Friday, May 18, 2012
"The best pancakes ever and a mozzarella omelet to die for," one reader says.
This week's Readers' Choice unintentionally left off a few breakfast spots in Madison when we compiled our list of contenders. By Monday afternoon, several readers made us aware of the ommissions, including one that was deemed particularly outrageous—The Waverly Restaurant. The missing eateries were added and, despite the late start, The Waverly rallied to win in the best breakfast category, easily garnering the most votes plus a five-star review. Since 1982, The Waverly has been a friendly local hangout on Waverly Place. The menu includes deli items, hot specials, sandwiches and breakfast specials. This week's contest asked about breakfast, and several readers let us know what's best. Rich Deo writes, Best pancakes, waffles and omelets as…
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Borough avoids paying refunds, but will see tens of thousands of dollars less in taxes from two properties in the future due to settlements.
The offices of Quest Diagnostics and Prudential Real Estate Investors aren't worth what they used to be, according to value adjustments authorized by the Borough Council on Monday. The assessed values of the two Giralda Farms properties are dropping more than a million dollars each for 2012, which means Madison will receive about $80,000 less in property tax revenue from the property owners. Property owners can file tax appeals in an effort to show changes in the real estate market affected them disproportionately, leading to them paying more than their fair share of taxes. If the appeal results in a lower assessment, the difference is shouldered by the rest of the tax base. 7 Giralda Farms is owned by RXR Realty, with Prudential Real …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Commercial real estate luncheon honors industry's best, helps to fund improvements.
The United Way of Northern New Jersey raised an estimated $110,000 for the capital improvement needs of area nonprofits through the help of the real estate industry at its 13th annual Commercial Real Estate Network Legacy Luncheon. About 300 professionals from the industry attended the luncheon to support area nonprofits while celebrating the positive impact of several key real estate transactions of the past year. One of those belonged to SHI International Corp. The company received the United Way's 2012 Commercial Real Estate Impact Award for undertaking one of the largest commercial renovations in the northern region and keeping energy efficiency and conservation a focal point of the project. The project relocated the company's world …
After a downturn in the construction business, John Barba opened a House Doctors franchise.
While Madison resident John Barba has been in the building business for 30 years, he's only been in the handyman business for one. For the past year, Barba has run two companies out of an office at 66 Main Street above Madison Pharmacy: House Doctors of Morris and Barba Builders Inc. "We contract for everything from a $200 handyman repair to a $1.5 million new home," he said. Barba opened the House Doctors franchise a year ago after seeing downturns in the construction industry. While he had experience in residential construction, House Doctors was able to provide support for aspects of the handyman business that were new to him, such as dispatching and accepting credit cards, he said. "The real estate market is still challenging in that …
Cast a vote and leave a review on your favorite restaurant's page for this week's Readers' Choice.
Where in Madison is your favorite place to eat the most important meal of the day? In this week's Readers' Choice, we want you to tell us the best spot in the borough to get breakfast. If you're pulling for your favorite, don't forget to vote in the poll below and click on the restaurant's name to leave it a rating out of a five stars (and a review while you're at it). Both votes and ratings are factors in determining the winner. Reviews and comments on this article serve as tie-breakers. Without futher ado, here's our list of places to choose from, which can be updated as needed: Voting in the poll below is open until Friday at 9 a.m. We will announce the winner Friday at noon. The winner will be selected on a point system based on poll …
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Waiting until the last minute only means you were thinking harder than everyone else
- BUSINESS
-
Saturday, May 12
If you're reading this, you're in a club of which no one wants to be a member. The club of those who haven't yet gotten a present for their mom for Mother's Day — which is this Sunday. Never fear, here are 10 quick and easy last minute gift suggestions to steer you away from the Valley of Guilt and Disappointment. 1. Homemade gift certificates: Grab a pen, some colored paper and start creating gift certificates she can redeem for a lunch, a visit, a shopping trip, a certain number of phone calls, whatever your mother enjoys. Maybe she wants you to weed the garden, throw that in as well. 2. A gesture of love: There are lots of reasons you love your mom. Write some of them on small pieces of paper, fold up the papers and send her a box with…
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Dan Veltre still remembers getting his first free comic book and, on Saturday, his shop was giving them away.
What Dan Veltre likes about comic books is how they have readers use their imaginations going from panel to panel. Veltre, who has owned Dewey's Comic City on Park Avenue in Madison going on 21 years, discovered his love for comics after getting his first free comic book as a kid and sees his participation in Free Comic Book Day as a way to pass on his love for the medium, he said. On Saturday, Dewey's took part in Free Comic Book Day, an annual event started in 2002 that invites thousands of independent shops to give away free comic books. The line to get into Dewey's wrapped around the corner at the 10 a.m. start of the event and artists from the Joe Kubert Comic Art School made sketches outside for those who attended. Attendees could …
Monday, May 7, 2012
Let us know in this week's Readers' Choice poll!
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
-
Monday, May 7
Where do you go when you want to get out, but not go too far? This week's Readers' Choice features places to go for a day without traveling outside Morris County (or Hopatcong, the lone Sussex County community served by Patch). We'd like to know—what's your favorite staycation spot? Where do you go for some time "away" without actually going very far away? Here's the list of local destinations we assembled, so pick one and let us know it's your favorite in the poll below. And if we somehow missed your favorite, let us know in the comments—we'll get it added ASAP. To get your favorite staycation destination some extra credit, click through to its Patch directory listing, and leave a reader review or rating. Voting in the poll below is open …
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Beverage Dynamics bestows title.
There is something for everyone at Gary’s Wine & Marketplace: Hundreds of different kinds of red and white wines, imported and locally made cheeses, and specialty bourbons and microbrews, all under one roof. The store recently was named the 2012 Retailer of the Year by Beverage Dynamics magazine, and owner Gary Fisch credits the rich variety of goods as one of the things that makes his three shops, including the one on Main Street in Madison, stand out. “All of these things, they’re all sensory experiences, the different smells and tastes can come together to create a very unique experience for anyone,” Fisch said. “We offer an experience that few other places offer. We’re able to help make the event that you have something special by …
Friday, May 4, 2012
Yes, we have a tie.
When it comes to the perfect place to take Mom this Mothers' Day, Madison and Chatham have got you covered. Rob's Bistro on Main Street in Madison is only a short distance from Charlie Brown's on Southern Boulevard in Chatham, and our readers say these are their two favorite spots for Mothers' Day brunch. Of the 50 votes we received in our poll, Charlie Brown's and Rob's Bistro each received 16 votes. A review of Rob's Bistro said, "everything was well-executed, including the childrens' items." Check back next week when we ask readers to choose their favorite places for a stay-cation.
Michael Alois
9:48 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Waverly is the best place for great food prepared with lots of love. Real home cooking and it can't be beat. Excellent choice! more ›