It’s July 4th weekend, and chances are good that you’ll be chowing down on some grub from the grill. For those hosting a barbeque, we asked the grill genius behind Hog Wild BBQ’s smokin’ selections, Dave Daniolowicz, for some tips to impress your guests and family.   If you can't find the time to cook ribs slow and low, stop in at the restaurant Dave owns with his brothers Drew and Darren right on Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell.    You won’t be disappointed when you sample their ribs, brisket, pulled pork and other barbeque delicacies.  The brothers took third place for their ribs in one of …

The "Official Photographer" for the Borough of Caldwell returns with a new exhibit,"New Jersey’s Wild Winged Wonders," which features a diverse cast of characters—from a Goldfinch to a Killdeer to a Red Admiral butterfly. The first-prize winner in last year’s Essex County nature photography contest, her work is on display during the month of May at the West Caldwell Public Library. How did you get into nature photography? I have two parakeets, Hasbro and Freckles. We adopted Hasbro as a stray in 2004, then got Freckles a few months later. It’s hard to believe we’ve had them this long. Time …

Lucky for us, West Caldwell resident, Ken Weiner, is back at the lost art of metal point after taking a break to raise his family. If you’ve never seen a metal point drawing (and chances are, you haven’t) make it a point to stop by the Caldwell Public Library, where a collection of Weiner’s art will be on display until this Saturday, April 30th. A member of the West Essex Artists’ Association and the Salmagundi Club of New York City, his ethereal images are sure to enthrall. If you miss the exhibit, you can view Ken’s art on his website, http://kweinerart.com/     Your art is very unique. Can…

The Youth Choir Mission Tour Group of the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell performed the musical Godspell to packed houses throughout southern Florida earlier this year. Now, they’re performing home shows for their community. A youthful rendition of the classic 1970s musical comes to Caldwell on Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 17, at 6 p.m. In the meantime, Patch spoke with Rev. Barbara Jo Piercy, the church’s minister of music, about the popular production.  Tell us about the choir. The students are from the Caldwells, Verona and West Orange. It’s …

Jon Provan, of West Caldwell, steps out from his role of music director to play the role of composer Jonathan Larson (creator of the Broadway musical Rent) in Tick … Tick … BOOM! at the Porch Light Theater in Glen Rock. Patch talked to the local actor about his latest play and what inspires his art.  The show is running over the next two weekends — March 11, 12 and 13 and March 18, 19 and 20. Visit porchlightproductions.org for show times and more information. How did you get involved with Porch Light Theater? I’m one of two musical directors for Porch Light Theater. The theater is in its …

Carlie Glassman’s persistence in finding a job she’d love paid off — for her, and for the rest of us who love dreamy, creamy (low-cal) ice cream. Case in point: The luscious, low-calorie ice cream cakes at D’Lites in West Caldwell. Patch talked to the cake-decorating diva about her cool treats.   How did you get involved with baking and cake decorating? I volunteered to bake cupcakes for a bake sale, and I was like, this is really fun! I realized I was good at it, and I really enjoyed it so I decorated a lot of cupcakes, mostly. I made cupcakes for shark week (fins with Swedish fish) and a …

When he’s not painting a canvas or playing drums at clubs in New York and New Jersey, Nick Del Virginia designs graphic apparel for the Caldwell boutique, Rose & Nicholas, he co-owns with his mother, Carol. The line features clothing for men and women: Henley’s, hoodies, polos, dresses and long-sleeved shirts. And with a price range from $18 to $40, it’s affordable to shop local! Patch recently caught up with Nick to talk shop … How did you get into designing graphic tees? I started designing t-shirts for my band, Frozen Gentleman, and then I started designing tees for other bands. It was a …

This month, “The Essex Photo Club presents …” will be on display in the Gene and Kathryn Collerd Local History Resource Room at the Caldwell Library. The group show consists of photography by some of the club’s members. Open to the public, the Essex Photo Club (www.essexphotoclub.com) offers workshops, tours, seminars and competitions. Patch spoke with Howard Knauer, president of the Essex Photo Club, and resident of West Orange, about the show, traveling for photo-ops and digital versus conventional photography. Is this an annual exhibit? This it the third year or fourth year that we’ve been…

Poet Diane Lockward may have grown up in all three Caldwells, but according to her, she's happy to call West Caldwell home.  "Since I grew up in this area, there's a lot that's comfortably familiar," she says of her hometown. "But there have also been enough changes to keep life interesting." Perhaps her biggest transition, however, was the one from high school English teacher to a full-time poet. Lockward has published four poetry collections — her most recent is Temptation by Water (Wind Publications, 2010) – and her work has appeared in several anthologies, including Poetry Daily: 366 …

We don't have to tell you how much The Caldwell Diner is missed. But, be patient, patrons. The local eatery—which has been closed since a fire in August—should reopen for business in a few months. In the meantime, we'll update you on the progress—and the process—of the new design for the exterior and interior of the diner created by the talented team at Art Devons. Here, Bekim, who co-owns Art Devons, located a few doors down from the restaurant on Bloomfield Avenue, with his wife, Shuki, talks about the project: How did you get involved in the new design for the diner? The owner of the …

Abstract painter, Rita Marie Cimini, will present new work in three upcoming local exhibits: 1978 Maplewood Arts Center in Maplewood, The Parklane Gallery in Chatham and The George Segal Gallery at Montclair State University. Cimini, a Caldwell resident, recently took a break from preparations to talk to Patch about her art. Here's a listing of Cimini's upcoming exhibits: Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12Buy Art Now Guys (BANG) exhibit1978 Maplewood Arts Center1978 Springfield Ave., MaplewoodOpen 11 to 5, Saturday and Sunday Dec. 6 to Jan. 14A solo exhibit at Parklane Gallery13 Watchung Ave., …

Thanksgiving is all about food. And who better to talk turkey with than Caldwell's own Chef Ellie? For those of you who don't know Ellie Esposito, she hosts a weekly online show, Cooking on the Block, at ChefEllieEspo.com. (She's also a chef at Tom the Green Grocer in Scotch Plains.) Here, Patch spoke with Esposito–whose first cookbook is at the printer–about her show and what she's doing for the Thanksgiving holiday. (Don't miss the recipes under the Q&A!) Tell me about Cooking on the Block … I'm blessed to live in such a beautiful neighborhood—people opened their arms to us when we moved…

Whether she's painting en plein air, or sketching a still life in her Caldwell studio, artist Lisa Palombo masterly captures the colors, light and contours of her subject—which is usually flowers. Her signature style: brushstrokes of bold, beautiful florals, such as lush peonies, glorious roses, and stunning black-eyed Susans. An impressionist painter, her work has appeared on 40+ book covers (including a few New York Times bestsellers) and her oil paintings are in public and private collections worldwide. One of her paintings was even used in a Hollywood movie set. A Rhode Island native, …

Maureen Glennon, artistic director of moe-tion dance theater, will premiere two new works inspired by her recent "breast cancer adventure" this Saturday evening, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m., at Memorial Auditorium on the campus of Montclair State University. Glennon, a Caldwell resident, and breast cancer survivor, is co-sponsoring Project Support with MSU's Theatre & Dance Department. A portion of the proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Tickets are: $25 general admission, $15 students and children under 12 are free. The Caldwells Patch talked to Glennon about the event and how it came to…

If you didn't have a chance to swing by the beer garden behind The Cloverleaf Tavern on Sunday, you missed a rockin' good time. Local band, The Kootz, treated fans to classic rock covers from the 50s to the 80s in a tradition that's going on 18 years. When The Kootz (formerly called OMJ for Old Man Jam) first formed, they played one big gig each year: the Rotary/Kiwanis Caldwell Street Fair. That was back in the early 90s when the main stage was on Bloomfield Avenue. The original group, consisting of Glenn Taylor, Chris Bolger, Ben Asher, Tony Dente and the late Dr. David Frisch, has grown …

As a young boy, Bill Dietrich used to visit Caldwell from his childhood home in Bloomfield. He'd take the #29 trolley up Bloomfield Avenue and spend the day at the Sunnyfield Swim Club—located where the condominiums near the 7-Eleven now stand. These days, the West Caldwell resident's travels take him farther than Essex County. But he's never without his constant companion: his camera. An avid photographer, Dietrich is honored to share his favorite images in his first exhibit, Every Once in a While …  at The Richard R. Cass Art Gallery in the West Caldwell Public Library. The collection, on …