Superstar Spotlight: New Jersey Bucket List (Wrestlemania 29 Edition)
I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and I always referred to New Jersey as the "Armpit of the Atlantic." I eventually met my wife and moved to the Jersey Shore, and although there are things that still piss me off (no left turns, I mean you), ignorance can keep you from enjoying a good thing. A lot has been said about the weather problems facing (now confirmed location of) Wrestlemania 29, but we can't predict that and it's not like WWE would show up unprepared. I thought Safeco Field was an odd choice for such a big event, but they planned for the elements that didn't show up and it ended up being one of the best (and my personal favorite) Wrestlemanias ever.
People automatically think New Jersey equals cold crappy weather, but the event is at the end of March (or the first week of April) and I enjoyed a few freak days a few weeks ago where it was 60 degrees and I was in shorts. I like to travel and plan things out, and I may not make it to Miami this year so I am here to help you plan for WWE coming to the Garden State. The immediate area around the Meadowlands is not exactly fan friendly, but there are tons of things to do within reasonable distance so you can have a great weekend.
- Harold's New York Deli: Hands down the best pastrami on Earth. Located in Edison, this is where you want to go for monster-sized sandwiches, awesome potato cakes and onion rings, and cakes the size of a tire. You can walk in and order your meal, and leave with lunch and dinner for the next few days; you get that much food. It is reasonably priced and they also have a fantastic pickle bar too.
- Stone Pony: Located in Asbury Park, it is the place where legendary performers like Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi played early on in their careers. It's a small venue but they host a lot of shows, and it is in close proximity to Wonder Bar and Convention Hall. Bam Bam Bigelow was even a bouncer there in the early 70's!
- Bar Anticipation (aka Bar 'A'): "The Blueprint" Matt Morgan also worked here, and this massive bar is open year round. They have drink specials almost every night and the array of house music and live bands guarantee a good time.
- Yankees/Mets: It's not definite, but chances are good that one or the other team will be opening their season around or on Wrestlemania weekend. The Marlins are doing it this year, and it is a great way to enjoy a few 'major' events in the same weekend. Both parks have their charm, but it's a no brainer if you are a sports fan. (You can also include Knicks/Nets/Devils/Rangers if they are home.)
- Hoboken: Yes, I mean the whole city. I have been there for the Fourth of July fireworks display and a few drunken nights with my degenerate friends, and every time has been a blast. They have wonderful views, great bars, fine dining, and you can even walk by Carlo's and flip off the 'Cake Boss.' (Not really, but I would like to.)
Obviously this is not a full list and these are just a few of the things you can do in a weekend. I didn't include the typical New York stuff like the Empire State Building or Radio City Music Hall, but you could add in all the things you heard about or researched. I for one can't wait, and wouldn't mind hearing a few other ideas from you. (If we can't think of anything else fun to do, we can always drive to Newton and talk about Ric Flair with another pig writer I know.) Sound off in the comments section or drop a line @bpritchard152.
