🗓 What's Happening This Weekend

Friday, May 8

Mountainside Education Foundation Spring Plant Sale

📍 Mountainside School Campus (lower lot)

🕐 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

💰 Prices vary — proceeds fund school programs

The MEF plant sale is back with annuals, perennials, herbs, and hanging baskets. Pro tip: get there early for the best selection. Last year the tomatoes were gone by 4:30.

Echo Tap & Grille — Live Music Night

📍 1936 Washington Valley Rd

🕐 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

💰 No cover

Local acoustic set on the patio. Good spot for a low-key Friday with decent bar food and a solid beer list.

Saturday, May 9

Watchung Reservation Guided Bird Walk

📍 Trailside Nature & Science Center

🕐 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

💰 FREE (registration recommended)

Spring migration is peak season. Bring binoculars if you have them — the Trailside Center has loaners if you don't. Great for kids who can handle an early morning.

Mountainside Farmers Market (Preview Market)

📍 Borough Hall parking lot

🕐 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

💰 Free to browse

Early-season market with local honey, baked goods, and spring produce. Full season kicks off in June, but the preview markets have been growing every year.

Stage House Tavern — Saturday Brunch

📍 1099 South Ave, Mountainside

🕐 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

💰 $15-25 per person

Their brunch menu is underrated — the breakfast burger and bloodies are local favorites. Patio seating if the weather holds.

Sunday, May 10 (Mother's Day)

Trailside Nature & Science Center — Mother's Day Hike

📍 Watchung Reservation

🕐 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

💰 FREE

Easy 2-mile loop through the gardens and forest. Flowers should be hitting peak bloom. Family-friendly pace.

Publick House — Mother's Day Brunch

📍 899 Mountain Ave

🕐 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

💰 $35-45 per person, reservations strongly recommended

Classic brunch buffet with carving station, omelet bar, and desserts. This books up fast — if you don't have a reservation yet, call now or try the bar seating.

🥾 Trail of the Week: Sierra Trail

Distance: 4.5 miles (full loop)

Difficulty: Moderate — some rocky sections, gradual elevation

Best for: Ages 10+, leashed dogs welcome

Time: 2-2.5 hours

Trailhead: Trailside Nature & Science Center parking lot

The Sierra Trail is Watchung Reservation's most popular loop for a reason. It hits the highlights — Lake Surprise, the Deserted Village of Feltville, ridgeline views — without the commitment of a full-day hike.

What you'll see:

• Mile 0.5: Lake Surprise overlook — good spot for a water break and photos

• Mile 1.2: Deserted Village of Feltville — 19th-century mill town ruins, worth the short detour

• Mile 2.8: Ridgeline section — best views in the reservation on a clear day

• Mile 4.0: Hemlock forest — shaded and cool even on warmer days

Current conditions (May 2026):

Trail is mostly dry with some muddy patches near the lake after rain. Wildflowers are blooming along the ridgeline section — trillium and jack-in-the-pulpit are out in force. Ticks are active; check yourself and your dog after the hike.

Pro tip: Park at the Trailside Center and grab a coffee at the snack bar before you head out. They open at 8 AM on weekends.

🍔 Where to Eat Now: Publick House

Address: 899 Mountain Ave, Mountainside

Style: American gastropub

Price: $$ (entrees $18-32)

Best for: Date night, family dinner, brunch

The Publick House has been a Mountainside staple since 2010, and it's still the best all-around restaurant in town. Here's what to order:

• The burger — 8oz patty, brioche bun, house pickles. Simple, done right.

• Fish and chips — beer-battered cod, hand-cut fries, malt vinegar mayo. Best in Union County.

• Brunch buffet (Sundays) — if you can get a reservation.

The bar program is solid too — rotating craft taps and a surprisingly good whiskey selection for a neighborhood spot.

Insider tip: They don't take reservations for the bar area, but if you show up at 5:30 on a Friday, you can usually grab two seats and order off the full menu.

📣 Neighbor Shoutouts

Shout out to the person who left a case of water at the Sierra Trailhead last weekend. Whoever you are — hikers noticed and appreciated it. That's the kind of thing that makes this town what it is.

Have a shoutout? Hit reply and tell me. I'll feature it in the next issue.

💡 The Short Scoop

• Roadwork alert: Mountain Ave repaving starts Monday, May 12. Expect delays 9 AM – 3 PM weekdays through May 23.

• New opening: Mosaico (Italian, corner of Route 22 and New Providence Rd) is soft-opening this week. Full review coming in Issue #3.

• Pool passes: Mountainside pool membership registration opens May 15. Early bird pricing through May 31.

• Lost dog: Black Lab mix, answers to "Cooper," last seen near the Watchung Reservation dog park on Tuesday. Contact Mountainside Animal Control if spotted.

Forward This to a Neighbor

Know someone who just moved to Mountainside? Someone who always asks "what's happening this weekend?" Forward them this email — they'll thank you.

See you next Tuesday.

— Brian