New Jersey
New Jersey is where we spent a lot of time. Rob more so than I. He graduated from Eastside High, joined the military, worked for the post office, retired and met me! :) As for me, worked for a large corporation, a great real estate attorney and the best bar in Orange, NJ. We have a number of friends and family back in NJ who are only a phone call or email away. We visit as often as we can. It is bordered on the north by New York, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the southwest by Delaware, and on the west by Pennsylvania. Parts of New Jersey lie within the metropolitan areas of both New York and Philadelphia. Home to NJ Nets, NJ Devils, Newark Bears Giants, Jets, although the Giants and Jets still have NY in front of their name, their home stadium is at the Meadowlands located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and an abundance of schools and colleges, Rutgers, Essex County Community College, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Seton Hall to name a few.
Our favorite places to visit are The Manor Bar & Grill in Harrison aka "The Church", Twenty Grand Club in Newark, Atlantic City, Cape May & Red Bank for concerts, Cecil′s Jazz Club and the best of all the Private Place Lounge where I worked for many years and as quiet as it′s kept, you may catch me behind the bar when we visit. It is a place where everyone knows your name (or face), your drinks, look after each other and overall just one big huge family, but most of all, it is the place where I met the man of my dreams, "ROB". Here we all get along, that is until the Giants are playing the Cowboys, then things are a little different. We are fine before and after the game, during commercials, but when the game is on it′s a little different. There are very few Dallas′ fans but we hold our own.
Another great time we have is Labor Day weekend aka Bermuda Week. This is when all our family and friends from Bermuda come to celebrate for a week full of never stop partying. Although they come up all year long, this is the biggest time for them. There are parties held at various clubs, Peter Rabbit′s birthday, Cricket Game on Labor Day and it all begins at the Private Place on the Thursday before Labor Day. So if you're ever in town stop at the Private Place Lounge, 29 S. Center St., Orange and you can get all the details for what, when and where, just ask for Auntie Lex.
If you′re looking for jazz, the place to be is "Cecil′s", owned and operated by non-other than Cecil Brooks, III (drummer) and his wife, Adrenna in West Orange. Cecil has worked with Russell Gunn, Rudy Van Gelder, Don Braden, Jimmy Ponder, Lonnie Plaxico, Houston Person, John Hicks and many others. Here you will find Jazz, Big Band, Latin, Smooth Jazz, Blues, Spoken Word, and a swinging weekly Jam Session. Jam Session is on Tuesday nights and you never know who will stop by to join in.
We have been fortunate enough to see Grassella Oliphant (my uncle), Grady Tate, George Benson, Matt Chertkoff Trio and a few others. In 2005 Bill Crosby was the entertainer for two completely sold out nights. I had the opporunity to sit and talk with Mr. Crosby and he is something else. Uncle Grass has played for Sarah Vaughan, Gloria Lynne and Shirley Scott and his two releases (The Grass Roots & The Grass Is Greener) features saxophonist Harold Ousley and Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, and bassist Ray McKinney. If you can′t find him at Cecil′s then try the East Orange Golf Club. For more information on Cecil′s click here.
Okay, I have to acknowledge one more place, Atlantic City. Whether we were living in NJ or passing through, it is always a stop on the way and a stop on the return. As much as I enjoy playing I also enjoy taking advantage of their comp offers for free nights, food and gifts. It is nothing but a little Vegas on the shore. We go down not only for gambling but for shows as well. There are several other places we have been in NJ but just are′nt mentioned here, don′t want to bore you. It is truly the "Garden State".
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