Newark is the largest city in the US state New Jersey. It is also part of the largest metropolitan area in the US. Its population of over a quarter of a million contributes to the nearly 19 million residents in the metro area.
The negligible distance between Newark and New York City had an influence in the development of the city. Following the 1967 riots, many of the city’s residents moved to the surrounding towns, including boroughs of New York. A decline was inevitable. After too many years, in the late 90s, a revival process was started and it proved a great success. The city gained a nickname because of this: the Renaissance City. The population of the city started to grow and companies started to invest in the city.
Despite the financial and political difficulties, Newark never lost its beauty: the richness of its architecture. The main buildings in the city were built in three styles. These are the Beaux-Art, Art Deco and Gothic. The Public Library, the Essex County Courthouse was built in Beaux-Art style, just like the Newark Museum. Today this museum is a tourists’ favorite. Beside the art collection, it also houses a mini-zoo. Around 100 animals can be seen here. You can also find a consecrated Buddhist altar in Tibetan gallery.
Beside beautiful Beaux-Art styled buildings you can find numerous built in Art Deco style. The most important of these are the Arts High School, the National Newark Building and the Newark Penn Station. The 1920s’ sky-scrappers are also built in this style.
The fifth largest cathedral in the US, the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, is located in the Forest Hill neighborhood of the city. As well as this beautiful basilica, many other precious historic buildings are well preserved. The basilica was intended to be built in English-Irish Gothic style, but later was modified and it was finished as a French Gothic church.
At the west side of the basilica, you can find the Branch Brook Park. This 360-acre county park is the home of the Cherry Blossom Festival, held every April, attracting ten thousand visitors each year. Because of the 2,700 cherry trees is the perfect location for this festival. The large number of cherry trees earned its nickname: Cherryblossomland.
When the sun sets, after you visited all the beautiful historical landmarks of the city, it’s time to rest. The numerous restaurants are perfect places to eat with your friends while relaxing after hours of walking. Whatever you like, you will surely find it in Newark. Plenty of restaurants offer special cuisine from American, Caribbean through Italian and Spanish. If you want to enjoy delicious food of American cuisine than the Downtown area of the city is the best place to visit. Here you can find at least five restaurants each offering a wide array of dishes you can choose from. Visiting the 50 Park Place, you will be able to eat in a Victorian styled restaurant. The Hamilton’s Pub is at just a short distance from the 50 Park Place. Here you can choose from a great selection of traditional American food.
The Caribbean cuisine is also at home at Brisas del Caribe, which is also in the Downtown. Both China Express and Panda Chinese Restaurant offers a large selection of authentic Chinese foods.
In the case of Michaelangelo’s Restaurant, the name speaks for itself. You can find here almost every Italian specialty. If you stay in the Radisson Hotel, it’s hard to miss a dinner at La Prima. Even if you stay somewhere else, you should visit this beautiful restaurant. If you would like to have a larger array of foods from the Mediterranean area, you will like the Mediterranean Manor restaurant. Here you can taste the very best of this cuisine.
The fact that Newark has a bay is the guarantee that you can choose from a large variety of delicious seafoods. The Bairrada Clam Bar is one of the best places to taste the very best of the foods the ocean offers.
Those who still have enough energy to party won’t be disappointed. With plenty of places to spend your nights at Newark is a perfect place for partying. If you like jazz than you will love The Priory. This restaurant and club has a unique styling: the freshly renovated bar creates a brilliant contrast with the stained glasses. You can also listen to live jazz music if you enter the 27 Mix. As in the case of The Priory, you can also eat there if you want. Also in the Downtown area, you can find the Maize. This is the favorite place of businessmen and women, so you can expect a classy ambiance. The separate cigar room makes it really special. With a name that says everything about its main attraction, the Whiskey Bar is a very popular place among locals and tourists, especially on Thursdays, because of the live DJ and plenty of room to dance.
Newark, New Jersey is the home of the best rock bar in New York, at least according to New York Magazine. Despite it’s outside of the city borders it is such a great place that earned this title. Maxwell’s is this place. This was the meeting and performing place of several than-unknown rock bands. Some of these became real superstars such as the REM or Nirvana.
Despite the fact that the majority of clubs and bars are situated in the Downtown, you can find several great places outside this area. Such place is Krug’s Tavern. This Ironbound district club sports a kitschy décor, which makes it very popular among party-goers of all ages. If you like the current hits, than O’Nieal’s is what you are looking for. The DJ playing mainstream music makes it is a very popular place because of its happy hour specials.
Today Newark is very popular among visitors from all over the world. If you don’t feel a need to visit a crowded city, than it is a perfect destination for you. Because New York City is just a few kilometers away, you can even have a one-day trip to it.