October Update
an interview with a New Jersey inventor, Toxic Avenger: The Musical in Camden, and more!
I spent the last bit of summer as I usually do: in Cape May with family and friends for a long weekend. It was a glorious few days of eating at all of my favorite spots (plus finding new ones) and walking to the beach to see the sunset. I’ve been going to Cape May during the off season for as long as I can remember, and it’s one of my favorite ways to reset without having to travel very far.
-Kerri
New Jersey is the World Podcast
Last month, the first installment of what we’re calling an “unofficial book club” came out on the New Jersey is the World podcast—we interviewed Dewar MacLeod about his book Making the Scene in the Garden State: Popular Music in New Jersey from Edison to Springsteen and Beyond! Listen to it wherever you get your podcasts.
Rutgers-Camden Exhibit
A few days after we had a great virtual talk, I made it down to see the Jersey Collective exhibit at the Paul Robeson Library at Rutgers-Camden! It was so cool to see and such an honor. Stay tuned for an announcement about another Rutgers Library that will host the exhibit next.
I also love that the library hosted a game night and busted out New Jersey Go Fish!
Upcoming Events
More fall and winter markets to be announced soon! I’ll have the sticker machine at all of these vendor events! For more info, see our website.
Nutley’s Fall Festival in the Park
Sunday, September 29 from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Memorial Park I, Nutley, NJ
I’m sharing the space with Alex, who will have some great stuff available. We’re also neighbors with Dan Misdea! Come say hi!
Geek Flea
Saturday, November 23 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
First Presbyterian Church: 663 Kearny Ave, Kearny NJ
Come say hi, browse the other vendors, and don’t skip the snack bar/bake sale.
Bell Works Fresh Holiday Market
Saturday, December 7 from 2:00-7:00 PM
Bell Works: 101 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel, NJ
Special afternoon/evening market featuring vendors and photos with Santa.
Can’t make it to an event? Shop our online souvenir shop! New Jersey Fan Club is also available wherever books are sold—if your favorite local shop doesn’t have it, ask them to order it! Same goes for your local library.
I’m obsessed with this new design by our friends at Garden State Press, a playful response to the latest @njgov post to go viral.
Opening this week at the Montclair Art Museum is a show titled 2024 New Jersey Arts Annual: Exploring our Connections. The juried exhibition showcases over 60 works of art by New Jersey-based artists.
There is never a time when Weird NJ is not on our radar, but I just have to say I love the cover for issue 63, which just came out. If you took our advice back in April and went to go see The Devil & Daisy Dirt, you’ll recognize the cover image!
I have never been as excited to see a targeted ad as I was when I got one for The Toxic Avenger: The Musical, now playing at the South Camden Theatre Company. The last few shows are this weekend!
In sports news: the New Jersey Devils have their home opener next Thursday!
Highlighting our locally-based independent retailer partners who carry our products!
Just Jersey
Location: Morristown, NJ
Just Jersey is the place to shop for all things Jersey-themed and/or made. Their entire store is filled to the brim with unique art, gifts, home goods, books, jewelry, and more. On my last visit, I picked up a jar of this Princeton-made ketchup, which made an extremely good meatloaf. Tina and Paul are also the coolest and nicest and have great taste, so when they wanted to stock New Jersey Go Fish! and some of our stickers, it was the highest compliment.
But don’t just listen to my endorsement—Just Jersey was recently featured by New Jersey Monthly, too!
Welcome to the NJ Q+A, where we hear from an interesting New Jerseyan!
This month, we talked to Casey from Mixer Skirt, a New Jersey resident who invented—and patented!—an extremely cool fabric splash guard that keeps baking messes safely inside stand mixers.
How did you come up with the idea for Mixer Skirt?
I have always been a baker as a stress reliever. When I started making fancy decorated cookies, the royal icing was so messy and there were no good splash guard solutions on the market. A friend recommended draping a tea towel over my stand mixer, but powdered sugar still got all over my kitchen and I had to hold it in place. It drove me crazy that there wasn’t something to prevent the mess. I found I wasn’t the only person struggling with the mess and came up with the idea of the Mixer Skirt!
When did you know it was an idea you wanted to pursue seriously?
I couldn’t stop thinking about Mixer Skirt for at least three years. I could see it as a finished product in my head for so long, but life was always busy and in the way. When we were on lockdown, I finally had time to sit down and make it a reality. I told myself I would try and get through each step myself and if at any point I couldn’t figure out how to get to the next step I would know I tried and it didn’t work. But to my surprise, I was able to get through the entire process of trademarking, sewing my first prototype, and finding a manufacturer. Eventually it all fell into place and I was holding this product in my hand. It was a surreal experience to look back on.
What was the patent process like?
The patent process was where I needed to rely on the experts. Once I had the product in hand, my fiancé Jared really pushed me to pursue the patent. I was hesitant because it is an expensive process, but I knew how important it would be in the long term. Getting the patent certificate in the mail was more special than my Rutgers diploma (sorry, Rutgers).1
New Jersey boasts an impressive list of things that were invented here, from bubble wrap to the traffic circle to the drive-in movie. Do you have a favorite Jersey invention?
I am a proud Jersey Girl, so I am excited to be on this list now! I didn’t know bubble wrap was invented here! Brilliant, and of course we invented the dreaded traffic circle. Being I have a sweet tooth and a love for the Jersey Shore, my favorite would have to be salt water taffy. There is something about a boardwalk candy shop…the smell when you walk in, picking out your favorite flavors, and if they are pulling the taffy in the window that’s even better—how soothing?!
What else do you do when you're not baking?
I’m a full time medical device representative and I spend any downtime with Jared and our two geriatric German shepherd mix dogs. I love to swim and travel anywhere with palm trees and a body of water to float in with a tropical drink.
If you want to pick up a Mixer Skirt to prepare for all of your fall/winter baking or to give as a gift, you can grab one here, and use code JERSEY at checkout for a discount! And be sure to follow Mixer Skirt on Instagram.
The Garden State Film Festival is open for film, screenplay, and music submissions. Fun fact: my senior thesis film screened at this festival back in 2012! Deadline: 11/1.
Zufall Health invites children and adults to participate in a photo contest themed “What makes Sussex County special?” Entrants may submit up to 10 photos that showcase the uniqueness of the Sussex County community and their pride in it. This could include landscapes, local events, community activities, or anything that highlights the beauty and spirit of the area. The contest is divided into three age groups (12 and under; 13-17; 18 and above), and the winner of each group will receive a prize. The winning photos in each age group will be displayed at Zufall's National Rural Health Day celebration on Thursday, November 21, at Newton High School, 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Zufall Health is a nonprofit community health center providing access to affordable, high-quality health care for individuals facing barriers to care. Deadline: 11/1.
The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners has announced the 2025 Monmouth County Travel Guide cover photo contest is accepting submissions. Deadline: 11/15.
I’m always looking for opportunities to feature here! Feel free to send me anything you’re a part of or that you see, either via email (you can reply to this) or on Instagram!
No, but seriously, you gotta see this thing. They went so hard on the design??