March 2023: Book of Records

New Jersey’s tallest building, biggest restaurant appetizer, youngest member of the high-IQ society Mensa—New Jersey Monthly’s new Book of Records, which we are excited to present to you, has all of that and so much more.

To create this comprehensive list, the editors at NJM scoured the state for the biggest, boldest and one-of-a-kind wonders and feats among our state’s people and places.

We hope you enjoy reading our Book of Records as much as we enjoyed putting it together!

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GARDEN VARIETY

Violinist Joe Deninzon kisses his wife, violinist Yulia Ziskel

Strings Attached: Meet NJ’s Violin-Playing Power Couple

She plays with the New York Philharmonic; he fronts the progressive rock band Stratospheerius.

Mural in Englewood spotlighting Black women's voices

Englewood Mural Honors Black Women’s Voices

The artwork spotlights leaders past and present, including suffragist Ida B. Wells and Black Lives Matter activist Hali Cooper.

An Afghan refugee embroiders a colorful handbag

New Venture Helps Female Afghan Refugees in NJ Earn a Living

Two Jersey women set up the Bibi Collective in Jersey City for seven refugees, who can now embroider and sell handcrafted bags, clothing and pillows.

Dillon Carroll of Ridgewood and Mark Kreynovich sit in front of a car loaded with supplies for their newly formed organization, Mission to Ukraine

These College Pals Flew to Eastern Europe to Help War-Ravaged Ukrainians

Feeling powerless from afar when Russia invaded Ukraine last year, a Ridgewood resident and his friend, a Ukrainian native, jumped into action.

Joint photo of book cover of Deborah Boerner Ein's "Mary Treat: A Biography" and author photo of Deborah Boerner Ein

Trailblazing NJ Scientist ‘Forged a Wider Path for Women’

Mary Treat, a naturalist who lived and worked in South Jersey, also corresponded with Charles Darwin, who praised her findings.

Judge Shuts Down Chance to Re-Examine Lindbergh Kidnapping Case

It’s been 87 years since New Jersey executed Bruno Richard Hauptmann for kidnapping and killing aviator Charles Lindbergh’s 20-month-old son.

Sisters Jennifer Matthews and Julia Biancella Au of Tempaper & Co.

These NJ Sisters Were Early Pioneers of Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Tempaper & Co., a family-owned business in Brick, offers hundreds of readily removable designs.

Meg Braff’s brass table lamp with a blue scalloped shade

Chic Pieces to Refresh Your Space This Spring

Play with fun patterns, wood furnishings and baby-blue hues.

A child rides a horse with the help of employees at Pony Power Therapies

Mahwah Farm Gives Those With Special Needs a Chance to Horse Around

Pony Power Therapies offers customized therapeutic horseback riding, horse-assisted learning and a sensory garden program.

Governor Murphy delivers the 2023 State of the State Address in Trenton in January

Adubato: Governor Murphy Needs to Own His Mistakes

In his 2023 state address, Murphy failed to acknowledge cost of living, how the state handled Covid-19, the steep loss of small businesses and more.

Two NJ Pilots Paving the Way for More Women of Color to Earn Their Wings

For Carole Hopson and Angel Hughes, the sky is the limit.

Rachel Zegler’s Jersey Upbringing Prepared Her for Stardom

With Shazam! Fury of the Gods premiering this month, and her sights set on Broadway, NJ native Rachel Zegler is our newest rising star.

Illustration of man holding giant weight above his head

New Jersey Monthly’s Book of Records

The Garden State’s biggest, boldest and one-of-a-kind feats and wonders

Why Jersey Is the Diner Capital of the World

Our state’s leading diner expert weighs in.

NJ’s Cheesiest Resident Owns Most Pizza Memorabilia in the World

Telina Cuppari of Kenilworth has filled her home with more than 800 pizza collectibles.

How One NJ Teen Collected 14K Books With Black Girl Protagonists

At 11, Marley Dias led a viral collection of books featuring Black girls as the protagonists. She’s now a Harvard freshman—and the drive is still going strong.

Illustration of the first-ever organized game of baseball, in Hoboken in 1846

New Jersey’s Famous Firsts: Baseball Games, M&M’s and More

The Garden State gets the credit for creating some of America’s iconic pastimes and products.

Jay and Jill Fischer, founders of Ag Choice in Andover

Recycling’s Next Frontier: Inside New Jersey’s Only Commercial-Scale Composter

Since 2005, Ag Choice in Andover has been been quietly converting table scraps from supermarkets and food-distribution centers all over the region.

How Much Garbage Does New Jersey Generate? ‘You Can’t Really Comprehend’

In Garbage in the Garden State, Jordan P. Howell traces NJ’s decades-long efforts to regulate and dispose of waste.

Life Imitates Art in This Treasure-Filled Maplewood Home

Jessica and Jeff Gurtman, the husband-and-wife team behind Essex Co. Vintage, prove you can have kids *and* collectibles.

At Heirloom at the St. Laurent in Asbury Park, porcini-crusted strip steak with truffled potato croquette and broccoli rabe timbale; behind it, salted beets

Heirloom at the St. Laurent: Seaside Sophistication in Any Season

This Asbury Park restaurant serves compelling meals in a welcoming setting.

Illustration of two bees sitting in striped chairs atop a flower and snacking on pollen with plates, forks and spoons

Backyard Beekeeping Is Causing Big Buzz in NJ

Harvesting honey is just one reward of this low-maintenance hobby.

Eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage at Tops Diner in Newark

Tops Diner in Harrison Is a True Destination Diner

The iconic eatery accepts reservations, boasts a Champagne vending machine and bakes pastries on the premises.

Sliders at Jamian's Food and Drink in Red Bank

This Red Bank Restaurant Offers Casual Bites, Close-Knit Vibes

Jamian’s Food and Drink is a neighborhood staple, featuring live music and trivia nights in addition to tasty fare.

Chips perched atop a bowl of guacamole at La Cabañita

La Cabañita Brings Flavors of Mexico City to Manahawkin

This Ocean County eatery serves up generous portions for daily breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Greg Taylor of Source Farmhouse Brewery in Colts Neck buys his malt from Rabbit Hill Malthouse in Shiloh

Amid Global Shortages, NJ Breweries Look to Source More Locally

When grains for beer are grown in state, beneficiaries range from farmers and brewers to distillers and consumers.

Cartoon illustration of people watching a goldfinch sadly exit a doorway

Why New Jersey Should Ditch the Goldfinch for a Better State Bird

Murphy’s executive order changing our state bird to the middle finger was an April Fools’ joke. But he was right to say our symbols should reflect NJ culture.