January Recap

Published February 1, 2024

My monthly recap series, which I began in the summer of last year, kicks off the new year with my January recap. My goal for the start of the year was to make time for my hobbies and connect with my creative background.

In between snowstorms and massive rainfall this month, I finally had a clear — and somewhat warm weekend — for this month’s highlight.

Brunch in Downtown Montclair

To start the weekend of adventures, my boyfriend and I visited Toast in downtown Montclair for brunch.

 

The diner was packed as we wove our way through the aisles and up the steps to the second floor. We were seated at the last two-top table in the back of the room, close to the kitchen doorway. Large tables of families, friends, and couples filled the space with loud conversation and music.

A two-sided laminated menu looked like a placemat. It was organized into categories like: Breakfast Starters, Bennys, Classics, From the Griddle, Toasts, Salads, Sides, and more. 

I was interested in their “From The Griddle” section — which featured specialty pancakes, french toast, and waffles.

Bless my boyfriend, who also loves food. He recommended we share a sweet dish like the pancakes and order a savory dish as our main meals, since there were no appetizers — like the ones we had at Tucker’s.

Breakfast

Disco Eggs | $14.00

My boyfriend ordered the “Disco Eggs” which was french fries, gravy, and mozzarella topped with fried eggs and scallions

This was a large plate of fries with a perfectly cooked fried egg on top. My boyfriend added a side of corned beef hash to it as well. The french fries worked as a great base for the toppings and was a filling brunch portion.

Scrambled Eggs | $9.50

Toast’s menu offered savory lunch options like sandwiches and wraps. I was tempted to order the Cuban, but decided I wanted to stick with breakfast. I went with basic scrambled eggs, toast, and home fries. I also added a side of bacon.

The toast was my favorite, though I was also impressed with the portion of the scrambled eggs. The home fries had a balance of a crispy brown exterior and fluffy interior. This was more than enough for brunch, considering we also ordered a sweet breakfast treat to wrap up our meal.

Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes (Short Stack) | $11.00

The lemon poppyseed pancakes were the star dish. Two thick pancakes were filled with fresh blueberries and drizzled with a sugar glaze. Syrup and butter were served on the side. Each bite of pancake echoed with a subtle lemony flavor.

This was a good portion to share. The slightly sweet pancakes and refreshing and light lemony flavor was a nice note to end brunch with. If I visited Toast again for brunch, I would try another one of their specialty pancakes.

An Afternoon in Downtown Montclair

My boyfriend and I went separate ways for the afternoon. My goal was to visit the Montclair Art Museum with its weekend of free admission. He went to work in a coffee shop.

Montclair Art Museum

I didn’t research the exhibits on display at the Montclair Art Museum prior to arriving. I appreciate all types of art, and was interested in seeing anything there was to offer.

 

On free admission days, check-in for the museum was within a sign up page at the gift shop. After signing in, one could wander through the archways into the galleries. I went to the left, where three smaller galleries were connected.

Various combinations of art were on display in the first room — cases of vintage monopoly boards and pieces, a hanging display of hole-punch scraps, a neon X on canvas.

Joel Meyerowitz’s photography was on display in the right-hand gallery. I enjoyed his photography the most from my visit. It featured beaches, beach homes, and portraits (specifically of red heads), during the 70s and 80s. Meyerowitz’s website features some of the Cape Code selected works that I saw in the museum.

Here’s one of Meyerowitz’s photos of Norman Mailer, which caught my attention as I crossed out of the gallery.

Unfortunately, as I crossed into the last section of the gallery — which held only 7 additional sculptures and paintings, I learned that it was a free admission weekend because the rest of the gallery was closed. I spent no more than 20 minutes in the museum, and that included studying the artwork and reading every plaque.

I was sad not to have more rooms to explore in the museum, but decided to head back downtown to visit the businesses along the way to the coffee shop.

Shopping in Downtown Montclair

I stopped into any storefront that caught my eye, the first being Parcel, a stationary store.

 

I loved Parcel’s vibe as soon as I stepped in the door. French music played softly in the background. Various shelves and wooden displays housed vintage paper, collectables, and cards.

Parcel felt like the ideal store for artists who love scrapbooking and other crafty hobbies. I plan to visit again in the future when I need craft supplies or unique stationary.

I continued walking down Bloomfield Ave. It began to drizzle and the wind whipped through the streets with an icy chill. I stopped into a gift shop and then a toy store, before approaching the bend for Glenridge Ave.

Jerry’s Antique’s sat on the corner. I popped in to browse their furniture and collectables before moving down a few shops to the Montclair Book Center. The aisles were packed and a flurry of conversation and laughter centered around the checkout counter. I explored both floors of books, and while I was tempted to add to my TBR pile, I continued down the street to Trend Coffee & Tea House.

 

The window seating and the large tables to the left of the entryway were packed. I passed the dark wooden counter and bright pastry case as I crossed into the back of the coffeehouse. This long room had low pairs of chairs for lounging. A larger section of couches for groups split the room before four-top tables stretched back to a stage for performances.

My boyfriend and I spent the afternoon sipping almond and caramel lattes (the almond latte was divine). The coffee shop was busier as the day progressed. Soon, not a table nor couch remained open.

Trend was a popular weekend coffee shop to hang out at. Some customers studied and read, while others worked on laptops. Some groups gathered to catch up and hang out while other couples shared first dates. A coffee shop on a rainy day seemed like the best location to spend an afternoon.

In all, my afternoon of brunch, cute shops, and a relaxing space to unwind was just what I needed. We finished the day with an amazing dinner in Upper Montclair, which is coming soon to the blog!

What’s your January Highlight?

How has your first month of the new year been? Do you have a favorite adventure or highlight? Tell me about it in a comment below.

If you’re looking for other New Jersey restaurants and activities to do, click here to read my other New Jersey posts, on the blog.