Fall in Montclair

• Fun fall outdoor dining

• Pumpkins and apples, oh my!
• Cocktail crawl in Montclair

A Special Supplement to

MONTCLAIR
Objectively Informing, Sparking Dialogue, and Building Community
Local
Page 12 Fall in Montclair Thursday, September 10, 2020

FALL IN MONTCLAIR:
WHAT’S INSIDE
FREE AUTHOR TALKS:
JOIN US SEPTEMBER FICTION, FOOD, POLITICS, On the hunt for pumpkins
12 & 13 FOR OUR SPORT, HISTORY, RACE, and apples...............................................................14
ADDICTION & MORE
ONLINE FESTIVAL What to make with all those apples.......15
ONLINE WRITING WORKSHOPS

More details and registration links at All proceeds The coziness of outdoor dining.....................17
WWW.SUCCEED2GETHER.ORG benefit

Where to do COVID-19 cocktails.................22

Local autumn hikes with a view.................25

We never stop connecting, serving and fighting for a better world.

Fun fall happenings..............................................27

What to expect at Montclair Art

Museum.....................................................................28

Montclair Local is a not-for-profit, independent weekly newspaper

founded in 2017 to provide in-depth, hyperlocal coverage of all things
Montclair. We publish each Thursday out of our office at 309 Orange
Sunday Services: 10:00am at Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael & Road. To become a member and receive all the latest Montclair news
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“WE ARE OPEN AND PREPARED TO HELP YOU”

“for the motorist who cares”
24 HR. TOWING COLLISION & PAINTING EXPERT
APPROVED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES
Town Auto Body has been family owned
and operated for over 60 years with three
generations of the Pastore family taking
pride in their small business and in the
Montclair community they serve. The re-
pair facility on Grove Street is a full service
collision repair shop. All customers receive
a lifetime guarantee on all repairs. Our
professional staff is highly skilled and well

OPEN FOR OUTDOOR and INSIDE DINNING

trained. We take pride in quality workman-
ship and satisfied customers.

Town Auto Body accepts insurance claims from all insurance companies. The office staff is experienced STARTING TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH 2020
in processing insurance claims, in providing computerized estimates, in digital imaging, in electronic
communication with insurance companies, and can address any and all customer concerns.
The shop technicians are well trained in the newest “state of the art” technologies, utilizing the latest in Reservations are suggested due to limited seating capacity.
industry equipment, tools, and techniques. The shop continues to pursue a “Green” strategy of using
Hour of operation:
environmentally friendly materials and processes. Town Auto Body is located 107 Grove Street in
Montclair. Hertz rent a car is just a block away making it convenient to drop off your car and pick up
a rental. Please consider Town Auto Body for your full service collision repair needs. Monday Closed
Please call or email us with questions or concerns. Tuesday - Saturday 12-9
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TEL: (973) 744-0808 • FAX: (973) 744-7239 • townautobody@att.net 307 Orange Rd. Montclair, NJ 07042 BYOB
Thursday, September 10, 2020 Fall in Montclair Page 13

The Library has adopted a four-phase

reopening plan. Visit montclairlibrary.org
for up-to-date information about current
and future phases.

Over the past few months, the Library

has increased its eBook capacity,
moved programs and classes online,
and introduced access to new
resources like Creativebug, Lynda.com,
and Medici.tv. We’ll continue to adapt
to these rapidly changing times. We’re
here for you! Thanks to the Foundation’s support,
the Library is able to expand its
Main Library offerings in areas that are relevant
50 S. Fullerton Avenue to the new normal.
Montclair, NJ 07042
973-744-0500 | montclairlibrary.org Want to help the Foundation?
Consider donating at montclairplf.org.
MontclairPublicLibrary MontclairLib
Page 14
Pumpkins and more in the great outdoors
by ROBIN WOODS and
JAIMIE JULIA WINTERS
for Montclair Local
Summer’s on the wane, and it’s
time to get ready for fall’s bounty
of apples, plants and pumpkins.
Fall 2020 will be different due to the
pandemic, but it’s not too soon to
plan field trips around town and the
surroundings to pick up the fruits
of the season.
Take advantage of the warm
weather, trade in your surgical
gloves for gardening gloves, and
put a smile on your face beneath
your masks and shields.
In addition, gardening and
pumpkin-picking are ways to add
science and math to your child’s
distance-learning experience.
LOCAL PICKINGS
You can find local farmer James
Matarazzo Jr. at the Caldwell Farm-
ers’ Market each Saturday and Sun-
day.
“Bigger pumpkins are ready, but
they’re not being picked yet to go
out to the public until the last week
in September. Apples are ripe and
ready from the Hudson Valley and
western New Jersey,” he said.
You can find five of the most
popular apple varieties now. Here’s
how he describes them:
• Gravenstein apples are crisp
and tart.
• Summer McIntosh are all-pur-
pose apples, good for snacking and
baking.
• Tydeman’s Reds are crisp and
tart.
• Worth apples are crisp.
• Zestar apples are very sweet.
The markets help to keep New
Jersey farms in business, buying
locally instead of from out of state.
Everything is fresh and delicious,”
Matarazzo said.
You can’t find apples for pick-
ing at the Cedar Grove Garden
Center, but you can spend as much
time as you want going through
the grounds by yourself or with
your family to purchase pumpkins,
available in mid-September. Pump-
kins are sold by the pound and are
set up by size.
“We love the young families that
come here,” said Terri Flynn, who’s
worked there for 23 years. “People
were trapped at home under the
lockdown, and turned to working in
their yards. It’s a blessing, and peo-
ple have an outlet. It’s food for your
soul.
“It’s been a good year for plants,
and our only difficulty is keeping
Fall in Montclair Thursday, September 10, 2020
COURTESY CLAUDIA SERIA
Visitors still have time to enjoy a day trip to Liberty Farm and its sunflowers.
things stocked due to high demand,
and keeping deer from seeing us as
being a smorgasbord. Fall is our fa-
vorite season. It is so beautiful.”
Chrysanthemums in various pot
and large-planter sizes will be in
full bloom and ready for your gar-
den the second week of September.
“We have to work with Mother Na-
ture,” Flynn said. “She’s the boss.
It’s been too hot and humid for the
mums to survive, but we look for-
ward to having them in many beau-
tiful colors soon.”
Victory gardens were popular
during World Wars I and II, when
FILE PHOTO
vegetable, fruit and herb gardens
were planted in private gardens and Pumpkins will be arriving at Cedar Grove Garden Center mid-September.
public parks in the United States.
The victory garden is seeing a resur- maze spells a different message, own apple cider mill and a bakery
gence due to the pandemic. Now is which can only be seen overhead. specializing in fall pies and dough-
the perfect time to plant cabbage, This year the paths have been cut nuts. It is located at 1111 Mt. Kemble
kale, lettuce and spinach. at 7 feet wide to allow for social dis- Ave. Masks must be worn, and so-
At Cedar Grove Garden Center, tancing. The place is not only a pho- cial distancing is required.
you can also choose colorful gourds, tographer’s dream, but the flowers
ornamental corn — three ears attract birds, bees, butterflies and PUMPKIN PATCH POSTPONED
wrapped in wire and ready to hang pollinators of all sorts. UNTIL 2021
as front-door décor — and bales of Get there early, as this weekend, Due to ongoing COVID-19 health
hay to set up your own farmscape. Sept. 12, is the last for visitors to and safety concerns, people won’t
take in the flowers. Masks are re- be able to visit and shop at the
ROAD TRIPS FOR quired, dogs must be on a leash, and Pumpkin Patch on the Lawn from
SUNFLOWERS, APPLES flowers cannot be picked. mid-September to mid-October,
In Sussex County, explorers Wightman’s Farm in Morristown an annual event sponsored by St.
and nature lovers can enjoy over a is an 85-year-old, 145-acre fruit and Luke’s Episopal Church, 73 South
million sunflowers in all shapes, vegetable farm that sells all produce Fullerton Ave. “It doesn’t look like
varieties, colors and sizes. For 10 on-site at their farm market. But we will be able to do this this year.
years, Liberty Farm at 101 Route visitors can also pick their peach- We are disappointed,” said the Rev.
645 in Sandyston has offered visi- es, apples and pumpkins, on week- John Mennell.
tors a Tuscany-like place to mean- ends only. Each picker pays a $7 fee, You can pick up your own pump-
der through acres of the flowers and picked produce is an additional kins at the Caldwell Farmers’ Mar-
set up in a maze. Every year the $2.99 a pound. The farm also has its ket and Cedar Grove Garden Center.
Thursday, September 10, 2020 Fall in Montclair Page 15

Got apples? Try soup

by STEVEN DeSALVO
for Montclair Local
I am a big fan of making soups to
feed people quickly and with relative
ease. This soup is no exception. I
used a number of classically fall
ingredients — apples, and fennel and
chestnuts to add flavor and texture.
This soup is so easy that it takes
only about a half-hour to throw
together, start to finish! The best
thing is that since it is a puree you
don’t need to bother with making
your cuts uniform at all. Just roughly
chop all of your vegetables and toss
them in the pot.
As always, feel free to supplement
something you would rather use
instead! As long as the quantities
remain consistent there shouldn’t be
any problems. This recipe is vegan;
it can also be gluten-free if you omit
the croutons as garnish.
INGREDIENTS
For the chive oil:
1 package chives (about 1 ounce)
1 cup canola oil
For the croutons:
1 slice standard sandwich bread
COURTESY STEVEN DeSALVO
Apple, fennel and chestnut soup tastes
like fall.
1 tsp. canola oil
For the soup:
1 tbs. canola oil
2 large honey crisp apples,
unpeeled and roughly chopped, cores
and seeds removed
½ of a yellow onion, sliced
1 small fennel bulb, green arms
removed, roughly chopped
6 ounces of recipe-ready chestnuts
(you can find them in bags in most
stores’ baking aisle)
½ tsp. fresh grated nutmeg
1 quart vegetable broth (I used
mushroom broth, but any vegetable
broth is fine.)
2 tsp. hot sauce
Salt and pepper to taste (You will
be using a fair amount.)
INSTRUCTIONS
Start with the chive oil because it
needs some time to cool down; you
can also make cleaning the blender
easier if you blend the soup after-
wards to soak up some of the oil that
will just stay in there.
1. Combine the chives and 1 cup of
oil in the blender. Blend on high until
it looks like a puree and there aren’t
many big pieces left.
2. Pour the mixture into a small
pot and cook it on medium heat until
it starts bubbling, approximately 2
minutes.
3. Strain the mixture into another
container. Let it sit uncovered until
cool.
For the croutons:
1. Simply slice the bread into
small, ¼-inch cubes, then toast them
with the canola oil over medium heat
until they are golden brown on all
sides. Remove them from the pan
and set aside.
For the soup:
1. Add the canola oil to the pan;
once it is hot add the apples, onion
and fennel. Season with a touch of
salt so that nothing burns. Cook for
approximately 7 to 10 minutes, or
until the vegetables are tender.
2. Add the chestnuts and the
grated nutmeg, and cook for an
additional 2 minutes.
3. Pour in the vegetable broth,
let it come to a simmer, and then
cook it for 5 more minutes on a low
boil.
4. Finally, add the hot sauce.
5. Puree the soup on high in your
blender. I like to adjust seasoning
in the blender so that you can easily
mix it after making an adjustment.
Don’t be discouraged, it might take
a few tastes and adjustments for it
to be to your liking!
Once the soup is seasoned
properly, pour it into bowls and
garnish with a few spoonfuls of
chive oil and a handful of croutons.
This recipe makes about 2 quarts
of soup, so it will be perfect for
a couple of meals. The chive oil
will keep in your fridge for about
a week, so be sure to use it as a
garnish for whatever you might
make this week!

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Page 16 Fall in Montclair Thursday, September 10, 2020

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Thursday, September 10, 2020 Fall in Montclair Page 17

Four alfresco favorites

by CHRISTINA LOCCKE
for Montclair Local
After months of being told to
stay home due to the pandemic,
outdoor fall dining is the perfect
way to ease back into Montclair
eateries. Governor Murphy now
permits restaurants to allow limit-
ed indoor seating, but residents can
still take advantage of dining out-
doors as weather permits in quaint
and creative settings.  anced dish that lets you taste each
Already, some of the town’s more
popular restaurants have closed,
like Laurel and Sage. But many are
attempting to serve their customers
in new ways. Villalobos has found
more room for tables by extending
their outdoor seating in front of
vacated shops. Turtle and the Wolf,
primarily a dine-in restaurant, is
now beloved for its takeout fried
chicken dinner.  And many others
have pivoted, finding safe ways to
continue serving inventive meals.
Start with these local treasures,
offering a solid outdoor dining ex-
perience along with consistently
great food.  All allow you BYOB, as
well.
SLA Thai on Valley Road.
CAFE MOSO
Cafe Moso is a party — a low key,
family focused, very friendly party.
If you feel like you’ve been missing
something with takeout, then your
next meal should be here. Outside
the restaurant, diners find a series
of canopies lined with string lights
and potted palms that separate ta-
ARMANDO DIAZ/ FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL
bles from the street. Like many,
Cafe Moso offers takeout, but their
outdoor tables are well spaced,
comfortable, and festive. Warm
greetings and efficient service en-
sure that everyone from families
to couples and solo diners feel at
home.
The kitchen is as capable with
lighter salads, as well as more soul-
ful classics. Cafe Moso has nailed
their collards, cooked until tender
with bits of soft onion and smoky-
sweet ham. The Brussels sprouts
are nearly as good, roasted to deep
brown then served crisp beneath
sprinkles of grated parmesan.
Their namesake wings, the Moso
Loco, arrive lacquered with house
sauce that is more spicy than sweet.
Blackened salmon is the kind of bal-
flavor of the fresh fish and peppery
seasoning over a bed of bright and
citrusy Basmati rice. 
Many swear that Cafe Moso is
home to the best mac ‘n cheese in
town. 
307 Orange Road
KOREANDER
Despite having just a few out-
side tables, their sliding glass doors
open wide into the welcoming in-
terior to blend the spaces. Meals
here begin with traditional Korean
banchan, like tender sticks of light-
ly pickled potatoes, daikon cubes
See DINING, 18

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Page 18 Fall in Montclair Thursday, September 10, 2020

Dining sured that those noodles will come

without the eggs, peanuts, or bean
sprouts that some prefer to skip.
from page 17 596 Valley Road

speckled with red pepper, and pun- UNCLE MOMO

gent kimchi. Pop open a beer, and House-made, reasonably priced,
everything tastes even better.  and always delicious, Uncle Mo-
Their vegetable japchae is one mo’s French-Lebanese bistro cook-
of the best reasons for dining here ing has earned its own cult fol-
— each sweet potato noodle is slick lowing in Montclair. Their freshly
and chewy, mixed with a tangle of baked pitas are an enormous draw.
fresh veggies for crunch. Also try No matter how many you order,
the bibimbap in a hot stone bowl there will never be enough. Each
(dolsot) for an enormous treat that is slender and delicate, just right
cannot be appreciated as takeout. for scooping up an array of Leba-
Once the sizzling bowl arrives, wait nese mezze. Your best move is to
as long as you can before mixing the go ahead and order all of the ap-
layers of spinach, marinated beef, ARMANDO DIAZ/ FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL petizers, with extra pita. The pitzas
and fried egg down into the tanta- Diners gather at Cafe Moso on Orange Road. are popular, whether topped with
lizing crust of golden rice that has tomatoes and cheese, or lamb with
baked against the bottom. My wis- home of Uptown on Valley Road warming. parsley and spices. Even a simple
er, more patient daughter let hers and now offers socially distant, The pad Thai — which is more of chicken shish kebab is perfectly
crisp to dark brown before mixing outdoor dining along their private, a national dish rather than tradi- cooked and set over a bed of pureed
the rice into tofu stewed with Kore- narrow alleyway. tional cooking — is always a crowd lentils that will inspire you to order
an chili powder.  The menu’s focus is on the cui- pleaser. But those of us who can more pita, for fear that anything is
Don’t be surprised if the friend- sine of Northern Thailand, known break from our patterns should left on the plate.
ly staff offers your children indi- for heartier fare based on meats, venture to sample other Northern Guests will surely vie for their
vidually wrapped Korean chocolate sausages, and curries. These chefs Thai specialties. The fact that Khao limited indoor tables to sit amid
cookies to end your meal.  know their way around pork. Be Soi Gai contains “mama’s secret Uncle Momo’s vintage Parisian de-
128 Watchung Ave. sure to order Gang Hung Ley, a recipe with a chicken leg” is reason cor. However, the outdoor seating
silky and well-spiced curry sim- enough to try the dish. extends along Bloomfield Ave in
SLA THAI mered with rich cuts of pork bel- SLA Thai has made an art of cus- front of other storefronts to ensure
One of Montclair’s favorite din- ly. The culmination of flavors and tomizable ordering online, so those that everyone is very well spaced.
ing spots has taken over the former textures are powerful and very of us with picky eaters can rest as- 702 Bloomfield Ave.

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For More Information and to RSVP (Required) • CHABADMONTCLAIR.ORG • 862-252-5666

Thursday, September 10, 2020 Fall in Montclair Page 19

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Attention business owners

Reach your audience with an ad in Montclair Local

ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL

Start Out Fresh Intervention Advocates (S.O.F.I.A.) will hold a “With Awareness There
Is Hope” walk on Sept. 12. The 10th annual walk against domestic violence will be
held in Canterbury Park — and wherever participants walk. Preregistration is strong-
ly encouraged, but participants can stop by Canterbury Park to register beginning
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Page 20 Fall in Montclair Thursday, September 10, 2020

The classroom
may have changed,
but our mission hasn’t.

During these complex times, parents can rest assured that MKA is providing the best
education to prepare their children for real-world challenges. Our faculty members
work hard to connect with students as individuals by teaching compassion, generosity,
and well-being of mind. This commitment to social and emotional learning serves our
teachers and students well, as connection and collaboration are essential elements for
successful remote learning. As a result of these close connections, we can teach our
students anywhere, without compromising what they will learn, even in classrooms that
happen to be dining rooms, living rooms, and kitchens.
Thursday, September 10, 2020 Fall in Montclair Page 21

mka.org/admissions
Page 22 Fall in Montclair Thursday, September 10, 2020

Fall cocktails abound in Montclair

by CHRISTINA LOCCKE
for Montclair Local
It’s time to meet for cocktails
again.
Whether COVID has allowed us
to slow down enough to enjoy night-
time cocktails at home is a matter of
debate. But even your favorite drink
Zoomed with good friends falls flat
when compared to settling into a
garden-like lounge as fresh cock-
tails arrive in a chilled glass… that
you will not have to wash.
DeNOVO
The cocktail menu at DeNo-
vo is one of Montclair’s hidden
gems, with drinks that are always
changing and totally on trend with
some of Manhattan’s more for-
ward-thinking bars.  macerates, blends and strains each
They have turned their train plat-
form location into their greatest ad-
vantage, with seating that stretches
beyond their outdoor patio and into
the commuter parking lot. Empty
spots are now covered with light-
ed canopies and filled with widely
spaced tables set against a charm-
ing stone wall.
Great views and cocktails abound at MC Hotel’s rooftop bar.
Their dedicated bar manager,
Josh Martin, is passionate about
shrubs — tangy and refreshing fruit
syrups preserved with vinegar. He
one himself, with outstanding re-
sults. Drinks are finished with pa-
per-thin slices of slowly dehydrat-
ed citrus or honey-cured botanicals.
Everything here is made with care.  prefer wine can pair the season-
Their most popular drink by far
is the Farmers Market Cocktail, a
bright and fruity shrub with ginger
and a clear kick of habanero-in-
COURTESY TRACI GILES
fused tequila. It brings the kind
of heat that cools on a hot day. Or
maybe it warms a cool day. There is
never a bad time to drink this drink.
The Bionic Woman is another
standout. This shaken martini com-
bines fresh pineapple, mezcal and
pretty pink peppercorns floating on
top of a very tall glass. Those who
al Italian cooking here with a sea-
food-friendly glass of albariño or
rosé from Côtes du Rhône.
275 Bellevue Ave.
FAUBOURG
Faubourg seems designed to suc-
ceed in this moment of outdoor
dining. The bluestone courtyard
is an oasis on Bloomfield Avenue,
with tall planters that block the
streetscape and overlapping trian-
gular canopies to soften any errant
beams of sunlight.
Their outdoor dining area feels
so comfortable and so very normal
that it is almost pre-pandemic, as if
the tall plexiglass extending above
each booth is just there to keep con-
versations private. 
More impressive is that Fau-
bourg has a drink for everyone. A
cocktail menu this expansive lacks
pretense. The Garden Party is a
light and refreshing mix of vodka,
creme de violet, hibiscus and rose
tea that seems suited to day drink-
ing. Their White Cosmo with elder-
flower and chipotle marguerita are
both so popular that they now offer
it in containers-to-go. The water-
melon mojito is very nice, but try it
“Mike’s Way,” which substitutes the
rum for tequila with delicious re-
See COCKTAILS, 23

League of Women Voters of the Montclair Area

100 Years. Empowering Voters.
Defending Democracy.
VOTING INTEGRITY MATTERS
Join the League of Women Voters Montclair Area
and work with us on these urgent issues:

O I N P Voter Registration
J P Voter Education
P Voter Advocacy
To join contact membership chair:
Loretta Simon Cell: 518.573.1151 • Email: Lsim4425gr@gmail.com
or visit www.LWVmontclairarea.org.
Donations Welcome!
Thursday, September 10, 2020 Fall in Montclair Page 23

COURTESY TRACI GILES

Drinks lined up at Faubourg.

ALTO AT THE MC HOTEL

Cocktails
from page 22
sults. For something more unique,
try the Susanna, which combines
funky, mouthwatering Suze liqueur
with gin and lemon. But if you
crave a boozy, slushy frosé, they
have that, too. 
The wine list is worthy of careful
perusal, with strong offerings by
the glass. Sample, and even splurge
on, their lighter, Old-World variet-
ies to complement Faubourg’s cui-
sine.
544 Bloomfield Ave.
Alto takes their COVID-19 pre-
cautions and each guest’s comfort
very seriously.
Enter the lobby to find yourself
alone with a single concierge behind
plexiglass. Once your reservation is
confirmed, guests are escorted to an
elevator (no need to touch the but-
tons) and delivered to a waiting table. 
There is nothing like this view in
all of Montclair. To the west, watch HERE FOR YOU
the sunset over the trees towards GroupEX • Gym Access • Swim
South Mountain. Look eastward to
see New York City and note the con-
stant stream of guests posing for a YMCA OF MONTCLAIR
See COCKTAILS, 24

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Page 24 Fall in Montclair Thursday, September 10, 2020

Perrone Mason Contractors Cocktails and chatting while making sure that
no one has to wait for their pints.
Over 25 Years of Satisfied Customers • Rated A+ by the BBB The parking lot is a biergarten, filled
from page 23 with families sitting around picnic
tables beneath the word “HARMO-
selfie with Manhattan in the back- NY” writen large in gold letters on
ground. Drinking here feels like a the wall. 
special occasion.  The menu may introduce seven
Tables are widely spaced through- new beers each month, highlight-
out the large rooftop patio. The con- ing seasonal or tropical flavors like
stant breeze is lovely on warmer mango and coconut. Start with one
nights; space heaters will soon ex- of their lighter mainstays, the Frog
tend the outdoor seating into the Hollow Orange Wheat, named for
cooler months. The very spacious, a local neighborhood. Brewed with
open feel of the outdoor patio is also orange peel and coriander, it is rem-
true of the interior lounge, with its iniscent of Blue Moon, with a fresh-
backlit bar and expansive views.  ness that is unparalleled by mass
Start with a smooth and easy-to- market brands. A bit darker but just
drink sangria rimmed with peaches as popular is the People’s Republic of
and citrus. The Wanna Lackawanna Montclair, a smooth and very tasty
is tasty and artfully presented with Belgian-style ale. 
a cucumber swirl. Craft beer enthu- Many of the richly flavored oat-
siasts can try the Hitachino, brewed meal stouts are tributes to Leo’s West
with rice.  African and Denise’s Jamaican heri-
Rooftop, 690 Bloomfield Ave. tage and would go perfectly with cur-
Steps • Sidewalks • Driveways • Patios ries or spicy grilled meat. The Black
Retaining Walls • Foundations MONTCLAIR BREWERY is Beautiful with Baobab is not only
The Montclair Brewery is sin- an introduction to the African fruit,
Additions • Stucco • Chimneys • Fireplaces gular in every way. To start, it’s the but also part of a global beer collab-
All Expert Repairs only brewery in town. But its com- oration to raise awareness of racial
munity-driven mission of bringing injustices in our country. Beware,
people together is the best reason to because it is also around 10 per-
For a Free Estimate Call Joseph share a beer here.  cent ABV, making it nearly twice as
973-759-4643 • Perronemasonry.com The husband-wife team of Leo and strong as a typical IPA.
Denise Sawadogo are always smiling 101 Walnut St.

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Thursday, September 10, 2020 Fall in Montclair Page 25

Places to amble in autumn

by ERIN ROLL
roll@montclairlocal.news
With cooler weather and fall fo-
liage on the way, autumn is an opti-
mal time to go hiking.
Essex County has five reserva-
tions, including three that are in
or close to Montclair, for hiking,
bird-watching and taking in the
scenery.
HAWK WATCHING
Mills Reservation occupies 157.15
acres between Montclair and Cedar
Grove. It offers two parking areas,
on Edgecliff Road to the south and
on Normal Avenue to the north.
The parking areas fill up quickly
on weekends, so drivers should be
prepared to park along the side of
the road, or park at some distance
and walk the rest of the way.
Five trails are blazed throughout
the site, and there also are unblazed
trails and connector trails.
Mills is a favorite place for dog
walks. However, dogs must be on a
leash.
Quarry Point Lookout, at the
southeast corner, overlooking
Visible in the distance is the viewing platform for Montclair Hawk Watch, which is
open in the spring and fall during hawk migration season.
Edgecliff Road, is a favorite spot.
This viewpoint has a cement tur-
ret that held a searchlight during
World War II.
Across Edgecliff Road to the
ERIN ROLL/STAFF
south is the Montclair Hawk Look-
out, which is maintained by the
New Jersey Audubon Society. The
platform is open from September
through November. The society
keeps a count of hawk and oth-
er bird species from this platform
during hawk-watching seasons.
VIEWS OF N.Y.C.
The 408-acre Eagle Rock Res-
ervation has roughly 14 miles of
blazed trails and bridle trails, in-
cluding a section of the Lenape
Trail. The reservation sits on the
town line between Montclair and
West Orange, and can be accessed
either through Undercliff Road in
Montclair or Eagle Rock Avenue in
West Orange.
The most significant viewpoint
in Eagle Rock is the Essex County
9/11 memorial, which has a clear
view of New York. During 9/11 res-
idents gathered there to see the
Twin Towers burning. The memori-
al includes a piece of steel from the
World Trade Center.
Other viewpoints can be found
along the Lenape Trail in the north-
east corner of the reservation, near
Afterglow Avenue in Verona.
Red-tailed hawks are a common
sight.
See HIKING, 26

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Page 26 Fall in Montclair Thursday, September 10, 2020

Hiking
from page 25
The area near the memorial and
Highlawn Pavilion is a favorite spot
for picnics. Because of the reser-
vation’s popularity, parking spaces
can quickly fill up on weekends and
holidays.
WATER FALLS,
OBSTACLE COURSE
South Mountain Reservation oc-
cupies 2,110 acres in West Orange,
Maplewood and Millburn. The res-
ervation is home to many varieties
of deciduous trees, including oaks,
maples, birches and beeches. In the
fall, the foliage turns orange and
bright yellow. There are 14.5 miles
of blazed trails, as well as numer-
ous carriage roads and bridle trails,
which are popular with dog walkers
and families.
One of the most popular land-
marks in the reservation is Hem-
lock Falls, located near its western
edge. The falls are especially strong
after a rainfall. The Lenape Trail
takes hikers to the falls, with the
two nearest access points being the
Tulip Springs parking area on Cher-
ry Lane and a parking area on South
Hemlock Falls, located along the Lenape Trail in South Mountain Reservation, is a
favorite landmark for visitors to the reservation.
Orange Avenue.
A red-blazed trail leads up a set
of stone steps to a rocky overlook
above the falls.
In the northeast section of the
park, hikers will find a short inter-
pretive trail, with signposts about
ERIN ROLL/STAFF
flora and fauna in the area, lead-
ing to Turtle Back Rock: a rock for-
mation resembling a turtle’s shell,
overlooking Northfield Avenue. In
the southeast section of the park,
hikers and visitors can stop at sce-
nic overlooks along Crest Drive in
Maplewood.
South Mountain is also home
to TreeTop Adventure Course, a
world-class aerial obstacle course.
The 30 challenge elements have a
run time of 1 to 1.5 hours.
HIDDEN GEM
The Bonsal Nature Preserve is a
21-acre site in northwestern Mont-
clair, near the town line with Clif-
ton.
The entrance is hidden between
two houses on Riverview Drive
West. From the entrance, visitors
walk down a set of cement steps
and cross a footbridge spanning the
Third River to reach the main east-
west trail junction. Here, visitors
can find a kiosk describing some of
the plant and animal species that
can be found in the preserve.
The field of phragmites on the
eastern end of the preserve is a
gathering spot for many bird spe-
cies, such as red-winged blackbirds,
from spring through fall.
The preserve is maintained by
the Friends of the Bonsal Preserve.
It became a popular place to visit
during the COVID-19 lockdown, to
the extent that the Friends issued a
plea for visitors not to venture off
the trails, in order to reduce ero-
sion.

SATURDAY
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BEGINS AT 2:30PM

#MONTCLAIREMS #MAUDUCKDERBY
Thursday, September 10, 2020 Fall in Montclair
Fall fun activities and openings in Montclair
FALL PLANT SALES Sunday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring
The Montclair History Center is your mask and your credit card -- no
holding its annual bulb sale. Choose cash accepted.
from 12 varieties of narcissuses, tu-
lips and hyacinths that will pop up ART INSPIRED BY DANCE
in spring. Buy them individually to Studio Montclair will present “In-
create your own custom garden or spired by Dance,” its first in-person
make your life easy with a themed exhibit since SMI’s public gallery
garden medley (Early American was closed
Garden, Rainbow Garden, Victorian in March
Garden and Bees' Knees 1920s Gar- due to
den) at a discounted price. Go to the COVID-19.
website www.montclairhistory.org/ It will be
bulb-sale to place your order. open for
Bulbs must be ordered online. p u b l i c
All orders are due by Sept. 20, with viewing
porch pickup at the Clark House (108 from Sept.
Orange Road) around Oct. 5. 11 through
Van Vleck House & Gardens will Oct. 16
hold its first annual autumn plant at Studio
sale. Shop a unique selection of beau- Montclair Gallery, 127 Bloomfield
tiful blooms, annuals and perennials Ave. A welcoming reception will
that have been specially curated by take place on Sunday, Sept. 13, from
our garden manager to enhance and noon to 4 pm. SMI will be following
extend the beauty of your garden. strict guidelines for indoor gather-
VVH&G members will receive a 10 ings — masks will be required, and
percent discount on all purchases, the number of people in the gallery
and COVID-19 safe-shopping guide- will be limited. For those not yet
lines will be adhered to. Sale will be comfortable with viewing in per-
held Friday, Sept. 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; son, an online tour of the exhibit,
Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; and including audio, will be available
Here They Come…
NYC Dwellers Want Out… And They Want YOUR House!
Let Me Help You Get Your House Ready for this Market.
For a Free Consultation with Local Expertise, call Betsy Ceccio
Call / Text: c917 755-7672
Keller Williams NJ Metro Group, 237 Lorraine Ave., Montclair, NJ 07043
on our website. “Inspired by Dance”
features artwork — both literal and
metaphorical — relating to move-
ment and dance in its many forms
and comprises multiple artistic
genres, including painting, sculp-
ture, photography, video, mixed
media and others. For more infor-
mation contact smi@studiomont-
clair.org or call 862-500-1447.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Chistina Baker Kline will be in
conversation with Courtney Sul-
livan virtually through Watchung
Booksellers on Sept. 13 at 4 p.m.
William Morrow says of Kline’s
novel “The Exiles”: “A powerful,
emotionally resonant novel that
captures the hardship, oppression,
opportunity and hope of four wom-
en’s lives — three English convicts
and an orphaned Aboriginal girl —
in nineteenth-century Australia.” To
register go to www.watchungbook-
sellers.com.
LEARN HISTORIC WATER
COLORING
The Montclair History Center is
hosting a series on watercoloring.
email: betsyceccio@kw.com
Page 27
The His-
toric Acorn
will be held
on Tuesday,
Sept. 15,
The Histor-
ic Pumpkin
on Oct. 20,
and The
Historic Winterberry on Nov. 17. The
classes will take place from 4 to 5:30
p.m. at the Crane House & Historic
YWCA, 110 Orange Road. During
these workshops, you will gain
knowledge of the acorn, pumpkin
and winterberry along with their
historic importance and traditional
medicinal properties. You will cap-
ture the essence of the items as you
create a beautiful watercolor. All
skill levels, beginners to advanced,
are welcome. All materials will be
supplied. It will be led by Diane Is-
rael, artist and manager of audience
engagement, and Susanne Costa,
manager of education. These events
will be held partially inside, in a so-
cially distant setting, and under the
guidelines of the state. All partici-
pants must wear face masks. Sign up
at www.montclairhistory.org.
Page 28
Montclair Art Museum reopens
Limited hours offered
on weekends only
by GWEN OREL
orel@montclairlocal.news
On Friday, the Montclair
Art Museum will reopen for
in-person visits, and will
begin to have regular hours
on weekends only. The re-
opening follows a six-month
closing due to COVID-19.
Friday’s date is for mem-
bers only, with the museum
reopening to the public on
Saturday.
The museum will have
timed entrances for res-
ervation-only one-hour
visits; enforce mandatory
mask-wearing and tempera-
ture checks; have social-dis-
tancing markers and one-
way pathways throughout
the building; offer hand san-
itizer units throughout the
museum, and allow no more
than 25 percent of capacity.
Information at www.madlom.org • Email to: Madlommail@gmail.com • Call/text: (973) 626 -6130
Fall in Montclair Thursday, September 10, 2020
Gail Stavitsky, MAM chief
curator, said that the target
date has been quietly worked
on for several months. Sep-
tember is when MAM would
usually open new shows. In
this case, rather than open
new shows, the museum has
extended two shows that
were in place before the pan-
demic hit: Federico Uribe’s
“Animalia” and Virgil Ortiz’s
“Odyssey of the Venutian
Soldiers.”
The Uribe show opened in
February and was only up for
a month before the museum
closed. It will be up through
Jan. 3.
Ortiz’s show in the
Rand Gallery will continue
through the end of March
2021, while his light box mu-
ral in the Laurie Art stairway
COURTESY MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM
See MAM, 29 A masked patron looks at art at MAM.
MADLOM MOVED TO ST. JOHN’S CHURCH
55 Montclair Avenue corner with
Chestnut, Montclair, NJ, 07042
FALL SEMESTER STARTS SEPTEMBER 18
Hybrid Model of teaching Performing Arts
(one week in person, one week on zoom).
Options: zoom only or in-person only are accommodated upon request
Thursday, September 10, 2020 Fall in Montclair Page 29

MAM cally into the galleries to get ev-

from page 28
will be up through next July.
The next new shows are
planned to open in February 2021.
To reopen safely, the museum
coordinated across all depart-
ments and looked at best prac-
tices from museums around the
country.
MAM’s safety protocols are
based on CDC guidelines and
guidance from the state to ensure
erything ready for people to re-
turn.
While the museum did offer
virtual programs, such as conver-
sations with artists in their stu-
dios — some from as far away as
Brazil — and online tours, she’s
happy people can again see the art
in real life. Interior � Exterior
“It’s important for people’s Roofing
sense of well-being, and feeling
that there’s some kind of poten-
tial to have a normal experience,”
she said. “In a way I equate it with
healing, restoring one’s spirits.” NJHIC# 13VH06449500

the health and safety of its visi-
tors and employees, according to
a release. In addition, high-touch
surfaces will be cleaned through-
out the day, and the museum has
upgraded its restrooms and ven-
tilation systems, the release says.
Stavitsky has written a “high-
light” for people to have on
phones, or print out in advance,
The museum has always been
known for its intimate spaces, but
it is also large enough to have safe
social distancing and feel com-
fortable, she said.
“As we’ve begun to work to re-
open galleries and see the work
[it’s] almost like seeing color for
the first time,” said Ira Wagner,
interim director of MAM. “It’s
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like a self-guided tour, she said.
The hours are:
• Fridays, noon-8 p.m. , with 11
a.m.-noon for seniors and immu-
no-compromised persons.
•  Saturdays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
•  Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Stavitsky is one of the first
staff members to go back physi-
just revelatory to come back and
see it after looking at a screen for CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE
so long.” YOUR FREE ESTIMATE!
The Montclair Art Museum is
at 3 South Mountain Ave. , 973-
746-5555.
For more information and to Angie’s List Super Service Award recipients for 10 consecutive years
purchase tickets, visit montclair
art museum.org.
Page 30 Fall in Montclair Thursday, September 10, 2020

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