Things to Do in Verona

The organizers of Garden State BrewFest invite beer lovers to sample the ales and lagers of tri-state-area brewers in the name of charity. After collecting donations of canned food for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, gate attendants usher visitors in to taste two-ounce samples, each freshly poured by representatives from breweries such as Philadelphia’s Yards Brewing Company and Cape May County’s Tuckahoe Brewing Company. An array of entertainment engages guests throughout the four-hour fete, including live bands, a beer-pong tournament, and a keg-icing contest. Their Homebrew Competition lets DIY brewers enter their best fall-season beers, and the grand-prize winner gets to work alongside master brewer Brendan O’Neil of New Jersey Beer Co. Brewery for a day. Garden State BrewFest’s team donates a portion of the proceeds to St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Whether culled from California's Napa Valley region in the fall or from Chile and Argentina in the spring, every bundle of red and white grapes winds up beneath a patron's stomping feet. Eight months later—after a pressing session and half-hour racking—each red, white, or rosé batch makes the transition from barrel to bottle. Clients then fill, cork, seal, and adorn the bottle with their own label before gently kissing it to remove any curses. For visitors more eager to imbibe wine than concoct it, The WineMakers Cellar accommodates guests with dinners and wine and cheese pairings in its bistro. Handcrafted wine continues to flow at cooking demonstrations, courses, and private parties held within the facility.

Members of the Resnick clan have managed the family business for a century, growing the original hardware store into a garden center and party-rental warehouse. Always emphasizing customer service, three generations of Resnicks have built up a loyal clientele, learning the names and spirit animals of shop regulars. The rental side of the company provides clients with memorable props such as popcorn machines, frozen drink makers, a tiki bar, kids games, and mic-equipped podiums amplify wedding toasts and stump speeches for the office of city comptroller. For weddings and formal events, Resnick's can deliver upscale décor and furnishings, including romantic archways, white linens, and fountains for champagne or punch.

Instructor and Basic Ballroom Dance Studio cofounder Ilya Barmotin is no stranger to the arena of competitive dancing—Ilya’s trophy room houses awards from the World Cup, US Open, and South American Showdance. With a lifetime spent in slick-soled shoes, he’s also aware of the social and fitness benefits of choreographed body movement. That’s why his studio teaches social and competitive dancing to students of all ages and experience levels in group or private settings.

The facility’s two large floors and private dance areas host lessons in styles ranging from the Latin cha-cha and rumba to standards such as the waltz, tango, and foxtrot. Beyond the classroom, students hone their skills in weekly practice parties or by communicating through tap dance at their day jobs. Students also participate in regional, national, and international competitions. Those seeking their own trophy collections can attend Friday-night workshops. At these workshops, participants build their stamina and stretch their limbs while receiving expert instruction.

Bodily alignment can help create order in the mind and heart as well, according to Omni Kitts Ferrara, the professional dancer who owns Yoga Montclair and sister studio Yoga Morristown. At both studios, she and her team of Yoga Alliance–certified teachers shepherd students toward the peace and goodness that lie within using flowing movements and moments of meditation. They welcome students of all experience levels and walks of life, inviting them to stay "as long as the conversation intrigues [them]." To cultivate physical and metaphysical strength, classes pair inspirational words with poses as playful as a puppy fetching a red clown nose. Instructors begin each session with a mind-centering exercise before launching into stretches, balances, and breath work that melt stress and bolster flexibility. Basic and Gentle routines teem with beginner-friendly poses and alignment guidance, and Level I/II classes ready students for intermediate-level backbends, headstands, and handstands.

Swimsuit-clad revelers sip drinks as they bob down the river in a flotilla of colorful tubes. Smoke rises from barbecue pits and campfires as the sun's light dims, and laughter and cheers ring out from sand volleyball games. Electronic and dance music echoes off of tree trunks. Over the course of Boobs & Tubes' outdoor party weekends, campers party and occasionally apologize for waking grizzly-bear neighbors in and around Croton Dam in Michigan or Skinners Falls in New York. Campers who come for a full weekend take shelter in tents to immerse themselves in the freedom of the wilderness while enjoying modern amenities such as showers, breakfast buffets, and live DJ sets with colorful light shows. Boobs & Tubes' main goal is to bring together groups of people for outdoor enjoyment, helping friends connect in a wilderness camp setting much in the way Teddy Roosevelt's presidential dinner parties did.