The Daily Newarker

It’s Portugal Day! You’re just gearing up to make the trek into the Ironbound for what promises to be a half-mile of food, fun and friends. To make the day that much more enjoyable, we’ve compiled some tips you’ll want to check out before you head into the city.

1. Don’t drive into the Ironbound. Seriously, we double- and triple-park our cars here for breakfast. Cramming half-a-million people into a half-mile of Ferry Street is a logistical nightmare. Instead: take the train. You won’t have to worry about traffic or driving if you’ve had one too many cups of sangria, and traveling by rail is safe.
   • From New York City: it’s easy; take the PATH from any of the Manhattan stops—33rd Street (transfer: B, D, F, N, Q, R, V, W lines), 23rd Street (transfer: F, V lines), 14th Street (transfer: F, L, V lines), 9th Street (nearby: 1 line), Christopher Street (nearby: A, B, C, D, E, F, V lines), and the World Trade Center (transfer: E, 1, 2, 3, A, C lines)—to Newark, the last stop. Follow the crowd of people downstairs and follow the instructions below.
   • From the suburbs: take NJ Transit to Newark Broad Street station on the Morris and Gladstone lines, or to Penn Station directly on the Raritan Valley, Northeast Corridor, or North Jersey Coast lines. If you’re anywhere else, you’ll want to go to Secaucus first, then transfer to Newark Penn. If you go to Broad Street, you don’t have to schlep across downtown to the Ironbound: once you walk out of the station, take the Light Rail, this is Newark’s above-ground extension to the city subway and will take you straight to Penn Station for $1.35.
• Leaving Penn Station: exit the station through the East side past the florist and the bar. Cross Market Street and go left on Ferry Street. Follow your nose, ears and eyes to the food, music and people.
2. Come hungry. Just skip a meal. While walking through the crowds, you’ll see funnel cakes, arepas, rodizio, shishkebab, acapurrias, farturas (like a churro or zeppole), pasteles, corn on the cob, rice and vegetable dishes, gyros, fresh fruit, pinchos, empanadas, fried plantains, hangar steak, shrimp, acaraje, fish and sausage. I could go on, but maybe out just want to check out Jason Perlo’s coverage of last year’s similar Brazilian Festival. Public consumption of alcohol is legal here, so enjoy your meal with a cup of fruit punch, a pina colada, sangria, or a bottle of Brahmas beer.
3. Embrace the chaos. The Portugal Day Festival has always been known to be a little wild and chaotic. There are people everywhere, which means you’ll be hiking over sidewalks, navigating between vendor stands and power cables, cutting through the massive throng of people which will almost always seem to be flowing in the opposite direction. If you’re the structured type, this can drive you nuts. Instead, just relax and enjoy this little bit of Europe in New Jersey.
4. Plan ahead. The Portugal Day Festival is actually one of two festivals going on in Newark—the other is the Newark Arts Festival, which is taking place downtown. Like me, you’ll probably want to attend both. The festivals are about a mile apart, so the Light Rail (which stops at Washington Park) is the best bet. If you’re trekking from the ‘burbs, you may want to stop at the Newark Arts Festival first before coming into the Ironbound, or stopping there on the way back home. The weather for today is 84°F and partly cloudy with medium winds; stay hydrated and dress accordingly.

1. Be sure to bring a camera! Take some photos and videos of you and your friends hanging out during the Portugal Day Festival and send it to ken@dailynewarker.com. We’ll be sure to post it on the blog!

   It’s sure to be a hectic and fun-filled day: enjoy, be responsible and stay safe!