New Jersey
Black History Month events in North Jersey: Concerts, exhibits, film screenings and more
Biden, Harris celebrate Black History Month at White House ceremony
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke during a ceremony to celebrate Black History Month.
Scott L. Hall, USA TODAY
During February, institutions across North Jersey will celebrate Black History Month.
Within those 29 days — one extra because 2024 is a leap year — people will recognize the accomplishments of African Americans known or unheralded through a variety of events from concerts to movie screenings, museum exhibits and a formal ball and art auction.
The following events are free unless noted otherwise.
Story continues after gallery.
Bergen County
- The Fair Lawn Black Culture Festival will be held on Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Maurice M. Pine Free Public Library, 10-01 Fair Lawn Ave. The festival will feature speakers, including the town’s mayor and the assistant principal of Fair Lawn High School, along with the high school’s Step Team and a storyteller on the journeys of African Americans.
- The Bergenfield Public Library will hold its Black History Month celebration on Feb. 4 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the town library, 50 W. Clinton Ave. Storytellers Vicki Bryan and Shirley Johnson will share a collection of stories that highlight the history and accomplishments of African Americans in their “And I Still Rise” performance. Songs and African drumming and percussion will be part of the program.
- Bergen County celebrates Black History Month with an event on Feb. 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Technology Education Center at Bergen Community College, 400 Paramus Road in Paramus. It is advertised as a celebration to “highlight the impact African Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements and more.”
- The Jamaica Organization of New Jersey’s Bergen County chapter will hold its annual community Black History Month celebration on Feb. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the World of Wisdom Church, 1013 Teaneck Road in Teaneck. Admission is by donation. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite.
Essex County
- The Clairidge, the nonprofit cinema in Montclair, will celebrate Black History Month on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. with a discussion of the new book “Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras: A History of Blaxploitation Cinema.” The author, Odie Henderson, will be on hand, followed by a screening of the 1971 film “Shaft.” Tickets are available at the Clairidge website for $38 for the screening, the Q&A and a copy of the book, which Henderson will sign after the post-screening Q&A. The screening and Q&A alone cost $17.
- Black History Month Story Time at the Montclair Public Library will take place on Feb. 10 from 2 to 2:45 p.m. at the Main Library, 50 South Fullerton Ave. Native Swahili speaker Sabina Wasonga-Gitau returns with her unique Swahili Storytime. It is for children ages 5 to 12. Registration is required at the library website.
- Montclair Early Music will hold a special musical celebration of Black History Month on Feb. 10 from 3 to 4: 30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, 67 Church St. The concert, Jubilee 2024, features selections by renowned Black composers and performances by jazz pianist Michael David Cochrane, bass player Michael Logan, tenor soloist Jeremy Watson and Montclair Early Music’s new artistic director, Louisa Valentin, as a soprano soloist. Proceeds will benefit Friends of the Howe House, a Montclair nonprofit group committed to preserving the historic house of James Howe, a formerly enslaved man who was freed in 1817. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $10 for students ages 12 and older and free for younger children. They are available at Montclair Early Music’s website.
- Akwaaba Gallery in Newark will mark Black History Month with its third annual Kente Ball & Art Auction on Feb. 24 from 6 to 11 p.m. The event will be held at the gallery, 509 South Orange Ave., and will feature African cuisine and music. Tickets for the adults-only event (semi-formal African or evening attire is recommended) are $150 and are available at Eventbrite.
Morris County
The Morris County Library, 30 East Hanover Ave. in Whippany, will celebrate Black History Month with several events:
- “Passing the Torch: The Legacy of Florence Price and Margaret Bonds” on Feb. 6 from 7 to 8 p.m. is a music program celebrating Price and Bonds, two African American composers and performers. Singer GaDa Lambert and pianist Basia Thomas will perform their works. No registration is required.
- “Freedom Songs: The Music of Black History”, on Feb. 15 from 4 to 4:45 p.m. The program from the Bright Star Theater Company is for children ages 5 and up. Registration is required by calling (973) 285-6980 or emailing kidsstaff@co.morris.nj.us.
- “Frederick Douglass, Advocate for Equality” is an exhibit that looks at the impact of the famed abolitionist and writer through his words and through various photographs and documents. It will run through Feb. 24. Call (973) 285-6930 for more information.
The Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown will present “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad” on Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. and Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. This field trip presentation for students in grades 3 to 12 tells the story of the legendary abolitionist, Civil War spy and suffragist. Schools interested in reserving tickets or who have questions can call (973) 539-0345, ext. 6556, or email jclarke@mayoarts.org.
Drew University, in collaboration with the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, will celebrate Black History Month with “Patchwork of Connections,” an exhibit at the museum showcasing works in various mediums by student and alumni artists of Drew University and West Orange High School. The exhibit at the museum, at 9 Main St. in Madison, runs throughout February and spotlights culture, traditions, significant figures and Black History Month themes. Call (973) 377-2982 for more information.
Passaic County
- Paterson will honor and recognize African American members of the Paterson community for their contributions in a flag-raising and recognition ceremony on Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 155 Market St. in Paterson. The theme for this year’s celebration is “African Americans and the Arts: Our Legacy, Our Lineage, Our Life.”
- Church Made WithOut Hands Ministries in Paterson will host its annual Black History Month program on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the church, located at 122 Belmont Ave.. The guest speaker will be Newark activist Lawrence Hamm.
Ricardo Kaulessar covers race, immigration, and culture for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.t
Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com
Twitter: @ricardokaul
- PureCycle Technologies (NasdaqCM:PCT) received temporary regulatory approval for its PureFive resin as postconsumer recycled content under New Jersey’s Recycled Content Law.
- This approval allows PureFive resin to be used in products aiming to comply with New Jersey’s recycled content requirements.
- The decision positions PureCycle as a potential supply partner for brands seeking to meet state recycled content mandates.
PureCycle Technologies focuses on recycling polypropylene into higher quality resin that can be used in consumer and industrial products. With more states adopting recycled content requirements, suppliers that can offer compliant material are increasingly relevant for brands managing packaging and sustainability commitments. New Jersey’s approval gives PureCycle’s PureFive resin a clearer pathway into these compliance driven demand pools.
For investors tracking NasdaqCM:PCT, this regulatory milestone provides another data point on how the company is progressing from technology development toward broader commercial use. Future decisions by other states or regulatory bodies, if they occur, could influence how widely PureFive resin is adopted across packaging and consumer goods supply chains.
Stay updated on the most important news stories for PureCycle Technologies by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on PureCycle Technologies.
Is PureCycle Technologies’s balance sheet strong enough for future acquisitions? Dive into our detailed financial health analysis.
This one year conditional approval in New Jersey gives PureCycle a clearer regulatory footing for PureFive resin in a state that directly ties packaging requirements to recycled content thresholds. For brands that want to comply with New Jersey’s rules using polypropylene, PureCycle now sits on the list of suppliers whose material can count toward those targets, subject to ongoing documentation around feedstock and end uses. For you as an investor, that creates a more visible link between PureCycle’s technology and potential contract volumes, especially when combined with recent packaging wins in items like coffee lids.
How This Fits Into The PureCycle Technologies Narrative
- The approval supports the existing narrative that recycled content mandates can drive demand for PureCycle’s food contact ready polypropylene, by tying PureFive directly to a live state law.
- The conditional nature of the ruling, and the need to secure permanent approval within 12 months, reinforces the narrative risk that regulatory support can be slower or more complex than management hopes.
- The New Jersey specific ruling may not yet be fully reflected in prior narratives, which focus more on broader US and European regulation rather than state by state accreditation steps.
Knowing what a company is worth starts with understanding its story.
Check out one of the top narratives in the Simply Wall St Community for PureCycle Technologies to help decide what it is worth to you.
The Risks and Rewards Investors Should Consider
- ⚠️ Analysts have flagged that PureCycle has less than one year of cash runway, so even positive regulatory outcomes sit against a tight funding backdrop.
- ⚠️ The approval is temporary and limited to New Jersey, so any issues with documentation, audits, or renewal could restrict how much revenue is ultimately tied to this ruling.
- 🎁 The decision supports the view that recycled content laws can translate into tangible demand channels for PureCycle’s resin in real world packaging applications.
- 🎁 Regulatory recognition in one state can sometimes make it easier for brands to justify trials or offtake discussions in other regions that are considering similar rules.
What To Watch Going Forward
From here, the key questions are whether PureCycle converts this regulatory milestone into long term contracts with packaging converters and consumer brands, and whether it secures permanent approval from New Jersey within the one year window. Investors should watch for updates on PureFive volumes sold into New Jersey compliant products, any pricing commentary tied specifically to recycled content mandates, and how these developments sit against the company’s recent quarterly loss of US$33.44 million. Progress on these fronts will help show whether regulatory traction is feeding through to the income statement or remaining mainly a pipeline story.
To stay informed on how the latest news impacts the investment narrative for PureCycle Technologies, visit the
community page for PureCycle Technologies to keep up with the top community narratives.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data
and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your
financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data.
Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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New Jersey
Furious NJ customer accused of threatening to blow up Lowe’s store over a lawn mower he bought
🚨 NJ man is accused of threatening to blow up a Lowe’s and “shoot everyone” inside.
🚨 The East Amwell resident is accused of being angry over a lawnmower he bought.
🚨 Police say multiple firearms and a hoax explosive device were at the man’s home.
A 45-year-old Hunterdon County man faces criminal charges for violently threatening a home improvement store after becoming upset over a lawnmower he bought, according to prosecutors.
Peter W. Randolph, of East Amwell, is charged with second-degree false public alarms and third-degree terroristic threats, for vowing to blow up the Raritan Township Lowe’s store, as well as “shoot everyone” inside.
Hunterdon County man accused of threatening Lowe’s after lawn mower complaint
On Tuesday, Raritan Township Police were called about a menacing message to the Lowe’s corporate call center.
Investigators said Randolph was unhappy with the delivery service a lawn mower he bought at the Raritan Township store along Route 31 — and was also not satisfied with Lowe’s response to his issue.
He threatened to make a bomb using a 55-gallon drum of ammonia nitrate, according to an affidavit filed by investigators.
Lowe’s staff said that Randolph also threatened to “shoot everyone” inside, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson said.
Read More: FreshRealm layoffs NJ: More than 600 jobs at risk in Linden
NJ man charged for violent threats against Lowes store in Hunterdon County – Lowes in Raritan Township gets explosive threat from angry customer Google Maps
Police find firearms and ‘hoax explosive device’ at East Amwell home
State Police went to Randolph’s home in East Amwell and immediately took him into custody.
A search there turned up multiple firearms and a “hoax explosive device,” Robeson said.
At the same time, Raritan Township Police did a sweep of the Lowe’s building and the parking area. No explosives, hazardous materials, or other threats were found.
NJ man accused of Lowe’s threat held pending court hearing
Randolph remains held at the Warren County Jail, ahead of a detention hearing set for May 21.
If convicted of either of these criminal offenses, he might face several years in prison and a hefty fine.
Anyone with potential information is asked to contact the Raritan Township Police Department at 908-782-8889 or the Hunterdon County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-321-0010.
New Jersey’s ‘Doughnut Holes’ Reveal Quirky Town Boundaries
There are many quirks when it comes to all 564 municipalities in New Jersey. Maybe the oddest quirk is when a borough is a doughnut hole.
No, it doesn’t have anything to do with the number of doughnut shops within a certain radius.
It’s when a borough is completely encircled by another township.
Less than 4% of the state’s municipalities are doughnut hole boroughs, as we find 20 among 11 counties.
Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt
Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom
Average New Jersey property taxes in 2025
Check to see whether your municipality’s average tax bill last year went up or down. Data is from the state Department of Community Affairs. Municipalities are listed by county and alphabetically.
Gallery Credit: New Jersey 101.5
LET’S GO Back to the ’80s: The Coolest Cars and the Ads That Sold Them
Whether you dreamed of cruising in a Porsche 944 like Jake Ryan, showing off in an IROC-Z, or riding shotgun with KITT from Knight Rider, the cars of the ’80s had something for everyone. Some were fast, some were flashy, and some just got you to tennis practice. Keep scrolling to see the most iconic cars of the decade — and the ads that convinced us we needed them.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
New Jersey’s top spots for classic and inventive burgers
From classic burgers to trendy, cheesy smashburgers, these burger spots have something for everyone.
A burger is delicious any time of year, but especially now, as the weather warms and spring eases into summer.
You can grill one up yourself, of course: A backyard burger always hits the spot. But so many of New Jersey’s restaurants make a great burger, why bother?
Whether you prefer a thick, hearty patty, where the flavor of the meat is the star; a lacy-edged burger smashed to perfection; a burger piled with toppings or one with nothing at all, these spots deliver when it comes to this classic favorite.
22 West Tap & Grill, Bridgewater
Forget slapping a slice of American cheese that has spent its life in plastic on a patty at creative gastropub 22 West Tap & Grill in Bridgewater. Here, customers can customize their own burgers, choosing from a dozen types of cheese, including fried mozzarella and pimento.
Too overwhelmed with the list of build-your-own burger options? Choose from one of the restaurant’s signature burgers, like the 22 West Burger, which gives cheese a carb-y edge. This piled-high burger has two patties, two pieces of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, pork belly, lettuce, tomato, onions and an onion ring.
Plus, you can enjoy it with a view of athletes running off their calories, since every seat has a view of the restaurant’s 19 TVs, including a 110-inch model that fills an entire wall.
Go: 1601 Route 22, Bridgewater; 732-627-5012, 22westtapandgrill.com
Bun Buddies, Wood-Ridge
Smash burgers with crispy edges and well-seasoned patties await at Bun Buddies, Bergen County’s best-kept fast food secret. Run by a chef who once whipped up high-end fare in Manhattan’s finest kitchens (including the three Michelin-starred Jungsik), the tiny Wood-Ridge gem is home to irresistible comfort dishes prepared at an elite level.
Order the “Special Buddy,” for example, and be wowed by the way 100% chuck melts in your mouth like a pasture-raised steak. Note how its caramelized onions are rich with sweetness, and how the mixture of sauces have a subtle hint of mustard, providing the perfect balance to every bite.
From flawlessly grilled beef to the optional addition of housemade coleslaw, the burger is reflective of all others on the menu: intentionally designed, meticulously executed and served with pride by a dude who knows what he’s doing.
Go: 271 Valley Blvd., Wood-Ridge; 201-604-4813, bun-buddies.com
Burger 25, multiple locations
Ask anyone in Ocean County where to get a great burger, and chances are they’ll say Burger 25.
The trio of restaurants, run by Denise and Steve Vetter and their children, Alexis Wasilick and Aidan Vetter, has a burger for everyone. The menu includes everything from a classic cheeseburger, made with six ounces of Angus beef and served on a Martin’s Famous Potato Roll, to a French onion burger that’s seared in French onion soup and topped with Swiss and provolone cheeses, sautéed onions, crouton crisps and garlic aioli on an onion bun.
The 25th burger on the menu is a special that rotates monthly. Recent offerings include a burger seared in consommé and topped with Oaxaca cheese, beef birria, salsa and guacamole, and one with housemade chili, cheddar cheese, Fritos, sour cream and chipotle mayo.
Go: 2045 Route 88, Brick, 732-451-4747; 199 Route 37, Toms River, 732-270-0025; 1915 Long Beach Blvd., Ship Bottom, 609-879-2525; burger25.com
The Committed Pig, multiple locations
You’ve likely heard of the supreme burgers at The Committed Pig, which has locations in Morristown, Summit and Manasquan. They’re fixtures on lists of the state’s best burgers from a variety of media, and word-of-mouth darlings for hungry New Jerseyans.
The burger is built from a blend of Pat LaFrieda steak cuts, and you can enjoy that in a plain, scrumptious cheeseburger or take advantage of the Pig’s culinary creativity. We’re talking a baked Brie burger with creamy Brie, bacon and fig preserves; a chipotle bacon burger with Muenster, chipotle mayo, bacon and an onion ring; and the triple-decker “Pig Mac” with American cheese, pickles and special sauce. There also are turkey and veggie burger options.
Go: 28 W. Park Place, Morristown; 862-260-9292; 165 Main St., Manasquan, 732-837-9800; 339 Springfield Ave., Summit, 908-219-4543; thecommittedpig.com
Harpoon Willy’s, Manasquan
Asbury Park Press readers recently named the burgers at Harpoon Willy’s the best at the Shore, and with good reason.
The restaurant serves nearly half a dozen varieties made from 10-ounce patties of 80/20 Angus ground chuck blended especially for them. The most popular of the burgers, which are cooked to order and served on kaiser rolls with pickles and salted steak fries, is the “River Road,” a traditional burger topped with a diner’s choice of cheese, plus lettuce and tomato if they like.
Or try the “Dockside,” topped with bacon, mushrooms, sautéed onions and Swiss, cheddar and American cheeses, or the “So Cal,” with avocado, frizzled onions, spicy mayo and roasted tomatoes.
A bonus: If you order a burger at the bar, you can watch it sizzle on a grill behind the bartop.
Go: 2655 River Road, Manasquan; 732-223-8880, harpoonwillys.com
Hey Burger, Hazlet
This is a burger you won’t be able to stop thinking about, from a place you might not expect.
Inside Nic’s Hometown Tavern, a classic neighborhood bar with trivia nights, packaged goods and sports on TV, is Hey Burger, a restaurant concept serving smash burgers, wings, cheesesteaks and more. The menu includes nine versions of the thin, crispy-edged burger, including the “No. 1” with burger sauce, cheese, lettuce, pickles and onions; the “Black & Blue” with blue cheese crumbles, crispy onions and Cajun seasoning; and the “Cherry Bomb” with cherry peppers, American cheese, bacon and chipotle sauce.
Order your favorite with “Tornado Potatoes,” which are thinly sliced potatoes on a stick that come in flavors like sour cream and onion, cheddar and Old Bay; onion petals or salt and vinegar french fries.
Go: 180 Roue 36, Hazlet; 732-769-2200, instagram.com/heyburgernj
Krug’s Tavern, Newark
Simply put, this may be the most famous burger in North Jersey, if not the whole state. That’s for good reason: It’s simple, massive and delicious.
A three-quarter pound beef patty is charred on the outside on Krug’s flat-top griddle, giving it a delightful, roasty bark. The meat is unseasoned, but you won’t care — a plain burger or cheeseburger has more than enough flavor, and each bite oozes with fatty goodness. You can always order the bacon bleu or pizza burger if you need further adornment.
There’s also few better environs to chow down on a burger than the scene at Krug’s. This nearly century-old pub is a good time with cold beer, good cheer and a terrific pub menu (get the bar pie and shrimp parm).
Go: 118 Wilson Ave., Newark; 973-465-9795, krugstavernnj.com
Outlaw’s Burger Barn & Creamery, Vineland
A top location for gourmet smash burgers, the family-owned Outlaw’s Burger Barn & Creamery also offers cheesesteaks, fried chicken sandwiches, housemade ice cream and milkshakes.
Some of the burger options, of which there are nearly a dozen, are “Shroomin,” with caramelized mushrooms, charred balsamic red onion, fontina cheese and steakhouse mayo; “The Works,” with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, pickled jalapeño and special sauce; and the “Smokehouse,” with bacon, pickled jalapeño, white cheddar cheese, onion rings and housemade barbecue sauce.
The restaurant was opened in 2016 by owner Ryan Briggs, who wanted to create a place for families to gather “over fresh, local food and leave feeling part of the Outlaw’s family.” It started as a small mom-and-pop shop, the website says, but grew into a hometown favorite.
Go: 1370 S. Main Road, Vineland; 856-691-5438, outlawsburgerbarn.com
The Raging Bull, Pennsauken
This smash burger and cheesesteak spot, also known for its hand-spun milkshakes, cooks up burgers that are made from ground chuck and served on Martins & Sons Potato Buns.
There’s “The Oklahoma,” with thin-sliced Vidalia onions, Bully burger sauce and yellow Cooper Sharp American cheese; “The Classic,” which has yellow Cooper Sharp, mustard, diced onions and dill pickles; and “The Deluxe,” with Bibb lettuce, tomato, bacon, Bully burger sauce, dill pickles and Cooper Sharp.
Not a burger fan? Try a Buffalo cheesesteak with brined and shaved chicken, or “The Raging Bull” cheesesteak with Cooper Sharp Whiz, chipotle mayo and roasted long hots.
“Our goal is simple: Use the highest quality ingredients, prepare everything fresh, and never cut corners,” owner Eric Adili said.
Go: 6007 Mansion Blvd., Pennsauken; 856-324-0725, theragingbullnj.com
Rocky Hill Inn, Rocky Hill
The only reason many New Jerseyans have ever heard of sleepy Somerset County enclave Rocky Hill is because they’ve made the drive to Rocky Hill Inn for the gastropub’s famous burgers and pub fare.
“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” host Guy Fieri helped put the tavern’s inventive burgers on the map when he visited in 2017, taking more than a few bites of the fried green tomato burger with goat cheese, bacon jam and mixed greens.
You’ll find yourself coming to the Rocky Hill Inn over and over again to check off all of the colossal burgers on the menu, which feature patties made with pancetta, short rib and strip steak. Favorites include “The Royale,” a nod to “Pulp Fiction,” with two smashed four-ounce patties, American cheese, melted onions, shredded iceberg, tomato and Thousand Island dressing, and the “Fat Daddy” burger with braised short rib, provolone, red onion jam, arugula and horseradish crème fraiche.
Go: 137 Washington St, Rocky Hill; 609-683-8930, rockyhilltavern.com
The Shore Spot, Manasquan
One doesn’t usually equate food eaten at the beach with top-notch cuisine. But at The Shore Spot at Manasquan’s oceanfront Sea Watch Pavilion, owner and chef Frank Valgenti finds ways to elevate everything — including burgers.
He grills a top-notch smashburger, which is made with two perfectly salted, American cheese-topped beef patties, sautéed onions, lettuce and a thick slice of tomato, all cradled by a sturdy-yet-tender roll.
The seasonal restaurant, which has a second-floor dining room overlooking the beach, also serves rotating burger specials, like one with Gruyére cheese and jam made from figs owner Frank Valgenti grows himself, and another topped with macaroni and cheese.
Go: 95 Beachfront, Manasquan; 732-400-1985, theshorespot.com
Steve’s Burgers, Garfield
It’s been a year since Steve’s Burgers made history in North Jersey, becoming the first fast-casual restaurant in the area to make USA TODAY’S Restaurants of the Year list. A seemingly out-of-place addition, the humble roadside joint was sandwiched between fine-dining destinations, contemporary gastropubs and upscale special occasion spots with wine lists.
Nonetheless, it held its own.
Critics praise Steve’s Burgers for its blend of nostalgia with innovation, from the combination of retro digs with uniquely topped burgers to the hometown hangout atmosphere with Instagram-able eats. Most recommended for devouring was the signature “Steve’s Burger,” which comes topped with American cheese, tangy Steve’s Sauce, crisp bacon and a battered onion ring.
Go: 506 Route 46, Garfield; 973-772-1770, stevesburgersgarfield.com
Tierney’s Tavern, Montclair
Tierney’s in Montclair is one of the best bars in America, but it also slings some of the best burgers in the area, too (if you know how to order them).
You can go here and get a killer cheeseburger, or you can order slightly off the menu and get the not-so-secret-anymore “Buddy burger,” a cheeseburger topped with Worcestershire-laden grilled onions. It’s pure comfort and enough to sate any size of appetite.
Tierney’s is also an ideal spot for casual eats. Order a burger and a pint, maybe throw in some wings, laugh it up with friends and you’ll leave without having broken the bank.
Go: 138 Valley Road, Montclair; tierneystavern.com
White Rose Hamburgers, Highland Park
It doesn’t get much simpler — or more soul-satisfying — than White Rose Hamburgers.
Other places may be artificially retro, but White Rose is the real thing. Like “Happy Days,” the restaurant has a classic counter with barstool seats. The burgers are served on paper plates, just like at a picnic or when Mom doesn’t feel like doing the dishes.
Go for the time-honored fundamentals that offer simple pleasure in a complex world: a cheeseburger, bacon burger or hamburger. And if you really need to smother your sorrows, make it a double.
True to its 1950s roots in the previous golden age of hamburgers, the hefty slider patties wait for you on soft Kaiser rolls with onions, regardless of what add-ons you choose for your burger.
Go: 154 Woodbridge Avenue, Highland Park; 732-777-1881, whiteroseburgersnj.com
Woosmash, Verona
Cheeseburgers may be the (unofficial) national dish of America, but that’s not stopping Korean-born culinary wizard Woosung Cho from redesigning them with delicious Asian twists. In downtown Verona, he’s “woo”-ing locals with everything from standard smash burgers to Korean barbecue-flavored ribeye burgers drowning in garlic mayo and topped with kimchi relish.
As for the onions? Caramelized with miso.
When Woosmash first opened, we delighted in the fact that we were the only ones who knew about it. Infatuated with Cho’s gochujang-glazed chicken sandwiches (when not in the burger mood) and spicy “Woo-Ha Smash” with Firestorm sauce, we gave it a few weeks before blowing the spot up on Instagram.
Today, though, everyone knows about the place, as word spread about Cho’s “thoughtful flavors” and “unbeatable prices” faster than the cars rip down Bloomfield Avenue outside its windows.
Go: 648 Bloomfield Ave., Verona; 973-433-7256, woosmash.com
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