Montclair Magazine Spring 2018 | Page 10

editor’s letter M ontclair is a town with a lot going on — and this spring, that may be truer than ever. First up, the second annual Montclair Literary Festival runs March 15-18 (learn about highlights in “Montclair is for Book Lovers”). This year’s event features best- selling authors Tom Perrotta (The Leftovers, Little Children) and Anna Quindlen (Miller’s Valley, Object Lessons), as well as Min Jin Lee, whose Pachinko was a National Book Award finalist. Most of the events are free to the public, but net proceeds from ticket sales go to helping Succeed2gether promote literacy. Then, on April 15, the town marks the 150th anniversary of Montclair becoming independent from Bloomfield Township. Among the activities to honor the occasion, com- munity elders are having their oral histories recorded by Montclair State University students (see “Five Things You Didn’t Know about Christopher Matthews”). To get a sense of the town’s illustrious past, check out our timeline (“Montclair Celebrates a Big Birthday”). Montclair’s present may be best understood by perusing our Readers’ Choice Poll Results. The categories alone — where to go for Pilates, pet services, coffee — tell us a lot about the way we live now. (Certainly outdoor dining meant something completely different in 1868.) Where are your favorite places in Montclair? Let us know at [email protected], or tag us on Instagram @MontclairMagazine. ■ CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM MontclairMagazine 8 SPRING 2018 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE