It was 1985 and we had two small children, a boy and a girl, sharing a partitioned bedroom. Our Brooklyn Heights apartment, two bedrooms with a partial winter view of the river, seemed to be shrinking. The narrow kitchen, where we had a piggyback washer/dryer and a dishwasher on wheels, wasn't big enough for us all to eat together. We started looking for a home in the suburbs. 

We inadvertently veered off Rt. 3 West into Montclair, just 12 miles from the Lincoln Tunnel, and couldn't believe what we saw: beautiful, stately, older homes, lush foliage, and lots of people and young families on the streets, just walking around. It seemed like the Heights transported to a less cluttered atmosphere. The Tudor village shops, charming schools, glorious parks, and general bustle and activity around us on that fine May day spoke volumes. 

The following year, we moved into an 80-year-old Victorian with an English garden and wrap-around front porch, within walking distance of two parks, a multitude of Tudoresque shops, and transportation by both bus and train to the City. 

Some two decades later and we haven't tired of the place. Montclair has grown so much during my time here: There are many more restaurants (more than 50, actually!), more entertainments, more shops, more transportation options. Proud of their town, Montclairians spend so much time fixing up their homes that the streets sparkle.  

In my real estate career, I've been lucky enough to get to know all the towns in Essex County and to revel in their fine qualities. They're not all the same, not by far. Montclair remains the hub, of course, but each of the towns in this area has a special feel and it's my job to provide you with the opportunity to experience and decide where you want to live. 

My initial reaction to Montclair isn't so unusual. Clients I work with as a Realtor©, many of whom have lived in urban areas, instantly recognize the inherent benefits and beauty of this town and the surrounding area - including neighboring Glen Ridge, West Orange, Bloomfield, Maplewood, South Orange, Verona, Cedar Grove, Nutley, Essex Fells, Roseland, and the Caldwells. 

Montclair is defined by its stately homes, most built between 1890 and 1940, its distinguished art museum; fine and growing State University campus with its new Alexander Kasser Theatre; public skating rink; two libraries; professional theater; three town pools; five shopping districts, six train stations, seven primary schools, 12 parks, multiple movie screens, several dozen antique stores, the aforementioned plethora of eateries -- and some 40,000 residents.  

If you are thinking of living in the suburbs and prefer a town atmosphere with quick, easy transportation to Manhattan and Newark, it is essential that you see what Montclair and the entire area called West Essex have to offer. 

Among Montclair's benefits are the easy direct-train commute to New York City's Penn Station, or to downtown Manhattan via the PATH system from Hoboken - buses are available, too - high-quality schools committed to innovation (and in the top tier of NJ Monthly's annual poll), enormous cultural and enrichment possibilities for children and families, and a variety of people and occupations that any town would die for. For shoppers, there are dozens of trendy boutiques and shops, from Baby Boom, Over the Moon and Milk Money for well-dressed children to Urban Outfitters (the first in NJ!), Williams-Sonoma and The Gap for adults. There's Just Kidding Around, recently named NJ's best toy store, and Watchung Booksellers, recently named the state's best bookstore.  

For culture hounds, there are art shows, independent films, theatrical enterprise, music offerings across a wide spectrum, including the famous Outpost in the Burbs, and, for developing talents, numerous writing groups, art collectives, and musical conduits. When Montclair's professional writers get together to network and party every year, more than 200 professionals turn out to share stories.  

Montclair's location is prime -- 20 minutes to Willowbrook/West Belt, Essex Green, Short Hills, Livingston, and Riverside Square Malls, not to mention Costco, Target, and Barnes & Noble (two of them and a Borders, too!), and the off-price delights of Secaucus.  

Montclair's school system is unique in philosophy and structure. All children are believed to be gifted in some sense and the district divides the primary grades into these exciting, achievement-oriented magnet programs: Nationally recognized Nishuane is the K-2 Gifted and Talented program (with Hillside -- famous for its performing arts and aesthetics programs, assuming its students in the third grade); Watchung is the science and math magnet; Northeast is an international school with mock UN; Bradford is a Montclair University-affiliated magnet; Edgemont is the only public Montessori in the state; and Rand School focuses on basic skills with emphasis on family involvement.  

In the spring of 2005, Montclair schools announced that the first new primary school in decades would be built at a cost of $35 million. In the early stages of being built, it promises to be the crown jewel in an already well-regarded system.  

Three public middle schools are the popular Renaissance School, Mt. Hebron and Glenfield, all operating on the "house" system. 

In September 2004, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement named Montclair one of six model magnet school districts in the country, an accolade that comes with inclusion in series of "Guides to Innovation" published by the Department of Education and the American Productivity and Quality Center in Houston. Among the factors in choosing Montclair as a model district was its long commitment to racial balance, as well as the district's success at maintaining magnet programs without federal funding. 

In the Montclair district, parents have the opportunity to exercise Freedom of Choice program with regard to which primary school their child will attend. The district also balances classes racially. 

In a district long noted for commitment to the arts, Montclair public school students, including actress Christina Ricci -- who made her theatrical debut at the local Edgemont School as a third grader -- are often cited for achievement. In 2006, Hillside Primary's "Drums of Thunder" ensemble made their first-ever appearance on national television on the NBC Today Show. The Montclair High School Band performed at the NCAA basketball tournament recently at Madison Square Garden. The town's proximity to Manhattan is, overall, a great boon for students and families. 

Recent graduates of Montclair High School have had an impressive record of college admissions, including Harvard, Princeton and Yale; nearly 90 percent of its college seniors go on to college. The College Board announced that in 2006, there were 88 AP Scholars named from Montclair High School. Of these, 44 were named Scholars, 16 were named Scholars with Honor, 27 were named Scholars with Distinction, and one was named a National Scholar. Granted to students in the United States who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. 

The list of 2008 National Merit Scholars includes 32 Scholars among the Montclair High School Class of 2008 -- 21 Commended Students, 6 National Achievement Outstanding Participants, 3 National Merit Semi-Finalists and 2 National Achievement Semi-Finalists.  

In 2005, the Montclair district's Health & Wellness Initiative was a recipient of the New Jersey Association of Partners in Education/New Jersey Association of School Administrators’ “Exemplary Partnership” program award. The program, encompassing such programs as Art Where You Least Expect It, Healthy Habits, Healthy Adolescent Partnership, Social Problem Solving workshops, bully prevention, Youth Advisory Board, high school sports code of conduct, and Community Health Resource Guide.  

Under the leadership of former Superintendent Michael Osnato, Montclair's school system went far to reestablish itself as a rigorous, well-managed district with educational success stories on all levels, a mission now being carried forth by the current district superintendent, Frank Alvarez. 

In the fall of 2004, Dr. Alvarez announced the launch of the Gold Standard Arts Initiative in the district, in partnership with the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence. The initiative aims to bring the highest level of administration and funding to the district's long admired music, drama, art and dance programs. 

Dr. Alvarez recently announced five areas of special focus for the district: Creating safe and encouraging learning environments for students in which educators emphasize not test scores alone but support of the whole child; re-dedicating as a community to the ideals of diversity; creating Classrooms of the Future in which technology and global awareness will be areas of major focus; encouraging Parent Education, Advocacy, Communication and Engagement, for the betterment of students and for the district as a whole; and working with the community to lobby for increased funding from lawmakers as a means of easing the burden on local taxpayers. 

Aside from the public school system, Montclair has numerous pre-schools and daycare facilities. While there is no public pre-K, some years ago a public-private partnership launched Montclair Pre-K to great success; parents pay tuition according to income. 

The town also has a number of private schools, including Montclair Kimberly Academy, serving K-12 on three campuses, the Montclair Cooperative (K-6), and the Deron School, for special-needs students. (In close proximity are several other private schools, including the exemplary Newark Academy; the Darcy School in Livingston; Far Brook in Short Hills; Solomon Schechter and Seton Hall Prep in West Orange; and Pingry in Morristown, to name a few.)  

Every spring, just as the azaleas bloom, Montclair zips to life during "May in Montclair" festivities, with dozens of public offerings for all ages and interests. There's Art in Bloom, another series of events at the Montclair Art Museum for adults and kids; a Cinco De Mayo celebration at the Montclair Public Library; a juried art exhibition by Studio Montclair; "Dog Day" festivities for the town's pets and their owners; and a British Country Fair in one of Montclair's scenic parks.  

Meanwhile, Montclair Center -- Downtown Montclair -- a mile-long stretch of shops along busy Bloomfield Ave. and numerous vital side streets, has become a regional center of upscale restaurant activity -- take you pick of world cuisines, antique shops, upscale boutiques, and entertainments, as well as 2 Starbucks locations. Church Street, one of the sweetest diversions in town, is home both to sidewalk cafes and fine dining opportunities (Raymonds, Cianci, Gimmee Jimmy's, Church Street Kitchen, The Stockpot, Taro), appealing shops and, in sunny weather, street performances by young musicians. For those on the go, Montclair Center offers a myriad of fun dining options, from Alan's on the Avenue's super sandwiches to Leone's for fresh and inexpensive Italian cuisine and the best brick-oven pizza in town. Other popular eateries downtown are Nouveau Sushi, Aozora, Thai Chef, Giotto, Fascina, Casa Rustica, Palazzo, Blue, Greek Delights and Table 8, to name a few. Two new condo developments, The Siena on Church St. and the Walnut Street Lofts just across the street from Montclair's most popular Irish pub restaurant, Egan & Son, add to the vitality of the downtown business district. Coming in 2007 on Walnut St., Oppenheimers, a warehouse transformed into Montclair's first seafood fine-dining establishment. Sharing Walnut Street now are two excellent dessert and bread purveyors, Gina's and Montclair Bread Shop. At the intersection of Grove and Walnut, more restaurants -- Passionne, One Fifteen, and Marzullo's. 

In Upper Montclair (same town, different zip code and shopping area), dining opportunities abound with child-friendly Charlie Brown's and Montclair Char-broil, plus Cafe Sultan, Royal India, and Veggie Heaven. Edgemont, Anderson and Brookdale Parks, two nature preserves, and the famous Presby Iris Gardens are all in Upper Montclair. At edge of town, Montclair State University offers much to locals, including use of the excellent library facilities, cutting-edge performances at the dynamic new Kassar Theater, by international artists and talented students in the bustling School of Performing Arts that include a vibrant Musical Theater disciple and the new Cali School of Music with the Shanghai Quartet in residence. The Yogi Berra Museum and Floyd Hall (ice skating) Arena located on the edge of the university campus, are open to the public, as well. 

There is considerably more I want to tell you about Montclair and I look forward to doing so. When you sign up for this website's Homecaster feature, you will receive a weekly newsletter ("What's New in Essex County Real Estate") that will keep you abreast of market trends, MLS inventory that matches your needs - and much more. I also write an occasional blog -- SuburbanDigs.com -- where I muse on more personal real-estate-related topics. Overall, I hope you will come to see my knowledge of real estate and life in the town and all of Essex County as indispensable to your move as it will be to your new life after you settle in. Let's begin our dialogue now.  

(c) 2003-2007 by Roberta Baldwin