Montclair

Montclair is defined by its stately homes, most built between 1890 and 1940, its distinguished art museum; fine and growing State University campus with its new Alexander Kasser Theatre; public skating rink; two libraries; two professional theaters; three town pools; five shopping districts, six train stations, seven primary schools, 12 parks, 12 movie screens, several dozen antique stores, the aforementioned plethora of eateries and nearly 40,000 residents.

If you are thinking of living in the suburbs, and prefer a town atmosphere with quick, easy transportation to Manhattan and Newark, it is essential that you see what Montclair and the entire area called West Essex have to offer.

Among Montclair's benefits are the easy MidTOWN DIRECT train commute to New York City's Penn Station, or to downtown Manhattan via the PATH system from Hoboken buses are available, as well; high-quality schools committed to innovation (and in the top tier of NJ Monthly's annual poll); enormous cultural and enrichment possibilities for children and families; and a variety of people and occupations that any town would die for.

For shoppers, there are dozens of trendy boutiques and shops, from Just Kidding Around, Milk Money and Over the Moon for well-dressed children to Urban Outfitters, Williams-Sonoma and The Gap for adults. For culture hounds, there are art shows, independent films, music offerings across a wide spectrum, and reading and writing groups. When Montclair's writers' got together to network and party recently, more than 200 professionals filled the hall.

Montclair's location is prime 20 minutes to Willowbrook, West Belt, Essex Green, Short Hills, Livingston, and Riverside Square Malls, not to mention Costco, Target, and Barnes & Noble (two of them and a Borders, too!), and the off-price delights of the outlet shopping in Secaucus.

Montclair's school system is unique in philosophy and structure. All children are believed to be gifted in some sense, and the district divides the primary grades into these exciting, achievement-oriented magnet programs: Nationally recognized Nishuane is the K-2 Gifted and Talented program (with Hillside famous for its performing arts and aesthetics programs, assuming its students in the third grade); Watchung is the science and math magnet; Northeast is an international school with mock UN; Bradford is a Montclair University-affiliated magnet; Edgemont is the only public Montessori in the state; and Rand School focuses on basic skills with emphasis on family involvement. In the spring of 2005, Montclair schools announced that the first new primary school in decades would be built at a cost of $35 million. Three middle schools are the popular Renaissance School, Mt. Hebron and Glenfield, all operating on the "house" system. Read More About Our Public Schools>>

Aside from the public school system, Montclair has numerous pre-schools and daycare facilities. While there is no public pre-K, some years ago a public-private partnership launched Montclair Pre-K to great success; parents pay tuition according to income.

The town also has a number of private schools, including Montclair Kimberly Academy, serving K-12 on three campuses, the Montclair Cooperative (K-6), and the Deron School, for special-needs students. (In close proximity are several other private schools, including the exemplary Newark Academy; the Darcy School in Livingston; Far Brook in Short Hills; Solomon Schechter and Seton Hall Prep in West Orange; and Pingry in Morristown, to name a few.)

Every spring, just as the azaleas bloom, Montclair zips to life during "May in Montclair" festivities, with dozens of public offerings for all ages and interests. There's Art in Bloom, another series of events at the Montclair Art Museum for adults and kids; a Cinco De Mayo celebration at the Montclair Public Library; a juried art exhibition by Studio Montclair; "Dog Day" festivities for the town's pets and their owners; and a British Country Fair in one of Montclair's scenic parks.

Meanwhile, Downtown Montclair, a mile-long stretch of shops along busy Bloomfield Ave. and numerous vital side streets, has become a regional center of upscale restaurant activity take you pick of world cuisines, antique shops, upscale boutiques, and entertainments, as well as Starbucks. Church Street, one of the sweetest diversions in town, is home to sidewalk cafes and homey snackeries (Raymonds, Gimmee Jimmy's, Church Street, The Stockpot), appealing shops and, in sunny weather, street performances by young musicians. For those on the go, Montclair Center offers a myriad of fun dining options, from Alans on the Avenue's super sandwiches to Leone's for fresh and inexpensive Italian cuisine and the best brick-oven pizza in town. Two new condo developments, The Siena on Church St. and the Walnut Street Lofts just across the street from Montclair's most popular Irish pub restaurant, Egan & Sons, add to the vitality of the downtown business district. Coming in 2007 on Walnut St., Oppenheimers, a warehouse transformed into Montclair's first seafood fine-dining establishment. In Upper Montclair (same town, different zip code), more restaurants, boutiques, parks, nature walks, and such.

There is considerably more I want to tell you about Montclair, and I look forward to doing so. When you sign up for this website's Homecaster feature, you will receive a weekly newsletter ("Real Burbs") that will keep you abreast of market trends, MLS inventory that matches your needs and much more. I hope you will come to see my knowledge of real estate and life in the town and all of Essex County as indispensable to your move as it will be to your new life after you settle in. Let's begin our dialogue now.