Entertainment

Residents of South Orange are justifiably proud of the new SOPAC (South Orange Performing Arts Center), the shining star of the new South Orange downtown district. The eye-catching four-level building includes a state-of-the-art 415-seat theater, 5-movie screens operated by Clearview Cinema and a community space that seats 150-people.

The Baird in Meadowland Park is the community’s recreational and arts hub, housing the recreation department’s offices, the Pierro Gallery of South Orange, the Theater on 3, Arts Room, Baird Pre-School, Kinderenrichment and Senior Services Unit offices. Most programs presented by The Baird are held in this facility or in the surrounding park.

South Orange-Maplewood Artist’s Network organizes events and coordinates a monthly arts calendar of shows and performances.

South Mountain Reservation

The vantage points atop South Mountain Reservation provide a breathtaking panorama of the Manhattan skyline.

Joggers, hikers, cyclists and nature lovers are drawn to the paths that wind through the 2048 acres of native woodland, preserved in a wild state with creeks, ponds and a 25 foot waterfall. The whole area is a haven for deer, chipmunks, squirrels and bird life. There is also a great Dog Park complete with an obstacle course! The reservation is so large it stretches from the South Orange borders through parts of neighboring Maplewood, Millburn and West Orange.

Parks and Recreation

One of the best features of South Orange is its extensive community parks and facilities, including over 60 acres of parks. The amenities include nine baseball diamonds and little league pitches, 19 tennis courts, three soccer fields, a duck pond, numerous playgrounds, a sculpture park and a winter sports areas, including a famous sledding hill.

The South Orange Community Pool complex in Cameron Field has an Olympic sized pool with a diving tank, and two other pools to suit every swimming ability. Free to all residents.

The Recreation Department offers a variety of sports and fitness activities throughout the year ranging from baseball leagues, adult softball leagues, tennis instruction, track & field, soccer leagues, tae kwon do, swimming lessons, basketball and lacrosse.

The Orange Lawn Tennis Club is a private swim and tennis club, founded in 1880, and is one of the original members of the US Lawn Tennis Association and serves a busy schedule of tournaments, kids’ camps and social events. This club is very popular with local residents.

The restaurant scene in South Orange has a strong global influence with cuisine ranging from authentic Ethiopian dishes to countless Indian, Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian, and American restaurants.

The Trinidad-inspired menu at Caribbean Cuisine brings together influences from the cuisine of India, the West Indies, China, Syria-Lebanon and Italy in one delicious place.

For craft beer aficionados, the Gaslight Brewery and Restaurant in the center of the village is a must, offering an incredible variety of beers from all over the world, plus their food is amazing.

Make sure to grab a slice of pizza at Bunny’s Restaurant.

Main Street South Orange and the South Orange Chamber of Commerce have revitalized the downtown area of South Orange and are attracting an eclectic range of shops, boutiques and cafes. There is even a newly opened gourmet supermarket, Garden of Eden. Additionally, there’s a farmers market every Wednesday afternoon from July until October.

There are 2 train stations servicing South Orange. The South Orange train station is about a 25 minute commute to New York City’s Penn Station. The Midtown Direct Line of NJ Transit takes commuters straight into New York Penn Station, Newark and Hoboken. A quick change onto the PATH at Newark or Hoboken transfers you to the heart of New York’s financial center. Trains from Mountain Station reach Newark Broad Street in under 15 minutes.

By car, Routes 24 and 280, I-78, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway are all within 5-10 minutes. Route 124- Springfield Avenue, runs through Maplewood.

Bus routes 92 and 107 pass between South Orange, Irvington, Newark, Newark Liberty Airport, Union City and New York City (The Port Authority Bus Terminal).