The Montclair Pod

This week, Columbia Journalism Review takes a close look at how The Montclair Pod became a go-to source for the school budget story, and where Mike and Farnoosh want to take the “Montclair-ish” format next. We also break down why Montclair only has about 13 liquor licenses for a town of around 41,000 people, and what that means for your next dinner reservation. Plus, two throwbacks worth a re-listen: our visit to the Montclair History Center and our conversation with The Local Girl’s Jen Tripucka.WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODECJR’s “Hyperlocal Listening”: Writer Amos Barshad profiles the Pod, starting with the school budget scoop (the deficit turning out to be closer to $18M, not $11M), Governor Sherrill’s follow-up, and the show’s numbers 18 months in: nearly 70,000 downloads, 2,000+ subscribers, and $80,000 in sponsor revenue with no sales team.The Montclair Local, addressed head-on: the piece gets into the friction between the Pod and the Montclair Local, including the Local’s policy against its reporters appearing on the podcast. Mike and Farnoosh’s take stays the same: there’s room for everyone covering this town.Where the format goes next: the hosts’ working definition of a “Montclair-ish” town (population 30K-100K, median household income around $125K, an engaged community) and why they’re already hearing from journalists in other towns who want to do the same thing.Best Bars in Montclair, and why there aren’t more: the new montclairpod.com piece on the town’s roughly 13 liquor licenses, the 1947 New Jersey law behind the cap, why a license can sell for over $1M, and how BYOB spots like Luigino’s, Sam’s Table, and Clementina get around it with curated wine sourced through a licensed winery.Throwback #1: Montclair History Center. A replay of the visit to the Crane House and Historic YWCA on Orange Road with director Angelica Diggs, including the old YWCA club room and a look at what the archive turns up about your own house’s history.Throwback #2: Jen Tripucka, The Local Girl. A replay of the conversation with the founder of The Local Girl Media Group (parent company of The Montclair Girl) on building a multi-region hyperlocal media company, sponsored vs. editorial content, and her favorite local spots.Weekend in town: the Montclair Flea at Lackawanna Plaza, a Dungeons & Dragons trivia night, a couple of singles mixers, and an adult performance night from Jazz House Kids at Montclair Brewery.RESOURCES & LINKSThe Pod in the News: “Hyperlocal Listening” by Amos Barshad in The Columbia Journalism ReviewGetting into the City: The Complete (& Only Mildly Infuriating) Guide to Commuting to NYC from MontclairBars: The Best Bars in Montclair and Montclair’s Liquor Licenses Explained (montclairpod.com) —Throwback 1: A visit to the Montclair History CenterThrowback 2: The Montclair Girl meets The Montclair PodEvents: Check out what’s happening in and around Montclair and add your own eventGot a story, a correction, or a compliment? Reach us at hello@montclairpod.comFollow UsWatch the show: YouTube ChannelJoin our weekly newsletterFollow us on Instagram @themontclairpodFollow us on NewsBreak

Welcome to our World Cup Rehash. (Watch for special clips on YouTube)Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium — and Montclair had a front-row seat. In this special reflection episode, Farnoosh and Mike step back from their nonstop World Cup coverage to look at what the last few weeks revealed: about the town's surprising love of soccer, about how hard it is for Montclair to coordinate on something this big, and about how New Jersey as a whole let New York cash in on a tournament NJ paid for and hosted. They revisit their interviews with MC Hotel owner Jeff Sica (who housed four national teams, including champions Spain) and Montclair Brewery's Leo Sawadogo, break down the AI-generated "did the team really eat here?" restaurant controversy, and share the personal moments — rain-soaked mornings outside the hotel, a viral million-view arrival video, and a chance friendship made twice in one weekend — that turned this into one of the biggest stories the Pod has ever covered.

Weird NJ founder Mark Sceurman stops by to talk all things weird in the garden state, not to mention the story of a Montclair poet obsessed with writing letters to the police, and three decades of chasing New Jersey's strangest stories — plus a visit from local zine Eighty-Six'd. We track down who actually owns the giant banner flapping over Bloomfield Avenue, sit down with MC Hotel owner Jeff Sica ahead of the World Cup Final, and dig into New Jersey's rough new business-friendliness ranking. Plus: the BID's last-minute World Cup watch party lands directly across the street from Lackawanna Plaza's, the Planning Board kicks off its Master Plan meetings, and we head to Church Street for a car-free weekend showdown.In this episode:Weird NJ founder Mark Sceurman joins to talk the origins of the magazine, the Jersey Devil, the Overbrook and Essex asylums, and Montclair poet Alfred Starr Hamilton, who wrote letters to the police. Plus a Weird NJ excerpt is live on montclairpod.comApril Acerno and Kyle Seagraves of local zine Eighty-Six'd talk starting the publication, the story behind the name, and their favorite features to date. MC Hotel owner Jeff Sica, CEO of Circle Squared Alternative Investments, previews which World Cup teams are bunking at the hotel ahead of the FinalThe Whodunit: we chase down who's responsible for the giant Bastille Day banner flapping over Bloomfield Avenue New Jersey slides to 31st in CNBC's 2026 Top States for Business — dead last for business friendliness even while ranking in the top 3 for quality of life — and we connect it to everything we've covered locally this year, from "Montclair Math" to the sidewalk ordinance fightThe Montclair Center BID's last-minute World Cup Final watch party at Wellmont Arts Plaza lands basically across the street from the one already scheduled at Lackawanna Plaza — coincidence, or did we do that?The Planning Board kicks off four ward-by-ward community meetings on the 2026 Master Plan Reexamination Report, the town's first since 2016This weekend, Church Street goes fully car-free as part of the town's monthly pedestrianization pilot — we’re partnering with Montclair-based feedback app Twocents to get real reactions from visitors and small businesses on the spotResources & LinksWeird NJWeird NJ Guest Post on The Montclair PodEighty-Six'd the MagazineThe Steve Urkel “Did I Do That?” SupercutThe MC HotelNJBIZ: New Jersey slips to 31st in CNBC business rankingsNJBIA statement on the 2026 rankingsThe BID's World Cup Final watch party — InstagramTownship of Montclair: Master Plan Report – Community MeetingsDowntown Montclair: Church Street Live 2026Questions or tips? hello@montclairpod.comFollow usWatch the show: YouTube ChannelJoin our weekly newsletterFollow us on Instagram @themontclairpodFollow us on NewsBreak

With the World Cup playing eight matches down the road at MetLife Stadium and national teams bunking at the MC Hotel, Montclair business owners expected a boom — instead they got a shrug. We dig into who was supposed to own that moment (the BID? The township? Nobody?), welcome British Guy Living in New Jersey Ollie McAteer as our guest host, and break down the wildest real estate sale we've covered yet: an $8.1 million deal on Gates Avenue with two pools, a Kushner family backstory, and zero bidding war. Plus: a carpenter ant explosion, a drug bust tied to Mission Street, arrests in a teen bike assault, and a full weekend guide from Bastille Day to Maplewoodstock.In this episode:Montclair Brewery's Leo Sawadogo kicks off the show fired up that the World Cup came to New Jersey — not "near" it — and still, foot traffic downtown never showed upThe investigation: BID consultant Jason Gleason, a non-answer from the MC Hotel ("cannot confirm or deny"), and a look at whether the BID, the township, or individual businesses were ever actually in charge of coordinating World Cup energyNew BID executive director Cesar Claro — formerly of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation — starts Monday, July 13; we've requested an interviewGuest host Ollie McAteer joins from "faraway Maplewood," talks his path from Horsham, UK to Hoboken to the suburbs, and previews his viral real estate reelsReal estate deep dive: 159 Gates Avenue, a 1910 Van Vleck and Goldsmith mansion once home to the Kushner family, sold for $8.1 million after a $5 million renovation added a second (yes, second) poolJake Kushner, founder of Kush Konnection, takes us down memory lane on what it was like growing up in the house — and how he feels about its modern reinventionOllie breaks down "Montclair Math" — why local agents say homes are priced 40% under what they're expected to fetch to manufacture bidding wars — and why the Gates Avenue sale broke the pattern entirelyOther big listings on the radar: a $20 million Cedar Grove-border estate with an 85-foot pool and helipad, a Union Street flip already back on the market for nearly double, and the "Kool and the Gang house" still sitting after ten monthsStorm damage across town takes down trees and power lines — including one in Fieldstone that turns out to have been hollowed out by a carpenter ant infestation, not the town's earlier root-cutting mishapA joint narcotics bust ties a Mission Street stash house to a West Orange address, netting ecstasy, cocaine, a stolen handgun, and two arrestsUpdate: three suspects, ages 16 to 19, are now charged in the May bike-path assault on a 14-year-oldMontclair's first Bastille Day Weekend (July 10–11) brings a garden party at Kip's Castle and a BID-partnered shopping passportMaplewoodstock returns with Bard finally headlining after years of trying, plus Lettuce and Anders Osborne — and Upper Montclair launches its new Uptown Sound Summer Stage seriesResources & LinksFull World Cup investigation — MontclairPod.comOllie McAteer on InstagramQuestions or tips? hello@montclairpod.com159 Gates Avenue ListingWSJ Article on Two Pool HousesDrug Bust in Montclair - PatchBastille Day CelebrationsFollow usWatch the show: YouTube ChannelJoin our weekly newsletterFollow us on Instagram @themontclairpodFollow us on NewsBreak

With 36 hours' notice, Farnoosh was asked to deliver the commencement address at Montclair High School — and we play you the full speech. We also debrief all the "this is so Montclair" moments from graduation day, debut our new Saturdays in the Park series with a remarkable chance encounter at Brookdale Park, and catch up on spiking real estate prices, a school principal shuffle, a stolen car on Bloomfield Ave, new e-bike rules, and everything happening this Fourth of July.In this episode:Principal Freeman called Farnoosh 36 hours before graduation and asked her to give the commencement speech — her first thought was that she was in troubleFarnoosh's full address to the Class of 2026: the theme was "don't hang up on yourself," drawing on her own stories of nearly leaving Penn State, being told to change her name to Tina, and getting laid off ...twice.Graduation day chaos: a two-line debacle at the amphitheater, a photographer form emailed at 4:26 p.m. for a 6 p.m. ceremony, a wave of graduating seniors smoking cigars, and a mystery bus ride to an adventure park in Williamsburg that ran until 4 a.m. — Project Graduation turns 46 this yearNew series: Saturdays in the Park — Mike kicks it off at Brookdale Park (formerly a golf course) and has a chance encounter with a veteran named Michael Jackson who is walking the park as part of his rehabilitation after six strokes, and who it turns out may have been aboard the USS Kennedy the same day Mike toured it as a kidMike rode the elevator at the MC Hotel with members of the German national team, corrected one player on the difference between New York and New Jersey, and his stepdad Barry sent them off with an Auf Wiedersehen — Germany lost the next dayNext week: what the hell is going on with the lack of World Cup marketing in downtown Montclair? Local business owners are frustrated, and we start digging into who's responsible and whether the town missed a once-in-a-generation opportunityThe median sale price for Montclair homes hit $1.4 million this spring — up 40% from a year ago — with at least one home going $1 million over asking; to buy the median home and keep housing at 30% of income, you need to earn over $350,000 a yearMaria Francisco, beloved principal of Renaissance at Rand Middle School, is moving to a district-level role on special assignment as the school closes and the district navigates a nearly $20 million deficit — the community has questionsAn Uber Eats driver parked on Bloomfield Ave on Juneteenth, ran inside to grab an order, and came back to find his 2022 Toyota Corolla gone — keys were in the cup holder; the car was recovered in Newark the next dayNew NJ e-bike rules are now in effect: registration with the MVC is required, riders must be 15+, helmets are mandatory, and motorized bikes now need insuranceFourth of July in Montclair: parade at 11 a.m., town picnic at Edgemont Park at 1 p.m., Fam Fest at Montclair Brewery from 2–10 p.m., and fireworks in Bloomfield and Millburn — full guide at MontclairPod.comResources & LinksFarnoosh's book: A Healthy State of PanicFourth of July Guide — MontclairPod.comNJ MVC E-Bike RegistrationCar stolen in Montclair while driver picked up Uber Eats order — PatchRenaissance principal lands new district role as Montclair school faces closure — Montclair LocalQuestions or tips? hello@montclairpod.comFollow usWatch the show: YouTube ChannelJoin our weekly newsletterFollow us on Instagram @themontclairpodFollow us on NewsBreak

This week on The Montclair Pod, we go inside a Board of Ed meeting that ran past 1 a.m. — and somehow still ended with a discussion about how to make meetings more efficient. We also hear from outgoing student rep Wyatt Foster, who's heading to Brown in the fall and has plenty to say. Then we sit down with Anne Mernin, Executive Director of Toni's Kitchen, about what the SNAP cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill actually mean for families in Montclair. Plus: a viral Substack post has labeled us "interracial Wakanda," Pride Fest has a new new date, Eclectic Chic Boutique is closing, the Fieldstone tree story gets an update, and a Father's Day dinner at Sam's Table. Oh, and it's graduation day. Congratulations to the Class of 2026!In this episode:The BOE meeting that would not end — executive session ran 2+ hours before the public meeting even started, and the whole thing wrapped past 1 a.m.Student rep Wyatt Foster on the board, the budget crisis, district consolidation, and what he's taking to BrownAnne Mernin of Toni's Kitchen on SNAP cuts, food insecurity in the suburbs, and what communities can actually doThe CBO projects up to 47,000 NJ residents could lose SNAP benefits in a given month — a number larger than Montclair and Glen Ridge combinedA public comment session on the district's use of the IHRA antisemitism definition drew a broad coalition of critics — including representatives from both CAIR and J StreetTech updates from the district: internet upgraded to 10GB (free), e-rate-funded network switches, new security cameras, Chromebooks going cart-based in K–5, predictive text disabled, AI guidelines in the works, and a student-built data dashboardFieldstone trees update: the township responds, four trees confirmed removed, a new tree protection ordinance in the worksEclectic Chic Boutique closing July 24 after eight years on Bloomfield AvePride Fest has a new new date: October 11, National Coming Out Day, at Lackawanna StationStay Sassy Substack's Jersey suburb power rankings: Montclair = "interracial Wakanda." We'll take it.Father's Day dinner recap at Sam's Table — Cape Verde tied Uruguay, the lobster pasta was great, and the burger got a very enthusiastic endorsementFeatured in this episode:Toni's KitchenMESH MontclairHuman Needs Food PantryOut Montclair / Pride FestEclectic Chic BoutiqueSam's TableStay SaaSy: Jersey Suburbs PostJune 17 BOE Meeting AgendaOur Fieldstone tree storyOur earlier Pride Fest coverageFollow usWatch the show: YouTube ChannelJoin our weekly newsletter and stay in the knowFollow us on Instagram @themontclairpodFollow us on NewsBreak

This week on The Montclair Pod, we're serving up a packed episode featuring school budget questions, local food news, community concerns, and a few major updates from around town.For the latest installment of Supper with the Super, we sat down with Montclair Schools Superintendent Ruth B. Turner at Turtle + the Wolf for an honest conversation about the issues residents are talking about most: the forensic audit, the Juneteenth lunch menu controversy, the search for a permanent business administrator, and the school tax increase that's moving forward despite voters rejecting Question 2.Plus, Mike accidentally becomes Montclair's unofficial tree correspondent after witnessing the removal of several large trees in the Fieldstone neighborhood—and hearing firsthand from residents who are upset about what happened.And because this is Montclair, we spend plenty of time talking about food.In this episode:Why school taxes are rising despite voters rejecting Question 2The latest on the stalled forensic audit, business administrator search, and upcoming tech policiesUpdates on special education, transportation changes, and the Juneteenth lunch menu controversyThe debate over tree removals in Fieldstone and Montclair's proposed tree preservation ordinanceNew developments in the ICE detention cases involving pastry chef Leonardo Argoti Rubio and Montclair resident AlbaA look inside Montclair's food scene: Java Love's 15-year journey, the reopening of Jackie's, and Mike's review of Ani Ramen's new sushi menuNew features on The Montclair Pod website, including our community events calendarFeatured in this episode:Turtle + The WolfJava LoveJackie'sAni RamenHave a question for a future edition of Supper with the Super? Send us a DM or email us—we're collecting listener questions now for our next conversation with Ms. Turner in August.Follow us• Watch the Show: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.• Join our weekly newsletter and stay in the know• Follow us on Instagram @themontclairpod.

We have a very food-forward episode this week.We dive into our unforgettable dinner at Clementina, the new Adriatic-inspired Italian restaurant on Valley Road, and explain why we think it's one of the most exciting openings Montclair has seen in years. We share the remarkable origin story of chef and co-owner Michele Rocchi, whose dream of opening his own restaurant was sparked by an unexpected conversation with a guest while working on a luxury cruise ship.We also share the news that sushi is coming to Ani Ramen. Mike spotted signage inside Ani Ramen announcing an upcoming sushi program and spoke with partner Kat Reyes about what's coming next.And we spend time with the players, parents, and coaches behind Montclair Ultimate Frisbee, one of the town's fastest-growing youth sports communities. Farnoosh visits a middle-school practice at Brookdale Park and explores how a small local program grew into a thriving community that now competes at high levels and has launched its first girls team.In What the Hell Is Going on with That…We discuss the terms surrounding the date change for Pride Fest 206 in Montclair, organized by Out Montclair.In local news, we discuss Montclair State University's selection to operate New Jersey's public television stations, replacing the outgoing NJ PBS management arrangement. We also review the Historic Preservation Commission awards, and the latest updates involving ICE detentions affecting members of the local community.Resources and LinksClementinaMontclair Ultimate Frisbee162 Union Street ListingMontclair Historic Preservation CommissionGoFundMe campaign supporting Alba and her familyGoFundMe campaign supporting Leonardo Argoti ("Chef Leo") and his legal defense fund

This week on The Montclair Pod, we tackle some of the biggest conversations happening in town—from breakfast sandwiches to PrideFest, the World Cup, school finances, and a local immigration case that has touched many residents.The Great Montclair Bacon, Egg & Cheese Taste TestAfter asking listeners for recommendations, we embarked on a highly scientific (and cholesterol-heavy) tour of six local favorites: Dutch’s, Hot Bagels Abroad, Ray’s, Minia’s, Sunrise, and Jefferson’s. We sampled them side-by-side, debated the merits of rolls versus bagels, crowned favorites, and explored what each sandwich says about Montclair itself.PrideFest PostponedOut Montclair has postponed PrideFest from June 13 to August 1, citing rising costs, declining sponsorship support, and public safety concerns related to the opening weekend of the FIFA World Cup in New Jersey. We discuss the challenges of producing large-scale community events and what the late change means for vendors, attendees, and the broader community.Forensic Audit UpdateMontclair Public Schools continue moving forward with a forensic audit tied to the district's nearly $20 million budget deficit. Superintendent Ruth B. Turner tells us the district is reviewing proposals and interviewing firms, but details remain limited for now. We discuss what residents hope the audit will uncover and invite listeners to submit questions for our upcoming installment of "Supper with the Super."OddFellows Arrives in MontclairFarnoosh visits the newly opened OddFellows Ice Cream downtown, talks with the co-owner about why they chose Montclair, and explores some of the shop's more adventurous flavors. The Brooklyn-born brand officially opened its doors last weekend and is already generating buzz.The World Cup Is ComingWith the FIFA World Cup arriving in New Jersey, we explore what it means for Montclair. We spotlight Sam's Table's transformation into a World Cup Café and welcome Montclair resident Greg Kahn, founder of GK Digital Ventures, to discuss the business, tourism, and economic opportunities surrounding one of the largest sporting events in the world. We also talk about traffic, visitors, local businesses, and whether World Cup ticket prices may actually come down.Java Love PartnershipWe're excited to announce a new collaboration with Java Love. Look for co-branded Montclair Pod stickers on iced beverage cups around town featuring a QR code to learn more about the show and enter to win a $50 Java Love gift card. We'll also be partnering on several fun community stories throughout the summer.This Week's News RoundupMFEE Honors Outstanding EducatorsCVS Shoplifting Highlights Cost-of-Living PressuresA Local Family Caught in the Immigration DebateLinks & ResourcesSam's Table World Cup Café Reservations GK Digital VenturesWeston Winners Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE)GoFundMe for Alba Send Us Your QuestionsEmail: hello@montclairpod.comFollow The Montclair PodThe Montclair Pod WebsiteInstagram @themontclairpodJoin our Newsletter