My Creativation: MONTCLAIR, NJ

How could I consider doing a series on road trips without including my first love and saving grace upon moving to New Jersey ten years ago…

For thousands of years before European settlements, the area was part of the homeland of the Lenape Indians, who hunted and trapped here and passed over the mountains on their way to gather shellfish at the shore. (1) Montclair, my little creative haven, began with the founding of Newark, NJ in 1666 by a group of Connecticut Puritans led by Robert Treat, and was first called Cranetown in honor of Azariah Crane, an early settler. During the Revolutionary War, Montclair may have provided observation points for following the movements of the British and been headquarters to George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, but in 2000 it became the place where I began to breath again...

Studio packed, I left Westwood, California in 1992 and headed southeast to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to attend seminary and begin work as a minister. Seven years later, I hardly knew what to expect when my personal life drew me to New Jersey to marry. A pastor, a widower with eight adult (or nearly adult) children, and become a chaplain in hospice care. Needless to say my life was hectic and more unpredictable than I could have ever imagined as our family kept getting larger with spouses and grandchildren (we are now holding – I think – with twenty-two grands, bringing our immediate family size up to up to 36 not including pets!).

Becoming a chaplain in home-care seemed divine intervention at the time. As I drove along all the back roads of Essex County, New Jersey, visiting patients and families in their homes, I sorted out my days and learn to cope with a new life. Just months after I started working for Saint Barnabas Hospice, they founded a thrift shop in Montclair. So, in between patient visits, charting and whatever else, I excitedly helped the new manager and her husband as they built displays and painted walls in preparation to open the shop. Never dreaming that just three years later I would leave patient care altogether to become the shop’s second manager… Thus my love affair with Montclair began…

I left Hospice in 2005 to offically open Tea & Wings Studio LLC (TEAWINGS for short), but Montclair continues to be my home away from home... For days I have been trying to somehow figure out the perfect picture to paint of this beloved town. Finally deciding that knowing too much, can be just as much a hindrance as knowing too little… So, I will just reference some of my favorites places to go and just be. Because that’s what Montclair did for me as an artist. It grounded me in my new life by offering me intimate havens. Places I could count on for rest, for joy, for inspiration -- for a good dig in the perpetual quest for vintage details…

For Inspiration…I always stop by Parcel (http://www.shopparcel.com/) 559 Bloomfield Ave, 973-744-7700. It is the best place for vintage paper goods, ephemera, and lots of unusual nostalgic finds. Nancy Laboz (owner) brings the best of 1000 hunts through dusty estate sales right to your fingertips in creative and imaginative ways. I promise you will not leave empty handed. (She also sales large mint chocolate mothball candy, which are a must.) (All the vintage shots on this page are vignettes from Parcel's displays).

My other favorite is Dem Two Hands (http://www.demtwohands.com/) at 61 N Fullerton Ave, (973) 783-8344, just down the row from the Hospice Thrift Shop. Though it is a unique women's clothing boutique, featuring hand made clothing accessories, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and gift items from around the world. It is also a magical environment for the senses, a real testament to the unique vision of owner Marion Lake, a gifted artist with a unique eye for details that is hers alone. I live in her linens and personally styled raw silk creations. I always know when I walk out her door that the treasure I purchased is either 1 or 2 or perhaps 3 of a kind, and not likely to show up at the same place I am going.


For Joy…
I like strolling down Church Street looking in all the shop windows. Of course my favorite visit is the Montclair Antique Center (http://www.montclairantiquecenter.com/) 34 Church St, (973) 746-1062, which houses about 50 dealers… And I simply cannot finish the visit without lunch at Raymond’s (http://www.raymondsnj.com/) 28 Church St, (973) 744-9263 which features the best vegetarian chili and shrimp and grits, or visit the Stockpot for soup, an old fashioned soup dinner with several varieties made fresh daily. Church Street, though changing, is still intimate and quaint and feels very European

Good Digs…
OK, here it get’s tricky… too much to mention in detail so be certain to visit:
The Ivory Bird, (next to Parcel), for great English silver and details…
Travel Bloomfield Avenue from Pine Street up to Valley Road for various shops along either side of the street. (See list at: http://www.gotomontclairnj.com/antiques.htm)

My personal favorites in town are:

• Hospice Thrift Shop 51 N. Fullerton Ave, (973) 509-2060, a menagerie of all kinds of donations almost daily;
• The Antique Garage Sale, 194 Claremont Ave, (973) 783-0806, furniture, shabby chic details, garden rod irons, and much more… just go;
• Noel's Place 173 Glenridge Ave, (973) 744-2156;
• Little Cricket, 416 Bloomfield Avenue, (973) 509-0990;
• And… Maison Interiors, 123 Walnut Street, 973.517-1424 is and interior designer’s shop, but she often has wonderfully rare large-scale “Euro-trash” stuff. Just across from her is another shop (name escapes me) features Asian antiques and some old textiles.

And while you are on Walnut Street pop down the block (same side as Maison’s) to get some home made bread or muffins (carrot walnut muffin is a must)… The Way We Were and one other shop at around 15 Midland Avenue (973) 783-1111, about rounds it out.

And finally, for Rest…
The Montclair Art Museum and grounds, (http://www.montclair-art.com/) 3 South Mountain, (973) 746-5555 with lots of good places to eat in walking distance is a good place to spend some time; Also, the hills of Montclair are filled with grand 19th and 20th century mansions along North and South Mountain, Upper Mountain and adjoining streets, I sometimes just drive around to admire the architecture and gardens; Finally, Montclair is a town filled with artist and artisans. Most are members of an organization called Studio Montclair, you can access the group’s membership list and links at: http://www.studiomontclair.org/members.htm. Janet Taylor Pickett, my friend and mentor is one of the mixed media artists who opens her home during the Studio Montclair’s Artists Studio Tour held each fall.

Montclair has many unique shops and wonderful eateries, and a distinct cultural climate just a 12-minute train ride (midtown direct) from New York City. If you come to the area I hope you take some time to visit. Also, TEAWINGS Studio is just a hop and skip down the road a piece from Montclair, so e-mail me too, so you can stop by for TEA, some vintage linens, and see how paper is made.

You can access more photos of Montclair by visiting TEAWINGS ROAD TRIP page.

(1) Township of Montclair, New Jersey website: http://www.montclairnjusa.org/content/view/342/509/