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Message |
    
sarah jones
Citizen
Username: Cgilbert1
Post Number: 1
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 1:52 pm: | 
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not familiar with Maplewood - What is the best place for lunch in town? coming on sat to see for possible move to area. any recommendations of what to do in the area to get a good feel? thanks. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2098
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 2:14 pm: |
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Are you driving or taking the train and walking?
If you want a casual meal, I would suggest going to Cranes (a true gem for our town) and get a sandwich, drink, homeade potato chips and pastry to go. Walk to the other side of the train tracks into the park and have a picnic anywhere that strikes your fancy.
To me that's about as good as your going to get for a real Maplewood experience. The park is beautiful and worth a nice stroll.
Other than that, if you are considering moving here, you should drive around the different neighborhoods. Get a sense of the town, it's layout and the look and feel of the homes. You should also drive to South Orange, Maplewood's sister town. Very similar town in very many ways, also worth equal consideration for living in. |
sarah jones
Citizen
Username: Cgilbert1
Post Number: 2
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 2:21 pm: |
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I am taking the train and walking. Picnic in the park sounds great! Thank you. I kow this is an awkward question.. but how do you enjoy living in maplewood? My husband and I are 30, no kids yet, but soon. and are looking for more space close to the city ( we both work there)... Would you recommend maplewood to a couple like us? |
connied76
Citizen
Username: Connied76
Post Number: 24
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 2:37 pm: |
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We like it as much as we could like anywhere outside of NYC We are in the same boat- mid-30s, no kids. Moved from Brooklyn Heights about 2 years ago. We like the proximilty to NYC and the diversity of the community. We have found restaurants & bars we enjoy hanging out in. Shopping is better here because we can drive and not have to carry bags on the subway Pizza and bagels just as good here. Hate the lack of food delivery options- liked being ableto have portuguese, thai, russian, etc delivered to my door until 2am. Nice to have space so we each have our own large closets. Do not feel we have as active a social life here. With no kids, hard to meet people to just grab a drink with or get a bite last minute. If I hadn't been transferred to a job in Basking Ridge, NJ, I would have stayed in the city in my apartment. But if you are set on a move to the suburbs, this is about as good as it gets. Just my opinion. |
connied76
Citizen
Username: Connied76
Post Number: 25
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 2:43 pm: |
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Also, to get a feel for the town and see the people, I would sit down somewhere and have lunch and people watch. Try St James gate for a pint and some good pub food. It might give a different feel than sitting in the park. Another recommendation: I would walk to South Orange and take the train back from there so you get a full sense of the area. Spend some time in Maplewood and then walk along the main street in town (Maplewood Ave) to the right if you have just come up from the train. Walk down that street (the name changes to Walton and then S Ridgewood). When you come to South orange Ave (large intersection) make a right and walk into SO town. The train station is right ther ein center of town for your trip back to NYC. The walk is about 1 1/2 miles and will give you a nice sense of some of the homes along the way as well as both towns. |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1799
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 2:52 pm: |
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sarah,
I was also going to recommend Crane's and a lunch in the park. The train station is situated right between town and Memorial Park, so you should be able to get your bearings pretty quickly.
Sometimes it seems like Maplewood is made up entirely of people in your current and soon-to-be demographic, so you should feel very comfortable.
Good luck. |
sarah jones
Citizen
Username: Cgilbert1
Post Number: 3
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 3:06 pm: |
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Thank you all - I feel much better about things I'm looking forward to checking things out! |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2101
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 3:06 pm: |
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SJ, I would say that it's a give and take. You lose quite a few freedoms moving out of the city, but you gain quite a few new ones that you didn't have before.
So it's mostly a question of what are your priorities. If you are looking for a place where you can have a car, feel safe to raise kids, have a yard to relax in and play with your pet/kids in a pretty chill environment filled with people in a similar age range as you (trying to do the same things as you) then Maplewood probably can't be beat. Especially when you compare the price and easy commute into the city (our town jitney + half hour NJ Transit train). |
sarah jones
Citizen
Username: Cgilbert1
Post Number: 4
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 3:07 pm: |
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What are some of your favorite places to hang out? |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2103
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 3:49 pm: |
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Well this is the suburbs. Most people who move out here are looking to raise families and the ones that do, have much less time to hang.
I can tell you where some of the places you COULD hang, but I don't do tons of this myself. In the Village there is Saint James Gate (your typical Irish Pub with local music). Because of it's location in town it's VERY popular. Recently Heres to the Arts got a liquor license. They have entertainment (usually local bands) most nights and are also downtown. You would certainly meet people if you hung out here. Also a cafe with great coffee and desserts. Other than that, you have mostly restaurants some with liquor licenses.
South Orange has a slightly more active night life partially because their downtown is in walking distance to Seton Hall. Bunnys a local bar/pizzeria is behind the S.O. train station which gets some college student traffic and A LOT of MOL users hang here). Resevoir is a competitor to Bunny's and oddly enough it is like a block away from it. There is the Gaslight Brewery which is a brew pub that sometimes has local bands, and is pretty popular with the college crowd. There is The Goat which is similar to Heres to the Arts. No liquor license but entertainment every night, and a very cozy environment to hang for extended periods of time with good coffee and book or be entertained. There is a nicer restaurant called Voro that opened up recently that has a cool environment and nice bar which I imagine would be a great place to hang out and drink. Cryans Beef & Ale House (which I've never been to actually but I think it's akin to St. James Gate) is also close to the
That would be my shortlist. There are a few more divey bars if your into that sort of thing, and few restaurants that I left off, most notably Cent'Anni, Village Cellar Restaurant and Toro Loco. |
sarah jones
Citizen
Username: Cgilbert1
Post Number: 5
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 5:05 pm: |
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Thank you. You all seem so nice - great sign for the neighborhood
Best ~ |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1687
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 5:23 pm: |
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Sarah - It does depend on what you're looking for, but this is a great area that I think you'd be comforable in. We don't have kids, and move here about 5 years ago when I was in the ballpark of your age and I've found it to be a great place. Nice people, quaint town, great restaurants/shops, nice parks, etc.
One other thing I love about Maplewood actually has to do with its proximity to other neighborhoods. It feels kind of "central" to me because it's easy to take advantage of what other surrounding towns have to offer too. Millburn, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, etc. - they're all great towns only steps away. It really expands options/convenience.
Enjoy your lunch and stroll about town. You should have nice weather for it.
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Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4492
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 5:37 pm: |
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Before Cranes, when we were fresh home from our honeymoon, my husband and I would come in really early and enjoy bkfst at the Maple Leaf...it was so cheap! They used to have a special 1 egg omelette with cheese and pancakes for maybe $1.25 or $2.25! Then we'd look at lots of houses, and often stop in to Roman Gourmet for a slice. (We didn't know about Arturo's or Trattoria!) This was, gulp!, eleven years ago and we love it here still (though our house has become too small with three kids). It's a great place to live! |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1209
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 8:01 pm: |
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Sarah,
2 Houses are for sale near ours. One's on Elmwood Ave., 2 in from Oakland Terr and on Suffolk, 2 in from Elmwood Avenue. One is $649K and one $519. Both have large fenced in back yards. You should check both out! We have the Parker Jitney in the morning and evening to & from the Maplewood train station. It's an 18 min. walk mostly down hill from our neighborhood. You can walk on nice days and get some excercise doing so. If working with a realtor, MAKE them give you the 2006 taxes on the properties you look at. Some will show you last years 2005 taxes, and when you move in, SUPRISE you have $1000 more to pay in taxes than you expected!
We've been here 7 years and love it. Both of us work in NYC, and the commute is not that bad! It's mostly 30 min into Penn Station or Hoboken. Our FAVE place to eat in Maplewood is the Village Trattoria on Inwood. Lunch or Dinner, you can't get a bad meal there! We also eat breakfast sometimes at the Mapleleaf in town.
Happy House Hunting!
Maplewoody 
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annabanana
Citizen
Username: Banana
Post Number: 21
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 10:35 pm: |
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Maybe we should have a "30s no kids" group- seems like we're all having a little trouble meeting locals. I've been here 2 years and Love It here, but still don't know too many people around town - maybe it's b/c we're all spending social time in the city?
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sarah jones
Citizen
Username: Cgilbert1
Post Number: 6
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 11:12 pm: |
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You guys are great! and I love the idea of "30's no kids group" It really is making me feel better about my eventual detachment from the city. We plan to actually house hunt in September ( due to lease obligations) and have been doing the area hunt now.. but let me say, from all your posts, I have put Maplewood # 1 on our list! Thanks again, and please continue to post! |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 5139
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 12:05 am: |
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Also make sure you visit the neighborhods you're considering. There sre major differences between some of them. An area on the rise is the Hilton area of town. You can a lot of house in that area for your money. You're cose to a park, shopping, a library. But the train os a distance. I'm pretty sure there is a jitney there.
South Orange is another good place to look. Both towns share the school system. There are at least a 1/2 dozen houses for sale less then a block from Marshall school. You have Grove Park within walking distance, shopping, and a jitney to the train. |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 228
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 7:24 am: |
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You might also try Millburn right next door. There are many houses for sale, also great proximity to everything, taxes a bit lower, excellent schools. You can PL me and I will give you other tidbits about Millburn. Hey, I feel left out. Why not a club for 50's with no kids. In 22 years I've met hardly anyone except through my volunteer work. If you don't have kids you're treated like you have cooties. |
Smoochie
Citizen
Username: Smoochie
Post Number: 69
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 7:59 am: |
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Hey, How about a couples w/o kids club. 30's, 40's, and 50's. Or no age brackets. Just for socializing without talk of diapers and homework!! |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1236
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 9:42 am: |
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Or how about a club for seniors where they don't treat you as if you're senile and you aren't given stupid little crafts or card games or "projects" to do! And where they don't call you seniors! |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1691
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:02 am: |
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I'm lovin the couples with no kids club idea. Finally - a group of people who wouldn't keep trying to convince me that I'll change my mind one day and want kids.... |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2108
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:11 am: |
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Oddly enough the Jitney that services the Hilton area is called the Hilton Jitney. 
Milburn is great...if you can afford it. West Orange is also worth considering if you are on a budget. It has a fair amount of stock of homes in the less then $500K range. The school system is good there, taxes are not outrageous, but it does tend to lack most of the character and fun/funky community feel of much of the SO/M area, I feel. Recently there has been a great diaspora of MOL members no longer forced to take care of children who move out to WO in search of smaller homes with cheaper taxes. Or so I hear. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14412
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:40 am: |
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How about a group of people who wish they didn't have kids!? OK, it's just been one of those tough weeks.
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Spare_o
Supporter
Username: Spare_o
Post Number: 410
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:54 am: |
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LilLB--I'm with you on that. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1118
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 1:55 pm: |
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Sarah, my wife & I moved to Mwood in our early 30's from Jersey City @ the time we both worked in the City. We had no kids then & still don't, we're both 47 & love living in Mwood . You could look further out or north or south , but you won't find a nicer place to live for to many reasons to list. |
sarah jones
Citizen
Username: Cgilbert1
Post Number: 7
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 3:46 pm: |
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Thanks Jet.. people have been suggesting Millburn as well.. aside from more expensive homes, what do you think the main differences are and why is maplewood better? |
annabanana
Citizen
Username: Banana
Post Number: 22
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 3:48 pm: |
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OK, so where/when should the inaugural meeting occur? I suggest a school night! ;)
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14429
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:00 pm: |
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Sarah, Millburn has its pluses, for sure. The shopping is probably better, but it's not far between the two towns.
Ethnically, Millburn is white and Asian. Maplewood is diverse. You won't find a significant number of "affected minorities" in Millburn schools. You get to decide if that's good or bad.
There is also a bigger diversity of incomes in Maplewood. You get to decide if that's good or bad.
The property tax rate is lower in Millburn, so if you can afford the mortgage, you'll have an easier time affording the property taxes.
And pretty much everything one can say about Maplewood is true of South Orange, too, another neighbor of Maplewood. South Orange were once one town. We still "feel" like one town in many ways. The state has mandated that we keep the school district as one, and many kids cross the town line to go to school. Together, we have one high school, serving both towns entirely.
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KRNL
Citizen
Username: Krnl
Post Number: 61
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 6:31 pm: |
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If you want to take a break and review your notes, lists of houses you've seen, etc. Mapleleaf diner would get my vote as a great place to have lunch. When we happen to catch lunch there on a weekend, we frequently chat (or see others chatting) with folks checking out the area's real estate. Prices won't break your bank either. |
Nancy - LibraryLady
Supporter
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 3479
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 6:45 pm: |
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If you are considering Maplewood/South Orange,(That's basically how we refer to it around here!), you should check out http://twotowns.org/ and take their town tour to get an overview of the communities.
Make sure you stop into the South Orange Library and say hi! The Village diner just opened this week and early reviews are good.Enjot the house hunt.
nanch |
Spare_o
Supporter
Username: Spare_o
Post Number: 411
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 2:38 pm: |
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I'm in for the inaugural meeting of MSONK (Maplewood South Orange No Kids) group. I'm sure there's a catchier name than that but I am (obviously) not a pro when it comes to branding or marketing. Where and when?
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jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1119
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 3:49 pm: |
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Sarah , the differences between Millburn & Mwood are palatable the minute you cross the border . The traffic sucks , the cops are more like storm troopers & economic competition is rampant. Millburn/Shorthills does have it's attractions , great liquor store , resturants & a sandwich shop . One of the busiest places in Millburn is the tanning salon. But thats just one man's observation & one who doesn't worry about schools. |
sarah jones
Citizen
Username: Cgilbert1
Post Number: 8
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:31 am: |
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Thanks for all the info! |
sarah jones
Citizen
Username: Cgilbert1
Post Number: 9
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:39 am: |
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What are your opinions on Montclair and how do you think its different/ same as maplewood.. they always seem to be doing fun things in that area. Just wondering. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 1124
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:08 am: |
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Can't really help you with Monclair , I just never really have a reason to go out in Montclair. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2145
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 1:34 pm: |
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Montclair is nice. Lots of great restaurants. There is a distinction between upper and lower Montclair. Upper is upper upper crusty and expensive, and Lower can be also quite expensive but you might find some cheaper homes in some crummier neighborhoods in the less attractive parts of town (much of which borders Bloomfield Ave). It's much more bustley then Maplewood I would say with more stuff happening. I've never heard ANYTHING about their school system though. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14487
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 3:12 pm: |
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It's very similar, from what I gather. Except they don't have Maplewood Online.  And the house prices are higher. We looked three years ago here in South Orange/Maplewood (often known as SOM) and Montclair. Our search in Montclair ended quickly because equivalent houses in equivalent neighborhoods in Montlclair were about $100,000 more than in SOM. And a Montclair realtor said the same thing.
Also, the train to Montclair doesn't run on weekends, which could matter a lot.
Some things in its favor: Montclair has more good restaurants and a great book store. It has two or three really good movie theaters and a real old fashioned hardware store.
Ethnic and economic mixes are essentially the same. Someone recently posted an article saying that SOM and Montclair are really the only three diverse towns in NJ.
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LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1728
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 3:18 pm: |
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I lived in Montclair before coming to Maplewood (although we weren't homeowners there). Montclair is truly a gem of a town and has a lot to offer. But, as Tom mentions, the home prices tend to be higher and their taxes aren't any lower than ours here. I think (generally) you get a little more for your money in SOM. But, if I were you, I'd take a look there anyway and do the comparison yourself. I'm sure it's only a matter of time (at least I would hope) before they have train service on the weekends. The Midtown direct line there just went in about a year or so ago. |
sarah jones
Citizen
Username: Cgilbert1
Post Number: 10
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 10:47 am: |
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Hi All,
So grabbed lunch at Crane's and ate it in the park. It was wonderful, the lunch was delicious and the park was a nice retreat from the city. Thank you for all your recommendatins. The town is very cute. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2153
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 1:40 pm: |
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I'm glad you liked it. I stopped in Cranes twice this weekend and even drove some friends around town to show off what our town has got. I sorta felt like a realtor myself. My friends were amazed at what they could buy for their money. They are looking at a teeny tiny 2 bedroom in a less than desirable part of Brooklyn for the same amount of money we spent on our place in Maplewood. A real eye opener for them I think. |
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