Newark—the state’s largest city, has made room for an urban farm.

In a most unlikely place, at the corner of Washington and Spruce Streets -across from Lincoln Park- there’s a Jersey Fresh garden with accompanying farm stand.

It’s all thanks to the grassroots efforts of avid gardener Lorraine Gibbons, the owner and manager of Brick City Urban Farms www.brickcityfarms.com, a mostly volunteer group dedicated to bringing fresh produce to Newark residents who may not have easy access to such foods.  Not to mention the constant stream of local school children, who help out and learn valuable life skills working a farm.

While a growing number of Farmers’ Markets are popping up in the city, what sets this one apart is that the produce is all grown right here – on about a half acre fenced-in site that was once a plot of weeds and garbage.  Now, lush vegetables and flowers vie for the sun in the midst of the brick buildings, concrete walls and asphalt streets.

In its second year, this urban garden is one of the first in En Jay to use SPIN www.spinfarming.com and Earthbox technologies www.earthbox.com.

Lorraine educated us, “SPIN stands for Small Plot Intensive farming techniques which enable us to grow a lot of produce in a small space.  The specially designed sub irrigation Earthboxes are perfect for urban settings like this one where you do not have the right soil to cultivate.  They come complete with all that you need.  And the best part is - they are portable.”

We learned that’s important since Brick City Urban Farms is borrowing this site from the Lincoln Park Cultural District www.lpccd.org.  “If LPCD sells the property and we need to move, we can easily pick up the boxes and place them on another site.”
More than a dozen visitors a day enjoy all sorts of seasonal produce.  “We love to see the kids come and eat vegetables straight from the plant.”  Tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, lettuce, kale, collards and all sorts of vegetables, herbs and flowers are coming available.

The Farm has also become a favorite for local restaurants including Hell’s Kitchen in Newark, Arturo’s Pizzeria in Maplewood and even Gramercy Tavern in Manhattan.

All profits go back into running and maintaining the farm.  Lorraine said they also ”pay it forward” by  hosting other towns interested in starting garden programs, supporting local food banks and providing Earthboxes for local schools to help children build their own community farm.

Brick City Urban Farm Stand Hours:
Tuesdays and Thursdays - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesdays - 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturdays - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

NJMYWAY frequent contributor Pamela J. Principe-Golgolab of PNA Associates Inc.

Atlantic City celebrates two of our favorite things; food and wine. The city’s Food and Wine Festival (www.harrahs.com/acfoodandwine) all weekend—and there is way too much to list here except to say you will not be bored for a second—and you will come home well feted.

If you get into town early, try to grab a stray ticket for Katy Perry at The Borgata (www.theborgata.com ) tonight.

Antiques and classic cars… you can see plenty of both at Sunday’s Classic Car Show at Old Lafayette Village (www.lafayettevillageshops.com). Looking for a place to sit a spell? Do not miss the huge frosted cupcakes made daily at Everything Homemade (www.everythinghomemade.com).

At the Newark Museum, (www.newarkmuseum.org) known for imaginative exhibits, join the party at Party Time Re-Imagine America a recreation of a turn of the century dinner party complete with an elaborate table setting, headless dinner guests, servants.

At the Morris Museum’s Bickford Theatre (www.morrismuseum.org) you can screen My Fair Lady on Saturday night, at 8pm. It’s part of the Oscar’s Best series.

First taste of fall: Big back-to-school sales all weekend at the Chelsea Premium Outlets. They’re in Jackson, Tinton Falls, and Flemington (www.premiumoutlets.com).

They’re taking it to the streets all weekend in Haddonfield, with the town’s big annual Sidewalk Sale (www.haddonfieldnj.org).

It’s Family Fun Day in Ridgewood (www.callusclowns.org) on Sunday afternoon as a friendly troupe of “caring” clowns leads a show of entertainment, face painting, and puppets.

Got a favorite thing to do on the weekend? Make sure you post it for everyone on www.njmyway.com or send it to us by clicking the Write The Editor link below.

Big news this week for burger lovers, in a state where building a better burger and bun is a life mission for homo carnivorous.

Joining the fabled ranks of Red Robin in Clifton and Burger Deluxe in Wayne, is the Jersey newcomer Elevation Burger (www.elevationburger.com) which opened yesterday in the Phoenix Building on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair.

The nationwide franchise uses organic beef from grass fed, free range cattle for burgers. The chain also uses non-processed cheese, and no-trans-fat olive oil to cook hand cut fries.

The Montclair location is the first Elevation Burger franchise to open in the state. As you’d expect, the company also uses environmentally friendly materials for construction of restaurants.

Here’s a foodie blog from Philly that gives the chain a once over: www.foodaphilia.com/2009/07/elevation-burger.html.

More meaty mania; we hear burger buffs are buzzing about 25 Burgers in Bound Brook (www.25gourmetburgers.com), which opened this past spring.

There’s a creative selection on the menu including a barbeque burger, a blue cheese and A-1 steak sauce combo, and the Maui burger with grilled pineapple and teriyaki sauce. The restaurant also offers turkey, chicken, bison and crab burgers.

And for atmosphere, there’s the new Sonic (www.sonicdrivein.com) on Rt. 17 in Hasbrouck Heights– the first of these popular franchises in North Jersey. It’s so busy they’ve got to assign a local traffic cop to manage the overflow cars entering this drive-in served by roller skating carhops.

The deluxe burger is doublewide like a flying saucer. Our resident 14-year-old cheeseburger gourmet gave the huge greasy patty two sonic booms for taste– the fries had potential, and he chased it all with a chocolate shake that rivaled a Wendy’s Frosty.

But it’s fun and nostalgic to get curbside service and eat in your car. An inexpensive night out, to sample the Sonic experience and the food that stops traffic.

Kids love layers, especially athletes who wear loose fitting (and face it, somewhat dowdy) track shorts for sports.

A wildly colored pair of tight fitting shorts under the baggy trunks is cool. And happily, they also help cool down the friction.

Enter Carolyn Sammarro and Stacy Sorrentino of Mountain Lakes —stay at home moms who furnished local teams and friends with customized clothing, like tee shirts.

A local team of cross country girls wanted hot pink “spandex compression shorts” to wear under the uniform. Carolyn and Stacy couldn’t find the neon clothing anywhere—Nike, Under Armour, no-one was making them.

And so, two years ago, Bskinz was born (www.bskinz.com).

Demand was so high, that Carolyn and Stacy expanded the line of colorful skin tight shorts to capris and ankle length pants. They are adding about a dozen new prints every month.

Now this good idea might lead to a fashion trend; flattering hotly patterned leggings look great under skirts or with boots. And yes, there is plenty of good stuff for athletes too—plus the clothes have customized team logos.

 "These girls have a very, very big appetite," Sammarro told the Daily Record in May. "It’s like clothes. They want it now. They want it to change. They want it to look like they have the latest. It’s really become a statement of who the girls are."

Bskinz – a neon line of skin skimming products. Wear them underneath for that extra layer of confidence, and you’ll out-shimmer the competition.

Need something new to do this summer?

Take the train to AC. Right now there’s a $29 one way fare on the new Atlantic City Express Service (www.acestrain.com).

When you get there, make sure you stay at the Water Club, (www.thewaterclubhotel.com) adjacent to The Borgata (www.theborgata.com). This relatively new, sleek and stylish hotel hot spot is still making waves as more people discover Las Vegas-like sophistication can be had in AC.

Start by soaking your stressed out soul in one of the hotel’s five pools. Then, eat at Bobby Flay Steak next door –you need to trythe signature Philly strip steak. Finish with the Baked Alaska. It’s pricey but may be the best beef ever.

Or head to the Pier at Caesars and book a candle lit booth at Buddakhan (www.buddakanac.com) where you’ll savor the roasted Ponzu Chicken with Buddha Buns.

Not a gambler or a gourmet?

Try a crab run. Beaver Dam Boat Rentals (www.crabulousnj.com) in Newport offers you the boat, the equipment, and leads you to the spot in the crab-infested Oranokin Creek to drop your traps.

Hitch a ride on the AJ Meerwald, En Jay’s original tall sailing ship will be berthed in Cape May at the end of the week. Some trips include a raw oyster bar, music, and –shiver me timbers—Jersey Pirates. (www.bayshorediscovery.org).

Or drop in at a lux boutique hotel in Long Branch. The Bungalow Hotel (www.bungalowhotel.net) features huge rooms and suites with first class artwork, flat screen tvs, access to private beach club facilities.

For supper, go to the boondocks. Sample the crabcakes that everyone is buzzing about at the Red Bank’s new unassuming restaurant Boondocks Fishery & Grill (1 Marine Park (732) 747-7177). Here’s a recent review at http://www.redbank.com/2009/06/29/move-over-mobyshere-comes-boondocks.

Tell everyone you know to subscribe to NJ My Way by entering their e-mail addresses in the box on our homepage www.njmyway.com. Everyday you’ll get plenty of info on great stuff, exclusive giveaways, and the best New Jersey has to offer!

Plenty of hot air in Jersey skies this weekend as the 27th annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning (www.balloonfestival.com) lifts off in the skies over beautiful Hunterdon County.

Red Bank merchants are moving outdoors all weekend. The town’s excellent 55th annual Sidewalk Sale (www.redbankrivercenter.org) all weekend long features street entertainment, food and drink, and of course, great shopping!

Wine and food lovers are heading to Summit for this weekend’s First Annual Wine and Food Festival (www.summitwineandfood.com). It’s full of first class chefs from throughout the tri-state region, and includes three days of tastings, samplings, and demonstrations.

Saturday, celebrate Christmas in July on the beach in North Wildwood. (www.wildwoodsnj.com) Santa hits the beach at 1pm. Stick around for the beginning of the Ultimate Frisbee Tournament later in the day, in Wildwood (www.wildwoodultimate.com).

In Ocean City, boaters light up the night with the Night in Venice boat parade starting at 8pm on Saturday night (http://www.beachwatchnj.com/ocean_city_events.htm).

The Nerds are rocking in Lake Hopatcong on Saturday night. It’s part of a Summer concert series sponsored by Jefferson Highlights Community Television (http://jeffersonhighlights.sitesvp.com/).

They’re paying Tribute To The Beatles at Jimmy’s Rock Café in Moonachie on Saturday (http://www.myspace.com/jimmysrockcafe).

For years, we wondered what mysteries lay behind the opulent ochre-and-white classical façade of Il Capriccio in Whippany (www.ilcapriccio.com). Two recent visits rewarded our curiosity with a fantasy of marble, gilding, brocade, and frescos — elegant (jackets required) yet not pretentious or stuffy.

Romantic old-world décor and formal table settings make diners feel like nobility. The menu, based on classical pan-Italian offerings, judiciously and artistically adds modern touches. Service is outstanding:  considerate and intelligent, but never obsequious.

Allow two or three hours to luxuriate in the experience. At the bar, the inventive mixologist will custom-design a cocktail. Relax at your table in solid mahogany chairs, and start with limey tuna tartare and crabmeat-stuffed brandied oysters, each $14, for a hint at how good Chef Natale Grande is with seafood.

Recommended  for taste and showmanship:  fillet of wild Mediterranean branzino boned at tableside, $30. Osso buco with saffron risotto, $35, a fabulous shank of European milk-fed veal, underseasoned, but starring the meat. The broiled veal T-bone, heartier and harmoniously offset by several kinds of mushrooms.  Off-menu luscious meatballs drenched in perfectly balanced red sauce that only your Italian grandma co uld have made.

Listen carefully to your waiter’s intelligent description of specials, selections relying on what is fresh that day. The mushroom ravioli were exceptional – rustic and creamy and obviously handmade.

Finish with a house- crafted pastry and an espresso drawn by a pro, then choose from a library of brandies and grappas. After entering your valet-delivered car, you will realize that you’ve just exited a rare and exceptional wonderland. They don’t make ’em like this anymore.

Owner Tony Grande and family also operate the well-stocked upscale shop, La Famiglia Gourmet, in Mendham at 7 West Main Street, stuffed with fresh items, Italian imports, prepared foods, and cookware.

JOEL LEVIN’s reviews of food and wine, entertainment, automobiles, and travel are distributed through New Jersey Newspaper Group. He can be reached at JL@NJNewsGroup.com.

Some people would say that Jim Barbour is a saucy kind of guy. But the West Windsor entrepreneur would take that as a compliment!

After launching his own line of all-natural barbeque sauces called FunniBonz (www.funnibonz.com) in December 2008, Barbour has been treating En Jay residents to his unique blends of sweet and tangy flavors. The inspiration behind the sauce came from Barbour’s own entrepreneurial spirit and love of cooking.

“I was always the kid at my mother’s apron strings and I have always had a curious fascination about good food,” Barbour said. “I spent a lot of time grilling out and I could not find a sauce that I really like, so I decided to make my own.”

After quitting his day job as an account manager in the city, Barbour hit the ground running with FunniBonz, literally.

Much of his initial success was from the support of local En Jay supermarkets with in-store tastings and promotions, including Whole Foods Markets.

The FunniBonz BBQ sauce is truly all-natural, made right in Barbour’s family kitchen. Its flavor and low sodium count sets it apart from the stronger vinegary varieties.

In addition to the Original and Spicy recipe, Barbour has over 30 products in his line including: new BBQ sauces, a mustard sauce, rubs, marinades and BBQ relishes. He’s also opened the full-service barbecue catering with smoker, ribs, pulled pork and all!

Barbour is hoping lots of folks will hit the sauce. Since January 2009, he’s sold 26,000 jars of FunniBonz – the food line is also being exported to Canada and Europe.

Not bad for a kitchen recipe from a Jersey sauce guy, who’d rather cook at home.

Hilary Morris contributes frequently to NJ My Way and blogs at www.mrsmonj.com

There will not be silence in many of our En Jay libraries this summer. And that’s a good thing.

When the members of Junior Jam (www.juniorjam.com) take the stage at libraries across the state, they’ll get the crowd of youngsters and toddlers singing, shouting, and jumping up on their sneakered and sandaled feet.

Junior Jam was created by Jeff Eisenberg of Somerset, a speech and language therapist. His partners are cabaret performer Elayne Kessler, a former sign language teacher and singer Adrienne Asterita, both of Manhattan.

The songs are aimed at children from pre-school to second grade, and are both entertaining and educational. The performance includes sign language, so by the end of the show the youngsters are signing and can follow lyrics with their voices and hands.

“I’ve been writing songs since I was a young child,” Jeff wrote us. “It became natural, as an adult, to tie together my songwriting talents and my experience working with
children as a speech and language therapist.”

This current tour heads to Princeton’s Public Library next Monday, they’ll be at the Edgewater Library on Tuesday and Paramus on Wednesday. Keep an eye on the group’s website for future appearances.

The goal is to reach more and more children, and eventually, stage a live interactive musical theatre.

This summer, enjoy this cool jam session –your little ones won’t be the only folks tapping their toes and raising their hands.

Got a minute? That’s all it takes to view a film at the first ever One Minute Film Festival in Atlantic Highlands (www.filmonefest.org). It all begins Saturday night with music and a party at the Marina, then at 9pm, the one minute movies—some from known filmmakers, will be viewed on an outdoor screen.

Sunday, after you hit the beach in Long Branch, party with Kevin Dillon of HBO’s Entourage at Avenue Nuit’s rooftop barbeque. $20 gets you in, and helps you rub elbows with the star (www.leclubavenue.com) .

Friday night is the annual Summer Sizzle for South Jersey singles at the Flying W Airport Resort in Medford (www.flyingwairport.com). You pay $25 for a barbeque, poolside cocktails, music and loads of free stuff. Sign up at flyingw09.eventbrite.com.

Our friends in Asbury Park are holding a huge Community Day on Saturday, with games, music food and kid’s activities. It’s all on Springwood Ave. from 11am to late afternoon.

Shopping tips: The really big anniversary sale at Nordstrom starts Friday (www.nordstrom.com).

You can also stop by the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick (www.zimmerlimuseum.rutgers.edu) for July’s huge clearance sale. You can buy handcrafted gifts and salt them away for the holidays.

Spend Saturday in the most notable gardens of Edison and Metuchen, with the Edison Arts Society fourth annual tour. This year, there is a special surprise for young children.
(www.edisonarts.org/blog/)

In Alpine on Saturday, kids can go Sea Glass Hunting beginning at 11am at the Boat Basin (njpalisades.org).

Anyone interested in flying a light plane for sport will be flocking to the Essex County Airport for this weekend’s big gathering (www.midatlanticpilots.org/Jambo.htm).

 Lifeguards from towns in more than a dozen Atlantic and Cape May Counties hit the beach tomorrow for annual swimming, rowing and paddleboard competitions. The event begins at 630pm at Albany Avenue Beach.

In Margate they’re marking Lucy The Elephant’s 128th Birthday all weekend with food, music, and of course, birthday cake (www.lucytheelephant.org).

If you’ve got a cool event, click on the Write The Editor link below and we’ll blast it out to our readers. Or head for www.njmyway.com and post it yourself. Have a great mid-summer weekend!