Here at MG, we’re all about celebrating our besties and there’s no better time to show your BFFs some love than Galentine’s Day. In the spirit of friendship, we’re thrilled to announce our second annual The Montclair Girl Galentine’s Week of Giveaways — so alert the group chat that this series starts Wednesday, February 8th, and ends Monday, February 13th. Be sure to check out The Montclair Girl Instagram page each day this week to tag your pals and enter to win some fantastic local prizes. See below for all of the details about our 2023 Galentine’s Day giveaways.
What It Is
The six-day Galentine’s Giveaway Series is a fun opportunity for you and your friends to win amazing prizes from local businesses to make this year’s Galentine’s Day extra special. Each winner will be announced the day after each of the giveaway prize posts via @themontclairgirl’s Instagram stories. The winner of Day 1 will be announced on February 8th.
Giveaway Entry Requirements
- Like the post + follow @themontclairgirl and IG account of the business tagged in the giveaway post
- Tag 1 friend in the comment section of the post (the more comments, the more entries)
- Must enter by 11:59 pm EST each day to be considered
- Winner will be announced via our IG stories the day after the respective giveaway
BONUS ENTRY: Follow our parent brand @thelocalgirlhq for an additional entry
The Sponsors + Prizes
Day 1: SoJo Spa Club | 660 River Road, Edgewater
IG Handle: @sojospaclub
Giveaway Gift and Value: Two complimentary admission passes ($200 value)
For the pair of besties that have been talking about a spa trip forever, but haven’t gotten around to it (guilty), SoJo Spa Club is the perfect place to get that much-needed RNR. Located just outside of New York City, SoJo is home to nine outdoor + indoor pools, eight sauna rooms, and various therapeutic baths, all of which the winner will have access to. Plus, the spa’s location calls for some unmatched views of NYC, so the winner + their BFF can snap IG-worthy pics — from the outdoor infinity pool, of course.
Day 2: Healing4thesoul | 199 Boulevard, Hasbrouck Heights
IG Handle: @healing4thesoul
Giveaway Gift and Value: Basket full of our handmade LOVE products. These products include a chocolate strawberry love candle, a chocolate strawberry body lotion, anti-aging serum, vanilla salt + sugar scrub, + a rose mist spray. ($100+ value)
Self-care night? We’re in. Dawn + Renee from Healing4thesoul are educated wellness professionals whose holistic approach to wellness informs every skin + body care product they design. The winner will be treated to a basket of goodies, ranging from chocolate-flavored candles to anti-aging serums. This prize is key to reaching the “clean girl aesthetic” — light that candle, spray that rose mist, and achieve that Pinterest-level glow with these high-value products.
Day 3: Vital IV Infusion | 159 Main Street, Chatham
IG Handle: @vitalivinfusion
Giveaway Gift and Value: One Nutritional IV Infusion Session
Besties that get IV treatments together, stay together — just ask Kendall Jenner + Hailey Bieber. Vital IV Infusions is a nutritional infusion program that offers vitamin-infused IV therapies. Containing essential fluids, electrolytes, vitamins, and antioxidants, these IV treatments aim to reduce anxiety, promote relaxation, cure hangover symptoms (noted), and help treat nutrient deficiencies, among other nutritional benefits. The winner will be treated to one IV infusion session. Whether you’ve gone a little bit overboard on a night out or are knee-deep in your wellness journey, a nutritional IG infusion session is a great way to treat yourself or gift to your bestie.
Day 4: ATK Fitness Verona | 307 Pompton Avenue, Verona
IG Handle: @theaktverona
Giveaway Gift and Value: One-month unlimited membership for you + a friend and an AKT swag bag (Value $428)
Let’s face it, working out is always better with a friend. ATK Fitness in Verona knows, so they’re gifting a one-month unlimited membership to the winner AND a friend. AKT is a full-body workout that combines cardio dance intervals with strength and toning. Every class at ATK works the whole body to maximize results. This gift will keep a pair of workout buddies motivated — and they’ll have fun in the process.
Day 5: Rose Gold Wellness | 39 S. Fullerton Avenue, Montclair
IG Handle: @rosegoldwellnessllc
Giveaway Gift and Value: Two 60-min massages + 30-min infrared sauna (value $300)
For the stressed besties, Montclair’s Rose Gold Wellness is giving two 60-minute massages, plus a 30-minute infrared sauna session. Rose Gold Wellness is an integrative wellness clinic that specializes in emotional, physical, and spiritual healing with various herbal, medicinal, and massage services. The center’s experienced + licensed practitioners help all kinds of clients achieve their wellness goals — and will help the winner + a friend unwind with some much-needed massage therapy.
Day 6: Boss Molly Bourbon | Based in Hoboken
IG Handle: @BossMollyBourbon
Giveaway Gift and Value: Gift box with two branded glencairn glasses, one branded beanie, and gift certificate to Merit Fine Wine + Liquor, ($160.00 Value)
Boss Molly Bourbon is a women-owned bourbon company that’s totally changing the game. Whether you love whiskey or want to support women founders (hell yes!), — the winner + a friend can rep Boss Molly Bourbon with two branded glasses and a branded beanie. Plus, a gift card to Montclair’s Merit Fine Wine + Liquor is up for grabs, which is the perfect excuse to try out some Boss Molly with your own group of girl bosses.
Make sure to enter daily on IG this week, and follow @themontclairgirl on Instagram so you stay in the loop!
Good luck, and Happy Galentine’s Week!
Eataly Opens at Short Hills Mall
Here at The Montclair Girl, we pride ourselves on being on the cutting edge of local happenings. We read the news, check our DMs, and do our best to stay on top of things. But one story eluded us for weeks earlier this year: a rumor that world-famous Italian market and eatery Eataly had plans for a location in the Short Hills Mall. After multiple trips to the Short Hills Mall, the mall directory revealed that Eataly would be coming to Essex County back in March — and now, Eataly has officially opened its first New Jersey location. Read on for everything we know about Eataly's arrival in New Jersey.
What We Know
The first mention of an Eataly location bubbled up via local influencer NJ Hipsturbia Collective’s Instagram. The team shared a post reading, “Eataly is coming to New Jersey by the end of 2024 in the previous Primo Mercado location at the Short Hills Mall. This will be Eataly's first location in New Jersey. Construction has already begun at the Mall.” When reached for comment, the team would only reveal that they had gotten the information from "a reputable source at Short Hills Mall."
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Members of the MG team have visited other Eataly locations and were excited about the possibility, so we sprung into action. Earlier this year, we contacted Eataly’s corporate headquarters. We contacted the Short Hills Mall management. We even went to Short Hills Mall to see for ourselves.
Read More: New Holiday Pop-Up Shop, From Italy, With Love, Opens in Montclair
We got: no calls or emails in response to our queries. We saw: no construction.
Meanwhile, other local news outlets reported on Eataly’s opening as fact. We saw the story in NJ.com, TapInto, Jersey Digs, and New Jersey Monthly.
Finally, on March 10th, we were able to get confirmation with our own two eyes. The mall directory now had Eataly listed.
As of September 2024, signage at the mall revealed that Eataly planned to open its first New Jersey location this fall.
A member of the MG team walked by the forthcoming Eataly location on Sunday, October 27th, and noticed a sign on the exterior of the building for an upcoming hiring event (see the photo below). The event took place on Monday, October 28th from 3PM-5PM at the event space between Gap and Vineyard Vines. There are also various job listings for the Short Hills Mall location on Eataly's hiring website.
While the exact opening date was still unknown at that time, a construction worker at the site told MG that Eataly was aiming for a mid-late November debut in Short Hills.
Eataly officially made its debut at the Short Hills Mall on Wednesday, November 13th at 3PM, per a press release. The 17,000+-square-foot space features one restaurant + bar, several quick-service counters serving coffee, pastries, gelato, Roman-style pizza, + paninis, and a retail section with imported Italian and regional delicacies including fresh pasta.
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The restaurant and bar has 230 seats. Some of the dishes on the menu include antipasti dishes like prosciutto di parma and Sicilian-style calamari fritti with zucchini; primi dishes including tagliatelle alla bolognese and 18-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano; secondi dishes like pan-roasted salon and chicken Milanese; over 10 varieties of pizza; and a selection of over 100 Italian wines and seasonal cocktails.
Eataly has a 10-day schedule of events to celebrate its opening in Short Hills — including educational workshops, producer tastings, DJ nights with specialty cocktails, and chef-led dinners, among other things. More information can be found on Eataly's website.
All About Eataly
Eataly was founded in Turin, Italy on January 27th, 2007 by Oscar Farinetti, per Eataly’s website. Oscar’s vision for Eataly extended beyond creating a store — he aspired to establish an understanding of life through the lens of food. With this concept in mind, Oscar created a school, a market, and a table to bring people together in one place. Over time, Eataly expanded its footprint across the world, including locations in New York, Los Angeles, Germany, Japan, and London.
^ Eataly's Chicago location
Before Oscar opened the first Eataly in Italy, he traveled across 20 regions to select local producers who aligned with the Slow Food partner’s criteria for cuisine that is fresh and delicious. These chosen Italian producers import fresh ingredients from Italy such as Afeltra’s bronze-extruded, air-dried pasta from southern Gragnano, and Niasca Portofino’s freshly jarred pesto Genovese from northern Liguria.
Eataly is located on the first floor of the mall, near Bloomingdales', in the space that formerly held Mercado. Eataly provides a variety of dining options like a pizzeria, a pasta bar, a meat and cheese counter, and a gelato shop. Aside from dining, Eataly is also a retail market that has Italian groceries, cookware, and tableware.
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See More: The Best Italian Restaurants in Hoboken: A Definitive List
Eataly shoppers can expect the same Italian cooking and lifestyle shopping and dining experience as at other locations. In addition to shopping for Italian groceries and ingredients, the store also has home goods and personal products for sale. The food hall portion features different dining counters with different experiences. Other Eataly locations have choices such as seafood, cheese, gelato, and even one counter in Chicago is dedicated solely to Nutella. Eataly also has cooking classes and other instruction. Some selections from other locations include wine tastings and truffles.
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