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REVIEW: Jump On In, Boonton NJ [with photos]

Posted by admin on Aug 28, 2010 in New Jersey

Jump On In is one of the latest bounce house places for kids that have opened up in the area.  Kids love these places and they’re celebrating their anniversary this month too apparently.

The Boonton NJ location is a bit hidden amidst a set of commercial buildings, but it’s relatively close to the exit off Interstate 287.  Just take Mrytle north about 1 miles and then it’s a quick left onto Fulton and you’ll veer left into the commercial zone.  85 Fulton St, Boonton NJ.

The facility is not huge, but it’s big enough if your kids are in their sweet spot, which I’d say is between 4 yrs old and 7 or 8 yrs old.  There’s basically, two large rooms.  If you’re having a birthday, they also have two party rooms.  So if you can imagine it, they can run two parties at once, each one taking turns in one of the large bounce rooms and then switching and then party room to end.

Because it’s a relatively new facility, it’s clean and modern.  You can take a look at the photos below to see what they have in store for the kids.

They have OPEN JUMPS which are open to the public, $10 per child — which is reasonable for the 1 1/2 hour sessions. Parents don’t pay anything here.

Not much for parents to do there – they do have some chairs on the side of each room for seating.  No free wifi available, couldn’t find any open signals at all.

jump-on-in-open-bounce-boonton-nj (1)


QUESTION: WHAT AGE IS THE UPPER LIMIT FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND THESE JUMPING FACILITIES?

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Why I Will NEVER Go Back To Raul’s Empanadas Town in Morristown NJ

Posted by admin on Aug 22, 2010 in morristown, restaurant

This is one of those stories that just get burned into your memory.

One where you wish you never had to tell in the first place.

But it is also one so shocking that I am still, well…in shock.

Take a look at this video I took on the spot and see for yourself. WOW. That’s all I have to say. . .

UPDATE: Actually, I’m not speechless anymore about this experience gone bad at Raul’s Empanadas Town on Morris Street, Morristown NJ. Here’s a link to the Yelp post that shares more of the details.

QUESTION: WHAT’S THE WORST DINING EXPERIENCE YOU’VE EVER HAD?

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West Essex Tribune Has Some Competition For Local News

Posted by admin on Aug 20, 2010 in 07039

Some astronomical number of households in Livingston township subscribe to the West Essex Tribune.

Aside from www.LivingstonNavigator.com, the WE Tribune doesn’t seem that well adapted to the Google world we live in.   They do offer some brief highlights from the paper available online at the Navigator site, but that’s about it.

So this is where competition is good for the rest of us.  Micro-local websites are creeping in everywhere, and Livingston, NJ isn’t immune to it it seems.

Enter www.LivingstonPatch.com — a micro local news outlet that has steadily been providing coverage of the town’s news, events, and more.

screen-livingston_patch_com_-Livingston Patch, NJ

QUESTION: What elements of the West Essex Tribune are keeping you from going digital and getting ALL your local news from LivingstonPatch.com, NJ.com and other websites?

 
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How Squirrels Survive The Heat

Posted by admin on Jul 26, 2010 in New Jersey

It’s has been scorching HOT around here this summer!

This past weekend, we experienced the hottest day of July so far — almost 100 degrees in many areas.

What are you doing to survive the summer heat this season?  It’s the perfect excuse to go to the mall, library, skating rink or the pool.

If you’re a squirrel, you don’t have as many choices.  Check out this little fella I found in the neighborhood, trying just to get through the heat wave. . .

hot-summer-squirrel (Small)


QUESTION: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO STAY COOL THIS SUMMER?

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Entertainment Book $10 for 2 Books

If you live in New Jersey, this is an offer that is basically risk-free.  The 2010 Entertainment Coupon Book is now being liquidated at crazy prices — the lowest they’ll go this year.

You can buy two Entertainment Books for $5 each with $1 shipping and handling.

And if Shop Rite is your grocery store of choice, you’ll find $5 off coupons at the front of the book, basically making the rest of the book free.  Actually, if you get the book in time, you might be able to use a 2nd $5 ShopRite grocery coupon before the expiration date (the coupon valid thru dates are scheduled basically one per quarter throughout the year)

Buy the   2010 Entertainment BookJust think: If you use just one more coupon in the book, you’re ahead of the game.


Some big discounts can be had in the book, such as $15 off Radio Shack or buy one get one ski lift tickets, or $7.50 AMC Lowes movie tickets, etc.


This last-ditch promotional discount is scheduled to end August 2nd, so go ahead and spend that 10 bucks today, you’ll be glad you did after your first couple of discounts.

Buy the  2010 Entertainment Book

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How To Look-Up LIRR Train Schedules By Text Message

Posted by admin on May 28, 2010 in New Jersey

It’s Memorial Weekend this weekend and a bunch of you are heading out to the Hamptons.

Or if you commute in and out of the city by the Long Island Railroad, you probably have memorized your normal commute options and carry around one of those nifty pamphlets that lists their train schedules for times when you need to get on a train outside of your normal rush hour commutes.

For the times when you’re on the go and you just want train schedule options you don’t have to search online at the Long Island Railroad website or dig and find where that darn printed (probably outdated now) schedule is.

Just pick-up your phone and within seconds, you’ll have your answers. It’s better than picking-up the phone. Faster, less hassle, no humans involved! ;-D

All you need to remember is 266266.

HOW TO GET LIRR TRAIN SCHEDULES BY TEXT MESSAGE:

  • Send a text message in the following format to 266266
    • “LIRR Penn to East Hampton”
  • You’ll receive a text with the next couple of train options.  If there is a letter at the end of the line (d=delay), there’s a note — JUST REPLY with that schedule’s letter to find out more details.

LIRR-schedules-by-text-message

The service is completely free (expect for texting fees from your carrier as usual) and very convenient.  Now if only NJ Transit followed-suit and offered something similar, our daily commute would be that much easier.

QUESTION: How do you normally look-up commuting schedules (bus, train, etc)? By Phone? By Internet? By Paper Schedule? Share your answer in the comments below.

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America’s Got Talent in New York City

Posted by admin on Mar 31, 2010 in New Jersey

It’s your chance to see what New York has to offer America in terms of talent.

And actually, you’ll see what America *will* see because it will be for the TV show, America’s Got Talent.

They are doing a taping of the show here in New York next month and if you click over soon enough, you can score some free tickets to a taping.

If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see acts that are nuttin’ but strings. . .

Take a look at what I mean:

It’s your chance to be in the audience as the best amateur performers from around the country compete in front of Sharon Osbourne, Piers Morgan and Howie Mandel as judges. (For those of you who aren’t familiar with this show yet, it’s produced by Simon Cowell…)

Here are the tapings for America’s Got Talent in NYC that are still available:

Wed April 21, 2010 1:00 PM
Wed April 21, 2010 6:00 PM
Thu April 22, 2010 1:00 PM
Thu April 22, 2010 6:00 PM
Fri April 23, 2010 1:00 PM

The show is being taped at the Hammerstein Ballroom [Manhattan Center Studios: 311 West 34th Street]


View Larger Map


QUESTION: Have you ever watched America’s Got Talent On TV? Leave a YES / NO answer in the comments below!

 
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55,000 Sq Feet and 84 Degrees of Pure Fun: Coco Keys Indoor Waterpark

Posted by admin on Mar 28, 2010 in vacation

We had a chance to get away from a spring break weekend break this past week down at the Mount Laurel CoCoKeys Water Resort.   If you’re a parent of a toddler through elementary school aged child, you should really know about CoCo Keys.

It’s located right off the NJ Turnpike at the Mt Laurel Marriott (attached on the same property).  Most times you can book a “Water Package” stay at the Marriott for $200 or so that includes one night and water park passes for the entire family for *both* the day of arrival and the day of departure — two full days of water park fun.  The park is open from 10am to 10pm most days, so you’ll have plenty of water time.

Here’s what the seating area inside the water park area looks like:

coco-keys-mt-laurel-marriott-food (Medium)
But wait, there’s more!  On the second floor over part of the facility . . . Read more…

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Am I Dreaming? Starbucks is Giving Away Something For Free?

Posted by admin on Mar 23, 2010 in New Jersey

Weird.

Woke up this morning, yearning for the caffeine fix as usual.

And found this deal that makes we want to scratch my head. . .

Why is Starbucks discounting, setting up freebie promotions? Boy, have (economic) times changed.

Gone are the days when Starbucks can rely upon just straight-up coffee.   How can you tell?  Have you noticed their new line of *INSTANT COFFEE*?  How about the Instant Oatmeal now on their menu?  When I ordered it on my last visit, they literally open a packet of instant oatmeal just like the single-serve Quaker oatmeal packets we have at home — pour in hot water, stir it up and give it to you with premium packaged toppings that completely goes against any eco-friendly message they are trying to send out.

For me, I go to Starbucks for the high caffeine content in their coffee — one Starbucks Grande Cup has more than 4x the caffeine that 4 cans of Red Bull.

free-starbucks-pastry

Drop by the Starbucks – whether on Mt. Pleasant & S. Livingston, or on Eisenhower Parkway or on Millburn Avenue in Short Hills/Millburn with this printable coupon.

You’ll get a free Starbucks pastry of your choice to go with your coffee.


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What Kind Of Cats Go Bowling?

Posted by admin on Mar 20, 2010 in bowling, east hanover

ALLEY CATS!   LOL ;-D

The sun made a good showing this past week, but the forecast is bringing another FLOOD ALERT this coming week.

What to do?

Especially if you have kids on Spring Break?

Well, if you haven’t been over to Hanover Lanes lately, they’ve renovated the place — including a new arcade area in the back (pretty sizable) with new games and a brand new bar/eating area — with PizzaHut Express with decent prices.  (Seemed like 1/2 the people bowling got the $3 =  soda + breadsticks combo by looking at the tables in all the lanes)

Here’s a great video that should inspire you all the way to Hanover Lanes on Route 10 in East Hanover:

To make it even more enticing and enjoyable, here’s a free printable coupon for two free games when you pay for two games:

coupon.free-bowling-march

Click on the thumbnail above to get the  full printable coupon for the discount.


QUESTION:  When was the last time you went bowling?

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