ohohohjamiescryin

This is officially my new favorite bar. Anywhere. Comfortable atmosphere that reminds me of Boston. Inexpensive but good beer. Friendly bartenders, friendlier patrons. If I were going to have a bar at which I was a regular, this would be it. Too bad I live almost 3 hours away from it.

Bonus: if you’re staying in a hotel along the boardwalk, you can take the Tram Car from a block away. No worries about how to get back if you’ve had a bit too much!

I live in Manville right now. I’ve been here almost a year. It’s not a very exciting town. We have a Wal-Mart, a McDonald’s, and a movie theater. There’s not much going on. The town is something like 70% (?) Polish, so most of the store windows are lettered in Polish. A lot of ‘skis and ‘skas around here. The traffic downtown is horrendous.

However, there is this place here called simply “European Deli” that has the bangin’est kielbasa ever tasted.

Oh, and Manville is home to one of the many entrances to the D&R Canal towpath, which is lovely and not to be missed. For that reason alone I’m marking Manville worth visiting.

Best. Chocolate. Malt. Shakes. Ever.

not to mention the delicious burger-joint-style french fries. you know, the kind that come in a paper bag and are extra greasy?

soooooo good. place has been in business for years, too. you can’t go to South Bound Brook in the spring or summer without checking it out. You won’t regret it.

It’s my hometown! It had gone somewhat downhill for a while there, but recently the town council has made a lot of changes to nice it up again. It’s a small town - there are two traffic lights in the whole town and one of them is pretty new. The town is less than one square mile wide. But I like small towns - I grew up in SBB and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

seriously, don’t leave town without stopping at Springer’s at least once. They have so many flavors, and it’s homemade. There’s a reason why the line usually reaches halfway around the block!

Second-best ice cream in Stone Harbor (second only to Springer’s). Their hot fudge sundaes are to die for.

what can’t you find at Hoy’s?

Hands down.

It’s big enough that it’s not boring, but not so big that you need the entire day to get through it. The otter pavilion is amazing, by the way.

*edit: The otters HAD an amazing habitat, which has now been downsized into a much smaller area. How sad. Now where they were, there’s a bridge to the “Savana”, which does have a nice array of zebras, giraffes and such.

north/central New Jersey, that is, but I love south Jersey so much. I’d love to live down there someday. We have Wawas up this way as well, but the ones down the shore are much better :)