Podclair

Episode 56: Saveur Creole

We speak with Saveur Creole restaurant owner Ron Mompoint. Ron emigrated to this country from Haiti with his parents when he was young. He found a good life in America, going to college and finding a great job, having children and settling in New Jersey.  But he always had a passion for the food of his homeland and longed for a place to show off Haitian hospitality and give New Jersey residents a taste of Haitian cuisine. So 14 years ago he opened Saveur Creole, which celebrates the vibrant Creole cooking of his homeland. His restaurant has been an elegant outpost of Creole cooking ever since.

Episode 55: Montclair African American Heritage Foundation Parade and Festival

We speak with Bonni Taylor, Co-Committee Chair with Al Pelham of the Montclair African American Heritage Foundation Parade and Festival. This event is the highlight of the foundation's year and contributes to its mission of sharing black culture for others to experience and learn. Not just people outside black culture, but the black community as well. We talk with Bonnie about the organization and their annual festival that happens the first weekend of every June. The foundation of this event and of the MAAHPF as a whole is not just to celebrate but to educate Montclair about African American culture. It's a fun event that delivers a great time for everyone!

Episode 54:Halcyon

We speak with restaurant owners Marshall Diebold and Iliana Parvizi. of restaurant  Halcyon. Originally opened with Egan & Sons by local couple Sharon and Chris Eagan, we'll hear how Marshall and Ileana went from being close friends who bartended and managed the restaurant, to a romantic couple who now own the restaurant and have made it a mainstay on Walnut Street.

Episode 53: Montclair Bounce

We speak with Ann Mernin and Elly Meeks, co-founders of Montclair Bounce, a new festival of optimism and resilience, about what sparked their idea, how the community has been involved, and what to expect from this inaugural festival.

Check out the show notes for a Podclair community grieving and mental health resource, co-created by Jess Larsen of Held Grief Massage (featured in episode two).

Episode 52: Doddle & Co.

We speak with Nicki Radzely of Doddle & Co on how many prototypes it finally took to create a pacifier that popped when it dropped, how she landed on SharkTank, and what she really thinks about the label mompreneur. She also shares how to sign up to be a product tester to test the new ideas Doddle & Co are bringing to life.

Check out this episode's show notes to find pop pacifiers in town and other links from the interview.

Episode 51: The Little Daisy Bake Shop

We speak with Jen Snyder, owner of The Little Daisy Bake Shop in Upper Montclair. Jen opened the doors to her Valley Road bake shop 8 years ago and started filling the streets with the scent of cinnamon and sweet treats.  We celebrate Mother’s Day with the story of Jen, who is a wife and mom of two.  Find out how she decided to take her passion for baking and turn it into a business.

The bakery which happens to be peanut and nut free, is known for its daily fresh baked goodness and its creative special orders.  You’ll hear how Jen, an Oregon native, left behind her career to raise her kids and realize her dream.  And you’ll also hear about the treat you can’t leave the shop without!

* Jen Attended COOKIECON and writes about it on her blog 

Episode 50: Dolce Federica

We speak with Federica Heiman, owner of Dolce Federica. We hear about her journey from amateur pastry novice to chocolate expert, sourcing her ingredients internationally and putting her own unique combinations of flavours into making her signature bon bons and chocolate candies. 

Episode 49 Part 3: Montclair Film Education

We speak with the educators behind those beautiful glass doors on Bloomfield Avenue.  In the conclusion to our special series on Montclair Film, Jo speaks with Sue Hollenberg, Montclair Film's Education Director, the woman who brings us all of those great classes for kids and adults.  Find out what Sue has on the schedule plus the very special campaign Montclair Film has launched that'll have you doing something kind for a stranger today. You'll also hear from writer and director Gary Rudoren, Montclair Film's Improv class instructor, and from one of his students who happens to be a familiar voice around town - Ruthie Perretti of Montclair's famous Ruthie's BBQ.  And for all those voiceover wannnabe's - get the inside track from another Montclair Film instructor, the Emmy award winning actress and voice over artist Claudine Ohayon whose commercials you will most likely recognize.  

 

Montclair Film Festival 2019 kicks off this Friday!

Episode 49 Part 2: Local Filmmakers

We speak with three of this year's Montclair Film Festival filmmakers, all residents of Montclair. 

 

First up, we talk to new Montclairian Maureen Towey - about making a film inspired by one of her radical community-based theater projects She has directed live theater and many interactive live performances with Arcade Fire, Ray LaMontagne, and Esperanza Spaulding. Then we speak with Susan Skoog, who has had several of her moving narrative films presented in the festival over the years.  A mentor to many young filmmakers, Susan also teaches at Montclair State University. Finally, we'll speak with Emmy Award winner Steve McCarthy, a veteran journalist, and filmmaker who has pursued impactful stories for over 30 years through television and documentary film.

Episode 49 Part 1: Montclair Film Festival with Tom Hall

We speak with with Tom Hall, Executive Director at Montclair Film.  The Film Festival which is in its 8th year, debuts May 3rd.  Tom arrived to Montclair Film almost 5 years ago, via Nantucket, Newport, Sarasota and the Hamptons Film Festivals.  Now he and his team have sifted through 1000 films to create a collection that he knows will be well-received in Montclair.  Find out what special events and celebrities you can look forward to this year as well as why Tom decided to open the festival with “Wild Rose” starring Jessie Buckley.

 

Details for festival films and events through link above.