Going out to eat with friends for some delicious food and drinks is one of the most common ways to catch up after time apart. But for those looking to add a twist to a regular routine, going to a trivia night at a local bar can bring out the group’s competitive edge. Keep reading a list of Montclair + Essex County trivia and game nights to test that competitive streak.
Montclair
Alto | 690 Bloomfield Avenue
Game lovers can visit Alto, part of The MC Hotel, at its rooftop bar that has both indoor and outdoor seating. While enjoying the views of the NYC skyline, visitors can partake in themed trivia nights on Wednesdays at 7PM and Sundays at 1PM during brunch. Alto has hosted Disney Movie Trivia, Taylor Swift Trivia, Wicked Trivia, and more in the past. See Eventbrite for the upcoming trivia themes.
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Bareburger | 480 Bloomfield Avenue
The health-conscious and sustainable burger joint Bareburger hosts trivia night once a month on Tuesdays, typically around 7:30PM. Locals can enjoy burgers and bring their own drinks while playing a round or two. The trivia nights are presented by Trivia AD, and the company posts the month’s theme on its website closer to the date. See this link for future trivia nights.
The Eclectic Chic Boutique | 547 Bloomfield Avenue
The Eclectic Chic Boutique is the Montclair residents’ go-to spot for handmade, locally sourced, and small-batch goods. The boutique also hosts various events almost daily, such as DIY workshops, classes, and occasional game nights. To keep up with upcoming game nights at this spot, visit its event calendar.
Egan + Sons | 118 Walnut Street
Egan and Sons hosts trivia nights on Tuesdays at 7PM for all locals to enjoy. Nights here are often themed, especially during the holiday season when the spot hosts Ugly Christmas Sweater Trivia. Keep an eye out for Egan + Sons’ social media for upcoming trivia nights and themes.
Java Love | 49 Church Street
Whether uptown or downtown in Montclair, there is a cozy corner to enjoy a cup of joe at Java Love. While sipping on a fun beverage, locals can join the spot at its Church Street location for Offline Cafe: Game Night. This event, which takes place every Thursday from 6PM to 9PM, encourages guests to disconnect from their screens and spend the night playing games with other attendees.
Montclair Brewery | 101 Walnut Street
Montclair Brewery is a one-of-a-kind destination for beer lovers who also love supporting the community. Built on the ideals of creating a stronger community in Montclair, the brewery regularly hosts trivia and game nights throughout the year. The Brewery also hosts live performances almost every week. See this link for upcoming events.
Pineapple Express Barbeque | 1 Lackawanna Plaza
This Montclair BBQ spot hosts trivia night with Joe Trivia every Thursday at 8PM. This event is always free to play. Locals can win prizes while enjoying drinks and light bites. Plus, the entire menu of Pineapple Express Barbecue is gluten-free.
Wine + Design | 1 Greenwood Avenue Suite 101
Wine + Design is a BYOB space that hosts all kinds of events. Along with tons of DIY and crafty classes and gatherings, Wine + Design will occasionally host trivia or game nights throughout the year. In the past, this has included themed-events like a Friends trivia night. As of this writing, the upcoming trivia event is Fourth Wing Resin Art + Trivia Night, which takes place on June 10th at 7PM. See this link for more information.
Essex County
Cloverleaf Tavern | 395 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
Photo Credit: Cloverleaf Tavern
The Cloverleaf Tavern is a great spot to meet up if you are looking for a casual place with classic bar food. The Tavern also regularly hosts trivia nights on Mondays at 8PM. For April, the themes include craft beer, Harry Potter, Disney movies, and Marvel Cinematic Universe. See this Facebook post for more details.
Cowan’s Public | 229 Centre Street, Nutley
Joe Trivia hosts a trivia night at 7PM every Tuesday at Cowan’s Public. Plus, during happy hour, which is from 4PM-7PM from Monday to Friday, draft beer, wine, and house liquors are all marked down. Locals can test their knowledge while sipping on discounted drinks.
Grasshopper | 292 Grove Avenue, Cedar Grove
Photo Credit: Grasshopper
This family-run restaurant is a classic hang-out spot for locals with that classic small-town charm. Trivia night, hosted by Joe Trivia, is every Tuesday starting at 8:30PM. The bar also boasts a menu of Irish American classics that pair great with the extensive beer and cocktail menu.
Obal’s Inn | 439 Broad Street, Bloomfield
Locals can head to Obal’s Inn, a cozy Irish pub, for trivia night every Thursday at 8PM, hosted by Joe Trivia. This spot also has DJ nights and live music. See Obal Inn’s Instagram for upcoming events.
Six Points Pub | 574 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield
This bar prides itself on creating cocktails that are perfect no matter who is walking through the door. Enjoy seasonal sips while participating in the bar’s trivia night. With rotating themes each week, teams compete to win prizes and listen to music every Tuesday at 7PM.
Town Pub of Bloomfield | 378 Broad Street, Bloomfield
The Town Pub has long roots of being a welcoming place for locals and visitors to expect good food and good company. The owners of the Town Pub have continued that legacy into today by hosting regular trivia nights on Wednesdays at 7PM.
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Verona Inn | 624 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona
The Historic Verona Inn, which has been operating since 1947, hosts weekly events for all Essex County locals. In addition to Taco Tuesdays, Wine Wednesdays, Ladies Night Thursdays, and Lazy Sundays, the spot hosts trivia night on Tuesdays at 8PM.
A Trip to New Jersey’s 2nd Largest Museum: Morris Museum
New Jersey’s second-largest museum awaits visitors. Showcasing exhibits on innovation, dinosaurs, Native American history, trains, and more, the Morris Museum, located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, has something for everyone. This accessible venue features free parking, kid-friendly spaces, military discounts, and a gift shop. Read on to learn about the Morris Museum, how to visit for free, and what to see while there.
How it Started
The Morris Museum began in 1913 as the Morris Children’s Museum, led by Nettie Pierson, and housed at the Neighborhood House School in Morristown. Nettie Pierson was born in 1868 as Marie Antoinette Shugg to Richard and Marie Shugg. Her father Richard, born in England, was one of Rutherford’s earliest settlers and one of the founders of the community’s original Baptist church. In 1896, Nettie married Aldus Pierson, whose family included the Pierson’s and other early European settlers of North Jersey. Nettie and Aldus had at least two children: Albert and Helen.
In 1922, the space expanded, and in 1938 it moved to Maple Avenue School. The collection included stuffed birds, toys, and fossils amongst others. In 1943, the museum was officially incorporated and began loaning out exhibits to local schools and libraries. In 1956, the first director, Chester H. Newkirk was hired and the following year the museum moved to 141 Madison Avenue. Finally, in 1963 the museum purchased the Twin Oaks Mansion, the current site of the museum today.
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The Twin Oaks Mansion was built between 1910 and 1913 and was owned by the Frelinghuysen family. The museum opened to the public in 1965 and added several galleries in 1969. This expansion also led to a name change and the "Morris Museum of Arts and Sciences” came to be. In 1972, the museum was officially accredited by the American Association of Museums, and in 1985 the museum took on its current name of “Morris Museum." Another expansion took place in 1989, wrapping up in 1990.
Nettie Pierson would be shocked today to know that her efforts have grown to steward the second-largest museum in the Garden State. This 75,524-square-foot facility is ADA accessible, full of local and national history, and features a variety of temporary and permanent exhibits. It is open from 11AM to 5PM from Wednesday through Sunday.
The Morris Museum is staffed by experts with degrees from institutions like New York University, Drew University, Seton Hall University, University of Florida, George Washington University, and Bucknell University. The team fulfills roles in Development, Education, Guest Services, Marketing, Exhibitions/Collections, and more. Together the workers ensure that the museum’s collections, exhibits, educational programming, and resources are cared for, shared, supported, and protected. Those interested in supporting the museum can click here to donate or click here to learn about the membership levels and benefits.
Current Exhibitions
Currently, there are six exhibits showcased at the Morris Museum. Two ongoing exhibits are Oceania Arts and Views and Vistas. Oceania Arts, sourced from the permanent collection includes woven, braided, carved, and painted works from Papua New Guinea and various other South Pacific Ocean communities.
Views and Vistas showcases Edwin Megargee’s Twin Oaks Farm Mural and a multitude of work he did for members of the American Jersey Cattle Club during the 1920s and 1930s. Former Twin Oak Mansion resident Peter Hood Ballantine Frelinghuysen commissioned a mural of his 150-acre Twin Oaks dairy farm to decorate his bedroom. Views and Vistas was curated by Anne Ricculli, Ph.D., Director of Exhibits and Collections, with the support of two Curatorial Interns Maura Ferrigno and Joey Patire. The exhibit was installed by Sara O’Connor, Preparator.
Ongoing installations and permanent exhibits include: the Mega Train Model Gallery, Native American Gallery, Earth Science Gallery, Earth + Memory: Contemporary Native American Pottery, Guinness Collection: Mechanical Museum + Automata, and the Dodge Room.
For the Kids
The Morris Museum is home to a variety of exhibits and spaces that can appeal to kids. Spark!Lab open from 12PM to 4PM Wednesday through Sunday is geared for an audience between five and 12. This is a flagship educational initiative of the Smithsonian Institution, where kids and their families learn and engage with history and invitation. Morris Museum is unique in its stewardship of a Spark!Lab. As the only Smithsonian Affiliate in the Garden State, the Morris Museum has a special partnership with the Smithsonian Institution allowing it to partake in certain programs and initiatives. For example, the Morris Museum is one of only 10 sites within the United States with a Spark!Lab.
The Guinness Collection: Mechanical Music + Automata and Morris Museum’s Digging Dinosaur Exhibition have interactive pieces that are great for kids. In January, the museum’s Education Department led a Digging Dinosaurs Family Tour which includes touching a real dinosaur egg and walking alongside dinosaur tracks.
Planning Your Visit
The price for admission to the Morris Museum varies. General admission for visitors is $12. Seniors, youth between 3 years old and 17, and students under 25 with an ID can access the Morris Museum for $8. There is also free admission for select groups. Children 2 and under as well as active military personnel visiting with up to five family members can visit the museum for free. Admission is also free for members of the Morris Museum who have special access to the museum on the 1st Tuesday of every month from 11AM to 2PM when it is typically closed.
Lastly, those living in communities like Kearny, Paterson, Montclair, Verona, and Westfield, where the public library has museum passes can visit the Morris Museum for free. Just ensure passes are reserved and picked up in accordance with library policy. Museum passes for the Morris Museum can also be found at libraries in Cliffside Park, Fanwood, Madison, Maplewood, Mendham, Mountain Lakes, Sparta, Teaneck, Tenafly, Wayne, West Caldwell, and numerous others across North Jersey. Just be sure to check.
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Accessibility
Morris Museum is a wheelchair-accessible museum with ample free parking, bathroom facilities, and a guest services desk. Each public space is accessible by elevators or ramps. Additionally, the museum has wheelchairs for visitors to use. If needed, visitors should ask for a wheelchair at the front desk. Service animals are allowed throughout the museum. Visitors attending performances and showings at the Bickford Theatre can request assistive listening devices from the front desk on the day of the performance.
