It’s Time to Think Summer – Local Camp Resource Guide for Our NJ Midtown Direct Communities

The dog days of winter are here!!  But I’m thinking spring– longer days, green lawns and the first signs of budding trees and flowers.  It’s such a pretty time here in our New Jersey Midtown Direct communities.  It makes me think of all the great spring and summer resources like our fabulous farmer’s markets, summer concerts and festivals.  And come to think of it, summer is only 5 months away and many parents are now combing through the yellow pages and kids resources for the best area summer camps. Read more

Playgrounds In Our New Jersey Midtown Direct Train Line Towns!

Looking for a playground in New Jersey?

Sheila Sayah has created www.NJPlaygrounds.com – all from exploring New Jersey’s playgrounds as a great way to keep her 3 toddlers busy. She recently joined Amy Lamperti of www.theplaygroundguide.com and together they have provided parents a HUGE playground guide.

Here are links to playgrounds in our New Jersey towns:

Chatham which is known for Castle Playground and Memorial Park.

Livingston Community Center, Littell People’s Park by Livingston High School

Maplewood has Memorial Park, which is in a centralized location to Maplewood Village and Maplewood Train Station.

Millburn – There’s Gero Park, right by the Millburn pool, and Taylor Park, located in town.

Madison – Visit Dodge Field, walking distance to Madison Train station.

South Orange – Farrell Field

Summit – Wilson Park, Mabie Playground, and my favorite – Memorial Field.

New Providence – Morris-Union Joint Venture Playground

Westfield – Tamaques Park, Memorial Park, and Mindowaskin Park

Berkeley Heights – Snyder Ave Park, Columbia Park

Click here for an Indoor Playgrounds!

Go ahead… “like” NJ Playgrounds on facebook and stay up to date on New Jersey Playground News!

Create Masterpieces While Sipping Martinis Near Your Maplewood Home

There are no bounds on creativity and fun at the Art Studio, a multi-faceted studio dedicated to stimulating the artist in all of us, located near your Maplewood home. The Art Studio provides unique art instruction for children and adults in a focused yet relaxed environment. This week, or the sooner the better, awake your artistic side and have a great time at the Art Studio, especially if you live in Maplewood.

Adults are in for a treat this Halloween season and beyond as the Art Studio welcomes you with Masterpieces and Martinis, evenings full of artistry and most of all, fun for you and all your friends. You can choose from a portfolio of master paintings and then have a blast creating your own, step by step and while sipping on refreshing martinis.

All skill levels are welcome most evenings of the week from 7:00 to 9:30pm. The cost of the evening $35, including canvas and paint. Groups of seven or more may paint for free. The Art Studio is located at 499 Summit Avenue in Maplewood. For more information and to schedule a reservation, call (973)378-3798 or click here.

Video: Give Home Buyers and Sellers What They Are Looking For! Sue Adler and Kenn Renner Share Video and Website Strategies at Keller Williams National Convention

I’ve been fortunate to speak at several major real estate conventions over the years, but this time, I was lucky to have the King of Video, Kenn Renner, on stage with me because he filmed our whole panel! Read more

Analysis of Maplewood & South Orange Home Statistics for August 2011

Whether you are buying or selling real estate in New Jersey, you can benefit from having an understanding of the local market.  The average listed sales price of a Maplewood New Jersey home for the month of August, 2011 was $327,400, with a median sales price of $517,500 for sold Maplewood homes.  Housing inventory has decreased in Maplewood when compared with  August of 2010, with 144 active listings being reported for the last day of August for Maplewood versus 161 in August of 2010.

The average listed sales price of a South Orange, New Jersey home for the month of August, 2011 was $422,000, with a median sales price of $397,000 for sold South Orange homes.  Housing inventory has decreased in South Orange when compared with August of 2010, with 110 active listings being reported for the last day of August for South Orange versus 134 in August of 2010. The big complaint of most buyers right now is the lack of inventory in these towns which are in such high demand, with their easy commute into Manhattan. Read more

Enjoy Community Theatre Near Your Maplewood – South Orange Home

The Burgdorff Cultural Center will be showcasing the talents of young actors who live in Maplewood and surrounding midtown direct towns this weekend!  Join in the fun and laughter with your friends and neighbors at a production of “Annie Get Your Gun.”  This faced paced show near your Maplewood home features music from Irving Berlin, unexpected romance, and cowboys and Indians and is sure to be a delight.  This production is geared for all ages will run Wednesday, August 17^th through Saturday, August 20^th at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, August 21^st at 2 p.m.  General admission tickets are $13 and student and senior prices are $11.  The Burgdorff Cultural Center is located in the heart of Maplewood, at 10 Durand Road.  Enjoy your evening of entertainment in this historic stone theater and reserve your tickets by calling 973-632-4108.  To find out more about other performances near your New Jersey midtown direct town, please click here.

Fireworks & Fun Near Your NJ Midtown Direct Home

Our New Jersey Midtown Direct Towns know how to celebrate the Fourth of July! If you live in Millburn/Short Hills or a home in Chatham, you know what I am talking about. Red, white, and blue is the name of the game as we express our love for our country, family, friends, and fireworks on Independence Day! The following are some great ways to spend your holiday weekend and share some special time with your family and neighbors throughout our midtown direct towns of Chatham, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Summit, and South Orange.

• If you live in Chatham, you’ll be happy to hear that the Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department will celebrate its 57th Annual Fourth of July Celebration on July 4th. Following a flag raising at the Chatham Borough Firehouse, a parade with Grand Marshal firefighter and Vietnam War veteran John Clark will kick off the event at 10:30 a.m. The parade starts at Main Street and Hillside Avenue will continue to Chatham Middle School on Main Street. That night the Middle School field will come alive with performances by Magic Moments featuring Gina and Pepe from 7 to 9 p.m. The World Champion Santore Brothers of Garden State Fireworks Company of Millington will produce an amazing fireworks show beginning at 9pm.
• Maplewood residents have special events planned near their Maplewood homes, as well! At 7:45 a.m. Ricalton Square will come alive for the Annual 109th 4th of July Opening Ceremonies, complete with flag salute & a performance of the national anthem. Following that, Maplewood residents can enjoy a true community parade at 8:15 a.m. where anything that can move and be decorated in red, white, and blue participates and competes for awards. The parade will conclude at Memorial Park and a party, complete with circus, music, food, fireworks, and fun can be had for $10 per person.
• Near your Millburn -Short Hills home, you will find an exciting display of fireworks offered at Millburn High School, located at 462 Millburn Avenue. Beginning at 7 p.m., you can gather to experience Krazy Kat DJ and the 50-50 raffle, along with refreshments and glow in the dark items for sale. The fireworks will begin after a performance of God Bless America by Millburn’s Patty Hetherington at 9 p.m. Be sure to bring your blankets and chairs and dress warmly. Advance tickets can be purchased at Town Hall or various Millburn town shops for $10 and tickets at the gate are $12. You can also purchase tickets to just see the fireworks for $5 that night at the gate. Click here to get more information.
• At Flood’s Hill, located at 70 N Ridgewood Rd, near your South Orange home, you will be delighted by the Village Parade. Beginning at 9:30, South Orange residents will gather to create a safe bicycle course and give instructions prior to the 11:30 a.m. Village Parade. Bike, strollers, wagons, skaters and skateboarders will roll from Floods Hill to the South Orange Community Pool where prizes will be awarded. This event is free and more information can be found here.

If you have a home in Livingston, you can participate is an extensive, all day celebration at The Oval, located at 10 Robert H Harp Drive, starting at 9 a.m. This 75th Annual Livingston 4th of July Celebration includes a car show, baseball game, fair, rides, and games will occur alongside patriotic readings and ceremonies. Various bands will perform throughout the day and a spectacular fireworks show is planned at 9:15 p.m. To find out more, click here.

Soldier’s Memorial Field is the place to be if you live in Summit!  The Flag Raising Ceremony begins at 9:45 a.m., followed immediately by the Children’s Decorated Bicycle Parade where children ages four through ten compete for trophies by decorating their bikes in red, white, and blue. Following the awards, Polka Dot will entertain the children with music and the day will continue with carnival rides, ponies, crafts, games of attractions will run until 1 p.m.  The Kootz will perform at 11:30 a.m. to liven up the event and encourage Summit’s Emergency Services as they hit Memorial’s Softball Field at noon for a very competitive game.  The Cameos will entertain that evening, beginning at 7:45 p.m. until the Grand Fireworks Display at 9:15 p.m. in the sky over Summit’s Memorial Field. This event is a highlight to families who live in Summit, and more information can be found here.

Work in NYC? 10 Reasons why you should commute from New Jersey.

10 Reasons why you should move from Manhattan to our awesome New Jersey towns….

1. NJ Transit- Midtown Direct Train gets you into New York Penn Station in 25-50 minutes from South Orange, Maplewood, Millburn, Short Hills, Summit.  After Summit, the trainline branches off to: Chatham, Madison, Convent Station…  and the other branch heads to New Providence and Berkeley Heights….   If you click on link above, you will see parking options whether you live in one of these towns or one of the surrounding towns. Need to commute to downtown to the financial district? Just take the train to Hoboken, and then the path or ferry.

Oh, did I mention that there is valet parking at the Millburn train station, and that there is a jitney bus to get you to and from the Maplewood & South Orange train stations during morning and evening rush hours?

Great Schools

2. We have great public schools! 2010 New Jersey School Report Card

3. Our towns are absolutely charming and beautiful. They are SO not like the New Jersey stereotype. Each town has its own personality(and different sections within each town do as well), and you’ll find that living here you will frequent all of the surrounding towns for different things from shops to restaurants to theatre to fitness centers to art, piano or karate lessons. Read more

7 Tips for NJ Home Sellers BEFORE putting your Midtown Direct Home on the Market

If you are planning on selling your home in Millburn, Short Hills, Summit, Maplewood, South Orange, Chatham, Livingston, Berkeley Heights or New Providence,

here are a 7 tips to help you prepare so that you’re not scrambling last minute.

1. Construction Permits: Go to your town hall and make sure that any construction permits have been closed out. Even if you haven’t taken any out, the previous owners may have.

2. Underground oil tanks are THE hot issue these days, especially when you’re selling an older home.  If you don’t have proof that an oil tank  has been removed on your property, have a tank sweep done. (I’ve got a list of names if you need recommendations)  If you have record of a tank having been decommissioned, be aware that most local buyer’s attorneys are asking for them to come out anyway because there is an arguement that unless the tank is removed, you can’t test the soil beneath it. Now I’m not an expert, but I’m only making you aware of what will most likely come up so, you may want to be proactive and take it out ahead of time.   Buyers just don’t want the liability. Read more

NJ midtown direct area Kindergarten programs