The Local Girl 
Labor Day is just around the bend and NJ is saying a rainy, wet, goodbye to summer. We’re more than a little bit excited about cooler temps and colorful leaves. It’s been another busy week in the Garden State and we’ve got all the headlines to get you up to speed. Some of the highlights include a Dolly Parton-themed corn maze that will take shape this fall in Manalapan; an iconic NYC bakery will open in Jersey City; and Montclair State University debuted a new virtual reality lab.
You can read more at the links below, and always feel free to submit any news tips to [email protected]. Our newsletter also shares more, and you can sign up for it here (it’s so great, promise)!
– New Jersey has permanently legalized cocktails-to-go, allowing eligible restaurants, bars, hotels, and craft distilleries to continue selling certain alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption under rules first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic (The New Jersey Girl).
–World of Blue Hotel has officially opened at 2 Meadowlands Plaza in East Rutherford following a major renovation, bringing 423 rooms, three dining concepts, a pool, fitness center, and 30,000 square feet of event space near MetLife Stadium and American Dream (The Bergen County Girl).
–Montclair State University has opened a nearly 2,500-square-foot virtual reality facility with a 26-seat classroom and free-roam VR pod that will allow students to use immersive technology as part of their coursework beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year (The Montclair Girl).
– The end of summer means just one thing to many Italian Americans in New Jersey: it’s time for sauce day (The Montclair Girl).
–California-based Food Allergy Institute will open its first East Coast location at 79 Hudson Street in Hoboken on September 15, initially providing its AI-powered Tolerance Induction Program to children and young adults with severe food allergies (The Hoboken Girl).
–From farm-fresh produce and eggs to pasture-raised meats, flowers, honey, and baked goods, farms throughout New Jersey provide plenty of opportunities to shop locally through farm stands, markets, CSAs, and pick-your-own experiences this fall (The New Jersey Girl).
–Magnolia Bakery is reportedly planning to open at 247 Washington Street in Jersey City, taking over the former Buddy’s JC space, though an opening date and details about the location have not yet been announced (The Hoboken Girl).
–Happy Day Farm in Manalapan Township will open its Dolly Parton-themed corn maze on September 19, featuring roughly eight acres of corn, three miles of pathways, Dolly-themed trivia, and a design depicting the country music icon alongside the words “Dolly” and “An American Treasure” (The Jersey Shore Girl).
–NJ TRANSIT has rolled out a redesigned website with improved navigation, accessibility, and service information, along with “Navvie,” a new 24/7 AI-powered chatbot that can help riders plan trips and find schedule, alert, and transfer information. (NJ TRANSIT).
–New Jersey has legalized small plug-in solar systems of up to 1,200 watts, allowing renters and homeowners to use portable solar panels on balconies, patios, and yards without utility approval or municipal permitting when the new law takes effect March 1, 2027. (Electrek).
–Demolition has begun on the former McCorry Brothers Funeral Home in Cliffside Park, where a 20-unit residential building is planned after the longtime family-owned business relocated to Fort Lee earlier this year. (Daily Voice).
–Professional soccer is coming to Middlesex County in July 2027, when New York City FC II will relaunch as a locally branded MLS NEXT Pro team playing at the new 6,500-seat NEXUS stadium in Edison, alongside a new NYCFC youth soccer regional hub. (NJ.com).
– The Boss made two appearances in New Jersey last weekend, including stepping in to perform with the band Bleachers at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park (NJ101.5).
–New Jersey’s new bell-to-bell cell phone restrictions are taking effect for the 2026-2027 school year, requiring public school districts to prohibit non-academic phone use throughout the school day as administrators and students adjust to the stricter rules. (NorthJersey.com).
–The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to weigh in on whether prediction-market platform Kalshi can continue offering event contracts in New Jersey despite the state’s efforts to regulate them as gambling (NPR).
–New Jersey is phasing out half-day kindergarten statewide, with only three communities still operating partial-day programs as districts prepare to transition to full-day kindergarten (NJ.com).
–New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced a historic $1.7 billion settlement with Meta resolving claims tied to the company’s business practices and alleged harms to young users (New Jersey Office of the Attorney General).
Have a tip? Email us at [email protected] to share more.
Follow @thenewjerseygirl on Instagram + TikTok for the latest updates on Hoboken, Montclair, Bergen County, and more, sign up for our weekly newsletter here that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our events calendar, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.
