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OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTIES.
5 RULES FOR YOUR OUTDOOR KITCHEN
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
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:
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.
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THE STREETS GET LIVELY
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• Big Greek Gyro & Souvlaki Fest. This festival is usually a big ol’ party celebrating Greek culture, but it’s a bit scaled down for 2021. Still, expect the same delicious Mediterranean fare including gyros and Greek dessert. June 12–13, 12–5 p.m., 1447 Sussex Tpke., Randolph; standrewgonj.org • Summer Fling Festival. Celebrate Juneteenth and support Black-owned businesses with a summer pop-up featuring soul food, live music, vendors and more. June 12, 3–5 p.m., 17 William St., Newark; dean nahands123@gmail.com • Taco Palooza. Beer, margaritas, live music and taco trucks are what you’ll find at this fiesta, along with kids’ activities and a mechanical bull. $5 for guests 10 and over. June 19, 11 a.m.–8 p.m., 134 Main St., Chester; tacopartynj.com
• Cheers in Chester: Wine & Beer Festival. More than 100 craft brew and wine samples await you and your pals at this festival, which also features great food and live music from Stereo Junkies. $60. July 24, 3–7 p.m., 134 Main St., Chester; cheersinchester.com • Hopatcong Midsummer Marketplace. A group of local farmers, artisans, small businesses and collectors unite for this fest to show off and sell their handcrafted goods, food and art. Aug. 1, 12–4 p.m., 47 Hopatchung Rd., Hopatcong; fairsandfestivals.net • Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival. This event features live music across the jazz and blues genres and a plethora of local talent. Aug. 21, 12–10 p.m., Morristown Green, Morristown, morris townjazzandblues.com
LET’S GO FOURTH! 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. JUNE/JULY 2021
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