Shayne Rodriguez Thompson

Stories from Shayne Rodriguez Thompson

Farcical 'Fox' delivers on gropes and groans
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Saturday, March 26, 2011

Hmm, golf? I’ve never played golf. In fact, I’ve never even been to a golf course that wasn’t of the mini- variety.

So when the curtain rose on “The Fox on the Fairway,” -- George Street Playhouse's new golf-themed farce -- I was a little concerned that the humor would evade me. After all, what do I know about “links,” “scratches” and “traps?”

Smell Of Nutmeg In The Morning
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Nothing signifies the holiday season quite like the smell of cinnamon and vanilla wafting through the air. It’s homey, it’s comforting and most of all it bodes of tasty things to come.

Mike's Courtside gives the grownups some space to chill
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Monday, November 29, 2010

For those of us that work, study and live within a stone’s throw of New Brunswick, it can be an ongoing challenge to find a spot for grabbing a quick bite, enjoying an icy adult beverage or relaxing in front of the game -- without being overrun by the over-young.

Set on the corner of Paterson Street and Elm Row, Mike’s Courtside Sports Bar & Grill may offer up just that.

Edison's Food Master offers best fresh Korean prepared on site
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Saturday, November 27, 2010

Not only does Edison’s Food Master Korean deli offer affordable and authentic lunches, seven days a week, it also opens up a world of possibilities for those looking to expand their culinary repertoire at home.

Téte bringing several new twists to Raritan Avenue flavor
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Téte Peruvian & International Cuisine
304 Raritan Avenue, Highland Park
732-246-1502
Open 7 days for breakfast, lunch, & dinner
This time, Autumn Means Eats!
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Wednesday, September 8, 2010

In a matter of weeks, Highland Park will welcome locals, and hopefully diners from throughout the state, to the first ever H.P. Restaurant Week.

If most residents of the borough are already familiar with the many culinary delights on offer, some may even take for granted the fact that in just a few short minutes -- by foot, even -- we can sample treats from all over the world.

Delhi Garden satisfies a seasoned customer
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Saturday, November 7, 2009

Delhi Garden
1677 Route 27, Edison
732-248-1888
www.delhigarden.net
$8-$15 per person

Around these parts we have pretty standard options when it comes to take out. Not that old favorites like Highland Pizza and Sultan Wok aren’t the bee's knees for satisfyingly fantastic meals, but it's nice to know that there’s something different just up the road. Delhi Garden, located on Route 27 in Edison, is marrying the ease and spontaneity of takeout with the tantalizing and often complex flavors of Indian cuisine.

Community fair supports memory health
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Thursday, November 5, 2009

On Sunday, November 15, residents and guests of the F.E. Parker Memorial Home will join together for their second annual Free Memory Health Fair. This public event is part of a larger participation in the Memory Screening Day organized by the National Alzheimer’s Foundation.

One Bite At A Time
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Tuesday, October 6, 2009

When Labor Day has come and gone and Columbus Day is just around the corner, something begins to nag on nostalgic American hearts.  With the promise of cool nights, rowdy football games, and gorgeous foliage, something stirs within us.  We begin to yearn for fresh apple pie, perfectly gnarly pumpkins, and insanely terrifying haunted houses:  the signposts of Autumn in the Northeast.

How’d ya get so “Fly”?
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
“History is the river we stand in,” says Chet (Charlie Hudson III), to an already captive audience in the Crossroads Theatre production of “Fly.”

The play by artistic director Ricardo Khan and novelist/screenwriter Trey Ellis follows the journeys of four young African-American men in America’s first group of black military airmen, the “Tuskegee Airmen.” Omar Edwards’ decidedly moving tap dance performance begins the show, to a video backdrop of the unit’s history.
I've Been Poojed!
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Pooja 
1075 Easton Avenue, Somerset 
732.220-0051 
$12-25 per person

A strip mall? And a pretty sketchy one at that?

Don't be fooled by the modest facade at Pooja (located in one of the older strip malls on Easton Avenue) -- this place packs a whole lot of punch with its wide array of Indian specialties.

In Search of a Few Good Diners
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Mekong Vietnamese Restaurant
351 George Street, New Brunswick
732.545-5757
$ 8 - 18 per person

The atmosphere isn't exactly alluring and yeah, it's BYOB. But Mekong deserves a bit more dinnertime recognition.

Farmers Market offers a fresh take on emergency food needs
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Tuesday, July 28, 2009

For any foodie or even a slightly health-conscious eater, a dinner devoid of fresh produce is simply unthinkable.  But for many patrons of the Highland Park Community Food Pantry, this could be a nightly occurrence.

Zoning board puts down Cleveland Ave. plan
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

After eight long months of meetings, debates, demands, concessions, and ultimately delays, the zoning board has finally made a decision on the status of the former Illuminating Experiences site, on Cleveland Avenue in Highland Park.

Late in 2007, Avalon Bay Communities, a company that develops residential rentals, was appointed by borough council to redevelop the site at 233 Cleveland Avenue. In November, Avalon Bay applied to the zoning board for a use variance, in order to change the zoning from light industrial to residential.

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