New Jersey sometimes gets a bad rap when it comes to events that occur across the state; a situation that is completely without merit. Oh sure, we’re not as big geographically as our neighbors to the north and to the west, but we have two (count ‘em) two state fairs. Patricia Buchanan is a PR representative for the one coming up soon: “This is State Fair Meadowlands, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford from June 22 thru July 8. (The other "state fair" you’re thinking of is what’s also known as the Sussex County Farm & Horse Show, held in August up in Sussex County),” she wrote. Going …

  Continuing the theme of festivals and outdoor events, this week’s Day Tripper destination finds Peddler's Village (Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska, PA) readying the 20th edition of its Fine Arts and Contemporary Crafts Show. This juried outdoor exhibition features original artwork including paintings, drawings, photographs, sculpture, jewelry and contemporary crafts with cash prizes being awarded in three categories: "Fine Art," "Contemporary Crafts," and "Photography.” Eve Gelman, public relations manager for Peddler’s Village, wanted to make sure people understood this was not merely an insider…

To be fair, adults viewing the television commercials for Six Flags Great Adventure can't be faulted for thinking their favorite rides from their youth have disappeared. After all, the Six Flags company prides itself on being one of the most current amusement park chains, fully leveraging its partnership with one-time owner Warners, Inc. through rides that feature characters from its properties: Batman, Superman, and Green Lantern. These are all great thrill-rides, and Bugs Bunny, Foghorn Leghorn as well as many Cartoon Network icons dot the park. But what if you’re feeling nostalgic? There …

Michelle Greco Falcone, the communications manager for Visit Bucks County, recently emailed Day Tripper and asked, “Have you visited Bucks County, PA lately?” Our collective reply was, no, we haven’t . But maybe that would be a good idea. Falcone send us a short list of things to do and see in the county, and we’ll be looking into several of them as weeks progress. But we did note that this year is particularly significant for the area, as it is Fonthill Castle and Moravian Pottery & Tile Work’s 100th anniversary. The buildings, along with the Mercer Museum, tell the story of Henry Chapman …

New Jersey and the institution of the diner just go together so well. Is it any wonder? A diner comes merges the convenience of fast food with the feel of sit-down dining. You can have either a large meal or just a cup of coffee, with a party of many or a party of one. So for this week’s Day Tripper, we’re looking at two different diners with a couple things in common. Both are in Monmouth County, but we may get an appetite for checking out diners in other parts of the state in later installments as well. The Roadside Diner in Wall has been an area institution since the 1940s, at the …

America's financial fortunes and its place in the world are, in many ways, thanks to products that didn’t innovate as much as they made it easy to move innovations from one place to the next. Think about the ease with which products are transported by roadways and over bridges. That convenience is attributable in part to John A. Roebling and his children. Roebling was a German-born American civil engineer. He is famous for his wire rope suspension bridge designs, in particular, the design of the Brooklyn Bridge, during the construction of which his toes were crushed, debilitating him and …

You are tired. So is your significant other. You both need a getaway, but can’t afford to go too far away, and it’s kind of an off-season time to take a traditional vacation anyway … what’s there to do? Here’s a thought. The grandparents say they don’t get enough time with their grandkids, so wrap them and their iPads and X-Boxes up, and head for Princeton’s Nassau Inn for the weekend. Lori Rabon, the general manager of the Nassau Inn (located at 10 Palmer Square in Princeton), has plenty of reasons why you’d want to shake off the late-winter blues at her establishment. “The Nassau Inn has …

Context is everything. That's a lesson clearly valued at the South Jersey Museum of American History, at 123 East High Street in Glassboro. It has taken into account the particular historical positioning of New Jersey, while at the same time remembering how the state fits into a much broader story. "The South Jersey Museum of American History has a national scope. We include southern New Jersey history, but our emphasis is on the entire United States,” said the museum’s curator,Jeffrey Norcross. "We cover five major areas of history: pre-Columbian, Colonial, political history, antique tools …

This column tries not to repeat itself. Yet, there are times when a revisit is called for, and few things demand attention quite like artifacts that founded two of the dominant world religions. That’s exactly what you’ll find with the exhibition Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Biblical Times, which runs through April 15 at Manhattan's Discovery Times Square at 226 West 44th St. Visitors will also have the opportunity to see objects recently discovered in the Holy Land, such as what is currently seen as the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible, hundreds of biblical era artifacts, and …

Diego Rivera was a man of varied passions. He was a fervent Mexican Communist, a husband four-times over, one of which was with the equally controversial Frieda Kahlo. A self-avowed atheist, and also a revolutionary through his art, Rivera made a huge splash in the early 20th Century via an exhibition at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), 11 West 53rd St, New York. Almost a century later, Rivera returns in spirit to MoMA in a new exhibition celebrating work he made specifically for the museum, as well as the materials he compiled to compose the works–sketches, thumbnails and notes. It …

Wouldn’t it be nice to take part in an event where funds were raised that provided scholarship and grant money to students and teachers? And wouldn’t it be nice to go to a huge party where more than 60 restaurateurs showed up and brought their signature dishes, and for three hours your only goal was to try them all? “This is our 16th year (holding the event)," said Angela Castaldo, event coordinator for the International Chef’s Night Out through the Ocean County Foundation. "We have businesses that come and serve to our patrons, and the patrons walk around the arena for three hours and taste …

We know many Patch readers have been taking the column to heart and have been making visits to our suggested destinations. But some of you haven’t. Well, that cannot stand. So, for this week’s entry we’re sending the whole lot of you to jail ... to be more precise, you’re going to the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site in Philadelphia. It's our "Day Tripper" pick of the week. DAY TRIPPER DIGEST Estimated Travel Time: 2 hours Why it’s Worth the Trip:  How many times can you say you went to prison and were released the same day? How about adding in a visit to a historical monument and art…

Have you ever actually seen the Liberty Bell? You’ve heard about it, maybe you read about it during history class, or seen iconic images of it, but have you actually seen it? Now is a great time to check it out and Jeffrey Lew of the architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the project architect for the Liberty Bell Center, which has housed the bell and exhibited it to the public, explained how the impressive home for the bell came about. “The 1997 master plan of Independence Mall envisioned the making of a great American place in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic district. In keeping …

The second week of 2012 has passed and a few things are apparent, not the least of them is just how dark it is outside. Sure, each day is staying a little lighter a little later—that’s the slow walk to springtime in action. But for a month or more we had the extra illumination of holiday lights and bright colors. By now, you might be craving for some of that as you’re driving home in the dark. Janet Peterson, marketing and public relations director for Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, believes she might have the cure for those dark weekend nights. “The Museum of American Glass has over 7,000…

There is so much to do in New Jersey during the winter holidays: visit farm markets, spend your Christmas money at various area malls, head to the shore and jump into the ocean. Wait. What? It’s true. The Mad Hatter Pub & Pizzeria, 10 E. Ocean Ave, Sea Bright would like you to come on down and take a dip for the third Polar Bear Plunge on the first day of 2012— that's tomorrow. “This event started two years ago, [and] this year is the third annual plunge,” said Deana Rosenthal, president and founder of the Next Generation Foundation, which is the beneficiary of the event. "NGF and Mad Hatter …

New York can be a  crowded place year-round, but maybe never moreso than during the holiday season. Still, Suzanne Morris, the senior manager of public programs for the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium in New York City believes she has the place when you need some space. Be forewarned, though: “A comfortable pair of walking shoes is always suggested as the museum spans several city blocks,” Morris said.  The destination, part of the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West at 79th Street, is as intriguing from the outside as it is inside. “One of the …

New Jersey is very fortunate in the sense that even though it is no longer dominated by farms life, there’s still plenty to remind us why it is called the “garden state.” Because of farmers markets, we're still quick to think of apple cider, baked goods and arts and crafts as the holidays roll in—but we don't necessarily think of wine. And that's a shame: it can be a great gift for the host or hostess of your favorite holiday party. Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road in Princeton, is a family-owned and operated destination with a long history. Gary and Pam Mount bought Terhune Orchards in …

It's the holiday season, and kids are wide-eyed with wonder. They're taking in everything around them. So why not take advantage of that alertness, and sneak in a little fun-filled education? Imagine That! Children’s Museum, 4 Vreeland Road in Florham Park, could be what you're looking for. “Our target age bracket is from one to nine years old,” said Deborah Bodnar, the director for the museum. Imagine That! Has been in existence for more than 20 years, and the location in Florham Park has been available to families for seven. It that time, the facility has grown and changed to accommodate …

Day Tripping is about more than just heading out to big, bustling areas to check out massive, high-profile events and exhibitions. Sometimes it is good to calm down and check out a location where everything is right within walking distance, where you can stroll around in late autumn (or, as the case may soon be, a surprisingly warm winter). If that sounds appealing, Amy Amico believes she has just the sort of place you’re looking for. This December, she said, the Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury Township will bring back its annual exhibit, "Cranbury Gardens." It will feature the 'plein air' (…

The Watchung Arts Center, located on 18 Stirling Road in the Watchung Hills area of Somerset County, operates in a 100-plus-year-old schoolhouse (built in 1898), which is very appropriate. There’s plenty for visitors to learn when they attend. "We are always updating our programs and events to include shows throughout the year," said Stacy Gannon, executive director of The Watchung Arts Center.  The Watchung Arts Council, formed in 1978, is the primary caretaker for the center— a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization supporting the full range of creative endeavors through performances and …