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People

Visitor Entertainment Guide

DIMACS Visitor Survival and Entertainment Guide and Area Information

Welcome

Emergency Information

General Services

Places of worship

Transportation Information

Restaurants

Area Attractions/things to do

Movies/Local Theater

Shopping

Recreation (hiking, nature walks, bowling, miniature golf)

Welcome!

We hope that this document provides you with clear and accurate information concerning services and activities in the area which will make your stay as pleasant as possible. We've tried to anticipate your need for such basics as banks, post offices, laundry, etc. as well as provide you with some interesting entertainment activities in the area.

If you have any suggestions for improving this guide or find any errors please let us know by sending an email to Christine Spassione (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

If there is anything you need or any place you'd like directions to please do not hesitate to ask. Stop in and see Christine Spassione, DIMACS Center Administrator, in room 438 and she will endeavor to assist you.

We hope you enjoy your stay at DIMACS.

 

 

Emergency Information:

 

 

Pharmacies:

Wallgreens Pharmacy

  • 920 Hamilton Street, Somerset, Phone: 732-545-9069
  • Hours: M-F 8:00am-10:00pm; Sat. 8:00am-10:00pm; Sun. 9:00am-6:00pm
  • ~ 3.5 miles from DIMACS.

Rite Aid Pharmacy

  • 366 George Street., New Brunswick, Phone: 732-247-2331
  • Hours: M-F 8:00am-8:00pm; Sat. 8:00am-8:00pm; Sun. 9:00am-5:00pm
  • ~ 2.8 miles from DIMACS.

 

 

Hospitals

St. Peter's Medical Center

  • 254 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, Phone: 732-745-8600
  • ~ 3 miles from DIMACS.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJ)

  • One Robert Wood Johnson Place, New Brunswick, Phone: 732-828-3000
  • ~ 3 miles from DIMACS.

 

 

Police

  • Emergency from campus phone: 6-911
  • Emergency from non-campus phone: 911
  • Rutgers University Campus Police:
  • Non-emergency: 732-932-7211
  • Piscataway Police
  • Non-emergency: 732-562-1100
  • New Brunswick Police
  • Non-emergency: 732-745-2000
  • Emergency DIMACS Staff Contacts:
  • Christine Spassione, Center Administrator, office phone: 732-445-4304,
  • email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

Banks/Money Machines

ATM - Busch Campus Student Center (5 minute walk from CoRE Building)
Summer hours: M-F, 8:30-4:30; closed Saturday and Sunday

ATM - Rutgers Federal Credit Union (7 minute walk from CoRE Building)
24 hours a day.

 

Bank of America

  • 480 Hoes Lane, Piscataway
  • ~2 miles from DIMACS.

 

 

Post Offices

Busch Campus Student Center (5 minute walk from CoRE Building)
M-F, 8:30-4:30; closed Saturday and Sunday

 

Edison Post Office

  • 21 Kilmer Road, Edison
  • 732-819-3263
  • ~5.1 miles from DIMACS.

 

 

Laundry

Superwash Coin Laundry (both self-serve and drop off service)

  • 1760 Easton Ave # 10, Somerset
  • Hours: Mon- Fri: 7:30am-8:30pm; Sat 7am-8:30pm; Sun 7am-7pm
  • ~ 5 miles from DIMACS.

Hamilton Street Laundromat

  • 205 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, Phone: 732-828-4443
  • Hours: Open Daily 7am-10pm
  • ~ 3 miles from DIMACS.

 

 

Places of Worship

Baptist - First Baptist of New Market

  • 450 New Market Road, Piscataway, Phone: 732-968-6290
  • ~ 6 miles from DIMACS.

Jewish - Highland Park Conservative Temple - Congregation Anshe Emeth

  • 201 South 3rd Avenue, Highland Park, Phone: 732-545-6482
  • ~ 4 miles from DIMACS.

Lutheran - All Saints Lutheran Church

  • 5205 Deborah Drive, Piscataway, Phone: 732-463-1510
  • ~ 2 miles from DIMACS.

Methodist - Christ United Methodist Church

  • 485 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, Phone: 732-463-1517
  • ~ 2 miles from DIMACS.

Muslim - Muslim Center of Middlesex County

  • 1012 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, Phone:732- 463-2004
  • ~ 1.5 miles from DIMACS.

Presbyterian - Middlesex Presbyterian Church

  • 1190 Mountain Ave., Middlesex, Phone: 469-4498
  • ~ 6 miles from DIMACS.

Roman Catholic - Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church

  • 501 New Market Road, Piscataway, Phone: 968-5555 dd>~ 6 miles from DIMACS.

Note: If we have not identified a place of worship for your denomination, please do not hesitate to ask one of our staff members for assistance. We would be happy to provide directions.

Transportation

 

 

Avis (provides free pick up and delivery)

  • 1570 South Washington Ave., Piscataway, Phone: 752-6800
  • Rates (compact car)
  • $59.04/ day unlimited mileage
  • $43.99/ day includes 200 free miles.

Enterprise

  • 200 Atrium Drive, Somerset, Phone: 732-271-3535
  • Rates (compact car)
  • $46.42/ day unlimited mileage.
  • $46.42/ day $10 per 100 miles.
  • $37.58/ day Weekend Special: Friday - Monday

 

 

Taxis/Limousines

Victory Cab, to airports and New Brunswick train station

  • 1 Easton Ave., New Brunswick (right next to the train station)
  • 732-545-6666

A-A Checker Cab, short jaunts around Piscataway and South Plainfield

  • 4 South 3rd Avenue, Highland Park
  • 732-981-9000

A-1 Limousine Service, private car service to airports

  • 1-800-367-0070

Airbrook Limo, private car service to airports

Trains:

(Note: the train station in New Brunswick is the closest station and a very active facility, but you could also depart from the Metropark train station which has an even greater variety of connections into New York City and other locations. Metropark is about a 20-25 minute drive from Piscataway.)

Amtrak

  • Schedules, fares and station information is available on the web: www.amtrak.com
  • 1-800-872-7245

New Jersey Transit, transportation into New York's Penn Station from New Brunswick (or Metro Park) (northeast corridor line). See the on-line schedules at: http://www.njtransit.com

  • 1-800-772-2287

Airports and Airline Information:

American Airlines 1-800-433-7300Continental Airlines 1-800-523-3273Delta Airlines 800-221-1212United 1-800-241-6522U.S. Air/America West 1-800-864-8331Virgin Atlantic 1-800-821-5438

 

 

Restaurants

Al Dente ($$$$)

  • 1665 Stelton Road, Piscataway, Phone: 732-985-8220 (reservations recommended)
  • Fine Italian cuisine.
  • ~ 6 miles from DIMACS.

Applebee's ($)

  • 1282 Centennial Avenue, Piscataway, Phone:732- 562-0500
  • Kind of a southwestern menu. Pleasant environment.
  • ~ 5 miles from DIMACS.

Clydz's ($$$)

  • 55 Paterson Street, New Brunswick (Downtown New Brunswick), Phone: 732-846-6521 (reservations highly recommended)
  • Hungry for some wild boar? ostrich? venison? A very unusual menu, but a must for the culinary adventurer.
  • ~ 3 miles from DIMACS.

Delta's ($$$)

    • 19 Dennis St. New Brunswick (Downtown New Brunswick), Phone: 732-249-1551
    • Southern Cuisine. Very good.
    • www.deltasrestaurant.com
    • ~ 3.5 miles from DIMACS.

Marita's Cantina ($$)

      • Corner of Albany Street and Easton Ave. (in the Ferren Mall), New Brunswick, Phone: 732-247-3840
      • Nicely prepared Mexican cuisine.
      • ~ 3.5 miles from DIMACS.

Pooja ($$)

      • 1075 Easton Avenue, Somerset, Phone: 732-220-0051
      • Authentic Indian cuisine. (the standard preparation is pretty spicy, consider ordering it prepared mild unless you have a real taste for spicy food).
      • ~ 3 miles from DIMACS.

Red Lobster ($$)

      • 700 Hadley Road, South Plainfield, Phone: 908-561-6015
      • Basic seafood.
      • ~5 miles from DIMACS

Sapporo ($$)

      • 375 George Street, New Brunswick, Phone: 732-828-3888 (reservations suggested)
      • Japanese cuisine. Very good.

T.G.I. Fridays ($)

      • 1315 Centennial Avenue, Piscataway, Phone: 732-465-0101
      • Steaks, burgers, wraps, southwestern cuisine.
      • ~5 miles from DIMACS. .

($$$$) Entree $20-$30+

($$$) Entree $20+

($$) Entree $15-$20

($) Entree $8-$15

 

 

Area attractions/Things to do

DIMACS Calendar of Events

Rutgers University Calendar of events

New Jersey Calendar of Events

City of New Brunswick: events, restaurants, shopping, historical sites, etc.

Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park and Safari

      • Route 537, Jackson, NJ 08527, Phone: 1-800-698-6840
      • Hours: 10:00am-10:pm, Cost: Theme Park only: $39.99, Theme Park and safari: $42.99 (note: park is closed November-March. Check their website for open days and hours of operation during April, May and October). Check out their web site: http://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/

Mountain Creek Water Park (formerly Vernon Valley - Great Gorge)

      • 200 Route 94 in Vernon, NJ 07462, Phone: 973-827-2000
      • Hours: 10:00 am-7:00pm. Admission: $34.99/day, kids & seniors (65+) $24.99/day
      • http://www.mountaincreek.com/

PNC Bank Arts Center

      • Exit 116 Garden State Parkway, Holmdel, NJ, Phone: 732-203-2500
      • See web site for ordering information, show times and ticket availability.
      • http://www.artscenter.com/

The Stress Factory Comedy Club

      • 90 Church St., New Brunswick, Phone: 732-545-4242
      • May have an admission charge of $10-$15 for stand up comics and hypnotists. Wednesday night is "open mic night", beginning at 8:30, admission is free. http://www.stressfactory.com

New Jersey State Museum

      • 205 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0530, Phone: (609) 292-6464
      • Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am. to 4:45 pm, and Sunday, noon to 5 pm. It is closed Mondays and all state holidays.
      • http://www.state.nj.us/state/museum/
      • General admission to the New Jersey State Museum is free. Admission to Planetarium programs is $1 per person. Laser Light Shows are $6 per person.
      • ~ 35 miles from DIMACS.

NJ Beaches:

Sandy Hook Beach.

      • ~ 40 miles from DIMACS.

Point Pleasant

      • ~ 60 miles from DIMACS.

Seaside Heights

      • ~ 45 miles from DIMACS.

Mason Gross School of the Arts - Rutgers University (dance, music, theatre arts, visual arts)

Philadelphia, PA

      • http://philadelphia.com/
      • A tourist mecca unto itself, it is beyond the scope of this guide to attempt to cover this great city as well as what we've already covered. Philadelphia is rich in history and culture, with such historical sites as the Betsy Ross house, the liberty bell, and the "historic mile" of over 65 historical venues. It also features museums of the likes of the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

New York City

 

      • http://www.nyctourist.com/
      • approximately a 45 minute train ride from New Brunswick to New York's Penn Station
      • A taxi from Busch campus to the New Brunswick train station is ~$5.00. NJ Transit train fare is $11.50 excursion, $15.50 peak (arrival times between 6:00am and 9:30am)
      • Public transportation into the city: leaving from the New Brunswick train station, see the websites for NJ Transit (http://www.njtransit.state.nj.us/nec.htm) and Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) New York's Penn Station is located at 33rdSt. & 7th Ave.

        For public transportation within the city, check out the MTA website: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/

        The Empire State Building

        Statue of Liberty (Liberty Island)/Ellis Island

        • Catch the ferry from Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan. The ferry leaves every 30-45 minutes beginning at 9:15am. Recommended that you do this early in the day to avoid the worst of the crowds and heat. website:
        • http://www.nyctourist.com/liberty1.htm

        Radio City Music Hall

        • 1260 Avenue of the Americas
        • Backstage tours available. Mon.-Sat 10:00am-5:00pm, Sun. 11am-5pm
        • Price: $16 adult, $10 children under 12
        • http://www.radiocity.com/

        Tickets for Broadway and off Broadway shows:

        • Reduced price, same-day tickets can be obtained at the TKTS booth in Duffy Square at W 47th St. at Broadway. This can mean a long wait in line and availability on a catch as catch can basis. Saturday matinee tickets are sold from 10:00am to 2:00pm, evening show tickets are sold from 3:00pm to 8:00pm.
        • To find out more about the shows and a theater guide have a look at:
        • http://www.nyctourist.com/tkts_about.htm

        American Museum of Natural History

        • Central Park West at 79th St.
        • Admission: $16.00 adult, $9.00 children (2-12 years), student/seniors $12.00 Special exhibits are extra.
        • http://www.amnh.org/

        Metropolitan Museum of Art (the best there is, IMHO)

        • 1000 5th Ave. (at 82nd St.)
        • Admission: $20 adult; $10 students; $15 seniors; children under 12 free
        • http://www.metmuseum.org/

        United Nations

        • First Ave. between 42nd & 48th Streets
        • A 45 minute guided tour of the UN headquarters is offered from 9:15am - 4:15pm. Tours: $7.50, Seniors $6.00; Students $5.00
        • http://www.un.org/

 

 

 

Movies/Theaters

Regal Hadley Cinemas (in the Hadley Center shopping plaza)

      • 1000 Corporate Court, South Plainfield, Phone: 908-668-6449
      • ~ 5 miles from DIMACS.

Loews Theater

      • 17 Route 1, New Brunswick, Phone: 732-846-2275
      • ~ 4 miles from DIMACS.

State Theater

      • 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, Phone: 732-246-7469
      • An eclectic mix of program... ballet, symphony, performing arts, headliners, touring companies... check out their web site for current events, pricing and ticket ordering information:
      • http://statetheatre.com/
      • ~4 miles from DIMACS.

Shopping:

Centennial Square Shopping Plaza

      • 1303 Centennial Avenue, Piscataway
      • ~ 5 miles from DIMACS.
      • Stores: Wal-Mart, Panera Breads, Sports Authority, Lowe's Home Center, Children's Wear, TGI Fridays restaurant

Middlesex Mall

      • Corner of Centennial Ave. and Stelton Road, South Plainfield
      • ~ 5.5 miles from DIMACS.
      • Stores: Sears Essentials, Macy's, Pathmark supermarket, Burlington Coat Factory.

Towne Center Shopping Plaza

      • 1282 Centennial Ave.
      • ~ 5 miles from DIMACS.
      • Stores: Shop Rite supermarket & pharmacy, Card store, Deli, Applebee's restaurant, Salon Per Te hair salon.

Hadley Center Shopping Plaza

      • 4971 Stelton Road, South Plainfield
      • ~ 5 miles from DIMACS.
      • Stores: Kohl's department store, A&P supermarket, Dollar Store, CVS Pharmacy, The Wall music store, Pet supply store, Regal Hadley Cinemas, Target.

Bridgewater Commons Mall

      • Mon - Sat, 10:00am-9:30pm, Sun 11:00 am-7:00pm
      • Website: http://www.bridgewatercommons.com/ (yes, a mall with a web page... God bless America!)
      • This is a large up-scale mall with anchor stores of Lord and Taylor, Macy's and Stern's, a 6 screen movie theater, and boasting over 150 stores and restaurants on three levels. This is a serious mall for the serious shopper.
      • ~ 10 miles from DIMACS.

Recreation

  • (hiking, nature walk, bowling, miniature golf)

Spruce Run Recreation Area

  • http://www.state.nj.us/dep/forestry/parks/spruce.htm
  • Van Syckels Road, Clinton, NJ 08809
  • 908-638-8572
    • 1,910 acres
    • Facilities and Activities: Bathhouse, biking, changing rooms, cross-country skiing, first aid, fishing, food concession, hiking, hunting (waterfowl only), picnic tables, picnic shelters, group picnic facilities, restrooms, rollerblading (designated area), supervised swimming (reservoir) Boating/canoeing: electric motors, gas motors (10hp limit), trailer launch, cartop launch, boat rentals, canoe rentals.Entrance fee: $5 week day/ $10 weekend per car

Round Valley Recreation Area

  • 3,639 acre state park
  • http://www.state.nj.us/dep/forestry/parks/round.htm
  • Lebanon Stanton Road, Lebanon, NJ 08833, Phone: 908-236-6355
    • Facilities and Activities: Bathhouse, biking, cross-country skiing, changing rooms, first aid, fishing, food concession, hiking, horseback riding, hunting (waterfowl only), mountain biking, scuba diving, sledding, supervised swimming (reservoir), picnic tables, picnic shelters, playground, restrooms. Boating/canoeing: electric motors, gas motors (10 hp limit), canoeing, trailer launch, cartop launch. Handicapped access to water..Entrance fee: $5 week day/ $10 weekend per car
    • Note: Spruce Run and Round Valley are practically right next to each other.
    •  
    • Approximately 30 miles from DIMACS.

    Delaware Water Gap (Worthington State Foredt)

    • http://www.state.nj.us/dep/forestry/parks/worthin.htm
      • A good hike to Sun Fish Pond. A seriously steep grade with rocky terrain (hiking boots highly recommended) on the way up. High on top of the Kittatinny Ridge is a blue lake, Sunfish Pond, a relic of the Wisconsin Glacier, which reached its farthest extent about 18,000 years ago. The Appalachian Trail, which is heavily traveled in this area, passes along the eastern side of the lake. The path to the lake is wide and occasionally steep. Allow an hour and a half to go up and an hour to go down. You can hike all the way around the lake, a walk of 1.5 miles.
      • Approximately 55 miles from DIMACS.

    Frelinghuysen Arboretum

    Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

    High Point State Park

    Stokes State Forest

    • 15,735 acres
    • http://www.nj.com/outdoors/parks/stokes.html
    • Coursen Road, Branchville, NJ 07826, (201) 948-3820, Hours: Dawn to dusk.
    • Fee charged at Stony Lake day area -- Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
    • Facilities and Activities: Bathhouse, biking, boating/canoeing, concession (food and beach supplies), fishing, hiking (trail map available), horseback riding, hunting, mountain biking, nature trails (trail guide available at office), picnicking, physical fitness trail, playground, restrooms, softball field, swimming.
    • Boating/canoeing: electric motors only, trailer launch (East Creek Pond), cartop launch, boat rentals, canoe rentals.
    • Picnic Areas: Stony lake recreation area - fee charged. Kittle Field -- per-table fee.
    • ~ 70 miles from DIMACS.

    Stelton Lanes Bowling Alley

    • 1665 Stelton Road, Piscataway, Phone: 732-985-2695
    • ~ 8 miles from DIMACS. Take Brett Road to Metlars Lane. Make a left onto Metlars Lane and go to 4th light and make a left (this is still Metlars Lane but eventually becomes South Washington Ave.). Go to the 2nd traffic light and make a right (this is still Metlars Lane). At the next light make a right on to Stelton Road and go ~ 3 miles. The bowling alley is on the left in the back of a little strip plaza (Look for Al Dente restaurant, the bowling alley is at the back of their building).

    Rutgers University Sonny Werblin Recreation Center (located across the parking lot from the CoRE Building)