Midwesterners' Guide -- Required Reading

Required Reading

Along with the many websites I've linked to, there are some books and magazines that I rely on to learn more about New Jersey and New York, and the incredible number of events going on here.

North Jersey

The Star-Ledger -- This is Newark's newspaper, and it's one of the best I've seen for readability. For people moving into the area, it's a must-read. It offers a terrific mix of serious news coverage and features, and it's clear the staff loves New Jersey. The Friday edition includes the Ticket, an entertainment tabloid, that's indispensible for finding out what's going on in Jersey. (It also has some of the best, most scathing movie reviews I've ever read.) The Star-Ledger provides extensive coverage of North and Central Jersey, as well as state government issues. (It doesn't cover Bergen County much, and it provides only cursory coverage of most national and international news events. But, hey -- that's what we have the New York Times for.) The Star-Ledger is a content provider for the New Jersey Online website.

For subscription information, call 1-888-453-3437, or write to the newspaper at 1 Star-Ledger Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102-1200.

New Jersey Monthly magazine -- For me, this isn't a must-read, but it can be useful, and sometimes it provides interesting insights into what makes New Jersey tick. I haven't felt compelled to get a subscription, but I probably buy it every other month, on the average. This is the place to find articles with titles like "The 10 Most Beautiful Places in New Jersey." It also has some Metropolitan Living content that strikes me as slightly snooty and not very useful for those of us whose incomes are a mere five figures before the decimal. The magazine also has some snappy short bits, like you'd expect to see in, say, Buzz, which makes for a fairly uneven read. New Jersey Monthly has listings which seem especially good for festivals and family-oriented activities.

A one-year subscription (as of May 1997) is $12. For subscription information, call 1-800-327-2777 or write to New Jersey Monthly, Subscription Department, P.O.Box 5479, Harlan, IA 51593-0979.

New Jersey Day Trips -- This book by Barbara Hudgins is considered a bible by many Jerseyans and has plenty of good information about historical sites, theme parks, museums, gardens, wineries, flea markets -- you get the picture. The book covers all of New Jersey and nearby areas in neighboring states. In my somewhat limited experience, it's highly accurate (it was revised in 1995), and the author has a slightly old-timey writing style that's charming. If you can't get it through your local bookseller, you can order it directly from the publisher, the Woodmont Press, P.O. Box 108, Green Village, N.J., 07935. The cost is $12.95 plus $2 shipping.

Extra-credit recommendations

The Jersey Devil -- Scotland has Nessie, and the Himalayas have the yeti. New Jersey has the Jersey Devil. A creature that's been sighted since the 1730s, the Jersey Devil has been blamed for eating children and pets and lesser transgressions. Its home is said to be in the Pine Barrens of South Jersey, and it's been seen throughout South Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. (Sightings in North Jersey have been thankfully few.) For an interesting history of this creature, read The Jersey Devil by James F. McCloy and Ray Miller, Jr. (published by the Middle Atlantic Press, Wilmington, Del.) New Jersey Online also has some information about the Jersey Devil to whet your appetite. So to speak.

When Dinosaurs Roamed New Jersey -- I've just found this book by William B. Gallagher, the registrar of natural history at the New Jersey State Museum, and it looks terrific -- detailed scientific info, seriously handled, but written in accessible language. In other words, it looks like the perfect book for dinogeeks like me. Among the fun facts in this book: The first dinosaur fossil in America was found in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in 1787, and the first reasonably complete dinosaur skeleton uncovered anywhere in the world was found in Camden County, New Jersey, near Philadelphia in 1858. When Dinosaurs Roamed New Jersey is published by Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, N.J.

New York

Time Out New York magazine -- I cannot live without this magazine. It's got the most comprehensive listings I've seen for events in (and near) New York City, and it's not incredibly Manhattan-centric.It's got snappy articles and it just loves the part of the city I like most. TONY runs to 140 pages every week, and two-thirds of it is listings. I definitely subscribe to this one. It appears the web site is still under development. That's OK -- go for the paper copy; it'll fit in your backpack nicely, along with your subway map and big bottle of water. Incidentally, TONY publishes my favorite NYC guide book, as well.

A one-year subscription (as of June 1997) is $39.95. For information, call 1-800-GET-TONY.

New York magazine -- This magazine is a little upmarket of Time Out New York, but not too attitude laden. Like New Jersey Monthly, I could live without this magazine, but its cover stories frequently suck me in. And the first, and best, article I can recall reading about the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat was in New York magazine several years ago. And so was a terrific article about Montclair, N.J., last year. Come to think of it, I love this magazine more than I realized. It's weekly, article-oriented, but with some listings. Time Out New York's listings are better, though New York offers several pages of minimalist restaurant listings that some might find helpful. (TONY's restaurant pages carry a few shortish, but useful reviews every week.) Buy this magazine for the articles.

A one-year subscription (as of June 1997) is $29.50. For subscription information, call 1-800-678-0900, or write to Joseph Oliver, New York Magazine, Subscription Department, Box 54661, Boulder, CO 80328-4661.

The New York Times -- The newspaper of record in the United States. Many people fault its coverage for a variety of reasons, but to me it's an amazement and just short of a national treasure. The Sunday Times is a particular treat, but it's so huge, I rarely buy it unless I know I'm going to be home all day. The Times has no comics, but it has twice as much of everything else. The web site's not bad, either. It's still free, though you have to register the first time you use it. Listings for high culture activities are extremely good; pop culture listings, not so good. but that's why we have TONY.

The Village Voice -- I've always liked the Village Voice because you don't have to wonder what biases the reporters are bringing to their subjects -- they're perfectly happy to tell you. The Village Voice covers social issues with an intensity seldom seen in other papers, and a lot of issues that get little attention in the dailies are covered here. Guilty confession: I subscribed to the Village Voice for years when I lived in the Midwest, and every week I'd turn right to Michael Musto's gossip column. Then I'd read the cartoons. Then I'd turn to the back and drool over the pages and pages of music listings. Sometime later in the week I'd get around to reading the serious stuff. The Village Voice is free in Manhattan, but $1.25 in the rest of the metropolitan area and two bucks everywhere else. The listings are good (but I prefer ... TONY). Worth the price of a subscription if you're a leftist with good cash flow.

A one-year subscription (as of June 1997) is $53. For subscription information, call 1-800-875-2997 between 9 and 5, Monday through Friday, or write to Village Voice, Box 3000, Denville, NJ 07834-3000.

back to North Jersey

Oh, I suppose this material is ©1997 Shewi.
Most recently updated: 11 July 1997.

	Required Reading
	Along with the many websites I've linked to, there are some books and magazines that I rely on to learn more about New Jersey and New York, and the incredible number of events going on here. North Jersey The Star-Ledger -- This is Newark's newspaper, and it's one of the best I've seen for readability. For people moving into the area, it's a must-read. It offers a terrific mix of serious news coverage and features, and it's clear the staff loves New Jersey. The Friday edition includes the Ticket, an entertainment tabloid, that's indispensible for finding out what's going on in Jersey. (It also has some of the best, most scathing movie reviews I've ever read.) The Star-Ledger provides extensive coverage of North and Central Jersey, as well as state government issues. (It doesn't cover Bergen County much, and it provides only cursory coverage of most national and international news events. But, hey -- that's what we have the New York Times for.) The Star-Ledger is a content provider for the New Jersey Online website. For subscription information, call 1-888-453-3437, or write to the newspaper at 1 Star-Ledger Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102-1200. New Jersey Monthly magazine -- For me, this isn't a must-read, but it can be useful, and sometimes it provides interesting insights into what makes New Jersey tick. I haven't felt compelled to get a subscription, but I probably buy it every other month, on the average. This is the place to find articles with titles like "The 10 Most Beautiful Places in New Jersey." It also has some Metropolitan Living content that strikes me as slightly snooty and not very useful for those of us whose incomes are a mere five figures before the decimal. The magazine also has some snappy short bits, like you'd expect to see in, say, Buzz, which makes for a fairly uneven read. New Jersey Monthly has listings which seem especially good for festivals and family-oriented activities. A one-year subscription (as of May 1997) is $12. For subscription information, call 1-800-327-2777 or write to New Jersey Monthly, Subscription Department, P.O.Box 5479, Harlan, IA 51593-0979. *New Jersey Day Trips* -- This book by Barbara Hudgins is considered a bible by many Jerseyans and has plenty of good information about historical sites, theme parks, museums, gardens, wineries, flea markets -- you get the picture. The book covers all of New Jersey and nearby areas in neighboring states. In my somewhat limited experience, it's highly accurate (it was revised in 1995), and the author has a slightly old-timey writing style that's charming. If you can't get it through your local bookseller, you can order it directly from the publisher, the Woodmont Press, P.O. Box 108, Green Village, N.J., 07935. The cost is $12.95 plus $2 shipping. Extra-credit recommendations *The Jersey Devil* -- Scotland has Nessie, and the Himalayas have the yeti. New Jersey has the Jersey Devil. A creature that's been sighted since the 1730s, the Jersey Devil has been blamed for eating children and pets and lesser transgressions. Its home is said to be in the Pine Barrens of South Jersey, and it's been seen throughout South Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. (Sightings in North Jersey have been thankfully few.) For an interesting history of this creature, read The Jersey Devil by James F. McCloy and Ray Miller, Jr. (published by the Middle Atlantic Press, Wilmington, Del.) New Jersey Online also has some information about the Jersey Devil to whet your appetite. So to speak. *When Dinosaurs Roamed New Jersey* -- I've just found this book by William B. Gallagher, the registrar of natural history at the New Jersey State Museum, and it looks terrific -- detailed scientific info, seriously handled, but written in accessible language. In other words, it looks like the perfect book for dinogeeks like me. Among the fun facts in this book: The first dinosaur fossil in America was found in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in 1787, and the first reasonably complete dinosaur skeleton uncovered anywhere in the world was found in Camden County, New Jersey, near Philadelphia in 1858. When Dinosaurs Roamed New Jersey is published by Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, N.J. New York Time Out New York magazine -- I cannot live without this magazine. It's got the most comprehensive listings I've seen for events in (and near) New York City, and it's not incredibly Manhattan-centric.It's got snappy articles and it just loves the part of the city I like most. TONY runs to 140 pages every week, and two-thirds of it is listings. I definitely subscribe to this one. It appears the web site is still under development. That's OK -- go for the paper copy; it'll fit in your backpack nicely, along with your subway map and big bottle of water. Incidentally, TONY publishes my favorite NYC guide book, as well. A one-year subscription (as of June 1997) is $39.95. For information, call 1-800-GET-TONY. New York magazine -- This magazine is a little upmarket of Time Out New York, but not too attitude laden. Like New Jersey Monthly, I could live without this magazine, but its cover stories frequently suck me in. And the first, and best, article I can recall reading about the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat was in New York magazine several years ago. And so was a terrific article about Montclair, N.J., last year. Come to think of it, I love this magazine more than I realized. It's weekly, article-oriented, but with some listings. Time Out New York's listings are better, though New York offers several pages of minimalist restaurant listings that some might find helpful. (TONY's restaurant pages carry a few shortish, but useful reviews every week.) Buy this magazine for the articles. A one-year subscription (as of June 1997) is $29.50. For subscription information, call 1-800-678-0900, or write to Joseph Oliver, New York Magazine, Subscription Department, Box 54661, Boulder, CO 80328-4661. The New York Times -- The newspaper of record in the United States. Many people fault its coverage for a variety of reasons, but to me it's an amazement and just short of a national treasure. The Sunday Times is a particular treat, but it's so huge, I rarely buy it unless I know I'm going to be home all day. The Times has no comics, but it has twice as much of everything else. The web site's not bad, either. It's still free, though you have to register the first time you use it. Listings for high culture activities are extremely good; pop culture listings, not so good. but that's why we have TONY. The Village Voice -- I've always liked the Village Voice because you don't have to wonder what biases the reporters are bringing to their subjects -- they're perfectly happy to tell you. The Village Voice covers social issues with an intensity seldom seen in other papers, and a lot of issues that get little attention in the dailies are covered here. Guilty confession: I subscribed to the Village Voice for years when I lived in the Midwest, and every week I'd turn right to Michael Musto's gossip column. Then I'd read the cartoons. Then I'd turn to the back and drool over the pages and pages of music listings. Sometime later in the week I'd get around to reading the serious stuff. The Village Voice is free in Manhattan, but $1.25 in the rest of the metropolitan area and two bucks everywhere else. The listings are good (but I prefer ... TONY). Worth the price of a subscription if you're a leftist with good cash flow. A one-year subscription (as of June 1997) is $53. For subscription information, call 1-800-875-2997 between 9 and 5, Monday through Friday, or write to Village Voice, Box 3000, Denville, NJ 07834-3000.
	back to North Jersey
	Oh, I suppose this material is ©1997 Shewi. Most recently updated: 11 July 1997.