Montclair in the Winter
Montclair in the winter. Image courtesy of Carianne Hixson.
By Ryan Siss
As soon as November hit, it seemed like Mother Nature turned the switch from “Fall” to “Winter.” Wearing a light jacket to work this morning? Nope, not going to happen. Turning on your car’s heat in the morning and A/C in the afternoon? Nope, heat 24/7.
Since the pandemic, this past spring, summer, and fall were as close to normal as we’ve experienced. Nice weather with people hanging outside, going to restaurants, stores, vacations, etc. With the cold weather, some people might be looking forward to hibernating for a few months. From doing absolutely nothing in 2020 to catching up on time missed has taken its social toll on people. However, for those that are still looking to be active and do things as the temperatures continue to drop, here are a few ideas to staying social while staying warm.
Montclair Art Museum - Get some culture in you! Though the Museum was closed for 2020 and some of 2021, it has opened with COVID-19 safety policies that require proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test to be taken within 72 hours. If you fit the criteria, you can plan your weekend visit ahead of time by finding tickets online. Individual tickets are $15/adult, and children under 12 are free.
Norman Rockwell’s works inside of the Montclair Art Museum. Image courtesy of Montclair Art Museum
Montclair Book Center - This is the definition of a home-grown, mom-and-pop bookstore. Personally, I’m pretty invested in digital everything, but will always choose a physical book over reading on my Kindle. Pour through aisles and aisles of books on all topics. You can get lost in this store all day not only looking for books, but they have an excellent record section as well. Also, you’re supporting local which is important!
Montclair Book Center. Image courtesy of Montclair Book Center.
Now, maybe you’re ok with the cold and still somewhat skittish about going indoors to your favorite restaurants and bars. It’s still a bit early in the season for places to put up their “igloos” and tents, but based on last year, these are the places I stopped at frequently that allowed me to sit outside to eat/drink fairly comfortably, given the cold weather:
La Rocca Osteria - Located on Midland Ave just off of Bloomfield, this is one of my favorite Italian spots in town. Last year, they used their patio overhang to connect a tent and extended it out on the sidewalk. With the enclosure and heaters, I was actually sweating and had to remove layers.
La Rocca Osteria’s semi-enclosed heated patio decorated for the Holidays. Image courtesy of La Rocca Osteria
Alto Rooftop Bar - On top of the MC hotel on Bloomfield Ave, this is Montclair’s only rooftop bar that provides stunning views while sipping a drink and enjoying some light bites. There is usually a fire but be warned that it doesn’t give off much heat. Your best bet is to get a seat close to a heater. Worst case scenario, they have a nice indoor spot, but you lose some of the views. My suggestion: bring an extra layer because it’s normally a few more degrees colder and windy.
Rooftop views from Alto. Image courtesy of Carianne Hixson.
Tierney’s Tavern - Tierney’s went all-out last year with providing individual tents for patrons. The one thing that they couldn’t do was fit the heaters in the tents, but they did have them outside for those who were a bit more outgoing to brave the cold. With that said, bringing another layer, and gloves especially, made it easy to enjoy your beverage while being outside.
Any other tips or fun things to do in the Montclair cold? Let us know! Remember: Stay stay. Stay warm. Stay social.
