Where Do You Like to Listen to Live Music in Bergen County?

I am interested to know where most people think that the best free live music is in Bergen County.  I have written about particular live music acts and live music venues in my blog posts before and I strongly feel that when I find a good place to see live music in NJ, I'm confident that most people will feel the same way.

However, lately my friends and I have been disagreeing about the best live acts around and the best live music venues in Bergen County.  So I have promised them that I would add post requesting information from anyone who would like to voice their opinion on the matter.

If I receive enough responses, my goal is to post the results of all of the submissions in a "Best Live Music in Bergen County" list.  So please don't be shy about adding your submissions.  If you want to send in more than one, that's fine; but please tell list them in the order of which you like the best! 

So, just to be clear, I am looking for the answers to the following two questions:

1. Who is your favorite live music act and why?

2. Where is your favorite place to see live music entertainment and why? 

If you would be so kind, please feel free to comment on either of these two questions.

Thank You!

NJGuru

I Love Groupon! But Is Everyone Stealing They're Idea?

So, I have to admit it: I'm a huge fan of Groupon.com.  If you haven't checked it out yet, you are obviously not one of Bergen County's super-elite, in-the-know, cool people.  So if I were you, I'd get on it.

For those of you that do know about Groupon, it's pretty darn cool isn't it?  These guys nailed it.  The concept is smart: Offer the consumer one meaningful discount or "deal" per day from a hand-selected company in their area that is worth buying from.  Whether it's from a high-end spa, a super swanky restaurant, a cooking school, or a hair removal service center, there is eventually something worth buying for everyone.  The fact that you get just one offer a day let's you clear the mind of all mental clutter so that you can focus on the true task at hand:  Do I like this offer? If the answer is "No," great move on with your day at the rat race.  If the answer is "yes," run your card number, get your certificate and use it when your calendar frees up.  Simple, elegant and smart. 

So, if you are already a fan of Groupon, have you noticed how their business model is popping up all over the place?  For instance, I'm also a subscriber of OpenTable.com.  OpenTable is a free service that lets you make reservations at thousands of restaurants nationwide without having to talk to any annoying humans, all from the comfort of your computer or on your iPhone (or other not-so-cool smart phones), and rewards you for doing so.  At the end of the day, making your dinner arrangements through OpenTable translates to FREE FOOD.  Nothing wrong with that, right?  However, now they are also offering Groupon-esque coupons on their site for really cool restaurants in your subscriber area.  $20 for 40 bucks worth of food and drinks at such-and-such hot restaurant or $50 bucks for a four course dinner with wine parings.  It makes it hard not to blow your whole paycheck while reading your email.  Anyway, the format is very obviously the very same as Groupon.  I wonder if Groupon is in on it?

I also saw the same Groupon format in an email that I received from WestchesterMagazine.com.  (Yes, I know I write about great restaurants in Bergen County, but I sometimes I do shoot across the border...)  In the email, WestchesterMagazine.com offered me $18 worth or really awesome looking cupcakes for 9 bucks ala the Groupon method.  (Which, by the way, looked so damn good, I almost licked the screen.)  So what I want to know is: Is Groupon in on it? Our they getting their rightly deserved props for these offerings?  Are they the ones that are actually providing the content?  Please chime in if you have some thoughts or an inside track on this topic, because I am thoroughly intrigued.

I'll try to respond if I can still type after I get my 840-dollars-worth of laser hair removal that I bought for under 150 bucks! Yahhooo!

Keeping The Light On

There are some places that just feel exactly the same 20 years later.  I recently stopped by The Orange Lantern on a Saturday night because I saw all of the cars in the parking lot and I was feeling, well... "young."  I say young because the "O.L." was one of the first bars that I frequented in my...  ahhh... 20's.  It was like going into a time warp for me.  A different crowd than I remember for sure; although a few familiar faces - but the vibe: exactly the same. 

The Orange Lantern is the closest thing near Paramus to a real "rock & roll slash biker bar." It's been family-owned and operated by the Faatz family since 1933.  While I'm sure that much has changed over the decades, there is still no shortage of beer T-shirts and black mini-skirts with fish nets on a Saturday night.  Some people might turn their nose up at that kind of stuff, but not me.  (Ok, so there were only a few beer T-shirts on the night I visited, but hey - I'm entitled to a little poetic license.)  As you may have discerned from my other blog entries, I am a sucker for great live entertainment in NJ and the O.L. rarely disappoints in this area; especially if it's a raw rock & roll itch that needs to be scratched.  On the Saturday night that I stopped by, the offering was in the form of a band called Last Minute.  These guys are a no frills, straight-up classic rock band.  Exactly what I was looking for.  (In fact, upon reviewing The Orange Lantern's online entertainment calendar, I was delighted to see that there is something going on just about every weekend.  Kudos to them for keeping the Bergen County live music thing alive.)

Aside from the live (usually free) music there are some other things that make The Orange Lantern a fun night.  For one, if you like playing darts, there is almost always more than a few people willing to let you into their rotation.  My experience has been that the crowd gathered around the dart boards is always an inviting, lively bunch. 

The fare served at The O.L. is of the Standard American type.  Burger, fries, sandwiches and the like.  Nothing earth-shattering, but good; better than your average greasy spoon.  And you can almost always find a drink special going on: like $2.00 beers, a bucket of Rolling Rock, etc, etc.  And there is a special kind of a drinking experience offered here that you can't get in : The YARD of beer.  Everyone should drink a yard of beer in their lifetime (unless you are under age or an alcoholic or on medication...  okay - well, let's just say that you should only attempt to consume a yard of beer if you can do so responsibly*). 

If you are interested in visiting The Orange Lantern, they are located at 15 East Firehouse Lane in Paramus, NJ right off of Route 17.  If you're in search of live music I recommend calling ahead to see who's playing.  They'll be happy to answer your questions at (201) 652-4443.  You can also visit their website at by clicking this link: The Orange Lantern

Hey O.L., Thanks for the fun night and for keeping the light on all these years.

*I do not endorse alcohol abuse of any kind.  Please drink responsibly.  And if you choose to drink, please do so within the confines of the law and do not drink and drive.