The Woodland — Attraction in Maplewood

In just a few days, the upcoming Lunar New Year brings the Year of the Dragon on February 10th among East and Southeast Asian cultures. It’s fifth in the 12-animal Chinese zodiac cycle and the only animal that’s a mythical creature. This afternoon, my partner and I arrived at the Woodland, located off of Woodland Road in Maplewood, to celebrate Lunar Fest NJ 2024—Maplewood Arts & Culture. Completed in 1930, the Georgian Revival-style mansion and adjoining auditorium have been a hub for Maplewood’s vibrant cultural and civic life for over eight decades. The unique event features lion dance, performances representing Chinese, Mongolian, Thali, and Korean cultures, children's activities, and delicious food trucks, which brought...

The building has been around forever, though underappreciated and often forgotten. Growing up it was a steady if unglamorous event hall that fell into neglect and disrepair. I actually did my Eagle Scout project here, fixing it up many years ago but it wasn't maintained and the town thought to tear it down. Its making a comeback, with slow but steady remodeling and code upgrades. Once a month the Charity "Rent Party" has rock concerts to raise funds for local soup kitchens and food insecurity....

Great community meeting and events location; discounted for Maplewood residents. I hosted my sister's baby shower last year in the upper ballroom. It was a beautiful event. Just be mindful that due to shape of the room, with large (8+) round tables plus several rectangular tables the space did seem crowded after the guests were seated. In general, excellent service while reserving the space and...