DIMACS Visitor survival and entertainment guide and area information

Welcome

Emergency Information
Pharmacies
Hospitals
Police
General Services
Banks
Post Offices
Laundromat
Places of worship
Transportation Information
Car Rental
Taxis/Limousines
Trains
Airlines
Restaurants
Area Attractions/things to do
New Jersey (and a note about Philadelphia)
New York City
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 (spassion@dimacs.rutgers.edu).

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: spassion@dimacs.rutgers.edu

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

Car Rental

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
1-800-800-1990

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:

Newark International Airport
JFK International Airport
LaGuardia
American Airlines 1-800-433-7300
Continental Airlines 1-800-523-3273
Delta Airlines 800-221-1212
United 1-800-241-6522
U.S. Air/America West 1-800-864-8331
Virgin 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
http://dimacs.rutgers.edu/Events/
Rutgers University Calendar of events
http://ruevents.rutgers.edu/events/
New Jersey Calendar of Events
http://www.state.nj.us/travel/coe.htm
City of New Brunswick: events, restaurants, shopping, historical sites, etc.
http://www.newbrunswick.com/

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)
33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
http://mgsa.rutgers.edu
932-7511
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
5th Ave & 34th Streets
10:00 am-12 midnight.
http://www.nyctourist.com/empire1.htm
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
127 acres. Headquarters of the Morris County Park System)
53 East Hanover Ave. (Route 511), Morristown, NJ, Phone 973-326-7600
Visitors center hours Mon - Sat 9am - 4:30pm, Sun. 12:00 - 4:30pm
Grounds Hours: 9am - dusk
http://parks.morris.nj.us/asp/parks/action.asp?Action=INFO&ptr=0&tab=1
~30 miles from DIMACS.
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
A 7,000 acre refuge with education centers bounding the swamp in Chatham and Basking Ridge.
http://www.fieldtrip.com/nj/14251222.htm
~ 25 miles from DIMACS.
High Point State Park
14,193 acres
1480 Route 23, Sussex, NJ Phone: 973-875-4800
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/forestry/parks/high.htm
~ 70 miles from DIMACS.

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)
Check out their web page for description of the facility and hours of operation. (closed Saturday and Sunday)
http://www.recreation.rutgers.edu/facilities/fac_wrc.html
Note: you must buy a fit check card for $10 to use the weight room.

DIMACS home page
Alphabetical Index of DIMACS Web Pages
Contacting the Center
Document last modified on August 18, 2011.