TODAY IN THE FOUR CORNERS DISTRICT
Newark is the financial, commercial and transportation hub of the Garden State.
With the New York metro area less than 15 minutes away, Newark is also a thriving cultural center, filled with events and attractions. From festivals and parades to museums and musical venues, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
- Sports & Entertainment
- Dining & Nightlife
- Arts & Culture
- Colleges & Universities
- Shopping
- Parks & Recreation
- Community
- Transportation
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
1 Center St. | (888) 466-5722 | www.njpac.org
Red Bull Arena
600 Cape May St. Harrison, NJ 07029 | www.redbullarena.us
Red Bull Arena, which opened in 2010, is a soccer-specific stadium located in Harrison, a suburb of Newark. It is the home of the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer and has 25,000 seats, all covered by a translucent roof that protects fans from the elements. Considered by many to be the premier soccer venue in the United States, Red Bull Arena provides fans with the ultimate professional soccer experience in the world’s largest media market.
Prudential Center
165 Mulberry St. | (973) 757-6000 | www.prucenter.com
The world-class Prudential Center opened in October, 2007 and is the first new arena built in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area in more than 25 years. The Rock is home to the three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball, the Nets Basketball, the New York Liberty, the NBA draft, and the NCAA East Regional Finals. Prudential Center is slated to host over 200 concerts and events in the coming year from a number of the biggest names in sports and entertainment.
The city’s restaurants and eateries offer a wide range of options for every taste and budget.
Portuguese, Spanish, Brazilian, Greek and soul food are but a few of the many cuisines to be found here. Newark’s Ironbound District, just steps away from the Downtown District, is famed for its many Portuguese and Spanish restaurants, featuring traditional recipes handed down over generations from immigrants who first made Newark home in the early 1900s.
Brick City Bar & Grill
383 Edison Pl. | (973) 596-0004 | www.brickcitybarandgrill.com
Brasilia Grill
99 Monroe St. | (973) 589-8682 | www.brasiliagrill.net
Coffee Cave
45 Halsey St. | (973) 368-4654 | www.coffeecave.today
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
224 Market St. | (862) 214-6100 | www.dinosaurbarbque.com
Edison Ale House
51 Edison Place | (973) 643-5560 | www.edisonalehouse.com
Ferry Street BBQ
89 Ferry St. | (973) 344-7337
Loft 47
47 Edison Place | (973) 643-5560 | www.loft47bistro.com
Martini 494
494 Broad Street | (973) 642-4900 | www.martini494bistro.com
Mercato Tomato Pie
212 Market Street | (973) 424-9000 | www.mercatotomatopie.com
Mi Pequeno Mexico
81 Ferry St. | (973) 344-7600 | www.mipequenomexicorestaurant.com
Redd’s Biergarten
220 Market St. & 37 Edison Place | (973) 877-6600 | www.reddsbiergarten.com
Spain Restaurant
419 Market St. | (973) 344-0994
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
1 Center St. | (888) 466-5722 | www.njpac.org
Since its opening in 1997, NJPAC’s New Jersey’s Town Square, has hosted concerts covering every musical taste, from Itzhak Pearlman to ‘N Sync, Broadway tours, dance performances from the likes of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and many arts education programs.
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart
89 Ridge St. | (973) 484-4600 | www.cathedralbasilica.org
Dating back to the 19th century, the fifth largest cathedral in the United States is known for its superior French Gothic architecture. The church was dedicated in 1954, and achieved its basilica status in 1995 after a visit from Pope John Paul II.
The Newark Museum
49 Washington St. | (973) 596-6550 | www.newarkmuseum.org
Regarded as one of the premier art museums in the country, the Newark Museum presents 80 innovative galleries within 6 buildings on a 4.5 acre campus. Visitors of all ages and cultural backgrounds have the opportunity to encounter world-class art and natural science collections that are both entertaining and engaging. Permanent collections include renowned 18th-21st-century American art, the arts of Asia, the arts of Africa, ancient art from Egypt, Greece and Rome as well as the Leonard Dreyfuss Planetarium and much more.
The Newark Public Library
5 Washington St. | (973) 733-7784 | www.npl.org
The Newark Public Library offers thousands of stories throughout its stacks. Its historical displays and databases are unmatched as it holds the distinction of being the state’s largest library. A visit to the main library, or one of its eight branches, might offer free lectures, photo exhibits, online homework help, video collections and historical displays.
Symphony Hall
1020 Broad St. | (973) 643-8014 | www.newarksymphonyhall.org
Built in 1925, this cultural center, known for its superior acoustics, welcomes visitors to enjoy symphony, ballet, opera, professional theater groups and popular music program performances. Symphony Hall is home to four concert halls.
University Heights
Located in the Central Ward, this community got its name for its proximity to six institutions of higher education and is now home to over 40,000 students. Its main roadway, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, is the address of many of its historic landmarks, such as Eberhardt Hall at NJIT, St. Mary’s Parish, The Essex County Hall of Records and The Essex County Court House.
Berkeley College – Newark Campus
536 Broad St. | (973) 642-3888 | berkeleycollege.edu/locations_bc/newark.htm
Essex County College
303 University Ave. | (973) 877-3000 | www.essex.edu
New Jersey Institute of Technology
323 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | (973) 596-3300 | www.njit.edu
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Newark Campus, 175 University Ave. | (973) 353-1766 | www.newark.rutgers.edu
Rutgers Business School
1 Washington Park | (973) 353-1234 | www.business.rutgers.edu
For online programs: online.rutgers.edu/ba-business-admin/
Rutgers Law School
123 Washington St. | (973) 353-5561 | www.law.newark.rutgers.edu
Seton Hall Law School
1111 Raymond Blvd. | (973) 642-8500 | law.shu.edu
Downtown Newark
Located in the Central Ward, Downtown Newark is the core of Newark’s commercial center, housing many of its office buildings. It’s also home to an array of entertainment, shopping and cultural establishments, from the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Prudential Center to the Newark Museum and Symphony Hall. The pulse of the city’s shopping district is located at the intersection of Broad and Market streets.
Ironbound
www.goironbound.com
The Ironbound, in the East Ward of the city stretching along Ferry Street, is known as one of the most productive commercial areas in Newark. The Ironbound is home to a diverse population of more than 50,000 residents and to world-famous cuisine featured at more than 170 restaurants and quaint boutiques. European, Latin, and South American flavor can be found throughout this cultural neighborhood.
Jersey Gardens
Elizabeth, New Jersey | www.jerseygardens.com
Jersey Gardens Mall is just five minutes from Newark Airport (shuttle service available) and features more than 200 brand-name outlet stores under one roof. Of course, it offers tax-free shopping on clothes and shoes as well as a deluxe food court, several sit-down restaurants, and a 20-screen movie theater with IMAX. Visitors from more than 40 miles away simply need to show identification in the form of a driver’s license or pass- port to the Concierge Desk to receive a License to Shop coupon booklet, which offers hundreds of dollars in savings.
Military Park
Initially designed as a training place for soldiers when Newark was planned in 1667, Military Park is aptly named. Located on Broad Street between Rector Street and Raymond Boulevard, the park became known as the “Town Commons” or “Lower Commons” in 1869. The park houses several statues of historic figures, including a bust of John F. Kennedy by Jacques Lipschitz, as well as the Wars of America monument created by renowned Mt. Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum, which was unveiled in 1926.
Lincoln Park
Located in the Central Ward, this community was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, after he spoke on the steps of the former South Park Presbyterian Church in 1861. Lincoln Park began as a Colonial village and emerged as a bustling business and entertainment hub. Now the park is home to the annual Lincoln Park Music Festival, designed to continue to revitalize the community and celebrate Newark’s center for culture, music and diversity.
Washington Park
Home to many commercial and public buildings, several of which have recently been renovated, this section of the Central Ward is known as Washington Park. Its 3.4-acre expanse is most famous for statues of historical figures, from George Washington to Christopher Columbus, and the Indian and the Puritan sculpture at the park’s north. James Street Commons is a smaller historic area within the Washington Park area that is comprised of about 20 blocks of townhouses along Washington Park, Halsey Street, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and James Street and borders the Newark Museum and Rutgers Business School.
Weequahic Park and Golf Course
Named by Lenni-Lenape Native Americans, this area of the South Ward was a vast farmland until the late 19th century, when it transformed into a thriving middle-class neighbor- hood. The second largest park in Essex County, Weequahic is perfect for tennis, jogging or a picnic. It features an 18-hole course that includes 5,579 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 70. Today, Weequahic’s 311 acres are shaded by tree-lined streets, lush greenery and attractive Art Deco buildings.
Branch Brook Park
(973) 268-2300 | www.branchbrookpark.org
Named for a branch brook that flowed through the valley into the Passaic River, Newark’s Branch Brook Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, appears on both the New Jersey and national registers of historic places, and was the first county park to open for public use in the United States. Comprised of nearly 360 acres, the park is the largest developed park in Essex County and features open meadows, small patches of woodland and rolling terrain. Branch Brook Park is also the site of the annual cherry Blossom festival, which celebrates the more than 4,000 cherry trees that blossom in April.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
www.newarkpulse.com
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
(March) www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/newark
New Jersey’s oldest Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, with its new parade route, highlights the main attractions in the downtown Newark area.
Cherry Blossom Festival
(April) www.branchbrookpark.org
Here’s a little known fact – New Jersey has more cherry trees than Washington D.C. And every spring residents and visitors alike can see the largest cherry blossom collection in the United States.
Newark Museum: Dinosaur Day
(May) www.newarkmuseum.org
Usually held the first Sunday in May, this great family activity is one of the many popular Newark Museum events.
NJPAC: Sounds of the City
(June – August) www.njpac.org
Free outdoor music series held Thursday evenings throughout the summer at NJPAC.
Newark Downtown District: Farmer’s Market
(June – October) www.downtownnewark.com
The NDD Farmers Market has become one of the most popular open-air markets in the area.
Lincoln Park Music Festival
(July) www.lpccd.org
This annual event in Newark’s historic Lincoln Park community attracted over 40,000 people last year.
Newark Museum: Jazz in the Garden
(July: Thurs. afternoons, 12:15pm-1:45pm) www.newarkmuseum.org
For more than 40 years, the Newark Museum has presented all-star lineups of jazz greats during its annual Jazz in the Garden Summer Concert Series.
Newark Arts Council Open Doors Arts Tour
(October) www.newarkarts.org
The Open Doors Arts Tour features a number of curated and juried exhibitions throughout Newark’s public and private spaces. Artists are from Newark and surrounding areas.
Newark Liberty International Airport
(973) 961-6000 | www.panynj.gov/airports/newark-liberty.html
Amtrak at Penn Station
www.amtrak.com
PATH at Penn Station
www.panynj.gov/path
NJ Transit
www.njtransit.com
- Newark Penn Station
- Newark Broad Street Station
- Newark Light Rail | www.njtransit.com/nlr