A local staple for all kinds of pottery-related activities is expanding its presence in Essex County. Mud Clay Studio, which opened up its first Montclair location in spring 2023, will be opening up a second MTC studio at 42 Upper Montclair Plaza in Upper Montclair in the former Moss + More storefront. In addition to all of the courses and events at the Bloomfield Avenue studio, More Montclair Mud will provide even more opportunities to try your hand at pottery. Read on for more about More Montclair Mud, opening soon in Montclair, New Jersey.
Photo Credit: Mud Clay Studio
The New Upper Montclair Location
Mud Clay Studio’s second Montclair location, More Montclair Mud, will open soon at 42 Upper Montclair Plaza in Upper Montclair. Mud Clay Studio founder Melanie Tomaszewski announced the news via a press release, saying that the 370 Bloomfield Avenue store was “bursting at the seams.” The space was formerly home to Moss + More, a botanical boutique that closed at the end of January.
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“This new space allows us to bring even more creativity, community, and, of course, clay-covered hands to Montclair!” Melanie said.
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“A second location dedicated to the town’s ever-growing love of pottery,” More Montclair Mud will provide the same services as its Bloomfield Avenue counterpart, with a few new offerings (plus a parking lot and an EV charger). This includes more eight-week classes with 24/7 access, more studio memberships, as well as way more Claydates — which will allow for more birthdays, team-building events, date nights, and “let’s-try-pottery” adventures.
Spring session classes at the Upper Montclair location begin on Monday, April 7th, with registration opening on Sunday, March 16th at 8:30AM.
“Montclair has always prioritized the arts, and More Montclair Mud is here to meet that demand—because in this town, creativity is never on a waitlist!” Melanie said.
For more information or to book a class at More Montclair Mud, head to the website, call the Bloomfield Avenue studio at 973-500-3821, or email [email protected].
About Mud Clay Studio
Mud Clay Studio is a local pottery chain with locations in Montclair, Madison, and Mendham. The Bloomfield Avenue studio opened in spring 2023. More Montclair Mud will mark its fourth location in Northern New Jersey. The studio has something for all ages, including memberships, a variety of comprehensive courses with 24-hour access to the studio, one-time BYOB pottery wheel events, and more.
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Melanie has been working with clay for 30 years. Her passion for pottery started in college, where she first discovered the magic of turning a lump of clay into a beautiful piece of art. After honing her skills and perfecting her craft, she decided to share her love for pottery with the world and founded Mud Clay Studio.
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6 New Fitness Spots to Visit in the Montclair Area
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of an in-person workout class. It’s an experience that’s hard to replicate at home — between the low lights, uplifting music, motivational instructors, and collective energy. there’s a large fitness footprint in the Montclair area that has recently welcomed a slew of new studios across modalities like cycling, boxing, yoga, pilates, and strength training. Read on for a list of six Montclair and Essex County fitness spots that are new to the scene.
BFT | 469 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Body Fit Training (BFT) is athletic training at its core, started by a fitness coach for athletes in Australia and evolved for all fitness levels. Its group strength and conditioning training programs burn fat, build lean muscle, and help members reach their fitness goals. The schedule cycles through 14 program types to provide a well-rounded routine. There’s Strength (BFT’s foundation session), Power (think explosive movements at a faced pace), Pump (high-volume resistance), Hyper (focusing on form and function), H.I.R.T (high-intensity resistance training), and Strength Endurance, to name just a few. Coaches float throughout the class to give members individualized attention. First-timers can experience their first class for free.
Read More: A Guide to Workout Studios in Montclair
Move House | 260 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair
Essex County native Marissa Herrman opened Move House to create an inclusive, community-based workout that builds confidence while inspiring and challenging the mind and body. She used her background in dance and barre to create low-impact, high-energy, full-body classes. There are currently two class options: Sculpt, which combines barre and pilates with a fun dance vibe, and Barre, which focuses on lengthening the muscles. New students can purchase two classes for the price of one. Move House also provides virtual on-demand classes and personal training options.
Pulse House | 50 Upper Montclair Plaza, Montclair
Pulse, which took over the Ride It Cycle space in Upper Montclair Plaza, is a high-intensity, 45-minute indoor cycling class. Members ride to the beat of the music in and out of the saddle and complete choreography that targets the upper body and core for a full-body workout. Classes feature a weight segment using 3-5 pound dumbbells. In addition to Cycle, its signature ride, the studio hosts weekly music-themed cycles like Hip Hop Monday, Throwback Thursday, Frat Party Friday, and Swiftie Saturday. New riders can take their first class for $10 or opt into a free intro to cycling class.
Rumble | 536 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
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Rumble Boxing sprang up during the studio fitness boom in New York City in the 2010s and has since taken off with locations nationwide, recently landing in downtown Montclair. The boxing-based workout features a 10-round, 45-minute fight evenly divided between two training styles. In its Signature O.G. class, half the class explores the skills and drills of boxing, and the other half focuses on strength training. Class-goers can expect a thumping sound system and a custom playlist for an electrifying workout. Rumble provides a free class for first-timers.
Sol Spirit | 356 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Sol Spirit is a Jersey City favorite, winning our sister brand The Hoboken Girl’s reader-voted Best Yoga Studio in Jersey City for 2023 and 2024, with a second location now in downtown Montclair. Sol Spirit's class variety can fit into many lifestyles and interests, with about 25 weekly classes on the schedule, such as Vinyasa Sol Flow, Gentle Sol Flow, Yin Yang, Yoga for Anxiety, Yoga Fundamentals, Restorative Yoga, and Yin and Mini Sound Bath. The studio also hosts diverse wellness events like Meditation, Healing Circles, Reiki Sound Baths, Breathwork Workshops, and Continuing Education Teacher Training sessions.. New students can sign up for an unlimited month of yoga for $68, and its mats and props are complimentary.
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The Strength Club | 351 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Strong New York
The Strength Club, a popular fitness studio in New York City, recently opened its second location (and first in New Jersey) in Caldwell. The Strength Club provides group classes and personal training for building muscle strength and conditioning. With the motto of “Quit the HIIT and get strong,” every day has a focus on optimizing training and ensuring ample recovery and muscle growth. There are two days targeting the upper body, two days focusing on the lower body, and three days dedicated to conditioning. With a cap of 18 people per class, members benefit from individualized attention in a supportive, high-energy setting. First-timers can purchase two classes for the price of one.
