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Arts and Entertainment

The North Essex area is rich in cultural heritage. More than a century ago, artists discovered the area’s natural beauty, and the continued growth of the area’s cultural arts is a part of the area’s popularity. Theatres, art galleries and museums draw residents and visitors alike to the trendy, eclectic Montclair area, which is rapidly becoming an artists’ colony and is often likened to New York’s Greenwich Village or Soho. Festivals, celebrations and art fairs come alive in the summer months throughout the entire area. Outdoor venues for live music attract thousands of visitors to regularly scheduled concerts.

Prominent movie and television directors have been known to fall in love with the area and its small-town appeal. The hit series The Sopranos is filmed in Montclair and The Caldwells, and residents enjoy recognizing certain locales or homes used for shooting this series and other popular movies and shows.

Active historical societies trace the early roots of the communities and are located in Cedar Grove, Roseland, Verona, Montclair and West Caldwell. Historic museums can be found in Roseland’s 1824 Harrison House, The Crane House in West Caldwell, Evergreens in Montclair and Cedar Grove’s recently restored Morgan House.

Just a short jaunt to New York City brings Broadway and Off-Broadway theater, galleries, museums, and major league sports within the reach of everyone.

The Meadowlands is a 700-acre entertainment conglomeration that includes three facilities, Giants Stadium, Continental Airlines Arena, and The Meadowlands racetrack. Virtually any sport, concert, or event can be accommodated at these premiere entertainment destinations. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) is another local entertainment venue. Host to renown national performers, sporting events, and the nationally-recognized Arts Education program, NJPAC offers a diverse range of cultural options.

Hailed as “a bountiful museum” by the New York Times, the Newark Art Museum offers a collection of 80 galleries with outstanding exhibitions and educational resources. In addition to art and sculptures, the museum also features a mini zoo, planetarium, and the Ballantine House, a restores 1885 mansion that is noted as a national Historic Landmark.

Restaurants also reflect the upscale and trendy attitude of the North Essex area. A true cornucopia of international tastes and styles can be found in the downtowns and just around the corners.

Whether your tastes run to simple fare or to the exotic, it can be found and enjoyed in a variety of restaurants, bistros and eateries in the North Essex area.