MONTCLAIR JAZZFEST!!!

My best friend has been living in Montclair for a few years now. Before, she used to live a short walk from me - until the price of the monthly train pass kept forcing her to move further away with each increase.

I was very unhappy to lose her...until I went to visit her for the first time 3 years ago.

OMG!!!

The SHOPPING!!! The FOOD!!! The FARMERS MARKET!!! The BREWERY!!!

(Yes, I have a farmers market at home, & plenty of breweries a short drive away - but this market is HUGE...& it and the brewery are steps from her home!!! How cool is that!?!)

I spent an insane amount of money & ate a tremendous amount of food - & now I have a reason to visit every year: Jazzfest.

It goes on from late August to just after Labor Day...Bloomfield Avenue becomes a giant block party with several stages, tons of vendors, & food everywhere! AND, you can walk around with booze!

This year, we enjoyed some slamming sounds while downing icy cold drinks & shish kebabs (until the rain came along); I picked up a cool shirt from the Wellmont Theatre, & some Jazzfest swag. I'm hoping to go back again next year because simply put, I didn't get to really chill with the music this year (thanks to Mother Nature going off her damned meds!!)...but next year I plan on making an extended visit this time so I can soak it all up.