August 2020: Outdoor Dining

There’s a backstory to this month’s cover story that can be summed up in one four-letter word: luck. Yes, sometimes it’s good just to have luck on your side—especially amid the turmoil and uncertainty of recent months.

More than a year ago, we sent our restaurant writers and photographers around the state to check out enticing locations for outdoor dining. How could we know that, as New Jersey entered the summer of 2020, all restaurant dining would be outdoor dining?

Now, lucky you—our readers—can read about the state’s best places for dining alfresco. In the feature, we detail 20 such dining experiences, where the views and the atmosphere are as appealing and memorable as what’s on the menu. (We wish we could also promise perfect weather. For that, you’ll have to supply your own luck.)

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Garden Variety

A Conversation with Billy Van Zandt

His latest book, “Get in the Car, Jane! Adventures in the TV Wasteland,” was published earlier this year.

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Local Moms Develop Masks to Help Hearing-Impaired Individuals

The cofounders of Front Line Sewing Angels created masks with see-through inserts—also helpful for anyone dealing with language barriers, or just ready to smile at strangers again.

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Novel Wrestles with Sex, Drugs and Legal Gray Areas

Erica Katz, pseudonymous author of “The Boys’ Club,” says fiction is a way “to tell difficult stories” probing “the gray area of morality.”

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This Fort Lee Native Was the Very First Peloton Instructor

Here’s how Jenn Sherman pedaled her way to virtual stardom.

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A Guide to Events Celebrating the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage

Live and virtual exhibits, presentations and more happening around the state and beyond.

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Steve Adubato: Only in NJ

Amid George Floyd Protests, Newark Kept the Peace

Citizens steered clear of the violence that once racked the Brick City.

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Giving Back

Nonprofit Helps Trauma Survivors Heal Through Music

When Tamara Williams couldn’t find relevant art- or songwriting-therapy groups, she founded the Montclair-based Music Beyond Measure (MBM).

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Stylephile

In Point Pleasant, a Power Couple’s Refurbishing Empire

Alice and Terrance Adams of Renu by Alice transform furniture and cabinetry with creativity, paint and elbow grease.

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4 Local Experts Share Late-Summer Beauty Tips

Treat yourself to some well-deserved hair and skin care.

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Features

The Lifelong Activism of Suffragist Alice Paul

One hundred years ago, the renowned feminist from Mount Laurel celebrated the passage of the 19th Amendment. But her fight didn’t end there.

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Tuned In: Meet Mastering Engineer Greg Calbi

His clients range from Bruce to Blondie to Branford. What exactly does he do?

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20 Top Spots for Delicious Outdoor Dining

As Jerseyans cautiously emerge from the clutches of Covid-19, restaurants greet them with a generous helping of sun, moon, stars and fresh air.

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Can Digital Business Models Save Local News?

As advertising support continues to dwindle, NJ’s news operations flirt with fresh revenue options.

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4 New Jerseyans Devoted to Sustaining Hyperlocal News

Meet the founders of Planet Princeton, The Paterson Press and Montclair Local.

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In Atlantic City, Developers Envision Attractions Beyond the Boardwalk

They aim to revitalize the city’s family-resort roots via the Orange Loop, a district of restaurants and bars, upscale residential units and more.

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How Shipwreck Divers Scour Jersey’s Ocean Floor

They seek offshore adventure—and possible treasure.

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Home & Garden

A Stunning Waterfront Home in Normandy Beach

Since it was originally designed for sprawling social gatherings, the property also provides ample space for social distancing.

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Eat & Drink

Black-Owned Restaurants, Longtime Community Pillars, Garner New Devotees

Amid the pandemic and aftermath of George Floyd’s death, local Black restaurateurs have seen an uptick in business and support.

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Roll Over, Rosé: It’s Time to Try Piquette

Richard Heritage of William Heritage Winery likens the refreshing beverage to a wine seltzer.

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Exit Ramp

My Recent Episode of Oyster-Induced Rage

Struggling to shuck a bundle of beautiful Barnegat bivalves, I became unhinged.

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