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An Exciting Commute on the NJ Turnpike
Fast and furious we were not on the NJ Turnpike…
Rather, there was a lot of braking and rubbernecking. But this time it was kind of understandable . . .
R.I.P. Cafe Foozy’s Livingston is Closed
Looks like the Livingston Towne Center has another casualty. Fresh City which morphed into a new concept restaurant to stay alive in the same space, Cafe Foozy’s, has now closed its doors as well.
If you look at reviews of Cafe Foozy’s, you’ll see that some of the “rave reviews” seem to be planted without any transparency. You’ll see reviews that mention “and I just heard they do birthday parties too, I’m going to find out if I can book my kid’s next party there…” type of comments. Given the lack of authenticity, this closing wasn’t such a surprise:
Happy Zoo Year
Happy Zoo Year at the Turtle Back Zoo.
Believe it or not, the Turtle Back Zoo is open year round.
So if there’s a break in this freeeezing weather, and it warms up a bit to give us a preview of spring, you may want to remember that the zoo is a great escape for the kids from our suburban life around town!
Real-Time Help For Finding Parking Spots Around NYC
Posted by admin on Jan 6, 2010 in nyc
I recently connected with Dan who is part of an interesting start-up which harnesses crowdsourcing via Twitter and Texting to help drivers find parking spots around NYC. Hopefully they’ll be able to roll out the service to Manhattan and beyond quickly enough. Enjoy Dan’s contribution today. . .
A cold sweat had started to form on my forehead.
Shortness of breath was coming on quick.
So much time spent circling…spinning almost. I was moving, and all I wanted to do was stop.
No, I wasn’t having a nightmare, just trying to find a parking spot around Park Slope in Brooklyn. Then I heard my phone- probably a text from my girlfriend yelling at me for being late again- and it hit me like an angry meter-maid on an expired meter: all I needed in order to find a spot was a simple text message.
I pulled to the side of the road, ignoring my girlfriend for the moment, and instead sent a text to Roadify’s PAM (ParkingAroundMe), the community-powered parking platform that matches people leaving spots with those (like me) looking to get one. Sure enough, within seconds I was sent a quick list of available spaces, one of which was right down the street.
I could finally breathe again.
No-Park Slope, as residents call it, is considered the worst neighborhood for parking around New York City. On average it takes 27 minutes of circling the block to find a spot, which creates even more congestion on the streets. This leads to more gas usage, time lost, increased air pollution, and inefficient transportation overall.
Roadify offers a simple solution: communication between drivers on the road in the same neighborshood. The way it works is that when a user is heading to their car, they text a GIVE to 95495. Simply text “GIVE” with the cross streets where they are leaving from and roughly when they’ll be leaving (e.g “GIVE 4th st btwn 7/8 ave 5 min.”) The location of that spot is then entered into an online database.
People looking for spots will then simply text “GET” to the same number and are provided with the open spots others just gave.
Users can also GIVE and GET by direct messaging Roadify’s Twitter account: @roadify.
The guys at Roadify wanted to make parking easier for each other in NYC. The system is the first “social transportation” service ever developed and is completely free to users (besides the obvious standard text messaging rates). Roadify was founded upon the belief that neighbors want to help neighbors – all they need is a way to do it. Roadify is one easy way.
There are plans to implement similar programs across the transportation spectrum. Get ready for a solution to late buses: BAM (BusesAroundMe) coming later this month. Users will GIVE and GET more accurate bus information then the rarely-correct MTA schedule.For more information:www.roadify.comand www.twitter.com/roadify
I’m Dreaming of a GREEN Christmas…Or At Least Livingston Township Is!
Posted by admin on Dec 29, 2009 in livingston, township
Merry Christmas to all! And Happy New Year in Livingston, NJ!
It’s 2010 right around the corner, and that means time to take down the lights, tree decorations and the tree itself.
Livingston is going green this year again and mulching up all discarded live Christmas trees. Just put your trees out curbside anytime in January Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and the township will pick them up for free.
The Livingston Department of Public works will chip the trees into mulch (I believe by the Livingston circle, behind the Firehouse). The best part is that the DPW makes all the mulch available to residents for free pick-up, at no cost, while supplies last.
Just call the Livingston DPW at 973-535-7931 for details and to schedule a pick-up.
Why Starbucks Coffee Is Good For Kids
Posted by admin on Dec 16, 2009 in New Jersey
Today’s post comes from Scott Farbman, whom I recently met in the Twitterverse. Check out his reflections of a good day in Livingston, NJ…
This afternoon I was supposed to go to the gym. I belong to Lifetime Fitness in Florham Park and hadn’t been there is a while due to medical issues. I am getting ready to start my afternoon when I hear Apple’s version of “You’ve got mail.” A.k.a ding. I really should change that. I look at my inbox and it is my oldest and best customer. I have been supporting his computers forever. “What is my wifi password?” Ding again This one is from my wife. “We have to pay the mortgage today.”
Well, tickle me Elmo, but that is two things I need to do in Livingston today. It looks like I am headed that way. I am guest blogging here, so you guys don’t know this but I need coffee in order to function. Lucky for me the bank is next to the Starbucks in the center of town.
I order my coffee, pay and then feel bad that I don’t have change for a tip. On my way out I see a little wicker basket with some toys on it and a whole bunch of 8.5×11 handouts hanging off it with a binder ring. I tear off the top handout. It is already stained with coffee. “Perfect, this will be good blog material”, I say to myself and walk out the door.
Toy drives are blogger gold. Everyone loves to read about a good toy drive.
I head over to my #1 customers house and walk right in. I don’t need to knock because it is my parent’s house. Dad just upgraded to FIOS and a new Dell pc. I put my stuff down on the reception desk and spend the next couple of hours hanging with Pops, migrating his apps and data
Mom pokes her head in while we are wrapping up and sees the paper on top of my pile of junk. “Who’s is this?” She asks like she doesn’t know. “I have an extra doll still in the box that I have been meaning to donate.” (I laugh to myself because I know why it is surplus. Grandchild #8 came out a boy.) She is now going to donate the toy to the drive at Starbucks.
You see how easy it is to do something good and it can cause someone else to join in? All I did was grab the sheet of paper with the intent to blog about it, and leave it out for someone to see. That drop of good, led to a second drop. Now a local child will have a brand new baby doll this holiday.
I was going to type up all the information that was on that flyer so that it would inspire you to go drop off a toy. Instead, go grab a copy of the flyer for yourself, (and a coffee and tip the barista a little extra for me) and read it. Donate a toy. Then leave the flyer on your desk for a co-worker to see, or on the kitchen table for your teens to see. Give a gift to a child and give the gift of giving to a friend or loved one.
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Scott Farbman is a graduate of Livingston High School and currently writes for BlogMorris.com.
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Instant Traffic Alerts via Phone, Text, Email or Twitter
Posted by admin on Dec 6, 2009 in New Jersey, car, highway, holland tunnel, lincoln tunnel, new york, new york city, nj, nyc, route 10, route 280
When driving, traffic information isn’t more than a couple of minutes away:
- 1010am on the 1’s (01, 11, 21, 31, etc)
- 1030am on the 5’s (05, 15, 25, etc)
- 880 on the 8’s (08, 18, 28, etc)
XM radio has dedicated weather/traffic stations for most major cities that just go on infinite loops.
But these are all passive methods. You have to wait through commercials, or other content before you get the exact information you’re seeking.
Now, there’s another way (or two or three. . .).
- 511 info has set-up customized alerts which you can set-up online
- I subscribe to the 511 New Jersey specific Twitter account Other accounts based on georgraphy are also available
- DIAL 511 on your cell phone and you can go through the automated menus to get traffic or transit info the specific bridge, tunnel or highway you’re planning to use.
Sometimes it’s better to be in the know. Now it’s just fingertips away.
What do you use to get the scoop on traffic reports?
We Have A Winner (again, we hope!)
Posted by admin on Dec 4, 2009 in turtle back zoo, west orange
Today is good news for someone in town. . .Since our first winner of the Turtle Back Zoo Family Membership was a ‘no-show’ we’re picking another winner for the prize!
And the envelope please . . .
We picked comment #8 this time around — SETH…LEEDS…
Seth must contact me via Twitter or email within the next week or we’ll go back to the pot again for another winner!
Hello TANYA SAGE, Are You Out There?
Posted by admin on Nov 22, 2009 in New Jersey
Tanya Sage, this update is for you!
You won our recent contest for the Free Family Membership to the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo and we haven’t heard from you at all. Unfortunately, you didn’t leave your contact info while you were submitting your entry describing the snowy owl.
But you must get in touch with us (email us at info (at) fingerclickinggood.com) asap otherwise, we’ll have to pick another winner and give the prize away to another lucky entrant!
The snowy owl misses you. If we don’t hear from you by midnight Thanksgiving Day 2009, we’re going to proceed with plan B: Pick another winner from the original contest entries from the contest page.
Weather
