Woody Guthrie’s live show at the Newark YM-YWHA in 1949 wasn’t supposed to be a big deal. The great folk troubador’s wife, Marjorie Mazia, taught dance at the Y and helped arrange for her husband to perform there. She served as emcee. About 25 people showed up. One of them was a Rutgers student and recording hobbyist named Paul Braverman, who captured the 74-minute show on a wire recorder, a forerunner of the tape recorder.

Seen in: Best Of Jersey

Gloucester County College was built on 250 acres of fertile Deptford farmland and now the tradition lives on with the school’s Community Gardens program.

Seen in: Home & Garden, Jersey Living

Muskrat, anyone? The aquatic rodent may not be considered haute cuisine in the citadels of fine dining, but it was scheduled to be the main course when the Lower Alloways Creek Fire Company held its annual muskrat dinner last month.

Seen in: Eat & Drink, Jersey Living

For years, homeowners everywhere have cursed the dandelion for its pesky work-inducing, lawn-ruining tendencies—well, almost everywhere.

Seen in: Home & Garden, Jersey Living

Mel Prussack got hooked on Bob Dylan after seeing him perform “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” in 1965. The song was featured on Dylan’s album Bringing It All Back Home, and ever since, Prussack has been bringing Dylan-related memorabilia back to his home in Old Bridge.

Seen in: Jersey Celebrities, Jersey Living

Like the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano in California every spring, polka lovers flock to Wildwood every summer for the annual Polka Spree by the Sea (polkaspree.com).

Seen in: Jersey Living

As a musical group, the Original Hobo Band is known as much for its colorfully mismatched uniforms as for its lively performances.

Seen in: Jersey Celebrities, Jersey Living

The ground looks different to one who walks barefoot. “I watch out for black dots and pink dots,” says Ron Blechner, speaking of sidewalks.

Seen in: Jersey Living

Overshadowed by the Garden State’s more iconic crops, cranberries often don’t get their due until Thanksgiving. How many New Jerseyans know that their state ranks third in cranberry production, behind only Wisconsin and Massachusetts?

Seen in: Jersey Living

Shhh! Keep it down.” that could be the slogan for Ocean City’s annual Quiet Festival, a celebration of silence set for the weekend of November 16 to 18.

Seen in: Towns & Schools