| Author | Message | ||
     Washashore Citizen Username: Washashore Post Number: 34 Registered: 4-2003 |
Mr. Rosner: You say "Unfortunately, there is no way to speed up the proces." Unfortunately, you are incorrect. NJ TRANSIT is a bureauocracy that responds like most other bureaucracies - if you make enough noise, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. So, instead of letting the new creamery deal with NJ TRANSIT and its inspection timetable by itself, Village Hall could have gotten on the phone, and demanded swifter inspection action. There should be no more "unfortunately"s where small businesses are trying to establish themselves in South Orange, and big bureaucracices want to diddle away the time. That's one reason why we have a Village Hall and, one might think, a Village Administrator, to help expedite such things. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 485 Registered: 4-2002 |
Washashore: The village told them how to proceed back in April and again in May in getting permits from the State. They chose to proceed using advice they had received from others. Unfortunately the shortcut they were hoping to acheive did not work. We tried to help and they chose not to accept (We discussed the permit process at the planning and zoning meetings last April and again in June so I know that we reached out to do whatever we could to expedite the process). They now say they will be open by the end of July. Any opening dates that have been mentioned have come from the creamery owners and I have only been passing on that information. | ||
| jrf Citizen Username: Jrf Post Number: 333 Registered: 5-2001  |
Perhaps we should change the village motto: "Welcome to South Orange.... Home of Seton Hall University and the "Coming Soon" sign. | ||
| woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 211 Registered: 9-2002  |
There are plenty of things to be critical of our town government for. However I don't see it as their fault that a private enterprise underestimated the time it would take to get everything squared away before opening, particularly of the town provided advise and they ignored it. I think we're all bozos on this bus. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 488 Registered: 4-2002 |
The Dancing Goat Cafe has opened (where Village kids used to be) at the corner of S. Orange Ave and Vose Ave. They have sandwiches, desserts, coffee and live music there some nights. The owner did a great job renovating the place and it is worth stopping by. | ||
| aneighbor Citizen Username: Aneighbor Post Number: 21 Registered: 8-2001 |
We were at the Dancing Goat this past weekend for lunch and are happy to say we were very pleased. Food was good, atmosphere was great and staff was friendly. It's going to be a great place for everyone from families (there's toys for children to play with at the tables)to couples going for an evening out (nice relaxing couches in the back). Hopefully the Gaslight will learn something from them. After my own experiences there and those I've read from others on the forum about there lack of family friendly service and rudeness, they need to rethink their services. | ||
| NCJanow Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 872 Registered: 5-2001 |
Almost forgot to post about how pleased I was with The Dancing Goat. Went for lunch yesterday, friendly staff, wonderful ambiance, and delicious food.(albeit a bit pricey,but well worth it)> Met Carla, one of the owners I believe and she couldn't have been nicer. There will be a art gallery opening there on Thursday fro 9pm-midnight. I'm gonna try and be there. Just what SOUTH ORANGE NEEDS. NCJ aka LL- Any and all posts are my personal opinions, not as an employee of the South Orange Public Library. | ||
| Eric DeVaris Citizen Username: Eric_devaris Post Number: 25 Registered: 2-2003 |
My wife and I were at the Dancing Goat on its celebratory opening night on July 4, after the fireworks. We loved its sophisticated decor, its warm atmosphere, the music, the singing, the tap dancer, the crowd. We are looking forward to return there and taste their menu. I recommend it. It is indeed what South Orange needed. Go. Eric | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 1032 Registered: 5-2001  |
Back to ice cream: Ed Levine, NYT food writer, in an article on "NYC's Best Ice Cream": "... many others vie for the crown. The latest retail parlor to try is the Colorado-based Coldstone Creamery, which recently opened its first New York branch on 42nd Street off Times Square with the goal of becoming the Starbucks of ice cream. It has a way to go: my sweet cream and vanilla with caramel and hot fudge sauces proved to be extremely rich, though with very little character or, ultimately, taste." So please folks, don't expect all that much from the new place on Sloan Street. It'll be what it'll be. It's only a franchise. But at least it's on the same block as Starbuck's... --The Oracle of MOL BTW: Ed Levine & Jeffrey Steingarten's food & restaurant show on Metro TV was a big hit here in the cave. Too bad it's gone. Like Gruning's... | ||
| Elizabeth Citizen Username: Elizabeth Post Number: 197 Registered: 7-2002 |
Yo, SOLers-- Why don't you post your praise of Dancing Goat in Arts and Entertainment instead of SO specific? "Two towns--one community in search of good food." (as a Southorangian I never read "Maplewood only" threads--so I assume many Maplewoodians skip "SO specific") | ||
| Johnny Ace Citizen Username: Fairviewave Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2003 |
Listen, any ice cream would be better than the Carvel. My wife is a devotee of soft ice cream, but theirs is barely frozen. Cold Stone cannot be worse. And we liked the Dancing Goat as well. I hope people support that place. They have the right idea. | ||
| ReallyTrying Citizen Username: Reallytrying Post Number: 104 Registered: 1-2003 |
FWIW: My daughter has been hired as a waitress (waitperson?) at Cold Stone, and is anxiously awaiting her start date. Most recent word is that it will open in early August. She says the owners said they had a lotof trouble and delays with the permit / construction approval processes. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 519 Registered: 4-2002 |
The owners stated they are looking to open on 8/6/03. I am looking forward to going there. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 328 Registered: 5-2001 |
So...does anyone know if this place actually opened/will open today? Also, any ETA on food at the South Orange Grille and the opening of the Fish Market/Restaurant? | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 540 Registered: 4-2002 |
Mayhewdrive: It is hard to believe, but it did not open yet and they now say they are still two weeks away. It is almost as if they wanted to avoid the summer rush. The S. Orange Grille is not serving food and I have given up asking them when or why. I was in the restaurant business and opened three restaurants from scratch. They have everything in place to start serving (and have for weeks) food. I guess they do not want to get their beautiful new kitchen dirty. The fish market/restaurant is trying for a September opening. I see them working and what once looked like a longshot to be the first of the three to open is now looking like the favorite. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 330 Registered: 5-2001 |
Thanks, Mark. Well, certainly not what I was hoping to hear, but I do appreciate the update. | ||
| gozerbrown Citizen Username: Gozerbrown Post Number: 175 Registered: 3-2002 |
It's amazing how quickly the Dancing Goat opened as compared to this ice cream place. They didn't waste any time! | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 541 Registered: 4-2002 |
The S. Orange Grille started serving food last night with a very limited menu. The Cold Stone Creamery confirmed last night that August 20th is now his target date. | ||
| patjoyce Citizen Username: Patjoyce Post Number: 14 Registered: 7-2001 |
While on vacation in California my family stopped at a Stone Cold Creamery to check out the merchandise. (This was strictly a research project). 1. The line was out the door. 2. Efficient service. 3. The "stone cold" in the name comes from the fact that they put the ice cream on a cold slab of countertop where they then put in the mixins, ala Steve's in Cambridge. 4. The variety of sundaes and toppings is outstanding. 5. The quality of the ice cream received mixed reviews. | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 1065 Registered: 5-2001 |
Wouldn't it have been nice last evening to see the Cold Stone Creamery packed with appreciative commuters, their families, theatergoers, house-shopping out-of-towners, curious locals, droves of Seton Hall and Columbia High students, and one very thirsty oracle. --The Oracle of MOL BTW: I see it coming. But the coffee ice cream had better be stellar. |
