Downtown New Jersey Placemaking Award to SOVCA, Holiday Open Air Market and The Fox and Falcon Restaurant

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Monday, February 8, 2021

In 2020, helping small businesses survive and thrive has been a challenge during this Coronavirus Pandemic. Here in South Orange, the South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA) went into action supporting small businesses by hosting a Summer Long Outdoor Live Music Series titled Summer Saturdays Live Music and also hosted a wonderful beautiful and now award-winning Holiday Open-Air Market.

South Orange Holiday Open-Air Holiday Market 

Considering SOVCA always has many other initiatives in pipeline, pulling off the Holiday Open-Air Market was a major undertaking. This project included setting up a fully functional temporary outdoor retail marketplace, power heat and all. Products and services offered were finely crafted jewelry, apparel, accessories, art and gift items made by many of the area’s finest local artisans and craftspeople. The market was held in the South Orange, NJ’s Sloan Street Parking Lot and had to be set up every week and emptied every Thursday before setting up the market again. This occurred for 7 consecutive weeks.

Under the guidance and direction of the SOVCA Leadership – Exec Dir. Julie Doran and Ops Mgr Melissa Hodge, they pulled it all together. The Open-Air market was located between some wonderful restaurants and also offered up some lovely live music entertainment. The South Orange Holiday Open Air Market was enjoyed tremendously by local folks and visitors from all over. Positive comments came in from all over and every night from numerous participants.

We’re happy to see that the SOVCA hard work paid off, and they are now the recipients of the Downtown New Jersey Placemaking Award for taking innovative steps for keeping our town surviving and thriving. The awards were presented at a virtual ceremony during the New Jersey Downtown Conference.

DNJ’s Executive Director, Courtenay Mercer said, “Since we could not do a larger program this year, we wanted to recognize excellent placemaking projects and initiatives helping small business cope with the economic strain of COVID-19.” Joining Downtown New Jersey in recognizing excellence in placemaking was AARP New Jersey, who sponsored the event because these community efforts align with their own Livable Communities initiative. 

Forget The Whale at The Fox and Falcon Restaurant

Forget The Whale performs at Holiday Market at The Fox and Falcon Restaurant.

Additionally, the article states, “The Fox and Falcon was recognized with an Early Action/Merchant award for creating an attractive and engaging outdoor space that spurred more restaurants to follow and the area became known as Restaurant Row.”

Anybody who was around knows David Massoni, the owner of The Fox and Falcon, as David was everywhere working and conversing with customers and staff. He design a wonderful outdoor space, with beautiful settings, fireplace tables, rocking chairs, heaters, live music lights, very happy customers, and my favorite, Alex and her Hot Toddies.

Live Music – Gregory Burrus Productions

Harmonic Convergence Alex Desivires The Fox and Falcon South Orange NJ from Gregory Burrus on Vimeo. Alex Desivires @alleycatsax.

Of course, Gregory Burrus Productions was happy to provide live music experience throughout the summer, fall and the Holiday Open-Air Market which ran all the way to Christmas Eve. As long as the weather cooperated, then we were outdoors live with multiple live music bands every weekend.

When they say it takes a village, well, my live music village consisted of my folks out volunteering in full support with Chelsea Burrus on site handling cameras, video and social media, and G2BProductions handling the home studio live stream capabilities. The audience was in full support. Audience members donated profusely to the live music bands, helped lay wires when power disappeared, helped open and close our temporary parking lot, run lights and so much more. In addition. we had full support of a photography crew taking pictures and creating history along with drone videos also. I want to thank each and everyone of them that came out every week.

South Orange Village Center Alliance Making It Happen

As Executive Director Julie Doran stated, “It’s always nice to have our efforts recognized, and this year even more so.” Also, as I like to say, it takes a village, well once again it’s so true as Julie Doran stated, “We’re very grateful for support from our many small businesses, the South Orange Parking Authority, Main Street New Jersey and Gregory Burrus Productions.

Outdoor shopping, dining and live music events have become the norm for all of us this year and with good weather, some serious social distancing, masks and an audience that adheres to health guidelines, we will continue on under their excellent leadership.

DOWNTOWN NEW JERSEY – DNJ is a non-profit membership organization of individuals, businesses, developers, government agencies, and local and regional entities that are passionate about downtowns. Downtowns reflect our communities’ unique identities, provide a focal point, a convenient local place of commerce, and offer a sense of place where people can gather and truly be a community. DNJ provides advocacy, education, and technical assistance resources dedicated to ensuring the vitality of our downtowns. For more information, visit www.downtownnj.com.

The South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA) is the not-for-profit management entity of our village’s Special Improvement District. Founded in 1991 as Main Street South Orange, the organization is run by an Executive Director and a volunteer board of directors made up of property owners, business owners, residents and other stakeholders. We are not a part of the South Orange Village government but work closely with elected officials and Village staff as a separate 501(c)3 non-profit organization. https://www.sovillagecenter.org

Gregory Burrus Productions is a local live music ambassador, event developer and community partner that develops manages, promotes and documents local community events in the Greater New Jersey and New York Area. Originally from New York City, Gregory has been a New Jersey Resident for the past 30 years, books bands. produces, promotes, captures and records live music events. https://gregoryburrusproductions.com

The Fox & Falcon Restaurant – Located in the heart of downtown South Orange, you’ll find The Fox & Falcon, a culinary destination for the emerging food scene of Essex County, in which renowned restauranteur David Massoni has found a home. Embodying the diversity and uniqueness of SOMA (South Orange/Maplewood), The Fox & Falcon delivers to all guests a warm and inviting environment in which to gather and with passionate, caring individuals at the helm. https://www.thefoxandfalconnj.com

Junior League Montclair-Newark Host Homeless 2021 Sleep Out: Montclair Community Edition

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Tuesday, February 2, 2021

When it comes to creativity and committing to the cause, some groups like The Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc.​​ are adapting to the times and are back again for a second year to join the Covenant House Sleep Out: Montclair Community Edition on February 26, 2021. Over the years, Covenant House has found homeless sleeping under bridges, abandoned buildings, or riding the trains. Some try to stay with people they have met, often at a cost that no one should pay. As a society we have lost kids to human trafficking, substance abuse, gangs, jail, and even death. 

Covenant House, New Jersey’s mission is to provide comprehensive residential care and related services to help New Jersey’s youth who have suffered from abuse, neglect, abandonment, homelessness and human trafficking. And now the world is moving through the COVID-19 pandemic along with experiencing a national recession, which clearly means these economic conditions will further drive increases in homelessness.  Since 2016, Homelessness has been increasing and the “Homelessness in 2021: Five Factors to Watch” report predicts that homelessness is on the rise among two distinct age groups, the very old and the relatively young. With 4.2 million kids facing homelessness in America every night and here in New Jersey there are about 3,000 kids that do not have a home, this situation still needs to be addressed.

Enter the Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc.​​ (JLMN) who have shown they are committed again to helping address this situation by participating in this year’s Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc​​ (JLMN) Sleep Out fundraiser. And of course the COVID-19 pandemic has required us all to get creative and alter our plans to meet this very necessary fundraising campaign.  

Normally held outdoors in a town parking lot, in the cold with other sleepers, this year's 2021 Sleep Out event is being adapted to our times. To ensure everyone's safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic, it has been decided to host this Sleep Out as a virtual event. For you to participate, a link will be sent out for you to join us live for an engaging program via your computer or smartphone. Then you will sleep inside your home, backyard, or porch! Folks can still fundraise, join a team and donate and still show their commitment to the cause. 

Clearly, the need to fund targeted strategies that reduce homelessness are still needed, and this annual fundraiser this year has the ambitious goal of surpassing last year's amount and is reaching $100,000 in 2021. To not have it would be devastating, especially since the proceeds of the last Junior League of Montclair-Newark fundraiser enabled Covenant House, NJ’s homeless youths to start building a life for themselves that is safe, healthy and good.

We hope you understand the need and can join us. Learn more. https://covenanthousenj.org/how-you-can-help/events/sleep-out/sleep-out-montclair. 

About The Junior League of Montclair Newark – The JLMN is a supportive, amazing organization of women whose mission is to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women and improve the community through trained volunteers. We are actively involved in supporting Foster Care initiatives and Human Trafficking legislation because we understand that our future depends on the flourishing of our communities’ children.  JLMN is creating better communities for a better future. The JLMN strives to promote the safety and well-being of the children in the Montclair-Newark area. Lean more at The Junior League of Montclair Newark and you can click here for their current programs: https://www.jlmn.org/.

About Covenant House New Jersey (CHNJ) – Covenant House New Jersey (CHNJ) provides sanctuary and support for youth ages 18-21 facing homelessness or human trafficking. We have seven locations across the state: Atlantic City, Newark, Jersey City, Camden, and Asbury Park, and specialized care in Montclair and Elizabeth. Across New Jersey, we are the New Jersey Human Traffic Provider of services to all Human Trafficking survivors and victims. At CHNJ’s Montclair-based program, Nancy’s House, young people with special mental health needs who are facing homelessness can get the attention they require.  We serve about 4,585 youth annually, and all our services are free. https://bit.ly/SleepOutwithHC

 About the writer Gregory Burrus

Gregory Burrus is a Passionate Community Advocate, Reporter, and Writer about local events In and Around South Orange, NJ. Showcasing, photographing, videotaping events and happenings as they occur around town while living life every day to the fullest, my mission is to help my customers which are community groups, live music bands and local nonprofits reach their goals and accomplish their missions while enjoying the day to day process of life.