x
  • Things To Do
  • Events
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Travel Tools

    • Menu
    Gallery Art
    Dodge Poetry Festival

    Top Spots to Visit When You’re in Town for Dodge Poetry Festival

    Every two years for four dynamic days Newark’s thriving downtown Arts District transforms into a poetry village inhabited by America’s most celebrated, diverse, and accomplished poets and spoken word artists. The Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, called “poetry heaven” by former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass and “Wordstock” by the New York Times, is a thirty-year-old event featuring readings, conversations, and special events for poetry lovers. Not only does Dodge Poetry Festival attract a combined audience of approximately 140,000 attendees from more than forty-two states, but they showcase a literal who’s who of local, national, and international wordsmiths. If you’ll be in town for Dodge Poetry Festival, you may be wondering what hot spots to hit up while in Newark. No worries, your faithful Glambassador has you covered. Without further ado, here are my top ten spots to visit during Dodge Poetry Festival.

    Black Swan Espresso, 93 Halsey St. 

    Located in the heart of Halsey Street Village, you’ll love the warm, neighborhood vibe of Black Swan Espresso. A small specialty shop with a full range of espresso drinks that pack a smooth and full-bodied punch, this shop caters to early risers and those who can appreciate espresso art. Pro tip: be sure to grab a hibiscus doughnut!

     

    Black Swan Expresso

    Smitty and Mo’s Chicken Kitchen, Gateway III, 100 Mulberry St.

    This hot and fresh lunch spot is earning rave reviews for its super delicious soul food items with a healthy twist. Don’t bypass the boneless barbeque chicken, sauteed kale and mac and cheese, and do top it off with a delicious cupcake by Tonnie’s Minis. You will be so happy you did! 

    GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center, 165 Mulberry St. -

    The first GRAMMY Museum Experience on the East Coast is open right here in Newark. Full of technological innovation and interactivity, the eighty-two-hundred-square-foot museum features awesome exhibits and footage from the past fifty years of GRAMMY history. 

    Marcus B&P,

    56 Halsey St. 

    Located in the newly redeveloped Hahne & Co. Building downtown, this intimate and high end space is the latest venture from acclaimed chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson. Offering top-notch dining and inventive drinks six nights a week, visit for a lively crowd and service par excellence.

    The Newark Museum, 49 Washington St. 

    The Newark Museum is not just the largest museum in New Jersey but it features the oldest Planetarium in the state. You’ll never forget that time you soared to the edge of the Universe in Newark. For a look into the independent art scene in Brick City, pop by Project for Empty Space, 2 Gateway Center and Gallery Aferro, 73 Market St.

    Casa d’Paco 73

    Warwick St.  

    Situated on a residential block in the Ironbound, Casa D’Paco has a rustic, family feel and an excellent reputation for the cuisine of Galicia (a community in northwestern Spain). In fact, it is well known in foodie circles for having been listed among Spoon University’s Top 50 Best Restaurants in America.

     

    Source of Knowledge

     

    Newark Museum

     

    Nasto's

    Jimenez Tobacco, 31 Liberty St. -

    Are cigars more your speed? Plan a night out at this savoir-faire speakeasy, one of the coolest places in the city. Boasting a dimly lit lounge, upscale cocktails and hand-rolled cigars, the ambiance at Jimenez never disappoints.

     

    Nasto’s, 236 Jefferson St.

    Since 1939, Newarkers have headed to Nasto’s for homemade Italian ice cream in an array of delicious flavors. Famously name-dropped in an episode of The Soprano’s, feel free to pretend you’re traveling through Italy as you order up a decadent Tortoni, Spumoni, Tiramisu, Tartufo or Reginetta.

    Express Newark, 54 Halsey St.

    A downtown Newark arts incubator, Express Newark is a gorgeous fifty-thousand-square-foot facility, that houses Rutgers-Newark arts classes and seminars but also provides state-of-the-art public learning spaces where artists, residents, and partners can create.

    Source of Knowledge, 867 Broad St

     An infinite amount of knowledge is housed within the walls of Source of Knowledge, a well-known African-American bookstore and gift shop. You’ll feel right at home (and may lose a few hours) browsing its large variety of notable historical and cultural books by African, African-American, and Afro-Caribbean thought leaders.

     

    Restaurant Meal

     

    Fried Chicken

     

    Jimenez

    Lauren Craig also known as InaWordFab, is the Glambassador of all things fashion, art and entertainment in Newark. When she isn't busy practicing law or watching reality television, Lauren is devoted to inspiring others to live their most fab and fulfilling life...and world peace. Visit inawordfab.com for more and be sure to follow her life in the fab lane @inawordfab on Twitter and Instagram.

    Things To Do

    X

    Find a Hotel

    Call (800) 391-3613

    X

    Find a Flight

    Call (800) 391-3613

    X

    Find a Car

    Call (800) 391-3613

    X

    Find a Deal

    Call (800) 391-3613

    Check Rates

    Insider's Guide

    BeirGarden- Jan News - BestBrews

    Best Spots for Craft Brew

    Best Spots for Craft Brew

    American beer culture used to be all about the big three (Bud, Miller and Coors), but has steadily evolved its focus to a flourishing collective of small batch specialty brews with flavors for every taste and occasion. more

    American beer culture used to be all about the big three (Bud, Miller and Coors), but has steadily evolved its focus to a flourishing collective of... more

    Coffee-JanNews-Coffee

    Coffee Olympics | Part 1

    Coffee Olympics | Part 1

    Coffeehouses and culture have a long, long relationship…think monks tenderly planting and cultivating coffee groves so that their brethren could drink a new kind of hot beverage more

    Coffeehouses and culture have a long, long relationship…think monks tenderly planting and cultivating coffee groves so that their brethren could drink... more

    BurgerWalla-JanNews-ComfortFood

    Comfort Food | Warm Up

    Comfort Food | Warm Up

    Despite the blustery cold, winter in Newark can be a beautiful experience with the bright lights at Prudential Center and the festive concerts that fill the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. more

    Despite the blustery cold, winter in Newark can be a beautiful experience with the bright lights at Prudential Center and the festive concerts that... more

    RC Cathedral Basilica Newark

    Newark Fun Facts

    Newark Fun Facts

    Did you know that Newark’s Cathedral of Sacred heart, a 19th Century Gothic Chrch, was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1995. Look familiar? The Cathedral was also featured in the opening credits of the Sopranos. more

    Did you know that Newark’s Cathedral of Sacred heart, a 19th Century Gothic Chrch, was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1995. Look familiar? The... more

    Darci Lynne & Friends: Fresh Out of the Box
    GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center
    Kidz Bop
    Marc Anthony
    Newark Museun: The Black School

    58 Park Place   |   Newark, NJ 07102
    (973) 735-2135     ask@newarkhappening.com

    eNewsletter Signup




    © 2019 Greater Newark CVB. All rights reserved