Zagat Top New Jersey Italian Restaurants
April 21st, 2008 Categories: NJ Dining Out
Last weekend we celebrated our son’s birthday at one of our favorite Italian restaurants in New York City: Piccolo Angolo. They are known for their home-style cooking , generous portions and friendly staff. Before we left, Renato Migliorini, the owner, gave us the new Zagat “America’s 1,000 Top Italian Restaurants (2008.) Of course they were in it. www.piccoloangolo.com. 621 Hudson Street (Jane St.) 212.229.9177.
We perused the book on the way home and were delighted that most of our favorite New Jersey Italian restaurants made it to Zagat’s Top 1000 list.
I thought I’d share them with you:
Our personal favorites are highlighted in red
Acquaviva delle fonti
Westfield
115 Elm St. (Broad St.)
908.301.0700
www.acquaviva-dellefonti.com
Basilico
Millburn
324 Millburn Ave (Main St)
973.379.7020
www.basilicomillburn.com/
Belmont Tavern
Belleville
12 Bloomfield Ave (Heckel St.)
973.759.9609
Fascino
Montclair
331 Bloomfield Ave. (bet. Growve & Willow Sts.)
973.233.0350
www.fascinorestaurant.com
Fiorino
Summit
38 Maple St. (Springfield Ave.)
908.277.1900
www.fiorinoristorante.com
Il Forno Trattoria
Montclair
18 S. Fullerton Ave. (bet. Bloomfield Ave. & The Crescent)
973.233.0800
Il Mondo Vecchio
Madison
72 Main St. (Central Ave.)
973.301.0024
www.scalinifedeli.com
Il Tulipano
Cedar Grove
1131 Pompton Ave (bet. Lindsley Rd. & Stevens Ave.)
973.256.9300
www.iltulipano.com
La Campagna
Millburn
194 Essex St. (Main St.)
973.379.8989
Morristown
5 Elm St. (South St.)
973.644.4943
www.lacampagnaristorante.com
La Focaccia
Summit
523 Morris Ave. (Aubrey St.)
908.277.4006
www.lafocaccianj.com
Osteria Giotto
Montclair
21-23 Midland Ave. (Bloomfield Ave.)
973.746.0111
www.osteria-giotto.com
Ristorante da Benito
Union
222 Galloping Hill Rd. (Walton Ave.)
908.964.5850
www.dabenito.com
Scalini Fedeli
Chatham
63 Main St. (bet Parrott Mill Rd. & Tallmadge Ave.)
973.701.9200
www.scalinifedeli.com
So, the next time someone asks you “if there are any good restaurants in New Jersey?” You can answer “Absolutely. If you want a Great Italian meal anywhere along the Midtown Direct Train line…do I have a restaurant for you…”
And, if you need an Expert New Jersey Realtor, just call Perri K. Feldman at 973.650.4727 or visit Midtown Direct Homes for community info.
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Maplewood NJ Home Sales Jan-March 2008
April 16th, 2008 Categories: Maplewood Living, Recent New Jersey Home Sales
While Maplewood NJ home sales in the first quarter of 2008 were nearly half of what sold in Jan-March 2007, the April market is brisk.
Buyers are ringing our phones and open houses are full. Full priced offers are made when homes are priced right, but we are still seeing low offers on homes the buyers feel are overpriced for the neighborhood.
Maplewood NJ only saw a 6% drop in average sale price in the first quarter 2008 ($485,750) vs 2007 ($516,492) which speaks to the continued vibrancy of the town with its close proximity to New York City, the Express Midtown Direct Train into Penn Station (less than 30 minutes) and its wonderful downtown and lovely homes and parks.
There are currently 155 homes for sale in Maplewood New Jersey ranging in price from $180,000 for a one floor condo to $2,600,000 for a 2/3 bedroom, 4.2 bath penthouse at The Top with magnificent NYC skyline views. If that is too pricey, there is an 8 bedroom, 3.1 bath Victorian just a short walk into Maplewood Village available for$1,495,000.
Fifteen homes went under contract in as many days since the beginning of April and ten homes have closed…a good sign that Spring has Sprung.
If you are interested in buying a home in Maplewood New Jersey please do not hesitate to call Perri K. Feldman at 973.650.4727 or email Perri@MidtownDirectHomes.com.
You can search Maplewood NJ homes for Free with this Garden State MLS Link.
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Do You Have A Rotten Neighbor?
April 15th, 2008 Categories: Buying a Home in NJ, Commuting to NYC
Wow!!! I have been driving around a lot with buyers this past month. They are thrilled to be putting in offers and having them accepted.
Before they take the plunge, however, there is one site that seems to have caught buyer’s attentions:
RottenNeighbor.com
Ever hear of it?
None of the recent purchases have ended up in neighborhoods that were negatively taagged…yea!!! But I thought the concept was pretty cool.
I must admit that I checked out my own neighborhood…no press only a Google map which is the basis of the sit. A satellite picture shows up. It is a great program and fun to use.
So, before you place an offer…”it couldn’t hurt” to check out Rotten Neighbor.
If you are looking to buy a home adjacent to or along the Midtown Direct Train line, please contact Perri K. Feldman at 973.650.4727 or Perri@MidtownDirectHomes.com. Perri is your Neighborhood Expert for communities within thirty minutes commute to Manhattan.
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Livingston NJ Home Sales First Quarter 2008
April 15th, 2008 Categories: Livingston Living, Recent New Jersey Home Sales
Livingston, NJ home sales were down nearly 20% in the first quarter of 2008 with a similar drop in average sales price of $750,586 in 2007 and $598,696 in 2008 based on figures from the Garden State MLS.
There are currently 141 homes for sale in Livingston ranging in price from $265,000 for a two bedroom bungalow up to $4,250,000 for a six bedroom 6.5 bath Custom home in Bel Air that is absolutely gorgeous.
If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Livingston, NJ please contact Perri K. Feldman at 973.650.4727 or email at Perri@MidtownDirectHomes.com. For additional area information please visit Midtown Direct Homes.
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Madison, NJ Open House Sunday 4/13/08
April 11th, 2008 Categories: Madison Living, NJ Open Houses
Join me this Sunday for an Open House
at 82 Fairfax Court
Madison Commons
Madison, New Jersey
1-4PM
Lovely 3-level Townhome in
Just minutes to NYC transportation, major highways, shopping, schools and NEW NFL Jets Training Facility.
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Lunch at Samurai Sushi in Millburn, NJ
March 27th, 2008 Categories: Livingston Living, Maplewood Living, Millburn & Short Hills Living, NJ Dining Out
I’m not a big out-to-lunch kind of gal, however, I will always go out for Sushi.
The best deal in town is Samurai Sushi: in downtown Millburn, Maplewood Village and in Livingston, New Jersey. With three locations, you can always satisfy your craving as you drive around the area.
For only $8.95, their lunch special is fantastic: Miso Soup, Green Salad with a terrific sesame dressing and a choice of two roll…I am partial to salmon & avocado and yellowtail with scallion…both inside-out with brown rice.
My favorite, tho’ is the Samurai Salad: with tuna, salmon, whitefish, green seaweed, fish roe, white radish, cucumber, crabmeat with the chef’s Spicy sauce ($10.95)
My kids love to get the Beef Teriyaki Bento Box that comes with a California Roll, Shrimp Shumai, Green Salad, Miso Soup and (Brown) Rice ($9.95).
Their menu is extensive and you can’t go wrong with any choice. Be sure to checkout their “special rolls” on the board behind the sushi chefs…they are always creative with a unique Samurai Sushi Twist.
Samurai Sushi
*Downtown Millburn: 333 Millburn Avenue, Millburn, NJ 973.921.2848/2849
*Maplewood Village: 166 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 973.378.8336/8337
*Livingston: 517 South Livingston Ave (near Northfield), Livingston, NJ 973.994.3233/3299
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February 2008 Union County Home Sales
March 19th, 2008 Categories: Buying a Home in NJ, Recent New Jersey Home Sales, Summit Living
Summit and Springfield February single family home sales can be found below. They are both within Union County, New Jersey.
Statistical data was provided by the Garden State MLS.
You will find Summit just a short twenty minutes from NYC along the Midtown Direct Train line. Springfield provides a Jitney to the Short Hills Train Station…just down the street.
If your town is not listed and you would like to receive
a FREE report for your particular area,
please contact Perri@MidtownDirectHomes.com
and we will be happy to provide that report to you.
Town # Sales Avg Sales Price
Springfield 2 $ 533,500
Summit 9 $ 779,083
Looking to purchase a home in Summit or Springfield NJ?
Contact Perri K. Feldman @ 973.650.4727
Search Here for ALL homes currently For Sale
in Union County, New Jersey
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Why Now is a Smart Time to Buy a Home
March 19th, 2008 Categories: Buying a Home in NJ
John L. Scott Real Estate separates fact from fiction in the Pacific Northwest real estate market in this RISMedia article that helps home buyers assess the current market objectively:
FACT: The housing market is undergoing a natural cyclical correction.
FACT: Low mortgage rates give buyers more house for their dollar.
FACT: Heavy speculation and overbuilding result in an increase in foreclosures when prices go down.
FACT: Subprime borrowers get a reality check.
FACT: Over the long-term, real estate has always appreciated in value.
Many of these same facts have affected us here in New Jersey and smart buying today will help you realize a sound investment tomorrow.
If you need help in assessing the real estate market
along New Jersey’s Midtown Direct Train line and
want to purchase a home within twenty minutes of NYC,
please contact Perri K. Feldman at 973.650.4727.
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Morris County NJ February 2008 Home Sales
March 19th, 2008 Categories: Buying a Home in NJ, Recent New Jersey Home Sales, Selling A Home in NJ
Below you will find the statistical data provided by the Garden State MLS for February closed sales of single family homes from 2/1/08 to 2/29/08 in Morris County, NJ.
If your town is not listed and you would like to receive
a FREE report for your particular area,
please contact Perri@MidtownDirectHomes.com
and we will be happy to provide that report to you.
Town # Sales Avg Sales Price
Chatham Boro 6 $ 562,583
Chatham Twp 9 $1,299,567
Florham Park 2 $ 611,500
Madison 2 $ 547,500
Morristown 7 $ 384,889
Looking to purchase a home?
Contact Perri K. Feldman @ 973.650.4727
Search Here for ALL homes currently For Sale
in Morris County, New Jersey
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Top 5 Ways to Sell Your NJ Home FAST!
March 19th, 2008 Categories: Selling A Home in NJ
Luis and his team at DLO Painting & Contracting are my Supermen. They have helped sellers get their homes sold FAST and buyers fix up their new digs.
Given the current market, here are Luis’ top five suggestions to getting your New Jersey home sold FAST.
1-NO Clutter: Make your living space more open and welcoming by storing or getting rid of extra furniture and personal Nick-knacks…Less is MORE.
2-Let the SUNSHINE in!!!: It’s spring…open your drapes and curtains. This will brighten up your home and allow buyers to see all of the wonderful detailing your home has to offer. Remember to Clean Your Windows (inside and out.)
3-NO stains: Fix previous water damage, old paint, or scuff marks on walls or ceilings. Simple fixable stains should be on everyone’s to-do list.
4-We are in 2008!!!: Get rid of outdated wallpaper and/or color. Update with neutral colors throughout your home. Give the cabinetry in your kitchen a face-lift with fresh paint. This is a simple and inexpensive fix without buying all new kitchen cabinetry.
5-Simple and Elegant: Crown and floor molding will give your home elegance and simplicity and, of course, more value.
For more info:
DLO Painting & Contracting LLC
Luis C. de Leon
201.704.8082
http://www.dlopainting.com/
dlocontractors@msn.com
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