; not as high end as the Short Hills Mall, but it still has some nice stores. People go to the Livingston Mall to shop, eat, and sometimes just walk around. I personally do not go there all the time, but when I do, I usually find something that I have to buy. Driving around the outside of the mall, I could tell that it is trying to be restored. I do not have a picture of this, but for those of you who have been, Barnes and Noble was recently added to the mall, and it is a beautiful bookstore. However, other anchor store like Lord and Taylor and Modelle's look like they could use a little renovation . The picture of the "Livingston Mall" sign has been there forever, and I think it adds character to the mall. The picture of the racks of clothing is in Lord and Taylor. Lord and Taylor has racks and racks of clothing that it can be overwhelming especially when there is a sale. The final picture is a view from the second floor looking down at the first floor. It wasn't a very crowded day, but the mall is usually filled with shoppers. The stands in the middle of the mall try to make you buy things that you don't really need. I think the Livingston Mall is a great place to go when you need a little retail therapy or some fast food and don't feel pressured to buy anything expensive. Although, sometimes shopping gets the best of us and buying just one thing turns into buying a whole store.

The forest near 78.

Recent posts inspired me to display what was right  in our very back yard...or should I say- in mine. I live in the South Mountain section, which some of you know is (in certain areas) VERY close to 78. 78 happens to be right behind me house. Through the trees you can see the concrete wall and once you stand up on the small hill in my backyard, you can see the steep decline into the river. This is the river that runs through Taylor park, behind all south mountain houses, under 78 etc. When it isn't raining, the water in the river is fairly low and is definitely a place to waste time. Since we moved here, my family has been going down there trying to clear out the river of it's debris and plethora of golf balls. (I believe they flow down from a golf course near Maplewood. Over the last 7 years we've gathered close to 300. Anyone want some golf balls? Haha) Anyway, you can only walk up this river to where the infamous bunny land is- because that's where there are huge traversing tubes. I've found ashtrays from long ago, and my mother found traditional blue glass medicine bottles from what we think are the early 1900s.  Anyway, it is definitely a place for the explorer, it's uneven and cluttered. Me and my friends decided to go down there this week because they always hear my stories and wanted to see what I was talking about. In the first picture, that is what one would see standing on top of my hill looking down. In the last picture, we are climbing up the steep hill using a rope my mom tied to one of the trees. We are also decked out in rubber boots (mine being my dads fishing ones cause those were the only ones left .
It's definitely a cool place to go if you want to see another part of our town other than the chic boutiques, and the South Mountain reservation.