I have never heard of this place but wow, what a find! I think it's fascinating that the museum is a popular spot for families, but then again, if I had known about it when my kids were younger I probably would've made them go. Have you ever thought about having a party and inviting all the people you've interviewed over the years? It would be legendary.
And yeah. The Naked Cowboy, Father Mike, the subway greeter lady, the Snackman, the Bay Ridge Karaoke King, John Catsimatidis, Captain Bayonne, Rob Stephenson...it'd be so fun!
Forgive me for my Texan-ness, but what exactly makes a place New Jersey-like?? My half-sister's family is from Rumson, and they're a bunch of wonderful, loud Italian women with big hair... I feel like that doesnt quite fit what you're talking about?
Katie, that's part of what makes the question so interesting. NJ is like the punchline for every joke and yet everyone knows that many part of NJ are wonderful, and in so many different ways.
He seems more like an old-school carnival barker than a museum curator. I half expected he was going to start showing you his collection of amphibian bodies preserved in brine in jars!
He really isn’t. His goal with the museum is to educate and to show people how the history of invention influences us today. It’s an interactive museum because interaction is important in how we learn, specifically through our five senses. Learning in this way has a profound effect on how we understand what is being studied. It is conduit in finding deeper personal meaning with concepts that makeup the world around us. This type of exploration lends itself to us using our critical thinking skills, which encourages us to use our imaginations, our intelligence to create, to invent, and to ultimately impact the world and our lives for the better. His museum is a museum of possibility, encouragement, wonder, and hope curated with love and care.
David, I used to have a grand collection of preserved things (circa age 10). My mom worked at a retirement home that had a pharmacy. The kind pharmacist provided me with free formaldehyde for my jars of dead bats, baby opossums, unhatched turtles and such. I'm normal, really. I still have a thing for natural history but no longer have my jarred exhibits!
It suppose it truly is a personal preference, Nora. Lots of people pay $$$ for museum tours. But I'm with you. I'd rather wander on my own, even if I have no idea what I'm looking at—which typically, I do not!
“Calling it a museum is a stretch,” she wrote. “He is just a guy who has a bunch of cool old things in his crowded apartment and likes to show people.”
OMG! That's our house! I'm going to rename it Judge Roy Bean's Museum of INTERESTING THINGS!
The price of admission is that every person has to take one of those interesting things with them when they leave!
But what are the New Jerseys for New Jersey!? Is it really so sad that they have to resort to hating on Metuchen if they live in Hoboken!? I should know the answer after 35 years in NYC but alas I just spent all that time making fun of New Jersey….
Ooooh the NJ of New Jersey. Good question! Not being from there it's not for me to say, but the whole Meadowlands area certain seems to be peak SOMETHING Maria.
I came away from my online visit to this quirky museum (where you had been my companion of course) thinking that a better name (and description) might be ‘A Museum of Unwanted Things’ or ‘A Museum of Clutter.’ Give me the man. You have the skill and ability to make every person interesting and with good reason. Well done for turning what is ordinary into extraordinary. A great piece. 🐰
I do think this is very much a Museum of Interesting Things for a person with a certain set of interests. You know what kind of museum I'd like to see? A museum of people's pocketbooks and all the stuff they carry with them. Or the contents of people's nightstand drawers.
The New Jersey of the Mana-sota area, in between Tampa, St. Pete and Sarasota would be Bradenton, also called Bradentucky. Maybe that's a feature of NJ-areas, to be nicknamed --tucky.
The NJ of Columbia County, NY would be Philmont. Though in ten years it may be as posh as the rest.
Meanwhile I've been pondering what might be the NJ of Brooklyn and it's hard to come up with anything, T-Pop! The NJ of NYC, however, might be the Penn Station area. Or, harkening back to last week's issue, Times Square?
From the Wikipedia article: "Activities in Langford include shopping at the many retail stores on Goldstream Ave, Millstream Village and Westshore Town Centre (formerly Canwest Mall) with its 55 stores and services including major department, grocery, and retail chain stores as well as a seven-screen Cineplex movie theatre."
I have never heard of this place but wow, what a find! I think it's fascinating that the museum is a popular spot for families, but then again, if I had known about it when my kids were younger I probably would've made them go. Have you ever thought about having a party and inviting all the people you've interviewed over the years? It would be legendary.
Party at museum!
And yeah. The Naked Cowboy, Father Mike, the subway greeter lady, the Snackman, the Bay Ridge Karaoke King, John Catsimatidis, Captain Bayonne, Rob Stephenson...it'd be so fun!
Oh, I didn't really think that one through did I?
Done! I would totally host and support that! heehee Sounds silly and fun!
Forgive me for my Texan-ness, but what exactly makes a place New Jersey-like?? My half-sister's family is from Rumson, and they're a bunch of wonderful, loud Italian women with big hair... I feel like that doesnt quite fit what you're talking about?
Katie, that's part of what makes the question so interesting. NJ is like the punchline for every joke and yet everyone knows that many part of NJ are wonderful, and in so many different ways.
Now you’re talking! And I thought it was just non-Americans not getting this. You saved the day!
I grew up one town over from Rumson, in Little Silver! I probably don't know your half-sister's family, but I sure know loud Italians with big hair.
He seems more like an old-school carnival barker than a museum curator. I half expected he was going to start showing you his collection of amphibian bodies preserved in brine in jars!
He's definitely patterned himself on old-school carnival barker, David. He sometimes wears a top hat!
He really isn’t. His goal with the museum is to educate and to show people how the history of invention influences us today. It’s an interactive museum because interaction is important in how we learn, specifically through our five senses. Learning in this way has a profound effect on how we understand what is being studied. It is conduit in finding deeper personal meaning with concepts that makeup the world around us. This type of exploration lends itself to us using our critical thinking skills, which encourages us to use our imaginations, our intelligence to create, to invent, and to ultimately impact the world and our lives for the better. His museum is a museum of possibility, encouragement, wonder, and hope curated with love and care.
You’re on to something here…
David, I used to have a grand collection of preserved things (circa age 10). My mom worked at a retirement home that had a pharmacy. The kind pharmacist provided me with free formaldehyde for my jars of dead bats, baby opossums, unhatched turtles and such. I'm normal, really. I still have a thing for natural history but no longer have my jarred exhibits!
The best part of going to a museum is looking at stuff in peace, with no one yammering at you. This place sounds like a nightmare.
The New Jersey of Centreville, VA, is Manassas.
It suppose it truly is a personal preference, Nora. Lots of people pay $$$ for museum tours. But I'm with you. I'd rather wander on my own, even if I have no idea what I'm looking at—which typically, I do not!
“Calling it a museum is a stretch,” she wrote. “He is just a guy who has a bunch of cool old things in his crowded apartment and likes to show people.”
OMG! That's our house! I'm going to rename it Judge Roy Bean's Museum of INTERESTING THINGS!
The price of admission is that every person has to take one of those interesting things with them when they leave!
Haha that is a super plan JRB!
A museum? Darling, THIS is an archaeological dig sponsored by Adderall.😂
This was a great comment Alisa :)
LOL
AKJ you are the BEST!
Where can I pre-order New Jerseys of the World, please?
Right? I have a feeling the sales of this block-buster will fulfill all of Mr. Daniel museum building dreams.
But what are the New Jerseys for New Jersey!? Is it really so sad that they have to resort to hating on Metuchen if they live in Hoboken!? I should know the answer after 35 years in NYC but alas I just spent all that time making fun of New Jersey….
Ooooh the NJ of New Jersey. Good question! Not being from there it's not for me to say, but the whole Meadowlands area certain seems to be peak SOMETHING Maria.
The New Jersey for New Jersey is Staten Island.
Yes. Or Florida.
Florida is the New Jersey for everywhere!
Thanks for introducing me to two nifty words, "harpejji" and "organetto"!
I had to do some Googling to find those words, Nancy. So happy you noticed!
I came away from my online visit to this quirky museum (where you had been my companion of course) thinking that a better name (and description) might be ‘A Museum of Unwanted Things’ or ‘A Museum of Clutter.’ Give me the man. You have the skill and ability to make every person interesting and with good reason. Well done for turning what is ordinary into extraordinary. A great piece. 🐰
Thank you O L O Bunny aka Kevin!
I do think this is very much a Museum of Interesting Things for a person with a certain set of interests. You know what kind of museum I'd like to see? A museum of people's pocketbooks and all the stuff they carry with them. Or the contents of people's nightstand drawers.
I can go with that. Sounds good.🐰
I grew up in Virginia Beach. The New Jersey of Virginia Beach is Virginia Beach.
😂
The New Jersey of the Mana-sota area, in between Tampa, St. Pete and Sarasota would be Bradenton, also called Bradentucky. Maybe that's a feature of NJ-areas, to be nicknamed --tucky.
The NJ of Columbia County, NY would be Philmont. Though in ten years it may be as posh as the rest.
Aka Philmont's revenge.
Meanwhile I've been pondering what might be the NJ of Brooklyn and it's hard to come up with anything, T-Pop! The NJ of NYC, however, might be the Penn Station area. Or, harkening back to last week's issue, Times Square?
The NJ of Brooklyn is Queens.
I grew up in Arizona, which is definitely the New Jersey of California!
Good one, Mr. Nix!
The NJ of California is Fresno. And the NJ of the Bay Area is Gilroy.
Two New Jerseys in one state!!
It's a big state, Anne!
As a denizen of Victoria, BC, Canada I'm going to say Langford, BC. You're welcome.
From the Wikipedia article: "Activities in Langford include shopping at the many retail stores on Goldstream Ave, Millstream Village and Westshore Town Centre (formerly Canwest Mall) with its 55 stores and services including major department, grocery, and retail chain stores as well as a seven-screen Cineplex movie theatre."
You can shop, or you can see a movie. Your choice.
LOL
I TOO was thinking of Cheektowaga!
The only other contender would Niagara Trash Blvd., Kelly, but that's a street, not a town.