Morris/Essex Buzz

As summer arrives and we ease back into in-person gatherings, backyard entertaining has never looked better. “Outdoor living has become an accepted normal, especially with the pandemic,” says Jessica Petrino, editorial director at AJ Madison, a New York-based kitchen and home appliance retailer. “People are realizing their next vacation is in their backyard, so they are taking more time and care with home improvement projects.” Petrino shared with Morris/Essex Health & Life a few recommendations homeowners should consider if they choose one of the hottest projects, an outdoor kitchen: • Keep it all outside. A good setup will reduce or eliminate the need to shuttle back and forth to your indoor kitchen. That means an area with cooking space, refrigeration, a cleanup station and cabinet storage. “We are seeing an uptick in people wanting cabinetry and islands,” Petrino says. “Everyone has separate outdoor cooking equipment and dishes, so why not store them outside? And a faucet is good for handling meats and comes in handy when gardening too. Everything should be centralized in the outdoor kitchen.” • Express yourself. Silver and black are classics, but there are many ways to customize your kitchen. “People are looking for ways to be original, and they’re adding pops of colors,” Petrino says. Brands like Hestan have grill lines in orange, yellow and emerald, while pizza ovens and hearths can be customized as well. • Worry not about size. Let’s face it: Not all backyards are created equal. It’s easy to fit a grill, a pizza oven, a dishwasher and more when you have a sprawling backyard, but what if you don’t? Petrino says the basics call for 6 feet of grill area, counter space and refrigeration. “Prefabricated modular islands take the guesswork out of it,” she says, adding that models are built with ample counters and dedicated openings for different appliances. • Consider an expert. Though not strictly necessary, hiring professionals to help with your kitchen design can help. AJ Madison staff, for example, can help homeowners choose appliances that fit their lifestyle and entertaining needs, while plumbers can take care of water and gas lines. “People are more committed now to their largescale projects, so they want them to look nice, complement the architecture of the house and most of all be safe,” Petrino says. • Think winter. We’re certain you’re not contemplating snow in June. Well, Petrino suggests it should be in the back of your mind when creating an outdoor kitchen. “It should be close enough so that one can get to the house quickly, and in places where the plow guys don’t pile snow and where snow won’t slide off slanted roofs,” she says. For our infamous winters, appliances made of marinegrade stainless steel are best as they are most resistant to rust. Ah, in-person street festivals, in which to walk around browsing homemade crafts and eating the best ear of corn you’ve ever tasted—remember those days? They’re back for 2021, and they’re better (and safer) than ever. These outdoor, sociallydistanced fests are coming to our counties this summer:

Fest. This festival is usually a Beer Festival. More than 100 big ol’ party celebrating Greek craft brew and wine samples culture, but it’s a bit scaled await you and your pals at this down for 2021. Still, expect festival, which also features the same delicious Mediterra- great food and live music from nean fare including gyros and Stereo Junkies. $60. July 24, Greek dessert. June 12–13, 3–7 p.m., 134 Main St., 12–5 p.m., 1447 Sussex Tpke., Chester; cheersinchester.com Randolph; standrewgonj.org • Hopatcong Midsummer • Summer Fling Festival. Cel- Marketplace. A group of local ebrate Juneteenth and support farmers, artisans, small busiBlack-owned businesses with nesses and collectors unite for a summer pop-up featuring this fest to show off and sell soul food, live music, vendors their handcrafted goods, food and more. June 12, 3–5 p.m., and art. Aug. 1, 12–4 p.m., 47 17 William St., Newark; dean Hopatchung Rd., Hopatcong; nahands123@gmail.com fairsandfestivals.net • Taco Palooza. Beer, margari- • Morristown Jazz tas, live music and taco trucks & Blues Festival. This event are what you’ll find at this features live music across the fiesta, along with kids’ activi- jazz and blues genres and a ties and a mechanical bull. $5 plethora of local talent. Aug. for guests 10 and over. June 21, 12–10 p.m., Morristown 19, 11 a.m.–8 p.m., 134 Main Green, Morristown, morris St., Chester; tacopartynj.com townjazzandblues.com

A summer without proper Independence Day festivities—we’re never doing that again! Towns in Morris and Essex counties are celebrating the nation’s birthday and the (slow) return to normal this year with in-person parties and fireworks shows. In these four towns you can enjoy the revelry: • Lake Hopatcong, July 4, 9–10 p.m. The fireworks here will be held on the water at the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club. • Livingston, July 4, 8–9:15 p.m. Enjoy live performances of cover songs and originals by The Uptown Band at Livingston High School before the festivities conclude with a fireworks show. • Montclair, July 3, 6:05 p.m. Stay put after you watch baseball’s New Jersey Jackals play the Sussex County Miners at Yogi Berra Stadium: A postgame fireworks show, the biggest of the season to celebrate the Fourth, awaits. • Parsippany, July 4, 7:30 p.m. The celebration held at Parsippany High School will feature music, ceremonies and a fireworks display beginning at sundown. This marks the township’s first first inperson, public event since March 2020.

School’s out for summer, but that doesn’t mean learning has to wait until September. Mother Nature provides an ideal classroom for all of us—little ones especially, after they’ve been cooped up for far too long at home on their iPads. These outdoor nature events and mini-camps offer educational fun for the whole family: Where: Grover Cleveland has a different theme, such Park, Brookside Avenue as fairies and forest creaand Runnymede Road, tures, little architects or Essex Fells, 973.268.3500 rocket ships. What: Adults and kids age When: Weekly from July 6 15 and under should bring through Aug. 26, 9 a.m.–4 a fishing pole, bait, a chair, p.m. a bucket and family and Fee: $535 per week friends to the Essex County Where: Schiff Nature Fishing Derby, where kids Preserve, and adults alike can experi- 339 Pleasant Valley Rd., ence the county’s parks in Mendham a fun way—fishing! Prizes What: Did you know firewill be doled out too. flies aren’t actually flies? When: Wednesday, June Learn fun facts about these 12, 8–10:30 a.m. luminous creatures with an Fee: Free all-ages event that features Where: Great Swamp a short film about fireflies, Outdoor Education Center, alias lightning bugs, fol247 Southern Blvd., lowed by an evening hike Chatham, 973.635.6629 to observe them in their What: Kids 6–12 will learn natural habitat. a lot about nests and where When: Friday, July 9, they came from during this 7–8:30 p.m. in-person “Nifty Nests” Fee: $10 for members, $15 program, as well as build for nonmembers. their own and play a game Where: Essex County as if they were baby birds. Environmental Center, When: Thursday, June 17, 621 Eagle Rock Ave., 1–2 p.m. Roseland, 973.228.8776 Fee: $10 What: Your fifth-, sixth-, Where: Oh! Canary studio, seventh- or eighth-grader 165 Valley St., will be a wildlife pro afSouth Orange, ter this week-long camp, 973.307.7401; ohcanary.com where he or she will learn What: Little ones between from a naturalist how to ages 4 and 9 will enjoy a identify plants, create fires, half day of art and the other go canoeing, build shelters half spent outside exploring and more. the wilderness in nearby When: Monday, July 12–parks in this summer col- Friday, July 16, 1:30–4:30 laboration with Maplewood p.m. Outside School. Each week Fee: $250

Thai street food with an actual restaurant to eat it in is what you’ll get at 2Sis Thai Kitchen, Towaco’s newest eatery. Founded by two best friends with a passion for the cuisine, the menu features authentic Thai faves such as pad see ew, lemongrass soup, roast duck, green papaya salad and, of course, peanut sauce for dipping.

• 2SiS Thai Kitchen, 634 Main Rd., Towaco, 973.588.4394; 2sisthai.com

It already has locations in Staten Island and all over New Jersey, but let’s welcome Tommy’s Tavern & Tap to Morris County. This fun hotspot with elevated bar fare is the perfect place for when you and your dinner crew can’t decide what you’re craving. The menu has just about everything, from apps like General Tso’s cauliflower and filet mignon sliders to burgers, pizzas, salads, sandwiches and even sushi and poke bowls.

• 1900 Route 10, Parsippany, 973.998.6429; tommystavernandtap.com

Calling it now: Vegans and vegetarians have found their new favorite spot in South Orange. It’s Michezo, a Black- and family-owned restaurant whose focus is on “real ingredients and a unique experience.” The small-but-mighty menu features creative vegan takes on cheeseburgers, crab cakes, chicken taquitos and pulled pork.

• Michezo, 329 Valley St., South Orange, 908.989.3420; michezovegan.com

Dog: Harper, 14-month-old cavapoo Owners: Catie Conboy and Ryan Polachi of Mendham

This Morris County couple was last on the list when getting their new puppy from a breeder in upstate New York, and they ended up with Harper, the last pick in her litter. “It was fate because she is perfect!” her proud “mama” Conboy says. And this high-energy pup is a social little one who loves making new friends and taking trips to the vet and the groomer.

Harper is a great defensive soccer player who has a ruff and adventurous side too—she loves to walk around Morristown and explore its parks such as Jockey Hollow, Lewis Morris and Loantaka. But most important, she is great for laughs and full of love for her family. “We love her back doubly,” Conboy concludes. Follow Harper along on Instagram @little_miss_harper_ the_cavapoo.

If you’d like to see your dog or cat in an upcoming issue, email rita.guarna@wainscotmedia.com.

You didn’t think 2020 would make live performances extinct, did you? Happily, live entertainment is reawakening as the world returns to semi-normal, and Newark in particular has big plans. Newark Symphony Hall is moving forward with a $50 million renovation project, which will culminate in 2025 in time for the venue’s 100th birthday. The reno will modernize the space yet still pay homage to its history, and it will also improve the overall look and convenience of Broad Street. Meanwhile, here are two live shows to catch this summer (inquire with each venue about social distancing/masking rules): • Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown: Doors tribute band The Soft Parade recreates the experience of being at a real concert performed by Jim Morrison and company. June 25, 7:30 p.m., $29–$49, mayoarts.org • New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark: Jersey boy Mike Marino returns to NJPAC for a socially-distanced night of stand-up comedy about the Italian-American experience in the tri-state. Kapeesh? July 10, 8 p.m., $35, njpac.org