THE PREMIER L G B T Q + BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY NORTHERN NJ Vol. 9
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS RESTAURANT GUIDE EVENTS SCHEDULE BAR GUIDE LGBTQ+ ORGS & ATTRACTIONS BUSINESS DIRECTORY ABOUT 04 06 08 16 18 20
LGBTQ+ Northern New Jersey
Northern NJ has no shortage of LGBTQ-friendly cities. Asbury Park, Lambertville and Ocean Grove to name a few. The LGBTQ+ community can find the most support in Jersey City, New Jersey. In fact, Jersey City has been given the title of the “Queerest City in America’’ by LGBTQ Magazine.
The Garden State’s second biggest city has a number of lesbian bars, available LGBTQ bed and breakfast hosts, trans pride parades, festivals, and more. Jersey City also boasts the largest LGBTQ+ community in the state. Asbury Park was a sleepy little Jersey Shore community until the gay community discovered it and turned it into the bustling resort town that it is today. Asbury Park is experiencing a resurgence as visitors from New York and other big cities rediscover it as a fabulous weekend getaway.
Like any resort town, Asbury Park is most vibrant during the spring and summer seasons, but you’ll find a significant amount of active gay locals all year round. It won’t be hard to find gay-friendly venues in this vacation town.
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ABOUT
RESTAURANT GUIDE
Adega Grill
Restaurant with grapevine murals & a fireplace serves upscale takes on seafood & Portuguese dishes.
130 Ferry St, Newark, NJ
Al-Basha
Low-key eatery offering an array of Middle Eastern & Lebanese dishes plus a kids’ menu.
1076 Main St, Paterson, NJ
Amanda’s
American eatery serving early-bird dinner, Sunday brunch & more.
908 Washington St A, Hoboken, NJ
Battello
Industrial-chic eatery offering a seafoodfocused menu of modern Italian fare, scenic views & a bar.
502 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ
Bonfire Mofongo House and Lounge
Part Caribbean restaurant, part nightclub hosting live music, dance parties & other events.
999 Market St, Paterson, NJ
Bravo Restaurant
Upscale-casual Italian chain serving pasta, grilled dishes, pizza & cocktails.
1000 Bergenline Ave, Union City, NJ
Campino Restaurant
Refined, old-school dining room serving traditional Portuguese & Spanish dishes.
70 Jabez St, Newark, NJ
Casa Vasca
Big portions of traditional Basque dishes served in a warm space
141 Elm St, Newark, NJ
CAVA
Mediterranean restaurant serving thoughtful food.
30 Montgomery St, Jersey City, NJ
Chango Kitchen
Laid-back venue specializing in traditional Cuban & Latin fare, plus weekend brunch & cocktails.
301 Willow Ave, Hoboken, NJ
DOMODOMO
Elevated restaurant with outdoor seating offering nigiri, sushi rolls & seafood dishes.
200 Greene St, Jersey City, NJ
Don Pepe Restaurant
Traditional Portuguese seafood dishes plus steaks in an old-world setting.
844 McCarter Hwy, Newark, NJ
El Chevere Restaurant
Whole chickens roasted on the rotisserie plus Peruvian standards. 258 Monroe St, Passaic, NJ
El Conuco Restaurante
Easygoing outpost for Dominican specialties such as mofongo, plus fruit juices & desserts.
715 Summit Ave, Union City, NJ
Elysian Cafe
Modern French bistro fare & classics in a restored saloon dating from 1895.
1001 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ
Five Stars Thai Restaurant
Petite, white-tablecloth spot presenting spicy Thai favorites.
324 29th St, Union City, NJ
Fork Hill Kitchen
Casual spot for locally sourced eats including sandwiches & meat dishes, plus weekend brunch.
201 16th St, Union City, NJ
Fornos of Spain
Large, bustling restaurant serving Spanish surf, turf & wines in an elegant, old-world setting.
47 Ferry St, Newark, NJ
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RESTAURANT GUIDE
Garcia’s Restaurant
Homey restaurant serving Ecuadorian cuisine, especially seafood.
800 John F. Kennedy Blvd West, Union City, NJ
Iberia Tavern & Restaurant
Eatery with Mediterranean decor known for its abundant rodizio & seafood, with patio & parking lot.
80-84 Ferry St, Newark, NJ
La Cocina
Relaxed counter-service eatery offering Cuban-American sandwiches, empanadas, desserts & coffee.
61 New St, Newark, NJ
Laico’s
Long-running, brick-lined nook offering an array of Italian cuisine.
67 Terhune Ave, Jersey City, NJ
Maize
New American-Portuguese fare in an upscale, modern space with a lounge.
50 Park Pl, Newark, NJ
Mexico Restaurant
Busy Mexican joint offering dishes like tacos, fajitas & enchiladas.
141 Market St, Passaic, NJ
NICO Kitchen + Bar
Sleek, high-ceilinged bar & bistro offering high-end Italian shared plates. One Center St, Newark, NJ
Porto Leggero
Upscale, chandelier-filled venue serving Italian fare in a high-ceilinged space.
185 Hudson St, Jersey City, NJ
Rumba Cubana
Serving traditional dishes, shakes & cocktails in a tropical-themed setting.
235 Pavonia Ave, Jersey City, NJ
Satis Bistro
Rustic-chic eatery serving European fare like charcuterie, seasonal entrees & wine.
212 Washington St, Jersey City, NJ
South House
Down-home Southern dishes & clever cocktails.
149 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ
Spanish Tavern
Longtime Spanish restaurant serving paella & other traditional dishes.
103 McWhorter St A, Newark, NJ
Steel Wheel Tavern
Modern American fare, cocktails & wines.
51 N Broad St, Ridgewood, NJ
The Cuban
This bi-level restaurant offers Cuban fare, daily specials & live music in a stylish setting.
333 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ
The Kitchen Step
Light-filled, rustic-chic spot for creative New American plates & bespoke cocktails.
500 Jersey Ave, Jersey City, NJ
Vonda’s Kitchen
Laid-back, neighborhood fixture with artful decor preparing Southern comfort food with a twist.
183 W Kinney St, Newark, NJ
Zack’s
Familiar fare, such as burgers & pasta, with microbrews & weekend brunch. 232 Willow Ave, Hoboken, NJ
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EVENTS SCHEDULE
New Jersey’s 31st Annual Statewide LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration will be held in-person on Sunday, June 4th 2023. As always, we have been working closely with the host city of Asbury Park to ensure the safety of all participants. It is the largest, and oldest, LGBTQ Pride Celebration in the garden state, with attendance under normal circumstances surpassing 20,000.
For more info visit: jerseypride.org
JUN 11
NORTH JERSEY PRIDE FESTIVAL
The North Jersey Pride Festival is a family-friendly celebration of love, respect and unity—and we are planning our biggest celebration yet!
For more info visit: northjerseypride.org/pride2022
JUN 16
THE LGBTQ+ PROM GALA
Hudson Pride Center believes in building a world where LGBTQ+ people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Through our safe
event to support visibility and local LGBTQ+ programming and care. For more info visit: edgenj.org/mcpride
JULY
JUL 28-30
NEW JERSEY LOTTERY FESTIVAL OF BALLOONING
Held at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ, the Festival of Ballooning truly has something for everyone! From twice daily mass ascensions of up to 100 special shape and sport hot air balloons, to headlining concerts, non-stop family entertainment, hundreds of crafters and vendors, great food, fireworks, a balloon glow, and more, the festival is jampacked with stuff to do.
For more info visit: balloonfestival.com
AUGUST
AUG 6
PRIDE WITH YOUR PUP
The Jersey City LGBTQ+ Pride Festival
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EVENTS SCHEDULE
and Jersey Avenue in the heart of historic downtown Jersey City as well as the Grove Street PATH Plaza.
Returning will be the Equality Pride March from City Hall to our concert stage on Newark and Jersey Ave. at 1 PM to kick off the event. Expect lots of entertainment, dancing, and many Instagrammable moments to share with your friends and family. We encourage you to put on your best Pride gear and come on out and celebrate Pride like only Jersey City knows how to do. For more info visit: bit.ly/41rdQyf
SEPTEMBER
SEP 16-17
SEA.HEAR.NOW 2023
Two days of music with more than 25 bands on three stages: two in the sand and one in the park, all on the iconic Asbury Park Waterfront.
East Coast surf legends and emerging pros, both male and female, compete in a unique team surf contest held
to sell.
For more info visit: bit.ly/3BcZM0n
OCTOBER
OCT 31
HALLOWEEN FAMILY BASH
A ghoulishly good time in historic downtown Jersey City on Halloween! There will be games, a corn maze, face-painting, rides, pumpkins, sand art, music and CANDY!
For more info visit: jcdowntown.org/event/halloween
NOVEMBER
NOV 24-26
JERSEY CITY BLACK FRIDAY
Kick off the Holiday Season with our Black Friday event! Local Retailers, Eateries and Services are lined up to deliver amazing offers to help you get your gift-shopping started. Shop local to support all our merchants!
For more info visit:
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BAR GUIDE
Black Bear Bar & Grill
Lively 2-level bar & grill on Hoboken’s main drag.
205 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ
Blitz Sportsbar
Sports bar serving American & Portuguese bites.
179 Wilson Ave #5317, Newark, NJ
Club Feathers
Buzzing gay nightclub featuring DJs, dancing & drag shows.
77 Kinderkamack Rd, River Edge, NJ
Georgies
Low-key gay hangout offering pool & karaoke, plus go-go boys & live music.
810 Fifth Ave, Asbury Park, NJ
Jamie’s Cigar Bar & Restaurant
Upscale Italian cigar bar for classic dishes.
915 Bloomfield Ave, Clifton, NJ
Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen
American restaurant including a raw bar, a rathskeller & a lounge, all set in a 1917 landmark.
110 South St, Morristown, NJ
NJ Bar & Grill
Casual joint offering globally-inspired American eats, happy hours & trivia nights.
100 Randolph Ave, Mine Hill Township, NJ
Paradise
Over-21 nightclub & gay bar with entertainment.
101 Asbury Ave, Asbury Park, NJ
Pint
Neighborhood joint offering a wide range of American craft brews.
34 Wayne St, Jersey City, NJ
QXT’s Night Club
Alternative club spinning cutting-edge dance music until the early morning. 248 Mulberry St, Newark, NJ
The Stone Pony
National acts headline this rocking, historic music club known for launching Springsteen & Bon Jovi.
913 Ocean Ave N, Asbury Park, NJ
Tierney’s Tavern
Irish bar with 2 floors features darts, live music & comedy, plus a jukebox.
138 Valley Rd, Montclair, NJ
Watermark
Upscale lounge with mixed crowd. 800 Ocean Avenue, Second Floor, Asbury Park, NJ
Wonder Bar
Quirky bar with frequent live music, TV sports & a dog friendly patio.
1213 Ocean Ave N, Asbury Park, NJ
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LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS & ATTRACTIONS
GAAMC
Not-for-profit volunteer-run organization that provides social, educational, and outreach programs.
gaamc.org
Garden State Equality
Lifting up the diverse voices of LGBTQ+ communities.
1408 Main St, Asbury Park, NJ
Hudson Pride Center
One of New Jersey’s leading providers of LGBTQ+ cultural sensitivity training. hudsonpride.org
3000 John F. Kennedy Blvd # 306, Jersey City, NJ
Newark LGBTQ Community Center
A volunteer-run, community-based organization. newarklgbtqcenter.org
89 Market St, Floor 2, Newark, NJ
North Jersey Gay Lesbian Bowling LGBTQ+ Sponsored Bowling League. njglb.net
200 US Rt 46 E, Elmwood Park, NJ
North Jersey Pride LGBTQ+ events and activities to promote inclusivity, equality, awareness. northjerseypride.org
Qspot LGBT Community Center
Providing resources, referrals, education, and outreach. qspot.org
1601 Asbury Ave, Asbury Park, NJ
The Pride Center
Providing a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. pridecenter.org
85 Raritan Ave #100, Highland Park, NJ
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20 BUSINESS DIRECTORY COMMERCIAL LAW Kiernan Fischer LLC ................................ 9 CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Pantheon Construction LLC ................... 9 CONTRACTOR Garden State Brickface .......................... 3 CORPORATE LAW Kiernan Fischer LLC ................................ 9 DOG DAY CARE Hounds Town Hillsdale ....... Front Cover, 5 EDLER LAW Law Office of Robert A Bernstein Esq LLC .............. 1 FAMILY LAW Cipriano Law Offices ..... Back Inside Cover FINANCIAL ADVISOR Edward Jones InvestmentsHOTEL Embassy Suites by Hilton Berkley Heights ................... 15 KITCHEN & BATH REMODELING Pantheon Kitchens and Baths ............... 9 LITIGATION Kiernan Fischer LLC ................................ 9 MEDICAL CENTER Bergen New Bridge Medical Center ........................ Back Cover NON PROFIT Red Cross .................... Front Inside Cover REAL ESTATE Barbara Ostroth/Jeffrey ShapiroColdwell Banker Realty ....................... 13 C21 Preferred Realty ............................ 17 REMODELING Pantheon Kitchens and Baths ............... 9
