Upper Vailsburg - Newark, NJ Area Guide

From 1894 until 1905, Vailsburg was an independent town. As Newark grew, it slowly annexed many of the smaller communities around it. In 1905, the city annexed their final town -- Vailsburg. The city divided this new acquirement into Upper and Lower Vailsburg along Sanford Avenue. Today, Vailsburg contains a large number of Dutch Colonial and Victorian homes, many built in the 1940s. It is filled with locally-owned shops and boutiques, adding to the overall community feel of the neighborhood.

Upper Vailsburg lies within a 15-minute drive of the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, the world-renowned inventor's home and laboratory in nearby West Orange. The Newark Museum, 15 minutes into Newark's University Heights neighborhood, features educational and artistic exhibitions and presentations. A part of the museum, the Dreyfuss Planetarium hosts regular programs exploring our world and universe.

A wide variety of dining options on Mt. Vernon Place saves trips into other Newark neighborhoods. Jacob's Restaurant serves large platters of authentic Caribbean dishes like crispy fried goat as part of its small, rotating menu of traditional Haitian dishes. When ordering "complete" (a full meal rather than just meat), guests receive large portions of rice, beans, salad, and fried plantains with their choice of juicy chicken, legumes, conch meat, or fried turkey.

Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant, a five-minute drive away from Upper Vailsburg, is a family-owned and operated Ethiopian establishment with vegetarian options featuring imported Ethiopian spices. Fork-free menu items include lamb cubes cooked in a homemade herbal butter. Vegetarian combos consist of your choice of six dishes from the vegetarian menu, including sauteed chickpeas in a red onion and berbere stew, split lentils with herbs and spices, creamy chickpea dips with mild herbs, and salad options. Lalibela's authentic Ethiopian dishes receive such rave reviews that the restaurant even offers cooking classes with Meklit, the owner of Lalibela's, to teach customers how to prepare many of its signature dishes at home.

Upper Vailsburg residents enjoy local shops and grocery stores within walking distance of residential areas. Along South Orange Avenue, many buses travel directly to Port Authority and to the historic Broad Street rail station, with paths to Hoboken and Secaucus Junction for excursions throughout New Jersey and into New York.

Some roaming taxi cabs service Upper Vailsburg, but most providers require a call for pick-up. You can take advantage of taxi and Uber services 24 hours a day with low within-city rates. Residents who live along South Orange and Sanford Avenues must buy overnight parking stickers, and drivers seeking temporary parking in this area use meters.

Commuters in Upper Vailsburg live within 10 minutes of the Garden State Parkway, with exits throughout New Jersey. Route 280, 10 minutes north of residential areas, provides access to the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels.

Parks in Upper Vailsburg feature fields and play areas. Ivy Hill Park provides basketball courts, ball fields, and a playground. Five minutes from the neighborhood, Ivy Hill Park's community garden with lighted paths makes for pleasant afternoon exercising or taking early-evening strolls. A bandstand located in the park hosts free outdoor shows featuring local artists and musicians all summer long.

A former amusement park, Vailsburg Park now caters to fitness enthusiasts with a half-mile jogging track, ball fields, basketball courts, and two soccer fields. The park also features a modern playground for children.

Residents of Upper Vailsburg enjoy a lower cost of living than many Newark neighborhoods, with $2 bus rides to busier Newark areas. One-bedroom apartments in Upper Vailsburg match state-wide averages with rent prices of $800. Happy hours in local bars supply beers priced at $4 and mixed drinks starting at $6. Gas prices in Upper Vailsburg average one percent lower than national costs.

You'll find trendy styles and eclectic merchandise at Upper Vailsburg retailers, without traveling to Newark's commercial areas. On Sanford Avenue, Feetomatic's spiked heels and leopard print shoes attract attention. Patterned sweaters, pants, and dresses for all budgets create unique styles for a night out on the town. Complete your new outfit at Ta-Shonna's Boutique, where pink walls showcase trendy jewelry and accessories for women and men. A constantly changing inventory caters to all budgets and tastes, from ornate gold earrings to elegant silver rings and bracelets.

In neighboring Irvington, Springfield Avenue includes shopping areas with a GNC and Foot Locker. Retailers on Scotland Road, five minutes from Upper Vailsburg, include Sparkhouse Toys and Books -- a collection of educational and skill-based games and toys featuring Kidrobot plush and Mic-o-Mic building systems. Ye Olde Curiositie Shoppe houses a collection of oddities from around the globe. Spend time browsing aisles filled with unique items like Grecian pottery and Egyptian sphinxes, or have your curio appraised and auctioned through the shop's appraisal services. Both an educational and strange experience, Ye Olde Curiositie Shoppe provides locals with a different glimpse of the globe with each visit.

Locals discover daily and weekly deals at C-Town Supermarkets, located within walking distance of Upper Vailsburg residences. Smaller markets like Elupina stock imported Spanish and Mexican products. Five minutes from Upper Vailsburg, Pathmark fulfills larger grocery lists.