New Jersey 101

[alexandrasbarro]

As an avid coffee drinker, I have had lots of coffee in my short 21 years of life. Though Starbucks and Dunkin donuts are classics and you typically could never go wrong with them, Rook beats them by a landslide. They have classic flavors, but they also have seasonal flavors that Dunkin and Starbucks simply cannot compete with. 

I think part of it is that Rook’s iced coffee is actually cold brew. I’m not sure if that makes a huge difference but it is definitely part of it. Whenever I come back to school from home I bring a bottle of my favorite flavors (depending on the season) because they sell the concentrate. It’s like going to Rook everyday but I’m in my kitchen in South Carolina!

The one downside of Rook is that it’s pretty expensive. It’s $5 for a ‘bigger’ cold brew which is probably in the middle of a grande and venti at Starbucks and in between a small and medium at Dunkin. So, yeah expensive, but I promise you it’s worth it. 

There’s only a few locations in New Jersey and they’re all in central jersey along the shore. If you’re ever in or around Long Branch, Red Bank, or Marlboro I 1000000/10 recommend getting Rook. They have pastries and merchandise too! 

[alexandrasbarro]

Freehold Raceway Mall

Oh the memories...the freehold mall was the place to be in middle and early high school. It wasn’t quite like the movies and tv shows but it was pretty close. My friends and I would always plan out whose parents were going to drive us, what we were going to do when we got there, and what would do after. We always liked to have a game plan so everyone got to go to the store they wanted to go to. I mean it had literally any and every store you could think of: Nordstrom, Macys, Forever 21, H&M, Francescas, the Apple store, Michael Kors, and so many more. Shopping was always fun, but my personal favorite part of the mall was the animal rescue store. They had the cutest cats and dogs. I loved playing with them. 

There’s just something about going to the mall and thinking you were the coolest person ever because you were walking around the mall with your friends and without your parents. Before my friends and I were avid coffee drinkers, Frappuccinos were our goto drink. It was always our first stop.    

Even better than the animals was the Cheesecake Factory. It was attached to the mall, so obviously we were there all of the time. Growing up I thought the Cheesecake Factory was so fancy and just the nicest restaurant. I had no idea it was a chain until junior year of high school. We went there for lunch on half days, for friends’ birthdays, after the movies (because it’s right next door), and just to go. The best part about the Cheesecake Factory though is how close it is to Jersey Freeze! You don’t go to the Cheesecake Factory, or the mall for that matter, without going to Jersey Freeze after. 

It’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it, but there was just something about walking through the mall in middle school that I really miss. 

[alexandrasbarro]

Federicis (Feds)

The nine letters to everyone in central jersey’s hearts. This pizza is immaculate to say the least. It’s different from pretty much any other pizza you’re going to get in New Jersey and some would even argue New York. Dave Portnoy, Barstool President and pizza enthusiast, rated this an 8.8. He is a very judgmental pizza man and even he acknowledged how amazing this pizza is. 

It is a thin crust pizza with the perfect amount of cheese and sauce. It bothers me so much when the sauce clumps, but Feds doesn’t do that. It is literally baked to perfection. The best part about the menu is: there’s no pineapple on the menu :) I’m not too passionate about the Hawaiian Pizza debate, but I do not think it should be an option ever. 

I grew up about 10 minutes from Federici’s. We would ride our bikes there after school on a half day or just go there at night with out friends. It was (and still is) a staple where I’m from. Sitting outside and eating pizza with your best friends on an 80 degree day after school is one of the best feelings in the world. Quite actually nothing used to get me more excited for summer than that did. 

If you remember I said that Jersey Freeze was a must if you ever found yourself in NJ, well so is Feds. Just to make it easy for you they’re only 5 minutes from each other! 

[alexandrasbarro]

BECSPK - 6 simple letters 

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Salt Pepper Ketchup. The 6 words that people in NJ live by. If you were to sit in a bagel store for 5 minutes in New Jersey, you would hear a BECSPK ordered probably about 15 times. It is a NJ staple. Personally, I love it on an egg everything or regular everything bagel. Most people do not even bother saying the entire thing and if they do it’s extremely quick. Instead, we say the shortened version and the person behind the counter knows exactly what we’re talking about. 

However, there are some bagel stores that will not serve bacon or any other type of meat. This is due to the fact that they’re a Kosher establishment. By me, there is a very large Jewish population, many of whom keep Kosher. As a result, they do not serve meat and dairy together, so there’s no bacon. Usually, when you walk in, there will be a Kosher certification on the window or the wall which would indicate whether or not the store keeps meat and dairy separate. If there is a Kosher certification on the wall, you will not be able to get a BECSPK. 

So, if you do want to try a BECSPK, be sure to go to a bagel store that has bacon! 

[alexandrasbarro]

Blog Post 8: Jersey Freeze

This ice cream shop is exclusive to Freehold, NJ (about 10 minutes from where I grew up), and it is the best ice cream you are ever going to find. I typically like hard ice cream, I’m not too fond of soft serve; but if you go to Jersey Freeze and do not try their soft serve at least once you are missing out big time. The line can be wrapped around the building and out to the parking lot and you will still find me waiting in line. You also can’t go there and not see at least 5 people you know. Everyone goes there, it’s a hot spot. 

A quick run down on the best flavor: peanut butter soft serve. Unless you’re allergic to peanut butter you MUST try this. If you don’t like peanut butter you will after this. It’s so full of flavor, but it’s not too peanut buttery. It’s the perfect amount of peanut butter, but it still feels like a party in your mouth. Just writing this I’m craving it. It’s simply so good that I can’t even formulate words to describe how badly you need to visit this place and try their ice cream if you ever come to New Jersey. I don’t care if you’re in Wildwood, make the trip. I pinky promise you will not regret it. I just moved to Red Bank and I still drive the 40 minutes to go get it at night. 

Also all their flavors are amazing, but the peanut butter soft serve is my absolute favorite. Sometimes they don’t have it and so I get a basic flavor. And while you’re in the area check out Four Boys Ice Cream it’s a pretty close second ;)

[alexandrasbarro]

These are those ‘iconic’ Porta doors!

[alexandrasbarro]

Blog Post 7: Beaches

Probably one of the most annoying things about NJ beaches is the cost to sit on the beach. At some beaches it’s $12 for the day and other it’s even more. In fact, New Jersey is the only state that requires you to pay to go to (state park beaches in some states make you get a pass, but their other beaches are free).  Though the cost to sit on the beach is fairly absurd (at least in my opinion), the beaches are still gorgeous as are the boardwalks and local shops and restaurants. Asbury Park is not only beautiful, but has some of the best restaurants and night life. My uncle plays at the Stone Pony with his band often and it is just the best time. We get dinner before usually at this amazing hole-in-the-wall Mexican place, but we also go to the the Robinson Ale House. 

Another extremely popular spot in Asbury is Porta. They are known for their doors outside the restaurant that literally everyone takes pictures in front of. They’re iconic some would say. My personal favorite is Long Beach Island since my cousins have a house there. We have made so many memories and always have the best time when we’re there that it’ll always have a special place in my heart. We go all of the time. I mean I spend most of my summer nights there after work and nearly all weekends. There’s just something about it that makes all of my stress and anxiety go away. I just love it! 

Of course there are so many other popular beaches like Belmar, Long Branch (very popular spot for High Schoolers, I went there a lot in high school!), Point Pleasant, Sandy Hook, and so many more; but Asbury and LBI are my favorites. I would definitely recommend visiting the beaches if you ever come to NJ!

[alexandrasbarro]

Blog Post 6: The Jersey Shore

Nothing bothers me more than one someone compares our beaches and the people who live near them to the people from the Jersey Shore. First of all, only 2/9 of the cast members are from New Jersey. The rest are all from New York. Knowing this makes it all very irritating because obviously the show did not always portray NJ in the prettiest light, so it always sounds condescending when someone asks “are the people from there really like that?”. Obviously it is not the end all be all and it’s really not that big of a deal, it’s just annoying. 

To answer those questions though, no. The people who live in NJ and at the shore are not “just like” the people on Jersey Shore. The beaches are really nice and though crowded, the areas around them are beautiful. If you’ve ever gone to Belmar, Long Beach Island, or Point Pleasant you’d be able to tell that the state is really pretty. I think that’s why it’s so annoying to so many of us that it’s constantly being compared to the show because it portrays the people and the state as a trashy place, but we’re not. 

My dislike in this question probably just stems from the fact that I do not like the show at all (I feel like that was probably a given though). 

I have been to the Jersey Shore house though in Seaside :)

[alexandrasbarro]

Blog Post 5: Pork Roll or Taylor Ham?

This. This debate is one of the biggest in NJ (other than whether or not central jersey exists). You’re probably asking what even is it? It’s so simple: it is a roll of pork that’s seasoned. It is literally a roll of pork, so it would only be logical to call it pork roll. However, those who live in northern NJ tend to call it taylor ham. However, as you move down the state more and more people call it pork roll. Those who live in central jersey will probably either say both or call it pork roll. I go back and forth. I say whatever comes out but usually I say pork roll. It is a huge debate and a lot of people get super heated and angry over it. I am not as passionate about it as I am about the existence of central jersey, but I will say this: the company who makes it is Taylor Ham and the product itself is called Pork Roll. So, people are either calling it by the brand name or its actual name. 

The real name is pork roll :)

[alexandrasbarro]

Blog Post #4: Wawa

As someone who lives in New Jersey, saying Sheetz or any other gas station convenience store is better than Wawa is pretty close to a crime. There is no better feeling than driving home from school and seeing a Wawa off of I-95 is just about the best feeling in the world. My go to is a coffee and if I’m hungry usually a bbq chicken quesadilla. However, honestly, anything and everything there is delicious. As someone who lives and breathes dunkin and starbucks, there is absolutely nothing better than the hot coffee from Wawa. It is not watered down, it’s not too strong, and it’s always the perfect temperature. They have everything you could ever want. Of course other places are good too, but they are not better than Wawa. Even the atmosphere at Wawa is unmatchable. Any type of slander against Wawa is not tolerated by anyone in New Jersey, no matter which part you’re from. 

The love for Wawa runs deeper than just New Jersey. If you cross the border into Philly 9/10 people will tell you that Wawa is a gift. The same thing goes for crossing the border into NYC. However, if you go further into Pennsylvania, such as Pittsburgh, they will swear by Sheetz. It’s a sentiment I simply cannot get behind. Their food is not as good and their coffee is terrible. So, Wawa is a pretty clear winner. 

Just remember if you ever find yourself in New Jersey do NOT slander Wawa and do not slander Wawa in the presence of someone from New Jersey, or at least me :) It’s one of my favorite places and usually the first place I go to when I go home.

[alexandrasbarro]

Blog Post 3: Driving on the Parkway

Okay, so the next lesson is driving on the parkway. For a lot of people driving on the turnpike is daunting. I have friends from out of state who absolutely despise driving on the parkway because we’re “aggressive drivers”. Obviously because I was born and raised in New Jersey I beg to differ. I mean on our first day of driving lessons we drive on the parkway. The only way to drive on the parkway without getting into an accident is to be just as aggressive back. If you’re going to drive in the left lane, fine but you must drive over the speed limit. When the speed limit is 65 mph, then drive 75-80 mph. The middle lanes, just keep up with the flow of traffic and if you are unable to do so get into the right lane. However,  if you’re in the middle or left lanes and you’re going slower than everyone else, you’re driving unsafely. That’s where people get scared and why the parkway is so “daunting”. When it comes to changing lanes and merging, be careful because no one is slowing down for you. Wait for the right moment and make sure your blinker is on. Do not, under any circumstances, come to a stop because you cannot merge or change lanes because again no one is stopping for you, especially if you’re coming around a ramp. 

Honestly, the roads in New Jersey are not the difficult to navigate as long as you don’t really follow the traffic laws that are in the books. New Jersey has its own set of traffic laws and once you figure them out, you’ll be golden. 

[alexandrasbarro]

Blog Post 2: The Big Debate

Okay, one of the biggest debates you’re going to come across is whether or not central jersey exists. I’ll settle it for you once nd for all: it does. Central jersey does exist. However, both north and south jersey are very against its existence. They believe that there is a line that goes straight across the state dividing it into two equal halves. However, not to be biased or blunt, they’re wrong. They fail to take into consideration the cultural differences between north, central and south jersey. You know where someone’s from in NJ based off of how they act and how they speak. It is similar to how the people in the UK feel about people and their accents from other areas. Anyway, that line I was talking about before lies just below Trenton. 

On the other hand, for people who are from central jersey, its existence should not be debated at all. Everyone should agree that it exists. There can be three separate parts of a state and in this case there is. I would only consider three counties to be in central jersey: middletown, middlesex, and mercer. It is not as big as north and south jersey, but it still exists. North jersey is close to NYC, south jersey is close to Philly and LBI, and central jersey has what’s known as the shore. It’s a strip of beaches down the coast of central jersey (which is why there’s a central jersey).

Central jersey is in the middle of the state, it has a different culture, and honestly everything about it is so different. The way people act is different and the way they talk is different. So, if you ever hear two people from New Jersey arguing about central jersey’s existence, know it does exist. 

[alexandrasbarro]

Blog Post 1: Intro & Exits in NJ

Hello! Before I write my first blog post I just want to introduce myself real quick. I’m a junior from Marlboro, NJ and am studying Criminal Justice and Philosophy. After undergrad I want to go to law school.

Before I get into why everyone talks about what exit they live off of in New Jersey, I figured I’d give a little bit of an explanation as to what this blog will be about: all things New Jersey. It is a NJ Crash Course blog, so I am going to talk about the most common debates (and there are a lot) and anything you need to know if you visited NJ.

With that being said if you’ve ever been out of state and were with two New Jerseyians who’re meeting for the first time you would likely hear “oh what exit do you live off of?”. It is usually one of the first things people bring up in a conversation. However, it confuses a lot of people because how do you know what road we’re talking about or just the relevance of the exit. If you’ve ever been to NJ, you would probably understand that to get anywhere (almost), you need to get onto the Garden State Parkway. Everyone knows what the exits are and where they take you to. So when I say “Oh, I live off of exit 123″ the person I’m speaking to would have some idea of where I am from. It helps to gauge how far or close you live to people. 

It is definitely not hard to catch onto, but if you don’t live in NJ it probably seems very odd and somewhat confusing. I promise it’s not! It’s just a NJ quirk :)