We sit down with Leigh Friend of SOMA Wheelhouse to get the low-down on the new brick-and-mortar space, eat cheese, and, of course, talk Muppets.

Leigh schools us on cheese, cheese-makers, and cheese-making and tells us some of the BIG plans for the new space. It’s coming soon and we can’t wait! We chat about cheese pairings, cheese sweat, local producers, and cheese as a metaphor for life.

This episode feels like a giant cheese hug and we enjoyed every moment of recording it. Thanks, Leigh!

LINKS:

SOMA Wheelhouse

It’s Valentine’s Eve! If you celebrate, get ready to hang your silk stocking by the mantle for cupid to fill with chocolate and candy hearts.

We rewind to the Mercantile fundraiser, poetry, even more Corner Slice, and the Super Bowl.

We’re looking forward to Valentine’s events and date ideas, Black History Month events and celebrations, Oscar Nominated shorts at the Village at SOPAC, West Coast Swing, a dance party, trivia night, movies, talks, and more!

Three Things with Galentine’s at Perch, Groove Together’s next dance party, Windows for Women submissions, cool happenings at the Village at SOPAC, and indoor heated winter swimming.

We hope you’ll join us in the Economic Blackout on February 28.

LINKS:

Galentine’s at Perch

Groove Together Dance Party Tickets

Windows for Women

Encore membership Village at SOPAC

Newark Pool access

Economic Blackout Feb. 28

We rewind to deliciousness at The Corner Slice, Lum’s Cellars, trivia night, and poetry class at The Write Space.

We’re looking forward to the fundraiser for the LA fires at Maplewood Mercantile, pop-ups at the Co-Lab with Stupid Sloth Cards, the Charmery, the Local D, and fairy hair, two craft chocolate tastings, a film screening of One of Them Days celebrating SZA, karaoke at Pickett’s, a kids sewing workshop.

Three Things with Rent Party Garden, Maplewoodstock band applications, tax assistance, and General Store Shops and Cafe.

Do you like us? Check this box.

LINKS:

Elks Rent Party Garden Named South Orange Villager of the Month

Maplewoodstock band applications

Valentine’s Day Pretzel preorder

King Cake preorder

Tax filing assistance

Tax filing assistance for seniors

We rewind to Perla, brunch, and a bonus ep we know is going to *brie* amazing!

We’re looking forward to puppy yoga, the kick-off of Black History Month, the Corner Slice, getting hypnotized, Rent Party Garden, kids and family events, SOMA+ Books meetup, Whiskey and Sugar, an art exhibit, and more!

Three Things with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, CHS Prom Shop, Listen to Your Mother auditions, Ashley Market, Brown Sugar Baking Company, Three Daughters, and an indoor play space.

Now excuse us while we finish casting our Muppets version of Out of Africa…

LINKS:

Immigrant Legal Resource Center red cards

Listen to Your Mother

Columbia High School Prom Shop

Brown Sugar Baking Company

Three Daughters Weekly Dinners

Children’s Indoor Play Space

Welcome to the SOMAPSO Weekly Podcast, now with even more GenX cynicism.

We rewind to snow days, good neighbors, shoveling, cold weather, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Barnes Museum.

We’re looking forward to the Groove Together dance party, Class Act comedy night, West Village bag sale, SOMA Rocks, Pet Portraits, Fairy Hair, Lunar Fest, Puzzle Party, mediation, a Lion Dance, and an instrument petting zoo.

Three Things with the Chili Cookoff, TraderJs Delivery, a craft swap, and Maplewood Wheelhouse.

Stay warm out there everyone!

LINKS:

Chili Cook-Off

TraderJsDelivery.com
Use code FREE50 to get your first delivery free!

Craft Swap 

The one in which Cat and Chrissy agree about something… pizza.

We rewind to pilates, painting, shopping, and poetry. We’re looking forward to Wolfman at Village at SOPAC, SOMSD Superintendent Jason Bing!, Silverbased photography exhibition, Jokes in Jan., Craft Club ribbon cutting, Cabaret in the Loft, Family Fun Dance Party, Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats, and MLK Day luminaries and light show.

Three Things with drought, Corner Slice, This Old House guy, pet licensing, and summer camp registration.

We Asked Jeeves (Ask Jeevesed?) and he said Bon Jovi *is* a nice guy, it *isn’t* July, and the canvas math checks out.

LINKS:

This Old House in Maplewood

The Write Space

Pet Licensing in Maplewood & South Orange

Summer Camp in Maplewood & South Orange

Ask Jeeves

Happy New Year! And welcome to episode 1 of season 4! 

We rewind to two weeks of holiday fun including Pickett’s, Don’t Tell Comedy, and SOMA Chamber of Commerce.

We’re looking forward to vision board workshops, MLK luminary decorating, West Coast Swing Party, SOMA Figure Drawing, Open Hearth Cooking, and OF COURSE, Puppy Yoga!

Three Things with SOMA Tool Share, SAM Fitness Pass, Big Idea Machines, Christmas Tree pickup, and No. 165.

Whatever you need, you can drink it out of a mug. 

Thanks for listening everyone, we can’t believe it’s been four years!

LINKS:

SOMA Tool Share 

SAM Fitness Pass 

Big Idea Machines

It’s the holiday season so hoop-de-do and dickory dock and don't forget we’re off for the next two weeks!

We rewind to the art opening at the Herb and Milly Iris Gallery, the Baker Square dedication, and even more holiday preparations.

We are looking forward to ribbon cuttings, a wine tasting, a tiki pop-up bar, Dickens Village, a holiday market, the Local D, Old Year’s Eve, and embroidery journals.

Three Things with free karate classes, the SO Elf Chase, join a Maplewood Township committee, a vintage Pop-Up, Fox and Falcon, and CKO.

Our last Co-Lab Thing To Know all about the Co-Lab marketplace, a gingerbread house decorating event, and two pop-ups this weekend!

Whatever you celebrate, have a great holiday everyone!

LINKS:

South Orange "Elf Chase Giveaway"

Maplewood Township boards and committees

Crash Doll Vintage Pop Up

CKO rebranding

We kick things off with a debate about chocolate chip cookies and, not surprisingly, we don’t agree. 

We rewind to the Baker Street Flea, shopping local for gifts, and holiday prep. 

We are looking forward to diving deeper into the holiday season with a holiday wine tasting, the South Orange Holiday Market, an art opening at the Herb and Milly Iris Gallery, pop-up events, live music, Breakfast with Santa, a tree lighting, two holiday concerts, Coda’s Ugly Sweater Party, and more!

Three Things with leaf collection, a NYE Wine Dinner Extravaganza, battery recycling, a new family-focused book shop, LEGOs, and NJ prohibits book banning.

Our Co-Lab Thing to Know this week is all about SOMA Sweets, one of our favs. Those gummy bears, amiright? Plus two weekend pop-ups!

How do you feel about chocolate chip cookies? We want to know! Take the poll on our IG or send us an email at hello@somapso.com.

LINKS:

South Orange Co-Lab

SOMA Sweets

Porta Rossa & Lum’s Cellars Wine Dinner Extravaganza

Maplewood Leaf Collection Schedule

Battery Recycling

Chatter Box Book Shop

Prohibition on Book Banning

LEGO Adventure at SOPL

We rewind to the Mapso Follies, Thanksgiving, and Small Business Saturday. We’re looking forward to all things holiday and one thing summer with shopping, eating, and SO MANY Santas! 

Three Things with General Store Shops and Cafe, outdoor dining, Chow Town, and Sonny’s Bagels.

We have a Co-Lab Thing To Know featuring Grá and Imperfect Studios.

There are so many things on the calendar this week that we barely scratched the surface. Be sure to also check the calendar so you don’t miss out on something great!

Are you Team Brunch or Team Pancakes? Send us an email and let us know at hello@somapso.com.

LINKS:

South Orange Co-Lab

General Store Shops and Cafe

Outdoor dining is officially permanent 

Chow Town Food Tours

Sonny’s Bagels

Use code GOBBLE for 25% off merch

Join us as we pull back the $2000 star curtain to sit down with super-funny comedian and local SOMAPSO-ian Liz Glazer. 

We are huge fans and we were thrilled with the opportunity to do a deep-dive into Muppets, the life of a working comedian, her live show recorded at SOPAC, Ladies of Laughter, and some killer women comedians.

LINKS:

Liz Glazer

SOPAC

Ladies of Laughter

Cat and Crispy bring you all the events coming up this week as we get ready to gobble gobble gobble our way into Thanksgiving week.

We rewind to Perch Holiday Open House, Frozen Charlotte, and Follies rehearsal. We’re looking forward to the Mapso Family Follies Talent Show, a meet and greet with Chef David Burke, blanket making, Turkey trot, Pollockpalooza, Pet Portraits, Big Train at the Elks, and Thanksgiving.

Three things with Springfield Avenue, the Corner Slice, Moxie Salon, a coat drive, and ice skating in South Orange.

A Co-Lab Thing to Know with one of our favs: SOMA Wheelhouse.

We’re off next week but we’ll have a Bonus Ep with Liz Glazer and a special merch discount code GOBBLE for 25% off.

LINKS:

SAM Shopping Passport

Moxie Salon

Coat Drive at GenWealth

Ice Skating in Spiotta Park

SOMA Wheelhouse

Use code GOBBLE for 25% off merch

It’s our 106th show!

We rewind to lawn sign recycling, Pet Wants SOMA, and Savannah.

We’re looking forward to Holiday Open House at Perch, Whiskey and Sugar, a Holiday Food Drive, a Tricky Tray, SOMA+ Books Club, Cheeseboards, Podcasting 101, wine and cheese, Hot Ones Challenge, and The Mapso family Follies.

Three Things to Know with a winter clothing drive, a call for artists, sippin’ Santa, drought watch, and a gingerbread house contest.

A Co-Lab Thing to Know with Sumana Ghosh-Witherspoon and Enchantress Fairy Hair.

A SOPAC Thing to Know with the Hot Sardines and a special discount code.

Plus, smart TVs and chickens in human suits.

LINKS:

MAPSO Family Follies Talent Show

Gloves Hats and Scarves Drive 

Call for Artists: Black Art Unveiled

Village Hall Sippin’ Santa

Durand-Hedden Gingerbread House Contest

Sumana Ghosh-Witherspoon

Holiday Stomp with the Hot Sardines

Water Conservation

We rewind to art, poetry, and pretzels (and Halloween!)

We’re looking forward to Walk This Way, the record fair, Adalante, chicken pot pie, Foundations of European Cinema, Veteran’s Day, Friendsgiving, and more.

Three Things with Ethan and Daddo, turkeys and Christmas Trees, Baker Street Market, crafts, recycling, hazardous waste, and a retreat.

Plus - our first Co-Lab Thing to Know all about the South Orange Co-Lab!

LINKS:

Ethan and Daddo 

GSSC Turkeys and Christmas Trees  

Baker Street Market  

Craft Cub Studio  

SOMA Cycle Recycles Lawn Signs 

Hazardous Waste Day 

Wildly Floral Retreat 

It’s a spooky Halloween edition of the podcast this week because when you want to know what’s going on in Maplewood and South Orange, who you gonna call? SOMAPSO!

We rewind to the Craft Beer Tasting, Monster Bawl, and the Apprentice.

We are looking forward to the Halloween Parade, Studio Tour, First Fridays at the Elks, Community Planting Day, CKO Kickboxing, Brunch in the Loft with Tracy Nelson, Masters of the Telecaster, the grand opening of Barn Bird, and Three Sisters Stew.

Three Things to Know with Maplewood Karate, Union Square Pretzel Co., Perla Oysters, Lum’s Cellars, a coat drive, and daylight savings.

And, of course, remember to get out there and VOTE!

Thank you to this week’s sponsor, Studio Tour SOMA.

LINKS:

Barn Bird Kitchen

Maplewood Karate

Union Square Pretzel Co.

Perla Oyster

Lum’s  Cellars 

SOMA Shares Coat Drive

We rewind to Purgefest, cheese pretzels, and Mapso Scary voting. 

We’re looking forward to wearing our costumes for a full week at all the Halloween events—Monster Bawl, Spooky Spiotta, kids dance party, Elks Fright Night Dance Party, Village Hall Halloween, Family Fright Night, Hilton Halloween, Halloween, SOPL Halloween, and the Maplewood Halloween. Plus Craft Beer Tasting, Tails and Treats, and Diwali Fest.

Three Things with help with social services, the SO Co-Lab, mail-in ballots, and listener email.

Thank you to Studio Tour SOMA for sponsoring this week’s episode.

Thank you to our sponsor Studio Tour SOMA.

LINKS:

SO Co-Lab vendor interest email 

Leave the leaves!

Drought warning

Get a mail-in ballot